More Bang for your Buck?

I used to rock the bangs until middle school. I'm thinking about doing it again, it's the hottest fall look right? I might be a chickenbutt and just talk about it. What do you think?

If I Were a Rich Girl na, na, na, na, na, na...

A mentioned awhile back that the local small town florist has closed up shop. I've always had a dream of starting my own business, what it would be I never really knew, it could be a florist. I like the idea of getting to be creative. We were having a discussion at work about our futures. 'Old Lady' was giving Francy pants and I a stern talking to. She sees our potential even though we may not see it as clearly.

We both know we are driven individuals. I myself hear that people say I have great potential and am a good worker blah blah blah, but I honestly never really hear it. 'Old Lady' says we need more self confidence, I agree 120%. I know I do, some of that though comes from others and reassurance that I'm doing a good job. Because honestly if I don't hear something from someone I assume I am average joe just scraping by.

Even as I generic google search for "How to start a floral business" it is overwhelming. I worked at a greenhouse as my first job and got to dabble a little bit with the cut flowers. With a little bit of direction I'm pretty sure I could pick up on it quick, I have an eye for that sort of thing. The stress comes from where to even begin. I know nothing about starting your own business. There are several people from town who have started their own business's, but how? I have no idea how you even begin or where. How do you do the books, how do you have money to buy your inventory and start up costs etc etc etc. I have a building picked out, I'd need someone who knows anything about flowers to be my teacher and work for me, but how do I pay them? I could make a really cute little shop. Nothing big just the basics to start out with then I could get bigger.

There is defiantly a niche to be filled here in GC. Who will do proms and dances, where will people get flowers for funerals, how do you even make funeral flower pieces. What kind of stuff would you need on hand to start out with? I'm overwhelmed just thinking about it. But it's still something that sounds fun. If anyone knows anyone who has their own business and knows where to start even asking questions let me know. Or if anyone with a floral background would want to partner on a small town florist let me know!!!

What would I even call this imaginary maybe could happen down the road florist? Honestly this is something on my radar, so even if it doesn't happen now and here, If I prepare and research maybe in the future it'll happen. It's never to late.

And also my excuse for my life to begin is always money. If If If I had more money I could do the things I want. Oprah if you hear me, I don't want money if you could just use your powerful resources to point a gal in the right direction, and maybe have Nate help set up my shop I'd love some assistance, I'm not asking for money, just a break and a little nudge.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to my pal Francy Pants. You were a great date to the What Women Want Now expo and I look forward to many more fun adventures and motivation to get us through and learn our full potential.

I'm very lucky to have so many people who believe in my potentional (even though I'm not yet living up to the full amount) and encouraging words, stern talking to's, and little nudges. I'll think about it ;)

Homecoming: NiBo's Senior Year

It's Wednesday

-Nothing terribly exciting to report on this Wednesday evening. oh except I got my iPhone!!!! It's too much fun and love all the apps. Good decision. You can even watch your netflix instant queue on your phone. Man technology is crazy.

-Tried again for Oprah tickets.. no go.

-Hop on over to the photo blog to check out my top 3 favorite pictures from our first photo contest.

-I forgot to record Survivor tonight. Won't happen again with my handy dandy DirectTV app. I can set my DVR from my phone from where ever.. awesome.

-Starting sometime this week. Gma has agreed to be a guest blog segment with hints, tips, wisetales, and "old school" stories from yester-year. Got any questions you want to ask gma.. fire away. She is very excited about it.

-If you have a camera start taking pictures for my photo challenges. Rules and how-to's are posted on the picture blog. The first challenge for October will be something Fall related. There's your hint. I've been hiding them all over my web. It could get more specific or it could stay broad. (I can't give away the whole challenge.. geesh)

Well I'm off to play with my iPhone some more. I'm sad I'm going to miss tomorrows monthly bookclub meeting but it's an exciting time here in GC... It's HOMECOMING! Like I really care, but it's NiBo's senior year so I'm excited for him and engaged in the high school happenings for the first time in several years.  Tomorrow night is the annual Homecoming parade and he gets the honor of being a drum major in the parade. Soon after the parade the annual tradition of TP'ing the town will commence. I'll get pics to share. If you aren't familliar with TP'ing it is the act of innocent vandalising where you buy toilet paper and toss it onto trees wrap around bush's, get your friends houses and doing all this without getting caught. It's a good time, I'll get pics. Enjoy Blog friends! Good Night!

