What reminds you of Christmas?

Yes, I’m talking about Christmas already! But really I mean the holiday season in general.

When you think of Thanksgiving what do you think of?  Is it the turkey?  Some special side or dessert that only Mom or Grandma make best?  While I love the food of Thanksgiving that’s not the first thing I think of…

I think of the parade on TV that morning, a chill in the air {God willing, as I do live in Texas}, the chatter of a house full of family catching up, and a smell…I can’t quite put my nose on it, but there is a scent to the day.

That may quite possibly be why I’m a Scentsy addict…I’m big into Scent memories.  I remember as a child and even a highschooler that in the fall my Mom would simmer a pot of orange, cinnamon, maybe cloves sometimes on the stove.  It smelled divine and is exactly what I think of when I think of Fall.  In fact, my very favorite Scentsy scent is called Mandarin Moon and to me, it smells exactly like this.

Come Christmas though I think of the unexpected.  No longer do I think of the gifts or even the gatherings.  I think of evenings spent on the couch with my husband and a cup of hot chocolate while enjoying the twinkling of the lit tree and the fireplace.  I think of the giggles from my kiddos and the excitement in their eyes.  I remember the smell of my in-laws plant shop as it’s filled with trees, even though we do a fake tree at home. {What?! I like the fake tree!  I can make it smell like the real thing with the help of Scentsy, so why deal with the mess??} And virtually anything cinnamon or cranberry screams Christmas time to me.

This year as you prepare to dive head first into the season upon us, I hope you will consciously slow down and notice the things that really make the memories.  Don’t get so lost in the gifting and parties and circus of the holidays that you forget to make the memories.  Because when its all said and done, those memories are all that lasts. {I wrote about making Scent memories last January — head over here to read about it}

Xo! 

I’m baaaaack!!! What’s new with the Duncans?!

It’s been a minute since I’ve taken the time  {ahem…MADE the time} to sit down and blog. I feel like the last almost year has been a whirlwind of chaos and with the little girl starting Kindergarten this fall I pretty much lost my mind.  I had no idea what I was walking into, I actually thought that having her in school would free up so much time, I was naive!  LOL

But thankfully this year has changed us for the better!  So here’s where we’re at…

1. Em is five and in Kindergarten.  She LOVES it and is doing great!  Her wheels are constantly spinning and it’s obvious she’s learning ridiculous amounts of knowledge for her tiny kinder brain.  She’s struggling to learn how to be quiet {definitely my child} and comes home heartbroken that she’s on yellow about once a week, but she’s learning.
2. Landon is two and a half and getting SO big!  He talks pretty much as much as sister {she’s a great influence} and he’s working on potty training.  He’s basically led us on that journey so I’m following his lead.  He stays home with me and I’ve been working my design hours when he naps and after school/after bedtime depending on Daddys work schedule.
   

   My sweet family Trick or Treating this weekend.

3. The hubs just switched hospitals which has been a crazy mess but we should soon be on the right side of that again thankfully!  He’s been an awesome provider and I am so proud of how hard he works.  God truly blessed me with an amazing man to do life with!
4. This week is my last official week designing with the company I’ve had the pleasure of working with for almost SEVEN years!!! These people are like family to me and it was hard to say it was time to go, but we’ve decided for me to take a step back from designing and concentrate on our family at least until both the kids are in school.

Thankfully we can do that!  A few years ago it wouldn’t have been an option for us to let go of my salary.  It was crucial to our family dynamic!  But recently we’ve noticed that it wasn’t anymore.  That “little business” I started a few years ago, Scentsy, has completely changed our lives!  A little over a year ago, last September in fact, I had ONE team member join me on this journey.  I was a certified consultant and barely getting paid more than a little fun money.  By January of last year I was able to pay a car payment…sometimes more…and by this September I had 28 ladies on my team and was promoted to Director!  My “little business” isn’t quite so little anymore and I realized that if I could take the time I was spending designing and put it into Scentsy….the sky was the limit!  So with a ton of family discussion and a WHOLE LOT of prayer we decided to take the plunge and let go of my design job.  We’re taking the leap into the unknown and trusting that this is where we’re supposed to be.  Sure it’s scary {ahem…terrifying} but we trust that God will provide for our family and that this is where He wants us!

I’m so thrilled to finally be the stay at home/work at home Mommy I’ve always wanted to be!  I can thank Scentsy for that.  I thank my customers for that!!!  And I thank my amazing team for that!!!

