Family and an Anniversary!

I had such a great time with family being in town this past week.

We seen some family that we haven't seen in, I think, 2 years and we had the privilege of meeting the newest family member.

This huge family got together this time to celebrate my Papa and Grandmas 60th wedding anniversary! To think, 60 years! Woah!

Thursday was our first night together. We gathered for a casual pizza dinner. 

Friday was a day at the beach for some of us and a day of work for others. 

After the beach, we gathered again for dinner. This time, elk burgers! Oh so yummy!

Saturday was the big dinner day. The anniversary party at Schuler's, in Marshall.

The wedding day, and the dinner at schuler's.

Saturday night, after dinner, we couldn't split up. So it's natural for us to sit around a Bon fire.

Sunday was yet another dinner together. The traditional summer dinner of ham loaf (which I love), and a dessert called peach cutchin. I have no idea how to spell that. We also had anniversary gifts and some past birthday gifts.

Finally, Monday was the last dinner we attended. (It was a long weekend for all of us, but definatly the kids were pooped.) We had an awesome fish fry of blue gill! With broccoli and potato salad. One of my favorite meals!

We had a great time visiting and meeting family. The kids loved meeting their new cousin and can't wait to see her again when she's actually able to play with them!

Mary Kay Seminar 2013

A week ago I took at trip to Dallas, Texas for my very first Mary Kay seminar. This year is Mary Kay's 50th anniversary so it was extra special.

I left Detroit Metro airport at 6:55 am on Sunday and was in Dallas at 11:25, right on time.

Once I got there, I got my registration packet, with a ton of free products and my name tag. The name tag is as valuable as gold, gives you access to everything and if you lose it, costs you $50 to replace.

Sunday I went to the Mary Kay headquarters and the Mary Kay museum. That was all really cool!

The Mary Kay building

My friend and roommate, Cathy and I.

I had to take these truck pictures for Marty :)

Silver wings sculpture

Mary Kay's office

Later the first night they debuted the new directors 

And new National Sales Directors (national is one of the highest levels as a consultant in Mary Kay. Once you become a national you get lifetime benefits, life insurance, monthly commission even after you retire, etc.)

The next day was classes and constant dance parties. There was a lot of talk about confidence and how to help build your confidence. We had speeches from top sales directors for some information. One that really stuck out for me was the number 2 sales director. According to her, she has made it (and personally I think she has too). She had her first child when she was 14, her second at 17 and her third at 22. She had formal education up to 9th grade, then got her GED. She has never been to college. She makes commission (not including her 50% of her own sales) into 6 figures annually. That amazed me. 

The third day was my birthday!!! With more classes, recognition and dancing in the morning. That night was awards night, and a lot of fun!

It's an elegant affair with gowns and jewels! Our nationals in their gowns!

On the screen is Karen Piro, top national sales director

The one on the right is our Miss Go Give this year. This is Mary Kay's highest award to receive. To be miss go give means that you've given above and beyond to anyone, without expecting anything in return. This years miss go give donates and personally helps orphans all over the world. She spent almost 6 months of her personal time working with orphans and gave tens of thousands of dollars to organizations.

Justin Rivers from the Voice was the entertainment for awards night

The final day, we had just a short session. We recognized all of the Mary Kay spouses in attendance by having them walk across stage. There were hundreds there this year

And then a quick speech from Mary Kay's grandson Ryan Rogers

That's the end of seminar! It was very inspiring and a ton of fun! I can't wait to go back next year and walk across the stage myself!

Laziness

These last couple days I've been feeling really lazy. But not lazy like I haven't done anything, because I cleaned our whole house. It's small but it's still clean :) I mean I haven't had the energy or the will power to get up and put in a full workout. That's not good. I went to zumba Wednesday night, but other than going for bike rides, I haven't worked out. 

Tonight I decided I better get off my butt and do something active. So, I popped in one of my zumba dvd's and got to work. My favorite one is only 30 minutes but its a hard 30 minutes. 

If I was a sceptic that working out doesn't improve your mood and how you feel, I am no longer! I feels 100% better, even if I am exhausted. And I'm happy again. Not like I was depressed before. I just had a bad day. I woke up sore and on the wrong side of the bed. And to top it off, Mackenzie and Cameron woke up on the wrong side of their beds too, and decided it would be a good idea to fight all day. So I was in a pretty crappy mood. But no more!

Just had to put that realization on paper. If you're in a slump, workout!!!

Have a great night, I know I will!!!

Our 22 hour trip

Tuesday night Marty and I decided to pack up the kids and Buddy and head up north, spur of the moment. We didn't know what we were going to do or where we were staying. We just started driving. I realize most responsible adults with kids to take care of dint usually do this, but why not? It was fun! 

We left at 6:00 Tuesday night and arrived at the Mackinaw bridge at 10:30. We walked around Fort Mihilimackinac for a bit by the water before crossing into the U.P. We all stayed the night in my car at the visitors center on the other side of the bridge.

Wednesday morning we got up, cleaned up, and found some breakfast.

We drove to castle rock (couldn't go in because buddy was with us), but I still took pictures. 

Drove back over the bridge, took a walk around Michilimackinac State Park, and checked everything out, took some family pictures, bought fudge and taffy and headed home.

It's a new month!

Today is July 1st! As a Mary Kay lady, it's the first day of our new year. Goals were either reached or just missed (or missed by a mile for some) yesterday. New goals will be set or given a new date today! It's a clean slate for everyone.

I have some big goals that I haven't met, but this is now a new year and a new beginning. My big goal, as of today, is to be a sales director by June 30, 2014. One year and a lot of hard work. It's time to plan my work, and work my plan!

I know you have no idea what a sales director consists of. It's a team of at least 24 people and wholesale orders of at least $24,000 each quarter. I'm starting with no team members and no where near that in sales. But I want to do this to make life easier for us. To have opportunities as a family that we don't currently have. And to give Mackenzie and Cameron a worry free college life where they don't have to worry about paying tuition or getting loans. These are my dreams, and it's the opportunity I have in front of me at the moment to make all of this happen!

Wish me luck! And happy new year!