179/365

This is the epitome of lazy. Me, not him.

Things have been a bit busy lately and we're trying to get things done before leaving for Colorado in a few days. I needed a picture. He was there. So I took it.

*taken with my point and shoot...again

178/365

I was sitting at Starbucks working this morning when this guy walked in with his adorable little girl. I immediately thought he had to be a Cavaliers player. I mean, he was TALL (hello 6'11"), wearing Air Jordans, and had an NBA something-or-other t-shirt on! He sat down at the table across from me and after a little stalking spying...I was able to make out the name on his cup. Calvin.

So, after a few quick minutes with my internet best friend (Google, duh) I was able to match up his picture and determine that his name is Calvin Booth and he did in fact play in the NBA. While his career isn't all that exciting or impressive...it was still a fun little run in!

I wasn't planning on using this as my picture of the day...but seeing as how I forgot to take another one later on, this will have to do!

*photo sneakily taken with my phone

177/365

Cool refreshing drink on a hot day...

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176/365

I admit it - this was one of those days when it got late and I hadn't taken a picture yet. So, I started looking for an idea...when David found this frog chillin' on our patio.

Done and done.

*lazy shot taken with my point and shoot

174/365

Yummy dinner...found here. I love summer nights and eating dinner outside. Ahhhhh....deep breath.

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Wow - we've been getting out and about a lot lately - and it's been awesome! I'm not as much of a homebody as David and love to get out, see stuff, people watch, and try new things. Tonight we did all of that! I've been craving sushi for awhile (David isn't the biggest fan and I usually can't get him to go) and David had recently heard about 1/2 price sushi night at Sushi Rock in downtown Cleveland....so, we decided to give it a try.

David and I ordered three different rolls to share (which was plenty) and had a fun evening relaxing on the outdoor patio. The sushi was AWESOME (David agrees = winning!) and the people watching wasn't too bad either...

*photo taken with my phone

Apparently there was something going on with a bunch of the Cleveland Browns players...so we kept seeing them go in and out of the restaurant, giving an interview, and mingling with fans. David doesn't really go ga ga over that kind of stuff...but I found it entertaining. I'm not sure who this is...but he plays for the Browns!

And apparently this post is all about how David and I are different -- and I'm okay with that : ) Opposites attract!

171/365

I love baseball (read more about that here) and have been itching to make it to a game now that the weather has warmed up - and dried out! So, when I heard that the Rockies were coming to town we marked our calendar and made sure to hit a game while they were here.

It was a great night out -- and the Rockies won to boot! Go Rocks!!

*photo taken with my point and shoot

170/365

After church today David and I took a special trip down to BA Sweetie's...a new {HUGE} candy store we found. I had to get candy for a bachelorette party/lingerie shower I'm throwing for my best friend in a few weeks...and David, of course, needed to get some for himself.

This is fitting...

*photo taken with my point and shoot

169/365

Following our evening at the Duct Tape Festival, we were up bright and early to head out to the annual Duct Tape Parade. We can't live in Avon and not participate in all of the Duct Tape Festival festivities (at least once). So, armed with our morning coffee we headed out the door. We found a nice spot behind a few shorter people and parked ourselves there.

All in all it was pretty fun. Each float had something to do with duct tape - some were constructed soley with duct tape and others incorporated it in other ways.

Below is one of my favorite floats. A local boutique bridal shop designed a tux and wedding gown out of duct tape. The dress was actually really pretty and very impressive!

*photos taken with my point and shoot

168/365

David and I went out to celebrate our TWO YEAR anniversary this evening (where does the time go?!). We went to Strip - a local steakhouse. It was delicious and had a great outdoor ambiance. I think we'll definitely be going back.

After dinner, I convinced David to go to the Duct Tape Festival that was going on down the street. Yup - that's right...the Duct Tape Festival! Soooo romantic.

Avon, OH is home to the Duck Brand duct tape and hosts a festival each year. They had the typical carny food and rides, live bands, duct tape sculptures, and interesting people. We even participated in a scavenger hunt so that David could get a pennant -- but they closed the pennant booth before we finished. Oops!

*taken with my point and shoot

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We are celebrating our two year wedding anniversary today -- and since I didn't get any "ring" pictures on our wedding day I decided to use a few of our wedding pieces and recreate it for myself.

Here are our rings (a little less shiny than that day in 2009) with one of our programs (top) and invitations (bottom).

Our wedding was perfect and I look back on June 15, our day, with such wonderful memories!

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164/365

I photographed Ava as a newborn and I can't believe she's already three (four) months old! She is such a cutie and I love those big blue eyes.

I still laugh about the day I photographed her as a newborn. Just as we were finishing up the shoot her dad picked her up - without a diaper on - and she had a MAJOR explosion...all over his arm...and his chest...and his hand...and the floor. It was disgusting and funny all at the same time.

