Wrap me up in a bow :)

I'm not sure what caused it. Maybe it was the cute little pair of silver bow stud earrings I found the other day at Rue 21. Maybe it's my love for all things feminine and simple. Maybe it's the fact that the first girl in 14 years was born into my family recently. Whatever the reason, I have a newfound obsession with bows. My mother and I were shopping in Louisville earlier in the week and bows were everywhere! Sweaters, screenprinted tshirts, bow headbands. I was in heaven. It even inspired me to make my own "wish list" on etsy.com today. I hope you enjoy these bow-utiful selections as much as I do :)

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cf8000e99648eefe4d9f312/bow-utiful?index=0

Living with purpose

I've been feeling very.....unsettled lately. I read books about finding your purpose in life, finding that one thing that lights you up and brings you alive. I heard a quote the other day--"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive." I love the quote, but with all due respect to the author, it's just not that easy. I know what makes me come alive: youth in agriculture, the FFA, painting, event planning. Yet getting a job in any of these have, what seems like, unsurmountable obstacles that I haven't been able to get past. Ag job after ag job comes open and I apply. And I'm always given the "You're great, but we went with someone better" speech. Okay, maybe not that harsh, but it always feels that way whenever you're on the receiving end of that message. I try to convey in my interviews that I have passion, drive, energy--everything I think a successful employee needs. But it seems that the job always goes to someone older, more experienced, with more connections. And I am left, yet again, to wonder how I'm supposed to get a job in the field I majored in. Did I make a mistake in my beginning college advising session? I feel like my major should have come with a warning label: "You're going to graduate college and feel invinceable, but this won't last. You'll be 2 years out of graduation, still looking for that mythical "perfect" job." Don't get me wrong, I'm not naive. I knew that I wasn't going to find "the job" as soon as I graduated college, but I thought I would at least get an entry level agriculture job and eventually be able to move my way up the ladder. But with every interview I have, the more discouraged I become. I wonder if I should give up on the agriculture idea all together, or at least until the economy picks up a little. So I go to my second passion: painting and creativity. As most of you know, I have a job on the side where I paint a variety of different things. When I've had a discouraging day, I think, "Is this something I could be doing as a career??" Then the reality hits: what if I fail? what if I don't make enough money? how would I get good health insurance? what about benefits that I would get from a normal 9-5 job? I say that I'd like a job that I feel passionate about, despite what the paycheck is, but the reality is a little different. Dreams and passion don't necessarily pay the bills. And how would I promote my business to be successful enough to make up for the paycheck that I would normally be getting? I can't afford to open a shop as of right now, as much as I'd love to do something like that. I have my "daydreaming days" where I think about opening my own craft store and offer event planning services. I think about days filled with handpainted signs and planning Disney-themed birthday parties and elegant weddings. I guess instead of focusing on the things I don't have, I need to find the good in the situation that I'm in. Maybe God is keeping me in my current job to teach me something....as hard as that lesson may be to understand. Rick Warren wrote in his book "The Purpose Drive Life" that "If you're alive, there's a purpose to your life." While I don't think my current situation is my purpose in life, I do think that there's a purpose to why I'm there. And maybe I'm not meant to know that purpose. Maybe I'm supposed to suck it up until God puts something better in front of me. So I guess my daydreams will have to do for now. At least until I figure a way to find the things that make me come alive into a full time job.

Labyrinth 2 on Table Connect for iPhone

We are currently testing Table Connect for iPhone with various games and are testing how far we can go :-)

Warning: Try only if you're fit, sore muscles guaranteed! (Still hurts ...)

Labyrinth 2 by Illusion Labs is great fun and available on the App Store!

Table Connect for iPhone - video demo launch!

Yesterday we had a short visit from a friend and he was lucky enough to be the first outsider to test our alpha firmware on the Table Connect for iPhone.

Check it out!

F.A.Q.

Due to the massive response and interest we decided to quickly set up a little FAQ section that may answer the most asked questions. Please be patient with us since we don't have any press inquiry manager or whatsoever. You can reach it via the site menu. Thanks for your patience!

I have a super mommy.

Campaigning has taken over my life. Everything in my life, besides getting my father elected, has taken a back seat...and I'm sure it's been much to my husband's dismay. No more homemade dinners ready when he gets off work, no more spotless house, no more freshly laundered towels and work clothes. My business has picked up in orders, due to the Christmas season fast approaching, and I can't find the time to sit down and write my name, much less paint a sign for someone. McDonald's drive-thru has become my new dinnertime hotspot. I do a weekly clean-out of my car and find an array of items ranging from clothing to shoes to water bottles to bumper stickers. As limited as my free time is and as stressed as I feel about this entire election, I realize that my stress and exhaustion level absolutely pale in comparision to that of my mother's. I always admired my mom and her ability to multi-task and get many things done while being a community volunteer and a parent to three girls. But through this election, I've discovered that my mother is secretly Superwoman. She has basically become dad's campaign manager. She keeps up with his day-to-day activities, always knowing where he needs to be and what the required dress code is for the event. She has turned her home into campaign central, painstakingly organizing each voting precinct and ensuring that we know which doors we will be hitting each day. She is always aware of how many brochures, door hangers, bumper stickers and yard signs are in stock and who wants one of each. During this campaign, she celebrated both her birthday and her wedding anniversary by walking door to door and telling people about my dad. All without a complaint. My entire family has spent the last year talking about my dad--what an amazing person he is, what kind of senator he'll be, why people should elect him--all while my mom has stood in the back and supported him. Politics aren't her thing. She wouldn't be the first one to talk about a political race or say that she enjoyed a political debate. And despite that fact, she's been by dad's side from day one. So here's to you, mom. Thank you for showing everyone (not just me) what a loving, supportive wife looks like. So vote Dennis Parrett for State Senator, not only because he's a great guy, but because his wife is an amazing person too. :)

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... and stay up-to-date with our final tests before we release the prototype presentation!
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State of the art technology made simple to use

Please click on the images to see an enlarged view of the illustrations. 

