Jennifer Geigel

Various streams of income

My name is Jennifer Geigel and I have a passion of creating various streams of income! I have always found it important to have a plan A, plan B, plan C… Our goal as a family is to pay off our mortgage so that my husband can quit his overnight job. Because of this goal, we have been being creative at finding different ways to add extra income to our regular salaries. If you are looking for ways to make a bit of extra money as a side hustle or a full time gig, here is what we are doing…maybe it can inspire you to do something similar. Here are three of my top ideas to make some extra income.

Direct sales (MLM’s)

If you are like me and love sales, this idea might be for you! When I love a product, I love promoting it. The one direct sales company that I love more than all others is Epicure. I love cooking with my daughter and making my family healthy meals while making extra cash! And this extra cash is actually quite considerable. You can look around and chose a company that resonates with you. One thing to keep in mind is to join a solid team. I have my own Epicure team with a great group of people. We meet weekly for those who need the extra push and need the encouragement. Sometimes you join under a friend or some random person, but you must keep in mind the support you will receive from your up line. Ask questions before joining! Another thing to consider as you join a MLM is to start a team as soon as you can. This down-line is your magic ticket to extra income as you receive a percentage of your team members sales. The more team members you have, the more support you offer them, the more they will sell and the more you’ll receive in residual income!

Self publishing

Do you have a book idea? May it be a colouring book, a “how to” book, a novel, a self help book, a series of short stories…consider self publishing! There are various ways of doing this yourself. One of the ways is to use KDP, Kindle self publishing. There is an easy way to download your PDF to create the inside of the book. You can choose a variety of sizes as well! There is a cover creator you can upload your image onto or use one of their images as a cover picture. This is an easy and FREE way to put your book out into the world without investing a penny! When you publish this way, Amazon takes care of everything! They will print the books as people order them, so there is no need to carry stock. You can, however, order author copies at a much lower cost so that you may, if you desire, sell at events or on your own website. When your book sells on Amazon, you get some income! The amount is up to you, depending on how much you set the price of your book. I have used KDP to publish a few books. Here is my most recent one: a directed journal. It’s called 90 Days of Planting Seeds, a Journal for Small Business Owners. It was a bit of work to set up, but now I can make changes, update the images, and publish again and again. The initial time invested was long, but it will be used for years to come. And although the income is only a few dollars with every sale, it all adds up.

Teaching

Do you have a talent or pass-time you could teach? Maybe you knit or sew? Maybe you do woodworking or know a second language? Whatever it might be, there are people out there who want to learn! There is a vast array of venues that could be used as a classroom! Check with your local library: they are often looking for people to teach computer classes to the elderly, art classes for children or 3D printing to teens. There is also the possibility of teaching online! This has opened up the door to many opportunities never possible before! For example, I taught a painting class to a child in Australia even though I live in Canada. I am also tutoring another child from Romania during my lunch break! How do I do this? I am part of the Outschool community! I love Outschool for many reasons: first of all, everything is recorded. This is a safety feature for the children and myself alike! That way if someone were to accuse me of any wrong doing, there is recorded proof! Also, customers pay Outschool upfront for class registration and teachers decide on class prices. There is a great amount of flexibility! Here is the link if you would like to register as a Outschool teacher. What is another great opportunity to make extra cash is if you encourage others to register as teachers as well. For every person who registers through my link, I will receive $200 after that person makes his or her first $100. So not only do I get a salary for teaching, I also receive a significant bonus for sharing the opportunity with others…and you can do the same! Become a teacher…then start sharing your code with your friends! You don’t need to be a qualified to teacher to teach! You need to be over 18, pass a criminal background check, set up an account, listen to the training…it takes about 2 or 3 hours to get set up, but it’s all worth it! I have decided this will be my retirement project later on since I will be able to teach from anywhere in the world! Even from a room in Paris or a sunny destination resort! As long as there’s an internet connection, I can continue making an income as I travel.

