Goforth Family Pictures...

....are up! Check them out here!

Magic...

I rarely ever blog about my full time job. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I spend an average of 55 hours a week working, so when I have the time to talk about anything else, I try to take it. But today, I discovered something that saved me (and our business) nearly a thousand dollars and I had to share.

I work as a project manager for a construction firm. I spend most of my day putting together estimates, managing jobs, and trying to sort through problems on job sites. A couple of weeks ago, we were released on an extensive paint job in an East Memphis office. Unfortunately, one of our painters left a paint can on the plastic laminate countertop overnight. When the tenant discovered it, she picked it up, and realized it had left a huge ring on top of the counter.

Our painter went back to the job, and tried to get it off. He tried soap and water, alcohol, paint thinner... it wouldn't come off! At that point, I had no choice but to insist we replace the countertop. I called our millwork subcontractor to see if he could give me a quote.

He said, "Sure! I'd be happy to, but first- do you know if your painter tried a magic eraser?"

Me: "A Magic What?"

Him: "A Magic Eraser... you know, the things you buy in the cleaning section of your grocery store."

Me: "He tried quite a bit of stuff... and it's been there for more than a week. I can't imagine anything from the grocery store would work at this point."

Him: "If I were you, I would at least spend the 3 dollars. It can't hurt. If that doesn't work, I'd be happy to replace the countertop."

I guess you can see where this is going. IT WORKED!

As I've mentioned PLENTY of times before, I will not EVER claim to be a cleaning consultant... but I promise you, I've never seen anything like this!!!

I've been talking about the magic eraser all day. On average, 4 out of every 5 people I've told about it today already know about it. Apparently, there are all these people out there with stain-free countertops keeping the secret to themselves! But if you are like me, and have been living in a cave for the past year and a half, do yourself a favor and spend the $2.74." It's worth it!

P.S. Jennifer... these are the things you are supposed to be telling me about (I'll be taking this up with you later)! :)

Date Night...

I'm going on a date with my husband tonight and we're trying to decide on the following movies. Any suggestions?

Zeke is TWO!!!!

This handsome little man is turning TWO today!! I swear, it feels like we were at the hospital waiting for him to arrive just a few months ago. Zeke, I know we can't be there to help you celebrate, but we want you to know you're in our thoughts every day... but especially TODAY on your special day. We miss you and love you so much!!!

Happy 2nd birthday!!!!!!!

Pictures...

I've finally had a chance to edit most of the pictures from my photo shoots in Paris, TN. While I'm still putting the finishing touches on some of the shoots, I've got some pictures from each photo shoot on my photography blog. You can check them all out here.

Gardening Roller Coaster

I have a love-hate relationship with my garden. Most days, when I drive by and see how the weeds that I just pulled have somehow managed to grow tall again, I hate it. But other days, when I see the growth that has occured without me even noticing it, I love it.

Today, I got SOOOOO excited when I came home and found this growing in my garden!


I was told if you thump it and it sounds hollow, then it is ready to be picked. So, I thumped, it sounded it hollow, and we picked. I was like a little kid dancing around on Christmas Day... until I cut into it. I've got several more watermelons on the vine.. can anyone tell me how you tell when it is ready to eat? Excuse the poor quality of these pictures- they were taken with my cell phone.

5 photoshoots, 5 states, 1 weekend

This weekend was one of those amazingly wonderful, but hectic weekends that will most likely take me days to recover from... but it was worth every second of it.

Friday night, Tori, Mom, and I drove down to Paris, TN where my sister-in-law had scheduled me FIVE photoshoots for Saturday. We spent the night with Fred, Jennifer, Jack, and Clayton. We played the Wii, watched Friends reruns until we passed out, and enjoyed all the finest foods Paris had to offer. The best part of my visit... I woke up on both Saturday and Sunday morning with two incredibly sweet boys climbing into bed to cuddle! My nephews have a special way of melting my heart!

Saturday evening, Zach met us in Paris, so he could hang out with the boys while I finished up my photoshoots.

