acraftylife.com

On a roll with off topic posts

On a private forum for the company I contract with, I have been stunned by the inane comments and lack of respect shown by people toward our troops and those political figures who support them. It reminds me of the atmosphere my husband faced upon his return from two tours in Vietnam, so I had to take a stand.

We are a military family, we make our primary living through a company making military goods. I am the daughter of a deceased Australian Air Force policewoman, the wife of a retired US Navy Sailor, step-mom to an ex-Army Soldier and an ex-Marine, step-sister to a retired Air Force Colonel and aunt to several troops serving in various capacities. My daughter, apparently carrying on the tradition, is girlfriend to a fresh-faced, early-enlistment Army recruit, finishing his senior year in high school. Now, that’s a young man who recognized the price of freedom early in life.

Here’s another young man who does: (Watch till the end to see the price he paid for the freedom of those co-workers of mine to say what they want, no matter how ignorant it may be)

Kinda makes you speechless, doesn’t it?

Enjoy your freedom and do not take it for granted, or it will be taken away.

New community, new church

On the surface, this post has little to do with working from home resources, but as our spiritual journey over-rides everything, it does.

So, you know we moved to a new community, still in the same southern state, so of course, we need a new church. We’ve moved so much and done this so often that we pretty much know in one visit if it will work for us (and us for them). We are sure in our salvation, sure in our beliefs and trying (and often failing) to follow God’s will in our lives.

We identify as IFB (Independent, Fundamental Baptist…yep, fundies), but there’s not always one in smaller communities, so we’ve had to go SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) which is more readily available, but also more liberal. In defense of the SBC, they are the group that the Red Cross cites as usually the first on scene to help at disasters with their Quick Disaster Response trucks and teams…it is an amazing thing to see. They also send more missionaries overseas and fund them better than possibly any other group.

Still, the SBC has some contemporary leanings with which we just don’t agree. For instance, I refuse to be taught or preached to from the NIV heresy often called a bible and do not give me a reference book or magazine study in place of Scripture. I’m not interested in what Arthur Author says about how we should live our lives.

When you encounter an IFB church, you can pretty count on a few things: they will preach from the King James Bible (AV), the women will most likely not be in pants, they will sing the old hymns, they’ll make arrangements to transport those who can’t get there themselves and they will probably visit you…all good things. You can also sometimes expect legalism, criticism and exclusion…not good things. It is a small world and many in the IFB regions know each other, which is good and bad.

When you find one that has abundent joy and a family atmosphere as we did yesterday, you breathe a sigh of surprised, happy relief amd plant yourself. Be prepared to smile, laugh, cry, sing and get to work. It has been a long time since we’ve felt the spiritual joy that the Holy Spirit and our new church family covered us with yesterday and we are pretty excited about that and looking forward to returning on Wednesday. I wish all churches were like that and maybe the world wouldn’t be so scared to set foot in one. Of course, when they do, they should maybe wear steel-toed boots the first time, lol.

Over 100 Ways to Promote Your Business Offline

These are all great ideas to promote your business. Pick a few and concentrate on them for a while, then switch it up. I apologize for not knowing the original author, but I do thank him or her for the privilege of sharing them with you. My comments or favorites are bolded.

1. Take a small zip close baggie (snack sizes work well) and include the following in it: Your Business Card, Business Oppty Mini Flyer, a Piece of Candy such as hard candy or a lollipop, mini flyer of current host specials, discount coupon (optional) etc. Hand these out to the bank tellers, retail cashiers, at your kids sport events, every where you go!

2. When I stay at hotels & motels I leave a mini catalog, my business card & discount coupon and the mini coin canister for the maid! I put her tip inside the mini coin canister! I have gotten 3 orders by doing this!
Be creative when you leave tips for Hotel Maids, Waitresses, Waiters, Hair Dressers, etc. Don’t just hand them your business card, make it memorable!
You can also buy cute little beaded change purses at your local dollar discount store! Deb’s insertion: I leave a votive candle on the table.

3. Print out flyers with your contact info (not your personal address), your website address & email address along with any current specials you are offering.
Then contact local area mobile home park offices, apartment complex rental offices, housing developments etc and ask them if you can leave fliers in their office or hang on their tenants doors. Give the office employees a free gift or discount on their personal orders.

4. Contact local area bridal supply stores, bridal gown stores, caterers, tux rental centers, wedding dj’s etc. Ask them if you can leave your business cards & fliers about the great (Company Name) Bridal Gift Registry for them to give to their customers. Offer store owners a free gift or a personal discount for helping you spread the word about your business.

5. Daycare Centers! They are excellent to contact and leave business cards and/or fliers at! I print out a flyer of just a few items from our Tupperware Children’s line and I attach my business card & a discount coupon. I get a lot of orders by doing this! So whatever company you represent, find some items that cater to children or to moms and make up a flier!

6. A lot of churches hold a Spring and Fall Fest! Contact them about getting a table or a booth. A lot of times this will cost you under $15.00 for a space!
Make sure you take products with you along with business oppty fliers, plenty of catalogs, business cards etc. Do a contest drawing at these types of events. Make up entry blanks that gather the customers info so that you can initiate contact with them again!

7. Join your local area chamber of commerce! They are always holding local business events that you can participate in.

8. College Campuses! Dorms & Housing Students are always looking to spend money! A lot of college students are also looking for an extra income so target them with the Business Oppty too! Drop off fliers and business cards to the College Student Center! They usually have bulletin boards, tables and other things where you can leave your information at for FREE!

9. Contact your local area Welcome Wagon or Welcome to the Neighborhood Group! Ask them about you leaving mini catalogs, fliers, business cards, discount coupons, freebie mini gifts, etc with them. They are always looking for additional items to place in their Welcome Bags!

10. Contact your local area hospitals and ask for Human Resources Dept. The Majority of hospitals hand out New Mommy Diaper Bags filled with products, samples and other stuff for New Moms who just had a baby! It’s FREE for you to add in your information! I have gotten party hosts, new customers and new recruits by participating in these types of programs.

11. Contact your local medical offices, particularly Gynecology and OB Offices and Pediatric Offices and inquire about you leaving information with them. This is a way for you to target Parents of Children with both the home party oppty, the business oppty and new customer sales.

12. Donate a Product to your local area Radio Station, they have numerous contests and they are always looking for sponsors! Your donation can be written off as a tax deduction plus you will get FREE Advertising & Business Exposure for your donation!

13. Donate a Product to your local area Bingo Halls! They are always looking for sponsors of their Bingo Prizes! Bingo is BIG in a lot of areas!

14. Call your Chamber of Commerce and find out about Local Area Job Fairs. Get a booth and set up info about the fabulous business oppty!

15. Call your Local Area Colleges and find out when their next job/employment fair is. A lot of times you can get a booth or table for less than $35 and you will get a lot of GREAT new recruit leads by participating in events like these.

16. Contact local area car dealerships. I have 2 in my local area that hand out a small packet that I made up for FREE to their customers who come in to take a free test drive!

17. Target your local area gyms! You can get a table space for $20 or less in most cases! Make sure you have 3-5 products on display, plenty of catalogs, business cards and fliers.

18. Network with others in your community who are in home business. Find out what events and activities that they participate in. They are usually “in the know” and can help you get started in networking in your community.

19. Contact Companies in your area to see if you can come in and set up a table in the employee lounge or cafeteria for a employee shopping break! These days a lot of companies will allow you to do this if you ask them!

20. Does your local area tv cable company have a local information channel? Inquire about advertising! These ads will reach thousands of potential buyers for you! I recommend you only use your website address for these types of advertising and not your personal at home address.

21. Contact local small companies and shops to see if you can offer an exclusive discounts or freebie gift to their employees. Companies are always looking for a way to “treat” their employees to specials from the local surrounding community.

22. Small Home Town Newspapers! I don’t get too good of a response when I do big newspaper city ads, however… when I target small town newspapers I usually get a great response. I even had them let me place an ad on their wedding and engagement announcements page which I advertised the Bridal Gift Registry. So if you are going to do any type of newspaper advertising, inquire about getting your ads on specific pages in the newspaper that targets the group of people most likely to buy from you.

23. Get a low cost outdoor banner printed up with your business information on it. You can usually get them done for $55 or less depending on who makes it. You can have these outdoor banners displayed at outdoor music/concert events, outdoor children’s sporting events, outdoor adult sport events, outdoor neighborhood block parties, outdoor community events, carnivals, fairs, etc.

24. Take your business on the road during nice weather. Contact local area parks & community centers to see what their schedule of events are and inquire about setting up a booth or table. This is a great way to network & market your business to those in your community.

25. Community Clipper Coupon Packs & Sales Flyer Mailings. These days a lot of communities have mailings such as these, contact them and see how you can participate and advertise your business.

