I need your help ladies!

Ok, so for a while now I've been thinking that I really need to invest in a laptop computer. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my iMac, but I've realized how much better my life would be if I incorporated a laptop into the mix. I feel like I am completely out of the loop when I'm back here

In my office

At the back of the house

Working on Pictures

while my poor husband hangs out by himself in the living room :(

I understand that I would STILL be on the computer, but at least I would be spending time with him as well. Anyway, long story short, I have NO idea what I should get. As far as I know, a Mac is the best out there, but I just don't think I can fork out that kind of cash right now!

So, here's where you girls come in! What do you think? Do you have a laptop that you just love? If so, please tell me about it! It doesn't have to be anything fancy. I just ask for enough "juice" to download my Photoshop onto, and be able to get internet connection. I still plan on using my precious Mac for all my big projects!

Originality Please?!

Do you ever see something that someone else has done and think, "Hey! That's a great idea."? Absolutely. It happens to me all the time. From somebody's great outfit, a cute decor tip, or anything else that interests me, I am really inspired by other people's ideas. I think it is a compliment to have someone ask me where I got something, or how I did something else. Really, I am NOT stingy with details.

However. I must admit that it bothers me to some degree when someone steals my EXACT idea for a picture. I understand that in this day and time, EVERYONE can have a professional camera. And, I think that is great, but I have put in hours and hours of practice and studying to learn what little I know about this business. To me, it isn't a business for monetary gain. I do it because I love it. Seriously. If no one else ever asked me to take a picture for them again, I would continue to do it for myself because it is part of who I am.

Everyone who I've ever taken picture for knows that I have a photography website. It is there for anyone who chooses to take a look at my work. I worked long and hard to make sure it was a direct reflection of my style. You wouldn't believe the number of photographs I have seen from acquaintances that are mirror images of my pictures. It is unbelievable. I mean, can you not tweak it a little to make it yours?! Don't get me wrong, I'm not "tooting my own horn" by any means. All I ask for is some originality. PLEASE!!!

Dear Mr. LG Front Load Washing Machine,

I want you to know that I do not like you very much. Better yet, I feel strongly enough about you to say that I hate you. When my husband brought you home, I thought you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. However, after almost 4 years, I really despise you. Your looks are quite deceiving. 

Not only do you take special "HE" washing liquid (you just can't use the cheap stuff can you), you are far from being special. I think I would be better off living primitively and washing our clothes by hand. Did you know that if I don't remove my clothes as soon as the buzzer goes off, they smell like rotten eggs. I'm sorry Mr. Washer, but I don't always have time to remove my clothes so promptly. Don't you know I have other chores to tend to? I guess you don't care, do you? You also require a twice weekly cleaning. Aren't you supposed to take care of that? Nasty gunk gets trapped near your door, and cleaning that makes me almost physically sick. I go through mutiple Clorox wipes just keeping you clean. I only want to buy wipes for Wyatt, NOT YOU!

Your partner, Mrs. Dryer isn't too bad, although she can't get our clothes dry in one cycle. Oh yeah, and her "drying sensor" basically sucks. She can't tell when they're dry, and my towels come out feeling like they've just been used. Ugh. I want them to be all fluffy and warm. This never happens.

So, there you have it. As soon as I get the hubby to agree to it, you are out of here Mr. Washer. I would rather have your cheap counterpart. After all, bending down to get my clothes out of a washer wouldn't be so bad after all. I hope you straighten up your act, or no one will want you! Believe me, I don't think you have the best reputation after all.

Your annoyed owner,

Mrs. E

Happy Birthday Morgan

On August 23, 1976 this beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed being was born. 

I fully believe that God put him on this earth to be my partner in life. 

He is the best husband and father I've ever witnessed.

He is a Godly man.

There is no other man more hard working, or strong willed than him.

He has a laugh that is infectious.

A smile that lights up a room.

Today on his special day, he didn't use it as an opportunity to be self-absorbed.

Today on his special day, he did what he thought needed to be done: he worked.

He cares more about Wyatt and I than anything else on earth, and he tells us that everyday.

I know that the rest of our life will be wonderful, because he will make sure of that.

So today on August 23, 2009, I wish my best friend a happy birthday.

I can't imagine how great he will be in 33 MORE years!

I love you Morgan more than you will ever know.

Question?!

I will be the first to admit that I am a total blog ADDICT! I LOVE reading blogs of all kinds. Photography, Home Decor, Style, Crafty, or just great family blogs. I'm glad to say that I call many of my bloggers true friends!

With that being said, I want to know what YOUR favorite blogs are?! I think it is neat to see what everyone else likes. It is also a good way to share something about yourself. Believe me, you can tell a lot about someone by what they read! 

Go Ahead!

