The girl with the heart of gold

I tell myself every season I'm not going to watch.  Yeah, me and the rest of the female population.  But there's something about The Bachelor that just sucks me in.  I'm not infatuated with the 'falling in love' that supposedly takes place on the show... but more drawn in by the crazy's they cast to go on there.  Seriously?  Where do these girls come from?  And please tell me you don't really act like that in real life!

So another season.  Countless hours glued to my DVR just to watch as some 'love story' dissipates into thin air within mere moments of the show's finale. 

And, because you care... I'm sharing my favorite with you this season.

Photo credit abc*com

This is my girl Emily. Not only is she absolutely beautiful, she has such a pure heart.  Her story is enough to make me cry every time I see her, and, well, she's just the one he needs to choose.  But I'll admit it.  I looked.. and Emily ends up as the runner-up.  Darn! 

So who's your favorite?  Or are you even watching the show?  If you're not, please don't hate me for gluing my DVR to record it every Monday night.

Kisses & Disses: Tulsa Wedding Photographer

As a freshman in college you just have to look cute as you walk to class... or so I thought.  In those first few precious days of your college career you learn so much.  Don't dress up for class like you did in High School; it's no longer accepted.  Don't spend too much time doing your make-up.  And absolutely don't waste your time on your hair.  Precious life-lessons when you're in college.  Essential to the continuation of your college career. 

I remember the first time I drove back home after attending my Friday morning classes.  The first thing my mother said was, what happened to you?  Where are all those cute clothes I bought you before you left for college?  You see, I was dressed in my college best.  My worn sweat pants, date party shirt, flip-flops and my hair mangled into something that resembled a ponytail.  I think at that point in time it was cool to fold a bandana and use it as a headband... so I'm fairly certain I had one of those on too.  My mother was confused.  I then proceeded to tell her I needed to go shopping for sweat pants for class because I only had a few pairs and I needed more.  After all, nobody wears jeans to class, mom.  I'll never forget the words that came out of her mouth next.  Allison, the reason people don't wear jeans is because they don't have an elastic waist band and they don't allow people to baloon up!  I sat there stunned.  She had a point, ya know.

This is where it really gets bad though.  It's January and the weather in Oklahoma had not been very nice to us.  My Alma Mater never closes school, so I  wake up with 15 minutes to spare before my morning class starts, I throw my hair into a ponytail, pull on a nicer version of sweatpants, a jacket, grab my bag and hit the door.  As I strolled in front of the library, the Oklahoma weather got the best of me.  As a freshman I never took notice as to just how slick the concrete in front of our library was.  And to make it worse?  Oh, it's just the main walkway on campus.  My flat-bottomed shoes began to make their way into ice skates and the biggest look of horror took residency across my face.  I skated a few feet and was able to regain my balance... when one of the starters of our basketball team managed to plant himself directly in my path and catch my fall.  Fail.  I looked up and realized who it was that stabilized my fall and immediately wanted to sink into a puddle of frozen water beneath my feet.  I know what you're thinking, what's the big deal?  Weeellllll, call me clumbsy, but I'd run into this particular individual about 3 other times on campus.  I was either walking while reading the school paper, texting, talking on my phone or just plain not paying attention to where I was going and POW!  There was Daniel Bobik to stop me in my tracks.  So.. by the time he rescued me from my icecapade in front of our library we were regular acquaintances.  He laughed and I hung my head as we slowly turned and walked in opposite directions. 

Which brings us to another edition of Kisses & Disses!

> Snow.  In all of its white powdery glory: I love snow.
> My Shootsac.  If you've worked with me you know it never leaves my side.  I am in love with this beauty.  Best invention that ever hit photographers!
> Hair Appointments.  I had a hair appointment last night and it was two hours of sweet blissfulness.  There's something about that appointment that makes your whole day wonderful!

> Ice.  It truly is the evil stepchild of snow.  And it makes you fall on basketball players.  Never a good thing.
> Bitterly cold weather.  Do we see a trend here?  I think so.
>Michelle from this season of the Bachelor.   Major Diss.  And yes, I'm obsessed.  I end up heartbroken at the end of every season... but they just keep pulling me back for another season. 

