Some People...

I don't want this to sound like a rant, but every now and then sometimes it just has to come out. I think it's SO sad that there are some people out there who can't just be happy for other people who are trying to do something with their life and live their life as best they can. No there are those people who for some reason just seem to find pleasure from trying to be as mean as they possibly can to others. Well, to anyone out there who is just being MEAN, just for the sake of being mean... to you all I have to say is please STOP being such a bully... REALLY!!! Once out of High School can't you mature just a little beyond that and just either ignore people and stay OUT of their lives or just learn to at least bite your tongue. And to those who see or hear those "Bullies" making rude remarks about other people... PLEASE be brave enough to tell them to stop. One person standing up and making a good choice does in deed make a difference!

Busy, busy, busy...

It seems like SO much has been happening... we moved, again, into our own apartment.

I actually have gotten a LOT of those things that were on my wishful Wednesday list, like the table and the watch that I was admiring!

We still don't have some things that I would like to get (hopefully soon) like a tv stand and bookcases... but we are SLOWLY getting there... too bad it all takes money!

PLUS on top of everything we are still hoping for my husband to become a full-time employee, not just in a contract position. Technically his contract was up at the end of May, and he will be starting the interview process for a full-time position. I just hope it all works out, especially since we have rent and other bills to pay.

Anyways, I have also been busy with photography stuff and just trying my best to get us settled... all while also trying to plan a fun birthday party for my soon to be three year old! I know I had mentioned doing a fireman theme, but I talked to him and he really wanted Mickey Mouse... so I am doing all I can!

Together

I am so thrilled that today is the last day my husband has school!!! Which means more together time! As of right now he's not planning on doing any more... which means we should be at the end of him working full-time AND going to school full-time! HOORAY!!! We finally reached the light at the end of one tunnel! Yes, that is right we reached the end of one tunnel only to realize we are standing in another tunnel. Isn't that just how life works though? We can only hope that he passed the big test he took this last Saturday... and hopefully he will find a new job quickly!!! He has his first interview on Monday... my fingers are crossed, I'm saying prayers and I'm thinking I should consider looking for a clover or a rabbits foot!

So Much Giving Going Around!

As you know I think it's wonderful when others are able to give something to those who might not be able to afford it... Well, the other day I came across this wonderful project called:

Photographers are uniting to give away photo packages. This year the goal is ONE MILLION!!! Right now they are at $275,066. What's really cool is you can go to their website and find a photographer near you that is participating!

CHECK IT OUT!!!

By the way, I would be participating if I knew where we would be come a couple months from now!!! So, I will wait until next year, but I will definitely get in on this!!!

Looking for Hope

I was browsing the web... looking for inspiration on what to write when I came across this website with "Wisdom and Inspiration You Can Read In One Minute". The topic I stumbled upon was "Looking For Hope". I feel this is something that most people struggle with, where to look for inspirations of hope. I liked the Wisdom in the thought this site presented:

"The most important choice people make in their lives is the choice of where they look for hope. People either look for hope outside of themselves or inside of themselves. Where you look for hope determines the image and outcome of your hope. Make no mistake about it. Vast fortunes, incredible fame, and untold power have been accumulated by people who apply certain principles related to making external hopes and dreams come true. However there are consequences to all actions. Indeed, you may come to possess every external hope or material thing, but you may later come to regret what you possess. Quite often, the realization of external hope brings inner death... the inner death that comes with realizing we are empty inside when all we possess are external fortunes, external fame, and external power."

I started this site with the feeling that so many people, including myself, are trying to find the best places to look for hope. There really is so much out there and within ourselves, but I think the thing we must remember is there are many good things we can hope for or look to for hope. What we need to focus on are the best things. These things probably are not be things such as a large home or that big screen tv, but are things such as hoping for good relationships, both friends and family or hoping for joy not only for us but for those we care about.

What are you hopeful for? Where or who do you look to for hope?

Hope {for a favorable outcome}

My husband has been preparing to take a major test and soon it will all be over! Our biggest hope is that he will pass and this may be a HUGE change for us. I have learned as he has been preparing for this test how little people know about this test and how much of a difference it can make. I didn't know anything about the test until he signed up to take it. Now I realize that this has the potential to change our lives (for the better). He is only taking the first level of three right now, but even passing this first level will make him SO much more appealing when applying to companies... which means he'd be ten times more likely to find a new job that would make it so we could be miles closer to fulfilling our dream of owning a home. So I'm crossing my fingers, toes, and anything else I can cross! He's been studying and working so hard for this... please oh please let him do well... we won't find out until mid-January... so we'll see!!!