Post it on YOUR blog, or reply here! I would really love to know some of the best blogs out there :)

Stinker

Why do I buy toys?

Wyatt would much rather do this.........

Pull every shoe in my closet off the shelf, and into the floor!

I think he thought I was going to be mad........

But it's pretty hard to get mad at this sweet face! Little stinker is exactly what he is :)

Vanished?

For the last two weeks, my blog updates have been acting really strange. Sometimes I get on, and everything's great. Other times, it says I'm not currently following any blogs?!?

Does anyone else have these problems?

It is getting really frustrating! I mean, how am I supposed to keep up with everyone if they keep going away?!?!

Lots of fun stuff coming up!

I was just looking at my calendar and realized how busy our lives are about to get! There are so many exciting things coming up in the next few months. I have a feeling the rest of the year is going to FLY by!

September

I have two shopping trips coming up at the beginning of September. The first is going to be with my BFF, Christy. We are heading up to Nashville for the day. Hopefully to get some really cute FALL clothes! I am so ready for cooler weather to get here. The next weekend, my mom and I are going over to Atlanta for a couple of days. She really wanted to do a mother/daughter trip, so we thought we would go visit their outlets. I'm super excited about that too, because I hear they have a great Pottery Barn outlet! 

The 24th of September is me and the Hubby's 4th anniversary! I can't believe it has already been 4 years. I hope to be able to do something very special for that as well. We usually try to go up to Nashville for the night. Who knows what we might get into this year!

October

This will probably be our busiest month! We go up to MD the first weekend for my brother's wedding. I'm really excited. We are going to visit D.C. the day before. This will be our first trip on a plane with Wyatt. It should be rather interesting to say the least!

The weekend after we return from MD, we head down to Gulf Shores for a friend's wedding. I am so thrilled. I thought we weren't going to be able to do a beach trip this year, but since it's work related (I'm doing the pictures), we are heading down for the weekend! It will be a short trip, but it will be with lots of friends, so we are bound to have a great time :)

Ok, so most of you know that we aren't HUGE football fans. I mean, we support Auburn, but as far as being obsessed with football, that's just not us. However, we decided to rent an RV and go down for a game this fall! I'm so excited. When we were dating, one of our best friends lived in Auburn and we would go down for football games all the time (well, tailgating, we never actually went in!). I can't wait to go. It should be fun, and maybe we can decide if we are going to purchase an RV or not. This will be our little trial run!

Harvest time will be in full force by October. The hubby will be a busy man for sure! I love this time of year. All the colorful crops, and the harvest decorations. I can't wait. I am doing a "Fall on the Farm" session here at our place so there will be lots of kiddos dressing in their cute little clothes getting great pictures made! I'm really excited. It should be lots of fun.

Hayrides!!! They are the best. We are going to do one here for all of our friend's kids this year. I love to see how excited little ones get on hayrides. Brings back childhood memories for me :)

November

In November, we are planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains with another couple and their kids. We used to travel a lot together before we all had youngin's of our own! I'm so excited. I love getting a cabin and just relaxing. Of course, we will take one day to go to Cades Cove, and pack a picnic. My parents did that for us when we were kids. I still have the pictures! Us girls will do some shopping while we are there too, I'm sure (Do you notice a trend? I work shopping in wherever I can!).

The night before Thanksgiving, we host a "Wing Cookin'" here at our farm for all of our service men, and the local farmers in our area. It has grown to be one of my favorite events of the year. Before I came into Morgan's life, it was just for men. Well, I changed all that. Now, wives are welcome! We have a great time, and I think it is something we will do for years to come.

December

Well, we all know what that means! Christmas time again. My favorite holiday. I'm looking forward to it so much this year because I think Wyatt will really enjoy it. It will be a nice ending to a great year!

Shady Folks

* Warning:

This topic gets takes place with me high atop my soapbox. If you would rather not hear my opinion, I suggest you now leave this page!

This morning my hubby and I had a long talk about "shadyness". Not a word, I know. Right now it is underlined with a nice little red line, but in our household, it is used as an adjective. A word to describe people who are just that, shady. My sweet husband always likes to think the best of people, and until now, I thought that was a wonderful trait to have. However, the past few weeks, we have learned that the world is FULL of shady people and you really have to look hard to find decent ones. You see, Morgan was raised by two very ambitious, and honorable people. His dad (former Marine) didn't let him get by without putting 100% into everything he did. This would be the reason Morgan completed his Eagle Scout badge before he was 16 (otherwise, his dad threatened he wouldn't be able to get his license to drive). He is such a go-getter, and if he says he is going to do something, by George, you can take it to the bank! I do love that about him. He never forgets so much as to return a phone call to a telemarketer (yes, I promise, on the way home from a funeral once, he called back someone who had left a message on his cell and promised to lower our cable bill. WHO DOES THAT?!? Morgan.) He never wants anyone to think he is being "shady".

