Christmas, Christmas time is here...

Christmas songs are running through my head, even if they're not always playing on my stereo.  I love Christmas and everything about it.

Here's one of my favorite Scentsy pairs for Christmas:

Tannenbaum is a beautiful rustic type full size warmer that can actually be left out year round since it's not necessarily just for Christmas!

The perfect scent for Tannenbaum is Festival of Trees.  "Dance in a forest of evergreens as fir needles fall amongst aromatic white cedar and musk, with a wintry whisper of citrus."   It's such a fabulous scent and fits Tannenbaum like no other.  Of course, other scents warm equally well in Tannenbaum, but the trees just pair up perfectly!  It's what I expect to smell in that warmer!

Here's hoping I'll actually get my Christmas tree decorated before Christmas arrives this year.  I have lights on the tree, as well as a star, and even have some cranberries and popcorn, but that's about where it ends.  I'm really looking forward to enjoying time spent with family and friends over the next couple of weeks. As soon as the tree is done, I'll be able to relax and enjoy it.  Well, after the presents are bought or made and wrapped.

December!

This year has just flown by!  I can't believe we're so close to the end!

December's mystery host online party is open.  Here's your chance to earn the host rewards without doing anything other than making a simple purchase.

December's warmer of the month - escape the winter chill with Blizzard. Warm cream blends to black in a sophisticated ombre as enchanting snowflakes fall upon the base and scalloped dish. Elegant and chic, Blizzard is the perfect holiday ornament.

December's scent of the month - Comfort and Joy:  Spicy, familiar woods marry with surprising white florals, pure citrus, and just a nibble of gingerbread for a winter fragrance that’s anything but ordinary.

Here's to a absolutely merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season.  Remember the reason and enjoy spending time with family and friends!

Mystery Host!

November is halfway through and I just wanted to drop a reminder here there's a Mystery Host basket party up on my personal website.  For all of you looking to buy gifts this year, this is a great way to possibly win the rewards of being a host without actually taking the basket or hosting a party anywhere.  Let me know if you have any questions.  I'd be happy to answer them!

So much to say!!

This year is flying by!  There's so much to say and so much to do and not much time left in the year!

November's Mystery Host Online Basket Party is up!  Stop by and place an order using this link.  Pass it to your friends and family. If there is at least $150 worth of orders placed in the month of November, the winner will receive all the host rewards for the party!  Only orders placed online through the party link will qualify.

November's scent of the month is Midnight Fig.  There are so many elements to this scent. I love the fruity and earthy scents mixed together.

November's warmer of the month is Plum Garland, a beautiful sandy colored swirly vine and leaf pattern on a rich plum colored warmer.  It is the perfect decoration for the holidays that can remain displayed all year round.

Holiday warmers (and a Buddy!) are still available.  Hurry and place your orders soon!  These warmers are going very quickly!  Bluster (snowman) has sold out completely and is currently on backorder.

Post a comment here or send me an email at jodi at hold the flame dot com to book a holiday party to help with the cost of gift giving or stocking up your own personal stash. Remember, there are many ways to party with Scentsy, including home parties, basket parties, and online parties.  I say the best party is to have all three!

Here's to a happy November!  Think of all the things for which you're thankful.  Write them down every day.  Be specific.  If you do it for the entire month of November it will be easy to continue throughout the year and even easier then to answer when Thanksgiving rolls around.

BBMB

Don't forget to vote for your favorites! Voting is unlimited!

I heart Etsy

Can you tell what I'm currently shopping for on Etsy? My current handbag is about to drop a strap and I'm in dire need of something new. Help me pick! They're all so amazing!

And yes, I do get easily distracted.... especially on Etsy, where everything is so beautiful!

If you can't see the beautiful images here, please follow this link to my Etsy Favorites!

October Online Mystery Host Basket Party

October's online Mystery Host Basket Party is open and hot to go!  Once we hit over $150 in orders, anyone who has placed an order through the party will be eligible to win the chance at being the host for the online party and winning the rewards without doing any of the work.  Share the link and have your friends and family order with you for a chance at winning the rewards.

