The Results: Rock my Urban World!!!

I have to admit, when 10 of us crowed into my front room, and the rain poured in sheets just outside, I didn't think the shoot would turn out so spectacular. I was wrong. I loved it. The colors popped, the textures drew me in, and most of all, we had a blast getting down and dirty.

If you are interested in taking a photography workshop see my new Class Site!

Bokeh.

I waited around all yesterday, running to the door at every tap or clank from outside. See, our cute button doorbell doesn't work. People ring it all the time, and I'm sure they think that I'm flat out rude for not answering the door when I'm home. But in actuality, I don't know they're there.

I knew UPS was coming, and if they rang my doorbell and I missed it, I would be a sad, sad, girlie. Half the day I actually left the door open, but the dang flies swarmed the living room and it was a great big buzz fest. Nuff' said. I had to close the door--and resort to listening to every pin drop.

Finally at 3:16-ish, UPS man came in all his parcel toting glory. Oh praise you UPS man with your tight-brown, rear-hugging shorts, and your electronic signature pad. Thank you very much for my NEW LENS! he he he.

I'm giddy. Overjoyed. Elated.

Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR, I LOVE YOU.

What I love most? Your bokeh.
(Side note: bokeh is the beautiful fuzzy areas around the sharp area...ok, so maybe that's not the technical term, but you get my drift. Just check out the sweet shot.)

Monday's Fit Tip Mania...Um, a day late

Muscle Up.

I went to the car show last week and thought, hmmm, how does this apply to fitness? Well, Duh. If you want to look hotter and have more energy (power) you need to muscle up. Add intensity to your workout by adding in weights.

Side Note: I always get lovely ladies in my aerobic classes who think if they lift more than a 5 pound weight then they will bulk up. NOT TRUE. Really...that is, you won't bulk up if you keep your diet the same or change your diet to eating lean meats, lots of fruits and veggies and limiting the Carbs (you know, yummy cookies and bread...ok, so sneak just one in).

Anyway, add some muscle. Throw it into the mix. Squats, Lunges, Bicep curls and Tricep Kickbacks. Do at least 10-12 reps of each, two times. Then work on increasing it.

Jinger and Grace and party hoppin'.

Yesterday was the day of Parteeeeees. Nick, our very close and chummy friend, turned a whopping 25. (How would that be? Sigh.) And then my ultra-cool, aerobics-lovin-Lady friend, Tracey, and her hubby, Finn had a rockin summer bash. (And when I say rockin, I mean it...there was a DJ! And yes, I danced a wee jig as I dug into their yummy party cuisine)
Then last, I snuck over to my once a month ladies night.

Ok, so what does my travelogue have to do with the super sweet baby shots on this post. Well, nothing really. Just that at the rockin' summer bash, Mark and I saw some super cool friends that we have known since Mark and I were dating. They just had their fourth baby.

So I seized the 'shooting a newborn' moment and snapped away. This little gal is only two weeks old and look how chunky lovely she is. ahhh. Sweet sweet baby.

Ah. The last one is my favorite. So sweet.

Janessa . . . turning 1

Little Janessa is turning 1 . . . tomorrow. That reminds me that little Ruby's first birthday is also just around the corner. sniff, sniff. Oh, Janessa, I am sure your mommy is just as sad that you are growing so big. With your darling red curls and happy coos, you just won my heart over. Happy Birthday Sweet Girl.

Aw poop.

I should have known. Really, it was quite obvious before I even opened the door that the smell was overwhelming . . . to say the least, it was nose-burning. But I pushed open Ruby's door anyway because nap time was over. (You can only leave your kids in their beds for so long and still consider it a 'nap' and not jail time for them and free time for me . . . although, I'm not one to count the time too closely.)

I was surprised that Ruby was awake after just a quick hour nap. She should have slept for at least two.

It was clearly evident, as in plastered all over her crib rails, blanket, toys, pillow, and her wee baby body WHY she was awake.

POOP.

Need I say more?

Gotta Have the Kiss

Alright, alright. I know I already posted from Alex and Mckell's wedding, but I couldn't leave out the kiss. I'm still knee deep in processing their photos and I just finished the kiss. It was so lovely. Enchanting. Beautiful. Mckell is just stunning with the sunlight illuminating the soft folds of her veil. And Alex, decked in black is her perfect compliment. Sigh.

