when i grow up...

i remember when i was in second grade i wrote a paper for school about how i wanted to be mariah carey when i grew up...

glad that didn't work out.

then i wanted to be a pediatrician...when i broke my arm in the 5th grade i wanted to be an orthopedic pediatrician...until high school and i took an anatomy class and realized it pretty much sucked.

then i was like...well humm...heck i dont know...

told people i would join the circus or something.

then three classmates and i won an $100,000 anti-tobacco grant and i started doing pr for the whole deal. taught myself how to write press releases, tv and radio spots, speeches, ect. i thought- this is it! i will be a pr gal.

i told people i wanted to do pr from then on out. most of my classmates said what the heck is that? i told them doing super sweet things. i always said i wanted to work for a record label or rolling stone...maybe be a rock photo-journalist on the side.

so i went to college, got an internship, a handful of other part-time jobs and thousands of dollars worth of loans to finish that pr degree...

sad thing is i did more 'professional pr' that year that in high school than i have been able to do in the rest of my pr life during and after college.

...every job i apply for wants you to have a good 7-10 years of experience.

fellow pr grads jimmy and katie had a slice of pizza today with me and discussed our disgust for our post college careers.

we did have decent jobs at ad agencies...that in the end kind of left us feeling jaded. but we did have it good for a while...working with friends, doing creative things...then for one reason or another we all ended up leaving or loosing our first big kid jobs.

from there we have gone various places from coffee shops to korea and the places in between.

we decided that based on career postings basically we can't have a good job until we are at least 30...based on the 10 years of experience job qualification rule...so what are we suppose to do in the mean time?

i guess try to get a halfway decent job and build up our years...

i could always go back to my side plan of being a rock photojournalist...
or a journalism teacher- but that would require me to go back to school...

or join the circus.

...i would like to have cotton candy on a more regular basis.

rain rain on my face...

...every time it rains i still think of this old jars of clay song from back in the day.

this cd changed my life. i would listen to it on repeat over and over again in high school...it was just what i needed then.

...i need to find that amazing old cd again...i think it might be just what i need now.

best tv show ever.

the wonder years.
somehow at the end of every episode kevin arnold touches my heart.

unemployment week 2...

i applied for about a million jobs last week.
got a few emails back and one response letter in the mail.
...basically this ad agency didn't have anything open now- but thanked me for my time.

i did get a few new leads for this week-
feeling hopeful.
this job would be perfect for me.
im not going to mention much more now...

but please pray that God's will be done for my life.
i really want a job where i can use the skills he gave me.

...and i just wanted to say thanks for an answered prayer.
my friend brent finally got home from serving as a medevac pilot in iraq.
im grateful he is home safe and can how see his baby boy and wife.
im proud of him.

you live for the fight- when it's all that you've got...

"She says: We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
We've got each other and that's a lot for love -
We'll give it a shot.

We're half way there - Livin' on a prayer

Take my hand and we'll make it
I swear - livin' on a prayer."

-Mr. Bon Jovi

mr. bean...

is so awesome.
i cant wait to see mr. beans new silly movie.
he is so insane that i can't help but love him.
i even had a mr. bean shirt i got at a thrift store in high school.

the best part about mr bean-
he drives a sweet mini.

rainy days...

are best spent inside all cozy under a fuzzy blanket watching a good movie with a friend or two...

today i had the pleasure of watching monsters inc. with jaimi and little miss ivy.

still counting down the days until the baby comes...
13-but we think he will come early.

jaimi and ivy...

jaimi is one of my best friends from high school.
i love this girl.
she is one of the most beautiful girls i have ever met and will ever know.
sweetest thing you will ever meet.
and she has the cutest daughter ivy.
seriously people- the cutest kid i've ever seen in my whole life.
today i went to hang out with jaimi and ivy...and the baby boy in jaimi's cute round belly.
i can't wait to meet the lil' fella in a few weeks...
im sure he will be the 2nd cutest kid i've ever seen.

cheesecakes amore...

"an illicit love affair in every bite."

cheesecakes.
that's my dad's dream and passion.
the world's finest cheesecakes...
you might remember the tasty treats from my wedding and graduation party.

he perfected them years ago and has dreamt of focusing on his cheesecakes full-time.
i always tell him to do what makes him happy and lately we have been talking about it more everyday.

its what he loves in life.
helping the world enjoy their lives more one bite at a time.
we were talking about how a good cheesecake is like life.
you shouldn't have to have a special occasion to enjoy it.
you should spoil the ones you love (and yourself) everyday.
live everyday to its fullest.

linsey and i were talking about deserts the other day after our outing to the cupcake island.
she said that she will watch what she eats normally- but when it comes to desert you should always go big or go home. and i agree.

life is too short.
we should always go big or go home.

so with this i challenge my dad-
lets go big or go home.

lets do it.

cheesecakes amore for everyone!

who wants to be our first order on new adventure?

unemployment week 1...

so today is the official one week mark for unemployment.
nothing too exciting or glamorous.
kind of boring and frustrating.
granted i am happy to not be working for someone who yells at me-
but then again i was getting paid.
and sometimes i think- will i ever get a new job?
will anyone ever call me back?
did they even get my resume?
but now im happy and i can enjoy the end of summer with friends and family.
that is what's most important in the long run.
so my resumes are out and people have their ears opened for me.
now i just have to have faith that God will put me where he wants me and relatively soon.
ps- i got some new hair...
a new look can never hurt.

super sweet sears...

thanks for sending me this link to the 1971 Sears Catalog, heidi.
it is soo horribly awesome.
thank god i was born in the 80's.

plans for today...

1. find a job
2. layout by the pool with linsey
3. visit omaha's only cupcake shop- cupcake island - which we just discovered...and buy cupcakes...maybe ask for a job there...how glorious.
4. go to linsey and matt's for dinner- and to eat the cupcakes.
...i can do the laundry and get groceries tomorrow right?

i quit...

today i resigned my position as an activities director.
it feels good to no longer worry about a job where you worry more than anything else.
stickin' it to the man or in this case woman- feels good.
i feel like i can breathe again...
and not as a jr league wanna be.
(thats what my boss told me she wanted me to be)

upwards and onwards to bigger and better things.
if anyone knows anyone hiring let me know.
ps- the devil doesn't aways wear prada...sometimes it's really bad orthopedic shoes.

superbad...

...was super funny.
tonight my love and i went to see a sneak peak of superbad.
it was superbad.
so bad.
but hilarious.
i would not recommend it to children or people who offend easily or people who do not like crude humor-
but everyone that loves a bad but too funny movie should definitely see it.
mcLovin is great- check him out.

searchin' for my lost shaker of salt...

anyone want to head to margaritiaville with me tomorrow?
maybe pina-coladaville by the pool?
i need a frozen concoction and soon.
-----
Nibblin' on sponge cake,
watchin' the sun bake;
All of those tourists covered with oil.
Strummin' my six string on my front porch swing.
Smell those shrimp
They're beginnin' to boil.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
But I know it's nobody's fault.

Don't know the reason,
Stayed here all season
With nothing to show but this brand new tattoo.
But it's a real beauty,
A Mexican cutie, how it got here
I haven't a clue.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
Now I think, - hell it could be my fault.

I blew out my flip flop,
Stepped on a pop top,
Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home.
But there's booze in the blender,
And soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
But I know, it's my own damn fault.
Yes, and some people claim that there's a woman to blame
And I know it's my own damn fault.

things i did this weekend:

1. went on a date with my husband to grisantis.
2. went shopping for babies and bridal showers.
3. watched the man in the moon (one of reese witherspoon's first movies) and apartment 12 (with mark ruffalo) on the good ol' dvr.
4. helped my mom and randy move into their new house in louisville.
5. saw my dear friend natalie's newest edition to her family...baby lucus...10 lbs 7 oz! pics to come...
6. drove to kc to see the schlegs.
7. went to dinner at the crazy hash house a go go at the fabulous legends shopping center in kc- where they had insane food. i had sage fried chicken with a hardwood smoked bacon waffle tower, hot maple reduction & fried leeks- joel had one heck of a chicken pot pie that came in a life size crust hat you could wear, cindy had a tower of meat loaf and kim went for the pork ribs. they called it twisted farm food- but it started in california...they must have some funky farms!







8. saw a dinosaur and a giant turtle.
9. went swimming with joel's mama.
10. helped make a delicious lunch.
11. went to see the new borne ultimatum movie...sooooo good!
12. drove home from kc.
13. had a big mac with my mac daddy.

-overall a very busy but fun weekend.

kodachrome...

one of my favorite songs...

kodachrome by paul simon.
reminds me of a roadtrip home from pa with my dad and megan.
when i put this song on my ipod and played it-
i saw my dad's eyes light up and he sang every last word.
photography is one gift my dad gave me and that we have in common.
my parents actually met in photography school in the 80's.
so it's not a wonder i was born with a camera in my hand.

i might not shoot kodachrome these days dad- but
i do 'got a nikon camera and love to take a photograph.'

-thanks dad...

---
When I think back
On all the crafts I learned in high school
It's a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of edu---cation
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

If you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together for one night
I know they'd never match
my sweet imagination
everything looks worse in black and white

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Leave your boy so far from home
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

support for the troops...

i saw this today and it really touched me.
its not another cheezy post...

it really spoke to me after doing the uso tour we did and meeting all of the great troops out there and having a good friend from high school serving in iraq flying in the ne medevac unit..

i just want to say it again-
because i will never say it enough...
thanks for everything you do service men and women.
it really means a lot to me and i support you doing a job that not many can do.
thank you.

brent i hope you come home soon to enjoy your new baby boy.







He stays up for days on end.




You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.




You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.




You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.




You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.




You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.




You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.




You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.




You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.




Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.




You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.




You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.




You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.




You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.




You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.




You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.




You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.




You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.




You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.




You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.




You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.