Unwanted opinions

I've been victim to the dreaded unwanted opinion; only in reverse. I've been the unwanted opinion giver...not receiver. Isn't it the worst when you discover that its YOU sharing your "thoughts" and "suggestions" when no one ever asked? But you feel you need to give it?

Since coming into the light of recognition, I've made such an effort to A) notice when I'm doing it. and B) stop myself before doing it. A is easy, B takes some effort.

A few months ago, my friend and I were texting and out of the blue I offered her some "constructive criticism" regarding something she had done. She didn't ask, but I felt I could "help" her by offering up my critique. Needless to say, she didn't respond and days had gone by in silence. Each day that passed I would read and re-read my text, and started to feel that maybe my advice wasn't going over well. By day three, I texted an apology, which opened the door to discuss the situation. Come to find out, I had done the exact same thing to her months earlier, and well, she was tired of it.

Understandably so.

Bad thing was, I had no idea I had done it to her before! Shows how much I give my opinion so freely!

Since then I've worked really hard to zip my lips, and not share unless asked (still a work in progress, let me tell ya). But then another thing was brought to my attention by another friend. I'm a "finisher". When someone's talking, I jump in (jump sounds better than "cut off") and finish their sentence because I already know what they're going to say (I'm just smart like that)... but then I don't, and they'll respond with "no...I was going to say this, this, and that".  Drats! Why are these people still friends with me!? I know I can be a pill.

Needless to say, since learning that I not only give unsolicited advice, but also cut people off and finish what they're going to say, I've made enormous efforts to sit and listen. Sit there, mouth closed with no intent to speak-eyes on them-listen. You know what? I've actually been able to tell a difference. They might not, but its made me become more present to that person in that moment, where I'm not thinking of my response or interjection, but just listening and taking in what they're saying. Again, this is still a {huge} work in progress, but its progress!

And I have to say, I'm so thankful I have friends who are willing to come forward to share these failings of mine. Point them out in the gentle way they do. Its friends like these I want to keep around because they hold me accountable, as I need it..and I need it!

Major life lessons being learned over here, my friends.


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Shocked

I’m shocked my $2 didn’t produce $600,000,000 for me.

I guess I’ll have to go on my with daily life. My yard sale also did not yield me $600,000,000, which almost disappointed me more than the actual lottery. In fact, it was a downright bust that left me quite defeated, and a little guilty for taking up my friend’s weekend since I borrowed her front yard to have it.

When I say it was a bust, I mean it couldn’t have gone any worse than it did. I take that back! no one showing up would have been worse, rather than the 10 {maybe} that did who bought things over the 2 days. It was weird, and unusual and discouraging taking almost all of my stuff back home with me.

When I said I was ‘afraid’ to have it Friday, it was because I was afraid of the hassle to price everything that night, but that was a breeze compared to the crickets I heard for 2 days straight. On the plus side, it allowed me to spend time with my friend that I never get to see and sit outside on a porch to enjoy the 2 beautiful days that we had and finally picking up a book to read. I can’t tell you the last time I read a book. It was so enjoyable, friends.

So though I didn’t make bank like I was really hoping for, it got me outside, with friends, enjoying the cool breeze and a good book. Nothing wrong with that.

Saturday, after packing up early, I raced to a baby shower, a baby shower for Callie, if you remember, I helped shoot her wedding last year.

My ‘table’ of friends.

If all goes right and I can make it, I’ll also be photographing her birth. That’s right! I finally found someone who’ll let me.. and is eager to let me no less!! I’ve very excited.

I had to cut the shower a little short so I could make my hair appointment and I was excited and nervous for this one. Its been an ongoing battle to find a stylist who I think is a good fit here and I was giving yet another girl a chance. Even though she beat up my head with the roller brush and attempted to rip out every single strand of hair while brushing and drying it, she gave a pretty darn good cut and this girl is pleased.

a moment in between the pain


Can you really tell I got a cut? No, but it feels lighter, softer and healthier and that’s all I needed.

I hope all of you had a nice enjoyable weekend…and perhaps one that was a little more lucrative than mine.

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A thankful me - 32

Do you ever look forward to something and count down to it? Of course you do! Who doesn’t?!

I realized last Friday that Labor Day is in 2 weeks. When I saw I was getting that Monday off, I was so excited and proceeded to count down the days. 2 Mondays away, my friends…2 Mondays away.

