2008!?!?!?

What is in store for 2008??? I really wish sometimes I had a crystal ball to see into the future. I am very much a planner. I need to know how things will happen, what to expect, the worse or best case scenario.

In the week that it has been since I last posted I havent worked on any of my goals for 2008. Other than photos(thanks Erin!)
But I am gearing up to start Monday, a day early. My fresh slate starts Tuesday. I am excited for a new year, new goals & revisit old goals.

I am considering trying a new photo project. I need to decide soon to commit to it. There is a photo project that alot of the photographers I chat with participate in. 365 photos(this year will be 366, Yeah for leap year!). Some do a self photo for 365 days, yes ladies & gents that is a pic everyday! I dont know that I have that much time in my life or that I want to see a daily self portrait done. I cant be cute every single day for a year. I guess its more about posting the real you but I am not that brave.
I am considering participating in my own way... I am thinking about 52 weeks... Instead of a daily a weekly. Tuesday... every tuesday after Weight Watchers I want to take a picture & include if there was a loss or gain.... (notice I elected not to post the actual number!!) I had someone suggest that in my photo business I offer before & after photo sessions for people who on this weight loss journey. What a better way than to start with myself?

I havent fully commited to it but I am considering it.
So with that said I am outta here, I have a few cards I need/want to make.
:)

Christmas Eve

Christmas is finally almost here. For a month I have been thinking wow Christmas is almost here. Then New Years! I enjoy New Years as much as Christmas, but for a totally different reason. I enjoy a fresh slate. A chance to start over in a sense. Dust your self off & try again...I dont do the whole resolution crap because lets face it by Jan 5th who remembers they made a resolution. I set goals. The same goal usually but still a goal.
Last year I scrapbooked a page that had my goals on it thinking maybe- just maybe- it would commit me to keeping on track... WRONG!I found that page when cleaning my stamp closet yesterday... it says
Deceber 28 2006... my goals for a new year & a new me are to
1. loose 32 pounds by my 32nd bday July 21 2007... Did I keep this goal.. NOPE! I may have lost a pound here & there, maybe even 32 times... but not all at one time & keep it all off! Certainly not by my bday.
2. decide what we are going to do with the fertility treatments, continue or adopt... well that was decided for me by Dr S (see previous blog entry)- so I dont feel like I achieved that either...
3. learn photoshop.... lets just say I tried but failed miserably! I hate photoshop, there is so much to learn. I need a class for dummies.
4. Learn how to take better photos... Wait there is a goal I accomplished! I did actually achieve something in the past 12 months! Not to mention I did Awesome... for a rookie! :) I actually made some cash at this!
http://www.puhakphotography.com/

So now that the new year is coming & there are big changes I need to make , things I need to do, things I want to do, I will set my goals for 2008.

I have been doing WeightWatchers again for 3 weeks, I have lost 9.8 pounds.
I have changed a few habits, I have even dusted off the beast of a tredmill we have & USED IT!
So goal #1
1. Continue to walk on the tredmill at least 3 days a week.
2. Continue to work at WW, to find a better me. I am not setting a # on how much to loose but it needs to be big. 60+ pounds it what I am going for. I have done 50 before so why not push for more?!!?
3. Continue to learn about photos & the business.
4. work on my addiction to shopping... work on paying off my credit card & not using it!
5. Try to remember to blog more than once a month! :) Yeah I doubt this will happen!

B is for BUSY!

I always have the same excuse... I am busy. Well I have been!

I have done family Christmas pictures, maternity pictures, edited pictures, order pictures, invoice pictures, delivered pictures, I dream about pictures.... it all seems to be falling in to place. A friend from church lets call her L she refered a friend to me for maternity pictures. They then referred me to friends who just had a baby last week. I have an appointment in pencil with 2 neighbors one of which had her baby today(or late last night??) the other had her baby in Oct but we are just getting around to pictures!

Now I just need to find time to finish my class. Which I am miserably behind in. I pretty much quit but saved all the lessons on my computer so I can go back & read them when I have a free minute to do so! Why did I plan on taking a class in November/December when there are so many things going on this time of the year?? Duh.

Well I would like to invite anyone who reads this blog to check out my husbands latest project. He is having as much fun with this as I am with the pictures. We are becoming great business partners!

http://www.puhakphotography.com/

Well... I am off for now. We are having our Elegant 8 Holiday party next week here at our place so there is cleaning to be done!

