Blog | Confessions of a Military Spouse

Slingbackers- Review

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

We have all been there! Admit it, you are wearing fantastic sling back shoes and you are wearing fantastic pants…. You sit down and then go to get up…. BAM pant is now under your foot with your shoe. It is almost taking your pants down ha ha! I have been there many times, in fact more than I would like to admit! I know it can be crazy sometimes when we are trying to stand up for instance at church!

I was recently given the opportunity to try Slingbackers! These were a life saver recently when I was driving to Florida from South Carolina. You know how when you are driving and you go to get out of the car from sitting for a few hours, it is nice to get out and your clothes be nice instead of about to be falling down or feeling like you are going to tear your pants. These were a life saver for me on my trip. It just made me feel more confident being able to stand up and not feel like I needed to watch my pants and shoes.

SlingBackers are for every mom, grandma, sister, aunt, etc you know! In fact… How awesome would these be for a Teacher gift? These teachers love to look super cute and it would help them to not have to worry about their pants and shoes! You can find SlingBackers here: http://slingbackers.com/ At $15.99 they are steal and a girls new best friend! They come in Black and in Clear in order to match each outfit! They are un-noticeable when you are wearing your shoes and pants.

Youtube Video to see how Slingbackers work: http://youtu.be/g2ZQLysU2Vo

Spring Break Is Here! Beat the Boredom!

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Spring break time is here! It is a time for rest and a time for relaxation! The only problem is about 2 hours into the first day you hear the dreaded words ” Mom we are bored!!!” That is like nails on the black board to moms! I have a list of a few things that you can do in order to beat the Spring Break boredom!

1.Make a fort in the living room
2.Make a scavenger hunt around the house
3. Make a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood
4.Cook a special meal for dinner, allow the kids to help!
5.Look through clothes and help kids learn how to donate to less fortunate
6.Go swimming if it is warm!
7. Take a hike in a forest
8. Play I-Spy outside looking for birds/trees/Leaves/ etc.
9. Make a movie day and rent a few movies at Redbox
10. Go outside and take a bike ride around your neighborhood or street
11. Go for a walk and breathe some fresh air!
12. Go to a beach/lake/ pond and look at the beauty around you.
13. Plant a garden to help with fresh produce during the summer!
14. Volunteer with your kids and help those less fortunate.
15.Go to a museum in your city. Most museums are free during spring break or summer
16. Go to the ZOO and support your local ZOO and the amazing animals that are waiting for you to view them!
17. Go on a History Walk downtown in the city you live in. Amazing things may have happened there!
18.Go and window shop in the local shops around your city.
19. Take the kids and give them $5 and get your best outfit at the local thrift shop!
20.Go to the local Library, they have a lot of fun things that you can do and it is FREE!
21. Go camping! It is really fun… sometimes!
22. Get poster board, set up a table and have a lemonade stand!
23. Wash the cars/trucks/suv and splash each other and have fun!
24.Make cookies and decorate them. Deliver them to a neighbor for good will.
25.Have a read a thon. At the end of the week give an award for most books read, hardest book read, etc.

These are just a few things that you can do with your kids this Spring Break! Spring Break should be a fun time and will help you make memories for a life time!

Until Next Time:

Natures Bakery Review- YUMMY ON THE GO!

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

I had the pleasure to try Natures Bakery Fig Bars and I have to tell you they were amazing! I was so excited to open the box I got at my door. These bars were nestled in super cute confetti strings. I was very intruiged with these bars since they are so good for you and I wanted to know if they tasted good too.

I was so excited to see all of these in the box. I was excited to see Apple Cinnamon Fig Bars. I love anything Apple Cinnamon and I wanted to know what these tasted like. They were so yummy! I love Fig Newtons and Natures Bakery Fig Bars blew those store bought things clear out of the water!!! I had to eat both of the cookies that came in the bar. They tasted so fresh and just plain yummy. I know there are better words to use but seriously, This is the word I know to use!

I asked my three children to taste these bars. They have all fallen in love with them as well! The taste is not super sweet at all but they seriously taste great. My husband saw them on the counter and asked what they were. I explained what the company stands for, and how these are made. My husband the ever non trusting Marine said he needed to taste them. Can I tell you that my very picky eater husband LOVED THEM! He wants me to order more for our family to have! That says a million things to me. I love alot of products but my husband…. not so much! My best friends son was visiting yesterday and he wanted to have a taste. I was wondering if he would eat it and he LOVED them too!

