If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. ~Bob Hope

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Bracket Busting Hijinks...

I like that modern technology allows me to play multiple brackets...legally and without spending a dime. I was super hot on my one bracket for awhile. Had I picked what I thought I had I would still be smokin', not huge deal since there's no money riding on anything.

So, if Kentucky and Ohio State win tonight, I'll still have a hat in the ring. The problem comes on the final. Do I root for the chance to win an iPod or big fat pizza gift certificate? No way I am in the running for a million dollars or anything like that but I would gladly welcome a smaller prize.

Don't expect a full report from me after the game. I have a show from 12-5 and the first game is at 6. Hmm, is it wrong to pray to go to B-dubs for dinner? I should put the number in my phone right now to make it even easier to pick it up on the way home.

May the best team win and I hope it's yours! :)

Friday, March 30, 2012

My Fizzy Lifting Fantasy

This morning was my son's last day of preschool. School was supposed to run through May but his teacher needed to end the year for personal reasons. Sadly, she is not going to reopen the school in fall. He has had such a great time there and has really developed a like of learning that I couldn't have given him.

Anyway, as we were driving over this morning, I kept thinking of Willy Wonka and the fizzy lifting drinks. See, I had a stack of take home games to take back this morning. Some of them, I didn't even know we had, and have probably been floating around the house since Christmas. And my fizzy lifting fantasy was that I was going to hand back the games to Ms. K and as I walked back out she was going to stop me and magically the end wouldn't be today.

Sigh, just a fantasy not a reality and now to figure out how to keep him sufficiently busy until Fall when we can get him in another preschool.


Thursday, March 29, 2012

Good news, I created a page on Facebook...

...bad news, there's only two likes. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kindness-in-Giving-Creates-Love/281035625305900

I am running this through there with Networked Blogs, and I hope to get some more fun stuff rolling. I figure if I give up sleep, I'll have plenty of time to do everything that I want in life.

Dig 'em

A little snap from my garden yesterday.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Baranoff Elementary's Spring Carnival Silent Auction: Do You Bake? Brownie "Basket" from Consultant Jenn...

Baranoff Elementary's Spring Carnival Silent Auction: Do You Bake? Brownie "Basket" from Consultant Jenn...: Mmmmm, brownies! This package includes a Cuisinart 9" Square Baking Pan for making your  Do You Bake? Choco-nut Brownies & your  Do You...

I know I have a few readers in Texas, specifically Austin. Take a minute to check out the entire Baranoff Elementart Spring Carnival Silent Auction line up and get over there on Saturday for the fun!

Pinning your life away...

someecards.com - I'm really looking forward to the non-existent wedding you're planning on Pinterest
 I am on Pinterest. I kept seeing rave reviews of it. People talking of pinning obsessions. So, naturally when I got my invite from my friend Lynnie I was excited...then disappointed.

Pinterest is one of those things I'll probably never really "get" but people do enjoy it and all the TOS controversy doesn't stop the momentum.

And by all means...Follow Me on Pinterest


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Clever Container April Specials

Clever Consultants and customers every where are brimming with anticipation for April.

Not just for shopping, these durable bags are great for the beach, fair-hopping, and anywhere else you need to keep your summer fun organized. 



When you purchase $50.00 or more, you can pick up a set of these pretty bags for only $15.00!


Need an extra incentive to buy? For the month of April, I will be donating a portion of my sales to the Springboro Relay for Life team. No special code or party, just visit my site and order.

Clever Container is on the verge of unveiling some pretty awesome exclusive items. I'm not sure the date yet but I know that I can't wait to get my hot little hands on a couple of things.  

Animals prints, OMG! I am in love!


So, please if you are hot and heavy into some Spring Cleaning mayhem, hop over to http://www.GetCleverNow.com and see how Clever Container can help you get where you want to be with your home organization!

Do You Bake News and April Specials

Rolling off of a good March, and I am excited for April.

As you can see, the hostess special for April is: 

  • Get an extra $10 in rewards when you close a $200 party.  
  • Close a $300 party in April and in addition to the extra $10 in rewards, you will receive a free jar of Sinfully Cinnamon. 
  I still have openings for April, and I always have space for an online party. Remember, right now Do You Bake is only in US and Canada, so if you are in one of those places and would like to schedule a party shoot me an email. 

