You Had To Be There

review & report

2012-01-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

Before we talk about the new year, let's reminisce about old times for a sec, K? Here is a look back at each month's most popular posts according to you all (my sweet & good-looking readers).

here we go.

January............... Winter Blues Dancing - *that was embarrassing!

February............... Love Fest for Valentines day

March............... Chicago baby!

April................. I finally told the truth about Our Love Story

May.................... We checked out Cleveland's famous West Side Market.

June............... The humidity was killin' me! and my Big Brother got hitched!

July................ Sunday = game day

August............... We took an amazing trip to California

September.............. Weekend trip to Pittsburgh

October............... Were hit with some hard news and decided to Be Happy Anyway.

November............... Held my first photo tutorial Q/A

December.............. Shared a fun & easy Holiday Gift Idea

2011 was pretty good to us...but we are more than ready to begin 2012! We have some big goals to accomplish. I am very hopeful and excited for the year ahead. Let's pray it sticks!

{happy and new}

holiday vacation [part 2]

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

the camera timer was pretty much killing it.

-2nd Stop-

*A R I Z O N A*

70 degree weather = heaven!

Phoenix Suns Game

Manicures

Mystery Castle

Mini Golf

Mission Impossible Movie

"Last Chance" Shopping

Marriott Hotel Stay

Hot Tubin'

Loving on Family

{good days}

holiday vacation [part 1]

2012-01-02T19:37:00.002-07:00

thanks to my dad for taking these pictures

-1st stop-

*U T A H*

Park City Cabin

Sledding

Sherlock Holmes Movie

Gateway Shopping

Sleeping In

Photo Sessions

Family Movies

Christmas Eve Dinner

Visiting Old Friends

Loving on Family

{such fun}

Christmas Card

2011-12-22T10:29:00.002-07:00

We decided not to send out cards this year. So this is our digital card sending love out to everyone who see's it. We wish you a very MERRY holiday season and a WONDERFUL 2012.

{Love, US}

UT to the AH

2011-12-19T11:07:00.003-07:00

Just spent a seriously delightful weekend in Park City, UT with my family. I just love this place. The mountains are kind-of inspiring. One of those "don't know what you've got til it's gone" kind of deals. We are spending the next couple of weeks with our loved ones... Shopping, Eating, Laughing... you know the drill. The only hard thing about it all is reminding myself to look around and be in the moment. It is one of the best times of year, isn't it?

{be present}

A Christmas Story House

2011-12-12T08:15:00.001-07:00

A Christmas Story movie was filmed in Cleveland so we went to check out the house/museum over the weekend. It is located in a regular little neighborhood close to downtown. We were surprised there was a line out the door to get in. We should have realized it would be popular especially this time of year. Here is the tour:

*thanks Adam + Sheri for the tix!

{don't shoot your eye out}

happy december

2011-12-05T14:30:00.001-07:00

It's the month of gift giving and I know sometimes it is hard to come up with something to give friends / family. I thought I would share a fun gift idea I did this year.

Starbucks Hot Cocoa - One of my very favorite drinks especially in the winter time.

Here is what I did:
1. I bought this huge container of Starbucks cocoa mix at Costco for around $12.
2. Then I went to TJ Maxx and bought these cute glass jars for $1.99 each.
3. I searched and searched online for a Starbucks Hot Cocoa logo but couldn't find one so I doctored up their "Coffee" logo to say "Hot Cocoa" in Photoshop and typed up the cocoa instructions from the big container next to it.
4. I printed off the label & instructions onto sticky labels (but it would be just as cute printed on paper and attached as a gift tag) and attached them to the jars.
5. Then I tied them with some ribbon I had lying around.

Total damage = around $6 each.
(the container easily made 3 full jars but you could stretch it if you found smaller containers to maybe 4 or 5).

In case you want to do this too... you can download the logo + instructions by clicking HERE.

{crafty}

thanks, Thanksgiving.

2011-11-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

Our thanksgiving week looked a lot like this...
Zoned out on the couch, usually in our Pajamas and covered in over-sized blankets.
+ movies and lots of cups of hot cocoa were also consumed.
It was so nice that I felt a twinge of disappointment when it was time for bed last night...I didn't want it to be over yet. The good news is, we have more breaks to look forward to! It is one of the many reasons I love this time of year.

P.S. For an extra dose of Christmas Cheer, I recommend "Michael Buble Holiday" station on Pandora. It has been running on repeat at our place.

{couch potatoe}

let the holiday begin

2011-11-23T16:25:00.001-07:00

We were kinda glad we didn't travel this year. It has been nice to be home and relax together. We got a lot accomplished today. My man is out of school this WHOLE week, YES! Today was "get er done" day. We cleaned and organized our entire 2nd bedroom + closet. It is now actually functional...it only took us 2.5 years to get around to it.

Now that our work is done...it's party time! I am waking up early and making funeral potatoes, blackberry pie, homemade rolls, and strawberry poppyseed spinach salad. And at promptly 2pm we will meet up with some friends and feast.

Oh, and we cannot forget the Martinelli's apple cidar that is now chilling in the fridge. It just isn't thanksgiving with out it in my book.

Happy Thanksgiving!

{EAT}

Answers

2011-11-16T14:12:00.001-07:00

Thanks for asking your photo questions! Here are the answers...

Sue said: How do you decide when to take an off center shot? Is it just natural andspontaneous? Or do you crop it later or actually shoot it that way?
So I normally shootfamilies and with kids going a mile-a-minute it is rare that I have a chance tothink of composing a shot in a certain way. If it is 2 adults, who can holdtheir pose, I do think about it much more. I would say though, most of the time it is a happy accident. And I rarelycrop photos, I am big on shooting it howI want it the first time. But, there isa “rule” in photography called the rule of 3rds that tells you how to composeyour photograph so It is most pleasing to the eye. Often this means the focusof the photograph is not dead center.

Karen Said: I finally got my 50 mmlens! Now I just need to learn how to use it. Can you get bokeh (however youspell it) with that lens?

YES! Congrats on the newlens. Your 50 mm lens has an aperture of either f/1.8,f/1.4, or f/1.2. Basically this means when you set your aperture close to thatnumber like a 2.8 or below, you will get those yummy blurry backgrounds andbokeh! Have fun with it!

AshLouise said: Whatdslr camera would you suggest? What do you use?

First, let me say, Itis a common misconception that an un-trained photographer could just buy anexpensive camera and all of the sudden take stunning photos. While the autosetting is better than the average point + shoot, it does take some practice tolearn your camera and how it responds to light. I am a firm believer that equipment does notmake the photographer but, if you have the money, it does certainly help!

Right now I shoot witha Nikon D7000. I used to own the D60 and learned on it until I grew out of it(about 2 years). I plan to do the same with my D7000. I would say that if youreally want to take photography seriously, you should invest in a DSLR camera. I would suggest starting with maybe the NikonD40 or I have heard good things about the Canon Rebel from Canon users.

Amy Jo said: My kids eyes are alwaysclosed in pictures. Is that my fault or my camera's fault? If it is my fault,how can I improve? Do you have any recommendations on a simple, straightforwardcamera that still delivers quality pictures?

I'm not sure what camera you have but I would guess it is probably yourcamera’s fault. Point+Shoot camera’s are known to have a shutter response delay.This makes it very easy to miss the shot or get your kids with their eyes closed. I wish I knew more about point+shoots. Fromwhat I have heard, the Nikon cool pix series is pretty affordable and has goodimage quality and fast shutter speeds. But, if you go looking, I would make sure to tell the salesperson that you want a camera with “fast shutter speed”.

