Warm Fuzzy Slippers

Ready for SPRING!

2008-03-09T21:31:00.007-05:00

I'm done with winter! The cold air, the bulky clothes, the closed windows. Yuck! I'm ready for warm weather, birds singing, flowers blooming, riding in my car with the windows down! Bring it on!!!

I went on a walk today and found baby ducks, still in their eggs, waiting to hatch. :D These were my first nest eggs to ever see in person. It was so exciting! I think these pictures turned out great!

I'm also ready to jump in the refreshing waters of a swimming pool! Of course, I'm hoping that the Jazzercise will help with certain aspects of that spring activity. :)

While I was taking pictures of the pool, I stumbled (almost literally) upon another nest of eggs. :D They are SO cool!

Another part of spring I love are the flowers. I love when the flowers come up. Ours are beginning to pop up. We've got Jonquils and Irises. I can't wait to see them bloom!

Spring

Spring is life
Spring is hope
So is love and
happiness.
Spring renews.
Without spring,
life is forlorn.
Spring is nostalgia
after bitter storm.
Put spring in your heart

Archie Greenidge

What is your favorite part of spring?! :D

Jazzercise!

2008-02-28T22:37:00.004-06:00

I've started Jazzercise! Don't worry, there aren't ANY cheesy leotards or spandex here! No 80's music. Only fun, contemporary music to move to. It's so fun! This is my second week, and I find myself during the day looking forward to my jazz time. :D Crazy. I've been eating more salad *willingly!* and drinking more water too! You wanna know something else?! I've already lost 5 pounds and dropped a pant size!!! O_O I think with my super fast results, I am willing to keep it up!

So, if you're in need of a new routine, I highly suggest finding a Jazzercise location near you and giving it a shot!! :D

2008-02-27T21:49:00.002-06:00

Yeah, I know. It's been, like, forever. What can I say? I go through spurts.

So guess what?! I'm a teacher!!!! I have a new job working at the local Montessori school. I'm with the 0-6 month old infants for now. But in a couple of weeks, I will get my OWN class! I'll have 6-12 month olds!!! :D (Can you tell I'm excited?!) I have already fallen in love with all the babies I take care of. I'm glad though, that I'll get to have some of them again in my own room. I'm just so thrilled I can hardly stand it!

That's what's been going on with me. It's a full time, 8-5, REAL job! So, I've been a little busy getting used to my new schedule. (Like going to bed at 10.)

Speaking of going to bed early... that's my cue. Good night. And I really hope it's not so long before I write again!

Love to all.

Furniture Change

2008-02-06T00:20:00.000-06:00

I've been wanting to rearrange my living room for a while now. Well, my friend Elizabeth came over last week (or maybe it was the week before?) and offered her redecorating skills! YEA! I love the new set-up! Feels roomy and more open. :D After rearranging, I decided I needed to change the curtains too. This was going to be just a temporary fix, but I think I like them the way they are.

White Robin CD release

2008-02-06T00:08:00.000-06:00

This past Saturday, all of our hard work paid off! We've been practicing for MONTHS to help Robin with his CD release show. He recently came out with a solo album and had a party to release it to the public. It was so much fun! There was even a local group called Still on the Hill that performed during "intermission". It was great!

I was worn out afterwards, but I had such a great experience! :D I even got to sing a solo in the show! *hee hee*

Hair Style Update

2008-02-06T00:05:00.000-06:00

So, I've been playing with different styles for my new hair cut. And I REALLY like this one! :D

"Hair" today, Gone tomorrow!

2008-02-01T18:40:00.000-06:00

I know, the title's cheesy. Thank my Dad for my love of the cheese!

So... I got my hair cut!!!! This is the shortest I've ever had it, and I love it! I've already found some things I'd like to change about the cut, but I think it's SO cute!!! I feel very sassy! I can't wait to see everyone's reaction. :D

SNOW... finally!

2008-02-01T18:36:00.000-06:00

We FINALLY got some snow this year! It wasn't near the amount we got last year, but at least it closed the schools down for a couple of days. *Moms, aren't you glad?!* I always love the snow. It reminds me of pure beauty. Freshness. And God's love.

Beautiful Sunset

2008-02-01T18:33:00.000-06:00

I guess this time of year produces beautiful sunsets, because here is another one! Gorgeous! I took this picture about an hour ago.

Times are changin'

2008-01-29T21:53:00.000-06:00

I thought it was time for an updated look! I hope you all enjoy the new colors!!!

His mercies are new every morning

2008-01-29T21:14:00.000-06:00

I saw this beautiful sunrise a couple of days ago. I love sunrises. *I like to go back to sleep after I watch them, but I DO love them!* Notice the sun rays and the shape they take on! :D Also, remember I don't change the colors at all! Isn't it gorgeous?!

That feels good!

2008-01-26T17:15:00.000-06:00

So last night, Delia and I decided to have a girl's night. And what else would we do but get our ears pierced?!! That's right, folks! We got our second earring holes!! :D It was so much fun! We had been talking about getting our ears pierced for a while now, and so it was great to finally get it done. We both chose sparkly studs; hers are round and mine are square. And we both love them! Yea! And no, it didn't hurt. I actually wanted to do it again after it was all over! Maybe I'll wait till these heal up first...

Ozzy

2008-01-25T09:15:00.000-06:00

I'd like for you all to meet Ozzy. He belongs to my friend Chere'. She picked up this little guy about 3 weeks ago, and he has just snuggled his way into our hearts! He is SO cute and playful, but also enjoys cuddling after all that play. I can't wait to see how his personality develops in the next few months.

Oh, and I'm his godmother! :D

Sunset

2008-01-23T22:45:00.000-06:00

I took these pictures almost two weeks ago, but I just had to share them. These photos are NOT edited in any way. The sunset really was this color! It was amazing! I knew you all would enjoy seeing these pics.

Doctor anyone?!

2008-01-23T22:34:00.000-06:00

My heart just melted when I saw this picture my sister took! It is of my adorable niece. She and her big sister were playing doctor. Isn't she the cutest?!!

Shogun's

2008-01-12T23:18:00.000-06:00

Some of our friends, Jeremy and Eliza treated us to dinner at Shogun's! I couldn't believe it! I had never been, so I was like a little kid watching all the action. Our town just built a new one on top of a little hill that overlooks the city. It's really upscale and posh. Everyone should experience this fun dining at least once! The food was really good, too!

Christmas 2007

2008-01-12T22:46:00.000-06:00

Last year at Christmastime, I was sick! But this year, I managed to escape the fever induced ailments. We had a crazy busy day packed full of events. We started out the day by sleeping in. Oh heaven! Then, we began our gift exchange by opening our stockings! This was the first year Delia had ever had a stocking... EVER! So it was especially exciting for her. After the stockings were opened, we moved on to the presents under the tree. Delia got me the boxed set of "Anne of Green Gables"! I've been wanting that for a while, and she actually got it! Daniel's present was the one we were all looking forward to! He got a 32'' widescreen LCD flat panel TV! Let me just tell you that we have all benefited from his long-awaited present. It's absolutely fantastic!

