20 random facts...

a friend emailed me one of those forwards that i normally just erase. but some nights, after the kids are in bed and the house is clean, i'll actually read those cheesy emails. this one said to list 20 facts about you that no one knows.  i thought it might be fun, and a good way for people to get to know me as a person, not just the photographer. so here i go:

1. i eat my oatmeal with a fork.
2. i hate apples- and i don't mean the computer. i try and try to like them, and i just don't.
3. i'm a "compartmental" eater. i have to eat all of one thing on my plate before moving to the next.
4. i didn't know how to drive stick shift when i bought my first car. it took me an hour to go 3 miles because i stalled out every time i had to go into 1st gear.
5. i am naturally introverted and socially akward. being behind the camera gives me the security and confidence to be in large groups.
6. when asked what my favorite color is, i always respond "clear".
7. i collect vintage cameras. my favorite is a 1951 Vitar. i found it on ebay and paid more in shipping than for the actual camera. but i don't care. it has my name on it!
8. i love snapple facts
9. we watch jeopardy every night.
10. the lead singer of the crash test dummies hit on me when i was 16. in front of the entire audience. i was mortified and flattered at the same time
11. i have a weakness for sam edelman flats.
12. i am neither a morning person or a night person.
13. i never spell the word guarantee correct.
14. i dream in color
15. my husband and i play a game called "how'd you like to be the one who..." when we're driving. we try to come up with what would have been the worst job ever.  example: how'd you like to be the one to pound all those posts into the ground (as we're driving up the 5 and there is nothing around)  or how'd you like to be the one who had to unroll all the wires through the forest to get phone lines...
16. i would love to live on 17 acres of land. i want a property with a giant oak tree on it that i can hang lights from and put a loooooooong table under for summer dinners with the whole family (a la brother's and sister's, even though i've never seen the show) and a decrepit barn that would make for an amazing backdrop for photos.
17. i am scuba certified. although i haven't been in 10 years. sad
18. i'm going to italy for my 30th birthday. my hubs promised :)
19. i wear my great grandmother's wedding band along with my own.
20. my favorite color is.....

i'm not gonna give that one away!

xo

Spring!

 i love the newness of spring. the greenness of the hills, the blue skies, the fact that one day it is 85 degrees and the next i am pulling my sweater back out, and then the very next i am sitting poolside again. spring is beautiful.
 sunday was w's first easter. while it was cold and ugly, and on the verge of rain all day, we dressed him and e up in their "easter best" for brunch with the family and a little mini egg hunt. after brunch, we made a quick wardrobe change to head over to malibu to meet up with some friends on the beach. it turned out to be a gorgeous day by the water, and the rain held out until we packed the kiddos in the car and were heading home.
this next week is going to be a great one for me, i'm heading to the mile high city, denver, to see my pregnant best friend! while i'm there, i have 3 sessions lined up, so i'm looking forward to getting to explore the state and take some amazing photos. but until then, i'll leave you with a few of my favorites from our easter sunday!

on your marks, get set, WIN!

i'm starting off the month of april with a giveaway for a session of your choice (maternity, newborn, children's, family, engagement, or a just because). Here's the rules for this month: my fan page has been sitting at 213 people for a week now, and i need to help getting my name and page out there! SO... i want each of you to promote my page, and the 250th fan will win a free session ALONG with the friend who referred him or her! That is 2 free sessions for the month of april!


Get to it and good luck!!

here's the legal details: 

*winners receive free sittings only, this does not include photos or discs of the images, although prints will be offered at a discounted price, and a full disc of images can be purchased for $75.

*Family sessions are for families of 6 or less. if a group is larger than 6, the difference will need to be paid between the family session and the large family session (approximately $100 depending on number of people) I will go over all options with the winners so we can find the package that will work best for their family. 

*if the winner already has a session scheduled with me, that session cannot be replaced with the free one, it will be for an additional session (how lucky!) 

*sessions must be completed before June 2010.

amazing company with an amazing give away!

so, thanks to my fellow photog friend kathryn , my eyes have been opened to the beauty and functionality of Epiphanie camera bags. i am a bag whore. there, i said it. i own more purses/ diaper bags/ beach bags/ reusable grocery bags/ etc than i care to even admit to! what can i say, i can't pass up a cute bag! Some woman are shoes and jewelry, i am purses and bags. and when i saw these on kathryn's blog, i about pulled out the credit card and purchased one right then and there. then i read about the generous give away contest they have going on right now for a Canon Mark 5 II camera. only my (and every other photog's) dream camera. OR a $2,500 travel credit on southwest airlines. can we say wow! i would be stoked over either prize! the places i could go with $2,500 dollars free flying! my mind is spinning (does southwest fly to tahiti?)

while i know over 3000 people have entered the contest, and i don't really think i will win (i don't have the best of luck in raffles. i can put 5 tickets in a box that only got 6, and not win!) more than anything, i want people to check out this company and read about their mission.

