Music

So if you know me you know that I love music, like more then life itself really. iTunes is super dangerous for me because of all the wonderful music out there. Like seriously, I would go broke if my CC was linked up with them. Fortunately I am smartical and only use iTunes cards. Anyways I digress. . .

I recently got the Missy Higgins cd On A Clear Night and can I just say it = ♥ like majorly. The song I'm really feeling lately is called "Forgive Me." It's just an amazingly passionate song and it's a raw recording of it on the cd, so you really feel the passion and the desperation. I just had to share. Here's a good link for a live performance of this song (she's amazing!) -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSRKZHxdnnI

Here are the lyrics:

"Forgive Me"

Oh my son look at what I've done
But I am learning still
Learning still
Know that I am learning still
And oh my wife you are my life
And I am burning still
Burning still
Know that I am burning for you still

And all, all, all of my light is for you
And home, home's anywhere you are too
So take this one fallen man on his knees
Saying please forgive me

Oh my God how you make it hard
Not to pick the apple
Pick the apple
And Lord I long to give it back

And I was on shaky land
Lost and unsure I opened my hand
And she held it like sinking sand

And all, all, all of my light is for you
And home, home's anywhere you are too
So take this one fallen man on his knees
Saying please

All, all, all of my light is for you
And home, home's anywhere you are too
So take this one fallen man on his knees
Saying please forgive me
Forgive me
Forgive me

Week-long stay. . .

Well this week I will be having a week-long overnight stay at work. I am keeping the kids while my boss goes out of town. It's been a while since I've done one of these, and I'm tired already just thinking about it! LOL I think things will go fine, it's just trying to remember who has which activity at what day/time/field/etc! My brain has been functioning at half power this week already, thanks to all the lovely yellow pollen outside. . . Can you feel the sarcasm there?
Anyways wish me luck, and if anything exciting happens I'll be sure to let you know!
Ciao all you lovely people!

Cuteness!!

Ok yes I realize that I haven't been posting like I said I was going to, but honestly things are good. Of course there's always a taxing day (or 3), but overall, things in Nannyland are going well. However, I could hear my blog feeling all neglected, so I thought I'd post some things for fun and cuteness factor. :D Enjoy!!



see more dog and puppy pictures



see more dog and puppy pictures

And for any lurkers who are fans of the Spunk Ransom, I give you this:



Thank you GQ stylist. Thank you for putting this man in that suit, because it makes his eyes that much more glorious.

Want to join a book club??

Have you always wanted to join a book club, but don't have time to attend meetings in person? Maybe all the friends you'd like to be in a club with, live far, far away from you. Well today I have your solution!! Come join a new ONLINE book club!!

We're brand new - just got set up last night, and we are looking for new members!

Come check us out!!

Butterfly's Dawn: A Book Club Community

We're taking book suggestions right now in our List thread.

Also, even if you don't have time to read, please consider joining anyways. You're more then welcome to be a "lurker" and just read our discussions, or relax a bit with our on-site chat box. Everyone needs a place for some "adult" conversation - believe me, my brain's been screaming for some!

If you decide to join, let me know in the comments and I'll look for you when I'm on too. Know anyone else who'd be interested? Please pass on the link! Thanks so much! I hope to see some of you there.

Rant of the week!

**This is personal, not nanny related, just FYI**

So today started off good. I had a doctor's appointment at my Alternative Health Doctor, and everything checked out great. We're sticking with once a month rechecks, unless something gets out of balance, and I have a good supply of supplements that shouldn't change. So then, since I didn't have to work today, I had time to go to the bank. Well, I decided to go to a branch of my bank that's close to my doctor's, but I've never been there before. So the parking lot is really weird, and as I'm navigating it to pull into the drive up ATM, this curb comes out of no where!! (OK so I know the curb doesn't move, but seriously, I did not see it!!) I hit it pretty bad, and felt like a complete novice driver, but then, guess what . . . it busted up my tire!! Yep, tore it and it was completely flat.

