HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May 2010 be a wonderful and prosperous year for all of us. I wish the very best for family and friends. I personally know I have so very much to be thankful for and plan on trying to give back as much as I have been blessed with. Have a Very Happy and Safe New Years Eve!

Thinking about becoming a Consultant?

Another great question from one of our readers, thanks Nicole!

Nicole said...
"This really clears things up! I am looking into becoming a consultant and I was unclear about this. I have some questions about becoming a consultant. Let say I decide to do this, so I order my $100 starter kit. I'd like to take some time to become familiar with the products before I try to sell them to people. Do I have to place my $200 order within a certain amount of time? Also, does it have to be $200 all at once? Or could I place several orders within a month equaling at least $200? I currently have a full-time job, a husband, and a 6 month old daughter, and I'm looking into doing this to earn some extra income. Thanks!"

Once you submit your agreement and purchase your starter kit, you actually could take up to a year to place your first order without having to submit a new agreement.
A minimum order of $400 retail which gives you a 50% off discount so $200 wholesale is required in one order for you to receive the discount. If one was to place just a $100 retail order - it would not receive a discount. Once a minimum order of $200 wholesale is placed, you have earned your "earned discount privledge" and for the month that order was placed and the following two months you can place any size order and receive the discount. During this time if you should place mulitiple small orders that total $200 wholesale during the months, your discount period begins again.

Now, if a new consultant wants to take advantage of the bonuses available for coming in qualified, which is $600 wholesale/ $1200 retail.... she will receive a $140 retail value bonus if the $600 w/s is placed the same month as her agreement or the following month. If she places a $600 w/s within 15 days of submitting her agreement, she also receives a Color 101 bonus valued at approx. $114.00 retail
To receive the bonuses, it must be one order of $600 w/s (not multiple little ones adding up to $600 w/s). Of course the larger the initial order, the larger the bonuses. Each new consultant should consider what she is looking for and how much time she is willing to committ to her business when making her decision on how much inventory she should start with. There are pros and cons of all levels.

Personally, I do like to see a new consultant start with a qualified order if she wants some part time income simply because when she sells the bonuses at 100% profit, she can use that money for her business cards,etc.. without having to invest additional personal money. If a consultant is looking at personal use, this may be way too much product for her to want to have and why have it just sitting around if a $200 will serve her needs.

If someone is really committed as long as the products that are ordered are products that are going to be demonstrated at facials and parties, starting with a large inventory will save her time and help her grow her business faster because she can deliver all products right at her appointments without having to backtrack.

Whatever one decides, I always say, you can always order more product and as often as you want, so start and grow!

A consultant has the right to receive whatever she wants in her order. For example, if a consultant only wanted products for n/d skin and beige foundations, she should express this when working with her director on her first order. I always ask my consultants what items do they absolutely want to have on their order. If then they don't get up to their desired level, I suggest items that I think would be beneficial. A happy consultant that is making money will stay a consultant!

Would you share you special Christmas minute?

How about some totally heartwarmning stuff?

Our son (the Marine) made it in just in time to celebrate with us before being assigned to his new duty station so we had the whole famiy in one spot (not for long) but all together!! Please share and make this a totally "feel good" post!

(it can be funny too... like my pomerian got into something very sticky, and I thought being able to cut hair could adjust for a dog, lol... oh my.. poor thing looks like a dork, thank goodness, I had all his little Christmas sweaters! (good thing is he is showing no signs of p.t.s.d.! :)

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday!

Peace be with you!

Enjoy the Day!

Merry Christmas to You and Yours

I baked.

Active/Inactive/Terminated/ Gone

Great question and I feel the answer is one that may benefit many so I am moving it from a comment to the front page. Thanks Nicky!

Nicky said...
How long can you be inactive before they give you the boot?

Once a consultant, they ONLY requirement to remain a consultant and receive the discount is one minumum ($400 retail with a 50% discount to cost $200 wholesale plus tax on the retail and $8.75 s/h). As long as a consultant places one order a year, she could remain a consultant for the remainder of her life.

A consultant is considered active, the month she places a $200 w/s order and the following two. For example if you placed an order in December, (any day in December) one would be active December, January, and February. During this window there is no minimum order required to receive the discount, but $8.75 s/h is still applied on all orders regardless of size. ... once this window passes, a minimum $200 w/s order is required to receive the discount and return to active status. For the next 3 months if no orders is placed, the consultant is termed "inactive" - the particulares of being inactive... no earned discount, will not receive a commission check if you have a team, and you do not count as an active team or unit member for your recruiter or director. (Now if you have no commission check you are going to forfeit or it would be a $5 check, and you do not need the product, it would not be a financial savy move to order simply to be "active". Now on the other hand, say you need some product... and your commission check would be around $170... I would say, it would be worth it to order) but this is where "thinking comes into play" - I have heard a person say, "Oh, I have to order, so I don't loose my commission check" but they don't need the product and it is a $4 commission check. Financially savy people would not do this. Because if one continues to buy product if they are not selling it, they will eventually quit because they can't move the product they are buying.

So, A1, A2, A3 are your active months, then you will be I1, I2, I3 these are your inactive months. Then comes the T month (T1) it is called.. you are terminated month. Now.. listen up... you are technically not counted as a team member or a unit member, you will loose any team members you have, you may not attend Company functions, and there are a few other perks that are lost but!!!! and most importantly!!! you are not gone forever. A consultant as from T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 to simply put in a $400 retail / $200 wholesale and she is reinstated without having to submit another agreement.

If one goes past the twelve months then a new agreement with the option for the starter kit or the second chance offer are both available.

Your recruiter and your director could care whether you are active or not depending on what may be going on in their career path... but this is where honesty should come first.. before manipulation. But that would be another long story.

This was brief and I would be happy to explain more but I will address the questions as they come in to provide full picture on this topic.

But the bottom line... to remain active- one order a quarter, to remain non-terminated - once every 6 months, and to remain a consultant, one order a year.

Generally my personal use aka pink piddlers order two a year to get their products and close family and friends, and still have the opportunity to get the limited editon items by not ordering one large order a year.

Are you ready for Christmas?? Not me... will be shopping on Thursday, lol..
Now must go fill orders, received 4 emails and 2 phone orders today! I just Love, Love, Love this business!!

My work of art tree, the picture doesn't do it justice... it is near perfect... took over 7 hours... think I got a little ocd while decorating but it rocks!

New and improved commenting

Finally!!!  Blogger has made it possible to add comments below the post.  Give it a try!  Let me know how you like it.

DIY french manicure

OK, here is a tutorial on how to do your own French manicure, be it regular or reverse.

First, base coat. Let dry 5 minutes. Then your 2 coats of color. Let dry 5 minutes.

Now the tips. You don't need stencils. Instead of trying to draw the brush perfectly across the nail tip, hold the brush steady and rotate the finger underneath it instead. Apply second coat of tip color if necessary. Dry 5 minutes.

