Friday Fragments

There are several blogs out there that participate in random things throughout the week. Friday Fragments is always a good one for me, because there are so many thoughts that run around in my head and they aren't always worthy of a full post...so, introducing ...my Friday Fragments.

~ Today the hooligans are headed out of town for 10 fun filled days with Nanny and Papa. Thank goodness. Love them dearly - but momma needs a break.

~ Yesterday The Girl started cheer practice and...wow! As I watched this group of 4-12 year old girls break up into groups for smaller group practices I was amazed. Amazed at how sweet the girls look, how short their shorts were, and how some of the cheers went. I'm not real sure that The Girl needs to "break it on down to the beat". What does that mean you might be asking? let's just say she is dropping it like it is hot. i.e. think stripper moves

~ Tonight The Man and I are going dancing. I love love love to dance. Love it! There are few things that make me happier. Our group that is going is growing considerably... I think we have around 14 people right now...HOLY MOLY! The control freak in me is well, freaking out a little bit. We still don't know what time we are going, or where we are eating, or who is meeting who where. Deep breaths...it is all gonna be ok.

~ My mind has gone in 30 different directions this week regarding my photography. Right now I am thinking alot about the indoor studio. Things I want to do, how I want to set it up, what "stuff" I will need. I am actually considering doing a boudoir session. I have personally done one and really enjoyed it and loved the outcome. I think I wish it had been a little more classy and not so much like a pinup model. I look at the images and don't feel like they are a true representation of me. I have it all in my mind and just need to figure out how to make it become a reality.

~ I have a bridal session tomorrow and I am scared to death that something is going to happen to the dress. We are a week away from her wedding, what if something gets on the dress? What if she sits down in the car and the zipper busts out? What if ...ok really these could just go on and on. What if I am not able to capture the images I want? What if I am not able to capture the images she wants? My fear really takes over some days.



Off to get things finished up so we can get on the road...hooligans...you better enjoy your time away. There are gonna be some changes when you get back. I don't know those changes are just yet...but there are gonna be some changes.

10 days

Noon...tomorrow, at noon. I will be kidless for 10 days. Woo Hoo!! Raise your hands...holla!

No kids for 10 WHOLE DAYS!!!

don't get me wrong, I love my kids. More than life itself.

But 10 days with no phone calls in the middle of the day about who touched what and who won't leave this alone...oMG i just can't wait.

Out of my mind

So apparently I lost my mind at some point yesterday. I agreed to do the local Harvest Run in September. It's only a 5K so it isn't THAT big of a deal...unless you happen to want to fall over and die after about....oh....a block.

Seriously I am probably one of the laziest people you will ever meet. I mean REAL lazy. I was blessed with a great metabolism as a kid an in my early 20s, but that started a downhill sloap about 6 years ago. One day I got in my car at the end of the day and realized that my dress no longer fit. I actually had a crazy moment and thought "am I pregnant?" ok it was more than a moment...i went and bought a pregnancy test. Seriously!

Turns out, nope wasn't pregnant...had just put on a little extra weight. No problem, just don't eat too much for the next couple of days and all will be well again...jump to six years later and a few margaritas...and I am WELL over my comfortable weight. Am I fat...no. But I am officially overweight. If you look at those charts...i am outside the guidelines.

I'd like to tell you that my metabolism is shot, and that it has nothing to do with the margaritas or the complete lack of exercise...but that isn't the truth.

So now, I have 7 weeks to get rid of some of this weight and learn how to run.

I say learn how to run, because I honestly don't know of a time in my life that I have really done anything remotely close to running. In PE class in high school...I walked. Any time i have decided to exercise..I walk. I get a gym membership and walk on the treadmill.

This people, is why I think I must have lost my mind. I realize that I can walk the 5k and there will be a bajillion other people that will walk it. But I have decided that if I am going to do this, I am REALLY going to do this.

NOW, I just have to figure out how to run without getting sharp stabbing pains in my stomach...hmmm I wonder what the almighty google says about that??

MaddiePie Creations

It finally happened, I finally got the new website up and running.

Take a look and let me know what you think!

www.maddiepiecreations.com

Happiness

A week or two ago Jasmine Star asked on her Facebook Fan Page if happiness was a choice. It was very interesting to read thru a lot of the comments left on that question. I personally do believe that happiness is a choice. I think that regardless of what happens in your life you can choose to sit around and wallow in your misery or you can pick yourself up and move on. I can choose to have a good day at work no matter how crappy a co-worker has been.

There are many days, and sometimes many times throughout a day, when I struggle with this concept. I hate how someone can stomp on my good mood and it will instantly knock me down. I hate that dwell on things. I would love to be able to shake it off and continue on down my happy little path. But the reality of it is...it's not really in me to have happiness be the automatic reaction. For whatever reason my family is very pessimistic...it runs deep. If there is one thing I would change about myself and how we all react to things that stand in our way, is that we would be more "glass half full" kind of people.

I thought today as I was walking down the hall, after someone ticked me off, I wonder just how many times a day someone rains on my parade. By the time I got back to my office all I could think about was the question of is happiness a choice... I was so focused in on how frustrated I was that I couldn't see past it. I have to force myself to let the little things go. To know that in the big scheme of things it just doesn't matter.

I have to believe that things will work out for the best. I may not always understand why things happen and why people say or do things, but there is a plan. There is a plan for my life and a reason for things happening the way the do. I just have to trust in that and know that it is completely in my control to be positive about everything.

Addiction

I must confess to something...I have a pen addiction. It's bad...real bad.

If you know me REAL well, you will know that there are only a few things that make me happier than getting new pens. I have specific needs though...

It must be blue or purple
It must be fine point
It must feel good when I hold it
If it has post-it flags built in - that's an added bonus
If it has a high-lighter built in - WATCH OUT


I haven't been pen shopping in months. Usually, I will run into Staples or Office Depot just to scope out the pens. Target...oh watch out Target shoppers - i HEART their pens and office products. It doesn't matter what I am running to Target for. Out of toilet paper...must get a pen. Need a new shirt for the kids...oooohhhh let's see what pens they have today. Needs some milk...hmmm maybe i'll just swing by the office supply section.

But I have been good. I have really held out. I seriously haven't bought any new pens in so long. In fact, I have even broken a couple of my favorite pens and just taped them back together...how pathetic is that.

But yesterday I got the fever. I was sitting in a meeting and my boss flaunted her pen in front of me. As she talked to us, she waved it in the air...almost as if it was singing to me. She wrote pretty things with it...as if it were calling my name to try it out. When she got up to run to the restroom I thought long and hard about if she would notice if it were missing when she came back.

I figured she would notice...it was her only pen.

It's her fault...she shouldn't flaunt those things in front of me. I am not strong. I can no longer go without buying a new package of pens. This weekend...I will be the new owner of at least one new pen.

Now...off to go do some recon work to see if I can find out what kind it was....wish me luck!

I Heart Faces - Sports In Action

This week I Heart Faces is taking a look at Sports In Action. I absolutely love to do photo shoots of kids playing sports. Soccer is probably my favorite because they are so intensely focused on getting to the ball and their bodies go into some pretty crazy shapes. Kids under 10 are my favorite because they have facial expressions like no other...



This little guy cracked me up throughout the entire game...He was completely full of life and had such a passion for the game.

Head over to I Heart Faces and take a look at some of the other entries.

I Heart Faces - Constructive Feedback Friday

Today, I Heart Faces if giving the chance for the first 40 people to enter a chance to receive feedback from other contributers on a photo.



I am entering one from a family shoot I did recently. I really struggle with family pictures from posing all the way thru editing.



I am really looking forward to receiving the comments on how to improve.




(f/4.5, 1/60 sec, focal length 32, ISO 100, no flash)

All editing was done thru Photoshop CS3

so stinkin' excited!!

I have a senior shoot booked for next weekend, a bridal shoot scheduled for the first weekend in August, and the possibility of another shoot just opened up...

The best news of all, is that I think I am going to be able to buy my new camera next week...WHOO HOO!!

Good things are coming...I can feel it. I have come across and in contact with so many amazing people in the last couple of months that I feel so blessed and so motivated that I seriously can barely contain myself. It's like I am right on the edge...I can see it, feel it, and taste it...Only good things are to come.

Been thinkin'

Which, if you know me, you know can be a very scary thing.

However...I've been thinking about how I can jump with both feet into photography. Unfortunately, The Man and I are NOT in a position financially where I can quit my job and jump in with both feet...but what if I were to find a way to supplement my income...hmmm...

So, I have been toying with the idea of selling Pampered Chef. I LOVE love LOVE kitchen products...almost as much as I love pens. Really! I love them. I have cookbooks, mixing bowls, appliances - big and small, and all things kitchen coming out of my ears. I get so excited to get something new.

I went to a pampered chef party a few weeks ago and scheduled a party at my house...really just so I could get a good discount on MORE kitchen stuff. (note to self...need to clean out the cabinets and make room for the NEW stuff coming) Anyway, as I was reading all the materials for my upcoming party, and I noticed that for a mere $155 you can get the set that gets you up and running....hmmm that's not too bad, right? And I figure with my passion for kitchen products...surely I can sell it - I mean doesn't Pampered Chef pretty much sell itself?? It does for me.

So I'm thinking that if I can get this up and running and help supplement my income...maybe I can wean myself off of my fulltime job and do this and photography full time and then eventually just photography fulltime.


So I'm thinking....maybe just maybe.