Mi Hermano, Hunter...

It's true... I am going home! Finally!

I haven't been able to be home since November, and I am ecstatic to see my family and attend Hunter's graduation!

Most of my very most vivid childhood memories are with my brother, Hunter. Through the years, we have gained more of a solid friendship instead of merely a brother-sister relationship. He, without hesitation, "facebook stalks" any boy I start to date and gives me the low-down on his take of them... To be honest, he is actually extremely accurate with his quick overall judgement of the men in my life. I seem to always get defensive when he tells me to drop the guy because he looks like a "fruit" or a "d-bag", but if only I would listen a little more, it'd save me much time in the dating scene... he thinks Alex looks "looks like a man" ha... don't know what exactly that means, but at least it's a positive accusation, right?

I think my very favorite memory of my brother is when I was in a certain situation in my life and was having a really rough time. I had called and talked to my mom and dad for a good couple of hours about it and asked for advice and shortly after hanging up, I got the sweetest text message from him saying he had over heard the conversation and went on to tell me how much he loved me and how he is blessed with such a great sister. I remember getting all teary eyed because if any of you know Hunter, he is a huge tease... He will never full realize how much that simple act helped me and how much strength it gave me to persevere through my rough time...

I should have framed  that text since most of his texts consist of him making fun of me... don't be deceived though, ladies... he's all tough and macho on the outside, but he is the sweetest, most caring and considerate boy I know!

With this being said, I am excited to go to his graduation this next weekend. I cannot believe he is already graduating high school! Insane! I do have to brag a little (not that I haven't this entire post), but Hunter is Chiawana High School's very first Valedictorian! Good Job! That's much more of an accomplishment than being Connell's Valedictorian! ha ha! I CANNOT wait for him to be at BYU in the fall! I look forward to hearing his graduation speech, and I hope I can figure something out to be able to hear his Seminary Graduation talk as well. How wonderful to be speaking at both! He is such a spiritual giant and I know that is why he has been so successful with school and his job. The Lord has blessed him greatly!

Hunter, I love you, little guy! :) You are such an amazing example to me and I hope one day I can be just a fraction of the person that you are! Congrats on your wonderful accomplishments this year! 

I can only imagine the anticipation you must have to realize you are going to be able to see me WHENEVER you want come Fall. Yep. I'd be stoked too ;)

Thoughts of the day...

To be honest, I have stopped blogging a lot because once I view my own blog, I often click on the links to the left of my posts and start browsing through all my married friends and see updates on their life and updates with their cute kids... and then I start to wonder why I can't enjoy that same happiness. I then get down on myself picking apart every thing that is wrong with me to try and improve myself to be a woman who would make a wonderful wife and perfect mother... I nit pick to the point where I get really down and discouraged wondering when the right time will be for me... or wondering when, how, or where I'll meet my EC as we call it....

As I wallow in my self pity, I think to myself.... what do I really have to complain about?! I am living in a BEAUTIFUL home with my sister, I have an incredible job with great pay and benefits, I just lost 15 pounds, just got back from Disneyland, and then a week in paradise at Lake Powell, I am going home in a couple of weeks, I am getting ready to book a cruise in January, I have so many solid, great friends who help me improve every aspect of my life and mostly, I can do whatever I want to whenever I want to and not worry about anyone's schedule and then I realize that I am only 22. How many 22 year olds enjoy all the blessings that I have been able to enjoy? How many people at my age have been able to taste all the wonderful real-life experiences including a solid career as I do?! Is it possible that I am getting so caught up in the "ways of the world" so to speak, that I completely lose sight of what's most important in my life and the entirety of my existence on this Earth?!

