It's official-I am a Lia Sophia Advisor!

Well, I had my starter party on Friday night and it was a big success. Almost $1,000 in sales and orders still coming in and two bookings. I am lucky to have such supportive family and friends! I made up some fliers and will put them up locally on bulletin boards. I also have some other ideas to book parties-that's my main priority now-lining up the parties!!!

I should be getting my starter kit this week and can't wait to see the jewelry in it. I have to call my manager and arrange for some training sessions. I am determined to be successful at this I want to remain a stay at home mother. I don't want to "have to" send my kids to daycare. I know horror stories from personal friends, especially with infants.

I will flaunt my display jewelry and use it as a tool to strike up conversation about Lia Sophia. I know it takes time for a new business to "take off" so I have to tell myself I will keep focused and not give up if I don't see immediate results!

Wish my luck. I am hoping this decision will change my life-for the better!!

Here's my Lia Sophia website-as soon as I get an official LS site, it will appear. For now, I have a temporary site:

Joanne's Lia Sophia website

Have a laugh-Church Bulletin Bloopers...

They're Back! Those Wonderful Church Bulletins! My favorite it about the Weight Watcher meeting!

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services (Summer, 2007 Release).

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The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
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The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."
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Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
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The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
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The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing:
"Break Forth Into Joy."
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church.
So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?"
Come early and listen to our choir practice.
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow..
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double door at the side entrance.
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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday : "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours".

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day!

Yesterday we celebrated St. Patrick's Day. We were more excited about it then ever! An Italian family care about St. Pat's Day-since when??? Since our youngest daughter came along!! She is part Irish and we want to make sure we celebrate her heritage with her! About two months ago, I bought her a cute "My first St. Patrick's Day" shirt and then her Godmother gave her a matching bib that says "Kiss me, I'm Irish!" She looked so cute. Unfortunately we did not go out yesterday as my older daughter had a nasty stomach bug. She wore her green shirt, but did not want to be in the pictures-I have to say-she looked as green as the shirt! So without further ado, here are the pictures of my little girl who will be 10 months old in a few days!!!

What's happening to Ebay???

Ebay is undergoing a lot of changes-not all for the better either! On February 20th, they revamped their auction fees. Charging you less to list, but more if you item sells. I guess it makes it less risky for little sellers like me to list items for sale. But for companies who sell high priced items, it's time to get out!

Portero.com is a local company that sells high end used items-we're talking mink coats, diamonds and even yahts! They have been selling on ebay for years with over 10,000 positive feedback. I went to see what they had for sale and they are no longer selling on ebay. They haven't sold anything there in a month from what I can tell. I went to their site and they are running auctions right from their site, so no more fees to ebay! I can't say I blame them. They were probably selling tens of thousands of dollars worth of items a week. The final fee values were adding up. I don't know if they are getting the exposure they did on ebay, but there stuff is still selling consistently.

I then went to check a few more of my favorite sellers and they either had nothing to sell, or had changed their name. It sounds like, with the price structure changes, a lot of people don't want to sell on ebay. There are not many choices. Other auction sites may be free or lower cost, but you don't get the traffic and volume of ebay.
I loved Yahoo auctions and then it closed this summer. There is definitely a need for a major auction site to replace the ailing and failing ebay.

Just wait-in May some major feedback changes are coming that has everyone in an uproar. Sellers can't leave buyers any feedback but positive! Gee that sounds fair. I sell something, you buy it and never pay me and I have to leave postive feedback??
Someone needs to fix Ebay soon, before it tanks!!!

She wore a raspberry beret.....

the kind you buy in 2nd hand store. That's all I could think of yesterday when my daughter had this outfit and beret on! She looked so cute, I just had to post this picture. I even got a smile out of her. She smiles often-just not for the camera!!! Really-she is a happy child!

Happy Leap year everyone!!! You can only say this once every four years!

I've decided to sell.....Lia Sophia

After analyzing both direct sales jewelry companies to death, I finally decided last night to go with Lia Sophia! I feel really good about my decision and the woman I signed up under is terrific. My starter show is March 30th at my house. I have lots of other friends I want to invite, so I may have a 2nd show on my own in late April.

