Hot as Hades

I know that I complained about the weather around here being so cold late into the spring... well, this isn't a complaint... just an observation (because I actually like the warm weather).... but it is HOT HOT HOT around here!! 90+ everyday for the last 4 days. I've been handling it pretty well, but poor Maggie is starting the melt. We've been eating lots of popsicles, playing in the kiddie pool, and wearing nothing but a bikini, but the poor girl is hot. She woke up from her nap in just a hot sweat... hair matted to her little forehead. Poor little thing!

Hopefully it will get a little more normal and comfortable around here soon.

In other news... I've talked about how we were planning on going to Hawaii... well... we changed our minds and decided that Maggie might have more fun in Walt Disney World!!! I'm really excited. I'm not a Disney freak (my bathroom isn't all Disney or anything), but I really do love going to the parks and enjoying all the entertainment. It's just a happy place and a happy time. Jason never got the magic until after we got married; but now he is just as excited as I am!

We're going to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (where we've stayed previously) for 5 days and then we'll be staying that the Yacht Club for another 5 days. We planned everything so we'll be there for my 30th birthday, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (which should be a hit with all of us!!) and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. You all should expect a TON of pictures and stories from our adventure.

So that has summed up essentially what has been going on around here. I've been out shooting quite a bit and shot two weddings and an engagement session this weekend. Summer is ramping up... and we're getting busier everyday!

Awesome Shoot with Rachel & Eric

You may remember Rachel and Eric from their wedding back in April.
Well, on Saturday I had an incredible shoot with the two of them. Rachel is simply put, gorgeous... but we already knew that from the wedding pictures right? But the beautiful mama in her is coming out! And it provided me an incredible opportunity to try out some brand new techniques. And I have to say that the result is AMAZING!

Rachel & Eric - Thank you thank you thank you. That's all I can say! I can't wait for your little baby boy to make his appearance!

The Winners!

Thank you again to everyone who entered the contests over the last two weeks. I wish I could pick each and every name because it was just a surge of creativity!! It was so much fun choosing though.

Winners for the Whimsical Children's Package Contest (prizes are a $20 Gas Card for each entry) are... drumroll...

Package 1 - Little Whimsy (Ashley)
Package 2 - Whirly Moments (Jennifer)
Package 3 - Day Dreaming (Emily)
Package 4 - Whimsical Hearts (Heidi)
Package 5 - Whimsical Milestones (Jennifer)

And as an added bonus... I was only looking for 5 names, but couldn't resist using 2 more for both my High School Seniors Package and my Newborn Baby Plan. Each of these entries will receive a $10 gas card!

High School Seniors - Funky Whim (Kelly)
Newborn Baby Plan - Whimsical Wee Ones (Heidi)

Again, thank you to all who participated!
Winners, please e-mail me directly with your full name and mailing address where I can send your prize!

Thank you for your entries!

Thank you all who entered the blog contest. Can I just say that you guys gave me some just INCREDIBLE entires?? I'm going to have such a difficult time choosing just 5!!
I will announce winners on Monday morning at 8am, so be prepared.

Other than that, I had just the most awesome maternity session this morning! I cannot wait to share pictures because I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Stay tuned later this week...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Whimsical Children Package Name Contest

New contest starts today so get on your creative thinking caps.
There are 5 different children's packages to choose from. There is one print package and (4) 100% digital packages to choose from. Same rules as last week, each name you suggest counts as an entry into the contest. The more names, the more entries. I select the winners and they receive a $20.00 gas card for every winning entry they place.

Names should be fun and 'whimsical.'

Contest ends this Friday at 5:00pm PST. So come back everyday to place a new entry. If you are announced as a winner at the end, please e-mail me your full name and address! Good luck!

New Package Names!

Congratulations to Keri, Heather, Jen and Shey who all win $15.00 gift cards to Starbucks for their entries into the blog contest last week. I've selected 4 new package names.... drumroll please....

Package 1 - Capricious Whim
Package 2 - Whimsical Love
Package 3 - True Whimsy
Package 4 - Wonderfully Whimsical

Check back tomorrow! New contest starts in the morning!

Thanks Everyone!!

Thank you to everyone who entered into the Whimsical Wedding Name Contest!! Winners will be announced Monday... 8:00am PST, so stay tuned.

Get your creative caps on because next Tuesday is the start of the Whimsical Children Package Name Contest!!
There are 5 different children's collections... so more names.... more prizes! Each name chosen will receive a $20.00 GAS CARD.... and seriously, who can't use free gas these days?

New Names - BLOG CONTEST!!!

Ok... my first blog contest is about to begin.... ready... set... go!!!

I am restructuring all my wedding packages and I'm in need of some creative names for these packages. So far, nothing interesting has come to me, so I thought I'd reach out to my clients, family, friends and other photographers for some interesting and fun names. All in all, I need four different names and they all need to revolve around the word Whimsical. Points go to names that are a play on words, funny, or intensely creative.

There are 4 different wedding packages increasing in price.... so get creative. Each name is considered an entry, so enter often because more than one entry is allowed.

Now for the prizes.... Winners (selected by me of course) will receive a $15.00 Starbucks card... not a bad deal!!

Leave your entry in the comments below. Entries will be accepted until Friday at noon PST!

Stay tuned and get creative... because next week will be my Children/Family packages!!

Tina & Brian

So I mentioned that I had two engagement sessions on Saturday. After meeting up with Heidi and Matt, I went off to meet up with Tina & Brian. Tina is this totally outgoing, vivacious and beautiful woman and Brian is this laid back, funny, quiet kind of guy. They compliment each other better than I've seen in such a long time! And they are so into one another.... I just LOVE watching love blossom... which could be one of the reasons I love my job so much. These two just match each other so perfectly!!

Here is a just a sneak peak at some of their awesome-ness!



I don't usually give my opinion on photos... but this one is my favorite... I just LOVE it!!

One Little Preview

I had two engagement sessions yesterday! Here is just a little taste of the first one....
Heidi and Matt - Two absolutely fun people! There was more laughing than pictures yesterday!

Rain, rain, go away! Don't come back another day!

I am sick sick sick sick of this weather!!
Cold. Windy. Rainy and just plain YUCK!

In the last 2 weeks I've had 5 brides reschedule their engagement sessions because of the nasty weather and I'm just sick of it. And I'm bored of being cooped up in the house not working. Can we please get at least a LITTLE bit of spring?!? And now, we're closing in on summer... and it's still not even breaking 60 degrees around here. Blah.

And the 7-day forecast?
Saturday - Rain
Sunday - Rain
Monday - You guessed it... Rain
Tuesday - Cloudy
Wednesday - Nope, back to Rain
Thursday - Downpour

Yuck.

Just a quick one...

Maggie loves berries...


And swings...


And that is what life consists of around here right now!
Busy working on a few big projects... but that will be revealed soon!

The Dark Side

I've officially made the change over to the Dark Side.

No no no no... I didn't move to Canon (fools!!); I love my Nikons way too much for that silly switch. But I did make the switch from PC to a MacBook Pro!!! I'm officially part of the Apple revolution, but don't expect me to give up my precious Windows... oh no no no. I will just be a dual user. It sounds too evil doesn't it?

Funny story as to how I ended up with this super computer...

My dad. Oh my dad is a funny man. And I bet every woman out there can relate to this story.

I hate it when I'm talking to my husband and he's distracted by the computer. It's just a bunch of 'Uh-huh' without him REALLY paying attention. Well, my dad is JUST as guilty! I can always tell when he's distracted, because he cuts me off in mid-conversation and says "That sounds great. Thanks so much for calling. Bye!"

And then he just hangs up.

Well, he got caught last week!

His boss out shopping and buying a new Mac for his daughter. He was impressed with all the pricing and called my dad to ask if he wanted a new Mac. Well, my dad, for those of you who don't know, works in IT and has about 3 computers working at all times; at home, at work, and on vacation... well on vacation he takes it down to only one; so needing a Mac wasn't completely out of the question. Anyway, Dad wasn't exactly paying attention and replied "Uh-huh, sounds great. Thanks for calling. Bye!"

Later than afternoon a brand new MacBook Pro showed up on his desk.

Then he had to tell my mom.

Suffice to say she wasn't too pleased with his new purchase... nor my father who wasn't listening when he agreed to buy a very expensive little machine.

So I ended up with a brand new MacBook Pro.

I guess there are worse things in life... right?