help me

no one is helping me with my studio name.....

i dont even care if it is alycepaige anymore...just give me some ideas please!!!

Business Minded: Part Deux

So I started this blog and left nothing but a title. So now I am back at it again to try to shed some light on the situation. So I work at the journal star, a newspaper, designing advertising for clients. It is a decent job, i get paid to sit and create all day...it is not stressful and they love me. But I dont plan on being here forever...I plan to do what I have always wanted to do and have a degree to do...photography. So recently I talked with a wedding photographer here in peoria that would pay me to go shoot weddings and then they would do all the ordering and backend part (like albums, etc). It would be a perfect job for me because as katie and becky well know....i am not so good at getting the images i take back to the client...i am quite a procrastinator (although i think money is a good motivator =))---chill out girls...you will get your pictures, eventually. Well after talking to this particular photographer, i asked to shadow him on several weddings to get a feel for how he works...and it was scheduled for this saturday. It also got cancelled, family issues, totally understandable (yet the insecure part of me thinks he is trying to avoid me and coming up with excuses to not hire me cause i am not good enough). Sandy has a friend that is also a photographer that would like some help at weddings and doing portrait work....then vanessa wants pictures, and she referred a friend of hers to have me do her wedding, and i have senior sessions for at least one person in the works and also a couple family portraits to follow up on. I am also working on a special project at work where I will be taking creative group photos at businesses for up to 80 different businesses. so I could potentially have alot of work to do. So I am doing some research on getting a website....a nice professional one, and honestly i dont know much about web design, and i think i have come to terms that it is better if someone else does it. I have a domain name, two actually(alycepaige.com, alycepaigedesign.com), and still deciding on the way i want things to look that reflect me. So I need some help....for ideas...about everything!
Names
1. AlycePaige Design
2. Alycepaige PhotoDesign
3. Alycepaige Photography
4. Alyce Paige
5. Do i even want to be alycepaige anymore?

symbols....i want to stay away from flowers (gender) but maybe stars? camera? anything unique and catchy. Can anyone help? Just to get something started....and find cool unique ideas....the photography i can do, and do it well....its the getting started stuff that just keeps me procrastinating!

HELP!
Mrs. P

Confirmed and Unconfirmed

Here is my list of CONFIRMED people...then there are the unconfirmed...if you are on the unconfirmed, please let me know one way of the other asap, cause i have 25 tickets, and 27 people on my list...
CONFIRMED
1. Chrissi Pflederer
2. Nat Pflederer
3. Amber Tillison
4. Phil Tillison
5. Cheryl Bond
6. Cindy Tucker
7. Sarah Nunery
8. Ben Nunery
9. Becky Palmieri
10. James Palmieri
11. Sarah Craynon
12. Rachel (Sarah Nunery)
13. Stephanie (Cindy Tucker)
14. Emma Gibbons
15. John "Gibbons"
16. Carol Bond
17. Kaitlyn Palmieri
18. Jimi Bird
19. Katie Bird
20. Sarah Ralston
21. Trevor--hahahah I mean, TRAVIS (Sarah Ralston)
22. Hope Yoder
23. Steve Yoder

UNCONFIRMED
24. Scotty Huston
25. Lindsay (Scotty Huston)
26. Amber's Cousin
27. Amber's Cousin
28. Chad
29. Elizabeth
so, if you are on the unconfirmed list and are definately coming, please let me know asap so I can guarantee you a ticket. If you are on the confirmed list, and things have changed, please let me know so I can fill your spot. I have not physically talked to Chad, Elizabeth, Scotty or Lindsay so please someone let me know, or have them contact me. LOVE YOU!

Thanks
Mrs. P

THE GAME IS ON!!!

So I just confirmed our order for the August 16 7:10 game of the St.Louis Cardinals vs the Cincinnati Reds...GO CARDINALS!
I chose the Sun/Moon Deck and we will hopefully get the first couple rows nearest to field (the seats are behind right field).

The tickets will be $22 each (with shipping, tax and surcharges included)...
I ordered 25 tickets and have a confirmed/tentative 24 on my list now, so we might need a couple more to come, but ill let you as I know.

YEAH!! I AM SO EXCITED!!

