Friday, February 25, 2011

American Idol Predictions

This is Erin. Here are my AI predictions for this year in writing.

My favorite girl is Lauren Alaina, and my favorite boy is Tim Halperin. I remember his name because it sounds like Jim Halpert.

Anyway, one of them will win. I hope most that it's Tim, but Lauren is so dang good!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

New Things!

First new thing that I need to get out there is this blog design. I've probably been driving all of you crazy because I've been changing it constantly. I couldn't ever find one that I liked enough, but I think I've got it nailed down now. The current one should be around for a while because I actually like it!

Next new thing is that I joined Twitter!! I did it to follow my favorite celebrities. I know that might sound really lame, but then hey, I'm lame. It makes me feel like I'm friends with them. Ha! I really am a loser. Follow me @erinstapleton.

Okay so the REAL new thing that I wanted to write about is my new job!! For any of you that work for Innerface that may be reading this, don't worry, I'm still keeping that job. This is more of a laid back, work when I can, type of job. And I'm SUPER excited about it! So here's the deal, I am going to be an Account Executive for a photography company. They're called Sevan (pronounced 7). It's a really cool company with photographers in NY, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. They're all about creating relationships with their clients and really getting to know them. That way they can make sure to capture the unique aspects of a person, couple, or event. They like to use the term "photojournalism" because the photographers strive to tell stories with their shots. It's a really cool company with a great attitude and some amazing talent! My job as an Account Executive will be to find clients and take them along in the process of choosing the photographer, getting to know them and their personalities, and making sure they are getting everything they want out of their photos. Like I said before, I'm really excited about it! I think it'll be a great start to my dream of working with weddings. The hard part is going to be finding clients. That's part of my job. That's where all of you can help me, too!! Sevan does any type of event or portrait session you'd like photographed. If you know of anyone that is pregnant, engaged, getting engaged, having an event, is a model, or just wants anything photographed, please give them my email address: erin@sevangroup.com. I will need to do a lot of spreading the word to get the client base built up!

You can take a look at some of what they do at www.sevanphotography.com, www.sevanweddings.com, or at their blog at www.thesevanblog.com.

-Erin

Monday, February 21, 2011

My Oscar Review

So since the Oscars are coming up this weekend, I've been trying to see as many of the "Best Movie" flicks that are nominated as possible. I LOVE awards season, and obviously the Oscars are the best. There are always so many movies that are nominted that I haven't seen and then I just get mad when they win. Ha! So I have been trying to see the ones that at least seem somewhat interesting to me. So here are my thoughts thusfar:

The Social Network:
Pretty good. It keeps you hanging on throughout the whole movie. I felt like it was really well made that way... keeping you holding on for what would happen next. I think the guy who plays Mark Zuckerburg was really good, and the friend was pretty good, too. I don't really see why he (the friend) is nominated for an award, though. I mean, good acting for sure, but what stood out over other actors in other movies? I'm not sure.

Toy Story 3:
I mean this is an obvious favorite. Made me cry... sob actually. Can't beat a Disney/Pixar movie. Especially a Toy Story movie. Brilliant.

The Kids Are All Right:
Not my favoriate, at all. I think it was an alright message in the end (marriage is hard, so work at it... at least that's the message I got), but it just didn't keep me intrigued throughout the whole film. Too much sex. I don't really like movies that show the act of sex all the much because I feel like you can get the point across that sex is about to happen without actually showing sex. If I wanted to watch that, I'd watch that. But I don't. Anyway, not very good. And I definitely don't get why Mark Ruffalo is nominated for anything, but whatev.

The Fighter:
I liked it. Not my favorite movie ever, but entertaining. It's pretty predictable, but it's funny throughout and shows real issues. I know they're saying Christian Bale is going to win for Best Supporting Actor, and I can definitely see why. He did a really good job playing a crack addict. They should have had Charlie Sheen play the role. He would have DEFINITELY won!

