In Spotlight At Work

At work I was nominated or be featured in our monthly newsletter. I was asked to tell a few unique things about me that others might not know about me. Felt like this was a good summary about me. The one thing I feel like I left out was mentioning how much my husband means to me.  Wanted to share what I sent over to the editors. 

🌟 Employee Spotlight: Getting to Know Karen

When I’m not at work helping our members, you can usually find me doing something that involves family, planning, traveling, writing, or simply enjoying the little things in life.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 My Biggest Blessings

Without a doubt, my twelve grandchildren are some of the greatest blessings in my life. They keep me busy, keep me laughing, and remind me just how special family is. Being a grandmother is one of my favorite roles, and I treasure every opportunity I get to spend time with them.

🏔️ A Little Colorado Adventure

One fun fact that many people at work probably don’t know about me is that, when I was in my early twenties, I lived and worked on Pikes Peak in Colorado for four years!

I absolutely loved my time there. I got to wake up surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountain scenery, spend time hiking, and explore places like Colorado Springs and Denver. Those years gave me so many wonderful memories, and Colorado still holds a special place in my heart.

💌 I’m a Pen Pal!

I am also a pen pal enthusiast! I currently regularly write to about five women, and I absolutely love getting “happy mail” in my mailbox. In a world where so much communication happens through texts and emails, there is something special about sitting down and writing an actual letter—and even more fun about opening the mailbox and finding something other than a bill!

📖 Planner Girl at Heart

I am definitely a planner girl. I use my planner to keep myself organized and on track with all the things I need to accomplish. I even have a budget planner. Now, whether having a budget planner automatically makes me better at budgeting is still up for debate! 😂 But at least I have a plan!

🗽 My Favorite Vacation

One of my favorite trips was my visit to New York City this past April. I loved exploring the city, seeing the famous sights, and experiencing all the energy that makes New York so unique.

And, of course, I had to experience the food! I had some amazing cannoli in Little Italy, and since I had always heard about New York pizza, I absolutely had to try that too. Let’s just say the cannoli did not disappoint!

❤️ Why Retention Is a Good Fit for Me

One of the things I value most about my time with LegalShield is that I genuinely try to do my job the right way and give each member the best help I can.

Sometimes my heartstrings get pulled because I truly want to help every person I talk to. That’s one of the reasons I feel like the Retention Department has been such a good fit for me. I believe we’re here not only to retain members, but also to help them understand the value of what we offer and make sure they feel heard.

I’m constantly learning in this department, and I’m grateful for the training, tools, and knowledge we’re given to help us become better at what we do. Retention isn’t always easy, but I’ve learned that one bad day doesn’t mean it’s always going to be a bad day.

You have to celebrate the small wins, appreciate the big wins, and keep moving forward.

And that’s probably a pretty good description of me, too: keep learning, keep growing, keep helping, and always look for the next adventure!

MakingToDo List

Thursday Check-In: Beating the Heat & Checking Things Off My List

Good morning, friends!

Grab a cup of coffee and come sit with me for a few minutes.

It’s going to be another scorcher here in Oklahoma today, with temperatures expected to reach around 107 degrees. Summer is definitely making its presence known! Thankfully, my employer has been letting us wear shorts all week because the air conditioning in our building hasn’t been working properly. They have also placed large stand-up fans throughout nearly every aisle, which has made a huge difference. I even keep a small fan on my desk. Not only does it help keep me cool, but it also creates a little background noise that helps drown out some of the conversations around me while I’m working.

I can’t believe we’re already to Thursday. The weekend is finally in sight!

After work this evening, I’ll be making a quick trip to Walmart to pick up some of Landon’s back-to-school supplies. Brody and Savannah have already purchased quite a bit from his school list, so we just wanted to help out with a few of the remaining items. I looked everything up online this morning, and our total should be around $63, which isn’t bad at all. We’re also planning to pick up a few classroom donation items like cotton balls, sidewalk chalk, colored copy paper, and a few other miscellaneous supplies that teachers always seem to need.

