Men's Intuition

This is for all you single ladies.  Or me.  So you know when you're interested in someone one and you send them 'signs' or 'signals', well, have you ever thought about how guys read those 'signs' or 'signals'?  I have.  And based on my track record I'm guessing I've got it all wrong.  Wrong I say!  I'm queen of receiving mixed messages, or so I think I'm receiving mixed messages.  So let's learn a little about men's intuition, or how they read our/my/your signals...

The Eye Line - It begins with the eyes:  if you’ve looked across a crowded room and held his gaze for more than five seconds, he thinks you’re interested.  Even if it was unintentional, like he looked familiar or had something in his teeth, but you held his gaze, and that’s enough of a signal for him to think about making a move.  Men also take it as they see it: if you’re fully engaged in conversation with your friends and not giving any of yourself to the room, he’ll most likely to think you’re not interested and stay away.  Good news if you want him to stay away; less so if you were hoping he’d pluck up courage and come over to talk.

Body Talk - Guys are looking for signs of interest.  If you are interested, this is when it’s best to stop being too cool and follow some of the conventional rules of the flirting game.  It may seem totally obvious, but laughing at his jokes and smiling while he's talks are signals he can read loud and clear. Take it a little further, reach out to him physically; touch his hand lightly, place your face close to his (um, like how close...?), and widen your eyes when he’s talking:  these are all signs he’ll have no trouble reading. Watch out though, if your eyes are wandering, glazed over or just plain dead while he’s talking, that won't go unnoticed either.  Most men have felt the distance of a disinterested woman, and know when they’re on a losing streak. Not all give up when they do, but many (especially the good ones) will.

Conversation Matters - Men feel that women drop "codes" into their conversation, saying things without actually saying them.  For example, if you’re talking about how wonderful an ex was, that’s simply a red flag to him that you’re not over it.  If you talk about how much attention you get from men, he’s likely to read it as a signal to back off, that you’re telling him he’s out of your league.  Conversely, complain about a bad ex, or tell him how hard it is to meet interesting men, and that’s a signal for him to step up. Hopefully he won’t need too much encouragement to do so.

 

Hummm...  Interesting...  Thoughts?

To read the full eharmony article...

Ten on Tuesday

I love doing Ten on Tuesday!  It helps me with the blogging lull.  You know, when I'm just too lazy to get serious about blogging and taking care of the 37 items in draft.  So yeah for Ten on Tuesday!

1. Are you ususally late, early, or right on time?
   I think it's genetic.  My Mom is always late (love you Mom!), and I'm generally always late.  But only by a couple minutes.  And it's mainly because I underestimate the amount of time it takes me to get from A to B.  Sometimes I'm right on time though.  Don't count on me being early.
2. What is your middle name?Ann.  Without an 'e'.  It's cooler that way.  It's also a family tradition that the first born daughter has the middle name Ann (sans e).  My great g-ma's name was Ann, her first born daughter (my grammy) was Lorraine Ann, her first born daughter (my mommy) is Allyson Ann, and then her first born daughter (ME!) is Courtney Ann.  And my first daughter (Lord willing I 1) have children and 2) have a daughter) will be ______ Ann.
3. What are the last 4 digits of your cell phone number?
   5340
4. How big is your bed?
   It's a queen.  Fit for a queen.  And apparently it's not big enough for my dog who thinks she's the queen.
5. What are you allergic to?
   Weeds.  All types of weeds.  The stuff that grows wild in fields, the stuff that grows in your garden, the stuff that some people substitute as grass (like me...).  Big time hay fever.  Nothin' a little benadryl or zyrtec can't take care of though.  And praise the Lord I'm not allergic to any foods!
6. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
   Push snooze, about 12 times.  No exaggeration.  Finally force myself to get out of bed, go to the bathroom, get on the scale, then shower.  Getting ready for the day (clothes, hair, make-up, breakfast, etc.) proceeds from there.
7. What was your favorite TV show growing up?
   Who here didn't love TGIF?!?!  You know, back when it was good, back when Full House was still on.  Loved it!  Saved By The Bell was a regular after school show.  And in my younger, younger years the Disney cartoons.  Remember Duck Tales and Rescue Rangers, Gummy Bears (although I don't think that one is Disney).  Now those were good cartoons!
8. Will you, or did you, go to your 10 year high school reunion?
   Yep, I went.  Oh my goodness that was almost 2 years ago!  Eek!  It wasn't a very big group.  And honestly, I think the 10 year is over rated.  It's the 20 or 25 that I'm more interested in going to.
9. If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, does it still make a sound?
   Ah, duh!  Yes.  Just no one was there to hear it.
10. What, in your opinion, is the greatest invention?  (You know, since sliced bread...)Oh dear.  Well, there are things that I definitely don't think about all the time, like soap and pillows and all.  But in the recent years, definitely the greatest invention is the iPhone!  Calendar, internet, contacts, grocery shopping list, camera, and mamy more all in one portable device.  Could life get any easier?  Don't answer that.

