Good news for Grandma!!!

Grandmother Becomes First in U.S. to Reach Unit Director with the For Every Home Company
After 35 years working for someone else, Barbara Williams Reaches Success with her own For Every Home Business
Blytheville, AR– December 10, 2009 – Becky Anderson, today announced that Barbara Williams, wife of Danny, mother to two, grandmother to 5, is the first of their For Every Home Consultants in the U.S. to reach Unit Director Status.

According to Barbara, after 35 years working in the school system and corporate world, she started her home party business because she fell in love with the product. Barbara states that she likes the fact that For Every Home considers their consultants' opinions.

“The founders of For Every Home, Becky and Paul Anderson, ask for our opinions and consider our input,” said Barbara. “I like being treated like that and I knew other women would too. My business is based on women, their ideas, their influence, their efforts and that is why I, and others like me, are so successful!”

It all started because Barbara felt she had a contribution to make and wasn’t being fulfilled in her then position. She had purchased a “sugar cookie” candle from sister company, For Every Body, and loved it so much she wondered if there was a way to make a business selling them. When she called For Every Body, she found they were starting a home party business and she waited anxiously to be a part of For Every Home's launch. Barbara became a consultant and built her new business after work hours. Two years later, she has a home business she is proud of, has won several trips to Cancun, Mexico and Salt Lake City as well as various other gifts and has met many wonderful people.

“I love being a consultant with For Every Home because it supports other women with great ideas and shares wonderful products at a great price,” says Williams. “I never thought I would be a savvy business owner yet I am very thankful to be a part of this growing company. I absolutely believe that we have the best product, know that Becky & Paul Anderson and the For Every Home staff are the best you could find anywhere. What's not to love?”

In 2007, Becky Anderson founded For Every Home to help make a difference in women's lives. As the successful founder of a multi-million dollar company, she is using over fifteen years of experience to give women the tools they need to make their business successful. All of the products at For Every Home are created by Becky and her team. She watches trends closely to make sure everything offered is something women will love to have in their homes. At For Every Home, business and fun begin at home. Join the family!

For more information please visit, www.foreveryhome.net/barbarawilliams http://ping.fm/wTLtf or please contact: Kim Power Stilson at 801-615-0035. Media Contact: Kim Power Stilson
Kim.Stilson@foreverybody.com
(801)-615-0035

Women in Technology Have Big Hearts

This is a great blog post by Becky Anderson of For Every Body . . . I work for her but I think she rocks! :) She really gets what it takes to be a mom and a savvy business woman and she still has a big heart! ;)

I received this great email from Kim Kim Chiu, Assistant Director of Career & Technical Education at Utah Valley University! They asked for a donation of 30 bottles of our yummy smelling For Every Body lotion and candles for their gift bags for young mothers and we are only too happy to help because they are doing some great things for the community. You may read this, like I did, and want to help too!

The holidays can be tough for people at any time but if you are a struggling young mother with a baby to care for the world can sometimes be a pretty cold place. As a mom and grandmother and the owner of For Every Body and For Every Home, I applaude the efforts the Women in Technology Organization is making! Good for them! And, good for you if you can share a little Christmas Cheer to help their project!

Women in Technology Christmas Project

On Friday, December 11, 2009, UVU’s Women in Technology student organization and UVU staff members will be spreading some Christmas cheer at the Legacy High School in Springville. The Legacy program helps young mothers graduate from High School in a supportive environment and provides daycare services within the facility. We will be providing lunch for the students and will distribute presents for the mothers and their babies. In addition to these presents, we will help out with much needed formula and diapers for the high school to use in the nursery.

This is the second year that the UVU Women in Technology has helped with donations for the Legacy High School. Our goal is not only to help out with monetary necessities but expose the girls to opportunities to improve their situation. We emphasize the importance of post-secondary education and provide information on different programs that can help them should they decide to go to college.
Many of these girls think college is beyond their reach, so we start talking about the one and two-year programs which is easier for them to envision. It is our hope that we can inspire them to move forward and become self-sufficient with the right kind of training.

Call Kim Chiu if you want to help too!

Kim Chiu
Assistant Director
Career & Technical Education
Utah Valley University
801-863-8563

I received this great email from Kim Kim Chiu, Assistant Director of Career & Technical Education at Utah Valley University! They asked for a donation of 30 bottles of our yummy smelling For Every Body lotion and candles for their gift bags for young mothers and we are only too happy to help because they are doing some great things for the community. You may read this, like I did, and want to help too!

