Camera.

First off, I feel like I have to say thanks to all the readers who have been commenting on my blog lately. I love it, and each comment is like a little note of encouragement. I can't tell you how many great pictures, creative ideas, funny stories, inspiring truths I see everyday when I read blogs and I rarely comment. I feel like the people who are consistent commenters are the same kind of people who would drop you a note in the mail just because they're thinking about you. I like those kinds of people, and I want to be more like them. So thanks, folks, for being encouraging and inspiring. :)

Ok, back to what I'm really here to talk about. Lately I've gotten a lot of questions about my camera. I thought I'd write up a little post about it. I really like my camera and have been so happy with it. My husband complains about how expensive of a hobby it is, but he secretly loves it! :)



My camera body is a Canon Rebel XSi. I actually bought it used from here. I'm sure some people would be a little cautious about buying a used camera, but I had a really great experience and if I ever get an opportunity to upgrade my camera body, I'd probably buy used again.



Ok, so now for my lenses. I have 2 lenses that I use a lot. I also have a couple more that my mom is letting me use (a standard kit lens, and a zoom lens). The two I use the most are my Tamron lens that I got for Christmas and my Canon 50mm 1.8/f lens. I LOVE both of these lenses. Lately I've been using my Tamron lens a lot. But when Laney is being especially camera happy, I'll use the 50mm to get some good close ups.

Another new addition to my camera is a canon speedlite flash. It has been so helpful with all of these parties we've been having at night. Someone gave my brother the flash, and he and Emily so kindly have been letting me borrow it for a while. I really love it, and whenever they want it back I think I'm going to have to purchase one for myself.

I always edit my pictures. Right now I use picnik to edit. It's so simple and user friendly. I'm considering buying lightroom, but we'll see?

If you have any more specific questions I'd be more than happy to try and answer them! Just email me at justshowedupblog(at)gmail(dot)com.

Seriously.

So, just as I was starting to recover from strep I got sick AGAIN! Stomach bug? Food poisoning? I'm not sure which one it was, but I was S.I.C.K. Throw-up city. Bleh. The funny thing is that even though I've been sick twice now in the past week Eric has yet to catch either! Lucky boy! Speaking of the lucky boy, tomorrow is his birthday! Happy 29 Lucky Boy! :)



Friday night we went to the Loveless with a bunch of our friends to celebrate (this is the night I got sick, but it didn't start until midnight). Laney had her first experience with table food and LOVED it!





Saturday night I managed to work up enough energy (you know, after my night of becoming BFF's with our commode) to make it to our "girls night out" at Chuy's for Caitlin's bachelorette party! There was also an after party at my house. In effort to keep my blog "G" rated (I kid) I'll just show you a couple of pics from the party! :)





This is what Caitlin's Mom got her!! Isn't it HILARIOUS!?

Also, I'm trying to escape the "winter blahs" and completed a couple of little projects last week!

I made a slip cover for this little stool I inherited from my Great Aunt. It was covered in this nasty green fabric and was in great need of some new life. I thought this Alexander Henry fabric was just what it needed.



And because I'm dreaming of summer days in flip flops on warm sandy beaches I made this open back reversible top for little Laney to wear this summer. It's funny, I meant to add some ric-rac or ruffles to it, but just got so focused on wanting to finish it that I forgot! Oops!





Ok, that's all I got for now. Hopefully I make it through this week without catching whatever sickness is going around Nashville!

lately.

We've been feeling a lot like this...





I've been out for count lately. I started feeling really awful Wednesday night and thought it was just a bad cold. Thursday morning I got up, took my temp (fine) and got ready for work. By 9:30 I had a fever, so I took off and went to the doctor. Strep Throat. Yuck. I don't know if I've ever had strep before, but if I have it was so long ago I don't remember. I felt terrible Thursday and Friday, but am MUCH better now.



However, my little one started running a fever on Saturday and she hasn't been herself lately. :( We talked to her pediatrician and he didn't seem too worried. Her fever wasn't very high and it was gone about 24 hours later. But she still has been pretty pathetic/VERY fussy. I'm thinking her second tooth is coming in (anyone else have a similar experience with their kids cutting teeth??).



Anyway, I've been loving reading other people's posts about the national championship! WAR EAGLE! I've been living vicariously through you all. It feels good to be a champion! Amen?!?



