set free photography

New Year, New Blog!

2010-01-10T22:40:00.002-05:00

We've moved..please come with us! Change your bookmarks to:

http://www.setfreephotography.com/blog

To check things out, click here: new blog

We are still a *bit* under construction and things might be changed around for the next few days, but we hope you will enjoy larger sneak peek photos and categories for specific post topics.

Happy New Year!
Stacy

sweet babe

2009-12-29T09:33:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the world, Baby Logan...you have made your beautiful family complete! May you all be blessed!
Love, Stacy

Jaclyn + Daniel = sweet

2009-12-21T16:29:00.002-05:00

Clearly in love, these two just "fit." I adored watching them together...it's going to be one amazing wedding, I can feel it.

{breathtaking baby girl}

2009-12-18T10:44:00.006-05:00

Welcome to the world, sweet, sleepy, cuddly baby Brooke. She was a dream to photograph and hold in my arms. I was thrilled to try out my new handmade cocoon and hat (gotta love etsy.com!) on such a beautiful baby girl. Congrats, Eddie, Christina & Bo...wishing you a Merry Christmas with your new blessing.

Recent Sessions...because I've been slacking on the bloggy blog!

2009-12-17T11:26:00.003-05:00

First up, a gallery idea for Heather, Marion & Gabriel...I love this family and I can't wait to see how much Gabriel changes next year...he is such a doll baby. We first met when he was a few months old, now he is toddling around like crazy!

Erin & Brian...are like my old friends! This was their second annual Holiday Session and we had a blast...Brian even got a gold medal for being so wonderful with poses. Thanks, guys...see you next year!

a sneaky peeky for the lovely couple

2009-12-09T20:37:00.002-05:00

Fun Tri-fold card!

2009-12-08T15:14:00.001-05:00

Left click on this image to view it larger...I love this card!

2009-12-08T09:01:00.001-05:00

We cannot know the grief
That men may borrow;
We cannot see the souls
Storm-swept by sorrow;
But love can shine upon the way
Today, tomorrow;
Let us be kind.
Upon the wheel of pain so many weary lives are broken,
So may our love with tender words be spoken.
Let us be kind.

from Streams in the Desert

The C family...featuring baby Levi

2009-12-05T12:10:00.002-05:00

I had such fun with this family...smiles were so easy to capture from baby Levi, and their level of comfort in front of the camera just made magic! Thanks for a session that was so easy, so fun...a great reminder of why I started taking pictures of precious families. God Bless you guys!

Fun Photo of the Day

2009-12-02T13:07:00.002-05:00

Love, Love, Love these pettiskirts. Thank you, Jen...can't wait to use all three colors!

I have pink, red and white...perfect for Valentine's Day pictures for the little girls who have stolen their Daddy's hearts!

sweet, sleepy Brooks

2009-12-01T12:54:00.002-05:00

This little love just let us snap picture after picture while he slept peacefully away...and I had so much fun with my new prop. Congratulations, Selby family! Brooks is adorable and so cuddly!

The Ellis family = love

2009-11-24T16:50:00.002-05:00

My favorite thing to capture is affection...the kind that comes naturally...the kind you see in these family photos:

S Family Smiles

2009-11-18T20:59:00.004-05:00

{seasonal selection}

2009-11-14T10:43:00.003-05:00

What I am burning in my house right now:

Just had to share my favorite scent from Bath & Body Works with you. I love this scent, it is warm & inviting with just the right amount of sweetness in the air. The vanilla mixed with ginger is just a divine combination. I happened to get this candle 50% off because it is in the old packaging, from the fall line. Check the clearance racks this weekend!

fun with a bun in the oven!

2009-11-10T19:12:00.002-05:00

Had a great time photographing the gorgeous Rodriguez family. Their love and affection is shining through every photograph, reminding me of why I started taking pictures in the first place.

Thanks for a wonderful session, guys...can't wait to meet baby Brooke!

{such a happy couple}

2009-11-06T11:42:00.018-05:00

A gorgeous wedding full of sparkly details...it was perfection! I loved the colors, the elegance, and the bride & groom. Jim & Pam: Congratulations!

Note: left click (not right) on images to view them larger

Wedding Wednesday

2009-11-04T17:03:00.016-05:00

Featuring: Irresistible Confections

Justin, over at Irresistible Confections of Fort Myers has the best handmade chocolate around! We had a photo shoot in preparation for his new store opening, and I thought this was the perfect time to share his work with you...on Wedding Wednesday!

Truffles make a fantastic wedding favor:

And these would be such a sweet gift for your bridesmaids (imagine having trays of these around your hotel room as you get dressed!):

(It has occurred to me that several of my Wedding Wednesday posts have been highlighting food...I am a food lover, what can I say? How can you resist these chocolates?!)

Send these over to the groom while the guys are getting into their tuxedos:

Coordinate fall wedding colors with boxed wedding favors on your tables to match your centerpieces:

A great centerpiece for a candy "bar" at your reception. If I could re-do my wedding, I would add a bar full of bright, colorful candy with glass bowls, silver scoops...it would be fabulous. Did I mention that I have a sweet tooth?

Justin's talent and ideas are endless:

I could take pictures of treats like this all day! It was so much fun...and delicious! For more information, you can reach Justin at: 239-425-2606.
Click here to visit his website: www.irresistibleconfections.com

Irresistible Confections offers their products for Corporate Gifting, Special Events, Gift Baskets & Weddings.

Oh! And, Justin has you covered for Christmas gifts:

precious baby jetta

2009-11-04T12:54:00.002-05:00

Sweet, sleepy girl...Miss Jetta was a dream to photograph. She was easy going and let us work with her without any complaints! Look at her full, ruby red lips! What a beauty she is. Congratulations Savannah & Troy!

The K family...a late night sneak peek

2009-11-02T21:59:00.005-05:00

The pleasure was all mine with this fun-loving family! I was super impressed with the patience they had while I chased Grace around with hats and tutus...thank you, K family for being so wonderful! I am just thrilled for all of you as you celebrate Grace coming home...congratulations!

Taylor Family Photo Shoot

2009-10-30T11:02:00.002-04:00

Fun times with Jeff Taylor, host of the Way Early Show on 88.7 Way FM...we did a family photo shoot downtown yesterday. Jeff, Larisa, Tommy & Kate braved the heat and even layered their outfits! Fashion Friday lives! Check out their examples, they look fantastic...and Jeff was only a leetle bit high maintenance....okay, a LOT. But that's why we LOVE him!

Sneak Peek for baby Asher

2009-10-28T13:10:00.007-04:00

So, I realize it's Wedding Wednesday and I have been slacking. I am hoping that the irresistable baby Asher will make it up to you, my dear brides and others interested in my wedding posts. This little miracle captured my heart and I know he will have the same effect on you. Wedding Wednseday returns next week.

Jen & Perry: Congratulations...you have a beautiful son and your family is so very precious to us. We are thrilled that you are home and have overcome such major obstacles. Wishing you every happiness!

{expecting}

2009-10-24T15:31:00.009-04:00

What a gorgeous family...and so happy together! Thank you guys for your patience, you are wonderful. And stunning!

2009 Holiday Card Collection

2009-10-22T14:42:00.018-04:00

I am thrilled to offer these fresh designs for this year's Holiday Season. Enjoy!

Card 1:

Front:

Inside Spread for Folded Card Option:
reads: "May the season be full of joy & wonder"

Back for flat card option:

Card 2:
reads: "Happy Holidays from our Home to Yours."

Front (option A):

Front: (option B)

Back: solid white or single photo

Card 3:

Front:

Inside Spread (folded card):

Back of folded card:

Card 4:

Option A:

Option B:

Option C:

Note: the back of this card is solid white.

Card 5:

Front:

Inside Spread:
Reads: "A heartfelt Christmas wish of peace & happiness this holiday season."

Back:
Solid White

Card 6:

Folded Front:

Inside Spread:

Back: Solid white or color

Card 7:

Front:

Folded Inside Spread:
(reads: wishing you the happiest of holidays"

Back:

Card 8:
Front:

Inside Spread (folded card option):

Back:

Purses by Braidy Joy!

2009-10-22T10:23:00.012-04:00

I love things handmade, one of a kind...and purses are biggest my weakness in this department! So, when I met Braidy, she was a kindred spirit immediately...a creative, sweet spirit with a line of purses that are better made than what you will find at a department store! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do; her talent is genious!

The line up:
(left click on each picture to get a close-up view of Braidy's perfect detail!)