A Glimmer of Hope

I don't know about everyone else and how they are doing with finding jobs... but we have been struggling. My husband is done with school in just a little over a week and still no job. Today was the FIRST glimmer of hope we've had in months of applications being sent out.

He got his first interview!!!

We are SO excited for this small step in the right direction and it has given us SO much hope for the future. On top of all this it is near our family (well, my in-laws and my dad and step mom)! It still won't give us the most comfortable lifestyle we would like... BUT it gives my wonderful husband the experience that seems to be required for practically every stinking job!

Along with this comes some exciting news for anyone in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento area! I will be spending some time up in these areas and am taking a limited number of photo shoots. So if you're in the areas check out my photo blog for details and email me!
My sessions start at just $50, it's a DEAL!!!

Make Wishes

So, lately I've been considering opening an Etsy Shop. The hardest thing for me is deciding what to make! But I love to make things for little girls, since I only have boys! Things for girls are just SO cute. ANYWAYS as soon as I make a decision as to what exactly I'll sell and all that you can bet I will be announcing my Grand Opening here on this blog!!! Most likely it will be after our family moves. Oh yeah, did I mention that? I still have no idea where we will be moving to seeing as finding a place in San Diego for under $1000 is a joke! Ridiculous. And we get kicked out of student housing in January... yep, that's only like 6 weeks away and we will have to get out and go... who knows where!

We're hoping something will work out.

Black Friday

As Black Friday is coming to a close I just want to say I LOVE good deals!!!! As I have said before I get a glimmer of hope from getting a bang for my buck! Today I got some sweet deals as I'm sure did any one who went out today! My FAVORITE thing was that my husband and I got to go out together, it was our "date" for the week... well, maybe even for the month! Then at Sports Authority, they were giving out "bonus bucks" ranging from $10-500 and my husband and I each got $25! So, I got the Chargers Jersey I have been wanting for a LONG time! What's even better is that it was also one of the door busters, 30% off! So, I got a $60 Chargers jersey for only $17! HOORAY!!!!

Hope {for a favorable outcome}

What favorable outcome am I hoping for today... the same thing I've hoped for for as long as I can remember!
A more fit body!
I would love to get down to a size 8! That is my ultimate goal which is still a few sizes away and is why I started doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred about a week and a half ago. There is no joking about it, Jillian is a killer trainer, but as she says, "when you start feeling it burn that's when you're making the big changes to your body." And that is exactly what I want. So I push through and at least it's just 20 minutes to endure!
(And what sane woman would not want a body like Jillian?)

It is also the reason I am excited about this giveaway over at Mormon Mommy Blogs. They are giving away Jillian Michaels' new fitness game for the Wii AND a Wii Fit Plus Board! (That's worth about $200 in prizes!)

I don't currently own a Wii, but I think we would get our hands on one some how if I won these!!! But if not I'll just try to keep up with Jillian on the 30 Day Shred!

(p.s. By the way I've already lost about 3 pounds, hopefully I can be good with the Holidays!!!)

Hope {believe in a positive outcome}

I was blog browsing the other day and came across this post that is just wonderful! I am a member of this projects called 5000 Moms. If you're interested check out the site here.

I love the list of Five Actions To Maintain Hope which is given at the end.

1. Keep a list of miracles so you can remember how things of the past have worked themselves out.

2. Remember gratitude. A thankful heart is a hopeful heart.

3. God is in charge so you don't have to be. If your shoulders are feeling weighted down remember you don't have to carry it all.

4. Playtime. Make sure you are scheduling time to laugh and have fun. Put on your favorite dance music and take a mini-holiday with a twirl around the living room.

5. Give Service. Hope can be renewed when we give of ourselves. When we see the struggles of others we step out of our own troubles.

Hope {good will happen}

Last week I went to the grocery store and was determined to save as much money as I possibly could! I took a few coupons that I had received in the mail and bought things on sale... I spent about $38 and saved $31!!! I saved 45%!!! I was SO excited! I guess this is just my little way of saying that you can still get a bang for your buck you just have to shop smart!!!
Part of keeping your hope alive means you have to make an effort. Despair is easy to sink into, you simply have to do nothing!
One thing I heard once was, "God can't steer a parked car." In other words you can't expect something for nothing. Keep plugging away my friends!

Hope {good will happen}

One thing that gives me hope, the kind of hope where you believe good will happen, is every Sunday night my husband and I turn on the television and watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition. I love that my husband will watch it with me! The thing that gives me hope from watching this show is every week you see another family that makes a difference for good in the world... and even better... these wonderful people are given something that they just could not manage to do for themselves. And usually the reason they can't do it for themselves is because they are so busy doing things for others!

Every week I watch this show and feel the desire to find something I care about and make it a focus of my life through service in that area.