vol.25

a quote for your week chap 66

Hi! How ARE you? I'm busy BUSY! Packing our bags, and trying to remember last minute things. I'm just a little paranoid I'm going to forget something SUPER important... but I'm trying to remind myself not to stress... it seems harder to remember things when you're stressed! :)

Anyhow I definitely appreciate the advice I received about shooting the wedding. I received LOTS of good advice on facebook too! So, thank you everyone who took the time to comment and share your experience. :) Hopefully I'll be more relaxed and prepared for the wedding! :) I have a couple of creative ideas that I am *hoping* to implement, fingers crossed everything works out! At any rate I'll have bunches of pictures to share when I get back! :)

I have a few posts scheduled to post while I'm away, so hopefully the blog won't grow too many cobwebs while I'm away. ;) I hope you are having a great 3 day weekend! I'll be back SOON! :)

LAST day to order prints from my etsy shop until I re-open... PLUS shooting a wedding need advice!

Hey everyone! :) Its Friday, and a long weekend Friday at that! :) I'm dropping in to let you guys know that I'll be putting my shop on vacation mode starting tonight... and will not be re-opening until June 8th. So, if you would like to receive a print before that time, be sure and place your order TODAY. :) This will give me time to get it out before we leave for Oklahoma!! I'm anxious for the trip, but kinda nervous too... I'm shooting my sister in laws wedding. Remember she is marrying an incredibly sweet guy who kinda resembles the twilight guy.

They are such a sweet couple... and I am HOPING that the tornado threats go away for the upcoming wedding weekend! :)

Anyhow, I'm hoping I get all the shots for the wedding! I splurged and ordered a shoot sac. I hear they are a real must for shooting a wedding, and after receiving it I can already see why. SUPER slim, I shouldnt have to worry about knocking over any guests with my stylish epiphanie bag... ;)

Wedding photographers, PLEASE give me any advice you can give! I'm going to have a checklist, and 2 32 GB memory cards, I ordered a 5 in 1 reflector (greate value from Amazon)... although I'm needing to learn how to use it without blinding anyone! ;)

So, I'm all ears... please do share all your secrets... I KNOW I have some amazing photographers popping in today. ;)

 

s'more smores please?

 
Monday night we went over to my sisters for a hot dog roast. Yummy! It was chilly (WHY am I still needing to dress my girls like Spring is still months away?) for the end of May... and it rained just a bit, but it really seemed the perfect temp to really enjoy the warmth from the fire... and of course we had to roast some smores too! My mom had bought the REALLY big marshmallows. This made eating the marshmallows somewhat of a challenge for the kids, and watching them try to eat a marshmallow the size of they're palm turned out to be kind of entertaining for us adults. Trinity is my girly girl, if she can avoid getting her hands sticky, dirty or messy she will go out of her way to keep them clean. :)

So I was proud of her for attempting to eat the colossal marshmallow. :) My sisters little boy Noah, well he really enjoyed his smore, and I got such a laugh watching him eat it. :)

 
.... Kind of makes you want to eat a marshmallow asap huh? :P Journey had some help from her Uncle. He was kind enough to eat the marshmallow around the edges, and finish it for her... what a sweet guy. She really loves her "uncle Jono."

My sister has these solar lamps hanging from  her tree. I love them...

This hot dog roast has me EXCITED about taking the motorhome out for a weekend! :) Soon.. hopefully!

In the end, By way of kisses, Noah was kind enough to share what was leftover of his smore with Trinity. He loves giving Trin kisses, and we all think he may have a bit of a crush on her.

He giggles when we talk about her, and she's always been able to make him laugh... ever since he was a baby. :) Its sweet!

Anyhow... in others news, I'm finishing up a new album template set. Would you like a peek?

I think I am going to try and finish some card templates that would work for a senior before I officially release them though. Hoping to do so by tomorrow night. :)

Also: Tomorrow is the LAST day to purchase anything from my etsy shop. I'll be closing it until I get back from our trip to OK, ( I REALLY hope the tornadoes die down before we get there!) and it will be re-opening on the 8th of June. :)

I hope you have a great day!! :)

a quote for your week chap 65 + Digital Giveaway!