I suppose this week at Lake Powell, I had more than enough time to sit and contemplate life and evaluate where I stand and where I need to improve. I was talking to my friend, Alex, and he said regarding a certain situation "I can either be mad about this and not learn anything from it, or I can figure out how I can improve my life to avoid this situation in the future". I have thought about that non stop as I thought he handles stressful situations MUCH better than I and realized if he feels like he needs to improve in those areas, I should consider improving in many, many areas. I then spent the day yesterday with a close friend who is going through a rough split/divorce and it really hit me... I can sit here and be upset with where life is at, or I can improve my life with every situation that comes my way to become who I want to be before involving another person... I thought about that a lot and though I get down from time to time, I cannot dwell on those things, instead I need to figure out how I can improve my life. How I can improve the lives of other and how I can use my time/money/talents to help those around me.... I'm not put on this Earth to dwell in mere existence, but to DO. Do whatever it takes to help and bring up those around me!

.... and there you have it...no blog in months, and now a weird/contemplative one that means nothing to anyone but to myself ha....

God is good, life is great..... I have absolutely nothing to complain about.

Updates on the Crazy life of Jenn....

Disclaimer: This post may end up being quite the post.... mostly extremely long!

Where to even start... I feel like there has been so many amazing and crazy events happening in my life right now. Let's just get started with my dad....

My dad is doing actually extremely well. I know that is because of all your prayers! His heart as a whole is operating at 25% instead of just his left side. Wow. What an incredible miracle! My father is a man of faith, and with his faith and all your support/prayers/fasts, I know he is being healed. His doctor has pushed his operation back and is hoping that we can completely avoid the surgery all together! Another amazing and wonderful blessing and miracle! He is going strong and I LOVED going home to visit him and my family for a few days. They are the cutest dang group of people I have ever met. I love my family so much!

Speaking of family, Sarah and Ryan are now PARENTS! I don't know how they did it, or if the nurses mixed up the babies, but Jack is honestly the CUTEST stinkin baby I have ever, EVER seen!!!!

Jack was born on 8.9.10. How fun. I can't wait to see him during Christmas time! Nichole and Mom got to fly out to visit but I have yet to see this cute little thing!

Also, I have been doing a lot more photography lately. I feel like I haven't even necessarily been looking for work, but people keep contacting me... people who have come across my website and have asked me to take portraits for them! What a compliment! I have definitely been busy with that and have even had to turn clients down because I simply do not have the time for the demand I'm getting right now. I am doing a wedding on Saturday and have done a few senior pictures, engagements and bridals... here's a few of my favorites:

And for the biggest and worst event of my recent life.... on Sunday, the 19th, there was an accident at Camp Williams with a machine gun and it started a fire. The fire was fairly small and the Air Force thought they could put it out themselves, but as the wind picked up, the fire went CRAZY! It completely lit up the sky, and as I was driving home from Salt Lake, it hit me that OUR house was right by the mountain that was lit up. When I got home, we were told that our neighbors were all doing a voluntary evacuation. We started to slowly pack up our bags when the mandatory evacuation sirens went off. We got out of the house really quick. At this time, we could see the flames very vividly as they were getting closer and closer... at this time, the fire was 3.5 miles away and coming closer. We were all quite nervous that our home would get torched, but as the wind picked up even more, it started to push the fire away from us, thank goodness. We were evacuated for 4 days and 3 nights and tonight is our first night back. Outside smells really badly of smoke and the mountain side is completely black, but inside out home, there is no nasty smell... at all... what a wonderful blessing! We are all so very happy to be back in the house and be no longer homeless! This has definitely made me a lot more grateful for the little pleasures of life that I enjoy daily and take for granted. It also helps me realize how blessed I am and what a great life I have. I have been given so much, and I feel like I hardly give anything in return. This was definitely a wake-up call for me, and no matter how miserable the past few days were, I am glad they happened because it was a big learning experience for me! I love my life! I love where I am and love all that I have been given. I even love my trials because though they are tough, I would rather have mine than anyone else's.... life is good!

This blog isn't as long as I thought it'd be, but that's always a good thing, right?! :) 

Carpe Diem!

Update on Dad

As many of you know, my cute little dad has been having a lot of heart problems lately. He went to his doctor a few weeks ago and they told him his entire left side of his heart was completely non-functional, and through the course of many hospital and dr visits, we have found out that he has Congestive Heart Failure.

