Welcome to my corner of the web!

Hi, my name is Jessica and it looks like you've stumbled upon my blog. How lucky of you. While you're here, make sure you explore all the tabs and feel free to say "hello!" My blog is going under a ton of renovations, so be patient as the changes emerge.

Check out my photography!

I'm an avid photographer. Be sure to stop by my site on SmugMug.com for portfolios, a link to purchase my photography, and more! I can be your favorite Green Eyed Photog!

Love to Eat? Sure you do!

Check out the newest edition to my blog family, "Sinfully Delicious Eats" for reviews on restaurants and recipes.

Tweet Tweet

Check me out on Twitter.

My Dream Jobs

If money wasn't an issure, these would be my dream jobs!

Some favorite links to share.

I spend a lot of time with my nose in books, magazines, watching television, or perusing the web. Check this out for some hidden treasures and personal favorites!

Freakiest Spiders!

Has your spider made the list? Check back for updates on the freakiest spiders.

My Novels

I've been working on my novels for years. Maybe one of these days I'll get the courage to ... who knows... publish them! Keep up with my literary journey.

Are You in Debt?

If you're like many people, you probably have some financial debt. Whether it's $500 or $50,000, check out my financial tips that have helped me.

Things I love!

Pretty simple. Here's a collection of things that bring a smile to my face.

Haven't Had Enough? Keep in Touch!

Here are some ways to keep in touch with me. I may or may not get back to you. Chocolate or money helps your case...

Like Me On Facebook!

Will you validate my ego and "like" my facebook page? Magical things happen when you click the like button. Don't believe me? Try it!

Elements of My Dream Wedding

I am so excited about walking down the aisle. Here is a collection of ideas and things I like.

Places to See. Things to Do.

Self explantatory. I love to travel and try new things. See if you've been to any of these places. Suggest some for me!!

Model Mayhem

Yes, I enjoy being on both sides of a camera lens. I'm not really a narcissist, just someone who finally has self esteem and confidence!

My Family

It's all about creating a dream. Click here to get an update on our dream of building a family.

Creative Things for Kids to Do

It's been a while since I've been a kid. (Hard to believe, I know!) But when I was a kid, these are some things that kept me interested.

Home Improvements

Nothing is more rewarding and fulfilling than home ownership. Okay, maybe bathing in a tub full of chocolate. But not much else compares. I really enjoy remodling. So, check this area out for ideas. The quantity of ideas and posts really depends on the depth of my wallet of course.

Fun Things to Do

Derp.

Under Construction...

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Under Construction...

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Under Construction...

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Under Construction...

