Why Join Jamberry Nails

Jamberry Nails began with a simple idea of helping women everywhere find a new way to express themselves. It grew into the easiest way to get noticed and complimented all day long. Jamberry Nail Wraps are so easy to sell and you'll be doing your own self-marketing. Wear the Jamberry Nail Wraps and people naturally are going to want to know, "Where did you get your nails done?" Then BAM! That's when you share what you do. You can sell this anywhere (family, friends, co-workers etc) and the sky's the limit. Believe in yourself that you'll succeed... And you will! (Especially with support from Jamberry Nails and my team).

You'll have the fun and flexibility of working for yourself and earning extra income selling one of the hottest new products. If you've already been wearing Jamberry Nail Wraps, you know they are extremely contagious. You'll find people naturally interested in purchasing the nail wraps for themselves, making selling them that much easy!

Now is the perfect time to join this ground-floor business opportunity. This business is perfect for stay-at-home moms, stylists, makeup and skin professionals, nail techs, students, business owners, "beauty school dropouts", network marketers, men etc. (we can't forget about them!) Basically, this opportunity is for anyone who's looking to supplement their current income or start a brand new career.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Started?
Your Consultant Kit is $119 + S/H. That's it! No autoships, monthly quotas or inventory needed. See what you get in your Consultant Kit below; you'll get everything you need to start your business.

How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
Jamberry Nails offers 30% commissions on personal sales. By becoming a Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant, you also get 30% discounts on your nail sheet purchases. You will also be given the opportunity to sponsor new Consultants and build a team. If you decide to build a team, you can earn sponsorship commissions and as well as group bonuses for reaching monthly sales goals. Jamberry Nails offers up to 19% sponsorship commissions, which is one of the highest in the industry.

Aside from your personal sales commissions and sponsorship commissions, you also get the chance to earn up to 5% volume bonus, depending on your level of leadership. By reaching personal and group monthly sales goals, you can earn bonuses and recognition from the company. Jamberry Nails offers a very attractive but realistic and attainable compensation plan for those who are interested in starting their own business. With my help as your Sponsor, I’ll guide and assist you in whatever sales and team goals you have.

You'll Receive:

• Consultant Kit (see below)
• An instant replicated website so you can take orders immediately. You’re replicated website comes with a back office where you can place orders, track your commissions, enter parties, get support and training from Jamberry Nails corporation plus lots more! You're replicated website is FREE your first three months, then only $10/month after that.
• You’ll be paid 30% commission on your sales and also receive a 30% purchasing discount. 
• You can earn bonuses, free & discounted products, awards, recognition, etc., especially in your first few months. There are several goals you can earn rewards from should you reach those milestones in the beginning.
• You earn generous commissions from team sales as well, should you choose to sponsor a team.
• Access to the Jamberry Nails Independent Consultants Facebook Group.
• ...And so much more!

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Jamberry Nails New Consultant Kits will include:

• 50 Catalogs
• 50 Brochures
• 100 Order Forms
• Rubber Cuticle Pusher
• 100 Orange Sticks
• 5 Nail Files
• Jamberry Heater
• Consultant Guide
• 3 Buffers
• 3 Sets of Scissors
• 50 Sample Cards
• 1 Sheet of Jamberry Nail Wraps
• Credit to Order 3 Sheets of Nails of Your Choosing
• 3 Months of Use on Your Personal Website 

The Kit is valued at over $200!

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Full Training and Support:

When choosing a direct sales company to join, you need to take the first step—finding a sponsor. My main goal is to adhere to Jamberry Nails' mission and help women feel beautiful and achieve financial freedom.  I'm committed to help you rise to the top and achieve your financial goals and aspirations.  When you achieve, we all achieve and when you need a “pick me up” we all are here to do just that. You will not be left alone or in this business by yourself, no matter how well you’re doing. Commitment is what you should expect and what you’ll receive. No more feeling like your just another number or forgotten in the mist. It’s time to be part of a team where YOU matter!

Assistance in achieving your goals:  Whether it’s reaching a certain rank, increase sales, personal development etc. you’ll be given assistance and a plan of action to strive to achieve them. Everyone needs to have a “why.” Why are you doing this business? Why do you want to succeed? It can be because you’re in debt, you want to support your children, inspire other women, be a part of a movement, go to college or just to make more money. When that’s established, you’ll have a clear understanding on what you want to strive for.

Exclusive Training:  Once you become a Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant, you’ll automatically receive training from the corporation. However, as a team member on my team, the training and help doesn’t end there. You’ll receive additional training and marketing tips in social media, article marketing, direct marketing, forum marketing, video marketing, relationship building and so much more. Those are just some examples that my team members will get access to for FREE. You’ll learn exactly what I do to have a successful Jamberry Nails business so you can do the same.

Whether you like doing actual home parties and events or just want to strictly do your business online, you will be coached and assisted the whole entire way. Many people think you need to spend hundreds on advertising, ads, systems and ebooks, when really you can achieve great success by doing FREE methods and keeping it simple!



Exclusive Access:  You’ll get exclusive access to our team’s Facebook Group and the official Jamberry Nails Facebook Group. All these are just tools, tips and strategies to get your business going and making money fast! You may not need all the support but its here for you to take advantage, no matter if you’re new to a home-based business or a seasoned veteran. Now for some of you, all this support may seem a lot and you don't know where to start. Think of it this way... Would you rather know you have many support channels compared to no support at all? The number one reason that Consultants leave a company is lack of support from their Sponsor. I can assure you, that won't happen with me and my team. I’m committed to YOU and your success because when you succeed, I succeed. But you have to let me know what you need in order for me to help you and be coachable to the support that’s offered.

Win an October Stylebox from Jamberry Nails

Stylebox by Jamberry is the perfect monthly subscription service! Get exclusive Jamberry products that complement your signature style delivered to your door each month. Only $32 (Minimum 3 month subscription billed up front)

Each Stylebox includes:
• Minimum $34 of Jamberry nail products
• Nail File
• Orange Stick
• Monthly Style Guide

I am giving away, one (1) October Stylebox to a lucky winner.  You can enter below (no purchase necessary - winner must correctly answer a skill testing question)

Enter the contest here!  Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Update - Day 20 Thrive DFT Patch from Le-Vel

I am now on Day 20 of the  Thrive DFT patch  ...

The verdict? 
I can't say enough good things about it!!!

- I sleep more soundly and deeply each night and actually feel rested in the morning upon waking. 
- Mornings are calm... no more "rushed, stressed out" feeling in the morning.
- My headaches have decreased dramatically and my knee pain is now non-existent.
- By the time 3:30 would roll around, I would hit a brick wall and often need to take a short nap....not anymore
- I have energy all day long and am tackling my "to do" list like never before.
- and best of all, I've lost 8 lbs!

I'm only 20 days in but I feel amazing, I have so much energy. I feel better on the inside and out, my joint discomfort is gone, my mental focus is so much clearer, my sleep is better then ever, and when I wake up I feel so refreshed. My husband tells me that I am a different person. No more staying up late because I can't sleep, no longer sleeping in or having a nap in the afternoon. No more coffee, no more cokes. I am loving this feeling and the new me! 

PM me for more info or check out my website here - http://bonnyl.le-vel.com/

Thrive DFT Patch - Day 7

Day 7 of the  Thrive DFT patch is complete ...

The verdict?
I didn't eat any pie late last evening and am happy to report I fell asleep fairly quickly. I've also been noticing that I'm not getting as many headaches as previously (I tend to get weather related headaches triggered by barometric pressure changes).  I don't think I've lost any weight, however, with it being the Halloween season, I tend to indulge in a few of the "snack size" bars (don't judge!!) ... I do my daily weigh in tomorrow

... will update again tomorrow - and no pie again tonight =)

Update - L'dara Anti-Aging Serum

I have been using the L'dara Anti-Aging Serum for over a month now and thought there was no better time to do an update ...