His heart is operating on 20% now, and if it ever drops, even one percent, it could put him in cardiac arrest. He is at the very minimum operation level and we hope he stays there or improves (obviously). In September, he will be getting a pacemaker to help in case his heart ever does drop below the 20%. The pacemaker is only there to assist his heart if it ever stops functioning all together. The doctor wants his heart, with the help of medications, to hopefully become stronger- so we'll see how it all works out after his operation.

The downside to this all (not that any of this ISN'T a downside) is that we were told when he passes away, it'll be very sudden and without warning. We are hoping the pacemaker will prevent this outcome.

I don't know how long I'll have my father in this life. I don't know if Alisyn will grow up having a father throughout all her teenage years to tell her to fix her attitude and to be more kind as Sarah and I definitely experienced. I don't know if he will be there to witness my first child, or my children's lives at all.... but.... I do know that our Father in Heaven has a much greater plan. I know that His plan is perfect, and that our lives here on Earth are but a moment. I also know that our trials in our lives are but a smaller moment, "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes". I have 100%, complete faith that everything will all iron out how it should.

It's hard being 700 miles away and hearing all of this when I'm already homesick, but luckily I will be able to go home in September to visit for a long weekend. I haven't seen my father since December and I am very excited to see him in a few weeks.

Please keep my Dad in your prayers. Heavenly Father is a Father of miracles. There is nothing He cannot do. We are rooting for another good 15 years of life as the dr said could possibly happen... until then...

"never let your praying knees get lazy, and love like crazy"

American Customs and Ways of Life

Have you ever wondered why we do the things we do? Or wonder who comes up with certain "rules" so to speak of life that we all follow and will continue to follow for generations to come?

Why do we walk on the right side of the hallway? Why do we jump as the elevator gets ready to stop to get that little thrill of butterflied filled enjoyment? Why do we kiss our hand, hit the roof of our car and yell "Prididdle" as we run through a yellow light? Why do we avoid stepping on the cracks of the sidewalk?

I sometimes think of these things and wonder who made them up. How they became habbit for Americans accross the country. There are so many silly jokes or games that elementary kids play that are definitely nation wide... where did they originate?! How could one go about making a legend for themselves? How could one go about creating a way of life that all American people live by? Just something weird I thought of this morning.


On a more up-beat note.... I'm going to be an aunt soon and am so excited for Sarah and Ryan to have a beautiful little boy in their home! He's going to be stinkin cute, I already know it :) I love you two!

Owl City.... Lights....and Fist Fights

I am sure you are wondering what in the world the title of this post means... although I didn't mean to rhyme, I'll take credit for a rhyming blog title ha!

I bought Kara Owl City tickets for her birthday, and we went to the concert on April 12th. When we got there, we were way bummed to see the line go ALL the way around the Great Saltair out to the parking lot...so we stood... in the pouring rain until we got to the door.... Smart me realized I had an umbrella in the car the whole time...wow sometimes I amaze myself with my brilliancy.

We get inside and got ourselves a tasty little hamburger and then realized we forgot our ID's in the car too SO now not only are we wet from forgetting the umbrella, but we can't go up to the balcony to David Archuletta's special booth to hang out with all the other "adults". Again, bummed, but oh well.

The band that opened for Owl City was called Lights. They were great! Since then I have purchased a few of their songs and let me tell you- their songs are great, but they sound much much better hearing them live. I love when bands are better live then on their CD's. I was very impressed with them; however, I was not very fond of the two in front of me dancing and going crazy to every song that they sang (Mind you, I am only centimeters away from the guy in front of me...my own special little dance was not what I paid for) The people behind us told Kara and I to follow them and we literally pushed our way to the dead center of the concert.... about 7th row back. I definitely wasn't complaining...until these teenage little beebopers decided to make a huge scene swearing and yelling at the little girls besides us... it was super annoying, but luckily they finally left to go closer to the front. Only a few minutes later, I see a huge commotion and see this cute little 13 or so year old get shoved into the crowd and then immediately there's a massive fight between that group of girls and a handful of other girls. I look over to this guy standing next to me and without hesitation, we jump into the middle of the brawl. I start ripping girls off of eachother and just shoving them into the crowd so people could grab them... one girl, the main girl of the wolf pack, decided it'd be a fun idea to try to punch me and rip my hair out... she didn't get very far, but just as she came for her second huge swing, my adrenaline was up so high, that I wasn't even hesitant to knock her lights out and sock her in the face. I was pretty confident that I was stronger than her, and was anticipating the rough swift right to her nose..I would have no qualms in pummeling this little girl.... buuut just as you wake up to dreams as they reach their climax, kara grabbed me and pulled me out of the big group just as the thought crossed my mind. To be honest, I probably would have really punched this chick if no one was there to stop me.. ha! Thank goodness for Kara! :) My favorite part was when the guy next to me said "wow, you're strong, that girl was a feisty one. I don't know how you held her arms down for so long" haha! What can I say... I'mma farm girl ;)