Our customer specials for the month of April are: 
  • Cupcake trio for only $19.50. What is in the trio? Chocolate Cupcake Mix, Lemon Cupcake Mix, and Carrot Cupcake Mix all for only $19.50
  • If you haven't already signed up to be a part of YUMM Club, do it in April and get the Popcorn Poppers Set as our gift to you when you join. The Popcorn Poppers Set is a $20 value and includes 1 shaker of each of the following - Cheesy cheddar popcorn seasoning, Cha-Cha Chocolate Popcorn Seasoning, Caramel Sprinkle.
    • The YUMM Selections for April are:  
      • Cracked Pepper and Parmesan Dipping Oil Mix 
      • Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Seasoned Veggies Mixes 
      • German Chocolate Cake Mix
      •  Yours for $29.00 and free shipping
        • YUMM Club is a monthly meal subscription and you will receive the YUMM Selection of the month every month, unless you cancel. 
So that's just a peek at what's on the horizon for April. May will bring more deliciousness, and I am not just saying that. We will be unveiling our summer flyer which I hear has a couple of cocktail options.

Want to stay in touch about Do You Bake?  Come follow me: https://www.Facebook.com/DYBJennyWolfe


Happy baking friends!!

...And needs fans

I posted the title like that because then it will show up in several places as "Kindness in Giving Creates love....And needs fans."

I appreciate the readers that I do have. I have always been grateful for anyone who takes the time to listen to my ramblings. Even way back when it was just one guy in St. Louis who must have been reading me instead of the newspaper every day.

I am not asking for some tightly organized street team style mob marketing. I would just ask that if you read something that you enjoy, share it. C'mon you gotta admit that sometimes I am pretty darn entertaining. If you can connect with Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs or subscribe to the RSS, please do.

If you feel the urge to comment, do.

If you disagree, do it in a comment.


The internet is a pretty shallow place, not unlike a junior high lunch room, so please won't you come sit at my table, so I don't have to eat alone.

Busy, busy, busy...

This is going to be the first of several post today, so I wanted to apologize in advance to anyone who is subscribed by the post, rather than on a summary basis.

I am sitting in this weird place right now. No, silly, not my dining room, but a more esoteric place. Sometimes, because I don't constantly blog and I am not constantly plugged in you don't see the full story. Plus, even if I was somehow fused with all my technology, it still wouldn't be the fullest picture because you aren't privy to my internal monologue and all my deepest, innermost thoughts.

As I posted yesterday, I will be participating in a vendor event with Do You Bake? for  Relay for Life. I will be donating a portion of my sales to the relay for life team. There is a link on my page if you can't make it to the show. Looking forward to it, and for those of you who will be stopping by, I plan to have already prepared items for sale in addition to the mixes. I am grateful to live in a state with "Cottage Food" laws...even with the extra steps to comply with labeling.

I will also be donating a portion of my sales from GetCleverNow.com to the team.

My next several posts will be specifically related to those two lines of business and a few other things, but I don't want to jumble them up all on one post.




Sunday, March 25, 2012

Vendor Show to Benefit Relay for Life in Franklin, Ohio

I will be there with Do You Bake? and donating 10% of sales from to the team. If you can't make it to the event you can shop this link: http://shop.doyoubake.com/default.aspx?AffiliateID=392&EventID=823

I have also decided to donate 20% of all sales through GetCleverNow.com to the team. No special code or instructions, just shop and help out a good cause.

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

91 pageviews away from 3000

I can't believe it. So, it would like totally make my day if I woke up in the morning and it was over 3k. Tell your friends to look. Tell 'em all the cool kids are doing it :)

Friday, March 23, 2012

Doing the Unstuck

It happens to be one of my favorite Cure songs, and quite possibly one of my all time favorite songs. I don't know why. A major thought on a minor chord, that really sums up most days of most of my life.

I don't know why in particular I am thinking about this morning, well, I guess this afternoon now but I am.

I guess it's my happy place.

I suppose it keeps me from completely sinking to the depth of despair.

I'd imagine that it is because I am woman of a certain age and frame of reference that The Cure is the cure and as long as I stay away from thick eyeliner, too much hairspray, and big black boots...the kids won't be too embarrassed for me to make this my jam.
I wonder what's your jam at times like this?

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Have a cupcake...

I don't even have a picture of a cupcake to put up. I am in my back room working with my hoopty computer this morning. I love this thing. I don't know why, maybe just comfort. I have had it for about ten years and it's slow as hello.

Women with Heart Network Bingo tonight at Valley Vineyards. I will be sampling the Chocolate Cupcakes...assuming I don't eat them all before then. Hey, it's a mood, and I should have known better to make popable chocolate cupcake bites!

These are, of course, the DYB Chocolate Cupcakes and I am pleased to report that from a mix that yields 18-24 regular sized cupcakes, I have managed roughly ten dozen minis and a small single serve cake.

