thesaltedimage.com

I love when I open my front door and see a box from Amazon sitting there expectantly. I can almost hear the angels singing from the Heavens (I get the same feeling EVERY time I walk into a library. It’s magical.)

What is better than a box of books?!

I make it no secret that reading is one of my favorite things to do. There is not much better than an unread book just begging to be opened.  I love holding a book for the first time and imagining what is inside.  I love the smell of the pages and the smooth texture of the spine. Dare I admit, that I will often take a deep breath of the dust jacket with my eyes closed in eager expectation before I even open the cover? 

Ahhh, books.

So the new additions to my bookshelf…

Half of the books are business related (how else can I justify my book habit?) and honestly I was not super excited to start reading them. I am a bit surprised that Word of Mouth Marketing (one by Silverman and another by Sernovitz) is actually an interesting subject.

Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People should be read and practiced by every single person on earth. The world would be a better, sweeter, and happier place.

I saw the book  A Million Miles in a Thousand Years refereed to on a peach of a  blog, and was reminded that the author,  Donald Miller, wrote one of my favorite non-fiction books ever, Blue Like Jazz. So why haven’t I read his newest work? I was tempted to peek in it the other day but decided instead to hold off for my flight to Salt Lake City. The anticipation is killing me.

I read Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell several years ago, right after finishing Blue Like Jazz. I remember not being that impressed with it, but I think that may have had something to do with the fact that I had just finished such a fantastic book and nothing else could come close.  Dustin requested it recently, and when Dustin wants to read a book (a rare occurrence) I will jump through hoops to make it happen. 

My guilty splurge was Making Children’s Clothes by Emma Hardy. Truth is, I bought this at a fabric store because I had a 50% off coupon. So far I am loving it, not only are the patterns simple enough for a novice like me to grasp, but they are also very cute clothes. I have learned that simple and cute don’t often go together in the sewing world so I am very pleased with this.

So while I am out of town over the next couple of days, for my long-awaited, first ever, photography workshop, you can bet I will be opening a book every chance I get (flying without my kids, are you kidding me!!).

And by the way, what’s on your bookshelf?

Ryan and Madeline scheduled their sessions together which is something I totally recommend, especially if getting your portraits taken isn’t something your thrilled about. 

One thing that Dustin remarked on about Ryan and Madeline was that they never once texted during their session and that they were fully present and engaging. Dustin called it “refreshing and endearing”… he never texts, he is an old fart. Not that texting is bad of course, it was just nice that they gave us 100% of their focused attention through out the session.

I loved that they piled into our ultra-cool mini van with us, and were so flexible with our wanderings through downtown. 

Enough with my ramblings, here is Ryan…

Madeline recommended this graffiti wall as a possible location, and I am so glad she did. We love, LOVE, when Seniors have locations and ideas planned for their sessions! 

I know, the next picture is breaking the photography cardinal rule of not shooting in direct overhead sun, but I did it anyway.

And I think it’s cool. I’m such a rebel.

Now, we are new here and all, but seriously are all the Seniors in Amarillo good-looking?! 

Ryan, you rock! Thanks so much for being so easy going and great to work with. We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon with you and wish you the best for your future!

I am so glad that spring is almost upon us, because that means Seniors!

Seniors are my favorite. Not only are they awesome to photograph but I love hearing about their plans and goals for the future.

They are always so much fun to work with and Madeline was no exception. 
Don’t let her sweetness and beauty fool you, she is also an accomplished athlete in Track and Field, and I’m sure could run circles around my poky self.

She was up to pictures at the amusement park.

She didn’t bat an eye when I asked her to scale this concrete wall (it was further off the ground then it looks, but not dangerous of course!)…

Madeline you’re gorgeous and sweet to match!

Thanks you so much for giving us the opportunity to hang out with you for the afternoon, we had such a great time with you both. We wish you all the best and can’t wait to read all about you  in the paper during the Track season!

