Happy Smiley Babies

I used some of my talents today to do a photoshoot for a friend. I promised that I would do her photos as a baby gift and we are just getting around to it - even though she's sitting on her own and even standing while holding furniture.

She was awesome, very pleasant, didn't cry - but it reminded me so much of how awesome this stage can be and how you have to work quickly. Babies in her stage are very busy, and very willing to put anything and everything into their mouth. If you can't work quick and can't pull new tricks out of your bag, you'll lose the child forever. It's a tough but fun stage and when you capture those awesome moments, it means so much more.

We had four basic outfits today, with one being the diaper shots. We had fun playing them up and tried to set a mood for all of them. It made me really miss the studio, where the camera is stationary, and all I have is a small little trigger to snap - and it snaps quickly and easily so you can really capture the moment. We had fun playing with flash or without flash and it was hard finding the best setting. I found I liked the look of the natural light, but tried to stay out of blocking it as much as possible. I realize that if I were to do this full time I'd need to have a better lighting set up and more backdrops. I really hope they like the end result and that the expressions and mood shows in each of the shots.

She was a pleasure and I had a lot of fun "shooting" her.

Showing strength

So I got the job - but...I turned it down. They wanted to offer me minimum wage. That would be fine - but I think I'm worth more than that. So hopefully something else comes along.

I talked with my boss today and it really made me feel valuable. There is an opening in our company for a Management position, which I am qualified for. I'm just not sure I want the headaches. I made up my resume anyhow - and we'll see how I feel tomorrow. My mind has been swimming ever since I heard it was coming up. To apply or not to...

I love the company I work for. The benefits are awesome and the people, for the most part, are really great. I'd love to work there and make it a home. But do I want insanely long days? Do I want to be a babysitter and get more grey hair again? It's not that I don't think I could do it, I just think I'd push myself too hard. If you know me, you know that I strive to do the best I can in whatever I do. I'm also not so fantastic at delegating jobs. Maybe that's why I shouldn't be management...

I told my boss about how I was thinking of applying and she thinks I should try. She figures I'll get an interview. Then again, they probably give that to everyone internally that applies unless it's completely out of left field! I also admitted to my boss an evil plot that I have. It basically involves getting rid of a girl in marketing and taking her position. When the posting came up I was only a couple months into my contract and things were really hairy in my department. A girl went on mat leave, the girl replacing her ended up pregnant and leaving for her mat leave - and then they got another girl to cover that was also pregnant. That girl ended up having her baby MONTHS early and we were so screwed. If I left my boss then it would be completely devastating to the department. I wanted the position, but thought it would look much worse for me to apply at such a difficult time.

I'm hoping that she can't handle it and quits - but I know it's more likely that they'd have to get rid of her in a different way. When I told my boss, she said that if the position came up, the marketing manager would hire me in a heartbeat. They wanted me for the position to begin with, but knew the circumstances.

Even still, I'm looking for other opportunities, and even applied to three different full time spots that came up today in other companies.

So fingers crossed, something happens and I become full time in an awesome position - so that me and my hubby can get us a house!

Spooktacular Sum Up

First, I just want to say how sad it was to not see everyone out on Saturday night - but for those of us that were there we had a really great time. I thought I'd sum things up for everyone who couldn't make it.

There were some added twists to this year's party - with an outdoor element in the way of a haunted back yard complete with tombstones, a severed arm and leg and a creepy baby in a coffin. We also had a trivia competition and a pumpkin carving challenge.

The pumpkins were all really creative and helped showcase some of the best carving talent I've seen in a really long time. Andy the Swiss Pumpkin ended up winning and he loved his special bobble head. He kept bobbling his head all night to show me how much loved his prize. Thanks to Dennis and Adam and Laura for bringing Swissy and not giving him a chance to rest after his LONG trip across the ocean.

Jeff (Champ) showed his true trivia prowess and worked to make sure his team (of him and me-Corina) won the challenge with only one wrong answer out of 10. Of course everyone thought it was fixed that I won, but having never won anything at any of my parties, I was very happy with my special bendy Gumby. Huge thanks to our corporate sponsor Dan for organizing the quiz and bringing the prizes for the costume contest.

The prizes were awesome for this years event and thanks to all the awesome costumes, it was a tight race. Dan was able to secure electric razors for the male and female costume winner. Seeing the huge smile on the male winner - Nick was priceless. It was the best prize yet and Nick's costume as the Riddler was just genius. Not everyone can get away with a once piece tight costume.

For the first time ever there was a tie for the girls side. Sandra with her naughty nurse costume faced off against Laura in her Harley Quinn costume. Both looked awesome and mortified when they found out they tied. To make things easier, we allowed them to select surrogate dancers to face off on their behalf. Carmen and Dennis stepped up to the plate and both chose their song to compete. Unfortunately, James tried to throw in a twist with the Arnold Schwarzenegger work out version of It's Raining Men. Of course this lead to sudden death dance off where they worked together to get through a Backstreet Boys tune. Couldn't help laughing when the Swiss Pumpkin took off to show off his moves. As he told a few of us "This is a great song." Apparently, the Swiss love the boy bands.