For more information on these beautiful works of art, visit Braidy's website:
www.braidyjoy.com
Or email here at: braidyjoy@yahoo.com

Let her know that you saw her work on this blog and receive a 10% discount.
Enjoy!

favs of Sam & George

2009-10-21T15:18:00.002-04:00

You two rock, I could feel the love!

Cambodia: the conclusion

2009-10-09T14:07:00.024-04:00

A look into Brothels
The World Relief office is situated right in the brothel district, which is a big reason why the idea for the party came about in the first place. Geof Bowman saw the need for hope in this area, where he works, so he partnered up with Destiny Rescue and the tradition began. As we walked around inviting women to our party, we were able to snap some pictures of the brothels.

Pictured here is a brothel owner. By the grace of God and her strong connection with Jackie, we were allowed some photos inside the actual rooms. On the left you can see her makeshift kitchen.

A bedroom:

Another bedroom (this bed has a thin mattress):

Another bedroom (this one has a sleeping customer):

A child sitting in front of a brothel...her Mom probably works inside. I think this photo tells such a story...it represents children born into brothels. We met many children of prostitutes, and as I looked into the eyes of each child, my heart broke for their life circumstances and the environment that they are learning from.

Party for Prostitutes

The culmination of our trip was upon us: it was Saturday, day of the party. We tied these message of hope on some flowers that were donated by a great lady from our church named Dina.

We kicked things off with a catered lunch:

They serve fish with heads still on and eyes still in. I never did get used to seeing that.

The women ate, and they fed their babies too. I even got to hold the four month old pictured below:

Around 48 local prostitutes were there!

After lunch, a message of hope and the gospel was shared. It was all in Khmer so I didn't understand...but seeing the Bible made me feel right at home.

Here is Steve, passing out flowers to the girls. The tag on them says "Jesus is hope."

Here is Jackie, passing out Bibles to the girls. They are in Khmer, the language of Cambodia.

We loved watching the reaction of the girls!

We had a raffle for prizes:

Some traditional Khmer dancing performed by girls from Destiny Rescue:

We witnessed lots of smiles while playing games:

What a joy to see these girls having laughing and taking a break from a life of prostitution.

After the festivities ended, I watched the prostitutes leave and my heart was so heavy. Here is a mom, holding her child, along a bible and some flowers with the name of Jesus written on the tags...she is on her way back to work at a brothel. I had hope though; hope because these girls just heard the message of Christ's love for them and the redemption they can receive through Him.

Cards were passed out with information for the girls if they wanted counseling & a way out. They were told about opportunities to learn a new trade and hopefully pursue new job. Ten of 48 responded immediately, and hopefully more will as they reflect on their experience.

None of this would have been possible if it weren't for Geof Bowman:

...he was our connection to World Relief and served as our educator, tour guide, and ultimate resource for understanding the Khmer culture. His wisdom inspired us...and we were blessed to hear his ideas, which are now operating programs, working & making sustainable change in Cambodia. Thank you, Geof!

And thank you, readers, supporters, and prayer partners. Your encouragement has fueled this mission more than you will ever know!

Cambodia: the sights

2009-10-07T12:49:00.037-04:00

Walking around the streets of Cambodia, I found so many interesting sights...I couldn't put my camera down for a second. Here are some things you might not find in the US:

Chicken cooking on the side of the road...complete with heads and claws attached. These chickens are clearly not injected with growth hormones, nor are they corn fed on an organic ranch out in the country:

I never found out what this food is, but the presentation of it demanded a photograph. It's one of my favorite pictures and I don't even know why.

Fried frog (not just the legs!)

A group of five on a moto (see if you can spot all five heads!):

A father driving his two older sons to school on a moto:

This sight continued to shock me, though I saw it constantly (the danger!):

Street kids...these rough and tumble boys were running barefoot around the streets, obviously not attending school and fending for themselves. My assumption is that they are orphans.

I couldn't help but think of their future as the leader of the group pointed his toy gun at me. When they ran down the street, all I could do was pray for them.

A house boat...these people fish for a living and live on their boat.

Off to work!

These are linens hanging out to dry, used by a catering company:

A woman offering rice to a Buddhist monk: this is a custom of the Khmer culture. (I was thrilled that this shot came out...I took it from a moving vehicle!)

Cambodia: A new day in Kampong Cham:

You know that I have to talk about breakfast. New fruit of the day: rambutan

It was my favorite fruit...it had the texture similar to a pear. It was sweet & refreshing!

It was our fourth day of the trip, and we were heading to the villages to watch the HOPE program in action. A view from the window on our way to the village:

It's a glorious rice paddy. The vivid green was breath taking!

I loved spending time in the villages and seeing the HOPE program, which is this:
a holistic response to the challenges facing the poorest people in Cambodia, starting with the children. Read more about it by clicking here: hope

We sat in a meeting that was attended by the village chief and some community volunteers. Using illustrations, they learned about human trafficking and what a trafficker might say/look like if they came around offering work to children.

They were also told to report this type of activity to their chief and/or local law enforcement. I was intrigued by the chief; he was so focused and visibly cared for his people. I could feel the responsibility that he felt while learning about human trafficking prevention. Here he is, participating in the class:

Here is me, with a HOPE educator. I couldn't pronounce her name or even begin to spell it but she was lovely and told me that her husband is one of her volunteers.

Village people are generally naive and trusting. Many people have never been outside of their village, and some young children were afraid of our white skin...to the point of tears! This is the second child that cried at the sight of me:

Here are some village kids that weren't afraid...they were very curious!

One of the most random things we saw was clothing with English writing on it. Most of the time the phrases didn't make sense...this one did but obviously this young man didn't know what it said:

The Hope Program for kids uses creative songs, drama and puppetry to teach children about preventative health and morality.

This puppet show was teaching kids about hygiene, specifically how to properly clean their fingernails so they don't spread germs to their eyes, nose and mouth. They also learned about the hazards of playing in stagnant water.

They loved it!

The HOPE program has support for children, teens, adults and people infected with HIV AIDS. Seeing the program at work was a fantastic experience and will clearly bring sustainable change to the Khmer people. Many villagers have become Christians and are motivated by their faith to start cell groups--there are currently 350 cell groups reaching out to the community, bringing compassion and hope.

Thank for your reading my continuing story of my journey to Cambodia. I am thrilled to share it with you!

My third and final post, Cambodia: The Conclusion, will post tomorrow. I will post photos from our prostitute party and some of the worst living conditions I've ever seen. Thanks again for reading!

While you wait for Post #2, some of my fav photos:

2009-10-05T16:22:00.001-04:00

Cambodia: the whole journey

2009-10-04T16:54:00.031-04:00

What a privilege it was to travel to Cambodia with my dear friends, Steve & Jackie. We experienced eight full days of new sights, experiences, food & culture. It was a lot to take in...I have been reflecting a lot on the trip and trying to decide how to write about it. I am going to just walk you through, from beginning to end...I don't want you to miss a thing!

Part One: On Our Way

It was my first time on a two-story plane...I am dying to know what the top floor looks like. For a mere $2000, I could have upgraded to first class and found out for myself. But I didn't.

After a 12 hour flight to Seoul, Korea, we were ready for a refreshing cup of green tea...here is Jackie, ready to enjoy. We thought the tea bag was so fancy.

Only it wasn't what we expected:

Turns out, green tea in Korea = seaweed.
ps. Jackie gave me permission to show her reaction of disgust!

Moving on...next we had a five hour flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Here is a shot from the skies above Seoul:

26 hours from beginning to end...we finally made it...and we were thrilled to find that our hotel had a restaurant attached. After a good night's sleep, we had breakfast...not your typical American style:

Rice, chicken, cucumbers, soup, veggies, jasmine tea, and one fried egg. It was actually pretty good!

We took in the sights before heading to the World Relief Office. The thing that I noticed first was all of the garbage. It lines the streets and makes me appreciate garbage day in a whole new way!

This lovely lady is on her way to work...she is a street vendor who makes and sells food on the city streets. As you can see, she is carrying her cooking utensils, etc with her. I just love her bright smile.

Here is a mini "wat," or Buddhist temple, which can be found all over the streets, often with insence burning in them.

Phnom Penh was a bustling city with lots of traffic and no real rules to the road. This stop sign was pretty comical; as you can see, it is totally ignored.

We went to the World Relief Office and met with Joke, who is an inspiration. She is the founder and director of the Hope Program, which began as a child development initiative, and has grown to include cell church planting and AIDS ministry. We were able to see all of this in action, and it was very powerful...providing lots of hope, just like it's name!

