Pixel Perfect

kneeling on this battleground..

2012-02-01T07:55:00.008-06:00

We sang this song at church last weekend. It was the first time I had heard it. It couldn't have been better timing. I'm hoping it blesses one of you today.

"Kneeling on this battleground

Seeing just how much you've

done. knowing every victory was

your power in us. Scars and struggles along the

way but with joy our hearts can say NEVER ONCE did

we ever walk alone. NEVER ONCE did

you ever leave us on our own. You are

faithful. God you are faithful!

Scars and struggles along the way but with

joy our hearts can say never once did we

ever walk alone. Carried by your constant

grace, held within your perfect peace. Never once, no

we never walk alone."

Thank you for your comments on my post the other day. It felt good to vent and to hear that I'm not alone. I am doing much better today.

It's a new day

2012-01-31T19:48:00.001-06:00

I love his love for books.

Something more

2012-01-30T11:24:00.002-06:00

Gathered around the dinner table eating a homemade meal is a favorite tradition in our family. Hubby will ask about my day and I share with him the mundane tasks I accomplished. You know I washed the clothes, vacuumed, wiped bottoms, said no about 1,000 times over and during nap time tried to put back together a house destroyed by two curious little boys. That's my day every. single. day. After sharing my day it's his turn to share his. His day usually consists of discovering new ways to save his company hundreds of thousands of dollars, meeting with fun people, jet setting all over the world in first class, and sometimes a few rounds of golf. He's valuable to his company and gets recognition for his hard work. He's relevant to people.

Lately I've been finding longing for that type of freedom, longing for that kind of value. I feel trapped behind diapers, laundry, meals, and other mundane tasks. I can't go to the grocery store any time I feel like it, heck I can barely find the time to wash my hair! (yes, I take baths but washing my hair is whole other luxury) It's so frustrating to hear my sister say, (who is single without children) "Well, this is the life you wanted."

That's true. I longed for this life and I wouldn't trade my boys for the world. I love them so much!! But today, today I'm struggling. Today Satan is pulling out all the stops. He's telling me that as a stay at home mom I am nothing more than a babysitter. That I hold no value. I know that these are lies. I know that God's calling is for me to stay home with my boys to instill God's truth in their hearts. And I know that, that will have a generational impact. I know all those things...

But that doesn't mean that I'm not human. That doesn't mean that I don't find myself struggling with a little bit of jealousy towards my husband when I hear of his adventurous and important role in the business world. Sigh... I am not perfect and with God's strength I will get past this slump. Now back to wiping noses and bottoms.

Have you ever felt like this?

Edited to add: Those that know him in real life already know this but I wanted to make it clear to others that don't. My husband is an incredibly encouraging man. Who daily praises my hard work at home and prays faithfully for his family. I am incredibly thankful for his job and for his leadership in our home.

10 year old blind autistic boy

2012-01-24T09:08:00.001-06:00

Have you seen this video? Incredible.

streams of consciousness

2012-01-17T10:52:00.000-06:00

Hubby's mom's recovery has taken a turn. She seems to be in a lot of pain and is not alert like she was during Christmas. It's so hard for the family to see her in the condition she is currently in. We continue to pray for peace and mercy on her.

On a lighter note Cohen started walking a few weeks ago and is now walking everywhere. It's so fun to watch him hold his arms in the air like a monkey and waddle to where ever he's going. How can he already be old enough to start walking?!

Did any of you watch the new Betty White show "Off Their Rockers". Hubby and I have never laughed so hard. So funny!!!

I made these shirts for the photo business. What do you think?

I hope you all are well! I need to catch up on all your blogs soon!!

He rocks it..

2012-01-11T20:44:00.000-06:00

He rocks his fedora and his tie.

(this photo is copyrighted by Pixel Perfect Photography. Do not steal!)

I love him..

2012-01-10T10:08:00.000-06:00

Love his laugh, smile, silliness, and the fact that he is snuggly.

New Years

2012-01-03T14:15:00.000-06:00

We enjoyed a quiet new years this year unlike last year. Hubby and I stayed up to ring in the new year while our little guys slept, until they were awoken by fire works.

Last year I set a few new years resolutions and I actually met my goal with one of them! Goodbye baby wait and I became reacquainted with the same weight I was in high school. WOOHOO!

This year I want to continue setting goal for myself both physically and spiritually. I'm sharing them with you because that some how sets it in stone.

1. I want to continue working out, no longer for weight loss but to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

2. I want to eat out less. The last half of last year we ate out a lot due to the craziness going on in the family.

3. Blogging!! I have missed blogging so much. I really hope to get back to it on a regular basis.

4. I want to pray more and spend more time with Him.

5. I want to surrender my need to be right in exchange for the opportunity to love.

6. I want to "be still" more often than not.

7. I want to learn to speak the truth in love....LOVE...LOVE!! I often forget about the love part.

What about you guys? Any new years resolutions?

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-31T21:51:00.000-06:00

I had a few posts that were scheduled to post but never did. :/ Which is why it's been quiet around here. I will get that figured out shortly!

But until then Have a Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T13:27:00.000-06:00

I hope you all have a great time celebrating this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

2011

2011-12-19T14:08:00.000-06:00

This year, or at least the past 6 months will go down as being one of the most trying years to date and I feel like I always say that at the end of each year. But there is always a new challenge that we end up facing that we haven't faced in years past and most of those challenges we didn't see coming.

We are being faced with another "didn't see that one coming" challenge right now. I can't share what it is but I can not stress to you enough how much we need prayers right now.

I am thankful that this challenge has nothing to do with my marriage, hubby's job or my boys. (although being a stay at home mom is a challenge within itself..right?) Just thought I should be clear about that. I haven't been a very good blogger this year and just because my husband's presence on the blog has been lacking it isn't a reflection of how we're doing. :) I still can't believe I'm lucky enough to be married to him!

Hubby is having a hard time with everything going on with his mom but we have grown closer through that. It's still so strange to think 6 months ago she was seemingly fine and is now almost in a vegetative state. The past few weeks she had quit progressing and began to regress. She wouldn't respond to commands and she would barely wake up. They also discovered a new tumor that they are unable to perform surgery on. But on Saturday hubby and I went to visit her and we were so encouraged by her responses. She answered questions by nodding her head yes and shaking her head no. She would squeeze hands and point on command. When asked hubby's name she was even able to mouth it! When we went to leave she lifted her hand from her chest (this is huge) and she waved!!

We are so thankful to the Lord for allowing us (hubby, hubby's brother, myself, and hubby's dad) to witness that! We have learned to be thankful for the little miracles and take each day as it comes.

Please continue to pray for Nancy, praise the Lord for the alertness and for the awesome facility she is in that is filled with believers!

And if you wouldn't mind praying for the new challenge that we are facing.

You may not have noticed it but I added a new family picture to the blog if you look under "meet monica". But to save you the time and the click I will add it to this post too. This is the one we put on our Christmas cards.

Christmas is this week!! The boys are excited about celebrating Jesus' birthday!!

Balloon man

2011-12-17T10:17:00.000-06:00

This little guy carried this balloon around with him everywhere.

Now we are off to brave the lines and finish the last bit of Christmas shopping we have! If you don't hear from me in a few days..send help!

Have a great weekend! To Him be the glory!

One year later...

2011-12-14T16:08:00.001-06:00

The boys did a great job "helping" me decorate the tree last week.

The boys in the same spot one year ago.

Where did the year go?

Sock Monkey Birthday Details

2011-12-09T07:42:00.005-06:00

There were some talented women that helped make Cohen's birthday party amazing. These ladies submitted their items for review in exchange for a spot on this post. I wanted to do a little more than a normal review, I wanted to introduce them to you. They are moms just like us that have turned their craft into a business. Take a minute to read their interviews and go support them by buying from their shops! These ladies were all great to work with and I highly recommend all of them!

First let's start with these awesome invitations made by Jenny. I loved that all the colors on the invitation went with the entire party's color scheme. Check out her shop Inky Pinky Paperie and you can also catch her on facebook.

(Jenny and her son)

My name is Jenny Old and I am the designer behind Inky Pinky Paperie. I work full-time as an elementary computer lab teacher. I enjoy expressing my creativity through my invitation and card designs and party accessories. I am a single mother to a handsome little boy named Ashtyn who just turned 4.

How long have you been an etsy vendor?

I opened an etsy store several years ago but never did anything with it until the beginning of 2011. I started placing bids on etsy's Alchemy (which I miss terribly) and sold some on Facebook. I placed my designs on etsy in around March of this year and have been busy ever since.

What is the inspiration for your craft?

I love planning parties and I think the invitation can be the inspiration for the whole party. I always like to design tablescapes in my head that would go along with my invitation designs and party accessories.

What are the products you offer in your shop?

I offer digital invitations and card designs as well as matching party accessories like banners, thank you notes, cupcake toppers, water bottle labels, and much more. If you need it for a party and I can print it on paper and cut it out, then I will design it! I also offer printing services on high quality cardstocks with a back design for FREE! Customers who order multiple items receive a party pack discount. I love doing custom designs as well ~ I can design digitally what you may have designed in your head :)

How do you balance family life and owning a business?

It's not easy! Being a full-time teacher, an etsy seller, and a single mom is enough, but I'm also pursuing a Master's degree. Somehow it just all works :) I LOVE being an etsy seller so I make sure I have time for that!

What is some advice you would give someone wanting to start their own etsy shop?

Just do it! Take some time to perfect your craft first. Start a Facebook page, become involved in groups if you can [I am a member of etsykids!] and take part in giveaways. Do what you can to get your name and your craft out there!

When I was thinking about party favors I wanted something that the kids could actually use and not that the kids would throw away once they got home. The crayon wrap was the perfect solution! I loved how these turned out! Faviola is the owner of Baby Penelope. Check out her cute shop here. She's has a special offer just for you! Save 20% off your order by using the coupon code SAVE20OFF at checkout. Offer end 12/18/11

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

My Name is Faviola and I’m married to an awesome guy and have an eight y/o son, Diego. I’m a scientist by profession, who got laid off on 2008, clearly a bad time to get another job, so I beg my husband for a sewing machine that he gave me on Christmas. Since then, I think I have been sewing almost every single day.

How long have you been an etsy vendor?

I opened my etsy shop on July 2010, but business really picked up January of this year.

What is the inspiration for your craft?

Every single item that I make I would use it for my own baby (the day God decides to send me another one). I love babies and sometimes make me sad that I didn’t try to sew anything for my son when he was a baby.

What are the products you offer in your shop?

Although, the majority of my products are direct to women with babies and children, I also have small cosmetic bags. I have wipes cases, diaper holders, changing pads, burps cloths, bibs and crayon rolls.

