A New Beginning - Moving Day

Since slowing down my photography business I've felt for a while that I need a new blog to start over and begin a new adventure, a blog that is more than just photo sharing. I love to write and want to delve into that a little more. I'm excited to have a blog that is appealing to more readers and can explore a wider range of topics. I'll still be sharing some personal photos and stories, but my hope is that this new blog will become so much more than this one has. Thank you to all my followers and readers, I hope you'll make the jump with me and follow along at the new blog! It's just getting up and running so check back frequently. See you on the other side!

Come Check Out The New Blog

Also one last plug here for creative website evaluations...

 If you own a creative business and wonder if your website is effective and attracting the right clients, then you need to contact me.

  I would love to offer my years of experience to those in creative fields, and to those that need some affirmation they are on the right track, by way of your reviewing websites and blogs.  

Your website and blog are the face of your business and you want to put your best foot forward. Your site can make or break you in one click! There are so many choices in the market today, thousands of sites competing for attention. Most people decide in less than 30 seconds if they want to keep looking at your site. If not, they will just click on to the next one. Do you want to feel empowered, and to feel confident in your artistic brand and product? Do you want more clients, and for people to look at your site and say “wow”?

Here are a few of the benefits your personal review would provide:

*An analysis of the overall presentation of your brand

*Determining if the look and feel of your site is cohesive to the brand you are trying to portray

*An evaluation of which images are your strongest, and tips on streamlining your galleries to only show your best work.

* A review as if I were your next client, to gain a glimpse of how your clients are actually perceiving your brand

If you are interested in a portfolio review from a professional who has been in your shoes, email me today and let’s get started!

Shadowpuppet17@gmail.com

Here's What One Client Had To Say:

"Well worded & constructive incites into my website that helped to weed thru many images & words that were overwhelming me!  It was incredibly helpful to have an assessment from a photographer (as part of my target market) on what images created a 'wow factor' and sold my artistry & which ones were not driving as much excitement or enthusiasm.  If you are considering a review of your work online as a makeup artist, hair stylist, wardrobe stylist, or photographer, this is a worthwhile investment in your marketing!

Angel Graves 

RingMaster TOCSS "

TOCSS-design.com

Summer Days

This blog has been quiet for a while. I feel like singing that song "I'm on vacation far away...everything is cool, everything is fine..."

What can I say, school end madness turned into summer adventures and lazy days.

Another summer is almost over and it went way too fast this year! What did you all do this summer? Share some links in the comments to your adventures.

We had an awesome trip to South Carolina for a family reunion and most recently adopted a new son! Needless to say it's been a big summer for our family. Did you catch the last part of that sentence above, BIG summer is an understatement. haha

If you want to see more from our trip you can view pictures Here,  Here, and Here

But, here are just a few pictures from our trip and one sneak peek of our cute little boy who has been with us now for 2 weeks.

Mohawk

It's been a while since I pulled out the camera spur of the moment, but I couldn't miss this moment. I styled Nicole's hair into a mohawk by serendipity and the next day she got her self dressed like this. Complete picture of our rock star girl! And she wanted to go cruising in her car.

Our Adoption Profile

We made a profile book for our adoption agency, we're hoping this helps us in our adoption efforts. : ) Here is a sampling of that book.

Our official fundraiser has ended, but if you would like to make a donation, please contact me at the address listed in Studio News. We are so excited to add a little brother to our family, and hope the wait isn't too long.

Merry Christmas! Plus A Bonus Yummy Recipe...

And a Happy New Year!

Some Highlights of 2012:

*Jeremy got a job at Adobe last January

*Evelyn closed her business and decided to become a full time homemaker

*Kai-

Kai is 9 this year. He was introduced to Origami and fell in love. Now we get to clean out drawers and drawers full of paper creations every week! He started 4th grade this year and loves it. He is very good at math. He also loves to play Mario Brothers on the Wii and build his own lego creations. He is such a great big brother to his sisters, always looking out for them.

*Natalie-

Natalie is 6 this year. She started 1st grade this year and was so excited to eat lunch at school like her older brother. She is so musical and wants to start playing the violin. Natalie broke her elbow at gymnastics and is now in physical therapy so she can bend and straighten her arm again. Natalie is our animal lover too; our cat puts up with her "affection"! But he loves her too, after her elbow surgery he didn't leave her side for weeks.

*Nicole -

Nicole is 3 this year. She started her first year of preschool and feels like a big girl now. She is our athlete and is excelling at gymnastics. She was even recruited to the beginning team (non competitive at this age)! She is always happy and is always on the move. Even so, her energy abounds! 

We are all set for a white Christmas here at our home. When it's cold and snowy like this I crave a very healthy, hardy soup! We got this recipe from a TV show (I can't remember the name) that is all about healthy living. It is one of our favorites. Enjoy this soup this winter and warm your chilly bones.

Merry Christmas!!

Lentil Soup

Ingredients:1 quart chicken stock
1 quart water
2 cups red lentils – rinsed
1-2 T olive oil
2 strips of Kombu (sea vegetable)
2 onions
3 cloves garlic
5 carrots
4 stalks celery
1/2 pound potatoes
1 rutabaga
2 zucchini
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
3 teaspoons salt

Pinch of each of the following:
Cumin
Bay leaf
Dried or fresh parsley
Oregano
Thyme

Instructions:

Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil and allow to cook for 45-60 minutes.

Chop together onions garlic cloves, carrots, celery, potatoes, rutabaga and zucchini.

Add vegetables into the pot.

Add 1 can diced tomatoes

Add salt, cumin, bay leaf, parsley, oregano and thyme

Serve piping hot with warmed bread.

Happy Halloween!

It was a fun Mario themed Halloween for our clan. We had a great couple of days with Jeremy's work party yesterday, and class parties/ parade, and trick or treating today. But it's been a long month with Natalie's broken elbow/ surgery and a holiday. I'm glad all the Halloween stuff is over.

Check out these cuties! Natalie's pink cast even matches her dress.

This Mario catches air!

October is also a special month for some of our friends. Their sweet little boy turned one this month and we got to be a part of the festivities! Debbie made the most delicious fall treats and Bennett looked adorable in his dragon costume.

Such a cutie!!!

Well...until next year. 

First Day of School 2012

If you want to see even more of these go here!

Pictures Pictures Pictures

I'm way behind when it comes to computer matters. Here are some pictures I ordered for the kid's rooms. They will be up in a gallery for grandparents soon. : )

Keanna

Keanna, I'm sorry these took so long! My computer crashed and was broken for a while. I really hope you enjoy these pictures. You will have copies soon. : )

Click the middle picture to enlarge.

Introducing...

The newest member of our family! No our cat didn't have kittens. Although physically impossible,  Natalie stills asks for our male cat to have kittens! 

He's a little shy! Can you guess what he is?

Meet Milo, our new hedgehog! Isn't he the cutest thing ever?!

Kai is 9!

I can't believe kai is already 9, my little baby is 9! He is such a sweet boy with an incredible mind. He loves art, building with legos, working with lego robotics and folding origami. I had to document this stage and a few of his creations!! He is a very talented and gifted boy.

I don't have many digital pictures of Kai as a baby, that was back in the good old days of film. But I do have lots of prints I need to get scanned.

Kai has always been an adventurous boy, and very curious about how things work. While other kids his age were playing at the park, we could always find Kai inspecting the nuts and bolts on the playground equipment. He loved to see how things went together.

I didn't have any recent pictures of Natalie when I did her birthday post, so here are a few of her too. My shy, elusive girl actually looked me in the eye for a few snaps!