Happy Late Birthday Dad

Remember this post? Well, I'm finally posting the picture I promised. Better late than never!

Love Story

Who doesn't love a good love story?

Once upon a time Aaron met Rosie on Flickr because they had similar tastes in photography. Aaron is from North Carolina and Rosie is from England. They fell in love without ever meeting. In fact, the only way they could ever be together was by Photoshopping pictures of themselves together. They finally did meet and they are on their way to happily ever after. The story is so wonderful and their pictures are simply inspiring.

Here is there blog: http://nacedesign.com/blog/
Here is their Flickr site with they composite photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aknacer/sets/72157605881081844/

Have fun getting to know them. I can't help but see a little of myself in their long-distance romance, as something similar happened to me, as those of you who knew me ten years ago know. I am rooting for Aaron and Rosie to tie the knot, take pictures forever, and die in each others' arms when they are 102!

Photoshop Fun

I have been reading/watching Photoshop tutorials and I had some fun playing around.

I airbrushed my skin here. Nice! I won't ever have another picture not airbrushed!

Put Julie against a different background and played with the lighting.

Same thing. Different background and put a vignette around the subject.

This one is airbrushed and has some filters to give it that amazing glow.

Happy Birthday Baby Groff!

Julie gave birth to her daughter a few hours ago. You can check out all the details here.

Baby Time for Julie

My sister Julie just called me to let me know that she's in labor and I am the official announcer of any announcements! So I have an all-access pass to her blog to post updates (oh, imagine the things I could do!).

She's been in labor for over 24 hours already. She'll try and stay home tonight so she can be with Camden, and then go to the hospital in the morning. Her labor with Camden was really long. Something like 4 days. She got sent home from the hospital twice. So hopefully this little girl will come a little more quickly for her mother's sake.

I am really excited. I love welcoming new babies into the family! On a side note, it's a little bittersweet because last year, Julie and I were undergoing fertility treatments at the same time and we both ovulated within a day of each other. Her treatment resulted in a pregnancy. Mine did not. But so goes life. I am so happy for her and I can't wait to meet my new little niece, Audrey! (That's my vote for the name. Or Lara. That's a nice name too.)

Let's Pull the Wool Over Their Eyes

Dear Holiday Board of Directors:

We would like to propose a new holiday.

February 14th will be a day unlike any other. It will be the day that symbolizes true love. No, it does not honor the passions of romantic relics like Romeo and Juliet or Cinderella and her prince. No, it commemorates a Christian saint (although we're not exactly sure which one). Also, there is no direct link with any of these saints to romantic gestures, so we're not entirely sure why we've named it Valentine's Day. Regardless, we are certain it is a fabulous idea.

You might think that it is silly to set aside one day for romance when dedicated lovers spend every day of their loves worshipping the one they love, but hear us out. With clever marketing like convincing women their men don't love them if they don't observe this lover's day and guilt attacks geared toward men who spend less than $50, we know the idea will be a hit. Recognizable symbols will amp up our brand recognition--heart-shaped boxes, cloying chocolates, teddy bears, roses, mylar baloons, and little white birds.

Well, you have a point there. While it's true that flowers and sweets can be given to a paramour any time of the year, especially on individually significant days like an anniversary of an even unique to only that couple, what sets ours apart is packaging in an overabundance of colored cellophane!

Peer pressure is also a secret weapon of this fabulous holiday. If a woman sees her friend get flowers and is told to expect the same treatment, it will inevitably happen. We'll make all men who do not purchase flowers and chocolates feel like lame imbeciles. In fact, all marketing materials should reiterate how men can never think for themselves and plan ahead and how waiting to the last minute for a Valentine's gift is romantic suicide. Throw high expectations, constant nagging, and fear of recrimination into any relationship, and you have a successful commercial holiday poised to rake in millions of dollars in sales of said cellophane. Trust us, it will work.

