Coffee & Dreams

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"All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible."
-- T.E. Lawrence

What's Wrong With This Picture??

Chris is a love. He hates furniture covered in dog hair (well, don't we all?), but can't bear to have Dehlia lay on the hard, cold floor. So he sets up little areas like this - her bed on a blanket on the couch. Nice, huh? Sweet, thoughtful, and completely touching. It's one of the reasons I love him so much.

But...

Notice where Dehlia is laying?

Again, I ask you... What's wrong with this picture??

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"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog."
-- Edward Hoagland

Chocolate Star Cookies

Christmas is such a yummy time of year...

Okay. So I doubt they'd make Martha Stewart proud. And Chris has informed me that they look a little too, um, "feminine". But I don't care. Tonight I conquered the kitchen. And that, my friends, is a feat in and of itself. :)

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"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."
-- Laura Ingalls Wilder

More Holiday Deals :)

Where oh where has November gone? It feels like it was just yesterday that we were putting up our fall / Halloween decorations and carving pumpkins! And now it's already... December! Yikes. Well, I guess time flies when you're having fun, huh?

With a change in my schedule fast approaching (I'm going back to school in January!), my photography is soon going to be taking a backseat to studying, studying, and... More studying. Yes, I will still be taking on a few shoots, but for anyone considering a session I'm going to strike a deal with ya... In order to get in some shoots while I still have some free time, I'm going to extend the Holiday Mini Sessions through the month of December. (Click here for details.)

Also throughout the month of December, I'm going to be discounting my regular session fees. For $200, you get up to two hours of shooting time anywhere in the Seattle metro area (weekends only), and approximately thirty-five to forty artfully edited photos on a CD with full, unlimited printing rights. (My name won't be on 'em... They're all yours!)

So there ya have it. Feel free to contact me with any questions!

** This offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
** If the location of your choice requires pay-for-parking, appropriate fees will be added.

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"All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget. In this - as in other ways - they are the opposite of paintings. Paintings record what the painter remembers. Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it."
-- John Berger

Especially Thankful For...

... People who pursue their dreams.

To me, there's nothing more inspiring than watching others run down their dreams. Go after their heartheld visions with enthusiasm and gusto. I love seeing people (some I don't even know personally) smile against all odds, hold their heads up high, and declare their dreams to the world. "This," they say, "is my dream. My life. And this is how I chose to live it."

Danie is one of those people. (Just see my previous post about our session together to see what I mean.) She dreams. And, more importantly, she follows her dreams.

And just where would the world be without people willing to follow their dreams?

So here's the deal. Two of Danie's original songs made it to the top of the "Fire" chart on Song Circle. (Woo-hoo!) And I'm here encouraging all of you to click on the link below, and listen and rate Danie's two songs - "All I Got To Give" and "Candela" - to help her move up the ladder. ("Candela", by the way, is a hauntingly beautiful song that I can't seem to get out of my head. Absolutely breathtaking.) So please click here and help a sister out! :)

P.S. - I know my "thankful for" posts have been MIA over the last few days, but I was busy enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday with Chris (who had that week off) and was, thankfully, indulging in mucho family time - which mainly consisted of lounging in front of the fire, reading, eating, and watching movie after movie. As I always say, the simple life is never dull. :)

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"We need to give ourselves permission to act out our dreams and visions, not look for more sensations, more phenomena, but live our strongest dreams - even if it takes a lifetime."
-- Vijali Hamilton

Day 24: The Night Before Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving Eve closing in, I find myself gravitating toward the fire - glass of wine in hand, husband and dog by my side, and preparing for my absolute favorite part of the holiday.

And no. It has nothing to do with food.

A holiday tradition, started wayyyy back in the late 80's, is what I look forward to the most. On the night before Thanksgiving, as the pies and desserts warmed in the oven, my mom, dad, and I would dim the lights, gather around the television, sip hot chocolate, and watch Plains, Trains and Automobiles. Every year. Without fail.

Now, all these years later, I share that same tradition with Chris. We hunker down, dim the lights, sip on wine, and laugh along with that classic holiday film. Relaxing into the sights, smells and sounds of the evening, the night before Thanksgiving is still one of the things that I'm most thankful for.

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Neal: "Del... Why did you kiss my ear?"
Del: "Why are you holding my hand?"
Neal: [frowns] "Where's your other hand?"
Del: "Between two pillows..."
Neal: "Those aren't pillows!"
-- Plains, Trains and Automobiles

Taryn, Djordje & Kaia: Lifestyle Portraiture

Picture perfect. That's how I describe Taryn and Djordje. Just take a look at the pictures below to see what I mean. Gor-geous. And then add in Kaia - a beyond adorable one year old cockapoo - and you have all the makings of a Hallmark card.

Beauty comes naturally to Taryn - and it's a good thing, too. She's a fitness model - not to mention a positive role model - and, I think it's safe to say, an inspiration to everyone she comes across. Her vitality is almost palpable, and you can't help but feel energized just being in her presence. I mean, I left our shoot wanting to strap on my running shoes and hit the treadmill. Or, you know, something active like that.

So enjoy a few shots from my recent session with this amazing couple. And, for a little inspiration, make sure to check out Taryn's website. It'll have you up and off the couch in no time!

** Thanks, Taryn, Djordje and Kaia for a great (albeit it coooold and windy) time! :)

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"My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass."
-- Terri Guillemets

Days 18, 19 & 20: Good People

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
2. Harry Potter Movie Weekends
3. Good People (see below!)

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"I don't want to live. I want to love first, and live incidentally."
-- Zelda Fitzgerald

Day 17: Dance to the Beat

Music, I feel, is a direct link to our souls. A few melodies from our favorite tunes can transport us to a higher realm. A lively song that vibrates down to our very cores can turn an abysmal day into an absolutely awesome one.

So I'm especially thankful when I run across a new (well, new to me) artist that plays to the beat of my inner drum. V.V. Brown is amazing, and her song L.O.V.E makes me want to stop whatever it is I'm doing and bust a move.

Okay, so maybe it's not a pretty sight. Me bustin' a move. But the only one who sees me is Dehlia and well, let's face it, she's not exactly light on her feet either. Eh, but we have fun. And that's the important thing, right?

So enjoy L.O.V.E by V.V. Brown. And feel free to dance to the beat. :)

Find more artists like VV Brown at Myspace Music

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"What we provide is an atmosphere... of orchestrated pulse which works on people in a subliminal way. Under its influence I've seen shy debs and severe dowagers kick off their shoes and raise some wholesome hell."
-- Meyer Davis, about his orchestra

Day 16: Thankful for No :)

"No!"

It was the word of the day. And try as I might, every time I heard it I had to laugh. I normally don't have the opportunity to hang with kiddos all that much, and I never knew the word could sound so.... Adorable.

Makela is almost two (her birthday's this weekend!) and already she knows exactly what she likes. Halloween. Pumpkins. Leaves. Her bear, Charlie. And... Christmas trees. In fact, Christmas trees, I think it's safe to say, hold a very special place in her heart.

And for almost being two, Makela is smart. Like I said, she knows exactly what she wants. When, after answering no to practically every question we threw at her, her dad asked (half in exasperation, half in jest), "Makela, can you say 'no'?", she pursed her lips together and shook her head. Seriously? How clever is that?

So enjoy a few shots from my recent session with the Williams Family. And on a side note... I think I need to get me a two year old. Something tells me I'd be in much better shape! ;)

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"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about."
-- Angela Schwindt