What is Solavei? Do you have 6 minutes?

UPDATE:

Registration is OPEN to everyone!  Check it out now!

Watch a 6 minute video that could change your family's life and financial future!
What is Solavei? on Vimeo: "
What is Solavei? from Solavei on Vimeo.

Have you heard the buzz?  Solavei is starting a revolution beginning with you!  Email me for your invitation!  Pre-registration closes on Sunday, August 26th, so make it a priority to check this out NOW!

Amazing New REVOLUTION: Solavei

UPDATE:
Registration is OPEN to everyone!  Check it out now!


My friend Laura shared this with me today:

I am a founding member of a brand new company that will benefit millions of people by saving them money on a service they use everyday. It will revolutionize commerce as we know it, and help thousands of people in a myriad of ways, especially financially.

We won't be launching until September 21, 2012. Most of you KNOW the benefit of learning about a company before it launches. We are in pre-launch and therefore need an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) before I can share details with you. If you would like for me to send you an email with an NDA link, and more information about this amazing new REVOLUTION, simply message me with your email address.

I am so excited to share this very exciting NEW and revolutionary idea with you.

Have you heard the buzz going around about this company in the pre-launch phase?   I feel honored that I have the opportunity to share with my friends and family!

It is definitely an advantage to learn about opportunities before the rest of the world!  Solavei will be a blessing and benefit to millions of people. Solavei will help people by dramatically lower one of the monthly bills you are paying right now and it is NOT being done by anyone else (NO it's not energy :)

96% of the US Population qualifies to take advantage of this.  E-commerce and technology together in a company that consumers will consider a blessing each time they pay their monthly bill.  Since they are in the prelaunch phase, I am able to invite you to simply learn more about it after you click through a non disclosure agreement.  I love it because it will help so many families reduce their monthly bills.  I also love it because there's a pretty phenomenal incentive for those that are interested in additional streams of income off something you're already paying for.  If  you're interested in learning more, let me know, and I will email you information to learn about it!


I am so impressed - I know you will be too!  This could be a great answer to prayer for William and I!

Please let me know your info so I can share this with you - you have nothing to lose and perhaps lots to gain!

UPDATE:

Registration is OPEN to everyone!  Check it out now!

~*~*~*~
If you pay more than $49 a month for your cell service, you can SAVE money with Solavei.
If your friends pay more than $49 a month for their cell service, you can MAKE money with Solavei

GLOW Girls Team 7/15/2012

GLOW Girls Team 7/15/2012

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

Growing by the day :)
UPDATE: As of August 8th I have 67 team members!  Join my Jamberry Nails team today!

Wanna Join Us?  Contact me today!

GLOW Girls Team

GLOW Girls Team 7/12/2012

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

4 months, 59 team members, 13 states.

I am one blessed lady!

I am so proud of my GLOW Girls team!  Who's ready to have more in life?  Ask me how!

noelgiger.jamberrynails.net

Why Jamberry?

First - congratulations to Lisa G. of Missouri for winning the Jamberry Easter Basket giveaway!

Many friends have asked me why are you doing this Jamberry?  I thought you were taking it easy!"

Source: dfw.jamberrynails.net via Noel on Pinterest

As I re-read my post where I announced my resignation from Gold Canyon, I was reminded of just how crazy busy I was last year, and how dangerously close I can come to that again!

When I discovered Jamberry in November of 2011, I considered adding it as a second business.  I even requested a sample from a consultant in California.  I told a few friends about it, but never did much more research into it.  In January one of those friends sent me this:

Lifecycle of a cereal box...

If you'd like to start earning RecycleBank rewards for watching this great short video - sign up first!



And if you like rewards - check out the very rewarding Givaway Link Up page!

Undercover Mama Plum District DEAL $13.50 or $8.50 SHIPPED

Today ONLY!


Have you discovered Undercover Mama? Just slip the tank on and attach it to your nursing bra, and then your sides will stay covered as you nurse.

To take advantage of this deal:

1. Go To Plum District and create an account if you don't have one already.  If you don't have one, using the link I provided will get you a $5.00 gift certificate that you can use on your first purchase.

2. Look for Kansas City (the deal is online so it's good anywhere, it's just not listed under the everywhere section).

3. Add the voucher to your cart.

4. Use the discount code: visa10 to save an extra 10%, bringing your total down to $13.50.

Your voucher code will be available in your account at plum district, and then you just enter that at the checkout area of Undercover Mama. If you purchase just one tank ($24.50)  then the voucher covers the shipping ($3.00) also!  Or, buy 2 tanks and get free shipping.

