FAB 5 Friday!!

Here we are Halloween Weekend and the last weekend to celebrate October 2010. I know there will be lots of costumes,chocolate faces, maybe pumpkin carving if you already haven't(We chose to do it tonight because I was getting tired of the moldy dying pumpkins before Halloween even arrived.) So whatever it is you may be doing don't forget to take those pictures. Capture those memories of Halloween October 2010! Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!:)

1. Well it wouldn't feel like Halloween without Oingo Boingo! Well at least in my mind:) When I was 18 I attended an Oingo Boingo concert on Halloween and it was AWESOME! Costumes galore and it was the year Nightmare Before Christmas came out so it seemed to be the theme of the concert. So in the spirit of Halloween here is Dead Man's Party by Oingo Boingo:)


2. I have mentioned Creative Live before! If you have not checked them out you are definitely missing out. They offer FREE well creative classes/workshops for those creative minds. I have had the pleasure of taking a few classes and even though they are free they are worth a million bucks seriously. I wrote about the Jasmine Star(wedding photographer genius) workshop I took awhile back~AMAZING! Well they are offering another great photography weekend workshop coming up in November with Tamara Lackey an amazing very well known children's photographer. You don't want to miss out these are top notch classes and you can't pass up FREE! Also today starting in about 30 min they are having a Pumpkin Carving workshop hurry and check it out!

3. Speaking of workshops people I have been scouring the internet for the best of the best because I live in a small town and I cannot find any local ones. Do not be put off by the internet ones they can actually do more for you and reach a larger audience making the experience just as if not more amazing! Head over to Big Picture Classes they too are offering a November workshop you do not want to miss! Love it!

4. Some more freebies!! Head over to Simplicity Photography and show some love and download her free Christmas card template FOR FREE! It is beautiful, she is talented and Christmas is right around the corner..YIKES!!

5. Head over to You Capture part of I Should Be Folding Laundry blog written by Beth for her amazing Photo challenges/link ups to share your Halloween images this week. It's fun, you meet other like minded people who LOVE photography and you have a GREAT reason to put off the chores! Check it out!

So Cheers to another Fab 5 Friday, Cheers to another Halloween of 2010, Cheers to chocolate faces, trick or treats, goblins, ghosts...most importantly Cheers to picture taking! Preserve those memories~Capture those moments!
XO~MJ

Saying Goodbye to October 2010- Part II

It is a two parter! See previous post for more photos and written part of the blog post!
Enjoy!~XO
MJ

Saying Goodbye to October 2010- Part I

I woke up this morning and decided to organize and go through all the photographs I took just in October. Phew...I took quite a few! As we come to the end of October the month which I adore by the way, I thought I would share some photos I can't believe I over looked to share. Most are of random things I saw beauty in, some I saw Fall, some spooky but all in all I saw beauty in each and every one. Who knew right in my own backyard, here in town I could find Gold. Things most people pass by everyday and think, "ehhhh...that's old!" Well in my love for all things beautiful and old here are a few more to close out the month of October. I get one more weekend to photograph the month and I hear it's going to be a beauty! I have been dying to get my Senior Ali into the spot light but she has been too darn busy. Hoping this weekend I can steal her from her world and bring her into mine! I miss her..like A LOT!
XO~MJ

Everything Is Not Okay!

What started out as a routine nightly check in to tell my girls good night and to make sure all electronic devices are put up(with the exception of anything that plays music but minus the texting or any socializing abilities) I walked in upon one of my baby girls. My baby girl who seems to thrive off of all things in the social networking world. But unlike any other night she was hunched over her IPOD in hand sitting on her knees with a look on her face that looked far from happy. My first reaction was to get angry because she knew better. It was way past her bedtime! But I digressed! I pushed the anger down and joked, "Did you think I wouldn't notice you were still awake?" Mama notices everything! Without saying one word she got up and gave me the longest biggest bear hug I have ever received from my now 14 year old. I hugged tighter, we rocked back and forth in silence in the moment. I wanted to panic! I NEEDED to know ASAP what was wrong with my baby girl. But I digressed once again. I played it cool not letting her in on the panic attack I was having on the inside. I told her I love her, stroked her long shiny black hair. I couldn't take the suspense! "Sweetie what's the matter?" I asked still hugging tight. "I miss my family!" I in a sincere response, "Well sweetie we are right here, we are right outside the door come join us!" I broke the tears into laughter...sighhh:) "No mom my family back in California. I miss all my cousins, my grandma, my dad." Of course I knew this is what she meant. But see sincerely I thought she was handling it well. I thought unlike me she was having the time of her life making new friends. I was so wrong! EVERYTHING IS NOT OKAY!

