For The Summer-Lover in your Circle

 

Yesterday’s Post was dedicated to the Sweet-Tooth in your group.  Today’s post is dedicated to the person/persons you know who are sun-worshipping, fresh fruit-eating, farmer’s market-shopping, warm weather lovers! 

We have a huge selection of gourmet candles in fragrances that are sure to keep the fresh smells of summer going all year round.  This includes our brand-new line of Orchard Candles.  These gorgeous candles were unveiled this spring and have been a phenomenal success! 

In addition to the Fresh Peach, pictured here, the Orchard Line also features Crisp Apple, Honeydew Melon, and Juicy Pear.

Regardless which you choose, you will be amazed at the fragrance!  Each smells exactly like the real thing!

 

Some other top sellers of Summer-Time are listed below.  To view the actual product, as well as the description, hold your “CTRL” Key and Right Click.  A new window will open.

• Summer
• Sweet Orange & Chili Pepper
• Sex On The Beach
• Angel Wings
• Chili Vanilli
• French Vanilla
• Honey Bee Vanilla
• Sweet Pea
• Fresh Laundry
• Lilac
• Fresh Linen
• Cucumber Melon
• Japanese Pear
• Harvest Time

Regardless which fragrance you choose, for yourself or someone else, you will be delighted at the beautiful scent that lasts from the first light to the last flicker.  You can also rest assured that you are burning (or giving) a candle made from natural ingredients, that will leave the air in your home clean, safe, and clear.

Happy Burning!

Until Next Time, Dream Large…

Calorie-Free Indulgences....For You or Someone Else

 

When choosing a candle for someone else, it is not always easy to know what fragrance they will enjoy.  Of course, it is easy to ask what type of scents they like, but you can use what you know about them to make an educated guess. 

For example, if  they are the office “baker” who is always bringing in baked goods from home, it is probably safe to assume they will like a candle that provides that fresh-baked smell long after the cookies are gone.  This is also true of the person/persons who is the first one to dig into those treats!  A few scrumptious calorie-free choices might be:

 ALMOND BISCOTTIBring home this Italian specialty and enjoy the scent of sweet almonds and vanilla as you imagine dunking them in your favorite after-dinner coffee!

BLUEBERRY MUFFIN

Freshly baked blueberry muffins hot out of the oven sure to get your taste buds going!

 

PASTRY SHOPPE

An incredible aroma that will have you thinking your home has been transformed into a pastry shoppe!

Of course, with over 90 unique, true-to-life scents, this is just a sample of the selection of sweet smells in our gourmet candle lines.  For the full listing of all our products, please visit my online store at http://Everyday-Candles.com.

Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to some more of my favs!

Until Next Time, Dream Large

A New Blogging Challenge Starts Today!

After I finished (barely) the June Blogging Challenge, I really slacked off keeping up with my blog.  Who knows why, since I absolutely love blogging, but I did.  So when I learned from a friend, Cindy Clemens, of My Business Marketing Mentor, last night about a new challenge, I knew I better sign myself up!  Of course, in my mind, I was trying to tell myself that I wasn't ready for another challenge, and that I had made a personal commitment to be more consistent with my blogging, but the truth is, I have been saying that for weeks now and it hasn't happened yet, so this is a great way to keep myself accountable.

It is also an excellent way to find new blogs to follow, people to network with, and friends to make, as well as learn some useful tips and tricks about blogging, business, and life.  In addition to that, it also keeps me up-to-date with my Twitter posts--another item that has been on hiatus this month.  Which is really not smart, especially when I created a new Twitter account right before I slacked off. 

If you have ever considered joining a Blogging Challenge, I highly recommend giving this a try.  What do you have to lose?  Each post only needs to be 100 words, and you simply write 31 posts during the month of August, tweet them to the Blog Challenge list, and Voila! You've completed a blog challenge!!

