Picnik Photo Editor

I recently discovered Picnik (a photo editing tool) via my Picasa photo viewer program. The basic version of Picnik lets you edit red eyes, contrast, and change your picture from color to black and white. I know, not a big deal. However, the Premium version lets you do so much more. You can use an airbrush tool, to literally make your skin look flawless (you know, like the models in the magazines). There is a teeth whitener tool, to make your teeth look like you paid way too much at the dentist office. One of my favorite tools in the premium version, is the spray on tan, to make you look less pasty white and more golden brown. Now, your next question might be, "premium usually means you have to pay instead of using the basic for free, right?" Right. Well, it used to be. I paid $25 for an annual membership to get the premium version, which has all these delightful tools.  However, good news for you! Picnik is closing, and they have decided that until April 19th, 2012 (their closing date), they will offer their premium editing tools to everyone, for free! The website is: www.picnik.com

So, go use and abuse it, edit your pictures and make them look fantastic. I used this to edit our family Christmas pictures that you see on my home page. Yep, I am airbrushed, and I like it!

As for my membership, that I had to pay for, Picnik is refunding all membership fees to everyone, even if their membership was about to expire for the year. I am sure going to miss this website, but at least I'll get my money back!

Edit away my friends, for after April you won't be able to have that golden brown tan in your pictures, and your teeth won't be as white! 

xoxo
Rachel

We all have a weakness...

I am listening to Incubus' album "Light Grenades", and the song "Dig" is playing. I am waiting for my videos to upload, so I thought I would post the lyrics to this song for you all to ponder. I found this song during my pregnancy, and it gave me the chills as I listened to the lyrics. I am reminded by this song, that we are all human, and we all have weakness'. When those we love do things we don't love, remember that we all have something that digs at us, that we are trying to overcome. Oh, and I may or may not have a major crush on Brandon Boyd (lead singer of Incubus). Have you seen his cute face? Nuff' said.

Dig Lyrics
Artist(Band):Incubus
We all have a weakness
But some of ours are easy to identify.
Look me in the eye
and ask for forgiveness;
We'll make a pact to never speak that word again.
Yes, you are my friend.

We all have something that digs at us.
At least we dig each other.
So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday.

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

We all have a sickness
That cleverly attaches and multiplies
No matter how we try.

We all have someone that digs at us.
At least we dig each other.
So when sickness turns my ego up
I know you'll act as a clever medicine.

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ohh
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.


xoxo
Rachel

Life Lessons from Jerry Maguire

Not sure if anyone knows how much I really like the movie Jerry Maguire, although it's rated "R" and has a few racy scenes, it's still my all time favorite. An old girlfriend and I used to watch it all the time, and can probably still to this day quote most of the movie. Well, I figured that there are some good "life lessons" to be learned from the movie, and I will share them with you. Beware, there is a scene where it shows some naked behinds belonging to men.... 

Lesson #1: The Things We Think, But Do Not Say (F*bomb dropped at beginning of clip)

Do not be afraid to speak up, and say what's on your mind. Confrontations- good or bad- can be hard. But if you never say what's on your mind, you then choose to carry it with you. 

Never say things you will regret later (I've learned this many times the hard way). I really like this quote by Ambrose Bierce, "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." If I had the opportunity to go back and speak without anger in some of my past conversations, I would.

Also, have you ever thought something was a really good idea at the time, but then after following through with the idea, you quickly regret doing it? I have, and that feeling of panic you get when you realize what you have done is like no other! Make good choices people!




Lesson #2 Show Me The Money!

 Never be afraid to yell, "SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!" Especially when you deserve it. 








Lesson # 3 Friends can tell eachother anything, if you have your "friends" hat on (Beginning of this clip shows naked booty)

Take responsibility for you actions, inspire people, and always play with your heart, not your head.

My favorite quote comes from this clip, " I don't wanna be friends no more!"


Always strive to be other people's "Ambassador of Quan"





 Lesson #4 Help Me, Help You

Sometimes, you just need to help others help you- Help me, help you!!! 


I am by no means perfect, and have my flaws, but thought this was a funny way to highlight my favorite movie and lessons you can learn from it! I heart Jerry Maguire!!

Secret Mommy Society

Since having Emma, I have gone through some issues that I knew nothing about... that is, until I asked an "already Mom" about it. Interesting how all of a sudden I get a plethora of information that would have been useful weeks ago! I believe there is a secret mommy society where no one really tells you all the problems you can have after becoming a new Mom. Maybe it's because there are too many things and Moms can't think of everything unless you bring it up, OR maybe Moms are keeping mum because you might not go through with pregnancy and childbirth if you really knew everything that happens to your body.  I would like to post some things that I found to be useful after the fact of going through them. This way I can't be condemned by anyone who says I didn't tell them anything. Here's a couple FYI's about pregnancy and Mommyhood (MEN, beware in advance if you read this):


After the epidural wears off is when you really realize that a baby just came out of you, because of the pain you feel. Especially if you tear down there. 


