just believe

Just Believe. This is the theme for our new fall catalog. Believe in your hopes. Believe in your dreams. Believe in yourself. Thirty-One’s mission is to Celebrate, Encourage and Reward women for all that they do: Which is exactly what Thirty-One has allowed me to.  Sharing Thirty-One is by far my favorite thing about my business. Thirty-One allows me to schedule work around doing the things that I love. Plus I get to help women shop for the perfect purse and organization products all while at a party!  Another bonus and my favorite part of my “job” is that I get the privilege to confidently and proudly guide women on their own journey to be successful business owners. Saying Thirty-One has been a blessing is so understated.

While looking through our latest catalog think of all women in your life that you believe in… who comes to mind?  Our mission is to Celebrate, Encourage and Reward all the women in our lives. Maybe it’s someone you haven’t spoken to in months or years. Maybe it’s the barista at your local coffee shop. Maybe it’s a friend, or your sister. Drop her a note just to let her know you’re thinking of her. I promise it will warm her heart. Believe in Her, just as Thirty-One believes in all of us.

This catalog is all about the fun and excitement that fall brings. I think Cindy Monroe (founder and CEO of Thirty-One™) has nailed it with this one. So grab a cup of your favorite coffee, tea or hot chocolate, curl up under an amazing soft blanket and get lost in the products that we’re offering this season. Remember, I always offer monthly specials and would love to help you get the items on your wish list for FREE this holiday season.  Hosting a party is a great way to whittle down that list, but joining my team is the best way to get the products you have to have and to start your own journey towards financial freedom!  Give me a call, I have the roadmap!  

Hope to hear from you soon!

Tamara

baby shower gifts

I'm turning 23 next month, an age you want to celebrate because it is another birthday and that is what you've been doing for the past 22 years, but an age that really isn't very exciting. I'm old enough to have graduated from college and be in the "real world", but still young enough for everyone at the office to think I'm the intern. I'm still considered "young", but it feels like everyone around me is getting engaged or even having BABIES... I used to think that you were "old" once you got to the age that your friends were having babies.

I'm just now getting used to budgeting for myself... I can't imagine budgeting for a baby as well right now. Thirty-One has some very cute, affordable options for moms to tote around all the many necessities a mom needs.

A) My absolute favorite bag that I use on a daily basis for everything from carrying my laptop to an over night bag when I travel is the Casual Cargo Purse. This bag makes for a great diaper bag for mom with the many pockets and compartments in the purse.

B) The Cindy Tote is perfect for moms that are proud to have a new baby, but prefer a more professional look. Not to mention it can be used for a laptop bag when returning to work!

C) Another one of my favorite bags is the Organizing Utility Tote. This tote has been used as a gym bag, a tote for my work files, and pool bag among many other things since I've had it. Imagine all of the bottles, diapers, and toys that will fit in this bag for the new baby.

D) My Zipper Pouch I use for things like my brush, bobby pins, and jewelry, but it is a great bag to store diapers and wipes in when you are on the go!

E) I've used my thermal tote for lunch most every day since I've gotten it. It wipes out very easily and also folds enough to put it in my lap top bag when I leave work each day. These totes are perfect for storing snacks and bottles you need to have on hand for the baby.

pirate football

Thirty-One is having a sale on the spirit collection right now, and also just introduced purple, yes gorgeous PURPLE, into the collection. Being that it is August, all I can think about is football season, and more specifically Pirate football season. I've already starting pinning purple and gold outfits because you really can't ever seem to have enough cute, purple dresses and sweatshirts in your closest when you are a Pirate fan.

Although I'm extremely biased on which spirit collection color is the best, the entire collection is really quite awesome for all football fans. It's nice having the ability to tote all of your tailgating supplies around, and look that much more spirited with a purple bag embroidered with "Pirate Tailgater"!

