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I found out about Pinterest early last year and after visiting the site once I was hooked. Mostly I browse pins already created by other users and occasionally pin something I see on the web. It is a fantastic tool for me as it provides inspiration in so many forms. At this point in my life I am obsessed with pinning images of home decor and DIY crafting things. But anything goes for me.  From ideas for weddings and showers to ideas for posing and lighting. Really, it’s phenomenal. There’s no need for me to go into how this thing works because it is explained so clearly on the Pinterest website.  You really have to check it out for yourself.

So, I invite you to join me on Pinterest and help inspire your creativity! And feel free to pin images of mine that you like, in fact, my jaw would hit the floor if I ever saw any of my own stuff on there.

You can see my boards here: https://pinterest.com/jconnphoto/

Now go Pin something!!!!!

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I blew the bangs out of my eyes and peered over the high stainless steel counter of the soda bar. It was hour before closing and there was only two parties in the restaurant. One of which had ordered 5-scoop sundaes all around. I sighed as I heard the doorbell indicating another customer had walked in. With my luck it was probably a late night regular who just wanted a coffee and would leave a $.25 tip. I kept scooping, feeling the the raw cold on the inside of my forearm pressing against the ice that was always built up around the cooler edge. I dipped my last scoop into the glass sundae bowl and turned. I double checked the order to make sure I was adding the right toppings and as I did I saw that the customer who had come in moments before was still waiting at the hostess podium. I glanced down at my uniform covered in fudge and sighed again. Fifty-five more minutes.

I lifted the tray of sundaes and carried them towards the hostess podium, as I hefted the tray a little higher I told the waiting customer I’d be right with him. He smiled out of the corner of his mouth and said ‘no rush’. The way he said it and the look on his face sent a flush to my cheeks. My fair skin betrayed me, and his smirk grew. I continued on, thinking I would seat him once his girlfriend arrived. After returning my tray to the kitchen I saw that the other waitress, Deb, had seated the customer in her section and was filling a glass with Coke. I nudged her and asked if his girlfriend had showed up. “Nope, he’s by himself and all he wants is a Coke.”

I returned to my station behind the soda fountain and watched him through piles of clean dinner plates. He looked about my age, with thick dark brown hair and a strong face. His sharp jawline flexed as he drank from his soda and stared at the table. Lonely, I thought. And sad. I called the other waitress over and told her to go offer him a sundae, on me. I watched as she headed over, her hands gestured and she turned and pointed at me. I ducked behind the dinner plates and peeked up again to see him shake his head. Deb headed back towards me and told me he said he was all set. All set? I thought, what the hell? I offered him a sundae and he says he’s “all set”?

As I began to wipe down the counters in preparation for closing I kept watching him. After a few minutes I headed over to his table myself. Right when I walked onto his aisle he looked up, straight into my eyes. And that’s when my stomach did that thing.  That thing that feels like you just took a nosedive down a roller coaster. I felt the flush creeping up my neck and tried to hide it with a smile. I asked him why he’d refused my sundae offer and he said he just didn’t want ice cream. But now that I was there he said maybe I should make him my favorite and bring it out. I said something bumbling and went to make his ice cream. After he’d finished the sundae and prepared to leave I went back over. The details of the conversation are a complete blur to me and I only remember asking for his phone number. He wrote it on my order pad and asked if he could call me. I told him he could reach me at the restaurant on my next shift. With shaking hands I took the paper from him and smiled. Actually, I tried to stop smiling, that dorky grin had been plastered on my face and my cheeks were starting to hurt.

He gathered his jacket and thanked me for the sundae and walked out the door. I watched him through the glass, his left shoulder dipped as he walked and he took long strides towards his car. The moment I knew he was in his car I turned on my heel and sprinted to the phone. I ripped his number out of my pocket and dialed. I tried to collect myself and breath steady when I heard a woman answer the phone. I asked for him by his full name and, of course, was told he wasn’t home. I asked if she could tell him Jessica called and she promised she would. As I placed the phone back on the received I looked at my friend Deb who stood laughing at the soda fountain. “Smooth” she said before she made some comment about young love and walked away.

