as of right now...

Today I

-took a walk down to the water. To think. To contemplate the new year.  (Because...excuse my language but 2010 sucked ass for me. One of the hardest years I can remember. Emotionally. Physically. Financially.)

-sat on a bench, under a tree, and ate a sandwich while I watched the clouds roll by (quiet time really is the best sometimes)

- played with the macro setting on my point and shoot (I've really been missing my Rebel lately and should just get another one...)

 
- cooked dinner while listening to the Mumford and Sons album I got for Christmas

- thought a LOT about this blog post that I found via pacingthepanicroom.blogspot.com  (Already made a note to check in so I can contribute next year)

-set  goals for 2011

- started "Operation Un-Clutter My Life" today starting with my dresser (feels so good to purge and organize)

- planned a nice breakfast (with mimosas ) for tomorrow morning for just Nate and I

- found some beauty in a simple telephone pole (I think it would have lots of stories to tell)

I am so ready for the 2011 year. Hoping it's not as rough as last year. Fingers crossed:)

crap.

so I didn't actually mean to be gone this long. I had great intentions to keep up on this blog this year. I guess this is why I don't make resolutions.  It's been crazy at work and I'm doing this weight loss challenge that has me at the gym more now and cooking dinner EVERY night and then I kinda got sucked into facebook and ...and ...anyway. I've let lots of online stuff fall to the wayside in the last few weeks. I checked my RSS feed just now and I have 495 blog posts to read. That's how long it's been.  Now I just need to take the leap and buy the iPhone so I can read the post while at the gym...that would make life much easier...

I swear I'll be back.

jen

fell off that habit wagon pretty darn quickly...

Saw this one word meme on Tina's blog and because I was actually feeling bad that I hadn't blogged in two days figured this would be a good way to ease back into posting. I will (hopefully...depending on the light) post pictures of the first few pages of my December Daily book tomorrow:)

Where is your mobile phone? over there...(oops that's more than one word)

Where is your significant other? Stoked

Your hair colour? brownish
Your mother? working

Your father? Arizona

Your favourite thing? family

Your dream last night? unremarkable

Your dream goal? balance

The room you're in? freezing

Your hobby? creating (cooking and scrapbooking)
Your fear? the unknown
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Oregon
Where were you last night? home

What you're not? patient

One of your wish-list items? lens

Where you grew up? Scottsdale

The last thing you did? blog

What are you wearing?jacket

Your TV? HDTV

Your pets? crazy

Your computer? necessary

Your mood? discontent

Missing someone? always
Your car? subaru
Something you're not wearing? makeup
Favourite shop? Anthropologie

Your summer? unrecognizable

Love someone? definitely

Your favourite colour? green

When is the last time you laughed?yesterday

When is the last time you cried? November

the day after

Months ago I requested today off because we were planning on going out of town for the weekend to the family cabin near Bear Valley. These plans fell through but I went ahead and decided not to work today. I'm always complaining I never have enough time off to get the stuff I want need to get done (cleaning, laundry, yardwork) and still have the weekend that I want (scrapbooking, sleeping, reading) . So I was excited by the extra two days this week. I'm sitting here now though feeling frustrated because

I
got
NOTHING
done
today...

It was like I was still in a Thanksgiving coma (plus my monthly visitor came today which completely wipes me out anyway). We went out and bought 5 movies. Those were our Black Friday purchases. And they were all for ourselves. Then I came home and really...couldn't tell you what I did. I watched the episode of Bones I missed Wednesday night (YES...I am a little obsessed...I have a thing for Agent Booth...) and then, didn't really do anything. I went to get cat food. My husband did the dishes. We're dropping Alex and her friend off to Twilight in a few minutes...

I just really hate that I did nothing with this day. I should have just worked. It's really annoying me right now.

I think I'll go make a list of what I want to accomplish tomorrow. That will make me feel better. I think.