Check out the World Relief: Cambodia website by clicking here: World Relief

Next, we traveled to Kampong Cham, where we would stay for the next four days. The journey there was full of interesting sites, like this:

This is a common site...you see, the seats in this taxi are cheaper on the roof.

We saw temple, after temple, after temple:

Part Two: Kampong Cham & Friends Forever

Breakfast in our favorite restaurant, called "Smile." We went there all four days that we were in Kampong Cham.

Some things never change, no matter what developing country you are in:

It was such fun to order the fruit plate each day and find new & exotic fruits to try. Here is our first fruit plate:

A closer look at the longan:

Steve thought it looked like an eyeball:

Steve is one of the funniest guys I know. He is hil-arious.

We set out on the town with our new friends, Martha & Mlis, who both work for World Relief:

From left: Mlis, Martha & Jackie

God opened a door for us to visit a Girls' home at Destiny Rescue, where girls are rescued from abusive situations; some that involve human trafficking. Visitors are not usually permitted there and the locations are undisclosed, so we felt very blessed to be able to spend some time with these precious girls.

Remember the bracelets we made? Here they are, in action:

It was so touching to tie these bracelets on each girl, encouraging them by telling them that someone back in the US was wearing a match to their bracelet and praying for them. When one of the teachers at the home chose her bracelet, I was in tears as I recognized that it was the match to my husband's. Telling her that he was praying for her was a moment that I will cherish forever.

To learn more about Destiny Rescue, click here: Destiny Rescue. To donate specifically to the location we visited, go to ‘General Donations,' and put ‘Kampong Cham Girls’ Homes’ in the comments box. Joel & Chloe, the program directors, will see that your donation makes a difference in the lives of these sweet girls.

Check out some of their artwork:

For obvious reasons, I can't post pictures of the girls we met, but believe me when I tell you that they were sweet, beautiful children and when they hugged me, I did not want to let go. Meeting them was the absolute highlight of my trip.

Next up:
We Invite Prostitutes to a Party!

Our church, Christian Life Fellowship sponsored a party that was put together by World Relief & Destiny Rescue. We were very excited to be a part of this, as it would be the second party to date and last year's party was very successful.

Here is the invitation:

Jackie & I set out to the brothel district, with Mlis & Martha...we went in groups of two so that we could draw interest (with our white skin) and translate (the Khmer language). We were hand in hand, praying the whole way for wisdom and guidance. Here you can see the invitations and bible tracts we passed out in Mlis' hands.

Here are Jackie & Mlis, in front of a brothel. I have blurred out the faces of the prostitutes...in an effort to protect their privacy. These women are human beings, mothers, sisters, with no other means of making a living. Some of them were trafficked & tricked into this trade.

Martha and I found this group of women & children eating. They offered me a seat and a portion of their rice...their generosity astounded me, especially knowing the kind of work they have to do to feed their babies.

Jackie had a special bond with this woman and her daughter. We learned that she ran away from home as a teenager, because she was being abused. She is working to support herself, her child, and her younger siblings. She had never heard the name of Jesus until she came to our party.

All of the women that we invited to the party said they would come, and we were very excited!

Stay tuned for the continuing story. Tomorrow I will post about the sights, the villages we visited, the HOPE program and more.

Thank you for reading!

heading to Cambodia!

2009-09-18T12:43:00.006-04:00

I am super blessed with an opportunity to serve with World Relief in Cambodia! I am heading out on Sunday with a team consisting of my dear friends Jackie & Steve. We are hoping to reach women and children involved in the sex slave trade as well as human trafficking victims. We will be inviting them to a party where they can learn about the hope and love offered to them by a Savior, Jesus Christ.

Also, we will be teaching a craft to girls already in a safe house, and hearing about the healing in their lives. I can't wait to document our trip with photographs!

We have also made almost 400 prayer bracelets, 200 of which will be given to girls in Cambodia. Each bracelet has a match, one for a girl in Cambodia and one for a prayer partner back here in the States. We are so very excited to let them know that someone is wearing a matching bracelet and is praying for them individually. Here are the 200 going to Cambodia:

If you think of us, please pray...that God would use us for His purpose, and that the captives would be set free.

{a natural}

2009-09-17T21:07:00.009-04:00

Chandler is not only a natural beauty, she was a natural in front of the camera! So comfortable and confident with her smiles, her poses and her moody look. I think I must have said "whoa!" and "wow!" and "you go, girl!" more than a few times from behind my lens.

See what I mean? Gorgeous! Those eyes!

Those long lens...she is a super model.

Chandler, I wish I could pull that outfit off. I saw a sign on "What not to Wear" that read: "No Mini Skirts After 35." Thank the good Lord that I have a few more years before hitting 35, but these rules...they kill me.

This next photo is SO 'American Eagle' right now. Have you seen the AE store fronts lately with the collage of vintage-y photos? This photo belongs up there:

ps. I belong on their photography set (I wish!)

Finally, a little black dress:

Chandler, please remember me when you are famous. Thank you.

it's wedding wednesday!

2009-09-16T17:26:00.012-04:00

spotlight on: shoes (yay!)

www.heels.com $149.99 shoe by Badgley Mischka

These days, there are weddings shoes for every style & budget...allow me to walk you through some of my favorite finds:

For the beach wedding: bridal flip flops! At $52, comfort can be yours!

www.advantagebridal.com

Ballet Slippers with a starburst of czech crystals for the romantic:

$298 www.jcrew.com

A fabulous wedge from Hale Bob (I am a wedge girl...love them!)

$110 www.heels.com

If you recognize these shoes, then you know who Carrie Bradshaw is. And your wedding day won't be complete without them:

...and you will have your 'something' blue, which is all the rage when it comes to shoes. Blue wedding shoes are the it thing at the moment.
www.manolablahnik.com *I couldn't find a price for these*

If you have no budget to adhere to, and if you love swarovksi crystals, and if bling-bling is your thing, and if today is Wednesday, than you should have a look at these:

$2965 designer: christian louboutin

We have Stewart Weitzman to thank for these:

Finally, here we have a splash of yellow (which I personally love.) If I could re-do my wedding just to wear these yellow shoes, I would. Well, maybe orange...either way, they they would be bright, and fabulous!

Thanks for visiting...let me know the next topic that you would like to see on Wedding Wednesday! I'm here to help, and I just need a reason to purchase another bridal magazine. They are addicting.

{precious pregancy}

2009-09-14T13:35:00.003-04:00

(left-click on photo to view it larger)

A sneak peek for Jen & Perry, the very photogenic, soon-to-be parents of baby Asher. I loved snapping these pictures of a couple so in love, during such an exciting time in their lives. Jen was having contractions during our shoot, so it won't be long before baby Asher makes his debut on the blog!

Saturday Sneak Peek for the B family

2009-09-12T16:36:00.001-04:00

we remember

2009-09-11T10:38:00.002-04:00

In lieu of Fashion Friday, I'd like to take a moment and remember the victims, their families, and the heroes of 9-11. You are still in our prayers.

Eight years ago, on 9-11, my baby girl was just 5 days old...she woke me up early that morning so I flipped on the tv, still groggy and hoping to fall back asleep on the couch after feeding her. It was around 6am (pacific time) and Brandon was still sleeping...we were living in a little one bedroom apartment in Las Vegas, excited about having just become parents.

I sat in utter shock as I watched the news, panicked at the thought of bringing a child into this world. Tears wouldn't stop for days after that...having just had baby didn't help control my emotions!.

How about you? Where we you when you got the news of the terrorist attack?

Wedding Wednesday is back!

2009-09-09T11:10:00.002-04:00

focus on: Cupcakes!

If you haven't noticed yet, cupcakes are all the rage these days, especially for weddings. I'm not talking about any old cupcakes made from a box and slathered with frosting...I am talking about couture cupcakes--works of art that are hand-crafted by gourmet bakers/artists. Today I bring you a sampling from around the world. Be prepared to be amazed.

First up: Sugarbloom Cupcakes!

Are you in love yet? Sugarbloom is owned by Bev, and located in Perth, Australia. I found her on flickr--I saw a thumbnail of that very first photo above and was instantly intrigued...I got lost browsing her stream. I mean, did you see that black bow and rhinestone buckle? Wow! I will say it again...wow!!

