Accomplishments

Lately I have been working hard to accomplish things that will allow me to find myself.  Along this journey I was able to cross two more things off from my list.  Thanks to some of my girlfriends I was able to cross off #26, a much needed girls weekend.  Today I have officially decided that I have learned to like running thus crossing off #69.  Since my race I have been unable to run because somewhere along the line I hurt my ankle.  I've given it a week to feel better so I've stayed away from running.  I can't believe these words are about to fly out of my mouth and onto this blog, BUT,  I MISS MY RUNS. Yes, I just said those horrible words.  I've come to enjoy my time running through the neighborhood and my trips to the gym to use the treadmill.  As of today I have started one item on the list that may be one of the most difficult things for me, no meat.  I've recently heard of this unique diet that will force me to eat more fruits and veggies www.rawissexy.com .  So I figure now is a good time as any to try and start my year without it entirely.  Wish me good luck!
Slowly but surely I am working on the Life List.  It may take me a while, but I will get there.  A few others are in the works but I'll have to wait to write about them.

Big City, Bigger Dreams

When I travel to a city I always get so excited. I secretly, well I guess it's not really a secret, yearn to live the big city dreams. It all feels so freeing and perfect in an odd way. Life is funny that way. When you find that you are the most settled you're the most restless. Maybe one day I'll find that photo job in the city but I'm sure by that time I'll be ready to settle for good. We always yearn for what we can't have. Leaving the city gets harder and harder everytime. So is Philly or NYC in the future?.....

Girls Getaway

So excited to go away with some of my girlfriends.  Leaving today for some fun in NYC.  Hopefully the weather stays nice and doesn't get too cold.  I'm sure it's nothing that a warm Starbucks can't fix.  Have a sunny Sunday everyone!

Shannon

This past weekend I had the pleasure of shooting some senior portraits of Shannon.  We spent most of the day in Hershey and then went to the west shore to grab a couple on the soccer field.  Here is just one for now.

Eat. Pray. Love.

Sometimes I laugh at the way things fall into my lap. I've had several of these moments this past week but the one that got me was this movie. As I watched it I totally understood this woman. My mother in law said she thought she was crazy and life just isn't like her life. I just laughed out of amusement. I think that Julia Roberts hit the nail on the head with this movie. Her character depicts what many real women feel and want but few take a chance for. It is food for thought. I felt like she really understood how someone can at times feel so lost but also have no reason to be. It's funny that life seems to present answers in the weirdest places and times. I seem to be proving more and more that life is a series a fate bound paths. I wish I just knew where mine was headed.

Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day to everyone!  I hope that everyone enjoys their time with family and friends today and eats way too much food.  Good luck to all the crazies that will be venturing out at midnight tonight to fight their way to sales.  Today marks the beginning of the holiday season and I unfortunately am not quite ready this year.  Usually this is one of my favorite times of year, but with all the stress of this year I'm not even ready to think holiday yet.
So take a few minutes today to thank those who mean something to you and be thankful that you are in a position to take part in such a huge feast since there are many people who will never experience this holiday season to its fullest.  Enjoy your turkey and shopping.  Let the countdown begin.

A Bundle of Joy Contest

Check out the facebook page today for details on the new contest!  It's sure to be a great event.  The more the merrier.

Mrs LJ

She was hilarious to shoot and she had stunning results.

Ripple Effect

It's funny that yesterday I blogged about making someone reflect on their own life and today I happened to look at a friend and client's blog and find that I had inspired her to create her own life list.  Her list is pretty amazing so if you get a chance please check out Mrs. Dully.  Speaking of lists, I'm steadily working on crossing things off my list so stay tuned for all of my adventures.

Breakfast Blog

My favorite meal of the day by far is breakfast.  I could eat it any time.  When I get the chance to go out and enjoy breakfast I get to relax and drink my coffee and allow myself to slow down long enough to get a break from everything.  Within the past year I have finally tried a new kind of egg that for 24 years I swore I would never try,  eggs benedict.  And let me just say, that it is amazing and quite a fascination of mine now.  Every time I order it I think of the movie Runaway Bride when Julia Roberts relates her real life problems to that of her egg choice.  She tells every new man she falls in love with that her favorite egg is which ever is their favorite, until she finally falls in love with none other than Richard Gere, who forces her to step back and figure herself out before anything else.  She tries every kind of way you could make an egg and finally finds her favorite, yes, as you probably may have guessed it, it is eggs benedict.  So, try something new today and you may just like it.  And for those of you who haven't seen this movie, it's a classic.
I was one time asked why I blog so frequently about my personal life on a blog that also functions as part of my business.  The answer to that question is easy for me.  This blog is a way for all of the people who read it to see a little bit more about me every day.  People come back to this blog on a daily basis just to see what happens in my life or what I have shot that day.  If people are interested in me, they'll be interested in my work.  I love what I do and I hope that this blog somewhere along the line pokes questions or allows people to reflect on themselves.  I hope it serves as a small piece of what is me.  I like to make people smile so I hope this little tid bit about your choice of eggs allows you to laugh at the obscurity of my blog and puts a smile on your face.  Life is always better if you can laugh at yourself and your ridiculousness.

Rothman 8K

Well it's now official. I finished the race and I beat my time goal. I feel great and I'm super happy with my results, although I'm not a sprinter, I am happy with the 46 minute time. Looking to roam the city a bit and then head home. Next year I'll be ready for the marathon!

Philadelphia

It's nice to finally lay down and veg in front of the tv. Too bad the sushi I picked up leaves a lot to be desired. Going to work a little and just hang out before the early morning big day.

Miss D

Miss D was so much fun.  She and Miss A are best friends!

Change of plans

Betrayal is often a painful reminder that you may be as alone as you feel. It looks as though this weekend trip will be made alone. It's a great thing that I enjoy a little time to myself.

Launch Party Tonight

The new magazine is finally printed and tonight its a night full of wine and good fun at the Marriott.  The November issue of Fine Living Lancaster is launching so I have tons of running around to do today before I have to get in my little dress and go! Looking forward to a great night full of laughs.

Miss A

Here's a fun one of Miss A.  She was full of laughs.

Change can be good

For a long time I hated change but as I get older I try to roll with the punches more often.  For fun I decided I'd try something different with my hair this time.  Change isn't so bad, it just sometimes takes a leap of faith.  I guess this could be said about something as simple as hair to something as big as life.  So, here's the final result...

One Week

Let the count down begin.  I have one week until the big race day.  I'm so excited but a little worried because my ankles have been hurting so bad.  I've resolved to running every other day as to not over use them so today I took the day off.  Tomorrow I'll hopefully go for a nice long run before coffee with a friend.  Looking forward to a semi day off today.  I finally am getting my hair done so thats a plus.  When I get home I plan on finishing the pictures from this week so within the next couple of days everyone will have some more pics to look at!

Lyla

Finally I was able to get through most of the images I have shot this week so here are some fun ones to share of Lyla!

Miss C

Another quick one to check out. I'm still weeding through all the images.

Thank You

I'm a strong believer in fate and I find that the people I choose to consider my friends always seem to know what will make me feel better.  After my life melt down, I created my list and the few people that read my blog and know me have made certain attempts to help me work on accomplishing these things.  My best friend surprised me last week, after knowing I was having a long week by taking me to a jewelry making class.  It's these small things that friends remember, only if you've said them once that make me realize I am beyond lucky to have the people I do in my life.  It's the conversations about the things you don't want to hear but only your friends will tell you the truth, that matter.  It's the journey with these amazing people that make me smile when I've had a long exhausting day and lay awake all night.  Thank you to all of the my friends that care enough to make me a priority in your life.  Nothing goes unnoticed by me and I am much appreciative of all the small things you say and do.  And just because a post is always more fun with a picture, here is my bestest and me the day she held me hostage.

40

Midnight ramblings and rants

It's usually during the late night or in this case, early morning hours when I find myself able to think the clearest. It's in my pajamas, feet propped on the couch, computer on my one leg, Jäger on my other, that make me ponder the big questions in life. It's these brief moments that I have to myself that I can really slow the thoughts in my mind to a manageable speed. Lately I have found less and less of my ME time and I feel scattered in too many directions and yet here I am blogging my useless thoughts in the middle of the night because I've had one too many cups of coffee to keep me going this week, to keep me afloat, when all I would like to do is get in the car and drive, no place in particular, just anywhere. That is one perk to the whole new job thing. I am on the road a lot and have recently found that I enjoy it. I'm leaning more towards the fly by the seat of your pants version of myself then the planner I have come to know. I like not knowing what life may bring and it's a scary realization. So for all the other twenty something year olds out there evaluating their lives, realize that life is what you make of it. This isn't a dress rehersal and there are no second chances. Damn us Libras in the world. We always want more. Enough with all of my life ramblings, atleast for now.

