Ground Floor Opportunity--Longaberger Heads Down Under!

Longaberger has joined forces with Australia-based Your Inspiration at Home. Less than a year ago, Longaberger joined several other home-based businesses under a new holding company, CVSL, in order to raise funds to expand internationally.  After opening business opportunities in Canada, The Longaberger Company is taking their hand-crafted baskets and home decor business to Australia. An exciting aspect of the joint venture is that home consultants may also sell products from the other companies as well.

Just one month ago CEO Tami Longaberger, along with several US Longaberger Home Consultants, traveled to Australia to sign up some of the first Longaberger Home Consultants at the annual convention for Your Inspiration at Home.  This is a ground floor opportunity to join a well-known and beloved direct selling company with high quality products and accessories.

Longaberger is a 40-year old company based out of Newark, Ohio.  The company sells U.S. hand-crafted maplewood baskets and other high-quality kitchen and home decor items. The company is in the process of bringing all their manufacturing back to the United States.

JOIN NOW--Don't Miss Out on This Ground Floor Opportunity

New Australian Home Consultants:

• View company and product information  
• Sign up using Sponsor Name, Cindy Paden.

New U.S. Consultants:

• View company and product information
• Sign up

New Australian Consultants Get a Free Gift!

Longaberger is new to Australia, so procedures are evolving as we speak. To make sure your consultant agreement goes through correctly, send me an email after you have submitted your forms so that I can verify. You can find my email address on my consultant website at www.longaberger.com/cindypaden (upper left corner of home page). Once I verify your agreement, I will send you a free gift!

Wednesday Online Special: Woven Traditions Ramekins--Only $15

I am really excited about these pottery ramekins.  They are oven- and microwave-safe and come with a woodcrafts topper for only $15 each.  Choice of 7 colors.  Wedensday, November 28, 2012, noon-11:59 pm EST.

Purchase Now

Quick Dinner Solutions: Spinach-Bacon Quinoa Quiche

This recipe has become a family favorite because it is healthy, filling, and nutritious. It satisfies my big eaters and I feel good after eating it--lots of fiber, protein, and veggies.  Keep quinoa on hand and cook up a cup in chicken or vegetable broth the night before or earlier in the day.  Double the recipe and save for lunches or freeze for another day.

Ingredients:

1 c. quinoa
2 c. chicken broth
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 c. real crumbled bacon (Costco sells a 20oz bag you can store in the refrigerator)
1 1/2 c. frozen chopped spinach, heated in microwave and drained (or equivalent cooked fresh spinach)
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese (more if desired)
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
6 whole eggs (or 3 whole eggs and 3/4 c. egg whites)

Instructions:

Rinse quinoa thoroughly in fine-mesh strainer.  Bring 2 cups of broth to a boil; add 1 cup rinsed quinoa and cook for 20 minutes or until liquid is fully absorbed (water can be used if you don't have chicken broth, but you will need to add more spices to flavor).

While the quinoa is cooking, saute chopped onion in 1 Tbsp. oil.  Add bacon crumbles and heat slightly.  Add cooked spinach and mix together with salt and pepper to taste.

In a medium sized bowl, mix cooked quinoa, cheddar, Parmesan, and spinach-bacon-onion saute.  In a separate bowl, beat eggs until blended and then add to quinoa mixture.

Pour mixture into a greased 9-inch pie dish and bake at 350F for 35-45 minutes until set and lightly browned.  Alternatively, you can make this in mini-muffin tins--they make wonderful appetizers that are easy to eat.

Variation:  Use chopped broccoli and additional cheddar cheese in place of the spinach and bacon.

Adapted from recipe on IowaGirlEats blog.

Longaberger 2012 Holiday Helper Jingle Bell Basket Set

A wonderful gift that keeps on ringing!  Get one for that special child in your life or one to hold a surprise gift for your sweetheart.  Create a Christmas tradition year after year!

The Jingle Bell Lid is a real working jingle bell and the Paprika Drawstring Liner is perfect to tuck a small holiday gift inside. Set includes Basket, Paprika Drawstring Liner, Protector and Metal Lid. 4 1/2"d x 3 1/8"h; Rec. Wt. Use: 1 lb.

Purchase Now

2012 Christmas Collection Drum Basket Set

This lidded drum basket set could be the start of a great holiday tradition.  Use it to present a special gift each year on Christmas Eve, or put it on the sideboard or entry hall table to present a holiday cookie or treat to departing guests.  Set includes Basket (10"d x 5"h; Rec. Wt. Use: 17 lbs.), Flax Drop-In Liner with embroidery, Protector and WoodCrafts Lid in red, green or white. 

