What I'm doing right now...

I'm taking "me" time. And it's GLORIOUS, people! (<--bolded, underlined and italicized. Just.saying.)

Here's the sitch: Eric had a little come-to-Jesus talk about me being too nice and not demanding enough of "my" time at home. I have a hard time focusing while my roomie is talking to me, so I go in my room...and she keeps talking. I shut my door...and she keeps talking... And she's so sweet...but I can't get anything done. I say "I'm working on the computer" and she keeps talking...

And like I said, she's so sweet. She really is. And I'm not good at being like "Okay, if I'm working on the computer, I really need it to be quiet which is why I'm in my room."

And it's not her fault that my routine is to utilize my home as my sanctuary for decompression and hers isn't as much...

So, I end up taking "me" time at like 11pm...and I get to sleep late...and I get frustrated....and it's just blah. It wears on me. And it makes me crankier than I should be.

Eric was like "Jackie, you used to blog all the time. You used to chill out at home a lot more. You just need to be more demanding of your time. Plain and simple."

And he's right. He said a very obvious thing, but I guess I just needed to hear it.

Tonight, I did it. I came in here and said "I need to work on alumni stuff (and I did), so I'm going to be antisocial." I shut my door....

And it worked...not right away... but it did!

And here I am... blogging! at 9pm! AND I've already gotten through all my personal email! (I can't get personal email at work, so I often neglect it when my weeks are busy b/c the last thing I want to do when I get home is read email).

So, I think I might try to blog Maui Day 3! And still be in bed at a decent hour! I am so freaking overjoyed! ANNNND I'll likely get to read quite a few of your blogs, too! eeeeeee!!! <-- excited squeal. :)

So, I'm busy. Whiney whiney yada yada. We all are. I've realized "my" time and what relaxes me is blogging-writing mine and reading yours, other interweb activities (surfing, facebooking, emailing), my tv shows, reading before bed, walking my pup, I could go on and on....but anyway.. yeah. I guess I've just realized that I really do NEED some of those things for my mental well-being.. ha! Go figure...  :)

So, what about  you? What do you like to do for your "I need this for myself" quality time?

Day two, half two aka the Luau!

Things I did tonight: Had a semi nervous breakdown b/c I hadn't had enough down time lately to (1) go to the grocery store or (2) upload photos to facebook (and otherwise do a few things "for me.") Sometimes, I think I might overcommit myself. (Those of you who know me are laughing and likely thinking that's a small understatement). Anyway, I really like having a ton going on and LOVE being involved...but when you no longer come home to an empty house, but instead to a rather chatty roomie (who I adore, but just saying), it's harder to decompress when there's a lot going on everywhere else. I think it all starts to compound or something. *shrugs* And I just wanted to upload my dang facebook pictures and not talk. to anyone. (Only children get kinda anti-social sometimes) It's the little things, people...haha...Anyway, do you ever get like that? (This is where you say I'm not crazy. Thanks). Eric is kinda awesomesauce (I say that a lot, but it's mostly b/c I mean it...mostly... haha.. teasing ;) ) and let me come over and just chill while he watched a movie and I uploaded photos. I brought dinner as a thank you. :) He watched Predators or something equally thought provoking (why do boys like alien movies?) aka I was devoted entirely to my computer screen... Absolutely Jax-centric-Maui-photos night. *happy sigh* (I still didn't go to the grocery store, but whatever).

So, without further ranting about nothing you care about, here's more ranting, but at least this ranting has photos to coincide with it!  :)

We went to the Old L@haina Lu@u and loved it! (Actually, it was three weeks ago TODAY!) A lot of people called luaus cheesy, etc before we went, but we were like "We're going to Hawaii; we're doing a luau." I think we definitely chose the right one b/c we both really dug the food (despite having lowered expectations from some people's reviews of luau food) and even tried poi. *shrugs* And most importantly, we thought it was a really good show! And gorgeous setting! 

Okay, here goes... Did you know women are supposed to wear flowers on the left/right side's ear to indicate their relationship status?! I didn't. Anyway, I was "taken" hence left side. (obviously. When you're on vacation with your boyfriend, putting the flower on the "single" side isn't going to win any points...haha!)