If you decide to join, let me know so that we can support one another as it is harder than you would  think to post something new every day, and by the end of the month, it's a race just to get it done!!  I hope some of you will accept the challenge and join me!

Of course, I'll be doing some serious brain-storming to come up with new and interesting things to talk about....if anyone has a topic they'd like me to write on, please let me know!!  I'm up for any and all ideas!

Until Next Time, Dream Large.....

A Day in Jerome, AZ

Hello All & Happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!!  Russell and I decided to go to Jerome, AZ Saturday to get out of the heat and do some shopping.  If you are ever in Arizona, Jerome is a must-see destination!!  Many say it is haunted and that is a huge draw for a lot of people.  Russell and I, however, absolutely love walking the town, visiting the shops, and having a nice lunch.  

Jerome is home to many artists, and if you are ever looking for an original piece of artwork or one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothing, etc., and love meeting the artist, this is the place to go! 

We also made reservations to stay at The Surgeon's House the first Saturday of October for Art Walk.  It's an amazing event that occurs the first Saturday of every month, and is incredible!!  We have to wait until October because Andrea, the owner of The Surgeon's House was booked until then.  And we insist on staying with her when we are there because her home and her property are only outdone by Andrea herself. 

Here are some pics from our day in Jerome.  Trust me when I say they do not do the town justice, but it's what I've got....Enjoy!!!

That's it for now!  In October, I will add some more pics, and perhaps better descriptions....but hope you enjoyed what I had!  

What's your "little-known" hot-spot??  

Selling Yourself

Why did I become involved with Scent-Sations?  The first reason is because I love home fragrance, followed quickly by my (completely innocent) fascination with fire.  So, when I ran across the creator of the "highest performing candles on the market" who also happened to offer one of the best compensation plans I had ever seen, I knew it was worth checking out. 

I have never been in the sales industry and certainly never in any type of direct sales, so I wasn't sure I could cut it.  After really thinking about it, however, I came to realize that I have been "selling" all my life--just not in the traditional sense of the word.  Truth be told, there isn't much that is traditional about me anyway, so when I started thinking outside the box, I decided that I am, in fact, a great salesperson!

Every job I have ever had, I got because of my ability to "sell" myself to the company.  Sure there were people more qualified than I was, but I sold my unique skills--the ones that made me stand out from the pack.  More often than not, that is the main reason I was hired.  Sure, I have the college education and the experience to be able to get an interview, but it was how I handled myself at the interview that landed me the position.  (The fact that I was a single mom with 2 kids who counted on me to "bring home the bacon" was an added incentive!)

As a mother, I have to "sell" ideas to the kids all the time.  I have to take an activity that they would not normally go for, and twist it around enough to make it sound enticing to them. 

I could go on and on....but you get the idea.  The fact is, we are all salespeople, when we choose to be.  We use our passion and our powers of persuasion to get others to follow our lead.

For me, the passion is the most important factor in any type of "sales" whether it be personal or professional.  If you do not truly believe in what you are selling, no one else will either. 

No matter who you are, where you come from, or where you want to go, find your passion.  Believe in yourself and your abilities.  Look in the mirror and figure out what it is that makes you unique.  What can you offer that others don't have? 

Today, I am working hard to build not only my business, but helping others do the same.  Every one of us has the ability to go out and create our dream life.  It can be difficult to get past the obstacles we have placed in our way, but every challenge presents a chance to grow and to learn.  All we can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other....and if we are persistent in our pursuit, we will get there.

What is holding you back from achieving your dreams?

Who Inspires You and Keeps You Motivated?

No matter who you are, what you do, or where you are in your life, there is someone out there who inspires you to keep moving forward....Who is that someone?  Any why?

Today, more than ever, we are inundated by Motivational Speakers, Books, CDs, DVDs, Seminars, etc...and it can be overwhelming!  I would like to know who it is that is keeping you moving forward in your life, and helping you to be the best you can be!

