Catch Up Post!

It was a kind of full weekend... so here's the 3 pictures and thanks that I missed.

Day 2: What You Wore Today

Day 3: Clouds

Day 4: Something Green

Day 5: From A High Angle

Day 6: From A Low Angle

Day 7: Fruit

Day 8: A Bad Habit

Day 9: Someone You Love

November 2: Today, I am thankful for Travis. He balances me. He's encouraging and strong. For the last 2+ years of my life, he's been one of the best parts of it and has helped me to grow as a person. I love him.

November 3: My friends are my reason for thanks today. Old and new, they all are family to me. Great memories and good times ahead. 

November 4: I am so thankful to have a roof over my head. When I think of all those who aren't sure where they will lay their head from night to night, it makes me really appreciate where I live.

November 5: I am thankful for tea. Nice, hot tea. It's been helping to break up the congestion in my head, and now in my chest.

November 6: My jobs. They provide the income that I need to survive. The people I work with are awesome and I am very grateful to have a full time position, as well as part time position at two completely different types of places.

November 7: My family is awesome. Immediate family, extended family, and all the ones in-between. I know that they are there for me, even if I don't have constant contact with them.

November 8: I am extremely thankful for the talents I've developed over the years. My artistic abilities are always growing and I can't wait to see where they're going to take me!

November 9: Days off. Period.

Halloween & Other Spooky Things

So.... I've finally gotten it all put together!

Victorian Bride

First I was calling it a "Goth Bride", but the further I got into it and getting each of the accessories, it turned Victorian and I love it!

That's the biggest news as of late.... Other than that, I've been pretty busy. Staying caught up on edits, working at WalMart and Aero, and still trying to have a life. 

This weekend is one that I'll get quite a bit done. I only work at WalMart tomorrow and Saturday from 7 to 4 and then I have Sunday off. Going to use the time to get some things straightened out at home, edit some pictures, finish up some signs, and clean up my computer. Sadly, Travis is gone the whole weekend. He's at Nanocon all weekend. Great time for him. It's been a while since he had a weekend off. Still sad that he can't go to the Annual Halloween Party at Jess & Tiller's this year... 

Anyway..... I probably should get going, but I'll leave with a couple of things. 

First, I've started up a 30 Day Photo Challenge.

Day 1: Self-Portrait

Thought it was a good month to do it since November has 30 days. Also, I figured I'll blog my thanks each day. Even if it ends up being just the photo challenge and my thanks that I post, I'll try posting every day this month. So...

November 1: I am thankful for my mother. Simply put, without her I would not be here. Literally. Thank you, Mom. For everything.

A rarity.

*sigh*

A day off.

And it's beautiful out today! Doors are open, fresh air coming in. I've been cleaning up, doing laundry, working on a few projects, and will be doing more edits later. Oh yea, and another shoot today! Busy day, but a great day nonetheless.

Trying to put together some Christmas presents... Yes, more crafty ones, but I don't think that I could do it any other way. Not only is it cheaper, but it's also more personal and I love it.

Still trying to work out organization things around the apartment... Got a new make-up organizer which is working out fabulously. Still need something else for my art shelf... I'm acquiring quite a few glass jars and i almost want another shelf for my shelves... Maybe just use one of those "add-a-shelf" things... I don't know for sure. Just know that I need something. *brainstorms*

What else?

Hm... I guess I better get back to it. ^_^



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Updates and such.

Been busy, busy, busy lately... Between working at Walmart, working at Aero, and doing some photos for MelJean Designs (To see blog, click here!), I've barely had time for anything else! Including blogging.

So here it goes...

Work, at both places, is going well. Just kind of in a groove of going in, getting done what needs to get done, and going home. Nothing too spectacular happens. We are closing in on Christmas rather quickly... or so says Walmart... UGH! The "Christmas Shop" is open already. Layaway is up and running "earlier than ever" as the commercials put it. Lame. Sauce. All of that makes me want to boycott... Hardcore.

