Reduce your water consumption

Want to reduce your water consumption? The WaterSaver cuts down on the amount of water used with every flush by 1/2 to 1 full gallon! So simple, anyone can install it in only a moment. Makes a great gift for people wanting to help the environment with 'green' solutions.

Available online at the Tomboy Tools online store in the Plumbing section. Package includes 2 WaterSavers with straight forward instructions. Sells for only $9.95 plus shipping and taxes.

When processing your order, please remember to input B0131 ("b"as in baby, zero, one, three, one) in the Consultant Web ID# field - right below the Quantity you are ordering.

Better tools, better life!

12 Days of Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas are back!

Visit the www.tomboytools.ca website and enter to win.

A new winner every day! Holiday cheer for everyone.

Tomboy Tools is expanding into Quebec!!!!

I got an early Christmas present! Tomboy Tools announced on tonight's National Update Call (to it's Home Consultants) that they are expanding into "la belle province"!!!!

This is fantastic news. I live about 25 minutes south east of Ottawa, ON, and many women in the region live or work on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. During the last 2 years as I've built my Tomboy Tools business, I have met women that would like to have tool parties and even become Tomboy Tools Consultants .... over in Quebec. And now we're going to. Can you imagine having a Tool Party at the cottage? Oh, yeah!!

The official kick-off is to be sometime in January 2010, when the new business materials will be ready (the catalogue and order forms, etc.).

But I'm not waiting. I'm advertising now. Any woman that loves

• smart tools,
  
• home improvements,
  
• meeting new people,
  
• working from home,
  
• making money,
• supporting other women
• saving money
• and more.....

Contact me today. I am growing my Canadian team of Tomboy Tools Home Consultants, and looking for new team members that will introduce Tomboy Tools in Quebec, Canada.

Enjoy 30% commission from day one, no territories, full support, training, and huge opportunities. You could be the first Tomboy in Quebec.... Gatineau, La Peche, Venosta, Luskville, the Maniwaki and further north, east to Montreal, Quebec City, out to the Gaspe, north to Lac St Jean..... you name it - we're going there!

Fundraising Tool Party at Habitat for Humanity ReStore

I'm so excited to be able to help raise funds for Habitat for Humanity!

Please come out and join us for some Christmas Cheer, visit the ReStore (Ottawa's best kept secret location for picking up new and barely used construction materials and supplies), and buy some great products from Karen and Tomboy Tools (yes, these are the remarkable home improvement tools that are female friendly!)

A portion of the Tomboy Tools sales will be given to the Habitat Gift House. Click here for more details. They're taking a Qualicum-area house and magically turning it into homes for 10 families! Amazing!

Fundraising Tool Party
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
7 - 9 pm
7 Enterprise Ave., Ottawa, ON

We've sold out!

It was bound to happen. Our beloved Pink Impact Driver has become so wildly popular, that the warehouse has run out of stock.

The manufacturer is working on a big order of Tomboy Tools' favourite pink drill, and they are to arrive Feb. 1. It's well worth the wait, ladies. At only 1 lb. 11 oz, this fabulous power tool fits in a woman's hand! Plenty of power to zip around home doing fix-ups and home improvements, it has a LI-ION batter that charges lightning fast, doesn't have to be removed from the drill (there's this little power adapter that you plug in to re-charge it), and best for us Canadian handy women..... it's not affected by cold weather like the old cordless drills were.

Want to see how great they are? Contact your nearest Tomboy Tools Home Consultant and see if they have a demo you can try out. I'm near Ottawa, ON - so if you're in Eastern Ontario, I'm your Tomboy!

Sign up! I'm taking names and numbers of women that want the first ones into Canada.

5 Golden Rules to DIY

Doing home improvements yourself can save you a bundle, save you time, and leave you feeling fantastic. Before launching any projects, avoid disappointment by evaluating it against the following list.

1. Safety is number 1.



I'm going to sound cranky about this one, but I only have your best interests at heart. The professionals wear hard hats and protective glasses, right? So what makes you so special that you don't need the same equipment? Depending on the sort of do-it-yourself home repair job, you should also use ear plugs, dust masks, and safety boots. Don't have any of them? Pay now, get the gear & use it.... or pay with the consequences of an injury. Believe me, you don't want a DIY-related injury.