www.rootsandrings.com

Motivation Monday - Meetings

#100...complete!

Yeah!  Check one thing off of my 101 in 1,001 list.  I've created a fan page for Courtney Ann Photography.

So, become a fan!

1 down, 100 to go...

Being Single During Christmas at Church

This to me is hilarious!!!  Mostly because I can completely relate.

So, for all you single people out there, enjoy this list.  Heck, maybe keep score sometime. 

From Stuff Christians Like:
One of the most popular Stuff Christians Like posts of all time was #550. Surviving church as a single. But recently, a friend who is single came to town for the holidays and I realized I had missed whole chunks of awkwardness in describing the bottomless joy that is “Being single during Christmas at church.”
So instead of simply remixing an old post, I decided to create a holiday-focused scorecard. Think of it like a seasonal ale they put nutmeg in during January. It only comes around this time of year. Without further ado, I give you:
Being single during Christmas at church:

1. Someone tells you, “It’s tough to be alone this time of year.” = +1 point
2. They pat your head while they say that. = +2 points
3. They slap your butt like a football player after saying it. = + creepy
4. With bated breath, they ask, “Should I put you down as +1 for the Christmas party this year?” = +2 points
5. You good friends hold secret “couples holiday dinners” they don’t invite you to. = +3 points
6. They wince when the world’s worst commercials, Jared’s jewelry, come on TV and some horrible actress gets engaged right in front of you. = +4 points
7. If you’re divorced they tell you, “I think this year you should really ‘focus on you.’” = +1 point
8. They try desperately to find the silver lining and say things like, “It must be nice not to have to shop for anyone. My husband is so hard to get gifts for!” = +2 points
9. When you tell them you’re OK being single during Christmas, they give you a look that says, “You are such a liar. It’s impossible to be happy and single during Christmas!” = +2 points
10. They feel slightly guilty for watching romantic Christmas movies in your presence, like “Love Actually.” = +3 points
11. Someone tells you, “Being single doesn’t have to mean being alone.” = +2 points
12. Your friends have stopped saying “When you get married” because they’re not sure you’ve got it in you. = +1 point
13. Your friends now say, “If you get married.” = +2 points
14. Your friends now give you the marriage kiss of death and simply say, “God willing.” = +3 points
15. You are given some sort of cross stitched artwork that contains the verses from Proverbs 31 about how a woman should be. = +2 points
16. People tell you, “Maybe this will be your year” in the same tone baseball fans wonder if the Cubs will finally win the World Series this year. = +2 points
17. You attend a holiday themed church singles event that is billed as “Not just a Christian version of speed dating,” but is in fact, a Christian version of speed dating. = +1 point
18. A friend emailed you the link to this post because they knew you needed it. = +1 point
19. A friend emailed you the link to this post and suggested you troll the comments to find other like minded single people. = +2 points
20. A friend you only see once a year during the holidays, uses the S word when hearing you’re single. “Still?” = +1 point
21. People spend an exorbitant amount of time telling you marriage success stories, e.g. “The instant my friend Jill stopped looking for a boyfriend this incredible guy came along and swept her off her feet.” = +1 point
22. You’re divorced and someone gives you the incredibly encouraging advice, “God will bring you someone who will overlook your past.” = +2 points
23. This is the first Christmas you realized you officially crossed the age threshold. Instead of people saying, “You’re young, it will happen!” they now say, “Maybe you’re called to be single.” = +5 points
24. Someone makes a horrible joke about how this Christmas, you got the “gift of celibacy.” = +10 points
25. Married friends feel compelled to over tell you how difficult marriage is so that you don’t feel like it’s a winter wonderland of constant awesomeness. = +3 points
26. If you were given a kitten for Christmas people automatically think, “That was a doorway cat. You’re about to become the crazy cat lady.” = +5 points
27. For Christmas, someone gave you a book about dating that had a man or woman, alone on the cover staring out over a lonely windswept horizon, eating a Campbell’s soup for one, probably listening to the haunting melodies of George Winston. = +2 points
28. For Christmas, your friends bought you an annual pass to eharmony.com or another dating site. = +5 points
29. They filled out your dating profile for you and made you sound 97% more awesome than you actually are. = +10 points
30. The profile photo they used on your dating page is at least 10 years old. = +20 points
31. At a Christmas party, someone tells you the wildly inappropriate compliment, “Where were you when I was single?” = +2 points
32. People try to romanticize the tremendous amounts of free time you must have during the holidays without a family to bother you. = +3 points

What’s the craziest “single comment” you’ve heard?

Looking and Feeling Your Best

 It's a new year.  New resolutions.  New goals.  New outlooks.  I'm right there too!  With a new year brings new hopes.  A sense of a refreshed start.

Every year one of my resolutions/goals is to 1) lose weight by 2) exercising more.  But here's my problem.  I don't like to exercise if it feels like exercise.  I can't just go to the gym or pop in a DVD, because that is exercising.  Give me a garden to weed (not my own though) or furniture to move and I'm in!  Because that doesn't feel like exercising.  So what are some other ideas or suggestions that I found?

1. Dance the night away - Yes, I admit, I'm totally jealous when I see the folks that are part of any of those dancing shows.  But for me personally, I have 2 left feet.  I even took ballroom dancing in college to try to get help.  It didn't help.  I can do a mean sprinkler move though, so I have that going for me.  But apparently, dancing is one of the best ways to burn calories, tone muscles, and feel incredible. Maybe I need to work on my lack of skill in the comfort of my own home.  With the blinds closed.
2. Take the long way home - No, that doesn't mean drive the long way home and waste expensive gas.  It means, walk to places that are within walking distance instead of driving.  I do this.  Sometimes at least.  I walk or jog the entire .3333 miles to the post office to get my mail.  And I take my little plump doggy too.  She needs it just as much as I do.  I haven't been brave enough to walk the 1/2 mile to work, only because it's down the busiest roads in town.  Scary!
3. Nature Calls - You know those perfectly beautiful days in the spring?  The days that you just yearn to be outside doing something since you finally can without freezing or the sun going down early.  Yea, so do that.  Go outside and do something.  Go hiking, walking, or whatever.  I'm pretty darn lucky.  2 hours from Yosemite, 2 hours from the ocean, 2 hours from San Francisco.  In 2 hours, I could be anywhere but home and walk around enjoying the scenery, different scenery.
4. Sporty Spice - As a kid, did you play any sports?  Or enjoy any physical activities?  Me you ask.  Sure...  There was that one year in 5th grade I played soccer.  I could kick a mean soccer ball, but I couldn't run around chasing it for the duration of the game.  And I ran cross country one season.  Then I realized I couldn't run the duration of the meet.  (See a trend here.  And why do I want to run a 5k?)  One thing I loved doing though, was roller blading.  In fact, I still have them and plan on pulling them out one of these days.  Here's some trivia for you, did you know you can burn 400 calories per hour fishing?  I know, crazy!

