My Mind's Lens

Goodbye for Now

2013-11-12T13:31:00.002-08:00

If there was a better way to say it, I would. But the only thing I know to do is cut to the chase. I've made the decisions to step away from My Mind's Lens for awhile. It won't probably be forever, but for now the distance is indefinite.

I have loved getting to know many bloggers, both near and far. You have all taught me things and brought joy to my day. I will try to continue to follow some of the blogs I read regularly - but blogging is not going to be a priority for awhile. I need to redirect my time and energy towards other areas of my life, areas that aren't so strong right now.

Thank you all for being supportive of my photography and my journey. I appreciate it more than you know.

Maybe I will be back someday - and I hope you will rejoin me then.

Goodbye for Now.

Guest Post Tuesday: Visiting with Mrs. Foltz

2013-11-12T05:30:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I had the opportunity to make a guest appearance over at Foltz Family Life. So I am excited that today, Rychelle is here to share in return for Guest Post Tuesday! *If you want more information on Guest Post Tuesday, click here!*

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Hello all you My Mind's Lens followers!

I am Rychelle from Foltz Family Life where most of the time you can find posts on being a new momma, diy projects, recipes, life in general or anything about my sweet Paisley Grace.

This year has been a big year for our little family! We welcomed Paisley Grace Foltz into our world January 15, 2013 and we also purchased our first home on September 27, 2013. You could say that we have been busy and this year has been quite good to say the least!

I would be lying if I didnt say that this past year has come with an awful lot of challenges. I want to give y'all a list of reasons why through the thick and thin of this year I am still thankful for everything we have had to go through, not just because its November, but as I look back on everything this far, I really am extremely blessed.

1. I am thankful for an amazing husband! My hubbys works 6 days a week and to say that he never misses a beat is an understatement. He gives over and above anyone I know and always puts himself last on the list. I am one lucky gal :)

2. Paisley Grace. Its been what feels like a few short months with this little peanut, but she has brought so much joy and so much happiness to our lives. Its ridiculous! I dont know how we ever did life without her. I mean, I was able to sleep every night, but she is so fun and has quite the personality!

3. Our new home. There was many, many tears, blood and sweat put into our home. Buying a "fixer upper" and having a new baby is not the most ideal situation. I dont recommend doing what we did, but I am so blessed to be able to call something "mine."

4. Family. This is huge for me! I love my family so very much and am so thankful for each and everyone of them. I dont get to see my family but twice a year and even though its so hard and I miss out on a lot, I am so thankful that I have in-laws to fill the gaps where my family cant. I have the best family!

5. Being a stay at home mom. This might shock some of y'all but I love being home with Paisley. There are rough days mixed in with all the good, and even though its a lot of work, a lot of patience, sometimes stressful I am so glad I have the opportunity to be with our daughter every single day and not miss a beat of what is happening in her world.

6. Coffee. Someone please give me an amen??? For all the sleepless nights I get, lets just say I am so thankful that this keeps me running! Dont you agree?

7. Living in FL. I never saw myself ever living in FL, but it has opened a world of doors for us and I am so thankful we get to be here somewhere beautiful. Makes up for being thousands and thousands of miles from my parents.

8. Blogging. I decided to start blogging right before Paisley was born to keep my family in touch with our lives, and well, this little corner of the world has become a great outlet for me to write, learn and make great friends! I dont know what I ever did before I became a blogger.

{source}

These are just a few reasons of why I am thankful, but if you havent already its kind of fun to make a list of why you are thankful. Keeps your eyes focused on the GOOD things in life :)

Thank you Kaeley for having me!

Everything Changes....

2013-11-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

"'Cause these things will change, can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
It's a revolution, the time will come for us to finally win"
-Taylor Swift

Change by Taylor Swift on Grooveshark
On Saturday I eluded to the fact that there was something that occurred last week that I was waiting to share. Well, there are some changes in the air, that is for sure. Early last week I received a phone call from a company asking if I would be interested in coming in for an interview. Well, Thursday afternoon I sat down with the two owners of the company and an hour later I was offered a job! It is all moving pretty quickly - they would like me to start as soon as possible since the person who was previously in the position already up and left. They understand that I am currently employed though and need to provide my employer proper notice.

Which led to a slightly uncomfortable Friday. That morning driving to work was stressful as I anticipated the conversations that needed to happen when I got to work. I had to go in and tell the people who I have been working for and who have invested their time and energy into me and my career for the last five years that, with about 2 months before tax season swings into motion, I am leaving. I almost cried talking to one of the partners just because I felt bad for leaving, one of the other partners nearly teared up when I told her the news. Overall, I think they understand and are glad that I have an opportunity to further my career, but I know I will missed. I was also told that I always have a place there, so that is reassuring if - for whatever reason - this doesn't work out.

My new job is going to be quite a bit different from the tax work I have focused on over the least several years. I am going to be the sole accountant responsible for the business accounting for a company specializing in constructing and maintaining telecommunications towers and antennas! Let me tell you - after seeing pictures and video clips of some of their projects I am glad I will be in their office and not out on the job. It is crazy how high up they have to climb and the winds they have to work in. No thank you!

So - I will be starting my new position in the next couple of weeks. I am excited to get in there and get started, but I also have work to wrap up for my current position before I leave. I will be sure to provide an update once I actually start the new job.

