Let's get perky!

Ok, so my Debbie Downer moments are D-O-N-E. I am contemplating taking a new direction in my life. For a long time, I have always known that my career as a RDH would not always be my career. I just don't see myself doing it forever. Never really have. Unfortunately, that also means I am stuck, bc there's else I can go to school for around here, without uprooting the fam, where I'd make as much, or more, money. So I've been thinking of other avenues to explore for my future.
Where's my head at now? Photography. Why? Bc it's cool, and I love seeing other people's professional images. And bc I was in a wedding this past weekend, where the photographers had none of their own creative ideas, and I chimed in for a few of them. (Hopefully, they come out good! Haven't seen 'em yet!) Other bridesmaids had ideas as well.

Anyway, I think it's something I could learn. And the initial investment seems it could be pretty low. Just camera & equipment. I could practice on my own kids, family, friends & their families...Just something fun I can do for awhile until I really start to learn some things & eventually take it futher...What do ya'll think?
So the first thing I need, is a good camera. I currently have a $200 point & shoot Olympus, that serves it's purpose, but clearly is a college camera & doesn't take professional quality photographs. Anyone have any recommendations for a good, beginner camera, preferably around $500, give or take???

With that, I'll leave you all with one of the most iconic images of the 1900's, btw, the nurse in this picture passed away this past week.

What a week...

Well loyal followers, I have much sad news to report.

I have blogged before about my somewhat turbulent relationship with my kitty, KitKat. Things had been pretty good with KitKat lately, he's been playing outside a lot, we've been giving him more attention...he's just been a happy cat lately. Unfortunately, KitKat was hit by a car Tuesday, in front of our house. I was not home, with friends planning a bridal shower, but my hubs heard a loud thunk, he thought it was thunder & looked outside. I'll spare you the details, but KitKat is no longer with us, and it makes me sad to say that he suffered; he did not die right away, and I so wish he would have. It's so weird not having him here. We told our son, and he took it well, just asked a lot of questions, and is occasionally saying that he misses him & he dreamed about him last night. I was downstairs doing laundry yesterday, and I turned around to go fill up his food bowl. And it was still full. I think I see him out of the corner of my eye sometimes. I open the back door, and expect him to run out...it will take some getting used to. Someday maybe we will get a new cat, but I worry that I'd never find one that put up with my kids! Austin would hit, kick, pull, punch, and KitKat would just sit there & take it. I can't believe he never bit him or anything, bc he probably should have. lol So RIP KitKat, we will miss you & never forget you!
The next morning, Brynn woke up at 5am and screamed her face off until 7:30. I was so tired, and upset that I've done everything I can for her, and still here we are...I cried with her for awhile.
And then shortly after she settled down, my boss called and my hours at 1 job were drastically reduced (initially it was "laid off" but I think I can get 1 day a week in) for the next 3 weeks or so, while we wait on another doctor to join our practice. I am not the only one this happened to, and honestly, from what I've heard I got a pretty good deal, bc at least I know I will get my hours back soon. I freaked out at first, and cried some more, but I actually thought about it, and I really don't have a reason to worry. I'll be saving a ton on daycare, which will help get us through. So I'm okay with that.

When it rains, it pours, I guess. Or around here, it makes tornados. lol We've had like 3 or 4 tornados these past few weeks. Crazy. Enjoy your weekends everyone! Gotta go!

Kim, you're as good as dead to me.

All I have to say, is I've REALLY REALLY REALLY been trying to see the bright side of the past 3 months of horrific Shoedazzle selections. Really. I just know in my heart that someday, Kim will see the light and send me some good shoes. The first 2 months, it was HARD to make a decision. Now, there's like no decision involved, I know I'm going to hit that little skip button & pray for better.
And this is the shit she sends me:Okay so this is not too bad, but I'm pretty sure I can find it hanging by the purses at JCPenney's for $12.99. So no.
And these are the ones of which we do not even speak:(I'm not even sure what this one is actually. But I'm pretty sure it involved killing nultiple animals.)
(Why yes, I visit the indian reservations quite frequently! Where's my turquoise owl necklace at???)

(This looks like the snake died trying to suffocate my ankle. And is therefore creepy. Sorry for all the parentheses, not really sure why I keep putting them...)

(Could've been a winner-IF IT WAS AVAILABLE IN MY SIZE!!! WHAT THE EFF KIM!!!)

Okay really now, I'm effing pissed. EFFING PISSED. Who would actually be caught dead in this crap? And now that my blood is starting to boil, I probably really would've bought that last pair. Why the hell would I get options that aren't available? That doesn't even make sense. I know I've done some ShoeFab bashing, but you know what?? If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I may just join 'em, bc obviously Kim is failing me miserably. I can't imagine that anyone could possibly have gotten uglier choices then I this month. If you did, I feel terribly sorry for you, but please link me up to your choices bc MINE SUCKED. THE END.

I'm irritated. Like a diaper rash.

There are so many little things bothering me, I don't know where to begin. When I feel like I need to vent, or talk about things, I typically do so to a friend. Sometimes I feel like I have diarrhea of the mouth. I feel like sometimes I give a little too much information, about things such as my finances, the usual source of irritation, or somehow related; but I really can't explain my frustration without those details. Sigh.

So what am I so irritated about? Finances. Work. The usual. The go hand in hand. See, most people that work are like OMG, I am so glad I have a day off! I'm like why the eff am I off? I need to work. And you know, I really don't get too stressed about money anymore- my needs are met, at one point in time (before kids & hubs) my needs were NOT being met, and I was very reliant on my dad for awhile. I stressed myself sick. I lost a ton of weight, was told I was too skinny a few times (maybe not such a bad idea, ay??) and I just cried a lot. Life was not how I pictured it. The grass is always greener, right? But NOW, I went to college, have great family, Hubs & I DO have really good jobs, but I feel like we're ALWAYS either reaching so hard to keep it altogether, or we are thisclose to any idea of financial freedom, and then shit happens and we're back to square one. We've worked so hard to get to where we are, and my GOD we have come a long, long, loooooooonnnngggggggg LONG way. Our bills are always paid on time (except when Hubs forgets bc he does that sometimes....grrrrrrr) but we haven't gotten to where our WANTS are bring met.

Ok, so I've made 2 shoedazzle purchases this year. Whoop-de-doo. I've bought 2 new shirts this year. Exciting. Still haven't gotten new jeans. Still wearing the ones I wore before pregnancy. And wore them through my entire pregnancy too, so they're pretty flattering at this point. Did I mention I've gained 20lbs, so nothing even fits me? I'm a hot mess. And I would like to say, that I do not mean to complain; I am so thankful everyday for what we CAN do. Is it selfish of me to want more? We deserve it. We deserve buying some things here & there. We deserve that family vacation. We deserve to go to the movies if we want to, go out to eat if we want to, take the kids to the zoo without planning it for 2-3 months. Know what I mean? It's just frustrating sometimes.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Now, more importantly, Hubs has to go on a bachelor party tomorrow. Which means he will be useless to me all weekend. Awesome.