Had last weekend off, however, and Travis and I went to a wedding for one of his high school buddies, Wyatt. It was a fun time! Met Wyatt and Bill, both friends of Travis' from high school. Bill had a wife and kid. The baby was ADORABLE! His name is Kirby and he knows how to fist bump! Only 18 months old, too. So cute! Wyatt and Bill actually ended up coming over to the apartment Friday night to hang out. We played P & A and bullshitted all night. Funniest part? The two of them, mostly Wyatt though, kept asking Travis when he was getting married. They bugged him enough that he ended up saying, "I would very much like to when the time is right." ^_^ That made me feel better and put my mind a little as ease just to hear him say it out loud... and to his friends even! Hope isn't gone. :)

That's about it for this one. Thanks for tuning in!




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.... a little lost.

Today isn't the greatest day. It's one of those contemplative kind of days.

Why am I where I am?
Why am I doing what I'm doing?
Where should I be?
What's wrong with me?

Just too many thoughts for one mind. I don't have the motivation to do anything creative which is very depressing. So... I'm stuck in this downward spiral.... Just lost. And I hate being in this rut. I really do. I just don't know what needs to be done to get out of it.

I have my paints, cameras, pencils... everything all around me... yet nothing. No spark. Just a big block.

I know it's getting really bad because Travis doesn't even know what to do... I try to talk things out and I don't have the words. I don't know what to tell him or how to tell him. I'm worried that if I keep this up much longer, it'll wear down on him too much. Hell, I'm wearing down on myself too much.

If there were ever a time that I would reach out for help... It'd be now. I'm not asking for pity... absolutely not. Just encouragement. Support. I don't know what else to do...

Reverted... :(

Alright... so the planner and such... thing. Yea, didn't work. Well, that's not completely true. It worked for about..... 2 days.

*sigh* Sooooo... I'm going to try again with this week. Hopefully.


Anyway..... What else? Hm... Well, been thinking... And I am pretty sure I'm going to end up putting in my "two weeks" at Things Remembered. I love what I do there, but I am not getting any hours. So... I'm meeting with someone at another store tomorrow and see what happens. Yep, I'll be all dressed up tomorrow. Make-up and all. I wonder if I still know how to apply it... :P

Tried Kung Fu last night. Feeling it today. It wasn't bad at all! It was actually kind of fun. I just need to not overthink it. (As with everything in my life.....) Might actually start going every week. :)

Alrighty, well... I think I'm gonna call it a night! Will update you with what happens tomorrow. :D




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Newfound Motivation

Okay, so I'm not completely back into the painting/drawing aspect.... However, I'm starting to be creative more.

Example: I've looked at Pinterest for a while now and came across a "Calendar Journal" project. You take notecards, cut them in half, (enough for a year) and put the month and day on each one. Then, for each year, you write down something you did that day. Imagine what that'd be like too look back on after 5 years? Even if the events are minuscule, that'd be awesome to remember!

In a lot of ways, I almost feel like I'm trying to anticipate losing my memory... :S Is that sad? Or weird? Okay, most definitely weird. lol

ANNNNNYYYYWAYYY..... I've submitted an entry into P!nk's Creative Invite on Talenthouse! *(Click here to see it!)* As of 11 pm, July 8, I was #58 of an unknown amount of entries with 58 votes! Too funny! That is all thanks to my wonderful friends and family for supporting me!

