girl loves friday

Well here we are. My very last day at work! Another thing I will not miss is my hand cramping from all the data entry. Or the sore back from slouching at my desk. Or the booty numbing I would get from sitting all day. Watching soaps + noshing on bonbons? More like morning Yoga classes, meet ups with friends, doctor apts, creative work and photo shoot with future model. Can't wait to get a move on with new path. Thanks for the lovely comments and emails guys! Onto girl loves.... *quote source* *pillow* *wall art*

girl loves friday

After deleting my entry several times, I think it's best to just bid you all a happy friday. My brain is completely fried after a long week and I am worn out. I will be very happy to be able to catch up on some sleep this weekend. Maybe even sneak a nap in if I'm lucky. :) Before I take off to plant my butt on the couch + watch Jersey Shore (don't judge me), I wanted to steer you over to the Studio Calico blog to check out a quickie Project Life tutorial. These handmade cards are about the only thing I have slotted in my page protectors and I'm glad I made a big batch before the new year started.

Ok lovelies, I'm out. xot

Items used in tutorial: Mists, Clay + White + Atmosphere Ampersand Mask Journal Spots More Gray More Kraft Asterisks

girl loves friday

Well...this has certainly been a week to remember with the leaving of the day job and all. February 15th will be my last day sitting behind a desk and doing work that I no longer enjoy. I sit here eating my yogurt, shaking my head at that last sentence. 2/15 seems like forever and until then, I will still do my work as best I can. I vow to not get "short timers" and finish out the remainder of my time being the employee I have been for the past 11 years. No reason to burn bridges, right? Although admittedly, when I get an email that makes me want to scream "!)#@ I'm not dealing with this anymore" I take a deep breath, glance a the calendar and remind myself that it will all be ok. Onto girl loves....

Here we are in the third week of Project Life 2012 and I've hit a wall. I don't want to give up but it's just not striking me as awsomely as my friend's PL's.  Vee's is the layering queen and it all just comes together so well. Then Jed's who makes me want to chuck my 12X12 out the window.

If I were a fashionista blogger, I would want to be like her. Loving this bold contrast of color.

And how about another "make" statement.

Happy Friday! xot.

girl loves friday

I really wish I could stay in today and not drive anywhere. It's pretty nasty out with the latest snow storm to hit Anchorage. Kind of freaked me out at one point when all I could see was white, no road. I was so happy I made it home safely. Other than that, it's been a fair week and I'm ready for it to be over.

Onto girl loves.

*Now that I've Cameo'd basic things I've downloaded in their store, I'm ready to venture out and do some of my own designs. This inspires me to do just that. *I've been tossing the idea of converting our garage into a studio so I can take quirky family photos (like this) of us. *beautiful quote.

xot

girl loves friday

Haven't done this on in a long time. But now with the help of Pinterest, it'll be a bit easier to get back on track. *Kind of loving neons + brights in a big way. I wish I would have seen this banner before Tyler's first birthday. I love the mix of shapes. *This steak recipe from Pioneer Woman. She really can do no wrong. *I never tire of reading this quote from the late Steve Jobs. "...The only way to do great work is to love what you do." Now that I think about it, I'm going to print it out and frame it. *Loving this cozy neutral look. Except my sweater would have to be a tad longer since I do not have perfect model thighs or butt. Add thick socks=perfect weekend "I'm staying in because it's too effing cold to do anything + I plan on burying myself in paper and project life bits" outfit.

Happy Friday! xot

girl loves friday

So much to love about today! The weekend before Christmas. Wow. I'm starting to feel that bit of excitement you feel as a kid. Does it ever go away? Be honest. I know we as adults get tend to get so caught up in all the negatives that surround the holidays. The over-crowded malls, the traffic, the "oh you bought me a gift...I thought we weren't doing gifts" routine, the gluten, the bills you're adding up in your head after each purchase, the coworker you predict will get so wasted at the Christmas party, they'll regret Monday morning. Everything that wants to kill your Christmas spirit(except for the last bit...that will actually be funny). I'm not giving into it this year. Especially the week before Christmas. That stint of bad luck has cleared from the beginning of the month. Going forward, it's nothing but yuletide goodness This week is the best week of December. *my mailbox will be riddled with Christmas cards and I will love every. single. one. * I will watch my favorite holiday movies...The Family Stone (I love this movie so much. This is my "me only" movie) Christmas Vacation (we watch this on Christmas eve late at night. The is "our" movie) Home Alone (this brings back so many memories) Micky's Christmas (old school cartoons. I miss these cartoons.) *I will wear my thermal pj's with colorful snowflakes and wear cozy slipper socks. *I will dress Tyler in equally warm and festive pj's *I will try but not succeed in getting Jeff to wear festive pj's (he's missing out) *I will drink more hot chocolate than one should. *I will miss my parents who will be on a cruise during Christmas. (It's good that their getting away.) *I will wrap gifts while singing along to Mariah Carry's Christmas. (in my head, I am Mariah Carry singing) *I will wear a pretty dress and attend the office Christmas party. *I will eat King Crab legs and drink a few Alaska Pale Ales. *I will so enjoy watching Tyler open up his first gift from Santa. *We will snuggle and be merry together and I will be so very happy and content in that moment.