We left about five minutes after all this settled down because if I even thought I was remotely sweaty and nasty before I jumped into the middle of that fist fight, I don't know how to even describe how gross I was afterwards! ha

I was filled with so much euphoria from those two minutes of crazinessness that I was hyper all night ... my three hour sleep that night was not a very good idea trying to drag myself to work and the gym the next day... I don't recommend it..


Moral of the story. Don't let tall skinny men bump and grind up to you at an Owl City concert. It causes a domino effect resulting in nearly beating drunk teenage girls to a pulp :)

HAWAII 2010

Wow- I haven't updated this in a couple months! I got back from the beautiful island of Oahu this past Wednesday. I wish I were still there. It was such a fun experience!
Kara and I arrived on Wednesday the 3rd and got into our rental car (of which I am more than grateful we had during this trip), and headed to La'ie  to stay with our friend, Ashley, who's going to school down there. It was SO nice to not have to pay for a hotel for an entire week! We got along with her roommates great, and felt soooo welcome which definitely helped make our trip that much better.

My favorite part was probably the Polynesian Cultural Center. That was way neat, and the show was amazing! I loved it! annnnndddd all the very attractive poly men DEFINITELY was the number one highlight of the trip! ha! you think i'm joking....

Tell me this is not a taste of Heaven! ha!

My second highlight was Pearl Harbor. Since both of my grandfathers served in WWII, it made everything more serious for me to think about. There are still parts of the USS Arizona above water. I sat and stared at them for a long time trying to reenact the event in my mind. I got choked up a little bit thinking of it all, but I'm very grateful for our soldiers that risk their lives for our country every day. So selfless, so brave!

Remains of the USS Arizona

USS Missouri 

My next favorite was the Dole Plantation... not because it was overly amazing or mind blowing, but simply because you could eat the best tasting pineapple you'll EVER have... I ate wayyyyyyy too much there! Pineapple ice cream goodness with chopped ones on top mmmm so good!

I also LOVED going to Ruth's Chris. I had never been there and though it was crazy expensive, it was fun to go to an extremely nice, sit down restaurant! :)

As for those who are wanting to go to Hawaii and want to know recommendations.... this is all you need to know:

1. Acai Bowls... if you see a sign for one, STOP- go buy one RIGHT THEN! ha.... sooo delicious, and healthy! 

2. North Shore and Lanikai. North Shore has great waves and is amazing to watch the sunset. 

Lanikai is one of the world's most beautiful beaches. You can see how blue that water is... soooo nice! the sand there was really fine and ahhh loved it! ha

I loved my quick week-long getaway, I wish I were still there as reality is NOT fun to come back to... Work, responsibilities, and dating... three things I could do without for a long time! :) 

2010 Goals

Just as every year comes and goes and New Year's Resolutions are brought to the table with much excitement and anticipation to change one's life, we all know that they dissolve within a very short time. Do people truly keep their Resolutions or is it mostly all talk, no action?
  As it is nearly February, I have already noticed that I am extremely lax with my goals for the year. I have decided I am taking a new turn on things for 2010. Five years ago, I am sure there were many things I expected to be doing with my life that I know I have not accomplished and I know I am not where I thought and hoped I'd be physically, mentally, and spiritually.
   Furthermore, I am making monthly goals instead of a large, general goal. Having small goals and having a time-line to accomplish that goal, I know that I'll be less susceptible to falling into my old ways that I have wanted to change for so long. I will have a few different goals or tasks per say that I'd like to accomplish this year, but as for improving my life and myself, those will be the monthly, smaller goals.

