{TEN} on Tuesday

{1} Happy Birthday to ME!
My birthday's not til the end of the month...but I like to celebrate ALL month long! I have a lot of things on my wish list.
I probably won't get any of them :) but it's fun to dream!


::Apple iPad::

For one, it would just be fun to have! Barrett could play games on it and read books. It would also be an awesome thing to take along on my client meetings. Especially when I'm helping them with orders, and they could see their images right there!

::Need to Breathe CD::

I obviously love this group, and I'd really love to get their newest CD 'The Outsiders' ...Nuf said!

 ::Northface Jacket::

I've been wanting one of these for a long time, but I can't ever decide which style and color I want. So I've just never bought one. Maybe this year??? I am really liking this graphite color.

::Canon EOS 5D Mark II::

I just upgraded my camera last December, and it's totally great for what I do. BUT my business is definitely taking off, so I might be upgrading again before long! This camera would be a couple steps up from what I currently have (The 50D). The Mark II is a full-frame camera, and I would really love that!

Okay...enough birthday dreaming!
That almost could have been a {ten} on Tuesday post all on it's own!

{2} Modern Family

Anyone else watch Modern Family?!?! We LOVE this show!!

It's the highlight of my Wednesday :)

{3} KSU Game
We went to Manhattan over Halloween weekend for the KSU/OSU game. The Cats didn't get a win, but it was still fun. The game was early, so we had plenty of time to rest up at Christie's house after. Then we headed to dinner at Little Apple Brewery and out to Aggieville. It was Halloween in Aggieville, so there was entertainment everywhere! I sooo wish I had a point-and-shoot camera! There were some hilarious costumes, but nobody had a camera on them! Maybe I should add that to my birthday list too!

We celebrated Audra's 31st birthday in Aggieville....
Just as we'd done 10 years before.

Well, actually, I didn't turn 21 for another month.
So, I guess Audra and Christie might have been the only ones celebrating in Aggieville.

{4} New bedding for Barrett

The time is coming...we will be turning Barrett's room into a "big boy" room before long. That means bye-bye crib and hello big boy bed. We could have done it a long time ago, but the truth is, Barrett is my rock-start sleeper. So I've been hesitant to do anything that will mess that up.  He doesn't  climb out of his crib, he sleeps 12+ hours at night, and takes 3-4 hour naps during the day. AND, I kinda like hearing him call out "Mom, me ready get up now" every morning. I'm sure he'll do just fine though.

I'm having a hard time finding bedding. I'm a little picky. Who would have thought :) His walls are greens and browns, so it would be nice to find something that require no re-painting. I don't really want any characters, and I'd like something that will grow with him for awhile.

I just saw this in my newest Pottery Barn Kids catalog, and I really like it. 

The quilted bedding is browns and greens, and would easily grown with him for several years.

The dino print on the wall is $179!!!

I think I can create one of those myself!

This gets me excited to work on his room! Maybe after the holidays, it can be our 3rd birthday project!

{5} GAP Casting Call

A couple weeks ago I entered Barrett in the GAP Casting call for kids. They had a million + entries!
I cropped this image down and sent it in. Gap clothing wasn't a requirement, but he was wearing Gap jeans here...and I thought it showed personality!

GO HERE to vote for Barrett as a "fan favorite"

{6} Christmas Cards
I am soooo excited for my business rush to slow down after this month! I take off the month of December to catch up on my edits, update my website and blog, get tax stuff ready, and spend more time with my family. I will also get a chance to work on OUR family Christmas cards! I've got the design started, and I love it! I'll have {peeks} to share once they're done and mailed out! Hoping to get them out in early December!


{7} Trew Luv

Just ordered these two adorable headbands from the Trew Luv Etsy shop. I can't wait to try them on some clients! They are on elastic bands, and fit newborn up to adult!

{8} Consigment Sale
Our October Girl's Night was a trip to Wichita. We (Audra, Roiann, Kelsey & I) went to dinner and then to a big consignment sale. Megan didn't make the trip, since she was due any day with Callum! I was excited, as always, to find lots of great goodies for Barrett, and have a night with my girls!

