snapshots of an ordinary life

Books

2011-10-22T00:34:00.004-04:00

One of the few resolutions/challenges that I have semi-kept up with is the challenge of reading 50 books this year.
I am going to list some of the titles I have read here- I will try and list the second part closer to the end of the year. Sorry for the lack of author's names. If I took the time to find all of those, this would never get posted.

1.Made to Crave
2.Who Loves You Best
3.My Nest isn't Empty; It just has More Closet Space
4.Time of My Life
5.The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
6.MiniShopaholic
7.Organized Simplicity
8.The One that I Want
9.Look Again
10.I Remember Nothing
11.You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know
12.Getting In
13.Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl
14.Home Safe
15.The Writer's Circle
16.The Department of Lost and Found
17.A Bump in the Road
18.Not Ready for Mom Jeans
19.Backseat Saints
20.Too Much Happiness
21.Bossypants
22.Everyone worth Knowing
23.My Monastery is a Minivan
24.Live More, Want Less
25.The Hunger Games
26.Catching Fire
27.Mockingjay
28.Someone will be with You Shortly
29.The End of Overeating
30.My Fair Lazy
31.Thin is the New Happy
32.Working it Out
33.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
34.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
35.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
36.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
37.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
38.Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
39.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
40.The Happiness Project

Still on track to get 50 read. I have about 3 or 4 books going currently. If holiday things don't get too out of control, I should complete this challenge.

An AHA moment for me

2011-10-19T21:34:00.002-04:00

I saw this quote on pinterest this week, and it really hit home with me. Then, I was reading one of my favorite blogs, the Nesting Place, and she had this video. I really think this is one of those messages I am meant to be seeing this week. As the dissatisfaction with my own work grows, I need not to quit, but to keep going and put out even more work, so that I can get past this. I never knew this was common, and I was always sad to be disappointed in my work. Now, I am going to view it as closing the gap.

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Love This!- (not love this?)

2011-06-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Technology and Me... NOT a love story

2011-03-01T22:50:00.003-05:00

(not my home office, but I can dream, right?)

Spent a lot of today trying to do things with my laptop, and not getting them done. Things that I spent 3 hours attempting to accomplish this morning, my husband walked in and did in 5 minutes after work, only after I insisted he come into the room with the actual computer in it and not tell me from the basement that I had everything I needed. SOOO frustrating for me, but now I should be able to do the things I was trying to do this morning the next time I have time. (should be Friday morning, I think...)
Planning to record for my HEALTHY follow on tomorrow, I hope, and then do some other blogging later in the week.
Spending time at this desk today has shown me I have some more work to do to make the office workable for me. I need to do this while spending the least amount of money. I will be searching the web for ideas and also, an inexpensive and smaller office chair- there is NOT enough room behind this desk for me and this chair! First purchase today- a surge protector to help contain some of the cords. Also, an e-mail to my handyman to move an outlet from behind the bookcases. I am in the land of electrical spaghetti here, people.
I also decided I want to replace some of the photos on my photo ledge with more of my family. I used to think that would be weird to show for my photo business, but now I think I would just rather look at my family in my office. No offense to other clients, but I can show different finishes and mountings with my kids just as easily as with others.
Did get photoshop loaded on this machine today- so hopefully I can edit photos if I have time tomorrow afternoon before the chorus concert. Whew- March is already here, and I have a lot of things I need to be doing. Working on the not panicking and actually doing things that can be finished. Time for bed, so I will be back at it tomorrow. Good night- what thing is on your list that you need to FINISH? got anything lurking on its third or fourth to do list?? (or is that just me?)

Currents

2011-02-24T18:09:00.002-05:00

listening to podcasts of The Paperclipping Roundtable
eating too much- even of the good stuff
drinking unsweetened iced tea, now that I gave up soda, is that any better?
wearing t-shirts with cardigans and scarves, and still boots
feeling a little overwhelmed by all I want to accomplish but can’t seem to start
wanting a mirrored chest at Tuesday Morning- may go get it tomorrow if it is still there
needing a few more hours of sleep than I've been managing the last few nights
thinking too much and not doing enough
enjoying reading and my job
wondering how to get more hours or just more productive hours
creating not much- trying to put that on my list, reupholstering a chair for what seems like forever
procrastinating by creating lists instead of scratching them off, sometimes the same list more than once!
pondering lots of ideas from what I am reading and my inability to truly cross off the things that I seem to care about, given how many times I’ve written them on lists
loving spending time with my girls doing fun things, especially free ones
anticipating a day off tomorrow, and the chance to do a few things
reading Split Ends, The Grace of God, One Thousand Gifts, Made to Crave and magazines
organizing my office
decorating my bathroom, just a little bit

This came from Lee at Embrace Life I like these simple answer these questions type of posts. Makes it easier to blog some things.
Trying to work through some eating issues (what else is new, I like to eat more than I need) and have been feeling a bit low in that I have found some old lists (a hazard of really cleaning in the office) and many of the things on my current lists can be found on old lists, too. They are still not done. No matter how many lists I put them on. That is sad to me. It makes my thinking and planning and list making seem futile. I know it isn't, but I found a list where I was trying to do much of what I am trying to do for my healthy life right now, and the only habit that has stuck from that list from 2007? Making my bed every day. The only thing keeping me from crying over that, is that at least making my bed is now such a habit that I cannot imagine leaving it unmade on any day. Maybe some of these other habits could become lifestyle changes for me.
Project lists are much the same- I have had a similar project list for many years for this house. I think I am going to pick out 6 projects to complete this year. Some of them are expensive, and they may have to wait, but some are not, and they can get done. One of the things I don't like about the Designed To Sell show on HGTV (and I do like the show) is that the people don't do anything to make their house nice until they want to sell it. I do NOT want to be those people- I want to like my house while I am living in it, not offer it for sale to someone in better shape than I lived in it.

Alright, enough belly aching by me- I am going to work on photos this weekend, and hopefully that means I will have some photo centered posts for next week. I am trying to get a system down for working on photos and scrapbooking and reading. Once I tried to list everything I had to do in a week and include some time for all of my hobbies, like photography, reading, scrapbooking, and exercise. I added up the hours and it was more hours than exist, so I want to adjust. Apparently I can do it all, just not all in the same week. (There I go making lists again!)

What are your currents?

Valentine Cuteness

2011-02-09T20:40:00.002-05:00

I'll try to keep better track, but somewhere on the web led me to these adorable Valentine brownie bags. I love them. I love the idea of bringing them in for my coworkers on Valentine's Day. (next Monday, which means, get cracking!)
I am not sure if it will be brownies, or a fun Chex mix with holiday M&Ms in it, like here, or something different. But I definitely want to show the love on that day.

Healthy Update

2011-02-09T20:32:00.002-05:00

Keeping up with my HEALTHY resolutions-
I WILL
Healthy Body
sleep 8 hours a night- still not up to 8 hours, but working on it. Still not turning on the TV unless I think the weather warrants it.
give up soda- still no soda since January 17
drink more water- drinking more, probably still not enough
eat 5 fruits and veggies a day- pretty good with this, since they are free on WW
walk the dog 5x a week- twice in two weeks does not earn me any gold stars
take three classes a week (yoga, etc.)- yoga is a go, nothing else yet
stretch with Alyssa 2x a week- managed this twice, and then Alyssa pulled her hamstring (not stretching with me!) so it will be a bit longer before that becomes regular habit- Alex may have to step in for a bit.

Healthy Mind
read 50 books in a year- I finished The Girl who Fell From the Sky and The One Who Loves You Best these 2 weeks. I think I counted up 20 books I have right now either on my kindle or in a basket that I want to read. All of them. Right now.
complete 2 photography projects- haven’t picked projects yet (still- need to look for project #1)
meditate (work up to 10 minutes at a time)- haven’t worked on this yet
create a monthly review scrapbook layout- behind on January, but it isn’t a great picture taking month for me. Hoping to catch up before February is over
visit a museum once a month- still a no for the year- must put on calendar
complete the scrapbooking classes I sign up for- FAIL. Plan to make a list of currently unfinished classes to put my things in order for.
complete NaNoWriMo in January- FAILED. But want to keep writing, so that is good.

Healthy Finances
complete Dave Ramsey class-decided I will miss too many classes with Dance, etc, and Mark travelling, so I am going to work through the book
feel in control- Not yet
monthly meeting with Mark- did my homework while he was gone, working on better control

Healthy Marriage
date night once a month with Mark (and the financial meeting doesn't count)- no date night, no plans. I guess if I want one, I better plan one.

Healthy Home
organized cleaning plan- need a better plan- would like to start cleaning things out, and definitely need a plan for that
completing projects in a timely manner (I will try and make a list of projects for each month)- haven’t made my full list yet- and now it is the middle of February, so I need to get on that!
In January, my one goal is to finish reupholstering the chair I started in the fall- started recovering it, decided I wanted different fabric, waited a week to get fabric, got fabric, started upholstering it, decided it needed covered buttons on the back. Covered buttons, but now need upholstery needle to finish attaching buttons. Buying tomorrow.

Healthy Spirit
daily devotional time and more prayer-Reading the One Year Bible pretty regularly, also my boss gave me a book by Andy Stanley called The Grace of God which is really good for me, and is helping me with some issues I have.
I WILL TRY AND UPDATE MY PROGRESS SEMI WEEKLY> GOING FOR WEEKLY, BUT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN

HEALTHY- how's that going for you?

2011-01-25T17:56:00.002-05:00

Keeping up with my HEALTHY resolutions-
I WILL
Healthy Body
sleep 8 hours a night- going to bed earlier, not up to 8 hours a night, though. Trying not to turn on the tv in the bedroom at night. So far, so good with that.
give up soda- started Sonoma Diet Wave 1 this week, so no soda since Saturday
drink more water- drinking more- having some at breakfast since no juice this 10 days
eat 5 fruits and veggies a day- right now all veggies, since I am on wave 1 for Sonoma- no fruit until next Tuesday.
walk the dog 5x a week- FAIL FAIL FAIL- temperatures not cooperating, either.
take three classes a week (yoga, etc.)- yoga is a go, nothing else yet
stretch with Alyssa 2x a week- FAIL FAIL

Healthy Mind
read 50 books in a year- I’ve read My Nest isn’t Empty, The One that I want, Organized Simplicity, and MiniShopaholic since the year started
complete 2 photography projects- haven’t picked projects yet
meditate (work up to 10 minutes at a time)- haven’t worked on this yet
create a monthly review scrapbook layout- will do it the first week of the following month
visit a museum once a month- tried to go in DC, but it wasn’t open
complete the scrapbooking classes I sign up for- Darci Dowdle, I am sorry. I am planning on getting pictures printed, etc. this weekend for her class.
complete NaNoWriMo in January- I’m WAAAAAY behind, but I want to keep writing

Healthy Finances
complete Dave Ramsey class-hasn’t started yet
feel in control- not yet
monthly meeting with Mark- planned one for this week

Healthy Marriage
date night once a month with Mark (and the financial meeting doesn't count)- not yet, making plans

Healthy Home
organized cleaning plan- my only plan so far is my group cleaning on the weekend, but that has helped
completing projects in a timely manner (I will try and make a list of projects for each month)- haven’t made my full list yet
In January, my one goal is to finish reupholstering the chair I started in the fall- bought stapes for the staple gun this week

Healthy Spirit
daily devotional time and more prayer-retreat was good, but still need it to be a daily habit.
I WILL TRY AND UPDATE MY PROGRESS SEMI WEEKLY> GOING FOR WEEKLY, BUT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN

Since this is the last week of the month, I have a lot to do this week!!

Trying Not to Feel Behind

2011-01-05T21:21:00.002-05:00

I am behind in my word count for NaNoWriMo. I plan to write extra tomorrow night, Friday night and I should have extra time to make up some on the weekend. I am trying very hard not to start beating up on myself for this, but I am starting to lose sight of some other goals while working on the book.
I am going to take Gretchen Rubin's advice (she of The Happiness Project) and make myself a score sheet of sorts, with places to actually mark off each aspect of my resolutions and how well I am performing them. I think it will help to keep me focused on my goals, and much like crossing things off of a list, it will give me a sense of accomplishment.
I am all for a report card. It is the nerdy good student in me.
So excited about the 50 books in a year, too. I have finished one, and I am about halfway through 3 others at this point. I love books. I went to the library to pick up a book on organization (a favorite reading topic) I had reserved this afternoon, and I came home with 3 novels, too. How am I supposed to write with all of this reading to do? Although, it is nice to have some free hobbies, because I am trying to get my finances in order, and ever since I made that mental promise, stuff has been happening. (car needs a fuel pump, kid needs glasses, church retreat is this month, etc.)
I have to figure out how to make a list of my 50 books to put on the side bar of my blog. More to do and figure out- I don't know how anyone is ever bored!- there is way more to learn and do than I have time for.
On my way to read a bit before bed. I am hoping for extra sleep tonight.

Daily December Album

2011-01-04T17:27:00.028-05:00

The following are the pages of my December Daily album. I uploaded them mainly for my friend Susan, who also created a daily December album in Georgia. Enjoy the pages if you haven't seen it before. I have done this album in 2008 and 2009. I really like looking back on them, and even though it is a bit of a pain, I love having them done. This year, however, I am going to set it up in the summer, so it isn't quite so crazy in December. (I say this every year, but I really think I am going to get it done this year.)

My Family

2011-01-02T15:20:00.003-05:00

This is my beautiful family. My siblings and their families. All together at Christmas, which is fantastic. I am almost finished with my December Daily album- have to wait on a few photos to print at Walmart (used some from the iPhone- that's a first) and then I think I can finish it in about an hour. Hopefully there will be photos soon.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T21:11:00.003-05:00

Well, the New Year has arrived, and while it still looks very much like the old year around here, since I haven't taken down any Christmas decorations, I am welcoming it.

Alex and I started our National Novel Writing Month this evening, and I just finished my daily word count. A novel of 50,000 words is the goal at the end of the month. For the uninitiated, NaNoWriMo is actually in November, but any mom with kids knows that is not a good month to start a project that big. Our thought was that not much was going on in January, but boy does it sneak up on you. I figure no month would be good, so I am on my way. It is feeling like young adult fiction right now, and I am pretty happy with that. We'll see how it is going at the end of the month.

I am trying desperately to finish my Daily December album, so this post will be short. I am working on posting frequently to the blog, so some may be shorter than others. Tomorrow, I will try and have photos of my Daily December, or my newly un-decorated and cleaned house, or something. I am working on my NEW laptop (a Christmas gift from loving husband) and I have no photo software installed on it, so I cannot put my own photos in my blog posts currently without a lot of effort.

