Counting Down

Things have been busy around here. Each week I think I am going to catch up and I end up digging myself in a little deeper!! My computer time has been very minimal lately......Sarah and Nick both want to be outside every minute of the day....can't say that I blame them, the weather has been gorgeous!!

We are in the home stretch with school and Nick is literally counting down the number of days left until his official summer vacation begins. This week starts final exams, so inbetween our normal weekend activities there has been a lot of studying going on. In addition, Nick had travel soccer tryouts last week and we should find out if he made the team in the next couple of days. I hope that he makes it.....last year he didn't and he took it so hard. He really excelled this year and gave it his all on the field......we are trying to remain optimistic but guarded at the same time.

Two weeks ago, I had my first official(paying client)photography shoot and got two referrals from the happy client. I was pretty excited about it.....as I have said before, I will never quit my day job for this, but if I can get a paying client each weekend or every other weekend, I would be happy. It feeds the photography obsession, and gives me the ability to make a little extra money too:)

I will not be posting pictures of my clients here for privacy reasons, but will continue to share the work I am shooting to build my portfolio of pictures and styles.

This weekend I borrowed the beautiful Alicia to practice some new lighting techniques. I am using my flash off camera for a more studio feel outdoors. To be honest, I was a little intimidated to try this alone....the last time I did it, I was being instructed by Debbie, but it really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be:)





These pictures were all taken at different locations. I have been scouting out some new places to take pictures and struck some gold this weekend. I can't wait to head back:) Changing the scenery keeps it exciting and different......I had to go a little further than across the street from our house this time, but it was so worth it!!

Sorry this was kind of a rambling, all over the board type of post.....just wanted to get you caught up with everything going on around here!!

Hope you all have a great week!

Double Trouble

Last Saturday, I took Sarah and my nephew Aidan to the park to run around. These two are only 8 weeks apart and get along like two peas in a pod....they always have a great time together.

It was a beautiful sunny day, but REALLY hot. It only took 5 minutes before the sweat starting to run down my face. I knew that keeping up with one two year old had it's challenges, but keeping up with two....OH MY!!! I should have worn my running shoes instead of flip flops......


They went from this.....


To THIS.... in the first 5 seconds of our trip.


And somehow I caught this brief moment.....I still am not sure how, but I did....I think it was the one and only split second that "DOUBLE TROUBLE" decided to sit still the entire hour and a half we were there. It is a little blurry, but it was the best I could do given their need for speed that afternoon.

I have a new found respect for those of you that have twins or two little ones close in age.......I don't know how you do it ALL DAY, EVERY DAY!!! I would definitely need to keep the caffeine pumping through my veins......and maybe a little red wine too:)

Who would have thought.......

......that the trash dumpster at the construction site across the street would make such a great background for pictures!!






The weather this weekend was not the best, it was very rainy and overcast. I knew that it was not going to be a great weekend for any photoshoots, but I thought I might be able to get a quick session in with Nick.

My original plan was to try to get him across the street in front of the barn like I did with Sarah a couple weeks ago, but when we walked over, we were greeted by weeds that had grown over two feet high. It was time for plan B.......

I turned around and started walking back towards our house, when I saw this big garbage dumpster on one of the new construction lots in our neihborhood. Obviously, if I had Sarah with me, this would not have been a great location, but for Nick it was perfct. All he had to do was stand near it or against it and it gave great interest to his pics:)

It is so much fun trying out new things and new locations...... You don't need anything fancy, you don't even have to buy props, or visit a studio.....sometimes all you need to do is check out what is around you!!!

It Has Been One of Those Weeks....

I really think between the picture and the title, I don't need any words.......but you all know me, I always have to say something.........

This past week has been really hectic.....I have been up to my eyeballs with work and end of the school year obligations and really have not had time for much of anything else. I am way behind on blogs....my google reader is about to bust it is so full!! Just wanted to let you all know, I am still here, just a litte behind.

I was hoping with the start of a new work week, I would be able to get caught up, but it looks as though I will be tending to a sick child.......Nick has come down with a fever and a sore throat......we are heading to the doctor's office tomorrow!!

Hope you all had a great weekend....... I will be by to check in on you all soon!!

"No Mommy....It's not Boootiful"

Yesterday, after Sarah woke up and had breakfast, I told her I was going to go upstairs and get her an outfit so we could get her dressed. When I walked back into the family room with outfit in hand, she said...."No Mommy....I don't wanna wear that.....It is not Booootiful"

I had a cute little jean skirt and a plain pink tee in my hands and she refused to put it on. Up until this point, she has never given her opinion as to what she wants to wear......so when she said this, I could not help but laugh....it just came out of nowhere.

I am not sure what exactly she thinks is beautiful outfit.....but I am guessing if it is floral, flowy, silky, or ruffly she will wear it!! I thought we had a little more time before this kind of thing set in.......but I guess not!! One can only imagine what the next couple of years might bring.......I see many clothing debates in our future!!

Last Friday I took these pictures of Sarah at a new spot and when I got her dressed, there were no complaints......this one got the Sarah Seal of Approval!!







I am still in a bit of disbelief over her comment about beautiful clothes.....you may not be able to tell from her pictures, but she likes to get dirty and play rough and let me tell you, she is one tough cookie when she falls or gets hurt. She gets right back up like nothing happened and keeps going.

On any given day you will find her toting around her brother's football and soccerball. She is always looking for someone to kick or throw with!! As you can see in the picture above she also enjoys throwing rocks.....she may look all sweet, cute and girly, but underneath those "bootiful clothes" she is a little tomboy!!

Waiting......

Today marks 36 months of waiting.......Our dossier has been sitting in China since May 12, 2005......THREE YEARS!!!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would still be here waiting for a referral. I wish we had some sort of idea or timeframe as to when this was going to finally happen for us, but no one can predict the future and when or IF things are going to speed up.

