A World With Other Halves :: {Tulsa Family Photographer}

The first time we met we were among 150 other young freshman girls at our Alma mater... all pledging the same sorority.  Sitting in a large upper room of the sorority house, every girl went around and said who they were and where they were from.  This is your introduction into sorority life.  As an 18 year old girl, thrown into a fairly small room {when it's filled with every member of our house... around 300 girls}.  And this was our introduction to each other. 

It seems like that moment was just yesterday, but then again, seems so long ago.  It's been 8 years since we first sat in that room and introduced ourselves to one another.

I had the honor of photographing this sweet sorority sister of mine and her other half a few weeks ago.  We actually gathered the whole clan together, all 11 of them, on a nice and steamy Sunday afternoon and snapped a thousand few shots of their sweet fam together. 

Internet, meet my admirably gorgeous friend, Chesley and her sweet, sweet other halves.

Now, Chesley just stop.  You're making the rest of look bad!

I just love how the youngest one is looking at his brother like, what the heck are you doing??

Hello??: {Tulsa Wedding Photographer}

{knock,tap, tap}  Hello?  


{tap, tap, tap}  Heeelllloooo? Internet?


{cough, cough}  I'm sorry.....


If you want to give me the award for the worst blogger of the year, I'm currently accepting it.  Because I know.  and I'm sorry.


If you have a blog you may understand what happened.  Or if you're a fellow photographer... you probably get it too.  It's so hard to blog every single day.  Not because I don't want to... but because it's hard to figure out what to say every day.  Hard to know the line between how much is too much about my personal life and what is the right combination.  Plus, at times, telling myself I had to blog every day brought on a whole new stress.  So I'm sorry.  I don't mean to lay it all out there.. but thought I should be honest about why I disappeared.  


So hopefully I'm back.  Maybe not every day... because.  well.  I talk a lot but can never think of enough things to tell you guys.


Thanks for understanding and if I go on a hiatus again... send me a note and let me know!

Taking Applications :: Senior Representative Program :: {Tulsa Senior Photographer}

Schools are letting out.

The stores are filled with shorts and tanktops.

And most important?  Snow Cone Shacks are open for business!

What does all of this mean?  It means SUMMER is almost here and we've got a new class of SENIORS about to relish in all that it means to be Seniors!

So what does this mean for you all?

I'm looking for unique 2012 seniors who want to be part of my Senior Representative Program!!!

In exchange for your help promoting Allison Lee Photo to your friends, you'll receive a free senior photography session!

One male and one female student will be chosen from each of the local high schools in Tulsa and its surrounding areas:

(Bartlesville, Owasso, Jenks, Broken Arrow, Bixy, etc.)

Now for the deets...

In order to be a senior rep for ALP, you must:

Be a senior graduating in 2012

Be camera friendly (if you hate having your picture taken this probably isn't the position for you ;)

Have a fun sense of personal style, be unique... funky even!

Live in Tulsa or it's surrounding cities/suburbs

Agree to promote Allison Lee Photo to your friends and classmates

Represent ONLY ALP & use the images from your session as your senior photos

Return a photo release signed by you and your parent/guardian

If you are a part of ALP's Senior Representative Program, you'll receive the following:

A free senior photography session

Unlimited shoot time

Two sessions (a fall/winter AND spring/summer)

A proofing gallery to select your favorite images

A CD of low-res, watermarked images to be used on your social networking page (Facebook, Myspace, blog, etc.)

50 senior rep. cards.  Each card will be personalized with your name, your photos and our business information to hand to your friends and classmates.

3 mini albums of your images to be used to show your friends and classmates (and so you can give one to mom and grandma!)

An opportunity to earn print credits and print discounts for each person you refer to Allison Lee Photo

A $50 prepaid Visa gift card will be awarded to the senior rep with the highest number of rep cards returned by January 1st, 2012 (**must be at least over 10 returned cards to qualify)

Card can be spent however you like

You'll earn referral discounts for each referral you send to Allison Lee Photo:

1-3 Referrals - 10% off print order and $20 print credit

4-6 Referrals - 10% off print order and $40 print credit

7-10 Referrals - 15% off print order and $60 print credit

11+ Referrals - High-Resolution DVD of all images from your session

All senior reps must agree with the following terms and conditions:

Senior representative sessions must be scheduled and take place before August 14, 2011.  You may schedule an initial session before August 14th and a follow-up session to take place before January 1st, 2012.  This might allow you to have the fall landscape as well as the summery Oklahoma weather in your portfolio.  Rep cards will be given to the reps before September 1st, 2011.  All students will be entered into the drawing for the $50 Visa card, but only rep cards before January 1, 2012 will count towards the drawing.  Any rep cards after January 1st, 2012 will still contribute towards your print credits and discounts, but will not count towards the Visa gift card drawing.  When your referrals book a session and pay in full, you will receive credit for that referral.

