30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 30: Hopes for My Blog

My hopes for this blog is to have people get to know me on a personal level and to share personal thoughts with readers about my life and things that interest me. I hope to gain some new followers and possibly some new friends through my blog. I also hope to help others see that anyone can blog and it doesn't require any special skills, just time and effort and planning. Something that is easy to do if you are struggling for topics is a 30 day challenge or 31 day challenge and follow the topics suggested. That is all I did for these posts for a 30 day challenge. Yes, I fell behind and it ended up taking me longer to complete, but it was still 30 posts that I wouldn't have thought of doing on my own. I may do another challenge at some point, but I think for now I'm going to try to blog some things on my own. In order to find a 30 Day Blog Challenge, you can either try the same one I did by following my posts and then making your own posts to fit that topic or you can do a Google search for 30 Day Blog Challenge or 31 Day Blog Challenge. Good luck to you and your blogging endeavors!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 29 A Confession

So honestly I wasn't sure how to approach this topic of a confession. I came across this quote in a Google search and it resonated with me. I think something that I don't often tell people is that I want to make a difference in the world. Not necessarily change it, but make a difference in the lives of others. I think that's what drew me to both teaching and my AVON business in particular, but also somewhat to my other two direct sales businesses to offer more of an opportunity to others. I think that is also what drew me to blogging so I can get a further reach beyond the people that I know personally. Hopefully one day I will truly feel like I've made a difference in the lives of others and in the world. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 28 Most Embarrassing Moment

So this one goes back to my middle school days. To date I'd still have to say my most embarrassing moment was when I was in middle school. One day I was going down the central staircase and I tripped and fell down the stairs, spilling everything I was carrying, landing right in front of our school library. One of the librarians helped me pick everything up. Honestly, I don't even think many people paid attention to it, and I never heard about it later or anything as far as people calling me out, but I was so embarrassed of myself and will never forget that moment and so I still go with that one being my most embarrassing. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 27 What's In My Closet

For me it depends on what closet. My apartment has three and I still have stuff in my bedroom closet at my parent's house. My closets have clothes, shoes, games, washer, dryer, drying rack, decorations, etc. My bedroom closet at my apartment is also where I store everything for my Avon business and I'm working on organizing that so it isn't just a bunch of boxes. And no my closets are not this organized. :-) 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 26 My Hidden Talent

So this post has really made me think and honestly I'd say that at this moment my hidden talent is that of writing. Before starting to blog, I never really thought of myself as a writer, but since starting to blog more consistently I find that I have the words more and more and I am starting to feel more confident in my writing at least as a blogger. I'm not sure how creative I could get with writing as far as writing a book or anything like that, but I am finding it easier to write these types of posts, opinion related posts, reviews, etc. I think writing about my life is probably the easiest thing to write about, but at the same time it is definitely easier when there is some sort of guidance like this 30 day blog challenge that I've been working on and finally caught up to where the day is matching the date of the month (go me!) and hopefully I can keep this caught up a couple more days to end it on January 30. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 25 My Biggest Regret

This post is pretty difficult for me as there honestly isn't much in my life that I'd say I regret. I like this quote I found, "In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take" because I feel it best describes what I would regret in my life. Missed chances, missed opportunities, wondering what would have been different had I chosen a different path at a couple of different moments in my life. My biggest regret at the moment is not so much a regret, but more a reflection. What would have been different if I had chosen differently? As well as time wasted...each day that goes by that I feel I wasted time that could have been better spent, I think what could I have done differently? What should I have done differently? There have been some decisions in my life....what college to go to? Choosing between jobs offered...sometimes I can't help but wonder what life would have been like if I'd looked at more colleges in high school...if I'd stayed at Longwood University instead of going to VCU (while I'd never say I'd regret ending up at VCU because I met some amazing people and had a great four years there). What life would have been like if I'd chosen to pursue something other than teaching? I think sometimes you wonder these things and "regret" the chance you didn't take, but at the same time I have to say while I do sometimes reflect on these things, I still don't dwell on it and at the moment I'm pretty happy on where I am in my life currently. Moving on..

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 24 What attracts me in love??

This is fitting considering Valentine's Day is coming up soon! 

These are some things that I find attractive when it comes to love:

(1) Ambition--I want to be with someone who has goals in life

(2) Good Sense of Humor--I have to be able to laugh with my partner

(3) Confidence--In themselves and our relationship

(4) Trustworthiness--Probably the most important quality

(5) Affectionate--But not over affectionate

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 23: What would I do if you won the lotto?

Okay, so I was actually just talking about this exact topic with my boyfriend this week and we both were discussing how it would be nice to win the lottery. So what would I do? Well I guess it would depend on how much money I earned. If it was a considerable amount, I'd want to do quite a few things. 