The holidays can be tough for people at any time but if you are a struggling young mother with a baby to care for the world can sometimes be a pretty cold place. As a mom and grandmother and the owner of For Every Body and For Every Home, I applaud the efforts the Women in Technology Organization is making! Good for them! And, good for you if you can share a little Christmas Cheer to help their project!

Women in Technology Christmas Project

On Friday, December 11, 2009, UVU’s Women in Technology student organization and UVU staff members will be spreading some Christmas cheer at the Legacy High School in Springville. The Legacy program helps young mothers graduate from High School in a supportive environment and provides daycare services within the facility. We will be providing lunch for the students and will distribute presents for the mothers and their babies. In addition to these presents, we will help out with much needed formula and diapers for the high school to use in the nursery.

This is the second year that the UVU Women in Technology has helped with donations for the Legacy High School. Our goal is not only to help out with monetary necessities but expose the girls to opportunities to improve their situation. We emphasize the importance of post-secondary education and provide information on different programs that can help them should they decide to go to college.
Many of these girls think college is beyond their reach, so we start talking about the one and two-year programs which is easier for them to envision. It is our hope that we can inspire them to move forward and become self-sufficient with the right kind of training.

Call Kim Chiu if you want to help too!

Kim Chiu
Assistant Director
Career & Technical Education
Utah Valley University
801-863-8563

Scrumptious Cranberry Salsa!

This is so good and so healthy and refreshing . . . my lovely neighbor Elaine shared this at a neighborhood emergency preparedness meeting and it was such a hit I took it over to my family's Thanksgiving Dinner! It was a hit there too! It is easy to make and truly yummy -- don't let the cranberry and the salsa in the same title scare you!!! :) Kim Power Stilson

My neighbor Elaine's daughter Paige's Cranberry Salsa

1 (12 oz.) pkg fresh cranberries

1 med jalapeno without the seeds

4-5 green onions

1-2 Tbsp fresh Cilantro

1/4 tsp Cumin

Dash of Garlic

3/4 cup of sugar

Put all ingredients (except sugar) in food processor. Process until mixture in coarsely chopped. Stir in Sugar. Store in fridge over night to allow flavors to blend. Spoon over a brick of cream cheese and server with crackers and tortilla chips.

Fun News about For Every Home!

For Every Home Unveils 2010 Convention Website
For Every Home 2010 Convention to be held in Chicago Attendance Details Now Available at www.convention.foreveryhome.net

Chicago, IL & Lindon, UT – December 4, 2009 – Today Becky Anderson, For Every Home Home Party Founder, announced the release of For Every Home’s Convention 2010 Website – www.convention.foreveryhome.net.

According to the For Every Home team, the new Website shares details of the 2010 For Every Home Convention to inspire for Every Home consultants to attend the annual business building event in Chicago, Illinois at the beautiful Sax Hotel, July 30th and 31st. Photos and details are now easily viewable on the new website www.convention.foreveryhome.net.

According to Shannon Barrowman, For Every Home’s Director of Tech & IT Services, she set up the new Website to meet the needs of the Every Home consultants as attending the convention is one of the most important investments they can make each year in their home businesses.

“Convention 2010 will not only provide valuable training and information which you can’t get anywhere else, it is an amazing opportunity to mingle and get the answers you need to help take your business to the next level,” said Barrowman. “For Every Home’s Convention Website www.convention.foreveryhome.net shares all the information you will need to make your plans.”

According to Becky Anderson, founder, there is something unparalleled about the atmosphere at Convention.

“When For Every Home consultants gather we share ideas and motivate each other,” said Becky Anderson. “Those who attend Convention leave energized by the things they learn, the tools they are given, and the assurance of having spent time with other like-minded, success-oriented people. The Website shares the details but attending is where all the energy happens.”

To find out more about For Every Home Convention 2010 please visit the new Website at www.convention.foreveryhome.net. To find out more about how you can become a For Every Home party consultant, please visit www.foreveryhome.net.

About For Every Home
In 2007, Becky Anderson founded For Every Home to help make a difference in women's lives. As the successful founder of a multi-million dollar company, For Every Body, she is using over fifteen years of experience to give women the tools they need to make their business successful. Becky Anderson watches trends closely to make sure everything For Every Home offers is something women will love to have in their homes. At For Every Home, business and fun begin at home. Join the family! For more information please visit, www.foreveryhome.net.

Hell is not in your contact list

I sat down to pick up a conversation on Skype and typed in the words . . . Hel . . . when Skype kindly informed me that 'Hell' was not in my contact list. I can't tell you how enormously relieved I was to be told that and how kind of Skype to let me know!

