TWO blogs in one day? Don't judge.
So, I go through this thing called, "buyers remorse" and it happens with MANY objects I find on life's journey. I recently made an expensive purchase of an iPhone. I justified the purchase of a phone for many days before taking the plunge.
"My phone doesn't make calls" ~ It really didn't. I would hit call, it would call the person an hour later, if at all, randomly.
"My phone is small" ~ Let's face it, cells aren't just for calling anymore.
"I use my phone for everything so I need a functioning one" ~ I do.
So, I took the plunge. Don agreed to let me buy a new phone. I had a limit, set by myself and I was sticking to it. No questions asked. I spent days planning, reading the reviews, looking at videos, and getting opinions. Finally I thought, I'll just go play with them myself and see what clicks.
Travel to Best Buy was nerve wracking. I knew I was going to drop a considerable amount since I didn't have an upgrade, but I just couldn't spend 70 more days with my phone. We needed to break up TONIGHT. My heart did it's usual thing while he was ringing everything up, pounding so loud I think they heard it over the stereo section that some teenagers were playing in.
Receipt in hand, iPhone in hand, walking out. I did it. I made a major purchase. Wait for it.......... 4 hours later sitting on the couch I feel that slight sense of panic while I play Words with Friends against Don on it. I couldn't keep this. We can't afford this, but ohhhhh do I LOVE it. Maybe I can make an exception to my guilt. Just this once you splurged when you shouldn't have.
Then it happened. While exploring the apps, I discovered the Inventory Scanner app. After adding to my ever growing app addiction I started to play with it. Wait?! I can SCAN my Scentsy items from their already existing bar codes on the items, type a description, enter quantities/prices and have my entire on hand in stock with me ON MY PHONE!? Oh my poor Excel worksheet was going to be left in the dust! I scanned all my inventory (besides travel tins, they won't scan to my annoyance) and it was AMAZING.
I will not have buyers remorse with the iPhone. I have found so many useful situations for this phone and to be locked into "today's age of technology" I am in H.E.A.V.E.N. Not only does this phone simplify my life, it keeps me organized for my business, and I'm sure if I mess with it long enough it will do even more amazing things!
12.31.2011
{{2011 Year In Review}}
Doing my year in review this year is going to be a breeze thanks to the new Facebook timeline. Which I love, btw. And while I was glancing at the year I thought, maybe it just wasn't THAT bad.
January: Optimistic for a new year, finishing up photography for KHS Powerlifting which is an amazing opportunity for me to get to know some of the high schoolers and their parents. Can we say Senior sessions?! We also went and visited my mom so she could spend time with little man who was just 3 months old. I headed back to work after my maternity leave, but knowing little man had such a good sitter I was able to make that transition back very easily. Thank goodness!
April: The Suck Zone. The tornado of 2011 left quite the path through my city. For some reason we are spared (it literally hit the next street over, went back up for our street and dropped again on the next) other than the garage and shed (which was thrown/rolled 3 houses down). People's houses were completely destroyed. Garages collapsed on vehicles. I don't know why we were spared but I'm so grateful. Watching my town rebuild it's self for a few months would be hard. I guess I need to stop and explain something. I love tornadoes, my favorite movie is twister, and for about 2 years I contemplated going to Kansas to chase them. Sitting in the basement with little man just 5 months old hearing everything crashing and smashing outside I've never been more terrified in my life. The sound (which I had heard in movies) is NOTHING like what you hear when you know that's your life being destroyed and you are powerless to stop it.
May: May was a quiet month. The town is still rebuilding, people are still sorting shingles and siding from belongings. Little man is 6 months old and I can't believe how fast it's going. He's getting teeth and more independent, but with all that comes teething and sleepless nights. I also won a HUGE giveaway on facebook with over $2,200 in prizes. It was the most amazing feeling to be given the opportunity to work with some amazing vendors on facebook.
June: June I decided to make a life changing move. I joined Scentsy. I remember the night we decided (I say "we" because Don is the one that told me to just go for it). I bombarded poor Aleigh with a million questions, the first being "I can't sell stuff to save my life, can I do this?" The rest of the months are a blur for Scentsy, but the answer is YES I absolutely CAN do this.
July: Throughout June, July and August I am doing some amazing photo sessions, working with a lot of different people and having a great time finding my spot in that world. However the constant wonder of "Am I any good?" still plaques me. I need to stop second guessing myself and aspire to be better with each photo. Looking back from 2 years ago to now, there's a huge improvement. I can't wait to see what the future brings for me. As far as Scentsy goes, I earn the shooting star enhancement kit, the monthly sales award, and become a CERTIFIED consultant. YES, I CAN do this!
August: August I am still working on getting a handle of this Scentsy business, which appears to be like crack to some people. I earn the "Inspire" incentive warmer for my sales in July and August. I find some great new friends in this journey, but best of all I reconnect with old ones. I also now have a team of 3!
September: In September I earn the monthly sales award again, as well as become a LEAD consultant. Little man is 10 months old and we are amazed at everything he is learning. Photography is doing well, and I'm growing as a person from that. September was a very uplifting month for me.
October: My team grows to 4 for Scentsy, Don turns 26, we celebrate our 5 years together and we countdown the days until little man's first birthday. I also shoot my first BIG wedding I signed myself, and book one for November. Exciting times.
November: November is UNREAL. I shoot my first wedding, solo, scared out of my mind and it's amazing. My Scentsy team jumps to 8 and I earn the monthly mentor award. At this point I'm starting to realize just what I did on June 28th, I made the best life decision I could have. My little man turns 1, while I turn 26.
December: Whew! We made it! I celebrated a lot this month, but also have some sorrows. I have been at my current job for 4 years now, I decide to take a month off of photography to find myself in that ring, while working on the Scentsy business. Speaking of Scentsy, my team grows to 10, and I become a STAR consultant! Scentsy has given me so much this year, and I know as I head toward SuperStar consultant, my drive towards Director is that much more. I am pushing hard to be able to write "I became a Scentsy Director" in my 2012 year in review. I make a leap and get an iPhone, which I am addicted to. The worst event of December? Putting our dog of 16 years down. I miss her and my family does too, but I find comfort in knowing she is happy.
Top 5 things from 2011:
1. My little man turns 1
2. Scentsy gives me a new life opportunity
3. Don and I celebrate 5 years
4. Don gets a promotion at work
5. I ease back into the working scene with little to no problem. And only about 20 minutes of tears!
2012 Resolutions/Goals:
1. This blog. Finding myself. Rebranding myself.
2. Being better at balancing my checkbook
3. Reading to little man EVERY night.
4. Weight loss
5. Become less boring in the relationship department.
6. Become a Scentsy Director
As we count down the seconds to a New Year tonight, I'll be counting down to a new me.
January: Optimistic for a new year, finishing up photography for KHS Powerlifting which is an amazing opportunity for me to get to know some of the high schoolers and their parents. Can we say Senior sessions?! We also went and visited my mom so she could spend time with little man who was just 3 months old. I headed back to work after my maternity leave, but knowing little man had such a good sitter I was able to make that transition back very easily. Thank goodness!
February: Getting used to juggling work and mommy life. Spending time getting used to mommy life all together.
March: Decided I needed a new "mommy version" of me, chopped my hair off, got it styled different, dyed it blonde, and got little man's footprint tattooed on the top of my foot. Thinking I had found a new me at this point ~ not so much. April: The Suck Zone. The tornado of 2011 left quite the path through my city. For some reason we are spared (it literally hit the next street over, went back up for our street and dropped again on the next) other than the garage and shed (which was thrown/rolled 3 houses down). People's houses were completely destroyed. Garages collapsed on vehicles. I don't know why we were spared but I'm so grateful. Watching my town rebuild it's self for a few months would be hard. I guess I need to stop and explain something. I love tornadoes, my favorite movie is twister, and for about 2 years I contemplated going to Kansas to chase them. Sitting in the basement with little man just 5 months old hearing everything crashing and smashing outside I've never been more terrified in my life. The sound (which I had heard in movies) is NOTHING like what you hear when you know that's your life being destroyed and you are powerless to stop it.
May: May was a quiet month. The town is still rebuilding, people are still sorting shingles and siding from belongings. Little man is 6 months old and I can't believe how fast it's going. He's getting teeth and more independent, but with all that comes teething and sleepless nights. I also won a HUGE giveaway on facebook with over $2,200 in prizes. It was the most amazing feeling to be given the opportunity to work with some amazing vendors on facebook.