2. Know Your Limits

Home improvement projects look so effortless in TV programs and are done in no time thanks to editing. And honestly, we're not wonder woman. Unless you're a professional, you have limited knowledge and skills. Get your friends or relatives for support if you lack the skills or need extra hands, and know when to hire a professional.

3. Plan, Plan and Plan Some More

Get organized and plan your project out. Chart out the methodology in your head, write it down on paper, review it carefully, ask others for input, then refer to your plan when you're doing the actual work. Determine which materials you need, and carefully calculate how much to buy and buy extra. Nothing worse than running back & forth to the store for more stuff.

4. Better tools, better experience & results

Determine the tools you need for the job and gather them together. And for Pete's sake, use the right tools! Don't be using a butter knife as a screwdriver! It's inefficient and dangerous. Power tools are faster than manual ones, and they should all be of the best quality and design for your needs and ability. Don't already have what you need? Buy the ones you see yourself re-using in the future, and rent the expensive, rarely used ones. Women should visit Karen and Tomboy Tools for female friendly tools and support.

5. FINISH IT already!

Never leave your do-it-yourself home improvement project hanging. Finish it. If you can't complete it in one "go", then clean & tidy up, plan your next session, and DO IT! Don't start another home improvement project until you've completed the present one. If you don't stick to this rule, nothing will ever get done. LOL I know a lot about this one.

Wishing you exciting & successful adventures in home improvements!
Karen

When to Call a Pro

Came across this today, and felt it an important topic to share with you.

When to Call a Pro

October 11th, 2009

If you are interested in do-it-yourself home repair, it’s easy to think that you can tackle any project. However, thousands of dollars and a few trips to the emergency room later can make you rethink that position. If you are considering renovating your home, remodeling a room or changing anything major, it is vital to make sure that you have the skills, techniques and knowledge to tackle the chore before you begin. It is much cheaper to have a professional do the job from start to finish than it is to have them fix whatever you may have messed up.

Here’s an easy guide to help you determine whether or not calling a pro is the best answer.

1. The project will entail electrical rewiring.

Unless you have experience dealing with rewiring, this a job that is absolutely best left to professionals. Home electrical systems are very dangerous if you do not know what you are doing and serious if not fatal injury can occur. This also applies if you are tackling a project that may entail removing wiring, knocking down a wall where wiring may be present or installing a pool or hot tub. Do what you can up to a point, but when it comes to handling the wiring, call a professional.

2. You need to fix your roof and your house is two or more stories.

While fixing a roof on a single story can be dangerous, the danger is multiplied the higher you go. If you have never been on a roof before, now is not the time to see if you are good at it. Roofing is another task that is best left to pros, especially if you have no experience with walking on a slanted roof, dealing with heights and carrying supplies up and down a ladder. While most amateurs can easily clean out their eaves or fix a small leak on a one-story house, any higher than that is not recommended.

3. The project requires concrete.

Too many homeowners end up with unusable driveways, dangerous pathways and repair bills that are through the roof. If you are planning a project that requires more than just Quikrete, it is best to have a professional handle it for you. While you can pour your own foundation or redo your driveway, if you have never done anything like that before, it is not recommended to try it on your own.

4. The project requires a special skill that you do not have.

It is important to be honest with yourself when it comes to skills. Yes, you can follow instructions out of a book, but there is a chance that something can go wrong. Don’t let pride or ego ruin your home. If you don’t think you can do it – don’t. If you only think you can because of an inflated ego – don’t. Take the time to learn the skill from a professional before you end up in way over your head.

Originally posted 2008-10-13 05:28:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

"Pink For A Purpose" Fun Surprise Sweepstakes!

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October 2009

Tomboy Tools Canada is now in a charitable partnership with Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada. To raise awareness, Tomboy Tools has a very special promotion for our hostesses in October 2009.

It is easy to participate. Book a Tool Party with Karen to occur on one of the 4 Sweepstakes dates in October. She'll register your party with head office in Winnipeg.

A draw will be held the night of the party and one of the registered hostesses will receive a phone call during her party from Tomboy Tools Canada President, Lori Mitchell, with a very special fun surprise gift!

As an added bonus, a donation will be made to Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada equal to 10% of your total party order.

Even your Consultant will receive a fun surprise too!

Don't wait! Karen can only do 2 parties MAX. on these dates.

Here are the Pink for a Purpose Party dates:

• Tues., October 6, 2009 Taken!
  