Did anyone go out for Black Friday to get some awesome deals?? Leave a comment if you did to tell me about the cool stuff you got:)

jen

so I know I had a plan but...

I'm so not ready to talk about my dream job and my goals right now. I want to do something creative and that I like LOVE...any suggestions (just kidding...unless you have some then by all means... bring them on)?? I've been reading(blogs) and seeing(news) over the past few weeks that person after person are losing their jobs and I'm not sure this is the best time to be pursuing my dream job. I should just stick with the job that pays the freaking bills (sort of ).  I have some job security in that I am the only person doing my job at my company...and you can't not have an accounting rep. I mean, I guess there's always a chance I could lose my job but right now it seems pretty secure.  Nate has been supportive of me getting out of the place I'm in, but my fear is that I leave for another job that doesn't work out and I'm back looking for a job again. The economy is just not our friend right now. Nate just made it, by the skin of his teeth, through 2 separate layoffs this past summer at his job. I'm thinking that quitting a job that is steady and pays...well it pays... to go onto something else is like playing Russian Roulette with our lives...what do you think???

So... on a completely different vein...do any of you twitter?? I've been thinking of joining   I just joined and was wondering if you guys like it. I love the idea of random stuff being "twittered" through the day as I am a random person( you can probably tell that by these latest posts). I also had quite a bit of fun when I first joined Facebook updating my status every few hours. Nate believes it's the perfect thing for me because I email him,  like 25 times a day, and they are only one or two lines long.. .so if you are on twitter come find me:)

back to the job thing...I always thought it would be cool to be the person who picked the music for TV and movies...or a food stylist...or a photographer...or Ali Edwards...anyway, my boss brought me back a Venti decaf mocha and I am so jacked up that I feel like my head is going to explode and so I am ending my post here...

xoxo
jen

p.s. inappropriate song of the day ani difranco-untouchable face this was my favorite song for years. It's still one of my favorites ever;)

absolute randomnicity

First, let me apologize for not warning those of you that may have clicked on the link for the Frightened Rabbit song, that the song is not suitable for children to hear. I didn't think about it until this morning...I usually like to pre-warn folks and I didn't think about it last night. I don't make it obvious on this blog or in any emails with you guys but f*ck is absolutely one of my favorite words. It's in most of my favorite songs (not just because that word is used...I just happen to like the songs) and I don't give it a second thought when I link to these songs. Sorry:(

I think my IPod has a mind of it's own. For a while today it was alternately playing Hole and White Stripes for like 20 minutes. Very weird...sometimes the "shuffle songs" option makes me say "shuffle my ass..." and restart the shuffle. Not today though, I just let it play out to see where it was going and it went back to shuffling the songs...

I totally forgot yesterday to link to this food blog (which I LOVE) Kayotic Kitchen. Her photos are so beautiful and the food looks so yummy. Even the meat... which I don't eat...

tomorrow I will be talking about my need to find my dream job (yes, I actually have tomorrow's post somewhat planned out). I've decided that sometime in the near future(like january) I NEED to shake things up in my life and start being serious about a real career. One that I am passionate about. One that I love, not the crap I'm doing right now...so I'll be wanting some input from you guys;)

so the past few days I have been so super efficient. I finally broke down and started making lists in my daily planner (Nate's been on me for a while about this) to remember what I needed/wanted to get done every day. My friend Steve was taking notes the whole time we were hanging out at the beer tasting on Sunday and he said he has to write everything down or he won't remember anything and that's not good for his stress level (he's self employed). So I started it yesterday and it's amazing what I've gotten done already. This is the first stage of old age setting in I believe...

and the finishing of this post (before 10:30 at night) makes one more thing checked off my list;)

jen

P.S. favorite song played today 19-20-20 by The Grates This one had me dancing in my chair at work today...**warning: do not play loudly with young children in the room***

the easy way to post days and days in a row

post some fluff!

