I am....

Last Sunday I said I was going to try to blog a bit more often. Well, obviously this plan did not work out so well. I stumbled upon a blog recently with answering the following questions, so I decided I would post my thoughts.

I am...

wishing everyone lived a life of integrity.
I think...

I need to find a true passion (non-work related). I need to truly explore what makes ME happy. Is it photography, jogging, music, what "hobby" completes me?

I should...

get my doctorate. My goal has been doctorate before 40, but I just haven't been too inspired lately.

I dream...

about being debt free.

I want...

to lose 50 pounds. I know, not very unique. Who doesn't want to lose weight, but 50 lbs would be AMAZING!

I know...

I am loved by many friends and family.

I don't like...

vegetables. I wonder if there is a connection with the lbs above with my dislike of veggies. Mmmmm!! Just wondering.

I smell...

Jayme's (the golden) farts. Gross, but my reality.

(Had to add this photo, because it just makes me crack up! The funniest Jayme picture ever.)

I hear...

Adam Lambert on my I-Pod. I really like him! I am glad he didn't win Idol; he deserved to make a name for himself (not as an American Idol winner).

I fear...

being alone. My husband and son are my whole life and I hate being without them (even when they drive me crazy).

I search...

blogs and websites which inspire, educate, and make me laugh.

I miss...

my mom (everyday Mommy...I LOVE YOU!)

I always...

am second guessing myself. My controlling ways are always present and take over my thoughts.

I crave...

chocolate. Again, love of chocolate...hate of veggies...losing 50 lbs. Come on Em, don't you see the connection. HA! HA!

I remember...

my one BIG birthday party. Brandi and I shared our party, because our b-day’s are so close together (Brandi-10/9 Emily 10/10). We had lunch, cake, and a piñata in the backyard at the Studebaker house and then went bowling. Super fun!

I need…

to be balanced. I don’t do well when I feel overwhelmed and behind. I need routine, structure, and always know the plan.

I forget…

things that happen more than a year ago. Brad can remember every detail, date, and event and it drives him crazy when I don’t recall something he remembers. He is my walking diary.

I feel…

tired. It has been a stressful few weeks and I look forward to the balance spoken of above.

I can’t…

say “roar.” It’s true. My family and friends have taught me every phonetic sound and blend; I just can’t seem to get it out right. I say “WAR.” Hey, can’t be perfect.

I am happy…

when I see Juan and Brad smile!

I sing…

just about anything. It drives Juan crazy when I roll down the window and get down with the hip hop (dancing included). Now, Brandi is the lyricist…she knows every word of every song! Amazing!

I listen…

to about any type of music.

I shop…

not very often anymore. That ol’ debt free thing, you know.

I eat…

anything yummy! I love food! Do we really have to add salt to the wound. Was this blog starter blog planted, so I would keep thinking about the 50 lbs. Damn you blog posts!!

I love…

my FAMILY!

Now, your turn. Cut and paste these sentence starters to reflect on your “I AM”
I am
I think
I should
I dream
I want
I know
I don’t like
I smell
I hear
I fear
I search
I miss
I always
I crave
I remember
I need
I forget
I feel
I can’t
I am happy
I sing
I listen
I shop
I eat
I love

Just kind of cute!

I have never wanted to get a car decal stick figure thingy...but this was kind of fun to play with. (Thanks to Casey Starnes for this from link!)


My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Make your own stick family at Widdlytinks!

Too much to BLOG about

So, it is Sunday night and I should be getting ready for some shut eye.

ZzzzzZzzzzZZZzzz

But then I realized I haven't blogged all week.

Well, I am going to keep this short anyway!

This week has challenged be emotionally and mentally both professionally and personally. Big thanks to my family and friends for their love and support. I am so grateful for Brad and Juan---they make me smile, cry, yell, shout, cheer, and most of all, LOVE!

I hope to have some future blogs which generate provoking thoughts and discussion. Be sure to let me know if you want to hear about anything in particular. Some have asked me to write about work. Although I love my job, I probably won't write about it too much. This blog tends to be my personal outlet where I leave work, work!!

