Sunday, January 31, 2010

snow!

LOVING all this snow we got this weekend! So exciting. Here's a few pictures....

This is probably my favorite of Chestnut. You can't help but laugh at him.

We had birds everywhere around the feeders.


Yes, we're one of THOSE people who still has Christmas lights up. haha. But it's cool to see the lights UNDER the snow shining through!
The measurement when we woke up this morning:





Thursday, January 28, 2010

I have a problem...

How many of you are blog stalkers? Come on, be honest. I'll admit it. I'm probably one of the worst. There are blogs I check approximately 87 times a day, in hopes that there will be something new. In fact, some days, I feel like I actually KNOW some of the people I follow, when in fact, I don't. And they have no on earthly idea who I am. The way I found most of these was by clicking on photographer's links from one site, which led to another, and another, and so on. It's funny to see how that happens!

I thought I would share some of the blogs that I follow and read religiously. Maybe you'll get hooked on them as well, if you're not already!


The first one I'd like to mention is my Aunt Diane's blog! Funny story behind this...when we became friends on Facebook, I was looking at her info and saw under her Links that there was a link to her blog. Well, I began reading hers and that's how I started mine! I thought it would be fun to update with pictures to share and all, and even though I'm sometimes a slacker when it comes to updates, I still love it! Aunt Diane takes lots of great pictures and also posts pictures of fun decorating and crafts that she's put together. Photography must run in the family :)

Here is the link to her blog if you would like to check it out:
http://ninadiane.blogspot.com/



Next up is The Inspired Designs: by Katelyn James. Another story for you, this time, about how I began following her. The old music director at church, Dana, started going to Salem Baptist Church maybe about 10 years ago, I really can't remember exactly. But I have been to Salem Baptist several times since then on various occasions. One, for instance, was when a group of us from Fort Lee did this huge puppet show at the church (we do puppet performances every Sunday for Children's Church). I've also been for several youth events/concerts with some other youth from Fort Lee. Finally, in August 2008, Dana remarried and we were there to share the day. And one of the girls I had recognized from previous events at Salem, Katelyn, was the wedding photographer. At the reception, there was a list where guests could write their emails down and a link to pictures of the day would be sent out. I immediately wrote my name down because 1) that was when I really started getting into photography, and 2) I love everything about weddings! Also, my friend Brandy from church is friends with Katelyn, as well, and has told me about her photos numerous times! I've Facebook message Katelyn several times admitting that I'm a faithful blog stalker and that her pictures are very inspiring!

Here is her link:
http://www.katelynjames.com/


From The Inspired Designs blog, I came across a link to Jasmine Star (aka j*). She's waaay on the other side of the country-California. But it hardly feels that way when I read her blog. I feel like she's telling me her stories face-to-face. She does so many speaking engagements and shoots, and posts wonderful pictures of her little dog Polo.

Here is the link to her website:
http://www.jasmine-star.com/

and here is her blog:
http://www.jasminestarblog.com/

*I included the link to her website, because I think the opening video is great!



Like I said, I come across photographer's blogs from links on other's blogs. Like this next one--Jessica Smith Photography. She and Katelyn James (of Inspired Designs) are good friends and I like to see that they comment on each others' posts as well! Jessica has a beautiful daughter and my favorite posts would have to be those of her...especially at DisneyWorld! They're fabulous! Jessica also posted an awesome post of Katelyn James' actual engagement! Way cool to have pictures of that!!!

Her blog:
http://jessicasmithphotography.com/blog


Next, I don't remember exactly WHOSE blog I was on when I clicked a link to Jessica Claire. All I know is that she seems to have such a fun personality and she's very creative as well. Her logo also amazes me of how the "J" and "C" connect...you'll have to check it out for yourself to see what I mean! She is also good friends with Becker, who is a photographer that Aunt Diane had told me about before!

Her blog:
http://jessicaclaire.net/

Ok, for these next few, it makes me laugh when I think about how I came to theirs. Jessica Claire had done a workshop and posted pictures of a shoot she did. She gave links to the couple's own blogs. When I saw the links, I wasn't going to click on them, because I thought I followed enough blogs, but, I finally gave in, and I'm glad I did. The couple was Troy and Aimee Grover. They are both photographers, but Aimee's blog also includes fun crafts and inspiration for decorating. I love them both and I hope you will too!

