Let's give a big round of applause to Margret.

She made the cut for the Moscow Ballet Nutcracker (performance on Dec. 7 at the Cannon Center). The audition took forever and once I saw the rehearsal schedule I thought I wouldn't mind all that much if she didn't make. But when they called her number, I nearly burst into tears! I'm so proud of that kid. Btw, we get a special rate for tickets, so if there's any family/friends who want to see her, let me know and I'll get you the details.

I would have added a photo to this post, but I didn't take my camera to the audition (couldn't see much anyway) and now she's asleep. Dreaming of her role as a snowflake, no doubt.

Promote your own blog.

See that link over to the right? "Followers"? Go ahead and sign up so you can promote your own blog here. I love to know who's keeping up with me and I'm in the mood to discover some new blogs. In the next week I'll shine a little light on the best blogs I find.

Free scrapbooking guide!

Hey yo! The free Quamut guide this week is the one I wrote on Scrapbooking. You can always read it online for free, but for this week only you can download it for free as well. Check it out!

Working hair.

Working from home is a pretty great deal for me. I'm doing something I love, and I get to be around for the girls. But one of the drawbacks is that there is no one to say "Time for work." I just have to finish up the morning chores (emptying the dishwasher, starting laundry, making beds, taking a shower, etc.) and pick a time to jump in.

I've found that it helps to have some specific actions that say "work." Like taking a shower and getting dressed. Turning on the radio. And putting my hair up. I love having longish hair, but when I'm working I find it to be distracting. I almost always put it up while I'm on a shoot, mainly to keep it out of my eyes. But now I'm finding that just putting it up makes me more focused sitting in my office. Do you have any actions that put you in a "work" frame of mind? Whether for paid work or just getting household stuff done?

Two Terrific kids.

Yesterday I got a call from Audrey's teacher. I braced myself -- I had a photo shoot to do and I was instantly concerned that Audrey was sick. But no! The good news was that she was named the "Terrific Kid" for her class. They pick one kid every six weeks and they get a t-shirt and some special recognition at school. And while Audrey can sometimes not be a terrific kid at home, she excels in terrific-ness at school. I have no doubt she is well-behaved at all times, is helpful and does whatever is required of her. I'm not sure why that Audrey doesn't live here.

Little Miss Margret has an interesting day ahead. A few weeks ago I heard that the Moscow Ballet is coming to town for a special Nutcracker performance in December. And they are auditioning local kids for supporting parts. I asked Margret if she was interested (you have to be at least seven -- otherwise Audrey would be all over it), and she said yes. She's had three years of ballet, but is currently taking tap and had gymnastics last year. So our friend and ballet instructor, Erin, has spent some time reviewing positions and terms to get her ready. We try out this afternoon.

And I'm trying not to be Lynn Spears about it.

I love seeing Margret on stage, and she seems so happy there. She had a great role in the first grade program and people kept coming up to me and telling me how great she was. So while I would love to see her get a part, I keep telling her that it is up to her. And we have talked about what happens if she isn't chosen. She says she'll be a little sad for herself but happy for those who do get picked. And she promises to try her best. Which is all I need to hear.

Photos are from Tiger tailgating earlier this month.

Theatre and cinema.

Early this morning, John and I were treated to a bit of theatre.

Audrey directed and starred, with co-star Margret. Who tried her best with a director who expected her to read her mind. And who's idea of directing is yelling "NO! That's not right!"

I regret that I cannot recall the full story of the play.

The action was quite fast-paced. At least Audrey allowed me to bring my camera. John was told that next time he couldn't bring his coffee.

Last night, John and I watched "Hot Fuzz". And we laughed our heads off. The movie is a bit crazy -- a comedy, a slasher/thriller, a fish-out-of-water tale, a mystery and a parody of every cop movie ever made. My friend, Bobby, tells me that if you get the DVD version (we had TiVoed it) you also get a commentary track from the director pointing out all the places where the plot doesn't make sense. How awesome is that? Now I have to go rent "Point Break".

