This was my vacation week. I spent a few days at home just trying to catch up on all the chores that I have failed to get done this summer in between my work schedule and the kid’s sports schedules.
We were able to take a short two day trip about 3 hours away to our states wine country. Several of the wineries were small in nature and although I wondered as we pulled into the informal rock drive of the first stop I found that their wines were quite wonderful. About mid-way through our journey we came upon this wonderful winery where obviously the owners had put some money into the appearance. There was a wonderful newer building that was built to look like a Tuscan villa. Not only was their seating inside, but as well a wonderful large patio outside. A bed & breakfast was not too far away along with a pond and more seating in the grassy area. There was a place for live music on the weekends even. You can bet we will be going back just to sit here in the beauty and relax.
We left the wine country this time with five bottles of wine in all. We purchased this great tasting dessert wine with a hint of raspberries that will be just wonderful with a cheesecake. Since we have been home we have both had trouble with saving this wine for the next dinner party!
Summer seems to be flying by. This past week I took Janie up to Chicago with me. Thursday was our normal monthly sales meeting, but Friday I worked the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball tournament. Paul Mitchell is a sponsor and there for we had a booth to man at the tournament. Janie brought a friend with her and by the photos they took on my camera they fully enjoyed watching the mens tournaments. As Janie put them “the hotties with the bodies”. It is a very fun experience. Especially for the girls, although Janie has been to the city many times, it was her friend Jessica’s first time. Obviously to be able to walk down Lake Shore drive along the “bike pad” to the Oak Street Beach and then to be able to have that great skyline of the city on one side and the lake on the other along with beach volleyball is pretty cool. Part of us having the booth was that our Paul Mitchell top stylists and educators were cutting hair for charity there so for my $20 donation Jessica was able to get her hair cut by a Paul Mitchell professional (something that would have cost $80 alone in the city).
Ridge is still working and enjoying the summer. He is driving a motorcycle at the moment and has gone through my Dad’s clothing for some Harley items. I got a little misty eyed seeing him one evening in a thermal Harley shirt my Dad used to wear and then having my Dad’s leather jacket on. I hope Dad is smiling a bit at that.
Garrett has finished up with baseball and has been swimming in either my pool or over at his Dad’s parents pool most of the summer. White hair and dark skin with those big blue eyes…such a cutie!!
Jeff and I are leaving for Rend Lake on Wednesday to spend four days doing nothing but laying by the pool, the beach or maybe we might do some boating. The plan is to do nothing! I would have liked to have stayed Saturday night as well but he is playing a gig at Bagelfest in Mattoon that evening so we have to be back. I am hoping to drag some of my friends out that evening, but we will see.
The last few months have kept me busy. I have updated photos on the flicker page which you can click on the “badge” to the right and it will lead you over to the photos. You can view the photos and leave comments.
Ridge graduated and is currently working for Dept Of Natural Resources this summer prior to officially signing on with the Air Force this fall. He wanted to take the summer off and you know I can’t blame him. The truck he bought that we all told him was a bad decision because the engine sounded bad came true. Two weeks after he got done adding new wiring to the truck the engine blew up on him. Sometimes you just have to learn for yourself. He has now purchased his Uncle’s motorcycle and although I know he is loving driving it a Mom can’t help but worry. It isn’t his driving ability that worries me since we had him driving his own dirt bike at the age of 3 (he learned how to ride it before the bicycle) it is his inexperience with other drivers who don’t see motorcycles and the deer that can jump out.
Janie has had a busy summer. She is not working at the Inn At Eagle Creek this summer. Although it is great money for her, they tend to work her 40+ hours often in the summer and she didn’t want to work the whole summer like she did last year. She is working about 2 days a week at a small bar and grill in town. This week she is at a camp called Girls State at Eastern University. It is sponsored by the American Legion and there are approximately 500 girls from all over the state there. She was chosen along with one other girl from the school to go. Girls State is basically a camp about government and politics. On each dorm floor is a County and then her group is a City. Each County and City elect Mayors, Judges, Congressmen, Senators, etc. Their days are filled with an assembly of meetings on running “their government” along with special speakers. Friday evening the final day is a formal dinner where our actual Senators and Congressmen attend and interact with the girls.
Garrett is loving baseball as every 7 year old does. He has been having a great time swimming when we go over to Jeff’s to spend the weekend and at his Dad’s he has been fishing in the pond and catching tadpoles. He is such a funny kid. He has been missing Janie terribly this week while she has been gone and you can’t really talk about Ridge leaving for the Air Force or he gets upset. Even as Janie talks about college next year it upsets him. He has a big attachment his siblings.
Work is busy as usual for me. I will be uploading some new photos of the Paul Mitchell school my company is opening in Chicago. It is right downtown and in just a beautiful spot. It is a great pride for our company as it will be one of the premiere schools for Paul Mitchell in the country. Needless to say though I have a lot of traveling to do up that way in the next couple of months. We have the grand opening for the school and then Paul Mitchell sponsors the pro beach volleyball tournament on the North Shore Beach downtown which is in a few weeks. Janie will get to go with me to both of those and she is very excited. Then the first weekend in August is the Paul Mitchell sales camp seminar in Vegas. Vegas sounds fun….but two full days of sales seminars & team building excerises does not!
I just got home last night from the America’s Beauty Show in Chicago. First I’m exhausted and every muscle in my legs hurt and my ankles and feet are so swollen they look like they did when I was 9 months pregnant. However, it was one of the most cool things I’ve ever done. Although I could throw out names of famous hair stylists they might not mean much to any of you. Some of who I worked closely with are those who do hair for the make over shows. I met John Paul Dijoria which is the co founder of Paul Mitchell, I met Angus Mitchell which is Paul’s son (Paul himself is dead). I really must say that even though both of these people are seen often with major celebrities and John Paul’s close friends include Steven Spielberg he is the most warm and down to earth man.
Every one at Paul Mitchell treats you as a part of their family. Even though I only work for the distributor they hug and kiss you each time they see you. He is very humble about his fortune and truly appreciates it. His keynote speech was very moving and it is really amazing how respected he is in the beauty industry. Our Paul Mitchell booth was truly the talk of the show.
Our other big event was with Davines which is out Italian line. Again as with most Italians they really treat you as family. My voice is almost gone from talking so much and so loud. Of course there was music every where. On Saturday there were 20k people in attendance and Sunday with the largest attendance of 38k.
Below are a few photos they are bad quality due to they were taken on my phone camera. The lights were so bright that it was just hard to get a good pic.
Although I am very tired and sore I am really glad I was able to experience this. They will be doing a Vegas trip in August for Paul Mitchell that I will be attending and then back at the beauty show next March.
This was a photo of the show floor on Sunday
John Paul Dijora at his keynote speech. I took a photo of the screen since the lights were so bright I couldn’t see him when I took a pic with my camera
This was the stage show with Robert Cromeans a famous hair stylists who is with the Paul Mitchell design team.
Just a random pic of some of the wild hair that designers created for the runway competitions during the show.
Since not everyone has a “myspace” page I decided to create a blog. I’ll try to upload any pics of the kids here and at least try to write a blog once a week of what is going on with life here.
Work has me very busy and although I wish I had more free time, right now that just doesn’t seem to be happening.