Troy's blog:
http://blog.troygrover.com/

Aimee's blog:
http://www.homespunforte.com/



Next, is actually Aimee Grover's sister, Promise. (Again, I found her blog from a link on Aimee's. I tell ya, I feel like a blog stalker with a problem! LOL) Promise's blog includes photography, crafts and graphic designs. She makes some really incredible wedding invitations as well. I highly recommend that you check them out!! And her blog is just soo fun looking and busy! It's great.

Her blog:
http://promisetangemanblog.com/


I recently updated my Facebook status with a link to this blog, because I couldn't not share this site with anyone! If you're a sucker for love stories like me, then you HAVE to read this blog. It's updated with some of the cutest and coolest proposals and also includes just fun ideas. Any love story makes me happy and this blog is great!! The Yes Girls take emails from anyone who would like to share their story and send along some pictures!

Blog:
http://www.lovetheyesgirls.com/


Last, but certainly not least, is a blog of a friend of mine. Kelly Baker Olson was one of the first people that really made me feel welcomed at Longwood. My roommate and I still refer to her as "Kelly Baker" even though she's married...just hard to change someone's name once you learned it! ha. On Facbeook, she has been writing what she's cooking for dinner, and let me tell you, some of the emails sound AMAZING. She recently started her own blog--Rookie Cooking with Kelly--that she updates with recipes of what she's cooking and includes pictures. Her baked mac-n-cheese looks really mouth-watering! If you need any new recipe ideas, you may like to try some of hers!

Kelly's blog:
http://rookiecookingwithkelly.blogspot.com/





I know that was a lot for one post, but I just thought it was appropriate to admit that I have a blog stalking problem and share my problem with anyone who needs MORE blogs to look it, because I've come to realize, you can never follow too many blogs :)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

25 Days of Christmas......27 days too late.

I probably look like the worst blog updater in the world, but there was initially a reason as to why I didn't post an update on December 25th. Since I love Christmas so much, I was going to go through the real 12 Days of Christmas, and update everything from those 12 days as the last day of Christmas. Ok, fail. Because then we decided to go look at the lights at Lewis Ginter and I thought "oh, I'll just wait so I can put those pictures on the post too." Fail. Then school started, and that left me with little time to do whatever I wanted. So when I was at home last weekend, I had a little bit of time to update. I was in the middle of writing, and I had pictures uploaded and everything...and what do you know. My internet just closes out. No warning, nothing. Thank you, technology, for closing me out of my post. Then I was just frustrated and didn't want to start again because I knew that would happen again.

This post is going to consist of several events that happened over those 12 days, and I'm sure I'm not going to include close to everything. I'll try to be better about posting in the future though :X

The pics I've chosen to share on this post are from the snow we got way before Christmas, the annual CYG Christmas Party, Christmas Day, and the lights at Lewis Ginter.

Hopefully, more to come!


THE GREAT SNOW!




CYG CHRISTMAS PARTY:


















CHRISTMAS DAY:
Sister opening presents

excite about the Red LU hoodie I've been wanting. [Go RED class :)]

Mom opening gifts...

Dad's sweet new drum.

and this is one of the reasons why my dad rocks....!





LEWIS GINTER:

Abby and Matt "licking" a candy cane....


And this is why I hate getting people, who don't know how to use a camera, take a picture for us....this was the best we got...

fun chalkboards...

Abby's butterfly:

Careful Abbs, that's a $700+ chair you're sitting in!

Friday, January 8, 2010

As my saying goes, "So how 'bout..."

So how 'bout...I had to go edit something from the last post I wrote, and I noticed a Draft. I thought, "What draft? I don't have a draft?" Well I went to look at it, and it was the beginning of the original post I did for the 25th day of Christmas. It wasn't gone after all! Well, now you just have MORE pictures to look at, which is always great :)

For New Year's, my sister had a party. About twelve 16-17 year olds were at our house. They weren't too loud, but here's some pics of the food from the night...

My sister made this cake...





I get this from my mom...I love cheap, on-sale things. I bought all these Christmas decorations/ornaments, for around $13. Oh yes, that makes me happy.


And just the small one of these trees..I bought the taller one last year. They came from Cracker Barrel!