A letter to my Kindergartener

To Adventures, New and Old...

Monday, August 25th 2014

Today you embark on a great journey, as you get dressed, brush your teeth and eat your Cocoa Puffs (yes, after you wanted something "healthy" and requested Honey nut Cheerios and did NOT like them!) - you gather your things, including the lunch that you helps Mommy put together, and we make our way to the end of the drive, a.k.a. The Bus Stop.

I take the chairs, so you and Sis can sit and relax while we wait our 15 minutes for the arrival of the big yellow #72. It is a BIG day for you, whether you know it or not and an EVEN BIGGER day for Mommy.  I feel the butterflies, the tears well in my eyes, my heart skip a beat as the anxiety of my First Born baby getting on the school bus and leaving for the ENTIRE day.  I worry all those things that Moms are supposed to worry about...will you find your bus after school, will you be able to get your lunch all opened by yourself, will you be able to button your pants at your potty breaks.  I worry about you being tired and getting cranky, as you usually do!  I worry about you making friends and sharing and talking back to the teacher.  I know this is ALL normal for a Mom to do, but as much as I worry, I also know that this is an important day for you.  I remember your face as you enter the bus and find your seat.  You smile and wave and I can tell that you GOT THIS!  I am proud.

It is now that I am able to reflect on my fears and turn them into something positive.  You are an amazing young lady and I am truly honored to be your Mom.  You make me proud in so many ways.  I love you more than I could ever show you and can not believe what a great child you have been. (I can say this earnestly, having my second one going through horrible threes!)  Being your parent is one of the greatest gifts in my life. (I think your Dad can agree!)

I want you to know that I notice your kindness, as you help your Sister dress her baby doll, or put toothpaste on your toothbrushes. I notice when you help her put on the witches costume when you play Bubble Witch and dress up.  I notice all the little things that you do, even when you think that I am not paying attention.

I love that we have embarked on Chapter books and love your eagerness to read. You will be reading in no time kiddo, I promise!  I am very proud of you and although I miss you terribly, not seeing your face until after four o'clock, I know that you are learning and happy, and behaving.  I will also hold the day we spent together before you Kindergarten test, when it was just you and me, and although I had to work, you were such a great listener, a good helper and we had such a good lunch together!

I hope that your education challenges you, allows you to be the person I know you will be one day.  I hope that you make friends, enjoy your childhood and have FUN.  That is all I ever wanted for my children, to make memories that will stay with you as you grow older. Good memories!

I believe in you.  I believe in what you can do, what you will be and who you will become.  You are destined for greatness, I have known this since the day you were born. You have a purpose on this planet and if you listen, you will find it and if you follow, you will become.  As you Mom, I promise to always be here, to push you, to test your limits, to help you strive to always be better, do better and find happiness, no matter what or where that road might take you.  I promise to always love you and comfort you and listen.

You are my bug, always have been, always will be...and I love you Kiddo.  You and Sis are my world.

Love you forever and always...to the moon and back...

Mom~

8/25/2014

The night the Music stopped..

Last Night..the music stopped...

Well, Brahms Lullaby by Celine Dion, at least.  It is a sign that my house is getting older and I am saddened by it!  I mean, I knew this day would come, maybe not so soon, but I knew, didn't I?  We are battling another...yes, another Summer Cold as my oldest starts school.  We are all a little more cranky, than usual, and tired.  So, I put in H2O for my BIG 5 yo and nestled her into bed around 7:30 p.m. last night, snug as a bug.  I mimicked the method with my 3 year old, but instead of mermaid, she wanted Minnie Mouse.  I had thought all was well, until about 8:30 p.m. when Miss 3 came down announcing that she was "tireerd" so I went back up to settle her once again in her bed, only to find Minnie Mouse over and per her request, it was time to turn off the TV, she wanted her "music."  Her wish, of course, is my command.  I turned off the TV and hit the button for her iPod on the dock and immediately, Brahms Lullaby blasted out of the speakers. "No, Mommy, I don't want this." "OK, you want music off?" "No, diffrent music pwease."  Yes, my heart sunk a little at this request.  Sure, there were other "songs" on the iPod, but never had she asked for anything else.  So, I ran off the list of what music was on her iPod, we went through Dora, Tinkerbell, Barbie... that was it, she wanted Barbie, but not just Barbie, she wanted Princess and the Pop Star. Lucky for her, there it was!  I switched it on and it wasn't even before I left the room she was already sailing off to dream land.  And, I was standing in her dark room, with Perfect Day playing in the background of my thoughts. How sad! My baby was growing up, no a baby any more.