Todays $#*! List

- at&t store (for being out of stock)
- Best Buy for not acknowledging me for the 20minutes I was standing there waiting in your hotter than Hades store. Any other time you would have bugged me. I left without letting you have my money.
- The Radio Shack store in the mall for also not assisting me in a timely manner
- The mall for not having a stand alone at&t kiosk
- the soul-sucking abyss that is my job for well... being you. Very unappreciative of the things I do and the stab-yourself-in-the-eye B*work you continue to throw at me
- GC DQ for not taking my coupons you cheap baseturds

That is all for now. Hopefully I am able to locate my phone somewhere tomorrow or I will be semi-colon frowny face :(

TV Talk: Fall Season

Here is my Fall TV lineup:

Sunday

Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

Amazing Race (CBS)

Undercover Boss (CBS)

Monday

Chuck (NBC)

How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

Rules of Engagement (CBS)

*Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)

Fantasy Factory (MTV)

Tuesday

Sons of Anarchy (FX)

*No Ordinary Family (ABC)

*Biggest Loser (NBC)

Wednesday

Survivor (CBS)

The Middle (NBC)

Cougar Town (ABC)

*The Defenders (CBS)

Ghost Hunters (Syfy)

Thursday

American Chopper (TLC)

Destination Truth (Syfy)

*My Generation (ABC)

Friday

*New Bloods (CBS)

*'s are new shows or new to me shows that I'm going to give a chance and check em out. Feel free to give a shout-out to your favorite fall shows or if you got anything you think I should take a look at.

Friday Night

Completely Random Thoughts: 11pm Edition

• The cubs swept the Cardinals, did anyone notice? I'm over baseball this season I didn't even watch a game. But good job Cubbies.
• Today at work we were talking sleeping habits. I need to have a fan, my sound machine (I prefer my thunder/light rain sound, because my mind wanders too much at night) ankle socks (I go to bed with 2 but usually wake up with 1, I guess my right foot gets hot..random) and I always must have a small blanket (I like to have just my arms tucked in this blanket, apparently this is how I slept as a baby) and a pillow between my knee (I don't like them to touch, oh and I usually sleep on my side)
• 'Page Turner' thinks I am lost in life, partially true, but I still have time to read my blogs, actually since I can't figure out what I want I have lots of time to read blogs.
  
• Blog names are given, not picked and it's like getting a divorce in the Catholic Church (I think you'd have to get a note from the pope to have your blog name changed)
  
• 'Tru Stories' I believe has the coolest family and friends ever.
  
• I'm pretty sure my whole graduating class will be married/engaged/or have children (no particular order) before me from the looks of my facebook news feed
  
• If we didn't partake in some sort of social media (facebook, twitter, myspace, blog, instant messaging, etc) would we cease to exist?
• GC is losing our big flower shop, and the town is in a tizzy (where will they order their funeral flowers?!). What does it take to be a florist?
  
• I dislike learning life lessons from work. Ex: Doing nice things for others will get you nowhere
  
• My cube is lame and I never see a window during the day. I wish IKEA would come decorate our office. I waste a lot of good weather days inside :(
  
• I liked this group on facebook: Being nice to the people you don't like isn't called two faced, its called growing up
  
• I follow @DalaiLama on twitter. Does that make me more wise? When is @PopeBXVI going to join so I can tweet my confessions? yeah.. bad idea.
• I have a Doppelgänger (google it if you don't know what that is). Apparently she works at Lowe's you can see her on the commercial about the people trying to cover up their red stripes.
  
• I'm watching Survivor this season, anyone else? TV Talk.
  
• I'm glad all my shows are coming back. Monday is going to be a busy night! Hello Fall TV!
  