Then apply a quick drying top coat to entire nail. Not that icky oil stuff. Lots of companies make quick drying anti chip top coats. Orly, Sally Hansen, Seche Vite.

Lounge around 15 minutes or so while all this dries. Tada, people will think you paid for an expensive manicure!

Just a thought..Author Unknown

My Name is Pride.

I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny ...
because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment...
because you "deserve better than this."
I cheat you of knowledge...because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing....because you are too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness....
because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vison....
because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship...
because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love....
because real romance demands sacrifice .
I cheat you of greatness in heaven...
because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory....
because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you.
Untrue.
I'm looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry.........
If you stick with me,
You'll never know.

Brow gel

You gotta have this too. All the other brow gels I've found on the market are either clear or they get brown color all over your face rather than just the brows. The MK one has a large spooly brush that picks up the right amount of gel. It seems to be tinted, not opaque like an ink. So you don't get what looks like mascara smears all over your eyebrow area. It just darkens the brows and holds them in place. Definitely something I will keep buying.

Product reviews

I got my Romantic petals set (the pink one) and my brow tools set today. Haven't tried out the brow gel yet; will tonight.

The romantic petals fragrance is delicious! It smells like candy. There's a pink bath pouf, shower gel, lotion, and perfume spray. There are two sheets of pearly pink tissue paper in the bottom of the box. Don't throw those out! Wrap gifts in them!

The brow tools fit in your compact. Spooly brush for brushing through your brows and lashes, angle brush for applying brow powder and dry lining eyes with shadow, and little tweezers. You need this. I hate being out and about and discovering that I have stray brow hairs, or trying to touch up my dry liner with a sponge tip applicator. Might as well eliminate frustration and do it right.

OK, I gotta get some work done before I go out for the evening...catch you later!

A Bag for the Compact Pro

From one of our new members, Sun:

I stumbled across your blog after googling Mary Kay blogs. I'm not a rep, but I am a satisfied customer. Since your blog has a healthy following, I thought you might be interested in letting your clients and other readers know about a nifty protective bag that they can purchase for their Pro compacts.

Here's the backstory: when I purchased the small compact, it came with a nifty drawstring protective bag which I really liked. When I purchased the Pro, no bag, so I did some online sleuthing at etsy.com, and discovered a seller from Wisconsin who makes KIP (knitting-in-progress) bags with handy drawstrings, cord locks, and nifty interior pockets sewn into the interior. I measured the Pro's box and emailed her the dimensions, and she recommended a modified mini KIP bag in my fabric of choice. She modified the bag in that she changed the orientation from vertical to horizontal, just like the compact. There are 6 interior pockets sewn into the lining (4 small pockets on the sides; 2 large pockets sewn on the ends), and it's in those pockets that I place extras such as a small tube of mascara, a small double-ended eyeshadow brush, a spoolie brush, and my eyebrow pencil.

The seller's name on etsy.com is "Ruddawg" (click on the drop-down menu to "Sellers" then type "Ruddawg" on the search box. The bag cost me $7.50, plus $2.50 to ship. I picked out a very pretty fabric, Yun Qi, so I feel it's pretty enough to carry on its own, and if you select the wrist strap option, you can!

Disclaimer: I'm not in any way affiliated with Ruddawg except for being a satisfied customer. Just thought other MK customers out there might be interested in something pretty but protective for their Pro compacts.

Here are 3 pics from the seller (pulled them right off my reserved listing from my transaction history). I hope the pictures give a good enough idea of what the drawstring bag looks like, although I should mention that seller took the pictures before adding the satin drawstring cords and cord locks. The bag works great. Besides the compact, I am able to carry the following in the narrow interior pockets: small tube of mascara (from Sephora); a double-ended eyeshadow brush; a spoolie brush; a lipliner; and an eyebrow pencil. I could fit more, but that's all I need, plus I have more inside the compact.

Still Busy.. so..Are you ready for Christmas?

Just so I know I am not alone, let's have some chatter, please, I feel like I am neglecting the blog, have some great ideas for articles to come.
I plan on wrapping (lol) things up for the most part as far as my business by the middle of next week. Then it is my time to primp for Christmas. The kids are older now, it is easier.. and the Grandkids are fun!

So what is your status? Are you done shopping, have you begun shopping? I think this has been one of my best Mary Kay December's ever and 95% of the sales I have made this month, the clients have come to me! I just love it. Just unpacked my directors early order today, so Miranda, your goodies are finally on their way, I know you were excited to get them. I LOVE the Romantic Petals gift set, it smells soooo good and the packaging is great. Pictured in the photo: The PCP Gift with purchase.

New Christmas Playlist for Balanced Mary Kay

At this time of year, I crave Christmas music.

I lean heavily to the Christmas Hymn side of the Christmas music spectrum.

I went a little crazy with the playlist.com and came up with the 92 songs now found in the player at the bottom of the page.

There are only about twenty + truly unique songs, but all of them are various versions done by different artists. I think that I like all of them! Please feel free to tune in and leave the music playing in the background. Let me know what you think, and, if I've missed any good ones, let me know.

Merry Christmas to everyone, I hope your holiday season is absolutely wonderful.

Stay tuned.. New Post Coming Soon

Hey all, sorry, I have been very busy with my Holiday Open Houses as always the first weekend in December.... Not bad 4 days of fun... total so far and I haven't check voicemail for the orders that were called in from my clients that couldn't make it..... $3,600+ - there are some very happy clients too! I am tired but no need to feel sorry for me, it is a great tired...

A Name that is Recognized (& not in a bad way)

This is so very cool!!!

Published 12.02.09 From Mary Kay Intouch
Brand Keys List Places Mary Kay® in the Top 10!

Mary Kay was the only beauty brand to place in the top 10 in Brand Key’s Customer Loyalty Leaders 2009 list, ranked at number 7 out of 440 brands. “The ‘emotional engagement’ that women share with their favorite beauty brands is still very powerful,” a Brand Keys press release says.

What’s more, Mary Kay® widened its lead with competitors; none were included in the top 10 this year. (Maybelline ranked at number 12 and Estee Lauder at number 13.) And in the new category of Moisturizing Skin Care for non-prestige brands, Mary Kay tied with Aveeno for first place.

You may remember that last year, Mary Kay® ranked at number three on the Loyalty Leaders list, but this year three of the top four places went to wireless handsets from iPhone, Samsung, and Blackberry. Google was ranked first last year but was number 3 this year. Yet, while handhelds and Smart Phones may be inspiring strong loyalty because of the role they play in our fast-paced lives, it’s clear that women still want the beauty, quality and value Mary Kay products provide.
What makes consumers—and Mary Kay customers -- loyal today? It’s quality and value. A recent BrandWeek magazine article says that cosmetics embody the trend of consumers shopping for value instead of price. As the Brand Keys explains, “The old ‘price-value’ equation has been transformed to an instantaneous ‘value-for-dollar’ consumer calculation.” Women today aren’t only considering price--asking how much moisturizer costs, for example--they are also considering the brand’s reputation and the products benefits and asking themselves how much value comes with that price.