Kyla said: I am due in March (I know it is stilla while!).... I am trying to decide when to get pictures done as a family andof this new baby... any suggestions on seasons or age of baby?

As fornewborn shots, they say the first two weeks is the best time to photograph themwhen they are still all sleepy and mold-able. It would be smart to book your newborn session while you are stillpregnant. It is probably the last thing you want to worry about during thattime but it will be worth it in the long run.

As forseasons, my favorite time to shoot is in the spring or fall when the trees are full and the colors arebold and beautiful. Plus it is usually much more pleasant temperature wise. Tome, nothing beats an outdoor nature shoot!

{411}

Happy Weekend!

2011-11-11T11:02:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy weekend! And tell you that my photo blog got a fun make-over! Oh, and if you need some eye-candy...hop on over and check out these two beauties....

This girl is a photographer too! See her work Here.

imakephotographs.blogspot.com

p.s. if you think of a question about photography...leave a comment and I will answer it for you!

{TGIF}

MIA / photo Q+A

2011-11-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been a little MIA. photo-shoots + church calling + day job + wife duties = no time for extras.

I have been thinking a lot about my blessings this month. Concentrating on being thankful and all that good stuff. I have been wanting to give back in some way to my readers (this month especially). I have loved blogging as a creative outlet and it is all the sweeter when you take time to tell me that you "hear me". Your comments / emails truly make my day, so thanks!

I thought we could have a little photo Q+A. I have learned this photo thing pretty much on my own. One thing that has totally helped me have been the people on the WEB who are willing to share what they know. We are all in this together, right?

So, if you have a burning photo (or other?) question, leave a comment and I will try to answer it. If I don't know, I will try to find the answer for you! I am no expert, but I can share my own experience.

Let's kick-off the Q+A with the question I get MOST often.

Q: How do you get your photos so sharp?

A: I have found that prime lenses produce crisper images because they are usually made with quality glass. Prime lenses are 50mm, 35mm, 85mm etc. Their focal lengths are set so you need to move your body in order to get different angles, in other words, they do not zoom. My favorite lens to shoot with right now is my 35mm 1.8 lens. It is the only prime lens I own right now. It is important to press your shutter button half way down first to focus the photo. For portraits, I like to focus on the person's eye. For post processing, I use a sharpening tool in Photoshop called "unsharp mask" that helps to define my pictures further.

Can't Wait to read your questions!

{open book}

shameless

2011-11-01T10:09:00.001-06:00

Can you believe it is November? Wha? We attempted some Christmas card photos. Just us and our tri-pod. Oh and me running back and forth to start the timer (no one knows why we haven't invested in a remote yet). It is still undecided whether or not we will actually send any cards out this year because really, who needs yet another photo of just me + him.

Speaking of holiday cards...I have a little shop where I design + sell printable cards for a few dollars. Thought you might like to see? Just a little shameless promotion people.

2011 Holiday Photo Card Collection (this is just a few):

CLICK HERE to visit the shop.

{tis the season}

sugar high

2011-10-30T13:37:00.000-06:00

We had zero plans for the weekend. I was looking forward to just relaxing and having fun with Chris. We ended up eating at some of our favorite places. One of the highlights was that we found an actual Krispy Kreme store! This may not be a big deal to anyone else, but on this day, it was MAJOR to us.

After donuts, we drove down the street to the famous "Sweeties Candy Warehouse" and stocked up on some retro candy for our Halloween cravings. It is becoming kind-of a tradition for us.

I'm afraid I won't have any photos of us dressed up as "the royals" for Halloween... It just wasn't our year.

What is your costume?

H A P P Y H A L L O W E E N !

{sweet tooth}

see the latest...

2011-10-28T13:55:00.000-06:00

...fall photo sessions on the Foto Blog:

imakephotographs.blogspot.com

Have a happy weekend!

{snaps}

weekend download

2011-10-24T08:15:00.001-06:00

Things to note:

I joined a GYM! First time in my life. I figure I need a place to burn some energy during the winter months. My husband says, "it's the new Katie". I kind-of agree...I am, after all, wearing spandex. Or, we like to say "stretchy pants".

I got the SWEETEST note from a good friend the other day. Love HER. We go way back. It totally made my day. Here is a clip of what she said:

I know we don't talk that often, but we've known each other for a long time. We've danced on the side of the road selling lemonade together. That created a bond. A lemonade-selling-dancing-kid-bond. One of the best, most respected bonds around. Nothing has changed. I'd still do that with you right now if I could (and I know you'd be in for sure!). We're just wacky like that. That's what friends do.

We may or may not be Kate Middleton + Prince William for Halloween this year. That is, if my husband is feeling silly and if I can find one of those frill hat thingys.

We may have seen our last 60 degree day yesterday. Man, I am going to miss driving with the windows rolled down.

{re-play}

weekend top 10

2011-10-18T11:52:00.003-06:00

This past weekend was rather bliss-filled. Many things were canceled leaving the majority of the time for my man. Which I like. Here is the top 10 in no particular order...

1. Went to the mall and paid full price for this blouse from H+M which is kind of a big deal because I NEVER do that.
2. Finished editing a few fall photo-shoots. love.
3. Gave a talk in church about happiness based on this scripture. I was nervous..glad it's over!
4. Prayed my guts out for this amazing girl. She could use a few more prayers too!
5. Found this cool video about the front-man of the band, The Killers.
6. Designed a logo for this cute Etsy shop which is now open!
7. Wished everyone would read this post about infertility.
8. Totally inspired by this amazing photographer who I found on Pinterest.
9. Finally got the HEAT turned on in our apartment! My toes are most grateful.
10. Made this stir fry with noodles for Sunday Dinner.

{round-up}

The Pursuit of Happiness

2011-10-12T10:25:00.000-06:00

I’ve been thinking a lotabout happiness this week; where it comes from and how to keep it no matterwhat happens in my life.

I’ve had some disappointmentslately, even times where I’ve had to stop and catch my breath. I’ve realizedI wasted a lot of time waiting for something. Waiting patiently for my turn. Watching everyone else wave as they pass meby. I wanted so much to join them.

But, I can’t. I’m notmeant to. I’m supposed to take a different route. A road no shorter or bumpier but one that isall my own.

And, I can be happy now, alongthe way, as I continually carve out new dreams.

I amhappy because I know who I am. I am happy because I have so much to be gratefulfor. I am happy because I feel loved. Iam happy because I love what I do. I am happy because I work hard. I am happybecause I am a good person. I am happy because I share my talents. I am happybecause I choose to be.

{perspective}

Neon Trees

2011-10-09T18:08:00.002-06:00

All this gorgeousness and 78+ degree weather is kinda making me feel like a super-hero. We took a drive today to see some more neon trees and I even got my man to take a couple pictures with me. Smiling pictures even! He is so good to me. This weekend has put me in a great mood and, bonus! ... I am having really good hair day today which is a miracle in itself. It's the little things that make the difference, I tell ya.

Ohio in the fall is a ten and I am totally feeling the love.

{tis the season}

checking in

2011-10-08T13:51:00.000-06:00

Hope you're weekend is as dreamy as mine. Look at those colors! I gotta soak this in because these days are numbered. I love October.

Have you ever wondered how to get rounded edges on your photos? Click Here for the tutorial!

{Happy Days}

conference weekend

2011-10-03T16:56:00.001-06:00

It was a cold & rainy weekend, just the perfect weather conditions for our big plans to bake these and cozy-up to watch this. It was seriously great. The best part was spending the whole weekend on the couch with my best friend. I was able to reflect on how lucky I feel to be where I am. I love it when that happens.

{grateful}

foo fighters

2011-09-21T12:27:00.000-06:00

My ears are still ringing. Best rock concert ever...at least, that I have ever been to. They played over 2 hours and sounded amazing. And, did you know Dave Grohl was born in Ohio? Yep, he has a street in Warren named after him. Or as he says, it's an "alley".

Here come the ipod pictures: getting our wrist-bands for the floor area. We are hard-core and stood among the crowd-surfers, moshers and boozers.

And some video...we were MUCH closer than this makes it look; we could see him sweat.

Thanks to Amyjo + Tucker (friends and Chris's classmate) for this amazing idea. We had so much fun.

{foo - ls}

biggity barn sale

2011-09-20T10:19:00.000-06:00

We had a barn sale over the weekend to liquidate the remnants of our Orange Twine shop. We made a little money and soaked in the last sun of summer. I loved every minute. [Yes, Orange Twine is closed...it just became a little bit more than the 3 of us wanted to handle.. But, we had a blast while it was open and learned so much along the way!]

I will never stop thrifting - I think searching for the treasures might be the best part!

{nifty}

The city of bridges

2011-09-05T18:03:00.000-06:00

We took a weekend trip to Pittsburgh. We went through a long dark tunnel in a large mountainous hill and then BAM! the city smacks you in the face.

We were surprised at how quiet the city was - most of the restaurants in town were closed for the weekend. Felt kinda like a ghost town. But we did find the party - Station Square and South Side was where it was at! We ate and walked around the city and marveled at the old buildings..and the people! People watching is one of my favorite sports. Except when someone catches me looking... and then I'm like, Wha? I wasn't just starring at you like a creeper, promise!

Very Beautiful city. Plus, Batman was just filmed there...so YOU KNOW it is cool.

{Labor day}

a plug for printing

2011-08-23T13:46:00.000-06:00

I know it is so easy to keep everything digital...especially with blogs and such. But, I think it is really important to still print out photos. Especially since digital images don't last forever.

I just printed a few pictures from our vacation and updated our framed photos. I can't tell you how much fun it is to have these out in our house. I am one of those people that get's sick of my house decor often so, it has been so easy to switch out the pictures when I get bored of them.

I took this picture of the peony (my favorite flower) in California. The gold frame I found at a thrift store for a few dollars.

I think it is fun to stick a few photos to the edge of a mirror to give it a more personal touch.

{decor}

girls day

2011-08-23T12:05:00.000-06:00

So one of my favorite girls came down for a visit last week. We were roomies in college for a bit. She just had a darling baby girl and we decided to have a girls day. We stuffed our faces at Cheesecake Factory and shopped and mostly just talked - I love me some girl talk. We took a sweet family photo before heading out...see below

and a few more....

as if I wasn't baby hungry enough before...this little girl has me smitten. Thanks for coming Sarah and Shelby!

{girl talk}

wedding photos

2011-08-13T07:07:00.001-06:00

CLICK HERE to see more.

C A L I F O R N I A

2011-08-11T12:07:00.000-06:00

"California here we come, right back where we started from" - Phantom Planet.

I love this picture of my new nephew, Mark. It was his first time meeting the ocean so it makes it all the more special.

I, of course, was in heaven...(don't mind my shirt bulges..my bathing suit underneath made it look weird)

Me in my natural habitat / July 2011

We spent most of our time at the beach + the pool but, we did venture out to Disneyland one day and to Balboa Island another. I left my camera home for the Disney adventure but brought it along to Balboa. Something about that place makes my heart sing.

These are my nieces and nephews that are growing up way too fast!

We also spent our nights by the bbq chatting, playing games and eating.

and we even attempted a big family picture....The final one will be debuted in the Avondet 2011 Christmas card. And we pulled off a big surprise and celebrated my parents 40th wedding anniversary! Woop Woop.

We had the best vacation with my family in Newport Beach, CA. It is kind of hard to mess up a beach vacation in my eyes though. The beach is my favorite place after all. My sister took a lot more photos with her snazzy camera so I'm hoping she will share...and maybe I will have more to post.

{west coast}

back

2011-08-08T17:44:00.002-06:00

We just returned from a two week vacation.

1 week = California

1 week = Utah

We caught up with our families, ate WAY too much, and got some serious zzzzz's - just what good trips are made of.
I left my camera in its bag a lot, I am trying to enjoy more and worry about taking pictures less. But, I do have more pics to share... Of course! Just not today, my work inbox is calling my name, or more like yelling it. BUT, I did post a few fun scenery shots over here.

Why is it so hard to come home and face reality?

{good trip}

while we're on the subject

2011-07-19T08:59:00.002-06:00

of camping...

I spent a week camping in June with the youth in my church. We call it "girls camp". We made all our meals outside and many on the fire (hence my excellent skills). It was a great week and I think our girls had fun despite the bugs. It was a little nostalgic for me because of the wonderful memories I have of going to camp when I was a teen. I love these girls so much. We had some good laughs.

{happy campers}

the great outdoors

2011-07-17T17:40:00.000-06:00

We spent the evening outside on Friday by the camp fire. We didn't stay over night - I got my fill during girls camp and Chris had early morning plans. Oh yah, and we don't have any camping gear (sissy's). It was fun to pretend to go camping for a few hours though.

We pre-made tin-foil dinners and cooked 'em on the coals. Chris was very impressed with my fire-making skills... I am now answering to the name: mountain woman.

{camp awesome}

sunday sunday

2011-07-12T11:48:00.001-06:00

Sundays are usually pretty low-key - that's the way we like them. After church we change out of our Sunday best into our jammies, make some din din and usually play a game. Sometimes it's monopoly - we love monopoly - or, trivial pursuit. But this week we played one of my favorites: bananagram.

I think we all know who the winner was (see above). I try not too rub it in too much (wink wink). We get a good laugh at our friendly competition.

{fun-day}

oh beautiful for spacious skies...

2011-07-07T13:33:00.000-06:00

we had a good 4th. Yep.
I was itching to get out of the house after being sick.
We went to a church breakfast & mingled with our friends
We went for a drive to our favorite little town (hence the ridiculous car pictures)
We had a big date with the chicken&ribs special for dinner -- but they were closed
We decided to grab some pizza and see a movie instead.
And we ended the night watching some neighborhood fireworks - they did not disappoint!

{God bless America! My home sweet home!}

my week started out great

2011-06-30T12:28:00.002-06:00

I had a photo-session at this picturesque farm on Monday. I ended up staying a bit afterward to just take it all in. It was such a beautiful day and I needed a peaceful moment to just be.

i love summer.

I came down with a little sinus headache/soar throat thing yesterday so I have been laying low - which is killin' me to miss out this nice weather! It has been good for my work inbox though -- I have been able to get a lot done.

+

...you can see more of my photo-session on my photo-blog. It got a little design make-over. check it out!

Have a happy holiday weekend!

{sniffles}

my days are blurring together

2011-06-23T19:18:00.002-06:00

:: L A T E L Y ::

+ I've been wearing a hat so I don’t have to do my hair

+ Over-using the word: Humid.

+ Using the rain as an excuse to sleep a little longer.

+ Addicted to the coverage of the “tot mom” murder trial.

+ Was told by my “lady doctor” that I have “REALLY pale skin!” while undressed in his office.