PTL I had just gotten new tires within the last year, so I had a new, full-size tire in the trunk. So I pull into a parking spot, and get out, pissed off, frustrated, and so not wanting to change a tire in the middle of the bank parking lot! LOL But I pull out all the stuff and get started. Now I'm very proud of the fact that I can change a tire, and not have to call AAA (and wait 2+ hours) or try and find some random guy to change it for me. But can I tell you that in the 20 or so mins that it took me to change the tire NO ONE STOPPED TO ASK ME IF I NEEDED HELP!! And to make it worse, two, yes I repeat TWO men walked right by me in the parking lot and said nothing.


*pauses for appropriate gasps*


I know, right?! I mean I freaking live in the south - supposedly the land of gentlemen who help damsels in distress!! Ok, so I wasn't exactly a damsel in distress, but I was covered in black junk from the tires/bolts/jack and that was not making me happy at all! I mean come on people!! Help a girl out why don't ya?!

So, for any parents reading this blog, I have two requests:

1. Please teach your boys to grow into helpful, courteous men that will at least offer to help a girl change her tire, even if it looks like she's got everything under control. She may decline the help, but she'll still appreciate the offer.
2. Please make sure your daughters know how to change a tire before you let them get their driver's license. I learned, because the summer before my senior year of high school, I was at Summer Honors (Lee University - holla'!!), and on a trip into Chattanooga, one of the cars got a flat. Out of about nine girls, only one knew how to change the tire, and no one stopped to help us. So, I watched and I learned how to change a tire, and I'm so glad I did.

So, that's my rant for now. I just had to get it out there. I mean I know that it's very rare to find a gentleman these days, and I'm still impressed when the door is held open for me by a random guy, but in an (for lack of a better word) extreme situation, I would hope they would rise to the occasion.

WWWAT: Goals, Change, etc.

Yay it's time for the first WWWAT for 2009! And I totally remembered! So our theme this time is change, goals, new beginnings, etc. You know, all the things having to do with the new year and resolutions. So, I thought the first picture should be a self-portrait of me now, because I hope to change myself this year. Not just physically, but also behaviors, etc. I feel very work focused right now, and I hope to change that to become more people focused. My New Year's resolution is so be able to make that time for friends and family, that seems to be taken over by work (because I can't say no). So here I am, flaws and all.

My next resolution is typical, yet not. Yes I want to lose weight, get healthy, etc., but I also don't want to be ruled by this thing we call "the scale" (said in a deep voice with a hint of doom to the tone). I don't want my mood, emotions, or the way I feel about myself on any given day to be dictated by a few numbers on a scale.


Then comes the big one. To be more financially responsible. At this point I don't really have a choice, I'm being thrown into it head first. My mother is going on a four month mission trip, and I'm left to take care of myself and the house by myself. Of course I've lived on my own, so this is nothing horrifically new, but this feels different.

And last, but not least, my goal this year is to put myself out there. To be open to love, and see what God's plan for my relationship status is. I believe God has put desires in my heart that cannot be fulfilled by sitting on the couch. So I'm stepping out in faith.

I also want to start blogging more consistently. Not only about the hard things, but the really great things. I figure you're looking at my blog now, so I don't need a picture for that. Please come back and visit, and see if I accomplish this goal. I don't promise it'll be interesting, but I'm going to try.

Now head on over to Rachel's blog to check out the rest of the WWWAT participants.

*Giggle fit*

Merry Christmas y'all!!

Merry Christmas!!

So for those of you that know me, you know that I am currently obsessed with any and all things Twilight!! So let me present me and my Cullen boys:

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Go Elf Yourself!!

It's that time of year!!

Go check out the rest of these hilarious videos!! They will definitely make the start of your season bright!

