What is it like to be responsible keep your feet moving?

Since I am responsible for my own satisfaction in my work and drive to work, I have to be self disciplined. About the only help I expect to recieve on a day to day basis is from my mom telling me to get out of bed in the morning, if I choose to ignore my alarm clock (which happens more than it should). I have to give credit to my business coach though and my friends in the business community too, because their insight has helped me learn what goes into starting up a business.

The reason why you have to be so self disciplined is because once you are up you have to keep yourself driven and working. There is no boss to look over your shoulder and remind you, “I need those TPS reports by Monday.” No it is all on you to meet deadlines.

How do you get the right plate of food to the right customer?

When customers come into the picture, I have to figure out what they need. Can I help them? Am I the right fit for them? Are they satisfied with my help? Am I respecting their wishes?  Hopefully they get the plate of food that they ordered (or in this case the content they wanted) and everyone is happy in the end.

What do you with your outrageous reactions if you have them?

I have family members to vent to or the web, but no coworkers to vent to. That’s just how it is.

What do you listen to while you work and how do you keep things clean?

Every morning, I pick up my desk and surrounding area to keep it clean. Intruding laundry or a messy desk inhibits me from working, so I have to have a clean office five days a week. Luckily, on the weekends I have trained myself to let go. As for music, I listen to a variety of stations on Pandora.com.  I prefer piano music when I am writing.

How do you tackle your business ideas i.e. the hat in video?

I have to try out an idea, let other people see what they think of it, be shut down, chase the idea some more, interact with it, have the idea in all clarity, and then let it run away from me when I get frustrated. Eventually I have to pounce on the idea and just tackle any obstacles associated with it.

How do you approach the business partner handshake?

I have to figure out how to work with them, walk away if I have to, and after negotiating, see what we can do with each other. To get to that final handshake where you agree may include dancing lightly around topics, prices, ideas, and your partner’s feelings and values.

How do you deal with mistakes that resemble boogers to your customers?

First, I have to face my ugliest mistakes in my work in front of everyone, since customers always notice errors in writing. Then I have to apologize and figure out how to make sure it never happens again. It may include doing summersaults over my weaknesses.

What goes into attaining a customer?  

In essence, it is just getting their attention in a way that makes them like me, opening myself up so they know me and then building a relationship so they can trust me.

In the end, my customers and I can be seen happily working together for the greater good.

Q&A with Janice Steidle, a Love Representative: This article is for adults 18 and over.

Janice Steidle is a Pure Romance representative and she helps women feel beautiful on the inside and outside.

What do you love about Pure Romance?

I love the products and I like helping others. Somebody that is new to the products came and told me how much they love it and how it changed their lives and increased communication with their partner. There are products for beginners, intermediate and people that are way out there.

I get to be my own boss, make my own hours and not put my kids in day care which was important. Plus the extra cash on hand is nice.

What is important to you about relationships?

If you don’t have a third communication with your loved one, you are going to have issues in that relationship. (There is already verbal and body language so the third communication would be intimacy.) You also have to have equal communication inside and outside of the bedroom. It brings up concerns between two people and solves problems. You don’t want one person to be satisfied, while the other person is frustrated. The aids (products) help couples have that communication and connection.

What kinds of products does Pure Romance have?

The bath and beauty is foreplay is to get the mood going and make you feel beautiful on the outside and inside. You can’t have a good sexual relationship if you don’t feel beautiful inside and out.

I like “Save my Skin” because it absorbs into the skin and eases the stretch marks, pushes the skin up to the top level, and eliminates stretch marks. It heals the old ones and prevents new ones.  You can also use it on your legs, belly, arms, and anywhere else you have stretch marks.

Pure Romance also has a facial care, bath, perfume, make up, and massage line among others. They also offer books that educate couples on how to connect with each other with massage.

It’s not just the toys and lingerie. It is family and health oriented.

What makes this company special?

The founder of Pure Romance is very passionate about women’s health and has set up a foundation to educate women on how to remain healthy.

How have you benefited from having Pure Romance in your life?

My husband and I were trying over a year and it didn’t take long to get pregnant, after I started using the products. I am happy and I love talking about it.

What would you like to say to your customers?

Everyone is entitled to a fun girl’s night out and Pure Romance is mobile so I can do this in any state as an army wife.

