Have you heard the BUZZ...

I promoted to Director October 31, 2009...which meant I officially had my own team! I have been racking my brain ever since then to give us a name that MEANT something. My grandmother was Betty Jean...however, to us...she was "Mame." My first thought was to do something with "Jeans" (she didn't go by Betty)...all I could think of was "Blue Jean Baby"...and that didn't seem to do much for me. In addition to my grandmother, "Jean" is my daughter's middle name...so this was going to honor both of them (because Brooklyn is my "why"..."why" I decided to give Thirty-One a whirl (and ever so blessed that I did!!)).

Since I couldn't come up with anything to do with jeans...my thought process then moved towards bridges...yes bridges. If our last name was "Bridges", this might have been a fun play on words...but that is not the case. Brooklyn was named for her Daddy (Brooks), not the bridge...but it still seemed to be a symbolic reference that could be tied back to her. I also had a bit of a bridge obsession and have several framed black and white pics of infamous bridges. Bridges have a lot of meaning and they help you get from one point to another. Nonetheless, this didn't strike me as a great team name.

I tried contests with my team and tried to get their input. I was never "in love" with the suggestions. Although they were great, I decided it had to be something that I came up with...because that was the only way it would truly have meaning to me.

About a month ago I was ordering a few Thermal Totes (if you don't have one, you should order one...they are amazing!!). I was trying to come up with something to put on my "Tea & Coffee" tote and Gina so kindly suggested, "Caffeine Queen." Super cute. Loved it. Ordered it.

I sat and pondered about "Queen" and if that would be a fun team name. ...then BAM, I remembered that my grandfather, Popeye, called my grandmother "Queen Bee." I turned around and asked Brooks what he thought...and he was in agreement...the best thing I had come up with!

I thought about it from the time I left my computer room until I crawled in bed...by this point (all of 10 minutes later), I was hooked. We were going to be the "Queen Bee's". However, Brooks quickly brought it to my attention that we should be the "Queen B's" for Brininstool...loved it even more (and couldn't believe I hadn't put two and two together!). I didn't want to be "Team Brininstool"...but I love that it has a "B" in it.

This is the front of a Mary Englebreit greeting card that my Popeye gave to my Mame. We had it framed for her...it was in their house...and also went to the nursing home with Popeye so his Queen Bee would be with him. My grandfather passed away soon after college and we lost Mame the week after Brooklyn was born. I was their only grandchild and we were amazingly close. It's pretty crazy how much you can miss someone. It was the most amazing blessing that Mame was able to meet our Brooklyn Jean...and got to hold her several times during her last week of life...and Brooklyn's first week of life. Everyday I pray that they are watching her grow, play, talk...and experiencing all of her greatness from above!

So, there you have it...we are the Queen B's!! Here is my new team logo that I just shared with my team!

I think there are so many fun "team" things that we will be able to do with "Queen." I always recognize my girls through our monthly newsletter...so instead of #1 sales, #1 party, etc...we will have "Queen Bee Recruiter" etc for each category!!

...and if you read about Bees...they are pretty darn interesting! They are hard workers, busy, etc! ...and we all know, we are "busy as a bee!"

Another fun tid-bit...my husband and I have wanted to paint our study a buttery yellow with black trim since we moved in...and well, my team name just happens to fit right into that color scheme!!

I am so blessed to have an amazing team of women under me! I currently have nearly 500 fabulous women in over 35 states represented in my downline! I absolutely love Thirty-One and everything it has brought into my life. These amazing women have helped me to promote to Senior Director...and currently on track for Executive Director (this month!).

If you are interested in joining this amazing company...and want to join the Queen B's...I would love to give you more information! Due to Thirty-One's rapid growth (we were the FASTEST growing company in our industry last year), we have temporarily halted recruiting so our Home Office can expand operations, staffing and so much more! I do not have a definite answer when our "recruiting freeze" will be lifted...but for now we know it will continue through March and April. I would be honored to welcome you to my team! In the mean time, I can help you set up your first party (you can earn hostess rewards to double your enrollment kit) and we can start training! You will be on my personal wait-list and the first person I contact when recruiting is open again!

Before I go, I wanted to share a few picture with you of the original "Queen Bee"....

Wedding Day! November 14, 1948

I think this picture is neat because they are holding my Mom (now known as Nonnie) and she is probably about Brooklyn's age...

Mame and Popeye with my Mom and her sister (Great Auntie Jamie)

Mame and I at a wedding

Mame and Popeye - Church Directory Picture

Popeye LOVED to stick his finger in your ear! Loved jokes!

Popeye's "She-Stock"
(Photo from their 50th Anniversary Family Photo Session)

Mame (right) and her older sister, Aunt Jo (left)...now Great Great Auntie Jo!
Aunt Jo is blessed to enjoy Brooklyn's visits...and she get's to step in and be Brooklyn's Great Great Grandma (the next best (and closest) thing to having "Mame").

The moment that she had been waiting for! She got her hands on "Esmerelda." We didn't announce Brooklyn's name until she was born...and Mame jokingly called her Esmerelda :)

Popeye's "She Stock" grew by one!

LOVE this...priceless.

So...I might have gotten a bit distracted by going down memory lane...but now you can see the woman behind "Queen Bee."

Blessings,

Kristen Brininstool
Senior Director, Thirty-One Gifts
210-373-7950
Kristens31Gifts@gmail.com

Web: www.MyThirtyOne.com/Kristen
FB: www.Facebook.com/Kristens31Gifts
Blog: www.My31Gifts.blogspot.com