Downtown and way out east.

My day started with a photo shoot downtown. A mom, a dad and and two-year-old who loves trains. I mean he loves trains. And he calls them all "Thomas". Good thing he thinks trolleys are trains because we were able to distract him enough to keep him still for a few seconds here and there.

In just a bit I'll be packing up lots of equipment to do a maternity shoot. I'm so excited. It's in the opposite direction of downtown -- way out east. Fortunately the weather is exceptional today and I think it will go well.

And as long as you are asking, yes, I'm still editing those preschool photos from this past week. And I start another preschool shoot this coming week. John may have to make dinner a lot. Good thing the freezer is stocked.

Needed.

I need a store, very close to my house, that sells wine, juice pouches, take-out pizza and leotards for seven-year-olds. And they need to have copier services. Because then I really could accomplish everything today. It would also be great if someone who worked there could cut my hair.

More shooting. More editing.

For the next two weeks I'll either be shooting preschool portraits or editing them. I may wash an occasional load of laundry and even make dinner some nights. But for the most part, I'll be right here at the computer. Editing. Wish me luck.

Editing.

Just editing today. I have over 600 images from yesterday's preschool shoot and I am narrowing down to the best of each kid. I have eliminated 200+ and I'm really just still at the beginning.

I also have a kid home today. Margret fell out of her chair and smacked her back, knocking the wind out of her. Her teacher called and I went to see how she was. I think she's fine, but I brought her home to rest. And she's been delightful -- watching TV and playing online while I work. Now she's working on homework. I've been trying to make the day as boring as possible so she doesn't start falling out of her chair on purpose.

Back to editing.

Psst: new posts over at cinnamon.

Ways that Martha Stewart and I are exactly alike.

Did you know that Martha blogs too? She's running a contest for bloggers right now. Go over and add yours to the list!

The Midsouth Fair. 2008 edition.

If you've been reading this blog for at least a year, then you know that I'm a huge fan of the MidSouth Fair, and of agri-tainment in general. I love, love, love the fair. One year I went four times. And took over 200 photos. This year I was a bit more laid back. I did bring the camera but I didn't try to capture everything.

We had made the decision to bring $100 to the Fair, and we would leave once it was gone. Sadly, it went pretty fast. I was already sad that this is the last time the Fair will be in Memphis (it's moving to Tunica, MS next year). Then I was more sad when I realized that our family of four would need to spend more than $100 to be able to do all they wanted to do. Frankly, I think $100 is a lot of money -- that should be able to buy us a great time. Instead, we ended up riding fewer rides and buying less food (which may not be a bad thing).

Don't get me wrong; I had a great time. Especially watching the girls enjoy themselves. And we take advantage of the many free things -- the FAA barn, the Creative Arts exhibits, the Lil' Buckaroo Barn, people watching. But I honestly I had hoped to be there longer.

Audrey greatly desired a photo with this chicken. I have no idea why. And I did take her to Miss Emma for a post-self haircut trim, and this is the best she could do. Sigh.

I wished I had gotten a shot of Margret's face while she was feeding this camel. She was very eager to do this this year and she squealed with delight as she fed goats, a cow, llamas and a yak.

The girls have gone on this bee ride every year we've gone to the Fair. I used to go with them, but I hate going around in circles, so I retired a few years ago, once they were big enough to go on their own. This year we stood on the sidelines and they buzzed us as they went by.

Audrey was officially big enough to go on all the rides she wanted to, and that included the log flume. She wanted to go last year, but she wasn't big enough (Margret and I went, though). This year, I handed the camera to John and the girls and I raced up the steps. But when I told them it was very probable that we would get wet, Margret said "I'm out" and dashed back to Daddy. The two of them are like cats; they hate getting wet.

Audrey pronounced it "awesome" and I agreed. I loved going on flume rides as a kid and I'm so happy my girls are getting old enough to do some thrill riding. Margret promised to try it out next year and I do think she'll love it. I had to beg her to try a small roller coaster a few years ago and finally convinced her. Now it's one of her favorites.

