What makes it a Family Affair

Hi there ...I know I'm usually talking shop on my blogs but I'm going to start adding in things from the past n present (ummmm that sound familair) that brings joy and memories to mind

Maybe you can help me out today, cause I'm in need of ideas


My girlchild becomes a young adult this January and for her 18th birthday I'm at a loss for ideas on what to do for her.
Lacie Jae graduates this year and after graduation she moves into her new position as a dairy manager for some friends of ours and she will have her own home. She's a hard working girl, raised on our family dairy farm until we retired, her love is for the cows and of course throw the boyfriend Zack in there too. She milks for the farm now but after she graduates she goes full time.
Anyways, this little gal is down to earth, no fancy stuff but she does appreciate what she recieves in life, for her sixteeth birthday I really got her, when she was little we got her a electric car and she drove that thing everywhere, but her favorite drive was down the long driveway to grammies house, didn't matter what time of day it was or how many times it was, the trip to grammies in her car with her brother who didn't walk yet strapped in the seat beside her was a trip of determination for you see every trip meant grammie had a bowl of ice cream ready for their visit

So for her birthday when she was 16 I found one of those cars, the mechanics are work gave me some old keys and i put them in a card along with some roses and sent them to the schools office, of course her pals all knew what was coming next, we parked the little red car out front of the school put a big yellow ribbon on it and waited with camera in hand to snap the look on her face...ya, it was nasty what I did but did we laugh, and so did the principle, office staff and all her pals. The look on her face was priceless...don't worry she got real car later on...
So here's where I need your help..hopefully you got alittle look at how we play together,
I need something really inventive for this 18th birthday...now remember were down to earth people money is not the object...nor do I have any for that matter (who does these days and not to mention the fortune going out for Graduation things, good thing that only happens once heheehee)
Can ya help me girls? 
Here's my beautiful daughter Lacie Jae

Before You Decide....Know Your Vision

                      How Important is Vision in your Life?

                   Vision is the single most important aspect for

                     reaching our destiny in life.

                     “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

If you lack vision, several things happen: you lose your way, you lose your purpose, and you lose your passion - three critical elements to achieving your dreams and goals.

Before you start looking into any work from home business, sit down and commit your vision to paper, this will help guide you to the right business.

Consider the fate of Smith-Corona – what were they famous for? They pretty well had the market on typewriters. Then what happened? They lost their vision; they were content with typewriters, and in a nutshell, had no vision for word processing, and about five years later, they shut down. They lost their vision, and they lost their way.

Successful people in real life are people with vision. Steven Covey said, “successful people begin with the end in mind.” Wayne Gretzky said, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it was.”

I certainly haven’t met anyone yet that hasn’t had to make the effort to succeed, unless you were Forrest Gump of course. But that’s not real life.

The reality is that when you let circumstances rule your life, and not vision, you go from failure to failure, from calamity to calamity.

                   Vision causes us to pursue our purpose.

                       So how can you create your vision?

          Start with what you want to accomplish in your lifetime…

· What do you want to Be, Do, Have and Give?

   · Where do you want to go with your business? Why?

·       What will it do for you, your family, and those you love?

·          Is there anyone you want to help that may have helped you?

·           Do you need to plan for your children’s education?

·             Do you want to be financially independent so that you

                 can donate your time and energy to a cause you love?

·                  Perhaps you need to get out of debt

                    or buy yourself a new safe & dependable car·

          If you woke up today and had all the money you needed,

                                   what would you do with it?

                          What would you do with your time?

Once you take the time to create your vision, stay close to it. Don’t let circumstances get in the way of your destiny, let your vision guide you to your destiny.

Start today..take hold of your life.... if you would like to know more about how I go about creating my vision....let's start here

   Please take the time and have the vision when deciding on your new business. I'm not after you just to get you to sign up for myself, I'm wanting to help others like myself who has asked herself what she just asked you above.

Don't go into a business just because its

inexpensive to get started, or everyone else seems to be doing this.

Make sure you have plenty of support and a great product with a excellent reputation.

Just click on the go button and see for yourself how a great income opportunity there is working side by side with me .

Take Care

It Doesn't Take alot of Reasoning

                                        It Doesn't Take alot of Reasoning                               

     The New Year is fastly approaching... 
         are you looking to change your life....

Be the person in charge of your life

 and spend your time building up your  success… How about starting right
                                         now and right here                                   
not someone elses.

 

Are you tired of being cooped up in an office all day,

your a stay at home mom but would love to earn an extra income for your family,

or have you lost your job ,

or would you be simply looking for a new line of work?

