My new digital camera. . . five years later. . .

About five years ago for Christmas, Jarrod gave me a digital camera. . . .well kind of. He gave me a picture of a digital camera and told me I could go pick one out and he would buy it for me. Well, at that time a 8 or 9 mp camera was like $400 and up! And I so (being the nice person I am) I never took him up on the offer. A couple of years ago I "borrowed" by Dad's camera and have never given it back. Ha! (my mom got him a new camera for father's day!) So,  knowing I needed a new camera (of my own) with more options,  I have been researching digital cameras for several weeks now. Determined to find the best bang for my buck.  I thought at first I wanted a digital SLR, but when I thought about it, I just wouldn't use it enough to justify the cost. Those are too big to carry in my purse all the time, like I like to do! I decided the most practical thing for me to do right now is to buy a nicer compact camera.  I knew I wanted a camera with a wide angle lens and there aren't very many in the "compact class" that has that option! I narrowed it down to two, the Sony Cybershot DSC-W170 or the Canon Powershot SD870 IS.  I did some (ok, a lot) of research on the internet and read a few (ok, a lot of) customer reviews. When it came down to it, CNET ranked the Canon as best 8 & 9 megapixel digital camera, so it was in the lead. Then I went to Sears to get some hands on perspective. I played with a few of the cameras, but I had some questions. . . so, after waiting an hour for some help, I gave up and went to Circuit City. And it must have been my lucky day because they had the Canon model I was interested in on sale! And then. . . it just keeps getting better!!. . . I found out they were selling the floor model (without a box) for $60 off the sale price!!  I don't have to tell you what I decided to do, do I?? I was in and out within a half hour with a new camera (and an extra battery and memory card)!  It has all the options I want, and lots of options that I don't have a clue how to use!  The design is a little retro, a throw-back to the first Canon ELPH's, but I love it! The only thing so far that I am not crazy about is the large screen, it shows finger prints really easy! (But I guess they are all like that) and it doesn't have a viewfinder, but who really uses that anymore anyway?!?!

I am going to try to take some pics at Jarrod's game tonight. . . stay tuned!

Were did the weekend go??

Friday night I worked on Jennifer's wedding programs. Mom came over about 8pm. She had been in Jonesboro father's day shopping and just stopped by. . . then I put her to work! She and I worked on programs until about 11:30pm then she headed home, it was a late night but I am so glad I got them done and  I couldn't have done them all with out her there to help me!!

Saturday we spent most of the day in Searcy. I had a shower to go to for Jennifer and then we gave Jarrod's dad his father's day gift.  We had a late supper at Who Dat's with some friends from church before coming back to Jonesboro.

Then today we got up and went to Hickory Ridge for church and father's day lunch with the Wilson's. 

Jarrod has two softball games this week, on  Monday and Thursday nights. We will see how his shoulder holds up!

Baby shower gift and wedding programs

This was a gift for my friend Leslie who is expecting her first little girl! I used the same monogram that  I used on the shower invitations and also made note cards and labels to match!

 

These are the wedding programs that I am currently working on for Jarrod's sister's wedding. I hope to have them finished by this weekend so I can take them to Searcy Saturday when I go for Jennifer's wedding shower.  But they are a bit more time consuming than I thought, so we will see if I make my deadline!

  

I am sure staying busy these days! I still have Kayla's programs left to print and I am also working on some really fabulous birthday invitations for a very lucky little girl.  More to come on that. . .

The first injury of the season. . . .

Last Monday night Jarrod hurt his left shoulder in his softball game. It bothered him all week and I told him he might ought to go to the doctor and have them check it out to make sure he hadn't really hurt it. He said he wasn't going to go to the doctor until softball season was over.  I commented that I thought he didn't want to go to the Doctor because they would tell him to quit playing. He said he wasn't going to quit playing, either way.  (Just like a Man!)  Well, last night after his game (that they WON!) he was in pretty bad pain again. So, this morning I guess he decided not to be hard headed and go on to the doctor. (He didn't tell me about this until after he was already out of the doctor's office . . .) But, the doctor told him he had probably just sprang it and gave him a prescription for some anti-inflammatory meds.  He told him that he could keep playing. (Which he would have any way, I'm sure) But it's definitely a  relief that he got the all clear from the doctor.  I am so thankful that it wasn't something more serious that required surgery!

