My Week in Instagram -- San Francisco for SugarCon

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you know I was in San Francisco this week.
My colleague and I went for a conference called SugarCon, for SugarCRM, a CRM system that our company uses and we administrate.
He does the back end high tech code stuff and I do the front end modifications,marketing,  daily administration, and yelling at our sales people to use the system.
It's a good system.

Heres my week in Instagram - Sorry about all the food pictures, I just had to show all the lovely things I experienced -- and yes, food counts.



1) My trip started out with a trip to the airport. When I first arrived, TSA was closed. For some kind of break, apparently?  When I finally did get through, as the only person in line (gotta love small airports), I was asked to step aside for a pat down screening. Why? I was wearing sequins. My favorite shirt got me a pat down from TSA. Then, I get through security, and my flight was delayed almost two hours. Needless to say, I got myself a margarita. I earned it.

2) Croque Monsieur  sandwich. After flight delays and waiting for our rental car for an hour (which the company then upgraded us up to a Mercedes SUV), we didn't make it back to our hotel until after 1 AM. We decided that nothing was open at 1 AM, so we ordered room service. I had a Croque Monsieur. Which is just a fancy ham and cheese sandwich. But it was amazing.

3) The view from my hotel room. 3rd floor. Not too shabby.

4) View from the Top of the Mark restaurant.  It has glass on three sides and you can see both the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate. Pretty amazing view. We stayed for breakfast.

5) My name tag from the conference. I was just glad to have made it there safely. We got lost and I was traumatized by San Francisco drivers. Cabbies, I am talking to you here!

6) Guy Kawasaki keynote. Amazing speaker. He gave us all a copy of his book. I brought back one for my boss. We are going to read it.

7) Pizza from room service. It was amazing. I need the recipe.

8) Lots of Sugar at SugarCon.

9) The Garden Room at the Palace Hotel.

10) Have you ever seen this guy? There was a guy doing that at Fisherman's Wharf. When my love first saw this video on YouTube, he was addicted. So I had to buy him one. Had to.

11) Bittersweet chocolate cake. I need this for breakfast.

12) The lobby at the Mark Hopkins. We are talking seriously fancy here, people.

13) At the airport ready to go home!

14) Flying from LA to Visalia. I couldn't resist getting a picture of the ocean. I miss the beach.

15) The tiny plane that we took from LA to Visalia.

16) Ahh. Home. Looks so much different from being in the city. But I am glad to be back!

This trip had some hiccups, but I am SO glad we went. We learned quite a bit. Now it is time to put that learning to good use and get our program running even better!

What did you do this week? 

I've Learned in San Fransisco So Far

... If you get back to your hotel after 1 AM, your best bet is probably room service.

...It is better to close your eyes while being driven around in cabs. Those people are crazy.

...If you have a room at the Mark Hopkins, or even if you don't, go see the Top of the Mark.. the view is amazing!

...Get a phone with a better battery. Playing with twitter all day tends to drain it.

...San Fransiscans (Correct me if I'm wrong here?) like Macs.

...Wear great shoes, walking uphill hurts. And makes my feet swell.

 

.. More to come, and pictures!

Five for Five: Words

Words are one of my favorite things.

Seriously.

As a graphic designer, part of my job is to work with text. I love playing with different fonts and using the tools available to me to adjust the spacing between letters, between words.

Through this you can make words into art.

As an avid reader (read: addicted to my Kindle), words can make or break a story. Give William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway the same view and you will end up with two totally different accounts. Words make a difference.

Have you ever met someone who is just gifted with words?

Not exactly someone who is like an English teacher, but someone who always knows exactly what to say?

Who, me? No, no, no. I am NOT one of those people.

I trip and stumble over words like.. like I do over my feet.

I usually know what I want to say, but it comes out in jumbles. My brain has the words down pat. Organized and orderly. Somewhere between there and my mouth, my thoughts get jumbled. I try and say one thought while thinking of another. Doesn't always work well.

I had to take speech classes when I was a kid. I talked too fast. Still do. I think most people get the point that I am trying to get around to.

This is why in school, I would take an essay over a speech any day.

My brother on the other hand? Complete opposite.

He is very eloquent. He says what he means the first time. His voice does not quiver. He does not stutter.

He just can talk. He gets his point across quickly and painlessly. I think being in the military really helps with that. The military has really helped shape my brother into a man, which is scary to me, but that's a whole other story.

My dad is the same way.

Come to think of it, my mom has the same ability.

What makes me so weird?

Linking up with Link'n Blogs

Five for Five: Change

I am going to let you in on a little secret. I am not happy with a few things in my life.
I am a very happy person, don't get me wrong, but there are a few things I would like to change.

