That title about sums up this post. I work from home… Day… Night. Because there is no 9-5 in this bidness. And sometimes from coffee shops (socialization/people-watching is critical). These are glimpses into my mania productivity:

This picture is titled: Eye Yey Yey Yey Eye.

Some folks have a water cooler to gather-round at work. Some folks have a break room or something. I have my iPhone and Photo Booth. And Twitter.

This next one I shot as a re-enactment of one time when I was checkin’ out some blogs and auto-play music came on AND TRIED TO TRUMP MY MINDY GLEDHILL, Y’ALL. See how I was just about fixin’ to go strangle some blogger? Knock-off the autoplay, people!

And then there’s Kevin… My co-dependent dog who has turned me into a blogger that posts pictures of her dog.

Sheesh.

He has subtle ways of reminding me he is only a lick away…

I’ll spare the picture of the pee puddle on my bathroom floor because my youngest one didn’t make it all the way to the potty in the middle of the night WHILE I WAS WORKING.

No hour is sacred. None.

Happy weekend, friends. Sparkle on and stay caffeinated.

And use cross walks.

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Goofing-off and/or working is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

I am a firm believer that stories are everywhere.

But sometimes – and more recently - oftentimes… life gets so full, or chaotic, or stressful… the stories are hard to see.

Writer’s block exacerbated by life chaos?

Perhaps.

I wonder, though, if it is more a general mind-block… Mental (or creative) constipation, if you will.

How’s THAT for a metaphor?

So. In an effort to combat this “mental/creative constipation”, I woke up one morning with the decision to keep my eyes open for these stories I am convinced are unfolding before my eyes. The day started out with Plan B in regards to school transportation. Had Plan B not been necessary… I would not have had to drive through town first thing in the morning. And I would not have seen this:

Did ya’ll just hear the Heavens break forth in praise?!!!

Had I not seen that sign, due to Plan B… I might have missed out on this:

Due to a late jury duty reporting time, my husband and I crammed in a short coffee date.He had to go do his civic duties and I had to hit the girls’ school to help with flashcards, paper cutting and other classroom helping things.

Side note: school sized paper cutters are not efficient for me.

Had I not traded a couple hours of my kid-free work time for helping in classrooms I’d have missed out on things like high-fiving a class of 4th graders as they headed to computer lab… I’d have missed out on the high-ten from a girl as I told her she passed all her multiplication sets, and I’d have missed the ‘fawning over the striped colors in my hair at first grade lunch.

I forgot how much first grade girls like my hair, even with my pink/red streaks gone. I quote, “I just think you have really beautiful hair…” followed by an audible sigh.

*love*

Oh, and had I not gone to school I’d have missed seeing these:

They won’t be full of firey color for long. Honestly, I could just stare at the colors for hours. The changing trees remind me of my great-grandma. I miss her. I think she would have gotten such a kick out of my kids. I think Lucy has her eyes…

Then there was the part of the day…

*abrupt shift*

…I went to a local superstore to find candy corn and just ONE BAR of the most delightful candy bar on all the earth:

Oh have mercy. You don’t have to eat much of this to be satisfied. All kinds of kick and pop and awesome live in there.

BUT THEY WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. I stood in the new, downsized “fine chocolates” section and just stood there with my mouth covered in disbelief.

I was also looking for candy corn to put in here:

I think it’d be super cute, and I don’t like to eat candy corn, so there’s win all over that.

EXCEPT THE STORE HAD NO CANDY CORN. SO WIN FAIL.

Like, isn’t that a pre-halloween crime or something???

The End.

Almost… Are you convinced? Do you believe there are stories happening all around? Do you have any tips or tricks or insight into breaking though creative constipation writer’s block? Do you know where I can find candy corn?

candybar photo: yumsugar

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Storytelling: Looking for Inspiration in the Everyday is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

I am here to serve.

We are fast-approaching election season, and since I am all about me since I am all about serving my community… And I am all about tradition…

Remember that one thing last year where we changed the world TOGETHER?

It doesn’t get more legit that that, yo… My own .jpg certif, ya’ll!!!

But that was last year. That was so… so… 2010.

What about 2011?

