Cartograph Pinot Noir and Timberland Knee High boots. Clean, with the appropriate jewelry, of course!
Don't hold back! Let me know what you think!!!
Cheers!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Daily Wine and Shoe Pairing! 7-26-10
Todays Wine and Shoe Pairing is a pretty great match!! The proper shoe choice is always vital when enjoying great wine!!
Cartograph Pinot Noir and Timberland Knee High boots. Clean, with the appropriate jewelry, of course!
Don't hold back! Let me know what you think!!!
Cheers!
Cartograph Pinot Noir and Timberland Knee High boots. Clean, with the appropriate jewelry, of course!
Don't hold back! Let me know what you think!!!
Cheers!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Daily Wine and Shoe Pairing!
Yes, my lovlies, most people are interested in Wine and FOOD pairings, but here at Wine.Love, we love it all. Including the all important image statement. Daily (mostly daily) I'll post a fabulous Wine and Shoe Pairing and trust me, if you're heading out to Wine Country, these combinations will never miss the mark!!
Check out the first one!
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Christian Louboutin 5 inch pumps! These may not be the most comfortable shoes you've ever worn in your life, but just take an aspirin and wear them anyway. You'll never feel more glamourous or special. And the WINE - Ohhh, the wine. Just wait until you try this buttery, perfectly layered beautiful work of art!!!
Go ahead, make yourself FABULOUS!
Check out the first one!
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Christian Louboutin 5 inch pumps! These may not be the most comfortable shoes you've ever worn in your life, but just take an aspirin and wear them anyway. You'll never feel more glamourous or special. And the WINE - Ohhh, the wine. Just wait until you try this buttery, perfectly layered beautiful work of art!!!
Go ahead, make yourself FABULOUS!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
STAY TUNED
Stay tuned for some MAJOR changes to my BLOG!!! I think you're gonna like it. Still fabulous! Still glamourous! Less Makeup!!
Stay on the look out for WINE.LOVE
xoxo
Stay on the look out for WINE.LOVE
xoxo
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
RETAIL-LAND
Yes, Retail-land is a universe all of its own. I work there. Sometimes I think I live there. Sometimes I call it "Crazyville."
Here's and example. I'll post more examples in the future.
Example 1. A woman was hired as a freelance makeup artist to help during busy times at a Dallas high-end retailer. She did a decent job and staffing is light at this store, so they kept her on. Honestly, I think she's a personal friend of the account executive for the line that brought her in. It pays to know people!
She worked in our store for several months - 5 or 6. Very often I would see the business manager of the line shaking her head or just walking away from the Diva Artist. Then one day when she was off, I asked the business manager how things were going with her new freelance help. She said this woman in fact WAS a friend of the account executive, which was how she got the job. Also, she announced on her first or second day that she couldn't help with the cleaning or the stocking of the counter - which is expected of absolutely everyone. Why?
Her word for word answer was this, "I have very long nails and I can't take a chance on breaking one because I go to a very expensive salon. AND I wear very expensive clothes. I will not get them dirty by cleaning up after anyone, including myself. Someone else can do that."
Wow. Her makeovers were not that good. She is a local woman with no more experience or credentials than anyone else in the makeup department. She just thinks very highly of herself. Needless to say, she's gone back to Crazyville, where she belongs.
Here's and example. I'll post more examples in the future.
Example 1. A woman was hired as a freelance makeup artist to help during busy times at a Dallas high-end retailer. She did a decent job and staffing is light at this store, so they kept her on. Honestly, I think she's a personal friend of the account executive for the line that brought her in. It pays to know people!
She worked in our store for several months - 5 or 6. Very often I would see the business manager of the line shaking her head or just walking away from the Diva Artist. Then one day when she was off, I asked the business manager how things were going with her new freelance help. She said this woman in fact WAS a friend of the account executive, which was how she got the job. Also, she announced on her first or second day that she couldn't help with the cleaning or the stocking of the counter - which is expected of absolutely everyone. Why?
Her word for word answer was this, "I have very long nails and I can't take a chance on breaking one because I go to a very expensive salon. AND I wear very expensive clothes. I will not get them dirty by cleaning up after anyone, including myself. Someone else can do that."
Wow. Her makeovers were not that good. She is a local woman with no more experience or credentials than anyone else in the makeup department. She just thinks very highly of herself. Needless to say, she's gone back to Crazyville, where she belongs.
The Joy of Staying Organized.
Albert Einstein said that if you make a to-do list for yourself each night, you'll eliminate 50% of your daily stress. How would you fell about eliminating 50% of your stress? Pretty good? Read on...
Living and working in a society of achievers, as we do, we can all benefit from a little lesson in organization. Even if you're not the president of a major corporation and your main accomplishment is getting your children to soccer practice (...and shame on you if that's the case...) you'd do a better job of it if you were more organized as you move throughout your day.
Here's how I suggest starting out:
Step one: Take that ugly calendar that your insurance guy gave you for free for Christmas OFF THE FRIDGE. If you have your kid's pictures on it and you need it to keep track of where everyone is, fine, but if you really want to organize your life, you'll make note on it for your family to know your schedule, but you will NO LONGER rely on it as your primary calendar.
Step two: Go buy a date book. Get one that is pretty/attractive/fun - whatever it needs to be to make you want to use it. I use one that covers a three month period of time. It's completely blank. I have to fill in every date on every page. I get to DESIGN MY LIFE! If you want more info on this particular book, just ask me. Leave me a comment or email or something. There's nothing wrong with using your Blackberry/Iphone for staying organized AS LONG AS IT'S WORKING. Some people such as me, need the eye to hand coordination. We need to see it, write it down, check it off and feel that sense of completion. If your piece of technology is working for you then, yay for you! You're all set. But if you feel like you'd do better seeing it in writing, which makes us sit down and PLAN things, then....read on.
Step three: Understand that you'll have to carry that datebook around with you everywhere you go. Get over it. Put it in your purse/tote bag/brief care. It goes with you. You'll be writing notes to yourself about things you want to do. Make sure your planner has a place for notes, journal, future tasks, things to delegate. Here's something I learned from one of my mentors: If you're performing tasks that anyone else on earth can do, you're not designing your life. You're performing tasks. Any time you're doing something that someone else could do your reacting to what someone else expects of you rather than controlling your life plan. If you can hire someone to perform a task for you, DO IT. Hire a kid or a neighbor or someone who needs a little money. It's a WIN/WIN! You'll get to give because you're paying them and you'll get some tasks done and will have some time available to focus on your life.
What can you DELEGATE? Here are a few ideas:
Laundry
Gardening
Paperwork
Cleaning your house
Painting
Grocery shopping
...anything that isn't contributing to your GOALS is something that should be a delegated task.
Step four: Goals? What are they? There are many areas in our lives where we can set goals that we want to achieve. Here are a few of my favorites: Family, Career, Educational, Spiritual, Financial. Choose 2 or 3 and set some goals for yourself. Want to get out of debt? Make it a priority. Want to finish your education? Make it a priority. Want better relationships with your family? Make them a priority. Want to contribute more time to your church? Make it a priority.
Once we set goal in a few different areas of our lives and KNOW what those goals are and REMIND OURSELVES every day of them, we can begin to arrange our lives AROUND those goals. Ask your self this: What's REALLY, REALLY, REALLY important to me? Then, if you're spending time doing random, unexpected things during your day, KNOW that you are NOT heading towards your goal.
With every step you take during your average day, ask your self this: "Is what I'm about to do going to lead me towards my goal, or farther away from my goal?" Once you get clear on what your goals are and WHY they are important to you, you'll find yourself making a priority of those goals and will find yourself headed straight toward them!
Step five: When you're writing your TO DO list each night - remember, you're going to do that every night! - make sure the goals you've written are in front of you. ALWAYS keep those goals in mind when you're planning your day. Do everything you can do to incorporate your goals into your daily activities.
If you'd like to have more information on designing your life and achieving your goals, check in to my blog frequently...I'll be adding more soon.
In the meantime.....have a fabulously designed day!
Living and working in a society of achievers, as we do, we can all benefit from a little lesson in organization. Even if you're not the president of a major corporation and your main accomplishment is getting your children to soccer practice (...and shame on you if that's the case...) you'd do a better job of it if you were more organized as you move throughout your day.
Here's how I suggest starting out:
Step one: Take that ugly calendar that your insurance guy gave you for free for Christmas OFF THE FRIDGE. If you have your kid's pictures on it and you need it to keep track of where everyone is, fine, but if you really want to organize your life, you'll make note on it for your family to know your schedule, but you will NO LONGER rely on it as your primary calendar.
Step two: Go buy a date book. Get one that is pretty/attractive/fun - whatever it needs to be to make you want to use it. I use one that covers a three month period of time. It's completely blank. I have to fill in every date on every page. I get to DESIGN MY LIFE! If you want more info on this particular book, just ask me. Leave me a comment or email or something. There's nothing wrong with using your Blackberry/Iphone for staying organized AS LONG AS IT'S WORKING. Some people such as me, need the eye to hand coordination. We need to see it, write it down, check it off and feel that sense of completion. If your piece of technology is working for you then, yay for you! You're all set. But if you feel like you'd do better seeing it in writing, which makes us sit down and PLAN things, then....read on.
