My "First Photo Shoot"

Well, I am really, seriously trying my hand at this whole photography thing.  I am taking some more classes, trying to decide what post editing package to buy, and just taking lots of pictures.  Being as we live at the beach, I thought I would try my hand at it.  I haven't done any post processing on these except for some antique finishes so please bear with me.  My next class is a Photoshop class and I took these pictures to submit for the class!

There is something to be said for DIVA LIKE MODELS  who won't come when you call, look at you for more than 1/2 a second, sit in the sand soaking wet, throw sand in the wind which comes back and sticks to their face, and twirls and sings (o.k. the twirling and singing, I don't mind at all!).  I got more pictures of her backside than I did of her face!

With all that said though, I think I got some pretty shots!  I have to tell you... I showed her some pictures on the beautiful blog,  Flora Bella Collections and showed her the little girls.  Her work is exquisite.  I can only hope to be that good one day!  I just thought it would be neat for her to see how little models look.  I kept asking her to smile tonight and she told me, "Momma, I am looking like those other models looked and none of them were smiling."  Serves me right!

Let me just say that when I do a real shoot with "real" people, I will not threaten them with no dinner and no sprite at dinner.  I'm just saying...

Let me know what you think.  Really what you think.  I will not get my feelings hurt.  I just need to know if this is a look that people might like and buy!  I will take any tips and/or advice!

Thanks for bearing with me through all the pictures.  I think this is something I would really like to do.  I just don't have a lot of confidence in myself.  I am lucky to have the BHW who has encouraged me to really go for it if I want to.  He is my biggest supporter and I am so grateful for him.  

So, let me know what you think!

Home Sweet Home

I love to visit friends and family, but there is nothing more precious than being home!  We had a wonderful time with everyone and are so fortunate to have such special people in our lives.  Here a few pictures from our trip!

A rainbow on my parents' farm

Hanging with Charlie, my parents' dog

I love this face!

My dad has a '55 Chevy and belongs to a car club.  They have a cruise in on our town square once a month, but this month it was special.  The local drive in theater hosted it and showed American Grafitti!  We pulled in and the first four rows were old cars.  It was what a drive in should really look like!  So much fun!

My dad's '55

Me and my Daddy

Jemma with her Poppy and Gaga

Giggling girls waiting for their movie, Despicable Me!

All this partying wears a girl out!

We always get great stories with Gaga!

Then we were off to Hendersonville!  I stayed with some of our best friends and got to visit with one of my dearest friends in the world who lives outside of London.  

Suzanne and I taught together in Tennessee and just hit it off. She is one of the smartest, sweetest people I know.  She is always learning and growing.  She is a born teacher with a love of adventure and adventures we have had!  She is the one with the red hair!  The beautiful girl with the baby is Stacey.  I have known Stacey since she was a second grader!  Her mom and I worked together.  Their family came to visit us while we lived in Germany and then we lived 30 minutes apart in Michigan!  Stacey was Jemma's first babysitter!  Now she has sweet little Adelynn!

Then we took off to visit the new baby of another co-worker's daughter.  Peggy is the beyond wonderful Grandma of this sweet baby, McKenna!  Peggy is the kindest, most thoughtful person I know.  She would do anything for anybody.  She has the sweetest heart!  I remember both these girls when they were in elementary school!  Gee... I am getting old!  I loved visiting with all these babies!

These adorable boys are Suzanne's babies.  I bought them their shirts and they are very appropriate!  Charlie is 5 and his says, I'm a Handful.  Wyatt is 4 and his says, Here Comes Trouble!  Finn is 3 and as you can see, he is the Little Tough Guy!  You heard me right... 5, 4, and 3!  She definitely has her hands full!  They are so sweet and always so fun to be around!

Jemma and Charlie are buds.  We always have the sweetest pictures of them together.  I always say we will have the best pictures to show at their wedding!  Guess which tan one lives in England?!?

When in Rome...

Lots of swimming!  Jemma's first time off a diving board and slide on this trip!  She loved it!

Then a day or two with our bestest buds from college.  Tom and Quinn met on the first day of college in 1987 and have been best friends ever since.  I have never seen two men with such a bond.  They just love to be together.  They will sit and watch football for hours with very few words spoken, but have the best time!  Quinn and his wife, Cindy, are one of a kind and we wouldn't trade them or their friendship for anything.  These are their beautiful children,  Clay and Emma!

We fit a lot in in a short time, but had a wonderful trip!  Now to rest from our vacation!!

Taking a little vacation

Hello all my blogging friends!!  I just wanted to let you know that we will be taking a little vacation to, well...what is the best way to put it... Hog Heaven for Kids aka Grandparents House!!!!  This is where the princess reigns supreme.  We are visiting my parents in Tennessee for a couple of weeks and all my friends in the area.  My dear friend whom I adore is visiting from England.  You will hear all about her soon!

I am now merely a vessel to bring the grandchild.  Here is where she will do lots of

dancing in wide open fields

following the path less taken

doling out all her adorable cuteness on people who just eat it up like a chocolate cake

lots of loving story times with snuggles  and most importantly...

lots of hugs and kisses!

See ya'll soon!

My BFFL

Have you ever met someone that you click with?  I met Michelle in 2003 after we moved in our new home in Michigan.  She was building her house across and two houses down from me.  I knew I wasn't going to like this family as they were building my exact same house.  How dare they use our plan on the same street?!?  

We met at a neighborhood cookout and how could I not like this exuberant, cheerful and just plain friendly person?  We started chatting and just enjoyed each others company.  We began walking our dogs together and we learned all there was to know about each other, our families, our frustrations, and our dreams.  She was my buddy, my pal, my amiga.  She was the one who told me I would have children one day even though I had given up and was telling myself it would all work out and we were fine as a childless couple.  She was the 2nd person to know I was pregnant (after my husband of course!).  She was the first person to come see me in the hospital after I had Jemma.  She was the one that I would ask 7 million questions about raising babies.  She is my BFFL (Best Friend for Life).

This is the woman that I convinced to spend $700 to do Body Boot Camp with me.  She put a cold rag on my neck that first night at boot camp as I lay on a public bathroom floor thinking I was going to throw up and die.  This is the woman that I gladly drove home after the night of arm workouts and she asked if I could drive since she couldn't move her arms.  We just did those things for each other.  I know that I could ask her to do anything and she would be right there with me (as long as it didn't include going on a cruise!).

I need to add that this woman is an amazing teacher. She has taught 5th grade for many years and her students, her parents, the staff...they love and adore her.  I have heard the things she does in class and I am amazed at the energy and excitement she brings to her students.  

She is one of the best dancers!  She has moves like you have never seen! 

She is my shopping buddy.  We go to Old Navy at 8:00 at night or spend a Saturday afternoon at Anne Taylor Loft, Home Goods and Grande Trunke.  She is honest (brutally) when trying on clothes.  We are partners in crime when Taco Bell calls late at night.  That is a true friend!

She makes the BEST BROWNIES in the World!!!  I mean it... they are beyond divine.  

She is hilarious and tells the best stories!  This woman is F-U-N-N-Y!

Most importantly she is the best mother that I know.  She is raising children who are respectful, caring, and kind. If anything ever happens to me, I would want her to raise Jemma.  Enough said...

Then the day came that I had to tell her that I was moving.  She was mad.  I mean MAD!  She yelled at me!  She hated the BHW and told me all about it.  With all that said, I knew she was sad and hurt and yes, angry.  I was too.  How was I going to live without someone forcing me to exercise.  Whose house was I going to go to and watch the Bachelor and Bachelorette in my jammies?  With all that said, she was the one who opened her home to me to live for 2 weeks after our house sold and school wasn't out.  She is the one who picked lice out of my hair, yes, you heard me right... picked lice out of my hair when Jemma got it at school and gave it to me.  You can't find friends like that.

I miss her.  I miss her everyday.  We talk all the time but it isn't the same as sitting in her kitchen and just discussing the day at school or the kids.  I got to spend a week with her and it was a bit of heaven.  She is just the person that I am most comfortable around and can share anything.  The beauty of this kind of friendship is that it never goes away.  No matter how far away you are.  So Michelle, my BFFL, this post is for you!

I am linking up to Heidi at Heart and Home for her Gratitude Wednesday party.  She posted about her best friend moving and it just made me think of my dear friend who I am very grateful for.  

Dark to Light

I am posting a before picture of my living room and an after!  You can hear all about the drudgery of this room here with all the extra details!  It was a lot of work and debate (over the leather chair!), but we have created a much more open space with lighter colors that brighten the family room right up.  We still want to paint, find a new rug, and get rid of the coffee table, but it will all come with time!

Before

After

So bright and pretty!!!

I am linking up to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Metamorphosis Monday and Debbiedoos Linky Party!!  I am also linking up to Kim's first Before and After party at Savvy Southern Style  .Thanks ladies for hosting!

Some of my favorites

Amy at Playing Sublimely asked in her latest post if we have a favorite picture of our babies.  Well, of course I have hundreds that I love, but I wanted to share a few that have just touched me.  The first one is one that I took of her the summer that she was two.  She had just mastered the whole hanging onto the swing by herself without me having a complete panic attack (o.k.  I still had some panic attack issues, but I put on a brave face!).  She absolutely loved to swing and would sing at the top of her lungs as she flew through the air!  " I am flying so high!  I am flying so high!"  Oh my heart be still.  

I laid on the ground in a half crunch under her to try to capture this shot.  I love the smile and look of pure joy on her face.  I love the wild and crazy hair and the warm glow of the afternoon sun.  I love how it looks like she is flying through the air.  

I have to toot my own horn here for a second.  I was reading a workshop series book and submitted this picture for critique.  The author of the book, photographer Ginny Felch wrote this, " Doesn't get much better than this! Beautiful concept and you carried it off so well. If this isn't photoshopped I am even more impressed!! Best of luck. Ginny Felch "  That was a super proud moment for me!!!  

My next two favorite pictures are ones that were taken by an awesome photographer here in Charleston named Tim Willoughby of Timwill Photography.  If you are ever in the Charleston area, I highly recommend him.  His prices are extremely reasonable and a proceed goes to the charity of your choice.  He was fantastic with Jemma and I just left the two of them alone.  He captured so many great shots of her and her personality.  She is totally sassy and funny right now and he got that silly side here.  She had just thrown a batch of leaves at him and realized that she wasn't going to get in trouble and started giggling her head off!

This next one I had blown up into a 16 x 20.  He captured the soft sweet side of her that whispers "I love you, Mommy" when we are laying in bed at night and all is quiet.  Such a sweet wisdom in those big ol' eyes in this one.  I love it.

My last favorite is a picture I took on the carousel by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.  I love how you can just make out the outline of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.  She loves carousels and the Eiffel Tower.  It couldn't get much better than that!  It is a moment that I will never forget.

Thanks Amy for making me think about these sweet pictures and letting me share them with all of you!

Thank you Nana... I think!

Thank you Nana for so kindly giving Jemma the white powder puff and container.  She TRULY loves it and plays in it whenever I am not looking!  Does make the house smell good!

Love,

The Greatest Daughter-in-Law in the World

I think the Viking hat makes a nice touch!