Mrs. P

Da Game

Ok People
I have a choice between two sets of tickets. One is for the Field Level and they are $33.00 and the other is for the Mezzannine/Sun-Moon Deck and they are $21.00. I havent been to Great American BallPark and not sure which ones are the better seats. I am getting 25 tickets all together and want to make sure I am staying roughly in everyones budget. Here is a pic of the stadium...let me know what you prefer....asap please.



I hope this helps, I think if you click on it it will enlarge for you.

Mrs. P

Reds/Cardinals

Stephanie
Katie
Jimi

Cardinals/Reds Game

Hey Everyone.
i know i sent out an email to many of you and got responses...but just wanted to put it out there once more if you would like to go to the game.
Saturday August 16
6:10 Game
St.Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds
cost: $25-40 (still waiting for final number)

If you are interested, please let me know asap.
So far I have 15 people committed to going
1. Chrissi
2. Nat
3. Amber
4. Phil
5. Cheryl
6. Cindy
7. Sarah Nunery
8. Ben Nunery
9. Becky Palmieri
10. James Palmieri
11. Sarah Craynon
12. (possibly) Amber cousin
13. (possibly) Amber cousin
14. Emma Gibbons
15. John "Gibbons"
16. (possibly) Carol
17. (possibly) Todd -- wont bring the dogs if that helps! =)
18. (possibly) Kaitlyn Palmieri

Katie? Sarah R? Abbi B? well??!?!?

I am planning on buying tickets this week...
love you all!
Mrs. P

business minded

Carol has the other one..

There are two pics of this sunset at My. Sinai....this is mine, the other is at carols blog (http://ceb2song.blogspot.com)

i love comments!!

i am a bad blog reader, cause i read but never comment, but I love it when people comment on mine, so maybe, just maybe i might change my ways...

saturday night...still in the works...carol is trying to figure out her schedule and if she is going to work in am or pm so that will determine alot and the main reason for goin to LaRosas is because she would be working....but ill keep you all updated as i know so keep checking up on it.

Mrs. P

In a distant land....

Hmm, what has happened since the last i posted? the only thing really exciting was our sister trip to egypt. We travelled the country for 17 days and saw ALOT of OLD shit! A trip like that is always welcome in my mundane world. It is a reminder of how easy we have it and how much America has to offer, not only in oppurtunities to succeed but also in its beauty and diverse attractions. We went to Sharm el Sheikh, a beautiful beach in the Red Sea...gorgeous in so many ways, and while there I realize that I travelled on 6 planes (from peoria, counting abu simbel) to get there and i was MILES from home...i thought of Florida and California...in my OWN country, I have something to offer so spectacular and yet I never take advantage of it. The trip is refreshing though, especially for my crippled self-image. Its nice to feel beautiful, even if it comes from horny egyptians!
Egypt was great, i love to experience other cultures and learn new languages. The middle east is so welcoming and friendly, especially in Egypt but 99% of the time its because they want to 1. make you their fourth wife, 2. get your into their store to buy something 3. because they are just plain friendly. I didnt meet a mean one yet! It was weird not to see very many women, but they were all at home being wives I suppose. It took me a while to get back in the groove of life, being sick didnt help and going pretty much non-stop for 2 weeks doesnt either. I think I am finally getting some energy back.
I think I got more appreciation of the trip after getting back. I sorted out my Egypt pictures and then my boss wanted me to show them to my co-workers at a pizza party. I relunctantly agreed. I worked out all my images in folders based on location and spent some time figuring out why the temple or location or person was so significant. So now i feel like I have a better understanding of where I went, what I saw and why people stand in awe of it. I have some pretty cool pictures too!

There are some for your viewing pleasure. Carol and Cheryl have been giving me a hard time because it has taken too long to get them their pictures...they should have them this week. I am planning on retouching some of them and either just printing them and framing them or making a hard bound coffeetable book. I think that would be cool to do for Israel too! I went last weekend and got some nice frames for my papyrus paintings, but now i have no idea where to put them. I have so much wall space and no idea what to do with any of it. Unfortunately I dont have a interior design bone in my body.

I have been thinking about going back to school to get my masters or my secondary teachers certificate. I am not sure what I want to do...i just figure that teaching is a perfect career for me because i love to teach others what i know, and i figure teaching graphic design or computer graphics is an up and coming teacher need. I also really like the schedule. It would give me more oppurtunity to market photography to seniors as well as getting holidays and summers off. I jsut think it would be a great mix for me. The idea keeps coming and going, the only downfall is the money aspect. I am sure that after school and getting degree that i would get a job making the same as i do now....but maybe i would enjoy it more!?!?!

I started going to a chiropractor for my back. It has been hurting me for a while but i am jsut the worlds biggest procrastinator and i keep putting it off. We now I am finally going and I feel better, although it has only been twice. I think that it will make me feel better in the long run and hopefully get rid of my headaches. I am also going to weight watchers. I was really diligent before egypt but then went i got back my buddy that goes to meetings with me was busy and then got sick and then had to have surgery so I have been on my own, and it sucks BIG TIME. She is a lot of fun and reminds me Cheryl, and we talk about the same things I would talk to Cheryl about. Hopefully she will be back on the wagon in a couple weeks, then i can show her up! I have lost a total of 11.5, which is good, but I could be doing so much better if I would jsut stay committed. We will see how it goes. I would just really like to get down to pre-marriage weight...I have gained nearly 25 pounds since i married him and 30 since i met him....that is WORSE than the FRESHMAN FIFTEEN!!

So I have started to walk the dogs. Sandy comes over sometimes to help, and granted I have only done it 3 times, its more than i would have! The girls are pretty good on leashes, except for sadie, she hates it and is constantly pulling on it. Its sorta cute and annoying all at once. Otherwise they are all really good...its good for them, cause they (ETTA ESPECIALLY) are OVERWEIGHT. Soon we will all be able to go around the block 4 times without loosing our breath!

I am trying to think of anything more interesting that has gone on in my life, and i honestly am at a loss. Life is day to day now and everything seems so mundane day after day. Jsut trying to get through without having a breakdown. Trying to figure out my life before it passes me by. Ill be 30 this year, and although i still am young and have the rest of my life in front of me, i was thinking that i would have accomplished something significant by now...and i guess I have to most, but there are goals that just never seem to get met and things i want to do that i feel like I am running out of time to get accomplished. I guess i just expected more.

So Nat is in school and working on the unfinished duplex across the street from our house that his sister bought. He will hopefully graduate from school this time next year, if everything goes as planned. The duplex is coming along well, but they still have ALOT of work to do...right now they are working on plumbing and electric, then insulation, walls, mudding, floors, painting, cabinets, doors,....i am tired jsut thinking about it. It has WAY more work to do than our house did...at least we had walls! They got a good deal on it, i jsut hope that get it done soon so that Nat will come back and finish our house! I think there will a lot of yard work in the near future. We are buying some trees with our income tax check and then we are going to work on the yard and landscaping (which i PRAY will help with the muddy floors from no grass, rain and dogs....).

Our house just need final touches...which i think is supposed to take a lifetime to finish. I would really like to get the basement done by this time next year, but I think it depends on the duplex and landscaping. I wouldnt imagine that they would start it before fall, that way boating season is over and its colder and there is really no excuse. =)
I have been trying to get outta debt, and that seems like the hardest thing to do. I am supposed to be using my check to pay off debt and I have it all figured out and how much i was paying with each paycheck and how long it would take. Unfortunately I had to revise my plan and instead of getting out of debt this year, it is going to be Jan 2010 and that is if nothing deters us. I hate/loathe/despise/abore debt...it puts such a strain on life and dreams and things you really want to do...and i know that once i get outta debt ill just use the money to buy more shit...but still....i will be out from under it. I have dreams of studio in basement with lighting equipment and tripods, backdrops and props, then dreams of furniture without teeth marks and hand-me-downs that will make our humble abode look like a house instead of a kennel. One day, my dreams will come!

Owning a house take alot of money....stay with the 'rents as LONG AS POSSIBLE!!

I havent had anything to do at work that last couple days, which makes the says DRAG on, and i would happily read blogs but there are many of you that dont write on a daily basis...you all should aspire to cindy's blogging skills! barely ever misses a day!! I am to blame as well, but life is just plain boring!

so you all should help me figure out my photography niche. Search out some really cool photoshop effects and posing and just unique ideas that no one else has really tried. I think i have a name, but give me some suggestions. I need to get my website built and get some clients under my belt and see if this photography thing will actually give me a decent salary/career...so any and all ideas are appreciated. I know Katies big idea goes something like "after taking pics of kid, show to parents within a year" sorry, babe, it doesnt help that you live in OHIO!! or rather i live in ILLINOIS....all well. when your child is 15, you may get back some baby pics!!! hahahah =)

One day I will be an award-winning photographer...ONE DAY DAMNIT!!