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My sister-in-law..and her friend Bonnie!

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This is one of my new favorite meals to date. You can read more about it here.

Yuuuuuuum!

*photo taken with my point and shoot

161/365

I didn't really intend to have this be my picture of the day....until I forgot to take a real one later today. So...here it is.

It's a picture of me going through the drive-thru at the grand opening of STARBUCKS. Yes, we finally got one near where I live. Happy day!

 *photo taken with my phone

159/365

Ahhhh...summer, I love you!

I've been enjoying the pool at our place lately and it has been wonderful. I think I could get used to this!

*photo taken with my phone

157/365

I purchased these bangles at Charming Charlie (one of my new favorite stores) recently and can't stop wearing them. They instantly dress up any outfit and are just so fun and flirty!

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We got a fun little package in the mail today -- which included a wedding invitation to David's cousin's wedding in California. Yup, we're going back....and we can't wait!

I've had a little love affair with divine twine for some time now...and was thrilled to see that Chuck & Pam incorporated it in their wedding invitations. I LOVE that little touch. The invitations are beautiful!

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154/365

You've now seen Lillian Grace around here a few times. She was one of my very first newborn clients, her mom and dad purchased my Milestone package (which means I'll photograph her four times in her first year), and I recently photographed her christening. She is such a happy baby and she seriously does not stop smiling. It's awesome!

This is one of my favorites from her six-month session that we had tonight!

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Wow - I've been busy with a ton of sessions lately...which is a good thing!

I had the opportunity to capture one of the cutest little boys of I've seen to date. Seriously. He was a doll. I loved the way that he interacted with his mom and dad...and those chubby little cheeks!

Meet Brad....he's 8 months old.

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I seriously can't get over how cute little Aubrey is. This picture just cracks me up because she looks like one of those little glow worms I used to have when I was little. How precious is she?!? I melt.

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151/365

Asian Turkey Meatballs is one of our favorite winter dishes around here. So, as we kicked off summer grilling season this past weekend and said hello to fresh fruit salads, I had to (get David to) make it one last time before fall!

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150/365

I had the opportunity to capture baby Amelia today -- and at just 8 days old she was just a little peanut!

Though I am in lloooooooove with this pose, I can't take credit for it. It was a special request by Amelia's mom. I think she has great taste!

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When one of my clients first approached me about photographing her daughter's Christening I had to think a good long time about it. I'd never even shot an event before - let alone a large event (150+ in attendance). Oh, the pressure!

After talking to my enginerd engineer hubby, thinking through all the possible scenarios, asking David to come with me and be my support second shooter, and figuring out what the appropriate equipment to rent would be, I said yes. And, I'm so glad I did.

The hands-on experience I received that day will be invaluable to me as I continue to grow my business. I had a crash course in lighting, flash photography, depth of field, and perspective. Learning to tell the story of the event and capturing the moments that matter is truly an art. And, I'm pleased with how well I (and he) did!

Here's just a glimpse of the day!

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146/365

Okay, seriously. It's not funny anymore.

I'm ready for the sun to come out...and stay out.

This rain is getting old.

The end.

Photo captured on my way home from work...on my phone.

144/365

Happy almost-start-to-the-summer -- it's been a long time comin'!

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It's been super stormy and rainy here lately -- and there's nothing better than a cuppa joe on a rainy day. It's not unusual for me to work from Caribou for a few hours in the morning before actually heading into the office. It's a definite perk of the job. I love being able to change up my environment and it sure beats sitting in my cube for 8 hours!

On this particular day, a Monday to be exact, I was hard at work updating the web content.

Photo shot with my point and shoot.

Oh, and speaking of rain, here's a glimpse of the storm (er, aftermath) that passed through this evening (and our new hanging basket that was planted over the weekend!).

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142/365

I had the opportunity to photograph baby Max today at 20 days old. Ususally this is a bit older than I like to shoot "newborns" but he did awesome. He slept like a champ and gave us the opportunity to try a few more poses than I'm usually able to get. Here's one of my favorites from the day - what a cutie he is!

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We got a slight jump start on summer planting this weekend. Last year we waited until Memorial Day to go pick out our flowers -- and boy were they picked over when we got to them on Monday. So...this year we decided to go the weekend before Memorial Day. A much better decision if you ask me. Fresher flowers to look at, less crowds to battle, and friendlier salespeople. Win-win-win. Plus, unlike next weekend, we David actually had time to set aside to plant them : )

Photo taken with the point and shoot.

140/365

David and I have been taking on a little extra freelance work over the last couple of months (as if we've had any time for that!) and these are my cut of the deal. I think I made out pretty well : )

f3.5  |  1/2500sec  |  iso125  |  sky NOT photoshopped. for reals.