Sunday, Zach and I woke up and headed to Missouri... where we were finally able to spend some time with Sydney. Zach and I needed the time together, as well. We spent most of the trip laughing about the madness of our lives. On our way to Cape Girardeau from Paris... we realized our trip sent us through FIVE states (Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and then Arkansas-on the way home-). It was SOOO nice to spend some one-on-one time with my beautiful hubby. I love you, baby. :)

Sydney recently turned six, and this was our first time to be able to celebrate her birthday. We bought her a couple of small gifts before we visited.. and then took her on a shopping spree to spend her birthday money. Next, we ate Mexican food, enjoyed a cookie cake and had the waiters and waitresses sing Happy Birthday to her in Spanish. She informed us, that's how Dora does it! After that, it was getting cold outside and the stores were closing, but we weren't ready to leave. We took Syd to Target, where she picked out the DVD "The Parent Trap." We decided to pile into the back of our little cobalt with the laptop and watch the movie until Sydney had to go to bed. Hopefully, she'll be able to finish it tonight. I LOVE THIS GIRL!!!

I didn't get any pictures from this trip, so I have none to post. I'll hopefully do better next time.

I'll be editing pictures for the next week... in hopes of getting caught up. Look for pictures from my Paris sessions soon!!

Last night, at the craziest, most unexpected moment... someone shared the following bible verses with me. What they didn't know is what has been happening in the lives of Zach and me. What they didn't know is that I've been praying for God to bring me some clarity and wisdom. What they didn't know is that I've been praying for comfort. These words were EXACTLY what I'd been asking God for. I love how God will use a committee meeting to speak through his people.

This verse hit me in such a powerful way... I thought I'd pass it along in case someone else could use a reminder that God is still here with us, renewing us,... no matter how hard things may seem.

2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-18

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Paris, Here We Come!

This picture was taken the last time Tori and I were in Paris, TN (Home of the World's Biggest Fish Fry). Tomorrow, Tori and I will head to Paris for a weekend FILLED with photo shoots (and hopefully catfish)... 5 to be exact... all in one day!! Tori will be my assistant for the weekend, meaning we will have a weekend filled with giggly car rides, sleepovers, and sisterly fun!

Paris ladies, I'm SOOO excited about meeting those of you I don't already know! I hope you're as excited as we are!

Spreading the Joy...

I am one of those people who always seems to park my car the wrong way at the gas pump. Maybe it's because Zach's gas tank is on a different side of the car than mine, but I can never seem to remember. In fact, last October, after I wrecked my car, I had to drive a rental. I actually drove up to the pump, rolled down my window, and asked someone which side my gas tank was on because I was too lazy to get out of the car and look myself.

A couple of months ago, I learned I've been wasting a LOT of time. I was completely unaware that most cars TELL you which side the gas tank is on without ever having to get out of the vehicle.

I'm perfectly aware that I may be one of the only people left who didn't already know this, but just in case... I thought I would spread the joy to hopefully a couple of people who have been having the same problem as me. In "most" cars, all you have to do is just look for the arrow next to your gas meter on the inside of your car. Pretty Cool!

The Owings Family

This weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing an amazing family with two wonderful children. You can see much more of the Owings photoshoot by clicking here.

For pictures from quite possibly my favorite photoshoot yet, click here.

As Promised....

The rest of the Alabama pictures! Enjoy, Irene!

The family picture (Zach's mom in the center, with Zach's two brothers, sister and grandparents)... Don't judge me for the crookedness of the picture- we were on a hill. :)

I can only imagine these four were a handful growing up.

My sweet angel-faced niece..

Zach and Josh on Guntersville Lake with the dogs...

Over-exposed, I know- but I had to include a picture of Zach's dad!

These are the incredibly frightening pitbulls I'm always telling people about. I swear, I have nightmares about these dogs at night.

More Bama

I promised my mom-in-law I'd have all my pictures from Alabama up and running sometime soon. I hope to have those posted on this blog later tonight. In the meantime, you can check out a few of the others here.

Roll Tide, Roll!

Last night, we enjoyed a home-cooked meal of fried pork chops, crowder peas, pinto beans, corn bread, fried potatoes, fried okra, and fresh-sliced tomatoes... a clear sign that we're in Alabama!!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Guntersville, AL, it is a small town that sits in a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by a GORGEOUS lake- a lake that is surrounded by mountains. It's quite possibly one of my favorite places in the south... and I'm just lucky enough to have a husband who grew up here. We brought Bear and Bryant down here for their first Bama visit! They are LOVING the water!! I think they also loved the incredible Bama opener against the Clemson Tigers Saturday night! I'm sure Zach will post more about that later on his blog. Needless to say, spirits are up around here!

I've also had a chance to get a few pictures of the family. I'm posting a little teaser below of our niece and nephew, Emeron and Kaya. I'll have many more pictures later, but right now- we're headed out for a labor day lunch of ribs, bbq, and more pinto beans. :)

Every now and then, I'm able to snap a picture that captures each personality so well. This one is a P-E-R-F-E-C-T example.