Greeted at the door with mai tais and leis... I'm okay with that...

If only we'd stood facing the other way, but whatever... I still like it even if it's dark... 

I learned lots of things about coconuts. I would share everything I learned but I can't remember. I really just wanted to try the fresh coconut and was hoping he would let us the whole time he was talking (he did). 

Bloated mini tiki man? And Eric copying him? I dont know, but it's awesome. If I had a luau of my own, I would set up random huts like this and put random bloated tiki men inside, too...just to confuse tourists.

We reserved the luau a month before we went and therefore got rockstar seating in front of the stage on the ground (ground seating = "traditional" while table seating = "conventional.") Very worth the early reservation. :)

The setting :). We got seated at a table with a mom and her two daughters, one of which had just done the iron man in Kona. Way.freaking.cool. We enjoyed talking with them a lot... :)

After the sun set, the show began!

The gentlemen's shorts/pants coverage concerned me with the high level of activity they had to do. Just saying.

Wanna see some luau-ness? The noises on there are the dancers; kinda freaky and cool at the same time. Alright, let's go to the luau..... :)



Is it me or does it feel like it should totally be Friday already? *shrugs* Thanks for sticking with me here. I know I will feel really good to get all these days blogged about for memories' sake. :) Hope your first week in November is rocking along, peeps!

Maui DAY TWO (or half of day two)

Thanks so much for the sweet comments about day one! :) Day two was long because we had the luau that night and I'm way too sleepy to upload our fun luau photos and videos (yes, videos. overboard=us). I wouldn't do em justice right now... (think "this is a Hawaiian dancer. He is good. Goodnight, everyone." haha!) So, I'm stopping at the midway point of our day! 

Day two was seriously two things: (1) beach and (2) luau. Not a bad agenda for the day in my opinion.... haha! :) Sooo... 

We got up and decided to head into Kihei for breakfast (like 5 minutes away). On that note, towns are seriously like miles from each other. One minute, you're in Kihei, the next Wailea, the next.. Anyway, you get it. It took us a minute to understand that. We thought the names were just new streets, not new TOWNS. Anyway, comedy. Okay, so breakfast was fabulous! We read about the french toast, so like true fat kids on vacation, we each got a full breakfast...and then shared an order of french toast. (I mean we HAD to try it. The guidebook said so!). We weren't disappointed and wanted to make it back for another breakfast, but we didn't get the chance to. 

Anyhoo, we walked over to Kalama Park (across the street) and watched some people taking surfing lessons and some school children playing outside with their teachers. (How cool would THAT be? Recess at the BEACH!) Self portrait on our walk...

Got back to the hotel and got our first real daytime glance at our beach through the open air lobby. How.gorgeous. I mean, seriously, you can see straight to the ocean! *wistful sigh* 

 Drawn by the lure of sand in between our toes and sun on our skin, we decided right then and there to toss on the suits and see what our hotel beach had to offer! We weren't disappointed. :)

Didn't take us long to get used to this... ;)

Also didn't take me long to want to take a picture (duh, have we met?!). Anyway, we went for self timed. Eric thought it would take him 5 seconds to reach me, turn around and smile. Um... I'll let you see how that worked out. (The kid makes it even better...hahaha!)

10 second timer=much better idea :) (even though we have no feet. You make sacrifices when it's a self timed photo. Whatever).

Our hotel gave out snorkels, fins, masks, boogie boards, etc to its guests... So of COURSE we needed all of those things. (I looked ridiculous carrying my pile of stuff back to my relaxing spot on the beach...haha). Anyway, I immediately decided I was born to boogie board. I'll let you see how that worked out for me. (*I tried to make the collages bigger, but they kept cutting off on the edges. Boo. You can double click to make them larger).

Our hotel beach behind me! (The building behind me is actually condos to the side of our hotel). And I might start to look a little ridic in my hat, but the ONE day I didn't wear it, my scalp got roasted. Sheesh. Anyway, fedora or bust!

Clouds rolled in a few afternoons around 2:30 in Wailea, but usually cleared up by dinner time. (We didn't have any rain until the last day). By the time the clouds rolled in, we'd already been at the beach like 3 or 4 hours, so we were good to bail and head for our next adventure. 

