You all know I'm an advocate for pampering yourself as a mom. We moms give so much to our families, and I know we all love to do it. But I also know that if we don't give a little bit to ourselves, we're bound to burn out. That's why I blog so much about fabulous things for moms. I also know that many of us can't afford to indulge for ourselves very often. I've got a way, however, that you can give yourself a little something while enjoying personal growth in the process. The answer is becoming a sales consultant in a home party business or similar venture.

Now wait, before you start telling me, "Oh no, Mary, I don't want to sell anything. I'm not a sales person." I understand any concerns you may have. I really do. I don't consider myself a sales person either, but as you know, I do love makeup. That's why I decided to sell Mary Kay when I was pregnant with Brady. I knew that I had a tendency to let myself go when I spent most of my time at home, and I knew the effect that would have on me. I didn't want to be a frumpy, depressed mommy, so I took action to avoid it. I figured that as a Mary Kay beauty consultant, I'd have to keep up my appearance, and I'd be forced to get myself out of the house and amongst people. And I was right.

Self Confidence and Community

I loved selling Mary Kay because I was able to meet people, get out of the house, and build my self-confidence. I went to weekly meetings and was able to interact with other consultants and with customers. Contacting people to do facials was also something that helped to boost my self-esteem. It helped to maintain my people skills as well.

Business Skills

I learned quite a lot about record keeping and handling expenditures through my time with Mary Kay. I also learned communication skills and was able to hone my public speaking. Becoming a sales representative or consultant is a great way to keep your job skills fresh if you're planning to be out of the traditional workforce for awhile.

Free Product

Of course, I was also in it for the product. Selling Mary Kay allowed me to wear Mary Kay. No, I never really made any money, but that was okay with me. What I got from the experience was worth it. Perhaps you may want to consider selling a product just for the benefit of being able to afford it yourself. That's all right. Choose something you're passionate about, that you love. I can almost guarantee you it'll be worth it.

Host a Party

If you're not up for becoming a consultant yourself, maybe you want to look into hosting a party for a product you love. My entire house is decorated with Home and Garden Party products because I've had several parties in the past where I earned free or discounted merchandise. Having a home party is a fantastic way of getting together with your friends and supporting the business of another woman.

I just visited with my Mary Kay director yesterday, and I'm thinking abot getting back into it. I kind of miss hanging out with the girls and getting together to do facials. Now that I'm starting to feel more comfortable in my writing routine, it might be a good time to take that step. What do you think? Is this something you think might be right for you?

Sorry this is so late in the day.  I had a migraine this morning that just would not quit.  But, as promised, today is the day I will tell you more about Cami Walker and the 29-Day Giving Challenge.  Oh yeah, and the giveaway.  Of course, I didn't forget!  I will also tell you how you can win the fabulous Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set I told you about last week. 

[caption id="attachment_173" align="alignleft" width="183" caption="Cami Walker - Founder of the 29-Day Giving Challenge"][/caption]

The 29-Day Giving Challenge is the brainchild of Cami Walker, a woman from California, who started the challenge personally on advice from her spiritual teacher and who, then, took the movement globally through her website, 29 Gifts.org.  The premise is simple, give something away each day for 29 days, but the results can be extraordinary. 

I was fortunate enough to speak with Cami last week about the Challenge,  as well as the results she's seen both personally and from others, and her views on how giving can improve our lives.  This young woman was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis shortly after getting married.  Finding herself bedridden due to the progression of the disease, Cami says she was in a very dark place.  When advised to step outside herself and her problems to give to others for 29 consecutive days, she thought the idea was intriguing and wrote it down in her journal.  It was not until months later that she took her first step toward beginning her journey of giving.  She says, of the challenge, "I was very hesitant to actually do it because, it was like, I was so inside my struggle that I did not know how to even take the first step to change things for myself."  One night during a bout of insomnia, she saw the note in her journal.  According to Cami, "I gave my first gift that morning.  I made a phone call to a woman who also has MS, and I did a free reading for her, and that just sort of started this snowball!"  Cami considers herself a "business intuitive" and does readings "primarily around business, money, and career."

She soon saw her circumstances, attitude, and health begin to improve.  She gave her spiritual reading at 6:00 a.m. and received a call two hours later from a large non-profit organization requesting her consulting skills.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  But she continued forward and decided to head out of the house for some breakfast.  Her husband dropped her off at a local diner where she chatted with a man, who later, anonymously paid for her meal!  She decided to give walking a try and was able, with the help of her cane, to walk the six blocks to her house.  "That first day," Cami says, "things started to change and by my 29th day of my first cycle of giving, I had $8000 in receivable income.  I'd gone from zero to eight grand in 29 days!"

