Barbie and Miniatures Alert

Have you heard that Party City and Big Lots are closing down this year? All their stores! We decided to take a look around early and see what is on sale. 

Party City prices are already higher than most retail stores, so the preemptive sale prices have brought them closer to places like Walmart. So keep that in mind.

There were these cowboy hats that looked like a decent size for dolls. All these themed items are marked 20% off.

These beverage cozy covers look like a perfect fit for dolls. They can get festive!

All these were called party favors! Barbie mini land items. And they are on markdown too.

I love these little umbrellas. They make cute miniature parasols.

These little backpacks are in the party favors section. One thing I noticed was that price tags were removed from some areas, making it impossible to check how much they were.

These MiniVerse capsules were about $12.50 each. Which is about $2-$3 higher than Walmart, usually. So taking only 10% off wasn't worth it for me.

All these are in the party favors section too. But way too pricey.

They even had dolls.

I was hearing that the goal was to have the stores closed down by the end of January or in February. 

Big lots had signs claiming 10-50% off various sections. But when we got to the checkout, we came to realize that they had either marked up the products, or the signs were way off. Most things only gave me about a 50 cent discount regardless of the amount. Our local store was still receiving trucks as well. So their distribution center is still going. The cashier said they probably won't be ready to fully close out until the end of February at least. So just keep that in mind if you check out your local store. And let me know your thoughts. Are you going to miss either of these stores when they are gone? Are you looking forward to some hot deals?

Office Depot deals and the stock pile

I love the Office Depot deals. Their weekly changing of the penny deals helps me save money and put aside the supplies that my elementary kids and college fiancé need. Last week I almost didn't get anything. This week I hit two stores and scored at both. I have pronged folders for all of them, mechanical pencils for the fiancé, colored pencils, Sharpie markers, pencil boxes and notecards. 

This entire lot cost me a little under $2! Some of the pencil boxes I will be using to organize my office supplies box for easier access throughout the year. The notecards are great for quick lists or to keep in the car for those "I need paper!" moments. The pack of Sharpie markers were $1 for 5. I picked up the color pencils as I noticed my kids have gone through most of theirs and were .50. You are supposed to have a $5 minimum purchase. What I found is that when they scan everything, then total it out - the discounts apply.

Discouragement is only a state of mind

The sales business world is a fast-paced highway. One that we have to keep up or be left behind on. Whether you are working in an office or working face to face with your customers, you have to keep upbeat and ready to take to the fast lane. I’m used to working one-on-one in person with people. I can handle that with ease. Even though I’m an introvert, I can still find ways to connect and get over my anxiety of strangers.
My job is challenging me to step out of my comfort zone and learn to connect via phone calls and emails. There isn’t a face attached to the name. There isn’t always a voice to that name either. I’m calling complete strangers to talk about my services, but I have to do so in a way that benefits them and not me. Conflicted about this, I do feel. Cold calls are the worse. I’m calling someone who might know nothing about my company. I’m pitching them information about my services. 9/10 times, I don’t even get an answer. I get a voicemail. It’s impersonal, cold - just a machine. How do I tackle this one?! My supervisor and manager have been helpful in assisting me with coaching’s on a great script. Clearly and concisely, I can deliver my points and try to slip in something personal. But still. When you get so many voicemails, you feel like a recording. And then when those who actually answer the calls are saying they have no need for you and know no one else they can refer you to… It gets discouraging. You have to find the will to keep calling. To keep trying. To keep going after cold leads. After about 10 calls, I am ready to quit. According to a recent Dale Carnegie training I took, I have to have a goal. I also need an enemy. A reason to keep pushing forward regardless of what it looks like or what is said about what I do. I have a few tactics. I tell myself that these dead calls could come back fruitful in a month. Or I look at the pictures hanging on my cubicle wall of those I work hard to provide for. I have goals. To own a large enough home for my kids to have their own individual rooms. I plan to be financially independent so that I don’t have to rely on assistance from anyone, but can instead be the one giving to others in need. My enemy? Don’t laugh, but I use my ex-husband as my enemy. I tell myself that I will show him that I don’t need him, his money, and that I will never be some doormat to him ever again.
So back to my title. It’s a state of mind when you feel bogged down. You have to tell yourself you will succeed. That everything you are doing is going to work out for the better. Nothing you put your hands and mind to is failing. It is merely looking for that loophole to success. You can fall into a slump. But you better remind yourself to get up out of that rut and get back to work. Kick yourself in the pants or ask someone you trust to kick you. Otherwise you are bound to fail. Trick your mind into seeing the future you want and push on. Its there for the taking.