a little inspiration

Myfitnesspal:update

2011-12-29T05:49:00.001-08:00

No I have not been doing well :( why am I slacking? I get so frustrated with myself doing well in the morning and not so well by bed time. I have to go tithe grocery store tomorrow, so my focus is going to be planning healthy meals/snacks, and I am going to go back to my water only plan (which I did when I quit drinking sodas 7 years ago! No, I still haven't had one!!) but I've been slurping up the juice like crazy. I could say thanks baby Eli but he's not pouring it in my mouth! I guess I'm realizing I just have a lack of self control which I need to hone in on to create a better Jenna. :) thanks for the morning ramble!!

Myfitnesspal: day four, five, six, seven

2011-12-16T08:41:00.001-08:00

On day four, my calories were 1692. Not where I want to be, but not terrible. I had a fantastic turkey sandwich at the grill but I probably should have only eaten half! Day five was ok. Eli and I did a lot of running around and play at monkey joes burned some of my energy. Thank goodness because Eli and I split a lunch at cracker barrel! My total calories are 1824 but I can only hope I burned about 250+ at monkey joes. Day six and seven are null and void because I have had a stomach virus or ate some bad food or something. Needless to say, all those extra calories I ate this past week are probably no longer inside! :(

I really need to focus this upcoming week as it is the holidays and food always gets the best of me! I did well over thanksgiving and plan to do the same this Christmas!! Pray for my self control!

Myfitnesspal: day three (fail)

2011-12-14T18:09:00.000-08:00

Fail. I failed today. I would like to blame everyone else but myself... But I chose (remember yesterday's post?? Ugh.) to chow down today. I gave in to the bean dip temptation, going out to lunch, eating a bread and desert. Uuuugh. But like I tell patients everyday "there will be good days, and there will be bad days" I guess I just need to know I will do better tomorrow.

I did however drink my water! Haha small success! Well here's to the staying successfully on goal tomorrow....

Wait for it..... I ate 1908 calories today (shock, disbelief!!!!)

Myfitnesspal: day two

2011-12-13T17:03:00.001-08:00

I am already realizing this small adventure is going to be a out choices. See originally when I started Myfitnesspal months ago, I would do fantastic prior to getting home in the evening, leaving no room for a decent dinner! So I have chosen to cut down in the sweets throughout the day, and focus on the foods I am eating. For example, on Monday's we have a conference where lunch in provided. Choices: grilled chicken, spaghetti, Alfredo, rolls, ceaser salad, and a cookie. Normally I am grilled chicken, roll, Alfredo, salad, an a cookie: bad bad bad! So yesterday I opted for salad and grilled chicken! No pasta roll or cookie! Amazing! I am jut proud because I maintained self control.

I also get the feeling that god is totally helpin me with this venture because honestly, I have not had a hunger feeling in two days! Now this may not seem much to anyone else, but it's huge for me and I am feeling very satisfied. It's a blessing to have the support because I know I could not accomplish this task without him :)

Today I ate 1078 calories! :)

Myfitnesspal: day one

2011-12-12T18:57:00.001-08:00

So I took the before pictures and they are uhhhh to say the least: let's just say HUGE motivation! I did wow on my calories today, rolling in at 984! Now I am totally aware this is not healthy, which leads me to lay down my goals for this venture.

Goal 1: eat 1200 calories a day
Goal 2: drink 2 bottles of water a day
Goal 3: stick with the calorie counter, Myfitnesspal for 30 days at minimum, ending January 12th

Right now, that's all I can promise!! I am going to strive to work out 4 days a week and taking the stairs more. Hopefully I will better define these goals by next Saturday! Hold me accountable... I'm gonna need the support!

Now, finding ways to avoid late night snacking!! Xoxo

Myfitnesspal

2011-12-12T05:28:00.001-08:00

I've decided to hold myself accountable. When I met Joey I was in the best shape of my life. Now, not so much. I've been slacking and frankly I'm disappointed in myself. I've decided to commit to the Myfitnesspal program for at least thirty days to see where it goes. Great timing huh? Oh well. My friend billy from work lost up to thirty pounds using that dang app.!! I've been trying for months and did well for a while but I realize if I'm not committed nothing will change. So expect some not so great photos in the near future as I plan to document this journey whether success or failure on my blog! Happy Monday!!

balance

2011-11-25T11:02:00.001-08:00

when I think about thanksgiving, the biggest thing I acknowledge are my many blessings. it's ridiculous how lucky I am and how many things I am blessed with. alongside of that my
mind often wonders to the balance I have with my blessings. it's been more apparent these last few weeks, as we begin to discuss holiday party planning and all that entails. I am so thankful for my many friends but it gets totally stressful at holiday time when I love so many groups!!! The balance of staying true to myself and the time I spend is so important at this time and I am trying to do the best I can to be Able to enjoy those blessings in my life. Just a little ramble for the evening :)

iPhone

2011-11-22T04:46:00.001-08:00

ok ok I have entered whatever wonderful century were in and got an iPhone!! I have to say I love it, and even more now that I have blogger!!! my fav apps thus far: instagram & pinterest. I also feel more in the loop with twitter!! so I can say I hope to blog a little more now that I'm mobile!! thanksgiving post coming up soon :)

fil in the blank friday

2011-11-18T05:38:00.000-08:00

1. A nervous habit I have is my hands getting sweaty! i have to conciously think "this is going to be fine. calm down!" 2. Something that makes me sad is working five days a week! i wish it was three :). 3. Today I am thankful for the beautiful drive to work! sometimes i just appreciate being alone in the car. 4. My favorite room in my house is my living room. i love, love, love dvr couch time. 5. I can't stand making plans then changing them. i always feel terrible! 6. If I had an extra $100 to spend on whatever I wanted today I would get a mani, pedi, and new outfit! 7. The last person I hung out with was my best friend amy!!! love her.

mommy schedule

2011-09-28T05:21:00.000-07:00

so recently i have been around a lot of emotional stress that has skewed my schedule. work has been crazy, with a loss of a co-worker, and home has been crazy, with potty training and eli getting a big boy bed. i have been trying not to focus on the fact that i have a 3 hour commute daily, so i have been striving to get myself on a regular daily schedule. so far, its working! now this may bore you, but its just something i want to define outloud! mornings consist face washing, makeup, hair, teeth :), getting dressed, and making lunches. i try to squeeze in laundry or dishes, depending on time. i also read in a magazine that if you make lunches or breakfast prior to getting dressed, you are less likely to change you clothes multiple times (avg for women is three!). it's working!!! second, i try to relax on the train by catching up on social media and great pandora sessions. when i get to work, i plan the day, execute, then fill in where needed. the greatest thing about my career is that its flexible which i love! (on wednesday morning, i go in like 30 min later so i can see my little man in the morning!)also, breakfast and lunch are usually time to spend with my best friends, whom either go to school or work in the same hospital, different area/shift. every afternoon i have been striving to get a workout prior to boarding the train for relax again. i then cook dinner (which i have laid out the night before), play with eli outside, then shower and relax with the hubs. so far its going well... we will see how long it lasts! (do you see how i focus my day around relaxing? haha it helps with the stress of my career and balance of my family!)

happy scheduling!

25 before 26: update

2011-09-22T05:51:00.000-07:00

one. run a 5k two. lose ten pounds three. ~~take eli to the beach~~. four. go to the mountains with joey and eli. five~~. take a random day off work for no reason~~. six. spend a whole day pampering amy. seven. pay off my credit transfer. eight. ~~pay off my best buy computer~~. nine~~. attempt p90x~~. ten. complete another priscilla shirer bible study. eleven. ~~host a dinner party for my neighbors~~. twelve. ~~take eli~~ and joey ~~to the zoo~~. thirteen. ~~make a diy scarf~~. fourteen. use my sewing machine! fifteen. ~~keep my house updated with holiday decor.~~ sixteen. participate in a research study. seventeen. apply for a grant. eighteen. save a thousand dollars just because. nineteen. finish my supervision hours for my licensure. twenty. blog weekly. twenty-one. actively listen. twenty-two. complete twelve scrapbook pages. twenty-three. finish our "brent" mini scrapbook. twenty-four. ~~create another fall wreath.~~ twenty-five. have a sister day with kate and hillary.

i'm getting there!!! happy thursday!! it's foggy outside.. making me want a hot chocolate!

let's get started!