Derp.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Another Random Survey

Would you rather...
1. Be 4'1 or 7'9"?
4'1"
2. Live without music or live without T.V.?
Without TV
3. Eat a bar of soap or drink a bottle of dishwashing liquid?
Bar of soap
4. Be called a racist or a traitor to your country?
Both are terrible. I guess racist
5. Lose your legs or lose your arms?
Terrible if I lost either, but losing my arms would probably be least traumatic
6. Have a beautiful house and ugly car or an ugly house and beautiful car?
Beautiful house and ugly car
7. Be blind or deaf?
Neither, but I suppose deaf
8. Live in Antarctica or Death Valley?
Death Valley. I would rather be hot than cold.
9. In a fire, save a sibling or a stranger?
Blood comes first
10. Be spanked or be put on a restriction (on your favorite thing to do)?
Spanked (lol)
11. Eat sushi or liver?
Ugh! Neither. Liver is slightly more tolerable
12. Have 3 eyes or webbed feet?
Webbed feet might be easier to fix!
13. Meet the president of the U.S. or Billy Graham?
President
14. Find true love or 1 million dollars?
True Love
15. Always have to say everything on your mind or never speak again?
I'm a talker
16. Be gossipped about or never talked about at all?
Never talked about
17. Have stars in your eyes or eyes in the back of your head?
Stars in my eyes
18. Have x-ray vision or bionic hearing?
X-ray vision
19. Be able to hear any conversation or take back anything you say?
Take back
20. End hunger or hatred?
End hunger
21. Publish your diary or make a movie on your most embarrassing moment?
I already plan on publishing my diary
22. Get caught singing in the mirror or spying on your crush?
My crush catches me spying on him all the time. :) I love my Joe
23. Be a dog named Killer or a cat named Fluffy?
Cat
24. Be stranded on an island alone or with someone you hate?
Someone I hate. Can't hate someone forever
25. Get even or get over it?
Get over it.
26. Always lose or never play?
Always lose.
27. Be forced to tell your best friend a lie or tell your parents the truth?
Tell parents the truth
28. Know it all or have it all?
Know it all.
29. Always get first dibs or the last laugh?
Last last ;-)
30. Give bad advice or take bad advice?
Take bad advice (Lord knows I have already!)
31. Have sand in your shorts or water in your ear?
Sand in my shorts - I'd just take them off
32. Forget your sunscreen or your sunglasses?
Sunglasses
33. Kiss a jellyfish or step on a crab?
Crab
34. Own a ski lodge or a surf camp?
Surf camp
35. Forget who you were or who everyone else was?
Everyone else
36. Have one wish granted today or three wishes granted in 10 years?
Three in ten
37. Give up your computer or your pet?
My computer
38. Be the sand castle or the wave?
Sand castle
39. Overthrow a dictatorship or lead one?
Overthrow
40. Write the worst book in history or record the worst song in history?
Book
41. Get free chocolate for one year or free potatoes forever?
Give me chocolate
42. Have half days everyday or no homework forever?
Half days
43. Wear all pink or all purple to school?
Pink
44. Take a math test or do a lab in science?
Science
45. Have a mansion in the middle of nowhere or an apartment with 10 friends?
Mansion in the middle of no where
46. Be a deep sea diver or an astronaut?
Astronaut
47. Bake cookies in cooking class or do art projects in art class?
Art
48. Run the mile or give a speech for English?
Speech
49. Have a pie-eating contest or a wheelbarrow race?
Mmmm, pie
50. Have a big group of friends or one very close friend?
One close friend
51. Not be able to talk or hear for one day?
Not hear
52. Be nervous but excited or relaxed but bored?
Nervous but excited
53. Wear a school uniform or last year's Halloween costume?
Halloween!
54. Spend the day surfing the Internet or the ocean?
Well, I don't know how to surf on the ocean. But I'd rather be by the ocean.
55. Be an actress/actor in a big movie or the director?
Let me be the star! ;-) lol
56. Have an ugly, loyal dog or a prize-winning, snobby cat?
Loyal dog
57. Be a professional baseball player or a champion horse breeder?
Horse breeder
58. Be saved by Superman or meet Winnie the Pooh?
Superman
59. Go to an amusement park or to a family reunion?
Family reunion...at an amusement park! haha
60. Have a kangaroo or koala as your pet?
Kangaroo
61. Be rich with an unhappy job or make less money with a job you like?
I would choose the second choice, but unfortunately money rules the world. I'd take the job where I make more.
62. Not be able to use your phone or your e-mail?
I can do without email
63. Snowboard in the winter or swim in the summer?
Summer baby!
64. Pick your own nose or someone else's?
I only dig for gold in my own mine!
65. Be a tree or live in a tree?
Live in a tree (house)
66. Write a mystery or a poem?
Poem
67. Meet an alien visitor or travel to outer space?
Travel
68. Be forgotten or hatefully remembered?
Forgotten


Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Adventures in Waffle Making Part II (Original Post 4-5-2011 from old Blog)

This weekend I was in the mood for some waffles. I was itching for a delicious tasty waffle. So, I gathered all of my ingredients and followed the instructions for making WAFFLES, not PANCAKES.


I was excited, thinking things would be different... but no...


I thought...well...maybe it needs to warm up a bit....


