Oh MY goodnesssssss

I'M ENGAGED!!!! TO THE BOY!!!!

Getting Old

I mentioned earlier that I spent the weekend in Chicago, where apparently it is quite necessary to have many locks on your doors. I felt safe, to say the least.

We had a great time out in the city - and I have to admit we had a great time just hanging out during our "down time" as we dubbed it. Watched Twilight (haha) and ordered spaghetti. Yea, ordered it.. to the door... with many locks. I wish Toledo had a spaghetti delivery service.

We also took the "L" (or el?) to Michigan Ave for some shopping. I spent a lot of money I probably shouldn't have spent but seriously - what a great weekend.

I'm getting old though. Today I had the hardest time getting out of bed. It felt like I had been hit by a train (the L perhaps?) and I just think my body needs way more sleep than I'm able to give it.

Also, I dyed my hair black today.

Ahhhhh 24

Today is my birthday.

I spent it with friends and family.

I received balloons, cake, a lunch box, and beautiful earrings. And that's not counting the sweet cam bag the boy bought me a few weeks ago for today (which I begged to receive early!)

I had the most wonderful birthday and an amazing weekend. Chicago pictures will be posted... possibly tonight. Sorry if you missed me Friday & Saturday! Just know that I was thinking about what would make great blog posts the whole time!

Birthday week(end)

My birthday is Sunday, and so far I've...

been surprised with the best birthday cake EVER from the girls at work! Edward <3 Rachel, oh YEAH! They surprised me at lunch time, I had NO IDEA they would do anything, much less a birthday cake with Rob Pattinson proclaiming his "heart" for me! haha!! And I...

got a bottle of the very $$$ Crown Royal from the boy so I can make my favorite drink, crown & diet coke, whenever I want! Well.. not whenever I want but within reason!

Tomorrow I head to Chicago for the weekend, so I'm not sure yet if I will be able to blog. I am planning on taking my laptop so it's definitely a possibility. If not, rest assured I will make a birthday post and show you what I was up to all weekend!

Have a great weekend!!

100th

So... This is my 100th Post!! Woohoo! To mark the awesomeness of this event, I've decided to post 100 pictures! So here goes... enjoy!

Click to view larger image

I've really enjoyed this blog these past few months. It has seriously helped me in so many ways, which sounds silly but is true. I hope I have entertained you in the blog reading world and I will continue to try to keep things fun and interesting! Yay 100!

Photoshop Disaster, but easy on the eyes

Sometimes when I get to work, it takes me a few minutes to really get focused and working. Today was no exception. Lauren and Lauren and I were discussing Twilight (guilty pleasure) and I happened to mention that the actor who plays James in the movie is quite nice on the eyes. I pulled up IMDB to prove my point, happened to find a particularly nice picture and set it as my desktop background (on 'tile' of course. What's better than one Cam Gigandet? Many Cam Gigandets) This brought on many giggles, which led up to this point.

I'm really not a horrible photoshopper, but you see, I had to do this UBER fast because, c'mon, it was company time! So I posted it on Facebook as my profile picture and waited for Lauren squared to notice. We were in tears laughing so hard.

Yup, all day I had this little number on my page just for giggles. He's my new celebrity crush, and yea, I know - we do look good together!

Coffee Shop

One week from this Friday the boy and my friend Rachel will be singing/playing at a coffee shop. Aaaaaand... they might have a special guest! Me!! If we can find a full size decent piano keyboard, I will be joining the duo for at least 3 at most 5 songs. The only problem is that we can't seem to find a keyboard. Any ideas???

Family

I love when I get to see the extended family. Many of us live in the same city and we can't seem to get together more than two or three times a year. It's really a shame because I would love to spend more time with them! Tonight was great - we had burgers and taco salad at my Aunt and Uncle's and with the exception of my brother and his family (sorely missed) and my grandparents, everyone was there. Well, ok also Eric didn't come. So really I shouldn't say everyone because 7 VIPs were not in attendance.

However, we even had a bonus family member come! Chloe belongs to my cousin and his wife. Adorable pup, truly.

I've been totally extroverted lately. I'm not sure where it's coming from exactly, but it feels sort of like part of the "old me." Last year was a rough year in that I struggled with my self image and who I felt I was becoming. Finally I feel confident and happy to have myself back! Cheers!

But really, that had a point. I was able to truly take part in conversations tonight - and not be so shy and unsure. I probably even talked too much! Ahh geez! Anyway, I hope to be able to get to know my own family members better in the coming months...

Great weekend. I'm pooped.

ovrNout

Googly Eyes Strike Again!

As I was leaving my friend Ashley's house this morning, I decided to pull a little prank so I hope she doesn't check my blog before discovering that...

She's been googly eye-d!! I couldn't help but giggle to myself as I walked out.

visual cues

A lovely international dinner

My dad had some of his co-workers and his boss over for dinner tonight. It doesn't sound too exciting, but I was definitely excited for it. He had the same three guys for dinner in December and we were all very happy to have them back tonight. Lee, my dad's boss, is from Australia. Jose is from Monterrey (but lives in Oregon, if I remember correctly) and Shiv (not sure that I am spelling that right) is from India. Lee and Shiv both live in Singapore.

I had no idea where Singapore was located, but found out it is exactly 12 hours from here. So, it's 10:30 in the morning there now! So check it out, Singapore is at the very bottom of Malaysia, on the water.

That looks amazing! Our guests also started telling us about a fruit called durian. Apparently, it stinks so bad that it's practically unbearable but is considered a delicacy. When my dad was in Singapore, he tried it and only had a few words to say about that experience! I can't imagine trying to eat something that smelled horrible and had the texture of coagulated butterscotch pudding (!? Dad's description)...

Blech.

We talked about religion for some time tonight. It was a thought provoking, emotion stirring, amazing conversation that I don't want to put into my scatter brained words just yet for fear of lessening the time. That's all that I feel like I am doing - writing a 7th grade diary entry - and I try to avoid that as much as I can. So I'm going to stop rambling, say that I had an excellent day and an even more excellent evening, and am on my way to bed to watch some TV and fall asleep.


Images pulled from: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/ , http://www.durian.com , and google maps

Just gotta have a little -

I have a problem. I am a scaredy cat, to put it in the words of an 8 year old. For some reason, I have been terrified lately.. of all sorts of things. Mostly I'm scared for my safety (and the safety of those that I love) but it's really starting to get out of hand.

I don't like being home alone.
I have to have the doors locked (my car while I'm in it, the house in or out of it)
I don't like taking showers while I'm home alone and will avoid it at all costs.
I think of scenarios that would terrify me, then proceed to be terrified.

It's just crazy! The other day, I mentioned locking the car doors to my Mom who then said something that has gotten me thinking. She said, "There are two kinds of people in the world. People like you, and people like me." Naturally I asked for more, because that could mean any number of things. She told me I am the kind of person to constantly expect catastrophe, whereas she rarely thinks of such things. Well, I'm quite jealous to be honest. I think there's definitely a place for being cautious and careful, but being obsessive about it is no good.

I don't want to be that person.

I guess I just need to have a little faith.

Greeeeeen

Happy St Patrick's Day!! Did you wear green?

Camping!

I've decided that this summer I would like to randomly go camping somewhere. This summer seems to be filling up already, and it's only March! Oh boy... There's something about seeing the first few warmish days of the year that makes me want to plan or at least look forward to exciting summerish days.

Also, hiking. I would like to hike more. I probably could use better hiking footwear however. This hike almost killed us.

We survived the longest hike ever using our intellect, water bottles, and casual conversation. Overall, an excellent camping experience in the foothills (I am not sure it is foothills but I really want to call it that) of West Virginia.

Ahh, memories.

A beautiful day

I did not fall asleep at my desk last night, in case you were wondering. I did, however, wake up horribly sick.

.. ok, not horribly sick.. but fairly sick!

As often happens, the weather does not coincide with my health and Toledo decides to provide a blue, sunny sky with temperatures in the 50s. So, I grabbed my jacket and took my sniffly sneezy self outside with the boy and my pup.

Do you ever wonder what makes walks so exciting for dogs? Roxy was just incredibly thrilled to be tethered to a leash, and walked in whatever direction the humans decided to take her with no complaint. Her tail never stopped wagging and I swear she was smiling. Wouldn't it be nice to take such enormous pleasure in the small things in life?

So go take a walk! Put a huge smile on your face, wag your tail (err...) and enjoy it! No leash necessary.

zzzzz

I am absolutely, positively, without a doubt, unbelievably exhausted. My biggest goal right now is to get downstairs to brush the teeth and such, then back upstairs straight to bed.

I'm just not so sure I can make my body cooperate with those plans. This just might be a better idea...

Yesterday

I totally took this photo last night and meant for it to be posted last night but I got back after midnight and was exhausted. Forgive me? From here on I will pretend as though I just got back from my evening with friends.

I'm starting to feel the St Patty's Day atmosphere around town. I think St Patty's is one of those 'holidays' that gets people to start thinking about spring. In NW Ohio we have had warm March 17ths before as well as clear blue skies. Here's hopin for one of those this year!

Tonight I went to The Claddaugh which is this area's best efforts for an Irish Pub. The place is beautifully designed, especially the tall ceilings. It was nice to go out with some friends after such a long week. A long, difficult, and trying week...

Tomorrow (ahem, today) is another busy day but hopefully it will be full of opportunities for great photos. I hope you all enjoy your Saturday..

I promised...

This little piggy went "wee wee wee" all the way...

...down from the big tall tree
that the boy unsafely placed him in.

And all the boy's tools couldn't put this piggy together again.

That's called a mash-up. You know, like those cool mixed up songs you hear in the club like Kelly Clarkson and Outkast... only with nursery rhymes.

Transformation

Yesterday was the Officially Unofficial Pippi Longstocking day. How'd that go for you? This morning I was thinking about P.L. again as I glanced at the blog and couldn't help but wonder what the actress who played P.L. looked like now. So, with the help of IMDB and google image search, I can show you what Tami Erin looks like:

She's fabulous!! That "freckled-face red haired girl" grew up looking absolutely gorgeous! Of course, this got me thinking about my own sort of transformation that is growing up. Mine isn't as spectacular but here goes:

That's me on the right. Awkward brace face 7th grader right there right? So, in the month that I turn 24 (let's see, that would be about 11 years later right?) here I am...

I'm not sure I look all that different... I think I'll probably look like I'm 16 for a couple more years. It's kind of funny to me though that I worked so hard throughout high school to get rid of my bangs, and here I am years later back with bangs again.

What do your transformations look like? Would your 13 year old self recognize you today?

Humpty Dumpty

If you are an avid follower (or maybe an occasional drop-in) to this blog, you probably are aware that the boy is in a band. It's a lovely band really, and any one of them would probably scold me for calling them a 'lovely' band. Anyway... the band has this pig that they take to all of their shows to collect money for a friend who's overseas doing missions. The boy took it upon himself to have his girlfriend shoot some quick pics of the pig for their myspace and such. I will say here that it was NOT my idea to put the pig in the tree and I have to mention that I did say "You are going to break it."

The poor pig.

The good news is that he made it through the surgery to "put him together again" and he's just missing a huge hole in his chest. No biggie.

Will post pictures of the post-op tomorrow. Gnight!

Laundry Day! and.. Pippi Longstocking

Ok, so today wasn't exactly Laundry Day, but I did throw my darks into the wash (which reminds me... ahh I'll get it later) and in doing so, was somehow inexplicably reminded of a movie that I used to watch when I was a lil one.

My mom used to say that I would watch the same movie over and over and over again for weeks straight. It would end, I'd rewind it (yes, remember rewinding? And it was always so slow because we weren't the family with that nifty rewind only machine) and start it again.

As you can probably presume from the subject of this post, or you took a sneak peak at the photo, the movie was Pippi Longstocking. Ahem, The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking. I'm not sure I ever saw the old, or original, adventures of P.L. (got tired of typing it) but I sure did enjoy the new ones.

What a great flick. Remember the sweet way she washed the floors in her house? I think maybe what reminded me of P.L. is that song she sang.. was it Cleaning Day? Regardless, it takes me back. If I had hardwood floors in my room I'd go out, buy some brushes, attach them to some old sneaks and dance around singin my lungs out with a bucket of Murphy's Oil Soap... Or maybe some dish soap so it would be sudsy.

I'm thinking that P.L. was originally a character in a book (maybe a series?) I can't remember! Darn you aging nearly 24 year old brain!

Anyway, tomorrow is Wednesday. Let's make it the officially unofficial (or vice verse if you prefer) Pippi Longstocking day. You don't have to dye your hair, or even wear it in braids spouting out from your ears - no, that would be foolish. Instead, spend your day singing songs about every day tasks and occasionally ask yourself, "What would Pippi do?"

Yes, I think that is what everyone should do on the officially unofficial Pippi Longstocking day which, incidentally, is tomorrow.

Creepy

I almost forgot that I took this picture especially for posting right here on this blog! The wedding I shot on Saturday was located in this really cool old house called the Manor House in Toledo (at Wildwood MetroPark). We got to walk all around checking things out at the house with no supervision! Sweet! One thing we did find however was this... doll...

creepy!

Anyway, we figured maybe her eyes were just faded from the sun. Or maybe hoped is the better word. I wonder if my childhood dolls will turn demonic in another 70 years or so....?

Ahhh before midnight!!

This is where I spent my Sunday. At the WLMB tv station as camera #3 then camera #2.

My view from behind cam2 right before the last segment (which lasted over an hour... yikes) at about hour 9.

i

am


pooped.


What a weekend.

Congratulations Sarah and Tony!

Well, I just got back from shooting Sarah & Tony's wedding and my feet are ACHING! The job went absolutely smashing and was my best yet. I haven't loaded all of my images up yet but I thought I'd post a sneak peak - I wanted to show off what I did today!

I am so tired I feel like my head is a helium balloon floating five feet above my body and my feet are being pummeled by ... something heavy, and painful. I'm headed to bedddd!

What did you do this weekend?

Long day

Today has been a longgggg day. Better than yesterday, but definitely long. My old roommate is in town so we have been hanging out which is fabbbbbb! Anyway, I'm out for now. More tomorrow!

Bad Day.

I'm all talked out.

Sunny Day!

It may not have been exactly warm today, but it was SUNNY! I took my dear dog Roxy for a ride to the bank. Clearly, she enjoyed herself! Click on the pic to see it full size :)

Not too late...

As I'm getting ready for bed, I notice an intruder to my queen size haven. How am I supposed to move this 87 pound monstrosity so that I can get in bed without offending her to the point that she leaves and then I feel bad for kicking her out of my bed? Oh bother... the things I'll put up with for that dog. :)

Slow... and Old

I am a slacker. I apologize. Today was absolutely crazy-nuts-o, but I guess that is no excuse. I didn't even touch my camera today. Or look at it even. But I can't not post something tonight, so I dug up this oldie. Have I told you that I went to Alaska a few years back? I'm pretty sure I've probably mentioned it.

I think back to 2005 and can't believe how different I was then. That was a tough summer for me. I'm so happy to be the person I am today - although I could definitely change some of my habits - and I find myself so blessed. The trip to Alaska was the beginning of the end of an era in my life, even though it took many months afterward to finally come to a screeching and shattering halt (the era, not my life... obvi). I so stubbornly wanted life on my terms then, and never imagined myself in any situation other than what I wanted right at that time. I sometimes think about how I was so blessed to move on from that part of my life into another, happier, healthier time.

It's a lesson to remember, that's for sure. When things aren't going the way I want them to, I have to believe that it is possibly just preparation for what is to come. Blah, anyway..

alkdjfaboihawe I had to use my debit card tonight. adlkfjhaoeihgab fail.