Fave Vaca Spots

Happy Friday Blog Peeps!

Today's Fave Friday is about vacation spots, since I will be in one...TOMORROW! I can't wait to step through the baggage claim doors at the LAX airport and see palm trees, feel the ocean breeze and see my dad! California is the best place for Tim and I to have our family reside because it makes for a great vaca spot every year.

My fam is in LA and Tim's is in the OC. In fact, one of his aunt's and uncle's have a beach house in Laguna Beach that we will be enjoying for a few days. Not bad, eh?!

I will take tons of pixs, per usual...but here are a few from last year's trip:

Our view from the beach house (Laguna Beach):

Playing on the beach (Malibu):


The feeling of incomporable peace and relaxation (Laguna):


Other fave vaca spots include: Hawaii and Mexico (the Caribbean side). I am def a warm climate, beach vaca kind of girl.

How about you? Where are your fave vaca spots??

Back from the Dead

At least that's how it feels once you've recovered from the flu.

It came out of nowhere. Seriously. I didn't feel sick up until the very second I "got sick".

*Disclaimer: Please do not continue reading if you are one of those who can't handle any gross detail.

It was a normal Thursday and I was doing site visits with an associate.  The day was great until I started to feel warm around 3pm and asked to use the restroom. There I was, alone, in a random and dirty public restroom.  And all of a sudden, I got sick.  And it was major.

And what is the dealio about getting sick when you're alone. I hate it. It makes me feel so scared and sad.  Probably just me...what about you? (please say yes..haha)

Anyways...the only thing that I wanted to do at that moment was lay down, so in my moment of weakness, there I lay, on the cold, dirty floor of a public restroom in full contentment, because it made me feel so much better.  I know, gross, but sometimes you don't have options.

So, I finally get the "umph" to pick myself up off the floor.  I cleaned myself up, put on my sunglasses, left the restroom and whispered to my associate, "I'm sick, let's go, tell you in the parking lot".  Thankfully, my co-worker was very kind about the whole situation and drove me home, despite seeing me in my dress with water spots all over accompanied by a pale flushed face.

I put on my PJ's, got in bed and stayed put until what seemed like Saturday. Thankfully, this strand of the flu was short lived, but whoa did it zap every ounce of energy out of me.  I cancelled all of my plans for the weekend to be in bed and I wasn't slightly sad about it. My only regret is having to cancel on my Jax date night, but we'll get that rescheduled. ;)

So yeah, it's good to be back.

Heads up ya'll, there's definitely "something" going around...so make sure you wash your hands lots!

P.S. Totally random...I just read that Jonathan, "the weatherman", will be the next Bachelor. I am so disappointed. I wanted Chris to be the lucky man. Of course...now thinking about it, Jonathan might make some really awkward TV which always equals entertainment, so maybe it won't be that bad. Eh...we'll see.

Happy week to everyone!

The Art of Negotiation

If you work in any kind of business, like myself, and are responsible to adhere to a budget...negotiation can be key to success.

I am a strong believer in negotiating. And , for the most part, I actually enjoy it.

Fortunately for us, the current business person, we can communicate and yes negotiate over email. I honestly believe that negotiating in this way can really make someone feel more powerful and less likely to cave in moments of awkward discussion. I certainly feel powerful.

I've negotiated over email in my personal life, like with the purchase of my beloved MDX and with mostly all business life vendors. I have learned that people want my business and always leave room for some negotiation to take place. I have learned that there is nothing wrong with asking and have yet to find a vendor not be able to meet me at some compromise so that it becomes a win for them and a win for me.

Here are some important steps I do before entering a negotiation period:

1. Be prepared. Know everything that you are looking for and draft a formal list. Do not forget anything.
2. Investigate Comps. Make sure you are educated on what others in the business are charging for the exact same services.
3. Be precise. Communicate with precise descriptions and ask for detailed service estimate breakdowns.
4. Be polite. Always treat the vendor as you want to be treated, because the start of this relationship will spill over into the whole relationship. You want them to want to work with you.
5. Don't be afraid to ask. Once you have established your relationship and collected everything from their proposal, if the number is too high, don't be afraid to ask where negotiation can take place. There's always somewhere or something. Remember, they want your business and want to make this work for you.