I was not one to feel disgruntled. I noticed the dosage of batter seemed insufficient, as it did not fill up the nooks and crannies. So, I filled my waffle maker full...



VICTORY!!! Blueberry...yum yum

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Friday, January 20, 2012

Keeping Your Relationship Strong During a Deployment

With no end in sight, men and women are going to continue to be sent to various secret and some not-so-secret locations all around the world in support of ongoing wars.

Personally, I feel that when we deploy we sometimes close the door too much or too quickly on the life we leave behind.

There are things you can do, that we can do, to maintain our healthy and growing relationships while not physically present.

To begin with, many civilians (as we call you) do not always understand the importance and roles we play in the war. So, be open and honest to your partner. You can do so without revealing confidential information about your mission.

Things You Can and Should Talk About:

How to Stay in Touch: Will there be Internet connectivity where you’ll be? You may not know, and you may be moved from location to location. Even so, explore all the options you may have available: phone calls, e-mails, and even the almost forgotten handwritten letter. Explain to your loved one that if letters are the only correspondence available, the letters may take longer to arrive then US mail within states do.

Spend Time Together Before Leaving: Go out on some dates or set aside some personal time where you can talk about your feelings. Talk about your fears about being apart, if any. Remind each other how much you are in love, how much you support each other, and so forth. Talk about how each of you will manage while apart.

Send a Care Package to Your Loved One: I haven’t been deployed yet, but I have heard from others how exciting it can be to receive a care package. They can contain books, DVDs, homemade cookies, pictures, and more! Make them personal and intimate – items that may trigger strong and special emotions – maybe coupons to redeem upon coming home, like a massage. You have to be careful about rules for certain countries about what is allowed to be sent. Alcohol is almost a no-no for all sandboxes. So, do a little research so no one gets in trouble.

Each of You Keep a Journal: Being separated can be tough. Emotions will stir and you may even doubt yourself or your loved one. Don’t be hasty with your emotions. Our bodies sometimes cannot properly digest new and often chaotic emotions. Write how you feel in a journal. If the feeling subsides, then don’t worry. The last thing you want to do is start a fight with your loved one or get your loved one worried about something happening at home when he or she needs to be concentrating on the mission.

Keep Busy: Sometimes starting a new hobby or joining a support group will help keep your mind off the scary thoughts of your loved one being far away. Most bases have support groups where you can hang out, go to amusement parks, and keep one another’s minds off being separated. This can be good for your kids too. Take an evening class. Haven’t you always wanted to learn how to sew?

Share Details From Home: Whether it’s by phone, e-mail or letter, share with your loved one details about home life. Maybe your son made the football team, or your daughter made varsity. Hearing details about home will make your loved one feel closer to home, closer to you.

Record Something: Being the romantic I am, I like very personalized items. You can make a mixtape (do cassettes still exist?! Lol) of your favorite songs, or just record the sound of your voice saying, “I Love You.” Even though I abhor my ex, he did do something that was sweet. He was gone for my birthday and he gathered all the guys in the shop to sing happy birthday to me in this video.

Always Be Realistic: Things happen. Let your loved one know that you might be too busy to respond to every email, and that sometimes natural disasters happen that might cause connectivity to the outside world to be lost.

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Shelter Cats NEED YOUR Help!!!

Did you know that more than 70% of cats who enter animal shelters are killed??

Those are very disturbing statistics. However, if each of us donate just a few bucks, we can make a huge difference.

Because too many people are ignorant and/or negligent in spaying and neutering their pets, thousands of animals are killed EACH DAY, all over the country, at the very hands who try so hard to give them a chance at a good life, but who simply cannot afford to.

Strangely, 81% (According to Alley Cat Allies) of Americans believe it is more humane to leave a stray cat outside to live out his life, rather than catch and kill him. Animals are subject to the elements (blizzard and blistering temperatures, not having guaranteed fresh water or food, falling victim to cruel people who torture them, or getting injured and slowly die to death).