Let's get the discussion going--Leave a comment in here with the top person/persons on your list that you are currently listening to or getting advice from.  Be as specific as possible in case someone else wants to pick up a book or CD by your favorite Motivator!

I understand that God (however you may refer to God) and our families are generally always our biggest motivators to improve our lives, so let's just make that a given.  Let's focus on those outside influences we rely on!!

My list is pretty big, so I am going to list only the resources I am currently utilizing:

********************************************

Zig Ziglar's "Setting Goals" which is an amazing set of CD's that are easy to listen to and easy to follow.  Zig is always an inspiration!! 

Larry Wingett's "Shut Up, Stop Whining, & Get a Life! A kick-butt approach to a Better Life."  I absolutely love the way he just says it like it is.  He talks about taking responsibility for your life and then taking action to create the life you want.  I highly recommend this book!!  I plan on working my way through all his stuff!

Nightingale-Conant 50th Anniversary Collection, which is a 12-CD set of blips from the best of the best in the Nightingale Group.  Love it!  Perfect for leaving in the car, as most segments are only a few minutes long.

Charles Umphread, the co-owner of Scent-Sations, the company I work with.  He has been an amazing resource for me since I first joined the company.  He is always ready to help, and he says it like it is.  He truly wants everyone in the company to achieve success, and it shows in his attitude, work ethic, and business relationships.

******************************************************************

Okay, these are a few of my inspirations!  

Your Turn!!

Why "Trying" is not enough....

I am reading a book by Larry Winget called, "Shutup, Stop Whining, & Get A Life."  And, I have to tell you, it is one awesome book!!  He tells how it is, without all the fluff, and really makes the reader stop, think, and evaluate.  At least, he's causing me to stand up and take notice of my life--where I am now compared to where I want to be.

For years, I wanted to be in business for myself.  I spent literally years thinking about it and even "tried" my hand at my own clothing business.  I failed.  Why?  Because I "tried."  I didn't just "do" it!  I was not immediately successful and I had all kinds of excuses for why I was not (the economy was bad, I didn't have the right contacts, it took too much time away from my family, etc.....)  However, what are those but excuses??  The bottom line is that I "tried," and truth be told, I didn't really try that hard.  I was so scared of failing that I just didn't go for it!  I had failure in my head, which showed in my actions, and I got exactly what I manifested.....a failed business.

After that experience, I put business on the back-burner.  I kept my feelers out there for an opportunity, but nothing really moved me.  Until, that is, I found the company I am with now.  I am passionate about fragrance--I love perfumes, candles, oils, anything that smells good--even a good grilled steak!  If it smells good, I am attracted to it!  That passion led me to my own gourmet candle business.

When I found this business, I did my research on the company, the products, the compensation plan, etc.  I learned all I could find on the internet because I did not want to fail again.  What I found was that I could find nothing negative about any aspect of this company.  Nothing Negative on the internet.  Knowing that people are quick to complain about anything that rubs them wrong, I assumed I would find at least something out there to raise a red flag about this opportunity.  But nada....Pretty amazing in my eyes!

What does that tell me?  That tells me that I can be successful.  That tells me that I can have everything that the company promises I can have.  That tells me that other people (thousands of other people) are making money and enjoying their experience with this company and their products.

That tells me that it is up to me to make it happen!  So, I signed up.  I attend webinars.  I read the training materials.  I talk to the leaders of the company.  I pick up the phone and call the owners.  I do what is recommended.  Hey, I even started a blog.  I ask friends to host parties for me.  I go to networking meetings to meet people and introduce my product and my business.  I get out of my comfort zone to do the things that I see successful people do.

I am involved.  That is the bottom line.  I cannot "try" to work this business.  I already know what happens when I "try"--I set myself up to fail.  I have to do.  I have to think about what I want in my life and then go out and make it happen.  I need a plan, and then I need to follow that plan.

Have I reached my goals?  Not by a long shot.  But I continue to do  the next right thing.  I continue to emulate the successful people I admire.  I continue to get out of my own way.  I no longer "try" to do something, I just do it!

