I have a friend her name is Terri and she is super-dee-dooper. She came down from Cleveland on Saturday to come and hangout and get a haircut. We have been friends for over a decade now (I think that sounds so cool!). I ushered her into my salon de kitchen to get started on her do.

Here’s some before/after shots…I loved the outcome, and thankfully so did she!

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Thanks again for coming down, laughing with me, letting me do your hair and eating YUMMY hibachi! Until next time!

I thought I’d take you through a pictorial journey of what I’ve been up to at school these last almost 5 months! (that equates to over 500 hrs of time at school! [in actuality, about 485 hrs. for me]).

Welcome! C’mon in!

Here’s where I’ll be performing your service!

Time for a wash!

Would you like a mani/pedi, or perhaps a refreshing facial?

What happens when your mom comes into town…giving paraffin after a mani…a must!

What happens when you don’t have any clients all day long:

I am loving school! I feel like I am working in an upscale salon already. There are of course parts of school, I’m not so fond of. But if you’re reading this, you have probably heard what those parts are, so I’ll spare that part. Only 6 more months to go! If you’re ever in the Columbus area come and get pampered! www.regencybeautyinstitute.com

So click on THIS . This is my really good friend Randy’s project. It has a simple mission and to be honest, most if not all the people in my life are doing this already! Randy is such a cool guy and am thankful to have so many wonderful friends and family that live up to “Be Good C’mon”

It’s no secret, that I secretly want twin girls…BAD. I know that I can’t get my hopes up and that it may or may not happen. Although studies show that 3 in 100 births are twins, that’s not bad, right? I have been reading a lot about “chances” and studies about twins and such. Obviously this is out of my control, but I have always loved twins. My mom’s brothers are twins, My cousin has twins and I want them! I even have the sweetest names for twin girls!

I was at the mall this week looking around when I wandered into BabyGap. There are lots of bday’s coming up so I was stocking up on gifts when out of the corner of my eye I spotted these darling brown booties! They were on sale…at first I couldn’t believe my eyes, they were originally $16…and upon further review, they were were on sale for .97 CENTS! I would have been silly to pass these up! So I found two matching pairs and giddly brought them up to the register.

You may be thinking that I am crazy, or too excited about something that might not happen. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll find someone that has twins b/c these are so cute! I call them my booties of hope b/c it gets me excited and increases my desire for a baby, twins or not. It’s hope for me to realize it’s time to take my health seriously and do what the doctor tells me to do to prepare myself for hoping to having a baby sometime within the next couple of years. I have been talking about this a lot lately in my mind and with James. He’s a good one to always humor me! I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us, (hopefully including twin girls!) whether it turns out the way I want it to, it’s ok b/c I know the plan is right way to go. I look forward to the day to being a mom and feeling that bursting love for a newborn baby. I also know the importance of realistic expectations and to not get my hopes up too high. But for now, armed with my .97 cent booties, I am filled with lost of hope for a great year!

Of course Mason was in on the fun too, he LOVES bubbles!

A few weekends ago my sister-in-law Greta and I took Mason & Corinne downtown to a “Kidapalooza” where they could get some of their energy out and have fun. As you may have already guessed by the time we got there the hall it was being held in was swarming with babies, toddlers and kiddos. It was a fun place that had lots of things to do and try out. The problem was the wait to do those fun things. Imagine a State fair or Amusement park, yeah, it was like that. Greta and I took turns waiting in line for various activities. But once Corinne found out there was face painting that was it she was going to be patient enough to wait in the incredibly long line. I took Corinne by the hand and off we went. I have to say she did awesome overall. I was even getting antsy after 35 min of waiting. Since there was only one face painter (that was very detailed oriented) the line didn’t move very fast. Corinne reached her “breaking point” 45 min into the wait. I reassured her it was almost her time and we began to discuss what would be showcased on her cute little rosy cheek. First a butterfly, pink of course. Then a ladybug (my choice). The winner was a rubber ducky in a pond.

The following pictures depict the decent of her patience to the final test of sitting in the chair. I didn’t get a picture of the final product, but it was really cute!

First off, thank you to everyone for commenting on my last post, thankfully those feelings only lasted for a day, and everything is right in the world.