So there you have it.  Easy ways to get out and get moving.  By getting off the couch and moving those limbs can improve your fitness level, reduce stress and increase happiness.  So...what are you waiting for...?

For the full article go here.

Catching Up

As per my 101 in 1,001, one of my goals (or to-do's) is to get and stay caught up on blogging.  So, this is how it's going to happen, I'm going to get and stay caught up on blogging.  Including here and here.  How's that for a plan?  Seriously though, don't be surprised if there are multiple posts in a day (the get caught up part). 

I do have about 2 dozen things in draft.  Meaning, I started a new post, gave it a title, and saved it as a reminder for later.  Now, a good 90% of these drafts are links to articles or sites that I wanted to share.  I'll try to mix it up and not bombard you with junk valuable information and not fill you in on my life. 

In the meantime, please, if there is anything you want to know about, feel I've left out, have a question, would like my opinion on, etc. just let me know in the comments.

Do Not Open Until Christmas...

Of course the dog couldn't wait.  She was antsy from the minute I put up her stocking with a couple toys and bones in it.  In fact, she successfully pulled it down.  Good thing the stocking hanger-upper thing was basic and flat, 'cause it would be broke if it wasn't.

This is Riley...

This is Riley's stocking...

This is Riley trying to get her stocking!

Then I thought, hey you know what, I use to get to open a gift on Christmas Eve, so why not give her one of the toys on Christmas Eve.  And this is what happened...

And the results.  Oh, the results.  I'm still picking up the results.

(please ignore the messing bed)

Straight for the squeaker!  That's all she ever wants.  The fluff and stuffing is just in the way.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is why you don't give your dog a new toy for Christmas.

Showering the Babies

Any day now, my little niece(s)/nephew(s) (whatever combination they may be) are due to be born.  Rylen will be officially at multiple full-term on the 8th.  And I am so excited for their arrival.  1) Then we'll know what they are.  2) So I can spoil them rotten.  3)  'Cause I looooove babies!  During November/early December, Rylen had 4, yes, 4 baby showers.  Double the babies = double the parties = double the need for gifts.  I went to 3 out of 4 and took pictures at 2 out of 3, so that's what I'm going to share with you.

Shower #1 - Work Shower - Mid-November
Ready to open presents?!?

 2 little sweaters from me.  One boy/gender neutral and one definitely a little more girly.

The cake... "Look Out World, Here We Come!"

Rylen, please don't kill me...  Look at her little belly.  Makes you wanna rub it doesn't it?

 Group photo!

Shower #2 - Late November

Guests...

Show stealer...

BFFs.  I won't tell you what I told her when we were taking this picture.  Hint though, it's about placement of parts of our anatomy...  'Nuff said!

Rylen is doing so great with her pregnancy!  I'm impressed and inspired!  I do know though, I'm not nearly as anxious as she and Jim are for the arrival of these two!

(Oh, and my gift at the 2nd shower is taking pictures of the babies each month of their first year as well as their 1st birthday).  Although, I'm sure picture taking won't stop there.  :)

Ten on Tuesday

It's that time of the week again...

