Choffy- Becoming a Distributor

I've come along a lot of opportunities where I am put in the position to sell products. Each gimmick with the grandiose idea of making lots of money and even going as far as supporting my family. All I have to do is pay a hefty starters fee and then put myself out there booking parties and really pushing the product on people.

What have I learned about myself in all these endeavors? I could not sell money....

I am a horrible sells rep! I absolutely HATE putting myself out there, and I'm even worse at taking rejection. No matter how nicely friends or family would decline I would completely blame myself and thought I was a failure.

So what makes becoming a Choffy distributor different? I don't have to push the product onto anyone! Yay Me!! Of course I am blogging about it, but I don't feel the pressure to sell, and you, reader aren't feeling pressured to buy. Win-Win!!

What else I really love about Choffy is that with all the other products there is always a cheaper version. You can buy cheaper kitchenware, make-up, health supplements, toys, etc. But Choffy is one of a kind. You're not going to find it at your local supermarket. No other company roasts Cocoa beans. And did I mention that it's roasted Cocoa beans! Genius!

The health benefits alone are absolutely wonderful. It's got antioxidants, and a stimulant Theobromine which helps give you a boost of energy without the crash that caffeine gives you. If you are looking to get off of coffee or other caffeinated beverages then this is the WAY better solution!

Choffy was on the Dr. Oz show a few weeks ago, and that's how I first heard of it. It looked awesome, but I just forgot about it until my friend posted her link on Facebook. I asked her about it and come to find out a friend I had in Colorado married the brother of the guy who came up with Choffy. Small world!

So if you're interested in reading more about it, or even trying it out for yourself HERE is the link!

Halloween Spirit

We absolutely LOVE Halloween here, maybe because that's also Theo's birthday?? ;) I've always loved Halloween, to marry a guy whose birthday is actually on the holiday is mere coincidence....or is it?

Our favorite part is decorating, okay...okay...it's the candy, BUT second is the decorating. I'm not crafty on my own, I need friends to help me and hold my hand through all these papery projects. If it doesn't involve icing or cake, I'm screwed. So a friend of mine set up a crafting night where she had everything laid out for us and all the letters cut out and ready to stick. My kind of crafting! It was super easy and super cheap, BONUS! This would easily be $30 at Hobby Lobby or Michael's, but because I had a friend hook me up and then I did the assembly it was only $8!!! You can't get any better than that my friends.

Looks pretty awesome on my mantel! I get happy goosebumps all over just looking at it!

A Five Year Old Bean

Don't let that innocent face fool you....

This is the face she is usually giving. I'm waiting for her face to freeze this way one day.

That pouty-faced vixen turned 5 years old today. Her whole purpose on this earth is to teach me patience. I know this because every single day, in every single situation she tries it.

But I love her so much! Her spunk is through the roof!

This little girl is the perfect balance between girly and tomboy. She'll beat the crap out of you wearing a dress, high heels and holding a purse. She'll play tea party with the girls, but karate with the boys. She's sporty, but not competitive. She's independent, but loves to cuddle. She won't take crap from anybody, she knows how to stand up for herself, and she will!

That's my Emma Bean.

I Will Never Forget

I have to write about my experience this past Sunday in remembrance of that fateful day in New York and Washington D.C. Mobile sponsored a 5K run called the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run. When I read that you get to run through the Bankhead tunnel into downtown Mobile I was thrilled and signed up immediately. I knew that it was for a good cause, but it was running through the tunnel that really appealed to me. But then I heard the story.

Here it is:

By the time Stephen Siller was 10 years old, he had already lost both parents. Although he went through a period of struggle, because of the love of his siblings and the values instilled in him by his parents, he grew up to be an extraordinary individual. More than most, he knew that time was precious and accomplished much in his 34 years.

On September 11th, firefighter Stephen Siller had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1, Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was on his way to play golf with his brothers on that bright clear day when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers. When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally to tell her he would be late because he had to help those in need. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center. When Stephen drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic . With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the Tunnel, hoping to meet up with his own company, Squad 1.

Stephen was first and foremost a loving husband and father to five children. He was also a dedicated fireman, devoted brother, loyal friend and committed neighbor. His life brought great light to those around him.

He did not make it out alive, he gave his life to help others. As I ran through the tunnel I heard the hollers and whoops of others around me. I couldn't tell if they were doing it as a rally cheer, or if they were just as giddy as I initially was when I first found out I was going to be running the tunnel. But for me it was a very emotionally draining experience. I placed myself in Stephen Siller's place. Instantly I imagined it was me running to these towers, to help, and ultimately to my death. I thought of his family left behind, I can totally relate being a wife with 5 kids. Without warning I felt the flood gates open and I started crying while I was running. A part of me wanted to show my respect by embracing these feelings of remorse, the other part was forcing me to stop so I could BREATHE!