October Scent and Warmer of the Month

Autumn Stroll: Amble under a bright harvest moon, leaves crunching underfoot, as peppery cinnamon mingles with dusky plum and warm wood incense to create a spicy and comforting fragrance.

Snapshot:  Let your photos glow as warmly as the memories they capture. When Snapshot is switched on, a picture window set into a square, ivory-and-taupe column radiates light from within its ropey, silver frame. All that's missing is your favorite photo.

Add homey Autumn Stroll to Snapshot and you have the perfect gift for a loved one - or yourself.

Giving, Caring, and Sharing

Please help us raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities while donating Sasha Buddies to Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth and the Scent Paks to the United States Military.

Our goal is to donate 500 bears to Cook Children's, to be collected by December 15 and delivered on December 19.  The net proceeds from every Sasha sold will be donated to RMHC.  Help us blow this goal out of the water and make some very sick children extremely happy!

- Team I Love This Bar!

If you'd rather donate to a different hospital or a different cause or just purchase the bear for a gift or your own personal use, the net proceeds will still go to RMHC.  Help us help RMHC help others!

BBMB Voting is OPEN!

It's here again! Bring Back My Bar voting opened today. Visit the link and vote for your favorite bars. You can vote as often as you'd like until October 28. Spread the word and vote, vote, VOTE! :)

Come join us!

Click here for more info on our Autumn Open House. Locals, please print the email, bring a friend, and bring the coupon to receive $5 off (the same as a free bar, but you can apply it to anything). Long distance watchers, join us in the festivities by placing an online order in the September Mystery Host party.

Hope to see you there!

September Scent and Warmer of the Month

Pumpkin Marshmallow:

Sticky, sweet marshmallow

spooned onto fresh-baked pumpkin

and wrapped in a graham cracker crust.

*OmNomerific*

Maize:

As the leaves change to brilliant oranges, reds, and yellows,

bring the joy of autumn indoors with Maize,

a bold vessel crafted in earthy, golden saffron.

Happiness is...

Just a quick little video to make your day:

Be happy.

:)

Hello, Fall!

The Fall/Winter catalog items are available for purchase now!  I will post pictures soon.  The Holiday brochure is also out, but orders won't start until September 15.

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!  I'm busy stuffing catalog bags and samples.  Let me know if you'd like to receive some smelly goodies from me! 

Random Quick Hits

• September's warmer and scent of the month have arrived!  I'll take and post pictures soon, but thought I should share that the scent of the month is pretty wonderful.  I love pumpkin scents and this one is no different!
• Montpelier is completely sold out and there will be no more made.  This was a favorite of mine.  It's so perfect for autumn!
• There is a mystery host online party open for the month of August for anyone interested.  You must make a purchase online through the party to be eligible, and after the end of the month, I will draw names for anyone who has made a purchase before I close out the party.  The winner will be the host for the party, earning the host rewards!  
• Love Story is a new favorite scent of mine. 
• Know anyone who is interested in making a little extra pocket money or looking for a full time job?  Whatever the amount desired, I'm always looking for great people to join my team!  I can hire within the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany.  :)
• Nearly everything is still 10% off through the end of the month to make room for new product. The new catalog is released September 1.
• What is YOUR favorite scent?

Just Breathe...

This scent is an amazing breath of fresh air, especially with it being so hot lately.  It actually smells cold, if that makes sense.  The eucalyptus and mint together with the lemon are so fresh and invigorating.

Just Breathe is on sale this month for 10% off.  It will be in the fall catalog next month at regular price.

So much to share...

Convention last week was simply amazing.  I'm in love with the new warmers!  For those of you wondering, Leather did NOT return.  However, Weathered Leather is coming instead!  There will be a new Charitable Cause Buddy (yes, Buddy!), plenty of new warmers and scents, and an entirely new line of Solid Perfume.

Of course, that means August is transition month, which means nearly everything in the catalog is 10% off!  There will be an addition of a premium line for both Full and Mid-Size warmers starting next month.  The distinction of premium does come with a small price increase of $5, but these are the warmers that are more labor intensive and therefore cost more to make.  Cupcake is one of the warmers that will be increasing in price, so instead of paying $30, why not get it this month while it's still $22.50?  Baby's Breath, Casbah, Fossil Fern, and Star Spangled are just a few others that will be going up $5.  Instead of paying $35 next month, pay only $27 this month!