So, until our next adventure it is.. Next stop, luau! :) Mahalo!

Maui Day ONE!

Okay, I'm going to try to get on this blogging our vacation photos thing... :) No better place to start than day one...duh! I'm sorry in advance for any rambling, excessive photos, etc. It's my way of scrapbooking, I suppose and I definitely don't want to forget anything b/c it was such a great trip... 

We're here! We're here! 7am flight to Dallas, then a 7 hour flight to Maui...and we're finally here! It was 4pm Maui time//9pm Tulsa time when we arrived :)

Agenda upon arrival: 1. Get rental car. 2. Go to KM@RT and buy alcohol snacks for the room 3. Also buy random Tiki dash man! We later named him after...

...this street. B/c we're 12. And it sounds funny. (If you don't get it, you're not thinking immaturely enough...haha) So, yeah, P the Tiki man came with us everywhere (and now sits on my desk at work :) )

Since it was 9pm Tulsa time, we.were.starving. Pulled out the trusty guidebook (special thanks to Meredith for recommending Maui Revealed, the BEST guidebook ever!) and headed to a place it recommended close by. Here I am (looking true to my 4:30 a.m. wake up time but whatever) at Pa'ia Fish Market. Comments through stuffing our faces: "Okay, yeah, guide book writer just earned credibility points..." 

A little sleepy, but pretty cheesetastic since we were officially at our hotel! The Fairmont Kea Lani staff was great from the moment we arrived (and I finally got my lei I was so excited about!). They greeted us with punch and leis! Here we are in the open air lobby :)

 It was sometime after 7pm and we felt like it was midnight, but we were DETERMINED to walk down to the beach for a minute! :) Looking back at the Fairmont as we walked... gorgeous... 

 love.this.picture.

 And that's all she wrote. Lights out at 9pm for us and that was with us TRYING to make it to 9.... haha... :)

 Blogging this makes me want to go back.. It's like I almost can't believe we already went! Ever feel like that after a vacation? Anyway, there was day one! It was technically only a half day, but I figured I'd ease in to the ridiculous amount of photos longer days' worth of activities the rest of the week. :)

Dear Maui-Eric and Jackie miss you....

Hope everyone had a great weekend and a Happy Halloween!

It's Friday; let's go to the beach!

A video from our beach in Maui! :) Eric was very concerned with his sunblock. I was concerned with my video. Kinda funny commentary in that regard, but oh so gorgeous!! :)



Have a great weekend and Happy Halloween!

Halloween Blonde Moment

I was so tired last night. I'd planned on doing magnificent things with my banner and blog. Did I? No. Whatever. Soon. Hopefully. I had a legislative reception thingy where I schmoozed and boozed (only a little.. I really just liked that it rhymed) and then went to pick out a halloween costume for myself. What did I decide? That I apparently know nothing about construction. Why? Let me explain.

My thought "I could be a construction worker really cheaply.. I have jean shorts; I could wear a flannel shirt and/or a white tank top, etc.."

*I purchased kiddie plastic tools, set up to borrow Eric's tool belt, got a hard hat at Lowe's (yes, really), and got out my plaid shirt.*

I got home and looked at it all and thought "Wait, construction workers don't carry toolbelts and wear plaid. They wear orange vests and stuff. So uh.. the hard hat I got doesn't really work anymore...crap."

So, I think I'm going to either be something else or just be a very confused tool girl + construction worker. Whatever. I don't care.

Happy Wednesday!

Thank you!!

Thank you so much for the tips on the banner earlier! I have been playing with one in picnik all night, but didn't love it enough yet to upload it. I did, however, spent entirely too long playing with my layout and am about to pass out onto my computer...

Eric was right.. I definitely need more memory. I keep getting that stupid rainbow wheel spinning around...and around and around... (if you have a mac, no doubt you too hate the "wheel of death") <-- should be interesting to see google analytics after that phrase. *nervous*

Anyway, ya'll rock! Hopefully I'll have a facelift for the bloggidy I'm happy with soon! :) THANKS! :)

Annnnnnd goodnight....