When we work together, we can accomplish great things. EDUCATE as many people as you can to SPAY AND NEUTER their pets! I see way too many adds in papers for people trying to sell pets. In this tough economy, people are trying to make extra income by breeding animals. Yet, when they have no buyers, they dump the pets somewhere, abandon them, and they breed and breed and breed.

Animal shelters are definitely full, but at a minimum we should trap-neuter-return. It is the most cost-effective approach to reducing the amount of feral cats.

Sarah Palin is a huge fan of the catch and kill, or simply the "KILL" approach. This is wrong in so many ways. Sure, you get all the animals out of a certain area - but not for long. Soon, animals will see this area as "vacant" and move in, breed and you have the same problem all over again. It's the vacuum effect. Google it.

So, help your animal shelters - by volunteering, item donation, or money.

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Adventures in Waffle Making (Original Post 2-28-11 from old Blog)

My parents asked me one of the things I wanted for Christmas. I told them I wanted a waffle maker. After my friend had me over for ice cream and waffles (don't knock it til you've tried it), I wanted a waffle maker for myself.

I figured it'd be so easy to make waffles...

It turns out, PANCAKE mix will NOT work for making waffles. I even searched the store for waffle mix, but didn't see any. So, I ASSUMED they were one in the same.

Excited for waffles one morning, I made the pancake mix and fired up my spinning waffle maker. I excited told my boyfriend how awesome and delicious they were going to be. In my head, I was planning on future waffles, ones with blueberries, chocolate chips, and maybe even whipped cream and strawberry drizzle. I was getting arrogant before my first homemade waffle had even been born!

I stared at the waffle maker, waiting for the ready light to turn orange. When it finally did, I excited opened the lid, only to discover a waffle murder scene!

Waffle Murder Scene

First waffle made!

Slowly got recognizable

Eh, ugly but edible

I know NOW that the next time I use my waffle maker to use WAFFLE mix and not PANCAKE mix!

