All things Kari Andersen

My Montana Miracles

2009-05-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you MY story of the power of visualization and a DREAM/PRAYER coming true for me...

A year ago, we moved back to Oregon after struggling financially in Montana for about 2 years. I had no idea that it was the beginning of the worst recession our country has seen in decades and felt so lost and alone and scared as our finances dwindled and our debt increased. I had been on a path with my business that was amazing and growing like crazy and to see it level off and not grow as fast was disheartening. I lost a lot of my confidence, too.

In Oregon, my husband got a new job in a brand new field, hearing aid sales and service, and did very well at it. We started to recover our finances and pay off debt and get back on our feet. We were very focused on that goal. But in my heart, I knew that Oregon wasn't where we were supposed to be. I love Montana and so do our kids. They missed friends, family and all that Montana represents to them. I choose to be happy so I was... but I wasn't content. It's ok to let yourself be discontent if it drives you to action to seek out something better. That is what I did!!

Collin and I sat down at the New Year 2009 and discussed our goals and dreams for the new year. We determined that if a job ever opened up in Montana that we would move back to Bozeman to be closer to family and to give the kids a Montana upbringing.

I started visualizing everyday... Collin working as a hearing practitioner in the office where my grandma gets her hearing aids, our family living close to my dear friend, Lori Dawkins and her family in South Bozeman in a 3 level home with 4 bedrooms so each kid could have his/her own room and a big quiet office for me (my office in Oregon was in my laundry room and I had to shut off the washer/dryer just to call a prospect), good renters for our Oregon home, and finances to make the whole thing happen smoothly.

A few weeks after I started visualizing and praying for the miraculous, Collin got a job at the very office where my grandma is a patient with a company where the regional manager lives in Portland. I had 3 of his kids as students when I taught there 15 years ago. Small world! They needed a sound booth delivered to Missoula so the manager asked if we could throw it on our moving truck and they would pay for our moving expenses. We also got our tax return just in time!

We needed renters for our house in Oregon and within a day or so of getting the new job, a wonderful couple we know from church heard we were moving from their daughter, who was friends with our daughter, and asked us about our house. They were looking to downsize and our house was perfect for them. A perfect fit for both of us!!

Then we needed a house to move into in Bozeman. We own a home there already but we didn't want to evict our amazing renters. Collin moved ahead of us by a month and the day after he arrived into town, he went over to our dear friends, the Dawkins, to say hi and see if there were any houses in the area for rent. Right across the street from them was a beautiful 4 br/3 level home with a FOR RENT sign in the yard. It had become vacant only a few days before. He was able to look at the house the next day and put in an application. A week or so later, we had the house and it was exactly the house I saw in my mind when I visualized my perfect house for the next phase of our life. We didn't look at any other houses because I knew that was the house for us!

The sign on the door says, "Welcome Home Andersens!"

So we moved back to Montana a week ago and I'm focused on even bigger dreams and goals for myself... in my business and beyond. During my time in Oregon, which was a time of isolation and loneliness, I was able to discover some things about myself and pinpoint exactly what I want and what I do not want. I began journaling everyday and reading books that offered hope. I didn't allow myself to focus on the negative or be around negative people. I had to take drastic measures to get back on MY RIGHT PATH!

I'm not perfect or lead a perfect life but I give God the glory for helping me through the hard times and giving me such amazing miracles. He puts wonderful dreams into my heart!

Kari Andersen

Double Diamond

Bozeman, MT

http://www.momsmakingmoneyfromhome.com/

PS. I use Facebook to connect and would love to be your friend there...

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=651355689

Follow me on Twitter

www.twitter.com/kariandersen

Moving... again

2009-04-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had to wait to find out if you got something (like a house or job or pregnancy)? Well, I am waiting to find out if we get to rent a really cool house in Bozeman, MT where we are moving to in just a couple weeks.

It's funny the stuff that goes through your mind!

*The house is OURS, no problem. It's meant to be.

*I have faith that God will give us this house.

*Maybe they didn't get our application. Call them again.

*Hmmm... maybe it's not the right house and God is sparing us from a bad move.

*Nothing we can do but wait and pray.

*It's ours. It has to be. Who would be better.... right?

*Um. I'm patient. I can be patient. It's all about timing.

*I'm packing and labeling boxes in faith.

*Please, please, please God!

So you see how my thought process is going right now because I really want that house. We already own 2 homes and have renters for them. So renting ourselves is going to be different for us.

Collin took Grandma Lou and my dad over to the house to show them and they loved it, of course. But now we wait.