How do you balance family life and owning a business?

Balancing family and work when you have your business in your home is extremely hard. You ended up working more than if you work for someone else, but at least I can work in my pajamas. I TRY to sew when my son is at school, and to not answer any emails or sew anything on Sundays. Suddenly my husband understood that if he doesn’t do the dishes, we probably have to eat with disposable plates. He also learned recently to fold laundry, so you get the picture. I have wonderful people in my family that supports me.

What is some advice you would give someone wanting to start their own etsy shop?

I’m in no way an expert on this business because I’m just starting, but here are things that might help.

First, you need to be patient; I made my first sale almost six months after I opened the store. It gets frustrating, but if you have a good product you will sell it.

Don’t buy a lot of material until you test how it will sell. Buy a little bit and if it sells fine, then go ahead and make the big investment.

Also, have good communication with your customers. I always try to send pictures along the way when I’m making customs order.

Don’t take neutral or negative reviews personal. Try to contact your customer and resolve the problem. Good customer service is a MUST.

Christin is the owner of Memorable Moments Studio. You can print her items at home using your own printer but we decided to print our oder at Kinko's. The women at Kinko's were going crazy over the cuteness of everything. I loved how it all turned out. For the banner we ended up making a pennant banner out of burlap and gluing the banner printable directly on it. It was so cute!

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

My husband, Brandon, and I met in college at the University of Arkansas. We have the sweetest baby boy, Landon. Landon turned 2 on December 1st, and he's so full of energy! He's a such a fun stage, learning new things every day. We currently live in Conway, Arkansas.

How long have you been an etsy vendor?

I opened my store on Etsy in April 2011. I started out with a few invitations, and it has grown to over 225+ items, including Christmas cards, invitation and printable party items.

What is the inspiration for your craft?

My inspiration comes from my customers or from an idea I have for my personal events/parties. Most of the items in my shop have been created based on the needs of my customers, including new product lines and party themes.

What are the products you offer in your shop?

In my etsy shop, I offer printable Christmas cards, printable invitations and printable party items. Some of the printable party items include banners, cupcake toppers, cupcake wrappers, water bottle labels, juice box labels, hershey kiss candy stickers, mini candy bar wrappers, candy bag labels, party favor tags, party signs, candy jar signs, placeholders or food tents, bubble labels, thank you notes, and gift tags.

How do you balance family life and owning a business?

I work full-time, and Memorable Moments Studio is my side business. No matter what, family always comes first though! I try to stay caught up on orders, so it doesn't take too much time away from my family in the evenings, but I usually catch up on my orders after my son goes to bed. I also limit the number of custom orders I can take in a week, because those are the time consuming orders, which keeps the work load easily manageable.

What is some advice you would give someone wanting to start their own etsy shop?

Don't be afraid to give it a shot! It's important to be as flexible as possible. Many customers come to etsy for personalized, unique items...so it's important to keep that in mind and help your customers with new ideas and help them expand on ideas they have.

The thing I love about etsy is I get to do what I enjoy, work with fun and creative people from around the world, and manage my own work load. If you need a break, you can put your shop on "vacation mode" and get away. I promised myself when I started that if it ever became too much and wasn't fun anymore, I'll stop or cutback on what's offered in the store. So far, the orders seem to come in phases. For example, it's very busy right now because of Christmas card orders, but next week may be slow, allowing me plenty of time to enjoy more family time.

Janet owns the shop Dainty Couture. Which is filled with so many cute things! She did an amazing job with Cohen's birthday hat and bib. Everyone loved both! They were the perfect addition to the party and of course look super cute in pictures. :)

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

I was born in the West but raised in the South. I attended UGA and graduated with a degree in marketing. Go dawgs! After a few years of working in the corporate world, I met the man of my dreams. We met ten years ago, were were married a year later, and together have created a beautiful family with four amazing children! My oldest is 7 and the newest is just 3 months old. I've always wanted to work and express my creativity but was always afraid it would stifle my lifelong goal to be a mother and to stay home with my children. When we were super poor college students with children, I decided that I had to be able to harness my education and visions into something to help us out rather than having to find a job outside of the home! Dainty Couture was born when I started making random items for my babies and then selling duplicates. The Dainty Couture birthday hat design was eventually developed and I have been coming up with new hat designs ever since! When I was pregnant with our fourth baby, I was so sick and just couldn't keep up with the shop. So the awesome husband I mentioned a while ago stepped in, taught himself to sew and design monograms, and has been my business partner ever since! We have so much fun staying up late at night, chatting, and sewing. I knew his mother was wonderful when we got married but I had no clue that she had raised a great guy that could sew and be a die hard football fan. Who knew?! What started out as a little business to help us buy groceries has turned into a wonderful family business. My children even love to sit and help me trim threads and chat about their day. So if you get a box from Dainty Couture with Crayon all over the label or with 800 pieces of tissues paper in it carefully wrapped around your party hat, just know it came from our little shop with a little extra TLC from my little elves. Don't worry, no products are ever harmed with their budding art skills. :)

How long have you been an etsy vendor?

We opened our etsy shop about 4 years ago when my husband went back to college. I would sit at our kitchen table, call my mom on the phone, and ask her how to sew different items. I had no idea how to sew when I began Dainty Couture!

What is the inspiration for your craft?
My family is the biggest inspiration for my etsy shop. I love my kiddos more than anything and cherish our sweet memories. I make party hats for them every year! It's a big event during birthday time as each kid goes through my fabric stash and develops their own creation. Some of their designs even make their way to my etsy shop! It is always fun when my nieces and nephews make a special request for a party hat as well.

What are the products you offer in your shop?

Birthday hats and bibs are the main items we make at Dainty Couture. We've sold everything from burp cloths, baby bedding, hair bows, and tutorials in the past but decided to make and sell what we love to make the most.

How do you balance family life and owning a business?
I think this is the trickiest part of having a business. Providing for our family is certainly a priority but ensuring that I am not taking away from my time with my children is just as important. Time management and organization has become my new best friend. However, I've also discovered the involving them in what I do has proven to be an amazing thing! They learn little things here and there as they watch me sew. I let them help and develop new skills that are age appropriate. They explore their own creativity and like to use ric rac to decorate their rooms, ribbons to take their stuffed animals for walks, and use fabric for baby blankets and capes. My older two already know that Fabri-Tac is a wonderful thing and can fix just about anything that breaks! I recently found an ornament loaded with glue put back together quite well on the Christmas tree! The business has proven to be a wonderful resource to provide for our family, bond, and create memories. I couldn't ask for a better job!

What is some advice you would give someone wanting to start their own etsy shop?

A lot of friends ask me this very same question. I don't even know where to start! I don't think I have all the answers but I do wish that all the things I've learned on the way were in a manual that you download when you open your etsy shop! A lot of people think they aren't creative enough to make things and sell them online. I disagree! You just need to find an item that you see every day and figure out how to make it cuter or more unique or just different. I think the most important thing I've learned while creating my shop is that family always comes first. If I plan my day around my family and then figure out where to squeeze in my sewing, it always works out.

Charissa and MiMi Smith (as she is called in the shop) are a dynamic duo with incredible talent when it comes to their craft. Their shop is call MiMi's Babies. Cohen's shirt was perfect. The quality is something that will last for years. Which is important, seeing how this will now become a keepsake for him. I thoroughly enjoyed her craft and her heart. In our email conversations back and forth you can tell she is a woman who loves the Lord.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

First and foremost, I am a Christian, saved by the Grace of a Loving God. Blessed beyond anything I could have ever asked or imagined. Also a Wife, Mother, and Mimi to 4 beautiful healthy little men. Married to my hubs for 37 years now we have 3 children, two children-in-law, 4 grandchildren and another on the way, (all boys btw)! I love my boys!

How long have you been an etsy vendor?
Charissa, my daughter-in-law, and I started our etsy shop in September of 2009. I had prayed for quite some time, asking God to show me how I could bring in some extra income and yet be able to be at home for my family. I wanted to feel like I was contributing to the household with the children grown, but still longed to be at home. Etsy was the perfect fit for both Charissa and myself. I believe it was an answer to prayer! When Charissa told me about it (and said she would do all the techno stuff!) I thought it would be a way to see if anyone liked what I was doing. If not, I hadn’t lost anything!

What is the inspiration for your craft?
Really I just love to make pretty things. I have been sewing for years. I’ve dabbled in lots of crafts over the years, but fabric is my favorite medium to work with. I especially love to make things for children. I’ve sold shopping cart covers locally along with diaper bags, etc., for several years before we started Mimi’s Babies.

What products do you offer in your shop?
I make appliquéd children’s shirts, especially Birthday Shirts. Sock Monkey is definitely my biggest seller, he’s so fun! I would love to make more children’s clothing items, but I simply don’t have the time. Birthday shirts keep me very busy! My daughter-in-law Charissa makes some amazing crochet hats, beanies, hair clips, etc. We will be making a change after the first of the year and Charissa will be moving to Hooked On Props @ Etsy It has been amazing being able to work with my daughter-in-law and she’s been very patient teaching me all I needed to know! Make sure you check out her new shop!

How do you balance family life and owning a business?
It can be pretty tricky at times! You have to learn what you can do and what you can’t do. Occasionally you have to turn a job down to keep the stress level down. We love what we do and we love working with customers to give them exactly what they have in mind. Yes, it’s a business and we’ve worked hard to build it, but we have to remember that we can’t please everyone every time.

What is some advice you would give someone wanting to start their own etsy shop?
Find something you do well, that you love to do, and do it. Do it the best you can, and market it honestly. Be fair, treat people the way you want to be treated. Take advantage of the social networking tools available, but be thoughtful about it. Know your limits, and remember what is important in life. When we stop making the things that we do, someone else will do it. But no one can take our place at home.

A huge thank you to these ladies for their hard work. If you are planning a party or know someone that is send them to these shops...facebook them, pin them on pinterest, tweet about them. Help get the word out about them and support other women's entrepreneurial endeavors. You will not be disappointed with them!

Sock Monkey Birthday

2011-12-05T21:29:00.005-06:00

We celebrated Cohen's first birthday on Saturday with a few family and close friends. My mom stayed the night the night before and we stayed up late getting everything ready. There were several etsy vendors that shared their amazing talents to make his birthday special. I'm going to have a separate post introducing their shops and awesome products to you. It will be featured later this week.

Cohen seemed to have a lot of fun and with the exception of the yucky weather, the day was perfect.

(the front and back of his invitation)

(the hat was the smash cake)

(I loved the details of the knitting needles)

(party favors)

(party favor for the younger guests)

(Pictures from his first year. If anyone is interested, I am going to have a tutorial on how to do this..super easy)

(I loved how his shirt turned out!)

