The Men in our life

Okay I admit once I made up my mind to start really paying attention to getting our Avon business out there, I have gotten really engrossed in doing so.  Today while trying to think of something to post in our FB page it occurred to me that I do tend to forget about men's products.  That happens when you spend as many years without a spouse as I have !  But it is time to work on our gift lists for the holiday's.  Yes I know it's only August but it is a really good time to start thinking about ideas.  Avon has a wonderful line of men's products that is perfect for gift giving.  It's great if your significant other likes certain products and you want to keep him stocked and it is just as great for the cousin, nephew, friend who you really don't know what to do for. 
This morning I decided to make up a bunch of "Men Only" sample bundles.  Here again , it's not something I thought of until now but I think many of my customers would love a little bag full of different things for her men might want to try. 
I think I need to start a notebook as I am learning to come up with new ideas so I don't just forget about them 2 months down the road because I tend to do that. 
Yup I have leaped into this project head first, the funny part is that I have been selling Avon for as long as my kids have been alive.  I have always loved it but never had the urge to represent it the way I am now.  Funny, old age or social media?

okay a little shameless self promotion and then I will wish you a happy day!
www.youravon.com/vhatlee
fb.me/dhatlee

Have a great summer day my friends!

Babysitting at my age

I'm so tired I can't sleep so decided to play on the computer instead.  My oldest grand daughter went back to work last Friday.  She has not worked in almost 2 years because she was a high risk pregnancy.  My daughter and I decided to tag team babysitting my great grand daughter so that her mom could get back into the swing of working and not worrying about how the baby was being taken care of.  Well 4 day's in my daughter had a bad flare up ( if you have been following my blog you know she has Chronic Lyme Disease).  These flare ups are completely debilitating and she can barely lift herself out of bed to use the bathroom.  So I am coming off my 2nd day of 10 hour baby duty shift and let me tell you....I am way to old for this ****!  This 19 month old child is just full of it and has me running non stop.  I cannot sit down, cannot get a meal, cannot use my computer and forget about the idea of getting any beadwork done!  She is hysterically funny and as full of mischief as any toddler I have ever met.  She is in love with Sesame Street, we have utube streaming episodes all day long.  She sings and dances to the music and I find it so funny, she cannot say mom or dad yet but she can sing "Elmo's World" as clear as a bell.  I took her out to play for a while tonight once the sun went down a bit, not dark yet but no glaring sun right on us.  She danced for all the neighbors until she had them dancing with her.  This was a site, 3 grown women and a grown man stomping there feet to Elmo's World. 
I have my 4 year old grand daughter overnight at least once a week but she is outgrowing this stage and calming down a lot.  If I hand her a tablet she will spend hours watching video's of toy reviews.  Of all things  Toy Reviews !  or if I let her she likes to "text" people on my Facebook page.  her mom and dad, her Aunt Heather.  When they get random private messages just full of random alphabets , they know Amelia is texting and send her a sticker.  This just makes her day.

I guess the bottom line is that I am so very blessed and so thoroughly grateful that I have recovered from illnesses to still be able to enjoy these babies.  I might not be able to keep up but I am still able to pitch in and play and enjoy every moment of silliness and giggles and even a few temper tantrums. 

And last but not least I am having a ball with my new FaceBook page showcasing my Avon and my Beadweaving.  Please if you are on Face book, join us!!!   fb.me/dhatlee
I hope to start doing some giveaways soon, and I am learning bit by bit to come up with some fun content but I need more people.  We had our first online party and I only had 3 people actually participating.  But that is okay as I go along and learn more about how to get people involved I think it will become even more fun.  We all need fun right? 

Have a great evening!

Practicing on you !