Purchase Now




 

Longaberger Artisan Bread Basket

Longaberger Artisan Bread Basket

Just imagine this beautiful basket on your holiday table filled with an artisan loaf of bread or special breakfast muffins and rolls.  Artisan Baskets are a combination of hard working maple and decorative wrought iron. Each Wrought Iron handle is made of round stock metal and is completely handcrafted. Therefore, no two pieces are exactly alike and subtle variations may be apparent making it very unique in nature. The Artisan Bread Basket is a classy addition to your table. It’s perfect for napkins, bread, rolls or dessert chocolates. Available separately are a Protector and Lidded Protector. Protectors are dishwasher safe. 14 1/2"l x 7 1/2"w x 3 3/4"h (8 1/2"h w/handle); Rec. Wt. Use: 10 lbs.

 Purchase Now

Chocolate Mint Brownies to Die For

Just had these at my neighbor's party.  Soooo good!

Brownies

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
2 beaten eggs
2 squares Baker's Unsweetened Chocolate, melted
1/2 tsp. peppermint flavoring (quality brand)
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Beat eggs, butter, and sugar together.  Add melted chocolate and peppermint flavoring.  Stir thoroughly.  Add flour and nuts.  Pour into 9" greased pan and bake at 350° F for 25-30 minutes and cool.

Frosting

1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. peppermint flavoring

Chocolate Coating

1 square Baker's Unsweetened Chocolate, melted
1 Tbsp. melted butter

 Once brownies are cool, spread peppermint frosting on top of brownies and chill.  Top with chocolate coating and chill again. Don't eat too many!!

Get It While Its Hot! New Flameware Cookware 20% Off in August

Now Available for the first time: the new Flameware^® Cookware from Longaberger. On sale for 20% off in August only! Available in Ebony, Ivory, Butternut, Sage, Cornflower, Chocolate, and Paprika. Order Now

25 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier

Found this at the Daily Buzz Blog--had to share it with you!

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Via: amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com

Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems … some you never knew you had! (Above: hull strawberries easily using a straw)..

Via: apartmenttherapy.com

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes..
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Via: unplggd.com

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls)..
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Via: athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band..
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Via: marthastewart.com

Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.
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Via: realsimple.com

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music..
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Via: savvyhousekeeping.com

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.
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Via: iheartnaptime.net

Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?!
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Via: realsimple.com

Attach a velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.
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Via: flickr.com

Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.
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Via: instructables.com

Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.
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Via: realsimple.com

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.
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Via: stephmodo.com

For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.
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Via: sprwmn.blogspot.com

Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door
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Via: realsimple.com

A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!
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Via: familyfun.go.com

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.
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Via: unplggd.com

Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.
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V

ia: kiboomu.com

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat. Definitely doing this!
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Via: squawkfox.com

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.
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Via: jengrantmorris.blogspot.com

Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!
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Via: 9gag.com

Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks!
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Via: wilton.com

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe.
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Via: realsimple.com

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.
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Via: lifehacker.com.au

Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.
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Via: re-nest.com

Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.
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Source: 25 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier

Longaberger Commemorative & Keepsake Baskets

Inquire About Designing A Special Basket
for Your Event or Organization

Apple Cider Cheese Fondue

This fondue has become one of our Christmas Eve traditions.  It is very quick and easy to prepare and the whole family loves it.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 Tbsp. cornstarch (apparently flour will work too)
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 loaf of French or sourdough bread, cubed (denser bread works better for dipping.  If bread is soft, let it sit out ahead of time to dry out a bit).

Directions:
In a saucepan, bring cider to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low.  Toss the cheeses together with cornstarch and pepper.  Cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Transfer to a small ceramic fondue pot or slow cooker.  Serve with bread cubes.

If fondue gets too thick, add a little more hot cider to bring it to the right consistency.

Recipe source: http://allrecipes.com

Paula Deen Picks Longaberger

Paula Deen has selected Longaberger's Collegiate Series Baskets as one of “Paula’s Picks – The things I LOVE, from my home to yours” in her September/October issue of Cooking with Paula Deen.

Get Organized! Solution #17: Gather the Miscellaneous

You know all the little (and not so little) stuff that seems to collect near your arm chair or near the dining room table?  You know how much it bugs you?  Well, Longaberger has an attractive and very functional solution to those problems.  Their Sort and Store Small Rectangle Storage Basket (available in four stain colors) can hold a collection of items that you can hide from view with a beautiful woodcraft lid or leave open for easy access.  Put one on the bottom shelf of an end table or next to your bed or arm chair and you can quickly and easily "tidy up" by putting everything in the basket and topping it off with the lid!  Save yourself from going crazy and invest in some  beautiful organizational baskets--they're cheaper than a shrink!

