All about the Darringtons

It's 4am and I'm not sleeping thanks to post-op narcotics so I thought I'd give you each a brief window into my mind. Lately I‘ve been reading many articles in support of the direct sales model. There’s a cute little parody video going around, too, even though they used a wicked candle to represent Scentsy, the nerve! The common thread I’ve noticed in the articles, to say nothing of the many comments in response to the articles, is that there’s a lot of confusion about the expectations vs. the reality of direct sales. I’d like to address that in this blog post. Of course, I‘ll be talking about Scentsy because it's my heart, but this can be applied to any direct sales company.  Before I get too far into it, a caveat:  I’m not going to try to talk anyone into selling Scentsy.  I’ve found the best success I’ve had with adding team members is to simply lead by example; most of my team are folks who’ve come to me because they’ve watched my posts, seen my success...

Bright blue, VERY fragrant Scentsy wax. I was on the floor making samples of Mays Scent of the Month, Mystery Man (AMAZING, by the way!). I accidentally knocked over my melting pot, spilling wax all over my beige carpet. Side note: You know you are in a position of leadership and education when a cleaning catastrophe occurs and you immediately yell, "WAIT! Don't start cleaning that up yet. I need to get my phone. I can make a blog post about this to help my team and customers." PS: KLEENEX is ineffective in this situation. ;) So what do you do when this catastrophe occurs? Stay calm. Get a glass of wine. And these other items: A roll of paper towels An iron A clean paper source (I used some Scentsy packing paper since I had it laying around, but a paper bag does the trick just fine!) Some carpet cleaner (not always necessary, but usually is with the darker, highly pigmented wax. First, take a few sheets of paper towels and soak up what you can by yourself....

Some of the many reasons I love my scentsy business: 1) My entire life, from the time that I can even remember dreaming, I've always wanted a job where I can travel. Scentsy certainly fills my passport, and provides me with as many travel opportunities as I want to take. I can take any or none, it's completely up to me. But it has to be one of my favorite parts of my job. 2) Im becoming the person I've always wanted to be. I've spent the better part of my entire life battling a sense of worthiness, insecurities, and staving off the inner beast that tells me that I'm not good enough. Slowly but surely, over the course of the past five years, since I let this wonderful company into my life, I'm winning the battle with all of these things. 3) Scentsy plays to my strengths. I'm a good talker, I like to be in front of people. I'm a storyteller, and a natural born leader. All of these things have worked wonderfully in my favor. PS: I had no idea I...

In the last couple of days, I've noticed a trend in my Facebook feed. And it's one that I'm rather enjoying, although I find a little intimidating. It's a trend of people airing their messy laundry. But not a bad way. I think we all get caught up sometimes in trying to make our lives look a little cleaner than they are. Like, if we somehow convince the world that our lives are not messy, the mess will cease to exist. I've given myself so much unnecessary stress over the past year, trying to make my life perfect. Comparison is a thief of joy, and my joy has been limited. Seeing some of the things that my friends are saying lately has reminded me that I need to take greater joy in the things that are a little bit messy. And the fact that sometimes I don't get a shower every day, or that, for the first time in my life, I'm feeling the stress and pressure and embarrassment of debt, and hey, my four-year-old kind of runs the house, which by the way, looks like...

It all started one frustrating day in mid December... December 15 to be exact. My sister in law had come to visit. When it was time to leave, she encouraged her son to help clean, while my kids watched. Nothing I was saying was improving their work ethic, so I told my sister in law her son had done enough and sent them on their way. After they left, a two hour battle ensued with my son about cleaning his room. "But I didn't make the mess, I need help to clean it up!" "Son, you had help, you didn't use it." "But, but, but..." So I did something CRAZY. Something desperate. Something I've only ever threatened him I'd do. I sent him down to eat dinner. I told him *I* was going to clean his room for him. He was happy, skipped down the stairs, probably thinking he just won the battle of the year. What he didn't know, was in the 20 minutes he was eating downstairs, I emptied EVERYTHING in his room. In hindsight, I should have taken a "...

