One of my photos has been used on Schmap Orlando! It’s the first photo that comes up when you click on SeaWorld, it’s a photo of a sea lion that I took a couple of years ago.
Totally not a big deal, one doesn’t get paid for this sort of thing, but it’s fun to see my work out there like that.
Here’s a screencap:
I should have known I’d suck at keeping this blog up.
Because I don’t have enough to say about any one topic, another random list of thoughts…
- Jag’s starting his 2nd week of kinder and doing wonderfully. I’m so proud of him! He went in way ahead of the curriculum though, already writing all letters and numbers, and already reading. All the work he’s brought home has been tracing straight lines, coloring, and simple matching exercises. I’m worried he’ll grow bored and develop a negative attitude towards school. On the bright side (sorta) - I learned that the private academy he went to last year for 4-k (and that we chose not to enroll him in this year due to differences in beliefs) is on the same timeline as the charter school he’s enrolled in now. It makes me feel a little better knowing that no matter where he attended, he’d still be bored. I know that sounds stupid, but we really struggled with the decision to take him out of that school, mostly because of the impressions we had of a more advanced curriculum.
- Kat is transitioning from two naps to one. I remember going through this with Jag and it’s every bit as difficult with her as it was with him. She’s tired and fussy a good portion of the day, but at the same time she’s refusing to sleep. I need to come up with a plan for coping, both for her and me.
- I DVR’ed The Two Coreys last night. The 14 year old in me couldn’t resist. I’ve never been a big Corey Feldman fan, but oh my, I had some major teeny-bopper love for Corey Haim. Now, don’t ruin it for me - don’t tell me what happened (because I refuse to believe I’m the only 30-something looking to make this my new guilty pleasure). As soon as I get Kat to nap (which could still be hours from now) I’m going to watch it and I can’t wait.
- My coffee has gotten cold while typing this. ‘Tis alright, was my 3rd cup anyway and I really didn’t need it.
- We signed Jag up for his first little league sport - flag football (the american version). I’m only okay with it because it’s flag. Did you know they have tackle teams for 5-7 yr olds? Gack! Anyway, he’s super excited. And I’m excited too. I was a cheerleader at his age, so I kinda have an idea of what it means to be a football Mom. Sorta. His first practice is tonight. Hopefully I don’t freak all the other parents out with my big striped paparazzi lens.
- Someone just called under a number I don’t recognize and hung up after 2 rings, just as I picked it up. I hate that. I’m now tempted to do a reverse search on the number, I’m way nosey like that.
Jag’s in kindergarten, Kat’s napping, my house is mostly clean and the laundry is mostly caught up.
I’m kinda bored!
I’m feeling inspired to do something. But I don’t know what that something is. Makes no sense, I know. I’m confused as well.
Got a new issue of Jpg this afternoon, maybe I’ll go flip through it and see if it’s the photography bug biting.
I just made this for dinner tonight. Wow, so good! I read the reviews and took some of the ideas for changes. Firstly, I seasoned the chicken with some chicken grilling seasoning (I think it was Montreal Garlic Chicken, something like that) and grilled it. Side note: I love when I get to use the grill. :-) Secondly, I added a couple of squeezes of prepared yellow mustard to the dressing. And lastly, I omitted the water chestnuts and grapes, and instead added chopped Golden Delicious apple.
YUM. I taste tested it after mixing it all together. And then tasted another bite. And another. I had to make myself put it in the fridge or else I was afraid I’d eat it all!
Can’t wait for dinner tonight! Just need to decide what to serve with it.
That’s what a blog is for, right? Rambling on about random things that you don’t want to bore the people in your real life with? Er, well that’s what mine is for today. 
- We’ve been thinking of painting our kitchen cabinets white. It was my idea, and I thought it was a great idea, and then I decided it wasn’t. Later, when I mentioned the idea to hubby, he thought it was a great one and thinks we should do it. So now I’m leaning more towards doing it again. We got the standard oak cabinets when we built this house, they’re nothing fancy and certainly not the very best quality. I’m regretting this decision now for 2 reasons: because the wood grain on the panels looks cheap and that drives me crazy, and because our kitchen is in a location that doesn’t get a lot of natural light so even with the addition of under-cabinet lighting last year, it still feels a bit cave-like. I’m thinking white will cover the ugly grain and will bounce a little more light around the room, making it brighter. Also? We can paint up some pretty crown moulding trim for the tops of the cabinets and make them look a little less builder-stock and a more like a custom build. Well, that’s my hope anyway.