Now is a great time to share the current Beauty on a Budget fliers with your customers. Updated versions of these fliers are currently in the works. They’ll feature some of our newest products for brows that are “$10 or less,” many of which are also designed to fit the Mary Kay® Compact—giving that tool even more custom options and value at a price of just $18. We’ll update you as soon as they’re available in the coming weeks!

Back to Work Time

Good morning and Happy Monday to all!

Contrary to some of the anti MK sites, many of us enjoy time off from MK - because I always do my open houses the beginning of December, I elect not to do a Black (aka Pink) Friday Sale and actually take Thursday thru Sunday off during the Thanksgiving Holiday. I admit one of my sister in laws requested to pick up a couple of items she needed when she came over to eat...but until Sunday night that was the extent of business I conducted. It was awesome checking my voicemails last night to the tune of several hundred dollars which will be delivered or shipped on Monday. Today, I will wrap up month end and also I am doing a display at a Nursing Home Holiday Craft Fair.

So for all readers, whether you are a consultant or a director, please realize, one does not need to work 24/7 to make Mary Kay work and understanding that knowing when to enjoy some time for yourself will keep you happy with your business and not burnt out and knowing there is a time and a place to discuss or "sell" MK will keep people around you and not running from you. Respect yourself as well as others.

I find it very amusing that there was far LESS activity on the "pro" mk sites than on the "anti" mk sites. lol, I am beginning to understand why there were problems for many of them while they were in MK and why people ran from them. Even out of mk, many of them can't enjoy time off from Mary Kay during the holidays. It is now spent complaining about it as oppossed to marketing it!

Obsession with anything will cause problems. A healthy balance will make a happy consultant!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

I am going to be busy, busy, busy, everyone is coming here for dinner, even our new two week old granddaughter! Going to have a full house! Yum, yum.

And a little trivia, Thanksgiving was Mary Kay's most favorite holiday and also the day she passed.

Make sure to take a few moments and reflect on how much we truly do have to be thankful for!

gobble! gobble!

Won't be here to post tomorrow...going out of town to spend the holiday with Mr. Gothboy's baby bro and SIL. So a little early: Happy Thanksgiving, people!

Awwww yeah turn me loose in that kitchen. *happy dance, cranberries fly everywhere*

They see me cookin
They droolin
They tryin' to catch me roastin birdy!

...yes, that was horrible. Sorry.

XOXO

Miranda

So what does it mean to be positive?

"Positive" becomes a catch word in and out of MK...so let's explore the meaning behind the word. It isn't, or shouldn't be a stupid cliche.

First off: What it is NOT. It is not positive to stick your head in the sand, hide from reality, live in a bubble, or refuse to perform realistic financial management and life assessment. It's not positive to think that you can just wish things, or money, into being. Those things all fall under the heading of "insane." So that's out of the way now.

Positive, above all, means enjoying life. It's also taking a proactive stance in your life, business and personal both. It's being willing and able to learn and experiment and develop your abilities. And sometimes, it's also about knowing when to change course on something. If you've given some pursuit the old college try and discover it is not for you, then positively switch to something that is better in line with your needs and abilities. Many years ago I switched from karate to yoga because I developed arthritis. No good comes from sad sacking around and giving up. If you are positive, then you will find other opportunities for yourself and enjoy them.

Negative, in contrast, is dwelling on things that make you upset, and it generally also involves spreading (or trying to spread) this upset to other people. Why waste today fretting over yesterday? Why let the good things pass you by because you're too busy ranting? Giving up on yourself is negative. If you can't do a particular thing, or can't do it any longer, it's not The End. It's just time to do something else.

Positive doesn't mean you will never feel blue or run into problems or that you have to fake happy when you are having a bad moment. You don't have to regularly fake anything...that's getting back to insane rather than positive. It does mean that you will get over those bad times and go back to enjoying your life.

This session of Ask-A-Goth has been brought to you by black eyeliner, red lipstick, and Ivory 0.5. lol

Advanced Sales

Who'd have thunk (lol) that PT would promote business for Mary Kay. Yep, you read the question correctly. I have never been a director that promotes advanced sales of products that are "being introduced" in the next quarter. The reason I don't is that I believe in focusing on what is currently available and not "borrowing from the future" because when the new Look Books come out, I want to sell what is in that book then not ahead of time. If we are always borrowing from the future, I feel there is going to be a time when it catches up and clashes with the present.

Likewise I feel the same way about production. If a consultant is selling the product, she will need to continually order the product but if she has so much inventory she doesn't know what to do with it, she will not need to order when she sells. Hence, putting directors on the hamster wheel that pt often refers to. Why set yourself up for that either as a selling consultant or a working director?

That was a long winded intro for my thank you to pt for promoting the new products that are being released in December. (lol, yes, we directors are fully aware of what is coming out and our unit members have been informed so that they can watch their inventory levels and now what to move and not stock up on or to stock up on )

I have a few clients and consultants that do on occassion read pt, because of the article on pt about the new products coming out , I have two advance orders with instructions that as soon as the products are available they want them!

It made me think of the saying that "No "publicity" is bad publicity" (as far as celebrities).

I just wanted to give credit where credit is due.

Don't think of me as dishonest? Excuse Me??

Wow, just took a few minutes to sneek a peak at pt, and this just makes me shake my head in disbelief. How does everyone else feel? Would love to see some chatter. As many on pt profess to be so honest and upright and tear down everyone associated with Mary Kay as evil, I was appaulled when I read this comment just now and just had to question her reasoning. Does the saying not go: Two wrongs never make right. The poster implies it is perfectly okay to screw Mary Kay and misuse and abuse a system put into place to assist those in the business. The Product Replacement is available so that all of us consultants can honor the 100% satisfaction guarentee without loosing money..at this point in time, we don't even need to spend money on shipping the used product back to Mary Kay (years ago we did) - we only need to hold the product 30 days and then we can pitch it unless MK askes us to return it to the Company and that is usually because they are looking into a defect or manufacturing problem.
So if people start abusing the system, they are going to destroy it for all the rest of us that use it as it should be used.
What gets me the most is... most people would have the conscious that they would not be proud of unethical, dishonest, or illegal behavior, in her case she seems proud of it. If one can be that proud to boast about this type of behavior - do you think she was any more "honest" while in Mary Kay?