Being the mom of three very active children living in world where we often have to leave at the drop of the hat, we look for snacks that help keep us going. I was asked recently what I keep in my Mommy Survival Kit… Well it would be my favorite gum Extra Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Gum… I am actually thinking of keeping these bars with that kit in my purse. In fact I looked in my purse today and there was my gum and Natures Bakery Fig Bars. Hey.. Sometimes moms need to have a little snack every now and again. It helps with re-charging our super hero batteries!

What can I say? This is a great snack for on the go! If you are looking for quality Fig Bars, you don’t have to look any farther, they are right here!

I encourage you to order from their website: http://naturesbakery.com/

Please like their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/naturesbakery?ref=ts&fref=ts

Keep up to date with this great company on Twitter:https://twitter.com/NaturesBakery

I am glad I got to try them and look forward to ordering more in the future!

Until next time:

*** I was compensated with a free bar order for my review. This review is 100% mine and is true to how I feel. ***

Working Out is Defiantly Working Out!

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

© Idrutu | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

There is no better feeling than working out and seeing results! I have been working out for 30 days so far and watching my diet. I can clearly say that it is working out for me! I have lost 14 lbs since December 26th. I realized that I was not in a happy place and I wanted to try keeping tabs on my diet. I started using Myfitnesspal and making sure I put everything I put in my mouth down on the app. I made sure that I wanted to stay within a certain calorie bracket.

During the first 6 weeks I was able to loose 13 lbs. I decided that I wanted to add P90X to the mix. I was able to add a new business to my Coaching mix. I started my own Beachbody Coach business. I loved being able to help people to loose weight and reach goals they have wanted to for a while.

I decided to try Shakeology. I was scared at first but I can tell you I am now in love with it! Today I am starting my Shakeology 3 Day Cleanse. In order to start the 3 Day Cleanse, it is recommended to check your inches and weight. I had been keeping tabs on my inches due to the P90X. I was so excited to see that I have lost 5.9 Inches since starting P90X!!!!! I can not believe it!

I want to encourage you to start today if you are looking to get working out. I want to tell you that you can do it! I am so excited for you to get started on your journey! You can like my facebook page online at : http://www.facebook.com/soniasmithcoach and get your daily dose of motivation and work out tips. I am starting a Beachbody Challenge Group on April 1 if you are ready to get started, let me know. I want to help you get started on the right track and reach your goals!

I know you can do it…. Are you ready to do it?

Until Next Time:

Work at home Wednesday- Rodan & Fields Dermatology

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Today our Work at home Wednesday is on Thursday! Sorry for that, allergies are kicking my butt some days worse than others! So I am showcasing today our Direct Sales company called Rodan & Fields Dermatology. It seems very interesting and I believe that you will fall in love with these amazing products. The pictures are breath taking and they seem to turn back the hand of time. If you are looking for an unique opportunity in order to try something new, I would suggest that you try this company!

Name: Timi Lovejoy

Business Name: Rodan and Fields Dermatology

What kind of products do your currently sell/Offer?

Do you offer catalogs? If yes, how often do they update the catalog ( example Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter):
Rodan and Fields are the creators of ProActiv. They have created a new line of dermatology products that are amazing! The most popular being their anti aging line called REDEFINE. We do offer catalogs, the easiest being the online catalog on my website www.timifike.myrandf.com.

Do you Recruit? We do recruit! I am actually in the market for some new consultants to take advantage of this amazing opportunity!

What is the requirement to start a business with your current direct sales company? To become a consultant, a person just needs to get ahold of me! From there we can talk about where they would like to go with Rodan and Fields and I can give them information about the company!

What is the compensation for your company? A consultant keeps 31% of their sales plus many bonuses and incentive perks! The best way to understand the business clearly is to set up a phone conference and let me talk one on one and answer any questions

Why did you pick your company to represent for? I picked this company because the products work so well. Also there are very few consultants in the buisness and it is growing so fast! right now is the perfect time to join!

