A great last day!

Today was my last day working for Intrepid Plastics. It was a great last day! I have enjoyed working with my coworkers, customers, suppliers, and truck drivers over the last 3 years and 5 months. I can't believe that much time has gone by! The Quality Manager had a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, Reese's Peanut Butter cups, and a nice card waiting on my desk. Then for lunch we had a pizza party! I know that I will always be welcomed back if I wanted. I am ready to start this next chapter of my life, but am so grateful for the experiences I have had!

Here's to the future and the many unknowns to come!

A New Direction

My life is about to go in a new direction! After 3+ years of working at an injection molding company in Grand Rapids, I have been blessed with a new opportunity! I put in my two week notice today and on March 4th, 2013, I will begin working at Nestle Gerber in Fremont!

My new position is entry level and a great place to start out- offering the chance to move up. I am going to be an Associate Food Technician! I will have various job responsibilities like cooking up recipes, running tests, and working in the pilot plant.

I am super excited and can't wait for this new direction!

Off to a Great Start!

This semester is off to a great start. We are in the 5th week of classes (out of 16) and I am doing well in my classes. I have had two exams in my accounting class. The first one I got a 97% on- the class average was 66%. After I took it I actually came home and cried because I felt that I did horribly. I was so confused, but I must have understood the concepts. I took my second exam last night and I thought I did pretty well on it. The grades were posted tonight and I got a 98% and the class average was a 89%. So overall, I have a 97% in accounting, a 98% in Computer Applications in Business,and a 98% in Ethics.

One more class this week and then it's the weekend! I have some homework & reading to do. I also get to make 2 cakes this weekend for a birthday! Be watching for pictures of that to be posted in the near future!

American Girl Doll Cake

This was such a fun cake to do!!! Joel's boss asked me to make a cake for his daughter's birthday party. The theme was American Girl Doll. Joel was able to bring a box home so I could see it and make a cake based on it. The wife wanted a little more lavender than pink. I think it turned out great and I know they  loved it!

End of my Associates degree

I started up the last semester of my associates degree this past week! I think my work load will be lighter than the last one, but still not easy. I have Accounting 2, Business Ethics, and Computer Applications in Business. Accounting will be the majority of my work. My Ethics professor is a nut- seriously! I can't take him seriously. We'll see how I do in that class. The computer class shouldn't be an issue. I already learned some neat things my first night. Once I'm done I have to decide if I am going on to get my Bachelors or not. I applied to Ferris State University and was accepted! I should be able to take 3 more classes at GRCC and 8 classes at Ferris to complete my Bachelors in Business Administration. I have been working so hard, that it feels so great to be almost done! The next 15 weeks are going to fly by! 

Out with 2012, In with 2013

2012 has come to an end. It has not been a terrible year, but I am ready for a new one to begin! Some things that occurred in 2012:

Started my own business: Kara's Kakes and Kandies

I kept off the weight that I lost in summer of 2011.

We camped in the U.P twice.

I got all A's in my classes.

Joel got 2 bucks this hunting season.

Joel traveled a lot for work.

Joel designed 2 cross bows for Velocity Archery.

Joel had a design patented by Nestle.

Things to look forward to in 2013:

Joel's 2 cross bows are being launched at the Archery Trade show in January.

I will be graduating with my associates degree in Business Administration.

Traveling to Idaho to see my sister in law graduate (Possibly a trip to Utah?).

Enjoying being an Aunt and Uncle.

Growing my business.

Here's to a great 2013!

Because I'm Awesome- A Brag-Fest and my 23rd Birthday!

I just wanted to let you know, in case you wanted to stop reading, that there is quite a bit of bragging that is about to go on. I am proud to say that I am DONE with this semester! It feels AMAZING!!!!! To recap all of my hard work:

In my Accounting 1 class:
I got a 99% on my last test, over Ch. 9&10
I got a 76/80 on my final, over Ch. 1-8. My teacher dropped 4 questions, so I ended with a 76/72. This means I got a 105% on my final!!! I ended the class with a 100%!!!

In my Management class:
I got a 96% on my final test.
I got a 279.8 out of 280 on my Individual final paper, that's a 99%! Our group paper and presentation got a 179.87/180! I ended the class with a 99%!!!

In my Marketing class:
I got a 100% on my final marketing project!
I got a 91.7% on my final test. I ended the class with a 95%.

That's right- All A's!!!!! My hard work has paid off!

Now, last week was my final week of the semester and it was CRAZY! Besides work and school, Joel had 2 work parties. On Thursday, we had the Nestle Annual Banquet and Christmas Party. We had the banquet and award ceremony at the DeVos Center. Then we walked over to the Amway Grand and had an amazing dinner. There was a potato bar with lots of toppings and they scooped the potatoes into a martini glass. It was different, but tasted wonderful! Then we had a magician for entertainment. He did a great job; some things I couldn't figure out how he did them! On Friday night we went to Notos Italian restaurant in Grand Rapids with the Packaging and Engineering group. This was a very nice dinner and the company was great. I loved meeting Joel's coworkers! Our table had 7 people at it. We ordered 4 first course meals to split so we could try different things. Then we all ordered off of the second course menu. We had some great desserts too! It was very pricey, so I doubt Joel and I would ever eat there on our own. After the dinner, we drove to Joel's parents' house for the weekend. It was my birthday on Saturday, Joel's on Sunday, and Julianne (Joel's sister) had a birthday on the 10th. I got to sleep in on Saturday morning until 10:30 and it was FANTASTIC! Then I got to lounge around because I had no homework to do. I got to open my gifts from Joel's parent's and I got a new camera!!! I've been wanting one, but I forgot that I had mentioned it to them a long time ago. Then we went to get Julianne from the Detroit airport. She flew in from BYU-Id. It was so great to see her! Then we stopped for dinner at a Big Boy's. Our service was terrible, they got my food wrong, and they didn't even bring me a birthday dessert. But on our way home, Joel's mom got my a cheese cake and sparkling grape juice- my favorite! I got tons of facebook posts, phone calls, and texts messages. I also spent the day with family. Overall, it was a wonderful 23rd birthday! I am very loved and am fortunate to have the family that I have! Now to get ready for the Christmas season- We still have to put up the tree and decorations! Not to mention shopping and wrapping gifts!