I had a pretty decent weekend. All went well with it ending with my neighbor coming over with wine in hand. Though I must admit, I was having some major guilt going on all weekend long. How much less would you think of me if I said that I’m still editing my friend’s family pictures…and the wedding I helped do…from 3 months ago? That truthfully, I haven’t even touched the wedding pictures and up until yesterday, had only edited 5 of my friend’s family pictures?

I finished the family pictures last night. see…

…and as I was sipping wine with my friend, all I could think about was the fact I haven’t even gotten to the wedding pictures yet. And not only that, but it struck me that I took the groomsmen pictures… not the other photographer. I completely forgot that I was the only one to take those.

Have I been really busy these past 3 months? Yes. But have there been moments where I sat on the couch not moving for hours? Yes.

The guilt deepened when out of the blue, the bride texts me. As soon as I saw her name, I knew it was over the pictures (obviously), and sure enough she was asking for them..or at least the grooms pictures. To say I wanted to crawl under a rock is an understatement. What a let down I’ve been!

I now have a very tight deadline to get them done. Ironically, I have just about no time to do them this week, my schedule is jam packed, but I can’t really feel bad about that since I’ve put it off for so long. I don’t know when it happened but I’ve noticed I’ve become a last minute girl. Putting projects off until the last minute at work. Projects I have 30 days to complete that I’m doing from start to finish on day 30.

I tell myself repeatedly how I need to get on it, but still manage to ‘find other things’ to do. SO if you were thinking of me for your family pictures (you locals who read my blog), uuhh you may wanna consider someone else.

whoo! Didn’t mean to be so long winded about that but when your weekend is fraught with guilt, guess that’s all a person can talk about.

I will say I’m thankful I got one group of pictures done. Relieved is a better word for it.

How was your weekend? Hopefully nothing filled you with guilt, cause it’s a bit if a weekend killer, ya know…

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Put a lid on it

Ladies, I’m blown away by your comments on yesterday's post. Truly blown away. I loved how passionate you all got on the topic and not only that, how passionate and committed you are for your husbands! I love it!

I have so much to learn from all of you. You guys are a well spring of knowledge!

I realize I’m not the best example all the time. I get perturbed sometimes, way too easily. I mumble under my breath backhanded comments like a pro, and I judge. I say I don’t but I do..ok, I say I do. I work hard not to and fight the urge but it happens.

If there’s one thing that I need to learn that hasn’t quite caught on, that the wiser Emily refrains from, is sharing stories about co workers. And I’ll add on; random people I meet who may or may not have my cell phone number. Because there is that slight possibility, regardless of how much you don’t talk about your blog, they could one day find it.

How crappy would that be if they stumbled upon a post and realized it was about them? Pretty crappy.

Tuesday night I had a bit of a scare that I think darn near set me straight. I had 2 new followers on instagram. First thought was, great! new followers make me smile. But once I saw who they were I got a bit confused how they found me.

They are both in real life acquaintances…that I never shared I was on instagram, let alone my name on there. One, I was ok with, but the other…well the other I’ve kinda been openly sharing certain stories about this week…

*hangs head in shame*

I swear, I’m a horrible example. Never take after me.

Who knew you could open your contacts in Instagram and find who has an account??! I sure didn’t! Until Tuesday. I can only hope no one feels the need to look through my old photos showing my blog.

I’ve pretty much learned my lesson. It goes back to gossiping without using names, its still gossiping. I hate when I’m guilty of the things I blog about saying I’m not going to do.

Feel free to chastise me vehemently.

                                             this is a, reflect on what you just learned ‘deep thoughts’ picture

Have a good Deep Thoughts caption for this picture? do share!

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If I were a blonde…

Let me throw up my disclaimer early.

::Blonde jokes…there’s a ton of them. If you’re blonde; real or boxed, I’m not saying you’re dumb. Kapeesh?::

If I were a blonde, I could say I had a complete blonde moment the other day. …and every other time I do something completely and utterly stupid.

Take for instance my fireplace. I spent well over 30 minutes getting it to light (its gas). I held my fire starter thingy up against the pilot, while pushing in the pilot ignition over and over and over again and it would never ever light.

My thumb was killing me from pushing it in for so long. I finally gave up (even though I lit it just fine the previous year) and called my landlord to have maintenance come out and light it for me.

