Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Another way to help :::

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Another easy way to help save lives::: Text HAITI to 90999 and $10 will go to Red Cross ($10 will post on your cell phone bill).

Haiti needs us.... they need YOU.

I am so saddened to hear the news of devastation in Haiti as a result of the earthquake. I spent over an hour looking at the different options for donating money to support the relief efforts-- I didn't know which organization could help the most... and then I heard on the radio that they needed medical assistance more than anything... and they needed it "NOW."

The Red Cross website says,
“As with most earthquakes, we expect to see immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support.”

Remember that even the smallest amount can help... it's hard to imagine that even $5 could help save a life... but it could. Even before the earthquake, 73% of Haitians do not have access to uncontaminated drinking water, and I can imagine getting access now is almost impossible with the roads filled with rubble, and people dealing with injuries. And, most of these people are not trained in even basic medical assistance... so we need to help them immediately...

My friend Anders mentions that they will also need donated blood.

I encourage you to donate blood and/or to one of the listed organizations here, as soon as possible-- and encourage others to do the same!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34835478/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/?ns=world_news-americas


(If you are not sure which one to give to, the American Red Cross is a good one. http://www.redcross.org/ (Red button on top right-- "DONATE NOW.")


A photographer over there, Daniel Morel, is documenting exactly why they need our help....
Share photos on twitter with Twitpic

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

NEW WEBSITE!!! :)

I am so excited to announce that my NEW WEBSITE is completed!!!!

Take a looksie;)
http://gingermurrayphotography.com

Saturday, January 9, 2010

*Giggle*




Rachel and Butchy are getting married in March, so they needed to get their invites started this weekend. I edited up just a few of the images from their session so they could choose one to send with the invite. I selected a variety of poses, and I put this goofy one in too... in case they wanted to go the cute and silly route. This makes me giggle. They are way too cute and have far too much fun together!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Minneapolis St. Paul Weddings::: The Bridal Party



I will be at the Bridal Party wedding fair this coming Sunday at the Minneapolis Depot. The show starts at 10:30 - 4pm. Come say hello!





Click HERE to go to MSP's website for more info.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Short-Term, Personal Goals

Setting goals for oneself is an interesting thing to do.

Why do we set goals?
So that we can achieve them.

But the reasons for achieving each goal is sometimes different.

It is good to set goals that are reachable. It is good to set goals that have steps (if it's a complicated goal).It is good to set goals, period.

Goal setting has made me a better person... stronger, more confident, more successful in life...

I'd like to share with you my personal goals for January through March!
(Because while I'd love to set lots of goals for this year... let's be honest, most people, including myself, might put those goals off, OR, time would just fly by, and all of a sudden it's New Year's Eve 2010, and I'd realize, "Wow, I didn't achieve those goals!)

Goals for January 7th through March 31st (in no particular order) :

1) Get back on a normal sleep schedule.
Now, this is a toughie for me. Because I am now in the off-season, my schedule is super messed up. I have a busy brain in the evening, and a difficult time waking up in the morning -- this is how it's always been with me. So, I always try to use coping strategies. However, these coping strategies become less effective when I have nothing important to get up for! All I have to do, most mornings, is get up, and go into the next room to my computer. Days that i have something going on (like say, a wedding!), I have no trouble getting up... because when I wake up, my brain is stimulated and thinking about the day, and that i have to be there at a certain time. Also, Aaron can help wake me up. And, on wedding days, Steph and I usually text each other to make sure we're both up. And I set lots of alarms. But, on weekdays, I have nowhere I need to be early in the AM. And so as it goes, I go to bed early in the AM, and wake up 8 hours later. SO, I'm always getting enough sleep, but it's not on a "normal" schedule. Now, don't think I haven't tried to fix this... Oh, I have. Trust me. Anything you name, I've tried it(I have had very off schedules off and on for 2 1/2 years). But, I feel that actually having a goal might be a motivation that my brain needs in the AM to click on, and in the PM to force myself to wind down. So, that's goal #1. And by this, I mean, going to bed by 2am, and waking up by 10:30am. Of course I'd like to even adjust that schedule, but I think that's where I'll start.

2) Schedule a Lasik exam.
This scares the poo out of me, but that's exactly why I need to do it. My contacts have been driving me nuts for over a year(yes, I have tried different contacts), and I'm sick of worrying about contacts, or having to wear my glasses because my eyes are too tired for contacts. And, this might sound funny, but I feel like on the days that I don't have anywhere to be and still want to get up at a decent hour, actually being able to SEE the alarm clock and be aware of what time it is when I hit my snooze button might help me reach goal #1. (Seriously.)

3) Workout at the gym every 10 days.

Sounds like I could to better, right? Well, I'm starting with this goal. I still do some exercises at home, too. But once this is consistent, I will set it to a higher frequency.

4) Create one new recipe every 10 days.
This is something I've wanted to do for awhile... and I feel like a bad wife sometimes, because I am so busy working, so I make some weak sauce food. My husband is not picky, which is great. However, I want to be able to have lots of recipes under my belt so that we can have more variety, so that I can be more confident in the kitchen, and so I can create different things for guests, as well!



That's what I got for now... I'll keep you updated on how this goes;)