Join Longaberger for FREE and Earn Extra Cash for the Holidays

Starting September 1st through December 31st, Longaberger is offering you the opportunity to try an online Longaberger business for FREE. Earn some extra holiday spending money with 25% commission on all Wishlist and Monthly Flyer sales. Recruit your friends and earn 5% commission on their sales until Dec. 31 as well (Fundraising, Factory Store, and Supply/Sample Orders excluded).

To join my team, simply go to my website and click on 'Join My Team' or 'Join' on the homepage. You will get your own website and receive weekly email promotions directly from Longaberger which you can then forward on to your friends, family, and colleagues just in time for holiday shopping! You can run your business completely online with no product samples or home shows, or you can order samples or a kit during your first 30 days. Customers can access the Wishlist and Monthly Flyers online and then order directly from your personal website.

Longaberger will also be offering weekly training calls for all new consultants. If you sell at least $500 worth of product by December 31st you will be offered the opportunity to continue as a Longaberger Home Consultant at no extra charge unless you choose to maintain the MyShop Gold membership for $4.99 per month. 

Please call if you have any questions (541-752-8247) or email me at cindypaden@live.com.

Get Organized! Solution #34 Reclaim Counter Space

The Small Baker's Rack is one of my favorite items.  I use one in my kitchen to hold a fruit bowl on the bottom shelf, and tea bags in a one pint crock with a sugar bowl and creamer on the top shelf.  I still have room underneath to tuck away my  two wrought iron trivets as well.  At right, you see it being used to hold dishes for a buffet setting. The bottom shelf also holds the 9x13 baking dish.

You can earn the wrought iron Baker's Rack plus two furniture-quality maple wood shelves for  just $69 plus an additional half-priced item when you host a $350 home show.  Call me to schedule your show today (541-752-8247).

Quick Dinner Solutions: Nachos!

Longaberger's handled platter is the perfect piece for preparing and serving nachos.

Layer tortilla chips on the platter with shredded cheddar cheese and top with canned black beans (drained), shredded cooked chicken or pork, black olives, diced green chilies or jalapeno peppers and more shredded cheese. 

Bake in the oven at 300F until cheese is melted.  Top with Salsa Fresca* and sour cream or guacamole (or both!) and serve on your Longaberger wrought iron trivets. People can eat straight from the platter with just a napkin! 

One dish does it all--simple and beautiful!

The Woven Traditions Handled Platter comes in all the pottery colors including the new chocolate color.  Get yours for $60 plus S/H or for just $30 when you host a $150 show or more.

*Fred Meyer has a nice Salsa Fresca in the Deli section near the prepared fruit and vegetable platters.

Quick Dinner Solutions: Spring Salad With Chicken and Fresh Fruit

This is another family favorite for summer.  Before all the fresh berries are gone, you need to try this refreshing and healthy salad!

Ingredients (Per Serving)
2-3 chicken tenders, cooked & lightly browned
Prepared Spring Salad Mix
4 strawberries, sliced
1/6 apple, thinly sliced
Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette (strawberry on label)

Preparation
Cook and brown chicken tenders in skillet with a small amount of olive oil or butter.

Fill plate with salad greens, top with sliced strawberries and apples followed by chicken tenders.  Drizzle with vinaigrette and enjoy!

Get Organized! Solution #21: The Medium Market Basket

The Medium Market Basket was Founder Dave Longaberger's favorite basket and he fashioned the company's home office after its design.

This basket can serve multiple purposes when you also have a plastic liner or two and look beautiful while its doing it:

1. Put one in your car to corral all the "stuff" that seems to accumulate there.
2. Remove the liner with the "stuff" and carry the basket into the market when you are picking up just a few items.  How green is that!
3. Keep one near the front door or kitchen to store the unopened mail that usually accumulates on the dining room table.  Sort & open the mail when time allows.
4. Put one in a place that you like to keep neat and use it as a cache for stray items around the house.  With a woodcraft lid you can keep things covered until you can carry the basket around the house and put things where they belong!
5. Put a lidded Market Basket in the kitchen to store accumulating newspapers until you can recycle them.  It looks just beautiful.  Imagine how that will make you feel!

Ever Considered a Marketing Career?