Any referral that presents your card when booking their session will receive 10% off of their senior photography session.

Be sure and tell your friends about the perks of the senior rep session.... they can sign up for the 2013 season!  Your participation in the program will not only introduce you to fun & funky, personalized photography, but wlso a way to help your parents out and earn incentives towards your session for senior portraits at little or no cost!  All students must return the aplication, including the model release, before June 30, 2011.  This program is first come, first serve so be sure to act fast if you're interested.  All reps will be contacted and announced on my blog July 13, 2011.

TO ENTER:

Please send me an email to allison@allisonleephoto.com with a photo of yourself & the school you will be graduating from (for my records)!

I will send you the full application & model release.

I can't wait to work with you!!

The Best Is Yet To Come :: Tulsa Photographer

Alright, as promised I have something very exciting to share with you all.  Will this change your lives?  Probably not.  Will you get as excited as I did?  Umm... yeah, again, probably not.  BUT, because we're friends I'm sharing it with you anyway.

Yesterday, that fabulous employee sporting the solid brown ensemble with the three little letters U. P. S. arrived on my doorstep.  Little did he know that package he was holding was going to make me jump for joy and almost want to hug him!  I said almost. come on peeps.

I scribbled my signature as fast as I could and snatched up that beautiful brown box as quickly as my little hands knew how.

And what was inside?  Well.... only this!!!

Like I said, you probably aren't as excited as I was when I saw that beautiful brown truck pull up, but let's just pretend you are.  (and yes, sorry the pictures are small.  I took my own but don't have them with me at the moment.)

So there you have it internet.  A beautiful new Nikon D3s is the newest member of the Allison Lee Photo family and I couldn't be more excited!!!!!

All I'm sayin' is...

I generally don't post on Fridays... as you may have gathered so now you're probably all..."Whaaa???".

I know.  It's OK.  I have one thing to say.

The Bachelor Finale is Monday!!!  Don't ask me why I'm still obsessed with this show.  I've watched it since High School and can't seem to get enough... although I always seem upset once it's over because we all know they never pick who we want.

I know, I know.  I said I had ONE thing to say, so with that, I'm done.

See ya Monday!

An Imperfect Perfectionist: Tulsa Wedding Photographer

I am imperfect.  I'll be the first to admit it.  Although, there is some type of programming inside me that screams for perfection.  In my daily life.  In my life in general.  I feel as though perfection is a must.

So let's talk about a big IMperfection of mine: I feel the need to make decisions fast.  I don't want to sit and ponder what the absolute write decision is - I just go with my gut.  Some of you may say this is a good thing.  I, on the other hand, know it is one of my biggest flaws.  Why?  Because when someone does not allow me to resolve an issue or make an abrupt decision I make myself crazy.  I think of any way possible I can get the task/problem/issue finished.  FAST. 

When I shoot a session/wedding: I drive myself mad/crazy until I finish the editing process and get everything shipped out to my clients.  If I have emails sitting in my inbox: I have to answer them ASAP or I feel as though I have unfinished business.   Like right now.  I have an email that just popped in to book a session and it's driving me crazy to make myself sit here and finish this blog post rather than answer the email.  When someone says they 'need to think about it' there's a tick in me that goes crazy.  Think?? What's that?? I need you to make your decision now so I can reduce the feeling of having unfinished business!...  I can't handle unfinished business.  I need to feel as though all my edges have been hemmed and no one is waiting on anything from me.  I need to feel finished. whew.  I at least read the email... now I can concentrate on this post.

This is the point when we just need to sit back.  Relax.  Breathe.  If you want to 'think about it' I'm sure I'll be OK.  I can manage.  Take your time.  Just please hurry a little.

You may remember this beauty from this session.  It just makes me relax.  I love it.

Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover: Tulsa Wedding Photographer

Don't judge a book by it's cover.  Well, friends.  Now, I hope you judge me by my new cover!   Straight outta the box - I give you the new DVD and Case.  I spent the last few weeks designing these bad boys and am oober excited to share them with you! 