Blog Banner Questions and Monday Makeup Randomness

Helllllllllllllllllllllo friends and happy Monday. (That's said with a period, not exclamation point for a reason-it's Monday.)

So, I want to make a new blog banner and/or play with my layout. (Yes, this is deja vu if you've been following me for awhile. I get all indecisive about what I want). I've noticed tons of you sprucing up the bloggidy for the fall and it makes me come over to mine and be all "ho hum..." Eric has the entire adobe creative package (photoshop, illustrator, etc). I don't, but he's agreed to let me hijack his computer soon and play around to make a new banner or whatever (the "or whatever" is evidence of my knowledge of how to do this..haha.. *nervous*).

I know a few of you have likely made your own banners in photoshop or illustrator, etc. I'll also be googling around, but thought I'd go straight to the experts and ask ya'll....how on earth do you do it?! I'll need to get a pattern (and buy it, right?) from somewhere and then put font on it and possibly also use a couple photos, depending on how creative I get with this.

So... Do you guys have any tips on where to look for patterns to buy? How do I use photoshop to lay out the banner, insert stuff, and get it on the bloggidy?

Tips appreciated!! Yes, I could totally buy one...but I figured I'd give it a go on my own to see if I can do it...and save some cash that way, too! :) I mean...I did just get back from a vacay..and the holidays are coming. Soooo...seems a leetle superfluous to buy a blog upgrade right now, especially when I'm somewhat indecisive.

*****
And while we're on tips and fun advice, etc, I got a fun makeup tip this weekend I thought I'd share! Sara and I had our makeup done at MAC this weekend for the wedding and I LOVED it. (I got fake eyelashes for the first time-totally dug em!). Anyhoo, the awesome dude who did my makeup used liquid foundation (or tinted moisturizer) and mixed it with mineral powder in a little dish. He applied it as one foundation and the result was great! It looked fresh and bright and stayed on a long time! I tried it on my own this morning and, while I didn't do as great as makeup dude did, I definitely like it! I don't like heavy feeling makeup so I just use tinted moisturizer (I'll insert a plug for Laura Merc!er's tintet moisturizer here.. love it). Just use the same amount of liquid foundation (or tinted moisturizer) you normally do, but add fingernail sized portion of mineral powder. Mix it together and there ya go!

Yeah, that was random, but I get excited about new makeup tricks. It is what it is.
****

Now quit distracting me and let me get some work done.. sheesh. (wink) XOXO! Ah...and really quickly.. the XOXO just reminded me of Gossip Girl.. which is on tonight (YAY) and um.. if they don't tell us who that stupid girl is, I'm gonna lose it. I despise her and need someone to bring her down. That is all. Yes, I realize it's a show based on a young adult book series and I'm almost 30. Whatever.

Weekend Recap! :)

All the Maui photos (900 of them + videos..whoa) are officially on my macbook! That said, I haven't even opened the folder to edit any of them yet.. *sigh* And um.. I think I'm going to be using picnik's collage option a lot so I dont lose half of you as readers out of sheer boredom from "this is Eric on the beach" and "this is Jackie on the beach" hahaha! I likely go overboard, but it's b/c I love to have something to look back on and read since I don't really scrapbook or anything... 

Okay, now that I've rambled... Eric and I went to our friends' wedding this weekend! The events kicked off with a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner! Despite him wearing them almost everyday at work, I just realized I didn't have ANY photos of Eric in his haute glasses before Friday night! Bananas! I dig em. Anyway, Sara and I helped with the guestbook, gift table, wedding programs, etc and Beth got us both some awesome and very thoughtful engraved wine glasses to show her appreciation! (I like presents.. Look at my cheesy smile unwrapping mine.. haha.. lame). 

Wedding day!!! I have pics of the bridal luncheon, buuuuuuuut I'm lazy and they're on my camera...which hasn't been downloaded yet (these are all from Eric's awesome new camera I've been semi-hijacking). (I totally got to sport some new freshwater pearls I bought in Maui!!!!)

 They are a stunning couple and absolutely glowing with happiness; I am so thrilled for them! We planned to take a photo in the exact.same.place in one spot in Maui (since they're honeymooning there!). Cute. :)

 The venue at sunset (our new convention center) and fabulous centerpieces....