1. Are there any movies that inspire you to bake/cook?
   Inspire, yes.  Movies like Julie & Julia, and...  umm... Ok, so that's the most recent and front of my brain movie I can think of.
2. What's your favorite food blog and why?
   Ready for a list?
   The Pioneer Woman - 'cause a little more butter never hurt anyone.
   Bakerella - Cakes, pies, and pastries oh my!
   How Sweet It Is - Good, simple recipes
   CakeSpy - baked goods galore, plus bakery reviews from across the nation
   Tasty Kitchen - Technically not a blog, so there are so many good recipes there
   A Pinch, a Dash, and a Splash - my own little food/recipe blog (shameless plug, go check it out)
3. Who's your favorite celebrity chef?
   I'm a huge fan of Sandra Lee (semi-homemade).  Mainly because they're easy recipes.  And I like Ina Garten, Rachel Ray, ummm...  I'd say Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman) is a celebrity now with her published top seller cookbook and all.
4. What's your favorite kitchen tool?
   Garlic chopper/mincer.  KitchenAid.  I'm trying to think what I use most frequently...
5. When it comes to cooking/baking, what's your speciality?
   Baking period.  I'm much more comfortable with cookies, cakes, etc.  I do fairly well at just about everything I attempt though.  Key word, fairly.
6. When in the kitchen, do you wear an apron, if so, any cute ones you'd like to share?
   No, but only because I don't have an apron.  :(  I really need one though.  Soon enough I'll get one for myself.
7. Is there anything that intimidates you when it comes to baking/cooking?  (ie. pie crust, yeast breads, sauces, etc...)
   Yeast breads for shizel!  And recipes with more than 9 ingredients.  I tend to skip over those often.
8. What's the weirdest gadget in your kitchen?
   Ummmm...hummmm...nothing weird that I can think of.
9. What's your go-to music for cooking/baking?
   I generally just turn iTunes on suffle and let it pick out my music for me.  I'm odd like that, I don't often "crave" a certain type of music.
10. After several failures, what do you do to motivate yourself to get back in the kitchen to try again?
    Haha!  I'll make excuses, like, "well, I tried to make it healthier by substituting ingredients.  guess that didn't work.", then I try again making adjustments (or following the original recipe).  I won't let the kitchen beat me at my own game.  Kinda like it Julie & Julia, Julie had to successfully make a recipe to complete it.

101 in 1,001

“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: to rise above the little things.” 

―John Burroughs

This year, no new year's resolutions.  Nope, no siree Bob.  I've decided to do something different.  Work on some life goals, miscellaneous things, and give more time than a 365 day year.

I'm gonna make a list of 101 things to complete in my life in the next 1,001 days!

The Mission:  Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1,001 days.

The Criteria:  Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

This list will be viewable on the side bar, and as I complete the items I'll update the listed item to link to the blog post that correlates.  Comprende?

Start Date:  January 5, 2010
End Date:  October 3, 2012
Items Completed: 6/101
Not Done
In Progress
Completed (link)
Completed (w/ date)

