I'm a Star!

Well, I reached Diamond Star last quarter in Mary Kay. It was very exciting completing my first quarter. I was so close at the end to reaching Diamond and I'm so glad I reached up and got it! Collette's Star Party was very fun and I completely enjoyed myself. My Star pin just came in the mail and I can't wait to get my prize. I chose outdoor dinnerware. I want to go on more picnics with Ian and I couldn't help think those were perfect. Here are the Star's of the night wearing our gifts from Collette.

Six Years Ago

I can't believe it's been six years since Grandpa died. Six years is a long time! It doesn't feel like it's been that long, but when I look back at everything that has happened in six years, there has been a lot. I was doing ok with the day until now. I got thinking about how much I miss him and how much he was involved in our lives. I think that is why it still hits so hard after six years. He was supposed to be there when I got married and when my kids were born.

I got thinking about all the memories I've had with him over the years and things that remind me of him.

I loved being at the cabin and going on snowmobile or four wheeler rides with Grandpa.

Grandma and Grandpa took us on many trips to Yellowstone.

Hearing the sound of cowboy boots on a linolium floor and seeing a cowboy hat always reminds me of Grandpa.

We would play in his boots when we were little and the boot would be the entire length of our little legs.

He let me drive his brand new truck the day I got my drivers liscence. Yikes!!

It was the best going to Steamboat with Grandma and Grandpa for so many years.

He always took us kids to McDonalds to play on the toys.

I loved when he would teach me his water color techniques. They were so different from Grandma's paintings.

He was at every concert and event us kids were involved in.

I loved going to visit Grandma and Grandpa at their house in St. George.

He would always take me on walks at the cabin. He would cut down willow branches and make me fishing poles and even helped me name my favorite trees.



I hope someday my kids will see my Dad how I saw my Grandpa. I know they will. My Dad is just as awesome as my Grandpa.

Mother's Day

My mom is awesome and I hope she had a good Mother's Day. I couldn't have asked for a better mom. I have learned so much from her. She loves me and has always been there for me. I'm so grateful for what she has done over the years and what she still does for me now. Now that I'm older I seem to notice more of the things she did for us as kids.

I found some old pictures and wanted to post them because they make me laugh so hard. I hope someday my kids can look back at old pictures and love them just as much as I do these. I hope I can look back with them and we can ask ourselves what were we wearing and laugh at our hair! Whoever invented the camera is a genius. Pictures mean everything to me. They hold your most precious memories.

I can't wait to be a mom! I hope my kids will look up to me as much as I do my mom. I'm sure it will be the most rewarding thing I will ever do.

Homemade Laundry Soap

Last night we made laundry soap for the first time. We got 5 gallons out of the batch for about $9.00. That cost included the bucket! I think we will be set on laundry soap for the next 3 years. I love using it so far. It's got a funny texture, but it smells good and seems to work well. I have a hard time with laundry soap scents, but this one works for me. It has a very fresh, clean scent. I put a little fabric softener in each load and now I can't stop smelling my laundry :)

Here is the recipe. We tripled it and got 5 gallons.

Homemade Laundry Soap:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

**A few things to note about the soap**

~The finished soap will not be a solid gel. It will be more of a watery gel that has been accurately described as an "egg noodle soup" look.

~The soap is a low sudsing soap. So if you don’t see suds, that is ok. Suds are not what does the cleaning, it is the ingredients in the soap.

I'm Dreaming Pink

I’ve recently joined Mary Kay. It all happened so fast. It started with going to an Easter egg hunt with my consultant, and then I ended up staying for the rest of the sales meeting. I learned a lot just from the meeting itself. At the end of the meeting there was a question and answer session and I found myself asking all kinds of questions. I’m not normally like that. As this went on I kept getting a good feeling about all the information being shared with me. So I stayed after the meeting and listened to the facts about the company. I continued to ask many questions. I found out that I had one day left to get that month’s special for signing up. I left with the information and the feeling that I really wanted to do it, but I needed to talk to Ian about it. I knew he would support my decision, but I have been busy at work lately so I knew that concern would be brought up. Which I have been really busy lately, but I do the same thing day after day. I need something new and different in my life and I think joining Mary Kay has been perfect for that so far. This is something that I enjoy that I can do for myself. Plus I’ve always had a love for makeup and skin products. I think that all started from a Mary Kay party I went to when I was in 7th grade. So I decided to join. My decision really shocked me. I usually have to think about something for a while and then I change my mind a million times before I actually decide what I want. Then after I’ve made my decision I still feel like it’s the wrong one. I am so happy with my decision though. It’s been really good for me to get out and meet new people and change my routine. I do well with goal making and structure and I have found that so much in my new adventure.

We all know my favorite show is Friends. Shortly after I had joined I was watching an episode while doing something else and I heard this line come from Monica. It really caught my attention because it’s exactly how I felt. “I know it’s a little sudden, and it’s a little rushed, and it’s totally not like me to do something like this, but that doesn’t mean I can’t, right?”

This whole experience has been so good for me. My sister pointed out to me that I’ve been in a skirt more times in the last 2 weeks, than I have in the last 2 years. It’s been fun to get dressed up again. I haven’t thought that since high school. I’m so grateful for the job I have now. It’s really taught me a lot about running a business and how so many things work in the business world.

I feel I have been doing well so far. I’ve met both challenges I’ve had, even when I didn’t think the second one was possible. My actions and results have shocked me a little bit. I usually have a hard time with change, even if it’s good change, but this has been so great. I asked Ian if it was bad that I really wanted to jump right into this and really do it. At first I thought I’d do it just a little bit, but I’ve realized what my true desire is. I know when I put my mind towards something that I want, I get it. I am quite stubborn like that.

When I first started working with ribbon, that was all I could see when I closed my eyes. Now all I seem to dream about is Mary Kay products. I think it’s pretty funny. I’m so excited to keep making goals and progressing. I love that I get to do this with one of my closest friends. As much as I love my husband, it’s nice to get out and be around other women. I also get to work with another friend from my current job who has just signed up under me. I had a recruit before my first party! I was definitely not expecting that to happen any time soon. I’m so glad to have such a wonderful director also. She is so helpful and supportive. This is definitely a new adventure for me and I’m loving every minute of it.