What A Week!!!

Sorry for neglecting my blog for a bit. I kept meaning to post an entry every day but there are just simply not enough hours in a day! So this has been one heck of a week.

My friend took one of my lotion bars into work just to show the women in his office. Not only did he pass out every business card I had on me, but he sold "my" lotion bar LOL, and I booked a Spa Show off of the receptionist. This is going to be the biggest show I have done yet. Right now the guest list is at 37 women, with 10 confirmed and there is little less than two weeks left before the show. I have been freaking out...I think I have gone over my list of things I need to purchase, print out, inventory to bring with me at least 4 times this week.

I also got emailed by a lady who runs a Press Release blog and was asked to be a featured blogger on their site. Which I found pretty exciting. I am also sending one of my lotion bars to a woman who has started a woman's ministry in her church as a donation for door prizes she is going to have there.

I also met a wonderful lady through the MomPack, a group for Work At Home Mom's, she was looking for a new venture to start with. So I introduced myself and the company that I work for. After exchanging a couple of emails shes pretty serious about joining my team with Jordan Essentials. She will be the first person I get to sign up under me as part of my team. I am going to send her some samples, nothing huge or expensive for her to try. I am excited for her because after doing a search she would be the only rep in her area within a 200 mile radius.

So like I said its been a pretty eventful week. What I think I am going to start doing is buy our lotion bars in the 5 packs so that if I find myself in the situation where I can donate a lotion bar for a good cause I wont have to race to try and get them from headquarters. AND...I will definitly try harder to post everyday and if I cant everyday then every other day. A post everyday?? What would I talk about??

Another Company

There is another company that is helping to raise money for Madison's service dog. Its called 31 Gifts. 25% of all the proceeds go towards Madison's dog.
Visit this link http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E157704&from=DIRECTLINK

Free Product Giveaway!

My dear friend Alida with "I Make Stuff", was awesome enough to help me with my first product giveaway which I am sure will not be my last. So first let me tell you a little about me. I am a single mother of two, Madison who will be 10 in July and Jacob who is 8. We all have a rare type of dwarfism that is a brittle bones disease so needless to say our lives are interesting. I created this blog when I joined Jordan Essentials as an Essentials Consultant. Since this was my first WAH business I thought what a perfect way to not only get the products out there but share my experiences good and bad on getting this business started. Its been a lot of work but I am so glad that I joined JE.

Jordan Essentials was started in 2000 by a stay at home much like many of us who started making products in her kitchen for friends and family. She was told to try her products at a craft fair and her clientel went through the roof. Within almost a year it was a multi-million dollar business. I have met the owner several times while visiting headquarters. Its not like a lot of WAH that are out there today. You always have direct contact to the owner as well as a long line of support, there are giveaways for trips, cruises, you name it, as well as a convention every year. What sold me the most on the this company is there is no monetary minimum you have to sell or be cancelled. Its your business so its up to you - you can make as much or as little as you want. What I love doing is hosting the Spa Parties - its so much fun to get a group of women together to laugh, play games and pamper them. We are always looking for new consultants so if you are interested please let me know.

The product we will be giving away is one of our best sellers, its our lotion bars, in our Oatmeal, Milk and Honey scent. Its made out of beeswax and botanical ingredients leaving it in a solid form. These are small enough to put in your purse, on your desk at work, or on your night stand. And the best part is they can last an entire year!

Fundraiser for my daughter!

This is my beautiful almost 10 year old daughter Madison. Madison, her 8 year old brother Jacob and I all have a rare form of dwarfism called Osteogensis Imperfecta, which is a brittle bones disease, meaning our bones break for little or no reason. Madison stands the same height as a 5 year old, with her turning 10 in July. Madison is getting to the point in her independence that she needs a service dog.

Well after doing a lot of research, we found an organization that would give a service dog to someone her age. There is a lot of paper work that comes with getting a service dog. Well after recieving the application and getting to know the company, we recieved an email from them stating that they have one chosen for Madison before we ever got the application turned in lol. From what I understand the people who were going to take this dog changed their mind. However, now the 5 to 6 months we had to raise the money for the dog is now pushed to two months. So in two months time we have to raise $11,000.

When I was in high school and college I had a service dog myself. A beautiful black lab name Brutus, to whom of which passed away two years ago in March. He was so helpful to me. He could pick up things that I had dropped, open doors, pull my wheelchair when my arms got tired, and get help if I was hurt or needed something, among many other things. These are the same tasks that this dog would do for Madison, and it will really help her be more independent.

So I am reaching out to all of you for help! If you would like to make a donation just click on the "Donate" Paypal button on the left. All the proceeds go directly to Madison's dog and if we go over our goal, the rest of the proceeds will go to help someone else with their fundraising.

Thank You and God Bless!