I was baffled at it not wanting to light and couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was wrong with it. I would sit and stare at it, completely confused.

Then yesterday, maintenance walks in and you want to know the 1st thing he does?!?

TURNS ON THE GAS!



I’m an idiot.

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I will cut you!

Because a ton of people encouraged me to do it. 2 people = a ton in my mind.

There’s a reason why I don’t craft. Or pretend I’m crafty. I am 200% not a crafty person and its very rare when I have that desire to be crafty. I see all these sweet people who can make whatever their heart desires. Wreaths, head bands..and umm, other stuff. But this girl, <thumb jerking toward myself> is not one of those sweet people.

I could blame my mom…but I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate it very much, but just know <said in whisper> its technically her fault.

I sent my mom a picture of my new and improved mantle and she loved it but said if there was 1 thing she would change it would be the stick thing because there was a lot of black and brown up there. Therefore suggesting a vase w/greens and reds shooting out of it. <or something like that>

Ah, good point mom. I will be the dutiful daughter that I am and listen to her wise ways in décor, because she knows what she’s talking about.

Off to Michaels I go. A store I never go in. Walking through every single aisle, I consider what the heck to put up there and fall upon peacock feathers.

Anyone that knows me, knows I’m not a feather person or would ever consider having feathers in my home. But I felt it was time to be different and I went with it. Wouldn’t you know, I didn’t have a vase right for the feathers..and not to mention, I didn’t buy enough feathers to make it appealing, but I persisted and washed, dried and used a clear vase.

Since anyone with eyes could clearly see the green thing you stab your stuff in (whatever it is) at the bottom, the vase needed to be covered. Enter my ribbon. Round and round it goes, looking more and more horrible but I continue because I lose all interest in caring.

At the end, I go to snip with my brand new scissors and –whoop. My right hand got all jealous of my left hand and yelled, ‘I WILL CUT YOU!’ and took its jealously out by snipping right into it.

I flung the scissors, flopped on the ground and wailed, “WHY GOD? WWHHHHHHY??!!

{ok, that’s not true.}

But I did gasp, stare at it for a good while until I realized I probably should get up and do something. So, I grabbed my phone to take a picture. (yes, I’m officially a blogger. I take pictures before tending to my wound.)

This just solidifies how much I shouldn’t create anything.

Now bring on the honesty. Which do you prefer? The feathers or the stick thingy?

Feathers??


Or stick thingy??

And yes, I did cover up G-man’s face in the picture. =)

And here’s my dining room, where I didn’t have to do any cutting!

You know I love you, momma!

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Trip fail

There’s a reason why I keep things to myself most of the time. Why when people ask about certain ‘events’ in my life I refrain from giving them the details and play coy.

Over many years, I’ve learned this lesson the hard way, telling people my exciting news only to have it backfire. So imagine my chagrin when a trip that’s normally solidified on G-man’s word, a trip that I kept almost virtually to myself, gets canceled, and ok, yes, I told a few of you my plans. *sigh*

I was going to spend my birthday in Hawaii. G-man was going to fly me out a few days before and I was going to be there for 3 weeks.

Happy Birthday to me, right?!

via

Unfortunately he has to go to the south for work just a few days after my bday and we agreed it’s pointless only to have me be there for 1 week. I realize most people only spend a week in HI but this is me, where I spend a month or more there at a time and 1 week can’t be justified on the pocketbook.

I’m so bummed, like absolutely positively bummed beyond bummed. Now I have nothing to do for my epic day or weekend!

Epic FAIL is what its turning out to be.

This is typical Emily fashion right here. Super excited about things, about my big ol’ stinkin’ birthday and doing something to remember it and have it end in crappiness.

*unintentional pun there..ol’ stinkin’ …end in crappiness…gotta make light somewhere, right? ha!

Ok, I’m sorry. It still has potential to be something. And I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be a downer. I’m just sad, I have no plans now and I put way too much on this day and got myself disappointed.

Maybe it’ll turn out to be ok. There’s still a few days left to figure something out.

Anyone worked on any ideas? Remember when I said I needed your suggestions? I’m AAAAALL ears!

And seriously, since I can’t have you guys wanting to scratch your eyes out over this more than depressing post, I’ll leave you with some other ‘fails’ courtesy of pinterest.



and last but not least:

via via via via
that last one alone is doing the trick for me…

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