 

The truth is, the world is filled with opportunities and you do not have to limit yourself to the traditional type of work.

Take a minute here and look at just the few important reasons why you may want to consider a business opportunity that is affordable and anyone can start.

 1) A small business opportunity can help you to achieve your goal of owning a business of your own. You will be working on building a business of your own that will help you to secure your future and guarantee residual income. Why continue using your skills and experience to help someone achieve their dreams when you could be using them to achieve your own dreams? Instead of feeling underappreciated for the work you accomplish, you can take pride in what can accomplished. Don’t quit your job just yet, start your new business part time, a few hours a week will do. 2) The ownership of your own business can also help you to reach financial goals that a traditional job will not allow you to. Being employed by someone else simply means that your income is limited to the amount they feel your efforts are worth. Too often, this means that you will be underpaid for the amount of work you do for the company. The ownership of a business represents complete financial control over your profits. There are tax benefits also to having your own business. 3) Choosing a small business opportunity over a traditional job will also allow you to gain more experience in the business industry. By planning out your finances, product research, and marketing, you will gain valuable knowledge on how the industry works and should you ever have to return to traditional employment, you will find this experience can earn you a much higher income than you received before. It will definitely give you an advantage over other applicants. 4) This is not a get rich quick scheme. The American Dream is available to those that work hard and never give up. Abraham Lincoln once said, "Good things come to those that wait… But only those things left over by those that hustle".


Find out how to start off the New Year right

 When is a good time to start? Now         is always the best time.

The economy, finding extra time, don’t have any extra money to start, etc, are all excuses. You control your future

Times gone past and the little porcelin weather poodle

Does anyone remember the porcelin weather poodle?

That cute little poodle who mysteriously changed his color and to this young girl...it was for no apparent reason. Well for years that poodle sat in the window sill of the kitchen looking out as though it guarded us from the elements.

 I loved that little poodle and when I was alittle older I asked the question of my dad " how does the poodle change its color" and that is when my Dad sat me on his knee and began to explain the mystery as to how the poodle changed his color.

Now years later...and I mean years...I still have a connection to that long lost poodle of years gone by.

These years who needs the poodle when they have me...

 I'm not as cute as that perky little porcelin poodle and you won't find me perched upon the kitchen sill but you will know by looking at me what the weather is going to bring.

I have suffered for many years with overactive T cells...in other words psoriasis.
Just what causes T cells to malfunction in people with psoriasis isn't entirely clear, although researchers think genetic and environmental factors both play a role.
And thats where the connection between the poodle and I come together.
For years suffering from psoriasis, I have tried every ointment, salve and over the counter medicines they have out there. Holding on to my strenght of resistence to not use the shots or pills that are out there where the side effects, to me, far out weigh my condition of psoriasis.
I have finally come to find a resonable relief for my ichy and flakey skin.  
If your like me and don't want to invade your body with Biologics and gamble with the side effects then maybe you may find comfort in a few things I have found to be comforting and manageable.

Watkins,  which is a company thats been trusted since 1868 with their natural and organic products has some pretty good products that help me deal with my condition.
 If you'd like to see those products simply click on the word Watkins and it will take you to see my favorites that I use and then while your there take alook at all the other great products they have.By the way,  the era of the porcelin poodle also was shared by Watkins products that my mom kept on hand,like their famous award winning Vanilla.

Watkins...past n present

Watkins History

The J.R. Watkins Company History 1868

Watkins was founded by Joseph R. Watkins in 1868 in Plainview, Minnesota. That's 139 years ago! In 1868, the Civil War had just ended and was a recent memory to everyone at the time. Andrew Johnson was President of the United States taking over from Abraham Lincoln who was recently assassinated. "J. R. Watkins Medical Company", (the original name) is still inscribed on the face of Watkins headquarters building, a constant reminder of Watkins roots in the health and nutrition fields. Medicinal products were the company's specialty -- liniments, salves and other home remedies.

The still famous Red Liniment was his first product, Watkins had grown from a one-man operation to one of the largest direct selling companies in the world today. J.R. began the tradition of selling all natural products, traveling around the countryside, delivering his liniment door to door from the rear of his horse drawn wagon.Innovative concepts such as the "trial mark" and offering a money back guarantee made Watkins a pioneer in the direct selling industry. J. R. had a special "Trial Mark" molded into the bottle. He would leave the bottle with the customer upon payment and if the product had not been used past the mark by his next visit, the customer could get a full refund of their purchase price.

Watkins moved 25 miles south in 1885, to Winona, Minnesota, a booming logging town on the banks of the Mississippi River. . Watkins corporate headquarters has been located  near the banks of the Mississippi River since 1911. At the time of his death in 1911, J. R. Watkins had more than 2,500 people selling his liniment door-to-door. This is the first recorded network marketing endeavor.

