Miss Me?

Wow! It has been almost a week since I updated. That doesn't happen very often. If only I could clone myself! I sort of slipped out of the blogging world for a while last week. I am busy putting together a little blog for my side photography business. Almost have it ready to go. Then I will start promoting here and there for free at first, then go to paid ads, if need be.

I am also seriously thinking about Blogher. Unfortunately, I did not make plans to go this year. But I have really, really contemplating going next year, wherever it may be. Anybody going this year? How about next year? I have had two of the companies that I did Giveaways for email me and tell me that they would be there and would love to meet me. I can't help but think that I am missing some great opportunities by NOT going. But it just wasn't in the plans for the Monkey clan this year. I know one thing: If I plan on going next year, I had better start saving my pennies now!

I have also been thinking about taking my blog to the next level. I already have the domain name, now I just need to think about a site. I am really considering moving from blogspot to a hosted site with a company like Squarespace. I love blogspot, but I want to have ownership over my writing and my website and I want a little more control. Any of you who have already done this, I would LOVE some advice. I am HTML-illiterate and I'm like CSS-wha??? I need something simple to put together. You know, like Legos. Snap, snap, snap...done. Or pretty close to it. And I really do not want to spend an arm and a leg in hosting.

And on to more exciting news! I have a really great review and giveaway coming up from All Modern Baby, a modern children's furniture site that offers a variety of products like Stokke Tripp Trapp high chairs. You are really going to enjoy this one. I promise!

A Giveaway & Firefox

Hey everybody!! I just wanted to let you know that there is still time to enter the giveaway for THREE homemade bars of Goat's Milk Soap over at my giveaway blog, The Frugal Frog. So hop on over there and get yourself entered to win!

Also, If you are a Firefox user like me, you might want to know that Firefox 3.5 is ready for download. Firefox boasts that this browser is the fastest yet. I downloaded it and can attest to that fast. I am surfing so fast that I am leaving skid marks. And if you don't use Firefox for browsing yet, I have one question for you. Why not?? I.E sucketh and you know it!

My Latest Photo Shoot

Thought you might like to see some of my photos from my last semi-pro photo shoot. Remember, my photography is all about using what you have, as in natural light, nature and capturing personality!

This is Bobbie and Suzy, two of my work buddies and their lovely families. These two are best friends, so it only made sense for them to share a photo shoot. It was a challenge photographing 8 people, but I did my best!

That, This & That

Lots of new things going on around the Monkey residence. First of all, the above pictures are, of course, photos of my beloved Monkey Boy. In case you are wondering why you hardly ever see pics of him anymore, I will tell you. At six years old, he is much too busy to be bothered by his pesky momma for just one. more. picture. "I'm Busy, Moooooommmm!", is a refrain I hear often. He did pose for these, but guess what? I had to PAY him $5.00 for our little photo session. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? The photographer is supposed to get paid. I see an entrepreneur in the making. How can he help it, though? He has my genes!

By the way, you can click on the photo for a close-up.

I did two family photo shoots last week, and have two more planned some time in the month of July. These are all acquaintances of mine from work. Yesterday I worked on a blog that will be specifically for my photography business. I set up an online portfolio with Smugmug to link to from the blog. I made the header myself in Photobucket. I will give you a sneak peak if you will tell me what you think. HERE it is, not quite complete, but almost.

The next thing I have been working on is a blog for advertising my photo cards, fine art photos and other things I make or "find" on etsy and artfire. When Monkey goes to school, I will be busy stocking my shops in both places and marketing them. Here is the blog for that. Not finished yet, either, but I think it is very unique and pretty. The template came from Template-Mama.

And my final news of the day, and probably the most important is that I HAVE A NEW JOB!!!! As Monday, July 20, I will no longer be working as a Med-Surg nurse. Yeah!!!!!! I am so excited!!! I will be going into a field that is part Correctional-part Psych. It will a new and exciting challenge for me and I am ready. Bring it on!!! The pay is good, it is much closer to home, and the benefits are phenomenal!! It is going to be a very welcome change for this nurse who is really, really tired of the constant stress and aggravation of hospital nursing. I'm done! The best part is that I will still be working three nights a week, so my blogging duties should not suffer :>

You Can Make A Difference

One morning a man walked along a beach covered with thousands of starfish that had washed ashore during a fierce storm. Now they lay dying in the sun.