After all the presents were opened, Delia made us breakfast. Complete with eggs, sausage, and this amazing cinnamon croissant thing. Ooo! Yummy!

After breakfast, we went to our friends' family Christmas lunch. Lots of food! They have been great letting us in on their family holiday celebrations! Of course all the kids run around playing after their tummies are filled. One of the kids that actually attends our church was so funny. He put on shoes to go outside and got one of his, and one of his sisters. :D It was so cute!

For dinner, we went to our Pastor's house to eat dinner. I made Mom's sweet potatoes, and they were the biggest hit! *Ness, I still need to get you that recipe!* Then we stayed till LATE playing games. It was SO much fun! I actually won Phase 10! Which is pretty amazing considering I was stuck on phase 3 for about an hour!

My Dad and Lynn came to visit later in the week. That was possibly the best gift I could have gotten. I had been missing my dad so much, and it was great to spend a little time with them. :D

All in all, it was a pretty great holiday! Although, I did end up getting strep throat for New Year's! But I'm better now!

MIA

2008-01-12T22:26:00.000-06:00

Hello. My name is Amber. And I have a blog. Really, I do....

Seriously! I can't believe it's been SO long since my last post. This is starting to feel like my journal... There's tons to update, so bear with me as I try to catch you all up on the last few weeks of my life.

!!!!!!!!

2007-12-20T23:11:00.000-06:00

I sold my first photo today! Okay, I actually sold my first photo a couple of months ago. But it was to family and friends. But TODAY, I sold a piece to someone I've never met. They have my work in their home. I don't know who it is, but a part of me is with them.

It's hard to let go of something so important to you. Something that you created from your innermost being. But you know what? It's so cool at the same time! Someone enjoyed my work enough to BUY it!

Wow.

Penny

2007-12-11T11:19:00.000-06:00

Okay, my friend Penny just started a blog! *You go, girl!* So, to all my buddies, go check out her page and leave her some love!

Here's the link.

Limo Fun!

2007-12-08T23:53:00.000-06:00

This past Thursday, the ladies went out for some shopping! Dark Star (my work!) put on a "Progressive Shopping party with Limo service"! It was such a blast! It was the first time for several of the ladies to ride in a limo, so that was extra special! We started at Dark Star, hopped in the limo, and went to about 3 other stores. There were snacks at each stop, and everything was beautiful. We spent the longest time in the bookstore... I guess you all know our weakness now! :) After we were finished shopping, we went to dinner at Common Grounds. It was really nice to relax with these ladies and spend some time together. We had good conversations and good food. What more could you ask for?! *OK, that maybe PENNY was there!*

Long awaited pictures!

2007-12-08T23:30:00.001-06:00

So this first paying gig.... it was a wedding! The wedding was in Eureka Springs, which is about an hour from here. This was a good test for our CD release show coming up in a couple of months. (It's been pushed back a couple of times, so it's now the first weekend in Feb.) We've been working really hard on this show... and this wedding was so much fun! STRESSFUL, but FUN! So here are just a few pictures from the event! Enjoy!

You HAVE to see this!

2007-12-07T10:46:00.000-06:00

Snuggle in, cause this video is about 9 minutes long. This is hilarious, frustrating, and very sad.

And we're back...

2007-12-01T22:16:00.000-06:00

...and I'm EXHAUSTED!

And we're off...

2007-12-01T09:35:00.000-06:00

to play our first paying gig!!!!

Pictures to come!

Girls that Rock!

2007-11-25T22:57:00.000-06:00

A BIG shout out to my big sister for nominating me to be a "Rockin' Girl Blogger"! She gave me this awesome pink button for my page! :)

If you click on the button, it should take you to the original post that explains who a "Rockin' Girl Blogger" is. Here are MY nominations for awesome girls that ROCK the blogosphere...

My sis, Melinda: Sisters are meant forever. I love you!
Vanessa: Your authenticity and wit amaze me! You are a valued and cherished friend.
Candissimo: Love ya, girl! You are such a strong woman. I love singing with you, too!
Leslie: You are an amazing addition to the team! I'm excited to continue our friendship for years to come.

Up Close and Personal

2007-11-21T09:05:00.000-06:00

So a few weeks ago, we got to go to a Chris Tomlin concert! It was very last minute, but SO worth it. We got tickets for the front section they named the "Praise Pit". The section was real close to the stage, but we were told it was standing only. No seats the whole time. Well I was okay with that! I stand all day at work, so what's a few hours at a music concert? When we got there, we were some of the first people to the pit. So we got our spots right by the stage! We were right in front of the lead guitarist, and D could reach out and touch his guitar pedals! It was an awesome night! It was like, one big worship service. Lead by Chris Tomlin himself. Awesome! Anyway, so here are a few pictures from the night. Keep in mind they are NOT zoomed in at all! We really were that close! :D Oh, and I've actually got video too, but I haven't had time to put that up yet. When I do though, I'll put it up here! :)

Here comes the Bride

2007-11-11T17:28:00.000-06:00

We got to eat dinner with Jason and Penny on Thursday! It was GREAT to see them and to catch up on how they are doing. *Penny, I miss you!*

Last weekend, my Dad got married. He married a wonderful lady by the name of Lynn. They had the wedding in Nashville, and so we made the long journey there. D had to use some vacation days just so we could make it there in plenty of time. We left here on Thursday and stopped in Memphis for the night. It was a good break, and an added bonus to get to visit with D's Grandmother. *I got bored on the trip, so that's the reason for the odd pic of me!* **Yeah, I know... like, which one, right?!** Anyway, thought I'd post a few pics from the weekend.

I got to help put together the centerpieces for the family dinner the night before the wedding. Becca helped too by putting the candles in the right places! I think they turned out great!!

This (the chocolate one) was the best cake I've ever had!! Yummy!!!

At the wedding, Dad and Lynn had a table with the story of how they met. Their relationship is so sweet and tender. They had a rock with different words on them (such as love, hope, grace, joy) for everyone to take home.

Walking down the aisle together to the song, "Somewhere Out There". The band was really good!

Walking as husband and wife!

These are two of Lynn's three boys... Mark and Jeremy. And Lynn's mother, too.

The day after the wedding, we got to eat lunch with a friend of ours from Nashville. It was great to get to see Kyle again! He's been considering going to New Zealand with us for a while now. Keep him in your prayers as he continues to discover His path.

On the way home, we stopped in Memphis again. We got to eat lunch with D's Mom. It was a pleasant visit, even though it was short.

