Vocation of Motherhood

Hmmm... maybe I could market a product with that name. Anyways, we received a package today. The boys and I were all in my room with Sammy and we saw the truck pull up. There were shouts of joy, jumping up and down, and a couple pairs of feet running to the front door. Then I was screeching at the boys to just calm down, everyone! Finally it was in the house and I heard my oldest say, "Gee, Mom, you are so spoiled." I almost started laughing out loud at that one! And I guess maybe I am, at least once a year.

Here is what I found in my box:

A box. Isn't is pretty? And some little markety-type things of which I love finding when I open a box like this. MORE stuff to buy! "Yay!" I say. "No," the bank account says. On to the rest:

Here's the box on the counter. Notice the counter is completely clean and if there was a speck of grease on it I would have had to medicate myself.

Love the tissue and EMBOSSED STICKER SEALER. C'mon, how DO they come up with this stuff? Maybe my version of heaven is director of the Vera Bradley Marketing department.

Oopsy... what is THAT peeking out from underneath my main package?

TA-DA! This is my form of happiness. Not a sunset, not a lake, THIS. And those were "pocket papers" peeking out underneath. More on that:

See that? They purposely market to type A personalities like myself!! "Exclusively designed to fit into the pockets of many Vera Bradley handbags" (in case you can't read it above).

Finished product (with "old blue" in the background). I'll still use Old Blue, just not as often. This new bag is a true baby bag, complete with a quilted baby pad. There are sheer polyester knit-type pockets lining the inside. Here's a look inside at a very clean purse.

 

Yes, almost every pocket is utilized, and that's exactly the way that people like me like it to be. The middle is eerily empty, though. But next week it'll be full to the brim because of a busy week with MOPS, an Usborne show and some other things. I am giddy at the thought of placing my planner and catalogs in there!!! Can I just jump in and live in there? Oh, the thrill of it all!!

And lest we forget the end pockets (on both sides). WONDERFUL for keys, lip balm, lip stick, and EOS lip gloss (I have a little bit of an addiction to lip products methinks). These are meant to be baby bottle pockets. HA-HA. I haven't used a baby bottle with five kids and don't plan on starting now. I still can't even mix a bottle of formula to save my life. However these will work well for the ever-popular Sippy Cup that we don't leave the house without.

Did I almost forget? In my excitement I almost forgot to show you the new home for my "Pocket Papers." I just love that title. Yes, it fits very nicely in the outer pocket system. But wait! There's more on the other side!

The real reason why I wanted this in the first place... the zippered pocket on the other side which holds all of the baby goodies. The quilted changing pad. The (almost) free wipes from Target I got a while ago when I was still couponing (before Sammy joined us). And that is it. The perfect pink (Raspberry Fizz) baby bag for my little boy! You won't see him wearing pink but I sure will... you'll see me a mile away. And that's the way us sanguine people like it!

Yes, it's a little dark but Collin wanted to take a picture, so I let him. He's the artist of the group, gotta encourage it you know!

In the business saddle, that is! For six years I started and maintained a web business called Comfy Bummy Diapers. Loved it, still love it, but a few years ago we sold it so we could concentrate on family and less on business stress. It was a huge blessing for us financially, but eventually all good things must come to an end, and so did the extra income after we sold out. Anyways, fast forward a few years and here I am, thinking I would NEVER start another business again, and I have, well, sort of.

First, let's back up. When nature boy was still a toddler I started contemplating his school curriculum (besides potty training and days at the park). I ordered a preschool curriculum from Sonlight. He fell in love with the books and constantly wanted me to read to him a few particular titles. I didn't understand it at that time, but the books he loved the most were published by "Usborne Books." So I continued to read those books to him, over and over and over again. Then came along Red, and guess what he loved the most? You guessed it! The Usborne Books! I have read "Things People Do" until I'm blue in the face, among other favorite selections.