So, take a look.  Drool over them a little.  And let me know what you think!  Do you love them as much as I do??... probably not, but a girl can dream, right?!



A Big. Gigantic. Thank You: Tulsa Wedding Photographer

You all made our day.  My photography partner and I could not be more thrilled with the way you all represented yesterday.  You absolutely blew us off our seats with your eagerness for pictures!

So, thank you.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us to enter your lives and capture a small piece of what you love so dearly.

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

We cannot wait to begin working with all 158 of you!  Ya'll are the b.e.s.t.

Sweet Valentine's Day Gift Idea: Tulsa Wedding Photographer

Do you still need the perfect gift for your sweetheart?  Tired of the standard $60 roses? Don't want to spend an outrageous amount of money to impress the sox of of them? 

Today's deal on Living Social is a one hour photo session with yours truly for only $40 dollars!  With your purchase you will receive a CD of 10 images to print and an online gallery with the remaining images from your session.

I promise.  This deal is too good not to buy into! 

And the best part?  You don't even have to tell your sweetheart how much you did or did not spend on them!  A voucher will be sent to you via email and all you have to do is wrap up something cute saying you purchased a photography session for the two of you to make some memories together.

Talk about the best gift ever.  Your loved one will be extatic over this gift!  And guys, it's the easiest gift you can give!  After all, didn't you get her roses the last 3 years?  Gettin kinda old, don't ya think?

I'm just sayin.  This gift will make her eyes sparkle.  She'll think you went way out of your way and got her something extremely unique.  Dream come true.

So go buy it.  You have 24 hours until this deal expires.

To buy into my living social deal click HERE.  I promise.  You won't be disappointed.

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.

Big Deal. Big. Huge!

I promise I don't avoid my blog for long periods of time.  It's just that me and Mr. Blog have been on the fritz lately.  I'm sure we'll work it out, but it's touch and go at the moment.  Once we work out our issues this blog's gonna blow up like nothin you've ever seen.  I've got them all laid out - all I have to do is hit publish and you'll be on overload!  That is, if Mr. Blog and I ever work out our differences.  Let's pray that we do.

So on a completely other note.  Tomorrow's my birthday.  I get to turn another year older.  The big 2-6.  Yep.  26 my friends.  and if you know me at all you know that birthday's are a huge deal to me.  Like Tyrannosaurus Rex huge.  Ginormous.  Colossal.  Ok I'll stop.  But I love them.  Not just mine, but I equally love everyone else's too.  Probably even if I don't know you - I still love your day.  Because it's your birthday.  What's not to love?  I believe birthdays should be filled with so much celebration that whomever is having the birthday is overcome with love.  That's how it should be done.  Cake, balloons, gifts, phone calls, surprise parties ( these are the best) and pedicures.  Fine, you can leave off the pedicure if you want, but you don't know what you're missin!

And because I have the best friends around, they've decided to start celebrating with me early!  Today has been filled with flowers, gifts & cupcakes!  Watch out tomorrow.  You're gonna be awesome!

Oh, and for my innocent bride and groom tomorrow?  You watch out too.  Getting married on my birthday is flippin fantastic!  I may or may not pretend all your friends gathered at the reception are really there to help celebrate my birthday.  And I may or may not pretend that your gorgeous wedding cake is in fact my extra large birthday cake.  Where are my candles?  Oh, you want to cut my birthday cake now?  Excuuuuse me?  I think it shall be the bride.  groom.  and photographer cutting the cake tomorrow!

Here's to great friends.  birthdays.  and other people wedding celebrations that I secretly turn into my birthday parties!

Here's to you 26!

And thank you iPhone for always being there to snap a quick pic when I need one.

Tuesday Morning Pick-Me-Up

This lady is amazing. Kari Jobe. Simply amazing. I remember when I found her a few years ago while digging through the music portion of MySpace. I found her around Christmas time and have been a huge fan ever since. So much so that I had my mothers walk down to one song of hers at my wedding and my bridesmaids come down to another. Now everytime I hear either of these songs it immediately takes me back to the moment I was standing in the back of the church waiting for my entrance music to start. Take a moment to listen to her. Hopefully you're as blown away as I was. She sings with such passion and praise for the Lord.

