Petals (Tabs)

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

I am a goal getter!!!

Can you help me out?? I am just $64.00 away from my BIGGEST goal yet!!!! Place an order at my online business store and save $4.00 in shipping!!! "While supplies last" and "retiring" items count towards your purchase too!!!

 Don't forget, I now offer punch cards!!!!

 MaryJo's Close To My Heart business page!!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

Oh man oh man!  Looking over my 101 goals and looking back on the last 45 days, I am realizing that there are a few goals that I ALREADY dropped the ball on!!  I can blame being lazy, I can blame the weather, I can blame lack of time, I can blame lack of money,  but whatever the REAL reason, I can blame ONLY me.  While I am feeling down on myself and like a total failure, I know that GOALS can be picked right back up from where I left off.  That is what I am exactly going to do!!

Starting February 13th, (FINALLY, a nice day to be outside), I ran my mile - the pledge I have neglected for at least 2 weeks.  Not only did I run, I ran with Oliver!  He loved it but was very confused at what the heck was going on - that is because I never run with him.  Guess what my furry friend?  You're in for a treat!!

I am holding myself accountable, and while doing so, I am sharing with you what I have "failed" on or not followed through with. I ask that you please keep encouraging me and believing in me!

6) 100 day run challenge - yeah that didn't last long - I did soooooo good at the beginning of January then I just stopped.  2/13 marks day 1...again...

16) substitute every side of fries - FAILED!  I am weak.  I caved in.  Good thing is I have cut back on my consumption though.  Next time I go out to eat and fries are an option...I will say thanks but no thanks.

18) Turbo Jam - I at least took it out of the package. Sigh.

22) Walk Oliver once a week...we are in the 7th week of the year, he's be "walked" once - changing this now too.

24) Journal food/exercise intake - you would think this is the easiest of them all since I am at my desk/computer/phone ALL day but no - there have been a few days I didn't journal.  I loved seeing my calories written down - it dropped me 4.6 pounds.  I want that feeling back!!  Journaling started over (and I set my alarm on my phone to go off daily to remind me to journal).

25 and 26) 32oz of water and daily vitamin.  While this hasn't knowingly happened daily - I can say my daily water intake has increased and I more than likely have consumed my daily amount but not recording it is me not knowing.  And I know I haven't taken a daily vitamin like I should.  (My daily reminder should say journal AND vitamin).

29) Can you believe I did not treat a friend to lunch in January??  Guess 2 friends in February get treated!! =)

30) Make 12 layouts a month - I made 6 in January.  This needs to be kicked up a notch - no excuse since I go to a monthly crop anyway!!

38) Self portrait of myself once a week - I wanted to do this to watch myself shrink.  I took one picture of me in January.  Sigh.

45 and 46) Keep up on laundry and dishes - while I have done this AND got my husband on board, this hasn't been as successful as I had hoped for.  We have both, as a team improved on this though and let me tell you, it is soooooo nice coming home to an empty sink or a hall cleared of laundry piles. We are getting there!!

50) Deep clean banos once a month - well, they haven't been DEEP cleaned in January, cleaned yes, but not DEEP clean.  I do believe I can add "calories" to my day by doing high level chores!!!

51) Take Oliver to the dog park - I WILL blame the weather on this one.

52) Keep up on the backyard - both my hubs and I have done this chore and it SUCKS but that is part of owning a dog and having young children.  I wanted this to be a weekly chore - again, I can blame the weather but this weekend looks to be nice so you will see me out there picking up!!

55) 2 pieces a month for PPD - there will be 4 extra pieces done in February and I have them picked out already.  This is very important to me and my business partner.  I will not let her down.  I will jump for joy though because....we have had about 5 orders already this year!!! 

57 and 59) Go on a date once a month with Jeff and Trenton (errands do not count) - sigh. I have let the 2 most important men in my life down. =( I think I should double this up in February!

61) Read to my kids EACH night - My daughter...sob....can...read...sob...on...sob...her...own.  She'd rather read herself or sing with me.  But that is ok.  We still do our nightly "thing" - and Trenton, well he's just going through something...he just wants to cuddle, doesn't focus on books, AND wants to sleep in mommy and daddy's bed.  When we lay him down - wait for it...he screams!  We let him cry it out - but then he wakes up about 3:00am wailing! 

63) Weekly monthly challenge - while this has been done faithfully by me weekly, there have been 2 occasions where I neglected to register a debit transaction AND before my bank set me up with an NSF fee, my account is set to take money from savings to the checking account to avoid the NSF.  Each time though, I DID replace the amount of money in there.  So, I guess this is still going?  I haven't exactly failed this one?!

