LOST IS BACK!

There are few nights out of the year that will top tonight. Oh yes, Lost is back. I am counting down the minutes.

Steve and I are addicted to this show. We have watched every episode since the first season. Yes- it is almost painful because nothing seems to happen, and it is so frustrating, but oh so great. I look forward to every hour of it each week.

For those of you who don't know- its a story of the passengers on a plane that crash on an island in the middle of nowhere. This is no typical island-- the island seems to have magical powers, there are "other" groups who have been living on the island for years who never want to leave...

We like it because its fresh, different, unpredictable, and the characters are great.

Last season we left off with the passengers finally having a chance to get off the island-- they think that a boat is coming to get them...but I have a feeling, they won't. They will be after something else....

HAPPY WATCHING!

Jealousy

The other day my friend e-mailed me a link to one of her friend's blogs. I checked it out. From the screen, her life seemed so beautiful and perfect. The more I read, the more I was feeling "hey- why don't I have ___. Why don't I hang out with ___?"

I e-mailed my friend back and asked how it was that her life seemed so perfect. She responded with the greatest comeback "Yeah- I know, I really have a hard time reading her blog because she is gorgeous and artistic etc etc."

This is not an isolated event. I don't know how many conversations I've had where the same topic comes up...

I think you have to keep blogs in perspective. Everyone is going to write about how awesome their lives are, what trips they are planning, how many job interviews they got, how many beautiful children they have, how many cupcakes they baked...

It's not as fun to talk about the struggles, the debt, the failed relationships, the diseases.

Of course the culprit behind my feelings of inadequecy when I read these blogs is: JEALOUSY.

We all want to be attractive, popular, smart, rich, successful, etc. And, I always compare my worse traits to the best of every one elses.

But- I've decided that my 30's are going to be different! (Yes, this is the big year). I need to stop looking around and be thankful for the beautiful life that I have been given.

It isn't a race against other people, it's a race to be a good person.

Here's an article I really liked on Jealousy-- http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=88f48c6a47e0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=true#1

Ok- I'm getting off my soap box now...

Finally... it all makes sense

I'm trying to get to the gym every morning. I usually feel better, and I think Maddie likes hanging out there. One of the other benefits is reading magazines that I usually don't have time to read (okay- sometimes they are completely trashy, but they are oh so entertaining.)

As an aside- I think its always funny that all of the "trashy" magazines are never to be found (because they are on someone's eliptical or treadmill)- and "Newsweek" and "The Economist" are always on the racks....

But- to the real point: Today- I grabbed Newsweek. It's hard for me to "read" since I am running- but today I tried my best. And- boy was I glad.... (here's why)

Now that I'm a mom, I hang out with other moms sometimes, and see their little girls.... who are OBSESSED with being princesses. They have the dresses, the tiaras, the shoes, and they skip and twirl around while they are on top of the world. This is all new to me, and I never had this obsession when I was a girl, so I've been asking my friends if they had the same obsession. No one did.

So- why the obsession now? No one seemed to have the answers.

UNTIL NOW! Newsweek had my answer this morning! I was glued to the page.

Apparently- Disney launched their "princess" target market to the "teeny boppers (sp?)" a few years ago, but didn't realize the real potential until it hit the little girl market-- which boomed. It is now a 4 billion dollar market! (one of the most sucessful ventures ever).

According to the article- the princess theme is no accident because the fairy tale princess theme is very universal-- the girl who started from "humble beginings to become a beautiful princess." Who doesn't want to feel special, right?

Anyway- here's the article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/70985

Good Job Disney! I need to buy some of their stock. (but its probably too late!)


http://www.newsweek.com/id/70985

A good laugh

My friend forwarded this to me and it is incredible. You probably can't read the type, so click the image if you want to get a good laugh- or feel ill to your stomach?

The photgraphy buisness

I basically sleep, drink, eat and think about photography every day right now. I am getting close to launching my website, but it has been a lot of work. Logo, advertising, products, pricing, sellers permit, etc etc. I never thought I would have my "own company," because I like to work for established places that have retirement packages, stablility, other people to talk to... but it has been a blast. And- I am excited to get the ball rolling.