+ Decided 2 things to never say to a girl (or anyone for that matter)

1. You look tired

2. Are you pregnant?

+ Ate sandwiches everyday this week just so I didn’t have to turn on the oven.

+Was 50 cents short at the paid parking lot and the lady let me go because she “felt bad for me”.

{Humid}

laying low

2011-06-20T12:40:00.000-06:00

*I snapped a few pics of him playing the guitar last night. He was nice to let me.

We both had a busy week last week.

- I went camping with the youth in my church....aka. girls camp.
- He had his first full week in the dental clinic...aka. stress and more stress.

Needless to say we were both pretty exhausted by weeks end and ready for a whole lotta' nothin' over the weekend. We just kind of hung out which was nice.

{boring}

we had a good one.

2011-06-13T15:50:00.001-06:00

::photos from our weekend::

1. date night - we saw the movie, Super 8. I loved it. He liked it.
2. Indulged on the most gigantic raspberries I have ever seen. Thank you, Costco.
3. table clutter. [love the Anthro catalog. That is my "someday" store.]
4. Went shop shoppin' - We bought way too much junk this time.

{captured}

my new sis

2011-06-09T11:41:00.001-06:00

Here is a sneak peak of the wedding photos. The reception was held in my parents back yard...and they have quite the green thumb.

This is my new sis... isn't she lovely? ...both inside and out :)

{hitched}

Saturday was a happy day.

2011-06-05T16:48:00.004-06:00

I spent it celebrating my big brother's wedding.
[I was the photographer (SCARY) so I will have much to share once they choose their favorites.]

My siblings were there - all five of us. We laughed a lot and we are loud laughers.

I met my gorgeous nephew...

Acted like goof-balls with my sisters. love these two.

I kept looking around thinking how lucky I am to have these people in my life. And how time just flies so we better make it good...and we are.

{for life}

anniversary

2011-05-29T16:45:00.002-06:00

t.h.e. r.e.c.a.p

-----

Our anniversary landed on Chris's break so we were able to spend the day together.

.
1. We slept in embarrassingly long.
2. Talked about our plans and left for the Outlets to do a little shopping.
3. We found Memorial Day sales galore and I got 3 sweaters, a jacket, a pair of jeans, and a necklace at Banana for $50. Just a little dumb luck but, I love a bargain!
4. After we caught a matinée. We saw Thor. It was good [I give it 3 out of 4 stars]. The theater was empty so we pretended it was a private screening just for our big day.
5. Then we headed out to RED steakhouse. It was the need reservations, fancy, dim lighted, splurge kind of restaurant. We ordered homemade donut holes for dessert. They were the perfect end to a great day.

*So happy to be happily married.

{makin' memories}

4 years

2011-05-26T11:24:00.001-06:00

images copyright Pepper Nix Photography

I love us.

{forever}

i love pictures.

2011-05-23T07:03:00.002-06:00

I got to photograph my good friend on Saturday. She is having a baby girl in less than a month -- but you wouldn't know it b/c she is tiny! We went out to Chagrin River Road and found some secret garden/twilight-ish spots. I love Ohio.

See the full session HERE

{point & shoot}

Cedar Point

2011-05-21T09:50:00.007-06:00

Like I said, we've been crossing off our Ohio Bucket List now that Chris has a few weeks off. Yesterday we made our way to the famous Cedar Point. That place is insane. There are too many roller-coasters to ride in one day. I seriously kept thinking...I may be too old for this.

My favorite ride was the Raptor because my feet got to dangle. And since I wore flip flops my bare feet got to dangle. And we waited extra to be in the front because the front is the best. It reminded me of the Top Gun ride at Great America in California where I grew up. I used to have a season pass and would go all the time with my friends after work in the summer. Those were the good ole' days.

I'm pretty sure me+him were well above the median age at the park. There was no shortage of screaming teens.

Cedar Point is located right on Lake Erie. We had a "time-out" for a few minutes on the lake shore before heading out to brave another ride. It was a great day, I have the sun-burn to prove it.

*sorry for all the grainy phone pics. I just didn't want to lug around my big camera.

{I want to ride}

west side

2011-05-18T14:59:00.000-06:00

We headed to the west side to check out the market this afternoon. So glad we did.

We crossed the HOPE bridge which connects the East & West sides of downtown. Aren't those "Lord of the Ring" pillars amazing? Yes, I thought so too.

We couldn't resist the freshness. Somehow we thought we needed 8 ears of corn. Hey, they looked good and they were only $2 bucks total.

This is the market from the outside - I think these old buildings are beautiful. Chris is holding our loot - we ate that whole bag of caramel corn on the drive home.

We stood in line to try the famous Steve's gyro. It. was. awesome. In fact it will be featured on the food network in June. I'm sure we will be back for round 2 real soon.

Just reason #43 of why Cleveland Rocks.

{explore}

work & play

2011-05-15T17:13:00.001-06:00

Spring brings on those cleaning feelings. We have been working on de-cluttering our house. Friday we moved our winter clothes out and made some more room in our [tiny] closets. Feels so nice: goodbye chunky sweaters, hello shorts & flip-flops!

Saturday I hosted a baby shower for this cute girl. She is one of my favorites. It was fun to plan for and decorate. I am totally into all that jazz and I am always in the mood to party!

How was your weekend?

{that's a wrap}

mini-trip = Columbi

2011-05-13T14:49:00.001-06:00

We are taking advantage of Chris's time off and crossing off our Ohio&beyond bucket list.

We went to Columbus on Wednesday for a sleepover. We went shopping at the posh Polaris shopping plaza and ate at some amazing restaurants [City BBQ and BJs]. I wish we could have eaten about a dozen other places too. My vacations are 75% about food....can you tell?

On our way home we stopped at "Grandpa's Cheesebarn" which is a place off the freeway among the farm-lands of Ohio. It was awesome. We bought cheese curds, fudge, and I got a BLT sandwich at their cafe. Definitely worth the stop off.

It was just nice to concentrate only on having fun together, just me & him.

{staycation}

mid-day treat

2011-05-10T07:15:00.000-06:00

Going for ice cream was the perfect middle to Chris's first day on break. yum. check.

Mango Sorbet in a waffle cone for Me.
Ice Cream Sundae with Peanuts for Him.

RANDOM STORY 4 U - It's true what they say, Paris does change you. I went to France after graduating college and I came back a little lactose intolerant. No cows milk for me -- I haven't had a big bowl of real ice cream in over 5 years. Sad, right? Well, don't feel too bad for me. I used to make myself a chocolate chip milkshake almost every day in high school. I think I've had my fair share.

What's your favorite summer treat?

.

{ooooo lala}

'round here

2011-05-09T15:08:00.001-06:00

It's very pretty 'round these parts. Those April showers weren't messing around but we do have some pretty May flowers to show for it. Over the weekend we took a walk outside and this is what we saw...

I cannot tell you how good it feels that spring is here and the sun is out. I guess I didn't realize how much I hibernated during the winter until I felt the excitement of spring. I am happy to be out of my funk. There is so much to look forward to..especially now that my man is on break for 3 weeks! yee ha.

{tres jolie}

Finals Week

2011-05-03T14:55:00.001-06:00

Finals is here again. I don't like to talk about it and I am not even the one doing the work! I stress out for Chris and I can't wait until it is over [only two days left!] I become all needy and in the way. I promise I mean well! And Chris is so patient with me even with all he has going on.