(I set up a photo booth. Each guest had their photo taken.)

I still can't believe he is 1!! Where did the time go?!

Remember to check back to meet the etsy vendors!

Happy 1st birthday Cohen!

2011-12-02T07:00:00.001-06:00

One year ago today you made your entrance into this world. I wrote about your birth here and here.

A few of your favorite things are:

You love being cuddled and rocked.
You aren't quite walking yet. But you are so close!
You absolutely love playing with your brother. With the exception of him trying to wrestle with you.
You love to play with cars and trucks.
You already say mommy and daddy.
This year you have traveled to Virginia, California, and Florida.
You only have four teeth.
You love to dance and you have rhythm!
You haven't been sick once. (other than a cold) Your pediatrician only gets to see at well baby visits.
You have been a wonderful baby. You barely cry and have slept through the night since your were a few weeks old.
If your daddy and brother are playing or doing something fun, you want to be right there with them.

We love you Cohen and are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Happy Birthday!!

Time

2011-11-30T15:07:00.000-06:00

It's amazing how quickly time flies when you're busy. We hosted Thanksgiving this year for my husband's side of the family and I was responsible for the turkey...dun, dun, dunnnnn.

If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time you know that my husband is the one with the cooking skills, not I. Thankfully everything turned out great despite a few blunders such as our fridge quit working the morning of Thanksgiving (hubby was able to get it working again), little man stuck his Thomas train into one of the pies, one of our dishes exploded, and little man spread icing all over the back door. No one was hurt and we had a blessed time with family minus my MIL who is still in the hospital. And of course there are no pictures from Thanksgiving. I wish we had a photographer in the family. ;)

We've also been working hard on Cohen's birthday party. His actual birthday is Friday. Can you believe he is turning 1??!! His birthday party is going to be Saturday. We are inviting a few family and friends over. I can't wait to share pictures with you. There are so many etsy vendors that are using their awesome talents to make it special for him!

Have a blessed day. To Him be the glory!

MIL update

2011-11-25T22:01:00.000-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration filled with lots of good food and family!

It's been a while since the last update on Nancy so I wanted to let you know how she's doing.
They moved her to the rehab ward of the hospital a few days ago. She sleeps most of the day and doesn't really wake up when she has visitors. On the few occasions that she is awake she is able to answer simple questions and follow simple commands. She is still on a feeding tube but only at night. They don't give it to her during the day because they are trying to encourage her to eat a some pudding. At this point her recovery seems to be in a holding pattern.

Praise:
She was able to eat a little bit of pudding!

Prayer:
Continue to pray for her full recovery.
Pray that she'll be more alert when family and friends come visit.

Thank you all for your prayers for Nancy and our family during this time!

Thankful

2011-11-22T07:00:00.001-06:00

I am thankful for:

a God that knows my flaws and still loves me.

and loves me enough to never stop refining me.

a husband that is the most kind, loving, gentle, generous, and God-fearing man I know.

two boys that fill our home with laughter.

a home filled with peace.

home cooked meals.

good friends.

good family.

good music.

prayer.

hot chocolate.

trials that challenge my faith and reliance on God but in the end bring me closer to Him.

a blogging community that is supportive and loving.

photography. creativity.

a heart for orphans.

Little man in prison?

2011-11-14T07:00:00.002-06:00

With the recent medical emergency with my MIL I have fallen behind on updating the scrapbooking part of of this blog. This is for us to look back on but I hope you enjoy too.

We visited San Francisco last month. My husband is always up for adventure and for traveling. With two under three it's always an adventure.

Hubby had been there several times but this was my first time and of course the boys too. We hit most of the tourist spots.

We of course went and saw "the painted ladies". It was so weird seeing them in person. I grew up watching Full House, seeing them brought back a lot of fun memories. Like my crush on DJ Tanner's boyfriend. ;)

Little man went to prison Alcatraz prison that is, thankfully as a tourist. Hubby and I love history and this infamous prison now a national park is full of history. It was a great tour but maybe a little too long for the kids. But they survived.

You can't go to San Francisco without driving down the crookedest street, Lombard st. That was something that took some getting use to, the steep roads. If you're prone to car sickness it might not be the best idea to drive.

We walked down Fisherman's Wharf. Hubby was in heaven with all the fresh sea food they were selling.

Little man loved The Golden Gate Bridge. Every time we saw it he got excited. He still talks about the "goden tate bridge in san friscoooo" That was definitely his favorite part of the trip besides the airport.

On our last day we had a few hours to kill before our trip was over and it was time to fly home. So we hit the country side. It was beautiful! We found a great mom and pop restaurant and had some of the best pizza. I love that hubby likes to explore and discover new things when we travel. We definitely do a few touristy things but then we always take the time to break away and get a local's view of the area. While doing our exploring we came across a pumpkin patch. The boys loved the chance to get out and run around.

We also drove up to wine country which was beautiful. The vineyards reminded me a lot of Tuscany.

Have you ever visited the San Francisco area? What were some of your favorite places to see and things to do?

She spoke her name..

2011-11-08T14:54:00.000-06:00

Sunday we visited Nancy. She has been slowly progressing the last week so we were excited to see how far she had come since our last visit. She is still very weak and considered critical but she spoke her name. Not only can she say her name, she can also say her son's names and she even said mine! She had a hard time remembering little man and Cohen. And she did not remember anything about the upcoming holiday Thanksgiving. So she is still struggling with memory.

It's hard to assess the significance of the brain damage if any. She is able to respond to simple commands such as hand squeezes and wiggling of toes. She has a hand motion that she repeats over and over. Hubby describes her demeanor as "child-like." The blood clot in her leg does not seem to be too big of a concern for the doctors at this time. She is still in ICU but the doctors are hopeful she'll be in a regular room soon.

She has her good days and her bad days. Some days she is really responsive and others she's not. We still believe in God's sovereignty and healing and are thankful for the good days. But I think I speak for all of the family when I say that we are praying for a full recovery and a full life. Not one where she is not able to communicate well and stuck in a bed for the rest of her life.

Her husband, my father in law is still having blood pressure issues. He has worked hard as a painting contractor most of his life and still continues to do so. But needs to feel better to continue working.

Praise:
The doctors did not think she would be where she is today and we will praise God for that!!!

Prayer:
Continue praying for her full recovery.
Pray for my FIL's health and strength.
All of this is taking its toll on all of us. We are all exhausted. Pray that God will continue to sustain us as we all walk through this.

baby photo comparing

2011-11-06T07:00:00.001-06:00

I came across these photos today.

Here is little man at 9 months

and Cohen at 8 months.

They look so different to me.

A few pictures from life's routines

2011-11-02T10:11:00.001-05:00

(big brother reading to little brother)

(watching daddy work in the yard)

(Shopping with mommy. Got this photo idea from facebook.)

(Our nightly routine of reading the bible.)

Reality is tough

2011-10-31T14:40:00.004-05:00

"Though the mountains be shaken and the earth be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

We went to visit my mother in law on Saturday. She is still in the ICU and at the time was still on the ventilator. She was able to squeeze our hands and she even mustered up enough strength to open her eyes when we first got there.

Nancy, (my MIL) when she was well, would always give Hubby and I a hard time wondering when we were going to have baby number 3. I would always say, "I don't know. We'll have to see." So later in our visit when she had become less responsive we told her if she would open her eyes that we would have number 3. Hubby and his brother who was also there want a baby number 3.... bad. They were really encouraging her to open her eyes. She didn't open her eyes that time but there was a definite response. She squeezed my hand, moved her other hand, moved her head, moved her shoulder, and her heart rate went up. And right before we left we told her her husband was going to come visit her. Her heart rate again went up and she started moving.

That's what makes this so sad. She is in there!! She is responding to us! She is just trapped in a body that is struggling to hang on.

The nurse that she had over the weekend was incredible. He decorated her room and rearranged it so she could be next to the window. We brought up a digital photo frame that displays photos of her sons, husband, and grandbabies. All the people she loves. So when she does open her eyes she can be comforted and encouraged to keep fighting.

We are praising God for the miracle of her responding. The nurse and Drs didn't think that was ever going to be possible. Even though there are so many things to be thankful for, we will soon be facing some difficult decisions.

She has a blood clot in her leg that we are being told may need to be amputated. We haven't even begun to treat the cancerous tumor in her brain because of the hemorrhaging she's experiencing and currently being treated for, which is completely unrelated to the tumor. We still don't know the severity of her brain damage caused by the blood clot and hemorrhage in her brain. And she is still at risk of developing more blood clots even though she is on a blood thinner. We are receiving conflicting and confusing information regarding her prognosis. And at 74 years old how much is too much for her.

This has been so hard for all of us involved. I could not stop crying on Friday. I'm so sad for her and my heart aches for my father in law who is not doing well himself. This all seems so sudden. A month ago she was seemingly fine and now she is fighting for her life.

Praise:
Thanking the Lord for the progress she has shown. The nurses are calling it a miracle!
She is now off the ventilator and breathing on her own!

Prayer Requests:
Wisdom for the Drs and for us as we make some tough decisions regarding her care.
Continue to pray for her. Pray that she will not be in pain, that she will be at peace.
Pray that the Lord will give my father in law strength and good health!

Thank you all for your concern and prayers for her. It's comforting watching the body of Christ come together all over the world to pray for someone they don't even know. Every time I see her I tell her about you all.

Tides turn

2011-10-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

This little photo shoot was going along just fine until I told him he could no longer push the pumpkin off the porch...

The events that unfolded

2011-10-28T10:15:00.008-05:00

My mother in law had brain surgery to remove one of her two brain tumors last Monday. After a few days in ICU she was placed in a regular hospital room and eventually was placed on the rehabilitation ward to help get her strength back. That is where she was yesterday morning when a nurse found her unresponsive and with bleeding on the brain.

Soon after discovering her, she was rushed into emergency surgery to try and stop the hemorrhage. The surgeon said there was so much pressure in her brain that the entire right side of her brain had collapsed onto the left side. He discovered a blood clot which was a very unlikely situation because she had been on blood thinner medication. (this had nothing to do with her original surgery) He also was very honest and said the outlook does not look good. She suffered severe brain damage. Her neurological signs are very poor. But we won't know the extent of her brain damage until she wakes up.

Yesterday they quit giving her sedation medicine in hopes of her waking up. She has not woke up as of yet. The doctor said that even if she does wake up because of the brain damage her quality of life will be very poor. She is currently on a ventilator and is not really responding to pain.

After her surgery we all went and held her hand and told her we love her.

