Wednesday, July 11, 2012

The Time Has Come, My Peeps... The Time Has Come...

Yes, the time has come, my friends.

All of my ducks are quacking in chorus as they stand in a row.... I think. No, I hope.

Can you hear them?

With all the glorious chaos in my life, I would like to think that this blog is the one thing I do have control of. Instead of lolly gagging around and keep putting this switch off, I'm just ripping off the band-aid.

Today I will be changing blog publishing services.... there I said it, now I HAVE to see it through to fruition.

This translates into AMAZING new developments that I am VERY excited about!

You will find on the new (but same) blog: user-friendlier functions (is user-friendlier the correct grammar usage?), a more streamlined look, an easier email subscription service, some SWEET new posts that I have been working on, the launch of my photography business that I have decided to just jump on in the deep end head first, the series of the Photography Workshop I have been working ever so diligently on, very cool new blog posts, product reviews, and much much more!

Since I don't want to confuse everyone and have new post flying all over the place, I am going to take a short break from posting.

I hope to have everything back up and running within a week. I think. No, I hope.

I am super duper (yes, I just said supper duper) excited about all the new changes that I can hardly wait to launch it!

I don't want to rush things because I want it to be done right and done beautifully, though!

So folks, I hope I make it to the other side! More than that, I hope to greet you at the blog door and say, "Welcome back, blog peep of mine!"

Stick with me! Trust in your girl and pray that this process will be as seamless as possible.

The blog will continue to be at the same place, www.lifeaskaciknowsit.com but the little oompa loompas behind the scenes are getting an upgrade to cooler, more hip and rock n roll oompa loompas. Think of them going through "Cool Camp".

Here goes nothing!

Peace, love and blogging!!!

xoxo
-Kaci

Friday, July 6, 2012

Palm Reader

A friend at work found this cool Palm Reading Boot App and we have had alot of fun seeing what our hands say about our personalities.

Do you ever think that you leave evidence of your true self and personality on your body such as the lines on your hand? Kind of like invisible tattoos.... Cool!

I could get into a very deep and complicated explanation for what I think about this but I will spare you from having to remove me from your email subscription list.

So here is what my hands say about me. It's pretty wicked how accurate it is.

What does your hands say about you?

True

Hmmm. Mixed feelings about this one.

Good to know.

I would think that I am.

I try at least.

ooooooo!!! Exciting!

Hahahah! Duh!

gre·gar·i·ous/griˈge(ə)rēəs/

Adjective:
  1. (of a person) Fond of company; sociable.
  2. (of animals) Living in flocks or loosely organized communities

I'm trying really hard to dig it out of myself.

I can see that.

ok.

Truth hurts.

Hahaha! I am?
Why do you think that? How did you
come to that conclusion? Did I do something
to make you think that?
Very spiritual.
I'm sure about this one.
Absolutely. Remember my post about my hidden hippy?
Kinda sorta.
Is it funny to you that the middle
 finger indicates
 this, or is just me?
I've been known to.
I ALWAYS trust my intuition. My
intuition tends to predict what will
happen. It gets scary at times.
I don't know if I'm talented at multiple
things but I do know that I DO multiple
things AT ALL TIMES. I can't help it.
If I don't have a million things going on
at once, I get bored.

Totally true. My soul needs to move constantly!





Thursday, July 5, 2012

My Baby Isn't A Baby Anymore...

My baby... I mean my almost 2 year old, Blaze is growing into an adult right before my eyes.

Where did my baby that fed every 2 hours, could cook up the most horrendous diapers, and that would snuggle up to me while sleeping and never wiggle go?

My baby... I mean, Blaze now won't touch any food that resembles the texture of baby food, is trying his hardest to convince me he can drink from a glass, talking up a storm, has had 4 haircuts and is developing his sweet but sometimes touchy personality.

For me, since I have gotten into photography, I am so sad to say that I have neglected snapping pictures of my own child. I am missing out on so many wonderful opportunities... if he stays still long enough for me to take a picture that is.

This Sunday when Clint came home from a horseshow in Tulsa, he decided that it was time for Blaze's summer haircut. You know, so the dudes can be low maintenance and cooler while they work during the hot summer.

Clint has given Blaze all of his haircuts and I do not dare take him to a barber. Clint thinks that it's a Daddy's job to fix his boy's do.

With every swipe of the clippers, I realized more and more that I don't have a baby anymore... I now have a boy. A crazy, dare-devil, accident prone, dirt lovin' little boy.

