Challenge...ACCEPTED! Day 1.

Wow...I literally just logged on and noticed that my last blog post was in June. JUNE.....really? I know I don't blog much, but that long? My bad...

Well, I guess that it's a good idea that I took on this new challenge. Okay, okay, I know that I've challenged myself in the past and never finished. I'm human! Things get in the way and laziness kicks in (I seriously hate the laziness!) The only way I can put it is at least I'm taking on the challenge, right? Every time I see a challenge that catches my eye, I ALWAYS struggle on if I should take it on or not. So instead of saying no and hating myself for not challenging myself, I say yes! If I fail, I fail.

This challenge that I'm taking on was created by the Ashley Goodwin. I recently started following her (through the internet...) and she's fantastic! She's got a great eye for fashion, design and photography and I absolutely LOVE her videos :)

Anyhow, she posted something on Facebook about a challenge that she's starting today. The challenge is to take a photo (preferably with your DSLR and NOT your phone) and blog about it. I know, I know, very simple. You say that, but have you ever blogged before? This challenge already had me thinking "Can I take this seriously?" "Will I be able to bring my Canon 7D with me everywhere and be able to snap a photo?" "Will I actually upload the photos and post it to my blog?" Or better yet "will I have the words to blog about this photo?" That last question is always a tough one because I never have the right words to say.

Well, even with all these questions floating in my head, I didn't want them to stop me from challenging myself. So with that said, my challenge will start today. Well, the photographing started today, the blogging will be starting tomorrow because I blog about it the night before. Does that make sense? Ha ha ha... I'm sure some of you will understand what I'm saying.

The photo I chose to share today, well, I don't know if this is cheating, but I'm choosing to share two photos. My sons (twin boys, age 5) started their second round of swimming lessons. During the first set of classes I always took a photo of them. Every day for two weeks. It was only right that I continue this. Yesterday I snapped photos on my iPhone. Today, I brought my Canon.

This first photo I liked because it was just shadows.

The shadow on the left is me and the one on the right is Aiden. We were sitting on the ground waiting for the previous class to end. Even though the water on the ground is interfering with the shadows, I still like it. It's not the usual 'people looking in the camera and smiling' type of photo.

This next photo I LOVE!

This is Aiden jumping in the pool (Troy is behind him in the green shorts). I love this because he looks like a leap frog, fully extended before he leaps into the pool. :)

I love, love, LOVE these boys and I'm sure you'll continue to see them throughout this challenge. But I promise they all won't be about them. :)

Until tomorrow, have a great day :) And don't forget to come back to see what I capture everyday!

A Forest Hill Wedding

Last month I had the pleasure of assisting Tammy Nguyen Le of Kissed by Tammy at Katy and Charles' Forest Hill wedding.

I have never been to Forest Hill (and that's what's great about being a photographer...going to places you've never been before). It's cute! It's just past Auburn and surrounded by green mountains. The venue, Forest House Lodge, is the only venue in Forest Hill who conducts weddings. What's cool is they have their own ceremony site, on a cliff, overlooking the mountains. It's really breathtaking!

What's also great about this venue is their lodge, especially downstairs. Their rooms are awesomely decorated. They have suites for the bride and groom to get ready and also a few game rooms. So much for a photographer to have fun at!

Enjoy these images that I captured on this fun loving day!

Like O.M.G.

This day is FINALLY here! I can't believe it!!! :) I FINALLY get to meet the fabulous Jasmine Star!!!

I've dreamed about this day for a while now. Since I started over a year and a half now. Jasmine Star......she's so AWESOME!!

Every year I always plan on going to one of her workshops that she holds down south in Orange County. But it never happens because I don't always have the funds for it.

Today, I finally get to meet her. Unfortunately, it's not through one of her workshops. :( She's actually on the road doing a 12 city speaking tour called theFix. Today's stop, San Francisco.


I'll have to do another post on what happened, how I felt, meeting new people, and of course JASMINE STAR!!!


Until then, check her out! Her blog is the place to be.


Oh...and I can't wait to get this bad boy autographed :)

Mani?? Yes, please :)

Yesterday was exciting. For Christmas my husband got me a gift certificate to My Retreat Day Spa. I love his little gifts that come in the form of a spa certificate :) Usually he gets me a half hour massage. Lately he's been adding a little more. Looovvveee it!!! He must know that I love to be pampered. :)

After weeks of finding time to actually go, and also when the manicurist is actually there, I booked an appt.

I thought I was going to be late because my husband and I had to go and sign some papers (taxes finally done...whew!), but I got there about 10 minutes before my scheduled appt.