Hi, hope everyone celebrated a fun 4th of July holiday.  Mine was very quiet, I never realized how much illness changed the way a person lived.  I guess you can't unless you go through it.  Any way, I am trying something new, something very out side of my comfort zone.  I am pretty good about sharing the every day stuff that goes on in my life but I am not good about writing things that educate or entertain or very subject specific.  But I am working on the new Facebook page that I started and I think it is important that I share information about product and share some fun facts.  I believe in my last post I shared with you that I started a page just to showcase my jewelry and my Avon business. 
Today I decided to showcase Nail polish.  I love nail polish.  I think it is one of my most important beauty products.  We all like to play with color.  Many people use their tattoos to showcase color and design.  That is a life time choice.  I always wanted a rose tattooed on my chest but just never could work up the nerve.  Some people experiment with hair color.  My granddaughter is one of those girls who has different colored streaks in her hair that change with her mood sometimes purple, some times blond, sometimes bright red.  She wanted to put some blue and pink in my hair, I loved the idea but once again, could not work up the nerve.  I am after all 61 years old and I am definitely not as bold or as self confident as I was at 30.

But nail polish, oh my nail polish lets us play with every color of the rainbow and we can change that rainbow as often as we wish.  It is not a permanent commitment.  Today I decided to do my nails with Avon Nailwear pro in Lagoon.  Love this color !!!  When playing with bolder colors it is important to always start with a clear base coat.  This prepares your nail for a bolder color that will not stain your actual nails. It also helps smooth the nail and allow the polish to glide on more smoothly. 
I like to use 2 full coats of polish so that I get good solid coverage letting each coat dry.  If you want your manicure to hold through our every day chores like dishwashing (I wash a lot of dishes) and laundry and scrubbing use a good top coat.  2 coats is better than 1.  I can often get 10 days before having to redo my nails following this routine.

Okay, how did I do?  LOL! Boy do I have a lot to learn when it comes to the written word.  I think my only saving grace will be the fact that I have been an Avon Lady for 35 years. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

And Summer arrives

OOPS I think my butterfly is confused....or drunk.  It wasn't sideways in my pictures but this seems to happen to me often!  Any way this is my first summer Butterfly necklace finished.  I have had a great deal of stuff going on,  just everyday life, yet it seems that I am always on the go. 

Actually I have been struggling with some things and spend a great deal of time thinking, something I have always done, I think and I think, I tell myself sooner or later something is going to give and one of my thoughts will turn into something that is worth action to save myself. 
Seems like since I got sick again last year each month has cost me more and more just trying to keep up with daily living expenses and medical supplies.  I feel like I am floundering like a tiny fish trying to go upstream and the current is stronger than I am.  Yet, I am never willing to give up trying and come up with more thoughts of new things to try.  And then accommodate changes.  Let's start with all the nonsense on Etsy.  I actually thought I might be done dealing with the non stop changes by now as my brother is going to add a shopping cart and few things to my website so I can just use my site but he is still overloaded with work.  So  now I refuse to post my new additions to my Etsy shop using the Etsy link on my social media.  Everything I post, I will direct to my website and then click on the link to my Etsy shop.  If I did this right I don't have to worry about my new listings being covered with items from other shops that "you might like".  Does that sound horrible?  Can't help it, I struggle so hard to be seen and there is just way too much nonsense going on.

I have sold Avon on and off for 35 years and I have never ever had such a hard time getting customers.  Especially in our online store (my grand daughter and I do Avon together)  In this day and age where everyone is shopping on line I can't seem to get a visit to the E store. Will never figure that one out but today I decided to try something new.  I created a Facebook page strictly for my Avon and my Handmade jewelry.  I have a few ideas on doing online Avon parties, just have to develop some details.  I can show my beadwork before I post it on Etsy or Ebay and if someone wishes to purchase they can do so through that post.  I just started this process today so it is going to take some more thinking and planning to entice people but anything is something and it is a start. 
If you Facebook, would you come join us?  Just type into the search bar :  fb.me/dhatlee

I still have my grand daughter and great grand living with me.  The boyfriend moved out last month, I guess being an adult was more than he was ready to handle.  So yeah my house is as crazy now as it was 38 years ago when I had my first child....I really thought at this point in my life I would be living a bit quieter but LOL, it has not happened yet and really have to wonder if I could really adjust to being alone after always having kids underfoot !  That said my great grand is growing like crazy, at almost 19 months now she is hysterically funny and getting into all kinds of trouble, most expecially in the early morning hours when she breaks into GG;s room while GG is still sleeping.  But there is so much to get into !  Beads and paint and brushes, and colored pencils, and canvas,  not to mention the dogs food and water bowl. 
So life has been moving forward day by day and I am so happy summer is here.  Or at least I will be when these nonstop horrible rain storms decide to go away. Hope everyone has a great July!