What led me to choose Lia Sophia is the name of the company is known, the quality of the jewelry is better than other direct sales jewelry companies and the cost to start is much more "doable". Lia Sophia costs $149 and I can sell my kit back if after a few shows, it's not working out for me. Premier Designs was going to run me about $1200 to start. I want to recruit and getting ladies to cough up over $1000 makes recruiting very difficult.

I have some terrific ideas on how to book shows and get new customers, and I can't wait to hit the ground running!!!! I'm very psyched!!! Here's to being another Lia Sophia success story!!!

Just a plug for my friends hoping to adopt...

Just a friendly plug for my adoption buddies, hoping to adopt independently very soon! If you look to the right side of my blog, you will see links to their adoption websites. These couples are homestudy ready and waiting to adopt. I hope you keep them in mind if you know of a woman thinking of placing her baby for adoption in the near future. They are all wonderful couples who will make (or already are) terrific parents.

I am always hoping to help friends adopt. I was successful in directly helping one couple, who are friends of ours in the fall of 2007. I wish I could help them all.
I do what I can. If I could personally match each and every one of them I could. I love nothing more than to help people and make them happy! Even words of advice or encouragement to my adoption buddies are appreciated when things seem rough. Folks who adopt independently face lots of challenges on their road to becoming parents. Phone calls in the middle of the night, checking ads in newspapers only to find it ran with a mistake, placing ads and hoping for the best, dealing with scammers, etc. It's a lot and it can get stressful. It's all worth it in the end. When your son or daughter is placed in your arms, everything bad that happened to you along the way disappears and all that remains is happiness. Some potential adoptive parents get discouraged and give up on their dream-don't! You will be parents AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GIVE UP!!!!

Help these couples become FAMILIES!

Angie's sporting a bump

Seems undeniable. Pictures of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at Saturday's 2008 Film Independent Spirit awards conceal nothing. It seems pretty obvious one (or two) babies are on the way! She looks great, why not just go public??? End the speculation and tell us?? I know there may be health reasons or concerns with the pregnancy, but when you are one of the most public figures in the world-there is nothing you can hide. My gut feeling is that they wanted to adopt more kids, but being an unmarried couple is hindering that, so they are growing their family the good old fashioned way!

Here's a picture from February 23rd-you be the judge!

My little fireball turns 9 months old!

Today we celebrated a mini birthday of sorts-my little fireball, as we call her turned 9 months old today!! I can't believe 9 months have passed so quickly! Tomorrow she goes for her checkup-so we will find out her height, weight and she will get a few dreaded shots!

My sweetie had a great day today-she visted her aunt and uncle and played with her cousins. She also saw grandma and grandpa, Uncle Lou and great grandma and great grandpa. The funniest part of the visit was when she was in her walker. My sister's dog, who is a shi tsu was sniffing her in her walker. She loved him. Finally, she just reached out and pet him. It was so cute and she was in no way afraid. I wish I had my camera! She was fascinated by the dog! I played with my neices Wii for the first time too! It was interesting-but I like real sports better!

Here's my sweetie on the couch and taking control of the remote! It's hard to get a picture of her-she never sits still anymore!

Deciding between direct sale jewelry companies

I have been considering doing direct jewelry sales for a while. I am deciding between Lia Sophia and Premier Designs and I really need to talk to each of my contact at both companies before I make a final decision. Both companies have positive and negatives. I guess it just comes down to my decision based on all the information I have gathered!

I have no problem with public speaking and feel I can do a good job of putting on a show. I know lots of women who like to wear good costume jewelry and don''t mind investing the money in a few good pieces. I enjoy wearing some nice costume jewelry and I can be my own model when I am out and about! Having shows at night or on the weekends works for me-I don't have to pay for babysitting. These jewelry companies do carry the potential to make a lot of money, some women are making 6 figures. I will be happy if I can make a few thousand a month!

I am excited, but undecided about which company to join! I hope to make a decision soon!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Not a very insightful post today-just wanted to mark Valentine's Day and share a few pictures I took of the girls this morning. That's the great thing about girls-you can buy pink and red outfits with hearts and it's OK!