Hope you were inspired by my tips on creating multiple streams of income. These are only 3 of many of my ways to make that extra cash my family needs to travel, pay off my mortgage quickly, pay for our mobile phones. Stay tuned for three more ideas…if you would like help with any of these tips, please reach out!

sunflowersandthekitchensink@gmail.com

Journal for Small Businesses

I have been in direct sales for over 9 years now and although I have more recently taken it on as an actual source of income, I wanted to start 2022 with a bang. What could I do to get organized? Everyone who knows me knows that my type of organization is doodles on napkins and layers and layers of papers scattered on the dinning room table. Well, this can’t do any longer! I want to have a place to put of all of my notes, my business ideas in one place. I need a journal that will become my accountability partner, that will offer tips, that will keep me on track!

I looked at various journals that were called “business journals”. Nothing resonated with me! Most were simple or blank journals. Because I couldn’t find that journal that I needed, I decided to create it! I called it 90 Days of Planting Seeds, A Journal for Small Business Owners. The expression planting seeds means putting ideas out into the world that is our garden, and seeing what sticks, what grows. When you apply this metaphor to your business, you can plant seeds by talking about your business, handing out samples, showing how you use your products, talking indirectly about the business, keeping in contact with your customers, putting catalogues in various locations, giving out a freebie that brings your customers back to your website…any way you put it, you sometimes have to plant many seeds for one plant to grow. Consistency and resilience is key! In my journal, I focus on consistency and ways to “plant seeds”.

This is the Amazon link to the journal. You can buy a copy and follow along on Facebook in this group: Flourishing. My friend Sheena has agreed to me posting everyday from January 1st to March 31st. If you need accountability partners, inspiration or simply a kick in the right direction…come and plant some seeds with us!

90 days of planting seeds

After working on this journal for about three months, I am so proud to finally see it published on Amazon. I wanted to create a journal I would use myself. I wanted spaces to write today’s goals. I wanted to be reminded to reach out to my contacts and post regularly on social media. I needed someone to remind me every day that I have super powers but to also give myself the flexibility to finish tomorrow! I also required the constant reminders to keep on track of my business and reflect on my business goals using different work pages. And being the creative person that I am, I also needed a creative space.

As I looked at different journals that were available at bookstores and online, I couldn’t find anything that I liked. Nothing worked. Most journals are blank! That won’t do! So I sat down and created my own! Why not? And this is how 90 days of planting seeds was created!

Why planting seeds? The expression PLANTING SEEDS means that you start with a small idea, the seed. You plant it, you water it, you make it grow. In the business world, planting the seed means you mention your business, or a small hook that might make your potential customer coming back for more. It creates curiosity. Then when you water the seed, that idea becomes more concrete for the customer. That customer might see you on social media, see reviews, see your success…and then want to be part of it! That might look like a sale, that might represent someone joining your team or promoting your business…but at once point, if you are consistently caring for the seed and watering at regular intervals, that seed will become a strong plant and bloom!

Once you purchase your own copy of the 90 Days of Planting Seeds Journal for Small Business Owners you can then follow along in the Facebook group Flourishing. Starting January 1st 2022, I will post every day and we can follow along together! What an amazing way to start the 2022 year together and support each other with our small businesses!

Special Needs Means Super Powers

A conversation about special needs

Discussion on Clubhouse

I met this amazing author on Clubhouse. When Deonte’ Bolden spoke about his book I was drawn to his story. I right away purchased his book Differently Abled. I want to read it to my students, to my daughter. I want to cherish it. When I read it, I will update this post and tell you all about it.

Thursday evening, on November 18th 2021, I will be hosting a room on Clubhouse to talk about an important subject to me: How to see the super powers in special needs! When I approached Deonte’, with this idea he was on board! Please join us in my Teacher’s Club for this wonderful discussion!

How are special needs super powers?

It takes a special set of eyes to look at a challenge as a blessing. And sometimes these challenges are put on our path to make us grow, to teach us something about ourselves and to help us help others. This can be said about special needs as well. How many times did my daughter’s disability help me help other parents? How many times has my daughter’s autism make her see things differently and surprise us with an unexpected response? What can be viewed as different or misunderstood can also be seen as a blessing. I’d love to hear how you see the beauty in your special needs child. If you are an adult with a special need, come talk to us about your super powers! Greatness is everywhere: you just need to look at the world a little differently to see it.

