I need an idea pronto!

The idea that I am in need of is a business idea, one that would require little capital to begin and one that I would be good at and would hopefully make money doing in the future.  I love staying home with our little man, but I am in need of something, a hobby, let's say, that could help occupy some of my free time, provide an outlet for me to make deadlines for myself and just do something that I enjoy.  While I have debated going back to school to get my MBA, especially since my younger brother is graduating with his next month (lol, okay, that's not the reason I am considering it), I am not too crazy about what that would mean for me.  It would mean that I would probably go to work in a corporation in human resources, which seems to be the only thing about the corporate world that interests me, and that just doesn't seem like something that I would want to do long-term.  No point in wasting all that money to not use the degree.  I have an MBA at my house for reference anyway.  

I would love the flexibility of a job on my terms, go in when I want or need to, make my own deadlines, etc.  It would also give me the flexibility to be available for Reed when he needs me, which is priority number one.

So, let's brainstorm a bit.  Ever since we purchased our home, I have become addicted to design blogs.  Not only do I enjoy reading others views on design, I have to believe that this is somehow developing my creative bone.  At least I hope that is what I am doing.  But, could I ever design a room?  Who knows?!?!  Maybe I'll start throwing some room ideas at you to see what you think.  It really is kind of like shopping for free, which could be a fun hobby.

Speaking of a creative bone, could I be a calligrapher?  Nah, I don't think so, but I have come across a blog of a girl who does just that.

The Next Pioneer Woman or Rachel Ray?  I really do enjoy to cook but I can say quite honestly that I have never created a recipe all by myself.  Nope, never.

I can remember taking those tests back in high school where it would predict what job would be best for you.  I am almost positive that I frequently received funeral director as my optimal career.  I mean, who puts that in one of those quizzes?  Maybe I received this because I do enjoy being around people and would like to think that I can be comforting.  Unfortunately, I would probably just cry with everyone, probably not good for a funeral director.  

Now, some of you who know me may be thinking.......hmm, I wonder what happened to the bridal shop idea?  Believe me, the thought of opening a bridal shop is constantly in the back of my mind and would ultimately be what I would love doing day in and day out.  It would certainly require more of my time than a job that I could do from home, but I think it would be worth it.  And, I am hoping that whatever idea pops into my head now will hopefully help to open the bridal shop in the future.

Okay, I think that's enough rambling from me about my career path.  I do, seriously need an idea, so if you have one for me then send it my way.  Chris says that I should stop thinking about it so much and it will come to me.  That is incredibly hard for me to do though because I feel like my post baby brain is much more scatterbrain than before, lol!

Where's Karlie?

Paris Part Deux

On our second day in Paris, we made our way north to the area of Montmartre to visit the Sacré Coeur Basilica.  I read that the best views of Paris were from this location, so we had to check it out.  It did not disappoint.

Sacré Coeur.  The walk up looked quite daunting so we opted to ride the funicular, which is part of the metro, to the top.

A little closer.

Looking out over Paris.  The tall building on the right was somewhat close to our hotel.  Apparently it is a thorn in the side of all those who live in Paris.  It was actually annoying to me as well.  It's an ugly building that sticks out amongst an otherwise short (?? not sure what to use here) city.

The Eiffel Tower as seen from just around the corner from the Basilica.

The Moulin Rouge is also in the Montmartre area and I couldn't come to Paris without seeing it.

Because some of us were moving a little slow, we decided to hit up the Louvre next to ensure that we got to check it out before it closed.  I discovered on their website before we left a guided tour of the masterpieces of the Louvre.  Since the Louvre is so ridiculously huge, we knew this would be the best way for us to see the highlights without feeling too overwhelmed.

Cool passageway outside the Louvre.

The Louvre, or louv-ra, as I like to say.

Reed was a hugh help at the Louvre.  We got to bypass a really long line because we had him with us.  Thanks Reed!

Inside the Louvre, Reed much preferred playing with my iphone over looking at art.

Another cool hallway, apologies for the crookedness.

Aphrodite, known as Venus de Milo.
Late 2nd Century BC

The Wedding Feast at Cana by Paolo Veronese
1562-1563

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
Between 1503 and 1506
Chris and I had actually seen the Mona Lisa before, but it was still cool to see it in its home.  There were people everywhere.  Too bad I didn't take a picture of that!

The Coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I and the Crowning of the Empress Josephine in Notre Dame Cathedral
Jacques-Louis David
1806-1807

The Raft of the Medusa
Theodore Gericault
1819

Reed doing his favorite thing at the Louvre, playing with the barriers.

July 28: Liberty Leading the People
Eugene Delacroix
1831

We certainly missed taking pictures of a few of the masterpieces that we saw, so if you are interested in reading more about the above works of art or seeing the other masterpieces we saw, then click here.  After leaving the Louvre, we saw the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Obelisk.

Very cool picture of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel with the Obelisk and the Arc de Triomphe in the center of it.

Up close.

The Louvre from afar.  I needed a shot with most of it in the picture.

The Obelisk.

At this point I had to part ways with the group.  Chris, Lauren and Reed continued up the Avenue des Champs-Élysées checking out the mostly shopping street until they ended at the Arc de Triomphe.

Chris contemplated buying this Versace dress for me since I was unable to go on with them, lol!

Laduree, the place that is famous for its macarons.  They are oh-so-yummy!

Chris and Reed with the Arc de Triomphe.

Stay tuned for day 3 in Paris!

Oh, he's definitely my kid......

Not that this has been debated, since I gave birth to him, we share the same chin and hands, but we can now add another thing to the list that he got from me.  His hair.  Poor kid.  Fortunate for me but unfortunate for you, I don't have a picture here to display how horrid my hair used to be.  Thank goodness for flat irons!!  Well, getting on with the reason for this post.  Reed woke up yesterday morning with this on the back of his head.  It felt coarse, exactly like mine does if left to air dry.  If he indeed does have my hair, we should have lots of fun trying to style his hair in the future, lol!  Thankfully, it only looks like this after waking up and can be easily fixed with a little water.

Yikes!

After brushing it and of course doing my best to make it stick out as much as possible, haha!

This is just too funny for words.  He seriously looks like a punk rocker, which was probably my most favorite Halloween costume I ever wore as a kid.  I had the right hair for it, lol!

Brushing it down doesn't do much for it either.

I couldn't post about our little man with all shots of the back and side of his head, so here he is in all his cuteness.