Photography Tips

I love photography.  Its one of my favorite hobbies.  My husband calls me the "Mamarazzi" because I always have my camera in my hand!  I don't ususally feel all that insprired between January and March though...I guess its because the weather cold and gloomy...so I typically don't take too many photos at the beginning of the year.  Plus you can only get so many good ones with the same old background of the house!!  All that will change once the flipflop weather and green grass returns.  Its so much easier to snap pictures outside!

For now...I wanted to link over to a post that I saw at The Idea Room.  Its full of great tips and tutorials on photography.  Check it out here!!



Five Questions Friday

1. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Right now...my weight.  But I am already working on changing that!  Oh and maybe the length of my hair.  Its shorter than I would like and taking forever to grow out!  Both of those are pretty short term *issues* that should be *fixed* soon though! 

2. Write about a time when you got lost.

Well I wasn't necessarily lost...but its a funny story.  Back when I was in the military, nearing the end of my enlistment, I decided to get a part time job as a waitress.  The plan was for me to go to school during the day and waitress at night once I was discharged from the air force.  I had an interview set up at a new Applebee's that had just opened.  I raced across town to get there in time.  I was clearly too rushed, not paying attention at all.  I parked and walked in.  I asked for the guy I was meeting with, and got puzzled looks.  The hostess went and got the manager, who promtly interviewed me and then told me I was at The Black-eyed Pea not Applebee's but I could start the next day if I wanted too!  Yeah...I went to the wrong place!  I didn't realize there were two brand new restaurant right next to each other.  I drove and parked and walked into the closest one...the wrong one!

3. Camping or 5 star hotel?

Honestly...neither!  We aren't campers nor are we 5 star hotel people.  We fit somewhere in the middle.  I like to camp, I used to do it all the time as a kid.  However, my husband has never camped before and has no interest in trying it!  He might be willing to stay in a cabin that is fully equiped, but no way could I get him in a tent.  Lets face it, a cabin just isn't the same as camping!

4. Have you donated blood?

Tons of times.  Not recently, I am afraid...but I used to all the time.  I think the last time I did was when Morgan was just over a year old (almost 3 years ago - shame on me!)

5. Do you have a budget or do you 'fly by' most months?

A little bit of both.  We don't have a strict budget, but if we were to just "fly by" I am certain we would spend way more than we realized.  Being that I am an accountant...I like to know where my money is at all times.  I used to reconcile our accounts daily, but now that I have a kid...that is not happening!  I do it weekly though!  I keep a pretty close eye on what we are spending, but I am not too tight about it.

Make sure you stop by Mama M's blog for more!

Daybook

I am *stealing* this idea from the amazing Supermon Alysha.  I'm not a single mom, but I thought it would be fun to do it just the same!  Don't they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

outside my window...

Its gray, gloomy and rainy here today.  We don't normally have this kind of weather.  Its usually very sunny.  Even when it snows its not unusual to have the sun shinning.  We have something like 200+ days of sunshine each year.  I love it.  Today is actually day two of the gloom and grey...and I am totally over it!  I want the sun to come back out.  I would rather a cold wintery day, as long as its sunny.  I guess I shouldn't ever move to Seattle!

i am thinking...

that I have a million things I could be doing at home right now.  I really need to skip going to the gym tonight so I can do a little *catch up* at the homestead.

i am thankful for...

great friends.  It goes without saying that I am thankful for my family too.  But today I am really thankful for special friendships.  One relationship in general that makes me smile.  A friendship with a person that I would not normally connect with, a bond that is uncharacteristic for both of us...but so cherished.  True friends come into your life when you need them most.  You may find a close bond with somebody you would least expect.  Allow it to grow and flourish...you never know where it will take you.

i am learning...

how to navigate as a seudo single mom.  Daddy switched shifts at work recently and is now working the 4pm-midnight shift, Sunday - Thursday.  That means our world has totally shifted and we are trying to get used to the new schedule.  Its weird to not have dinner as a family, its weird to go to bed alone knowing he isn't even in the house.  Hopefully its not very long term, but it did result in a nice promotion at work and a nice pay increase.  For that reason, its good for our family for now.  Mini-me gets to hang out with him in the mornings...she loves it!  They go in late to work/school every morning, they lay around in their jammies watching cartoons.  Then I pick her up, have dinner with her, take her to the gym to play and keep her up later than normal at the pool most nights...hoping she will sleep in so Daddy gets some sleep!  Sounds perfect from a three year olds perspective!

i am wearing...

work clothes.  Nothing spectacular...not necessarily my favorite outfit in my closet but one I pulled out for this gloomy day!  I have grey/black checked pants and a teal blue knit top with a crisp white collared blouse under it.  Black simple heels and some silver jewelry complete the look!

i am creating...

nothing at the moment.  That seems so bland, doesn't it.  I usually love to create.  I love crafts, projects, photography.  I just haven't been very inspired lately.  Not to mention, I haven't had much time lately.  Sometimes being a mom, wife, employee, sister, daughter and friend leaves very little time to be creative! 

i am going...

to be very busy this weekend.  I have my regular standing commitments of gymnastics class for the munchkin Saturday morning, gym classes both Saturday & Sunday and hanging out at the pool with mini-me and friends on Saturday afternoon.  Add to that the typical weekend chores of cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping...plus a birthday party for a 1 yr old Saturday evening and a trip to the zoo Sunday afternoon.  I am exhausted just thinking about it.  Somehow I have to find some time to tag clothing for a consignment sale too.

i am reading...

occasionally, though not as much as I would like.  I have a kindle that I love.  I carry it with me everywhere, though I am not finding much time to pull it out and read it.  I enjoy reading on my lunch break but haven't done that at all this week so far.  Maybe today!  I would love to read at night, but by the time I sit down I am too tired to try to read!  But when I do get time to read, I have been reading The Stuff That Never Happened by Maddie Dawson.  So far I am really liking it.

i am hoping...

to lose some weight soon.  I have been working out hard lately with no results and its frustrating.  In December I started exercising...after almost 4 years of no exercising at all other than chasing a toddler.  I started on the elliptical in the basement.  Admittidly, it was the holiday season so I wasn't really watching what I was eating at all.  Then in January I made a commitment to run my first 10K on Memorial Day with a friend.  I bought a used treadmill and started training.  Remember, I have not exercised in years and I am now running.  I was starting to pay attention to my food intact too.  Still no weight loss.  In February I finally started getting strict with my food.  No eating out, no fast food, no soda, seriously cutting my portions and calories.  Still no weight loss.  In March we joined a fancy schmancy gym.  I started going daily, doing cardio for an hour and adding strength training some days.  I added fitness classes to break up the boring treadmill runs.  I also started religiously tracking my calories...still no weight loss.  I keep losing and gaining the same 5lbs.  I'm starting to get frustrated...but I am going to keep plugging away.  Eventually my body has got to stop fighting me, right? 

i am hearing...

some groovy music on my mp3 player.  I love music.  I listen to it all the time, no matter what I am doing.  

around the house...

there are a few piles of dirty laundry, probably some dishes sitting by the sink from this morning and dust everywhere!  There is never enough time to get it all done!  However, one thing I know for sure.  It will always be there waiting for me when I am ready to tackle it!

one of my favorite things...

is running actually.  I have never been a runner.  Never thought I would be a runner.  I started in January on a whim...a challenge from a friend.  She and I were at basically the same fitness level (nonexistant) and weight.  I said what the heck, I'll try it.  I have literally ran with it!  I love the feeling I get after a good run.  I love cranking up my music and having some alone time to pound the treadmill.  I haven't actually ran outside yet, but thats coming soon with the spring weather finally arriving!  Ironically, I don't know if I will make the 10K.  I am struggling with shin-splints and she may have to work that weekend.  We are both determined to run though, and are talking about picking a different race a little later in the summer.  Hopefully that will give me a little bit more time to work thru the shin-splints and training. 

a few plans for the week...

just the same ole same ole this week.  Work all day, gym in the evenings, sleep and start back over again.  The weekend is shaping up to be pretty busy but I already went over that!  Just plugging away, looking forward to warmer weather, flipflops and green grass!

a picture...



I love taking pictures but for some reason I haven't picked up my camera since January.  I need to fix that, and fast!  For now, here is a picture taken on my phone last week of mini-me at the indoor pool.  She loves it there!

Five Questions Friday

1. Have you ever had surgery?

Yes...wisdom teeth (is that really a surgery?) and I have had two cysts removed, one on my ovary and one inside my uterus.

2. Ever ride in an ambulance?

I have, but not for my own need.  When Morgan was 10 months old she had to ride in an ambulance.  The condition that required daycare to call the ambulance really wasn't that bad...except that the daycare she goes to is located on a military base.  At that exact moment the military base happened to be locked down because somebody decided to drive thru the gate area without stopping to show an id.  That means the traffic waiting to enter and exit the base was outrageous...meaning I could not get on base to get her, and Daddy could not travel across the base to get to her.  The only possible way to get movement and to get her checked out was with an ambulance.  We drove across town in an ambulance to the local hospital and spent an afternoon in the ER...all for a fever associated with an ear infection that caused her lips and fingers to turn blue momentarily.  It was scary at the time...but looking back the ambulance was a bit unnecessary.  If you ask me, the base should have provided the transporation free of cost.  It was their fault we needed it anyway!

Incidently...we found out the infant/toddlers are required to ride in a car seat in the back of an ambulance...if possible.  The nice parametics gave Morgan a stuffed animal to cheer her up on the ride too.

3. How are you in a medical emergency? Panicked? Calm?

In the above "emergency" I was pretty calm.  Way calmer than I would have expected actually.

4. Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies?

I have a corner of the back yard for veggies...but I didn't plant anything last year because the crazy dog we had at the time had destroyed all my plants the previous summer.  This year Morgan and I are planning to revive the veggie garden.  I plant a bunch of flowers in the front yard too. 

5. When did you move out of your parents house?

I officially left my dad's house when I was 17.  It was two months into my senior year of high school.  I wouldn't say I moved out, so to speak.  I was asked to leave kicked out.  Its a long story.  Maybe I will share it one of these days.  Maybe.

If you want to join in the fun of Five Questions Friday...hop on over to Mama M.'s blog!