So, on to our little conversation. The past few weeks, Morgan has been so stressed and I really couldn't figure out the problem. He has been so worried about selling this hay crop, it has completely consumed our conversations for the last 2 months. Ugh! It was about to drive me crazy. Don't get me wrong, I love our life on the farm, but sometimes you gotta find something else to talk about! This morning, while ironing clothes, it all came out. He was sitting on the bed telling me how this guy didn't call him back about buying a load of hay for a local feed store. Yesterday, he had called the guy, and he said he wanted to buy all the hay we had left in the barn. Morgan was thrilled! They guy told Morgan he would call him back yesterday afternoon to set up a time for delivery. Well, he didn't call. (S.H.A.D.Y.) I could tell it was really bothering him. I suggested maybe the guy got busy, and intended on calling today. (Keep in mind, we have a HUGE storage barn and there is no pressing issue to get it all sold right now. Except, like I said before, Morgan is the biggest go-getter I know.) Then, I proceeded to explain to Morgan that you can't rely on anyone else to be honest and decent but yourself. He just honestly couldn't understand how someone could be so "shady". "Why on earth would someone say they were gonna call, and then not?" he asked. God love him, he really thinks everyone should be like him. He was absolutely floored. This entire time, I've thought something was really bothering him, and it was. Not the crop, like I had originally thought, but people in general. You see, he's never really had to have a job and deal with the public. Growing chickens, no one is around, but you and a bunch of flogging birds. Not too much to get upset about in that atmosphere. But since he's been selling this hay to the public, he really has gotten a taste of reality. Not everyone is as they seem, and even those who you want to think the best of will let you down in a New York minute. 

In our 30 minute conversation this morning, here are a few things my sweet husband came to realize (in his words):

That's what's wrong with our government, people say they are going to do things and then don't.

Are people really that "shady"?

How in the world are you supposed to believe anyone will do what they say?

(To Wyatt) Son, I'm gonna raise you right. If you say your gonna do something, you better. I mean it!

You just can't trust anybody anymore.

It makes me so happy to have a man who is such a believer in the good in people. It really broke my heart to inform him that some people just can't be trusted. I think the world needs more people like my husband. If we all did what we said, the world would be a better place.

Side note: The man called about 30 minutes later about the hay! haha. Looks like he got all worked up over nothing. However, he didn't call when he was supposed to. Around here, we call that being SHADY!

Gotta Love a Deal

Every good little farm boy needs a Carhartt jacket for fall. Wyatt has had one since he was born.

Today, while visiting Preston's Western Wear, I found this one on the sale table for $11!! I was so excited. I love a bargain! Debbie said the style was being discontinued, so that made me a little sad, but I just HAD to have this one for Wyatt. Luckily, they had just his size!

So, come on fall, we're ready for ya!

"Mama Day"

Do you ever have those moments when you just need a little "Mama time"? Well, if you say no, I don't believe you. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job, but for the sake of my sanity, I need a break every once in a while. So tuesday, I called my mother-in-law to line up a little trip to Nanna's for Wyatt to spend the day today.

Did I go shopping? Nah. To the spa? Nah. Sleep? Nah.

My day was spent here:

Reading this:

It was HEAVENLY! I didn't get one load of laundry done, no floors mopped, no phone calls made, nothing! I just vegged, and it was great.

I'm a firm believer that in order to be a good wife and mother, you have to take care of yourself. The world didn't end because I took a day for myself. Wyatt had a great day with his grandparents, and I had a little time to soak in the sun and just be ME!

Now tomorrow, it's back to reality. Which is right where I want to be!

Just another Mama and Wyatt day. Those are the best days in my book:)

............Oh, and to top it off, I'm going here with friends tomorrow night!! I'm super excited about that too!

Life is Good!

Be Back in a Bit!

Our internet's been on the mend for a couple of days.

It has been so sad to not be able to read about everyone's wonderful life, and tell about my own (not so perfect life).

Well, she's FINALLY alive again. I hope to be back later this evening, with something utterly profound to say!

~Amber

Backyard BBQ

Saturday, my aunts, grandmother, and I threw my brother and his fiance' a little backyard bbq at my aunt's house. It was such a beautiful day and we had a really nice time. Lots of family, friends, and food! You can't beat that :)

Justin and Rae (my future sis-in-law!)

Me, Daddy, Justin and Rae

Wyatt LOVES bbq, so he had a great time!

Lots of friends and family

Wyatt and Morgan petting the horses after we ate

Justin, Rae, and Grandaddy

I hope they enjoyed it as much as we did! I can't wait to head up to Baltimore in October for the big day :)