Pumpkin Carving Night

2007-11-06T09:59:00.000-06:00

Delia had never carved a pumpkin before!!! So we decided to carve some this year. Here are pics from the evening. I think Delia did pretty great for a first timer!

A night of photography, with pictures

2007-10-30T10:13:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures from last weekend. I need to get more from the Kemps and from Delia, but I hope these will suffice for now. :D

My sister and nieces arrived on Saturday about 9:30, so we decided to go to a local bakery for donuts! Yummy! Then we went to the Farmer's Market, and the girls got a chance to walk around and see all the plants, veggies, flowers, and dogs. There were also local musicians there, too. The girls really like them, too. :)

When we got back to the house, the Kemps were there! They brought their Wii, and everyone had fun playing with that. Before too long, it was time to go to dinner!! There were a lot of people there! I was surprised by how many showed up. Daniel's family was there, my family was there, friends from church were there, and our teammates were there too. It was so much fun!

The next day, Daniel's family and my family went to eat at Applebee's after church. Gracie would dip a tortilla chip into sour cream and eat it. Her face was HILARIOUS! And these pictures don't do it justice, but they are cute anyway. :)

A night of photography

2007-10-21T16:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my photography exhibit! It was so much fun! There were tons of people there to help me celebrate this event. It was great! But I'm exhausted!!!!! So, after I rest, and upload pics from the weekend, then I'll post again. But for now, I'm going to sleep for about 3 days....

Till then...

Bikes, Blues, and BBQ 2007

2007-10-12T22:56:00.000-05:00

We just celebrated Bike, Blues, and BBQ this past weekend! Boy, there sure are tons of bikes that come from all over the US! This year at work, we decided to "dress up" like biker chicks. :D So I got some temporary tattoos and put em on. Dressed in black. Black eyeliner. I was set! On Friday, we decided to go down to Dickson Street and see all the bikes. Tons and tons of people were lined along the streets. Vendors filled the parking lots. And music floated through the air. We met D's family there again this year. They are always fun to be around! We had such a great time! We got to see a zydeco band that was awesome! My favorite part was the guy playing the washboard. :) Hope you enjoy the pics from the evening!

Gator Golf

2007-10-12T22:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been away for a while. It's been crazy busy lately.

Last weekend, we took Delia miniature golfing. She had NEVER been before! We had a lot of fun. And Delia looked like a pro out there!

Finally

2007-10-09T15:13:00.000-05:00

It is finished.

My "babies", or pictures, are finally up on the walls. They are temporarily being housed at Common Grounds, and from there who knows? Hopefully they will go to a new home and bring other people joy. They will be seen by many. I've already sold 4. And I've already gotten many compliments on them. I can not wait to show my friends and family! TWO WEEKS! :D

Old Cemetery

2007-09-27T21:49:00.000-05:00

So today, I was feeling very creative and wanted to go out and take some photos. Since I had the day off from work, that worked out great! The first place I went to was this old, old cemetery. Which was great because there was a HEAVY fog this morning! Most of the dates I saw were from the 1800's. There were several graves, though, that had the dates worn off. So there's no telling how long they've been there!

*NESS, I'll have to tell you where this one is... it's SO cool and I know you'd really enjoy it!

I hope you all enjoy these photos!

I'm Superman! (or woman)

2007-09-23T17:47:00.000-05:00

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman		70%
Wonder Woman		53%
Spider-Man		50%
Robin		45%
Green Lantern		45%
Supergirl		43%
The Flash		40%
Iron Man		35%
Catwoman		30%
Hulk		25%
Batman		25%

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...

Vintage turns 1!

2007-09-22T22:39:00.000-05:00

Our church turned 1 year old two weeks ago! And boy did we party! After service, we set up tables and had an old fashioned potluck. YUMMY! The kids had fun stuff to keep them occupied, which was great. We had party hats, and of course, birthday cake. It was the biggest birthday cake ever! And delicious, too! After we ate, we had a special mini service where we shared what Vintage has meant to us in the past year. I'm looking forward to the next year! Can't wait to see what this year will bring.

A new kind of photo shoot

2007-09-22T22:16:00.000-05:00

So the other day, I'm off of work. I had planned on using the time to catch up on some picture taking for the big show. But first I wanted to drop off some recycling at work. When I got there, Echo (another employee) was there finishing up some jewelry. She was all dressed up because she had just come from a "photo shoot" with her friends. They needed pictures of hair, makeup, and jewelry. But Echo wasn't happy with the pictures taken of her. Here's where I come in! She asked if I could take a few shots with her camera. I told her I could do better than that... I had my camera in my car! So off we went on a spur of the moment photo shoot. It was really fun! I think I might want to start doing modeling shots more. Anyway, I hope you enjoy these few pics from the session! :D

Rappin' about my hometown

2007-09-16T22:34:00.000-05:00

Found this video on youtube. It's about the town I grew up in. For those of you who are familiar with it, you'll find this hilarious! For those of you who aren't, it may not be as funny but you'll at least see some of the ol' sights. Enjoy!

Delia!

2007-09-16T13:27:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, we are on a team going to New Zealand. Well, to help one of our team mates get there sooner, we invited her to live with us to save on money. So on Wednesday, we picked her up at the Tulsa airport and brought her home to live with us. Meet Delia! She is a fun, passionate young woman who is a blast to be around! (Right, book club girls?!) ;)

If you'd like to learn more about her vision for New Zealand, or would like to contribute to the cause, just let me know!

Mark it down!

2007-09-13T20:30:00.000-05:00

October 20th!! We're gonna have a party, then go see my exhibit of photography! More details to come!

Bad to the Bone

2007-09-04T09:57:00.000-05:00

So last night, we went over to Aaron and Jaye T's house. A's got a motorcycle, and I needed some good shots for my upcoming show! After dinner and picture taking, A asked if I wanted a ride. Umm.... YEAH! I had never ridden on a bike before, so I was pumped! Unfortunately, my camera ran out of battery, so we didn't get any pics of me ON the bike, but I can assure you it was so much FUN! I told A I wanted a ride up and down Dickson during Bikes Blues and BBQ! And there will be tons of pics for that!! :)

Lunar Eclipse

2007-08-29T16:28:00.000-05:00

When Daniel told me about the upcoming lunar eclipse, I was so excited! I was really looking forward to seeing this amazing event! So, we did our research and figured out when we would need to be awake to watch the eclipse. D even did some research for me on photographing eclipses. So we were armed. We went to bed early Monday night. Set the alarm for 3:15 am. Got up, dressed, and out the door we went. We headed east and found a really good spot. Set up the tripod, and started taking pictures. It was so cool! I kept changing the settings so I could get different effects of the moon. We got home at 5:45 and went right back to bed!

Thought you might want to see what came out.

