Thursday, October 18, 2012

~Last First Time~

 
 
When was the last time you did something for the first time? I Freaking love this quote I saw on Pinterest.... I think I want this as my next tattoo!! So when was it? The last time for me was 3 months ago when I went outside in my pj's and played in the rain (this wasn't a first time but it was the first time I have played in the rain as an adult, pretty sad right?) Today is a new day and today I am going to do something for the first time. How fun right?!?!?!?! What a fun goal to do way more "firsts". Remember how good those firsts felt, it's invigorating, it makes you feel young, it makes you appreciate more. I have a list already in my head of some firsts that I want to do, anybody with me?

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

~Flu Season~

It is fast approaching and you are going to start seeing lots and lots of propaganda again about running out to get your flu shot (ughhhhh...say no more I am not a fan but to each his own) I have many people who ask us what we do to protect ourselves and our children over the nasty flu season. First let me start with we DO NOT do the flu vaccine nor would we EVER! If you know me you know I pretty much live at the health food store (Healthy Alternative in Clayton) just ask them they know me ;-). This is what works for my family, hope it helps and feel free I do not mind answering your questions at all! Okay here goes...we do lots of Vitamin C (powdered, not pill), Vitamin D (lots), Acidophilus (eating yogurt isn't good enough), fish oil (good certified organic brand), & lastly a good Multi-Vitamin (not the character ones as I have learned they do not absorb and end up in your toilet). If our child ends up with the flu we do not panic. We do not do medicine because we have been lucky enough to rarely have to use it in our house. We do not try to bring down a tempature because that is the body's way of fighting off the flu. Things I keep on hand during the winter are aloe juice, apple cider vinegar and extra of the above mentioned vitamins). And if all else fails and they just can't kick whatever it is they got going on we call Dr. Suzanne Croteau she is our D.O. in Yellow Springs.

Hope you find this helpful!!
 
I do not claim to be a Doctor, do not claim to have a cure all, you asked for what works for us and this is it!!

Friday, October 12, 2012

~A Beautiful Life Taken~

I wasn't going to blog today about bullying again, however when I went online this morning I saw the horrific story of Amanda Todd. This beautiful young lady took her life after a long battle with many bully's in her life. It breaks my heart that someone, anyone couldn't help this child out. It also breaks my heart that this world can be so cruel. Please take a minute to listen to her story. She has a big voice through not speaking. This is her story.
 
 
 
 
Thanks for watching it. Go talk to your children. Make them understand bullying other children is not going to be accepted, watch your children's facebook accounts better yet don't let them have one!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

~Wake Up Parents~

Hmmm...I could say way more today than I would ever find appropriate, so I will try to keep my thoughts organized and under control. This month is Anti-Bully Awareness Month and along with that at school comes cool shirts, posters and even lectures. But how far past that does it really go? Is it all talk? How good of a job are these schools doing to make sure this kinda crap isn't happening? I find it sad how conversations with teachers sometimes just get written off and you get the old "kids will be kids". I agree kids will be kids and I know kids can be awful. It's up to us parents to make sure we sit down with our children and talk about bullying and talk about the pain it inflicts on people. I will say it again, yes I was bullied by a certain popular gal that did not give a s**t how it made me feel and yes she had her friends in on it too. Especially in art class, Dear Lord did she make me hate that class. Everyday I got to hear how fake I was, how ugly, how stupid my glasses looked...oh joy good times! Ok stay on track and focus Jen, so what needs to change? ALOT! Their are children everyday committing suicide because this crap continues. It is out of pure ignorance that this stuff continues and all we do is talk about how it needs to STOP! Let's stop talking and do something about it! Please take a stand, talk to your children, if they are not being bullied I am pretty positive they know someone who is.  Teach them to stand up for their friend, teach them to go to an adult and not be ashamed to tell.

