Thursday, October 25, 2007

Chuga-chuga...

And they're up! Come see the Blasi family right over here... let me know what you think!

You can call me Muffin Willow from now on. Here's a fun thing I saw on a couple other blogs - for some giggles.

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Sassy Neon

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Chocolate Chocolate Chip (Yo, Triple C!)

3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
V-Rye (I only have three letters in my last name, lol)

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Purple Cat

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Kay Cincinnati

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Ryevi

7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The" + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The Blue Pina Colada

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
Jesse Daniel

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
Romance Kitkat (interesting...)

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names)
Roger (I'd be on last-name basis only...)

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Griffey Gainesville

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Autumn Rose

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now + "ie" or "y")
Banana shoey

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Muffin Willow

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: ("The" + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + "Tour")
The Altered Snow Tour

Have a happy Thursday!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Adventures + the award goes to...

This past week has been packed full of adventures... ones that have made me think about my next step in this crazy life, ones that have gotten my tush out of my chair, and ones that have forced me to relax and take it all in. It was BY FAR the busiest week I remember having in a long time.

Monday - was scheduled to be my ONE free night to work on things for the week. I knocked out the printing and assembling of Mandy's shower invitations and absolutely loved them. I probably sprinkled in some photo editing and other things, too.

Tuesday - was my meeting with our wedding photographer. I read on his website that he's looking for someone to help him with his business part-time and I emailed him lickity split, which resulted in the meeting. We just had an informal chat about expectations and such, and I left there with an awesome opportunity within my reach and a lot to talk over with Dan. It was pretty overwhelming with the path we're trying to carve out for ourselves right now and taking it into consideration.

Wednesday - during lunch I made a trip to the post office and sent out Mandy's invites to their lovely recipients. We were supposed to meet with Scott and Mel that night, but it didn't work out. Dan and I were mucho relieved to have ANOTHER free night. See you guys soon!

Thursday - we visited with the Blasi family that night for an amazing dinner and showed them their photos. It was very cool to see their reactions to what we captured, and I loved the songs I picked for their slide show as much as they did. I almost cried at their slide show! And I know- their gallery STILL isn't online - it's so hard to narrow down the photos. BY TOMORROW - I must mark it off the to-do list!

Friday - I emailed our photographer back and grabbed up the opportunity to work with him. But Dan and I decided if he definitely hires me, it'll be a transition from my current job to the other - nice and steady. Now we're meeting next Monday to talk strategy and get to know each other. EXCITED!

We also left for Maryland around three. We stayed in Columbus for the night with Sonya and Eddie, had dinner at an Irish pub, and topped off the night with Graeter's ice cream. Thanks to the girl working there, I actually tried something new - a pina colada shake made with coconut chip ice cream and pineapples - and I've been craving it since!

Saturday - we had breakfast, made a Target and Starbuck's run and said goodbye to our friends. On the road again... and as soon as we started driving, Dan pulled out a Sweetest Day card because he's just soooooo sneaky. I don't know how he does it! The drive was amazing with all of the trees in different shades of yellow, orange, and red. Our trees haven't turned as much here - which is a good thing because we have another shoot coming up on Saturday and we're planning on pretty leaves.

We arrived, got ready at the hotel, and enjoyed an outdoor wedding ceremony without a cloud in the sky. Then, we made our way inside for the reception. It was fun, but I should've worn a SWEATER!

Sunday - after breakfast at the hotel we were on our way to a nearby park to take some photos. BEAUTIFUL shots of the trees and lake, and funny ones of a duck/goose/whatever that kept bobbing for food under the water and going halfway under. We thought he would flip over any minute.

We also stopped at a couple other places in Maryland that were right off the highway. One place was Sideling Hill which was really cool, and another was Dans Rock near Dans Mountain State Park. We saw the park sign on the highway and had to stop - we hit up Subway and was told by an employee that the Rock had more photo opps than the park, so we went there with our lunch. Definitely not a place to be if you're like me with a FEAR OF HEIGHTS. Yikes.

Once we were close enough to Columbus and it was around dinner time, I called Sheri to ask about meeting for dinner. Once she got off work, she and Adam met us at Hoggy's for some barbecue and fun. We couldn't stay long, but it was nice seeing you guys even for a short time! Back on the road... we got home around 11p and crashed! Work beckoned in the morning, ugh.

Monday - was my birthday! I had to work, but after that Dan and I zoomed (or as close to zooming as we could in the rainy muck) up to Kenwood to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. YUM! He had the night all planned out so I had no idea what was happening. After dinner we went down the street to Mitchell's where I was shocked beyond belief. He made me think I was just getting a pedicure with him, but he set us both up for a ONE HOUR FULL-BODY MASSAGE AND PEDICURE! And that, my dear friends, is why Dan wins the award for best hubby EVER! After the most stressful week, we were both able to relax and enjoy the night of pampering with each other. I could not have imagined a better birthday if I tried. Absolutely amazing. Thanks darling.

And that brings us to today... where I'm diving back into work and back at the computer, but feeling refreshed and ready to GO! Dan has our weekend photos on his computer while I'm using my magic on our shoot photos, so I don't have anything to show right now - but I will soon. For now, I'm putting together the grandparents' anniversary invitations and I need to check my 101 in 1001 list to see what I accomplished this weekend.

It's going to be a good week.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

It's business time...

Here's a video for you - can't stop laughing at it.



Here's another video while you're at it, a little dirty humor that some of you may have seen...

