Kevin and Jessica

We Heart It!

2012-02-11T04:26:00.000-08:00

It's like pinterest, which I love too! So many pretty things!

You can find me here....
http://weheartit.com/JessimarieJensen

Kevin's 35th Birthday

2012-02-11T04:08:00.000-08:00

Happy 35th Birthday to my lovely husband Kevin! He turned 35 on January 30th. Kevin had a blast with all his friends. We took him out to dinner, spoiled him with gifts, cake, and fun. We enjoyed playing shuffle board, pool, bowling, and poker. We did this all over the weekend. On his actual birthday, I took him out for a birthday brunch, followed by donuts, cupcakes, and a smoothie. He enjoyed talking to his family, and loved hearing from our niece and nephews on his side of the family!

January Times...

2012-02-11T03:38:00.000-08:00

The start of the year went by fast! I am back on track with my diet, but have been fighting a crummy cold. I've also been stressed out, but am starting to get in control of what is going on around me enough to calm down. I guess I put too much pressure on myself to do everything right and on time.

I came across some pictures on my phone that I have been meaning to post on here for a while.

I got my hair cut back in December with side swoop bangs, and one day, after blow drying my hair, I combed my bangs down, flattened them, and there I was with long bangs! I had so many compliments at work and so many people thought I got them cut recently!

We did experience some interesting weather and got a beautiful blanket of snow a few weeks ago. My parents came down from Washington, since they were out of power, but it was a great excuse to stay with us and go Antique shopping, which my mom and I very much enjoyed! I also made them my famous cookies and spaghetti...in that order too!

My mom found some cute Pinocchios. Well, I had to point them out to her, but she freaked when she saw them! She shared with me that my Aunt Alice collects them, so she just had to buy a couple!

Speaking of collecting, I have been collecting fun, vintage looking birds to put on my mantel! They are so cute! I found this one at Ross that was marked down for $1.00 :) I should do a birdie photo shoot, once the mantel is full!

Kevin enjoyed his 35th birthday with all his friends! That is another post by itself. Be sure to check it out!

I also have been busy with several photo shoots. Be sure to check them out at www.jessicajensenphotography.com

Kevin and Jessica Photo Shoot!

2012-01-28T04:32:00.000-08:00

Kevin and I had a great time doing our own Valentine's Day photo shoot! :)

Christmas 2011

2012-01-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful time spending Christmas in Oak Harbor, WA, with family. My dad sure did a lot of cooking and the food turned out great. There was lots to eat. I gained weight from it all and paying the price to having to lose it again, but I'm getting there! Anyways, Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a Christmas Eve dinner, made cookies, and other snacks. We Skyped with my sister Julie and her husband Jason who are in Crete, Greece. We also Skyped with my brother Jeff and his family who are in Minnesota. My nieces also sang their little hearts out, which was really cute! We opened up gifts. It was my niece, Cassandra's first Christmas and I enjoyed watching her open her gifts! On Christmas, we were in a food coma, so we all slept in, then had a wonderful brunch, relaxed and watched movies, and at some more! When Kevin and I returned home, we opened up a few more gifts and watched more movies. I was so lazy for a week, it felt good! I was off work for 9 days, which was great! I'm glad I had so much fun with my family and I can't wait to spend more time with them again in this new year!

She and Him

2011-12-22T00:04:00.000-08:00

I seem to have this obsession of Zooey Deschanel. No, I'm not that obsessed and no, I'm not a stalker either. I just am obsessed with her style in fashion, music, and her personality. She is corky, unique, and adorable! I'm in love with some of the new songs off her new album. She and Him!

Here's a video I love called, "In the Sun"

Driving on Clouds

2011-12-20T17:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I couldn't resist taking photos of these amazing clouds that rolled into the Columbia River. I drove around everywhere just to get the right angle, but the scenery in person was breath taking. I also drove across the bridge and it felt like I was seriously driving on top of clouds. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, and I was surrounded by thick clouds around me! It didn't seem like normal fog, because I could actually see the sky, and it seemed like the clouds were just floating along the river. I had so much fun playing around and editing these photos!

New hair cut...short too!

2011-12-14T21:35:00.000-08:00

I went from....

to...

this!!!!

And I love it! :)

Cassie, 10 Months

2011-12-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that within 10 months, my adorable niece went from...

to this.....

She is soooooooooooooooooo adorable!!!

Here she is with her Great Grandma Snow!

Thanksgiving

2011-12-02T23:54:00.000-08:00

I had such a wonderful time at my brother's house for Thanksgiving! There was so much food and everyone helped out! Kevin and Jason did a great job on the turkey! I had so much fun spending time with my adorable niece Cassie. This was Cassie's first Thanksgiving. Too bad she couldn't eat all the good food! It was wonderful to spend Thanksgiving at Jason's house and with his own family. We also had my Dad, my brother Jordan, my Grandma Snow, Aunt Leslie, Uncle Grady, Uncle Curtis, and my husband Kevin...oh and Jason's dog Sassy! Jason's wife Elizabeth is so amazing! She and my brother are such great parents! Cassie is also now 10 months! She is learning how to crawl and is so stinking cute! My Dad also set up a Skype session with my sister Julie and her own family! It was fun for all of us to talk to Julie, her husband Jason, and their cute kids, JJ (Jason Junior) and Jessica. I love how she married into "J's", given the fact that all of our siblings have "J" names! We had fun showing off to her the pies, the food we ate, the egg nog, etc. She was doing the same thing too! It was too funny! We (Dad, Jason, Kevin, Aunt Leslie, and I...Elizabeth played too at the last two rounds!) had a great time playing the Mexican Train game, which is addicting and fun!

Kevin and I stayed a couple more days at Jason's house. We enjoyed playing guitar hero. I also enjoyed babysitting Cassie for them while they were working! I attempted to do a photo shoot. She didn't even cry and did so good with me!

We are now looking forward to spending Christmas at my Dad's place and seeing everyone again!

New Car!!!

2011-11-22T01:41:00.000-08:00

We finally got a new car, which is now our 2nd car, which has been very much needed for a long time. The only thing though about getting a car is having to sign your life away to car payments!

It's a pretty blue Chevy Impala and we are loving it so far!

My 30th Birthday

2011-11-19T22:58:00.000-08:00

I was so spoiled on my 30th birthday, which was a couple weeks ago (November 4th) I will remember it always!Kevin worked very hard on surprising me with all sorts of stuff. He let me sleep in, then our friends Kevin, Kim, and Kim's daughter came over and had cake and ice cream. We had dessert before dinner! I opened gifts. Kevin and Kim got me beautiful flowers and a card. My Kevin got me a beautiful snowflake necklace and some perfume! He rented a car, then drove me to Portland. In Portland, he surprised me by going to our friend's place, Mike and Eden, and then had dinner at the Olive Garden. I was so happy that I had met my goal of losing 30 pounds before turning 30. I had lost 46, so I pigged out on my favorite Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and tons of bread sticks! THE BEST! They took me to some awesome clubs in Portland. There is one that I will never forget, because it was awkward to walk into and we laughed about it later. They took me to a gay bar, where the guys were on the tables dancing in their underwear. We did not stay and I questioned why they would take me there, but I'm thinking it was mostly so they could see how I was going to react and for laughs! Anyways, we ended the night by driving back to Astoria as Kevin said there was another surprise on Saturday.

Saturday came and in the afternoon, my Dad, my brothers Jason and Jordan, Jason's wife Elizabeth and their daughter Cassie showed up!!! That was a wonderful surprise to see family! It's such a long drive from where they live, and I am so grateful they made it a weekend to come see me! My dad also brought me my grandmother's piano. I was very touched! I played on that piano when I was a little girl and I am so happy to have it apart of our home now! It will always remind me of my Grandma and Grandpa Snow, when my family and I went to visit them in Gig Harbor. My Grandma would always ask me to go play the piano for her, which I loved very much! I don't read sheet music very well, but I play by ear. I also make up my own music, which is what I love to do more. I also like to take current music and try to make it my own by adding other notes to make other tunes to the songs. I've been playing on it every day since it's been here!

Our friends Kevin and Kim came over and we all played the Mexican Train game, which is a dominos game, and pigged out on pizza. I think I gained 5 pounds back after that weekend! We also enjoyed watching a movie. It was great having my family stay the night and I enjoy the feeling of our house being full of those I love! I loved playing with my niece Cassie! She is so adorable and I can't believe how much she has grown! I will get to see them again at Thanksgiving in Washington! My dad and I also had a great conversation. We didn't get to bed until after 3am! That's how we are. We can talk forever in my family! The next morning, we all went to Pig N' Pancake for breakfast before they left to go home.