I still need to buy back-to-school outfits for Wesley, Angel, Clifford, and Max. I’m thinking Old Navy will probably be my weekend destination since I’ve always had good luck finding clothes for them there.

Today’s To-Do List

1. Fill my weekly pill organizer so I stay on track with taking my medications every morning.
2. Finish my July journal before the month comes to an end.
3. Continue sorting through the tote bags in my sunroom, especially the ones filled with old paperwork that needs to be shredded or tossed.
4. Stop by Burger King after work and pick up dinner for Mr. C and me.
5. Focus on getting 10 saves at work today so I can finish the month strong.

I’ve also been spending some time looking over my budget, and I realized I owe a little more on my vehicle than I originally thought. The balance is down to about $790, though, so I’m finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

The best financial news this week is that I canceled two subscriptions that I really wasn’t using anymore. That will save us about $100 every month, and that money can now go toward more important goals.

One of those goals is paying down my credit card debt. I really don’t want to head into retirement with debt hanging over my head. I’ve struggled with finances at different times throughout my life, and while I’ve come a long way, I know I still have work to do. That’s okay, though. Progress doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one step, one payment, and one good decision at a time.

That’s what I’m focusing on today.

Easy Vanilla Caramel Iced Coffee ☕

If you’re trying to stay cool, here’s one of my favorite easy iced coffee recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chilled strong coffee or cold brew
• ½ cup milk (any kind)
• 1 tablespoon caramel syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla syrup or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Ice
• Whipped cream (optional)

Simply fill a glass with ice, pour in the coffee, milk, caramel, and vanilla, then stir well. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel if you’re feeling a little fancy. It tastes like a coffee shop treat without the coffee shop price!

Well, I’d better get ready for work. I hope you have a wonderful Thursday! Stay hydrated, try to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day if you can, and remember that even the smallest step toward your goals is still progress.

Thank you so much for stopping by and spending a little part of your morning with me. I always appreciate your visits.

Cheers,

Karen❤️

Not a normal Tuesday

A Different Kind of Day

Some days just feel different from the moment you walk in the door.

This morning when I got to work, Sherry let us know we would be moving cubicles a day early. That meant no easing into it — it was time to pack up immediately. I logged into my computer, handled what I needed to, and then started going through everything in my space.

And let me just say… it looked like I had moved in permanently.

I had things tucked into every corner — papers, random notes, office supplies, and of course, my Legos. So. Many. Legos.

I carefully packed up all the sets I’ve put together so I can safely get them home and onto shelves. I was honestly surprised at how many I had sitting on my desk and shelf. If you know me at all, you already know this isn’t the end of the Lego collection. I’ll absolutely be looking for another set soon to build between calls. There’s just something so calming about snapping those tiny pieces together while my headset rests for a minute. It’s my little pocket of peace during a busy call center day.

I took off work at 1:00 PM. Originally Luther had a doctor’s appointment, but it was canceled, so my afternoon opened up a bit before my own 4:20 PM appointment with Dr. Angie — my three-month follow-up for lab work. I also planned to address something that’s been bothering me: my face turning red unexpectedly.

Before heading back home, I drove out to Grandpa Kendall’s to pick up money for Aaron, then made my way back to Duncan, Oklahoma. I stopped at Walmart to pick up medicine for Mr. C., supplies to make my travel folder for my upcoming New York trip (which I’m getting more excited about by the day!), and — very importantly — a big tote for all my Legos.

It’s time to get them in one place. Not only will it keep everything organized, but it will also keep the grandchildren from getting into them. And let me tell you, stepping on a Lego is not an experience I ever want to relive. Those things are brutal on bare feet!

By the time I left Walmart, it was around 3:00 PM. Since I was already out, I went ahead and drove over to the doctor’s office and let them know I was early. They actually checked me in ahead of schedule, which felt like a small blessing in a full day.

Dr. Angie saw me fairly quickly. The lab results showed I need to work on my vitamin deficiency and my “bad” fats. So here we are again — refocusing on my diet and making some changes. She also wants me walking at least 8,000 steps a day.