I still feel lucky to do what I do. Thanks again Alex and Mckell...luv, erin

Student a la Mark

Have I mentioned a million times yet that I'll be shooting a wedding in New Zealand in October? Please, let me get on the bull-horn one more time. I am ecstatic over it. What I realized the other day is, a wedding is better shot with two photographers and not one. Considering that, and the upcoming wedding, I came to the conclusion that Mark must be trained. So Mark attended my photography 101 crash course last night. I think it was a whirlwind experience for all who attended. The class did great and here are a few of Mark's shots.

Way to go Mark!

Hairy Beast Prayers

Bubba, my beast of of black lab, fell off the kids slide today. I was ripped away from my computer to the sound of high pitched yelping.
Henry flew through the back door screaming, "Mom, mom, Bubba's hurt. Bubba's hurt."

"What? What's going on?" I yelled out in frantic mom voice.

"Bubba fell off the slide."

"What? What do you mean he fell of the slide?"

Then all my kids, the neighbor kids, and the cousins started yelling at once. Though it did little to mask Bubba's yelping from the back yard.
"He climbed up."
"He fell on his side."
"He tried to jump the slide."
"He hit the slide with his tummy."
"Mom, he's hurt bad."

I pushed past the yelling kids, toward Bubba. Seeing me, he hobbled and yelped, with his big brown sad Bubba eyes, right to me. Henry, with tears pooling, stood to the side softly stroking Bubba's massive head. Seeing him and the others, now deadly quiet, pricked at my heart. Here they were all so scared and concerned for our lab.

I didn't know what to do.

I ran my hand a long the side of Bubba's lifted paw. He whimpered.
I patted his back and tried to sooth him.

"Mom," Henry said in such a small voice. "Is he going to die?"

"No." I hope not. "I don't think so bud. I think he's just really hurt."

"Mom," George's eyes were wide with fear. "Should we say a prayer?"

"Yes, George. Yes, that's exactly what we should do."

Then and there, in the dust and dirt that marks the entry from the garage to the back yard, we all folded our arms and prayed.

Within minutes, Bubba seized the opportunity that I was knelt down next to him. He jumped on me, abandoning his whimpering for a high-energy tail wag. After pushing the hairy beast off, I watched him run back to the yard, with out so much as a limp.

I guess prayers for hairy beasts really do work.

Mckell and Alex

So in love. I really couldn't describe them any other way. When they're around each other, Mckell laughs without abandon, and Alex dotes on her ever word. Not a moment slips away when you can't help but feel the charge of energy between them. Kismet. Magic. Destiny.

Mckell and her mom and future sister in law got ready in the suite, while Alex happily chatted with friends. When the ceremony began, a hush fell across the guests. Mckell, on her father's arm, walked through the gardens, putting the flowers and bright sun to shame. She was radiant.

sigh.

I love LOVE. Really, every time I get to shoot a wedding, I feel so lucky. Their happiness is contagious and inspiring. I walk away from each wedding I shoot with a greater perspective on my own life. Thanks Mckell and Alex, for letting me be a part of it all.

Peace.

Finally, Tonja whisked me away yesterday. A moment of solace. Peace. Away from the kids . . . well, until Mark came down, found us at the park, and deposited the kids on me. Great. *eye roll* At least I had my honkin' death-con 5 camera with me. Instead of wallowing in the torment of the seven kids (my 4 and my sister's 3) I took advantage and shot my sweet Ruby.

Ruby, are you really 8 1/2 months old? Sweet girl, I love you.

The Hard Truth.

Yes, I know.

I am quite aware that I spell words wrong all the time. What did you say? Did I used to teach English? Harrumph, Hardly. I didn't teach it, I Dictated! But, so what. Just because I'm merciless and snappy rude to the youngsters doesn't mean I have to obey those same rules. In fact, I like to think of myself as the 'rogue' English major. I'm dancing to the beat of my own drum. I'm spelling with my own flair. I'm edumakated as much as the next frumpy mother of four.

Why all the fuss? Well, I've decided that despite my spelling choice, I shouldn't be OK with spelling my name wrong.

Yes, I know. I know that on my own website I've spelled my name wrong. How did that happen? Though I hate to admit the truth, it is one of the four answers below...you can decide which one.

1. I secretly loathe my married name and this is my way of taking a stand.
2. I was trying something new to see if it was easier to pronounce.
3. It was a ploy to entice you and others to scrutinize my website for hours on end...essentially drumming up business.
4. I was so dead tired, working at three in the morning, that I truly forgot how to spell my name.

Moving on...what was this post about? Ah, Yes. The Truth. Truth is, I am too tired, or lazy, or annoyed to fix it. I lost the original graphic and it would take me too long to make another logo. Plus I am not all that in love with the logo anyway. This is where I'm hoping one of you out there will take pity on me, fix me a new logo as a .png, and send it to me.