Of course you could vote for my friends…

• MamaKat – LOVE. Hur.
• Wendi – Oh her… I do love her too…
• Carrie – Carrie. Yeah. Her too. Oh the LOVE!
• Jenni – Though she’s a LEGIT local celeb, she’s the real thing. We’ve met. Seriously. Good. People. *Call me Jenni!*
• 24-7 Moms – Trisha and I live so close, but only see each other at conferences in other states! Actually I met Trisha way back in my MOPS days when she was the regional *I am not good with titles * of my area. This woman – also good people.

Oh heck. They are all brilliant and delightful and you should just vote for them. But you only get one vote… so… GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

In any case…

I need to find a smaller pond.

So. Aaaanywho… here are some pics of me parenting… With competition friends like that, I need to show you pictures of my own effective parenting in Western Washington…

Oh… nevermind.

If I have swayed you to my dark side… my link is here. Not that I’m asking. I would never… I am just helping you in case you really want to. I am all about you.

All about you being all about me.

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An opportunity to practice voting. is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

?

Titles are so hard for me.

I digress.

My adorable friend Meg… made an adorable, cute, lovely, covetous Summer List. This one right here.

I. Know. COVET.

And I made this one:

It is in process, schee *read it like I am a Mob Boss*…

I got a 30×40 canvas and painted it, ya’lls.

Now it’s on a wall in the house.

Yadda, yadda, la, la, la…

The kids got out of school the late-ish part of June. Then I hit ‘em with a week of VBS, we hosted my huz’s company picnic, then the boy went to adventure camp while the girls did Ruby Camp (my friend Lisa, her 11 year old daughter… created a camp for her and my 2 girls and it was awesome! Cake pops and puppets… Lisa’s awesome, her daughter is awesome…)… I got my gum graft that week. And had another little BBQ at our place, then another…

P.S. Owie. 8 days since THE Horrible Gum Graft of 2011, and still – OWIE.

Now we are smack-dab in the middle of THIS week and today fly to Salt Lake City for the Evo Conference…  that is in Park City. At the Canyons Resort. Wwww-to-the-OW, baby!

I leave TODAY. *little bit-o-panic* Like, the flight flies in 45 min,,,

While there I will be having all kinds of great fun, and will be talking about Igniting One’s Inner Sparkle… and then talking vlogging with Kia of bodhibear.net and Lamar of Black and Married with Kids (such good people, no?!) in a 3 hour workshop on Friday. And another on Saturday… and then my parents will pick me up bright and shiny on Sunday morning and me and my mom and my dad and my 19 year old kid bro…

Chillin' with mah kid bro back in '09

(that’s my son photo-bombin’ the bro-sis bonding)

…and will drive 15 hours back to my house where we will all spend a week (how long are you guys staying, dad???) having fun and such in the PNW… down with some ladies for a 40th in S-Town… And then… then the kids have drama camp that next week. And me. My camp name is J-Bling. So.

Where was I?

Oh. The summer list. And the fact that it is currently list-less. And today is actually the first week-day since school let out that the kids have been able to sleep in.

AND FRIENDS I HAVE RUN MAH CHILDRENS INTO THE GROUND.

Even without a list.

Go stinkin’ figure.

I’m still gonna finish that puppy. Le Summer List is on my list, by golly…

*winds up a good-solid fist*

In the mean-time… My wonderful mother-in-law is coming to help the huz in my absence. And all is right with the world.

And I am so excited to see my parents in a  few days – even with the impending 15 hour car drive. It’ll be like old times, but not. Because my brother is 19 years younger and we’ve never been on a road trip together. I’m gonna drive him CRAZY.

WE are going to drive my parents CRAZY.

Maybe we’ll text each other the whole time. Or we’ll make my  folks listen to Souja Boy the whole time. Or we’ll hit each other and whine, “MOOOOOOOOM!!!! HE’S LOOKING AT MEEEEE!”

THAT’D BE FUNNY.

OOOPS. I FORGOT TO TURN OFF THE CAPS LOCK.

P.S. I owe Lu, Stacey and Tiffany a song. Remember this post. The one I wrote when I was on drugs? I said I would write songs for the right guessers… and now I need to deliver. I am working on it. I have actually recorded a few pieces. And  no. Just no. I love us all too much.