By 1920 the product line reached 100 selections. One of the most colorful offerings is Egyptian Bouquet Talcum Powder. In 1922 Herb tablets (vitamins) were introduced; Watkins was well ahead of its time in realizing the benefits of vitamins. These “vitamins” supported the Watkins tradition of natural products, which continues today in the form of cutting-edge dietary supplements.

By 1928 Watkins received the Gold Medal honors at the Paris International Exposition for vanilla, black pepper, cinnamon and other ground spices; the award sealed the company's reputation for providing high-quality gourmet ingredients. Today an entire line of Organic Spices fill the product category. Things were taking off and by 1940 Watkins offered over 200 products and 10,000 sales associates covered the US & Canada.

During the war in 1942, ninety percent of Watkins production capacity is dedicated to the WWII allied effort. Products included Pure Dried Whole Eggs, Dessert Powder, Gelatin Desserts, Lemon Juice Powder, Orange Beverage Base Powder, Louse Powder, and Insecticide Powder for Body Crawling Insects.

1955 Watkins first major national advertising campaign captures the imagination of a new generation of consumers. The ads appeared in magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens, the Saturday Evening Post, Ebony, Ladies Home Journal, Reader's Digest, McCall's, and Look. Watkins ads appear in the 60’s live on NBC's "Today" show hosted by Dave Garroway.

In 1978 ownership of the 110-year-old industry leading and innovative company is transferred from the Watkins family to Minneapolis entrepreneur Irwin Jacobs and his family and a new era begins. Nearly twenty years later in 1997 Mark Jacobs, son of the CEO Irwin, was named president. Mark’s extensive Network Marketing background helped to refine and expand this legendary product line. Completing the journey from Liniment to Linimax and the return to home remedy/natural wellness products, Watkins Today is recognized as the benchmark that all others are compared to.

Over 139 years later, Watkins still offers Red Liniment as well as 350 products to make you feel better, live longer and preserve the well-being of our planet. Today, instead of the Watkins Man making horse and buggy deliveries, Watkins products are handled by more than 80,000 Independent Associates throughout the United States and Canada, with orders processed using state-of-the-art technology and promptly shipped for delivery direct to your home or business. J. R.'s Watkins Red Liniment launched a company that has created careers for hundreds of thousands of Watkins men and women over the years.

Now we come to the point of this small history lesson.
I hope you've made it this far!

Do you remember how wonderful your Grandmother's cooking was? The traditional home-cooked meals by our ancestors were almost always cooked with Watkins Products, almost exclusively! That and a pinch of love is what made those old-time traditional home-cooked meals so delicious and wonderful! Our Watkins products are what almost everyone used up until the 1950's and 60's. When people think fondly back at all those wonderful meals, Mom’s lemon cakes, Grandma's wonderful cookies or Auntie Mame’s amazing pot roast - they are thinking fondly of how wonderful Watkins products are and discover how easy it is to continue the family tradition of Excellence!

If you've never used Watkins products, you will be amazed at how special Watkins Products really are once you use them! Why do you think so many great people are involved with Watkins? Not just the wonderful income opportunity and the great products - but also the great family values and traditions that are synonymous with Watkins.

Watkins Products are being rediscovered by the buying public and we need more associates to help serve these new customers and create new ones! Join the Watkins family and the Summit Group and be part of a century old tradition which has redefined itself into a high-tech, 21st century business opportunity for you.

Watkins Products are the perfect gift for that special someone on your Holiday gift giving list this year.

Everyone will appreciate your thoughtfulness and fine taste.

Watkins has something for everyone .

When you purchase Watkins natural products you can rest assure that you are buying the finest natural products available backed by the same money back guarantee our founder J.R Watkins originated in 1868

Be sure to check out the many monthly money saving specials Watkins has going on thru December



Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake   





 Ingredients
1-1/2 cups/375 mL gingersnap cookie crumbs (about 32 cookies)
1/4 cup/60 mL unsalted butter, melted
2 packages (8 oz/227 g each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup/180 mL sugar, divided
1 tsp/5 mL Original Double-Strength Vanilla 3 eggs
1 cup/250 mL canned or cooked pumpkin
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL
  Cooking DirectionsPreheat oven to 400°F/200°C. Combine crumbs and butter. Press firmly over bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake for 5 minutes; remove from oven and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F/170°C. In large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup/120 mL sugar and vanilla until blended. Beat in eggs one at a time. Reserve 1 cup/250 mL batter. Add remaining sugar, pumpkin and Pumpkin Pie Spice to remaining batter; mix well. Alternately layer pumpkin and cream cheese batters over crust. Cut through batters with knife several times for marbled effect. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until cheesecake springs back lightly when slightly touched. Loose cheesecake from rim of pan. Let cool to room temperature, then chill.

