Somehow I deleted from the previous post... Thank yous to my momma who is my greatest cheerleader! And my team, who work diligently alongside me to dispell the rumors and fear about our company, and make the world more fabulous every day! You all ROCK!

Thankfulness for...

My love and my li'l gurrll. For their patience and support as I climb through the challenges of personal and professional growth for the benefit of us all! I love you so much! For my brother who gets where I am going, and shouts "Rock on, sis!" when I am flagging. For my friends, who endure endless makeovers and product trials to help me come up with the simple, best, and most effective advice for each person I serve. and for my amazing clients, who laugh, play, ask, and try right along with me!

Qualifications... almost there! My team is growing. We are beautifying this country with simple skincare solutions and easy pretty makeup... wow! It is really coming to fruition. And I still spend evenings with my hubs. And tuck my daughter in at night; and re-tuck her in at 3 am ... and 5 am.... and.... And we have meals together! I never thought that balance was attainable to this degree. And yet I learn each day that my choices create my life. My life is balanced if I choose to create balance. If I choose to be proactive and not reactive.
If I place my trust in Someone greater than myself.

Things are a little crazier as I help 24 women develop the lives they imagine for themselves. Things are topsy-turvy teaching business and life in balance. Even as I learn for myself.

But how incredible is it that, in the middle of an unpredictable economy, I can help shoulder the support of our family! I can help contribute to keeping us housed and fed while my husband pursues his passion for real estate! Just having that option is such a blessing! My daughter is watching me work WITH her Daddy to support our family, give to those with less, and work with a good attitude and a happy heart. She loves putting on a dress and sparkly shoes and lipgloss and telling me she is going to go play makeup with friends, too. Sweet. When R lost his job, I thought I might be too stressed to enjoy little moments like that. Now, they motivate me so much to help us move forward so I CAN see those through thankful eyes!

Throughout the year I take great joy in stopping to say "thank you" to those around me who make life better for all of us. For those in the healthcare field, particularly those who are behind the scenes who keep it all going. For those in service industries who take away my trash, recycling, sewage, and mail without complaint. For those who stock the stores at night so I cna take food away with ease each time I visit! Wow! I remember a couple of overnight jobs in college... I do not envy the loss of electorlytes there! I wish I could buy yoy all some Gatorade.  Thank you!

pro-crast-i-what?

Yep. I did it. A whole month has gone by and I haven't said a word. Not a tweet. Barely a status update.
Why? Ohmigosh... let's see. There was the bizarre visit home complete with a tour of parts of the place I grew up that I was OK not seeing again. :) Then, there was the pit of despair. Where it came from I am not sure. After a few days, I clawed out and got some good counsel.  Seems I like to avoid the things that stress me. Like calling wrong for what it is.
SOOOOO, I finally spoke up. I told a person who has too long been problematic that there must be some new rules, some safety zones. Clarity. Seemed to work.
Until the next day, when that person called to inform me that I was really the problem...  ah, pass the blame. A game I just love.
Is it safe in here, again yet?

my life be like...

So I have some serious pre-travel stress. So much to do and plan before I can actually make the dreaded trip. Expectations to manage, guilt, etc... Ah, the life of a disconnected daughter. We are making the trip out of obligation, though my heart secretly longs for the restoration that just never comes no matter how hard I try.

I haven't figured out how to navigate the world of a dually-self-employed home. He's home today making calls, while I am managing home and child... NOT working. Thursday is actually a normal heavy business day for me, but I just don't know how tomake it work. Woe, woe is me. :)

I did schedule one appointment over the phone this morning. Hopefully I can get a few more calls to work out before we call the day done.

Today was a lot better than I gave it credit for in the beginning. I walked two surprise laps (in four-inch Franco Sartos) around the McGee Track. I booked a party from a referral. S and I had a really fun walk together after a VERY frustrating day together.  She and I saw an empty turtle shell, all kinds of pretty flora (some with a beautiful scent!), and several groups of deer. I think it helped that we were looking for things, throwing a ball, and singing... she didn't notice how far we had walked and didn't complain.

Gotta go get some sleep so I can hit tomorrow hard. :) Thanks for the hugs, abba.

I always find it amazing what commitment helps me to accomplish. I work really hard so that I can play really hard.  Sometimes others are not so supportive of that goal, but that is not my issue to work out.

Today went really well. I met some new friends, reconnected with others, and played with the best-selling line of skin care in the US... what could be better? Oh, wait, the chocolate! So it was very good. :)

S had a great day at school today, despite going in capris and mid-calf socks... at least she matched! And she dressed herself. I am always so proud to see what look she will play with each day. She was super-tired from all of the late night escapades, but she had a fun day and we snuggled and talked about it after school.
She told me fun stories while she jumped on our bed and dressed and re-dressed her doll.

Afterward, she played with friends while I went to small group. R had hurt his back on the way out the door, so he was out for the count and is in bed already. Something muscular... hopefully he can get that looked at tomorrow.

S has her placement appointment for HIPPY curriculum tomorrow. Very exciting! She knows a lot of words, colors, letter, numbers.... but sometimes sequence is tough. I am excited to see what types of activities they give us to work on.

Gotta go... big day ahead!

It is so nice to get a good night's sleep. Not that I did, but it is nice anyway.
I'm off today to teach real beauty and pamper some special people at the Caruso and Company Day Spa Open House! I LOVE days like this...prettiness inside and out! :)

This morning was not excellent. I was up until midnight taking care of work, up at two with a hungry preschooler, and awake until five when she got her second wind. I was behind on deadlines and feeling the pressure of a home that needed a clean-up and a table that hadn't seen a family meal in a few days.

So, sicktiredcranky as I was, I was anything but FEELing excellence today. I make it a practice to outthink the yucky days wuth exercise, good food, and positive people. I make it a habit to shut out the yucky thoughts that want to trap me by seeking out the TRUTH. But today, I just wanted to shut my eyes and take a nap. :) Seriously.

So, I played with S in tiny bursts. I turned on a movie we could snuggle and watch. (Ever try to snuggle a non-snuggler? It must be the equivalent of roping muddy piglets at the rodeo...) I slipped in and out of consciousness as I thought about all of those things I should be doing.

And then it occurred to me. Tomorrow or today. I have the choice. I can put things in perspective, or put them off. So, I took a quick nap when hubs had come home and eaten. I got up, made some of those phone calls, and made a list of what had to wait.  And you know what? At the end of the day, I feel pretty good about this day. I made progress.  I kept my commitments. I had mommy-daughter time.  I have a few minutes to go sit with hubs. Life is good.