{Thursday Thoughts.Personal}

Sweet Spring time...thank you so much for finally coming back {well sort of, not the same here in the desert};) This blog post is going to be a little "homesick" blog about Kansas!! Go ahead and laugh...but I seriously miss Kansas in the spring time. Time for busting out the boats to go fishing on a nice sunny day, country driving with my step dad listening to some AC|DC while I learned how to drive, the birds start chirping then you get to see a robin, trees are starting to get their leaves back, start to mow the grass barefoot {yes, I know how to mow a lawn and I did it barefoot growing up!!} So just bare with me while I share some of my favorite things I do/did when I lived back home in Kansas:)
 {Manual Driving}

Why YES..YES I do know how to drive a manual, PROUD OF IT:):) Thanks to my awesome Step-Dad for teaching me when he had the chance. Lets just say country driving is the best place to learn how to drive and more so how to learn how to drive a manual. I have some amazing memories with my step-sisters all out driving as we learned and sometimes having my friends tag along to learn. And that ended up being a total disaster that ended with laughing so hard our stomachs hurt so bad!! I still ask to this day when I go home if I can hop in that old Mazda to take it for a drive!!

 {Fishing}

I'm super jealous today since my Step-Dad is in Kansas right now as I'm writing this blog fishing! He busted out his new boat and is fishing, lucky little dog!! This is one of the biggest things I look forward to when we move back home after our time in the Marine Corps. Its going to be so nice to just take a nice Saturday, call him up and take the boat out with the boys:) I bet you all thought I was a girly girl huh...I don't mind baiting my own hook and throwing my own line right there by the boys!!

{Windows Wide Open/Being Outside}

Being able to open the windows WIDE OPEN to let some fresh air in {regret it when allergy season hits!!} But to be able to just have that nice weather, the nice sunshine, a nice breeze come in..that is just amazing!! Able to sit outside and sticking your feet in the grass to just relax and chit chat with family or friends. Can't wait for these days again:)!!

 

Emma. 11 days old

I love seeing a family grow..even more so when it's a sweet family that I have photographed before!! This family is just so sweet I guess its that Kentucky hospitality that they have:)!! I had the chance to photograph this sweet family's homecoming this past winter but Laura has such a big heart and was so generous. She gave up her spot so another wife so she could have that chance to have their homecoming captured!! I don't think I will ever forget that:) So I had the amazing chance to photograph Emma's newborn photos, she was literally such a doll. She didn't liked to get posed much but when she let me pose her..I got some sweet shots with the help of Laura! Hannah is the cutest big sister and I was able to capture the whole family when Eric came home from the field!! Hopefully I get the chance to photograph this sweet family one more time before we move to San Diego for our next big adventure!!!

 {Look at this cute smile!!}

   

WPPI 2012.Las Vegas,NV

I can finally write a little recap of how AWESOME, AMAZING, ROCK'IN, FANTASTIC, words really can't describe WPPI 2012{Wedding & Portrait Photographers International} was last month:) Eeekkkk....I still can't believe that I was given the chance to go!!!! The whole experience was just so over whelming and I felt like someone needed to pinch me the whole time I was there. I couldn't get over the fact that I was at WPPI and I was meeting some amazing friends face-to-face, making new friends, hearing some amazing photographers speak and to just take it all in. I didn't bring "Betty" my camera since I didn't want to lug her around, so I just brought my point and shoot and then I had my cell phone {better than no photos;)}! Next year I will be more prepared I do believe!:)

I swear I didn't have any time to even walk to the strip or go anywhere outside the MGM between checking out the trade show, grabbing a bite to eat, hearing a speaker in a class or speed walking on the moving walk ways...okay okay dancing on the moving walk ways is a little more like it!! I really did just bust out dancing to whatever song they had playing:) Who said you couldn't have fun busting a move on those things?! {Plus, I also made other peoples day by having a good laugh!!!}

I was able to hear the stunning Jasmine Star speak, granted I was all the way in the back of the room. I really enjoyed her class the most....you can check out my notebook if you don't believe me, since there are 4 full pages of notes! I'm excited to take what she spoke about and put the gears in motion this year:)

I was able to meet just some of the most amazing P31 ladies after Karen Stott spoke at BRI. Karen is such an inspiration, I hope I can get down how she juggles it all. She is like SUPER mom, wife, friend, photographer, business owner!! These P31 ladies are just the best and I'm so thankful to have met them and be apart of this amazing group that Karen created!!

