If you love me click on my label 'happy'.

I just did and I love me in all of those posts.

Oh but don't you just hate it when you know you've been a better 'self' than you are being at the exact moment you are in. I don't like the song, but it's like Toby Keith says 'i'm not as good as I was once, but i was good once as I ever was.' (my apologies to me and you for possibly making you find the tune to that song and getting it stuck in your head, that was really not my intention).

I feel so worn out. Oh and you know what else I've been doing a lot of lately? Working for fawee. I love playing photographer and I don't need to tell you how much I'm in love with photoshop. (Oh gosh, but what's not fun it those tedious photoshop jobs when you have cellulite and eye circles and hair frizz to play magic on -- DISCLAIMER: not that anyone I take pictures of have any of these problems).



Jenny Dress


Truth be told. I feel a little aimless. Which I didn't realize until last night around 9:45 when I told twitter. Funny how thinking about 'What's on your mind?' (- facebook) can actually help make you realize things about yourself.  (Find a lighter topic). I keep getting off track... Aimless.... let's reference blog post March 11, 'Just to Write a Blog' (was that really this month? It seems like forever ago.)



You know in college when you have a collage advisor and when you get off track they help you find your path again? Why doesn't big kid life have those?
You know in college when you have all of your best friends surrounding you all the time and helping you maintain your true and best self? Why doesn't big kid life have those?
You know in college when you're best friend broke up with their boyfriend and you bought the bottle of wine to drown the sorrows and it was done? When is big kid life like that?
I think I miss college. Except those extra 15 ell bees. College can keep that.

Bahh. Can I just quit being okay at everything and start being awesome at something. Really soon, okay! These things take time. I know, I know.

Okay. Time to go be good at volleball and being a girlfriend. I really am pretty awesome at being a girlfriend. I have references! (Or one really great reference anyways!)

By the way, I'm tracking you with Google Analytics. If you have blogspot, you have to set it up.

Since then, you can find her on set at almost any of the local movies, indy films and TV shows. She knows the cast and most of the people behind the scenes. In fact, she recently was the Director of Wardrobe for a pilot filmed in New Orleans. And...was she an extra on Twilight?


Lucky for me, she agreed to be the star of my camera last Saturday for a little photo session. And we had a absolute blast! We had 4 wordrobe changes & one bottle of wine. So, before we see how the photoshoot went, let me introduce you to Grace with a little Q&A.




Spill Love: What are some movies that you’ve been in?
Grace: Green Lantern, Columbiana (got my first lines in a Hollywood film), Revenge of the Bridesmaids, Treme, Looper, so many more, and I've {had} lead roles in some indies {&} commercials.

SL: Proudest job so far?
G: When I worked on Columbiana, the director told me to improvise with Michael Vardan {look him up}


SL: Most famous person you met?
G: Ryan Reynolds, Zac Efron, Chad Michael Murray, I caught Samuel L. Jackson checking me out ;), Luke Wilson


SL: Nicest famous person you've met?
G: I hung out with Zac Efron, {he is} the sweetest guy ever!


SL: Why you love what you do?
G: It's in my soul ever since i was young I wanted to act....I told my mom at 5 I wanted to be an actress.


SL: Favorite place to shop?
G: Of course like high end but on a lower budget with a house note....I love Marshalls....you can find great things... expensive name brand stuff for very cheap :)


SL: What is your guilty pleasure?
G: Heels.....dresses....I love them.....I always try an buy a new dress every time I have an events (I guess that's the movie star in her! :) -SL).


SL: What magazine cover do you want to be one?
G: Love to be on Glamour......the shoots look like fun an the clothes are amazing


SL: If you could share wardrobes with a celebrity, who would it be?
G: Probably Kim Kardashian...her clothes are different - love her






 
 

{still the best & fav}


 

{okay, okay...now I'm just having fun}


And that's Grace. I'll admit, she's not hard to take pictures of, she's absolutely stunning. She makes me love being a Photographer.

Saturday morning I woke up bad late. I was suppose to meet a girl friend of mine for some wedding planning (MOH duties) at 11 and it was already 10:15...LATE. The plan had been to wash my hair that morning, but that wasn't going to happen with 20 minutes to get ready.

Awhile back a good friend (secret's safe with me!) introduced me to Tresemme's version of dry shampoo. (I've been a avid user ever since.) But this wasn't my first experience with dry shampoo as I'd been a user of baby power and other more expensive brands of the quick fix for most of my professional career (it's so weird to say 'professional career'). With all of this experience behind me, I had never read the 'How to apply' directions before Saturday morning. As I was in such a rush on Saturday AM I quickly glanced over the label to see if I needed to blow dry (which I has ALWAYS done before). Nothing about blow-drying...okay. A ton of the shampoo, a few curls, a little hairspray, out the door.

In the car driving...OH MY GOSH...it looks like I have dandruff...
There were actually flakies in my hair. I put some big sunglasses on my head like a big headband and they didn't come off until I was home again.

The fix? All I did was blow dry the 'dandruff' and it went away. That easy!!

Which brings me to...

Hair tip one:
Even though it's 'dry'shampoo a 30sec-2min quick blow dry will work miracles. It adds some much needed lift and prevents flacks! Additionally, on days when it's worse than normal, I add a little baby powered to the roots on the top of  my head. Shack fingers and brush thru and then add the dry shampoo. Blowdry. Style as usual.

Hair tip two:
Have problem with frizz? What about split-ends? dry tips?
Solution: Find a serum that you love!


I've used Paul Mitchelle's 'Super Skinny Serum." It's a little $$$, but it last forever and works miracles. I'm sure any professional serum would work well. Although, I've had little luck with drug store brands.
One squirt (sorry for saying 'squirt') into the palm of your hand, rub hands together, and then run hands over the ends and tips of your bangs (if you have them). Work up from your tips. Avoid your roots, especially if you have a oilly hair.





