Seeing GREEN

7 weeks ago, June 2nd,  I made the decision to join Younique, after hosting a party and buying this Magic Mascara!

It was love at first site! My lashes were long, my eyes openned up more! It was AMAZING!!!  I sorta looked into the comp plan, I heard great stories, but for $99 what did I have to loose, I'll make that back and be happy..... HA!!!!

June 12th, just 10 days in I hit the first 2 levels, on the same day! Yellow and Pink! I got a pay raise and was over the moon! June 23rd, 11 days later, I hit blue!!! HELLO!!! The 24th I hit Fast Start! YEEEHAW! 

July 5th I got my first comissions check, YAY!!! I was STUNNED!

On sales we get paid within hours of each sale! Hello instant money!!!

Today, July 24th, I hit GREEN! Thats HUGE!!!! of the 8 levels, Im on the 5th one! Top 1% of the company! HEY do a little dance with me.. ALL from selling mascara on Facebook!!!! 

I have developed amazing friendships, Im helping to save for a house, I am having fun and just plain EXCITED for whats to come!!! Its insane!!! 

Next week I head to Dallas Texas for a convention, which I paid for with my earnings!! I get to dress up and get fancy, I get to hang out with Lash Loving ladies.

My first goal was to have fun! Now that Im doing this and having fun, I didnt realize how much I would LOVE seeing before and after photos! How much I LOVE hearing about how a mascara brought a bit of confidence in! Im BLOWN away! This company is honest, treats their presenters like royalty and a million more things I cant come up with at this moment! 

I want the WORLD to know about our amazing produncts, YES I make money on it, but more importantly, I see a person smile, I hear and see excitement! I just LOVE it! I get giddy ,and thats no lie! 

Im here to share the lash love! Im here to help women! Im here having the time of my life while still being able to be at home with my kids watching them grow! This my dear friends, IS THE LIFE!!!

Heres a video of my demonstrating:

www.VictoryLashes.com 

thats my site, you can also find me on Facebook:

VICTORY LASHES

Im always looking for friends to join my team, and always have openings for ONLINE parties!!!

Tips

Here is a video sharing things Ive learned about the 3D Fiber lashes!

photo taken right after recording the video

https://www.youniqueproducts.com/tessbenson/party/240961/view

Mascara for Dance

My girl is in dance, I thought Id try my new natural product on her precious eyes! MAN the results were awesome!!! and I know its safe!!!



She will be wearing this the day of her performance!!!

Top- Bare
middle- One coat
bottom- one bare one 2 coats

To find out more go HERE

Again......

Im a nut. I used to sell for Sensaria, I LOVED it! I loved the product. They went under... SAD day! I now work with doTERRA and LOVE their oils and use them daily...

This past week I had an online party with Younique, I had never heard of them, I was helping out a friend. The party was going ok, and I thought I better order the mascara, I got it a few very short days later and MAN OH MAN was I in love! My lashes looked AMAZING! I was kinda wanting to sell, it, wanting to be apart of this amazingness.... it wasnt until another precious friend really talked me into it. I love makeup. I cant wait to start really playing with all the makeup! Ill share my experiences with you.


Soooooo.....
I decided to make a video of me applying the mascara, just to show you how easy it is. I talked a bunch, and showed you in between coats. Enjoy.....



Link to my current virtual party:My Virtual party!

After Video photo

Avon Walk

A few years ago I did the Avon walk with my mother in law. We didnt make it the whole 39 miles, but we did walk a marathon. Blisters and sore legs for days! It was fun. I worked hard and raised the funds. Now its my hubbies turn, which means I get to help out!!! This year he is flying across the country with his momma to North Carolina to walk there. His mom his a survivor. His sisters mom in law is working on it as well. Breast cancer has occurred on both sides of my family. 

Each month up until his walk I will have ways for you to help him out.

Im gonna start Junes out early.

Any profits I make through Doterra between now and the end of June will go directly to my hubbies walk.