26. Contact small local area businesses such as hair salons, massage parlors, boutiques, banks etc. See if you can set up a table for 1 week with 3 of your best selling products on it along with some catalogs, fliers, coupons and your business card. Keep a basket on the table for any customer orders which you can follow up on after you return back to pick up your display. Offer the store owner or manager a free gift for allowing you to do this. You can also offer to donate a prize for a contest if they let you display the prize donated & get a copy of the contestants entry blanks after the promotion closes.

27. Contact local area pizza shops, diners, deli’s and coffee bagel shops to ask them about advertising on their paper place mats! Customers do read those ads!

28. Contact local area restaurants and see about advertising on their paper beverage coasters!

29. Local Television Stations are always holding on-air contests & website contests for their viewers, contact them about you donating a prize or gift certificate to sponsor one of their contests! Great business exposure for you!

30. Attend Local Area holiday shopping events. Customers who are ready to spend holiday shopping money turn out for these events by the thousands! You can usually get a booth for less than $50.00 so they are economical to participate in!

31. Hold a local area community Block Party at your home or local community center! Families are always looking for something to do during the nice weather seasons!
Optional: Attend your neighborhood block party and set up a table with your product offerings or samples. Get out there in your community and get your business seen!

32. Get your business listed in your cities telephone book yellow pages! A lot of them also have a coupon section too!

#33. You can take this phone book advertising one step further by finding out what company makes the plastic vinyl phone book covers which have local business ads on them and get your business added to it!

34. Get your business information printed up on pens or pencils and hand them out to local colleges and technical schools for them to hand out to their adult students! This keeps your business information in front of them! (make sure you only donate them to schools with adult students). You know how often pens are left somewhere or taken form cashiers by accident.

35. Get a vehicle banner made for your automobile. I recommend the vinyl window clings or vinyl cling ones that stick to your automobile but don’t scratch or remove the paint. You can easily remove them when washing your vehicle!

36. If your city has a travel guide that tourists request, contact that business and find out how you can advertise in it too!

37. Local city or county Maps! These days even city maps have advertising on them! You can usually get a small business ad printed on them for an economical price. Don’t advertise your personal location. If you don’t have a business location then advertise your website address or email address.

38. Contact local area hotels, motels and bed & breakfast inns and ask them if you can do up a Lobby Basket and leave it in their Lobby. What is a Lobby Basket? You make up little packs of info about your business & products and put them into the Lobby Basket for their patrons to take. They usually have a pamphlet wall or area too with pamphlets from local area attractions etc. If they don’t have a lobby basket area, inquire about leaving your business info in their pamphlet area.

39. Get your business info printed up on balloons! This is very economical to do! You then distribute them to local community centers, sporting events and other types of places where parents book their children’s birthday parties! These balloons can be displayed at the birthday party giving you business exposure. You can usually get them done for .3-.8 cents each. Your business name & website address is all you need on them!

40. Find a few other self employed business owners in your community and team up! You can all sponsor a local parade float, parade clowns etc. Make up signs with your business info imprinted on them so that you can receive some great business exposure during the parade!

41. Get some T-shirts printed up with your business information on it (both front & back sides) and hand them out to some friends, family and co-workers and ask them to wear them out and about in the community. This is their FREE gift for helping you to spread the word about your business! Optional: Get ball caps printed up with your business info!

42. Get some canvas tote bags printed up with your business information printed on it. Find a few ladies who are very active in your community and ask them to use your tote bag and give it to them for FREE under the agreement that they will use it every time they go out in the community for errands & events!

43. Get a license plate made up for your vehicle! If you have your normal license plate on the back of your car, put your business named one on the front of the car!
You can get one with just your business name on it for about $20-$30 per plate!

44. Wear a business name tag every time you go out into your community! Get a Catchy Slogan printed on it such as:
A. Ask me about (your company name) Products!
B. I work from home, you can too!
C. Earn some FREE when you party with me!

45. Local Area Magazines! Does your city publish a City Magazine? If so, contact them about advertising or if they hold contests for their readers offer to donate a product or service for their contest!

46. Check out your local area State Fairs & Community Carnivals, there are always a lot of them going on during seasonal weather. Ask about getting a booth or table & set it up with your business information! People love to shop at Fairs & Carnivals and they are looking to spend money!

47. Get some Business Card Magnets printed up and hand them out every where you go! Have your friends & family pass them out too! People are more apt to keep a magnetic business card compared to a regular one which gets shoved into a drawer or wallet. By having a magnetized card, your business is kept in front of the potential customer/client. I have a calendar pringted on the back of my cardstock biz cards as people will put a convenient calendar in their wallet.

48. When you give gifts to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers etc. make sure you give them gifts from your own company! This allows other people to see & touch your gift meaning FREE business exposure for you! (plus, you bought the gift from yourself so you are saving money!)

49. Invite your spouses co-workers over to your home for a little mingling party! Serve some refreshments or do a cookout BBQ and make sure you have a table set up with some product displays! If you sell kitchen or food products, make sure you use them!

50. Do a neighborhood children’s shopping party! I do this before Christmas and again before Mother’s Day. I invite the neighborhood kids to come by and shop for gifts for their parents and loved ones. They enjoy shopping on their own and parents enjoy a small break from the children! To make this successful make sure the products you are offering are economical, I try to keep them under $25.00 each with most being around $10.00 each. Have a table set up with some inexpensive crafting supplies and let the children make their own greeting cards to go with the gifts they have purchased or have a gift wrapping table set up so they can personally wrap their gifts!

51. Do a joint party with another consultant in a non-competing business. Partying with a friend is always fun! You can hold it at one hosts home, your home or at a local community center. Invite every one you know and have others help you spread the word. Hang up fliers at local centers & businesses too!

52. Put an AD in the back of local high school yearbooks! You can usually get these ads for around $20.00 which makes it affordable advertising for you! Make sure you show some school spirit when doing this…maybe congratulating the senior or “Go Team”…you get the idea

53. Put an AD for your business in local Athletic Sport Programs! You can find these at the High School Level, Minor League Level and at Professional Sporting Events!

54. Contact Local Churches & Religious Groups and see if you can place an AD in their weekly church bulletins & program guides!

55. Do you have a local Community Play House? If so, get your business ad placed in their play programs! You can usually get ads in them for less than $25.00

56. Co-Sponsor a Local Youth Athletic Group! Baseball teams, softball teams, cheer leading squads, gymnastic squads and swim teams, etc. are always looking for sponsors! Co-Sponsoring a team will help get your business noticed in your local area!

57. Get a Yard Sign! If you have a home business consider getting a Yard Sign printed up and proudly display it in your front yard!

58. Does your neighborhood hold local Meet & Greets? If so, make sure you go out and attend them! Get to know your fellow community members!

59. Donate a Raffle Drawing Prize to a Non-Profit Group or Charity in your local community! They are always looking for prize donations for their charitable raffles.
Note: Make sure you get a receipt for tax purposes!

60. Do you have a Online Business & Website? Consider getting some computer mouse pads printed up with your website address & business name on them! This will keep your website & business in front of them every time they sign online! This encourages them to check out your website often for new products, updates & features!

61. Local Bus Stops & Bus Sheds! Have you noticed that a lot of them have local business advertising on them? Call up the company and see how much it would cost you to advertise there too!

62. Does your local area grocery store allow advertisers to place business ads on the back of their cash register receipts? If so, contact them about getting your business ad on there too!

63. Local baby expo’s and baby events/contests! Set up a booth or table with your business info! These events are always very popular and a great way for you to reach new customers!

64. Watch your local newspaper for Wedding, Engagement and New Baby Announcements! Make a list and then go to: www.searchbug.com to try to track down addresses. You can mail off your business info to them announcing your business, bridal gift registry, baby gift registry, etc.

65. Stamp your business info to the outside of all outgoing postal mail! Include your business card on the inside. Do this for personal mail, business mail and for paying your bills!

66. Contact your local Fire & Ambulance companies and see if you can set up a table at their next BBQ Event or fundraiser event.

67. Contact LOCAL Assisted Living Centers for Senior Citizens (this is different then a nursing home!) and see if you can come in & offer a shopping oppty. to their Senior Residents! Seniors can NOT get out like they used too so they appreciate being able to shop from home and the majority of them don’t own computers & if they do, they are not extremely computer savvy…so offer a one on one shopping experience with them! They also appreciate the adult company!

68. Are there local small summer concerts held in your local parks? We have them here during the summer months! Ask about advertising options during these community events!

69. BUY little boxes of Smarties ™ Candies! Put your Business info on one side & on the front side slap on a label that says “Be a Smartie, Earn FREE (Your Company Name) w/a Party!” Hand them out every where you go!

70. Make up candy packs with your business info attached to them and hand out to the Halloween Trick or Treaters!

71. Exchange Business Cards, Fliers or Coupons with another Home Party Consultant in a NON-Competing Business and place her filler in your bags & outgoing packages & have her do the same for you! Sort of “scratching each others backs”.

72. The PUBLIC Library! I go in there often and see all kinds of local advertisements for businesses there! See if you can leave a catalog & a few business cards!