June: June I decided to make a life changing move. I joined Scentsy. I remember the night we decided (I say "we" because Don is the one that told me to just go for it). I bombarded poor Aleigh with a million questions, the first being "I can't sell stuff to save my life, can I do this?" The rest of the months are a blur for Scentsy, but the answer is YES I absolutely CAN do this.
July: Throughout June, July and August I am doing some amazing photo sessions, working with a lot of different people and having a great time finding my spot in that world. However the constant wonder of "Am I any good?" still plaques me. I need to stop second guessing myself and aspire to be better with each photo. Looking back from 2 years ago to now, there's a huge improvement. I can't wait to see what the future brings for me. As far as Scentsy goes, I earn the shooting star enhancement kit, the monthly sales award, and become a CERTIFIED consultant. YES, I CAN do this!
August: August I am still working on getting a handle of this Scentsy business, which appears to be like crack to some people. I earn the "Inspire" incentive warmer for my sales in July and August. I find some great new friends in this journey, but best of all I reconnect with old ones. I also now have a team of 3!
September: In September I earn the monthly sales award again, as well as become a LEAD consultant. Little man is 10 months old and we are amazed at everything he is learning. Photography is doing well, and I'm growing as a person from that. September was a very uplifting month for me.
October: My team grows to 4 for Scentsy, Don turns 26, we celebrate our 5 years together and we countdown the days until little man's first birthday. I also shoot my first BIG wedding I signed myself, and book one for November. Exciting times.
November: November is UNREAL. I shoot my first wedding, solo, scared out of my mind and it's amazing. My Scentsy team jumps to 8 and I earn the monthly mentor award. At this point I'm starting to realize just what I did on June 28th, I made the best life decision I could have. My little man turns 1, while I turn 26.
December: Whew! We made it! I celebrated a lot this month, but also have some sorrows. I have been at my current job for 4 years now, I decide to take a month off of photography to find myself in that ring, while working on the Scentsy business. Speaking of Scentsy, my team grows to 10, and I become a STAR consultant! Scentsy has given me so much this year, and I know as I head toward SuperStar consultant, my drive towards Director is that much more. I am pushing hard to be able to write "I became a Scentsy Director" in my 2012 year in review. I make a leap and get an iPhone, which I am addicted to. The worst event of December? Putting our dog of 16 years down. I miss her and my family does too, but I find comfort in knowing she is happy.
Top 5 things from 2011:
1. My little man turns 1
2. Scentsy gives me a new life opportunity
3. Don and I celebrate 5 years
4. Don gets a promotion at work
5. I ease back into the working scene with little to no problem. And only about 20 minutes of tears!
2012 Resolutions/Goals:
1. This blog. Finding myself. Rebranding myself.
2. Being better at balancing my checkbook
3. Reading to little man EVERY night.
4. Weight loss
5. Become less boring in the relationship department.
6. Become a Scentsy Director
As we count down the seconds to a New Year tonight, I'll be counting down to a new me.
12.30.2011
{{Starting Over}}
It's come to my attention from many people (some whom I've never met) that I need to sit down and focus in life. I find with little to no "me time" this is hard to do, but now that my life is no longer just mine, but shared with my little boy and husband I feel I can't be sucked into the whirlwind of life and I need to make time. There goes my 5 minutes at night on "Words with Friends", but in the end I'll be a better person for knowing my life direction, not being able to get a triple word score.
I'm not going to promise this blog will be all butterflies and roses. There will be bad days. Face it, we all have them. HOWEVER, I'm willing to negotiate that IF I have a bad day, ok WHEN I have a bad day I will try to spin it into a good in the end. I am not faithful at all about doing things (somethings I REALLY need to get better at like taking anti-baby pills and balancing my checkbook) but I am going to remain faithful to this (see Kandi, no "try to remain faithful"... I'm a work in progress). ;)
So, what do I hope to gain in this blogging expedition of mine? Self worth, meaning to life, an outlet, but most of all happiness. To get to these things I feel I need to examine where I AM today. Or rather, what "went wrong" in 2011 that needs to be fixed for 2012.
