Ava.

I am more than a little narcissistic. I want everyone to know what I am doing, why I am doing that, what led me to decide that this was the right thing to do, and my feelings attributed to said event. But I am equal opportunity. I fully expect you to read my facebook status/tweet/blog update but you better believe that I will be manically checking yours for an update. It's one of the reasons why I read so many blogs. And the list just keeps on growing.
Because of my narcissism, I wanted everyone to know that I was grumpy today. I wanted to tell everyone how sad I was because I have all this time to myself and how I want someone to share it with. How I want a mate to share everything with and children that laugh at how silly their parents are while they dance around the kitchen to the oldies station. How I went running to try to get all that out but instead I wanted to share a blog with you that I found today.
If you are an obsessive blog reader like I am, then you are well aware of what happens when you read a blog. Especially if you like their style of writing. This happened today. I stumbled upon site after site after site of people's musings. Of them sharing intimate moments. it was one of these moments that I feel privileged enough to know about. This is Sheye. Sheye is a photographer who lives in Australia. I was reading all about Sheye and her family and her photography, which you should check out, and this one name kept popping up. Ava. Stories about Ava's life. Pictures that froze Ava at 3 and a half. I investigated. And then I dug out the tissues. What I found was this, Ava's Legacy. If you like to peer into other people's worlds(which, if you are reading this, is obvious) then please check it out. But make sure you have plenty of tissues.

Consider my "Woe-is-me" attitude in check.

The Most Amazing Cupcakes Ever.

A few weeks back, my friend Brooke blogged about these fabulous graham cracker cupcakes that she had found. While she kept the basic cupcake recipe the same as she found it from Vanilla Garlic, she made a slight adjustment to the filling and topping. What Brooke did, and for this recipe I did too, is after you spoon the batter into the cups, put two chocolate squares on top. You could use one or two, depending on how much chocolate you like. The topping is marshmallow fluff and then you put extra graham cracker crumbs on top and another Hershey square.
Brooke is now my new hero for these Smores Cupcakes. I give you "The Most Amazing Cupcake Ever."





I dare you to dispute my claim.


*Edit- Just a heads up. If you make the smores version,which you would be silly not to, and you are making them ahead of time, wait to put the marshmallow fluff on top until the day of. Fluff has a tendency to run off the cupcake.

Picture of the Week

I'm totally stealing this idea from Becca... I hope you're okay with that! I know that I don't always have my camera on me, which is a cause for consternation, by the way. So I know I won't get a picture a day. But I at least get a couple in during the week. I am definitely going to try to remember to update at least once a week with this new Picture of the Week feature.
Here's my first picture that I took on Thursday.

Taken at work, against the black cabinet in my office.

Beach Baby, Beach Baby

As I have been promising for about a week... beach photo shoot pictures!!! How about a little less talk and a lot more pictures!












Oh, and one more!

I've seen how far I've come...

Tonight is the first episode of this season of The Biggest Loser. Sometimes it's really hard to see people who are where I was at one point in my life. I'm not saying that I was 400lbs but I was at a point where as much as I acted like I was fabulous, I felt wretched. I looked at myself and tried to make myself believe that I was pretty, talented, funny. Mostly funny. The fat friend is always funny. I finally saw myself and thought, "I have got to change. I have got to do something."
So I did. I cut out all unhealthy foods. I took a look at how much I was actually eating and I trimmed down my portion sizes. And I started exercising. And it turns out, I love it! I love to run and sweat and jump and sweat some more. I saw HUGE results. I lost 60 lbs. my stamina has gone through the roof. I started to see myself as the fabulous, amazing person that God created me to be.
Even through all of that, I still have my days. You know those days. The ones where you hear that voice that says you aren't fabulous. But you know what? That voice is wrong. I am fabulous. I am amazing. And you know what else? You are too. God made you to be a fabulous, fierce individual. And we shouldn't let anyone, anyone tell us otherwise.

This turned out to be way more personal than I intended but I guess I really needed to get that off my chest.

Susie the Little Blue Coupe

My mom and I have been planning our trip to Disney in November for the last 6 months. (*Edit- btw, my pop is going with us but it's my mom and I that are mostly planning the trip. He just wants to be told where to be and at what time! Typical guy!) We are now under 100 days and we are so super stoked! I have become obsessed with everything Disney. While perusing all the websites for anything and everything Disney, I came across this, my absolute favorite Disney cartoon from when I was little. Now, I always have a soft spot for anything that has my name, and this is no exception. So, please click on the link and check out my absolute favorite... Susie the Little Blue Coupe from 1952.

Forgive me!

