Ready for Another Year

I can't believe it's already been a year! I feel as if I just answered these questions!

2010 ---> 2011

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

Earned a new job with benefits (March), bought a house (April), got a puppy (July), went to Washington DC (June), celebrated a 1 year wedding anniversary (July).

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'm not sure if I made one - so there wasn't one to keep. I'm not really planning to make a huge deal about a "resolution," but I do plan to be more of a tight-wad this year. A penny pincher! I love seeing my savings grow. However, these are a few things I will glady spend money on, if they happen: vacations, 2nd full bath renovation. Picture is our main level full bath renovation that we completed this year:

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My friend Alanna brought Zayden into this world! My other friend Ashley is due any day now, so we'll see if she gets a '10 baby or an '11 baby.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries and states did you visit?
Sad ... no new countries this year. I did visit two new "states:" DC (does that count?) & Virginia ... Virginia was only for about two hours or so, when I went to Arlington.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

Relaxation....haha, I said this last year too! BUT, I booked a certain number of weddings this year, which is 10 less than last year ... SO, I definitely will have a less-chaotic year - I hope!

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Hmm...is it sad that none stick out?

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through all 24 weddings! Pic is of me working at a wedding:

9. What was your biggest failure?
Having a negative attitude a lot of the time.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My house!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Nobody I can think of.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Home improvements.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Gosh 2010 sure was lacking in the excitement department! I can't think of anything! I think I worked too much and didn't have enough "me" time to have fun! Lesson learned!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

Miranda Lambert - "House That Built Me"

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? fatter...the scale says I'm the same, but I feel fatter.
c) richer or poorer? the same


18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Vacationed

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Spending money, working

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas Eve: my mom's in the morning, and my dad came over in the afternoon. On Christmas Day: to Chris' parents during the day, and to my dad's side of the family in the evening. The week before Christmas is when we went to my mom's side:

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I'm still in love.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Two and a Half Men, Everyday with Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Get It Sold with Sabrina Soto, & Sarah Palin's Alaska

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

24. What was the best book you read?
I'm not sure I read many this year. This is definitely on the to-do list for 2011. I love reading. I have a few checked out from the library, and I can't wait to dig in!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
These weren't live changing or anything, but some new peeps on my playlist include: Katy Perry, David Gray, One Republic, Bruno Mars

26. What did you want and get?
A house.

27. What did you want and not get?
A house.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Valentine's Day, The Ugly Truth (saw it in 2010) ... and ANYTHING with Gerard Butler ...!!!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to the Iron Ridge Inn (I think??? Why can't I remember anything about this year?) with my family.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
This is minor, because I really have had a really good, satisfying, and happy year ... but I'd say getting the house remodel projects done ... some are half finished and they're driving me nuts. I need to learn how to use power tools.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I pretty much wear a cardigan every day.

32. What kept you sane?
Coffee and those tiny bits of blissful free time (exact same thing I said last year).

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
None! I'm smart and stay out of that stuff now ;-)

35. Who did you miss?
Alanna who lives in Washington state. I missed seeing her at Christmastime this year, which has always been a tradition.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Maggie (who has worked some weddings with me)

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Life is too short & valuable to be a work-a-holic.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"The years go by and time just seems to fly, but the memories remain."

39. Will you be looking for a new job?

Nope! :-)

40. Will you be looking for a new relationship?
No way!

41. New house?
No! New stuff in this house though!

42. What will you do different in 2011?
I think you already know - enjoy life more!

43. Any trips planned?
Darn it, no! :-(

44. Wedding plans?
I will attend (at least) 15 weddings this year - 14 clients, 1 family!

45. What's on your calendar?
Spending time with hubby, weddings, work, weddings, work! :-)

46. What can't you wait for?

Some type of vacay - even if it's just somewhere close. Any get-a-way will do!

47. Do you plan on having a child?
Maybe.... ;-)

48. Wish for 2011?

Continued happiness.

49. Where did you go on New Years?

Out to dinner, and then home. I feel asleep before 11.

50. Did you change at all this year?

Not really.

51. Did you dye your hair?
I dyed my own hair to save money ... it doesn't look terrible, just a little more reddish than usual. I don't plan on doing it often - there are people I'll gladly pay to make me look good!


52. Were you in school?
Of course, school is my life! I was never a student, but I was a sub at the beginning of the year, and then in March, I got a new job, which is the Site Manager of 21st Century Community Learning Centers. I am the site manager for all of Jefferson Junction's program, and the AM Site Manager for Lincoln Station's program. That means two schools in one day (1.5 hours at one, and then 6 hours at another).