Before you judge me and my photo-taking abilities, keep in mind that this was my first attempt at catching a lunar eclipse. And I didn't take into account that there would be dew from the early morning. So all my pictures are blurry from the dew buildup. :( I was actually pretty disappointed. But, you live and you learn. At least I'll know what to do for next time! Just try to look past the blur!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom

2007-08-23T11:04:00.000-05:00

My mom would have been 55 today. We probably would have gone to the salon to pamper her. She loved being pampered. Getting manicures and pedicures were on the top of her list.

I sure do miss her.

Too many options

2007-08-21T17:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had to go to the grocery store. Yuck. I had my list, so I was prepared. It wasn't going to take me 4 hours just to get a few basics. I usually start with non-perishables first. So I go get toothpaste, shampoo, deo, etc., and start to head on over to the food. I know I need to get tissues. So I start there.

I'm standing in the tissue aisle for over 20 minutes. Why? Because there's like, 200 options to choose from. Name brand, generic. 1 ply, 2 ply, 3 ply. Lotion, no lotion. Not to mention, now there's like, 200 different designs. So I have to decide between economical and boring, or cute and sassy. But even then, I gotta find the right one that matches my decor at home. So I'm not only trying to find the best option budget-wise, but now I've got to decide if that color or design will look good in my living room/bedroom/kitchen/bathroom. Ugh.

So I'm interested to know what eats up YOUR time at the supermarket?

I think I need to go yard saling.

2007-08-16T09:27:00.000-05:00

So this morning, I take Daniel to work like every other day. I've dropped him off, and now headed back home. I pass by this building right next to D's, and there's tons of people in the parking lot. They're all spread out with tons of clothes and such set out.

My first thought: "Wow! It's a huge combined yard sale!" So I slow down, trying to see what's out, cause I might want to stop.

My second thought: "But it's a Thursday. Don't the big yard sales usually wait till the weekend?"

Realization: This isn't a sale. It's freshmen, with their parents, getting all their dorm stuff ready to take inside to their dorm.

Oops. *Blush*

Angel Pennies

2007-08-03T01:05:00.000-05:00

I found a penny tonight. In my dishwasher.

Thanks, Mom.

Your friendly neighborhood spi... skink

2007-08-02T23:41:00.001-05:00

We've got some skinks. They're super fast! I've been having a hard time getting any pics of them. But I finally managed to!!! Enjoy these! *Also using my new lens!!* :D

Our "little" ducklings

2007-08-02T23:36:00.000-05:00

So... the baby ducks that were born this year are getting SO big! They still travel all together, and they're starting to be comfortable around people. They even eat the food our neighbor leaves out in her yard. Pretty soon, I won't be able to tell which ones are the "babies" anymore!

ps. This pic was taken with my new lens! :)

Eureka!

2007-07-30T21:06:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, D and I went to a little town outside of Eureka Springs to help a couple from our team move into their new place. We left a little early so that we could do a little sightseeing in Eureka before unloading their U-Haul. We went to Christ of the Ozarks first. It's this huge statue of Jesus that overlooks the beautiful Ozarks. It's a little creepy, but still neat to say you've seen it.

Outside of the entrance, there was an actual piece of the Berlin Wall. D knows what it says, so I'll have him remind me later.

For lunch, we stopped at this cute little sandwich shop. They had decorated everything in red, white, and black, and Coca-Cola. It was so cute! They had "old fashioned" ice cream and everything! Great lunch!

After lunch, we were off to help unload the U-Haul! Jeremy and Eliza, we're so glad that you're closer to us!

Happy Birthday to me

2007-07-29T17:17:00.000-05:00

I've had the most wonderful birthday this year! I got the day off of work, which was a great start. I had a relaxing morning, with nothing to do. I was so lazy; it was great! Then in the afternoon, I went over to my friend Katie's house and worked on my scrapbook. I finished two 2-page layouts, which was a wonderful accomplishment! :) Then we went to my favorite pizza place to eat dinner. It was Daniel and I, Daniel and Amanda, Laura Jean, Josh and Katie, and Scott. We had a blast laughing and eating. Yum! Later that night, Daniel and I and Scott all went to see Harry Potter. I really enjoyed it!

The next day at work, my boss surprised me with a miniature cake and a gift certificate. So I spent the whole day "shopping". :) Then, on Friday, our small group from church got together for a cook out. They all surprised me by bringing cards and birthday cake! They're the best!

*I want to give a special shout-out to my hubby. He's been great with the birthday thing this year! He got me the new cd from Barlow Girl, with an autographed copy of the album cover!! He also got me a new dress! He also made the most amazing ice cream cake ever! He's the best hubby!*

So, a new wallet, dress, and CD, lots of money from family, 4 birthday cakes, and many cards later, I'm a wonderfully content lady! Thanks to all who helped make it that way! :D

You asked for it!

2007-07-22T15:11:00.000-05:00

So I thought I'd post some pics taken while using my new lens. They're not the best ones cause I need to save something for my show coming up in October! But at least you'll get an idea of what it can do!! I'm so excited to have it! :D

The first one is of the hermit crab we've been pet-sitting. His name is Hermes. Isn't he cute?!! This picture was taken from across the room!

Next is of a butterfly on the rain gutter. Can you see the rain drops, and the nails in the wood? That gives you just a bit of perspective.

And last is of me. D thought he'd try his hand at photography! Wish he had a better subject to shoot, though! ;) Maybe next time!!

I have the BEST Dad in the whole world!

2007-07-17T22:57:00.000-05:00

I love you, Daddy.

New Toy

2007-07-12T16:32:00.000-05:00

I took photos for a friend in May. After meeting with her to show her the pictures, I was ecstatic to find a check for way more than I charged her in my purse. *Thanks, Mica!!* Guess what? It was enough to purchase a new addition to my photography equipment!

Yesterday, it came in the mail. My new lens. Ahh. It's SO beautiful! It's a telephoto lens that allows me to see so much from far away. I can't wait to go play and take some photos! Here's a link to the kind I got:

http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=2161

So what do you think?!

2007-07-07T19:56:00.000-05:00

Your Blogging Type Is the Private Performer

Your blog is your stage - with your visitors your adoring fans.
At least, that's how you write with your witty one liners.
And while you like attention, you value your privacy.
You're likely to have an anonymous blog - or turn off comments.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

...And the rocket's red glare...

2007-07-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

Ahh. July the 4th. It's such a great day, right? Relaxing, grilling, family, and of course FIREWORKS! Usually, we go to the local community display of fireworks that play that cheesy music that we all love. But this year was different.

Daniel's family have introduced us to the annual "Fireworks War". Yes. You read right. A fireworks war! Imagine... saving your hard earned money all year so you can spend it on fireworks. Imagine 2,000 dollars worth of fireworks. Imagine that's wholesale pricing. That's a lot of fireworks. Imagine building a fort. And canons. Huge face shields that the Chicago police use. Lots of body protection. And of course, a fire extinguisher.