• Thurs., October 22, 2009
• Tues., October 27, 2009

Have some fun and we all win! Contact Karen today to book YOUR Pink for a Purpose party!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

*much head shaking and scratching*

I might be crazy. I agreed to do an 'on-site build' at a hugely popular women's event. Hundreds of ladies come to mingle, make connections, do business pitches, show their talent (there'll be a production casting call), hunt for new alliances, and more....

And I will be inviting visitors to try my Tomboy Tools while helping build (drumroll please) a picnic table for Ottawa's Habitat for Humanity.

I have no problem carrying all the lumber in, and the hardware, and teaching others how to use my tools and assemble something...

... but I'll be doing this while promoting my business, booking Tool Parties, answering business questions from potential new Consultants, and collecting visitor's info.

Interestingly, as I was writing that last bit, it occurred to me that I should really simplify things as much as possible and avoid any attempts to perform like a Chinese contortionist while juggling running saws.

Solutions:
a) A ballot and drop-box so visitors can tell me what info they want and how I can reach them.

b) A Free Shipping gift certificate that can only be activated by contacting me, and can only redeemable when they host a Tool Party.

Nice. Now to find a box ...

Get 'em while they're hot: hands-on demos

Whew, the room was hot. Stuffy. And whenever we had the door to our meetup room propped open for a meager draft of fresh air, our discussions and the hands-on demo was almost drowned in noise from the restaurant/pub.

This was our 2nd meetup event at a local establishment on Bank Street. An unfortunate situation, because the 1st meeting had been much better in the meeting room next to it. So I'm looking for a new location. That's ok - I hadn't planned on making any particular location permanent, and as soon as the members become more comfortable with members and what we're doing, I hope more of them will offer themselves as hostesses.

Ignoring the temperature, the food and drinks were terrific! And so was the conversation which I'd advertised to be the "Job Jar" or yearly maintenance & repairs to keep your home in respectable condition, and your hard-earned money where it should be. Members hit it off quickly and offered their stories & experience along with mine. We also flipped through some great reference books I'd collected and reviewed the handout I gave out.

And then I set up my tools, materials/supplies, and simple practice board for the hands-on Caulking demo. Everyone tried their hand at it, and performed very well. Great job ladies!!!

We had lots of laughs, learned some new tips and techniques, and decided that our next meetup will cover drippy taps and running toilets.

In the Ottawa, ON (Canada) area and want to join us? Follow this link to sign up for free: Ottawa Women with Tools (at meetup.com).

Hope to see you soon!
Karen

CBC Radio "Ottawa Morning" Interview

Here's what you'll find on the CBC Radio Ottawa Blog:

Stop flushing money down the drain!

Spending time with Karen Donaldson was completely eye-opening. Just like the little engine that could...she showed me that I CAN do home improvements on my own to save some money. As a sidenote -- I also now know what to buy people for a housewarming gift. The Tomboy Tool Travelling kit is perfect! If you decide to throw a Tomboy Tool party I hope you'll get in touch and let me know how it turns out. They sound like fun!

Click here to listen to the show.

Starter Kit Sale Extended until August 20!

Due to the great response, Tomboy Tools Canada has extended it's special Starter Kit Sale. Click here for details on what's included in each business kit, the savings, and the BONUS TOOLS you get too.

Find out if this is the business for you by reading this helpful article here, located on the "Join" page of my website. I am here to help you evaluate this opportunity, and if you choose to join, I'll help you define and reach your goals.

Make your life YOURS. If you can imagine it, you can make it happen!

kd

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! Tomboy Tools Starter Kits on Sale! August 1-10, 2009

We're serious about helping women! Starter Kits will be on sale and they'll come with bonus items! Sale is from Aug. 1-10 only, but if ever you wanted to start your dream business, CONTACT ME NOW!

Now that I've got my meetup.com group of women gathering for hands-on demos... word is spreading about how Tomboy Tools Consultants and our designed-for-women tools are helping women. We need more Consultants to help women turn the place they live in to the place the LOVE!!!!

I am determined to build my team to serve the Ottawa Valley (and beyond). You'll have my full support, experience, and fun picking my brain. Come grow this company with me, and reap more benefits than you can imagine!

Learn how! DIY with hands-on demos for little fix ups, repairs, and home improvements

After looking at different ways to promote my open-to-the-public hands-on demos, I've decided to use meetup.com. This is a fabulous website that gives everyone the means to find or start up local groups for people to get away from their computer, and get together, have fun, and DO stuff!