Step three: Understand that you'll have to carry that datebook around with you everywhere you go. Get over it. Put it in your purse/tote bag/brief care. It goes with you. You'll be writing notes to yourself about things you want to do. Make sure your planner has a place for notes, journal, future tasks, things to delegate. Here's something I learned from one of my mentors: If you're performing tasks that anyone else on earth can do, you're not designing your life. You're performing tasks. Any time you're doing something that someone else could do your reacting to what someone else expects of you rather than controlling your life plan. If you can hire someone to perform a task for you, DO IT. Hire a kid or a neighbor or someone who needs a little money. It's a WIN/WIN! You'll get to give because you're paying them and you'll get some tasks done and will have some time available to focus on your life.
What can you DELEGATE? Here are a few ideas:
Laundry
Gardening
Paperwork
Cleaning your house
Painting
Grocery shopping
...anything that isn't contributing to your GOALS is something that should be a delegated task.
Step four: Goals? What are they? There are many areas in our lives where we can set goals that we want to achieve. Here are a few of my favorites: Family, Career, Educational, Spiritual, Financial. Choose 2 or 3 and set some goals for yourself. Want to get out of debt? Make it a priority. Want to finish your education? Make it a priority. Want better relationships with your family? Make them a priority. Want to contribute more time to your church? Make it a priority.
Once we set goal in a few different areas of our lives and KNOW what those goals are and REMIND OURSELVES every day of them, we can begin to arrange our lives AROUND those goals. Ask your self this: What's REALLY, REALLY, REALLY important to me? Then, if you're spending time doing random, unexpected things during your day, KNOW that you are NOT heading towards your goal.
With every step you take during your average day, ask your self this: "Is what I'm about to do going to lead me towards my goal, or farther away from my goal?" Once you get clear on what your goals are and WHY they are important to you, you'll find yourself making a priority of those goals and will find yourself headed straight toward them!
Step five: When you're writing your TO DO list each night - remember, you're going to do that every night! - make sure the goals you've written are in front of you. ALWAYS keep those goals in mind when you're planning your day. Do everything you can do to incorporate your goals into your daily activities.
If you'd like to have more information on designing your life and achieving your goals, check in to my blog frequently...I'll be adding more soon.
In the meantime.....have a fabulously designed day!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Lighten Up Already! It's Summer
Wow, don't we get into a rut easily with our make up and beauty routines? So often when I'm at work I see women dressed in gorgeous sun dresses and light, strappy sandals - and then when you look up from the cute outfits to the makeup, Yikes! The amount of makeup these women are wearing! You'd think they were going to their husbands' company Christmas party! Layer upon layer of primer, concealer, foundation, powder, bronzer, blush, 4 or 5 eyeshadows, 25 coats of mascara, lipliner, lipstick, lipgloss...
...don't get me wrong. I'm the QUEEN of makeup! It's been my industry for 30 years (yes, I started when I was 8). I love every step of makeup application! And I REALLY, REALLY love those skin care lines that consist of 10 or 12 steps: Daytime cleanser, night time cleanser, daytime toner, night time toner, day cream, night cream, day eye cream, night eye cream, Day serum, night serum. Gott a love all the pretty bottles! It's almost like buying fine jewelry - at least it's almost as expensive!
Let's try to develop a new Summertime habit! Just for fun! Just to be fresh and bold and unconventional! Just to be different and rebellious! Let's try this.
FIrst of all, wash your face with a bar of soap! WHAAAAaa???? Soap? Yes. Dove for about $1.89. Amore Pacific for about $30. Sisley for about $50 - I'm estimating the prices, but I want to illustrate to you that there are BARS OF SOAP FOR EVERY LEVEL OF PRODUCT SNOB!! It's fresh and clean feeling! You'll love the simplicity of it!!!
Next, unless you're using a special toner that is targeted for break outs or some other specific skin concern, SKIP IT!
Then, assess how oily you are. Pretty darn oily? Check out a serum. Make it oil-free. If you're pretty darn oily, that serum might be all you need!! Trish McEvoy's Beauty Booster Serum costs $125 and will last you all Summer! Oily people like me will not need a moisturizer over it even though it feels as light as water!
If you are dry and need a little more moisture, keep it light weight! Use a little more of a light weight product, rather than going with something heavy. The humidity level this time of year will keep you reasonably well hydrated!
SUNSCREEN! Don't leave home without it! Lots of companies make Sunscreen that is mixed in with your moisturizer! Some companies, like Laura Mercier and Chanel and Khiel's make wonderful sunscreens that are not oily at all and feel like exactly NOTHING on your skin. INVEST! It's worth it.
Then check out one of those cool mineral powders like the original one that everyone tries to copy and can't: Bare Minerals. Yes, it's messy, yes, you need to buy a brush to use it, stop whining. Go get your color. They have TONS to choose from. You will get all the coverage you need and your face will feel naked! NAKED and FRESH in the Summer!! FABULOUS!! If you really can't stand the thought of a loose mineral powder, Trish McEvoy makes a nice pressed one. Not great coverage, but light and in great colors.
If powder doesn't do it for you, get a lightweight tinted moisturizer. Clarins is FABULOUS. Lancome has one, too. Chanel does also. Again, a product for every price point!
Then, BRONZER! Use it as eyeshadow! WHAT????? Yes! Use it as eyeshadow! Use it as BLUSH! Use it to fake a tan because of course, you're tanning your body and NOT your face. Use your bronzer to catch up!
Mascara! One or two coats! Get one of those Lash Growth products. NeuLash works like a dream, but can be a little stingy. Trish McEvoy works well, too. Latisse works great if you are willing to risk the side effects. Best price point: Trish at $125. for a 4 to 6 month supply. In a few weeks your lashes will grow and you can go with out mascara altogether!
And last but not least: SKIP THE LIPSTICK. Put it in the fridge till Fall! Break out the gloss. Sheer, shiny or full coverage it doesn't matter. Just stay away from the super crazy drying "all day" ones. Really......how long do you need it to stay on anyway??? It takes exactly 2 seconds to reapply your lip gloss!! And Gloss will fade much more gently that lipstick will. With lipstick you can end up with that pretty Lucille Ball over the lip line after you eat. Gloss will never let you down like that!
START NOW!! START FRESH!! LIGHTEN UP!! Pare down your makeup bag and remember this:
If you're afraid to let your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife see you with out makeup, you're wearing WAAAaaaay too much!!!
LIGHTEN UP, GLAM GIRL!!
...don't get me wrong. I'm the QUEEN of makeup! It's been my industry for 30 years (yes, I started when I was 8). I love every step of makeup application! And I REALLY, REALLY love those skin care lines that consist of 10 or 12 steps: Daytime cleanser, night time cleanser, daytime toner, night time toner, day cream, night cream, day eye cream, night eye cream, Day serum, night serum. Gott a love all the pretty bottles! It's almost like buying fine jewelry - at least it's almost as expensive!
Let's try to develop a new Summertime habit! Just for fun! Just to be fresh and bold and unconventional! Just to be different and rebellious! Let's try this.
FIrst of all, wash your face with a bar of soap! WHAAAAaa???? Soap? Yes. Dove for about $1.89. Amore Pacific for about $30. Sisley for about $50 - I'm estimating the prices, but I want to illustrate to you that there are BARS OF SOAP FOR EVERY LEVEL OF PRODUCT SNOB!! It's fresh and clean feeling! You'll love the simplicity of it!!!
Next, unless you're using a special toner that is targeted for break outs or some other specific skin concern, SKIP IT!
Then, assess how oily you are. Pretty darn oily? Check out a serum. Make it oil-free. If you're pretty darn oily, that serum might be all you need!! Trish McEvoy's Beauty Booster Serum costs $125 and will last you all Summer! Oily people like me will not need a moisturizer over it even though it feels as light as water!
If you are dry and need a little more moisture, keep it light weight! Use a little more of a light weight product, rather than going with something heavy. The humidity level this time of year will keep you reasonably well hydrated!
SUNSCREEN! Don't leave home without it! Lots of companies make Sunscreen that is mixed in with your moisturizer! Some companies, like Laura Mercier and Chanel and Khiel's make wonderful sunscreens that are not oily at all and feel like exactly NOTHING on your skin. INVEST! It's worth it.
Then check out one of those cool mineral powders like the original one that everyone tries to copy and can't: Bare Minerals. Yes, it's messy, yes, you need to buy a brush to use it, stop whining. Go get your color. They have TONS to choose from. You will get all the coverage you need and your face will feel naked! NAKED and FRESH in the Summer!! FABULOUS!! If you really can't stand the thought of a loose mineral powder, Trish McEvoy makes a nice pressed one. Not great coverage, but light and in great colors.
If powder doesn't do it for you, get a lightweight tinted moisturizer. Clarins is FABULOUS. Lancome has one, too. Chanel does also. Again, a product for every price point!
Then, BRONZER! Use it as eyeshadow! WHAT????? Yes! Use it as eyeshadow! Use it as BLUSH! Use it to fake a tan because of course, you're tanning your body and NOT your face. Use your bronzer to catch up!
