Morningtime, Morning joggers and General Morning cheery-ness

I USED to be a morning person, and still consider myself so when I'm not burning the midnight oil...like.... all. the. time.

I think jogging is healthy, just not morning jogging. If morning joggers knew how tempting they looked to morning motorists, they would stay home and do sit-ups.

I have a "carpe diem" mug and, truthfully, at six in the morning the words do not make me want to seize the day. They make me want to slap a dead poet. ~Joanne Sherman

I actually have grown to enjoy running/ jogging. However, part of my despise in the morning is probably because I'm not the one out there doing it (in below freezing weather)! I see those of you who ARE, and even though I want to run you over so early in the morning, it is only because I admire your dedication!

Don't be a jerk..It's Christmas!

Things are busy and crazy and busy! I have a final exam literally the week before Christmas, making my final paper due at that time as well. Tis the season right?

So far so good.

I took pictures of the house all decorated for Christmas for you, but still need to upload! Also did another photo shoot today, I started editing and will post those soon! Will post soon enough; I SWEAR!

As you all know, I am a retail manager. People have a way of bringing out their true colors at Christmas, when I heard this; I HAD to post! Not only is it funny, but I love Lego's and Spongebob equally!
Anyhauser,
Enjoy. More will follow soon enough!

Please vote for my picture!

http://contest.shutterfly.com/contests/showentry/654613

Christmas Card Picture al la Jen

I usually pride myself on my personalized Christmas card photo's that don't really look 'homemade'. I skipped last year, so THIS year had to be rad!

Last year was shit, by early December I hadn't been promoted yet and was B-ROKE. Cierra didn't have a Birthday Party, and the only reason I put a tree up was because my mother bought one for us!

In contrast; This year has been really good. Getting things back to normal sometimes seemed like a long journey, but before I knew it, things were looking up!

It makes me so very grateful for my family and friends. Never stop hoping, never stop being positive (which is sometimes easier said than done) and never stop loving!

I digress (or should I say.... I ramble...) lol

Here is our family Christmas Card. Photoshopped by yours truly!

Photoshop Shiz: I put a Christmas bow on the box, in the picture of Rod and I. Then created a layer out of the sunglasses, so when I was finished layering Rod and I onto the lenses, I could overlay an opaque layer, giving the illusion of mirrored lenses. Using the image of Rod and I; I doubled over the picture onto Cierra's lenses and used layering mask to crop out the background behind us. Finally I dragged the lenses layer over the cropped image of us and put the opacity down to 18%. viola!
And here is the randomage that got us to that point:

Peace, Love and Justin Bieber.

Peace love and Justin Bieber.

Yesterday was a long day. It is Christmas at ULTA, which means extended hours and spending more time at work than I do at home. C's at her dads for Thanksgiving and is going to be home tomorrow, so I wanted to go DOOO something. Decided to go to Burlesque with the girls last night after work, simply because I could. The movie was a mix between Coyote Ugly and Chicago. I am absolutely in LUST with all the yummy make-up, wigs and costumes, though the story itself was pretty predictable.

At the theater there was a life-size Justin Bieber poster, begging me to take a picture with him.

Oh. yes. he. begged.

I obliged. duh.

Valency Fabulous

I have the bestest bestie in the world. It makes me sad that we live so far away, but glad that both of us are so well 'connected' that I can stalk her whenever I want! When I got home from work tonight, THIS was waiting for me.

I ADORE Bestey Johnson, like...A-LOT! Valency sent me a Betsey Johnson camera necklace!!!!!

Yay yay yay! swoon.

I collect camera necklaces and they are becoming harder and harder to find!


What you need to know is that Valency is SO fabulous that Betsey Johnson herself wears a Valency Fabulous top.

It's exclusive...you won't find a Valency Fabulous top anywhere....unless, of course you are Betsey Johnson!