Why are we moving back to Bozeman, MT?

Simple... it's home.

I am a Montana girl to the bone and love all things Montana including the wicked winters. I am passionate about Montana. It's in my blood.

A year ago we moved from Bozeman back to Gresham, OR after being away for 6 years... 3 years in L.A. and 3 in Bozeman. The car business was tanking (no pun intended) and Collin wasn't able to make enough to sustain us in the resort-like expensive town of Bozeman so we did some soul searching and realized that he needed to pursue a new career in a field that is in huge demand... anything to do with the elderly and the Baby Boomers.

So he chose hearing aid sales and service. Collin was born with moderate hearing loss and so he understands the challenges and struggles. Perfect fit.

He had a friend who wanted him to sell for him for years back in Portland so we decided to move back to our house we own in Gresham and start working for him. Within a year he was licensed and running is own office. It was a very exciting and learning time for him.

But my heart was never in Oregon, as hard as I tried. I wanted to be closer to my friends, my candle team, my family and my state. So we made the goal to move back to Montana as soon as a job opened up. That was mid-January when we wrote down that dream. Within just weeks, it became a reality. Not only were we moving back to Montana but they needed someone in the Bozeman office and right away!!

The miracles that surround this move leave me speechless and humble at God's goodness and faithfulness. He met me at every point of need. I never lacked for anything.

So as I wait for word on whether or not we get this house, I KNOW for sure that God is working and that I won't be disappointed in the outcome.

Kari Andersen

http://www.mom-dad-candle-business.com/moms-in-montana.html

Turk-n-Surf

2008-12-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Each year Collin's parents host a Thanksgiving celebration at Cannon Beach that they call Turk-n-Surf. Because they have 6 kids who all have families, it's their gift to the family.

Family members arrive as soon as they are able to get out of school or off of work. Some arrive as early as Monday and others not until Thanksgiving Day. But all are there for Thanksgiving dinner.

During the day there is lots of eating, walking on the beach, reading, card playing, game watching and laughing. It's the one time of the year that all the cousins get to hang out with each other and the adults get to rest and act like kids if they want to.

Here are some fun photos I took on the last day right before we left to go home...

Fantastic Fun this Fall

2008-11-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Fall we had this year. The weather was amazing and we did a lot of things as a family. I was behind the camera so it doesn't look like I was there... but I was!!

Here are some pictures from our festive Fall fun!!

Corn maze at Liepold Farms.

Daddy and Daughter

View from our front yard with my cutie girl

View from our front yard. The Fall colors are amazing!!

NOT a scary witch and yummy m&m!!

Too pretty to be a witch

m&m, mad scientist and sorta scary witch

Rock Band

2008-10-22T10:45:00.001-07:00

We got the Wii game Rock Band for my son's birthday present and we are totally addicted to it. Not me so much because I detest hard rock music but the kids and Collin love it. But I do kick butt on bass guitar!!

You can play up to 4 people... one of microphone, one on drums, one on lead guitar and one on bass guitar. Perfect for my family... minus me!!

My son asked his band teacher if he can use his playing time of Rock Band as practice time! ha! She said, NO! But he is getting really good percussion practice when he plays so it's like getting extra credit practice because his skills are getting so good!

Kari Andersen

www.kari-andersen.com

Pumpkin Spice is my favorite!!

2008-09-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite foods and scents for Autumn is Pumpkin Spice. This lens will explore the wonderful world of pumpkins and delicious pumpkin spice recipes.

I also run my own gourmet candle business and one of my very bestsellers is Pumpkin Spice!

http://www.squidoo.com/pumpkin-spice

Moms for Sarah Palin: The Pitbull with Lipstick

2008-09-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

I was undecided about the election. I seriously didn't have any idea which way I would vote. I am quite conservative in my views but have been so unhappy with the state of our country.

That all changed when Sarah Palin came onto the scene. She is ME! I am her!!

She represents everything that I am working for as a woman and a mom. She is showing me that it's possible and I want HER voice (my voice) in Washington.

MOMS have waited a long time to have a voice. I believe Sarah Palin will be that voice for us!!

For too long, stay-at-home moms, work-at-home moms and outside-the-home working moms have been overlooked.

We get the obligatory mention from politicians who want our vote and call us "housewives." UGH!!

But that could change!! Hopefully Sarah Palin the "pitbull with lipstick" will be a voice for us!

This lens is all about MOMS for Sarah Palin because Sarah Palin is for MOMS!

http://www.squidoo.com/pit-bull-with-lipstick

Hearing Loss and Depression

2008-09-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Sensory deprivation can cause depression. I wish I would have known that 15 years ago when I met my husband, Collin Andersen.

