poignant pauses

love stories

are so much fun! We had a blast shooting this one and I'm getting the thumbs up more and more now for the creative type of processing I like, so I really enjoyed processing this session.

Here is what the bride to be had to say about their session after I mailed them a sneak peek.

"Danielle,   

The images are unbelievable!  I was a little worried about my 

awkwardness (not all that natural with cameras!)... but these look 

great!

-----and I had a blast.  We really didn't know what to expect... but 

it was fun, and a really neat experience for us.

I can't wait to see the rest!  And for the wedding!

Thanks again!"

"Here is a page from their album. These albums are so beautiful hand stitched just stunning.

here are a few of their images closer up. I will probably add their slideshow(still waiting on some images from them so I can create it) because it was a sweet loving session in a beautiful location. I can't wait for the wedding! Remember I do love the creative processing but I always show every image traditionally processed then I will process the image again in an artistic style if I know the client likes those types of images. It's really a labour of love because it can be time consuming. But as they say you have to feed your soul ..... Really I love  both types of images and find they really can compliment each other in wall display,album etc...

Ok sorry went a bit nuts with the images. I just was clicking oh I like this one and oh this one and well..... LOL!

Standing in the rain

OMG love love love this song. The words just speak to me so strongly ... Standing in the rain

I was talking with some friends this week and some of the amazingly hard things we've had to go through in our marriages... and how they made our marriages stronger and closer.....Standing in the rain... I can't imagine ever losing Chris....

I love these lyrics from the song belief

Belief makes things real
Makes things feel, feel alright
Belief makes things true
things like you, you and I

                         Galvin Degraw

**************************************************************************

belief is the bonding love that helps you stand in the rain

                                                         

a few love story images

head out with a bit more love... another Galvin Degraw song

We belong together

We belong together,
like the open seas and shores.
wedded by the planet force,
we've all been spoken for.


The hammer may strike, be dead on the ground.
a nail to my hand, a cross on his crown.
we're done if, who we're undone,
finished if who we are incomplete.
as one we are everything,
we are everything we need.

we belong together,
like the open seas and shores,
wedded by the planet force,
we've all been spoken for

What good is a life, with no one to share,
the light of the moon, the honor of a swear.
we can try to live the way in which you speak,
taste the milk of your mother earth's love,
spread the word of consciences you see,
we are everything we need

We belong together,
like the open seas and shores.
wedded by the planet force,
we've all been spoken for.

All this indecision,
all this independent strength,
still, we've got our hearts on save,
we've got our hearts on safe.

someday when you're lonley,
sometime after all this bliss,
somewhere lost in emptiness,
I hope you find this gift...
I hope you find this gift...
I hope you find this gift.

email

Sorry I haven't been posting as often as I usually do. I know a lot of people read my blog and tell me they enjoy  my updates and I appreciate you I really do it's just well life.... LOL!

I did just want to post that two people in the last week told me that had issues with my email. One sent and one I sent but they and I never recieved the emails. I did some searching and found a couple I sent in my deleted folder,no idea how or why they ended up there. 

It might be that I picked up a computer virus somewhere,my husband spent Sunday  going through my computer so hopefully problem solved.  But if you have emailed me and not recieved a response it's possible that I never recieved it. Ugh problems problems! We did end up replacing our entire phones system and Chris rebooted the system. But we are still have on and off problems like a cell phone has sound fading in and out so... while it's much cheaper to have an internet based phones system we are thinking of switching back or just going to cell phones . I'm glad to know that at least for now if there is a problem have Chris reboot the system. I've resisted cell phones(Chris has one) but.... it is nice when I'm on a shoot to have a way people can contact me instantly if they are  lost or late so I'm considering going mod.

I just love how small this girl is compared to the adult fingers which are just at the edge of the photo.

Ok quickie post done!

Long time

Sorry life has been a bit crazy.  We had lots of illnesses; cars breaking down you name it. I think we finally have the car problem solved. We might have found one locally that we both agree on! LOL! The problem is I hate large vans and we have a large family. I'm short so small cars fit me the best but we need a large van for the kids.....  Car shopping isn't fun!!! Maybe some day when the kids are gone and I'm looking for my hot rod but now.....

yeah!!! B52's are back,I'm so excited! The last album they released came out the year Chris and I married 1992. I'm so glad they still have that great sense of humor,just love how they mock us in this video about the "mall".

how about some vintage b's ( one of their better known songs not my favorite though I really liked Dance this mess around (the toy piano still makes me laugh) or planet Claire)

I realized I never posted the pictures I promised of Nadia in her "Pamela" hair. She looks so different with curly hair. We used hot rollers this particular time,we prefer the curling iron method like the video I posted. It's not as curly and a bit neater but it's fun to try new things. I like the hot rollers better on Francesca(who LOVES the Shirley Temple look.)