I got a bright red rose ring to match my new, red full-color lip gloss (Pur Minerals 'Deep Amethyst'). Yup, yup ...
As much as I'd love to stay and chat, I has papers waiting to be typed!

Pictures from Cierra's Fall Set

Here are some pictures from the fall shoot of Cierra.

Enjoyage!

My Boyfriend and My Current State of Bliss

Love isn't a decision,it's a feeling.

If we could decide who to love,

then, life would be much simpler,

but then less magical.

Okay, first you must know that I ADORE my boyfriend. Living together has been strengthening,interesting, hard, entertaining, and comforting all in one. My boyfriend considers HD tv, oceans (and stuff like that) to be the most important time of the day.

I need lots of attention, so I've thought about dressing up like a piece of plankton for his entertainment, only I'm not so sure he'd find the humor in that at the moment.

He is SOOOO not perfect. JUST. LIKE. ME. I like him that way though, mainly because perfect would be oh-so-Boring. (I'm yawning just thinking about it...seriously) He challenges me every. single. day.

I'm sure I do my share of challenging him as well. Correction...I KNOW I do. I'm not that easy to be with.

I feel like I've never had assurance in a relationship, accept from him ...in high school. (But does that count? hmmp)

With my ex-husband and two boyfriends, I didn't always have that. I didn't always have comfort, or the assurance of knowing that there is someone there on my side. My ex-husband was/is a good man, but he was gone most of the time. We married because we were pregnant and then he cheated on me. My major relationship after that was bi-polar, selfish, needy and chemically dependant on everything and anything that could stimulate his purpose (which I'm not fully sure he ever came to realize). I tried to help him; Turns out I should've left the fixing to the professionals.

Finally, the police officer was horrible with money, a bad pet owner and needed approval from everybody that he came in contact with. He was not for me, obviously.

All that being said, I am flawed. I have baggage, but what 30 year old woman doesn't these days?

I cling abnormally to what people tell me they will do, particularly my poor boyfriend. It could be something as small as picking up a towel, be assured if he promised to do it...AND did'nt... I take notice.

Isn't love grand? ha ha

Conversations With My Brother

My youngest brother and his family moved away so he could pursue his Pro golf card. He's is about to spend the next year in Orlando to finish the process. He is the youngest of my three other siblings and I miss him and his family very much.

My brother: Hey! We'll be in town next week, can't wait to see you!

Me: I know you can't...I'm your favorite. lol

My brother: Some things never change, ha ha What's new with you, feels like I haven't talked to you in forever...

Me: Nothing, honestly. Same shiz, only I'm back taking classes.

My brother: Lame. Are you sure there is nothing new... it's been like.. two months since we talked.

Me: Yup. Well, ACTUALLY, there IS one thing.

My brother: What?!

Me: I got my period; that's pretty exciting

Ha ha I win!

Peace, Love and Lettuce

Today, Ada the guinea pig died. It was sad, she was sick and there was nothing we could do about it. Lame.

I wanted to post a picture or two of her for you, but my external hard drive housing just about EVERY picture from the past four years is NO-where to be found. It makes me crazy.

I digress.

THIS is the link to a post in April I did for the pigs.

Farewell Ms. Ada Pig, peace, love and lettuce.

Shutterfly Photo Contest Goodness

Hello All,

I entered a Holiday photo contest via shutterfly. The entry is photo I took and edited of my daughter. Please vote for meeeee, and tell your friends to vote for meeeee. lol Please? and Thank you!

http://contest.shutterfly.com/contests/showentry/654613
I'll post a video of the whole set shortly; they turned out fan-tastic!

Here is one of me...because I rarely take pictures of me...because I don't like it that much. haha

Halloween 2010

Here are some pictures from Halloween night. Cierra's flower costume turned out perfect! She was wearing gigantic fake eye lashes, urban decay primer potion, and MAC eye color/ liquid liner. I sewed the knotted yard onto her green shirt and then sewed the leaves on, so it would look like a stem!
To top it off, I stuck fake grass into her uggs.!


