If I could live my dream

Bear and I have been spending a lot of time talking about our future lately.  We just celebrated 11 years of wedded bliss and we still really love everything about each other... that's no small feat in this day in age.  We have talked about the uncertainties with his career.... a career that he has devoted over 14 years and risked his life for and has gotten quite the raw deal on lately... this has made us look into other worst case scenario options and our lifelong dreams.  We have talked about what we truly want for our future as a family of 7 and also what bare minimum we could survive with.  Obviously, no one wants to just merely survive.
Ideally, we would love to live out our dreams but those dreams come with a pretty hefty price tag.  We are willing to WORK for our dreams but we honestly have no idea how to even begin. We know that there are a million and 1 direct sales businesses out there and we would love to really delve into one as a power couple but how....We have a very small support circle as a stepping off point.

Ideally, Bear and I would like to have a business that we could run from wherever we are and one that we could find limitless success.  We are not willing to compromise our integrity or sell our souls to a product to do it though.  I currently am a Younique Presenter and Freelance Makeup artist and I LOVE it but that is obviously not something that Bear is interested in except in supporting me.

I see all of these "power couples" in direct sales and think... that could be us.... but then when I dig deeper and talk to some of them, all they are interested in is selling us a product instead of forging a relationship and helping build us up as well.  I have had some unbelievably successful friends in direct sales and once they began to reach the transitional period of big success, they were no longer capable of having a normal friendship and conversation and everything had to do with the products they were selling and if you were still interested and how the financial commitment was big but so worth it and never a genuine conversation about life and catching up with one another.  Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly happy for them and their success and proud of all that they have achieved but I truly miss their friendships.

I get it, I really do.  I totally understand that you want to be successful but I also think being a genuine friend while being successful is equally important.  Where can we find a business where it is okay to be both successful and still have the ability to be a genuine person outside of peddling the product?

Bear and I have big, lofty dreams... we dream of being debt free first and foremost which seems near impossible these days.  We dream of having a home on the Gulf in Florida or very very close to it and a home in Texas which is where our heart truly considers home.  We dream of being able to actually relax and enjoy life with our kids while working together doing something we are passionate about!  I know that to some, this might sound crazy, but to us.... this is our dream.

I wish that I could find a way to make this happen for us... for him to be able to have peace in life and for us as a family to able to fully relax and enjoy our lives.

New life happenings!!!

So, we have moved!  Bear had some work stuff elsewhere, so the kids and I moved away from our rental so that we could get a change of scenery.  Also, right before the holidays kicked off, I decided to get my certification in makeup artistry and I couldn't be happier with that decision!  Along with getting that certification, I decided to become a Younique presenter.  After trying their cosmetics and learning about their standards, I decided that it would be a perfect fit for my budding business and that it was in my best interest as well as my client's to use the best makeup possible!
I would love your support in growing my new business!  I will be posting beauty tips and tricks as well as life updates on here!
I also wanted to share with you my why for starting my own business:
I've had a passion for makeup, hair, fashion, and all around beauty since I was a young child. I studied fashion at BGSU and then many years later decided that I needed a portable career for our busy lives and received certification in makeup artistry. After receiving my certification in makeup artistry, I started exploring different types of makeup to stock my kit and came across Younique. Not only do I love the quality of the makeup, I also love what the company stands for. I wear and sell Younique because I love it, not because it's just a job. I love that the company is all about empowering women and that is exactly what I feel makeup, hair, and a great outfit should help do! I think all of those things should empower you! Another reason as to why I joined Younique is that I want to help support my family. Toward the end of last year we were blind sided with the real possibility of Bear being forced out of his job 1 year shy of being eligible for 15 year retirement and we have a large family to support. With the fact that he could soon be unemployed at the end of this year, it was time that I try to grow a business fueled by my passion that could keep us afloat. So, not only am I passionate about the products because I love their products, I am passionate about the fact that the company empowers me and many other women around the World.
Here is a link to my new business page:
Younique Page!

Family Tradition

Do you have a Christmas tradition with your family?  My family has quite a few, but one we have just with our children is that of Christmas Eve Pajamas.  On Christmas Eve, we give each child a package and inside it is a brand new pair of PJ's, hot cocoa, and a treat.  We then put on our new Christmas jammies and deliver homemade cinnamon rolls to the local fire and police departments as a thank you for protecting us and taking the time away from their families so we can be safe at home with ours.  After delivering the cinnamon rolls, we all cuddle up in the living room with our mugs of hot cocoa and treats and watch a Christmas movie and then read The Night Before Christmas before tucking our kiddos into bed.
I absolutely love this tradition and wouldn't have it any other way!  I love seeing my babies come downstairs in their new jammies on Christmas morning and how darling they look in the pictures!  The jammies are not coordinated since we have such a large family, it would be outrageous!  I priced it out, wowzers!  Do you have any traditions for your family?

This was from Christmas 2012... the kids all had RSV that year but they sure are cute even with the ickies!

Long time, no talk... eh?

Sorry for the extended absence... life has thrown us for quite a few loops these days. Most days I feel like I am standing in the middle of a Cat 5 Hurricane.

So, where to begin.... Well, we added baby number 5 into the mix in late July!  He came 5 weeks and 1 day early and we spent 11 terrifying days in the special care nursery,  During delivery, I had a partial uterine rupture and it was touch and go with me and baby Pher.  Baby Pher had respiratory distress issues and was rushed off and it took a good long while to close me up.  I finally got to meet my precious little guy after my spinal wore off.
Baby Pher ended up needing to be intubated and given surfactant and then weaned to a cpap, then oxygen before completely being able to breathe on his own.

