I'm alive

but work is kicking my butt right now. Between work and studying for my PMP exam - (to be taken on April 19th), I have no time for anything fun like blogging, Facebook, etc. I'll be back soon!

We're in the newspaper today

Sorry to brag, but I love it when my business gets published in the newspaper. We are on the front page of the local Port Huron Times Herald printed paper, and on their website version as well. That's my mom pictured at the bottom of the page (can't see her on the picture on my blog, you have to click through to read the article). Of course they didn't get the cutest displays in our store, but they did get the house that separates the retail store from the factory. That big picnic table is full of our sale soap - we are having a big moving sale right now to get rid of stuff before we move to the new place in a couple of weeks. I'm heading up tonight to see progress on the new place and take some more pictures.

Here's a picture of the article, but you can click here to read it fully.

Fun in the Snow up north

I took my nieces and nephew, plus their 2 dogs Lilly and Cooper up north to my dad's cottage last weekend in Waters, Michigan (between Grayling and Gaylord). We had a blast visiting my dad, my aunt, cousin and sledding in the snow. The dogs were besides themselves with glee running around on my dad's 20 acres. We had perfect weather and were able to enjoy the winter wonderland. We also celebrated Reeds's 16th birthday.

We visited my 100 year old grandma in the nursing home on the way home. Very nice to see her and pure entertainment. She can't see or hear very well and so she thought I was my niece Emma, so then Emma and I kept taking turns kneeling by her chair and talking to her - she thought it was Emma the entire time. At the end of our visit she thought she was our aunt, not our grandma. Too funny. Yet at times she was completely lucid and had a great conversation with my nephew Reed about his upcoming year abroad in Germany. Great weekend!

Cooper wants to go sledding with Reed.

Lilly leaping into a snow bank.

Cooper and Lilly running down the driveway which is more like a road.


Emma sledding

Blaire sledding

Reed and Blaire

Aunt Kelly (me) and Emma

Lilly and Cooper looking for birds. They are Braque du Bourbonnais (French Pointer dogs), so they point for birds all the time

Reed and the icicles hanging on the cabin

Charlie, my dad's 12 year old Lab. We love Charlie.

Lilly wearing my hat in the car and Blaire smothering her with kisses.

Construction pictures

Here are some pictures of the construction progress at our new Backyard Soaps & More location. They only started a week ago and have made a ton of progress already!

This is the "house wall" that will separate the retail store from our factory space. It will literally look like the front of a house when it's all done with a roof, windows and a swinging door.


An office

The front of the retail store. This is a big mess right now, but it will look a lot better in a week!

Another "house" only this one is more of a "shed" to cover up a stairway. It goes with the whole backyard theme.

Part of the factory space

Another office