Happy Friday. xot

***Ali Edwards Christmas Quote Strips***

oh friday, how I love thee.

Another week down, another weekend to enjoy.I'm not sure how many times I've mentioned to coworkers, friends and family..."can you believe Thanksgiving is next week?!". Can you though? And with Thanksgiving kicks off the whole rush of the holiday. Crap. I feel like I should be better prepared for all of this. But I'm not, never am until crunch time. I'm struggling to figure out where we're going to put our Christmas tree being that Tyler must and will get into everything he is not suppose to get into to. A tree decorated with pretty shiny sparkly things will surely throw him in a grabbing frenzy. Guess we'll figure it out. Even if the tree ends up being in the dining room, it will go up. December daily? Another one of my concerns. Everyone seems to have covers decorated and pages done and I'm left wondering where to start. I did a bit of planning tonight, gathering things from my stash, going through old kits. An SCer commented "shop your stash" on the boards which sounds like a perfect idea and one I intend to do. And the whopper, Tyler's first birthday. I'm stressing about hosting his party in our tiny, not so functional home. I'm worried about the projects that have yet to be completed, the walls that are semi decorated, the dust bunnies, the kitchen cabinets that desperatly need a new paint job. I looked into having it elsewhere but Vee says I should do it at home and she's right. Tyler would be way more comfy here and although it'll be COZY with 15 people in a small box, I will do my best to make if fun for the person who will matter the most that day. My boy.

I've got a few more mini Polaroid cards up in the shop for the weekend. I only have a few calendars left from the first print batch as well. I will be doing one more run and that'll be it for 2012!

Happy weekend everyone.

xot

girl loves friday.

photog style fall 2012

 

I've learned a few things here and there on what to wear for a photoshoot. I think we all focus so much on what a client should wear that we don't consider the importance of the photographer's attire. I found that although I love wearing scarves, it would constantly get intertwined with my camera strap. Plus I tend to overheat midway through the session so I ended up tossing my scarf in my bag. Who says photographing doesn't burn calories? I always wear layers in the fall/winter because of this. I also don't own an actual camera bag. It's on my want/need list but for now, I use a cross-body bag. I only use 2 lenses so it works out for me. I wear boots because I tend to not watch wear I step and because I'm normally outdoors, I've been known to step right into dog bombs as well as goose droppings. Easy to wash off when I get home. I just slip my boots off and into my Toms when I get in my car. I wear jeans that I don't mind getting dirty because half the time I'm on my knees.
There have been times I've just thought I could get away with wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt as I book shoots first thing on Saturday mornings but what kind of message would I put across to the client? In a creative profession, I think it's important to dress in a manner that fits your image and your photography style.
Happy Friday everyone! I'll be enjoying my holiday weekend with multiple sessions, laundry + this little goober.
xot.

girl loves friday cont.

Reasons why I love today. I took a personal day. My little buddy/Ty's cousin stayed over last night. We made cookies and stayed up late watching Megamind. I got to wake up to my baby and my girl both in their snuggy flannel pjs. I soaked in some awesome fall "golden hour" photos. in the process of editing those now. I scouted locations for tomorrow's senior session. I purged even more scrapbook supplies. I'm talking Basic Grey circa 2005. Felt really good. I made a pot of my favorite sausage corn chowder. Jeff and I have an exciting Friday night planned. Couch+snuggly new throw blanket+Boardwalk+Bridesmaids+sleeping boy=good times. Happy Friday. Tina

girl loves friday (& a boudoir peek)

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We love our fridays in these parts.
As do many of you I'm sure. 
My morning started out with a laugh. I feel kind of bad but I scared the poop out of my husband while he was sleeping. I'm still snickering about it. 
My coffee was extra delicious. I wish this particular barista would work the morning shift everyday. She makes nonfat milk tastes sinful.
The combination of a good belly laugh and tasty coffee put a pep in my step as I walked gleefully in the office. My coworker even noticed my more perkier attitude.
What can I say? Friday and I are besties.  

Going to keep this post short and sweet.

The one web love I have today is the Lara Casey project which has lit a massive bonfire under my big "just had a baby" bootie. Lara-cAsey-challenge-1I needed this more than anything right now and I'm in it all the way. I just completed step 1 and moving forth to step 2. I just blogged about being overwhelmed and I know mental clutter is the biggest culprit.  

A quick peek from the boudoir session which I'm still plugging away on.

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Happy Friday!
xot.