I think that over the past two weeks, a lot has happened for this Mom. I mean, I am putting my 5 year old into ALL day school. It is scary! I mean, sending her off on a bus, early in the morning and not seeing her until after four o'clock in the afternoon. This is new for me too!

Then, my baby is gaining independence and mastering her newly learned not listening skills. Ugh, three is tough! Definitely not my favorite!  I am going to miss the lullaby that would echo through the hallway in the middle of the night. Now we are greeted with Tinkerbell Fairies from one room and Barbie Pop-star from the other- our house is jamming at night! (Party anyone!)

But the good news is that she slept well.  That is what it is all about!

So, goodbye Lullaby.  You were in my life for over 5 years, but it is time to move on.  Thank you for helping my little ladies have endless nights of sleep.  You will be missed but never forgotten.

Signed, a Mom tearfully saying Good bye to my Last Baby who is now a BIG GIRL...

I now have BIG GIRLS.  (tear)

~Kel

Let's roll out Campaign #19!

Hi Everyone!

I am so excited to roll out another great Campaign with Avon!  We are onto C19 and this book is gearing up for my favorite time of the year, FALL!  There are great specials throughout and tons of new products lining page after page, so get ready to start turning!

Above our the Catalog's for this campaign!  Remember you can Shop my E BROCHURES right from my website: www.youravon.com/kelamstutz 

New & Exciting Products!

 It's finally here!  The Big & Daring Mascara! This mascara has no clumps, no smudges and no flaking! I stand by this product because I got the pleasure of using before it was available to the public and I am in love with it! It is ahhhmazing Mascara- goes on smooth and last all day! 

Grab yours today!  

Intro Special $6.99  

Blackest Black   #651-920

Black                  #651-901

Brown Black       #651-916

Check out the Ultra Color Bold Lipsticks!  You get high impact lip color with a moisturing texture and creamy feel.  Full and even coverage that last for hours!!  Satin finish.

Intro Special for ONLY $5.99

Magenta Flash     080-764

Hi-Def Plum         360-970

Bold Bordeaux      360-893

Power Plum           361-297

Fearless Fuchsia    360-950

Coral Burst              360-946

Rudy Shock             361-316

Pink Punch               361-282

Get your feet cozy for winter with these Limited Edition Camo Slippers!  Memory foam footbed cradles your feet for added comfort.  Cozy fleece!

Pink Camo

S (5-6) 461-845

M (7-8) 464-294

L (9-10) 465-195

XL (11-12) 465-200

Green Camo (Men's)

L (7-8) 629-260

XL (9-10) 629-274

XXL (11-12) 629-293

$9.99 a pair right now!

Vintage Purple Faceted Collection- buy the necklace, get the earrings for FREE!

Necklace  282-285  $7.99

Earrings 282-266 ($5.99 if purchased individually)

Get the Sentimental Bracelet for ONLY $5.99! 

Purple (Luck) 138-145

Blue (Wish) 138-126

Red (Love) 138-111

White (Peace) 138-676

Page 123-  $9.99 each!! 

Check out the Sparkling Statement Coiled Ring for only $9.99!!

Size 6 - 632-789

Size 8 - 632-812

Size 10 - 632-918

Or this Goodnight Kiss Ring! (was $19.99) 

And the Antique Detail CZ Ring! (was $19.99) 

Great Buys!!!

Outlet Finds!