We are so happy this year to be celebrating this Valentine's day with our two forever Valentine's-our daughters!!!!

Sad story-Mom leaves baby in trash at hospital restroom!

Here's a sad but true story that happened in Texas. A woman leaves her two kids home alone. She comes to the hospital with a scissor, delivers a baby in the restroom of the ER and dumps it. You are in a hospital-at least carry the baby to the ER for treatment. The baby was 6 weeks early, but he would have had a chance with immediate treatment. Thank goodness a custodian found him! He's now fighting for his life and is on life support as the mother appeared in court today. What's wrong with people. She is now lying and telling people she didn't know she was pregnant-she already had two kids-I think she knows what pregnancy feels like! This baby is a life, a person. I know 20 couples that would have adopted him in a heartbeat. You were feet away from the ER ward, carry him there and get him treatment. What kid of a person would throw a baby in the trash like garbage. We have safehaven laws for infants in all 50 states. A hospital is a safehaven! What kind of a world do we live in??? This makes adoptive parents like us cringe, knowing how much you treasure a baby's life, while others discard it like yesterday's news. Here's the newspaper article:


Mom leaves baby in restroom trash!

A sad week for me...

I know I should be happy and overall I am. This week is a tough week. Two years ago today, I found out the baby I was carrying had no heartbeat. It was the first of two back to back miscarriages. I was 9 1/2 weeks pregnant and everything had been going so well. My doctor even got approval for the C section I was going to be having at the end of August, 2006. I had been having very sharp abdominal pains on February 7th and 8th and decided to see the OBGYN. I never in a million years suspected I had a miscarriage. I didn't even bring my husband with me. I cried for days, my eyes were swollen for a week.

I scheduled a D&C on February 10th. I wanted to get it over with and move on. I didn't want to wait for the inevitable to happen. I was too scared. I couldn't believe it was happening and actually went to the office the day before the D&C and asked them to check again to see if there was a heartbeat. I was grasping at straws, but wanted to make sure they were right before I had the procedure.

Weeks later I would find out that the baby was a girl and had a chromosonal abnormality which caused the miscarriage. It was Turner's Syndrome (also known as 45X), a common cause for miscarriage and it occurs in female fetuses that are missing an X chromosome. The news brought me little comfort.

My gut said the baby was a girl right from the beginning and I was right. I immediately pictured this little girl with big black eyes and jet black hair-but she was not meant to be.

My future held other plans for me. A little more than a year after this tragedy struck, fate had intervened and had a very beautiful blonde haired, blued eyed angel was waiting for me-my daughter. Her adoption is a story of fate, destiny and love. I believe my lost angels helped her find me so quickly so that I can start to heal. We believe she was conceived on the day our lost angel would have been born. Jenna's birthday is exactly 9 months after my angel was due.

Last year was very hard-it was the first year after it happened and I was no closer to a 2nd child. This year, I am thrilled to say I am a mother of two girls, but I can't say the loss still doesn't hurt. It does, just a tiny tiny bit less then the year before. As long as I live I will never forget my lost angels. A little part of me will always hurt. I believe I will see my lost angels one day in heaven. I can't wait to see if they look like what I pictured them to.

This song reminds me of my angels-I still cry every time I listen to it-LeeAnn Rimes-Probably Wouldn't be this way:

Angelina Jolie pregnant????

Well according to every major tabloid magazine this week-she is-with TWINS none the less. No confirmation of this from her or her spokesperson. So I guess we will just want and see. You can't always believe internet rumors and rag magazine headlines-can you?

I do have to say....I just watched in interview of Angelina Jolie on CNN talk about a trip she is taking to Iraq to help with the Iraqi refugee problem. She does have that certain glow! Most of the shots were head and shoulders and in some parts of the interview, over the shoulder. Her clothes were rather loose fitting. If I had to take a guess, I would agree-she LOOKS pregnant-her face does anyway! Wearing that one very loose, flowing dress to an awards ceremony last week really started up the rumor mill.

