Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Birthday Shoutout

We are deep in the thick of birthday week and celebrations, but I had to emerge to wish this guy a happy birthday.

What a stud.  <3 xoxo



Friday, October 25, 2013

Favorite Friday: Horror Movie

I've decided to launch a new initiative on my blog. We'll call it "Favorite Friday." (I'll hold for applause and shouts of elation.)

Basically, I'll just highlight my favorite "fill-in-the-blank" every Friday! Any ideas, suggestions, or requests are welcome and encouraged.

Since it's only October for a little while longer, I thought I'd start with my favorite scary movie. I should start by saying that I begin making my scary movie list in August and save them all up for October. And because Layne and I are such homebodies, we buy a movie off Vudu or Amazon Prime pretty much every night and gorge ourselves on horror. And while I enjoy a lot of them, a few really do stand out. I love a good Hitchcock, like Rear Window or Psycho. I recently watched Scream for the first time and it was terrifically suspenseful.

But - my absolute favorite scary movie, or in fact series of scary movies - are the Paranormal Activity movies.



 Oh. My. Gosh. They are absolutely spine chilling. They're the perfect movies to make your skin crawl and you just want to yell and point at the screen and you are truly insane if you watch them alone. I own the first three, so if you're close by feel free to borrow them. If not, hit a RedBox and get into the spirit of the season!


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Little Baby Emma

My friend Amy asked me to take pictures of her little baby girl before she was born. I was incredibly honored, but even more terrified! I don't take pictures of people, and I did not want the responsibility of once-in-a-lifetime photos! The day I took pictures was a little too cloudy, but I tried my best to deal with the low lighting and get some decent shots of the most beautiful baby you have ever seen. It has been more than a few months now, but here are some of the shots from back in April. I know they could be so much better, but I thank Amy for taking a gamble on me and letting me be a part of such a special event in Emma's life.





It's belated, but welcome to the world Emma Louise Harrison!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Drumroll, please!

Remember a few weeks ago (ok, waaaaaay back in August) when I said exciting things were headed our way? Well, it's time to share!

In the summer, we started thinking about what direction we were moving in. We love D.C., we liked our jobs, we were happy. But it had this indefinite feeling. We could have gone on forever just as things were. And while things were good, they could be better. We'd love to own a home one day and stop renting, we'd like our kids to have a yard, and I want to take some time off when those kids come along. So, we made a decision.

Layne and I are both changing course.

He has decided to go back to school next year and get his MBA! He's been in consulting for the past few years but he's just not sure if that's the career path for him. He's always wanted to get his MBA, and now seems a great time to hit the reset button. So he has begun studying for the GMAT.

I decided that if I might be taking a career break in a few years to pop out some adorable Fletcher babies, I wanted to get as much experience as possible. So, I got a new job! I have officially been in my new position for a week. My last job was in communications at a high-tech trade association. I don't think a single person in my family understands what this means. Basically, I worked for an advocacy organization (read: lobby shop), doing their communications like design, social media, traditional public relations and media outreach, and about a thousand other little things. I'm switching to another lobby shop (you can't escape working in something political in D.C.), but this one focuses on intelligent transportation. And instead of traditional communications, I will be doing event marketing! I am really, really, really excited for this change! (Plus, I'm like a total adult now. I have an office with a door and windows and everything.)

Yay for planning for the future! This is what it feels like to be a grown up, huh?


Saturday, October 12, 2013

What do you do?

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When you're young, they make it sound so easy. They boil it down to three simple words: Choose The Right. They inscribe those three little letters on an adjustable ring that will turn your finger green and leave an even longer lasting impression on your mind. It's a lifeline when you're lost. So deeply a part of you that no matter the question, it is the first answer that comes to mind.

But when you grow up, some things aren't as clean cut. Not everything is right and wrong, black and white. There is a lot of gray. And right now I'm standing in a silver, paralyzing fog.

I'm in this situation - I don't really want to get into the details - but this crazy situation that I can't seem to make heads nor tails of. There is no right. A lot of wrong has been done. But how do I make it right from here? Fight for justice, or turn the other cheek? Do I keep pushing for others who may be put in a similar tight spot somewhere down the line, or do I take the paltry penance that has been offered and begin to pull myself back together? When you have been so deeply wronged, what do you do? What is right?

All I know at this point is that I need to be able to look myself in the eye at the end of this, integrity in tact. I need peace.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

That Dude is One Tough Mudder

That's right. I'm talking about that total stud, my husband, Layne Fletcher.

The team - my heroes.
A few months ago, Layne did the Tough Mudder in West Virginia. It was probably the sexiest thing I have ever seen him do. It was 10-12 miles through the hilly countryside, the course slick with mud and strewn with about 20 obstacles to basically just screw you over and wear you out as much as possible. Climbing and swimming through the mud,  crawling on your belly through tubes half-filled with water, scrambling over wooden walls, under barbed wire, through electric shocks, and everyone's favorite challenge - the Arctic Enema. This course is so challenging and shocking to your body, someone actually died on the course the day before Layne competed.

Into the ice bath, the Arctic Enema.
Jumping over fire.

Climbing Everest (Ninja Warrior, anyone?)
Getting electrocuted.


Did I mention that it was about 60 degrees and you basically are wet the whole time from all the mud and water obstacles?


And he did it. All of it. So sexy, right?

Monday, October 7, 2013

Off the Wagon

I know, I know.

I fell off the blogging wagon.

Again.

I keep trying this blogging thing and then I keep letting it fall away. I have ideas on what to write about; I guess I just sometimes feel like maybe nobody cares. And it's not that I'm offended if nobody cares about my little, inconsequential life. It's just that because nobody cares, then what does it matter if I get around to blogging or not? It's time consuming. It's hard to feel inspired and find the time. It can be challenging to know where to draw the line on what to share while still being honest. My life isn't all sunshine and roses and I don't want to create that illusion, but the world wide web isn't exactly the proper place to have a full on "woe is me" moment either. My life is pretty good, but it also has some crappy bits. Overall, I'm ecstatically happy because for the most part I have my dad's sunny outlook on life, and because I married the most amazing guy ever who makes me just gush with love every single day (yes, I am disgusting).

So, maybe... what do you want to know? What do you like to read about? I've done recipes, and daily life, and random thoughts in my head, and photo shoots, home decor and crafts, or just highlights when we do something fun or something happens... But what do you want to read about most? If I feel like I'm actually catering to an audience with a purpose, maybe I'll write more.


Or... maybe not. Worth a shot though, right?
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