Why I named my #daughter Anika

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

I knew I was having a girl from early on in my pregnancy, I could just feel it.  And I had NO idea what to name her.  Not even a little bit.  I liked the name Pearl, but apparently I am in the minority on that one.  We got pregnant on our honeymoon in Fiji, so we threw some names around about the local culture, and things that we loved about our honeymoon.  The most awesome thing about Fiji (besides it being Fiji and amazing) is that they sing-talk.  Instead of just saying "Bula, Jen.  Bula, Brian." which means hello, they kinda sing it.  But Bula...not a cute name for a baby girl.

We did meet an amazing couple from Sweden, which is where Brian's family originated (hence the weird last name of Swedhin).  Their names were Anica and Bjorn.  Bjorn was in a diving accident in his 20's and was confined to a wheelchair with no use of his lower half.  Anica was amazing with him, she lifted him when he needed it, stayed back when he couldn't participate in an activity, and was incredibly patient and supportive.  They were on their honeymoon, too. 

I wanted a name that conveyed kindness and strength, that was unique but not made up, and was easy to say.  Well I got some of those qualities since no one can pronounce Anika right (try this - Aunicka).  For a middle name we went with Piper.  In Ecuador, the birthplace of our lovestory, Brian and I studied the caterpillars that fed on Piperacea, a beautiful plant with heart-shaped leaves. 

So there it is.  Anika Piper.  She is fiesty, bold, emotionally receptive and incredibly expressive.  She is also stubborn and smart.  And I sweet ass dancer!

You likey what I say-ey? Why not follow me on Twitter? @JenSquard

#StayPositive - A Social Art Movement

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

For the last couple of years I have been seeing these little handwritten signs all over town that say "stay positive" or "smile".  And you know what?  Everytime I see them, my perspective changes.  I remember that little dramas and injustices aren't worth my time, and they always make me smile.  Or at least think about my attitude.  Then more and more I started seeing big signs, and people on street corners holding signs.  What an amazing movement!  And this whole thing started in my cute little town of Grand Junction, Colorado.  Watch this inspiring video:

And check them out on Facebook - drop them a line!

Here is their website.

Or start a movement in your own town!

And I'm on Twitter for your tweeting pleasures. 

The #Perfect Man...#wedding not so much

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

Since we are done having babies (which is insanely hard on a marriage), my hubbard, Brian, and I have been closer than ever.  We got married a little over 4 years ago, and I would marry him again in a second.  Anyways, we have had such an amazing month together, I remembered this story that I wrote to a local newspaper.  This story was my gift to him that year (plus it won us a free dinner at the most expensive yummiest place in town!), as I wanted him to never forget that I know he's awesomesauce in all the right ways. 

Just like every other bride, I spent the months leading up to my wedding planning and preparing, perfecting every little detail.  I wanted a beautiful wedding, but also a unique experience that really showed our personalities.  I handmade everything, our save-the-dates showed us holding signs with the info, our invitations were puzzles to be put together by the invitee, even our candles were all homemade.  I chose the perfect date and time, late in August, at sunset, a time of year known for beautiful weather and sunsets in Western Colorado.  I picked a wonderful location, the amphitheater behind the Botanical Gardens.  I set the stage for an event that no one would ever forget.  Personalized matches for our guests to light sparklers during our first kiss were bought.  In case it got warm, elegant colorful fans would serve as our programs, and our favorite drinks, iced tea and lemonade would cool everyone down.  Our favorite songs were chosen to play at the ceremony, and our favorite people were chosen to stand beside us at the alter.  Absolutely everything was in place, I was ready for the happiest day of my life.

The big day rolled around, and we set off on our own paths to prepare.  I met up with my girls to get beautiful, and my fiancé finished decorating the reception hall.  Three o’clock came, and it started raining.  “Don’t worry, Mom, it’ll clear.  It’s August, it never rains at sunset.”  And so it stopped raining.  Perfect day back on track.  Time was flying, and I arrived at the ceremony site to get dressed in a special tent set up on the lawn that I would be walking out of, directly onto the aisle.  It looked beautiful, the chairs were in perfect rows, but there were no sides on my tent.  Now I’m not a shy girl, but I’m not ready to put on my gown with everyone watching.  So I waited.  The rental company finally found and brought the sides, but they were the wrong sides.  So I waited more.  In my truck, in the parking lot.  About thirty minutes before the ceremony was supposed to begin they got the correct sides, and I snuck past the torrents of guests to get into my tent and into my gown.  Problem solved.

I got into my gown, we all giggled, the nerves explode, but things were perfect.  Until I felt a drop on my head.  It’s raining, no, pouring, and the tent is leaking.  Goodbye sunset, hello black sky.  Perfect.  The music starts, and the girls leave the tent to walk down the aisle.  “At last, my love has come along, my lonely days are …over-ooovverererer.”  Seriously?  Nice job DJ, can we get it together?  The song stops skipping, and my song starts.  I unzip the tent, step onto the blanket of rose petals, take my first step forward, and get yanked back.  My veil is stuck in the zipper!  I am alone, dangling there, with a hundred of my closest friends and family turning their freezing, soaked faces to see my plight.  After a few minutes of embarrassed struggling, my veil ripped from my hair, and I continued on my way.  