2011-08-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

new shoes.. new you! i am committed to creating a new blog here! i have been so stressed about random things, and decided to focus on things that are most important to me : life, family, and myself. that starts with a few steps: i have committed to get riding the train with anticipation of getting my walking routine as a part of my daily life. i am committed to focusing on my family with emphasis of taking care of not only my husband and son but also myself. i am committed to focusing on my other half of my family, my closest friends whom i love to spend time with. i am committed to having creative outlets for myself such as simply blogging or reading a book (the one i am reading now is FANTASTIC! smart women finish rich.) i feel as though i just have needed a redirection.. and i am hoping i am starting to achieve that!

2011-07-07T07:11:00.001-07:00

who couldn't love this bundle of joy?

countdown to the beach.. two days!!

so excited to see eli's face when we see the ocean!

can you feel it?

2011-06-30T05:13:00.001-07:00

i saw this yesterday on a co-worker's planner, and it jumped out at me like "motto for life!" i love how this quote really embraces my life goal to make a difference for someone else everyday. whether it be my son, husband, best friend, or a stranger, i want to be someone that people know genuinely cares. i think about this everyday when i am pursing my career, offering a shoulder to cry on or just listening to things that are going on in other's lives.

just a little joy

2011-06-28T08:09:00.001-07:00

quote day monday

2011-06-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

cardio x

2011-06-22T05:41:00.000-07:00

let's just say i am not a fighter. last night i was working out to cardio x with p90x and i am pretty sure i looked crazy. punching, kicking, flipping from side to side. crazy. i am sure a fly on the wall thought it was hilarious. i know it will get better with time, but i am definately no kickboxer/punching machine. i had joey practice with me with the punching, and he gave me some good tips they learned in the army. not that i will be punching anything but air, but it was good form advice. anyways, i made it through two days! and my eating is getting better.. taking one day at a time!

i gave in

2011-06-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

ok, after much, much discussion with some seasoned professionals, i gave in and decided to start p90x. is it amazing to anyone else that i already feel skinnier? haha i just started yesterday. maybe i am just sore, but my clothes look better today! :) let's see how this goes. i am going to try and be dilligent in posting my progress. so i guess that means before ~~photos~~ measurements will be up soon. wish me luck!

fill in the blank friday

2011-06-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

1. this weekend i'm... going to a seminar and... spending some much needed time relaxing! 2. my last vacation was... to the beach with my family! 3. my next vacation will be... to the beach with my family!! we love navarre! 4. my favorite way to relax is... lazily laying on the couch and watching my dvr. 5. when vacationing one should always... buy something new. 6. when vacationing one should never... think there is anything wrong with a nap by the pool. 7. the best part about a vacation is... sunshine with a consistent breeze.

memorial day

2011-05-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

memorial day has a special meaning in my heart because i live with a veteran who fought hard throughout trials and triumphs while serving our country. he is a solider at heart, and will always be a hero in my eyes. joey joined the united states army right after attending the police academy. he decided to be an infantryman because he wanted to fight (and i think, get rid of a little agression :o) we were not together during this time, but i learned about his bravery, sacrifice, and commitment throughout the amazing stories i have been told by him and others. one person i have learned to love, though i have never met him, was his best friend, jonathan, who sacrificed his life while he and my husband were serving in iraq. ironically, eli was born on jonathan's date of death, which i think is just a blessing from god. i have learned about the man jonathan was, and i couldn't rightfully celebrate memorial day without honoring him. thank you both for sacrifiing and loving our country enough to serve as honored men.

joey (left) and jonathan at boot camp in 2004

25 before 26 update!

2011-05-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

one. run a 5k two. lose ten pounds three. take eli to the beach. four. go to the mountains with joey and eli. five. take a random day off work for no reason. six. spend a whole day pampering amy. seven. pay off my credit transfer. eight. ~~pay off my best buy computer~~. nine. attempt p90x. ten. complete another priscilla shirer bible study. eleven. host a dinner party for my neighbors. twelve. ~~take eli~~ and joey ~~to the zoo~~. thirteen. ~~make a diy scarf~~. fourteen. use my sewing machine! fifteen. keep my house updated with holiday decor. sixteen. participate in a research study. seventeen. apply for a grant. eighteen. save a thousand dollars just because. nineteen. finish my supervision hours for my licensure. twenty. blog weekly. twenty-one. actively listen. twenty-two. complete twelve scrapbook pages. twenty-three. finish our "brent" mini scrapbook. twenty-four. create another fall wreath. twenty-five. have a sister day with kate and hillary.

not too bad! stay updated

blog junkie

2011-05-24T05:58:00.000-07:00

ok, although i do not blog all the time, i am addicted to reading other's blogs. like seriously. it consumes my quiet time! here's a few people i love: sydney at thedaybook. she has a special location of "inspiration outits" in my life. lauren at busybeelauren. she is so down to earth and has an artistic outlook on life. i get inspiration from her pictures! elsie at abeautifulmess. who doesn't remember elsie designing scrapbooking materials we were obsessed with? she and her husband are a match made in heaven. shannon at cameronandshannon. because her family is adorable! elizabeth at dearlizzy because she still scrapbooks and creates the most beautiful layouts. must be because her family is so beautiful! joanna at acupofjo. because she always knows the latest trends and directs me to overpriced, beautiful things i NEED. the girls at eighteen25. their broadway prints decorate my house on a weekly basis! they have the cutest diy items for the household!

so that's what i spend my free time doing. oh, i am recently obsessed with pinterest. i need an iphone. like yesterday. happy tuesday!

wee bit of wednesday

2011-05-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

{one} what profession have you always admired?
nurses. they are so dedicated and talented. plus, nursing school is a nightmare :o)
{two} what would the title of your memoir/biography be if it was written today?

who she really is.

{three} how far do you commute to work?

37 miles, on the music city star.
{four} are your earlobes attached or detached?

attached? i think?

{five} do you eat the unpopped kernels of popcorn at the bottom of the bag?

maybe sometimes.
{six} what is the strangest gift you’ve ever received?

hm.. not sure on this one!

{seven} what is one tv show that you wish hadn’t been cancelled?

the o.c. can i get a shout out?!
{eight} what is something that you are saving money for right now?

vacation
{nine} what hobby would you like to take up?

crafting with my sewing machine.

{ten} how many times a year do you get really dressed up?

hmm.. weddings, church, dinner, just because!

fill in the blank friday

2011-04-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

1. I am looking forward to cool nights outside on our patio with friends and cook outs! 2. Something kind of embarassing that I still love anyway is granny panties when i am sick! haha. but cute ones from american eagle. 3. My favorite car is (was) my honda civic. oooh i loved that car. sooo much! 4. If I could pick one type of weather to live with for the rest of my life it would be octoberish. not too hot, not too cool.. shorts and a sweatshirt wearing weather. 5. My favorite thing to do after a bad/stressful day is (at work) walk through peabody campus.. (at home) swinging with eli. 6. This weekend... i have little to no plans! i want to start p90x on sunday!! 7. If I were a color, I'd be... yellow because... i am always optimistic!

back in the day

2011-04-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

this isn't too far back in the day... but it has a great story! in college, i was a very active member of alpha delta pi. i love love love being in a sorority and the wonderful nature of having sisters you can lean on in the most trying times of life! (not only college, but these sisters last forever!) this picture comes at the end of a long week of recruitment. recruitment is like a sorority's best nightmare and worst dream. you pretty much work your ass off to do the best to let other women understand what your sorority is all about, while getting no sleep, staying on top of life, and being available to help wherever needed, even while focusing in class! it'sa mess, but totally worth it. as we prepare as a sorority, a particular group of girls called "rho chi's" prepare the potential new members. well, since the rho chi's are unable to reveal their true identity in a sorority, we are unable to speak with them or be seen with them for a whole five weeks. talk about excruitating! this picture stems from the fact that my two best friends, sorority sisters, and roommates were rho chi's. this poster was no joke, i was about to go insane being unable to eat, study, or hang out with these girls in public. it's funny to think about now, but it was totally worth every minute!

ah, spring

2011-04-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

this weekend was a total remembrance of the wonders of spring. we had a blast this easter weekend with family and friends! we started off friday night with some good ole r&r at the house.. and we got a new (to us) swingset! joey luckily did not work on good friday, so he opted to set up eli's new swingset which we love! he seriously was swinging for thirty minutes after it was completely put together. we also took eli to the doc (two inches taller and three pounds heavier) and got my eyebrows waxed (a lil' momma pampering!) saturday morning we made breakfast, followed by a great mid-day nap, and early afternoon cook out with my family. it was so nice to sit outside in the shade and hang out with family. i love catching up with everyone and showing off my sweet little man. sunday morning we went to church at a new local church i love, and ate an early dinner with joey's family. eli loved the pineapple casserole nanny made, and enjoyed riding around with cousin hannah. we ended the weekend with phase ten with our wonderful neighbors, libby and reza!

whew, i love me some spring!