She attributes all of this to a change in thinking and focus. "To me, it's a good example of how powerful our thinking is.  I spent a hundred percent of my time thinking about what was wrong with me when I was sick.  If that's all you think about, that's what you create. My thinking went in a completely different direction.  I was no longer focused on everything that I couldn't do.  I was actually focused on "What am I capable of today, and what do I want to do today?  What do I want for myself today?"  Finally, she says, "A lot of time, especially women, we tend to give and give and give, but we're not really open to receiving.  Giving in its very essence is reciprocal.  If I'm constantly giving but not open to receiving back, I'm going to deplete myself.  It's actually depleting on your energy to overgive. . . abundance is actually being truly open to sharing - giving and receiving, both ways."

Incredible words of wisdom from an incredible woman.  Check out her website at www.29gifts.org to sign up for the 29-Day Giving Challenge.  Here you'll learn more about the challenge, ways you can give, and ways to connect to others involved.  Her goal is to get 2,000 givers by September 29th, and she just hit 700.  So spread the word and sign up.  Visit my page here and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for the Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering gift set.  It's from my own inventory and is just one of the 29 things I'm giving away for my challenge!  Don't forget to leave your comment on my page at the 29-Day Giving Challenge to be entered to win.  I'll be choosing a winner Sunday evening at 9:00 p.m. EST and will announce the winner Monday!  Go, sign up.  Now.

I'm having a giveaway! Okay, so it's not one of those fabulous sponsored giveaways; it's actually something from my own closet. Don't worry - it's brand new. I am giving away a Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set! Isn't it pretty? And it feels incredible!

This giveaway is in conjunction with an amazing movement I recently read about called The 29-Day Giving Challenge.  This concept was thought up by a woman named Cami Walker, who was dealing with severe health and money issues and was in a very dark place in her life.  Her friend and spiritual teacher told her to stop thinking of herself and advised her to give away something each day for 29 days.  Cami took her advice, and the results were astounding.  She decided to share the experience with the world by starting a website and online community where people can commit to the challenge and share their experience.  Go to www.29gifts.org to read more about her story and to sign up for your own Giving Challenge.

On Wednesday of next week, I will not only be giving away this awesome Pampering Set as part of my own Giving Challenge, but I'll share my interview with Cami!  I'll be speaking to her today to find out more about the challenge and about her inspiration for making the movement global.  Come back Wednesday for your chance to win the Satin Hands set and to read what Cami has to share with us!

How many of us have been wearing makeup since our teenage years, but still feel like we don't know how to apply it?  Before my adventures with Mary Kay, that was definitely me.  But now I've learned lots of makeup application techniques and will share them, periodically, with you!

The first thing to know is that there are tons of techniques, and not one of them is necessarily the right one.  There are different methods for different eye shapes.  Also, different makeup artists will recommend their own application tips.  I'd like to start with a simple application of three colors, for a standard eye.  You can see a demonstration here - I'm sure you'll want a visual for this, but I'll try to explain it as well.

First, take your lightest shadow, or highlight, and sweep it on your browbone right underneath your eye brow.  Next, your midtone shadow will go on your eyelid from the inner corner out.  Finally, take your darkest color, the accent, and apply in the crease from the outside in.  This is probably opposite from what you've been taught, but doing it this way puts the darkest application of shadowon the outer corner, which changes the look dramatically. 

Give it a try to see if this way works for you.  You can check out the rest of the application tips to find a fabulous new style for your specific eye shape.  Have fun!

Today's Monday Magazine Motivation comes from the August issue of Family Circle, where I found an article on home party businesses called "Money in the Bag".  As an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay, I fall under that category.  I haven't really been "working my business" lately, as I'm currently focusing on my writing, so this article helped to give me a jumpstart to get back into the swing of things.

 

There's a section on questions to ask and one on home party basics and whether direct sales is right for you.  I really liked the section on smart sales strategies, which gave me some good ideas to get things moving again.  The article contained some really good information, and I suggest reading it if you're interested in selling something like Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, PartyLite, etc. 

You can find another good article here from Brain, Child magazine.  This one warns of the hidden dangers of work-from-home companies and even includes Mary Kay as one to be wary of.  But I say read the articles, take the advice, ask your own questions, and use your intution to make the best decision.  I know that Mary Kay is a product I love and believe in and am realistic about the time and effort I want to put in to it.  Because I don't want to be away from home a few nights a week (leaving my poor husband with the wild children after a long day of work) and driving to lots of different places, I'm not willing to commit 100% right now.  Also, I didn't have a ton of money to put into inventory, so I chose to start small. 