A bell rings, and suddenly there are fireworks being shot from both sides. The Mongoose and the Cobras fighting each other. Some of them have put hundreds of fireworks in big buckets and have lit them all... now THAT is quite a sight! Let me just post some pictures. Cause they're a LOT better than my words!! Keep in mind that these pictures are from the first half only. During the second half, there were some pretty awesome sights as well! But I didn't get any shots. Be sure and click on this post's title. There's a link to the official "Fireworks War" website. Bo is D's cousin. They've got tons of pics and even some video of previous wars!

Cobras Fort. Do you see the canon?

Mongoose Fort. GO MONGOOSE!!! (or is it "monGEESE"?)

The small stash at Mongoose. Those tubs are FULL of fireworks! They even had a "secret" stash, probably about the same size! And of course the fire extinguisher. Safety first!

Transform Your Life

2007-07-01T15:14:00.000-05:00

We're doing a new series at our church about transforming our lives. Here is a little video to help promote the new series. If any of you are in the area, you should come by and check it out! Today's lesson was great!

Mimicking Caleb

2007-06-24T21:36:00.000-05:00

This will only make sense to my New Zealand teammates. But it's hilarious for those that will get it!!! Love you guys!

Drum Circle

2007-06-24T21:12:00.000-05:00

This is a drum circle that meets at a local park. They are so much fun to watch! Sorry the sound isn't the greatest... I was trying to be sneaky and unnoticed.

Spring Ducklings

2007-06-24T18:01:00.000-05:00

Yep. I know. It's actually summer. But I needed a quick idea for a post, and I knew I hadn't shown you pictures of our ducklings. As many of you know, our apartment complex has a family of ducks that hang out all year. This was our first spring here, and we saw two sets of ducklings. Here is a picture of one little family of ducklings. They were so small and cute! I just wanted to cuddle them all. But as you may be able to tell, Momma Duck wasn't having any of that! She was very protective! As she should be. But I did manage to snap a pic of them.

Okay, okay. I give in.

2007-06-11T18:25:00.000-05:00

After many of you expressed interest in knowing 100 random things about me, I decided to go ahead and waste my time and come up with 100 random things. So here you go. You crazy people. I hope you all enjoy these weird, random facts about moi. Feel free to add to the list! I'm interested to know what you guys know about me!

100 Random Things about me:

1. I have naturally curly hair
2. I love plants, and have recently learned a little about gardening
3. I love looking at the night sky… stars and planets ☺
4. All of my furniture is handed down from someone else
5. I can watch the same movie over and over again
6. I can watch movies all day long
7. I love candles
8. I love incense
9. I love to cook when I have the time
10. I love to wrap myself up in warm towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. I love taking pictures
12. I don’t have hardly any of my own pictures hanging in my house.
13. I can change the way my handwriting looks just by changing the pen I’m using
14. I love to play the piano
15. I’m learning to play the guitar, and loving it!
16. I’m usually afraid of dogs, but recently have loved all I’ve met.
17. When I was little, my cousins and I did a concert for our family singing to “Barbie, and the Rockers”!
18. We also did that to “Jem”
19. My Grandma wouldn’t let me watch the Disney show “Kids Incorporated” because they danced.
20. I think about my Mom every single day, and miss her more each time I do.
21. I like a variety of styles of music.
22. I don’t like to sew. I can, but I don’t LIKE to
23. I love to scrapbook, but haven’t ever made myself one. I’ve always made scrapbooks for other people.
24. I have this weird fascination with pregnancy and babies
25. I’m worried that might change once I actually have a baby.
26. I want to become a doula, or labor coach.
27. I love going to yard sales.
28. The only thing I’ve ever stolen was a single song on a cassette tape. I’ve still got it somewhere. Sometimes I want to take it back.
29. I love to play board games and card games.
30. I love to laugh.
31. I use to laugh like a donkey when I was in elementary school.
32. I’ve been to New Zealand twice.
33. I plan to move to New Zealand to live.
34. I was a cheerleader in high school.
35. Our skirts could not be any shorter than 2 inches above the knee.
36. We would roll the waist of our skirts to make them shorter.
37. I went to a private school.
38. I once stapled my thumbs together.
39. I’d rather take a shower than a bath.
40. I love getting a massage.
41. I love rosemary.
42. I’ve flown in a Powered Parachute plane, thing.
43. I love watching the ocean, but not too fond of getting in it.
44. I have a tattoo.
45. I want another tattoo.
46. I love going to yard sales.
47. I love listening to the “oldies” station. It reminds me of my dad.
48. I’ve pet a dolphin, one of my favorite animals in the world.
49. I’ve been to Hawaii.
50. I LOVE pineapple!
51. I am a meat lover… I could never be a vegetarian.
52. I can go to sleep anywhere, anytime.
53. I love staying in hotels.
54. I once wanted to own a bed and breakfast.
55. I like light. Meaning: I’d rather have all the lights on in the house than to have little, or none.
56. I like to sleep with a fan blowing on me.
57. I wear contacts.
58. I have a long list of books I need to read.
59. Sometimes, I will have two or more books going at the same time.
60. I’m learning how to make jewelry, and loving it!
61. I love vintage clothes.
62. I’ve never been stung by a bee. (knock on wood)
63. I’m not really superstitious.
64. I think it would be fun to go on a cruise, but I’m scared of getting seasick.
65. I remember watching the ORIGINAL Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Bright, Smurfs, and My Little Pony.
66. Aqua/teal/turquoise is my favorite color.
67. I love my mother’s china. It’s very vintage, and me.
68. My husband’s grandfather (whom I never met) used to make paintings for the Holiday Inn Hotel chain.
69. I’ve been swimming in the Atlantic ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Michigan, and the Pacific ocean.
70. I’m a pro at “Burnout Revenge” on the X-box. It’s a car racing game!
71. My very first job was at the local Pizza Inn.
72. I’ve seen the movies “10 Things I Hate About You”, “50 First Dates”, and “Anne of Green Gables” so many times I can quote them all almost word for word.
73. I LOVE getting popcorn when I go to the movie theater. Extra butter, please.
74. I’d rather have vanilla ice cream than chocolate.
75. I don’t like pudding or yogurt, unless it’s mixed in with other food.
76. I don’t like coffee, or tea. Hot chocolate for me.
77. I’m moving to a country that drinks tea all day.
78. Thankfully, they also have hot chocolate, or milo.
79. I’ve never seen myself growing old.
80. I love rocking chairs and recliners.
81. I never watched “Friends” growing up, but am loving it now!
82. I love live music shows.
83. I’ve had a broken pinky finger.
84. I can’t hold my breath under water while swimming.
85. I used to have seizures when I was little.
86. I know how to give CPR to babies and little kids.
87. I get sunburned really easy.
88. I used to get so sunburned I would get blisters.
89. I haven’t flown a kite in years.
90. I’ve experienced a completely motionless New York City subway platform. While waiting on the subway, the chorus group I was with started singing one of our most beautiful songs about Jesus. Everyone in the vicinity was quiet and just watching us. Slowly, as soon as the song was over, everyone started going on their merry little way, just as if nothing ever happened.
91. I have my nose pierced, and love it.
92. I love pens. I can’t help it.
93. When I go to sleep, I have to turn on my side, facing the outside of the bed. I can’t go to sleep otherwise.
94. I always prepare myself to do my pilates or yoga on my days off, but then find other stuff to do instead.
95. I love sunsets.
96. I love sunrises, but hardly ever see them.
97. My husband says I’m addicted to chap stick. He thinks I have a serious problem with it. I don’t have a problem. I just like for my lips to not be chapped and dry.
98. I always put water on my toothbrush… before AND after I put the toothpaste on it.
99. I’m a procrastinator.
100.