If you can get to Valley Vineyard tonight, then you may definitely have a cupcake and a whole lot of fun!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

In the words of the late great Colonel Sanders, I'm too drunk to taste this chicken.

I wish I was drunk, and I wish I had chicken. God, I haven't had good fried chicken in a long time. Damn, this healthy lifestyle! I'd totally walk to the store right now to buy some chicken to fry up if I had people who would eat it.

So, I am not really doing any better than I was yesterday. Or the day before. I am trying. And on some level, I am not completely gone. After all, I did get excited today to discover that I could buy small packets of Speedway's Dark Roast...quite possibly the awesomest coffee ever.  It's funny, I used to get it very regularly and then for various reasons stopped. I had it again for the first time in ages last weekend, and I am instantly rehooked. Now, I don't know if it is just the coffee or the whole coffee, cream, sugar combo that is soo damned tasty. Whatever the size, fill to the mold line inside the cup with cream and add one to two sugars or sweeteners for the best coffee ever. Seriously, I have had all the stuck-up brands and there is just something about the satisfaction factor of the Speedway Dark Roast. I don't care much for the other varieties, so there.

All of that being said, I am still in an extremely pissy mood as was evidenced yesterday and I flippin' don't care anymore. Ok, I do a little because it would be so expletive deleted nice to really see some payoff from the efforts I have put forth over the past...year really. It's been a year since Jeri first started talking to me about Clever Container. It's a little hard to believe but yeah. It's disappointing too because having faith in myself I really felt that I would be doing well with Clever at this point. I am apparently a pretty poor judge of character, my own especially, so that has not turned out to be the case.

I have DYB and that's fine, but I am really in a simlar position there.

It's like I spend my time talking to the wind or something.

I don't get people. Nothing would make me happier that to give my full commission from either business to help people out and yet people are so jaded that they can't even say maybe. More jaded than me, if you can imagine such a thing!?

I guess, I am in a holding pattern with everyhing. I did a bit of poking around about that idea I mentioned yesterday and without money to blow there's not much I can do about it. If I could find a partner who was open minded and well versed in HTML among other things it would be great, but I feel like I have a better chance of lightning striking me.

Sigh, then there's this other thing...but it seems quite masochistic. Really! Seriously, it does. It's one of those things that work out for normal people with friends, but that I fail miserably at...always. It sucks. It so sucks. I want to try it. I know every other person in the world has and ended up benefiting from the set up but I wouldn't. I don't really have friends for one. For two, for God knows why, people just don't like me. I have really been making an effort to make friends, to be more open, and so far the net result of that campaign is zero...so....yeah whatever.

So, if you leave with nothing else...I wish I was drunk and I wish I had a big platter of chicken in front of me.

Carry on.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

If you give away the links for free, they won't wanna read the blog

So, um, yes, I might be in a slightly less than positive mood today. Mostly great weekend, no big deal, couple of things in their but nothing that would triggered this. No, woke up Monday morning just feeling slightly off and just never got up from that point.

Monday, also not a horrible day...except for my husband leaving all the clean laundry strewn across the bed and doing my business accounting. Nothing can break your illusions about yourself quicker than accounting...and teenagers.

I have worked very hard over the past year on all these little projects, and nothing has come to any point that reflects the amount of time and energy expended on these projects. Okay, I'll say it money, none of these projects have returned the amount of money that reflects the effort. I was sitting flipping through blogs that are pretty wildly popular and they are crap. There's no substance, it's all giveaway and nonsense.

So, yeah, I am a little disgruntled at the moment. Having a tad bit of existential blues which seemingly I am the only person in the entire world who ever feels like this, because if there were more people would actually be reading this.

And to compound matters, I had this whole fantastic idea come to me last week that is just...well, fantastic. It's not even worth going into. I am entertaining the idea that I was a fool to think and believe if I followed what was written on my heart that it might actually make me happy. It's never been some half-baked, overblown delusion of disproportionate payout. I just wanted to be successful at something for once in my life.

It's never in the cards for me though, is it?

Monday, March 19, 2012

You Tube, Google, Facebook, oh my! (Or how I let the life get sucked from my day.)

It has come to my attention that I have entered the time suck zone of my computer activities. Ok, so it has been in my sphere of attention for awhile but recently, it has mushroomed into a big issue.

It's not so much gaming. I don't really do any of that from my computer anymore. No, I prefer to lay in the comfort of my bed and play mah jong and poker on the Roku. I tried to keep up with some of those Facebook games, but there really does reach a point where they become unmanageable without me getting a smartphone and playing every waking second of the day.