Thank you Janice

To learn more about Pure Romance and their product lines, go to http://www.JaniceSteidle.PureRomance.com and “like” Janice’s’ fan page to keep up to date.

As a freelance writer, Monica Jonen covers local events and stories. Here is her personal cover of, A Winter Wonderland of Shopping, hosted by Nicole Koch of Nic’s Network.

Jumping Jacks in Lacey, WA was truly transformed into a wonderland of fun and shopping on Sunday February 26, 2012. The smell of popcorn, pancakes, candles and cup cakes filled the air, while kids jumped in the bounce houses, moms checked out the neat vendors. A majority of the vendors are mothers themselves.

Outside it was cold, chilly and about ready to snow. However, walking into the backroom, I was greeted with this lovely invitation by one of the ladies,

“Would you like a facial, tea, and a cup cake?” A sigh of relief washed over me. I walked in and talked to some of the vendors. One mother talked to me about tea, a great relaxing antidote.

“Every little girl loves tea parties and I get to have tea parties for a living,” Maria-Teresa Correll said, the Representative of Tealightful.

Tealightful offers appetizer spreads, desert creams, scones, ice tea, and tea mixes. The company also offers heart shaped tea cups and saucers in six different colors. What are in the teas? Real natural ingredients!

“I love our teas. They are fun to share,” Maria said. Her teas were quite soothing and smelled great in their recyclable paper bags.

Next, I talked to Angie Dorian with Votre Vu. Votre Vu is a skin care line that was handcrafted in a lab in Paris, France. The ingredients are naturally based. The more you use the products, the more your skin changes. Plus the prices are a third of the price of similar products. The skin care line carries a dragon fruit antioxidant, almond and coconut lotion, antioxidant eye gel, and raspberry lip balm. After I got my mini hand facial done, the back of my hand was baby’s bottom smooth.

The next mom I talked to was Erin Menamara.

Erin runs Little Soldiers Bowtique and designs ACU, Gymboree, GAP bows and “made to match” bows. She can make bows in any color with any design. “I wanted to make bows for my girls and others that were reasonably priced,” she said.

Right around the corner making pancakes to raise funds to find a cure for Breast Cancer, was Eric Townley and his team.

“I would sell everything I have here and go back just to be with her,” Eric said about losing his mother to Breast Cancer. Now Eric is the team captain of a team that is raising money for the Susan G. Komen foundation and the three day walk for the cure on September 14^th, 2012. Their goal is to raise $25,000. The walk will take place in Seattle and be 60 miles.

He has also been looking into starting his own foundation, Saving Ta Ta’s Forever.  This foundation will allocate funds to resources that will go towards supporting cancer patients. The foundation would provide food to low income families who have cancer patients, positive supporters, or anything to make cancer patients feel like they are not alone.

Eric would like to thank his friend Brian Enriques and Chris Olson who were friends that supported him during his time of loss. Nicole would like to say thank you for coming out to the Jumping Jacks event. If you weren’t able to make it, there will be more events.

“We’ve seen that it has been difficult for people to find jobs, and so we’ve started our own business, to get our own mark in the world,” said Josh. “We grew up in a single parent family and so we really learned the value of hard work. We also learned that there are no free hand outs. You have to work to get what you want.”

In applying this attitude toward their business, the boys had plenty of products at their first Nics Network vendor show at Jumping Jacks. The first product being sold by boys4eco.com is organic specialty soaps which are made in two scents. Their Luscious Lavender soap is made of all organic goats’ milk, lavender essential oils and real lavender buds. It comes packaged in either saran wrap or patterned fabric that is folded like an envelope. Their Bodacious Bamboo Soap is made of organic goat’s milk and bamboo essential oils. It smells like fresh, clean bamboo.

“We come from an environmentally friendly family, which has helped determine what we put in our products,” said Josh. “A lot of green products are expensive and we want to make affordable products.”

Stay tuned for new products for the home that are made out of recycled material by “liking” their fan page on Facebook, boys4eco.com. You can also order their soap by going to www.boys4eco.etsy.com.

To meet the boys and check out their products, you can go to the next Nics Network event organized by Nicole Koch or “Nic”. “I love Nic, I think she is great. She is very supportive and has helped us out a lot. I enjoyed how she had the last event set up,” said Josh.

Check out more of my articles to learn more about the events organized by Nics Network.