As I came out of the tunnel the fire department had their trucks set up so they could hang the American flag at the top of the tunnel. It really was an amazing run. I will never forget the lives that were lost or the sacrifices these brave men and women made, but I will always feel a closer bond with Stephen Siller and his family because of this run.

Excel to the End

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
2 Nephi 31:20 The Book of Mormon

When I was in Institute, (it's like a Bible study class for people who are in college) I had this really awesome teacher. Bro. Asquith was his name. One night he read this passage from The Book of Mormon. By itself it is a powerful message, but Bro. Asquith put a spin on it that took it to another level. Focus on the phrase, "endure to the end".

ENDURE- to continue in the same state; to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding

Yes, we should endure. Life can be hard, we may have to overcome suffering and misfortune. And it's vital that we are unyielding in our faith and hold fast that the Lord has a plan for us. But what if we change the word endure and replace it with excel?

EXCEL- to be superior to ; surpass in accomplishment or achievement

Bro. Asquith had us substitute endure with excel and this passage took on another meaning. We should overcome trials, but we don't have to continue in the same state. The 13th Article of Faith says:

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things! To excel is to do more than just endure. We must be actively seeking to become better, better at being honest, better at being chaste and benevolent, better at doing good to all men.

Putting it in this perspective really opened my eyes to my potential. I can excel, I can do more. I don't feel remaining in the same state is all I can do. Sometimes while I am enduring I feel like a get a little stagnant. I don't feel like I am slipping backwards, but I don't feel like I am moving forward either. Without progression one cannot grow, you will remain in your current state.

I try to achieve this progression through goals. Setting goals is something I learned back in my Young Woman years. My goal right now is to read The Book of Mormon again. I have read it 3 times in my life. I know it should be more. There have been several times that I have set the goal to read The Book of Mormon again, and just can't seem to complete it. Now I have motivation in that Facebook has added a challenge to read The Book of Mormon starting now and finishing before the new year. I have signed up for this goal and am determined to complete it this time.

In fact, if anyone wants to join me in this you are more than welcome...hint, hint....Don't sweat it if you don't have one either. I got the hook up for ya'. Just go HERE and one will get sent out to you right away absolutely FREE! You're welcome! And then this way we can all excel together!

Zoning

Now with the kids in school I feel that I am in desperate need of some structure myself. I need to get my house in order and I found the answer on CJane's vlog. A few weeks ago she videoed how she cleans her house in "zones". I have thought of this technique before, but could never seem to solidify it. After watching her vlog I realized why I haven't been able to be successful at zoning...my house simply isn't THAT big to zone anything. So I really had to simplify and got the idea of assigning certain tasks to certain days.

My project today was determining what to do on what day. This is now my week:

Monday: Dusting, Vacuuming
Tuesday: Windows
Wednesday: Bathrooms, Vacuuming
Thursday: Clean Refrigerator and Microwave
Friday: Mop floors, Vacuuming
Saturday: Wash bed sheets, clean rooms
Sunday: Rest

Of course I didn't add Laundry, since I do that every day anyway, or dishes, since I do that SEVERAL times a day. But I feel like now I have a game plan and I feel that I can finally have order in my home.

I know, I know...it's only taken me 12 years of marriage and 5 kids to finally figure this out and I'm sure probably all my readers have their own game plan already in place. All I can say is I guess I'm a little slow, BUT now I am determined!

Before I just tried to keep my house clean according to how I saw fit....or if we were having company....but no longer! My house will be a house of Order for my family's sake and for the sake of my sanity!

Let the Learning Begin!

Another school year begins here in Alabama and another one of my kids starts school for the first time! My little Emma started Preschool today, and now I am down to 2 kids at home.

I was definitely excited about school starting, but I had no idea the wave of euphoria that would pour over me once I dropped my little angels off.

Don't get me wrong, of course I love my kids, but you have to understand my summer vacation has consisted of referring arguments, breaking up fights, popping tylenol to get rid of the throbbing headaches spurred from the incessant screaming...the high-pitched banshee screaming....*shudder*...

So you see it's not that I don't want them around I just get tired of wiping the blood dripping from my ears.

When we were in California and Tobie started Kindergarten I felt a little disappointed that we didn't have to buy any school supplies. That has always been my favorite time of the school year picking out my folders, the smell of newly sharpened pencils and finding just the right type of pen to fit my hand in preparation of hours and hours of writing. What I wasn't aware of is the cost my parents had to dish out every school year on supplies. When we moved back to Alabama I learned that lesson. This year we were particularly hit pretty hard now that there are 3 in school. In just supplies alone we spent well over $100. And that's not including the uniforms, backpacks, lunchboxes, new shoes and socks.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind going back to missing out on supply shopping. That's one bit of nostalgia that I can do without reliving.