Did I mention he deep cleaned the house & made banana bread in between studying this past weekend? Yah, it is hard to compete with such awesomeness.

{my guy}
P.S. if you're bored, we are updated over HERE and over HERE.

our love story.

2011-04-27T09:34:00.003-06:00

Have I ever told you about how Chris and I became, well, Chris and I? You may be surprised to know that it was a bit of a rocky road... and I don't mean the ice-cream flavor. You can read about it over here! I must say that blog-sitting is a good time.

*On different note - some questions were raised about funeral potatoes in my Easter post...I used this recipe. You must try them! (No funeral needed.)

{link-ed}

easter feast-er

2011-04-25T12:55:00.002-06:00

We had a relaxing Easter.
1. Church in our brightest Easter threads. I wore citrus and he wore pastels.
2. Saw a bunny hopping along the road on the drive home. Total Easter Miracle.
3. Made a feast. homemade rolls, funeral potatoes, roasted asperagus, and a honey baked HAM.
4. Made Chris smile for the camera (he tried real hard mmmmmmmm k)
5. Watched a few classic movies while in a food coma.
6. Called it a night at 11PM.

{party}

Spring!

2011-04-22T11:53:00.000-06:00

It was sunny for a whole half day yesterday! Lucky enough I was scheduled to do a photo-shoot - I love it when that happens. It was so exciting to get out of the house and enjoy that vitamin D! See the full session HERE.

{hallelujah}

weekend madness

2011-04-18T10:09:00.000-06:00

We went to an Irish Pub for a meal and then went for a stroll after at this cute outdoor shopping plaza. I was taking pictures of non-sense and totally embarrassing my husband ... I was having a great time!

This picture is classic us in public.

I'm thinking: I'm so funny...aren't I funny?

He's thinking: My wife is straight-up crazy.

Don't let Chris fool you... at home, he's the hyper one. no lie.

{fancy that}

self-portrait

2011-04-14T14:41:00.000-06:00

Chris was playing with my ipod last night. And I found all these hilarious photos on it today. I gotta say, none of these pictures do him justice...Haha.

Those ipod apps are addicting! Angry Birds anyone? Speaking of Apps, what are your favorites? Any worth buying?

{pretty bird}

projects & stuff

2011-04-13T09:22:00.002-06:00

Source: flickr.com via Tracy on Pinterest

I liked this quote.

Speaking of being scared to death...I have been working on some fun projects lately. Here are a few of note:

I have opened up my Greeting Card Shop again! It is at a new location...HERE. I have a bit of inventory that I thought I might sell. I will be rotating designs as they sell out. And maybe designing more? We shall see.

I was contacted by ARTFLAKES.com to sell some of my photography prints on their website. WHAT? ME? They are based out of Germany and serve all of Europe! I am excited to see what happens with that.

I have been working on branding & sprucin' my photography website & blog. I want to come up with a FAQ (frequently asked questions) page. If there is a question you think I should answer about photo sessions...will you let me know in the comments? That would be VERY cool of you.

P.S. I do have a "real job" in case anyone was wondering...I work for this company. I have never loved a job more.

{work it}

80s ladies

2011-04-11T17:46:00.000-06:00

Have I told you how incredibly cool my Ohio friends are?
Sometimes on Wednesday Nights we get together just us girls.
We might play games, just talk, or even dance! I LOVE to dance *the way Sarah Jessica Parker says it in the movie "Girls Just Want to Have Fun".
A couple weeks ago we decided game night wasn't enough - we needed to add a theme! And there is no better theme than the 80s...

I decided that I would be so much cooler if 80s hair was still in style. I just have the right texture/thickness for it. Believe me, I spend hours every morning trying to convince my frizzy locks that it is in fact 2011. (And by "every morning" I mean sometimes. haha.)

I need more themed parties in my life. Seriously so fun.

{till next time}

birthday fools

2011-04-01T14:43:00.000-06:00

It's this handsome devil's birthday today. No Joke.

Right now he is at the dental clinic finishing up a cleaning and then he and I have plans to paint the town. He wants a steak dinner and we are going to go all out. You only turn 29 once. Gotta make this year count!

Happy Birthday Stud. You are the coolest husband ever.

{good day}

chi-town in pictures

2011-03-19T12:01:00.000-06:00

4 days 3 nights

downtown Chicago

deep dish pizza (amazing)

and the pecan candy coded popcorn!

Really, all the food I ate was amazing.

we both brought the wrong shoes -- now we are walking like gimps

Michigan ave. shopping .. .need I say more?

60 degree weather

the lake shore

navy pier

the Bean! genius.

I'm a big Chicago fan.

{blast & a half}

i'm spring breakin'

2011-03-17T18:07:00.001-06:00

Hello friends, it has been awhile. I just needed a little break. Darn that creative block.

Chris is on Spring Break! We decided to get out of our apartment and go on a romantic get-a-away to Chi-town for a few days. We got here just in time for 60+ degree weather. I have to say, I am totally impressed with this city... it is busy yet so clean! And the food, oh, the food! I am in love.

Right now we are hold up in our hotel watching the madness of march [go BYU] and I am happy for the rest since my legs aren't doing their job anymore...cramptastic. I'm not used to all this walkin! But, oh how I need the exercise.

I thought I would use the time to edit a little video of our trip thus far (we go back home tomorrow ... sad face).

*song credit: "Us" by Regina Spektor

Another beauty of my new camera is...automatic video! It was time to use it. The sound is off a bit at the end...I am clearly a beginner, sorry. Much more photos later on, folks.

{time-out}

a series of events

2011-03-02T17:47:00.001-07:00

*a much belated weekend adventure re-cap...

Friday - Chris had his first snow day ever! Case rarely cancels school. It was seriously crazy outside and it was nice to have a longer weekend together. We kept looking at each other on Friday and thinking it was Saturday instead. I love it when that happens.

Friday Night - 1 hour before the bball game, we thought it was high time we get out an support our Cleveland Cavaliers. We had no tickets so we took our chances and hopped on the train bound for downtown. We ended up getting some last minute tix for a steal and happily sat up in the nose-bleeds. I was starving so I caved and bought a tiny $6 digorno pizza. Let's just say, it didn't hit the spot. What was I thinking? But, we had fun cheering and watching the guys bring home a win against the NY Knicks.

Here are some nasty phone pictures of our night. (do you ever get your picture taken and then think, "I swear I was wearing make-up ...why do i look like a swamp witch?" Well, that's what I thought while looking at these) I apologize.

Saturday Afternoon - We dined at the Olive Garden for fun. I was fulfilling my craving for their soup.salad.bread sticks deal. Chris kept laughing at me as I was hoarding the food and making "yummmmm" noises. I reminded him that this is not the first time he has seen me eat. For some reason, he was really shocked that I ate more than he did (which was not the first time). I was hungry, ok? geez loueez.

Saturday Late Afternoon - Chris watched the BYU game and I went into the other room and watched some lame girl movie on TBS & took a nap. I love the Cougs...just not as much as I love to sleep.

Saturday Night - Trip to Target for some randoms. We had a gift card...which is really dangerous at Target. Then back home where we half watched the movie "Grown-ups" (not that entertaining).

{fun & stuff}

ice ice baby

2011-02-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

We had a batch of freezing rain come through last night.
This is a first for me.
I didn't know this kind of thing existed.
Don't judge, growing up in California made me kind-of clueless about cold climates.
It is quite pretty though.
The trees look like giant popsicles.
I like it but I'm still debating how much.
The train shut down due to the weather so the husband had to take a shuttle/bus route to school.
Which made him really late.
So it has it's pros and cons.
It does make for cool pictures though!
Check it.