We are at this point trying our best to love on my father in law who was basically told his wife will not pull through this. He shared that he is not over the shock yet.

After the ICU visit we went to my father in law's house to eat. It was so strange not having her in the house bustling around trying to make everyone comfortable and well fed. She is the queen of hosting but the hostess was not there.

The night before this incident her son was visiting her. He was by her bed side holding her hand. Out of the blue she said, "It's so beautiful!" He asked her, "What's so beautiful, mom?" She never responded. Who knows what the Lord allows us to see before we enter into His kingdom. Maybe He knows that we fear leaving our loved ones so He gives us glimpses into what's on the other side to give us peace. Yesterday there were people that shared stories of their loved saying similar things about seeing a beautiful light or seeing people standing in their presence (no one else could see these "people") before they passed away.

We do believe in miracles and that's what she needs right now. But we also believe in a sovereign God that may be calling her home at this time. In either situation He will be glorified!

Be praying for David my father in law. I know it is hard for him to see her in her current condition and to face the possibility that she may never come home. I know that's hard for us all to face.

UPDATE: Although not much of a change this morning she did open her eyes and give a hand squeeze. Praising the Lord for allowing David and her boys to experience those moments.

MIL update

2011-10-27T07:00:00.008-05:00

update: 11:08- she made it through surgery but she has sustained severe brain damage. it does not look good. her neurological signs are very poor. she is in icu. we are all here. please continue praying. God be glorified!

Update: 7:00am- I wrote the following post last night. This morning we received a phone call saying that the hospital had found her unresponsive and there was bleeding on her brain. She is currently in ICU and we're being told the outlook doesn't look good. PLEASE PRAY!!! We believe in a powerful God that heals!!

This weekend my father in law was experiencing vertigo and a nurse suggested he go to the ER to get looked at. He was admitted to the hospital and underwent a few tests. All the tests came back negative and the dr. determined that the vertigo was probably due to high blood pressure caused from stress. He is now at home getting some rest.

My mother in law is on the rehabilitation ward and is under going rehabilitation to help her get her strength back. She has been in a bed for 3 weeks and has lost most of her muscle strength. She is unable to do the most basic of physical tasks. And the tests to determine the exact type of cancer came back inconclusive. Not only does she have a long battle ahead of her physically but mentally and emotionally she is struggling. She is having a hard time finding the mental strength to fight the unknown cancer and to fight to get her strength back. I know that she is tired but she can't just give up.

How you can specifically be praying:

Pray that she God will lift the depression she is currently wrestling.

That God would give her mental and physical strength.

Discernment for the doctors to be able to figure out the next move.

Discernment for the brothers as they try to make the best decisions moving forward.

That us wives will continue to encourage and walk beside our husbands during this hard time.

Praising God:

My father in law is ok!

Thank you friends for your concern and prayer. It means more to us than I could ever express.

Love these Canvas prints

2011-10-26T07:00:00.005-05:00

I was approached by Easy Canvas Prints to review their product. And although they sent me a free canvas in exchange for a review you guys know that I would never endorse a company that I did not love.

I can not say enough good things about the canvas or the company. I had used one of their competitors in the past and was expecting a similar outcome in their product (their competitor was cheaply made). Easy Canvas Prints blew my expectations out of the water! I literally gasped when I opened the box. The canvas is beautifully printed, the colors are extraordinary, and their prices are great. And their website is so easy to maneuver!

Christmas is right around the corner and these would make gifts for anyone. Photographers this would be a great company to buy canvases through for your clients' or for your personal display.

From the moment I opened it I could not wait to get it up on the wall! Here's how it looks displayed on the boys' wall. Now any time someone comes into the boys' room they immediately compliment how great it looks above Cohen's bed.

"Like" them on facebook and get 50% off your next order!

Seriously you have to check them out! They have made a customer out of me. I hope you are all having a great day! I need to update you on how my mother in law and father in law are doing. That is coming tomorrow.

What we've been up to this week

2011-10-20T17:04:00.000-05:00

Thank you all again for praying. My mother in law is recovering well and will spend next week in a rehabilitation center to help her get her strength back.

Every four years my husband has a week where his company gets audited by headquarters to make sure they are following all procedures correctly. That just happened to fall on this week. During this week he hasn't been getting home until really late and doesn't have the flexibility he normally does. We were finally able to go see his mom today. Today is her birthday by the way! She looks great!!

Last weekend I had a fun shoot with this sweet girl and her family. We went to school together several years ago and thanks to facebook were able to reconnect. See that fun truck in the background...swoon!

And now that fall is in full swing we bought some pumpkins where they proudly sit on our front porch. I love fall!! Hopefully we'll get some cooler weather. Little man is giving Cohen a kiss. Cohen is the only one he gives kisses to freely. Mommy has to steal them when he's not looking.

Last weekend I had a mini shoot with the boys. In this shot little man ran off and Cohen was sitting by himself hamming it up for the camera. He is definitely not camera shy.

He likes to randomly do this especially since it makes us all laugh. He is such a joy!

*Just a reminder Before and After Blog Hop is on hiatus until further notice.

Brain surgery

2011-10-16T16:04:00.005-05:00

UPDATE- 1:30- Surgery went well. Praise the Lord! The dr. is pretty certain that what she has is Lymphoma. He said out of every cancer this one is the easiest one to treat. She is recovering and doing well. As for further treatment she will need to go through chemotherarpy. Thank you for your prayers!!

UPDATE- 12:00- The dr called my father in law to say that surgery is going well. Keep praying!

UPDATE- Surgery has been moved to 10 AM central.

Tomorrow morning (monday) at 8:30 central they are going to take my mother in law into surgery to remove the larger of the two brain tumors. She is very scared. Please pray for the doctors, medical staff, her husband, our family, and that she will be at peace. They do not know what kind of tumor it is but will know more tomorrow. I will update with new info as I get it.

Thank you. I shared with her today that people all over the world are praying for her. She appreciates all of you and your prayers.

MIL Update

2011-10-13T20:31:00.003-05:00

Information is constantly changing but for now the plan is to remove the tumor on Monday. Then the doctors can find out what they are dealing with and how to further treat her. She has a history of blood clots and is currently on blood thinner medication but they say they are able to move forward with the surgical procedure. PLEASE BE PRAYING!!

Thank you!

Please Pray

2011-10-12T09:14:00.003-05:00

So, I haven't been blogging as consistently recently and now everyone thinks I'm pregnant.

I'm NOT pregnant. :)

Now that, that is cleared up. I have a favor to ask of you all.

Would you pray for my mother in law? After she had been experiencing severe memory loss my father in law took her to the doctor. They found a tumor on her brain. They are still in the early stages of trying to figure out the best way to approach treatment. Please pray for the doctor's discernment, that she will be at peace, comfort and strength for my father in law, and that we will be shown the best way to love on them through this.

Thank you. I hope you all are having a great week!

*edited to add: I will update on my mother in law as we receive new information.

Every day

2011-10-07T15:17:00.001-05:00

A use for old crates

2011-10-06T08:51:00.002-05:00

My mom found these at a flea market for $5!! I found the perfect use for them. Since they go with the vintage theme I have for the boys room. These crates are now where we keep the diapers. Their room has been a work in progress and I love finding things to add to their decor.

(If you showed up here looking for the before and after blog hop, I'm sorry. It was announced last week that it is currently on hiatus until further notice. Thanks!)

Bead board ceiling tutorial

2011-09-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Last week I tackled yet another project with the help of my two sisters. I wanted to do this one as a surprise for hubby. Looking back we probably could have used his help. But I like how it turned out and more importantly he loved it!

I got this idea from my uncle and decided to hit up google to find some tutorials on it. Of course I found one that made it look sooo easy. So I asked my sisters if they would help me with this super easy project. My younger sister is incredibly handy. After telling her it would only take a few hours she agreed. (it ended up taking 6...I am so thankful they both stuck it out) The guest bathroom is 8x5 but we wanted to use only one panel of bead board so it would be seamless. The bead board comes in 8x4 sheets, which is why we use 6 inch boards to frame the ceiling.

Here is the tutorial that I followed. She has such a cute blog. But we had to do things a little differently.

First we cut at an angle 4 boards that were 6 ft long, 6 inches in width, and 1 inch thick. After cutting them we painted them white. We used these to frame the ceiling.

We first put liquid nails on the boards and tried using a nail gun to nail it into the ceiling. After the board fell on our heads I ran to the hardware store and was told to try 2 inch wood screws. These worked perfectly. We put 6 screws in each board. 2 on each end and 2 in the middle.

Then it was time to put the bead board up. After measuring and cutting out the two holes for the vents we put liquid nails on it and held it up while my sister used the nail gun to secure it. This part really required more people than we had. But we finally got it up!

After securing the bead board it was time for the quarter-round......this part requires patience if you are not use to working with it. (we weren't and this is where we spent most of our time) Getting the angles just right is difficult and the spots that weren't perfect we used spackling to cover up the blemish. :) The quart-round was placed around the outside and inside of our boards. We were able to use the nail gun to hold up the quarter-round. Our nails were small enough that it did not split the wood.

When everything was finished we placed spackling over nail holes and in gaps where boards didn't meet. After the spackling dried we used sand paper to smooth it out, and then painted it.

I absolutely love how it turned out!

Before

After

Supplies needed for this project:

Miter saw (this is used to cut angles on the molding and boards)

Circular saw (you could get away with using just a hand saw for cutting out the holes for the vents)
24- 2 inch wood screws

Nail gun

Drill (to screw in wood screws)

4 boards- size will vary depending on the size of the room but I wouldn't have it more than 1 inch thick.

1 panel of bead board 8x4 (we were able to use 1 panel for the size of room we had)

Quarter round molding

Liquid nails

Spackling

White latex paint

Sand paper

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-09-29T07:00:00.002-05:00

**** Linky has been acting up today. I apologize if it doesn't work.

Today will be the very last "before and after" blog hop. I had a lot of fun the past year and a half and I'm sad to see it go but all good things must come to an end. Thank you to all that joined and especially to the faithful ones. I always enjoyed seeing your creativity shine through with your editing. Thursdays won't be the same without you.

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Taken with a 5D Mark II, 50mm, and edited with CS4. The original was underexposed (the photographer was not a pro) and boy did Florida humidity do a number to my hair. SO during the editing process I had to get that under control. :)

Thanks again everyone!

Tips for surviving at home while your husband is traveling

2011-09-27T16:20:00.000-05:00

Hubby worked in California Monday through Thursday as a consultant when we first started dating. (What a commute!) He continued traveling for work throughout our engagement. Two weeks before we got married he accepted a job offer that allowed him to be home most of the time.