Mascara! One or two coats! Get one of those Lash Growth products. NeuLash works like a dream, but can be a little stingy. Trish McEvoy works well, too. Latisse works great if you are willing to risk the side effects. Best price point: Trish at $125. for a 4 to 6 month supply. In a few weeks your lashes will grow and you can go with out mascara altogether!
And last but not least: SKIP THE LIPSTICK. Put it in the fridge till Fall! Break out the gloss. Sheer, shiny or full coverage it doesn't matter. Just stay away from the super crazy drying "all day" ones. Really......how long do you need it to stay on anyway??? It takes exactly 2 seconds to reapply your lip gloss!! And Gloss will fade much more gently that lipstick will. With lipstick you can end up with that pretty Lucille Ball over the lip line after you eat. Gloss will never let you down like that!
START NOW!! START FRESH!! LIGHTEN UP!! Pare down your makeup bag and remember this:
If you're afraid to let your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife see you with out makeup, you're wearing WAAAaaaay too much!!!
LIGHTEN UP, GLAM GIRL!!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Let's Discuss Belize....
Belize is a former British Colony located in Central America. It's a wonderful place, rich in culture and activity - where the native language is English! I think there's more English spoken in Belize than there is here in Texas. (Sad)
Belize was listed as one of Islands Magazine's 10 best Islands to call home! They call it an "affordable paradise in the Caribbean." I like that. Paradise and Affordable, all in the same sentence!. Here are a few other things I love about Belize:
Ambergris Caye has a population of about 15,000. 12% are Expatriates. It's easy to get around - by golf cart! It's easy to buy a home. It's easy to get there - a 2 hour flight from Dallas or a 2 hour flight from Miami, then a 15 minute plane ride or 1.5 hour boat ride from Belize City to Ambergris Caye!
My husband and I read about Belize in Islands Magazine at just about the time we decided we wanted to purchase a home outside of the country. The original plan was to find a place for vacations and possibly to retire to. Once we traveled to Belize, we just fell in love with the people. The native Belizians as well as the other Expats, and we knew that this would be where we want to retire. But not at age 65. We want to retire NOW.
We found a beautiful little resort called Reef Villages and stayed there the first couple of times we were there. We soon found out that the developer of Reef Villages was also putting together a second development called "South Beach Belize." This was to be modeled after South Beach, Miami, Florida - another one of our favorite places. One of the first things we did was put a down payment on South Beach Belize.
We continued staying at Reef Villages, since South Beach wasn't started yet - "Hey! I got some swamp land to sell ya!" But when we realized that South Beach, although definitely in the works, was not going to be ready to live in for YEARS, we bought a beautiful little villa at Reef Villages. Not nearly as fabulous as the story of South Beach Belize, but IT EXISTS! It's BUILT and people actually live there. Very cool people live there. I thought originally that this would be a temporary place for us until South Beach is built, then we could sell our Villa and relocate to South Beach Belize. But now I'm not so sure! I fell in love with our little 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house. I had them paint it white, it has a thatched roof over the front porch with runs the entire front of the house and is on the lagoon. I mean really on the lagoon - as in, water under the front porch! I LOVE IT! I think my husband Robert still envisions us living a glamorous life in South Beach Belize, but I'm perfectly content on the North end of the island. Maybe some day we'll make that move, but if it never happens, I'm happy with that.
We are a short golf cart ride from downtown San Pedro - wonderful restaurants, bars, night life and shopping. Well, I'll admit, the shopping isn't that great. In fact, unless you want to take home a T-Shirt or shot glass, you'll be hard pressed to find any souveniers to take back with you. But the more time I spend there, the more niceness I find! For example, there's a wonderful Wine store that has beautiful bottles of wine - most that you've heard of! There's another place where the owner of the shop will custom sew covers and cushions for your patio furniture. And another place where a local family makes and paints outdoor furniture with bright, tropical colors that will look just perfect in and around a little white villa!
We've owned our Villa for just over a year now and have been there several times. Robert has been there more often that I have since he's furloughed and has a lot of time on his hands. I am still trying to string 3 or 4 days off in a row so that I can get there, relax a bit and not feel completely rushed during a short vacation. If I could afford to quit my job and move there permanently, believe me, I'd do it TODAY.
Robert and I have a solid 5 year plan in place, but everything I do, every day is to try to push that plan up! I'm even getting a Massage Therapy license so I can move to Belize, put up a little Cabana and do pool-side massages for the tourists. THAT sounds like heaven to me. How about you? We've started taking things to Belize with us when we go - little things we can live without in Texas, like extra clothes, our Bose Radio, CDs DVDs, small decorative things. We purchased this house fully furnished, so I haven't put much effort into decorating it in my own style. I want to save that for when I'm actually living there. We do rent it out occasionally and allow our friends/relatives to stay, so I want to hold off on changing anything until WE'RE the primary residents!
Wine motif? Tropical Blue theme? I really can't decide, and it's good that I really don't have to decide right now. For now, I just love every second of what's in Belize just the way it is. We fly in, taking pictures from the Tropic Air flight like tourists. We walk across the street from the airport and get a Belikin Beer from the Lime Bar the minute we land - that's become our tradition. We rent a golf cart as soon as we get there and that's our transportation for the time we're there. When we move there, we'll buy one. The drive through town to get to our place is always fun and it always looks different, each time I go. New little shops opening and others closing depending upon the season. I couldn't love it more.
As soon as we get to our villa, I put a fresh bowl of water out on our steps for the Reef Village Dog, who's name is Spot. Just in case he wonders by and needs a little refreshment. Throughout the day, I'll add some ice cubes to keep his water fresh. Last time we were there, I bought a dog water bowl to put in the main area of the resort for Spot and the visiting dogs. It never ceases to amaze me when I see people bringing their dogs on vacation and not being coherent enough to make sure they have water when it's 90 degrees outside. I have a little deal with the bar manager to make sure that bowl stays full.
I always look forward to the first morning that we wake up in Belize. It's a very slow process. We get up, make coffee, sit on the front porch for a while, waving to the neighbors on either side of us as well as the early birds who are sitting at the bar across the lagoon! Then that's where I go. As soon as I'm awake. The Reef Bar makes the best Bloody Mary you'll ever drink! That's my breakfast of champions!!
Then we start our day. Riding around on the golf cart, visiting people, visiting shops. Riding over to see our friend Linda who owns Coco Loco's bar, right on the beach! You never know who you'll run into there. She has many stories of celebrities walking in. I've never seen one, but I'm sure someday I will. Riding down to the south end of the island to check on the progress of South Beach Belize - I love the plans of the developers, but I don't expect that place to happen until I'm too old to live there!
So for now, that's where I'll leave you.....90 degree weather, riding around, wearing sunscreen, stopping for Belikin Beer or a morning Bloody Mary... later I'll tell you about the water taxi and some of the other resorts on our little Paradise Island!
Belize was listed as one of Islands Magazine's 10 best Islands to call home! They call it an "affordable paradise in the Caribbean." I like that. Paradise and Affordable, all in the same sentence!. Here are a few other things I love about Belize:
Ambergris Caye has a population of about 15,000. 12% are Expatriates. It's easy to get around - by golf cart! It's easy to buy a home. It's easy to get there - a 2 hour flight from Dallas or a 2 hour flight from Miami, then a 15 minute plane ride or 1.5 hour boat ride from Belize City to Ambergris Caye!
My husband and I read about Belize in Islands Magazine at just about the time we decided we wanted to purchase a home outside of the country. The original plan was to find a place for vacations and possibly to retire to. Once we traveled to Belize, we just fell in love with the people. The native Belizians as well as the other Expats, and we knew that this would be where we want to retire. But not at age 65. We want to retire NOW.
We found a beautiful little resort called Reef Villages and stayed there the first couple of times we were there. We soon found out that the developer of Reef Villages was also putting together a second development called "South Beach Belize." This was to be modeled after South Beach, Miami, Florida - another one of our favorite places. One of the first things we did was put a down payment on South Beach Belize.
We continued staying at Reef Villages, since South Beach wasn't started yet - "Hey! I got some swamp land to sell ya!" But when we realized that South Beach, although definitely in the works, was not going to be ready to live in for YEARS, we bought a beautiful little villa at Reef Villages. Not nearly as fabulous as the story of South Beach Belize, but IT EXISTS! It's BUILT and people actually live there. Very cool people live there. I thought originally that this would be a temporary place for us until South Beach is built, then we could sell our Villa and relocate to South Beach Belize. But now I'm not so sure! I fell in love with our little 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house. I had them paint it white, it has a thatched roof over the front porch with runs the entire front of the house and is on the lagoon. I mean really on the lagoon - as in, water under the front porch! I LOVE IT! I think my husband Robert still envisions us living a glamorous life in South Beach Belize, but I'm perfectly content on the North end of the island. Maybe some day we'll make that move, but if it never happens, I'm happy with that.