And don't forget to enter to WIN a free Pambra's Bra Liner!

Small is the new BIG

I have many friends who own their own businesses. Direct Sales has been a lifesaver for many of them. Many times, you don't even have to have a home party to order, you can order right on their website and it can be shipped to you directly. If you do not have a favorite consultant for a company that you have in mind, please ask, and I am sure I can put you in touch with a consultant!


Something to keep in mind this holiday season: You, the customer, are our everything. Spending $100 at a BIG BOX store during the holidays won't make a difference to anyone; but spending $100 through a home business owner for Christmas means our business can continue; it gives us our pay, provides for our families, helps us meet our personal goals, and helps us continue to do what we love without using harsh sales techniques. The big stores will not care about you the way we will! You mean the world to us - shop a home/direct sales business for Christmas this year!


If you are a business owner or direct sales representative and you would like to be listed in my holiday gift guide this year, please fill out the information below:

Worst Fundraiser Ever...

What is the worst fundraiser that you've ever done, or been asked to support?

I can remember so many that we've done!

I remember my pitch for the "Slave Auction" for my youth group fundraiser "I can clean windows streak-free!"  I got "bought" and actually had to work.  Many of my friends got "bought" and taken out for ice cream!  LOL

And then there was the time we did a "free car wash" (donations accepted) where several people took us at our word, let us wash their car - and drove away!

Oh - I remember when I was a kid we did a chocolate fundraiser.  My little brother ate several of the bars and we had to pay for them!  (At least we got to keep the Pizza coupons that were inside the wrapper!)

We had pretty good success with selling frozen pies, they are yummy!  The only problem is delivery!  You have to get it to them still frozen, or have a place to store it!  And then hope that no one steals your pies out of the freezer at work.  Or church.  True story :(

The worst we've been asked to purchase was a school selling these GIGANTIC 64 oz thermal mugs with sports team logos on them.  Um. No.  Thanks!  Good Luck with your next 10 houses!

Same goes for those magazine subscriptions - Uh let me see.  $40 from you for 2 and a half years of one magazine, or $6 a year online?  Wow, that's a tough decision!

There was a year that I bought some cute wrapping paper from some kids at church, then had to threaten my family within an inch of their lives if they came close to it or used it!  That stuff was expensive, I reserved it for the finest gifts only!

Anyway - I'm excited about becoming a Certified Fundraiser Specialist with Gold Canyon - and I'm working on my "pitch" to organizations that want to raise money.

Our fundraisers generate a profit of 38-40%, up to $8.80 per candle sold.  That's like selling 14 candy bars!
I'd love to hear your fundraiser memories (OK, I really want your horror stories!)

If I said I'd pay you $650.50 this month...

I am constantly amazed by the opportunities with Gold Canyon.  They just keep getting better!  I'm looking forward to going to a meeting in San Antonio this weekend to be filled in on all the latest details.  It will also be nice to meet some other GC "fragrance consultants" (they've changed our title - I love it!)

It seems like no one in Texas has heard of Gold Canyon!  I hadn't either before October 2010 (can you say "ground floor opportunity boys and girls?  I knew you could!")  LOL

I earned my GC kit for free in November, and then earned additional product and commissions in December.  Now, the offer is just ridiculous!  Are you ready for this?  Join with your full kit for just $19.99 down (plus S&H) and then you can make 2 monthly payments to cover the balance.  BUT, if you sell at least $700 in your first month, they send you a refund and your kit is FREE.  AND there is an override commission bonus.  

Here's the breakdown

July 2011:

When you do JUST $700 in sales in your first 30 days you'd get:

Your kit for free: $355 value

25% commission on $700= $175

5% bonus commission: $35

1.5% override commission= $10.50

Your quick start bonus products: $75 value

TOTAL VALUE: $650.50 FOR FREE!!!

Gold Canyon is also an excellent companion business.  If you already have a direct sales business and established client base for F.A.I.T.H. Jewelry, Stella and Dot, Premier Jewelry, Cookie Lee, Lia Sophia, Longaberger, Homemade Gourmet, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Thirty-One Gifts, Tupperware, CAbi, Willow House, Creative Memories, Stampin' Up, Watkins, Close to my Heart, Discovery Toys, Advocare, Juice Plus+, Isagenix - just about anything - you can introduce them to Gold Canyon's great products.