I'm enjoying very much being the Mom of two great teenagers and three little ones.  It really struck me the other day how much I am enjoying the teen years. I will have to admit 12 to 13 with my girl was rocky, kind of like living with a pregnant woman. Crying over everything, emotionally sensitive but she has evened out and we really are enjoying our changing roles. Sometimes I find it hard to let go, my kids both agree they think we are way over protective but they also know it's out of concern not control that we are that way. 

Most mornings you will find us for an hour or so just chatting. We start our day with devotionals and then usually what ever the topic was we end up discussing, then that leads to events in our lives. I find it fascinating to hear about the lives they are starting to lead without me.  I'm weird like that I always enjoyed hearing my husband's stories about his work and the people. I guess I'm fascinated with people.  So it's interesting to me to hear about some of the personalities and events in my kid's lives.

It's funny how different my oldest two are. A couple of weeks ago some friends took me to a concert(IT ROCKED!!!!) and by pure chance my son ended up attending the same concert and had seats pretty much right behind mine. He was at an overnighter trip with his youth group and the concert was a surprise.  Most of the youth group was being "cool" sitting through most of the concert texting and playing games. Not my son and his friends they were rocking it out.  I couldn't help myself either.... LOL!  It was funny I thought I might embarrass him but no..... He says to me "Ma how come you weren't going nuts?"(I love music!) Now my friends thought I was totally crazy that night so I hate to think what he was doing....  it's so cool that he is so young and so not afraid to just be himself. That personality trait is something he inherited because that fearlessness was one of the things that attracted me to his father. Chris always an original.

Nadia struggles a bit more. She's shy and quiet, even at home. Isaac has always talked circles around her. She is amazing with animals, just a gentle soul.  I could never see her screaming and dancing at a concert.  LOL! She is tough though, she’s a lot like her Nana (who she looks like) and her Papa, quiet surface but steel underneath.  Isaac is always picking up new friends but Nadia has stayed true to a few close friends with occasional new ones. She's loyal and thoughtful also a lot like her Nana.  The two oldest are like night and day.
It was funny when they were younger to watch them play together. OMG that was funny!!! I won't write a long story this post has already become to long but ohhh the stories I could tell!

I know I haven't posted much client work recently. Here is a baby slideshow for you. :)

Click here to view slideshow

Howdy!

Well I’m back just a heads up. I’ll be checking all my emails. OMG you wouldn’t believe how many I have to answer. Please give me a day or two to plow through,I promise I will get back to everyone. It was a nice break, not nearly long enough I think it was too close to the holiday. I might try two months next year. One month to unwind take a creative break and another to work on some of the things I have been inspired to try but haven’t had the time to explore. Still it was nice but I am feeling anxious to get back into the swing of things.

One of the things I have wanted to explore is perfecting a high key on location "Gap" studio type of images like this one. Nadia was a willing model.

News, well I am going to running a contest in March something to do with Seniors so be looking for that. If you had a session in the last year, I’m going to be running a print special because I will no longer be using my old system of ordering and some of the former price structure will be changing. Starting now clients will be doing all the ordering directly, simply from an online cart. The orders will be shipped directly to your home or any address. It’s a great system for relatives who do not live close by. Anyone you wish can have access to your gallery and they simply order on line and the portraits are on the way directly to them. You can order a gift card for family to redeem too, great for last min gifts, holidays etc…

Nadia and I had a lot of fun during my break, shopping in the after Christmas Sales. She adores Hollister (all she wanted for Christmas was clothes from Hollister and a cell phone) and they had some great sales. Last night it was so funny I took Nadia and one of her friends there and they kept sniffing their new clothes that Hollister scent…. I don’t know what they put on the clothes, it doesn’t seem the same as their perfumes but oh it smells good! As Chris said that store isn’t a store it’s an experience… LOL!
Nadia begged me to do a shoot of her in her new Hollisters, but it was too cold. We only lasted a few mins and the poor girl her hands turned purple! I promised we would try again soon but the weather doesn’t look promising it is freezing this week!