25 before 26

2011-04-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

i find inspiration everywhere. miss elsie has created over and over multiple lists about accomplishing things before her next birthday, and i have seen similiar lists all over the blog world. my first is twenty-five things i want to accomplish before turning twenty-six. i will try to keep this list updated as often as possible!

one. run a 5k two. lose ten pounds three. take eli to the beach. four. go to the mountains with joey and eli. five. take a random day off work for no reason. six. spend a whole day pampering amy. seven. pay off my credit transfer. eight. pay off my best buy computer. nine. attempt p90x. ten. complete another priscilla shirer bible study. eleven. host a dinner party for my neighbors. twelve. take eli and joey to the zoo. thirteen. make a diy scarf. fourteen. use my sewing machine! fifteen. keep my house updated with holiday decor. sixteen. participate in a research study. seventeen. apply for a grant. eighteen. save a thousand dollars just because. nineteen. finish my supervision hours for my licensure. twenty. blog weekly. twenty-one. actively listen. twenty-two. complete twelve scrapbook pages. twenty-three. finish our "brent" mini scrapbook. twenty-four. create another fall wreath. twenty-five. have a sister day with kate and hillary!

back in the day wednesday

2011-04-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

have you forgotten about back in the day wednesday? i sure have. last night i visit with my sweet friend lauren. we reminisced with high school photos, particularly our senior spring break trip to florida. hilarious! she did the bungy basket jumpy thing (crazy!) and we had a blast. all i could think was how skinny are we? sooo funny. here's one of me and sarah shopping in panama city. we had a great time, relazing, shopping, tanning, and hanging out a few of our friends from high school. i miss this girl!

(march 2004)

update!

2011-04-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

i've been missing in action. expect updates this week! lots lots to talk about in the life of the brent's!

"a bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower." -kin hubbard

things i love about the weekend

2011-04-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

now that i am a normal eight to five girl, i am starting to love the weekends so much! i love making no plan something that we can really all enjoy. the weekend before last, eli and i went to visit my brother, sister in law, and nephew brayden with nana and grandpa. we met my parents to shop for a little while with grandpa while nana got her hair done (of course, we had marble slab!) then we traveled to clarksville, tn to have dinner at logan's with aunt casey and uncle wes.

last weekend, eli had a big saturday with his first big boy haircut! he was such a trooper, and joey was in such dad mode i loved it. we shopped a little at target followed by a birthday party for eli's friend, halen. eli loved the pizza and cupcake. sunday we spent some time at mimi and pepaw's house! i know they love having eli come over on sunday nights and we love having dinner just us! we ate some delicious buffalo wild wings. my waitress suggested the wild punch margarita.. yum! this weekend, amy and i spent friday afternoon hanging out with eli, followed with dinner with sarah at taco mamacita's. holy crap. best tacos i have ever eaten. seriously. and the mango salsa was so fresh an delicious! saturday morning we spent the morning with nana, gran gran, and aunt hill in murfreesboro walking around downtown and dining at the most delicious goodness gracious. they have the cutest at art on the wall from what is blik. i love the iron vines, calla, & gerbera. so adorable. we also went to the park with our lovely friends, lindsay and jake, then walked around the avenue since the weather was wonderful! it's nice to just relax and soak up sun rays!

happy monday!

fill in the blank friday

2011-03-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

one. my most prized possession is... my son. two. if I could be one age for the rest of my life, I would want to be.. since i am only twenty-five, i say twenty-five. there are so many great things going on around me, and i feel accomplished!
three. the best way to spend a weekend is... outside. i am loving hanging out with my neighbors, but really any trip tickles my fancy too!
four. my outlook on life is.... be yourself. stay strong to who you are, even when its hard or you might piss someone off. this is always my work in process!
five. if you want to annoy me, just... don't let me have an opinion. when i say something, say no, disagree, and give me your opinion.
six. i am completely defenseless when it comes to.... burning bread. random, i know. but i always burn bread!
seven. when dressing for the day one should... brush your teeth :) and really put on something you feel comfortable and sassy in.

who i'm reading

2011-03-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

i was reading a cup of jo today, and stumbled upon some amazingness. hello christmas gifts! check out here. the phot pad is adorable and check out the cute, cute calendars! i know they have these at walmart/walgreens, but you guys know i am a font junkie. i also get amazing inspiration for clothing at the daybook. isn't she freakin' adorable? it really makes me want to dress up more at work. and wear heels. ohh, la la. i also never miss a post from lauren. i seriously feel like her friend. it's a little ridiculous, but i have enjouyed reading about her life and journey of marriage! plus, she's spunky.

here's a little fill in the blank friday which i try to never miss from the little things we do. you should participate too! one. The best deal I've ever gotten is a banana republic suit for super cheap! i used to work there though :o) two. If I were hosting a dinner party and could invite people from my fantasy guest list it would include nate berkus for decoration, rachael ray for dinner, mcdreamy to stare at, and the four to indulge. three. Something that inspires me is my friend amy. she is so bold! and my husband. he's so strong willed. four. If I could only choose to eat one flavor of food for the rest of eternity (sweet, salty, spicy, bitter....) i would choose spicy. i love spicy food. too bad for my stomach! five. I dream about crazy stuff that happens at work. or randomness that happened throughout the day! six. My weekend will be consumed by hanging out with eli! yay! we're going to visit his cousin, and shopping with nana! seven. If I could only watch one movie or TV show for the rest of my life, it would be.. to be determined. i would rather just listen to lady antebellum on the radio!

xoxo, happy friday!

Trauma ICU Resident Rotation Spotlight

2011-03-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

now that i can finally move

2011-03-15T05:23:00.000-07:00

just recently, my friend lauren from high school has started working at vanderbilt with me. when i found out i was switching to day shift, i gave her a call asking her to take my er position because (one) i knew she would be perfect and (two) i could not leave my staff to just anybody! luckily, the cards were in order and lauren joined us at vanderbilt. i feel like i am reliving orientation through her experience. it is so exhausting and time testing because it's a whoe new enviornment with the "vanderbilt stigma" atached where you feel like you have to be amazing because everyone there is amazing. some true, some not so much. but really, i have enjoyed being there by her side as she's taken on this adventure. last weekend, however, she invited me to take on an adventure i could have killed her for (not literally, but stay with me). d1 boot camp. holy cow. it's insane, craziness workout fiasco. i couldn't move for three days straight. no lie. i decided to give into lauren and her crazinessto join our friend tina at d1 nashville at ten am. we started off with stretch and light sprints we will call them. let's just say i knew i was out of place right away as people were running circles around me! but i have been whining and complaining about my shape so it serves me right. they broke the class down into two sections. we started with four corner tasks.. four funky stations i couldn't remember the name of but could now do at home, with running stairs in between. whew. then the second half of class, i did push ups- crawling down the football filed for 150 yards. omg. omg. omg. followed by abs and running at the end. however this experience was, i must say it made me realize how mych better i feel when i am doing something phsyical. i came home with tons of energy, and it made me realize i need to do something for myself. i keep putting it off.. but i am hoping i can talk lauren into joining our local gym and get up with me at the butt crack of dawn everyday. we'll see. we were going to take a picture after class, but i am totally convinced you wouldn't have recognized me. omg. happy working out!

texts from last night

2011-03-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

"you are a real adult now!"

"omg"

"you can finally rent a car in your name!"

"now you're 25."