Facebook

2007-06-04T10:41:00.000-05:00

This is hilarious!

Last of our trip

2007-06-03T20:22:00.001-05:00

So when we left Memphis, we decided we would call some friends of ours and meet for dinner. We hadn't seen Nate and Tina since last year, and were really excited about getting to see them again! Especially since they have had a baby, and we hadn't met him yet. We met at Colton's and ate dinner and talked for a good while. I got to sit by Zeke, which was great for picture takin! Isn't he SO CUTE!?!

I also forgot to post this picture from when we were in Nashville. The house across from Lynn's house dates back to the Civil war. It was used as a hospital. The "shed" in the back is one of the access points for the Underground Railroad. Apparently, the tunnel is still in tact. Pretty cool, I thought. But I thought the house was gorgeous, so I wanted you all to see it!

100th POST!

2007-06-03T20:18:00.000-05:00

Well, this is my one hundredth post. I was thinking I might revamp the way my blog looks, but I really like the way it looks. Then I thought I would tell you 100 random things about me... but I'm not really that interesting. Nor do I want to spend time trying to come up with 100 random things about me. So there's not really anything new going on here.

But I at least wanted to acknowledge the fact that it's my 100th post! Yea.

:)

From Nashville to Memphis

2007-05-27T22:09:00.000-05:00

After we finished visiting Dad and Lynn in Nashville, we decided to stop in Memphis to visit D's family. While we were there, we took D's mom out to dinner for an early Mother's Day. I had made her some jewelry that she LOVED! I was pretty proud, and she was so happy, too!

The next day, we went to Beale Street Music Festival, which is part of Memphis in May. We got to ride the trolly to the music festival, which was fun! It had been raining, so everything was covered in mud... not so fun. But later that night, we went with D's dad down Beale Street. We saw these guys doing crazy back flips and front flips. Took a little video of 'em. Overall, we had a great time hanging out with D's dad, which we don't do that often.

Happy Birthday, Sissy!

2007-05-25T22:50:00.001-05:00

Sissy,

I know you didn't want a birthday this year. Too many hard, bad memories. But I love you, and I think you still deserve to celebrate one of the best days in history. I'm glad you're my sister.

*in my best singing voice ever*
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy BIRTHDAY dear Sissy!
Happy Birthday to you!!
(and many more...)

Back to blogging

2007-05-23T12:01:00.001-05:00

Sorry I've been away for a while. I'm back now.

While we were in Nashville, we went to the Opryland Hotel. If you've never been there, it's quite an experience! They have maps just so you won't get lost! At night, they have this cool water show with lights and music. It is really neat to watch the water waltzing around. Here is a little video footage I took of it! Enjoy!

Another one for Mom

2007-05-13T17:46:00.000-05:00

Mom loved the group Il Divo! She thought they sounded great, and thought they looked pretty good, too! :) So this one's for her. This picture was taken on Mother's Day two years ago.

For Momma

2007-05-13T08:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

We all miss you.

Parthenon

2007-05-10T20:59:00.000-05:00

In Nashville, they have a replica of the Parthenon. It is the same size as the original in Greece. Inside, they have a replicated Athena. She's huge! In ancient times, Athena was made out of real gold. The people of Greece worshiped her and thought she would protect them. This was an impressive sight indeed.

Nashville

2007-05-09T23:22:00.000-05:00

So D and I went to visit family this past weekend. The first place we went was a park. We saw these geese with their babies and thought they were so cute! They also had some pretty flowers and took the opportunity to take some pictures.

*More posts on our recent trip to follow. But I thought I'd give all of you out there who are "bored" something new to look at! (hee hee) ;)*

Worms

2007-04-18T12:04:00.000-05:00

I HATE them! Especially ones that are two feet long. Especially when it's raining and dark and I can't tell if I've accidentally squished one or not.

EEEWWWWW! gross. yuck! blech!

it gives me the willies just thinking about em.

On a similar, yet different, note... I saved a caterpillar. It was on my car window. At first, I started to just walk away. But then I got a leaf, let the little guy crawl up on it, and placed him in a wonderfully green bush. I expect to see a beautiful butterfly soon!

Update

2007-04-12T09:28:00.000-05:00

I GOT IT!!!! October - December, my photography is going to be exhibited in one of the largest rooms at this coffee house. :D I'm SO excited. I may even get to have a reception to launch the exhibit... but we'll have to wait and see on that! Now I'm gonna have to do a lot of photo takin!

:D

Common Grounds

2007-04-11T15:33:00.000-05:00

Okay, wish me luck! I'm off to a meeting with the lady that's in charge of putting up artwork at a local coffee shop. I hope she likes my photography enough to want to put it up!! I'll let you all know how it goes!

Peace, not war; part 2

2007-03-28T23:08:00.000-05:00

I know that I may have offended some people by my last post on "Peace, not war". And I'm sorry if you were offended. That was NOT my intention. The whole purpose of my blog is to share a little bit of my life with those that I love. To update my family and friends on my daily life. This is not a political blog, nor a place to debate subjects of this matter. I merely want to share my life.

I'm at a crossroads in my life right now. I'm surrounded by new thoughts and ideas. I'm encouraged to continue building on my skills, both musically and photographically. I've been challenged spiritually each week as we worship and learn about God's word. I've been exposed to a more natural way of living and am loving the organic lifestyle I keep encountering. I just want to share the newness of life with those I care about!

Sharing. Just sharing. That's all. I'm not trying to push my beliefs on anyone. And I hope for the same respect from all of you, too.

Day Trip

2007-03-25T19:10:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday was so beautiful here! The weather was gorgeous; not too hot, not too cold. We went sandal shopping for Daniel and met a guy from my home town. We talked for a long time with him! But he pointed us in the direction of Mt. Sequoyah. It's this great lookout point that looks over downtown Fayetteville. So we thought it we'd take a few snapshots.