The time spent at the hospital was so incredibly hard, but he had amazing nurses that loved him and cared for him!  I am happy to say that he is now going on 5 months old and completely healthy and happy!  I am so thankful for the blessing that he is and he completes our family perfectly!  God has blessed us immensely!  

Since my uterus partially ruptured and the thickness of my uterus was at less than 1mm, my doctor said it was incredibly lucky that we both survived and I CANNOT have anymore children.  I am still slowly recovering and will be hopefully working on my fitness after the new year! I do have to say that I think that 4 boys and 1 girl right in the middle is as perfect as it could be for us!

So after coming home from the hospital and getting settled in, Bear had to have a minor procedure done that had him laid up for a little while and then the storm hit.  We found out that due to Bear's horrific/toxic COC, he was not selected for promotion.  He has been in the job of the grade he was trying to promote to (which is above his current grade, obviously) for over 3 years (obviously he can do the job).  It's infuriating to know that 1 person can change the course of your entire 13 year career without any justification or any reasoning behind it.  There's nothing you can do if someone above you decides they just want to screw you over for the hell of it.  It's really sad that we have given everything and we just got stabbed in the back in the end.  

We have been really fortunate to have quite a few people step up and try to do something on his behalf.  We have also had our fair share of individuals that walked out when times got tough and also some that said they were going to help and just quietly walked away instead.  It is impossible not to harbor a great deal of resentment when you work all of your life with a spotless record and go above and beyond just to get screwed... where is the justice in that?  There isn't any to be honest.  His mentor said that there is a silent cleansing going on with those just under the early retirement eligibility and we are one of those people, unfortunately.

So, here we sit... a week and a half until Christmas.. just over 2 months since the storm hit and our life is in shambles.  We don't know where we will be a year from now or if we will be homeless and jobless.  It's unnerving to be honest.  

We were actually in the middle of preparing for a move when all of this occurred but our move was canceled once all of this happened and he switched to a position that is well above his grade and will be doing twice as much work.  I question daily why we are even trying anymore and what it's all for?  I am weak and weary and am at the threshold of throwing in the towel. Hopefully we get a Christmas miracle and some of this fighting pays off.  We will see I guess.  Until then it's worry, wait, and pray.... If you are the praying type, please pray that our efforts to rectify this situation pay off very soon.

10 year anniversary and such

Sheesh, life has been super duper busy around these parts!  We have been here there and everywhere lately and it has been quite the ride.  The playroom redo is at a complete stand still right now, but it should get put back in motion this coming week when my Mom is here visiting. We also just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary!  Bear and I went to a really nice dinner and were able to get all dressed up.  It was pure bliss!
We are winding down the school year and the kids are more than ready for summer at this point.  I distinctly remember being burnt out on school by this point in the game.  Plus, I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to having them home and sleeping in!  We don't have much of anything planned for the summer yet, but I am sure it will be filled with lots of swimming and time spent on the boat.
As far as our big 10 year anniversary, we hit 10 years on April 19th.  We went to Carlo and Johnny's for dinner and it is still our absolute favorite place to dine!  If you are ever in the Cincy area, I urge you to go and treat yourself!  Bear bought me two beautiful Pandora charms, a candle from Warm Glow, some wax melts, roses, and a few other things.  I made him promise to keep the gifts modest so that we can focus spending money on our trip.  I bought Bear the Glock he has been eyeing for quite sometime, a holster, and ammo, so he is one happy husband.  We are also going to be going to the beach in a few short weeks once his work schedule lets up a bit and boy do we need it!  I will gladly take any down time with Bear whenever I can get it, but down time at the beach is even better.
I'm hoping that since things are starting to wind down a bit, I can start posting regularly again!  Stay tuned!

10 Things about me

I thought I would give you a list of 10 things you probably didn't know about me:
1. Bear and I eloped after 6 weeks of knowing each other and Bear hadn't met either of my parents yet
2. I wanted to go to Cosmetology school and vow to do so someday
3. I thought I never wanted children because the pain of childbirth scared me and now I have 4 and haven't decided if we are done yet
4. I still dream of having a fairy tale wedding but am terrified no one will show
5. My absolute favorite color is yellow because my Grandma always called me Little Miss Sunshine
6. I have a New Jersey accent when I get mad
7. I would take wearing a dress over jeans any day of the week
8. I want to live by the Gulf when I retire
9. I am the world's biggest procrastinator
10. I am absolutely terrified of heights

I gobbled and wobbled

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving!  Ours was wonderful, but I ate ENTIRELY too much!  I made this German chocolate pie that was TO DIE for, I swear I gained 5 lbs from that pie alone... so worth it!  Here is the recipe, I subbed dark chocolate for unsweetened chocolate and used a gluten free crust. 
We went home to spend some time with family and it was so good to be home.  We get to visit home more often than before, but it still never seems like enough time.  There were so many family members and friends that I wanted to see that I wasn't able to this time around, hopefully we can see them for Christmas.
We also braved the crowds for the Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales since my Mom so graciously watched the kids and we accomplished almost all of our Christmas shopping at a discounted price.  When you have a gaggle of children like we do, it is very helpful to get things on a deep deep discount.  My oldest son, Maverick, has developed a love for building with LEGOS which is great, but they are so expensive.  LEGOS was definitely one of the big steals that we got on Black Friday.. we were able to get 4 LEGO sets much cheaper than retail and I couldn't be happier about that.  We also bought our first tablet... the Nabi 2, so we will see how that works out for our busy little family.
We are gearing up for St. Nick's Day this weekend and a visit from my East Coast family!!!!  I am beyond excited because it's been a year since I last saw my cousin.
Stay tuned, I will be posting my reviews of two restaurant's and a tour of our decorated home!

God Bless!