Annoyances.

This is a post devoted to ranting and raving or simply just listing little things that get under my skin, irritate me, or annoy the hell out of me.. Maybe you can relate to some.

• When people tell the same story every time you see them... I already know, you already told me!!

• When someone is telling a story about something I was there for and details of the story are totally wrong. I just want to chime in and say "no no no, it wasn't like that, it was like this..." "Get it right, damnit!" :)

• Adults wearing Mickey Mouse or other children's character shirts. Really?

• People who don't have the decency to thank me for a gift that I did not have to give. How hard is it to send over an email (..well, or a facebook message) that says "THANK YOU FOR THE LOVELY GIFT." It takes 30 seconds MAX. Rude.

• Wal-Mart. It's always a interesting combination of folks who work AND shop in that store. Usually they are annoying.

• People who seem to always be sick with "something". A sore throat.. oh, must be meningitis! Maybe a rare form of cancer? Better get medication right away. Please.

• Screaming babies/kids in stores... and the parents doing nothing about it.

• When people tell their every thought and life story in their facebook status... Really, no one CARES that your great aunt Betsy is meeting your new boyfriend tonight at 7:48 pm and that you really hope she likes him because he's the greatest thing that has ever happened to you in your life and you can't wait to cuddle with him tonight when you watch The Wizard of Oz.

• When I talk to someone and their breath is horrendous. (this excludes significant others..) Don't people realize when they have bad breath? And if they do realize it, why don't they do something about it? Yuck!!

• People who don't write back to emails/messages. Again, how hard is it?

• When people feel the need to get married and have babies when they are in their early 20s. I'm happy for them if they are happy, I just don't understand it. Why rush into that?! Why not take some time for yourself when you are an adult.. travel, accomplish things, be YOUNG while you really are. That's just my opinion though.

• Thinking I look all good and cute when I leave the house, then seeing myself in a random mirror and realizing it is not true!

• Bad hair days.

• Rude strangers who can't fake a smile and be polite. Their lives must be terrible.

• The songs YMCA, the Macerana, and the Chicken Dance. These songs WILL NOT be played at my future wedding dance. Sorry.

• People who are dog-haters.

• Those who apologize for EVERYTHING constantly. If I bump in to you it is not your fault.. you don't have to say sorry!!

• Really loud head-banging music. Makes me want to scream and gives me a head ache.

• Office drama.

... I think I will add to this list as I think of more later... 

Arrivederci!

introducing Lucas.

photographs.

I used to photograph kids, babies, families, and [a couple] weddings, but in the past six months it has just sort of fizzled. I think back to when I did it and how much fun it was (well, not so much the weddings) and wonder to myself why i don't keep pursuing it. Why not continue doing something I am passionate about, something that makes me happy and that I, most importantly, enjoy doing? So, I am going to start again! This weekend I am photographing a 4-week old baby boy and can't wait! I will share some of my favorite photos on here. But first, here are quite a few photos from the last couple sessions I had.. enjoy!

it's official.

I have officially signed up for a race! It's hardly anything, but it is my first real race (other than track in high school) ever. I'll be running my heart out in the Fargo Marathon's 5K. Cory tried to convince me I could work my ass off and be ready for the half marathon, but with it only being six weeks away, I decided it might be pushing it. Had I been running quite a bit before this, I would consider it more. I think I'll save the half for later in the summer! This way, I can work hard and set a goal time to finish the 5K strong. Twenty-four minutes is what I'm thinking as of now. We'll see what happens in the weeks to come.

My sister is running the full marathon in Fargo and a cousin, the half, so it will be a very fun weekend with plenty of relatives to cheer us on! I am actually very excited for it and thrilled that I have a good reason to commit to running every day. Finally. 

It has been raining cats and dogs all day — how miserable. Looks like we will be hitting the gym to run on the treadmills tonight instead of outside. 

a successful first run.

I did it. It's officially begun. Yesterday was my first run of my 8-week training program. I've given Cory a part time job as my personal trainer and he couldn't be happier (right!?). We ran outside around the golf course. As we were walking down the driveway to begin I said "Well, we're going to warm up for a bit, right?" (thinking we're going to walk for 5 minutes or so) and as we stepped onto the street he said back "Yep, that was our warm-up, now we run!". And so we did. Right off the bat, against the wind.. and then, a giant hill (I thought it was giant!). The urge to walk faded after the first mile and I felt good. My new shoes rock; they never once rubbed or felt uncomfortable. We ran and ran and ran. Cory chatted and chatted as if it was easy to hold a casual conversation. Well, it's not quite that easy for me just yet so he said he'd make it easy on me and just ask one-word-answer questions. "yes.", "no.", "shut-up!". :) In the last mile we went by someone's trashy yard that housed a couple giant black labs.. one of them not so friendly. His fur stood up on his back while he ferociously barked at us, running along the edge of the yard. Thank goodness those invisible fences actually work or we may have been tackled!! We were almost done... there were two more giant (these really were giant) hills, the finish line just at the top of the second. (keep in mind, against the wind again) As we started upwards on the first hill, my legs felt like bricks and my chest was tight. I think I swore at the hill and said I didn't know if I could do it. Cory just said "You can't quit now!" as he continued to run a couple steps in front of me. So with his motivation, I kept going, and made it to the top of that second hill without walking! I felt like I had just run a marathon, but that's just me... after all, this was just the first run of many to come in the next 8 weeks. After a few more runs like this, it will be a piece of cake for me too. 

week one of eight.

Well, it's nothing crazy, but it's a start. A start for me. A goal. My motivation. 

I've been struggling to stick with a workout routine in the last however many months and it's driving me bananas. I have a million people around me who are so good at it, a sister who makes me look like the laziest person in the world (still love you, sis!), and a constant voice in the back of my head telling me every single day that I have to start before things get out of control!! Start now so I actually look normal in a bikini in Florida (with my perfectly fit sister) at the end of May, start now so I look normal all summer in tank tops and dresses, start now so I am healthy, start now so I fit into (and look nice) in a bridesmaids dress in November, start now so I feel better about myself and have more energy (maybe then I will be to work early!), just fricken start now. 

I bought new runners which is motivation number one (image), summer is quickly approaching (and a Florida vacation) which is motivation number two, and now I have a goal — an eight week training program to run a 10K race. I know it's not a marathon, or even an half marathon, but it's my start. After I prove to myself that I can succeed with this, I will move on to bigger races and hopefully be one of those people who sticks to a workout routine. One of those people who others envy for their commitment to staying healthy. Wish me luck!!

little teeny tiny baby. one & a half years old. forty-five pounds.