He watched as a young girl picked up the starfish one by one and tossed them back into the sea. He walked towards her and asked, "Why bother? There are too many of them. You won't make much of a difference."

She glanced up at him as she picked up another starfish and threw it into the water. Then she responded to his question.

"I made a difference to that one".

There are many times when we think that we don't make a difference, but remember, even if you only make a difference in one person's life, you have still made a difference.

445 Great Dog Names

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I love dogs. I also love names and words. So I thought I would do this fun post of dog names that I came up with. If you use any of these names for your new family member, send me a photo along with the name you chose and I will feature your pet here at Monkey's Momma!

A- Andy, Avis, Axl, Amos, A.J., Artie, Amp, Addie, Angus, Abbott, Abbey, Arnie, Allie, Abner, A.C., Alf, Aggie, Ariel, Aramis, Angel, America, Archie, Armani, Anita, Akin, Annabelle, Antsey

B- Barney, Boo, Bindi, Buddy, Bug, Brute, Belle, Bella, Booger, Beamer, Beans, Benji, Brat, Badger, Boots, Bunker, Babe, Buttons, Bingo, Barge, Bambi, Budda, Binkie, Bam, Begger, Bumkin, Bennie, Bear, Brody

C-Champ, Chi-Chi, China, Chick, Chiko, Cougar, Charlie, Chucky, Chinga, Ce-Ce, Copper, Cooper, Coney, Coffee, Cash, Candie, Captain, Casey, Cajun, Camden, Cookie, Carver, Cairo, Caeser, Carnie, Caplin, Cuzz

D- Digger, Drake, Devlin, Draker, Drakor, Deville, De-De, Dapper, Dandy, Danny, Dude, Delilah, Durango, Dutch, Duke, Dusty, Dopplar, Ditto, Dooby, Dora, Dolly, Doodles, Draper, Dolly

E- Ella, Ellie, Eleanor, Elsie, Ernie, Emo, Emma, Emmie, Ebert, Ebony, Eddie, Eel, Esther, Ettie, Ember, Etsy, Ember, Elvin, Elgin, Ebony, Evan, Edie, Early, Emory

F- Frankie, Freddie, Freedom, Froy, Frumpy, Frog, Fitch, Fannie, Fritter, Freaky, Flapper, Franny, Faith, Future, Farrah, Friday

G- Gator, Gus, Gi-Gi, Goose, Gilly, George, Gar, Georgia, Gamey, Gammy, Gramps, Grams, Granny, Gia, Ginger, Giblets, Goofy, Green Bean, Goliath

H- Honey, Holly, Hoops, Hooper, Hopper, Holla, Happy, Hunter, Hunts, Hanna, Harley, Hobo, Houdini, Hobs, Hubs, Hawk, Herbie, Horton, Hanna, Hope, Healey, Hank, Harvey

I- Indiana, Isis, Iris, Ivy, Izzie, Itty-Bitty, Imp, Iggie, Indy, Ivory

J- Juniper, Jute, Juno, Jemmy, Jemma, July, June Bug, Junior, J. R., Jannie, Jupiter, Jello, Jalopy, Jade, Jingles, Jada, Jugs, Juicy, Joker, Jackson, Jimbo, Juliet, Julius, Jobe, Jinks, Judy, Jenner,

K- Kipper, Kahula, Kayla, Kendra, Kurtsy, Kindred, Kingston, Kara

L- Little Bit, Little Man, Layla, Lah-Lah, Lady, Ling, Lundy, Lindy, Luke, Luka, Lambert, Leslie, Leland, Lemon, Lark, Lee-Lee, Lucky, Lance, Lu-Lu

M- Monkey, Moodie, Mooney, Maggie, Madge, Magpie, Mo-Mo, Manny, Maybelle, Mimi, Mocha, Micky, Muppet, Moffit, Ming, Mandie, Maddie, Marcus, Maleus, Mentor, Mindy, Migs, Mia, Marcie, Marty, Marina, Marla, M.J., Martina, Mayzie, Madam, Mikey, Mable

