OPERATION SOLDIER CARE ENDED AUGUST 18- YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE!

I am writing this post today to let people know that there are still American patriots out there. Trish Forant of eMail Our Military is one of the. I met Trish this year on twitter (I am @nancymk and she is @mailourmilitary) My husband is a retired USArmy officer who works full time with me in my business. Since summer is usually a little bit slower for us with vacations and all, we wanted to do something to send some comfort items to the troops. We had already been doing that on a much smaller scale and wanted to do more. Most of our friends and family are safely back in the states at this time. So I agreed to match every care package with another one, increasing the value of each donation ( and eliminating profit or self promotion for me) Trish and I agreed that August 18 would be the latest that we could get these items to the troops in a time when they still needed them the most. We started with a small goal of $550. When we reached that within the first week, I boldly announced that I was prepared to match up to $5000 in care packages for the troops. So a new goal was set!
In the process of promoting this, some incredible things happened. YESTERDAY EMAIL OUR MILITARY WAS NAMED BLOG OF THE DAY!
When I was asked by Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller) to do a guest post on her blog about Operation Soldier care, she became involved in our project. She came up with the idea of donating prizes for the top 5 contributors. Phyllis got the ball rolling by generously donating 5 autographed copies of her latest book.
MRS LIETENANT: A SHARON GOLD NOVEL. Trish and I followed with small prizes, but other businesses got excited and started adding value to being one of the top 5 contributors! We now have 15 different prizes worth over $1000 each for the top five contributors. They are so excited that we were able to give back to them for helping us in this project!
Because of your generosity we sent over $6000 in comfort products to the troops in the desert. I matched every donation with an equal gift to maximize your dollars. They received sun protection products, after sun care, hydation products for men and women! Thanks to all the patriots who are making a difference.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Military Deployments

With just one week to go in Operation Soldier Care, and all the buzz on the internet about it, I thought some quick education on what it is like for the average soldier in Iraq or Afghanastan was in order. My husband Alex is a retired US Army officer so I have first hand information on “a day in the life” of our troops. Here are the top five things that most people don’t know-
1. Mail call is the highlight of the day for every soldier in the field.
The importance of that connection at home can not be understated. Sending cards, letters, care packages means more than you will ever know to our heros overseas. (not all soldiers have access to email)
2.The climate is harsh and unpleasant.
The average temperatures in Iraq range from higher than 48 degree C (120 degrees Fahrenheit!) in July and August to below freezing in January. A majority of the rainfall occurs from December through April and is more abundant in the mountainous region and may reach 100 centimeters a year in some places
The summer months are marked by two kinds of wind phenomena: The southern and southeasterly sharqi, a dry, dusty wind with occasional gusts to eighty kilometers and hour, occurs from April to early June and again from late September through November. The shamal, a steady wind from the north and northwest, prevails from mid-June to mid-September. Very dry air which accompanies the shamal permits intensive sun heating of the land surface but also provides some cooling effect. Dust storms accompany these winds and may rise to heights of several thousand meters, causing hazardous flying conditions and closing airports for brief periods of time.
Extremes of temperatures and humidity, coupled with the scarcity of water, will effect both men and equipment. During dry season, clouds of dust caused by vehicle movement will increase detection capabilities in desert regions. Flash flooding in wadis and across roads will hinder traffic ability and supply efforts during the rainy season. Clear, cloudless skies make air superiority a prerequisite to successful offensive operations throughout Iraq. Air operations may be reduced during windy season. The Iraqi climate is similar to that of the extreme southwestern United States with hot, dry summers, cold winters, and a pleasant spring and fall. Roughly 90% of the annual rainfall occurs between November and April, most of it in the winter months from December through March. The remaining six months, particularly the hottest ones of June, July, and August, at approximately 102 degrees F are dry. The influence of the Persian Gulf on the climate of Iraq is very limited. Near the gulf the relative humidity is higher than in other parts of the country.
3. Personal hygene and comfort items are in limited supply and not affordable for many soldiers. Imagine that you are camping in the desert. What would you take with you? Those items that you use every day are not in the backpack of the average soldier overseas.
4.Many soldiers are having back to back deployments. Even reservists are frequently called up for several tours in a row, taking them away from their civilian jobs and families. (although employers are required to keep a position open while a soldier is deployed, career advancement is often jeopardized by time away from the job.
5. Every day is like “Groundhog Day“. If you have ever seen that movie where the main charactor keeps waking up to the same day, that is what it is like for many soldiers. The only difference is that each day is one day closer to their trip home.

I teamed up with Email Our Military for the Operation Soldier Care campaign to provide comfort items to our troops. I am matching dollar for dollar each donation to have maximum impact on the number of care packages that we send for the troops. You can make a difference. Either pitch in any dollar amount or order directly on my web page and put Operation Soldier Care in the comments section. Your gift will then be sent directly to the soldiers in the field.
http://www.utterz.com/u/utt/u-NTEyMTc2OA#NTEyMTc2OA

Is Internet Marketing Replacing or Enhancing Face to Face Marketing?