"welcome to a quarter of the century"

"hope you took the day off to celebrate"

(as i am in my office at work)

"im guessing today is your b-day"

"hope it's been great.. lord knows you deserve it"

(last tuesday was my birthday and i got the most random texts)

thanks for all the birthday wishes! i can't believe i am twenty-five but i am super excited. i feel so accomplished-- but i also really realize what i need to work on! i have decided to make a list:

25 before 26.

coming soon.

fill in the blank friday

2011-03-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

1. the phrase or punctuation i overuse most is "that was a pretty good dinner, huh?" everynight.. i know its totally annoying! 2. today I am thankful for coverage. i am working in the traumatic brain injury clinic today, and my co-worker dan is covering my crazy service! 3. my best friend is my friend amy! she's awesome 4. a quirky thing about me is even though my life may look chaotic to you, it's organized to me! 5. this weekend I am starting the celebration of birthday week 2001!! 6. something that worries me is my dumb eye issue. i have inflammation of the eye.. seriously? for the last six months, same issue, same meds, different docs, no results! 7. on my night stand you would find pic of me and joey, eli, the letter j, a lamp, and clock/radio.

saving your life

2011-03-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

look at these lovelies.. my co-workers. the ones who help save lives everyday!

a few of my favorite things...

2011-03-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

i have been super distracted at work... and i have found a few things i would enjoy to have or do...

1. shop at unclaimed baggage. this morning, on the train, my wonderful friend, filomena, had the cutest sarong thing on.. of course i instantly was curious, and she told me about this wonderful place in alabama, where they purchase unclaimed luggage, and sell it in a retail store. this totally tickles my fancy. i would love to go here soon, and spend some serious cash.. from my husband's wallet. hahaha! 2. an iphone. i really, really, really, really, really want an iphone. i feel so out of the 21st century (or whatever) with an old phone. i want to be an app queen! 3. join weight watchers. i am totally intrigued by the weight that people lose on weight watchers. and although i am not huge, i would love to slim down for the summer. now i just need motivation. 4. these juicy sunglasses. oooh lala!

that's all i can think of now!

fill in the blank friday

2011-02-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

1. I am currently obsessed with my new nephew! i am so excited he is here.. it's making me totally distracted at work! 2. Today I am sad because my bills outweigh my paycheck . boo! 3. The age I am is 24 and the age I feel is 21. 4. My favorite place is the shower. i love feeling so clean, and i love to just stand and feel the water on my body. 5. Something I have been procrastinating is cleaning out my car. it's beyond ridiculous! 6. The last thing I purchased was a bagel and hot chocolate! 7. The thing I love most about my home is the kitchen. even though its not decorated perfect, i feel inspiration in there lately! it's making me want to be creative!

it's a boy!

2011-02-23T08:39:00.000-08:00

i am so excited to announce that my precious nephew is here!!! the anticipation was getting the best of us, but i am so thrilled to be an aunt. mr. brayden neil osborne was born february 22, 2011 at 12:14 weighing 9 pounds 2 ounces, 21 and 3/4 inches long.

mom and dad are doing fantastic, although they are exhausted. my sister in law, casey, was such a trooper and worked her butt off to deliver that little man! after delivery, wesley, my brother, came out carrying a girl onesie and boy onsie. it was adorable when he announced it was a boy. of course his first gift was a football! now we can start our little football team!

being a mom is a wonderful feeling, but being an aunt is awesome too! it's funny how you love someone so much and you've never experienced that kind of love being. its awesome. last night we took little eli to meet his cousin, and he was so curious! he touched his face.. laid his hand on his belly. it was sooo cute.

fill in the blank friday

2011-02-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

i hope you've enjoyed a little catch up this week. here's my fill in the blank friday!!

1. i am... a wife, mother, and social worker. these things define who i am, where i am going, and what i want to be. 2. The bravest thing I've ever done was... not giving up when things didn't exactly go the way i had envisioned it. 3. I feel prettiest when... i am in jeans and a hoodie, laying lazy on the couch. 4. Something that keeps me awake at night is... the simple syllable of da-- "dada, dada, dada" -eli or when ive got my patients on my mind! 5. My favorite meal in the entire world is... grilled chicken salad. 6. The way to my heart is.... through the things i love. 7. I would like to... get my ph.d. one day.

my new love

2011-02-17T05:42:00.000-08:00

is sunshine! my new adventure this week has been riding with my friend allison to work. she parks in the most random location, but it has really perked up my week because (one) we have to walk seven blocks to her car (two) it's right through vanderbilt peabody (three) it cuts my commute in half & (four) i feel smart again! haha just literally walking through campus has given me motivation to do the most simple things. i feel like i can breathe finally, soaking up a few sun rays, seeing people working hard to get to where i am. i am so thankful i was given the opportunity to go to college, get a degree, and succeed. and the best part is the walk is beautiful. as long as i have worked at vanderbilt, i had never walked through peabody, and it has huge courtyards like central park in the middle of nashville (exaggeration, but you get my drift.) i'll try to snap some photos today. happy learning!

happy valentine's day

2011-02-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

happy valetine's day to the loves of my life!

nana and grandpa

2011-02-13T12:40:00.000-08:00

lets just say when you become a parent, you no longer exist.

especially to your parents!

it is sooo fun however watching them be grandparents.

i wouldn't trade it for the world.

my mom loves breakfast

so eli and i decided to meet her and my dad at cracker barrel one saturday

playing with grandpa and nana

testing the lemon

we also went to bass pro

what a fun day! nana and grandpa also got eli his first fishing pole... its soooo cute!

getting crafty in the kitchen

2011-02-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

so lately i have been obsessed with recipes! i want to be healthy and branch out a little bit. most recently i found a meatless spaghetti in peple that turned out sooo delicious!

recipe

the ingredients

cook.

be merry!

yummy!

i also get sick of looking at the same things in my kitchen, so here was a creative way to spice up my oil jar.

take clear jar

pick a sticker decor

add to jar!

haha soo easy!

happy cooking!

the blizzard

2011-02-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

nashville is not well known for bringing in the snow. although we are well known for ten degree weather on monday and sixty on wednesday. it's just our nature :o)

when it rains snows in nashville people FREAk out. there's no better way t say it. they either don't drive, forget how to drive, drive too fast, or take their hands off the wheel and let the ice take control. it's annoying.

my latest snow adventure was wednesday, february 9th.

9am light talk of snow, nothing major no one seems worried.

11am sunshine outside of my window, children are dismissed from school

1pm still sunny, reports four inches in kentucky.

3pm small snowflake, big snowflake, BLIZZARD.

it came out of no where!

so, as i usually do around 3:40, i mosey my way to the shuttle to take me to the train. it looks like this:

gridlocked. my first thought, let's go across the street and see if we can catch the other bus.

so we walk across the street, no movement. we even jaywalked (rebels i know)

so then we decided, well, if we're not moving, let's walk.

i borrowed a scarf and earmuffs, and about twenty of us headed from 21st ave to 1st ave.

(note: i could not find my boots that morning and had on ballet shoes with a heel.)

(note to self: bad idea.)

i froze.

however, we were able to help a wreckless soul on the way:

and overview what we were against by staying put:

i'm just glad i'm not a driving commuter,

but at the mercy of the metropolitan transit authority.

but now i have no excuse for not walking every afternoon.

:o)

fill in the blank friday

2011-02-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

1. The TV show/website that I watch/read that I would be embarrassed to tell anyone about is... real housewives. i love those girls and their crazy drama! 2. An item of clothing that is worn and torn but that I love far to much to throw away... a good pair of jeans. 3. My grocery store impulse buy is... el fudge. and they are never on sale. 4. Something I do at work to pass time that I wouldn't want my co-workers to know about is... catchingup on blog readings! 5. One thing in my life that I could give up, but never will is... being crafty. i love it too much! 6. A little indulgence that I have is... sleeping too much. 7. The junk drawer/area in my house is...in my kitchen. full of junk mail, old army stuff, and pens.

i've been learning a lot

2011-02-07T18:08:00.000-08:00

ever since i worked in the hospital setting, i have learned that things come in waves. like one weekend i had all heart attack patients. or one weekend a deer versus car accidents. its interesting how the flow goes, and how time just flies by. lately, i have had a tremendous amounts of brain injury victims, and it had stretched my brain to learn more. i have come in contact with the most amazing people who have advocated for their loved ones who have been struck by a traumatic brain injury. i am inspired by their charisma, willingness to learn, and ability to never lose hope. one organization i've come across is the brain injury association of tennessee. they seem to really want to help and provide and even came to visit one of my patients at the hospital! now that's a true sign of reaching out. i am very much looking forward to working with them in the future. i have also learned a tremendous amount about the rancho los amigos scale, which helps determine how a person is functioning with a brain injury. it allows caregivers and families know how to meet the needs of the injured, and work with them on a day to day basis related to rehabilitation. a good friend i've made at the hospital, greg, has helped me expand my knowledge of the ranchos los amigos scale and educate families. i am very thankful for the people around me who have helped me transition and learn about these new things my patients are being affected by!
visit our website: tsn

we're in trouble

2011-02-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

my husband's best friend, ray, had a little one around the same time eli was born (there about two weeks apart.) let's just say if they are anything like the men, kristen and i are set up for a long life of trouble. kristen, ray, and brysen came to visit a few weeks ago, and i got a few snapshots of the boys. i am excited to watch them grow up together!

aren't they cute?

fill in the blank friday: again?