64) 40 day love challenge - boo on me!   Nothing happened between Jeff and I, we haven't bickered in a long time - I just dropped the ball on this one too.  He is so very important to me!  I WILL be picking this back up TODAY!! Valentine's Day.

68) Do not touch money from weekly challenge - see above.

83 and 84)  Are you still reading this?  How depressing!! I am so done typing my failures out.  Well, if you are still reading - nope, haven't recycled all I can NOR used reusable/declined bags at the store.  Man!  What is wrong with me. =(

Well, that is all I needed to do, type, re-read.  I am back in the game and I hope my next "failure" post isn't about failing on any of my goals.  I hope its a post about a "Nailed It!" pin from Pinterest! Pinterest "Nailed It!" Images  < ------------------  I needed this laugh!!

Ciao Bellas and Bellos,

MJ































Thursday, February 13, 2014

Introducing my Monthly Club Meet


New Monthly Close To My Heart Club Forming!!
There has been interest in me starting a new club.  If you are interested in joining the new club please read on...

The minimum monthly order is only:
$25 (plus S&H & tax) if we have 6 ladies (which works out to a 6 month commitment, March - August).  If more ladies join the monthly dollar amount will reduce, and the months will extend.  If there is a month where you CANNOT make it physically to club, please turn in your order with payment prior to the day club meets.   You will still receive the activity with directions that we make.  So you really will not miss out on anything. 

Each month you will take turns being the Hostess.  
Once we figure out how many people we have, I will assign you each a Hostess Month.
     -You will earn at least $25 in FREE Close To My Heart Hostess Rewards * when it is your turn to be the hostess. 
     -You can choose from stamp sets, paper packets, ink pads, markers, cardstock, acrylic blocks and more.
Benefit:  When it is your month you can collect outside orders from friends and family to increase the amount of FREE goodies you get. 
As the hostess, you will host a Home Gathering where the club members either come to your house OR you can decide to host at my house.  We will alternate our activity, whether it is a few cards, an altered item, or one layout.  (Please note, I will provide the main supplies for the activities). Then we will have time to place orders.  These sales count towards your Hostess Month.  
     -The rewards get better as the orders increase in amount. 
     -When you hit $250 in sales you will earn $40 in FREE Hostess Rewards * and one half priced item or a half price Hostess Collection!!

In addition to being the hostess, all members will receive: 
* FREE Idea Books before other customers!!
         -Spring/Summer 2014 (if you don't already have it)
        -Autumn/Winter 2014 (you will get it in July when everyone else receives it in August)
        -Spring/Summer 2015 (you will get it in January when everyone else receives it in February).
* A FREE gift just for joining!!
* Stamp of the Month for FREE during hostess month!! (My treat)
* One month of being the hostess earning at least $25 in FREE Hostess Rewards.* Hostesses average $40 plus one half-priced item or more!!
* Periodic sales, challenges, sample products and goodies from me!!
*Budget Your Supplies!! Plan ahead!! (This month I will order A, B, and C, next month I will order D, E, and F and so on).
*Did I say earn FREE
Hostess Rewards *!!
*See New Products Before Other Customers!!

PAYMENT - I accept Debit/Credit Card, Check or Cash.  If you give me your credit card number I will keep it on file and charge it each month at the time the order is placed.  I will need the #, the Expiration Date, the 3 Digit Security Code on the back, and your zip code.  Payment is expected the night of group OR one day after.  The hostess is counting on you, just as you will count on other members when you are the hostess.  

Operation Smile Donation:  Please also let me know at the time you place your order if you are ok with rounding the total up to the nearest dollar and donating the change to Operation Smile.  It is a wonderful foundation that helps fix facial deformities in children around the world.  (Example: Your total comes to $23.75.  You could donate $0.25 and make it $24.00 even).  It only takes $250 for one surgery, and it will change a kid's life forever!!