My biggest issue with Facebook these days is that everyone seems to have forgotten how email works combined with everyone wanting to conduct business in groups. I am in a number of groups that are more business than pleasure, but inherently the problem is even with my super fast reading ability it still takes forever to glean information. So much bs clogging everything these days, IMO. It doesn't matter what group it is there seems like there is always someone spamming the board with their nail wraps and diet miracles. And sadly, they won't quit doing because it's working. I only wish I had that kind of time. The kind of time to put out links in such a sheer volume that the numbers would have to work in my favor.

Do I succumb to the obnoxious stream of media campaigning and get on board with a smart phone or some other web-enabled technology? Or do I go the other way and just say to hell with it all and go "off grid" so to speak? Is being plugged in just an illusion of progress? I wish I could answer that but I have a whiny boy curled up next to the laptop who needs clothes stat!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Illuminating HALO

I have enjoyed reconnecting with many of my childhood friends on Facebook. I enjoy when I can identify the adult based on the offspring's pic. I love seeing where everyone is geographically, professionally, spiritually, mentally, at the moment, you get the picture.

I distinctly remember for some reason, the tagging of a particular wedding picture on the occasion of an anniversary. There is something so ethereal about the wedding pictures of folks who are truly, deeply, and magically in love. There was a glow about his face I don't think I ever saw when we were growing up. It epitomized the joy of having a Facebook family. A few days passed and the tone changed, an urgent need for prayer, the unknowing, and then the news...the baby was lost.

I have been blessed not to have to go down that road. I can imagine the pain, though. They say losing a child is the worst pain that anyone ever has to go through. My parents went through that though. It was always quite surreal to me to see that fourth birth certificate with those teeny tiny footprints. Matthew was about 18 months older than me and sometimes I would fantasize about how life with an older brother would have been and who he would have hung out with and weird things like that, even though to some extent had he survived I probably wouldn't have come into existence. Anyway,  I do remember distinctly my mother's (then weird) sadness around what I know now to be his birthday.

There are many things that people used to push down and sweep away that we now realize should be acknowledged, rode out, and worked through. We are blessed these days to understand grieving and mourning and that it is a process that takes time regardless of  whether the decedent is 1 or 101.

I never know what to say in times like that. It's one of my shortcomings. It's not ambivalence. I usually have things in my head but I just never seem to know how to put them into words at times like that, so I retreat from the potentially awkward situation entirely.  I'm working on that though.

There were a couple of weeks of post after the loss, and a lot of things that I am sure people wondered about. I personally stopped wondering about anyone and just pray when I am not sure what exactly is going on. Then, nothing. Or at least nothing that was showing up on my Facebook radar until tonight.

Honoring Angels Like Owen (HALO) is a non-profit started by my friend and his wife  to "develop, promote, foster, and support the spiritual and emotional needs of families who have lost a child from 20 weeks gestation up to the age of 2 years old. " I say amen! For too long there has been such a gap in this sort of support for women and men and families experiencing the loss of a child.

Like I said, I have been blessed in that I have not had an experience like they had. As a mother of two though, I can completely and totally sympathize with the pain that would result from losing a child before you were really formally introduced to them. There is so much dreaming that goes on during those nine months that to not be able to live out even one day seems cruel.

HALO currently serves the Montgomery, Alabama area and needs your support. Please take a minute to visit their page http://www.honoringangelslikeowen.org/index.html,; say a prayer,; donate your time, talent, and money; help them help others.





Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Abscence makes the blog grow longer...and the heart fonder too.

So, we are in week three of my husband's training schedule. Week three of chaos being the new normal. I thought I had post a few weeks ago that I had a blog topic rattling around my brain but I just couldn't string the words together to get sentences. That was week one, the content is richer but unfortunately, my brain is feeling a bit overwhelmed.

When he was one hundred miles away, it really wasn't any less rough. There is something though about that distance. It's manageable. Well, manageable in that we can meet halfway for dinner about midweek. Manageable in that it's a city and town I have been to and through and it just doesn't seem like a big deal.

Now, he traveled with his old job but this training rotation is such a different beast. This week marks the longest number of consecutive days that we have ever been apart...since we met. It makes me smile a bit because it reminds me of being a teenager and having similar thoughts about shorter time frames. I know that it seems really weird to a lot of people that since we met this marks the first solid week we have ever been apart.  It is what it is. Some people just hit it off I guess, and next thing you know they are hundreds of miles apart. She's listening to heavy rotation of sad sap songs and blogging about it while he does his homework and his own ironing.  Seriously, when I got off the phone with him a bit ago that was why.