What drew you to the company? I have struggled with acne since I was about 13 and nothing has cleared up my face. I was about to start taking a harsh treatment called Accutane when my sponsor approached me with Rodan and Fields products. A week later my face was completely cleared up and now I have beautiful, glowing skin! If I could give the gift of self confidence to more people I am all about it. Your skin can be your best accessory, love the skin you’re in!

Do you have a Website? Yes! www.timifike.myrandf.com and for people interested in joining my consultant team www.timifike.myrandf.biz

Do you have any sales you can offer currently? There is a whole store on the website and everything can be ordered online.

Do you have a Facebook or Twitter ( or both) you would like my readers to like? Just my personal one, but everyone is welcome to it until I make one for my business! (Timi Fike)

Anything else you would like to say:

Just thank you for this great opportunity and that if anyone has any questions my email address is available on my website. I would love to speak with interested persons. This is such a great opportunity, I would love for everyone to participate!

Until Next Time:

Work At Home Wednesday- Thirty One Gifts With Brandi!

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

In today’s Work At Home Wednesday we are looking at Thirty One Gifts! I love love love Thirty One Gifts! I love the bags I have accquired with them in the last few years. They are very durable and come in fun prints! I hope you enjoy this interview today!

Name: Brandi Lowry

Business Name: Thirty One Gifts

What kind of products do your currently sell/Offer? We sell Fun and Functional items for every aspect of your life

Do you offer catalogs? If yes, how often do they update the catalog ( example Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter): Yes we offer 3 catalogs a year so we will have a Spring, Summer, and Fall catalog

Do you Recruit? Yes I do. I love helping other women start their own business.

What is the requirement to start a business with your current direct sales company? Our requirement is basically just the $99 enrollment fee. After that in order to stay active you need to have $200 in personal volume in a rolling 3 months.

What is the compensation for your company? Our compensation starts out at 25% but goes up as you start to promote in the business.

Why did you pick your company to represent for? What drew you to the company? This company is based off of Proverbs 31 and we are all about empowering women and girls. Our theme is Celebrate, Encourage, and Reward. Thirty One is amazing at all of the above. From Home Office to my own upline and even downline I have amazing support and encouragement.

Do you have a Website? www.mythirtyone.com/brandilowry is the website where all the ordering is done and I also have a Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/358880437520174/

Do you have any sales you can offer currently? Currently Thirty One has a different monthly special every month. For February it is spend $31 and get a Keep-It Caddy for just $5!!!

Do you have a Facebook or Twitter ( or both) you would like my readers to like? https://www.facebook.com/groups/358880437520174/ I am limited to only being able to have group pages so anyone interested in joining will have to ask to join first.

Anything else you would like to say: I would just like to say that if this is something someone is interested in doing please join now. There is no obligation if you start selling and decide this isn’t for you. And if you do decide this isn’t for you, you can keep all the product you bought. This is an amazing company to work for with an amazing support system and I would be honored to have more girls on my team.

Work At Home Wednesday- Lemongrass Spa

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

I have begun allowing Work At Home Wednesday to be Free Advertising for my Confessions of a Military Spouse! I am super excited to be helping small business owners with building their business and their dreams! It can be hard to get businesses growing and I am super excited to extend this opportunity to you.. My fantastic readers!

Our first consultant that I will be featuring today is Kellie Bowling! She is a Lemongrass Spa Consultant! I sent out a little interview and I hope you enjoy this!
************************************************************

Name: Kellie Bowling

Business Name: Lemongrass Spa

What kind of products do your currently sell/Offer? Lemongrass Spa offers 97-100% natural, handmade, chemical-free, skin, body, hair care and mineral make-up company with products for the entire family. We promote healthy skin, soft feet, & beautiful faces with our products that are handmade, fresh weekly! Our products range from shampoo and conditioner, to facial care, body care, foot care, baby care, and a men’s skin care line as well.

Do you offer catalogs? If yes, how often do they update the catalog ( example Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter):
We do have catalogs. They are updated annually, but new products are released in the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter each year.
Do you Recruit?

Absolutely! Recruiting is in full swing across the United States. We have fewer than 1000 representatives nationwide, and this company is growing every day. I have attached a consultant map that depicts the number of consultants located in each state. I am located in Florida, but since Lemongrass doesn’t limit territories, I have been able to recruit team members in Maryland, or anywhere else in the US that I would like. We even have some military members and wives that are representatives overseas in APO’s! They are some of the rock-stars in the business, and do quite well.