• Fall is my favorite season. I like the cool crisp nights with windows open and sweatshirts and long sleeves. The stupid winter scent candle commercial even makes me want snow just a smidge... JUST A SMIDGE!
  
• The woolly-worm forecast will soon be upon us. I'm counting on 'Old Lady' to find us one. Warning: She breaks for woolly worms

I hope you all enjoyed my 11pm edition of Completely Random Thoughts. Thanks for reading! If you fancy yourself a photobug please submit a picture for my 'Your Town' photo challenge. I already have two more picked for October so be ready, they will be fun! Good Night Blog World

The Little Things

I got this email the other day, the same day that I was running smidge late AND had to get gas. I got to the gas station and had forgotten my wallet in my motorcycle jacket and had to go back home and get it, and go back to the gas station to get gas and head to work... really makes you think sometimes.

As you might remember, the head of a company survived
9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was
His turn to bring donuts. One woman was late because her
Alarm clock didn't go off in time..
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike
Because of an auto accident.
One of them
Missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes
and had to takeTime to change.

One's car wouldn't start.
One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man
Who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
Took the various means to get to work
But before he got there, he developed
a blister on his foot.
He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today..


Now when I am
Stuck in traffic ,
Miss an elevator,
Turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...
All the little things that annoy me.
I think to myself,
This is exactly where
God wants me to be
At this very moment..
 Next time your morning seems to be
Going wrong ,
You can't seem to find the car keys,
You hit every traffic light,
Don't get mad or frustrated;
It may be just that
God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you
With all those annoying little things
And may you remember their possible purpose.

I Like Being Creative

This weekend I announced my I really shouldn't have but did purchase of the camera I had been drooling over for a bit. I have had my camera for 5 days and I'm already glad I got it because well.. I like being creative. I feel my soul is being sucked away by every badge beep at the door, so to keep myself from shriveling up I must find creative outlets or I think I really would die. Sometimes this comes in the form of colored markers to outline a border at work or being in charge of our dry-erase calendar for days off at work, anything to let me see color.

With the purchase of the camera I actually have been getting out of the house, like to day for example. Drove around town looking for some good photos for my 'Photo Challenge' of your town pictures. Which by the way I have a photo challenge going on. Hop on over to my photo blog to get all the details and see some of my pictures I've got there. It really is the little things, like creative expression that make it worth waking up in the morning. I hope everyone will at least consider taking part in my photo challenges that I plan on having everyonce in awhile. You honestly don't even have to have a fancy camera a point and shoot will do just fine. Then you can play around with it, changing colors or adding effects, I like to use picnik, it's a free web-based photo editing site that is really fun to play around with. That's how I got the picture below looking so cool.

I hope you'll get out there and take some pictures, it makes it more fun to see what everyone else can come up with too!

I heart Reba

Everybody told me he was a dream

Picture perfect like he stepped right off the silver screen

Said that he would sweep me off my feet

But i'm still standing no he didn't do it for me

'cause i don't go for all that wine and dine

With the ray ban fake tan never mind

I want a down home up with the sun rise man

A pick-up truck driving bull riding strong steady hand

I want the wranglers stetson and all that stuff

I want the real mccoy

I want a cowboy

I'm tired of talking 'bout it wasting my time

On all the cheap talkers needing me feeding me lines

Give me somebody who's tender but tough

Simple and honest knows a thing or two about love

I've seen enough to know i know what i like

It's the hard working head turning rugged type

I want a down home up with the sun rise man

A pick-up truck driving bull riding strong steady hand

I want the wranglers stetson and all that stuff

I want the real mccoy

I want a cowboy

I've seen enough to know you know what i mean

Ride me off into the sunset that's my thing

I want a down home up with the sun rise man

A pick-up truck driving bull riding strong steady hand

I want the wranglers stetson and all that stuff

I want the real mccoy

I want the real mccoy

I want a cowboy

I want a cowboy a cowboy

Reba McEntire - I Want A Cowboy Lyrics

Say What?!