It’s so weird how much she has changed in just a few short years. We’ve been spending a lot of time discussing things about growing up and well I think I worry worse about them then their father. It’s the teen years that they can really fall into some decisions that will affect them for the rest of their lives and I’m not just talking about dating boundaries. Now is the time that they have to decide what they believe and where they are headed and as parents we can’t keep them from some of the pain we experienced just because “we say so”. 

As far as dating for now Nadia has a bunch of “admirers”, but thankfully she isn’t interested in dating yet. Isaac feels the same so I’m grateful that they haven’t fallen into the have to have a boyfriend/girlfriend thing. The kids do ask us about dating when they can etc…  but we are trying to help them come to their own convictions about it before they become really interested and haven’t set down any hard and fast rules yet. We’ve been reading different books on dating, growing up etc.. and hope they can help them decide on good boundaries themselves because convictions that you believe in personally are a lot easier to keep.  It’s so true that quote “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Elizabeth stone

Speaking of which my brother sent me a video of my nephew who is a pro motorcross rider and oh I don’t know how his heart can stand it!!! Take a look at the video I don’t follow motocross any more (my father and brothers all raced at one time. ) so oh some of it ouch hard to watch but looking at it brings back so many memories for me…. It was a lot of fun much better then football or hockey(burr!!!)  I’ll embed the video but it’s low resolution if you want to view at a much better quality check here http://www.roadanddirt.com/videos/07_WNO_SR.mov

Some of his accomplishments  6 time qualifier Loretta Lynn’s, 3 Top 5 Branson Nationals, 2 time Indiana state Champion, Over 120 race wins in 7 different states, AMA District 15 champion, US Open qualifier.

He's number 89 Daniel (and yes we are both named for my father) Nadia thinks it's so cool that he is sponsored by Monster Energy(a favorite).

favs

Just a heads up too,I'm currently taking a bit of a break to spend some extra time with my family and will be reopening  in February.
I will be checking and returning all emails and calls but not as promptly as when I'm open. The last two weeks in Jan I will be totally closed and I will return all calls and emails when I'm back.

The images I'm sharing are bits of our world. I was really inspired by a blog called a year of mornings. I've always loved close crops so I LOVED her blog just small bits of every day.  So inspired I've started on my own year of days.  I did a blue tint process on most of these,I just like it.  The collage is our first week.

If you like bubbly then you will probably love Jason Reeves. He is the first two tracks on my current playlist. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the entwined song. I can't wait till they make a video of it. Did I mention I LOVE that song???

I love that the made the bubbly video so sweet! She looks so much like my best friend in High school . It's funny even her hair style is the same,I guess I must be getting old for it to have come back around those little curling Iron sweeps.

Top ten moments this week
1.When my oldest son confided in me, it’s become rarer as he has become older, so the moments it happens are sooooo sweet!

2.I felt warm in my heart when Isaac apologized last night for being cranky when we called him on not finishing his schoolwork. I just love who he is. He reminds me so much of the best stuff of my brother and my husband.

3.I love the too warm feeling and smell of the house around dinner time. The mix of main course smells with the sweet smells of dessert. It makes me feel cozy and womanly.

4.I love when I can get everyone running to greet Chris when he comes home. It never fails to bring a smile to his face. Which then brings me to another favorite moment…

5.Chris often gets gushy at the dinner table and gives me that gushy look. Something about the full belly and his family around the table warms his heart. But his overly gushy look makes me feel so silly like the moment in Ella Enchanted when Ella says to the fairy and Benny “OK got the love” moving on now.

6.So last night I told him he was being soppy and he told Nadia he loves it when I watch romantic movies because I get soppy. This is true certain movies just get me all gushy about him. I’m so Brenda Jones bumbling through life with everything that could possibly go wrong, going wrong. I just keep plugging, trying to keep my chin up with a good attitude. While he like Mark Darcy just glides through life, cool and calm, dignity intact. I love that movie because it’s so like us totally different, having to work hard on keeping it together  so many misunderstandings,mishaps but when it’s together ohhhh look out for the sparks. I wish we could still use that service that cleans up movies(they were sued so you can’t buy them any more. Hollywood didn’t want anyone to cut out the stuff the movie didn’t need to make it great stuff) I so want the second Bridget movie. 7.Last night when I couldn’t sleep and Bob our cat heard me tossing and turning so he hopped up on the bed with his big soft purring body, snuggled up and kissed me with his rough tongue.

