Congrats!!

Tiff Heath
Mindy Fuller
and Rhonda Nunley

email me your addresses and I'll send you your key fobs.

Thank you all for sharing.  Reading all of your comments were very inspiring to myself and others!

Have a Safe and Happy New Year's Eve!

In the spirit of giving and a new year...

Resolution (as defined by dictionary.com):

the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

Every year my resolutions address weight, fitness, spirituality, knowledge, family, health, etc. etc.  And what I've found is that I usually list so many things that it is difficult for me to keep up with it all if I go by my list.  So, I have done a lot of thinking and I've decided that I have one resolution for 2009:  conscious living.  I'm going to work very hard to take myself off of autopilot and live consciously.  I struggle with balance in my life and I struggle with habits that lead me to feel overwhelmed and unhappy and I don't feel that this is the way my Creator intended for me to be when I've been so blessed.

What is your resolution(s) for 2009?

Leave a comment with your 2009 resolution and at 10 pm CST (Tuesday) I will randomly select 3 winners who will receive one of the following key fobs from Sew Much Detail:

 

P.S. These pictures were taken directly from Sandee's etsy site. 

Welcome Back!

Welcome back, Friends .  I hope Santa was kind to each of you.  I spent the week soaking up my family and enjoying the time off.  I've got lots of housekeeping stuff for 2009 to take care of so give me some time to get all of the new info out.   

Pricing is the same for 2009, but I would really like to stick to a shooting schedule of Friday through Sunday.  My husband will begin a new schedule that includes commuting to Sealy every day for the next 3 or so months (roughly a 2 hour drive each way with traffic).  He'll be leaving before we wake up and arriving after the kids have gone to bed.  He'll be scarce so I need to be sure to set up a good routine for the kids.  Anyhow, if you're interested in a shoot I will do my best to accommodate your schedule, but keep in mind that I will need to take care of my shoots Friday through Sunday.  I will be scheduling no more than 3/4 shoots a week.  Once the four are taken I will consider myself booked for the week.

I am doing Birthday Club pictures this month on Jan. 10th.  I have  8:00, 8:30, and 9:00  a.m. available.  9:30 is booked.  If you're interested, check out the link and let me know.

CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR A FUN LITTLE GIVEAWAY!!!!

Onward....

I wish I had more sessions like these.  But, I realize that engagement pictures are usually a part of a big wedding package so the opportunity to shoot couples doesn't come often.  I'm still not venturing into the wedding field.  So, I had my fill of bride and groom last week and they're as charming as they look.

I could fill this blog post with obnoxious inside jokes that we came up with during our session, but I'll spare you the torture and take these fun memories with me.  You're welcomed. Meet Jill and Johnathon. 

a couple of vintage-looking shots.

They'll be walking down the aisle next summer and I must admit that I'm a little envious.  Everything is so fresh, new, and exciting for them.  They're seeing the world through rose-colored, in love glasses.

Congratulations and thank you for letting me partake in a little part of the magic.

Unplugged

Hey Guys!

Just wanted to let everyone know that the blog is on vacation until December 29th.  I will not be updating until then.  I appreciate so much those of you that check in regularly.  I wish all of you a blessed holiday week and special time with your loved ones.  I'll have sessions to share beginning the 29th so please don't forget to come back!  I will still be checking my email so if you need to email me about a photo shoot I will get back to you ASAP!

Merry Christmas!

Who are you: Lyndee

This summer I sponsored a contest and had readers submit a paragraph describing who they perceived themselves to be.

This was Lyndee's entry:

Who am
I? It seems like such an easy question until you really think about it.
It used to be so simple to rattle of a million answers to such a
question, but all of a sudden, for the first time in my life, I am
speechless. Who am I? I don’t even know anymore. To put it simply I am
a wife and mother, but over the past 5 years, somewhere in the midst of
picking out a wedding cake, buying a house and changing diapers I have
forgotten about the woman I used to be. Until a few moments ago I
forgot about the perfectly manicured nails I used to have, or the
glossy highlights that used to adorn my hair to frame my face. I forgot
about the spunky convertible camaro I used to drive along the
California Coast, I forgot about the quaint beach town I used to live
in. I also forgot about how much time I used to spend with friends, and
how I would have never let a week, let alone a year go by without
calling a girlfriend just to say Hi. I used to be someone who knew
where I was going in life with a million unstoppable hopes and dreams,
and all of a sudden I’m on auto-pilot: going to work, picking up the
kids, buying groceries. If I was on the outside looking in it would
seem like I have such a depressing life- a life full of such promise,
to only be stopped short by marriage and a family…but it’s not.
Although I can’t think of a single thing that I am anymore besides a
wife and a mother I realize it’s really all I need as my identity. It
makes me whole and completes me. Without realizing it I have traded the
late-nights at a bar for early nights to bed. I’ve replaced the wild
pictures of me smiling into a camera while dancing on a table for
pictures of my children playing in the park. I’ve given up the single
lifestyle for a beautiful wedding ring that signifies my husband’s
never-ending love for me. I’ve given up wearing a 2-piece bathing suit
in public for a couple of stretch marks that I will forever be proud of
because they were given to me by my babies.

Instead
of me asking myself who I am, for the first time I’m going to stand up
tall, hold my head up high and say, THIS IS WHO I AM: I am a wife and
mother. Every day that I open my eyes is a day that I have been given
to make this day better than the last. What I have realized is that
although fun memories make me miss the days of my past, the love in my
husband and children’s eyes make me so thankful that my life is what it
is. SO who am I? I am the luckiest lady in the entire world.