Via the Table Connect App you can gain complete control over your iPhone using the multitouch table ... big time!

All your apps and data can now be accessed via the 58" capacitive multitouch surface.

The iPhone needs to be jailbroken to work with Table Connect. Don't worry, a jailbreak is perfectly legal, but you always modify your iPhone's content at your own risk.

• opens a wide range of possibilities of multi-person controlled apps

• compatible with iOS4 / iPhone 4 & iPhone 3Gs*

• reduced design that goes perfectly with your iPhone

*We apologize that the original iPhone ("2G") & the iPhone 3G are not working with Table Connect due to slow processing power.

First mock-ups of the final table!

While others show off only concept renderings, we are about to put the final touches on the "iPhone Table" prototype.

Table Connect for iPhone is what you have been waiting for, multitouch on steroids!

For now, we start with mock-ups as well. Currently, we are finishing up the work on the alpha release software for the table. 

NOTE: THIS IMAGE IS A MOCK-UP

NOTE: THIS IMAGE IS A MOCK-UP

The iPhone is attached via the standard dock connector – immediately after it is attached, the magic starts to happen. The entire content of the iPhone’s screen will be projected onto the multitouch table, still giving full access to all the touch gestures using multitouch technology.

Check back often in the coming days as we will post demos and news on the final development of Table Connect for iPhone. 

Life inspired by Audrey: Dennis Parrett....he really is the person for this job.

Life inspired by Audrey: Dennis Parrett....he really is the person for this job.

Dennis Parrett....he really is the person for this job.

Last night, I had my first experience with really campaigning for my dad. Sure, I'd been in parades and rode on the "Dennis Parrett for State Senator" float and passed out flyers, but I hadn't had a conversation face-to-face with someone about why they should elect my dad to be their next Senator. That all changed last night. My mother calls me up and informs me that my name is on the list of volunteers to go walking door-to-door in a local community. It was the moment I dreaded. I don't mind doing the fundraisers, asking people if they want a yard sign, posting on facebook about all of my dad's activities and exclaiming "Elect Dennis Parrett!" but this was real-life, I'm going to be knocking on people's doors and they might not be happy about it. Not my idea of a fun night. Nevertheless, I tell my mom that I would be happy to walk (I'm secretly trying to win the "Most Helpful Daughter During the Campaign" award). As time gets closer for us to depart on our excursion, my nervousness and fear begins mounting. Every worst case scenerio plays through my head. What if someone slams the door in my face? What if I get blessed out by some politic-hating person that doesn't want to be bothered during their dinnertime? What if I am greeted by a large dog that attacks me? Or worse, what if I'm greeted by someone with a weapon that's totally annoyed that I'm on their property??? Not only that, but what if someone puts me on the spot? What if they ask me a question I can't answer, or they want to know why they should elect my dad (and I don't think "Because he's a good daddy" counts as a valid answer). I could feel a stomach ulcer growing as big as my list of worries. But dad assured me that I would be fine. So dad and I, along with my littlest sister and my aunt, make our way to the city of Radcliff. Arriving at our first street, I'm so nervous, I feel the need to be sick. We get out our map and begin to ring doorbells. I begin by sticking close to dad's side, lingering on the sidewalk while he talks to the homeowners. That is, until dad notices. He encourages me to go up to the next house while he's talking. Reluctantly, I go. I ring a few doorbells, I pass out a few flyers, I give the "I'm campaigning for Dennis Parrett and here's why he should be your Senator" spiel, all the while dreading the moment that I deal with one of my above mentioned fears. Although not out-loud, I'm grumbling in my head about signing up to do this. Only crazy people volunteer to walk up to a complete stranger's house and knock on their door! I begin to look for my quickest escape route. Until I look at my dad. He's LOVING this. He's trotting from one house to another, talking with everyone that will come to the door, flashing us the thumbs-up sign and moving on down the street. He's really excited about this. Here I am, worrying about a dog or a rude reaction, when dad's just thankful to be there. With every person he gets to talk to and every semi-interested person that will listen to him, he gets even more excited. His excitement is contagious. So what if someone has a few choice words for me? It's not like it would be the first time. So what if someone ignores me? I slip a information card onto their doorknob and move on to the next house. Dad loves this. This is why he's running in the first place. To meet the people of this area and have the opportunity to represent and help them. He loves getting to talk with these people and find out what's really bothering them. With every thumbs up and smile he gives me during our walking, I realize, THIS is why my dad should be the next State Senator.

Save Money, Live Better, I'm Trying!!