If you're not already doing something - why choose Gold Canyon?  It's AFFORDABLE for your friends and family!  The commission structure is evenly balanced so that you make money, but not at your client's expense (literally!)  I even have friends who've told me they are SAVING money by using Gold Canyon candles!  Here's a breakdown of our price points:

Selling:Did you know?...Gold Canyon has over 200 items UNDER $10
AND
Over 200 ADDITIONAL items under $20!
That's over 400 items for less than $20!!!
No wonder Gold Canyon is called The World's Finest!

And - the most expensive thing in the catalog ( a set of three crystal candle holders) is just $46.98:

If you have any questions or are ready to get started, please let me know!  I can help you anywhere, there are no territories or anything to worry about.  I have a great network of consultants who will help you be successful.

Or, if you *just* want to get your hands on some of the world's finest, check out my website.  E-mail me for a coupon code off your first order!

And baby makes... SEVEN

That's right dear friends, we are expecting!

I'm due January 13, 2011.  I had a fantastic visit with the Doc yesterday and all is right on schedule.  Aside from a good bit of contempation of how I'm going to fit more baby pics on my walls, I'm doing well!

I've had a little nausea and a lot of fatigue, so everything is just about right!

In other news, we've decided to go to Disney World this September (it's one of the perks of homeschooling - off season travel!).  I'm committing all my profits from [ReDeemed] sales to the vacation fund.  No pressure, but I've got to net roughtly $150 a week between now and then!  So far, so good!  We're driving to save money (so I'll probably blog about things for kids to do in the car, on loooong car trips!) and staying with some dear family friends halfway through :)

We've completely paid off our credit cards, and with the exception of one "fell-off-the-wagon" experience last week at a Macy's sale (to the tune of $35.00 LOL) we are committed to staying that way!  We are using the principles in The Money Map from Crown Financial.  We went through a class several years ago, and have been working in that direcion ever since.  It's been a long road, but praise God we've made it!

(This is starting to feel like one of those Christmas letters!) 

Anyway, the point of all of this was just to catch you up - I've missed blogging and hope that when things calm down (OK, when I get my act together and am doing  abetter job of balancing it all!) I'll be back on a more regular basis!

I did find some really great things at the thrift store yesterday, including some Mickey Mouse shaped playing pieces, so I'm sure I'll be sharing some more projects and items soon!

Little Blue-Door Schoolhouse (aka "Giger Academy")

Here's what I did on my way home today:

This has not been a banner week for my homeschool either.  Monday started pretty good, Tuesday things started sliding, by Wednesday we were in full skid and today we just gave up.  Well, that's pretty dramatic, but I guess it wasn't really all that bad, I just didn't live up to my expectations.

I guess that is the problem though, "my expectations".  I know how I want it, I know how my husband wants it, I know how we planned it.  The problem is getting that "Vision" to "Reality",  We've been reading Andy Stanley's book The Principle of The Path with our church's small group. 

Pretty much all of us have wondered "how did I get here?" Maybe it's a relationship, maybe finances, your career (or lack thereof).  The basic premise of this book is that Direction (not Intention) Determines your Destination.  Wow, that seems pretty simple, but it's much harder to apply to our daily lives!

We applied this teaching to our finances, cracked down, had a $900 garage sale (yikes!) and with God's help, a cashed out IRA, and our IRS refund, we are DEBT FREE!

I've been working this week to apply this to our homeschool.  I have to stop for a minute and admit that I am a reluctant homeschooler.  I'm not one of those gung-ho, "it's the only way to go", hard-core, public-school hating, types (not that there is anything inherently wrong with those views, except maybe the hating one!).  I did not WANT to do this, but with our options here, it was the best decision. The more I see, the more glad I am that we made that decision!

This is our first year back to homeschool. We HS'd for Kindergarten for our oldest, since we were in Dallas ISD and then did a charter school for his 1st-4th grades. He did very well.  My daughter was at the charter school for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. She is a kinetic-auditory learner, so she was always in trouble for being out of her seat and talking :)

We use Swtched-on-Schoolhouse from Alpha Omega Publishing. It is a computer-based curriculum that starts at 3rd grade (after reading and writing are firmly established).
 
I hope that as we continue the HS journey I will get better and better. The good news is, my kids learn much more on accident than I could ever teach them on purpose. As long as I keep my eyes open for learning opportunities and sieze them, I'm happy.  My hubby is more of a "6 hours around the kitchen table" type. So we are compromising with the core curriculum (Bible, Math, Language Arts, Science, History & Geography) supplemented by lots of "found" learning (i.e. "ooh - that's a neat spider, I wonder what kind it is? How do they get their webs to look like that" inspires a trip to the library and a few hours of hanging out, looking at books and talking about it.)