Check out the Customer Discounts portion of the site for more information on the spirit collection sale! Spend $31, and receive 50% off any spirit collection product in August, and I'll throw in 10% off your entire purchase if made prior to August 15th!
 GO PIRATES! :)

guest blog :)

One of my customers enjoyed their items so much they asked to blog about them! :)

I received my Thirty-One items yesterday and I am so excited about them, that I wanted to shout it to the world (or just the readers of Tamara’s blog…same thing) 

I have had my old beach bag for 5 years and it is time for it to go. It was my beach bag, school bag, overnight bag, etc. It got a lot of use, and it shows. The fabric on the straps is almost completely worn off, the toggle closure is broken and it’s cotton, which is usually not very nice to the things inside it when it gets wet… I’m not speaking from experience or anything *rolls eyes*. Needless to say, it was time for something new, especially with all of the beach trips I have planned for this summer.

 I talked to Tamara and she sent me a Thirty-One catalog to look through. I couldn’t believe all of the cute options they had for, not only beach bags, but organizing and every day bags. I spent a good week and a half trying to pick out the perfect bag, pattern and monogram. I’m pretty sure Tamara got annoyed with my constant questions and asking for her opinion on things, but she’ll never admit it (which is perfectly fine with me!) She helped me to finally decide on the Organizing Utility Tote in the Circle Spirals pattern with a hot pink monogram—exactly my style!

 I am going to Florida next week and this is the ideal bag for my day trips to the beaches. When I first ordered it, I was nervous that it might end up being too big. I have seen some of the totes people carry to the beach, and it looks like they’re carrying a hippo, which, in my opinion, is not a good look. I wanted something that was not too big or too small, that was just right (Goldilocks style). Yesterday I got home from work to find a Thirty-One box by my door. I raced in, tore the box open, and screamed. My bag was gorgeous!

The inside is the perfect size for a towel, magazine and my clothes. There are outside pockets that can hold my sunscreen and tanning oils, without getting my towel and clothes all greasy and gross. I can also put my iPod in one of the pockets while I’m laying out so it doesn’t overheat from the sun (which, fun fact, they do). The fabric is water resistant so if the tide comes in further than expected or I’m just plain clumsy, my belongings will be just fine. It will be very easy to clean out the sand from it, too. I can also use this bag to hold my toiletries for weekend trips (which is what I’m planning to do this weekend while I’m babysitting). The monogram lets everyone know that it’s mine. :)

Tamara also told me about the special that Thirty One was having for May and I could not pass it up! I was looking to get a personalized gift for a friend’s bachelorette party because I can’t make it to the actual celebration. With Tamara’s help, I decided to get her an All-In-One Organizer. She’s a teacher and I thought this would be a great bag she could use to organize papers to and from her classroom. After constantly bugging Tamara for her opinion, again, I finally decided on the Minty Chip pattern. I chose to personalize her bag with her new last name. My friend has been obsessed with changing her last name to his since I met her (Her and her fiancé were dating way before I met either of them) so I thought this would be a special treat for her. I am planning on filling it with fun, bachelorette-y type things for her to enjoy. Maybe Tamara will let me guest blog about that one after I give it to her. :)

I am extremely happy with my Thirty One items. I can’t believe I will finally have a bag that can withstand my use and abuse!

"doggie bag"

This past week, I've had the privilege of taking care of my sweet golden retriever, Achilles, at my apartment. He typically stays with my boyfriend Matt because he's at a house with a nice, big backyard, so Achilles can run and play ball his favorite outdoor activity. Matt is out of town right now training for his awesome new job as an adjuster with Farmer's Insurance, so I'm taking turns with his parents to watch Achilles. I've loved having him here because he's forced me to go on jogs and walks at least three times a day in the gorgeous weather we've been having. He's absolutely full of energy, and has had a great time playing with my roommate's new dog, Revis.

I must admit, Achilles is spoiled rotten, and has a ton of toys and stuff that come along with him. I've been using my organizing utility tote for all of his stuff this week, and it's been a huge help. With all of the pockets on the outside, I'm able to store his brush, toys, bones, and treats. The inside is big enough for me to store his bowls and any of his toys that don't fit in the outside pockets as I said this dog is spoiled :). I'll soon be ordering one for Achilles with his name personalized on it, so that it's more convenient to pack up his stuff when we go on trips.