I started thinking about how appropriate that message was this morning. I have worked so hard at being good lately – not yelling at the kids, not loosing faith, serving others in need although suffering myself, watching my 11 month old niece even while I had a million other things to do, holding tight to my dreams, focusing on my kids when they talk to me and Listening, yes, listening, and ignoring rude people.

The very latter has been tough this weekend . . . let me start explaining by asking you if I told you we had a garage sale? We sold all sorts of things – valuable, once valuable to us, and oddly valuable to others. In anticipation of our trek to Southern California for Law school, we sold things we loved that we knew from experience would be difficult to move. In my bedroom, which is very large with high ceilings and a wall of windows, my oasis, my office, my haven, I have a very fancy entertainment center too big to move with us into a home, without the same kind of space, which undoubtedly we won't get in California. I brought people inside from the drive who expressed interest in buying furniture which is only 2 years old and in lovely condition. Some of the people I brought into my room actually made comments – yes, in front of me – about how I had decorated the room. It was as they were in RC Willey or some fancy furniture store and felt compelled to criticize. They said things while pointing to my bedroom furniture and window seats piled full of pillows – which were not on sale – like, "I wouldn't pay $2 for that!" "I don't like the color . . . .(of my bedspread? Who asked you?) "This rug doesn't go with the room!" "I couldn't sleep with all those windows!" "I wouldn't put that in MY house" "This is to fancy for me!" One lady who came into my home grunted in distaste as I showed her what we were offering in our front room. When she wanted to know what else I had, so I mentioned the entertainment center in my room, with obvious reluctance to show her into my room. She bowled her way in, practically shouted that she couldn't use that, "didn't I know she only had 8 foot ceilings in her basement?!" and then stomped her feet like a child before fleeing the premise as if I had let loose poison gas (no, I hadn't) and that was one of the nicer experiences I had!

Okay, lest you think I am a slob . . . (I am not, well at least NOT when I know people will be coming into my room!!!) . . . you need to know that my room is perfectly lovely to me and the fact that I am not a designer doesn't in any way excuse the thoughtless comments of people coming in to look at one piece of furniture for sale in my room. I mean isn't it bad enough that people offered .0001 cents on the dollar for my lovely things spread out on the drive? I did expect that but to come into my home and see furniture that I had obviously chosen and cared for and critique it in front of me like they were at a home show and I was a real estate agent and they were going to show how much they didn't like it before they made an offer?

By the end of Day 1 of our 2-day garage sale, I was thinking awfully unkind things about my fellow man.

Now I must add here that with all this we had some amazingly nice people – people who paid full price knowing they were getting a good deal. People who helped us through the process – like Chad's kind "NEW" parents who brought their camper down, parked in the driveway for few days, and helped us do everything for the sale AND weeded our front drive, made dinner, and fixed our screens so I have a lovely fly-less breeze in our house. There were those kind folks who came in to chat, buy a few books for the cause, and kindly remark that they would miss us if we moved. In spite of the goodness I did receive from those few, I am human, and felt invaded, violated and hurt by the thoughtless remarks of people, people who by the way came in made their comments in my home AND . . . incidentally, did not buy a thing!

A few days have passed, remnants of the garage sale packed into the garage for the next one (I know what could we be thinking?!), during which I won't be inviting people into my home without tying gags to their mouths.

Honestly it has been weirdly difficult! I can't walk into my room without remembering those strangers who critiqued my haven. I feel invaded and somehow less comfortable! So, obviously my thoughts are not kind and most surely not get me into Heaven! So, you can see why I would be relieved to know that 'hell' is not in my contact list. So, today, since Skype has chosen to forgive me, and give me a second chance, perhaps I should follow suite, and forgive and forget! I forgive you rude garage sales attendees who critiqued my haven and didn't buy a thing! I forgive you but please don't come back! There, done, gone forgotten! I wonder how Skype executives would feel about the new service they have provided?

Getting your kids to do chores without complaint

Just as school got out this year I threatened the usual daily list of chores for each summer day. The rule last year was "You do your list and you are free!" The list which I posted in the usual place – on the refrigerator door – outlined daily chores that had to be done before the TV or any other electronic devices were used. I thought it a great idea but my kids talked all year about how mean I had been the last summer, how hard they had worked and how I had not had to do anything.

What I remember about last summer was slightly different. I remember being a drill sergeant every morning and well I admit it yelling a lot! Shouting at them to . . . get out of bed, turn off the TV, and the endless have you cleaned the bathroom yet? We have a big house with a lot of bathrooms – a necessary curse that they need to be cleaned. I also remember, yes I am weak, giving in mid -summer because I was tired of yelling and working so hard to get the kids to do their chores. This summer, not feeling creative enough to try something different I planned to try the same thing. Make a hefty list and be the Sheriff of electronics til each list was complete. The Sunday before the first week of summer break we had a family meeting to discuss "the plans" for the summer.

