Spring is finally here and with that brings...

It's been a while since my last post. I was down and out from a nasty stomach bug for over a week. Then it took me some time to get caught up on everything I fell behind on and my daily list. I am happy to say I am healthy and caught up! Woot!! LOL!

After pulling up the 10 day weather forecast, it appears spring may finally arrive next week. You know what that means, OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS!!!!!!!! I've got some lined up for April and I can not wait to get back at it. In the mean time I was able to score an awesome gig for an awesome real estate agent! EEEKKK!!!!! I paired up with Carol Ravel, she works for Berkshire Hathaway and is AMAZING!!! We had our town-home listed for 6 months with no interest. We decided to switch realtors and Carol came highly recommended to us. We met, we talked, she was super nice and knowledgeable and within 5 weeks and several offers, we sold our town-home! She was so easy to work with and flexible with our busy schedule when it came time to house hunt. She worked up a great deal on our current home and we couldn't be happier. So when she reached out to me about becoming her go to real estate photographer, there was not doubt in my mind that we wouldn't make an awesome team. AND we do! :) I had my first home to photograph 2 Sundays ago on March 15, Carol had the house listed on trend by Tuesday night and the house went under contract yesterday! Not even 1 full week listed and SOLD!!! I am so happy for her and so excited to be part of this amazing journey! If you are looking for a realtor with a professional photographer to stage and photograph your home, please let me know. We will work very hard to sell your home and make it look the best that we can! :) The next house is coming up within 2 weeks. I can't wait!!!!

If you haven't already seen my FLASH SALE for today, it is $25 off a 1 hour session. It must be booked and paid for today in order to take advantage of this deal. Message or call me to book your session today.

HAPPY SPRING!!
xoxo

Another snow day...

It's finally March and BAM! another snow day. Ugh! SOOOOOO over this winter, lol. I have started a new journey and I am very excited about it! I have decided to see just how driven I can be with my health and fitness. I want to get in the best shape of my life and I know I have to change my diet in order for that to happen. This is HUGE for me! I love carbs, chocolate, wine, ice cream, etc. You get my point, lol! I have my amazing husband supporting me and a great book to help me get started. After this blog post, I am sitting down with a pen, list and my book to write down my grocery list. I am talking organic meats, organic fruits, organic veggies, nothing processed (except maybe protein bars but they are allowed) and possibly almond milk...YIKES! Not sure I can give up regular milk. I see lots of white meat and fish in my future along with lots of green veggies. Not to mention the amount of calories I have to start eating. I have to admit, I would be LOST without MyFitnessPal app. LOVE it! Best part is, it literally breaks down your nutritional intake so you can see how much fat, carbs and protein you are truly eating.

If I seem grumpy, moody, or distant, it's only bc this is all new to me with really dedicating myself to a certain diet and I am sure I will miss the hell out of my "junk" food, lol! You may even start seeing food pics. I noticed if I take a pic of what I am eating, and I truly enjoy the meal, looking back at it helps me realize eating healthy isn't as bad as it sounds. I still get to eat lots of delicious foods and I get to try lots of new recipes. I even tried shakeology. Not very impressed by it but thankful I get to try it for free. Next up, trying Isagenix Isalean shakes. <---------all new for me as well!

Wish me luck and I will be back to report on how my week is going. At least the fitness part is WAY more fun and is something I now look forward to doing! :)

aaaaaannnnddd I am back...

After being without a computer for over a week, I have it back and can play catch up. Yay! I am, however, very far behind on my 365 project. I may have missed a lot of days over the past 2 weeks. I have to go through my camera and see what days I was good and practiced with it. Kinda afraid to see how lax I have gotten with it and it's only month 2! OH man!!!!

I did have two adorable models come play with me for an hour. One little boy and one little girl on separate days. I wanted to practice a "dress like mommy" and "dress like daddy" session. They were super fun and a great way to add something different to your wall pic collage. I just loved how they turned out! Take a look for yourself.

All these indoor sessions make me miss the warm weather. I can't wait to get back outside and shoot! Until then I will just continue shooting gorgeous pics inside! ;)

Time to grab my camera and start on todays photo. I think its day 56. Sooooooooo far behind....lol!

Catch up time!

Man this whole taking pictures every day, uploading them and then editing them...is NOT easy. I committed to the 365 Project so I will continue to try and succeed daily. Here are my last 8 days worth of photos including today. Maybe tomorrow I can actually upload and edit and POST it the same day, lol!

37/365

38/365

39/365

42/365

41/365

34/365

35/365

40/365

I am working on story telling. Not so sure I have made any progress but hopefully after 365 days of shooting, I will. My low light has improved which was my main goal so that makes me HAPPY!!!