N- Nemesis, Nemo, Ned, Nottie, Noel', Noah, Nina, Nia, Niagra, Norton, Neely, Nicki

O- Ollie, Oreo, Obie, Otter, Olivia, Odie, Ox,

P- Patches, Pinkie, Pearl, Patton, Peru, Peaches, Pitcher, Pickles, Patty, Pixie, Penny, Phoebe, Peeps, Private, Primo, Plunk, Prankster, Partney, Polly, Pumkin, Punk, Paw-Paw, Pappy

Q- Queenie

R- Royal, Rambo, Royce, Rome, Rhoda, Rudy, Roxie, Rudy, Rust, Rocky, Rally, Raleigh, Rabbi, Rabbit, Rosey, Renny, Reibold

S- Stomper, Star, Steeler, Stella, Simon, Suga, Sula, Suna, Suds, Sandi, Sassy, Snoop, Suge, Sarge, Sampson, Scheister, Schnitzel, Socko, Six, Sparta, Shorty, Sasha, Singer, Shag, Sherona, Shrimp, Sierra, Skaggs, Sunday

T- Turtle, Tiki, Tito, Tattoo, Toad, Teddie, Teamster, Tabby, Tilly, Timmie, Turnip, Tommie, Tute, Tutie, Tonka, Tazer, Tamber, Tough, Toodles, Tugs, Teensie, Trace, Tick, Tiny, Tuesday

U- Uka, Ugg, Urkle, Ursula

V- Velma, Vick, Vix, Viv, Victor, Victory, Vita, Vinny, Vera, Vector, Virgina, Vanity, Venus

W- Wigger, Weezer, Whipple, Whiner, Warrior, Wiggs, Washington, Wally, Wanda, Weeble, Wednesday, Wonkie, Woodsey

X- Xena

Y- Yodi, Yoda, Yo-Yo, Ya-Ya, Yip, Yumi, Youser, Yodel, Yodler, Yuka,Yancy

Z- Zeke, Zorro, Zeus

The Winner Of The StaphASeptic Giveaway

The winner of the StaphASeptic Giveaway is Xenia at xpsundell@gmail.com. Xenia, if you would be so kind as to email me your address through my contact page, I will get your StaphASeptic right out to you!

Botanical Beauties

More photos for my readers. These have all been taken within the last three months. Enjoy!

My Brain Is Full

So I have been a bit MIA lately. There is a lot going on. Monkey wants to try public school this year, so I am trying to mentally prepare him for First Grade after being homeschooled for kindergarten. He is an only child and has a hard time waiting his turn, sitting still, etc...

For us, homeschooling was a bit eclectic. Traveling to North Carolina and visiting sites on the way there and back, plus his experience with sitting in an Army helicopter and learning from a U.S Army soldier who has been to a war zone and back was quite the experience. We also went on learning field trips. For his age, he is an expert on the computer. I have been teaching him about computers since he was 16 months old. He loves working on mazes, guessing games and anything that makes him think, both on and off the computer. I hope he does well in school.

He now realizes that I have a blog, so I have to be careful what I write about him because someday soon, he may be able to read it! He also must approve of the pictures and videos I post. That is his rule and I have agreed. One day he told me that he didn't know why I wrote so much on my blog because no one reads it anyway. When I told him how many people actually do read what mommy writes, he said, "Wow Mom, That is sooo cool!".

And of course, since I will have a little more free time when he goes off to school, I have been contemplating which direction my creative urges are going to go. If you have been reading this blog for any time at all, you know that usually my mind is all over the place. I usually have so many ideas that it is hard for me to corral them into files.....both in my brain and in my office.

Someone once told me, "I don't let things take up space in my brain unless they are paying rent". My motto should be: I don't let let things take up space in my brain unless they are paying my mortgage and my car payment. Then let's build some high rent condominiums while we're at it.".

Anyway, people with nothing in their brain are boring. People who are dreamers, doers and go-getters are the ones I like to be around. They energize me. They make me want to do the most with my God-given talents.

So don't be surprised if I start bouncing some ideas off of all of you. I need feedback and advice. Some of you may even get an email from me if I have a specific question for you.

Pretty Pictures!

Just some pretty pictures for my readers! I will have some more later this week for you as well.