Like this one. Oh golly. I could never do that to you.

Actually… I could.

P.S. Congrats to Katrina of Salt City Spice for her win of the glass coffee creamer pourer-thing!

P.P.S. I love you.

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• Dudes. A hunnad dollah ($100) Visa gift card is right here… And I smell really good after working out!

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We are well into July and still, our Summer List is still list-less. is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

Oh! I just want to shake my shoulders.

Tidbits

Summary

This-n-that

Not exactly the most riveting post titles. In fact, these titles generally irk my chain? Yank my chain? Tell me, when you see a title like Tidbits, do you just go wild with curiosity?

Nope.

However, the title today is This and That… more proof that I more than anyone else… get on my nerves.

Nerve.

I have ONE.

But “This and That”…

This:

I can haz badges!!! And you can haz one too!

Thank you to The Huz for his skills in graphics and badges and thanks to my friend @jennheffer (blog here) for the last nudge to get that project check of the bloggy to-do list! They can also be found in my far right side bar…

That:

I can haz winners!

These are the two very happy winners from my Universal Orlando Resort giveaway! Congrats Carina and Michelle! SO MUCH!!!

This:

I can haz reading glasses!

Lucy chose them. They have sparkles. I have to wear them with my contacts… on account of the fact I am near-sighted…

Oh. I am also OLD-SIGHTED.

That:

I can haz Viking cookies!!!

Our very best local bakery makes yellow happy faces and blue sad faces. I went in the other day (don’t judge me… the power of The Baked Goods is strong, it is…) and I saw these!

Funny how a Viking cookie can make a girl proud of her fair Faux-wegian village. Gotta love it here…

Alrighty. I’m out. Happy Friday and whathaveyou…

Peace and sparkles…

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This and That: “I Can Haz” Edition is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

Last week.

Last week?

Yeah.

Last week.

I chaperoned a trip to the zoo…

This me and my shoe (CONVERSE!) on the bus…

The kindergarteners went with their 4th grade buddies. I have such a cute pic of my Lucy with her buddy, but I don’t know the mother of the buddy to ask for permission to use her likeness… so I can’t make you jealous of how adorable my daughter is with her buddy.

But I can post of pic of them in THEIR Cons on the bus!

I know. I know. It’s blurry. Bad Jenny. I just spoke at Bloggy Boot Camp Seattle and told everybody it was better to NOT post a picture than to post a blurry one, but I think we can all agree there are exceptions and I am making an exception. The reason? BECAUSE. And also also – KIDS IN CONS overrrides the Rule of Blurry.

An aside, Lucy, after working with this 4th grade girl off and on throughout the year… She still does not know her buddy’s name. Poor thing. She’s just like her mother… Cute. But not the glittiest piece of glitter in the art box.

Aaaanywho…

We saw reindeer.

We were NOT impressed…

I gagged.

I am not kidding.

Nasty reindeer.

Last year I went with my son’s class to their zoo field trip. He was in 4th… on that trip I had 2 4th grade boys and 1 kindergarten boy (one boy was sick – boo)… Or not “boo”. This trip with 4 girls was MUCH different than with those 3 boys. I wish I had found this box last year:

I prolly mighta been able to put it to good use.

I could have ended this post with that last line, but then I couldn’t show you this last picture…

6 year old girls… We never really grow up, do we…

Left to right: Moi, Tammy, Tina & Kristin (photo cred to Kristin!)

I love being a girl.

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Don’t forget – I have a GREAT giveaway going on…. JEWELRY ladies!!! Ends 6.17! Go here!

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Reindeers. Ew. And a bit about girls. is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

If you are a blogger, or if you know what RSS or “embed” means, then this post is not for you.

This post is for the friends and acquaintances when after I say words like “subscribe” or “URL”  they look at me like I’m talking from my second head.

Since I only have one head, this is a problem.

I would like to take a few minutes blog post to touch on some of the terminology that I take for granted. I know there are many other posts out there written by supernova-tech people, but I’m gonna go on ahead and add to the information, real simple-like.

Let’s do this!

What is a URL? I am not kidding. I have been asked this more than once in no less than 2 weeks. Simply put… it is another was of saying, web address. You put the URL (web address) in your little browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc…) bar right up there at the top there:

How about those cute little buttons below?