1. Organize the my desk.
2. Reach goal weight by the 1,001st day.
3. Go on a road trip.
4. Fly somewhere foreign over seas.
5. Exercise at least 3 times per week for a month.
6. Start a prayer journal and journal everyday for a month.
7. Buy a house.
8. Organize my clothes closet.
9. Organize the back room closet.
10. Organize my recipes.
11. Get Christmas shopping done before December 1st.
12. Use my sewing machine to make something.
13. Build patio area in back yard.
14. Run in a 5K race.
15. Get car windows (rear and back left) retinted.
    Learn to knit.  I just realized this was a duplicate to #20, so I replaced it.
16. Read Bible in chronological order.
17. Read at least 7 books a year. (2/19)
18. Dust/Clean ceiling fans.
19. Start official photography business (legitimately with licenses/permits).
20. Learn to knit or crochet.
21. Attend a pro-photographer's workshop.
22. No eating desserts for a week!
23. Hang curtain rods in kitchen.
24. No shopping at Target for a month.
25. Hand wash/polish my hardwood floors.
26. Spend a weekend in San Luis Obispo.
27. Send 10 "think of you" "just because" cards. (2/10)
28. Take a day off from work to do nothing.
29. Weed front yard.
30. Weed back yard.
31. Create branding for photography business.
32. Give e-harmony another shot for a 3 month period.
33. Get and stay caught up on blogging.
34. Get and stay caught up on balancing check book monthly.
35. Get car to mechanic to get idle noise fixed.  4/27/10 (needed a new A/C relay switch thingie)
36. Photograph at least 1 wedding.
37. Try 2 new recipes a month, at least one from a cookbook I own.
38. Organize pictures on hard drive.
39. Spend a weekend in Carmel.
40. Create an action in PhotoShop.
41. Visit at least one state I haven't been to before.
42. Have the best darn 30th birthday ever!
43. Get a massage.
44. Have a picture printed onto a canvas.
45. Find and use a photo hosting site for clients. 4/28/10
46. Get professional pictures taken of myself (maybe with family too).
47. 2nd shoot with a local wedding photographer.
48. Send in camera body to get fixed.
49. Go to bed before 11pm for a week.
50. Get to work before 8am for a week.
51. Create a business plan for photography business.
52. Be debt free (minus possible mortgage).
53. Blog something personal everyday for a month.
54. Enter some photographs into local county fair.
55. Attend photography conference/convention.
56. Walk Riley at least once a week for 3 months.
57. Visit Time Square.
58. Turn vacation and miscellaneous photos throughout the years into photo books.
59. Compile a family recipe cookbook.
60. Visit Yosemite in the winter.
61. Throw a cocktail party.
62. See a musical on Broadway.
63. Learn to use chopsticks properly.
64. No chopping off my hair, only trims until it reaches desired length (which is longer than it is now).
65. Mail a birthday card when a friend or family member has a birthday for a year.
66. Take a multi-vitamin daily.
67. Use up products (cleaning, makeup, hair, etc) completely before replacing.
68. Make/Bake something outside my comfort zone.  From scratch.
69. Go to Disneyland when it's decorated for Christmas.
70. Drive down Hwy 1 from Monterey to Morro Bay.
71. Do a photoshoot during almond blossom season in an orchard.
72. Journal/Track (WW style) for 2 months.
73. Shoot in RAW for a month.
74. Visit family in Santa Fe.
75. Unload dishwasher once it's done, not 3 days later.
76. Learn how to belly dance.
77. Fold laundry once it's dry.
78. Put away laundry once folded.
79. Be in a relationship.
80. Get married.*
81. Do something spontaneous.
82. Get a new camera body.
83. Put no-scratch pads on dining room chair legs. 3/29/10
84. Go wine tasting in Livermore.
85. Go wine tasting in Amador County.
86. Get tupperware organizer and organize cabinet.
87. No candy for 2 weeks.
88. Encourage one person to do 101 in 1,001.
89. Eat at 4 new restaurants. (0/4)
90. No eating out for 3 weeks.**
91. Learn one new technique in PhotoShop each week.
92. Get my own domain name.  3/16/10 (http://www.courtney-ann.com/ - not in service yet)
93. Tithe every month. (3/22)
94. Play a round of 18-hole golf.
95. Visit Golden Gate Park.
96. Buy 5 things from etsy.com. (0/5)
97. Floss everyday for a month.***
98. See a Beach Blanket Babylon show.
99. Make dinner for the family one night a week for 2 months.
100. Make a facebook fan page for my photography.
101. Donate $10 to a charity for every goal not met.

* Or should I just give $10 now? Really it's not unrealistic in the next 2 1/2 years, but yes, I know it's all up to God.
**As in paying for a meal, eating at Mom & Dad's doesn't count.
***I know, gross right?  I so dislike flossing.  And I need to get in the habit.

Motivation Monday - Limitation

Movies I've seen in 2010

January

1/1 - Did You Hear About the Morgans? (theater)

1/4 - Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (DVD)
1/5 - Duplicity (DVD)
1/29 - When in Rome (theater)
 February
2/2 - My Life in Ruins (DVD)
2/5 The Women (DVD)
2/6 The Da Vinci Code (TV)
2/13 Valentine's Day (theater - so good, go see it!)
2/20 Couple's Retreat (DVD)
March
3/1 Ice Castles (DVD)
3/2 Love Happens (DVD)
3/11 The Time Traveler's Wife (DVD)
April
4/5 I Hate Valentine's Day (DVD)
4/9 High School Musical 3: Senior Year (TV)
4/25 The Last Song (theater)

Books Read in 2010

Finished in...