I didn't quite have a chance to celebrate the new change in my life over the weekend, but I still managed to stay busy. Friday night I got my hair touched up - had my roots recolored and got a trim. Saturday was spent focused on pictures (shooting, editing, sharing), as well as baking some yummy chocolate chip-butterscotch cookies and a little bit of blogging.

True to my recent "bad blogger" fashion, I didn't even think about taking any pictures of the cookies until much after I had packaged them up. So this is all you get. Saturday night, I also took a break from editing to experiment a little with taking a few pictures of candlelight, while the rest of the lights were out. That was kind of fun.

These are a few of my favorites of the little sweetheart I got to meet Saturday afternoon:

Oh yeah - I also received an early Christmas present!! . . . Which I purchased for myself.

I can't wait to try out these beautiful bows and ties!

Sunday, my friend Krista and I had a little girls' day! She is a proud momma of four, so every once in a while I try to get her out of the house for a bit :) We made a trip to Craft Warehouse, and had a yummy lunch at Olive Garden. There will be more to come of my craft treasures soon.

I am anxious to see how this week pans out at work, and after work have some prep work to do on my Christmas-themed photography props! Have a great Monday!

Blogging With A Purpose: Home

2013-11-11T05:30:00.000-08:00

Part of the prompt for this week's "Blogging With A Purpose" is to share your favorite room. I am assuming that is means the favorite room IN YOUR HOUSE, but to be honest I don't really have one in this house. Instead, I am going to share some of my favorite rooms that I have found on Pinterest!

*clicking on any of these pictures will take you to the source-site*

Entryway

Living Room/Family Room

Kitchen

And of course this pantry is a must...

Master Bedroom
Option #1:

Option #2:

Master Bathroom:

And...of course, the outside!

I absolutely LOVE the wraparound, covered porch in this picture. Hopefully I can have one someday!

Do you have a favorite room in your house? Or have ideas of how you convert an ordinary room into one that is worthy of being a favorite? Then share it and link up with From Mrs. to Mama!

The Weekend In Black & White

2013-11-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

Linking Up for The Weekend in Black and White

Better Late Than Never

2013-11-09T11:30:00.001-08:00

Ugh....I cannot begin to express my frustration right now. I had this post pretty much ready to go Thursday night and had just a few little updates to make before sharing it. And....somehow yesterday morning in a couple of key strokes I managed to delete the whole thing. Usually I can do a little "ctrl+z" and get it back, but for whatever reason it was unsuccessful. And of course I didn't have time to do anything about it before work, so now it's Saturday - let's see if I can recreate everything I had done!

Friday is a busy one this week at My Mind's Lens! I'm guest posting elsewhere in blogville, My Mind's Lens received an award, and we have a little photo recap of the week.

I don't know about you, but lately online shopping has been a little weakness of mine. Earlier this week, over at Foltz Family Life, I shared some of my favorite online boutiques - make sure you stop by (plus, Foltz Family Life is a sponsor so you better show some extra love!). Pretty momma Rychelle will be returning the favor next week for Guest Post Tuesday, so watch for that.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This week I received some exciting news - not only is one of my favorite NW bloggers *Kelly at Today Was A Fairytale* back online after a little hiatus, but she nominated My Mind's Lens for a Liebster Award! You have probably seen these floating around the blog world, or even received one yourself. They are a lot of fun to receive, even if you've gotten one before. If you have time, stop by Today Was A Fairytale and read Kelly's post.

Here's how it works:
1. Each blogger shares 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.
3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to, and link back to them in your post!
4. Let award recipients know that they've been awarded!
5. No tag backs.

11 Random Facts About Me
1. If I could fly everywhere instead of drive, I would.
2. I love the feeling of being up early in the morning, but hate actually waking up early.
3. Sweet little babies melt my heart.
4. Rain makes me sad, but I like the sound when it is pounding on the roof.
5. I like to have a clean house, but don't like to actually clean it.
6. It only takes a matter of seconds - from the time I walk out the door of my office and climb into my car - to lose the motivation to go to the gym.
7. If I had to pick only one beverage to drink for the rest of my life, it would be Malibu Rum with pineapple juice.
8. Once I get a crafty idea, I have to try it (so my trip to Craft Warehouse tomorrow could be dangerous).
9. I loved playing softball and volleyball when I was younger, but hate running/can't do it, so I quit after my sophomore year.
10. I think it would be fun to visit all 50 states someday-actually visit, not just have a layover at the airport.
11. My graduating class in high school was only about 65 students.

11 Questions from Kelly
1. What do you find it easiest to blog about? Sharing my photos
2. Is there a topic you'd like to blog about but are too scared/nervous to write about? Not really - I would like to get a little more personal and open up a bit more, but I'm getting there.
3. How has your blog changed since the day you started it? It started as just a way to share my photography, but has developed into something more - where I can share about my life.
4. How has blogging changed your life so far? If you asked my husband, he would tell you that I am on my computer a lot more...OOPS! But in all honesty, I have gotten to know some really great ladies from blogging.
5. Have you been able to meet, face-to-face, any of the bloggers that you follow? Not yet - but I should! There are several who are close by!
6. Is there a blogger (or a few) that have helped motivate you or really touched your life in any way? I've said it before, but Julie at A Beautiful Day is my biggest cheerleader!
7. Does anyone in your real life know about your blog? If yes, what do they think? If no, what keeps you from telling them? *See husband's sentiment above* I do have some friends and family members who know about My Mind's Lens - they seem to think it's pretty cool.
8. When you run into a writing block, what do you do to help you out of your funk? Sometimes I will get ideas from other bloggers, and if that doesn't work I will resort to Google!
9. What are your hopes for your blog over the next year? I would like to see it grow - but that may just mean gaining a few loyal followers and I'll be happy.
10. What is the first thing that you notice about another person's blog? The color scheme and fonts used!
11. Do you have any advice you'd like to like to share with bloggers who are just starting out? Do it for yourself and let your personality flow through your writing.