I got up today as I normally do (too late of course) and hopped into the shower…when I got out I noticed a txt from a school friend that said “school is closed today…” At first I didn’t believe it, but when I saw our school’s name on the closing list on TV I jumped for joy! (figuratively). Since I had already showered there was no point moping around – it was about 8 a.m. by this point. I have ALL Day to finally clean, organize and do laundry. An ENTIRE day! I am kind of OCD and anal when it comes to organization and cleanliness. However these past few months I have slacked immensely. With school, babysitting (only one hr. a week) and Mutual I am lucky if I bring the clean clothes basket upstairs! Not today!!! It’s not even 1 and so far I have:
*Scrubbed the bathrooms
*Dusted the whole house
*Sorted out the laundry
*Organized the bills and thrown away all junk mail
*Changed the sheets on our beds
*Vacuumed
*Gathered up the garbage
*Made the shopping list and other errands list
*Took out some pork chops to thaw for dinner
*Put the dishes away

I had to write this out, b/c this hasn’t happened all at once in a very long time, so I want to have a record of it! These are very simple and ordinary things, but it has lifted my spirits today!

Clutter affects all aspects of my life. When my room is cluttered I can’t sleep well. When everything is strewn about I can’t think straight. When I can’t remember if I paid a bill or if anything is due…I get nervous. Having these in order, I feel like I can be myself again. Stress free if you will. I always use the excuse “I just don’t have time” when in reality I may have the time but, 8 p.m. isn’t the best time to clean the house! Ahhhhh, today is a great day! Cold and snowy weather may be not the most ideal weather…but it sure brightened my spirits today!

You know when someone asks you that, and you’re having a really crappy day but you just reply “I’m good.” Deep down inside you want to spill your guts out to them why today’s the crappiest day of your life? Well, since this is my blog, I’m going to use this opportunity to spill my guts.

today at school, I was to have a client that wanted a specific service that 1. i haven’t been taught yet 2. texture/length/style of said client’s hair was not a type of hair i felt comfortable doing {yet}. since our school’s policy is if you “refuse” a client you have to clock out and go home. So I clocked out at 10 a.m. and went home. Strike one.

i headed over to the doctor to get my blood taken for the 5th time since December to figure out why I just had my 4th miscarriage since 2007. Strike two.

on my way home my phone fell under my seat in my car, when i went to get it out it got stuck under a lever and jacked up my phone and now i don’t have a working phone. Strike three, I’m out.

upon my arrival at home i was welcomed by having the runs. (sorry that was an overshare, that’s just me!)

i know tomorrow’s a new day and i choose to let things get to me, but sometimes the “things” win. i’m going to bed early tonight. after i get home from a really long meeting.

I took this off of my friend Maya’s blog, this is fun, you should do it too!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I decided to finally go to Cosmetology school after 2 years of good/bad job experiences! It was something that was 12 years coming!

2. Did you keep your 2008 resolutions, and will you make more this year?
I’m one of those with very good intentions…my actions don’t always follow, so nope! I will make more, and my resolution this year is to actually do them!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yup! Cousins, Best Friends, Sister-in-law, just a few people!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my Grandma Rice. She passed away in July. I still miss her and think of her often. She was the best. I am happy that is reunited with my Grandpa, they were away from each other for a long time.

5. What countries did you visit?
Does the US count?

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Answers to a few questions…

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hmmmm I didn’t really achieve anything…but We did celebrate 2 years of marriage!

8. What was your biggest failure?
Not losing the weight I’ve been saying I would

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Hmm the end of 2008 was interesting, I had a miscarriage, jacked up my back, a really long sinus infection – not things you want to go have while not having insurance, I don’t recommend it!

10. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmmm…a laptop for James’ school work, although I often tend to ease my way into using it!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
James’ apparently I’m not the easiest person to live with!

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I wouldn’t say appalled, but I did depress myself, LOL

13. Where did most of your money go?
Living expenses, tuition & books

14. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter?
a.) happier b.) fatter

15. What do you wish you’d done more of?
stopped talking about losing weight and actually LOSE the weight!

16. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Complain!

17. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yup! It’s all James’ fault!

18. What was the best new book you read?
I’m not much of a leisure reader, but did read the Twilight series. I can’t help it, they were great.

19. What was your favorite film of the year?
The Secret Life of Bees. It was very though provoking.

20. What kept you sane?
The gospel, family and friends

21. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Wishing life was different does nothing for your life. Complaining about your life does nothing for your life. Being happy with your life is an EFFORT, BUT while making that effort you realize you do have a wonderful life.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Nelson Mandela<