I'm still feeling sad about the end of the Fair. I know the Fairgrounds so well. I know exactly the path we will take. I know the best place to buy lemonade and funnel cakes. I know where all the exhibits are (and I miss the pigs who race for Oreo cookies). Next year is going to be a whole new experience. Will it live up to my expectations?

You could say that I'm not happy right this minute.

And the worst thing is that she actually thinks it looks good.

Maternity photos.

I recently added a maternity photo package to my photography site. And I have to say, this type of photography is different than what I'm used to. It's more like a product shot than a people shot -- the belly becomes sort of a prop that needs special attention. Luckily, I had a wonderful model who was patient with me while I worked out some technical things. And I'm so happy with the results. So is she.

I prefer using natural light. You know, light that is found outside? But I certainly don't want to have a woman stand in her front yard nearly naked, so we found this beautiful light coming into the den. Perfect.

I love this photo; it's almost like she's singing to her baby.

We did this in the den. I just added a silky drape to the sofa and my model flashed her beautiful smile.

My maternity shoots include some images with the rest of the family. And since everyone was fully clothed, outside worked perfectly.

This family was so totally sweet. They did any- and everything I asked. By the way, the mom also paints baby room and playrooms and is extremely talented. Her nursery has a jungle theme with giant animals on the walls -- it's truly fabulous. Leave a comment or email me if you'd like to get in touch with her for a quote.

I wish them all the best with their coming attraction.

Maternity shoots are priced at $150 and include a disk of at least 20 high-res images and an online slide show. The session focuses on mom, but dads and siblings are welcome to be in the photos as well. Contact me at 901-568-0211.

Social Secretary.

This is what I've become. When I look at the calendar this month I'm a little stunned. When my girls were little, I was primarily a person who dealt with food and hygiene. Now that they've gotten older, they can handle most of those tasks themselves (thank goodness!) and my role has changed. Now I'm the one who is brokering playdates for the kid who didn't get the birthday party invite so I can take the one who did. I'm making sure the tap and ballet bags are packed and ready to go. I'm figuring out how to handle the time between picking up the kid who doesn't have tap and the kid who does. And reversing that plan for ballet day. I'm the one who has decided to pick up Chik-Fil-A tonight and take it over to the school right before Math and Science night. While still making time to get the homework done in between. And getting all the library books read in time to go back to school.

I'm the one planning the MidSouth Fair trip this weekend. And trying to figure out the next pizza night among friends. And scheduling lunch dates with my own friends. And reprinting photos for a class assignment. And returning defective tap shoes. And doing the directory for the neighborhood group. And trying to keep up with my business invoices and other needs.

I'm really not complaining. I really do want to do these things for my family. But some days the intensity of it all feels like it's too much. That's probably why I fell asleep at 8:30 last night.

Cool find.

I just stumbled across the blog of one of my photography clients and it's cool enough to share. The Hip Hostess is actually two Memphis moms who plan parties in this area. Go take a look at some recent parties -- I think they have great ideas!

Actually...

My post at Being Frugal is up today. Click here.

New posts up.

Over at the cinnamon blog.

Have you heard of "edible landscaping?"

I read a lot of personal finance/frugal blogs and one I love is Being Frugal. As the owner transitions into a new house, she's asked for some guest bloggers and today's post is by Marci. But she is not me! I thought it was this Marci. We have run across each other through on blogs and have emailed. Turns out that we have a lot in common: husbands named John (who have birthdays one day apart), two daughters (and one named Audrey), brown hair and glasses, and a love of scrapping and the Barenaked Ladies. How weird is that?

But now I've learned there is yet another Marci out there. Her posts will be up today and next Monday, on the topic of "edible landscaping" which I think is a fascinating way to think about your local environment. Wonder what her husband's name is?

Oh, one more thing: I am the Marci who will have a guest post on Being Frugal on Thursday. Because we Marcis seem to find each other, don't we?

