Monday, Monday
Keeping busy around here!
This past weekend was nice, Greg was off on Friday as well. We did get a lot accomplished:
- Halloween/Fall things put away in attic.
- Oil changed in Impala.
- Saw new James Bond movie.
- Organized our DVD movies.
- Finished Christmas shopping for Jac and almost finished for Storm.
- Got a table and 2 chairs for Violet.
- Caught up on DVRed shows.
I went to a Creative Memories open house thing on Saturday and I had a good time chatting with Sami. I scrapped with her and some others last month. They are having a crop on Sat. from 3-11 and I’m going! There’s only 6 people that can go as it’s in her home this time. I did buy another coverset, this one is for Greg’s scrapbook.
Yesterday Jac and I went to a Slipada jewelry party. It was at Tammy’s house. She’s best friend with Sami. Jennifer is the jewelry and Pampered Chef gal. While I was getting directions from Tammy she told me that they would probably be using me in the very near future for a photo session! YAY! Breaking into this group would be great, just takes a few and then business will start rolling. Tammy and Sami’s kids are the same age, 15 and 17. Both girls are older, they will be uprising seniors next year. So, I will be busy this summer! Hopefully the referral incentives I have set up will bring in some of their friends as well. Anyhow, we had a good time at the party and I ordered two things, neither for me! I have a wish list though. Jen and I talking I’m going to have a Valentine’s open house for Mary Kay and have a Slipada party at the same time. My SIL did this and got a lot of jewelry free as well as some MK bookings! 
I have booked 3 Mary Kay skin care classes for the first weekend in December. If you are local and wouldn’t mind me borrowing your face, let me know. I just need to get 15 faces done in 2 weeks and I get something called “Perfect Start”. No one in the unit I’m in has gotten it and there’s a lot of them, like 25 or so. I have 9 faces booked, including Jac! One of the gals at the gym used to use MK, but, her gal moved, so that’s very cool for me. Just going to do the class and then take reorders. I’m going to do a follow-up with her the next week for color. Storm’s mom is going to get some church gals together and I invited my friend Jen to a class with Jac. I need to borrow your face, Alisa, Ginger, Joanna.
I got weighed and measured at JC this morning. Didn’t gain, didn’t lose, but, I’ve lost a total of 16″. Wow, eh? It’s coming off, slowly but surely. I’m kicking it up a notch this week at the gym, varying my routine, not just running. I think I’m PMSing, so that’s probably why I didn’t gain or lose. 
Violet has been sick since Thursday night. Not eating much, but still drinking and slept almost the entire day and night on Saturday. She’s a little better today, eating crackers and drinking milk and water along with juice. I think that Jac said she was going to call the doc today about her. Poor baby, she’s exhausted and so is her mommy. I’m a little worried, but not overly as she’s still got wet and dirty diapers, she’s not running a fever, no puking. Maybe it’s going around.
The movie on Saturday night was really good. Really, really good. I liked this one a lot more than the one before it with Daniel. He’s not the best looking guy, but, he’s alright body wise. 
The trailers at the begining were good, even though it was a 20 minute time frame. We saw a few that we want to see when they come out, especially since Vin and Paul are back for “Fast and Furious” as well as my girl Michelle. The movie with Jim Carrey looks hilarious! It’s been a long time since Greg and I went to the movies, the last one we saw was The Dark Knight back in July! How did that happen?
Weekend Update
I’m laughing at the title I wrote, just like on SNL! I hope tonight it’s a good one now that all the election stuff is over and done with.
I just reorganized the entire kitchen. We’re getting rid of some things, moved some things, stored some things in the attic. Much better. We just added this to our counters, it’s big! I knew it would be, so we had to shift things around. We’re off to Home Depot today to find an over the range microwave! Finally! We’re putting the existing one downstairs in the game room, for popcorn and stuff. Hopefully we can find one we both love. We will probably have to have it delivered and I’m really considering paying the $75 for them to install it. Seems like it may be a hassle, of course if you ask Greg, it’s easy! I could then have it installed without him having to be here, easier to me.
I’m batch processing the family photo session from last weekend. I’m so glad I moved it to last Sunday vs. today. First, I have a cold and second it’s rainy and for an outside shoot, that’s a no go. I deliver it tomorrow.
I didn’t get to go to the gym yesterday as I woke up feeling pretty cruddy. After a hot shower and some Sudafed I felt much better. I didn’t go to Tyson’s, just the base. I have 3/4 of our Christmas shopping done! I just need to get some shirts and jeans for Greg, a few sweaters for Jess + a gift card and some books and gift cards for Jacqueline. Violet is almost done too, I need to find her some of those Duplo Lego’s and a little camera. We bought her a riding toy and some little people things so far. Last year it was books, this year learning stuff. I may look at the V-smile things for babies/toddlers, she has one of those. I have yet to make up my list, I really just want to have Jess here for Christmas.
The other day Greg found a cruise book that we missed back in 1987 on a MED cruise. We either didn’t have the money or didn’t get it in time. Someone put one on eBay, probably from an estate sale and we jumped right on it. We’d never seen one, so we didn’t know that he was in a few photos! It’s nice to have one from each of the 6 cruises that he did. We finished the set and now it feels like we have closure or something. It’s a rare one as there wasn’t enough printed or something, I remember something about that.
My Mary Kay site is up and running here. Please go and visit, order if you need to replenish anything and if you are in the area and want to host a skin care class or facial, let me know! I have secure shopping and checkout, I only see what you are buying, not how you are paying for it. Every three months they update the site for me, nice that I don’t have to do that! I have a call with my sales director tomorrow. I’ve already contacted a few people about having a skin care class. I have cards on order and I have a few things for a starter kit. I do not like the pressure from everyone to take out a loan or borrow money or put it on a few different credit cards to have more product on hand. It makes me feel very uncomfortable that a company runs their business that way. VERY uncomfortable. I will just buy the product as it’s ordered and as I make more money, then I will buy stock. We don’t have $600-$4800 for something like this. I wouldn’t even think of taking out a loan for that, that’s ridiculous to me. We’re trying to pay everything with cash and get our debt down, hopefully Mary Kay will be helpful with this, but, I refuse to put ourselves more in debt!
I picked up my Father Christmas at the ceramics store the other day. We found one through an ad in the local paper. I did paint one ages ago for my MIL and wanted to do one for our house (once we bought one) as well. Over Christmas break I will have plenty of time to get it done! Jac is done with school on the 15th of December and isn’t back in until mid-January. So if not for this Christmas, definitely for next as decoration!
Have a good weekend everyone!
Stuff
Catching up with everything around me. Did you vote? I did this morning, yay!
Work: Doing well, booked and did a session one day apart on Sat/Sun. Went and picked up stuff for auction photos on Thursday. Delivering auction photos, this Friday. Delivering family session this coming Sunday. Booked another family session with our Realtor on the 21st! Have to get with his wife for confirmation. I had to re shoot all the auction photos, I hope he likes them at delivery!
Work II: I just became an independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay! I have my training materials in the house, been looking at them when I can. Tomorrow is a phone call from my director. I joined under my SIL in Atlanta, so I’m out of state, but she gets me on her team. If you would like some samples, let me know. I have a few to give out to people that have never tried MK or haven’t in a while. I really like how it makes my skin glow and it’s all soft and healthy. I posted about it back in September and in August. If you decide to purchase after trying the samples, let me know! I ship for free! Everything can be ordered online and there’s a secure server for payment. I have to get all that set up tomorrow, so look for a post with the URL in it!
I’ve just been busy working out at the gym and I’m THISCLOSE to being at my 1/2 way weight! I think I will hit it next week. I lost over 3 pounds last week, my weigh in was awesome! I’m wearing a size 6 jeans now and I just had to return some shirts that were too big. I’m in a petite small now vs. a misses small. There’s a HUGE difference with that! I ran and did the bike + abs today and I do the arc trainer + abs tomorrow. Thursday I will run again, then Friday I’m off to get the 5K under my belt for the week. I didn’t get to run it last week as I was at the doc, so it’s been a while.The doc gave me a three month holiday from taking the Zocor. I’ve been taking that for 10 years for my high cholesterol. This is the first check since joining Jenny Craig, so we’ll see. I go back in January. I really think that the weight is coming off easier because I stopped taking it.
Friday I’m off to Tyson’s to shop for a while, then delivering the DVD on the way back through to the auction guy. A WHOLE DAY OF SHOPPING! No kids, no grand-daughter, I’m terrible, oh well. I can’t wait to spend a little bit of money on some nice stuff.
I went to a Pampered Chef party last weekend, was right next door to the family session, didn’t know it till I looked at the address. *LOL* Was a good party, met some more people. I’ve been invited to a Slipada jewelry party on the 16th! MORE people! And there’s a meetup group meeting on the 14th and the 22nd. I can’t wait for this, they are all over 35+ and women, which is exactly what I wanted. I have friends, Greg’s co-workers are married, those are my friends. I want my own friends, weird huh?
We changed our hotel for our Thanksgiving trip - November 26th through the 30th. We found one that can offer us separate rooms for just a little more than one room divided would be. After travelling for 3 weeks with everyone in one room and NO Violet, we don’t mind spending a little more for two rooms. It’s always worth it. It’s a long drive, 10 hours, so hopefully it will be okay. First long trip for Violet. I remember the girls being 6 months and going on long trips. She’s so antsy all the time, it’s like tying her down or something. Part of it she’ll sleep through, which is a blessing. Turkey at my brother’s house, then visiting with Jess on Friday. Also, we’ll have a porta-crib for Vi, so that’s one less thing we need to pack. Tina (my SIL) has one we can borrow while there she’s borrowing from a friend. I’m so excited to go already! We’re planning on going to the aquarium on Saturday. I think that my brother and his family along with my SIL and her girls + Jess are going to join us! Wow, what a group!
Time to go and watch election stuff. TTFN! 
Halloween
I originally was going to put up a Halloween layout this week, but, time just got away from me, oh well. I did however keep the house clean and actually detailed my Jeep this afternoon.
For Halloween, we have candy via The Dollar Tree, love that store. I spent $10 vs. $40 and I don’t like anything we’re giving to the trick or treaters, so that’s a good thing! Greg’s been gone since early Monday morning, we’re staying around the house tomorrow night handing out candy. Once it’s gone, it’s gone though. We do have pumpkins out front, some autumn things too, but no decorating as he wasn’t here and frankly we’re not in the mood for some reason to decorate. I guess because we have no little ones of our own.
I was in The Dollar Tree looking for alphabet magnets, but they didn’t have any. Anyone have an idea where to get some cheap? I looked at Target, they don’t carry them. As much as I despise shopping at Wal-Mart, I may have to go there for Violet. She’s got the entire alphabet, except for a “g”. do you know how many words need the letter “g”? A lot more than you think actually. Besides, with another set she will have double letters to spell more words.
Things have been busy here all week. I met with a client yesterday and have some auction items to photograph and burn to a CD. I deliver everything back to him on the 7th. I got paid though, all in advance! Woot! Nothing planned for the money, yet. Saturday I have a client meeting in the morning. I’m going to take photos of the family, next weekend. Hopefully the weather holds out and we can do it outside, otherwise I will have to get creative. I love challenges! The family has two little boys, a 4 year old and a 3 month old.
Saturday afternoon holds a Pampered Chef party invite, I can’t wait! I just placed a big order with Jess for her party, it’s this weekend or next. I need to get a few things, so I plan on seeing what I need. Almost my entire kitchen is run with Pampered Chef. I use something each day it seems like. Been using it for about 12 or 13 years. Anyhow, the crop that I went to earlier this month is where I met the gal that’s having me over. Hopefully I will get to meet more people! I’m way too excited about this, eh? One downside to working for yourself, you don’t really have day-to-day interaction with people that you work with.
I was going to meet with a client on Sunday, but, after chatting with her on the phone and in emails, I actually turned the job down. She wanted more than just a photographer and even though I could probably have designed the cards for her, I didn’t like the vibe I got from her at all. Very demanding, very precise. I totally get it, really, but, since I really can pick and choose my clients, I did.
Sunday is nothing, just shooting the auction photos and watching DVRed shows. I may make some Monkey Bread. I just bought a fluted pan from Bed, Bath and Beyond yesterday. I also found some king sized sheets with a 300 count for under $20 a set! They were missing from the rest of the set which probably included a comforter, shams and dust ruffle.
Happy Halloween everyone! Make sure you keep your kids safe and examine the candy before they eat it!
Photo Stuff
I updated the photo biz website today! I actually have started a new gallery and I have another one waiting patiently for a few more photos before I can link it up. I also added like 12 new photos to the slideshow on the front page.
I have an appt. next Wednesday with the client who wants me to photograph the stuff for his eBay auctions. Next Saturday I have an interview appt. with the family that’s scheduled on the 8th for a session.
I found some folders the other day at Staples and I’m going to use matching card stock to make up some brochures about what to wear for photo sessions. I always get people in white for some reason. COLOR IS GOOD! Storm, Jac and Violet are going to be the “good, bad and ugly” models for those photos. I also am going to print out all the paperwork needed before a session, stamp it “copy” and put it in the folder. That way they have everything all together. I bought the ones with a place for a biz card, they were like 10 for $4, not too bad! They match the envelopes that I use to package the DVD, so that’s even better.
Not many more weekends until the end of the semester. Jacqueline’s going to the spring semester too, which will work out perfectly for me once mid-May hits and she’s done for the summer. I can start booking the senior sessions knowing that I will not have to watch Violet and won’t be in a crunch getting from one place to another. Week day sessions will be so much easier!
I hope to make some contacts in the next few months, enough to carry me through the summer and fall with sessions. I left a bunch of cards at the tattoo place. Hopefully I can connect with Keith again before Jacqueline’s appt. in December and see how things are going on his end. He talked to me about getting some photos taken for a magazine! That would be quite cool, eh? He does great work, he’s been published before, so we’ll see!
I also added some photos over at the Facebook Fan page as well as on my My Space.
Brain Dump
Scheduled an appt. for Greg to see the doc on Friday. Been nagging him for THREE days to see the doc, finally sunk in. He’s been having night sweats for a week, chills, headache. Headache and chills finally faded on Monday. I think the flu or pneumonia, maybe mono? He’s feeling better these days though, Nyquil at night and no headaches during the day, more energy. I’m probably worried about him, I woke up with an upset tummy today, nursing a Coke. No gym for me today, feels weird to have more time in the morning.
Need to put more photos up on SNP as soon as possible. I just put up the wedding photos from last month, last night. I have a lot of good ones from the past two races at MIR, need to make another gallery. Will try to do that this afternoon. I’ve been itching to get on PSP for three days with the new monitor and video card. I may even load up PS, oh wow, eh?
Burned 3 DVD’s yesterday. All music is now backed up, everything business wise too. Graphics, photos are usually done monthly, for some reason I needed to do it yesterday.
Was contacted by a client last night for senior portraits! She got my card from one of the gals at the crop on Saturday. If it pans through, need to buy her a gift for referring. Meeting another client (hopefully) on Saturday in Springfield. He has eBay things to put up, antique knives and pens! How cool is that? Alisa, want to meet for a bit? If you are around that day I mean. I’m thinking mid-afternoon. I need to go to Tyson’s as well to the Franklin Covey store and get some notepads and check register pads. Dawn, I know you are an hour away, but, if you can make it out, holler! Would love to finally meet you!
Finally have the Christmas card list in order. Want to exchange cards? Leave a comment and I will email you for your address.
I’m taking Violet to Target today while her mom is in class. I need to buy a new, smaller trash can for the laundry room. Simple yet will improve the space in there. The one we have is too big and gets in the way of things. Putting that one out in the garage where Greg can use it with the other one he’s got out there.
This afternoon I’m mailing out the auction that someone won yesterday. I have to put the Coach purse and wallet up on eBay this week, probably Friday if I get a chance.
I have yet to watch Desperate Housewives from Sunday, finish watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ugly Betty from last week, CSI from last week, Prison Break from Monday. Just not enough time for everything I guess.
TTFN! Have a great one!
The Weekend
We’ve been having a pretty low key weekend, which is just what I needed! We picked Jess up at the airport on Friday night, she’s been sick, so her throat and ears were killing her on the flight. Saturday she felt a lot better, although she was coughing a lot during the night and was tired. Today she’s better, just in time to fly home. There’s a slight chance that she and Brian will be here next Sunday for a few hours. 
We all sat down yesterday on the couch and used the remote for my camera. We have family portraits now for our Christmas cards. I will probably post them sometime this week on Flickr.
Storm came over last night and we all played “Cranium”. We had the game and thought we had played it before, but we must have used a friends game as this one wasn’t opened yet. We had a good time though.
I received this for my bday gift from Jess along with a matching wallet. I couldn’t find the wallet online to link it, sorry. I needed a new one though, she bought me a checkbook wallet. Yay! I bought a Buxton set a few months ago, like in April I guess and I’ve been using that ever since. I have all those free membership point cards that take up tons of room, although I edited out a few and it seems to work great in the new wallet. I also like having a pen loop. 
Greg and I went to Home Depot and Lowe’s. We are installing dimmer switches in our bathroom (for over the tub), the basement bathroom (for over the jacuzzi) and in the eat-in-kitchen, over the table. I found a few things at Lowe’s for Christmas. Since we have a fireplace, we’re probably going to hang the stocking there, now we have hangers. I bought 2 boxes of 4, as our family is growing by leaps and bounds.
Jacqueline has decided to cut off Violet’s “baby mullet”. I totally agree, it’s time. It will happen sometime today, while Storm and Jess are here. Look for photos of that as well!
Jess, Jacqueline and I had a few hours yesterday that we spent scrapbooking! I have nearly 20 pages ready for CropTober Fest on Saturday. I’m so excited!
I had a gal call me for a photo session yesterday, yay! She received my card from my Creative Memories gal, the one that’s doing the CropTober Fest on Saturday. We chatted, she’s going to look at the website with her hubby and contact me for a definite time, the date is in early November. After the job is finished, I’m going to send my CM gal a thank you card and gift. I know she uses Mary Kay, so I thought that Satin Hands would be a nice gift, just a tube, but it’s to show appreciation and thank her for giving out my cards!
All in all a good weekend. TTFN!
This week
This week has just zoomed by! I cannot believe that tomorrow is Friday already.
I’m feeling a lot better than I was on Monday, so, hopefully I have gotten rid of anything that resembles a cold and I will be good to go for the weekend.
I talked to the bride and groom for Sunday. We’re going to pray for NO rain as they are planning on having an outside ceremony. I found out that we can use a golf cart and the course for photos, I have a few ideas in mind. Beside the fact that I told the groom to find the matching sunglasses at the beginning of August and he didn’t look at all until this week, everything is ready. I received a call today from the venue and talked to the manager there. She has a photo book I can look at to get ideas for some places to use on the grounds and draw inspiration for some great photos. At least it will be my LAST wedding forever and I did get paid, they sent the check for the balance this week.
I’m off to the gym tomorrow, I took today off, but have been every day this week. I think I lost some more weight because I’ve been running! I have a 13:53 mile, which is a good time, but, I want to be at 12 minutes flat by Christmas. I used to hate gym class, probably because I had to do it. I remember climbing up a rope, doing the volleyball and basketball stuff and being called “jelly belly” by my coach when it was time to do sit-ups. 
I’m sure that’s why I have so many issues with my mid-section as an adult! Way to go coach.
Jacqueline, Violet and I are off to the mall tomorrow to visit JC Penneys. She needs a haircut and some new clothes. Greg and I are off to the track here on Saturday to see some cars and watch some races, then the wedding on Sunday. Have a good weekend everyone!
Keeping busy.
I’ve been keeping busy here. We leave in a week for Atlanta! I’m SO excited! I get to see Jess, Greg’s sister Tina and her family and my brother David and his family.
It’s going to be great to see Tina and the whole family, been 5 years since we’ve seen her and her oldest daughter and we’ve never met her youngest daughter. She was pregnant with her the year Jess graduated high school, 2003. I don’t think her hubby came up to see the high school graduation, I cannot remember, but I think it was just her and her daughter. So it’s been longer since we’ve seen him!
We haven’t seen my brother and his family in years. I have, when I went down to Florida a few years ago, but, Greg hasn’t, so that will be good.
We haven’t seen Jess since mid-June and that was just for breakfast when she was in Northern Virginia for a wedding. We get to see her new apt. and meet her roomie and finally see all the places that she’s been talking about visiting but has been holding off until we get down there.
I have no idea what to pack. I haven’t even had a chance to think about it until today and we leave next Wednesday through Sunday night. I have to get a bathing suit this week and I plan on packing workout clothes as there’s a gym in our hotel. I don’t know what’s in it, but, I’m prepared to do whatever they have there! Read more
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