I had some fun little sessions last week and a couple more next week. They are my 35 & 36 pics. A handsome little guy who modeled for me and a sweet little client that came in for late xmas photos and a first birthday shoot. She was just adorable and made my job super easy. :)

Onto something more personal, I have been working out again only this time my goal is to become super fit and eat much healthier than ever before. After a knee injury, I am now in physical therapy and really missing taking my classes at LA Fitness. I am hoping in 2 weeks I will be well enough to start taking them again. Fingers crossed!!! My kick boxing class is calling and I REALLLLLLLYYYYYYY wanna go! But I go and do the bike and elliptical instead and focus on upper body and abs. Maybe in a couple weeks I can actually do more than 2 pull ups! HAHAHAHA!

While I pray for good health, I also want WARM weather bc I am WAY OVER this winter and single digits. When 35 feels warm, it's very clear it's been TOO COLD! 

Stay warm!

xoxo

High Heels, Toddlers and a Camera...

Good morning! I have decided to make up a FUN, new mini session and offer it to my clients with adorable little toddlers! They must be able to stand up either on their own or by holding your hand. Let's to a dress like mommy or daddy day. It will be a 30 minute session with 1-2 outfits that will resemble your style. I am talking high heels, mommies jewelry, make up, OR ties, loafers and sunglasses, etc....whatever you own to make your little one resemble you for 30 minutes. On location sessions for $125 with up to 20 high res photos via digital download OR in studio session with all the above for $110. You choose! Below are some examples of what I had in mind.

Email me to book your session! Let the FUN begin!!! 

Winter Blues...

Ohhhh winter sure is here. Snow, freezing rain, temperatures below freezing...I am sooooooo ready for summer! Or at least 70 degree weather and the sun shining, lol! This is by far my slowest time of year. I usually get to catch up on editing my personal photos, clean up my computer, do my taxes, ya know all the boring things, lol. I WANT to be shooting sessions, playing with babies, making a mess with a cake smash session BUT people don't come out in this terrible weather. I really don't blame anyone, haha! Sooooooo to help motivate those who would like a session from now thru March 2015, and you are reading this blog post, when you book your session, just mention this code word "winter blues" for a 25% discount off your session total (this can not be applied to prints). Offer must be mentioned at time of booking.

With that said, my little girl turned 4 yesterday. FOUR!!! I can not believe she is 4 already. Everyday I am fortunate enough to stay home with her, play with her, photograph her and really enjoy her being little. It's all these moments that I cherish most. She got some pretty amazing gifts from all her friends and family. She even said she didn't want any more presents because she had enough. LOVE HER!!! Of course once we gave her our gifts, she totally changed her mind, LOL!!!I had her pick out her own cake for her bday, she chose a chocolate cake with oreo icing. It was VERY delish! She shares a bday with her aunt so we all had dinner together at my mother in laws and since we were having a seafood dish, Chloe and Haley decided McD's was a better choice. Kids! It was a nice night. We drank, ate and laughed together. Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves and we even had the chef catch his sweater on fire! I basically freaked out, no surprise there, and without skipping a beat, my mother in law just took her wet glove she still had on her hand while doing dishes and grabbed his arm. Fire went right out. I think I sat there staring in amazement for a while, lol! Fire was prevented and there was no need for stop. drop. and roll. LUCKILY! It was a night to remember for sure!

Today, I've been fighting a terrible left sided headache...I've taken 1200 mg of ibuprofen and you'd think I took nothing. It's amazing how medication just doesn't work sometimes. It may have taken away any knee pain I might have had today but I'd rather deal with that than this debilitating headache. On the bright side, I have PT scheduled for my knee next Tuesday. Time to get this knee back in shape so I can continue my workout routine. I was on a roll!!! I miss my kickboxing class. Gotta give it up to Marci for getting my ass in shape, literally! HAHAHAHA!!!!

Ok time to set up a new bday toy for my Chlo Chlo.

xoxoxo

Chlo Chlo's party!

Yesterday we celebrated Chloe's 4th birthday with her friends and cousin! She had a blast! She chose a glow bowl party and an awesome Olaf cake. We were fortunate enough to have everyone attend despite the nasty weather the night before. Gotta love winter weather, not really. ;)

Here is a pic of the cake bc it was THAT awesome!

cake by Krystal :)

Now I get to look forward to celebrating her actual birthday on Wednesday. I can not believe my little girl is going to be 4. Where in the world has time gone!?!?!?! After these past, almost 4 years, she still struggles to sleep at night and she still is mommy's girl. She frustrates me, angers  me, makes me laugh so hard, makes me wanna rip out my hair and cry, she makes me proud, she is incredibly smart and driven already, a total goofball and challenges me on a daily basis. This child could not be more loved than she already is. I heart that girl more than anything. I see me in her every day. She cleans as well as I did as a child, hardly at all!!! LOL!!!!! She can be the most loving, precious and caring little girl you have ever met. She melts my heart and makes me very happy to be her mommy. To think her toddler stage is coming to an end brings tears to my eyes. As I watch her become more and more independent, I feel like she is slowly slipping away already. And just when I think she doesn't need me, she turns into a needy toddler and wants no one but her mommy. :) I love you, Chloe and I can not wait to give you your awesome gifts this year!