Makes 12 servings.
 

Save $2.00 on our Original Double Strength Vanilla
Watkins award-winning Original Vanilla is made from the world’s finest Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans.
Our secret low-alcohol, double strength formula should be a staple in every kitchen. • Award-winning•
The best all-purpose vanilla for baking and freezing(11 fl oz/325 mL) $15.99 Special $13.99 Value Size!


Seasonal Favorites Purchase one Lavender Sink Set, Get the second for $9.99 J.R. Watkins Lavender Sink Set rids hands of daily dirt and grime, then moisturizes and softens with the calming fragrance of lavender. This handsome caddy, made exclusively for Watkins, is sturdy, water-resistant and embossed with the J.R. Watkins logo. Perfect for display next to the kitchen or bathroom sink.
$17.99 Purchase one at $17.99, get the second one for $9.99


Save on our Manicure Pack Our Manicure Pack has everything you need for a complete in-home manicure.
Contains:
Aloe & Green Tea Body Cream (3.3 oz/95 g)
Lavender Hand & Cuticle Salve (2.1 oz/59 g)
Signature nail buffer and fileRegularly $15.99 Special $14.49


Treat Your Feet
Seasonal item, limited time offer. This natural duo does it all – smoothes, softens and invigorates sore, tired feet. Makes a perfect stocking stuffer.
Contains:
• Rejuvenating Peppermint Foot Cream (3.3 oz/95 g)
• Smoothing Peppermint Foot Scrub (4 fl oz/118 mL)
• Foot stone
• SignatureTreat Your FeetRegularly $16.99
Special $13.99

Save on All-Natural Gourmet Whole Peppercorns & Sea Salt Grinders Enjoy the fresh flavor of gourmet pepper and salt with our new peppercorn and sea salt grinders! These grinders have a unique design that will catch your eye and please your palette. Filled with our top-quality peppercorns and sea salt, these disposable grinders are convenient and easy to use—just twist to grind. Enjoy the taste of freshly ground pepper and sea salt on all your favorite foods, naturally!
$5.99 Special $5.29

As I get older waking without some aches and pains is rare, not as active as I would like to be and I have certainly never been the one to devote extensive time or anytime for that matter to exercise.

Yes, I say everyday to myself I need to exercise but by the time I get up go to work and come home to start my home duties I'm beat.

So I'm working on life from another angle and YES, I'm going to work on the exercise thing too.

 I'm going to start with  eliminating toxins from my body and my life.
Since toxins can leave you feeling sluggish, achy, heavy, and out-of-shape and they can also be a factor in  the development of chronic diseases like cancer, arthritis, allergies, and many other serious conditions, here’s where I'm going to start and maybe you'll want to too.

 I'm going to use WATKINS PRODUCTS to help me.

1. I'm going to eat  and cook with organics and use natural products as much as possible. Most foods contain harmful pesticides and genetically-modified organisms.

2. I 'm trying to make a large component of my diet raw vegetables and juices. It’s easy when you eat a large salad daily and drink plenty of water.

3. Engage in periodic cleanses or detox programs: one day a week, a weekend every month, or a longer detox in the spring and fall.

4.Seeing how I don't have excess to a sauna I will exercise  to help eliminate toxins through the skin in sweat. Of course, I will consult my physician prior to starting a  regime.

5. Stretch daily: I picked a yoga dvd and I'm learning the routine.

6. I have altered from chemical cleaning products in favor of natural cleaning ones.

7. I am also avoiding chemical pesticides at home.

8. I am reading labels on food products and avoid those with which I am not familiar with.

9. I'm staying away from synthetic chemicals in personal care products and cosmetics. I make it a practice to read labels and avoid those ingredients with which I'm unfamiliar. No label? I avoid the product. I'm definitely avoiding any containing: parabens, diethanolamine (DEA), or phthalates.

10. I'm drinking Watkins Immunergy to give my immune system a natural boost and maintain healthy energy levels with this exclusive antioxidant blend of eight fruit and herb seed powders and D-Ribose.