Here are a few pictures that I snapped. Don't you just want to eat him up???

Blaze showing off his new do.
Please ignore the scrape on his head...
and his bare feet...
and the ketchup on his face...
and the fact that he doesn't have a shirt on.

He's trying to tell me to hop in the passenger
seat. He doesn't realize "hop" is not in my
 vocabulary anymore.

Blaze loves riding horses. This is his attempt
 of saying "cheese". It sounds just like "shoes". I just love
Clint's expression. If that's not love and adoration, I don't
know what is.

This is our life in a nutshell. Dirt. Boots. Jeans.
Horses. Dogs. Baseball caps. Snacks.

This is my little "Sarge" overseeing
the dirty work.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Stockyards Mini Sessions

As some of you may know, I have opened up photography sessions to others.

On Saturday July 21, 2012 I will be doing mini sessions in the Fort Worth Stockyards to those interested.

Email me at kacijohnsonphotography@live.com with questions and to reserve your spot!

Boot Camp & An It Works Body Wrap Giveaway [Winner Announced]

AND THE WINNER IS........

Entry #2 Jessi W.

Jessi Email me at lifeaskaciknowsit@gmail.com to claim your prize!!!



I talk alot of crap about my plans to lose weight and get my body back. I have indeed belly ached and sulked about it for almost 2 years now. Yes, I will have a 2 year old in less than 3 months...

Where has the time gone? I have no clue.

Where has my fat gone? NO WHERE!...... Wait just a minute, let's back that last sentence up just a little bit... Let's try that again.

Where has my fat gone? Where in the world has that fluffy, yellow, clumpy fat gone?????? Well I do know where 13 pounds of it went! OFF OF MY BODY!!!! Oh yeah! Mama is getting in shape!!! I've got a ways to go but I'll take 13 pounds ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

I have refrained from blogging about my little feat because I have noticed a pattern about myself. I have noticed that as soon as I talk out my butt and make these huge and ridiculous life changing promises, it makes me not want to do it anymore. Then I just end up answering awkward moment questions like, "How is your diet going?"

I'm kind of like Ricky Bobby's dad in "Talladega Nights". As soon as something starts to go right, I bail. It's a character defect that I'm trying my hardest to correct.

Another thing I have realized about myself is that as soon as I make something a habit, I can't shake it. So all it takes is for me to get over the hump of something being hard (dieting and exercise) and then it is smooth sailing from there.

Thanks to Fun Girl Fitness and It Works Body Wraps I have flushed 13 whole pounds down the drain.

Let me tell you one thing, it has NOT been easy... at all! I wake my lazy self up 3 days a week at 4:30 AM..... Yes, there is more than one 4:30 in a day... go to "boot camp" and I sweat my ass off (literally). Then I go about my regular day with a 40 hour a week job, then come home to a family and my many irons I am always having in the fire....Whew! It can get a girl down at times. But until my second chin finds a new home, I'm not giving up. I really hope I just didn't doom myself.

Actually having to work really hard to stay thin is a new concept for me. I have always been active and athletic. This uncoordinated, roly poly is not what it used to be. It is frustrating when I am physically limited to make it through a rough 1 hour workout. I swear someone put weights in my shoes.

This chitlin' raisin' does some wicked things to your body. And who has enough time to squeeze in fitness with your busy life? It just come down to a point where you make time because you are worth saving yourself!

So at this boot camp, they make me run (ugh!), they make me gasp for breath (ouch!), they make my face turn red after 2 minutes (embarrassing), they make me push myself when I would probably just lay down and pass out if I were doing it myself (that's a plus), but the most important, they make me feel a thousand times better about myself. I'm getting the old me back.

Also, I am one of those girls that if I don't see results in like... a minute, I give up because all my hard work isn't paying off.

I was introduced to It Works Body Wraps and I was totally skeptical about it because I don't fall for instant gratification miracle solutions. With my first body wrap, I could totally tell a difference in my stomach area! It was awesome! I couldn't believe it!

This wrap gave me the boost and confidence I needed to keep pushing myself to reach my goals.  

I was so impressed with my first body wrap that I became a consultant so I can have these wraps at my fingertips to keep seeing results coupled with my hard work. 
See for yourself. These arent my results because I'm still camera shy.


So because I want YOU to experience the awesomeness of It Works, and start feeling better about yourself,  I am giving away 1 Ultimate Body Applicator away!!!!! WAHOO!!!