Advent Calendar with Adults and Teens

Our chat in the kitchen

Let’s bring joy…

Sometimes with teens, it’s difficult to get something going that will interest them, keep them motivated. With December right around the corner, I wanted to create something that would be fun and meaningful for them. I had an idea when I purchased this blank advent calendar to decorate. I used stickers that were made from the pictures of our own guinea pigs to represent each of our family members. Maisel is number 1. I named her after the show I loved so much Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Because of this, Maisel’s squares would be mine. My daughter Emilie named Bear, number 2 and my son Jakob named Katie, number 3, after his chicken (this will have to be explained in a future story!). My husband Dave gets Moira, number 4, since he named her after his favourite character in Schitt’s Creek, Moira Rose. After assigning each family member with a piggy, we then had a conversation about the rules: each person would buy or make each other a few little gifts. Second rule: you are not allowed to look in your own boxes, no matter how tempting that might be. This calendar will be kept in the kitchen, where we can see it every day.

What makes this interesting is that we only open a box every four days…and we also have to be mindful of what to add to the boxes. What do the other family members enjoy? What fits in the box? Let’s bring joy to each other while patiently waiting for our turn to discover our special treats!

The challenge was to find items that would fit these tiny boxes while allowing enough room for everyone to add something. Chapstick, hair elastics, candy, small wooden ornaments to paint and chocolate coins were all great choices. I told the kids that no matter if they are 16 and 18 that we could put all kinds of fun things in there! It could be something sweet, something silly, something handmade…It could be a little word of encouragement or a cute drawing. I was suggesting to my son that he could put money in there for his sister. Emilie loves to take walks to the small grocery store nearby and purchase little treats for herself or a special vitamin water. Money would be appreciated. I am curious to see what kind of things I will receive!

Why the kitchen sink?

The kitchen is the most important room in the house. It’s where we cook and gather as a family. It’s where memories are made. The kitchen reminds me of Sunday dinners at my grandmother’s house when the whole family would meet and I could connect with my cousins. My grandfather had a special cookie jar with “junk cookies”, like my grandmother would call them. He would sneak a few to us disregarding my grandmother’s disapproving look. I can also remember being in the kitchen at my other grandparents’ house. We had to travel a whole day to visit and we always ended up in the kitchen! It seemed like their whole life was centered around eating! My grandmother would make cakes and pastries and meals all day long. Once she passed away, my grandfather took over the role. He made this fantastic chicken meal, one we replicate often! I also remember watching my mother cook. Being in such a small kitchen, I couldn’t always help…but I would sit nearby and watch her cook. Or, she would bring the bowl to me at the dinning table and I would do the mixing there. Sometimes, to surprise my parents, I would cook dinner and make a hand written menu. My mother still speaks of those meals over 30 years later! Even today, my favourite place to be is the kitchen! I love making meals for my family! On Sunday mornings, I love making pancakes for my children, even though they are quite capable of making their own. It is my way of showing them a special kind of love. I find it rewarding to create something just for them that will make them happy and make them feel special. One day, maybe they will look back and tell the story of how their mother would make special pina colada or chocolate chip pancakes. Or maybe my niece and nephews will reminisce about their aunt Jenny who made themed dinners! I just love making meals a special event! My parents and my brother and his family often come for meals at our house. For this reason, my husband built me a huge 14 foot table we could all sit at!

And what do we do when the meal is over? At my grandmother’s house, my parents’ house or in my own home? We do the dishes! How many great discussions were made at that kitchen sink? May it be between my cousins and I as we helped dry the dishes at my grandparents’ house after family dinner, with my father, mother or brothers when I was growing up, with my husband or children…Every meal ends with the dishes…and with an awesome conversation! During the week, the task of washing the dishes was mostly for my father, and today in our house, it is my husband’s job. Neither my parents or myself have a dishwasher, so they need to be washed by hand. The kitchen sink represents the breaking of gender roles, that a man can be in charge of the kitchen as much as a woman. The kitchen sink reminds me that great things will come to an end, that what is dirty can be cleaned, and that when one thing ends…something else can start! It reminds me of so many other things…like washing my paint brushes, bathing my two year old with autism in the middle of the night to keep her quiet as to not wake her brother, washing the fresh vegetables I picked from the garden, giving my guinea pigs a bath, washing baby bottles day after day in an never ending cycle, and straining the big pot of kidney beans before preparing the chili…