(1) Pay off my brand new car

(2) Go on a nice trip to Europe

(3) Become a full time work at home entrepreneur (this one is still iffy as I do enjoy teaching---so perhaps I would teach part time still so I wouldn't have to give that up entirely). 

(4) Buy a house

(5) Save some of it for retirement

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 22: My Worst Habits

Okay, so some of my worst habits: 

(1) Getting caught up in one thing and then not having time to do another.

(2) Letting my apartment get cluttered 

(3) Not reading as much as I'd like to read (i.e. making the time to read)

(4) Getting Distracted

(5) Not eating as healthy as I should

(6) Not exercising as much as I should

(7) Spending an excess of time on Social Media

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 21: What Makes Me Sad

Here are some things that make me sad in no particular order:

(1) Loved ones being sick and/or hurt

(2) Sad television, movies, and moments in books (yes I will cry at sad commercials or sad television shows and movies)

(3) Life's Sad Moments (We all have them)

(4) World Problems

(5) Children living in sad situations

Hey, I'm happier more than sad these days so not much makes me cry, but every once in a while something will make me sad or even make me cry, but it's hard to go into much details here as usually when something makes me sad it's in the moment. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 20: What Makes Me Happy

Here are some things that make me happy in no particular order of importance:

(1) Being around children--sometimes children can just be so quirky and funny and innocent (this is why I volunteer at my church in the nursery and why I enjoy my job as a teacher) [It should also be noted at this time I do not have children of my own]

(2) Spending time with my family, pets, and loved ones

(3) Spending time with friends

(4) Working on my direct selling businesses and sharing them with others

(5) Funny movies, television, and books (yes I am known to Laugh Out Loud even when home myself) 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 19 My Favorite Movie

Okay, so I have to say this one is very tough for me as I love a lot of different movies and there are many that I could watch over and over again, no problem. In fact, I'm not even 100% sure that I have a FAVORITE favorite movie. I guess if I have to pick one for the purposes of this blog then I will pick Sex and the City 2.

So I tossed up on whether to pick the first one or the second one and I have to say, the second one for me is better and it's because it's all about the fun of spending time with your girlfriends and the fun of the series Sex and the City. I own the entire series on DVD as well as both movies and I've read and own the book by Candace Bushnell. It's just a fun series to watch and read. Yes, there were episodes I didn't like and yes there were parts about the series I didn't like, but what series or movie do you like 100%? I like that there is this relationship with the girls that you really only experience if you have friendships like the ones in the series between Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. The friendship chemistry is incredible and really just cannot be matched anywhere else. It's also great that it's showing how friendship can last over time through life's tough moments, but your girlfriends will always be there for you. And I like the second movie over the first because it is focused more on the friendship and less on the relationship drama like the first movie. The first movie was just a little too drama filled for me, even though I love it as well, but I think the second one is just icing on the cake to the series and if they had ended it with the end of the first movie, I'm not sure I would have liked that ending. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 18 A photograph of Me

So I have a couple of pictures of myself on my blog already, but here is another one of me. This one was taken at my parents house last spring and the dog is my brother's dog Troy. He's such a cutie! I love labs and have grown up around them (my parents also have a chocolate lab Kodiak). Eventually, I hope to have my own lab once I get a nice house.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 17 My Favorite Blogs

This post will be fairly short as I am still working on following the blogs of others. Usually when I read a post on a blog it is because it is shared to social media and the topic seems interesting to read. I will list some types of blogs that I try to keep up with though.

1. First and foremost, I try to look at blogs from top leaders in the network marketing and direct sales industry. The main ones I look at are top leaders in AVON as that is my primary direct sales business as it is the one I have been working the longest. I will not list them here because the list is too long, but if you are an AVON Representative or in direct sales I definitely recommend that you find some good blogs from famous people in the industry that have been successful at what they do.
2. I like to look at blogs that are about blogging. As someone new to blogging myself, I like to follow blogs that are about how to blog. It may seem silly, but it is truly very useful and helpful for me.
3. From time to time I look at food blogs because who doesn't enjoy eating? Plus, I am also working on becoming a food blogger myself as well as learning how to cook.
4. Blogs that my friends write. If I find out my friend is writing, I do try to follow their blog posts to show my friends and connections support in their endeavor. Love you guys if you are reading my blogs. :-)

I recommend following blogs that you enjoy reading, that's what I do and I think that's what most people do. I hope that you enjoy reading my blogs too. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 16 Thoughts on Education

The topic for Day 16 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge I found is "Thoughts on Education". Being a teacher myself, I have a few different views of this topic and I'm going to approach it in a couple of different ways. 