11 Questions for My Nominees
1. If you had to pick one color to represent your personality, what color would you be?
2. What has been your biggest triumph in life?
3. What are you most looking forward to during the next year?
4. Why did you start blogging?
5. Where do you find new blogs to follow?
6. What is the most fulfilling role you have played?
7. We are approaching the holiday season - what is your favorite thing to bake?
8. If you won a shopping spree for any store you wanted, which one would you choose?
9. How has your blog changed since you started?
10. Where is the best place you have ever vacationed?
11. What is the top item on your Christmas wish list?

11 Nominees
1. Foltz Family Life
2. My Life As...
3. Believe in the Sparks
4. Linda's Lens
5. Martinis & Bikinis
6. Mr. and Mrs. Foster
7. The Sunset Won't
8. Fluent in Sparkle
9. Health, Love, & Fire
10. Scattered Horizons Photography
11. I'll Love You Forever

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There really is only one thing worth sharing about my week, other than a little something that I am holding onto for just a little longer. My friend McKenzie and I went to a "Wine and Canvas" event Tuesday night. I had seen similar events posted on other blogs in the past, so when she brought it up I jumped at the idea.

It really is exactly what it sounds like - they teach you how to paint, while you sip on your adult beverages!

I don't know if I would say my painting looked like a pro did it (or even that it looked like the instructor's finished product), but I am still pretty proud of what I created! We are going to try to catch another class, maybe next month.

And...that's a wrap. Better late than never, right!

Thankful Thursday

2013-11-07T05:30:00.000-08:00

I mentioned last Thursday that I was going to try something new this year for Thankful Thursday. Kenzie over at Chasing Happy is hosting "The Thankful Project - 28 Days of Intentional Gratitude" throughout the month of November. If you click on "The Thankful Project" you can see a list of the daily prompts - I have chosen to do these on a weekly basis. If you hadn't heard of The Thankful Project before, you can catch up now, then post daily for the rest of November, or maybe follow my lead and do a week's worth of prompts on Thursdays, now through Thanksgiving. At any rate, I encourage you to take a look at the Project and follow the daily link-ups. Maybe you will learn something about bloggers you follow, or even something about yourself.

A person
In the years since I came back from college, I have found that it is really difficult to make new friends in the real world. Meeting my husband allowed me to become friends with some of his friends and their significant others, but that isn't quite the same. During the last year or so, I have had the opportunity to develop a friendship with a sweet gal from work, as well as grow closer to one of those "significant others".

Our office is super quiet and anti-social - there are days you could probably hear a pin drop if it wasn't for the carpeted floors, and the only time anybody really socializes outside of work is during the three annual office events. So it is a miracle that Mckenzie and I have been able to become friends outside of work. But she is my gym partner *when we both manage to get our butts there*, my sounding board when I get frustrated with work, my "painting buddy" (more on that tomorrow) and just a really great friend. We almost always find something to laugh about.

Krista is usually busy raising her FOUR kiddos (including twins), but I adore them and the middle one always makes me laugh. Her and I are a lot alike and various circumstances have allowed us to kind of open up to each other, which I am not usually very good at. I try to get her out of the house when possible for some "child-free" time, and sometimes we spend family time all together. Either way, I am super grateful for her friendship.

A role you've played
Two "busy season"s ago our firm hired a kid right out of college to help prepare tax returns. In the past, I had been the primary preparer for our individual tax returns, so the partners decided that I would be reviewing the new guy's work before it went on to them for review. Holy cow - it was overwhelming! Unfortunately, this guy wasn't able to apply the feedback and recommendations that I gave him on one client to another - which resulted in me feeling like a bit of a broken record. He didn't end up working out - but the role of middleman made me really appreciate everything that I have learned, as well as the work it takes to be accountable for somebody else's work.

A place
As much fun as I think it would be to move somewhere like Phoenix or Colorado or even Central Oregon, I don't know if I could handle living that far away from the coast. As a Pacific Northerwesterner {yes, I probably just made that one up} I probably take advantage of living so close to the ocean. It may be cold, but even in the winter it is beautiful and relaxing. Not only am I thankful for our proximity to the coast, but to have a friend that lives there who we can crash with on occasion.

An experience
Oddly enough, before we were married Tristan and I never really "traveled" anywhere together. We had been camping, and gone to my family's cabin a day's drive away, but never a real "trip." So being able to travel for the first time together, as a married couple going on our honeymoon, it was a really special experience.

A talent you have
You probably all thought I would say photography, right? Well, I don't know if that in itself is a talent - it has taken work to get to where I am. If I had to pick a talent, or skill, that I am most grateful for, though, it would be my ability to learn new things, and typically catch on to them pretty quickly. This is something that I have been able to apply to multiple facets of my life - including photography, but also my career as an accountant.

A failure
This one I struggled with a bit. But I think that if I had to be thankful for one of my failures, it would be the issues we had in our marriage a couple years ago. That time brought a lot of heartache and stress, but in the end it ended up bringing Tristan and I closer together than we were to begin with.