I am still loving the serum and have been appling it to my face and neck twice a day - morning and night.  Looking in the mirror, I really didn't notice a lot of difference in my skin - it just seemed smoother and clearer ... That was until I took my "after" picture.  Before I started on my new L'dara regime, I took my obligatory "before" picture and as I wanted to update you all on my progress, I took my "after" picture this morning.  I will let you be the judge (excuse the bare face but I wanted you to get the true picture).

I think it's working for me, and am excited to see what the next few months bring ... thank you L'dara!!!  Here's to aging gracefully and without wrinkles =)

If you'd like to try L'dara Anti-Aging Serum, both marketing partners and preferred customers pay the same price.... $108 plus provincial taxes here in Canada, and both programs offer a free bottle your next month when you refer 3 people through your personalized web site. 

Thrive DFT Patch - Day 6

Day 6 of the  Thrive DFT patch is complete ...

The verdict?
Last night was the first time since I started the Thrive DFT patch experience that I had trouble falling asleep right away after going to bed.  I did enjoy a slice of pie with my hubby around 9:30 pm last evening, so not sure if maybe that contributed to my inability to fall asleep quickly.

... will update again tomorrow - and no pie late tonight =)

Thrive DFT Patch - Days 3, 4 & 5

Day 3, 4 and 5 with the Thrive DFT patch are complete ...

The verdict?
No real change from Day 1 or Day 2 although I did notice I really didn't have the 3 o'clock slump where I was looking for something to increase my energy.  I am still sleeping much better and falling asleep faster.

... will update again tomorrow.

Thrive DFT Patch - Day 2

Day 2 with the Thrive DFT patch is complete ...

The verdict?
Not sure if I noticed any increased energy today although I did notice I slept well again last night. Am still looking for snacks in the evening, although not nearly as often. I have also started a conscious effort to drink more water.

... will update again tomorrow.

119 Ways to Promote Your Business

Originally posted on Wahm.com…… Enjoy!!! These are some good ideas for marketing/promoting your business:

#1. Take a small zip close baggie (snack sizes work well) and include the following in it:
~ Your Business Card, Business opportunity Mini Flyer, a Piece of Candy such as hard candy or a lollipop, mini flyer of current host specials, discount coupon (optional) etc.
~ Hand these out to the bank tellers, retail cashiers, at your kids sport events, every where you go!

#2. When I stay at hotels & motels I leave a mini catalog, my business card & discount coupon and the mini coin canister for the maid! I put her tip inside the mini coin canister! I have gotten 3 orders by doing this! Be creative when you leave tips for Hotel Maids, Waitresses, Waiters, Hair Dressers, etc. Don’t just hand them your business card, make it memorable! You can also buy cute little beaded change purses at your local dollar discount store!

#3. Print out flyers with your contact info (not your personal address), your website address & email address along with any current specials you are offering. Then contact local area mobile home park offices, apartment complex rental offices, housing developements etc and ask them if you can leave fliers in their office or hang on their tennants doors. Give the office employees a free gift or discount on their personal orders.

#4. Contact local area bridal supply stores, bridal gown stores, caterers, tux rental centers, wedding dj’s etc. Ask them if you can leave your business cards & fliers about the great (Company Name) Bridal Gift Registry for them to give to their customers. Offer store owners a free gift or a personal discount for helping you spread the word about your business.

#5. Daycare Centers! They are excellent to contact and leave business cards and/or fliers at! Example - print out a flyer of just a few items from the Tupperware Childrens line and attach a business card & a discount coupon. I bet you will get a lot of orders by doing this! So whatever company you represent, find some items that cater to children or to moms and make up a flier!

#6. Alot of churches hold a Spring and Fall Fest! Contact them about getting a table or a booth. Alot of times this will cost you under $15.00 for a space! Make sure you take products with you along with business oppty fliers, plenty of catalogs, business cards etc. Do a contest drawing at these types of events. Make up entry blanks that gather the customers info so that you can initiate contact with them again!

#7. Join your local area chamber of commerce! They are always holding local business events that you can participate in.

#8. College Campuses! Dorms & Housing Students are always looking to spend money! A lot of college students are also looking for an extra income so target them with the Business opportunity too! Drop off fliers and business cards to the College Student Center! They usually have bulletin boards, tables and other things where you can leave your information at for FREE!

#9. Contact your local area Welcome Wagon or Welcome to the Neighborhood Group! Ask them about you leaving mini catalogs, fliers, business cards, discount coupons, freebie mini gifts, etc with them. They are always looking for additional items to place in their Welcome Bags!

#10. Contact your local area hospitals and ask for Human Resources Dept. The Majority of hospitals hand out New Mommy Diaper Bags filled with products, samples and other stuff for New Moms who just had a baby! It’s FREE for you to add in your information! I have gotten party hosts, new customers and new recruits by participating in these types of programs.

#11. Contact your local medical offices, particularly Gynecology and OB Offices and Pediatric Offices and inquire about you leaving information with them. This is a way for you to target Parents of Children with both the home party opportunity, the business opportunity and new customer sales.

#12. Donate a Product to your local area Radio Station, they have numerous contests and they are always looking for sponsors! Your donation can be written off as a tax deduction plus you will get FREE Advertising & Business Exposure for your donation!

#13. Donate a Product to your local area Bingo Halls! They are always looking for sponsors of their Bingo Prizes! Bingo is BIG in a lot of areas!

#14. Call your Chamber of Commerce and find out about Local Area Job Fairs. Get a booth and set up info about the fabulous business opportunity!

#15. Call your Local Area Colleges and find out when their next job/employment fair is. A lot of times you can get a booth or table for less than $35 and you will get a lot of GREAT new recruit leads by participating in events like these.

#16. Contact local area car dealerships. I have 2 in my local area that hand out a small packet that I made up for FREE to their customers who come in to take a free test drive!

#17. Target your local area gyms! You can get a table space for $20 or less in most cases! Make sure you have 3-5 products on display, plenty of catalogs, business cards and fliers.

#18. Network with others in your community who are in home business. Find out what events and activities that they participate in. They are usually “in the know” and can help you get started in networking in your community.

#19. Contact Companies in your area to see if you can come in and set up a table in the employee lounge or cafeteria for a employee shopping break! These days a lot of companies will allow you to do this if you ask them!

#20. Does your local area tv cable company have a local information channel? Inquire about advertising! These ads will reach thousands of potential buyers for you! I recommend you only use your website address for these types of advertising and not your personal at home address.

#21. Contact local small companies and shops to see if you can offer an exclusive discounts or freebie gift to their employees. Companies are always looking for a way to “treat” their employees to specials from the local surrounding community.

#22. Small Home Town Newspapers! I don't get too good of a response when I do big newspaper city ads, however… when I target small town newspapers I usually get a great response. I even had them let me place an ad on their wedding and engagement announcements page which I advertised the Bridal Gift Registry. So if you are going to do any type of newspaper advertising, inquire about getting your ads on specific pages in the newspaper that targets the group of people most likely to buy from you.

#23. Get a low cost outdoor banner printed up with your business information on it. You can usually get them done for $55 or less depending on who makes it. You can have these outdoor banners displayed at outdoor music/concert events, outdoor children;s sporting events, outdoor adult sport events, outdoor neighborhood block parties, outdoor community events, carnivals, fairs, etc.

#24. Take your business on the road during nice weather. Contact local area parks & community centers to see what their schedule of events are and inquire about setting up a booth or table. This is a great way to network & market your business to those in your community.

