Waiting for the Rain to Come

How is it November already?!?  Seriously.  That means it is less than TWO MONTHS until Christmas.  I think I need to get going on my Christmas shopping . . . and wish list!

I was hoping to have some pretty engagement photos to share this week, but sadly one of the kiddos got sick and they had to reschedule.  (Hopefully this weekend they won't end up getting rained out so that we can try again!!)  But I DID get a chance to take pictures for our beautiful friend and her family on Sunday.  I shared a little PREVIEW on Monday, but I really loved how they turned out - so I felt the need to show you more.

I am hoping that this last week wasn't the end of the dry weather until next summer, but just in case - I took advantage of the dry spell with another outdoor session.

Last week, I received an opportunity to team up with a local lady who is starting her own business selling handmade baby accessories - headbands and such.  She asked that I use some of her products as props in my baby sessions and provide some of the pictures for her to use for her website & Etsy store.  Well, an opportunity to try some new products is one that I will jump at - especially when it is local.  And, I already got a chance to try them with this little doll:

Once she has her shop up and running, I will be sharing her information!  I'm in love with her work!  In the meantime, here are a couple more of this sweet girl...

In honor of all these little ones, my song today for #backthatazzup may not be an easy one to jam out to, but it's what speaks to me right now.

Finally - I am excited to be holding The Blog Baton today on Instagram!!  To follow me there, just follow @The BlogBaton !

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Friday

Typically, I'm not a big Gavin DeGraw fan. He's not bad, I just don't normally like the sound of his music. But when I heard this song on The Voice on Monday, I instantly fell in love! And Juhi killed it . . . I can't get over her unique sound.  As soon as I heard it - I knew I would be sharing it for #backthatazzup Friday!

Today I am feeling pretty proud of myself - I actually realized that this week was the last Friday all on my own.  Granted, it was only two days ago that I figured this out.  But, the point is I didn't need a reminder from Julie!  Anyways - long story short - I'm over at A Beautiful Day today, sharing for In Focus Friday.

GUESS WHAT?? IT'S THE WEEKEND!!

Don't forget to go enter the giveaway at Simple Moments Stick - there are only 2 days left!  Here are some of the things that I am looking forward to:

*Not having to work
*Photographing some engagement pictures
*Going to the pumpkin patch
*Checking out the SUV we are hopefully getting in the next week
*Taking some family pictures for a friend

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

TGIF

To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was even going to post anything today.  I'm not sure where my motivation is, but I think it may have gone on vacation.  Since I AM here there are a few things that I need to just get off my chest:

1. How do so many people have "family emergencies"?  I feel like I am constantly having people cancel or want to reschedule sessions due to last minute family emergencies that they have to head out of town for.  Don't get me wrong, I am a compassionate person and I totally understand that things happen - but why does it always have to hit when I am looking forward to a session in a couple of days or a meeting with a future bride?!

2. I hate commuting to work.  Every day I am already in a bad mood by the time I get to work because of the crappy drivers during my 45 minute drive.  Yesterday I had a guy cut me off, flip me off through the rearview, then point for me to get over into the right lane {I was going 5 over the speed limit and passing drivers in that right lane so why should I get over?!} And by the time I go to the gym after work and then drive home, I don't want to do anything, let alone cook a healthy dinner.

3. Why can't I work from home?  I know we all must work to make a living, but there are days that I just really don't want to change out of my pajamas.  If I could just stay in bed and work on my laptop all day, I would be a happy girl.

I am sure there are plenty of other things that I could complain about, but I will let it go for now.  In an effort to turn my mood around, I am linking up with Whitney for 

#backthatazzup Friday

10 Things I Believe

I Believe . . .
1. I believe in second chances
2. I believe in doing what you love, not just what gets you paid
3. I believe children deserve to grow up in a happy, loving home
4. I believe in the occasional piece of chocolate or bowl of ice cream
5. I believe twice-a-year vacations should be mandatory
6. I believe in a few drinks at the end of a rough week
7. I believe in taking care of the people we love
8. I believe we have the power to determine the path our lives take
9. I believe it is okay to take time for yourself every once in awhile
10. I believe that one of the most important tasks in life is establishing relationships

I also believe that music can set the mood for your entire day. So, thank you Flo Rida for this gem:


Linking up with Whitney for #backthatazzup
**I almost forgot! I am over at A Beautiful Day today for In Focus Friday, so make sure you stop by!**

My Week in Pinterest

In the last week, I have taken full advantage of Pinterest and the ideas it presents.

