"For the Love of a Dog" Movie Review

Caleb and I just finished watching a movie on our Netflix ROKU box called For the Love of a Dog. It's a low budget movie about how some bratty kids come together to raise money so their dog can have cancer surgery. The Dad in the family is a Marine Captain and the Mom stays home. It also has a crabby next door neighbor who learns to love again by the end of the movie. If you're ever in the mood for a tear jerker dog movie, this is it. The acting is not superior, but it's cute and the writing is funny.

One of the things I'm enjoying about this ROKU box is that we're getting to see some little known movies--some are good, some are bad, but the discovery is fun. I highly recommend the ROKU box for anyone who likes movies and likes to watch instantly. The box was just $99 and there's no monthly fee and no per viewing fee. We still get weekly DVD's from Netflix of the current movies but ROKU has over 12,000 older titles of movies and TV series to pick from. The movies stream instantly from your internet connection to your box. If you don't already do Netflix you've got to try it.

A Very Busy Week

This week is monstrously busy for our family. We've been out every night this week with two more nights to go. Josh's rehearsal schedule really heated up this week with practices from 7-10pm M, T and Thursday. He also has the big tech rehearsal on Saturday from 9am-4pm. Wednesday night Matt and Caleb had Kingdom Kids and tonight we have Josh's spaghetti dinner fundraiser at his school as well as Katie's spring music concert. Josh will miss rehearsal tonight so he can help with the dinner. Matt and I will have to split up tonight with him staying with Josh for after dinner clean up while Caleb and I attend Katie's concert. Tomorrow night Matt runs a Redemption Card game night at church. Amidst all this I was still able to hold my 2 Mary Kay appointments this week as I did them both at my house. My friends getting the facials came over during the day and brought their kids along to play with mine. This is such a neat part-time job option. Well, gotta run. I'm due at Josh's school in an hour to get sauce going in my Nesco roaster!

Kathie's Big Adventure

Well, I guess I'm finally ready to make my big announcement that I hinted at here and here. After being home for 14 years as a full time homemaker, wife and mom I've taken the plunge back into the workforce--part time, of course. I have just recently opened my own Mary Kay Cosmetics home based business and I'm very excited about it.

I had a Mary Kay business 23 years ago right after I graduated from Ripon College. It went pretty well but once Matt and I planned to get married and move to New Jersey I sold my product back to the company and closed my business. I have continued to use the products on and off over the years and I've always loved them. I started my good friend Ruth Anne Adams on the products all those years ago and she eventually became a consultant herself. So I've been buying from her for the past 15+ years. Anyway, Ruth Anne has bugged me on and off about getting back in to the business but I've put her off over and over again saying that being a wife and mom IS my career of choice.

However, as I looked toward the fall when all my kids would be in school full time I figured a part time job would be good for some extra money. But I didn’t want to work every day, or lots of nights or weekends or when my kids had days off or when they had breaks, or when they got sick, or when I wanted to volunteer at church. So how many jobs do you think that I found? That’s right—a big fat zippo. Except, Mary Kay. Owning and running a Mary Kay business lets me work when it’s convenient to me and my family’s schedule. I am still free to do volunteer work at church and school, attend field trips, or stay home with my kids when they’re sick. Having a Mary Kay business in our home is also a great way to teach some functional business skills to Katie. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be a consultant someday too?

So Ruth Anne and I talked about it, she talked to her sister Mary who is her Sales Director, who in turn spoke with her National Sales Director. Mary Kay, Inc. has a policy that says that once a consultant sells her product back to the company she can't ever reinstate as a consultant again. This policy prevents people from taking the business lightly and just flitting in and out of it every few years. That seems reasonable to me . . . and yet, my case was quite different. With the consent of Ruth Anne's sister and her National I drafted a letter to the VP of Marketing at Mary Kay, Inc. in Dallas and told them my tale. I asked if they could make an exception in my case and allow me to reinstate as a beauty consultant. After all, it had been 23 years. Well, my letter was brought up to their board of directors and last month I received the happy news that I was approved for reinstatement.