This was supposed to be fun

Do I feel a migraine coming on? I have been asked by several people that they would love to exchange blog buttons. Obviously those were easy enough to figure out what they were talking about, but now I cant figure out how to make one. I have clicked on link after link trying to find a site that I could make one with no success. This is becoming a headache.

Trying to jazz up my blog was supposed to be fun lol....I have spent hours searching blog templates that I could use on here to no prevail. Mine just looks so basic against everyone else's.

I know I am new to this but geeze. I am sure my 10 year old could figure it out faster than me. Maybe I am making this harder than it needs to be - which is probably the case. SOOO... I once again emailed my lifesaver, the Mompack, its a yahoo group that is just for mom's who run their own businesses. I am sure by now they are sick of me but thats what they are there for. It took me forever just to figure out MckLinky. I am sure I did it right so we shall see.

Right now I am going to give myself a break - change into something comfy and make some coffee and wait for the Excederine to kick in. Isnt that sad, I gave myself a headache over a blog...lol.

Its a blog party!

A fellow blogger and MomPacker, introduced me to this wonderful site. I think a blog party is an awesome way for people to make new friends, give advice, or simply learn something from each other. I am new to blogging and have so many changes that I want to make. Seeing my blog against other blogs makes mine look so basic. So in the next few days/weeks, I will be doing a facelift, hopefully. I look forward to meeting all of you!

Do You Smell Smoke???

So here I sit, as it seems to be my permanent place at the computer. I believe my bum is asleep yet again from the hours of sitting here pouring over successful ways to advertise your business. I love the group the MOMPACK, those ladies have sent me some wonderful ideas, and then there have been some that have just gone totally over my head. I know due to my lack of height that is easy to do but that is besides the point.
I try so hard to give myself a break from time to time on the business but I just can't seem to shut my brain off. I spent 6 hours in the hospital today waiting with "family", on my best friends mom's operation, and all I could think about was working on my business. All I can say is thank goodness for unlimited internet on my phone.
Even when I try to take a break and watch a movie or tv, I constantly have my notebook beside me ready to right down any good ideas, promotional ideas, website ideas, or things I need to look up. Is this becoming an obsession?? I must just be an impatient person, for I know that this isnt going to take off in a day, or week, or maybe even a month.
I think the frusterating part is that I am so new to this area that besides his family I really dont have anyone here that would want to host a Spa Party. However, God bless him, Presley (best friend), talked to his mom who is a teacher, and she is going to coordinate a Spa Party for all the women teachers at work the week after school gets out because none of the kids are there, AND.... the women in the office that he works with, he has already asked one of them if I could host a spa party for them. Man he's sneaky..lol.
However, back on topic, geeze..lol...my business is all I can think about, even in my sleep, ways to improve, ways to advertise, making mental notes on where to set up a booth, that I believe I am beginning to smell smoke...lol. I keep being told to put it away for a few days, but thats the issue I can't.
Any suggestions would be FABULOUS!!!!!

Oh the possibilities!

After doing some research I come to find out that I am the only Jordan Essentials consultant active in the state of Oklahoma. There is one other woman but she isnt very active. Which means that the state is virtually my playground. What that means for me? I have the potential for making a killing here. My first start is to rent a booth at the local flea market. If nothing else that will get me some leads as to people wanting to host a Spa Show. After that I am going to do more research to find out where there are trade shows, expos, and craft fairs. Can you see the wheels turning?? I also learned that people don't necessarily have to be in the same state as you to sign up under me as a consultant. That makes the wheels spin faster lol.

My sponsor also gave me some good ideas for conversation starters. For example: If I go out to dinner to a resturant that is sit down and we have a waitress, get the lotion bar (one of our best sellers), use it or simply sit the tin it comes in on the edge of the table at the end where she comes up to. She told me that 9 times out of 10 this starts a conversation about it.

I finally got my business cards in and there is a stack in my wallet. I am going to pass those bad boys out as often as possible. I was also given the suggestion of the 3 ft rule. Anyone who comes within 3 ft of me hears about my business or products. Not really sure how to strike up those conversations but this is me, I am sure I could come up with something.

Stress

April is National Stress Awareness Month - Now personally I dont need a whole month to know where my stress lies. We do however offer an amazing line of Aromatherapy products. I know that I like to destress with a nice long bath, cup of coffee, and a good book. In that bath I use the bubble bath and within seconds I feel the days stress just melting away. The scent is not over powering like some I have smelled that about burnt my nose, but soothing and relaxing.

Mothers Day Bouquet Gift Set

This gift set is perfect for any mom in your life...not just your own. Great gift for your sister, aunt, or friend and more, for anyone blessed to be called a "mom". Special blended fragrance includes French Lavendar, Plumeria, and Honeysuckle flowers. Set includes: soy candle, 8 oz Dead Sea Salt, and a purse sized lotion. It all comes in a pink and black gift bag. See my webstore for more information.

Webstore is Up

Ok I finally got the webstore up and running. My website is www.myjestore.com/melaniehelms