Mason Jar

My favorite glass to drink out of broke tonight. Doesn't everyone have a favorite glass? A favorite bowl? Favorite fork? I know you do... my favorite glass broke. It was a mason jar so it won't be hard to replace, but it made me kind of sad. If I had my own t.v. show like Oprah, "My Favorite Things" episode would include a mason jar. Not as classy as Oprah, I will admit.
Max accidentally knocked it off the counter while he was doing dishes. He set it aside until I could see it so I would know that he broke it. H knew I'd be sad too. Haha, you get so attached to the stupidest things...

P.S. Luca survived his neutering, he's home safe and sound and two balls lighter :)

Crosseyed

I have been staring at my computer for hours.

At work, at least I can look away at grumbly customers.

But here, I have been staring at my computer for hours.

My eyes have gone buggy.

Not cool.

The Jewell/Arco Experience (State Fair Style)

Another busy weekend in the life of Jessie.... oh when will it all end!!!! That being said, I'm here to tell you my personal Minnesota State Fair experience as I have read quite a few others.

Yesterday was Max's 23rd birthday. It seems so weird to me that he is already 23 years old! I remember when we first started dating (6 years ago yesterday) and he was just this... teenager and now he is 23. Geez, time sure does fly doesn't it?

He decided that going to the state fair would be fun for us to do and would be cheaper then anything else. (We do not get tons of food like most people but sneak in our own food and allow ourselves one treat each.) We started the day by sleeping in really late and then cooking some breakfast. I actually made breakfast for my honey :) Something that he isn't really used to. The kitchen in our house is Max's domain, definitely not my own. After wearing the dogs out we got showered, dressed and off we went.

We usually park over by Max's old school and catch the bus but when we went over there the bus was just leaving and Max didn't want to wait a half hour for the next one. So we followed the bus for a bit and then got on another one by Target. We paid our way in and started our walking adventure.

We started walking towards the right and looked at this and that. Of course, one of my favorite things to look at is the Art building with the paintings and photos. I was super surprised to see one of the girls I went to school with had a photo hanging in there and it was right when you walked in the door! I don't know if anyone would remember it but it was called "Minnesota Girl". (Yay Eileen for getting yours in there!) I just love looking at all the photos and the differences in styles.

Anyway, we walked around for a couple hours and checked out different things. I ate my subway that we brought in and got some milk at the $1 dollar stand with free refills. This is what we ate sans the subway.

Josh and Lynsie actually got the cookies but Max and I had a couple :)

When we went over the animals we met up with Josh and Lynsie who happened to also be at the fair. We spent the rest of the night with them. Haha, we got our photos done at one of those photo booths and theirs turned out so funny! They didn't know when the camera was going off so everything just turned out wrong. So I took their picture with their photo strip. Funny stuff.




We went to the talent show also. Max and I have never been to it before. It was very cool. Some of the things that those young kids can do is amazing! There was this little 10 year old girl that belted out Beauty and the Beast pretty well if I may say so and those kids playing the violin were incredible! I wish that I could play the violin like that! The kid who won the "teen division" was so funny. He played the piano and was getting super into. His hair was flying around and his hands were being so dramatic. I'm glad he won.

When we were sitting watching, I noticed that sitting next to Max was Santa! Obviously not Santa but he looked just like him. Snowy white beard and hair but he was wearing a Caribbean shirt like Santa on vacation. Next thing I know, Max in in a conversation with Santa. They start laughing together and I look over to see what's going on.
Max had taken his shoes off because he finds this more comfortable then leaving his shoes on while sitting and likes to prop his stocking feet onto his shoes rather then IN his shoes. Well, when Santa had sat down, he did the exact same thing as Max! Max had then commented to Santa that he hadn't ever seen anyone else do that. It probably was a "had to be there" moment but I took a pic of that too.

After the talent show was a huge fireworks display like none I've ever seen! They looked so big but they were also shooting them from so close! Max was more interested in watching them actually shoot them off then the fireworks themselves. When they were done, everyone at the fair left and that made for VERY crowded buses but we got home, safe and sound and the dogs hadn't destroyed anything :)

Today was another busy, busy day and tomorrow I will finally have time to just sit at my computer without any distractions except for dinner. I have to take Luca to the vet early in the morning because he is getting fixed thank goodness! Goodbye manhood! Goodbye marking! Goodbye peeing 18 times outside! Hopefully this is how it goes anyway!

B.U.S.Y

First, I'm sorry. I'm very sorry it's taken me FOREVER to put up a normal post. I guess in the scheme of things, a week really isn't that long but still, I am sorry.