He also had the doctor check his spider bite on his leg and it looks like he may also survive that,too. They told him to just keep a watch on it.  He got the bite last Tuesday and at first it just looked like a chigger, but by Thursday it was looking much larger and different than any chigger or bug bite that I had ever seen! Jarrod got on the internet to do some research and determined that it was a spider bite, but it didn't appear that it was anything life-threatening. He had Brandye look at it when he went to the farm Saturday and she thought it was for sure a spider bite and told him to keep putting antibiotic ointment on it and watch it closely.  So, poor Jarrod had had a rather rough week!

~ Andrea's Wedding Day~

The day started pretty early (well at least for those that don't live in J-town). We met at 10am for hair & make-up at O'Haira's in Jonesboro.  I think everyone was finished and we were at the church (Central Baptist) by 3:00. From 3:00-4:30 we had pictures and some chill time before the wedding. The room they have for the bridal party rocked . . . it was so pretty and was very roomy and had lots of mirrors!

 

Andrea looked beautiful (of course!)

We (the bm's) were very concerned about our dresses catching on the aisle runner. . .but thankfully we all made it down safe and sound with out any trip-ups! The ceremony was really sweet with lots of tears and just a few interesting moments. . . like when the preacher started giving the message at the wrong time, and later when he gave the opening prayer we couldn't figure out if  he had ended the prayer or not, half the people still had there heads down in the middle of the ceremony, too funny! But hey they are officially married now, and that is all that really matters!!

The reception was at the Station and it was so nice! I loved the locale, maybe Jarrod and I will have to have our 25th wedding anniversary party there in 22 years! ha!

 

Mr. & Mrs. Chris Mackey's  first dance. . . .

Andrea & her daddy dancing. . . .

I am so happy for Andrea! She really had her fairytale wedding!

Andrea & Mackey's Wedding Rehearsal & Dinner

The wedding rehearsal went very smoothly!  We practiced walking in and out a few times and went over the ceremony order. Everything seems to be in order! Andrea seems to be pretty relaxed and at ease, Mackey however looked at little stressed! I am sure tomorrow is going to be absolutely everything they dreamed it would be. The church already looks gorgeous and I haven't seen the reception site, but they have been working on decorating that since yesterday, so I bet it will look great, too!

After the rehearsal we headed to Sheffield's for the rehearsal dinner.  We had a good time eating and catching up with friends. Andrea gave us the cutest monogrammed bags and earrings to wear tomorrow.

 

 

The Bride and Bridesmaids. . . all 9 of us!

Me, Amber S., Angela, Devin,

Ashley, TeriAnn, Tara, Brynne and Amber B.

Andrea's Lingerie Shower

Last night we had Andrea's lingerie shower at Encore, a super nice restaurant  in Memphis (it's in Peabody Place). We had reservations for the Chef's table. And Chef José Gutierrez came out to say hello! Too bad Amber, Angela and I were the only ones there! The rest of the party were an HOUR LATE!! I wasn't happy about waiting on them for an hour, but whatever.  The food was ok, I got butternut squash soup and the pork tenderloin.  The pork  would have been wonderful if it hadn't been rare! I just tried to eat around the red part! But the soup and the sauce on the pork was delish!!

  

 

Jarrod and John went along just for fun (and so Amber and I weren't out late unsupervised! ha-ha!) While we went to Andrea's thing they met up with Jeremy, Anglea's husband, and they went to eat.

 

We don't have major plans for Memorial Day, I am not working (YAY!) and Jarrod is working for my dad on the farm and then we are having some friends from church over Monday night. The next week is looking very good. There are no showers and no parties!! Whew, maybe I'm done with those for a week or two! I am glad and looking forward to relaxing a little!!!