I always just said he was "manic depressive" because he would be really happy, outgoing and wonderful but then he would crash and get really depressed. I begged him for years to get help and get anti-depressants so that his episodes of depression wouldn't be so bad.

He refused and said he didn't need or want to take drugs. So we suffered. I suffered, a lot.

Then he started wearing hearing aids when he became a hearing care specialist and at first the depression seemed to get worse. He was moodier and seemed to retreat even more than normal.

I found out later that he was so overwhelmed with all the new sounds and noises that he had a hard time coping.

Then when he came out of that dark time, he emerged as a new man. The man he was during his GOOD times is the man he truly is!!

Here's what happened! When my husband couldn't hear, he spent so much time and energy trying to cope for his loss. He had to concentrate to read lips, ask people to repeat what they said and focus on the conversation that he would literally burn out.

Then he would go into a depressed or low state to make up for the tremendous amount of energy he put out just to hear. When he was revitalized, he would enter back into the coping phase and the cycle would continue.

After he got hearing aids, he no longer has to put out so much energy to connect with people and his moods have totally evened out. He no longer goes into his DARK retreat when coping to hear took all the energy out of him.

I know that if this happened to us, then it's happened to others. Check out the links here to learn more about how hearing loss affects depression.

Then if you are in the Portland area, make an appointment with Collin Andersen at Avada Hearing Care Center to get your hearing tested for free.

Portland Avada Hearing Care Center
Collin Andersen, HCS
Hearing Care Specialist
503-253-3131
Toll Free 866-888-EARS

12724 SE Stark, Bldg. H
Portland, OR 97233
candersen@avada.com

Your loved ones will thank you.
http://www.squidoo.com/hearing-loss-affects-family

Top 10 Reasons why I love BACK TO SCHOOL

2008-08-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

I am the mom that is always throwing the party for myself because my kids are going back to school. I love it!!

Top 10 reasons why I love BACK TO SCHOOL:

1. I love the fact that a big yellow bus stops in front of my house and my kids get on it and leave me alone for 6 whole hours!!

2. I love the fact that other human beings have to take some responsibility for the growth and developement of my children.

3. I love that my kids have a chance to make friends, learn new concepts and keep busy without any involvement on my part.

4. I love shopping for school supplies and school clothes (except this year it was a little depressing because everything is so expensive).

5. I love the peace and quiet of having days all to myself!!

6. I love taking their 1st day pictures in their new clothes with their new backpacks on.

7. I love looking at the clock at 10am and thinking I still have 4-5 hours until they come home from school! (ha... that one really cracks me up!)

8. I love baking cookies right before they come home so the house smells nice and they have yummy afterschool treats.

9. I love the cool, crisp feeling in the air when the sun still shines but you need a sweater.

10. I love when the big yellow bus pulls up in front of my house and my kids get off the bus as I stand on my porch and welcome the people who make my heart sing... my kids!

Jane Porter Title Contest on Her Blog

2008-07-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

From my friend and bestselling author of Flirting with Forty:

"Hey everyone! I need title help as the sales department doesn't like the current title of the book I just finished (More Than a Pretty Face) and wants me to come up with a new one. Fast!

I'm offering fun incentives to reward folks for brainstorming ideas for me.

The full contest prize (and book description) is on on my website blog, http://janeporter.com/janeblog/ but the bottom line is that my July '09 5 Spot book about 38 year old beauty, Tiana Tomlinson, the entertainment host of America Tonight, needs a great pithy title.

I'm hoping to put together a brainstorm list by Monday. Jane"

Hearing Loss Affects the Whole Family

2008-07-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

If you or a loved one is in the Portland area and have trouble hearing, then listen up!! hehe!!

My husband, Collin Andersen, has been half deaf since birth. He recently became a hearing care specialist for Avada Hearing Centers and started wearing hearing aids.

I can't believe the difference in our whole family's life. Our lives were so affected by Collin's hearing loss. Now he can hear and everything has changed.

*We don't have to avoid groups or loud restaurants.
*We don't have to blast the tv or use subtitles.
*We don't have to yell.
*We don't have to stop talking as soon there is any other noise.
*We can go to the movies!
*We can sit anywhere we want... not just somewhere to favor his good ear.
*He can relax and enjoy people instead of feeling stressed about lip reading.
**We can chat in bed in the dark!!! ha!!

It's been wonderful having a HEARING HUSBAND for the first time ever.