Congratulations boys on starting up your own business and I hope it is a continued success!

She listens to people when they tell her, “It hurts when I do this,” and proceeds to treat their pain.

“Everybody needs something different. So when I assess the whole body, if I notice that you are limping, then I’ll massage your feet and hips, which will help the back too,” said Joanna.

Joanna doesn’t just give relaxing massages; she looks at why problems exist and what is causing them. However, getting a relaxing massage is also a nice part of what you’ll experience with Genesis Therapy.

Massage doesn’t have to be painful either. She said that she has non-painful massage techniques and assesses whether a client will respond to deep tissue massage well, depending on their situation and history.

Joanna has extensively continued to educate herself through community education classes in exercise, psychology, and behavioral science.

“There are lots of different types of people out there, and I always say that you can bring anyone through my door,” said Joanna.

Joanna is also a certified pediatric massage therapist. She works with special needs children, hospice children, and teaches gentle massage techniques for families.

“My clients change every day and I enjoy helping people feel better,” said Joanna.

To add value to her client’s lives, she also recommends orthotics which helps her clients walk better, whole food nutrition for a balanced diet, and aromatherapy to relax.

Her massage offices are located in Fox Island, Kent, and Gig Harbor. She also does house calls for massage parties and if there are four or more attending, she waves the travel fee.

Recently she traveled to Jumping Jacks for the Nics Network event.

“Nicole’s events bring together a variety of businesses. Nicole pays attention to details and is great about getting people to the events, and I think the events are all about having fun,” said Joanna.

To stay updated about new developments with Genesis Therapy and to see where she is at, you can “like” her fan page at https://www.facebook.com/GenesisTherapy. You can also find her contact information there too.

In 2006, after a divorce, she set out on her own with her two boys, another child on the way, and just a little money in her pocket. To provide for her family and be there for her children she started her own business called Angels Heavenly House Cleaning Service.

She also contacted the Housing Authority where she was put on a waiting list. At that time, the family was living in an 800 sq foot apartment that had two bedrooms. Every one’s clothes were washed in a coin operated laundry and the apartment was not maintained well by the owners of the property.

“I got bronchitis, pneumonia, and now have an allergy to mold from living in that apartment,” said Angela.

In 2010, Angela got the call she was waiting for.  After being referred from Housing Authority to Homes First she was contacted and told she could be helped. Her budget was taken into consideration and an affordable rent was settled on. Then Angela was given options as to where she wanted to live, which was an exciting new thing. She chose a three bedroom house that had two bathrooms, a front and back yard, and was in a historic neighborhood of Olympia. This house was 1300 sq feet and each of her boys could have their own rooms.

“It was nice to have a nice kitchen, my own laundry room and two full bathrooms,” says Angela.  “The house was also in a good neighborhood where I could have a sense of safety. My quality of life only improved from then on and I was able to get off food stamps and provide even better for my family.”

Angela was able to save money by renting a house through Homes First. She also used that money to buy school supplies and clothes for her children. While also chipping away in bigger increments at the debt she accrued while trying to survive in previous years.

“I knew we were moving up based on our lifestyle,” said Angela.

“I am still kind of in shock.  This is just a dream come true for me. The reality is just so fantastic,” said Angela. “It has been a long journey and my dreams are coming true. I am incredibly grateful to HomesFirst and the Housing Authority,” said Angela about her experience in working with Homes First. “Without them I am not sure I’d be in the same place I am now.” Now Angela just bought her first home and is excited to move into a house with four bedrooms that will allow each of her kids to have their own rooms. She also just purchased a bigger car that has more room to transport her business and is more comfortable for her kids.

What truly sets Coleton apart though is his mature, calm, cool, and collected personality that merits respect and gives respect to those around him.  Such a personality was developed after competing as an athlete for several years.

Coleton started swimming around the age of six after being taught to swim at Timberline High School. He began competing with the Evergreen Electric Eeels which is now the Evergreen Swim Club. Then he progressed with training and competed with the Briggs YMCA Swim Team.

Recently after solo training, he joined the Thurston Olympia Swim Club. During the high school swim season, he is also a part of the Olympia High School Swim Team as a varsity free style swimmer where he has helped the team win first place trophies in the league and district competitions. He especially loves and specializes in distance freestyle swimming.