Just look at these fabulous floral designs:

Bev is an amazing inspiration for new concepts and super creative ideas...check out her delicious looking "tall" cupcake:

And for the bride & groom that still want to cut the cake, Bev has you covered:

To view more of Bev's beautiful work, check out her website here:
www.sugarbloomcupcakes.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Bev for allowing me to show off your work! :)

Next, we travel to Durban, South Africa where the lovely Zahirah is creating gorgeous cupcakes in all of my favorite colors!

Ms. Z's company is called cupcake d'lights and they truly are a delight to look at...I can only imagine how delicious they taste! Her style is whimsical and feminine...she even does shabby chic!

I can imagine how thrilled the bride was that ordered these:

(I wonder if they looked even better than the actual bouquets?!)

Here is a great centerpiece idea:

And a nice, classic design:

You can view more of this edible art here:
www.cupcakedlights.blogspot.com

Thank you, Zahirah for your permission to post your photos on my blog!

Thank you for reading my Wedding Wednesday post. I hope to have brought you some great ideas and inspiration from these talented artists!

Ever have a day like this?

2009-09-08T22:35:00.004-04:00

I have been having lots of days where I hang my head and think of how long my wonderful clients have been waiting for their proofs. Thank you all for your patience and kindess. I am digging out of my editing hole, slowly but surely! I am very optomistic about finishing up a bunch of galleries this week...and I will be in touch asap!

Now, I present: another late-night sneak peek for the very patient, very lovely Kim! I loved spending my morning with you and your family in Punta Gorda. The water shots are my favorite--they are coming soon! Here are a few to start things off:

can't get enough of {their} love

2009-09-07T22:55:00.000-04:00

Late night sneak peek!

2009-08-26T22:17:00.003-04:00

Super fun H family...loved all of the smiles and laughter. We were so lucky to have just enough time to shoot inbetween the downpours!

{sweet little fighter}

2009-08-25T18:26:00.007-04:00

Sneak Peek for baby Jacob!

This little guy had a rough start but he is one strong, sweet soul! It was my pleasure to hold him and oh, what a dream to photograph. He even gave us a smile:

Thank you, Jessy for the opportunity to spend time with you and your little miracle. He is somethin special!

The blog: Weekend Edition, Part 1

2009-08-22T21:13:00.010-04:00

Disclaimer:
All photos within this post were taken using my iphone. I don't even claim to know how to properly use the thing, as my thumb can be found in 50% of the pictures taken with it...thankfully, I salvaged the following to share with you!

Okay, here we go...
On our way home from Maine, we stopped in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with our new pals, Jay & Silva. We love them. They suggested that we stop for lunch at the Portsmouth Brewery. Here they are with Brandon:

At the brewery, I enjoyed the best cup of clam chowder I have ever had. Ever.

I had never been to New Hampshire and found Portsmouth charming! The signs on either side of the door say: "Portsmouth 1817." Old cities thrill me, as I am seriously lacking history here. I think my town was founded last year.

We happened to be there when these "tall ships" were also there, drawing quite a crowd! Here is one of a few that we saw:

Near the tall ships, we encountered these enormous piles of steel (try to ignore my thumb at the top of the photo):

I found an explanation for the enormous pile!

I was excited to find explanations for the piles...and not sure how I feel about our garbage being shipped off to Europe. It's just kind of disconcerting. We saw things like refrigerators, weed eaters and tire rims among the piles...strange to see where that stuff ends up.

And your final bit of trivia for the day:
New Hampshire is known as "The Granite State." They even make their curbs out of granite!

Stay tuned for the Weekend Edition, Part 2: Boston!

p.s. Jay and Silva, thanks for the ride and for being so kind to us. We hope to see you again soon and explore Boston with you! You two are fabulous.
p.p.s. Please forgive me for that blurry photo of you guys. I think I was a little distracted eating the best chowder of my life.

Fashion Friday!

2009-08-21T13:50:00.004-04:00

Fun fall colors, layers, hats and stripes!

I would like to emphasize the hats here...they are just adorable. I love the way a hat frames in the face of a little one. It just does something to the eyes that makes them pop, especially when the colors are all complimentary.

I hope these suggestions help as you plan your fall and winter sessions--think Christmas Cards!

Photos from the childrensplace.com

On the walls at the Baby Love Birth Center!

2009-08-21T13:32:00.002-04:00

Recognize this place?

It's the Baby Love Birth Center on Del Prado in Cape Coral...the BEST place to have your baby in a warm, inviting, home-like atmosphere. And we are on the walls in three rooms! Here is the main area:

Making their debut:
Baby Dane (feet)
Baby Roman (mr. eyelashes)
Baby Sydnie x2

Not pictured here but also on the walls are:
Baby Dane (more than just feet)
The sweet belly of Julie D.
The sweet bellies of both Ben and Julie P.
Baby Adrianna (in the form of a birth announcement)

Special thanks to Braidy Joy and Samantha for this wonderful opportunity. We are so very blessed by your kindness and thoughtfulness!

Welcome to Wedding Wednesday!

2009-08-18T21:41:00.009-04:00

Focus on: boutonnieres!

As your resource for all things hip & trendy in the world of weddings, I am thrilled to present you with the fantastic and amazing work of Erin Rosenow & Fino Fresh Floral Designs.

We'll start with Erin's work...it is beyond creative...it's innovative! I am in awe of her ideas, they are so 'out of the box'!

!Beth! Are you out there? That flower pot reminded me of you!

And to my Oregonian friends...don't you think grooms would go crazy over that deer?

I personally loved that sailboat boutonniere...it reminds me of the last wedding I shot it Camden, Maine, where I left my heart!

The best thing about these boutonnieres is that
1. they will last forever
2. they are personalized to your groom!

For more information, check out
www.rosenowfloral.com
Erin Rosenow
Serving the San Fransisco Bay area
415.424.7437

Next up, I bring you the breath-taking talent of Fino Fresh Floral Design. Their work is fresh, fun and just plain gorgeous!

Okay, I know that hanging flower pot is not a boutonniere, but I couldn't resist. I mean, look the sliced fresh fruit! Wow!

Back to business:

Check out the striped ribbon (swoon!):

Ack! Another hanging pot found it's way over here! I must attract them!

Okay, I have to throw in some bouquets.

Did I ever tell you that I love color, and orange is my favorite at the moment?

Or that ribbon makes me swoon, especially the polka-dotted sort!?

For more information on these floral designs, visit: www.finofreshdesign.com

Fino Fresh Floral Design
953 Main Street Melrose MA 02176
Store Phone: (781) 665-3800

*Special thanks to Erin Rosenow Floral and Fino Fresh Floral Designs for permission to show their work off on my leetle blog.

Miss Morgan is 6!

2009-08-18T16:47:00.004-04:00

A sneak peek for a beautiful young lady...Miss Morgan! Morgan, I loved taking your pictures--you are a sweet as pie, and so much fun to be around. Thank you for showing me the Hoe Down Throw Down dance! You rock, girly!

I have a new favorite announcement!

2009-08-18T11:23:00.000-04:00

Destination Wedding: Camden, Maine

2009-08-14T21:05:00.013-04:00

{a wedding to remember; a wedding purely about love}

Meet Glen & Lizette, the happy couple!

While driving up to Camden, Brandon and I had the privilege of riding with the bride and groom. We chatted about all kinds of things, but the most memorable conversation was when we talked about having a 'better side' when taking pictures. Lizette asked Glen what his better side is. His repsonse was simple:
"You."
*swoon*

Beauty surrounded us the entire time. Here is just an idea of the charm in Camden...this is where Lizette and her girls got ready for the wedding:

The ceremony was at the beautiful Camden library, overlooking a bay. Or is that a harbor?

Father and sons...these handsome characters had me laughing!

Mother and daughters...you can see how close these gorgeous girls are.

Lizette's favorite type of picture (mine, too!):

One of my favorite wedding guests, Danielle, typed this message to the bride and groom on an antique typewriter:

The ribbon on the typewriter was not super dark...the message reads:
"congrats glen & lizette, married august 8, 2009."

When I saw this photo, I gasped...the love in Glen's eyes is unmistakable.

Glen & Lizette,
Congratulations! You are such a beautiful couple...so apparently in love and at ease with one another. I wish you every happiness, much laughter and a legacy of love to be left to your children. Your wedding was so special to us; thank you for inviting us to be a part of your day.

fashion friday!

2009-07-31T14:47:00.003-04:00

all about layers
If you are wondering how to dress your kids for your next session, here is a fun, colorful example courtesy of the Gap.

It's everything that I adore on children for photos:
hats.
stripes.
layers.
fun, bright shoes.
tights.
layers.
plaid.
layers.
did I mention layers?