Yesterday we went to "Bodies, The Exhibition" at Dallas West End, spent about 45 minutes walking around, bought a book and then I am having them each write one page on it. I have other anatomy "stuff" to follow-up with them later.

One thing that I did accomplish this week: I made a school house!  Well, actually I repurposed my dining room by placing the dining table in the kitchen, and moving the smaller round table to the dining room.  To make sure it was ECO-chic and ECOnomical, I took 3 bulletin boards (picked up by thrifting, off course!) and spray-painted the frames the same color.

(sorry about the lawn honey!)

Then I covered it with a fabric that complemented my rooms and finished it off with nail-head trim. 

The shelf in front is our old changing table from the nursery! In the corner is a blackboard that our neighbor gave us, in the front is my lovely daughter, working on her laptop. This was Wednesday, right before the slide - LOL.

So, I guess we ARE moving in the right DIRECTION, and with God's help, we will arrive!

Have more (want less)

I'm thinking of putting this sentiment on a piece of artwork, like I did another "revelation":

"Have a Mid-Life Chrysalis", $78.00 by [ReDeemed] unique art (available)

I guess this would be considered "social messaging" and I am planning on doing some digital art/shirts, etc. with this like I did with "Love Heals Surely".  I was reviewing some blogs I wrote on Facebook and came across this one from last summer.  Hope you enjoy! ...

The more you have, the more time you spend taking care of it. There was a time that I wanted more. More clothes, more furniture, more choices. Admittedly, I am a child of the 80's - a decade of conspicuous consumption. Clothes were matched to the shoes, to the bag to the accessories. One in every color. Remember Ked's? It wasn't enough to have one pair, you had to have a match for each outfit. One year I took 10 pairs of shoes to youth camp! (not that I had 10 pairs of Ked's, I had one pair, that my aunt bought for me, we didn't spend "that kind of money" on shoes!)

circa 1993!

When I was in college I got my first credit card - it was a fluke. William worked at the Jewelry store, they had a promotion to fill out an application and get free jewelry cleaner. FREE - you can't pass that up can you? I was sure that it wouldn't be approved, but it was! So of course, as soon as I got it I "needed" some gold earrings. Then before long I had cards at Lerner's, Macy's, Dillard's, JC Penney's, Montgomery Ward's and another jewelry store. It's amazing how much more stuff you "need" after you get a credit card!

Then (insert choir music here) I got approved for a VISA card! I felt really grown up now! Soon I was going to dinner with friends and letting them give me their cash and I would just "put it on my Visa" - I loved saying that! The problem was, I would spend the cash and then the bills would come at the end of the month - yikes! Good thing I only had to pay $10 on each of them!

William's credit journey is even better - but I'll save that for another day. When we got married, we had over $30,000.00 in debt between the two of us, and nothing to show for it. OUCH! We continued in our wayward financial ways for a year or two, eventually straightening up when we were expecting our first child and trying to buy a house. That's been 11 years now, and we've fallen off that wagon more times than I care to count!

God has been faithful in providing for us, we are blessed with William's great salary and I am able to stay at home with the kids. Over the last few years we have been using the Money Map from Crown Financial (http://www.crown.org). I am relieved to say that we are almost debt free! (I prematurely announced the completion of this goal to a few of you - I'm sorry! We were so close, it seemed to really be finished!)

The root of our overspending was/is simple: the desire for more. More than we can afford, more than we have, more than someone else. It fills a need in us to buy, whether we use the items or not. It fills a need in us to have things stored up, just in case.

When Calvin was little, we learned something profound: when you only have 1 pacifier it doesn't get lost. Now that may not sound too deep to some of you, but let me explain. We had about 8 or 9 of those little suckers. Calvin wouldn't sleep without one, so we wanted to make sure we always had one at hand! Inevitably, they would get lost, we'd go get another one from the drawer. When we got down to the last one though, we held on to it like it was gold! We watched it, we picked it up, we cared for it. Same with sippy cups. They would sit in the sink or car until the contents were pharmacy grade, but the last clean one stayed clean. It got rinsed out and reused.

(apparently I'm not the only one who has seen this before!)

I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to translate that principle into other areas of my life, but here I go! I don't want a special tool or gadget to do each job, I don't want shoes to match each outfit, I don't want special plates for each holiday. I want LESS. I want less dishes to get dirty. I want less stuff to move so I can vacuum. I want less clothes to wash. If the market were better I even might want less house!

How about you? What do YOU want?