In honor of President day, I followed this fun little tutorial in order to make this…

I have to admit I am hooked. I laid awake last night trying to think up clever sayings and witty images to stencil over all our blank t-shirts.

Any ideas?

I don’t want to leave Ada out, here is her morning face. Gotta love it.

So yesterday was actually pleasant, not exactly balmy but no snow, wind, or freezing temperatures.  That makes taking pictures much easier for me, I do love the snow but I can’t stand being cold. Really, I detest it. Strongly.

Anyway, it was a perfect day for a photo session!

We were lucky enough to have two great Randall High Seniors booked  and I had such a great time with them both!

I will be posting more of their images over the next couple days. For now, here is a peek at Madeline…

Check back soon to see more !

February, thus far, has been full of snow, ice, slippery roads, and cancelled sessions. I would love to be out there taking pictures but since the weather will not cooperate, I will happily read instead.

I just finished Erwin McManus’s Soul Cravings. Wow. Awesome. Dustin had been pestering me to read this for a year, I didn’t take him seriously because, well,  because I’m the reader in the family, so what could he possibly know about good books? 

Apparently way more then he lets on.

I read through it quickly, but I will definitely be reading it again at a slower pace. With a highlighter. And a notepad.

I found another great read through a friend’s blog post, she linked to this blog from her’s and without coming off as melodramatic I think this post changed my life. Or at least the way I view life.  Powerfully and beautifully written.

Hopefully, the weather will allow this week’s sessions. If not, here are some images from G’s birthday to keep things interesting.

Ada before and after…

 I had not been to Chucky Cheese since the 1st grade.  I place it somewhere between having my teeth cleaned and taking the SAT’s on the fun meter. G had a blast though, which I keep needing to remind myself was the point.

Pumpkin cake for the third year in a row. This time I put sugar in it to make it slightly more palatable.

Gavin is three today.

It is hard to believe he has only been in our lives three short years. In those three years, he has turned our lives inside out and and upside down, in a good way. Beyond good. In a way that I can’t even put into words.

What did we do with our time before kids?  When have I ever loved so fiercely? When has another person ever met so much to me? God’s love for me has become so much clearer after having children. I have something to relate it to. God loves me like his child. More then I love my own child. That is crazy awesome, because that is a whole lot of love, my little human brain can’t even wrap itself around that. That love is bigger then the love I have for Gavin and that is some big, BIG, love.

Cool thing is God loves you that much too.  Seriously. 

So yes, the cliches are true, having children changes everything. Everything.

Some moments from G’s first three years.

Happy Birthday little man, you have changed my life in such a big, happy way!

This is Gracie’s third time to grace my blogsite  (see her here and here) and I hope to see her many more times! Gracie’s Mom, my beautiful and treasured friend Star, wanted some  ”I’m turning six” pictures of her sweet daughter. We picked a day when it wasn’t freezing or snowing (rare around here lately) to take her birthday pictures.  She is such a delight!

Happy Birthday Grace! We can’t wait to celebrate it with you this weekend!

Really, can someone tell me what I was thinking when I picked out this fabric? Egads!!

Lucky for me, I have a super-cute, little boy who doesn’t mind looking like a reptilian-snowstorm.

I am very much a novice sewer, but in my defense I have not finished hemming the pants just yet, which explains the gangsta’ look he is sporting. 

Yes, here is the proof that I had to bribe him with brownies in order to get these pictures…

As hideous as I think these are, I am quite proud of myself for making them. I mean I made clothes! The world is now my oyster!!  

Gavin doesn’t seem to mind their lack of visual appeal. He says he is a dinosaur when he wears them.  Just in case I don’t believe him he proves it to me by roaring and crawling about like he has rabies.

Thankfully, Dana over at Made and Rae from Made by Rae are going to help save G from his (mother’s) lack of fashion-sense. They will be dedicating the entire month of February  to boy posts called “Celebrate the Boy!”. Stop by their sites to check out tutorials, roundups, and giveaways for boy-related sewing and crafts.

For those of you with girls, there is plenty on their sites to keep you happy, so go check them out!