"company sucks
2009-11-15 20:04:36
If MK wants to get money twice, so can consultants that are getting out. Maybe not as fast, but there is a way. I have thought about it and know it works. Please don't think of me as dishonest, I never misled any of my team and never pushed anybody into ordering, that is why I decided to step down as a director. Anyway, when you decide you are going to quit, have your half price sale. Then take your people you have sold to and take orders from them for 50% of what they want also. Take the products you didn't sell and do product replacements for what they want. They will have their product cheap and you will have your money back. Then box up the new product you used as product replacemet and either sell it on ebay or on a garage sale. When I received my letter from corp that said I had 30 days until I was terminated, I did a product replacement everyday ($50 or under) and sold everything on a garage sale. I ordered things my customers needed and then took the original product and sold it really cheap on a garage sale. I know if sounds bad, but they deserved it. My former SD was really ticked, she had a "Mary Kay information booth" not far from me, it was a city wide garage sale. I was selling away and she couldn't! "

Is it Freaky Friday?

Today is Friday the 13th, are you superstitious??


42 Days Until Christmas - You'd better get scooting!!

Another Cute Holiday Idea

The 12 Days of Christmas Wreaths...

Have the products wrapped in gift paper and attached to the wreath. Open one present a day for the 12 days. I also made one of these with empty product containers unwrapped for my front door. It got raves from any visitors, everyone commented how cute and clever it was and it even got me two orders one year, which reminds me, I should make one for this year!

Make the Holiday season fun. I hit the $ Store today to get some items for packaging gift, I found so many cute things, I had a blast! Can't wait to start putting some togehter.

Holiday Gift Ideas

For a little inexpensive gift, I love the "Gas Gloves" with Hand Cream:

Copy the Gas Gloves card below and print on card stock.

"Place these "Gas Gloves" in the glove box of your car. Put these on instead of your "good gloves" when you fill up with gas.
The hand cream will keep your hands soft and smooth all winter long. "

1. Purchase packs of stretchy gloves ( I have even found them 2 for $1)
2. Find pretty inexpensive bracelets/ribbon/pony tail holders, etc.
3. Put one glove on your hand and then put the other glove right on top
of it so they are together -
4. Tuck a Hand Cream inside
5. Put a little Holiday cello goodie bag under gloves ($1 for 25)
6. wrap a bracelet or pretty ribbon around the cuff.
7. Include the Gas Gloves card with each pair (see above)

A twist on this idea but with a different card is to find the cute fuzzy socks/slippers and use the Energizing Foot & Leg Treatment instead of the hand cream. (Tickle Your Tootsie) or (A Treat for you Feet) - you get the idea.

Both inexpensive useful gifts! :) I will do a few "Coffe and Creams" in our next idea sharing post.

Marketing - this time of the year!

Do things change a little in the marketing of our Mary Kay during different times of the year? Imho, the answer is "yes". As we start approaching the Holidays more people will be spending less money on themselves and more on others. If we don't let our clients know *all year long* that we can always put gift baskets together, provide gift certificates, gift wrap, deliver, etc... people don't always see the potential of gifts from us. Also if there are things they would like - they don't think to let others know that "on my wish list & here is the number for my consultant", ensuring they end up with something they want, as oppossed to another thing to dust or (lol) regift. The Holidays season can be a wonderful selling season or a big disappointment but each one of us is in charge of our own destiny.

When dealing in these areas (as any other time) be other's focused, make sound suggestions, don't be obnoxius, and work with your clients with their interests in mind not the all mighty dollar. My plans are to include different and fun holiday gift ideas in the next few posts.

Don't wait until the last minute or you won't be selling much. Don't forget to always offer Holiday party look makeovers, new look for the new year, etc.. the way we are most successful in Mary Kay is "future" marketing. - think about retail stores, ie: have you ever tried buying a bathing suit in August? You are far more likely to find a great selection of winter gloves and scarves.

Have a great day everyone!

Miranda's Makeup Holds up even under club conditions!

Her makeup help up under some tough testing! And it looks like you were having a great time!

New Fragrance Collection Available Today!

New Miniature Fragrance Collection on Sale Today!
Why choose just one when you can have a selection of scents to suit any mood or occasion? This collection includes mini bottles of all six Mary Kay® fine fragrances for women – Journey®, Elige®, Bella Belara®, Belara®, Velocity® and Affection®. Limited-Edition Mary Kay® Miniature Fragrance Collection; available while supplies last
This will make a wonderful addition to the gift line for our Holiday shoppers but I am also going to use them as an incentive for new consultants or season consultants, what a great prize so that they demo the fragrances without the expense of having to pull a full size of each or deal with the little foil packet samplers!

This piece is not only a gift it is a tool to help build sales in our fragrance line!
Woo Hoo really excited about it and it is priced right too. For more information, please visit www.marykayintouch.com

Available for ordering NOW!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Have a Very Fun and Safe Halloween! Here is a trick now you can find a treat, yup that is me!

Judge Hatchett says...

I like watching the Court shows that are on tv these days. No, I don't sit and watch them but I usually have the tv on while I am working. During a case the other day as one of the defendant's was making all sorts of excuses for what they did... Judge Hatchett took a minute to give some wise advice. This is what she said and I felt it was so true. She said..
"If you do a bad thing, call it a bad thing. Do not make excuses for it because it is what it is. Acknowledge what you did or you will live a life of excuses.
People are what they do."

I thought it was spot on.

OT...trick or treat!

Halloween is just around the corner! Are you stocked up on candy? Are you eating it all yourself (like me) and then buying more? ;) Got a party planned?

The Monster Mash (Bobby Pickett)

I was working in the lab late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my monster from his slab began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise


He did the mash
He did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
He did the mash
It caught on in a flash
He did the mash
He did the monster mash


From my laboratory in the castle east
To the master bedroom where the vampires feast
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes


They did the mash
They did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They did the mash
It caught on in a flash
They did the mash
They did the monster mash


The zombies were having fun
The party had just begun
The guests included Wolf Man
Dracula and his son


The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds
The coffin-bangers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, "The Crypt-Kicker Five"


They played the mash
They played the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They played the mash
It caught on in a flash
They played the mash
They played the monster mash


Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring
Seems he was troubled by just one thing
He opened the lid and shook his fist
And said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?"


It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash
The monster mash
And it's a graveyard smash
It's now the mash
It's caught on in a flash
It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash


Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band
And my monster mash is the hit of the land
For you, the living, this mash was meant too
When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you


Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash
The monster mash
And do my graveyard smash
Then you can mash
You'll catch on in a flash
Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash!

A Directors's Point of View (Rerun)

I was looking over past posts because I did a very detailed overview of what a Prmiere Club Director earns and was too tired to keep looking but I found a gem that I thought was so worth rerunning and a appropriate response to a recent article on pt. I had to read it several times because as I was reading it, I keep thinking, this sounds just like something I wrote and so spot on.. but I didn't remember writing it.. As I continued to read, the reason I didn't remember writing it is because it was authored by one of our members.