#25. Community Clipper Coupon Packs & Sales Flyer Mailings. These days a lot of communities have mailings such as these, contact them and see how you can participate and advertise your business.

#26. Contact small local area businesses such as hair salons, massage parlors, boutiques, banks etc. See if you can set up a table for 1 week with 3 of your best selling products on it along with some catalogs, fliers, coupons and your business card. Keep a basket on the table for any customer orders which you can follow up on after you return back to pick up your display. Offer the store owner or manager a free gift for allowing you to do this.

You can also offer to donate a prize for a contest if they let you display the prize donated & get a copy of the contestants entry blanks after the promotion closes.

#27. Contact local area pizza shops, diners, deli’s and coffee bagel shops to ask them about advertising on their paper place-mats! Customers do read those ads!

#28. Contact local area restaurants, bars and clubs and see about advertising on their paper beverage coasters!

#29. Local Television Stations are always holding on-air contests & website contests for their viewers, contact them about you donating a prize or gift certificate to sponsor one of their contests! Great business exposure for you!

#30. Attend Local Area holiday shopping events. Customers who are ready to spend holiday shopping money turn out for these events by the thousands! You can usually get a booth for less than $50.00 so they are economical to participate in!

#31. Hold a local area community Block Party at your home or local community center! Families are always looking for something to do during the nice weather seasons!

Optional: Attend your neighborhood block party and set up a table with your product offerings or samples. Get out there in your community and get your business seen!

#32. Get your business listed in your cities telephone book yellow pages! A lot of them also have a coupon section too!

#33. You can take this phone book advertising one step further by finding out what company makes the plastic vinyl phone book covers which have local business ads on them and get your business added to it!

#34. Get your business information printed up on pencils and hand them out to local colleges and technical schools for them to hand out to their adult students! This keeps your business information in front of them! (make sure you only donate them to schools with adult students).

#35. Get a vehicle banner made for your automobile. I recommend the vinyl window clings or vinyl cling ones that stick to your automobile but don't scratch or remove the paint. You can easily remove them when washing your vehicle!

#36. If your city has a travel guide that tourists request, contact that business and find out how you can advertise in it too!

#37. Local City Maps! These days even city maps have advertising on them! You can usually get a small business ad printed on them for an economical price. Don’t advertise your personal location. If you dont have a business location then advertise your website address or email address.

#38. Contact local area hotels, motels and bed & breakfast inns and ask them if you can do up a Lobby Basket and leave it in their Lobby.

What is a Lobby Basket? You make up little packs of info about your business & products and put them into the Lobby Basket for their patrons to take.

They usually have a pamphlet wall or area too with pamphlets from local area attractions etc. If they dont have a lobby basket area, inquire about leaving your business info in their pamphlet area.

#39. Get your business info printed up on balloons! This is very economical to do! You then distribute them to local community centers, sporting events and other types of places where parents book their children's birthday parties!

These balloons can be displayed at the birthday party giving you business exposure. You can usually get them done for .3-.8 cents each. Your business name & website address is all you need on them!

#40. Find a few other self employed business owners in your community and team up! You can all sponsor a local parade float, parade clowns etc. Make up signs with your business info imprinted on them so that you can receive some great business exposure during the parade!

#41. Get some T-shirts printed up with your business information on it (both front & back sides) and hand them out to some friends, family and co-workers and ask them to wear them out and about in the community. This is their FREE gift for helping you to spread the word about your business!

Optional: Get ball caps printed up with your business info!

#42. Get some canvas tote bags printed up with your business information printed on it. Find a few ladies who are very active in your community and ask them to use your tote bag and give it to them for FREE under the agreement that they will use it every time they go out in the community for errands & events!

#43. Get a license plate made up for your vehicle! If you have your normal license plate on the back of your car, put your business named one on the front of the car! You can get one with just your business name on it for about $20-$30 per plate!

#44. Wear a business name tag every time you go out into your community! Get a Catchy Slogan printed on it such as:
A. Ask me about (your company name) Products!
B. I work from home, you can too!
C. Earn some FREE when you party with me!

#45. Local Area Magazines! Does your city publish a City Magazine? If so, contact them about advertising or if they hold contests for their readers offer to donate a product or service for their contest!

#46. Check out your local area State Fairs & Community Carnivals, there are always alot of them going on during seasonal weather.

Ask about getting a booth or table & set it up with your business information! People love to shop at Fairs & Carnivals and they are looking to spend money!

#47. Get some Business Card Magnets printed up and hand them out every where you go! Have your friends & family pass them out too!

People are more apt to keep a magnetic business card compared to a regular one which gets shoved into a drawer or wallet. By having a magnetized card, your business is kept in front of the potential customer/client.

#48. When you give gifts to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers etc. make sure you give them gifts from your own company! This allows other people to see & touch your gift meaning FREE business exposure for you! (plus, you bought the gift from yourself so you are saving money!)

#49. Invite your spouses co-workers over to your home for a little mingling party! Serve some refreshments or do a cookout BBQ and make sure you have a table set up with some product displays! If you sell kitchen or food products, make sure you use them!

#50. Do a neighborhood children's shopping party! I do this before Christmas and again before Mother’s Day. I invite the neighborhood kids to come by and shop for gifts for their parents and loved ones. They enjoy shopping on their own and parents enjoy a small break from the children!

To make this successful make sure the products you are offering are economical, I try to keep them under $25.00 each with most being around $10.00 each. Have a table set up with some inexpensive crafting supplies and let the children make their own greeting cards to go with the gifts they have purchased or have a gift wrapping table set up so they can personally wrap their gifts!

#51. Do a joint party with another consultant in a non-competing business. Partying with a friend is always fun! You can hold it at one hosts home, your home or at a local community center. Invite every one you know and have others help you spread the word. Hang up fliers at local centers & businesses too!

#52. Put an AD in the back of local high school yearbooks! You can usually get these ads for around $20.00 which makes it affordable advertising for you!

#53. Put an AD for your business in local Athletic Sport Programs! You can find these at the High School Level, Minor League Level and at Professional Sporting Events!

#54. Contact Local Churches & Religious Groups and see if you can place an AD in their weekly church bulletins & program guides!

#55. Do you have a local Community Play House? If so, get your business ad placed in their play programs! You can usually get ads in them for less than $25.00

#56. Co-Sponsor a Local Youth Athletic Group! Baseball teams, softball teams, cheer leading squads, gymnastic squads and swim teams, etc. are always looking for sponsors!

Co-Sponsoring a team will help get your business noticed in your local area!

#57. Get a Yard Sign! If you have a home business consider getting a Yard Sign printed up and proudly display it in your front yard!

#58. Does your neighborhood hold local Meet & Greets? If so, make sure you go out and attend them! Get to know your fellow community members!

#59. Donate a Raffle Drawing Prize to a Non-Profit Group or Charity in your local community! They are always looking for prize donations for their charitable raffles.

Note: Make sure you get a receipt for tax purposes!

#60. Do you have a Online Business & Website? Consider getting some computer mouse pads printed up with your website address & business name on them! This will keep your website & business in front of them every time they sign online! This encourages them to check out your website often for new products, updates & features!

#61. Local Bus Stops & Bus Sheds! Have you noticed that alot of them have local business advertising on them? Call up the company and see how much it would cost you to advertise there too!

#62. Does your local area grocery store allow advertisers to place business ads on the back of their cash register receipts? If so, contact them about getting your business ad on there too!

#63. Local baby expo’s and baby events/contests! Set up a booth or table with your business info! These events are always very popular and a great way for you to reach new customers!

#64. Watch your local newspaper for Wedding, Engagement and New Baby Announcements! Make a list and then go to: www.searchbug.com to try to track down addresses. You can mail off your business info to them announcing your business, bridal gift registry, baby gift registry, etc.