*end of plug*

Hm... sooo.... what haven't I written about lately? *saves and checks*

Ah ha! Travis and my 2 year anniversary date went really well! ^_^ First, he came home from work and knocked on the door. I wasn't sure why he had to knock until I answered the door. There, standing at the apartment door, was Travis with 2 roses. <3 Smooches, hugs, etc. We got ready and headed downtown. We parked by the Pavillion and walked down the street to Minerva's. It just so happened that the Auto Show was going at the same time. It was okay though. It made the walk to and from the car interesting. (Plus, we ended up with 2 bags of kettle corn to take home!) We went to the restaurant and waited just a few minutes. It was funny though... as we stood there, we had probably 3 different groups of people cut in front of us to get tables -- without reservations. Now, we're aware of why people with reservations get snotty at those who don't. So... after that, we were seated. :D (Which is funny... because I'm pretty sure I remember putting "not next to the kitchen" in the special requests box when we were making the reservations, and yet.. we sat right next to the door way to the kitchen. Hm.) Besides the point. We sit down, order our drinks, and grab our first trip to the salad bar. When we get back to our table, we decide to open gifts before diving into our food. He loved his pocket watch! My new bead was beautiful, as well as the card. They almost matched, actually. :D The bead had 2 hearts connected by a gem at the bottoms of each heart. Liked it. Loved it! By the time we finished that, our food had arrived. We chatted and ate. He ordered Buffalo Ravioli and I ordered Crab-Crusted Salmon. Soooo delicious! When we were done, we took a jaunt around the Auto Show, just because. :) We still had time to spare so we ended up going to Coldstone for dessert. In true Travis-fashion, as soon as we sat down he pulled out a second gift. It was another bead! This time it was an Open Heart bead from Kay's. (For those that aren't familiar, the Open Heart design has 2 hearts combined into one shape.) Completely surprised! Loved, loved, loved it! After that, we went to the movie, Brave. Amazing movie. It was great! And the rest of the night was just as amazing. <3 All in all, our two year anniversary was perfect. 


So... I've decided... sort of... that I need to start working out. I've been talking with Travis about setting up a weekly schedule working around his work schedule and starting to think that I need to do that too. Like, designating a specific hobby/event per day and work in an hour or two of specified event around work. Maybe I can work that out tomorrow. :D

Speaking of, I have all day tomorrow off! ^_^ Spending the bulk of it with Britney! Sooo excited! :D Know we're going to the mall... other than that, I have no idea what we'll do. :P



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Short check in!

Hey there!

It's been just a little while... I almost think I'm out of practice... Let's see

Work is going well. I've had a few days that I've second-guessed accepting the promotion, but it's still going well. :) Still makes the day go by faster than when I was on the floor.

Now, one thing that I'm super excited about it this Friday. Travis and I are coming up on our 2 year anniversary on Saturday! We're going out on Friday night to celebrate. We're going to somewhere new for supper (Minerva's) and going to a movie (Brave.. I think). Just realizing that we've been together for that long is awesome! I'm so happy! I really hope he likes what I got him, which I will reveal later. I'm so anxious to find out what he got me! :S Omg!

Okay, checklist. New date shirt = check. New nails = check. Now... I wanted to have my hair done again by Friday, but I'm not sure if that'll happen... :S Either way, I'm excited! ^_^

Official Start to Summer!

Was actually last weekend... BUT It's June now!

Either way, it's a time for sunshine and being outside. ^_^

Let's see... Lately... Been working. I'm actually really liking being a CSM. Maybe that's just because I'm still "new", but I truly am enjoying it. Interacting with the cashiers/customers, multitasking, etc. I don't mind it.... Granted, I'm sure (and I've been warned) that I will learn to hate it and maybe at some point I will get there, but it's not now. :)

Travis said the sweetest to me a few days ago on our 23 month anniversary...

     "I knew there was a reason I didn't date random girls... I made a good pick the first time."


LOVE! *sigh*

I guess that's all I really wanted to share... Hm...




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New Learnings

Good... morning!

I should be in bed, but I'm kind of buzzing still. If you've read the last couple posts, you know that I've been promoted at WalMart to a CSM (Customer Service Manager). Well, tonight was my first night actually getting a "hands-on" experience. It was exciting! Actually, it made the night go a little faster than I'm used to. Before I knew it, it was supper time. Of course, I was only working a 3-11... we'll see tomorrow how another hour affects my perception. Also... we're only 2 days into the work week (tomorrow being the 3rd) and I'm already over by an hour. :S *sigh* So... I'll try to trim down a few minutes here and there, but it won't be easy. lol

Since I do have to get up early again tomorrow and be to Things Remembered before working at WalMart at 2, I had better get going to bed. Frustrations will be expressed about that one later. *sigh*.... Oh, what the hell.

