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 :)

I've Got A Pocket Full of Sunshine

Things I am thankful for today:

~Wonderful friends and family who made my birthday the best one yet!
~Remembering once again what a great city I live in
~Workout buddies
~No hangover (fist in air!)
~Today is the first day of fall!

Birthday Cupcakes

My friends are so good to me...

I was surprised with birthday cupcakes from my best friend Richard. I told him that I wanted to go the specialty store in Eagle to pick out a birthday cupcake after work, but I didn't get off from work until 6. I didn't know that the store closed at 6 until I was on the way to his house. I guess he knew and went to the store before it closed and picked me out some yummies before I got to his house :) He's so sweet!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!

Few New Obsessions...

This song always cheers me up and gets me moving:

There's a place that I go, 
But nobody knows. 
Where the rivers flow, 
And I call it home. 

And there's no more lies. 
In the darkness, there's light. 
And nobody cries. 
There's only butterflies. 
~Natasha Bedingfield "Pocketful of Sunshine"


Just about everyday has to begin with a great cup of
coffee from my new favorite place:

Seriously, their coffee is amazing!


I haven't had many celebrities that I've wanted more
than anything to meet, but I would LOVE to meet
Mr. Mo Willems! He is HILARIOUS, and his children's
books are amazing! His illustrations are simple and
classic, but the expressions that his characters
posses are priceless.  Pick up a picture book from
this amazing author at your local library...
you will NOT be sorry.

Every fall I have to watch one of my favorite shows
ever, The Gilmore Girls on DVD.  I own the entire
series and watch it from start to finish at the same
time my mom is watching her set.
We are Lorelai and Rory... best friends
first, mother and daughter second.

Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend I traveled home to Buhl, ID to visit my parents and a few friends that I haven't seen in far too long. It's been about 4 months since the last time I was home, and it was long overdue. I forget sometimes just how much I love the country until I have the chance to travel there. Life seems to slow down in the country, and the sights are like no where else. On one of my drives there was little calf that had lost his way and ended up in the middle of the road. He was mooing quite loudly for his mama, and I tried to coax him back up the hill toward his pasture, but he would have none of it. Silly little one.


I had the pleasure of photographing a few families while I was visiting, and I enjoyed the shoots so much! The first set was of a family that I have known since elementary school, but haven't seen in many years. We had a good time catching up, and sharing stories while the kids played, and I snapped some photos.


I traveled to a friend's house with a beautiful peach orchard to take pictures of her niece for her 3 year portraits. We had such a great time. The lighting was perfect, and I think Lily knew she was supposed to model because she was hamming it up just right. She would busy herself playing and then look up at me at just the right moment and say something cute that would make us all laugh. She was great!This fellow was wanting some attention while I was shooting Lily and was getting quite impatient with me until I took his picture, then he seemed happy. I have to say, he was a beautiful subject as well.
The reason I traveled to Twin Falls was to shoot my good friend Robyn's wedding. She and Brandon were married on the 12th and it was a beautiful wedding! The weather was great and everyone had a good time. It was such an honor to spend their special day with them, and I had such a great time capturing their love. These two are wonderful people, and they have a great future ahead of them.
And you know what? 3 days till my birthday! eeep!!!!

Updatimous

Wow, September is flying by, and I haven't taken much time to slow down and really enjoy it. Eeek!

Today is September 11, and while I don't take much stock in re-living the past, I do think it's important to remember those who lost innocent lives, and those who gave their lives fighting for the lives of others 8 years ago today. I was brushing my teeth getting ready for class that morning when I heard my father in the living room say, "holy shit... kids, get in here." I had never heard that tone of voice from my father... hollow, ominous, and I and my little brother high-tailed it into the living room. With toothpaste foam on my lips, and a toothbrush hanging from the corner of my mouth, I watched the news report of a plane hitting the first tower. We all thought it was a horrible accident, but moments later watched the second plane hit, and my little brother (12 at the time) said, "that's no accident, we're under attack." Even now, remembering him saying that, it gives me chills. Our country has problems, there is no doubt about it. Any place with millions of people living their everyday lives has "too many cooks," and is bound to live in stagnation for awhile... but you know what? I think we have it pretty damn good, and I'm proud to be an American (no cheesy song pun intended).

The "birthday week" has officially begun...

So Happy!

It is the 244th day of the year and there are 121 days remaining until the end of the year.

This day in...
1532- Lady Anne Boleyn is made Marchioness of Pembroke
1752 - The Liberty Bell arrives in Philadelphia.
1897- The Boston subway opens, becoming the first underground rapid transit system in N.A.

It's the first day of September! Yay!