Here is some of the stuff I came home with! Lots of long-sleeve shirts, pj's, shoes, jackets, and undies. I wanted jeans for him, but struck out. Hoping to find some of those next month, when we hit up another sale!

I was pretty excited about the shoes. They were both in great shape! The Gymboree ones are a little small, but I couldn't pass them up for $3.00. I'll put them up, and use them if we have another boy. The Merrill shoes were exciting too! I knew Justin would love them, since he has a pair too! It will be a few years before Barrett fits into them, but they were a steal!

{9} Before & Afters
These were popular last time, so I thought I'd share a few more. It was FUN to get emails from complete strangers that read my blog and enjoyed me sharing these. I was happy to send them my tips and recipes :) I wish more would come out of the woodwork and comment, so I know they're out there reading. BUT I understand. There are a TON of blogs I read, and never comment on.

{Obviously removed the drool, and then ran my usual recipe}

{Chesney is beautiful, so her edits were easy-peasy! Just tamed a few flyaway hairs in this one, brightened her eyes, and warmed it up}

{love the colors in this image...got rid of some hair laying funny on her arm, and a bit of her dress strap sticking out under her arm. MY bad for not catching that in the moment.}

{Didn't want Mister Hayes to fall, so Mama was right there, then I made her disappear!}

{Another one of Chloe, in another hat. Cropped and tried to even out the shadows on her face}

{10} Matt Maher
I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it! Looking for a couple new songs to use with my Mini Session galleries, I came across it again. It was perfect!

Matt Maher::Hold us Together

Happy Tuesday!!!

{TEN} on Tuesday

{1} A couple weeks ago I signed up for a free webinar with an awesome photographer out of Colorado, Sandy Puc'. She does tons of workshop tours every year, and I'd love to make it to one if the future. This was a live "Bellies & Babies" webinar, and it was free, so I didn't want to miss it! I made sure Justin was home from golfing, so we could get Barrett to bed, and I'd be ready when it started at 8pm. I got my viewing spot all set up, signed in, and off it went. Then about 10 minutes into it, they had to cancel and reschedule. Sandy was having some major connection issues, since she was in a hotel parking lot somewhere on one of her tours. So, I'll do it all over again soon, and hope it goes better this time.

{2} Saw this idea in one of my parenting magazines. I think it might have been Family Fun. I knew right away I wanted to do it. Seems like I'm always wishing I had scissors with me, to cut down straws for Barrett while we're out at restaurants. This solves that problem. They're already cut down, and they're bendy straws :) I did this right before our trip to Nebraska, and it got a lot of use!

* Toothbrush holder, from the toiletry travel section at Walmart
* Package of bendy straws, cut down (if you'd like)
* Stick it in your purse, and you're ready anytime you need a kiddie-sized straw at dinner!

(I guess I have a *thing* for green!)

{3} We had a do-it-yourself "curb appeal" project a couple weekends ago. Our flower beds got some much needed attention, and we touched up that darn chipping paint all over the house! It feels great to have things looking good for Spring! Since getting everything spruced up, I want to be outside ALL THE TIME! Barrett and I spend a lot of time on the back patio, and Justin's grilled out four or five times in the last week. We've also been taking advantage of the cool Spring weather, and eating outside.

A {peek} at what we did...

I'm hopeful I might get a few things for Mother's Day to add the finishing touches to my outdoor spaces.
Then I will get around to the before and after "curb appeal" post.

{4} One of the new recipes we tried out the other night on the grill....

::BBQ CHICKEN PACKET::
1 small boneless skinless chicken breast half (1/4 lb.)
1 or 2 green pepper rings
1-3 red onion rings
1 Tbsp. BBQ sauce

(this is for one serving...adjust to make as many as you need)

Heat grill to med. heat. Place chicken in center of large sheet of heavy-duty foil; top with remaining ingredients. Bring up foil sides. Double-fold top and ends to seal packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Grill 15 min. or until chicken is done (165 degrees). Cut slits in foil to release steam before opening packet.