We are a short golf cart ride from downtown San Pedro - wonderful restaurants, bars, night life and shopping. Well, I'll admit, the shopping isn't that great. In fact, unless you want to take home a T-Shirt or shot glass, you'll be hard pressed to find any souveniers to take back with you. But the more time I spend there, the more niceness I find! For example, there's a wonderful Wine store that has beautiful bottles of wine - most that you've heard of! There's another place where the owner of the shop will custom sew covers and cushions for your patio furniture. And another place where a local family makes and paints outdoor furniture with bright, tropical colors that will look just perfect in and around a little white villa!
We've owned our Villa for just over a year now and have been there several times. Robert has been there more often that I have since he's furloughed and has a lot of time on his hands. I am still trying to string 3 or 4 days off in a row so that I can get there, relax a bit and not feel completely rushed during a short vacation. If I could afford to quit my job and move there permanently, believe me, I'd do it TODAY.
Robert and I have a solid 5 year plan in place, but everything I do, every day is to try to push that plan up! I'm even getting a Massage Therapy license so I can move to Belize, put up a little Cabana and do pool-side massages for the tourists. THAT sounds like heaven to me. How about you? We've started taking things to Belize with us when we go - little things we can live without in Texas, like extra clothes, our Bose Radio, CDs DVDs, small decorative things. We purchased this house fully furnished, so I haven't put much effort into decorating it in my own style. I want to save that for when I'm actually living there. We do rent it out occasionally and allow our friends/relatives to stay, so I want to hold off on changing anything until WE'RE the primary residents!
Wine motif? Tropical Blue theme? I really can't decide, and it's good that I really don't have to decide right now. For now, I just love every second of what's in Belize just the way it is. We fly in, taking pictures from the Tropic Air flight like tourists. We walk across the street from the airport and get a Belikin Beer from the Lime Bar the minute we land - that's become our tradition. We rent a golf cart as soon as we get there and that's our transportation for the time we're there. When we move there, we'll buy one. The drive through town to get to our place is always fun and it always looks different, each time I go. New little shops opening and others closing depending upon the season. I couldn't love it more.
As soon as we get to our villa, I put a fresh bowl of water out on our steps for the Reef Village Dog, who's name is Spot. Just in case he wonders by and needs a little refreshment. Throughout the day, I'll add some ice cubes to keep his water fresh. Last time we were there, I bought a dog water bowl to put in the main area of the resort for Spot and the visiting dogs. It never ceases to amaze me when I see people bringing their dogs on vacation and not being coherent enough to make sure they have water when it's 90 degrees outside. I have a little deal with the bar manager to make sure that bowl stays full.
I always look forward to the first morning that we wake up in Belize. It's a very slow process. We get up, make coffee, sit on the front porch for a while, waving to the neighbors on either side of us as well as the early birds who are sitting at the bar across the lagoon! Then that's where I go. As soon as I'm awake. The Reef Bar makes the best Bloody Mary you'll ever drink! That's my breakfast of champions!!
Then we start our day. Riding around on the golf cart, visiting people, visiting shops. Riding over to see our friend Linda who owns Coco Loco's bar, right on the beach! You never know who you'll run into there. She has many stories of celebrities walking in. I've never seen one, but I'm sure someday I will. Riding down to the south end of the island to check on the progress of South Beach Belize - I love the plans of the developers, but I don't expect that place to happen until I'm too old to live there!
So for now, that's where I'll leave you.....90 degree weather, riding around, wearing sunscreen, stopping for Belikin Beer or a morning Bloody Mary... later I'll tell you about the water taxi and some of the other resorts on our little Paradise Island!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day
On this picnic and water-sports friendly holiday, please remember what Memorial Day is all about. Take a little quiet time and give thanks for the freedoms that we enjoy. Remember that freedom is NEVER free and tough decisions need to be made every day by those in our Armed Forces.
We cannot always take the easy road or be politically correct when our country and freedoms are at stake. We cannot be gentle with everybody and treat our enemies as though they're no more a threat than the other sports team. We must be tough with our enemies and show them that we are serious about maintaining the integrity of what the USA is all about.
Stand up. Get informed. Get an opinion and EXPRESS it. Don't just sit there assuming our current administration has all the answers. They do not. No administration has had all the answers - ever. It's a collaborative effort and egos must never get in the way.
Our leaders must keep our country the number one priority as decisions are made. The men and women in our armed forces who have served and who are currently service know all of this. Our political leaders need to know it and act upon it as well.
WE as citizens must give our military our respect and honor them and their efforts AT ALL TIMES. They are fighting for US. For YOU and ME.
Take a minute today to appreciate that.
Thank you for allowing me my freedom of speach.
We cannot always take the easy road or be politically correct when our country and freedoms are at stake. We cannot be gentle with everybody and treat our enemies as though they're no more a threat than the other sports team. We must be tough with our enemies and show them that we are serious about maintaining the integrity of what the USA is all about.
Stand up. Get informed. Get an opinion and EXPRESS it. Don't just sit there assuming our current administration has all the answers. They do not. No administration has had all the answers - ever. It's a collaborative effort and egos must never get in the way.
Our leaders must keep our country the number one priority as decisions are made. The men and women in our armed forces who have served and who are currently service know all of this. Our political leaders need to know it and act upon it as well.
WE as citizens must give our military our respect and honor them and their efforts AT ALL TIMES. They are fighting for US. For YOU and ME.
Take a minute today to appreciate that.
Thank you for allowing me my freedom of speach.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
My Favorite Products of all TIME!
Why should you care what MY favorite products are? Maybe you don't, but that's ok. It's my blog, after all. I've been in the cosmetics industry for 30 years. I've worked for all the greats: Chanel, Trish McEvoy, Estee Lauder, Lancome, just to name a few! During this time I've had the opportunity to experience many many products and to learn why they work and why they hold a place on retailers' shelves! Here are some things to check out:
1. Body Cleanser. I love DOVE soap. If you're not a soap person, get the bath gel that matches the fragrance you wear. If you do not wear perfume, then get PHILOSOPHY AMAZING GRACE or PURE GRACE. Nothing but CLEAN!
2. Body Exfoliant: CLINIQUE SPARKLE SCRUB - Couldn't be more refreshing!!!
3. Body Lotion/Cream: NIVEA FIRMING BODY LOTION. Unless you're looking for a lotion to layer with the fragrance you're wearing, This is the way to go! FABULOCITY!!! Great Herbal scent and makes the skin look sleek and smooth!
4. Self Tanner. FAUX TAN from Bare Escentuals! Goes on brown so you can see where you're tanning! No surprises later!
5. Gradual Self Tanner. NEUTROGENA BUILD-A-TAN. Nicely scented! Just use it as your regular lotion until you get your tan!
6. Body Spray/All over scent. AMAZING GRACE or PURE GRACE from Philosophy. No one does this better!!
7. Nail Polish Remover. Well, I've learned that it's all so much alike, just buy what's cheapest! It will all damage your nails!
8. Nail Polish. OPI. Some colors are worth owning even if you don't like them just because the names are so great. If you can't find a color you love in OPI, you may have a problem! ;o)
9. Hand Cream. STUDIO GEAR BRIGHTENING HAND CREAM. Yummy and will lighten skin spots! Love it!
10. Foot Care! Save up and have a pedicure. No one will make your feet prettier than a pro. Go for the Parafin Wax - it feels AMAZING!!!
11. Face Cleanser: Trish McEvoy Glycolic Wash is amazing! Foams up like crazy and feels fabulous!!
12. Face Cleansing Lotion. If you can't take the bubbles, CHANEL CLEANSING MILK!
13. Facial Toner. ERNO LASZLO LIGHT CONTROLLING LOTION. If you're dry, the use CHANTECAILLE PURE ROSEWATER SPRAY.
14. Facial Exfoliant. CLINIQUE SUPER EXFOLIANT. Go lightly! Very effective. if you're super sensitive, TRISH McEVOY BETA PADS. Extremely gently Beta Hdroxy Acid Pads used 3 times per week will keep skin clear of those pesky flakes!
15. Facial Serum. TRISH McEVOY BEAUTY BOOSTER SERUM. Instant gratification. Hyalauronic Acid, Dual Action Peptides, Anti Oxident Vitamins. Food for the skin. Leaves skin smoother IMMEDIATELY.
16. Facial Moisturizer. CREME DE LA MER! All of them. Creme, Lotion. Oil control lotion. You can't go wrong here! Quite pricey though. If you need to mind the budget a little, check out TRISH MCEVOY BEAUTY BOOSTER CREAM WITH SPF 15. If you REALLY need to mind the budget, go for ROC products. All very well done.
17. Eye Cream. NATURA BISSE DIAMOND EYE CREAM. Great for puffiness, as well. For the budget conscious, check out Kiehl's Avocodo Eye Cream.
18. Lip Balm. TRISH McEVOY LUXE BALM. Not only can you use it on your lips, but on your cuticles, around your eyes when you're out in the cold, and I even use a little on the frizzy ends of my hair in humid weather!
19. Neck Cream. You DON'T need a neck cream. Just use everything you use on your face also on your neck! IF YOU INSIST ---Go for ERNO LASZLO DECOLLETE CREAM! It smells amazing and feels even better than it smells!!