- If we paint the cabinets white, it should mostly go with the current color scheme (green, red and yellow), however the light, natural shade of finish on the kitchen table has to go. Hell, that has to go anyway. I’m so not a light, natural finish kinda girl. I’m all about paint or deep rich wood tones. Soooo… I’m thinking the table needs to be white to match the cabinets. And I think it would be fun to paint the chairs a darker shade of the green we have on the walls. Although I could also do yellow or red. Or even black (our appliances and countertops are black). Maybe I’ll do a chair in each color, that would solve that problem!
- We’re doing away with our dining room. We never use it. I hate the furniture (inherited from my Dad, it’s very nice but not at all my style). We desperately need a study/office (whatever you want to call it, I’m going to call it a study from here on out because it sounds good, LOL). So, I’m going to sell the dining room furniture and use the money to fund my dining-room-to-study renovation. Glass double doors, built-ins, desk, the whole nine yards. Last year we put up a chair rail and painted two shades of yellow on the walls, I’m going to keep all of that because I love it, and I think I’ll accent in a dark indigo blue. White built-ins w/ black accents, and I’m thinking black furniture (filing cabinet, accent chair, etc). I’m super excited about this project because it will mostly be my space and I’m making it all about my photography work (both displaying my work, and also a place suited for processing my work).
- Hubby and Jag are going away for the weekend to help our friends with their fence again. Two girls’ weekends in a row! I’m kind of excited for the quiet time, but I get super lonely when they’re gone. Kitty and I might need to do some shopping to pass the time!
- Confession: I love the free gift sets from Ulta. Everytime they have one of those deals where you purchase $17 or so of Ulta brand stuff and they send you a free makeup bag full of goodies? I so totally do it. Last time I got a ton of stuff - nail polishes, lipstick, lip gloss, lip plumper, eye shadow, bronzer, a few brushes, eye liner, a cute little purse mirror… see, I guess I’m kinda cheap because while I do like having lots of makeup, I don’t like having to actually pay for it. Especially when I wear it so rarely, it seems like a waste paying full price for full size. This works out perfectly for me. Anyway, what I’m getting at here is that Ulta has one of these free sets coming up on the 15th. I have the ad on my desk in front of me; bright and early Sunday morning, I’m putting in an order and gettin’ my free stuff!
- I want new camera gear. I don’t *need* new camera gear, what I have is really nice stuff and it fits my needs. But I’m jonesing for something new anyway. I have a short list: the Canon 10-22, a battery grip and a new Crumpler bag. Too bad that short list comes with a tall price tag!
- Have I reached the max on random thoughts yet? If you’re still reading this, I’m impressed.
- What in the world is a girl to eat when she’s home alone for a weekend? Last week it was beef & broccoli stir-fry, egg rolls, coconut cake and a 6 pack of Newcastle. Maybe I should do the same again.
- Jag starts school in 10 days. School! As in full day kindergarten. Gone all day. Starting his school career, the one that will take him into adulthood. How did this happen? I thought 3 half days a week of pre-k last year would prepare me for this, but it hasn’t. I can’t let myself dwell on it because it only makes me weepy. My baby boy is growing up way too fast.
- And speaking of school, I have to admit, it *is* fun doing the school shopping. He’ll wear a uniform, so we bought uniform shorts, polos and zippered hoodies. He picked out a backpack. On Wednesday, after his orientation, we’ll take our supply list and hit Target for fresh pads of paper, pencils, crayons and glue. I hope he enjoys it as much as I did as a little girl!
- AND on another bright note re: Jag going to school - Kitty and I will get a lot of really great one-on-one time. I have to say, although their age gap was not planned (we were originally aiming for closer), it has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Just when she’s getting to the age where she really needs some individual attention from mama, she’ll be able to have it. I’m excited for that, and I look forward to getting to know her as she grows up and develops her personality this year!
That’s all I’ve got for now. I feel better. 
That’s what time the ice cream man drove his truck through our neighborhood yesterday. 8pm. Jag’s been watching for him for over a week, with his chair pushed up to the front dining room window, sometimes as early as 9am, anxious to get his little hands around a cherry sno-cone. I know it’s summer, so it’s daylight for longer and the kids are out a little later, but geesh, I was tucking Jag into bed at 8pm!
He doesn’t know he missed the ice cream truck, I didn’t tell him. I’m trying to decide if I’ll step outside and say something to the ice cream man next time I see him come through so late… I wonder if he’ll change his schedule for a sad little 5 year old boy with a healthy appetite for syrupy shaved ice?
I’m painfully reminded this morning that I’m not, in fact, still in my early twenties and that we should not stay up half the night drinking beer with the neighbors anymore.
Extra strong coffee, please.
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