Photo Share

Here's a pretty shot of downtown San Diego I took a few months ago. I love my city.

I took this photo when I was with family. I gathered everyone's iphone for this lovely display of our 

modern age.

Sorry for the bad iphone photos, but I wanted to share the hair cut I've had since last summer. It's very comfortable and I get a lot of compliments on it. I also added highlights for the very first time and I think they turned out nice. At times, I do miss my long hair and being able to curl it nicely. I go back and forth on deciding if I want to grow it out.

Add to Bucket List

Someday I want to be part of a lantern release celebration. It's such a beautiful site and gives me goosebumps just watching the video. Oh, and I spent two weeks in Poznan, Poland where this took place. Beautiful city.

Scary Job Interview

This week got crazy busy.
On Monday I got a call for a school psychologist interview (first one ever!) that was taking place on Wednesday. Super short notice!
I spent the next day and a half studying for the interview. My internship ended last June and I haven't really kept up on everything since my current job is nothing related to it.
Interview didn't go that great. Two ladies sat me down, put a sheet of questions in front of me and started right away asking the questions. No, "Tell us about yourself" or "Why do you want to work with us", they just gave me a scenario and asked me what I would do.
I was so freaking nervous!
They said I would get a call that afternoon for a second interview the next day if I was chosen.....Did not get a call. 

Now I know it was my very first interview for a school psychologist position, but it really bummed (crushed really) me out because there are no open positions AT ALL in this city, and I really do not like my current job. It is nothing related to my master's degree that I spent the last 3 years working towards. AND I really really miss working with kids.
I think they wanted a more experienced person, because they wanted someone right away, and it can be hard to start in the middle of the school year. (Well, I tell myself this to make me feel better.)

Sometimes it's so hard to believe God closes some doors to open others. Sometimes I just want to dwell in my sadness and failures and give up. But I won't!


In Other News: I'm on day 2 of my new eating plan. I've decided to omit wheat and dairy for awhile, just to see what it does. 
Goals:
1. Lose weight
2. Gain energy (I'm always so tired!)
3. Be healthy!

Basing it on a Paleo diet, but not as strict. 

Mini Vacation

I returned last night from my mini vacation. I took a train up north to visit my mom and little sister. We celebrated my mom's birthday, saw Les Miserables, took the dogs to the dog park, and went shopping. It was a nice break.

During my first trip to Red Robin, I tried their Guinness and whiskey shake, as well as the best hamburger I've ever had. Yummy!

Saw the most beautiful elevator in the mall.

I was a great time of rest, but I'm glad to be back home with Mr. Brilliant and my girls. Not happy to be back to work, but thankful for a job. 

Melody Monday

Miranda is my favorite female country singer. She's a strong, beautiful women, and her music rocks!

She was born in Texas in 1983 and won a singing competition in 2003. 

She's married to Blake Shelton, a fellow country singer. 

Freebie Friday

If you love fonts like me, then you need to check out Da Font. There are hundreds of FREE fonts! 

English Essay

Bellerose

Blake

Upper East Side

Impact Label

1942 Report

Twilly Pop is offering a chance to win $25 to the Pen and Paint Shop. Click here 

for more details!

Enter to win this beautiful lace headband over at Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog. Ends January 10th.

New Year Goals

Instead of making year-long resolutions, I've decided I'm going to make monthly goals to work on. At the end of each month I can see what goals I have met and then make new ones. I can also evaluate what kept me from meeting the goals and and adjust my methods if I need to. 

2012 was a hard and stressful year for me. I think this year is going to be a really good year, but it's up to me to make it that way.

New Year 2013

I really love New Years. It might sound a little cliche, but I love the fresh start the new year brings. There is a whole new year ahead of me and I can make it into anything I want. 

We had some friends over for dinner last night and stayed up to watch the ball drop on TV. 

I got to sleep in this morninig, which was glorious! I love my sleep! 

And to top things off, Mr. Brilliant made me breakfast! He's so good to me.

Happy New Year! We have so much ahead of us to look forward to!

Happy Birthday Jesus.

Such a cute and beautiful Christmas Story.






Merry Christmas!

Mustache Mania!!

Mustache Mania pub crawl was an interesting event. I not much of a bar person, but I got to wear an awesome mustache all day! It was for a good cause to support those with prostate cancer.

Oh, this was a treat on the freeway. Couldn't believe how high that stuff was piled! I was laughing so hard!

Tomorrow for Thanksgiving Mr. Brilliant and I will be going to two family meals. It's my duty to make the mashed potatoes for both...one of my favorite parts of the meal. That's going to be a lot of potatoes, nom nom! Going to eat lots of food, it's going to be glorious!

Have a great thanksgiving!

Diamonds in the Sky

I really love this song. Not only the music itself, but the actual words and message behind it. I think as women, we all shine bright like diamonds and need to tell ourselves this more often. We are beautiful like diamonds in the sky and need to treat ourselves as such. Sometimes I get so caught up in what everyone else looks like and the nice things they have. When I realize the true beauty on the inside that makes me who I am, the other material things don't seem to matter as much.

Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond

Find light in the beautiful sea
I choose to be happy
You and I, you and I
We’re like diamonds in the sky

You’re a shooting star I see
A vision of ecstasy
When you hold me, I’m alive
We’re like diamonds in the sky

I knew that we’d become one right away
Oh, right away
At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays
I saw the life inside your eyes

So shine bright tonight, you and I
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Eye to eye, so alive
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky

Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky

Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky

Palms rise to the universe
As we moonshine and molly
Feel the warmth, we’ll never die
We’re like diamonds in the sky

You’re a shooting star I see
A vision of ecstasy
When you hold me, I’m alive
We’re like diamonds in the sky

At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays
I saw the life inside your eyes

So shine bright tonight, you and I
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Eye to eye, so alive
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky

Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
Shine bright like a diamond
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky

Shine bright like a diamond

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I had yesterday and today off from work. A little mini vacation! When I work a weekend event, I get to choose a day during the week to take off. Yesterday I did a photo shoot with my friend as the model. We went to Balboa Park, which is one of my favorite places in San Diego. We went right before sunset and the light was gorgeous! So was my model!! Isn't she pretty!

Today I was a big lump on the couch...and it was glorious. In defense, I did get off my butt and went running with a friend this evening, and went grocery shopping. The day wasn't a total waste!

Got to get back on the healthy wagon.....again...food is my weakness. It's not my fault the world has invented glorious, yummy food, but it is totally my fault for placing that delicious stuff in my mouth.

Just a thought

November Heat

My favorite time of the year has arrived. Although it has been in the 80 degree range here in San Diego, the weather forecast promises some cool relief. I love the cool breeze and the fall smells that appear after the sun sets. Zipping up my boots and throwing on a scarf give me that cozy feeling. 

The new job is going great, but I'm home sick today...hence the blogging from bed. 

The girls have been keeping me company. There just like there momma and could sleep all day :)

Mr. Owl says hi too.

It's electric

I got a job!!! After 3 months and 70 applications (yes I'm serious!), I finally have a job!! It's not a job as a school psychologist (there's only 3 positions open in all of San Diego!), but it's doing something I think I will enjoy. I get to work with military families and give them support. As a military spouse, I can use my personal experience to others going through rough times, because I've been through it all too. I was waiting and praying for God to place me in a position that I could serve Him and help others and He finally answered me! I start in a few weeks, so I have a little time to get use to having s job woo!

the other night we had thunderstorms out in the mountains. I could see it from my backyard, so I set up my tripod and made my first attempt at photographing lightning. Tada!!

Pretty cool huh!

 

Marriage is hard, but oh so sweet.

This month, Mr. Brilliant and I celebrated our 3-year wedding anniversary! The time is just flying by. We've definitely experienced a lot of changes together. We ourselves have changed and grown, sometimes taking a few steps back here and there. One thing I've learned (the hard way), you must be honest with each other and have clear communication. Without these you won't last long. I don't know about you, but I'm a big mind reader. I'm always assuming what others are thinking and this gets me in trouble with Mr. Brilliant. I also expect him to read my mind, which never works a unless he catches my passive aggressive tone or body language. Like I said, marriage is hard, but there are good parts too of course. Having someone commit themselves to you for the rest of your life is an amazing feeling. Waking up next to him and trusting him with all my fears, mistake, and dreams is something I'm so grateful for. Knowing that I'll never have to face anything alone ever again and having a partner for all the struggles, has saved my life. I love you Mr. Brilliant. Thank you for loving me.

 

Waiting is not fun

I just downloaded a blogging app on my iPad, thinking that it may help me blog more. Its called Blogsy. Let's give it a try!

This has been a busy summer even though I don't have a job yet. I've applied to a lot of jobs and have had no luck yet. Well that's not true.. I did turn down one job because it was part-time and didn't pay enough to live on. I've been relying a lot on God these last two months. I'm trying my best to trust Him that He has prepared a job out there for me. He knows I need to make a living and has promised to always provide for me. I'm waiting God. Anytime now. Please!

God's answer to me: "But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Ok God, so I guess you're saying that during this time of waiting, you will make me stronger and more prepared? I've been waiting a while God! I'm ready!

Trust me and be patient.

But Lord, we really need the money, like yesterday!

I have great plans for you. Trust me child.

Jesus give me patience and peace! This is hard!

 

 

 

 

Life's Recap through my iPhone Lens

Got to go on a free harbor cruise and lunch with other military wives. 

Here's our boat. Made in the 1940's of wood. 

Duck begging for food in the Costco parking lot. It seriously kept going up to people. 

A few weeks ago I got to see one of my favorite artists perform. Greg Laswell.

It was also the night I discovered Elizabeth & the Catapult who opened the show. She is just amazing!

Friday night we had a big BBQ with a lot of military friends. It's nice for those guys to get together, and it's good for us wives too!

I had a busy day today. Grocery shopping in the morning, then church, then headed to this pool with a friend. Then we drove to the beach to run an errand. 

Driving over the Coronado bridge. It was such a beautiful day today. I really do love my hometown.

It's been a busy couple weeks. Tomorrow is my last official day of work as a school psychologist intern. I will get to enjoy a little summer break, but I'm on the job hunt now and I'm trying hard. It's tough out there!

Have a great week!

My First Berry Pie

Using fresh berries from my grandmother's berry bush, I attempted my first berry pie from scratch. I made the crust too! I think it turned out pretty well.

Sprinkling cinnamon on the top is delicious!

I must share glorious, fantastic news (well at least to me)

This lady is the fridge we were given 3 years ago from a family member. It's tiny and sometimes doesn't work well. Good news.......we finally were able to buy a new fridge!!!!

Isn't she humongous and beautiful!!! It's like a dream come true for me to have a nice fridge. The majority of the items in our old fridge that took up most of the space, fits into the door shelves on the new one. We got it in perfect time for all our summer BBQs. I love that the freezer is on the bottom. No more squatting down to get my vegetables from the drawer that was broken.

woo!!

I'm still digging the ABBA. Happy Friday!!

"There was something in the air that night,

the stars were bright.

They were shinning there for you and me,

for liberty."