Check back here every Friday for more fashion posts to answer the question of the ages:
"what should we wear for our photo shoot?"

random posts are my fav

2009-07-30T11:53:00.010-04:00

While my friend, Miss Aliss, was here, we made matching bracelets:

We had extra flower charms, so I threw one on this chain that I love. (it's from Cookie Lee, it doesn't tarnish and it is adjustable. I wear it with every charm I own. I have never been to a Cookie Lee party...I got it on ebay. Don't tell Cookie Lee.)

I can't wait to wear the combo with my skirt that was sold as a shirt:

My daughter/professional color consultant pointed out that a few brown beads would have really pulled it all together. (sigh.) She is going to be so much better than me.

Oh, and here what Miss Aliss looks like for all inquiring minds that want to know (she's a beauty):

Next, we found these fabulous pendants at Michael's on clearance for $1.99 (yep, same chain):

Totally reminds me of this bag that I tote around from the Gap:

I just realized how predictable I am. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing...

Our last purchase was over at Kohl's...more clearance. Picked these up for $3.20:

These are a little out of my comfort zone but I like how they can pair with a tank top and dress things right up! My hubby is not a fan of this necklace. Come to think of it, he isn't a fan of any chunky jewelry. Good thing he isn't wearing it!

Miss Aliss went home to pack up her life and move from Kansas City back to Oregon...and I still had the jewelry-making itch. So I made this with some beads that I bought a while back (can I just say that it is extremely easy to string beads on some elastic...and the immediate gratification gives one such a feeling of accomplishment!):

Sadly, Brandon is not a fan of this one either. I wish you could see his face of disgust...but it's not enough to keep this off of my wrist!

And to end my week-long jewelry obsession, I bring you this:

It's my favorite. It's from Kohl's. It was missing a bead so I got 10% off. And Brandon likes it! *applause*

Thank you for reading my random post. Tomorrow I will get back to something that relates to photography. Promise.

New favorite announcement!

2009-07-23T22:44:00.001-04:00

Luca the Cute!

2009-07-20T12:28:00.002-04:00

This blue-eyed smiley baby boy had me giddy with giggles as I observed and photographed him. At 8 months old, he was such a pleasure to work with--he held up in the heat while the rest of us were drenched in sweat! Luca, I hope to photograph you as you grow up and make more visits to Florida...you sweet thing!

what I was up to in California

2009-07-15T20:18:00.012-04:00

I photographed and staged cake pops for "Just a Bite Cake Pops" in many colors, flavors and themes.

My favorite tasting pop is a tie between carrot cake and chocolate with toasted coconut:

My favorite looking pop:

My favorite presentation of a pop:

My favorite presentation of a pop top (another tie):

...and a few more

I had a wonderful time working with (eating) these beautiful desserts. The colors and textures were inspiring, and the ideas were endless for presenting the cake pop in all kinds of settings--holiday, birthday, bridal, etc. My very favorite photo was of the "cake pop tops" at the beginning of the post. The rainbow (aka ROYGBIV...right, Mindy?) was inspired by my daughter, whose rainbows are always technically correct!

If you are looking for a fun and different gift or treat for any occasion, the cake pop is the way to go! Mindy ships anywhere! Her website is: www.justabitecakepops.com. Go there now by clicking here.

Sophia is One!

2009-07-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

Wishing you a fun first birthday, sweet girl!

Set Free on the walls at First Choice!

2009-07-07T13:32:00.002-04:00

We are thrilled to announce that our work is being displayed at First Choice Pregnancy Center in Cape Coral!

Making their debut:
Baby Sophia
Baby Will
Baby Anna

A special thanks to Melissa and Carol for helping make this happen. We think your work is so very important and are thankful that you are in the community making a difference!

'H' family sneak peek!

2009-06-30T17:06:00.005-04:00

I love using the vintage feel on beach photos...there will be several color options to choose from, but I had to debut these this way!

lotsa limes

2009-06-22T15:08:00.002-04:00

We have a bag fulla limes from a local tree...first, I photographed them. Then I made a key lime pie. Now I still have at least 30 limes. Call me if you want some!

The Furious Five

2009-06-20T23:15:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I have Kung-Fu Panda on the brain. The following five are not furious. More like fabulous:

Or should we just call this AWESOMENESS? (there is no charge!)

Okay, okay...no more Kung Fu.

Let's get serious. Haagen Dazs, you rock my world with your new branding, your lack of preservatives & high fructose corn syrup. This whole "five" thing really caught my eye in frozen foods. Look at the simplicity. The two precious little coffee beans, and the list of ingredients. I love everything about this:

There is no better ice cream than this. None! I have tested the waters, and this is the. best. ever. Best texture, flavor, consistency, best ingredients, best everything. Unless you are pregnant and all your diet consists of is Cherry Garcia flavor from Ben & Jerry's. (sorry, Haagen Dazs...but it was only nine months, and then I came crawling back.) Call me crazy, but I feel so much better about ridiculous amounts of ice cream when I can pronounce everything on the ingredient list!

Smiley Sydnie

2009-06-19T19:01:00.002-04:00

{the family that plays together, stays together}

2009-06-15T21:39:00.006-04:00

Meet the 'M' family!

...they had me laughing! Here we have Dawn and Tim:

I can hear your request to see their facial expressions a little closer. This is the best:

Next up, their sweet kiddos:

Mr. Handsome:

The comedian:

The super-star:

You guys were awesome...thank you for one fun session! I had a blast!

sweet baby Roman

2009-06-13T18:33:00.004-04:00

Handsome, charming and eyelashes that made me swoon...introducing baby Roman. Congrats, Joel, Joanne and Sloane!

is it raining?

2009-06-13T09:35:00.003-04:00

Is it raining, little flower?
Be glad of rain;
Too much sun would wither one;
It will shine again.
The clouds are very dark, it's true;
But just behind them shines the blue.

Are you weary, tender heart?
Be glad of pain;
In sorrow, sweetest virtues grow,
As flowers in rain.
God watches, and you will have sun,
When clouds their perfect work have done.
-Lucy Larcom

Graduation Pops!

2009-06-10T17:33:00.005-04:00

To celebrate my son's pre-school graduation, we made cake pops featuring his school colors (red, white & blue), in these combinations:

We used strawberry cake just to shake things up...it's my new favorite. As I write this, I am closing my eyes and saying "yummm."

What's that you say? You need a closer look at the texture and yumminess? Here you go:

Of course, my daughter wanted to bring some cake pops to her class, so she made some heart decorations and we made pops in the only colors I had left: yellow, red and of course brown from the milk chocolate.

Ten points if you can recognize the stamp set that the cap & heart are from! (Sorry, Val...you can't play...too easy for you!)

And for those of you that are going to attempt these delicious desserts, I have found some very helpful and cute "pinch bowls" that make dipping a delight!

Did you notice the pour spouts?! Yes, I am one pampered chef. ha-ha! These bowls even come with lids, so if you don't want to waste any left over candy coating, you can just stick the bowls in the fridge for future use! I did...but only for one day because I couldn't stand for those bowls to be out of circulation in my kitchen. Here is the lid:

Next up, lemon cake pops!

Knitting 101

2009-06-05T13:50:00.006-04:00

I thought I would be done knitting after my computer was fixed. Then I made this:

I call this the learning scarf. Because about half way through knitting it, I decided to just try out the stockinette stitch. In no particular order, I made several rows of the stockinette stitch, then went back to the knit stitch, and just pretty much did whatever I felt like. I am not very systematic.

Here is a closer look at each stitch:

The stockinette stitch is achieved by knitting one row, and then "purling" the next. The purl stitch is basically a knit stitch facing backward--both stitches are just loops, only when you purl, you push the loop through, rather than pulling it through (knit). The back of the stockinette stich reveals all of the bumpy "purls."

Mostly, I like to fold it up and look at my achievement, like so:

Then I thought I would give the "rib stitch" a whirl. This is knit with one skein of cotton yarn, dyed a buncha colors (so it looks like I am using more than one color of yarn. It's basically cheating):

I wanted to try it out on a solid, bright color. I chose orange...because it was on clearance. This yarn is polyester. The nice thing about the rib stitch is that it is s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y and therefore great for hats and things that might need a little room to stretch.
Aren't those hands the cutest hands ever?

