Prayers for Peace

While you are keeping soldiers in your hearts and thoughts...please keeps the everyday soldiers - police officers - in your prayers as well. While they don't face the same threat as those in Iraq, they risk their lives daily and in many cases are not as well armed or prepared for the circumstances they come up against. Because of such low pay-rates, many police officers (including three in my own small town who I know personally) are opting to leave wives and children behind in order to go to Iraq and train the Iraqi police forces. Yes...if they survive they will bring back large sums of money to their families; but for the most part, they are trained in one-on-one encounters...street fighting...not the kind of combat they will face upon arrival. Please keep these brave men in your throughts and prayers as well. I apologize for the lengthy comment, but this is a subject near and dear to my heart...you see..my husband is a police officer. While he remains state-side...he and the other officers who chose to stay, not only have to deal with the worry and fear for their fellow officers in Iraq, they also have to work double-duty covering the shifts and filling the positions that were left behind. Long hours...low pay...lots of stress.

Help for Tsunami Victims

During this horrible time of tragedy, many good hearted citizens around the world want to do something...anything...they can to help. The problem? Many of these wonderful people are being scammed through false charities and organizations. Still want to help but don't know how? Here's a great way through a highly reputable company...AVON.

Right now I am selling the beautiful "Heart of Asia" lapel pin. Avon will donate $3.00 from the proceedes of each sale (the total price of the pin is only $4.00) to the Avon Foundation to support relief and rebuilding efforts in the countries affected by the tsunami disaster. Support will be directed to long-term aid organizations such as the American Red Cross and UNICEF, which provide medical care, shelter, food distribution, education for children, and help in reuniting families and creating stronger communities. "The Avon Foundation has been a philanthropic leader for 50 years and has provided thoughtful and effective support in emergency relief efforts worldwide."

If you are interested in purchasing this beautiful pin to support those affected by the tsunami, please contact me. Post a message here, email me, or visit my Avon website at the link in my sidebar.

Heart of Asia Pin



Here are a few other major (REPUTABLE) agencies accepting contributions:

AMERICAN RED CROSS
International Response Fund
PO Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013
1-800-HELP-NOW (435-7669)
www.redcross.org

AMERICARES
88 Hamilton Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902
1-800-486-4357
www.americares.org

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
Tsunami Emergency
PO Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
www.catholicrelief.org

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
PO Box 1856
Merrifield, VA 22116-8056
1-888-392-0392
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

U.S. Fund for UNICEF
Attn: Tsunami Relief
333 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
1-800-4-UNICEF (486-4233)
www.unicefusa.org

World Food Program
US Friends of the WFP
PO Box 11856
Washington, DC 20008
www.wfp.org/donate

"The Power of 3"

Not exactly what the gurus at Avon had in mind...but I thought it would be fun. Here's a quiz I have "borrowed" from Stuck. Copy it and fill in your own answers if you want. :)

Three Things Quiz

3 names you go by:
1. Mrs. Mole
2. Mommy Bear
3. 'Rose

3 screen names you have:
1. Craz4acop7
2. Englishrose
3. Rosalind19

3 things you like about yourself:
1. my eyes
2. my personality...sometimes I'm a smartass but that's the way I like it
3. my craftiness...literally...I love crafts!

3 things you hate/dislike about yourself:
1. I get bored easily
2. I love food and am always hungry
3. I tend to be bossy at times

3 Parts of your Heritage:
1. Irish
2. Scottish
3.

3 things that scare you:
1. storms
2. being away from my husband/children
3. that some of my loved ones are not saved

3 of your everyday essentials:
1. my computer
2. my telephone
3. books

3 things you're wearing right now:
1. my new matching lingerie set that husband gave me for Christmas
2. mint green sweater
3. khaki courderoy pants

3 of your favorite bands/artists:
1. Steven Curtis Chapman
2. Rebecca St. James
3. Smalltown Poets or Newsboys