Maybe I'm being over-ambitious. Maybe I'm taking on too many resolutions at once. I've vowed to myself to slim down and get back to my pre-wedding weight. And, starting today, I'm adding another item to my to-do list. Save money. Marty and I have been taking a 13 week Dave Ramsey finance class to learn how to live on a budget, pay bills and build wealth. We're 6 weeks in and I've already learned valuable tips about how to live within our means and not overspend. If anyone is having trouble making ends meet or living paycheck to paycheck or just want to learn how to live more comfortably, I HIGHLY recommend the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University workshop. Absolutely worth the money. So here's my promise: I'm going to stick to the budget we are going to make for ourselves. I am going to cut out all fast food meals, drinks at the gas station and completely unnecessary purchases that I make everyday. Instead of going out to eat a couple of lunches a week, I'm hitting the grocery and stocking up on my favorite things to take for lunch. Instead of getting a Dr. Pepper from McDonald's on occassion, I'm going to buy cans and have them by my side. Yes, it's only a dollar here or a couple of bucks there, but those add up. I wish I had back all the money I've spent on meals out or impulse purchases. Things that I didn't need, but bought anyway. There's so many things that I want to do, but don't have the funds available to do them. So here's to building our wealth. Here's to raising enough money to someday be able to finish landscaping around our house. Here's to saving enough money to live comfortably and taking the chance of finding a job that I enjoy, no matter what the paycheck is, instead of working everyday to be able to pay bills. I encourage everyone to join in this pledge with me. Until you sit down and figure out exactly where your money goes, you're clueless as to how much you're really spending. Starting today, I'm saving money. Frugal doesn't sound like such a bad word after all....

Scaredy cat in love with hats.

I. Love. Hats. I do the same thing every year. I walk into stores when the fall clothes make their debut on the racks and I immediately check out the selection of winter hats. During a recent trip to Target, I drooled over at least 6 hats that I would love to have. But I have a problem: I'm scared. I want to be fashion forward and wear some trend setting things, but I don't want to go so far out there that people think I'm weird. And trouble is, I don't see a whole lot of people wearing hats around Etown. I don't want to be the only nerd sporting a fedora or a winter cloche. The fashion adventurous side of me says "Who cares?! If you think it's cute, then go for it!" But the more dominant, people pleasing side of me just wants to fit in. How nice it must be to just not care at all what people think. To be able to do whatever you want without fear of people thinking you're different or a nerd. Sigh. So I guess pictures of my lovely hats will have to do instead. Maybe I'll gain some courage one day and go buy myself one.......

Four letter dirty word: d-i-e-t.

This morning, I was going through my daily routine. Shower, primp, dress...when I noticed my reflection in the mirror. Where did that extra little bit of fat come from? I've heard that after the first year of marriage, the average bride gains approximately 20 pounds. I vowed that I would not be one of those brides. I would be the same size that I was on our wedding day (at least until babies came along). And for awhile, I was. Slowly, I noticed a change. My college sized jeans were a little tighter. My work pants weren't as comfortable as they used to be. I refused to acknowledge this change. I continued to make myself wear the tiny-bit too small pair of pants because accepting it meant buying a bigger size. And that was NOT going to happen. For those of you that know me, I'm a faithful viewer of What Not to Wear. I LOVE Stacy and Clinton. Stacy, with her flippant attitude and her know-it-all fashion sense, is constantly lecturing women that are insisting on squeezing into their too small clothing. "It's not the number on the tag that counts, it's how you look in the clothing." I would scoff at the WNTW contestants and wonder why they couldn't accept going from a 8 to a 10 if it meant looking better and not wearing skin-tight clothing. Until I was that person looking at changing clothing sizes. It wasn't just a change from a 4 to a 6, it was accepting that I'm gaining weight. And before all of you freak out on me, I know I'm not fat. I have a small frame, but I have gained a few extra pounds that don't need to be there. And the result is a lower self-esteem version of me. I look at my wedding dress and wonder if I could even get it zipped. So here's my personal challenge. Lose 5 pounds. My stomach doctor has put me on a gluten free diet (which translates to no breads, no pizza dough, no pasta, nothing made with wheat) so I'm going to faithfully stick to it. I'm also going to go walking. Now that summer is coming to an end and it's not unbearably hot outside, I'm going to take a stroll. Heck, I might even start jogging (although I don't think my asthma will tolerate much of that...). Not only will it help me get into better shape, but it'll be relaxing. Starting today, I'm on a slim down a little and feel better about myself kind of diet. If Audrey Hepburn can make a vow that she'll never weigh over 103 pounds, why can't I make a similar pact?

Best. Day. Ever.

It's almost my favorite day of the year!! Nope, my birthday isn't until February....Christmas, you say? Not quite....Valentine's Day? Please! It's almost Cecilia Days! I know, I can hear you laughing now, but it's one of those days that I look forward to all year long. I haven't been able to attend the last few years (one of those side effects of having a big girl job). I missed not getting to see the parade where I know 90% of the participants. I wasn't going to get to see my uncle ride his restored Allis-Chalmers tractor that was dedicated in memory of my Pepaw. I missed the barbeque sandwiches and the chicken dinner. I missed getting to work the Hardin County Dairy Assocation's ice cream booth with my Meemaw, mom, sisters and aunts. I missed getting to browse through the 20 or so booths filled with tshirts, purses, crafts and food. I missed, more than anything, getting to laugh at the "Almost" Talent Show (one of those things that I couldn't explain if I tried....you just have to see it). But this year, gosh darn it, I was going to take a day off from my big girl job and attend my favorite day. After all, this year, my Meemaw is the reigning Mayor of Cecilia! (a title that comes with virtually no powers except the priviledges of plugging in the town Christmas tree and leading the Cecilia Days parade). This year, my entire family is coming to ride on the Dennis Parrett for State Senator float (a tobacco wagon with hay bales :)) But the biggest change from my regular Cecilia Days festivities......this year, I'm setting up a booth that will have my Rustic Elegance crafts for sale. I have developed approximately 6 stomach ulcers, lost countless hours of sleep and fretted myself into a state of anxiety over this booth, but I'm super excited about it. I can't wait to decorate my tents with a touch of "rustic elegance." I can't wait to get my products out there and be able to really determine whether or not people like or want to buy my stuff. You can find me, along with all the other booths, at Cecilia Days this weekend (Friday night-all day Saturday). Come out, enjoy some laughs, crafts and a chicken dinner. You'll be a Cecilia Days fan for life :)