Product Rave:

Bare Escentuals Skin Care line.
I use their facewash, lotion & transformation night treatment for the last month.
I can't even tell you how happy I am with my face.
I look younger.
My pours are smaller.
And I haven't had a breakout in a month.











Getting Dressed:


I use to believe that an outfit should have contrasting colors. (see David)
But lately,
I've been loving the same color top & bottom. (or in this case <--, jumper & shirt).
Find a plaid, pockadots or floral piece and pair it with a solid color that pulls out one of the dominate color in the pattern.
I've found this easiest to accomplish with pieces from the same store.

| American Eagle |
Plaid shirt {circa} 2005
Jumper dress {circa} 2008

Truth is, I'd post a blog every single day if I had free time. I love blog posting, LOVE it. And there are so many, many things that I want to share with you. I'm about to bust with all of the ideas, plan, and adventures I have popping up. It makes doing my 9-5 (really, 8-6 M-Th, 8-2 F) so much harder. You know, the concentration level and drive just isn't always what it should be, which I regret. Truthfully, when i have a successful day at the office it makes my much more productive once leaving the office.

I've spent far too much time complaining about my lack of time. Complaining is really just complaining. So the way I see it, you can only complain one time. Then you have to do something about it. If you don't do something about it you become a Complainer (I became a Complainer). Most everyone, except the fortunate-envied few, have a 8-5 job, a relationship, a family, friends, and not nearly enough time to do the things they want. Be it working out, running, taking pictures, building, home decorating, gardening, painting, you get the gist.... And it seems that everyone deals with it in their own way. How do you deal with it?

I think the first time I realized that everyone struggles with this is when I had a conversation with a colleague about working out. He has a family, two kids, the same commute as me, the same hours, and plenty enough hobbies to keep him busy...and he is still making time to work out in the evening.

Then I thought about how much time I DO have. I don't have children, a dog, or any obligations except the ones I bestow on myself. Sure, I have my job, my 'demanding' friendships, and 'time-consuming' relationship, and a family that likes to see me once or twice a week. But I don't have so many other obligations that really could hinder my production level.

It's come down to Determination. Drive. Ambition. Want. & Desire.

Those are the things I need. Not time. I have more time now that I will ever have. Short of my dream job as a house-wife, with a killer blog and awesome design and photography skills who breeds small dogs with great hair and the perfect outfit for every occasion.

I'm praying about it. I'm hoping that new doors are open to me soon that get me one step closer to being who I want to be.

I've been seeing a lot about 'how to get to where you want to be'. So often I feel that I'm not sure where I want to end up, I'm just aimlessly moving forward, which may be half (or more) of my problem. There are so many opportunities out there. There are so many things that I want to learn. I get closer to the person I'm supposed to be every day, but I wonder why on earth it took me so long to find this path. And I blame things on things that shouldn't receive blame. blah blah blah

What I do know & know I love:

- Photography
- blogging
- The blogging community
- All Social Media
- Interactive web design (love & want to learn)
- Vintage designs
- Photoshop
- All adobe design products
- Art, graphic & photo
- Short films (love, & want to learn)
- Running

What I need to do:

- Become better at spelling & grammar
- Create & build my personal website
- Strengthen the skills that I already have before moving on to another. (like build my website before starting to play with video editing).
- Workout more
- Take personal time to better become who I want to be

And that's just off the top of my head...

Until next time...which I'm hoping is today because there are those fun things that I have been wanting to share and may have the spare time to do today!!

Creatively yours,
Jenny

Is it Wednesday already? This week is flying by, which is unusual for a ‘short week’, as I am taking off Friday to properly prep for my Mardi Gras weekend. David, my wonderful boyfriend, rides in the infamous Endymion Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night (yes, I’m bragging on him). Mardi Gras puts him in his element {as does football & crawfish boils}, but really, truly he lives for this particular weekend. Emphasis on lives for… and I just absolutely love that about him.




We officially started Carnival on the weekend of Jan. 15 with the Coronation Ball and have more or less been going strong ever since. Last year, there was a exciting interruption with that little game the Saints played in the week before Mardi Gras that hindered my true Mardi Gras involvement – there was a LOT going on last year. This yes, that not being the case, we have thrown ourselves at the discretion of Mardi Gras. I can’t even begin to describe how much I love it.

There was a time when Mardi Gras and I weren’t so friendly, Anna-Claire, of ‘all you need of love’, may remember the grey skies and flat tire of Mardi Gras 2007.



Mardi Gras redeemed itself in 2008.



And then I failed Mardi Gras 2009, as I skipped town to Shreveport.

And then here came 2010 looking all fantasy and accompanied with the Saint and the Super Bowl, and extravaganzas, and ‘being in that number’ and dresses and pictures and a couple of the best nights of my life.


Sean Payton and Lombardi trophy



Endymion Extravaganza with my girls



We literally danced the night away.



Me and David!


And here we are again. Already 3 weeks of carnival activities behind us.





So, it’s one more day of real life before we start our last weekend of 2011 Mardi Gras with Muses on Thursday evening. I just want to catch a shoe, that has potential to be a highlight of the weekend – and that’s really saying something.

     ‘The Krewe of Muses’ vision is to tap into and recognize the local artistic and cultural resources of the     
      community and incorporate them into a Muses Mardi Gras tradition, making the entire community a part
      of the Krewe […] We celebrate their wildness before they were tamed, their citrus after they were
      appointed and their place in the mystique of New Orleans, where each virtue seems to thrive.’



And we will continue on into the weekend through Tuesday as scheduled. <-- New Orleans parade schedule.
 
And you know what they say...
Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez