Chris and Jenna Got Married...

Chris and Jenna {Married}

This blog post is special to my heart for more than the photography. I had the pleasure of being able to shoot my sisters wedding. One of the moments in life that you treasure and are sure to never forget. She was stunning on the day and she radiated all day long.

When she walked down the isle to Chris, it was magical. All the elements had come together and there they were, finally saying "I do".

The Hiatus

The BIG Plan

The longest hiatus I have taken from photography yet. Don't get me wrong, I still took a ton of photos, but they weren't sessions for clients they were for my family and helped me get back to understanding who I am as a photographer. 

The newest session... My little ballerina.

Sweet Moments...

I have been thinking about all the session that I do, and realize I don't usually do session with my own child... (the whole reason for starting our photography business). If I do get some photos of her, they are taken at the shoot and are of her running around. I decided to do a shoot that was just about her this time. I found the cutest ballerina outfit at the thrift store and made that the focus.

No Internet for 24 Hours...

So, the other night I was thinking about the computer and how much time I have spent on it lately.

It's way too much!!!

So I decided to take 24 hours off my computer. It's sad to say, but it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Not only did I not get on the internet, but that also meant no editing! Which is not a good thing, when that is your business.

I just felt like I needed to be productive in my house and spend quality time with my daughter. So, with this mission in mind I had to set some guidelines to help myself succeed.

1. Any time I thought of something to do on the computer I would list them on paper so I didn't forget and I could do it 'tomorrow'.

2. If I don't charge my computer (because it almost constantly needs charging with all the programs I am running, usually) then it will be harder to just jump on and off.

3. If i felt an urge to get on it, I would clean something else. I wouldn't let myself sit and think about the computer and everything I had to do.

4. I would play with my daughter and have fun with her.

(And we had so much fun!... I mean who could resist that face?)

She is such a smiler and loves the camera (which is good, because I think she thinks it's part of my face.)

She is a mover and a shaker and I don't foresee it slowing down anytime soon.

Let me just say, it was one of the most productive and fun days I have had in a while. I was so excited when the day was over, and not because I could use my computer 'tomorrow', but because I felt accomplished in more ways than just photography wise.

I loved hearing my daughter laugh at me chasing her, and talk/babble to me while we were playing house (almost like she was bossing me around).

It was satisfying to see all my laundry and dishes done. To see my kitchen and living area clean and livable.

I know I will have to do this more often (but not so much that I loose my sanity!)

-P

Breakfast, kiddo, and responsibilities.

Okay, so I am not much of a blogger, but I do love to talk and if I can't see you face to face then this is the next best thing.

This adventure is flying by. I feel like it was just yesterday that we started our business, and I feel like there is so much more for me to learn.

Like the fact that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day". I have heard that all my life and it never stuck. I don't know why, but I just don't believe it. I have some very important dinners and lunches, and I feel like they go by the wayside. I kind of feel bad for them. I want them to get as much recognition as breakfast does.

I know that this sounds silly, but I haven't really found my favorite breakfast. I have eating so many things, but nothing has come close to making me want it every morning. I just can't imagine waking up and wanting to eat the same things over and over again (ie. cereal, eggs, oatmeal...).

Side story... I just realized this morning while rummaging through my fridge to make a cream cheese bagel, that the other day when I was in a hurry to make something to eat and go. I made a bagel and cream cheese. I was in a hurry so I slapped it together and wrapped it in a paper towel. It stayed in the car for a while (it was like 92 degrees that day) and when I came back out I remembered it. I was so hungry so I just decided to eat it. Within the first bite I knew something was slightly off, but I was too hungry to care. Well, back to this morning rummaging through the fridge to find the open container of cream cheese I opened that day. I couldn't find the open container... Where could it be. I have two unopened ones and then I saw it... The open container of SOUR CREAM! I  was shocked. I thought surely I would have realized I ate a bagel with SOUR CREAM on it. That's when I remembered I was too hungry that day to care what I was eating!!! Oh man, of all the things I have ever eaten that were horrible for me, this has to top them all!

wow, major rabbit hole... If I have grossed you out too much, I hope you can keep reading...

I have a little one, if you don't know by now. She is such a blessing. She is so easy to deal with and just lately she has learned some sign language so now she can tell my what she needs without making such a fuss. I really recommend that each parent teach some basic signs (that children can pick up easier than you will know). She is such a smarty and I am so proud. She hasn't learned to walk yet, and I still get asked "wow, she isn't walking yet, well so-and-so was already walking and talking at her age"... All I have to say is, She will when she is ready. She doesn't find a need to walk now, and I am just loving still being able to chase her and win. I know when she learns to walk it will be much more difficult to follow after her.