The underlying reason for me wanting to bring this forward again (no I don't plan on reposting past articles because they can be found just reading back in our files) - we will try and reserve "reruns" for the tv series, but pt continues to say that their stories must be true because they all sound the same. My point is that in my circle of the directors that DO "do it" right, all of our stories will sound the same too! Interesting, huh? Perhaps we do "become" like those we hang around. So if one has a great national and a great area, you will learn to do things the way they should be done. You will not use fake team members, activate consultants no longer in your unit, take a new consultant's card and charge way more than you were authorized to do, etc... you will teach your unit members how to present the product and sell the product, and eventually to build a team. You will teach them not to make a nuisance of themselves stalking and aggressively persuing potential clients and to conduct yourself as a professional. You will not manipulate them to buy way more product then they need for prizes, cars, or units. You will not rent storage space to store the product you are buying so that you appear "successful". Isn't it ironic that, most of those that have "seen the light" on pt have confessed to having done things wrong for years but thought it was okay because everyone else was doing it that way too and then when they can't afford to continue to charge their appearances, they now "SEE" the light and repent!

The article from JTA on pt was what prompted this. Just because she was almost in NIQ doesn't mean she can tell us that means she was so successful. Reading her article shows me that she had operated all along to acheive her goals not to help others acheive theirs. Based on info she provided, with the people she had, she would not have made it thru NIQ because the majority of her offspring units were not going to qualify because they were "making" their units happen and couldn't afford to finance JTA's decision to go National. So perhaps she did at this point in her career path take a look at what she had built and it didn't look so pretty, so now what does she do? Build again the proper way or realize it is going to be alot of hard work and time to rebuild and justify her decision not to invest more time in it and blame MK. Of course, she admits that she had been making great money off the backs of others ?? Reading her story, all I think is that she saw it all starting to fall apart and ran away before it totally collapsed.

So for those reading - here is the post from STRT and could have been from me for (the most part) and it was in response to an article on PT at that time.

From 5/17/2008 by Speaking the Real Truth

Yes, I am still happy with my MK business. And, I'm not torqued at those here, but at one of the latest posts "over there".
This is what really gets my goat, is when someone over there tells their experience and then slings it all over the rest of us.
If you want to speak for yourself or first hand stories, fine, do so, but leave me and the other thousands of MK consultants and directors that you do not know out of it.
I too was a monthly Miss Go-Give, well liked and respected and plan to become an NSD. But,-no, I did not fake ANYONE to become a director and do not teach others to do so.-My first line offspring have not faked their units either.

-Yes, I have counseled consultants who I felt were ordering more than they should. I have actually told them to stop ordering until they sell some products!

-No, I have never pumped in large amounts of inventory out of my personal budget to make production...NEVER.

-Yes, I have encouraged another director that I saw doing so to step down, I told her that she wasn't saving anything. (And no, she was not mine, so I was not gaining anything).

-I have counseled my offspring that we do not buy production, we sell enough product to warrant our ordering a significant amount each month, thus taking personal responsibility for our units, setting an example of a successful consultant, and making money at the same time.

-I do not encourage consultants to start with inventory that is over their heads. It's really dumb to do that anyway because a scared, overwhelmed, woman usually does nothing, and like it has been pointed out, it can all be returned. My return rate is very low, and consultants regularly contact me to re-join my unit.

-I am happiest when I know that my consultants are making money and so am I. If you build correctly and train your people correctly, this will be the case. When you help enough women get what they want from their businesses, and they are earning money, unit production takes care of itself. REALLY. That is the way that MK is supposed to work.

Please stop blaming me/us if you and others have bastardized/hijacked the system for your own benefit and now you feel badly about it. We are not all like you. I am glad that you finally got a conscience, but those who are truly repentant, don't need to blame others or sling mud onto others undeservedly.

Fess up for your own crimes, and leave the rest of us out of it please.

My Senior is legit, as is her Sr. and our NSD. I know these women and know the intimate workings of their businesses. They are ethical and they make money, every month. I've been around and I've seen it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and there is some in MK, but please stop acting like there is no good or that all of us are bad.

The Humor found in Hypocrisy

I would like to do more demonstrations but I would like to start with the Article about the TOP lawsuit.

I have been reading some of the comments from the negative site and actually found it amusing. Why? Because they want to have it both ways. I have seen so many things that conflict each other I will try to articulate and not babble but it isn't going to be as smooth as I would like it to be..

Let me start with my opinion. Am I glad MK went after TOP, yes, for my sake and the sake of any consultant. If we are running our business properly, not over buying and selling our products to our clients, we have no need for places like TOP. When a director or consultant that purchased their unit, a car, etc dishonestly.. then she is able to liquidate product and put it out on the market where clients of other good and honest consultants may see it and want to purchase it off that site because it is cheaper? Who is being harmed by this? IMHO, the honest consultant or director running her business by the rules of our agreement. Secondly, actually the person liquidating to TOP because TOP pays them sooo little they are basically screwing those who according to the complainers have already been screwed but TOP is making plenty of money at the expense of the people selling product to them. Many pt posters think it is so great that the owners of TOP make so much money running such a good business - hmmm .. why is it okay for Top to make money as a Company screwing the liquidation consultant them giving them squat for their product, if they are making so much money, then why didn't they pay more for it to the consultant selling it? But pters have so many problems because Mary Kay, the Company operates to make money??

Thought... if there is no place to liquidate products, maybe the dishonest consultants/directors will stop buying too much product because the only way to get rid of it would be to sell it the way the rest of us do. Interesting thought, huh?(that would be by facials, parties, catalogue sales,etc.. imagine that, all of us doing it right.) - They way the Company was set up to operate.

To show what I am saying here is a quote from one of the posters, vintage gold,
"not to mention that many Directors who were "faking it till they made it" bought their Directorships by liquidating with TOP. All those fake Directors have no one to sell to now." (does anyone think I feel sorry for them - ummm not...)

Now here is a quote and well, am I the only one that thinks she sounds unstable?
StrikeAPoseRosie |2009-10-20 13:20:25
"Girls- it is time for ACTION! What can we do??? Start an all day calling spree to directors telling them how corrupt their company is? Demoralize the ranks? Secretly attend meetings and ask directors questions in front of all the guests that point out MK's biggest flaws? Sneak around career conference and hang up signs in the stalls that proclaim the awesomeness of PT? Go to meetings and lurk around outside sticking fliers with MK facts on the windshields of all the cars in the parking lot? Flood face book for a day with messages about MK and MLM crimes? Call MK Corpse all day and night and flood their lines? Start ordering fake orders on Directors websites? Let's get original and DO SOMETHING ALREADY!!! Other ideas???
how about sending anonymous letters to the HUSBANDS to *check their family's credit rating* I know a bunch of Directors that would crap a brick if their husband knew about their secret credit cards. That would be fun...." scary

Nice... they are mad at Mary Kay Corp. for shutting down TOP, so then lets go do all sorts of mean things to any consultant and director we can Internet stalk because we aren't happy with corporate so let's go hurt the consultants?