Below is my sister-in-laws blog for everyone to read. This is her son, my nephew, my kid's cousin, my parent's grandson. He is a beautiful kid with a gifted heart and it disgusts me to think he is going through this all because some child is lacking something in their own home. Hope this reaches some people today, and I hope more than anything we can put a real STOP to this!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Go Be An Example - Teach Others- We Can STOP This!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

~The Road to Nowhere~

Some days, this is my road...this is my journey. I have nowhere in particular that I'm going yet I drive. Something about my car and the country that give me great peace. This is my place, my space that when I need a break it becomes my therapy. I hit the pavement with a camera in tote and make the best of it. It amazes me the beauty I see in the simple things, must be a sign I'm getting old because their was a time I use to make fun of those who I wold see taking pictures of a tree, or the fog, or just the horizon. Wow, guess that person is now me! Don't get me wrong, I adore shooting people and animals but when I want to get away from everything nature beckons. This morning the fog was dense in our little town as it usually is in October, however it was breathtaking and mesmerizing and I was wishing I was on a road to nowhere instead of work this morning with a little Ray LaMontagne playing all is well in my world. 
 
 
 
Instagram from this morning


                 Hope you get to enjoy a road to nowhere now and again!



 

 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

~Incognito~

Are you hiding out? I am today, it's one of those days I just feel like I need to be in a ghillie suit. You have these days as well or am I alone on  this thought? I feel like I am being pulled in a million directions. I have to stay focused, I have to keep in mind there is only one of me.
This has been a crazy week, I had this really great, wonderful, fabulous opportunity put in my lap and after much thought I had to turn it down. It makes me sad, but I think I was in over my head. I got asked to travel down near Nashville and do some really cool pictures for a band but I really feel they need a professional. I recently sold all my partner's and my indoor lighting and my camera is not nearly up to par for a role this big. I know it could have probably opened some doors for me, or in my mind they wouldn't have been what they were looking for and I would have regretted ever going down there. It's funny how some days my cheerful little self can be so confident and others day I have ZERO! I don't know, just one of those days where my mind is racing wondering if I made the right call.
Go set an example today, and be someones hero!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

~must share~


Two posts a day keeps the doctor away <3!

~Love Much~

Are you a facebook junkie? I would say I would qualify as just that. I don't believe I have went longer then 8 hours without checking in on updates in probably over two years. Is it an addiction? Yes, I would say so. The thing is, it's great for family and friends to catch up, check out each other's pictures and lives and pray for each other during hard times, but that's not where it ends. There is a viscous side, a side of bullying, fighting and just a lot of negative energy. I don't see this side very often but every once in awhile I come across someone using it as just that. Yes, it is freedom of speech I agree completely in that but really who has time for the negativity. Do you not realize the shortness of life. I have had my Mom die twice and brought back to life twice, does that teach me the value of time, absolutely. Go be an inspiration today, and most importantly be nice!
 
This is a little poem about the value of time and it is has always been one of my favorites.
 



The value of time poem
To realize
The value of a sister,
Ask someone
Who doesn’t have one.
To realize
The value of ten years,
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years,
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year,
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.
To realize
The value of nine months,
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize
The value of one month,
Ask a mother
who has given birth to
A premature baby.
The value of one week,
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one minute,
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one-second,
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special
To realize the value of a friend or family
member:
LOSE ONE.

Monday, October 1, 2012

~Senior Pics & Crazy Mad Editing~

I'm done!!
Oh.... I love the sound of saying that. I have edited pictures until the wee hours of the night for what feels like days. It's worth it though knowing I am done with Christian's Senior pictures and I can move on to editing little Miss Sophia. Christian's photo shoot went really well despite how sunny it was, we started at the Dayton Art Institute and then moved around Dayton for some cool shots. Such a sweet guy as we finished up he said, "that was actually pretty fun"! Gotta laugh at guys, they have such a harder time posing it up for the camera then girl's do. I could go on and on about the shoot and how being downtown Dayton gives me so much inspiration for photography the buildings are amazing, the new ones and especially the older ones. Anyway, I have editing & cleaning to do so I'm gonna post some of Christian's shoot and call this my blog for Monday! Enjoy the pictures, oh and go be an example for someone today!