finding peace

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so it's the 2nd day of the new year and i haven't stopped thinking about what this year will bring.  or where i'm headed. or what my goals are. blah. blah. blah.

i THOUGHT i wanted to start my own personal happiness project.  the initial THOUGHT of it excited me.  and then i made a monthly resolution chart and the THOUGHT of it made me anxious as hell.  i'm not sure i could ever focus on one thing for an entire month; my brain so doesn't work that way (ask leah).  so i'm not sure i'll go much farther with my happiness project than this...

JANUARY’S RESOLUTIONS: JUST BE HAPPY (exploring everything happy) FEBRUARY’S RESOLUTIONS: SHOW ME THE MONEY (managing finances) MARCH’S RESOLUTION: LOVE GREATER (bettering my marriage) APRIL’S RESOLUTION: LAUGH MORE (lightening my attitude) MAY’S RESOLUTION: HAVE FAITH (exploring spirituality) JUNE’S RESOLUTION: PLAY GAMES (being the parent i want to [& should] be) JULY’S RESOLUTION: THIS OLD HOUSE (fixing up the house & yard) AUGUST’S RESOLUTION: REALLY FORGIVE (working on my past) SEPTEMBER’S RESOLUTION: COMPUTER-LESS (working on less computer, etc. time) OCTOBER’S RESOLUTION: LET GO (being less perfect) NOVEMBER’S RESOLUTION: WRITE THANK YOUS (appreciating friends) DECEMBER’S RESOLUTION: GIVE MORE (exploring ways to give back)

but it at least forced me to think about 12 things i'd like to work on throughout the year.  that's good...right?!  oh and business wasn't on my monthly resolution list because i KNEW there was no way in hell i could pick a specific month to dedicate to business.  that thought made me even more anxious. and health and fitness wasn't on there because i am totally getting back in my routine this week (yes, i've been absolutely terrible over the past couple weeks).

so what are my goals? i don't know. maybe i'll figure something out tomorrow. because right now, my brain hurts from trying to come up with something. maybe i'll just come up with a few business and personal goals and be done with it.  or maybe i just won't do anything at all and i'll let the year unfold exactly as it will.

anyways... here's a few shots from our day today.  spending time with amazing friends...boating to a tiny private island for lunch on the beach and spending time together playing, sharing, laughing and exploring. could it get much better than that?

the flag, to claim our island

and with that all said...and coming to peace with the fact that i don't need to make any darn resolutions or goals or anything for that matter on the 1st day of january...i feel better already.

happy...

in

here's to closing out an exciting 2010. and wishing you a happy, healthy and inspired 2011.  please be safe.  and have an awesome, fun-filled evening. tons on my mind right now. hoping to blog about some of those things (family and resolutions to name a couple) in the next few days.

last but not least, THANK  YOU for the continued support -- for my photography and blog.  i can't tell you how much your thoughts, encouragement and friendship mean to me.

fun with family.  ryder's birthday party in NV...

friendship & inspiration

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we met the C family when we lived on whidbey island, WA.  our husbands worked in the same EOD unit.  we lived on the same circle and our houses were separated by a playground.  and we fell in love with the C family the moment we met them.  our families were stationed together for two years and they helped us get through our own deployment (steve left when i was three months pregnant and he returned a couple weeks before ryder was born). and it just so happens that the C family now lives  only about 10 minutes from my friend, steph.  it had been six years since i last saw them and it was so, so awesome to see them again!!  they haven't changed a bit...except the girls are now 16 and 14 instead of 10 and 8.  oh my!!

also, i have to share that lou was my inspiration for starting crossfit.  we're friends on facebook and i had been reading her posts about how much she loves crossfit and how it was life-changing for her.  here's a before and after photo of lou.  the after photo is about one year later and 35 pounds lighter.  her strength, focus, passion and determination inspires me daily.

and here's some photos i took, while i was there this past weekend.  they sure did an amazing job at not looking cold.  it was 34 degrees when we were doing these.  i had on a parka; they kept running into the heated car to warm up for short bits.

and then lou's beloved dog, Pnut, joined us for a few photos...

i'm so looking forward to going back to virginia beach this april, when i'll be doing rachel's senior pictures.  woot woot!!  and of course, i'll get to hang out with this awesome family again.

home sweet home | part I

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today, i returned from the most amazing weekend in virginia, where i had the opportunity to photograph a military homecoming. mike beaty returned this past saturday after being deployed on the USS truman for seven months. saturday was the first time that mike got to meet his daughter, scout (now 10 weeks old). as with almost every homecoming, there was lots of anticipation and waiting. it was a magical morning full of excitement, love, support, friendship and strength.

it was so awesome to see all the friends, who came to welcome mike home -- the same friends that helped, supported and encouraged steph throughout the prior seven months.

and meet the paparazzi, from lifetime network.  they, along with the producers of extreme makeover home edition, are producing a new reality show that will celebrate the emotional reunions of military family members.  the beaty family is going to be one of the families featured on the show, which is tentatively scheduled to air this spring.  so exciting!!