The longest 3 months of my life.

I am pleased to announce that my three month self inflicted shopping ban has FINALLY ended!!!!!!!! Three months of walking into stores, getting only what I needed and walking right out. Three months of being tempted by the change of season clothing like sundresses, shorts, tank tops and sandals. I can't say that I was a good girl the entire time. I came close to cheating SEVERAL times. Once, I was shopping with my sisters and mom (I do not recommend this if you're on a shopping ban. It's no fun to watch other people buy clothes). I found this fabulous navy blue and white peasant top that I could just picture with a white pair of shorts or a pair of jeans and a cute pair of flats. It had been a horrible week and the darn shirt was on clearance for an amazing $11. Against my better judgement, I picked the shirt up and carried it to the dressing room. Against my better judgement, I tried the shirt on. Just my luck, it looked fabulous. I walked around the store, shirt in hand and internal debate going on in my head. "You don't really need the shirt." "But it's so pretty!" "You're on a shopping ban." "It's so cheap!!" "You'll feel guilty after you buy it..." The argument continued as I walked up to the cash register. I could just feel the judgement being passed by my sister and mom. My rational side prevailed and I reluctantly walked back to the clearance rack and returned the shirt...a cute bargain for someone to find other than me. Temptation number two came in the form of a white linen dress at TJMaxx. Again, I ran into the clearance monster. It was adorable. It was perfect for summer. I could just picture wearing it to some of dad's campaign activities. I had a pair of bronze heels that would look AMAZING with this dress. Again, I made a trip to the dressing room (obviously, I'm a glutton for punishment). Twenty minutes of wandering around the store, I finally put the dress back and sulked out of the store. There are a million of little temptation stories I could share...a cute pair of shoes here, a jacket there....but the end of the story is, I resisted! I celebrated on Sunday by walking around Fayette Mall to BUY THINGS! Not just walk around and admire and feel jealous, but actually buy myself something. I ended up with two Anne Taylor shirts (both under $15, score!), a pair of flats and a pair of sandals. And I felt redeemed. I proved to myself that I could go three months without buying something for myself. I proved to other people that I was not materialistic and didn't have to buy a new article of clothing every time I made a trip to town. I can now go in a store and not feel the temptation to buy something every time. I can ignore the red clearance signs and just pick one thing. These past three months have been good for me. Unfortunately, I don't have a higher bank account balance due to my recent stomach issues, but my personal sense of accomplishment more than made up for it. So watch out malls! I'm free to shop again!!!

One room down, five more to go...

I am happy to announce that Phase One of declutter and organize my house is complete! The first task on my quest to organizational perfection was to attack (I mean that literally) our shared office/my art room. After browsing online and finding picture after picture of one perfectly organized office and craft room after another, I set it in my mind that I could do the same. I could make our office organized, pretty to look at and functional at the same time. When I set out to tackle this room, I never realized the amount of STUFF Marty and I had gathered over a year of marriage. Rolls of wrapping paper, acrylic paint bottles, a mountainous pile of Bluegrass Cellular pens and an endless supply of paper was the clutter that was taking over my life. There HAS to be a way to keep all the junk you need (and I was surprised how much of it we do need and couldn't just simply be thrown away) but keep it organized. With this in mind, my journey began. Target became my best friend. I picked up black media boxes, magazine holders and hanging file organizers for $3 apiece. I found a scrapbook storage box on sale for $2 thanks to a little nick in the side. Anything that looked halfway fashionable but could also double as storage and was cheap, I picked it up. I went through piles of old paperwork, magazines, newspaper clippings...wondering when I picked up the label of "packrat." Now that our stuff was organized, it was time to *gulp* paint. When we were in the process of buying our house, the builders had already painted most of the rooms when we entered the scene. They asked if I was okay with the color, and being the people-pleaser, conflict-avoider I am, I said it was just fine. And it is. It's a beautiful neutral shade of yellowish-tan that goes with almost everything in our house. Problem is, it's ALL over the house. When we started to move things out of the office, I saw the opportunity for color. A trip to Lowe's was planned. I practically skipped to the paint section, imagining all the possibilities. I drooled over Coral Passion, I fell in love with Tantalizing Teal and fantasized about Limolicious. When the time came to make a color purchase, I realized one very important thing: I am scared of color. Sure, Coral Passion looks beautiful on a 2"x4" card, but how's it going to look covering 4 walls of my room? What if I hate it?? How do I know what color is going to look good and make the room appear bigger than what it really is? Reluctantly, I left the paint section uncommitted to any certain shade and more confused than ever before. I showed my favorite paint samples and took a poll of several people and realized that I just needed to go for it...or in the words of my sister "Go big or go home." Yes, I may hate the color, but repainting the walls is an option (not one I would look forward to, but still an option). And if I don't take a risk, how will I ever know if it would have paid off? To Lowe's I returned. Two coats of Laguna Green later, I'm ecstatic. The black and white furniture looks AMAZING against the turquoise-y color and I couldn't be happier. Phase One is complete. :)

De-clutter....or else!