I love My Retreat Day Spa because right when you step in, you're greeted by one of their staff. I check myself in and sit in the waiting area. Their waiting area is tiny, but cute. They have some products lining the walls and makeup on the counter. They also have lots of magazines (good ones too), but I was interested in catching up on Draw Something game on my phone (if you don't know about Draw Something, I suggest you should download the app right now. It's like Pictionary!). Anyhow, when I take my phone out I found I had a voicemail message.

I listen to the message and it turns out to be my manicurist. She's running late and wanted to know if I could come in at 12:30. It was barely even 12 and I was already there. No biggie. Gives me enough time to play my games, check up on Facebook, and see if I have any emails.

A member of the staff walks into the waiting area to give me a message. My manicurist is on her way. "No problem" I say. Then I continue on my phone.

A couple of minutes later she arrives, introduces herself and apologizes for having me wait. I again say it's okay. When I finally go back I sit in the chair and get ready to be pampered.

I look around at all the colors they have. They are all OPI and China Glaze brands. Hmm...which do I pick? There were a lot in the red family, but did I want red? I saw a gold, blue, a couple of browns...I sit and just look because I'm still unsure of my color of choice.

After removing my old polish, filing and putting some cuticle oil (I believe), she moves on to the scrub. Oooohhh..it's an OPI Papaya Pineapple Scrub. Not only did it smell FANTASTIC, but it left my hands feeling super smooth! Loovvvee it! May even pick some up myself!

My manicurist notices that there's a few colors that she hasn't seen before. She says that maybe one of the girls went and bought some new ones. The first one she pulled out looked really nice. I decided to go with that one. I believe it's called Fun with Fusion.

At the very end of putting polish and the top coat, she sprays this rapid dry spray. OMG...that's 2 things that I need to get: the scrub and the rapid dry spray. :)

This visit was a great one. This was my first time getting a manicure there. She was awesome, talked about work, kids, and nail polish (even gave me some advice). :)

I can't wait to go back because I love to get pampered! Hopefully my future calls for a facial! (hint, hint!!) :)

Here's what the finished product looks like.

Where did the time go?

Time seriously does fly by. Is it because we're adults now that we notice this? I remember when I was younger that the days would go by slowly and that it would take forever for the year to end. Now...the year flies by in the blink of an eye.

It was just yesterday when my two little babies were born. A healthy 6 pounds 13 ounces and 6 pounds 11 ounces Yep, you heard that right. I had 2, count 'em TWO, fully healthy babies in my 5'1" frame. I was sticking out!!! I would share a photo of myself, but I'm not too sure if I'm comfortable sharing it. We'll see...

Anyhow, last week my husband and I stopped by our local elementary school to register them for Kindergarten. Ahhh!!! Yes, I said KINDERGARTEN!! I can't believe how fast it's been and how big they've grown. We were just mastering the skills of tummy time and now we have to send them to Kindergarten? :( I'm not ready. They're not ready. I think the only person ready is my husband :) It's just too soon!

Actually...I think they're ready as far as the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, etc. I think they are not ready socially. They're too shy. Can't blame them though. They got that from me, or the majority from me.

My husband has been great at preparing them. They know how to write their ABC's (in caps) and numbers to 20, sometimes a little further. They can write their first and last name. They can even count to 100! I'm soooo proud of them! If only they can build the courage and play with other kids, and actually talk to them. :)

Anyhow, here's a video I put together of them growing up. There definitely were some tears while making this. :)

Enjoy!!

Perfect Timing

For about two weeks now I've been contemplating, how am I going to do this? How am I going to let people in? How will they learn who I am? To know the real me... I think I've written about myself on my blog, but was it enough?

Things happen for a reason. I truly believe that. For instance, before I actually had kids, I wished that my future first child would be born in the month of June (the month my husband was born) or July (my birthday month). I got pregnant when I was 24. A couple of weeks after learning I was pregnant and after the first ultrasound, I had a miscarriage. I was devastated. It was hard to be around people with kids. Soon after (possibly a couple of months later), I learned I was pregnant again. This time with twins :) I learned that at my "official" ultrasound. The part where I believe things happen for a reason is my first little peanut would have been born in May. Our twins were born in July. See what I mean?

So as I sit here, painting my nails with "It's Bouquet with Me" by Sephora by OPI, I think the great reason for me waiting to tell my story was because the universe, or God, wanted me to wait for the perfect time. And the perfect time has come.

