Pregnancy, Swollen Feet and Cooking Shows

[jrstephens]

I had a show last night. I am going to have to adjust my standing up time b/c my feet were swollen when I got home - the first time that has happened. I hope to adjust it and not have a problem with doing shows b/c I really wanted to do shows until Mid-April and then have some catalog shows for May and June to keep me active until I can try starting back. shows. I do not want to have to not do shows so early.

Any pointers?

One of the guest offered me her stool but I did not think anything about taking it, ha! I am going to try to be able to sit down during the times I am taking orders or waiting for guest to arrive instead of standing up the entire time like I normally do. I do not think I could do a demo sitting down.

I have another show on the 25th and will be trying some adjustments then.

Please keep me in your prayers that I can adjust it to work!:angel:

 

[wadesgirl]

I would get stool (you can get a collapsible one). That way you can still stand up but lean against it as needed. I wouldn't feel comfortable actually sitting down in a chair but then again, I'm not pregnant.

 

[sushimommy]

i'm watching your thread too for suggestions - i am seriously considering doing "interactive, pass-the-apron" type shows from now until may. had to be on evening bedrest last night and i don't wanna go there again!

 

[ChefMoore]

I'm pregnant too, due April 24th and wondering how my shows will go until then. What is a pass the apron type show?

 

[jrstephens]

i'm watching your thread too for suggestions - i am seriously considering doing "interactive, pass-the-apron" type shows from now until may. had to be on evening bedrest last night and i don't wanna go there again!

I am due May 17th. When in May are you due?

 

[tabnat80]

I had my son in May 06 and I didn't do a single show from Oct 05 until Sept 06. I really had a hard time with my pregnancy because I was so sick. Certain smells make me really really sick. Couldn't stand to smell foods cooking. I wish Pampered chef offered some kind of leave of absence for preggers and new moms. I almost went completely inactive. I missed out on the whole spring/summer 06 selling season. Good luck to you. Maybe you'll be able to do your shows for longer.

 

[ChefMoore]

I just read in another thread that you can call the home office and request up to 3 months off without going inactive.

 

[buckeyefan08]

I'm not positive but I think they do offer a type of leave. Up to three months. My director mentioned it to me. I am having a c-section on March 21st. With two other kids at home (2 & 4yrs. old) I'm thinkig I may have to take the leave. My Director insists that I will be able to stay active with just catalog shows but I have my doubts! Anyone try to do this and actually have it work for them? I would love some tips!!! For now I am just trying to stay as booked as possible. I'm thinking the hands on or no-demo shows are the way to go.

 

[jrstephens]

I just read in another thread that you can call the home office and request up to 3 months off without going inactive.

I am hoping to not have to take a leave of absence. I know I have one catalog for sure lined up and that will be enough to carry me three months if I submit shows in April then no shows in May and $200 in June that will cover me for July too and I would have until the end of August to do $200 more.

:thumbup: Thanks for making sure I know! If I have to stop doing them earlier than I want, I may have to take a leave if I run out of catalog people.

I am hoping to get some more lined up. I got an Executive Sauté Pan with my POR points and I am going to hold a drawing for all catalog host in May, June and July to draw for a winner of it. I am hoping that will get some more interested in doing a catalog show for me. I have a few good friends that host, and I think they will help me out and try to take some orders up for me to keep me active. And I will probably set up a show on my website myself in June and maybe people will place online orders to help me out.

I hate to miss June when that is normaly SellaThon for the new season but it cannot be helped. Thankfully, to me I do normally not like the Fall products personally as much as I do the Spring ones.

 

[erinb]

I had a show last night. I am going to have to adjust my standing up time b/c my feet were swollen when I got home - the first time that has happened. I hope to adjust it and not have a problem with doing shows b/c I really wanted to do shows until Mid-April and then have some catalog shows for May and June to keep me active until I can try starting back. shows. I do not want to have to not do shows so early.

Any pointers?

One of the guest offered me her stool but I did not think anything about taking it, ha! I am going to try to be able to sit down during the times I am taking orders or waiting for guest to arrive instead of standing up the entire time like I normally do. I do not think I could do a demo sitting down.

