breaking the mold

I'm in direct sales

Going in to my business, I knew that there was such a stigma regarding direct sales. Most related to MLM (multi level marketing) and scheming people. That "only the people at the top make the money" or that "only those that were with the company at the very beginning make money".  (How is that any different than major corporations?)

Any of this sound familiar?

While this may reign true for various companies that sign on "distributors" and have "automatic shipments" each month.....where you have to have a "right leg & a left leg".....this is not the case for my business. 

Where people get turned off with what I do is the "home party" aspect. This is not your great Aunt Tilda's tupperware company. 

How am I different?

I offer a service. I offer you the chance to get your girl friends, family, coworkers, etc. together & shop in the comfort of your own home. I offer you the chance to be styled one on one. You can try on anything without having to wait for a jewelry case or display case to be unlocked. I sell quality items that would cost twice as much if sold in major retail stores (think Nordstrom, Saks, etc). 

I am offering you the opportunity to earn literally hundreds in free product - plus the ability to buy at half off. Wine, your favorite girls, and fabulous accessories - who wouldn't enjoy that??

I know that having a home party trunk show is not everyone's cup of tea. Just like I'm not on board with every direct sales company. 

All I ask is that people change their mind sets about direct sales. Do you realize my business has provided many women the financial freedom to quit their full time job? On top of that, many of us that are mom's are able to stay home with our kids, set our schedules to the kid's needs, and still bring in an income? 

Buying from brand ambassadors is just a way of supporting your local market. You're helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get braces, a car to get repaired, or a family to go on a vacation. 

Just like buying from local produce stands, you're supporting your local farmers. 

What are your experiences with direct sales?

Would you ever consider selling?

Have you ever hosted a direct sales company in your home?

a celebration of 2 lives in 2 very different ways....

April 14th marked BB's 1 year birthday! We had a celebration fit for a 'little man', complete with mustaches, bow ties, and some cake smashing.

April 18th a dear friend, Daniel, passed away. He had a long, courageous battle with cancer. He is the husband of my best friend, Erin - who is no doubt, hands down, one of the STRONGEST women I know.

We celebrated his life April 23rd.

Watch this video, he left quite the legacy.

Daniel's parents, George & Nancy, are another example to me of strength, but more so faith. They have their only 2 children in Heaven, Daniel & his younger brother Matthew. Matthew passed in a car wreck when he was 15.

Faith is what they exude.

As a Christian, I know that faith is a necessity. To have faith that there is a reason for everything - and that it's God's reason. It's hard though to fathom the "why".

One day though, all questions will be answered....

The month of April brought so much laughter & great memories, but it also brought so many tears. Causes me to want to hug my loved ones a little tighter, and make sure that they all know how much they mean.

Do you have an example of faith in your life?

Do you have a courageous woman in your life?

I gave Erin this bracelet....leave it to me, when I can not find the words to say I use fashion!

This bracelet is called COURAGE. It is one of our 'friendship ties'.
The card it comes on reads: From caring comes strength

How has your April been?

so long designer bag, hello diaper bag

I'll be the first to admit, I'm a total snob about handbags. It's not my intention to be - for some reason, somewhere along the way (ahem, totally my dad's fault), I developed an affinity for designer bags.

I do read the Bag Snob regularly.

However, BB has put quite the whammy on my love of handbags. When it's just he & I on the town, it's A MILLION TIMES easier to just tote my wristlet in his diaper bag.

At the moment, this is his diaper bag:

Boxy Backpack by Petunia Pickle Bottom in Black Current

Go read up on it HERE but it's such a no hassle bag! I can wear it as a backpack, messenger, or over the shoulder. It has a built in changing pad, lots of pockets....just super easy to use. I took it on our trip to Vegas & it worked well.

(The changing mat REALLY comes in handy for those public restrooms that have NO DIAPER CHANGING station. Ugh so frustrating.)

So back to where I was headed originally....I've had to abandon my bags & now revert to just the diaper bag with my wristlet. Unless MattyB is also in tow, and then I can totally do up the handbag holding.

Stella & Dot recently launched some new totes....I'm not going to lie, I was totally skeptical of this new endeavor. Mainly because I have to order samples and I was totally cringing with having to purchase a tote that I despised only to promote it as something to buy to all my clients!

Alas, oh ye of little faith. Our design team made a believer out of me! Now I'm toying with the idea of changing BB's diaper bag to one of these! The prints are perfection for summer & they all have a "wipe clean" fabric. 

Here is the How Does She Do It tote...

the model is wearing it with the zipper portion

snapped down

look at that organization - even a water bottle pocket!

(There is also an outside zipper pocket)

Then there are these 2 behemoths....

The Getaway Weekender

Did you catch that!?!
It unzips to EXPAND to a taller tote!!!

La Totale 

More organization! I'm just apparently a sucker for this water bottle pocket!

Water bottle pockets - - the perfect idea for any bag! This means that virtually any tote can be used as a diaper bag, gym bag, marathon shopping day bag, etc!

Go check out all the prints!

What is your "go to" diaper bag/gym bag/tote bag!?

What do you think of the new Stella & Dot totes?

can life BE any less crazy?

Instagram is so much easier to do on a regular basis than blogging! Life has me crazy busy!

Half marathon training is done bi-weekly. Ha :) I was able to run 2 miles the other day with B in the jogger...until he got all fussy & had his fill.

My treadmill and I have not rekindled our love yet.

In more important news: Beau is turning 1 in 2 weeks.
Speaking of, Beau is pronounced "Bo".....not "Bew".

Little man & I have become more adjusted & settled into my work schedule. Working from home is not easy. I don't know who ever said it was, but they need to be punched.

I think that there is this misconception that moms working from home have all this extra time for grocery shopping, cleaning, social life, working out, etc. It's rather frustrating. I don't have the time during the day to put on deodorant, needless to say socialize! (Ha, good thing the half marathon training isn't in high gear with me not sporting deodorant!)

Regardless, consider this a public service announcement. If you're one to presume that a gal working from home, should have all the time in the world to have her home looking like a Pottery Barn ad, her kid looking like a Gymboree model, and herself looking like she walked straight off the runway.....please come back down to earth.

awakening the beast

My friend Shannon asked me awhile back to participate in a Stroller Roll 5K with her. At first I was like "UGH", because it was one of the Gasparilla races. I swore off ALL Gasparilla races a few years back.
Why?
Crowded does not even begin to describe how these races are. There are SOOOO many people. Plus the street that the race is on, is not conducive for stable running. I've been known to trip several times...

Regardless, what sold me on the race was that it:
A. explicitly said that this was NOT a race, and that anyone caught racing with their strolling would be tossed out. (in so many words)
B. not only does the adult pushing the stroller get a medal, but the baby does too!

Double the medals!? SCORE!

So BB and I participated with Shannon & her precious peanut.

What an experience.

Our time from our last 5K together, DOUBLED. Ha!

We encountered numerous pit stops to tie my shoes :) but also a pretty lengthy pit stop to soothe, hold, and then change a poopy diaper. Talk about obstacle course!

By the end of it, we CLEARLY deserved the medals.

BB was for more into chewing on his medal :)
(it was rubber)

I write all this to say. The beast in me has been awakened. I want more medals. Which means I have to participate in more races.

Half marathon training is back on.

it takes talent to be this pale.

YIKES!

fashion trends part 2

Here are more trends to try for Spring! This trend report is courtesy of Stella & Dot. I LOVE that CCO, Blythe Harris did this. It totally goes along with the previous trend report I posted.



Trend #1:  COLOR POP

Pieces to use to execute this trend....

SHOP COLOR POP TREND HERE

TREND #2: BLACK & WHITE

Pieces to use to execute this trend.....

SHOP BLACK & WHITE TREND HERE

 TREND #3: FRINGE

PIECES TO HELP YOU EXECUTE THIS TREND....

SHOP THE FRINGE TREND HERE 

TREND #4: EMERALD GREEN 

PIECES TO EXECUTE THIS TREND WITH...

SHOP THE EMERALD TREND HERE

TREND #5: FLORALS

PIECES TO USE TO EXECUTE THIS TREND....

SHOP THE FLORAL TREND HERE

TREND #6: TRIBAL

PIECES TO USE TO EXECUTE THIS TREND...

SHOP TRIBAL PIECES HERE

What is your favorite!?
Which will you try!?

sunday fashion & a WINNER!

I love maxi dresses. Do you?

Warning: these pictures blow.

Horrible.

self timer on a crappy camara....

:)

Dress: Hale Bob

Jacket: White House, Black Maket

Earrings

Fiona Earrings

Bracelets: 

Foundation in green

Kismet

Christina 

And now, the winners of the 

Stella & Dot giveaway!!!

So here's the thing, there are TWO winners!!!!!

I used Random.org & came up with winner #1......

But then I was torn as to if Random's website was the best thing to use.....so while little man was napping, I wrote everyone's name down (the appropriate amount of times based on entries earned), and put the names in a box.

I then had MattyB choose the winner

Winner #2 is VIXIE12

Danielle Own & Vixie 12, please EMAIL ME fashionablyfitfemme@gmail.com

Thanks everyone for entering!!! Stay tuned for more fabulous Stella & Dot giveaways :)

fashion & fitness friday

TGIF - for real. What a week!

What's on your fitness agenda for today!?
The little man & I will be logging a few miles on the jogging strolling. Our weirdo weather here in Florida has dropped to a tolerable temperature where going outside doesn't result in an immediate sweat fest.

Have you taken the time to look into barre fitness classes or dvds? You really should. It's a fusion of dance (duh, ballet) & pilates. I love it. It is one of those workouts that constantly leaves me "shakey" to the point I feel like I'll fall over. Love that feeling.

Go read about Physique57 & The Ballet Physique. Search your area for Pure Barre or Xtend Barre classes.

While you're clicking around, have you entered my Stella & Dot giveaway!? Today is the LAST DAY to enter!!! Get on it :)

So what fashion trends of 2013 are you going to try!?

As said by Glamour mag....here's the top wearable trends for spring! I DARE you to try something new :)

1. Bermuda Shorts

SHOP

2. Black & White

want to throw in some accessory options?

Stella & Dot Fiona Earrings

Stella & Dot Heiress Hoops in Hematite

see ALL options HERE

3. Peekaboo

4. Statement Sunglasses

5. Bold Stripes

6. Luxe Leather

7. Beautiful Beading

so, if you would rather not wear beaded clothing...you can incorporate this trend by wearing beaded accessories! flats, bag, headband, or jewelry!

look at this gorgeous piece!

Stella & Dot Avalon Fringe

8. Short Suits

modest length short, of course! do not combine this look with the "peekaboo" trend....your butt cheek should not be playing peekaboo with the hem line. just sayin'....

9. Sporty Dresses

with the neckline of these dresses, you should TOTALLY combine with a "pop of color"

like this necklace....

Stella & Dot's Spring Awakening

10. Flats & Low Heels

Spill your beans! Which trend will you try!? Which trend will you avoid the plague!?