That is a birthday I will never forget! I have such a wonderful husband! :)

A Happy Nerdy Halloween!

2011-11-03T02:32:00.000-07:00

I don't have any children and I am always having to work on Halloween. It's just my luck!

So...I always have the make the best of it!

I went as a NERD! My students at work seemed to love it. I even put a sign on my back that said, "Please don't kick me!" No one did, which I was very thankful for! I love my nerdy glasses too!

I even had the geeky nerd laugh down! It was awesome!

Salt Lake City

2011-11-03T02:23:00.000-07:00

So, I learned a lot at the training I went to in Salt Lake. After 5pm each day, I took advantage going to the temple and exploring down town SLC. I also enjoyed an evening with my Aunt Alice and my cousins Roxy and Mary! I haven't seen them for over 20 years and it was so great catching up! I can't wait to see them again when I go back next year!

Roxy, me, Mary, and my Aunt Alice!

Here are some pics I took of the Salt Lake City Temple and at the Joseph Smith Memorial.

The guy on the right is my buddy Rolland from Hawaii. It was so great to see him again. We did training together a few years ago in Utah!

My Closet!

2011-10-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

It's so nice to use the guest room as a closet! It's the biggest closet I've ever had! I love it. This was a DIY project. I bought shelving, the closet rods, and I have extra space for my purses, hats, and shoes! I love the trunk I bought for $5.00 at a garage sale that was across the street. It's vintage and it's from 1936. Sweet! I also added my prints in a zig zag format on the ceiling. I think I'm going to make some colorful pom poms to hang, bright curtains, and then on the opposite side of the room, we will get a futon for our guests. For now, we have an air mattress.

Flying out to SLC!!!

2011-10-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to be flying out to Salt Lake on Monday! I'll be there until Friday, for training. I'm so happy that I was selected to be apart of a management development program within my job! I'm sure I'll enjoy some free time after the training, which I plan to visit with my Aunt Alice and cousins Roxy and Mari, visit the Temple, site seeing, and relax at least a little! I'm also taking my camera and hoping to catch some good pictures!

Home Sweet Home!

2011-10-08T20:25:00.000-07:00

I'm finally posting about our new place! We have been in this house since early Spring and we are loving it so far. What we love is that we have a garage, a front and back yard with a fence, a drive way, 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath, dish washer, washer/dryer hookups, and a fireplace. We are renting, as we are not comfortable buying at the moment. We love the freedom of listening to our music and watching TV as loud as we want. We love that the house is heated very well. We love our private office space! We love having a guest room, and Kevin loves having his own man cave! We do have a lot of stuff. Our garage is full of it, from what we have collected throughout the years. We plan to have a garage sale this next year in the Spring, and plan on turning the garage into another man cave, but with a pool table!

So, here our home...

Our Living Room

Our Bathroom

Our Master Bedroom. We are getting new furniture next year! I can't wait!

My favorite hangout, The Office

Stairs

Upstairs closet

The Man Cave. Sorry...it's a mess.

The Kitchen

Laundry Room

1/2 Bath upstairs

There is one room missing, which is our guest room/my closet. It's a mess. The bed has a bunch of clothes piled on top, and I am still organizing the room.

My Grandma and Grandpa Snow

2011-10-08T01:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my cousin Amber, I was able to gain access to these photos of my Grandma and Grandpa back in the day! I just have to share them! I think they are so sweet! I miss Grandpa Snow and I know he is looking down at us probably smiling or maybe even laughing! :)

I just love this picture of Grandpa surrounded by these ladies as well as the laughter coming from my Grandma!

My beautiful and sweet Grandma Snow!

Grandma and Grandpa reading the paper. I wonder what the year was in that paper and what they were reading the time!

Shopping!!!

2011-10-08T01:11:00.000-07:00

I use to not like shopping for clothes, due to not being able to fit into what I like. Today was not the case! You should of saw me in the dressing room when I tried on 5 pairs of pants. I was jumping up and down with excitement! They all fit and they were a little loose! I don't care to tell anyone my weight and size anymore. It helps me keep going. So, I started off as a size 16/17 when I started my dieting. I am now a 13/14. Yippy! 14's are a little loose on me, so I'm guessing I'm a 13. My goal is to get to a size 10. Honestly, the last time I was a size 10, was when I was in Junior High. I was very active in sports at the time, so I didn't gain wait like crazy until I hit my twenties. When I met Kevin, I was a size 11. However, I wouldn't mind being a size 8, just so I can feel what it is like to be that size for once. Anyways, just had to share that my shopping was fun and exciting! I can't wait to wear my new jeans and donate my big ones!

Dorkness!

2011-10-05T17:59:00.000-07:00

I think I can be the queen of dorkness at times! Here's the proof...

What to wear

2011-10-04T23:17:00.000-07:00

I am no expert on fashion trends. I'm also no fashionista and if I were rich, I would honestly pay someone to dress me! I love clothes, but sometimes, I just have no sense of style when it comes to my wardrobe. My clothes are getting a little baggy on me, so I'm trying to be creative using waste belts with my shirts, dresses, and trying to figure out how to wear baggy pants without them looking baggy....at least until I can go shopping. I've been drooling over some outfits that I love and coming up with ideas on how to make my outfits look similar to the ones I see online. I don't have a budget to buy clothes, so I just have to use what I already have. I see nothing wrong with that, especially now these days. Besides, who is really paying attention to what is in and what is out. I'm not into what's on the runways. I don't see myself wearing some of the outfits I see on runways. To me, it's not real and I don't see everyday people wearing them. However, some designers who understand everyday people and have runway shows that represent the average American women, seem to get it. Not everyone is made to look like the models on the runway, but I'm glad some designers understand what most women want. I know I shouldn't be judgmental of what people wear, but pa....leeeeeeeze! Some of the clothes I've seen in stores and on people belong in the 1980's. I don't agree with some of the clothes coming back into style. Also...acid wash jeans is a big no no. NO NO NO! I can't believe I see them now! Ewwwww! Okay...enough of me being so negative. Here's what I've been drooling at:

Lauren Conrad's collection. I just love everything about her and her style! In the left picture, I already have a top just like it, now I need to be brave enough to wear skinny jeans. I haven't worn skinny jeans, but they just may look great with a pair of my brown boots! Her outfit on the right is something I could try to put together, but I just love the combination of the colors, especially for Fall! Oh, and I hope someday I can take photos like this. These photos are gorgeous, bright, and beautiful!

via Famous Fashionista

So, be honest. What do you think about tights or leggings? I'm debating on getting a pair, but not sure about how well they would look. I love how these outfits look. I wouldn't mind pairing up a few of my longer dress shirts with them, using scarves, and boots. Hmmmm...debating. Keep in mind, I don't have skinny legs like these girls. I'm sporty and have big calves. I really like the first outfit with the gray and brown.

via Fashion Trends

Love the styles here, especially the longer dress jackets, or whatever they are called!

via Heidi Merrick

Oh...and here in my town, so happy it is finally sweater, hat, and scarf season!!! :)

10K. Great Columbia Crossing. 2011

2011-10-04T03:47:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 2, I did a 10K at the Great Columbia Crossing. We started at the Dismal Nitch area, which is across the bridge to Washington. We ended at the Red Lion in Astoria. However, I have one regret, which is that I am so out of shape and I'm paying for it now! I'm sore from my neck to my feet! Every muscle aches. It was worth it though! I kept getting laughed at work, because of the way I could describe it. I even reminded myself of my Grandma Snow, from the way she sits down and the way she gets up. She needs help time to time and she makes this sound when she does it! I made all sorts of sounds! So, I'm hoping my muscles will relax and feel better soon. I went jogging quite a bit during the summer, but I'm trying to make it more apart of a weekly schedule. It took me 1 hour and 28 minutes!

I'm so proud of myself, because I beat my time from 2009 by 10 minutes!!! I did a speed walk the first mile and finished within 10 minutes (7 minutes faster than 2009). My 2nd mile I finished at 24 minutes by jogging. The 3rd mile I finished at 38 minutes. The 4th mile to the 5th mile I HATED! I don't remember the time, but I went up the incline on the bridge and it worked out my booty! The last mile was also torture, however I was determined to finish it!