The effort I'm putting into my business allows me to get out and about, meet other women, and have a drawerful of wonderful products I couldn't otherwise afford.  I'm also learning skills that will help me in my freelance business.  The best result is the confidence and pride in myself I've gained through taking the chance and getting started.  A home party business isn't for everyone, but it could be for you if you're realistic about your level of commitment and your desired results.

The theme for the last day of the work week will be Friday Fun.  The day that kicks off your weekend should be fun, right?  So for Friday Fun, I will post my ideas of what's fun.  It could be makeup tips, some funny video my mom is famous for forwarding, or anything else that tickles my fancy or is on my mind.  Everyone needs a little fun in their life.

Today's Friday Fun may not be everyone's idea of fun, but if it isn't, I don't know why!  Along with my love of magazines and non-fiction books is my undying affection for all things girly.  Makeup, hair products, lotions, and potions are my weakness, which is why I decided to become a Mary Kay consultant.  I told my husband it was to motivate me to get out of the house, be among women, and make a little money, but, truthfully, it's all about the product for me!  Right now I'm pretty much just breaking even with my business, but that's okay because I look pretty!

Mary Kay just launched a new virtual makeover feature on their website.  It's fun, fabulous, and free!  You can upload your own photo or choose a model.  Then go crazy with a variety of choices for eye, cheek, and lip color.  Next, choose your hair color and style, even add highlights and lowlights.  So much fun! 

My model had awesome red hair (like my own!) with strawberry blonde highlights and auburn low lights, and her makeup was done in bronze tones, perfect for a summer day.  Go have fun and make your own! 

P.S. - Please know that this, or any other post, is in no way a promotion for Mary Kay or for my own business.  I just love makeup and love to talk about and share my experience.  I'll tell you a secret. . . I used to sell the four-letter A word, too!

The second part of my list of goals focuses on interpersonal issues and is a lot less concrete in nature than Part I.  Though I still incorporate specific and realistic objectives, they seem to be less measurable.  These goals are about overcoming longstanding tendencies and habits as well as looking at the ways in which I interact with others.

4.  I will be more productive in various areas of life (household obligations, writing, activities, etc.): 

• by taking a shower and getting dressed every day.  Also, I will do my makeup - after all, I am a Mary Kay lady!  Getting dressed as if I have a job to go to helps get me going.  Working in my pj's, though it sounds appealing, just doesn't work for me.  I know this.  So it just makes sense to dress as though I have things to do and people to see because I do!


• when I designate two to three days per week for specific tasks.  I know I'm not likely to spend every day cleaning (I hate cleaning!), but if I designate one day for laundry and one for vacuuming, I'm more likely to get them done and out of the way.


• by delegating certain tasks to the kids.  They're 7 and 9.  They can take on small household chores.  This will teach them responsiblity as well as aid in the saving of my sanity.  Win, win.  Yay!

I hate multitasking.  I hate it because I'm bad at it.  But I need to face the fact that today's world is multifaceted and fast-paced.  I think I spend more time feeling guilty about what I don't get done than anything else.  But I truly feel that if I start every day with a plan, I'm much more likely to get more done.  And feel better overall.  No, I don't think I have to accomplish everything on my list - remember, I'm being realistic.  But with a little planning and keeping my goals in mind, I think I can accomplish more.

5.  I will maintain and nurture my support networks:

• by talking to at least one friend on the phone each week.  I have lots of wonderful and supportive friends, but I find it gets so easy to forget that in the frenzy of everyday life.


• by utilizing technology such as email and social networking to keep up with close friends.  I just signed up for Facebook and MySpace.  I'm not very technologically inclined, but we have such fabulous means of communication, why wouldn't I want to use them to make my life easier?


• while visiting at least one friend each week.  Technology's great, but there's nothing like getting together face-to-face.  I have the best time with my friends, most of whom have kids.  So why not pack the little monsters up in the van and go spend some time with other moms?  Again, saving my sanity.  I'm beginning to see a theme here.

6.  I will work to spend quality time with my husband as well as with my kids:

• by taking time to sit with him on the couch at the end of the day three to four times a week.  It's so tempting to just sprawl out on the couch, exhausted, after the kids go to sleep.  We should at least be exhausted together. 


• by making an effort to discuss the occasional issue when it arises, or shortly thereafter, rather than letting it go and grow.  Things don't just go away because I choose not to deal with them.


• by encouraging him in his own interests and pursuits outside of the family.  Poor man never gets any time to himself.  I think that women inherently need more of this, but I suppose men are entitled as well.  So I'll remind him to do something he likes to do every now and again.

There.  I've made my goals public.  I'll also print them out and post them near my computer where I can revisit them throughout the summer.  Reviewing your goals not only helps to make them stick, but also lets you know when they may require a little tweaking or revision, should you find things aren't working.  I will revisit and revise my way to goal success!