If not, well, you'll just have to live with it. OK, I'll just have to live with it. Whatever.

Life as I know it.

1. Showed up late to my aerobics class. *sigh* It's becoming the norm.


2. Ran out halfway through aerobics--I forgot to send boys to gymnastics (in the same building).


3. After aerobics, nursed Ruby in the gym corner. (Screaming babies take precedence over possible uncomfortable on-lookers) For Pete's sake, I had a blanket covering me.


4. Shoved seven squirrely kids into my van and took them to a library party - so much for being quiet.


5. Shoved seven squirrely kids into the van again to go to swim lessons. Then immediately un-shoved because one forgot her shoes somewhere at the library party. (Do you need to take off your shoes everywhere we go?)


6. Re-shoved kids back into van and raced to swim lessons.


7. Late again.


8. Shouted directions at 6 running kids as they broke pool rules and bolted toward their teachers.


9. Relaxed with Ruby in the mom and tot class -- ah, peace.


10. Dried off 6 squirrely kids.


11. Physically restrained myself from beating (my) toddler when he chucked his shoe at Ruby's head.


12. Calmed screaming kids.


13. Searched pool vicinity for 3 missing kids.


14. Shoved all 7 kids back in van and headed peacefully down the road.


15. Yelled at toddler to get back in seat and stop jumping on booster.


16. Choked on diet Pepsi when oldest randomly decided to open van door as we're cruising down the road.


17. Swore in front of 6 kids when I saw a police officer behind me viewing all the mayhem.


18. Finished reading Actor and the Housewife and chucked it across the room.

ASK THE AUDIENCE: How was your day?

Oquirrh Mountain Pictures

Note: I in now way claim to be a landscape photographer. Yes, I enjoy taking pictures. No, I am not as skilled at taking pictures of architecture or landscape as I am people. So, there you have it. Now here are a few I clicked off tonight at the open house.

STALKING 101

So we dated, like everybody else. Oh, except for the fact that Mark was exceptionally cheap and never paid for a date. So we hung out. Here, there, everywhere. I loved it.

I thought he did too. But after we broke up, and my heart broken, I couldn't figure out what went wrong.
So I stalked him like any normal girl would do. Nothing serious, no running around clad in black with football glare paint on my cheeks, those wild days of mine were over. This time I stuck to the basics: Watching for when he left in the morning, watching for when he returned, 'running into him' at the oddest places...hm, hm, singles ward, and just a few car tailings.

And I thought it was working. We did, after all start dating (and kissing) again. But when he decided he didn't want to date anymore, I decided to pull out the BIG GUNS! (Yes all caps again. Come on. It illustrates my point.)

I reached for the 'casual' approach. The Teal Sweats. I flaunted my hot bod in the teal sweats my mom made for me years before. In them I was (besides warm) confident, yet relaxed, and I didn't care about his waxing and waning flirtations. Whatever. I'd had it.
And then it all came together. Bow on top. He finally proposed and I graciously accepted.

End of Story.

For dating tips and advice, please feel free to email me anytime. I would love to be your 'how to stalk a guy' coach.

Books, I have something to say about.

Ah, I love a good read. To throw myself into another world for a few hours and take in the stories of others. Sigh. I thought I'd share my opinion on some books I read over the last month. Here's a quick summarizing thought for each one. Take it with a grain of salt, or not. I like to read, so I thought I'd share my two second cents.


Graceling by Kristen Cashore - Killer Protagonist. Seriously...she's a killer. LOVED IT! In fact, I loved it so much I read it twice. I never read books twice.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder - Gritty. That sums it it. I loved it.

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder - Equally Gritty. I loved it more.

Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder - Currently reading this...the jury is still out.

The Forrest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - Though I must admit, I'm on the fence about this one. I'm not a lover of the end, but since I recently heard there's a sequel, I feel redemption is coming. Poetic writing. Zombies and Romance. What more could you want?

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey - Hmm. What to say? If it ended, I could have liked it, but since they cut the dang book in half and ended it in mid rising action, what can I say? It does have great rising action. I'll let you know my verdict after I read the sequel.

Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry - Cute. Fun quick read. Plot holes? Sure...but I heard there may be a sequel.

Ever by Gail Carson Levine - 75% good 25% LAME! Pulled through to the end and then was let down. You decide.

Selkie Girl by Susan Cooper - I didn't finish it. That should tell you what I thought of it.

Skin Deep by E. M. Crane - Currently Reading. I haven't stopped yet, so it's pretty good.

Ask the Audience:

What are you reading? What is you favorite book, and why? What do you suggest I pick up?