Okay, so... Things Remembered is still going through management switch over... The Manager is set, but she hasn't hired a new Assistant Manager yet.... so I think she's still trying to depend on me for it, but I'm not able to put in that many hours... She still schedules me whenever she can. For example, last week, I worked at WalMart starting at either 2 or 3 all week. She ended up scheduling me open to 1 or 2 with respect to my schedule at WalMart... I got through it fine. The hours aren't really the problem. It's the fact that she's relying on me to do all the engraving that she won't do or that the others can't do. She's hiring ladies that are middle age and older. Now, they're great ladies... nothing against them. However... it takes them a while to do... everything. Therefore, I've pretty much become The Engraver. I'd like to know what is going to happen this coming weekend when I'm gone from Thursday until Tuesday... Is she going to say that certain orders won't be done for like 4 days?! Especially glass or carry-ins. Carry-ins could probably get by with that... but any glass orders..? How about big orders? I just... I should have known that it would happen this way... but I really didn't expect this. *sigh* I'm trying to tell myself that it's just a rough patch and it'll get better.... I hope....


Alright... to bed for reals. lol




Stay Tuned!!

Great News Day!

Well, well, well.... Saturday was a day of great news! ^_^

I'll start with my favorite piece of news! My little sister had her fiance have chosen a date for their wedding. July 4th, 2013... (It's on a Thursday... sooo it may end up changing slightly, but... again, it may not. :)) She also asked me to be her Maid of Honor! ^_^ So excited! Just wish I was a little closer to help out more when it gets closer to the date.

     (On a side note, that makes 6 weddings that I've been in.... or will be in... Alicia & Charles (BM in 2006), Sami & Roy (BM in 2008), Erica & Brian (MoH in 2008), Brit & Aaron (MoH in 2012), Krisha & Trevor (BM in 2013), and Callie & Nick (MoH in 2013). That doesn't include the two weddings that I was in as flower girl when I was little. Starting to feel a bit like Katherine Heigl from "27 Dresses"...)

Annnyway.....

Then, I went into WalMart for my shift.... and was offered the CSM position. I took it, so I am now at the pay grade 6... Sadly though, I won't be able to actually start working up front until they find someone to take my place in Toys. However, if there happens to be a lull or all of us back in the area, I'll probably be pulled up front to train. There's a lot that I have to learn.... I have a feeling. :S

Hm... other good news. The Sara Bareilles concert was amazing! Great music, as always. Quirky personality. Outstanding voice. Perfection. Loved it! Travis went with me! According to Sara, "He's marriage material." (Since he attended the concert, that makes him sensitive which, in turn, makes him marriage material. :))

And now, I'm sitting at home... alone. Travis is working. :( It was so nice to have him home last night instead of him working. Annnnd since I haven't gushed about he and I in a while... be prepared. We're doing great... as always. I mean... I just love being with him... being around him. Kissing him, hugging him. All of it just... brightens my day. He brightens my day. The little things.... the big things. I just am so overwhelmed with.... happiness, love, hopefulness.... all of the above. I want to give him everything. I want to do anything for him.... Just EVERYTHING! ^_^ *sigh*

Okay, I better go before I flood my keyboard. Hope all is well for you, my readers!




Thanks for tuning in!

Latest, Greatest, and not so much....

There's been quite a few things that have happened since the last time I posted. Let's catch up, shall we?

First and foremost - My little sister has had her baby! A healthy, bouncing baby boy, Cameron Alexander, born on March 26th at 8:21 am at 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 21 inches long. ^_^ He's the most adorable little thing!

Looks just like her when she was a baby!

I can't wait to get more pictures! ^_^ Apparently, tomorrow he's going to get his circumcision.... Oh boy!

Next order of business... I've been playing Job Shuffle. First, Things Remembered offers me the Assistant Manager position (for the second time) and I accept this time. Within a few days of accepting and getting the promotion underway, I'm pulled into the Manager's Office at Walmart and am asked if I'd ever considered becoming a Customer Service Manager.... by 3 different people. I honestly hadn't given it much though. They deal with a lot of crap from customers and fellow employees... especially managers. So... they explain the benefits to me... I explain my predicament.... They persuade further. I ended up changing my preferences about 5 minutes after they asked me. Then, I did the math in my head and with a calculator. Taking the CSM position (and minimizing TR to 8-12 hours a week) would be the same money-wise as what I'm doing now... Only, I wouldn't be killing myself trying to get from on job to the other.... No fighting for hours.... Overall, less stress. More time to myself. More time for things other than work and sleep. And since I've started working, I've never had just one job... So, that would be the best part. Not saying that I would completely quit TR, but it would be nice not to NEED the second job in order to survive... you know?