So go on, look for something you need and place an order. #oilsforacause

If you want to become a consultant, even better, you signing up, and placing your order helps out majorly as well!!!

PLUS, Im giving anyone who signs up to become a consultant during this time a cool key chain that holds 8 mini drams of oil so you have your essentials with you at all times!!(you can see it here, comes in black or purple, I have one of each one in diaper bag. one in my purse)

If you want to sign up, CONTACT ME if its before the end of May. Theres specialness about signing up then. If you want to just place an order, click my face to the right. It will take ya where you need to go.

Im excited for my man to do this walk with his mom. 39 miles is no fun or easy task!

SO place your orders and get some oils for a cause! If you place an order, email me at the email address below letting me know. I will enter you into a drawing for a surprise item at the end of June!!

Dont know where to start or what to get....??? Email me, Ill help ya the best I can!

TessDoesDoTerra@gmail.com

Want to donate straight to his site? Do so here: NICKS AVON WALK

His n Hers

I walk into the garage and spotted my husbands collection. I then giggled! His collection of oil is funny to me! We have enough to last YEARS!! My collection... a little different!

Its funny because my best friend stopped by since her washer died to throw her clothes in my washer and noticed his oil collection!! Same day. I'm easily amused!

As he loves his collection of oils... I LOVE and ADORE mine!

I have been having so much fun learning and researching. Ive been getting emails or text messages from friends and family asking what would work for this or that, and off I go!!! My mind is blown as to what these babies can do!!!

Have a question on what you can use for what....
Email me: Tessdoesdoterra@gmail.com
Website to find these oils- www.mydoTERRA.com/TessBenson

Email me if you want to get more information on a starter kit with many of the oils to help replace your medicine cabinet !

**I am not a Doctor and do not have the ability to treat or diagnose. Anything you choose to use is upon your own discretion.

ALSO, did you see my new button!!! Yeah, up there on the right, my face.... if you click it, it takes ya somewhere fun!!! :o)

My Monday- Food.. Excersize.

Ive slacked on my juicing. I MISS it! Ive slacked on eating well. I havent been eating bad, but not my best. My Anxiety problems are starting to come back as well.. Numbing in the face, strange heart beating, feet and hands feel funny. Ive been tested left and right, lots of blood work and an MRI. So busting out my oils (which help a ton), fixing my diet, main thing.... Being consistent!!!


So heres what I did today.

I juiced, carrots, LOTS of green, a beet (and its leaves), cucumber, a chunk of ginger, one apple and a lemon.  Not gonna lie, for the first juice back, it was a little hard to down. I only drank a quarter of it, saving a quarter for my smoothie and the other half for tomorrow.

 

I was gonna clean up and make it all pretty.... But this is real life!!!

For the smoothie I put some of the pulp in it.... BAD PLAN! BLEH I also added fresh strawberry, the juice an orange from my tree and frozen berries. I didnt add veggies this time cuz of all the veggie in the juice. I also added hemp protein, chia and flax. The pulp made the texture, NASTY! I didnt finish my smoothie, instead froze into ice tray to spread out through different smoothies this week, NO WASTING! I drank about half.

 

Then to iced coffee. We have a Toddy Cold Brew System. I LOVE it. so I had that mixed with vanilla coconut milk creamer. Its yummy but I try to avoid carrageenan and it has it... I also will often use Vanilla Almond milk. Or plain almond milk with a splash of vanilla extract. (I also ate 1 Irish soday bread biscotti)

 

Lunch was half a cucumber, Power Greens, unsalted toasted by me sunflower seeds, a lemon, half a jalapeno, carrot and an avocado.  I did tear off a piece of baguette.
After lunch I made a blended Matcha drink with Matcha and plain almond milk. I added vanilla extract and a small squeeze of agave. not bad!

 

 

Through out the day and before lunch and dinner (not before breakfast cuz I want my juice to be the first thing in my system) Ive been drinking glasses of water with either a couple drops of Lemon oil or a couple drops of Slim & Sassy.