Last year I decided to sign up to be a Longaberger Home Consultant because I loved the product, but also because I wanted to expand my world and the people in it.  What has amazed me since that time is how unpredictable people are in what they buy and when.  Being a scientist by training, this has been perplexing because I cannot see any pattern (yet, anyway).  Mind you, my current list of customers are my friends and neighbors so you would think I would know something.  It strikes me that this business is an excellent opportunity to gain some marketing skills and experience, especially for those who are interested in the subject, but not able to find a career position in this economy.  Here is what I have learned or am doing as part of my Longaberger home-based business:

1. Learning to talk to people about this product when I am not always comfortable doing so.  I can see that without a God-given gift for sales or public speaking this can take some practice.
2. But, I have been saved by a recent decision on the part of The Longaberger Company to allow home consultants to advertise online and in print advertising.
3. I have since worked with a marketing person at our local university to create an ad for placement in the alumni magazine.  I took product photos and he laid the design out in Photoshop with my feedback on the image placement and ad copy.
4. I have obtained a domain alias for my Longaberger website so that my print ad URL will be shorter and more relevant to the ad content (www.TailgateBaskets.com will forward to my site at www.longaberger.com/cindypaden).
5. I took a web design class a few years ago "just for fun."  After a grueling quarter, I created my first website, having learned HTML and CSS.  Since then I have been recruited by my family's business to help them with their website where I learned more about Content Management Systems and understand what is behind the Longaberger website to some degree.
6. I will now be creating a one-page website at www.TailgateBaskets.com to highlight the Team Spirit, Collegiate, and NFL baskets from Longaberger and then direct people to my consultant website to purchase.  More online marketing skills.
7. I have read about inbound marketing and find myself enthralled with the internet and social media.  So today I decided to learn how to use ConstantContact so that I could send out weekly (hopefully) newsletters to my Longaberger customers with "inbound" links to my online store.
8. I have contacted another, larger university to inquire about placing an ad in their alumni magazine, only to find out that the prices there are 5-10 times higher!!  I guess it would make sense because they have a larger readership than our local university and are much more well known.
9. We had a meeting last night for our Branch (our group of Longaberger consultant's under one leader) and discussed the recent conference and how to enhance our social media presence by adding a page to our Facebook account.  Of course we only have Facebook accounts (being of a certain age) because people have asked us to be their "friend", not because we "write on our wall".  Being in sales with a company like Longaberger forces one to consider multiple marketing avenues and to stretch and learn the new technologies that are available.

All this made me think of my niece, Lauren, who recently received a degree in marketing.  She finally was able to find a job that was not 60-80 hours a week at a start-up company when she accepted a position as an administrative assistant at Stanford University. It occurred to me that starting a Longaberger business would provide one with a lot of opportunity to practice and learn marketing skills.  For only $49 plus S/H you can get a sample basket and catalogs plus your own website.  You are automatically part of a team that meets and communicates with one another to learn how to promote the product.  But most of all, you have a real life opportunity to see consumer spending habits and likes and dislikes.  What better way to keep on learning and growing while you move up the career ladder to your final marketing position.  To join, got to my website and click on "Join My Team" near the top of the home page and follow the instructions or call me for questions and/or help.

Quick Dinner Solutions: Chicken Enchilada Casserole

The eternal question:  What to serve for dinner tonight?  This recipe is one of our family favorites. 

Using your 9x13 Woven Traditions Baking Dish, you can make an easy and delicious casserole that can be made ahead or in less than an hour.  This is also fairly low in calories if you watch the amount of cheese that you use (and, of course, the amount that you eat!). 

With Longaberger's vitrified pottery, clean up will be a snap as well.  Just scrape out the baking dish with a rubber scraper and place it in the front of the lower rack of the dishwasher (dirty side facing the back).  You will be pleasantly surprised!  (The glaze on your pottery makes for easy clean-up as long as you are careful not to scratch it too much by heavy use of metal utensils).
Ingredients:
1 pack of 12 corn tortillas
1 large can of green enchilada sauce (Winco is cheapest)
2 pounds of chicken tenders or chicken breast meat
Pepper Jack Cheese, Shredded
Optional:  1 can cooked black beans
Optional:  Light Sour Cream
Preparation:
Microwave or cook chicken until just cooked through and dice or shred the meat.  Pour half of the enchilada sauce into a shallow dish and the other half over the diced cooked chicken.  Dip several corn tortillas into the sauce and layer them into the bottom of your lightly oiled Woven Traditions Baking Dish.  Spread a layer of the chicken and sauce mixture and another layer of coated tortillas.  Top with shredded cheese.  Add another layer of chicken, tortillas, and top with cheese.  You will most likely need to adjust your ingredients based on how much chicken versus tortilla you prefer.
Bake in the oven at 350F for 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbling.  Let cool for 10-15 minutes. This casserole is GREAT the following day.  You can also add a layer of canned black beans for a more substantial meal and serve with a salad.  Serve with Light Sour Cream (Tillamook is the best!).