As I was so wonderfully reminded by Becca, I completely "forgot" to update my blog like promised. I say "forgot" because at one point I looked at it and thought, "Hmm, I should do that." And then promptly turned on the TV and got some ice cream. Mmmmm, ice cream. But, I digress.

Here's what's been going on in my life as late. I've been to the beach! OK, so it was just for one day, but I get to go down at least three more times before the summer is done. Here's a little pic...

Fabulous!

That's what is going on vacation wise and that is it for trips until the BIG Disney trip at the end of November. Oh man! Am I ever excited! I go to this fabulous website everyday for tips on planning. If you are going, you should check this site out!

Oh, and one more thing that is going on in my life. I had an epiphany two weeks ago when I was baby sitting at a picnic. 9 kids between 3 and 7, paint under my finger nails, grass stains on my paints, wet hugs and I was hooked. I miss being around kids so, so much. Right, so what is this epiphany you ask? I have decided to go back to school to become a teacher. I contacted Eastern yesterday for help in the Grad school process and I will be working towards starting in the spring. I'm pretty stoked. It will probably take me between two and two and a half years to complete but I know it will be totally worth it. I was so glad to have this revelation that I even thanked the friend that had me over to watch the kids at her picnic.
The only thing that I am concerned about is (actually there are two things) and that is letting my bosses know my intention and being able to work, attend school, and not lose my mind completely!
So, that's what's going on for me this summer. Anyone else have big things happening?

Update tonight

Ok, so it's been a few weeks since an honest to goodness update. And guess what? You'll have to wait just a little bit longer! I have some thoughts that I shall add later tonight...(fingers crossed that I will remember!)

Countdown to Vacation!

Free Disney Tickers

So exciting!

Blog Generator

Maybe I should preface this post by saying that I found this website that is like Mad Libs for bloggers...!


Oh for crying out loud! I just returned from my daily swim on the beautiful Fijian beach and realised I have not updated this since Hammertime was in the charts... You would not believe how heavy that rock really is. I hope you still love me!.

I am absolutely consumed with waiting for a fine young gentleman to propose, learning to speak Japanese, just generally being the life of the party to my psychologist, my day seems to be a litany of stuff and giggles from sun-up to sun down and beyond. I am putting money aside so I can run away. I need some perspective.

I absolutely, positively promise I will update you with my nefarious activities as soon as I get a chance. Go with God, good friends. This is for my ever faithful, devoted public..

I found this from CakeWrecks... here's the website!
Check it out!

Kelli and Chad Get Married!

So, for months now I have been talking about K&C's wedding. It finally happened! It was such a blast and God really did make them for one another.
Friday night was looking really scary, weather-wise. It had drizzled and rained on and off throughout the entire rehearsal. Right as we are getting ready to leave and go to dinner, downpour! But, the good news is, that they had changed the weather forecast to rainy Friday and sunny and gorgeous on Saturday.
The weather man got it right.
Ok, enough with the chatter, let's see those pictures!










It was so much fun to be in the wedding and to be able to take these great pictures!
Best of luck to the happy couple!

I remembered my ten on Tuesday!

Woo-hoo!
1) Tomorrow is my birthday! I will be turning 29 for the first time... normally I celebrate in huge ways but this year has been a little more low key.
2) Next year, when I celebrate 29, part 2, I am going to do it in a very big way! I hope to have a huge party with all of my friends and family. Hey, if I have to turn that number that I don't want to turn, I might as well do it in style!
3) K&C's wedding is this Saturday! I can't believe how quickly the time went! I'm very excited to share this day with them and honored to be a part of it.
4) The bachelorette party was this past Saturday and it made me realize that when I (whenever this may be) get married, I want to spend my day on the beach and a low key night out to dinner. It's so much more my speed.
5) I have been watching So You Think You Can Dance religiously and have fallen in love with this dance routine... Every time I watch it, I get goosebumps and I cried the first time I saw it. Very moving.
8) My birthday is tomorrow. I didn't want you to forget.
7) My car finally kicked the bucket. After all the drama with tires and not starting, we deemed it unsafe for me to drive it over an hour every day.
8) That being said, I am currently tooling around in my dad's Taurus wagon. I think it's safe to say that I need to purchase a new car. Anyone willing to contribute donations?
9) I have been snapping pictures like crazy! My new life plan is to quit my job and become a beach bum who makes a living at photography. Aah, a girl can dream, can't she?
10) I have a guitar sitting in the corner of my room. Once upon a time, I knew how to play. I kind of wish I still could. Until then, the guitar just sits and gathers dust. The tragedy.

Enjoy your day!

Hmmm...