We also decided to go to Wilson Park. It's this park in town that everyone has talked about. We keep hearing how beautiful it is. So we finally took the good weather as a good opportunity to get out and relax. When we first got there, we discovered a drum circle. So we went over to the area they were playing and just sat and watched them. It was great getting to hear the cool rhythms that all the different drums were making. I think they meet every Sunday afternoon, so we'll definitely be going back!

Peace, not war

2007-03-25T19:04:00.000-05:00

I went to my first peace rally last week. Wow! It was so fun. Although, it was probably more fun because of the friends that were there. I will definitely be doing this again in the future! I've never thought of myself as a political person, but recently I've really been getting interested in some political issues. Here's a few pics from the rally.

Date Night

2007-03-25T18:52:00.000-05:00

Daniel's Mom gave us a nice gift card for Christmas. I know, it's been a while since then, huh? We hadn't used it and kept saying we'd use it to go out on a date. Well, we finally did! Daniel had this special Italian place in mind that he wanted to take me to. Italian is my favorite, so I was up for it!! We traveled a few miles out of town to this little place. It was started by a real Italian, so we were excited about eating the yummy goodness. I got the lasagna, and Daniel got the spaghetti and meatballs. They brought out homemade wheat rolls with butter that were so delicious! Overall, the food was pretty good!

After dinner, we went to go see a movie. We decided on a late showing of "The 300". We had about an hour and a half to kill, so we went around the mall for a bit. We went to visit my old store. There was only ONE person there that I knew. And I didn't even work with her. She replaced me. So we didn't stay too long. Then we went to get a cookie, which was so yummy. We then went to the new Christian bookstore and bought a couple of new CDs. Then it was time for the movie. The movie had good effects, but seriously gory.

Overall, it was a great night!

Playing Catch Up

2007-03-25T18:40:00.000-05:00

So it's been a while since I last posted and I thought I'd catch everyone up. At least I'm going to do my best! So hold tight... there's a few posts on the way!! :)

"Spring Forward"

2007-03-10T23:50:00.000-06:00

I hate losing sleep.

But I love daylight in the evenings.

I better go to bed. Now.

Good night.

Our worship team

2007-02-26T17:28:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! Just wanted to share some pics of some important people in my life. Daniel and I have worship practice every week. We've been getting to know the team a little better every week, and this past week, we went out to a local pizzaria to eat. Some of our team changes every couple of weeks, but D and I, Jason, and Kevin (not pictured) pretty much stay the same. We're so glad to have Sara with us for a little while!

All that to say, here's some photos from our night out together! Oh! And we sat at a table right underneath this cool rendition of "The Last Supper". We thought it was pretty cool!

Hard working woman

2007-02-19T22:00:00.000-06:00

Here's what I've been learning to do at work. I'm so excited to be learning something new. I mean, this is way out there for me. I don't know hardly anything about making jewelry. But all that is about to change! These are two pics of some of the jewelry I've made. A bracelet and two pairs of earrings. Yea!!!

I know I'm going to look back at these one day and see all the flaws, but I think they're pretty good for my first go.

Snow, again

2007-02-14T00:34:00.000-06:00

So it's snowing again. I don't think it will snow as much as last time, but it's still cool. Thought I'd post a few pics from our big snowfall a couple of weeks ago.

Our ducks were "trapped" by the frozen pond.

Cool rabbit tracks!

Imogen Heap - cool new artist!

2007-02-01T08:56:00.001-06:00

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2007-01-31T16:36:00.000-06:00

These are a few of the sights we've seen today. The weathermen predicted snow... again. But until today, those predictions never came true. Today, however, it is snowing heavily! Okay, at least for Arkansas, it's snowing heavily. Ness, Sara... I know you guys are trying to muffle your giggles!! Anyway, it's cool, and I thought I'd post a couple pictures of it. One is of our car early on in the day. The other is of tracks from our resident ducks that live in our apartment complex. They are so cute, huddled together, waddling from one pond to the other! :)

Homecoming

2007-01-28T22:18:00.000-06:00

We went home this past weekend for a visit. Actually, we were helping Dad to continue cleaning out the house. We had to go through Mom's closet and my old room, etc. It was very difficult. Almost more difficult than when Mom first died. We found old pictures of us and her family. We found birthday and anniversary cards that she had kept from years long ago. She had kept projects that I had done in elementary school. One year we went to Disney World, and she had made us all matching bright yellow shirts with bears on them. She had kept those. Shoes, old newspapers, knitting projects, jewelry, pictures... The list goes on and on.

All this has made me think about what "home" really means. Is it the town you grew up in? Is it the people you grew up with? Is it friends? Family? A building? What is home? I found myself realizing that home has taken a different shape. It is no longer the things I thought it was. It is not a house, or a city even. "Home is where the heart is." And my heart is constantly unfulfilled with life here. I am looking forward to my final "HOME COMING"!

Louie

2007-01-28T22:08:00.000-06:00

This is Louie. He is the protector of all things.... well, at least at my new job! He belongs to my boss, Stacey. He is a Belgian German Shepherd. If you know me at all, you would know that big dogs and I don't usually get along. However, Louie and I hit it off well from day one. He's got nothin' but love for those who are good and true. He loves to be petted a lot. Sometimes, he'll come right up by me and want me to scratch his back. I like it when Louie is there. We all feel pretty safe with him guarding us. And Stacey says he loves to be up at the shop with her. So, it looks like me and Louie will have many more days together! :)

Dark Star Visual

2007-01-24T09:29:00.000-06:00

So I started my new job. It's going pretty good so far. Kinda slow, but hopefully things will pick up soon. I work at this place called Dark Star Visual (DSV for short) that was named after a Grateful Dead song. It is a bead shop/ hippy store. The hours are great! For January we're open 11-5. Starting Feb, we're going back to 10-6. Closed Sundays. So I get my evenings back with hubby, and don't have to miss church! Get this, the half of the store I'm currently working in has clothes, jewelry, incense, and other gift items. The other half of the store is full of beads. You can go and make your own jewelry, or pick out what you like and have someone make it for you. So cool. And guess what? My boss, Stacey, said she was going to start training me on the bead room. The girl who is there now will be leaving in May, so that would leave only Stacey to work the bead room. She might like to take a day off every once in a while, so she's going to start training me to make jewelry!! I'm so excited about that! Can't wait! Plus, she's starting to incorporate Precious Metal Clay art into the work... how fun!!

I've posted some pics of the store and two of the girls I work with. The one with the black wig was dressed up for a costume party. She normally has blond hair! And her name is Echo! She has hippy parents. The one with leg warmers on the OUTSIDE of her pants.... yeah, she's crazy! But she's leaving in a couple of weeks. Anyway, enjoy the pics. And if you're ever in the area, you'll have to come and see me!!

Cool Sky

2007-01-24T09:26:00.000-06:00

Just thought you all might enjoy this picture. I thought the sky looked pretty awesome!