Oh, and if you haven't done so yet, head on over and 'like' us on facebook!  Please?  I'll love you forever! and maybe it will make us feel oober cool!

Love in a Dream: Tulsa Wedding Photographer

I've been absent the last week.  I'm sorry.  My grandmother has been in the hospital and my mind has been elsewhere.  All that to say... I'm focusing again.

She's the type of woman you see and know there's a story.  She's lived a long life surrounded by those that love her, and now she sits, my grandmother, hardly remembering what she did five minutes ago. 

Two years ago we sat at my mother's kitchen table as she reached her hand across to me, patted the top of my hand and said, I had a dream last night.  She dreamt that my deceased grandad walked in to their bedroom and sat on the bed next to her.  He placed his hand on top of hers and said, "You know I've always loved you Patsy".  Then he stood and walked out of the room... disappearing with each step. 

A small tear fell from the corner of her eye as she told me her dream.  But I don't think it was a tear of sadness, but more of joy in remembering the love my grandad has for her. 

This small dream comforts me.  I am comforted in knowing that he is waiting for her and that my loss will reunite my grandparents again.

For now she is stable and happy.  She has full-time home health care and I learned last night that she prays with these ladies every night - in her prayer... she prays specifically for her grandchildren.  This brings a tear to my eye.  To see a woman as frail as she is yet still pouring out love for our God.  I admire my grandmother.

During this moment, I am thankful for my grandmother.  As hard as these last few months have been, I am grateful.

I leave with an image that brings a smile to my face.  Riley was truly fascinated with being a girl this day.  She embraced everything that it meant to be female. 

the design gods: they hate me.

I'm sporatic.  And I'm hoping that's what Caleb loves about me.  

Recently I've become obsessed with the blog world.  Like, call a doctor, I need a diagnosis, obsessed.  Chances are, if you're reading this and you have a blog, I've visited it.  And even if you haven't visited this beauty of a blog, I've probably creeped on your blog.  Hence, I need a diagnosis.  Or an intervention.  Which ever comes first.

Now, there's a reason I'm spilling my secrets to you all.  Last week I was scouring through one or two of the many blogs I like to "frequently visit" and I became inspired.  Like, run to lowe's right now, inspired.  So many of my 'blog friends' are sooo ooberly talented when it comes to interior design in their homes.  So I got all gutsy and thought I'd try to be creative.  Yeah.  Not.  Happenin'.  I was quickly slapped by the interior design god and thrown back to reality.  And it hurt.  I have the bruises to prove it.  There I lay... on the ground covered in dust and bruises having spent faaar too many hours on hgtv.com trying to devise something even a little bit related to design.  And maybe my pride was hurt a little.  The design god's laughed at me.  In. My. Face.  Not cool design god.  We're not friends, evidently.

I write this to tell you, I have big plans on the horizon.  Well, hopefully.  I haven't given up on re-doing almost our entire house, but have moved past proving to myself I can do it on my own and have enlisted a super cool designer/friend of mine, Kara Paslay.  She's like Martha Stuart, only without the ankle bracelet and criminal record.  She's way fun.  Promise.  So just know, when I show you pictures of the things being done around mi casa... I may have done the work, but I didn't come up with it on my own.  I'd love to say I did, but I don't think I can bare to be thrown on the ground again by the design god.  My ego is bruised a little to much from the last time.

Now the dilemma comes... do I dare show you before pictures?  I never knew how bad I was at this stuff until I took pictures of my house.  It's shameful internet.  Simply shameful! 

Well, I would leave you with pictures of my room... but it's so bad my blog won't even let me load.  Now, that's bad!  I'll try and post some pictures tomorrow.  Cause I know you can't live without pictures of my house.

**And don't forget about Friday's post.  It's a GIVEAWAY!  Promise.  You'll love it.

Free? I like free stuff!!

We're mixin' it up a bit over in these parts!  Today I'm announcing a GIVEAWAY!  And honestly, who doesn't just love something free. 

