HANGING UP MY PAMPERED CHEF APRON

Thirteen months and one day ago I became a Pampered Chef consultant, working 100% virtually to earn money for all the #BracesOnFaces our family needs. My goal was to pay for one set of braces each year, a goal which has been exceeded with one set on teeth for six months and another set more than halfway funded. It's been an awesome experience!

As I told you back in May, my income from Pampered Chef resulted in a loss of health and dental insurance coverage. It was a fair and reasonable change, but something that I'd never thought to consider when I started my Pampered Chef business, as my paychecks weren't going into our general budget. I continued on with my work, but started paying premiums for me and Tim out of my checks before putting anything toward braces. (Thankfully, the little Ws ended up being able to retain coverage.)

The transition to Pampered Chef income covering insurance premiums has not gone smoothly and it's become very clear that it's time to step away from my business. When faced with tough decisions that have no clear answer, people often say they wish God would put a flashing neon sign over the best option. Those proverbial signs have been flashing with increasing intensity and I have full confidence that I'm making the right choice.

I want to make it very clear that the problem lies entirely with the details of our financial situation, not at all with Pampered Chef.

• I love the products - a huge variety of items that ensure every person can find something useful for the way they live, lifetime guarantees on several kitchen tools, and cooking made easier in my own kitchen.

• I love the company -  awesome customer service for people buying their products, a phenomenal host benefits program, the ability to start a business without investing several hundred (or thousand) dollars on products you then have to sell if you want to earn anything, and endless training and rewards for consultants.

• I love the people - fellow consultants who celebrate each other's victories, cheer each other on through struggles, and support each other's businesses in a spirit of camaraderie instead of competition.

• I love the flexibility - the option to work virtually or do live cooking shows, shake it up and do a little of both, and determine my own hours.

I would stay if I could, but I can't.

So, what does this mean for my customers?

• My party - I will be submitting a final catalog party of my own on 10/12 for anyone who would would like to place an order. Giveaways included! Click here if you want to be part of that and here if you'd like to see some of my favorite products before you place your order.

• Individual orders - People can still order directly from my site anytime through November.  

• Catalog parties - I can help anyone who wants to have a catalog party through November. I'll just create a link your friends and family can order from while you earn host benefits, without having the Facebook party element.

• Virtual parties - I have some great gals on my team who I'll happily refer anyone to who's wanting a Facebook party. 

And what does this mean for #BracesOnFaces? I'm still committed to making it happen, one mouth at a time, however long it takes. I'll just find a new way to go about it that's better for my family.

Thank you so much to everyone who supported my efforts to finance #BracesOnFaces in one way or another over the last year. The words of encouragement spoken, purchases made, parties hosted, referrals passed along, and enthusiasm shared as slices of pie charts got colored in has been such a huge blessing!!! I'm hanging up my Pampered Chef apron now, but I'll be forever grateful I got to wear it for a while.

SISTER CELEBRATION

A little over a year ago, Beep showed me a picture she'd sketched and asked if I wanted to get matching tattoos of it for her birthday this year. She arrived at our place on Wednesday and we've spent the last two days having a belated sister celebration of her summer birthday. We started things off by getting inked at Gilded Heart Tattoo on Wednesday afternoon.

It was beautiful outside, a perfect fall day, so we stopped by Chapters for some hot drinks and outdoor conversation before we headed home.

She joined us at church Wednesday evening, but first we got a picture of our tattoos. Mom loved wild irises, which is why we used Beep's sketch as our tattoo.

We went for a run together on Thursday morning, ate breakfast, then headed to the Portland Art Museum.

They happened to be in the middle of switching up one exhibit, but we still managed to spend five hours enjoying all sorts of artwork. We tried to guess each other's favorite piece in each room, which was fun. This painting by Severin Roesen was one I really liked. I love all the bright colors, variety of flowers, and little details!

We wrapped up our time there, then headed out for a Filipino dinner at Adobo. She was just a wee bit excited for that meal! Beep's the expert in that department, so I let her order for both of us. We had chicken adobo, bistek, sinigang, dinuguan, and rice - all of which was delicious.

Bellies full, we meandered down the sidewalk and I introduced her to World Market. I predict a long and happy relationship between her and that store.

And that was that. Back home for a quiet evening and she'll head south after our run this morning. Such a fun couple of days together!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for our trip to Brookings last month. What's something that you're thankful for?

QUICK TRIP TO CHAMPOEG

I was super crabby yesterday afternoon, so I packed up the kids and headed to Champoeg for a little while before dinner. We took a quick group shot when we got there.

Actually, that was the second picture. This was the first one, taken accidentally while I was setting the camera timer. It more accurately represents our dispositions upon arrival at the park.