Everything but the kitchen sink

The expression “Everything but the kitchen sink” means “everything you can think of”. Sunflowers and the Kitchen Sink is my take on that expression. Since the original expression omits the kitchen sink…I chose to include it. So many of my life memories revolve around the kitchen sink…and so the expression sunflowers and the kitchen sink seems more appropriate to describe what this blog will discuss. The most important memories I have revolve around sunflowers and the kitchen sink.

Why sunflowers?

Sunflowers are the most beautiful flowers in the world. They are bright, they are happy, they are tall, they are nourishment and they come in multiple sizes and colours. When my husband and I were married over 22 years ago, I remember being on such a strict budget. I wanted my dream wedding without breaking the bank! We had just purchased our first home and we didn’t want to spend money unnecessarily on trivial items like flowers. Our first house was a little town house, attached on each side to our neighbours. Our yard being small and narrow, I decided to grow a very special garden. One of the first flowers I planted were sunflowers. Not only did they add happiness to my life, they also had the added benefit of being tall enough to hide my neighbour’s yard. When I walked in my garden, I could almost forget I even had neighbours at all! It was so peaceful and the sunflowers were like trees that had grown from a seed in only a couple of months. It was incredible. I had climbing beans growing up their solid stems so I was able to use the sunflowers as decorative poles. They also attracted beautiful wildlife. From birds to squirrels to bees…every little creature seemed to enjoy the sunflowers. I had thought of making my own bouquets with these sunflowers but I needed to accept the fact that my time would be limited the day of my wedding and I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. One day, I entered my local flower shop and I asked a little embarrassed what the least expensive flower bouquet she could possibly make for a wedding. To my surprise, she said sunflowers and daisies. I was relieved. I loved both and yellow was definitely one of my favourite colours! And since our wedding was held in a old town village setting in an old chapel, that rustic feel of sunflowers seemed perfect…and it was! To this day, sunflowers remain my favourite flower and I plant them every year! They remind me of my wedding day, my first house and of the importance of tranquility. They are a constant reminder to stay strong, to find the light, to bring joy to others.

“I write to discover what I know.”–Flannery O’Connor

A list of gift ideas

Spreading happiness.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to make people happy. I remember one day I was with my father in the car I heard on the radio that McDonald’s restaurants in the region were collecting gifts for low income families for Christmas. I was only about 13 years old but I insisted my father drive me to the store so that I could use the money I made teaching art in my parents’ garage to buy gifts for those children. I felt so happy. And I discovered something important about myself. I loved giving.

Between buying gifts, making special meals and collecting seeds from my sunflowers to add into cards, I love spreading joy. The satisfaction in knowing that my actions changed someone life, even a little, made my day. I started compiling a list of gift ideas to bring a little joy in people’s lives. Some are simple, some are straight out of a fairy tale. Writing the ideas gave me as much joy as the act of giving. Here is a simple list…no pictures, no story…just a list for those who need a little inspiration.

One of the best gifts I have bought for my husband is this light/speaker! Every time we go outside for a campfire, he brings it out to play his tunes and it makes a beautiful lantern for when we walk back to the house. He’s used it so often I am glad I thought of it!

Here’s the link to the book. Would make a perfect gift for those who lack gift giving inspiration!

Plus, as an Amazon affiliate, if you click my link and purchase, I will get a small commission. Thanks for your support!

Jennifer Geigel

Who am I?

I am a mother, artist, teacher, autism advocate, entrepreneur, writer and social media enthusiast. My love for teaching is incorporated in everything that I do. I teach art, teach in a school setting and on online platforms. I teach children with autism. I teach tips on social media. I teach children and adults. I have a goal to create various streams of income in creative ways! In my blog, I will discuss different ways to create streams of income while showing you what I’m up to. Hopefully I can inspire you to do the same! Join me on my journey!