The Importance of Strangers: Tulsa Wedding Photographer

I had kind of a strange thing happen to me Friday night.  Caleb and I went to the mall where I decided to try on some super cute boots at Bakers.  The worker went to the back to retrieve my size and came back with my boots, simply in the wrong color because they were out of the black in my size.  I though, no big deal, I'll try them on for size and can order the black if I really like them - which I did!  So Caleb and I are thinking, Great!  Shoe's bought, now we can go on our merry way.  Nope.  Out from the back comes the manager holding several boxes of boots in my size.  You see, she's has a thing for shoes (who doesn't ladies!) and she told me because I am tall she really wanted to see these boots on me.  So I obliged, well, because I love shoes too!  and I didn't want to let her down.... Pair 1, cute.  Pair 2, cute.  Pair 3... let's just say I tried putting the boot on and ended up taking it off immediately because I thought I was three and had put the shoe on the wrong foot.  Nope, I was right... it was just THAT uncomfortable!  Again, I'm thinking we're done.  Nope, she comes out with more boots.  OK, I oblige again... and again... and again.  So, then I'm thinking we're done.  I put my shoes back on, stand up, grab my purse and this is where it gets funny.  She sits down in a chair in front of us and says, "You know, I just feel really blessed."  I thought to myself, huh, I guess we're not done.  So I slowly sit back down and listen to her.

It wasn't what she said necessarily that hit me, but it was more of the fact that she felt as though she could share with me.  That's what hit me and it made me feel a little bad.  See, I had been in Bakers earlier that week looking at the same boots and the sales girls tried talking to me like all sales people do.  "Oh, your purse is so cute!"  ... "Thanks"... and I kept shopping as if to say, don't bother me. So Friday night I'm thinking, what if this girl is the same one that complimented my purse a few days ago.  What if I had blown her off and yet now she's sitting here telling me how blessed she feels.

It taught me something , Internet.  You never know what others are going through, so give everyone a minute and make them feel as though they have your whole attention.  After all, whatever you're doing can wait a single minute.  Nothing is that important.

So as I bought my boots and walked out of the store, she was on to helping a new customer and I waved goodbye to her as though I had just made a new friend.  She put an unexpected joyful smile on my face that night, and taught me a lesson in the mean time.  I bet she didn't even know it.

Now, on to the exciting part.  I was feeling a little domestic during the Oklahoma State game, so I made these little gems... and yes, they are black and orange.  Leave me along, I was in the spirit of the game!  Go Pokes!  Sorry Raiders. (Please excuse the iPhone picture...)

Enjoy your Monday!  It's Fall and it's beautiful.... go sit outside today!

Honeymoon

I'm horrible.  It's been 3 months since the honeymoon and I've yet to post anything about it.  So sorry.


It was the best vacation I've been on - ever.  We decided to wait a day to fly out so we could catch up on sleep and do some last minute packing.  Let me tell you what - I would highly recommend this!  I didn't have to worry about packing before the wedding which was a huge stress relief.  We got up, did a little last-minute laundry, packed and had a leisurely day.  The next day, Monday, we got up and caught our flight out of Oklahoma at 8:30 and were in Mexico by 1:00.


Now, if you know my husband at all, you know he's a planner.  He doesn't make abrupt decisions.... about anything!  He takes his time, researches every possible option about sixteen times, thinks about it for about five months, researches a little bit more and then is forced by yours-truly to make a decision.  The funny thing?  When I make him decide he acts as if he hasn't had enough time and in that Kerbo voice sighs a great big "I don't know..."  The bright side to his OCD decision making is that once a decision is made I know it's gonna be a good one.  Me on the other hand?  I'll jump at the first pretty thing I see.  I think I said "Oh, I wanna go there!" to about twenty-five different resorts.  But who can blame a girl?  Give me a beach, sun and a pallapa and I'm set!


We honeymoon'd down to the Riviera Maya in Mexico and stayed at the most beautiful resort, The Iberostar Grand Paraiso.  The people were so nice, and our butler Victor?  He was my new best friend, but thanks sir... I'll unpack my own suitcase.  


We flew out on Monday then back on Sunday afternoon and had a whole lotta fun in between it all!  There was snorkeling, lots of laying under that Mexican sun, too much food, Diet Cokes on the beach and lemon dusted peanuts every day.  Ever had these?  They're amazing!


So, go on vacation!!  Take a look at a few of our pictures and if you can't dream about another resort, let me know - I'd be happy to give Victor a shout and let him know you're heading his way!

Look at my cute little Scuba Steve!

Enjoy your Thursday!