I hope you’ll join us on this adventure!  I plan to find the time {errr…MAKE THE TIME} to keep up with our little blog!  So join us as we step into the next part of this adventure called life!

XO!

He isn’t asking for our resume…

This afternoon was my little mans two year checkup.  We typically divide and conquer these things if we can to keep the other one out of the doctors office if at all possible.  That was the plan today too…

…but my children woke up at 5:30 this morning.  It’s been a long day already and I think my husband saw that because as he was putting on Landon’s shoes to leave, he gave me a sideways glance and asked Em to grab hers as well so Mommy could have a break.

They walked out the door and I thought…WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES MOMMY DO WITH A BREAK?!

Mommies don’t get breaks!  So I turned on my favorite praise and worship station on Pandora and got busy folding laundry.  I finished that chore and started another load…there are dishes in the sink, my house is a mess!  There are is Scentsy to be sorted, mailed, labeled, and enjoyed.  There is dinner to be made.  Yet I can’t take another step.  I’m utterly exhausted.

Amazing that in a moment of exhaustion God speaks to us where we are.  An old work friend just posted a beautiful blog that spoke to me.  It led me back here…to my own last post…re-reading that I feel so called.  I feel called to use my business as my ministry.  But how?!  How does my business help others?  How does someone like me make a difference?

And then it clicked…

…those questions…

…those doubts and fears…

…those are not my own.  Those are the voice of the enemy working against me.

Once I realize that, it’s easy to see the good I’ve done for others lately.  It’s all small stuff, but I’m doing something…and anything is better than nothing.

Another friend posted this from her quiet time this week…

“I love the way God’s word is so active and alive. I’ve read Exodus before but I somehow missed the part where God calls Moses to lead his people out of Egypt and Moses basically tells the Lord that he can’t. He’s not good enough. He won’t be able to speak to them. He even asks the Lord to please, send someone else.
The funny thing is, God never asked Moses if he thought he could, He simply said, you will. And the best part of it all is that the Lord said He would be with Moses. He would teach him what to say, He would guide his steps.
And The Lord does the same with us….He calls us to do things that we think we can’t do. We think someone else could surely do it better, but when He places a call on our life, He isn’t asking for our resume. He knows our gifts AND our shortcomings, and He wants to use us anyways. And He wants to walk beside us into whatever He leads us into.
He won’t ask you to do big and scary things and then abandon you. He’ll ask you to do big and scary things, and then He’ll walk with you. You need only to step out in obedience.
Moses: “But who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
God: “But I will be with you.”

So today, wherever you are, stop and listen.  Erase the doubts and fears plaguing your mind…those are not your own!  Quiet the enemy with prayer and listen…listen to the One that will be with you.  He knows us better than we know ourselves…we are His children and He loves us with the ferocity of a momma bear protecting her cub.  All of us mommies know that momma bear feeling that rises up in us.  We know that passion of love we feel towards our babies.  Remember that He feels that way towards us.  He’s not asking for our resumes…just for us to obey…just to walk the path He’s paving.  He will be right there with you.

 

A weekend to remember – TheRetreat2015

This weekend was INCREDIBLE, INTROSPECTIVE, MEMORABLE, EMOTIONAL, BEAUTIFUL & FUN!!!

We road-tripped to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend #TheRetreat2015 this weekend and it was pretty much nothing like what I expected.  In reality, I’d never intended a retreat like this so I wasn’t sure what to expect…but this definitely wasn’t it.

I think I thought we’d talk about how to do all the things that make our businesses thrive.  Instead we talked about how to make ourselves grow so that our businesses followed suit.  It was a very introspective weekend…emotionally charged…and absolutely amazing in every way.

This is me and one of my dearest friends, Maggie.  We made the trip together and were roomies.  I can’t tell you how thankful I am for these little trips/getaways we take together.  I always come home feeling recharged and ready to conquer the world.

We talked about WHY we do this thing called Scentsy… so many think it’s about “selling something”.  It’s so much more ya’ll!  It’s about changing lives and enjoying/enlivening our senses with beautiful things that pamper and comfort us.  I love my Scentsy products…it makes me feel good.  It makes me happy when I walk by a pretty warmer and smell something I like.  It makes me feel pampered and spoiled when I use my shower and body products.  I’m not sharing my love for the products solely to sell them…I share it because I want you to enjoy the things that bring me so much joy too!

What I do is meaningful.  I create meaningful work that adds value to the world.