I know what i will be asking for for my next gift, do you?!?!

things i love...

i'm doing my list a little early this week, we are heading off to palm springs for a few days, and i don't know if i'll have time, or an internet connection while we're out there...

this week was loaded with activities for us, while my sister and her family were in town, we found ourselves at disneyland, the zoo, playa del rey, and the parks in our neighborhood. even though it was all relaxed and not on any time constraints, it was exhausting running around everywhere. today is the first day since they left, and e woke up asking for his cousins. after he ran around the entire house and looked in every room, he says to me, "mama, but i love my cousins. where are they????" melt my heart and put it on a biscuit that was the sweetest thing i had heard come out of his mouth.

here are my loves:

1.handwriting. if i could figure out how to create a font out of my handwriting, i would. (and i'm working on it, i just am SO computer illiterate.) it's probably a lot easier than i realize, but i need someone to walk me through how to do it.

2. the pioneer woman from cooking to homeschooling, photography and gardening. this woman is my hero. if i could be like her, i would be. she has such talent and drive, and such a love of life that comes through in her writing and photos. i get lost in her website for hours at a time. if you haven't read high heels and tractor wheels, you better. it's addicting.

3. here's a shout out to another photographer who i admire: Candice Benjamin. she and i met at an la shootout event earlier this month, and since then, i have blog stalked her work and followed her on facebook. she is also new to the industry, but you would never be able to tell. she has such an amazing eye for detail and style, and i just love her! she has the sweetest disposition, and was so fun to shoot with. plus, she makes amazing head pieces, which she sells on etsy too.

4. snapple iced tea. lemon. not diet, not raspberry, not peach, lemon. and only lemon. i could drink it every day and never get sick of it. it was the only thing i craved while pregnant (that's not true, i also craved 7-11 slurpee's) every time we are driving and my hubs has to stop for gas, he comes out with one for me. i love him for the little things like that! forget the flowers, bring me a 12 pack of lemon snapple iced tea, and i will be a happy girl!

5. my mom's clam chowder. i've been craving it lately (even though it's 85 degrees out today). she makes it from scratch and it is so creamy and peppery and pure yumminess. i think i'm going to have to ask her to come down and make some for me...

and because it is almost easter, i'm throwing in a 6th this week: jelly belly jellybeans. YUM! nough said. :)

just married- 16 years ago

16 years ago i stood next to my sister melissa in an off the doily covered shoulder, short teal brocade dress (with white panty hose on ). my hair was big and the bow in it was even bigger. It was 1994, and her wedding day. today, on their anniversary, james and melissa took a trip down to playa del rey with their children and we took some long over due pictures of the two of them, and of the whole family. after our session, the hubs and i brought the kids to our house, so mom and dad can enjoy a night away at the beautiful inn at playa del rey. i wish i had taken some photos of them there too, it is such a quaint and beautiful bed and breakfast. definitely on my list of places to stay within a 30 mile radius of my house!

congrats missy and james on 16 years of marriage! you two have been an example of lasting love and commitment to each other, and i pray my marriage will include as much fun and adventure as yours has! i love you!

things i love...

this is going to be a quick one, i've got dinner going and family in from out of town, but i didn't want to not get my second things i love list done!

1. the smell of our fabric softner (downey orchid allure). it is heavenly.

2. descanso gardens. gorgeous grounds to walk through, and everything is blooming right now

3. petunia picklebottom diaper bags. even after my kids are out of diapers, i will be willing to carry one of these bags around. (and the touring tote works great as a camera bag because of all the little bottle pockets)

4. susie cakes cupcakes. sprinkles who? if you haven't bitten into one of their red velvet cupcakes, you are missing out. THE best cupcakes i have ever eaten!

5. my husband. (i'm biased, i know) for allowing me to remodel our rental unit and not complaining how tired he is after working 24 hours then going to the house and working for another 7 hours. he is the best. only a few more work days and we will have the kitchen and bathrooms done!

thats it. quick and to the point. i' off to flip the pork chops now!