Christmas

Oh what a wonderful holiday it was! Family (all the kids together Christmas morning for the first times in a few years), friends, neighbors, love and yummy treats all abounded. Joie was so much fun to watch open gifts. She's still too young to realize that she's opening a new toy or outfit and get excited about it, but she sure enjoyed ripping the paper! She helped everyone open their gifts in turn, and kept us all entertained.

Mom made her the most beautiful Christmas dress, and she looked like a doll in it.

I just love the interaction between Joie and her mommy in this picture. Pretty much sums up the pure joy felt by all of us that day.

Joie came to hang out with me in my apartment and she had a great time talking on one of my old cell phones. Is she adorable or what?

One of her new outfits... those Vans shoes kill me. So cute!

Merry Christmas Eve!

I'm so excited for Christmas this year! All of our family is together for the first time in a couple of years. Christmas Eve service at church, Christmas morning presents, and sledding Christmas afternoon... bring it on! Yippee!
Hope you all have a very merry and happy Christmas!

Facebook Status

No, I didn't waste my precious time building this in Illustrator (although I love the design, and might have to copy it!) facebook generate this on their site, and I thought it was really fun. So I posted it :)

The Walker Family

I just love this family! I've been nannying for them a little over a year now, and they are the sweetest. They have beautiful children, Christ-like attitudes, and have become a big part of my life. I had the honor of taking their family photos this year, and we had a blast! Decorating Christmas cookies, reading stories together, and playing in the snow... what a fun shoot!

What A Wonderful Day!

Snow Much Fun!

The first big snow of the year was on Monday! It's snowed a skiff here and there already this year, but we had quite the storm come through northeast Boise, and it dumped about 6 inches near the foothills! It just happened to be little Miss Joie's first experience with snow, and I was so lucky to have the day off to be able to see her enjoy it!

Here's to many more snow filled days to enjoy through the holidays!

Many Blessings to be Thankful For

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year.

A time to reflect upon my blessings, spend quality time with friends and family,
and eat horrendous amounts of fabulous food.

I have many blessings that I am thankful for:
Family
Friends
Employment
Health
Working Car
Money for bills
Support and Love.

I am also thankful for some little ones in my life...

I am lucky enough to be the occasional nanny of these adorable sisters.
I started watching them 2 summers ago, and have had the pleasure
of watching them grow up.
And, of course this little one...
Do I have the cutest niece in the world, or what?
I'm so happy that she and her mom and dad live in Boise again.
*sigh*

I Like Myself!

I Like Myself!
By Karen Beaumont
I like myself!
I’m glad I’m me.

There’s no one else
I’d rather be.

I like my eyes, my ears, my nose.
I like my fingers and my toes.

I like me wild.
I like me tame.
I like me different
and the same.

I like me fast. I like me slow.
I like me everywhere I go.

I like me on the inside too,
for all I think and say and do.

Inside, outside, upside down,
from head to toe and all around.
I like it all! It all is me!
And me is all I want to be.

And I don’t care in any way
what someone else may think or say.

I may be called a silly nut
or crazy cuckoo bird – so what?
I’m having too much fun, you see,
for anything to bother me!

Even when I look a mess,
I still don’t like me any less,
‘cause nothing in this world, you know,
can change what’s deep inside, and so…

No matter if they stop and stare,
no person
ever
anywhere
can make me feel that what they see
is all there really is to me.

I’d still like me with fleas or warts,
or with a silly snout that snorts.

Or knobby knees or hippo hips
or purple polka-dotted lips,

Or beaver breath or stinky toes
or horns protruding from my nose,

Or – yikes! – with spikes all down my spine,
or hair that’s like a porcupine.

I still would be the same, you see…

I like myself because I’m ME!

Oh my...