“In my opinion, swimming is the most strenuous and competitive aquatic sport. If it were a contact sport it would be lethal,” said Coleton. “To swim and compete as a swimmer it takes perseverance, because it is not easy.”

By being an athlete Coleton has also learned that to compete well you have to be humble and work hard. His character has been strengthened by learning from his mother who is the coach of Fantasia Baton Twirling Co. Currently he is the janitorial staff of the Fantasia studio and the Sound Technician for Fantasia’s meets.

As a competitive twirler, Coleton competed abroad, in Washington and other states. In his six years of twirling, he has taken five state titles, one being first, and a national first place trophy.

“I have learned hand eye coordination and to value integrity and honor which play into having good sportsmanship, all from baton twirling,” said Coleton.

Having good sportsmanship has given the Coleton the ability to operate in other sports as a worthy competitor like in Military Combat Simulation Battles where he shoots alongside veterans. He has been shooting for six years and took a firearm safety class at the age of 10. As a side hobby, he enjoys hunting and recreational shooting when he has the opportunity to do so. Currently he owns the following guns to support the shooting activities: BLR .243 Hunting rifle, a DMR Air Soft Rifle Replica, a M93R Air Soft Replica, and M4 Air Soft Replica.

“I shoot because it gives me a competitive advantage and an advanced introduction on how to use combat firearms for when I enter into the service,” said Coleton, “The sport (Military Combat Simulation Battling) is similar to paintball, but military style. It is fast paced, and danger is definitely a variable. Plus, integrity is an important factor because you go on the honor system when you’re shot with an air soft.”

Coleton wants to attend South Puget Sound Community College through running start and attain his Associates degree and then his Bachelor’s degree. In the future, he hopes to either enlist or get commissioned to join the military.

“Through talking to veterans and reading, I’ve found myself to be comfortable among veterans. I’d also like to thank the past, present, and future servicemen,” said Coleton. “I have a deep esteem and respect for our fallen veterans.”

Coleton isn’t all about competition and aspirations; he also enjoys studying philosophy, listening and writing music, collecting coins and learning about government and politics.  Soon he will be seeking employment as a life guard, so he can serve his community and put his life guard certification to good use.

Instead, customers get between a practically sized 3.0 to 3.4 oz bottle of women’s perfume or men’s cologne that is packed with more fragrance for less of a price.

Perfume works as follows: alcohol opens up your pores, oil that is responsible for the scent goes in them, and water closes them. By adding more oil to a perfume, you have a perfume with a stronger scent. When it comes to the science of perfume, there is more oil than alcohol in Kismet’s Fragrances meaning the owner has concocted the perfect formula for delicious scents. I won a Royal Nature Peach Cologne Mist that smells delectable.

An extra special bonus to buying from Kismet is that 5% of the proceeds go the military, because the owner was a former Marine. To learn more about them, you can check out their website at, http://www.kismetwholesalefragrance.com.

DJ Scott was named one of the Top 12 Wedding & Event DJ’s in the nation after competing against 3,000 of the best DJ companies.

In Chicago, DJ Scott performed for corporate clients such as the Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, The Chicago Wolves, Nascar, WWE Wrestling, and AMC Movie Theaters, among many others.

DJ Scott is a first class emcee and is known across the nation for the excitement he brings to events over the microphone. He has a family-friendly style of entertainment & humor that is memorable, unique and fun for all ages.

In addition to being an emcee, he provides an interactive DJ Show filled with music, games, contests, relays, ice-breakers, and group dances. His “TV Style”

Mobile Trivia Game Show is a great hit at events like corporate holiday parties, church or school events and community festivals. To reach DJ Scott Fijolelk you can email him at AskDJScott@gmail.com or by calling the number 360-36Sound. To learn more about his services you can go to, www.1stClassDJ.com.

In talking to The Jar Lady, I found out about her passion. “I’ve always liked baking. Baking is easy to experiment with new concepts too,” said Linzi Gill. “So I thought, Why not? and I’ve been doing this for ten months now. Each one is my own recipe. The trick is to fit all the proportioned ingredients in the jar and make it taste good.”

The jars come in quart and pint sizes. There are dog treats, cookies, brownies, beer bread, and fruit crisp bars among others. You can buy one for $12 or three for $30. Each jar comes with ingredients and directions. You can check out her website at, http://www.thejarlady.com.