Thankfully, some of my friends have been so wonderful to let me shoot their babies and kids-- and I have been learning so much. My portfolio is done, and we got some winners. I haven't been posting them on the blog so that it will be a fun surprise, but I'll let you see one of my favorites (of course for obvious genetic reasons!). This is the only picture I will post of Maddie because I think it's kind of weird when photographers just have pictures of their own kids.


Posting pictures on a blog doesn't do them justice! I ordered this picture in a "gallery wrap" format (print on canvas, stretched over a frame)--- and it came last night. I rushed over to UPS- stood in the rain, rushed home... and it is simply breathtaking. I love it. I would recommend this type of framing to anyone. (Of course this will be an option in ordering on the website).

Yum!

On Saturday we got a call from a friend inviting us to go to dinner. It was a crazy Saturday, and I was dreaming of sitting on the couch all night, but boy am I glad I didn't.

We went to XANH-- what? Yes- XANH. Apparently, it means blue in Vietnamese?

Wow- what a place. I haven't been to this caliber of a restaurant in a while (ok- maybe I haven't been out that much?). The food was not only delicious, but it was so beautiful. Every plate was a piece of art-- but not in a bad way. (you know what I mean!) I think Steve left a little hungry (the portions aren't that big), but he really liked it too.

Here's their website: http://www.xanhrestaurant.com/

Check it out!

Dead Tired Husband etc.

Today Steve came home, ate dinner, and couldn't keep his eyes open past 7 (Friday night). I usually would feel rejected and want to go out, but I felt bad for him. Building a house is a lot of work on top of working full time. I wish I could help, but since I don't know the first thing about building houses, I think I should stay far away!

We had our FIRST formal complaint by a neighbor-- that we are building too close to their property line (but its to code). I guess you can't please everybody.

The cement for the additional square footage will probably be poured in the next week....

If I close my eyes, I can almost picture it... (hee, hee)

Bad blogger

I've been neglecting the blog lately because I am trying to launch my photography business. I basically work on it any second that I can, and I love it.

I think the website will be done the beginning of Feburary... fingers crossed.

Other exciting news- they are pouring the cement at our house! Yipee. I will go take pictures and post them...

Romney, Obama, Clinton...very interesting. I would love to be a political news anchor- but I just don't know that much. I like to watch and hear the pundits discussing the latest polls. It's like the olympics only better!!

A Couple of Random Thoughts

So- first off, I can't believe Hillary won after what appeared to be an Obama landslide? Who knows what will happen... go and vote!! (I'm not endorsing either way.)

What is happening to Brittney Spears? I really try to stay away from this trash- but it makes me sad when people make such bad decisions.

And- the last thought... one of my major weaknesses is that I often put my foot in my mouth. (Stephen agreed with this assessment this morning) According to him, this is one of my major strengths and weaknesses. Well, I feel like I did it again just recently. Sometimes I don't have a "filter" and I just say what I'm thinking at that exact moment. It was great in the courtroom most of the time, but not so great on other occasions... like yesterday.

Then, almost like clockwork, I spend most of the night tossing and turning and wishing I wouldn't have said it. What was I thinking? I wish there was a reverse and replay button sometime.

I hope I'm getting better. But, I do envy those who seem to say all the perfect things at the perfect times. Don't we all?

The candidates

We watched the Republican and Democratic debates on Saturday night as a family. Wow- what an interesting group of people. Of course, I won't say anything controversial, but watching it made me proud to be an independant.

We were surprised at who didn't seem to know anything, and who spoke very well on the issues. I thought it was very informative.

I didn't know anything about Ron Paul- but I like how he talks-- straight to the point, and backs up everything he says with what appears to be real information. Not just rhetoric.

Bill Richardson. Well, he won't win- but he did really well- much better than some of the front runners. He knew his stuff, he was honest, and cracked a few jokes here and there...

And- then there was Hillary. Everyone I know seems to violently hate her... so I won't push any buttons. But, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I was impressed with her on Saturday night. She held her own and she knew the issues better than many of the candidates... so we'll see.

Obama and Romney. Didn't do so well in my opinion, and after watching two debates now- they both don't seem to know the issues very well. But- I'm still open to see what happens. They are both very good looking people, say all the "right" things, can rally the troops, but when it comes to the hard questions, they kind of stumble.

Who do you like and why?