They are located on the upper right side of my site. You find them in different, yet similar styles across most websites. I think most folks get most of those, but lemme break it down just in case…

• The orange guy is an RSS icon. Real Simple Syndication. Basically, if you click on that lil fella it will take you to a place to subscribe to my blog. Now, this does not help if you do not know what SUBSCRIBING to a blog means. Nor does it help if you do not use a reader.

WHAT’S A READER, JENNY?

*shifts butt cheeks and takes a deep breath*

A READER is a way to read any site that offers RSS. News sites, blogs… Google Reader, for example. Say you read… oh… Jenny On the Spot, for example. Jenny may not post something new everyday. Instead of going to JOtS everyday hoping for a new nugget of goodness, utilizing a reader will just tell you when there is something new. But you have to go to the reader. You have to go to the URL for the reader… *smiling*

But you want to know MY secret? I subscribe not via reader, but by email!

Wait Jenny, SUBSCRIBE???

This is not like a magazine subscription. No commitment to pay or whathaveyou… Say you want to get an email update for every post that… oh, say… Jenny On the Spot publishes… There’s a link for that (here) and many sites offer an email subscribe option. If they don’t, then I probably don’t read them regularly.

Simplified – subscribing by email means you get an email containting a post or posts without having to go to the site to see if there is anything new.

Back to the above picture:

• That little t in the light blue – that’s for Twitter. If you click on the symbol in my sidebar, it will take you to mah Twitters.

• That little f is the bright blue – that will take you to my Facebook like page (not my personal profile). I think most people get this one. By the way, do you like me? *bats lashes*

• The one that says YouTube… IT’S FOR YOUTUBE. It goes to my channel.

• The little blue button is for LinkedIn. I am not good with the LinkedIn, but it’s there… for linking in and such. LinkedIn is kinda like have an online resume.

Let’s see… what else…

Oh! EMBED! I will demonstrate this way…

This colored text right here means this is a link. It is a link to a video. On YouTube. My own, of course…

Now, below you are going to SEE a video… not a link:

What THAT means is I got some code that made the video be all embedded into this post.

See?

It’s easy?

Questions?

Did I explain anything wrong? I totes coulda. I am only a woman. But I am a woman…

… I am a woman who is learning how to manage time… I talk a little bit about that and share about an opportunity to win an iPad2 – but you must click over. You will be taken just to another spot right here on JOtS. I want to keep you all to myself. Let’s snuggle…

What do you mean by SUBSCRIBE? Do you have a magazine? is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

So many things. If you are bored, you have come to the right place!

• If you would like to see my newest vlog (in which I share a story about a fairly AWFUL experience with a BUG)… I’m gonna have to beg you to click right on this cute little link here… You’ll still be here on JOtS, but it’s a special page… just for you this specific post.

You didn’t go?

It’s a vloooooooooogggggg…. There’s fear and abandonment in one fell vlog!

• It’s the last day to try to win this necklace:

But you need to click here and scoot on over to my review site!

• And one more day to win a pizza from Freschetta, and special Freschetta storage containers… here!

• Lastly… in case you missed it, you can view my latest installment over at iVillage. Along with a few other iVoices, I offer advice to William and Kate. Because I should be giving marriage advice to… anyone???

Honestly, I don’t care about the royal wedding. Shhhh, don’t tell iVillage. But I do care about giving advice. Actually, I mostly care about talking.

I will say, though… I think that Kate is a lovely young lady. And when Lucy (6) heard the words “Queen” and “princess” on the news the other day, she just about pee’d her pants.

“QUEEN?! … Mama?! …. PRINCESSSSS?????!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I should mention, peeing her pants is actually not all that out of the ordinary. Especially if she is being tickled. Ticklers beware.

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Like gumbo, but not literally. is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

I should probably just go ahead and create a new JOtS newsletter, but not tonight.

NO. MAMA TIRED.

Which reminds me, have you signed up for my newsletter?

I send it monthly. Like a woman’s cycle. Except it’s never been delivered on a monthly basis. Actually my newsletter arrives in one’s inbox with as much regularity as a woman who thinks she may be pregnant, but it was just a scare because eventually the period newsletter comes.