It has been almost 16 years since that night. The night that taught me love at first sight really does exist. We have been together for almost 16 years, having announced ourselves ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’ on our second date, four days following the day we met and married 6 years later.

Happy Valentine’s Day my love. Here’s to many more.

P.S. – Those photo booth pictures are from the first year we met. Look how young we were!!!!

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Maybe he could tell by the tone [read: decibel] I had been using with my kids. Or maybe it was the way I wanted to pull my hair out at every piece of not-so-great news we had received in the process of buying our new home. Whatever it was, he was right. I needed some time to myself. Uninterrupted, guilt-free, time to myself.

I had asked for a copy of Exposed as a Christmas gift, in November, knowing it would sell out. Unfortunately Santa didn’t have the same foresight I did and they indeed sold out. Luckily for me Jasmine decided to order a reprint and I was able to order a copy for myself.

The next morning I slid Exposed into my bag and quietly went out the door lest my kids realize I was leaving without them. I arrived at the Barnes & Noble Starbucks cafe and looked around. The coffee was still brewing and there wasn’t a soul in sight. I was the first person in the store. Walking toward a small table at the window with the morning light slanting across the top, I put my things down and heard a cheerful “Hello.”  Within minutes I was set up with a grande breakfast blend and a toasted asiago pretzel. My heart fluttered a little as I cracked the spine of the publication but the minute I saw the first page and Jasmine’s words, I knew I was in for a treat. I looked at the newly arrived customers and held the cover up a little more to show off what I was reading.

Three hours passed and I sighed as I tucked my temporary Piggly Wiggly shoppers card into the pages to hold my place. I wanted to read it cover to cover in that three hours and I could have. But I found that after every segment I put the book down and took a few minutes to process the words and think of how her experiences applied to my own business.

As the mid-day sun glinted off the hood of my car words like “struggle, decisions, and sacrifice” appeared in my mind like words on a chalkboard. Jasmine recounts her story and makes it clear that her success didn’t happen overnight. I already know that my weakness in life has been wanted everything NOW. Actually, make that YESTERDAY. Patience has never been my virtue.

I arrived home and after doing some mommy things I put the kids down for their nap. I retrieved Exposed from my bag sat down, eager to read the second half of Jasmine’s journey. Now, two coffees, a green tea, and a chai later I finally turned the last page. And exhaled. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath, it’s not as if this was a thriller where we don’t find out who the killer is until the last minute of the movie. But it was thrilling to me. To read the success of somebody who didn’t have anything but passion and drive at the start of her business. To read the success of somebody who, in the industry, was initially a nobody and is now a name heard everywhere you turn.

At a time in my business when I am in a position of starting over, moving to a new location where nobody knows me or what I do, and my business could as easily fail as succeed, Jasmine’s story has given me hope. And inspiration. Jasmine, if you read this, thank you. Thank you for putting into words what many of us have trouble defining. Thank you for sharing your journey and opening your mind up to let us pick around at your thoughts. And most of all, thank you for never giving up.

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So let’s shake the chalk dust off our hands and catch up, shall we?

We arrived in South Carolina with a bang and attempted to settle in. We took a few trips down to Florida to play House Hunters [any HGTV fans out there? Can I get an amen for Sandra Rinomato?] and we fell in love with a house in exactly the location we wanted. I don’t know how the stars could have aligned any better. So now we wait. By spring I will be hanging up my flip flops in the Sunshine State.

In the meantime I am spending way too much time on Pinterest. Not enough time blogging, and more than enough time reading blogs I don’t need to be reading [1001 ways to cook a potato??]. I also got sucked into the abyss that is American Idol. For the past three weeks I have lost two to three hours of my life watching 35 minutes of commercials with a singer or too in between. But seriously, Steven Tyler, and JLo’s skin? How could I leave now?

So that’s where we stand. And as a complete aside I found this in my not-so-luxurious-locks yesterday. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it might be time for a haircut?

Happy Friday everyone!!!

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