Your Uterus bleeds constantly for days after you have a baby. DAYS!! 


While your uterus is having fun bleeding, it's also shrinking, which causes some gnarly cramps, similar to cramps during your period. These cramps also come during breastfeeding. AWESOME.

You can't hold your pee in.

Babies and Mommy's can get yeast infections. Who knew that yeast grows on tongues and nipples?! You do now. 

You think that your boobs just fill up with milk and then you breastfeed? So did I. No one tells you that your  boobs turn into rock solid stones that start dripping with a drop of a hat, and if you don't get that milk out you'll seriously contemplate popping them yourself.

Your abdominal wall muscles separate to make room for your baby to grow. After you have the baby, these muscles are still separated. You'll most likely have to work out to get any kind of stomach back. Again, AWESOME.

Those are just some that I thought of right away, and I'm not trying to scare off any of my friends who haven't had babies yet. These are just some things that would have been "nice to know" before they happened, so you know that it's normal and you don't panic. Turns out new moms and babies don't know what the crap we are doing, so any info is good info!

Post Baby Fat

Can I just say, that it's hard for skinny girls (who never had to work out in the past) to have post baby fat! Is there a quick, "lose the weight in a day" miracle pill that I can take, because working out stinks. No one told me that my abdominal muscles would SEPARATE! I think there is a secret mommy society where no one really tells you anything except how wonderful motherhood is, so that you don't back out of getting pregnant. I have found out things that would have been very helpful if I would have known them SOONER!! Thanks Moms.

I found some pictures online, and thought I'd share:

Meyers and Briggs Personality Test

This is my new fascination for the month. I'm not sure if you've heard of this test, but my friend at work introduced me to it, and it's a great way to understand your significant other. It's also really great to help you with any type of relationship you have whether it's friends, parents, or kids. Here is the Wikipedia info on the background of this test:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator 

Here is the link to the test website. It's not the full test, you have to pay $30 bucks for that, but this is about 40 questions and will give you a pretty accurate result. I am an ESTJ personality type.

http://sminds.com/mbti/
(OK the link is not working, just copy and paste it and it should work)

After you take the test, it only gives you your type. You then have to google your type and see your definition. I have found that these websites give really good info:

www.personalitypage.com

www.typelogic.com

Here is my info, if you care to read:

http://www.personalitypage.com/html/ESTJ.html

So Matt and I have a lot in common, but we also do a lot of things differently. Mainly with how we operate in situations- I am a planner, and I like to check everything off my "list" so to speak. Matt is more relaxed in that aspect, and deals with things as they come. When unexpected events happen, it literally throws my universe off it's rotation. I have a hard time not getting stressed out and worried about such things. 

Example: Matt's car registration was due in November, he's had a cracked windshield that we knew we'd have to replace (I expected and planned on that- check), it was about $160 to fix. Easy, I budgeted for it, planned on the money coming out, no biggie. He takes it to get the emissions and inspections done, and turns out his wheel bearing is completely broken, and his front tires are bald. So the car failed inspection, and the guys told him it would be about $300 to fix. Awesome. Universe falling apart. He takes it to get an estimate, and his mechanic tells us it's going to be $285 and we say "ok". I mean, it has to be done, I understand that- they told him they can't believe he drove on it this long without his axle snapping and getting him into a major accident. Still- universe is crumbling. I get another call from Matt, telling me that the mechanic took his wheels off to fix the problem, and found that his brakes are metal on metal and absolutely have to be changed. Serious? So the total is now $420 and I am having a nervous breakdown and my universe has been thrown into the Netherworld. 

Now Matt, on the other hand, is frustrated as well- the situation sucks, that was our Christmas money, we had other plans for that money. He just handles it so much better than I do. I shut myself in and have a hard time getting my thoughts out, and I get really stressed out. Matt understands that it sucks, but is still Matt and can carry on.  He gets worried and stressed when he sees how bad I am handling it. After taking this test, it helped me realize what my weakness' are and the differences between us. Matt is an ESTP type, and the P at the end is what makes all the difference for us. 

This is his info on his type:

http://www.personalitypage.com/html/ESTP_car.html 

It really describes him perfectly, and helps me understand how his brain works and what he is best at. The things that come naturally for me like- planning, remembering things, focus, not getting bored with things, completing tasks- do not come naturally for him. I can't expect him to be that way, and my type even says that I expect everyone to think and act the way that I do about everything (which is so true). Matt is very relaxed and calming, which is something that I struggle with, but his personality helps me to be calm and not worry so much. So we are a very good compliment to each other, but we still have to work on getting around our personality differences. The whole thing is very interesting, and makes a lot of sense. The girl at work has figured out her kids type (she has a 2 year old and a 5 year old) and is able to parent them better because she knows their personality. 


Anyways, I wanted to share this with you in hopes you'll take the test and figure out what your type is. You will be surprised by how accurate it is. I think any way we can be better partners, friends, human beings is a great thing, and we should work on ourselves to be better people to those around us.