Several scents will be discontinued as well.  Check the table below to see if your favorites survived the cut.  If not, now is the time to stock up!  There's even a discount on the Six-Pack, making it $22.50 instead of $25, basically giving you a bar and a half for free!

 

Beach	Faerie Blossom	Lush Gardenia	Silhouette
Berry Blush	Forever Pink	Mulberry Bush	Sugar
Berry Tart	Go-Go-Goji	Mums & Marigolds	Surfer Chick
Cherry Limeade	Groovy Grapefruit	Pomatini	Tea Party
Citrus Sun Tea	Honey, Do!	Radiance	You Go, Girl
Cranberry Mango	Inner Peace	Red Candy Apple
Cranberry Muffin	Lilacs & Violets	Reggae Sunset

Transition month also means extra testers in the startup kit!  If you choose to join my team this month, Scentsy will send party testers for the current catalog as well as the transition testers for the Fall/Winter catalog.  It's only $99 to join, and is usually recouped with the first party!  Enjoy shoe shopping, but don't have the budget?  Scentsy can help with that!  Enjoy traveling, but can't afford anything exotic?  Scentsy can help with that (we have some great incentive trips!)!  Is money tight enough you have to worry about how the next bill will be paid? Let us help!  Would you just like to get your Scentsy for free? We can do that, too!  Let me know if you have questions.  I'd be more than happy to answer them for you!

I know I've been a bit rambly.  It's just because I love the product and the company so much.  No other company I've found is as simple, authentic, and generous as Scentsy.  I absolutely love everything about it!

With that, I'll leave you with a bit of a sneak peek:

 New Mid-Size Warmers!

 Boho Chic... In a Plug-In!

 New Full Size and WOTM!

It's Here!

Scentsy Convention 2011 is in Fort Worth, TX this year.  I'm so excited that my first year is right in my back yard!  We start tomorrow at the Fort Worth Convention Center and I can't wait!  I'll have so much to share with you afterward.  :)

From the FAQ:

Q    Does Scentsy do fundraisers?

A    Definitely! Scentsy as a company is extremely giving and caring and loves to give back to the community.  Contact me if you’re interested in doing a fundraiser. 

This is one of my favorite questions, because I can gladly answer YES!  The fundraisers are so easy, too!  I can make a fundraiser for nearly anything.  People love to help out with a fundraiser, especially whenever they know they're able to get something in return (even more so when that something is a beautiful warmer!).

Currently, I'm running a fundraiser for some friends from college.  They recently gave birth to a little boy who happens to have heart complications.  He's already been through two heart surgeries and there are likely to be more.  They've had to drive long distances to the children's hospital, find lodging as well as alternative care solutions for their other children, and had to pay for various other expenses, including whatever insurance won't cover.  The fundraiser ends today (I can't believe I haven't posted this here yet).  If you are interested in helping out, follow this link.

I have a fundraiser in the works for a Cystic Fibrosis walk, a 3-Day walk, and possibly a few others.  Contact me if you would like to set up a fundraiser for your cause, school, or church program.  I would love to help!

August Scent and Warmer of the Month

It's not quite August yet, but I figured I could share the new warmer and scent of the month here:

Just Breathe:  Breathe deeply as soothing eucalyptus, zesty lemon, and a medley of mints comfort and rejuvenate.

Sol:  The majestic sunflower faces the sun throughout the day, actually turning from east to west as it rises and sets—a true lover of light and warmth. Drink in the sun’s rays with Sol, a bright, hand-painted beauty in the sunniest shade of goldenrod, highlighted by hints of chalky white. Delicate, climbing tendrils accent a giant, embossed sunflower in full bloom, as large vent holes emit pronounced beams of light—homage to an endless summer sky.  Capture the essence of the mighty sunflower with Sol.

My personal takes on both monthly items:  I love the warmer since it's so different and so fitting for the month of August.  It's a warmer that would fit in nearly any room, too.  The scent is very different and unexpected.  It's actually a COLD scent, if that makes sense.  I could smell it when I opened the box and it made my nose feel cold.  I don't know how else to explain it.  It's something that certainly needs to be experienced!