I thought consultants had to be at least 18 to sign an agreement but these ideas sound like they came from a 5 grader.

What is another major complaint on that site? There are no really clients...except whenever r.b. defends anything - it is they have an almost NIQ, Cadillac drivers, Court of Sales Winners, who sold lots of product, very successful.so who were these people selling to if there were no real clients. Read enough over there and you have them saying... oh I sold alot of product....I just couldn't make any money...
then I couldn't sell anything, no one wanted Mary Kay... and then the one I liked best, oh, I could sell the product and made lots of money but I just didn't like not being told the truth...probably good because if a accountant or cpa had to admit not being able to make money with a product we buy at a 50% discount... one might wonder how credible she would be on any other point. so... now I read this statement:
"First, I'm amazed with how much $ TOP made! Wow now that's a successful business plan!" - now if TOP made that much money from the product they purchased from ex consultants.... obviously there were people aka real customers that are ready and willing to buy it, because if no one was willing to buy it, TOPS wouldn't be making any money....so if most of these top customers couldn't get it on TOP - they would be buying it from a REAL consultant who was doing things the right way.

R.B. says that the only reason MK wants to shut down TOP is because of recruiting... I have had unit members come to me and want to know what to tell there clients when they stumble on TOP and say that they are cheaper and they are afraid they will loose their clients. I haven't had one consultant come to me afraid she was going to loose a recruit over it.... so.... say what you want... but it is hurting sales far more than recruiting. And then if people do get expired crap - then it tarnishes our reputation and I don't like that.

Before this gets too long, in closing... another comment, "I did not get the impression that they were affiliated with Mary Kay in ANY WAY. Only a complete moron would think that they are" of course there is more on this but the point is that if you READ the TOP site it says it is not affiliated with MK..(!!if one reads it!!)..stay with me... many of them are mad because TOP can't tell consultants about about the 90% buyback that MK offers... why should they have to... it is written on the MK website, on lots of MK info.... I don't hear pt'ers calling their posters morons for not having read the Mary Kay website.

Wow, if you read pt long enough, for every point they prove, keep reading because it will be unproved soon enough.

More News From The Mary Kay Foundation

Two posts in one day! Thought this was awesome news and wanted to share it as a nice way to end the week!

Published 10.16.09

Nature Heals Scars of Violence

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, are building Nature Explore Classrooms at five women’s shelters across the United States as a part of its corporate social responsibility initiative, Pink Changing LivesSM.

Nature Explore Classrooms are outdoor learning spaces designed to include nature in the daily lives and learning of children. Research shows that nature buffers the impact of life stress on children, helps them deal with adversity, and reduces or eliminates anti-social behavior such as violence, bullying and vandalism – all of which are common in children who have witnessed abuse.

This is the first time Nature Explore Classrooms have been introduced to women’s shelters. Shelters receiving the Nature Explore Classrooms from Mary Kay are located in Illinois, Texas, California, New Jersey and Georgia. Along with the outdoor area, each Nature Explore Classroom includes a curriculum designed to help shelters and residents maximize the educational opportunities and healing effects associated with the outdoors.

“We know that helping women and children connect with nature during the healing process will empower them,” says Anne Crews, Mary Kay Inc.’s vice president of government relations and board member of The Mary Kay Foundation. “Our primary goal is to enrich women’s lives. Because of this, Mary Kay will continue to be an advocate on the issue of domestic violence and a champion for women around the world.”

Are We Taught To Target Dysfunctional Adults??

I had received a request from one of our readers that I feel is worthy of some discussion, but I just haven't come up with anything that I can be proud to put my name on. When I write it, it comes of as I am being very defensive (as I often do being a sales director and having to always read on that other site that all directors "do this" or all sales directors "do that" and I know what I do and don't do and I know what I have been taught and what I have not been taught and most of what they say is poopoo. This is a great topic and one I would like for readers of the web to have a place to read "the other side" of the article that was titled on that other site:

"Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families: The Perfect Recruiting Pool for the MLM Industry" Written by Raisinberry

Our requester begins: First I want to say thank you for having such an engaging and truly balanced blog for those of us not harboring oddly bitter and seemingly misplaced hatred toward a corporation...(You are welcome!)
I know your blog comments occasionally on the articles "over there", and I don't know if you were planning on commenting on this one but for some reason this particular blame stained article got my goat more so than others and I would LOVE to hear, if you wouldn't mind, your "balanced" take on this one.
Second, (speaking of the devil) I was reading Pink Truth today and they have an article about how MLM's and Mary Kay in particular capitalize on the dysfunctional childhoods of others and how everyone who joins does so because of their dysfunctional childhood and subsequent desire to overcome their own dysfunctions and ignore others'.

I just feel as if this article, this particular subject, of dissecting and projecting, is above and beyond the normal boundaries of blame-ville and I think some other perspective might be interesting, hence my request.
Thank you in advance, if you do decide to post about it, and if not obviously that's fine :) thanks for all that you do post. (Will give it my best)

I wanted to comment on this article the first time I read it and then I actually was totally repulsed that they could write such filth and no one calls them on it. I find it totally offensive in more than one way. And even though it doesn't happen often, I must admit, the disgust of what they try to imply does leave me without much to say but shaking my head in disbelief.

I have never known of anyone in Mary Kay that goes and targets "wounded souls" to capitalize for their own gain. I don't know where some get the ideas that they share but I have never been told to "target" weak woman, abused woman, etc.... nor have I seen or used a questionnaire that ask if a woman came from an alcoholic or abusive family and if she checked yes, then I would work extra hard to recruit her, hogwash...(we all have baggage in our life, how we choose to handle it is up to us)

what I see from an outside point of view is that many who join Mary Kay are looking to fill voids in their lives and receiving recognition (earned or bought) begins to fill those needs. Unfortunately, when the individual starts feeling that she/he cheated to get the recognition, or that they were used or played by another, their self esteem plummets even more and they feel even worse than before. Trying to fill voids in life with Mary Kay isn't going to be anything more than a short term fix, it would be like plugging a leaking boat with a wad of bubble gum, without counseling and total change of behavior, the individual is going to remain, lost and searching. The failing in Mary Kay is just another downer to weight the troubled soul down even more but in many cases MK gives them a scapegoat, something to blame other than themselves and it is always easier to blame someone (something ie:MK) else than to accept the responsibility for your own actions. (I am not saying those that do this are conscious of what they are doing and I AM NOT saying there aren't some directors that abuse or maniupulate consultants, but I do believe, their hate of Mary Kay is just masking the hate of something else. I also feel that many after feeling "wronged" in MK should go to counseling and learn how not to get caught in the trap of their "needing" to be validated by a group. PT is far from that resource. IMHO, pt enables most to continue to wallow in their insecurities and justifies their feelings by complaining with others who are in the same boat. So they all validate one another but no one is is getting any healthier. No support group would encourage people to go over and over and still highly involved with the thing that caused them pain.