*sigh* Ok, bare with me...
1. This apartment. I dislike the size of our living arrangements. After examining why I feel like we "live in a cracker jack box" as I often refer to it as, I have decided we have too much "stuff". I can grab within my reach 10 things (yes, I counted) that I haven't touched since, well since I did this experiment. When I'm done typing this they will be removed from my area and "purged" for the sake of making the computer desk look just a little bigger. 2012 will bring purging.
2. My marriage. PLEASE don't take this the wrong way. Don and I have been married for 5 years. We rarely fight, but honestly we are...... boring. I'm not going to lie. That won't help me in the least on this journey, but I am going to admit somethings. I'm boring in a relationship. We've become stagnate. "What do you want to watch?" "I don't care... wait why are you putting that in?" "Because in 2 minutes you'll be sitting on facebook anyway, so why put something in YOU want to watch, when you won't be watching." "Meh, ok. *goes on FB*" EVERY NIGHT.
We need to liven up our life together. Starting on January 6th. My MIL is taking little man for the night. This usually is followed by us having some drinks at home, him jumping on C.O.D and me going to bed around 10. NOT ON THE 6th. I don't care if I have to chain him to the table (not like that sickos). We are playing Scrabble. (Words with Friends addiction much?) BUT we are playing "dirty word scrabble" ... if that doesn't liven things up IDK what will.
3. Little man. Wow, I really wish someone would have told me this parenting thing was hell. Oh wait, they did. However I'm starting to wonder if I'm making it harder on myself than I need it to be. I mean he's 1. He can barely walk, says a few words, and for the most part just wants to be cuddled and played with.
So, why am I finding it so hard to get into this routine? Well, there's my job which involves my life from 5am - 5pm Monday - Wednesday and Friday. But my job is an excuse. I need to stop making excuses and start making solutions. I've said for about a month now every night I was going to read a book to little man, that lasted 3 nights. It needs to start again, tomorrow (since he's in bed now). Children's books aren't that long, and it could be a good "winding down" for him which may in the end make him sleep better. If not at least we'll get some bonding time in before he's too old to sit in my lap and be read to. I would like this to be a family thing and feel I may need to recruit Don in on this, even though I already can hear "I don't read." Okkkk, well you do now. Enough excuses.
4. My Scentsy business. Started out as a fun little thing to do while I was making a little extra cash. To date I have 10 on my team, am a STAR consultant, and feel like I'm spending my whole day wrangling Scentsy team members, numbers, and orders. I believe if I can get a handle on my life in other areas I can get a handle on this. In a training call they said that as you get higher up you need to manage your time, and make "hours" you are available. While I don't feel it's come to that yet, I do feel I need to be willing to accept that I can't answer EVERY question within seconds and sometimes the team is just going to have to help each other. I'm one person and while I love my team and my girls more than anything I love my family too, and they need me too.
5. Dieting. Ugh. Really? We had to go there? Ok... so I did a weight loss challenge with a group of girls last fall. I am so competitive and that really drove me to lose weight. I wanted to win. I still kick myself for not pushing myself that little extra those weeks. But just because the challenge is over, doesn't mean my weight loss journey is. I need to get off the soda, put down the gingerbread cookies (btw, Malea, those ones from Trader Joe's were AMAZING), and get my self back into gear.
Let's recap til this point, if you are still with me..... more time blogging, reading to little man, being a good wife/mother, and working out. Oy! This could be a challenge, all while finding the happiness and good in life. Ok, lets do it.
Tomorrow I will post my traditional year in review (aside from 2010 which was, pregnant, pregnant, pregnant, motherhood). That should also help me shed some light on where things started to turn and maybe get this train back on track.
If you've read until this I applaud you. I'm exhausted just writing it, but maybe this is the answer. I DO feel better. I'm off, to work on finding some "me" time and read my nook. Another issue for another day to be unleashed there.
*waves*
I'm not going to promise this blog will be all butterflies and roses. There will be bad days. Face it, we all have them. HOWEVER, I'm willing to negotiate that IF I have a bad day, ok WHEN I have a bad day I will try to spin it into a good in the end. I am not faithful at all about doing things (somethings I REALLY need to get better at like taking anti-baby pills and balancing my checkbook) but I am going to remain faithful to this (see Kandi, no "try to remain faithful"... I'm a work in progress). ;)
So, what do I hope to gain in this blogging expedition of mine? Self worth, meaning to life, an outlet, but most of all happiness. To get to these things I feel I need to examine where I AM today. Or rather, what "went wrong" in 2011 that needs to be fixed for 2012.