2011-02-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

i'm going to try and get back to this. i swear i need an ipad. or a smart phone. i am behind the times!

1. if i could only read one magazine publication for the rest of eternity, i would choose... people. 2. if i were to run my own magazine it would be about... society and social issues. 3. i buy my magazines (at the grocery check stand or via subscription)... subscription. 4. i prefer my magazines (in print or online).. in print! i bought an online subscription and i HATE it. i'm all about loving on something in real life. 5. the number of magazines I buy each month is probably... 2-3. 6. my favorite magazine genre is (lifestyle, gossip, home, etc...). celebrities. but mostly to see what they're wearing! :o) i'm a sucker for fashion police on E! 7. the magazines i read regularly are... people & southern living.

link here.

birthday cupcake

2011-02-06T07:46:00.000-08:00

i opted to bake cupcakes instead of a cake on eli's actual birth date. he loved it!

he was also thrilled to get to see the world facing forward in his car seat. the littlest things in life make us soo happy! :o)

a little catch up

2011-02-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

ok, i mean a lot of catch up. life has been somewhat crazy since january one. working five days a week takes it out of me, then come home love on the boys, and sleep. it's all i can do to stay awake! so here's what's going on.

work: i finally feel like i am getting settled in the trauma unit. it's been a little crazy and chaotic, but i feel like we're all in place and can effectively work for those struck by trauma. i am however learning how to balance keeping a longer relationship with families, but keeping my distance (thank you school for the education on that one.) some stories still tug at my heart strings so much! but i am truely thankful for this transition, and knowing the hard work that comes prior to these patients coming to the trauma unit is a blessing. i love that we care, and want to save people's lives. i have had some particular interesting things happen in the trauma unit, but i think we've just got to roll with the punches! here's a video from my office view!

family: we recently had a wonderful shower with my sister in law, casey, who is expecting a baby this month!! WHOA! the other day we got our thank you card "uncle joey and aunt jenna" sounded so unrealistic but so exciting. i am anticipating holding that little one so much and showering the gifts :o) eli is growing up so fast. he had a wonderful first birthday (thank you everyone who came) and is walking around like a crazy man. his favorite new thing is shoes, in which they always match and i am so proud. this week i taught him where is toes, bellybutton, and ears area. its adorable to watch him catch on to so much. he is realy enjoying going to his nanny's and they shower him with love. i couldn't ask for a better little man!

friends: one of my greatest friends, tiffany, had her little man, cason, on january 21. he's a doll. she is such a great mom already! i love getting her updates an remembering things from when eli was so little. i am thrilled their birthdays are so close, and anticipate a half birthday swimming party in the future! my best friend sarah is doing fantasic and we are a huge fan of her boyfriend chris! (this is my chris shout out haha) i can honestly say i am so sad i have not been able to spend a bunch of time with my best friend amy because our schedules are crazy :o( over christmas, however, i did get to catch up with some of my girlfriends from high school. it's funny how a lot of us have made it back to mj, and some of us are flourishing elsewhere. they are a great group of girls!!!

tiffany's baby shower

amy, nicole, holly, lauren, tiffany, stevie, me

baby cason

joey, jenna, chris (sad there is not one with the four of us!)

emily, chelsea, sarah, katie and cooper, rachel, jenna, jill

life: i'm still terrible with money. remember how i told you i was going to try oprah's debt diet? well i have a little left on my credit card from college, so i did switch it to a lower rate. my goal is ONE year paid off.. keep you updated on that one.

life is good.

HE's ONE!

2011-01-19T11:22:00.000-08:00

happy birthday to my precious bundle of joy. one is a triumph. here's a little blurb i put on facebook:

"can you believe on year ago right now i was sitting in the hospital begging for pitocin to get this baby out? i cant. eli is turning one tomorrow. this year has been an amazing adventure and i have enjoyed every step of the way. i am so blessed to have an amazing little man, who has been sleeping in his crib since week three and all night since month two. he's a smart one ;o) i am so thankful for the love and support he has been shown throughout this year, and the encouragement that he and we have had. i contribute all of his learning and development to the people around him and the prayers that have been sent up. thank you everyone for your love, support, advice, and guidance. and to my little man, i love you happy birthday! "

here's eli this morning.

crappy blogger

2011-01-17T13:12:00.001-08:00

yes, i've been a crappy blogger. i hope to catch up this week! stay tuned.

you're invited

2011-01-02T12:47:00.000-08:00

people. i have discovered the cutest little invitations for eli's birthday. i am seriously obsessed with shopping on etsy. and by shopping i mean browsing because i really get ideas more than shop. but i came across this aorable little printing shop.. chickabug who has the cutest invitations! eli's are on the way, and i thought i would share how adorale they are!!

i ordered the thank you cards and address labels as well because they are so adorable.

just wait until the party.. i have big ideas!!!

merry christmas! love, the music city bowl

2011-01-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

one of joey's christmas presents this year was tickets to the music city bowl. we had a blast! joey left work early, picked me up, and we met sarah and her man friend chris downtown for eating and tailgating. it was nice to just hang out and relax with my husband. the game was exciting until a LAME call at the end. we had fun anyway. my alma mater, university of tennessee, played the north carolina tar heels. the "sea of orange" was out of control, and people were everywhere. we did have a really good time and our seats were awesome!

the kick off

overtime

my first snow

2011-01-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

unfortunately in tennessee, we rarely get snow. and when we do people freak out, run to the store, buy bread and milk, run off the road due to black ice, bundle up when it 32 degrees. it's pitiful. i really do enjoy seeing the dusting, and since i've never seen more than a foot of snow, i can't say i'm complaining there isn't more. in jan of 2010 we got a little bit of snow but i didn't take eli out because he was so little. this year, we bundled up last week when i had a holiday day off, and attempted to play. he refused to get in the yard. but luckily he found one little ice patch that suite his heart. it wa perfect, simply eli sized.

what a funny baby. i love him!

did you get out and play in the ~~dusting~~ snow?

the end of december

2011-01-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

i am sad to say most of my pictures from christmas didn't turn out to well :o( so i am waiting to bum from my family when they load their pics onto facebook. here's a few snapshots i did catch of the end of the year.

for little man christmas morning

eli sized from aunt joy

a visi from our great friend tia

hating snow

happy new year!!

happy new year!

2010-12-26T08:23:00.001-08:00

Love And Peace New Year's Card

Create photo new year's cards with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

2010-12-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

every year around christmas time, the company my dad works for throws a big "thank you breakfast" for their employees, customers, and long time friends. the"salary guys" cook (or so i'm told) and i have enjoyed going the last few years. this year, eli and i got up extra early to go see grandpa in his cooking attire, and spend some time with his co-workers. it always gets me ready for the holidays! this year, my dad's co-workers bought him a kindle!!! great gift. here's a few pics with eli and my parents.

on our way

grandpa and eli

me, grandpa, eli, nana

here's some pictures from around our house this year... every year it's gets better!

mantle

kitchen nook

our gifts!

mantle

the tree!

eli opened his first gift at gran-gran's-- picture coming! nana has it!

someone's curious

2010-12-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

i love my little explorer! just a few snapshots of the simple things in life.

what's the rush?

2010-12-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

this week, yes the week before christmas, five of my patients died. five! so i can only say this holiday, i am going to soak up every moment i have, not worry about tomorrow, and live in the moment. we're not rushing around from house to house saying we gotta go just to run and say bye again. we're going to enjoy. we're going to love. we're going to savor the moments we have together. because we never know when our whole life can be flipped upside down. so take time for the people you truly care about. not just your family. the people you love every single day. don't take those people forgranted.

happy holidays.

to the north pole... and beyond!!