This is my wood.  I had the privilege of carrying it for the weekend…everywhere… We were meant to write our obstacles on it, but Maggie and I decided that not only did we need to acknowledge our obstacles but we needed to remind ourselves of our good values too.

We DID follow the rules and write our obstacles on the other side.  Most of mine revolved around my own fears and doubts and personal lack of confidence at times.  I realized that I wasn’t trusting myself (or God) to believe that I could really do this.  I CAN build a successful business and grow it and help it thrive.  I CAN do those things because He will help me every step of the way.  He put me on this journey, I cried out asking for something that could be mine and bring me joy, and He heard my cry and gave me Scentsy.  Now I need to have faith in His plan and follow Him.  I spend so much time doubting and being fearful that I waste productive time!

So we took those obstacles (see mine written on that front piece of wood) and we burned them into ash.  Those obstacles will never really go away, but their power over us will diminish.

We will be stepping out in bravery.

I fully believe that God placed me on this Scentsy journey.  I have met more God centered women in this environment than any other non-church environment I’ve ever been a part of.  THIS is where I am meant to be and I am thankful.  I will never forget this weekend and how so many wonderful leaders shared their stories and testimonies…how we were prayed over and loved…or the laughs and tears.  I will never forget #TheRetreat2015 and how it changed my life for the better.

***If you want more information about my business or team, please contact me, or check out my facebook page and website***

Spring is here!!!

It’s drizzling outside, my trees are bloomed, allergies in full force, and I’m barefoot.

It’s definitely Spring and I’m kinda loving it!!!

We’ve been taking walks with the kiddos in the afternoons to see our friends down the road.  We can hear them from our house, so we have to go see them every once in a while…

Yup…those are donkeys!  They’re extremely friendly…I stick my hand through the top of the gate and scratch their heads.  My kids think that’s hilarious.

Spring also brings the new catalog for Scentsy, which I LOVE!!!!  I get so excited during the transition period because the new items are GORGEOUS!!!  And smell so so good!

I’m loving the new scents.  My only sunshine and Sedona Sunset have been big hits so far!!

Have you seen the new warmers?? Here are a few of my personal favorites…

Notice that my favorites are HUGELY different from each other?  I think that is one of my very favorite things about Scentsy.  There really is something for every one and every decor.  I’m loving the new modern pieces and equally love the new soft romantic pieces.  That petal warmer is INCREDIBLE in person!  It’s hand crafted and absolutely stunning.  Want to see how it’s made?  Check it out here.  I love the time and detail that is put into these pieces.

Scentsy has really stepped it up and hit it out of the ball park with this catalog.  It makes me SO proud to be a part of such a great company that listens to its customers and consultants and strives to be constantly improving it’s products.

Because of this, my business is growing, and so is my team!  If you have ever considered starting your own business NOW is the perfect time!

People say all the time that “things like this” don’t work.  I’m living proof that they do!  Scentsy isn’t just a hobby for me, it’s a business, a livelihood.  It brings me more joy than I could have ever imagined and has blessed my family financially in ways I couldn’t have dreamed.  If you’re “stuck”…needing a change for yourself…needing a sisterhood of friends that support you…or just need some extra income…

Contact me!  Check out my website for information on joining or glance back at my post on “Why Scentsy”.

Happy Friday ya’ll!! Let me know if I can help you pick some scents or warmers for your home or office 🙂

***If you want more information about my business or team, please contact me, or check out my facebook page and website***

There’s no such thing as an ice day with toddlers…

Today in Texas is what we dub an “ice day”.  It means that the entire state, specifically for me the DFW metromess shuts down.  Schools close, businesses close, doctor’s offices close, bridges close… we don’t do cold precipitation here.

Image found on Facebook

All of you up North would have been dying laughing as we cancelled schools last night BEFORE the event ever began!

It’s how we roll…we don’t do cold precipitation here…lol.

Image courtesy Pinterest

Parents all over Texas last night were turning off their alarms and praying that everyone would sleep in.  I was just hopeful for a nice calm morning…

Boy was I wrong!!!

Not only did we not get to sleep in but the baby was up some time after 5am and the crying began around 5:45.  I tried to get him back down, but he’s stubborn and by 6:45 I was ready to give up and have some coffee.  But then of course because all I wanted was a cup of piping hot coffee…that wasn’t going to happen!

Image courtesy Pinterest

The toddler had an accident so I had pajamas and sheets to wash first… then I found that one of the dogs had gotten sick all over their bed (in MY room) and I’d have to clean that too!  UGH! Just. Want. Coffee!!!!!!!!

