stupidity

so my car got broken into last night. it's my own fault. i forgot to close the garage door (note to self: need new reminder system). went to go out to my car this morning and my window was smashed in and our gps was taken. although i'm extremely upset/frustrating/disappointed, i am trying to remember the misfortune of the kleptos. ya see, i don't normally lock my car when it's in the garage. so they didn't have to go through the difficulty of breaking a window. try the door first, dipshits. and lastly, our Garmin has a security code. no security code = no access. haha, you dumb bastards. not only were you not smart enough to check the door, you also went through all that trouble to get something that is now of no worth to you. i may be stupid for not closing the garage door. but you, my thieving friends, are beyond stupid. i would hope that the ghetto would be teaching more advanced thievery techniques these days. but no, still as dumb as ever. you, my friends, are to be commended for your stupidity. you receive an A in my epic fail grade of the day. congratulations.

$400?!?!?!

so my FH and i are looking for a cupcake vendor for the wedding. and i fell in love with the above cupcakes. however, the cupcakes above would be $400!!! after delivery fee, the stand, and 5 dozen cupcakes. that's ridiculous! they're effing cupcakes! seriously in the wrong business. weddings are way overpriced.

layoffs

ok so it's no secret that the economy is in the crapper and we're on the bullet train to the next depression (or somewhat depression). layoff rumors have been swirling around my company like you wouldn't believe. yes, it's scary. no, i don't want to be laid off. i like having a job, thank you very much. just as much as the next person. but, somehow, i can't help but think there's a reason for all of this. i believe in God, that's no secret, and so i can't help but believe this is all meant to be and there's a lesson to be learned. perhaps we've all been too greedy. that's the easiest reason i can come up with.

but what if it's more than that?

how many people are stuck in an endless job that they loathe with the fire of a thousand suns? how many people feel sick to their stomachs just thinking about going to work each day? how many people are wasting their God-given talents on a meaningless job? maybe, just maybe, God is wanting us to explore our talents, explore what we want to do in life so that we can be happy. God doesn't want people to suffer. He wants people to be happy.

could you handle that?

being happy?

is that something that you would be able to deal with? honestly. how many people would be okay with being happy? would you be happy living within your means, doing something you love? maybe not spending so lavishly, buying that Escalade you've always wanted, living in a huge house. but doing what you love, having people in your life that do what they love and are happy, having a healthy and happy family? could you handle that?

i know i could.

this "layoff season" has taught me a lot about life and about happiness. sure, i haven't been laid off yet (knock on wood), so maybe i have yet to really know. but i've learned i'm not happy with the place i spend most of my day. it doesn't make me happy. i'm not using the gifts God gave me. i'm a fairly creative person and enjoy doing creative things (knitting, jewelry making, designing stuff). i can't help but think that i can do so much more with my life, so much more that would make me happy. and maybe a layoff (or threat of a layoff) is the only way for me to realize my full potential.

my challenge to you.

so during this time of trauma and doom and gloom, try to see things differently. change your perspective. what can you learn from this? are you doing what you love? if not, maybe now is the time to change things. change your life. make yourself happy. you only have one life to live. make the most of it.

necklaces!

so i make hand-made, hand-stamped, totally customized necklaces. pricing varies based on the amount of customization, however the necklace pictured above would cost $45, including the chain. all pendants are sterling silver and are totally customized. as of right now, i only have letters, numbers, a heart, and a star for stamping options. as my business grows, so will my stamps. please email me at jennbrown_83 [at] msn [dot] com if you have questions. you can also order online at jennbrown83.etsy.com.



i also make necklaces like this picture! (note: this necklace is not in stock) i will post these necklaces as they become available. two-sided necklaces cost $40 -$80, depending on the size of the pendant. one-sided necklaces cost anywhere from $20 - $40, depending on the size of the pendant. again, please email jennbrown_83 [at] msn [dot] com if you have any questions. these necklaces will be posted on jennbrown83.etsy.com as they become available.