2010-12-12T07:45:00.000-08:00

only in our precious little town of mount juliet would we have a john deere tractor suited up for a buzz lightyear travel vehicle. i love it. my father in law was the planner behind the mount juliet chrismas parade and it turned out great! the high school band lead the parade followed by various churches, businesses, and santa. we were also honored to have rudy ruettiger as the grand marshall. our favorite girls from stroller strides had awesomely decorated strollers with their babies. we snuggled in with the mcpeak family for a wonderful time at the parade.

the mcpeak's

eli loving cotton candy

elizabeth and victoria

dump truck from dad's work

snuggled in with catherine and suzanne

(they spoiled him!)

wema

to the north pole and beyond

it got cold!

christmas on glade drive

2010-12-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

a couple of weeks ago, all of my neighbors were outside setting up christmas decorations. it was fun to catch up with everyone and get ready for the holiday season. our neighbor loralei and little man eli had a great time going from door to door visiting with everyone. i am excited to watch them grow up together since they are only a month and a half apart. plus, my neighbor april and i can talk about how they are growing and suggestions for one another!

loralei and eli

taking charge as the man

loralei's beautiful new coat

saying hi to the neighbors!

back in the day... sunday!

2010-12-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

some of the best memories i have as a child were on sundays. we would go to church, eat a home cooked meal, take a nap, then snuggle in for the evening. my favorite was sunday night when we popped popcorn with cheese toast and watched rescue 911 and touched by an angel. i loved it! last week, i reminisced with the same meal and movie, harry brown, with joey. it was a great evening and wonderful memory of the past!!

fill in the blank friday

2010-12-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

i've missed this the last two weeks! oops!

1. I wish i could work when i wanted and stay at home when i wanted. so everday would be a surprise! 2. Yesterday I worked and got to meet rudy! 3. Today I went to the mount juliet christmas parade (blog coming!). 4. Tomorrow I have no plans but snuggling and maybe church! 5. Maybe someday i will own target so i can shop and not pay. 6. Someday we will get a good christmas card picture. 7. I love shopping. and cozy days in the bed.

dear santa: part two

2010-12-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

dear santa,
i love this outrageously too expensive rain jacket for the train.

as sold here

love,
jenna

dear santa

2010-12-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

dear santa, how about dear eli?

eli got a letter from santa!!!

soooooo sweet.
i went to the mailbox on thursday, and there was a letter addressed to mr. eli brent, care of santa claus 123 snow way christmas, usa. how precious! he loved the letter, and i was so excited santa even thought to send one. santa mentioned his mimi was preparing his gifts, so of course i called mimi, and she said her aweet aunt wanda may have had some connections to santa.
i seriously married into the sweetest family ever.
so creative. so thoughtful.
i can't even say thank you to santa enough!!!!!!!

music city star

2010-12-04T15:18:00.000-08:00

so i'm back to the commuter life, and i could not be happier! i have switched from my night/weekend shift, to a good ole monday through friday gal. well, i switch on monday. but anyway, i was VeRY excited to get back to the train and my commuter friends. it really is a great alternative to the stress of traffic, wrecks, and delays going to and from work. yes, it makes my commute longer, BUT it is so worth it! here's a snapshot of how it works..

i pick up the train at a local rta station

commute into nashville

then shuttle to work.

vice versa in the afternoon.

it's such a good excuse to

1. leave on time.

2. not leave early.

3. relax, relax, relax.

now, i am going to have to get back to my workout (skipping the shuttle in the afernoon for some good ole walking) and i think i will start after i get my schedule down pat this week. may it will get me ready for a marathon! ok, half, but its really been on my mind. maybe a 5k to start. hmmmm.

and i have to get some train basics. ipod, kindle, backpack, tennis shoes!

i love the music city star!

thanks for thanksgiving

2010-12-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

we had a blast at thanksgiving this year! on thursday, we met at my mom's house for lunch, and spent some quality time with my gran gran and aunt gail, cousin heather. eli was all over the place! then we ate dinner with joey's family, where i got to bond with our cousin hannah (middle school downlow, check! hot new teenage singers, check!) then saturday we spent the evening with my mom's side of the family where eli got to meet his new cousins, lucas and cloie. it was so good to catch up with everyone. (thanks hillary for the pictures!)

chow down

aunt hill

we love gran-gran!

the family

aunt gail & cousin heather

eli's great pa-paw

cousin lucas

sttuffed to the max!

us with my uncle james

it was wonderful!

i love my little man

2010-12-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

eli is growing like a weed! he went to his first two days of day care and did great with the eating part and making new friends... not so much the whining missing mom&dad part but we're working on that! this last week, he's been uninterested in walking, but had a great time at thanksgiving trying all the new foods!!! he has mastered the stairs, going up and down as well as babbling like a crazy little man. we love him!

big boy tub

checking out the cows in out backyard

~~changing the channel~~ chewing on the remote

hates the gate

checking out the christmas tree

mastering the stairs

puff snack with grandpa

waiting on mom

loving sweet potatoes!

thanksgiving countdown

2010-11-26T09:20:00.000-08:00

disclaimer: slacker, slacker, slacker.

happy thanksgiving (late!)

the number one thing i am thankful for is

my family.

i love my boys

(amy too!)

you three are the

most important people in my life

and i love you all!!!

fill in the blank friday

2010-11-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY!

1. black friday is... craziness. from what i hear. i'm not doing it! :o) 2. christmas shopping this year will include... furniture for the house! YAY! 3. holiday shopping makes me ... miss working at the gap.. such good deals.. such cheap clothes! 4. this year my christmas list will include... cameras, cameras, cameras.. clothing, decor, on and on and on 5. bargain hunter, or full price shopper? I love a good bargain, but I often tend to like all the things that are full price.-- i copied this... because it's so true of me! 6. the best and worst things about shopping are getting what you want, but paying too much! 7. online shopper or in-person shopper? both. more in person, but i'm loving etsy too much this year!

thanksgiving countdown II

2010-11-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

since tomorrow is thanksgiving, in honor of today and tomorrow i will highlight two things i am thankful for.

2. my hairdresser and eyebrow love... now i realize these are luxuries, but i am VERY thankful for these two in my life. angela, my hairdresser at double image always knows how to make me feel like a million bucks. she goes the extra mile, listening to my crazy life and sharing her own. she makes me feel awesome! and shelley my eyebrow love at aqua bella i would not want to live without. i discovered her in high school and REFUSE to even pluck in between! she's wonderful and makes me feel sooo clean. :o)
1. the osborne's... i love my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, galore. i am so thankful to have grown up around such a loving family!

childcare

2010-11-23T00:40:00.000-08:00

so i guess it's safe to say that my lovely life of being a stay at home mom and career woman is taking a major change. i am about to switch from night shift to day shift, becoming a typical monday through friday gal. i am excited about this, but i have had a TERRIBLE experience with locating childcare.

let me just say, its ridiculous some of the places that are allowed to take care of children! eli and i have been to ten+ places over the last three weeks and i have been surprised at what i have found. the first few places we went to, i cried. i really tried not to, but i can't imagine eli staying in the same room, all day, five days a week, even if there are stations. i am used to running him around town, target, the playground, grandma's house, wherever, so this is going to be a major change for him. it really freaks me out. i did have an eye-opening experience why there are places with no waiting list, and places with major waiting list. let's just say, i'm not settling. i finally found a safe, happy in home environment which i feel as comfortable as i can about, but i'm still nervous!

i talked to my gran about this the other day-- our generation is going to be torn between career and motherhood. our moms grew up as stay at home moms, cleaning houses, and encouraged us to get out into the world, get a career, and be successful. so now that we've done that and we're planning to move forward, when we become moms we're totally torn between being a stay at home mom and furthering our career. i go back to the fact that i've been spoiled and able to stay at home while being a career woman-- it's the best of both worlds. but now i refuse to further my career, unless i know eli is safe.

i just want all moms to know it's a really hard place to be put in! so even if you don't expect to work, but your baby's name on that MAJOR waiting list because in the long run, it might be worth it! i know this was rambling, but this experience has been excruciating.

thanksgiving countdown III

2010-11-23T00:24:00.000-08:00

since there are three days until thanksgiving, here's three more things i'm thankful for

3. my faith... god is my rock and shield. he is more comforter, creator, and lover of my soul. he provides day in and day out. i am so thankful i can lean on and trust him in every single situation.
2. the brent's (and gray's and fitzpatrick's :o) i love how genuine and caring they can be. every day i am thankful for their love and support.
1. my health... i am thankful to be well and to have no major illnesses.

thanksgiving countdown IIII

2010-11-22T03:30:00.000-08:00

four days until thanksgiving, let's look at four more things i am thankful for:

4. my gran gran... she is encouraging, available to listen, and downright stubborn. she went threw a "my way or the highway" phase, but i think that shows off her personality even more. i'm thankful she is who she is because without her i wouldn't be.
3. my neighbors... they are so friendly and everyone loves to play outside! i love it... especially in the summer for cookouts, and the fall for bon fires.
2. my backyard... it backs up to a farm, and there are usually cows that visit everyday. i love that i look out into green and not another house.
1. my church... i love the people, the charisma, and the love every time i walk through the doors. it's like a breath of fresh air.

thanksgiving countdown V

2010-11-21T19:22:00.000-08:00

since there are five days until thanksgiving, i am going to list five things i am thankful for.