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A super awesome, amazing package came for me in the mail today -- my new camera bag!! Can you believe this sassy little number is made just for my camera gear?!? Yeah...me neither! I've been eying it for awhile and was just waiting until I could justify the cost. Okay...so, it didn't really take me that long. How could I resist?! Hello Clover in turquoise. I love you!

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138/365

Have I gotten lazy or what?? So much for shooting on manual and being all creative and stuff. Oh well -- I just got way too excited about this and had to share!!

A Starbucks is going in just 1.2 short miles from my house...on my way to work...WITH a drive-thru! Oh happy day : )

Photo taken with my phone.

137/365

I can't believe I'm about to post this picture and claim it. But alas, I am...and I just did.

The time stamp on this picture is 11:38pm...on a TUESDAY. What was I still doing up?!? It's a school night after all! Anyway...after I got all comfy in my bed ready to drift off to dreamland...my mind, as it usually does, started thinking about my to-do list and all the things I didn't get accomplished today. That's when the lightbulb went off and I realized I hadn't yet taken a picture today. I can't remember and then just NOT take a picture. So...I reached for my phone, without even turning on a light, and snapped the first thing that I could.

Ahhh...back to bed for this sleepy head!

Photo taken with my phone. Duh.

136/365

I've been working on ways to incorporate active siblings into photo sessions with newborns and I think I found a winner! It works great to put the baby on the chest (or legs) of an older sibling. The older sibling suddenly becomes very cautious, gentle, and responsible...it's amazing. I'll have to keep this little trick up my sleeve for the next time I shoot a sibling group : )

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I can't take credit for this shot -- but I can't not put it up. My lovely husband took this great shot from the patio of his grandfather's house. It overlooks the San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, and downtown San Fran!

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And here's my picture! My absolute favorite ice cream ever -- one of the best parts about California (in my opinion). I may have even converted David. It's Chocolate Malted Krunch from Thrify's/Rite Aid. And, it is heavenly. For realsies. My mouth is watering just looking at it!

Photo taken with my point and shoot.

132/365

We woke up to another beautiful day in Sonoma. After breakfast we hit the road and headed over to Napa. We weren't quite ready to begin wine tasting so we went to the visitor's bureau to map out our course. There are SO many wineries and it can be a bit overwhelming.

We ended up going to Mondavi, Raymond Vineyards, Beringer (my favorite!!), and Castello di Amorosa. We didn't have complimentary tasting cards for the wineries in Napa like we did in Sonoma, so we tasted at Beringer and that was plenty all. We did tour the grounds of each of them ourselves -- which are absolutely beautiful.

I loved all of the flowers that were in full bloom! I snapped this picture on the side of the road as we were leaving Raymond. And bonus - Poppies are the California state flower!

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One of the other things I'd really been looking forward to doing while in California was taking a quick trip to Napa. I looked forward to it not only because I'd never been there before but because it was an opportunity to slow down, get away, and relax with my hubby.

We spent today in Sonoma....and a beautiful day it was! We checked into our wonderful bed & breakfast, picked up our complimentary wine tasting card, and hit the road making stops at the Kunde Family Estate and Chateau St. Jean before calling it a night.

Kunde Family Estate

Taken with my point and shoot

Chateau St. Jean

 Again, the point and shoot.

130/365

I'd been to San Francisco just one time before this trip...and not since starting my photography business and buying my fancy schmancy new camera. So, one of the things that I really wanted to do on this trip was to make up and take a photo safari around San Fran - hitting all of the major touristy spots and capturing images around town. We coerced a few others to join us on our photo safari (David's mom, sister Jen, and cousin Krista) and had a blast being tourists for the day!

Stop #4: China Town

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129/365

Today was a low key day in NorCal. David and I got to spend some time with his grandfather, help him out with some errands, and spend some time on our own. This afternoon we went to one of our favorite places to view the Golden Gate Bridge only to find out that our spot was under construction...so we had to go up the hill a little higher. It's not quite as picture-esque...but I did snap this picture which I think is pretty cool.

Downtown San Francisco is just past the bridge and Alcatraz is the small island off to the left.

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The day after the wedding was Mother's Day -- and since David's mom was in town we decided (along with his sister Jen) to surprise her with a trip to Carmel for the day...including the most amazing brunch I've ever had at Clint Eastwood's restaurant, at Mission Ranch. There was nothing this brunch buffet could have possibly included that would have made it any better - and the dessert buffet blew the socks off of any dessert buffett I've ever seen. It a was a.maz.ing!

After brunch we walked around the town of Carmel, ducking into cute little shops, and making our way down to the beach for a stroll in the sun. It was a gorgeous day.

On the way home we hit up the 17-Mile Drive...which is where the following pictures were shot.

Check out all those sea lions!

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