Achilles' "doggie bag" is the Thirty-One Organizing Utility Tote. Only $30, and can be personalized with your dog's name on it!

pay it forward

I am so giddy after such a nice, shocking surprise this morning! My roommate Brittney and I went to Starbucks this morning because we needed coffee and those advertisements for the mocha cookie crumble frappuccinos were too good to pass up. By the way, they are delicious! Starbucks describes them as, "Milk and cookies meets chocolate and coffee for the drink you’re too grown-up to admit that you really want". 

Anyway, the reason I am so giddy is because we got them for FREE! Brittney and I decided... Ahh, we're just having a lazy day today doing laundry, so why not let this guy get in front of us in the line at Starbucks. So we did just that, we let the guy get in front of us. I don't think you could have wiped the smiles off of our faces for a good 30 minutes after pulling up to pay and having the cashier say, "the man in front of you paid, here are your drinks, have a nice day!" I've heard of this happening in movies, but honestly, I've never had anyone do anything more than give me a friendly wave for letting them in front of me. How awesome that someone just paid for our drinks! I think our total was like $9, but that's $9 we didn't have to spend this morning because a perfect stranger paid for us. 

So, I'm feeling inspired today! I'm going to give away a FREE flat iron/curling iron case to one lucky person drawn at random who comments on my blog, and tells me what they plan to do to start paying it forward today! :) 

team spirit

PURPLE! GOLD! PURPLE! GOLD! GO PIRATES! ARRRGGHH!

I am so excited to get my Picnic Thermal Tote personalized with "Pirate Tailgate"! I can't wait to start using my tote to hold drinks when I go to games at ECU and my apartment pool this summer. It's actually big enough to hold 3 bottles of wine or even a pitcher!... so I've been told ;) 


The new spirit collection comes in Spirit Navy, Black, Orange, Maroon, and Grey... colors to suit most any team. I was not gifted with any athletic ability in high school I think my sister got all of those genes in the family, but I was part of the AHS show choir and dance team. I had AHS show choir and dance team shorts, t-shirts galore, jump suits, and even garment bags. I would've definitely used a cute personalized bag and blanket for all of our competition trips. If only they had adult show choirs!

This collection is perfect for school fundraisers. If you're looking for an easy fundraiser that will allow everyone to show off their school pride, this would be ideal! I'll give your school 10% of all funds raised to use as you wish!

summer is here

The Summer catalog is here! Boy, does it feel like summer already in North Carolina with highs reaching 90 all week! The Summer catalog is packed with great organizational and storage ideas for all your Summer activities. I am personally in LOVE with the new spirit line in the catalog! I can't wait to get my "Pirate Tailgate" personalized picnic thermal tote to use at the pool and all of the ECU games this year!

I'm having a Summer catalog debut party! Anyone who orders between now and May 15th, will be submitted into a drawing for a FREE Thirty-One product! There are many ways to earn entries into the drawing, including:

1- entry for making a purchase
1- entry for EVERY $31 you order!
(ex: $31=1, $62= 2, $93=3)
1- entry for ordering the May special
3- entries to a previous hostess
5- entries for booking a party in June or July
7- entries for booking a party in May
10- entries for joining my team through the "opportunity to join" incentive prior to May 15th! ask me for more info :)

dance recital season

In honor of my dance teacher of 15 years, Judy Matassa, for instilling "A Love of Dance" within my heart.

Oh it’s that time of the year, when you're busy doing everything from sewing costumes to staying late at dance class to perfecting all of your dance routines. Tis’ the season to be completely worn out, anticipating the reveal of the recital theme, thrilled to get your next costume, and so ready to be on stage. You are praying your pointe shoes last until the recital, and that you don't break anything before the recital.

Amidst all of the dancing and sewing, you are also trying to figure out what gift you will be getting your dance teacher and dance friends. Of course there is always the option of flowers, but I would come home with so many flowers after a recital that I'd barely have enough vases to use them all! I would have loved a cute, personalized gift that I could use after the recital!

