Happy New Year!

Dear Clients, Faithful Readers, and passer bys, 

So It's been awhile since I've been on the blog and for that I am sorry. After I started having issues with the site I kind of just left it behind for awhile and just stuck to facebook. But I felt like today was in need of a blog post. So here I am! =)

As we are approaching 2011 I can't help but think back on the past year I've had. I think I've had more happen this year than I've had my whole life. However, with all that it has been both bad and good. From loosing two of my grandparents within 2 months of each other, to my husband's surgery, to loss of income from that surgery, to family feuds, and other not so fun things.... it was pretty rough. But as I said there was some good too. My business has started to bloom like crazy, I got to go back to school (which that has been amazing in itself!), a new found freedom, meeting new and exciting people between school and all my new clients, and I realized that photography was just meant for me....

And it's true! I think I was put on this earth to take photos! For the longest time I was always really not sure about my photos. I knew others liked them but wasn't sure if this was my thing. After going to school and seeing what I can do and talking over with teachers and friends, it just hit me one day. I was driving home from school and I just smiled. I was meant for this and it truly made me happy. I love taking photos no matter what the subject is. I love the excitement and the mystery as to how it's going to turn out. I'm such a photo nerd that most of the time I come straight home to view the photos I have just taken because I am that excited! And it's not just the excitement I love about it. I love making others happy. Nothing is better than hearing someone raving about my photos and telling me that they were in tears from viewing them the first time. And that is my goal. =)

So I am looking forward to what photography has in store for me for 2011 and the years beyond. I am so blessed to be able to do what truly makes me happy. I am so excited to be able to continue to meet with and take photos of such wonderful people! So to you, I say thank you! Thank you for making my 2010 a good one and I'm sure the years to come even better!

Sincerely,
Kristy =)

PS - I am going to be posting my favorite photos of 2010 on my facebook page today so be sure to take a look!

What I have been up to at school....

Just thought I'd give you all a treat and show you what I have been doing at school. Well a little bit of it anyhow....

The following are from my enhanced photo/photoshop class. First two is just blending with layers (self portraits and textures). The third is what we are working on right now with more layers. Our subject for that one is dreams or a childhood memory. As you will see, that is one messed up dream lol.

The next few are from photo 1. Don't have all of them for some reason with me so this is all you get lol.

Oh and i have to mention that photo 1 is all black and white. We are actually working in the dark room right now and it's a lot of fun! I will have to scan in my images from there sometime in the next few weeks. It's crazy what you can do in a dark room! =)

Remember

Today at 8:46am, 9 years ago, tragedy struck America. I remember all too well this day and I don't think it is something I will ever forget. I was a junior in high school and we had just entered our second period of classes when we had a TV sitting in our classroom. I was thinking awesome! Movie day! But that was far from what it was really for. I remember our teacher telling us that something bad has happened and that this day is going to make major history. He turned the TV on and the classroom was silent. In fact the whole school was silent. I couldn't believe my eyes. We were watching in absolute horror as the story unfolded minute by minute and the towers began to fall.  I remember just sitting there, watching with so many feelings. Hatred, sadness, awe, shock, horror, the list goes on. Why would someone do something like this. What is really going on? We all know what unfolds from there but it is still just as real now as it was 9 years ago...

As most of you know I am married to a soldier and so I have a big sense of American pride. I've always had this pride but I think it grows once you are a little more invested to it if you know what I mean. So I think it is very important to remember this day and talk about. But most importantly I think it is important to remember those who lost their lives this day. From the service men and women, to the people who were courageous enough to crash their plane to the people lost at the pentagon, to those trapped inside the towers that fell, to those that witnessed them fall first hand, and to those who lost someone this day, 9 years ago, I remember you. This day left a big hole in America's heart forever. So for this I say let us pray for us all and have some silence today in remembrance. From 8:46am when the first plane struck to 10:28am when the last tower fell I will be silent. Will you?

Where art thou 52 weeks of awesomeness?

So, yah. I'm behind.... AGAIN! I knew that once school started I would get a swift kick in the rear with tons of things to do, but I guess it didn't hit me till now that I haven't touched my 52 week of A project in a while. I am stuck on where I had left off and have no clue what to do! It is week #14: Something slimy. What around here is slimy? I think I got so stuck on this that I wasn't paying attention to how many weeks were going by here! ARG! So if you have suggestions I would love to hear them!

In the meantime I am going to skip week 14 and go to week 15. Then I will be skipping week 16 and will post week 17 by Tuesday. If that made since and you are still with me... Great! Cause sometimes I don't make much since to myself anymore! =) So be looking for those soon plus the blog of the wedding I shot today! YAY!

So if you are lost with all my posts and wondering what I have been up to, well here is a little update on moi! The whole crazy not feeling good thing and no luck with doctors... well still no where. Sigh! I am currently waiting on a call from the new doctor to hear what the results of my latest blood tests were and where we go from there. So, yup.... we got nothing so far still.... =(

In the meantime I have started school! Yipee! I'm so happy to be back learning and doing something I want to do! I like all my classes. LOVE my photo classes of course! And actually learned a few things that I have already put to good use! But with school comes projects and that means I am taking my free time to do those projects. But I love it and it is lots of fun! My recent project is currently in the lab at school still so as soon as I get it to my flash drive I will upload for you all to see! I'm pretty stoked about it =)!