What is the requirement to start a business with your current direct sales company?

The current requirement to start a Lemongrass business is to purchase our business kit for $139 + tax and shipping. The business kit contains over $400 in products and sales tools to help you get your business growing! In order to remain an active consultant, you only have to purchase $25 worth of product each month. That is one of the lowest requirements in the direct sales industries, and is much less than my average order!

What is the compensation for your company? The company offers a direct 25% commission to the consultants. This means that at an average party with sales of $400, you will earn $100. Most spa parties are completed in 90 minutes. Where else can you work from home when you want and earn over $65 per hour? In addition, consultants can earn a sponsoring bonus of 4% of the sales of their downline (recruits), as well as team bonuses, director bonuses, and lots of free products from the company when personal volume levels are reached during the Jump Start program. The biggest reward of all is knowing that you’ve helped just one more person to eliminate harsh chemicals from their home.

Why did you pick your company to represent for? What drew you to the company? I have been using Lemongrass Spa products for over two years. I was looking for something that was free of harmful chemicals, and gentle on my newborn son’s skin. I didn’t like the options I was finding in stores, so I asked a friend who I knew had started selling Lemongrass if I could try their baby wash. She gave me a sample, and I ended up ordering the whole set. I used the baby line for about a year before I tried anything else. I slowly started trying other products over my second year, and loved everything I tried. I love that all their products are natural and are all paraben, sulfate, and phthalate free. Removing chemicals from my household is important to me. I finally decided to become a consultant because I wanted to share the products with everyone. I realized that many of my friends outside my immediate area had never heard of Lemongrass Spa and didn’t know much about reducing the chemical loads in their bodies. I am using this opportunity to educate my friends to becoming healthier from the outside in and the inside out.

Do you have a Website? I do have a website. You can shop online with me, request information about becoming a consultant, or even join my team at http://ourlemongrassspa.com/Kellie

Do you have any sales you can offer currently? We have a few sales that are running through the end of February, and some new ones coming in March. I will attach photos for both! In addition to those sales, I am happy to send along some free samples of our most popular products (like our body polishes and hand and body lotions) to those who place orders.

Do you have a Facebook or Twitter (or both) you would like my readers to like?

My facebook is: https://www.facebook.com/NaturallyBeautifulHeadtoToe

Do you have a picture you would like me to use in the post?

I will attach a couple of our photographs.

Do you have a picture of your product that you would like me to use in the post? It can be more than one. Yes, I will attach those to the return email. Thank you so much!!

Anything else you would like to say: Lemongrass Spa is truly a ground floor opportunity for anyone looking to enhance their family’s income. Just check out our consultant map! I have worked in direct sales before with other companies, and never have I received a response like this with our products. Everyone that I have sent samples to has loved our products. We also support our troops, both here in the US and overseas with our Freedom Feet campaigns. Many of our consultants give back to their communities by donating commissions to charities through online fundraisers. If your organization is looking for a fundraising idea, please contact me for information! I’m always looking for worthy causes to assist.

Work At Home Wednesday- Beachbody Coach

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Work At Home Wednesday- Beachbody Coach

Have you ever thought to yourself that I love helping other people achieve the goals they have set for themselves for reaching fitness. Beachbody offers an amazing opportunity for everyone to have a business, reach your optimal fitness goals and help others. Today’s post is about Beachbody and how the business can help you!

Name: Sonia Smith

Business Name: Beachbody Coach

What kind of products do your currently sell/Offer? We offer many different options for Working Out such as P90X, TurboJam, Insanity, Etc. We also offer products to help with nutrition such as Shakeology. We also have a new skin care line.

Do you offer catalogs? If yes, how often do they update the catalog ( example Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter): We do not have to have any products on hand so we do not have catalogs.

Do you Recruit? We offer coaching. There is no need for recruiting but we love to help coaches learn how to start their own business and get going. I am very excited because Military and Military Spouses are given the opportunity to start their business and work it for 2 years FREE!!! Yes you saw/read that right it is FREE! Email me for details in order to show you how to do it! It is very easy and so totally worth it!

What is the requirement to start a business with your current direct sales company? We have a $39.99 start up, You get 3 amazing websites ready to go, you also get your business pack to help you get started!