11. As we age, I learned that we lose the cushioning in our joints, causing pain and stiffness. Glucosamine helps to keep joints cushioned and well-lubricated.* Plus, with Watkins Linimax, I get added antioxidants along with boswellia, curcumin and ginger, shown to reduce the body's production of pain-causing compounds.*

12. Then theres the Exercise, going to give it a good 45 minutes daily.

I think I'm heading in the right direction but with all that smart stuff I'm going to do I went one step further. I got money wise on top of that. After doing research on different products I found WATKINS PRODUCTS  to be the purest I could find.

So my choice was Watkins and I found that I could also earn all my products for free or at a reduced price...and the best part to that is I started my own business to work from home...

Watkins is totally a family friendly business...I am in complete control of my time and income

Click the button and see how Watkins can be a  good choice for you and your life too!

Watkins can be your gift giving shopping mall..and you never have to leave home

The seasonal favorites gift line include some of your all-time favorite Watkins products, along with Watkins new products and seasonal Watkins products you’ve become accustomed to using during the holiday season. 

 Any one of the many great products of Watkins make great Christmas presents for friends, relatives, teachers, co-workers and corporate clients.

Whether your shopping for gifts for staff members at your office, corporate gifts for clients, teachers gifts or Christmas presents for friends and family members, your Watkins products store has it all.

Make Watkins your online shopping mall for all your Christmas gifts.  Shipping is free on all orders over $150.  Click here to begin your Watkins products shopping experience.  

 Need a Watkins products master catalog. 

If so, click here to request your free Watkins products catalog today.

Earn Extra Income Selling Watkins Products

Are you one of the 500,000 workers laid off in America?  If so, consider starting a Watkins home-based business now and never be worried about job layoffs again.  No, Watkins is not an opportunity to instantly replace all of the income you’ve been accustomed to immediately, or even within a few weeks or months.  But Watkins is a real, honest, down-to-earth business opportunity that will provide you the means and ways to ultimately build a full-time income working only part-time hours on a consistent basis.
Can you earn more from a Watkins business than you’ve been accustomed to in your former career?  By all means, but once again, the truly big income from running a Watkins business will come in 3 to 5 years, once you’ve had a chance to build a customer base and a large downline sales organization.
Consider why you should explore this opportunity now:

1. Watkins is America’s oldest network marketing company, founded in 1868 – 141 years ago.
2. Watkins has an impeccable reputation, know for “timeless integrity.”
3. Watkins manufactures and sells 350 products for the home, family and personal use.  Thus, the minute you start a Watkins business you have a large company and a huge product base behind you.
4. Watkins product are manufactured with the utmost care, to the highest standards, often exceeding the standards of competitive products by wide margins.
5. Watkins cuts no corners in making products.  Great examples of this would be Watkins cinnamon and black pepper.  Both are 100% pure ground cinnamon and black pepper, with no inert fillers like you’ll find in store-bought cinnamon and black pepper.  This means Watkins cinnamon  taste stronger, fresher and more flavorful than other brands.
6. Watkins not only survived the Great Depression of the late 1920′s, it was one of a small handful of American companies that actually grew, increasing sales and adding jobs during the depression.
7. Numerous Watkins products are recession proof.  Everyone needs cooking oils, seasonings, flavors, extracts, toilet bowl cleaner, detergent, soaps, insecticides, etc. during good times and bad.
8. Watkins products are products that consumer use every day and order again and again — what I call “perfect” products for a network marketing company.
9. Watkins compensation plan is one of the best in the business.  You start off making 25% on products and this can grow to as high as 39% based on total sales by you and your downline.
10. Being a network marketing company, you not only earn money from your sales, but from sales made by associates you recruit, associates they recruit, etc.

There are several ways to market Watkins products, including craft show sales, catalog sharing, trade shows, Living Naturally parties and online marketing.  I specialize in training new associates how to build very successful Watkins businesses online and have had great success selling Watkins products and sponsoring new associates using online marketing techniques.
The Watkins business model is designed to start as a part-time business and build over time.  If you’re unemployed you can obviously build your Watkins business much faster.  Craft shows, Living Naturally parties and encouraging new associates to Watkinize their own homes can quickly earn you several hundred to $1,000 per month pretty quickly.  Taking your business beyond that will require a focus on both selling and sponsoring.

I can teach you how to automate both of these processes using online methods developed by the Summit Group.  The Summit Group is an elite group of Watkins associates I belong to that offers all its members superb online training tools and sales aids.  I’ve learned how to wire these tools into my own online business model to put much of my Watkins business on autopilot.  I can do the same for you.

Happy Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for
Our blessings all year through,
For family we dearly love,
For good friends, old and new.For sun to light and warm our days,
For stars that glow at night,
For trees of green and skies of blue,
And puffy clouds of white.We’re grateful for our eyes that see
The beauty all around,
For arms to hug, and legs to walk,
And ears to hear each sound.The list of all we’re grateful for
Would fill a great big book;
Our thankful hearts find new delights
Everywhere we look!

Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake   

 Ingredients1-1/2 cups/375 mL gingersnap cookie crumbs (about 32 cookies)
1/4 cup/60 mL unsalted butter, melted
2 packages (8 oz/227 g each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup/180 mL sugar, divided
1 tsp/5 mL Original Double-Strength Vanilla3 eggs
1 cup/250 mL canned or cooked pumpkin
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL 

  Cooking DirectionsPreheat oven to 400°F/200°C. Combine crumbs and butter. Press firmly over bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake for 5 minutes; remove from oven and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F/170°C. In large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup/120 mL sugar and vanilla until blended. Beat in eggs one at a time. Reserve 1 cup/250 mL batter. Add remaining sugar, pumpkin and Pumpkin Pie Spice to remaining batter; mix well. Alternately layer pumpkin and cream cheese batters over crust. Cut through batters with knife several times for marbled effect. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until cheesecake springs back lightly when slightly touched. Loose cheesecake from rim of pan. Let cool to room temperature, then chill.

Makes 12 servings.

 With Watkins Products your Holiday Gift List is taken care of...send a gift of taste and thoughtfulness
simple click on simple button below

Here's a Holiday treat for those kiddies on your list
                    Cookie on a Stick     
   
 Ingredients
1/2 cup/125 mL butter or margarine, softened
1 cup/250 mL sugar
1 egg
1 tsp/5 mL Original Double-Strength Vanilla 
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Butter Extract   
 1 package (3 oz/85 g) cream cheese, softened
2-1/4 cups/550 mL all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Baking Powder    
1/4 tsp/1.2 mL salt
1/8 tsp/0.6 mL baking soda
1/4 cup/60 mL Baking Cocoa    
1 tsp/5 mL Purest GroundCinnamon 6 oz.    
Wooden sticks

DirectionsIn large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and extracts; mix well. Stir in cream cheese, blending well. In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Stir into creamed mixture; blend well. Divide dough in half. Add cocoa to one half of dough, blending well. Add cinnamon to other half. Cover each half of dough with plastic wrap and chill 15 minutes or until firm enough to roll. Roll dough between waxed paper into 9-inch/23-cm squares. Place chocolate dough on top of cinnamon dough; roll up in jelly-roll fashion. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; chill several hours or overnight. Cut roll into ¼-inch/6-mm slices; place on ungreased cookie sheet. Place wooden stick through edge into center, pressing to hold in place. Bake at 350°F/180°C for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheet; cool completely on wire racks.

Makes 36 cookies.

Look for more great recipes at http://www.watkinsonline.com/recipes/default.cfm?gcataloglocale=USA&rlo=1

HOLIDAYS ARE FAST APPROACHING... COULD YOU USE AN EXTRA INCOME

Make this a reality

With the Holidays coming up, trying to meet the extra expense of Holiday shopping can be stressful.

You ask yourself  "How can I buy Holiday gifts and still meet the monetary obligations to keep my household going".

Think about this... for just $39.95 start up and a 25 % discount on all your Watkins Products, you could start your New Year off alittle less stressful with your new business as a Watkins Business Associate.

Now is a perfect time to start your business... you have a very social time of the year to share your new business, you give the products as gifts and you make and save money all wrapped up in one.

Not only will you have the opportunity to earn an extra income but you will also get all your Holiday Shopping done within your own business.

People will love and appreciate your gift choices from Watkins because they will know you care by giving them a gift of Healthy Natural and Organic products.

Watkins Products and the Income Opportunity is Family Friendly... you control your schedule and income

With Watkins you can achieve it all!

• Choose a method of marketing that accommodates your lifestyle.• Be your own boss.• Represent a company known for honesty and integrity.• Have fun and earn income, free travel and rewards.

Discover what I did by joining the Watkins Business with me and the Summit group
http://www.tsginfo.com/index.php?rc=BK4944 

One thing that helps the Summit Group stand out head and shoulders above other Watkins teams is our exclusive 9-4-1 materials. These free tools can help you build an ongoing monthly income without focusing on selling products to customers.

Almost anything you want to achieve is possible. People from all walks of life, all ages, and all types of background experience have benefited from this business.

Watkins is perfect for those people who need a second source of income during these tough economic times. The Watkins business gives you the flexibility for your family and other priorities... and you can never get that if you're trying to work a second part-time hourly job where a boss designs a schedule that requires you to clock-in late nights and weekends.

