fun sunshades

As many of you know, I've been sharing Mary Kay for a few years now. But at the beginning of August, I took a road trip with a fun bunch of girls to Dallas Texas to attend the annual Mary Kay seminar. At first I was a little skeptical...I thought 'will I really be able to handle thousands of women for 4 days?!' I went with the expectation of GREAT things because when I pulled back into my driveway a week later, I knew I would either turn in all of my inventory and quit or I would buck up and DO something with the company.

Well, a tour through the Headquarters, tour through manufacturing and listening to endless stories of success and encouragement prompted me to move FORWARD with my business. I saw first hand that the Mary Kay company is FULL of compassion and GIVING! That's all they do from the top down! I saw how AMAZING the company is and how PRIVILEGED I am to be a small part of that!

So, these fancy sunshades are a result of me DOING something with my company! I facialed 30 faces in the month of August. Met a lot of new ladies and had SO much fun doing it! My director challenged me and set the reward as a pair of MK Sunglasses. AWESOME!

September...my goal is 50 faces! My inspiration is a wonderful lady from the middle of 'no-wheresville' Indiana. A four way stop town surrounded by cornfields. (Sounds like the same town in Indiana where I grew up...but it's not) In one year this amazing woman facialed over 1,000 women! She was front and center on stage at Seminar. I WANT to be front and center on stage! There are so many women for me to meet and share MK with. I love how wonderful and pampered they feel when they are done being 'facialed'!

And NO, I'm not throwing out my Nursing career. MK is my 'vacation', my 'relaxation'. Nursing is and will be at the forefront of my career!

Git 'er done!

Well... yesterday was the FIRST day of my LAST semester of Nursing School. For the ASN program anyway. (I plan to do online courses to complete my BSN in about a year) But for now...ONLY 15 WEEKS LEFT OF THE SEMESTER! I could not be happier!

Mondays are spent from 8:30-3:30 in the classroom learning theory and how to do 'hands on'. Wednesdays are spent from 6:15a.m. - 5:00p.m. at the Hospital being a Nurse! Plus 1 1/2 hours after that with post conference/paperwork! Whew! My clinical days will be spent on the Cardiac floor. I am nervous as all get out about the heart, but it is intriguing to me at the same time. So, I am ready to learn a lot about it!

Sounds like I have a lot of time off during the week....but there is ALWAYS an Exam or Quiz to study for! Not much down time, but I'm ready to hit it hard and GIT 'ER DONE!

Graduation pictures are next week! It's all coming to a close and I will be official within 6 months! Surreal and EXCITING!

I'll keep you posted as I finish this little journey.

ahhhh summer time!

No, this is NOT a picture of us on the lake in our boat. We have a fun little fishing boat, gets us where we need to go, but it's not the sail boat Justin dreams of! This picture just reminds me of what summer is about. FUN & SUN!

It is near the end of July, my summer is almost coming to a close.
I am very sad about that. School will start back up Aug. 23. It's my last semester, I am happy for that, but I love my summer schedule! In May I thought 'I have the ENTIRE summer to play with Aubrey and clean and sort and just relax'. Well, throw in 3 weeks of camps, 1 week of vacation & 4 days of a seminar...that kind of takes care of the fun and relaxation of the ENTIRE summer. But I am trying to enjoy EVERY moment with Aubrey.

She is getting more fun and more personality by the hour! Everyone told me I would LOVE being a parent. I love it more than I thought I would! Even the rough moments are worth loving.

Lately Justin has been getting Aubrey to call me 'chicky mama' and 'mama cita'. So the other day I asked him what EXACTLY 'mama cita' meant, since neither of us are fluent in Spanish, we figured we should figure out what we are telling our child to call me. We found out it means 'hot mama'. I'll take that! :)

Next week is our last week of kids camp. I feel like I'm 10 all over again, getting ready to pack, sneak in snacks and preparing to sweat my tale off!

I love summer. Maybe not the heat and humidity. But the fun, relaxed atmosphere that we all need some times in our life. I wish summer could last longer!

selling frenzy!