Id like to make the most of my trip while I am there for Becky's wedding so Cheryl and I are proposing to get a group together to go to LaRosas on Saturday night. Let me or her know if you are interested. I think it will be around 6-7pm. then possibly hanging out at cheryls after?!?!? Who knows!! LET THE NIGHT DECIDE!!

i love you all and think of you often
Mrs. P

Snow Day

Semi-Blog

hurling....as in puking in disgust

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/27/national/main1843396.shtml

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/31/national/main3438079.shtml?source=mostpop_story

wonderful

have i mentioned lately how INCREDIBLE and WONDERFUL my husband is? cause he is!

sdrawkcaB gnioG....(Going Backwards)

I know its been a long time since I have really written, but I have been sorta busy! The house is coming along very well now and things are starting to come together and get finished. It is not as overwhelming as it was a month ago, but we still have a lot of work to do.
I have been really tired lately. I get home at 5 and swear i could sleep till i had to go to work the next morning. I wish i could just shake it. I am blaming it on the house --- finally all the stress is catching up with me and my body needs to rest. I think i might be coming out of it.
I am VERY VERY VERY (times infinity) that Cheryl is coming to visit this weekend. I really need some affirmation of doing such a good job on the house that isnt coming from Nat's family, granted I LOVE Nats family....i love mine more! I also need some sister time and someone there to be with other than just Nat.
I have started making new friends. A group of girls have been going out every wednesday night and it really is awesome for me. I thrive by being around people. I am thrilled to have some girls that are my friends, by my own submission. They are a good fun group of girls and i love hanging out with them. It is very nice to have a place to go where I can learn again how to be social---i have been cooped up so long i felt like I was not only losing myself but also the confidence to be anything good for anyone else...
I have been researching a new camera. I think i have basically decided on Nikon (over Canon) but still havent narrowed down which model i want. I am thinking the new Nikon D300 or D3 (coming out brand new in November!), there is another one too but I cant remember what model it is. I am trying to stay in a reasonable price range, but I also want a significant upgrade from what I have. I am sorta jealous of Cindy's showings and stuff. She is motivating me to get back into it again. Its been a while and I am really rusty.
I have also been looking into lighting and backdrops and plan to go around Peoria looking for some cool and new places to take pictures. Maybe that will help even more to get out of this rut.
I have been wanting to go to church lately, but just havent gone. I kind of dont want to be a fraud, but then i guess we all are so it doesnt really matter. I miss HIM, my heart aches and i know he is the CURE. It is also a great place to get connected to even more people, I just dont want that to be my sole reason for going...i am sick of not being there though...i just feel so empty and need to be filled up...know what i mean?
So i have been re-evaluting myself..like a personal psycho-analysm. reflecting back on my past and where i want to go and trying to figure out why i live so much in my failures rather than turn them into something beautiful and rewarding. I struggle with 2 main things in my life that I just cant shake. They have been demons in my life for at least a decade if not more. I blame my mom for one, I blame society for the other...but really i need to blame myself for both of them. I have control over me and my actions, but addictions are tough to kick. I am determined for about 3 days then my flame fizzles out. I come up with tons of excuses why I fail...i make "valid" excuses of why I cant follow through. Then i noticed a sort of trend, not only in those 2 areas of my life, but also spilling over to everything else. A lack of confidence in my abilities to do anything successfully...continually coming up with excuses why I cant. I remember in high school, when i was playing volleyball that I would fake a pulled muscle to keep from having to run or jump or even play. I look at photography and starting a studio and i think, i need a better camera, more lighting, studio (all that before I can even go out and take random pictures)...it is really pathetic. If it wasnt for Nat, I wouldnt even have the confidence to put together a portfolio and get the job I currently have...i probably wouldnt even have looked past the IDEA of it...coming up with tons of excuses why they would never hire me....when in fact they were WAITING for me and my specific talents. funny eh? I dont want to keep myself from living anymore because of mundane excuses why something cant be done...even before I try!
I think thay may be the stem of some of my depression lately, feeling like I am letting myself go, not losing her, but not taking ownership of myself, my flaws (and rectifying them) and my talents (and expressing/using them). I guess my excuse is that i am just lazy, but doing nothing irritates me more than running around with my head cut off. I would much rather have 2 jobs and an avid social life then time to sleep or sit and do nothing or just watch tv. I am much happier that way i think. That is definately where Nat and I differ. He doesnt feel the need to make friends, have a social life or even do much of anything beyond what he is doing. I think he is just as scared as I am to change the course life has been on for so long. its scary to change....it bring about the unexpected..the unpredictable...and also the greatest rewards. Maybe I am wrong...maybe he just really is content with himself and life...i guess i am the one with all the issues...
Everyone has those days when they hate life...hate their jobs, their selves, their everything...I dont really have them very often, but i think i would like to stop...go to a beach, relax, not think about anything pressing other than the sound of the waves. It will be a long time before I get that vacation. The Egypt trip will wipe me out of all of my vacation and person days in one hit....i think i even have to take days without pay. I think it will be worth it. Nat doesnt like the idea of taking a brand new camera across the world..but isnt that the point of buying it? to use it! I think I have decided that whatever gift someone gives me should be photography related...camera, lenses, backdrops, lights, props....etc etc. It used to be like that...every christmas i just got one more big photography related item...then i graduated college and havent really got anything since. I think alot has to do with that we are all poor and photography stuff is expensive.
anyway, i should probably get back to work....as much as i truly love it...