Neglect.

I really don't mean to neglect my blog on the weekend, but we've been soooooo busy. John and I are really introverts, but we've had a lot of social time in the last month. I did a maternity shoot early Saturday (photos to be posted later this week), then we went to a little picnic for Audrey's class around lunch time. John and I managed to fit in naps in the afternoon, before we went over to a neighbor's house for dinner (which was fabulous!)

Today I woke up to wind and rain (which makes me nervous, ever since Hurricane Elvis knocked us on our butts five years ago). Luckily it was just the tail end of Hurricane Ike, cooling off our weather. I ran out to Kroger where I spent over $100 (and saved an additional $70). I got back in time to meet a friend and we met up with two others so we could linger over a La Baguette lunch. The four of us have been friends for a long time but the last few years have been busy and we haven't made the time to get together. We're starting to do that again and it's wonderful.

I still need to run out to Walgreen's. And I need to prepare for the week ahead. I've got that shoot to edit and some school obligations. Margret starts tap class and Audrey begins ballet, so I've got to work all that out. Still need to find tan, no-tie tap shoes for my big girl. And my office is full of equipment and stacks of layouts from the past two years. Time did not move too quickly for me today, but I could still use a little more of it.

I'll be back tomorrow with something new. I promise.

Grandparent's Day.

I'm always so touched that my mother-in-law is willing to drive 100 miles to sit in a school cafeteria for 30 minutes on Grandparent's Day. This year she got to sit with two school kids and we had a delightful time. We let the kids eat, saw their classrooms, then met John for lunch (we were so not interested in the Salisbury steak selection at school). Thanks, Nanny.

It takes all kinds.

I'm part of a scrapblog called "It Takes All Kinds", which promotes a diverse bunch of scrappers. My post is up today. Check it out, because I want some credit for finally scrapping a page.

Like I need another blog.

I frequently check my blog stats to see how people arrive here. And every single time I check, I see that someone has Googled "how to make cinnamon toast" and they click on my July 22, 2007 post. Which was just some goofy post I did. But apparently there are a whole lot of people who are dying to know how to do it.

So I started another blog.

Besides the basics of how to actually make cinnamon toast, you'll find other cinnamon-related news and facts. I don't know why I'm doing it. I just am.

Shameless self-promotion.

Shhhhh. John is working at home this morning. He has a project due and he wanted some peace and quiet. So he's going to be around until I pick up the girls. Because peace and quiet go right out the window then. And I'm going out in a bit, so it will be crazy peaceful here soon.

Meanwhile, I thought I'd tell you about some special deals that have hit my e-mailbox. In fairness, I am an affiliate for these, which means if you proceed, I will get a bit of change from your transaction.

First up: you have until Friday to get a $10 bonus when you sign up for Ebates, an online shopping site that gives you cash rebates when you purchase through their partners. And they have tons of partners. This is a great way to do your online shopping (the holidays are coming...). But wait, you ask: is there anyway to make this deal even better? Carrie at Money Saving Methods has listed a bunch of $10 gift cards you can get through Ebates. So you spend $10 on a gift card, but you get $10 back as a rebate. And if you sign up through my post, I'll get a $10 rebate as well. Note: you have to sign up and make a purchase to get the rebate. And I do use this site to make online purchases -- last month I received a check for $21, which went right into an envelope for holiday shopping.

MyPoints is another shopping site. After you sign up, you'll get lots of emails from them (you may want to set up a free email account, like through Yahoo.com). One way to earn points is just to click on the emails and quickly scan the offers. You'll get a few a day and it only takes a few minutes to let the offers load. If you are interested and continue, you'll get lots of points. But even if you don't, you still accumulate the points. I'm building mine slowly but I hope to eventually get a gift card to a book seller. I like to give books for gifts and that's how I will use it. Click here if you'd like me to send you an invitation to join, and I'll send a referral.