2007-01-17T22:02:00.000-06:00

http://www.myheritage.com

Goodbye Vanity

2007-01-17T21:32:00.000-06:00

I'd like to say that I'm saying goodbye to my personal vanity, but alas, no. I'm saying goodbye to my former employer. Yea!! Not that I didn't enjoy it, but good heavens! I always worked nights and basically had no social life! So glad that's over. I'll have to post pics of my new place when I get some taken. You're in for a treat!! Till then, here's a few of the last outfits I put together and some of the cute little high school girls that I worked with.

Laziness

2007-01-16T15:36:00.000-06:00

Okay. OKAY! I know that I haven't posted in a while. I know! But here I am... posting. So you better enjoy it!! ;)

I was at the store buying some bread. And it's a pretty big bread section. I thought I'd browse the aisles when all of sudden I see this package. What is it, you say? Toast. TOAST! What the? Who buys bread that is already toasted?! Who is so lazy that they can't even put bread in a toaster?! I had to back up a moment and think to myself, "Self, you never know WHO might need bread that's already toasted. People without a toaster might need already toasted bread. People that don't know how to operate a toaster might need already browned warm bread." The only problem? It's not hot. Who eats toast that isn't hot? Who puts butter or jam on cold toast?!

Okay, well, some of you out there might actually buy this already toasted bread. I don't know. But I just thought it was interesting and just HAD to tell you all about it!

Christmas

2006-12-28T15:05:00.000-06:00

The week before Christmas, my Dad came up to visit. He wanted to bring up some things of Mom's. So my sister and her family came down to visit too! It was great having a little family Christmas get-together. It didn't last very long, but it was wonderful getting to see everyone again. Thanks for making that long drive, Sis, just for a couple of hours together. I love ya!

This year, I was sick on Christmas day. It all began the day before. I had to pull a double shift at work, and we ended up staying late trying to set up the store for after Christmas. I was really late to a Christmas party, and didn't feel very well. Didn't eat much, didn't talk much, was dizzy and started getting chills. I was sitting right by an open fire and still couldn't get warm. So we went home early. I had a fever of 101+... *sigh* I woke up the next morning and still had fever. Didn't make the big dinner I had planned. I was so upset! Oh well. We're going to make dinner tonight and invite our neighbor over. She's a single lady who didn't have any visitors for the holiday either. Hopefully I'll get it all done in time.

Work

2006-12-27T12:40:00.000-06:00

I've been getting better at putting outfits together at work. Recently, I've really enjoyed getting to try out new styles and I've been experimenting with creative ways to bring in the customer. So I thought I'd take a few pics of the ones I've really been proud of. Hope you all enjoy!!

Penquin Ed's

2006-12-27T10:46:00.000-06:00

Okay. This is the best BBQ place we've found here so far. I love it!! It's at one of those places that you have to wait for a table because they're so packed. When we finally did get a table, this is what we saw. *See sign* If any of you come and visit us and you want BBQ, then this is where we'll go! Yummy homemade goodness!

Morning

2006-12-11T11:55:00.000-06:00

I feel like I'm living in a wind tunnel.

Sleep, anyone?

2006-12-11T03:04:00.000-06:00

Well. The cleaning guy came. And now we've got four large, LOUD fans trying to dry out our apartment. Two in the laundry room and pantry. Two in my closet. I'm so naive. I thought it was going to be a quick thing. He comes in, does his cleaning magic, then goes home. Imagine my surprise when he said, "We'll be back every day to check on it. Don't turn the fans off. It may take 3 or 4 days to get completely dry."

Huh?! Oh boy.

When it rains, it pours...

2006-12-11T01:48:00.000-06:00

Apartment life... isn't it great?! The good news? I don't have to worry about paying for problems in my living space. The bad news? My upstairs neighbor's washing machine flooded.

It all began when Daniel and I were on the couch relaxing after a hard day's work. He had made me dinner, which by the way was delicious and extremely appreciated! We had just finished watching the season finale of "Jericho". We had just decided to go to bed cause Daniel has to work in the morning... like most everyone else. Then all of a sudden, we hear this strange noise like a little water fountain. You know, the kind like in a spa, or a doctor's office, or a little one that you can put in your home. So we listened for where this water was coming from. We haven't quite figured out all the noises in our new home, so we weren't quite sure what it was. We opened the laundry room, and wouldn't you know, there's the source. Although, it's not coming from us. There is this pvc pipe with water streaming down it. D thinks it might be made on purpose like that. Then it starts leaking from the door frame. I'm thinking this may not be what the construction plans had in mind.

So I call the landlords. They come over. However, by this time there's water now leaking (I mean a heavy waterfall) coming from the light fixture in my closet. Huh? Yep. You heard me right. From the LIGHT FIXTURE. D says, "DON'T TURN THE LIGHT ON!" And I'm in disbelief. So my clothes are getting wet. The floor is soaked. My camera equipment is in there, so I'm frantically pulling stuff out of the closet. Clothes, camera stuff, Mom's blankets, D's Christmas presents. Sigh. I was hoping those would be a surprise.

So now we're waiting on the cleaning people to get here so they can wet-vac our apartment. I'm SO TIRED. I just want to go to bed. At least I don't have to go in to work until later in the day. Poor D. He's got a long day ahead of him!

Update

2006-12-03T00:55:00.000-06:00

Okay friends. I know it's been quite a while since I last updated. I've been incredibly busy with work, then my dad came to visit. Let's see, where shall I begin?

Work. I officially stepped down as store manager. And we actually hired a new girl to be the store manager. But... she hasn't come in to do her paperwork. She hasn't called. I don't know what to think. So I'm still "acting" as store manager until we can get one in our store. Grrr. So I'll be a busy little girl during this wonderful holiday season pretending to know what I'm doing.

Thanksgiving. Because of work, we couldn't travel anywhere to see family. We were stuck here. But some friends of ours were having their family over, and they invited us. We had a good time. The food was yummy. The company was great. It was good. But it was still difficult not being with our own family. But it was neat seeing the families' traditions mix together. And I'll have wonderful memories of that time together. *Thanks, Amanda!*

Dad. This past week, he came to visit us. We had a great time.

Well, that's about it. OH! Except that we did get a little bit of snow! It started out as ice, which made the roads difficult to drive on. And we really didn't get that much snow. Probably only about 5 inches. But it was beautiful all the same. *Sigh*

Well, until next time. Maybe I'll post pics of our Christmas tree!

Pepper

2006-11-17T12:57:00.000-06:00

Here is our neighbor's dog Pepper. Isn't he SO cute?!! He's a happy little hyper dog. Can't remember the breed, but he's a rare type. Anyway. So cute!

Oh, and I'm not the store manager at Vanity anymore. I decided that I just don't need, or want, that much stress in my life right now. So I stepped back down to assistant. We're making an offer to a girl for store manager today... hopefully she'll accept and the stress will be taken away from me!!