So a couple of years later I met a new friend, Kelly, and she invited me to a "book party." Huh?? A book "party?" I really didn't have a clue as to what that was, but to be nice, I went.... and fell HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH THESE BOOKS!  I still remember the light bulb moment when I realized halfway through the show that the books the consultant was talking about were the same books that my two (now three) little guys DEVOURED (not literally, unless you count the baby). So of course I had my own party... and then continued to immerse myself in my little lonely corner of the world (a.k.a. Comfy Bummy).

About six months after we sold the business I began to get that business "itch." But honestly, I was still recovering from a period of depression, and kept on telling myself that I just didn't have it in me to run another business. So I shelved the idea.

Last year I finally caved in and hopped on the computer to order my starter kit. My fingers were gleefully submitting the order when I felt like eating a massive bowl of ice cream. With some sardines and Kashi crackers for good measure. The NEXT DAY I found out that we would soon have a little one joining our family. So he did arrive, and in that time  I the boys enjoyed the new books and I again, shelved my idea of running a business.

Guess who turns one this week? Our newest little one! And in the last couple of months I've started to actually use some long-sleeping marketing skills and have started an Usborne business. I honestly never thought I would ever participate in any kind of "network marketing" business (I don't even like the word!), however I'm starting to see some benefits of this business compared to Comfy Bummy:

No running frantically around the house when I see UPS truck whiz into the driveway. Usborne ships ALL the books, and they ship FAST (one of my pet peeves with other businesses. When I order something, I expect to receive it yesterday!). I no longer feel like a slave to the daily shipping requirement that I had with my other business!

No more entry way/mudroom/second bedroom fully stocked with product that goes into all the ugly boxes that I have stored around the house.

More FUN! Yes, you guessed it, I'm quite a social butterfly (that's probably why I don't find the time to write on this blog). One of the negatives of running a business was the loneliness factor. I just like getting out and talking to people. My temperment is sanguine/choleric, so this fits me better than working by myself all day.

More connections with other like-minded people. I love that a lot of people I associate with through Usborne have a passion for reading, a desire to promote literacy, etc. Reading (and book collecting) is one of my joys, a personal hobby actually, and now I can feed my passion through my relationships with others!

This business is engaging me in many different ways... like planning for a conference this coming January. I never participated in business-type things with my prior business because the product was very specialized and most outside business resources weren't very applicable to my product line. Now I can attend training workshops that is geared exactly to my product, and in the process, I get to have fun and mix and socialize... LOVE THAT!

There are a myriad of other reasons why I like Usborne better, but the main reason is the BOOKS THEMSELVES. That is another blog post, but for starters here is a video of the Wind-Up Tractor Book. Do you see why it's so much fun?? Think: long wait at the restaurant!

So that is a little bit about why and how I'm back at it again... and for good measure, why I fell in love with the books in first place.

Have a blessed Advent!

Just found what I hope will be the perfect blog reader: BlogBridge. I am one of those Type A people who hate having my computer bookmarks disorganized. Finally I found a solution! This puts all of the blogs I love into one desktop reader. I have spent the morning adding my favorite blogs and getting it up and going. This kind of stuff puts me in a good mood all day (besides having more B-12 :). Okay, on to real things, like getting my day going for real!

Just found what I hope will be the perfect blog reader: BlogBridge. I am one of those Type A people who hate having my computer bookmarks disorganized. Finally I found a solution! This puts all of the blogs I love into one desktop reader. I have spent the morning adding my favorite blogs and getting it up and going. This kind of stuff puts me in a good mood all day (besides having more B-12 :). Okay, on to real things, like getting my day going for real!

I am one of those women, like Lissa from the Lilting House, obsessed with day planners, organizing a schedule, etc. Will my children be, too? Only time (and their temperment) will tell! I came across this the other day... a Catholic day planner/organizer, for kids! Plenty of room for recording assignments, gospel readings, feast days, resource pages, where Jesus lived map, mazes/games, spelling word area, character-building suggestions, the list goes on and on. At first I knew that our oldest would never need this, we have the lesson plans to check off. However after writing this post and digging around more in the sample pages, I'm thinking he would want to love to use it. I just noticed the price, and it's only 3.99!!! This one is no-brainer!