Eight. Thousand. Steps.

Yikes.

It’s doable, but I’m going to have to be intentional about it. That means being more aware of how much I’m moving and finding little ways to build steps into my routine. Maybe pacing during phone calls at home, parking farther away, or even adding a short evening walk. It’s not impossible — it’s just going to take consistency.

On the way home, I stopped at Taco Tico and picked up dinner. I had a taco salad, and Mr. C. got a couple of soft tacos. After a day of running around, it felt nice not to cook.

We ended the evening visiting and watching the news. My heart has been heavy hearing about Nancy Guthrie being missing for ten days now. Savannah Guthrie has made several pleas for the return of her mother. I can’t imagine what that family is going through. It’s one of those stories that just sticks with you and makes you hold your loved ones a little tighter.

All in all, it was a full, different kind of day — part productive, part reflective, and a reminder that life is always moving. Sometimes we’re packing up cubicles. Sometimes we’re organizing Legos. Sometimes we’re making doctor plans and step goals.

And sometimes, we’re just grateful to end the day at home.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. 💛

Wednesday Ramblings

 

                                        Midweek Ramblings

It’s finally the middle of the week, and honestly, it’s been a pretty good one so far—even if it feels like it’s dragged its feet getting here.

Monday after work brought an unexpected errand: a trip to the laundromat. Our washing machine has officially stopped working, though thankfully the dryer is still hanging in there. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the Marlow laundromat since it’s been years since I’d been there, but I was pleasantly surprised. The place was clean, the washers and dryers all appeared to be in good working order, and everything just felt… well cared for.

Even better, when I pulled up, I spotted Cinda—a longtime friend from high school. We spent many hours together back then, and I shared so much time with her and her family through the years. It felt like one of those little gifts life hands you when you least expect it. We got to visit while our laundry washed, which made the time fly by. I was only there about 40 minutes since I didn’t need to dry anything. I know this will be my routine for a while until we can buy a new washer, hopefully sometime in March.

Work-wise, I’ve had a small but important change. I was moved back to a different aisle in the call center recently, and I’ve actually enjoyed it. I sit near Shelby and Madison, with Mindy and Desiree on the other side, so there’s been plenty of chatting between calls. But today, Sherry mentioned that she plans to move us around again in the next few weeks—and I’ll be heading back to my old aisle near Sam.

Odd as it may sound, I really do perform better there. I tend to absorb the emotions of the people around me, for better or worse. Shelby struggles with high anxiety and often talks out loud about things we simply can’t change, and I find that it affects my own mindset. So I’m actually looking forward to the move. I’ve already started cleaning out my file cabinet and clearing off my desk, and I may even switch up my desk décor once I relocate.

Supper tonight was an easy win—we grabbed takeout from the Chinese buffet and brought home all our favorites. There was plenty, which means leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch for both Luther and me. That’s always a bonus.

We’ve also been talking through weekend plans. Saturday, we’ll make sure to go see Lane for his birthday. Brooks’ birthday is the following day, though his party won’t be until next Sunday at Curiosity Avenue in Lawton. I’d really like to stop by before then—either Saturday evening or Sunday morning—with a small gift from Nana and Papa, just to let him know how loved he is.

There are only two workdays left this week, and I am ready for them to be over. It’s been busy—Monday especially, Tuesday not far behind—but today, Wednesday, was thankfully calmer.

I also realized I haven’t read on my Kindle in a couple of days, which is unusual for me. I think I need to download a book that really grabs my attention and pulls me back into reading mode.

Looking ahead to Sunday, grocery shopping is a must. We’re planning a trip to Crest in Norman, and I mentioned to Cherrie that it might be fun to stop by the Oklahoma Museum of Art since admission is free. She didn’t seem too interested, but I’m holding out hope I can talk her into it. I also suggested the Goodwill outlet—just something different, nothing too time-consuming. We’ll see how that goes.

For now, that’s about it. Just a midweek pause, reflecting on small changes, simple plans, and the comfort of knowing the weekend is getting closer.