 

*I got this recipe from an old Kraft Food & Family magazine. They used pineapple instead of red onion. Didn't sound good to me, so I switched it up :) BUT, you might like the pineapple & bbq combo!

{5} I had a 9-month/family session with some awesome clients on Sunday evening. They are awesome because they're very loyal...I've worked with them for all of their childrens' milestones (3 months, 6 months, 9 months, family holiday pictures and cards, etc.). They are from Ark City, and I was super excited when they mentioned they wanted to do an urban session in downtown Ark City. I'm not too familiar with the downtown area there (this town is about 10 miles South of me, and where my hubby works most of the time). Anyway, they have some INCREDIBLE alley's and urban textures. I was in love!!

I'm still working on their session, but here are a couple to show the cool new "spots" I've found!

{6} It's BAAACK!!!!!

Friday Night Lights starts a new season on Friday!!  It's about time. I've been waiting patiently!

{7} I think I need to join Sweepers Anonymous. Is there such a thing? I've swept the back porch and carport at least 10 times in the last week. It's always been an obsession (with all the stinkin' leave we get falling down year-round), but now that we're spending so much time out there, it's worse! Barrett plays, and I sweep! If I had a nickle for every leaf I've swept up...

{8} Garage Sale??

I've been boxing and bagging stuff for the last few months, thinking I would have a garage sale sometime in May. Well, I just looked at the calendar yesterday, and realized that THIS weekend is the free weekend we have this month! Between photo sessions, family reunions and Memorial Day holiday, it will be June before I know it. So, if I'm gonna have a sale before June (when the summer activities and vacations start), I have to do. it. now.

We'll see what I decide!

{9} One of my favorite Spring events: Going to the HUGE consignment sale in Wichita with Megan and Audra. It's a Fall and Spring tradition. I love it because we make an evening of it. Go out to dinner (this time was On the Border), hit the sale for a few hours, DQ on the way home :)

This time, I made it home with LOTS of great stuff for Barrett! Several 3T pants and shirts for next year, shorts and shirts for this summer, shoes, swim trunks, jammies, toys, and even a cute little pair of Mary Janes for my cousin's baby, Lainey! As always, everything was Old Navy, Children's Place, Gap, Carters, and in great condition.

{10} Remember Favorite things of 2010: Part One??

There was also a {favorite things: fall edition}

Well, start thinking! Get your pictures and list ready!
Favorite things for Spring...coming soon!

Chair: $1.00

Who doesn't love a garage sale?!?! Okay, maybe quite a few of you don't...but I have always gotten a little giddy at the prospect of finding that {perfect} treasure. Something someone else thinks is no longer useful, or possibly even "trash." Don't get me wrong, I also LOVE to find things at garage sales with store tags still on them! It happens pretty often, actually. Since my love of photography has grown, I get even more excited for garage sales. They are the perfect place to find awesome props!

Around lunch today, I noticed lots of action (as in cars parking everywhere in front of my house) in the driveway across the street. A garage sale was in full-swing. After I put Barrett down for a nap, I decided to stroll over for a quick look around. I almost didn't go, since the only cash in my wallet was a single one.dollar.bill. I was afraid I would find something, and have to ask to come back to pay and get it later. Embarrassing!

So, it was fate, when I saw this lonely 'ol chair just waiting for ME to claim it, and take it home!! Oh yes, my husband will be so excited. I can already hear his first question..."where in the heck are you going to keep that"? I don't know, but I had to have it!!


I have been looking for a little wooden chair at garage sales all summer (although I've only been to a few this year), one that I could paint and distress. Well...this one is already distressed for me! Okay, who wants to step up and be my first victim...ehem, I mean model, in this chair?!? I have big plans for him...the chair! You'll have to keep an eye out on my {photo blog} for more of this handsome fella!