15 years ago today, I lost my daddy to a terrible disease. One could argue that in reality, I lost him 30 years ago... but the battle ended 15 years ago. The disease was Addiction, the culprit - heroine. I cant believe 15 years has gone by. Its hard to admit how angry I am. Addiction robbed me of every single thing a girl should have. In the moments I had my daddy, and there were only few, I was most certainly daddy's little girl. I hold on to these memories and cherish them like few others. He didnt get to see me get married or walk me down the isle. He wasnt there to size up my suiters and steer me in the right direction or protect my heart. He missed the birth of all of my children - especially his grandson... who was born on his birthday. I know how tickled he would have been to share a birthday with his grandson. I know he would have been a great grandpa. I dont have anywhere to go when I just want to be right... and be protected and feel like a princess. All because Addicti...

Today, my kids and I were out at one of those places that serve terrible food, but have fun playhouses. :-p I was watching Madi play in the area designated for toddlers, when I noticed she was keeping a keen eye on her brother, who was playing up above in the bigger kid area. She decided that was where she wanted to be, so with sheer determination (and a mommy very close by), she scaled the big kid steps and made it all the way to the top. Not really a big deal for a third child, I have learned, but what I found fascinating was her determination... And I watched her get scared, turn to call out for me, then change her mind, and PUSH THROUGH her fear, and make it up one more step, til she got to the top. She was so proud of herself, and the big kids were sure surprised to see her. She played up there for a long time, avoiding big kids and, every once in a while, stopping to see just how high up she was. When she had enough, she carefully and slowly made her way back down, gave me a big...

Its been a LONG, yet short summer. My kids have changed totally in front of my eyes. I have 2 toddlers now. One, who I can safely and officially say, is day potty trained. I have a total TWEEN, UGH. I have this one coming, I know. There is no longer a day that goes by that I don't wish I had been nicer to my grandmother. We have kept very busy, between vacations (we went to Yellowstone),family reunions, friends, birthdays (my baby turned ONE on me, how can that be?) and sad times when my nephew passed away. I cant believe that, in 2 short weeks, Alex will be a *6th* grader. Liam will be nearly *3*, and Madi will likely be talking in sentences. :-P I have taken an active role in my life, now that my babies dont need me sooo much any more. There will be more on that later. :)

It was a fun Easter here in Darringtonland. We started our festivites early, on Saturday, by following tradition and joining some of our fabulous friends for the annual Valley Bums Easter Egg hunt. Then it was egg dying time. :) We were graced with two wonderful extra kiddos on Easter eve and Easter morning, so they got to join in the fun. :) And finally Easter morning! Baskets with chocolate bunnies and books, and a few ferrets (well, the Webkins kind), and everyone got something new to wear! Easter dinner was ham and potatoes with cooked carrots and onions. We were joined by Alex's dad and step mom, aloong with their twin 3 week old (A-FREAKIN-DORABLE) boys. Fun times, good food, quality time. Sounds like a perfect holiday to me.

... slowly but surely. :) We are really starting to get settled in here, nearly a month after we moved in. :) Here are some photos of our front living room, after its much needed makeover. The colour chosen was Guacamole, and I LOVE the way it turned out. :)

Of course begins with the princess. :) So, needless to say, we moved into our new home on the 3rd of March, and we haven't stopped to catch our breath since. This last weekend, we committed to the first major undertaking of our new home: Alex's bedroom. After a much heated debate in Lowes over paint colour, mom and daughter compromised and the fun began. My dear friend Alyson and 2 of her daughters came to join the madness, and then my sister in law Heather and cousin in law Megan arrived to have some fun. Thank goodness for Megan: she was able to convince Alex away from that insanity that she was insistent upon and come up with something a *little* more sophisticated. Here now are the results of our weekend of fun and mishaps (I mean, come on, whats a painting project unless you've spilled a gallon or so of paint on the new carpet?? :) ) The room room during daylight hours: The window wall: The door: Another view: All cleaned up!: The closet:

VID00001 , originally uploaded by kungfuangel23 . We were at Alex's violin recital and we caught a few seconds of Madi being cute. :) More to come on the recital. :)

Family Night: We alternate who plans family night around here to keep things fun (and easier for me, :) ) The 9th was Kiev's night, and he planned homemade fingerpaints for the evening. It was a smash, and the kids had a blast... even Madi... its a good thing we made the finger paints ourselves. :) We had a great time for Valentines Day. We spent the day before Valentines with friends at our Valentines Exchange. Alex felt too grown up this year to participate, but she helped her brother hand his out. We had a load of fun, and, naturally, Madi was out to make a few friends. :) In other news: Madi got her first tooth this month, there is another one on its way, but not quite erupted. She sat up on her own yesterday from her belly. Cute. Still not really crawling, but she magically moves around when she wants to get somewhere. No one really knows how she does it... she's sitting up in one place one minute, and the next, shes sitting up a few feet away. :) We are officially down to...

...and not full of too many surprises. We had some wonderful family times, Alex got up early last Saturday and she helped her brother make french toast for the family. :) I was able to get up and snap a few photos of the budding chefs before they were done. :) It was delicious! :) Great kids, I tell ya. :) Liam was a proud boy and loved donning his new chefs hat and apron he got for Christmas. :) Alex made Honor Roll this semester. That makes 3 in a row, and shes half way to the presidential award. :) She is doing a lot better in school these days, Although she does seem to be getting into trouble with the same kids... arg. We are making steady progress toward purchasing our home. We are at that point where we are getting calls every day or so about needing this and that from underwriters. I swear, we are starting to feel like criminals!! But, alas, it should all be over in a few short weeks. We are very excited and cant wait to have the keys and get working on making our house a home!...

I was reading an article in the paper on Monday that said that one in 11 credit cards are in default. I saw on the news that 60% of Americans experienced some negative impact regarding their jobs ( pay cut, lay off, loss of benefits, etc). I have also seen the heart wrenching destruction in Haiti. I feel so grateful for what we have. Kiev has a stable job that provides medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits. We have savings and no debt, and we are getting ready to purchase our first (and hopefully lifetime) home. Our children are intelligent and very healthy, and quite spoiled. I have been blessed with the best friends that a person could ever ask for. I mean truly amazing people that are absolutely incredible. I have a wonderful husband that works hard for our family, and puts up with me in a way no other man could. :) I am just so humbled by our circumstances and so grateful for this amazing time in my life. :)

We are having a wonderful start to this year. It has been so lovely to have Kiev home on break from school. The kids are absolutely in heaven having their daddy here to play with. Holiday toys are getting much use. :) I think the kids are really enjoying their time together. I know that he is really, really enjoying his kids. This is the first time he has really been able to hang out with Madi since she was a newborn. He's looking forward to being done with his degree. Liam has taken some interest in potty learning. Im really laid back about potty learning, I totally just waited for him to let me know. :) A little bit of nakkie time and a few potty seats around the house plus a motivated toddler (he gets an m&m when he goes on the potty)equals marginal success with little effort. :) Hes not so motivated when he has a diaper on, but does well with just his big boy underwear. :) WOOT! We are ending the first semester of Alex's 5th grade year. I cant believe how time has gone...

What a year 2009 was. Most of us started by the twos; Alex's started her second half of 4th grade, I started my second half of my pregnancy, Liam started his second half of his second year of life. :) Kiev had a first; his first day of his new job with EDS, now owned by HP. We had a once in a lifetime experience when the Special Olympics came to Boise in February. Many members of my family, including my mother, step-dad, niece, grandmother, and some aunts, came to watch my cousin, Christine, figure-skate in this worldwide event. Not only did she take gold in every category she qualified f0r, but we had an amazing and enlightening two weeks. My niece and Alex got to see their first ever motorcade when Joe Biden came in to talk to the athletes, they learned to play floor hockey, and even got to meet a few celebrities! It was a great time for all. Spring came and I got bigger, and started feeling the effects of having a one year old and a big pregnant belly. :) But I would only be tes...