{baby, it's cold outside}

one year wiser

2011-02-19T10:07:00.001-07:00

So, I had a birthday this week. It was kinda hard to celebrate on my actual day mid-week, so we left the real fun for the weekend. We ate at one of our favorite places, the Outback. That bloomin' onion is pretty much the greatest indulgence ever. I'll have that over birthday cake any day of the week.

I remember my 24th birthday at the Outback in Utah, surrounded by a group of friends. As I was diving into my presents the waitress came over and said, "lemme guess, sweet 16, right?!" We all held back the laughter as I nodded with a big smirk across my face. "Yep! you nailed it."

great times at the Outback Steakhouse.

All the cards & texts & calls & facebook messages made Feb 15th VERY special. Thanks, thanks, and thanks some more. And you better believe I had fun spoiling myself by buying a couple things from J Crew (on sale of course!). That store makes me drool uncontrollably. I felt a birthday was the best excuse to buy that sparkly pencil skirt I've been eying.

I would also like to give a big shout-out to the weather gods for the dreamy 50 degrees this week. No one wants to feel like a lazy bum on their birthday so, I appreciate the motivation to get out & do somethin'. My couch-potato muffin top thanks you.

{28 will be great}

flowers from the boy.

2011-02-18T23:59:00.001-07:00

I love getting flowers. I love taking pictures of them even more.

See, my husband was smart this year. He waited a few days after Valentines to get these for me -- that way he could avoid the major price spike. At least that is what he tells me. haha.

see more photos of these lovelies: here.

{bella}

be my valentine

2011-02-14T21:41:00.003-07:00

We ate Fettuccine noodles Lady and the Tramp style. Oh, and pizza too. Food is the best.

We exchanged various brands of chocolate bars. yum.

We watched a little tube (that's what the kids are callin' television these days)

We shared the same blanket

And we took some sweet pictures of ourselves because we are silly & in love...

i like this holiday. i like it a lot.

{love-ly}

latest photo project

2011-02-11T14:51:00.002-07:00

See the Full session HERE

{little miracle}

bread = yum

2011-02-08T08:07:00.008-07:00

I have a new homemade bread recipe that is dyna-mite!
Check out DISH for the recipe!

**all my "eat-this" recipes will be posted over there from now on.

{eat it}

weekend

2011-02-07T07:35:00.002-07:00

After being sick & stuck inside all week we were really excited to run some errands Saturday afternoon together. I even brought my camera with me in the car. That's how excited we were to be out.

...the rest of the weekend was spent on the couch, watching movies. It's what we do best.

how was your weekend?

{happy face}

the flu bites

2011-02-01T08:44:00.001-07:00

I woke up yesterday morning with the flu. Which totally bites because the last time I was sick was just a little over a month ago. I gotta say, I am lucky I don't have much to re-arrange and can spend time in bed taking care of me-self.

The worst thing that happens aside from the barf-fest is that my work email inbox fills to the brim and my kitchen dishes & laundry piles take over my tiny apartment. Which isn't the end of the world. But, man does it make you grateful to feel healthy.

Now back to my beddy-by where I will be chomping down some Saltine Crackers and sleeping the rest of the day away.

{sick-ly}

lunch date

2011-01-31T20:25:00.001-07:00

Lunch dates are rare for us, especially on Friday afternoon.
This past weekend was so busy that this was really all the fun we had together.
Thank you, chick-fil-a.

i just realized we are totally matching with our blue&white stripes. how embarrassing. haha.

{Let's do lunch}

i miss the sunshine

2011-01-27T14:45:00.002-07:00

I heard on the news last night, "there will be no more sunshine for the rest of the week". awesome.
I'm trying to stay positive among the gloomy outside temperatures.

Here is some sunshine I found this week even with out the sun...

* Got my hair did. New cut & color. And some side swept bangs to boot. feels nice.
* Found the perfect "happy red" nail polish at Target. Makes me happy just looking at my hands.
* Ward Game night with the ladies at my church where laughter is a requirement.
* Yummy homemade meals each night to look forward to. (which does not happen every week!)
* American Idol auditions. I can't help it. It makes me laugh out loud.

{be happy}

the DR trip re-cap

2011-01-25T12:11:00.001-07:00

As promised...the Dominican Republic photos!
He took some great pictures with our little Canon Powershot. Thank heavens he did because it helped me understand what it was like. I will do my best to describe them accurately.

this is a picture of one of the neighborhoods. I am so taken with the little village in the background and the double bike riders.

This is one of the rooms they offered dental care. Chris said with all the students and doctors attending, there were about 50 of them there to help.

This is a picture of the line that formed outside the "clinic". Chris said there were always too many people to help in the amount of time they were there. At the end of the day they would ask for the next person from the line and everyone behind them would be pleading to be taken instead. He said it was really sad that they couldn't help everyone.

I thought these pictures were cute. Chris said all these kids came in on one pick-up truck.

The last 3 days were spent at a gorgeous resort. Chris said it was a nice rest from the full days of work they had.

{service}

lil' somethin somethin

2011-01-24T15:05:00.003-07:00

Hooray! My man is home!
He had such a great time and learned so much.
And he is TAN. (me = jealous)
I know he was doing such great things, but I am so happy he is back at home with me.
He kept saying how "quiet" I was acting after I picked him up last night.
I guess I got used to 10 days of mostly silence.
I think I'm over that now :)
Oh, and he brought me back this gorgeous necklace. Surprise gifts are fun!

Dominican Turquoise
ain't it purrrty?
Pictures of his trip coming soon!

{souvenir}

{eat this} - Like Butta

2011-01-21T07:08:00.006-07:00

I made almond butter for the first time this week. It is so easy to make and healthy and super tasty.

Here is how I did it:

Ingredients = raw almonds + coarse salt [+ olive oil (optional)]

Spread 1 cup almonds on a baking sheet. Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Your house will smell amazing.

Using a food processor (I tried using a blender and it did not work) process the roasted almonds. Add a pinch of salt and mix for 5-10 minutes until the mixture turns creamy. You can add up to 2 tablespoons of olive oil to speed up the process if you would like.

Use as a dip for fruit (apples & bananas work great) and in place of peanut butter.

Store in an air tight container.

{raw goodness}

a few unimportant things...

2011-01-20T09:20:00.001-07:00

I wish I could tell him about my week...but I can't cause he is in the jungle...

photo by Sarah B. edited by ME.

Remember that HAUGE NASTY ALIEN bug we found on our windsheild on our drive home to Ohio? And how even strangers were stopping to take a look on their way into the restroom? And we didn't touch it because we were too scared so we left it for the wind to handle? Well, I found it again - it never flew off our car! As I was checking the windsheild fluid, it was hiding among the dried leaves under the hood. I am still too scared to touch it.

Last night I had a dream about you. About us. We were on vacation in the sun somewhere. It was nice to see you.

I thought of you yesterday while eating fish nuggets from Trader Joes. You know I am not really a fish-stick eater so it is only because of you that I gave these a try. And boy, you were right, they are so darn flakey & good!

I was hoping to pound out like 5 chickflicks from netflix while you've been gone but I have only seen 1 so far and the 2nd one arrives on Friday. Darn snail mail.

We got asked to speak in church on Sunday. But, since you aren't going to be there we got out of it. Although, the reason they asked in the first place was because they thought we haven't spoken in the ward yet. I guess our sweet talks last year weren't very memorable. haha.