This past month has been a bit taxing for a few reasons:

1- My brother, sis-in-law, and niece have been toying with the idea of moving back to Boise. This is something that would send me through the roof with excitement of the idea of them being closer, and it would look like they were staying, and I would be sad. But they decided the best decision was to move! *happy dance*

2- I have been going to the chiropractor for the past month because I have been in quite a bit of pain, only to find out that I wasted about $250 because the issue is with my teeth. I have thousands of dollars worth of dental treatments that I have to get done over the next year... I am not a fan of the dentist chair.

and 3- perhaps the most difficult thing of all... I am not allowed to drink coffee! Aaack! I am a coffee addict, but my dentist suggested not drinking it, because it was making my teeth worse. I have white teeth, so staining is not the issue. I guess the acid in the coffee actually breaks down the enamel on my teeth, and the milk in lattes is not good for them either. After all the work is done, I'll be able to drink coffee again, but until then (and for the past 3 weeks!) I have not had any coffee... crazy!
I don't think this task would be near as difficult if Starbucks hadn't released their red cups yet. I ♥ those red cups so much, and they hold so much yummy, steaming goodness in them! *sigh*

Help-Portrait Event

On December 12, all over the world, photographers and anyone with the drive to help others feel special are joining together to change communities. Watch these videos, and see what it's all about. It's an amazingly simply, yet profound event! I am looking for anyone who wants to join in the Boise movement. It's going to be epic!



This video is the "test" event in Nashville. How amazing!



Let me know if you're interested!
Huzzah.

One Happy Visit!

This weekend my sister-in-law Danielle and my niece Joie came to Boise for a visit! I love this little girl so much, and it's so fun to see her personality setting in. She is always so happy, and I love it! Mom came up for the weekend to see us all too, and we all just had a super fun girls weekend.
Joie isn't quite walking on her own yet, but she sure wants to! She gets down on the ground every chance she gets, and would much rather be walking (with our hands, or holding on to furniture) then be carried. She'll let you carry her, but if you stop and stand still for too long, she definitely wants to get down and play.She entertains herself so easily, and is just all around happy. I think it runs in the family :)

Mom (Nana to Joie) gave her a squishy book that has all our pictures in it. It's the cutest thing! She can have us with her all the time, and it works as a teething ring too!

Joie got to come hang out with me in my apartment. Don't be fooled by this picture, she is so little that she makes my apartment look pretty big, but it's not! Lol... it's pretty small, but the perfect size for Niece and Auntie to hang out and have fun in!
Mom found Joie the greatest snack bowl. It's made of soft plastic and Joie can reach in and get a treat, but when she pulls her hand back out, a flap comes down and prevents the other treats from spilling out. She figured out quickly how it worked, and loved getting her snacks out of it.
Mom was playing peek-a-boo with Joie, and she got a kick out of it. So cute!
We took a trip to the pumpkin patch and Joie wore her super cute bumble bee costume.
Haha... she's such a ham! She smiling for Danielle's camera and "showing her teeth."
We were getting ready for the picture and she put her hands up on her cheeks, so I had to too.
My sis-in-law Danielle and the babe.

Our Adorable Bumble Bee

I will be making a longer post with all of our fun pics from the Pumpkin Patch this weekend later, but I wanted to enter this picture of J in the I ♥ Faces contest. Check out all their entries, there are some real cuties!

Working on a new Concept

I have been working on a few new ways to get my studio name out there, and find an expanded client base. I am excited to say that there are a few events coming up that just might have a hand in that. *knock on wood

This coming Saturday (Halloween) is the 1st annual 8 Man Mayhem dodgeball tournament benefiting the Boys & Girls Club. I will be on hand to take team photos and action shots of the event. Each player will receive a goodie bag with loads of cool stuff from local vendors. I will be one of those lucky vendors!! *Fist pump!

I am going to be including my card, along with a special offer for discount portraits for friends and family. The picture below is the start of this card.I have a few other irons in the fire, but I will get to them later. Until then I am excited at the prospect of meeting new people and building a strong clientele.

Stay Tuned!
Huzzah

Things Are Happening

Oh man, it's been awhile since I've updated! It seems like so much is going on right now too.

I will probably be posting more in the near future to get all caught up, but in the meantime, I just have to list out the things that I am thankful for, and remind myself of all that is happening.

~My niece is going to be here in 2 days!
~My family is, and always will be, there for each other, no matter what, no questions asked. (This has been shown in many ways the past few weeks!)
~Friends (true friends that is) are irreplaceable
~God is always there, whether He's at the forefront of your mind or not, you are always on His
~There are some things we face as adults that we hoped we never would have to, and there's no way we approach them the way we would have thought

and just because this picture makes me smile... it's almost Halloween!

Wild Side of the Library

I created Max from the storybook "Where the Wild Things Are" in order to promote our upcoming Wild Things party at the Library. I'm rather proud of how well he turned out. He's water colored and outlined in permanent marker on white butcher paper. I am currently working on one of the wild things, and he should be up tomorrow.