Last year I was introduced to a lovely wedding photographer named Katelyn James. She's based out of the east coast and she's fantastic! Not only is her work simply to die for, but she's a Jasmine Star bride. What?!?! I would give anything to be a j* bride :)

Anyhow, just today Katelyn James announced a contest to win a seat to her Workshop Experience. Click here to find out more. In order to enter the contest one would have to tell her their story, and why we would want to go. It's all adding up, isn't it? I wanted to tell my story a few weeks ago. For some reason I couldn't find the perfect time to write it. And well...it looks like now's the time.

I got my first camera when I was, I believe in 6th grade. I think I was 11 or 12. It was actually a Christmas gift from my parents. I think I even saw her buy it for me when we were shopping for Christmas gifts at Sears. :) It was a Kodak point and shoot and I loved it! I remember taking it to school and taking photos of my friends.

In high school and community college, I took photography classes. I believed that I wanted to be a photographer. I didn't know what type, but I knew I had fun being behind the camera. And it was super fun developing my photos in the darkroom.

I left community college early to follow the love of my life. He was in training for the Air Force. My love took me to Texas to be with him.

In December 2003 we got married in City Hall. How ironic is this? I have no photos of us on our wedding day. Me, a photographer (or back then a wishful photographer) had no photos from our special day. That's one thing I regret...not having photos. Another? Not wearing a wedding dress. I would love to go back and change some things, but in all honesty it was perfect because it was just us two. And that's all we had back then. If I could do another wedding, to say, renew our vows and finally get that wedding that I dreamed of (wedding dress, photos, family and all) I totally would do it. Hear that Babe??? :)

Attending Katelyn James' Workshop Experience would be perfect for me because I've only been at this (being a professional photographer) for over a year now. (Oh, did I mention a part-time professional photographer?) I've shot 2 weddings, assisted in 2, and photographed a wedding reception. I know there's a lot I need to learn. I also know this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life.

Up until late last year I wasn't sure what type of photography I wanted to do. Just starting out I wanted to do everything. To get my feet wet and see what I liked.

True story...Just today I told a co-worker that I want to specialize in Weddings and Boudoir. I've never really told anyone that (other than my husband and friend). I was scared to announce what I actually wanted to do, or specialize in.

I would love to attend Katelyn's workshop to soak up all the knowledge I can gain. From shooting the little itty bitty details to big giant wedding parties. From turning that inquiring engaged couple to a Veronica Hudley Designs bride and groom. I want to make my clients say "Wow...I love her and her work is out of this world!" I don't necessarily want to be the best in the world, or be top photographer in a certain year. I just want to make my clients proud that they chose me and to spread the word. :)

If for some reason I don't win this contest (because again, things happen for a reason), I will be okay with that because this allowed me to finally tell you all a little more about me. And I hope you're able to find some sort of connection to me. And to help you out even more, here are my top 5 current favorite TV shows :)

1.) The Voice - I love, love, LOVE Adam Levine!!! And Blake too :)

2.) Glee - Finn is soooo HOTT!!!

3.) Say Yes to the Dress - Gotta love dress shopping, or any shopping :)

4.) Four Weddings - Love to see what each bride does with her wedding

5.) One Tree Hill - I've only become a fan possibly 2 seasons ago. I'm sad that they're going away :(

Oh wait...one more...you can never go wrong with Friends. :) I love staying up and watching Friends on Nick at Nite. :)

Cross your fingers for me! :)

New year, new problem, new solution

Happy New Year Everyone!!! It's the 3rd day of 2012. Is everyone still excited for this new year and all the new possibilities and opportunities it has to offer? I am...well, sort of. :) Let me explain.

I've been, I guess you could say, lost...or in a funk, for about 2 weeks. Yes, over the holidays. What joy, huh? The reason...my laptop gave out. My laptop, my everyday computer. The thing I sacrificed to lug around, to bring to work daily so that my boys wouldn't get to it and break it. Why? Why me? Why at the end of the year when it's time to do a "year in review"?

So...I've been...lost...

Good news is, a good friend will be helping into restoring my lost data. He's a genius! Lol...Thank you friend :)

Other good news, I've been sharing a computer with my husband (prior to the laptop dying) and looks like I'll be taking that computer over soon. And because of that, we went out last week to purchase a desk and chair of my own. Yay! I finally got a desk (and chair) of my own :) Now it feels like a real "office". Ha ha ha....

I guess if there's good news, there's always bad news around the corner, right? The bad news is pretty much all this will be hurting our wallets. :( Fun, fun, fun....

Overall, I guess you could say this will be a great start to my new year! :)