I went shopping because I needed some retail therapy and found some sweet burgundy tights for $4 at TJMaxx. I was so embarrassed because I waited for like 10 minutes in the return only line. By the time I realized it, I was up to purchase and they sent me back to the regular line to wait another 10 minutes. I felt pretty stupido. Luckily there was a lady behind me who did the same thing.

{love letter}

i heart skype

2011-01-18T09:32:00.001-07:00

Thank heavens for this little miracle called Skype. It makes such a difference to see each other instead of just talking over the phone.
Preachin' to the choir? I thought so.

this is an email I got from him his first day there:

"Just got done with the first day. It went well. Did some cleanings in the morning and some extraction during the afternoon. I was pretty exhausted from going to bed late last night. we go only about 4 hours of sleep. I'm headed to dinner in a little bit here in the hotel.
Anyway, things are pretty crazy here, I can definitely tell I am in a 3rd world country. I did take some pictures FYI. I'm sure you're proud."

I am unable to communicate with him for a few days - which is totally bad news. Apparently there is no internet in the jungles of Dominican Republic...(hmmm, yes i guess that makes sense) So we will just cross our fingers that everything is going ok.

{worry wart}

the DR

2011-01-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

My hubs is in the Dominican Republic....

He is with a group from school performing dental work on the people there. I think it is super cool but am still a bit jealous that he is there and I am here. 85 degree weather sounds pretty darn good right about now.

It is going to be kind of hard to communicate with him for a bit but hopefully I will have some updates to share. I made him PROMISE that he would take some pictures so I can see what his days look like. Isn't he a stud? LOVE that man-o-mine.

{my guy}

*need some inspiration? me too! click here for a possible remedy.

blizzardy

2011-01-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

it won't stop snowing. what is a girl to do?

stay in her pajamas all day. CHECK.
cozy-up with a blanket on the couch. CHECK
drink copious amounts of hot cocoa. CHECK
watch a slow 19th century London-infused romance movie. CHECK
take pictures from my window of the snow falling. CHECK

view from my window: 1.12.11

poor little guy.

Picture Stats:

Nikon D7000, 200 mm

1/500 s at f/5.6, ISO 250

These are the days I am so thankful I get to work from home!

{toasty}

a little peek.

2011-01-11T15:43:00.002-07:00

new year. new camera. NEW BLOG!

I started a photo-blog where I will post the latest & greatest photos I take for peoples.

Bad News First: this blog might get A LOT more boring...since it will now just be about me & him.
Good News: If you are bored with us, there might be something awesome to look at over on my photo-blog. yay!

Go check it out.

imakephotographs.blogspot.com

You can see my first photo session of 2011. Here is a little teaser..

{yes i did}

Just Dance

2011-01-07T14:49:00.005-07:00

This is what happens when a person is cooped up inside during the Cleveland winter.

Actually, fun fact: I do this all the time...

Solo dance parties are like therapy. GREAT therapy. Haha, I realize I look like the biggest geek on the planet so, I am only sharing this because I know you do it too. And if you don't...well, then I feel dumb and look rather crazy. But, still I would advise you to try it when in need of a little pick-me-up. See, my sister does it too!

what song am I rockin' out to, you ask? This one. Love that Gweneth.

happy weekend!

{gonna be okay}

one night in vegas

2011-01-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Our connecting flight back to the Cleve was overbooked and they needed 2 passengers to give up their seats and go on a later flight the next morning. Funny thing was, earlier that week, Chris and I had talked about how cool it would be if this happened since we didn't have to be back in town at a certain time. It worked out perfectly to stay and spend a fun night together in Las Vegas. And it was pretty much paid for by the airline -- including vouchers for future free flights. We scored big time.

*pictures taken with my phone

We walked around the strip and people-watched and shopped. The hotel lobbies were still all decked out for Christmas - which was fun to see. It was the perfect spontaneous 24hr vaca -- just us.

{fun accident}

today was a great day.

2011-01-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

today was a great day because...

Chris had one last day of freedom and we mostly spent it relaxing on the couch.

Chris got a hair-cut from an actual hair professional - which is kind of a belated Christmas miracle if you ask me. (His parents & sister will understand what I mean when I say that.)

AND...wait for it....

I scored the most amazing piece of creative-outlet awesomeness:

I made just enough monies from my photo sessions last year + a little Christmas bonus help from my employer (you rock, Janice!) to buy this beaut. It is a dream. I consider it another belated Christmas miracle that I get to continue to progress at something I love so much.

I am a lot excited.

{in with the new}

the best time of the year

2011-01-02T18:37:00.001-07:00

::HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS::

* Bible story pageants/programs

* 3D movie date with my brother, Doug

* Girls day with my mom and sis - thrift store/boutique shopping!

* Chris flies in after finishing the board exam... phew it's over!

* Chris thinks he should "probably go shopping" for gifts on Christmas eve.

* opening my "Sams Club" Christmas [which was pretty sweet, I have enough gummy bears for an army]

* Brother got engaged!
* Reading Christmas Cards from all y'all (we were slackers and didn't send this year)

* Christmas sugar-glazed ham - best ham ever.

* sickness [which I spread around to my poor papa]

* waking up to warm homemade bread every morning baked by my mama.

* DVR catch up with my parents

* naps galore

* treacherous drive in the snow to the airport - Thanks Dad!

* a surprise night in Vegas with Him. [more on that later]

{happy holla' days}

1.1.11

2011-01-01T18:37:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year

10 seconds until midnight last night, I am dancing in front of the TV watching the ball drop.
ME: "Chris, don't you want to dance in the new year with me?"
HIM (in a goofy voice): "No, I just want to smile."
hahahaha.... then I fell on the floor laughing.

hope you had a fun new year!

{cheers}

look at this face...

2010-12-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

My bestie, Heather (or I call her Hez) has a darling baby boy. We took some pictures of his sweet face while they were visiting over the weekend. I can't get enough of this boy - he is such a little model baby.

...see what I mean?

{sweet cheeks}

girl power.

2010-12-22T07:00:00.004-07:00

I had a fun girls weekend with my gals from "Mansion 12" a.k.a. my college roommates. (Mansion 12 was the name of the apartment in Provo, UT where we met each other.) You may know them from other posts on this blog-o-mine... Remember This and This? good times.

We are all in different places in our lives (careers, men, families) but when we get together we jump right into inside jokes and classic memories. I laugh a lot lot when we get together. This picture kinda shows you why...we are all a little nutty (in a good way).

These girls are so much fun - I am so lucky to know them.

{xo xo}

I'm so proud of this guy

2010-12-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

photo by Sarah B, edited by Me.

Today he took the first half of his Dental Board Exams... after studying all month long. He is such a stud and I am so proud of him for being so diligent and making it through. He is coming to see me tomorrow and I can't wait to give him a big fat kiss & celebrate. It is going to be such a good Christmas this year. We have so much to be thankful for.

{happy happy, joy joy}

december is half way gone

2010-12-14T15:44:00.001-07:00

I have been totally MIA for awhile. Sorry bloggo-friends. But, I have reasons.
I have been sick. Like gross barfarama-food-poisoning kind of sick. yuck.
Today (9 days later) I am finally feeling human again and actually left the house! YIPPEE.
And not just any house .. my parents house in Utah. that is where I am.
I left my man behind in OH to do some studying for the BIG test he has coming up.
Folks in the dental field call em' Board exams. All I know is I will be so happy when they are over.
Then we can have a jolly ole Merry Christmas together with out any studying getting in between us.