And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I will achieve my dreams.  I believe in myself, and I am willing to do what it takes to be where I want to be.

Are you headed in the direction you want to be going?  What is stopping you from achieving your goals?  Or what have you done to get where you want to be?

Leave me a comment and let me know!!  We can all work together to Achieve Our Dreams!!

To read more about my business, please see my page, "CandleLight Dreams..."  

Until next Time...

Implementing 10 ways to stay Organized...can I do it???

Okay, so if you read my post yesterday, then you know I am a self-proclaimed clutter-brain!!  If you didn't read it, it's still below this post, so feel free!  To find tips on how to organize my day, I did a Google search for "Tips to organize my day."  There were a few  Thousands of sites to choose from...one even boasting 1,000 tips to get organized!!  This seemed just a tad daunting, so I chose something that is a little more my speed... 10 ways to Organize Your Time !!

Surely even I, the most unorganized and unstructured person on the planet, can implement 10 simple ways to keep myself on track!  Right?  Well, let's find out!  On to that list!!!  

1.  Have Time Management Tools.  (i.e. Computer, Calendar, Notebook, etc....)

Okay, So I have these things. I have always had these things.  That's awesome.  It tells me to "have" them, but not how to effectively "use" them.  I mean, I get it.  Keeping a calendar is a fantastic idea--but it seems to work better for other people.  I buy calendars and planners....I just forget to use them. 

2.  Know Your Priorities. 

Yes, this is important.  In fact, this is one that I am generally pretty good at.  Of course, because life has a way of shifting priorities at a moment's notice, it is also important to be flexible.  But, overall, I think I am okay on this one.

3.  Have a Routine.  

What?!   This one is really really really tough for me!  I'm a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" impulsive kind of girl!!!  Just like the Time Management Tools, I get that this is important, but implementing structure seems ....oh, what's the word...."structured?"  Hmmm.....On to Number 4.

4. Stay Organized.

Hmmmm....this is truly perplexing....isn't that why I am on this site to begin with?  How do I stay organized when I was not organized in the first place????  Clearly, the author of this article thought that "9 Ways To Stay Organized" didn't sound nearly as good, so they threw this one in to make 10.   I'm on to their game!!

5.  Always Have A Plan.

Alright.  I think I was pretty cool with the "Get Organized/Stay Organized" thing, but isn't "having a plan" suspiciously close to "Having a Routine?!"

6.  Don't Waste Time.

Okay, I am really feeling like there is way too much redundancy in this list.  Like perhaps this page is a "waste of time."  But we're already halfway done....let's just get through it.

7.  Have Extra Time That You Need Personally.

Okay, so now we're talking!  If there is one  thing I am good at, it's taking personal time.  Perfect.  I am feeling more organized already!!  

 8. Track Your Time.

This one is all about using tools (software programs, notes....mainly the same stuff we are supposed to use for Tip #1.)  I think we all know how I feel about this.  It's great in theory, but I really think I require baby-steps on using all these programs that are supposed to save time!  And what does that take???  That's right--Time!

9.  Use The Right Resources.

Okay, so this one is in complete contradiction to both Numbers 1 and 8!!  This tip talks about how computer programs and tools can take so much time to find and implement.  DUH!!  Isn't that what I've been saying???

10.  Ask for Help You Need It. 

Isn't that why I came to this site??  

IN CONCLUSION:  I AM SCREWED!!!

No, That's not necessarily true.  I can, in fact, implement these things.  Some of them (think "personal time") I already do!  However, if I take this list apart and really examine it, I come up with less than 10 actual individual tips, and honestly, nothing I do not already know in theory--I need to learn how to put it into practice.  I feel less than fulfilled.

Remember the "baby-steps" I talked about?  Yes, I need to go back to the basics.  

