Oh what a glorious week...

• I can't go into much detail but it was a great week. For those of you who don't know there are like three movies currently filming in Pittsburgh so some pretty big celebrities are milling around the city. Anyways, I was lucky enough to be an extra in one such movie this week. It so much fun. I met a ton of really cool people and got to be in a movie.

• I also spent a lot of time this week training for my new job as an Independent Consultant for Usborne Books. I had my first party yesterday and really enjoyed myself. I have one party booked for next month and soon I will have another booked. I am also going to be having my own party next month. I didn't make my challenge that Leigh Ann set for me so I don't get the free book for my display but that's ok. It still got me motivated and that's what I needed. Sometimes that's all it takes for me to get going is a little challenge. I am hoping to win one of the companies challenges as well to get A TON of free books for my display. The 11 I have just aren't enough to do the books justice. These books are amazing and I have learned a lot from them and most of them are for the little kids.
• In other news not much else is going on which is why I haven't blogged much. I have read 10 books more than last year already and it is only August. So I may have over 100 books read this year. I am still looking for another major job for a bit but for now I am going to deal with these book sales. That's about all I have for you guys for now. Later!!!

Let's Spend A Week Doing Nothing Fun...

• So I have been at the beach for a week almost. Mom, dad and I left at around 6 am last Sunday and got to Holden Beach (the Neeley Beach House) at like 5 something in the evening. It was a very long and boring trip once dad figured out his trucks usb port (so we could listen to music). Anyways, we got here and got the truck unloaded. Brenda and Rachel who had left the night before us were in the process of showering after a day at the beach when we got in. When they were ready we got back in the car, got dinner and then headed to Wal-Mart.

• Monday and Tuesday we spent the days at the beach. Wednesday I was bored of the beach and pretty much had all the tan I was going to get without burning so I stayed in and relaxed. Thursday mom and I did some gift shopping and then spent a little bit of time at the beach until the storm rolled in. We all got ready and drove into Myrtle Beach for dinner and fun. We ate at the Bonefish Grill and while I wasn't too thrilled with it everybody else loved it. After that we went to Wing's (I think it was) and did some shopping. We came home and just hung out. The storm kept me up most of the night. Thunder shook the whole house a couple times waking me up and the lightening was rediculously bright and right outside my window.

• The next morning we four girls went to these islands (sand dunes) at the end of the island. I got a lot of amazing pictures of shells and other pretty cool things. The other three collected shells. Then we came back and hit the beach for a little bit again. When it started raining I came in but the other four waited it out and went back out to the water for a bit.

• Today we spent the morning cleaning. Rachel and Brenda went parasailing this morning as well. I am spending the day inside because I have no desire to spend any more time in the sun and heat this week. The sad thing is I couldn't go anywhere all week because I can't drive the company car and Rachel doesn't let me use her car so all in all it was pretty boring. I unlike the others don't enjoy just sitting on the beach in the heat and going in the water a couple times throughout the day...BORING!!!

• However right down the beach a guy caught a total of three sand sharks in three days...that was just four or five houses down...CREEPY much? The good news is that apparently sand sharks just nibble they don't attack...lol...so reassuring. I also got to see some baby turtles hatch which was cool. It was dark so I didn't see much and the pictures didn't turn out but I did see it.

• But on the upside when I get back I should have my supplies to start selling the Usborne books. My friend who sells them found a special where I could start for $20 and was willing to lend me the money. So she signed me up and my supplies were delivered today from the confirmation number and all I was sent. I am so excited to start. When I get home I am going to call the New Brighton library and see if I can get in there and I'm going to try Tri State again because I will need at least a part time job while selling as well.

• Anyways, lots of pictures to come to facebook soon...I don't even have them all on the computer yet. Got to do a few touch-ups as well. I'm sure there is more to say but I don't know what it is so I'm going to go. But if any of you who are reading this would like to start selling Usborne Books or maybe host a party let me know...I can do home shows or eshows (only selling over the internet).

Oh the tragic life I lead...

So today was interesting...I have totally not been having a good day. I fell asleep around four in the morning because I could not shut off my mind. This is going to be confusing but I am having issues getting over somebody but it is not the somebody that I should be struggling to get over. Maybe that means I am not supposed to get over this person maybe they are supposed to break my heart over and over again. Maybe it is a test of my strength and endurance. Anyways, I woke up every few hours all night long. Only to wake up at 7 and lay there awake only until finally getting up. I was up for a couple hours before I got in the shower at noon. Of course a couple minutes into my shower the power goes out. I didn't think much of it until the water went out as well. Of course the water going out was timed perfectly...I was just washing my face. So the water goes out and I have face wash all over my face and hands...oh joy. With my eyes clothes I had to get out of the shower to find a towel to wipe of my face and hands.A little bit did get in my eyes but I got my drops and got it out right away. I still have conditioner in my hair and it is kind of making my head itchy but oh well, I'll fix it later. So I since the power was out I spent some time outside with Tippy. She got brushed, somehow some of it wound up in my mouth and my asthma flaired up. I also did some reading. Then I realized that my library books were due today but I didn't finish any of them so I had to renew them but the internet was out with the power and I didn't want to go all the way to the library today. I say that like it is so far away...lol...it's not. So the power finally came on at about 4 so I came in and chilled in the A/C and looked up more jobs. I did get a second interview at Walgreen's which is the job I want the least as it is minimum wage $7.25/hr and part time. I mean it is close so I would be saving money on gas but with that pay and those hours I wouldn't be able to save the money I need and pay bills. It just wouldn't work. Plus I am trying to steer clear of retail like that again. But none the less I go in Wednesday morning at 10. I guess it is a good sign they are giving me the second interview. I did find a data entry position that I would be perfect for and it pays $16 to $17 to start but it didn't say where it was so I am trying to get more details on that position. Just my luck today finding a job that doesn't tell me the details I need. I am ranting I'm sorry but I had to get this aweful day out somehow. I am dead tired itchy and I want to color my hair and have it cut some time this week...but I have no money. Maybe I can go get hair color tonight and do that when I get another shower. Also I may not be going to the beach after all we will have to see what happens though. But I have smiled throughout the day and kept my head up. Tomorrow can only be better right?? I sure hope so!!