So, today is 1 week until K&C's wedding!! So exciting! Tonight we are taking Kelli out for her Bachelorette Party. I won't reveal what we're doing on here because there is a chance that Kelli might see this, but my question is... what did you ladies do for your parties? Was it classy and chic? Laid back and chill? Rowdy and raucous? Do you think it becomes tit for tat- if the guys go to a strip club, the ladies should too? What about bachelorette party weekends?

Bad Blogger!

I really, really try to remember to write more than once a week but it just never seems to happen that way. But, what are you going to do? Here are some long awaited pics (less than a week old!) from the festivities of the weekend!

Let's start with Jordin... vote for her for Cutest Baby! (I'll post the link at the end)


A nod to my Marching Band heritage!


Who doesn't love the drums?!


This was just really cool!


And of course, no post would be complete without a photo of Aaron!

Here's how to vote for Jordin... got to my facebook pictures and click on the link provided in the album "Jordin's Shoot."

Frustration

Wold you like to know how to spell frustration? O-L-D C-A-R. Actually C-A-R spells frustration. A few weeks ago, my car did this no starting thing. We put a new battery in it. Then two weeks ago, the car did the no starting thing again. This time we took it to the mechanic and he couldn't find the problem. Was it the starter? The alternator? He didn't want to put one in and have me spend $400 and have it turn out to be the other. That's why I like my mechanic. Not trying to fix things just to fix them. Right, next on the bum car list. Then, on Monday, I was tooling down the turnpike when the tread on my tire popped off, causing me to swerve and have to pull over. Again, my dad came to rescue me. He changed the tire and we took it to the shop to get new tires. Ok, no problem right? Oh, you would think that. Last night, Wilma Louise did the no starting thing again. So, we decided to park her at my parent's house while I drive my dad's car (name: Nessie, because she is big and green like the Loch Ness Monster) and look for a new car.
Anybody want to help me get the down payment for a car? Or give me a car?
Anyone? AnyONE?!

Firing up for the 4th

Oops, I think it has now been a week since I have blogged anything. So much for every other day. Well, in my defense, I really have been pretty busy since then. And by busy, I mean I worked out, babysat, worked out some more, and laid in the sun reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. (I tried to hyperlink back to her site, but apparently, you can't. So you'll have to go there yourself, if you want to.) But, wow! It was amazing and sad and unexpected all at the same time. You should read it.
But I digress.
This week is a holiday week, which means that I get to enjoy our wonderful Mayberry parade. If you have never been to the Glenside parade, you really should. I mean, who doesn't love 15 dance groups, a band of motorcycles, 25 marching bands (ok, maybe 10), and hundreds of fire trucks? I love going because it's a huge event that happens every year, without fail, that I have marched in, and that my church family piles onto the front yard of the church to enjoy together. And it is a great time to take advantage of the crowd and practice my photography. The people, the americana, the firetrucks. It's great!
Now, don't you want to go and check it out? Saturday, July 4th at 4 PM. All this from a girl who is so NOT patriotic.

Contemplating

Recently I have been thinking a lot about predestination. I know, that's quite a heady subject for 7:45 in the morning. Here's what I've been thinking; in Ephesians 1 Paul speaks an awful lot on the subject of predestination and I just am not sure I fully understand it. I know God calls us and has plans for us, i.e., Jeremiah 29:11, but where does free will step in? If God foreknew everything that I would do, say all the way down to the fact that I don't tie my shoes, then how is free will involved? God knew that I wouldn't like to tie my shoes, God knew that I would go to Eastern, God knew that I would fall madly in love with photography. God knows if there is a spouse and children in my future. My question is, if God is Sovereign over all things and He has called us each to a certain purpose, and He is in control of my whole life, where does sin step in? If God knew we were going to sin, why doesn't He stop us? I guess that's where the whole free will thing gets involved. It also begs the question, why do bad things happen to good people?
Again, like I said before this is heady stuff to be contemplating even before I've finished my first cup of coffee. But, it's been on my mind and I am curious as to what others think on the matter...
Thoughts, comments, bible verses, or books to read are most welcome.

Introducing

Aaron Edward Walker! My mom and I took a visit down to the hospital to visit Nana and to visit the new little one. What a handsome little guy.

It's a ...

BOY!! Aaron Edward Walker graced the world with his presence on June 19, 2009, a little before noon. He weighed in at 7 lbs, 4 oz, and was 21.5 inches long! Mama and baby are doing great! I hope to get in to meet him very soon and, of course, will be posting pictures! Stay tuned...

Aaahhh!

NanaSue will have a brand new baby at some point in the next 24 hours! Holy cow, it's so exciting. Her little boy, Andrew, is the picture in the banner of this blog and he is one of my favorite subjects to photograph. Now, there will be two for me to play around with! Look for new baby pictures coming at some point in the future. I figure, I should wait at least a couple weeks before I storm the house with my trusty D40...