Though he is home more than he is away, having a traveling man is nothing new to me. I thought I'd share a few tips to help you get through, especially if you have small children.

1. Skype! Invest in a camera for your computer or purchase a computer with a built in camera. It helps the children when they can see their daddy's face (and it helps the wife).

(little man skyping with daddy)

2. Stay busy. Do some house projects you've been putting off, create a play date, or invite some friends over for dinner. It helps the time pass by so much quicker if you're busy.

3. Girls night! If you can have a babysitter come over, this would be the perfect time to have a girls night out. If you can't hire a babysitter, have a girls night in after the kids go down. Play some games or watch some chick flicks. Steel Magnolias anyone?

4. Create a "how many more sleeps" calendar. Every morning when the kids wake up cross off last night's sleep and see how many more you have left until daddy comes home!

5. Have your kids make handmade cards and hide them in your husband's suitcase for him to find when he unpacks. Sneak a card in there from you too! ;)

6. What are good friends for? Ask a good friend to call and check on you while he's away and do the same for a friend.

7. We have been using this site for years and what a God send. Especially when I was home with an infant while hubby was away. Flightaware.com is a great website to track where your husband's plane is. I'm sure older kids would love this site!

(watching hubby's plane fly into Chicago from Japan)

Any other great ideas you would add to this list?

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-09-22T08:45:00.000-05:00

Once again I won't be linking up today. We have several house projects going on that I can't wait to share.

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Don't let my absence spoil your fun. Looking forward to seeing all of your great edits!

Glazing furniture

2011-09-21T13:37:00.002-05:00

This bookshelf has been sitting in our garage for years. It needed some updating but I was afraid to tackle the job. After finding furniture painting tutorials on pinterest, I also found my confidence to complete the project. It's just painting, right?

I started out by cleaning and sanding it. I then applied two coats of paint. Now according to every tutorial I've ever read the next part of this process was suppose to be easy. On one tutorial the woman coated her entire piece of furniture and then wiped off the glaze. So I did just that. But by the time I went to wipe off the glaze it had already dried. I was really...really bummed.

I waited a few days to try again. After scouring the internet and talking to a woman at Lowe's I figured out that I should only do a small portion of the bookshelf at a time. So, another coat of paint was slapped on the bookshelf. And this time I only applied glaze to a small portion at a time and then wiped it off.

Finally success. Here is my new and improved bookshelf.

It almost looks pink in this picture but it's not. It's white with mocha glaze. This is one of the tutorials I used.

I hope to be painting/glazing more furniture in the future. Do any of you have any pointers?

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-09-15T08:13:00.000-05:00

Hi friends! I won't be linking up today but I will be looking forward to checking out your great edits!

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

10 years later

2011-09-11T12:16:00.004-05:00

Little man holding the newspaper from 9/12/2001

After the attacks ten years ago, patriotism was expressed with more pride than in the years before it. We were and are proud to be Americans. In memorial to those that lost their lives that day and to the many soldiers that lost their lives fighting the war on terror what better way to express our patriotism than to recite The Pledge of Allegiance. I can't help but cry hearing my two year old son recite these precious words.... one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We are praying for those of you that lost family and friends that day and for our nation.

9/11

2011-09-11T09:16:00.001-05:00

President Bush addressed the nation at 8:30 pm ET on September 11, 2001. Here is a look back at what he said.

"Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.
"The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.

"A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
"America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
"Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America — with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.
"Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C. to help with local rescue efforts.
"Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.
"The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight, and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business, as well.
"The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
"I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.
"America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.'
"This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
"Thank you. Good night, and God bless America."

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-09-08T08:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday everyone! I don't know about you but I am so thankful for a short week thanks to Labor Day.

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Taken with 5D Mark II, 24-70mmL4.0 and edited with CS4.

a two year old and his golf club are not easily parted

2011-09-06T09:51:00.002-05:00

Little man loves to golf. Hubby and little man will go on "dates" to the driving range and he has so much fun! This is not something we have forced on him. He kept trying to play with hubby's golf clubs and we wouldn't let him because he was bound to break something. He would then have a meltdown because he wanted to play golf just like his daddy. So, for his second birthday we bought him his own golf clubs which are all plastic except for one. He only wants to play with real golf balls and his "real" golf club. It's so funny. And when golf is on TV hubby will watch it with little man sitting right next to him watching it with his golf club and golf ball in hand.

He will go to bed talking about golf and wake up asking for his club. We're loving this for now because we all know how kids are...it's golf today and will be something else next week. ;)

Here's a video of his awesome golf skills.

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-08-31T21:42:00.000-05:00

I loved all the entries last week. You all are a talented bunch! It's that time again to share your awesome edits with everyone. Happy Thursday!

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

5D Mark II, 50mm, and edited with CS4.

Brotherly love

2011-08-31T12:11:00.001-05:00

These brothers are inseparable. Any time little man is upset about anything instead of crying for mommy or daddy, he cries for his brother. Little man does not like being without his brother. They have shared a room together since Cohen was just a few weeks old.

Every night before hubby and I head off to bed we check on them. In the past few weeks when we go to check on the boys this is what we have found.

Isn't this the cutest? Friends will often ask if we let me continue to sleep together, and for now the answer is no. We will gently move little man back into his bed where he sleeps until he wakes up in the morning. Then he climbs back into Cohen's crib. We will usually hear on the monitor little man say, "Hi, Cohen."

The love doesn't stop there. They sit next together in the car. It is not unusual to look back and see little man reach over into Cohen's car seat and hold his hand. He's been doing that since Cohen was just a few weeks old. I love the love these boys have for each other.

The past few evenings Cohen has been hypersensitive. We'll try to talk to him and he starts whining or crying even while holding him. He'll cry and then stop to open his eyes to see who is watching. It's the kind of thing you want to get on video so you can show him when he's 10. So I was trying to get a video of it for our personal records, not intending to put it on the blog. But while making this video his emotions took a different turn and it further demonstrates the point of this post.

Nobody can make Cohen laugh like his brother. Love these boys!!

Let your kids be kids

2011-08-30T09:59:00.000-05:00

We were hustling and bustling trying to get dinner cooked. In the midst of all the hustling and bustling little man decided to "help" by lining the water bottles on the counter top. Yes, he was in the way. Yes, he made the job of getting dinner cooked and on the table take twice as long. And I was tempted to get frustrated but instead my husband and I embraced it.

We counted with him as he went down the line of bottles. "Ooooonnneee, twooooo, tweeee, foouurr...YAY!"

I have a confession to make. I'm one of those moms that doesn't like mess. And I realize that I have also missed out on a few opportunities to let my kid be a kid due to my excessive need for order and cleanliness.

But this night we slowed down a little bit and played along with his need to "help". It only took five minutes and the laughs and cheers we shared were worth it!!

What I wish I would have known before starting my business

2011-08-27T16:49:00.002-05:00

1. Don't go out and buy a bunch of props at once. Slowly, over time build your prop base as you build your client base.

2. When you are first starting don't spend a lot of money on templates. I made this mistake. It makes me sick to think of how much money was spent on templates that I never use.

3. Business plan. Take the time with your spouse or friend and brain storm a business plan. Where do you want to be by this time next year? Marketing?

4. Know and understand how to use your camera in manual before starting a business. You may end up embarrassing yourself in front of a client if you don't know what you are doing.

5. Learn to say no. I was asked to take photos for a charity event. I did it and I regretted it later. I quickly discovered that I am not an event photographer. I don't like taking pictures of people who didn't ask for it in the first place. (like when a client books a shoot) I felt very uncomfortable and out of place. Never again.

6. If you are a stay at home mom and a photographer you need to create a schedule. Have set times when you are editing, answering emails, and doing all things business related. Otherwise your business will take over your personal time and your family will be the ones suffering for it.

7. Wait to buy the bigger nicer camera until you are at a professional skill level. If you feel a certain lens or camera is inhibiting you from reaching your full potential then it is time to upgrade. Your photos already have to be great, buying an expensive camera will not make your photos any better. It's not the camera that takes great photos, it's the photographer.

8. If you are charging people for service then you are a business. If you are a business then you need to do things the legal way. File a DBA and pay your taxes!!!

What advice you would add to this list?

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-08-25T08:39:00.001-05:00

For most of you this week was the first week back to school. Hopefully your kids are loving it and getting back into the swing of things! Since the kiddos are back at school and the house is quiet again, why not join in with some editing fun?

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Camera- 5D Mark II, canon 50mm, and edited with CS4.

A fun weekend

2011-08-23T15:07:00.000-05:00

Saturday was my brother in law's wedding. He waited a long time (he's 43) but he's finally married! We are excited for him. We are looking forward to getting to know our new sister- in- law.

(this is at the rehearsal dinner)

(LM did awesome sitting in his chair for almost 3 hours at the rehearsal dinner. But he was tired.)

Hubby loves to dance. He was out on the dance floor a lot. Which is why he is so red in the following picture.

And I finally made my weight loss goal!! Such a good feeling. Now I'm ready to start building muscle...nothing too crazy I'm just wanting to be tone. Is it weird that I have grown to enjoy working out? Did you set any weight loss goals for 2011??

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-08-18T08:17:00.002-05:00

Hi friends! It's Thursday and that means blog hopping time! Invite your friends the more, the merrier.

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Taken with 5D Mark II, and edited with CS4. He had just finished eating strawberries and was outside playing. I cleaned him up in the edit and made it black and white.

When you know it's time to start your photography business

2011-08-15T13:57:00.005-05:00

If you have the dream of becoming a photographer and owning your own business one day when do you make the switch from hobby to business? When do you start charging people?

Just because you buy a DSLR doesn't mean you are ready. You start charging people when there is a consistency in your work and when you have a vast knowledge about editing and shooting.

When I first decided that I wanted to move in the direction of starting my own business I took photos for free, anyone that would let me. Just for the practice. I did that for almost a year and a half. When I started charging I only charged $25. That would cover my gas and I was able to start saving up for more gear.

I didn't become an official business until there was a consistency in my work and I was able to move out of shooting in auto. Consistency in the sense that there were no blurry photos, colors were correct, I was well rounded in the area of editing and I was able to provide an overall great experience. (Only then did I feel comfortable increasing my prices.)

Why is that even important?

Simply, you are charging people for a service. They deserve to have someone that knows what they are doing and can give them beautiful images. Not someone who is shooting a bajillion photos hoping a few good ones come out.

(this session was a free session. click here to view more.)

(another freebie.)

(this session was after becoming a business and I charged full price. $75 and they purchased prints seperately)

(the above session was when I first became a business and started charging more. $75 To see more from this session click here.)

