Thirty One Exciting Happenings!!!!

Our NEW Fall catalog is HERE!

Beginning July 25-August 31, you can book your party or order at anytime.

Click here to view our NEW catalog!  http://fall2011.thirtyonegifts​.com/page1.html

If you want to book a party, please email me at thirtyonebags@live.com and put BOOK PARTY in the subject line.  You can host a home party, a catalog party or an online party.  Whatever is easiest for you, is great for me.  You must make a minimum of $200 for me to submit your party and receive the hostess incentive.  

ALL PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS OUR ADOPTION!

CUSTOMER BONUS!

For every $31 you spend, on your favorite products, you can choose ANY item in the ENTIRE catalog for 15% off!!!!!!!!

HOSTESS BONUS!

Party Sales         Free Products   1/2 price items   Hostess Exclusive Items

$1,300+             see below*       3                       3 (FREE)**

$1,200 – 1,299  $250                3                       3 (FREE)**

$1,100 – 1,199  $225                2                       2

$1,000 – 1,099  $200                2                       2

$900 – 999        $150                2                       2

$800 – 899        $125                2                       2

$700 – 799        $110                2                       2

$600 – 699        $100                2                       2

$500 – 599        $90                  2                       2

$400 – 499        $55                  1                       1

$300 – 399        $40                  1                       1

$200 – 299        $25                                        1                                 1

Qualifying party sales exclude shipping, tax and all Hostess Rewards. • The value of Hostess 

free products cannot be applied to ½ price items. • The Hostess pays 8% shipping on discounted 

products. • Hostess ½ price items with personalization will include the embroidery at half-price. 

• Hostess and Customer specials cannot be combined. • Hostess credit may not be used toward 

purchase of monthly Customer or Hostess Specials. 

*For parties above $1,300, earn $20 in free products for every additional $100 in party sales.

**Parties over $1,200: The Hostess can select a Double Zip Cosmetic Bag, Rolling Tote and XXL 

   Utility Tote Set for free from our Hostess Exclusive collection

Well, I stink

Blogging is not my strength.  I barely have time to use the bathroom, much less sit here and blog.  It is an outlet, I do enjoy it, I get excited about it....then there is the whole 'time' thing that I have an issue with.

So, here is my lame attempt of blogging, my lame attempt to finish my 101 things in 1001 one days.....let's see if new beginnings will help.

So, I've made BIG decisions, we are one step closer to my precious boy coming home, I got a job offer (although I can't take it *sadness*), there will be no garden this year, I haven't mowed the grass once...I'm remembering to breathe in and out, everyday.
 

I am ashamed....

Utterly ashamed....we, as a whole, are never fully satisfied...we want more more more. More toys, newer toys, better cars, better clothes...we buy and buy and buy.  Only to do what, sell what was "last year" at a yard sale for a quarter when it probably cost WAY more than that.  

My Wednesday night girls, at church, are hosting a yard sale fundraiser for our family.  I'm so incredibly grateful for their willingness to donate items, bake goodies, work the sale, haul it off when it doesn't sell...I truly am.  On the flip side, as I go through my house, thinking I have nothing to contribute....well, I have tons to contribute and even more in garbage bags.  There is no telling how much money I've spent in ink and paper to print off half the crap that I "can't" throw away.  Well, today...I'm throwing it away.  I have4 garbage bags full of stuff and a whole bunch more that is stacked and ready to contribute to our fundraiser.

It is embarrassing how many things I have, that I don't use, but intend to keep because I "might need it" one day.  Why would one person need 3 sets of placemats?  I have 2 tables...these placemats have been put in the closet for the last 3 yrs.  Seriously, am I gonna use them, uh...no.  I'm not.  Who has time to put down placemats anyway.  I have good intentions of things looking pretty, but we also know that the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions.  

