Saturday

Yesterday I was in my backyard taking some pics of random things...
I just LOVE prints/pictures/designs that involve the fluffy dandelions.

Ha, I just liked these shots of Gussy yawnin in my face...
The next picture my husband took, and we both think its hilarious..

AND disgusting!! Look at the coverage his kiss got, wow haha!! eeww.

Chica

Today one of my old co-workers had me 'dog-sit' her baby girl, Chica, while she went to lunch with a group of people. I was more than happy to.... just look at this sweetie...

I must confess..

I have a confession. I am madly, deeply, and irrevocably in love.....with my satelite radio. My most favorite? 90's on 9, baby! I LOVE this station. Today on my lunch break, the songs Ironic by Alannis Morissette, Killing me Softly by The Fugees, and I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers played all in a row! I KNOW, how awesome right! Ah... im in love...

My Calling.

Sometimes I don't appreciate the awesome calling I've been given as the YW Beehives Advisor. Sometimes I often wonder WHY I have the calling I have because sometimes i wished i were still in Primary with the little SunBeams. In the Sunbeams class, you don't have to have such a powerful knowledge of the Gospel, which I don't think I do yet. I don't have many Spiritual experiences to share and most times, I feel a bit inadequate to teach alot of the lessons in YW. But I honestly know I was put into YW for a reason, I just didn't know why yet. Until last night at mutual, when one of my girls opened my eyes a little bit. To make a long story short, one of my girls had gotten offended by something I said about her liking a certain book. She had gone to the bathroom and was upset about it. Knowing I had to go and help her, I got up and went to find her. In my head I was silently praying that I could find the right words to say to make her feel better and to show how sorry i was for offending her. When I got inside and gave my 2 cents, I was sure i'd given her the wrong advice and was nervous and was thinking "Dang it, Stefanie.. Why couldn't you have said THIS... or THIS.. or THAT!?" But my advice seemed to really mean something to her and she hugged me and thanked me and had a great rest of the night at church. Now I know this isn't a profound experience or anything, but I think it was just the little something I needed to remind me that I am in the YW for a reason. Heavenly Father heard my prayers and knew what A needed to hear, and even though I thought i didn't do a good job, It was what i was supposed to say. And I felt so happy and glad that I could make her feel even a little bit better. All of a sudden all of the reasons why i KNEW i was in yw came to me- If I were in Sunbeams at this time in my life, I don't know if I'd ever learn more than what i already know. I think in YW because i have to study a little harder on the lessons and learn new things along with my class, I am gaining knowledge that I otherwise wouldn't have. I've gotten to know some absolutely AMAZING women in the YW and I am so grateful for their example to me. Also something that had made me sad was that, due to conflicts at work, i wasn't going to be able to have enough vacation time to go to Girls Camp. (I'd gotten the calling to be the camp directors assistant and needed to be there the entire week). And i figured I'd just not go at all since i'd only be able to go about 2 and a half days anyway. But last night when I was standing in the kitchen talking to Sis. Barker and Sis Arnell.. my Setting Apart blessing for being the directors assistant came to my mind very strongly, where the Bishop had told me that The Lord knew this would be one of my Favorite Callings. I know I need to do everything I can to be able to go and be at camp. But anyway, Ive rambled on... I was just feeling very thankful for my calling today and last night, and I get why all of the YW leaders love their calling so much.. it truly is wonderful and amazing.

The Sixties, Baby!

I found these cool editing actions called "1960's" and I really love the effect they have on pictures..... Heres a couple I used it on!

Sweet Baby G..i only used it slightly on this picture

My momma :)

I know its kinda, actually really weird-this picture haha... But whatever, it shows the action well ;)

Heres our lovely old thermometer outside on the patio... and look! I think I got some sunflare! I'm not even gonna act like I know what i'm doing though haha....

Nephew C

C stopped by my house on Saturday for a little while and I asked if I could take a couple of pictures of him..




What a stud, no?

The Hubs.

I tried to edit some pictures the husband reluctantly let me take of him....

I like this one.. It looks 'candy-ish' and i swear i didn't make his eyes bluer in it!

I like this one too... kinda spooky eyed though!

This one is silly and i think he looks like Travis Barker from Blink 182 in it haha...

which one do you think looks best?

If U know anything about taking pictures and/or editing.. PLEASE READ.