So I’m here to say the concept of a relaxing ice day is non-existent when you have toddlers in the house!  Maybe when they’re teenagers I can sleep in again!

But thankfully I finally got some coffee!  Coffee turned my entire day right side up and got me moving happily.

I cleaned up the messes…moved the (cleaned) dog bed to the laundry room where they will now sleep (they’ve been waking me up at night…this morning was the final straw).  And then…got out the vacuum!

Had my husband walked in the door at that moment he’d have thought I’d been body snatched! LOL  The vacuum is typically his chore…but I was in need of some clean and fresh in my life.

I sprinkled some baking soda and White Tea and Cactus washer whiffs (dye free – just coarse Epsom salt and fragrance) on my carpet and got to work.  My carpets are fresh and deodorized and I feel worlds better!

Scentsy saves the day again!

Thank you Scentsy for such a multi-functional product! I wouldn’t do laundry without it, but I absolutely love how fresh my house smells right now after using it on the carpets!!!

But sadly it’s not quite 10am yet…I’ve done too much for a snow day…think I’ll make more coffee 😉

***If you want more information about my business or team, please contact me, or check out my facebook page and website***

Spring Sprint Recap

A few weeks ago I attended a Scentsy event.  It’s one of those things that you sign up for and never really know what it’s going to do for you.

This was the second year I’ve attended a Spring Sprint but this year was to be much different.  I wasn’t just attending to learn how to better my business, but my team was going and I was there to help them get the most out of it and to enjoy my first leadership training.

It’s also a day of sisterhood.  There is so much bonding that happens when you are all together and inspired, we may walk in strangers or acquaintances, but we definitely walk out sisters and I was so glad to spend a day with my sisters.  One of the neatest parts was to see my sisters just about fall apart when Heidi and Orville Thompson walked onto the stage.  Their presence was kept secret until the end of the day and many of them hadn’t had an in person experience with the founders of our great company before.

I have to tell you it was like teenage girls at a Bieber concert! HILARIOUS!

What I love most about this day is that it had a different affect on each of us.  My personal team came out of the gates inspired and ON FIRE!!!  They all added a recruit and are having an amazing month.  I personally felt inspired as well but in a different way than I’d expected.

We had a speaker at the end of the day, a SuperStar Director, Allison Dalke.  She was amazing.  Like…I wanna be her when I grow up amazing!  And I don’t say that very often.  I felt as if she was speaking directly to me, that I was there just to hear what SHE had to say.  She challenged us to find something that breaks our hearts and then do something about it.  To be a part of something, to help someone.  Use our businesses for good.

While I know what breaks my heart – I don’t know yet what to do about it.  How can I help? How can I get involved?  How can I apply my business to this cause?  All questions I can’t quite answer yet.  But I’ve been praying for guidance and know that something is coming, I just have to keep an open heart, be patient (SO not my strong suit), and walk through open doors.

Several of the quotes that have stuck out to me from our day are below:

“Have a compelling vision that drives us to massive action!”

“Your current circumstances are NOT a reflection of your potential.”

And simply…”Dream Bigger”

I have big dreams for myself in the next several years…I have a pretty compelling vision.  It’s foggy at the moment…I can see the beginning and some version of the end but the road hasn’t cleared just yet.  It will though…and I will be ready!

What dreams do you have that you need an avenue to help you achieve?  What bills could you pay off with extra income?  What would having a sisterhood of friends that love and support you mean to you?

I hope these questions get you thinking about what starting your own Scentsy business could do for you.  It’s not just about wax and warmers folks!  It’s about changing lives…yours and those around you!

***If you want more information about my business or team, please contact me, or check out my facebook page and website***

I have the perfect Easter basket item!!

Recently I showed you the perfect little gift for Valentine’s Day (here).  While it was quiet here on the blog, it got great reviews overall and my customers loved it.  I’m dropping off my final load of Valentine’s gifts tomorrow for a sweet friend and can’t wait to hug her neck and show her how cute they turned out!

Today I’m thinking about Easter.  I know, I know…it’s early, but hey…I like to be prepared!  We just recently released a new Scentsy buddy.  I LOVE our buddies.  My kids LOVE our buddies!  They’re awesome.  But this one just SCREAMS Easter basket to me.

But before I show you… (I know the suspense is killing you right???)