She is also the biggest monster to our dog. She teases him and beats him up, but he is just glad that she feeds him human food (something we are trying to stop). For the most part they get along great, and he is very loving for someone who is tortured daily.

Well, if you know me at all you know I have many responsibilities. My life requires much of me, and so far it's nothing I can't handle (of course Jesus is a big factor in handling those for me). Lately we have been opening our brand of photography to grow the business, and it's been interesting. I feel at more of a peaceful place with the business and it seems to be opening up to great clientele. I can't imagine doing anything else right now. I just love being able to meet all these amazing people.

Most of the responsibilities come from this business, and I am fine with it.

I know that rambling on and on without an image to break up the monotony is rather cumbersome, but bear with me, I will reward you in the end.

So, the latest session I did, was actually a favor for a friend. I attended her baby shower the other week and took my camera along to 'practice', also I wanted to give her some shots of everything so she could remember the day. I loved the theme... bugs. They did such a great job with it. So as not to tease you anymore, here are some of the shots I took...

These bug strawberries were so adorable...

All of the food had something to do with bugs, which would otherwise sound gross, but it was super cute!

These are all the lovely ladies that attended

Such a cute way to display the name of the baby!

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek, and the rest of the album is up on the website if you would like to see more. 

-P

Time

Okay so I know it's been a while, but with good reason. I have a baby now that takes up so much of my time. I was thinking about time today and how people use it or misuse it. I have never really been one for good usage of time. I tend to sleep all day and go to bed super late, which in turn makes me get up late... oh, the vicious cycle. I have tried to go to bed early, but then when I get up early I take a nap in the middle of my day inevitably sending me back into the same pattern of going to bed late.

Babies and Diapers

So I haven't posted for a while and I have good reason... Our little angel was born on 9 July. Things have been a little more hectic since then. We are doing great and adjusting to parenthood pretty easily so far. When we started collecting stuff from others for her nursery (I like hand-me-downs) I ended up getting disposable diapers from friends who's kids had outgrown them already. So we had about a pack and a half of newborn disposable diapers. I decided that to make things easier on us in the first weeks that we would use those until they were gone and move into cloth afterwards.

Maternity shoot and False alarms

I have never wanted to be that woman who goes screaming to the hospital every week leading up to the due date, but so far I have been. My husband and I went in to L&D this morning at 3am because my timed contractions were 3-5 min apart, but I wasn't any more dilated than I was last week, when I went in because I thought my water had broken. I seriously hate not knowing when she is coming and having to just sit around and wait for things to get worse. We still have a camping trip that we are planning in 2 days and now I just hope we get through that without her coming, because I don't want to be an hour away from the hospital and have to rush back. I know she may not come early. She may even come really late, but for the most part I just want her to come.

Beautiful Creations & Photographed Memories

I am finding that photography is one thing I love to return to. I don't have any real experience with it, but I love doing it, and I have had my share of 'lesson's learned'. I am trying to get into newborn photography. More so for myself and my little one on the way, but if I could make it a long term thing, then that would be wonderful.

Coming Home...

Well, I haven't written in a couple of days, because I have been spending time with my husband, who just got back from a deployment. He is finally home after 6 months of being gone. Just before left we found out that I was pregnant with out first child. I was only 7 weeks when he left, so he hasn't gotten to see me grow, but he is now home and I am 8 months along. So we got video of him seeing me for the first time with a belly. It's priceless. Watch the video and see for yourself.

Coupons... worth it?

I have found that saving money is wonderful (not a new concept, but just felt the feeling of joy). I mean I have heard about the hype and known that saving money is better than spending, but it wasn't until I started doing it, that it actually makes you happy. Like giddy feeling and everything. I know to those of you who have been doing it for a while are like "duh", but to those of us who were skeptics I can now say the numbness from cutting coupons is worth it! Finding the deals where you can is awesome. Now I know some people who are still skeptics are saying "if you start cutting coupons you don't save money when you end up buying things you wouldn't normally buy if it weren't for the coupon." I said the same thing, but then I really evaluated whether the item was something i never purchase or something that might be a different brand of what I do get.

First Steps

So this is my first post... I am pretty excited about this journey. I have lots to say, and now I have my own forum to say it. I am going to try and describe what kind of blog this is going to be for those of you who are wondering. I love to do crafts, like sewing, crocheting, photography, and painting. I just got back into them and have been having fun with them. For the most part I don't consider myself a crafter, or a photographer. I just love doing them as hobbies. If something comes of it then so be it.