We all went on a short walk together at one point, but otherwise Silas, Devon, and I each mostly did our own thing. Naomi and Tyler, on the other hand, stuck together. Tyler found this chunk of wood and started rolling it up a hill with his feet. Naomi joined in and they asked for a picture once they got it up to the parking lot.

I created a reminder for myself to smile, even when I don't feel like it.

There must have been some sort of race at the park recently because this start/finish line was on the path. Again, these two asked for a picture.

And that was that. We were only there about an hour and a half, but it was nice to get outside of our own four walls for a bit.

BOOKS I FINISHED - SEPTEMBER 2018

*****

Children of the River, written by Linda Crew
A young Cambodian refugee struggles as she tries to balance her love for the country she came from, hope she's clinging to in regards to reuniting with a loved one left behind, desire to acclimate to the country she now lives in, and develop relationships with the people her new home has brought into her life. A story of loyalty and loss, grief and joy, as well as a reminder that we never know as much about a person as we think we do. This is a school book for the kids that I read myself and happened to be set in the area I live.

*****

The Forgotten Road, written by Richard Paul Evans
A wealthy man, assumed to be killed in a plane crash, realizes all his worldly success hasn't brought him any happiness and sets out on a journey to reconcile with the woman he used to be married to before he got all caught up in greed. Largely a history of Route 66, the story is also about the life lessons people teach him along the way and the personal growth he experiences in the process.

p. 42, We tend to demonize those we inflict pain on. It lessens our guilt.

p. 119, We never know what horrific and powerful currents run beneath the seemingly calm surface of another's life.

p. 130, I found myself changing into the very thing I hated. That's what hate does - it remakes us in its image.

p. 245, I have futilely chased happiness for so long that I almost didn't recognize it when it snuck up behind me.

p. 247, For the first time I realized that gratitude and joy were connected, like conjoined twins. I couldn't be happy because I wasn't grateful and I wasn't grateful because I wasn't allowing myself to be. I was too busy hunting the next prize to appreciate the prize already at home. What I had was never enough, not because of the deficit in what I had but because of the deficit in me.

p. 249, Challenges are like thunderstorms: where some see darkness, others find nourishment.


*****

Piecing Me Together, written by Renee Watson
A teenager sacrificing things that matter to her so she can take advantage of the opportunities others feel are critical to her success. The highs and lows of friendship. Learning to speak up for yourself without disrespecting others. Art, business, and school. Things done with good intentions that aren't well-received. Learning to work through conflicts. This is another fictional story I read this month that happened to be set in my neck of the woods.

*****

Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, written by Kevin Leman
Last fall I re-read Sex Begins in the Kitchen, one of Leman's books about sex that we had on our shelves, one that's more about the relationship as a whole influencing the sexual aspect than sex itself. This fall I decided to re-read Sheet Music, another one we already owned, that's entirely about the act of sex. As always, his easy-going, light-hearted personality balances his straightforward approach to whatever topic he happens to be writing about.

*****

** This post contains affiliate links and I'm grateful when people use them. ** 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for Spotify. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAITS

Perhaps my favorite part of touring Pampered Chef's home office last month was a wall they've filled with positive traits they want to encourage in the people who work there. I loved it!

These pictures aren't very good because they weren't intended for sharing, only for reminding myself of what the wall said, but I'm including them anyway. Each picture is a floor to ceiling shot, just for scale reference, and I have all the text written out below since the pictures are hard to read.

Integrity 

Do what's right

Say what you mean.

Be honest and expect honesty.

Trust others and be trustworthy.

Authenticity

Be real, be you

Stay true to who you are.

Don't take yourself too seriously.

Have a positive attitude.

Bring your unique personality into everything you do.

Humility - Stay grounded

Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.

Give credit when it's due.

Leave your ego at the door.

Ask for help when you need it.

Meritocracy

Drive results, get rewarded

Bring your best to work every day.

Go beyond the day-to-day to achieve stellar results.

Contribute great ideas, the best one wins.

Raise your game.

Forge your own path to greatness.

Passion 

Love what you do

Focus on what excites you.

Dive in with both feet.

Remember that what you do matters.

Be better than you were yesterday.

Accountability

Take ownership

Learn from your mistakes and improve.

Be reliable. Follow through.

Own your ideas and actions.

Be a team player. Act like an owner.

Innovation

Challenge yourself

Be creative. Be curious.

Be adventurous. Collaborate.

Embrace new ideas and ways of thinking.

Express your opinions openly. 

Respect 

Treat others well

Be approachable. Have compassion.

Consider how your actions affect others.

Treat everyone fairly and with dignity.

Acknowledge one another by making eye contact and saying hello.

Talk to people directly, not behind their backs.

This wall was obviously directed toward Pampered Chef's workplace environment, but I think it's a good list of things for all of us to aspire to in every area of our lives.