RaNdoM...and long

* So, Friday was pretty much one of the worst days of my life since the first trimester of my pregnancy with Barrett. I was swamped with trying to finish up invite orders before our vacation, and noticed my printer was starting to put a thin black line on all my print-outs. This is a major problem when people are paying you to print their wedding invites, programs, menus, etc. After two hours on the phone with Dell, and running all kinds of tests on my printer. They determined I needed a replacement part for the drum. Sounds simple, right? NO...not simple, because my warranty was up. I'd purchased the HUGE printer in late 2006. In order to get the part, I'd have to extend my warranty so that a tech could come out and replace the part. Apparently the cost of doing that would have been over $250, so they told me "it would be best to just buy a new printer, since mine was so old anyway." WHAT!?! Since when is 2-1/2 years old? $590.00 later, I'm the proud owner of a new printer. NOT what I had in mind for all the profits I've made the last couple months.

After that nightmare, I called my mom and Justin to vent. Then I decided I was going to have to just keep printing and hope the line would fade. I had a program and menu order that needed to be shipped out to New Jersey by Saturday morning, for a Friday wedding. I finished up all of the programs and things were going okay, until the printer quit! With 50 menus left to print, it was telling me that the drum needed replaced. Thankfully my dad has a very similar color laser at his office, so I met him there at 10 p.m. to finish up the last few. Things kept going downhill though. His printer didn't want to suck up my paper, and when it finally did, it was turning everything yellow!

Thankfully I did get them finished and in the mail to NJ Saturday morning. Now I'm hoping my printer comes today, so I can finish up the order I have waiting. I'm going to have an ulcer!!

* I just watched the last episode of 16 & Pregnant, and I was balling my eyes out! The teenage couple was giving the baby up for adoption. It was heart-wrenching. By the time it was over, I had a headache from crying so much!!

* Are you one of those people that has to have the house clean, the beds all made, the dishes all washed, and the floors vacuumed, before you leave town for vacation? I am...and it's not helping with my already high stress levels! {Justin always asks if I'm cleaning for the burglars} At least I went to 6am spinning today, so that helped get me kick-started and motivated for the day. Now, I need to start packing soon. I keep adding things to the list, but I haven't officially started. It's so much harder with a toddler. They require so much stuff!!

* Here are a few of the invitation designs I've been working on the last couple months.

With all of the portrait sessions I've been doing, I've ordered many of these proof books for clients! I just love them. The printing company I use is wonderful and these books are a perfect way for clients to see all of their session and order prints, and they're great little books to tuck in your purse and show off to friends and family! I need one!


* I am really thinking about starting a business blog. I love sharing all of my designs and portrait session sneak peeks on here, but I want to get back to the main reason I started this blog..a digital scrapbook for our family and Barrett. I feel like I haven't been posting enough of that lately. True, I haven't really had much spare time, but it's something I'm willing to make the time for in order to keep the two more separate. My photography adventure seems to be taking off like crazy, and want to have a spot to share all that's going on with that. Where I can announce upcoming specials, prices, and other details. I do have an Elephant Juice Designs website. But I don't want to cram it too full of information. It's more of a showcase and client proofing spot. Does anyone out there use Wordpress, or know anything about it? Any advice on how their blogs work? I'm pretty sure that's the route I'll have to go for a more professional looking blog.

* I've gotten a few fun new finds! Mom and I found this basket at Hobby Lobby while we were getting things for my little brother's rehearsal dinner. It was on sale for $5.00. It is perfect for newborns, because it's so soft.

Then I found this basket at a garage sale on Saturday for $2.00! I got out to run to the post office and bank, and just stopped at one sale really quick. I'm glad I did. It's perfect for cradling newborns. I used it at both of my newborn sessions on Sunday, but I still need to work on what angles work best with it.

*I FINALLY got a camera strap! You might remember this post from awhile back (holy cow, it was late February!!), when I was trying to decide what strap to get. Well, I stressed about it way too much...like spent over an hour on Etsy going back and forth between fabrics and designers! Then one of my favorite blogs, Prop Insanity, had a feature post on straps and the designer {designs by Jessie} was offering free shipping and a free lens cap pocket on the strap! It was the *kick* I needed to just order one already!!



* Why do I finally feel like being productive around the house, when I have a million things to do for my business? On Friday (same day that I had a load of invite orders due, a portrait session, and a mental breakdown) I had the urge to organize our bedroom closet and clean out the dresser drawers! Maybe I was just trying to work off some of that frustration from my two hour conversation with Dell!