Our team is made of up stay-at-home parents, retirees, college students, and many people working full-time careers who just need a little extra (including people with backgrounds in teaching, engineering, marketing, insurance, computer programming, automotive repair, restaurant and food service, music, construction, and virtually every other career imaginable). Regardless of your background, you'll be a welcome member of our team, and you can succeed.

Watkins is a solid company with over 140 years providing superior products used in homes across North America, which means it's a strong company to be affiliated with today, and it will be around for years to come to provide you with a long-term, reliable income opportunity.

The Summit Group is an organization of thousands of associates across the United States and Canada. These are friendly, family-oriented people who help others learn the benefit of the Watkins products and business.

Summit Group associates use the Watkins business opportunity as the vehicle that allows them to move toward their goals of having fun, helping friends, creating wealth, and reaching dreams.

You have total flexibility. There are no ongoing requirements. You control how you build your business and can change your involvement level at any time. You choose your business strategies based on your personal goals and what feels most comfortable for you.

The primary role of associates is to spread the word about the quality, value, and beneficial aspects of the Watkins business and products. You can communicate with people yourself, or establish a group of other associates who can help you communicate with many more people than you could alone.

Our top-earning associates work primarily from home, by phone and computer. They are on a totally flexible schedule that they choose. They can change their involvement level at any time, to fit around the needs of their family, without fear of being pressured or shunned. They simply use the Watkins products that make sense for them, and they always get the associate's discount of at least 25% off, so it saves them lots of money over buying similar products weekly at their local grocery store. Then they use the computer and phone to build a team of associates who do the same. In a nutshell, it's really that simple.

Establishing your own group of associates in that manner can help you create residual income, which means you can earn ongoing income month-after-month, even when you choose not to work. It gives you total flexibilty.

The compensation plan with Watkins is excellent.

If you focus on the a strategy of team building and personal use, you'll typically earn between about 5% to 10% of the volume generated by your group as residual/bonus income. Average annual incomes for mid- to high-level leaders, most of whom work part-time, range from $16,562 to $236,124 (in U.S. dollars), with some individuals earning much more.

Although you're never required to focus on traditional retailing activities, we realize that some associates enjoy and prefer activities such as catalog sharing (gathering order from friends, family, or co-workers, kind of like an Avon representative), presenting Watkins Good Tastings parties (similar to a Tupperware or Tastefully Simple party plan business), booth sales (such as at church bazaars, county fairs, and trade shows), or online retailing. If you choose to use any of those optional retailing methods, you can easily and immediately begin earning from 25% and 39% of the retail price as your profits on your customer's orders.

Even as a brand new associate, you can immediately profit from either the Team Building approach or the traditional Retailing model.

For team builders, there's a new Watkinize Your Home bonus program and other incentives, including cash bonuses and all-expense-paid trips to exotic locations.

Three areas of support come together for you: 1) Watkins is there with great products, order processing, and computer systems; 2) The Summit Group's associates and leaders are available to encourage you and provide assistance; and 3) the Summit Group's business tools and systems give you proven business building methods you can easily duplicate.

You'll receive plenty of encouragement and recognition from other Summit Group associates who want to help you succeed.

You don't need previous experience. The Summit Group provides excellent training and support.

The initial investment is not a burden. Although most associates invest several hundred dollars in products to try and some business materials, it's possible to get started for far less.

Realize that you're starting your OWN business as a Watkins associate (not getting a job as an employee)... and being a "business owner" can get many benefits (that you'd never get if you tried to supplement your income with a part-time hourly job as an employee) . For example, as a member of our Watkins team, you'll reap the rewards for your efforts, rather than having a boss or employer get credit for your hard work. Also, you won't be relying on some bosses' opinion of whether you deserve a raise and how much—your efforts and results determine your income with Watkins. Your income is unlimited—as you achieve more success, your income checks can continue to increase indefinitely. And, of course, you can get tax breaks that are only available to business owners.

Watkins was the first company of any kind to offer a money-back guarantee, back in 1868. Today, all Watkins products are fully guaranteed, even your membership package.

Watkins is a company that offers environmentally-friendly and health conscious products: USDA certified 100% organic spices, natural seasoning blends, all-natural gourmet grapeseed oils for cooking, natural personal care and facial care items, natural plant-based home care and cleaning products, and earth-friendly high-performance laundry detergent.

The company is most famous for high-quality, reasonably priced gourmet foods like Watkins Vanilla, Watkins Black Pepper, and Watkins Cinnamon. These let people cook great-tasting meals at home on a budget.

Also, the company's home remedies have been favorites for years, including Watkins Petro Carbo Salve, Watkins Menthol Camphor Ointment in the U.S. (called Medicated Ointment in Canada), Watkins Red Liniment, Watkins White Cream Liniment, and a whole line of complementary dietary supplements and vitamins.