I thought I really missed him the first week, even drove all the way out to see him. The first week reminded me of a few things, like how much things had changed in our marriage over the last six months. Lord, then I watched Marriage Retreat on NetFlix and that really through me for one. But ultimately by the end of the first week, I was okay. Full of gratitude and okay.

Week two, no biggie. We Skyped a couple of times. Did dinner. We all survived...intact.

Week three, started a day earlier than the other weeks and involves two time zones. His internet is sketchy, so there's been no video chatting. He calls every break he has during the day to try keep in touch with our son. Texting is sporadic. He missed a birthday. I'm tired. I'm cranky. I just want to cry. I am not sleeping well because honestly our bed sucks and without him to be my counterbalance I can't get comforable...and he's snuggly. I have got roughly 48 more hours of this and it will truly be by the grace of God that I make it because I feel quite defeated, quite lonely, and so uncertain about how in the world these next few weeks of this training schedule is going to pan out.

I started the night just listening to my Pandora quickmix but that went horrible wrong when a Cure song came on. As I type this, I have clicked my way through YouTube video to "Come Undone" by Duran Duran. I kinda wish I had heard that first, instead of "There Is No If" by The Cure.  From "There Is No If" I started clicking though the suggested videos. I could have chosen any of them, but this one is the only one that 100% fits my head and my heart without bringing on the waterworks.

Maybe by the time this is all over I will be able to cover that topic that has now been on the back burner since week one and completely nail it. Assuming I haven't fallen completely apart by then.


Love Those Latte Bars by Do You Bake?: A half-baked review

 So, I made Love Those Latte Bars for my Scentsy party a couple of weeks ago. I had intended to do a full spread like I do of the process and the end result. It was a spur of the moment decision and well, let's just say I had too many things going on at once to execute it well.

To make them you need roughly three sticks of butter and three eggs, so you know they HAVE to be delicious. At least, that is my humble opinion. And it has to be buttah, no margarine, no Crisco, no I Can't Believe It's Not, nope, nope, nope BUTTER.



 So, three eggs, three sticks of butter and three bags. Good things really do come in threes!! Since I am writing this well after I actually made it, and have since thrown it the box away. I can't tell you the steps really, except for that as always it was pretty easy.

I can't even remember from looking at my "step-by-step" pictures exactly what the process was to be honest because I think I skipped important shots. So, in order to fill space, let's admire this bowl of butter:)

This next picture is the psychology portion of our Do You Bake? experience. What do you see? How does it make you feel? Tell me about your mother. Ha, soo kidding there, lighten up, life's to short to not laugh.

Actually, if I remember you mix Bag A with Vanilla and then dare your caffeine-fiend husband to drink it. Then, you dump that into melted butter and use every ounce of willpower not to drink that beautiful concoction yourself!   Then you dump in bag #2 and a trio of eggs, pour and spread in a 9 x 9 and bake. Obviously, you bake it after all, it isn't Do You Microwave or Do You Toaster Oven.

Bag #3 is the icing on the cake, literally.

Biting into a Love That Latte Bar...it's one of those things like a wedding or birth of a child or some world event where you remember where you were and what you were doing when everything went down. One rep shared on our rep board that she was renaming them Holy Sh*t Bars because that was the reaction she was getting when she sampled them. I am not making this up. I took a tiny, tiny corner to sample before the party because I don't want to serve anything that I don't like or at least can't defend. So, then I took another just to be sure it wasn't the hunger talking.

OMG, these bars are awesome! I can't really explain the fireworks and angels singing that happened when I bit into this bar. Now, if you do not care for chocolate and/or coffee, then you will not like these bars. Me, well, my breakfast of choice for a long, long, longer than I care to admit time was coffee and Ding Dongs, so for me these bars were kind of a big deal.

My Scentsy gal and I grew up together, and when she asked me what I thought... I told her that next time I make them I am adding coconut to the mix and seeing if they don't turn out exactly like a cake our cafeteria used to serve.

So, yeah, I love Love Those Latte Bars! My love is reinforced by my friend, Lynnie, buying the leftovers and reporting back that her guild people liked 'em lots.

There is nothing half baked about Love Those Latte Bars...just this consultant :)

Disclaimer: I am an independent consultant for Do You Bake?. The opinions expressed here are my own and if you click a DYB? linky I might receive compensation.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Birthday Wishes and Cupcake Dreams...

Cupcakes from Ashley's Pastry Shop
Oakwood, Ohio
http://www.ashleyspastries.com/


So, sixteen years ago today, actually approximately sixteen years and twenty minutes ago, I became a mother. It's hard to believe really. Not much longer and she'll be leaving the nest. Okay, I think I might get a little verklempt here.