(this one was after a few years in the biz and after I changed how I price my sessions)

I hope this post isn't coming off as snarky. That is not my intention. My point is simply don't break out into the business world until you are able to provide a service worth paying for. You only have one opportunity to make a first impression. If I had claimed to be a photographer with some of my first images I know my business would have received a bad reputation and would not have been taken seriously. But because I waited until there was some consistency I feel confident in the service I provide.

What are your thoughts?

Dialogue between a country girl and her city boy (pt. 2)

2011-08-12T08:46:00.003-05:00

On our way home from a date our bellies were full of yummy Italian food and country music played softly in our car speakers.

We were laughing and enjoying great conversation when the song "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins came on. (it's a song about a dad and the influence he has over his son. Very sweet song)

hubby. "I love this song. It reminds me of me and my boys." He smiled as he was relating to the song and daydreamed of what was to come in the future with his boys.

My heart was bursting with love for hubby. I love seeing how much he loves his boys. I took a deep breath, smiled. and squeezed his hand tighter.

The next song came on... I can't remember the name of it but it was a sweet romantic ballad.

I was flooded with memories of when we were dating and engaged. Those days were so sweet and I cherish them. I pulled his hand closer to me and leaned over to rest my head on his shoulder. I took in every word, every note and relished in the rush of romantic feelings.

me. "Is this how you feel about me?"

I could feel his body tense up. He cleared his throat. I sat up and looked at him.

me. "Well....?"

He smiled nervously and started to break out into a sweat.

hubby. "Well...I wasn't really..... paying...... attention to the song." He winced.

I laughed. "So, when it's about the boys you listen to it and enjoy it but the second it gets romantic you tune it out. I see how that works." I said jokingly.

He laughed. "You're going to blog about this aren't you?"

me. "Yes." :)

(Click here to check out pt. 1)

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-08-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

I had to double check a few times to make sure it actually is Thursday. Time is flying by way too quickly for me. Since it's Thursday it's time for great photo editing fun!

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Shot with Canon 5D Mark II, canon 85mm, and edited with photoshop CS4.

My photography biz

2011-08-09T10:39:00.002-05:00

When I started this blog three and a half years ago I thought only family and friends would read it. I had no idea that hundreds of complete strangers would ever care to read it but you do! (still blows my mind) Because I was shy of giving out business info to complete strangers I never linked to my business blog from this blog. Yes, I've shown you some of my latest sessions but I've never directly linked to it.

But all of that is changing today. I recently did a business blog overall and switched to wordpress. Oh my goodness talk about a major headache but I survived (thanks to bluehost) and the blog is ready for you to see it!

Here it is....

www.pixelperfectphotoblog.com

If you notice anything that needs to be fixed please let me know. :)

*I am still going to keep the two separate blogs because they serve two different purposes.

The dialogue between a country girl and her city boy. (pt.1)

2011-08-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

me. "Can I mow the yard? "

hubby. (a man who takes very good care of his yard and has a lot of pride in it) "Really? You want to mow the yard? I think that's more of a man's job. Why don't you run to sonic and get a Dr. Pepper instead?"

Notice how he dangles one of my favorite indulgences in front of me. I resist the temptation.

me. "But baby I'd really like to serve you by helping you mow the lawn today. I use to do it all of the time growing up."

hubby. "Ok....you can mow the backyard."

Notice he gave me the yard that no one else will see.

me. "YAY! I will make you proud. I promise."

I wanted to show him my country girl work ethic. I mean mowing this little yard will be nothing.

He pushed the lawn mower to the backyard and started it for me. I pushed it and immediately could tell that it was going to be a lot more work than I had first thought. But he was watching me and I didn't want him to know that I was already struggling. I glanced up at him and waived at him, pushing the lawn mower with one hand. Yep, that took skill. I even gave him a little smile.

He saw that I was doing ok and went to start work on the front yard.

I pushed it as hard as I could. At one point my arms were completely stretched out and I looked like I was attempting to climb a big hill. I was starting to sweat....I never sweat. As I rounded the corner, concentrating really hard on pushing and making straight lines I see hubby out of the corner of my eye.

He was laughing.

I stopped and turned off the lawn mower.

me. "What's so funny?"

He said nothing. He couldn't he was laughing too hard.

He simply walked over to me, started the lawn mower, kissed the top of my hot sweaty head, lifted up a handle from the bottom and placed my hands back on the lawn mower.

The mower started moving by itself!

It's a self-propelled mower. I had no idea nor had I ever used one.

I smiled back at him as he mouthed the words "I love you" and he went inside the house to get me some water.

Needless to say I learned an important lesson that day not only do we own a self propelled lawn mower but I do a much better job with the laundry than the lawn. :)

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-08-04T07:00:00.002-05:00

Y'all, it is so hot! I am so ready for Fall. Anyone else? Until then lets enjoy a little blog hop and editing fun. :)

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Taken with 5D Mark II, 85mm, and edited with CS4.

If you'd like a Before and After blog hop button click on the "blog flair" button on the left sidebar. Have a great day!!

8 months

2011-08-03T16:49:00.000-05:00

Praising God for this blessing in our lives. Who is 8 months old!! (yesterday)

This little guy is crawling everywhere and over every thing. Life just got even busier!

(and this my friends, is what we call the cheesy grin)

Where in the world?

2011-08-01T06:03:00.004-05:00

We left for vacation July 20 and got back the 26th. Where did we go this time??

Florida! We've been there a few times as a married couple but this was our first time as a family. We were close to the Palm Beach area.

Our flights were great with the exception of some flight control diversion, which left us sitting on the tarmac a little longer than anticipated. But the samsung galaxy tab was a great distraction. I've mentioned it before but we don't allow our kids to watch a lot of tv. So it's a real treat that little man gets to watch movies while flying. (post coming soon on flying with little ones)

Little man loved the ocean! Every morning when he woke up that was the first thing he asked to see. "Ocean? Water? Pool? Please, please?!"

He got so tan while we were there. I'm not quite sure where in the gene pool that came from. Hubby and I both fry. Luckily not this trip, though.

My sister came with us as a helper. We loved having an extra set of eyes and hands. She also made it possible for us to lay out by the pool during nap time and she let us have an awesome date night!! She was a huge blessing!!!

(thank you matt for coming and helping us out!!! We loved getting to spend so much time with you)

Yes this next photo has a story. The water was calm enough in the ocean to take Cohen out in his baby ring. While out there he fell asleep to the sound and swaying of the ocean. When we were ready to go to the pool, hubby picked him up still in the baby ring and placed in the pool. He never woke up during transport. He continued his nap in the pool. :) So funny!

We took the oppurtunity to have dinner with my husband's cousin and his family. Which technically makes them my cousins....or cousins in law. Ha! Anyway, they are family and we had a blessed time with them! Thanks for the picture Lisa!

Our last night there we decided to take family pictures. As a photographer trusting someone behind the camera is a difficult task. And in this case I was trusting and directing my sister who is not a pro. (she doesn't even like photography..I know...gasp**) It was incredibly stressful but so worth these shots and memories. She took our family photo and the others I took. I love my boys and feel so blessed!!

Oh my word's it's already august.... I'm already stressing about Christmas. :)

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-07-28T06:03:00.000-05:00

Hi friends! I am back from vacation and trying to stay on top of things a little better. Here is a photo from our vacation.

If you are a new or pro this blog hop is for everyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Yes! You can use this blog hop with other blog hops.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

I shot this with the 5D Mark II and 85 mm. The original photo was clearly under-exposed. It needed a little bit of work. I edited it in CS4.

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-07-21T10:52:00.000-05:00

I am sorry again for forgetting to put this up. :( I'm going to sit down tonight and schedule it out so that my bad memory won't mess it up again. I am away from my home computer and won't be joining this week.

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-07-14T07:41:00.001-05:00

Happy Thursday everyone! It's that time again, to share your awesome editing skills!

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

5D Mark II, 50 MM, and edited with CS4.

To grab a "before and after" blog hop button, click on the blog flair button on the left side bar.

Celebrating my husband!

2011-07-12T09:55:00.002-05:00

On this day 35 years ago you were born the youngest of 4 boys. God had so much in store for you!

Here are a few photos of you celebrating birthdays when you were younger. It's obvious looking through these old photos that you have always had a joyous spirit.

(your first birthday)

(third birthday)

You were (and still are) so cute!!

Your passion for flying started at a young age.

That passion led you to following your dream of becoming a pilot.

You also loved music as a youngster. You learned how to play the piano, guitar, and the drums. Little did you know that those mad music skills would help you land your wife one day. ;)

You still love to hunt and fish.

(I have no idea how old you were here)

(some things never change)

CODY!

(your beloved Cody that everyone thought I would make you get rid of once we were married.... I'm not that heartless. ;) It was a sad day when Cody passed away but you enjoyed 10 awesome years with him!)

Some years later you met this girl thought she was cute, became good friends and a year later asked her out on a date. After 7 months of courtship you proposed and after 4 months of engagement you married her.

(my favorite picture of you on our wedding day)

A few years later you became a dad of two boys!

Another hobby of yours is being on the boat.

Then

Now

Scott, we love you and are blessed to know you as father and husband!!!

Happy Birthday!!

Will you help make his day really special by sending him a birthday tweet? @pilotscott

Summer Time

2011-07-11T14:03:00.002-05:00

What do you think of when you think of summer?

Popsicles, sandals, dresses, swimming and HEAT are a few things that come to my mind.

Summers are usually spent indoors where we live. It is way too hot to do anything outside. We will usually wait until after dinner to go swimming.

Here are a few pictures from our summer so far.

Do you remember Little man wearing this shirt last year?

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-07-07T13:14:00.002-05:00

First off I am so sorry that I forgot about today. The holiday threw me off. I hope you will forgive me.

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-06-30T08:25:00.002-05:00

I will be participating today. After I get everyone fed breakfast. :)

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

If you'd like to add the before and after blog hop button click on the "blog flair" button on the left column.

Pillow Talk: Part 3

2011-06-28T10:52:00.007-05:00

*****This post is for married ladies only! Thanks! *******

It's been a while since I had a pillow talk post. Um..it's been over a year. Yikes! I'm hoping to get this ball rolling again.

Comparison always breeds discontentment.

Let that sink in for a minute. The woman that leads a bible study I attend stopped us all in our tracks with that statement. The game of comparison is so easy to play but in this game nobody wins. It's another tactic that satan uses to bring us down. Think about how many times he has used this tactic to attack our marriages.

When you see that a friend's husband bought her flowers is your first thought "Well, my husband hasn't bought me flowers in a while. Why isn't he as romantic as her husband." That one thought can lead to yet another comparison and another demeaning thought about your husband. Which can snowball into having a bad attitude toward our husband or worse you could become a contemptuous wife.