I'm sure the media will be relentless on her every move and every outing with Brad Pitt and family, as usually. Whatever the case, she gets involved with what she believes in and acts as a goodwill ambassador. If she wants to add one, two or three new kids to her family in 2008-great for her! She is one of the coolest adoptive Moms out there.

Shocking revelation about high school students

A local high school girl died last week at 17 years old. My brother knew her, it was a good friend's sister in law. Prescription narcotic drugs are a factor in her death. It seems that the last "thing to do" among our local high school students is to have "cocktail parties". I have heard this from more than one local police officer I know personally. These cocktail parties involve high school kids raiding their parents medicine cabinets for leftover narcotics and painkillers and taking them to these "cocktail parties". There they mix them all together in bowls and dishes and just start taking pills-unaware of what they are really taking or the dosages.

I am in shock. I know it was 20 years ago that I was in high school, but never did my friends and I ever think raiding the medicine cabinet for a cheap high. We thought about raiding the liquor cabinet-I won't lie, but never prescription drugs. That's just awful. So dangerous. Parents now have to flush or lock up any unused vicodin and perocet. The consequences here can be fatal.

This is the world we live in, a different generation, a different world. When I was in high school, the big thing was cutting school or doing to a party where there was booze. This is a whole new dangerous level of partying. Our form of partying was not fatal, just wrong. I would hate to think that in 10 years I will have a safe in my house to store my medications-but it may be the case. Some kids invite friend over and when they say they have to use the restroom, they steel drugs from the medicine cabinet of their friends parents. It may not be your kids, it could be there friends. Your kids may not even know their friends are stealing from their bathroom.

Let this be a warning to all parents-Prescription drugs are dangerous and the latest craze in cheap highs for teens. Keep tabs on the medications in your house! Spread the word to your friends and neighbors that this is not something to be taken lightly.

Have I found my calling????

I have been thinking for months about what I going to do about working in the future. I don't want to go to another 9-5 corporate job where they own you and you may get laid off at any given time. I want freedom. I want to do something I enjoy. I want to help people. I want to spend time with my kids. I don't want my baby to wind up in daycare. I don't want to give away 2/3 of my paycheck to childcare. I want to attend all my kids doctors appointments and functions. I want to be there for them when they are sick with the flu. I want to feel like my experience is helping someone. I want to feel personal pride and satisfaction in my work.

I think I found my calling. For over a year now and since my adoption attorneys met me, they were very sure I should work in the adoption field. I should be an adoption advertising specialist and help people pursuing independent adoption to place ads, create profiles and talk to potentional birthmothers. They said I am so good at it, I have to try it. So many people have told me I would be great at it, not even knowing me very well or what my lawyers were saying. So I am going to go for it. I have been assisting people for months on the phone for free-strangers who just needed help. A friend of mine who used a similiar service in 2007 is faxing me some info and my attorneys are nice enough to sit down with my next week and allow me to ask them all kinds of questions so I can get the ball rolling! That is so nice of them-I know they are busy!

I have lots to do. I am creating an e-book I can send to potential clients, I will probably design a website, register a business name with the county, open a bank account, start networking with other adoption attorneys and social workers, etc. It's exciting! I know it may take a few months to build a bit of a business, but I am prepared for that.

I believe in independent adoption so much, I am choosing to make it my life's work, wish me luck as I begin my career as an independent adoption advertising consultant (That's a mouthful!)

A little depressing this time of year...

I find it a little depressing this time of year, personally. I never liked winter much. The cold, getting dark so early and of course the snow that comes with living in the Northeast. We've had no snow to talk about this year-so I am happy for that! Very happy! Every time they predict it, it doesn't happen!

I guess as February draws near, I am reminded more and more of my first miscarriage. Today my sister told me my cousin is pregnant and due in early September. I was due September 9th. I guess that stirred up memories a little early this year. Last year was rough, but I thought because it was the first year, it would be. I thought this year it would be less painful, as I was blessed to have found our 8 month old daughter. I learned that adding someone to your family doesn't take away the loss of another. I will always think of that baby girl as "Gianna". That was the name I wanted to name her. I was convinced she would look like me with jet black hair and eyes and live up to her Italian name. When we adopted our daughter, we never even considered naming her that, we immediately knew we'd have to choose a completely different, less ethnic name. There would never be another Gianna, she would always be my angel-waiting for me in heaven someday.