I was Flo, the Progressive girl. ha ha



These guys were parked in front of their house with a smoke machine and old school saloon music. It was soo cool. Cierra wouldn't get candy, nor would I FOR her. (BUT I sure as hell took a picture!) I love our neighborhood! ;)



This family moved in this summer. We see this dog all around Dundee. Now we know where he lives! I think next year, they should paint him red so he could go as Clifford the Big Red Dog!

Pictures From the Family Shoot

Houdini Halloweeni

Cierra just told me that Houdini died on Halloween.

I didn't know that, did you?

I think it's pretty interesting!

I love that my daughter knows useless information...it'sa life skill, just sayin'.

You Can't Wear That till You Get Your Period....

SO this past weekend, our friends had a last minute Halloween shin-dig. Since Halloween isn't officially until this next weekend, Rod and I had to make an emergency trip with Cierra to the Halloween store.

As we walked up to the door, Cierra said, "Mom, we don't have to look because I want to be THAT pirate for Halloween, okay?"

clears throat

There was a lifesize window cling of a stripperesque pirate costume. No doubt it was hot...but C is NINE! lol


Sometimes, okay maybe most of the time, I say things without even thinking about it.

"You can't wear that until you get your peroiod." lol

C just shrugged and kept walking.

My comment completely backfired when she ran up while loud and excitedly asking, "Can I start wearing mascara when I get my period as well?". We talk about that shit like we talk about the weather. I forget that most people do not. Needless to say, I got a horrified look from the father in the aisle next to me with two girls under the age of six. ha ha

We ended up finding an appropriate pirate costume and Rod found himself a costume as well. lol Here are some pictures! Aarg!
Hands off ladies, he's ALL mine!

I had to work,. Lame.

I Like a Challenge...It's In My Nature

IUD No Mas, Work, School, and Oh My Gawd I found a Therapist

For the record, I think the Merena IUD is the BEST birth control method EVER. I had the old school one before that...it was eew. BUT the Mirena is fantastic. Last week I had mine removed because its time was up last month. I can't believe it's been five years already. Not gonna lie, I have mixed feelings about it being gone. I kind of want it back, like a three year old wants her pacifier that she can't have anymore! LOL Who would've thought that my IUD would be some sort of security blanket?! ha ha

Work. Is. Good. Shipments and merchandising are my babies. Both...for Christmas, start in exactly 1 week! yay yay yay! I like a challenge, it's in my nature.

I've got a pretty massive photo shoot tomorrow, I'm excited. I'll post pictures soon! It is a huge family. I'm shooting it at Elmwood Park on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. I am a little nervous, because anytime there are that many people; it can be a bit chaotic. I already established that I will be the only 'cook in the kitchen', so I am crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly.

As for school, I am starting classes again next week; it HAS to be done. This means I will blog more, since I use it as a personal bribe to myself for completing homework. whatever, works: don't hate!

I found a therapist/ life coach and am pretty excited. "I like a challenge...it's in my nature'....has something to do with the reason I want to speak to a therapist! I have my girls, and my Rod...but this is simply me doing something for me...which I am becoming better and better at.

Pumpkin Carving Party Pictures

Here are some pictures, in no particular order!

Rod, Cierra and I hosted a Pumpkin carving Party at our house last week. We carved and then ate till we couldn't eat 'no mo'. ha ha

We went to The Bellevue Berry farm for pumpkins.

We stopped in the lobby of the art store for pictures with the Grim Reaper! lol (pumpkin carving parties would be a bust without a giant bag of tea lights! Clearly.)

We were laughing because my five year old niece carved a little girl with a bob into her pumpkin. Once we lit all the pumpkins, we realized it didn't quite LOOk like a little girl when it was lit..... SO.....We called it the penis pumpkin.






Happy Pumpkin Carving!