California

Ok, ok so I only did one entry about my California trip!! I'm so sorry, but we were really busy and then when I got home it was back to life (a.k.a work)! However, I wanted you to know that I made a few videos on my trip, so you can see all the trips we made. To see these videos just go to my Youtube channel. Please check them out and rate/comment if you feel so moved! LOL I had lots of fun making the videos (and I discovered my computer has a nifty little movie making program, so I was able to add effects and transitions!! Yay me!! LOL), so enjoy!!

Also, I took tons of pictures, which you can still find on my Myspace page. Just click on my picture and then go to the California photo album!! I meant to post a bunch of them for WWWAT, but I got back late Tuesday night and Wednesday was insane, so alas, I did not get to post. :( Oh well, maybe next time. :D

Napa Valley, California

So, today (Friday) we headed out and went to wine country - Napa Valley, California!! The land here is much different then I remember/thought it would be. It's insanely flat around Modesto, being the valley, but as we drove towards Napa we encountered the hills, and saw the mountains in the distance.
Our first stop was Sweetie Pies, a cute little bakery/cafe in downtown Napa. They have an amazing selection of individual pies, cakes, tarts, and other homemade goodies that all look so amazingly good! Then we walked around downtown a bit. I took this picture of a cute church in downtown:

We'd planned to go see a geyser not too far from Napa, so we decided it was time to head that way. The geyser is called the Old Faithful Geyser of California. As the geyser erupts it makes beautiful rainbows!

Here we are in front! The sun was shining and, try as we might, we just could not escape the shadow on the face shots! LOL

They also run a "petting zoo" at the geyser sight, so we saw . . .

Fainting Goats, that sadly did not faint for us:

Four Horned Sheep:

And Llamas!!

Afterwards we decided to head back to Modesto, and that's when we saw the smoke. Yes, a wildfire had broken out in the 45 mins we were at the geyser. It was kind of sad, because it was near houses (beautiful houses), but being the tourist I took a few shots (yes morbid, I know). So here's the plume:

So as we left the sun was setting over the vineyards . . .

and the windmills . . .

And that was our day in Napa! Tomorrow we're off to Lake Tahoe. It's going to be cold, with possible snow in the morning! Needless to say I didn't exactly pack for this kind of weather, so layers are my friends! But they're having an Oktoberfest celebration in Tahoe City, so we'll be checking that out. I can't wait, and will take tons of pictures, so come back later to check them out!!

P.S. For more pictures of Napa, check out my MySpace page and the California picture album!

Greetings from . . .

CALIFORNIA!

Yes I am officially on vacation in the lovely state of California, visiting a friend for 6 days. I hope to have lots of things to tell you and lots of pictures to post. Nothing today, as I just arrive very late last night. However, I wanted to share my excitement with those that come upon my blog. :D So enjoy your week, and I'll keep you posted!!

WWWAT: Beginnings & Endings

I'm very proud of myself this episode of WWWAT. I actually knew, almost immediately what I would post. Fortunately my niece had her first birthday not too long ago, so I thought she'd make the perfect subject! Check out Crystal's Blog for more great stories about this cutie, and some great makeup tips & reviews too!!

Ok so, I can't take credit for this one, but you can't talk about beginnings without having a picture of her immediately after birth.

Here's the cake at the beginning of the celebration. Looks good, right?

Yeah, she thought so too!

Yum, yum! The end of that cake, and the beginning of her first sugar rush.

New clothes before opening the wonderful presents.

So this is the end of my post of her beginnings! For more great entries rush over to Rachel's Blog and check out Mr. Linky!

Another day older, another second wiser. . .

MySpace Graphics at GlitterBell.com
Birthday Comments

Yep, that's right today is THE day. I am officially 26, and starting that gumption thing I mentioned earlier. LOL It's not as easy as it sounds, but I'm determined to try and take it day by day. So, wish me luck, blow out a candle for me, and have a wonderful day, on me!!

I know I'm late. . .WWWAT!!

So, my "different view" is not different for me, but rather different for you. Yes you, all you bloglanders, who can't see what I see. Now you can!!