I have another show on the 25th and will be trying some adjustments then.

Please keep me in your prayers that I can adjust it to work!:angel:

You could easily sit throughout the show if you do a no demo type show. This is from another post and found it to be very useful.

http://www.chefsuccess.com/attachme...nswers-about-my-walk-through-catalog-show.pdf

 

[ChefBeckyD]

While I was pregnant, at least while I could still do cooking shows (bed rest from 5 months on) I did the Batter Bowl Brownies. Most smells made me really sick, but I could tolerate that one, as long as I didn't have to be the one making it - so I would have my host mix it up before the show, and pop it in the oven at the start of the show, and I would sit at a table, and show them how to layer the brownie in the batter bowl, and then I would just pass around products and we would talk about them. I didn't actually chop onions or slice tomatoes - because that smell would have sent me over the edge!:yuck: When the brownies were done, I would talk about stoneware....and have them serve themselves a brownie with ice cream (ice cream scoop) and hot fudge sauce (in a small SA bowl). This whole demo actually showed a decent amount of products, and I was able to sit, and not have to cook. It worked out great!

 

[jrstephens]

Thanks Erin and Becky for those specifics. I did a no-demo one time for some repeat hosts and they seemed to really like it. I do need to brush it up a bit, actually a lot though, haha!

I think too I will start scheduling on Friday or Saturday. I am off from my full-time job on those days and would not have been working from 8-5 and going straight to a show and not getting home until 830-900. That makes a long day! I do not do Sunday shows.

 

[sushimommy]

I am actually due in June (the 29th but will be a scheduled c somewhere around the 18th), but am guessing that i will be ready to take a break from cooking shows by the end of may (also work ft).

the pass the apron shows as i was explained (it was probably here) you start out and do the intro and the recipe start, then pass the apron to the host. read the card for them to do the next step, then they pass the apron on to the next person to do the next step. the guests all get to be hands-on with the tools, and the host is the "bad guy" that picked the person to go next. lol! i have had several guests and hosts say they really wanted to try the tools themselves, so i might do the apron thing, or maybe even do it like we have done cook and books and my director's - all the tools are out and you choose one to use.

i only do about 2 shows a month right now, but i would really like to get to the point of having one a week and squirrel away some $ for when the baby gets here

 

[buckeyefan08]

I just wanted to let all of you know that in "bookings" there is a thread called "I Love..." they are talking about doing a chicken fajita bar. This could easily be turned into a pass the apron show!! I was thinking of doing this for Jan. & whatever time I can get in for Feb. (Due in March! YEAH!!!) It also uses a lot of stoneware. Throw in a microwave cake and you have a complete stoneware/microwave dinner in a little over 30min!!!

 

[jrstephens]

Thanks Buckeye I will check that out!

My feet are still swollen so I think I am beginning to have problems with it all the time like I did with my first pregnancy. I am starting now reducing my sodium intake to try to help it. They were worse after work last night than after my show Monday night.

 

[pamperedlinda]

Jennifer, be sure that you elevate your feet when you can. Best to recline and get them above the level of your heart. I bet you already knew that though.

 

[buckeyefan08]

My feet are a little swollen lately but thats to be expected at this point. They also told me to keep socks off as much as possible to allow for max. circulation. Whenever I am home I just wear slippers! Spongebob slippers to be exact! My kids think I'm the coolest!!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

My feet are a little swollen lately but thats to be expected at this point. They also told me to keep socks off as much as possible to allow for max. circulation. Whenever I am home I just wear slippers! Spongebob slippers to be exact! My kids think I'm the coolest!!

LOL - I just had this vision of Jennifer at her Law Office job, with her feet propped up, wearing Big Ole Sponge Bob Slippers!

 

[jrstephens]

Letting everyone know that being off work over the weekend my feet are back to normal! Thank the Lord!!

I told Russell this must mean I need to quit work and PC Full time, HA!! It didn't work for him like me! ha!

Becky, I can see our cleints reacting to that sight!! hmmmm.... is there someone esle I can talk to in the office? HAHA!

 

[ughubug]

Do Amazing Race shows...My sales are often higher from those and you have a great excuse...

 

[kaseydee]

what is an amazing race show?