Finally, if you are looking to sock away some cash, I highly recommend ING DIRECT. If you open an online account with them (savings or checking) with a minimum of $250, you will get a bonus $25. If you ask me for a referral, I'll get $10. So here's what you can do: get a referral, open your account, then refer your spouse or a friend and get another $10 for yourself. John and I both have these accounts and they are for our "fun money". We can each use them for our own interests without having to worry about overspending in the regular budget. The checking interest rate starts at 1.74% and the savings is 3%. Not too shabby.

Done.

So I whipped through "The Joy Luck Club" this weekend. It was great. But I think the movie may be even better. Now I need to see it again. Thank goodness for Netflix. Up next is "White Oleander".

We had a quiet weekend. We hung around the house on Saturday, til it was time to go tailgating at the U of Memphis game. Which also happened to be an impromptu birthday party for a friend. There were three couples and four kids, ranging in age from almost three to seven. And (I am not surprised by this) they played beautifully together. It was fun watching them run around the field where we were parked and I took lots of photos. I told John that I think I now have proof that we have good kids. Because whenever we get together with these families, or any of the others we know, the kids are always happy. Maybe that happens with everyone, but I'm taking credit for raising happy kids.

On Sunday I got up and made cinnamon toast, which everyone here loves. I planned out my shopping trips and spent more time on the planning than the shopping. I spent about $24 at Walgreens (saved an additional $33) and about $59 at Kroger (saving another $17). What I really loved about the Kroger shop was that I didn't have much of a list and I only had three coupons. But I knew that I was buying everything I needed for the week, because I have already stockpiled so much stuff.

I cooked a big dinner Sunday and we wound down the day with baths and books. It was a very good weekend.

Next book.

So I finished up "The Time Traveler's Wife" about a week ago. It was a great book and I enjoyed it a lot. But the ending ... well. I don't want to give anything away and I think 90% of those who read it will be satisfied. But I was not. It didn't ruin the book for me, and I see how it ties into the the theme of waiting, but but ... let's just leave it there. I recommend reading it. I would let you borrow it, but I listed it on PaperBackSwap and it's already on the way to someone new.

I took a few days off between books (after all, I have magazines to catch up on), and then last night I picked up "The Joy Luck Club". I really, really love that movie and I was able to easily slip into the first chapter, aiding by movie stills in my head. It's less than 300 pages, so I think it will go quick.

I've ordered "Pillars of the Earth" from PaperBackSwap, and I still have "White Oleander" and "Kitchen Confidential". Any new recommendations out there?

The comfy chair.

I hope to post more studio pics next week. As long as I get some more cleaning done.

My pay for the week.

Margret brought this to me yesterday. I really do love whatever notes and drawings the girls give me.

Not much to report this week. I'm still working on my studio. I put in a nice comfy recliner so that my guests have a great place to sit (and I have a perfect place for reading). But I still have loads of layouts in piles that need sorting and storing. And there is more purging to be done (I'm hoping some scrappers will come to the neighborhood yard sale next month). Whatever I don't sell will go into a giveaway box announced here.

One more thing: do you find that your style has changed over the years? I used to like traditional furniture and decor and now I find myself much more drawn to modern. I have these two wing back chairs that I've had forever and all I can think about is sticking them in the yard sale and using whatever money I get on a pair of low, modern chairs. I was wandering through Hobby Lobby today in search of a photo prop (which I found), but hardly anything else appealed to me. Too traditional/antique-y. When I did see something with a more modern touch, I had to stop and look. And it just sort of surprised me. But from now on, I'll be paying attention to what catches my eye. Just wondering if that has ever happened to you?

My mailman is a big, fat idiot and other ramblings.