A job
I was extremely fortunate when it came to finding my first job in the real world. After officially finishing my college classes in June of 2008, I had plans to complete a double major by spending the fall in China on a study abroad trip. Knowing that I would return from China needing something to do, I started watching for possible opportunities.

There was a day in August that I had 3 job interviews, all at various public accounting firms. At the final one of the day, I spent over an hour speaking with two of the partners, and even received a tour of the office and met some of the other employees (I know now that this is something that doesn't normally occur until day 1 on the job). I was told that there was a partner meeting the following week and they would be discussing applicants at that time. So imagine my surprise when, half an hour later I was walking through the mall and received a phone call, and a job offer! It was such a relief to be able to go on my trip and know that I had a job to come back to.

For almost five years now I have been with the same company and they have been so wonderful to work for!
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I know this was a little bit "wordier" than my normal post, but I hope it spoke to you a bit and showed you a little bit of who I am and what I am grateful for. We all have things to be thankful for in life, and most of the year we are really good about taking advantage of all that. But this is time of year I think it is an important reminder.

So - what are you thankful for?!

Black and White Wednesday

2013-11-06T05:30:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week in my house, so this is going to be short and sweet. I couldn't miss out on Black & White Wednesday, though.

I'll be back tomorrow for the beginning of my November series: Thankful Thursday.

Guest Post Tuesday: Thankful for Amberly & Joe

2013-11-05T05:30:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! It's Amberly from Life with Amberly & Joe, taking over the blog for Kaeley again! Fall is quickly coming to a close and the holiday season is in full swing. Even though I'm sad to see the amazing autumn weather and my favorite season disappear, I am excited about the holiday season. Time with family, traditions, delicious food, and the spirit of the season, just the thought of it all makes me giddy!

I feel like holidays are becoming more and more commercialized every year. Christmas stuff is on the shelves before I've even thought about Halloween, Black Friday is creeping into Thanksgiving parties and festivities and we get so busy that the holidays are more stressful than fun. "The hustle and bustle of the season" has taken on a whole new meaning to me the older I get. This year I am trying my hardest to make the holidays fun and relaxing again! I am looking forward to Thanksgiving week when I have five and a half days off of work. It will be great time for holiday baking, family parties, time with my husband, and relaxing by myself! Each season I create date night bucket lists on my blog that focus on the season and the holidays that come with it. It is hard to get everything crossed off, but I try because I really want to do fun, seasonal things with my husband and enjoy life. In honor of the season, I set a Marriage & Relationship Goal this month to start a new tradition in our little family. We now have a Thankful Jar that sits in a prominent place in our apartment. Each day I write things that I am thankful to my husband for and things that I am thankful for in life. My plan is to read the entire jar together, on the morning of Thanksgiving, before we rush off to stuff our faces with delicious food at family parties.

How do you remember the spirit of the season and not let the stress of it overwhelm you?
Amberly

I absolutely LOVE Amberly's Thankful Jar and just might have to copy her next year :)

This Weekend . . . Is A Bit of a Blur

2013-11-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

This weekend was one of those where - looking back, you can't believe that Friday was only two days ago. How could I have done all of these things in just a matter of days? Well let me tell you - I am feeling it. I mentioned on Facebook Saturday evening that I probably had done more squats throughout the day than if I had made it to the gym.

Friday night Tristan and I had a chance for a date night! Usually when we go out, it is with friends. We don't normally go and do something just the two of us - and almost NEVER do we go into downtown Portland. It is Tristan's favorite thing to do. But, I've been wanting to go to this dueling piano bar called the Barrel Room, so he conceded and we made a night of it. Before going to the show, we had dinner at Rock Bottom - which was delicious, but we didn't have the best service (one of T's pet peeves). The show made up for it tho - I would definitely go back!

Saturday and Sunday were spent primarily behind my lens - here is a pullback of what my typical newborn shoot looks like:

Yep, it's a mess. My time was spent with several new babies, as well as a couple of families.

Sunday evening I did a little grocery shopping - love my Safeway discounts! When I got home and cleaned out the fridge to make room for the fresh food, I found this carton of eggs. Yes - T had put it back in the fridge without a single whole egg in it. Boys...!

My glass of wine helped me get started on the massive amount of editing I had to do. It is still going to take me a few days to get through it all!

Yes. It was a whirlwind of a weekend...but it was a lot of fun. As I'm writing this on Sunday evening, I am ready to head to bed. This time change always throws me off a bit...

To Monday!

Blogging With A Purpose: How Well Does He Know You

2013-11-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

I have always said, that sometimes it seems my husband knows me even better than I do. So.....I have to admit I may have made these questions a little bit difficult on purpose. But, he still was pretty close on a lot of them, even if they weren't right

My answer / Tristan's answer

1. If I could only visit one country before I die, where would it be? Greece / Greece
2. What is my favorite thing to do on the weekends? Be lazy / Do a little arts & crafts & sit around the house
3. What is the most obnoxious thing that I think you do? Leave clothes wherever he takes them off (which is all over the house) / Leave clothes on the floor
4. If I won the lottery, what is the FIRST thing I would spend my money on? Paying off all our debt / A New Camera or Debt
5. What was my first pet's name? Reebok / Tiger
6. If I had to lose one of my senses, which one would I choose? Touch / Smell
7. When I was younger, what did I want to be when I grew up? A travel agent or flight attendant / An accountant
8. If the house was on fire, and I had time to grab 5 things, what would I grab? My camera, wedding album, box of cards/letters/special items, "Cuddles" the bear, childhood scrapbook / Phone, camera, SPU hoodie, laptop, and a coat
9. What is the most adventurous thing I have done? Jumped off a cliff / Going to China
10. Who is my most hated celebrity? Seth Green / Seth Green or Jim Carey
11. Who is my favorite actress? Jennifer Aniston / Amy Adams
12. What would be my last supper? Shrimp, salmon & steak / Mexican food
13. What is my favorite holiday? Christmas / Christmas
14. How many different towns/cities have I lived in? Eight / Eight
15. What were my two favorite subjects in school? Accounting & History / Math & Business
16. What do I look forward to most about the future? Raising children w/my husband / A kid
17. What is my favorite form of transportation? Plane / Flying
18. Would I rather be too warm or too cold? Too warm! / Too warm
19. How long does it take me to get ready on a normal morning? Half an hour / 35-40 minutes
20. Would I rather go skydiving or bungee jumping? Bungee jumping / Skydiving

This one was fun!! How well does YOUR significant other know you? If you want to share, link up with From Mrs. to Mama for Blogging With a Purpose:

Frustration

2013-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

So . . . I have something to admit. I don't do well with failure. I tend to beat myself up over it and get pretty frustrated. After not passing the first three sections of the four-part CPA exam (over two years ago), I haven't even attempted the last, or to retake the first three. When I finish a difficult photography session where the lighting just was awful and I know I have a bunch of fuzzy images to delete, I feel a bit like a deflated balloon.

It has been almost six months since I opened my Etsy shop, showcasing some of my photography. I have added a few images and changed some out since then in hopes of increasing business, but I have yet to sell a single print. There have been several "favorites" and some of the images have made it to peoples' "treasuries", but the fact that I haven't made a single sale is pretty depressing.

At this point, I am trying to decide which direction to take. Should I try adding some more variety in the prints available and push my marketing more, or should I close up shop for now and save myself the heartache? Not that an Etsy shop is real expensive to keep open (their fees are really reasonable), but maybe I should use those funds elsewhere - like towards saving for a new camera.

Here are a few of the photos that are available for sale, as well as the link to my store. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations, any advice at all as far as which direction I should go, I would really appreciate it.

Seashore Photography

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SeashorePhotography

Waiting for the Rain to Come

2013-11-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

How is it November already?!? Seriously. That means it is less than TWO MONTHS until Christmas. I think I need to get going on my Christmas shopping . . . and wish list!

I was hoping to have some pretty engagement photos to share this week, but sadly one of the kiddos got sick and they had to reschedule. (Hopefully this weekend they won't end up getting rained out so that we can try again!!) But I DID get a chance to take pictures for our beautiful friend and her family on Sunday. I shared a little PREVIEW on Monday, but I really loved how they turned out - so I felt the need to show you more.

I am hoping that this last week wasn't the end of the dry weather until next summer, but just in case - I took advantage of the dry spell with another outdoor session.

Last week, I received an opportunity to team up with a local lady who is starting her own business selling handmade baby accessories - headbands and such. She asked that I use some of her products as props in my baby sessions and provide some of the pictures for her to use for her website & Etsy store. Well, an opportunity to try some new products is one that I will jump at - especially when it is local. And, I already got a chance to try them with this little doll:

Once she has her shop up and running, I will be sharing her information! I'm in love with her work! In the meantime, here are a couple more of this sweet girl...

In honor of all these little ones, my song today for #backthatazzup may not be an easy one to jam out to, but it's what speaks to me right now.

I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack on Grooveshark

Finally - I am excited to be holding The Blog Baton today on Instagram!! To follow me there, just follow @The BlogBaton !

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Throwback Thursday

2013-10-31T05:30:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in my weekend recap from LAST WEEK that Tristan and I recently had our pictures taken. I am super grateful to our friend Veronica for doing this for us. A few weeks ago I shared the maternity photos that I took for her and her boyfriend, so this was a little trade (she does photography as well). Before I share some of my favorites from our shoot, here is a little throwback to years past.

6 Years Ago

5 Years Ago

4 Years Ago

3 Years Ago

2 Years Ago

1 Year Ago

And now - here are our most recent photos, courtesy of Raw Beauty Images:

Love you, Honey!!!

Oh, and Happy Halloween!

Next Thursday, I will be starting a new mini-series for the month of November, so check back for that!

Fall Baking = Love Handles

2013-10-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

Oh wait....I already have those, so does that mean I can eat as many of these bars of deliciousness as I'd like?!? Probably not the best idea . . . but I could have easily eaten the whole pan!

Pumpkin Bars
(source: Taste of Home)

4 Eggs
1 2/3 Cup sugar
1 Cup vegetable oil (or applesauce! I wish I had thought to substitute BEFORE I put these in the oven!)
15 Oz. can of pumpkin
2 Cups flour
2 Teaspoons cinnamon
2 Teaspoons baking powder
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1 Teaspoon salt

*The original recipe also had instructions to make an icing - but I cheated and used Betty Crocker cream cheese frosting, from a tub :)*

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Beat eggs, oil, pumpkin and sugar in a large bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add this mixture to large bowl and mix until combined.

4. Pour into 15x10x1 inch baking pan (the original recipe says ungreased, but I always find that things stick, even when they say that - so I always spray my dishes with cooking spray)

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes (or until set - it shouldn't "jiggle")

6. Cool completely before frosting.

I actually frosted mine when they were still just a little warm, but my frosting was really soft so it didn't stick too bad. Plus, I had to taste one {or two} while they were still warm! They should be stored in the fridge, though, and are actually really good cold, as well!

What is your favorite thing to bake this time of year??

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2013-10-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

"Watch the sunrise at least once a year, put a lot of marshmallows in your hot chocolate, lie on your back and look at the stars, never buy a coffee table you can't put your feet on, never pass up a chance to jump on a trampoline, don't overlook life's small joys while searching for the big ones."

-H. Jackson Brown Jr.

H. Jackson Brown Jr. is an inspirational author from Tennessee. He is most well known for his book "Life's Little Instruction Book." A couple weeks ago Kenzie from Chasing Happy posted the above quote on her blog's Facebook page and I instantly fell in love with it. *If you haven't visited Chasing Happy, you need to. Kenzie's positive attitude is infectious. She also has a great project for blogging in November that I am definitely going to try to take part in.*

Since I do not have anyone lined up for Guest Post Tuesday ~~(again...)~~, {if you are interested in guest posting at My Mind's Lens, click HERE, or if missed some of the guest posts, click HERE to get caught up!}, I asked my sponsors for some of the best, and worse, advice that they have ever received. I got this idea from another blog - but I should have written it down because sadly, I can't remember where it was, now. Sorry!!

Kelly @ Today Was a Fairytale:

Best Advice: I remember once when I was in high school my mom told me that saying something mean to or about someone is like hammering a nail into a piece of wood. We can apologize and try to make it up to them, but like when you take the nail out of the wood.. there will still be a hole there. In other words, you can't un-say something so think before you speak. Take the time to cool off before you start saying things you don't mean out of anger and be kind to each other.

Worst Advice: "Never go to bed angry" I don't know who first told me this, but I'm sure that we've all heard it before. Where is the problem with this {at least for me}, I need time to cool down. Sometimes going to bed and have some time between whatever set us off and when we actually talk about it is a really good thing. Then we don't say things we don't mean or might regret later. However, I am a firm believer that you should never withhold affection from people because you're angry. Always kiss each other good-night and good-bye and always say "I love you". You never know when that person might not be around for you to kiss and tell you love them. So it doesn't matter how mad you are at each other. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS tell the important people in your life that you love them.

QUICK NOTE: I am actually over at Today Was a Fairytale today, sharing some of my favorite things about Fall. So when you are done reading all this great advice, head over there and take a look!

Chelsey @ Patti Cake:

Best Advice: Take all advice into consideration, until you find out what really works for you!

Amberly @ Life With Amberly & Joe:

Best Advice: "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." {Dr. Seuss} We could try to conform to who we think people want us to be, but the truth is, we will be loved, respected and accepted the most if we stay true to who we really are as a unique individual!

Rychelle @ Foltz Family Life:

Best Advice: Life is a journey not a destination. Don't be so focused on getting to the end that you don't experience all the fun. Enjoy the ride!

Worst Advice: Forget about being a worship leader, pick another career because you couldn't handle or live up to being a worship leader.

*Note from K: This isn't just bad advice - it is cruel! What is wrong with people?!*

What is the best and worst advice that you have received? Who gave it to you?

Cars, Pumpkins. and Toes

2013-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

What do cars, pumpkins and toes all have in common? They all had a part in my weekend.

Friday I had a day off from work. The afternoon was supposed to be spent doing engagement and family photos for a local family - which I was really looking forward to - but one of their kids got sent home from morning kindergarten so we had to reschedule. My afternoon turned into making pumpkin bars, cleaning the house, and doing laundry.

*More of these yummy treats, later in the week!*

I also met a friend Friday night for a girls night - meaning pedicures and a trip to the craft store!

Saturday we had plans to go to the pumpkin patch, and go look at a car that we were thinking about getting. We ended up making a quick trip to the pumpkin patch and just picked a few pumpkins from their pre-picked lot. I usually enjoy going on the hay ride out to the field, but Tristan thought we looked "weird . . . two grown adults going to the pumpkin patch without any kids" - which is fine, I don't really care if people thought it was weird. But I had already gone out to the field for the family pictures I took a few weeks ago, so I was fine with this option - I still got a few pictures :)

Before meeting the guy to check out the car, we grabbed a yummy lunch at The "Cow" Deli {it's real name is the Country Folks Deli . . . but everyone I know refers to it as the Cow Deli}

We also ended up driving home with a new car! Well, new to us. We bought a 1992 Isuzu Rodeo as our weekend warrior. Tristan will be taking it out to go "crawling" with his RC buddies, while I will take my turn as well to go to photo shoots. It's an older car, but I have wanted one since before I had a drivers license and even though it's a rougher ride than my car, it's pretty fun to drive.

*I have a feeling we might be flipping a coin to see who gets to drive "Rosie" some weekends*

Tristan got this eye-roll via txt at some point Saturday . . . I can't remember why, though :)

And I finished off the day with a version of hard cider, some football, getting several blog posts ready to go for this week, and changing out some of my 8x10 photos on my gallery walls with newly-printed ones!

I want to give a quick thank you to Jenn from Party of One for this one - she was my inspiration and I am so glad that I saw her post last week!!

Sunday was spent behind my lens, again! Unfortunately my first family had to reschedule because the weather was really scetchy through the morning. But I was able to meet with one of my friends, her husband and his son. They were so much fun!

I also met some volunteers for a special project that I'm working . . . but I'm not ready to disclose the details yet :)

Besides all this, I got a bunch of blogging done! I already have posts scheduled through Friday - which is a major feat for me!!

How was your weekend spent? There's lots of great weekend-related link-ups out there, so check the bottom of my page for some ideas!

Blogging With a Purpose: A Letter to the Newlyweds

2013-10-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

To all you newlyweds out there (and I read about many weddings in the last six months, so I know you are out there), I want to take a few minutes to talk specifically to you.

To be honest, I almost consider myself a newlywed still. My husband and I have been married almost 2 1/2 years, but I plan to be married to him for another good 50 or 60 years if I'm lucky - so in the grand scheme of things, we really are still newlyweds. But for today I am talking to those of you who have been married for a year or less, and even those who are currently in the midst of planning a wedding.

Getting married is one of the most exciting days in a person's life. I don't have any children yet, but I am sure the day your child is born is a strong rival. It is so easy to get wrapped up in all the festivities and planning and gifts and possibly decorating a home together for the first time. All of that is important and you should relish those moments. But at the same time, it is important to be realistic. At some point, the wedding is going to be over, the family is going to go home, you are going to come home from your honeymoon and it is just going to be the two of you. So now what?

What happens when life goes back to normal, only now it's not just you? Now, you are sharing the bathroom in the morning, stepping on someone's toes besides your dog's when cooking dinner at night. You no longer are king/queen of the remote during prime time television. I am not naive - many people have already experienced all of this long before they got married. But for many living together doesn't come until after the wedding - and it can be a huge adjustment period. Patience. Understanding. Compromise. These are the words you need to live by during those first few ~~years~~ months. Really, those are always words to live by. But they are especially important for newlyweds.

"The first year is the hardest." Did anyone else hear this from friends and relatives prior to getting married? I sure did . . . and like a lot of people I'm sure, my response was "whatever . . . it won't be that bad." And at first it wasn't. But after about 6 or 8 months my husband and I really struggled. There were some deep-seeded issues that I refused to deal with - both personal ones and relationship issues - and the ignorance only made matters worse. Communication is so important. And until I learned to communicate, those problems remained.

I'm not an expert, but based on my experience there are four things that I would recommend you keep in mind as a newlywed in order to help safeguard your relationship.

1. Communicate! This doesn't have to be verbal, but it does have to be there. Any healthy relationship requires communication. Be honest with yourself, and honest with your spouse . . . about everything, not just about what you consider to be important (they may have a different idea about what is a "big issue" than you do). Share your feelings and opinions. Ideally, relationships are in a constant growth pattern. There are always new things to learn about each other, plus you can grow together as a couple. So, like when you first met and started dating, continue to ask questions of each other and learn more about the person you are sharing your life with.

2. Continue to date {each other!}. It is so easy to get into a day-to-day routine. Over time that can get so boring, though. Take time for just the two of you - go out for dinner, or to a concert. Leave each other notes around the house or in each others' car. Flirt and give each other complements. Just have fun with each other. Marriage is supposed to be fun!

3. Do not be selfish. There will be days where you will come home and all you want to do is go to bed. But maybe your spouse had an even worse day than you did and needs to talk through it. Along with this (and I don't normally talk about anything too intimate here . . . but this is important), do not deny your spouse physical attention when they need it. Everybody has their moments when they need to be loved and it is not fair for you to tell them no just because you aren't "in the mood". This is a lesson I had to learn.

You have so many wonderful memories to make ahead of you. Cherish those memories - and if you do have dark days, fall back on those good times to carry you through. Trust each other, love each other, cling to one another. You are a family now, so remember that.

******************************************************************************* Meet Amberly!

Hi! I'm Amberly and I blog over at Life with Amberly and Joe . It's my place to share the story of our marriage, the adventures we have, our love for each other, moments of laughter and our crazy busy life! We are happily married and forever young at heart!

Follow Life with Amberly and Joe via

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Amberly is one of my new sponsors and you will see more from her in the coming weeks.

The Weekend in Black & White 10.27.13

2013-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Linking up for The Weekend in Black & White

Friday

2013-10-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Typically, I'm not a big Gavin DeGraw fan. He's not bad, I just don't normally like the sound of his music. But when I heard this song on The Voice on Monday, I instantly fell in love! And Juhi killed it . . . I can't get over her unique sound. As soon as I heard it - I knew I would be sharing it for #backthatazzup Friday!

Best I Ever Had by Gavin DeGraw on Grooveshark

Today I am feeling pretty proud of myself - I actually realized that this week was the last Friday all on my own. Granted, it was only two days ago that I figured this out. But, the point is I didn't need a reminder from Julie! Anyways - long story short - I'm over at A Beautiful Day today, sharing for In Focus Friday.

GUESS WHAT?? IT'S THE WEEKEND!!

Don't forget to go enter the giveaway at Simple Moments Stick - there are only 2 days left! Here are some of the things that I am looking forward to:

*Not having to work
*Photographing some engagement pictures
*Going to the pumpkin patch
*Checking out the SUV we are hopefully getting in the next week
*Taking some family pictures for a friend

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Little Things Thursday

2013-10-24T05:30:00.000-07:00

I know that I have already shared several family photos from this session earlier in the week, but these children are so sweet and I just couldn't get enough!

HOW ADORABLE IS SHE!?!

And....baby brother needed to get in on the action!

Jumping

2013-10-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

"Those who don't jump will never fly."