The problem is, it is hard for me to get motivated.
I feel like there are so many other places where I am giving my attention: my job, my life, school..
I just don't feel like there is much more Jessica to give.

I know they say that if you want something bad enough, you will work for it. This is a belief I have as well.
But sometimes, change takes a back burner to just existing. It takes enough energy and concentration to stay above water, figuratively speaking.

That isn't to say I haven't tried. I have successfully made changes. I have made out plans to change. I have read books.
But when it comes down to it, I haven't been successful. Because the changes I wanted to make? I am still struggling.
Every time that I feel like I fail, it just makes getting motivated that much harder.
And I know things won't get better, but it depresses me thinking about it, rather than motivating me.

I am so different from my darling boyfriend, who, when he wants change, he goes out and makes it happen.
He cuts to the chase. He understands no one can do these things for him.
When he wants his life to change, he does it.

That is one of the things I respect most about him. I always hold off,  testing the waters. He goes for it.
I wish I could be like him sometimes.

Where can I find motivation?

The Kind of Week We've Had

Me: "I feel like a chicken with its head cut off. "
Abby: "I feel like the chicken's head."

(Seriously, though. I was laughing about that for like five minutes. People in my office thought I was crazy. Well, it just made their belief stronger.)

Oh well. At least we have each other. And Starbucks.

Good things come to.. who, again?

Good things who come to those who wait?
Yeah, we've all heard it before.

But the thing is, I'm starting to not even really believe it.

Good things come to those who work their asses off and never give up.

It seems like in the present day that people no longer have to work for the things they want.
I am not one to judge, but I was always taught that if I wanted something, I had to earn it.

Why am I, the girl who likes to keep things light and fluffy over here in her little section of the blogosphere, being so negative?

I just hate feeling that people around me have no ambition. No drive.
I hate seeing the people I used to hang around in high school due to the fact that they ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

People who are content with the same old thing.
The problem here isn't with them, it's with me.

I'm the one who has to always work harder, do better, get farther.
I am the one who even when I couldn't get a job, I worked temporary jobs on weekends, just to have the experience and extra money.

So what is the difference?

I work for what I have.
Now, don't feel that I am making myself sound perfect.
Believe it, I am close no where near.
There are dishes in my sink to be washed.
My counter is covered in groceries that need to be put away. (Don't worry, I put the refrigerated ones away. I'm not a heathen.)

My point is, I am doing what I love.
If, at the end of the day, I am so exhausted I come home, lay on my bed (too tired to even take off my shoes) and sleep, I still love my job.
If I come home to a filthy house and go to bed anyway do dishes when I would rather be sleeping, I feel like I deserve a medal.

Don't get me wrong. There are things I wish didn't happen.

I wish I didn't miss my darling boyfriend some days because we work opposite schedules.
When I go to work he is still asleep. (Can you blame him? It's 4 AM)
When I get home from work he's already gone to work.
He doesn't get home until I am going to bed.

And yet, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Good things come to those who work their asses off and never give up.

Am I wrong here?

My advice to you:

Do something you love. Even if it makes you crazy.
Because a wise man once said if you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life.

Work when you work best.
I come into work at 5 AM. I get a lot done in the mornings, while the office is still quiet.

Never stop learning.
Just because you got the job doesn't mean you can stop learning and improving.
Especially in graphic design, the industry is always changing. Keep updated on the programs you use. Trends in the industry.

Have paitence.
You won't have it all in the beginning. You will have bad days. You will have days where you want to throw up everything in the air and go home.
I have been there.

A job shouldn't be your main source of happiness.
I know this goes against  what I just said. But you can love your job and not make it your life.
Like the song says, "Have you ever seen a headstone with these words, 'If only I had spent more time at work?' "
People in your life should do that for you. All work and no play made Jack a dull boy, what do you think it will do to  you?

I hope this helps.

My Week In Instagram

Lately, I haven't felt up to getting my camera out. With school and work and trying (and failing) to keep my house clean, by the time the weekend rolls around, I am just ready to lounge around, have a margarita, and eat ice cream.

(If you have any ideas on non food relaxation, let me know. I need to take up yoga again.)

Anyways, I love instagram to keep my creative juices flowing. Like I said last time, this will never replace my beloved DSLR, but it does a good job of letting me be creative. I am going to get myself to get my camera out more often now though. No use in letting it sit around, right? And I think my beloved boyfriend will finally let me take some pictures of him! How surprising, right?!

I have already told you about my obsession with instagram. But now it is time to show you what I've been up to this past week or so. (More or less, who's counting?)

1)I love some web editing in the morning.
2) Did I mention the freak weather we had? Purple flowers in the sunshine.
3)See above. Freaky weather.
4)Rain. I fell in the mud. :/
5)Flooding. At a company that creates water control equipment. The irony is not lost on us, that's for sure.
6)Puddles are fun for driving through. Good thing I have a truck.