Okay, a funny... After four-ish a couple glasses of wine, I proceeded to lay upside down on Eric's sofa and make him kiss me "like on Spiderm@n....upside down! It will be fun!" Reason I love my boyfriend number 2,234,222: he obliged...and just walked away shaking his head and laughing, leaving me perfectly content. I then proceeded to fall asleep reading a catalog for some store. Nice. 

Today, we downloaded all the Hawaii photos! (YAY!) and Eric let me know my memory on my computer is apparently craptacular. *head hung in shame* I totally understood my PC; my mac and I are still getting acquainted. Anyway, guess I need to order a lil more memory before I go downloading more stuff. Pish posh. :)

We headed to the pumpkin patch!! You see, his friends host an AWESOME pumpkin carving party every year...and I haven't ever been able to go. :( The first year, I broke my back. Excuses, excuses... haha..Last year, someone was out of town or something...But, this year, I am so.pumped. to participate. We couldn't just go get any old pumpkin at the grocery store; we needed perfect pumpkins from a patch. Sooo off we headed to Carmichael's! There are plenty of patches in the area, but it's the one both Eric and I went to as kids...and arguably the best one...ya know...not like we're biased. ;)

 In his quest for the perfect pumpkin, he didn't realize I was photo-ing him.... surveying....moving around...checking out the box (ya know...for those undiscovered gems they hadn't put out yet, of course...lol) and then spying me laughing and photo-ing...haha!

 I had to practically mow someone down to get this wheelbarrow. (The place was PACKED.) A woman saw me and said "Oh, I guess we'll wait for the next one" in a ho-hum tone and I said "hmm...yeah...sorry.." haha... Whatever. If she'd had a child, I would have given to it to her. I'm not a meanie. I played with picnik's Halloween features a little on the pics from today (in case you wondered about the weird branch across the photo...haha!)

Hope you had a fabulous fall weekend, everyone! Mine was good, except someone tried to break into my mom's house... It was pretty scary, but she's okay. I don't want to put a ton of details on here, but I'd definitely appreciate it if you say a little prayer that she stays safe and sound and that it was someone totally random with no desire to return.... Here's to a safe...and great...last week of October to everyone!

I'm back! :)

Aloha peeps!! I'm back from Maui! :) I didn't blog while I was gone b/c after Eric's house got broken into this summer, we were both a little paranoid about putting something on fbook, blogs, or anywhere not secured just to be on the safe side...(paranoid=us. Whatever)

Soooo... we landed this morning back in T town (and then I slept all day)....and tomorrow after work is a friend's rehearsal dinner. Then, Sat is the bridal luncheon, followed by the wedding. So yeah, gonna be tired and it'll be awhile before I bore you with photos from our vacay. :) 

In the meantime, this was the view from our hotel balcony at the fantastic Fairmont Kea Lani... *happy sigh* :) It makes me want to go back right this second... 

And I've seen some other people do similar things to what I'm about to list, so I'm just gonna admit I'm copying... ;) But, here's a fun overview....

10,000= feet from which we watched the sunset on top of the Haleakala crater. One of my fav experiences ever.

800= photos we took! (@least half were probably on the fabulous road to Hana) :)

25+ = times we were called newlyweds and/or I was called "Mrs. (Eric's last name here)." (comedy).

20= approximate letters every street, town, etc had in the name.

4= loaves of yummy local banana bread we consumed. (We ate it like a burrito, straight up bit into the loaf

3= cheeseburgers we ate for lunch @ the hotel beachside/poolside restaurant. fat.kids.on.vacation. (we had fish too....duh...but those burgers were so damn good)

2= people we ran into from Tulsa and ended up having a drink with :)

2= number of books I read (I'd saved the last two Dragon Tattoo books for this trip).

1= day it took us to figure out what mahalo means and use it appropriately

1= gift certificate purchased for dinner at our fav place (Nick's Fish Market to those of you who've been there!) as a wedding present to our friends honeymooning in Maui NEXT WEEK! (the wedding I mentioned taking place this weekend!)

Countless= times I thought "are we really here?!" and didn't feel like I deserved it. Fantastic vacation and some much needed time away.