So, there is this clown on stilts. In 2009, I was mad that I didn't beat this clown on stilts! I was determined that the next time I did this, I would beat him. Nope! I didn't. He was at the beginning of the race. The beginning was a slow start for everyone, as there was 3000 people there. I had a hard time getting around people. That clown beat me at least by 10 minutes. I have to give him credit though. He was on stilts!!! He does it every year! So, maybe my time will be at the next one I go to!

There were so many fun characters in the crowd! Can you find Waldo? :)

I'm so glad that a bunch of people from my work were there!

30 Before 30 Update. 186

2011-10-01T00:44:00.000-07:00

I realized that the last time I gave an update on my weight loss was in May! Wow! Well, it's time for me to get back on track. I am still eating healthier and working out when I can. I still need to get into the habit of working out regularly, but I'm staying active and busy on a daily basis. So...here's the update.

11/28/10: 226

1/6/11: 220

1/24/11: 217

2/6/11: 214

2/9/11: 211

2/14/11: 210

2/27/11: 208

3/18/11: 203

4/2/11: 199
4/20/11: 196

5/20/11: 193

10/1/11: 186

Total pounds lost: 40.

My birthday is next month (November 4th).

I'm really happy I have met my goal of losing 30 pounds before turning 30, however, I think it would be great to lose 6 pounds before my birthday. So here goes!

Bowling Night

2011-10-01T00:11:00.000-07:00

Family Summer Fun

2011-09-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

So...I found my little digital camera, which was hiding in my purse pocket and it had so many photos of when we were visiting with family over the summer.

I miss them so much!

Jordan and I really enjoyed Kayaking with our brother Jeff. Kevin joined us later. I'm so glad he went and didn't let his foot stop him from going.

Jeff was so excited to catch this fish!

And then he ate it.

We really enjoyed spending time with everyone!

They are so cute! :)

My Grandma Snow was so adorable when she saw the biggest marshmallow of her life! She also ate it!

When my siblings and I were kids...around my nieces and nephew's age, our dad use to throw us in the "washing machine." Well, not the real washing machine, but the one on his lap. He would would wash us like we were clothes, mess up our hair, tickle us to death, and then throw us in the dryer bouncing us around on his legs. I am so glad he did this with the kids! They really enjoyed it.

And so did Jeff! Hahahahaha.

My brother taught us this fun song..."Hi, my name is Joe, I work at a Button Factory...." It was so much fun we all got a work out and a good laugh!

My sister Jenni put together a fun trivia game using questions about all of us 8 kids in the family. I knew a lot of them, but I also learned a lot more about my siblings! The one thing I didn't know about myself was, when I was 3 years old, my dad was passing the sacrament at church, and I yelled out loud as he was walking by, "Hi Dad!" :)

We enjoyed a ferry ride out to Friday Harbor. We had such a great time!

The kids got some candy. I love all the funny signs this shop has!

Jodi and Justin's Wedding Day

2011-09-27T03:37:00.000-07:00

{Walker} Est. August 13, 2011

Getting hair done.

Jodi...Aka...Bride

Natacia...Maid of Honor

Bridesmaids

Getting Ready.

The Guests Arrive.

Justin...Aka...Groom

Here Comes the Bride...

The Ceremony.

The Reception.

The Cake.

The Portraits.

At Last.

Jodi and Justin's Wedding Rehearsal

2011-09-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

I am very touched that my sister Jodi asked me to take her wedding photos. I think I went above and beyond, as there are hundreds of photos to see! I am so happy for her and her new husband Justin! They are very sweet and cute together! I hope they will make babies soon! :)

Jodi and Justin had their wedding at La Connor Flats, Washington. It is such a beautiful area to get married and there are so many beautiful flowers! They picked a great spot! My nephew Connor was the ring bear and my nieces Liana and Serene were the flower girls!

Wedding Rehearsal, August 12, 2011

Jodi was a bridezilla. Yup! One of those. Okay...I'll be nice, but no really...a bridezilla! I was a photogzilla, so that's okay! I think we all need to have our moments and put our foot down when we need something done right! She sure worked very hard to get the wedding she wanted! I'm really proud of her! It turned out beautiful!

My nieces and nephew loved playing with my reflector.

Jodi and Justin's nephew Noah...he's soooooooooo cute!!! Look at those eyes!

I love the picture I took of Jeff's family! His kids were really entertaining and sure know how to have a good time! They kept picking flowers and putting them in my hair, then they would do twirls through the garden and also allowed me to take photos of them when I wanted!

After the rehearsal, we went to Justin's parent's house for dinner. It was great to see my mom and step-dad Bill there!

Family Time in the Summer

2011-09-27T02:44:00.000-07:00

So, I have been so busy lately, with photo shoots, photo editing, work, and also having fun that I keep putting off my blog! I'm so happy to finally blog about my visit up North, and being with my family for a few weeks! I had such an amazing time. I really miss them and I can't wait to see them again!

Sit and stay awhile! This is a VERY LONG post and there are LOTS OF PICTURES!!!

So, in August, Kevin and I went up north to stay with my sister Jodi. She was busy planning all of her wedding stuff. She got married on August 13th, but more about that later. We then went camping at Deception Pass in Oak Harbor, Washington. There, I met my nieces Serene, Liana, and my nephew Connor! I was so excited to see them as well as my oldest brother Jeff and his wife Leticia! I enjoyed getting to know the kids and they sure put a smile on my face every time I got to be with them!

Jeff pushing the kids on a tree swing!

My non-identical twin nieces Serene and Liana!

While we were at the beach talking to Jeff and catching up, I had turned my head and noticed my brother Jordan was walking on the beach and coming towards us! He surprised us by taking a city bus just to meet up with us. I am so glad he was able to hang out with us at the camp site and at the beach!

My nephew Connor is so adorable!

Serene was so scared getting pushed so high, it was kind of funny when she started crying. I remember being at that age and terrified of doing different things and crying about them as well!

Liana and Serene both look like my sister Jamie, when Jamie was about that age. They have so many features that are so much alike!

My step mom Denise made an amazing stew! My dad was also able to join us later in the evening after he got off of work. I am so glad I was able to see him!

I was also happy to see my step sister Cherie. It was also nice seeing my step brother Dane, his wife Jaemee, and their son Jaeden.

The kids got to learn how to put together their fishing rods so they could go fishing! It reminded me so much of my Grandpa Snow. Grandpa Snow use to take my siblings and I out fishing when we went camping with him! I'm so glad I have those memories and I am so glad that these kids will have this memory with my dad...their Grandpa Snow!

The day was beautiful and the sunset was gorgeous!

I'm so glad that Kevin and Jeff got to bond. They are too funny!

Connor made Kevin's day. Connor has two twin sisters and so does Kevin. They are both also the oldest child. So, Kevin told Connor, "Hey Connor, guess what? I have two twin sisters like you!" Connor: "Really? That's cool!" Kevin: "Also, I am the oldest brother just like you are the oldest brother!" Connor: "Really? Wow. Then, that makes us brothers!" Kevin, "well, you are my nephew!" Connor: "No, brothers!"

Kids say the cutest things!

My dad and I couldn't help but laugh when we noticed Liana fishing with one hand on her hip! She's such a girlie girl! Also, what I love about Liana is that she is into fashion and likes to match her clothes!

So, by the end of the day, the only fish that was caught was by Jeff! He was so excited! It reminded him so much of the fish he caught with our Grandpa Snow! I could tell it meant a lot to him to do this with our dad and the kids!

The next morning, we hung out at the beach and Jeff helped the kids put together a power boat toy that Jodi got them. They seemed to have a lot of fun with it.

Yup...that's me...I tend to get crazy when I'm away from home!

The girls loved it when I twirled them. Serene also loved it when I would tickle her! She made me laugh so hard, because after I tickle her, she would try to tickle me!

We saw a really cool fort that was already made at the beach. The kids insisted on adding to it. Liana helped create a walk way by finding all the seashells and rocks she could find. Serene made a garden and did a great job picking weeds and flowers! Connor added more drift wood!

Jeff...all that is on his mind...Kayaking! He was fun to watch! He was so excited to go Kayaking and I am so glad I also had the chance to go with him while I was visiting.