Dinner was a fail. thin crust pizza, it was easy. I started to feel worn down. I think Im getting a cold. Im gonna try to knock it out and will share with you this week.

After each meal Im hopping on the tread mill for 10 minutes or the stair stepper for 10 minutes. (kids occupied with coloring or dancing, or naps.) I hope to do 20-30 minutes on the stair stepper at wake up most likely before bed. Ive just bumped my short goal on my Fitbit from 7,000 steps to 8,000 steps but ideally making it to 10,000 steps each day.I did not accomplish that.. There will be other days. Its a process.

Easter

Good Friday I decided VERY last minute with a 3 day notice to have an Easter play date with some friends. To my pleasant surprise we had 15 kids and so much fun!
Nick and I stuffed eggs the night before, I had a target run and cleaned the house.

Friday morning friends started showing up. My friend Jenny brought me a peanut butter mocha, she was the first to arrive! It was yummy! I made sea salt monkey bread!!! Just add a little sea salt to the to the sugar cinnamon mix then sprinkle a little on before popping in the oven, THEN sprinkle some on after you flip it. (I didnt sprinkle much on)

We did resurrection rolls, I followed my friend Kristen's blog, which was so much fun. The kids watched a video while the resurrection rolls baked. I wish I would have shown them this one instead. Both were great though!!
I, the kids and I didnt fix it, had placed the the rolls to close together on the baking sheet... they baked together, and kinda made a mess... Silly mommy, I also didnt check to make sure the rolls were all completely sealed such... Mine were not as pretty as Kristen's.. When we cut it open, and the the marshmallow was gone, my eldest was flabbergasted! She did not understand! I truly enjoy that, curiosity, wanting to understand.

I pulled out some coloring sheets for the kids to color, I closed up the blinds and a mom and I went and kid the 100 eggs Nick and I stuffed. Then we let them out! Littles first to get a headstart then a minute later we let out the bigs, and they darted around. The smiles and the laughter heard was the absolute best! Im so glad I had a last minute shindig and may will do it every year!!!

Our Easter was simple. My poor Mister stepped on a nail on Saturday. He went in and got a tetanus and antibiotics.  The Dr he saw told him that if his foot got any redder, hut anymore or swelled at all to head straight to the ER, that he had seen to many cases where the patient didnt take it seriously and lost a limb..... So of course Easter morning Nicks foot was more red, swollen and he was feeling more pain. The kids and I dropped him off at the emergency room and headed to church.

We attended a new church twice, I adore it. Everyone knows everyone. So every 3rd person asked me where Nick was, I made the mistake by saying, "at the ER" I should have started with 'Nick stepped on a nail yesterday......' Oh well! I talked to my dad, he invited us over for lunch, he assumed we had Easter plans. We didnt. so veggie sammies and salad it was. (Nick is fine by the way. He had an Xray and the examined the wound)

Here are some photos, not the best, but its what I got! Friends took some great ones as well!:

Anbo hadnt seen her friend in a while, she was SOOOO excited to see her.
They each drew a best friends photo! Sweet Girls!

Adorable!

40 things

A few weeks ago, a friend gave me 12 things I had to write about me, on FB. I had this post already started. Though more than 12 things.... It should work.. Eh.....

1) Hate wooden utensils or pop cycle stick.... nails on chalk board! UGH! I eat my frozen treats until there is barely enough covering the stick, then either throw it away or give it to Nick, before my mouth touches the stick!

2) Hate paper straws, though cute... They taste like paper! ICK! and kinda like the stick thing...

3) Love stripes! Shirts blankets nails... LOVE

4) Hate 'juicy ears'. Yeah its what I call it. Sometimes when I have slept on one side of my head the ear wax or something is a little watery, I HATE it!

5) Qtips when cleaning my ears I typically lock the door, so no one will accidentally bump me. Seriously scared of an earthquake while doing so as well. AHHHH

6) Love birds of prey. The turkey vultures that fly over my home are majestic. I also think I could be a bird watcher. I think it would be cool!!!

7) My favorite animal is an octopus and a Jelly Fish. Oh their beauty! An octopus is smart, and just so cool!

8) Robots are awesome. 

9) Swallows are a favorite. They are so pretty. I love watching them fly as well. 

12) I love lotr, Star Wars, the hobbit. I've seen shooter, pirates and little mermaid a million times. 

13) I have nigh night movies, Yeaaaah When Nick is out of town, there are a few movies that calm me and I can watch over and over!Put me to sleep...

14) I've always wanted to be a runner, and still hope to be one day. Nothing stopping me, but me!

15) Snow White is my favorite princess, shes so pretty and sweet! Ariel rocks it too, her attitude to life is fun and adventurous!!! I wrote an essay on Ariel once.(now that I have kids, she is not a very good listener....)

16) I used to have a 1968 dodge dart. I LOVED that car. Someone crashed into it while I was driving to church with my siblings and a 2 year old I was babysitting, totaled. Can't wait to own a classic again one day!!!

17) In high school I was called smurfette. Blue hair...

18) Pink is my favorite color. I also love leopard and glitter. 

20) I have a fear of my hubster dying, Ive cried thinking about it.

21) Minnie Mouse is adorable. 

22) Ive always loved polka dots!!

23) I LOVE cold drink tumblers!

24) I also love plastic straws! I have a ton of reusable ones! LOVE!

25) I was born a blond.. under all this color Im a dirty blond

26) Im working on having a plant based diet.

27) I watch veggie documentaries and they talk about the abuse of animals, and how they are killed inhumanly... Which I agree is terrible.... BUT all I can think about is all the babies being murdered by abortion.....

28) Gnomes are great! I have an awesome one in my yard, I want more!!!I LOVED the show 'David the Gnome' as a kid

29) I love coloring my hair.

30) Since getting married in 2003, Nick and I have lived in 7 places! Moving 6 times together! Errr YIKES!

31) Im a licensed cosmetologist.

32) I wanna learn to swing dance! I have since Jr High... Never really learned, though Ive been on the dance floor a couple times.

33) I miscarried our first babe in September of 2005

34) Im a leap year baby. Ive only had 7 birthDAYs.

35) I celebrate Feb 28th, I was born in Feb, not March.

36) My hubby was my first kiss, on our wedding day.

37) I have dreams of moving out of state, Seattle, Portland, & Denver are at the top of that list.

38) Im pretty shy, I shut down easily..

39) BUT Once Im comfortable, Im good.

40) I LOVE and adore cardigans. Ive got a closet full...

Living and Active

Im sitting here munching on chips n salsa. Hubby laying on the floor snoozing away. All four kids sound asleep, its 12:08 am.... I. SHOULD. BE. SNOOZING!!!! but no.. Im here, blogging. scrolling though facebook earlier today I saw an update, I dont remember through who, or what. It stood out to me. It focused on 3 main things, feeding yourself spiritually, eating healthier and exercise.... Only 5 weeks.. I can do that!

Learn more by clicking here ^^

See I have a goal. I want to reach it or come close by my 30th birthday. Thats just short of 6 months away. Its achievable. I just have to stick to it. We have already changed our diets. WAY healthier eating going on here... I just slide into chips and salsa late at night... not good.

So this challenge. Im doing it.. It starts Monday, and Im kinda stoked!!

Now off to bed.

Luke

August 5th. A day that will never be forgotten by this precious family. Taking their two year old into urgent care for a fever that just wouldnt break. To then be sent to CHOC with concerns of Leukemia.

Then he was not only diagnosed with Leukemia, but diagnosed with AML, a terrible rare case.



(Follow his journey HERE)

TWO, this amazing vibrant little guy is ONLY TWO!