WITH A VENGEANCE.

This analogy is not really flowing…

Heh. “Flowing”… “Aunt Flo”… I digress.

A whole heck of a lot.

And my newsletter (not so much talking about a woman’s cycle anymore…) it’s not necessarily “news” in the traditional use of the word “news”.

Nor is it a “letter”.

But somehow when one puts “news” and “letter” together, it just seems right.

Like peanut butter and chocolate.

Like coffee and chocolate.

Like chocolate and chocolate.

And whathaveyou…

You know how I like pictures… And if you don’t know that I like pictures… I’m tellin’ you, I like pictures. It would seem I would like pictures of me… but I am always with me, so I am just easier to get pictures of. Did I just call me easy?

1. Jenny waits for the bus. Every day she does suchly.
2. Jenny cleans. Every day she does not do suchly.
3. Oh coffee. Yes, daily such-like. On this day, paired with a blueberry lemon scone.
4. Children’s theatre hangover.
5. The necklaces all the little girls from the play like to pet and swoon over. I can’t blame them.
6. Cutest. Dalmatian. EVER.
7. Bus stop treasure – worm. Not MY treasure. I *eeeewed*.
8. Highway robbery. LITERALLY. Well, not “literally”, but practically literally.
9. Flowersies from my fren Lisa. She inspired this vlog from yesterday.
10. I told Lucy, “Hey let’s make DUCKFACES!” She was all, “I did a QUACK face MOM.” She’s trouble, that one.
11. Kevin. Read: DOG HAIR.
12. I am smiling because of the sunshine. I am also waiting for the bus. AGAINS.
13. A love note from a lovely friend who is also a barista… HANDY, NO?
14. There is no time to fuss about socks not matching. But there is time to take a picture of unmatching sockssesses.
15. A dalmatian photo bomb!

P.S. I made a video response to the video responses I got from my vlog yesterday. But I can’t get to the editing until… yadda, yadda… my next post is a response – pinky swear! Not that you care, but I like to pretend that you do… Would that be called FAUXdependent?

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• Have you joined me over at Memories in Motion? We’re talkin’ about all kinds of stuffs. Lots of talk of Easter and being overhwlemed happenin – here.
• Expensive, pretty necklace of Awesome – here… Woogie – here… and Freschetta – here.

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Here's the deal… is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...

I have an announcement to make!!!

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APRIL FOOLS!!!

Ha! I got cha!

In other happenings… these are the brighter happenings of the last week or so. No foolin’! I did not get any pictures of my puffy eyes from a pretty good cry the other day, though. Judging by the looks of the passers-by(s?) on the ferry, I am pretty sure Posterity was fine with me skipping that not-so-Kodak-but-more-of-a-Kleenex moment(s).

Plus, if you are over here visiting from the 5 Minutes for Mom’s Ultimate Blog Party — WELCOME! The following collage is an easy little peek at what’s the haps over heeya at Jenny On the Spot…

1. Me. DUH.
2. Poster of a thing for a thing…
3. Comfort.
4. Pool.
5. In my glove box
6. The kindergartner loves her goggles, or is that MADNESS?
7. 3rd grade trip to Young Writers Workshop
8. iPad case I got on Etsy… from ESTONIA!
9. She’s recharging… I’m serious.
10. Date night! (see #2)
11. Accessories – boots, flower pin, jelly bracelets
12. My desk.
13. If it’s unusually quiet the next 2 weeks – this is why… {pray for us/me/we}
14. Another flower pin. Head-sized, and LOVERLY.
15. I found these under my bed. No foolin’!

So. There’s quite the Blog Party happenin’ over at 5 Minutes for Mom. In fact… it is the ULTIMATE blog party! It really is… Head on over there to find new bloggers, enter to win fun prizes, and did I mention meet new people? It is a great place to go to expand your horizons in the blog space. Jump on in and join UBP 2011! They sort peeps by blog genre, fan pages, Twitter ids… You name it, UBP has got it!

***Speaking of “HAVING IT”… Have you gone to my giveaway site and entered to win a free ticket to Bloggy Boot Camp Seattle… or how about a children’s book about tooth brushing???***

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No Foolin'! is a post from: Jenny On the Spot * This is what I do...