73. Do a CATALOG SWAP with another party plan consultant (NON competing business). See if she will swap a few catalogs with you. You hand out a few of her catalogs at the END of your party and have her do the same! Hand them out as guests are LEAVING the party!

74. I have a friend & fellow network member who prints out for me…mint books…she prints a pretty graphic on it, along with my business info…they look like matchbooks and inside is a piece of peppermint hard candy! They are inexpensive too! I think I paid $8.00 for 40+ of them! She includes the candy too! I can refer her to you if you want to try those! Tell Tonya that Shelly sent ya! www.bboopsworld.com/

75. Do a PARTY SWAP with a Consultant in another HOME party business! (NON-COMPETING!) Tell her if she holds a (Your Company) Party for you…..you will hold a XYZ Party for her!

76. Ask about getting your info printed onto golf tee’s and golf balls & then donate them to a local golf course or mini golf course!

77. FOAM DRINK COZIES, the foam thingie you wrap around a cold beverage can! See if you can get some of those with your business info on them & hand them out at local sporting events!

78. Indoor Concert Arena’s. Have you attended a concert lately? Tons of advertising by local and national merchants at concerts! Check into doing some advertising!

79. Children LOVE Stickers! Buy a slew of stickers with your business name on them….hand them out! Chances are that the kid’s parents will see the stickers too!

80. Temporary Employment Agencies…again drop off packets of info about Your Business Oppty to them. The Economy is sluggish in a lot of the areas in the USA…ask Temp. Employment Agencies to refer some clients to you who may be interested in a (Your Company Name) Home Business!!! You could offer the staff a discount or free gift for referrals.

81. Print up some flyers and get permission from local shopping centers to see if you can leave them on car windshields! Always ASK permission first!

82. Does your community print up FREE Renters Guides, House Buying Guides Etc? (you can usually find them for FREE at your local supermarket). If so, contact them about placing your business ad inside one!

83. Got a local ice cream man who drives around in his ice cream truck throughout your community? Talk to him about passing out flyers or letting you add a logo onto his truck via a vinyl cling logo banner!

84. Do a web search for you local county, local township and surrounding areas. I found tons of websites for my area with FREE online business directories which I was able to get my website listed in. They also have offline ADS that you can advertise in too! A great way to also find out about upcoming local community events to participate in!

85. Are there any professional moving companies in your area? If so, contact them! They usually give out new business packet info to their customers/clients to welcome them to their new home. See about adding your business information to their “New Move” Packs!

86. Local small town radio stations that are usually found on the AM frequency usually offer very low-cost local area advertising on their small radio station. A great way to get your business info out to those in your local community.

87. Get your business information printed out onto paper text book covers! You can make them yourself! Donate them to local area adult technical schools and colleges!

88. Is there a local business in your area holding a upcoming Grand Opening? If so, contact them! A lot of times they are giving away freebies to the first few hundred customers plus they do heavy advertising announcing their Grand Opening. This is a GREAT way for you to capitalize on that!

89. Get your business info printed up on inexpensive bookmarks! Then give them to local area colleges, adult technical schools, book reading groups, libraries etc. You can usually print up your own bookmarks with your business info on them for less than .8 cents each! This will keep your business info infront of those avid book readers! They are also great to give away for FREE with customer orders!
#90. Put your Business Knowledge to Work! Offer to teach classes to adults!
Examples: If you are with a kitchen/cooking company offer to teach adults to cook! They are always looking for fast & easy ways to prepare healthy meals!
If you are a scrapbooking consultant, offer to teach a class to new moms on how to scrapbook new baby pages! If you are a Bath/Body/Spa consultant offer to teach pampering classes to women & moms! You can find adult programs by contacting: Local Community Centers, Local Civic Groups and a lot of High Schools & Community Colleges offer evening classes to adults. (continuing education). This generates leads & sales and only takes a short amount of time!

91. Put the word out to your friends, family & co-workers that you offer freebies to party go’ers. What do I mean? Well, people who are holding baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, anniversary parties etc. contact me about my freebies. They make up party goodie bags and are always looking for things to stuff them with. Depending on what type of party it is depends on what I donate!
I print out pretty bookmarks, recipe cards, candy wrappers, gift bag tags, shopping lists, chore lists etc. with pretty designs on them along with my business info. I also attach a coupon. I keep my cost down to .15 cents per person. An inexpensive way to reach new potential customers.

92. Print out your own Re-ordering labels! If you sell consumable goods (foods, spices, soaps, bath products, cosmetics etc) make sure you stick on a small re-ordering info sticker with your business info on it so that your customer can easily locate your information for placing reorders! This is also important to do considering some customers purchase items from you to give as a gift, this way the person who received the gift will also know how to contact you and will become a potential new customer for you!

93. Establish a Referral program for your business and print out referral coupons! Offer established customers a free little gift or personal discount if they refer a new customer to you! I like to give out 3 Referral Coupons to every new customer I get so that they know they will be rewarded for referring new customers to me. Established customers are more apt to refer new customers to you if they know they will be rewarded for that referral. Verbal referral programs don’t work well, so print up referral coupons or referral promotion cards to hand out to your established customers. I also like to put a “referral reward” sticker in all of my catalogs. You can also add a sticker to the backs of your business cards.

94. Print out Coloring Pages with a small section on them advertising your business and donate them to local area restaurants, daycares etc. I was able to find 4pc. crayon sets for ONLY .05 cents a box which I also donated along with the printed out coloring pages! Parents hang them on the front of their refrigerators after the children are done coloring them which keeps your business in front of the parent daily! Cost: About .03 cents for printed out coloring page with your business info located some where on it and .05 cents for the mini box of crayons.
Try to find a design that relates to your business for the best effect.

95. Contact your local area Girl Scouts, 4-H Club and other youth groups. Talk to them about you coming in to do a project with the youth’s in the group. You can also talk to them about your business fundraiser program if you offer one. During the summer time there are a lot of youth camps throughout the community. You can also find youth camps through local churches. Some are seasonal and some are year long programs. The YMCA is also a great resource! For Example: If you are a Kitchen Consultant, come in and teach the youth how to cook or about kitchen safety. If you sell pet products, go in and talk about grooming a pet. If you sell candles, go in and make some mini candles or teach them how to decorate them for gifts. Be creative!

96. If you are crafty with your computer you can print out tea bag wrappers with a pretty design on them along with your business information. I purchased a few boxes of individually wrapped tea bags and then put my printed business tea bag wrapper over it. You can hand them out throughout your community. I like donating them to: Assisted Living Centers, Senior Community Centers, Daycare Centers (to be given to the parents & teachers), School Teacher Lounges, Employee Break Rooms etc.
Example of Cost: .03 cents for a printed color wraper and about .03-.05 cents per tea bag.

97. Make sure you leave info about Your Business on your answering machine or voice mail message! Not everyone who phones you knows that you sell or represent a particular company! (especially those pesky bill collectors & telemarketers).

98. Take your outdated catalogs and randomly mail or distribute them thru-out your neighborhood! Make sure you stamp it OUTDATED and provide contact info for yourself so they can contact you if interested to get a current catalog!

99. Get Business Themed Banking Checks! Your bank checks pass thru tons of hands that could become potential customers or party hosts! If possible get your email address or website URL preprinted onto them! I also suggest using preprinted postal address labels too! (try to get checks that have pictures of some of the products you sell on them or at the very least make sure some where on the check it says: Tupperware Consultant, Avon Rep, and so forth.)

100. Get your business info printed onto matchbooks! Donate the matchbooks to candle shops, smoke shops, clubs etc. to help get your business name out in your community!

101. Consider getting some inexpensive mini desk-top sized calendars printed up with your business information on them and hand out to local office workplaces! A great way to keep your business information in front of a potential or repeat customer/client.

102. Take the above idea a step further. Get your business info printed up on pencils, pens, mini note pads, tab stickers and so forth. Contact local office style businesses and donate a few “business” supplies to them! When you go to the doctors or dentists office you see a slew of these types of things from various companies all over the office, so you can do the same thing by donating them to office-style businesses.

103. Contact local groups in your own community. These can be hobby groups, collector groups, new moms, new parents, neighborhood watch groups and so forth.
See what their coming up activites will be and offer a fundraiser opportunity to them or offer a party or to teach a class to them. Better yet, get involved in a group as a participient. The more you get out there in your community and make contacts the better your business will be.

104. Local Holiday Events! Does your area hold a childrens christmas party, easter egg hunt, halloween party, etc? If so, get involved! You can donate candy or other holiday items and get yourself some business exposure, besides they are always a lot of fun to participate in!

105. Get your business info printed up on some Lanyards and distribute them to local office place environments for employees to use to keep their keys on or give as freebies to your current established customers etc.

106. Get your business info printed up on some employee id tag holders! Hand them out to office environments that have a lot of employees to get your business info seen by lots of people!

107. Contact some local small shops in your area. Offer to sponsor a drawing box & prize. Make sure you have an attractive drawing box and have the prize on display. A lot of small shops have in-shop (in-store) drawings that are sponsored by other local merchants. You should also have on hand a few catalogs and a stack of business cards. This is a great way to get business exposure and to collect leads.
Make sure your entry form states:
Name, phone number and email address
plus a section for:
____ more info about hostessing a party
____ more info about the consultant opportunity
____ request a free catalog
____ please subscribe me to your online newsletter

108. Draft up a business press release. Submit it to your local newspapers, local magazines, tv stations and radio stations. Offer to be a guest on one of their live or recorded shows.

#109. Do you get a lot of magazines to your home? If so, after reading them, print up some labels on your computer that say “Compliments of __________________” and donate them to local doctors offices, dentist offices, local hospitals, libraries, community centers, senior centers, etc. Make sure your label includes your business name & information.

110. Draft up some mini tip booklets, recipe booklets or craft project booklets. Make sure you label them as “Courtesy of ________________” and donate them to local daycare centers, salons, civic and community groups, etc. You can print them out on your home computer inexpensively.

111. If you can afford this idea, its a great one! Remember those little rubbery type of change purses with the key ring attached to them that advertisers use to put their name and advertising info onto them? Well, they are popular again! I got one from our local bank! If you can afford it or co-op it with another consultant that would be a great idea to hand out to BIG office environments where employees carry around a lot of change for vending machines, parking meters etc.

112. If your company has a fundraising program the best way to promote it is to locate local area fundraisers. What do I mean? When local groups hold bake sales, sub sales, chicken BBQ’s, car washes etc….go visit them and offer them a company fundraiser pack with all of the important fundraising information, catalog and a contact sheet & business card.

113. Contact your local area Home Owners Association. See if you can drop off flyers, catalogs and business cards promoting your business to them or set up a free contest giveaway basket in their offices to promote your business and products. Realtors too. Offer to donate bakery scent candles to realtors doing open houses in exchange for leaving biz cards next to the house data sheet. The bakery scent creates a warm home-like aroma for those looking through the home.

114. Do you attend a lot of outdoor sporting events & concerts? Have you seen those afghan throws that you can get personalized? Instead of getting a family name & date imprinted on one…get your business name on it! I have one that has my website address & my business name. Since we attend a lot of outdoor sporting events in the fall, I take it out with me and wrap around myself on the bleachers! Everyone sitting around me gets to see my business info! I even lend it out to friends & family when they attend outdoor events!

115. Take the idea above one step further. Do you spend a lot of time out at the neighborhood pool or at the beach? Get your business info printed up on beach towels & beach blankets! You can also get your biz info printed up on a beach umbrella…better yet, get yourself a rain umbrella with your biz info printed on it!

116. Does your city/town have a local taxi cab company? If so, call them up! I recently donated 35 of my mini catalogs to a taxi company who placed one in the back seat magazine holder of 35 of their cars. Since that time, I have gotten 1 new consultant and 2 new customers! Some bus companies will also accept them so check those out too! People are always looking for something to read!

117. When you travel take numerous catalogs, flyers, business cards etc. with you when you pack for your trip. Make up a separate tote bag just for these items. Leave you catalogs, flyers and business cards ever where you go while on your trip,ie. back of train seats, back of airplane seats, bathrooms, hotel lobbies, restaurants, sporting events, etc…where-ever. This is a great way to target non-local customers and interest in your business. Make sure you have small candles to sell in that bag because people will buy them. Samples as well.

118. Contact other work at home business people and small business owners in your community. It’s more economical for a group of you to share costs on community advertisements and mailings.

119. If you have advertising on your vehicle, see if getting a business card holder for your vehicle would be a fit (www.cardcaddie.ca). These are so cool!!

Ok, so there you have it, a TON of ideas to market your business without a computer. Enjoy!!

Being an Entrepreneur

I spend time each day on forums networking and chatting with friends and today, one post from someone I’ve known online for years, got me thinking. She’s always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but after several years of some success, has now come to the point where she’s questioning her choices to fulfill that as the things she has done thus far, have not been thing she was passionate about.

I have heard many times form successful business people that it doesn’t matter if you are passionate about your product, it matters that you find others who are. I have never really bought into that because it seems untruthful in a way. We are not talking about a large corporation where you may or may not use of like the product of that corporation, we are talking about a personalized home business.

So, how does one go about figuring out what one is passionate about, if ever one is at all. For some people is has always been evident and that shows in their choices early on…athletes comes to mind first, musicians, people for whom their work is their very breath. For others, they don’t even question it until mid-life. Yep, that’s recurring theme around here.

For most of us, it is more of a try and see exercise. College is great for that and I have known some who changed their major so many times that they literally ended up with degrees in several different disciplines, after more years than you want to admit you spent at University, lol.

What is it you like to do when not bound by work, family or other obligations? Are you a closet activist, preacher, artist, car racer, dog trainer, missionary, book editor, mountain climber, researcher, commercial diver, etc? The list is endless and the possibilities overwhelming.

I suggest you look outside your normal activities and imagine and research those things you have never considered. Many companies have been launched by people who saw an untouched need in society and filled it with a product or service. One place to get ideas is Ladies Who Launch
Love that name, it is so proactive and a cute take on high society’s ladies who lunch (and who often contribute an enormous amount to causes).

No matter how you go about researching your passion for your work, it is am exciting time, so best wishes for the journey.

Mid-Life Reinvention

Whaaaaat? I’m approaching a birthday of significance and facing a change in family dynamics, as our youngest child heads off to school too soon. Not being sure exactly how to handle this and already knowing that falling apart, while being my instinctive reaction, is not really a useful option, I’ve been noticing others in this time of life and what they are doing.

An off-hand statement in an email from a business associate sent me in a good direction. For years, I’ve thought of myself, as a work at home mom and I hung out with other online wah moms. This blog and my website even declare that fact, but now, even though my motherhood identity will remain, it will no longer define my day to day life in the same way.

Do you know how many online sites are dedicated to women in my stage of life? A short search earlier today unearthed many and I suspect, I’ve just scratched the surface. The over-riding theme seems to be reinvention and the possibilities that more time and freedom provides. Going back to school, changing careers, moving, simplifying, going after dreams. What a delightful time this may actually be.

A pictorial tribute to a late family member – Roary

A portrait in April this year:

Roary was abandoned as a baby and found a home with us for almost a year, but his amazing personality was not destined to charm this world for long. Alas, he was hit by a drunk teen driver on Mother’s Day and his loss will be felt for a long time. He shouldn’t have been out, but he loved to stalk the birds and squirrels.

He was named because even as a young boy he made his presence known with his strong demanding voice. He love to nap in my arms every morning, yelling at me to pick him up if I wasn’t quick enough to catch on. He loved to play fetch with his featherd toy, jumping high in the air to chase it. He was truly a unique personality and was much loved.

He would sleep anywhere as a kitten:

Hey, mom, put the camera down and cuddle me, it is nap time:

Look closely, there’s a kitty in the tree:

A reverse to the lampshade on the head trick:

With big brother, Milo, watching the birds through the window:

In his memory, I ask that you please adopt a rescue and spay and neuter your pets and contribute to those who catch and spay free-roaming kitties.

Homeschooling

Wow, talk about completely sidetracked from business for the last few weeks! I have been researching homeschooling options because my dd decided that she needs to pursue a different direction than the one we had been planning for the last 8 months, which was a university sponsored residential school for gifted high schoolers in a city a few hours away from us. While I was supportive of her desire to take advantage of that offer which could have opened all sorts of college and career opportunities for her, I didn’t really want her to live away from home so soon. We are all prepared for our babies to go off to college, but for her HS junior year…that hit me hard.

So, I won’t go into the details of what she feels her life direction is to be, except to say that a lot of prayer went into it and I have to admit, she’s a lot happier now, which is a good indicator that she may be more in God’s will for Plan A for her life.

Homeschooling is not new to us, but doing it for high school certainly is, so my research took on obsessive qualities, lol. DD says she should market my research skills and you know, that might not be a bad idea?? What took me weeks might have taken someone working a full-time job with no flexibility, months. People might pay for that service, lol.

Anyway, back to homeschooling and the overwhelming options out there. Christian or secular? Online or workbooks? Accredited or not? Independent or umbrella schools? School-at-home, unschooling, text based, living book based, online. I was surprised by how many universities have high schools: Texas Tech, Univ. Of Oklahoma, Indiana U. and Univ. of Missouri are ones I found and I’m sure there are more. Of course, they are the expensive option.

Oh my goodness! Way too many choices. There are tons of websites and forums dedicated to centralizing of the many options for homeschooling in general, so I’ll just direct you to them.

Homeschool Facts

Home Schooling Parent

Home School Spot

Home School Legal Defense Association

The Link

Home-School World

A List of Homeschooling Forums on the Web

Home Educator

National Charter School Directory

And, some of my favorite Christian options:

ACE Ministries, aka Accelerated Christian Education

Abeka

Alpha Omega

Bob Jones U Press

Sonlight

Burned, burned-out and lied to networkers

Lately, I’ve been in contact with many people who have been looking to create an income from home for a couple of years. In speaking with them, I’ve found that many have very similar stories to share about their work at home search or experiences. Their stories are familiar to me because they are things that have happened to me too.