Not a Creature Was Stirring...

Yikes!  It's been so quiet here!  I'm so sorry about the little hiatus.  We just returned from an absolutely fabulous family vacation filled with sun and water and children and laughter in my beautiful home state of Michigan. 

For the past three years my husband and my daughter and I have gone to the Great White North to visit with my parents, my sisters, and their families.  I actually wound up missing the first year due to work, but have made sure not to miss any others.  Last year and this year both we drove the great distance from DFW to Detroit before making the final journey to the Lake House.

Between all of the little ones running around (most of whom I don't get to see but once a year since we live so far away) and all the catching up we had to do, not to mention the lack of internet and extremely meager mobile phone service, I had to take a vacation from the blog.  I wound up taking a vacation from Scentsy as well.  I was going through withdrawals!  We had to sleep with the windows open so I never even bothered to use my plug-in.  I have to admit, I was quite tempted!  I know I could have made it work, but we weren't inside much and when I did think about it was when we were about to walk out.  My husband turned our warmers on as soon as he walked in the house last night, though!

In any case, I'm back!  A few quick things to note:  BBMB is almost done.  Don't miss out! Cupcake and Happy Birthday are still available at a discount through the end of the month.

Also, I am working on a fundraiser for some friends of mine from college.  They recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who just happens to have a heart condition that has required two surgeries so far and will likely require more in the future.  A few of us are trying to raise some money for them to help cover travel and other such expenses.  Any orders placed through this party will be credited to this fundraiser.  All proceeds will be donated to the Rosenthal family to help them through these tough times.

Stay tuned.  August's warmer and scent are in.  Pictures to follow soon.  :)

Into the Final...

Congratulations, US Women's Soccer Team, for making it to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final game!

Good luck in the final game.  We're rooting for you!

World Cup

It's My Bag, Baby!

I am completely in love with my new Party Bags. I have three of these and use them for special events.  I love my bucket baskets still, mostly for the fact that I can fit a plug-in warmer in the bucket, but these little bags are just so cute!

All of the samples are in the front pocket, along with coffee beans, the calculator, a flower pen and some extra pens, some business cards, and a flower magnet.  It all just fits so well!

The back side of the bag contains all of the testers, including 20 BBMB scents (it is a seriously tight fit right now!).  There's also room for the binder, which is why I love this bag so very much!

Interested in hosting a party but live far away?  I ship these little babies!  I have bucket baskets in Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma and party bags in Wisconsin and Michigan.  They love to travel!

Let me know what you think of this!

July WOTM!

July's warmer and scent of the month are available for purchase! This is probably one of the most adorable warmers I've seen yet.  It's also the first three piece warmer I've ever seen.  Since it's only a mid-size warmer it's already less expensive than the normal warmers of the month.  Remember, there is a 10% discount for the entire month off any of the Happy Birthday scent items or the Cupcake warmer.  As always, let me know if you're interested in a sample!

 

Bring Back My Bar is here!!

The Bring Back My Bar month is here and all 20 scents are now available for purchase!  These can be purchased individually or in multi-packs.  Remember, a pack of three bars saves you $1 but a pack of six saves you $5!  I will be placing orders all month long, so let me know.  Order early and if you find a scent you can't live without, stock up later!

The scents marked with an asterisk* are my absolute favorites from this batch.  I didn't find a scent I didn't like while I was making samples, to be honest.  This is a really terrific group of scents!  As always, I have samples of all the scents. 

Newsletter!

If you're reading this and haven't signed up for my newsletter but are interested in my specials, what are you waiting for?  The newsletter will always contain the most up to date information about my specials and sneak peeks to new products.  Go sign up now!

I am about to send an updated special for the remainder of the month.  Don't miss it!  If you do, just comment here and I'd be happy to let you know.

Samples

I started making samples this week for the BBMB scents.  My office had the indistinct Scentsy smell to it for a few days.  While I don't dislike smelling everything all at once, sometimes I just want to be able to pinpoint a scent and stick with it. 

Instead of using the candy molds to make samples, I figured I would make samples to save, so I used little clear pots from Sally Beauty Supply.  I placed an order for a whole bunch of these little pots and I can't wait for them to come in.  This really worked out well.