All you have to do is follow the instructions that Rafflecopter tells you to!

It will begin Wednesday June 27 and will close July 3rd at midnight!

So don't forget to share this giveaway on your Facebook for more chances, subscribe to each and every blog post by email for more chances, like "Life As Kaci Knows It" on Facebook and comment below with your summer plans.

Good luck everyone!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Splurging On A Budget

Talking about money teeters on the line of acceptable things to discuss. People tend to keep their financial matters locked up tight with a lock and key.

What is giving a few tips on saving for the things that you want gonna hurt, though?

I am the world's worst about working my butt off extra cash just to have it burn a whole in my pocket and spend it on something that I have buyer's guilt for later.

I have just recently realized my financial habits when my best friend called to tell me that she was engaged and that she wants to get married on the beach at the end of September.

My first reaction: Oh my gosh!!! I'm so excited for you!!!!

My second though: I need to get my passport renewed.

My third thought: Whoa! I need to start saving money! Fast!

My fourth thought: Who in the WORLD gets engaged and then gets married three months later??? That is crazy talk!!!

I'm just kidding about that last part. When I finally gave Clint a chance, we decided to get married only three weeks after the night he danced me off of my feet and held my heart captive. (Insert your "Awww, how sweet" comments here.)

That was the end of September 2008 and we decided that we would get married in December during the National Finals in Vegas.

I gave my friends and family zero notice but they were there and that meant the world to me.

Not going to my friend's wedding is not an option. So what is an option? Penny pinching and bean counting, that's what.

You would think that I would have a financial plan in place on a normal basis for such situations because I am adult, you know..... hahahaha, you're funny.

There are several other things that I need to save for but I haven't yet. Like:

- We are going to Vegas in Decmeber to watch my Dad and Clint rope in the World Series finals and it's my cousin's graduation celebration!! Go Celeigh! She will be graduating from TCU's CRNA program! I'm so proud of her! So saving money for this trip is a must.

- I REALLY want an iPad. Do I need one? No. But I REALLY want one.

- Everytime I go on a photoshoot, I realize just how much I NEED an Epiphanie Camera Bag. This should go high on the list.

- I really WANT a Canon Wide Angle Lens. Expensive but I do eventually want one. This is on the line of want and need.

- I really WANT a new kitchen table. I already have one but its a small pub table that we got when we were newly weds and childless. Now if we want to have friends over, we set up TV trays in the living room and people sit in chairs and couches.

- I REALLY want a pair of Aztec Gypsy Soules. I really really do!

Budgets and planning are not my forte. It is time for me to force myself into making it my forte.

Here are a few tips to help you to get you the things you want/need:

1. Determine your budget.
- Write down your income, all of your bills and your budget for things such as gas, groceries, etc.

-Decide the percentage of what is left over that you are willing to put towards your wants/needs.

2. Write your wants/needs down.
 - I am a notebook queen. I start lists all the time for things such as these. When you actually write things down, you are more likely to stamp it on your brain and remember your list. You will also have a hardcopy to return to if you forget. But I don't need to ever return to it because I remember everything..... And pigs fly.... And Elvis is alive....

- Separate your list into wants and needs. When you have your list down on paper, you will begin to prioritize the things that are necessary and the things that you can mark off your list. This makes room for the things that are most improtant.

3. Prioritize your list.
- Determine the things on your list that are more important to you in order of importance and feesibility.

-Meaning you are more likely to put something higher on your list that you really need. 

-Think to yourself if what you write on your list is needed to help you make money. If it is, then it should take higher priority than something that is just a want.

Now I am going to go practice what I preach. Hope you find this post of some use to you.

XOXO
-Kaci

Monday, July 2, 2012

Blog Switcharoo

This blog will be undergoing some serious and fantastic changes.

I put my heart and soul into this blog but I've noticed that the blog is not as user friendly as I would like. Like it's not easy to comment on posts, it's hard to find old posts and so on.

So in an effort to to streamline the madness, I will be changing blog services and website hosting services too.

I have no idea how long this process will take and I do not know if every single little thing will transfer from this blog.

What I do know is that the blog will go on in the midst of the changes and that the end result will be totally kick ass!

Bare with me folks, Life As Kaci Knows It will be going through a little growing pains but it is a change that needs to happen to keep all my peeps and me happy. Any feedback, input and what you would like to see on the new (but still the same) blog will be amazing!

Love ya.

Mean it.

-Kaci

Sunday, July 1, 2012