Goodbye ISP Sports, Hello Just Energy, Hola Acapulco and more and more...

So it's been awhile since I've written - had a lot going on between ending one job and starting another. I was lucky enough to have a week in between my end date and new start date which flew by WAY TOO FAST but I'm really glad to have had the time off.

I finally decided on a photographer for the wedding - this is a HUGE relief, since I've been trying to figure this stuff out for the last couple months or so. Her name is Jane and her website is www.redshoephotography.com - she's awesome... The best part - I get to take a picture in my dress with red shoes for a book she's putting together to publish...pretty cool, huh? Anyone who knows me knows that I love red anything - ESPECIALLY red shoes. This was a match made in heaven, no doubt... =)

My last day at ISP was bitter...uhm, not bittersweet... I was sad to leave ISP and my clients because I LOVED THEM lots and I really liked what I was doing BUT...too many broken promises and poor management decisions that seemed to be detrimental to my career left me with no choice, at least that's how I felt.

My first day at Just Energy was a whirlwind and today is an extension of that same feeling - so many things to learn...am hoping that my brain will be cooperative in this expansion process as I try to soak up as much information as possible. I've actually started making flash cards so that I can remember definitions and learn the lingo associated with this industry - college all over again... Rachel - I need guidance, girl! Can't wait to pick your brain about energy and power and all that jazz...

During my week off I was lucky enough to spend some time with Erika and her sweet baby Isabelle - I can't believe that daughter #2 is just around the corner... Can't wait to meet her. I especially loved Isabelle constantly asking for Huddy, Huddy, Huddy - she loves her cousin Hudson, no doubt. It was sooo cute! Erika and I finally got to catch up, like old times - it was GREAT!

And, the biggest news I guess, would be the unexpected and spur of the moment trip Marc and I took to Acapulco. We literally booked our tickets and hotel on Tuesday afternoon and were flying to Mexico by Wednesday morning - woohoo! We had a blast - the hotel was a little noisy (with the karate convention for 400+ kids and families) and I've never heard so much mexican music in my life... But, of course, all of this stuff adds to the cultural experience - we got to lay around and do nothing by a gorgeous beach and pool, eating guacamole and chips and sipping on cool, frosty beverages...for this, I'm so thankful. We finally relaxed - and it was awesome. Below are some of my favorite pics - most of you have already seen them...hope you enjoy.

Have a great week everyone!

Hyatt Acapulco - Our Hotel Room

View from Side Balcony

One of the pools on property

Dinner Wednesday night at El Cabrito's (specialty dish was "Baby Goat Head" - I didn't try it)

Chillin' by the pool...

Dinner Thursday at La Perla to watch the famous Cliff Divers

Los Flamingos Hotel in Old Acapulco - past vacation spot of John Wayne amongst many others

Catholic Church in Center Square

Beautiful Ceiling...

Lots of taxi rides...

One of my favorites of Marc...

Hard Rock Cafe Acapulco - Dinner Friday Night

Saturday after a massage - can you tell we are exhausted in this pic? This was taken on our balcony...

More balcony pictures - so gorgeous

Dinner Saturday night at our favorite little eating place outside the hotel - Guacamole and Chips - YUM!

Couple of SUNNY deals worth mentioning...

Per my friend Jeff Malone, here's a couple of Hot SUNNY deals of note - don't be shy, REGISTER AND WIN!

Bally Total Fitness -try it out for free!

Please call 1-888-65-SUNNY and register for the Sunny Summer Slimdown.

You will get:

- Two Month Platinum Membership to Bally Total Fitness (use at any club in Houston)
- Two Month Access to ballynutrition.com (build your meal plan and print your grocery list)
- Free Work-Out with certified personal trainer
- CHANCE TO WIN $1000 SHOPPING SPREE! Ladies--please read again---a $1000 shopping spree!
- There is no cost associated and no obligation to become a member. THIS IS JUST A WAY FOR YOU TO TRY THE CLUB FOR FREE!

PLEASE CALL AND REGISTER.

Dermacare Laser & Skin Care of Willowbrook

Here is a web contest for Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinic of Willowbrook - you have the chance to enter for $500 in free service.

This is a monthly drawing--so don't worry if you don't win the first time.