3 of your favorite songs at present:
1. Gravity - Shawn McDonald
2. This Fragile Breathe - Todd Agnew
3. the new release by Barlow Girl...I forget the name

3 new things you want to try in the next 12 months:
1. a new cell phone plan...mine sucks
2. something Chinese (Greg and GW know)
3. to make my own purses like my friend does

3 things you want in a relationship (love is a given):
1. friendship
2. trust/loyalty
3. attention

2 truths and a lie:(no particular order to keep ya guessing)
1. I've been cutting my own hair since I was 11 years old
2. I've never been to a Major League baseball game.
3. One of my favourite foods is an Eggo waffle topped with peanut butter and marshmallows

3 physical things about a love interest that appeal:
1. eyes
2. beautiful smile
3. not hairy

3 things you just can't do:
1. play first person role-playing video games w/o getting sick
2. ride on a ski-lift or in a sky-bucket
3. go out into the ocean farther than I can still see my toes at the bottom

3 of your favorite hobbies:
1. cross-stitch/embroidery
2. painting ceramics/woodcrafts
3. reading

3 things you want to do really badly right now:
1. go on a vacation
2. buy a new house
3. finish my new cross-stitch project instead of cleaning house!

3 careers you're considering (let's say I would consider):
1. Avon District Sales Manager
2. Owner/Manager of my own store
3. College Professor

3 places you want to go on vacation:
1. Disneyworld in Orlando, FL
2. Gatlinburg, TN
3. Pensacola, FL

3 kids names (either boy or girl):
1. Gabriella
2. Eli
3. Danica

3 things you want to do before you die:
1. Get out of debt
2. Have my own house designed/built
3. See my kids happily married and settled

3 people who have to take this quiz now:
1. Greg
2. Good Wife
3. Birdie

My First "Child"

This is Amos, my wedding present from four years ago. He was born on May 14th, 2000 and we brought him home the first week in July when he was only 8 weeks old. I used to carry him around in the pocket of my bathrobe, he was so tiny. Now he weighs all of between 8 and 9 pounds and is spoiled rotten. He even sleeps in the bed with us - usually under the covers but sometimes he sleeps with his head on my pillow and I hug him like a teddy bear. Rotten beast! :)

Little Amos

An Unexpected Addition

Four years ago, two weeks after our wedding...Alan bought me a black and tan, miniature weenie dog that we named Amos (officially "Little Amos") for a wedding present. Alan worked 12 hour night shifts then and I was alone every evening. Amos was a great little buddy and lots of company, which is why the spoiled rotten little beast still sleeps in our bed under the covers every night. Anyway, we had always intended to get him a "mate" but then our first daughter, Cat, came along followed two years later by our second one - Ash, and we just haven't had the time or effort to put into getting another dog. Amos is AKC registered with a good bloodline and family lineage. We paid too much for him but he's worth every penny. Since then however, we haven't had the money to purchase him a girlfriend, though from time to time we have looked around. Today was a typical day. I was trying to get caught up with my Avon business and keep the girls fed, clean, and for the most part satisfied. Alan was at work until he got off at 6:00 pm. When he came home however, he didn't come alone. I met him at the car and was immediatly attacked by a little black and tan bundle of energy. Yep! He brought home a little 5 month old female, black and tan, miniature weenie dog puppy! She too will be AKC registered as soon as we send the paper work in. (Her parents are full-blooded and registered). She was given to him by a lady he met today who was looking for a good adoptive family for her baby. She was having to move and could not take her puppy with her, but wanted her to go to a family who would keep her indoors and love her and spoil her rotten. Alan saw the lady with the puppy and just commented on how beautiful the puppy was. He then told her that we had been looking for a mate for our dog who looks exactly like her and is spoiled rotten - even sleeping in the bed. The woman told him...you have just found one. I'm looking for an adoptive family for "Pepper" and if you want her... you are it. So we have a new addition to our ever-growing family. Pepper who when her registration papers are complete will be renamed "Lady Abagail" and called "Abby." Here she is:

Our New Addition - Lady Abagail (Abby)

My Little Princess

This is Cat, my three year old who looks about 6 in this picture. She is modeling the Sleeping Beauty Princess Dress Up gown that her grandparents sent her for Christmas. And that pose was NOT my idea...LOL. I got ready to snap the picture and she says "Mommy...I haffa hold my Christmas tree!" :)


My Little Princess

Housecleaning

I figured it was about time to do a little "cleaning" up on my blog. If you will notice in the side bar, I have made a few changes and additions. First of all, the section headings finally match! I've been meaning to fix that forever, and when I logged on I kept forgetting. Secondly, I added a link where you can go to my Avon homepage and browse or shop to your heart's content. And finally, I also added a link to yet another blog I have created -- this one with the intent to publish review and recommendations by myself and possibly others of Avon products which hopefully some of you will find useful. Before upcoming holidays, I will even post a list of "gift ideas" for guys and gals. Maybe the men out there will appreciate that one. For instance...although the Bust Sculpt and Cell-u-Sculpt are both wonderful products, it probably wouldn't be that great of an idea to give it to your lady love as a Valentine's Day gift! I'm thinking you may end up on the couch for that one! ;)

Anew Year...(pun intended)

Welcome back everyone! Hope you had a very merry Christmas and I wish you all the best in the new year! I am hoping the new year will bring some new beginnings. Especially for my Avon business. I have to admit I did not end the past year with the best record. In fact, I did not even send in an order for my last campaign of 2004. It was due by December 28th and it just happened that my little girls came down with a nasty stomach virus on Christmas Day and the day after...so I was force feeding Pedialyte and Ginger Ale....holding downy soft ponytails while my baby girls emptied their little tummies with violent wretches....mopping clammy foreheads...administering medicine...changing and washing sheets...mopping floors...running around the house with a can of Lysol disinfectant spray like a crazy woman....and of course doing the cuddling and comforting required by sick kiddies of their mommy. (Which...as usual resulted in me getting the virus too). This week however, everyone is back to normal. The kids are bouncing off the walls...literally...and playing with all the new stuff they got for Christmas. Alan and I are trying to establish some semblance of "order" to our household...cleaning...and rearranging things. AND I'm attempting to get my business things more organized as well. My problem is...I NEED CUSTOMERS. I have one person, Aurora...who orders from me every single campaign...God bless her! But for the most part...my other customers place orders sporadically and I can't rely on them for income. My Avon business allows me to stay home with my baby girls. Alan is a police officer and while he adores his job (and I adore the way he looks in that uniform) it's not a very high paying profession. Especially when you consider that technically police officers are being paid to put their lives on the line on a daily basis. They don't get paid a tenth of what they deserve. Plus, we live in a small town in Alabama...so our town's budget for police does not come close to comparing with that of larger departments. In other words...we make it...but just barely. There is usually not any money for "extras" and we are okay unless something breaks down or needs serious repair..including ourselves! If you use...would like to use...or know of anyone else who might like to use Avon products and need(s) a representative...please keep me in mind. I have my own website now where you can order directly from me and have the products sent directly to you. http://www.youravon.com/dwykoff
Please bookmark me and send me to your friends and family as well! I also put together gift baskets for all occasions for very reasonable prices...I just have to know well enough in advance so that I have time to order the products that I don't have on hand. Anyway...to get to the point...my new year started off rather well. I received a phone call from a lady who needed a representative and wanted me to serve her. She called me back today with an order for three products. Not just any products...but three products from Avon's ANEW CLINICAL line which is the most technologically advanced (also most expensive) line Avon currently offers. From the sale of those three products alone, I made $90.00. Not a bad way to start 2005....and so I wish you all... a Happy Anew Year! :)