He can put a smile on anyones face, its seriously contagious! He is a sweet heart, with lots of love!
He has knocked over my girls with a bear hug! He has more energy and spunk than any two year old!

His parents are amazing loving people. His mom is my mentor in my homeschool group (couldnt ask for a better one) His dad a firefighter, both so incredibly loving and welcoming! Always smiling always happy to see you.

His big brother, oh Jer. He cracks me up. Same grade as my eldest, going through life together. A soccer player and a lover of being active! He is friends with everyone and anyone, just like his brother!

He is also expecting a brother or a sister (my guess is sister, now its in stone!) this spring.

This family loves Jesus, and are stronger than I could ever imagine. My heart breaks for them, sincerely just crushed. I can not even begin to imagine what they are going though.

October I am walking, walking to raise money. Walking to show is family that they have support and love from us! Will you join me in donating to my walk! Or join to walk yourself!!! Its gonna be loads of fun! Click the link below

CHOC Walk in the Park!

Friday Favorite

This is my Friday Favorite, well everyday. This is by far my favorite thing after I give birth, my heart just about explodes, there is something about the daddy/child moment.

Anberlyn

Emersyn

Penelope

Gunnar

Our weight loss...err lifestyle change

A year and a half ago I joined a weight-loss challenge, I lost 27 pounds and was sooooo stoked.
I was doing weightloss shakes, which were so tasty and worked.
They were also pricey and I couldnt keep it up. So the weight came back...

A few weeks ago hubby and I watched 2 documentaries, so much info, and so helpful. That paired with a friend who has a passion for GOOD, REAL food, we decided to change. To change our lifestyle, in hopes to change our lives for the better, forever!

We are 3 weeks in, Ive lost 1.1 pounds shy of 10 pounds! WHY? Cuz we are eating REAL food!!!

We gave up meat, CRAZY! We are not against eating meat, and we might eat it if we are out and about, at a friends for dinner, or something along those lines, but trying to avoid it. If you know me, you know I LOVE meat, I especially LOVE cow! haha so far I havent craved it or even really wanted it.

We eat LOTS and LOTS of organic fruits and veggies, with the money we are saving from meat! We hit up sprouts weekly, and will start hitting up mothers market, as thats all they sell, Organic or farm fresh! ( we havent been able to make it out to our local farmers market yet, we keep forgetting.) I desperately want to join a CSA type program, hopefully soon.

Packaged food is so easy and we have it, but if we cant read all the ingredients we try to avoid it.

My breakfast is Oatmeal, and soon switching over to steel cut oats. I like my oatmeal BARELY cooked, not mushy. I add a tablespoon of Chia seeds, and or a tablespoon or Qia (LOVE Qia) and I 'sweeten' it with sweetened vanilla almond milk.

Lunch has been quinoa with veggies and nuts or BIG salads, with lots and lots of veggies and sunflower seed, chia seeds. Dinner looks similar.

Dessert, yup, Chia pudding with sweetened vanilla almond milk, and berries.

Sweetened vanilla milk is one of my down falls, I use it to sweeten my coffee, oatmeal, chai tea, chia puddin... For other milk things, like cereal, we use unsweetened almond milk, from traders or sprouts.

Ive given up dairy all together, as I think Gunnar has a sensitivity towards it.

Nick and I ate at a vegetarian,  restaurant recently and it was DELICIOUS!

I will also say how much I LOVE blended coffee drinks and have been just having one no more than once a week and I get the smallest they have. Its my treat, and keeps me sane! :o) Other than that I get iced tea.

I read once, and I dont remember where, weight loss is 80% what you eat and 20% what you do.

5, 3, 2, and 2 months

In attempt to stall me, as they were taking a short while, the barista at the starbucks drive thru made small talk.