It's been a few weeks since I've been on to blog. Summer is filled with activities to keep us busy! All fun stuff, but exhausting! As mentioned in a previous post, we had a week and a half of Extreme Zone Days (Day Camp) with the kids at our church. Once again, a TON of fun, but EXHAUSTING! So last week we took it easy. Aubrey and I went to the pool with a friend and her mommy, then had them over for mac-n-cheese and PBJ. Fancy I know! I've cleaned out more closets and storage totes than I know what to do with! Re-arranged furniture, SOLD furniture and BOUGHT furniture! It's been a productive week!

A friend of ours sparked a MONSTER in us a few weeks ago. She was having a garage sale and invited us to add some of our stuff to her sale. So we unloaded a TON of items at her house and sold most of it! Including furniture! We decided after 9 years of being married and having nice, but mix/match furniture that 'just' worked, it was time for us to find something we could really relax with and enjoy! So we sold both entertainment centers, both t.v.'s, trying to sell the glider rocker and couch...to obtain ONE t.v. and ONE comfortable couch! This has added so much space to other rooms in our house! IT'S FABULOUS! I want to CONTINUE to clean and sort and toss and sell and re-arrange to make more space! And it ALL began with a little garage sale! :)

my hat rack is full!

When I attended CBC back in the day to acquire my Children's Ministry Degree, I had to take a music class! HA! If you know me, you KNOW I don't have an ounce of music intelligence! But our professor had us read a book about the 'many different hats you will wear in the ministry'. This week, my 'hatrack' was maxed out! Here is a list of the different hats I wore in a 5 day period:

1. mommy

2. wife (celebrating 9 years with my hubby!)

3. children's pastor's wife (this is separate than 'just' wife)

4. counselor for the green team (for day camp)

5. van driver

6. tour guide

7. nurse

8. mary kay consultant

9. dishwasher

10. launderer

11. teacher

12. secretary/receptionist

12! 12 hats this week! I AM EXHAUSTED! Loved every minute of it, but I would like a break next week please!

body guard please!

I have been filling in at the retirement home I used to work part-time with. Just on an 'as needed' basis. I sit at the front receptionist desk taking phone calls, sorting mail, trouble shooting random questions, playing 'banker' for residents and just trying to keep people happy on the front lines.

Residents in the nursing home come down in their wheel chairs and walkers to see the birds or look around. One particular cute little lady with white hair, glasses and weighs not more than 100 lbs came down in her wheelchair the other day to say 'hi' and to look around. While she was down here, a gentleman came in to wait for someone he had an appt. with. He stood around for about 5-10 minutes before leaving for his appointment. I noticed the resident had stopped just on the other side of my desk and set there, not really doing anything, just sitting facing the gentleman and the door.

After he left she wheeled over to my desk and this is how the conversation went:

Resident: Did you know that man?

Me: No

Resident: I didn't think so. I could tell he's the kind who could cause trouble

Me: Oh yeah? Well he was just waiting to meet someone.

Resident: (not hearing what I said) I decided to kind of hang around up here just in case you needed anything. I can tell when someone is up to no good.

Me: Well, I am so glad you did! You could have run him over with you wheelchair if he tried anything huh?!

Resident: -Laughing- 'Yes I could!'

She wheeled past the desk on her way down the hall, looking over her shoulder in a very concerned and matter of fact tone stated:

"Now I'll be down the hall, just around the corner. If you need anything, you holler"

And she wheeled off down the hall, around the corner.

I was SO relieved I had a bodyguard at my beckon calling!

These people make me smile!

12 fun facts

So one of my blogging friends inspired me to do a 'fun facts' list about myself...a random array of 12 facts you MIGHT NOT know about me! I always think these are fun to learn about different people...I like to see what I have in common with others...and what I don't!

Read....learn....and enjoy!

#1 - I am an only child. This is why I put it at #1....it's a lonely number. Now I wasn't lonely growing up, my parents had plenty of things packed into my schedule to do...plus I was very good at entertaining myself (as I have passed this gene to my child!)

#2 - I love to eat popcorn and dill pickles together! Salty + salty = thirsty...I know. But the juice from the pickle soothes your thirst for a while. TRY IT!

#3 - My favorite color is Red. I don't have a STITCH of red in my closet b/c I don't think I look good in the color! But my kitchen and hallway look beautiful and homey in red! I like the boldness of red!