So, here's my plan.  Rather than hit up the "1000 tips" in hopes of finding 10 original, easy-to-implement plans of action, I am going to do the most basic organization of all.  The one thing that has stood the test of time.  Those words that husbands have historically dreaded since the days of carving notes in stone: 

"A Honey-Do List!"  But rather than a honey-do list for my husband, it will be for myself.  The simple theory of writing it down and crossing it off as I get it done.  In fact, for one week, that will be my goal.  If I can get that done, then maybe, just maybe, I can add one more simple organizational task....and eventually, I will find a system that works for me!!

Tune in Tomorrow when I take you on a visual stroll through historical old-town Glendale, with all its fabulous charm and Mom & Pop shops!!  

   

New Blog is Ready to Kick Off "Featured Business Friday!!!"

When Lindsay (who runs Happy Housewife Designs) was putting together my blog--no easy feat, I am sure--she asked me to come up with the titles for my pages.

Because I am a woman of many words, I wanted to be able to create a blog where people could come and easily find the information they were looking for--whether it be to laugh at my crazy family life, commiserate with being a mother of a teenager, check out pics of my zoo, learn a biz tip or two, read about the Featured Businesses I support, learn about my favorite designer discount sites & links I love, or perhaps find out more about my home business.

I am one of those impatient ADD kinda people who, if I cannot quickly find what I am looking for, will either give up, or, more likely, get distracted by another feature of the blog, and forget why I was there in the first place!!  I figured there might be more people out  there like me, so I am trying to keep it as simple as possible.

Like my Tagline suggests, this blog, which started out for my home business, has quickly evolved into a place for me to write about "Life and The In-between!"  If there is ever a subject you would like me to research and blog about, let me know!!  I am always open for ideas!!

Also, I would like to remind you all about Featured Business Friday!!!  It will kick off this coming Friday with the Lovely Lindsay, who designed this blog...and then will feature one, possibly two, small businesses per week (largely depending on the response from my readers!!)

If you would like to have your business featured on my blog, here's the scoop!!

Leave me a comment with your name, your blog name and url, a sentence or two about what your business offers, and another sentence or two about why you believe supporting small business is so important, and what you do in your life to promote that, either in your community or online.

***Deal Breaker:  Because I am doing the Featured Business promotion in order to remind others how important it is to support the small business owner, if you do not tell me why you believe supporting the little guy is important to you, and what you do personally to support the little guy, I cannot feature your business.  I cannot stress how important this is to me, so please don't forget to add that info in your comment!!***

Tips, Tricks, & Links for Building Your Business Online

Look at the perks of shopping small business!

Before I get into my blog of the day, I want to first thank everyone who has stopped by to show support for my new Featured Business plan.  The response has been great and I really appreciate it!  For those of you who have expressed an interest in featuring your business, I will get it formalized and started as soon as my new blog design is finished--hopefully next week!  I will be in touch as soon as I get it going!

For anyone who did not catch my Featured Business post, please read my blog from June 8 for details on how you can be a Featured Business right here!  

In the Spirit of Promoting Small Business, I have a question:

What have you done this week to support a small business either in your area or online?

Today, I am simply going to list some websites that I find useful for tips on building your business, enhance your social media, and help get you noticed.

Some of these sites I have used already, some I am planning on using, and some I simply think look like they are worth checking out!  If you find one on here that leaves you scratching your head and wondering why I would promote it, just move down the line...I "guarantee" you will discover a new resource or learn some tips & tricks that are helping others take their business to the next level, and might be able to help the rest of us as well!!  

As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information.
- Benjamin Disraeli 

So, let's get out there and grab some new, and possibly transforming, information!!  Here are just a few sites that I have found useful....if you have one that you think needs to be added to this list, please put it in a comment and I'll check it out and try to get it up here!!  

Free Social Media Help Great info on optimizing your use of Twitter, Facebook, & More...

Know 'Em describes their service as "KnowEm allows you to check for the use of your brand, product, personal name or username instantly on over 350 popular and emerging social media websites. Grab your name and secure your brand before someone else does."  

