Sunday Social

Is it really Sunday already?  Why is it that the long weekends always seem to go by the quickest?  I took Friday off from work, but it seems like I was just at work yesterday...oh well.  At least this week is another four day work week for me!

Before I get on to my Sunday Social post, can I just say that some people really need to grow up and act their age.  I don't understand why people think it is okay to be rude in public and treat people like garbage, or why they want to start fights about nothing and harass others.  If you want to be a pig-headed jerk, do it in your own home.  Don't come out and ruin my night with your ignorant, snide and uncalled for remarks.  If you are 40 years old and done nothing with your life, don't act like you are 21, just had your first drink, and are on top of the world.

Okay - enough ranting, and on to the fun part.

MY CHILDHOOD:

1. Did you sleepwalk as a child?  I don't believe so.  I did talk in my sleep, though.

2. Did you ever try to run away or sneak out of your house? Nope . . . I was a pretty boring, easy going child - no adventures here!

3. Did you have any imaginary friends?  Not that I am aware of!!

4. Did you ever go toilet papering?  *See #2!!*  I was boring - no TP for me...

5. Did you ever sneak TV shows you weren't allowed to watch?  I am with Ashley here - I used to watch MTV when I would babysit and the kids were sleeping.  It wasn't exactly "forbidden", but my parents didn't like it either.

I guess I should get going on my Sunday chores and get the house into shape for the coming week.  How depressing.....  On the bright side - the sun is out again today!

Friday Photo Journal

I'm late, I know.  But I still wanted to link up with Melissa for Friday Photo Journal.

It was a busy week at our house!!

Last weekend I got to get my hair done for the first time in a very long time!  I was ready for a change.  Although it didn't turn out quite as dark as I expected, I like it.  I was also supposed to do two photo shoots, but they had to cancel and instead I got a super relaxing stay at home day on Sunday.....love those! 

Monday my sister-in-law and nephew and a friend of ours came over for a barbeque.  It was such a nice day outside!  Actually, all week has been beautiful weather.

After work Tuesday, I had an opportunity to do a photo shoot with a 1948 Plymouth - so much fun!

Throughout the week, I had to slowly get rid of my collection of Diet Coke cans that had collected on my desk at work.  I think I counted about 30 of them when it was at its' worst...

Thursday was uneventful, but Friday I got to make up for losing out on my Sunday photo shoots.  I had two afternoon sessions: one with a sweet 3 1/2 year old who I chased around the park for an hour.  I tried to stay ahead of her, but she was all over the place and I think I probably ended up with more photos of her back than her face.  Afterwards, I met with a wonderful family for family photos, as well as some close ups of their 2 week old baby.  It was a lot of fun.

To finish the day, we went to a birthday party for our friends' 3 year old.  It was nice to get a chance to visit with them and hang out out.

Hopefully this next week goes by quickly....it's almost vacation time!!

Sneak Peak - Black & White Wednesday

I promised that I had plans to work on my bucket list in the near future . . . here is a sneak of the beginning of a big one!!

 

New link up (for me): 5 for Five

MOTIVATION
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing" - Walt Disney Company

Why does it have to be so difficult to get motivated? Why can't they just make a pill that helps us get going and to stay focused?

I have been really struggling lately with trying to get our house back in shape, eat healthier and spend more time in the gym, as well as getting to work at a more reasonable hour.  So - in an attempt to concur these areas one step at a time, I'm going to participate in 5 for Five.  It's hosted by Jenn & Jessica each Monday. I am a list maker. It helps me stay on track and focused. Plus, there is something so satisfying about being able to check things off as they get done. Hopefully the accountability of posting my goals publicly will provide the additional encouragement I need.



So - here are my goals for this week...

1. Clean the bathrooms and washing machine.

Any tips on the washing machine would be greatly appreciated - it's older and a top loader.

2. Get to the gym before work at least one morning.

This will be a huge feat - I haven't gotten up that early in a very long time.  I feel so much better and more productive when I am up early.

3. Arrive at work no later than 9 o'clock each morning for the rest of the week.

It has been really difficult to readjust my sleep schedule now that I am working normal hours again.  It needs to happen, though.

4.  Comment on at least two other blogs each day.

I get so excited when I get comments on my posts, but I can get really lazy about reaching out to others.  Definitely something I want to work on.

5. Look into setting up an Etsy store to try to sell some of my photographs.

Again, any suggestions or advice are welcome.  I have never sold anything on Etsy and want to make sure everything goes smoothly.  So it may take a little bit of planning.

If I can get through these things this week, I will feel accomplished.

Around the House

Sadly, both of my appointments had to cancel yesterday.  So since I don't have any new family portraits to share tonight, I played around with my telephoto lens instead.

These were all taken sitting on the floor of my dining room, looking out to our "backyard".

This is what happens with broken dishes at our house - they become target practice :)

 

 

I love the blurred effect of shooting wide-open with this lens....so much fun!

This Weekend I.....

This weekend I...

...RELAXED!!

This weekend I...

...set up a new Facebook page for the business side of things.

This weekend I...