#4 - My favorite store in the entire world? TARGET! If we lived closer, our bank account would be $0! And I would probably be living on my own....in a cardboard box on the street!

#5 - I used to CRY when school was cancelled! YES cry. Ask my mother! I LOVE SCHOOL! Have loved it since pre-school. I grew up in IN and if there was a snow storm forecasted, I ran downstairs to the kitchen window in the morning to look for the school buses parked across the street at the gas station. If they were there, I knew there was school. A few drivers ALWAYS went to this certain station for coffee every morning. I've been out of High School for 12 yrs....and a few buses STILL park there in the a.m. (I check when I visit home!)

#6 - Eyes, dirty teeth and toe nails give me the willies! I'm going to be a nurse, so I better shape up on this one! (This is why I am NOT an Opthamologist, Dentist or Podiatrist!)

#7 - I ENJOYED every second of my pregnancy with Aubrey! Even the times I was so tired I curled up under Justin's desk in his office, just to close my eyes and rest for 10 minutes! And for a year after Aubrey was born, whenever we drove past the Hospital, my eyes filled with tears!

#8 - I can't handle people who drive 5-10mph UNDER the speed limit! I have places to go and people to see, I want to get there in a timely fashion!

#9 - My favorite homecooked meal: Smoked sausage, mashed potatoes and creamed cabbage. Mmmmm....comfort food! If you've never had it, I'll cook it for you some time!

#10 - My favorite grade in school...ALL TIME... was 2nd grade! (And it's not just b/c I still keep in touch with my teacher) It is because OF the teacher! I tell kids that once in a while who are going into 2nd grade or who are 2nd graders.... you should see some of the looks I get. I say "Oh you're in second grade?! I'm still in school and THAT is my FAVORITE grade of all time!" Ramona Quimby and Ralph S. Mouse explains it all.

#11 - Grass, especially new spring grass hitting my bare feet for the first time of the season, TICKLES my feet like crazy! Has always tickled since I was little!

#12 - And last but not least.... I drive a big 4x4 Dodge Ram, quad cab truck! I have to be able to haul my horse and my child!

There you have it...12 fun facts about myself! Don't you feel like your day is complete?

fancy toes

Summer is JUST around the corner! For the next 2 weeks, through June 21st, I am promoting 'Pedi Parties'! Mary Kay has come up with a CUTE CUTE YUMMY Pedicure set. The limited-edition Mary Kay® Pedicure Set gives you all the essentials in a rosemary mint scent. The Relaxing Foot Soak cleanses and refreshes tired feet. The Soothing Foot Balm provides intense moisturization and soothes dry skin. The Foot File/Brush exfoliates and smoothes rough areas on your feet. Mix all of this with satin lips and satin hands... you have yourself a refreshed lady with 'fancy toes'!

If you're interested in doing a 'Pedi Party' with me, you can e-mail at camikochs@hotmail.com or find me on Facebook!

Don't YOUR feet need a little attention?!

a new cell phone please!

Having children is ALWAYS an adventure. In our house there is never a dull moment unless Aubrey is sleeping. But even then it is questionable!

We converted Aubrey's crib to a toddler bed over 2 weeks ago. So far, she's done WONDERFUL with it! She has a sticker chart, so each morning if she stays in her 'big girl bed' all night and doesn't have a potty accident during the night, she gets a sticker for her chart and a 'treat' (a.k.a 1 pc of candy). A week out we draw a picture of what she is working toward, ie. the zoo, camping with daddy in the back yard and this week she is working toward a new 'cell phone'.

Why a new 'cell phone'? Little miss decided to run around the house in her 'big girls' (a.k.a underwear) and nothing else. Well, big girls don't come equipped with pockets....so what is a girl to do with her cell phone? Carry it in her hands? Surely NOT! The best place to carry it is IN your big girls!

Next thing I knew Justin carried her around the corner of the kitchen, Aubrey crying with soaked 'big girls', Justin laughing and confused and the play cell phone....well, you can guess where it was! So needless to say she was not only upset about having a potty accident but also the fact mommy threw away her beloved cell phone! I tried explaining to her that she can't keep a cell phone that has been pottied all over and IN!