Pretty in Neutrals Makeup Palette-  you get a pull out drawer with 24 eye shadows, 4 lip glosses, 4 blushes and 2 bronzers for $14.99!  #564-130

How about this 75 piece Advanced Techniques Ultimate Volume Hair Roller set?  Right now you can get it for ONLY $12.99!!  #693-607

Tiny Tillia Butterfly Stroller Cover is perfect for covering baby to keep dry during inclement weather!  Just $9.99  #063-439

Tons of great buys going on now! Check out my Independent Representative Website 

at: 

www.youravon.com/kelamstutz

Happy Avon-ing!

~Kel

Cleaning out the Attic

It's time to clean out the Attic...

Everyone has heard the expression, "Cleaning out the Attic", right?  It is that time for me.  I have been dreading it too!  It is the time of the year to purge the things that are in my life that are no longer needed. 

So, on Saturday, with one less kid, I headed up the new, dusty steps to my gabled attic and started to unload artifacts of what once was.  I hauled bag after bag, box after box, toy after toy until I had made a large dent.  I then went through all those bags, boxes and toys and sent them packing!  

It is hard to say goodbye to things that once were.  I mean, I had moved all this stuff to this new house just this past October.  Why?  I caught myself asking this very question over and over again as I kept digging deeper and deeper into baby toys and guess what, my youngest is not a baby anymore!  So, why did I feel the need to hang onto all these toys and clothes and blankets from this baby who has not played with or used any of this stuff in a good year or so? 

I went through these things with an open mind and a heavy hand to toss some of this stuff to the curb without even batting an eyelash!  I mean, seriously, it looked as if I was holding out for another baby or something, and clearly, that ain't happening!

I stayed strong until I started to run out of steam, then I started to linger longer on the clothes that they once wore, or the dresses that we paid so much money for and they literally wore once.  I even stopped to ask hubby if I could keep the dresses for the girls when they have babies and at first he said, "NO, they aren't going to want that stuff."  But then, after sitting with me and remembering these pants or that shirt or those shoes, he caved and started a box himself.  It is a small box, it only holds pretty dresses and overalls, because seriously, we all had overalls growing up and don't you wish your parents kept them?  They are getting so hard to find! So, Oshkosh, I will have vintage overalls by the time my little ladies are ready to start a family and I hope to God that they get re-used! 

But, the long and short of the story is that I did it!  I managed to clean out the attic  and although I have certain things that I will keep forever, I definitely do not have half of what I did!  I also managed to have a pay it forward box to give to friends, which I think is very important because people were very good to us when we started our family and helped us with clothes and sorts and it came in handy and was something that I made a promise to do with our things when we outgrow them!

It was time.  I feel like I actually accomplished something!  We have a garage sale coming up and I am hoping to make a little money to buy my island and to buy some more cubbies for the girls playroom. Is it sad that I am already trying to organize and get ready before Santa's visit? 

Out with the old, in with the new!

~Kel

Start your week off right, with Avon!

I can't even believe it is Monday again!  Well, it's a good thing because I have great specials going on over at my Independent Avon Representative website that you NEED to check out!

www.youravon.com/kelamstutz

Hopefully the weekend treated you well! It was a busy one for this Avon lady! Getting my orders in for C18 and getting ready to launch into c19- and this next campaign is the ONE I can't wait for! 

I started using a NEW AVON product that I am totally HOOKED on! 

This is the BIG & DARING Volume Mascara and it is nothing short of amazing! 

Go bold with 5X the explosive volume for our most daring lash look yet!

DYNAMITE WIRE BRUSH: Curved brush with multi-level patented bristles combs through and captures every lash while sculpting and filling in gaps.

LASH BUILD TECHNOLOGY: Plumping Complex and innovative crème-gel formula delivers 5X the volume and a clump-free, smudge-free, flake-free build.

Sweep on from root to tip for 24-hour explosive volume. Water-resistant. .338 fl. oz.