This orange one is a work in progres, as I rarely have enough time on my hands to complete five rows in a single sitting. But, it is a nice way to relax by the pool and then laugh at the irony of knitting a scarf in 85 degree weather with 100% humidity. Knitting relaxes me, besides, I can plenty of family members up north that will receive scarves this year for Christmas. I think this is a great head start!

ps. if you are reading this and you are a family member that lives up north, just forget that last part.

beauty at every turn

2009-06-02T23:35:00.004-04:00

from a beautiful wedding in Sarasota, at the Ringling Brother's Museum...this wedding day was like a dream come true!

Thank you, Tibor for such a fantastic opportunity!

backwards.

2009-05-30T12:21:00.003-04:00

before.

after:

I know, my "before" and "after photos are backwards. The truth is that I still have a lot to learn with knitting "in the round" which was what I attempted to do here with this cocoon. The back of it was full of holes, so I took the whole thing apart. Now I am back to square one, which is staring at some really colorful yarn that is fun to look at, even if it's just in a ball on my couch!

my new ring

2009-05-28T16:26:00.007-04:00

It's so pretty, I had to photograph it.

There is a little story behind the ring, or I wouldn't bring it up. So...here we go...it's a Lucky Brand ring.

I visit the Lucky Brand jewelry pretty often at the department store that I pass six times a day, five days a week. (It's called Belk. think Macy's.) I usually look at the jewelry and then balk at the prices, saying things like "I would never pay THAT for a bracelet!" Or, "Ridiculous!" Or, "Maybe when those earrings go on clearance for 75% off...maybe then, I will buy them!" And then I walk away, feeling offended and disgusted at retail and ask myself why I even bothered coming in here? Then I saw this ring. I liked it. I liked it a lot.

It was $38.00 BUT! I decided to wait for clearance, and hopefully even the additional 30-50% percent that comes off during "red dot" events. I visited my ring once a week or so, even tried it on a lot until one day it was....gone. I thought I'd get over it. But look at this swirly detail:

I kept thinking about it. (I can't believe I am admitting to this.) I went to another Belk...and Macy's and Dillards. Nowhere to be found. Then I visited ebay. Found her for $26.99, with free shipping. Yay for ebay! When it came in the mail, I rejoiced, until I looked at the RED DOT price on the back of the tag.

$18.99. Not to mention, perhaps an additional 30-50% off!

It's okay. I got over it in about thirty seconds, especially when I realized that I can pair my ring with my new nailpolish!

If you think I'm nuts, I don't blame you.
In fact, I will agree with you.

{history}

2009-05-26T16:51:00.005-04:00

I found a stream of photos on flickr from the Library of Congress that intrigued me so much that I had to share them here. I am highlighting two that really stuck with me for different reasons entirely. First, I want to say how much I admire the work of photographers that documented such times as the Great Depression and World War II. The feel of black and white film, the way expressions are captured, the details of life that are so foreign to us...it's all so emotional.

Above is a photo of an anonymous 32 year old mother of seven children. A destitute California peapicker, the look of desperation is so evident in her eyes. The next thing that strikes me is that her children are hiding from the camera. I wonder what became of them after this photo was taken, 73 years ago.

Next, a photo of a general store in Moundville, Alamaba taken in the summer of 1936. I recognized something immediately...let me know what hits you first!

Was it the cases of shotgun shells? For me, it was the Coca-Cola sign. I am utterly in awe of the Coca-Cola branding...the fact that is still recognizable in 2009...is just brilliant. (Note to self: quit changing logo and be more like the Coca-Cola company.)

To see the entire collection of photos from the Library of Congress, click here:
flickr

wall displays (are awesome)

2009-05-23T12:06:00.003-04:00

If you are a visual person (like me), then these wall display examples will be some serious eye candy for you! I am thrilled that the dog and couch give some perspective to how large the photos are. The black and white set are all 16x24, and the large photos on the color version are a whopping 24x36. These can be viewed with mattes, too--the possibilities are endless!

If you would like to see your pictures plugged in, let me know and I will set it right up for ya.

announcement fun!

2009-05-23T12:00:00.001-04:00

the other side of the lens

2009-05-18T11:07:00.013-04:00

It's not my favorite place to be. I admit, I am a nightmare to photograph and my husband will be the first to agree. I am beyond critical of the angle from which my photo is taken...I tend to look really, really strange if I am looking & smiling a certain way that closes one eye more than the other. Unfortunately for Brandon (us), I needed a headshot for my networking group...so the photoshoot began:

My feeling on the whole headshot thing:

I would really rather submit a photo with a natural expression like this:

Or this:
(don't look at it too long)

Then I decided to try a different shirt...and I didn't end up loving it, but here are some out-takes for your entertainment.

Yes, I photoshopped myself, why do you ask?

After about 100 shots and a wrestling match between my husband and me (and not the cute, flirty type), here is the final product:

only I didn't take my own advice to wear long sleeves so I threw some on digitally. Have I mentioned how much fun it is to digitally dress myself?

so here is the final, final product:

And what I've learned from this experience is not profound or anything remotely reflective on my personality or approach to having my photograph taken. It's this: I have really white teeth. No photoshopping required on those babies!

Anyone need a headshot? We can wrestle until we get it right. That's how committed I am.

{precious life}

2009-05-14T10:02:00.006-04:00

Introducing baby Dane...welcome to the world! You have two wonderful parents who love you dearly. Congratulations, Brie and Will, he is perfect.

More to come, but for now...here is one shot, three ways. I don't know which I like best!

Update: couldn't stop:

a sneak peek for Caleb, the cool

2009-05-11T22:29:00.002-04:00

I was super excited when I met Caleb...he was dressed in his prom tux for some formal shots! A first for me! We weathered some scattered showers and only had to run for cover a few times...ha! Those dimples and blue eyes were all fabulous, along with some great clothes and a natural in front of the camera. Caleb, you make my job too easy. I played with a lot of vintage colors here...these shots just lend themselves to some texture and desaturated color. Enjoy.

{sweetness}

2009-05-09T11:33:00.002-04:00

This brought tears to my eyes:

Handmade flowers stuck in a can of play-doh are the best. gift. ever. Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there!

{random Tuesday}

2009-05-05T20:01:00.017-04:00

I was helping my Mom upload some photos from her camera the other day when I stumbled across this gem:

This is my favorite photo of us for so many reasons...mostly, it's the pure candid nature of our expressions that makes me love it. Also, it reminds me of how Brandon just cracks me up, and how comfortable we are with each other. Finally, it makes me think of love. Love, love, love.

Then I get all reflective and think that this is the style of photography that I strive to achieve, but is so difficult to "direct." I am always thrilled when I photograph people that act naturally and allow these moments to unfold during a session.

My final thought: this photo deserves a title! I think that I will name it "captured" because that is exactly what happened...my Mom captured a moment in time that just happened, that actually happens a lot...but is so rarely caught!

Next on my random post, a photo called: Praise

She is full of praise, song and dance. She truly has the gift of worship and was recently asked to help lead worship at church. (tears a-flowin')

My final photo (and if this isn't random, I don't know what is!):
My basil plant. It is special because Tashia bought it for me during her visit and it has nearly tripled in size. I wanted her to see it. This photo is entitled: "Thriving"

So far, I have chopped up some of the leaves for lasagna but pesto is next on the list!

There ya have it, a few photos and stories from my life. Now, please excuse me while I go watch American Idol and silently thank the inventors of the dvr. I don't even know what commercials are anymore.

Wayfest...aka WOWfest!

2009-05-01T16:16:00.013-04:00

Not only did I attend my first Christian concert last weekend, I was asked to photograph my first Christian concert by Jeff Taylor at Way FM. It was one exciting experience! I had to remember to take pictures instead of jump up and down when the Newsboys rocked the house! Here is our photo documentary of the event...readysetgo:

First, we were invited to the meet and greet and were able to get autographs. I wasn't prepared, and all I had on me was my all access pass. I like to say "all access" because it makes me feel special. Check it out:

Next, we watched our friends Jeff and Steve sign autographs using the shots we took a few days before. It was thrilling to see my work being signed and sent home with fans!

I introduced my pal, Kyannah to Jeff Taylor--she really wanted to meet him, so it was all very exciting. Just ignore my weird smile and focus on sweet Kyannah. Or you can check out the zoom lens I am holding, which weighs more than a toddler.

Then we took some fun shots of the equipment on stage...these are some of my favorite shots!

Then we snapped some pics of the stuff for sale outside the concert doors. I wanted more than a few T-shirts!

Then the music started and I was right next to a speaker, looking through my heavy zoom lens. The noise shook my very bones! It was loud, but worth these shots. Brandon and I worked the room and got so many moving images...they speak for themselves:

His Way

2009-04-27T09:53:00.003-04:00

God sent me on when I would stay
(T'was cool within the wood);

I did not know the reason why,
I heard a boulder crashing by
'Cross the path where I had stood.