Let me start off with early childhood (pre-kindergarten) since that is where I am currently a teacher. It is so amazing what children learn from the time they are born to when they go to Kindergarten. Between my experience at church watching the nursery children (Infant-Two) and now my experience at work with children from Infants to Five (Primarily the Two-Three year olds) my eyes have truly been opened to how much impact early education has on a child. I know many two year old children that know all of their colors, some numbers, and some letters. Some of them even know the colors and numbers in Spanish. We have two year old children that know every letter A-Z and three year old children that can already count to 20. This is huge given that the goal for the end of Kindergarten (at least in my state of VA) is for students to know all of their letters and letter sounds and to be able to count to 100 by ones, fives, and tens. Think of it this way: If the student already knows how to count to 20 at age 3, give him two more years and he will count to 100 no problem by age 5. Then, in Kindergarten he can focus on learning how to count by 5s and 10s already knowing how to count by ones. 

There is a dramatic difference in children that have been educated either at home or at school prior to Kindergarten versus those who have not. During my schooling to be a teacher, I had a practicum experience in a Kindergarten class in September. There was a noticeable difference in the kids that had a knowledge base and the ones that did not. The best way for children to learn during these years leading to Kindergarten is through play as well as observation and definitely listening to books. Games and reading are the best way for kids to learn. They have to learn without necessarily knowing they are being taught. Get out a game of Candyland and use it to teach colors. Buy a counting book and read it to your child. 

Now jump to K-12 years. As a former fourth grade teacher, it is my belief that currently (at least in the public school system) there is too much of a focus on testing. I don't understand why we cannot go back to even the days when I was in school in the 90s and early 2000s when there was not so much focus on testing. We actually learned for the fun of it. Yes we had formal tests, but the scores did not matter as much and we were not forced into a formal test literally every week. School is no longer fun for students because they are forced into so much testing. It's stressful on the teachers, parents, and even more so the students. I know part of it is the reality, so we have to get used to it, but bottom line some major reform is needed in our education system. As a teacher, there is so much focus on these standardized tests that you cannot plan lessons just for the fun of it. I remember the days of myself being a student and learning was always fun for me, but I also remember that we did not have nearly as much testing. Nowadays, it is very difficult as the teacher to teach without feeling like you are teaching to the test and it is difficult for the children to learn because you are forced to push through content so fast that the students barely have time to take it in before they are taking a test on it. I'm not saying there shouldn't be standards because there should be some sort of guide for a teacher to use as far as the topics to teach and even goals for what the student should accomplish by the end of the school year, but it shouldn't all be based on the scores of a standardized test. 

I will admit that the impact this focus on testing has on our education system is not as much of an issue for K-2 students. However, even in K-2 classrooms teachers are forced to do testing for data collection purposes and sometimes that can be overwhelming as well. Especially in math and reading, teachers even for K-2 are forced to give test after test to see where the child is at. As soon as you think you are done getting data, you have to go and do it again. However, in my experience students in many K-2 classrooms still seem to enjoy school and the teachers usually have more freedoms at these grade levels depending on what school they are in and how that school operates.

Please note this is coming from my own teaching experiences and your own teaching experience or experience with your school system may be different. I hope that it is different.

Now to totally switch gears, everything above is for the most part talking about "Formal education" in the early years. Even if it is more informal than formal as in a parent reading to a child, I am still talking about what we usually think about when we think of education. Now I am going to take a turn to self-education. 

I am someone that has always enjoyed learning. I seek out learning and do a lot of things outside of the formal school setting. Even as a college student, much of my learning was on my own through reading, etc. As a network marketer, I have sought out education to do with my direct sales businesses and growing them. I follow many other network marketers, inspirational speakers, representatives in my main company, etc. I seek out training, good books to read, and enjoy learning. 

As a teacher, I have sought out additional books to read to make me a better teacher. Since getting my master's degree I have worked on getting my gifted education endorsement added to my degree and in the future I may go back to school to add another little something extra if I can afford to do so. I also seek out the advice of other teachers as well as enjoy in-service learning experiences where I can learn from others that have done it before me. 

It is my firm belief that it is important to self-educate yourself in addition to any formal education you may receive going to school before Kindergarten, your K-12 education, and any college or postgraduate experiences. 

Then of course there is the whole matter of we learn through life's experiences. This is true from the time we are born to the time we die. There are many many things that I have learned through my experiences these last 25 and a half years (almost 26). There are many more things that I will learn over the rest of my life as well. We never really stop learning and if we do, then we aren't doing something right. Learning is constant each and every day. 

Jewelry in Candles...Have you heard of it?

Have you heard of Jewelry in Candles? This past summer, I found Jewelry in Candles (JIC) on Facebook in a Direct Sales group. I was intrigued by the concept of revealing Jewelry in a Candle, so I clicked on the link and decided to buy the candle. It was the Watermelon candle in the picture on the left. When I got the shipment, it was like Christmas, I was so excited to burn it and see what I would reveal! I lit the candle and burned it down and as soon as I could I took out the foil, unwrapped it, and I revealed the ring in the picture on the right. I love this ring! So pretty! It was such an exciting experience that I shared the picture with the representative that I had bought it from as well as on my personal social media pages. At the time, I knew that I'd be a customer again because it was so exciting and fun! 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Where will I be in Five years?