We walked out of her sleeping sister's room who was oblivious to the tears over the foot of her bed. It was 1am and I was about to shut my tired eyes before I came in to find her. But I felt the need to stay up with her...IT WAS A NEED! My baby girl needed me right now. "You wanna watch a movie?" I asked. "No I just wanna talk. I like just talking to you." she said. My heart melted. "Oh ok" I played it cool again but was totally jumping for joy on the inside, "MY TEEN DAUGHTER DOES LOVE ME!" I thought for sure I was hated through all those rolling of the eyes, the demands to clean, go to bed, GET OFF THE COMPUTER! I thought I was uncool and just mean mommy in her eyes. Come to find out~ She Loves Me! She loves talking to me...sighhh! My tired eyes instantly get a second wind and we did just that. We sat on the couch talking for 3 more hours! We talked about Home..sighhh. Funny times, sad times, friends,boys, and of course God. She had a lot of questions, but I knew this. Cassie has always been full of questions and curious about every little thing. We talked and talked. It felt good! I think..NO..I KNOW I NEEDED that just as much as her. As I was about to get up to call it a night she grabbed my pant leg the closest thing she could grab and kissed it. We both started laughing hysterically:) I reached down to give one more great big hug before hittin the pillow. "Mom, how could anyone not like you?" Sighhhh....I wanted to cry but instead I giggled with delight. My reply, "Well honey how could anyone not LOVE you?"

The clock struck 4am and our hurting,frustrated hearts were able to sleep in peace that night. We gave into the moment. We didn't let our sleepy eyes dictate the outcome. Had I went to sleep I would have missed out on an unforgettable night and my baby girl would have went to sleep crying instead of smiling. I love night's like these when Everything Can Be Made Okay with a hug, a talk, a kiss!
Sighhhhhhhhh.....
XO~MJ

I Heart Faces "Pink Week"

In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month~Think Pink Boots!


"These Boots Were Made For Walkin and that's just what they'll Do! One of these days these Boots Are Gonna Walk All Over You!"~Nancy Sinatra

I took a mini-photo shoot of my Sweet Mikayla with her brand new Fuchsia Pink cowboy boots Grandma bought her a few weeks ago. We are all in love with her boots and Mama is now seeking a matching pair! I can't help but sing this song when thinking of Cancer Survivors and those who have passed. God Bless each and Everyone!
XO

Weekend In Review!

My weekends always seem to come and go no matter how long I beg them to stay. I guess it goes with the saying, "Time Flies When You're Havin Fun!" So I can't complain..I Guess:(

This weekend consisted of barns, horses, hay rides, smore's over bonfires and new friends! Oh and Flea Market shopping! That my girls had to be talked into doing. Though I didn't get any pictures of that:( We had to tell them there were books and purses galore inside. Little did we know there actually were, well at least ones they would want. I quote my daughter upon finding a purse with a tag still on, "Why would nobody want this stuff?"...lol so it didn't take much coaxing to get them in the next Flea Market we hit. They jumped out before I could ask, "Are you coming?" I on the other hand am on a mission to find all things old. I found lots of old but not so much a bargain...eeeek! Old things are expensive! Who knew old things one day would cost so much money! So much more then what the original owner paid for the item brand new. But I did get lucky and score a vintage chair. Not quite what I was looking for, but it works at $20 buckaroos! I will post pics later on that. I am dreaming up something special, keeping my fingers and lil piggies crossed it turns out how I am imagining.