8.But then Bob moved over to see if Chris was awake which woke him up and then ….. not sure this is a favorite moment but the afterward funniness of it is. Chris had a triple serving of beans. I made chili the night before, gave him some for lunch and then I served him dinner which was a Mexican casserole with a refried bean base. Well when he woke up he started pooting and it was so bad he actually made me nauseous. So we had to open all the windows. Which we feel asleep with them open and Nadia came in to snuggle in the morning and wanted to know why the windows were open. I about split a gut telling her why, which got her busting a gut and Chris sheepishly grinning about last evening’s events. He was so thankful for the great ventilation system at his office. LOL!!!! It’s making me laugh again just thinking about it.

9.I don’t know why but I love the way Nadia smells. Chris and Nadia smell the same way(well when he's not pooting) and it’s such a good smell. I love when she snuggles with me.

10.I love how Sebastian just showers me with sweet words. Always telling me I have beautiful eyes, how beautiful I am etc…. he really does gush. Nadia says it makes her sick LOL but Oh I love it!!!!!

11.I love doing bible in the morning. I didn’t think I would. It’s my new duty since Chris is now leaving early for work. I thought ugh lots of kids before I have my coffee, not sure I can handle it but it’s been sweet. I like hearing the oldest two thoughts on God and snuggling up with the little ones all vying to see the pictures. (We read two books one for the older kids, right now we are reading A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Which Ike likes but Nadia doesn’t. For the younger we are reading these really old bible books that I had when I was a kid. It’s called the Uncle Arthur’s bible story and there are bunch of volumes going from the start of the bible to the end. I think my Grandmother must have bought them for me. I also had all the Uncle Arthur’s bedtime stories too. I read some to Ike and Nadia when they were little but during Chris’s purging (believe it or not he felt I had too many books so he started chucking some slowly so I wouldn’t notice. Ummmm I don’t think he will ever do that again big mistake.) he must of cleared them out. So I need to find them again.

12.Its silly no one will probably get it as much as I do but that’s ok I’ll still share it. I had a hard time growing up and the only thing I felt I did really well that I cared about was singing. Well when I became an adult I still loved to sing but also realized I’m not Aretha Franklin so I have some confidence issues there.  Isaac lives and breathes music and like a typical male is brutally honest. I was working on a song and thought you know if I’m going to do this I need to hear an honest opinion so I asked him and he said “it sounded really good” . I know it’s simple but it makes me smile when I think of it.

13.I love how sweet Francesca was when I had to tell her I forgot to buy the snack she requested. She had looked forward to it all day and kept reminding me about it, asking when I was going to go shopping. I felt like a complete heel when back at home after shopping, I realized I had forgotten it. The look of resignation when I told her and the sweet forgiveness on her face when I begged her pardon just melted my heart. Oh I wish I was as sweet, no wonder God told us to be like little children.

14.A clean toilet…. LOL Nadia had a friend sleep over a few days ago and the unspoken rule is no guest in the upstairs bathroom. It can get REALLY scary and it was, so I was mortified when I found our guest in my SCARY not for guests bathroom!!!!  I know it’s silly but I finally cleaned the dreaded room and through out the day I kept taking peeks at my clean toilet LOL! ( I know how pathetic!) and it always made me smile. Simples pleasures for a simple mind.

So there you have my top 14 favorite moments so far this week.
Ok , I’m aware I shared more then ten but what can I say life is sweet.

I'll be back to post some pics because of course what is a post without pics but I need to see if I can't get back to sleep.... zzzzzzz

sorry

We had a bit of mess up with the computer. If you emailed or called (we have internet phones (I'm married to a geek remember!) and it seemed to take longer then expected for a response that's why.

We had a lovely New Year, lots of lovely food and good company. Speaking of lovely food I have a new recipe that came from the party. It's another super simple one.

Taco dip

2 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream
2 pkgs. taco seasoning mix

Mix until well combined. You can serve it by itself or even better use as a layer with ,greens,tomatos,guacamole,salsa etc.. 

The kids really enjoyed doing an early countdown at 9pm (little ones always miss out normally) with pots, spoons all kinds of noise makers and best of all poppers. They are fun even for us adults I think. Anyway it was a nice start to the New Year (though I did bomb out at bible outburst darn it I like Pictionary so much better! I think I was the only adult gunning for us to play charades I have such an elementary sense of humor.) I hope you all had as lovely a start.

