Gentleman... although so many of you who are wonderful, loyal customers this newsletter is dedicated to the ladies...our "Queens of the Household!" Don't worry though. As always, much of the advice found here can be used by anyone and applied to areas of your life far beyond your house and vacuum!
Most ladies would probably not describe their life as glamorous, let alone regal.
Most probably do not live in castle or mansion with a full wait-staff. But that's okay! Life can be trying and full of dull responsibilities,but there's no reason that we should not still cherish the home we have, feel in control, and be proud of the skin we're in.
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Men and women have their ways of divvying up keeping the house clean, organized, relatively sane and paid for. But women are typically still in charge of the cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, jockeying kids around, etc. The responsibilities are endless and none of them are very glamorous. There was plenty of all that work to be done back in 1955, but now the majority of women work outside the home too! How does she do it??!! So, is there any way we can truly improve the quality of our lives, save money AND feel a little more "royal?" I whole-heartedly believe so...
Have more with LESS!
Call me old-fashioned, but I think there is something to be said for a simpler, more humble lifestyle. It may sound contradictory, but I think it's the number one way to live a truly "rich" life. A smaller house, less clothes, less activities, less cable channels, a used car...What?!! A more humble life doesn't mean that you can't still feel like a Queen! It costs less to maintain less, and subsequently takes less time. You and your home can be fabulous and efficient! It's all about having and using a few really good things that you love, rather than lots of so-so stuff you never use or appreciate. Below are some of my favorite tips on how to achieve this type of fabulous, frugal, efficient life...
Strategically FABU-LIZE your Life:
Clothes - Dress for success by paring down your closet and dresser
drawers! Get a trusted friend to help you weed out and donate any item of clothes that you do not love, fit perfectly and/or make you feel great. Only if needed, buy a few articles of better quality, very well-fitting staples like a pair of jeans and slacks, black skirt, blouses and/or blazer, etc. See what you can find on sale or at a store likeMarshall's. Keep the items mostly neutral and mix-and-match-able with a few snazzy and/or colorful accent pieces. Look for inspiration on Pinterest or and in magazines. Take good care of them. You will ultimately spend a lot less than if you bought tons of "eh" clothes on sale that you barely wear. Your clothes won't wrinkle if they're not smashed together and you'll be able to find what you want faster! You will look and feel amazing!
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Beauty Routine - A Queen always looks her best. Put your best face forward
by getting help to develop a routine! Do you need to spend 2 hours glamorizing and look like Liz Tayor to feel fabulous? NO! But 10 extra minutes in the morning can change the way you look and feel about yourself ALL DAY, every day! Rather than wasting time and money buying random products (from either the drug store or prestige counter) and struggling to put together a look that's easy and flattering, take advantage of a complimentary consultation and try products before you buy. For instance, Mary Kay Cosmetics offers prestige-quality skincare and makeup at about 40% less cost, with a 100% money back guarantee. The best part is that a consultant (like me) takes the time to analyze your skin type and features for free. In just a brief hour or so, we develop a streamlined, customized skincare routine and color look that flatters your complexion as well as lifestyle. We also teach you how to recreate this FAST, fabulous, go-to look...a priceless gift that boosts your confidence and saves countless hours of frustration! LEARN MORE >> http://www.marykay.com/RachelDecker
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Tools - Take better care of your "castle" and make your work easier by investing in quality appliances and implements. For example, do you really
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| Make HIM do it :-) |
need a $10,000 refrigerator? Probably not. But a good blender, mixer, or vacuum can make a world of difference in your day-to-day life. If you love baking or do a lot of it for your church or kids, get a KitchenAid mixer and good quality cooking pans. Find good used ones on ebay if you can't afford new. And every home MUST have a quality vacuum cleaner. Of course you'd expect me to say this ;-) But with 13 years of professional experience I've learned that this is not an area that one can afford to compromise. A really good vacuum (like Miele) will last for decades. Plus, it will thoroughly, gently and easilyextract dust, fur and allergens from all types of flooring and above floor surfaces like couches, mattresses, window treatments, shelves and electronics. Your whole home's atmosphere transforms into a pleasant, fresh, healthyplace that you are proud to share. Let professionals (like us) help you weed through the "rif-raf" of junk vacs out there and select a model with the correct features for your needs!
By the way, the same principle applies the cleaning products you use. Be very careful... Aim to use products as natural and gentle as possible for the sake of your lungs, skin and furnishings. RESIST the scary dollar store potions! See our "Queen's Cleaning Tips" Board on Pinterest and/or YouTube channel for recommendations!
So, what makes you feel like a Queen?
For me, looking my best, achieving some sort of goal and working efficiently makes me feel awesome! Call me vain, but I just feel down when I look dowdy. I simply must take a minute to at least put my hair up and slap on some mascara. Setting a goal helps me be sure I focus energy on things that are important and that improve my quality of life. And I feel less stressed if I achieved my goal in an efficient, orderly fashion. (Usually that efficiency is aided by a good, trusty tool that I don't have to weed through clutter to find!) Good tools and systems also improve the likelihood that you'll replicate your success and that someone else can help you (like the roommate, husband or kids!) Queens are calm, majestic and in control of their circumstances, right?! So aim high, ladies!! Strive to look your best, be healthy, have a positive attitude and be kind. Then recruit help to invest carefully in your clothes, beauty products, furnishings and appliances. "Shoot for the moon... Even if you miss you'll land among the stars."
I wish I could treat each and every one of you ladies to a spa day, shopping spree, makeover and luxurious lunch; a much-deserved treat to really make you feel like a Queen for a day! (Well, the makeover part I can help with.) But all I can actually offer are the bits of advice in this newsletter. I hope it will challenge you to take a look at your circumstances and see where you can make small but meaningful improvements that stretch your time and dollars toward the things that really matter!
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