June 19 10:45pm CT

I should be out of my room socializing and networking. But I think I am done for the day and ready to sit and read my book. I went to a team lunch and was social and got to walk across the stage for a couple of reasons (new team leader and convention speaker). So that was enough "on" time I think. Next up was a trip to the bargain bookstore where I bought some books for my kiddos at 75% off. There are SO MANY books in that room that I couldn't even think. I did get new catalogs though so I am excited about that!

June 19 10:30 CT

I slept in. Nice! No little people climbed in bed with me and woke me up. That's one of the great things about convention. A little me time. A little cuddle up with my roomie in the middle of the night time. LOL I don't think I did that really. I guess is should ask to make sure. I have had my morning coffee and officially registered for convention. Which leaves 2 hours before I have to be at the leader luncheon. So yeah let's share the fabulous books that came in my bag. The cool thing about this is that I paid what about $180 to come to convention. And $74 of that came back to me in new titles to bring home. And that would be awesome in itself. But I also earned the Connect 4 consistency award which means my convention registration was already refunded to me...plus some other goodies. Yay! I think I am coming out ahead. So oh yeah wanna see the books? You can see them in person at Becky's party next week and/or at my ice cream social the week after. Everything should be officially available to order on July 1.

June 18 5pm Central

The last time I flew out for an Usborne conference we got a flat tire on the way to the airport, and I just barely made my flight. I am happy to say that this trip was way less eventful! I am in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Paradise" as Randall White, the Usborne Books & More President and CEO calls it. Well I don't know about that. I might reserve the term for that Bahamas incentive trip I recently went on. Anyway, I am here. I am still kinda sad that I didn't make President's Club this time around. So I won't be going with my Uzzie buddies to see Wicked tonight. But at the same time I am super excited that my teammate Deb Weidman has landed and is on her way to the hotel as I type. After checking in, the first thing I did of course was check out the new title display. Here are some pictures. I wonder what freebies we'll get to bring home.

Aliyah's Rain Poem

Rain
Rain looks like water from a shower spout
Rain smells like a chilly morning breeze
Rain tastes like salt from the ocean
Rain feels like lots of taps on your body
Rain sounds like beads falling on the ground
Rain is the heavens crying
Their tears make life

What happens in 6 months

In the 6 months since I forgot I had a blog and was supposed to be writing and housework avoiding, some things have happened. I have still managed to avoid housework, that much hasn't changed. And I have continued on with the raising of my children, that's a given. Here are some highlights to catch us up.

1. We drove to California and saw the Redwoods. Those TREES! Just thinking of them still brings tears to my eyes. So beautiful and so full of the glory of God. Just overwhelmingly amazing.

2. The hubster and I celebrated 15 years of marriage with a couple of days away from the kiddos in San Diego. We did nothing really touristy, so I feel like we need to go back. The sun and the surf are calling me.

3. My kids started 6th and 2nd grades and pre-K. I have been feeling very sentimental so far this school year about my oldest two being in the same school for the last time. And just the thought of the years ahead for middle school and high school is enough to give me a panic attack. I have no idea how I am going to get through this. Pray for me Saints!

4. My parents left this coast and moved to New York. We are back to being alone in the West. Sad, sad, sad.

5. I turned 41.

6. I had a busy Usborne fall. I'd set a goal to promote to team leader and give myself an 11% raise, which happened in November. Yay! In the midst of that, I happened to look at the President's Club tracker (thanks to a Facebook post from fellow Uzzie Tanya Sanchez) and saw that I was really close to making President's Club (an incentive program designed to encourage, promote and recognize group growth). I decided "oh maybe I should try." Yes that was exactly my attitude "Oh MAYBE I should TRY." So I did a little pushing in October with the help of my teammates and made the President's Club. Yay! And then in December I realized I was pretty close to earning the incentive trip to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Wouldn't it be really cool, a trifecta even, to earn the trip, too?  And with LOTS OF HELP from my TEAMMATES, FRIENDS, CUSTOMERS, HOSTESSES and EVERYONE who has ever known me and supported my Usborne business, I made it! YAY!

So THANK YOU! I think this deserves a Bahama Mamma party!

What will the next 6 months bring?

Saturday

I woke up this morning around 8:30. None of my kids were awake yet and no children were in my bed. (Score!) By 9 everyone was up, and I was making pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast. Then guess what happened. My son asked what he could do to help. (I think he was really hungry.) So he learned to make pancakes this morning.

I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon wandering from room to room reading my book. Guess why I kept moving. Kids kept following me. I finally finished my book though. Then I took a nap. Sadly it kept getting interrupted, and after an hour I got up to find toys everywhere. Yes they were probably there earlier, too, but I was reading so I didn't care. But because my book was done, it was time to clean up. It's amazing how much cleaner the house looks when the kids pick up all the stuff they have left in every room of the house.

That inspired me to sweep and that inspired to wash the dishes. I think this particular inspiration draws a line at cleaning the bathroom though. Another book is calling my name. So I think I will feed the children dinner, as they were on their own for lunch, and go find a quiet spot to read until they find me again.

Why didn't I think of that?

I should be in bed. I have been yelling for my kids to go to bed to over an hour. I still hear them whispering in bed. So while I wait for them to settle down, and not sneak downstairs for candy, I am up playing on Facebook and looking through some of the files other Usborne consultants nationwide have posted.

I am happy that other Uzzies (as we call ourselves) are so helpful and willing to share. I think it's one of the things that makes the culture of our company great. And because I have plenty of time to spend looking through the hundreds of files, as my kids are still whispering and planning a candy raid, I am bound to find a few gems.

Under the category of "why didn't I think of that," we have a lovely $100 challenge that I am gleefully borrowing/stealing. The gist: collect $100 in orders and receive $100 in free and discounted books. Yep! You and I can so do that, right?

The breakdown on the free/discounts:

$15 free (more for sales over $150)

$20 at 75% off

$25 at 65% off

$25 at 50% off

$15 at 25% off

I would love to have 4 people (anywhere in the U.S.) to try this out for me this month. What do you have to lose? That's right nothing to lose and free and discounted books to gain. And it would help me out because honestly with vacations and the like my business calendar for August looks pretty lame.

Who's in?