I LOVE that quote... totally makes sense! :) Happy Monday. How is everyone? If your monday is starting to feel like a monday, then maybe I can help make it feel a little more like a Friday... :) I'm a vendor for Jolt, (It is basically a MUST have creative workshop for photographers, go HERE for more info)  and today Kelli posted a VOL25 Digital Eye Candy Giveaway on her blog. Two winners have a chance at winning a free set of overlays. :) I also answered some Questions Kelli asked me, so you'll want to head on over there for all the juicy answers... okay so honestly there isnt anything too dramatic... ;)

...and did I mention I LOVE they're branding?

Something about that yellow and gray... it has ME inspired just looking at it :)

p.s.... I've started a SUPER labor intensive, but HIGHLY rewarding job of going through all my 2010 photos, editing favorites, burning them onto discs (I'm obviously HORRIBLE about keeping up on this) and compiling them into an album using my project 365 templates! :)

New digital goodies in the shop...

Hello! It is FRIDAY! Do you have plans for the weekend? We might take the landcruisers out tomorrow... Anyhow I realized I never posted about the new xOxO Overlay set that I listed last week:

This is another overlay set in the Words Series, so it is primarily sentiments. :)

...and I can just say that they are SO much fun to add to an image. Super simple!

...and today I listed my VERY first Storyboard set in my digital shop! I'm really happy with how they turned out, and I am SO excited/inspired to create some more.

If you aren't too sure what a storyboard template is, then let me try to explain... a storyboard template is basically a high resolution (usually fairly large) template that is artistically designed and it will allow you to drag and drop your images into place. When you're finished you upload it to your favorite printing company, and then hang on your wall. :) Kinda like this:

Fun huh!? I'm almost overwhelmed with new ideas for storyboards, I'm having so much fun working on them!

So... that is what I have been doing.... and a little yard work... and house hunting. ;) Not necessarily in that order though!

Well, I hope you have a nice evening and an even better weekend planned!

p.s. There is a 25% off sale live in the DIGITAL shop. Just use code: LOVELY and receive 25% off your order. :)

p.s.s. Thank you so much for all the sweet comments and e-mails I've received in response to my article with Artful Blogging. :) It is good to have some new people popping in! :)

soo cute!

This is ABSOLUTELY adorable... I could definitely handle having one of these sweet little guys sitting at my desk. :)  Found via pinterest.

Today it is sooo nice outside! Sunny and we're actually starting to get some warm weather... it is about time it started to feel like Spring. :) I worked in my garden the other day, pulling up some much needed weeds, AND the flooring came in for the motorhome! I am SO excited to put it down, but we have another trip planned for OK the end of this month and we have waaay too much to do before then. :) So, I think it will wait until we come back.

I'll give another reminder sometime next week, but because of the trip my etsy shop will be closing down next friday (May 27th) and will not be re-opening until June 8th. :)

Do you have vacation plans for the summer?

BIG news!!

Me again! I thought it was about time I shared some really really happy news. :)  I'm sure by now quite a few of you already know... but for the few that don't... I am featured in the MAY issure of Artful blogging! :) I'm soo incredibly excited about it. Artful Blogging is one of those magazines that you confidently pick up knowing you will feel inspired within the first few pages. :) That has always been my experience. So when Jennifer Jackson contacted me in January, I had to pinch myself a few hundred times... you know just to make sure I really wasnt dreaming. :)

When I received my copy of the magazine it was SUCH a rewarding experience. Especially when I spotted a snippet of my art on the cover! :)

I REALLY want to thank you guys, I know some of you have been such BIG supporters over the years... and that support and your sweet comments have kept me inspired and helped me stay on a forward moving path, even if the scenery has changed somewhat over time. :) Here is to many more years of inspired blogging!!! :)

Thank you Artful Blogging for considering my blog inspiring enough to grace your pages! :)

a quote for your week chap 64

I think I should make that quote into a print... I really LOVE it!! :) So... how was your weekend? Mine was great! Sunday we went out dinner at our favorite mexican restaraunt and then walked around to the antique stores in town. I was on search for my mothers day present... :) I had told Jaydon that I really really wanted to pick up an old sturdy vintage dresser to put my printer on. To replace this set-up:

and I'm happy to say we found one! :) I love everything about it... EXCEPT for the fact that it turned out to be a little taller then I thought it would. :) I'm having to use a step stool to view the printing job. But, since we arent planning to stay in this house forever... I'll deal with the situation so that I can enjoy the dresser for an actual dresser at a later time. :) RIght now it is black with a distressed look, and I'll leave it like that for now. :)

