{TEN} on Thursday

Happy Thursday! Is anyone else ready for this HOT HOT HOT week to be over?!? I was already counting down the days to Fall, but now I'm really ready. Barrett wants to be outside, but he doesn't understand it's just not an option! I miss our playdates on the back patio and walks to the park. Those things are really not an option these days, even in the evenings...it just doesn't cool down! So, we've been building a lot of block towers, creating a lot of play-dough "food," and coming up with our own little craft projects...all in the comfort of our AC. Poor Daddy has to work out in it every day. We feel a little guilty when he comes home for lunch and we're chillin' (literally) at home in the AC.

{1} 2009 Blog Book

It's HERE!! It came last Friday, while we were away on vacation. It feels so great to have it done, and I have already curled up on the couch a couple times to read through it.  I am lucky I got to take advantage of the discount though. After I posted about it, and then finished my book a day before the deadline, I FORGOT all about sending it to print!! Oh my gosh! I felt like such a dork, but I  knew I was going to order it anyway, so I loaded it to the system, and sent  it to print. I think it was the 1st or 2nd of August, and turned out the discount code still worked! Whew!!This book was 285 pages.

{slurped and printed using BLURB}

{2} Girls Weekend
I am sooo ready for a weekend in Manhattan with my girls! We don't have much planned (pedicures, shopping, dining out, and the movie Eat, Pray, Love), but it will be a blast! I will miss my little man terribly, but I'm looking forward to a kid-free weekend AND work-free. Watch out Manhattan!!

{3} Family pictures
I am sooo over the moon excited about our family pictures this year! The stars aligned, and plans for them just fell into place! I started thinking about them about a month ago, as I was planning my Fall Mini Sessions for clients. I knew we would need pictures too! My sister-in-law did a fabulous job last year, and I love those pictures, but something inside me was longing for the whole "experience." Nothing makes my day like getting a call or email from a client, saying they just viewed their online gallery and it brought tears to their eyes. I LOVE that I can give that experience to them...and I want it too. I talked to my good friend Bethany, about what I should do. Her advice: Definitely have another photographer do them for you, so you can focus on being a mommy and a wife, and not the photographer. She was so right, and I got right to work thinking about who I wanted to do them. Plus, during the Fall, I'm so busy taking and editing for clients, I didn't want to have to worry about editing our own family pictures...and the possibility that they would go to the back burner and not get done. 

I started browsing the web for photographers in the area. I came across a website I'd been on a few months earlier. A husband and wife team out of Arkansas City. They had done an engagement session and wedding for one of my wedding invite clients.  I'd peeked at the website before, because I loved the photo the clients sent me to use on their wedding programs! At that time, I had no idea where the photographers were even from, as I'd never heard of them. So, enter FACEBOOK! (FB has been so good to me and my business) While wasting time on FB one day, I noticed another friend of my had been "tagged" in a wedding photo by ON THE WALL PHOTOGRAPHY. So, I immediately went to their "fan page" and "liked" them. Next thing I knew, I had a personal message back from Alisha, one of the photographers. It made my day! She thanked me for joining their page, and commented on how much she loved my work too! 

We emailed back and forth for the rest of the day, and before I knew it, I'd found our photographer!! We hit it off (via email) right away, and both agreed to a photography trade! They will do our family pictures in October, and I will do pictures of her and her hubby, Dac in the Spring! See....I am over the moon excited!! It is just so refreshing to be meeting all of these other photographers that are so kind and encouraging.  I invited her and Dac to join the {photog group} that Skyler and I are planning to start soon. I can't wait to officially meet her, and I can't wait for our pics!

{4} What to wear?

So, now that our family pictures are on the calendar, I have to start thinking about wardrobe...dun, dun, dunnnn! You know that thing my clients ask about all the time! I usually just do one outfit/color scheme, but since we're having a REAL session this year, I might try to do two outfits. Justin will die when he reads that :)  Although, he promised me that he will fully cooperate for these pictures.  I did buy him a new knife last night to seal the deal.

I'm thinking maybe some urban pics in downtown Winfield or Ark City with a deep turquoise & deep red wardrobe, but I haven't actually purchased anything yet. Just browsed the internet for some ideas. Here is my {urban} idea board ---->

For location #2...I'm thinking some nature pics, possibly at the place where I'll have my Fall Mini Sessions...Badger Creek Lodge. And a yellow & gray wardrobe. Here is my {nature} idea board ---->

As you can see, I have a lot of planning to do. BUT I'm having fun with it!! I also have obviously found too many cute shoes for ME! Oh, and did I mention I'd like to loose a good 20 pounds before this happens?!?  Guess you'll find out in October what we end up doing :)

{5} Garage Sale

Trying to decided if I'll have my annual late August/early September garage sale???? It's always a good way to get rid of some clutter, and make a little $$ for our Bluegrass vacation. Now that I write that, I realize I need to check my session schedule. That might answer the question, and make the decision for me!

{6} Swim date tomorrow

Barrett and I are excited for our swim date tomorrow afternoon with Lydia and Norah Kate (and their mommies). We're venturing to the public pool with all the kids for the first (and last) time this summer. 

{7} Bluegrass countdown

Speaking of Bluegrass. It's just around the corner, and you can bet I'm on the countdown!! Finally purchased our tickets yesterday.  I'm waiting for the email from our "Camp Dad" that will go something like THIS.

{8} Big Brother

Anyone else watching this crazy reality show? We happily waste three hours a week on it. My favorite  house-guest is Lane. He seems to be the most normal, and just a good 'ol boy.  He reminds me a lot of my cousin Hannah's hubby, Jake.

My least favorite...if you watch at all, this is a no-brainer.

BIG chance she goes home tonight.

{9} Fall Mini Sessions

I am really looking forward to my 2nd Mini Session event. This time, it will be Saturday AND Sunday, so I was able to take many more sessions! Thanks to one of my photographer friends (Sky), I scored an awesome location. His parent's home and huge property, called Badger Creek Lodge. It is so beautiful, and will give me a ton of setting options.  I posted a few pictures of the location on my photoblog when I advertised my Mini Sessions, and everyone got really excited about the place! It will be perfect! 

Check it out ---->

I am currently seeking a maid and nanny for the three weeks following the Minis though! I have 27 sessions booked in 1-1/2 days! That is uber exciting, but it also means a LOT of work for me editing :) I'm happy to take it on though. Late-night editing is what I do.

(10} Updated the blogs I follow

The sidebars of my blog were a little outdated. Lots of blogs I no longer checked, and some missing links. I JUST updated the link for MckMama's new blog and realized she already had her baby!! Hello! Last time I read, she was only a few month pregnant! I also have some friends that are just starting blogs. 

I've added some of my favorites inspiration blogs to the list. If you've never read Ashley Ann's blog {Under the Sycamore}, you are in for a treat! This is one of my favorite blogs. Although I get sick to my stomach every time I read it (not really), because she amazes me with her talent and creativity! She is a real superwoman, and seeing her posts leaves me in awe, and feeling like a total slacker!! I am most amazed at her ability to capture her life as it happens...the everyday details. She's also really good about making sure SHE is in a lot of her pictures with her kids. I guess I'm just a bit jealous of her awesomeness. She lives around the Tulsa, OK area. My friend Amber told me about her blog a long time ago, but it's only been in the last few months I re-discovered it. Before I "knew" Ashley...yeah, I pretend we're friends...Amber and I bumped into her at Gap Kids in the Tulsa Mall! Amber followed her blog then (it was during our January girls trip), so she introduced herself. 

Okay....back to work I go while Barrett is still napping :)
Happy Thursday!