New attitude!

So my friend Becky Jean has been here for the last week. Let me tell you she just fits right in and jumps in and gets her hands dirty. We absolutely love having her here. Probably one of the busiest weeks of my life. Between my job with Steiner taking four family portraits and the craziness of childrens schedules--I really feel like I need a break this week. So today I worked from 9:30 to 6:00. Not really a break. It was also Becky's birthday on Sunday and we had a little get together--because my friends here in Indiana already love her!

So my goal this week is to exercise every day. I know I can do it. I got up this morning and ran three miles. Once I start doing it I know that I can keep it up. It is just the initial getting going! I have to admit though that I am not really a runner and will have to start from scratch. My friend Becky is a runner (if you didn't know) so she is my inspiration. (I want to be able to call myself a runner too).


I loved taking pictures of Lisa and her family! I know them so I was so relaxed and able to really try to capture who they were!

I also took pictures of this cute family in my ward and got some great shots!

Sorry that is an overload of pictures but I loved them all so much that I could have posted a lot more. It has become such a part of me that it is hard to even talk about my life now without showing pictures. It captures a little part of what my days are like. I also get to spend so much time with such wonderful people. It is a lot of fun for me! This week I am getting out and taking pictures of my own kids. I have two families set up for this week so I just hope the creativity will still be there!

I feel lost!

I got up this morning and I am feeling a little lost. I just cannot seem to get on top of things. I always feel like I am running around trying to catch up. I feel like I am one step behind the pack. I try really hard to get a grip and then something like taking pictures comes up and it throws me all off. I get so engrossed in taking and processing pictures that I get behind at everything else. I wish I could have some balance.

I have taken the diet coke out of my house and that seems to help a lot. I have only had a couple this week. Feeling lost does not help the weight loss cause because then you want to eat to feed the lost. A vicious cycle. I am very excited because I am getting to build quite the portfolio with all the people that I get to take pictures of.

Sometimes people are too pretty. That is definitely this family. Just cute!

So this week I am going to slow down and try to get centered. I am going to take some time just to watch television. I think everyone needs a little television time. My kids are so cute right now. That I want to enjoy them a little more. Especially since this Halloween my little one is going as a pretty, pretty princess. Fun for a girl but we will see what looks we get when they realize he is a boy. We tried dinosaur, monster and a jedi but nothing. He wants to wear a dress.

Just a side note. I love this couch!

My progress!

Okay so today I went for a jog. I only had one diet coke. I figured I was drinking about four a day! Can you believe that. My head has hurt so much when I went cold turkey that I thought I would cuss. I am so addicted! So I am going to go even slower. So pathetic! I am thinking about exercising maybe another time this week. No pressure for myself--just thinking. Baby steps! You can't change all in one day.

This weekend I took pictures of the funnest people. I have said before that I love taking pictures of teenagers. This time it was boys so it had to be a little different look. Let me tell you that I am definitely not cool any longer. I tried to be funny but I don't think they thought it was so funny. But really I am funny--who wouldn't think that I wasn't funny?

Both the boys were really musical so I tried to throw in their instruments everywhere I could. Everyone was very photogenic so that really helps.

I love when the lighting is just right and the family is so willing to try different things. I wonder what goes through their mind when I ask them to meet me in a stinky alleyway behind downtown and I want them to sit on my vintage couch. Everyone seems really willing to try just about anything.

This week I miss my friends I spent last weekend with. I wish we all lived closer! That is such not life though. Some of my favorite people I hardly ever get to see. Very hard!

FYI I am putting more of this family on my photography blog just in case anyone wants to go over and take a peek!

A New Day!!

I am out and about taking pictures like a mad woman. I have so many ideas and so many things going through my head!

Since my husband is becoming an iron man I am not feeling so good about myself. I always thought well I have a hobby so I don't need to take care of myself. Well as I watch his transformation. (He is asking me to feel his biceps all the time) I have decided it is time for a change. I have also decided I cannot change all at once or I go into a panic and eat more than should be legally allowed. So I am going to start slow. I am not going to eat after 7:00 p.m. Going to try really hard only to drink diet coke once a week. Small changes. You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.

I will keep you all posted with what I am going to do for my next bite. Any suggestions would be helpful--so don't be shy and tell me like it is.

What fun I had!!

I spent this weekend with my oldest and dearest friends from highschool. Christy and I have been friends since the fifth grade. So over 20 years. I cannot believe it. We had so much to catch up and so much to talk about. Some of us have not seen each other in over two years. This is what I felt like most of the time. So much laughter it hurt.

When I am with these girls I feel like I am home. My friend Amy's hands are so familiar. When you touch them memories come flooding back and her smile lights up the entire room. She is the coolest mom and no one can make me laugh like she can.

Christy has beautiful optimism that makes you want to try harder to be a better person. She is so willing to try new things (except for a pony tail with a double headband). I love the person she is and how she has so much inner strength.

My life with Shelley has had so much laughter and so many tears. I have felt so much for her that sometimes I have crossed the line. I love you Shelley more than you will ever know.

Thank you girls for a terrific weekend and thank you for letting me take your pictures. That makes my day. I am grateful for our friendship and will try harder to pick up the phone and make a connection.