Before I even launched into the usual plan for No electronics til chores are done I was met with solid opposition. My oldest, 15, said, "Mom, we are old enough to know what chores need to be done, we don't need lists. We can do them ourselves." My 12 and 9 year-olds chimed in and even my husband (who hates when I yell and likes to be the good guy) agreed. "Summers are meant to be fun . . . let's just give them a general list and let them govern their own time," said my husband, who I am entirely sure must have been brainwashed by one of them. They all nodded in unison and said they would be so adept at doing their chores I wouldn't have to yell or lift a finger!

What could I do? Without an in-home drill sergeant or a whip, I was outvoted out numbered. So, quite dubiously I said, "Okay, we will try it for two weeks. I will expect you do all your chores before you ask to do anything, be driven anywhere, or engage in any electronics other than basic electrical uses such as lighting and home-cleaning appliances." They all rolled their eyes so I shut my mouth. I was tempted by their magical words . . . sleeping in . . . everything done without raising my voice . . . .that truly would be remarkable way to enjoy the summer.

Ha! Would you like to know what happened during the last two weeks?

Day one went well, dishes done and then on the morning of day 2 I noticed that my son's dirty socks had spread from his room throughout the house, by day 5 I had found one in the pantry between the flour and pasta. By day 6 a lovely black Mold had grown in the corner of one of our showers. By day 7 the TV was running 24/7 and their electronics were strewn across the house – one game was on while they were playing another! By day 8, all the basic dishes in the house had disappeared and a pile of pans were "soaking" in the sink and there was a pile, window high in the laundry room covering the floor in a big hairy mound. By day 9 there was giant mud prints all over the floors, including up and around the mountain of laundry. By day 10, we had driven 56 times, 8 trips in one day, and with each trip "mentioned" that the chores were not done. I heard every promise and excuse in the book from my kids and my husband whose "good guy" reputation was on the line and never shouted once. By day 13 the weeds had grown to five feet, the lawn which hadn't been mowed was competing to match its height and to cap it off two kittens complete with kitty litter appeared in my garage!

On Sunday, at the beginning of week 3, I held a family meeting. I listened patiently for one moment as they extolled their virtuous accomplishments during the two weeks -- My son mastered all of the basic levels on Nintendo DS, McKall had read 5 books and written 3 short stories (which by the way were mixed with Merrick's socks on the floor), Maddy had had 12 sleepovers away from home so she at least had not dirtied her share of dishes and had kept her room clean.

I took a cleansing breath, decided that they were right and I had enjoyed not yelling, and then I calmly banned all use of any electronic equipment for one week, told them they were doing the cooking and started waking them at 7 am to start with the weeds. And, looking at my husband with a sweet smile, I said, "Since summers are meant to be fun, that ban includes you too!"

It is day 3 of the ban and so far this is what has happened. My kitchen floors are mopped, the dishes we could find are clean and in the cupboards, the laundry diminished to a normal size, dogs washed, bathrooms scrubbed, garage cleaned, kitties hidden perhaps where the dishes were, weeding commenced. Yesterday my son asked me if he was old enough to use the vacuum and proceeded to clean the front room. He said he was having friends over and didn't want them to think we had a messy house.

Since I banned all electronics my kids friends have had to actually come over to talk to them in person, they've played basketball in the drive, and talked. I have heard laughter and jokes and lots of complaints about the mean mom who banned electronics. We have eaten our meals together and talked over our meal uninterrupted by video beeps, phone tons and text buzzes. Bored to tears without TV, we even went to the park for our family night, fashioned fishing poles and walked across the grass! Right now as I write my kids are baking cookies and finishing up the dishes from lunch. They have are asking friends over – did you know home phones aren't electronic? And, they are getting ready for their grandparents to come and visit – a welcome relief amidst the great ban. The best thing . . . I have not heard one real complaint about doing chores – their focus seems to be on the loss of power . . .

Last night Maddy had a few friends over and as they were helping her do her dishes I asked them if they thought I was a mean mom for making them work and banning electronics. One of the 17 year olds guys said, "Hey, if it works why not?" I decided I liked that kid and he was right. I hadn't yelled, shouted or been mean – all I had to do was ban electronics! In one week, they get electronics back IF and WHEN chores are done and only then. I will let you know how it goes, yet in the meantime, I do believe the secret to getting your kids to do chores without complaint is turning off the electricity! It may be noisier around the house than it is when they are quietly clicking away yet everyone including me are happier! By the way, does anyone need some kittens?