UGH... just Ugh...

So I haven't posted in a while. I have as been very usual busy.

Today I feel it is necessary to write something so I get it off my mind & maybe just maybe can function normally today.
Infertility sucks. That's all I can say about it. It sucks big time.
We went to see Dr Stewart today because he said we couldn't do anything else treatment wise until we saw him. Our next step in this journey is IVF, then adoption.
Those 3 letters IVF scare me, make me nervous, make me hopeful, but more just piss me off that we have to even consider that drastic a measure to have a baby. Infertility isn't fair. I know life isn't fair, but infertility really isn't fair! I have waited long enough, I have prayed, I have asked for prayers, I have done all the meds, all the treatments, the testing, everything I am suppose to do. I followed the old wives tales I have heard that are suppose to help in conceiving... & still no baby....
There are 15 yr olds that don't know the first thing about getting pregnant, having a baby, raising a child , that have no problems getting pregnant(repeatedly), there are crack heads that have less trouble getting pregnant, people who can barley be responsible for them self & they add a baby(or babies) to the equation.
Can you tell I am just a bit bitter about this. Maybe this is why God has decided its not time yet. Clearly I have some issues I need to work out.

So back to Dr Stewart & our visit today.... Pretty much our conversation was like this...
Dr S: Good morning, do you want to discuss IVF?
John & I: Yes. (Me instantly tearing up)
DR S: let me get tissues before we start
Me: crying
Dr S: Basically we cant do anything until you loose weight.
Me: crying
Dr S: Your weight could be why you had the loss last time.
Me: crying -my heart breaks anytime the Drs bring up the miscarriage. Or course this means the water works also are in full force.
Dr S: explaining the IVF procedure & the risk involved with me being over weight.
Then telling me that if I was to get pregnant that my health & the babies health could be at risk. Which could cause a c-section, which could mean even more risks.
Me: crying
Dr S: I suggest Lap band surgery to help with you loosing weight.
Me: crying
Dr S: Do you have any questions?
Me : crying, shook my head no
John: asked a few questions, but it was all kind of a blur to me. I was really just numb.

I knew this was what was going to happen today. I knew it would be loose weight or its just not going to happen, was going to come out of his mouth.

I am angry. At myself for ignoring my weight for so long & not doing something about it sooner. Angry at the Drs for not discussing this with us sooner rather than waiting for so many months of IUI's to hit me with reality.
I dont want to even consider Lap Band. John & I have been to a seminar about it(he has been to several) & it just isnt something I am willing to consider. I would rather work harder & loose slower with weight watchers & do that the rest of my life than be restricted to eating 4 bites of food(certain foods) for the rest of my life.
So I am going to enjoy thanksgiving then go back to weight watchers sign up again, dust off & use my $1300 treadmill in my basement, & loose the weight the Dr wants me to loose.
Failing isnt an option this time.

So my goal is to loose weight & deal with some of the anger issues have related to the infertility. Not sure still how to deal with the anger side of all this but I have to do something. Its taking over & I am tired of being angry & fat.

2 wks... ?

Ellie enjoying the park! She has the best blue eyes!

Everybody loves a Nikon girl!

Ever seen a cuter pink poodle?

The Browns Fall Family photo

Has it really been 2 wks since I last posted? Wow.

I have been busy taking pictures its been so much fun! Thanks to friends who put up with me taking lots & lots of pictures I think I am getting better at this.

Its taking less time editing, they may still not be perfect but they look good to me & to the "clients". I have even gotten a few compliments from some of the girls that are pro on the snap happy site. (Thanks Ladies!) I so want to be like them some day, getting compliments from them is awesome!

I have several things lined up in the next few weeks... more photos, I have to get these birthday invitations out(J they are almost done I promise!) and Christmas... its coming & I have 9 cards stamped so far! UGH... I need a vacation so I can catch up with my hobbies!

Finally Friday!

I am so so so thankful that friday is finally here. Better yet I am off tomorrow!!!
I have been sick for nearly a week. Not sick to the point that I cant function so I really shouldnt complain. However I am going to, my throat hurts from coughing so hard last night. It seems like any meds I take only lasts an hour & then I am coughing again.
I am tired from being awake most of the night coughing, so my plan tonight while I am home alone because John is at school is to go upstairs, curl up in my new jammies & watch hours of All My Children! (I have 4 months of AMC on DVR just for days like this!)

