"Friends" (x12 soft pastel.

A Special Offer

Starting August 10, 2009 through September 7, 2009 Romy's is offering a special on a bath product set.

The set includes our shea butter hand lotion, shea butter body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, shea butter glycerine soap, liquid hand soap, and bath salts. All for only $33.20. With a regular price of 47.50 this is a savings of $14.30.


For more information visit the Romy's Store

Bad Hair Day (a pastel painting)

"Bad Hair Day" 9 x 12 soft pastel over water color pencil. Stitch is an Arabian stud horse. He lives in Colorado with his owner Carol.

Smooth Away

I don't usually buy "as seen on TV" products, however, I did buy the Smooth Away.

I was tired of plucking the inevitable chin and mustache whiskers that come with age.
I have to say, I am impressed. I used it on my legs, underarms, mustache and chin.

I have not had to shave under my arms or my legs for over a week. The mustache is gone. The only place that it doesn't seem to work well is on my chin. It removes the hair but it is back within a couple of days.

Business is going well

I have learned a lot in the last few months. The business is going better than expected for just starting it in March. I'm sure it will continue to grow.

We have added Ratepoint to the site for those all important customer reviews.

We added Clickyso that we can see our traffic.

We started advertising with Project Wonderful

I have submitted the site to search engines.

We have added new fragrances and product.

A friend is designing some new fancy new labels for us. Can't wait to get them.

We are getting more local sales due to word of mouth and online sales through advertising and word of mouth from satisfied customers.

All in all I'm rather pleased with the way things are going and looking forward to more sales.

Five Years Ago Today

Rob met me at the Manchester, NH airport. I was sooo nervous I didn't even see him standing there and started to walk right past him. I was here a couple of hours when his younger sister came by and interrogated me. Funny out of everything she asked the question I remember is "How long are going to be here?" My answer was "As long as he wants me here."
Later we went to see his father in the nursing home and his older sister was there and I got the second degree from her. I know they were just watching out for their brother. I wasn't offended, just very uncomfortable. I get along great with his sisters by the way.

Although we had known each other online since November 2001 and talked on the phone, we had never met. Both of us were aware that we may not be compatible. We were aware that the feelings may not be there in person. There are so many things against an online relationship working out in person. Was he/she honest about who they are?

We had to give it a try though, so I followed my heart to Maine and have been here ever since.

I'm not going to tell you that we have a perfect relationship. We have our disagreements. There are things about each of us that the other could do without, but we deal with those things because they are part of the whole person.

Being here with Rob has allowed me to grow. I was stifled by my ex. Since I have been here I have learned, if you want something go for it. He supports me with my art (my ex said it was a waste of time and money so I didn't create anything for many years). He encouraged me when I wanted to be a CSM. He encourages me in anything I want to do and I hope that I encourage him. Even my family which was against me coming here has admitted that it was the best thing I ever did and being with Rob has been very good for me.

When you find the right person for you, go for it.

Don't let fear hold you back

We had an idea, we made soaps for ourselves, we like them, other people that have used them like them, so why not sell them. Of course before we could do that we had to invest in supplies, more supplies than we would use for just us. When it comes to investing money to start a business you have to deal with the fear that it might not make it. You have to ask if you have faith in your product. We have faith in our product and took our savings and invested in supplies.


Now the question was how to get customers. The answer was to give out samples, which we did. We took samples to work with us and gave them out to people that wanted to try the lotion. That first day we were in business we had 4 orders. Now we have repeat customers. I guess that says alot, people like our products well enough to buy from us again, and they are telling their friends and family about us. Word of mouth is the best advertising that you can get. A person telling their friend about a product that they have tried and really like. We had one of our customers buy two sets of lotion, shampoo, conditioner and soap to give as gifts. I can't tell you how good that made me feel, our products were good enough for gifts.


I'm glad that we didn't let fear hold us back.

Romy's

In Memory

It was a Friday, May 13, 2005. I talked on the phone with my mom that day. My mom lived with my brother, Willie, and he was home because it was too muddy to work. He worked for a drilling company. I almost asked to talk to him then decided I would do it next time because I was running out of time to get ready for work.

