• Realizing that we make some problems in our lives out to be larger than they really are.  Most times, the answer is staring us right in the face.
• My 2011 Calendar being featured by Holly on Decor8 blog!
• I discovered Kelly’s blog, Enjoying the Small Things.  I was literally in tears after reading her post on the birth of her 2nd daughter, Nella.  Kelly learned upon her birth that Nella had Down Syndrome.  Not only are her images moving, her writing is so candid and honest.  Love.
• And finally, next week I’d love to have a little Q&A session right here on the blog.  Send any questions you might have for me over the weekend and I’ll answer them next week.   I think this would be an excellent opportunity to open up discussion!  Photography questions, life questions, mommy questions…. You can use the contact form on my blog (click “Say Hello”), send me an email, or leave a comment.  Sound like fun?

As always, thanks so much for visiting – all of your comments and emails are truly appreciated!

Have a wonderful weekend.

And yes – I did indeed eat this cupcake!

Her space is filled with creativity – I can’t help but be inspired!  Of course, I simply captured her space with my camera – she captures her thoughts and feelings with these tools.

Tomorrow, I’ll share some of her work!

I had so much fun working with a client recently – she was interested in images for her kitchen taken with my blue colander.  Even though I photographed each image separately, I love the way they complimented one another once they were all together!  I decided to make them available for everyone.

Apricots and persimmons are already available in my shop.

Please welcome the two newest prints available for purchase in my shop ~ fresh and sweetness.

My Sunday started with breakfast, but I was really devouring was my copy of Artful Blogging, so much inspiration.

I like to keep fresh flowers in the window near my front door.  They are beautiful in the morning light.

Sundays are definitely my days for laundry, as I’m sure every mother can understand.

On my bathroom vanity, I love to spread out all of my things.  Frankly, I just think they are too pretty to keep hidden in a drawer.

Fall sweaters hanging to dry.  I’m realizing now that I spend WAY to much time on laundry!

As I reflect on my day, I am reminded how grateful I am for my life, my family.  It’s the little things, the seemingly ordinary that makes my life so special.  Sure, there are days that hard, days where I’d like a “do-over”.  But today, my friends, I am grateful for my ordinary.

I hope that you had a wonderful day as well!

Here’s to a wonderful week.

Taking a daily photo has made me notice how much I have grown personally and professionally as a photographer.  I look back on some of my images that I took in January and I am amazed at how much I have learned since then.  I look forward to where I will be at the completion of this project.

I have also started thinking about what I will do with these images.  A select few are available in my shop, but I would like to pull them together into some sort of book, or collection.  I would love to have them organized in such a way that would preserve these memories forever.

Have a look at my reviews of January – March 2009.

My favorite image from this month is an easy choice.  It made me stop for a moment and reflect.  Taken on April 7, 2009:

Above are the daily images that I took during the month of March for the Discovery Project.  Honestly, this month was extremely hard – squeezing in a picture a day.  Mostly becasue I’ve had so much going on in my life!

When I started this project, I knew that it would be challenging.  I knew that there would be days that I just did not feel like it.  But it’s times like this that creates character, no?

I’m proud that I have stuck with it!  And it is worth seeing the month completed.

Teri’s daily pictures keep me inspired.  We both started this project in January and I’m so glad that I found her blog!  I know that I can always head over there and see her daily photo posted, which kicks me into gear!  In fact, one of the images from this month was inspired by her work – can you find it? (Hint: 2nd row!)

As I look at this collage, I am reminded of bits and pieces of my days that I would not remember otherwise.  Each and every image brings me back to that day – where I was, what I was doing, who I was with, what I saw.  Bits and pieces of my lovely little life.

As always, you can follow my discovery project here.

January 2009 :: one month review

February 2009 ::  two month review

My favorite image that I took this month?  Definitely this one, taken March 26, 2009:

What about you?  What did you capture this month that was your favorite?  Please do share, I’d love to see it!

“What did you think I would be when I grew up?” I asked her.

Pause.

“You were very artistic.  You drew and painted very well.”

Pause.

Not the answer I expected.  Had she told me this years ago, what a difference it would have made in my life.  I always thought I had to go the practical, science and math route – which I did.  I was always praised for the paper I wrote, the A on my science test, the extra point I received in Math class.

If I had heard those words earlier, how different would my life be now?  What if I had not waited for permission to be who I am, to do the things my heart tells me to do?

The older I get, the more I realize it’s never too late.  It’s not too late to follow your dreams, to follow your passion, to do what you enjoy.  This is what I am finding out as I am on my own journey.  I’m not fighting “it” anymore – life doesn’t have to hard and full of struggle.  When you are doing what you love, there is peace and joy, and a calming love that nothing else can bring.

So don’t wait.  Don’t wait for someone to give you permission to be who you are.  Your heart will thank you.  I will thank you.  The world will  thank you and it will be a better place.  You’ll see.

After two months, I must say that this is part of my routine – grabbing my toddler and my camera and heading out the door.  In fact, my purse (let’s just say that I have switched to a very L-A-R-G-E bag) feels empty when my camera is not there!

I stepped out of my comfort zone this past month, visiting new locations, experimenting with my Argus,  and trying different post-processing techniques, including cross-processing – which I absolutely love.  I look back at these images and I feel so proud to have documented these bits and pieces of my day.

This is a commitment I have made to myself – something that I am doing for me – something that I love.  Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I find it hard to download photos from my camera everyday, but it’s time like this – when I look back at the fruits of my labor – I sit back and smile, and I am truly fulfilled.

My favorite image from February? The tulips that I captured on February 16:

If you haven’t taken a look, please do visit my discovery project, updated daily with images of beauty that I notice everyday. Also, a review of my first month.

What’s your favorite image that you took this past month?  Please leave a link – I would love to see it!

At the beginning of January, I began my first photography project, Daily Discoveries.  This project documents simple moments that I capture everyday, my version of a 365 project.

I must say that I absolutely ~love~ it!  I have truly began to look at the world differently.  All throughout my day, I am constantly stopping, observing, and taking in the little things.  Previousy, I was under the false impression that there had to be some event, some special scene,  for me to photograph – how wrong I was!

I find that some of my favorite pictures are those of my normal, everyday life.   There were times before that I would notice something and say to myself, “Man, I wish I had my camera…”  Well, now, I do.  I admit that sometimes carrying my camera with me everywhere I go is a bit heavy, but I have vowed to get a larger purse!

My love for photography has strengthened as a result.  I wake up and think, “What I will I capture today?”  It’s my little extra something to look forward to during my day.  The best part is looking back at all the images I captured.  Little pieces of my life, that otherwise, I would have forgotten – or would have gone unnoticed.  If I feel this way after a month, I can’t imagine how I feel at the completion of this project.

My favorite image of this month? It’s this lonely leaf taken on January 7.  I love the softness of this image.

Do you have a favorite image that you took this past month?  I’d love to see it!