Then tomorrow since John will be in school, I am going to sleep as late as I can, then when I wake up I hope that some magic fairy has taken this stupid cough away to a far away land!
I need to stamp & take some pictures so the cold/flu fairy needs to come get this junk & take it somewhere else! Im done with it!

Goodnight!

Rain??AGAIN??

I am sick of rain. We are suppose to have another storm this afternoon we have had several since Sat. & I am tired of it.
That is something I didnt miss when I lived in Az. Crappy weather.

I am sick so my mood is just as crappy as the weather... I just want to sleep. I dont want to do anything but curl up in my jammies & go take a nap.

In better news.....
I gave "the bride" the pictures yesterday & she loved them! So that was exciting.
Now just to get the CD to her.... which I forgot at home today- darnit!

where does time go??

Its October .... not only is it October... its October 15th... October is half over. Halloween is on its way, then Thanksgiving & before we know it Christmas & then 2007 will soon be over.... Where has this year gone so fast...?

So really I am not blogging to ask why time flies when we are having fun but to say I have been having fun. I did my first "real" photography job last week. This was suppose to be a free learning experience for friends at church. Well they paid me. I was shocked but after all was said & done I earned it! Weddings are a TON of work. I have lots of fun photos I havent shared them with the newlyweds yet because they have been on their honeymoon... so there is just one for now. ENJOY!

*photos on this blog are property of puhakphotography* do not copy

Stampers!?!?The best event of the year is tomorrow!

Purchase from Impress (Seattle!)

Amuse (Seattle)

Stampers! (Victoria Canada)

Love Monkey Rubber Stamps, I took this picture the day before I went to the store to shop, they were closed that day so we went back the next & I forgot to take a pic of the stuff I got there... now its all mixed in with everything else I got!

stamps from Amuse (a Seattle purchase!)

Amuse but purchased at Impress...

SU

Impress (I LOVED this store! It was my favorite in Seattle)

This was made of all scraps! It turned out cute! The Sassy stamp was purchased in Washington state but I cant remember where!?!? The picture was taken of the card inside a clear envelope so its shiny..

SU... a little stickles on the tips on the flowers & liquid glass on the petals... turned out cute!

I am so excited.. tomorrow is Harvest stamp convention! I cant wait... I do hope it is better than last year but in any case I am excited for it! I have been very busy since returning from vacation... I had lots of pictures to sift thru, i havent even opend photoshop yet but I have most of them loaded to snapfish.

I have been stamping A BUNCH!(can you tell from the pictures of the cards!?! ) I got all kinds of fun new stamps while on my trip & my SU order came in right before I left so I have had lots to keep me busy!

I will post my thoughts on the convention later this weekend... maybe

Blogging from Canada....day 4

We are on day 4 of our vacation our last day in Victoria BC Canada. Its a lovely place. Gorgeous flowers (everywhere) cute little shops, (everywhere) coffee shops(everywhere- seriously, these folks like their coffee)

Yesterday we took the ferry from Port Angeles, WA USA acrossthe water to Victoria BC Canada. It was a fun trip, a bit cold, but still fun. I hoped to see whales but no such luck. Took lots of pictures (over 500 so far)

We met Darth Vader who knew he was Canadian?? :)

We also saw a living bronze scultpture but I am not sure how the pictures turned out yet.

Found a great stamp store outta just pure luck, we were eating dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory(one of my favorite places) looking at the Victoria visitors guide, when I found an add for Stampers! It was a "brilliant" store... I have heard that word more in the 2 days we have been here in Canada than I have in my 32 yrs in the US! No pics of the store, we made it there with about 15 minutes to sshop before they closed, we had to rush to get in & out so I didnt take the camera in.

Today we went to Butchart Gardens, amazing. I have never seen so many pretty flowers. I took tons of pics there but havent loaded them yet. We also went to Butterfly Gardens. Another amazing place. Its not as big as I expected but its fun. Lots of butterflies, we were lucky enough to see some that only live 3-5 days once they emerge from the cacoon, they emgered this morning. They were HUGE. I will post those pics later... Well off to write post cards... Next update from Seattle coming soon! :)

Photos... cards & misc

We went to the Nelson Atkins Art Museum this weekend. I wanted to take pictures of something other than kids & flowers!