When I signed on as a new beauty consultant I truly wasn’t thinking about making it into any real big business venture. I just wanted to get my own products at wholesale and maybe do a few facials a month for fun, some extra money and ministry. But once I looked closer at all the benefits a Mary Kay career offered I got very excited about really running it as a small business. After discussing it with Matt he gave me his blessing (and the start up funds!). Since then it's been a whirlwind of activity around here. I've ordered product, custom product labels, business cards, opened a business bank account, set up an online ordering website, met some new people, and I've already held my first appointments and sold my first products. I'm really having fun with this and I think it will be a good thing for me and our family. I told the kids that once I make my first $500 in PROFIT (not just sales) I will take the family to a cool waterpark hotel for a grand overnight. So they've picked out a few destination options and they are on board with me for this new venture. After making just 3 sales I'm already halfway to this goal!!

Mary Kay, Inc. has retained the core values it started with--encouraging women to live balanced lives with "God first, family second, career third," excellent products, personalized customer service, try before you buy, 100% satisfaction guarantee, running business guided by The Golden Rule, good value for your money, unlimited career growth, and rewards for achievement. But the changes I see in the company are really good ones--improved and simplified products, complete web-based training and ordering (for customers who want this), more options for how to run your business, and fewer outside required meetings. Mary Kay, Inc. truly acknowledges and supports the needs of today's woman, her values and her priorities.

I think this will be a great way for me to earn some extra income while having a very low inconvenience impact on my family. My plan for now is to hold two appointments each week--week in, week out. With only 1 of those being an evening appointment. I believe that with consistent effort I'll be able to add more income to our family budget than if I worked for someone else 20 hours a week.

As an Independent Beauty Consultant, I am also a small business owner. So we get the tax benefits of business ownership, not an employer. And when people purchase from me, they are supporting a small, female-owned business in their community. I also have the freedom to customize my service to suit preferred shopping styles—phone, email or online. I also have my own personal online ordering website that people can use to order Mary Kay cosmetics from me. And I deliver (or mail) ALL orders for FREE.

So, is there any reason why you wouldn't want to try some Mary Kay products today? (Just had to get that in there! HaHa). I would appreciate your encouragement and prayers in this new adventure. It's fun.

Unintentional Outcomes of Being a Good Wife

Most every weekday morning for the past 22 years I have made a pot of coffee then poured some cream and coffee in a travel mug for Matt to take to work with him. No big deal, just something I've done. On the weekends he has generally reciprocated the favor. Anyway, yesterday morning Matt confessed that although this has been a sweet little act of service all these years maybe it really hasn't been such a good thing. On our last trip over to my Mom's old apartment we stopped at a quickie mart so Matt could run in quick and get a mug of coffee. After almost 10 minutes he finally arrived back at the car. Here's the conversation that ensued:

Me: "What took so long?"

Matt: "I've forgotten how to pour myself a cup of coffee."

Me: "Huh?"

Matt: "First I pulled the Styrofoam cup from the holder then dropped it on the floor. Then I went to fill it up but it didn't quite fill up to the top. Well, that's okay, I'll just fill it up with cream. I looked all over for the cream and couldn't find any. When I finally found some I spilled it while trying to open the teeny, tiny container. I had to wipe up the spill. Then my mug still wasn't filled up all the way so I added some more coffee and it overflowed the sides of the mug. So I had to wipe all that up. The paper towels were all gone at this point so I had to ask for more. I had to wait for the clerk to get more paper towels from the back, then wipe up my spill. After that I went to pop the go lid on the mug and it flew out of my hand and rolled away. So I had to chase the rolling lid to put it in the trash. I finally made it back to my coffee and somehow managed to get a clean lid to stay on. Then I went up to the register to pay for my $#@% mug of coffee. And now that I'm here it doesn't even taste as good as yours. Will you just do it for me next time?

Me: "Sure honey, whatever."

Yep, unintentional outcomes of being a good wife. I've turned my brilliant, PhD toting husband into a thumb fumbling toddler. Yea for me. Love ya, Matt.

