crystal211

So yesterday they announced the winners in my category (wedding invitations) on Cleveland's Fox 8 Hot List.

I made Top 5!!

I'm so excited because yes, I asked for votes on Facebook, but there's no way EVERYONE on there voted for me, and if they did they could only vote once (you have to register). Erik, my family and I each voted once...and when I voted, I was way towards the bottom, I remember it saying like 11%. That means that people were coming, looking at my site, and voting for me. I was getting like 50-100 hits a day, so they obviously liked what they saw. And this is in my first year of business!

In the past two weeks, I've gotten 3 projects approved, all weddings - 2 were from the Hot List, 1 was a guy that's friends with one of my sister's friends.

I've already got it posted up on my website, and I can use it on all of my advertisements. My goal is to do at least one wedding show next fall, and this will be a great thing to mention and put on my literature there. Even though I only have a few examples on my site, it really gives me credibility, and that's what I need.

I just wanted to pop in and say hello to my LJ friends!

I have been so incredibly busy the past few months and have had no time to stop in here and read anything, let alone post much. The only thing I do post are quick tid-bits, normally news articles.

I'm working on wrapping up the books for the pool service company, pool suppply store, and rentals, as well as my own design business. I'm also really busy with the new branch off of my design company, Clearly You Event Design, that is focusing just on print pieces for events such as weddings, parties, etc. I was nominated for Cleveland's FOX 8 Hot List 2009 (you can see that here) and that has brought a lot of quote requests for projects. I just wrapped up a really fun project for a former classmate of mine - her dad is retiring from UPS and I designed the invites for the party. They turned out really cute (it can currently be seen on my Clearly You Facebook page...I need to find time to add it to my website). I just took on two wedding projects and I'm in the process of getting all of that paperwork finalized and signed, and then the fun begins.

And on top of all of that, I'm doing regular design work, too.

That's about all I've got...my days are filled with work and working out, with a little bit of kitty fun mixed in.

I'll try to pop in again soon when the madness ends...hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Ladies and gentleman, I'd like to announce the launch of my event card design company.



For all you ladies getting married or know others getting married...now is time for you to pass that link on!

Oh, and if you're on Facebook or Twitter, be sure to follow me!

This is just the cutest thing in the world - one of my Facebook friends posted it and I had to pass it on.

THIS holiday photo gets a little out of furr-cus as a squirrel crashes the couple's snap.
By VINCE SOODIN

Melissa Brandts set up her camera to take a timed picture of her and her hubby by beauty spot Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park, Canada. But the critter became curious at the sound of the camera focusing and popped into the shot in front of them.

Melissa said: "We were laughing about this little guy for days."


Source

That's just tuft luck ... a cheeky squirrel crashes couple's holiday photo by mountains

I personally was so pissed off when I heard NBC had cancelled 'Earl' - it is by far one of my favorite shows and they work so hard to make it what it is. There's so many followers, though, and so many big names associated with the show...I figured someone would pick them up. NBC is making all the wrong moves...first 'Scrubs', now 'Earl'...will 'The Office' be next?

'My Name Is Earl' could be saved by TBS

TBS is in talks to pick up NBC's recent castoff My Name Is Earl -- hey, they have to make room for those prime-time Leno hours somehow! That news plus the fact that CBS is picking up NBC's canceled Medium -- not to mention ABC's fair success with running also-formerly-of-NBC Scrubs -- has me wishing we'd gotten this TV version of the NFL draft going sooner.

Source

And if you hadn't heard, May 19th this article was posted about the decision.

'My Name Is Earl' creator is OK with being 'thrown off the Titanic'

"My Name Is Earl" creator Greg Garcia, right, is a writer because he has a way with words.

Asked for his take on NBC's unceremonious cancellation of his single-camera comedy today, Garcia didn't miss a beat: "It’s hard to be too upset about being thrown off the Titanic."

In case the reference isn't obvious, NBC is in fourth place among networks, after a lackluster season in which it launched seven new shows and five of them failed and the other two have not broken out.

( The rest of the article )

I just realized this morning that I never cross-posted the posts about the kitten we added to our household back in April!

Here's the links to all the posts about her (just added today and back-dated) and more pictures I added today.

Post #1, Post #2, Post #3, Post #4, Post #5, Post #6, Post #7

I finally got a chance to upload some random shots I've taken of Miss Callie. Enjoy the kitty cuteness! For the record, she is a TERROR! I've never had a kitten that was such trouble! But she makes it up by being super cute - she loves to get right up in your face and sleep on you - every night she sleep up on my neck.

Little rat.

She's got these GORGEOUS brown eyes, too! So pretty! And she now has her adult collar - we went with brown. I had a maroon one, but it just didn't fit her.



( And much more kitten cuteness )

Who doesn't love him?! I am SO glad this show is back!!

He's coming to Cleveland! I'm officially a Cavs fan now!

I hope he brings the Shaq Robot...

Cat dropped in mailbox adopted — by postal worker
Mon Jun 22, 11:53 am ET

BOSTON – A New Hampshire postal worker is getting his own special delivery.

George Knapp and his wife, Dani-Jean Stuart, of Weare, N.H., have adopted the two-pound, 8-week-old kitten that was dropped in a public mailbox in Boston.

The MSPCA Animal Care and Adoption Center says Stuart directed a television news segment about the kitten, which the organization dubbed "Postina." The couple has renamed their new pet P.D., for "postage due."

A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier found the kitty earlier this month amid dozens of envelopes and packages. She likely was stuffed through the mailbox's small opening and dropped several feet onto the mail below.

Animal abandonment in Massachusetts is punishable by up to a $2,500 fine and 5 years in prison.