Here is a Night in Shining Armour for those ladies who are looking for one... :) ha ha!

There are 3 or 4 of these huge things at the museum

I was being sneeky & snapped a quick shot of a bride & groom who were there with the wedding party taking pictures... Just something fun to play with in photoshop with out caring if i jack it up to bad!

A wedding shower card for Melissa & Josh.

I love my CB! It makes so much of a difference to the BG of the card.

I love stamping & photography they are both cheaper than therapy & I am not sure therapy would be as fun! :) I know the results of therapy arent nearly as creative!

Pictures....

I was thinking that Puhak Pretty Pictures needed some pictures... so here are a few recent cards... First a little somthin' i made with a new discovery EXPLOSION PAPER!!!!!! Man its fun stuff!

Molly.... not quite sure if she should smile or not....

This is Zander... he is Kim's son... he just turned 1!! He has been through alot in the last year but he is a tough little guy & super cute with those big blue eyes!

Stamping weekend....

So its been a week since the BIG KC Stampfest! It was so much fun! 8 Hrs of STAMPING with the best girls ever!! Here are just a few samples of what we did!!

Tammy's card






Barb's card

my card

On a Mission

This is picture from June but its still pretty! Molly on a mission to get to the swings...
Have I mentioned how cute she is?!!?

Painting...

Well a project I started over a month ago is finally done. Well ok so its not 100% but the paint is done. We started painting 4th of July, I finished the the 2nd coat tonight. Tomorrow night we add the border & put the bathroom back together.

I'll post a pretty picture when its all done....

~*~Swimming~*~

Swimming with out a life vest... he is only 4.

I dont like that he is so independent already!

But it does make for fun pictures! :)

Worlds Greatest Husband....

Yep I got him!

I had to work today. It was crappy... I missed Molly's 2nd birthday party (normally a 2 yr olds birthday I wouldnt be so disappointed but the Curry kids kinda have a special place in my heart...), work was slow so the 3 hrs seemed to last 12 & I am just tired of being there, I have had 1 full day off in 2 weeks. It was just a crappy day(finishes a crappy week!)...

I come home to my wonderful husband & have lunch. He has a surprise for me. Photoshop elements 5!!!!!!!!! ROCK ON! He is the bomb! Maybe I can actually edit pictures sometime in the near future? (I have PS7 & no idea how to use it yet, its was over my head!)
After lunch we headed down to the basement to install the software.... to my surprise not only did I have new software... I had a new monitor! A BIG GIANT 22 inch monitor... but wait theres more!
Not only did I have new software, a new BIG GIANT monitor....
I got a NEW COMPUTER!!!!!!!!
WOW totally shocked me. Like shocked like I didnt know what to say shocked! WOW!

We just started talking about replacing my computer as my old one is 5 yrs old , my previous computer was kind of a Therapy present to myself when my mom passed away in 2002.
It was slow with a capital S.L.O.W. !!! If I wanted to get online I had to re-boot the computer to do so. My monitor was small but you work with what ya got ya know!??! 5 yrs ago it was a REALLY good one!
I love it! I Love my wonderful husband, who always goes above & beyond to make me happy!

And If your wondering yes I do know I am spoiled, I wouldnt have it any other way!! :)

What is this thing called Spare Time??

I havent had a minute of it for over a week... Ok so I could find some in the evenings when I get home but by the time I get home from work my brain has turned to oatmeal. Its mush... I cant do anything.
I havent even thought about taking a picture with my camera since Sat when we went bowling with the Curry's ( great pictures but kinda dark!?!?)

I have to find time this weekend to take pictures if I am ever going to be ready for wedding in October I have to practice now! Its 2 months away.

Trip to the Vet

Totally unexpected trip to the vet & $120 later... Jasper has a bladder infection. How does a dog get a bladder infection? Why does it cost so much to get it diagnosed & meds for it!?!?!


I havent had any time to take pictures, between work & a sinus infection I havent really wanted to do much of anything. Maybe this weekend I will get a chance to do something?

New to Blogging...

Lets see IF I can keep up with this... along with the many other things I do... I am hoping to share my two favorite hobbies through this blog... Stamping & Photography. Please feel feel to check it out & leave me comments!