I made this pumpkin dip to bring to a friend's housewarming party :

Click here for source

I also tried some Laughing Cow cheese on my cucumber. It had a little bit of an interesting flavor, but it wasn't bad. And it's healthier than putting it on crackers...

Click here for source

But this is by far my greatest accomplishment this week, thanks to Pinterest. This is the inspiration for my most recent fall project:

Click here for source

And this is how mine turned out:

I'm a little bit obsessed with burlap recently - so it will be making some more appearances soon when I share some of my other fall decorations.  That will probably be sometime early next week.  Each time I started painting a layer of white paint on the middle pumpkin, Tristan would ask me why I didn't just buy a white pumpkin.  Clearly he doesn't understand the idea of "crafting".  He did end up helping me apply the vinyl "M", though, and with cutting off the pumpkin stems so that they could be stacked - so I guess I will keep him around...

And . . . in classic Friday fashion, I am linking up with Whitney for #backthatazzup Friday.  This week, I am getting ready for next week's premier of Nashville (Sept. 25th)!

P.S. If you are a Nashville fan as well, I heard that one of our fellow bloggers is an extra on the show~as is her hubby!  How cool is that?!  Be sure to watch for Chelsey from Patti Cake!

TGIF!!

This week has actually flown by, thank goodness!  But I will never be ungrateful for Friday.  Before I go overwhelming you with more pictures from Seattle, make sure *after you are done with all of THESE photos* to go stop by A Beautiful Day where I am guest posting for my monthly installment of In Focus Friday!

I failed to mention yesterday that last weekend's trip to Seattle also fulfilled one of my 2013 Bucket List items!!

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
11. An extravagant themed photo
12. My new nephew
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

Technically, I took a picture of the pier as well, but that isn't quite what I had in mind when I wrote my bucket list so that one is going to remain un-checked for now.

Our next stop on my "tour of memories" wasn't actually a memory.  During the two years I lived in Seattle I never actually visited the Chittenden Locks.  The locks sit between the neighborhoods of Ballard to the north and Magnolia to the south and connect Lake Washington, Lake Union and Salmon Bay to Puget Sound.  The dam helps keep the water level of the lakes between 20 and 22 feet above sea level, while also keeping the sea water from infiltrating the freshwater bay and lakes.

There are actually two locks - a smaller one that is often the primary lock during the summer, when water levels are lower, as it takes less to fill, and a larger one that can hold even large fishing boats and cargo ships.  I didn't really realize what a big tourist attraction the locks were, but there were crowds of people watching the ships pass through while we were there.

Who here likes cupcakes?  I for one cannot turn one down.  If you are ever in Seattle, you have to find a Cupcake Royale.  I believe there are 4 locations now.  The Ballard store was one of my favorite places to go on "roommate dates" - their frosting cannot be beat.

Tristan had a Tiramisu cupcake, which he claimed was "not bad" - mine was lavender.  I really liked it, but when he tried it he gagged and said it tasted like he had just inhaled perfume....silly boy.  Apparently we got things a little backwards, and followed up our dessert with lunch at Red Mill Burgers - another Seattle staple!

Red Mill started out in 1937 and operated 30 years before closing their doors.  The brand was rekindled in 1994 and serves good food at really good prices - perfect for a college student's budget.

Next stop on the list was the Ballard Troll, on the way to Gasworks Park.  The first person to tell me what movie these locations are from gets a free "Sponsor Spot" for 30 days!!

Gasworks Park is probably one of my favorite places in Seattle - I wish I had taken more advantage of it when I lived there.  The park sits on the north end of Lake Union, opposite of downtown.  You can lounge in the sun, skate, watch the planes land on the lake, and play lawn games.

Before I share my favorite song of the week, I think that we should get these couple of "selfies" out of the way...

Don't mind the blur from the crack in my phone-camera lens....that's what happens when you drop your phone and don't have a cover!!

You know how I like to drag out these "trip posts" . . . so stay tuned next week for more!

Did I already mention that it is Friday?!  I think I did....but oh well.  That means it's time to 

#backthatazzup

with Whitney.