Sweet Friends

Have I mentioned that you are the coolest group of girls EVER!! You always give me that little lift when I need it during the day:) So, for all your comments, I have responses!

Kristen-

You will SO be the first person I call when I make it big! haha. That will never happen, but when you get some "IT" clients make sure to call me so I can come drool over them :)

Brittany-

I'm so upset that I won't be able to make it to Fiddlers this year :( My bro is getting married in Baltimore that weekend. Fayetteville has a bluegrass festival sometime soon though, so maybe I can make it to that one!

Angela-

It's so fun to learn something new! I'll definitely keep you updated. Hopefully one day (maybe in a couple of years) I'll be good enough to post a video of myself playing!

Amy-

Cool is hardly the word. I really just a big dork! haha. Thanks for thinking so though :)

Alyse-

I MUST learn that song. My hubby and I always said "Remember When" was our song (so cheesy) I know! That is so neat that your FIL can play it.

My new baby!!

For the past few weeks, I've been telling my hubby that I wanted to learn to play the mandolin. I have always wanted to play an instrument, but never took the time to do it. I took voice and piano lessons for about 3 years as a kid, but I never cared too much about the piano. I've always loved string instruments, and especially anything that had to do with bluegrass. It is my absolute favorite style of music. I've thought the mandolin was such a sweet sound for years, but it wasn't until seeing Sonya Isaacs play that I though I could possibly do it. You usually see men playing it, but she is so good (the fact that her voice sounds like angels doesn't hurt much either)!

Anyway, my sweet step-dad has a friend who deals in musical instruments so he called and asked if he ever got mandolins. Well, what do you know?!? He happened to have one! I was so excited. He brought it to my parents for me to look at yesterday, and I fell in love. It was exactly what I wanted (from all my research, I decided I wanted a F-style instead of an A-style). Of course my sweet husband said I could have it. In his words, "I've never seen you start something you didn't finish." That made me so happy. It is nice to know that he has such confidence in me! Lord knows I need it! hehe.

So, not wanting to pay $80 a month for lessons, I looked around today and found some great FREE lessons online! Yep, that's right. I've already learned to play, "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain." (No big feat, mind you. It's only 3 chords, but it was an accomplishment none the less!) I can't wait to learn more! So, there ya go. This should keep me plenty busy. As if I didn't have enough going on already!

Here's a little video from my inspiration! Hopefully I can post one of me playing one day :)

It's Been a While

If you go to my photography blog:

www.amberellisphotography.blogspot.com

you can see what I've been up to!!

Sorry ladies! I hope to be back with more this week. It's been crazy around here lately! I'm still reading yours though, so keep up the good work :) It makes my day!

Baby Hair

Ever since I quit breast-feeding Wyatt (which has now been over a year and a half), my hair hasn't been the same. It fell out horribly around my hairline, and the texture is COMPLETELY different. At first I blamed it on hormones, but now I'm not sure what to blame it on! Being a hairstylist, I always thought I had a solution for most problems, but not this one. I am just at a dead-end. I'm debating on whether or not to cut it off, but I really don't look good with short hair. I mean, not at all!! Plus, the hubby likes longer hair (of course, since he doesn't have to fix it).

Anyway, I have a hair appointment tomorrow, so I guess I better be making a decision. I haven't colored it in months thinking it would make it stronger, but it hasn't worked so I think I'm going to add a little hilights. That always makes a girl feel better :)

I used Aveda Brilliant Shampoo and Conditioner when I worked in a salon, but quit buying it since I don't get the discount anymore. I'm thinking about buying some again. It was the best shampoo and conditioner I've ever used. It is like $30 for a liter, but at this point I would give $100!

Well, now you know what's on my mind today! How stressful. I completely understand why Brittney shaved her head after having children. She was going through the same thing I am!!! Let's just hope I don't get that desperate!

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