The next goal we are working toward by sleeping in our big girl bed all night for the next few days is a NEW TOY CELL PHONE! YAHOO!

back to blogland

There's been a LOT going on at our house since I last wrote on here! GOOD GRIEF!
Below are pictures to show what has been happening in our world. School is out for the summer and we are ENJOYING the beautiful weather! I have one more semester, 16 weeks to endure before I graduate in December! YAHOO! Aubrey and Papa (my dad) were on their way to the Zoo! She's been sleeping like a big girl in her big girl bed and earned a trip to the Zoo!

This girl LOVES sunglasses, dresses and baby dolls! Just don't pay attention to the fact she probably wore this dress for 2 days because she loves it SO much!

Justin and Aubrey made a rainbow chip cake for my BIG 30 b-day! Below are the pics of the process. (It was one of the best cakes I've had!)

She tasted the frosting more than she helped frost the cake!

Getting ready to head to Joyland (daycare) for the day and wanted to show Grandma the pretty summer shirt she was wearing!

Happy Easter!

Dancing and dressed like a princess...or a fairy....

Happy Birthday Bunny!

Helping mama take care of Jake with her new blue horse brush.

hats off to mothers of twins!

So this weekend, Justin and I had the privilege of hanging out with Josiah, Aubrey's boyfriend, while his parents went on a weekend getaway! We had him for a little over 24 hours and I said to myself a number of times "thank you Jesus for NOT blessing me with twins! I don't know what I would do with TWIN 2 1/2 YEAR OLD kids right now?!" They were nothing but NON-STOP energy the whole time, with the exception of sleeping through the night. They had a blast together. Moments of being sweet, moments of being not so nice to each other and moments of needing each other to be in a separate room for a while to gather their sanity, before running around playing again! It's TRULY entertaining to observe! They love each other and would be lost without one another!

Friday evening Justin pulled them along in the wagon to the park across the street. They were having fun playing and running all over the play equipment...until a nice 4th grade girl came to play....with Aubrey. That was it for Josiah. In a flash he 'caught on' that this OTHER girl was honing in on his woman to play with her and he wanted NO PART OF IT. So, it began with the 'stink eye' for a few moments, followed by a medium level of loud 'thas my Aurey!' Followed by another "thas my AUREY!' on a louder scale....next thing I knew Aubrey and this new friend began a chasing game. It was Josiah's agenda to get in the middle of them and STOP her from chasing Aubrey! At the top of his lungs 'THAS MY AUREY!" The girl stopped and looked at him, then back at me. What do you say? I just said "honey, he's only 2 and doesn't understand that you're just playing with her. He's VERY protective of his friend!" She shrugged it off but wanted so DESPERATELY to play with Aubrey. I decided it was probably time to close down the fun time of playing at the park and go home and cook hot dogs. So we did just that. Our new little 4th grade friend was sad, but Josiah was happy he got away with his woman!

Josiah and Aubrey are best buds....I'm just happy they both didn't come from me and that Josiah has his own mommy and daddy, and we just have ONE 2 1/2 year old to keep up with!

HATS OFF TO MOMS OF TWINS!

find YOUR way to beautiful

Check out this 'youtube' commercial for MK.

If you haven't chatted with me about the benefits of Mary Kay, watch the video and let's chat!

http://www.youtube.com/marykay

looking for faces....

Just wanting to throw out the idea.... If you know of any brides-to-be, bridesmaids or girls heading to Prom and are in need of low cost, local make-up... you can refer them to me! I've had a few years with my hands in the Mary Kay business and practicing the art of make-up on pretty faces, I'm ready to do more! If you know of anyone in the Springfield area, please feel free to refer them to me. The first 5 referrals will be free, after that I will charge $10/session to cover product cost. You never know, there MIGHT be goods in it for you if you refer and they book! (wink wink)
Thanks for spreading the word!

blessings

Some days I am overwhelmed with the blessings I have in my life! I know we should be thankful and grateful EVERY day, but some days remind me more than others to really recognize it.

This past week was spring break, actually today is the final day of it, very sad. But Aubrey and I made a trip home to my parents in Indiana. It was a long drive of 11 hours. Aubrey is quite the little traveler. I packed her with books, toys and a portable DVD player. What on EARTH did we do without portable DVD players on long road trips?! Some day when I tell her mommy did not have any of that, she probably won't believe me!