Everybody! Follow me! Get out and LIVE LIFE! *grin*

It's so much fun!

Ottawa area women can become a member for free (just click on this link:"Ottawa Women with Tools" Meetup group) and sign up for my next hands-on demo. This week, it's an intro on how to patch drywall. There's also a quick survey so you can tell me what you want to learn about or practise.

For other types of events, visit my Event page at www.toolpartiesbykaren.com where you'll see my available dates for your private hands-on demo, the Tool Party for your friend's bridal shower, or a workshop where you can learn how to fix that THING at home, yourself!

So don't be shy. Come out and have some fun, learn some home improvement techniques, try out my new tools, and Turn the place you live in to the place you LOVE!

Karen

Building a bunkie for cottage guests

Here's a great project I'd like to do for cottage guests. I've got the tools, just need the materials!

Click here for details on how to build it.

More women doing DIY to improve home and save money!

Check out this article about women doing home improvements and repairs:
"Homeowners Swing Hammers and Save" in the Washington Post.

Read this, then find your local Tomboy Tools consultant to get your hands on design-for-women tools the hands-on demos to practice the result you want!

Karen and Tomboy Tools

Mother's Day, gift-wrapped collection of tools with a canvas apron embroidered with "Mom" in pink!

Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 10, 2009. Don't procrastinate or forget, then show up with flowers hastily bought at the corner store! Give her something useful, that will make her life easier.

Just in time for us to celebrate all the wonderful Mom's in our lives - Tomboy Tools has put together a special collection of favourite tools and safety items, added the canvas apron with the pink webbing loops to hang tools in... which has been specially embroidered in pink with "Mom" ... and gift-wrapped it for you!

Contact me to place your order.

Tomboy Tools is building a direct-sales empire

"Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself." This is a standard quote you'll hear when joining any direct-sell company.

But not many can offer the opportunity to join a young company growing at the rate of Tomboy Tools. Check out this article by the Denver Business Journal on March 13, 2009.

The other unique gift you get with joining my team with Tomboy Tools, is the opportunity for YOU to learn while you earn. Beyond learning about running your own business, Tomboy Tools products, direct-selling, even social media and network marketing....

.... you have an amazing opportunity to learn more about home improvements, repairs, saving money, maintaining the value of your home investment, renovations, interior decorating, organizing... you can forge ahead in any of these areas, and others, that you are interested in. THEY ALL START WITH GREAT TOOLS!

The more we share Tomboy Tools products and the business opportunity, the more you and the rest of us improve! Ourselves, our knowledge, our business, our homes, our economy.

Join me, and find yourself in a position to achieve more than you can imagine.
Karen and Tomboy Tools

A great place to find TOMBOY TOOLS!

Ever wondered about the TOMBOY TOOLS in-home parties? Watch this youtube video!

Contact me if you'd like to come to a tool party or workshop. Visit my website at www.toolpartiesbykaren.com for details on how you can shop for tools at 1/2 price and FREE, and our monthly specials for customers and hostesses.

Turn the place you live in to the place you love!
Karen D.

April Fool's Day!

I got a bombshell message at work today (day job) - thought I was losing my job. For many reasons, my next thoughts were on all the opportunities and options available to me to survive without it. Then I scrolled to the bottom and discovered it was a prank email from a coworker. We had a laugh together, and I went back to my office, knowing that I didn't have to put my contingency plan into motion.

Here's an important thought for you today. Do you have a contingency plan? What if you were to lose your job tomorrow? Any ideas of what you'd do next or how you'd pay your bills?

Take the time now before your next crisis to sketch out your contingency plan, and not only will you be more prepared 'just in case', but you might find there's a business idea you could begin now so that losing your job won't be a crisis.

Wishing you joy and abundance!
Karen D.

Great $ savings for renovations!

It's a great time to buy your first home, improve your home with a renovation, or change the energy efficiency of your home. For information on how you can save money, the Canadian government has a number of places for information about these 3 great initiatives.

This is what you'll see on my husband's CASTOR RIVER WOODWORKS website for his custom kitchens and millwork business:

News
Now is the perfect time to renovation your home, make improvements for energy efficiencies, and buy your first home. Click on the links below to get information about the incentives available that will SAVE YOU MONEY when doing these home-related activities.

• Canada's Economic Action Plan at www.actionplan.gc.ca


• Home Renovation Tax Credits


• ecoENERGY Retrofit Grants for residential properties

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like some ideas on how to proceed.