With that being said, let's roll out my Yearly goals and this month (and next month since I only have a couple more weeks) goals.

YEARLY:
1. Go on a large vacation of some sort- possibly another cruise, or Fiji, or somewhere I would never imagine I'd ever travel to.
2. Get down to my ideal weight and clothes size.
3. Go to Disney Land :)
4. Save 50% of my net income.
5. Read the Book or Mormon, Bible, and Doctrine and Covenants

Now for my Jan/Feb Goals:
1. Keep losing more weight and up my discipline to weigh 135 (definitely realistic goal)
2. Pay off my entire school loan.
3. Read 30 minutes a night in my scriptures.


phew. This will definitely be a hard month but I know I can do it... I'll let you know how my progress goes and if... I mean when :)... I meet my goal for the month.

Life is good. Let it roll!

Life after Christmas

Getting back into the swing of things is definitely not my favorite part of returning from Christmas break, but it's life, I suppose.

This past Christmas vacation for me was probably one of the more memorable ones. I decided to not go out and be with my friends every waking moment as I had the past few times I came home. Instead, this time, I spent every day with my family. We played games, laughed, teased, and ate, ate, ate. It was also a lot of fun for me to be able to take some pictures! here are a few of my favorites I took:

I also got my hair done. It's just about the same, just a bit darker... here's a picture:

I also went to Blake Jones' homecoming. it was sooo good to see him after two years! one of my all-time best guy friends in the entire world! :) He's already down at BYU. Crazy how quickly he had to get back into the swing of things. I met up with some friends for a day to see Sherlock Holmes. SUCH a good movie. I loved it! Amber came over before the movie and we got to catch up on each others lives a little bit. I hate how much things change after moving away for college and what not. It's so neat to see how people change and how some people never do! ha....

One of my favorite nights was going to dinner with Jessica and Marcie. One day... ONE DAY... I'll be all creative and crafty as them and be able to whip up these great blankets over night ha! I brought Alisyn with me and she did everything Emersyn told her to do! ha... those girls are so cute!

Well, now I'm back to reality, back into the swing of daily life. It's nice to be back in the sense that this is my home now. This is where I am supposed to be for the moment, and here is where I'll gain many memories both already created and to come. I am excited to see what the future holds.

I am also joining a sorority. I know, I know... no one ever thought this day would come, but I've thought about it and I'm pretty excited. It's through the LDS Institute at the University of Utah. I'm actually pretty excited. Rush is tomorrow! Wish me luck!!!

oh...p.s.... I finally bought my dang MacBook Pro. It's about time I have a decent computer!

CHRISTMAS

I love love love the Christmas season! Mostly because it means that I get to see my family whom I hardly am able to see throughout the rest of the year. I haven't seen my dad since the beginning of the summer, so I am secretly most excited about that, but for everything else as well! This year, I don't get to go home until Christmas Eve, but that just means I don't have to help out with any Christmas Tree sales! ;) I'm also secretly extremely excited about that! ha..

I feel like my life changes at all times. I never know exactly what my life will be like the following month, yet alone the following week! I am so grateful to be where I am at right now in my life as well. Things have really been working out well and I am the happiest I have ever been since I've lived in Utah. I think I've finally realized what true happiness is and although it's taken me about three years not to be happy.. I'm glad I am! It's about time! I have been really trying to figure out what I was doing in my life that was making me unhappy and by eliminating those things, it's made all the difference! I am so grateful for my blessings!I have a great job, a beautiful/wonderful religion I am apart of, and the most incredible family anyone could ever ask for! life is good!