I do not see alcholics being told to go sit in a bar for 5 hours, reading the labels on the liquors, pouring drinks, smelling the drinks, etc... to save others from their pitfalls. In order for one to heel, their needs to be distance, acceptance, forgiveness, and then peace. Until the process completes itself, their is unrest. (jk- no different than running on any other treadmill) round, and round, no finish line, no place to get off.

Please everyone help me out her and get some discussion going for our requester as I have not done justice to her comment. I am very emotional and feel deeply about what I would like to express on this whole concept it just isn't translating into the written word and I don't want to keep this member waiting any longer.

One thought I did have before hitting "post" often I think because MK does focus on recogntion and praise perhaps it attracks types needing this reassurance not targets them. - just an after thought~

Please add on and make this a piece that may help many! Thank you

Log your Parties on Intouch For the Party w/a Purpose

This little picture shows us there are two ways to look at everything. Do you see a sweet young girl in the above picture or a haggy old witch? Or can you take a step back evaluate and see both? I would love some comments on what you saw first and then after looking a little deeper?? Please post!!
Interesting, huh?

Very often I find I get so busy, I often don't take the time to go and log my info on intouch but since I wanted my unit to records theirs, I felt I should lead by example. So I started (for them). Guess what?? I received a notice, I was in the top 50! woo hoo. Never would have even realized it - so I guess i will be getting a prize.. Fun since I was only doing what I should have been doing anyway.

I will get busy on our blog again as soon as I can kick this inner ear/allergy/vertigo problem,I have been dealing with. I have two requests from our readers that deserve an answer, I just want to make sure I do them justice. Stayed tuned for me to provide some fun and informative stuff.
Night all! Pink Dreams, mk4me

Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover to the Rescue

We did a magic show on stage last night. I wore MK plus a waterproof liquid eyeliner. On Mr. Gothboy I used stage makeup plus the waterproof liner. When we got home he started scrubbing away in the bathroom. "Help! How do I get this stuff off?" So I handed him the oil free eye makeup remover and some cotton balls. Stage makeup was off in a minute flat.

Nothing else works that fast. Certainly not cold cream.

Something for Everyone

Niche markets are important too. Especially those that use a lot of makeup.

MK's general image is designed to appeal to a broad base of women who wear makeup. That said, if you look at the actual products, there is a gracious plenty of items suitable for gothic looks.

Before I start listing favorites, let me say this. If you're a goth, and you're reading this, let me exhort you not to wear whiteface or try to use your cosmetics to look paler than you really are. It looks silly. All skin tones, properly cared for, are beautiful. Match your skin tone exactly with your foundation and powder. You're striving for a stark, otherworldly beauty, not for looking like a sad clown, OK? ;P

Let's start at the top. Eyebrows: We tend to shape them thinly and then fill them in. MK has eyebrow pencils to match your brows, or if you prefer powder, use coal, espresso, or chocolate kiss with a small angle brush. You can seal the powder by spraying a little hairspray on your brow brush and running it lightly over the brow.

Eyeshadow: Coal (true intense black), Sweet Plum, Raisin, Espresso, and Navy Blue are all very dark colors that blend beautifully. Crystalline and Moonstone are great shimmery pale highlights for your browbone. MK makes pencil or liquid liners, as you prefer...and then there is Ultimate Mascara for thick lashes, or Waterproof if you sweat a lot on the dance floor.

Blush: Pick the lightest blush that's suitable for your skin tone. Then sweep a little bronzer on the underside of your cheekbones, and a little highlighter over the top half. This gives you a sculpted look without overdoing the color.

Lips: For your darkest lip looks there are Dark Berry, Dark Chocolate, and Plum lip liners. You can put on a tiny bit of lip gloss or balm for moisture and then color your lips entirely with the dark liner. It has good staying power. Or for lipstick, try Black Cherry, Rich Fig, or Red, alone or with/over your lip liner.

For makeup that stays fresh all night, try the MK liquid foundation suitable for your skin type, with mineral foundation powder lightly applied over it. You'll look like a flawless doll.

There, I've done all the work for you. :) All you have to do now is apply the products to your face.

Update!!

I am still here and will get a new post up soon. I had a request from one of our readers that I would like to compose soon as I have enough time to do it justice. My personal business and my unit has been incredible (in a great way). I have had 5 unsolicited calls in the last two weeks of people calling us me if I would be willing to do a MK Party for them, now how awesome is that?? Stay tuned, it won't be long. thanks for sticking with us.

Product update: I am really, really loving the new Serum +C, it is amazing!

Woo Hoo!! October Promotion!!!!

Published 10.01.09 on www.marykayintouch.com

Jump on the October Opportunity

Independent Beauty Consultants who sign their Independent Beauty Consultant Agreements from Oct. 1 – Oct. 31, 2009, can choose to take advantage of an exciting opportunity to help them get started in their Mary Kay businesses for just $50 (plus shipping, handling and tax).

(Independent Beauty Consultants will hear the news through an article posted on the Mary Kay InTouch® News Desk later today.)

Lmtd. Ed. Romantic Notions Set

This is a limited edition set featured in the Fall/Holiday Look Book. The set includes a vitamin enriched mineral formula blush that has 3 colors in a swirled pattern that can be used alone or swirled together,it comes in Silk Nector (good for Ivory/Beige skintones and Soft Sable for Beige/Bronze skintones),a professional quality cheek brush with a soft pink handle, and a zippered pink satin w/ lace overlay cosmetic bag. The retail price on the set is $30.00.

The question I was asked was "Did I have clients asking if they could buy just one piece and how to handle the situation." During my open house, I had displayed them with the blush open and with the brush on the cosmetic bag and a Look Book opened to the page where it was shown and listed as a set. Most just purchased it as a set. I did receive a couple of questions, I just explained that it was a limited edition set, not individual pieces but we could try to match up the colors to the regular line blushes. Both bought the set.

Now, I had one consultant call me with the same question and she said that the client was a wonderful client and she really wanted just the blush, and she was willing to break the set and but didn't know what to charge her and wanted my input. After brainstorming a little bit, my conclusion was... the size of the blush is equivalent to what two blushes would be.. our blushes are $10 each... so the blush piece would be $20.00, but the beauty of this is that they are getting 3 colors plus a 4th by swirling, the brush would sell for $10 (we have had other single brushes in the past that had a retail price of $10) so that price is right in line too and often clients need a good brush but can't afford to spend the $48 dollars on the brush set. The cosmetic bag could then be used as a hostess gift or gift with purchase, etc... So as long as both parties agree, this is a win/win situation. Because selling the two pieces - the retail value of the set is collected.

Thanks for the question and I hope this helps!