For the most part, I am a very positive and happy go lucky person who does not let things like this get to me. I feel fortunate to have a very full and busy life....and I know we are getting close, but as each month passes us by, the reality of this adoption seems to get further and further away. I would be lying to myself and to you all if I said that this wait is not wearing on me.....Because it IS.

Even though it could very well be another year or more, we are in this for the LONG haul. In my mind I know that when we finally do see her smiling face, this wait will seem trivial and it will be worth every second and then some, but it is hard to feel that way in my heart when I am sitting here waiting, waiting, waiting......... with no anwers and no end in sight.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Just wanted to check in quickly this morning to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day!! We are planning to sit back and relax and spend some quality time together!! We are headed over to my Mom's for a cook out with my sister and her family, but we are all pitching in so my Mom does not have to do all the cooking herself.

Being a Mom is not always easy, there are many wonderful days and wonderful moments.....but we all know along with the good, there are always some more trying times. Whenever I think I am having a bad day or experiencing one of those "trying times".....I look at these two faces. That is all it takes to snap me out of it....They are both a constant reminder of just how lucky I am to call myself MOM!!





I also wanted to pay a little tribute to my Mom. She is always there for me and my family. She has been my rock through some of the most difficult times in my life and I do not know what I would do without her by my side. We talk everyday, even if it is just for a few minutes to say hello. The love she has for her children, grandchildren and entire family is unconditional. She is a Mother in every sense of the word! Thank you Mom, for being you.....you have been the most incredible role model and as my children grow older, I hope that we will share the same kind of bond and closeness that you and I do. I love you Mom.....thanks for all that you do!!!


Hope you all enjoy your special day!!

Notice Anything Different......

I am so excited.......after about a week of tossing words, phrases, and names around........I finally settled on a name for the new little business venture!!!

Thanks to all that took the time and sent me emails or left comments with ideas. This name came from a phrase that was given to me by my friend JODEE. She knows someone who does this sort of thing for a living, so she sent her an email asking her for help. This woman graciously responded with a list of key words and phrases. She also researched and let me know what business names were already in use. The phrase that jumped out to me was "Visions of Life" I took that phrase and ran it past a couple of friends and it morphed into what it is now. The idea behind it is that I wanted a name that would not lock me into one type of photography. At this point I only see myself taking pictures of children and families, but you never know what the future might hold!!

While we are on the topic of photography, a few of you have left comments or emailed me about which programs I am using to edit my pictures. I am using two of Adobe's programs.....Lightroom 2 and Photoshop.

I have been using both since January, butI still have A LOT to learn about post processing. Both of these programs do more than I could ever imagine and I still do not know how to use half the tools that are included in theses programs.

That being said, Debbie, AKA The Pixel Fairy Princess, has recently started online Photoshop classes. It is run like a webinar and everyone can interact, talk and listen as she is showing us what to do on the computer screen. If you want to learn, you need to check out her class offerings. For those of you attending one of her many weekend workshops....She will give you a basic overview of these programs, but the online course is photoshop 101......you will walk away knowing this program inside and out!! I cannot tell you how valuable these classes are for me. In addition to the class, she gives you an hour of one on one time each week. This week, Debbie helped me design my logo and use it as a watermark on all of my photos!! Go check out her website by clicking HERE......classes are filling up!!

I better get moving here....I need to get to work!! One last thing though.....I almost forgot to update you all........

Guess what finally came down this past weekend??????? My neighbor finally tore down the Christmas Decorations.....it only took him til May to do so!!!

Have a wonderful weekend.....and a Happy Mother's Day....I probably won't post again until Sunday night!

Back In The Kitchen!!

After the last couple weeks of constant running from place to place....we finally had a low key weekend where I could spend some time back in the kitchen!!

It was rainy, cold, and dreary both Saturday and Sunday, so it was the perfect weekend to spend behind my stove!! I invited my friend Ivy up for the afternoon so that our girls could play and we could spend some time cooking and trying to edit the rest of our pictures from the photography workshop weekend!

Well.....we had a great time, but most of our time was spent chasing the girls around the house. They had lots of fun together and didn't sit still for two minutes....they went from one activity to the next....at one point Sarah opened my closet in the laundry room and brought out two mops......they decided to mop my floors instead of playing with toys!! Ivy got some cute photos.....Unfortunately I missed the moment....I was up to my elbows in Ricotta cheese!!


I bet you are wondering what we made.....maybe this picture gave you a hint. These are not your ordinary stuffed shells....I decided to try a new recipe this weekend and it did not disappoint.....Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells using my family's marinara recipe.....we also made a salad with a homemade white wine vinaigrette and my version of croutons to top the salad......I will give you that recipe next week. With summer approaching, there will be lots of salads in our future:)

Both the girls started to hit the wall around 4pm....so much so that Sarah came up to me and asked to go to bed. Shortly after that Ivy and Kira had to head home, so we sent them with a goody bag of all the items we made.......we hope you liked your meal...thanks for coming up to play with us!!


Nick has been with his Dad all weekend and we thought we would see him this afternoon at his soccer game, but with this weather, his game was cancelled.....So Sarah and I had a little girl bonding time and put on our aprons and went back into the kitchen.....


Today it was time to bring out the old Kitchen Aid and try our hands at baking....not my favorite thing to do, but Sarah has a sweet tooth and so does Daddy so we whipped up a Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Icing.


We wanted to make it a girly cake, so we used food coloring along with our cake decorating kit to pretty it up:)


Do you want to guess which part of the process Sarah enjoyed most? She doesn't like baking as much as she likes licking the spoon!! Her face was not the only thing filled with chocolate....you should have seen her shirt....

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.....we are off to dig into that cake!!

Have a great week!!