Looking forward to catching up and seeing what you guys have been up to for the past week! Hope you've had a great one and are gearing up for a fabulous weekend! :)

Weekend Recap! :)

Hiya peeps! My weekend recap is a tinge late (I act like that's abnormal)... I was off work Monday (In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue). It was a good, long weekend for sure... I had this plan to go into work on Monday and get ahead on some stuff. Yeah, that didn't happen... haha.. Instead, I visited some good friends at my former job (yeah, I'm a loser who visits her old job on the day off from her new one...lol!) and stopped by Ashley and Lee's and visited them and little Cooper for a little bit... 

Anyhoo...as for the rest of the weekend...Saturday, Eric and I headed to his friend's wedding. He broke in his new camera! Gotta say the thing takes kinda awesome pics! 

Sunday night, headed to see Carrie Underwood! She's kinda gorgeous. I'm just sayin. And Sarah and I both agreed we want her legs, but whatever.

We like popcorn. A lot. They just kept bringing it so we totally had to eat it. Duh. (Her work had gotten the suite and she had an extra ticket! I was definitely happy to change plans that day and go to the concert!!)

This little pup got sicky this weekend. :( Her glands are acting up again. But this time, it was pretty bad....and they're worried she'll need surgery once it heals this time. They think there might be some reason they keep acting up like this. She's my baby and we'll deal with it if that happens. But, hoping she's all better soon and they won't have to do anything further.... Poor little G funk.

(this picture is her "hiding" her bone.I was getting ready in the morning and spotted it by my tennis shoes. She immediately went and laid by it, having realized her spot was DISCOVERED. She's so adorable. Please ignore the crazy cell phone charger gone awry...haha). :)

Hope you all had a FABULOUS weekend!!!! I'm sleeeeeeeeeeeepy. Feel like it's evident by my not-super-descriptive post....*shrugs*  Sweet dreams in blog world, friends! :)

Wednesday Randoms

Hi peeps!

I have a lot of posts I start, but then never get around to finishing. Here's a random post with some tidbits from those other half-posts.. haha... :)

1. I've decided that my dog, Gracie, will be in my someday wedding. I'm serious. If Carrie Underw0od can do it, why can't I?! Besides, most of my friends have boys...as does my cousin. We need a chick in the mix.

2. I hate "corporate speak." Ya know like "do a deeper dive on this issue" and "circle the wagons" yada yada. Do you have any work phrases that make you twitch a little?

3. GAGA OH LA LA! Sorry... what I meant to say is.. GAGA is coming to Tulsa annnnnnnnnnd I got TICKETS! I was able to get in on a presale offered by my credit card company! YEEHAW! So excited! Granted, the concert will be mere days after my lease expires...and mere DAYS before my friend's Florida bachelorette extravaganza... sooo thinking about the concert makes me inevitably start thinking in this fashion: YAY GAGA > followed by awesome bachelorette party > wonder if I'll have to calculate moving expenses and time around then? That could get hard. > where do I want to live? I mean.. staying in the same place another year would be a-okay...  > when should my roomie and I talk about that > holy crap I need to just calm down and not think about this > YAY GAGA! hahaha!

4. Do you ever gift anyone iTunes songs? I always forget you can do that. Super cool feature. Let's all do it more. *affirmative nod*

5. My roomie is sick. She came down with said virus on Saturday. I am still not sick. Please cross your fingers I stay all well and feeling good b/c vacation is coming up and I have too much work to do beforehand! I can't get sick right now!!!!!!!!! (the extra exclamation points added emphasis in my mind. whatever)

6. I want to see the movie The Social Netw0rk. Have you SEEN all the awesome reviews? It's like being called the movie of the freaking year! Bananas!

7. How's your fall tv watching going, peeps? Me? I'm hooked on the usuals: Greys, Pr!vate Prac, Desperate Housew!ves, Commun!ty,etc.. But, I've ADDED Glee, The Ev!nt, and Nik!ta. I also hear amazing things about Rub!con? Seen it? Like it? (yes, I'm obsessed with adding random exclamation points so I dont show up in search engines when people are looking for those shows. Whatev).

Okay, that's your dose of randomness dumped from my brain lately... Hope you're having a fab Wednesday!