and i have to say, it was very interesting (and challenging at times) to photograph, when there's a few film cameras, boom microphones, producers, newspaper photographers, military photographers...all wanting to occupy the same little space.  :-)

i'm hoping to share some of the photos from the actual reunion moment in the next day or two. such an incredible, emotional moment to witness and be a part of.

coming home

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tomorrow morning, i head to virginia beach, to see one of my best friends and her family.  but what makes this visit even more magical is that i'll be photographing mike's return, from his 7-month deployment.  AND he will be seeing his 10-week old daughter for the first time.  i love this family like my own family and cannot wait to see them and capture this most amazing time in their lives. the below image is sky -- april 2009, as we prepared for steve's homecoming.

and i know i posted the photo below a few posts ago but...this is steph, mike and their first child, liam, who is now 4-years-old.  steph and i met, when she was one of my first clients four years ago.  and now, i'm so grateful that we're the best of friends. :-)

along with the homecoming photos, i'm hoping to get a new family photo for them -- celebrating their family of five and being together again.

and now back to packing.  i have to not only pack my stuff, but also get the kids all packed.  i return monday night and then our family heads to nevada tuesday morning, for the holidays.

so very excited. about everything!!

the joy of giving

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i am just a human being.for me, everyone is the same... what is the ultimate purpose of life? it's to give. start giving. feel the joy of giving. - narayanan krishnan

i saw this on someone's blog (can't remember where) earlier in the week and didn't have time to watch.  today, i saw it again on my friend, crystalyn's, FB stream.  and watched.  let me just say that i was moved to tears.

a former professional chef in a five-star restaurant in india. now feeding the homeless, mentally ill destitute and old people, who have been left, uncared for. but not only caring for their nutritional needs, he goes further...

this man is so much more than a kind and decent man. he is an absolutely amazing and inspiring man.  he could have stopped at nutritionally feeding these people in need, but he didn't.  i would love to give so incredibly, so selflessly -- one day.

for the moment, it really has me thinking about how i can give more. give greater. right here. right now. i know i can be doing more.

december 16th

in

if i lived in new york or close to new york, i'd SO be going to this closing reception on december 16th -- art from the heart. purchase admission in advance for $100 and you get... admission for two your choice of photograph on display (first come, first served) open bar

only 100 of these special admission tags are available for purchase.

i hope someone i know will go so they can tell me all about it.  such an awesome opportunity to see the work on display and then return home with one of the pieces.

art from the heart closing reception december 16th | 8:00 PM DRIVEIN24 studios 443 west 18th street new york NY 10011

maybe they'll have another one while i'm shooting in new york this summer.  i would absolutely love to attend such an event!!

this morning

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this morning, i received this email...

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm doing a mini fundraiser for my theatre class, and I was wondering if you could help out. I need to make $45 so I can go to Disney with the rest of my Theatre class. So far I haven't sold anything, because my friend who's also in Theatre lives on the same street and took all the neighbors, so I can't sell it to them. I have two more days to sell this. What I'm selling is Toffee, there's Milk chocolate toffee, Dark chocolate Toffee, and there's White chocolate Toffee. One bag of Toffee is $7 and a Combo of these is $20. If you would like to buy some, please email me that you are and send the money to my mom so she can just give my Theatre class the check for what you're going to buy and receive your money. My address is xxx Tampa FL xxx. Thank you so much for your help. My deadline is in two days- Thursday December 16. I just need to make $45. Thank you so much! :D Kiele

i love this child. and her initiative. and i guess i'm buying some toffee.

being social

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most know about the beauty and power of social media... facebook twitter flickr blogging etc.

the list really goes on and on. but not long ago, i discovered pinterest and i think it's the greatest thing ever. a place where anyone can go and be inspired. about anything their heart desires. the terrible thing is that it's terribly addicting. but seriously...such a fabulous place to explore.

while on the topic of social media... at my rossfit christmas party the other night, i was talking to a new friend about blog reading. she shared about how she hops from favorite blog to blog. so i mentioned google reader, which she had never heard of. if you frequent blogs, i highly, highly recommend something like google reader.  it will save you loads of time (although maybe not because you might just start following twice as many blogs...or more).

and since i really don't have a photo to fit the theme of this post, i'm sharing this one... because i'm so excited to see this amazing and special family next week.  i'm seriously about to burst.  they are such a gift in my life.

steph was one of my very first clients in 2006. this baby is now four years old and they have two more added to their bunch :-))

give love

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taken this morning.on our way to art class. in front yard. drawn to something about it. her. the statement. real. nothing fancy. just drawn. so go... give love. and have a fabulous weekend.

p.s. this morning is magically foggy but the kids have art class and then i'm attending a cookie exchange.  hoping with all i have to hope that tomorrow morning is foggy and i can go shoot my kids on the beach with some fabulous fog in the air.