My current favorite (minus Luscious Lemon and Cutiepie Cupcake) is Exotic Vanilla/Velvet Spice.  IT reminds me of a scented lotion I used to use from Bath & Body Works years ago.  I absolutely love this scent.  I have it in the two warmers in the living room and kitchen and thinking about putting it in the office.

Remember to sign up for my newsletter to get my specials emailed directly to you.  Also, there's less than one week left to take advantage of the current monthly special!

From the FAQ:

Q    Does Scentsy do parties?

A    Yes, Scentsy is a party plan company.  You can earn half-price items & free product simply by having a party.  You can do a home party, a catalog party, or an online party.

Scentsy offers a variety of ways to host a party and earn Scentsy Rewards.  Scentsy takes the traditional party and puts its own spin on it, which is why Scentsy parties are ALWAYS fun!

The Home Party – Presentation Style

When you have a presentation style home party, you invite your friends into your home for a comfortable place to meet and have simple refreshments. Try hosting a “Themed” party, such as Wine 2 Scentsy, or Jam 2 Scentsy, or a “Scent-sational” Girls Night Out (GNO). With Scentsy, parties are unique and fun ways to share your passion for Scentsy.

The Home Party – Open House Style

Some of you may prefer the casual atmosphere of an open house format for your home party. For an open house, you will invite guests to come during a two to three hour time period. Open house parties offer you the opportunity for your guest to come and go as they please. Often, more than one display is set up in different rooms allowing guests to mingle and see the amazing products that Scentsy has to offer.

The Basket/Online Party

The basket party is the Scentsy version of a catalog party. It is a great way to get orders from people with busy schedules who are not able to attend a home party.  You will be able to travel with all the testers to your friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else you think would enjoy Scentsy. Host Rewards for a basket party are the same as for a home party.

Scentsy Delivery Excitement!

I am so excited today!  I received the BBMB sampler package today!  The scents are amazing.  There are SO many fruit scents in this batch. I love it!

On top of receiving these new (to me) scents, my first consultant to sponsor received her starter kit (always a fun day!), and two of my very close friends received their party baskets/binders today.  I'm so excited for all three to get a chance to play with the scents and various products.  I remember how much fun I had when I received my first warmer, but that was nothing compared to how excited I was when I received my starter kit.  There are just so many scents and so many fun products. 

I can't wait to hear back from them all!  :)

Pure Cuteness in My House!

I am so excited the warmer and scent of the month for July arrived today!  It's a mid-size warmer in a full-size box but is only a mid-size price, even though it has three pieces.  For the month of July, the warmer will be only $22.50!  The Happy Birthday scent is such a perfect scent for it, too.  I love it!

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter at https://holdtheflame.scentsy.us/newsletter to receive updates on specials and sales.  Sometimes my specials are only for a day or two, so don't miss out! 

June Specials and a Little Sneak Peek...

I have added an extra special for the rest of the month of June.  Please email me at jodi at holdtheflame dot com for details!

Also... July's warmer of the month is absolutely adorable!  See for yourself:

From the FAQ:

Q    How can I buy Scentsy?

A    Scentsy is purchased through an independent Scentsy consultant.  You can purchase online at Hold The Flame, or contact me directly for assistance at jodi at HoldTheFlame dot com.   I would love to be your Scentsy consultant.

Scentsy cannot be sold in stores or on eBay or other similar sites.  Scentsy can be sold at fairs and expos, though there will only be one consultant per show.  Otherwise, all orders for Scentsy product are placed through a consultant, either through the website, an open house, or a party of some sort.

As always, contact me for specials as well as loyalty rewards.   

Traveling Baskets, Woo Hoo!

I am so excited!  I just shipped two Scentsy baskets to the nether regions of our lovely country (wish I could have gone with the baskets, since I'm certain it's cooler everywhere else than here).  One went to Buffalo, NY and one to Worcester, MA.  I just know they will be well received!

I'm also planning a fundraiser in Wisconsin coming up soon.  I'm extremely hopeful this will work out and we can raise a good amount of money to donate!

If anyone is interested, please contact me.  My baskets love to travel! 