So with the computer being down, these Christmas snaps are a bit late but here are some snaps from our Christmas day. I had someone ask me how much post cropping I do. Well here is a good view of what my images look like from the camera or as photographers say SOOC(straight out of the camera). I didn't do any cropping on these and very little post processing(mostly color due to the tungsten lighting). I created this slideshow using my husband's video program which can be as scary as Photoshop with all the different ways to approach a project.  But I did finish my first slideshow with it,I still have a ways to go,the quality of the images isn't great not sure why I might of had the resolution too small but it's still fun to look at. I like that I can embed it right into my blog so even those on Mac computers can view it. Chris creates lovely warm videos with that program, my favorite of all time a mix of video from the year Ollie was born. I'll see if I can find it and I'll upload so you can see.

Oh the wait......  A disgruntled child waiting and waiting for breakfast to be over with so he can open some more gifts.(we let them open their stockings before breakfast.)

Ollie cracked me up the way he just stood there forever and ever just staring at the presents.

And pleassssseee don't say I why wasn't in in the slideshow,see I'm right here!!!!, you can't miss me.

Ok serious new favorite!!!!! Love these brothers,someone seriously needs to sign them and make a good recording. I can totally hear these on the radio.

sweet music

I hope you all had a great Christmas! We had a lovely quiet day, lots of laughs and smiles and yummy food!

I was surfing a bit while drinking my star bucks this morning and found some music I love! I love music that brings back memories or makes me feel so I love happy family and love songs.  I can't tell you how many times songs like remember when (which I'm not even crazy about music wise) has made me cry.

I think during the hard stressful times music and memories can bring you back; hold you in a good place. Marriage, family etc... It definitely has it ups and downs. I am not a perfect person therefore well.... There is an old song I love by Dan hill sometimes when we touch. I love the whole song but the lines a brother or a sister and then the passion flares again have been so true in my life. Chris and I have always had our ups and downs; one season so stressful I thought we couldn't recover but then always along comes a sweet season that we connect fully and life is just soooo sweet. The dark days come less and less the longer we are married I think because we understand each other better and it's easier to connect to cling when the bad stuff happens rather then pull apart. One word picture someone once told me, I think it was family life marriage conference (awesome, great for the engaged and married, I can't recommend it enough. We've been several times and going again this coming year) that also has helped me is to think of marriage as two kayaks going down on a river with a strong current pulling them apart. To work on the things that connect us it's so worth it because when you do connect it's like heaven on Earth. A bit of sweet sweet heaven.  I love that Chris's song for me that he always thinks of me is the song "You’re my best friend” by queen. I love that he gets romantic and gushy about me. It's like when we connect we go right back to the beginning right back to the feelings we had for one another when we were dating only now they are stronger. He can still make stomach drop, blush, he still is the person I want most to spend time with. I love that a song can remind me of all of that. This is why I love songs about family and love. Life can be ugly, but family is a haven a sweet haven.

These videos' made me smile this morning

 

I love the lines""Every time I look at you, you always look so beautiful"  It's funny we have wrinkles and extra pouches but to me his eyes are still every bit as blue and beautiful.   

a bit fustrated here not sure why but all of a sudden my song list isn't playing so I'm just going to add it to this post for now.  I created a new one finally

Merry Christmas!

We’re deep in the middle of preparations.... Little ones already all strung out.... LOL! Sebastian's been wrapping all his treasures up and regifting everyone. Broken buzz light year (Sebastian lives and breathes super heroes), a very loved tigger etc... He is so excited he can’t' stop talking. Now I’m not a morning person and need a little bit of space when I first wake up, when I'm really tired ,I really need that space. Well I'm really tired today and he just couldn't stop. I asked Sebastian Can you please stop talking for a while and he says "Can't I just say one more thing?" and then proceeded to just ramble on forever.  Calgon....

So we're making cookies doing some cooking and cleaning. Then some prettying up for our candle lit church service tonight.  Nadia was Mary in the church’s play this year. They pick the older kids to play the main roles.  She's a good sport. 

Our pictures should be interesting this year. Yesterday when Nadia was watching (supposedly) them downstairs while we wrapped the mass amounts of gifts we had to wrap. Well Ollie got into my craft supplies and painted his face red.... It's not coming off... Sebastian has a huge bruise (fell off bed while wrestling with Ike and a scratch on his face (cat).) Francesca also has some small pics from the cat.  Some deserved and some the cat does to wake her up in the middle of the night....  None of us want the cat in our room at night he's so annoying! He's a great cat really cuddly and loving but at night ugh!!!! The tree has NO and I mean NO decorations on the bottom between the cat and Ollie it's been robbed bare.  LOL!  We are so not picture perfect people!!!

Here are a few snapshots of our holiday so far. Nadia in the play and our party with Chris's family. Chris in cased his brother's home depo gift card in orange jello that got a big laugh and we have the best yankee swap gift thanks to Deb and Mike with our new ear wax pickers....

Chris's Dad He's a great guy the apple didn't fall far from the tree(well and Chris's mom is really wonderful as well so I guess Dad is only half of the apple! I'm so lucky!)

chris and Ollie.... with his big boy haircut

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!!

and what would Christmas be with Charlie Brown's special????
I just adore this!!

HohoHo!

They kids were so excited that I didn’t' have to do any work yesterday!  I did end up having to drop off one package but it worked out ok because we were headed out to the library anyway.  We spent the morning snuggled under the covers and watched the Grinch. Today I finish up the last of my shopping and we are going to see a show.  Then we snuggle down and clean, wrap, bake Yeah! I hope it snows I'm starting to get so excited!!!! Oh and we do go to church Christmas eve. It's the loveliest service candle lit, everyone gets their own candle to hold and the singing is acapella.  The kids love it.  It's from 6 to 7:30

lighthouse website

We were trying out some new looks for the holiday on Nadia. We tried false eyelashes and she LOVED them. I was so surprised because this is my minimumalist girl. She said she looked like a model and well as her mom….

If you've never done false eyelashes they are simple. I'll find a video

Ok here is one

And some tips from me

Do not curl your lashes before hand the curl will make the false ones harder to apply.
If you are doing your lashes your self without a helper it's easier to use individual ones rather then a full set. Also Individual lashes are more subtle. Duo is the glue you want when first starting out the clear white is the one you want. It goes on white but dries completely clear. If are afraid your lashes might get wet or you want something stronger lash tight is super strong. It has a very strong odor and can make you weep.

Ok do your make up including eye makeup then measure and trim your lashes if you need to cut them cut from the inner set of the lashes. How you can tell which is the inner end is the outer side is longer.Use a tooth pick /orange stick to apply glue if you do not have a toothpick put a line of glue on your hand run the lashes through this. Use only a tiny even amount it will stick better
Bend lash into the shape of the eye ( a "c" shape). Apply to outer corner of eyes first then rearrange apply directly to lash line. Use tweezers fingers to rearrange and press down. Reapply liner in lash line, you can curl if you wish and then mascara.

When you are done with them just gently pull off. You can wash them in warm soapy water even cheap lashes will last a few weeks. Do not wear them to bed you will end up with a weird crease and you will have to toss them. Once you've worn them they keep the shape of your eye and they are so much easier to apply. If you don't want to have to wash them you can not apply mascara and pick off the glue. Some people prefer to cut them in half to apply

By the way the author of the video I shared has a great blog with a lot of tips and contests for free products so check her out. We're going to try her Pamela do on Nadia for Christmas.

sigh of relief

Everything done! What a relief it was to receive my last package and sending them off.  Also getting the root canal out of the way. I remember ages my friend Stef getting one and what pain she was in. We're talking 20 plus years ago well it's a bit different now. I was out in like 40 min and it hurt less then some fillings I've had done.

The staff was really friendly and nice. I couldn't recommend them more highly.  I was impressed by how excited the doctor seemed about his work.   It made me think of when I get that "shot" and I just get so excited.

Professional Endodontics

The kids have have been having a really good laugh saying I sound like a drunk. It's been 3.5 hours since I had it done and I still can’t' feel anything.... LOL! And I keep biting my darn tongue on accident. I 'm afraid of what it will feel like when the drugs wear off.

more holiday ideas

I've had a lot of friends ask me to give them make up tips since it's the holidays I thought I would share some. I know anyone who has seen me on a shoot will find it hard to believe but I love makeup and fashion. On a shoot I like to have nothing to worry about so I wear play clothes and no makeup so no worries. I can crawl on the ground, climb get wet what ever it takes to the get the image.

But there is the other side of me that loves to play around with makeup and when I'm thin clothes( right now I’m living vicariously through dd but it's not quite working for me because she is very plain Jane classic(we are so different). ) Anyway back to make up I think most of it is just experimenting trying new things. My oldest DD is so different then me. Her skin tone freckles and eye shape is totally different then mine so what worked for me just doesn't work for her. So we tried lots of different techniques and products till we came up with a few looks that work just for her. Books, magazines all great sources for ideas and now we have youtube.

She is one of my favorites there,do a search though and you can find lot so tips for hair and makeup

and how about a simple updo for the holiday?

I think in the new year I might write some tips for modeling as well as make up,hair etc... just little things to help on a shoot that you might not know other wise.

for instance if you have long hair dont' wash your hair the day of  your shoot. You will have more flyaways which show up horribly with backlighting. You can also use a hair serum which works wonderful to keep those flyaways down.  My dd loves how they help with frizz and add a LOT of shine.

There are a lot of serums out there an inexpensive one you can find at the local drug store is

John Frieda Frizz Serum  about 10.00

Towel dry hair and allow it to air dry for a bit. You only need a tiny bit of product about the size of a nickel which I spread out over my fingers. I apply it to the ends of hair first then the rest. Brush then blow dry style as usual. That it! You will be shiny and frizz free and my dd thinks it looks better the second day. She will sometimes apply more but often only needs it that first day. The product lasts a long time. She has long hair and only shampoos every three days or so.

so there you go a few beauty tips :)  for those holiday parties.

feeling so sorry for myself LOL!

Chris is off to a lovely dinner party while I mope about at home.  I was in the middle of getting a tooth fixed when it decided to really go south and now I have an exposed nerve. So back on the happy pills and lucky me is going to have a root canal for Christmas.  So I wasn't up for mingling tonight and it's a bummer ....  And my root canal is going to be during a Christmas tea I was invited too..... bahhh humbug! I guess I do feel grateful they had an opening.... I guess.... LOL!

We're full swing into Christmas. Last Sunday we made Gingerbread houses and decorated our tree ,we put our garlic and instruments on the tree. LOL! Francesca called the garland, a garlic and Sebastian said the instruments in place of Christmas ornaments.  We about bust a gut when they said the mistaken words almost one on top of the other. They looked at us amazed like what was our problem!  I'm all done shopping for the immediate family and so I'll be done soon! 

I love Christmas and am looking forward to snuggling down with my family after all the scurrying around and work. Tomorrow is the last day I have to mail some portrait packages and then pretty much I'm done.  We'll start baking for the big day! yeah!

I remember my mother spending weeks and weeks baking and freezing. I don't even come close to that but we do have a lovely dinner on a much smaller scale though. 

One thing we really enjoy that I make and I like it because it can be made ahead of time is over night French toast.  I used to make homemade cinn rolls but they are a lot of work on a day I'm already doing a lot of cooking so for I guess 6 years or now we've served this in morning instead. I usually double the cream chz(chris loves cream chz) and thick heavy bread is the best kind for this.  It reheats well too.

enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

12 slices day-old bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes

1 cup fresh blueberries

12 eggs, beaten

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup maple syrup

 

1 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup water

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS

Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange half the bread cubes in the dish, and top with cream cheese cubes. Sprinkle 1 cup blueberries over the cream cheese, and top with remaining bread cubes.

In a large bowl, mix the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and syrup. Pour over the bread cubes. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the bread cube mixture from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Cover, and bake 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking 25 to 30 minutes, until center is firm and surface is lightly browned.

In a medium saucepan, mix the sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to a boil. Stirring constantly, cook 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the remaining 1 cup blueberries. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, until the blueberries burst. Stir in the butter, and pour over the baked French toast

Snoopy dancing going on

here!!!!! I just put in my next to last order.  I have to head out so one more tommorrow and then that is it!!!!!

How about a slideshow as a hooray!!!

princess slideshow

a few images for those who can't view the slideshows.

I did a painting kind of feeling with this one. She looks like a fairy princess.

small break

had to take a small break so I thought I would post something on my blog

a few more favs for Xmas ideas

I ADORE cheese! One of my girlfriends was amazed when I told her my favorite cheese is $17.00 a pound.  I do not often buy it but I would much rather have some good cheese then well anything except maybe Ice cream(now you all know why I'm a chunk,if I lived in Wisconsin. I would be in Serious trouble. )

a tasty treat each month

cheese club

Ayo - She reminds me of a darker skinned Heidi Klum and love her music.

some fun covers for laptops phones etc...

gelaskins

ok if you are into self portraits you want one of these.... I know I do! :) can be held out at arms length, extended to a length of 18.5" and features a built-in self-image positioning mirror that assure that the camera is aimed in the right direction.

cool tripod

I Love this lady's artwork!!!! and now you can get a ton of it at an incredible price as a calendar

creative thursday

last and most fav of all is

we love colors

tight heaven a rainbow of colors for women...

I was talking with some girlfriends about what we see first when we shop. One said texture she has to touch everything, another smell(sorry lisa I'm just not getting that onel LOL!) and I said COlOR . I love color. Now my choices would be more subdued then this outfit but still a funky unusual mix.

and as long as I'm window shopping oh i would adore a pair of  genetic denims sailor jeans and that is saying a LOT because I never wear jeans. They remind of these Gap jeans I bought every pair in the store that was my size  about 7 years when I could fit in Gap's little girl 16's (yes short chucky me was super little once upon a time.) I LOVED those jeans and now they are back! and a bit (LOL!) more of a price tag I would totally be window drooling on these even if I was a size 1 still.

genetic denims

A new adventure!

My Hot  red headed Geek is going to be working in Boston again. I never ever would have thought I would want him to be working in Boston ever again but a few things have changed. First the t now runs out of Middleboro and his office is a short walk from the station. Second he will only be working three or four days a week.

Of course there is an increase in pay but that wasn't the deciding factor. We sat the kids down and asked how they would feel about the switch and we all agreed we would much rather have Chris for an entire extra day or two a week vs. bits on the beginning and end of the day. So guess who will now be getting up early to teach bible??? I am so not a morning person. He usually tucks the little ones in too, I’m sure they will really miss him those few nights he wouldn't be home.

The other reason is opportunity. My Geek's company was recently bought out and he went from working for one of the top ten companies in the country to one he had never heard of before. Buy outs, pretty common place in the IT field. Chris's Dad has worked for the same IT "company" for 35ish years but really has worked for MANY companies he's been bought out so many times. The tell tale sign of a bad buy out, they get rid of the free snacks..... LOL! Really!  I think it's like the woman who feeds everyone; usually it's a great house to hang out in so loving. It's the little things that tell a lot about if the cheese has been moved.  Isaac and Chris just went today to get their eyes checked and new glasses cost us 300.00 dollars more then last year because of the insurance.  Just yet another tell tale sign the cheese has moved.

great read

So a new adventure… I’m sure because he’s working up there we’ll probably go to Boston more often. We used to go a couple of times a month to visit museums, shows, shopping etc... But as our family increased I just stopped going. We might go once or twice a year that’s it. It’s tough going to Boston with a lot of little ones…. Just let me tell you about the time they shut down the Children’s museum because of Sebastian or the time Ike picked up a large sand shark…..  Well actually that happened when we were visiting NJ’s aquarium but you get the idea. One mom five kids can be a lot when they are little.

How are you doing with your Christmas Shopping? I am so not done!

I did find a few things I adore!!!!

This is the BEST children’s album I have EVER heard I Love love love it! I can’t believe I’ve only just discovered her. All of her music is so full of her life,real, like having a conversation incredible moving music.

This band is my entire family’s favorite new band. Now I like any kind of music with very few exceptions(elevator music,some modern country, some Christian praise are examples of I do not like becasue they all sound exactly the same like they went through Sneetches(Dr Suess) machine. I like anything that sounds real has a soul. )Growing up with my father's businesses (bar, resturants etc...)I was very fortunate to hear lots of music, all different kinds. Then I lived right outside of Boston for a while and that was another great music experience so I LOVE music all kinds. But it's been a LONG while since I liked something with a real raw rockin kind of feel but this band I LOVE!!!! Makes me wish deliverance was still a band...... just had that old itch to mosh. LOL! (No I've never moshed but it's interesting and painful to watch)

People describe this band as 5 kids who have ADD and didn’t take their Ritalin and broke into a red bull truck! My son has seen them in concert and he says they are incredible to watch.

and oh last but not least.....

We discovered these from some computer work. A friend of ours runs a bakery and asked Chris if he could help out  a friend with some computer work. Well after tasting these cookies she could of paid us with cookies they are that good!!!! They are dry but moist with a perfect mixture of flavor if you like chocolate covered pretezls, you will think you died and went to heaven when you have one of these. She had a write up in the New York Times a couple of weeks ago these cookies are incredible!!!

kayak cookies

I'll share some more of my favs from this year later in the week. This post is already inpossibly long.