So in five years, I will be 30! Gasp! I cannot believe that! :-) So, my goals are probably fairly typical of most women approaching the dreaded 30! (Although I'm not dreading it that much right now). In five years, I'd like to be married, either have already started a family or be working on preparing to start a family, and I'd like to be successful. I want to feel like I am in a secure place in life with a family, house, and a job I love. I'd love to see my home businesses grow over the next five years and it'd be amazing if they were something big! 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Three Healthy Habits

Okay, not sure if this is supposed to be three healthy habits I take part in or just three healthy habits I know I should be doing. So this one is going to be short but sweet.

1) Eat healthy.
2) Exercise.
3) Drink plenty of water.

I LOVE MY AVON BUSINESS!

This post is all about why I love my AVON Business! I have been a representative now for going on four years (five Avon sales cycles). I just earned my spot in the elite President's Club of Avon and earned my first Mrs. Albee doll! I am so excited because I cannot wait to see where my business will go from here! Who is Mrs. Albee? What is President's Club? Mrs. Albee was the first Avon Sales Representative. David H. McConnell (the founder of Avon) started a company called the California Perfume Company. He recruited the help of Mrs. Albee to sell his product. From there Avon grew into what it is today. A company recognized world wide for empowering women. All direct sales basically started with Avon and the idea that David H. McConnell had over 128 years ago! The Avon President's Club is the lowest sales level achievement for Avon representatives. In order to reach it you must have a certain amount of award sales. Not very many representatives make it to this level, so it is a huge achievement to get this far. Plus, it is an honor to get to President's Club because it shows your commitment to your Avon business. I never thought I'd get this far, so I am super excited that I finally made it into the elite club. Reasons I love my AVON business:

• It's fun!
• I can work it on my own schedule.
• The people I have met because of it (corporate, "famous representatives", other representatives, my district sales manager, my upline leader, my downline members (team members), customers). There are so many wonderful people I never would have connected with had it not been for my AVON business.
• I love the products and getting them at a discount!
• Easy to shop for many of my daily needs products, no need to go to a physical store when it comes straight to me.
• The unlimited possibilities!

Visit my Avon Blog at bethebestyoucanbebeautyblog.com! 

Learn how you can join my Avon team or buy Avon at http://www.youravon.com/adavis0493!

30 Day Blog Challenge: What's Inside My Fridge

As of the writing of this post, this is what's inside my fridge (see picture above). So yeah, you can probably tell I don't cook much (well at least as much as I probably should). This is also the most stocked my fridge has been in quite a while. So I have my staples of butter, mustard, ketchup, milk, juice, water. I currently also have some dressing and jelly. I also have many varieties of cheese (I love cheese!). I actually have some eggs (yeah not a staple for me). And I actually have some sausage links and bacon. Fruit wise I just added some grapes and I have some clementine tangerines. The Coca Cola is mainly for my boyfriend when he comes over, but I will sometimes drink it as well (besides water juice is my main drink though). As for the freezer it's basically empty...currently there are just some frozen Eggo Waffles and a couple of Banana Popsicles. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: My Favorite Childhood Book

For my favorite Childhood Book, I have to go with the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I'm sure most everyone is familiar with the series, and if you aren't then look it up as there will be no spoilers here. I first came to Harry Potter when I was in sixth grade. At that time I read books 1 and most of book 2. Then, I stopped. Fast forward to the movies being released and I watched the first movie on DVD when my mom and I rented it. We loved the movie, so we both read books 1-4 (all that was out at the time). My grandmother (mom's mom) also read books 1-4. Then, we pre-ordered book 5 and got it as soon as it came out. Again all three of us read the book (me, then mom, then grandma). We did the same for books 6 & 7. Movie two was also rented, but then after that my mom and I went to the theater for each movie release. Unfortunately, my grandma passed in 2008 before all of the books were made into movies, but at least she knew what happened because she had read all of the books (and let's be honest as much as I LOVE the movies as well, the books are better...books are always better...). Like most children (well tweens, teens) I wanted to be like Harry Potter and get a letter delivered by Owl inviting me to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It would just be too awesome if we could live in the magical world of Harry Potter for real (without You Know Who and all of the violence of course *wink*). The Harry Potter series definitely gets ten stars from me! 

Happy New Year! What are your goals for the New Year?

Happy New Year! 

I hope everyone has had a great start to the New Year these past couple of days! I certainly have! Wishing everyone the best as we go into 2015! One of my main goals for 2015 is going to be to update this blog more often and keep it up to date and going! I also wish to grow my direct sales businesses and meet new people as well as maintain current relationships and friendships. Let's make 2015 a great year!