Best of the day!
Karen D.

Major Update!!!

When I started my business as a consultant with Tomboy Tools I quickly took what knowledge I had and created a website for myself. I was pleased with my efforts - managed to keep it current and available for visitors.

Happy with the accomplishments made over the last year, I'm especially thrilled with the changes that are coming from a big step I took more recently. If you want to succeed, you must stretch yourself and learn! I've been reading, attending web seminars, learning new methods for running my business, and networking with hundreds of incredible women (many with their own small businesses). And now all kinds of wonderful things are popping out of the woodwork!

I find myself being invited to do Tool Parties and participate in events that I had never heard of before. Invitations are popping into my inbox asking me to attend special events where I'm meeting women that have founded remarkable internationally known companies (Heather Maclachlan (founder of Epicuria and 2007 Business Woman of the Year), Sandra Yancey (eWomen), Tracy Clark (Bridghead), and remarkable authors (like Roslyn Franken, author of The A List: 9 Guiding Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living), and ladies that have broken through the glass ceiling in technology (IBM, 8D, and others, with The Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State, Status of Women Canada).

With this evolution, I looked at my website and decided it didn't fit anymore. So I went to work and late last night I posted my new website at www3.sympatico.ca/donaldson www.toolpartiesbykaren.com. I love the new look, and can't wait to hear your comments.

Visit www.toolpartiesbykaren.com now, and return often as it will continue to expand with more great information for Tool Party Hostesses, customers, women looking for a new business opportunity, and new Tomboy Tools consultants.

See you on twitter, squidoo, facebook, and Ottawa Business!

Pick up a hammer, and let your pony tail fly!

March has arrived, like a lamb

Bright sunny day, clear blue sky. Splendid! Even if the temperature has dropped below normal and spring seems a little further away.

Got an early start this morning so I can updating everthing: facebook, website, a couple of notes to Twitter, handy checklists for myself to improve customer service, and soon my blog.

Stay tuned!
Karen

What kind of a Tomboy are YOU?

There are 6 kinds of Tomboys:

1. Friends & Families:
- likes the idea of buying products for personal use at lower prices (20-30% off)
- sells to neighbors, relatives and friends through catalog orders and home parties

2. Short-term
- sells for a short period of time
- wants to earn a specified amount of money and stops when goal is reached

3. Hobby
- loves doing home parties and earning extra money when it's convenient
- works a lot some months, and less other months

4. Part-time
- part-time consultant who desires to make a specified and consistent monthly income to pay off their chosen bills, or to save money for a special event or goal (e.g. a wedding, vacation, home improvements & repairs, down-payment, college, etc.)

5. On-site Consultant
- works for a company with lots of employees
- makes it convenient for everyone to order
- earns extra income

6. Business Building Consultant
- views Tomboy Tools as a viable career path
- wants to move up the career ladder
- works at the business in a consistent and on-going manner - It's a real job!

We need all types of Consultants!
Which one would work best for you?

Things just get better and better!

January 1 came with a wonderful surprise from Tomboy Tools Canada: the announcement that we now offer 3 starter kits for our new Consultants to choose from!

Starter Kit #1 (Basic)

• Tomboy Tools Traveller: includes 11 tools and accessories and wide-mouth bag


• 20 order forms - 20 catalogues


• website access and ongoing training


• training DVD


• Tomboy T–Shirt


• 30% buying discount


• $99 (no GST or PST, $18.95 S&H)

Starter Kit #2 (Standard Business Kit)

• Tomboy Tools Super Stepper – includes 17 tools and accessories plus the stepper


• pink hammer


• Tomboy Tools book


• Tomboy T–Shirt or Cap


• training DVD


• 50 order forms - 50 catalogues


• project direction cards


• website access and ongoing training


• 30% buying discount


• $199 (no GST or PST, $21.95 S&H)

Starter Kit #3 (PINK Business Kit)

• Tomboy Tools PINK Super Stepper – includes 17 tools and accessories plus the stepper - all in PINK!


• pink garden trowel


• pink garden fork


• Tomboy Tools book


• Tomboy T–Shirt or Cap


• training DVD


• 50 order forms - 50 catalogues


• project direction cards


• website access and ongoing training


• 30% buying discount


• $299 (no GST or PST, $21.95 S&H)

Contact me for a copy of our career plan and agreement form, and get your new business started!