Long Time, No Post

OMG!  I cannot believe it's been so long since I've been able to post.  It has been a crazy and fun Christmas and New Years.  My family & friends Christmas Eve party was great!!  We had so much fun... especially with the white elephant gift exchange.  My mother in law stayed with us for a week and we had such a wonderful time with her.  I am very, very blessed to have the most wonderful mother in law on Earth!!  =)  We went all around the metroplex and walked our fannies off... LOL.  We took her to the Gaylord Texan to see all the lights.  Wow... they really know how to do Christmas BIG!  It was absolutely breathtaking.  I was able to get some much needed down time for myself as well.  The week went by so fast and it was sad to say goodbye to her when she had to go.

We had no kids for New Years, so we decided to meet my parents, and some friends, at Choctaw Casino in Oklahoma.  I've never been anywhere but home on New Years Eve, so it was a weird feeling at first.  However, I quickly shook it off once we got to the buffet... LOL.  Scott and I decided to give ourselves one last all you can eat splurge before beginning our new eating lifestyle in 2011.  It was a magnificent spread of all you can stuff in your belly boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, crab legs, prime rib, Chinese food, pizza, pasta, salad, pork, all the fixings you can think of, and so too many desserts to remember.  I will tell you that, after we ate, I had to change out of my jeans and into my pj bottoms to give me enough room to breathe... LOL.

Then we met up with our friends and commenced gambling the night away.  =)  At midnight we gathered by the band and brought in the new year with lots of noise, confetti, sparkling apple cider, and a kiss from my one true love.  <3   Then more gambling.  At one point we were $150 ahead, but we wanted to keep playing.  We outlasted everyone we came with, and all the machines.  We left when we started losing which was around 4:30am.  We hit Grapevine at 6:00am, stopped at IHOP for some breakfast, then hit a friends house for some much needed sleep.  We ended up breaking even and came back with the same amount as when we left, so I guess we did pretty good.  Our good friend was out of town, so we stayed at his place and rested the rest of the weekend by watching the Lord Of The Rings trilogy on his 52" HD Flat-screen TV.  Awesome!!  =)  

I must say that I am having a hard time adjusting to being back at work all day after our awesome vacation.  It gives me much motivation to want to succeed in my business so that we can take vacations whenever we want, and then to actually look forward to coming back and doing work that I love and have a passion for... so then it wouldn't really be fair to call it work...lol.  Tomorrow I will be setting my 2011 goals for every part of my life.  I will post them so you guys can help keep me accountable. hehehe... I can't wait... I just know it's going to be a Great Year!  =)

Thank you for reading "All About My Business,"

Crystal Campbell

Crystal Campbell Photography

Christmas Crisis

I was very proud of myself for getting all my shopping done well before Christmas, until... Okay, I ordered some things from a friend at work 3 weeks before Christmas so I would be sure to have them in plenty of time.  Then, on Tuesday of this week, my friend tells me the order didn't go through and it was being canceled.  Huh?  A week before Christmas... seriously?  My first reaction was WTH???  Then I said, "Take a deep breath... calm down... ok.  Now lets make a plan."  Well, at least I still have a week left to get the other, actually, the 1st half of my Christmas shopping done.  So, my wonderful hubby and I will venture out on Saturday morning to complete this very crucial mission.  It must get done on Sat. because we will be busy the rest of the weekend getting the house cleaned for family coming next week, plus we have my niece's b-day party on Sunday.  

On a photography note, I have some exciting news.  My daughter's boyfriend's mother, (confused yet? LOL), saw my photography on Facebook, loves my pictures, and wants me to do a photo shoot of her and her 2 sons!  Yay!!  It will be my first photography gig.  =)  I hope she doesn't mind waiting until January when I get my Nikon so I can get really good pics.  We are friends so I doubt she will mind.  I'm so excited!!!!!!!  I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be an explosive year for us.  I just cannot wait.  Someday I will be able to say "Goodbye" to Corporate America for good and "Hello" to my own business and financial freedom.  In many ways I feel like my life is just beginning.  

Thanks for reading "All About My Business,"
Crystal Campbell
Crystal Campbell Photography

So Sorry....

Let me being this post with an apology... I'm so sorry for neglecting my blog over the last several days.  The past weekend was crazy nuts.  We had overnight guests all weekend, cooking and baking going on and Scarlett's Mary Kay debut party.  It was exhausting and wonderfully fun!  =)  I love having a full house.

Scarlett was beautiful and charming as ever.  She was presented with the ceremonial MK pink rose and pin.  She was also presented with her first earned prizes: a beautiful pink stone ring and pearl necklace, earrings, and bracelet.  She looked absolutely stunning.  Wow!  I'm so proud of her for getting off to a successful start in building her new business.  She is already doing better than me... LOL. 

Scarlett is my beautiful Mary Kay Girl!  The best thing is that she is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  I've added this picture and another one titled "Snow Barn" to my Flickr page.... there is more to come so stick around.

Thank you for reading "All About My Business,"
Crystal Campbell
Crystal Campbell Photography

My Family....

I'm feeling very blessed tonight to have such a wonderful and supporting family.  Thank you Scott, Scarlett, Cameron, and Mom... I don't know what I would do without you guys.  You give me wings to fly.  I finally feel like I can do anything in this world.  It's a feeling most feel just out of high school, or college, but it's a new feeling to me.  And it is the best feeling in the world.  I wish everyone in the world could have this much love and support.  Always reach out to everyone you meet with encouragement, love, and support.  You never know what is going on in their lives and you might just be the only one to ever speak a kind word to them.  

I just found out today that First Baptist Church in McKinney is having their Christmas Journey this week: Dec. 9th - 11th.  I am so excited to take my family there!  It is a wonderful, well put together, journey of the life of Jesus our Lord.  It will most likely be cold, but they always have lots of yummy hot cocoa!  =)  Hope everyone can make it!

Thank you for reading, "All About My Business,"
Crystal Campbell
Crystal Campbell Photography

Drama in the house...

Oh goodness, you would not believe the drama that has plagued this household tonight.  I come home, more tired than I've ever been, and get hit with 2 teen girls that are being attacked by people who are supposed to be their friends and/or loved ones.  Geez... why do people feel the need to be so negative or tear someone down just because they may not agree with whatever is going on at the time???  I'm glad I prayed, earlier at work, that God would make me calm today.  Let's just say that I'm glad it is all behind us now, (at least for tonight), and I'm going to bed early.  I hope you all had a better night than we did... good night.

Thank you for reading "All About My Business,"
Crystal Campbell
Crystal Campbell Photography 

I couldn't resist.  It just seemed to fit tonight.... LOL