The day after the wedding, we had a family reunion at my dad's house. All my siblings, nieces and nephews, my Aunt Leslie, Uncle Curtis, and our Grandma Snow was there as well! We also had fun celebrating everyone's birthday. My dad bought HUGE cakes and one of them said 100. For fun, we told Grandma Snow that she was 100 for the day, so she could say she had a 100th birthday party! She turned 85 in August! My dad also worked very hard on putting together a piece of family history, with genealogy, pictures, and stories for us to take home with us. I was very touched that he spent so much time on it and I am so happy I now have some great family history to hang onto!

Cassandra...aka...Cassie! She is so adorable! I can't believe she is now 8 months! I loved how she showed up wearing the same outfit as me! White dress, jean jacket, and a flower in the hair! It was too funny!

My sister in-law Leticia and my beautiful nieces, Liana, Serene, and Cassie!

Matching outfits! Yup...she likes me!

It was a full house. Everyone was either making food, crafting, talking, texting, watching TV, kayaking, or taking photos (that was me!).

My niece Chloe and I were trying so hard to get Grandma Snow to stick her tongue out at me! She finally did after my camera was off! She's too cute and funny!

Thanks to my parents getting these for the weekend, kayaking ended up being a big hit! Everyone had a great time going! My siblings seemed to really enjoy it. They went from Oak Harbor to Coupville.

Kevin found something now he loves to do and he is excited to buy a kayak someday!

My brother Jordan seems to amaze me every time I see him do something new. He learned to kayak and he loved it! See...Autism doesn't stop you from doing things! He is also the tallest in the family!

This was so sweet! My sister Jenni and my niece Cassie! She sure loves Jenni, because when everyone else was trying to hold her, she would cry!

My uncles, my dad, and my sister's new father in-law.

Cassie and her beautiful mom Elizabeth!

Left photo: Jeff, Jordan, and Jason. Right Photo: Jenni, Jason, and Jeff

This is so sweet! I just love how Grandma is talking to Serene!

All of my nieces and my nephew! Chloe, Connor, Liana, Serene, and Cassie!

I am so happy I was able to take lots of photos of my family and document my time there!

Family!

2011-09-07T01:32:00.000-07:00

I finally have a moment to catch up! My goal is to blog a little more.

I had a such a wonderful time in August visiting my family, watching my beautiful sister Jodi get married, went kayaking, and enjoyed some great quality time with Kevin. I am really happy and blessed that I was able to see my entire family. It had been way too long, 11 years to be exact, since we have all been in one room. It had also been more than 17 years since all my siblings and I have been in one place with both parents. I can't wait to get my photos developed. I was very happy to be the photographer at the wedding, and at all the family activities! I also learned more about my family history, which my dad put together! I'll share more of that later.

Here are a few sneak peaks of some photos I took at Jodi's wedding:

I love the facial expressions on the guys before they are about to jump, especially my nephew Connor, who is in the middle! He's 7 years old and he's so adorable!

They are such a cute couple!

Jodi and our nieces Serene and Liana! They were adorable flower girls!

I'll post more later!

Busy Bee!

2011-08-04T03:35:00.000-07:00

I've really been a busy bee lately, that I keep forgetting to blog all the happenings in the Jensen household! Speaking of house, we sure are loving our new place and I will have to post some pictures soon of what it looks like! We enjoy the peace and quiet and having great neighbors!

I've been jogging and working out at least 3 times a week, which I'm really proud of. If I don't go outside, I'll do some aerobics indoors. I'm getting a lot of use out of my excercise ball! As for an update on my weight, I'm now at 187. It sometimes goes up a pound then down a pound each day, so I just went with the middle! Being a woman, retaining so much water, and my eating patterns have a lot to do with the fluctuation of my weight. I'm just happy I lost almost 40 pounds! I am trying to still get down to 160. The holidays are coming towards the end of this year, which makes me a little nervous. I tend to dip my hand into sweets, so it will be hard, but I really need to keep challenging myself. I have realized that out of all the sweets in the world, my cravings go towards peanut M&M's and raisins. Once in a great while, I'll have a handful ~~or two~~!

I'm still taking lots of photos! Check out my photography site just by clicking on the link on the side. I'm getting really anxious and excited to be taking my sister Jodi's wedding pics next weekend!

VACATION BABY!!! I'm off work for 3 weeks and don't have to go back until August 21. I'm so excited to be spending all this time with Kevin and family! We are going to my sister's place, then I'm going to her bachelorette party. I hear it's going to be wild! Then we are camping for a couple days! I'm so excited to spend time with my nieces and nephews and siblings. I'm super excited to see more family at the wedding!

Here's a couple photos...I got a new hair cut and color, which I really love! Kevin and I have also been playing a lot of guitar hero! I'm really good...just sayin!

I will work on my blogging when I get back and with pictures to go with all the fun things we are doing!

Happy Sunny Days!

Rafting Facial Expressions

2011-07-22T15:55:00.000-07:00

When I finally got to see the photos of the rafting trip I went on at the end of June, I laughed so hard! My facial expressions are hilarious, at least to me they are! (Please excuse my pale and pasty white legs!)

P.S. You know you look crazy too when doing cool things like this!!! :)

Our Summer...So Far!

2011-07-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

Our Summer has been quite interesting so far! I think it will get better! As for trips taken, I went white water rafting, Mount Saint Helens for a work trip, and to Multnomah Falls for another work trip. Kevin and I enjoyed watching Shanghaied in Astoria, which was entertaining. I also have had fun with a few photo shoots outdoors!

I love this photo I took! So Summery!

We can see Mount Saint Helens at Fort Stevens. Not a lot of people know that! I managed to get a great picture of the entire area from where I was. I actually had to pull over, just to get this shot! If you see where the bridge is, that is Astoria. It's such a great place to live on a gorgeous day!

Here I am being a dork at Mount Saint Helen's look out area!

Kevin hasn't been able to go do much because he is still recovering from his leg injury. He is doing very well and hanging in there. He had torn 15% of his Achilles tendon and several ligaments in his ankle, which takes a lot longer to heal than a broken bone. In the last 2 weeks, he has actually been able to walk, which is something he hasn't been able to do for almost 2 months. He had to rely on his crutches. His orthopedist took off the cast and put him in a walking boot, which has come in handy. He has physical therapy next week. I'm happy to see him get back to normal. I can tell he is anxious to get back to work.

I wish this rain would go away and hoping for nice weather for August. I'm looking forward to:

3 week vacation starting July 29th
Getting my hair cut and colored!
7 year wedding anniversary on July 31st and 13 years of friendship to my best friend and lovely husband!
Camping with my family at the beginning of August!
My sister's Bachelorette Party!
Seeing all my siblings in one room...it's been way over 10 years since we have done that!
My sister's Wedding Day!
Family Reunion at my dad's

I'm sure there will be more to look forward to!

Also...I love my red shoes!

I Need a Haircut!

2011-07-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

Confession #1: I haven't had a haircut since December 2010.

Confession #2: I dye my own hair, but haven't in the last 2 months.

Confession #3: I have some gray hair. You can really see it now and it's not looking cute.

Confession #4: I'm too cheep to pay to get my hair done!

I'm planning on getting my hair done in 2 weeks and I'm going to bite the bullet and do something different!

Here's some photos that inspire me...

Love Heidi Klum's hair length in this photo. I also love the color. I might go for something like this, but have my hair a little longer.

I like all the blonde highlights in Jennifer Aniston's hair.

I love the color and the hair length in this one. Well, maybe it's a little too long for me.

I'm not crazy about the cut in this, but the colors I like.My hair is about the same length in this.

Can you see a pattern here? Can you tell I miss having blonde in my hair?

I'll let you know what I did when it's done!

4th of July

2011-07-08T00:07:00.000-07:00

Monday, Kevin and I enjoyed the day at home BBQ'ing and enjoying the sunshine. We couldn't really do much, since Kevin's leg is still trying to heal, but we did manage to get out of the house to go watch the fireworks in town. The fireworks were really good this year! I also got a tip from a photographer on how to set my camera just for the fireworks! Thanks to her, I got some great photos! :)

White Water Rafting Photos

2011-07-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a long week and I'm still trying to catch up on sleep since the rafting trip I went on! Going from working swing shifts to waking up early in the morning to go rafting, then coming back to work and working day shifts now until the middle of the month sure has made me a little tired! However, it has all been worth it! I've had so much fun lately! I actually miss working and doing things in the morning. I love enjoying the rest of the day with my husband! The weather sure has been nice as well!

Here are the photos from the rafting trip I went on and talked about in this post.