Rain, Flowers, and other nonsense

Greetings my friends!  I know the picture of this silly little peanut got ya !  This is my great grandbaby Catherine, she is 16 months now.  Holy Cow!!!  Seems like the older I get the faster our days go by.  I am sitting here watching rain drops out the window and wondering...we had non stop rain all April Long.  It is May 8 and it's still raining.  Come on May flowers, enough is enough with the waterworks. 

Just thought I would do a little catch up.  Still dealing with trying to feel better but at this point I am beginning to realize that this is my new normal and I need to just deal with it and feel blessed that I can still do as much as I do.
I haven't done a great deal of beadwork.  I am not sure specifically why, I know my eyes are getting worse every day, my hands are aching but I think it is more a mental thing than physical.  I just don't feel like it ! 
I am playing with my polymer clay.  I really wish I could discover how to get better with it , or should I say, more professional looking.  it's just so much fun sometimes.  My 4 year old grandbaby and I are making a fairy garden so I made a Fairy house over a large glass jar to rule the gardens

This was so much fun and I kept wanting to add more and more little things to it and finally had to say to myself..Hey Deb, this is going to sit outdoors in heat and rain , again, enough is enough.  At least for my first try LOL.

I have spent a lot of time studying some groups who do manifesting.  I like the principal and am doing some of the exercises like journaling the things I am thankful for and the blessings in my life.  I think it is a good exercise just to keep me in the proper mental state of not feeling sorry for myself for what I lack but being thankful for what I do have in my life.  It just kind of puts things into perspective. 

Last but not least I am spending a great deal of time devoting some learning to our Avon business.  I am pretty sure I told you I am teaching my oldest granddaughter so that she can learn to have an income while still being home with that little who at the top.  During this I had to really think about why I do this because we have very few loyal customers.  But I realize that I have sold Avon on and off for about 35 years, I have never had a lot of customers but always had a loyal handful and the reason I keep coming back to it is because I love Avon products, I love the fact that Avon gives in a big way to Breast Cancer Research and Domestic Violence awareness.  I also truly believe that for the people that will get out on the streets everyday and meet people and share the product you really can make a living.  I never have but I retain the dream.  Any way I am spending a lot of time enticing people to check out our online store because getting more customers in the online shop is even more time my grand can devote her time to the baby.  Not to mention we are still trying to create enough income to pay our basic living expenses and make up for what my medical malfunctions have taken from me.  
The great part of having the online store is that anyone can be our customer living anywhere in the world.   If you know of any one that would be interested I will as I always do ask you to share our link.  www.torisavon.com

So these things are what have been keeping me busy and my mind off the fact that I still don't feel as good as I think I should.  I am going out walking every single day, rain or shine, just to feel like I am accomplishing some sense of physical activity and I am sure it is helping in a small way,  I think once the weather is a little bit nicer if I make myself increase my walk each week that will be a good thing. 
Hoping we all see those May flowers soon, have a great week!