The very reason for my absence is my second job. (aka photography) Happily, I have been accumulating more business and therefore, have had more to do. Not only do we have the fun photo shoots or the beautiful weddings, but then I have hours and hours of photos to work on afterwards. Everyone wonders why they have to pay so much for getting professional photos done, well here's your fyi. We work for a LONG time after we see you to get your pics looking just right. So right in fact that you would want to buy an 8x10 to hang right along your staircase or right above your mantle. You are not only paying for the eye of the photographer but for their skill on the computer afterwards. That is if you have a really nice photographer that won't make you pay up the behind for it which I don't. That being said, I've had quite a few photo shoot opportunities and not a lot of "behind the scenes" time.

I think I was just rambling. Sorry again, its approaching my bedtime. I'm neither a morning person or a night person :)

So, I had wedding I shot last weekend. It was very pretty. A second marriage I believe for the couple and it turned out just beautifully. The bride wore a very pretty gray gown and the groom a very handsome tux. They are very much in love, I could tell from taking their pictures. This was the first wedding I've been to though, where they haven't had the "you may now kiss the bride" bit. Hmmm, for how lovey/kissy they were pre-ceremony, I thought I was in for a good one. Once I get those pics all done I will post one up for everyone to see/

Next, I had some senior photos to do. These are by far the least stressful for me. (Weddings tend to prove to be a little more tense for me, I want everything to turn out just right for the bride and groom) I had the photo shoot with a girl named Tiffani from a town even smaller then my own and we had a lot of fun! I'm especially excited to finish all her photos because the turned out so well! A. She was very nice and relaxed which helps everyone B. She's very pretty and had that fiery red hair that I love! C. She was tiny as a twig and wore really... "punk"? outfits.
I'm not sure that's quite the right word but she wore the skinny jeans and the layered tanks with the colorful converse sneakers. I will definitely put up a photo when I get those all done too.

This past weekend, my friend Sarah came up from school and we had ourselves a photo weekend :) That may not sound like fun to most, but for us it was a blast! Too bad I couldn't stay up as late as her (she's a "go to bed at 4 in the morning type while I am a 10pm type) We used JW and Rachel as our models as Sarah had no pics to work on. (I had enough for 10 people) I think my friends appreciate this business as they always get updated photos of themselves. Now, they have been bugging me to see some of the pics and Sarah has put up quite a few of her own so I am giving them 2 of each. JUST TWO MY FRIENDS! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! Haha, of course they do. That's the bedtime kicking in again.

I need to take some of the shadows off her face in this one now that I look at it closer...

These are a couple that I worked on quick. I have one of JW that turned out really nice but something is just off about it. Once I figure it out I will post it for you.

I will try to everyone updated on my currently busy life as best I can. I have lots of behind the scenes to do and I have a wedding I'm helping Sarah with on Saturday up in St. Croix Falls and Sunday is my Max's 23rd bday. We are going to the State Fair :) Should be lots of fun!

Tag!

Ten Years Ago:
I was 12 years old, living in Baldwin and was in the 7th grade at Viking Middle School. I had just starting hanging out with my wonderful friends I have now and was obsessed with a kid named Matt.

My To-Do List Today:
1. Scrounge up 100 dollars for Brendas couches (super nice ones!)
2. Find a truck to haul the couches
3. work on photos and reorganize living room after steam cleaning the couch we have now.

Snack that I Enjoy: Anything apple!

Things I Would Do if I was a Millionaire:
Pay off all bills and debt.
Pay for everyone to go to the wedding
Buy a new house farther out in the country with not only one FULL bathroom but 2! or 3!
Help out my friends and family with their debt

Places I've Lived:
Rapid City, SD
Lakeland, MN
Hudson, WI
Lakeland, MN
Lakeland, MN (grandmas)
Hudson, WI (half a house)
Baldwin, WI
Woodville, WI
Baldwin, WI


Tag! You're It!
Rachel
JW
Nikki

PS. I'll try and post a regular one tonight! Sorry! I've been SO busy!

Why oh why the bad hair days?

I am having a bad hair day. I am having a bad hair week. I am having a bad hair month. It sucks. Just so you know.

(sorry for the bad pic, all the good ones were blocked here at work)

n.a.m.e. photography

Well, I have one week to think of a final business name for my photography. My friend Sarah is coming up next weekend to help me make my website and then I can get some business cards and such but with no name, WHAT CAN I DO? I need your help.
Something, something, something Photography
I would just do my name but as my name will just be changing here in a few months, that's not going to work. Then I thought of doing something with Jewell in it as that is a pretty cool photographer name but I just can't seem to get something with the right ring to it... Hmm.
Jewells Photography?
JJ Photography?

Maybe I'll just be No Name Photography... haha. What do you think? Do you see why I need your help? Any suggestions will be welcome. (Nothing too girly though, that's just not me.)

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it!

(don't mind my coloring, I was just playing with the font!)