She's In Like Flynn

Well my Mom is finally all moved in to her new senior living apartment. It's been quite an overwhelming process for her but it's done. Matt and I traveled to Green Bay for the weekend to help move her in. My sister Sue and her husband, Jim, rounded out the moving crew. The boys loaded, hauled and unloaded boxes while my sister and I packed, unpacked and organized. Things went pretty smooth. By Saturday night Mom had her washer and dryer hooked up, computer and phones hooked up, a ceiling fan installed in her bedroom, TV and VCR/DVD player hooked up, empty boxes and packing paper removed, living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom unpacked and somewhat organized. Jim also set up a huge storage shelf unit inside the coat closet for Mom to use as extra kitchen space. My mom is a dish lover and collector. She is a wonderful cook and hostess and over the years she has collected a myriad of pretty dishes and silverware. So having extra space for all these things was a big priority for her. Mom will still need to unpack all her home office stuff and probably move some things around to her preferences, but we left her on Sunday with a functioning living space. We all feel this will be a much better place for my mom to live as they have lots of social activities each week and it is a completely secure building. It is also much closer to where my sister lives so it will be easier for Sue to visit with Mom each week. I feel much better about where she's living now. Welcome Home Mom!!!

Outrageous!

I just got this information in our school district newsletter. I think this is outrageous. I would never leave children alone for this much time. Maybe a responsible 17 year old I'd leave for 24 hours, but I would never follow any of the other "recommendations." This is parental neglect and endangerment in my opinion.

"When can children stay at home alone? This is a question that many parents ask. Dakota Child Protection has established guidelines for parents to determine how long children can be left at home alone. The following are the department’s recommendations:

Age 0-7 under no circumstances can the child be left unattended.
Age 8-9 the child may be left unattended for up to 2 hours.
Age 10-12 the child may be left unattended for up to 12 hours.
Age 14-17 the child may be left unattended for 24 hours."

Feel free to give me your opinion. But I guarantee you'll never convince me that these recommendations are safe or advisable.

Outta Here!

Later this afternoon Matt and I will vacate the premises to travel to Green Bay. We are helping my Mom move into her new senior housing apartment. It should be fun. She had a moving company move all her furniture over already so we'll just have boxes to move and unpack. My sis and her husband will also be part of the moving in crew. I hope we can get mom moved over and all moved in before we return home on Sunday. Aunt Chris (Matt's sister) will stay with our kids for the weekend. I just printed out directions for her for all their Saturday activities. She'll be covering 80.53 miles between 9am and 2pm. Yes, I'm leaving her my gas card!! Thanks Chris--you're a doll for doing this. The kids love Aunt Chris because she plays the Wii with them and takes them places. BOL.

He's Back!

After an absence of four months Josh has finally updated his blog--From Dogs to Down Syndrome. I hope he keeps up the writing now.

Cram Session

Please pray for me today. I have a new endeavor that I am trying to get up and running but I've had major procrastinitis about it lately. I feel like hiding my head in the blankets or running away. But I know this endeavor will be great once I get it going. This afternoon Matt has gifted me with three hours by myself in the house ALONE! He's taking the kids to the dollar movie theatre to see Bolt. While they are gone I need to successfully cram some information into my head and make it stick. Time is running out. I will say more about the specifics of this endeavor next week. Meanwhile, please pray for me. Self-discipline, peace, focus, and clarity. Thanks.

UPDATE: Shadow Tag

Josh had a good day at High School today. The guy he shadowed was was nice and Josh thought the other kids didn't look too creepy. No multiple body piercings or Goth clothes. I suggested that perhaps the vampire outfits don't come out until Friday. HaHa. Anyway, Josh said it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be--which is a pretty positive statement for Josh. We'll get him registered next week and that will be that. Next fall Caleb will get on the bus at 7:15am, Katie at 7:55am then Josh at 8:05am--three kids, three different buses, three different schools. But none that Mom will need to transport anyone to or from. Yea!!! It will be good for all of us.

