2008 October | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for October 2008

Sharing my news

October 31st, 2008

No, I’m not pregnant.

Remember last week when I told you that something had been going on and that I couldn’t quite share the news with you, but I would when I was ready?

Well, my t’s are crossed and my i’s are dotted and I think I’m ready to share. This is something that I have kicked around doing for over two years. Most of you don’t know that I have actually decided to do this twice before, I even bought domain name, but I never quite had the confidence and honestly, I wasn’t ready.

Then this year, something happened. I’m still not sure what, but everything start to make sense. Taking pictures began to feel so amazing to me, the greatest therapy. With each click of the shutter button, I felt James and Jake. I felt love and creativity. When James and Jake died, I thought I’d never pick up my camera again, but I think they had other plans for me.

I not only picked it up but I picked it up more often, my eyes were wider and I saw more beauty than I have ever seen before. I saw more life.

So I captured it. I captured life.

This is all very official (and BEYOND EXCITING) for me, it’s not like me just writing out a post, it’s me putting my whole self out there, hoping to succeed, hoping to capture love and family. My fingers and toes are crossed that all will turn out well, for sure. But something tells me that these two little angels will continue to lead me in the right direction. All i need to do is continue to listen.

I’ve not only been listening to them, but also all of you, Brian, my family and my friends. Everyone has encouraged to take this leap and now I am. I am leaping.

Here is my news:

Beth Fletcher Photography (logo started by Christy and finished by Sarah)

And my website.

My website is a work in progress, soon I’ll be adding blog updates after each shoot, which is very exciting because I love talking about pictures and my portfolio will be expanded, as it grows. (website installation by Heather!)

So, please head over there and come back and tell me what you think. I’m dying to hear what you have to say!

Another giveaway and something else I love

October 30th, 2008

First of all, I am giving away something else today. Up for grabs today is a $100 Lands’ End gift card. Can you imagine receiving $100 to spend on yourself?

or your kids, I guess. Whatever.

I never knew my love for Lands’ End until this year. They were kind enough to send coats to my kids and for me and WOW, it’s the greatest coat I have ever worn. It’s not bulky but it’s so, so warm. Same for the kids, they love theirs, too. But I’ll be reviewing those next week on my review blog.

In order to win, just leave a comment, your email address must be valid and this is open to US and Canada only. One comment per person, the winner will be chosen randomly on Saturday, November 1st at 9:00 p.m.

Don’t forget to enter more giveaways at the Bloggy Giveaways and my other giveaway where I’m giving away TWO Leapfrog Leapster2 gaming systems.

_______________________

Don’t you wonder how I get free stuff? Isn’t it just the craziest thing? I think it is, too. I have to tell you, I used to accept everything free, but now I only review items that I really use or believe in. Most of the items I get are because my blog is considered high traffic, so various marketers obtain my email and contact me to review products and give them away on my blog. But there are other ways to be able to do fun things besides having a high traffic blog!

Last week I had the opportunity to attend an event thrown by One2One, Sparkplugging and Epson in downtown Chicago. It was a great event. Another reason why it was so great for me is because they hired me to take pictures at the event. They would then take my memory card, insert it into their Epson Artisan 800 printer (which I reviewed here) and they’d print the pictures right there for everyone to take home.

It was amazing. (to see the billions of pictures taken of the very HOT bloggers, go here!)

I wanted to tell you about this awesome network called One2One Network, it was started by a fellow Mom and I really, really think it’s something you’ll love, you should check it out.

No one has asked me to tell you about this network, I just really like it and think you’ll benefit from it!

You would have the opportunity to participate in fun promotions, try out products and tell your friends about it. Their company motto is Fun Projects. Cook Perks. Nice People.

Last week I met the people of One2One and they’re not kidding. They are nice. They’re beyond nice. They’re awesome. So, if you’re wondering how to become involved with the opportunity for free stuff. This is your chance. Go sign up!

silly girl

October 29th, 2008

I’m over here writing about my Halloween costume. If you’d like to see me looking REALLY WRONG, head over here.

And you BETTER leave me a comment. ya’ hear?

Leapfrog Giveaway!