Months fly by

Greetings my friends!  I will never understand why I let so much time go by without coming in to post something.  Believe me my life has just enough going on where I could share something every few weeks but, I just get caught up in things.  Any way, Last November I ended up having a 2nd intestinal surgery.  Initially it was supposed to be putting me back together and getting rid of the Ostomy.  Did not work out really well, my intestinal disease is too far gone and I ended up losing some more of my large intestine and having the temporary colostomy remade into a permanent one.  Well, I guess I don't have to wonder any more, this is my life.  Recovery has been a very slow process this time, I think that is a big part of the reason I am not getting much done.  I am extremely fatigued all the time.  I often can not even work up the energy to pick up my needle and play with my beads.  Now that is bad.  So obviously, I am not getting much work done.  The worst part is that I can't stand not being active and involved in things so to seemingly watch myself not able to do anything is very frustrating.  I am doing a lot of reading and everything tells me to just be patient because recovery from this surgery at my age takes a long time.  Okay I will try but my patience is growing short.  Then we deal with the eating issues.  I am on a high protein, low residue, low carb, low fiber diet.  I have a long list of things I can not eat.  Some of them are forever, things like my absolute favorite foods such as nuts and seeds.  I cannot have any meat that cannot be cooked to the point of falling apart so I can have a Hamburg because it is already ground up but a steak is too fibrous.  I cannot have any fruit or vegetable that has skin or seeds.  Almost all my fruit and vegetables have to be cooked to mush.  I walk into the store and pick up a tomato and just stare at , maybe smell it and my mouth waters.  Of course I can take that tomato home and blanche it to remove the skin and scoop out the seeds.  But does that make you want a beautiful tomato sandwich?  Nope !  There are many things I can try adding into my diet slowly, one at a time.  Of course the things I love most aren't being accepted well.  I love the oddball stuff.  The Lima Beans and Brussels Sprouts. I love broccoli and I love beans.  Last week I found a recipe using grated cauliflower and I had to try it because I love cauliflower.  Grated...right down to tiny little specks and within half hour of eating the tasty outcome my intestines let me know we cannot have our cauliflower back.  One of the highlights of my day....a smoothie.  My daughter gave me a nutribullet about a year ago.  It does a great job of disintegrating my fruit into pure liquid so every day at some point I make a big, satisfying smoothie.  Lots of fruit, my daily yogurt, some good juice or almond milk.  Sounds great right?  Yeah..it's putting pounds on me.  natural sugar be damned the sugars in the fruit and juice are making me fat. 

This journey is not going to be easy.  The only thing I have on my side is that I am tough.  I will not give in.  Once our winter weather breaks I can do a little more to help myself and sooner or later I will defeat the fatigue, the hunger, the bad mood.  Hope everyone is doing well, I promise to try and come back sooner than 4 months from now.

Daily Life

Happy Day before Halloween!  My great grandbaby is sporting her first witches hat !  Time has been flying by while I have been in recovery from May's surgery.  I am just now starting to feel like a normal person, getting around, eating a little bit of real food, starting to work on my beading.  I have gotten used to the ostomy, really good about caring for it.  Well guess what?  Next Monday we start all over again.  I am going into the hospital for the 1st of 2 surgeries.  The ultimate goal being this time next year I will have all my insides hooked back together again just being a normal person.  We don't really know for sure if it will work.  My surgeon is very confident but there are issues.  I am going to go for it though.  I would love to return to a normal life.  Let's face it, this has just restricted me in so many more areas again just at a time that I thought things would go back to normal for me as far as going where I want, eating what I want, being very active with my little's.  If the surgeries work I can get back there.  If it does not work...well a new colostomy will be permanently reintroduced.  It's okay, now that I know how to handle it , if it is what I have to do to live then I will do it.   In the meantime, I am getting ready to put the Etsy shop into vacation mode.  Not that any one would notice these days, LOL!  My daughter and I are doing some house rearranging.  I have been using a hospital bed since my dad passed. obviously spending a lot of time in it since last May.  We are rearranging the living room a bit so my bed can be out there, with bookshelves lined up on one side with all my beading supplies so I can sit and work and have all my television channels.  We will be able to put my recliner right next to the bed with an end table between them for my beading lamp.  I know it seems a bit strange to have a bed in the living room but when people come to visit, which only seems to happen when I am really sick, it will be much more comfortable than fitting them into my tiny bedroom. 
My kids are making me Thanksgiving dinner in a few day's because I will still be on liquid , soft diet when Thanksgiving rolls around.  Oh my ! This will be the first Thanksgiving I have not cooked in probably 37 years.  Not quite sure how I will handle that.  I am staying optimistic that I will be feeling a bit better by the time Christmas gets here but who knows!  Any way, I just wanted to check in because I know I only get here every few months as it is and just maybe I will be up to doing it a bit more while I am recovering.  Would love to have a whole new bunch of beading projects in progress to show you but I truly wish for wonderful Holiday times for everyone!