This product is SO NEW that it is a COMING SOON product! If you want to take a test drive, email me directly and I can make that happen! I love it and that says a lot coming from a mascara girl who would ONLY wear what I have been wearing.  (Change is good!)

www.youravon.com/kelamstutz

Right now, get your 7 piece gift set FREE with your $75 purchase!  This is a Limited Time only, while supplies last gift, so Hurry in! (Direct Delivery ONLY!)

Our ultimate 7-piece gift set has our must haves beautifully packed! Collection includes:

Big Ring Handbag in Pink
10 1/2" H x 12 1/2" W; handle drop, 8" L. A $24.99 value.

mark Fragrance Hits
Each .085 oz. net wt. A $16.00 value.

Moisture Therapy Daily Skin Defense Vitamin Mini Hand Cream
1.5 fl. oz. A $2.00 value.

Naturals Silky Vanilla Antibacterial Hand Gel
2.5 fl. oz. A $3.00 value.

Ultra Color Glossy Tube in Shineberry
.507 fl. oz. A $6.00 value.

Ultra Luxury Eye Liner in Black
.04 oz. net wt. A $5.00 value.

Pretty Paradise Manicure Set
4¼" L x 2½" W x ¾" H. A $4.99 value.

Gift set will automatically be added to cart once $75 has been added to bag.

Direct Delivery only.

Don't forget to check out Avon's great jewelry!  Right now we have a Brilliant NEW look!

www.youravon.com/kelamstutz

As the weather starts to change, why not take advantage of THIS great deal!  Any 2 Bath and Body collection items for JUST $9.99!!!  

Have you tried Avon's makeup line? There are a variety of great products to choose from at great prices everyday!

Of course, when you think of AVON, Anew comes to mind!  Right now check out the great specials going on with some of your favorite ANEW products!  Don't forget to look for the step system (as pictured above) to protect your skin!

If you have kids, like me, you want to check out:

Anew Clinical Absolute Even Dark Circle Corrector

362-145

Introducing ANEW CLINICAL Absolute Even Dark Circle Corrector with Avon's shadow erase complex and self-adjusting sheer optics, eyes look instantly brighter!* 93% of women saw the look of dark circles dramatically reduced.** Designed to match different skin tones. Custom flexible tip for comfortable precise application. Clinically shown: 31% improvement in the look of under-eye dark circles over time.*** .5 oz. net wt.

*Based on a consumer-perception study.
**Based on those expressed an opinion in a consumer-perception study.
***Based on a dermatologist-supervised clinical study after 12 weeks.

This product is one that I use to conceal my dark circles from having late nights with sick kids! It is a MUST HAVE in my makeup bag!

Right now, buy Bug Guard Plus or an Avon Sun+ product and get a Travel Size Bug Guard Plus pump spray for just $2.99!  Great product to keep in a tote bag while camping or on the boat this summer.  In Ohio, we have West Nile showing up in our Mosquitoes, make sure you are stocked up on Bug Spray to protect yourself and your family!  (Bug Guard is also a great product for little ones, as the odor is mild, compared to some other bug sprays!)

My other special offers:

Glimmersticks are 2 for $6.99

ANEW Genics  #667-141  Get BOTH for $45!

Some women never have to lie about their age…their eyes do it for them. Now eyes can look 5 years younger.* Genics Eye Treatment is designed with Youthgen™ Technology. Undo 5 years from the look of your eyes.* Set includes:

Eye Treatment
Diminishes the appearance of fine wrinkles and fine crow’s-feet.** Eye area feels re-energized and restores the look of youthful brilliance, remarkable smoothness, definition and elasticity.* .5 oz. net wt. A $36 value.
TO USE:
Every morning and evening, smooth around eye area.

Treatment Concentrate
See expression lines visibly softened instantly.* 86% of luxury-brand users said they saw the most dramatic improvement with Genics.† 2x the concentration of Youthgen Technology.*** Over time, improves the look of wrinkles, improves the look of discolorations by 32%, and improves the look of age spots by 26%.††

Lightweight serum is great for summer. Look almost 6 years younger.* To Use: Every morning and evening, gently smooth over cleansed face and neck. Follow with ANEW moisturizer. 1 fl. oz.
TO USE:
Every morning and evening, gently smooth over cleansed face and neck. Follow with ANEW moisturizer.

*Based on a consumer-perception study of women 45-59.
**Based on a dermatologist-supervised clinical study of women 45-59.
***Versus Genics Night Treatment Cream.
†Based on women who expressed an opinion in a consumer perception study of women 45-59.
††Based on a dermatologist assessment in a clinical study of women 45-59 after 12 weeks.

AVON  Fragrance 3-piece Gift set starting at $23

The NEW Mark Bath and Body starts at $6!

Check out ALL these great specials and products PLUS tons more at my website:

www.youravon.com/kelamstutz

SHOP with ME and SAVE!

Thanks everyone!

Your AVON Lady!

Kelley

AVON lady- Orders DUE today!

It's AVON Order Friday Everyone!  

If you want to place a BOOK order, please email me by NOON, 8/15/14 (TODAY) with your Item #'s so I can get your order placed. 

(please make sure that you live nearby for delivery! ;) 

You can also, ALWAYS shop my Independent Avon Representative site, 24-7 at: 

www.youravon.com/kelamstutz

and IF you shop my website and spend $60 you save 20%- enter code: SITEWIDE. 

(ends at Midnight, 8/17/14)

Here are some great products that my customers are ordering this campaign!

The ceramic Pineapple bowl seems to be a hit- especially at this great sale price! 

Item #: 030-514 $12.99

The ceramic Lettuce bowl (seeing a theme yet!) 

Item #: 330-303 $16.99

Anew 25+  Skin care product bundle - all this for $49.99!   #314-342

Tons of great specials are going on through my website also! Check it out today!

www.youravon.com/kelamstutz

Happy Avon Ordering DAY!!

~KEL

Death by Ramen Noodles?

Death by Ramen Noodles?

You know the stuff I am talking about... that package with the hard clump of dried noodles that comes in packs of 30 for $5. You also know that at least once in your lifetime you have had these crazy noodles and ate them for a meal in place of a lunch or dinner. (Me too!) 

Well, those instant, beloved cheap meals have been linked to heart attacks and diabetes. (Back away from the Ramen noodles!)

A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that ramen, along with other instant noodle products, may increase a person's risk of cardiometabolic syndrome- a risk factor for severe cardiovascular disease and stroke- and it is more prone to affect women. 

So of course researchers looked at the data of 10,711 adults (you know, to be exact!) between the ages of 19 and 64, collected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Exam. Survey from 2007-2009.  The study shows that eating instant noodles (i.e. ramen, lo mein, glass, Thai, or other) twice or more a week were associated with cardiometabolic syndrome- which is a collection of abnormalities affecting the body's cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic systems. 

The kicker is that they could not diagnosis a specific cause of the problem, but researchers believe that it stems from the fact that most instant noodles come packaged in Styrofoam, which contains BPA, a known hormone disruptor- which could explain why women were more affected during their studies. But the Styrofoam is just the beginning- those babies also include tons of unhealthy ingredients- sorry to burst your bubble! They include MSG, TBHQ (chemical preservative tertiary- butylhydroquinone) and that is just the chemical aspects and does not even dive into the saturated fat that you find in the package!

Where do you think that highest per-capita number of instant noodle consumers in the world resides?  Well, it is not America- but South Korea.  This is where researchers focused their studies and found that some long term affects from instant noodle consumption are heart disease, obesity and other health problems. Studies were also done showing that the U.S. ranked 6th globally in instant noodle sales (source: World Instant Noodles Association- I kid you NOT!) showing that America accounted for 4,300 billion units sold in 2013- EEK! 

All I have to say is, I know these instant noodle packages are cheap and easy but BACK AWAY FROM THE RAMEN!!!  Put together a side of some brown rice and add some chicken and vegetables and I guarantee it will be twice as flavorful and BETTER for you than the Ramen! (and guess what, it won't cost you an arm and leg either!)

JUST SAY NO TO RAMEN!

A Campaign to save the Heart!

~KEL