Archive for May, 2010

The honor, the sacrifice, they’re playing for keeps
They’re brothers in arms while the rest of us sleep
My gratitude over flows into tears for the lost
Who defended our flag at any cost
For me and my children they risk their lives
So freedom and country may survive
For the standing and the fallen I sing out my thanks
To my heroes who choose to stand in their ranks
Not just in this moment, not just on holiday
For every day past and every to come
For your brothers and sisters, your mothers and wives
Your courage humbles and inspires and thrives and
in my house, made safe by your service and
in my heart, made full by your story
you will always have a special place.

DMT – Memorial Day 2010

I always get choked up when it comes to our military.

My grandfather was in the Navy. He served on the Hancock when it got plowed by a kamikaze pilot. He survived that only because his bestest bud insisted that he take a nap and he took grandpa’s shift in the very spot where the kamikaze hit. I still have a vase that my grandfather carried from Shanghi to Bangkok. His sacrifice will never be forgotten by me or my children.

My father was a MP staff sergeant in the Army. Stationed at Tan Son Knut he was a dog handler, one of the guys who always saw ‘the shit.’ Years later, after I was born at US Army Tripler General in Oahu Hawaii, the injuries he sustained would lead to many years of testing, surgeries, pain, medications, stim boxes, lost sleep, quick tempers, mental anguish. There are those, even in my life, who doubt the severity of his suffering yet I am not one of them. Eventually declared 100% disabled by the military, my father never aspired to be more than a disabled Vietnam veteran. Not because he wasn’t capable of aspiring to greater things but because he was so terribly frightened of losing the medical benefits he knew he would need for the rest of his life. Yes, he could have taken that job that he could have done from home. The one that would’ve enabled him to pay for his house and many other luxuries indeed, yet had he done so he would have lost his benefits and if he later discovered he could not continue he would not be able to go back to where he was. When you’re living with unbearable pain you can ignore it for awhile, but reality always comes back to slap you in the face.

My father gave his life for Vietnam. Not the life he’s living, but the life he maybe could have lived. He sacrificed every ‘opportunity’ that threatened his security. In many ways he sacrificed my childhood for Vietnam. It’s been difficult for me not to resent the fact that I could never jump and play with my dad as a kid, that he inherited a terrible temper from his own father that I feel was made worse by the memories he held and the pain he lived with every day.

My patriotism is weaved into the very fabric of who I am. I feel that although I never enlisted, I also served – as a daughter and granddaughter of two incredibly brave men who carried the memories of their experiences for many years to come. I am choked up by every sacrifice – the time away from families, the harsh conditions, the injuries, the deaths, the hardships of those left behind – it moves me. Deeply.

God bless each and every one of you who signed on the dotted line for a cause greater than individuality.

Here is an amazing story I read yesterday. I tried to read it to my kids but had to hand it over to my 12 year old daughter because I got the bites in the eyes and the hitch in the breath trying to read it myself… it is about the ‘Arlington Lady’ and gives a good view of the dedication military women feel for those who are where they once were – be sure to have a tissue handy http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37416579/ns/us_news-life/

Wanted to post our latest review.  If you’re considering ToiBocks for storage of your intimate items, this is a good example of why this reviewer loves her ToiBocks.

Here is the link to the blog site, Tales from the ToiBox which is NSFW (Not Safe For Work) and the text of the review is below.

Do you have roommates? Children? Nosy in-laws? Yup, it’s as I feared. You also likely have no privacy, a hoard of poorly hidden sex toys, and too many busy bodies sticking their noses where noses never belonged. You, my dear friend, need a ToiBocks. I mean literally need it. It’s detrimental to your sexual health, overall happiness and well being. No, don’t even try to dissuade me. I will witness your horny frustrated sufferings no longer! Prepare to be liberated from your previously depressing lifestyle of secrecy and paranoia. So, what is a ToiBocks, you ask? Oh dear, it’s worse than I thought..

Okay, let me break it down for you. The ToiBocks is a discreet, locking storage system that’s no more incriminating than a jewelry box. Made of a gorgeous, smooth, cherry finished wood, it is a very classy addition to any dresser or nightstand.  Upon opening the hinged lid you are greeted by a luxurious red velvet interior. All that is immediately visible is the top tray, which can be used for jewelry, toys, or anything else you’d like to keep close at hand. I most often use this section for jewelry, as I don’t want my mom, grandma, or any other guests getting a naughty surprise! It’s pretty obvious that there’s a compartment underneath, because of the ToiBocks’ depth, as well as the seam where the inside of the box meets the outside edges of the tray. But anyone who tries to lift it and peek underneath will be met with resistance, because this little beauty has a hidden lock! I won’t tell you how to open it, as that is a secret only its owners are privy to. However, I will divulge that it locks using a magnetic key which can be stored on the ToiBocks itself, or tucked away somewhere safe.

Let’s talk dimensions. In total, the ToiBocks is 11″ long, by 7″ wide, by 6.25″ tall. It’s not very large, but can hold an unprecedented amount! Really, there’s more room in there than you’d first suspect. The secured storage compartment underneath is 10″ long, by 6″ wide, by 2.5″ tall. Like I said, not huge, but big enough to store quite a few things! Really, it could be used to store anything you like: toys, porn, documents, valuables, or even cash. Personally, I just use mine for sex toys and accessories. Currently my ToiBocks is occupied by the Freestyle, Noemie, Wave Wand, Mia, Ophoria K-balls, Delight click ‘n’ charge, Ella, & an mp3 player (to accompany the Freestyle). I could honestly fit much, much more within its confines, but I prefer to keep only my favorite, most frequently used playthings there. It’s so convenient to have them right at my fingertips the moment I want or need them. If spontaneity strikes,  I don’t want to go digging through boxes to find what I’m looking for. For that reason, the ToiBocks is really a great ‘heat of the moment’ accessory. I suppose if you’re really strapped for space, and don’t mind others seeing your sexy collection, you could always remove the tray and pile your toys sky high. For me though, my favorite feature is definitely the fact that it can be neatly closed and hidden away.