That's it for skin care! Another time I'll talk about makeup! THAT will be fun!!! PLEASE PLEASE leave me comments on what your agreements and disagreements are!!!
Love
Donna
1. Body Cleanser. I love DOVE soap. If you're not a soap person, get the bath gel that matches the fragrance you wear. If you do not wear perfume, then get PHILOSOPHY AMAZING GRACE or PURE GRACE. Nothing but CLEAN!
2. Body Exfoliant: CLINIQUE SPARKLE SCRUB - Couldn't be more refreshing!!!
3. Body Lotion/Cream: NIVEA FIRMING BODY LOTION. Unless you're looking for a lotion to layer with the fragrance you're wearing, This is the way to go! FABULOCITY!!! Great Herbal scent and makes the skin look sleek and smooth!
4. Self Tanner. FAUX TAN from Bare Escentuals! Goes on brown so you can see where you're tanning! No surprises later!
5. Gradual Self Tanner. NEUTROGENA BUILD-A-TAN. Nicely scented! Just use it as your regular lotion until you get your tan!
6. Body Spray/All over scent. AMAZING GRACE or PURE GRACE from Philosophy. No one does this better!!
7. Nail Polish Remover. Well, I've learned that it's all so much alike, just buy what's cheapest! It will all damage your nails!
8. Nail Polish. OPI. Some colors are worth owning even if you don't like them just because the names are so great. If you can't find a color you love in OPI, you may have a problem! ;o)
9. Hand Cream. STUDIO GEAR BRIGHTENING HAND CREAM. Yummy and will lighten skin spots! Love it!
10. Foot Care! Save up and have a pedicure. No one will make your feet prettier than a pro. Go for the Parafin Wax - it feels AMAZING!!!
11. Face Cleanser: Trish McEvoy Glycolic Wash is amazing! Foams up like crazy and feels fabulous!!
12. Face Cleansing Lotion. If you can't take the bubbles, CHANEL CLEANSING MILK!
13. Facial Toner. ERNO LASZLO LIGHT CONTROLLING LOTION. If you're dry, the use CHANTECAILLE PURE ROSEWATER SPRAY.
14. Facial Exfoliant. CLINIQUE SUPER EXFOLIANT. Go lightly! Very effective. if you're super sensitive, TRISH McEVOY BETA PADS. Extremely gently Beta Hdroxy Acid Pads used 3 times per week will keep skin clear of those pesky flakes!
15. Facial Serum. TRISH McEVOY BEAUTY BOOSTER SERUM. Instant gratification. Hyalauronic Acid, Dual Action Peptides, Anti Oxident Vitamins. Food for the skin. Leaves skin smoother IMMEDIATELY.
16. Facial Moisturizer. CREME DE LA MER! All of them. Creme, Lotion. Oil control lotion. You can't go wrong here! Quite pricey though. If you need to mind the budget a little, check out TRISH MCEVOY BEAUTY BOOSTER CREAM WITH SPF 15. If you REALLY need to mind the budget, go for ROC products. All very well done.
17. Eye Cream. NATURA BISSE DIAMOND EYE CREAM. Great for puffiness, as well. For the budget conscious, check out Kiehl's Avocodo Eye Cream.
18. Lip Balm. TRISH McEVOY LUXE BALM. Not only can you use it on your lips, but on your cuticles, around your eyes when you're out in the cold, and I even use a little on the frizzy ends of my hair in humid weather!
19. Neck Cream. You DON'T need a neck cream. Just use everything you use on your face also on your neck! IF YOU INSIST ---Go for ERNO LASZLO DECOLLETE CREAM! It smells amazing and feels even better than it smells!!
That's it for skin care! Another time I'll talk about makeup! THAT will be fun!!! PLEASE PLEASE leave me comments on what your agreements and disagreements are!!!
Love
Donna
Men... a short story.
Men are like fine wine. They start out as grapes. It's our job to stomp them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something we'd like to have dinner with.
Monday, May 24, 2010
I have a very good friend...
I have a very good friend.
The kind of girl who likes to follow a trend.
She has a personal style
Some people like it, others tend to go wild.
You hear her voice everywhere
Taking the chair
She's a leading lady.
And with no trace of hesitation she keeps going head over heels,
Making her way.
Pushing through unknown jungles every day
She's a girl
With a taste
For the world.....
Yes, I have a very good friend.
She's the most wonderful person I know. She's very entrepreneurial and she's definitely a leader. She has a wonderful husband and she's growing a wonderful business. But... I mean AND...
She's got a handful of D R A M A !!!
She's the type of person that would go to bat for anyone. Who would jump at the suggestion of trouble and would do anything to help anyone!! And she's very capable of helping anyone who needs it!
Recently, she was wondering why she had been called upon to help the most recent recipient of her goodness. I had to tell her that...well.... maybe it wasn't about HER this time. This was someone very close to her. Maybe this time she was just placed in a situation where she was available to help someone.
We all ask ourselves, "Why me?" "Why am I here?" "Why was I the one called upon to help?"
My answer, as one who - thanks be to God - has many answers, was this: Maybe it's not about you this time. Maybe the question isn't "why me?", but "What can I do?" Maybe it's just not about you.
Maybe it's not about you. Maybe you've been called upon to fix a relationship with someone.
Maybe it's not about you. Maybe you've been called upon to show someone a different way of life.
Maybe it's not about you. Maybe you've been called upon to show someone through YOUR life that they can live a BETTER life.
Maybe it's not about you. Maybe you've been called upon to show someone that you love them no matter WHAT they choose. Knowing full well that in the end, they'll see that you were right all along, but for now you just have to love them.
And...maybe a month is enough.... Maybe you had a chance for the last 4 weeks to show them ALL OF IT: You have a good relationship. You've shown them that it can be better for them. You've shown them HOW to have that better life, because YOU have it. And you've shown them that you love them no matter what they choose.
AND...Even more importantly for you,
YOU know that you need to live YOUR life. You can only do so much. You can lead by example. You KNOW that in every area of your life ---- except for this one ---- because it is just SO close to your heart. You know that you need to continue to live your fabulous life. Because to STOP living your fabulous life would make everything you've said to the person you've been trying to help a lie.
Live your life. Show them how it's done. They're close enough to see how it works.
You don't need to turn yourself inside out and upside down to make your point. You've made it. Now just go live.
Be the example
BE the change you wish to see in the world.
I love you.
The kind of girl who likes to follow a trend.
She has a personal style
Some people like it, others tend to go wild.
You hear her voice everywhere
Taking the chair
She's a leading lady.
And with no trace of hesitation she keeps going head over heels,
Making her way.
Pushing through unknown jungles every day
She's a girl
With a taste
For the world.....
Yes, I have a very good friend.
She's the most wonderful person I know. She's very entrepreneurial and she's definitely a leader. She has a wonderful husband and she's growing a wonderful business. But... I mean AND...
She's got a handful of D R A M A !!!
She's the type of person that would go to bat for anyone. Who would jump at the suggestion of trouble and would do anything to help anyone!! And she's very capable of helping anyone who needs it!
Recently, she was wondering why she had been called upon to help the most recent recipient of her goodness. I had to tell her that...well.... maybe it wasn't about HER this time. This was someone very close to her. Maybe this time she was just placed in a situation where she was available to help someone.
We all ask ourselves, "Why me?" "Why am I here?" "Why was I the one called upon to help?"
My answer, as one who - thanks be to God - has many answers, was this: Maybe it's not about you this time. Maybe the question isn't "why me?", but "What can I do?" Maybe it's just not about you.
Maybe it's not about you. Maybe you've been called upon to fix a relationship with someone.
Maybe it's not about you. Maybe you've been called upon to show someone a different way of life.
Maybe it's not about you. Maybe you've been called upon to show someone through YOUR life that they can live a BETTER life.
Maybe it's not about you. Maybe you've been called upon to show someone that you love them no matter WHAT they choose. Knowing full well that in the end, they'll see that you were right all along, but for now you just have to love them.
And...maybe a month is enough.... Maybe you had a chance for the last 4 weeks to show them ALL OF IT: You have a good relationship. You've shown them that it can be better for them. You've shown them HOW to have that better life, because YOU have it. And you've shown them that you love them no matter what they choose.
AND...Even more importantly for you,
YOU know that you need to live YOUR life. You can only do so much. You can lead by example. You KNOW that in every area of your life ---- except for this one ---- because it is just SO close to your heart. You know that you need to continue to live your fabulous life. Because to STOP living your fabulous life would make everything you've said to the person you've been trying to help a lie.
Live your life. Show them how it's done. They're close enough to see how it works.
You don't need to turn yourself inside out and upside down to make your point. You've made it. Now just go live.
Be the example
BE the change you wish to see in the world.
I love you.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Convenience of Makeup
Wouldn't it be convenient to have all of your make up in one nice, neat, organized place. Easy to access and then easy to put away. And enough room for your skin care products as well! Wouldn't it be nice it if was a black leather case, maybe even quilted! Tres chic!
So what would you put into it if it was possible to have such a great thing?
Well first, let's talk about the planner. It's approximately 5 inches by 8 inches by 4 inches deep. Maybe a little less that 4 inches deep.