5. my career.. i love the work that i do and the people i work with. i love that i am surrounded by real "lifesavers" every single day when i go to work. i love to help people get through the hardest times of their lives and allow them to know that they can get through it.
4. my car.. i love my murano and i am thankful it keeps running to take me everywhere i need or want to go!
3. my blog.. it's a creative outlet for me and gives me a reason to blab all day long.
2. my boss... her goals and my goals are in line: first god, then family, then career. she's a wonderful support to me and makes my life so much easier. she is a great listener and i am very thankful for her!
1. my house.. it's perfect and i love getting to decorate and make it pretty with our little touches every day. it's a safe enviornment for us to grow together, and i love that we are able to provide that for eli!

shutterfly

2010-11-20T17:15:00.000-08:00

i've read about this posting a few places and thought i should participate! i used shutterfly for eli's baby announcements and i was very pleased! i loved the easy set up online, and they come with envelopes, totally ready to address and mail in a timely fashion! very simple, easy, and affordable. i will definitely use them in the future (and some christmas gifts are headed towards my family from their website as we speak.) i just got the holiday catalog in the mail, and it made me very excited to shop!!! i love the 5x7 flat cards because they are bigger than the traditional card you usually recieve from other people. a few of my favorite designs are as follows: oh what fun, send holiday cheer, and kaleidoscope stars. the hardest part is picking out the best photo that sums up the whole year!!! check shutterfly out.. there are over 300 designs to choose from!

happy christmas carding!

my mantle

2010-11-19T18:32:00.000-08:00

i haven't gotten to show this off yet! i got the banner from funkyshique. and i love it! i got to customize what i wanted it to say/look like and i am very pleased with the result! i wll definitely order another when she re-opens!!

fill in the blank friday

2010-11-19T17:06:00.000-08:00

1. my Thanksgiving plans this year will include dinner on both sides of our family then extra dinner on saturday with my mom's side! also, eli's first thanksgiving and i am hoping for family pics on friday! 2. my favorite Thanksgiving was one specific i remember at gran-gran's before my aunt lisa died. she loved the holidays! 3. my signature Thanksgiving dish is apparently ham this year! my first year to cook, and it's ham. wish me luck!!! (secretly, i am very excited about this!) 4. my favorite Thanksgiving food is chicken stuffing soup or potato casserole. 5. Thanksgiving free association! family, turkey, food, food, food! 6. Thansgiving is the best time to try new dishes!!! 7. I am thankful for a healthy, loving, wonderful, fun life full of family, friends, a great career, and future to look forward to.

happy, happy turkey day!

the sickies

2010-11-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

eli and i have been under the weather this week and it's been terrible! he started throwing up on sunday, whined all day tuesday, started a fever and sleepfest on wednesday which ended with a 103.6 fever thursday! ugh, poor baby. he was so cuddly though, i can't complain. then this morning, he woke up feeling better and i spent the day in the emergency room trying to pass a kidney stone. yuck, yuck, yuck. i do not wish this week upon anyone! thank you to my family and friends for being so aweosme and supportive!

@ the doc with dad

these are a few of my favorite things

2010-11-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

i've decided to do a christmas wish list just for fun (in hopes that all my family will read it! haha) i really want the following random, fun, only for christmas items:

fujifilm instax

jc jewlery design personalized necklace

yeehaw poster

anthropologie tesserae sheet set

ipod nano (product) red

gap cropped trench

dell inspiron mini laptop

umbrella

nike free run shoe

nikon d3100

ikea comforter

i wouldn't hate franchesca's , ruche, and modcloth gift cards as well a bath and body works goods & pandora charms (hint, hint to my sis who works at both places!!!)

tate's lane

2010-11-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

i got caught in the weirdest traffic on the way home this morning, so i decided to take a long route to avoid sitting and waiting. tate's lane is supposedly a haunted road in the middle of mount juliet. i think it's the most famous road.. but whatever. i snapped some photos from inside the car. it was a drabby morning with rain and fog, but it was a peaceful ride back to the house!

happy rainy day!

thanksgiving

2010-11-14T23:15:00.000-08:00

a couple of people on good ole' facebook are talking about the things they are thankful for everyday with updates. i think i'll just sum mine up here.. and maybe add a few more throughout the month of november.

i am thankful for my husband. he is my comforter, lover, strong and confident man. i love snuggling in with him each night, and waking up beside him everyday. i love his passion for whatever he's passionate about, and his endurance to wake up everyday and press forward, even though he's had some hardships. i am thankful for his support and attention, and the joy he brings to my life.
i am thankful for my son, he is my pride and joy. i enjoy watching him every single day, growing, exploring, loving, and experiencing life. i enjoy him cuddling, and whining (but not often), touching his ear, laughing at me, and even his dirty diapers (ok, that was a lie.) but i really love him and i am thankful to have even been blessed to have him these last ten months. i couldn't imagine not being his mom.
i am thankful for my best friend amy. she really brings out the deep down jenna. she encourages me, walks beside me, and supports me in all of my endeavors.
i am thankful for my family, and the support they give. my mom for her advice, my dad for his calmness, my sister for her spontinuity, my brother for his care, my sister in law (kate) for her wisdom, my mother in law for her listening ear, my sister in law (casey) for being so down to earth, my father in law for his advice, my gran gran for her support, and joey's aunt joy for always thinking about us.
i am thankful for my career, and the opportunities it has and will provide. i am thankful for a great supervisor, boss, and support of the other workers that i couldn't survive without. i am thankful for the people around me who genuinely save lives every single day.
i am thankful for the women and men who genuinely care about their children. lately i've been looking for childcare and i couldn't imagine leaving eli in an unsafe enviornment! i am thankful he is safe and i am thankful i am able to provide safety to him.

more blessings to come!

fill in the blank friday

2010-11-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

1. The most spontaneous thing I've ever done... got a tattoo 2. The best gift I've ever received... my diamond band from joey for eli's birth, OR an autographed copy of the vinny by brett farve from my friend blake OR my push bracelet from tiff! 3. A time that I was truly and genuinely surprised... was when eli's pregnancy test came back positive. i thought it was so, but couldn't really believe it! 4. I can't leave the house without... my keys. how would i get anywhere?? My favorite day of the week is/ was wednesdays growing up because i got to see all my friends at school and friends at church that night!! 6. Something that can always make me laugh... is will and grace. always, forever. i love that show. 7. My perfect day would include... momma time (with amy & friends shopping shopping shopping with no limit or bill), eli time (at the park with sweet cece's), joey time (dinner, movie, dancing).

update: my four simple goals

2010-11-08T21:06:00.000-08:00

here's an update on my four simple goals before 2011. 1. walk more. well, i was working out more, by joining stroller strides, but lately i've been slacking on this one MAJOR! eli and i still go outside daily, but walking has not been on my priority list. i am glad i revisited this list so i can focus on this more :o) 2. enjoy the natural elements of food. this one i have conquered!! yesterday i made chicken with just a little added garlic.. no extra seasoning, just plain old fresh garlic! i am proud of myself.. everything is starting to taste better and more natural. plus its a good excuse to keep visiting the farmer's market (so sad it's getting cold!!) 3. take more pictures.i am doing semi well with the picture taking. i daily take pics with my cell phone, but i have actually been busting out the camera every so often. i swear if i could get my hands on a nikon d5000 or d70 i'd be using it by the minute. but eventually that will come. after time. sigh. i want a new camera with a cool lens and high tech stuff so i can learn about it and play. soon enough! 4. cook outside of the box. and this one i have conquered too.. thanks to google! i have been checking out the ingredients in my pantry.. googling what i think sounds good together.. and cooking it! walah! haha crazy concept, but it works. i have to build my cook book some how! thanks miss elsie for the inspiration for an update!