Miss L

Here's just one to drool over while I continue my editing.

Manic Monday

Today has started out very messy. My hair for one, is out of control. Thank God I have a hair appointment next week to tame the wild beast. Secondly, although I got to sleep in, I'm exhausted from a crazy weekend full of shooting. I have so much editting to catch up on. My sister saved the day for me when she texted me ...."mexico?" so, I'm off for my fix, and then home to work on photos all day!

Lyla's Sneak Peak

This morning I shot this lovely lady.  She was the lucky winner of my most recent contest.  Here's just one as a tease.

One of my favorite things...

is the crisp air of an early Sunday fall run.  I love the frost melting on the grass and the leaves blowing as I run by.  This is my time.  Just the music and the rhythm of my feet on the pavement are enough to relax me.

Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner

I love when I can't sleep and I turn on the TV and am able to find a good movie to watch even if it is in the middle of the night.  Tonight's movie was none other than Dirty Dancing.  I haven't seen that movie in forever so I was pleasantly surprised to find one of my favorites on.  It's definitely up there in the top 5 movies of all time.  I'm off to bed for couple hours before a very busy day of shooting.

A Fine Frenzy, A Great Find

In the car today I heard a great song that reminded me of all the days I spent sitting at the piano next to my Pappy pounding out chord after chord on my Nana's piano.  Though he always pretended to be annoyed by the loud sound that made it impossible for him to watch his favorite shows,  I secretly knew he loved the days that I serenaded him with my music.  As I listened to this song and fell in love with this artist's voice and style,  her piano made me want to go back to the days of pretend fighting over the tune of the piano with my Pappy.  Funny how things stir certain memories.  Thought the song was worth mentioning so below are the lyrics and the artist's video.

Almost Lover, A Fine Frenzy

Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind,
Images

You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick

I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me,
Images

And when you left you kissed my lips
You told me you'd never ever forget these images, no

I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy
To walk right in and out of my life?

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

To the floaters..

Friendship can be an interesting concept.  I think many people misconstrue the meaning of an acquaintance and substitute in the word friend.  In my life I find that quality much overrides quantity.  I pick and choose these people very wisely who I keep in my life because I feel that only so many can truly know me inside and out.  It may be because I am so selective that when someone pulls away it hurts so deeply.  We all go through difficult times and I realize that everyone deals differently, but sometimes it would be nice to be acknowledged for trying to to keep a friendship afloat.  People float in and out of my life for reasons I may not understand but that doesn't change the fact that they are and will continue to be a part of my life.  I only hope that some of the people that have found themselves floating away will find their way back.  It is in true honesty that I can say that I cherish my friendships more than anything in life.  Without such people who are able to love you so much that they overlook your flaws, I would have no one.

Love Me Some Mexican

So anyone who knows me thinks that I may have an addiction to Mexican food. On a weekly basis I make sure I frequent the local Mexican restaurant atleast once. I'm the butt of all the jokes when it comes to going out to eat. Most people don't even need to ask me where I want to go to dinner. They know to meet me there. Tonight may be one such night. The best way to top off a busy week and rainy day.... Definitely need to love me some Mexican food tonight!

Boudoir Session Update

Sorry ladies, all sessions are filled for November 7th but please still contact if interested and we will set up another marathon! Be You Boudoir is always a blast!!!

One of those days

Isn't it funny how ten minutes can set the pace for your entire day? In my first ten minutes from stepping out of my door I have managed to drop breakfast on my pants and spill coffee on my white shirt. If I was a betting woman, I'd play the lotto today. I'm praying that this is not what my day is going to be like. Off to meet clients, and hopefully pick up a tide pen.

Can't wait to see this movie. The Irony ...

Be You Boudoir

This coming Sunday I am hosting a Boudoir Marathon.  Slots are still available so call for details.  Hair and makeup are included in packages.  This is a great gift for that special someone to have in time to give for Christmas.  Hurry and call today before it fills up.

First Step

Sometimes you never know how much you needed something until you have it.  Today was the first day I was actually my own boss.  I never could have realized how much better it feels to be photographing and working on my own personal endeavors than for someone else.  It's definitely the first step of many to doing something for me.  Looking forward to another day full of surprises tomorrow.