Bernie Madoff

Crystal: So I'm catching up on reading old emails, which means I'm reading emails from April of 2009, lol!


Anyways - I read this blog post I subscribe to from a friend who has some very interesting points of views....


This one was about Bernie Madoff...I don't know much about him, just that he swindled ridiculous amounts of money out of rich people by pretending to be their friend....


Your immediate thought is - he's greedy, he wanted all that money, but how on earth did he think he was going to get away with it??


Then I read this blog post by Gerry, and wow...interesting perspective...he wasn't greedy...he just hated rich people and was willing to sacrifice his own freedom just to take them all down...he wanted to see the rich housewife cleaning tables at a local diner, or similar....and going for Trump?  Wow...ballsy. :)

Interesting thoughts...regardless - what a cruel, cruel man...


Check it out if you're interested in the read: http://gerrymaxeyworkshop.com/blogging/?p=596

Lost in Creativity

Jen: Just checking in :) I've been uber busy preparing for my upcoming Etsy shop, and since I'm almost done prepping and can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I can finally breathe again! I should be done creating the first batch of products by Friday, and then our own lovely Crystal of Avery James Photography is kindly going to take the product photos for me!

Arrested for Doodling

Jen: Wow, did you hear about the junior high student in New York who doodled on her desk and was arrested for vandalizing? She wrote something along the lines of "I love my friends" and the teacher caught her. The teacher told the principle who then called the police, and they cuffed her in front of her classmates! Now she has a record, and for what? Doodling? I know I did that as a student back in the day! I get that they're trying to set an example, but in the end I think the school comes out looking like a bunch of idiots. This punishment doesn't fit the "crime" in my opinion! Have her clean desks as punishment for crying out loud! Thoughts?

Crystal: Serious???  That's nuts!  I hate tagging, and think that people who do it are dumb...but I did my share of desk doodles as well....not respectful in any way, but I was a dumb teenager and it was harmless in my eyes.  I didn't do it with malicious intent....so had I been arrested for it...wow!  What a change in my life that would have been. 

I would have hated the teacher, the school, the police...I would have grown up with this thorn in my side towards authority and the police for sure...may have changed my whole path in life!!

Punishment shouldn't be thrown off the table....it's still wrong to vandalize property on any level...but I definitely think cleaning desks or something to teach you a lesson, without leaving a mark on your legal records, is much more called for!!

Infant Accessories?

Crystal: I'm thinking about expanding, or rather starting I guess I should say, my infant accessory collection for use in my photography (Avery James Photography). I'd love to get some cute knit hats, diaper covers, headbands, blankets, those netting things to put the babies in, etc.
So I figured that the best place to start is on Etsy…I love all the handmade stuff, and I love to help out small businesses.
With that said, I'd love to get some suggestions and references for products. Feel free to pass along your own sites or your favorite sites…and if you're willing to work out an exchange or discount for photos of your products, I'm all ears. I'll even throw in a ton of advertising for you in all my various social networking avenues.
Thanks everyone!

Photo below from Laura Renee Photography: http://www.laurareneephotography.com/blog/

Valentine

Jen: How was everyone's Valentine's Day? I'm munching on a box of chocolates and I write this :) I ordered this Black Apple print for Joe, and gave these Black Apple Valentines to my family. Then we spent the day at Disneyland where we enjoyed a lunch of margherita pizza and Italian sodas and a dinner of seafood and gumbo crepes! My legs are a little sore today from all the walking, but it was definitely worth it!

Rental Car?

Crystal: Interesting site I just came across...it's called Vroom Vroom Vroom. You put in the city, state, date, and length of time you want a rental car for...and the results come up with a lowest to highest priced page of rental cars from all the different rental companies, all on one page.

I'm all about price comparisons....love it. :)

Jen: Haha! You're funny with the comparisons. Man, it makes me want to take a trip! Vegas perhaps? I missed the Groupon bus deal, but I think I would prefer to drive anyway. I like having a car so I don't have to depend on cabs.

Award!

Crystal: So I technically got this on my photography blog (Avery James Photography), but she noted both that blog and Beachy Keen in her post…so I'm just going to assume this award for both blogs!!

Thank you so much to kateyleigh @ let.it.be for the awesome Sugar Doll Award!!

According to her post, we're supposed to list 10 things about ourselves, and then tag 10 other blogs that we would like to award this to! So like we have done in the past…I'll take 5 of each, and Jen can take the other 5!

Here goes mine!

5 Things About Me

1. I've been on t.v. and movies before! Granted, I was probably a flicker of color walking behind the real star of the show…but that's not the point. Most recently I remembered that I was in a Richard Simmons workout video! A salsa dancing one…in the background though…I'm gonna have to find that so I can check it out, lol.
2. I love notebooks…I rarely write anything in them, but I always buy them when I see ones I like…I have boxes of blank notebooks at home.
3. I am loving my new Kindle…and currently reading the 3^rd installment of the Twilight series. LOOOOOVE IT!!! Team Edward here.
4. I'm on a Tigger collecting kick right now…it, among many other things, has sentimental value relating to my first son, Avery…plus he's just so darn cute.
5. I'm about to attempt to make my son's 4^th birthday cake in a couple of weeks…with fondant…I have no idea what I'm getting myself into, but I'm hoping I can do it!!

5 Blogs I Would Like To Award!

1. Novel Vault – It's not quite up and running yet…but this is gonna be BIG.
2. All Things Creative – Because I like creativity…and because she posts some great pictures. I love pictures.
   
3. Art Bead Scene – Because beads are fun!! It takes me back to mine and Jen's high school days when we had our bead business!!
4. Bridal Bliss – Because even though I'm not in wedding planning mode yet, I love to see all the fun ideas!!
5. The Pink Ninjas – Seriously…just check out their stuff…scrapbooking awesomeness.

Okie doke…Jen's turn!

Jen: Good stuff, Crystal! I love notebooks, too! I found a bunch while I was setting up my new bookcases. I don't know what to do with them all!

5 Things about me:

1. I absolutely love Pakistani food!
2. I had photos of my dream home printed last month so I can finally create my dream board.
3. I'm a huge Disneyland fan. I've even been to Club 33, thanks to a past co-worker's membership. I would love to be a member one day!
4. I spend a ridiculous amount of time theorizing about Lost.
5. I'm a Joss Whedon girl for life! I adore everything he does!

5 Blogs I Would Like To Award!

1. Michelle Woo - The best anecdotes around!
2. Some Girls Wander by Mistake - This fashion blog is written by the Black Apple's Emily. I love her style!
3. Cupcakes and Cashmere - This is one of my favorite daily reads! Emily (yes, another one!) charms us with her fashion presence and amazing recipes!
4. A Fanciful Twist - This girl knows how to throw one heck of a blog party! She's quirky and whimsical, and a delight to visit!
5. Mashable! - I pretty much learn everything cool from them!