* Summer TV:: Anyone else addicted to summer reality shows like I am? I watch too much TV; but I admit it, I'm okay with it, and there's no way I could give it up! Okay, I'm sure I could give it up if I had to, but unless I go on Survivor in the Fall, that's not happening! Really...is it bad that I'm already excited about the Bachelorette tonight??

The Bachelorette: Ed was one of my favorites from the beginning! He's adorable...but it seemed a little too easy for him to just leave her behind for his career. AND, I'm not really sure what to think about those ridiculously short shorts he was wearing last week, and how comfortable he looks with his legs crossed.

Bachelor Ed...I just saw on the website he's only 29. I'm starting to feel old.
Everyone on these shows is now my age or younger!

Bachelor Kiptyn...if you're curious, he's 31.

Wes (not in the running anymore), probably the most hated bachelor of all time.
I know he was a total jerk, supposedly having a girlfriend back home.
I'm ashamed to say...I had a {tiny} little crush on him! Well, only during the
first few episodes when he acted a little more like a gentleman.

Big Brother 11: This just started last week, and it is a major commitment to watch. It's on like three days a week! Thank goodness for DVR, or I'd miss it all the time. It always takes a couple weeks to really get good and drama-filled. I don't really have a favorite yet this season, but Jeff is my favorite to look at :)

Design Star: I guess my degree in Interior Design makes this show a lot of fun to watch. It started last night, but I haven't had time to watch yet, and I'm sure Justin will want me to wait for him! He probably didn't want me to tell you that though! So, I'll have to tell you my favorites later.

Okay...off to be productive while Barrett is still napping! My new printer isn't here yet, but I have plenty of paper cutting and packing to keep my busy! Have a wonderful Monday! Here's to hoping this week is a million times better than last week was!!

shopping success!!

Barrett and I made a quick trip to Wichita this morning with Aunt Christie. She had some paperwork to take care of, so we tagged along and had great success at Target and Old Navy!

Our annual family reunion/golf tournament is this weekend in Bartlesville, and since it's the 20th year for it, we've decided that each family should wear a different color shirt. My grandpa had 4 siblings, so each family picked a color. In honor of Bapo and his alma mater, we picked Oklahoma State ORANGE! I have no orange in my wardrobe, so I was on the hunt. Nothing like waiting till the last minute!

I ended up with this cute shirt from Old Navy. Christie found it on the clearance rack for $9.99. SCORE! It's a lightweight cotton in a solid light orange, not this blue gingham. This might not be the exact shirt, but it's very similar.

I also got these super comfy criss-cross stap flip flops for only $5! I {heart} Old Navy! I got them in chocolate brown, but I might have to go back for another more fun color!

Then it was off to Target to look at a denim skirt I'd seen a few weeks ago when I was there with Audra, Megan and Christie. It was cute on the rack, but I wasn't crazy about it after I got it on. The side pockets made the hips buldge out too much. I wasn't too bummed about not finding a skirt with I found this suit!

I wasn't even looking for suits. I'd already told Christie I wanted to go back to Wichita next week to look for suits, since it was probably time to retire the maternity tankini I'd worn last summer :) te, he!! But as soon as we walked by this one, I loved it!! Everything I look for in a suit: V-neck is more flattering me...adjustable straps...padded cups...empire waist...and not-to-skimpy bottoms! The adjustable sideties are a bonus, and I love the navy blue. It was on sale for $16.00 each piece! I'm so excited, can you tell??!!

I also found a business purchase...this awesome metal beverage tub to use for summer photoshoots! I got it in a beautiful pastel green color.

I was hoping to find this adorable plaid one I'd seen online, but no luck! If anyone happens to see one at their Target...get it for me, PLEASE!!!

It was a super quick trip, but very successful! Barrett was such a good boy too. He fought falling asleep all the way up and back, so Aunt Christie entertained him, and fed him goldfish and cheerios. Thanks for letting us tag-along Christie!