resolute

photo of me taken by brandon at the dallas museum

this grueling task of forking out the things i've been slacking recently has made me realize how lacking i truely am. so i stop at 6 things because i honestly don't think i can juggle much more else. they don't seem like hard things...but it will be interesting to see when the year is over to come back to this post and see if how accomplished i am

...and then i will be happy.

1. consistanly hold a daily routine.
2. read my scriptures and pray daily or as needed on the daily basis.
3. expand my photography business.
4. complete personal art projects.
5. do one thing per day that shows my kids i love them.
6. aim to make me, myself, and i happy through a righteous living.

scratch that.

photo taken by me at a wedding

quick quick!

the year is over in a few days...and i haven't thought of my resolutions.

(kinda grumpy today)

what will i wish or goal set...do i even care...

as long as it is better than this crappy year!

but honestly...what i do want for myself this year.

i want to be where i was spiritually sometime ago.

i want to read my scriptures and pray as needed daily as i use to.

i want to be able to make it to church every sunday.

with out these things i've felt a void.

i guess there is more that i should want to change

for 2010 than i initially thought.

what's your advice...how do i make sure that i carry out my resolution for the year?

maybe my mojo knows.

i crave it

i cut across lanes of traffic to get to crave cupcakes in uptown.

i just finished with a mini after session with bride and groom and i need to taste something sweet like a licorice as jason would say.

it was scrumpcious!

tomorrow doing a $50 room makeover...lets see how far we can make my dollar stretch.

we'll have to muddle through somehow

polaroids of christmas day taken by me

bless. i have been so m.i.a as of late. it's been a combination of mishaps to blame for my bloggin' absense. but here i am and i was so glad to have such a beautiful and happy christmas. i got everything that i wanted for myself and for my darling babies. we have been so blessed with great friends and a loving family,...truly.

thank you brandon for taking us to see all the sights and sounds of christmas that houston could offer during the holidays. it brought our lives a world of cheer.

photos of our houston holiday tours coming soon!

Complete Wedding Package Giveaway!!!

This is the biggest give away ever!

i'm so excited! tell your friend that's getting married!

Everything you could need...You could WIN!

Check out Sherrard Photography

This package to be won includes:
engagement session . bridal session
Complete Wedding Day Coverage (up to 10 hrs.)
after session . all digital negatives on CD
(with full editing)

All you need to do is:
1. Follow this blog + follow our facebook

2. leave a comment saying you have with these details:

Bride and Groom’s Names (first and last):
Wedding date:
Where is your wedding going to be located?:
+ your email address so i can contact the winner!

closes January 2nd!

the small print: this offer is for weddings in houston texas only BUT if you pay for my flight and stay arrangments then you are definately eligable. if you already booked with me...you are not eligible. so sorry.

i'm not a sussy...yet!

watched nicole's little video on a little sussy

and i'm determined to get great.

i took notes on her little tips talk show special and i'm going to practice daily with cutesy things. but here's what i got today just from some objects around the house...

...shh...i took my skirt off in the middle of the dinning room and used it in the shoot. thanks GAP for making lovely skirts...but thank you value village for your treasures.

winter's eyes were big and said "what are you doing?"

...

Nicole, if you're reading how did you think i did at my first attempt?

...

Some notes i took from nicole:

• keep the product setup simple and clean...you want to enhance the product
• models: keep the same model and hair colour
• careful in cropping when showing close detail
• use a tripod and mark your lense and pod so you can come back to that set up
• match the subject to the setting. baby does not equal train tracks. babies are soft...not to be run over by a train (--opps!)

p.s. nicole gives photography classes...online, none the less!

julie and julia

i've been so inspired.

i'm whisking my way around the kitchen. and death by butter to an already dead chicken. beating eggs into submission for my quiche. all while thinking of the trials that these woman had surpassed because of a passion that they went at full throttle, no questions asked..."no excuses"

Julie and Julia was so funny and so emotional for me. Justin even loved it. amazing what a little blog could do. being true to your emotions. sharing a bit of yourself. your little missions in a life and what it makes you become in the process. it was amazing. this movie gets our high five..up high!

thank goodness for our bellies...now i'll get fat eating all that i made today.

thank you red box. thank you julia. xoxo from the serventless americans

what did you think of it?

i can't talk. i can't drink.

my camera was stolen by the Eye of Eden, winter my daughter. this is what was recovered when the it was found. she's been with the cold for a couple of days now. this video made my heart smile.

plug by winter eden

p.s. see the world through Winter's Eye of Eden. could she be the next marla olmstead?

bottle it up

another treasure of houston to share with you...

i've always passed this shopping center in the woodlands when i'm up there for work...i've always wanted to shoot it. it gave me time for reflection as i was walking and the shutter open and closed. thought alot about how the trials and sad experiences this year has brought new learnings for me.

doesn't that change me? will i be different?

i feel like i have to find myself again...

it really sucks when you thought you knew...

and your humbled to find that there's much to be discovered within.

baby face

i had never photographed so many babies in my entire career! It was around 30-40 babies! So many adorable faces. A seperate services provided to high risk first time mothers by Health and Human Services (a goverment program) hired me to photograph at their Holiday program. It is their first year of the program in work so this was a very special event for all the nurses and mothers! I think this is a really good program for new parents. when i arrived to set up there was a speech given by a guest speaker. She spoke of how it is a privilege to care for our children. "We GET to care for them!" As much as I know this...its always great to be reminded. Sometimes in parenting your patiences feels its near the end of the rope...but love conquers all.

two sessions down (in one day)...4 more to go!

our neck of the woods

{snowflakes behind me}

hello snow. glad you could make it this year. dyan said.

it was the silence before choas erupts. it was perfection having a whole snow day where i could cuddle with hot chocalate and do a bit of christmas shopping...all while listening to christmas carols. i even put my tree up! I have 6 photography jobs for the next 3 days. insane. and i've been asked to decorate the tree for The Preserve apartments here in webster texas. trying to build my portfolio to start my tree & home christmas decor business!

brighton enjoyed his first snow day and winter tells me that the teacher let the class out to catch snow on their tongues.

had a nice little date with justin. things are difficult at times still but we have way more laughs and great times. it was really romantic...things are different.

i'm in snow bliss.

is it snowing over in your "neck of the woods"?

oh man!

i was dying with no internet. but here i am a week later and trying to catch up on post. It's quicker to tell you in photos i suppose.

After our big Thankgiving meal we headed to down to our favorite park in downtown Houston for the opening of ice skating on the pond. it was beautiful!

The following morning we woke up and drove to Austin to visit my Young Woman's leader from growing up in Belgium. I was able to scoop up 3 family portrait sessions while i was there. awesome or what!?


Then Justin and I had some time that evening for a little date to the capitol of TEXAS and 6th street.
It really has been a great weekend. I'm back on the ball...and hanging out on the blogosphere again!