Spread the word! if you refer someone who buys a necklace, i will offer $10 off the purchase of your next necklace.

random fact

it's true. i love nerds. i'm not ashamed to admit it any longer. i love nerds and geeks (thankfully my FH is a huge geek!). i love the awkward clothing style, the "here's a nerd question" questions (and answers), the computer/gaming/nerd (and geek) speak conversations, i just love nerds! and Brittany Spears (not a nerd). i also love cotton candy. and nerds. and now you know how nerdy/awkward/geeky i really am. the end.

reality check

for those of you who have no idea who Gary Vaynerchuk is, you should really educate yourself. not only is he incredibly knowledgeable in wine, he also has amazing insights on life, work, and success. check out the video and then check out his website. it's a lil' dose of reality every time i watch one of his vids. truly an amazing guy!

(video via GaryVaynerchuk.com)

Check this out!

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Crazy crazy people!!

It's the little things.

there are many things that make me happy and smile in life. usually, it's the little things that most don't get enjoyment out of. such as Upside Down Dogs, for starters. or the picture of the extremely happy baby on this post. or movies like Biodome. the little thing that made me happy today was downloading Firefox to my work computer. the version of ie we have plain sucks and makes me want to go Office Space on my PC. so anyway, was having my usual issues today, and had the pleasure of speaking to a super cool IT employee (almost as cool as my FH) who listens to Wilco (rockin'), who told me (drum roll please!) that yes! i can download Firefox! yippee!! i feel as happy as a clam! or as happy as that baby. either way, effing happy! oh the things simple minds enjoy!

(image via Rose Cottage)

I feel like this today...

i don't know what happened! i woke up with energy, arrived at work with energy, and now i'm falling fast. perhaps it's time for a Mt Dew? otherwise, i'll look like that little girl. except with my head on my desk. snoring. loudly.

(image via Popular-Pics.com)

Are You Watching This?

if you aren't, you should. the Mentalist is probably one of my favorite crime shows on right now. it may even beat my love for Criminal Minds, which is tough to say because i heart the nerdy fellow on CM (i love nerds!). the main character, Patrick Jane, is a former psychic who helps out a crime unit. he's hilarious and oh so clever! watch it. you'll love it. anyway, check out the Mentalist on CBS on Tuesdays at 9pm ET.

(image via CBS)

Wedding Flowers

the time has now come to order up the wedding bouquets! i found one that i like (see above!) and am excited to see if my florist can make something similar. the bridesmaids will be carrying a single calla lily. beautiful!

(image via Wedding by Color)

New Obsession

I heart make-up. And I heart Bare Minerals make-up. And the best thing for my love affair with Bare Minerals is my new obsession: Prime Time. It's a foundation primer. At first, I was rather skeptical about the product. I couldn't believe that it would make my skin any smoother than my current lotion. Boy, was I wrong!! This stuff is amazing! I have never had my make-up glide on my skin this easy before. And my make-up lasts so much longer! My skin no longer eats the make-up by 10am. FAB product! I give it two enthusiastic thumbs way up. (if you can tell me what movie that phrase is from, I'll reward you. Handsomely. Ok, I'll just say good job.)

(image: bare escentuals)

Good News!

So we just got our flights for the wedding. It came to a whole $202.30 per person. What?! No really. Not kidding. Effin' fabulous, right? Word. That's $100 less than what we were looking at. Cha-Ching!!

Invitations update - finally heard from our vendor-poo. Invitations will be in my hands Monday or Tuesday. Crossing my fingers it actually gets done!!

Off to hip hop dance class tonight with my buddy Alicia. Good times!

Rock on.

jennirocks.com!

Turns out that jennirocks.com is available and is now mine all mine!! Yay!

A New Beginning

Well I've decided to start a bloggity-blog. Instead of boring the FH with my random rantings/thoughts/whatever, it's time to start blogging. And with the wedding only 4 months away, I'm sure I'll have a ton to write about.

Speaking of wedding plans... Oh disaster! Life Lession #5,674,281: Never never NEVER barter services without a contract, no matter who you are bartering services with! Our invitations are now late thanks to a little bartering of goods gone bad. Seriously. The whole situation could have been potentially avoided had a little contract been signed stating both parties' expectations. Instead, the invitations girly isn't living up to our expectations, and the only contract we have to show for was written waaaaay too late! Now we're fighting the good fight to get our invitations sent. As of today, if we have no designs from the designer, our bartering of services is off. More to come...