#65. Stamp your business info to the outside of all outgoing postal mail! Include your business card on the inside. Do this for personal mail, business mail and for paying your bills!

#66. Contact your local Fire & Ambulance companies and see if you can set up a table at their next BBQ Event or fundraiser event.

#67. Contact LOCAL Assisted Living Centers for Senior Citizens (this is different then a nursing home!) and see if you can come in & offer a shopping opportunity to their Senior Residents! Seniors can NOT get out like they used too so they appreciate being able to shop from home and the majority of them don’t own computers & if they do, they are not extremely computer savvy…so offer a one on one shopping experience with them! They also appreciate the adult company!

#68. Are there local small summer concerts held in your local parks? We have them here during the summer months! Ask about advertising options during these community events!

#69. BUY little boxes of Smarties™ Candies! Put your Business info on one side & on the front side slap on a label that says “Be a Smartie, Earn FREE (Your Company Name) w/a Party!” Hand them out every where you go!

#70. Make up candy packs with your business info attached to them and hand out to the Halloween Trick or Treaters!

#71. Exchange Business Cards, Fliers or Coupons with another Home Party Consultant in a NON-Competing Business and place her filler in your bags & outgoing packages & have her do the same for you! Sort of “scratching each others backs”.

#72. The PUBLIC Library! I go in there often and see all kinds of local advertisements for businesses there! See if you can leave a catalog & a few business cards!

#73. Do a CATALOG SWAP with another party plan consultant (NON competing business). See if she will swap a few catalogs with you. You hand out a few of her catalogs at the END of your party and have her do the same! Hand them out as guests are LEAVING the party!

#74. I have a friend & fellow network member who prints out for …mint books… with my business info…they look like matchbooks and inside is a piece of peppermint hard candy! They are inexpensive too! Kreation Specialties or Custom Candy Bar Wrapper or Wrap Candy , etc.

#75. Do a PARTY SWAP with a Consultant in another HOME party business! (NON-COMPETING!) Tell her if she holds a (Your Company) Party for you…..you will hold a XYZ Party for her!

#76. Ask about getting your info printed onto golf tee’s and golf balls & then donate them to a local golf course or mini golf course!

#77. FOAM DRINK COZIES, the foam thingie you wrap around a cold beverage can! See if you can get some of those with your business info on them & hand them out at local sporting events!

#78. Indoor Concert Arena’s. Have you attended a concert lately? Tons of advertising by local and national merchants at concerts! Check into doing some advertising!

#79. Children LOVE Stickers! Buy a slew of stickers with your business name on them….hand them out! Chances are that the kid’s parents will see the stickers too!

#80. Temporary Employment Agencies…again drop off packets of info about Your Business opportunity to them. The Economy is sluggish in alot of the areas in the USA…ask Temp. Employment Agencies to refer some clients to you who may be interested in a (Your Company Name) Home Business!!! You could offer the staff a discount or free gift for referrals.

#81. Print up some flyers and get permission from local shopping centers to see if you can leave them on car windshields! Always ASK permission first!

#82. Does your community print up FREE Renters Guides, House Buying Guides Etc? (you can usually find them for FREE at your local supermarket). If so, contact them about placing your business ad inside one!

#83. Got a local ice cream man who drives around in his ice cream truck throughout your community? Talk to him about passing out flyers or letting you add a logo onto his truck via a vinyl cling logo banner!

#84. Do a web search for you local county, local township and surrounding areas. I found tons of websites for my area with FREE online business directories which I was able to get my website listed in. They also have offline ADS that you can advertise in too! A great way to also find out about upcoming local community events to participate in!

#85. Are there any professional moving companies in your area? If so, contact them! They usually give out new business packet info to their customers/clients to welcome them to their new home. See about adding your business information to their “New Move” Packs!

#86. Local small town radio stations that are usually found on the AM frequency usually offer very low-cost local area advertising on their small radio station. A great way to get your business info out to those in your local community.

#87. Get your business information printed out onto paper text book covers! You can make them yourself! Donate them to local area adult technical schools and colleges!

#88. Is there a local business in your area holding a upcoming Grand Opening? If so, contact them! Alot of times they are giving away freebies to the first few hundred customers plus they do heavy advertising announcing their Grand Opening. This is a GREAT way for you to capitalize on that!

#89. Get your business info printed up on inexpensive bookmarks! Then give them to local area colleges, adult technical schools, book reading groups, libraries etc. You can usually print up your own bookmarks with your business info on them for less than .8 cents each! This will keep your business info in front of those avid book readers! They are also great to give away for FREE with customer orders!

#90. Put your Business Knowledge to Work! Offer to teach classes to adults! Examples: If you are with a kitchen/cooking company offer to teach adults to cook! They are always looking for fast & easy ways to prepare healthy meals!

If you are a scrapbooking consultant, offer to teach a class to new moms on how to scrapbook new baby pages! If you are a Bath/Body/Spa consultant offer to teach pampering classes to women & moms!

You can find adult programs by contacting: Local Community Centers, Local Civic Groups and alot of High Schools & Community Colleges offer evening classes to adults. (continuing education).

This generates leads & sales and only takes a short amount of time!

#91. Put the word out to your friends, family & co-workers that you offer freebies to party go’ers. What do I mean? Well, people who are holding baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, anniversary parties etc. contact me about my freebies. They make up party goody bags and are always looking for things to stuff them with. Depending on what type of party it is depends on what I donate!

Print out pretty bookmarks, recipe cards, candy wrappers, gift bag tags, shopping lists, chore lists etc. with pretty designs on them along with business info. Attach a coupon. I keep my cost down to .15 cents per person. An inexpensive way to reach new potential customers.

#92. Print out your own Re-ordering labels! If you sell consumable goods (foods, spices, soaps, bath products, cosmetics etc) make sure you stick on a small re-ordering info sticker with your business info on it so that your customer can easily locate your information for placing reorders! This is also important to do considering some customers purchase items from you to give as a gift, this way the person who received the gift will also know how to contact you and will become a potential new customer for you!

#93. Establish a Referral program for your business and print out referral coupons! Offer established customers a free little gift or personal discount if they refer a new customer to you! I like to give out 3 Referral Coupons to every new customer I get so that they know they will be rewarded for referring new customers to me.

Established customers are more apt to refer new customers to you if they know they will be rewarded for that referral. Verbal referral programs don’t work well, so print up referral coupons or referral promotion cards to hand out to your established customers. I also like to put a “referral reward” sticker in all of my Tupperware catalogs. You can also add a sticker to the backs of your business cards.

#94. Print out Coloring Pages with a small section on them advertising your business and donate them to local area restaurants, daycares etc. I was able to find 4 pc. crayon sets which I also donated along with the printed out coloring pages! Parents hang them on the front of their refrigerators after the children are done coloring them which keeps your business in front of the parent daily! Cost: About .03 cents for printed out coloring page with your business info located some where on it and .05 cents for the mini box of crayons.

Try to find a design that relates to your business for the best effect.

#95. Contact your local area Girl Scouts, 4-H Club and other youth groups. Talk to them about you coming in to do a project with the youth’s in the group. You can also talk to them about your business fundraiser program if you offer one. During the summer time there are alot of youth camps throughout the community. You can also find youth camps through local churches. Some are seasonal and some are year long programs. The YMCA is also a great resource!

For Example: If you are a Kitchen Consultant, come in and teach the youth how to cook or about kitchen safety. If you sell pet products, go in and talk about grooming a pet. If you sell candles, go in and make some mini candles or teach them how to decorate them for gifts. Be creative!