So, that's where things are at with me... Travis and I are still going strong! Just past our 21 month anniversary in March... Two year is coming up! ^_^ No idea what we're doing yet. No clue. 

Will be busy in the upcoming weekends though. This weekend, Travis and I are going to Sara Bareilles on Sunday! Sooooo EXCITED! Next weekend... no plans. May 5th is Graduation in Madison. Will definitely be there! Weekend of May 12th... nothing on the plate as of right now. Mom wants to take the kids and go to see Callie and Cameron during the weekend of the 18th... Then, it's Memorial Day weekend after that.... Another no-plan weekend for May 2nd. THEN, It's Britney and Aaron's wedding on June 9th! ^_^ So yea..... busy, busy, busy. 

OH! Speaking of Brit and her upcoming wedding! This past weekend was her Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party, which we both successes! I think, anyway. We had smaller groups that i was anticipating, but it was a good time either way! ^_^

*sigh* I suppose it's bed time now. Gotta get up early tomorrow for a shift at TR... Not even sure how long I'll be working for sure. :S It's down to just the Store Manager and myself for employees... :S This worries me a little. I hope she picks out some people from the applications that we've had come in. *sigh.... again*

Stay Tuned!

New & Old News

Soooo..... WE'RE ALL MOVED IN!

I'm so freaking excited! There's still unpacking to be done, but we're completely out of the old place, into the new place, and loving it! Being able to leave home 15 minutes before work instead of 35 minutes beforehand is just... amazing. That extra 20 minutes is awesome to be able to use that time to relax, or lately to unpack and organize. And the new place is coming together!

*sigh* Hm.... Haven't heard anything from the Assistant Manager position at Things Remembered. In fact, I've been kind of cut down to my regular Sunday shifts and one other day a week. I was approached by my Apparel Supervisor at WalMart to add on a few more hours over the next couple of weeks, so I'm definitely up for that. ^_^

I'm very excited for the weekend before my birthday! Shawna will be visiting for the whole weekend and then joining me at the Kelly Clarkson concert ON my birthday! It's going to be amazing!

Not much else to update right now... I guess. Um... Oh!

Travis and I are going strong! We celebrated our 19 month anniversary and Valentine's Day together on February 8th because we both had the entire day off... which never happens. lol What did we do with the whole day? Well, we started off the day by sleeping in a little bit. :P Then, we watched the last installment of Lord of the Ring - Return of the King. It was like 4 1/2 hours... I actually ended up enjoying the whole series. Definitely not something that I'll be 'needing' to watch again any time soon.... but it's still a good series. :) After that, we packed up the car and headed into our now-current apartment. By the time we were done with that, we got ready for dinner at Red Lobster. ^_^ That's where we exchanged our gifts. I gave him two cards (one for our anniversary, one for Valentine's Day) and a bracelet engraved with the Claddagh symbol (to match the ring that I have) on the front and a message on the back that said "You captured my heart <3" He loved it! He gave me two new beads for my Pandora bracelet. One is silver with swirls and blue stones on it. The other one has a little bit of a backstory. It's shaped like a D-20 (it actually only has 18 sides, but that's not the point) and represents my "Level Up" in nerdiness since I finished the LOTR movies. hehe I loved it! It was perfect.



Stay Tuned!

Getting down to the nitty-gritty....

Well, I'm sitting at the "old apartment" (in Dell Rapids)... alone. After midnight. Can't really get to sleep yet. Trying to make a mental list of things that need to be accomplished in the week ahead, but I'm too tired for any of it to stick for more than two seconds. I'll try that again tomorrow.

I'm in another bind at work... Okay, not a "bind" necessarily, but it's... eh. I've been asked if I want to transfer to the Toy Department and out out Apparel. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

PROS:

My 'work' will be seen more than it is in Apparel

More likely to move up to a Department Manager position

(in turn, I could wind up with 40 hours on a set schedule...)