A. Ruffle Cinch Sac $25
B. U R U Mini Wristlet $17
C. Medium Rosette $8
D. Small Rosette $5
E. Key Fob $5
F. Icon Hang Tag $7
G. Zipper Pouch $15
H. Pinch-Top Eyeglass Case $15
I. Littles Carry-All Caddy $12
J. Mini Zipper Pouch $12
K. Wristlet Wallet $25
L. Organizing Utility Tote $30
M. Ruffle Mini Zipper Pouch $18
N. Cosmetic Bag $30
O. All-In-One-Organizer $20

Items such as the rosettes, key fobs, and zipper pouches are small, cute gifts you could give. For someone close, you could think about a personalized bag they could use for their shoes, bobby pins, hairspray, and anything else they may need for the recital and dance class.

For the months of May and June, I will also be able to provide you with adorable dance themed water bottles that can be personalized for all of your friends at dance from Ellery's Design in addition to my Thirty-One products! A friend I went to school with at East Carolina University makes these great  personalized  products. For $8 for the small bottle or $9 for the large, you can add these products to any Thirty-One purchase!

gift ideas for college graduates and new professionals

Last May, I graduated from East Carolina University with a BSBA in Marketing. I’m so fortunate that I found a job working in the field I went to school for right out of college. Right out of college, meaning a week after I walked across the stage at graduation, came far, far too soon!  Boy, was I ill prepared with little or no organizing and office essentials for the first few months of work. 

I have discovered a few items that I love to use, and could have greatly used that first week of work!

The “Cindy Tote” is one of my favorites for work. It is a professional looking bag that easily accommodates a laptop. The "organizing utility tote" is another one of my favorites because of all the pockets on the outside and the perfect amount of room for a filing box inside. My "thermal tote" fits in the fridge at work perfectly with my lunch and snacks. I use my "wristlet wallet" when I go to company events that I would prefer not carry a purse. I can fit my phone, business cards, and ID perfectly in the wallet that can be carried around my wrist. I just ordered my "Hang-Up Home Organizer", and I'm looking forward to having a place for my calendar, task list, and other things on my wall instead of cluttered on my desk.

Personalization such as “Pirate Alum” or a classy monogram would be a nice addition to any of the products as well! There are gifts that can fit any price range for the perfect graduation gift. I wish the best to all of the new graduates and new professionals!

bless you

My forever faithful white 2000 ford taurus was yellow after work today. A thick dusting of yellow pollen had covered all of the cars in the parking lot and the parking lot itself. The one thing I'm allergic to is pollen, so you can only imagine how much fun I had on the way back home, sneezing the whole way.


I've decided that I will be keeping my "Littles Carry-All Tote" with tissues and hand sanitizer handy in my car for the Spring season. If you're like me, you should consider having your own "Littles Carry All Tote" handy with your tissues and sanitizer ready in your car at all times. This is also  great as a gift for a friend that is sick, a gift for someone else allergic to pollen, a small gift to say thank you, or something cute to give the mother of the bride for the wedding. 

Of course, there are other great uses for this tote such as: k-cup coffee storage, crayon holder, bow holder, sewing kit, and anything else small that you need to organize!

The best part is that they are only $12 each! :)

lotsa dots

Polka dots are back in fashion for Spring! Thirty-One has some beautiful bags, wallets, and rosettes in a polka dot print called "Lotsa Dots" that looks great with everything. 

wallet: thirty-one by tamara // rosette clip or pin: thirty-one by tamara // dress: express // 

shoes: steve madden // watch: michael kohrs // earrings: simplysoles.com

monogrammed bag drawing

I'm giving away one of my favorite Thirty-One bags to one lucky person! If you win, you will get to choose your own pattern and monogram color. This bag has pockets and compartments to fit everything, it looks great dressed up or down, and it is affordable! The drawing will take place on March 25th, so make sure to share on Pinterest, Facebook, and/or Twitter soon!

crochet toms and monogrammed bags

Toms, dotted prints, and monograms... some of my favorite fashion trends right now! I got my dotted "Lotsa Dots" Thirty-One Organizing Shoulder Bag with a coral monogram and my crochet toms in the mail this week just in time for this beautiful North Carolina weather. Excited about wearing both of my new purchases this week!

