We went

We did decide to take the kids trick or treating. We had a lot of fun. We went on our street, and than went to Lakewood on my grandma's street! Way too much candy! I was thinking we would go for like 30 minutes and be done, but Ethan and Merci were having so much fun. Ethan was the cutest little dinosaur, or dragon or lizard there was (His tail was so cute, it wiggled when he walked..LOL)! Merci the prettiest princess!
It was just pure enjoyment, I didn't feel evil, I didn't feel like the people around us were evil. There was only excitement in the air.

99%

My second essay for my English class. We had to write about a topic in pop culture.
I got a 99%. How awesome is that. I am so proud of myself! It is always nice to have something to smile about, and I am sure getting this grade will help me write my rough draft, today, for my next essay.

A Product Perfect for You


Direct sales is an ever-growing industry in today’s culture. As a Tastefully Simple consultant, I have first hand experience in direct sales. Many factors contribute to the success of direct sales, making it more popular than shopping on the Internet or TV. (“About Direct Selling” “Benefits of Direct Selling,” par.3) People take interest in direct sales because of the social experiences, income potential, and because it is one of the easiest ways to own your own business. Direct sales offers a personalized and hands on approach to selling, causing people to value the products they purchase.

Direct sales is defined as the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location. (“About Direct Selling,” par.1) There are a few different ways in which direct sales companies sell, the most popular being home parties.
Home parties are hosted in the home of an individual who already likes or is interested in the product a specific direct sales company offers. The host invites his/her friends and family over so a consultant from that company can give an in person presentation and hands on demonstration of the products they sell. These two factors are direct causes for the interest and popularity of direct sales versus retail sales. When a consumer goes into a retail store to purchase a product they are limited to the product packaging and maybe an uneducated opinion from a sales associate. I know that I have fallen victim to purchasing a product that had a convincing label, and later find out it was really too good to be true. I am sure I am not the only one. Doesn’t trying it before you buy it sound like a good idea? Direct sales offers that exact convenience. The consultants for these companies are trained, knowledgeable, and experienced in the product they are selling. Consultants have the time and environment to listen to the individual client’s needs and wants, and can then offer products appropriately. Compare this personal interaction to the interaction you get at a typical retail store, and you see why many prefer direct sales. Any consumer can appreciate the “try it before you buy it” approach to buying that is offered in this environment.

According to the Direct Selling Association website, there are more than 200 registered direct sales companies. (“About DSA,” par. 1) The Direct Selling Association ensures that member companies will make no statements or promises that might mislead either consumer or prospective sales people. (“Code of Ethics,” par. 2) Direct sales cover a wide range of products including: beauty products by Mary Kayâ, gourmet food products by Tastefully Simpleâ, cooking accessories by The Pampered Chefâ, jewelry by Silpadaâ, candles by PartyLiteâ and storage containers by Tupperwareâ. Products from these and other direct sales companies typically come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, as do many retail products. But because of the one-on-one relationship of direct sales consultants and their clients, trust is established, where as in a retail environment there isn’t that trust factor. Retail stores make you jump through hoops to get a replacement product or money back, but with direct sales, satisfaction is only a phone call away.

Direct sales can be the answer to an individual’s desire for more than the normal treatment and service. Direct sales consultants most often use the product they are selling, therefore can give a firsthand account of a products features and uses. Most consultants will be honest and tell you if a product isn’t what it seems, or any problems they personally had when using the product. Consultants also offer any help you may need with the product(s) you purchase. Unlike a retail store, many consultants will take the time to follow up with you after the party, making sure you got your products, know how to use them and to make sure that you are satisfied. As a client you are also given the consultants direct phone number and/or e-mail address in case you have any questions or concerns. Quality customer service, on a personal level, is just one more reason to trust direct sales.

Direct sales causes people value the products they buy from direct sales over retail bought products. Direct sales is a booming industry, and promises to be so in years to come. Today’s version of the direct selling industry reflects how the early peddlers and traders worked. In the 21st century, customers can still benefit from this personal and convenient way of purchasing products. (“About Direct Selling” “History,” par. 20) With quality, personalized products and service each direct sales company promises a product perfect for you.

