Thursday, December 30, 2010


Wishing you all a safe and happy beginning to the new year!  As we close the door on 2010, take a moment to reflect on the memories, the good ones and the bad ones.  Keep the good ones close to your heart to remind you where you came from and use the lessons learned through the bad ones to take you where you are going.  I am beyond excited about the things that lie ahead in this new year.  For those of you who know me well, you know I am not fond of New Year's Eve as a holiday per se, but New Year's Day is a different matter.  I love the idea of a fresh start, a resetting of the clock if you will.  So, here's to a fresh start in 2011, a chance to wipe the slate clean and to recharge our batteries so we can enter the New Year with a burst of energy and get the ball rolling on our best year yet!

We are, as usual, planning a family-friendly celebration in the neighborhood with good food and good friends.  I've always been told you should spend New Year's Eve with people you want to have in your life in the New Year, so I can't imagine better friends to spend it with!  Whatever you do to celebrate this holiday, please be safe! 

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

2011 - Can't wait!


One of the many perks of being a Thirty-One consultant is all the great FREE stuff we get!  In 2011, the rewards just keep coming!  We embark on a new incentive promotion starting January 1st with the chance to earn FREE trips to Disney, gift cards galore, FREE trip to National Conference, and....a FREE TRIP TO the RIVIERA MAYA in Mexico in the Fall (for me and my husband.)  With 3 kids and a full-time job, a FREE trip to paradise sounds great to me.  And that can be mine, just for doing what I love - sharing all of the amazing Thirty-One products with my friends.  I love helping choose gifts for people that show just how much they are loved - personalized gifts just say "You are special" in a big, big way. 

If you're interested in finding out how you can earn these dream rewards in 2011, go to www.mythirtyone.com/heatherf and click "Join My Team."  $99 really can change your life - it changed mine and I can't wait for all of the great things that are going to happen for my family and myself in 2011!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Wishing you...

I wanted to take a moment and wish all of my amazing customers, hostesses, team members, and fellow Thirty-One consultants a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!



I sincerely hope that each of you are blessed this holiday and want you to know just how much I appreciate how you have blessed my life and my Thirty-One business.  This year has been an exciting one and I cannot wait to enter 2011 and see what's next!

Here's to a blessed, bountiful, and safe holiday season to all of you!  May you be surrounded by those you love and be full of joy as you remember the real reason we celebrate this holiday and the BEST PRESENT ANY OF US COULD EVER RECEIVE:  the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ! 

With love,
Heather

Saturday, December 18, 2010

What I Want to Be When I Grow Up

As a child, I longed to be many things...among them: an architect, a race car driver, an interior designer, a Mommy, a writer, a singer, a Wife, a psychologist.  One thing that was a constant need for me was to be a perfectionist - I had to do the best at everything  tried my hand at and if I didn't get a perfect grade or win the contest, I took it pretty hard.  I needed to push myself to be better, and that in and of itself, is not a bad thing.  It kept me motivated and inspired, but it was a constant frustration for me because we all know we can't be 100% all the time and we have to lose every now and then.

I didn't become an architect (yet).  Nor did I take the checkered flag in a Nascar race (yet).  I won't be trying out for American Idol (ever).  I learned I am not capable of leaving my patients' problems at the office, so I chose not to go into psychology.  But, I did reach a couple of my aspirations: I am a Mommy.  And being a Mommy taught me that I don't have to be perfect...I just have to be Mommy, because my boys are going to love me anyway.  Making mistakes every now and then is healthy - they have to learn how to deal with mistakes because they are going to make them too.  And, I also became a Wife.  I married someone who adores my imperfections.  He still puts me on a pedastal despite them.  I am so blessed. 

I'm still young enough that I haven't stopped dreaming about what I want to be when I grow up, and I wanted to share it with you.  I want to be the lady described in Proverbs 31:


A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
~ Proverbs 31:10-31

Thursday, December 16, 2010

It's FUNdraising time!

January is the perfect month to host a fundraiser for your organization (preschool, daycare, church youth group, sports team, Scouts, dance school, gymnastics group, cheerleaders, etc).  Our Thermal Totes are all on SALE and monogramming on them is also on SALE, so FUNdraising is super easy!! 

Contact me at 31heather@gmail.com to learn more about how I can help your group raise funds next month!

January Booking Incentive!