What is the compensation for your company? You get 25% off all products and are given the opportunity to try products first.

Why did you pick your company to represent for? What drew you to the company? I decided to start my own Beachbody Coach business because I LOVE HELPING PEOPLE. That is the biggest part of owning your own business. There is no pressure to sell, no pressure to make a weekly quota, nothing pressure inducing at all.

Do you have a Website? I sure do! I have three websites!

http://beachbodycoach.com/sonias4

http://myshakeology.com/sonias4

http://myultimatereset.com/sonias4

Do you have a Facebook or Twitter ( or both) you would like my readers to like? Yes it is http://www.facebook.com/soniasmithcoach

Work At Home Wednesday- Candy Bouquets

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Candy bouquets are a very popular! People love getting a bouquet that they can eat instead of one that is just going to die in a few days. Candy Boquets are a great business to start because you can customize what you want to sell, how you want to design them and where you will sell them at. You can even think about selling them around local and see if shops would carry them since it is a week till Valentines Day!

There are a few things you should think of when starting your candy bouquet business:

1. What name:
Obviously you should choose something that deals with “sweet” since it is a sweet business. You could even use the tagline such as ” It’s a sweet life why not celebrate?” That would be totally cute!

2. Where will you sell them?
Will you sell them at your local shops? Will you sell them online? ( if you do decide online, I know an awesome host that has amazing prices!) You can even stop on a busy road ( as long as no one owns the land) and sell your products. I would recommend checking to make sure it is ok though!

3. What will you sell?
You can get vases fairly cheap at places such as Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Wal-Mart, Target and even the Dollar Store! Will you sell Candy Vases or Candy Wreaths? Will it be a bouquet in a box? There are hundreds of differnt options to choose from!

4. What kind of candy will you sell?
Ok, this is going to sound crazy but you want to make sure you are selling quality chocolate or candy if you have a candy business. I know you will be paid for your time and products but you do not want make your customer suffer with bad quality chocolate! IF you do it for anyone do it for the chocolate! :0)- Ok, seriously, you want to make sure your candy will not melt, not be white when it should be brown, not be melted flat when it should be a ball, etc. Make sure you are selling quality. Quality makes people want to come back because they can trust you pick the highest quality and they want to impress the people who are buying the products in the first place.

5. What will you Charge?
Pricing can be tricky! You do not want to be the lowest price because people can decide it is not worth it but then if you do not want to be the most expensive because you are scared that people will not want to pay for it. I recommend doing research. Do surveys asking potential clients what they would pay for x product. Make a mock candy bouquet as a show piece to show off your work.

These are just a few things to think about when you are starting a new business. Candy bouquets are very popular right now and it is a great business to try and break into. Make sure in the summer you take care when you are delivering bouquets because you want to deliver not melted chocolate. It could be a bad turn out!

Have a fantastic day- Until net time:

New Giveaway- Coachlicious Valentine

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Sonia Posted in Uncategorized 2 Comments

Mom Powered Media, connecting companies to consumers the super mom way!

47597

Coach Madison Floral Pink Top Handle Handbag

Graphic floral print fabric with metallic leather trim
Inside multifunction pocket
Zip-top closure, fabric lining
Handles with 7″ drop
9 1/2″ (L) x 7 1/2″ (H) x 3 1/2″ (W)

Who doesn’t love that sweet bag with the little C’s on it??? I know it is a weakness of mine! I can’t help it but I am a purse girl. I love purses of all kind and my poor husband is my enabler! I had to jump on this giveaway when I saw this amazing Coach purse! It is simply amazing and I really want to report that one of my amazing readers gets it! Happy Valentines day everyone!

Big thank you to Mom Powered Media partners: Mom to Bed by 8, Powered By Mom, Real Mom Reviews and Baby Costcutters for organizing this Coachlicious fashion event.

As well as our fantastic co-hosting blogs: Capri’s Coupons, Kelly’s Thoughts On Things, Family, Love & Other Stuff, Coupon Queen of Texas, Life’s Cheap Thrills, Swank Savings, Down South Savings and Secret Southern Couture.

One lucky winner will receive a Coach Madison Floral Pink Top Handle Handbag.

Giveaway ends February 14th, open worldwide, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Confessions of a Military Spouse is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!