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Long Survey

1. What was the highlight of your week? - Friday when I got to go home!

2. Whose car were you in last? - mine

3. When is the next time you will kiss someone? - in a few hours

4. What color shirt are you wearing? - I'm wearing yoga pants and a gray shirt

5. How long is your hair? - almost to my butt

6. Are you good looking? - I'm not too shabby

7. Last movie you watched? - Back to the Future III

8. Who were you with? - Joe

9. Last thing you ate? - almond joy

10. Last thing you drank? - diet mountain dew

11. When was the last time you had your heart broken? - a while

12. Who came over last? - a friend

13. Are you happy right now? - yes

14. What did you say last? - my cat's name

15. Where is your phone? - on the floor

16. What color are your eyes? - mostly green

17. Are you left-handed? - I can be

18. Spell your name without vowels: Jssc

19. Do you have any pets? - yes

20. Favorite Vacation? - something beachy or in Europe

21. What do you dislike currently? - bills

22. What are you listening to? - tv

23. If you could have one thing right now what would it be? - money to pay off debt

24. What is your favorite scent? - this Ralph Lauren perfume my babe bought me

25. Who makes you happiest? - a few people :)

26. What were you doing at midnight last night? - watching tv

27. When is your birthday? - Nov

28. Who has the same phone as you? - probably a lot of people

29. Last time you went swimming in a pool? - September 2010???

30. Do you read your horoscope? - sometimes

31. Where was the last place you bought something? - Wal-mart

32. How do you feel about your hair right now? - wish it were black and longer

33. Do you bite your nails? - no

34. Do you have any expensive jewelery? - it's not cheap

35. Do you have any expensive jewelery? - same answer

36. Myspace or facebook? - Facebook

37. How fast have you driven a car? - 118 mph I think

38. Have you ever smoked? - yuck

39. What was or is your favorite subject in school? - science

40. Do you have Verizon? - yes

41. What type of boy or girl do you usually fall for? - the intelligent, sweet ones who think they have a bad side ;-)

42. Do you have any hidden talents? - you could call them that

43. Favorite Song? - so many

44. Do you like to sing at all? - yes

45. Dream Job? - read my blog entry: "My Top 5 Dream Jobs"

46. Where does most of your family live? - Psh, Germany, Pennsylvania and West Virginia

47. Are you an only child or do you have siblings? - I have three half siblings

48. Would you consider yourself to be spoiled? - maybe a bit

49. What was the first thing you thought when you woke up? - Ugh my wrist hurts

50. Do you drink? - yes, but rarely alcohol

51. Know any other languages? - Ja

52. Ever write a coded message? - yes

53. Have you ever been IN a wedding? - yes

54. Do you have any children? - no

55. Did you take a nap today? - no

56. Who has the same birthday as you? - two friends that I know of

57. Ever met anyone famous before? - yes

58. Do you want to be famous one day? - not necessarily famous, but maybe infamous or notorious!

59. Any Pet Peeves? - liars, cheaters, assholes, dumb drivers, racists, to name a few

60. Are you multitasking right now? - breathing, typing, blinking....

61. Do you like Britney Spears? - I don't dislike her

62. What is your least favorite chore? - LAUNDRY

63. Last place you drove your car? - Walmart

64. Ever been out of the country? - BORN

65. Where were you born? - aus Deutschland

66. Could you handle being in the military? - I would hope so, because I've been in 8 years!

67. What is your average cell phone bill? - $90

68. Who are you thinking about right now? - I need to make tacos soon

69. When was the last time you laughed REALLY hard? - during the week

70. How many pairs of shoes do you own? - over 100

71. Are your toes always painted? - usually

72. How many piercings do you have? - only 6 now =*( but thinking of getting another soon...

73. What are you doing today? - cleaning, lounging

74. Have you ever been gambling? - Yes

75. When is the last time you updated your page? - today

76. Do you like rollercoasters? - yes

77. Have you ever been to Disneyland or world? - both

78. Do you have a favorite cartoon character? - a few

79. Last thing you cooked? - something Mexican

80. How's the weather? - chilly

81. Do you e-mail? - not in public ;)

82. What's the stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone? - sent a text I shouldn't have

83. Last time you were sick? - right now for over a week now

84. What states have you lived in? - PA, NJ, MS, TX, WV

85. Do you wish you could move? - into a huge house

86. Do you take all the QuizPox.com quizzes? - never heard of it

87. What is your dream car? - 1969 black and silver Camaro

88. Have you ever wanted someone you cant have? - I always get what I want =P

89. If you could be anywhere right now where would it be? - beach

90. Are you happy with your life? - they wish they had my life.............

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Why Did I Join the Military??


People ask me that a lot, along with a string of other varying questions such as:

“Do you get to fly a plane?”

“Aren’t you afraid of getting killed in the war?”

“Isn’t it hard to be a woman in the military?”

“Don’t you enjoy being away from home all the time?”

The answers are no, yes, yes, and most of the time. Being in the military is not a cake walk. It is not what I thought it would be, but it is still not easy. But I decided to raise my right hand and take that oath.

I, Jessica Reed, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Pennsylvania against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of Pennsylvania and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God.

I knew the risks of getting sent to the war. I knew there would be times I would have to be away from those I love the most. I did it anyway.

But, why?

Well, I didn’t do it for the college money. I’m going on past my eighth year and haven’t even started college. I didn’t do it for the hotties in uniform, because I am deeply devoted to my wonderful civilian boyfriend. I didn’t do it to see the world. Been there, done that. I didn’t do it to shoot terrorists, because I’m pacifist in nature.

So, why?

I joined the military for three reasons: to give back to the country that has given to me, for discipline and for my father.

My dad was in the Army for a good eleven years of his life. He would have most likely made it a lifelong career had he not obliterated the ball of his ankle and had it not been for me. I always thought he was medically discharged for breaking his ankle during airborne school. However, he said he got out to give me a better life.

Well, dad if that’s the case why did we move MORE once you got out of the Army then!! LOL

Seriously, we moved around a lot.

