One down, two to go...

Well, week one has come and gone since Blair has been gone. Working and hanging out with friends has kept me sufficiently busy enough not to think every second of every day about him being gone. Mostly I sleep, work, go to the gym, sleep, and do it all over again.

We get to talk on the phone and let me tell you, that is what is keeping me sane! I think about these women who don't hear from their husbands for weeks or months (or in the old days, waited for letters!) and I feel very grateful that my husband is in no danger and that we're able to talk at least once a day. Sometimes twice.

So we've only got two weeks then he'll be home. Thank God. I can't wait to see him. Hold him in my arms. Kiss him. Just be with him.

Soon. Two weeks. I can do it. I know I can!

Unexpected and unprepared...

...for Blair to leave so quickly! We've known for a while now that he'd have to go to "Seven Level School" in Wichita Falls, TX sometime in August. Then about a month ago, we learned he'd need to be down there by the 19th. I was figuring in two days of travel, but when I called him at work before I left for work on Tuesday, he told me he is leaving on SATURDAY!!!! Yes, folks, this Saturday.

I am so bummed! I thought we'd have the weekend together before he left so I wasn't worried about my work schedule this week; which coinsidentally, it's worked out that I have not seen hide nor hair of my husband since Sunday. You heard right. Sunday.

Am I happy?

No. I. Am. Not.

I get this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon, along with Friday, and that's it. He'll be leaving early Saturday morning.

I am really trying not to complain though. Women I know personally, and other bloggers, have husbands gone for way longer to dangerous places for months and months at a time. I know Blair will be okay...it's just I'll really miss him! He and I are so content just to be with each other that I'll miss just being in his presence.

So, readers, when you crawl into bed with your love, snuggle up and think about how lucky you are to have them in your arms.

I will, on the other hand, be holding Blair's pillow; which I'll have liberally sprayed with his cologne.

Thoughts and a Question

Ok folks, I have a question for y'all. First, a little background...

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I am a picture and photography fanatic. I have tons and tons and tons (you get the picture...pun intended!) of pictures printed and loads waiting for the privilege of making it to the print shop.

Now, for mine and Blair's anniversary, he let me get a nice, new Digital SLR camera. His one stipulation on buying this piece of equipment was simply that I had to learn to use it. I am slowly but surely learning my way around and playing with the settings and features as I go.

Now, I stumbled across a class (actually a co-worker told me about the site, jessicasprague.com) that teaches techniques in Photoshop that allow you to edit pictures. I hastily signed up for the class thinking that if that one went well, I'd do another and go from there. Turns out, I LOVED IT! I could (and have) sit for hours upon hours just playing with my pictures.

Now what tends to happen with me is that I get all gung-ho for a while and then the enthusiasm tends to peter out. However, I have had an idea in the back of my mind for quite a while, just kicking it around, thinking about it, turning it this way and that, trying to see all the pros and cons of my idea.

So, my fellow readers, I will pose my question to you. Sort of like market research.

Now, my idea is for you (by you, I mean my potential customers) to email me pictures that they have taken, then allow me to edit the picture (not altering the original picture data). I have the ability to put text on pictures. I can make a picture have a vintage feel. I can do black and white with a punch of color on a specified spot (i.e. a flower, eyes, a ball, or whatever). I can do collages with up to nine pictures (more may look too squished). Storyboards would also be available.

I have also tossed around making invitations. Probably not too in depth in the beginning, but if someone would like wedding invites, birthday or shower invites, I believe it would be totally do-able.

I have a lot of ideas and would like to bring them all to fruition. So my question is this...would any of you like to take advantage of this? My prices would be reasonable (I realize the economy isn't the best). I would love to have a business doing something that I love to do. I would like to eventually expand this to do the actual taking of the pictures I edit. For the people locally, that would be an option.

Now, I'm sure no of you would think to be mean, but I'm going to say it for those who might...but I am really putting myself out there right now by bringing this to you, and if you have anything other than positive comments, keep them to yourself please!!

***I will post more examples of my work at a later time, but for one example, look at the very bottom of this page at the sepia toned building I edited.***

Who can resist cute shoes?!

Apparently not I. I went shopping a while back with my neighbor and we stopped by our local friendly Payless Shoe Store and look what I found! Pink suede mocasin-like slippers. Not only are they too cute, they are comfy too! See?!




Oh, and since Payless is awesome they had a buy one, get one half off sale. So I did! And aren't they darling!?