Dennis danced Laura into the big prize. The rest of the night involved random raves, lots of candy including pop rocks, a large amount of punch and even pie. It was a great time had by all and James and I were so happy to see everyone come out for most likely the last Hill-Harri(u)s major shindig out in Clyde.

I guess the only questions that remain are:
Just who left the black vest behind?
Just what costume will be good enough to take the prize next year?
What will James and I do to top this years awesome party?
and do pop rocks and beer really go together as Kristina says they do?

Strengths and weaknesses?

I have an interview tomorrow and I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I've been racking my brain trying to come up with what I would say to the two key questions

#1 - what are your strengths
#2 - what are your weaknesses

I'm also trying to figure out how to handle the fact that I'm on a contract at the moment. I want a full time position, and would love to work for the company, but I really enjoy where I am. I'm doing something that I enjoy, even though it does leave me a little bored sometimes. The company I work for is awesome too and has some amazing benefits. But the contract I'm on is pretty much up unless the girl I replaced doesn't come back. she's due back on the 15th of December, so what do I do in the meantime?

All I know is this, I need to look out for number one - and number one is me and my future.

With that said, I'm excited about the prospect. This could be a really good move for me and the job is right up my alley. It really suits my interests so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Means I might be doing weekends and evenings again, but I'm cool. The place seems like a great chance. Cross your fingers for me too!!!!

So excited!

I'm so freaking excited for tonight I can't even begin to tell you.

Every year, except one, my husband and I have held a Halloween party. Every year I try and outdo myself and this year is no exception. I've heard good things from all my parties thus far and I don't want to disappoint anyone this year. The only thing that might is that there will not be a bloody hand in the punch. It just didn't happen that we got the gloves to freeze it early enough. OH well. Life will go on and we will party hard!

My costume came to me after going to a few different locations to look at wigs. Initially I dreamed of being a super hero. I had some fantastic silver material that I was going to fashion into a cape but when I went out looking for the consumate super hero skirt - I found this awesome dress instead. I opted to turn myself into a doll once and have dreams of pasty faces and red lips. It's going to be cute but comfy too and I hope it goes over well.

Every year I tend to make my costume out of stuff that I have lying around. Thus the goth dominatrix club kid that I was one year. Yeah - the stupidest costume that didn't make sense to anyone, but I bought myself a whip so that was fun. Sadly though, the whip disappeared before the end of the night... I have to wonder which of my kinky friends took it home! LOL!

The past two years I had a hint of sex appeal as my husband asked me to show a little bit more skin. All my girlfriends have been able to get away with sexy concoctions but with me being a little bigger than the average bear, I haven't been able to pull it off. The first sexy costume I went with is the one that many men have enjoyed the vision of - Betty Rubble. My mother-in-law and I worked together to sew a lovely blue smock, I flipped out my bob and put a big blue bow on top. Voila! Betty Rubble. It was so simple. All I needed to buy was the fabric and some false eyelashes. I felt really sexy, and very exposed. Helped that we had the party at our place or I would've froze getting there!

Last year we moved so our friends hosted the party at their place. I went slightly sexy but also gruesome as a pirate. I had picked up some orange and black knee high socks from Salem, Mass on my honeymoon. I paired them with black boots, a black skirt, and a satiny top. The good thing was that I felt sexy, but didn't have too much skin showing.

This year I wanted cute. I'm going to feel comfortable moving around and everything and it seems like such a simple concept. Thank goodness they had this very special dress at VV Boutique. You know, Value Village! The place where many a Halloween costume has been born.

I had the pleasure of going several times this season to help others find something awesome, including my niece Tori and nephew Zak. Zak decided after much deliberation that he wanted to be a pirate. Victoria was going to be a clown princess. It was going to be awesome too as she got a bright pink wig to match her pink dress. Unfortunately when yesterday rolled around, she decided not to be a clown princess anymore! She wanted to be a frog. Luckily they had a frog costume or she'd be in trouble! Due to some circumstances beyond my sister's control, she was unable to make it home to see the kids off and hand out candy. I decided to go and help her out and took some awesome pictures before they hit the road.

We had a visit last night from a beautiful butterfly too. Mackenzie stopped by to show me her costume with her parents Kristina and Curtis. We went together trick or treating to a few different houses in which the people were more than happy to give Mackenzie handfuls of candy. She went to four houses and ended up with 17 pieces of good candy including full chocolate bars! I cannot imagine how much loot the kids that did the whole neighbourhood got! the joys of living out in the country means that you get full chocolate bars and full bags of chips. Completely spoiled out here in the country!

That was just a good start to tonight. We have included extra events including a pumpkin carving competition and a special trivia competition. It will be very interesting to see how everyone makes out - especially in the costume competition. The costumes are always awesome and it's so good to see everyone's creativity. Tonight will be no exception I'm sure as people have been talking about their costumes and ideas for two months now. I'm sure that this will all lead to a dance off. I can't wait to see how everything pans out!

Anyhow, must get back to the massive cleaning that needs to be done before such parties! Have a good night y'all!