Ladies Poker Night

You say, girls can't play poker. Want to bet? You'll lose that bet with our group of girls who recently finished our first evening playing texas hold'em. There were no cigars at this event, only margaritas, appetizers and a dessert...o.k. and a cheat sheet here and there. It was a blast! Not only did we laugh a lot, the competitive nature in all of us came out. Seriously, economic times are tough. Who can't use a couple extra bucks, even if you have to po"ker" or po"kem" to get it. If you want to plan a poker party of your own - here are some tips on how to get started.

The Lowdown:

- Invite 8 people to play and set table accordingly.

- 1 deck of cards per table

- Set out poker chips in increments of what your buy in set at. Our buy in was $20. 20 white

chips @.10 = $2.00, 25 blue chips @.20 = $5.00, and 13 black chips @ 1.00 = $13.00

- Set out cheat sheets of what wins for each girls.

Before the game starts you must determine the answers to these questions first:

- Do you want to end at a certain time and the person with the most chips wins?

Our pot was $140. First place received $80, second place - $40, and third place - $20.

- Do you want to increase the blinds every hour?

- Is there a max bet or do you want to be able to play - ALL in?

- Can the girls buy in again if they get out early?

Those are the basics of the game and should help you get started. Watch the poker channel or rent the movie ROUNDERS with Matt Damon. That should teach you the art of bluffing which is what poker is really all about. You can work on reading other players tell and perfecting your own strategy and keep the girls wondering what you are holding. (This of course didn't happen in our group and we played every hand to the river and "shared" with each other what we had. )

Half of us left with empty pockets but we all had full stomachs from the fabulous appetizers and desserts. Here is the recipe for the mini cheesecakes that were served.

For crust (put in food processor for best results)

-15 whole graham cracker (10 ounces total), broken.

-1 sticks chilled unsalted butter, diced

-1/2 cup packed golden brown sugar

For filling
- 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
- .875 cups sugar
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1.25 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1.5 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3 medium eggs

For topping
2 cups sour cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Or Top with whip cream and a sliced strawberry as shown above.

Make crust:

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Get a mini cheescake pan. Combine graham crackers, butter and sugar in processor. Using on/off turns, blend until crumbs begin to stick together. Press crumbs onto bottom and 2 3/4 inches up sides of springform pan. Bake crust 10 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.

Make filling:

Beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and salt in large bowl until very smooth. Beat in flour. Add eggs and beat just until blended, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Pour batter into crust just a sliver below the top of the tray.

Bake cheesecake until outer 2-inch edge of cake os puffed and slightly cracked, center is just set and top is brown in spots, about 20 minutes. Do not overbake. Transfer cake to rack. Cool 10 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.

Top with Topping. Chill in fridge for at least an hour.

Decorate your own poker centerpiece.

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Nail Art #8 - Worth their weight in Gold!

Instead of wearing your gold jewelry, decorate your toenails with gold.  Made with flecks of gold nail polish,  painted over brown.  

I imagine it would look great painted over 

red for the holidays.  

Rate this toenail design and you could win a free pedicure.  Leave your comment below.

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Appetizer 1 - Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños

These jalapeño peppers are delicious stuffed with a seasoned cream cheese and wrapped in bacon.

Here is how to make them:

STEP 1 -  Cut 6 large jalapeño peppers in half and clean thoroughly.

STEP  2 - Mix 1 cup of cream cheese and your favorite seasoning together in a Cuisinart. I use Trader Joes 21 Seasoning Salute or 1 8 oz container of  light garlic & herbs of Rondele Spreadable Cheese

STEP 3 - Stuff peppers with the cream cheese mixture and smooth flat.

STEP 4 - Cut bacon to wrap the pepper once and secure with a toothpick. I used turkey bacon but most people LOVE regular bacon better.  The best is from Trader Joe's in the packaged meat and cheese section.

Then put in the oven for 375˚F for 20 minutes. (30 minutes if you want the pepper to be tender)

Serve and enjoy!