These cuties I wore for Blair's ALS graduation. You got to see the dress in a previous post, however, the shoes did not get any spotlight time...so now they do! Time to shine ladies!



These sweet babies flew me all the way to the grand state of Michigan for a wedding. They are super cute and surprisingly super comfy!!! Score!


***Whoops! I said these shoes "flew me"? I really meant flew with me. I wore comfortable, practical shoes to traverse the harried airports in!

These cutie pies are the first shoes I bought in North Dakota. They do the occasion proud!



Well, folks, whatcha think? If you've got cute accessories, shoes, or whatever, show 'em off!

Thanks for taking a quick tour of my closet with me! Hope y'all are havin' a wonderful day!

On the road...again!

Well, folks, it seems that since winter has finally loosened it's dreadful grip of the weather around these parts. Thank goodness. Along with warmer weather and sunny, puffy-clouded days, brings us good road conditions. Not long ago (Memorial Day weekend, to be exact), Blair and I took a trip to Fargo to get his latest tattoo finished (he needed the color filled in). Well, the entire way there, I had a bad feeling about the appointment. {Not} to my surprise, when we reached the shop (after leaving at 6 a.m. and traveling for four hours) one of the artists told us the guy who was supposed to be doing Blair's tattoo was sick and wouldn't be in that day! ARGH!! Talk about frustration! Luckily, Blair had wanted to spend the night in Fargo and I'd already booked that room, so at least the trip wasn't wasted. We ended up having a really good time in Fargo and enjoyed spending time away together. Oh, oh, and we got to eat at IHOP before coming home. I know, I know, who cares about IHOP right? Well, non-North Dakota residents, I do!!! At home, IHOP was on the bottom of the 'let's go eat somewhere good list' because there were so many other really, really good places to go. Not here. IHOP is a treat. And let me just tell you, I gorged. It was wonderful.


Since the trip to Fargo was a bust as far as the purpose, Blair did research and found another shop to go to to get his tattoo finished. Luckily for us it's only an hour and a half away in Bismarck. While we were there, I also got some new ink. {Pictures to come.} We very much enjoyed only having to drive a short distance to reach our destination. It was such a beautiful day, we kinda hated to be cooped up in a car, but we had a really good time. Usually we get in the car to go on trips and whoever is not driving passes out asleep. However, Blair stayed awake the entire time and we talked the whole way there and back! These days it seems our lives are so busy that we just talk in random snatches, especially since my schedule at work is so crazy. It was nice to be able to have such a long time devoted to just us and conversation.

When we got to Bismarck, we were a bit early so we went to see a movie at this awesome theater they have there in town. It's decorated like an old-timey play house with movie memorabilia all over the place. Next time we go that way, hopefully we can go back to that theater!

Well, I know your probably anxious for pictures so here they are! Enjoy...

Here I am with the stencil on and ready to go...

The artist, Ellie, was super sweet and really good too. It was over in 25 minutes!

This is mine, finished. It says MMVII, Roman numerals for the year Blair and I got married.

Blair looks so stoic...he's watching the poker tour on T.V.!

Blair's was finished quickly too, only about 30 minutes!

The finished product. Neat huh?

Fantabulously Frugal

Hey y'all! I don't normally get into the giveaway thing, but I ran across this one and it looks to good to pass up! Check it out @ http://www.fantabulouslyfrugal.com/search/label/Giveaways to sign up and enter if you wish! If you decide to enter, mention me and we'll both get an extra entry!

State of Our Union, Part II

Two years (and five days ago), I married the man of my dreams. In a twenty minute ceremony, with friends and family present, we pledged our lives together. Never once have I regretted that vow. My husband is the most kind, funny, loving man I know. He makes me laugh when I don't feel like it. He is my commonsense adviser when I can't see past my nose. He is my friend, always. I love him with all that I am.

We have had lots of fun and adventure in our short two year marriage.

We've been through a TDY (this is Blair getting ready to go to the airport).

We've moved across country (from way south to waaaayyyy north)!

Here is my family and two best friends waiting for the trailer to leave B.C. A bittersweet moment.

Visited family.

Visited more family!

Gone on random roadtrips.

Made it through a harsh North Dakota winter. (The worst in 10 years according to locals!)

Blair graduated ALS (I'm so proud)!

We've done a lot in our short two years of being married. I am so proud to call myself wife to such a wonderful man.

I love you baby.