So here are a few pics from this weekend's barn yard bash at Shamrock Farms. We were invited by sweet owner Crystal in hopes to get my girls riding. If they aren't going to mama is! I grabbed my camera in a hurry to get out the door never thinking once it needed charging. So I was short on pics this weekend:(..Mama Failed! Lesson learned, it will never happen again!:(

Hope you all had another wonderful weekend! What did you all do? Hopefully you took pictures for those lifetime memories. Oh and if you did please share! I love looking at everyone's pictures!
XO~MJ

Fab 5 Friday!

Friday why must you go and leave me like that! But you are here again and we shall have another rendezvous of some sort...hmmmm! So I talk to my favorite day of the week, gotta problem with that:P I'm diving right in~ here she goes! TGIF Peeps!

1. So if by chance you are reading this for the first time I ALWAYS start my Fab 5 with music because music is always my major source of inspiration through the week. So here we have Florence and the Machine! I love this lady so much I am sharing more than 1 song. Just in case a certain someone is reading this~ I WOULD LOVE tickets(front row preferred) to see her in concert! Any venue will do~ I'm not picky. Oh and if you haven't bought her album "Lungs" it's a must go getter:)





2. I come across some awesome blogs weekly and sometimes they come to me. I believe Mr. Niels Hermus added me on Twitter and of course out of curiosity I had to check out the handsome fella's blog:) I love when I instantly fall in love with things! I feel like I hit the jackpot..cha-ching:) Same goes with finding a music CD you can sincerely say you LOVE every song on(that was a random comparison). It happens rarely, so if I am sharing it's because I think these people and blogs are that great..GET IT! So head over and check out Niels blog Life is a Bucket my fav post by him I read today was "How to Middle Finger Your Fear" I can't wait to catch up on other posts. Cheers to the Fearless!

3. Another Awesome blog I absolutely LOVE is Zen Habits
by Leo Babauta the link I have shared takes you straight to his first time readers guided tour and starts you off with his most popular post #1 Breathe just breathe people!

4. I just realized upon posting my 4th Fab of the week, the men dominate my list! Go Men! You rocked my world this week along with Miss Florence! I love this blog for many reasons Shadowhouse Creations by Jerry Jones. This man is Creative, Talented and gives free textures, tutorials you name it to liven up those photos, etc. You can check out his awesome slideshow La Cinematique slide show which gives off that Halloween vibe. I'm diggin it Jerry:)

5. Oh and here we have the last but not least! I am trying to find my way back into the domesticated role. Knock..knock is anyone home?!? I fear she may be long gone but in the process of trying to bring her back I am taking on a craft to make me feel somewhat crafty. Is that not what domesticated women do? I have no clue? I am only going with my gut feeling. I need to explorer and be creative in many ways. I remember when my oldest ones were babies I use to make things and give them as gifts. If you are reading this and know me and never knew this it's #1 I didn't like you enough to make you a gift #2 We met after my domesticated days...I kid but only about #1. Anyhow back on track join me in learning something new! There are so many things to learn out there! Pick 1 thing and become really good at it:) I think I found what I will be taking up as a craft, besides my photography of course. But I will wait to share until I actually do it..lol:) Here are some of my favorite sites to get you started on being crafty. Craftzine I think is my fav! The site is so organized with its crafty color coded tabs~Projects, Blog, Videos, etc... and did I mention FREE! Another great site to check out Craft Bits this link will take you straight to their kids crafts section which I think is great! Awesome stuff and also FREE! This next site You Can Make This charges per instruction/tutorial but I liked it enough to give mention and they do offer a few freebies. But I think this site is affordable and worth the tutorial download.

Well I hope you found some spots of Inspiration here. These are all worth the time to check out and I am so happy I took the time to swing by each and everyone this week. Have an awesome Fall Weekend! Get Busy Y'all!:)
XO~MJ