love you alls
c.ALIce

Before/After

Office Before


Office After


Utility Room Before


Utilty Room After


Living Room Before


Living Room After


Master Bath Before


Master Bath After


Master Bedroom Before


Master Bedroom After


Dining Room Before


Dining Room After


Entry Before


Front Before


Front After


Brick Close Up



Kitchen Before


Kitchen After



Wall After


Sexy Husband

home sweet home

so its been a LONG time since i have been on my blog, more or less written anything. Here is the update: we finally got our house and we have been working on it non-stop really since we signed! Today our kitchen cabinets started being installed and hopefully by the end of the week we will have all the hardwood installed and most everything outside (siding and brick and gutters, etc) -- this has really been the first day i have not had to do anything on the house and i am so tired...except i need to get an album done and i am REALLY procrastinating. But i think i deserve a break...i am going to take some more pictures and download them later (before and after) so you can see what we have done!

i guess ill write more later cause i am tired and dont really have much more to say...

c.ALIce

update

I am so tired of making decisions, or even the thinking about making decisions. I tihnk that this house is going to be a money pit and we are going to spend more on it than we can afford, but Nat is confident we will be ok...i am just a worry-wart. I keep trying to convince myself to not worry, but its inevitable.
Egypt is a go, which is awesome...the tickets are purchased and i am looking forward to harnessing some photography skills before I go so I can take some spectacular photos...I am not sure I will have time with all the house stuff though. Alhtough in this house i can envision my "studio" and even a darkroom (that is if Nat can sacrifice some of the basement for me! Photography is an expensive business, and I need to go to more seminars to catch up with all the technology.
Tomorrow we are going to have a spa day, something we cant really afford (topic of choice today) but something we deserve for all our hard work on the old house, and i suppose preparation for all the hard work on the new house. We are supposed to sign for both of them on the 30th of July. Nat wants to move everything into the new house i suppose in the back bedrooms, and then live with his dad for a week (but i estimate longer). No big problem with that expect for the dogs...its one thing to tear my house up with dog claws and hairiness, but it is something totally different is destroying someone elses house...i just dont think its a smart idea, and if something happens, it will never be lived down. Not to mention he has fairly brand new hardwood floors....i just think we spend that one week in our house (since we really have till the end of August) and not rush everything so much, cause we really have no control over other people.
I have been feeling like shit lately. I have been overly tired and stressed out. I just want to crawl under a rock and die. I am dealing with many issues, other than just the house. that is just a small peice of that thoughts go through my head. I am just in a hard place right now.
I have finally finished retouching the Burchett reunion and next hopefully will be Katie and Olivia. All i need to do now is order them--that should only take a couple hours, to check and recheck to make sure i ordered them all. I also need to burn the DVDs...I also have projects from Ona and trying to get the business together...and passport and oh God, i am just stressing myself out!!
I just thought i would give an update and hopefully get some friendly encouragment!

Love ya
c.ALIce

oh yeah, to get an idea of the house we are buying, pics are here: http://chrissialice.blogspot.com