*sigh* Ok, bare with me...
1. This apartment. I dislike the size of our living arrangements. After examining why I feel like we "live in a cracker jack box" as I often refer to it as, I have decided we have too much "stuff". I can grab within my reach 10 things (yes, I counted) that I haven't touched since, well since I did this experiment. When I'm done typing this they will be removed from my area and "purged" for the sake of making the computer desk look just a little bigger. 2012 will bring purging.
2. My marriage. PLEASE don't take this the wrong way. Don and I have been married for 5 years. We rarely fight, but honestly we are...... boring. I'm not going to lie. That won't help me in the least on this journey, but I am going to admit somethings. I'm boring in a relationship. We've become stagnate. "What do you want to watch?" "I don't care... wait why are you putting that in?" "Because in 2 minutes you'll be sitting on facebook anyway, so why put something in YOU want to watch, when you won't be watching." "Meh, ok. *goes on FB*" EVERY NIGHT.
We need to liven up our life together. Starting on January 6th. My MIL is taking little man for the night. This usually is followed by us having some drinks at home, him jumping on C.O.D and me going to bed around 10. NOT ON THE 6th. I don't care if I have to chain him to the table (not like that sickos). We are playing Scrabble. (Words with Friends addiction much?) BUT we are playing "dirty word scrabble" ... if that doesn't liven things up IDK what will.
3. Little man. Wow, I really wish someone would have told me this parenting thing was hell. Oh wait, they did. However I'm starting to wonder if I'm making it harder on myself than I need it to be. I mean he's 1. He can barely walk, says a few words, and for the most part just wants to be cuddled and played with.
So, why am I finding it so hard to get into this routine? Well, there's my job which involves my life from 5am - 5pm Monday - Wednesday and Friday. But my job is an excuse. I need to stop making excuses and start making solutions. I've said for about a month now every night I was going to read a book to little man, that lasted 3 nights. It needs to start again, tomorrow (since he's in bed now). Children's books aren't that long, and it could be a good "winding down" for him which may in the end make him sleep better. If not at least we'll get some bonding time in before he's too old to sit in my lap and be read to. I would like this to be a family thing and feel I may need to recruit Don in on this, even though I already can hear "I don't read." Okkkk, well you do now. Enough excuses.
4. My Scentsy business. Started out as a fun little thing to do while I was making a little extra cash. To date I have 10 on my team, am a STAR consultant, and feel like I'm spending my whole day wrangling Scentsy team members, numbers, and orders. I believe if I can get a handle on my life in other areas I can get a handle on this. In a training call they said that as you get higher up you need to manage your time, and make "hours" you are available. While I don't feel it's come to that yet, I do feel I need to be willing to accept that I can't answer EVERY question within seconds and sometimes the team is just going to have to help each other. I'm one person and while I love my team and my girls more than anything I love my family too, and they need me too.
5. Dieting. Ugh. Really? We had to go there? Ok... so I did a weight loss challenge with a group of girls last fall. I am so competitive and that really drove me to lose weight. I wanted to win. I still kick myself for not pushing myself that little extra those weeks. But just because the challenge is over, doesn't mean my weight loss journey is. I need to get off the soda, put down the gingerbread cookies (btw, Malea, those ones from Trader Joe's were AMAZING), and get my self back into gear.
Let's recap til this point, if you are still with me..... more time blogging, reading to little man, being a good wife/mother, and working out. Oy! This could be a challenge, all while finding the happiness and good in life. Ok, lets do it.
Tomorrow I will post my traditional year in review (aside from 2010 which was, pregnant, pregnant, pregnant, motherhood). That should also help me shed some light on where things started to turn and maybe get this train back on track.
If you've read until this I applaud you. I'm exhausted just writing it, but maybe this is the answer. I DO feel better. I'm off, to work on finding some "me" time and read my nook. Another issue for another day to be unleashed there.
*waves*
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