#96. If you are crafty with your computer you can print out tea bag wrappers with a pretty design on them along with your business information. I purchased a few boxes of individually wrapped tea bags and then put my printed business tea bag wrapper over it. You can hand them out throughout your community. I like donating them to: Assisted Living Centers, Senior Community Centers, Daycare Centers (to be given to the parents & teachers), School Teacher Lounges, Employee Break Rooms etc.

Example of Cost: .03 cents for a printed color wrapper and about .03-.05 cents per tea bag.

#97 Make sure you leave info about Your Business on your answering machine or voice mail message! Not everyone who phones you knows that you sell or represent a particular company! (especially those pesky bill collectors & telemarketers).

#98 Take your outdated catalogs and randomly mail or distribute them thru-out your neighborhood! Make sure you stamp it OUTDATED and provide contact info for yourself so they can contact you if interested to get a current catalog!

#99 Get Business Themed Banking Checks! Your bank checks pass thru tons of hands that could become potential customers or party hosts! If possible get your email address or website URL pre-printed onto them! I also suggest using pre-printed postal address labels too! (try to get checks that have pictures of some of the products you sell on them or at the very least make sure some where on the check it says: Tupperware Consultant, Avon Rep, and so forth.)

#100. Get your business info printed onto matchbooks! Donate the matchbooks to candle shops, smoke shops, clubs etc. to help get your business name out in your community!

#101. Consider getting some inexpensive mini desk-top sized calendars printed up with your business information on them and hand out to local office workplaces! A great way to keep your business information in front of a potential or repeat customer/client.

#102. Take the above idea a step further. Get your business info19 printed up on pencils, pens, mini note pads, tab stickers and so forth. Contact local office style businesses and donate a few “business” supplies to them! When you go to the doctors or dentists office you see a slew of these types of things from various companies all over the office, so you can do the same thing by donating them to office-style businesses.

#103. Contact local groups in your own community. These can be hobby groups, collector groups, new moms, new parents, neighborhood watch groups and so forth.

See what their upcoming up activities will be and offer a fundraiser opportunity to them or offer a party or to teach a class to them. Better yet, get involved in a group as a participant. The more you get out there in your community and make contacts the better your business will be.

#104. Local Holiday Events! Does your area hold a children\s Christmas party, Easter egg hunt, Halloween party, etc? If so, get involved! You can donate candy or other holiday items and get yourself some business exposure, besides they are always a lot of fun to participate in!

#105. Get your business info printed up on some Lanyards and distribute them to local office place environments for employees to use to keep their keys on or give as freebies to your current established customers etc.

#106. Get your business info printed up on some employee id tag holders! Hand them out to office environments that have a lot of employees to get your business info seen by lots of people!

#107. Contact some local small shops in your area. Offer to sponsor a drawing box & prize. Make sure you have an attractive drawing box and have the prize on display. A lot of small shops have in-shop (in-store) drawings that are sponsored by other local merchants. You should also have on hand a few catalogs and a stack of business cards. This is a great way to get business exposure and to collect leads.

Make sure your entry form states:
Name, phone number and email address
plus a section for:
____ more info about hostessing a party
____ more info about the consultant opportunity
____ request a free catalog
____ please subscribe me to your online newsletter

#108. Draft up a business press release. Submit it to your local newspapers, local magazines, tv stations and radio stations. Offer to be a guest on one of their live or recorded shows.

#109. Do you get a lot of magazines to your home? If so, after reading them, print up some labels on your computer that say “Compliments of __________________” and donate them to local doctors offices, dentist offices, local hospitals, libraries, community centers, senior centers, etc. Make sure your label includes your business name & information.

#110. Draft up some mini tip booklets, recipe booklets or craft project booklets. Make sure you label them as “Courtesy of ________________” and donate them to local daycare centers, salons, civic and community groups, etc. You can print them out on your home computer inexpensively.

#111. If you can afford this idea, its a great one! Remember those little rubbery type of change purses with the key ring attached to them that advertisers use to put their name and advertising info onto them? Well, they are popular again! I got one from our local bank! If you can afford it or co-op it with another consultant that would be a great idea to hand out to BIG office environments where employees carry around a lot of change for vending machines, parking meters etc.

#112. If your company has a fundraising program the best way to promote it is to locate local area fundraisers. What do I mean? When local groups hold bake sales, sub sales, chicken BBQ’s, car washes etc….go visit them and offer them a company fundraiser pack with all of the important fundraising information, catalog and a contact sheet & business card.

#113. Contact your local area Home Owners Association. See if you can drop off flyers, catalogs and business cards promoting your business to them or set up a free contest giveaway basket in their offices to promote your business and products.

#114. Do you attend a lot of outdoor sporting events & concerts? Have you seen those afghan throws that you can get personalized? Instead of getting a family name & date imprinted on one…get your business name on it! I have one that has my website address & my business name. Since we attend a lot of outdoor sporting events in the fall, I take it out with me and wrap around myself on the bleachers! Everyone sitting around me gets to see my business info! I even lend it out to friends & family when they attend outdoor events!

#115. Take the idea above one step further. Do you spend a lot of time out at the neighborhood pool or at the beach? Get your business info printed up on beach towels & beach blankets! You can also get your biz info printed up on a beach umbrella…better yet, get yourself a rain umbrella with your biz info printed on it!

#116. Does your city/town have a local taxi cab company? If so, call them up! I recently donated 35 of my mini catalogs to a taxi company who placed one in the back seat magazine holder of 35 of their cars. Since that time, I have gotten 1 new consultant and 2 new customers! Some bus companies will also accept them so check those out too! People are always looking for something to read!

#117. When you travel take numerous catalogs, flyers, business cards etc. with you when you pack for your trip. Make up a separate tote bag just for these items. Leave you catalogs, flyers and business cards ever where you go while on your trip.

ie. back of train seats, back of airplane seats, hotel lobbies, restaurants, sporting events, etc…where-ever. This is a great way to target non-local customers and interest in your business.

#118. Contact other work at home business people and small business owners in your community. It’s more economical for a group of you to share costs on community advertisements and mailings.

#119. If you have advertising on your vehicle, see if getting a business card holder for your vehicle would be a fit (www.cardcaddie.ca)

Thrive DFT Patch - Day 1

Day 1 with the Thrive DFT patch is complete ...

The verdict?
Still skeptical, although I did notice more energy when cleaning the house yesterday.  I seem to have fallen asleep faster last night and when I woke this morning my brain wasn't foggy and I didn't feel like I hadn't slept (which is common for me).

Second patch has been applied ... will update again tomorrow.

First Impression ... Thrive DFT Patch

As most of you know, I've been at a stand still with my weight for some time. I have been trying to lose another 25 lbs, however, am not having much luck.

I have been eating healthier (YAY), I've been drinking my Shakeology every day for the last few years, and I've tried just about every gimmick out there - until last week. A friend who knows I am trying to lose those last few pounds, asked me if I had heard about Thrive. At first I thought she meant Thrive Life the dehydrated food company but soon realized she was talking about Thrive from Le-Vel. oooops LOL

Apparently, the Thrive experience is "an 8 week lifestyle program" which encompasses a vitamin supplement, a shake and, the thing I am most interested in trying, a "derma fusion" patch. This might be a good time to mention I DETEST having to take pills of any sort - and most vitamins, at least to me, are huge and hard to swallow. That's one of the reasons I drink my Shakeology every day - so I don't have to take a vitamin pill. The Thrive DFT patch seems perfect for me.

According to the website, the Thrive DFT Patch is a 24-hour transdermal delivery of vitamins and minerals geared towards boosting your metabolism instead of a drug. The patch is supposed to help with weight control, mental clarity, appetite control and metabolic support.

Let's look at the ingredients:

~ Forslean
Forslean is standardized powdered extract from the roots of the Coleus forskohlii plant and is said to help with weight management and circulation support.