Here we are on the Deschutes river in Maupin, Oregon. This was a 3 day trip and I had so much fun! Last year, I remember our raft turned over 3 times, and it was a very fun, but scary experience for me! During my recent trip, not once did our raft turn over and not once did I fall out! However, I sure enjoyed all the splashes and all the rapids we faced! It was another great experience! Our guide, Austin, let me guide the raft, which was really exciting! The group that I went with were amazing!

I brought my 3 men tent with me and I'm so glad I did! I love camping, but not in tight spaces. My tent is one of those that you can stand in and it also gives you privacy to change your clothes. I even brought my air mattress, 2 sleeping bags, an extra blanket, and I slept so good! I guess I'm one of those campers that brings everything to make me comfortable! It was worth it!

White Falls is gorgeous! It was fun hiking down to the falls and swimming in the river. We also ate lunch at the park and did some journal writing.

I loved going on the Barlow Trail, which is an amazing piece of American History here in Oregon. It was very difficult climbing the sharp rocks just to get to stand on the trail, but I'm so glad I did. If you are familiar with the old Oregon Trail, you may understand the Barlow Trail was also used by the pioneers to cross through. One of the guides shared some history that some of the pioneers tried going across the river with their wagons, but had not made it through. It's said that some of the wagons are still at the bottom of the river. There is also lots of history with the Native Americans owning the land. They still own parts of the land. We even found tribal markings on a wall.

We sure had fun at the campsite. The students from high school and from my work were amazing and funny! We had a bunch of good laughs. When it came to cooking, I learned how to make an omelet in a zip lock baggie using boiling water! It was awesome!

We did some journal writing up at Beavertail, which looked out to the river. The view was amazing! From my experience last year, I was looking forward to doing this again. We took time to be with ourselves, write out thoughts and our experiences so far. I had a chance to write more about family, especially about my Dad. We were asked to think about someone we know who has expressed how proud they are of us, and the one person that has expressed it the most throughout my life is my Dad! While we were journal writing, it was extremely windy, but what I liked about the wind was that I could smell the sage that was all around me. When we gathered in a group, we were able to open up about ourselves. Last year, I remember balling my eyes out along with others who did the same, and this year, I cried with tears of joy. So much has happened within this last year, I am so thankful for all the blessings I have received. My journey since last year's trip has been great. Last year's trip was like therapy for me and it helped me in so many ways. I lost some weight, had a change in my job, moved to a new place, made some new friends, visit family more regularly, stopped drinking any alcohol, coffee, and caffeine (over a year ago), and went back to church and have become more active in church. I was also blessed with a new calling earlier this year as a Sunbeam Teacher at church. I have learned so much about myself and came to a BIG realization that someone else's happiness will not be my own. I need to make my own happiness in this world and that starts by just being me and not care so much about being judged by others. It's really helped boost my self esteem and confidence, and I'm loving it! Within this group, I sat there and listened to other people's stories and their experiences. I cried for them as I knew they were hurting in some way. It is my hope that they will find their way through their challenges in life. I'm still struggling here and there, but I'm figuring things out. I think challenges are a big part of our life and they help us become who we are.

Like I said before, this group is amazing and funny! They all have different personalities and we all seemed to get along very well.

The hearts in the pictures below represent my students. I am not allowed to post photos of them, so they got hearts over their lovely faces. I hope to stay in touch with this group as I have with last year's group!

White Water Rafting Trip

2011-07-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

This week, I enjoyed a 3 day rafting trip at the Deschutes River in Maupin, Oregon. I was a little nervous about the weather, since the forecast showed that there was going to be a thunder storm, but the weather ended up being beautiful. The trip was with the White Water Institute and I was so happy when I was asked to go! It was also for work! I love getting paid to have fun! Apart of the institute is to help build community and learn systems of thinking. I got to meet some amazing people and hope to continue to stay in touch with them. I felt that I had a connection with some of them. This was my second time going on a rafting trip, so I wasn't scared this time and I had so much fun. Each day we were there, we had an opportunity to spend time as a group, do some pondering and journal writing, and of course...rafting on the river! Our rafting guides were also amazing! They were so entertaining and had so many jokes! The last day, I had a hard time leaving and really wished that we had all stayed a little longer. The days did seem to go really fast for some reason. I also had a chance to see some of the photos that a photographer had taken of us on the river and seeing all my expressions in every photo made me laugh so hard! I sure make the weirdest expressions, especially when I'm getting hit by rapids. I hope I'll get my hands on a few of those photos. We'll see! I did end up coming home with a nice sun burn, but it was so worth it! I did take lots of photos myself. No, I didn't use my nice camera. I didn't want to risk destroying it on the trip, so I brought my little digital with me. I'll post pictures soon!

Something Funny!

2011-06-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight we had the missionaries over for dinner! Kevin was entertaining and seemed to make us all laugh! One thing that stood out for me the most was when one of the missionaries asked if we had any children, Kevin replied, "Yes, but we sent them to their room without dinner." I thought it was funny and I think because I laughed, they realized we had none! That's my husband for ya!

Giveaway!

2011-06-19T02:59:00.000-07:00

Free Print and Photo Shoot Giveaway starts right now!

Enter here....

Giveaway ends 6/24/11.

Good luck! :)

New Prints!

2011-06-03T19:22:00.001-07:00

Come check out the new prints in my shop!...

Kevin and his giant foot...

2011-06-01T01:19:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago and prior to us moving, Kevin was coaching the volleyball team at work. When he had dived for the ball, one of the team players had also dove for the ball and landed on the back of his right leg. Kevin has been to urgent care, seen doctor after doctor, been put on pain medication, and was instructed to stay off of it. Luckily for me, Kevin has great friends who helped us move! I ended up getting a Uhaul and his friends and I moved everything to our new house. Since then, the swelling on his foot had not gone down and it continued to look like a balloon. As a matter of fact, one of the nurses had measured his leg and foot, and it was a little over an inch bigger than the other. That should give you a visual of how big it ended up being. I have been working very hard getting our new place together, unpacking, decorating, and also taking care of him. I was getting very worried for a while, not knowing what exactly was wrong with foot and leg. So, on Tuesday morning, Kevin waited 4 hours to see the doctor. He ended up with a great doctor who ruled out everything else and finally did an MRI on him. The result ended up being that Kevin's muscle was partially torn and there had been some damage to the Achilles tendon. Kevin won't be able to walk on his right leg for 6-8 weeks. He will also have to have physical therapy. However, even though Kevin was injured, he still has a great attitude and seems to keep smiling! I'm glad he's not a whiner and has a good attitude even though he is going through this. I'm wondering if that will change after a few weeks! We'll see. He's tougher than I am, that's for sure! I think after he heels up, I'm going to go to a spa! Well, my wifely duties call. Wish me luck!

Jodi and Justin's Wedding Invite!

2011-05-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

I just got my sister Jodi's wedding invitation in the mail today! I created it and I'm so happy with the result! I think I'm going to have to start making them for other people! I also created their RSVP card to go along with them! Jodi and Justin will be married in just a few months! I'm really excited for them both! I can't wait!

30 Before 30 Update. 193

2011-05-20T01:41:00.000-07:00

Here's an update on my weight loss! I'm still so happy that I achieved my goal of losing 30 pounds this year, especially before my 30th birthday. I'm happy to announce I have lost 3 more pounds since the last I posted about my weight loss. However, I'm bummed that within a month, it's only been 3 pounds. I think I need to push myself a little more with the excercise. We are currently moving into our new place, well...I should say, I'm moving everything with Kevin not able to move a thing since he needs to stay off of his foot, so I'm getting my excercise there. I have been stressed out quite a bit this month, so that may have a lot to do with not losing more weight then I wanted. However, I'm not giving up. I'm still eating healthy and I'm striving to keep going. Once we are settled into our place, I'm going to take more walks. I'm going to be near the high school track, so that will be a new goal of mine, to walk the track 3 times a week. I'm looking forward to it!

My goal is to get to 160.

11/28/10: 226

1/6/11: 220

1/24/11: 217

2/6/11: 214

2/9/11: 211

2/14/11: 210

2/27/11: 208

3/18/11: 203

4/2/11: 199
4/20/11: 196

5/20/11: 193

Total of pounds lost: 33

Hello!

2011-05-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've blogged. I have been very busy. Here's the update:

The moving is going well. I really love the house we are renting! It was built sometime in the 70's. No, it doesn't have the 70's type shag carpeting, but it light and bright! I can't wait to post before and after photos when we get settled in. Money is tight right now, since I'm paying rent on two places. Our lease ends at the end of June, but luckily the landlord will work with us and we might get our rent for June back if the place is left in great condition, which I'm sure it will be. Either way, we'll get money back from our deposit.