mr & mrs davis

2010-11-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

friday, i was so honored to be a part of miss ashlee nunn's wedding ceremony to mr jeremy davis. it was the biggest turnout of adpi's i have seen! she served as president for three years, so i wouldn't expect any less. we had a great time. ashlee is a craft freak, such as myself, and everything had a touch of her in it. it was sooo special. the cutest barnlike venue in clarksville set the mood just perfect. and i was able to experience a little bit of jeremy i have never seen. they are a tremendous couple, and i am so excited for the both of them!!!

eli and i started the day off with sarah, who helped me with my hair and makeup. followed by pictures, last minute touches, the ceremony, and reception. it was fantastic! one of my favorite traditions is singing to the couple, two of our favorite songs-- little adpi & . my favorite line is "when your heart is bound to ours, sadness there is none. shining bright as diamonds adpi, we're one."

the non-stressed, super woman bride!

my hair

(thank you sarah)

mr and mrs baggett

emily, ashlee, and ashley

the couple's first dance

miss brianna and miss riley

singing to the bride

my grand little amazing diamond, whitney

(best picture ever of us!)

mrs teresa, the lovely chapter advisor whom i adore

mr. tucker

2010-11-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

love love love me some mr. tucker. as you read earlier this week, eli is now walking! walking? walking! holy cow. what an amazing kid. he also learned how to "high five" and he wants to high five every person we walk by. what an adorable little stinker. this week, we mostly spent time looking for some child care for mr. eli (overwhelming, but we will talk about that later) and practiced walking everwhere! he got to spend some quality time with the mcpeak's on tuesday, and with miss sarah sexton and nana & grandpa on friday which he loved!!

fajitas with the mcpeak's

fun at sarah's house

eating pasta

having a snack with grandpa

learning to walk!

happy halloween, love the emergency room

2010-11-07T01:50:00.000-07:00

the great thing about working in the emergency room is all the random costumes! yeah, you can get those at parties too, but not a princess with a broken ankle, or hippie with a traumatic fall! we had a great time. a few of the nurses dressed up and i snapped some photos!

marie and gloria

gary allan and myself

____________________________________

also, one of the student organizations on campus brought us cupcakes, for taking care of the drunk students. so awesome. (not that any student would ever be drunk.)

fill in the blank friday... all about hair!

2010-11-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

1. My last haircut was ... about four weeks ago. just a trim! 2. My most daring hair moment was... when i went from bleach blonde to dark brown (aka natural.) i wore a hat for a week, couldn't even look in the mirror! 3. A hairstyle I'd never be brave enough to try is... all over red. i couldn't do it! streaks yes, all over no! or dreadlocks. it ruins the beauty!! 4. I've always dreamt of being a (blonde, brunette or red-head) i like my hair now, caramel color with blonde.. my girl angela can hook it up! 5. My go-to hair do is... straight down, or half up. easy, quick, done. 6. My biggest hair disaster was... when my neighbor jill highlighted my hair at home. it turned out great, but the actual experience ws terrifying at the time, hilarious now. we really cracked up when all the foils were in... we thought it would be a piece of cake! hahaha!! 7. A hairstyle I am dying to try is the braided across look... but i think it would look ridiculous on me! 8. My best hair day was.. prom my senior year. it didn't move, and it was exactly what i wanted! 9. The worst hairstyle I ever had was... my freshman year old college. i said to my roommate "i'm going to chop off my hair. and i did." TERRIBLE idea. never again short hair for this girl. 10. My hair is... stick straight even after i blow dry it. straightner not needed. and it curls tremendoulsy great.. love to hate me and my hair.

xo happy friday!

(off to the davis wedding)

back in the day wednesday

2010-11-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

is high school really back in the day? this is me and my good friend from high school, miss amie smeykal. she's fantastic! we cheered our lives away this year, in 2002 between high school and all stars. it was our whole life! but we had a blast. my cousin, brandy was also on our all star squad so it was good to see he like everyday!!! amie and i were "base" partners on both squads, so we were always the guinea pigs when it came to try something new. let's just say, she was awesome and so strong! we made a great team!!!

in honor...

T-E-doubleN-E-doubleS-doubleE- Tennessee!

haha

eli love

2010-11-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

ladies and gentlemen, can you believe my little man of nine and a half months walked today?? seriously. by himself. towards me. no holding onto anything. i seriously was so excited.. but terrified at the same time. eli's growing up and i am loving every single minute of it. i am so thankful to have been by his side almost everyday loving and caring for him. and i am so very thankful for EVERYONE who has also been able to love and care for him as well. he is such a happy baby, and progressing tremendously!!!! prayers for us.. because there are some big changes to come with this little man getting around on his own. check out his cuteness...

happy halloween!!!

2010-11-01T03:12:00.000-07:00

i hope your day was spooktacular. ok-- that was lame. ha. this morning i came home and joey and i cooked some buscuits and gravy while hanging out with eli. then we all took a nap, and when i woke up from sleeping, we went to my parents house for chili! soo good. then eli and joey went to my in-laws house to show off our little superman. he was so cute and fun! here's some pictures from our photoshoot in the backyard the other day!!

like a virgin...

2010-11-01T03:04:00.000-07:00

our favorite couple is about to get married, and we couldn't be more excited. i was lucky enough to join miss hailey at her bachelorette party this weekend-- so much fun! dinner at pf changs, lingerie party at her friend trish's house, followed by dowtown nashville action dressed in our 80s.. like a virgin outfits! the best part was getting dressed up. miss hailey was gorgeous and looked so cute in her outfit!! we had a blast. it was definately fun to have a theme-- especially because it was halloween weekend. i rocked a lacy black tank over a pink tank with leggings, huge tube socks, and boots. big earrings, necklaces, and fluffy hair was all the rave! check out our photos below..

austyn, jenna, lauren

miss hailey

trish, hailey, jenna, jess

true bride-to-be style

love her!! two weeks on the countdown!!

we love lil' wayne

2010-11-01T02:54:00.000-07:00

amy and i have a lot in common. we went to college together at austin peay, were roommates, love god, enjoy going to church, love people, love to shop, spend too much money on crap, and love a good smelling home. but the best part is that we both cannot get enough of lil' wayne! he rocks our world. i love her because she gets me..

halloween 2008

kairos 2008

bridal tea 2008

kairos 2008

wedding 2010

fourth of july 2009

fill in the blank friday

2010-10-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

1. my halloween plans this year will include ... work. bummer! but we are going to have dinner with my parents then eli and joey are going to his parents for trick or treating. maybe we will have dinner at work!

2. my most memorable halloween costume was a football player. my best friend and i wore all of the gear, and my sister was jelly beans that year. sooo random!

3. for halloween this year I'm going to be at work. bummer, again. i might wear a princess crown, wings or something. we will see. tonight we're dressing up as 80s theme: like a virgin for my friend's bachelorette party. yay!

4. i've always wanted to dress up as wilma and fred flinstone!

5. halloween free association... candy, costumes, trick or treat and fall!

6. the worst thing about Halloween is traffic and dodging little kids in the street.

7. the best thing about Halloween is that my parents have a big shindig with chili every year. i always look forward to it!

happy halloween!

fall=love

2010-10-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

once again, we know i love fall. one of the best parts about this fall is the playground! after stroller strides, eli and i have been hitting the playground daily, which leads to lunch, a nap, and a happy momma.

eli during stroller strides

missy and gina after the ab workout

climbing the chains

eating dirt on the rockwall

learning to slide with franklin

on a side note.. we love our new car seat!! pic below...

cuteness

2010-10-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

please check out this blog.. a cup of jo. she has a great eye for cuteness! here's two favorite things she's talked about lately.

10:ten phtographers took ten photos on ten. ten. of two thousand ten. great idea! check it out here.

probably the most simple but cutest children's clothing i've seen. check it out here.

sneak peak

2010-10-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

just a sneak preview of what eli and i were up to today :o)

ps. do you become a total craft freak nerd if all you wish is for a sewing machine for your birthday.. and its four months away??