You unzip the main compartment to find a page. Like a planner page....but it has a magnet to hold all of your little metal pans of color securely in place. A large magnet that measures approximately 4 inches by 7 inches, and fits on rings inside the planner like a binder! On this page you can fit your foundation, your powder. Also, your eyeshadows, your eyeliner, your blush, bronzer, and brow color.
It's wonderful to know that if you want to, you can add another page to hold even more colors that you love!
On the other side of the planner you'll see a few little pouches! What could go in there? I'll tell you what! ALL of your brushes. And not just ANY brushes, but the finest make up brushes ever made. The kind of brushes that if you take care of them, will last you years and years and years. There's also room over there for your mascara and other "tubular" products!
Wow. Put your make up on in no time at all. It's all lined up in there, in perfect order so that you can move from one product to the next quickly and easily. And when you have to wake up at 5 am to get to work and you have mere minutes to get your look together, you'll LOVE how fast this little system works for you!! Just imagine!!
When you open the second zipper compartment, what will you find? I large empty compartment that will comfortably hold EVERYTHING you want to put in there. Skin care, toiletries, anything you want.
it's the ultimate in organization for the Make Up Diva. It's like your personal Paint by Numbers Kit. It's all the make up that used to fill drawers and drawers all condensed into a cute zip around planner!
WANT ONE!????
Get in touch with me and I'll tell you how. OK, OK. I'll tell you now. It's Trish McEvoy. I'd love to show you how to put your planner together. Trish had an brilliant idea. They best organizational system for your cosmetics that you'll ever see!!!
Get in touch with me and I'll put one together for you!!!
Friday, May 21, 2010
"I will sell this house today"
Remember that line from the movie American Beauty? Caroline Burnham, played by Annette Benning so desperately wanted to sell a house that afternoon. And in this movie, she was actually TRYING to sell the house by telling people what they'd get in having that house and why it would be good for them. Strange. Does it ever really work that way?
I really hope someone can explain all of this to me because I'm at my wit's end. Who designed the real estate industry? Why is it that any bored housewife can take a three day crash course on how to answer the realtor test questions correctly, pass the test or get her money back, and then BOOM! She's a realtor!
What does this give her/him the right to do actually? Join up with a real estate office - at 100% commission, based upon their sales. No salary whatsoever. ZERO salary. To me, this just means that a real estate office can "sign up" hundreds of realtors at no cost or sacrifice at all and hope one or two of them will swim....knowing full well 90% of them will sink. And again, what does this cost the real estate firm? ZERO! in fact, they charge these realtors for everything they do - advertising, business cards, signs in yards, etc. Pretty crappy industry in my opinion.
But wait....it gets better....
WHO exactly teaches these people to sell? Sell? A house? What's that?
I've been a "buyer" many times, and I've never had a realtor actually "sell" me a house. All they ever did was drive me around showing me houses and waiting for me to decide I wanted something. If any other sales organization operating in this fashion, they'd be out of business in 10 minutes. Not the real estate industry....just keep going! Someone will BUY a house and a realtor will earn some commission.
I've seen realtors meet with me, tell me how fabulous my home is and that the can sell it for LOADS of money in just a few weeks! LOADS! So guess what I do? I SIGN A BINDING CONTRACT!!! I can't change realtors because I'm committed to this person for the duration of the contract! If I bring my own buyer to the table, with no help at all from the realtor, I still have to pay them a commission.
Now THERE'S a great deal! List a million houses!!! Tell lies and promise the moon to as many people wanting or needing to sell their homes, and then do nothing! Just rely on other realtors to find the house on their multi-list computer program. Someone else will sell the house and you'll get commission just for promising the moon and getting the poor sap to sign a contract because they want to believe you!!
Now, after you get your "sap" to sign that contract so that they have to pay your commission no matter how little you do for them, you can come back to them in a few weeks and tell them they need to lower the price to sell! So you do. Then when it doesn't sell, lower it again. Then when it doesn't sell, re-landscape. Then when it doesn't sell, re-paint and re-carpet the place. Don't forget, your FABULOUS realtor said he or she would sell your house for LOADS of money in just a few weeks!
And whether it's true or not - USUALLY NOT - YOU are committed to this person for the length of their contract.
I've learned that it's no one's job to "sell" a house. All they seem to do is drive people around to houses that are for sale, skulk quietly in the background, waiting to see if the prospective buyer says, "I'll take it!" There's no selling involved. The more you act as chauffeur, the better your chances of selling a house. You don't have to "sell." You just have to drive people around and let them go in and out of random houses until they tell you they want one. That's the job of the selling agent.
The job of the listing agent is just to LIST as many houses as they can, in case someone sells one of the ones they've listed - they get their commission then!!!
WHO IS TEACHING THESE PEOPLE TO SELL???? Sadly, the answer is NO ONE. The "SALES JOB" is convincing you to list your house with them and sign a contract. EVENTUALLY, one of their stupid listings will sell. They hope. Or maybe they'll go back to working part time at The Gap.
SO....again I ask: WHO DESIGNED THIS INDUSTRY??? and Why does no one seem to care how unethical and dishonest and abusive it is?
I apologize if I've offended anyone, but I just don't get it.
I think I'll stick with selling cosmetics. I know I can provide a great service and product that people want and give them something tangible for their money. Without the lies and without playing on peoples emotional needs.
I really hope someone can explain all of this to me because I'm at my wit's end. Who designed the real estate industry? Why is it that any bored housewife can take a three day crash course on how to answer the realtor test questions correctly, pass the test or get her money back, and then BOOM! She's a realtor!
What does this give her/him the right to do actually? Join up with a real estate office - at 100% commission, based upon their sales. No salary whatsoever. ZERO salary. To me, this just means that a real estate office can "sign up" hundreds of realtors at no cost or sacrifice at all and hope one or two of them will swim....knowing full well 90% of them will sink. And again, what does this cost the real estate firm? ZERO! in fact, they charge these realtors for everything they do - advertising, business cards, signs in yards, etc. Pretty crappy industry in my opinion.
But wait....it gets better....
WHO exactly teaches these people to sell? Sell? A house? What's that?
I've been a "buyer" many times, and I've never had a realtor actually "sell" me a house. All they ever did was drive me around showing me houses and waiting for me to decide I wanted something. If any other sales organization operating in this fashion, they'd be out of business in 10 minutes. Not the real estate industry....just keep going! Someone will BUY a house and a realtor will earn some commission.
I've seen realtors meet with me, tell me how fabulous my home is and that the can sell it for LOADS of money in just a few weeks! LOADS! So guess what I do? I SIGN A BINDING CONTRACT!!! I can't change realtors because I'm committed to this person for the duration of the contract! If I bring my own buyer to the table, with no help at all from the realtor, I still have to pay them a commission.
Now THERE'S a great deal! List a million houses!!! Tell lies and promise the moon to as many people wanting or needing to sell their homes, and then do nothing! Just rely on other realtors to find the house on their multi-list computer program. Someone else will sell the house and you'll get commission just for promising the moon and getting the poor sap to sign a contract because they want to believe you!!
Now, after you get your "sap" to sign that contract so that they have to pay your commission no matter how little you do for them, you can come back to them in a few weeks and tell them they need to lower the price to sell! So you do. Then when it doesn't sell, lower it again. Then when it doesn't sell, re-landscape. Then when it doesn't sell, re-paint and re-carpet the place. Don't forget, your FABULOUS realtor said he or she would sell your house for LOADS of money in just a few weeks!
And whether it's true or not - USUALLY NOT - YOU are committed to this person for the length of their contract.
I've learned that it's no one's job to "sell" a house. All they seem to do is drive people around to houses that are for sale, skulk quietly in the background, waiting to see if the prospective buyer says, "I'll take it!" There's no selling involved. The more you act as chauffeur, the better your chances of selling a house. You don't have to "sell." You just have to drive people around and let them go in and out of random houses until they tell you they want one. That's the job of the selling agent.
The job of the listing agent is just to LIST as many houses as they can, in case someone sells one of the ones they've listed - they get their commission then!!!
WHO IS TEACHING THESE PEOPLE TO SELL???? Sadly, the answer is NO ONE. The "SALES JOB" is convincing you to list your house with them and sign a contract. EVENTUALLY, one of their stupid listings will sell. They hope. Or maybe they'll go back to working part time at The Gap.
SO....again I ask: WHO DESIGNED THIS INDUSTRY??? and Why does no one seem to care how unethical and dishonest and abusive it is?
I apologize if I've offended anyone, but I just don't get it.
I think I'll stick with selling cosmetics. I know I can provide a great service and product that people want and give them something tangible for their money. Without the lies and without playing on peoples emotional needs.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Loooooong day...
We actually had a really good day at work today, after all the sales were added up. We had a Trish training in the store for all of the sales associates and product specialists. Two sessions, one at 12:30 and one at 2:00. Our wonderful trainer Biviana facilitated the training. We learned and taught all kinds of new things and revisited some older Trish basic stuff. I had to take my makeup off in front of the entire group so Biv could put the new colors on me.
I'm just exhausted now! 11 to 7 is a long day. I learned today that I need to embrace the idea of Cosmetics Events at my Store. In the past I've been a non-event person. I want to see a steady, growing business on a regular basis. Day in, day out. But I'm learning that our business isn't going to work that way. Actually, it will, but my bosses will never be happy with that slow and steady growth. They want it to grow FAST and RIGHT NOW. The only way to do that is to host events where we can bring in large sales numbers on various days. So here comes "EVENT GIRL!"
Yuk is all I have to say. But it matters not what I think! I must do it. I must choose a date for an event and call my customers and invite them in for makeovers and to clean up their Trish planners. I can do it! I MUST do it. Tomorrow, I'll have my next 3 months of events planned. That's my goal. Yay for events. Yay for events. If I say that enough times, maybe I'll believe it!! Yay for events! Yay for $$$.
More tomorrow!!
I'm just exhausted now! 11 to 7 is a long day. I learned today that I need to embrace the idea of Cosmetics Events at my Store. In the past I've been a non-event person. I want to see a steady, growing business on a regular basis. Day in, day out. But I'm learning that our business isn't going to work that way. Actually, it will, but my bosses will never be happy with that slow and steady growth. They want it to grow FAST and RIGHT NOW. The only way to do that is to host events where we can bring in large sales numbers on various days. So here comes "EVENT GIRL!"
Yuk is all I have to say. But it matters not what I think! I must do it. I must choose a date for an event and call my customers and invite them in for makeovers and to clean up their Trish planners. I can do it! I MUST do it. Tomorrow, I'll have my next 3 months of events planned. That's my goal. Yay for events. Yay for events. If I say that enough times, maybe I'll believe it!! Yay for events! Yay for $$$.
More tomorrow!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
craigyferg Warms the Heart
I'd like to extend a late congratulations to Craig Ferguson for receiving the Peabody Award for his show with Desmond Tutu! I heard about the award a couple of month ago through Craig's Twitter page - I'd follow him anywhere! Remember the drunken Department Store Manager in the old Drew Carey Show? He'd stick his head out of his office now and then and give alcohol saturated orders to his staff. THAT was Craig Ferguson. Now he hosts the wildly successful Late Late Show. This particular show was re-run last night and I was so thankful to have been able to watch it.
Father Tutu is an amazing man. Whether you're into the history and his life or not, he is a sweetheart to watch. He and Craig together were almost like comic church! I learned a great deal from the show, which initially, I thought wasn't going to last long enough to communicate anything of substance, since Craig spent the first 30 minutes of his 60 minute show getting the audience ready for Desmond Tutu's visit. His guests are attending his shows for comedy - so I'm sure the time spent putting them in the right frame of mind was a very wise thing to do.
Although I would never want my blog to be more serious than Lady Gaga's Pink Lipstick, I will say this: Father Tutu was VERY excited about Obama's being elected president. Since our electing him shows that we are accepting of all races - which we should be - and willing to consider them seriously for the most powerful position in the world. That being said, what I didn't hear was what I'm sure would have come if there had been more time on the show for discussion. Knowing the type of man that Father Tutu is, I truly believe he would have said something to the effect of, Now that he's elected, he must continue to make us proud by doing a very good job. He must look out for those who elected him and for those who did not elect him but are counting on him to run their country. Now it's time for Obama to say thank you to his constituents, and move on to protecting his people, the Americans. I just KNOW that something like this is what would have been said. But it wasn't.
There were so many more things discussed by the two of them, that this particular subject may not have struck a chord with others the way it did with me. I was very captivated by the entire conversation between them as were many others.
Father Tutu is a kind and gentle soul. Craig Ferguson is a kind and gentle soul (I believe.) It was wonderful to see them laugh together and appreciate each other. They talked about caring, forgiveness and kindness. It was an outstanding show and I hope everyone gets to see it at some point.
Father Tutu is an amazing man. Whether you're into the history and his life or not, he is a sweetheart to watch. He and Craig together were almost like comic church! I learned a great deal from the show, which initially, I thought wasn't going to last long enough to communicate anything of substance, since Craig spent the first 30 minutes of his 60 minute show getting the audience ready for Desmond Tutu's visit. His guests are attending his shows for comedy - so I'm sure the time spent putting them in the right frame of mind was a very wise thing to do.
Although I would never want my blog to be more serious than Lady Gaga's Pink Lipstick, I will say this: Father Tutu was VERY excited about Obama's being elected president. Since our electing him shows that we are accepting of all races - which we should be - and willing to consider them seriously for the most powerful position in the world. That being said, what I didn't hear was what I'm sure would have come if there had been more time on the show for discussion. Knowing the type of man that Father Tutu is, I truly believe he would have said something to the effect of, Now that he's elected, he must continue to make us proud by doing a very good job. He must look out for those who elected him and for those who did not elect him but are counting on him to run their country. Now it's time for Obama to say thank you to his constituents, and move on to protecting his people, the Americans. I just KNOW that something like this is what would have been said. But it wasn't.
There were so many more things discussed by the two of them, that this particular subject may not have struck a chord with others the way it did with me. I was very captivated by the entire conversation between them as were many others.
Father Tutu is a kind and gentle soul. Craig Ferguson is a kind and gentle soul (I believe.) It was wonderful to see them laugh together and appreciate each other. They talked about caring, forgiveness and kindness. It was an outstanding show and I hope everyone gets to see it at some point.
High Maintenance
I must say, I've always known I've been a very high maintenance person, but I was quite surprised when I actually added up all of the beauty products I use on a daily basis! Geeze! The cosmetics companies should be sending me thank you notes DAILY!!!
It's a good thing that I enjoy the process. Do I want permanently tattooed eye liner? Lip liner? Hell to the no! If I had that done, then I wouldn't need to apply my eyeliner every morning! I'd miss that! Not kidding! I love every second of doing my makeup!! Whether I'm in a hurry or not!
The question I must answer is this: What is high priority and what can I do without? What if I'm in a hurry and I only have time for 20 or so of my 50 or so product routine? Let's examine the products.
1. Body Wash. I guess I could use my husband's soap, but there are gross hairs on it and I won't touch it. Body Wash - HIGH PRIORITY.
2. Body Exfoliant. VERY different from face exfoliant. Trust me here.
3. Facial Cleanser. Use a SOAP on this fabulous face? NO WAY! Occasionally, when I'm feeling like down sizing a little, I'll use a bar of Clinique Soap, and then use the same soap on my body, but that's as far away from facial cleanser as i"ll get. Facial Cleanser - HIGH PRIORITY.
4. Facial Exfoliant. I only use this about 5 days per week, but I need it SO badly! HIGH
5. Shampoo. Really. HIGH.
6. Conditioner. Really. HIGH. Unless we want to see staticky hair all over the place! HIGH!
7. Conditioning Spray before Blow drying. HIGH!
8. Body Lotion. I'm using a gradual self tanning cream, so actually, this is 2 products in one! YAY FOR ME!!!
9. Hair Spray. HIGHly flamable.
Now let's talk about skin care:
10. Toner. I know all the experts say I don't need it, but I LOVE it. Clinique or Erno Laszlo feel best!
11. SERUM. Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Serum is HIGH priority. And EVERYONE should be using this product. And NOT because I work for Trish. You'll see as you read on that Trish doesn't hold the highest place on my product list!
12. Eye Cream from Natura Bisse. HIGH
13. Facial Moisturizer from La Mer. HIGH HIGH HIGH.
Let's get into the makeup! Hold on to your keyboard. This could be a bumpy ride.
14. Foundation Primer! Yay for Smashbox Primer. HIGH
15. Eye Shadow Base. I HAVE to use this. It's Trish! It holds the shadow on ALL day AND it's SPARKLY!! HIGH
16. Brow color. It's just a Trish eyeshadow, but it's the PERFECT color.
17. Brow Brush. Did you expect that I'd use my toothbrush?
18. Brow Gel. Holds all of those tiny hairs in place! AND......SPARKLY!!
19. Brown Eyeliner. Every day. Urban Decay in Bourbon.
20. Black Eyeliner. Every day I tightline the Trish black pencil into my lashes - TOP AND BOTTOM. One day, if you're nice to me, I'll teach you how to do it!
