My next creative home project

I bought this beautiful worn bench at a local swap meet at a great price. I'm thinking of using Annie Sloan's chalk paint but just need to figure out what color.  Kim, owner of Truly Tattered ww.trulytattered.blogspot.com is running a fun contest to win a can of chalk paint.  I want to choose a color that will really make this bench stand out in my backyard by the pool.

Meet Janet & Steve Pywell

Success to Significance

When I started my Arbonne business I was looking for a way out of corporate America. I had just sold my Sales & Marketing company in the Gift & Decorative Accessories Industry after working in that industry for over 20 years. I was newly married and it was my bridal consultant that invited me to a business meeting. I sat and listened politely to the presentation asked some very direct questions and then said “no thanks this isn’t for me”. She took my “no” as a “need to know” and proceeded to offer me a “gold bag” filled with the RE9 Anti Aging skin treatment system and asked me to try them for a few days, and insured me that I would fall in love them. I am the world’s biggest sceptic and had never taken very good care of my skin so actually putting something healthy on my skin was foreign to me...although I was smart enough to realize that I was at an age that my skin definitely needed some help. I had been using the RE9 products for 2 days when I ran into my mom at the market and she exclaimed “Janet WHAT have you been doing to your skin...it looks great!” I said “a friend gave me these Arbonne products to try for a few day.” She said “whatever it is I want some”.

That was it I was sold! My husband Steve and I set out on our Arbonne Journey. We grew very quickly and were very passionate about our business However, we were building on our own efforts trusting in ourselves and striving. In November 2006 we said good-bye to my best friend. My mom passed away unexpectedly just 5 months into our Arbonne business from cancer she didn’t even know she had. This made me very angry and sad. I have learned since that “The toxins and chemicals in mainstream America’s personal care products pose a HIGHER cancer risk then smoking.” (Cancer Prevention Coalition 2005)

My grief became fear and my Arbonne Business took a back seat as I continued to strive in the wrong direction which was away from my dreams. For the next 4 years I switched from one corporate sales position to the next looking for my place in corporate America. I worked in Sales and Management for many of the top 100 companies in America and worked to build other peoples dreams while mine was slipping away.

Last October I came to realize that nothing is worth giving up your dreams over and left my high profile sales management job with the most successful computer company in the world to step out in faith! God was working on me, He had given Steve and I a vision and we were ready to step out in faith at all costs. It was time to put aside our fear and go for it again but not in our own strength this time. Faith is the substance of things hoped for but if you can see it it’s not faith. Faith is not seeing yet believing and that is where we were.

So we stepped out and have not looked back. In Dec 2010 Arbonne put out a challenge to earn a trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas. Steve and I had just come back from a cruise to the Bahamas when we found out my mom was ill, so setting out to earn this trip took on new meaning for us. As we rebuild our business we are building on a much more solid foundation then before thanks to our upline NVP Hilary Corcoran. She encouraged us to turn our business over to God, do with excellence what is in our control and let God do the rest. We follow the building your road to freedom outreach method developed by ENVP Jan Kilic. I’m also very thankful for my blossoming friendship with NVP Donna McPheeters she encourages me to stay focused and work this wonderful business on purpose! And it works, in April of 2011 we earned our trip.

April was a bitter sweet month for us reminding us once again how precious life is. We had another scare when we got the news that my sister had suffered a massive heart attach and had only a 10% chance of surviving. The shock was different this time. Instead of asking Why God! We trusted him. You see this business is teaching us to “Trust” so that we can teach others to “trust”.

“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more then others think is possible.” unknown

God Answered our prayers and my sister is recovering...she received her miracle and we received ours.

God still preforms miracles today. And we are learning to trust him more and more each day.

I love my new career because I get to help people every day to draw closer to Him...direct them to products that make them feel better and live longer, and that gives them an opportunity to not only live their life, but love their life.

This is our time for breakthrough it can be yours too. We want to partner with you. We know there are no coincidences. If you are reading this it is because you needed to hear our story. We believe in divine appointments don’t miss out on the blessings God has for you today! Take a step of faith you will never regret it!

For More information please feel free to contact us:

Steve & Janet Pywell
Arbonne Independent Consultants
714-402-4573inhimhealthandbeauty@me.com

I had such a wonderful time exhibiting at The Vintage Marketplace in Rainbow, CA. There were more talented and creative vendors all gathered together in one place then I've ever seen before. The last picture is my new friend Susie and her friend. I am now repping Susie's wonderful vintage spoon jewelry and I predict some wonderful things happening in the future!

MY DAY AT KNOTT'S

Out front of Knott's Berry Farm before my sales appointment. It was early so not too many people were in line yet. I love my appts. at Knott's. After I checked inventory on my lines I bought a cute bracelet for my daughter-in-law, a top for me and then stopped and treated myself to a pretzel. And I have another appointment in a couple of weeks to show new product! Couldn't ask for a better day!

Lisa Ackerman honing her etiquette skills at A&P Collectibles.

Over 30 years ago my parents Bonnie and Al Ackerman, (both LAPD-retired) moved our antique store, A&P Collectables onto North Glassell Street in the Antique Capital of Southern California, Old Towne Orange. About the same time I was completing my ‘degree’ in retailing at what I fondly refer to as the University of Bullock’s Department Store at Santa Ana. My experience in the China Department fostered an even greater love of fine tablewares and objects d’ art, and later management opportunities honed my customer service skills.Our specialty is antique and collectible china wares, glass and crystal, silver, fine and costume jewelry as well as a collection of tea accoutrements. I'm an acknowledged fool-for-glass and have enjoyed many trips back to the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. I'm a member of the Pickard China Collectors Club, Elegant Glass Club, and Carder Steuben Glass Collectors Club Though Dad is gone, Mom and I continue to enjoy coming to work Tuesday through Saturday! Each item presented is as carefully researched as possible. Every day is different and we never know who or what is going to come through our door! Maybe even you! If you find yourself in Southern California, please visit us at 146 N. Glassell Street, Orange, CA 92866. We are open Tuesday - Saturday from 11-5.. Call ahead at (714) 997-1370 if it is our day off and we may be available to open for you.. And if we don’t have what you want we’ll be happy to refer you to one of the many antiques stores and malls within walking distance to our shop. As you know, we have started a page on Ruby Lane. Here is the URL http://www.rubylane.com/shop/aandpcollectables Thank you for thinking of us! :) Lisa

New fleur de lys soaps for Backyard Soaps. Elegantly designed Fleur de lis soaps scented in Oatmeal, Milk & Honey and individually wrapped in cello. Collection includes 24 soaps ($3.25 each/3 oz.) with a decorative tin container ($18.00). The display will be offset with three soaps.

Paris in a Cup ordered these darling cups from Maryland China and had them customized. I think they came out lovely. Now her customers can take a little bit of Paris home with them.