I struggle with the Easter basket.  My kiddos don’t have a shortage of candy in their lives but for some reason it bugs me to hand them a basket full and say, go to town!  I usually do a few small candy items and then try to find some non-candy items to fill their baskets.  So here are my favorite non-candy Easter basket filler items.

1 – A toothbrush!  LOL… Just to brush away all the candy they will get this time of year regardless.  Plus my kids are silly over a new toothbrush.

2 – Activity books.  My favorite place to get little activity packets is the Target Dollar Spot.  They look like this…

Image courtesy Google and Mamacheaps.com

We adore the Play Packs.  They’re pretty much perfect.  I like to personally hoard them and pull them out at restaurants.  #mommytricks  But there are several activity book options for just a dollar.  A great filler item and the kiddos love them.

3 – Something soft.  It’s just one of those times that cute cuddly animals make us all happy. And THIS is where the newest Scentsy Buddy comes in!  She’s PERFECT!

Meet Lulu…the LAMB!!!  I cannot think of a better friend on Easter than a lamb!!!  And what a sweet way to tell our little’s the true story of the Lamb at Easter!  I love it.

If you love her as much as I do…then DON’T WAIT!!!  She’s not going to last long and she’s too cute to miss!  Run to my website quick and grab a Lulu for the little one(s) in your life!

And not to worry…we’ve got things for the not so little one’s in your life this Easter too!!

 Yup…we’ve got a warmer for that!!  😉

***If you want more information about my business or team, please contact me, or check out my facebook page and website***

“A year from now, you’ll wish you’d started sooner”

“A year from now, you’ll wish you’d started sooner”

As a Scentsy consultant we use this plug all.the.time.  Some likely think it’s just talk.  I probably would.

But amazingly, it’s not.

If you know me well, you know that previously regardless of my intentions, I started things without the follow through to keep them going…

Case in point… Couch to 5k… I think I lasted a week. <– in all fairness…I learned a valuable lesson.  I HATE to run.

I joined the Scentsy Family on January 28th, 2014 as a Grace Adele Consultant.  It wasn’t until April that I added on Scentsy.  But I have officially been a Scentsy Family Consultant for a year.  And I can tell you…I wish I’d started sooner!  This has been the most amazing year and I am so proud of where I am.

Here is what Scentsy did for me in one year…

1- Gave me, ME, back!  Pulled me out of my shell and got me energized.

2- Gave me something I do for ME that I enjoy.  This is so huge!  Yes, it’s hard work but it’s hard work I LOVE doing!

3- It brought me some of the most amazing friendships.  I cannot explain how special my Scentsy Sisters are to me.  Some are my closest most treasured friends, I am so grateful to have them in my life and be on this wild ride with them!

4 – Gave me a team of my own.  I honestly can’t believe it’s only been a year.  I love watching my team grow and seeing these awesome ladies create such thriving businesses!

5- Reduced my financial stress.  I did not start Scentsy to make money.  In fact, I was skeptical that I COULD make money.  In the beginning it was being able to go get my hair cut and colored without guilt.  Now I can at minimum pay my entire car payment plus another bill or two every.single.month.

And that’s just in my first year!!!  I expect my team to grow by leaps and bounds this year!  The possibilities are endless!!  Will you watch us OR JOIN US?!!

***If you want more information about my business or team, please contact me, or check out my facebook page and website***

Easiest Valentines gift ever!

Are you a fan of Valentine’s Day?

I have to be honest…it’s not really my thing.  I always feel like I have to get something for several people, and I despise giving a generic gift.  I like to give something fun and out of the box.

And this year…I’m taking the easy way out…and you can too!!!

How cute is this for the teachers, or volunteers, or friend gifts?!  I’m in love!!!  And for a $6 gift you can’t beat that!!

But I realize that not everyone is able to create their own adorable tag like this so I tracked down the original artist’s link to the FREE download!!!

Here’s the adorable tag!

Then all you have to do is grab your favorite Scentsy hand soaps or even shower gels, print the tag, cut it out, and punch a hole for ribbon where the “tag hole” is and tie around the pump! Anyone can do this!

And with scents like: Love Story, Sugar, Lucky in Love, ect…there is the perfect gift for anyone!

And just in case you’re worried…yes…we have a Men’s line just for your Scentsy Man 🙂

Need something a little bigger for your Valentine?  Here’s some other great options too!

Remember, Valentine’s Day will sneak up on us, get your orders in today so they have time to ship!  🙂  Happy Shopping Ya’ll!

***If you want more information about my business or team, please contact me, or check out my facebook page and website***