I have done well to not do embarrassing "mom" stuff today like post on her Facebook wall or send attention grabbing packages to school. Sure, I am posting this but unless you know me personally I am just a stranger talking about her kids and I am fairly certain that since I am not popular with the Tumblr set it is a safe bet that this is not going to go viral among her friend's and cause the kind of mortification that seems to only really happen when you are a teenager and everything matters...even if it doesn't.

She didn't want anything really, and I know she meant that. It takes one a long while to realize all the strange and wonderful reasons that your parents and family want to make all over you on your birthday. I love birthdays! For most of her last 15, it has meant a dinner of her choosing and cake and whatnot. I am okay with low-key and picked up these beautiful cupcakes because low-key doesn't have to me nothing at all.

So, here's to another year! Happy Birthday (embarrassing nickname that Mom can't stop calling you deleted)!


Monday, March 12, 2012

I do not comprehend all this whining!

This is not a parenting post. This is me trying to wrap my head around all the whining and complaining I just read on Facebook.

You "lost" an hour...BFD. You probably lose more hours every year complaining about the time changes, the the actual clock hours involved in the time changes. I went to bed late Saturday and got up early to take my husband to the airport where he flew to a different time zone on the heels of a time change. He was up late with me. I have yet to hear one iota of bellyaching out of his mouth.

If I seem grumpy, well, maybe I am. It's an hour. You know when it's going to happen. You can not get away from the notices, and with most of us steadfastly glued to our atomic cell phone clocks, there is so much less chance of actually being thrown entirely off kilter by a chain of events caused by being an hour late somewhere.

It's not just the time change whining, either, I guess. There have been a lot of things that have come into my awareness the past couple of weeks and really reinforce my notion that nothing in life is brain surgery or rocket science except for brain surgery and rocket science. Some of these things that I am seeing and experiencing have really shone a light on how ungodly self absorbed people are and how so many people are the root of their own problems.

Sigh. I'm gonna kick my soapbox back under the table and go deliver some DYB goodies before I pick up my son. And maybe dig out Wedding Crashers this afternoon, because I keep thinking of the motor boat scene on the stairs.

Hopefully all this whining will die down just in time to "fall back" and I can revisit this post when people are posting that the sky is falling and the world is ending because they "gained" an hour. Because really, time is an abstract, it is not absolute. Or perhaps the Talking Heads can explain it better...
time isn't holding us, time isn't after us

time isn't holding us, time doesn't hold you back


time isn't holding us, time isn't after us


time isn't holding us,

To steal a phrase from a minister I used to enjoy...Make that spiritual.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Women with Heart Network Shopping & Bingo~March 22

https://www.facebook.com/events/300530546668607/
Doors open at 7pm for Shopping / Bingo begins at 8pm
Cash & Carry Items will be available!
All in attendance must be at least 18 years of age

The Women with Heart Networking Group (WHNG) has a mission to give back to our community. Please join us at our shopping and bingo event by making a donation or contribution to Fellowship Baptist Church for the support of a group of Bhutanese refugees who came to the United States with only the clothing they wore.

Receive 1 Bingo card upon entrance with a donation/contribution. Examples of items needed are non perishable food, toiletries, paper products, cleaning supplies, linens, and adult size small or children’s clothing.

Earn extra Bingo cards for the following:

Bring a Friend – 1 Card
Every Retail Value Purchase of $25.00 – 1 Card
Book a Home Show – 3 Cards
Sign Up as a Consultant – 5 Cards

Food and wine will be available for purchase from Valley Vineyards.

I will be there with Do You Bake? and I will have some cash and carry. I am putting up a VA-VA Chocolate Kit as a Bingo prize, so come on out and spend an enjoyable evening at Valley Vineyards!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Fabulous Friday Fun!

Admittedly, earlier in the week I was planning a Friday Frustrations post. I don't know what it was about Tuesday but I certainly woke up on the wrong side of the bed and it stayed that way pretty much through yesterday.

I don't know what changed. I guess it was just that whole keep on keeping on and working through it kind of thing. Lots of little things have closed up, just different issues, mainly private and financial and uber-stressful. I spent a lot of time being frustrated with them over the past six months but never angry and always just trying to do the right thing. It's hard...especially since I was dealing with the government who has the care and customer service of street gang. But it's all behind us now and we will be getting a little bit of a refund...until the conjure up another reason they need my money.

The INK180 event is still going on, and I have decided to keep my link open indefinitely, although most likely just up until they get everything rolling as a 501 and so people will be more willing to help them out.

I have had a good couple of days business-wise, and I hope that this momentum keeps up. It's crazy to me how this is all playing out but I am grateful for it.

So, woohoo, here's to not being a grump today! Gonna finish my work stuff, finish my house stuff, pick up the boy and enjoy the weekend. You enjoy yours too! Don't let every little thing dampen your day, you are doing everything that you can to the best of your ability, if you could do better you would already be doing it. Cut yourself some slack and relax! Have a fantastic weekend!!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Four Reasons to participate in the INK180 event

This is a continuation of yesterday's thought about the INK180 event.

Chris Baker, INK180

Tommy
 
Quentin

Ruben


If you want to help, you can shop the event https://www.facebook.com/events/333519800018278/ or get involved directly with INK180 http://ink180.weebly.com/get-involved.html

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Kindness in Giving Removes Ink

https://www.facebook.com/events/333519800018278/

Prior to about a week and a half or so ago, I had never heard of INK180.

INK180 provides FREE cover-ups to former gang members and victims of human trafficking. Transforming their bar codes and hate symbols into something beautiful...something that reflects the turn around in their own life.

At the current time, INK180 is not a 501(c)3 but is working toward getting established as such. The idea behind the I Support INK180 event is simple. A number of different direct sales professionals, myself included, have pledge to pay 100% of our commissions from the event to support INK180.

Who is participating:

CLEVER CONTAINER - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $7.50, Goal: $100
www.CleverContainerStore.com, Shirley Lassiter #113, 100% of commission
Browse the catalog or click Shop Now and browse by product to de-clutter and get organized. IMPORTANT: Select Chris Baker as party host at checkout, if it times out on you please add my ID 113 to keep going. SPECIAL: Purchase $50 get the Organizer Gear Pocket for only $17!

DO YOU BAKE - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal: $100
http://shop.doyoubake.com/default.aspx?AffiliateID=392&EventID=740, Jenny Reibert-Wolfe, 100% of commission. SPECIAL: The Essential Four for $20. It's a shaker of For the LOVE of Garlic Seasoning, Sinfully Cinnamon Seasoning, Chive and Onion Seasoning, Simply Season All Seasoning.

GIGI HILL BAGS - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal: $75
Here is the party link: www.gigihillbags.com/party/30993, Becki Burke,
100 % of commission.

INITIALS, INC. - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal:
http://www.myinitials-inc.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E34076&from=MYEVENTS, Joanne Joseph, 100% of commission

JAMBERRY NAILS - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal: $100
.http://jamminnails4u.jamberrynails.net/party/host/?id=d69ca7b1-79b3-4f75-898e-25ea6ca01584,
Wendy S Blaney, Donating 100% of commission

ORAGAMI OWL - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal: $100
www.leslie.origamiowl.com, Leslie Cantymagli Rhoads, 100% of commission
Create your story in a living locket then at check out there will be an option to associate with a party, choose "Chris Baker / INK 180" from the drop down box. This will allow for all the sale to benefit Chris.

PAMPERED CHEF - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal: $100
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/albert?page=host-search-results&showId=3575939%2CMargaret Toomey Albert, 100% of commission
SPECIAL: https://www.facebook.com/ajax/messaging/attachment.php?attach_id=5ca0a8298a550c871e6795affe026b7b&mid=id.379955418700626&ext=1330902610&hash=AQBwSBcArNvTPRov

PINK ZEBRA - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal: $100
www.pinkzebrahome.com/party/1432, Jessica Jones, 100% of commission
SPECIAL: Stonewashed Denim line is 15% off and our Anjou Pear Sprinkles are also 15% off

SCENTSY - Massachusetts - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal:
https://cindyandlulah.scentsy.us/Buy?partyId=74527476, Cindy Lassell Merchant, 100% Commission

SCENTSY - North Carolina - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal: $100
https://jolenecox.scentsy.us/Buy?partyId=74485384, Jolene Marts Cox, 100% Commission
Make sure you confirm you are shopping in Chris' party. We have introduced "Layers by Scentsy" a line of personal care and laundry care items, in addition to Scentsy Buddies, Warmers, and Bars. Love the cause!!

TASTEFULLY SIMPLE - Total as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal: $60
https://www.tastefullysimple.com/secure/pomm/GuestResponseCatalogParty.aspx?pxid=10308058&key=493e0ffd-394a-4476-ad3d-ca7c09d5a8e8, Heather Frost Fredenburg, 100% of commission, SPECIAL: place an order for $40 or more and receive a NEW Recipes for Best-Dressed Burgers book FREE.

THIRTY-ONE - Toal as of 3/4/12 for INK 180: $0, Goal:
http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E1500041&from=DIRECTLINK, Jena RochonOyervides, 100% of commission
Explore the trendy & affordable purses, totes & accessories for children to adults, Pssst! They cater to men too.
SPECIAL: For every $31 dollars you spend you get a 2nd item for 31% off.
 Or if you prefer the direct approach, you can visit http://ink180.weebly.com/get-involved.html.







Monday, March 5, 2012

Full Dance Card

This is part complaint, part general statement. I didn't post yesterday. I am only posting this right now because if I do not then it will be tomorrow before I do.

Aside from the hubby's new training schedule, I have had a fair amount of activity myself. I had a vendor show Saturday. I am not sure where the heck yesterday went but at least my Scentsy order came in so that was something. Just now, the alarm to remind me to stop working and pick up my son went off. I have a head full of post for the week and I need to get them done...not to mention spreading cheer and brownies across the land!

Bear with me because this week I have a lot of actually important things to post and share...even if I have to down two Rockstars and Frappacino to do it!!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Weathering the storm...

...as I write this I am wound full of ten kinds of anxiety. I have my first big vendor show tomorrow and as much as I keep telling myself it's out of my hands, I can't help but get keyed up. I guess, I should mention that it is Friday night and I am preposting so that I don't get off track like last weekend.


Today was tough. Nasty weather and my hubby driving in it to come home. He called me at one point because he was pulled off on account of hail and heavy wind. I made the dreadful mistake of turning on the tv after we hung. The area between here and where he was...big bright red splotch with tornado warnings. WARNINGS! I am not usually one to get shaken easily. But the hour and a half I waited for him to get home totally sucked!

Five or six more weeks of this. He had our daughter watch our son and we ran up to Town and Country and hit 2nd & Charles and Trader Joe's where he bought me a really pretty bouquet of flowers. We've been doing dinner once a week and talking and Skyping but it really isn't the same as having here 24/7.

I survived today. I can survive the next few weeks. I have watched enough Disney cartoons to know that my options are "Keep Moving Forward", "Keep on Swimming", "Hakuna Matata". Keep moving forward is my favorite. I like to imagine Tom Selleck telling me to keep moving forward. Hahahaha!

I hope that everyone is weathering their own storms with a style and a grace that's all their own!

Friday, March 2, 2012

A Twist on Baked Enchilada Dip from Do You Bake?

First off, I love the Baked Enchilada Dip. I made it for the first time when we watched the Super Bowl, and it was, for me, the highlight of the game. I don't remember if I posted the pics here, but I do think they are on Facebook.

Anyway, my husband started a new job and the training period has him away from home A LOT! Being just me and the kids for dinner it hardly seems worth the effort. The oldest feeds herself as soon as she come home from school. The youngest is hit or miss, unless it's mac and cheese or whatever big sister is having. I have heard from a lot of other people the the Baked Enchilada Dip is great with the addition of chicken. I decided to try a vegetarian twist and added a bag of "California" medley to the mix.
Overall, great flavor and really filling. I served it with tortilla chips, of course. The size of the veggies was a bit annoying, so in the future I will have to chop them a bit before adding.

While I am typing this, my son is leaning on my arm and he keeps saying,"I like that food" , outta the mouths of babes! He does like it...for about a bite, then it's too spicy.

Another vegetarian idea might be to add soy chorizo and the frozen veggies to the mix. I will probably give it a try...when my hubby is back on a regular routine because I was eating this for the next couple of days. Incidentally, the leftovers were great in eggs!

What twist have you put on this mix? I would love to hear about it!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month












Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001747/) MS slowly robs its victims of normal functioning and the ability to lead an active life.

I actually have to take off my shoes and borrow hands to count the people that I know who have been affected by MS. When my friend who is currently dealing with MS suggested I do a fundraiser, I didn't even say yes, I just got busy working on what I could.

This is totally a do what you can with what you got undertaking. If I had a thousand dollars to donate, I would. I do have my Do You Bake? business, though. And DYB? allows me to run sales for fundraisers at a rather generous rate as far as direct sales goes. So, the Do You Bake? Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month Virtual Bake Sale was born.

I will donate 30% of all sales made under the event between now and 4/7/2012. The direct link for sale is: http://shop.doyoubake.com/default.aspx?AffiliateID=392&EventID=680

Please take a minute to check out the event, browse the selection, and support the bake sale. I will be posting information about MS to my twitter @JennyBertWolfe and my FB https://www.facebook.com/CleverJennyWolfe, so please feel free to follow the information there and share freely. Nothing would make me happier than writing out a big fat check in the honor and memory of my friends and family at the end of this event.

Truthfully, I'd like to see enough sales to donate $500 per person I know or $2500. Dream big, right?