~ Green Coffee Bean Extract
Green coffee beans are coffee beans that have not yet been roasted. These coffee beans contain a higher amount of the chemical chlorogenic acid. This chemical is thought to have health benefits. For high blood pressure it might affect blood vessels so that blood pressure is reduced. For weight loss, chlorogenic acid in green coffee is thought to affect how the body handles blood sugar and metabolism.

~ Garcinia Cambogia
Developing research suggests that garcinia might prevent fat storage and control appetite; however, whether these effects occur in humans is unclear.

~ CoQ10
CoQ10 acts as an antioxidant, which protects cells from damage and plays an important part in the metabolism.

~ White Willow Bark
White willow bark acts a lot like aspirin, so it is used for pain, including headache, muscle pain, menstrual cramps, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, gout, and a disease of the spine called ankylosing spondylitis.

~ Cosmoperine
According to the manufacturer's website Cosmoperine is obtained from black pepper using a proprietary process. When included in formulations with other biological actives, it enhances their bioavailability and utilization. Our studies with various products like Green Tea, Coleus Forskohlii Extract and Tetrahydro-curcuminoids showed increased topical permeation. So in English, this basically enhances the absorption of the other ingredients in the patch.

OK, since it seems there is nothing really "bad" in the patch, I decided to give it a go. There is no discount for becoming a member, but signing up as a member is free. They also offer the "refer 2 and yours is free" whether you are a customer or promoter. Customers don't seem to get any other rewards though (like commissions off customer purchases) but because I don't know what the product will do for me, I decided to just sign up as a customer for now.

Most of the products come in "packages" which include everything you will need for a month on the Thrive experience, or you can purchase products separately - which is good for people like me who don't want the shake and vitamin pill. Cost for one month of the Thrive DFT patch is $62 - which works out to just a little over $2/day. They do offer an "ultra" version which is 82% larger and apparently has 300% more ingredients for $88, however, I think I'm going to see how my body reacts to the regular one first (I am a fairly petite gal) and feel those may be better for men or larger ladies.

I'll keep you posted ... my first patch went on today just after my Shakeology.

I'm staying dry, thanks.

Good for ALS in capitalizing on the latest fad and raising a ton of cash from people who had never even heard of ALS two weeks ago. It's a good cause and every dime they're getting is useful, no matter what the motivations are behind it.

Instead of being trendy, I'm doing what I've done for the last decade. I'm donating to charities I personally believe in and feeling good for helping out. I'm not posting how much I'm giving or to who because it's nobody else's business. I'm doing this to help out, not to try and get Facebook likes for myself or show everyone what a bloody philanthropist I am.

First Impressions - New Anti-Aging Skin Care Serum

After the fiasco with Optimera by Nerium, I was a little hesitant to try another much hyped anti-aging product, however, I am really anxious to get started on a regime that will help my aging skin and have not yet found anything worth buying in the retail market.

I had recently seen L'dara Serum - another anti-aging skin care serum - being advertised all over Facebook, and decided to contact one of the reps to see if I could get a sample prior to purchasing a whole bottle (I learned my lesson and will never buy another face cream/serum without trying a sample first).  The rep I contacted was more than happy to send a sample, and in less than a week, my sample had arrived.

The first night I tried the serum, I was a bit apprehensive but upon opening the sample, I was pleasantly surprised to find it had a nice scent (hardly noticeable, very light floral scent) and is a clear serum with a gel like texture. It goes on velvety and the skin is not sticky or oily.  So far so good.

Upon waking the next morning I was prepared for a reaction, however, am definitely happy to report that there was no itching, no redness, no irritation at all.  WHOO HOO ...

Now, L'dara is recommended for both day and night use, but because I had such a small sample, I only used the product at night before bed.  The sample lasted me about 4 days, and after those 4 days, I did notice my face seemed brighter and my skin smoother, so I decided to bite the bullet an purchase a full bottle.

Upon contacting the rep, she mentioned the product ships from a small distributor in Calgary, express post. Both marketing partners and preferred customers pay the same price.... $108 plus provincial taxes and both programs offer a free bottle your next month when you refer 3 people through your personalized web site.  OK ... off I went to order ...

I will keep you all posted on my progress ...

Product Comparison: Jamberry Nails vs. You Nailed It

Over the past few weeks we've been seeing ads all over Facebook for a new nail wrap business - You Nailed It.  Of course, as an Independent Jamberry Nails consultant my customers are very curious as to how competitor products stack up against Jamberry nail wraps, so decided I would do a comparison. This is strictly a comparison of two similar products.

According to the You Nailed It website, the wraps do not need any heat to apply (Jamberry wraps do require heat for a good bond to the nail) and, like Jamberry nail wraps, they last up to 2 weeks.  The price for the You Nailed It wraps vary anywhere between $10-$15 US depending on the design.  The selection of designs is not as extensive as Jamberry, with a lot of the designs being marketed to the "nerd" crowd.

I purchased a sheet of wraps from the You Nailed It website on August 2nd with my order total being $17.99 USD ($12 for the wraps and $5.99 for shipping).   On August 4th, I received an email that my wraps had been shipped - although no tracking info was provided.

I received the wraps today - August 12th. They were shipped from Florida to Canada - the cost of the actual shipping was $1.15.

Upon opening the envelope, the first thing I noticed was there were no instructions included.  The packaging of the wraps is just a clear cellophane sleeve.  There are 20 wraps of various sizes on a white sheet.

The only thing included in the envelope was the shipping invoice ... no application instructions ... no indication of what company the wraps were from on the packaging ...

Of course I had to compare them to the Jamberry nail wrap sheet, and the first thing I noticed is that each wrap is about 3/4 of the size of a Jamberry wrap

There are more wraps per sheet included on the You Nailed It sheet (20 vs 18), however, seeing that they are smaller than the Jamberry wraps, you aren't getting any more product with You Nailed It.

To properly do a comparison, I decided to do my manicure using both the Jamberry and You Nailed It Wraps.  After applying my Jamberry wraps according to the official Jamberry Nails Instructions, I chose a wrap from the You Nailed It sheet to fit my ring finger on both hands as an accent nail.   The You Nailed It wraps come with a clear sheet covering the top of the wraps, which in my opinion is unnecessary.

As there were no applications instructions included, I ended up going to the You Nailed It website to find the correct way to apply the wraps.

I proceeded to try and find the wrap that best fit my nail, however, this proved to be a bit difficult due to the white backing.  I ended up having to use the Jamberry Nail wrap size I usually use for that finger as a guide to which wrap would be the best fit.

Next problem I encountered was that it was extremely hard to find the edge of the You Nailed It wrap to remove it from the backing.  I ended up having to use an exacto knife to find the edge.

When removing the wrap from the backing, I noticed is that the wraps are very flimsy and thin.

I proceeded to apply the wrap to my nail.  My first attempt at placement was a bit off, so when I lifted the wrap, it detached very easily - almost too easy.  Once the placement was OK, I smoothed the wrap to my nail using my thumb pressing from cuticle to edge.  To make sure all wrinkles and bubbles were out of the wrap, I pulled gently on the edge of the wrap and to my surprise, about 1/2 of the excess came detached - which shows how thin the wraps actually are.

As per the instructions, I took the nail file and filed the remaining excess - which took no time at all and reminded me of how easily the Sally Hansen wraps are to file.

The instructions say that for a longer lasting manicure, to follow with an application of clear polish.  I chose not to do this to truly see how long they last compared to Jamberry (Jamberry nail wraps do not require a top coat to prolong the wear).

This is the finished manicure.  In this picture you can see a thin white line around the outside of the You Nailed It wrap on my ring finger - this is how the wrap came off the backing sheet.