Also, we got A LOT of snow here last week. So much so, that I'm good for the rest of the year. So, Mr. Weather, if you can hear me, I'd like no more snow until 2012. Thanks.



I think being cooped up inside plus being sick has taken it's toll on me and I'm beginning to suffer from the "winter blahs." I'm feeling pretty unmotivated lately. When I get home from work I just want to lay around and forget about the piles of laundry, cooking dinner, cleaning house, not to mention the extra stuff like sewing projects and jillian's 30 day shred (I honestly don't mind skipping out the shred :)).

I hope you aren't suffering from the "winter blahs" too! Have a happy Monday peeps!

A Shower for Emily & Josh.

One of my closest friends in Nashville is Emily. We officially met very soon after I moved here because I was interning at a church that she had just finished interning at. Actually, we met years before that, but barely remember each other. She was working at First Baptist Nashville while I was working at First Montgomery and we did camp together. I think she probably remembers me as the spastic cheerleader and I remember her as the intimidating red head. Anyway, after I moved here she immediately befriended me and started inviting me to all of her stellar parties.









Emily is a party planner at heart (she planned my super cute baby shower). Which makes planning a party for her SUPER intimidating! But 12 of us girls took on the challenge. I hope we met her expectations. It was a lovely night.



We fed about 70 people a dinner of vermicelli chicken, salad, rolls and some super yummy desserts. It was a great way to celebrate Emily and Josh.







I feel especially excited about them getting married because I set them up (insert a little pat myself on the back here :))! Josh was having a going away party for our dear friends Ben and Erin. When we showed up he had ordered pizza from his favorite pizza place, had decorated his outdoor space a little and was so excited to host the party. I immediately thought this is a guy for Emily!









I asked Josh if he'd mind if I set him up with my pretty redheaded friend and he excitedly said YES! About a week later we all met at J. Alexanders for dinner and the rest is history!









I can't wait to stand beside you guys on your big day!

Keep'n it real.

Ok, so my house is a total wreck. I even cleaned up Christmas and it still looks like poo.

Let me just show you...

Here is the pile that is sitting behind my back door. A bin full of kitchen stuff and a bag of maternity clothes, plus the ingredients for vermicelli chicken that I'm making for a shower this weekend.



Ok, moving on...Sitting behind our kitchen table is the twin brass bed frame that was in Laney's room. Yep, it's sitting in our kitchen! WHAT IN THE WORLD!?!



Just wait, it gets worse. Here is a pile of trash sitting in my bedroom from where I cleaned out our closet.



Also, here's a pile of stuff that I need to see if my sister wants. My foot grew when I was pregnant, and now these merrells don't fit. Sad day. (See Lizzie, do you like them? Or any of these scarves?)



Ok, last but not least: My little sewing nook. It's a disaster...



So here's the bright side of things, kinda. The reason we're cleaning out and have piles everywhere is because we're about to try and sell our house! Yep, in this terrible market, we want to sell! Haha. We're really trusting the Lord in this. We do have a backup plan if it doesn't sell, but we're really praying and trusting that it will sell soon (please pray with us).

Also, my favorite fabric store is having it's semi-annual SALE! 40% off the all the fabric in the store!!! It's one of the best months of the year for me! I will probably go in there at least twice a week during the month of January.



Also, did you notice the pretty lilies in my kitchen? They're from my sweet hubs. He got them for me on our anniversary Monday.



He's the cutest. We got to celebrate our anniversary while we were in Columbus over the weekend. He took me to dinner at Hyde Park and then we went to see "The King's Speech." To be honest, we fell asleep during the movie. What parts we did see made us very sad that we couldn't keep ourselves awake to watch it. I know it was a really good movie, but we were really tired.


(I promise, he wasn't trying to model. I think I yelled his name and this was the look he gave me. :))

Emily, Walker and Mommy: I promise I will do my best to have our house semi-organized before you get here on Friday!!

Ok, I gotta go try and clean up some of this mess. Later, folks.

2 years.

Well ‘I do’ are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end



But to lose your life for another I’ve heard is a good place to begin
Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price for the life that we have found



And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re sailing in the storm



This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for



So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose loves chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith
to the end of all my days
when I forget my name, remind me



Cause we bear the light of the son of man
So there’s nothing left to fear



So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands
Till the shadows disappear
Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos baby
I can dance with you

Dancing in the Minefields, Andrew Peterson

Happy 2 year anniversary, to my favorite man in the world.