*Hostess Rewards select product credits are redeemable for:
·  My Acrylix Stamps
·  My Acrylix blocks
·  Exclusive Inks pads
·  Exclusive Inks marker sets
·  Exclusive Inks re-inkers
·  My Stickease® assortments
·  Complements
·  My Reflections paper packets
·  All cardstock packs
·  Workshops on the Go kits

Hostess Rewards

When your order total reaches:
Reward Yourself with selected Close To My Heart Products*:
And receive 50% off:

$150 – $249

$25 in free products

------------------------------
$250 – $349
$40 in free products
1 current Idea Book item
$350 – $449
$60 in free products
1 current Idea Book item
$450 – $549
$80 in free products
2 current Idea Book items
$550 – $649
$100 in free products
2 current Idea Book items
$650 – $749
$120 in free products
3 current Idea Book items
$750 – $849
$140 in free products
3 current Idea Book items
$850 – $949
$160 in free products
4 current Idea Book items
$950 – $1,049
$180 in free products
4 current Idea Book items
$1,050 or more
$200 or more** in free products
4 current Idea Book items

Ciao Bellas and Bellos,

MJ

Goal 85 - Take a painting class

Now, I am not a painter - the only painting I do is my boards and blocks for Pea Pod Decor Wall Art.  I am also a paper crafter (scrap booking, cards, other crafts, etc.).  So I thought to feed my soul, and branch out, I'd like to take a painting class.  I didn't know where to start or what outlook to explore until I saw a post from a friend about Brushes and a Bottle

So, out of curiosity, I went to this page and I was in awe of these paintings.  I did some research.  The owner, Rachel (she's ravishing), Ravishing Rachel, a local gal, hosts these events multiple times a month at local wineries.  She charges a minimum fee for these classes.  The best part is you get to pick the painting class you want to take.  She posts the painting a head of time so when you find the one you want, you better register asap because her classes literally sale out in minutes.

"I'm not a painter though." Well, hush your mouth and negative thoughts.  Guess what...no experience necessary. "You will receive step-by-step instructions during a 2-2 1/2 hour class focusing on one painting. At the end of the class you will have a wonderful custom work of art as a souvenir to remember your experience by. Class includes 16 x 20 canvas, paint, easel, apron, brushes and instruction." (taken from the website).  Yeah, you get all that for your ticket price.  

How do I decide what painting to do???  That was easy for me - I wanted to do her Dandelion class.  But guess what - I waited too long and BOTH classes sold out.  ARGH.  So I started to follow her FB page.  And what should my wondering eyes appear??  A class titled "Go Green and Blue." with a picture of my beloved Seahawks logo.   Say whaaaaaaaaaaa???  Those of you that know me, know that my hubs and I are passionate about the Seahawks.  We named our Son after them!  My mouth dropped and my eyes opened wide.  I think I even gasped!  What a great painting to make for my husbands man cave or my sons bedroom.  The best part, it would be painted by me!!! 

I phoned Jeff practically begging to borrow some of our bill money to take this class - as I was talking to him on the phone, I was justifying WHY I needed to take this class, what it meant, and why the urgency.  All he said was "check your email." Huh?...Ok...GASP!!!  There in my email sits a ticket to the "Go Green and Blue" class!!!  EEEEEEEK!!!  I love me my husband.

I am so excited to share these next pictures with you. I am no Picasso, I am far from van Gogh, but I am me, not to be confused with Monet and I am proud of my painting!!  I will be taking more classes, mark my words. Er, paint my words!! ;)

Ciao' Bellas and Bellos!







Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Goal #14 - 3 more 5k's

I want to be that girl who HAS to get a run in.  I want to love to run.  I don't want my day to function without a daily run.

My bestie Jenn had this cray-cray idea to run a 5k in May 2012. She asked if I would do it with her, I said sure why not.  So we began training.  I told my bestie Deb about this too and she jumped on board.  Let me tell you, I loved that 5k and I was sorta hooked on them.  I was bummed because the other 5k's I wanted to do in 2012 were all scheduled the same time I was either out of town, working, or other plans made.  BOOOO!

In 2013, I ran 3 more 5k's - I ran the amazing Color Run (coming back to the Tri-Cities by the way). Run or Dye - Tri-Cities, KGH Coffee Run, and the Jingle Bell Run with my Girls on the Run club.  There is something about the way you feel after you cross that finish line.  A sense of accomplishment.  Thinking you could never do it or make it but then you do!!   I don't know - I can't explain it.  Pride I guess.

Well, I didn't want to give it up.  So....2014 comes and I create this list of goals I want to do over the next 1,001 days.  I can tell you now, I WILL do MORE than 3 more 5K's.  My first one being the Richland Run Fest 5K.  In freezing cold February!  I don't care.  I am doing it.  I want the feeling in my guts again!  Richland Run Fest I hope you will join me so you can have that same feeling in your guts!

See you out there!!

MJ