Being back home where I grew up made me think about how far I have come in life. I am so thankful to have pursued the life God has laid before me. I cannot imagine my life any different! It is a little odd that back in IN, everyone knows me as Cami and knows me as how I grew up. Everyone down here in MO, knows me as Camille and only how I have been the past 12 years since I moved away from IN. I feel like I have two separate lives. The one in IN for 18 years and the one in MO for 12 years. Odd, but it all comes together and makes up who I am now. And everything mixed in makes for a LOT to be thankful for and blessed!

So if you are reading this and you live in IN, around my home town and knew me growing up, but did not have a chance to see me... I am sorry! There are always SO many people to see and when I go home I just want to relax. My life is on the go every day down here. Slowing it down up there is a WONDERFUL thing! It is hard to not see everyone...but know you are thought of often!

Dorothy couldn't have said it better when she closed her eyes, tapped her heels and said 'there's no place like home!' I have 2 homes to say that about! Each with a different meaning and multiple different blessings!

little Chef

Saturday mornings are always my favorite mornings to cook breakfast! This morning Aubrey woke up a little earlier than usual. I think she could read mama's mind! So her and I hit the kitchen before 8 to whip up some blueberry muffins, scrambled eggs with cheese and cook some sausage patties. (I am NOT a fan of sausage, but my brother-in-law made the sausage patties and there wasn't an ounce of grease in the pan at the end!)

Aubrey put on her apron and hat and went to town!
































Aubrey was quite the little Chef in the kitchen today! Very conscious of listening for the timer to 'beep' so we could pull out her handiwork and eat it! In the midst of being so excited to make and eat her muffins, she had a few bites of the paper it was baked in. So, I had to show her how to 'unwrap' the muffin before she ate it.

like mama, like daughter...

2 years ago I took up the fun business of selling Mary Kay. I don't do it for the Cadillac and I don't pester you about the product. I do it simply because I love the product and have used it since I was about 16....thank you Mom! My view is 'you know I have it, if you love it and need, you will let me know', otherwise, I let it go. It's fun to meet new women and practice my love of art and color on their beautiful faces.

With that being said, Aubrey has seen her share of mommy and make-up. Below you will find her carrying out what she sees on her little friend Martha. Who by the way was her first client. Mommy and Daddy don't count! :)

Thanks Martha for being such a beautiful little model!

randomness

I feel like I am ALWAYS saying "it has been FOREVER since I have written on here". But this time, it is entirely too true! In fact, now that I am typing away, I realize the therapy I have been missing out on and will aim to write more often than once a month or so!

Let's see, where to begin?

#1 - School is in full swing, almost to the middle of the semester. I am loving every minute of being on the hospital floor and taking care of patients. This week will be my last week on the oncology (cancer) floor. I am sad to leave it as I have enjoyed working with the patients so much! There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you cared for someone with the best of your ability! I am getting very anxious to graduate and do it for a career!

#2 - Last Sunday night was spent at the urgent care with Aubrey. Never fun with kiddos. She's had a cold/cough, no fever and did NOT slow down. But sunday afternoon, her fever spiked to 103 within an hour of giving her Tylenol. So to the Urgent Care we went. After x-rays, a look in the ear, we left with a diagnosis of Pneumonia, Bronchiolitis and a double ear infection. Talk about feeling like a horrible mom! I think the temperature spike was a sign from above to get her to the Dr.! Thank goodness! Now she's as good as new! Asks to take her medicine and her breathing treatment! Who is this kid?!

#3 - Events around our house never happen normally. Actually, life events and everyday events in general have not been normal for the past 11 years since I met Justin! Projects never take just 20 minutes, they turn into day events. Such as our insane water heater this weekend! Lately I have been blamed for the shortage of warm water, since I am the one who takes blazing hot showers for at least 15 minutes! (Do not believe a word of that, it's actually opposite) So I started keeping track and investigating this thing. When the hot water temp drops and you don't have the shampoo rinsed out of your hair....there's a problem with the water heater! SO, Justin was going to simply replace the heating element. SIMPLY being the key word. When I arrived home yesterday afternoon, everything was ready to go. He had the tank drained and was waiting for the part I was bringing. All is well. UNTIL he pulled out the bottom element and water POURED out of the hole! I'm not talking about a piddly little puddle...this thing is FLOODING the floor! So I grabbed every towel we own and 3 bowls and we started in. He filled the bowls, I threw down the towels, I took the filled bowls and tossed the nasty water outside! Back and forth like a relay race for about 30 minutes. Talk about a cardio work out! Aubrey grabbed napkins and tried helping soak up the water...soon got bored and sat down to watch T.V. while all of this chaos happened behind her!