CONS:

More critism

Higher expectations

More responsibility... (this one's kinda both)

Work alone more often than not

As you can see... it's about equal... One doesn't really out weight the other. And this is why I'm not sure how to feel about it. I don't want to be a "lifer"... If I were to move up to a DM position, that fate is more likely. Then, I start thinking about needed to look for a graphics job and how I'm wwwwaaaaay lacking on that... and it's just a downward spiral of thinking after that. 

Sooooo, we'll change the subject.

We're probably about 1/2 way moved into the "new apartment." Most of what's left is, of course, the furniture, dishes, and food. We'll have two trucks here next Saturday to get the rest of it out! I'm so pumped! ^_^ We just need muscle to help get everything down the stairs of the old place and into the new place. No stairs at the new place! Ground floor. Pretty sweet. 

So much to do for things... Main concern. Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party for my bride, Britney... Here it's already February! She's getting married in June! Omg. After the move, I'm going to start up on that hardcore. I just don't think I can handle starting it right now. Plus, I already have it pretty much planned out... It's just a matter of contacting the other bridesmaids and confirming everything. A lot of it is in my head... I just haven't expressed it yet. haha

Okay... I think I'm able to get some sleep now. I will post again soon with pictures of the new apartment with everything in it! ^_^

Stay Tuned!

Yay 2012!

Wow... Just realized that my last post was on Christmas Day.... Um, I'd say it's time for an update. Yes?

Alrighty.... Let's hit the job front first. Well, I was recently in a sort a pickle, so to speak. My supervisor at Wal*Mart was helping to me transfer into the Vision Center for full time hours and higher pay. Then, shortly thereafter, my manager at Things Remembered clued me into an open Assistant Manager position at our store. So... I had been waiting to hear back from Wal*Mart for a few weeks because that would have been the best option all around. Well... Then, last week, my supervisor informed me that there's been a hold put on all internal transferring with in the store... Reason = unknown. That's when I began to think about taking the AM position... However, I did the math. If I were to switch and have Things Remembered as my primary, that would limit my availability at Wal*Mart... and when that happens, hours seem to be cut to, like, half of what I'm available for. :( In the end, I would actually end up losing hours and, in turn, lose money. SOOOOooo, I'm sticking with where I'm at now.

Next update... Apartment hunting. Did you guys even know we were looking into a different place? (*thinks*.... Maybe I didn't mention it before....) Okay, at the top then. A few months ago, we started thinking about all the gas we were using driving back and forth into Sioux Falls for work. It would make more sense to live IN Sioux Falls and use that money towards rent instead. So, skipping all the details of the actual search and what not, we've found a place! It's on W 43rd Street, right off 41st. $600 a month. 2 bedroom, 1 bath. Huge living/dining area. Everything looks relatively new. Ground floor. I'm not sure what else could be better.... Oh yea, Travis and I will have a closet that we can actually walk into and use to the fullest! OMG! lol Beyond that though... the location. The cost. Everything is just... GREAT! ^_^ So excited! On Monday, I'll be taking in the applications and our deposit. The lady said as soon as we get the deposit in to her, we get the keys and can start moving our stuff in. So pumped!

Hm... what else? Travis and I couldn't be better! ^_^ *sigh* So, so, so happy! We're looking to celebrate our 19 month anniversary (on January 30) and Valentine's Day together... at some point. haha I have his gift already... (or one of them. ;) hehe) And he's been "researching" lately... So anxious!

I need to start gearing up for Britney & Aaron's wedding! Last week, I went and bought my MOH dress! It really reminded me that there's only a few months left! OMG! Need to get the Bridal Shower together..... the Bachelorette Party. Oh man... Need to get working. haha

OOOO! I finished up my sister's Baby Shower Invites! Take a look!

Front side. Postcard style with address areas on the other side.

They're so nice! I like them. She wanted kind of a "Rockstar Theme"... I think I did it pretty well. She liked them and that's all I care about. :D  If you like them, you should let me know! And.... tell your friends! haha (Much appreciated, btw!)

All in all, 2012 has been quite wonderful so far! Finances are looking up. A new place in on the horizon. Our relationship is always growing. ^_^ Can't wait for the rest of the year!



Stay Tuned!