I also started dance back up last week. So I am officially busy! I'm really excited about some of my classes this year though! Can't wait to see how they pan out and progress throughout the year!

So that is it in a nutshell I suppose. I am just a busy bee, but that is how I like it! If you are interested in photo sessions for the fall I would start booking now because I am limited to weekends and they are filling up quick!!!

Oh and before I go I wanted to thank everyone for all the love you have been giving me lately! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the nice compliments! They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside =). I love it! Keep up the comments even if they aren't about me. I love knowing what you guys think!

<3 Kristy

My next 25 years....

So guess what!? My birthday was this past Sunday and I am officially a quarter of a century old! This year happened to be my golden birthday (thanks Kerri for pointing that out cause I had no idea lol) and for some reason I am extremely ecstatic about that. I have no idea why because some people dread getting older. I know most people would love to go back to 25 too lol. But I don't know. When this year started I said it was going to be my year and I was going to take over my life finally. Well a lot of things have gotten in the way and I have had too many things set me back that were beyond my control. So it's time to refocus and find that ambition I had the beginning of the year again. Time to get back on track... But you know for some reason this year I am thankful for those set backs I've had (well sort of). I think they have made me appreciate who I am and realize how much I love my family and everyone in my life. So I kind of wanted to do like a new years resolution sort of but for my next 25 years =). I am also starting a new 101 in 1001 list soon since I kind of lost my last one and so much has changed when I started it. Plus now I think I have a clearer view of what I want and reasonable things that I can manage to make possible. So much can happen in a year that we loose perspective of our goals and I think it is important to keep a list nearby so you can remind yourself. Plus to be able to accomplish something and to be able to mark it off is amazing! And I'm very excited to do that!

Ok so here goes. These are some things I'd like to change and do in my next 25 years:

• Try not to be a debbie downer. Silly I know, but sometimes I feel like I complain too much. I have had a lot happen and problems the last few years and sometimes I think when I complain I just make my situation worse let alone put others in a bad mood. I don't know if this is entirely true, but a good goal nonetheless =)
• Be a better mom. I think this kind of goes with the above. I think I get into a bad mood and then I take it out on my kids. Not fair to them and I don't want them to remember me as a nagging mean mommy. I'm sure they wouldn't but sometimes I feel that way..
• Be a better wife. Long story I could get into here but I am very stubborn. I know my husband loves me and we have our problems but I could be more understanding and not so stubborn with him. Maybe let him win a few fights lol. But don't take that to your head babe ;) love you!
• Get rid of the negativity in my life. Life is too short to be mad! Nuff said!
• Be happy! Easier said than done right? Well I think with working on everything else I will be happy.
• Loose the rest of my weight and spread the motivation! Lost 40 lbs and now time to get started on the last 20!
• Stop and take time for myself. I think we all need to do this from time to time.
• Hang out with my friends more. I have learned now that I've lost too many and want to cherish the ones I have! And hopefully make some new ones!
• Continue to eat healthy. But I think I'm going to go a little further with what I have been doing. I am going to take some things out of my diet to see if it improves health. I will post more of this adventure later =)
• Love more and hate less. I think I do this pretty good already. I like most people and think I'm a nice person. But I do hold grudges and just need to let them go. Like I said, life is too short to be mad and that negativity needs to go!
• Just be myself. I am who I am and I shouldn't have to change that for others!

So there you go. This is my quarter of a century resolution, hehe. Hopefully we will all still be around when I make my half century resolution. =) Cheers to the next 25 years!

Slacking...

So I'm a week behind on my project and haven't even gotten to this weeks yet either. Yikes! I don't like excuses but I have not been feeling well a lot lately. Been to the doctor a few weeks ago, a CT scan and some blood work later I'm being sent to a neurologist because I just can't shake this for some reason. Not sure what is going on but will be seeing the new doc in a couple weeks. Hopefully we can figure out what this is and it's not something serious. So please keep your fingers crossed for me and bare with me and my lack of posts lately.....

Celebration

Just wanted to share a few photos from our 4th of July celebrations =)

I pledge allegiance

to the flag

of the United States of America

 

and to the republic

for which it stands

one nation

under God

with liberty

and justice for all.

Hope everyone had a great Independence day and took the time to remember what the day is really all about!

My family

I know I have raved about Erica before but we just had our photos done with her this past Sunday and she put up a preview on her blog!These are amazing like always and I was just too excited not to share =). I can't wait to see the rest!

Click here to see them!

Meet Boomer

Today we bared the cold and snowy weather to go get the newest addition to our family. I didn't think we were going to make it home at times with the blizzard like conditions on the road. But this little guy made it all ok while he was curled up on my lap all the way home =)

Bommer is a 6 week old Red Bone Coonhound that we plan on breeding with our 1 year old female Belle. Belle hasn't been able to meet the new little man yet because it's too cold for him to be outside and I think we'd probably loose him in the snow lol. So he's going to be nice and warm inside until it gets warmer (hopefully within the next couple weeks). And of course he had to have his first photo shoot too =)

 

  

Since he is going to be a show dog and hopefully a champion hunter we had to get a photo of his first "show" stance. And I must say he's looking pretty good already!

 

 

 

And the little guy is so tuckered out from our drive and playing so hard when he got home that he is curled up next to me =). So I leave you with a photo of him asleep on my lap on the way home today. Doesn't he just make your heart melt?