Shadow Tag

Today Josh is shadowing a 9th grade guy at our local High School. He will be an incoming freshman next year and this will be a great chance for Josh to get a taste of his new school. He wasn't nervous until we got out of the car and started walking up to the building--which is very large and imposing. Too late! We made it to the guidance office and within a few minutes a cute friendly 9th grade guy named Matt introduced himself to Josh and off they went for Shadow Day. I'll pick Josh back up at 1:30pm after I do some volunteer time in Katie's classroom. I'll be so curious to see what Josh thought of this "real" school. We homeschooled him from birth to third grade, then he attended a very small private Christian school for 2 1/2 years, now he goes to a small public charter school for middle school. So next year will be his first year in a really big public school--instead of the cheap imitations we've sent him to the past! Ha Ha. We had a chance to thumb through the H.S. course selections and he was impressed with all the advanced classes offered and variety of electives. Last night at dinner he said "Wow, this will be the first time ever that I'll get to choose some of my classes." Welcome to High School Josh! Josh is all about making his own choices. He absolutely HATES to have people tell him what he has to do or not do--especially with things that he thinks are irrelevant or unimportant! He wants to know the rules and boundaries for things, but then he wants complete freedom within that structure to make his own choices. Yep, he's a typical teenager! Funny . . . this perspective on authority and rules seems to remind me of some other Brinkman male I'm very familiar with--who could that be?

Exercise, Exercise, Come on Everybody Do Your Exercise! Now Freeze!

Can you name that tune? If so, you probably grew up in the 1970's. This was a segment on the Sunday morning kids show Wonderama with host Bob McCalister. The show was like a kids variety show which included segments on: education, music, audience participation, games, interviews and cartoon shorts and the ever popular Snake Can Game.


Anyway, one of the other segments on Wonderama had all the kids up and exercising, doing jumping jacks, etc. then they would freeze in these funny positions. It made me think of some of the exercise videos I've done over the years. I once did an hour long Yoga workout video that practically killed me. I was doing high impact aerobics 3X a week back then and thought that this yoga thing would be a piece of cake. WRONG! Yoga only looks easy until you try to do it. Right now I'm using an exercise DVD called Slim in Six which is cardio and strength training. It's hard but good. Hopefully it will give me the desired results in six weeks of daily use. We'll see. Care to share some of your exercise video challenges (or nightmares)?

Katie's Ride

As a reward for meeting their 3rd quarter reading goals several kids from Katie's class got a free ride in a huge stretch limo. Katie was one of the achievers! Reading is one of her strengths and she enjoys it. Anyway, here's some cute pictures. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Shopping and Doing Lunch With--the Boys?

Yes, you heard it right. Today I took Matt and Josh out shopping for new athletic shoes then we went to lunch. My guys hate to shop and they will wear their clothes, shoes, unmentionables until they fall apart before they request to buy new ones. I generally buy clothes for them and have them try stuff on at home. Anyway, today there was a great sale on namebrand athletic shoes at Penney's (including wide widths) and I also got an extra 15% off for using my Penney's card. So, away we went. I told them in the car that I didn't want them to just pick the cheapest pair or just try on one pair and say these are fine, just because they were too lazy to try on others. Well did I hear it for that remark!! Anyway, both my guys did find some nice shoes--and they weren't the cheapest or the first ones they tried on. Success. Josh is officially wearing a larger size shoe than Matt--Josh bought a 13EEEE and Matt got a 12D. Matt actually also looked at dress shoes but didn't find any he liked. Then we had lunch out at Fuddrucker's. It was fun. Back home just in time to get Katie and Caleb off the bus. Josh is off for spring break this next week so we'll have some more time together. Maybe we'll even do a project together!! Shhh, don't tell him.

This Really Sucks--And That's a Good Thing!

I am so jazzed! I just got a new stick vacuum delivered from Target.com today. It's called the Dirt Devil Accucharge vacuum. It's a cordless, rechargeable stick vacuum that works on both bare floors and carpet. It took six hours to charge up and I just used upstairs. It works really great. It is very lightweight and maneuvers underneath the kitchen cabinets and furniture easily. I'm going to train Katie and Caleb how to use it for after dinner clean ups. Yea! Now let's just hope it keeps up the good work for a long time. I'll keep you updated.
UPDATE: I really like this machine. It's designed for just the daily pick up crumbs stuff and it works great. So lightweight and easy to maneuver. I think it would make a great little vacuum for an elderly person too.