53. Did you have a job?

See above, and all of the answers that involved being a wedding photographer. :-)

54. Did you move at all?
We moved from our Knaup Drive apartment to our HOUSE on 615 Declark!

55. Did you go on any vacations?
No...boo!! I did go to Washington DC though for work. It was a neat experience. Also, we did go camping in White Lake, WI. Not exactly a vacation, but it was some good away time.

56. Did you break up with anyone?
No.


57. Did you drink Starbucks?

Yes! A few grande Pike's roasts, tall Java Chips, and 1 peppermint mocha could be found in my hand throughout the year.


58. What are your plans for new years eve this year?
We WERE going to the Dells to stay overnight and see a band at a casino, but I decided I wanted to save some money and stay in town (remember that penny pinching thing??). So, we are going to go out to dinner with Katelyn and Josh, and then probably come back to our house for some serious "festivity" time! Bring on the wine! Pic is from last year!

*2010* Christmas Baking

Strawberry Pecan Thumbprints, Classic Cut Outs, and Chocolate Toffee Shortbread ... recipes below for two of them! These are recipes from Taste of Home's Simple & Delicious dating back various years, and give them my own twist!

Strawberry Pecan Thumbprints

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/8 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 cup ground pecans
• strawberry jam
• powdered sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Put everything in my mixer - besides the pecans, jam, & powdered sugar. Mix. Add pecans. Mix again. Grease a baking sheet. Form 1 inch balls of dough in your hands. Press down on each with your thumb to make a hole to place the jam. Using a small spoon, fill hole halfway with jam. Bake for 6 minutes, take out of oven, use butter knife to flatten jam so it's not all just one clump. Bake again for 2 minutes - they will seem uncooked, but that's what you want! Cool for 5 mins and then sprinkle on powdered sugar. They taste best when fully cooled!

Classic Cut Outs

I wasn't a huge fan of the recipe I tried this year, so I don't feel the need to type it out if I don't ever use it again! (Sorry)

Chocolate Toffee Shortbread

1.25 cups butter

1.5 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

3 cups flour

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1 reg size bag chocolate chips

1/2 bag Heath toffee bits

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix everything together in a mixer - besides chocolate chips and Heath. Spread batter onto a cookie sheet and smooth until even. Bake 12-15 mins or until lightly browned. Immediately after removing from oven, sprinkle all chocolate chips on top. Let melt for 5 mins, then spread over shortbread with a butter knife. Then sprinkle with Heath bits. Let cool before cutting.

Mmm Enchiladas

Tried a new recipe and put my own twist on it, too ... it was WONDERFUL and easy, so I have to "write this down" somewhere so I don't forget about it! My first time making enchiladas!

Recipe on this can + my own twist:

Ingredients:

0.75 lb top ground beef

8 oz cream cheese, cubed

1/4 packet taco seasoning

1 pack 6 (or 8) inch tortillas

1 can green chile enchilada sauce

3/4 cup shredded mild cheddar

1. Preheat oven to 400. Spray 9x13 pan with Pam.

2. Cook beef, add cream cheese until melted, add in 1/4 packet taco seasoning.

3. Spoon beef mixture into tortillas, roll, place in pan with seam side down.

4. Pour can of enchilada sauce over the top, sprinkle with cheese.

5. Bake 20 mins.

6. EAT! (I served mine with Spanish rice and sides of sour cream)

It's Almost Christmahanukwanzaakah!

Happy Sunday, everyone!

A few more photos of the decor to remember our 1st Christmas in our new house:

Up first, our puppy-proof tree - notice I didn't say "Chew-Free" because I'm sure that will still happen sometime between now and the 25th!

I had to get all new (mostly) ornaments this year because, well, I wasn't about to put glass/breakables on a tree with a puppy! (Or with a cat who was a kitten last year, who thinks he still fits IN the tree...LOL...when clearly, he is just too big now).

I wanted some more sparkle to my tree anyway, and I wanted to keep up the red/silver theme I have in my house for the rest of the Xmas decor. $15 of Kohls Cash got me 8 new sparkly ornaments, and $3.50 at Walgreens got me 24 other sparklers! The 'F' was my $1 WalMart score (just let me tell you ... how HARD it is to find anything monogrammed in the letter F! Seriously! Look next time, and there will be almost every other letter ... besides F ... so needless to say, WalMart made me happy!)