One Little Word- Healthy

2010-12-31T16:32:00.003-05:00

For the past few years Ali Edwards has sponsored a movement called One Little Word. There is even a Big Picture Class for it this year. I have participated for the past four years. This year my word is HEALTHY. I am creating 6 categories for this word.
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Finances, Healthy Home, Healthy Spirit and Healthy Marriage. After being sort of out of things most of the fall due to my back issues, I really want to concentrate on getting and staying healthy. I have many ideas about how to do this, and since this is my blog, I am going to outline most of them here so that I can always find it!
Healthy Body
goals- sleep 8 hours a night, give up soda, drink more water, eat 5 fruits and veggies a day, walk the dog 5x a week, take three classes a week (yoga, etc.)and stretch with Alyssa 2x a week
Healthy Mind
goals- read 50 books in a year, complete 2 photography projects, meditate (work up to 10 minutes at a time), create a monthly review scrapbook layout, visit a museum once a month, and complete the scrapbooking classes I sign up for, complete NaNoWriMo in January
Healthy Finances
goals- complete Dave Ramsey class, feel in control, monthly meeting with Mark
Healthy Marriage
goals- date night once a month with Mark (and the financial meeting doesn't count)
Healthy Home
goals- organized cleaning plan, completing projects in a timely manner (I will try and make a list of projects for each month) In January, my one goal is to finish reupholstering the chair I started in the fall.
Healthy Spirit
goals- daily devotional time and more prayer
This is a lot, but I really do want to make some changes. I know that practice makes me better at most things, so blogging and taking pictures and scrapbooking are all things I want to make more time for. Not sure where that time is coming from since I want to go to bed earlier, but I am hoping being more organized will help with that.

New Year's- the Ultimate Start Over

2010-12-30T22:50:00.002-05:00

We have arrived at one of my favorite parts of the year- the cusp of a new one. While I can take any moment and make it a time of beginning so that I can make lists of things to do or improve (moving, school starting, summer starting, etc.), this is the one the whole world joins me in. It is almost overwhelming, how many things I want to do and change.

First, there is the One Little Word challenge by Ali Edwards. I will post more on that in the next couple of days- my word is ready to roll, but all of the details are not.

Then, there are project goals I want to accomplish. I am not a crazy project every week girl, but there are many things I want to finish, or start and finish, and using the blog to document them might help me stay a little bit accountable. (to myself and the other 3 people who occasionally pop by to read this.)

Alex wants to read 50 books in a year, and I think that sounds admirable and probably doable. I probably have 50 books in the house that I haven't read that I wanted to at some point. I also have a shiny new Kindle just waiting to hold books for me. :)

I have multi-dimensional resolutions- ever the optimist about changing at the beginning of the year. I am still working with pen and paper to get everything all clear in my head, but one of the goals is to publish here frequently in 2011. At least to show all of my projects and photos and such.

Of course, there are the overachievers- Susan pointed me to one tonight- a stay at home mom and scrapbooker who manages daily posts to her blog with photos, a book a week, a project a week, posting on the Weekly Gratitude blog, and serving on design teams for scrapbooking. Who are we kidding?? I am really glad the internet was not around when my kids were little- I would have felt like quite the slacker.

Nevertheless, I am quite busy right now thinking of how much better I could be by the end of 2011. Some of my thoughts are for the long term, some are until I solve a problem or complete a project, but the thoughts, they are legion. When I have a clearer plan formulated, I will be back here (maybe tomorrow or the 1st) to lay it all out there and have something to look back on.

Do you have any resolutions? one little word? let me know...

Birthday Post 2010 Andrea Adams, photographer, Stafford, VA

2010-06-30T21:42:00.002-04:00

Forty Four things on my Forty Fourth Birthday

1. I want to write a book.
2. I wish I could clean my house by blinking like Jeannie on I Dream of Jeannie. It would free up a lot of time.
3. I have so many projects in my head, and there are many lists in many locations with multiple projects written on them.
4. I am trying to learn to meditate. It is much more difficult to sit and be still than one might think. My brain goes into overdrive.
5. I wrote down all of the things I would like to spend some time each day on (Bible Study, piano, photography, reading, cleaning, laundry, business, etc.) It added up to more hours than I had available. That has frustrated me.
6. I am trying to decide if I want to take a steady part time job in the fall or stick with subbing.
7. I really love the Body Combat class at the gym.
8. I cannot wait to go to the beach- partly for the relaxation, and partly for the photos I get to take.
9. I am looking for a parking lot carnival so I can take photos of a ferris wheel, and I can’t find one. Where are they? How do you find one?
10. I love summer dresses and skirts. I would wear them everyday if I had enough.
11. I want to visit some colleges this summer with Alex.
12. Organization is my biggest issue in getting things done. I keep trying to organize and I set up systems, but follow through is my downfall.
13. Homemade chocolate chip cookies are one of my favorite things in the world.
14. My favorite TV show this year is Chuck.
15. I can’t survive without paper towels in the kitchen. I read about paperless kitchens, and it just seems unimaginable to me.
16. My craft room is a disaster right now, and it makes me sad because it is hard to be creative in there. See numbers 2 and 3.
17. Sometimes I need a Diet Dr. Pepper.
18. I spend too much money. On everything.
19. I could read for several hours every day. I wish I had a kindle and an unlimited amazon card. There are also many lists of books I want to read lying around. I should get all of that onto goodreads.
20. I have everything to paint my bedroom- now I just need to do it.
21. I love Target.
22. For someone who spends 95% of her time on this one exit, I have to put gas in my car a lot.
23. We are currently trying to buy Tony a used truck.
24. I do not think I am old enough for both of my parents to be gone.
25. The beach calms me down instantly. Just stepping onto it, I feel my heart rate slow down and my breathing deepen.
26. I wish I were really excellent at SOMETHING- not just kind of good at many things.
27. I would love to get a fine arts degree in photography, design, or even painting.
28. I wish I could hunt for furniture to repaint/refinish and have a place to refinish it easily.
29. I want to live in the Pottery Barn catalog or the Ballard Design catalog.
30. My kids are awesome- smart, nice, good to each other- sometimes I am amazed at how well they are turning out.
31. I am really going to try and assimilate the ideas behind the Women, Food and God book- which is the same thing in Weigh Down, and the same in Martha Beck’s book. I know this is the answer- I just need to implement it.
32. I don’t think I am allowed to really fall apart, and I don’t know what would happen if I really let myself go.
33. I love reading blogs on line, particularly those of creative women who post photos of everything they are doing. I really envy everything they are getting done.
34. My age doesn’t bother me.
35. White chocolate is not chocolate.
36. I went to the midnight showing of Eclipse in a hand painted t-shirt that matched my girls’. It was fun.
37. The Harry Potter trailer made me really excited for the movie.
38. I want to make plans to go to DC to take some pictures and for other trips to museums.
39. I want to make my house the house I really want to live in. Hence the lists.
40. I wear spf 70 on my face every single day and I still have dark patches.
41. I am making an effort to go to the pool more this summer and read. Hoping to help with the relaxing efforts. My stress levels are a bit high.
42. I wish I had a really cute haircut that didn’t require a lot of work.
43. I like walking the dog every day.
44. My life is pretty good- I need to appreciate it more often.

Ten on Tuesday (kind of) Andrea Adams, photographer

2010-06-02T21:44:00.007-04:00

Ten on Tuesday (I know its Wednesday, but Monday was a holiday, so this still counts, right?)

1. Finished with LOAD for May 2010. Actually completed all 31 layouts and got them uploaded on time.

2. Ordered a computer battery for my laptop. I have been plugged in to my laptop turned desktop for several months now. Finally splurged the $45 to get a new battery. Who knew they were so cheap? I love amazon.com.

3. Have postponed my NaNoWriMo until July. Hoping to have Alex and maybe Alyssa join me. Am waiting for successful tales from DeAun and her girls with their June editions. (I totally just typed tails- is that Freudian? Or just bad typing?)

4. Still trying to find a balance of home/work/home- improvement time. SOOO many things I want to do. So many things I actually already have the supplies for. JUST DO IT should be my mantra. Bought paint for the bedroom- it hasn’t been tinted yet, but I bought the paint.

5. Alex takes the SAT this week. Lots of stress this week as well. Can’t wait for Saturday evening.

6. Going strong on the exercise plan- now attempting to put a better eating plan in place. No refined sugar for a month. (except for one graduation party where I know there will be a cake made by pretty Amy!) I will be having some kind of birthday cake on my birthday, though. Hopefully, moderation in July. I may not be very nice in June.

7. Bible Study covered the story of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him last night. I think Beth Moore had a good point when she said to notice that God didn’t ask Sarah to do it. Made me feel a little better about my emotions concerning that story. (Genesis 22 if you want to read it.)

8. Need to work on Abbey’s scrapbook for Michele. Plan to use one or two full days to get it done. If not called in to sub tomorrow, I think tomorrow will be day one.

9. Was reading about Ali Edwards’ one little word for 2010 again today on her blog, and I CANNOT REMEMBER MY WORD. Obviously, it is not having much of an impact on me this year. She did say it wasn’t too late to change it. If anyone reading this remembers my word, would you leave it in the comments, please? I can remember my word for 2008- less, and my word for 2009- better, but 2010? A total blank. If I can’t remember it, I may come up with a new one.

10. Got my hair cut yesterday. Finally. It is just to my shoulders now. Pretty cute, I think. I didn’t use a curling iron on it today, and it looked o.k. Was hoping for a photo, but that will have to wait a day or two.

Layouts from Layout a Day for May 2010

2010-05-29T21:28:00.003-04:00

Here are a few layouts from this week- 29 layouts done and uploaded, and 2 more to go. Unless something major happens, I will be finishing strong. So excited to be getting pages done again. Need to clean up my scraproom so that this is not such a big deal.

Andrea Adams, photographer, Stafford, VA

2010-05-27T10:22:00.013-04:00

I missed yesterday's Ten on Tuesday. I was subbing, and I honestly couldn't think of 10 good things (how sad is that?) and I didn't have access to photos. So- today is a list of Summer Reading: (I apologize in advance for the differing sizes of book photos- not a computer glitch so much as a brain glitch on my part!)

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
This book does not come out until June 1, 2010. It was in the suggested summer reading in Real Simple magazine.

Another book by the same author- I'll confess, I am drawn totally to the title.

How did you get this number? by Slowan Crosley is described as a very funny series of travel stories. It sounds like a good light read, although after last night's book club selection- I am skeptical of claims of funny. (do not waste your time on The English Major is all I'm saying.)

Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz is the story of an ivy league admissions officer- although this one is fiction. Maybe I am just obsessed with getting the daughter into college, but this sounded good.

Generosity: an Enhancement by Richard Powers is about an unnaturally happy and contented young woman and the people who want her DNA in order to create the world's first happiness gene.

Speaking of happiness, this book by Martha Beck is intriguing to me also. Since beginning The Happiness Project, I am interested in ways to be happier. And, I like Martha Beck, new age weirdness and all.

Nine Rooms of Happiness by Lucy Danziger and Catherine Birndorf is another book on the happiness train- it is on order at my library, but I can't remember if it is already out.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell is the story of a girl who finds out about an aunt she never knew who has been living in a mental hospital. Apparently she showed a little too much spunk and individuality for her time.

Four others I am looking forward to reading- nothing complicated or deep, I don't think, in any of these- they just appealed to me:

Now, it is your turn to tell me what you are planning to read this summer.

Andrea Adams, Photographer, Stafford, Virginia

2010-05-18T07:36:00.006-04:00

TEN ON TUESDAY:

1. Bible Study tonight- still have a day of homework to do and a dessert to make before then.
2. Had my second personal training appointment yesterday. I’ve been to the gym 3 times in the last 4 days- yay me!
3. Next time someone suggests bowling, remind me I am NOT ALLOWED to bowl, my back is killing me from Sunday’s outing.
4. Layout A Day is going really well- I am on Day 18 and haven’t missed yet. So far, so good. Alyssa asked me what the prize was for completing it- I told her I didn’t know, but I was pretty sure it was 31 completed layouts. I think Lain offers this 3 times a year- if you just did that, you would get almost all of your scrapbooking done for the year. I am enjoying using my supplies. I have been using things and not worrying about how many letters will be left, etc. It is nice. Here are a few of my favorites from this past week:

5. Trying to figure out how to configure my scrapbook/laundry room. Mark says my large surface is too wide, because I can’t reach to the back of it. I hate to say it, but he might be right. I plan on heading to Home Depot to see about a corner counter and two more cabinets. I’m at least going to price it out. I plan on going through all of my stuff and purging. I hope to empty the room if I can- that seems to be a key to success. I don’t know if I really have a place to put it all. I want a scrap room that looks like this:

6. The rain needs to stop- a full day of rain is about all I can overcome- the second day may not involve anything but a nap. 
7. I ordered the white cotton duck to slipcover the chair in the basement. I cannot wait to get started. If it works, I may slipcover the chair that I want to get out of my room. Plan B for that chair is to go to Tony’s apartment. The problem with the chair in the basement being that I want to make a back cushion and restuff the seat cushion.
8. Alyssa made the Varsity Dance Team again for next year. Happy for her- hoping for a year with less drama.
9. Really enjoying not going to work, but need to work out my daily schedule for working at the house. I am not being as productive as I would like to be. Thinking of looking into the Fly Lady, but I don’t want it to be a bigger hassle.
10. Got a swim suit from Land’s End yesterday. Looks pretty good- going to look for another top to go with the bottoms. Maybe have two options.

Andrea Adams, photographer, What's In Your Purse?

2010-05-15T11:34:00.003-04:00

On several scrapbooking blogs this spring, I saw a challenge I was interested in. People had taken the contents of their purses, or briefcases or laptop cases, lined everything up gallery style, and photographed it. I kept wanting to do it, but with working full time, I just never had the time. So, on Friday, I took the picture. Here is my What's In Your Purse? picture:

Wondering at what point this will seem very quaint- I remember things from my mom's purse that I will never have in mine- a clear coin purse? a tampon container?
So what's in your purse??

Andrea Adams, photographer, Stafford, Virginia

2010-05-11T10:39:00.008-04:00

Ten on Tuesday:

1. Mother’s Day was great. Went out to dinner at Kobe’s- managed to catch the shrimp in my mouth for the second year in a row. :)
2. One of my Mother’s Day gifts was some upside-down tomato planters. I planted the seeds yesterday. I can’t hang them upside down until they are 5” high. Hope it doesn’t take too long.

3. Mark got me a speaker set for my iPod, so I am able to listen to it all over the main floor. Currently listening to Wicked. “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them??”

4. Made an angel food cake for Bible Study tonight. Going to make sweetened whipped cream and macerate some berries to go with. (like the use of the term macerate??)

5. I am really enjoying my LOAD challenge. (Layout a Day) Every day in May, I make and upload a layout to Flickr and the LOAD group. I am starting to get better- the more I scrap, the better and faster I get. It also shows me that doing something every day can really improve your performance quickly. Need to practice writing and photography on a daily basis. Something else to add to the schedule.
6. I finally got the new bedding from Pottery Barn. I really like it. I also got the tie-backs for my curtains. I have picked out the paint, now I just need to buy it and figure out how to paint a room full of furniture while we are still living in it. I am used to painting rooms before we move in. When you don’t move for 8 years, you have to paint some stuff again.