• I got home from picking up the girls today and there was an Amazon box lying in the middle of my carport. The carport that floods when it rains (like today). The carport that is plainly visible from the street, in case anyone wanted to steal a package from me. This is the same mailman who has been leaving my mailbox door open whenever he feels like it. I've actually stood at my kitchen window and watched him stick mail in and drive off without even trying to close it. I really appreciate that when it's raining, or when I have a box of checks sitting in full view of any crackhead that drives down my street. I have called the post office several times about him. I want my old mailman back. He may have read my mail but at least he made sure it got delivered safely.
• We made risotto tonight. First time ever. It was a recipe from Real Simple with edamame and lemon zest. And it was wonderful. I directed and John stirred. The only down side is that we made too much and I don't know how well it will reheat. Also, does anyone know where to buy risotto cheaper than the grocery store? I spent $6 on a smallish container (it nearly killed me - I had no coupon). Give me tips, people.
• I had a few layouts picked up today for an idea book. Way happy about that. I really need to get back into scrapping.
  
• I spent the majority of the day reorganizing and purging my scrap stuff. I still need to do more work, but it's a start and one can actually walk through my office now. It's also been rearranged. I like it.
• Our dishwasher is fixed. I called Whirlpool and told them that I bought the dishwasher last June, but it wasn't installed until exactly a year ago and they honored the warranty. The tech arrived this afternoon and checked it over, found nothing wrong, reassembled the door panel and all of a sudden it worked. Woohoo. I don't mind hand washing dishes, but it's lot faster to load them in a dishwasher and push a button.
  
• Tomorrow I'm going downtown to scout photo locations with a friend for her upcoming shoot. Can't wait. I'm hoping some more families will opt for an urban shoot this fall.
  
• On Friday I'm meeting up with a bunch of old co-workers. Well, they are not old. It's just been a while since we've gotten together. And I cannot wait for that either.
  
• Gotta go bathe the kids. Peace out.
  

Quick post.

I decided to rearrange my office yesterday and while it's not done, it's going very well. I've designated specific areas for scrapping and for my photo business. It's giving me a great sense of calm.

What does not have me calm is that my dishwasher (installed the day after Labor Day last year) has decided to stop working. We ran it last night and the dishes seem clean, but there is standing water in the bottom and nothing about it will turn on. It's plugged into the same outlet as the disposal, which works. I even tried swapping out the plugs, but dishwasher doesn't respond. Bad dishwasher. So I've rewashed what was in there and looked up troubleshooting online and in the manual. Not much help out there. I'll probably have to call a repairman.

In the meantime, I need to run out to do some errands. I'll leave you with my August savings:

KrogerSpent: $503
Shelf: $755
33%

Walgreen's
Spent: $141
Shelf: $319
56%

So I got $1074 worth of groceries and household items (including lots of school supplies) for $644. Plus we had a party this weekend and spent about $60, and I will get reimbursed for about $20 for food I provided at a school event. Trent at the Simple Dollar just posted that the average grocery bill for a family of four is $771, so I think we're doing okay. Granted, my numbers do not include dining out (which we do about once a week), but I know we've reduced those costs as well. And I just want to say thanks to everyone who has signed up at the Grocery Game under my email. It's much appreciated!

Happy Flavor Day!

For some reason, Audrey thinks it's Flavor Day, rather than Labor Day. Which, considering the myriad barbeques taking place is not a bad choice of language. This is the first Labor Day that she's been aware of -- probably because of her school schedule and it is very noticeable when you don't have school once you are going five days a week.

We had a busy Saturday, holding a cookout and fantasy football draft with our friends. We started at noon, and then moved the party to another friend's house around 6 to listen to the UofM Tigers on the radio. We finally got back to our house around 10p. Loads of fun, lots of good food and good conversation.

Sunday was a slower day. I did the Kroger and Walgreen's shopping and we cleaned up the house. I took the girls over to a neighbor's who is hosting a bunch of cats from near New Orleans. The family said it took over 10 hours to get here (it's normally a 5-6 hour trip). The kitties are all in cat condos with fresh food and litter. We'll go over in the afternoons to help care for them -- there's about a dozen.

Today we have a birthday party in the morning (yikes! I need to get going) and John has a daddy date with his girls this afternoon. I'm going to try to clean up my office. I'm already thinking about the week ahead.