Nothing But Blue Skies...

...for my drive back from Kennewick. The drive gets a bit monotonous, but it's really not that bad when the sun is shining and the clouds are so white and fluffy.

Reasons To be Thankful

~Fall weather is perfect right now... not too cold, but crisp and still sunny.
~I am surrounded by happy people
~Many good things lie ahead (more to come in the following days on this!)
~Relationships with family growing stronger every day
~The possibility of my niece being in Boise in just a few weeks!

Bridal Shots

This weekend in Kennewick, WA, my cousin Jill and I decided to take some pretty killer photos of her in her wedding gown. She was an awesome model and worked it!! We started out at a winery and vineyard, and the location was amazing!
I love that she was willing to lay down in the dirt! Her wedding was 2 months ago, so she was willing to get a little dirty, and that made my day!

We were setting up this shot (seriously the most beautiful location and doorway I have ever seen!) and I was so excited to get creative with that door when it opened and this guy came walking toward us. I decided to take one picture to test the lighting while he was in the way. He was walking way too slow and not trying to get out of our way, so I knew something must have been up. He introduced himself to me, then let me know that I couldn't shoot bridal photos on their property unless it is set up with their events coordinator ahead of time. Oops! I'm just glad he didn't ask to either see or keep the pictures we had taken. I don't think he would have been too happy to find out that we had been traipsing through the vineyard! I'm just glad I was able to photoshop him out, and we at least got this shot!
I think this is my favorite shot ever! I have been wanting to to experiment with lighting and sun for awhile, and the day was perfect for it! The wind was a little annoying, but everything came together in this shot. I feel like it should be on the front of a magazine.I LOVE that she was willing to get in the water! More of these amazing water shots (and vineyards too!) to come!

Looking Forward...

...to a weekend in Kennewick with my cousin Jill! She used to live in Seattle, but now she lives in Kennewick, which is less than half the distance! Now we can visit each other more often!

What I Am Thankful For Today
~the weekend!
~fall weather
~BSU game day, so I can wear a hoodie to work!
~opportunities for photo shoots
~jeans that fit now when they didn't this summer!

Personal Victory!

Yesterday was the 8th or 9th time in my lifetime that I have {attempted} a spinning class. I can usually make it to the end and be fine; however... you see, there is this section of every class called "jumps." And by "jumps" they mean hell on wheels. For a few minutes (I tend to black out, so I've never kept track of just how many minutes it is) the instructor has the class spin while standing up for 8 counts and then sit for an 8 count, over and over and over again. Just when you think you are going to die, she switches it up to a 4 count and you do this over and over again until you are certain you will fall off the bike, and then you go back to the 8 count. By the end of the "jump" series you are ready to walk out -on very jiggly legs- and never return...

Ok, so confession time. Until yesterday I'd never actually completed an entire "jump" sequence. I would usually extend the 4 count series to an 8, or even just stay seated. (I know, I know, I'm a cheater, I'm sorry.) But yesterday I went into the spinning class telling myself that I was going to give it my all.... and I did! I did every single jump, right on beat! Personal Victory - woo hoo! :)

Happiness is...

a new pair of shoes!

Especially when you find them at TJ Maxx for $24.99! (if I ordered them off of Amazon it would have been 45 plus shipping)
I also found this amazing Polaroid application that I downloaded and have been having way too much fun with. Love it!

Birthday Celebrations!

On Saturday night a group of my friends and family went downtown with me to celebrate my birthday. I had the best time! We had good food, good drinks, and all around good fun! I am very blessed to have such good friends, and I'm so thankful for the special memories turning 27 will always have. We began the celebration at Bardenay...
*pictured - me, my cousin Jill, and her husband Blake.


Outside the restaurant I saw the {perfect} bicycle and had to have my picture with it! It was pink with tassels and an adorable white basket... if only it had Hawaiian flowers on it.
{part of} the group photo outside Bardenay.
*pictured - Margaret, me, Richard, Dawn, and Michelle.
Taking pictures while walking down the street at night doesn't always turn out as planned, but the effect was pretty cool.
My cousin Jill and I. I am so excited that she is living closer to me now! Only 4.5 hours away... we can visit each other more often!
Sitting outside Mulligans.
*Pictured - Blake, Kalen (my {little} brother, me and Richard.
Thanks everyone for everything! I had the best weekend ever! 27 will go down in history as epic :)