On Easter during my junior year of high school, my dad had a congestive heart failure. He didn’t know it at the time, because when he went to the hospital he was told he had bronchitis, was given medication and let go. Are you kidding me? How can a doctor not tell the difference between heart failure and bronchitis?

When he didn’t show signs of improvement he went to the hospital again. This time, the doctors were surprised and amazed he was able to walk and that he was alive. He had multiple congestive heart failures. Apparently, from having rheumatic fever during his childhood, scar tissue formed in one of his valves and prevented proper blood flow in the heart.

Fast forward to his operation, he had a valve replacement at the University of Penn by Dr. Acker. He reminded me of Tom Selleck. Thankfully, he was a good doctor – a graduate of Brown University with a certification in Cardiothoracic Surgery. It killed me to see my dad with all these tubes attached to him. I finished all my finals a few weeks early to be with him and my mom.

He looked dead.

I cried at the thought of losing the one person who has been with me since birth. Even though I was a stubborn teen that wasn’t the nicest to him at times, deep down I loved him and the thought of something happening to him killed me.

Eventually he was released from the hospital with a 4 to 6 inch battle wound down his chest. The unique and at first, annoying, thing was that his valve ticked so freaking loud! You could hear it at the dinner table, in the car, in the elevator. “TICK TICK TICK!”

Ha!

He has to take medication for the rest of his life, but he’s alive. And that is all that matters.

What does that have to do about joining the military?

The US Department of Veterans Affairs provided patient care and benefits to my dad as a veteran and paid for his surgery. There would have been no way our family could have paid for such an expensive surgery. So, I feel that in a way, the military saved my dad’s life. Serving in the military makes me feel like I am thanking them for what they did for my dad.

I also joined the military because of patriotism, to be a part of something bigger than myself, to meet people and more. However, when it boils down to ONE reason why - it's for my family, for my dad.

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Wedding Survey

1. Your name - Jessica

2. Future Husband - Joe

3. Maid of Honor - not sure yet

4. Number or bridesmaids - thinking four

5. Best man - Joe's best friend :)

6. Flower Girl - whoever is still a young girl when we get married

7. Ring Bearer - same as above

8. Where do you want to get married? - I have always wanted a beach wedding, but I might think of a flower garden

9. Age you want to be married - Now! We're not quite there yet, but I hope soon because I want a family.

10. Age now - I'm ripe and ready to be picked

11. What time would the wedding be? - depends. If it's on the beach, sunset would be pretty

12. Your dress (white, off white, other) - white

13. Wedding colors - I'm thinking blue and green as the main colors with hints of purple and pink

14. Bridesmaid dresses - very blue

15. To walk down the aisle to - Mendelsohn's wedding march probably

16. First Dance as couple - can't decide! So many good songs that remind me of us. I always thought Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes"

17. Dance with parents - Don't know yet. All the songs I like are kind of cliche.

18. DJ or band - DJ

19. Honeymoon place - I'm hoping some place with a gorgeous beach!

20. Length of honeymoon - I think a week is good

21. Will people be able to contact you - I'd rather not! I'll be too busy...you know...
Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Thursday, January 5, 2012



There are many things I love about being in the city. I love all the different stores and random shops. I love how if I'm craving a Starbucks, there's usually one right around the next corner. I like the museums, the parks, and more. There is one thing, however, that saddens me so much - seeing homeless people.

Granted, there are people who scam you by pretending to be homeless. But when you see a real homeless person, you know. It just strikes a nerve in me.

My boyfriend went to South Street a few months ago when it was still freezing outside. We parked the car and started walking. Well, we parked right next to this guy huddled on the steps. He had a coat over top of him, sheltering himself from the cold. It broke my heart.

Then when I leave Joe's Parents' to go back to Pa, under the overpass near the toll booth to cross the Ben Franklin bridge there are mattresses with all kinds of people sleeping on them.

In the summer I don't think about them as often. But, when it's raining and/or cold, I can't seem to get homeless people or animals off my mind. I volunteer when I can, and always donate to various organizations, food drives, etc. But, this is bigger than myself.