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Make $ Stamping Your Creativity

In January, one of the resolutions the 30daysof...blog suggested was to send your sentiments in a real greeting card versus an email, text or facebook message.  It's just more personal.  For this reason, I was excited to learn more about the business opportunity Stampin' Up.  You can be creative AND make money doing it your way.  I interviewed Gina Shaw to learn more about the business opportunity.

30daysof: What is the name of your business?
GS: Cards by Gina. I'm an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

30daysof: Why did you get started in this business?
GS: I recently took a voluntary retirement package from Scholastic Inc. after working there for 18 years. In my most recent position, I was the Editorial Director of Original Publishing for the Scholastic Book Clubs. 
For more than five years now, I have been passionate about creating scrapbooks and greeting cards. My career counselor at The Five O'Clock Club helped me to realize that I wanted to follow my passion into my next job. She actually found a Stampin' Up! blog and told me to look at it. I did and I got in touch with the blog owner, Mary Fish, who told me all about the Stampin' Up! company and what it meant to become a demonstrator. I was hooked immediately! 

30daysof: Is there a start up cost? Describe the start up cost and what you need to do to qualify for promotion or revenues, trips, cars?
GS: Yes, there is a start-up cost since you do need to purchase the Demonstrator's Starter Kit for $199 and you can add on the Stampin' Memories kit for $50. Please note: This is the price in the SU! Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book and Catalog. A new catalog will be released on July 1, 2009 and I'm not sure if there will be a change in price at that time. With these two kits, you have all the items you need to run workshops, host parties; etc. and you really get to see and use the quality products that Stampin' Up! has to offer. 
Stampin' Up! has been in business for 20 years and they have an excellent business model for helping you to run your own business (or, if you are a hobbyist and want to buy materials for your own pleasure). When you become a demonstrator, there are discounts on the products you purchase and what you need to earn is minimal in order to stay active. Again, this may change so I can't give a figure here. 

30daysof: How do you stay motivated? Books, quotes, people who inspire, etc...
GS: My upline Mary Fish and her group, the Stampin' Pretty Pals, as well as the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Web Services site keep me very motivated. There are always new techniques being shared; ideas for workshops being posted; stamping challenges you can take part in; great specials for my customers and my party hosts; etc. All of this and my love for the end result of cardmaking and scrapbooking keep me extremely motivated and inspired. 

30daysof: What is your favorite product or the best selling product (service) you offer?
GS: Wow! That's really hard to say. I love the stamp sets because they are high-quality and affordable--the best I've ever used--and SU! offers so many choices that you're sure to find more than one that you'll love; their paper is beautiful, with the color soaked through and through, and very easy to work with; SU! coordinates all of their colors--papers, ink pads, markers, designer papers; etc. so it's extremely easy to make beautiful projects. Their prices are great, too! 

30daysof: What is your biggest challenge in marketing your business?
GS: Getting the word out so that people can find me. My greatest joy as a demonstrator is to share what I know and what I learn by having access to SU's demonstrator's web services site and my Pals group. I love running hands-on workshops; showing techniques and products; and making people feel very creative! 

30daysof: How do you get paid? 
GS: I get a percentage of the products I sell as well as free merchandise, depending on the amount purchased by my customers.

30daysof:  Is there room for advancement (growth)?
GS: Yes, that's the beauty of Stampin' Up!. You can run your business any way you're comfortable with--as a hobby to a full-time business. Each demonstrator runs his/her business to suit his/her needs, time, etc.

30daysof: Who is your competition? Other companies that sell the same products or services? Why did you choose yours?
GS: My competition is all of the retail stores that sell rubber stamps and cardmaking and scrapbooking supplies. I chose Stampin' Up! because of the high-quality and affordablity of its products and because they don't sell into retail stores. They only sell through demonstrators. and with that comes so much information! 