Ask anyone. At work, I am one of those insanely, super, sickeningly organized people. There is not a stray paperclip, loan document or manilla folder to be found. Everything is labeled, alphabetized and filed neatly away. I take pride in leaving my desk completely spot free at the end of everyday. If I need a paper, I know exactly where to find it at a moment's notice. Clutter sends me into a mini-panic and I quickly find a place for things that are set on my desk. I confess that I am semi-OCD when it comes to my workspace. I was never like this before. In college, I was too busy with extra-curricular activities, a part time job and college in general, that I really didn't care what my room looked like. Knick-knacks, papers, college books and dirty clothes were the story of my life. Now that I feel like an adult instead of a sloppy college student, I have shed my unorganized ways and my office is a true testament to the super organized person I strive to be. A few days ago, I had a customer walk into my office and promptly announce "Now THIS is what I want my office to look like." I beamed with pride. But then it made me think....what if she saw my house?? Would should wish she had the organization that I display in my home, or lack thereof? I spend 8 hours a day being OCD at work that by the time I make it home, I don't have the energy to be super organized there as well. When the customer complimented my uber-organization at work, I realized that I should be this organized at home too. I feel good when I'm at work, knowing that everything has a place. Shouldn't I feel just as good at home? So, I'm embarking on a major organizational overhaul. Focusing on one room at a time, I am going to make my way through my home, figuring out what works, what doesn't and most importantly, THROWING THINGS AWAY. Is it really necessary that I saved birthday cards from my 16th birthday? Or the map from Disney World where Marty and I got engaged? Yes, they're sentimental and I enjoyed looking at them, but in the end all it does is make for extra clutter. And in a fairly small house, clutter is not a good thing. This week begins "Operation Declutter-Organize-and Feel Good about my House." Task number one: attacking our office/my art room. At the risk of having all of you judge me, here are the before pictures, just so we can measure my growth:

As you can see, our office is kind of the catch-all room for everything. I had to move my dresses into the office because
there wasn't enough room in the master bedroom closet. Papers pile up in the desk drawers, books get shoved on the bookshelf, my art supplies sit out haphazardly around the room. In short, this room drives me absolutely insane. It makes the organized, OCD me want to scream. But the tired, worn out, I have 6 loads of laundry to finish me just can't find the energy to even begin. I began sorting through papers, mementos and odds and ends last night. I had no idea I was such a packrat. I took a trip to Target and purchased media boxes, file folders and magazine holders to help me in my quest to de-clutter. I organized my books and clothing and found my Helping Hand/yard sale pile growing larger by the minute. I organized file folders into paid bills, tax information and little newspaper clippings I couldn't bring myself to throw away. I can have mementos, as long as I have them organized. I am going to do this. To help me along, I've found some inspirations, thanks to google. I WILL have my office looking like some of these. If these ladies can be this ridiculously organized in their own homes, why can't I? Enjoy drooling over these pictures like I did:

It amazes me that they can mix organization, function and elegance in an office! I always thought of an office to be a place where your junk piled up and you only visited it to get on the internet. Not anymore! I am going to make my office the portrait of organization and beauty. If you have any organizational secrets, you'd love to share, send them my way. I've got a blank canvas and I can't wait to fill it with ideas :) I'll keep you updated on my journey to perfection (organizational perfection, that is).

Warning: Complaints Ahead.

What's the secret to getting a job right now? Is there some code word I don't know about, some certain experience I'm supposed to have listed on my resume, some personal connection I'm supposed to have that will guarantee my being hired to a company of my liking? Yes, I know I have a job. Yes, I know I should be thankful that I have somewhere to go every morning that enables me to make money and pay the bills. But is that all there is to life? Go to work, do your job, get paid, pay bills? What about ENJOYMENT? What about passion, drive, commitment, JOY?? I guess I was raised differently than some people, but I always thought that I would want a job that I loved, not just one that I focused on how much I made at the end of the day. Don't get me wrong, my current job is a good place to work, but it's not what I went to school for. It's not what I feel passionate about. It's not what I want to do with the rest of my life. What good is an agriculture degree at a financial institution? Is it bad to feel like I'm wasting my 4 years of college, my degree and the money paid to get it? I want to wake up every morning and look forward to going to work. I want to feel passionate about the work I'm doing. I want to feel like I'm making a difference. How am I supposed to get a job in agriculture and feel all of those things if no one will even give me the opportunity. Sure, I've had plenty of interviews, but the job always ends up going to someone that already works for that company. I can't tell you how tired I am of the phrase "Thank you for your interest in this position, but at this time we're selecting a candidate whose qualifications better meet our needs." A.k.a. "they already work for us, so they get first dibs." How is anyone from outside of the field supposed to break in? How are you supposed to gain that experience if no one's going to give you the chance to earn it?? I know I'm supposed to have a constant go-to attitude and be positive during my job hunt, but it's so discouraging. How are you supposed to remain eternally upbeat when you're repeatedly told you're not good enough? If someone has these job-landing secrets that I know nothing about, please pass them on. They'd be greatly appreciated.

