Too Many Zooz

We took the kids to their first concert! Anna and David and the kids also went—and we took one of Owen’s friends (Lucas).

The planning and prepping was exhausting (trying to figure out what we need to pack and take to eat since we’d never been there) because apparently the thing to do at Ravinia is arrive early and picnic and hang out)! Plus we had an early access pass (but only for four people!) from a neighbor…so Tom and David went first with Owen and Lucas to get everything set up and our spots staked out!

The boys started with their fancy drinks. (Yes, David brought glass glasses!)

As Anna and I were on our way with the other three kids, we got this pic via text:

Owen was in heaven!! He got to meet Leo P of TOO MANY ZOOZ before the concert! He’s been listening to their music for years and playing their songs on his bari sax for months! Tom had seen him walking around and told Owen to go meet him! We were all so excited for him!

The kids went up to sit right in front of the stage. We ate our charcuterie and drank our drinks. The boys made more drinks.

I thought I took one more with everyone looking…but apparently I didn’t.

Our view from our seats. The kids were right in the front row!

Overall everyone had a great time and Anna and I decided we would maybe do it again.

Here’s a video of the band:

It was hard, but we did it.

It was a loooong and emotional day to be sure…but it was good. It was healthy. We grieved. We celebrated. We were extremely proud of Owen as he read one of my dad’s poems at the service. We visited with family. We heard some good stories. We got hugs. We ate cookies (y’all know my dad was a cookie fiend!). And we laughed.

And then my stepmom and I had a Thimbleberry margarita after everyone left.

And then the kids went kayaking and I took photos and just enjoyed the perfect weather sitting on the dock with my feet in the water.

It was hard, but we did it.

And we’re off to the UP!

It’s time to pick up the kids from grandparent camp!

First, my traveling face. LOL

We had to drop Olive off at the sitter’s (we’ll take her next year once she’s more potty trained). She loves car rides!

Stopping for lunch at a gas station! They opened the side of the RV and we had a quick non-fast-food lunch!

The last 15 miles looks like this.

We’ve arrived!

And Lin had bought Thimbleberry margaritas so that happened first thing!

So much more than makeup and skincare!

My SeneGence business is soooo much more than just makeup and skincare. It’s about going outside my box. It’s about making new friends and making those connections and being able to help each other personally and professionally. And sometimes, yes, sometimes it’s about having a giant pajama party, fangirling over Sene-famous peeps, drinking together in the pool, taking 1000 pictures together, and throwing axes. I’m such a better person because of all these ladies…and it’s only going to get better from here!!

Fab Squad Retreat – Day 2

Today’s schedule was pretty open all day with a short training around lunch. So we started by taking lots of lifestyle photos of and with each other.

AND THEN OMG! I met Katie Enos and Summer Alvarez!! They are some of the top dogs in SeneGence and we got two hours of one-on-one training by them today! They are soooo super nice and down to earth!

Of course I think I look totally ridic in this pic but that’s because someone else took it—I would have done a closeup selfie!!

Katie’s Instagram & Summer’s Instagram

Then it was off to sit by the pool at the swim up bar.

I might have been a bad influence. (Or, really, they just wanted to taste it and didn’t have glasses!)

And then I just got toooo hot so had to go in the pool. With a margarita of course. But because it’s so extremely hot, the pool water isn’t really even refreshing. It’s definitely not cool. But it is better than the air so…

After dinner it was time for more lifestyle photos. I took a bunch but wasn’t feeling cute at all. (UGHHHHH. I’ve gained so much weight. I know no one there cares but the pics make me sick so A) I’m not posting them and B) it’s time to get back on Naturally Slim.) So this is my best photo—nothing different than I take at home:

But this is the kind of pics most were taking (I just felt super self-conscious so didn’t join in):

Fab Squad Retreat – Day 1

TODAY IS THE DAY! Today I get to leave for the Fab Squad Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona, that I qualified for at 100%!

It was soooo hard getting up at 5 this morning but I made it to the airport easy peasy. Seeing the security line worried me a little bit because I no longer have TSA pre-check but it went very quickly and I had no problems…except I forgot my Apple watch in the basket. I did realize it before I got too far away and the agent was holding it when I got back so I’m gonna count that as a win.

And then… at the gate…they announced that the Phoenix airport had lost power so we couldn’t leave until their power was restored. Thankfully we only left a few minutes late—and then made up enough time in the air to arrive about 30 minutes early!

Welcome to Arizona.
Mountains!

Friends picked me up and then it was off to Costco to get margaritas and snacks for the house!

And then they wanted to go to In & Out and I won’t turn down a burger and fries! It wasn’t very thrilling though. We did get hats though.

And then the thing I was most looking forward to… seeing my Jenna and giving her a huge hug! She’s the leader that’s adopted me and supports me even though she doesn’t earn any money from me! She’s literally one of the nicest people on the planet and I’m lucky to know her.

The house was huge—and this was our first view of the backyard and pool.

And my first margarita on the patio trying not to sweat in the heat.

We hung out around the pool until it was time for the PJ party (Jenna bought everyone matching pajamas!)—pizza dinner and ice breakers.

First Jenna wanted to know if we considered ourselves introverts or extroverts. I’d say more than half of our 20 said they were introverts! Then she asked what challenges you’ve faced in the last year and something you’re proud of—business or personal. I knew what I was proud of (my consistent and increasing sales, earning SeneSales every quarter) but had no idea about challenges. I was thinking I can’t seem to host parties, I have no willpower to lose weight… And then people were talking about all these SERIOUS THINGS (deaths, major illnesses, relationship issues, etc) and everyone was getting teary and I’m a total emotional sap so I was teary. And it was getting closer to me—I was like #17/20 and I still didn’t really even know what I was going to say. And then the girl before me said her mom died unexpectedly (which I knew) so I was like Oh okay I’ll tell them my dad died unexpectedly (because I’ve mostly been able to talk about it without getting super emotional) and then as the words were coming out of my mouth it was like it all hit me RIGHT THEN and I could barely even make it through. I know no one cared how I sounded because seriously half the women broke down while talking but I still felt ridiculous. So that was interesting. But we were also all laughing and crying and it was good overall.

I’m not gonna lie—I did feel lots of awkwardness and anxiety all day about hanging out with all these ladies I don’t know. I mean, I know who they are (and they know who I am) but we have never really hung out before and I’m a total introvert in those situations. And also because a lot of them do have real friends within the group so they REALLY know each other.

But I survived!

Olive updates!

David texted to say he had planned on doing yardwork but this happened…so he was obviously stuck.

And these two are just too cute. Is Olive really just absentmindedly stretching or is she sneakily trying to get Honey to play with her? You be the judge.

She’s a sun dog whenever she goes

First calm snuggles after she went crazy upon our return.

And we learned that Tom cannot show Honey any attention otherwise Olive goes batshit crazy barking and attacking!

Saying goodbye!

Finally home…

2022 dual birthday pool party!

For as much as I take pictures of everything we do, I seemingly always let it slip on pool party day. At least I got one of both kids.

This one was from a friend.

And this was as we were packing up—Anna found a little grasshopper and put it on Katie.

The party was a big success again! All the kids love it! And it’s easy since we don’t have to clean the house.