Right now it holds my 11x14 paper and also my 8.5x11 paper... and some other random stuff like camera equipment, printer ink etc. etc. :) Really loving the storage capabilities! It doesnt look super ideal to have a printer on top of the dresser... but if you remember our house tour, then you remember how small our house/bedroom is... and I'm sure you'll understand it kind of just makes sense. PLUS, the dresser isnt as wide as the desk so it hides easier behind the door when it is open all the way, and that is a big plus! :)

I have my eye on a couple houses on the market. Really it is more like I am drooling over them... but we are really not in a position to put in an offer right now. We have another trip planned to OK the end of this month, and we would really like to put a new roof on our house before we list it for sale again... So I'm hoping in a couple months... :) I do really enjoy "shopping" for houses though. I am constantly watching the real estate offices in our area! :) Please tell me I'm not the only one? :)

Oregon Coast Part Two

Here is part two of our Oregon Coast trip!

Sunday morning the guys got up early and made us breakfast, French Toast, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, hashbrowns... you know... the yummy stuff. :) I snapped quite a few pictures of them at work because it isnt very common that you see Jaydon in the kitchen (unless he is looking for something to eat) cooking.

 I even have proof that he can start a dishwasher...

Us ladies sat back and relaxed... they even set the table for just us ladies....

Breakfast was yummy!! We all felt very spoiled. :D After breakfast we drove to Newport to check out the Aquarium. The sunny weather made it super enjoyable.

 The kids really enjoyed the Sea Lions!

and the underwater tunnel was a crowd pleaser too!! :)

I was soo mad that I had forgot to grab my extra battery from the house. My camera battery lasted all through the aquarium (after being selective with my shots) but died just at the end. Shortly after taking these pictures:

My niece Jada snuck into our family picture... cute huh? ;)

Having a dead battery  meant I missed out on sunny sunset beach pictures. I was SO bummed about that. Anyhow we ate at an Arctic Circle that night and relaxed back at the beach house, then got up that next morning, packed our bags, loaded the car, dropped off the key at the office:

...and headed to Pig N Pancake for breakfast (In lincoln CIty OR) we always eat there on our way out and it is ALWAYS yummy. I was so proud of the kids, they sat at they're own table beside us and did SO good. We had a waitress tell them they were being really good, and then just as we were getting ready to leave  we had an older couple come up and comment on how amazingly well the kids did. That totally made our day. :) The 2 two year olds were sitting next to each other, so it was quite a feat! :)

We stopped at Multnomah Falls on the way home. Journey wanted her picture taken here on the stairs.

Jaydon proposed to me on the trail at Multnomah Falls, and this was our first time coming back since then. It was kinda neat to bring our kids this time.

My grandma with the grandkids....

We hiked up the trail to the bridge....

and the lady you see in the black jacket with boots offered to take our picture. :)

Nothing like posing for a family photo with hair that has been exposed to the saltwater breeze, Oregon Humidity, and the spray from a waterfall. :D

Here is what the view looked like from the bridge:

Here we are coming back down...

We hopped back in the car and headed home making one last stop: (talk about a difference in weather!)

I love our sunny, desert country. :) Definitely not what most people envision when they think WA. :) These pictures are taken at the viewpoint just at the top of the hill before coming into Prosser. It was GORGEOUS outside...

 

We really really had fun, and are suuuper excited to go back next year! :) Have you been to Lincoln City, OR before?

 

New goodies!!

Hi! So, I'm just going to pop in really quick and share TWO new pieces of art I JUST listed in my etsy shop:

Make Today Your Day:

and I Am lost Without You ( this would be a good late mothers day gift!! ;) )

I also listed a new overlay set! :)

It is a fun set! It has a scribbled, doodled handwritten text feel to it. I'm also ALMOST finished with another set of handwritten phrases/quotes. I may even have it done as early as next week. :) I've been daydreaming ideas for some really cute storyboards (basically art you prints on canvas panels, or posters for your clients that will incorporate they're photos)  You can take a peek at the set here. Use code " LOVELY " when checking out to receive 25% off your order. Expires 5-18-11 ONLY APPLIES TO the DIGITAL SHOP. :)

Hope the middle of the week is going just GREAT! :) I have some exciting news that I'll be sharing tomorrow... although I'm guessing half of you probably already know what my big announcement is! :)