I thought I would share these pictures I took of a Christmas photo session I did right before I left Ohio. Because pictures are fun and because this family belongs in a magazine.

{jolly holiday}

December is here

2010-12-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

If you blink you might miss it...

because time flies when you're with the ones you love. 

{tis the season}

a southern thanksgiving

2010-11-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

road tripped down to North Carolina to be with family.
This is where we ate the big meal...pretty, eh?

Chris was "killin me smalls" with his funny faces for the camera.

we took a trip to his brother's Ortho practice. It was neat.

and had an all around relaxing and perfect time with the southerners.

How was your holiday?

{turkey day}

give thanks for parental units

2010-11-23T17:49:00.005-07:00

Chris's parents are in town! We are having fun showing them "our city".

movies
food
naps
site-seeing
...all the good stuff vacation brings.

and tomorrow we are headed to North Carolina for thanksgiving.
see ya on the other side.

Happy Holidays!

{be thankful}

fashion tip - vol 1 {layers}

2010-11-16T11:22:00.009-07:00

I've been wanting to talk more about fashion on this blog of mine. I like it. a lot...

Volume 1 = Layers.

Fall & winter are the perfect season's for layering clothing.
Layers give that casual feel - and they keep you warm too.

Here is how I do it:

A good rule of thumb is to stick with one solid and one pattern. Also adding complimentary colors help to make your clothes an "outfit".
Stripes are my "go-to". A fun stripe shirt or cardigan is a staple in my closet. Pair a stripe number with those solid sweaters or plain tees we all have in our closets and you are golden.

Also - Using a scarf or some opaque tights will help you achieve this look.

Here are some examples of layers I wore this week:

orange cardigan: banana republic outlet (major sale)
swan ruffle shirt: love&photographs consignment shop
gray pencil skirt: shade clothing
gray tights: TJMaxx
blue & white flats: Urban Outfitters
tan handbag: Coach, thrifted (orange twine)

yellow striped scarf: forever21
black & White shirt: American Eagle
Cream Sweater: American Eagle

{get dressed}

hello finals week.

2010-11-11T08:48:00.004-07:00

Chris is gearin' up for finals next week. Our kitchen table has turned into a temporary dental lab.

I seriously can not believe it's almost thanksgiving and his semester is coming to a close. There won't be play time until after his board exams though - which he will be taking Dec 22nd. He is a busy guy.

ok - he will have to take a few days to play during thanksgiving. Especially since we are spending it in North Carolina. More on that later.

{focus}

pictures in toledo

2010-11-09T08:09:00.005-07:00

I went on a little road trip to Toledo to photograph one of my besties and her little family.

There was a fierce cold wind that day - I had to keep my own hands from shaking the camera too bad. And little Seth was too cold to give very many smiles. We managed to get a few great ones but poor Sarah's picture dreams were dashed.

We went to this cool old abandoned barn. and the cloudy light was perfect.

Love you Denzer family!

{holy toledo!}

Ohio fleas

2010-11-08T09:33:00.007-07:00

I have been holding out on the flea market excursion I took a few weeks ago. It was a big event with lots of vendors - definitely worth the 3-hour drive. We had a blast & found some sweet stuff for our shop.

we woke up at 5am to get there right when it opened (8am). Don't I look pretty?

And of course I came away with a few things for myself too!

photos above by Sarah B.

I bought this blue desk for $35

I got this great library table for $50 - which I plan to paint a bright color one of these days...

I'm kinda sad Ohio Flea Market season is coming to a close. I'm not ready for winter! But, it will be something to look forward to next year.

{the thrill of the hunt}

edit experiments

2010-11-03T12:40:00.004-06:00

I have spent the majority of today in my pjs searching the Internet for photo inspiration. I love diving into the internet photographer world - but it is a time suck. I usually emerge hours later with a massive creative headache.

I am crushing on this modern technique of editing. It is rather popular right now and emulates the throw back look of film.

I edited a few photos from the photo-shoot of Chris and I in this style.
*These photos were taken by Sarah B, and edited by me.

I love the muted dark dream-like look of this editing style. It is fun and a little different. I am definitely going to incorporate some of this look into my current work flow.

now it's time to put on real clothes.

{photo crush}

HA HAlloween

2010-10-31T16:13:00.004-06:00

This is who Chris and I dressed up as this year:

photo credit: Elle magazine photoshoot 2010

ME = Kim Kardashian = famous for being famous
Chris = Just Beiber = teen heart throb

I even stuffed my booty with a towel because she has curves that I can't imitate naturally.

as you can see...we totally nailed it.
Pretty sure many party-goers were clueless about our costumes.
But, we thought we were funny.
And that my friends, is all that matters.

{happy halloween!}

old friends = love fest

2010-10-30T10:29:00.007-06:00

Yesterday, my bestie from high school came to town! She was here visiting family and dropped in for a few hours to see how much Cleveland Rocks.

We hadn't seen each other since her wedding 2 years ago so...this was kind of a big deal.

Amy isn't just any friend. She's more like a sister. We have been friends since 4th grade and we know everything about each other. Or we used to - before our lives got more complicated. I was super nervous to see her but the moment we met it was as if no time apart ever happened. She will be a friend forever.

::on our Cleveland agenda::

eat at the B SPOT.
See Chagrin Falls.
Patterson's Farm Bakery.

Amy's Mom came too! She is like my 2nd mom too. I adore her.

And Amy's Hubby came! He is such a stud and very talented! He is an AMAZING fine art photographer.

Amy and I have another bestie that was missing yesterday. Kelly. We were the three musketeers and were glued to the hip in HS - especially senior year. We called her while we were together. We were ridiculously giddy. Thanks to Amy's Mom who captured all the action. haha.

Thanks so much for taking a trip out to see me you guys! It was such a breath of fresh air to see you! I love you all so much.

{keep the old}

the neighbors and their dog...

2010-10-24T16:01:00.008-06:00

my neighbors + their dog, "Bear" =

this was my first time working with pets. I had to work just as hard to get Bear to look as I do some of the kids I work with. But, I absolutely LOVE these photos. Some of my favorites ever.

...and we did this shoot around our neighborhood so it made it all the more special.

p.s. I love fall

{...and your little dog too!}

mini sessions {part 1}

2010-10-20T13:22:00.005-06:00

K so - I really had to edit these down since there were five families. I am only showing you 2 of my favorites of each --which hurts me to do - but that's that.

Squires Castle

:: The Hurst Family ::

:: The Mecham Family ::

:: The Taylor Family ::

:: The Holdaway Family ::

:: The Taysom Family ::

** I am not planning to do another mini-session this season. But, I may do it again in the spring!

{oh snap!}

mini sessions {part 2}

2010-10-18T14:52:00.005-06:00

I know, I know...I should probably have a separate blog for work/photography purposes. But, I just don't think I could handle that right now. So this is what you get --one big blog full of all of my goings and doings. lucky you. haha.

I am so excited to share some photos from my Fall Mini-Sessions. I thought I would start with part II... Just to confuse you. I decided to share only 3 images from each session. Because sharing all 10 (even tho I would like to) would be photo madness.

Here we go!

Patterson's Farm - PART II

:: The Kiene Family ::

::The Cain Family::

:: The Call Family ::

We seriously could not have picked a more beautiful day for this. The light was gorg.

{snap happy}

P.S. Don't forget to enter to win the free Coach Bag from Orange Twine. One more day left! Enter Here.