Are we failing society by having so many homeless people? I know there are shelters for them to seek refuge. Do they not want to be helped?

I remember about 10 years ago I saw a very elderly man digging through the garbage. He smelled really bad and was unfortunately dirty. I had just visited the grocery store and had fruit. I tried to offer him some food, but he ran away with this horrible bewildered look on his face.

As many as 3.5 million people experience homelessness in a given year (1% of the entire U.S. population or 10% of its poor), and about 842,000 people in any given week, according to wikipedia. That is just sad! And that is just the United States. I am sure the number is much higher now since the economy has not exactly picked up.

I really wish that something could be done to remedy the situation.

I always imagined a "cure" in my head. I pictured something similar to Section 8 housing - a small apartment. They don't even have to have their own appliances, maybe just a room and community kitchens, laundry rooms, whatever. They would stay there for free, until they find a job, then rent would be based on salary, and then would eventually work as a halfway house type thing until they are able to afford to live on their own.

It's just so tough, because it seems like a lot of homeless people suffer from some sort of mental disorder or have had to steal to survive for so long that it would be hard to break the habit.

So, is our solution to just give up on them until they succumb to the elements? ::sigh::

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

An Egg-Cellent Entry

I never get tired of these photos.











For your viewing pleasure. Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Cfg3swvbc (annoying eggs!)

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 2, 2012

My Resolutions for 2012

Okay, so the new year is upon us. What am I to do? Hmm, well maybe I'll actually stick to keeping a resolution this year! I think we put too much pressure on ourselves when it comes to making a New Year's Resolution.

Why one big resolution?

Why can't we make a bunch of small ones, to make the stress of keeping and accomplishing a single resolution? For instance, I am going to make monthly, maybe even weekly, resolutions that make me feel accomplished and a better person.

However, I do have a couple big resolutions up my sleeve. I plan on getting in shape once and for all. I'm booking a photo shoot with Glamour Bitch Photography for the summer as a gift to myself for all the hard work. They're pricey, but if you have never heard of them, check them out! Their work is phenomenal! Click here to go to their website!

As for the smaller goals, they're simple ones like work on my novel, visit so many parks to boost up my photography portfolio, only eat out once a week, etc and so forth.

With today being Monday, my goal for the week is to CLEAN MY HOUSE! Ughhh, if you could see it, you'd understand why this is a goal for me! Okay, it's nothing serious. It just hasn't had a good tending to since before Thanksgiving. I'm behind on dusting and whatnot. I finally finished laundry yesterday. Did the dishes today. So, for the rest of the week, I plan non taking down my Christmas decorations, dusting, going through all the junk in the basement, and then going through my closet for items to donate.

Another long-term goal is to be more financially responsible. I would like to pay down my debt, save up for a wedding, and save up for a house. I do plan on buying a house this year; I'm just waiting to hear back on whether or not I got this job I applied for. After that, I will move forward. These are goals that may not necessarily be completely accomplished this year, but as long as I am actively working towards them I am okay.

My relationship with Joe hasn't been perfect. We took a huge step last year and moved in together. It was a bumpy ride, as we are different in some aspects (I'm not used to living with someone and I'm so OCD...). We're both still recovering from being laid off and other various financial obligations, but I would like to continue moving in a positive direction.

No more looking back in the past [negatively]. If I want to take a trip down memory lane to reminisce about good times, then fine. BUT... anything bad that has happened to me, I've closed the door. (Finally...damn.)

I have a feeling that this is MY year, so I'm not going to let anything hold me down. This includes the rude/ignorant people who like to say shit. I'm not perfect and neither are you! You can suck up and brown nose all you want, because I don't care. I'm all about me and being real to myself and others.

Watch out 2012.... I'm here!

Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Welcome to 2012!

Welcome to 2012!

Did everyone party hard last night like this guy?! lol



Brought to you by: Jessica at http://jessicamariella.blogspot.com/

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