About a year ago, I was given the opportunity by Sony to try out their latest Digital SLR Cameras, and to attend a workshop given by wonderful wedding photographer Me Ra Koh and her husband Brian. Little did I know how much that weekend in San Diego would change my life – well, at least this part of it. Sony gave me the tools to start my own photography business, and Me Ra gave me the inspiration. I began slowly, taking pictures of my kids (of course) and was soon asked by others to take photos of their kids, families, and it grew from there. Today I am on the verge of making it “Official”. I have a blog (to be revealed soon!), a plan (I think) and a goal.
A couple of weekends ago I had my first “formal” shoot – granted, it was a friend and her daughter, but I tried to conduct it as a professional, and I am really pleased with the outcome…
I have another session coming up, and I have made a few photographer friends for encouragement and to bounce ideas off of. So if you live in the Inland Empire, or anywhere in Southern California, and you would like to set up a session, shoot me an email – Mama needs an A-900!!
I mentioned a while back meeting Nathan Pacheco and Ender Thomas at Blissdom and getting a sneak preview of the Yanni Voices concert. What I didn’t expect was that I would be meeting them again in addition to the two lovely ladies they share a stage with Monday night at the Yanni Voices concert in Anaheim. I had seen Yanni years ago and knew I was in for an amazing concert, but I was blown away by how much the vocals added to the experience. In addition to Nathan’s soaring operatic tenor, and Ender’s deep, emotional vocals, Leslie Mills’ warm, rich voice and and Chloe’s versatile, sensual performance brought Yanni’s music to life and took this concert to a whole other level…
The instrumentals are still the heart of Yanni’s performances. Some of these musicians have played with Yanni for more than 20 years - and everyone gets their chance to shine. Dancing brass sections, dueling violins, drum solos, and a man who does things to a paraguayan harp that should be impossible to do only added to the incredible energy and passion that Nathan, Leslie, Ender and Chloe shared with the audience Monday night. This carried on into meeting them after the concert, where I was blown away yet again by Nathan and Ender’s charm, and Leslie and Chloe’s beauty and poise. They were gracious and sweet and had we had more time, would have loved to sit down with them and ask a million questions.
If you get a chance to see Yanni Voices live, it will be an experience you won’t soon forget. If you don’t, keep an eye out for a video - they were taping last night, so there may be a release soon!
I never imagined that 2 weeks into summer break I would be ready for school to start again. I thought we would be having fun going on outings, working on projects and crafts, and enjoying the few weeks before first grade rears it scary head…
Um, not quite.
While we have had fun for the most part, having had such a busy school year has made me want to just hibernate and chill. Add to that the unusually cool summer we have had in California so far and we have been pretty content to just hang out around the house and read, draw, and catch up on the doings of Phineas and Ferb.
That all changes this week. I have a list of fun places to go, things to do, and stuff to make, and darn it, we are gonna have fun! My oldest is becoming such an artist, so I am going to transfer one of his drawings to fabric and embroider over that to make some art for the boys almost-bare walls. My little guy, who just turned 4, LOVES to help in the kitchen, so I have a list of goodies to make with him. I got a lot of inspiration from Soule Mama’s book for planning activities geared towards their interests (she has a new one coming out in August that I can’t wait for!). I want to take them to the beach some time this summer, as well as the Discovery Science Center (thanks Marcy for the idea!), the zoo, and dollar movies. Add in plenty of sunshine, a bit of weeding, painting, planting and I think we will have a pretty full summer. With plenty of reading and just hanging out too…
I have never been good at decorating walls. I think I reached my peak when I had Donny Osmond and Scott Baio posters on my wall, torn out of 16 and tiger beat magazines (ack - dating myself!). Luckily for me I know lots of creative chickies who can show me the way…
This post is about paint, but the FABULOUS (and new to me!) 320 Sycamore has filled this post (and her whole blog! ) with dreamy ideas for wall foofing. I could spend hours drooling here…
Thrifty Decor Chick has a brilliant post using inspiration from Ballard Designs - SO easy and I could see using this in a few rooms in different ways…
…and last, I thought I would show you what I am working with - this is my living room just after I painted. Consider these the “before” pictures:
This gives you a good look at one side of the living room - the coffee table is soon to become an experiment in painting - I’m thinking black…the couch is a olive-y green.
This is the other end. I have lots of wall to fill, don’t I? I am lukewarm about the bookcase, but it will work for the time being…I am making pillows for the couches too!!
I would love advice, and to see your favorite links for wall art and decoration!!
Since I am an official Crackberry addict, I find myself websurfing a bit in the morning, and saving sites for a later look-see on the computer - here are some recent favorites:
I was searching for some ideas to make my son a Mailman kit for his birthday, when I came across this Insanely Creative Etsy seller - how cute are these playhouses that you put over a card table?? She also makes the cutest tents that you can drape over a clothesline!
I found Mel, a dramatic mommy in the latest issue of Redbook - she’s a great writer with a great story to tell…
Um, you know that dreaful thing that keeps happening now when you go to a blogger blog if you’re on Internet explorer? Yeah, you need to switch to Firefox - do not pass go, do not collect $200 - this finally convinced me to STAY on the firefox train - I promise, it won’t hurt! (Stop laughing Karla and Darcy!)
Lindsay at Living with Lindsay has a cuter than cute blog, and and even cuter house…so much inspiration, so little time.
THE most delicious Salmon recipe EVER - made for me a long time ago by a favorite blogger - I would make it now, but CERTAIN people in my household don’t like salmon…or asparagus. But I am ALL over it when I have some girlfriends over for a chickies night out!
If you are a bachelor/bachelorette junkie like me, there is only one blog for you to read - Lincee hates green beans, but she can turn a dreadful group date into a blog ten times as funny!
If you love iced coffees, but hate paying Starbucks prices, or wonder what in the world is in a mcdonalds coffee, here is a great tutorial to make your own from Small Notebook.
I’m off to make some felt mail for an almost 4 year old!