Inception:
Really good. It's crazy to me that someone could come up with a story like that in their own head. Keeps you guessing and wanting more. I think Leo should have definitely been nominated, and the movie in general should have also been nominated for a ton more awards. I hope they don't get snubbed, but I don't think it'll be winning Best Movie.

I have saved my favorite for last...

The King's Speech:
SO SO SO good! It's funny, sad, and makes you cry! It's so well done, and so well acted, and by far my favorite. I am voting for this one to win Best Movie and Best Actor for sure. I think Geoffery Rush should win for Best Supporting Actor, too, but they'll give it to Bale. It's a must-see even if you don't care about the Oscars!

I don't want to see Blank Swan, but Natalie Portman is my pick for Best Acress because even from the previews I can tell it would a hard role to play. I also don't have a real desire to see 127 Hours, True Grit, and I have no idea what Winter's Bone is about. I guess we'll see what happens on Sunday!

Happy Oscars everyone!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Valentine's Day

**A warning to all... this post will be cheesy, lovey, and may make you want to throw up. If you're not up for that, do not continue reading. It's also more so that I can remember what we did on our first married Valentine's Day when I read it again in the future.

So I would say that in the past, Valentine's Day has not ever been a day to dread (whether or not I've been in a relationship) or the best day of the year. I have always enjoyed it, however. I really like that there's a day to celebrate love! I know that every day is a day to celebrate love, but why not appreciate a day that is made for it?!

So I decided that I was going to get Trent a bunch of stuff he loves, and add a few things I thought he'd like. I bought him a big "tub" (that's what I call it) that holds drinks for when people come over to hold all the little things I got him. I decided boys don't have a use for baskets so I'd get something useful. Then I got him some Scottish foods that he's always had growing up, a way cool mug with chalkboard on the front, and then a teapot! He has been making empty pots of coffee to use hot water for tea. So in the morning before I left, I put the basket together and placed it on the kitchen table for him to find and enjoy after he woke up in the morning. I thought I was so cool and sweet. HA! I then went to work feeling content.

My gift, however, was super lame compared to what Trent did for me. The first romantic thing he did was send flowers and chocolate to my work. It was a way cool flower arrangement inside a Hershey Kiss shaped bowl (the top lid part was off and the flowers were put inside) and a box of Hershey Kisses. I put a picture below (minus the chocolate). All the ladies at work told me Trent sent me flowers at work because it was our first year of marriage and that would change after a lot of years! haha hopefully they're wrong!



So then when I got home from work I walked into a kitchen that smelled delicious! Trent was cooking me a homemade dinner! For those of you who know that he does that often, this time was different. He made lasagna from scratch (everything but the noodles), including the sauce! He also made Foccacia bread from scratch (not in a bread maker), and a yummy white chocolate fondue with TONS of dipping goodies! On the table were three vases full of flowers. The roses on the left were from Trent, the flowers in the middle vase were actually from Trent the week before (that he got me for no specific reason) and were still pretty, and then he sent the tulips in the right vase as though they were from Ellie and Yozh. The card said "To the Greatest Mom in the World" from Ellie and Yozh. How sweet!



So right after I walked in the door, Trent told me to go upstairs and take a bubble bath that was already full and waiting for me. It was SO nice! I love our bathtub but rarely take baths. Trent finished cooking while I took a nice relaxing bath. He also had MORE flowers in square vases around the bathtub. So sweet! I couldn't stop smiling!



After my bath we ate the delicious homemade dinner and Trent watched a chick flick with me! This rarely happens so it was a special treat for me! It was such a great Valentine's Day and I have a such a sweet and romantic husband! I am so thankful for him and hope that everyone else had a wonderful Valentine's Day, too! I LOVE YOU!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

My New Desk Accessories!

These are my new desk accessories! How cool am I?? ha! I bought the shopping cart at www.worldmarket.com (thanks to Ashlyn for pointing me in the right direction), and the mini cooler holds one can of Coke perfectly! My brother and sister-in-law got it for me for Christmas!
These things make me smile while I sit at my desk all day at work :)

-Erin