With that being said- I get to be home for 12 days. I hope they go by very slow and that I'm able to soak up each day. It's likely that I won't see my family until the summer, so I want to be able to spend as much time with them as possible. I'm also excited to see high school friends for a night or two. It's always fun to see my friends that I grew up with since elementary school and catch up with eachother's lives. It's crazy how you can spend every day with the same people then one day you graduate high school and never speak to most of them ever again. It's hard for me to imagine that I was in high school just a few years ago. I feel like it was all a large blur. ha... I really only REALLY remember cheerleading. I don't even remember playing volleyball or softball very well... ahh alzheimers already?! This is not good! haha..

I'm also excited to see how much my siblings have grown since I've seen them last. Alisyn played basketball and from what I hear she's quite the little ball player. That's really exciting! Hunter played football for a 4A high school and actually was on varsity his first year. That is incredible to me. I taught my siblings well... ;) Chris is getting SO handsome! i'm excited to see him. He is, hands down, the funniest sibling I have. Man I love that guy....

HOME SWEET HOME! I'm ready!

THANKSGIVING

This Thanksgiving, Nichole and I went up to Sarah and Ryan's in Twin Falls. What a fun time we had!!! we made fun lotions and soap bars as well as set up christmas and had the most amazing thanksgiving dinner three girls could ever make! :) Here are some pictures of the weekend:

Diesel's Christmas picture! ha jk. he's a cute dog!

Us Girls. Good photography skills, Ryan!

Our beautiful dinner! This was my pre-edited photo. sorry for the reflection in the glass...

Gooding, Idaho Hospital that Ryan is in charge of. It'll be done in February!

My favorite picture that I took over the weekend... This is right outside the hospital

Arizona/Breast Cancer 3-Day

Thursday night, Kara, Heber, Joseph and I set off on a looooong drive to Arizona. Our trip was filled with so many fun memories that'll last forever! Kara and I stayed up just laughing hysterically at nothing, and we even got Joseph to sing his lungs out to Taylor Swift. It was priceless!
    
Their mom, Analee, was in a 3day, 60 mile breast cancer walk. Having two people in her immediate family struggling with cancer as well as a good friend of hers pass away due to breast cancer, this was a very special time for her to be in a walk for such a great cause. Overall, the walkers raised I think around 2 million dollars to go towards finding the cure for breast cancer. It was amazing to me to see all of these woman (there were a few men as well) struggle and fight to finish the walk. Analee was always at the top of the pack just going, going, going. I am so proud of her for being so determined, and being so incredibly positive through it all! I am so glad I was able to go and support her! Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

The rose they all received at the closing ceremonies

The three ribbons representing both types of cancer in their family as well as the breast cancer ribbon

Jim and Ann

Kara and Analee a little blurry...

The family

This has terrible picture quality- but I love it.

  

OUTLET SALE

Hey everyone! Our warehouse outlet at my company is having a massive sale coming up the 18th-21st of this month. For all of you who live in Utah, there is a coupon that'll get you ten bucks off... I bought a few things from the sale in the spring- It is definitely worth coming to. It's kind of the first come first serve basis, so the earlier you come check it out, the better! If you'd like the coupon. Email me or include your email to this post and i'll get that to you. To get an idea of what our company sales, view http://www.libertymountain.com/

Thanks! :)

New House

So here are just a couple of pictures of my new place- I know there's not a lot- but maybe i'll decide to not be lazy and actually take pictures of everything.... maybe! :) This was RIGHT before our massive... massive... halloween party so it's all decorated but here they are:

The outside

Entry WayLiving Room/ Kitchen. It looks empty because we moved things around for the party.... but here it is!!

My Thoughts

This post is titled "my thoughts" although I don't really know how to put all my thoughts into one posting as they are all very random and all of them pertain to very different aspects of my life.