BBMB and WOTM

My BBMB sampler is ordered but not on the way yet.  I'm excited because so many of these scents are new to me.  It doesn't hurt that there's a Luscious Lemon and a Cutiepie Cupcake in the mix.  I feel like a little kid again getting all excited like I would for my birthday or Christmas.

Also, next month's warmer is on the way!  As soon as it arrives, I'll be taking pictures to share.  It's so cute!

Have a Scentsarific weekend!

where to buy...

The title makes this sound random, but I don't think it will be.  I've been meaning to make a post about this for a while, but haven't had time.  I don't really have time right now, but I'm pretty frustrated by some of the things I saw today.

I will browse items on eBay from time to time.  I don't think it's a bad place to shop.  I even shop for my business supplies there.  I will do searches on Scentsy and be amazed by the amount of product available.  I know a lot of people selling are not actual consultants (it's against our rules) but because of the amount of new product it looks like consultants are supplying product.  Of course, this raises the prices and the customer winds up getting the seriously short end of the stick.

I actually saw a warmer (granted, it was discontinued) listed for over $100!  Our full size warmers are typically $30 unless they're a licensed/charitable cause warmer ($5 extra for those) or on sale (much less than $30 at that point).  I can see paying more for a discontinued warmer, but let the auction determine that cost.  I also see listings for light bulbs ($1 each, but many consultants provide free light bulbs for their customers) starting at $2 each.  Of course, add in the amount of shipping costs and it makes it even worse.  I can't believe the prices some people charge!

In any case, if you're looking for something that has been discontinued, let your consultant know.  We would all love the chance to try and I can't imagine anyone would be interested in hiking prices and hurting potential customers.  If you're looking for something in the catalog, check our websites and make sure you're not paying more by going through eBay.  Most of the warmers and bars sold on eBay are not really a good deal.  I can see it for discontinued items your consultant can't locate, but otherwise, I hate to see people getting ripped off.  Be careful out there!

BBMB

I can't believe I didn't do this yet here.  Bring Back My Bars scents have been announced (I know I mentioned that), and some of my favorites are in this batch!

• Orange Dreamsicle
• Grape Granita
• Lemon Lavender
• Cashmere
• Coconut Palm
• Spiced Orange-Harvest
• Banana Flower
• Fresh Cut Cantaloupe
• Tuscan Garden
• Root Beer Float
• Strawberry Sweetie
• Red Delicious
• Oxford
• Exotic Vanilla/Velvet Spice
• Irish Cream
• Fried Ice Cream
• Watermelon Patch
• Cutiepie Cupcake
• Luscious Lemon
• Banana Nut Bread

I have samples of the last five right now if anyone wants to try them.  I know I've mentioned Luscious Lemon and Cutiepie Cupcake before, but there are some great scents on this list. Ordering begins July 1, but if anyone is looking for a sample prior to that, just contact me and let me know. 

Party in a Basket

One of my favorite types of parties is a basket party.  It's SO easy for everyone involved! Guests don't have to take time out of their busy schedules to be able to experience the incredible selection of scents.  Hosts don't have to go to crazy lengths to clean and prep for the party or provide food and drinks.  I get to share my love for Scentsy without having to be present, which allows me to share with MANY more people.

My baskets typically contain mini testers of all the current scents in the catalog as well as scents of the month that have been released.  I also include samples of all of the smaller products we have - a Scentsy Bar, Scent Circle, Scent Pak, Travel Tin, Room Spray, Fragrance Foam, and Plug-In.  To help make the basket party successful, I include a calculator, pen, tin of coffee beans (to help clear the nose between all scents), and a binder.

I provide extra catalogs and order forms, but the binder has a catalog that actually stays with the basket so that last catalog doesn't disappear!  The binder contains scent recipes, combine and save prices, a tax table to make final prices much easier, a sample order form, a list of all the Campus Collection, a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and various other helpful information.

All of these things mentioned fit inside the basket expect for the binder, which makes it highly portable.  Baskets are great to take to the office or various other gatherings or even on a simple lunch date, playdate, or small visit with friends or family. 

A Basket Party is a great way to earn half price and free product!  Contact me if you're interested and we can make arrangements for delivery, local or long distance.