Companies that don’t perform as promised, businesses which drop out of sight suddenly and leaders who are only in it for themselves are common threads. Many feel used and financially poorer for their trouble. The worst part is the loss of trust that we all come away with.

That’s just not right when all we seek is a legitimate way to earn a living that doesn’t require farming out the kids for strangers to raise, or giving up our time and energy to make someone else’s retirement secure.

Most feel that they would be successful, if shown the way and given a decent amount of assistance. I agree and I’m thrilled to be a part of a group which is doing something to help. I’ve actually never seen the retention in a business system that I see with Mentoring For Free and I think that’s because we all feel valued and part of a greater good.

This system works

So, it has been a few days now and this Mentoring For Free system is working as described. I have received prospects to my email several times each day,just through a small amoutn of advertising I’ve done in places I go everyday. Wow, I am impressed…something that is cost-effective and really works…I’m a believer. I strongly encourage you to download the free e-book and read it, then plug into the free (are you seeing a trend here- free) calls and learn how networking should be done…without pressure, sales or hype. If you have been struggling to find your own prospects for whatever business, this could be your solution.

Is your freedom plan a complete system?

Ok, maybe you already have a company or a business that you are working which you love. That’s great, I do too and I’m not suggesting you change. Does it have a system to help you find and help others who are looking for a home business? Some do and some just leave you to make a list of family and friends. Don’t do that!

If it is network marketing or mlm, you need to have a source of real prospects who have identified themselves as looking and a way to do it that isn’t “salesy”. I don’t mean leads that were obtained in some underhanded check box way, either…don’t buy those.

Most of the population hate to be sold and know when it is being done. I mean come on, who asks a closing question anymore that only a complete moron could say “no” to. Who even “closes” anymore? That’s so disrespectful. People want legitimate solutions, not to be had.

Those looking for a home business as a way out of the rat-race want advice, information and a fair chance to evaluate the options at their own pace. They do not want to be 3-way’d into a sales pitch, nor bombarded with emails extolling your products or detailing your fabulous never been seen before comp plan.

I’ve been the victim of all of this and more and was so burned out that I no longer believed anything. I’ve had comp plans change, uplines disappear or try to recruit my team members and had huge income just disappear overnight…that was especially fun! : ( I’ve had companies say “we’ll build it for you” and “this can’t fail” and it was all lies. I went looking for something different and I was skeptical, like you probably are.

I did finally find something that makes sense and works. Testing this system has been the reason behind my recent silence here. This is a way of finding those who want help and being able to truly help them. That appeals to the volunteer in me.

I hate being left curious just as much as you do, but seriously, the best way to describe this system, the product of over 26 years of networking trials and successes, is to experience it first hand. Nothing to buy, nothing to join, just a simple e-book download that may save you years of frustration and expense. That’s worth it, don’t you think?

Take the chance…maybe it will finally be what you’ve been looking for too.
Success in 10 Steps

Ha, I’m an extremist!

Who would have thought? I’m a fundamental radical extremist, as described by Karen Armstrong of the U.N.’s Alliance of Civilizations in this YouTube video. If you don’t want to listen to this woman’s rantings in full, start at the 4 minute point to hear her call me, and other Christians like me, well…pretty crazy is probably what she means, lol.

She said that the book of Revelation is an “unfortunate Scripture” detailing the Christian extremist’s view of the end time. Well, if being extreme is taking God’s holy, inerrant word…the Bible, as truth, then yep, I most definitely do fit the bill.

Aspartame Experiment

Ever since 1988 when I was drinking a diet shake containing Aspartame, I’ve known it was bad news. I experienced sudden headaches and migraine-like eye shimmers which were so bad, they prevented me from regular activities. When I stopped the diet shakes, the symptoms stopped. Coincidence? I think not.

Follow the link in this post title to go to an article by Dr. Mercola on one woman’s Aspartame experiment. She used rats to test with, which is disturbing, but it is better than being the human test subject of a company only interested in profits, as those who drink diet soda are. In fact, just quit drinking soda completely, no matter what type, and you’ll be healthier.

120 uses for the 12 Oils of Ancient Scripture Kit

ALOES/SANDALWOOD (Santalum album) is the most valuable tree in
the world. It takes 10 years for the sandalwood tree to form hardwood. Peak
hardwood formation is achieved when the tree is between 40-60 years. King
Tut’s tomb was filled with alabaster jars of aloewood/sandalwood oil which
thieves later stole, leaving the alabaster jars behind. Sandalwood contains 90 %
sesquiterpenes, which deprogram misinformation and carry oxygen to the cellular
level.

“And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus
by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound
weight. (John 19:39)

1. Diffuse or place a drop in hand, rub hands together, cup hands
over nose, and breathe deeply at bedtime to enhance deep sleep.

2. Rub a drop above eyebrows in a wide circle around the eye 1-3
times daily to help with vision.

3. Use as men’s cologne. May combine with carrier oil if desired.
Also great as an aftershave.

4. Add 6 drops to running bath water to disperse or combine with
bath salts for a relaxing bath.

5. Use a drop or two for dry chapped skin and wrinkled skin. May
combine with carrier oil.

6. For acute or chronic diarrhea, rub on stomach area and feet
vita flex points.

7. Apply one drop to a cold sore as soon it begins and repeat
5-10 times daily.

8. Massage in hair and on scalp to retard graying.

9. Ingest it in capsules in carrier oil either by itself or with
other oils such as frankincense for health benefits.

10. Put a drop on an incision to speed wound healing.

CASSIA (Cinnamomum cassia) comes from a slender, evergreen tree
which grows up to 20 feet tall. It is native to China. The oil is steam
distilled from the bark. Cassia was an ingredient in the Holy Anointing Oil given to
Moses. This exotic fragrance of vanilla/cinnamon might be similar in its
aroma to cinnamon, but it is physically and chemically much different.
Care must be taken in topical use as it may cause skin sensation. It is
antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and an anticoagulant.

11. Put a scant drop on your tongue and enjoy the delicious
taste!

12. Put a drop or two on your fingers and rub through the hair.
Perfumed hair is good anytime, especially at night.

13. Diffuse or put a drop in your hand, rub hands together and
cup over nose for a joyful, uplifting feeling.

14. Add a drop to water, swish in mouth, and gargle for a
delicious and effective mouthwash.

15. Put a drop in a glass of water and shake it up (to disperse
the oil) for a protecting & refreshing drink. You may just find it curbs your
desire for sugar! Also taking it internally may help with fungal problems!

16. Use it in cooking. For example, add a drop or two to yams.

17. Add a drop to hot chocolate and enjoy!

18. Add a drop or two to hot water, stir, and drink to take away
the chill.

19. Dilute 50/50 and apply to area of concern and VitaFlex foot
points to help with boils, ringworm, and fungal infections.

20. Combine with carrier oil and other oils such as Frankincense,
Sandalwood, Myrrh, Hyssop, or Galbanum and wear as fragrance or put it on a
handkerchief and carry with you or take to bed at night.

CEDARWOOD (Cedrus atlantica) produced mainly in Morocco, it is
the species most closely related to the cedars of Lebanon. King David and
King Solomon used this wood for the construction of their palaces because of its
aromatic oil content which lasts indefinitely. Used by the Sumerians and
Egyptians more than 5000 years ago, Cedarwood essential oil is believed to have been
the first oil to be obtained by distillation. It was known as the oil of
gladness in ancient times, and was used for a variety of purposes including
temple worship, mood elevation and mental clarity. Of all essential oils, cedarwood is
highest in sesquiterpenes, which are oxygen-delivering molecules capable of
crossing the blood-brain barrier.

21. Diffuse or inhale from bottle to enhance prayer and
meditation.

22. Rub a drop of oil in your palms and then cup them over your
nose and mouth. Inhale, breathing deeply to help with mental clarity.

23. Apply on location as an effective insect repellant. For those
with sensitive skin, dilute as needed with V6 mixing oil or olive oil
(organic, extra virgin is best).

24. Apply a drop to a cotton balls and place in drawers to repel
insects and keep clothing fragrant and smelling refreshed.

25. Apply a drop or two to the soles of the feet to enhance the
immune system and boost the body’s natural defenses.

26. 1-3 drops rubbed into the scalp may help to inhibit hair
loss.

27. A drop or two rubbed on wounded skin may help to clean
disinfect and protect from infection.

28. Rub a drop or two on the chest area either diluted or full
strength to help relieve symptoms of bronchitis.

29. To enhance deep sleep inhale cedarwood directly from the
bottle or apply a drop near the temples and the back of the neck.

30. Apply a small amount of oil over the sinus areas to help
improve symptoms of sinusitis.

CYPRESS (Cupressus sempervirens) The oil of Cypress has been used
since ancient times for purification and as incense. Cypress is one of
the oils most used for the circulatory system. Because it assists in moving stagnant
matter, it actually assists many systems of the body: circulatory,
digestive, urinary, and integumentary (skin). It helps with cellulite, varicose
veins, hemorrhoids, fluid retention, constipation, edema, excessive perspiration, and
hand and feet sweating. It is also effective for muscles and joints, the
respiratory system, the reproductive system, and the nervous system.

31. Use a drop or two of Cypress where you would apply a
deodorant.

32. Equal parts Cypress and Tangerine mixed with a small amount
of V-6 mixing oil makes a wonderful serum for skin toning and also aids with
the healing of scar tissue. (Try five drops of each in a 5ml bottle and then
fill the rest of the bottle with carrier oil.)

33. Mix several drops of Cypress with pure V-6 mixing oil and
apply on location to help with arthritis discomfort. (Those with less
sensitive skin may wish to try applying Cypress oil neat.)

34. Apply Cypress neat or diluted on location to ease cramping.

35. Apply a drop of Cypress to a minor injury to facilitate
healing and prevent infection.

36. Rub Cypress around the nasal area to help control a
nosebleed. (Avoid the eye area.)

37. Use several drops mixed with V-6 mixing oil and apply where
needed as an insect repellant.

38. Diffuse Cypress, or inhale directly from the bottle to help
with insomnia.

39. Help relieve acute chest discomfort and/or bronchitis by
rubbing Cypress on the chest area.

40. Help strengthen blood capillaries and increase circulation by
rubbing Cypress mixed with V-6 mixing oil on location. When used with
Helichrysum oil, may help with varicose and spider veins.

FRANKINCENSE (Boswellia carterii) One of the gifts of the wise
men to our Savior, frankincense would have been rubbed all over the body of
the baby. Egyptian tradition says that “Frankincense is good for everything
from gout to a broken head” or in other words “good from head to toe”. If in
doubt, use Frankincense. Other names for frankincense are “olibanum” or “Oil
from Lebanon”.

41. Put a drop on an insect bite to help reduce swelling and
speed healing.

42. Apply 1-2 drops of on temples and/or back of neck to help
improve concentration.

43. Apply 1-3 drops on each foot to help strengthen the immune
system.

44. Dilute 1 drop in 1tsp. honey or 4 oz. rice milk and ingest
daily for health maintenance.

45. Dilute 50/50 with V-6 Mixing Oil and apply to a blistered
area 3-5 times daily as needed.

46. Diffuse or inhale from the bottle to help with mood
elevation.

47. Dilute 50/50 with V-6 Mixing Oil and massage 6-9 drops onto
each foot at night to help with sore feet.

48. Apply 1-3 drops to shoulders stomach and bottoms of feet to
help with low mood induced insomnia.

49. Apply 1-3 drops on nails and at base of nails, 3 times per
week to help strengthen brittle or weak nails.

50. Rub a few drops on stretch marks 2 times a day.

GALBANUM (Ferula gummosa) was valued for its medicinal and
spiritual qualities. It was known as Moses favorite oil. “And the Lord said
unto Moses, take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, an onycha, and galbanum, these
sweet spices with pure frankincense of each there shall be a like weight.” Exodus
30: 34

51. Feeling overwhelmed put 2-3 drops of Galbanum on the bottom
of each foot to help bring emotional balance.

52. For sore muscles apply a few drops to the affected area. If
it is a large area, mix with a few drops of V-6 mixing oil.

53. For that time of the month when a woman needs a little up
lifting or is cramping, put 3 -4 drops on the bottom of each foot. Also inhale
the oil.

54. If you cannot seem to focus on what you are doing then put a
drop in the palm of your hand and rub a little on each temple and on the
brain stem. Cup hand over nose and inhale deeply.

55. For indigestion put a drop on your stomach.

56. During time of prayer apply to the bottom of feet and apply a
drop in hands, rub hands together, cup over nose, and breathe deeply.

57. Combine with frankincense and diffuse for spiritual
uplifting.

58. Diffuse or apply 2 drops to temples or message into scalp to
relieve a headache.

59. Rub 2-3 drops over kidneys and/or on Vita Flex points of feet
for kidney/bladder concerns.

60. Apply a drop over blemish to clear up acne.

HYSSOP (Hyssopus officinalis) has a very long history as a
cleansing herb. Hyssop is a protective herb of the heavens. It is touched with
the love and protection of the divine.

61. Add several drops to a glass spray water bottle to clear a
room of charged emotion or depression.

62. Rub a drop or two on shoulders to reduce tension.

63. To loosen up a tight chest, inhale; it’s highly expectorant.

64. 20th century physicians who used herbs in the United States
used hyssop oil to soothe burned skin.

65. Apply in cold compresses as soon as possible after bruising
to help reduce the bruise.

66. Hot compresses of hyssop oil are helpful for rheumatism.

67. 10 drops in a 1oz base of carrier oils can be used as a chest
rub for respiratory conditions.

68. For the respiratory system, especially to help discharge
toxins and mucus, diffuse, apply to throat and chest, and feet.

69. Add 5-10 drops to bathwater for nervous exhaustion,
melancholy or grief.

70. Use a drop on injured area to help prevent scarring.

MYRRH (Commiphora myrrha) has one of the highest levels of
sesquiterpenes, a class of compounds that has direct effects on the hypothalamus,
pituitary and amygdala, the seat of our emotions. Research in Italy
demonstrated that myrrh has pain-relieving properties as well, which is probably why it
was administered to Jesus prior to his crucifixion.

71. Drop 2-3 drops on a dried log and allow time for oil to soak
in before putting the log on the fire.

72. One drop of myrrh oil on your canker sores may help them to
disappear.

73. Rubbing 1-2 drops on your gums may help heal gingivitis.

74. Mix 2 to 5 drops in water for an excellent mouthwash.

75. Use 1ml oil in 15ml carrier oil for bronchitis and colds with
thick phlegm.

76. Mix 10 drops with 25ml of water, shake well and use
externally on wounds.

77. Putting 1 drop on a blemish may help it to go away.
78. Adding 4 drops to 15ml carrier oil is good for calming.

79. Myrrh is extremely effective at killing STAPHYLOCOCCUS, a
(wound bacteria).

80. Blend with sandalwood to help with vitiligo, a skin condition
where there are patches of skin without pigmentation.

MYRTLE (Myrtus communis) The Hebrew name for Queen Esther was
Hadassah which means myrtle. Myrtle oil is steam distilled from the leaves.
Myrtle is antimutagenic, a liver stimulant, a prostate and thyroid
stimulant, a sinus and lung decongestant, and is antispasmodic. “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle
tree”. . . (Isaiah 55:13)

81. To balance hypothyroidism and normalize thyroid, apply on the
thyroid and the parathyroid Vita Flex points on the feet. Mix with a bit of
carrier oil and apply to base of neck just under the Adam’s apple.

82. For bronchitis, rub on bronchioles & Vita Flex foot points.
Use in the shower at the first sign of attack.

83. Add one drop in a teaspoon of honey for a cough.

84. For a chronic cough, diffuse, apply to throat and chest area,
and massage on vita flex areas on the feet.

85. For diarrhea, rub on stomach and Vita Flex points on the
feet.

86. For prostate decongestant, apply a drop or two to inside
ankle and heel.

87. For sinus, apply to Vita Flex points on feet and rub on each
side of the nose.

88. For asthma, apply 2-4 drops to soles of feet 2-3 times daily.
May also take in a 00 size capsule 2 times daily.

89. For hemorrhoid relief, dilute 50/50 and apply 3-5 drops on
location. This may at first sting, but should bring relief with one or two
applications.

90. Use for children’s coughs and chest complaints because this
is a relatively mild essential oil. May dilute with carrier oil before
applying to child’s throat and chest.

ONYCHA (Styrax benzoin) Although onycha is only mentioned in
scripture by name once, it holds the high position of being an ingredient of
the holy incense (Exodus 30:34). Other names for onycha are “benzoin”, “friar’s
balm” and “Java frankincense”. Tincture of benzoin was an antiseptic used in
hospitals for more than a hundred years (since the mid 1800s). Onycha may have
been used in hospitals but it does NOT have a hospital smell. It contains
vanillin aldehyde, which gives it the pleasant of vanilla. Onycha was valued
anciently for its ability to speed healing of wounds and to help prevent infection.

91. Put a drop on a cut or scrape to speed healing and help
prevent infection.

92. Place a drop on a wound to help slow bleeding.

93. Place a drop on each underarm instead of deodorant.

94. Dilute 1 drop in a tsp of honey or 4 oz. of rice milk and
ingest to help with a cold, cough or sore throat.

95. Rub several drops on the stomach to help ease gripping pains.
96. Combine with rose and V-6 Mixing Oil for a full body massage
to help elevate one’s mood.

97. Mix with either lavender or peppermint and diffuse for a
warming, soothing effect. (Note: do not diffuse onycha alone as it is too
thick and resinous)

98. Put in some warm rice milk (4 oz) and gargle (then swallow)
to help with a sore throat or laryngitis.

99. Rub a several drops on chapped or cracked skin to help speed
healing.

100. Mix with V-6 Mixing Oil and rub on the chest to help break
up mucous and ease a cough.

ROSE OF SHARON/CISTUS (Cistus ladanifer) is also known as rock
rose. It has been studied for regeneration of the cells. “I am the Rose of
Sharon, and the lily of the valley” Song of Solomon 2:1
This beautiful oil has a soft honey like scent.

101. Apply a drop or two to places of concern for arthritis.

102. Great for autoimmune challenges. Apply to areas, diffuse,
and apply to Vita-Flex points on feet.

103. Apply to areas with inflammation alone or mixed with carrier
oil.

104. Put a drop in the palm of your hand and rub hands together
then cup over nose and inhale to help with stuffy nose.

105. Apply 4 or 5 drops along the spine to help with infection.

106. Dilute with v-6 mixing oil and apply to the face for
wrinkles.

107. Put a few drops on chest with v-6 mixing oil for bronchitis.

108. For nervousness or uptightness apply to wrist, inside
elbows, temples, soles of the feet, and inhale.

109. For a calming effect through out the house diffuse 15 to 20
minutes.

110. Due to the phenol action of this oil it may strengthen and
support the immune system. Apply 2-3 drops on the soles of the feet daily.

SPIKENARD (Nardostachys jatamansi) Spikenard has also been known
as “nard” and “false Indian Valerian root” oil. It was prized in early
Egypt and in the Middle East during the time of our Savior. Spikenard is 93%
sesquiterpenes, which have the ability to oxygenate the brain. The amount of
Spikenard that was poured on our Savior before his death would be
worth almost $2,000.00 in today’s currency or a year’s wages for a
common laborer in that time.

111. Dilute a few drops with V-6 Mixing Oil and apply to rough or
wrinkled skin.

112. Dilute 50/50 with V-6 Mixing Oil and apply on location for
help with hemorrhoids (this may sting initially).

113. Apply 2-4 drops at pulse points (wrists, inside elbows, base
of throat) 2-3 times daily for help with cholesterol.

114. Apply 1-2 drops at forehead, temples and mastoids (the bones
just behind the ears) to help vitalize your brain.

115. In India, one drop is taken near the end of a meal to calm
the stomach. (Note: Spikenard is not considered a Food Additive or a Food
Flavoring by the FDA.)

116. Apply a few drops on the stomach to sooth indigestion.

117. Diffuse or inhale directly from the bottle to help create an
atmosphere of forgiveness.

118. Apply a few drops and wear as a perfume or use for a
deodorant.

119. Apply a few drops to feet and crown of head to help ground
and balance the mind and stimulate a feeling of courage and power.

120. Place a drop on a cut to help disinfect and speed healing.

A special thank-you to McBride Enterprises for compiling this information.

Start Living with Essential Oils

Why Do Essential Oils Work In Humans?

This answers a question I have had for a while…

Why Do Essential Oils Work In Humans?
By Edward Close, PhD, PE and Jacquelyn Close, RAAs a scientist.

I ask a lot of questions and have a natural curiosity about why things work the way they do. For years I have quietly read and listened to many others talk about essential oils and what these tiny miracles of God’s creation do. Indeed, I and my family have experienced many benefits from their usage, however, I have never been fully satisfied with the answers or explanations about why essential oils work in the human body.

I have heard Dr. Gary Young say that essential oils are the life blood of the plants, but while blood is essential to human life, and I can see that essential oils serve a similar purpose in plants as blood does in the human body, we are not plants. So what is the connection? Why should oils extracted from plant material be so beneficial to human beings?Gary Young points out that essential oils are highly concentrated, they serve to carry vital nutrients to cells, they cleanse cells and receptor sites and oxygenate the blood. That is intriguing and I can see that due to their ability to transport oxygen into the system, essential oils may have similar effects as hyperbaric chambers in providing freely available oxygen to cells and tissue. Hyperbaric chambers are used to reduce pain and promote rapid healing of wounds and sores by increasing the oxygen available to the cells, which in turn keeps the cells alive and well. I have seen similar results when using oils on wounds our son received during a motorcycle accident. The science is not there yet, but this certainly helped me understand the potential reason for why they work for humans.

My life-long friend, Dr. David Stewart, told me that essential oils have tiny molecules that penetrate the skin and their organic chemical compositions are intriguingly complex. I understand from the chemistry that the compounds of essential oils can be utilized by humans to accomplish certain tasks, but that still did not quite satisfy my curiosity or fully answer the question:Why do Essential Oils Work and Work So Well for Humans?

To my surprise, studying mold and mold-related illness, and understanding why oils have such a dramatic affect on mold, fungi, and bacteria has supplied the answer to this long-puzzling question. Perhaps you are not fully aware of what fungi, or molds and especially toxic molds, do to the human body.Mold Health Symptoms Fungi can cause health problems to both humans and animals by several different biological mechanisms: infections, allergenic or hypersensitivity reactions, irritant reactions, toxic reactions, and in certain cases they can even cause death. In fact there were 16 infants who died in an area near Cleveland, Ohio, and the only commonality found among the cases was that all the houses where the infants had lived contained high levels of a toxic mold called stachybotrys chartarum.

According to a 2004 University of Connecticut Health Center report, the following symptoms have been found through scientific investigation to result from exposure to mold and toxic molds: Allergies, asthma, bleeding lungs, breathing difficulties, cancer, central nervous system problems, recurring colds, chronic coughing, coughing up with blood, dandruff problems (chronic) that do not go away despite use of anti-dandruff shampoos, death, dermatitis, skin rashes, diarrhea, Eye and vision problems, fatigue (chronic, excessive, or continued), general malaise, flu symptoms (chronic), sudden hair loss, headaches, hemorrhagic pneumonitis, hives, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, irritability, itching (of the nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin or any other area), kidney failure, learning difficulties, mental dysfunction, personality changes, memory loss or memory difficulties, open skin sores and lacerations, peripheral nervous system effects, redness of the sclera (white of your eyes), runny nose (rhinitis) or thick, green slime coming out of nose (from sinus cavities), seizures, sinus congestion, sinus problems, chronic sinusitis, skin redness, sleep disorders, sneezing fits, sore throat, tremors (shaking), verbal dysfunction (trouble in speaking), vertigo (feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness and unsteadiness), and vomiting

We are surrounded by mold and fungi. They are found everywhere on planet Earth. The geologic record informs us that molds have existed perhaps a billion years longer than humans. Mold is a hardy, long-lived, secure life form that was originally thought to be a part of the plant kingdom. Then, it was discovered that fungi, or molds, are not bacteria, not viruses, not plants, and not animals. They are entirely different. In the 1960s, scientists recognized molds as their own kingdom — the Fungi Kingdom.
S
o, if they are everywhere, what can we do?Horror stories of toxic mold exposure abound and yet the very things recommended to address the problems of mold are either prohibitively expensive or they are just as toxic and hazardous to human health, even potentially lethal, and often they simply do not work.

Consider this…When a living organism dies, plant or animal, mold along with numerous other micro organisms attack the body in order to break it down into various organic compounds, some of which the organisms, these scavengers, use as food. This is a natural process that continually recycles life and materials found on planet earth. The difference between fungi and the scavengers we usually think of, such as vultures, is that fungi (molds) do not care whether you are alive or dead, they are attacking you all the time. Right now, in fact. They are doing what they do best, trying to reduce you to useable food stuff!Fungi do the same thing with plants. Plant materials are primarily cellulose — the most delectable of foods to fungi. If plants did not have a way to ward off these fungi and also bacterial attacks, they would have become extinct ages ago. And what is it that has preserved the plants? It is the essential oils. Essential oils were created, at least in part, to serve as or to strengthen the plant’s immune system. One of an essential oil’s primary responsibilities is destruction of fungi and bacteria that would otherwise destroy the plant.The real point here is that these wondrous essential oils were designed specifically to attack, kill and destroy the organisms that damage or hinder the full expression of a joyous, healthful life and they are designed to minimize and prevent damage to higher order living organisms. That is why oils are so beneficial to humans, that is why they work so well for humans, they destroy the organisms that would do us harm and they apparently do not destroy the organisms that are there to help us.In recent scientific investigations, I have collected data on the results of using Young Living’s essential oil blend called Thieves to kill toxic mold. Within the next few months that data, which was collected from several sites infested with toxic molds, will be available through a DVD and a book providing scientific evidence that diffusing this wonderful blend of oils created by Dr. Gary Young is the best defense available today against mold and toxic molds. Soon you will be able to show people, not just tell them, that the Thieves oil blend destroys toxic mold. And, as most of us who have used these oils already know, these special oils are not harmful to humans or pets but instead offer great support to health and wellness. As for the health benefits, well they say the “proof is in the pudding,” and in my case the pudding is my health. I will soon be 70 years old and I am healthier today than I was 10 years ago or even 20 years ago.

My wife, Jacqui, and I have used Young Living oils, exclusively, for about 7 years now because of the benefits we have received from them. We diffuse essential oils in our home and in our offices and I am happy to tell you that I have not had the flu or a debilitating cold in all that time. God is great! And so are Young Living’s Essential Oils.—

Edward Close has a PhD in environmental science and engineering. He is a Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri, and has worked in the environmental industry since1965.Jacquelyn Close is a Registered Aromatherapist and a Fully Certified CARE Instructor. She has used and taught Alternative and Complimentary Techniques (ACT) for health and wellness since 1975.–

You Have A New Team Member

You have to love when this happens. Completely out of the blue, you get an email that says “You have a new team member”, or something like that. Happens to me regularly and more often than not, I don’t know the person…yet. They found me somewhere: here, a forum, an ad, my site, even a biz card maybe, liked the business and joined.

Since I’m in network marketing, that means my work starts. After we connect and chat about their goals, it is my job to help them find their way around their new business, our product line and marketing tools and support them in their initial efforts.

Of course, many of the people who join this way are really just looking for the products at a cheaper price and that’s something I do too. As long as we all know each other’s expectations, there’s no problem, so I like to find out first.

Unfortunately, with some networkers, that email is where they think their job ends.

New Blog Traffic Tool from John Reese

Just in from John Reese, a new blog tool that enables you to (and I quote) “monitor blogs by niche and keep up with what type of posts are getting the most interest across the Web”. So, if you have an interest in a particular subject or want to know what your peers are blogging about, you can find it easily.

He goes on to say, “Want your posts to appear on TrafficJam.com? If you have the BlogRush widget installed on your blog it will happen automatically when any of your posts ’score’ well with TJ’s algorithm.A big ‘key’ for scoring well, which is the same key to get traffic from BlogRush, is to learn to write powerful, yet specific blog post TITLES. Poke around TJ and notice the titles. Almost all of them are very SPECIFIC.”

Sounds good to me, as I tend to get on jags where I want to learn about a particular craft and I almost always end up reading blogs on that subject amd then getting side-tracked…story of my life, lol.

So….affiliate marketing

Ok, back to a WAH resource topic today. I’ve been looking into affiliate marketing for a little while now and part of what appeals to me, over my usually preferred networking businesses is that there are no continuing re-orders needed. Each individual sale is a one time thing, there are no auto-ships that many, many people people object to.

You have to be really dedicated to a product (and I am to some) to want or need to buy it every month. I realize that the same customer may order several things from you over time as you market to your list, but that isn’t a pre-scheduled commitment.

It takes time to learn about building a list, making a website or several, SEO, traffic generation and general online marketing skills, not to mention creating or choosing products which are worthwhile and content filled, not just empty fluff to make a quick buck. There’s already way too much of that junk out there.

Anyway, I found some free information that goes into quite a bit of detail on this subject and of course, there is more that you can buy after you work through the free stuff. None of these links are affiliate links, so they do not benefit me in any way….I’m still at the investigating stage.

Holly Mann
http://honestholly.com/

Holly’s forum with a lot of answers to beginner’s questions:
http://www.honestworkfromhomesuccess.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,133/

Harvey Segal
http://www.supertips.com/

This is a start. Enjoy.

Charming travel site I found today

LOL, I’m beginning to think that I should rename this blog ” unconnected ramblings” or something like that because, as you have noticed, I blog about anything that captures my attention. My family calls them my “oh, look there’s a butterfly” moments.

Today, it is some new friends at AdlandPro, a business networking site where I meet the most interesting people, who’s life journey has my interest. They are a couple from Holland who sold everything and bought a horse drawn caravan(wagon) and took off for a two year journey. Think gypsy for the wagon…it is so cool.

Since reading Hungarian stories as a child, I’ve always been fascinated with the gypsy lifestyle, but the longest I’ve been able to wander was about 3 months, pre-children.

Anyway, read about their journey: http://www.slow-express-journey.com/

Enjoy

Worldview Weekend Code Blue Rally

Last night, we went to a Code Blue Rally presented by Brannon Howse of Worldview Weekend, a Christian organization which brings fundamental Bible truth to events nationwide. Attending the almost 4 hour event was a crowd of approximately 1200, included many children and teens, many of whom were there with their church youth workers.

The goal of an event like this is to expose true Biblical teaching to congregations, especially teens, and to slow the tide of false, feel-good, paraphrased Christian teaching. What do I mean by that? Sooo glad you asked. : ) We have an epidemic in Christian churches today that is leading people right to hell. It is a flood of information coming from teachers who are perhaps very popular and maybe have mega-churches, but who are teaching false doctrine.

By false doctrine, I mean teaching a gospel that leaves out the basic tenets of Christianity, which is the blood that was shed by Jesus Christ that makes atonement for our sins. The fact that we are, simply by our birth, a sinful and depraved people, destined for a lake of fire, unless we repent and accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us which provides salvation from our deserved consequences and the blessed hope of an eternity in heaven.

False doctrines teach that we are basically good people and if we don’t do anything too bad, we’ll go to heaven…hogwash!!!! That is completely opposite to what the Bible teaches and condemnes innocent, untrained people to an eternal damnation. If you are not reading your Bible, then how can you know what the truth is? We need to stop listening to preachers who entertain their congregations and tell them what they want to hear, rather than the truth…the Biblical truth.

Rather than continue here, I’ll just give you some links and you can follow them to learn more, and perhaps attend a rally or weekend event for yourselves. You will learn and you will come away better equipped to deal with common, inerrant world views from a strong, Scriptural basis.

http://www.codebluerally.com/

http://www.worldviewweekend.com/

http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/

Take the test to see what your worldview is curently: (You need to register)
http://www.worldviewweekend.com/test/register.php

Free Work at Home Organizational Tool!

As of yesterday, Michelle, the owner of Work From The Hearth, has made all her organizational tools free. There are some useful contact and reminder tools inside, if you are working your business on a tight budget.

Let’s help support her by using the gift she’s given.

This is not a membership link, not an affiliate link, it is simply sharing a good idea.

http://www.workfromthehearth.com

New Work at Home Blogs

I’ve been looking around on my regular reading work at home forums where other wah moms post, for interesting wah blogs to list, so you can have a variety of wah experiences to read about. This will be a continuing growing list until it gets out of control.
Places I’ll be looking:

WAHM

Christian WAHM

Work Place Like Home

Moms Buying From Moms

Happy New Year

Yep, I realize I’m a bit late to the Happy New Year party, but you can blame that on my uppity computer. It started the new year by crashing…not just a minor inconvenience crash, no this time, it refused to be resucitated easily and required a complete restore, which of course required reinstalling all my software and such. What a pain that was. Oh, and to compound the joy, it did it twice! So, I have spent the last two days in computer hell. That people actually choose careers in computing baffles me.

On the personal side, our year started with another incident. Our gentleman cat, Milo, was the victim of high winds and a screen door slamming on his tail, cleanly removing the end of it. He’s recovering well and will not go out that door anymore. Front door service only, thank you very much!

So, here we are, off to a rousing 2008 and I’m just now thinking about planning my work goals.

Oh my, the FDA is at it again

The whole required Gardasil vaccine fiasco caught my attention months ago and today Mike Adams of NewsTarget has written about some very interesting information he unearthed on this subject. I’m not going to re-write his excellent article, I’ll just link to it and please…go read, it is fascinating.

The Great HPV Vaccine Hoax Exposed

Domestic Violence and the holidays

As Christmas approaches, many domestic violence shelters around the country prepare for an increase in intakes as tension in violence prone homes escalates. A sad, but true fact.

For years, I worked in agencies with a mission to help women and children who are victims of domestic violence and I saw the rise personally; the late night calls and shivering tranfers in parking lots to aid their escape, the vacuous stare of children who should be enjoying one of the most wonderful times of the year, but instead are in a shelter, surrounded by strangers, crying to go home, learning new rules and doing the best they can. Heartbreaking, but better than the alternative.

I can’t help but remember the women who went back, despite the safety and protection we offered. Most returned to us time and time again until they became strong enough to leave for good and we accepted them each time, knowing that’s just part of the cycle. Some, we never saw again and we prayed that they were safe.

A few, we never saw again because their lives were shortened by the abuser to whom they returned, sometimes within hours or days of leaving us. Their lives are remembered at one agency with red wooden statues, just the outline, which line a hallway….a grim reminder of those we lost, those who went back one too many times.

If you are a victim, or you know someone who may be a victim, learn about the cycle and continuum of domestic violence, plug into a support group, talk to an advocate. Know that you are not alone, thousands of women and children live on eggshells every day. Know that there is help.

Start here:
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
http://www.ndvh.org/
and you will be directed to local resources from there.
The number to reach them is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Here’s an awesome site from a DV advocate friend:
United Angels Against Domestic Violence

acraftylife.com

Subscribe

Succeed with Diet Magic

Soylicious Candles/Melts

Click to Help

Archives

Meta