Snapshot: May

// What I did //

It feels like May went by so fast, I blinked and it was gone. Aside from crossing run a 5k of my list of goals to complete by my next birthday, we made time to visit with our families, which is always a good thing. I spent a lot of time with this girl during this past month, and loved every minute of it.

// Goals accomplished //

Finally, I pulled some resources together and have officially added off camera flash to my equipment bag for receptions! Woo hoo! It was never an issue of being afraid to learn something new, but rather trying to prioritize equipment purchases, that held me back until now. And while I love the added dimensionality it gives to awesome dancing pictures, I'm still trying to adapt it to my style of shooting. This month, I learned that I really love to add motion to my dance floor photos, and combining that with off-camera flash is a work in progress. For now, I'm mixing my use of off-camera flash with my old ways of shooting, and might do a little posty-post later on just dance floor images, just for fun.

// What I read // 

With all my shows being off for the summer, reading is my new evening pastime (when I can take a break from wediting, that is). I think I made it through three books in May: Where'd You Go Bernadette?, and the latest young adult craze, Divergent and sequel, Insurgent. All three are relatively quick, fun, entertaining reads that would be perfect for days on the beach if you're looking for something to pick up and purely enjoy. 

// What I loved //

This tutorial on making double exposures with a digital camera. I played around with it a little, but am still working on the technique. Definitely planning to use it for some fun things though! 

// What I'm working on //

I wish there were a more interesting answer to this, but weddings, weddings, weddings. And loving every second of it.

// What I watched //

Everybody watched it, and I did too: the inspiring story of Zach Sobiach, the teenage song writer who recently passed away after fighting cancer. Yes there were tears. And then the celebrity tribute version of his song made me smile.

// Who I added //

I mentioned here that I'm trying out a semi-vegan way of life, so I went on the hunt for some yummy vegan things to make, and found The Simple Veganista. Oh my yumminess. It made me excited for trying new things and being creative in the kitchen while still eating really healthy!

// Favorite cat photo of the month // 

I guess we can't have guests over for dinner anymore, now that I've shared this photo. 

Adding to the family

NO, this is not a post about babies. At least not the human kind.

I might consider my cameras my babies...they get treated with special care and I know them the way I assume I might someday know my children. I've heard it said that children feel like an extension of your person, and I must agree that my cameras feel much the same way when I hold them. I love them about as much as you possibly can love an inanimate object.

Last weekend, I decided to rent a camera for the three events taking place between Friday and Sunday. Instead of picking up more of what I already know I love, I decided to try something new and completely totally different from the norm. There has been a lot of buzz in the photography world about the rangefinder-style cameras that Fuji makes, and after reading this review from Zack Arias about how much he loved the X-Pro1, I decided to give it a try.

And once I tried, I knew there was no giving it up. Sorry, LensProToGo, you can't have your camera back.

I placed an order for one of my own before I even returned the rented one. That's how much I loved this camera. Too bad human children don't work the same way, with try-before-you-buy and when you find a model you like you just place an order. Who wants to get on that? Until it happens, I'm sticking to cameras.

One of the things that I really and truly love about this camera is that it is so simple. There aren't a thousand programmable buttons or fancy mechanics. It has exactly the controls you need to make a good picture, no extra complications. And it does take great pictures. Whatever special sauce they put in this thing is certainly a winner. It does amazing things in low light, for sure, on top of being much less heavy to carry and relatively unobtrusive compared to a DSLR. I'm using it with an 18mm F/2 lens, making it a perfect wide-angle, photojournalistic camera to contrast the portrait lenses I use on my D700. And, I think it goes with out saying, but the thing is so darn cute and retro, I can barely stand it (because I totally am the person who will buy something for form over function, but thankfully, this has both).

And since we're on the subject of children, it would be against my nature not to include a photo of my furry babies. Sometimes I think they just lay on the floor and have silent conversations...probably about the stupid things their parents told them they couldn't do.

DIY Diary // 05

A Mood Board for the Kitchen

Now that I'm not traveling every weekend, I'm dedicating my free time to getting our house the way I've always dreamed it could be. First order of business is the kitchen.

Even though we just purchased our little space back in January, we've actually been living here for almost 2 years. We rented before we owned and when the opportunity to buy came about, we decided it made sense for a lot of reasons. Even though I'm not under any illusions that we'll stay here forever (Ben and I would both like to explore living in other parts of the country), I still want to make our home a place that I love...because you never know, we might end up being here awhile, or at least until we can't live with sharing a single bathroom.

So the kitchen...before we moved in, everything was renovated, so we have the typical stainless steel appliances and granite countertops that developers assume everyone wants in their kitchen. Sadly, I'm not everyone. The color choice is not ideal and the room generally feels bland. But, the cost of renovating it again is not something we can afford to do right now (not to mention, I hate the idea of creating so much waste), so I have to find a way to make it work...and I think I finally have.

A few months ago, I came across this styled shoot and fell in love. Like deep in love. So much, in fact, it started to manifest itself in a lot of my design choices. And one day, while I was staring at the granite countertop that I almost despise, it came to me. I could use those colors in our kitchen. It would work...and maybe turn a room that I thought I would always have to deal with into a place that I could love.

We started last weekend by painting a wall (you cannot imagine my excitement over being able to paint...it's liberating to be able to have your own walls to douse in any and every color imaginable...this is the joy of being an adult). And it makes me like it better already. There's still a lot of work to do; I'm going to attempt to build some shelving so we have some more storage for various kitchen necessities. This may or may not go well, based on this past week's adventures, but hopefully I've passed my bout of bad luck with drywall and molly bolts, and maybe, just maybe, this project will move smoothly. I'll keep you posted on that one.

Here's a photo of what the kitchen looks like right now...and yes, my next project after the shelves will be to do something about the UFO hanging off the ceiling. It is another reason I need a dislike button.

In addition, I will take any and all advice on how to keep this from happening. And trust me, I've tried telling him to get off the table. The result is this look...

Sometimes we can't have everything we want, but when you can DIY, you might be able to work with the kitchen (or whichever room) you have to make it a place you'll love. Make a mood board inspired by a photograph or piece of art you heart...see where it takes you :0).

Photo sources here.

Snapshot | February

Thank god it's March. I'm requesting some serious sunshine. That's all I have to say about that.

// What I did //

TAXES. For almost the first half of the month. So many things changed last year, including my +1 and his job, that pulling everything together took much longer than ever before. New goal for this year: buy some software. I also did some fun things, like celebrating two major birthdays and a retirement, and I met with a bunch of AMAZING couples...which led to booking half of my weddings for this year. Hooray!

// Goals accomplished //

Met up with a super fun photographer for coffee and made an instant BFF. She is adorably funny, an avid traveler, and generally makes the world a happier place. One step towards my goal of making new friends :0)

// What I read // 

A lot of magazines. Oops. I think a trip to the library is in order.

// What I loved //

The mashups of hit pop songs with goats (here's a hilarious roundup). I've started singing the goat versions in the shower, much to my husband's chagrin.

// What I'm working on //

Still that pesky website...goal is to have it done by the end of March. And travelling...just got back from a fabulous journey to NYC this past weekend that may or may not have given me some inspiration for a styled shoot. Oh, boy. Next weekend, it's off to Atlanta and Nashville and I can't freaking wait.

// What I watched //

I'm ashamed to admit this...but I got sucked in and watched all three seasons of Downton Abbey in a period of less than a week (not saying how much less). OMG. 1// What took me so long to jump on board? It fits so perfectly with my love of everything Jane Austen and 2// Why do I have to wait until next January to see more? I'm in love with these people and have decided that everything sounds more classy with a british accent. And how amazing are all of the castles? I want one.

// Who I added //

A few months ago, I pinned a picture of a chair from IKEA that I saw on Design*Sponge and fell in love with. I then went out and bought the chair. And then a few weeks ago, Nubby Twiglet shared this link in her Link Love column (always full of inspiration). I loved what I read in that post and decided to look further into the archives...and then came across that picture of that chair that I had fallen in love with, which is when I knew, without a doubt, that Jess Lively was a kindred spirit. I love getting her "Wish I Knew" email newsletters - they are like golden tickets in email form once a week. But what's even better is her mission of helping small business owners do things with intention, which is a message that fills my heart with happiness.

// Best cat photo of the month // 

Linksy got himself stuck in our coat tree.

Happy Monday!

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Most of these photos were made by me. Here are links to the ones that are not // top left // bottom right //

My Furry Valentines

We spent months talking about whether or not we should add another (furry) member to our family. I was afraid that it would be too expensive, too much work, and not enough love. How wrong I was. Love can only be multiplied, not divided.

I can't imagine not having a family of four now. My boys - all three - are my favorite "people" in the whole world. They make me smile and laugh every day and I love sharing my life with my silly family/coworkers.

A long time ago, probably when I was a freshman in high school and just starting to crush on boys, my mom warned me against falling in love with anyone who didn't love cats. Whatever, mom, I know I thought, it's just high school. I brushed her off, thinking she was crazy and ridiculous...and then fell head over heals in love only a year later with someone who quite possibly loves cats more than I do and ultimately spending the rest of my life with him. I guess I lucked out. Seeing how he loves on our furry children (see exhibit A above) brings me so much joy and is one of my favorite things about my husband. I guess my mom might have known what she was talking about. Okay fine, I'll say it...you were right, Mom.

Happy Valentine's day to the three loves of my life...and let's keep having the family snuggles. I like them a lot :0).

Aslan's New Best Friend

For all my blog readers who don't like cats...I'm not going to apologize for this post, but I won't be offended if you choose to leave and come back another day. Or, on second thought, scroll all the way down to the post right below this one to see the cutest puppy of the year. You might see something along the way that changes your mind about my favorite furry animals because this post is filled to the brim with too much baby kitten cuteness ;0).

Ben and I have been talking about getting another cat for over a year...maybe more than two years. But it was always one of those things that we had to put off until after a wedding or a vacation or until our life settled down - and that my friends, I can assure you is a joke because our lives DO NOT EVER SLOW DOWN, but that's the way we like it. If we use that excuse for having real human children, we will be dead before we get around to it. Once we got back from our honeymoon, we decided if we were going to do it this was the time - to get a cat, not have a baby, sheesh, we just had that discussion. We contacted the rescue organization that gave us our first furry baby, Lucky Cat Rescue, about some older cats that were on their website, and went to meet a few to see if they would be a good match for Aslan. My mom adopted an older cat after I went off to college, and, after falling in love with him, it seemed like a great idea for us because we wouldn't have to try to conquer a kitten again (Aslan was such a terror - he would bite our heads in the middle of the night while we slept and even burrowing beneath the covers did not deter him from his mission to destroy us while we were unaware and unsuspecting of his master plan to rule the world), and because older cats tend to stay in rescues and shelters longer because so many families want kittens. Even though there were some very sweet cats that were so deserving of a family and a home, in the end we were won over by a kitten who turned out to be the perfect blend of saucy and snuggly that we were hoping for.

As circumspect decision makers (it ultimately took us three weeks to choose the cat that would be ours, which could be the effect of having to make too many major life choices this year and is a topic for another day soon), we still hadn't decided on a name by the end of the first week of the new kitten coming to our home. He was known as Little Kitty for several days while we debated names like Lego, Kodak, Kazoo, and Feeny. After five days of trying to decide who he would be, I threatened to name him Bieber if a consensus couldn't be reached by the end of the weekend. That thankfully spurred Ben to action and we finally landed on Link (aka Linksy) and hopefully it will stick. I guess we kind of screwed ourselves over by picking the best name ever for our first cat...how were we ever supposed to compete with Aslan??

It took a few days, but Aslan finally seems happy to have a playmate...and even if he is still a little stuck up about sharing his home kingdom, the pictures tell a different story.

The tail game is a current fav.

For a tiny kitten, he is very talkative and LOUD. It's no wonder so much noise comes out of this big mouth. We might have a tiger in the making, and then we really will be the proud owners of our very own savannah.

Link is supposedly the runt of his litter...you can really see how small he is when you see him next to a person (in this case, Ben - even though I hate to shave at this time of the year, there's no way my legs would be that hairy).

Because he'll aways be my favorite, I had to toss in a few of Aslan too...he's so handsome I didn't think anyone would mind.

In the spirit of the holidays, a Santa hat made it's way home with Link, and we couldn't resist traumatizing him just a little for a gratuitous holiday photo op!

He returned the favor by helping us decorate the Christmas tree...and rolling in all of the paper cushioning that came out of storage with the ornaments.

If you or someone you know is thinking about adopting a cat or kitten for the holidays, please check out Lucky Cat (and see some of my photographs on their website! - had to make those kitties look extra cute so that they can find their forever homes!). New cats and kittens are added several times a week and they would love to meet you and woo you to take them back to your house for a life of love and happiness.

More of Aslan and Link and life to come...