Email me now to select your date: 31heather@gmail.com

Monday, December 6, 2010

Countdown to Christmas begins...with a visit to ChristmasTown!!!

Thanks to my Thirty-One income, I was able to take my Mom and the boys to Williamsburg, VA for a long holiday weekend.  This trip REALLY got me in the mood for Christmas and I just had to share some moments from our mini-vacation....

We left out on Friday and I was dreading the almost 5 hour drive.  My husband usually does the driving...in fact, I can't remember driving that far myself since we got married.  The minivan was packed up and the boys were lectured accordingly and strategically spaced out of arms reach from one another. 

My Picnic Thermal Tote was stocked with drinks and snacks and my City Weekender Tote was full of warm clothes - we were ready!

The drive was not bad at all - Virginia is a pretty state in the Fall.  We arrived at the Williamsburg Plantation.  I was a little concerned after reading mixed reviews, but I landed a SWEET deal on the condo, so I figured we'd make the best of it.  It turned out to be a perfect place for us to stay...so much more like a home than a hotel. 
The units are set up like a townhome with an upper and lower level unit.  I wanted a place where we could cook so we didn't have to eat every single meal out.  The first night we were there, we hit up Trader Joe's.  So. Yummy.  We don't have a TJ's nearby at home, so this was a treat.  We cranked up the fireplace, poured a glass of wine and let the kids play.

On Saturday, we visited Colonial Williamsburg.  One of my favorite buildings in the town is Bruton Parish Church and I'm glad it was open so we could go inside.
It's such a beautiful building and there's so much history there.  The boys got to sit where George Washington sat.  We walked around the town and took in the sights for a couple of hours.  I have to admit - there were a lot fewer interactive exhibits than I remember from my last visit as a child.  The boys thought it was "pretty boring" but they did have fun getting in the gallows and eating lunch at Shields Tavern.
Shields Tavern is located on Duke of Gloucester street, down near the Governor's Palace.  We ate in the parlor room.  I had the Bangers and Mash (delish!!).  Monkey lucked out and was served an Adult size burger because "it would take forever to get a child's burger" according to the waitress.  (I'm still pondering the answer to that).  He ate every. single. bite. 

After lunch, we headed back to Williamsburg Plantation and I took Parker shopping at the Williamsburg Premium Outlets, which were right around the corner from where we stayed.  We went out to dinner at Hayashi Sushi & Grill - Parker was craving Japanese.  The service was mediocre at best, but the food nearly made up for it.  My Blackberry almost died a quick death there, though, when the little guys reached over me to duke it out and spilled my Miso soup all. over. my. phone.  Thanks to my Facebook friends' advice and a bag of rice, I was able to dry out the phone and it's as good as it was before. 

On Sunday, it was time for the highlight of our trip - a visit to Busch Gardens Europe - Christmastown!!!  The park opens in the evenings between Thanksgiving and Christmas and it's truly magical.  Now, if this place doesn't get you in the mood for the holidays, I don't know what would.  Busch Gardens is a beautiful park anytime of the year, but especially so during Christmastown.  The entire park is lit up, the smell of real Christmas trees and the music is so welcoming.  We got to see the Sesame Street Christmas show and ride every ride we wanted to with no wait!  We enjoyed dinner at the Festhaus. 

No visit to Christmastown would be complete without stopping by Santa's Workshop and seeing the Big Man in Red!


I can tell that I've gotten less brave with age.  A few years ago, I was skydiving.  Now, I'm chickening out of a roller coaster!  Parker was bound and determined to conquer The Griffon...and conquer it he did...all by himself.
 

I got on...and then I promptly got off (before they could lock me in!)  He rode alone.  I stood at the base and prayed. 

We got to meet Penelope and Phillipe...


and even saw real, live penguins...so cute!!

It was a really beautiful evening and the memories we made will stay with us for a long time.  We'll definitely go back again next year! 

We couldn't go to Williamsburg and not visit the Yankee Candle flagship store.  WOW!  It was a very unique experience.  It's a beautiful store and it smells divine!  Santa was there and the boys made their own candles at the Wax Works station.  I loaded up on tarts to burn during the holidays. 

It was a perfect weekend, except that Daddy had to stay home for work.  We missed him like crazy.  We were all glad to get home to him on Monday and we'll be taking him with us next year for sure!