Summer: friends, fireflies, and fiction books

Because of my recent stomach problems that have rendered me a slave to my heating pad and my bed, I have been able to catch up on a little reading I've been wanting to do. I have always had a love for reading. I guess it's genetic because everyone in my family reads. In fact, I consider the perfect day (aside from getting an all-expense paid trip to Disney World) to be one where I'm sitting outside with my favorite book, uninterrupted for hours. I'm that person that stayed up for almost two days straight reading the final Harry Potter book when it hit stores. I'm that person that would lie awake in bed reading a book until 2 am, knowing I had a test/class the next morning. I'm that person that, for Christmas, I asked my husband for a pre-order copy of my favorite author's newest publication--a gift I wouldn't get until March! In short, I'm a book nerd....I mean, worm. I love reading. Picking up a book, I'm able to forget about everything around me and become that character. I'm so involved in the story line, my house could be burning around me and I'd never notice. And personally, I don't have a problem with that. :) Since I've been able to read more than usual, I thought I'd recommend a few of my summer favorites:

"Notes from the Underbelly" and "Tales from the Crib" by Risa Green. Now, I have never been through pregnancy, experienced the hormones, or had to deal with sleepless nights and numerous dirty diapers, but I found these books to be absolutely hilarious. I would recommend these two books to anyone--mommy-fied or not. The books are written in such a way that you don't have to be a mom to understand what she's talking about, she just makes it entertaining. I found myself actually laughing out loud several times. So, if you're a mom-to-be, been a mommy for years, or just a future mommy, I suggest you pick these up for a laugh. And if you're a guy, I guess you can read them, laugh and then feel sorry for all the things that mommies go through. :)

Normally, I would have passed right over Risa Green's books. When I walk into Barnes and Noble, I walk head straight for the Christian Fiction books. I love books that are set in the historical time periods, especially ones that focus on God and make me feel good. And I look no further than my favorite author, Francine Rivers. Her books make me laugh, cry, read in awe and humble myself in hopes that my faith can be as strong as hers. If you haven't read any of Francine's books, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY (can I say that enough?) recommend "Redeeming Love". It's a love story based on the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer--the prophet instructed by God to marry a prostitute. This hasn't been one of my recent summer reads, I'll admit, but I recommend this book to everyone I meet. It's my favorite book by far...I have 2 copies and have read it multiple (like 8 or 9?) times. It's wonderful. The faith that Michael Hosea, a farmer in California, displays for his wife Angel, a former prostitute, is heartwarming and almost makes me jealous. His faith in God is even more astonishing. If you're a fan of Christian fiction, this is a must-have book to add to your repertoire. Really, any of Francine's books, but this one especially.

Finally, continuing my Christian, feel-better-about-yourself-after-turning-each-page books, I'm currently reading "A Gentle Thunder" by Max Lucado. Ohh...my heart just clenches even thinking about this book. Max Lucado, for those of you that have never read his work, has a way of making you feel important. If you're having a day where you feel like God's not listening or is too important to care about your day-to-day worries, pick up a Max Lucado book. Here's a few quotes from "A Gentle Thunder" to give you an idea of how good you'll feel when reading:

"Welcome [birthdays] as mile-markers that remind you that you aren't home yet, but you're closer than you've ever been."

"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart. And the Christmas gift he sent you in Bethlehem? Face it, friend. He's crazy about you."

"It's certainly not easy for us to turn our lives over to the gardener. Even now, some of you are hearing the snip-snip-snip of his shears. It hurts. But take heart. You'll be better as a result. Besides, aren't you glad he thinks you are worth the effort?"

Smiling yet? Good. Go pick up a Max Lucado book.

Summer is the best time for me to get caught up on my reading...laying by the pool, trying to finish a few chapters before bed at night or just sitting in my car on my work break enjoying the sunshine. Since I've read through my stash (at least once) I'm open to recommendations :)

No? I don't believe I'm familiar with that word....

Hello, my name is Devan and I am an over-committer. If you ever want anything done, be sure and ask me to do it, because the words "no" or "I can't" or "I'm sorry, I just don't have the time" are just not in my vocabulary. This is how I came to be completely overbooked in the month of June. It started when a girl at work decided she was going to get married in the VERY short time frame of three months. The overachiever, event-planner-wannabe in me immediately jumped on the situation and assured her that we could absolutely throw a wedding together in 3 months. People do it all the time! I immediately got to work, researching wedding venues, scheduling a day to go dress shopping, pricing different area florists. I was absolutely convinced that I could do this. I could help her plan the whole thing...after all, I'd done it once before, how hard could it be? I also saw the personal benefits--if I was interested in maybe one day in the future being a wedding/event planner, I could use pictures from her wedding to start my very own portfolio. I convinced myself that this would be fairly painless. However, as the weeks passed by, my bride grew less and less interested..."Have you made an appointment with the florist?" "Not yet, but it's on my list of things to do..." "When are we having the rehearsal?" "Well, I just assumed we'd do it the night before...." Planning this wedding was going to be more of a challenge than I expected. Now, I find myself less than two weeks from the wedding date with a mounting list of things to finish for the ceremony. The creative side of me found all of these amazing ideas, like a fingerprint guest book tree (which are now sold on my website: http://www.RusticElegancecrafts.etsy.com), little pockets to hold the ceremony programs, making the unity candle myself.....and I wonder, how did I get in this situation? I didn't procrastinate. I've worked on at least one aspect of the wedding each week. How do I have so many things left to do? And then I remember....oh yes, it's because I'm an over-committer. I agree to make all of these wonderful things because I want her day to be special. And I don't consider logistics or time management or whether or not I can fit all of these things into my schedule. I agree to make all of these handmade things for the wedding, while also trying to undertake planning the bridal shower. While also trying to be a good bridesmaid (I'm failing miserably) for my long-distance best friend's wedding (which is two days before the co-worker's wedding). While scheduling doctor's appointments to get my stomach problems straightened out (for those of you that are wondering, it's IBS...yay me). While trying to start my online business (not many sales yet). Is it pathetic that I left work early one day so I could clean my house and pick up medicine at the pharmacy?? I have so many good intentions...sigh. There just aren't enough hours in the day to be an over-committer. If anyone would like to come give me lessons on how to properly say the word "no", I'd appreciate it. :)