February

Am I The One? by James R. Lucas

Picture of the Day 365

December 31st:  Luke 5:1-26; Ezekiel 48; Isaiah 66

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”

―Hal Borland

1 Week...

...in the life of a Weight Watchers member.

I resemble this remark!

Day 1 (right after weigh in)
Oh boy, that piece of cake I saved is near,
Besides, no pounds will ever show,
I've got seven whole days to go.

Day 2
A day of shopping at the mall,
And a burger special - cheese, mayo and all.
I'll walk it off and get in gear,
Six days to go, no weigh-in near!

Day 3
I think I'll skip my tuna lunch.
A Reuben Sandwich is what I'll munch.
With maybe a shake and chips, you know?
Besides, I've got five days to go!

Day 4
For breakfast one egg, toast and juice.
Kids left their pancakes.  Oh! What's the use?
These days wasting food is such a sin,
And it's still four days till I weigh in.

Day 5
Boy, the weekend is really rough.
Restaurant menus are very tough.
I'll work off this steak, no problem here.
In just three days I'll be in the clear?

Day 6
Breakfast...I'll just have coffee today.
Maybe I'll lose some that way!
Supper...I'm starving - I could eat a whale.
Two more days till I step on that scale!

Day 7
Now my nerves are really a wreck.
I might as well eat.  Oh! What the heck!
I'll drink tons of water and walk all night.
One day to go - I'll be alright.

Weigh In Day
I polished off the pizza as a snack today.
But followed it with two bowls of Special K!
I gained two pounds - can you believe?
Maybe it's the Milky Way I've got up my sleeve.
Really, Weight Watchers works if you just take it slow.
I guess I didn't have seven days to go!

Picture of the Day 364

December 30th:  Luke 4:31-44; Ezekiel 46-47; Isaiah 65

“Sometimes it’s a form of love just to talk to somebody that you have nothing in common with and still be fascinated by their presence.”

―David Byrne

Picture of the Day 363

December 29th:  Luke 4:1-30; Ezekiel 44-45; Isaiah 64

"Once you choose hope, anything's possible."

-Christopher Reeve

Merry Christmas to Me!

True to my Christmas form, this year just the same as past years, I got myself a gift.  Something to splurge on.  Something that maybe I've been eyeing or wanting for awhile.  And this year, just as before, I did it.  This year, it worked out perfectly.  I've been eyeing what is called a Shootsac.  And quite honestly, I was gonna wait to get one. 

But then it happened.  Black Friday.  And Shootsacs went on sale.  Something that only happens once a year.  And by golly, I didn't want to wait another year before getting one.  I've been having...issues...with my current camera bag and have heard nothing but raves and reviews about this one.  So I did it.  I removed it from my Christmas list and ordered one. 

Let me say, there is nothing plan about any part of the product.  The detail, down to shipping, is exquisite.  Just take a look...

 

 

How pretty is that box?!?!  I saved it.  And then I used it to wrap a present for Rylen.

 

Everything was laid out so nicely.  Even after shipping things didn't shift.

 

 

The basic Shootsac.  Made of neoprene (like a wetsuit).

 

Come on!  Look at the metal pieces on the bag.  The strap is thick, thick like a seat belt material.

 

The basic bag.  On me.  Me standing on a chair so I can catch my reflection in the mirror on my buffet.  Hence the slight squating.

 

But since everything was on sale I didn't stop at just the bag.  I got a cover too.  A really pretty one.  The baroque patterned one.  I'm a sucker for baroque.  

And it's suedey on the back side (aka the side that is against the shootsac).

And here I am with the baroque cover.

I can't wait to get out there and put this to good use.  I'm excited for the ease and comfort of it too!

Now...I need to find out how to clean the cover.  You know, for future reference.  Or in case a certain brother accidentally spills red wine that gets on it... 

Picture of the Day 362

December 28th:  Luke 3:21-38; Ezekiel 42-43; Isaiah 63

"In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't."

-Blaise Pascal