A closer look at my afordable, trendy outfit:
Bag- Thirty-One through Tamara $42 plus $7 for personalization
Rosette- Thirty-One through Tamara $6
Top- New York and Company $10 those clearance racks pay off sometimes!
Pants- American Eagle $44 unless you have a sister that works there :)
Shoes- Crochet Toms $58 i may need to buy these in every color now!
Earrings- Forever 21 $4.80

perfect weekend trip

It was so hard to wake up this morning after such an amazing weekend and the time change. Matt and I decided to go to the beach this past weekend for a much needed relaxation weekend. It was colder than we would have liked, but we still had the opportunity to do a little fishing, surfing, walking along the beach, and playing with Achilles.

We just went for the weekend, but for some reason I am unable to completely pack "light". (A problem I think most of us face) I started packing using my Expand-a-tote Day Extender, and soon realized it was already full! Thankfully, I remembered that I could unzip the extended portion of the bag prior to switching

bags. What a great bag! Just unzip to have enough room for your hairdryer and extra outfit!  Not to mention I got it in my favorite print "Lotsa Dots"... although a pink or coral colored monogram would make it even cuter.



Another great bag I used on our weekend trip together was my thermal tote. It was absolutely the right size for a couple drinks and snacks to take on the road, fishing, and the beach!

fashionably organized

As all of you know, I just signed up for Thirty-One. As some of you don't know, I have a full time job at an engineering company in Raleigh from which I have tons of paperwork! I bring a lot of it home, and typically it's quite a hassle! 

I'm now using my Organizing Utility Tote from Thirty-One, and it has made life a little easier.

 I went to Office Depot and found a plastic filing bin and file folders.

I simply placed it inside my tote, and it fit perfect! 

 I'll now have to have one for all my Thirty-One papers and one for all my work papers!

This bag comes in 10 beautiful patterns that can all be personalized!

It's also perfect as a:

• diaper bag
• beach bag
• snack tote
• cleaning supply organizer
• tool bag
• pet bag
• gardening tools organizer

everyone is invited!

To celebrate my Thirty-One Debut, I am offering a free mini utility tote 

with any purchase of $50 or more!

Place your order with me by March 4th to enjoy this special!

Make sure to email or contact me via Facebook with your order,

so that I can include your free tote!

31bytamara@gmail.com

just like Christmas morning

You know that feeling of anticipation and excitement you get Christmas morning? You know the one where you can barely contain yourself and your stomach is full of butterflies? You’re thrilled to see what gifts are in store for you, and what reactions you’ll get from everyone that receives a gift from you.

 Today, I received a hot pink box in the mail full of goodies from Thirty-One! I’m so excited to start my journey with Thirty-One. Thus far, everyone has been extremely supportive and uplifting about my decision to sell. I truly believe in all the awesome possibilities these products hold. Its like Christmas morning, I just received a box of adorable bags to use myself, and I just can’t wait to see what everyone else will think about their thirty-one gifts!

Honestly, my decision was a “win, win”. If I can sell, then I will have a part-time job that I love, and hey, if I can’t, I just got $300 worth of cute bags for $99 meeting some wonderful people in the process! Like me, its completely possible to have a feeling of an early Christmas this year. I'd be happy to share the opportunity with you. J

a little bit of faith

After many hours spent contemplating and praying for a way to help pay my student loans, I’ve decided to join the Thirty-One Team. The ten years TEN YEARS! of payments seem endless and overwhelming six months after graduating when you receive your bill, and feel as if you may faint. You think to yourself, “I don’t remember anyone mentioning THAT number!”

So, I worked out a budget, and everything seemed doable. Then one day, as fluids flooded the pavement below my car, I was reminded that my budget didn’t quite leave room for anything other than my typical month’s expenses. That very same week, I had had a conversation with my boyfriend’s aunt about how wonderful her business with Thirty-One has been. I thought to myself, maybe this is just what God had in store me.

I’ve decided to put a little “faith” in myself and God, and join Tricia’s Thirty-One Team, Team Faith.

My goal for this blog is to promote my business did I mention I have TEN YEARS of student loan payments, but primarily to help you find products that will help with your everyday life. I’ll venture to show you my favorite things and favorite uses, in hopes that something I have to say will make your life easier, as I hope my Thirty-One business does for me.

Be sure to join my blog, as I look forward to sharing with you every week!

“Ask, and it will be given to you;

Seek, and you will find;

Knock and it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives,

And the one who seeks finds,

And the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8