I've lost 2 pounds since the last time I posted about losing weight. However, I do feel that I've reached a point where I will need to work extra harder to lose another 30 pounds. It really is difficult. I'm happy that I've finally got my diet under control and I'm eating healthier than I use to. I'm just happy I reached my goal this year.

Work is going great, busy as always. On top of work, I've been trying to get more photo shoots in. I have a garage now, which I do see myself doing future photo shoots in someday. I think I'll create my own backdrops with light props.We'll see!

I was invited to go White Water Rafting at the end of June! I'm really excited! Last year I was able to go, but it was for a couple days. I will actually be gone this year for 5 days! I'm so excited! On top of it, it is for work and I get paid to have fun! I love my job!

Kevin hurt himself playing Volleyball the other day. He tore up his tendon on his back leg, so now he's limping around. Then on top of it, we ended up with a flat tire and we will need to buy another. So on top of the moving, I'm going through husband and car problems. They are not functioning! Well, it's not their fault, so I'll just deal with it! So, we are taking our time with the move. I'm hoping to have all the big stuff in by next weekend.

I hope everyone is doing well. Happy Weekend!

30 Before 30 Update: I did it!

2011-04-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I have reached my goal of losing 30 pounds before I'm 30 this year! I turn 30 in November, so it's plenty of time to keep going and lose more weight. I'm going to try to work hard to lose another 30! So now my posts will say...60 before 30!

11/28/10: 226

1/6/11: 220

1/24/11: 217

2/6/11: 214

2/9/11: 211

2/14/11: 210

2/27/11: 208

3/18/11: 203

4/2/11: 199

and now...

4/20/11: 196

Total of pounds lost: 30

I'm 1/2 way there to reaching my new goal!

I do need to take extra steps into reaching my goal.

Add some running into my daily walking.
Do more cardio excercises
Crunches
Yoga

We are Moving!

2011-04-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

Kevin and I found a cute little house on the "sunny side" of town! We've been looking for a house to rent that is within our budget, and we finally found it! It's a two story, 3 bedroom, 1 and a 1/2 bath, has a back deck, front and back yard, 1 car garage, dishwasher, washer dryer hook ups, cable hookups for satellite TV in all the rooms, and a fireplace! These are all the things we don't currently have, so we are very happy about it! It's also $55 more in rent than what we are paying for now! We will actually save money, since we are currently paying $65 for a storage unit, which we will no longer use! I also like that it's closer to church, however it will be an extra 5 minute drive to work, but so worth it!

We are really looking forward to not having to drive across the bridge just to go do our laundry at the laundry mat. We are looking forward to being able to BBQ with our friends and family. I'm looking forward to not have to tip toe so much when walking at night. We can finally listen to our music and watch TV at a volume without having to worry about the neighbor above us, below us, or the side of us complaining. We are looking forward to not having to park on another block, since all the spaces on the street are taken up near our apartment by the time we come home from work. Our new place has a long driveway that goes to the garage, which is great! I'm looking forward to planting a garden and possibly grow my own herbs and veggies! The yard has a few planters that I can grow flowers in as well! We are also looking forward to being in a nice neighborhood. We know a few people already on the street! I'll also be able to walk to the park or walk to the high school track to get some excercise, which I plan on doing weekly! We are also looking forward to going on more bike rides, since our bikes will no longer be in storage.Yeah, we are really excited!

We get to move after May 5th. The unfortunate part of this move is that we will be paying rent on two places. Our apartment lease ends at the end of June. Our current landlord is working with us and we just may get our money back for June's rent if we leave our place sparkly clean! So, money will be tight, but luckily we can do it right now. The fortunate part is that we don't have to move so quickly and can take our time, which will be great! We've done a great job already being organized, so I'm sure the move will go smooth. I can't wait to start taking pictures and posting them! I'll be sure to do a before and after once we are moved in!

One more thing we are looking forward to is that we celebrate by having a BBQ Housewarming Party once we are settled in! We are already thinking about future parties and I'm looking forward to an 80's theme night! Can't wait!

Until then...we will be busy packing, cleaning, organizing, and decorating!

Spring Blossoms

2011-04-19T03:14:00.000-07:00

Go to my photography site to check out the new Spring Blossom photos!

Things I'm Looking Forward to...

2011-04-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to new adventures in the next couple of years. Thing I'm looking forward to:

Moving into a house. We hope to rent a house before the end of this year. We have already been house hunting. We are not buying at that moment, since we are not comfortable getting into the market at this time and the quality of the houses in this area are not in the greatest shapes. Renting is the best for us.
I'm hoping to lose 38 more pounds before the end of the year. I'm happy to have already lost 28. I'm not giving up and I'm now aware that certain foods help speed my metabolism and some foods slow it down. I'm getting better at it. I've also exercised more and my goal is to continue.
Take more photos! I'm so happy that the sun is out more. I'm looking forward to upcoming photo shoots!
Take a vacation. I'm taking 3 weeks off in August, starting with our wedding anniversary on July 31, then going to the county fair, hoping to go down the coast, then we'll be up north for my sister Jodi's wedding, in which after we will continue to visit more family!
Jodi's wedding day. I'm so excited to be her photographer! I've been practicing using my camera, studying other photographers, and I am starting to feel more comfortable when taking photos! I also can't wait to get the wedding invitation in the mail. I created it, so I can't wait to see how it turned out since I sent them to her online! If they are good, I'm going to start selling them!
My 30th Birthday is in November. I don't think turning 30 is really exciting, but it's going to happen I like it or not. However, I'm going to make it fun and exciting! I'm not sure what it will be, but it will be great!
Chloe's Graduation. My niece Chloe will be graduating next year in June, 2012! I'm really excited for her! I promised my sister that I would be there. It will be in Florida! Kevin and I have never been to Florida, so we are looking forward to it. We are thinking of doing Disney World as well!
Greece. My sister Julie told me that her and her husband may be moving to Greece, which is where her husband will be stationed. Wow! That is far away, but it gives me one great reason to leave this country for 3 weeks just to visit her, so I definately have vacation plans for 2013 to go to Greece! I would go sooner, but I can only take so much vacation each year and I'm not rich you know!

I'm already day dreaming about it!

GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-04-16T01:07:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a Giveaway!

Head over to:

and enter!

Giveaway ends Friday, April 22nd

Good luck!

Dear Cupcake: I miss you!

2011-04-09T02:54:00.000-07:00

I sure miss making cupcakes. However, I don't miss gaining the weight from just licking my fingers after every time I'm done icing cupcakes! I sure do love these pretty images of cupcakes!

via quenchmyheart

via Bakerella

via carrieroseman

via mydiychat

via jmundodesigns

via thepastrystudio

via weheartit

via dreier

via aboutweddings

via dailymail

via kevinandamanda

30 Before 30 Update!

2011-04-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

I'm soooooooooooo excited! I'm jumping up and down! If you could see me, my expression may look like I just won a million dollars! I am finally below 200 pounds! I'm now at 199!!! I stepped on the scale 3 times today just to make sure I was seeing the same #. I'm really really REALLY excited! I'm now 3 pounds away from my goal of of losing 30 pounds before I'm 30. That was my new years resolution, which I will soon get to cross off! However, I'm striving to get to 160. All I'm doing is eating really healthy and walking more! I'm loving it! Now I just need to do some cardio to drop some pant sizes!

11/28/10: 226

1/6/11: 220

1/24/11: 217

2/6/11: 214

2/9/11: 211

2/14/11: 210

2/27/11: 208

3/18/11: 203

and now....

4/2/11: 199....I'm dancing my booty off in excitement right now!

Total of pounds lost: 27

I will let you know when I reached 195. It will be official that I reached my goal. I will then set up a new goal to continue 30 before 30. How cool would it be if I lost 30 more pounds before I'm 30? That's the goal!

Spring!

2011-03-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

"I looked out the window and what did I see?

Popcorn popping on an Apricot Tree!

Spring has brought me such a nice surprise.

Blossoms blossoming right before my eyes!

I can take an armful and make a treat.

A popcorn ball, oh it smells so sweet!

It wasn't really so, but it seemed to me...

Popcorn popping on an Apricot Tree!"

New Coasters, OMG, That is so cute!

2011-03-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

Check out my new etsy shop "OMG, That is so cute!":

(Click on the image)

Check out the coasters I made! I named them after family members. They are $2.50 each!