I can say this week has been pretty productive. I've been sorting and applying magic to the Blasi bunch after their photo shoot last Saturday. Here's a sneak peek of their sweet family - especially the little one who always wanted to see the picture after I took it. I'm not above the bribery, though...you know, "play with your train and I'll show you the picture." Worked like a charm since he would forget about seeing the pictures two seconds later. This shot was one time he decided to come at me and see the picture - so what else would I do but take a shot of the cuteness? Luckily, the good shots don't have a pipe going through mom Blasi's head. Their album should be in the gallery soon.


THAT REMINDS ME! Go HERE and see the Newport album that I've had posted for a couple weeks now. I forgot to mention it last time - my bad.

Besides editing - or because of - I have been reluctant to send in my laptop for repairs even though last week I received the MASSIVE DHL box for my itty bitty 12.1" lifeline. I need to do that. Since I have to keep the hard drive and ship the rest, Dan bought a little gadget so I can just plug my HD into the USB slot of his laptop. Now I won't have to crawl into a corner and experience withdraw from waiting on my repairs.

This weekend and upcoming week will be a WILD one...

  • On deck - the Ricketts better eat their Wheaties and get their smiles on for a shoot tomorrow afternoon. We weren't comfortable with the focusing on our new 50mm last week, but tomorrow we're pulling out all the stops - look out!
  • One of my cousins is getting married tomorrow night - and I haven't thought about my outfit yet!
  • Sunday we're heading to the SAUERKRAUT FESTIVAL in Waynesville, O-HI-O. Honestly, if you're not there I better hear a good excuse Monday morning. Holla at me when you get there and we'll have some cabbage soup and German potato sundaes - topped off with some kettle corn and pumpkin ice cream. Word.
  • I got some pretty PAPER in the mail the other day and I plan to dig right into it for the invitations that need to be printed and put together.
  • I have a meeting with our wedding photographer about a certain offer that I couldn't be more excited about - wish me luck.
  • I'll be doing whatever I can before we leave for a wedding / road trip to Maryland next weekend. That'll equal a check off my 101 in 1001 list for taking a weekend road trip.
Speaking of "the list," I wasn't going to say anything and see if anyone noticed - but I have failed so far at creating my one scrapping layout a month. Oooops! I tried to slap some journaling on a layout I started a couple months ago, but it just wasn't coming to me. Guess I better get in gear on that one. Where are my motivators here? ;)

Oh, and Mrs. Sheri created her own little list of things HERE - she has some good ones!

That's about it for me tonight. Full day tomorrow and I'm ready to sleep!

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

I just keep changing it up...

Onemilelongtodolist whaaat? - I was originally going to take a screen shot of the MEGA-long to-do list that I have running, but while making it I thought it was quite funny to see all the calendars I have on my list. A week ago or so I didn't have a photography, fly lady, or to do calendar, but circumstances asked for them. I'm just starting with fly lady and her 31 baby steps to creating a habit of tidying up our home every day, the photography is self-explanatory, and before I was using another to-do format and wasn't digging it - so those items were thrown into my google calendar where I can move them around. I'm definitely digging the change, but this just shows my sickening obsession love for lists. Keeps my bee-hind trucking along when I have a lot to do.


Teaching - I just found out last week that my class for November/December was canceled. I was a little jittery for it since I haven't taught since last November (and I'd be pressed for time around Christmas) but was excited for the extra cashola and getting back in the classroom. BUT, the stars didn't align for this one. That's okay though, because I'm pumped for getting our site launched and doing some photo shoots... AND tackling - and adding to - and tackling again - my major to do list. This also gives me a push to look into online teaching at the same college, hopefully I can have more opportunities that way.

Projects - There are A TON of projects in the works right now and I'm stoked about each one. I thought I'd show a couple of them that are on their way out... the first is Mandy's wedding map that I just finished and sent off to the blushing bride. The second is an invitation that's almost done - just needs a few more details and maybe a font change. It's for a surprise party celebrating Dan's grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. Try saying that a few times fast. The cabin on the front of the invite is actually on their farm.


Other projects in the works - Mandy's shower invites, shower games, a website design for a part of our church (once we have another meeting and nail down more details), and personal Christmas cards.

Coming up - I had a chat with a DELL representative the other night that was actually quite pleasant. For some strange reason I haven't had sound from my laptop speakers in a while, but I could still hear sound when plugged into my monitor (and closed halfway to fit under the monitor) or external speakers. Computer-Man- Dan popped open the laptop to check it out after my chat and saw that my speaker wire is cut in half. Awesome. Someone from dell called me back within the hour to check up, I told them what we found, and they're sending me a box this week to mail in the puter for fixing. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?! And don't say it means that my laptop will be fixed under warranty... pish posh. Nope, it means that I will be WITHOUT A COMPUTER FOR LIKE TWO WEEKS! What am I going to DO?! I surely will not survive...

Also coming up - Today Dan ordered some printable CD-Rs to give to our photo shoot families. So far we have one this Saturday and one next Saturday with friends from church. Definitely looking forward to those and the fun we'll have. While Dan was shopping he threw in a 50mm f/1.4 lens for our upcoming shoots. I can't wait to try out - hopefully it gets here by Friday! We've heard good reviews about the 50mm lens and were going to go with the f/1.8, but decided to jump on the 1.4 instead. Excited!!

This post has taken me well over an hour now, so it's time to call it a day. Have a good HUMP DAY! :)

  © Brooklyn Template modified by Rye Designs

Back to TOP