Beauty Dish: Underground Adventures of an (EX!) Avon Lady

Power to the People

destinationCRM has a story in the current issue called Power to the People. Journalist Jessica Tsai has written a thoughtful article on the ways that new media is changing the interaction between consumer and corporation. As an ex-Avon Evangelist, my experience hawking Avon is mentioned. I miss writing about my Avon experiences at times like this. But to be completely honest, I am happy to be working in areas where I am appreciated and respected.

Thanks, Jessica!

Don't Shoot! I'm Just the Avon Lady! Is Now Available! In Hardcover!

My memoir, Don't Shoot! I'm Just the Avon Lady! is now available to order! Thank you to my publisher, Menendez Publishing!

From inside the front book jacket:

For Birdie Jaworski, life as an Avon Lady was a bittersweet mix of embarking on gossip-worthy adventures, searching for Mr. Right, and making emergency lotion requests in the middle of the night... while managing as a single parent. This collection of short stories—including “Mullet Madness,” “Fat Ass Evidence,” and “Wherein I Test a Product on an Animal”—captures Jaworski’s complicated relationship with the cosmetics giant (and her customers) and reveals a surprising and touching account of her personal life.

You can take a look at the book and order your copy here.

If you would like a signed copy, please order your book, and when it arrives, you can send it to me with return postage enclosed, and I will write a beautiful, personal inscription to you inside the front cover and enclose a hand-made bookmark... AND an Avon sample! Ya can't beat that! Just drop me an email and I will tell you my home address.

The gift you should buy for every Avon Lady you know

Don't know what to get your Avon Lady for Christmas? I have just the thing! You can order your copy here, SOON!

I have much more to say about my memoir, about my journey to write and publish it, and will tell all in a fun story soon. Many thanks to Didi Menendez of Mipoesias for believing in my work.

Please visit me at my new website, birdiejaworski.com for more book news and updates!

My formal Goodbye to Avon essay

I posted my formal essay saying Goodbye to Avon at BlogHer.

Thanks again for everything, for all the encouragment, the laughs, the fun blog parties. Please visit me at La Pajaro... I have some fun things planned once the dust settles.

Much love and kisses to all.

So long, and thanks for all the blush

After selling Avon for three years, I have decided that it's time for me to move on. My reasons are many and complicated. I have had many laughs and some great times pushing lipstick. I've also had my share of business heartache, not to mention trying to relate to a corporation that didn't quite know how to relate to me.

When I started blogging, my intention was to keep a little diary of my attempts trying to do something women (and men) have been doing for many years, something that seemed archaic, almost unusual in its old-fashioned earnestness. I never expected to discover a new product, something other than a lotion or cream - writing - and to complete an entire book of my funny customer stories, trials and tribulations. I couldn't feed my family with Avon,  but I learned I can feed my soul through sharing my experiences with others.

I wrote new words to an old song to wrap up my experiences and to share with you the basic reasons why I left. I uploaded the song to my podcast site. Please listen and sing along!

Thanks for sharing my life these past three years. I'm only leaving Avon... not leaving writing! Please visit me at La Pajaro. I will archive all of my fun Avon Lady stories and personal stories there, and this site and my other blogs will simply cease to exist - Avon reviews, comments, ideas, tips and all. Read 'em while you can!

Ghost Products in the Sky
by Birdie Jaworski

A catalogue was coming out one dark and windy day,
but I don't care, 'cause that's not where I'll ever get my pay.
Now don't you know, that every time those shiny products came,
I hustled Avon everywhere, that's how I got my fame.

Some brands ain't got no fire, and their lines have no appeal.
My manager assured me that ol' Avon was sooo real.
A bolt of fear went through me when I knocked on that first door.
But truth be told it got too old, I couldn't push no more.

Yipie Yi-ay.... Yipee Yi-oh..... Ghost Products In The Sky.....

Once I wrote a thousand words of things gone right and wrong,
I showed a brand new universe with every ding and dong.
Avon is the greatest, won't you buy my products please.
Avon is a lifestyle, the new recruit believes.

Yipee Yi-ay.... Yipee Yi-oh..... Ghost Products In The Sky.....

I talked a million women into selling Lift and Tuck,
they trusted me to tell the truth so they could make a buck,
and sure enough, they moved the stuff, and Avon's bottom line
increased in size, Bust Sculpt applied to every single dime.

Yipee Yi-ay.... Yipee Yi-oh..... Ghost Products In The Sky.....

I did my best for Avon, made it fun, something to try,
but when I checked my e-mail, I let out a great big sigh.
Avon never told me that my stories did them good,
but I kept writing anyway, because I thought I should.

Yipee Yi-ay.... Yipee Yi-oh..... Ghost Products In The Sky.....

Now Avon did a lot for me, in ways they'll never know,
or understand, or comprehend, like where I get my glow.
It's not from any product, any "thing" that I apply.
My customers, taught to me, there's more than sell and buy.

Yipee Yi-ay.... Yipee Yi-oh..... Ghost Products In The Sky.....

That catalogue's now fadin' in the sun, I'm glad to say.
My lipstick's left my holster and my blush has gone astray.
Ladies, listen to me, when I tell you what I know,
Skin So Soft can coat your legs, don't let it coat your soul.

Yipee Yi-ay.... Yipee Yi-oh..... Ghost Products In The Sky.....

New e-Book: 29 MORE Ways to Leave Your Number

I have a new series of FREE e-Books for Avon Representatives and Customers. e-Books are great - you can print it out just like a regular book and read it at your leisure.

29 MORE Ways to Leave Your Number is the third e-Book in my series!

Are you an Avon Rep?

Sell another product line such as Mary Kay or Tupperware? Are you looking for ways to meet more customers?

First, please check out my free e-Book 50 Ways to Leave Your Number, and then:

Download my free e-Book, 29 MORE Ways to Leave Your Number!

29 MORE Ways to Leave Your Number isn't just a list of 29 MORE places to leave brochures, business cards, sales literature, and fliers. It also gives you some suggested taglines to add to your sales literature for specific people, places, and events. This is a creative list, and it is sure to increase your bottom line.

Yes! Share it! 29 MORE Ways to Leave Your Number is FREE! Spread it around! Please feel free to post it up for free dowload at your own website, too! If you do post it for download, a link back to my site would be wonderful.

Even though this e-Book is completely free to download AND distribute, if you enjoy my free e-Books and find them useful, I would be grateful for any donation you care to make to my PayPal account:

Last two weeks of school

We're in the middle of End Of The School Year Heck, so please enjoy a few photographs from around town while I shuttle boys here and there. I'll be back with more surprises soon!

My companion parrot, Ramses

We attended a wildlife lecture and saw this gorgeous redtail hawk.

On the way to Hermit's Peak