Please hear this. Your husband will always fall short when compared to your idea of a perfect husband. So often we will to compare him to good qualities of different husbands in an attempt to create an imaginary perfect husband that will give us everything we could ever want. Romance, love, material things, children, social status, and we could fill the blank with numerous worldly desires. All the desires (also known as idols) that you think will make you happy. Can you hear how self-centered that sounds?

Ladies the men you compare your husband to are human too. And they are just as flawed as yours but you don't get to see that side of them. They leave the sink a mess after shaving, leave their shoes in the walk way so you trip on them, spend too much time watching sports, make many mistakes financially and spiritually.

Stop the insanity. You will never be content with your husband if you don't stop the comparison game.

So what does this post have to do with the Pillow Talk series?

Everything.

Most men have a daily struggle with lust which can affect intimacy. Women, although different we have a struggle that is just as destructive. For women sex is so much more mental than visual. If we have been demeaning our husband by comparing him, our attitude and heart towards him will be anywhere but in the intimate mindset. Some women will go as far as to hold out on their husbands as some sort of punishment because of the bitterness their discontentment has caused.

Ladies, let's get honest with ourselves. It's not our husbands that we are unhappy with, it's God. And where He has you in your life. Now you may be saying "I'm not unhappy with Jesus. I'm upset with my husband for forgetting to take the trash out, forgetting our anniversary or missing out on that promotion." Is God not in control of everything? Could it be that the little annoyances or big annoyances are God's way of showing us our sin? So that we may grow and learn and in return further the Gospel. What is God trying to teach you in your relationship to your husband?

Comparison always breeds discontentment in marriage.

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-06-23T08:36:00.000-05:00

Whoa! I just realized that I have gone all week without a post. Summer time is crazier than any other time of the year. I will once again not be joining. It's kind of a needed blogging vacation. But please don't let that stop you.

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

If you'd like to add the before and after blog hop button click on the "blog flair" button on the left column.

*Check out the new like option on the linky list!

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-06-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

I won't be joining today but don't let that stop you! Have a great Thursday everyone!

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

If you'd like to add the before and after blog hop button click on the "blog flair" button on the left column.

Wordless Wednesday- HA

2011-06-15T07:00:00.002-05:00

(he's recently discovered he can stick his finger in his nose)

Balloon Shoot

2011-06-13T13:04:00.001-05:00

I was attempting to have a photo shoot with little man but it wasn't going well. Two year olds are unpredictable. So instead of a photo shoot it turned into a video shoot. Y'all know how I love to make videos.

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-06-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm doing a little dance, eating a little taffy, and squealing with excitement. The weekend is almost here!! To celebrate why don't you share with everyone one of your photo edits?

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

5D Mark II, 50 mm, and edited with CS4.

A little side by side action

2011-06-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, do you remember this post? Well, I attempted to re-create the same session with Cohen. They were both wearing the same clothes and hat.

I always have people tell me that the boys look exactly alike. I don't see it. What about you?

Little Man at 6 months 17 days

Cohen 6 months 3 days

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-06-08T06:03:00.002-05:00

I'm linking up again with What I Wore Wednesday blog hop. The idea behind the blog hop is to hold you accountable to getting out of your sweats and into "normal" clothes.

Here is what I wore to church.

Both the top and skirt were bought at The Limited a few years ago.

Shoes: Steve Madden

Top Ten Make-up Essentials.

2011-06-07T07:00:00.007-05:00

Call me crazy but I love talking about all things make-up. Here are a few of my favorite make-up essentials. I don't have one brand that I am loyal to. I carry a hodge podge of brands. (I'm linking up with Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday link up)

Make Up Forever Primer

I use the green one because I have a lot of red tones. It's also a great moisturizer.

Make Up Forever HD Foundation

A friend of mine who is a professional make-up artist recommended this one a few years ago. I LOVE it. It's a little bit of a heavier foundation but it lasts all day!

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer

I have been using this one for years. I've always have had a problem with dark circles under my eyes and even more so now that I have two munchkins. But with this concealer I can make you I got 10 hours of blissful uninterrupted sleep. ;)

Benefit Pressed Powder

This is great for any shine that you need to get under control. We don't want to look like we've had an oil spill on our face!

Nars Blush and Bronzer Duo

I have the one with the Laguna bronzer. Yeah, yeah, I'm too embarrassed to actually type out the name of the blush. But I can NOT even begin to tell you how amazing this duo is!! LOVE, LOVE!!

Benefit High Beam

Another one that I have used for years. I love adding this if we are going out for the evening. It adds just the perfect amount of highlight on the cheeks.

Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes Palette

This is a great set for the smoky eye look.

Benefit Badgal Lash Mascara

I rotate with my mascaras. This is what I am currently using.

Tarina Tarantino Cameo Lipstick

I love this versatile color's matte finish.

Buxom Lip Gloss (sugar)

After applying the lipstick I put on this great lip gloss and I'm all set!

What are some of your must have's in your make-up bag?

Robbed on a Train

2011-06-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

(To better your reading experience, please read the following blog post in your best southern accent.... yeehaw!)

Saturday we celebrated little man's birthday by going on a train ride. Since he is obsessed with all things train related we thought it would be fun. While on our way to our destination the train came to a halt and sounds of gun fire filled the air. No need to be alarmed our train was getting robbed. No, not for real. It was a pretend robbery that the kids loved!

(hubby's brother and his girlfriend Kendra)

(yep, robbed at gun point..teehee)

After the train ride we ate lunch, opened a few gifts and watched a cattle drive. Yep, I said a cattle drive. It was a small one but little man loved watching the longhorn walk through the street.

(I wish I could have gotten better pictures but they wouldn't let us off the curb. Like a massive animal with massive horns is dangerous or something... sheesh...)

Once the cattle drive had moseyed on their way we headed over to the candy store. And I was on the hunt for one thing..... salt water taffy. They had every flavor you could imagine. Amazing how it only cost $21.73 to get a cavity but $500.00 to repair one.

(Whatever your palette could possibly want, they had it)

(This is what $21.73 worth of salt water taffy looks like. Hello 9lbs that I just lost looks like we'll be getting reacquainted.)

Once we had done some damage at the candy store it was time to go. Time to load back onto the train and head home. It didn't take long for little man and Cohen to fall asleep after their very eventful day.

(hubby was trying to get his phone ready to take a picture.)

(My sis snapped this shot. LOVE. I love that Cohen will fall asleep on you. I was wearing a strapless dress which creates an interesting illusion.)

Now that you have become one with your inner Paula Deen. Y'all go ahead and check out this video from the day.

Y'all come back now ya' hear! ;)

(Disclosure: I am in no way making fun of southerners. I am one. I was born and raised on a huge ranch with cattle, 1 horse, 2 dogs, a cat and 1 fish. My husband says my southern accent really starts to come out when I am frustrated....which makes him laugh at a not so great time.)

6 Months

2011-06-03T10:59:00.003-05:00

Yesterday Cohen turned 6 months old!

Your way of getting from place to place is by rolling. You roll everywhere!
You can sit up all by yourself.
You have such a sweet disposition.
Smiling is your favorite.
You love eating baby food.
You love to watch your brother and laugh.
Snuggling with you is a special treat.
A few weeks ago at church you fell asleep on your dad's shoulder. It was so sweet to see.
You seem to be so close to crawling.
You have a little lovey that you snuggle with while sleeping.

Here is a video of your awesome sitting up skills! So proud of you.

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-06-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

You got to love 4 day work weeks! It's already Thursday!!

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

The white balance was wonky with the SOOC shot but I love how the edit turned out!

5D Mark II, 24-105 f4/L and edited with CS4.

Happy Birthday

2011-06-01T13:09:00.001-05:00

Today you are two years old. It seems like just yesterday you were making your entrance into this world or getting your first bath. This year has been a busy one for you, full of new experiences.

A few things you enjoy and have experienced:

You love to swim.
Some of your phrases are "mommy is beautiful", "Please have waterlalalala (watermelon)" , "Hi, how are you?"
You love your sunday school class.
You love reading your bible.
You are obsessed with golf. You will sit and watch it forever on TV and you love to play with your golf clubs outside.
You have now figured out when I have the camera and will act shy whenever I get it out.
You LOVE your brother so much and will shower him with hugs and kisses.
Your favorite food is spaghetti.
You are adventurous and keep us on our toes.
Coloring is your favorite activity.
You went to the zoo for the first time.
You love to sing about Jesus and play guitar with your daddy.
You are also obsessed with trains!
And this morning you had your first sprinkled donut!

We love you and are excited to see what this coming year has in store for you!

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-06-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

This is my first time in linking up with What I Wore Wednesday with The Pleated Poppy Blog. I have lost all of my baby weight plus an extra 9 pounds and I'm only 4 pounds away from my goal weight. With all of the weight loss I have fallen back in love with clothes and heels! (and shopping!!)

This is what I wore to church on Sunday.

Dress: Banana Republic

Necklace: Old Navy

Shoes: DSW

Earrings: Diamond earrings that my husband bought me a few days before proposing.

A french Pedicure is essential for summer time. ;)

Memorial Day

2011-05-31T07:41:00.002-05:00

We had a great time with family this weekend. Yesterday we spent the day with my mom and stepdad. Here are a few pictures from the day.

He loves water.

Water gun wars.

(what the pool looked like after 4 boys had been playing in it all day)

The newest nephew....so cute!

Her blue eyes are the most beautiful I've ever seen!

All of the boys cousins minus the new one.

All of my nephews and niece.

How did you celebrate your memorial day?

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-05-26T08:02:00.002-05:00

Please continue to pray for those that have been affected by tornados the past few months.

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

5D Mark II, 50 mm, and edited with photoshop CS4.

Tornado season is here

2011-05-25T09:14:00.001-05:00

Last night we thought the worst part of the storms was going to miss us. Then the sirens went off. I took the boys into the bathroom while hubby watched the weather. The sirens silenced so I thought we were in the clear. I was on the phone with my sister when she said she thought she saw a tornado. Hubby and I walked outside. We saw it briefly then it went back into the clouds. Back into the bathroom we went.

We are all ok but there was a little bit of damage. (even from such a weak tornado) I am not sure if there was more than one or if everyone in our town had seen the same one. But here are a few videos and pictures from some friends in the area.

(photo credit: Sidney Mason)

(photo credit: Jennifer Wardlaw) She seemed to be the closest to it. This is where it caused the damage.

(photo credit: Jennifer Martin)

Family Rules

2011-05-24T14:55:00.002-05:00

Is it obvious? I have been in a blogging funk the past few months. It hasn't just been a blogging funk. It's been an all around funk. I really hope to start feeling better and get back on track soon.