769 words, spell-checked, specifics

Works Cited:

Matrix Group International, Ltd. Direct Selling Association. Home Page: About DSA, About Direct Selling, & Code of Ethics. 1996-2006. Sept 25, 2006

MUSEings 1

Emily gave us a challange, I will be taking part as much as I can. You can too!

As I prayed God gave me a creative word art,(just some question in no particular order with different fonts, colors and sizes to make it pretty!) the big purple words are parts of the verse that are most important to me! I have been asking myself these questions lately and other, and my friend Rebekah, encouraged me to ask God, which makes so much sense, but it seems we never remember to ask HIM. So enjoy.

{MUSEing 1}
James 1:5-8 NIV
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

?Do I really believe GRACE is enough for me

What areas of my life have I become hopeLESS about?

? If You want me to be friends with M and J why do they annoy me so much…I should do this because you told me to, but I really don’t want to?

?Can’t he understand ME and I understand HiM
Let me ask this: What is mY DestinY?

God I know you ♥ me, Why can your ♥ be Enough ???

It sounds so easy, can it really be?

Why do I believe what I believe?

??When will we be able to purchase our own home??

?Is Superior Slate what YOU want

?Why is it the friend I need, is so distant in my life..I miss her=(

MusT I make it so difficult on myself?

?Why do I make myself believe I am all alone?

What should we do about ?Halloween?

Holy Spirit can you lead me to my gifts PLEASE…and couldn’t you make it very clear?

?Why is it I seek, if I can nOT accept

Taxes…????

What are you ??? trying to teach mE

I know you HEAR me, why do I doubt you?

??What should we do about Christmas

WheN will I learn to truly be in FaITh?

To Trick or Treat or not??

I probably posted something like this last year, but I almost feel like I have changed my mind.

Both
Josh and I never Trick or Treated growing up. It was a "evil" holiday.
Merci is getting to the point where she doesn't go along with stuff
just because we say so. Merci LOVES candy, so for her Halloween is all
about the candy, and dressing up like the Princess she thinks she is.
She began to question me a few weeks ago, and I told her I would talk
to daddy and maybe we could go the the candy store and get lots of
candy and hide it in the house so she could find it. And she could
dress up! Friday she came home with a letter from school about their
Halloween party (last year her school only celebrated Harvest not
Halloween...same school system this year so I thought I would be
safe...I was wrong.) I didn't want to keep her home, and I don't want
to NOT let her drees up, she nor the other kids would understand.

My biggest dilemma
is, if we would never have told her about the evil roots of Halloween,
she wouldn't know, and therefore would be celebrating a fun, candy
filled evening. Isn't all about the motivation of the heart??

As adult it is my job to train my daughter and make her aware of things, but couldn't;t
this have waited until she was older and understood a little more,
while she celebrated what she thought was a innocent holiday??

I
have half the mind to say we are going Trick or Treating this year.
Would that be wrong? I know it would be sending her mixed signals, but
we could pray for the neighborhood as we walk down the street, we could
still teach her about why we view Halloween as a so called "evil"
holiday, by letting her see for herself.RRRRRRRR, I hate being the adult making decisions.

Any feedback would be helpful.

And
by the way, I almost think the way we celebrate Christmas and Easter,
could be view as a little bit on the "evil" side in our day and age.
Where has the meaning gone?? It has evolved intosomething it wasn't meant to be...just as Halloween!

our photos!!!

Chek out half of our photo shoot, here

They are awesome! Thank you so much Sweet Dreams photography (Angela and Emily)

Blogger Beta

Has anyone checked out Blogger Beta? How fun. As you can see I can
change all my font colors and fonts, I can arrange my sidebars and a
whole lot of NEW stuff. It is hard to sign in to comment because you
have to sign in differently, but they are trying to fix it. That is why
I am using anonymous on all of my comments. But Beta is FUN!! Ok BYE!

Last Fall

This is a picture of the kids from last fall. Aren't they cute?!

Video=)

I learned how to put vodeos on my blog!!

Watch this, it is adorable! The lighting is horrible, but the cute part is the sound anyway.

Pay close attention to the F and let me explain the U. I think Ethan thinks we are saying "you", so he always says, "No. Mommy, or Daddy or Sissy." So darn cute I tell you.

Enjoy.