21. TINY brush to blend the liners together!
22. All-over Eye shadow color in "Demure" by Trish McEvoy.
23. All-over eye shadow application brush.
24. Tweezerman Tweezers. The hairs show up better on a little light shadow.
25. Eye shadow for my crease!
26. Brush from Trish cut especially for the crease. Thank you Trish.
27. Fun eye shadow color on lid.
28. Fun eye-shadow-color-on-lid-application brush! Again, Trish to the rescue.
29. High Volume Mascara at roots of Lashes.
30. Curling Mascara layered over top of the High Volume Mascara.
31. Rose Gold Lash Curler by Tweezerman. At this point my lashes don't need curled, but for God's sake: It's ROSE GOLD!
32. Concealer. Only 1 for me: Dermablend. Mixed with my eye cream, which I already listed.
33. Special Concealer brush.
34. Erno Laszlo Shake it foundation in Beige! Nothing feels better when it's humid than THIS product!
35. Trish foundation brush to blend Erno around.
36. Bare Minerals Mineral foundation brushed over the Erno Laszlo Shake it.
37. Special brush from Trish that provides the perfect amount of LIGHT coverage used with the Mineral foundation.
38. Bronzer, applied all over so I can fake a little tan.
39. Bronzer brush. $78 from Trish McEvoy. Wow, expensive yet fabulous.
40. Blush applied to the apples of my cheeks.
41. Blush brush to apply the apple blush!
42. Lipstick in a fabulous color.
43. Lipgloss in an equally fabulous color. Usually the glosses are the plumping glosses from Bare Minerals. Yum!
44. Trish McEvoy Luxury Planner in Hermes Orange to hold it all together.
45. Rose water facial spray from Chanticaille because I'm sweating like a farm animal from all this work.
46. Perfume. Trish or Creed in the morning. Chanel at night.
47. Hair glossing cream.
48. Hair Serum.
49. Straightening spray before the flat ironing begins.
50. Brush cleaning spray to clean every brush before I put it back in the Orange Luxury Planner.
So, I think that's about it. I may have missed a product or two, but for the most part this is everything!
There you have it. This is me. What will absolutely SHOCK you after reading through these 50 items is this: I do my makeup in 10 minutes flat I've even done it in the car on the way to work. Not often. I don't trust the other drivers on the road. They're very busy texting. Why can't they just focus and put their makeup on like me?
It's a good thing that I enjoy the process. Do I want permanently tattooed eye liner? Lip liner? Hell to the no! If I had that done, then I wouldn't need to apply my eyeliner every morning! I'd miss that! Not kidding! I love every second of doing my makeup!! Whether I'm in a hurry or not!
The question I must answer is this: What is high priority and what can I do without? What if I'm in a hurry and I only have time for 20 or so of my 50 or so product routine? Let's examine the products.
1. Body Wash. I guess I could use my husband's soap, but there are gross hairs on it and I won't touch it. Body Wash - HIGH PRIORITY.
2. Body Exfoliant. VERY different from face exfoliant. Trust me here.
3. Facial Cleanser. Use a SOAP on this fabulous face? NO WAY! Occasionally, when I'm feeling like down sizing a little, I'll use a bar of Clinique Soap, and then use the same soap on my body, but that's as far away from facial cleanser as i"ll get. Facial Cleanser - HIGH PRIORITY.
4. Facial Exfoliant. I only use this about 5 days per week, but I need it SO badly! HIGH
5. Shampoo. Really. HIGH.
6. Conditioner. Really. HIGH. Unless we want to see staticky hair all over the place! HIGH!
7. Conditioning Spray before Blow drying. HIGH!
8. Body Lotion. I'm using a gradual self tanning cream, so actually, this is 2 products in one! YAY FOR ME!!!
9. Hair Spray. HIGHly flamable.
Now let's talk about skin care:
10. Toner. I know all the experts say I don't need it, but I LOVE it. Clinique or Erno Laszlo feel best!
11. SERUM. Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Serum is HIGH priority. And EVERYONE should be using this product. And NOT because I work for Trish. You'll see as you read on that Trish doesn't hold the highest place on my product list!
12. Eye Cream from Natura Bisse. HIGH
13. Facial Moisturizer from La Mer. HIGH HIGH HIGH.
Let's get into the makeup! Hold on to your keyboard. This could be a bumpy ride.
14. Foundation Primer! Yay for Smashbox Primer. HIGH
15. Eye Shadow Base. I HAVE to use this. It's Trish! It holds the shadow on ALL day AND it's SPARKLY!! HIGH
16. Brow color. It's just a Trish eyeshadow, but it's the PERFECT color.
17. Brow Brush. Did you expect that I'd use my toothbrush?
18. Brow Gel. Holds all of those tiny hairs in place! AND......SPARKLY!!
19. Brown Eyeliner. Every day. Urban Decay in Bourbon.
20. Black Eyeliner. Every day I tightline the Trish black pencil into my lashes - TOP AND BOTTOM. One day, if you're nice to me, I'll teach you how to do it!
21. TINY brush to blend the liners together!
22. All-over Eye shadow color in "Demure" by Trish McEvoy.
23. All-over eye shadow application brush.
24. Tweezerman Tweezers. The hairs show up better on a little light shadow.
25. Eye shadow for my crease!
26. Brush from Trish cut especially for the crease. Thank you Trish.
27. Fun eye shadow color on lid.
28. Fun eye-shadow-color-on-lid-application brush! Again, Trish to the rescue.
29. High Volume Mascara at roots of Lashes.
30. Curling Mascara layered over top of the High Volume Mascara.
31. Rose Gold Lash Curler by Tweezerman. At this point my lashes don't need curled, but for God's sake: It's ROSE GOLD!
32. Concealer. Only 1 for me: Dermablend. Mixed with my eye cream, which I already listed.
33. Special Concealer brush.
34. Erno Laszlo Shake it foundation in Beige! Nothing feels better when it's humid than THIS product!
35. Trish foundation brush to blend Erno around.
36. Bare Minerals Mineral foundation brushed over the Erno Laszlo Shake it.
37. Special brush from Trish that provides the perfect amount of LIGHT coverage used with the Mineral foundation.
38. Bronzer, applied all over so I can fake a little tan.
39. Bronzer brush. $78 from Trish McEvoy. Wow, expensive yet fabulous.
40. Blush applied to the apples of my cheeks.
41. Blush brush to apply the apple blush!
42. Lipstick in a fabulous color.
43. Lipgloss in an equally fabulous color. Usually the glosses are the plumping glosses from Bare Minerals. Yum!
44. Trish McEvoy Luxury Planner in Hermes Orange to hold it all together.
45. Rose water facial spray from Chanticaille because I'm sweating like a farm animal from all this work.
46. Perfume. Trish or Creed in the morning. Chanel at night.
47. Hair glossing cream.
48. Hair Serum.
49. Straightening spray before the flat ironing begins.
50. Brush cleaning spray to clean every brush before I put it back in the Orange Luxury Planner.
So, I think that's about it. I may have missed a product or two, but for the most part this is everything!
There you have it. This is me. What will absolutely SHOCK you after reading through these 50 items is this: I do my makeup in 10 minutes flat I've even done it in the car on the way to work. Not often. I don't trust the other drivers on the road. They're very busy texting. Why can't they just focus and put their makeup on like me?
How Many Products Does the Makeup Diva Use?
Wow. 51. Not counting my toothbrush, or my Clarisonic Brush - I only use the Clarisonic at night. How many products can I live without? Probably 40 of them! I'll edit this and add more tonight! Have a wonderful day, everyone!!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Quite a fun exercise!
Do you know how many beauty/cosmetic products you use each day when you're getting ready for work or to go out? Is the first answer that comes to your mind "10 or so?" Is the first answer that comes to your mind "Geeze, I can't even count them?" It really is quite a fun exercise!
Let's try it! I'd love to get some comments from people who have done this exercise. Men too! You'll be surprised at how many products you use each day. COUNT EVERYTHING! Soap, exfoliant, deodorant, fragrance, aftershave, each hair product, each piece of makeup! Don't leave out anything - ok, maybe don't count the wash cloth or the loofa sponge, but count EVERY SINGLE PRODUCT!
Want my total? I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours!
Tomorrow morning.....
Starting to get it.
OK. I think I'm beginning to understand this blog. I'm looking at other blogs and finding cute things to add. I hope when I find CUTER things to add that I can remember how to remove the first cute things I've added. Geeze.
I remember my old days on MySpace. My page was plain and actually sort of ugly for a very long time. Then one day a friend came over and showed me how to add the code to make things right! From that day on, I wasted at least 4 hours each day hunting relentlessly for items that would make MY Myspace page cooler than yours! Then came Facebook, where you can't do much but update your status. I liked it. No wasted time. Just status and photos. Then Twitter. Just status. Quick. Simple. To the point.
...but a blog is different...
I NEED to find a way to make my blog cool, interesting, engaging, rapturous! I think this is going to be a long process. You see, now, I have a job to go to. I have a husband and a dog and a car that need maintenance and laundry that needs to be folded. I CAN'T waste much time on my blog. I have to MAKE IT COUNT!!!
...so far today I've spent 3 hours just to get it as you see it now. Pathetic, I know. But it's a start. Besides, no one is reading it yet anyway. I found a counter to add and last time I looked, it said 20 people have been to my blog. Honestly, I think all 20 of those people are ME.
Hopefully I'll make some friends soon.
Getting to know GLAM
Wow, this is the first day of my GLAMARAMABABY blog and I must tell you I'm very excited about it. I know that I have a great deal to learn about blogging and how this system of writing works, so please be patient with me while I figure it all out. My plan, at least initially, in this blog is to share with you my many, many years of experience in the Beauty/Cosmetics/Glamour Industry. I've been in this business for over 30 years, so really, I've pretty much seen int all. And since I'm STILL in the industry, I have access to an enormous amount of research and training. SO I'll answer and questions that arise and basically, share my "pearls of wisdom" with you!
...again, please be patient with me.
Glamaramababy
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