7. Tony is still looking for a job. Heard a rumor that he had been hired, but it is yet to be confirmed. It would be with a moving company, which sounds absolutely horrible to me, but satisfies his need not to sit behind a desk or stand behind a checkout counter. (although plenty of those applications are in, too.) We’ll see what he gets.
8. Staying home is soooo much better than going to work. Fixing dinner is not such a chore when you have had all day to do little things, and you aren’t rushing to get home to get it started. Laundry gets done, things aren’t completely a wreck all of the time. (just some of the time!)
9. Mark is going through the shock you go through when you suddenly see how much Uncle Sam is taking out in taxes from your ENTIRE check, not just your “base pay.” He said this morning- “They take a third of everything I make; why should I even go to work?” I quickly reminded him- for the other 2/3s.
10. I love Chuck! If you don’t watch it, it is really getting good. Get the first couple of seasons on DVD and catch up this summer.

Andrea Adams, photographer, Stafford, Virginia

2010-05-07T18:12:00.004-04:00

A book review:

This book was a bit of a disappointment to me. The concept is great- by thinking of others and what you can do for them, your own situation improves. There, I just saved you the trouble of reading the book. I loved the idea of it, and I wanted to love the book, but I just didn't. The author, diagnosed with MS shortly after her wedding, was very into alternate healings and religion. It was a little liberal for me, and I can usually read anything. Again, concept a little weak to maintain for an entire book. She does have a website, and with others sharing their stories, that might be an interesting place to check out.

My other challenge this month is Lain Ehman's LOAD, or layout a day. I am trying to scrapbook a layout a day every day this month. And not just scrapbook it, but upload it to flikr, too. Sometimes that is the hard part! I am still on track after a week, so that is good for me. More layouts than I have done in a while, if you don't count Mark's retirement album.

Since I don't like blog posts without pictures, here is a layout where the challenge was to use nothing but cardstock:

Can't wait to put up pictures of my bedroom when I get it all finished. Don't hold your breath- I want to paint the room first.

Andrea Adams, photographer Stafford, Virginia

2010-05-06T21:25:00.007-04:00

I was looking at links from other blogs one day and stumbled upon Bethany Fields' blog. She is a photographer in Texas. I loved her flower photos with the textures on them. You will have to scroll down to see them- I love the ones of the lilacs. I had never seen photos like these, and I wanted to try it out. I e-mailed her and asked about the textures she was using, and those cost a lot of money. I just wanted to play around a bit. These are my first attempts at using textures on photos for an artistic effect. I got the textures for free from grungetextures.com. In the first one, I used a concrete texture:

In this one, I used a dirty metal texture:

Kind of neat, don't you think? I am trying to get more creative with my photography in order to re-energize myself. I really enjoyed working on these, so that is good. The yellow iris were from in front of the library, and the purple and white one was in a yard I passed while walking the dog.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

2010-03-07T14:24:00.003-05:00

This was a fabulous book. I loved it- simple and sweet and poignant. A very quick read, and a trip I would take again into the "war years" and that horrible thing called internment camps. I really enjoy when authors who write about a Chinese or Japanese character seem to capture that essence even with their word choices. Something spare about the descriptions, but still vivid.

As for scrapbooking, I am going to an all day crop next Saturday with the hopes of getting an album either done for Mark's retirement or significantly progressed to a point where I won't be panicking in two weeks. The retirement date has been set- Friday, April 16th. So now there is a deadline. Hoping this crop will motivate me to get all of the pictures scanned and printed and ready for the weekend. I also need to assemble paper and embellishments, etc. Lots to do, but excited for the end product.

Need to read The Road for my book club, kind of putting that one off- not really into the post-apocalyptic literature. I am going to try and read The Art of Racing in the Rain and What the Dog Saw before I have to tackle that one.

Time's up for me- back to cleaning the house before the next week starts!!

Currently Reading

2010-02-25T12:06:00.004-05:00

Finally getting around to reading this. I know everyone else in the world has basically finished singing its praises a long time ago.
Initially, this book did not appeal to me at all. I don't really know what changed in me to make me pick it up, but I am liking the book. I have not finished it, but I am in the last section on Indonesia.
This book has done a few things for me:

1. I really want to go to Italy. and eat.

2. I am very interested in the meditation/quiet time idea. I have been trying to meditate for a little while now, and I cannot do it. Talk about a runaway train of thinking- can't seem to shut the brain down. As I have issues with not dealing with stress well, I am going to be trying harder for this one. I started trying to meditate for 10 minutes, and I cannot seem to make it past 2 or 3. Stillness definitely does not come naturally for me.

3. I like the idea of balance. I haven't finished the last third of the book yet, so this idea is not totally fleshed out for me, but I find myself seeking what I want my life to look like. If I don't know what I want, how will I know I am working towards it, or even living it?

4. I am trying to embrace the idea that I can let go of some of the negative things I drag around. Yes, they happened, yes, it wasn't fair or nice or how I wanted it, now quit worrying about what I cannot change.

All in all, a thought provoking book, and although I am not totally a fan of the person she starts out as, I am growing to like the person the author is becoming as a result of her travels.

Around Here

2010-02-15T18:20:00.005-05:00

I am an avid reader of Ali Edwards blog. She is inspiring in many ways, mostly with simple ways to tell your story. She posted a blog at WishStudio, which I only found today because of her link. I really like how she repeated the words, Around Here, and followed it with what was going on in her life. Her list is much more insightful than mine, but I am working on a deeper one just for me,and not the blog.

Around here, there are huge piles of snow in our yard.
Around here, lasagna is bubbling in the oven.
Around here, the girls are at one of their many dance classes.
Around here, we are anticipating going to school after almost two full weeks of snow break.
Around here, Dad is going in to work for the last few times, to sign papers and go to the doctor as he prepares for retirement from the Marine Corps.
Around here, Mom is waiting for her 7:30 yoga class.
Around here, clothes are laid out for four days of work.
Around here, the girls’ rooms are cleaner than they have been in a long time.
Around here, Mom is taking the Yesterday and Today class from Ali Edwards along with Susan Usry- a few months late. Better late than never.
Around here, it is cold.
Around here, we take photos to record our lives right now.
Around here, we are enjoying watching the Olympics together at night.
Around here, Summer is frustrated with the lack of walking in all of this snow.
Around here, we are in a good place.

What is happening around you?

Life

2010-01-21T09:48:00.000-05:00

Thought this was inspiring:

Friday Favorites

2009-12-11T16:56:00.005-05:00

Christmas music is something that really makes the holiday for me. I have more Christmas CDs and ahem, cassette tapes(!) of Christmas music than the rest of my music library combined. I have many favorites, the first being, the classic:

The next is an album (yes, vinyl) that DeAun and I listened to every Christmas Eve to help us fall asleep.

This one isn't music, but if anyone can get me a copy, I would love you forever. All I have is the record jacket- see how old I am? I know the term record jacket. My kids have never even heard of a record jacket, they only know CDs with digital extras. (I digress.)- It is the story of some kids going to the north pole, and it is narrated by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Even a digital copy would be o.k.

Enjoy- I could list a lot of other Christmas CDs- like the Carpenters, Amy Grant's first Christmas one, and Mariah Carey (surprisingly good!) but I can't list them all. I love Christmas, and the right music really sets the mood. Here's to a great and productive Christmas weekend! I am a busy little elf!!

Friday Favorites

2009-12-04T21:55:00.005-05:00

I want to add a Friday Favorites feature to the blog, and today is my first day. One of my favorite things about Christmas is wrapping presents- I love paper of all kinds- it's why I started scrapbooking. My very favorite Christmas wrap is from The Container Store. It is thick and glossy and beautiful stuff.

The first one is my favorite from this year- you can't tell that the background is kind of glittery/prismatic.

The next one I debated in the store for a long time, but I kept coming back to it. It isn't my typical style, but I can't wait to wrap something in it.

If you want to buy some for yourself- it really is the very best wrapping paper out there- go here: the container store

Wednesday Words

2009-12-02T21:51:00.002-05:00

After a week off for Thanksgiving prep- here is my quote for this week. I am starting to feel like I am doing pretty well on the Christmas plans, and then I realize there are only 23 days until Christmas, so I'd better be on it.

"Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given--when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes."
~ Joan Winmill Brown, American author and editor.

Our church is starting a series this week called Artificial Christmas- should be interesting.

Words for Wednesday

2009-11-18T09:42:00.002-05:00

I am trying to start a few new things on my blog- I think if I have some sort of form/organization it will help me become a more regular blogger. On Wednesdays, I hope to publish a good quote (I love a good quote!) with an image.

This week I am heading into Christmas prep full force, so my quote is about planning.

"Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning." - Winston Churchill

New Holiday Class- and it's FREE!

2009-11-03T10:27:00.007-05:00

Jessica Sprague- I love her- is offering a free class for the holidays. She is the guru of all things digital for scrapbooking, and she is an awesome instructor. You can get an account for free if you don't already have one. Join up- I plan on it. The great thing about her site is that all of your classes are available to you FOREVER- so if you can't possibly add one more thing to your holiday schedule, this class will be there for you whenever you want it- even if it is next spring!
Enjoy!!

Lutes Family

2009-11-02T11:24:00.003-05:00

Here are a few images from the Lutes family shoot- it is so easy to take pictures of good looking people!!

Photo Shoot 3

2009-05-21T08:01:00.003-04:00

Here, finally, is the third sibling photo from the other shoots I've shown. Christina is a beautiful girl as well- very nice looking family as I've mentioned. Their mom chose the sitting down pictures, we printed them as 16x20s, and they look really good. She has taken them to have them framed and I can't wait to see them when they are done.
The mom and dad are moving this summer (soon!) and all of their kids will be in college or living here on their own. These photos will be priceless in a quiet house.

I love taking photos for people, because I love taking photos for me. I am working on a collage of framed photos for my basement. I am having a hard time picking the pictures and everything. I will post photos when I finish it (don't hold your breath).

Tony is Home

2009-05-20T06:30:00.003-04:00

The college boy is back. He (and all of his friends) are having trouble finding work. Aren't we all? This leads to a boy with nothing. to. do. So far, this has been o.k.- he is working out, helping a litte around the house, etc. His biggest accomplishment of the spring, apparently, is the beard. It has inspired jealousy in many of his guy friends. It doesn't bother me too badly, but I am looking forward to it going, now that I have some photos to look back on.

It is good to have him home, but the grocery bill has already gone up. The milk especially is disappearing at the rapid rate. Funny how quickly you adjust to a new normal, and now I will be adjusting back to this for a few months.
So much going on right now with the ending of school for another year. Many posts to come on spring activities.

On Mothers

2009-05-05T09:22:00.002-04:00

For finding your mother, there's one certain test. You must look for the creature who loves you the best."

From "Little Miss Spider" by David Kirk

I like this quote, and I certainly find it to be true in my own life and the lives of my children. I have the world's greatest mother (who doesn't even know I have a blog lest you think I am buttering her up!) who always made me feel as if I could do anything. I still think that most days. I try to remember all of the things she said to me that made me feel that way, but I can never think of anything specific. The things I remember her saying are things like, What a life, what a war! and Life's not fair. Hardly the inspiring you to do anything quotes. I suppose it was more in the way she lived, then, always believing in me. She was always happy for my successes, and she never acted surprised over any accolades I might receive. Believe me, I have thought about it in an attempt to recreate that feeling of confidence for my own children. Hopefully, they have gotten a bit of it through osmosis. I remember the day Tony was about 5 or 6 days old, and I was in Hawaii, and Mama hadn't come out to see me yet. I called her and told her I thought I was wasting time, that I needed to be teaching him something. (can you believe any of my children turned out semi-normal?) She told me I was teaching him that I would always be there when he cried. That is a pretty awesome responsibility, that being there whenever someone cries. I know my mother would still be there for me if I were crying, and I hope my children know the same thing when they are parents, too.
Happy Mother's Day- tell your mother that you love her if you still can.

Georgetown Cupcake

2009-04-27T09:57:00.004-04:00

When Alyssa and I spent Friday of Spring Break week in Georgetown, this was the motivation for going. I had followed the "Cupcake Wars" in the Washington Post Food section during the fall, and Georgetown Cupcake had pretty much wiped the floor with any competition. I had been wanting to go ever since- finding time to take such a small trip took a lot longer than I thought.
Alyssa was lured by the prospect of shopping in Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie- and checking out this successful cupcake bakery, since she would really like to own one one day. The cupcakes were indeed lovely and delicious. We brought these 6 home, after having one each sitting in Georgetown. So we tried 8 flavors- our favorite was the coconut and for me, the chocolate squared came in a close second. My only complaint was that most of the vanilla frosting is all cream cheese, and I prefer buttercream. I think the cherry blossom had buttercream. We split every cupcake we brought home so we could both taste all of the flavors.
The bakery didn't open until 11- we passed by it around 10:45- already a line forming. I thought it would die down after they opened. Wrong. We waited in line for about 25 minutes to get in to the tiny place to order our cupcakes. Definitely worth the wait- no fake frosting, or tough cake mix type cakes. yum...
Shopping in Georgetown was a lot of fun, and I wish I had more time to do stuff like that with the girls. Alex was on her way to Myrtle Beach with the school chorus this particular day. Those Saturday dance classes really mess with our available time for fun. I would like to plan more fun (I am starting to realize that if I don't plan it, it will not "just happen" like it did when they were smaller and unscheduled.).
I have photos to edit,and I must get ready for my day and start thinking about more fun to be planned.

one of my favorite things

2009-04-24T08:57:00.002-04:00

Gardenias are probably my favorite scented flower. I remember my mom cutting a blossom off of our gardenia bush and floating it in a bowl in the dining room. It would scent the entire house. Well, gardenias do not grow in Virginia, so I am unable to have that lovely aroma in my house. However, in the spring, we do get some beautiful lilacs. These are from my neighbor's bush. (I asked first!) I clipped them last evening and they smell heavenly. I may have to buy a bush so I can clip from my own in future years! Happy Friday!

Easter Musings

2009-04-23T12:46:00.005-04:00

With Spring Break right after Easter, I didn't get the photo editing done that I wanted in order to post on the blog. I did do it this morning, however, so I am happy to finally be documenting Easter. Tony was able to come home for 21 hours, so we enjoyed seeing him. And, he brought his girlfried Kelsey, that I had never met- although she was already my friend on facebook. We dyed Easter eggs, and hid Easter baskets, and the whole thing, and hopefully didn't scare Kelsey too much.

Alyssa and I spent all morning (6am-1220pm) at the church, singing and playing the piano, respectively. It was a long morning service for us. Thankfully it was a good one, so it wasn't hard to sit through four times. Then we had a lovely Easter lunch, and our friends Janet and Sarah Dix joined us. I even made a cheesecake- first time in a LONG time- and it was incredibly yummy.

Alex had her wisdom teeth out on Good Friday, so she is a little swollen in this picture. Not a good time for getting them out, but there is apparently no good time, as I had been trying to schedule this since October.

I took Christina's portraits this weekend, and I will post those soon- also some I took of Alyssa and her friends over Spring Break. Have a great day!!

Photo Shoot

2009-04-06T03:46:00.003-04:00

Here are some of the pictures I got of the brother of the lovely girl I showed you last week. I was pretty pleased. We had a bit of trouble with some fake smile/grimacing in the beginning- but once I started talking about jamming with Metallica and girls in bikinis- we got some real smiles. This is obviously a nice looking family. There is one more sibling- the oldest sister, and I get to do her pictures when she returns from Europe, lucky girl. I really do enjoy this job. I am hoping to increase my business to the point it is the only job I need. Pray for that.

Mount Vernon

2009-04-01T18:11:00.004-04:00

This is beautiful Mount Vernon- I got to meet my friend Shellie and her family for a quick tour of the mansion last week. There are some beautiful places to take photos around here- I enjoy visiting them all. The McLeans were a little jet lagged (although you can't tell from the photos) and the kids were being quizzed on everything they were supposed to be learning during their week away from school. It was great fun getting together with them, and even more fun when they came to my house for lunch on their way out of town (literally the last stop on the way to the airport). It is nice to have friends all over the country, but it is even nicer when they are close by.

Photo Business

2009-03-27T16:34:00.005-04:00

Since I have been unsuccessful thusfar in my job search, I am choosing to focus some energy on my photography business. I would really love to build it up into something that could actually take the place of working somewhere else. I got a new logo- isn't it cool? and I am working on a really cool website. I'll let you know when it is up and running. You'll be able to access this blog from the homepage.
I had a great in studio session with a senior a few weeks ago and I thought I would share some pics.

Such an easy subject to make look good. I shot her brother last week, and I will post some of those next week.
Friends from California are coming on Sunday for lunch, so I am planning on cleaning and cooking tomorrow. Can't wait. Making yummy stuff.

Friday the 13th

2009-03-13T08:35:00.004-04:00

Today is Friday the 13th- I have mixed feelings about that date. I don't really have many superstitions (any that I can think of), but I was a bit leery when I dropped off my puppy to be spayed this morning. That was supposed to happen a couple of weeks ago, but with her fabulous sense of timing, she went into heat the day before her appointment. So as not to go through that again, I scheduled her appointment as soon as I could. Hope everything goes well- I don't like that I can't really explain to her what is going on. She is going to be freaked out!
Here is what it looks like here this morning. Keep in mind that when I walked the dog on Monday, I was in shorts and I got sweaty. (80 degrees)

This is crazy- I enjoyed my 8-9" last week, but we are into the second week of March, and I am finished with winter. The sad thing is I would have loved this in January or February. It is too late, winter, and you can't make it up to me now! Now you have to wait until December. Please plan better for next year, and get the snow up earlier and more frequently. (think several 3 inch snows instead of only one 9" snow, KWIM?)

Why am I a single parent when I've been married for 21 years?

2009-03-07T12:51:00.002-05:00

As a Marine wife, I am used to being the only parent a lot of the time. The only times it really gets to me is 1)when I need to be in 2 places to pick up kids at the same time and 2)when the kids are sick. Well, Alex is sick and I am on week 2 of Mark being gone, and I don't like it. I hate seeing her feeing so bad. It is rather pitiful.
The other day we were watching The Biggest Loser (my one and only TV show) and one of the women was crying because she had been away from her husband for something like 3 or 4 weeks. Both of my girls thought she was such a wimp. This military lifestyle has seriously warped my girls. I was trying to explain why it might be difficult if your husband never traveled and was home every night, and Alex said "Never traveled? You would have no time by yourself? Oh, I can't have that kind of husband!" I guess that means I haven't made being alone seem too bad. Luckily for Alex, her intended, Joe Jonas, will have to travel some of the time for touring, so she has that to look forward to! :).
Trying to get motivated on a Saturday, but my headache is making me want a nap! Off to do something...

Oh yeah- I have a blog!!

2009-03-05T07:50:00.004-05:00

I am going to skip the mea culpa for not posting, and just start posting again. Two snow days this week (now that it is March) have put me on an odd schedule. Add to that a husband traveling,and my to-do list is not taking first priority. Hard to stay motivated when the kids are home from school- which is why I love snow days- no expectations for productivity. Anything you accomplish is pure bonus.
Now everyone is back to school for a full day, and I have high hopes for my day. I am working on a few things, some of which seem contradictory. The first thing is- I am looking for a job. This is more difficult now that half a million other people are also looking for a job. I am trying to stay positive, but it is a bit discouraging, all of this applying on line with no response. Hits the ego kind of hard- I am not asking for a top level job, here. The second thing is- I am trying to improve my website and photography business. I guess if I can't find a job, I can at least try to up my income from my preferred business. I am working with someone to design a logo for me and also on getting a slideshow on my website.
My weight loss is slooooow but steady. I am hoping to be down 6 more pounds by the middle of April. Don't know if that is going to happen, but I really want it to stick. I will say it is a bit dismaying how little you actually need to eat in order to keep yourself alive and not gaining. I like food- really! I don't like the limits, but that is the reality. Alyssa is working on it with me, and Alex starts and stops- she says she wants someone to bestow the will power upon her. It will be a while before that happens- I've been waiting for 18 years or so, since I had a kid and had my first experience of weighing more than I wanted to. Noone showed up with the will power for me.

Lent began, and with the dietary changes I had already made, I didn't want to do anything with food for Lent. I have decided not to spend any unnecessary money on me. No magazines, books, cds, scrapbooking supplies, clothes, shoes, etc. for me. Target profits may be down this quarter. I am hoping for two things out of this- one-more space in my day because I won't be running around to stores so I can use that time for Bible Study and self improvement, and two-I will break the habit of running around and shopping for no reason, and will eventually spend less even after Easter. Pray for me- this is much harder than giving up soda.

Training- the dog and me

2009-01-09T19:45:00.003-05:00

Today was Summer's 4th doggy training class. We have both learned a lot, I think. She is a real performer in front of the instructor- continuing that performance at home with all of the distractions is another thing entirely. Much like her mother, who has always performed well in class, but real life- that's another story- too many distractions for me, too.
Purchased this today. I am looking forward to getting in another day of yoga every week. I hope Bob can help me really lose weight while doing yoga. I have been wanting a second day of yoga for a while, and hopefully I can be consistent in getting it done. I am also enjoying my Wii Fit, but I have a hard time getting time on it between the kids and the fact that it is on the big TV- the TV used for football in this house.
Lots of reading to do, and I am currently spending way too much time playing word games on facebook...
Got out a lot of clothes today to get ready to pack for the cruise- I am getting really excited. Looking for some cute shoes to wear- will have to go to DSW this weekend or on Monday. Looked at Target, Ross, and TJ Maxx already. Nothing in my size.

New Year, New You

2009-01-04T15:56:00.002-05:00

Well, recording my December didn't go so well. Only one blog post and a few journal entries. Far from the completed Daily December album I was hoping for. Oh well. Have to let a few things go. Am now working on self improvement, as I am wont to do at the beginning of every year, the beginning of every school year, every time we move, and generally any other time I think would be a good Starting Over point. The changing of the calendar really makes that appealing to me.

And how does Andrea go about improving herself? That's right, she reads a book about it. Currently on the rotation- Eat This, Not That; It's Hard to Make a Difference if You Can't Find Your Keys; Suze Orman's 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, and Breaking Dawn (o.k. that one's not about improving me, but I have to have an escape.) My stack of library books is large and I have an order on the way from Amazon.

Tomorrow everyone returns to school and work, and as you know, that is the real first day of the New Year. The cookies I have been eating since the girls made them on Friday do NOT count against me in 2009- these are 2008 cookies, people. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I am planning to go on the no sugar part of the Sonoma Diet starting tomorrow- and after the past week and a half or so, it will be quite the shock to my system. So easy to get hooked on the sweet stuff. It really helps to go cold turkey- but boy, it makes me grumpy!! Watch out family. They will be glad to be back at school and work, I imagine. a compelling reason for my no sugar- I am going on a CRUISE. My very first one- and it is for my friend Shellie's 30-10th birthday. I am flying to San Diego on Thursday, the 15th of January. I cannot believe how close that is. If you do the math, I will be finishing my no sugar time the day before my trip. Good timing, but I don't want to undo all my work on the cruise.

Here's to blogging more in 2009, getting just a little bit thinner (not asking for the moon here), improving my finances (saved asking for the moon for this), and getting rid of stuff in order to organize my life and home.

p.s. My word for 2009 is FINISH. I am great at starting things, but I need to learn how to finish what I start. If I finished everything I started things would be pretty amazing around here.

December musings

2008-12-03T17:45:00.003-05:00

It is the third of December and I am not panicking/panicing- have not yet begun to panic. This is a new feeling for me, and I hope it is not indicative of an insane December 23rd or 24th. A few years ago I noticed that I was waiting to enjoy Christmas until I got "everything done." You can imagine how much enjoyment was happening. The afternoon of the 24th was always pleasant. I decided that in order to enjoy the holiday, I must enjoy the doing. And now I do. I have a few things to do to get my cards ready to mail, but I am sure that can be done by Monday. I need to look at everything I have purchased already and see if there are gaps for the kids. I need to get my exchange gift and Mama's gift and Grandma Kay and Papa Bob's gifts. Unfortunately, I don't have any fantabulous ideas for them as of yet. It will come. I am doing some shopping and preparing with DeAun on Friday, and we have some additional preparations to take care of after that. I need to schedule a candy making/baking day sometime soon, and the wrapping center needs to be set up (and utilized!) My tree is lit- the house is decorated and it is only December 3rd. I have Christmas music in my CD player in the house and in the car. I do love this holiday. I need to change my header pic for Christmas- I'll get on that in the next day or so. Happy Holiday season, everybody- it only comes once a year- enjoy the doing!

Advent Conspiracy

2008-11-30T22:02:00.004-05:00

Journal Your Christmas

2008-11-28T20:57:00.003-05:00

I am excited to take this class offered by Shimelle called Journal Your Christmas. It starts on Monday, the first of December. I am hoping to really capture my holiday season this year and between this and my Daily December album- this is the year. I want to record traditions and recipes and memories and all of that. I really love Christmas and I don't want it to be just one giant to-do list. I am hoping this class will help me focus on the non-shopping aspects of the season as well. I think this class will help me with what to write in my Daily December album each day, too. (this post is an entry to potentially get the class free for me and a friend- check it out!)

Thanksgiving Message

2008-11-25T08:06:00.002-05:00

I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving- especially a sister who is willing to host and take all of the pressure off of me! All I have to do is show up with some desserts and help cook on Wednesday and Thursday. So easy for me! I am going to the commissary this morning to get the last of what I need for my desserts and then I will be making wonderful things that we cannot eat for 2 days. Yikes- that will take some willpower.
Tony is coming home today, so that is exciting. He will be here through the weekend. The girls are really excited about that, too. Alex will be o.k. once her huge world history test is over today. Then she can feel thankful. Alyssa is in the top two for the spelling bee in her class, so that is continuing today to see if she competes for the 8th grade spot in the school.
I started a book at Creative Escape called The Good Book, where I write something I am thankful for every day. It helps keep me focused on the good things in my everyday life. Sometimes it can be hard to think of something original each day, but that is part of the process. The other part of this book is that I have to write down 5 strengths of mine each month. I only have a few days left in November to think of some. I have already listed ten, between Sept. and Oct. and I am not sure I have 15 strengths, let alone the 60 I will have to come up with for the year.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who read this blog (all 5 of you!)- think about what we really have- it is amazing!

Twilight- Midnight Showing

2008-11-22T09:00:00.004-05:00

Somewhere I am either getting a mother of the year award for taking my daughters to be among the first to see this movie, or someone is making notes to take my kids away for keeping them out until 2:30 a.m. to see this movie on a school night.

At this point in their teenage lives, my girls enjoy a homemade t-shirt to commemorate every event- concerts, movie openings, whatever- here is the shirt for twilight-

Yes- I wear one, too. I am also a fan of the books, so it was fitting. Here is the back of the shirts- a quote from the first book-

I enjoyed having others ask us where we bought them! (Oh, the poor mother needs more of a creative outlet, don't you think?)

My review of the movie is four stars- mainly because of this:

I actually just read a review that said his eyes (and the fact that you can see the white of his eyes under his irises) are what make him attractive- apparently Marilyn Monroe and JFK both had this type of eye. I am not sure that is all of the appeal, but it does make his vampire stare more effective! I will leave you with an image that illustrates the longing inherent in this movie- (insert sigh here)

Grey Skies and Yoga Pants

2008-11-13T10:40:00.003-05:00

Well, we have a rainy day here, which plays nicely into my plan to stay in yoga pants and do things in the house today. Mark was home on Monday and Tuesday- Happy Birthday Marines, and Happy Veteran's Day. We did a lot of good stuff around the house, then I subbed yesterday afternoon. That means today is the first day I have been home all day BY MYSELF since last week. Until I don't have that, I don't realize how much I need it. Actually, many days I spend a lot of time talking on the phone in an effort not to be alone. Not today. I am thrilled to be in comfy pants and hanging out. (there will be no photos of this, but I did do my hair and put on makeup, because at my core I am still from Atlanta.)

Catching up on my design class, some shows I dvr'd, and laundry folding. Whee- but today will be a good day, even though it is raining. I am also in heavy planning mode for the holidays- not actually doing, but trying to get the big picture in my head so I can begin to do.

Monday was Parents' Day in Alex and Alyssa's jazz and prepointe classes. I took the camera, much to their dismay. Here is a layout I did about it:

Off to get more design knowledge...

Not a T-shirt wearing girl

2008-11-09T12:57:00.004-05:00

Since I am not a t-shirt wearing girl (at least not the kind that have writing on them) and I got a really cool catalog with some clever t-shirts, I thought I would write the quotes here, so I could keep them and enjoy them, and maybe use them as scrapbook page titles later on...

Life is short- Read Fast!

Lead me not into temptation- especially bookstores.

I am the Grammarian about whom your mother warned you.

I'm just here for the Savasana. (that's the corpse pose in yoga you do at the very end to relax.)

Vocatvs atque non vocatvs deus aderit (translated, Bidden or not bidden, God is present.)

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. ( a chemistry take on the quote I always use on the kids)

When I was your age, Pluto was a planet.

At what age am I old enough to know better?

She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain. - Louisa May Alcott

Have a good Sunday!

One of my favorite comics is Big Nate- and this is one of my favorites in the past couple of weeks. I so remember going over having a good attitude whether you win or lose countless times over the years.

Fall and Monticello

2008-11-07T15:37:00.006-05:00

Fall in Virginia is the most beautiful season. I just love all of the leaves- when I was little (in Georgia) and read about the four seasons, I didn't realize anywhere actually got all four- but they do in Virginia.

This is a shot of Monticello- I think this is technically the back of the house.

This is from the kitchen. TJ obviously learned how to stock a kitchen during his time in Paris. Look at that divine copper cookware. sigh...

O.K.- this is one of my favorites. I think it looks like a painting.

Trying to enjoy fall- I hate that winter is coming, so I will concentrate on fall.

Reading

2008-11-06T13:32:00.002-05:00

I love to read- time can really fly by without me noticing that I haven't edited photos, or done laundry, or cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast. Right now I am reading Bitter is the New Black- it is pretty funny. It has allowed me to successfully avoid all of the above as well as the piano practicing I need to get done before choir tonight. A brief break here on the computer- the danger of the computer being one of the places you need to work- and then I am really going to accomplish something before everyone gets home. I did get a crown this morning, so I am milking that for a day of lying low. Post soon with photos--

Thoughts on a Democracy

2008-11-05T19:49:00.003-05:00

Well, I just have to say how grateful I am to live in a country where everyone can vote, someone wins, and we have a peaceful change of power. The definition of democracy- majority rules. It was exciting to take Alyssa with me (Alex had to be at the school) to vote. Even if my guy didn't win, the political process was fabulous- lines to vote!- this from a country where some years half of the eligible voters didn't bother to make it out to the polls. Tony voted for the first time, too- yikes!-I am old!

I spent the day today with our third president, Mr. Jefferson, at Monticello, and I will have pictures soon- I took enough, I will have to sort through them and share some good ones. Because I don't like posts without some pictures, here is one of the new voter- taken in August when Summer was a little smaller.

Halloween- the day after

2008-11-01T12:40:00.005-04:00

I am really having a hard time getting going doing anything this morning. I thought I would add my Halloween photos to the blog. DeAun, I expect to see photos of the slutty fairy as well.

Well, folks, this is what you get when a Disney freak of a kid with her own DVD player picks her costume- Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Not so unusual, you would think, but this is Ariel from a very specific scene in the movie- the one where she gets her legs, is spit up onto the beach and scuttle dresses her. In case your Disney mind isn't quite as sharp as Alyssa's- here's a reminder of the scene:

I had to have her pause the DVD so I could make the costume. Here is our take on the lovely white dress that Scuttle threw together with some rope:I did make her wear some type of shoe, and Matt gets major kudos for putting up with her. She was really glad to have a Prince Eric, though. Oh the power of the mouse- what would Halloween be without Disney characters?? I saw lots of them last night.

I took some other pictures yesterday, too. The light was really perfect as I walked in from subbing, so I made the girls brush their hair and come outside. I got some really good ones. Here are a couple:

Alyssa took that last one. Happy Fall Y'all and Happy Birthday, DeAun! (I didn't think you'd want me spouting your age all over the internet!!)

Pumpkin Carving Time

2008-10-31T09:34:00.007-04:00

Well, we managed to get our pumpkins carved for Halloween.

Mark cleaned out the pumpkins- I am just here for inspiration people, (and to help Alex finish carving when homework looms).

The girls were excited to do their princesses- Alyssa started hers while Alex worked on homework.

Alyssa had a little helper- Summer was very interested in the pumpkin carving- and in eating the little pieces of pumpkin that fell out. I got her to pose for me and look at the camera-Hasn't she gotten big? Sometimes I can't believe how big she is.

Alex got to get to work on her pumpkin after finishing some drama class work.

And here are the finished pumpkins- first, Alyssa did Belle:Alex did Ariel-And here are the princesses together- aren't they pretty (not really scary at all, but that is o.k.)Happy Halloween! Hope you all get lots of treats and no tricks tonight!!

Good Idea/Bad Idea

2008-10-30T17:01:00.002-04:00

I had a great idea to send a little Halloween treat to my son in college. Yesterday I packed a small box with fun size Skittles, sour patch kids, swedish fish, some pop rocks (Yes, I found them in Michaels), a Batman Pez dispenser, and a cute little card. I was pleased that I actually got it in the mail in time to get to him by Halloween. Unfortunately, this involved opening the Halloween candy. Hmm- fun sized Reese's anyone? Halloween candy should come with warning labels because something so small can't have any calories, right? I held out until the 29th- does that get me any awards?
Went below 32 last night, so the impatiens just gave up the ghost. I will try and pull them all up in the morning before I go to the school. I am subbing tomorrow afternoon- Friday/Halloween/8th graders- does anyone else see any attention issues here? Then I was called today to sub at the high school tomorrow afternoon- high schoolers vs. 8th graders- I think I have the better deal.
Tonight is pumpking carving- I found Disney princess stencils, and my girls are thrilled. No, they are not preschoolers, they are teenagers- why do you ask?? If I could have found Jonas Brothers stencils- which probably do exist on the web somewhere if I wanted to look- they might have been happier, but I don't know for sure.
Need to finish Alyssa's costume- working on the glittering starfish for her hair- and start dinner. will try to have pictures of the pumpkins tomorrow. Too bad I have to walk right by that Halloween candy on my way to the kitchen- 3 whoppers never killed anybody, right??

snapshotsofanordinarylife

2008-10-22T16:03:00.001-04:00

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JibJab

2008-10-22T15:52:00.001-04:00

This is hysterical- had to share after seeing it on Shellie's blog!

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THREE TEENAGERS

2008-10-17T15:59:00.003-04:00

I am now officially the mother of three teenagers. I knew this day would come, long ago when they were very small and I thought of it with some trepidation and with some hope for the days when they would leave the house for long stretches of time without me...Here it is. They do indeed leave my house for long stretches of time without me- and only two of them need me to drop them off and pick them up when they do. I am going to try and get a picture of all of them together tonight, on Alyssa's birthday. Here is Alyssa just before leaving for school this morning:

Thirteen years old. Wow. Got her some balloons, made some chocolate mousse (a cake will come later for the party) and wrapped several things in gift bags. She stayed after school for a field hockey game (several of her friends play on the team), so she isn't home yet. Hope she is having a good day now that the Geometry test and the Spanish test are over.

Happy Birthday, Alyssa!

Lots to Say

2008-10-13T15:21:00.007-04:00

Well, once again life has gotten in the way of the blog updates. I did a Week in the Life project from Ali Edwards' blog. It was really cool- but taking photos of everything all day took up a lot of time. I will share some of those later this week. It was fun- I used the timer on the camera to take pictures of me throughout the day, too.

This last weekend was a good one- homecoming at the high school and Tony came home from college for the weekend, too.

Doesn't he look nice? He is cracking me up with how he and the guys on the hall cut each other's hair. I sent clippers with him to school, and apparently, some other mother did, too. They take care of each other. He shaved his roommate's mohawk off the night before school started.

Alex looked beautiful for homecoming:

Here is a better picture of the dress:

And here is the group of girls she went with- no dates. We never would have gone to our Homecoming without a date- I am glad that has changed.

Loved all of the colors in the dresses- several of the girls had mentioned making sure not to get another black dress, but Alex had never had a black dress, so hers was a novelty to her. I really loved her dress- it was very nice. The other girls who were trying on dresses that night at Dillards were a bit scary. Some pretty slutty dresses, and I couldn't believe the moms were buying them and saying they were cute.

Alyssa got glasses, but I cannot find the picture I took of her in them, and she isn't being cooperative for me to get another one right now. She is constantly saying Wow- I can see that! She will lift her glasses and look without them and say, Boy I am blind. She mentioned how pretty the trees were now that she can see individual leaves. It is a miracle she has been as good of a student as she has been without being able to see the board in class. I feel a little guilty that I didn't notice how bad her eyes were sooner.

Yesterday I spent several hours backing up all of my photos to an external hard drive. I try to print a lot of them, and I store on external drives, and this is a backup to my other storage external drives. I am glad that is done for now- I am going to try and get on a monthly system of backing up and organizing- the digital photo thing can quickly spiral out of control.

Enjoying my design class with Cathy Zielske. She is very funny, and I think her class just might be the most professionally done one I have taken at Big Picture Scrapbooking. I love the fact that the practice is making layouts, so I am getting some of that done as well.

Finished all of the Twilight series- enjoyed them for the most part. Alex and Alyssa have both read the first one (Alex has also read them all). Alyssa is waiting to read the others until she finishes a book she has to read for school. I need to finish The Innocent Man by John Grisham for Book Club on Wednesday night..

Off to enjoy the rest of the day off from school and Mark from work. Won't even mention that I will try and do better, the guilt goes without saying...

Learning Digi Stuff

2008-09-17T20:26:00.002-04:00

See this cool frame on the photo? Totally digital. Love it. It came in a pack (file) of about 10 frames- all in various states of age. I like how it sets the picture off, so you may be seeing more of them in my blog. This is one of my favorite photos of Alyssa- it is from vacation in August. Her response? I don't even have any make up on! (She's 12!) If I could look like that without makeup, I would never wear it.
I am working on an album called 30 Days Hath September. It is supposed to be helping me be more "in the moment" as I scrapbook everyday. Wow- I am really trying to keep up, but I end up having to print the photos every few days, which means I am writing things in a notebook and then transferring them to the album, effectively ruining the "of the moment-ness." Yesterday I decided that I did not have to follow every prompt exactly as layed out for me, and that has helped immensely. I should be all caught up and ready to go on in the moment as of Friday, I would think. I printed pictures today, and I will see how far I get tonight. I decided only to use the prompts if I can't think of something else I want to do.
Spent 20 minutes cleaning in the scrap room today. About 60 more days of 20 minutes a day ought to do it. Put away all of the things from Creative Escape, except the projects, and I plan to photograph them as I finish them to show you all. I did get the work space cleared off, so that will help get the album done as well. The sectional was not a good place to scrapbook.
Working a half day tomorrow and then continuing on the great clean out- community yard sale is Saturday morning. Not much time left.

Yoga Monday

2008-09-15T22:17:00.005-04:00

My 21st anniversary was on Friday. Mark and I went out to dinner at Mike's American Grill- excellent food- I had the Virginia Trout- yum! When we got home, I was feeling bad about the fact that I had only gone that day to get Mark some clothes and a card, but I did have them in a gift bag. Mark then told me that he got me a card, but left it at work. Since he left today for California, I guess I won't be getting my card for a while. Oh well, the food was excellent. (Glad I made him spring for dessert!)

This is DeAun and me in Arizona after registering on Thursday. They had set up this lovely photo shoot by the fountain in the lobby of the hotel. I actually like this picture of the two of us. People would start talking to us and then suddenly say- hey, are you two sisters? It was quite funny. Looking at this picture, I can kind of see why. You can sort of see the aprons I "altered" by covering the pockets with different fabric and adding some ribbon. We really liked them, and they were not too over the top. And they were practical- some of those supplies we used would not have been kind to clothes. Some ladies really go for the gaudy at these things (how many things can you tie to a flip flop and still walk?- you'd be surprised.) DeAun was pleased that I didn't offend her style asthetic (sp?) and make her wear something hideous out of guilt.

Subbed a half day today for 6th grade. Boy, sixth grade in September is way different than sixth grade in April, which is when I subbed for them last year. These guys are still learning how to go to their lockers. Subbing again tomorrow, but I only have to do it for an IEP meeting, so I am probably going to have to spend some time in the counseling office filing or something.

Yoga tonight for the first time this fall session- actually this one will go through June. It was so lovely. Just as I thought after the marvelous massage we had at the Aji Spa- I do not relax enough in my daily life. I really need to work on that. (Work on relaxing? Does that sound right??)

Tomorrow starts the Biggest Loser, and I am embarrassingly excited about the start of a new season. I don't watch much real TV, and that is a favorite for sure. I love to see those people lose that weight. And they work so hard, all while I sit on my couch watching them. I'll be looking for favorites right from the start. Makes my 5 lbs seem like I am just not trying (and some days I am not), but I love to see these people drop 17 lbs in one week. If only.....

Home Again

2008-09-09T22:40:00.003-04:00

DeAun and I returned home safely late last night, and I wanted to check in on the blog quickly tonight. My trip to Arizona and the Creative Escape convention was incredible. Inspiring, fun, relaxing (at least after the classes ended-)- it really was an escape. Today it was right back into the swing of things with Summer's first vet appointment, and a physical therapy appointment for Alyssa. I have an appointment tomorrow to get my hair colored- hooray! It is really starting to show its true colors, which is not at all the beautiful auburn color I enjoy after a session at the salon. And so the craziness creeps back in...
I was planning to blog from Arizona, but the internet didn't work in our room, and it cost $12.95 a day. DeAun and I were wondering why the cheap hotels can offer free internet in your room and free breakfast, while the expensive places charge you for everything??
I will share some of the projects we did at CE once the box of them arrives at home. I did appreciate the chance to ship some things and not worry about them in my suitcase. Also, I did get the album that I am completing right now called 30 Days Hath September. It is all about scrapbooking in the moment, which I hope I will be able to keep up with this month. I have to do some catching up from the time I was out of town.
Hopefully I will be able to keep up on the blog, the September album and my Gratitude Book from Creative Escape all at the same time.- wish me luck and focus!

First Day of School

2008-09-02T22:50:00.002-04:00

We survived the first day of school- Alyssa is excited she has some friends in all of her classes. This is a first for middle school. Alex was interested to learn she will be writing in photojournalism, not taking pictures as we thought she might be. I think she will enjoy it, so I am glad. The writing comes really easily for her, and she seemed to think the class would be fun. This is a good thing, as the loss of Honors Art was a real blow.
On my way to Phoenix tomorrow. Cannot wait. Did so much today- sent a package to Tony, went to the fabric store, went to the commissary, cleaned in the house, finished all of the laundry, packed, edited and uploaded my last photo job, notified the last two clients about their galleries, went to the library, took a 2 mile walk with the puppy, and fixed dinner. Normally the commissary wears me out, and that is all I can accomplish in a day. Love the motivation of a trip!
Need some sleep and to weigh my luggage (I'm a little scared!).
On a product placement note, you should try the Olay Thermal Pedicure. I saw it in a magazine on vacation, and it really does smooth out your feet.
Have a great Wednesday- I'll be in the air! Hooray!

September 1st and the real New Year's Eve

2008-09-01T20:19:00.002-04:00

It is Labor Day evening and my daughters are in a dither about what to wear tomorrow for the first day of school. I cannot believe that summer is over and school is starting. Unlike many mothers, I am not looking forward to the end of summer. Starting tomorrow we have dance classes and homework and practice and games to perform at. I enjoy the more relaxed days of summer time. Maybe school starting will help me form a few new habits. Like blogging at least 5 days a week. I have some ideas, but I plan on spreading them out at bit. I am on the computer enough to be on my own blog that much.

Once again, I have a chance to start my self improvement plan- and anything can be aided by the purchase of fresh school supplies! Loving all of the unopened paper and pencils and neat packages of pens. That is the only good part of school starting. Nothing like a blank notebook to get the motivation going.

I am going on a trip to Arizona on Wednesday with my sister to Creative Escape. I am very excited about that, now that I have finished all of my homework. It was a bit daunting to pull and trim pictures for unknown projects. I really am most looking forward to spending time with her, and extending my summer a bit, although 113 degrees may be a bit too much summer for me.

Have established a good walking habit this summer, adding a weekly yoga class this fall, and at some point hope to get to a weight workout. So much maintenance for this body!

The real guilt- I only got through two weeks of my bible study- I am hoping to pick that up next week after returning from AZ.

Will blog soon about Tony at college, some product reviews- love to help you spend money, maybe some scrapping/photo stuff, vacation on Emerald Isle (say it together...aaahh...), and more! Stay tuned- if any of you are still out there listening.

It's a Girl!! About 7 lbs.

2008-07-30T22:34:00.005-04:00

Here is Summer! Isn't she the prettiest little girl puppy?? I am loving her so much, except at 3 in the morning while she cries. I can't take it, especially since Mark is gone. I was up most of the night- of course Summer has been sleeping most of the day- but I haven't -so tonight should be fun again!!
With a face like that, she can get away with a lot, I am afraid!! She is so blond- I think she looks like a seal pup (with ears!)
I spent today doing a set of senior portraits- I am pretty happy with them. I have quite a few for them to look at. I have one more swim meet to do- I'll get that done tomorrow. Then I can finally get to some great pics I took of Alex and Alyssa, and they really want me to spend some time on the Jonas Brothers pics I have (from all three concerts I have attended this year!)
Tomorrow I have a mammogram, so think about me after lunchtime. I am really nervous- which is why I set an appointment soon. I don't have time to chicken out or stress too incredibly much.

Bible Study Day Two

2008-07-30T22:28:00.003-04:00

I really like all of the verses that give voice to my feelings. I never give Bible study enough of a concerted effort to make it stick. Also, skirting around the commitment to study allows me the freedom not to change. I am in the non-existent / inconsistent chick with dashes of quick fix. I hate to admit to the open the Bible randomly practice, but I have so done that. That, or going back to the books I studied for Bible Quiz Team (so I am very familiar with them.) I am really enjoying being opened up to the Psalms- I didn't know David and I had so many similar feelings. Relating to an Old Testament king, who knew??
Going to pick up the puppy today!! Can't wait to see her!

Bible Study Day One

2008-07-28T22:22:00.000-04:00

O.k. not on time with the posting, but I did do the study on time. I think the main thing I took away from today's lesson was that I am scared of changing. As committed as I am to self-improvement, God-improvement is a really frightening thing. (not that I am doing such a stellar job, but I know I am not going to require very much of myself.) It is a comfortable delusion I am working with. Apparently, this is not how God would have me work on things. Hmmm... my other revelation for myself was that the guilt of starting and stopping is more painful than the guilt of not doing Bible study at all. Maybe as I continue to pray for the ability to do this, the commitment will come.

Yoga Again

2008-07-24T22:25:00.003-04:00

O.k. maybe yoga does something to me that makes me able to blog. Relax me a bit, perhaps??

Tonight's class was really nice. I hope they continue these classes in the fall- I could get used to a bit of weekly peace.

Tomorrow I am headed to Hershey Park, PA for a day at the amusement park followed by a concert by the Jonas Brothers. Not peaceful, but it should be fun anyway. The girls are thrilled about the concert, and I am pretty excited about the chocolate. Haven't ever been there, so it should be a fun day and a half. Mark has secured me a pair of ear plugs in an effort to drown out the screaming so that I might actually hear the music. (What a thought) My voice is almost gone, which is probably not ideal in that no one would be able to hear me even without the screaming, but I have no shot of being heard now.

Our puppy has been selected and she is adorable- see below:

We will be able to pick her up next week. I can hardly wait to snuggle with that little one. Her name is Summer, and she is a very light golden.

If everyone has purchased the bible study book, I would love to start lesson one on Monday, the 28th. I'll try and post as part of my study. (accountability, you know) Business has been busy, which is good, but it has kept me away from my blog. I will try and find a specific time each day to do my blogging- for the next few weeks it will be in the morning during my devotional time. (note the confidence!)

Off to Chocolate World- there is actually an attraction named that- how fabulous!!

Yoga

2008-07-10T22:09:00.002-04:00

On Monday night as I pulled in to the dance studio to pay off my girls' summer classes, I saw that they had added a Thursday night yoga class for adults. On a total whim, I asked if it was full. It was not, and tonight I went to yoga. I love how you feel when you leave yoga class; I don't know why it is so difficult for me to get into the habit. I think I am going to buy a new yoga DVD (since my best yoga tape is just that, a VCR tape- yikes!) at Target and try to practice a few more times a week. I have the walking pretty well ingrained into my schedule, now it is just adding yoga and some strength training. (just!)
Do you ever feel like if you actually did all of the things so called experts tell you to do everyday (floss, exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, take a vitamin, moisturize, eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, daily devotion- still a sticking point-, etc.) that you would need more than 24 hours in the day? Sometimes that is what I think, usually as I am trying to rationalize my way into bed without flossing.
Sometimes I wonder what I have done all day, but today, I know. Not much. I took the swim team photos this morning and it stressed me out a bit before hand, so I didn't plan anything for this afternoon. We are dog sitting for our friend's Bichon, and he and I did some resting together for a while. The girls and I watched last night's So You Think You Can Dance on the DVR, and that about sums up my day, along with eating an entire carton of grape tomatoes and 2 white peaches (so sweet!). The dog sitting is reminding me of what is to come in the puppy department- I had kind of forgotten that panic of thought- where's the dog? and its implied meaning- what is the dog destroying at this particular moment? Nordstrom (don't ask) is 5 years old and very calm, so that part is not puppy like, but being used to a 70 lb. golden retriever, the Bichon is puppy sized.
Tomorrow Alyssa gets assessed by the physical therapist, and I am looking forward to having a plan to help her shoulder get better. More news after that.

Scrapbook Inspiration

2008-07-09T12:36:00.002-04:00

Today I was trolling the internet in search of something, I can't remember now, and I came across these bios that they have of the teachers on bigpicturescrapbooking.com. I loved the format of the lists and thought I would answer the same questions and (eventually) turn it into a small scrapbook. Getting it on the blog gives me a "permanent" place to record it, so pardon my indulgence, but it is a blog about me, right?? Kind of cool to think about...

Ten Essentials I cannot be without:

paper towels
camera
Excedrin (when you need it, you need it)
sunglasses
laptop
iPod (for walking)
RediWhip
chocolate chips in the pantry
books and magazines
phone- either home or cell

Nine Words I Love

y'all (and please punctuate it correctly)
cool
delicious
yes
Christmas
intelligence
however,
chocolate
favorite

Eight books I have loved (only eight is hard, and these are in no order)

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Tortilla Curtain by TC Boyle
Into Thin Air by John Krakauer
Shopaholic (the series) by Sophie Kinsella
Harry Potter (the series) by JK Rowling
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
How to be Good by Nick Hornby

Seven things I love about my everyday life:

Sunday- the sermon is always good and the Post Magazine find the difference pictures
Monday- a fresh start, new to do lists
Tuesday- crossword puzzle and sudoku in the newspaper
Wednesday-watching As The World Turns on my DVR
Thursday- my kids are old enough to entertain themselves, yet still like for me to participate occasionally
Friday- pizza for dinner means I don't have to cook
Saturday- preferably a no-schedule day with time for projects and reading and scrapbooking and all sorts of stuff that can't actually fit into a 24 hour day.

Six Places I Would Like to Visit Before I Die

London
Australia
Italy (Rome and Venice)
Greece
Alaskan Cruise
Paris (again!)

Five Things I do Everyday

Read (something, anything)
Crossword Puzzle (most days anyway)
talk on the phone
eat something chocolate
go on the computer for some reason

Four stores/websites I frequent

bigpicturescrapbooking.com
Target (the actual store)
amazon.com
ThePioneerWoman.com

Three Ways I Relax

walking
reading
scrapbooking

Two Decisions I Have Never Regretted

Finishing College before I got married
having children (not that I haven't had my moments, but I haven't ever truly regretted it)

One additional Thing You should know about me:

I am addicted to self-improvement and the ability to re-invent myself frequently (doesn't always take, but I keep trying.

Productivity

2008-07-07T22:19:00.004-04:00

I have been struggling with my productivity for a little while now. I think part of my outlook is dependent on my productivity, and so when it is low, I am low. Also, we had a weekend of no air conditioning, which also affects my general mood. Yesterday and today, I did some stuff. Lots of business stuff that really needed doing. I am feeling slightly better now, less like the ship is going to sink. I have made plans for improvements (a recurring theme in my life) and hope that they will help me be more consistent. In other news, the air conditioning was fixed today (AT NO CHARGE I MIGHT ADD) so that will help my mood as well. A good night's sleep is always beneficial to me, and I don't sleep well hot.

The last project I had to do for my photography class was a photo essay- it needed to have an "establishing shot, a mid range shot and a detail shot." Here was my entry:

They weren't my favorite photos of all time, but I had a difficult time picking a theme. I may try and do a few more of these photo essays- they help focus your efforts. I tend to shoot randomly at times, and this aids in organization. You can pick almost any theme, or it also plays into event photography, setting the scene, getting the details, etc.

I have a senior photo shoot tomorrow morning- I am looking forward to it. I got out my studio lights and backdrop tonight and I practiced my lighting. My class really helped me with a few things, especially moving people away from the background- you get less shadow that way- you should try it. My instructor was big on the shallow depth of field for a blurry background. I like those, too, but you have to be very careful of your focus points. I am taking this particular girl downtown in Fredericksburg and then back here for some studio shots after we use the morning light outside.

This part of my job I love- taking photos and processing them. The business side of things not so much, but it must be done, or you no longer get to do the taking and processing part.

In other news, I am trying, once again, to establish a daily devotional time. I really stink at this, which is why I am putting it out here into the blogosphere. I have always been one to cram my homework for Bible Study into one or two sessions before class. (I know, I know, for shame...) I have just finished reading A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study by Jen Hatmaker, and I really want to put it into practice. So, Shellie and Susan and DeAun (the only readers of this blog as far as I know), would you like to join me? The book is quite entertaining, and I need some accountability here. Let me know-

This is Love

2008-07-02T09:55:00.003-04:00

This is my birthday cake- made for me by my youngest daughter Alyssa. It was a labor of love, and only someone who decorates cakes can truly appreciate that. It involved two trips to the store, a miscalculation on doubling ingredients that resulted in four times as much frosting as was needed, and a lot of stress over writing with an icing tip. Considering she is TWELVE- I think it is awesome. Probably my favorite birthday thing this year. Most adult women couldn't make a cake this beautiful- and she even thought to line the back of the stamps with parchment paper so they didn't get greasy! And, if you could taste it, you would be even more impressed- it is so light and delicious- I have a hard time walking by it in the kitchen and not tasting it. mmm- thanks honey for a great birthday cake (and we all know I am in it for the cake- if you have to get older, it is the only thing that makes it bearable). We'll be making some fourth of July cupcakes to use up all of that frosting!!

Catching Up as I Turn 42!

2008-06-30T12:59:00.006-04:00

Today is my 42nd birthday- I do not feel the slightest bit different, so that is good, I suppose. I have already received flowers from my friend Shellie in California, and Alyssa is upstairs making my birthday cake- so it should be a good day.
In an effort to start MY new year off not running behind, I am going to attempt an update of what has happened since June 4th, when I last posted.

1. Getting a kid out of high school takes a lot of time- we attended something almost every other night for the last two weeks of school. Awards nights, baccalaureate, senior banquet, etc. It was fun to see all of the kids frequently during those few weeks, but it was pretty all encompassing. Tony's biggest award was Male Athlete of theYear. We were very proud, and a little surprised- he was up against some really talented guys.

2. Tony did actually graduate from high school on June 14th. I did not cry- one friend said that was because it was my first, and another said it was because he was a boy (so I guess I'm in trouble when it is Alyssa's turn!) I didn't cry at my own graduation, either, and I had a lot of friends that did, so maybe graduations just don't do it to me. I do know I will be an absolute mess when I drive away from CNU and Tony isn't in the car with me. Count on me to lose it then.

3. Tony and I went to Christopher Newport University for his orientation. We both stayed overnight in the dorms- I enjoyed only having one bag of stuff with me. Nice to travel light for a change. The sessions were all pretty good- only a few were not necessary. The campus is really beautiful- a lot of new buildings, and it is very walkable. Tony left pretty excited for the fall. I am glad he enjoyed it- one of the girls was crying, and I felt so bad for her. Tony has no trouble meeting people, and he was vaguely amused at some of the kids inability to mix with people they don't know.

4. The girls had their dance recital, so dance is finished for the year. They did a great job- I even ordered a DVD of one of the performances- at $39 a DVD- what a racket!! The week of recital is so intense that you are counting the days for it all to be over. Summer dance starts next week, so it isn't a long break, but it is something. Both girls want to work more on their technique this summer, so they are going to take some "privates" with Alyssa's ballet teacher. They are addicted to So You Think You Can Dance, and they have aspirations of greatness.

5. We had a graduation party for Tony with way too much food and way too many drinks (of all kinds). The party was fun- lots of people came, so that made me happy. Our backyard made for a lovely party venue, and the weather even held off, even against the power of Typhoon Mary!

6. Summer Swim Team started, and the first two meets are already under our belt. Hard to believe- four more to go!

7. Alex did decide to dance on dance team, so she is going to work hard all year to ensure that she makes varsity next year. I am proud of her for continuing, and for committing to working hard. I Hope she gets what she wants out of it.

8. I've been working hard on a photography class I am taking online. Having a deadline every week really makes you get out there and use the camera (even if sometimes it is the day of the deadline!). One of my favorite pieces of advice from that class is to Practice with the Camera- she says you would not only pull out an instrument only to play it on recital days, but we often only pull out the camera on the days of big events. So I am trying to make that a practice of mine- using the camera more. My manual work has improved significantly.

9. I have finally incorporated walking into my routine again. I hope I never totally drop out of exercising again, because the amount of energy required to overcome that amount of inertia is incredible. I don't know if I have it in me to start over again.

10. I did manage to get the house all cleaned before the company came- up next- the garage and the basement. I am still in the mood to get rid of things. I need to strike while that mood it hot.

11. Waiting impatiently for my new puppy- she has opened her eyes!

O.K., posting everything that has happened makes me think that I really wasn't that busy! What's up with that?? I will try and do better on my posting. Here's to summer!!

Winding Down

2008-06-04T22:55:00.002-04:00

The school year is definitely winding down- we are counting the days, and I have subbed my last day! I love that, because this time of year it is really babysitting more than anything, and I don't enjoy babysitting 13 year olds. The students are done, the teachers are done- it really isn't pretty.
Tomorrow I continue on my cleaning up and out project that I hope to finish in the next 7 days or so. I don't know if it can be done, but if it can, I will do it. I cleaned out under the bathroom cabinets- can you say medication that expired in 2006??- on Tuesday, worked on the linen closet organization, etc. I am ready to move on to the other rooms, because I am taking over the kids rooms on Monday morning if they have not sufficiently cleaned them by then. Having company always makes me motivated to get the house cleaned, and since moving here, we really haven't had much overnight company. (could be the lack of a guest room, but I don't know- that would be a reason Mark would say not to have a guest room, and I would say the opposite.)
Alex tried out for dance team today, and when I picked her up, she wasn't pleased with her performance and was claiming there was no way she would make varsity. She, unfortunately, was right. She made the JV squad again, and since she was captain of the JV squad last year, she is thinking of not dancing this year and swimming instead. That would be fine with me; I am just upset that she didn't get what she wanted. She is definitely not happy, and I hate it when my kids aren't happy, or don't get what they want. I know she will enjoy swimming, and anything else she chooses to do, but that is not the point tonight.
Alyssa doesn't have to go to school tomorrow because of the testing schedule. She is my best hope at cleaning help, so I am optimistic about what we can get done, with the bribe of eating out for lunch, or something. We shall see. I want to walk in the morning, but the tornado warnings will have to stop first.
Alyssa came down already tonight complaining about the lightning waking her up, and I know I won't sleep well with all of this racket going on. For some reason, this house howls with wind. It really freaks me out- I feel like I am going to wake up to big pieces of siding lying in the grass. When Mark is gone, it is really bad. Maybe I am tired enough to sleep through it tonight.
Off to bed to get some rest to be ready to work tomorrow.

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T21:11:00.004-04:00

Today was Memorial Day, well, I guess technically, it still is, but for my intents and purposes, this day is over. I am onto tomorrow in my head, planning all of the things I need to do and plan for this week and next. Only about 14 days of school left total, and my kids probably won't have to go the last few days of exams. Yikes!!I was quite productive this weekend, and so was Mark! Yippee!! My desk is cleaned off, my photos now have a back up hard drive in addition to the hard drive they are stored on, the graduation announcements are ready to go, party invites went out, I read two books, and worked on Tony's album. Really coming to the end of that- ordered some more pics for it tonight, and I hope to finish it by this weekend except for the graduation photos, that I can't put in until the end. I will build the pages for those shots first, so I know what I need to take for the book. Mark did all kinds of outdoor work, including trimming the giant holly bush that was taller than the house- he used the upstairs as a ladder, leaning out the window of our bedroom with a polesaw to cut the bush. He also repaired the sectional in the basement, and recaulked the kids' bathtub. Yay for us. Now we really need to have a garage sale next weekend. I had been holding onto stuff for the swim team sale, but when I asked where I could drop it off, they never got back to me, so I still have it all, and it is taking up quite a bit of room in my garage. Not like the rest of it is super neat, either. I figure we'll drag everything out to sell, and while we are waiting on buyers, we will clean out the rest of the crap. Is that a plan for success or what?I am energized by the amount we got done this weekend, so I am ready for the week. I am going to read a book the rest of the evening. Doesn't that sound wonderful??

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-23T20:26:00.003-04:00

Memorial Day weekend. The unofficial beginning of summer. I think the forecast here is actually for a warm and sunny day- very unusual. The pool in the neighborhood opens tomorrow- so hard to believe it is time for that already. This weekend has the advantage of having nothing on the schedule. I was supposed to have to play for the choir this week, but that got moved because the soloist was going to be out of town, so for now, no real commitments. Mark wants some help in the garage and in the yard (trimming the holly bushes), and of course I have plenty to do, but I like the fact that we are not on a time crunch.

Took the girls to Target today to let them buy some clothes. I gave them each $100 and told them they were in charge. Well, Alex managed to spend most of her money, but both girls were a little shocked at the sizes they required. Aren't we all. Hated to hear them saying how fat they were, but we all need to get in better shape. I did manage to walk this morning. They are trying to adjust to living without so many hours of swimming each week.

For my photography class, I posted an environmental portrait- I used one of Alyssa in her bedroom. It is the kind of photo I have been wanting to take, so that you can see her Jonas Brothers posters on her wall, but also see the stuffed animal she sleeps with each night. The tween stuff is fleeting, and I wanted to capture it. This assignment gave me the deadline to get it done.

You can also see her beautifully straightened teeth in this photo. I took a whole bunch all in a row, and she liked this one the best. It is a little posed, but I am glad I have it. I can't believe I managed to take a photo in the house with no flash! So proud of myself. Really learning some stuff about my camera and how to manipulate it to get the pictures I see in my head.

Have a wonderful weekend. I hope to achieve the balance of free time doing fun things and accomplishing some things.

Disappointed

2008-05-20T22:21:00.003-04:00

Tonight's game did not go as planned- we lost 4-3 in a game with Albemarle. We beat them twice in the regular season. We had 11 hits and only 3 runs- we left 12 runners on base. We got hits, just not enough of them together. Tony's high school baseball career is officially over. Weird. At least he is not done playing ball forever- we have college games to look forward to.
Tony handled it very well. He had a good game personally, so I think that helps. Another thing finished at the end of the year- but this time it is the last year, so that makes it different.
Busy making invitations for the graduation party, and ordering senior pics from the developer, and addressing announcements. Hard to believe it is all almost over- not just baseball. very weird.
Alex and Alyssa have been such troupers while we drove to Tony's games and left them to go to dance and get picked up by different people. Tomorrow is Alex's chorus concert. I am glad we will all get to go to that. Alyssa's year is winding down, too. SOL tests start this week for her- the schools go all kinds of crazy over them, but thankfully, they don't faze my kids too much.
Feel a cold coming on- need some rest, so I am going to head to bed.

FLOWERS

2008-05-20T08:51:00.002-04:00

These are the beautiful flowers I have on my deck.

This is the one of the gorgeous hanging baskets the kids got me for mother's day. I love how they brighten up the deck!!

Baseball

2008-05-19T22:59:00.002-04:00

We won the first round of the district baseball tournament tonight (3-0 against Massaponax). I am very excited for the team. They have been through a lot lately, and they deserve some wins.
Subbed today- not really liking the one day sub jobs. I enjoy more autonomy than that. I had to sit in class while they read silently. The teachers are doing something called Work to the Rule. In order to protest the fact that they are not getting any kind of raise this year, they are just working to the absolute letter of their contracts. That means not getting there a minute early, and not staying a minute extra. It was odd to have someone coming through the halls saying- three more minutes, you need to be out of here at the end of the day.
Planned a lot of things to do in the house before the big graduation to do. Need to start on some of that tomorrow. I may even call a house cleaner to see how much that would be the week of the party. It would be so nice to have all of that done at once- just can't afford much to have someone else do it.
Must go to bed- game two of the tournament is tomorrow at 5. Can't wait.

Weekend Report

2008-05-17T22:49:00.003-04:00

Saturday night and I am blogging- what a life! We had my niece's birthday party last night, so I went out to my sister's house with the girls. Always so nice to go there- very relaxing for me (again, not in my own house- and hers is always so neat there would be no pressure to do anything anyway!). She just had her back yard landscaped, and it is beautiful. I brought home my bright geraniums (and a few extras) to add to my pots on the deck. I will try and post photos soon. The red really makes all of the flowers pop. Love the color.
Tony had a baseball playoff game today, and we got killed. I took it really hard- probably harder than Tony. Trying to get over it and move on to Monday night's first game in the district tournament. Sports are hard for me- I don't like to lose. Hard on a mama who can't do anything to affect the outcome.
This one will be short. I will try and get several promised photos up tomorrow. Enjoy your Sunday!

Snow Day? Rain Day?

2008-05-12T21:51:00.005-04:00

My kids were off school today for rain. Apparently, our drought ridden landscape cannot handle 6.5 inches of rainfall in only four days. Anyway, thank goodness for text messaging. My high schoolers would have gone all the way to school if not for a few well-timed texts. I had been watching the news all morning and no mention of no school at all- then suddenly, we were being texted that there was no school. I checked the school website, and sure enough, no school today. So I still haven't had that full day at home alone since my sub job ended.

However, much like our lesson at church on Sunday, I took some iniative in Tony's room. I think I washed almost every piece of clothing the boy owns, and we discovered that he owns way too much. We got rid of a few things, but he is completely stocked for clothing. Maybe not shorts, but certainly everything else. The things we got rid of were things from freshman year, when he wore things really big... so they weren't things he had grown out of, but rather things he finds too large to wear now. We (read I) reorganized all of his drawers and his closet. More navy mesh shorts and white t-shirts than anyone can imagine. That cleaned off his floor for the most part. I may go in there tomorrow and try to finish a few things up. I think I did a dozen loads of laundry today, and I am still not finished. Tony has been washing just what he needed for the next day for a while now, so his had really piled up.

On Sunday afternoon, I managed to get a few good pics to be senior pictures of the boy. I like these a lot better than the ones I took in the fall. This was taken just inside the front door, using the natural light from the open door- during a two hour period where it was not raining! Part of this was an assignment for my photography class- using natural light and full manual settings for the camera. I really like the results.

Tomorrow, Alyssa gets her braces off, and as that is the only thing keeping her looking like a 12 year old, I am not sure what to expect. I'll try and have pics tomorrow.

Hopefully everyone will be back where they are supposed to be tomorrow.

Back to Normal??

2008-05-10T20:56:00.002-04:00

Well, my long term sub assignment ended on Thursday, so I had a day to myself on Friday. I cleaned out my clothes closet and my front entry closet. So far, so good, on adapting the front closet to keep me from dumping my stuff in the chair in the office. I have been really good about putting my camera bag and purse away when I come in the front door. Hopefully, it will become a habit.
I worked on a "poster" for Tony for our church today. Parents put together a poster (most people, including me, use a multi-opening frame) to hang in the church for a couple of weeks around graduation time. It is supposed to depict their life this far. Well, I found a frame that I kind of liked, but it is VERY difficult to narrow an 18 year life down to 15 pictures. There were so many that didn't make the cut- I can hardly believe it. I made sure there were some with Alex and Alyssa, and some with Mark and I, and a family photo, and photos of all different ages- it was tough. I think it is going to be nice- now that I have selected the photos, I need to trim them and clean the glass, and put the whole thing together. The frame is black- and there is no mat, just the frame (I'll try and post a picture of it when I finish it.) I am thinking about using white rubons to put a few words on it, but I don't know. I may just leave it plain. I did find that I didn't think I took enough pictures of Tony in the years when the girls were little- I didn't like that.
Today I walked through a scrapbook store just for the inspiration. I need to work on some pages- I have been concentrating on my photography class, and haven't given Library of Memories the time it deserves. I hope to catch up a bit in the next few weeks. My plan is to give myself some days with time to myself that doesn't involve shopping. I have no problem taking time for myself if it involves leaving the house (i.e. to shop!), but I can't seem to take that time if I am in the house. I guess I feel guilt if I am here and not doing anything to help the house- I don't know why shopping doesn't bother me. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. I am hoping to plan some scrapping and reading days instead of shopping days.
I read a blog by Ali Edwards http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/ and this week she had a whole series on words + photos. All about writing the stories of our life. I need to do that. Looking through all of those storage albums, looking for pictures of Tony, I was reminded of a lot of stories that I am not sure I have told in my albums. The series is really good. I like her style- she is very honest in her journaling, and she always starts with the story. I always start with teh photos, almost exclusively. She is also very good at documenting her life right now- her coffee, her laptop, etc. I would like to do that, too. When I think that Tony was already almost a year old when we bought our first computer! The changes we have been through just in our family... see there is a story right there! I need to get busy- she uses a journaling program on the mac, but I will probably just open a word document.
Have a wonderful Mother's Day- I wasn't too good with coming up with ideas for things I wanted, so who knows what I will get?! I would like all of the chores to be done. I don't know if that will happen, and I want to take pictures of Tony in his cap and gown. Hopefully that can happen tomorrow. I would want to go to DC or somewhere, but it is supposed to rain AGAIN tomorrow.

Welcome Spring

2008-05-05T22:07:00.002-04:00

We are finally at a place where I believe spring is here to stay. Virginia is the only place I have ever lived where the seasons are like the ones in the story books- 3 months for each. It will indeed still be spring here into June, whereas in Atlanta where I grew up, spring was a couple of weeks in early April when the dogwoods and the azaleas bloomed just before the humidity hit. Summer will last until October, and then it will be fall for 2 weeks until winter comes. In Virginia, I have discovered that 3 months is too long for most seasons. You are really good and tired of one before the next one comes. Perhaps it is just the conditioning of growing up in the deeper south, but spring is way too long for me. I love the summer, and it makes the end of the school year seem to drag on.

Speaking of the end of the school year- my last long term day is three short days away. I cannot believe it. Tony is graduating in 6 weeks. Ack! We just received the form to sign up for monthly tuition payments, which conveniently, start in June. So hard to believe- some days I don't think he will make it in college, and then I remember all of the idiots I went to college with who did just fine, and I know he can do better than they did. I just don't know. Sometimes the judgment of a 18 year old is a little off. (and yes, I had to go back and type over the number where I just typed 17 instead of 18). Maybe I was an old soul, but I remember being more mature than this. Maybe it is a faulty memory.

So, welcome spring, it is about time you got here. I will try to enjoy all of you and not rush the hot summer along.

ps- look closely at the sidelight windows- can you find the crazy Marine??

Mom of an 18 year old

2008-05-03T20:56:00.003-04:00

Well, my baby turned 18 this week. A little shocking. Pleased to have made it this far. Prom is tonight, and my boy and his girl broke up 6 days ago. He went anyway, and that was dicey for a while, so I am glad he went. He wasn't sure about the stag thing, but lots of kids do it. I hope he will have a good time and dance with whoever he wants to. He sure looks good:

He always looks good dressed up. He seems more comfortable in dressy clothes than most boys his age. He is happy to be holding those Honda keys, too. I think that is his favorite part- driving my car.

Today I finished the second coat of paint on the front door trim. That is really making me want to paint the front door tan- my family is not on board with this change, but I am really starting to want it. New black knocker and handle. My fabulous neighbor already bought me a new WELCOME for the front door ( my current one would have to go if I painted the door.) Also bought and planted impatiens and some Liriope around the holly. Things are looking good around here- new doormat, etc. I just wish the plants weren't so small. I am starting to plan some pots for the deck, but they may have to wait until next payday, or possibly Mother's Day. I could ask for a gift card to buy the plants- we'll see.

Only four days of long term work for me. Can't believe how fast it went. Hope I get some more subbing days before the end of the year. I will have to ask them to remember me in the front office. Sometimes they forget to call you when you have been there everyday. But first, some time to get life back together. It didn't fall quite so far apart this time. Hoping to get my entryway problems solved- I need to clean out my hall closet and set it up to be my dropping place instead of the chair in the office. Not sure what I need to facilitate that, but I am pretty sure I already own it. We'll see.

Looking forward to a little time to myself. Need to go through and upload three games worth of pics for baseball. Not looking forward to that. Must start tomorrow. Happy Saturday night. Remember your prom- was it fun for you??

Locks of Love

2008-04-29T23:14:00.003-04:00

From this ...

to this...

in one short afternoon. Alex got her hair cut on Monday for Locks of Love. Over 10 inches came off (and she still has long hair!). It was kind of emotional for her, but she is really glad to have done it. She has started to look a lot like Alyssa. I am sure we'll get used to it. The pony tail for dance was really cute today! A new look for spring- she is still my beautiful girl.

TGIF

2008-04-25T17:07:00.002-04:00

Finally, Friday is here. I have so many things to get done this weekend; I don't really know where to begin. I suppose I should make a list, as that is how I generally get anything done. Right now, I can't even focus enough to make the list!!
Need to do something creative this weekend, but it may just be cleaning for me. We'll see. I have two weeks left of my long term sub job, and I can't believe how fast this one has gone. Six weeks is nothing when your first job of the year was four months!!
Want to work on my House that Cleans Itself. I did make a purchase (I know that it's out of order, but I saw a solution that I hope will help with the mail issue in my house.) Mail just stacks up around the kitchen and family room until I make one big pile and deal with it. Hopefully, this will eliminate some of the stacks. DeAun has always said the pile is my enemy, and I know that, but I can't seem to get them out of my house. Piles of laundry, piles of dishes, piles of paper, piles of stuff dropped off by people coming in the house (only Tony is really exempt from that comment, and the floor of his room is proof he takes EVERYTHING upstairs when he enters.) I am hoping the book will make a difference. I am going to set up my devotion station and work on my entry way this weekend, I think. I have to reread parts to know what order I am supposed to be doing things in. I think I have to make a drawing, too. Good Luck to me!
Tony may have a baseball game on Saturday afternoon, which would be interesting to take pictures of- I rarely have enough light to shoot a whole game. Weather is changing to good for the duration- I think we have passed the freeze points, so I may be off to the nursery for some impatiens to plant, and maybe some other plants, too. I want to plant some pots for the deck and that is FULL SUN, baby, so I need to do some research on what can survive out there. The front yard is almost all shade, so it will be totally different. Just writing on this blog is reminding me of things I want to do- yikes, really need to start the list!!
Happy Weekend!

LAST CHEMO WEDNESDAY

2008-04-23T15:14:00.003-04:00

Today was our last chemo Wednesday! For the last 11 weeks or so, I have been taking my friend to chemotherapy on Wednesday mornings. (She had twelve of these treatments, but I wasn't there for the first one) Then, I drive her back to school where she teaches for the rest of the day. Since I have been long term subbing for the past three weeks, I have been going back to work, too. Today was the last treatment!! It was very exciting- we took the whole day off to go out to lunch and shop a bit. Very nice break in the middle of the work week. A little emotional- -I will miss my Wednesday mornings with Gena and all of the fabulous nurses that are on staff at the oncology center. The picture is of Gena with Dr. Muir, who promised to wear his kilt on the day of her last treatment. He really came through- doesn't he look great? I mean, this was not just throwing on a skirt- check out the tassels on the socks and everything!

All of the other patients applauded as they took out the line and announced it was her last treatment. Several said how much they enjoyed having her there, but hoped they would never see her in the chairs there again. Amen to that. Here's hoping this protocol wiped out any vestige of remaining cancer. She's on to reconstruction and final healing. Nothing but good thoughts and prayers heading her way. I just know she is on the road back to total health.

Yum!

2008-04-21T22:09:00.003-04:00

Yum! Don't you wish more of your social outings included cupcakes?

Took some pics at a 2 year old birthday party- gotta love this age- lots of movement, and no coordination of activities. Everyone does their own thing near one another, but not with each other. Maybe adults would have more fun if they could do that at parties, too. I'll just be over here, reading for a while, you feel free to surf the web or whatever. Actual conversation?? Cooperative play?? Who needs it??

That's not really what I would want- I do want conversation, preferably sprinkled with sparkling wit. Anyone know where I can find some of that??

42nd Street

2008-04-20T15:45:00.004-04:00

We had a bit of a rough weekend. Justin's viewing was Friday, and the funeral was Saturday. Attending funerals for 18 year olds is WAY down on the list of things I ever want to do again. Tony did such a good job speaking. I could tell he was nervous (talked a little fast), but he did a great job. I asked him if being a pall bearer was hard after he got back from the graveside, and he said it was, and that he never wanted to do that again. I hope he doesn't have to do it for a friend again until he is a very old man.

We ended Friday and Saturday nights with 42nd Street, and that was wonderful. I was amazed at the talent. There is a lot of tap dancing in that show, and the girls were fabulous. The voices on the leads were amazing as well. So proud of all of those girls I know through Tony and Alex. Considering the drama teacher left before production really started, and the choral teacher was out on maternity leave, it could have been a major mess. It was not in any way a mess. I loved it all, and it helped to end my Saturday on such a happier note.

Can't believe another week starts tomorrow. This past week was alternately really long and really quick. Mark is on his way to Camp LeJeune for a couple of days. I hope to have things in the house under better control when he gets back. I am particularly intrigued by a book DeAun gave me- The House that Cleans Itself. Would love to get that working. I am about half way through, and I can definitely see the wisdom. Going to try and start slowly while I am still working.

Looking forward to a more positive week and time to blog and work on pictures. Have an assignment for class that I didn't have time for this weekend, and will have to fit it in tomorrow. All about Point of View. Can't wait- may need to bribe Alyssa...

Ahead of the Game

2008-04-11T16:04:00.002-04:00

It is Friday afternoon, and I am already home from school. We had a teacher workday, and I got to leave after my grades were exported (and not before 2:30). My grades were exported before noon, so I am way ahead on next week. All of the copying and planning is done. Hooray- good to know I won't be rushing around when I go in on Monday! Love feeling ahead of the game, and work is one of the only places I get that. You are almost never ahead of the game at home. Darn kids want to eat more than once a day, and don't get me started on how many clothes they wear. Laundry could be a full time occupation. Nice to be ahead somewhere.
This weekend, I am shooting a two year old birthday party- I am kind of excited. Been a while since I've done the Blue's Clues set. Hoping to get some good images. Maybe even some for my class. If I can't get a good one tomorrow, I will have to set something up for Sunday. My class is studying Documentation (what we do most of the time) vs. Interpretation (what those classic images are) Hoping to luck upon an interpretive image or two of independence or toddlerhood, or something. We'll see. Hope the weather holds for outside shots, and for the sake of the mom giving the party.
Baseball game tonight- shooting that, too. Need to process both games this weekend. Also have a quinceanara to go to Saturday evening. Should be nice. Alex is dancing in this one for her friend Alexis. Hope to get a few good shots of that, too. Camera should be getting a workout. I need all the practice I can get.
I really need to work on perfecting the technical aspects of the camera so that the art of the picture is all I have to really think about. Once the technical part is good, the critical eye is all you have to worry about. That only comes with practice. Working on it- time (as always and with all things) is an issue. At least I will be forced to work with the camera this weekend. It's a good thing.

Blog Update

2008-04-10T15:55:00.002-04:00

Haven't blogged as much as I want to, but this full time work is kicking my butt. I really need a little time to myself. Luckily, there is a lot of photography work right now between baseball and a few spring sessions, but that just continues to cut into the "me" time.

1. Biggest Loser- I love this show and everyone needs to go and vote for Roger to be in the finale. http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser_5/vote/register.shtml I have really gotten into this season- I am not sure, but I am thinking Ali might really be the first female biggest loser. Roger is a big guy (6'3") and I don't know how small he can get. I tell everyone I know that I want to be on "The Moderate Loser" for people who want to lose between 10 and 50 lbs. Ok., and I want to know the plan they were on this last week, for people to lose 10-15 lbs. in week 15 of a diet and exercise plan, they did SOMETHING- that doesn't just happen.

2. The sun is finally shining again. At least for this afternoon. I do not do well without light. Ask anyone. I am not productive in drizzly gray days, and that is all we have had for a week. probably a contributing factor to lack of blog.

3. The mama dog for my as yet unconceived (is that a word?) puppy is in heat! She should be bred this weekend, and that means an LL Bean cover-worthy puppy is headed my way at the end of next month. I cannot wait to get a new puppy. They are so much fun. Furry love.

4. I have a teacher workday tomorrow. I have some work to get done, and I think they are going to let us work tomorrow and not go to a bunch of classes. That means I will have completed two weeks of my six. So much shorter than the last job!

5. So much to do- don't know when it is all going to get done, but I got one of the hardest things off my list today, so YAY for me.

I'll try and be a little more consistent on this blogging thing. I think it is good for me to write things down and gain a little perpective.

In Memoriam

2008-04-09T21:11:00.003-04:00

Justin Whitaker 9/7/89-4/7/08

The world lost a great kid this week. One I have always been happy to know. a happy kid. a kid who loved baseball. a kid who would say your name in the kind of voice that made you think he was thrilled to see you. even if you were just the mom of one of his teammates. such a strong spirit. the kind of person you hope you would be if you were struck with cancer in high school. the kind of inspiration you would be happy to call your own son. the kind of superhero that could bring a community together in ways I have never seen. this is Justin. the best kind of kid. the kind God wanted to spend more time with. the kind we are so sorry to see go. the kind of kid who will never be forgotten. We'll see you on the other side and I can't wait to hear you say "Mrs. Adams!" like you are thrilled to see me again.

The Best Laid Plans...

2008-04-02T21:28:00.000-04:00

so, back to that to-do list for Monday. I had just started listing items on page 2 while I was having breakfast. Not the best thing to do while you eat, but I was trying to multi-task. The phone rang, and it was the school where I substitute teach. I was planning to turn down the job as I answered the phone. I just needed a couple of days after spring break without the kids in the house to get things back on track. Guess again- the woman whose maternity leave I was covering had the nerve to have her baby on the last night of spring break. (TWO WEEKS early- none of my kids came early- o.k. none of my kids came without being forced, but still...) So I got no notice, and now I am back in the classroom every day until May 9. Not that I am counting or anything.

I am teaching Math to sixth graders. Yesterday I had to show them how to measure things with a ruler. It isn't the Geometry class I was teaching in January, but you can't say they won't ever use it.

My two page list is being pushed to the weekend, along with a few other things that will need to happen during that very short two day period. I know I am a whiner about this, but I do not know how moms who work full time do it. I know I would have to have some hired help, which would mean making more money than this. I am paying the youngest child to do a few jobs around the house- she cleaned out my refrigerator beautifully, and she is working on the pantry as I type. Love that kid.

My Spring Challenge is starting slowly. I haven't done any of the exercise part unless driving counts. I am concentrating on water and sleep this week. I will try and continue to add to it as I go. I really want to get my act together about my health. Every Wednesday I take my friend to Chemotherapy for her breast cancer. Every Wednesday we talk and laugh and make plans for "Chemo- the musical." She is amazing. I know she hears it all of the time from all kinds of people. I have to say that I have said she was amazing from the time that I met her, well before a cancer diagnosis focused attention on her amazing-ness. She is an excellent teacher, but more importantly, an excellent human being. Proud to know her. Proud to drive her to chemo and sit beside her. (Will link to her blog as soon as I figure out how to do that.) But I have to say that Wednesdays have started making me focus on my health. At 41, I need to work a little more diligently on that.

and with that, I need some sleep...

Sunday Night Blues

2008-03-30T20:41:00.000-04:00

It is the end of Spring Break. I hate that. Tomorrow we go back to schedules and practices and classes, etc. I enjoy the unstructured bit a lot more. I didn't get enough done to satisfy myself, nor did I get enough pure relaxation to make that o.k. Sometimes, it just doesn't happen that way.

So, tomorrow I will have a big to-do list which hopefully I can cross things off of in order to feel productive. One of the things I have to do is finish my book for Book Club- Until Proven Innocent, which is a book about the Duke Lacrosse rape case. I have a need for the world to be fair (even though my mother told me constantly that it wasn't) and this book is driving me crazy. Doesn't help that I have a son in that demographic of college bound athlete, and it just infuriates me on behalf of those mothers who had to watch that. Seriously upping my blood pressure, I am sure. Making it hard to read for long stretches.

Looking forward to a day alone in my house, though. I do enjoy some time away from the Disney channel (the youngest) and/or ESPN (the oldest) audio constantly droning in the background.

Now that spring is officially here, I need a new set of goals to work on. Stacy Julian posted a summer time challenge last year, and I think I want to attempt it this spring in an effort to get a jump on the summer thing.

Here are the basics:

Throw away or hide the scale
Purchase or check out a good book to read from everyday
Get at least seven hours of sleep six nights a week
Replace negative self talk with positive affirmations
Refuse to gossip or add negativity to any conversation

Life Summary

Love yourself just the way you are, but commit to becoming a better version of you, by throwing out anything that sends messages of guilt to your brain. Decide instead to fill your mental bucket with good, uplifting and motivational stuff.

· 30 minutes of sustained, aerobic exercise 3-4 times a week
· 20 to 30 minutes of strength training exercise 2-3 times a week
· 15 minute walk (outside) every single day, opposite your exercise

Exercise Summary

Six days a week, twice a day. If you are doing aerobic/strength training in the a.m., then you walk in the evening. If you are exercising in the evening, then you start each day with a brisk “fresh air” walk. Take one rest day each week.

· Eat breakfast by 8:00 every day.
· Correct issues with portion control
· Eat 3 fresh/unadulterated servings of fruit/veggies everyday
· One or less caffeinated/diet drink per day
· No fast food
· No eating after 7 Monday thru Thursday
· Drink 3 glasses of water between meals each day
· No indiscriminate snacking

Food Summary

Six days a week, eat 5-6 portion-controlled meals a day. Three of these meals should be eaten slow enough to savor each food.

The only thing that I know for sure I cannot do is stop eating by 7- many times dinner is at 7:30, especially during baseball season. I will just pledge not to eat after dinner.

I would really like to lose 10 lbs by the middle of June. I would really LOVE to lose 15 lbs by then.

There, I said it. If it is on the web, it must be true, right??
Happy Spring!

Friends

2008-03-29T08:55:00.000-04:00

I have become really picky about friends as I get older. I mean, when my kids were little, any warm body at the playground was just fine. Just sit and talk grown up with me, please. Now that my little people aren't so little (as in, I am tied with one of them for shortest in the group), I find it harder to make good quality friends. I think I've started listening to what they are actually saying now.

One of my very good friends, Michele, has a daughter who is my daughter's (the one I tied for shortest with) very good friend. The kind of friend who can come visit your house for 3 days of spring break and cause not a ripple in the fabric of your life. Not one. No visit from the younger sister complaining that the bigger girls won't include her, or anything. It was wonderful to have her here. I just wish Michele could have come. Then I could have had a friend to hang out and talk with, too. But she did the next best thing- she sent chocolate covered fruit. yum.

I am trying to look at the bright side of the fact that most of my friends do not live locally. I am lucky to have many friends in many places, thanks to the Marine Corps. I have a killer Christmas Card list. Unfortunately, this does not always translate to someone to call and go shopping with on a Tuesday.

I did get to spend time with a friend last night, scrapbooking with her and several members of her family who were visiting. I am currently working on a Halloween album, which showcases all of the kids' costumes. Actually, I think I finished it last night, but I want to look at it all together and see if it needs anything else added. I am also working on an album for my son's graduation from high school, which is coming a lot faster than I think. I am almost finished with it, except for the pages I can't do yet, like graduation itself and this year's baseball season and prom. I liked having other people to scrap with, as I generally do that all by myself in my basement. Pattie's cousin is quite talented- her pages were fabulous. I really enjoyed sitting by her and watching her work.

Another thing for my to-do list- make more time to spend with friends. Right after make more local friends.