He had me stay when I would go;
"Your will be done," I said.
They found one day at early dawn,
Across the way I would have gone,
A serpent with a mangled head.

I ask no more the reason why,
Although I may not see
The path ahead, His way I go;
For though I know not, He does know,
And He will choose safe paths for me.
from Sunday School Times

Jeff & Steve

2009-04-23T07:13:00.003-04:00

My favorite radio show hosts, Jeff and Steve, from my favorite radio station, Way FM had a fun photo shoot with us recently. If you listen to the way early show, them you already know this because they have been teasing each other about what the showed up wearing for the shoot for the past two days.

Steve wore a hat that Jeff had never seem him wear (ever) and let everyone know that it made him look like a cab driver.

Jeff wore a women's jacket and not only did Steve give him a hard time about this, his listeners did, too. But Jeff is secure enough in his manhood to "shop in the women's department," according to Paula Abdul. Check him out against the very fitting pink wall:

Check out more pics at www.wayearlyshow.com

Thanks for making me laugh every morning, guys! We love ya!

{handsome}

2009-04-18T22:19:00.003-04:00

Kyle..what a breath of fresh air! He pulled off so many different looks, I was impressed. And working with a guy is kinda rare...I LOVED it! I enjoyed coming up with more "masculine" ideas...it was fun to do something different. I hope you enjoy your sneak peek, Kyle!

my sort-of-a scarf

2009-04-15T15:51:00.002-04:00

I couldn't stop knitting...until I ran out of yarn. Hence the short length! My daughter insists that I run right out and buy some more yarn so that I can knit the scarf to it's proper length. I might...but first I want to learn a few new stitches. And I would like to make a scarf without the missed loops and holes, etc. But, I am okay with my first scarf being so imperfect, that's how it should be, right? Full of mistakes, character and sweat? (It's a little warm here to be sitting around with yarn in your lap...)

I should have known that I would get addicted and start daydreaming about yarn...that's just who I am.

banana+caramel+cream = YUM!

2009-04-13T15:16:00.003-04:00

What I made for Easter Dessert:
Banana Caramel Cupcakes...and they won me over...now in the top three of my all-time favorite desserts!

So, what we have here is a banana sour cream cake made into cupcakes, and then sliced in half, filled with caramel sauce & thinly sliced bananas and then topped with caramel cream & chocolate. I threw in some toffee bits, too. But next time I might leave those out and focus more on the chocolate flavor.

I found this recipe in a cupcake cookbook, and what a treasure it is! The original recipe shows the cupcake with TWO layers, only possible when using extra large, "Texas" sized cupcake pans. I don't have one of those but I want one now! Next time I will surely double up on the layers, but for now, here are some photos. And photos are all we have left because these babies disappeared faster than it took me to make them!

The recipe:
banana caramel cakes

Ingredients:
Sour Cream Banana Cake
6 Tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cur all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon allspice
2/3 cup mashed overripe banana
1/3 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons milk

Filling and Topping
13-oz jar caramel sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped
2 medium bananas (sliced thinly)
3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate. or whatever kind you like!

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 3-hole oversize (Texas) or 12-hole standard muffin pan with paper cups.

2. Beat butter, sugar and eggs in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.

3. Stir in dry sifted ingredients, banana, sour cream and milk. Divide mixture among baking cups, smooth surface.

4. Bake large cakes for about 25 minutes, small cakes about 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

5. Remove baking cups from cakes.

3. Fold 3 Tablespoons of the caramel into the (already whipped) cream.

7. Cut cakes horizontally into three slices (note: I only made one cut for the small cupcakes). Re-assemble cakes with remaining caramel and banana. Top with caramel flavored cream.

8. Using a vegetable peeler, grate chocolate and sprinkle over cakes.

Enjoy!

{a sigh of relief}

2009-04-09T21:42:00.003-04:00

My computer has been rid of the Trojan virus. The chaos is over. If you were one of the infected victims from visiting The Pioneer Woman's site on April 2nd or 3rd, I feel your pain. She has been posting some helpful information under "confessions," and it's what finally got me all fixed up. Phew, what a week.

Just to lighten things up, to induce a little laughter, to make you grin while sitting in your chair, here is a site that never fails me when I am in need of a hilarious distraction:

cake wrecks
Just trust me on this one. And have a good laugh!

This post is entitled: "If you are waiting for your proofs" ...and "knitting to avoid the crazy!"

2009-04-08T12:07:00.018-04:00

First, I apologize if your wait has been longer than the original quote I gave you of 2-3 weeks. After some expected work delays, I had a not-so-expected delay: a major computer virus that attacked after I visited a non-secure website. This happened last week and even as I am writing this, I have been inexplicably kicked of the internet...three times. I am now writing from a different computer so that I can keep some level of sanity. We are doing everything we can to get the problem figured out...rest assured, none of my photo files have been corrupted. That is the good news. Thank goodness for good news. I am going to wait to get back to editing photos until I know things are safe. I thought the problem was figured out two days ago, but the virus has re-surfaced.

In other news, in an effort to keep myself from beating my computer with a bat, Kirk Cameron style (read: from the movie Fireproof), I had to do something. While Brandon googled every last error code and virus McAfee reported, I took up knitting. I'm serious. I had to do something with my hands, people. After a crash course from a friend, and a little youtube video, I took all of my frustration out on a pair of knitting needles and some yarn that my 7-year old picked out. Wanna see? I thought you might:

Now I don't claim to know what I'm doing after a five minute lesson. I am just trying to keep my hands busy and that's the truth. As soon as my computer is fixed, I will probably never return to knitting. It's not that I don't love it, it's that I don't have time to straighten my hair, let alone knit a scarf. Besides, I live in the hot, humid swampland called Florida. Who needs a scarf? (well, the truth is: me. I freeze when temps dip to the 60s 'round here.)

this photo reminds me of my computer: a tangled up mess!

And, just for fun: the ends of my knitting needles. Oh, how I wish I could stick these in my hard drive and fish out the virus.

In any event, since I couldn't teach my daughter how to knit (since I barely know what I'm doing), we decided that she could make bracelets until I could properly teach her. So, I took a walk down friendship-bracelet-memory-lane and picked up a bunch of floss:

My baby girl made five bracelets in 20 minutes, that quick learner. She is now making these is mass quantities, and even travels with her supplies so that she can continue her craft in the car while we take a quick trip to Target.

I realize that her hands are full of ink, but such is the condition of one's hands when you are crafty.

I should mention that she has named each bracelet. The one above is called: "apple." It really does remind me of an apple! Next we have the following:

Anyone want to start a knitting circle? Just kidding. I now have the task of running anti-malware, anti-spyware, and downloading all kinds of updates...my computer tech (Brandon) went back to work so it's all on me. I am trying everything possible. When things are fixed, I will post here to let you know. In the meantime, you will have to put up with my lengthy blog entries from a strange computer. And I don't like it anymore than you do!

And finally, an announcement on behalf of my daughter:
Bracelets for sale. 50 cents a piece...and she is taking custom color orders. Get yours now! How can you resist this face?

wedding indulgence

2009-04-06T23:05:00.002-04:00

Just shot these over the weekend and couldn't resist playing with a few of my favorites. Congrats, Travis & Karissa! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day...you were fabulous!

{vibrant}

2009-04-06T11:57:00.002-04:00

A colorful bouquet and a precious little girl...what could be more delightful?

Cake Pops

2009-04-02T16:21:00.002-04:00

If you are wondering where I have been, the answer is: in a sugar coma.

While Tashia was in town, we tried our hand at the ever-famous cake pops by Bakerella. She is a genius and makes these look easy! After some trial & error, we got into a groove and created a few different types of "pops." Mind you, we had lots of little helpers, and Tash even coated & sprinkled the pops with her 11 month old daughter on her hip! We are multi-taskers, I tell ya!

Here we have mini cupcakes:

The famous cake pop:

Tashia's bite:

Cupcake pops:

My favorite combo:

The pops that I sent to school with my son for his fifth birthday (today!):

For step by step instructions, visit www.bakerella.blogspot.com. And don't be intimidated by her masterpieces...you can do this! It's fun! Just keep looking at my photos and know that if we can do it, you can do it. I should let you know up front: I will NOT be attempting the Easter themed bunnies, eggs, lambs or chicks. Those are way out of my league...but oh, so fun to look at!