~Leena Ahmad Almashat, Harmony Letters

Last week I shared this photo as part of my weekend recap:

One of my favorite images from this family's session also satisfies one of my 2013 Photography Bucket List items!

2013 PHOTOGRAPHY BUCKET LIST

~~1. Sunset at Seaside {The Coast}~~
~~2. Twin babies~~
3. Las Vegas Strip
~~4. A beautiful waterfall (other than Multnomah Falls)~~
~~5. 1st birthday session~~
~~6. Downtown Seattle/Puget Sound~~
7. Timberline Lodge
8. City lights at night
9. A cactus
~~10. An engagement session~~
11. An extravagant themed photo
~~12. My new nephew~~
~~13. Jumping shot~~

14. A pier
15. Street photography
16. A series of old cars
17. A series of vintage signs
~~18. Golden Gate Bridge~~
19. Generations
20. Music

Here are a few more of my favorites from this session . . .

HAPPY HUMP DAY!!

A Day In Photos

2013-10-22T05:30:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I decided to take advantage of my day off from work and document the day in pictures. If you remember, awhile back Nicole from Art + Politics + Life did something like this for Guest Post Tuesday. I had seen similar posts before, but ever since Nicole shared I have really been wanting to do one as well. My typical weekday isn't really exciting enough to document - it's just work, maybe the gym and possibly some housework. My days off, however, tend to be fairly diverse and often productive.

*I am going to cheat a little and include a little bit of description about what exactly is going on in the photos*

Friday morning I was up even earlier than normal in order to make some yummy breakfast before the Mr. went to work. Since I was up, I headed down to the river to take some some pictures of the marina and river at dawn. I also got to catch up on some blog-reading, while enjoying a couple cups of coffee. I LOVE lazy mornings when I have nowhere to be!

I think this is kind of self-explanatory.

I got lots of editing done . . . and even got two orders off to the post office!

Some days I hate doing housework, but other days it's not so bad. But that recycling . . . had to go. It was taking up the whole top-tier of the kitchen counter.

My night: ups and downs. I got to go to the best store ever - and filled up my gas tank {which usually costs about $50} for $35, thanks to Safeway discounts! However - I also had to go pick up my hubby after midnight, which was about two hours after I was ready for bed .

If you have never done a "day in photos", I encourage you to try. It forces you to make a conscious effort to pull out your camera (or phone!) throughout the day. Plus, it's a great filler if you don't know what to blog about :)

Weekend Recap & Blogging with a Purpose

2013-10-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend I . . .

*Played with my nieces

*Attended my friend's baby shower

*Got stuck sitting on the bride (not fun when you can feel it shake as cars pass by)

*Went to dinner & FroYo with some friends

*Took some senior and family pictures

ALSO THIS WEEKEND:
*Tristan and I had OUR pictures taken {for the first time since our wedding}
*Did a little bit of gift shopping
*Lots of editing! . . . while enjoying some Starbucks

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This week, the Blogging With A Purpose topic is "Your Strengths and Weaknesses in Your Marriage."

I think that admitting our weaknesses in any aspect of life is difficult - but even more so when it comes to the relationship with our significant other. Often, it is nearly as difficult to identify our strengths - at least for me it is. So this week's subject matter took a little bit of thinking.

Strengths:
I am the caretaker: I make sure that we have clean clothes, food to eat, a *mostly* clean house to come home to after work. I get up in the morning to make my husband a lunch to take to work, and stay up late some nights to make sure his work attire gets into the laundry.

I am the scheduler: If we are going to be going anywhere or doing anything, I'm the one with all the details. When we move, I make sure all the utilities get closed out/started or transferred. If we go on vacation, I make the arrangements.

I am the banker: I know when all the bills are due and make the the payments. I keep track of all the logins and passwords.

Weaknesses:
Encouragement: I am not very good about giving compliments on a regular basis.

Patience: I tend to get irritated easily - and usually allow that to ruin the rest of my day.

Entertainment: I don't always have the best sense of humor.

Communication: I have a hard time explaining how I feel sometimes.

If you want to link up for the remainder of 52 Weeks of Blogging with a Purpose, visit From Mrs. To Mama.

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If you missed it last week, I introduced Rychelle of Foltz Family Life as my "little". The Bigs & Littles Blogging Network is a really great opportunity and I would encourage you to watch for the next round!

Anyways - Rychelle is a fairly new blogger and I want to encourage you to stop by, tell her hello, and provide her with any encouragement you may have! Plus . . . she has an adorable little girl that you can gush about!

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FINALLY, I am participating in a giveaway over at Simple Moments Stick, this week! You have an opportunity to win ad space, Starbucks and more! Plus, it's a great opportunity to get to know more wonderful bloggers! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2013-10-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of my good friend's baby shower - I love watching people open baby gifts! Especially for girls . . . they are so much fun! *This is also one of four friends I have who are having babies in the next couple months, and one of at least eight people I know who are due in that same time*

I can't get enough of the fall leaves!

Umm...when my pumpkin milkshake is all gone - yeah, that's a problem in my book.

Still, quiet waters of the river early in the morning.

Yes - they were having fun. And so was I. This family is a lot of fun to photograph.

If you are interested in guest posting on My Mind's Lens - the GUEST POST TUESDAY slot for this week (Oct. 22nd) is available! Or . . . if you want to participate but don't have time between now and then, let me know and I can give you a choice of other available dates. Just send me an email at
kaeley *dot* a *dot* mull *at* gmail *dot* com
and let me know that you are interested! Please include your name and the URL for your blog.