Google Insights for Search find out what searches people are doing on Google in your area of business.

Chef Patrick  Great resource for "regular" people trying to build a business through blogging.  Lots of good stuff to check out!!  I highly recommend subscribing!  No tech-talk here....just simple ways to increase your exposure and get the most out of your blogging experience!

Daily Blog Tips  Another invaluable resource for everyday people trying to make their mark!!

Okay, so I am guessing that this list will keep you busy for at least a little while!  I know they are going to keep me busy!!  

On that note, I am going to leave you for today, but I will be back with more great tips and resources on building your business soon!!  

Sign up for my email and follow my blog so you don't miss any updates!!  You never know what you might miss--it could be that one resource that really explodes your business!!

And remember, to be a Featured Business on my blog, read the post from June 8 to learn more!

Until next time, Happy Blogging!! 

"Reality is the mirror of your thoughts. Choose well what you put in front of the mirror."

--Remez Sasson

Dream Large & Expect Success!! 

To Work or Not To Work (from home)...is it for you?

While some of us thrive on the hustle and bustle of the 9 to 5-- including the water-cooler talk, lunch with co-workers (aka:  other adults), commutes, a reason to get up, get dressed and get out of the house....there are more and more people who are looking to work from home.  There is an infinite number of reasons for this shift:  high costs of daycare, downsizing of companies, longer commute times as our cities continue to grow, etc...But regardless of your personal reasons, the big questions remains:

TO WORK or NOT TO WORK (from home)

This is certainly not an easy decision, nor is it one anyone else can make for you. We are all wired differently and what excites and motivates one person may be another person's worst nightmare!  A great book, by one of my favorite motivational speakers, Tamara Lowe, explains Motivational DNA and helps you figure out your own personal Motivational make-up, as well as those of the people around you (kids, husband, co-workers, etc....)  You can find it online anywhere--it's a very informational, yet easy read!

Another thing to consider about working from home--What to do?!  There are so many options, but they boil down to just a couple main categories:

Work for Someone Else (Virtual Assistant, Data Entry, Telemarketer, Transcriptionist, etc....)

OR

Work for Yourself (Independent Distributor for a retail company, Freelance work, or starting your own business (online or brick-&-mortar, in your field--whatever that is...), etc.

How to do you decide which option is best for you?  Where can you get honest information about legitimate opportunities?  How will the current economic instability affect your career choice?  What will be the effects on your family life--good and bad?  What is the first step?  And the second?

There really is a lot to think about...so for those of you looking for online resources to investigate, I will post some of the sites, information, and experience I found most useful as I waded through the world wide web to find what is now my personal Dream Job.

***TUNE IN TOMORROW AS I DIVE FURTHER INTO THE "WORK FROM HOME" TOPIC***

30-Day Blog Challenge---We're Off & Running!!

So, fellow bloggers, bloggettes, and blog-followers, this begins Day 1 of the 30-Day Blog Challenge!!  The timing really could not be better, for me anyway.  I just started my blog last week, and so far, I love it!  This challenge will not only keep me motivated, but will also help me to meet new people and learn new things!
If you are a blogger, or have ever thought of blogging, whether for personal reasons or as part of your marketing plan, check out this awesome opportunity!!


There has been lots of talk on what to blog about, and lucky for me (and hopefully my readers), I never seem to be at a loss for words.  I am one of those people who can strike a conversation with strangers in the grocery store, standing in line at Home Depot, or walking down the street.  The challenge for me, I think, will be to really define my focus, keep in line with my ultimate goals, and stay on track with my message.

I originally started this blog as a way to talk to other people out there who are looking for a way to make money from home.  Whether hoping to make enough money to pay bills, plan a dream vacation, or to earn a full-time salary, now really is a great time to start a home-based business!!  And the great thing is that anyone can do it!  No matter where you are, where you come from, or where you are going, we all have the opportunity to realize our dreams!!  The difficulties often lie in overcoming our doubts and fears.  My hope is to show people through my stories that these obstacles CAN be overcome...and that success IS attainable!  For Everyone!