Sincerely,

Satan and minions

(I don't like Valentine's Day. It is lame. I refuse to celebrate it. And it's not because of deep wounds from the past, but actually because of the deep passions I have had with several caring, amazing men--mostly my husband--who taught me it is much more special to give your heart away when you aren't badgered into doing so.)

Happy Valentine's Day

Mr. Fix It

Justin put in a new alternator in the truck today. The dealership wanted to charge us $500. Justin did it for $130. That's my Superman!

Shake the Sugar Tree

My friend Jamie wanted to know what song I would sing if I ever were to audition for American Idol.

This is it.



I've always loved this song. And I sing it with less twang. Simon would love it.

In the Storm

(Here are my nasty herbs. I have to swallow three spoonfuls of this gross powder three times a day. I just mix it in my mouth with some liquid and swallow. I don't even know what's in it, but my friend says he can smell ginseng. For all I know it could be poison, or illegal substances, or dirt. Going from taste, I would say it's dirt.)

The prosecutor in Justin's case refuses to make a deal (he's new which makes him nervous to go against the cops to make a deal and it also makes him cocky). We are going to a jury trial near the end of April.

Justin will lose his driver's license for 90 days starting next month.

Ten days after we purchased the truck, it died. The dealership won't do anything for us. It needs an alternator.

Justin got a pay cut at work.

Some pressure has been put on Justin at work because of this DUI thing. He's had to stop seeing certain clients because their probation officers are being weird.

Between skyrocketing legal fees, car repairs, new student loans, Justin's kidney troubles and hospital tests, my upcoming fertility treatments, and a pay cut, our finances are starting to seem impossible.

No news on our adoption.

Yesterday at the bank there was a lady freaking out and swearing at the teller. Apparently I stared at her and she went off the hook and called me the dirtiest, most explicitly horrible, worst names I've ever been called and said shockingly horribly things to me. And this happened to be in front of my husband. Who got pretty darn close to decking her. Which she totally deserved, but was illegal. It shook me up for the rest of the day.

My herbs taste horrible!

And despite all that, I am content. I feel like the happiest, luckiest girl in the world. I am so in love with my Justin. We totally have each others' back, something that has been proven a lot lately. There seems no reason to not be freaking out right now, but somehow, through a lot of prayer and faith, I am cool as a cucumber.

I saw this quote on a friend's blog and it is exactly how I feel.

"Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes God lets the storm rage and calms His child."

Confessions

1. I have wet my pants in Walmart more than once. More than twice. It's a running joke between Justin and me. We call it the Walmart Curse. I make doubly sure to go to the bathroom before I ever go to a Walmart.

2. I sucked my thumb until I was 12.

3. I stopped sucking my thumb for a boy.

4. I hate milk

5. I had my first kiss when I was 13 in the choir room at Sandcreek Middle School during cheer practice.

6. I "married" a Bon Jovi poster when I was a kid

7. If I love a pair of shoes, I'll buy them even if they only "sort of" fit. I'll stuff them with toilet paper or deal with the pain.

8. I've colored my hair since I was 13.

9. I walk like an idiot when I wear heels higher than 2 inches

10. I love Twilight.

11. I have an unending love affair with Daniel Day-Lewis

12. I know exactly what song I would sing if I ever auditioned for American Idol

13. When I was about 4, my family went to Hawaii. I went to church and in nursery I started crying uncontrollably because the teacher had a "brown face." (She was Polynesian. Of course now I feel horrible about this.)

14. I watch Wizards of Waverly Place and Hannah Montana regularly

15. I don't eat breakfast

16. I love Barbies. I still have more than I would like to admit.

17. I once put my dog in the freezer. My live dog. In the chest freezer. To keep her safe from my mean sister. For eight hours....she survived.

18. I sometimes fib about seeing movies or television shows just to keep up with conversations at work.

19. I have a she-crush on Sarah Michelle Gellar

20. When I was a kid, I always wanted to be kidnapped


There. Now I am officially embarrassed and everyone knows it!