Signing up is free and has no obligation--it's just a drawing.

Thanks for your help----the link to register is www.marcmagnone.com/dermacare/contest.html

Please pass this along to anyone else who might be interested in FREE SERVICE!

Also---don't forget that you can ALSO print a $100 gift certificate to Dermacare from the Dana and Marc home page on Sunny 99.1!

Confirmation and a Family Easter

What a great weekend - I had a wonderful time with all of my family here... After two years of prayer, study and lessons in faith, I am officially Catholic. I'm a Baptist-Catholic...hahaha... This Easter has been a great time of reflection - I'm so thankful for the people I have around me, who have loved me and supported me in this long journey. I don't know what I'd do without each and every one of you. Thanks so much to Mr. and Mrs. Magnone for coming into town for this celebration - to my family who has been so incredibly supportive throughout this process - to Deb who took care of me through all of this and helped me in understanding the things I've studied - to my friends, Boudg, Erika, Ruth, Diane and Jen...all of you have been so helpful and supportive, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Your cards and gifts I am so thankful for - I will treasure them in years to come and always remember this very special weekend! Here are some pictures for you to enjoy - Happy Easter everyone!

Leslie and Bill, we missed you guys.

Marc and Jenn - Confirmation - April 8, 2007

Grannie and Mrs. Magnone

Easter Family Dinner - Outback Steakhouse

Jenn, Erika (plus Eliza) and Ruthie

My best friend and me on a very special day for us both...

Easter Update...A Ben Harper Moment...Big News...and other tidbits from the weekend

Life seems to be moving really quickly these days - we have so much going on that I feel like I can't get a grasp sometimes... Before I go into my monologue about the weekend and other things, I wanted to let everyone know that Confirmation on Saturday night at St. Vincent's has been moved to 7pm - I repeat, 7pm - and one more time, 7pm...not 8pm like I originally mentioned. Sorry for the inconvenience of a time change but I'm hoping this will be easier on any of y'all that are coming... (BTW, Erin, I had no idea you went through this! We REALLY need to actually get together and stop saying we are going to but never do...miss you girl!)

This weekend was my first confession and wow, was I nervous! We had a great service prior to heading into the confessional that really put me at ease and made me feel better about what I was walking into - the priest described confession as a way of God giving us a big hug, telling us he knows we have sinned but it's ok and he forgives us...same as asking forgiveness, I guess, but with a bit more of a human touch. I'm glad it's over with - and I'm proud of myself for doing it...at least when people make Catholic jokes about confession I'll really be able to relate from now on. =)

My latest (and greatest) addiction is CSI - any of them...Miami, NY, Las Vegas - you name it, I watch it and I LOVE IT! It's getting to be a bit much though - I come home and get my "CSI Fix" as soon as I walk in the door...thank God for TEVO! Anyway, was watching last night and Ben Harper's "Walk Away" started to play in the background - talk about memories from way back when... There was a time when Ben Harper was playing in my car every single day of the week - funny how even just a melody from a song in your past can take you back to those moments... All I could think was how thankful I am that the theme song for my life now is so much happier than it was back then... Sometimes it's nice to look back on rough times to be able to appreciate (even more) how far you have come... I'm still a Ben Harper fan - just don't wallow in his music like I used to, don't wallow in any music for that matter - and that's a really great feeling!

Moving on, perhaps the biggest news of the weekend - I'M TAKING A NEW JOB! I will be working for one Mrs. Deb Merril (aka - Supermom, Superbusiness woman, Superwife - My Hero) at the company she helped create - Just Energy. She needed another internal sales person and also someone to come in and begin putting together a marketing plan for this young and growing company - HELLO...anyone that knows me well knows marketing has always been my true calling, not sales... And here's my big chance! I'm pumped about being a part of this team - it seems to be a place that I will be challenged to learn more and more everyday and I'm really looking forward to something new... However, I do think it is a little unsettling that my last day at ISP will be Friday, April 13th...yikes...hope that's no indication of a scary future! =) I'm not worried - this is the right thing to do and I'm pumped.

OK, enough babbling for now...my soon to be in-laws are coming into town this weekend for the big Easter celebration - should be a good time. I'll have pictures to post after the weekend with tales of all the fun things we're going to do!

Have a great week everyone!