Where do I go from here??

• So I have this business opportunity that is similar to Avon and Mary Kay but I don't have the money to start it. So I have been thinking maybe I will see if I can get ahold of $10 and start selling Avon or something so that I can get the money for Usbourne. Mom flat out told me I would suck at it so I know I can't ask to borrow the money from them. I really think it is something I would really enjoy doing. Anyways it is with Usbourne which is the leading non fiction children's book seller in the country...even above Scholastic. The problem is this month there is a $100 start up fee and after this month it goes to the original price of $200. So I have been trying to come up with some ideas of things I can do to make the money.

• I have been thinking about maybe making and selling cakes and cookies but the issue there is where do I actually sell them? I don't know that many people in the area who would buy them. I was also thinking (like I said above) about starting out by selling Avon and using that money to start selling Usbourne as well. They are two very different items being sold so there wouldn't be a conflict of interest in doing both. My cousin says I should do a lemonade stand but on my road i'd sell maybe one cup a day so that is out. I could do dog sitting but I don't know many people who would need a dog sitter or a babysitter for that matter. I have all these ideas floating around in my head. I wouldn't have this issue if I would finally hear back from one of the places I applied (Tri State). I do have one other option but I won't do that unless I ABSOLUTELY HAVE too.

• In other news the Ketcham reunion was a blast but getting there was VERY chaotic. I picked up Rylee Ann at Jack's at 10:45. We finally get on the road and are at the store getting ice when we hear that Uncle Bobby and Aunt Quinn's truck had no working brakes. So we went back home and picked up the Jeep and headed to Uncle Bobby's. We loaded up the truck and the Jeep and headed out. We got to the reunion about an hour late and ate (we were all starved). I spent time with Rylee at the playground and we played Bingo and the Dice game. I missed the auction but it sounded like it was fun. We spent some time talking and then headed home. I forgot to take my camera but I wouldn't have had time to actually take pictures anyways so it doesn't matter.

• Other than that I am keeping my head up and trying to keep smiling. It is hard but I am managing somehow. I really really want to see Step Up 3D and Charlie St. Cloud but well I don't have the money to do that. I am actually bored with facebook, I didn't think that was possible. But all in all I am all good. Next week I will be at the beach and then I have to figure out if I want to go camping over Labor Day and if I do I have to decide where I'm going. Why do they have to screw me up by going two different places. Oh well it's not a hard decision just have to figure out if I want to deal with the crap for not going with the other group.

• Well that's all for now. More soon!!

Meadville Fun!!!!

So Sunday was the Mattocks Family Reunion. We left at 11:30 am after making all the food for it. We got there a little before 1 (which is when it started) and unloaded the truck. We ate (Chaos-people forming like 5 lines with people still trying to add food to the table) and chatted. Then came time for the auction, assignments for next year, and the 50/50 drawing. The kids made ice cream and then played their own games and crafts while the adults played Bingo and the Dice Game. I played the bean bag game with Dad, Josh and Uncle Bobby (Grandpa when Bobby had to call for Bingo) so I skipped the games this year. I missed last years reunions so this year it was a blast. Here are a few pics...

Bingo (Uncle Bobby) calling

Uncle Bobby Auctioneer Before games and such (Sydney sleeping)

Bobby and Josh (Father and Son) Rachel, Aunt Queenette and me Dad and Bobby (Brothers) Grandma and Sydney Kids making ice cream

In other news, in the past week I've had four interviews. Well today's was a test in order to get an interview. But now to just wait and see and continue looking elsewhere. I am still really hoping that I get the one at Tri State...the one person who makes final decisions is on vacation so I should hopefully hear from them soon. Sirena is still waiting to hear as well and she interviewed a month ago. Poor Mindy must be going insane all alone in that office. I would still need at least one other job if I get that one so I'm hoping to get an interview at Family Video (where I went today) I don't really want the Walgreen's job but I'll take it if it is offered.

Saturday is the Ketcham reunion so there will most likely be more pictures posted here next week. I mean they are all on Facebook but here I will at least caption them a bit. And yes all of these photos have been edited the originals were kind of dark so I brightened them and took out or added some of the shadows and highlights. I can't do nearly as much as Debbie can but I still enjoy editing them with what little I can.

I will keep you all updated...