As far as maintenance for this item goes, I’d merely suggest using a standard wood surface cleaner, and a soft cloth. Never use abrasive objects to scrub or wipe your ToiBocks, as they will likely scratch or otherwise mar the finish. Keep all lubes, lotions, and body butters tightly contained to prevent leaks, which could stain the interior. Treat it right, and this quality built item is sure to last you for years to come.

In closing, this is a truly creative, well thought out storage system that would fit well with any decor and is very functional. The ToiBocks would make a lovely gift for a friend, relative, or even just yourself. Perfect for practically anyone, regardless of age, marital status, or living circumstance. An exquisite piece, which will eternally rest in it’s rightful place, next to my bed.

First, I want to thank Tamara Bell for giving me an outlet for my writing and to all the folks who’ve contacted me to say they enjoyed my articles.  I always enjoy writing and it’s nice to see something that I’ve done helping someone else and perhaps helping them avoid some of the mistakes I’ve made along the way.

This article was written for folks who are running their own party plan but it really applies well to anyone who is in business for themselves.

Running ToiBocks has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  The sacrifices, the heartache, the joy and the elation from hearing that first ‘gasp’ when a person sees how the ToiBocks works for the first time… the emotions really run the gamut!

Anyway, here is the article:

If it is to be it’s up to me?

By Dawn Tulman
President, ToiBocks Inc.

Years ago I was involved in a major multi-level marketing organization and while that turned out to be not my cup of tea, I learned quite a bit from the support materials of books, tapes and quotes.  One of the most repeated quotes was “If it is to be, it’s up to me!”  I repeated it with fervor, making it my mantra, thinking it represented “I can do it.”  Now, all these years later I wonder if the law of attraction didn’t kick in at some point and essentially create a self-fulfilling prophecy for me?

I say this because it turned out for me that it did end up being completely up to me… almost all of it – the sales, marketing, bookkeeping, administrative tasks, meetings, phone calls, emails.  I found myself doing it all.  As my business grows I’m able to add on key people who can handle some of these things for me, but in the end it is my responsibility to make sure these things are getting done the right way in the right time period because if the people I’ve chosen to do those things don’t do them, I am the one who has to or I’m the one who suffers the most.

Owning my own business has been a lot like raising a child. I was the one who had to feed it, clothe it, socialize it, give it goals and nurture it.  Just like when you have a kid, there are supportive folks in the periphery, your parents, your siblings or other family, teachers, team leaders… but at the end of the day it’s you they come home to, you who are ultimately responsible for helping them grow into good little people.  It’s absolutely critical to have the right kind of support system.  Fortunately, for me, I made friends with a lot of influential people in my industry and business in general.  When I’m stuck on something I give them a call and they help me as best as they can.  I don’t have an “association” like HPPPA to readily give me answers to questions that I don’t even know I need to ask yet.  If I did, I’d jump on it with both feet for sure. I think www.score.org is the closest I’ve ever come.

Being in business is like playing chess, you have to always be thinking ahead to your next move and when you make a mistake, you need to think about what will prevent that mistake from happening again.  I recently took my kids to track practice and someone put a coupon for a basketball clinic on my windshield.  “Who would need that?” my son asked.  “Anyone who wants to be really good at basketball, maybe they want to play professionally.  Everyone who wants to be a professional ‘anything’ needs to get their mentoring from someone.  Whether it’s basketball or business, you can’t survive without mentors.”  Who is your mentor?  Who is giving you the creativity to come up with new ideas to keep your business strong and make it grow?  On this fifth anniversary of the HPPPA I wanted to bring extra attention to what your membership can really do for you.

Want to know what the latest and greatest toys are?  Want to know if a company you’re thinking about carrying has ever had any problems with their products?  Want to find out what distributors are closest to you to save on shipping costs, or offer the most variety of products, or have great customer service?  Want to find out the best samples to use as give-aways at your parties?  Want to learn what issues are affecting party planners at the moment?  Have a tax question?  Want to find out which tradeshows give you the best bang for your buck or which are closest to you for the least expensive travel options?  Want to know what software is good for keeping track of your inventory and your reps?  Need someone to look over your marketing plan?  Need to know how to create a marketing plan?  Need some training?  Want to learn to be more effective?  Needs some tips on how to keep a party going or how to book more parties?  These are all things you might not even have thought of, but they are all benefits to being a member of the HPPPA.

Sometimes we don’t even know what we need and it’s good to have someone to ask “This is my business, have I thought of everything or am I in for a surprise?”  Often, associating with people who have already done what you’re doing or what you want to do will help you figure out the chess moves before you even sit down to play.  Talking with someone about what it is working and what isn’t can help you pinpoint how to turn your shot into a 3 pointer.

Ultimately yes, if it is to be it’s up to me.  Up to me to ask the right questions, to make the right choices, and to know where to go to help formulate the answers.  It’s up to me to find the right people to help me do what I do best!

If you haven’t already signed up to be a member of HPPPA, it’s up to you to do so.

Dawn Tulman is the president of ToiBocks Inc.; she’s been married for 13 years and has three children.  ToiBocks is a jewelry box with a hidden lock mechanism that enables you to keep your intimate items on the nightstand for easy access while keeping out sticky fingers and prying eyes. The idea for ToiBocks was inspired when Dawn’s oldest daughter “discovered” one of her novelties in the nightstand and she could not find a product that met her need to keep her toys handy and secure right out in the open. For more information visit www.toibocks.com or contact Dawn at 818.395.8558.