Here is our little group with some ladies missing since they were busy doing their own thing or had classes:) We had such a blast and some really good laughs, my last lunch with all of the ladies...I had them rolling on the floor {not really}. But lets just say they had a great laugh at my own expense and most likely everyone thought we lost it!haha Thanks Jana, Kim, Kara, AnnaLisa, Chantel, Megan and Lauren for having me tag along with you ladies:)!!

All during WPPI I was seeing all these faces that I have been following since I started my business and seeing faces of people that inspire me and I hope to one day work with. Right before UNITE I had the chance to meet Julie Story who is the sweetest thing since cupcakes;). I loved chatting with her a bit and I hope one day in the future I can work with her on building a SHOWIT site for me:):)

Right as I was about to leave WPPI and head back to my little part of the desert. I saw one of my favorite photographers who I have been following since I started my business....Ginny Corbett!!!!! I was just going to pass her by and grab my things and hit the road. But I stopped myself and I went to say "Hello, your amazing!!". Yes...I was a BIG CHICKEN...but Ginny is just so amazingly nice and I love her accent. I'm so glad that I introduced myself to her. I hope that I can take one of her workshops or cross paths with her again in the future!!

Now what would WPPI be without seeing one of my all time favorite friends...Kristen Booth:) I need to start jazzing it up more since she is always looking amazing!!

I'm so excited for next year to come so I can go experience WPPI again. If you have the chance to go...GO!! It is something that everyone should be able to experience! Thank you Joel and Courtney for letting me have the chance to go. And for my sweet husband and family for supporting me:) It means to the world to me!!!


{Thank you Jana from Jana Melinda Photography, for letting me snag some photos!!}

Emmitt.8 days old

It is finally time for Mr.Emmitt's blog post {doing the happy dance!!}:) I just loved photographing this handsome little guy, he was such a sweetheart during both of his sessions. Nicole just did her maternity session in January which you can check out {here}! Emmitt was so quiet and posed really well when we did the first part of his newborn session. Emmitt has a sweet color of brown hair and just enough to give it a cute little spike. Both G & C are the sweetest big sisters I have ever seen!! They sure did love giving Emmitt kisses and loving on him during the second part of his session. And of course since Omi was visiting we had to get some shots of Omi and her first sweet grandson:) I seriously adore and loved photographing this whole family and getting to know them all these past few months!!

{Thursday Thoughts.Personal}

Well its now MARCH...last month was just insane and I'm so glad that it's all over with! Tackled 4 MAJOR special days in our family within a week. Had a visit from a family member from the sweet Mid-West and I went to WPPI on short notice...which was by far AMAZING CRAZY {blog coming soon!!} Now we can tackle the rest of the year:):)haha I haven't written a Thursday Thoughts for awhile now. I feel all rusty and out of it!!

{New Hair-Do}

I decided to change it up and go with a whole different hair color for this spring. I normally just stick to my original hair color and be "plain jane" with a toss of blonde highlights sometimes. So I went down a little path to red-ish brown!!! I know it's nothing TO CRAZY..but I think it is kinda fun and so far I'm loving it! 

{The Voice}

This show is just awesome, funny and down right a tear jerker when you hear some of these people's stories that they tell before they go on stage!! The Voice is by far my FAVORITE singing show that is on tv right now. I never really got into American Idol or the X Factor...they just seemed so boring to me. But THE VOICE...now that is a show I will really watch since it's a show about blind audition and the judges {who are pictured above} don't see the person..they listen to them sing and push their button to have them on their team if they like them enough! And plus I don't mind looking at the handsome Blake Shelton!!!;)

{#marchphotoaday challenge}

I bet you might have seen some of your friends do this on Instagram last month..or in January! But I tried to take a photo that was on the list for each day last month. And well it just got crazy here and I got left behind;) So this month....yes THIS MONTH I am VERY determined to finish the WHOLE MONTH:) That is my little challenge for myself. And if you have Instagram..come follow me to keep up!!