Personal care items are popular, too, including hand and body lotions, shampoo, and more.

These are the kinds of products that virtually all families buy and use in the homes every month. Why not become a Watkins associate on our Summit Group team... you'll get the associate's discount of at least 25% off everything you purchase for your own use... and if you simply choose to help spread the word to others who do the same, it can create significant extra income for you.

It's easy to get started by phone or online. Just contact  Watkins associate LAURIE WILSON on the Summit Group team for details...

Watkins Acknowledges Food Sensitivites and Kosher Products

In this age of increased attention to nutrition and health, food sensitivities of all types have come to the forefront of the public consciousness in the last few years. Use the information below to determine if you have a food sensitivity to any of Watkins food products.

Dairy (36 KB) 4/15/10
Gluten (57 KB) 4/8/10
Vinegar (25 KB) 4/15/10
Wheat (34 KB) 4/15/10
MSG (28 KB) 3/10
Salt (27 KB) 3/10
Sugar (42 KB) 3//12/10

Kosher (34 KB) 3/12/10

Living Naturally...Green Your Clean

More people than ever are looking for more natural ways to keep their homes clean and free of harsh chemical fumes and residues. But there is still plenty of confusion about the best way to do that. With so many products making vague claims, it can be hard to make an informed decision. What works? What's truly natural?
This guide to "greening" your clean will help you make smarter, more natural cleaning choices for your home.

The Problem

Many families today are looking for ways to minimize their exposure to harsh chemical fumes and residues. But as they look for new alternatives, they are not looking to compromise on the performance they have come to expect from all sorts of home products.

Understanding Label Language

There are a lot of product labels that use words like "eco-friendly," "organic," and "nontoxic." Unlike the food world, when it comes to cleaning products, these terms are largely unregulated, so they can be misleading.
Read past the vague claims and take a closer look at the product's label. Here's what to look for:
Plant-Based Ingredients. Look for plant-based ingredients rather than petroleum-based ones. For example, citric acid, which is derived from citrus fruits like lemons and limes, acts as a soil remover in natural cleaners.
Know Your Buzzwords. Organic is well-defined for food, but less so for home care products. The USDA's National Organic Program, which regulates national organic standards, does not currently regulate home care products.
Credible Seals. Look for products that have one or more certifications or seals from credible sources such as Good Housekeeping, the Natural Products Association and the Environmental Protection Agency.

• Natural Products Association (NPA) Natural Home Care standard: The NPA has developed a natural standard for home care products. This means that the NPA has reviewed the product's ingredients and manufacturing processes, and determined that they meet the organization's rigorous guidelines. This easily identifiable seal will help consumers discern which products meet the organization's standard of natural. www.npainfo.org.
• Green Good Housekeeping Seal: Introduced in 2009 by Good Housekeeping magazine and the Good Housekeeping Research Institute (GHRI), the seal helps consumers sift through the confusing clutter of "green" claims on hundreds of products on store shelves today. www.goodhousekeeping.com.
• Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment program: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program to evaluate products that are made with safer chemistry methods. This logo on a label means that the review team has screened the manufacturing process for the product of potential environmental effects. www.epa.gov.

How to Clean Green

Clearing the Air. Dust harbors pollen, pet dander, bacteria, mites, mold and mildew. To control dust:

• Use electrostatically charged dusters or damp rags frequently.
• Use vacuums with HEPA filters that trap fine particles.
• Change your home's air filters every month or two.
• Remove your shoes before entering the house to avoid tracking in dirt, dust and pollen.
• Use kitchen and exhaust fans to increase ventilation and reduce exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that get released into the air.

Doing Laundry. Some detergents and fabric softeners may contain ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin. Look for products that are made with plant-based cleaning ingredients and have been dermatologist-tested, such as Watkins Laundry Detergent.

• Try fragrance-free variations for those who are sensitive to strong perfumes and scents.
• Soften fabric by adding one-quarter cup baking soda or one-quarter cup white vinegar to the wash cycle.
• For an all-natural way to clean the oven, try using a nonabrasive scrubbing pad and baking soda. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, and apply it to the oven. Leave it overnight, and rinse with water the next day.
• Prevent the build-up of mold in the bathroom by regularly running an exhaust fan. Keep in mind the easiest way to clean is to avoid the mess in the first place.
• Cut back on chemical fumes and residues with plant-based cleaners, such as Watkins All-Purpose Cleaner. It contains no ammonia or phosphorus and is made of plant- and mineral-based ingredients.