There was a circus in GC today just over the tracks from our house. They had a big tent, a Zonkey (zebra/donkey), a lama, a few horses, 2 camels and no elephants. What kind of circus doesn't have elephants? A not-a-circus circus that's what. Glorified petting-zoo. I have been to one real circus once...they had elephants.

This is not what GC circus looks like. This is the Greatest Show on Earth Circus from 2006. It's the Ringling Brothers Circus!!

* Note while trying to find these circus pictures to show you what a real circus looks like I couldn't find these on my computer I had to steal them off my shutterfly account. This is one thing that makes me sad about digital. I hardly ever print off my pictures anymore.. I need to do that more.

9 Years Later. I still remember.

Amy Sancetta / AP

We've all seen the images that will probably be forever ingrained in our minds. In 2001 I was a Freshman in high school. We heard about the planes hitting the towers during our passing period right after Biology. I was headed to PE, it was the girls turn in the weight room and instead of listening to music we were listening to news radio. Not much was done that day. With heavy confused hearts we sat in disbelief, not understanding what was happening, why and who would do this. Never in our lives had my generation had to think of war. It was something from the past and surely would never happen here on American soil right? I kept wondering if it would happen again, if that was just the first wave of the attack. We live near a nuclear power plant and remember hearing that it would be a good target if you wanted to add to the devistation. We tried to make sense of the chaos that was happening. Then I remember hearing the towers had collapsed, and my heart flew out to those people. The images of the towers falling straight down, the rush of dust and debris that filled the NYC streets and the people covered in white.The next few days were eerily silent. There were no planes buzzing overhead and everyone was glued to their televisions 24/7 seeing the people, hearing their stories, the billboards filled with people missing, we were helpless, nothing we could do but pray for them. Sporting events were cancelled for the week, we were a nation in shock. In the midst of the silent week I remember being outside for PE and we heard a plane in the sky, we all looked upward and it was Air Force One with a B-2 stealth Bomber escort. In the days and months and years ahead, slowly life returned to the new normal.

The events that day have shaped our lives growing up. No longer are wars something of the past, our sense of security had been shaken, no longer did we feel completely safe. Our country rose to the occasion and held strong together, you couldn't look to your left without seeing and American Flag flying. Hero's were made and lost that day. Never forget. As I was looking for pictures to share the last picture of the fire engine made me cry, my emotions overcame me when you try to imagine what it was like that day, I can't even imagine.

In total 3,497 people died in the attacks on 11 September 2001.
•2,735 civilians in the World Trade Center died
•87 passengers and crew members aboard American Airlines Flight 11 that hit the North Tower
•60 passengers and crew aboard United Flight 175 that hit the South Tower
•343 New York City firefighters and rescue workers and 23 New York City law enforcement officers, 47 Port Authority workers and 37 Port Authority Police Officers, lost their lives when they rushed in to save the victims in the World Trade Center
•36 passengers and crew aboard United Flight 93, who gave their lives stopping four hijackers over Pennsylvania
•64 passengers and crew aboard American Airlines Flight 77 that crashed into the Pentagon, killing them and 125 people in the building.

New Things Make Me Happy

The UPS man was my best friend today. He dropped off a brand spankin new Nikon digital SLR!! (too bad it wasn't free) I was distracted most of the day helping gma and gpa and didn't get around to breaking it in, but soon!

I figured you all would want to see some pictures once I get going so you can visit North of 10th Photography to see some pictures once I get to taking some or you can look for the link on the left to take a peek.

I hope if you guys visit you will follow me and leave comments and suggestions.

Book Review: A Single Man

I can talk about my book now, I read A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood.

Here's the back cover description:

After the sudden death of his longtime lover, George must adjust to life on his own as a professor in Southern California in the early 1960s. During the course of an ordinary day, George is haunted by memories as he seeks connections with the world around him. Wry, funny and melancholy, A Single Man is a moving portrait of a gay man in midlife.

I actually watched the movie first on this not knowing it was based on a book. The movie is directed by Tom Ford (the fashion giant who saved the Gucci fashion house) it stars Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. I describe the movie as a "pretty movie" its a well done movie and I rated it a 5 because I like movies that change your perspective on something. The movie differs a bit from the book with the story line. It was critically acclaimed and won several awards and earned Colin Firth an Oscar nomination.