Way Fest Tickets

2009-04-01T08:51:00.002-04:00

We are thrilled to give away a pair of Way Fest Tickets! Just leave a comment below and you are automatically entered. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on April 7th. Your comment can say anything! "enter me" or "way fm rocks" or anything you can think of. Good Luck!

Yet another sneak peek!

2009-03-30T12:33:00.004-04:00

beauty queens and one handsome fella:

the one and only...

2009-03-27T13:56:00.004-04:00

Elliana.

A few for Britt!

2009-03-24T08:07:00.005-04:00

What a fun session--Britt was up for anything and did a fantastic job wandering the streets of downtown Ft. Myers with me and her pal, Lindsay. Thanks for the real smiles--you two are great!

{she}

2009-03-21T21:10:00.002-04:00

My Mom would like YOUR opinion! Unfortunately, she has had do to a some wig shopping--thankfully she has had some fun with it and can't decide between the two featured here. What do you think? Leave her a comment and let her know! Thanks from the both of us...your input means a lot.

p.s. isn't she beautiful?!

Hangin' at my house this weekend!

2009-03-20T09:36:00.002-04:00

I am completely smitten with baby K...he is the five month old baby boy of our friends from Oregon, Matt & Jen. And he is here, in my house...available for all the kisses, snuggles, and giggles that I can sneak in before his parents insist on taking him back to Oregon with them. What a perfect little baby, his eyes sparkle, his smile lights up the room--and he is full of those smiles, I tell ya! I can't get enough and I hope you will indulge me as I post about a zillion more photos of him! They are coming soon! Matt & Jen: you are one gorgeous family....I love you guys!

Samma's sneaky peeky

2009-03-17T10:45:00.003-04:00

This beauty queen was sweet & fun, willing to climb in trees with who knows what kind of bugs around...thanks for your willingness, girl!

p.s. I want that dress!

{she knows me!}

2009-03-13T18:41:00.004-04:00

Featured above is a beautiful, thoughtful, delicious, home-made gift from my friend, Shelly! I had to share it here because I am so utterly excited about it. Shell explained that she reads my blog, and knew I would appreciate a fancy re-usable grocery bag--so she made me one! That tree is just screaming my name. Next, she thoughtfully baked me PEAR cookies, people. Pear! Talk about a sweetheart who pays attention! She put real, fresh pear into these cookies along with walnuts and divine spices...they are de-lish. And I don't want to share them with anyone.

Thanks, girl...I love it.

ps. here is a better look at that fabulous tree:

Sneak Peek!

2009-03-12T20:11:00.004-04:00

A sneak peek for Michelle...
I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to photograph these beautiful sisters...their personalities just shine through these pictures. Michelle, I am thrilled to have you and your family in my life. More to come! Enjoy...

A Profound Moment

2009-03-09T10:31:00.005-04:00

How do YOU like your eggs?

Wait! Think about this question v-e-r-y carefully and let us remember the plight of Maggie Carpenter, played by Julia Roberts in one of my all time favorite movies ever: Runaway Bride.

Maggie has been the subject of a journalist's criticsm & ridicule for leaving three men at the alter, and is on the verge of her fourth attempt.

As Ike, the journalist (played by Richard Gere), interviews all of Maggie's ex-boyfriends, there is one common and final question he asks them each: "how does she like her eggs?" They all answer this way: "Same as me, fried/poached/scrambled with dill." Mind you, Ike is falling for Maggie and recongnizes this pattern of her 'loss of self' in each relationship...not just in eggs, but in her constantly changing interests. In a heated discussion, he informs her of this profound conclusion:

"You are so lost, you don't even know what kind of eggs you like!"

At the end of the movie, after leaving Ike at the alter, Maggie sees the truth in Ike's observation and finds herself. She makes eggs in every possible way, lines them up and eats them with her left hand, because she is left-handed and I just love that about her. She's so quirky. Anyway, when she goes to get Ike back, along with giving him her dirty old running shoes (be still my beating heart, that is romantic!), she tells him about her choice of eggs.

"Scrambled," she says. "I hate all the other kinds of eggs."

And this, my friends is sheer genius. She has found out who she is, what kind of eggs she likes, and thankfully she doesn't have to hike up Mt. Annapurna on her honeymoon, as planned with fiance #4. ("It's....tall." -Maggie Carpenter)

I didn't know what kind of eggs I liked until after I was married for a few years. For years prior, I had lost myself in relationships, just like Maggie. It feels good to be comfortable in my own skin, to accept myself and to know that I am free to be me. And guess what?! Sometimes my hubby and I will sit down for breakfast with eggs cooked in two different ways...and it doesn't mean that we aren't perfect for each other!

Now...how do you like your eggs? Didn't know that was such a complex question, did ya?

For your entertainment, here is the link to the Runaway Bride official trailer over on youtube. "A girl can't get married in flannel!"
trailer

Free Tickets to Wayfest!

2009-03-04T14:22:00.002-05:00

Our March Give-away is for a pair of free tickets to the Wayfest on April 24th in Fort Myers featuring Newsboys, Decemberadio & Vota.

To enter, simply leave a comment telling us your favorite singer/band.

I am going to start by breaking the rules since I can't narrow it down to one. My all time favorite band:
Dave Matthews Band

But I also will forever be loyal to the praise & worship music of Rich Mullins...he was the best. His music saw me through some tough times!

Can't wait to read some comments! Bring 'em on!

A Public Service Announcement

2009-03-02T14:09:00.005-05:00

My blog readers, I love you so much that I (your official 'new ice cream flavor tester'), am here to report on the new Haagen-Dazs flavor:
Carmelized Pear & Toasted Pecan.

I had high hopes for this flavor...I didn't think I could go wrong, afterall, my favorite jelly bean flavor is the one and only "juicy pear". While this flavor didn't completely bomb, in my opinion, it could have been so much better. There was this funky after taste to the pear pieces, and it wasn't very juicy at all. Sigh. Just once I would like to prove my husband wrong and try something new that I LOVE! I guess I still stick to 'coffee' flavor...I don't think Haagen Dazs will ever top that one.

confession: I ate it all anyway. The pint photographed was empty. I put rocks in the bottom of it so that when I lifted up the background paper it wouldn't fall over. What can I say? I'm here to help!

ps. this post is dedicated to Heidi and Christina, my only (other) faithful readers. You guys rock!

going green

2009-02-27T09:32:00.003-05:00

I am officially one of those people that takes their own bags to the grocery store. I don't know what took us so long to purchase these handy bags--they are only 99 cents, and they eliminate waste! What a no-brianer! I have two so far...one is beige, the other is right here:

I really want a green one, too. Green is my favorite color. SO, back to being GREEN, I encourage you to buy these! I am so relieved that I don't have to save up my plastic bags and then forget to take them to the recycle bin at Publix every time I go shopping! It's very freeing not to have wads of bags around the house because I never could find a place for the growing mass.

I do have one complaint...I wish the bags weren't branded because I really want to take this to Walmart. Why didn't I buy Walmart bags? The Wal-mart bags are $1.50. Gasp! Publix actually has a less expensive item. I am still recovering from the shock.

ps. This post is dedicated to my friend, Julie. The earth saver. And my (only) faithful reader. Thanks for wanting more posts, Julie!

Random Facts are my Favorite

2009-02-25T12:46:00.003-05:00

I love random facts & trivia--I love spouting it off and learning it about my friends. I am a sucker for those "20 Questions" on facebook & myspace...it's a little *too* consuming. So anyway...I'll go first, and then you can comment with something random about yourself.

Here's as random as it gets (for now):
I have always had long hair, past my shoulders at least.

Well....except for twice.
The first time was when I was a child and my Mom handed over the haircut responsibility to my Dad. He let the hairdresser cut off several more inches than planned. I thought it was really cute...until I got home and saw the look on my Mom's face. Then, I cried.

The second time was when I was away in college and I was feeling rebellious. I cut my hair all the way ABOVE my shoulders, got blonde chunky highlights and took a photo of myself wearing a shirt that said: BRAT. I was also sticking out my tongue. This was a little gift for my Mom.

Do you think these two events are related?

I guess we don't have to call in a professional to explain why my own daughter's hair is down to her waist.

ps. Mom, if you are reading this, I am not really not emotionally scarred. And thanks for talking me out of getting a tattoo.

p.p.s. Dad, if you are reading this, thanks for taking me for haircuts. I really did like that haircut.

Now, let's read some random facts about YOU!

(my world)

2009-02-24T16:59:00.001-05:00