Source

On Friday, I found out that one of our best friends died in a car accident. Today is his birthday.

I'm still in shock, and just really, really sad. Erik called me at work and told me, then called Rear D to confirm. I was in shock waiting for him to call me back...I called Matt's phone, but it was off...and I can't bring myself to delete his number from my phone.

Matt was one of the first people I met when I moved to Fayetteville, and we were almost instantly friends. We had a lot in common, shared a lot of the same views...we just clicked. I used to always joke that even if he wasn't friends with Erik, he and I definitely would have been friends...we just got along so well. During my time in Fayetteville, he became the one person that I loved to see most, the one I trusted, the one I could talk to. The day before the guys deployed to Afghanistan, we went out to breakfast and I just hugged him before we left...I almost broke down in tears...I was as scared for his safety as I was Erik's. When the guys got back, he was the first one I tried to call...and luckily, he answered his cell phone)...Erik was still a few weeks away from being back, but I just felt reassured talking to Matt. He always had that effect on me.

He was one of Erik's best friends, his Best Man in our wedding. I couldn't have been happier about that choice - we had two other great guys in our wedding party, also our friends, but Matt stepped up and took care of everything we needed him to. He coordinated with Erik to make hotel reservations, he helped plan out how everyone was getting to Cleveland, he was in charge of picking up and dropping off the tuxes. He went over and above to get my family to completely love him, including finding a super small, super tight Poland t-shirt in Babcia's (my grandmother) basement and wore it, which seemed to just thrill her to death...who knows why. Everyone had an amazing time that weekend, and a few key things about it stick out to me still...and he was a part of almost all of them. He was the only one, other than my husband, that I danced with...I'm glad I got that time to tell him thank you for all that he had helped with, and to tell him how much I loved him. Everyone played a huge role in our wedding, and I truly don't think anyone else could have filled his shoes.

I haven't gotten a chance to talk to him since he was in Cleveland for Thanksgiving, but Erik talked to him earlier in the week...completely out of the blue, which is weird, we've all been so busy. They had a good conversation, and I know that Erik is happy about that, and that really makes me happy. As much as Matt meant to me, he meant even more to Erik. I know he was one of his best friends...if not his best friend. He was his first roommate at Bragg, they deployed together, and they were always there for each other.

Matt felt more like family to me than a friend...and I will always remember the good times we had. The wedding...his pestering Alysse (and then Teresa) to date him so he could become part of our family...the nickname he and the other guys gave my brother at the wedding (Butch)...his stupid fat suit...the fact that I hated when he talked about strip clubs and steak...his ass tattoo that he loved showing off, and the many more bodily mutilations he acquired...the fact that I wasn't surprised when he got in trouble for mooning a superior when he showed off that ass tattoo one day...his amazing ability to be late and skip PT almost every day and never truly get in that much trouble...helping him move out of his house, which was an absolute mess, finding marbles all over the place...him helping us move into our apartment and staying after everyone left simply because he just didn't want to go home...when he and the guys called us on their way up to Cleveland for the wedding telling us they would be really late because they got horribly lost, but then I got home from the doctor's the next morning to find them eating breakfast at our kitchen table because it was all a big joke...Matt getting the creepy guy next to us at bowling to buy us all drinks because he caught him looking at my boobs, and guilted him into it because it was the day before my wedding and my soon-to-be-husband was there with me...the fact that he HAD to wear his stupid jump boots and get a picture in them at the wedding...his obsession with helping my dad get horribly drunk at our wedding...his overly sweet smile and the way he'd pester anyone to get him anything he wanted (his victims were usually waitresses or other strangers working at stores)...his story about "the bleeder"...dinner at his house (yum, his BBQ chicken) where he was showing us how his daughter loved to dance to rap music...his pursuit to get rid of his Monte Carlo by having it stolen, and the fact that he got a Trail Blazer before me...and the list goes on...

Matt will truly be missed. Unfortunately he's left his daughter who will never get to grow up and find out how amazing her dad is. My heart goes out to her. He was such a great guy who was so friendly you just HAD to like him...and I'm going to miss his stupid, goofy smile.

Although we didn't get to see him on a daily basis, life won't be the same knowing he's gone.


Erik and Matt at our wedding after Matt caught the garter.


I made the guys "Fun in the Sun" packs while they were Afghanistan...the theme was "You guys have the sand..now bring on the fun!" They had little kid sunglasses, Hawaiian leis, and other summer-themed items (see the link)...well Matt took a picture of himself enjoying the contents.

I hate Jimmy Fallon, but I loved "Saved by the Bell" growing up, and this is one of the funniest things I've seen in a while....

I want to see this...love both of them.

If you like online RPG's, come play with us.

Choose a career path (such as Gangster, Pimp, Robber, Hitman, Business Man) and cause some chaos in CrimCity. Rob people, buy hookers, visit nightclubs and take drugs to increase your stamina and spirit, or even start your own nightclub and sell drugs.

Click here to play

The cats are all loving her. lol, as I'm typing this, the kitten is running like mad from room to room and Willy and Peanut and going nuts pouncing at her when she runs by them.

Well, I'm proud to announce we are not the owners of a Calico...but of a Cabby, or a Talico, if you prefer. Callie has this really "wild cat" look to her, and we couldn't figure out why...well she was up on the tall scratching post looking down at me yesterday before work, and I realized what it is...she's got the telltale Tabby M on her forehead! And all throughout her body, she's got brown stripes along with her Calico pattern. It's too cool, she's going to be such a pretty cat.

I'm hoping to get more pictures this weekend, I've been running crazy the past two weeks and had to work all through last weekend, so there has been no time.

I'm not sure how many times I need to say it...

I Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island.