Lyndee and I met up at Bergfeld Park in Tyler, TX.  She lives in Mt. Pleasant so it was still a good drive for her to meet me there, but I am so glad she did.  We went right up to each other and hugged like old friends.  After getting to know Lyndee through her essay and emails back and forth over the last few months, I was completely at ease with my new friend.  Lyndee, watch out, Girl, because I may just take you up on that shopping offer next Christmas!!!
I cannot express what a blessing this contest was for me.  I had the chance to photograph three remarkable women that have each impacted me in some way.  I think I will do this again next year.  The most gratifying part was hearing from these ladies how special they felt to be photographed.  One day when they're old and gray, they will have these photos to remind them of times past.  Their children will have these photos to treasure and it was all my pleasure.

 

 

 

 

We interrupt the regularly scheduled programming

First:  My Disclaimer

IF you are in some way related to me, kindly refrain from scrolling down on this blog post as your Christmas may be slightly less exciting when you find that I've posted your gift on the blog.  So....if you're a Killion, a Garibay, a Hallum, oh or a CoVan just "X"  out and check back tomorrow for pictures of Lyndee.

Second:
I realize that I'm posting this earlier than what I would normally, but it is my mission to be in bed by 11 pm rather than wandering around the house like a ghost at all hours of the night.  Last night, I went to bed at 11:30 which is about an hour and a half earlier than my usual bedtime and I popped up like toast this morning.  I felt great!  So, Dr. Oz, I'm on my way to a better me.

Third:  The love affair with Etsy

I

Well....sort of.  I actually bought several  (not all)  handmade goodies, but I can't say that the men-folk were easy to buy for on etsy.  I could have bought for any female I know on etsy, though.

I have fallen in love with etsy artisans and I'm so excited to share my chotchkies (hubby hates that word) with you so you might reap the benefits of buying handmade.  When you get your first etsy purchase in the mail you feel just a little more bohème.  Most of the purchases I made came nicely packaged and a few even contained handwritten "thank you" notes.  I didn't feel like a cyber shopper, I felt like I was shopping at the world's best craft fair.

First purchase:  Reilly Belle Designs

 Her etsy shop is actually closed until after the first so check back to see her inventory then.

I ordered several of these and they came nicely packaged this way.





Next purchase for my tween niece:   RHB Designs




Moving on....

Third purchase:  Le Papier Studio

I ordered this for another family member, but loved it so much I ordered one for me! It is an 8x10 digital print.




Fourth purchase:   Sew Much Detail

These are keychain fobs.  I kept the brown paisley for myself.


and this is the way they came packaged along with a handwritten note.




My last and most favorite purchase:  Momo Made It






And no online shopping experience would be complete without a cup of hot chocolate complete with a candy cane stirring stick and marshmallows.  Yep, I like it all the way.  Oh, and don't forget to leave a little of the powder on the rim for extra flavoring...just like a salt-rimmed margarita.

Brooklyn Baby

Brooklyn is not a common name and yet in the past 6 months, I have photographed 2 of them.  This little doll stopped by my house a few weeks ago for pictures of herself and I must say that she really looks like porcelain doll.

 



Why is this next picture so endearing to me?  I can't quite put my finger on it, but I love this.

The HaHa Sisterhood

The HaHa Girls, as named by their grandmother, met me in Newport for a girly girl photo shoot.  And believe me when I say they are girly, girly girls.  They cracked me up with their ideas and their poses, but made my job a breeze.  I'm tellin' you, they worked the camera like nobody's business.

So, why the HaHa Girls?

Hailey
Hannah
and Hayden

Is that not adorable???

 

Grandma shared with me that these adorable outfits came from a catalogue called Chasing Fireflies.

I have never heard of this magazine so I took a gander online and "Oh my soul," found some adorable, adorable things!  Is it shameful to admit that when I see frills and lace and red petticoats I get giggly inside because I have a little girl to play dress up with?  Would I look ridiculous in a red petticoat? LOL.

We played "strike a pose" and the poses kept mom, grandma, and me laughing.

These HaHa girls were just too much! :)

New year, new look

So, I started to completely change my blog up last night at 11 pm when I decided I was just too tired to do a good job.  But I didn't want to leave you hanging.  Check out the new logo:

  

Vanessa Dee did a fantastic job and I'm so grateful to her for designing something that I couldn't imagine in my head.  I love the colors, the design, everything and I truly feel honored to have such a talented artist and friend do this for me.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!    I love it like I love warm bread smothered with cold, creamy butter.  It makes my heart happy to see it.

Now, by the time the new year gets here I will have a new banner with the new logo posted!

I considered sharing the branding/packaging materials that I've been working on for the past week.  However, I decided it would be in my best interest not to share that work for reasons I'd rather not share on this public forum.  My clients will see these materials and I think they'll be pleased to have hired a photographer who likes to be current

Today I leave you with my logo, Vanessa's art.

Let's meet here again on Monday.  Okay?

Let it snow!

I had every intention of posting client work today, but with all of the snow excitement I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post pictures of the snow.  If you're not from around here, you may not know that it never snows here.  So, I tried to get my fill of it in one night knowing that at midnight the coach turns into a pumpkin and Cinderella's dress is once again tattered and brown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And our Tommy Lee Jones-ish Snowman

 I will never ever forget this.