7)Jumping over a puddle to get in my truck is more work than you might think.
8)I look at this sign everyday, when I leave to go to lunch or school or home. I think its very true for any company that is in manufacturing.
9)Green Machine. Looks weird, tastes good. Just wasn't as good when it got to room temperature. Very filling, though.
10)Schedules make me happy. Strangely, I ended up a bit behind from this schedule, but I still got most of my work done.
11) Staple guns are fun. One of my favorite parts of my job.
12) Mmm. Corn. My BFF and I are going to try and go to Farmer's Markets every week. Nothing like farm fresh produce in California. Be jealous.
13)More flooding. See above.
14)Horses in the sunshine. My BFF works at a farm and we were chasing around Spirit (the brown one) but the light was amazing, so I couldn't resist taking a picture. One of those moments I wish I had my DSLR.
15)Dakota's Grandma. She is a sweetheart. All I have left is my grandma so spending time with his grandparents fills that void I have.
16)Smirnoff Screwdrivers. Best thing ever. Good way to end my Sunday.

 

Wordless{ish} Wednesday - Indecisive Weather

Yesterday was a beautiful day. 70 degrees. Sunshine. Perfect California weather.



Today, on the other hand, is rainy. Very rainy. We have almost gotten 3/4" since it started raining this morning.
I love the rain, but sometimes, we get into arguements, Rain and I.
Today, I must've done something to upset him, because he made me slip. In mud. Funn.



I guess it is this kind of weather that reminds us that we are still in Spring, not summer. And we need the rain, so I am appreciative that rain came today. I just don't think I needed to fall in the mud.

Linking up with And then, She {Snapped},The Paper Mama and Live and Love Out Loud.

DJ and Julia Sneak Peek

While I was in New York, I got FINALLY got the oppurtunity to take some pictures of my brother, David (we refer to him as DJ) and his girlfriend, Julia.
(I say FINALLY because they have been together like two years. Then again, we are limited to when my brother is home on leave. Or in this case, when we go see him.)

Julia is the sweetest soul you could ever meet. Which is good, because DJ is kind of a force to be reckoned with. (That gene skipped me, of course. Haha.) The way they are together is so adorable. Not to mention, also a little heart wrenching. My little brother is all grown up. You would think the fact that he has been in the Navy for almost two years would've made me realize he isn't a little kid anymore.But no. My mind works in mysterious ways.

Anywho, I got to take a few quick shots of the cute couple while I was over there. Not many, though, unfortunately. The weather was cold and we had more things to do. Maybe if he comes home for the holidays I will get more. I got some really cute ones though. Here are two sneak peeks. Enjoy.






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My Life in Instagram and Changes

I have discovered Instagram! They FINALLY released it for Android, because we all know that I'm not an Apple fangirl.  It is so simple and easy to use. Great for little snapshots. It won't be replacing my DSLR anytime soon, but it is so much fun to use! Not to mention sometimes I want to be sneaky, and that is a whole lot easier with my phone and Instagram than lugging my big DSLR. Not so sneaky.

I wish I had this on my trip. (Oh! And I will get pictures up from my trip soon.. those planes are tiring, I am still recovering! Or I am just lazy. I'll let you decide.)

Follow me on instagram @jessiekay77
Or view my shots here on Instagrid, a great companion to Instagram, so non-smartphone people can still see shots.

Here is my life through Instagram the past few days:



1) My henna tattoo that I got in New York with my brother's girlfriend, Julia. We match except that hers was drawn from a template and mine was done by hand. I still like mine, even though it isn't perfect.

2) A crane at was at my office the other day. They made me move my truck so that they wouldn't hit it with the new machine we got or something. Whatever it was, I moved my truck quickly. I don't like a squished truck. 

3)Margarita time! No further explanation needed. 

4) My love. While he was sleeping. Great. Now I look like a stalker. Oh well, he's still cute.

5) Our calla lily that surprised us and grew in our backyard, without interference from us. It is beautiful. Dakota won't let me cut it off yet. 

6) Green Tea Frappucino to start my morning. Beautiful.

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Also, I wanted to talk to you guys about something. Well, as much talking as I can do through the blogosphere. I was wondering, am I too superficial on this blog? I have a feeling I could be going deeper than I am. Maybe I can post tutorials on Photoshop or something. I am not a great photographer, but I love Photoshop. Interested?

What else would you guys like to hear more of? This blog is still brand new, so I don't know where I am going with it just yet.

Let me know what you think.

Kthx. Bye.

Love,

Jessica of Jessie Kay Graphics and Design