30daysof: What is the best way for someone to contact you?
GS: My website address is: http://www.cardsbygina.stampinup.net and my
e-mail address is ginatshaw@gmail.com. It's helpful to put Stampin' Up! in the subject line of an e-mail. You can leave messages for me at both places.

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Nail Art #7 - I want to eat those toes!

Beware anyone who loves donuts and has a foot fetish...for these toes will drive them crazy.

Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE pedicure!

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Nail Art #6 - Polk-a-dot Toes!

Polk-a-dots are back!  These colors would look great with a white cotton dress.  

If you have any polk-a-dot toes, please send a picture to 

triciacohn at beobi.com.

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Make $ - but lose weight!

Garages, cars, and refrigerators get cleaned out regularly so why shouldn't you?  With so many toxins and pollutants entering our system everyday, (both voluntarily and non-voluntarily) monthly maintenance is a MUST.  Isagenix is a company that focuses on weight loss through cleansing.  I interviewed Sherry Donaho to learn more about the business opportunity and the product. Also, in January I focused on lowering your cholesterol for a resolution.  There is a picture of how our arteries get clogged.  It is the same for our intestines.  Clean them out!

30daysof: What is the name of your business?
SD: Isagenix

30daysof: Why did you get started in this business?
SD: I didn't go into wanting to get into the business. I used the products and loved them. When people saw the weight loss and the change in my hair and skin they started asking me what I was doing and wanted to sign up. They came to me.

30daysof: Is there a start up cost? Describe the start up cost and what you need to do to qualify for promotion or revenues, trips, cars? 

SD: There is a $49.00 membership costs annually. The rest of the start up costs is the shakes and products that you will consume. To stay active as a consultant you need to be on the Autoship program and purchase 100 BV points a month which equals about $150.00. If you are using the products everyday this total is very easy to come to. They do have contests and you qualify to enter the contests by signing up new consultants under you. The contest is usually a trip somewhere.

30daysof: How do you stay motivated? Books, quotes, people who inspire, etc...
SD: Isagenix has weekly dial in calls with top sellers in the company and the people who create the products. They are a great way to stay up to date with the latest and greatest with Isagenix. They are in the evenings so I can call in after work or on my drive home. My upline has monthly meetings and will have "tasting" parties every week. I can bring pepople who are interested to the party and they can get more information and actually sample things before they buy them. We all have our before and after pictures and that keeps us all motivated. 

30daysof:What is your favorite product or the best selling product (service) you offer?

SD: My favorite is the Ionix Supreme. You only drink 1 to 2 oz a day. I drink mine before I go to bed at night. It relaxes me and I sleep better. I wake up the next morning ready to take on the world with better mental clarity. I have people who only buy this. 

30daysof: What is your biggest challenge in marketing your business?
SD: Right now its the economy. People run away as soon as they hear the cost. But if I get to have a dialog with them and explain that they won't need to get as much at the grocery store any longer since this will be the bulk of their diet, the savings and cost of Isagenix equals out. Plus its healthier and they will feel better!

30daysof: How do you get paid? 
SD: Everytime I cycle they download my commission onto a Visa debit card.

30daysof: Is there room for advancement (growth)?
SD: You can go as high as you want. Put the work into it and the skys the limit!

30daysof: Who is your competition? Other companies that sell the same products or services? Why did you choose yours? 

SD: I just recently heard about Shaklee although I haven't done alot of research on them yet. GNC sells all kinds of shakes and cleanses. I chose Isagenix because I saw first hand the results. My Aunt who I hadn't seen in a year looked 15 years younger and 30 lbs lighter. That was enough for me!

30daysof: Who can I contact to learn more about this product?
SD: I'd be happy to talk to anyone interested 714-414-8718. Or they can go to www.isagenix.com and read more for themselves. 

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Nail Art #5 - Be Zenful

Zen: Seeing into one's own nature.

Decorate your toes with symbols that spell out your name or your beliefs.  Any color will do but this red and black is sophisticated and will look great any time of the year.

Check out these phrases and place one on your big toe!

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