This one's a little competition to see just how many fans we can get on our fan page.  Currently, as of this morning, we are at 106, good job guys!  But that's not good enough.  We want more!  muahahaha.... sorry bout that.

So to spruce things up a bit, I've designed this little gem here.

There you have it folks.  All you have to do is like our page, go to your own status and make a post about this blog offer using this link http://tinyurl.com/296h2o3 , then make a comment on this blog post below telling me you've done everything... and if you just feel like hoppin' around, you can always visit our website.  There's some pretty awesome stuff there.  That's it!  All you have to do now is tell all your friends about it.  Blog about it, tweet about it, and keep facebooking about it.  Remember, the more you tell your friends and the more they 'like' our page... the better your chances are of winning!

So here's the real sweet part.  For every 25 additional fans we receive, we will give away a 30 minute mini-session along with 10 images on a CD for your printing pleasure.  How awesome is that?  And all you have to do is post a few things!  Saweet!

Ok.  Hop to it!  We will annouce the winners next Friday, January 14th... so stay tuned!

*** Reminder.  You have to go to our fan page on Facebook and like that page to be entered.  A few of you are liking this blog post with the like button above, which is great!!, but you have to visit the actual Facebook page too.  Thanks guys!

A little off topic

I'm a little off topic today, but I have to tell you all about this perfect new product I've found.  If you're a female, this one's for you!  I promise.  You'll thank me later.

I was over on Tiffanie's blog a few weeks ago and she blogged about a new shampoo/conditioner she asked for for Christmas. 



It's A. mazing.  I kid you not. 

I'm the kind of girl that HAS to wash my hair e.v.e.r.y night.  No acceptions.  My hair is very long and blonde which shows fast when it gets dirty.  So I've always envied the people that don't waste half their life under a blow dryer.  For me, it's approximately 20 minutes every day.  Again, I kid you not.  This is a serious matter.  No joking allowed.

Needless to say, when Tiffanie said she could go 3.  Yes, THREE days without washing her hair, I was sold.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I won't go that long because, well, the thought kind of grosses me out a bit.  I have however started the every other day regimine and I could not be happier!

So, moral of the story?  Go get you some!  Did I just sound like an Okie?  Ok, go online and buy this product!  You won't be sorry! Ladies, it will change your life!

The Hall of Shame: Tulsa Wedding Photographer

At this point in 2011 everyone seems to be blogging about their resolutions.  About things they want to do better.  Things that will make them more of who they want to be.  Let's be honest.  I mean, we're all friends, right?  I hate resolutions.  I think they set you up to fail.  It's not because of the resolutions that we fail, but more of what is behind the resolution.  I want to lose 10 pounds by July.  Great.  What are you going to do?  Most of the time people's answers are... I'm going to cut out carbs, no longer drink pop, work out every day and do away with suger all together.  Really?  How long's that going to last?  Again, set up for failure. 

Wait, that's not what I meant for this blog post to be about.  Sorry.  Tangent.

Recently I was reading a blog, yeah I've become obsessed with them.  Well, this particular photographer blogged about The Hall of Shame - meaning all the 'trends' in editing photography that we now look back on and want to slap ourselves upside the head.  I mean honestly, spot coloring?  Why was this ever a good idea?  He also talks a lot about the current trends in editing and how, if not done carefully, can end up on the Hall of Shame as well.

This is something I've struggled with for about a year.  I love the current style.  The old-world feel of grungy pictures, but would I want this in 30 years?  Do I want to look back on completely over-edited images?  Probably not.  I struggle because this is such a trend, but yet I feel as though my work needs to be clean.  Edited as little as possible and only to inhance the true image.  I can, like most, slap some PS on an image and call it good, but when I look at that shot a few months later... I slap myself up the head and think to my self... what in the world was I thinking.

So, here's to 2011.  Here's to not over-processing images and shooting clean photography.  Let's forget photoshop can make grungy-yellow'ish-brown-antiqued images.  I love them now, but I can promise you we won't love them later.

When I first started I was told a very vital line.  Just because photoshop can do something doesn't mean you should do it.  Key friends.  key.

So, what are your resolutions?  I'd love to hear 'em... that way I can make some of my own.