Following is usage of each of the wraps used in this manicure.  With the You Nailed It wraps, you need one wrap for each finger instead of being able to use one wrap for 2 fingers with Jamberry.

The longest I've worn my Jamberry wraps is 16 days with  some tip wear and nail growth at the cuticle. I admit, I am very hard on my nails, so am looking forward to seeing how the You Nailed It wraps hold up against Jamberry.  Will keep you all posted.

Oh I should mention - the You Nailed It wraps are made in China.  Jamberry are made in the US.

TTFN,
Bonny

UPDATE:  Well, just over 6 hours since I applied the wraps and I can already see the You Nailed It wraps are not fairing well.  After doing the dishes and cleaning the bathrooms early this evening, the two nails with the You Nailed it wraps are already chipping and coming off - they are actually wrinkling right on my nails.  I doubt they will still be on by morning

FURTHER UPDATE:   After my shower this morning, sadly, both You Nailed It wraps had completely fallen off my nails

First Impression - Stylebox by Jamberry

When I heard that Jamberry Nails were launching a monthly subscription service starting August 1st, I was extremely excited.  I have subscribed to a number of monthly beauty boxes in one form or another over the past couple years and thoroughly enjoyed receiving them and the surprises they contained. Now, just to clarify, I am not one to get excited over nail polish, as when it comes to polishing my nails I have two left thumbs so to speak and ultimately always make a mess, not to mention being extremely impatient when it comes to the polish drying.

I excitedly signed up for my Stylebox when I was able.  The only thing I didn't like is that you have no other option but to purchase either a 3 month, 6 month or 12 month subscription - they do not offer a month to month subscription up front.  Upon completion of your initial subscription time period, the subscription does revert to a month to month payment of $25 USD/$32 CAD.

I received my notification on August 8th that my first Stylebox had shipped (marketing material indicated the first box would ship August 5th).  Shipping is free with the subscription, so I was anxious to see how quickly the box arrived.   Imagine my surprise when UPS dropped off the Stylebox late that same afternoon.

Upon opening the box, you are greeted by a "style card" and the contents wrapped in tissue paper

The contents of the box are supposed to be a wrap from the current catalog, a wrap exclusive to Stylebox subscribers, a nail file and orange stick.  Value of the contents is a minimum of $34.

Upon opening the tissue, you are greeted by the contents

Ummm ... something is missing ... was there not supposed to be a nail file included in the box?

Now to most people, a nail file isn't a big deal, however, as a Jamberry Consultant, I would expect my customers to receive everything they signed up to receive, so promptly sent off an email to Jamberry Support to let them know.

Overall, I am happy with my Stylebox ... I did know ahead of time what was going to be included in the first box, however with subsequent boxes, I don't believe even consultants will know what they are getting (unless they stalk FB or Youtube unboxings) ...

Hopefully next month I'll get my nail file ....

If you are interested in signing up for Stylebox by Jamberry - head on over to my website http://BetterthanPolish.ca ... there are three subscription options, 3 month, 6 month and 12 month. Hopefully Jamberry will also begin offering month to month subscriptions in the near future.

Optimera by Nerium Update

In my previous post I had reported that I thought I may have had a reaction from the new face cream I was trying - Optimera by Nerium.

I had used the product 2 nights in a row, waking up the each morning with an itchy face (the second morning was worse than the first), so as an experiment, decided not to use the Optimera the third night to see how my face felt the next morning.

I am happy to announce that upon waking, my face was not at all itchy ... YAY ... to check to see if there was indeed something in the Optimera that caused my face to itch, I decided to apply the cream again the 4th night ... and yep, you guessed it, upon waking the next morning, my face was again itchy.

So, I contacted my friend to find out how to return the Optimera and get my money back as there was no way I was throwing away the $92 I paid for a product that I had a reaction to.  She advised that if a customer is dissatisfied with any product for any reason, the product may be returned in its original packaging, within thirty (30) days of the purchase, for a refund of the purchase price.  I would have to contact Nerium though to get a return number and would be required to pay the return shipping on the product.  I did that and sent the product back yesterday.

I will keep you posted on how long it takes to get my $$ back ...

First Impression - Optimera from Nerium International

I have been wanting to find a good anti-aging cream for some time now and recently a friend became a brand partner with Nerium International.  Nerium's Optimera creams just launched in Canada a few months ago, and after hearing the glowing reviews I decided to give the cream a try.

Optimera Night Cream costs $125 and must be purchased directly through a Nerium consultant or online. The company offers customers who subscribe to its replenishment program a discounted price of $92 per month.    Shipping is $11.50

Optimera is one of the most interesting anti aging brands. They have taken a toxic plant (oleander leaf extract) and turned it into an anti aging cream. While there is little in the way of clinical studies or other scientific proof, there certainly is some merit to the Nerium product.

The first thing I noticed is it has a different smell to it - it's not bad, but it's really not all that pleasant. The smell reminds me of compost or wet leaves... I personally hate it. I don't like perfumed smells but I sure as hell don't like smelling like my garden either.

The instructions say to apply 4 to 5 pumps of the night cream on a damp face.  I started with 2 pumps and found that the amount from those 2 pumps was sufficient for my face.  The second thing I noticed is the cream really doesn't absorb into the skin, it seems to set up similar to a mask on top of your skin.

The next morning when I woke, my face seemed a bit itchy.  The instructions say that "Sometimes, using a new product or a new mix of products can cause a temporary reaction. It’s important to remember that your skin must have time to become accustomed to a product in order to determine how it will interact long-term. If you experience minor irritation, we suggest giving yourself time to adjust to the new product. We recommend allowing at least two to three weeks as an adjustment and purging period."   I do know and understand that your skin takes some time to adjust to a new product so didn't give the itching another thought.

After cleansing my face the next evening, I again applied only 2 pumps to my face and went to bed. Upon waking this morning my face was even itchier than the previous morning ... not good.  I began to think that I may be allergic to one of the ingredients and pulled up the instruction sheet and saw on another part of the instruction sheet it says "Should any minor irritation such as redness, itching, or breakouts occur or persist, discontinue using the product and seek medical advice."  Hmmmm

Further the instructions say "Should a reaction occur, such as a breakout, redness, or itching, it is important to determine the cause. It is not always the new product; it could be how the new product is interacting with other products you’re using." ... I don't use any other creams on my face and my cleanser is one I have been using (Purity by Philosophy) so I doubt it's an interaction. I also have trouble with creams containing any sort of sunscreen and when using those types of cream my face also gets itchy, however, it was nothing like the itch I am experiencing from the Optimera. I did end up having to take 2 Benedryl to help combat the itching.

I am not going to use the Optimera tonight and see how my skin feels in the morning.

A Review of Sandals Whitehouse

This is the follow-up to my earlier blog post about the wonderful opportunity my hubby and I were given by my dear friend Candice Cain who I work with at Candy Cain Travel, to visit the beautiful Sandals Whitehouse Resort and Spa in Jamaica.

As mentioned previously, neither my hubby nor I had ever been to a Sandals Resort and were very excited for our adventure.  We boarded our early flight (like 7:00 am early) to Toronto where we caught our connecting flight to Montego Bay.  Yes our flight was early, but when I booked our flights, I was extremely happy to find how easy it was to find a flight to Montego Bay through West Jet that didn't have us having to spend the night in the connecting city, which is a major plus in my books!