Negotiating is an art and can be enjoyable. Your end result of a successful negotiation should lead to both parties feeling like they have both won.

That's my little tidbit for the day...inspired by successfully negotiating a deal of mine today. I feel empowered and I hope you will too!

Have a great Wednesday!

Fave Friday: Fall Faves

Today’s Fave Friday is all about our Fall favorites. Once a year, we are treated with lovely and tolerable weather in the Midwest that stimulates our senses for new menu items, wardrobe changes and recreational activities.

Growing up in the Southern California, where we did not experience the different seasons leaves me at a bit of disadvantage for the deep appreciation of this season, but after living here for a number of years, I do have some.

Probably my most favorite thing about Fall is the change in temperature which equals a necessary wardrobe change, of which my favorite is pairing skinny jeans with boots.


What are some of your Fall Faves??

The Breakfast Club

I'm working on a fun project right now. It's a "Breakfast Club" themed photo shoot workshop for photags. I'm in the middle of casting the models and then will start the styling process.  Umm...fun, right?!

I think so.

Come on...you know you love the song..."Don't you forget about me..."

Anyone have any chic ideas for the female characters wardrobe...lonely girl and preppy girl?

I'd love to hear your style input!

Getting Back to It

Seriously…why do I have a blog if I’m not writing?! Naughty, naughty! (I’m slapping my hand as I type).

I keep thinking I need to write about substance...yadda yadda yadda. Maybe sometimes I will and maybe times I won’t. ;) (Feeling sassy)

For now…how about a little weekend recap (following suit from my dear friend and blogtastic mentor…ze lovely Jax)

Saturday was pretty lazy, lay around the house and vegg out kind of day...don’t you love those? Few and far in between, but well deserved, if I say so myself. My fabulous hubs went to Kansas City for his brothers birthday weekend. They are headed to a KC Royals game this afternoon and the NFL opening Chiefs game this evening. Not bad, eh?!

Anyhow…this left me playing single mom for the weekend…and I just gotta say that I have major respect for single parents…MAJOR.

CJ and I did lots of fun things over the weekend, which included:

Letting him eat dinner in my bedroom:

Eating chocolate chip pancakes:

Playing at the mall:

Trying on sunglasses at the mall:

And seeing a cute kids movie:

BUT for some reason I maintained a constant sense of “panic” in my chest the whole time…lots of ”what ifs”. So weird too, because everything went perfectly and I can totally do it on my own…but I guess I’m just not used to it. At.All.

What is my dealio?!

Oh! And…I started watching Gossip Girl (via Netflix) this weekend and super excited to finally board that ship. I love it so far, but have lots of catching up to do before I can enter the GG convos.

Now…fast forward to present time and we’re all back to work. Happy Monday everyone…thanks for enduring a blog about nothing super cool…but a blog none-the-less.

XOXO!

Today is a Special Day

Tim and I met in college. He was “the cute guy” on campus, but he had a girlfriend so we actually were just good friend for my first semester. Once he became single…we started to get closer. With the foundation of a great friendship, we dated for 3.5 years and got married NINE years ago today on September 1st, 2001.


Today is a special day.

Yes, I got married as a baby. Haha! But seriously, I was sooo young. Yet, somehow by the grace of God, I married a truly incredible man and am one of those very lucky girls that has an amazing husband.

Over the past 9 years I have changed so drastically as a woman. I’ve learned who I am and what love and marriage really are. I’ve learned that love and marriage isn’t about feelings, but rather about a choice you make every day to love, serve and be faithful to your spouse. I’ve learned that life can and will throw you a lot of obstacles and if you can work together and cling to one another, you will be better for it. I’ve learned that focusing on your partner’s strengths is far more rewarding to your relationship than their weaknesses. I’ve learned that actively fighting to fade out other distractions in life is a powerful key to making things last.  I am so thankful for the past nine years and I pray and hope for at least 100 more to come!

Here is our invitation (a friend and I made these):

Me before the ceremony:

Lighting our unity candle during the ceremony:

Kissing during our church exit:

Post ceremony in the park photos:

I am so thankful to say that I love him today more than ever before.