B- 'So are you on your way home from work?'
Me- 'No Im a stay at home mommy.'
B- 'Oh, how many kids do you have?'
Me- ' Just 4' (I say this for kicks and giggles.. JUST... HA... though I dont think 4 is a lot many people do)
B- eyes big, turns around and walks away to check on my drink, comes back. 'So how old are they'
Me-'5, 3, 2 and 2 months'
B- eyes almost popping out of his head, 'Wow, so this is your break, did you say 2 month old? Where are you off to, for your break?'
Me-' Yup 2 months' points to the back where little mister is stiring. ' Im on my way to a home school meeting.'
B-' oh like PTA or something, NO, you said homeschool.'
Me- 'I know you think Im a nut ball'
B-'No I think its great, your kids get to have you all the time, and your always with them, thats wonderful, they are lucky.'
Me- 'Yes I think so too!!!'
He then handed me my drink and I pulled away.

I found it so odd, that he went from baffled at the amount of kids I had to amazed, in a good way, that I home school. His whole demeanor changed.

Maybe he didnt have a mom who was around a lot. Maybe she didnt care about what he did. He may be aching. He may want and desire that love and attention from his mom. There are so many kids/ teens/ adults who desire that.

So many people see school as almost a day care, a break away from the kids. Trust me when I say, I see the appeal in having a few hours to myself. I just dont see the appeal in giving my children over to strangers, and a few hundred students to raise them for me. I understand that people feel that homeschooling isnt for everyone, and that very well may be true.

For my family, and our right now.. It is...

I may not have degrees in teaching, but I have a love for my children more than you can imagine. Homeschooling isnt what so many people think it is. There are SOOOO many resources, so many things to do to get your kids the proper education. Im excited to be in this journey with my family. Im excited to have an AMAZING support group. The next few (20+) years are not going to be easy, but Im willing to walk that road and learn.

**If you have chosen to send your little to public school, no judgement from me, its a choice you made with your spouse and heavenly father..

I hope to blog weekly about our activities and fun we are having!

Friday Favorites

Ive been wanting to blog again. More constantly... I have a few half written blogs.. Stuff Im afraid to post, or my thoughts are just to mumble jumbled to post...

So lets start simple. I have a lot of favorite things, and new favorite things all the time. I always wanna share.

My favorite thing this week is the 'Wubbanub'. My first 3 kids didn't care for the pacifier. My eldest found her fingers and the other 2 didn't suck on anything. This little man of mine, LOVES to suck. He is most definitely a comfort sucker to the T. The thing wouldnt stay in his mouth... I searched for a solution, and found this cute lil guy. It rests on Gunnars tummy and it helps support the pacifier in his mouth, so far the thing is GREAT! Its come out a couple time, nothings perfect, but with this the paci has stayed in 85% longer..Its great!!!

hugs

Dino power

Have you used one on your little?

We bought ours on Amazon.com

Until Next weeks Friday Favorite.

A mumble, a cheesy, 10 and counting

10 years 6 months 3 days ago, I made the BIGGEST decision of my life. I told Mister Nicolas I would be his girlfriend. I knew that day, Christmas day 2002, that by saying I would be his girlfriend that I was saying I would be his wife. He didnt know that... yet!

3 months later I said, YES I will marry you,
3 months after that, exactly 10 years ago today, I said I DO!

I was head over heels in love with this guy, the guy who can get his own cherries, within days of becoming his girlfriend. I was scared.

My first kiss. My best friend. My love.

Six moves, four kids later!

I still love him, more than I did on day one!

He puts up with my craziness! Im a nut! Im strange! He loves me, for me!

I dont get it, I dont get why! He does!

God chose him for me, and boy oh boy HE couldnt have done a better job!
We youngins getting married, at only barely 19, there were soooo many doubts, here we are! 10 years later, and not a regret in sight!

Thank you Mister Man for standing beside me, for loving me, for supporting me. Thank you for loving the four children we have made together. Thank you for working so hard for us. Thank you for loving Jesus. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for everything you do. You the hardest working man I know.Lets travel in time a bit, so not in order of anything...:

Then

 

Now

Our Song, walked back up the isle to it: