I'm alive...

well, sort of.  I've been a bit under the weather but trying not to veg. around much.  I've continued with my treadmill workouts, tried to cook a couple of healthy meals at home and even managed to get a leg up on my grad work.  Today I also managed to get in a valentine's day photo shoot with T so all is well in the world ;)

I got an inquiry for shooting a wedding in August which is pretty cool-- the other inquiries I had gotten before fell through and I'm not too heart broken about it.  Weddings really aren't my thing but the $$ sure as heck is.  I think I'm pretty much "in" on this wedding-- will let you know after our meeting.  I need the extra money since grad school is kind of taking it all away right now : /

I can't wait to finish our taxes!  X-mas part two is about to come (well, for our credit cards).  I have all of our stuff entered except for my W2 since I didn't go to work Fri.

Grad school started Wednesday and while it's going to be a lot of work, I don't think it's going to be too bad with these two classes.  I just have to make sure I stay on top of everything.

Sorry for the random post-- my head is all over the place!

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S (Fergie)

Yep, that was me last night!  I looked glamorous and fabulous and had an equally good time.  My aunt rocked the house with her awesome speech and the concert was beautiful and truly did justice to Pablo Casals' legacy.  We had a delicious dinner in which I ate duck for the first time... the wine was freely flowing (had a glass) and the dessert was to die for (passionfruit cheesecake).  I got to see a few of my uncle's friends that I had not seen in a long time so it was nice to catch up.  Some of the remaining members of the Kennedy family were there last night-- very cool.  C was a bit overwhelmed with the whole thing but enjoyed himself.  I went around and took pictures for my aunt so that was fun.  The highlight of my night was talking to Yo Yo Ma and getting a couple of hugs and kisses from him.  I think he was drunk.

Special Event

Tomorrow night, C and I will be attending a special concert at the Kennedy Center in honor of my uncle.  I had picked out something from my closet but decided it wasn't something I wanted to wear.  I went out and got me this little dress today:

You can't see the detail but it has like layers.  I got a little black shrug to  go on top and dressed it up with a brooch with diamonds and purple gems.  I'm wearing my pearls I got for x-mas from my parents.  My aunt saw the picture and thought my earrings needed to be a bit glitzy so that will be added to the outfit. I will also be wearing black or grey tights. I'm thinking of pulling my hair back with my fake hair claw and doing my makeup like I did for my b-day... black eyeliner, smoky grey eyes, glossy lips.  

What do you think?

Birthday Girl :)

Count Your Blessings Tuesdays

Today I am grateful for:

• 26 miles logged and then some ;)
• time with friends 
• long weekends
• meeting awesome new people
• snow/ice days
• a hubby that will not only clear the cars of snow and ice but then goes and gets me breakfast!
• my birthday dress in the mail
• our Disney trip--BOOKED!
• our return to church... missed it.

Growing older

I'm turning 29 next week and, my first reaction to this upcoming birthday was-- crap, I'm getting OLD.  I've been thinking about how I feel about the upcoming 30s and have realized that I am just starting my life-- life is just starting to get GOOD.  I am lucky to have (and have had) very strong, confident, beautiful women in my family who have aged gracefully and only get better with time.  So, I'm compiling a list of things I have to look forward to:

• being taken seriously
• not looking like I'm 12
• being one hot Mommy
• looking like I have it all together and maybe actually having it all together ;)
• being able to look at my life and know that everything I have is because I worked hard for it and all my successes and mistakes are because of what I did
• knowing the value of good friendships and not wasting time on people that bring you down
• confidence in myself as a wife
• mastering the kitchen
• knowing what is truly important in the grand scheme of life
• celebrating myself-- my body which has done some pretty awesome stuff like grow a human being, my brains, my achievements
• living every minute in the now... not wishing time away

I have much to look forward to-- the best is yet to come!

Rewarding...

As much as I complain about today's ungrateful youth, there are a few students out there who really amaze me.  I did an assignment with my kids where they had to write a resume in Spanish and come and interview with me for a "job".  I told the students that there would be three hires who would get a candy bar so they better do a good job.  One student today came in a full suit and when I asked him what skills or abilities he had that others didn't have, he told me it was better if he showed me and the class.  He proceeded to do magic tricks.  Like... awesome magic tricks.  Hired?  I think so!

I love when kids go above and beyond what an assignment calls for-- don't see much of that any more.

Count Your Blessings Tuesdays

Today I am grateful for:

• a productive streak.... too bad it doesn't translate itself to work!
• taking a half day to renew my license and getting to have a nice quiet lunch with C was an extra perk
• my birthday month that is shared with some pretty cool people ;)
• pointless two hour delays and early dismissals but I'm not complaining!
• yummy dinners... I'm really tearing it up in the kitchen lately!
• surprise gifts
• any and all quiet time I get!
• patience and knowing when to walk away.

AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

Ever have one of those days as a parent that you totally can't figure out what compelled you to have a kid in the first place?  I had one of those days today.  I had to take a time out in a corner while I cried because I truly felt frustration beyond any I've ever had and I just wanted to SCREAM.  I don't want to be that parent and it made me SO mad that he drove me to that point.

How do you get a three year old to SHUT UP!?  It's like a constant narration of my life and the disk is scratched so I get to hear certain parts like five times before the next part of the narration.  I want to walk away but he follows me wherever I go!  I pay attention to what he says and answer back but he still feels the need to say it fifty more times!  Then the tantrums and the pouting and the talking back.  I tell him no and he goes and does it and says "but I just...".  I didn't think I'd have to deal with justifications until 5 or 6!   I told him it was quiet time and he proceeded to talk about how it was QUIET TIME.  OMG  Then later on tonight I told him it was bedtime and that after he went to bed I'd clean and go exercise... he proceeded to cry hysterically and tell me he didn't want me to exercise... over, and over and over again.  

I love the kid but, damn, I need a MUTE button.  I'm off to exercise (cue crying) and get a drink.

(After reading my post again and seeing the photo I took for today... maybe that didn't help)

Beauty

I never think to take a photo of myself when I want to take a picture of something pretty.  Today, for my photo a day, I took a shot of myself.  I am my worst critic and I need to stop.  I am beautiful.  'Nuff said.

It's been a while...

I made this out of Sculpey for a friend of mine that is turning 30 tomorrow.  He's a fan of Little Big Planet and he's a DJ in his spare time... thus, I made this:

This is what I used for the model:

I miss sculpting.

Count Your Blessings Tuesdays

Today I am grateful for:

• new year, new beginnings!
• my birthday month!  
• a hubby that makes a delicious dinner :)  There's nothing hotter than a man in the kitchen.
• that A in my grad class and that faint light that's shining at the end of this very long and expensive tunnel I've been in!
• getting rid of CLUTTER!  Yuck! Still a work in progress but it feels SO good.
• the monstrous laundry situation we were in that is finally under control.
• cute workout clothes... they make working out just a little bit more appealing.

4.0 Baby!

I just got my grade for my Fall 10 class and it was an A!  After Spring semester I have three classes left to take and a comp. exam... I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Can you believe it's almost $3,000 for next semester for only TWO classes?  OUCH!

365 days

I tried to do the 365 day photo project before without much success.  I am going to do it again this year since I have this awesome website that will e-mail me to remind me to post my photo for the day!  You can check it out here:

In addition to a photo a day I'm doing my mile+ a day and you can see that on the right!  10 miles!  

The mile a day is for my health, the photo a day is for my creativity-- gotta feed my soul!  I hope that I can balance those things with everything else I have going with family, friends, work and grad school!