Busy is an understatement.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! I am so unbelievably busy that I can't even begin to imagine being able to blog something right now! Does that about sum it up?

I hope to add some new posts soon- including Maegen and Josh's wedding and Brittney's awesome senior photo session. Until then... enjoy this AWESOMELY DELICIOUS Paula Deen recipe. I made these this weekend and they were such a huge hit. Seriously, even if you've never baked in your life, you need to make these.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping

Office makeover

We're in the process of doing some home remodeling by creating a new master suite in our lower level freeing up our old upstairs bedroom for my new office! This could not come at a better time. I am currently working from a tiny, corner desk in my kitchen (see photo below). Obviously, that's not enough space so I've also taken over the kitchen table and our sideboard with all of my stuff. It is so completely ridiculous and it's impossible for me to stay organized. Most days I could just pull out my hair!

I am so excited for the opportunity to create my own space to work with my business. I'm equally excited to reclaim my dining area as an actual eating space!

Every day is a learning experience as far as my business goes. It seems as if things are constantly evolving and I have had to learn to adapt to a number of changes over the years. For example, now that my kids are in school, my work week is limited to the hours that I have during the day when I'm not picking them up and dropping them off. Then I always seem to have errands to run like trips to the post office, bank, doctor/car/hair appointments, and I also try to help out my husband's elderly grandmother by taking her where she needs to go. Like so many other moms (and women in general!), I am pulled in a million different directions!

I don't know exactly what I am trying to say with all of this (maybe just venting?) except that I appreciate my wonderful clients who understand that I am a busy mom and can sometimes miss a deadline due to uncontrollable circumstances! I hope for a better and more organized future where I can whip out photos like nobody's business and still keep my sanity!

Because I am looking for furniture (and I'm a dork), I drew up a floor plan for my new office. I am still figuring out what I need in there but here is the basic layout. Imagine going from that homely little college dorm room desk (pictured above) to this! I'm SO excited!


Oh, and if anyone has any organization strategies that they want to share with me, please let me know!

Addicted.

I am an online shopping addict! I can't help myself, it's my biggest weakness. Don't get me wrong, I love to trudge around a mall as well, but I get so irritated when I see something online and can't find it in the store either at all or they don't have the size I am looking for (especially with Old Navy and Gap).

I hate to pay for shipping but sometimes I figure with gas prices going to and from the mall (especially living in New Prague) that it's worth it. BUT NOW... I just discovered this awesome website that has free shipping codes! This doesn't give you free shipping for everything, but it lists codes for free shipping if your order qualifies. I know that sometimes I scramble to find a coupon and can never locate it when I need it.

Click here to take advantage! Happy shopping!

Fall TV

I am so excited for the new season of shows to start! I am especially excited this year because we actually have DVR now so that I don't have to worry about missing any episodes. Some of my favorites are Entourage, Lost, The Office, Grey's Anatomy, and Desperate Housewives.
Who needs to see the rest of the cast, right? :)
Just checked abc.com and this doesn't start up until early 2009. :( :( :(
SOOOOOO excited for this!!!!
I abandoned this show a couple of seasons ago but just caught the cliffhanger for season 4 tonight and think I'm going to start up with it again. They ended the season with a flash forward to 5 years ahead and are resuming the show in that time frame. It looks interesting!

Retired photos...

These were taken in December of 2004 by Flash!, about a year and a half before I started doing photography. I've had these hanging in my bathroom since and I finally retired them and replaced them with current photos. Just thought I'd share!


Aidan looks so different and lifeless! It's weird seeing him like that.

Remember...

Gift Certificates!

I've been getting a lot of requests for these lately and just placed an order to have some made.

Gift certificates must be purchased through me and the recipient must present the card at the time of the session. Believe it or not, I've had some folks try to claim homemade gift certificates from people that I have never even heard of.

Contact me if you want to purchase one and I will have one mailed out to you asap. Certificates must be paid in full at the time of order. Arrangements can also be made to purchase prints, albums, or a CD for the recipient as well which must also be prepaid. Recipients will have 4 months to book a session. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Bethany

I have found my new love... senior girls sessions! Bethany is a senior at LeSueur-Henderson High School. I shot her friend Ethan's photos last year and when it came time for her photos she really wanted to use me so I was so excited and honored to do them. She brought me to the location of my dreams! I was so inspired it was ridiculous- I was like a kid in a candy store! Bethany was equally excited which in turn allowed me to ROCK her session! I love how her photos turned out and too bad the sun started to set or I'd probably still be shooting. :)

Brianna, Brock, and Troy- Urban

I was beginning to think that this was a family of robots at first! I was able to get some awesome family shots within the first few minutes. Everyone was posed right, everyone was looking at the camera... sometimes we don't get this all hour, especially with little ones. Lori did an awesome job of styling, doesn't everyone look great? My job was definitely easy with this family!

A proud grandma

Jane lives in AZ and planned a shoot with me for when she was in town last weekend. She wanted to capture herself with her grandchildren (who are previous clients of mine) since she is usually behind the camera and rarely in front of it. I thought this was such a sweet idea and always encourage mom's and grandma's to jump in the picture! I think it's important not only to photograph your children but be photographed with them. Someday when they are older, they will cherish the photo and won't care if your hair looked messy that day or weren't wearing make- up.