2010 | client

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some of my favorite client photos from 2010.  so fun looking through all the photos from this past year.  and can't help but think how blessed i am to do what i do!!  looking forward to seeing what 2011 has in store.

p.s. i have lots more favs but thought i needed to stop somewhere :-))

holy shit balls

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heard about this on the radio this morning and had to google when i got home. i got chills watching it. serious chills. you just never know what can happen, when you take a risk.  i have no doubt this boy will be famous soon enough.

the person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. he may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live. - leo buscaglia

a life of hope

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...there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.- elizabeth edwards

such incredible words from an amazing, courageous woman.  let us all find the strength to live a life of hope and have a positive impact in this world.  life is truly the most precious gift!

2010 | family

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thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite photos of my kids from this past year.  it's crazy how much things have changed for our family in the past 12 months. also sharing the layout of my family book this year.  for those who are new to my blog, i do a family book every year (since 2006, my first year in photography).  each and every book is such a treasure -- proudly displayed front and center on the credenza in our living room.  i truly cherish these books!!

the only thing missing in the book is a photo of kiele, with her short hair.  must capture in the next few days.  thirteen is not the easiest to photograph...you know.  you can view a larger version here.

helping kids with cancer

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do you have your christmas cards yet?  need a few more? or want to buy some to use next year?  all while also supporting an amazing charity!! well...

here's some holiday cards featuring artwork of children with cancer.  you can purchase the cards on the CURE to the KIDS website -- and 50% of the purchase price goes to NMTRC, a childhood cancer research and clinic trials foundation.

card pricing (includes envelopes):

25-499, $0.90 500-999, $ 0.80 1000+, $ 0.70 minimum order: 25 cards

this is max's card. max's dad shared that max drew this snowman in december 2007, right before his cancer began exploding throughout his little body.

please consider supporting CURE to the KIDS and order a set of christmas cards today.  or if you'd rather just donate the money, you can do so here, at max's ring of fire foundation.

max -- the first time i met and photographed him, which just happened to be december 2007.

you can see more photographs of max on the blog that max's dad set up for me, when we first started our journey together -- mashed potatoes for breakfast.

pay it forward

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i'm seeing pay if forward all over facebook and twitter today.  what a cool thing to go viral.  i hope it does. i have no idea who david mundo is but apparently, he started this annual pay it forward day on december 1st.  so i googled "pay it forward day' and found that there's an official pay it forward day on april 28th...but who cares.  i'm in for paying it forward on december 1st and doing my part to help it go viral.

this is what it's all about...

Pay It Forward Day December 1st, 2010

‘Tis the Season! A random act of kindness goes a long way so…

PAY IT FORWARD!!

What can you do? On December 1st... • Pay for someone’s cup of coffee… • Buy someone some groceries… • Get the next person’s gas… • Help someone out… • Donate something… • Be creative!

When you do something for someone there’s a good chance they’ll do something for someone else. If not, at least you’ve done a good deed for someone.

So on December 1st share some kindness and spread some joy! It can be as little as a few dollars or as much as you want. No one needs to know!

are you in? hope so!!

if you do participate, i'd love to know what your random act of kindness was; please share in the comments.  i'll ETA mine later today.  hmmm...maybe i'll go through the starbucks drive-thru simply to purchase the next person's cup of coffee.

ETA: after my workout this morning, i stopped at xtreme juice for a shot of wheat grass and a smoothie.  got my stuff. walked out. and then back in...thinking it was the perfect place to pay it forward.  purchased the next person's smoothie and asked the girl to just tell the person that it was simply a random act of kindness.  :-))

together again

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i first met martha in march 2007, when we got the girls together for this photo shoot.  i think we had mentioned back then how ellie and sky kind of look alike.  well...really, they don't, but there's something about the two of them -- so similar.  maybe a bit hauntingly similar.  we both see it.  not sure if anyone else does, but we do.

and i couldn't believe when martha sent me some recent pics of ellie.  i paired one of them with a photo of sky and sent martha the diptych in an email...

left photo courtesy of martha | i see the moon photography.

we've been chatting the past few days -- dreaming of getting the girls together again.  we'll figure out a way to do so in 2011.  we're determined.

can you just see it?  see them TOGETHER in photos? i can! oh my!  we have big plans for the two of them...someday...one day -- soon!!

p.s. martha is one of the most passionate, emotional, creative, talented, kind, wonderful women i have ever met.  please take a minute (or two or three or...) to check out her incredible work.

hope through photographs

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last night, we finally got around to watching born into brothels (2004).

OMG!  amazing. sad. painful. disturbing. powerful. hopeful. incredible. inspiring. just a few words that come to mind, when i think about the movie.  seriously, i highly recommend to all.  and i just came across this update, as i longed to know what happened to the kids.

you can also see the kids, who were featured in the movie, and some of their incredible photographs here.  looks like the hope house was supposed to start construction late 2010. i wonder if they started building?

This will be a nurturing safe haven where up to 100 girls from Calcutta's red light district can come to live and develop the strength and skills to change their own circumstances while remaining connected to their families.

and now i seriously long to watch this documentary -- marwencol.

you can see mark hogancamp's photographs here.  and a list of theaters, where the movie will be showing in the coming months -- here.  i'm so hoping the movie eventually comes to tampa (or somewhere closer than four hours) or i guess i'll just have to wait till it comes on netflix.