Does anybody know how I can achieve very contrasting black and white pictures? All i have now is Photoshop elements and i don't even know how to turn my picture into a black and white picture haha. So i can change it in Picasa.. But it all looks very blah and Grey. How can I make the black parts really black and the white very white and not just a blah grey-ish picture??
Thanks :)

American Idol Thoughts

Thought I'd throw my 2 cents in about this season of American Idol since i havn't yet! This season I am not as into it as i was last year. Last year I feel there was MUCH more talent. But... I will share my favorites...My DEFINITE favorite for this season so far is Matt Giraud. Every single time he performs I feel like he is Already a star. His voice is so Easy and Great! Love him!..

I also really like Alexis Grace. What a cute girl with a Great big voice! I think she has awesome potential...

I also like the girl with really red hair, last night she didn't impress me as much as her performance of 'Alone'. Still not quite as great as Carrie Underwoods version but it was still pretty dang good. I have mixed feelings about Adam Lambert... I do like his weird quirky style and i admit he CAN sing good. But i think he sounds like a straight up WOMAN when he sings. no? If i closed my eyes i'd think it was a female singer.. so i'm not so sure about him. But what do I know :] Anoop is alright too, not the best but hes ok..

Outside Today

I'm not really sure how but i accidentally deleted this post... so here it is AGAIN haha...
I took some photos on my lunch break outside yesterday..


My sister should like his pic of Gus chewing on the new sock she gave me... i confiscated it immediately after this picture!


And these beautiful floweres were given to me by m friend Emily! They are super pretty!

Missy Ellie says...

Good Night!

First pics taken...

5 Fun Facts

Can't resist a tag.....

1. I don't know how to really explain this over the Internet.. But when I'm riding in a car as a passenger and we're going down the highway.. U know the little dashes in the middle of the road? Well, everytime there is a little light reflector in between.. I have to flex the left side of my hip or jaw as we're passing each one.. i know that sounds crazy, it is haha.

2. I am addicted to food... seriously.. not a joke..

3. To me, the only thing that can bring back the most vivid of memories.. is music.

4. I'm pretty much obsessed with cars. I know alot about different cars and enjoy looking at them.

5. I rarely cook dinner... or anything for that matter. Don't get me wrong, i really enjoy cooking, and obviously (see above^) love to eat. But with a picky eater Husband.. Cooking yummy different things is extremely difficult. Honestly, I probably cook a decent meal... once every... hm... 10 days or so?? I know.. what a horribly wifey, right?!

SURPRISE!

Tonight Dusty took me out to Olive Garden for my birthday dinner. After the man took our drink orders Dusty got up and said he was going to use the restroom... and came back with 2 wrapped gifts :). I wasn't expecting any gifts so I was really excited!! He handed me the bigger one and i unwrapped this....




A Nikon D60!! How exciting! He also got a 50mm-200mm lens along with it. Then waiting at home from my mother in law was a carry bag and memory cards! I'm really excited to learn how to use it good and start taking some pictures!! Bare with me as i learn and post here... :)

Psyche...

Its always ok if your mom-z brings them to you :)

Danke Schön, Mutter! Ich Liebe Dich :)

The big 2-0!

So today is my twentieth birthday! It sure doesn't feel like my birthday haha. When i was little, the entire week leading up to today felt like my birthday... the entire WEEK! I SO looked forward to waking up that morning, getting all ready and wear something new and go to school and have a friend bring me balloons so everyone at school knew it was my birthday. I always loved that. The older I get, that fun 'Birthday feeling' sure wears off! But its okay :) I'd rather it wear off than expect my friends to come bring me balloons at my office so everyone KNEW it was my birthday haha. Anyway, Today i am baffled by something and somewhat... disturbed and would like to share. So, When i was a young lass... i LOVED to watch The Animal Planet. (Now that i have my own pets, i refuse to watch that channel because shows like "Animal Cops" makes me want to just DIE with sadness.) Anyway, So one of my favorite shows was with Jeff Corwin. He always had cool stuff going on and he Loved animals. Me and my dad even went to UAH one day to MEET him and I got his autograph... COOL, huh!? So anyway...My favorite channel in the world to watch now.. is of course, Food Network. If i could only watch Food Network the rest of my days, I think i'd be pretty happy. LOVE that channel. So there is a new show on Food Network.. EXTREME CUISINE with JEFF CORWIN. I was curious to see what the show would be about... So i watched it........ and was Totally disturbed! Not only does Corwin KILL all these little animals and do it brutally i might add... he EATS them all. How IRONIC is that!? First he's on a show loving and caring for all animals. Now he kills and eats them??? Just doesn't seem right to me. I can't even watch the show because it bothers me so bad haha. Doesn't that seem weird to anyone else???