In the mean time I want to share with you our house rules. These were inspired by the Don't Waste Your Cancer blog. You will be blessed by that blog if you've never read it.

PS- In our years of marriage my absolute favorite is our impromptu slow dances in the kitchen. I hope when we are 80 years old we will still be dancing. ;)

PPS -The one that I am printing and placing in our house has our actual last name and not the word "our".

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-05-19T09:08:00.000-05:00

Hi friends! I'm not sure what happened to blogger last week. It erased last week's blog hop but it's now back up....so strange.

If you are new, welcome! This blog hop is open to anyone.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Have a great Thursday!

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-05-11T20:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday everyone!

If you are new we are glad you are here! You don't have to be a pro to join. This is open to anyone! Here are a few rules to play by.

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

5D Mark II,Canon 24-105mm F/4 and edited with CS4.

*If you leave the wrong link or misspell a word in your link. I don't think I can delete it until the blog hop has closed. Unless someone can tell me how. :)

Easy Crock Pot Recipe

2011-05-11T07:00:00.004-05:00

This recipe was inspired by a friend on facebook. Thanks Denise!

1 Whole Chicken
4 Cups of chicken broth
Brocolli or celery (as much or as little as you want)
(as many as your heart desires) carrots
2 tablespoons of chopped onion
1 teaspoons of rosemary
Garlic salt to taste

Cook on high for 5 hours. Mom's of little ones be careful with the chicken bones.

This was so good. It fell right off the bone. And like with any crock pot recipe you can add as many vegetables as you like or you can do less.

Enjoy!

*edited to correct 1 teaspoon of rosemary not basil

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T10:52:00.002-05:00

This year mother's day was one that I will always remember. Hubby came home from work and asked me if I wanted to go to a NBA playoff game Friday night. Um....sure! He ended up buying floor seats! It was a lot of fun and I'm thankful we were able to find a sitter last minute. (sisters are amazing!)

On Sunday my husband declared he was going to be mommy for the day. He cooked every meal, cleaned, watched the boys...everything. I got to stay in bed (after church). It was hard to take a nap because it sounded like everyone was having a melt down during lunch. But I was very thankful for the day off.

At the end of the day we topped it off with our 2 mile family run and workout. But before the run we were able to snap a few shots. Little man has a new thing. Any time we try to take a picture he runs or falls on the floor. So I am thankful hubby was able to get a few.

(little man only gives his brother kisses)

Mother's day was great but definitely shadowed by our miscarriages and thoughts of those who long to be mothers. I prayed for those of you struggling with infertility and who have had pregnancy losses. God hears you and knows your heart's desires.

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-05-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Thursday everyone! Can you believe it's already May?

If you are new we are glad you are here! You don't have to be a pro to join. This is open to anyone!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Taken with a 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105mm F/4, and edited with photoshop CS4.

Tutorial: How to create and add a watermark

2011-05-04T09:04:00.002-05:00

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to create a simple watermark using Photoshop CS4.

Open the program and click on "New"

I chose the size 1500x1500 pixels but you can do whatever you need. Be sure to have the background set on transparent.

Click "Ok"

Your background should look like this.

Click on the text icon

Choose your desired font. I would suggest that you also choose a darker gray or white for the color of the font.

It should look something like this:

Click on the rectangular marquee tool.

Place the selection around your watermark.

Click "image" and then "crop"
Click file and save it as a PSD document.

You did it!

Open your photo
Click on "file"
Under file, click on "place"
Find your watermark and open it.

That will place your watermark right on top of your photo.
Be sure to do all of your adjustments such as sizing and opacity.

Save it (as a copy)

I didn't choose the best font for the watermark. But you get the idea. You can be more creative if you'd like a design with your font. For my business logo and watermark I had a designer design it because at the time I didn't even know how to put text on a picture. :) I'd also suggest having two watermarks, one that is black and another white.

A traumatic event...

2011-05-03T07:46:00.001-05:00

When blankie gets a "bath" it's a very traumatic event. I always try to sneak it into the washer but inevitably he notices it missing. On this particular day he walked in on me switching it to the dryer. He had been looking for it for a while and the second he saw it, he lost it. He didn't want to leave the laundry room. He stayed right there until it was finished drying.

The following video is from last night. We were going through our normal bed time routine with the boys, when hubby went and got his guitar. Little man's favorite song if Forever Reign by Hillsong. And if you listen carefully you can hear little man sing "Jesus, Jesus no name". (any mom would melt at hearing that) Half way through hubby makes up a tune/song to the verse Ephesians 6:1 (Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right). Little man was not impressed.

Real time news: Twitter

2011-05-02T10:48:00.005-05:00

Hubby and I first heard that President Obama was going to make a "big" announcement via twitter.
And like the rest of the United States Hubby and I sat on our couch in anticipation for what President Obama was going to say. We had our channel on fox news. A few minutes after 9:30 pm central Fox News announced Osama Bin Laden was dead. Within seconds twitter lit up.

For me it was a historical moment watching the news unfold via twitter. It gave me chills.

Why was it so moving?

Because there were 9/11 widows, friends, and military wives that you may not have ever come in contact with in real life but via twitter you could console, thank and love on.

I could see people real time pictures and videos of people gathering at the World Trade Center before it was broadcasted on TV.

It is where I first saw former President Bush's comments.

And it has been reported that this man tweeted about the Osama Bin Laden raid without knowing it. (read from the bottom up)

And last week during the tornadoes it was twitter that was sending out the first pictures and video of the tornado and it's devastation.

So my question for you... If you are not on twitter, why not?

Critique This Blog Hop

2011-05-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know that I already had a blog post today but I don't want to forget about this blog hop.

(every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month)

In your post let us know if you consider yourself a beginner, intermediate, or pro photographer. Also be specific about what editing software you used. Have fun!

Beginner- Does not know or is learning how to shoot in manual, editing and not yet charging for photo shoots.
Intermediate- New to shooting in manual, editing and just beginning to charge for photo shoots.
Pro - Confident in shooting manual, understands photography lingo, knowledgeable in editing, and charges for shoots.

Here's the low down on what to critique:

Exposure (is the photo too light or too dark)
Composition (where are your eyes drawn to, is there negative space)
Editing (is the photo over-saturated, is the color off)

A few game rules:
Post one photo

You can only critique someone else's photo if you are linking up too!
Be considerate of others when giving feedback
Link back to Pixel Perfect Blog

Senior session sharing

2011-04-29T13:52:00.001-05:00

Whew! I'm coming up for air, to share with you some of my latest senior sessions.

I'm still working on my "ask me anything" post. So feel free to ask away!

Y'all have a great weekend!

Before and After Blog Hop

2011-04-28T09:06:00.000-05:00

We are praying for those of you effected by the storms yesterday!

If you are new, we are glad to have you join!

Use only one picture for your entry. I know we sometimes get excited about sharing but how can we judge the most favorite when you have multiple pictures.
Post your straight out of camera version and then your edited one. This is where you can really share the art of
photography.
Share with everyone the editing program and equipment used. You don't have to go into a step by step process but I know it's appreciated to see the recipe.
What makes blog hops fun for everyone is when you check out everyone's entries. You are encouraged to stop by others' blogs and leave some comment love.
Be sure to link back to Pixel Perfect Blog so others can join in on the fun!

Before

After

Another one from a recent senior session.
5D Mark II, Canon 24-105mm F/4, and edited with CS4

You asked, I answered Part 1

2011-04-25T10:25:00.004-05:00

So often I get questions in the comments and I never know where to put the answer. Do I put it in the comments box, hunt down the email of the person that asked, or answer on their blog. I've done all three and still find it frustrating that blogger doesn't make responding easier. So, today I am dedicating a whole post on answering your questions. The ones that have been asked in the comment section, tweeted, facebooked, and emailed.

On my "Body after Baby"post my sweet friend Jen asked "What snacks do you feed your kids?"

For now we do fresh fruit or yogurt. If we are on the go, I will feed him (little man) a nurti-grain bar. I am starting to introduce dried fruit. That's not going well so far but I'm not giving up. :)

And on my "Behind the Scenes Baby Session" post Mama Monkey asked "Could you share what your camera settings are for this shot?"
Sure! ISO 200, F./2.8, Shutter Speed 1/160

A question I get a lot is "How do you find the time to blog"
Well, I haven't done a very good job of balancing it all the past few months. For me blogging is fun and a good outlet for creativity. If it's fun for you, it's easier to find the time.

"How are you and your husband able to travel so much?"
Hubby and I love to travel the world. We are very intentional with carving out the time and budget to allow us to do so. (not sure if that answered your question)

"Do you have any travel tips for those of us with children"
Hmm... I need to dedicate an entire post to this.

"What is your favorite editing software?"
Photoshop CS4...without a doubt! There is nothing you can't do with this program!

"Did you go to school for photography?"
I took online classes to make sure that I knew and understood the technical side of photography. Everything else is self taught. I am always reading photography books, magazines, and following other great photographers. I never want to stop learning.

"What is one piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to start a photography business?"
Stay out of debt. My camera, computers, lenses and editing softwares were all paid for with cash. I saved up for them.

"Do you and hubby plan on having more children?"
Ha!! That depends on who you ask. I have a lot of complications with pregnancy and especially delivery so I'm not too excited about going through that process again, but you never know. I have always wanted to adopt. We are in the very early stages of discussing this possibility.

"Did you go to college?"
No. I was helping my dad raise my sister during what would have been my college years. She was my responsibility and I felt like I couldn't do that and school. On top of helping my dad out with my sister I would have been financially responsible for any school. The thought of being in debt at that age was daunting to me. I am so thankful that everything worked out for the best! Hubby said he would support me if I ever wanted to go. But for me I don't find value in having a degree. (no offense to those of you that do) There are many successful people that don't have degrees. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Rachael Ray, Walt Disney, Simon Cowell and Coco Chanel to name a few. It takes a smart/special person to think outside the box to become successful without one. :)

"Why did you want to be a stay at home mom?"
That was crucial to my husband and myself. If we were going to have children, I would be the one to raise them.

"What about your photography business and being a stay at home mom?"
My photography business does not contribute to our family budget. The money earned from it stays with the business to help it grow or it's fun spending money for me. That means that I don't have the pressure to sell, sell, sell. I am very laid back with it and don't do a lot of advertising at the moment. All the business I have received has been word of mouth. And it doesn't interfere with me being home with the boys. Most of my shoots are on weekends and I do my editing during nap times and in the evening.

That was fun! I am working on part 2. If you have a question for me post it in the comments or email me!! I'll answer almost anything!