Also, I wanted a tree skirt this year...but I'm also super cheap. All the pretty ones were $30-$60, and I wasn't going to waste money on an ugly one. So, my friends, this is a round table cloth from Target ... yep, a table cloth AND I got it on SALE for $7.99, originally $12.99 --- SCORE! Yes, it's a little gathered-looking, but I LOVE it! (I also have the matching pillow, but darn, that was full price ;-)

Here's the tree:

Some of my favorite new ornaments...

And the last "festive" feature in our house (so far anyway) is my 'X-Mas Cookie 2010' to do list! Just some ideas jotted down on my DIY interior cabinet chalkboard - listing what I all want to get baked up this year. I usually use the chalkboard to jot down what I'm out of, so I don't forget to pick something up at the store!

I answered these on June 24, 2009 and I'm doing it again ....

because I have nothing else to blog about right now. ;-)

Outside my window... Hold on, I have to open the blinds (I'm in my office). They always stay shut because I'm usually up here when it's dark out - and it's just creepy when people can look in the windows at you! Ok, outside my window, it is getting dark. I see the street - we live on a corner. Across the street is a city athletic field ... 4 baseball fields, food stands, 2 tennis courts, and a small playground.

I am thinking... a lot about life lately. My husband is a huge fan of "the end of the world" type of movies. In those movies, loved ones die a lot. And I just watched 'P.S. I Love You' last night. Sometimes hubby and I fight ... and I wonder why in the world we ever decided to get married any way. Then those kind of movies remind us how good we really have it, and that we wouldn't want to have it any other way. Thank you, scary and sad movies! ;-)

I am thankful for... a full time job with great benefits. Even though I don't "love" it as much as I love teaching, I'm trying to look at it from a different perspective. In case you're wondering, I work for a school district as the Site Manager for a 21st Century Community Learning Center, funded by the federal government. Also thankful for so many wonderful clients in my photog business.

From the kitchen... Lasagna in the oven tonight. Romaine lettuce salad and garlic bread are waiting to be prepared as well.

I am wearing... a black tank top, jeans, and black socks. And sparkley fake diamond earrings.

I am creating... nothing at the moment, in the crafting world. I haven't scrapped in a long time. Wondering if I'll ever get back into it. Maybe when I have something substantial to actually scrap about ... like kids.


I am going... hmmm - nothing planned currently. SAD! We might do a last minute vacation between Christmas and New Years if Chris can get off of work, and if we can get a good deal. I REALLY want a get away before the kiddos start coming, and that week will be our last chance. I can't take off of work and either can Chris any other time. (The kiddo thing, by the way, hopefully that'll happen sometime in the next year or so).

I am reading... Aw, man. Does peering thru the Pottery Barn catalog count?! Answering these questions really makes me realize how crazy busy I have been lately with work and my photography business! No free time the last 3-4 months ... yuck! I have one more session to work on, and then I have NO photography commitments to do until May! Looking forward to enjoying the simple things again, like reading. Don't gag, but I want to read the 4th Twilight book.

I am hoping... this weird stomach ache I have isn't going to turn into the stomach flu. Yikes - sure feels like thats what it is.

I am hearing... Chris playing XBox downstairs and my dog pouncing on my cat.

Around the house... things are slowly coming around. A recent improvement has been putting in a new garage door and opener. We also just spent what seems like a life savings on a new John Deer snowblower ... hard to pay that much for something like that, but we'll be thankful when it snows and we don't have to shovel.

One of my favorite things... Quiet mornings when I can sit on my couch & drink coffee while watching 'Sell This House' on HGTV ... I work a split shift everyday, first from 6:45-8:30 at one school, and then from 11:15-5:15 at my main school. Every morning I get home at 8:35, heat up a cup of coffee, and watch one episode. Then I get to work on my photography stuff til I leave at 11. So, that half hour of quietness and relaxation is awesome.

A few plans for the rest of the week... School job work: Get registration completed and entered into the database for the 2nd semester & get confirmation letters sent out to parents; Photography work: finish editing my last session; Personal life: get this house super cleaned up & tidy, get/put up/decorate Christmas tree

It's Starting To Look A Lot Like Christmas ...

Started decorating for Christmas today. I didn't get too far, because I can't find my evergreen garlands ... I wonder what happened to them in the move. Who knows! Also, I have some sparkly items that light up when they get plugged in. Apparently, as a new homeowner, I haven't noticed before that ALL the outlets only work with the light switch turned on. If they are turned on, all our sconce lights turn on ... grr!

So, this is all that got completed today - I do like it though! (The stocking holders are P.Barn photo frames engraved with our names ... I still have to add pictures):

I decorated the puppy a bit too! ;-)

101 in 1001 Days

On January 11, 2010 I created my '101 in 1001' days list. It's just what it sounds like ... a list of 101 goals and new things I want to try or experience in the next 1001 days. By my calculations, that'll take me somewhere into 2013.

I randomly opened it for the first time since I forgot about it created it back in January. I was delighted to learn I have accomplished 7, and I realized actually working on some of them:

Totally Accomplished:

1. Buy a house

2. Re-do at least one room (haha, I think I have that one achieved by a long shot!)

20. Travel to a new state

39. Plant a garden

40. Do not let my outdoor flowers die

42. Purchase a new lens

54. Discover a really great wine (link here)

Items I Really Want Accomplished:

16. Get a full time TEACHING job

21. Fit into size 8 jeans

51. 1. Wake up early and shoot at sunrise in the fog

52. 1. Find 4 new, local, awesome shooting locations

63.Purchase a bigger diamond for my wedding setting

17. Pay off at least half of my student loans - $13,000. (I realize the above item kind of makes this one impossible ... a girl has to dream, right?)

65. Take more personal photos (actually doing this AT ALL would make me happy)

18. Begin starting a family

Life Right Now

My usual week day, the past 3 months:

• Alarm at 5:30 am
• Leave for work at 6:45
• 7:00 Work Part 1 starts - morning program with kids at Lincoln Elementary, A.M. Site Manager
• 8:30 Work Part 1 ends
• 8:35 Get home, 2nd cup of coffee
• 8:35-11:00 Work Part 2: Photographer; Editing business photos, emails, billing, etc
• 11:00 Leave for Work Part 3
• 11:15 Arrive at Work Part 3 - Site Manager for Jefferson Junction at Jefferson Elementary
• 5:00/5:15/5:30ish Work Part 3 Ends
• 5:30ish Arrive Home, Make Dinner, Clean Up Dinner
• 6:00/6:30ish Work Part 4 Begins: Photographer; Editing business photos, emails, billing, etc
• 10:00 Bedtime
• Speed forward to 5:30 am: Do it all over again the next day...

My usual weekend, the past 7 months:

• 24 Saturdays: Wedding Photographer, 12 hour days
• Sundays: Client meetings, engagement sessions, senior sessions, family sessions, catch up on housework, catch up on businesswork

I am happy to report ... that this SATURDAY and SUNDAY ... I HAVE OFF!!!

Thankful for a little break from this kind-of-crazy-lifestyle.

Also thankful for ... making a good choice for ME ... not my bank account. I have decided to only book 12 weddings for 2011. This is exactly half of the weddings I photographed/worked this year. And my number of coverage hours has decreased from 12 to 9. Looking forward to a little more relaxation in 2011! Only 1 more contract that I'm waiting for in the mail ... and I'm all booked! (Woo hoo!)

Some New Portraits

Photos taken November 7, 2010 by my friend Ashley.

Thanks, Ash!

Taking Advantage of Summer

This is just a super random post, so bear with me. ;-)

Ahhh, as I sit here and type, the windows are open and a cool breeze is coming in.

This is quite a contrast to the past couple weeks ... it has been ungodly hot and muggy and just disgusting. The humidity was AWFUL - and it was in the 90s. ICK. I'm sure we racked up our most expensive energy bill yet - with the A/C running non stop. It was just miserable without it.

It finally cooled down a bit yesterday ... a perfect 82 degrees with only about 60% humidity. Maddie spent a good amount of time outside yesterday and actually seemed to enjoy it for once. We took her on her 1st long walk ... which she enjoyed. Now that we have a break from the humidity, we'll go every day.

Otis also enjoys that we are able to have windows open...Yes, that's an ottoman...in front of the front door. We never use that door, so it's the perfect spot for him to chill in the breeze.

Chilling with her top feet up on top of the deck, while her back legs sit on the first step down. We have such a strange dog.

Mmmm .... garden fresh veggies. All are from my garden besides the mushrooms.

Within 107 Days We Have ...

We have owned our house for 107 days.

I got this post idea from Nicole. She posted the items they have accomplished on their home over the last year, and she as well made a list of what they plan to do in the next year. I thought it would be neat to have this post to look back on, at ALL the progress we made in such a short amount of time.

The following is a list of what we have ALREADY done in this short 107 days, and what we PLAN TO DO/STILL NEED TO FINISH.