...caught up on laundry and dishes

This weekend I...

...got a little bit heartbroken :(  I had two photo shoots scheduled

for Sunday.  Both ended up having to cancel for different reasons.  They

are both hoping to reschedule, but I was really looking forward to them.

This weekend I...

...had my hair done!  It had been forever

and I was soooo ready for a change.  It wasn't quite as different as I was expecting,

but I like it :)

A quick thanks to Syndal @ Synfully Delicious for hosting a fun little link-up!

Bucket List Update

I wanted to do a quick update on the bucket list I posted back in January.  Although I haven't been super focused on it, it has been on my radar.  I decided to look back over it and see if there is anything I could cross off the list.  Fortunately, there are a few - I was hoping for more, though.  So it looks like I have my work cut out for me for the rest of the year (it is almost 1/3 of the way over already!!).  I am getting there, though.

2013 PHOTOGRAPHY BUCKET LIST

1. Sunset at Seaside
2. Twin babies
3. Las Vegas Strip
4. A beautiful waterfall (other than Multnomah Falls)
5. 1st birthday session
6. Downtown Seattle/Puget Sound
7. Timberline Lodge
8. City lights at night
9. A cactus
10. An engagement session

I've actually gotten to do two of these!!  Here are some of my favorite shots:

11. An extravagant themed photo
12. My new nephew

This little man stole my heart from day 1... 

13. Jumping shot
14. A pier
15. Street photography
16. A series of old cars
17. A series of vintage signs
18. Golden Gate Bridge
19. Generations
20. Music


I'm excited to keep working on my list - and I have plans in the near future for some of these items.  So keep watching for more updates!

Sunday Social

Weekends - how I have missed you!!  I love being able to stay in my pajamas half the day :)  I have a confession: I am actually writing this Saturday Night...my bad.  But I am hoping to have a productive day of photo shoots and editing tomorrow and I wanted to be sure to link up with Ashley this week.

So here you have it - a little bit about me on Sunday Social.


1. What is your shopping weakness?  Grocery shopping: candy (yes...its a bad habit!!)  Regular shopping: dresses that I will only wear a handful of times.

2. What is your food weakness?  French fries - hands down.  *Milkshakes are a close second*

3. What is your go to movie to watch if nothing is on?  If my husband is watching too, Top Gun.  Otherwise, probably anything with Katherine Heigl.

4. What is your go to breakfast food?  That is a really tough one - I LOVE breakfast food!  If I had to pick just one, it would probably have to be eggs.

5. Do you drink coffee?  If so, how do you take it?  Either hot with cream and Splenda (or sugar-free french vanilla creamer if I am at home) or blended with sugar-free caramel (which is my new favorite now that the weather is getting warmer).

To join in the fun - go visit Ashley at http://www.ashleylately.com/, grab a button and link up!!  And for those of you visiting FROM Sunday Social, THANK YOU!!  I'd love to hear from you so I can visit you as well.

Play Ball!

Leave it to auntie to take lots of pictures....someday they will learn to be annoyed by it.  For now, I will continue to take as many photos as possible of my sweet nieces and nephew. 

Tuesday was my rest day after the end of tax season.  And rest I did . . . as well as catch up on some dishes, do some laundry - and catch Taylor's softball game!  They are so funny to watch when they are that little.  Some of the girls can really throw the ball, though!

Her little sisters were all ready to get out there in the action too!!

 

Someday, girls, it will be your turn...

Rest

"What is without periods of rest will not endure" - Ovid

It is hard to rest when you are lying in bed, wondering whether or not you made a mistake on someone's taxes!  But I did have a chance a couple of weeks ago when I was able to leave early enough to catch a few photos while there was still enough light.

I'm Baaacckkk!!!

I can't begin to tell you all how excited I am to be back home and online.  Throughout the year, I always seem to forget the feeling of coming home, going to bed, getting up and starting all over again.  Tax season is, well, taxing!! ....on the body and soul.  My husband doesn't understand how sitting at a desk all day could make you physically and mentally exhausted - most people probably don't.  My coworkers assure me I am not alone, though.

I very much take my time away from work for granted.  This year, I am going to work really hard to relish the time I have with friends and family - and try to take time for myself to just relax.  That means - more time behind the camera!!

So, yes.  There is much to come in the coming weeks!!

I need to mention a slight change to my blog.  I know, it can be quite a hassle to have to prove that you are in fact a human when leaving post comments - usually by typing out some code that is disguised in a box.  Unfortunately, in the last couple of months that I have been - for all intents and purposes - absent, I have gotten a lot of junk comments and spam.  Now that I have time, I am going to have to implement 'word verification' for my comments.  I am hoping that it doesn't push away too many followers.

For tonight - a preview of one of my favorite chunky-monkey's newborn pictures - my sweet little nephew:

EASTON JAMES

UPDATE:  Thanks to a suggestion from my friend, Julie - I have changed my approach to prevent spam.  I have removed the word verification and instead will be limiting comments so that anonymous comments aren't allowed.  Hopefully this will solve the problem, and not be such a pain for visitors...