Reading

Blogging

Texting

(yes, I was typing nonsense)

The inner sanctum

a.k.a inside my purse

For more different views, head over to Rachel's Blog and check out the other, on time, entries. ;)

Another year, another plan.

Well, in exactly 6 days is my birthday. 26 - it's just a number, right? Honestly, I've never been overly obsessed/depressed with getting older, but this year it seems extra hard. I just want to stay 25, is that okay? It's not so much the number, I guess, but rather the personal expectations that I had placed on my life and these numbers. You know, the mental conversations you have at ages 18-20, "Oh by the time I'm 25 I'll have a fabulous job, I'll be traveling, I'll have a boyfriend/fiance/husband, blah blah blah blah. . ." Then reality hits at ages 23-25 and it sucks!! LOL

Now the mental conversation is, "OMG I'LL BE 30 IN FOUR YEARS!!!!" Which is not old, nor the end of the world (and we all know that 30 is the new 20), but you know that time flies, and if you want to achieve the goals in life that you wanted to achieve at 25 (which have now been pushed to 30) you'd better get rolling!! It's at this point in time that it's good to be reminded that God is in control of every little detail. It's His timing our life's clock is set to, not our own.

Slight topic change! LOL

I've been thinking a lot about gumption. If you've seen the movie, "The Holiday," you know that gumption is the main theme of this movie. I LOVE that movie. I saw it again recently and that whole idea of gumption really resonated with me. My favorite scene is when Iris is having dinner with Arthur and part of their conversation goes like this:

Arthur: "Iris, in the movies we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend."

Iris: "You're so right. You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for god's sake! Arthur, I've been going to a therapist for three years, and she's never explained things to me that well. That was brilliant. Brutal, but brilliant."

Then the other day I finished reading Gone With The Wind (longest read of my life, btw!) and as I read the "About the Author" section, they had a quote from and interview Margaret Mitchell had with her publisher. When the publisher asked her what the novel was about, she replied, "if the novel has a theme it is that of survival. What makes some people come through catastrophes and others, apparently just as able, strong and brave, go under? It happens in every upheaval. Some people survive; others don't. What qualities are in those who fight their way through triumphantly that are lacking in those that go under? I only know that survivors used to call that quality 'gumption.' So I wrote about people who had gumption and people who didn't."

So my goal for this 26th year of mine is to be the leading lady of my own life and to have more gumption. I think I've lacked some of that in my life, and it's time for some change. It's now or never, right? I don't really know what this will look like completely, but part of it is that I'm not going to be afraid to go for what I want. For the present that means applying for jobs that maybe I don't feel like I am capable of getting, but would love to get. If the job is meant to be, God will open the door. If it's not meant to be, then He'll close it, and I'll try the next one.

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Nothing too bad here! My life is pretty boring. . . LOL

Just something pretty.

So for those of you who don't know me as well as others, I am OBSESSED with So You Think You Can Dance during the summer. I think there is a hidden dancer inside of me that never had the opportunity to be released (long story. let's just say I had a sheltered childhood) and now I have to live vicariously through the dancers on SYTYCD. Last season was really amazing, and I am a HUGE fan now of the choreographer Mia Micheals. I think lyrical dance is my absolute favorite, and I just wish I could move like they do. So here's my favorite dance from last season featuring a song by Elisa called "Dancing."

The girl in the previous video, Lacey Schwimmer, was one of my favorite dancers. Well now Elisa is releasing a new U.S. album, and in honor of that her website has created a new video featuring Lacey. It's so pretty too, that I had to share, so enjoy!!

Hope your summer is full of beauty and art!!

WWWAT - Summertime

Summer is my favorite season and my favorite time of year. As a southerner summer always seems to bring lazier days, and life as I wish it could always be. My favorite part about southern summers are summer storms. Sadly I have no pictures of these glorious storms, but I do have a few other favorite things about summer, so they'll have to do.

Bright Colors!!

Fabulous sandals!!

Barefeet AND dips in the pool!!

Enjoy your summer and hop on over to Rachel's blog to check out the other entries!