ALREADY DONE:

Kitchen (also where our laundry area lives):

• Removed wallpaper + border
• Primed + Painted
• Removed cabinets overhead the island
• Switched out all the outlet covers to brushed nickel covers
• Removed old nasty window coverings
• Ripped out the linoleum
• Ripped out the carpet
• Re-did the subfloor
• Leveled the floor
• New flooring
• Removed + replaced all the baseboard
• New storm door
• New door casing
• New washer + dryer
• New fridge
• Some new accessories + counter height table (LOVE)
• New vents

A few more pics:

Downstairs Full Bath:

• Gutted entire bathroom down to the studs (besides shower), which includes removing all the plaster + lathes
• Moved the toilet + plumbing over
• Moved the plumbing to vanity over
• Completely new floor
• Completely new ceiling
• Removed built in cabinet by shower
• Insulation + drywall
• Texturized the walls
• New window + frame + sill
• New flooring
• New vanity + faucet
• New base + casing + molding
• New accessories
• Primed + painted twice
• New bathroom fan/light + work to make it actually vent outside
• New over head vanity lighting
• New vanity mirror
• New widow treatments
• New vent
• Plus all new accessories

Dining Room + Sitting Room Combo Space:

• Removed wall paper + border
• Repaired the damaged walls
• Removed old nasty window coverings
• Primed + painted
• New baseboard + casing
• Removed carpet
• Leveled the floors
• New wood-look laminate flooring
• Removed ugly details from fireplace
• New vents
• New accessories + furniture

Living Room:

• All the same things as the dining room

Entry Way:

• Completely removed the floor + underneath
• Re-structured entire entryway (5 feet under)
• Removed base + casing
• Primed + Painted
• New flooring
• New accessories

Stairway to 2nd Level:

• Removed plaster + lathe on side to repair damage
• New drywall on that side
• Removed carpet
• Re-structured some stairs for support
• Texturized all the walls
• New carpet
• Primed + painted
• Primed baseboard + trim around window

Upstairs Hallway:

• Removed base + casing
• Removed carpet
• Removed top of half wall (this is where staircase comes up, sort of a stair rail...)
• Removed all plaster + lathe from half wall
• Dry walled half wall
• Texturized entire hallway
• New vents
• Primed + painted
• New carpet
• New base + casing

Each of the 3 Bedrooms:

• Removed wall paper
• Removed old nasty window coverings
• Removed carpets
• Removed base + casing + window trim
• Removed wood paneling in 1 room
• New vents
• New carpet
• New base + casing + trim
• Texturized all the walls
• Primed + painted

Upstairs Full Bathroom:

• Removed base + casing
• Primed and painted

Exterior:

• Scraped, primed, + painted 3 decks/porches + garage
• New rock bed w/wood frame around the garage
• Deleted one rock bed from middle of yard (just moved the rocks from there to around garage). See picture below:

Other:

• Actually MOVED IN!
• Hired a plumber to clean out our pipes leading to sewer
• Got a puppy (what the HELL was I thinking?)

This is Maddie, our 3 month old Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix.

LEFT TO DO:

Upstairs Full Bathroom:

For now:

• Finish paint details for a sharper look
• Re-finish the shower/tub (maybe just get a new one...?)
• New interior door
• New storm door (a must before winter)
• New base + molding
• New light fixture

Long Term Goal (after a year or two):

• Completely re-do the bathroom, including:
• New shower/tub
• New vanity + mirror + lighting
• Knock out built in cabinet + build exposed shelving
• New flooring
• Plus everything else that a bathroom re-model would include

Garage:

• New garage door + new steel entry door
• Update electricity out there
• Use new windows found sitting in garage and add some windows to the garage

Exterior of house:

• I'd love to get it re-painted in the next few years. It's aluminum siding and is looking a bit dingy
• Re-vamp the flower/bush beds all around the house ... just make them look cleaner, and well, better
• Shutters
• Re-finish wood on decks/porches (the part you walk on)

Kitchen:

• I'd love new countertops (Quartz...but at $60 sq/ft this will have to wait)
• New garbage disposal
• Window treatments
• (I love that this list is so short!)

Entryway:

• Finish putting on the casing + base
• New storm door
• New entry door (maybe just paint it?)

Stairs:

• Finish painting base + trim
• New top for the half wall (will be made of wood)

Hallway Upstairs:

• Finish top detail on half wall
• New doors (5 all together) + new brushed nickel door handles
• Paint Ceiling
• Paint trim between wall and ceiling
• Re-finish built in cabinet in the hallway + new hardware
• Window treatment

Downstairs Full Bath:

• Fix outlet cover
• Hang towel bar

Bedrooms:

• Window treatments
• Outlet covers
• New molding between walls and ceiling
• Paint Ceilings
• New closet doors + hardware
• Re-finish built in cabinet in 1 bedroom (+ new hardware)

Watch for updates! :-)