This seems to be a highly debated topic right now so I wanted to jump in and provide a visual that may allow you to decide for yourself. Yesterday, I met with a client of mine and did a face to face makeover using our new mineral products. We took before and after photos for my portfolio.  Here is Marie’s photo BEFORE

Marie's before photo

There is a new feature on my web page that allows you to upload your own “before” photo and then try different colors and even hairstyles! We decided to have a little fun with it. We uploaded Marie’s before shot  and then we proceeded to select the same colors that I selected for her to see what it would look like. But we took it a step farther in selecting her a new hairstyle and hair color.  Below is her “after photo”-

Marie's actual face to face "after photo"

I believe that the tools for using the “Virtual Makeover” are fantastic! It can be used for clients that live out of my geographic area, or even for someone who never purchased from me or intends to. The service is free and available to everyone. You get to save your makeover and go back as often as you like and try new things. (I DO NOT GET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR NAME WHEN YOU DO THIS)  In my opinion, it enhances face to face marketing. I am still the beauty expert who will suggest colors to try. That is the reason why I do not think that internet marketing can replace that relationship that you build in an actual face to face situation. What do you think? Feel free to comment or experiment with the virtual makeover yourself at my website.

Learn the secrets of looking and feeling like a Queen. I can also lead you on your own personal journey to be Queen of Sales! I capture reflections. What does yours look like?

Principles in Goal-Setting

1. Visualize your goal

2. Belief

3. Define your goals

4. Break your goal into workable steps

5. Set a time limit on attaining your goal

6. Write your goal down

7. Verbally share your goals with others

8. Develop a plan of action

9. Approach your goal with positive expectancy

10. Develop self-motivation and self-discipline

Remember, no big accomplishment happens all at once. Life itself is a series of individual incidents and projects. To go through life successfully means setting and achieving goals – one after the other – each a little better than the former. Always strive to do “better than your best” and I will celebrate you as the “star” that you are . . . at the top!

COMING SOON- A foolproof way to select a color look based on your lipstick shade!

Starting on Monday June 2, I will teach you how to select a color Look based on your preference in lipstick shade. I have found in my over 22 years in business that the lipstick choice either makes or breaks the look. So if you start from there and coordinate everything else it ALWAYS works. Mary Kay had this feature on my personal web site, but recently removed it. Since I was using it in training with my consultant and even my customers there was a big demand for this. So I decided to focus on demonstrating and teaching one look each week. You can see a few of the Looks that I have already done on my FACEBOOK under photos with the album titled- “My Facebook Virtual Portfolio”. These are before and after photos of just a few of these looks. I will add more each week after I have taught you how to select a customized look either for yourself or if you are a consultant, for your customers. I am looking for models to be part of this training, so if you are local and would like to participate, please contact me.

Latest Beauty Trends for Summer on E!

Mary Kay Compact® Featured on E!

For their Sizzling Summer Preview, E! featured Celebrity Makeup artist Luis Casco showcasing the latest beauty trends for summer using the Mary Kay Compact® and mineral color collection. Click here to view the segment.

Luis used the following Mary Kay® products for the looks shown on the segment:
Gold Eye Shadow: Honey Spice, Amber Blaze & Crystalline for eyes and Canyon Gold on cheek, Beach Bronze on lips.
Pink Lips: Hazelnut & Sweet Cream on eyes and Strawberry Cream on cheek, Pink Diamonds for lips.
Smoky Eye: Spun Silk, Dusty Lilac & Iris on eyes and Cherry Blossom on cheek, Caramel Kiss for lips.

Secrets of Selecting a Foundation

One of the biggest concerns that I come across is how to find a foundation that is right for you. There are many different kinds on the market and each one has it’s benefits for the user. The first and in my opinion is consideration in selecting a foundation is your skin type. Are you dry , normal, combination to oily and/or blemish prone? Once you have settled into your favorite type or types of foundation, then the shade selection comes next. I will go over each type of foundation and who is best suited to use it.

1. Liquid Foundation- this comes in medium coverage and full coverage. If your skin is normal to dry then the full coverage will work best for you. If you have combination to oily and/or blemish prone skin the medium coverage is an option for you. Depending on your skin, it may not be the best option for you.
2. Creme foundation- This is more of a traditional foundation in a compact that is designed for lots of coverage and protection from the elements. It is best only for extremely dry skin types.
3. Cream to powder foundation- This product goes on creamy and dries quickly to a powder. The coverage is not the best and I don’t recommend it for anyone with combination skin.
4. Mineral foundation- This is the latest trend because it is so good for your skin and it can provide buildable coverage for all ages and skin types. (it is my personal favorite) The down side is you may need to touch up later in the day because it doesn’t wear as well as liquid, but I will never go back to liquid. It comes with a special brush that is necessary for the best application.
5. Mineral pressed powder- this has slightly less coverage than the regular Mineral powder, but it is great to carry in your purse for touch up. Our new compact is very purse friendly and it has room for your favorite lipstick as well.
6. Tinted moisturizer with spf 20. This is great for a quick application with protection from the sun. I use this everyday that I am planning on spending some time outdoors.

Here is where a professional is best to determine your shade. All of my foundations come in comperable shades. Visit my website to read more about all the foundation choices. Contact me for a private appointment to help you select your best shade. Remember when you purchase from me there is a satisfaction guaranteed. My customer service is the best!