I cleaned off my Bible shelf (literally 2 shelves of Bibles)...WHO NEEDS THAT MANY BIBLES?  There are some that I will keep, the kids Bibles we bought when they were babies and ones that Bart and I had from growing up...but seriously....2 Life Application Study Bibles, 2 Chronological Study Bibles, an Archaelogical one, an Apologetics one, an Inspiring one, Jewish Bible, KJV, MANual, Couples, Rainbow....WHO NEEDS THIS MANY?  I was blowing the dust off of them :/  I have one I keep upstairs for my QT, one I take to church and one little one I keep in my purse to read on break.  The rest....would be considered shelf dressing.  "Look how good I am because I have so many Bibles."  Look a little closer and you'll notice that the binding hasn't even been broken in.  **no, these Bibles will not be sold, they will be given away for free**

There are about a dozen scarves, a dozen mismatched gloves and hats, flat sheets never used, pictures frames never touched...all of this is CRAP.  I want my home to reflect my heart.  When there is this much clutter in my home, that is a picture of my heart.  I need "crap" to fill my heart (so I think).  I don't need the crap, I  need the ONE TRUE GOD.  I need to learn what is important.  When I want to buy something else that is completely useless...fine...take the money you'd spend on that useless item, but it in a jar and send items or that money to orphanages.  Donate money to Dhera for pipes to bring those people clean water.  Take it to Nashville, to the Bridge Street Ministry and buy a homeless person some shoes.  Go to Marcella's Kitchen and donate that money for food to feed the homeless, right here in your own community.

I am ashamed.  I'm choosing, through the example of Christ to get the crap out of my house and my heart and putting it towards the kingdom that matters.

Fun Day

I decided that I would cook today.  I miss cooking.  Lately, I've struggled with depression, to the point of not being able to function.  I've done the things that I have to do (ie work, bathe, breathe) but as for anything else, it has been hard.  Very very hard.

It is a gorgeous day and by gorgeous I mean God really has outdone Himself.  Blue skies, gentle breeze, lovely temperatures, things are blooming, birds are chirping and the cardinal, who has unsuccessfully tried to entire our home for the last 2 yrs, is still there and wanting in.  

I feel at peace.  I haven't been at peace in so long that I've almost forgotten what that feeling is like.  Don't get me wrong, chaos is still swirling around me.  Abinet is still not home, work is busier than ever, kids are struggling, Catfish is still having a hard time with his speech and learning, G is just G and RAD sucks....and the list goes on an on.  

Anyway, this post has nothing to do with cooking LOL....I wanted to cook and cook I did!  I have made:

Breakfast Casserole
2 lbs. of bacon

French Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Corn on the cob
Rolls
Roasted vegetables

Hamburgers/Hotdogs
Fries

French Fry Casserole
Green beans
Roasted potatoes
Mac and cheese

Beef Stir Fry
Rice

Chicken Alfredo
Garlic Bread

Baked Chicken
Corn on the cob
Peas
Mac & Cheese


Alice's Chicken
Lima Beans
Mashed Potatoes
Rolls


Spaghetti
Garlic Bread


I still have a few things left to cook, but that is all I've done, so far.  I'm pretty tickled that the kids will have home cooked meals, by me, even when I'm not home.  Makes me happy.  I do enjoy being happy.

New Pics of my boy

Blurb

So one of my 101 things was to organize my pictures.  I have some pictures in a tub, which I will need to get books for (and time)...those can sit there for a bit because I have an OBSCENE amount of pictures on my computer and 3 (yes I said, 3) flashdrives :/

Through another blog that I frequent (http://bakersdozen.typepad.com) I read about a site called blurb.com  It is an online scrapbook that you can make into books.  It isn't that expensive to do and it would be nice to see our lives chronicled in books for the kids to look at.  Money is always an issue, but at least while I'm waiting on the money side to come through, I can certainly be placing my pics in the books.

Another thing I'm working on crossing off my list.

#75 Movies List

A - Ace of Hearts (good Christian movie)
B -
C - Cheaper by the Dozen (the original movie) NOTHING like the original!
D -Dear John (great movie)
E - Eye for Eye (bad bad movie)
F - Fantastic 4:  The Rise of the Silver Surfer (alright)
G - Gnomeo and Juliet (great family friendly movie)
H -
I - Modern Family
J - Last Man Standing
K - Kung Fu Panda 2 (cute kids movie)
L - Listen to Your Heart (excellent movie)
M - Madea Goes to Jail (slightly painful in the beginning)
N - New in Town (Great movie)
O - The Other Guys (funny because of its stupidity)
P - Person of Interest
Q - The Chicago Code
R - Robin Hood:  Men in Tights (quite stupid)
S - Shutter Island (great movie)
T - Tornado Valley (great family movie)
U - Undercover Blues (corny but funny)
V -  Unknown
W - What If...... (great Christian movie)
X -  Raising Hope
Y - Young Sherlock Holmes (painful to endure)
Z - The Spy Next Door (great great family movie)