First off: My gratitude for all I have- I am moving into a home with a friend of mine this weekend. Just to give you a quick picture.... She lives alone in about 3500 sq feet of her 5000 sq ft home. There are 5 bedrooms, and with me there, we will still have 3 extra. It's beautiful and massive, and rent is extremely reasonable for all I get. What a blessing to have a place to live! Along these same lines, I have the most incredible family! I miss them more than anything. I mostly just dread the fact that I'll never be able to see my younger siblings through their growing stages in life. I missed Hunter's entire first year playing football for a 4A school. I missed Alisyn's first years of Elementary and Christian starting his high school years next year... I'll miss Ali learning to ride a bike, Chris's first dates, and Hunter bulking up and turning from a little tiny guy into a big muscular boy! :) Man the things I would give to live close to my family! Unfortunately, I know Salt Lake is where I'm supposed to be right now.

Second: My dating life- I ALWAYS get myself into situations where I fall for guys who are just out of my league I suppose. I don't know why good, strong LDS boys just don't seem to have a desire to date me. If they are good guys, then the sparks just aren't there; however, the ones that I LOVE to be around and am completely comfortable with leave me in the friend zone and want me to set them up with my friends. It's really frustrating... my solution: stop dating. period. haha... good, I know.

Third: Jon and Kate Plus 8- It makes me sad to think that in just a month, it'll be renamed Kate Plus 8. This is to show you how media and fame can completely tear a family into shreds. Those poor kids are crazy spoiled and have to grow up with cameras in their face since day one... yet do they really have a "home" and privacy, and parents who love and adore eachother?! Sadly, no. Do I love this TV show and watch it regularly? Yes! ha...

Last but not least: Expenses. I hate money. I have a great job, but then again do I ever see my paychecks at the end of the month? nope! Do I get to save even close to what I anticipated to save each month? not a chance. I cannot say I spend my money frivilously, because in no way do I. I am grateful for the 6k of work sitting in my mouth, as well as my cute little car parked in the parking lot. I'm grateful for insurance in case I get in an accident. I'm grateful I was able to have a little credit card help when I wasn't making any money in school and had to support myself.... ALTHOUGH, I don't want to pay for any of it... anyone want to be my sponser?! haha!

okay. the end.

new blog

So, I just started my photo blog... it's photojennix.blogspot.com. I took some engagements the past weekened and put those up there. I have some baby and nature ones that I am editing now and will be posting on there as well! :) If you know of anyone in the salt lake/provo area who is either looking for senior pictures, engagements, baby or kid pictures let me know!

LOGO

o, here is what my logo may or may not look like. It says ".com" right now simply because when I do have a website, that's what will go there. photojennic.com domain is already taken so I have to kind of play around with my name a little bit, but let me know what you think of this... just to go on the bottom of my pictures. I don't think it's too bad...

CAMERA

FINALLY! I caved in and bought myself a beautiful DSLR! It's a Canon 20D, almost exactly what we shot with at Dorian Studio back in Washington. It's a little bit older (2005) and was replaced by the Canon 30D in 2006 which is what is used at Dorian.

Anyway, I'm stoked. I now need to get a nice MacbookPro and I can be all set to start this sucker up! In the short run, it's a lot of money, but it'll pay for itself in the long run! :) yay.

FIRE!

Today around 11:30, I was looking out the window and told my manager to look at the clouds that seems to be moving really fast, from her window, she can see more to the right then I can, and she jumped up and said "Jenn, that's a fire" we ran outside and the brand new building right by us was rolling black smoke all around the south east side of the building. We called the fire department and by the time they got there, the fire had tripled in size.

Luckily, the building is brand new, and the only people that had to evacuate were a few construction workers. I'm not sure exactly what caused it to light on fire, but it definitely made us nervous being so close to our company. Pieces of the roof came flying onto our grass and bushes completely on fire. Kind of scary if I do say so myself!

You can see the progress from start until the fire trucks arrived. I am very productive at work, I know!

Today's thoughts

Today, I am grateful for my job.

   We had to let one of my co-workers go today, and it made me realize how much I really do appreciate my job. I am so glad that I can wake up each morning knowing that I have a secure job and that I won't be fired when I get into work that day. It's nice to know I can pay my bills and still have some money in the end for fun....

How blessed I am to have such a phenomenal job with only an Associates degree. Not only does it build my accounting experience, but it allows me to budget my money better and gain more responsibility being an adult.

I love my job and couldn't be happier anywhere else! :)