Make an appointment for you or your loved one today.
The hearing test is free and Collin knows how you feel!!!

Collin Andersen, HCS
Hearing Care Specialist
Avada Hearing Care Centers
http://www.avada.com/
Plaza 125, 12724 SE Stark, Bldg. H
Portland, OR

503-253-3131
candersen@avada.com

http://www.squidoo.com/hearing-loss-affects-family

Please pass this on to your friends!!

July's Candle and a Good Book Contest!

2008-07-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

Candle and a Good Book Monthly Contest

USA only!

Enter to win a candle and a good book every month! This month's featured gourmet jar candle is in the scent of Creme Brulee and the good book is the bestseller, Flirting with Forty!!

Go here to enter!

http://www.mom-dad-candle-business.com/candle-and-a-good-book.html

CHORES! A Brilliant Concept!

2008-06-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

I hated chores when I was growing up and I still can't stand the smell of Pledge because of the amount of dusting I did from age 9 on up! My mom had a house full of gorgeous Ethan Allen furniture that she wanted me to dust twice a week.

And she was an excellent cook and baker, something I did NOT learn from her... but I did learn how to clean a kitchen and do dishes because she was the messiest cook ever. So she made masterpieces and I cleaned up after her! ha!

But now that I'm a parent of almost 12, 10 and 8 year olds, I LOVE chores!! What a brilliant concept!!

I have a white board hanging in my laundry room with a list of all their daily chores. I also have special WED chores written in, too, for those chores that are only for once a week.

When they get up each day, they can read, watch TV, play gameboy or video games and go outside until 11am. But then chores have to be completed before doing any other playing.

Today they wanted to ride their bikes over to the school and have a picnic. "Great! Get your chores done and you can do that!" Off they scramble to get the chores finished and out of the way so they can play and enjoy the rest of the day!

I work one business and a job from my home and this helps me so much. I am very grateful for their help and they are learning valuable life skills and responsibilty by pitching in. We do not give an allowance as we feel that they are a part of this family and everyone should do their part. We reward them by taking them to the movies or buying them a Webkins now and then.

Kari Andersen

www.MomDadCandleBusiness.com

www.Biz4Kidz.com

Father's Day at Multnomah Falls, OR

2008-06-17T11:22:00.001-07:00

We had such a fun time on Father's Day at one of Oregon's most beautiful natural wonders... Multnomah Falls.

It's a mile hike to the top of the falls and the view from the top is spectacular. The hike is moderately difficult but not nearly as hard as some of the trails that I used to hike in Montana.

I enjoyed being in the sunshine and hanging out with four of the most amazing people I know... my husband and kids.

Kari Andersen

http://www.kari-andersen.com/

Candle and a Good Book Contest

2008-06-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce a monthly contest I'll be hosting on my website!!

It's called Candle and a Good Book.

Each month I will pick a yummy scented gourmet jar candle to give away and a book by bestselling author, Jane Porter!

This month's candle to win is Coffee Break!

The book is titled The Frog Prince!

Go here to enter!

www.mom-dad-candle-business.com/candle-and-a-good-book.html

Jane Porter Fan Updates!!

2008-06-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

The only time I'm happy that I don't hear from a friend is if it is Jane Porter... that means she is WRITING A NEW BOOK!! The newest book has a tentative title and she has blogged about it here... http://janeporter.com/janeblog/

If you missed her awesome interview on The View from the Bay, you can watch it online here...http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/parenting_babies&id=6168072

Megan Crane just finished a 3 day interview with Jane Porter and you can read the 3-part interview on her blog here...www.myspace.com/megancrane

And the big news of the day is that USA Today gave Jane and Mrs. Perfect a really great review. Read it here...http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2008-06-04-chick-lit-roundup_N.htm

And if you didn't see the Flirting with 40 movie set pictures of Jane with Heather Locklear and HUNK Robert Buckley, you can see those here...http://www.janeporter.com/photos/flirting-set-album.html

Kari Andersen

www.kari-andersen.com

Author Jane Porter New Book and Movie News!

2008-04-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

I am an author's dream friend because if I like their books, then I will read every single one and promote the heck out of them.

Jane Porter, www.myspace.com/authorjaneporter, is my favorite author and has become a dear friend. (Go over and request her to be your friend and let her know that I sent you!!)

Well, she actually found ME on www.cafemom.com/kariandersen where I had an article I'd written posted and she messaged me to say that she really liked my article. She told me she was a best selling author and her recent book, Flirting with Forty, was going to be made into a movie.

I did some research and she was right!! LOL!! She had no idea I was a fiction junkie! So I instantly put her books on hold at the library, read them, loved them and we soon became really good friends.

Then about 9 months later, she came to Montana for a night and had dinner with me and my girlfriends and stayed at my house.

You can read the whole story HERE

Ok... now that you are up to date... here are some really fun updates!!

Mrs. Perfect is coming out May 5th!! Jane sent me a copy a couple months ago and it is truly my favorite one yet.

It is the sequel to Odd Mom Out so make sure you read them in that order.

Now for the other big news!!

The Flirting with Forty Lifetime movie is in production and Jane has blogged about it on her myspace page...

www.myspace.com/authorjaneporter

If you are a reader or an author, then come on over to Jane's bulletin board http://janeporter.com/board/ and chat with us.

I'm a moderator on her board and Jane is always giving away really awesome stuff to people who chat on her board! I just won a book that I got yesterday from Jane by author Kristin Harmel called The Art of French Kissing.

Look for more updates and fun events as the Mrs. Perfect book launch approaches and the Lifetime Christmas movie of Flirting with Forty starring Heather Locklear and Robert Buckley airs!!

Kari Andersen

www.squidoo.com/kari-andersen

When does lipstick expire?

2008-03-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

So we are moving back to Gresham, Oregon in less than 3 weeks and I'm starting to really pack. Most of packing is really sorting... and throwing. I probably only pack about half of what we actually posses.

So today I'm sorting, throwing and packing my bathroom and what the heck!! How come I have so many tubes of lipstick? They are all really ugly colors, too. Why did I ever think that brown lipstick would look good on me??

I have tubes of lipstick that date back to pre-kids... which is over 11 years, by the way. When does lipstick expire is what I want to know? I think it expires when you put it on and it's just plain butt ugly. So all of my lipstick except my one favorite color has expired today because I threw them all away.

What is my favorite lipstick??

Well, thanks for asking! My very favorite lipstick is from Mary Kay and the color is Mocha Freeze. I absolutely love that color and how it stays on my lips. It's very shimmery and also very subtle. My lips, as full and as luscious as they are, are not the first things you notice about me.

No... instead you will probably notice the hideous eyeshadow that probably also expired many years ago!!

The Shack - Book Highly Recommended

2008-02-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

I keep talking about a book called THE SHACK by William P. Young... he is from Gresham, OR where we are from and still own a house there.

It's really hard to know where to begin to describe this book because it's powerful on more levels that I can even say...

I was at a Super Bowl party last weekend and the topic of conversation was all about this book THE SHACK. At first I thought it was a biography of Shaquille O'Neal... ha!!

So one of my dear friends said she had an extra copy and would give it to me soon. We connected yesterday and I was thrilled... most of you know my passion for fiction anyway and I felt like this was a gem... a true discovery!!! I read it in one day!!!! I was hooked and couldn't stop reading.

I really don't want to say too much so as not to spoil it for you before you read it. But be prepared to have your heart ripped out of your chest, smashed into tiny pieces and then gently put back together with a lot of the holes and questions filled in and made better than new.

Here is the author, William Young's MySpace Page

http://www.theshackbook.com/

Please let me know if you have read this book and what your thoughts are about it.

And then I woke up...

2008-01-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

I had to wake up eventually...

Well... I have a business blog and a home school blog but I didn't have a blog where I can just write about stuff that is just ME. I have a lot going on in my mind and even if no one else wants to read it... well, I want to write it.

I am 41 years old now. When I turned 40, I woke up. I woke up to a lot of things that were just a part of who I was. I never questioned those things because it was just the way it was in my life.

Well, when I woke up, I sort of freaked out. But I look back over the last year and it was all good.

So to begin my first blog All Things Kari Andersen, I want to share my Wake Up List:

I don't have to hang out with people I don't like.
I don't have to go to church every Sunday.
I can drink Margaritas.
I don't have to volunteer to chaperon my kids' field trips.
I don't have to be the room mom.
I can talk to my best friend 5 times a day... or not.
I don't have to answer the phone.
I can love my dad and grandma with all my heart.
I can miss my mom, brothers and cousin.
I can be a strong independent woman.
I can lean on my husband if I'm scared and lonely.
I can hike mountain trails and like it.
I can travel all over the country.
I can take naps at 3 in the afternoon because I'm sleepy.
I can read books all night long.
I can accept my body for what it is.
I can put creamer in my coffee.
I can spend hours on the internet because it's my passion.
I can live where ever I want to and move as much as I want to.
I don't have to keep up with the Jones'.

Kari Andersen