After all the water had been drained, he discovered about 6 inches worth of sludge at the bottom of the tank that prevented the water to be drained out the first time! NASTY! Whew! That's all over with and the decision to buy a new water heater had been made!

But now we have to get the crazy thing out of the house! Most people have a normal, decent sized utility closet....NOT JUSTIN AND CAMILLE! Its crazily shaped and the furnace unit and the water heater are squeezed in it! Not much room even for a mouse! So he unhooked everything and began to pull. It would not fit between the doorway and this little electrical box sticking out from the side of the furnace. Well, we are both beyond FRUSTRATION, so what comes to mind? BEATING THE APPLIANCE! I said "why don't you get your mallet and beat in the side of the tank to make way for the electrical box to clear it!" I won WIFE OF THE YEAR SUGGESTION award! Within minutes he was beating the side of the water heater, mostly to be able to get it past the electrical box and partly to work out his frustration! It was quite a hysterical site! After 20 more minutes of re-shaping the side of the tank, we were able to pull it out and heft it onto the porch for disposal!

Needless to say, our new water heater is much thinner and fits nicely into the oddly shaped utility closet!

Ladies....Valentine Special

Valentine's Day? Thinking about it already?! YES I AM!

My photographer friend Sarah Carter and I are combining our talents of photography and make-up and offering a photo/make-up package for Valentine's day.

Running out of creative ideas for your sweetheart? Need something to make his heart melt all over again for you?

We've got the idea!

Where do you find this IDEA?

Go to http://www.carterphotos.com/ and click on the 'Valentine's Day' heading.

I promise if you sign up, you WILL NOT be disappointed!

Who doesn't want a little time to yourself, pampering AND a photoshoot?

You'll feel beautiful! Look beautiful! And melt your mans heart!

Hurry... V-Day is LESS than a month away!

winner is....

JOEL! Congratulations on your win!
Thanks for listing the 4 most fun winter memories.
I will HAND deliver the prize myself! :)

contest!

FINALLY! Here it is....the contest that was supposed to happen in December!
Below you will find what YOU might win! compliments of me :) It is a shower gel and lotion in 'ginger spice'. If you don't think you will like it, I also have a 'peppermint cream'.


What I need from you? List 4 of your favorite winter memories. They can be from childhood, adulthood, present or past. You have until Thursday noon! If you are not a blogger subscriber, you can post it on my Facebook wall.

Happy reminiscing!

i'm back!

AGH! Well, it's been WAY too long since I have been on here to write ANYTHING at all! I completely missed giving you the December give-away, so I will do a January give-away.... soon.

First, an update on the Holiday season:
Our Christmas was wonderfully relaxing! Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent just myself, Aubrey and Justin at home. Justin and I had a blast playing 'Santa' and Aubrey had a lot of fun receiving from Santa! Christmas night we took Aubrey to the $ theater and watched 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'. She loved it! She sat very well through the entire movie, until the end, she got a little wiggly. We shared a large popcorn and some Reeses pieces! Her little hand didn't MISS a pass of either one of them!

The following week, as part of my Christmas present, Justin took me to Branson to stay overnight in the Hilton at the Branson Landing. If you've never been to the Landing or don't know what it is, check it out at www.bransonlanding.com. Very fun! We ate some yummy Mexican food, went shopping at the outlets and toured the Titanic museum. After we returned to Spfd. from our 'get away' at Branson, N.Year's Eve was spent ringing in the new year with 4 wonderful friends!

This Holiday break of relaxation is exactly what I needed! A few more weeks until school starts back up again. Glad I still have more time!

Hope the Holidays were wonderful for you...shared with family and friends!

This is the horse daddy made for Aubrey - or should i say 'Santa' brought for her