Inspired by my friend Nicole who sometimes plays along: Friday Fill In

1. My blueprint for success includes my family and hard work.
2. Reese's Peanut Butter Cup was the last candy I ate.
3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is LUSH's Ultralight.
4. Exercise can be good therapy.
5. I'd like to tell you about my annoyance at certain situations at work this week but I  don't talk about my job on the internet.
6. Common sense is my strongest characteristic.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing after a stressful week at work, tomorrow my plans include working out, watching my husband run his first 5K and Sunday, I want to sleep in, followed by spending the day doing nothing but relaxing!

In other news...I got up at the ungodly hour of 5:40am to go to a 6:00am aerobic class. It was my first time to go to this particular class so I wasn't sure what to expect and well... it kicked my ass. Step-aerobics on a BOSU. I was dripping sweat 10 minutes into it and I'm not sure if any of you have tried doing step aerobics on one of these before but it was HARD. I don't even do step-aerobics on a step very gracefully so we can imagine how this was for me this morning. I wasn't even awake yet. My legs are sore. I'm already tired and it's not even noon.

I can't wait to go again next Friday:)

jen

hi!

Wow...making this a private blog seems to have erased the blog completely from my mind. I am still here...I have been meaning to post something but I was just never motivated. Until today. When it dawned on me that one of the last things i mentioned was our attempt still at conceiving and then i disappeared for 6 weeks...thereby giving false hope to some of you that it may have happened. It didn't. Bloggers...when they get pregnant disappear for weeks at a time and so I'm sorry if any of you thought that may be why I wasn't around. I've just been busy.

Some random thoughts:

I am doing Ali's challenge  so I will be posting pictures from this week.

I am beyond excited that I will be seeing my best friend, Lorena,  from high school in just about 2 weeks now. It's unfortunate that Jay will not be going to the reunion too,   but one best friend is enough I guess...

8th grade has not started out too well for Alex. She's failing Pre-Algebra. She just squeaked by this quarter with a D- and it's meant that our whole household has had to re-learn certain math skills. It's been challenging. Just dealing with her attitude is challenging enough without Nate and I having to re-do 8th grade too;P

I am making a mini book for our trip to Arizona in two weeks so I'll share some of that too:)

otherwise...just know that I am still around and am just lying under a pile of pre-algebra homework

jen

The windowsills they frame your view

just minutes ago
sitting at my desk at work
listening to music

I muttered to myself "jeez, the music they are playing on the radio today REALLY sucks"
.
.
.
.

then I remembered that it's my IPod plugged into an iHome.

I think I need to step away from my desk for a few minutes. or get some new music:P

jen

from Nicole's blog

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?  No

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? two nights ago...when I found out my friend Molly has cancer

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?  sometimes

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?   pastrami

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS yes, one for now

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? what do you think??

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? maybe

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Raisin Nut Bran

11. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? rarely

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? sometimes it just depends on the situation...I went through a pretty bad time 8 years ago and am still here so...

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? chocolate chip mint or homemade strawberry sour cream ice cream

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? smile

15. RED OR PINK? both

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? where do I start...but at the moment it's my weight

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my sister

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? sure

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? brown shorts and black flip flops

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? sandwich (tri tip)

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? my husband and daughter palying video games

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? turquoise

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, peaches

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? a customer at work

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Of course

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Hockey or football

27. HAIR COLOR? Brown

28. EYE COLOR? Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?  no

30. FAVORITE FOOD? too many to even list but at the moment avocados top my list

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? scary movies with happy endings:P

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? License to Wed

33. DESCRIBE YOURSELF W/ONE WORD... reflective (recently)

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? winter

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Love them both;)

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? cheesecake

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? don't know

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?  not keeping track

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Pretty Little Dirty by Amanda Boyden

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? frog

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Freaks and Geek- DVD

42. FAVORITE SOUND? laughter

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? depends on my mood

44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Hawaii

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? not that I'm aware of

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Arizona

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone who wants to answer