I did it.

I've finally done it. After years of spending my free time painting and creating things, after many holidays of giving homemade gifts rather than store bought ones, after endless debates with myself about selling my paintings, I've finally done it. I've opened my own virtual "store" on the marketplace website etsy.com. For those of you that are not familiar with etsy, it's only the greatest little find for people looking for unique and individual items and gifts. I discovered this website while planning my wedding. I somehow stumbled across this website, featuring everything from handmade purses, to cake toppers, to furniture. I was amazed. How did I not discover this before?? I quickly got to work, ordering our monogrammed cake topper, 5 unique purses to fit each of my bridesmaid's personalities, my ringbearer pillows, our unity candle....the possibilities on this website were absolutely endless. After the craziness of our wedding was over, I had time to think about my own crafting hopes of selling my items. Could I do what all these sellers were doing? Could I open my own shop, manage orders, get them shipped, all while working a full-time job and trying to maintain a happy marriage? If all these people could, why can't I? I finally took action a few days ago. I started brainstorming possible store names. I started designing my store banner with my logo. Then I went home and took pictures of my items for sale. Granted, at this point, I only have two items for sale....but everyone has to start somewhere, right? I just hope people like my work. I never realized how vulnerable you would feel in putting your work out and waiting for someone to like it. But that's what I'm doing. So here's to celebrating the "grand opening" of Rustic Elegance crafts. Hope to see some of you as potential buyers soon :)

http://www.rusticelegancecrafts.etsy.com/

I never thought the day would come. Never.

I think everyone has that moment when they feel old. It doesn't matter if you're turning 21 or 81. Maybe it was the day you graduated high school or college. Or the day you got your first "big kid" job. Maybe it was the birth of your first child or grandchild. My moment of feeling downright old has come today. My baby sister is 16. I know growing older is inevitable. I knew this day was coming, but now that it's here, I'm SO not ready for it. This is a horrible cliche but it honestly doesn't seem like that long ago when she was born. Standing up against the nursery window, I remember thinking about how this little thing in the incubator was about to join our happy family of four. I didn't know if I was going to be okay inviting this new kid into my house. After all, I was 9 years older than her and I was happy having one little sister to bully around. Now I had another tossed into the mix and I just wasn't sure how that was going to work out. But then we brought her home. And she was the cutest baby with the most adorable giggle. I used to do completely silly things just to hear her laughing. She was (and still is) the most affectionate kid I'd ever met. It was impossible to be mad at her when 10 seconds later she was giggling and trying to give you a hug. This is how I think of Kristen:

Cute as a button, downy soft hair, large birthmark, cutest little baby teeth and the happiest child you will ever meet. Sixteen years later, she's still cute as a button (so I'm a little partial). Her downy hair has been replaced with unruly, absolutely OUT OF CONTROL curly hair that even the best straightener can't completely iron out. Her birthmark has completely faded to the point that, if you hadn't known her as a baby, you wouldn't know it ever existed. The baby teeth have fallen out and have been replaced with teeth that needed braces (which were removed yesterday). And that happy baby has been replaced with a moody teenager. Here's what my baby "Kittan" looks like today:

The changes in my sweet little sister are enough to send me into a fit of hyperventilating. And as if the age thing doesn't bother me enough, she is now the owner of a cell phone. She's not old enough for a cell phone! Never mind the fact that I had one whenever I was her age. Never mind the fact that her schoolmates have probably had one for going on five years now. She's still my baby sister. I should be picking out her clothes every morning and talking about the fact that boys have cooties and watching Cinderella with her. Instead, she can wear MY clothes, she tells me about all the boys that she thinks are hot (I never thought I'd hear the day...) and Cinderella is a obsession of the past. Now she likes Wizards of Waverly Place and High School Musical. What happened to my baby sister? Did those sixteen years really just fly by as fast as I think? If I'm this bad whenever my little sister turns 16, how am I going to be when I have kids of my own?? Whether I'm ready for it or not, it's here. So, Kris, Kit-Kat, K-sten, Kristenopher Robin, Kittan, Krissy, Kris Kross, K-man......happy (inhale) 16th birthday. You'll always be my baby sister, no matter how old you are. :)

Get on with it....