Review of the Fall/Holiday Products

I had my quarterly open house this past weekend. I am always able to get a pretty good indication of which new and limited edition products are going to sell the best from the Look Book. I see alot of people in the two days and get alot of feedback and I watch what sells or goes on their "wish lists". So here goes:

The sets of Gingerspice and Peppermint (shower gel & body lotion) were a hit with the price. Many plan on picking them up at the Christmas/Holiday Open House but they were very excited about the $15 dollar price tag. Gingerspice was the def. fav of the two fragrances.

The loose powder eyeshadows were moving. Everyone that tried them absolutely loved the way they went on so smooth and the soft beautiful finish they provided.
The two new regular line lip glosses: Fancy Nancy and Bronze Bliss were well received but Fancy Nancy was the top pick. I would also like to add for anyone that has the Caribean Coral left over from the Coastal Cool Looks, the Fancy Nancy is almost the exact same color (only about one shade different.)

To my surprise, the blush sets sold, I have none left. (Need to get an order in asap because I need more stuff)- I thought that clients would think that the price was too high even though they do receive the blush (3 + shades), the blush brush, and the cosmetic bag) but it was not a deterent for anyone. We discussed it and figured that it was the size of two of our blushes and that would have been $20 dollars and the brush is certainly worth $10 plus they get the cute pink lace cosmetic bag, so all in all it is a fair price.

There was interst in the men's limited edition but it is on the to do list for the December open house.

Serum +C rocked. It was the first item many requested as soon as they walked in because most had already received their Look Books in the mail and couldn't wait to get their hands on it.

Many were excited to be able to get the shower gels and sugar scrubs to match the "spa" line and I had requests for gift baskets for Christmas.

So all in all, I would say we have a very strong Holiday line! Sell, sell, sell. Grand total of my two day open house .... over $3,000! Not bad for having a great time with wonderful folks. It is a rough job but hey, someone's gotta do it! ;)

Price Check

Tube of MK medium coverage foundation: $14. Covers well, wears great, excellent skin tone matching.

Bottle of same amount of L'Oreal or Revlon foundation: $12. Skimpy coverage and is see-thru and shiny by lunch time. Tends to be yellowy or pinky, never really blending perfectly with your color.

That's a two dollar difference. Two dollars! Time for people to stop chanting over and over "MK is so expensive." Sometimes, not always, it costs a buck or two more than drugstore items. Sometimes it costs the same or a bit less. Have y'all looked at drugstore makeup prices these days? They have gone way up, but the quality has not.

Tube of MK lipstick: $13.00.
Tube of Revlon or L'Oreal lipstick: $12.00

One dollar difference. Guess which one lasts longer and is more moisturizing? Hmm? Guess!

MK eyeshadow single: $6.50.
L'Oreal or Revlon eyeshadow single: Usually $7.

Hmmm. Guess which one has better pigmentation, better texture, blends better, lasts longer, and doesn't flake off and irritate your eyes?

Are we starting to see a picture emerging here?

I just got rid of 90% of my drugstore makeup. There are a select few items that stand out, like a liquid eyeliner that is truly waterproof, but those are rarities. I can no longer be bothered with washed out, chalky colors or lipsticks that give me dry lizard lips. I will no longer tolerate foundations that turn shiny and orange. It *doesn't* cost me more to do better. In fact it costs me less because I am no longer throwing stuff away when I discover that it sucks. If a MK product is defective, I can return or exchange it via MK4me no problem.

So instead of believing whatever you hear, everybody please go out and verify. Look at your local and/or online makeup prices. Open up the MK website and compare. (plus, I dare you to find an eye makeup remover that holds a candle to MK's. really.)

Eco Friendly

Published 09.22.09 from Mary Kay Intouch

(I love that the Company is doing there part in "Going Green".)

TimeWise® Miracle Set Bag Update

Independent National Sales Directors and Independent Sales Directors: Earlier this summer, the TimeWise® Miracle Set was updated to include beautiful new pink and black packaging as well as an updated Miracle Set bag. The original 2008 Miracle Set bag material was made from PVC plastic, which is not as environmentally friendly as other plastic materials. After extensive research, we moved to Polypropylene material for the new bag because it is more environmentally responsible.

Based on sales force feedback, a newly redesigned Miracle Set bag will begin to phase in later this fall. You, your area/unit members and your customers will notice several enhancements.

First, the newly designed bag will look more like a gift bag, making it the perfect way to present the best-selling TimeWise® Miracle Set. It will now feature two white ribbons for handles (rather than the threaded, fold-over close of the current version), and it will be smaller in size, similar to the original 2008 Miracle Set bag. These changes will give the bag a more elegant look, be more appealing to your customers and help prevent the bag from being damaged in transportation. The newly redesigned Miracle Set bag will still be made from Polypropylene material, as it supports our efforts to be even more sustainable and green.

New product test

Loose eyeshadow: Pink Organza and Lilac Lace
Lipstick: Passion pink

These shadows are really nice. I wore them to the club last night. First I did Pink Organza over my whole eye area, then I blended some Crystalline over the brow area, then Coal in the crease and outer quarter, blended well, put some Lilac Lace over the lid only, added a little more Coal, blended again. Lined with Coal. Filled in eyebrows with Espresso. Added waterproof mascara. At the end of the night, even after dripping sweat all over the dance floor, I still looked good and did not have smudges.

Passion Pink is a cool color...hot pink of course. It seems designed for cool skin tones. If you have warm tones to your skin, you might want to blend this with something like a warmish lip gloss. That's what I ended up doing, and then it looked good on me.

Later I will try the gingerbread lipstick and the cashmere shadow.

Product Review

MK Liquid Medium Coverage Foundation.

First of all, I actually get full coverage with this, whatever it may say. I hid a zit breakout and a mosquito bite on my jaw with one moderate layer. Ivory 100 will be my winter color.

This foundation is very natural looking despite the good coverage. Matte finish, not oily in the slightest. Skin looks soft, even toned, and porcelain perfect. Color match is awesome. NOT orange. Blends in fabulously. Looks and feels very high-end. You can use powder, and probably will, but it is not necessary to set the foundation. Doesn't disappear/change color/get patchy or shiny as the hours go by. I tested it at the club last night under the harshest conditions: Sweat, smoke, people hugging me, etc.

Highly recommended.

MKACF News!

I just found out the Women's Center in my small town (which was in danger of having to close) received 1 of the 150 grants the Foundation just distributed. The grant was for $20,000. Wow, this is so totally cool. Knowing a few of the employees and volunteers and knowing it serves such an important need in the community, what a blessing that they received the money and now have some much needed relief to continue to help those in need. I feel so proud to be part of such a wonderful Company!

Results for the New Serum +C

WOW! They say, "A pictue is worth a thousand words".


This is an actual picture of director who used the new Serum + C on one side of her face and not theother for 9 days! Wow, doesn't take much to figure out what side she used the product on. Great for marketing the product. I love this product and it smells good too.

Happy Anniversary Mary Kay!