October 29th, 2008

I’m a little late in the whole Bloggy Giveaways event going on, but that’s okay. The awesomeness of my giveaway makes up for my tardiness.

I am giving away one Leagfrog Leapster2 gaming systems ($70 value) to TWO lucky winners. My kids have the first Leapster and they love them. They spell, read, do math and draw, it’s educational and fun. It’s the perfect little techie gadget. It kept them busy on our 12 hour trip to the East Coast and it has withstood being dropped. Many, many, many times.

From Leapfrog’s Website

Following on the heels of the best-selling Leapster® learning game system, the new Leapster2 handheld is the next generation of learn-everywhere gaming from LeapFrog. Like the Leapster learning game system, the Leapster2 handheld offers a robust learning experience through built-in tutorials and learning levels that adapt automatically to your child’s pace. Its touch screen and stylus help develop motor skills used in writing, while its compact design makes it easy for kids to play on the go. It’s also compatible with all 30+ Leapster learning games, so kids can practice a wide variety of skills for school as they play and learn with their favorite characters.

Just leave a comment on this post. Giveaway ends on Saturday, November 1st at 7 p.m. CST. US residents only. Winners will be chosen randomly. The two lucky winners will be notified via email, so make sure your email is correct and valid!

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks, Leapfrog, for this fantastic opportunity

For more bloggy giveaways, go here!

Kitchen Talk

October 27th, 2008

Hi friends. Can you believe how long it has taken me to update you with pictures of my kitchen? I KNOW! But with all of the Bloggy Giveaways going on, I thought, eh, everyone’s too busy to read my blog right now, anyway. That should buy me a little extra time.

But then tonight I realized I hadn’t posted in over 48 hours and I start to twitch.

And then I realized I need a life.

It’s okay, I admit it.

So, here are some pictures of the finished product of my kitchen. I actually had a good time painting. I’m not sure good time and painting have ever been in the same sentence before, at least not without the words “GLASSES OF WINE” fit in there somewhere, but it was fun. How much do I love the finished product?

Oh, I LOVE. So does Brian, which says a lot because he doesn’t notice much. One time, I completely rearranged the furniture in the living room and it took him HOURS to notice. No wait, he never noticed, I had to point it out to him.

But he does notice when I have a new bra on. With a shirt on over my new bra. The man has priorities.

Anyway, here are the pictures. I have to tell you that I have grown to hate flash so much that I took these pictures at night without a flash. Which is why they are dark. And blurry. But they show you the mood of the room and that’s all that matters, right?

Also, this is not a paid advertisement, but I must tell you that I used Sherwin Williams paint. I typically pay $28 for paint, Sherwin Williams, from what I understand, it’s quite pricey, much more than my typical $28. My kitchen is huge, I admit it. Would you believe I only used 3/4 of a can of paint? And the lid? It twists like a peanut butter jar. And the pour spout? It has one. GENIUS. I will never buy another brand of paint again. Unless I find out it’s like $100 a can…I won’t do $100 a can, I don’t care how nice your spout is.

This is my fridge, yes, it is always covered in paper and there’s the door to my laundry room on the right and that’s my purse. The door to the left leads to the secret library where we keep all of our prized artwork and jewels. or it’s the pantry. Where we keep Fiber One bars and Doritos. Whatever.

Are you feeling the color, yet?

No, it’s not YELLOW, it’s unrestrained gold.

You’re not really interested in that gold thing on the island? More pictures of the walls? I see. Awfully demanding, aren’t we?

This is my center of chaos that I try to organize every single day but it never works because ALL OF THE SCHOOL PAPERS THAT COME HOME FROM TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. Oh my heavens, my children are only four and five. Shouldn’t they be doing more work on the computer or something? Is paper even necessary? I mean, really? The kleenex (Puffs) is there for when I cry from all of the papers and from our calendar filling up faster than I can keep up. But hey, I know, I only have two kids. And no, I can’t imagine having five or six.

Yes, it’s blurry. But that’s okay. This is where we eat dinner. Are you bored, yet? No? Okay, two more picture after this blurry one and I even used flash for you.

So, what do you think? It’s beautiful, right?

RIGHT?!?!?!