How do I hope to accomplish this?  By sharing with others who I am, what I stand for, my fears, my hopes, my dreams, and both my failures and my successes.  And showing others how we can climb through the clouds to reach the sky!

So, while I will be talking about my business with Scent-Sations and why I think this is the greatest company, creating the best products, and offering the best compensation plan, for the best home business ever, and how being my own boss benefits not only me, but those around me as well...I will also talk about my life, offer some savvy shopping advice, why networking is important, aromatherapy info, and other topics that catch my eye, touch my heart, or make me laugh!!

See you Tomorrow for Day 2 / 30!!

"IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, 

YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT!"

-Walt Disney

DREAM LARGE!!

In My Next Life....

It's been a week since school let out, it's 100 degrees outside, I've had the flu (or something resembling the flu) for a better part of the week, I've been working to build my business, done a lot of networking events and such, and then.....


I woke up this morning to what looks like a war zone!  My house has literally "gone to the dogs!"  Ronda and I spent the evening here working, so I didn't clean the kitchen after dinner, the clean clothes are piled feet-high on the living room couch, there are blankets everywhere (despite the hot temperatures!!), the stairs have so much stuff piled on them that it's a miracle no one has plummeted to their death trying to navigate around all the clutter, and....well....I could go on, but I think you get the point!!  If the doorbell were to ring, I would not even let my closest friends inside!!

And amongst all this mess, I have animals--lots and lots of animals--laying around, seemingly oblivious to the chaos that surrounds them!! 

Tweak, our Hunter...she's always bringing me presents

like dead birds or lizard tails.  She's so thoughtful!!

 Montana--our resident crazy lady!  She has to take prozac cuz she always tries to kill Max, the cattle dog....when you see the pics of Max, it will probably make sense!

This is Baby, I used to really like this one.....until.......

 .......this.......now?  Well, let's just say I will like her more after I get her spayed!!

 Peaches....our old cat and reformed hunting champion!  Now he is only interested in 2 things--eating and sleeping, in no particular order!!

 Did you really think I was limited to dogs and cats???  These are two of our tortoises...Tank is the big guy.  He'll get to about 75 pounds.  And the little one is a baby sulcata.  He'll get even bigger than Tank!  

To their credit, they do not bark, meow, growl, bite, or bug!!

 Woah...almost forgot Hogan....God forbid, he's such a sensitive guy!!

 This is Max...don't let him fool you with this sleeping in the basket trick!!

 He's usually somewhere in the middle of the chaos!  Right now he and Jaxon are trying to figure out why there are still toys in the basket!

 Heck, we even have Monkeys that hang out in the trees!!

 But Wait!  Here is the Star of the Show...Jaxon!! 

 Jax and his toys!  He sleeps in his basket so no one will take his stuff!

 And another one of Jax just cuz he's the baby!!

I would like to state that this is far from ALL of our animals, but I just didn't want anyone to think I was exaggerating about having a zoo!!

Now back to my story about my disaster of a house!!!

Maybe the normal person would look at the mess surrounding them and their first thought would be to get up and start shoveling through it all....but my first thought???

IN MY NEXT LIFE, I WANNA COME BACK AS ONE OF MY PETS!!!

Do any of them look stressed?  Embarrassed about the state of their surroundings?  Worried about whether HAZMAT is going to come in and condemn their home?  No.....none of them seem to care.....or even notice!  They just go on about their day, sleeping, playing, eating....all of their needs & most of their wants are given to them.....and they don't even have to clean up after themselves, much less everyone else!!

So, I ask you.....


Do you think I'm crazy for wanting, in my next life, to be one of my pets?  Looks like a good life to me!

But for now, I guess I better clean...cuz they sure as hell aren't going to!