Fast forward through the monsoon ripping the top off of our arch, and all of the handmade candles getting waterlogged, and we are ready for our first kiss as husband and wife.  The guests desperately try to light their sparklers, but no such luck – they, too, are waterlogged.  As I watch them struggling, I notice that they are using my beautiful programs as rain shields!  My heart was breaking as I remembered spending weeks making those.  With a background of three lit sparklers, we kissed.  Who needs fireworks?  Being a hopeless romantic, he turned to dip me, slipped on the wet concrete, and nearly dropped me off the edge of the stage!  Is there anything else that could go wrong?  No, it stopped raining, everyone is cheering, and someone even brought me my veil.  We are good, right?  Not so much.  Once the rain stopped, the mosquitoes came out and feasted on all of my exposed flesh, my favorite bite being the one between my eyes, swelling up and making me look like a Neanderthal.  Beautiful.

Finally we got into our limo, and after all of that time showing my grace and laughing it off, I broke down.  Why did I spend so much time making everything perfect?  What was the point?  As I cried onto my new husband’s shoulder, he took my hand, looked me in the eye, and said, “Sugar, we’re married.  You just made me the happiest man in the world, no matter how things went.  Anyways, no one will ever forget a wedding like that!”

So after all the choices – the perfect date, the perfect time, the perfect gown, the perfect everything, it turns out only one choice mattered – the perfect man.  

Thoughts?  Questions?  Concerns?  High Fives?  Direct them to twitter.com/jensquard

My #loveletter to Adam Sandler

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

Dear Adam Sandler,

Oh, My Adam.  First of all, thank you.  Thank you for filling so many of my days with your wonderfully funny and ridiculous humor, and for filling so many of my nights with fantasies of your gorgeous face and rockin bod.  Seriously, you drive me over the edge when you bite your lip at me, you know how I feel about it.  Billy Madison became my favorite movie when I was still in middle school, and I am now on my third copy - the others were just used to death.  I know the entire movie word for word.  Seriously, it starts with "Suntan lotion is good for me, you protect me, tee hee hee.  The sun tries to burn me but  you won't let it, will ya?"  I digress....

You haven't made a movie that I don't love.  Okay, I'll admit, Zohan isn't my favorite.  I'm not a political person and there were just so many references.  I did, however, love your naked hotness all up in my face.  *shivers*  I own a solid amount of the dvds, but sadly, my collection is lacking.  I'm poor, the end.  What is my favorite movie, you ask?  Hahaha, oh My Adam, you are adorable.  I'm going to have to say that my favorite would be 50 First Dates.  Or Billy Madison.  Or The Longest Yard.  Or Little Nicky.  Or Click.  I don't know, you know not to ask my such hard questions.  

While I love your sense of humor, and try to quote you at least once a day, I am also a big fan of your more serious roles.  I thought Punch-Drunk Love was fanfrickintastic.  Seriously, nicely done, my love.  And Reign Over Me = brilliant.  Love them all.  And I totally can't wait to see what you will be coming out with next.  Also, thanks for making some milder movies so I can start engraining you into my children at an early age. 

I want to let you know that the best gift I have ever gotten in my life was when I was 14.  My mom asked a local store to hold the Waterboy display for her, and she wrapped it up for me.  It was a lifesized cardboard cutout of you in your adorable orange uniform.  I cried.  And I hung it over my bed until it fell apart from misuse several years later.  I miss that thing, but the hubs is concerned enough about my "adoration" (some people have called it other things), so I will resort to looking at that eggshaped head on my television and computer screen. 

So, My Adam, although I can not fully explain how much I adore you, I hope this will start the process.  I will see you in my dreams tonight, sir. 

#FrigginLoveThatGuy

Feel the same?  Drop me a line on Twitter: @JenSquard

And if you don't...I feel sorry for your soul.

@JenSquard's Life + November = #EPIC

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @JenSquard

Holy poopsicles.  This month has been...stunning.  Literally, I don't even know how to react to how awesome November was for me.  You have to understand, this has been a rough year.  Last year was hard, too.  We have had zero dollars for a way long time, like a year and a half, so we haven't been able to do much of anything.  No vacations, no day trips, new clothes for anyone, upgrades to my business, dates, presents....nothing but the basics.  Which is fine, we live pretty simply and don't need a lot, but you need a little bit of excitement in your life or you tend to go nuts.  Meh. 

Anywhoozle, November has been amazing.  Brian (the hubbard) got a new job, which not only means steady hours and predictable income, but he will be doing something he loves.  He was starting to feel pretty lame not using his degree and not making any cashola.  So he is soooo happy in his new position.  We also came into some unexpected money a few times this month.  Which means we get to pay off all of our bills, and buy some things that make life easier, and improve my business.  I'm a pro photographer, (click here and see for yourself!) so a new camera and a nice lens = necessary.  And a computer that works all the time = no brainer.  So here is a rundown of all of the rad crap that came into my life this month:

So thank you Brian, thank you Mom, thank you @JenFriel, and thank you universe.  My little heart is happy and I am making changes in my life.  Like big time.  Starting now.  No wait....okay, now.

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