The book is written in a third person narrative and goes through one day in the life of George. The memories of his partner Jim who died in a car accident are like ghosts that pepper his daily routine. He is struggling between letting the grief take him over and fighting to find the good in the everyday simple things and you really fight for him to find that peace. He is a British transplant to America and he is often questioning the notion of going back to England to live to try and outrun the ghostly memories of Jim.

In the movie you are following George through the day he decides he can no longer escape the grief of losing Jim and has decided to commit suicide and you follow him through the day knowing this and hoping that he will see the little things in life that make it worth living. This adds a different urgency to the movie as opposed to the book where you are just reading an ordinary day and him struggling to fit into the "straight" way of life and find peace with his own demons.

This book wasn't the book picked for our November meeting but it is going to be my next host month pick which I think will be February which will be perfect because it is a short book of only 186 pages and February is a short month. I think this will be a good book to step out of our comfort zone as a group to discuss this book, I think there is a lot you can take away from this book.

An interesting note about the book:
Don Bachardy, Isherwood's surviving partner said in an interview that at one point in their relationship he was considering ending it. Thinking about life without Don became the inspiration for the novel.  Isherwood began writing the book during one of the most difficult parts of their relationship and was so upset that he began imagining what life would be like without him. After learning that about the book you can see that it was really a day in the life of the author and him outwardly expressing the difficulty of going through life with out Don. I can see how he would relate so well and the painfully ordinary details of minute daily tasks seem so huge when you are overcoming such a loss.

It's a very moving book and I'm excited to hear what the group will say about it, I've got several months before that will happen but it's my pick. I also encourage you to see the movie but read the book first.

Our November book club read is Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

I Finished a Book! :)

I just finished a non-book club book!

The book I just finished I actually can't talk about yet, it is my super secret November (1 year anniversary) Book Pick Option.

I've been wanting to read this book for awhile and went and picked it up from Barnes and Noble yesterday. I wanted to read it first so I could give a good secret write up about it. [the way we are picking our November book is anonymous and title-less. We are writing our own synopsis (or using others) and trying to entice the other members into reading our choice with no author or preconceived notion or bias opinion on the book]

This book is a short read and is NOTHING! NOTHING! like anything book club has read yet and honestly doubt anyone would really pick up. If it doesn't get picked as our November read I'm pretty sure that I will choose it as my next Host month. It's definitely a book that will get people talking love it or hate it.

10 Things: I Randomly Love

- stale Oreo cookies (I like them mushy)

- being the first to walk in new snow
- a stack of mail to send (cards or invitations)
- warm blankets out of the dryer
- October
- sharpie markers
- finding money in your winter coat
- crisp fall nights
- wearing long sleeves with shorts
- the clicky noise my boots make on the sidewalk

Four vs Two

This weekend I got the chance to take an adventure in 4wheeling. This..if you can believe it.. was something I have never done before. 4wheeling is much different from motorcycling I'll tell you that right now. You don't have to clutch in when you shift (although I tried but that is a break not a clutch..interesting) and the turning radius is different and took me a little while to get used to.

4wheeling is dangerous..but fun. It's weird but I definitely feel safer on 2 wheels, I don't know why this is. I would like to apologize to the farmer who's bean rows I might have went through. I honestly didn't mean to it was an accident. (wheels don't turn back on their own apparently) it was fun yet completely unexpected to become airborne when I accidentally jumped the ditch. It was fun, but I feared for my life. I could totally handle a leisurely stroll through some already traveled trails (to make sure they are safe of course)

Our resident Floridian FM also was a good sport and got to experience 4wheeling for the first time too. Check out her first ride here. (it's a YouTube video so sorry to my SF friends, you'll have to check it out at home) Then we ventured to the small town bar for a few shots, went back roasted some hotdogs and talked around the fire and wished on a few shooting stars.

It was a fun night out and a perfect weather weekend to get out and enjoy the outdoors. I think I'm going to go ahead and keep my passion on two wheels, because after all... four wheels put miles on the ground, two wheels puts miles on the soul.