Our flight arrived in Montego Bay just after 6:00 pm, and because we had never been to Jamaica before, we had previously booked the Club Mobay Meet and Greet package through VIP Attractions. With their VIP arrival package, you are greeted by a Club Mobay representative and are escorted and fast-tracked through customs and immigration, then you get to relax in their Club Mobay VIP lounge (with complimentary snacks and beverages) while you wait for your transportation to the resort.  I was just grateful for a place to change out of my jeans into my shorts and a comfy t-shirt before boarding our bus to the resort. For me, Club Mobay is one of the BEST decisions we made!  My husband and I were greeted off the plane by a rep holding our name on a sign board, we were walked through the long line to get into customs and sent straight to a line reserved for Club Mobay to get through security and immigration etc. Our rep walked us through everything and the whole experience took maybe 10 minutes!

The Sandals lounge was not crowded and they offered sodas (without ice) and Red Stripe beer. In no time (probably 15 minutes max) we were being called for our bus. The Sandals employees are very good about double checking to make sure your bags are loaded onto your bus. However, the man who loaded the bags was very insistent on receiving tips, so have a few dollars ready for each bag.

I had previously read reviews from others who had complained about the long and bumpy/scary ride to the resort, so both my hubby and I were somewhat prepared for the trip.  What we weren't prepared for was that our driver was an older gentleman who took his time and it took us almost 3 hours to get to the resort from the time we landed at the airport (normally the trip takes approximately 90 minutes).  The road is through the mountains and is bumpy and narrow. If you have no experience with this, it may be uncomfortable however, if you can, just relax and enjoy the scenery!!  When we finally arrived at the resort, the Sandals staff member that greeted us even commented "what took you so long?" LOL

I agree that the road is a little rough, but overall, we took the opportunity to enjoy the scenery before the sun went down and had a chance to view the Real Jamaica. Upon arrival at Sandals, we were offered refreshing towels, and were taken directly to the club quarters (Concierge) for our exclusive check in. While we were waiting, we were offered the most delicious punch to welcome us to Jamaica. Check in was very easy then our concierge escorted us to our room in the Dutch village.

Since it was fairly late, and most of the restaurants had either closed for the evening or were closing shortly, we decided to order room service and within about 20 minutes, our food had arrived.  It was our first taste of the wonderful food we were to experience over our 5 days at the resort, and we were definitely pleased!

Because it was already dark when we arrived at the resort, I was anxious to see what the view was from our balcony when we woke the next morning.  All the rooms at Sandals Whitehouse have a view of the beach and when I stepped out onto our balcony that morning, all I could say was "Wow"

Now onto the details:

The Room:
Our room was very comfortable with ice cold A/C and a ceiling fan over the bed.  Club level provided us with a well-stocked bar in the room with rum, vodka, gin, scotch, champagne, red stripe beer and all the juice, water and pop we could care for.  We did have to stop in a the Concierge building early one evening to ask for a restocking of the fridge - apparently we had slept in too late one morning and because we had the "do not disturb" sign on the door, they hadn't restocked the fridge that day, but within about an hour, they had that issue fixed.  The only other issue we ran into was that two days before we were to leave, the phone in our room stopped working so we could not call out for room service or schedule our wake up call for our departure day. The TV reception was pretty poor in our room but who watches TV when you are in an oceanfront suite on the south shore of Jamaica?

Property:
The property is beautiful and very well maintained. The peacocks walking around are gorgeous and the staff are lovely and helpful. The resort is spread out nicely so you don’t feel overcrowded and this is one thing I loved about Whitehouse. We did not think it was a long walk from one end of the resort to the other as others have mentioned. The fire pits are GORGEOUS at night and I loved all the nice seating areas around the resort ~ furniture is great and nice decor everywhere!

Beach/Swimming Pools:
Although some reviews were critical regarding reserving beach chairs very early in the morning, we found it was not the case. Some chairs were reserved by butlers, but we never saw each and every beach chair taken by someone. The beach is somewhat rocky and eroded in places, however it did not deter us from taking our daily walk along the beach beyond Sandals property. Keep in mind that if you do decide to walk the entire length of the beach, you will need to check out with the Ranger at the edge of Sandals property.

I would recommend the beach near the Italian Village, as it is not eroded compared to the Dutch and French beaches. Pools were awesome. Big pool, small pool, loud pool, quiet pool, swim-up bar... any kind of pool experience you want, you can pretty much have. (Well, except for a lazy river, which would make this ideal pool resort even more perfect). We love night swimming, and you can do that here. That's a big plus.

Activities/Entertainment:
Since our objective was to relax, we did not sign up to any activity outside Sandals ... In fact there were lots of activities during the day at this resort. I don’t see how anyone could get bored here ~ TV/games room, pool table, Ping-Pong table, tennis, b-ball net, gym (which had great equipment!), and lots of activities from the entertainment staff.  Night entertainment was good too.  We especially loved to grab some wine and sit on the big long comfy chairs in front of the fire pits at night or lay on a hammock.

The Restaurants:
We made a point of eating at each restaurant during our stay and we never had a wait at any restaurant, and did not have one bad meal the entire visit. The food and wine were superb - everything was tasty! You honestly don't need to spend your money on the dinner on the beach. There are two restaurants right near the ocean (Neptunes and Bluefields) and you feel like you are on the beach. You could even order a dinner to go - and just go eat it on the beach on your own.

Eleanor's and Neptune's were our favorites.  Giuseppe's was good....the pizza wasn't great but it wasn't really that bad and the pasta was pretty good.  Bluefield's was our favorite for lunch, and Bayside was standard buffet food although I was a bit disappointed as variety is severely lacking. Bayside does late night food too after 10 and we did take advantage of that on one or two occasions.

Overall our experience was excellent. Most employees seem eager to help. But not all. Some of the staff act a little too familiar with guests that they don't know yet, and this sometimes makes them come off as slightly rude. I'm not a stuffy person, so it's not that big of a deal, however, it just feels like there should be a slight formality about the way they approach you until they know you better. And I did not feel that every employee went out of their way every single time to provide over-the-top service. That is what I expect from this kind of place. The shops offer decent selections and affordable-but-not-cheap prices. The Hobie Cats and other watersports are plentiful and fun.

My only negative comment would be the lack of wine selection. Sandals advertises free top shelf liquor and wine but in fact there are only 2 options for their red wines (Beringer stone cellars Merlot or Cab Sav) and 2 options for white (Beringer stone cellars chardonnay and pinot griggio) – these wines can be purchased in the USA for under $6 for a bottle. If you want any other wine you need to pay for the bottle. So yes, you can have top shelf liquor included in your price but if you don’t drink hard liquor and instead you want some variety or a better quality of wine with your meals you have to pay out of pocket.

On departure we opted for Club Mobay again. Sandals gets you to the airport super early and departing was wonderfully easy (make sure to keep your visitor cards given to you when you arrive). The airline check in line was long, but once that was taken care of, we were able to follow the clearly worded instructions on the voucher to check our luggage and get to the Fast Track security line. The Club Mobay lounge offers a buffet, full bar, a spa, large tvs and sofas. It was very comfortable and the food and drinks were good. The staff is very friendly and you get to wait away from the general crowds for them to call you for boarding.

But the lounge aside,  the fact that for immigration and customs on arrival and departure that they have VIP lines make the Club Mobay arrival and departure service worth buying (hands down). The queues at Montego Bay can be very long as they were for both our arrival and departure. The service of a welcoming Mobay representative marching you past these twisting lines is so worth it. The lounges are very nice and the icing on the cake. A cold beer waiting for you on arrival and to say farewell together with a range of quality complementary snacks. I could not see myself passing through this airport and not using them.

Being at the resort for only 5 days we strictly wanted to relax, which we managed to do. This was truly an awesome, fantastic vacation, and we loved the resort! Definitely a superior experience!

So that folks, is my review.  If you'd love to learn more about the Sandals resorts, just give me a shout as I am the Canadian Agent for Candy Cain Travel and would love to help you book your trip.