the challenge

quite a few of my favorite real life/blogger friends have partaken in a little blog challenge recently. i have thoroughly enjoyed reading their responses & viewing their pictures.
so, you see, since marli, cortney, miyan and marcy have all shared themselves through this challenge, i thought i should attempt it as well.

10 ten secrets

1. i still sleep with a stuffed bunny and a blanket from childhood; nes and gankie. (i know, poor zach)

2. my sister had a gankie of her own when we were little, and considering she was 5 years older than me hers always looked so much more worn and cozy. therefore, i once took a pair of siccors and cut little holes in my gankie in attempt to achieve the 'worn and cozy' look. i still feel guilty about doing that, and needless to say those little holes are much, much, larger now.

3. i always skip the first and take the second. for example, when getting a cup for a fountain drink or a gallon of milk from the shelf, i remove the first one, take the second, and put the first one back.

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4. i sometimes secretly wish i lived on a large farm out in the middle of nowhere

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5. i am in a constant mental battle with myself between spending money and saving it. attempting to save it usually wins which creates the worry that i am missing out on something or some place.

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6. when i was little i always played with my uncle's crutches and put paper clips across my teeth, ridiculously wishing i would one day have my own crutches and real braces. both of which i eventually had, and hated.

7. i put lip gloss in my sister's hair brush.

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8. my biggest regret to date is giving up on soccer.

9. i want to compete in mtv's the challenge, and kick ass.

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10. growing up i always wanted my name to be jennifer, and for people to affectionately call me jen.

what are your 10 secrets?

beautifully imperfect

i had a good cry today, at my desk, during my lunch break. this isn't the first time this has happened.
there are rare days in which i am the only one in the office during lunch. on these days i get the opportunity to explore the blog world while at work. often times tears appear as i read some of my favorite, most sentimental, writers.
today, kind over matter presented a beautiful video and quote.
it got to me. visit kind over matter to view the video, it will make you want to go hug someone you love.

"you come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly"

~Sam Keen

my weekend picture book

here is the story of my weekend, in pictures.
we stayed in on friday. the husband had to work all weekend. staying in meant we were able to enjoy a dinner of the freshest of vegetables straight from our garden.
these huge zucchinis were hiding beneath their large leaves, and were thoroughly enjoyed once found.


we also found that our watermelon vine is currently growing the cutest little melon!

i woke up bright and early saturday to get in an a.m. yoga class and followed it up by walking over to our neighborhood market. it was there that i found, and purchased, the most wonderfully scented lavender lotion.

my sister took her oldest on a date to the movies and left me and this precious guy to our own. we cuddled, talked, watched a world cup game and had a photo shoot.

oh, and "he" found the cutest outfit to wear.

we went to dinner with one of my besties at her & her husband's pizza joint where it just so happens that another of my besties works.

as usual we found ourselves enjoying the best bbq chicken pizza in town!

in these parts we are pretty excited about a neighborhood beer garden that is soon to open. on sunday we enjoyed an open-house at 'goodfriends beer garden' where we found free beer and neighborhood friends.



needless to say it was quite an enjoyable summer weekend!

published

exciting news:

D Home Magazine chose to spotlight my father and our company in their latest issue!
over the past month D Magazine has contacted us, asking my dad numerous intriguing questions and explaining their concept for a photo shoot.
my dad spoke expertly of his years of working, and proudly of his family for carrying on the business. i was again reminded of how important my job is and of the passion i have for it. we have seen plenty ups and downs over the years, but continuing and succeeding in carrying on a family's vision and upholding such standards is truly something to be proud of.

D Magazine challenged my father to paint a shirt to match a wall finish.

here is the before:

and after:

excerpts:
D Home: Martin Brothers Painting was the Rolls-Royce of painting companies in Dallas for a long time. When did it start?
Barry Martin: My father J.C. and his brother Lester started the company in 1949. I became a partner and purchased Barry A. Martin Painting Contractors in 1996.
D Home: Is Barry A. Martin Painting still a family affair?
Barry Martin: More than ever. My mother and father still come to the office every day, and both my daughters and son-in-laws are involved in the business. It's all hands on deck!

so proud!