I came in with the full intention of being a whiner today. It's been one of those weeks. Where I wake up in a horrible mood first thing Tuesday morning, and that mindset continues for the rest of the week. Nothing seems to go right, I hate my job, people make me mad, I don't feel good, I'm listening to a child screaming at the top of it's lungs as I currently write this....it's been that kind of week. Sitting down to my computer, I planned to unleash my full wrath of emotions, disappointment and frustration. I want to write about how financing is NOT at all what I want to do with my life. How I hate sitting at a desk 8 hours a day, talking about auto equity loans and ATM deposit holds. How I feel my creativity and brain cells slowly dying away while I tell people their credit score and how it got to be that high/low. I wanted to write about applying for job after job, only to be told that I don't have the experience necessary for that position. How I am at a total loss on how to gain said experience if no one is willing to take the chance and hire me in the first place. I wanted to write how I have been experiencing intense stomach pain for the past 7+ months, only to find I have a bacteria in my stomach, go on an intense round of antibiotics to supposedly kill it and then have the pain return. How I have a "consultation" with a surgical specialist next week and I am scared to death of having a colonscopy or an endoscopy or whatever other "scopy" that involves sticking a camera where a camera isn't supposed to go. I wanted to write about how I've seen at least 15 things that I want to buy for the spring season, only to be restricted by my stupid self-imposed shopping ban. This was my plan this morning....I thought the writing would be cathartic and make me feel better about my all-around crappy week. And then we opened our doors for business this morning. And a lady walks into my office and is practically in tears over the loss of her credit card and the charges that were made to her account by some hoodlum. And I realize that I am whining over a job when there's a lot of people that don't have one. I'm whining about not being able to buy things I want, but thank God I have the money available to do so. So many people have it worse...what gives me the right to complain about not being able to shop or being forced to discuss interest rates? I wish I could have this attitude more often. Unfortunately, I get caught up in the "not me's" and the "it's so unfair" attitude and complain more often than I should. But today I've been enlightened. It's ridiculous for me to complain whenever I have so many things to be thankful about. If you know me at all, you know that I have a teensy obsession with quotes. I shouldn't have looked any further than the wonderful Ms. Hepburn: "It's that wonderful, old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so 'don't fuss, dear; get on with it.'" Thanks Audrey.

Temptation resisted! For now...

I am less than a week into my shop-free journey and I have already faced my first temptation. Yesterday, my all-time favorite UK basketball player, Patrick Patterson, was at the Towne Mall in Etown signing autographs. Normally, I would scoff at the idea of waiting in line for hours with other UK fans just to get some person's signature, a quick picture and then get pushed along the line, my two minutes with the player long forgotten. But this was Patrick. Patterson. Do you understand this? The man that rose to team leadership as the "senior" of the team. The man that helped his freshmen teammates to mature as basketball players. The quiet, but intellegent, leader of last year's amazing basketball team. He is, by far, my favorite Kentucky player ever (and that's saying a lot, considering I was born watching Kentucky basketball). I had to go. Two hours in line and a dinky $25 picture would be a small price to pay to actually meet THE Patrick Patterson. When closing time arrived at work, I quickly gathered my things and ran out to my car, where my little sister was waiting for me to drive her towards a few hours of greatness. One and half hours, two basketball players autographs and one very shaky picture later, we are through the line and absolutely glowing with basketball enthusiasm. I file the moment away as one of my favorite Kentucky basketball memories. On our way out of the mall, I remembered a stop I needed to make: to Payless. Given my recent swearing off shopping, I was nervous to step foot in a shoe store. But I had a specific reason: buy shoes for an upcoming wedding that I'm in. I knew exactly which pair I needed. All I would have to do would be to quickly walk in the store, find the shoe, try them on, check out and leave. After giving myself a mini pep talk, I rushed into the store. I can do this. I can buy the required pair of shoes without taking a glance at any other shoes or being tempted. After all, I just met Patrick Patterson. I can do anything at this moment. I quickly walk into the section labeled "size 7." Without much searching, I find the shoes that I'm looking for. I slip them on my feet, make sure the size I have will work and make my way to the sales clerk. Silently, I congratulate myself for not even considering another pair of shoes. Maybe the next 3 months won't be as difficult as I had expected! I hand the shoes to the cashier, who looks at the shoes and sweetly says "Are you going to get another pair for half off? It includes anything in the store, including half priced items and accessories." Crap. I am the biggest sucker for a sale. Especially half priced shoes. Taking an extremely deep (and probably longer than necessary) breath, I announce "No thank you. I'm trying not to buy myself anything and these shoes are for a wedding I'm in." The cashier looks surprised...how many people turn down a half priced pair of shoes?? She rings up my single item, I pay and leave. Crisis averted. I know it hasn't even been a week, but I think I can do this for 3 more months. Maybe......

New: Add iPod album artworks automatically

The makers of CopyTrans Manager keep on adding new stuff to their iPod/iPhone management program.
Lately they released an automatic search for iPod album artworks.
Pretty neat, isn't it?
I tried it myself the other day and I was so surprised how smoothly it works.
Download this iTunes alternative

Update: Cool new features for CopyTrans Manager

As many of you probably asked for, the guys from WindSolutions recently brought some stunning features to their free iPod/iPhone manager, CopyTrans Manager.
To refresh your memory a bit, CopyTrans Manager is an iPod manager with which iPod and iPhones users can add, manage and play media files without the iTunes hassle.

Now CopyTrans Manager also allows to:

• reorder tracks in playlists
• multi-edit track metatags
• edit ratings
• auto-search for artworks

Just to name a few...

The program is available for free on the vendor's website.