There had been talks about taking a bike trip to Cahokia Mounds sometime this weekend but that didn't quite work out with schedules and everything. I keep telling my dad that he needs to get a motorcycle, then my brother wants to get one (eventually) and we could take family bike trips. I got my HOG chapter schedule of events and in October they are having a Sunday ride to brunch then riding up to Starved Rock to check out the fall colors and I'd really like to, but I still haven't rode in a group and it makes me kind of nervous. I know, I know.. you just have to overcome and put yourself out there. I am getting better, but baby steps still. I got awhile to think about it.

Hope everyone had a great extended weekend! My task today is to read this month's bookclub book and I need to research a good book to put up as a contender for November (our book club's 1 year anniversary!) Hmmm what to pick, what to pick.

Taken Fall '09

Truely Incredible

Warning to my male readers (if there are any) you can probably just look at the picture otherwise proceed with caution. This is girl talk.

I was skeptical when I first heard about Victoria's Secret new "incredible" bra. The cover of my cataloge was throwing out some pretty heavy raves. "My new best friend" "The most comfortable bra ever" etc etc. yeah yeah sure sure it's marketing. Then a friend told me her friend was telling her about how amazing this bra is... so I had to find out for myself. I had my free panty coupon (thank you Victoria for sending me this gift, I will keep your secrets...but only if you continue to give me free stuff)

My biggest complaint with bras thus far in life with bras is the straps always slip off (I apparently have one shoulder that is crooked or something) and the wires digging in (the price we pay for beauty) this bra has neither of those problems.

It's avaliable in Demi, Push-up, and racerback demi.

NEW! Incredible by Victoria's Secret™ Demi Bra

The ultimate bra experience. A smoothing, slimming, body-transforming shape in a supersoft fabric. It’s our most incredibly comfortable bra ever. 

• Cushioned Underwire: Comfy "double-wrapped" wire for no digging, binding or pinching.
• Wider Band: Wide band slims & smooths under all your tops—even your tightest & sexiest—for an ultra-flattering look, the perfect fit and full support & shaping.
• Flat Closure: Strap is flat in back and virtually seamless under clothes so tops fit perfectly and look smoother and sexier than ever before.
• Self-Adjusting Straps: Ultra-comfy straps self-adjust for the perfect fit every time—no need for any tightening or constant adjusting of straps!

Bottom line... everyone should have one it's awesome.

Make It a Hurricane Before I Go Insane!

Man work was a drama-fest the last hour and I sure could have used a hurricane! (the hurricane you see pictured to the left was an amazing adult beverage that I purchased while enjoying my dining experience in Myrtle Beach Margaritaville with gma, and it was delish!) And while we were there, a party hurricane came down from the ceiling and rained tequila into a giant margarita blender! If only real hurricane's were a party and rained tequilla the world would be a more fun place during hurricane season.

But that's not the kind of hurricane I'm talking about.

Hurricane (the storm) season is upon us as many of you probably know, Earl has been all over the news. It got me to thinking if there has ever been a Hurricane Heather (you always hope in a weird way for a storm to be named after you and you would at least want it to be kind of a badass storm... not the case for Hurricane Heather... let me tell you some facts.

Hurricane Heather (according to Wiki) was the last of four named hurricanes in the 1977 Pacific hurricane season. 1977 was the most inactive season in known history. The wimpy hurricane that was named Heather only hit a top wind speed of 85 mph. The storm formed on October 4 and was done washed out by October 7... lame. The rains dropped 14 inches in the southeast Arizona mountains and that was all she wrote. 1977 was the last year that all female names were used for the Pacific Hurricane season.

To celebrate (in a morbid way) we should all go have a hurricane! Who's with me!

Doctor Knows Best

"And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed."
-- Dr. Seuss

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.” -- Dr. Suess

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."-- Dr. Seuss

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"-- Dr. Seuss

If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.-- Dr. Seuss

Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. -- Dr. Seuss

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope, which is what I do. And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”

-- Dr. Seuss