All of us...

2011-03-25T01:23:00.000-07:00

All of us have thousand wishes. To be thinner, to be bigger, have more money, have a cool car, a day off, a new phone, to date the person of your dreams. A cancer patient only has one wish, to overcome cancer. I know that 97% of you won’t reblog this on your blog, but I hope my followers will be the 3% that do. In honor of someone who died, or is fighting cancer, or even had cancer, post this for at least one hour

I got this from my niece Chloe, who blogged this! Thanks Chloe!

(Kevin's and my grandfather both passed away due to Cancer.)

Supervisor of the Year!

2011-03-24T01:06:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday at work, Celebrating Excellence Awards were presented at our all staff meeting. Earlier in the year, we were able to nominate staff in many areas. If our name was called, we were nominated, and were asked to stand. I was nominated for a few categories and then awarded as the Supervisor of the Year! At that moment, it felt like it was the Academy Awards, except with no gowns, high hair, lots of makeup, cameras, and the whole enchilada! It just reminded me of the part where you could see all the nominees, and then the name was called out! This is a big deal and I was extremely surprised to hear my name! It's a huge accomplishment and I am very grateful and honored to be selected and I feel very honored that I was also nominated for other categories! I feel very blessed to work with so many great people! I'm going to celebrate by getting my hair done this month!

This year, my goal is to face some challenges and change! I went into a new position at work at the end of January and I work more directly with newer students. I also love my team! I have been there for almost 2 months now and I'm really loving it. We have a great time working together. There are so many more stairs to walk up and down, so I get more excercise! I also have an amazing boss! She is extremely supportive. Not everyone can say they enjoy their job or enjoy going to work. I do. I do have my days where I am overwhelmed, but I sure do feel that my job spoils me quite a bit. There are some great benefits to working where I work! It's really rewarding, especially seeing those who I have helped, complete the program! On top of accepting this huge award, I have lost 23 pounds. I think it's more like 25, but I don't want to get my hopes up. The scale could be lying! :) This job has been a great challenge. The change has been amazing. It's not just the job change, but it's my confidence and raising my self-esteem a little more. I'm working on believing that I can do anything and to not give up.

Visiting Kevin's Family

2011-03-20T03:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Kevin and I went to The Dalles to visit his family! We went out for breakfast, went to the movies, and enjoyed playing with the kids! We sure love our nephews and niece! It was also our first time meeting our new nephew Ayden! I also got to meet Kevin's cousin, DJ.

Ayden. I love the picture of Kevin's mom holding him! Very sweet!

Paige, Brent, Ayden, and Tyler

Kevin with his mom and sister Stefanie

Stefanie and Ayden

Brent, Paige,

Tyler, and Ayden

Kevin, Stef, his mom, Ayden, Brent, Tyler, and Paige

Tyler is such a ham! He's so funny! He sure loves the camera! Kevin enjoyed playing with the kids!

Brent. He wanted me to take pictures of him while he was in the air! We must have taken 20 pictures just to get it! He's so adorable!

I'm Digging Mumford & Sons

2011-03-19T21:54:00.000-07:00

I'm really digging the new album "Sigh No More" by Mumford & Sons. I'm really into folk/indie music and this is a great album. I had it playing full blast while cleaning my room and shaking my booty! I think I'll be listening to this album next time I go on a road trip or taking a bubble bath!

30 Before 30 Update!

2011-03-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

My Pants are falling off my butt! A week ago, when I was taking my pants off to use the bathroom, I realized I didn't even unbutton them! I just slid them off! My belt is also too big for me and I have to create a hole in it! I'm loving the fact that I'm losing weight from eating healthier and walking a lot more! So here's the update...

11/28/10: 226

1/6/11: 220

1/24/11: 217

2/6/11: 214

2/9/11: 211

2/14/11: 210

2/27/11: 208

and now....

3/18/11: 203

Total of pounds lost: 23

I am so close to achieving my goal and being below 200 pounds! It doesn't stop at 196...my goal again is to get to 160. I know it will take time. I'm not giving up!

30 Before 30 Update!

2011-03-01T02:30:00.000-08:00

If you don't already know, my goal is to lose 30 pounds before I'm 30! I turn 30 November 4, 2011. I am looking forward to a new me!

First, I would like to say that I believe that I need to be honest about my weight. I think if I were more open about my weight to the world, especially by those who just may go "Oh my goodness," "that's huge," or even stair at me with judgment, I may have more motivation to keep going. Well, apart of my goal is to become a new me. It's not just about eating healthy and losing weight. It is mostly about me feeling great about who I am and having more confidence, become more outgoing, quit hiding away all the time, and just enjoy life each day! So here goes...

11/28/10: 226

1/6/11: 220

1/24/11: 217

2/6/11: 214

2/9/11: 211

2/14/11: 210

and now...

2/27/11: 208

Phew! I did it. It's a little embarrassing, but I finally shared my weight! I dare you to do the same! It kind of remind me of when I watched the Tyra Banks Show and she had her whole audience wear a shirt with the # of pounds they weighed. The whole lesson behind it was being more comfortable in your own skin, being confident, and saying "so what" to those who judge us for our junk in the trunk! So yeah, "SO WHAT!!!"

I have lost a total of 18 pounds since I started this! I have never stuck to any diet goals like this ever before, so I am extremely proud of myself for sticking to this! I am 12 pounds away from reaching my goal (196 pounds) and it's March! Once I reach my goal, I am not giving up. My ultimate goal, even if it takes me until next year, it is to get to 160 pounds. That is the weight of when I first met Kevin! So, I will again make another goal to lose a certain amount of weight by a given deadline. I like deadlines! I like telling the whole world what my goals are and given deadlines, so I actually achieve them. I don't want to let anyone including myself down. I'm very competitive, so to do this for me, the award in the end will be amazing!

Just seeing these numbers makes me so proud of myself! I'm finally eating very healthy and in control of what goes into my body, I have no sugar cravings, and I feel more energized at work. I desperately would love to see my weight go under 200 pounds. I'm anxious! I just need to keep on going! What I'm starting to notice about myself is that my face looks skinner and my pants are starting to sag! I keep having to pull my pants up, so I have to keep wearing a belt! I love it! I feel more confident every time I see those numbers drop!

Now that I am in more control of what I eat, I just need to work on exercising more.

My goal for March is to: Walk 30 minutes a day! Rain or Shine!

So, here is a list of foods that have been in my diet in case you are interested:

Veggies. I eat just about all of them. I like to mix and match. I like to get the frozen veggies from the freezer isle, stock up and heat them up to go with chicken or fish.
Chicken or Fish. I stay away from red meet. No beef or pork. I love eating tuna fish and eat it with Spinach.
Eggs. Everyone loves to preach to me about not eating the yolk. You know what, I'm going to eat it anyways. I don't eat eggs every day, so once a week, won't hurt! I like to put a mix of veggies and cheese into my eggs! Green onions, mushrooms, cilantro, olives, tomatoes, and some pepper.
Salads. I've been very creative with salad. I will eat it with a tablespoon of dressing. Hey, you need a little flavor and it won't hurt! It's not like I'm drenching my salad in dressing like my husband does!
Fruit. It's my go to when I want something sweet. I haven't had many cravings for sugar, but I have learned so much about how great apples and berries are for just digesting your food. I love snacking on strawberries (once in a while I'll dip them in chocolate...mmm), blueberries, and grapes. They help my appetite and I'm less hungry later. I love adding berries to my cereal in the morning!
Yogurt. I love love love fat free yogurt! I'll have a cup of yogurt 2 or 3 times a week. It's a great treat!
Cereal, I stick to whole grains, and I love Special K! It's my go to carb of the day.
Oatmeal. It gives me energy for the day! I love adding blueberries to it! Stay away from the packages of oatmeal and stick to oats that you will have to cook on the stove. Don't add sugar. Just add a little milk and your fruit. I love to also cut up apples and mix them in the oatmeal. You can add a little Cinnamon! It's really good!