I got off work at midnight and Rob picked me up as usual. When we got home he poured me a glass of wine and said you need to call Chris. Right then my stomach leapt into my throat. It was 12:30 my time, 10:30 Chris's time. Chris tells me that Willie was killed in a car wreck that evening. After I talked to Chris I called my mom. She was...well, a mess. Not dealing well at all, which is to be expected. She kept telling me she needed help. I couldn't help her over the phone, I told her to call Kim, my ex sister-in-law. She did call Kim and Kim came to help her, Kim left a romantic evening with her husband to help my mom through that night and I am so grateful to her. It took me a long time to forgive myself for not talking to Willie that day. I wish I would have.

I couldn't get home for the funeral. I just couldn't raise the money. I did write the eulogy and I would like to share that with you.

If this is read as intended, it is being read by Mom, but it is my thoughts, my words, about my brother.

We all know that there were two sides to Willie. We prefer that his good side be remembered.

I remember when I was pregnant with Chris. Willie was 10. He asked if he could take the baby fishing when he was old enough. When Chris was 2 and Willie was 13 we lived in Arkansas and there was a stream behind our house. Willie took Chris fishing in the stream. Chris was so excited because he caught a little sunfish and Willie was so proud that he had taken Chris on his first fishing "trip".

Willie loved his family; Mom, Kari, me, his nephews and neices, his inlaws and great nephews and great neices. Most of all he loved his children, Tyler, Zack and Addison. I want you to know that you were always in your Dad's thoughts and heart.

I won't pretend that he was a saint, but for the most part my brother was a good man. He was loving and genuinely cared about people. He would give you the shirt off his back or his last cent, with no regard to how he was going to eat tomorrow.

Willie was mine and Kari's baby brother. He was my Mom's son, but more than that he was her best friend,
Whether you approved of him or not, my brother lived his life to the fullest. He worked hard and he was full of life. Because of this I have a hard time accepting that he is gone.

I don't know who said this, but I want to share this quote with you, "life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting....Holy shit...what a ride!!!!" That was Willie.

When you remember him, remember the love that he had to give, the help he offered.
remember his smile. Remember he loved you.

I hope he knew how much I loved him. I love you you baby brother, I always will.


If you read this post I thank you for your attention. Funny, after 4 years I thought I could do this, and it is something that I needed to do, but the pain is still there and I find myself crying. I didn't expect that.
I want you to know that if you have a chance to spend with family or tell someone that you love them, do because there may not be a next time.

The picture above is a pastel I did of Willie. I gave this painting to my mom.

Do You Wii?

My sister has a Wii and we had so much fun together bowling on it that mom decided I needed one. I have always loved video games, after all they came out in my generation, but I have to say that I haven't had as much fun with one as I have had with this one. What a great idea, play games and get some exercise at the same time. We love the Wii sports that came with our Wii. Of course my boyfriend seems to beat me most of the time, but I am improving. We did get a couple of games that were on sale that you can sit and play. I can't wait for my stepson to come visit. He doesn't know that we have it.

So do you Wii?

Away from home.

Hi all,
I'm in Wyoming visiting my sick mom. I'll be back home next weekend. Have a good week.

Tammy

Been Busy

Hi all,

Sorry I've been gone for so long. In February my boyfriend and I decided to turn our soap making hobby into a home business. We spent quit some time doing research and in March started making sales. My days off are no longer days off and most of our free time is being spent filling orders for lotions, soaps and shampoos. I will try to get on at least once a week and hopefully have something interesting to write about.

Hard Times

I quit watching the news, it seems that everyday they are reporting about more businesses closing or laying off, more jobs lost. My son has been out of work for awhile, luckily my daughter in law still has her job. My sister lives in Wyoming, she works at an auto body repair shop at a car dealership. She tells me that business has dropped enough that they are only working 4 days a week now. No one has the money to even meet deductibles.

So far I feel fairly secure in my job, the company's response to lower sales has been to cut hours but at least I am still working.

I sincerely hope that the President and Congress can come up with a solution that will fix the situation, but I know that anything they come up with will take awhile to work. I hope that people can hold on to what they have while we wait for a solution to take affect.

In the meantime, we cut down on what we spend, and buy only what we need.

How are you weathering this economy?

The Wine Taster

This little kitty is thinking of taking a taste of her owner's wine. Oil over acrylic.
I hope you enjoy it.