Even though my heart is heavy, I will try to keep busy, and be upbeat. I am so lucky to have two beautiful healthy girls. I will always be thankful for them. I do believe my angels brought my baby girl to me-there is no other way to explain the series of events that led to her adoption.

I just keep thinking-Spring is coming!!! Like the Beatles sang "Here comes the sun!"

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right

My latest venture! DirecTV!

I am trying a new venture of sorts! I'm hoping to make some money with this affiliate program so I can stay home with my kids. The thought of leaving the baby in daycare just kills me. It pays $125 per activation, so even if a get a couple a week, it's worth it. I am also trying to find ways to market this according to their terms and conditions (which are lengthy). I have heard some people doing great with this program, so I will spend the time to get the word out there! The best part of it is it is free to sign up, so at least I did not waste any money in an attempt to make money (God knows I have done that far too many times!)


If anyone is thinking of switching from cable to DirecTV, please check out my site!!! Sign up through me!!! Over 85 HD channels and more to come!!


For information-call 1-866-734-0936 or visit my website by clicking on the link or the ad below:

Get rid of cable TV!!!

What a week!!! Big girls don't cry!

What a week! It was a pretty good week and went by so fast. Monday by big girl turned 5. We had visitors Monday and Tuesday. The weather was great for early December with the whole week having high temps in the 50s and 60s. A springlike tease. Then today we topped off the week with a trip to the mall to get a pair of 5 year old ears pierced!!!

My aunt and uncle mailed my daughter a birthday card with a $20 gift card to Claire's botique, which is in our local mall. She was so excited and called it her credit card. I had to explain to her that once the $20 was used, they took the card. She decided the other day she wanted her ears pierced and my husband and I agreed it was time. She told her friends at school yesterday and her friends at dance today. Her cousins, aunt, grandma and great grandma all joined her for support!! We picked out medium sized gold balls. The woman that did it was great! She did one side and then my daughter said it hurt and did not want the other side done. We coaxed her for a minute and she held my hands (at one point I thought we were walking out there with one earring!). She was so happy and proud when it was all over. Like Fergie says "Big Girls Don't Cry".

I have to say the earrings make her look like a big girl and a little more Italian. LOL! Here's my big girl before she got her ears pierced!

Here she is with her cousins..

Here she is after-showing off one ear-sorry I did not get a picture of the woman doing it!

My big girl turned 5 today!

Where has the time gone? My big girl is 5 already! We celebrated yesterday with a family party (about 20 people). Today at school, we brought in a special snack and her class sang happy birthday to her. Tonight I made her favorite dinner-steak, rice and corn and a chocolate chip birthday cookie! We sang again, my best friend and her family came over. Next Sunday is the kiddie party at a local gym-15 kids will be there!!! I think we celebrated plenty! We're getting partied out. She was so happy and proud that today was her birthday. We had it announced on the local radio station this morning!!! She was thrilled!

It was 5 years ago today that I gave birth to Jacqueline via C-section which I opted for. Diagnosed with a rare heart problem, I thought it would be best for the baby. A stupid doctor told me to terminate the baby at 20 weeks because her heart was on the opposite side of her chest (dextracardia), they thought it was a rare disearse called heterotaxy syndrome and that all her organs were reversed. Thank God, I went for a bunch of scans in NYC and it was determined that just her heart was malpositioned and all blood flow to the heart was correct.

I wasn't completely relieved until January 7, 2003 when I saw for myself this tiny, but healthy little girl! A girl-I would have bet the house I was having a boy! I refused to find out, even though the info was in my folder. What an exciting, happy day for our family. I felt physically horrible, but otherwise overjoyed with our miracle baby!

Happy birthday baby-I love you so much! At 5, you are my little sidekick and buddy. We go places, talk, read and shop together. You're no longer a baby or toddler, but a little girl.

Here's my princess shortly after birth and here is a picture of her taken tonight in her ballet PJs. What a difference 5 years makes!!!