I have had to say no to:

Fried foods. Anything fried is a big no no.
Sugar, sweets, baked goods, ice cream, and all those yummy things we call junk food! The only sugar for me is in the fruit and yogurt. It's all I need. I realized when I was keeping track of what I was eating with my calorie counter when I first started my diet, was that I was always consuming bad sugar each day. It was my go to thing. I'm so glad I have that under control. Sugar brings down your energy, but also packs on the calories each time you eat it. Sugar is in so many things now these days: bread, chips, etc. It's the best stuff on the planet, but this woman here gains a lot of weight from it!
White carbs such as pasta, bread, rice, and some cereals. I check the amount of carbs on everything I eat. If it is high in carbs or above 15 carbs per serving, I try my best to stay away from them. Carbs are my enemy.
No to fruit juice that is high in fructose corn syrup, orange juice, sweet tea, etc. I can't remember where I read this, but I think it was from the Women's Health Magazine I read online: if you were to stop drinking things that are loaded with sugar and calories, you could lose a lot of weight alone each year. I know every body type is different and some people may be able to drink whatever they want without gaining weight, but I believe that part of my weight gain had to do with me drinking soda and juice everyday. As a substitute: I stick to water, milk, and on occasion I'll drink my favorite Zero Calorie Sobe Life Waters or Zero Calorie Gatorade. As a treat, I'll make myself a smoothie. It's just fruit, ice, and a little soy milk.
No to red meat. I believe it goes straight to the junk in my trunk. I'm also paranoid with the talk of farmers putting in "hormones" in their animals. It makes me sick to my stomach. Also, red meat is high in cholesterol. The Atkins diet is not for me. No thanks, I don't care to have heart attack!

Also...I have learned to say, "No Thank You!"

I work at a job where food seems to always be pushed in my face. My excuse before was that I didn't want to hurt their feelings, but now I am very open about bringing up my goal and they are very understanding!

My husband Kevin has become very supportive and has finally stopped asking me, "Hey, you want a doughnut?" He finally gets that if he asks me those kind of questions, he has an unhappy wife! He's too cute!

I love my co-workers. They are so supportive of my weight loss goals and most of them too seem to be dieting themselves, so we are a big support group! It's so awesome!

I will do another update at the end of March!

Meeting Cassandra!

2011-02-18T23:09:00.000-08:00

I had such a great time last weekend meeting my new niece, Cassandra (Cassie for short). She is so adorable! The first day I met her, she was wearing the shirt I got her that says, "I'm as cute as my Aunt!" It was also great to see my brother Jason and his wife Elizabeth! They are both great parents! It was also great to do a photo shoot! The pictures turned out so cute! Kevin and I also took them and my parents out for lunch before we left to come back home. On our way home, Kevin took me out for dinner at Applebees to celebrate Valentine's day, which was very sweet!

The Photo Shoot

Our Visit

Kevin's 34th Birthday

2011-02-05T01:03:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 30, 2011, Kevin had his 34th Birthday! Our friends, Mike, Eden, Paul, Tom, Ginger, and Cheyanne came over and celebrated with us! It was great to see them! Kevin, Mike, Eden, Paul, and I went to Pig n' Pancake and celebrated his birthday with brunch. They surprised him with a chocolate sundae! At home, I made him a homemade chocolate cake, lots of food, the guys watched Royal Rumble and played Texas Hold'em. Kevin won! Everyone had a great time!

Cassandra Maria Snow

2011-01-28T17:38:00.000-08:00

I'm an aunt again! I'm so happy for my brother Jason and his wife Elizabeth to have their first! I'm so glad they have been sending me mobile photos of her! I can't wait to see them in two weeks to do my first baby photo shoot!

Two happy parents! She's so cute!

New Items in My Shop!

2011-01-27T13:47:00.001-08:00

Check out the new items in my shop, just in time for Valentine's Day!

30 Before 30 Update

2011-01-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

Last time I weighed my self before today was11/28/10. As of today, 1/16/11, I have lost 6 pounds! I was so excited after weighing myself, I was dancing in my underwear! Okay, that just may be too much info for you! I am so happy. Monday, 1/17/11, will be day 14 of having no junk food! I've been eating extremely healthy, drinking lots of water, and occasionally I have been squeezing in some more crunches and a few exercises, which I know I need to do more of. I started this "30 before 30" on 1/3/11, without weighing myself. There was no point. I knew I had packed on the pounds or at least weighed the same since Thanksgiving. I ate too many bad things.

Since I've been on this new diet of eating more healthy, I feel that I have more energy, more motivation, and I'm learning more about myself and what is going into my mouth. I never really paid too much attention before of what is on the back of the nutritional facts of food, but now that I am, I have realized that before I was consuming way too many calories a day and didn't have enough fruit or veggies in my diet. I enjoy eating healthy, so I'm glad that I'm sticking to fruit and veggies daily, as well as chicken and fish. I've been getting creative with salads, seasonings, and trying new things.

So far, so good!

Pom Pom Heart Chandelier

2011-01-15T22:26:00.000-08:00

I made little pom poms out of tissue. It's easy to do...just get 1 peice of tissue and cut it so there is 8 peaces. Then fold it like a fan, tie the middle, pull it apart and poof!

I then made these bedazzling hearts to hang from them. I used my hot glue gun to glue on the marble accents and put on some sparkly gems on both sides of the hearts. I got these hearts from our local craft store.

I then tied my ribbon onto the pom pom and onto the hearts! I then hung all 3 from our boring kitchen light. It looks pretty now!

Linking up with these fun Linky Craft Parties!

Valentine's Day Wreath

2011-01-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure how this wreath was going to come together with all the things I found to make it. I used holiday garland that was 70% off, clear marble accents, a circle Styrofoam, ribbon, and a few heart embellishments and this is what I came up with. I really like it! It hangs in our dining room in the middle of both windows.

I used a glue gun to put the marble accents on the Styrofoam. I also glued the garland around it.

Viola!

Linking up with these fun Linky Craft Parties!

Love Letters

2011-01-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed making these LOVE letter blocks. I used letter blocks, scrapbook paper called "Be Mine," beads and ribbon I got from our local craft store. I also used key charms that I got for 50 cents on Ebay a year ago and was happy to finally use them. I was really excited to see two pages in the scrapbook that went well with the key charms! This projects was simple to do after having all the items I needed.

Steps: 1. Traced the letter blocks on the back of the scrapbook pages. 2.Used Mod-Podge to seal the paper to the blocks. 3. Then used my glue gun to glue all the things I wanted to go on the blocks. Easy!

Speaking of LOVE, I love my husband so much. He surprised me the other day with these beautiful pink roses!

Linking up with these fun Linky Craft Parties!

DIY Shabby Wall Art

2011-01-09T23:08:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be re-decorating our bedroom as soon as we can get our new bedroom furniture set. It will have to be in the Spring. I have the comforters and cute things to go in the room, but needed to find something to go well with our black and white comforter. So, I decided to make my own wall art. All I used were stencils, a black marker, glitter, beads, hot glue gun, and canvases.

After I did my stenciling and coloring in, I put some glitter around the design and glued beads around the canvas to make a frame.

I can't wait to put these up in our room, when our room is done! I'll be sure to post an update on that!

Linking up with these amazing linky craft parties!

30 Before 30

2011-01-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

It seems that year after year I continue to make the same goal of losing weight. Well, this year, I'm extremely motivated. I don't know if it's because I'll get to see family I haven't seen in years in August, or if it's because I'm going to be turning 30 in November and it's always been my goal to be fit before I'm 30.

So, I made a very simple and easy goal for myself. "30 Before 30."

My goal is to lose 30 pounds before I'm 30. I plan to blog and give updates on my eating habits and excercise. My goal is to get more involved in activities and get back in shape. I would love to lose 60 pounds, but 30 is a start. I'm studying more about my metabolism and good foods vs. bad foods. I'm really motivated!

So, as for an update...

I've gone 4 days without sweets (candy, cookies, etc.).

I'm on my 4th day of eating right. I'm on a low calorie/low carb diet, which consists of eating lots of veggies and a little fruit each day! My goal is to stay away from red meat, pasta, breads, corn, and bad sugar. I also am trying to drink more water each day!

There's so many people at my work that are going on diets, and they have really inspired me! I think as a reminder, I'm going to post "30 Before 30" in big letters to display in my office and here at home.

I'm not ready to share my weight with the whole world, but I will give you updates on weight lost!

Anyone else out there with me on this?

Excited for August!

2011-01-07T04:17:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for August! I'm looking forward to my sister Jodi's wedding and to see all of my family! It's been a long time since we've all been together, so I'm really excited! I'm also trying to practice my photography skills as much as I can, since I'll be her photographer! I took this photo at my grandma's house when taking some of Jodi's engagement photos in the summer! Anyways, 7 months to go! Yes, I'm counting down!