Keep reading!

Photo Editing

I have always been a fan of photography. I am still learning, but enjoy the experience. I especially enjoy pictures of nature, landscapes, flowers, etc.. It drives Brad crazy sometimes, because he thinks there should always be a person in the picture. I let him in sometimes and then crop him out. HA!! HA!!

One of the things I have been working on lately is to photo edit a bit more. I have been working with FotoFlexer, Picnik, and Adobe Photo Elements. Here are a few of my photo edits using Picnik. The Wild Animal Park pictures from last week were edited using Adobe Photo Elements.

I would love to hear from other bloggers and photo enthusiast on what you use.

Check them out:

Hanbury is Home

7057 Hanbury Street in Long Beach, California will forever be my family's home. My Grandpa and Grandma Holt were the original owners, and has been in our family for 57 years. It is this house where 5 Holt kids played, loved, and built endless memories. As my mother put it, it is where we were all taught to love unconditionally.

After Grandpa Holt passed away, my Uncle Monty, Aunt Joan, and Crystal moved into the house (I don't think anyone was willing to let it go just yet.) They will be moving up North soon, leaving the house to a new family. I have no doubt they will continue creating endless memories and love unconditionally as LOVE is forever embedded into the walls.

Here are a few of my own memories of 7057 Hanbury:

• Brandi and I would report to the Hanbury House afterschool for several years until Mom was off work.
• This house was our pretend address, so Brandi and I could continue attending the schools we wanted...Helen Keller Elementary and DeMille Middle School.
• This is where Tim came to announce Victoria was born with a rose for Brandi and me.
• Tim planted a itty-bitty twig in the yard, which has been become a fully grown tree (right side of yard in picture above).
• I kissed my first boy 2 houses down from this house.
• I remember all the holidays. Grandma sure loved to decorate and cook for ALL the holidays.
• I remember the smell of Grandpa's printing garage. This smell will always be present in my memories.
• Mom would tell us stories of how they had rabbits in the backyard when she was growing up. Not cute little bunnies…but rabbits to EAT!
• I would help Grandma and Grandpa with cutting the notepads after Grandpa printed and glued them.
• I remember saying goodbye to Grandpa for the last time when visiting California for Spring Break one month before he died.
• I always secretly wished the upstairs room could be mine.
• Grandpa sitting on the porch or leaning up against a car smoking and visiting with the neighbors.

I can think of so many more. I encourage those who consider Hanbury HOME to comment with your memories.

You will forever be in our hearts 7057 Hanbury Street

Love is STILL in the air!

Valentine's Day is over, however, love is still in the air. I received this e-mail a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was cute and wanted to pass it along.

What love means to a 4-8 year old. Touching words from the mouth of babes.

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'
Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'
Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'
Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'
Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'
Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'
Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'
Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'
Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'
Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'
Chris – age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'
Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.'
Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'
Jessica - age 8

And the final one:

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

Day at the Zoo

You never get to old for a GREAT day at the zoo. For Brad's birthday (February 12th), I renewed our San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park membership. This past Saturday, we went to the Wild Animal Park along with Juan's girlfriend, Brittany. It was great weather, due to a slight rain in the morning....light sweater weather.

I love the photo opportunities the Wild Animal Park provides. No matter how many times I have been, I always find something beautiful to take a picture of. My personal favorites are the plants. The colors and uniqueness of the plants is truly inspiring.

Here are a few shots of our fun:

"Juan, don't pose...just walk casually across the bridge." Got to love Juan, he doesn't know how NOT to pose.

Feeding the ducks

Brad and Juan...watch out for the big elephant behind you.
I could watch giraffes ALL day!

Juan's favorite...the Lion!


Love how the red pops out amongst the aloe plant.

Another aloe flower!

The newest addition to the Wild Animal Park. An African Elephant born on February 14, 2010.

Then lastly, my personal favorite. As mentioned above, you are never to old for the zoo. Here is my beautiful 15 year old just having fun with a duck. No batteries, jersey, or friends required.

I treasure this smile EVERYDAY!