Bad Mood Blues

Yesterday I was having a serious case of the bad mood blues... I woke up in a bad mood, and everything was irritating me. We went to the skatepark and I was irritated. We took Nixon on a walk, he pooped and I didn't have a doggy bag and I was irritated. I went to the bathroom to get toilet paper to clean it, they were out. I was irritated. I went in the boys bathroom, grabbed toilet paper, cleaned it up, went back to the bathroom to wash my hands and there was no soap. I was irritated. We went home and I went to make Miles lunch and we haven't been grocery shopping in 3 weeks so there was no food. I was irritated. And the worst part is, I knew I was being irrational. I even told Miles that I was sorry I was in such a bad mood and that I was trying to change my mood, but I couldn't get out of my funk. So I gave myself a pedicure, baked some cookies, and I started thinking of the things that without fail always make me happy. Photography. So I called Nikki and we went for a drive with my camera and had an photoshoot in a buttercup field in Hermitage, TN. It was gorgeous! The lighting was perfect, the buttercups were wonderful, there were horses in the field and they were beautiful, it was just perfect. And I had a blast. It totally shook my bad mood blues right out of me.

I love photography. I love everything about it. I love capturing memories for people and for myself. I love finding intimate moments where two people look at each other, vulnerable to one another's love. I love trying to find little secrets that people keep. I love looking through the view finder and seeing something different, something beautiful. I love color and lighting. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. I love everything about being a photographer. 

So I thought I would share a little bit of my therapy. I took some pictures of Nikki and she took a few of me. Nikki is a fantastic model. She knows how to move, how to pose, and she understands light. For having taken only an Intro to Photo class my sister's got some talent behind the camera as well, does she not? I'm impressed... I've been trying to get her to be my second shooter for awhile, but she's resisting. 

I promise you, I'm not conceited. I just wanted to show a few of the pictures that Nikki took as well. She's not too shabby behind the camera huh? 

I Love Spring

I'm doing a little "spring cleaning" with the blog.. I haven't updated the layout since love month... so I figured it was time for a summer/spring look. So it's currently under construction and bits and pieces of it will be updated as I have time. 

Miles and I taught Primary in our Branch today, and we will again next week. It was so much fun! There's such a sweet spirit in Primary. I got a little misty-eyed during singing time. 

Miles and I took a little walk with Nixon today to all the pretty spots I jog past each day. We took some pictures for the new spring blog.. you'll see the ones on the sidebar that we're using, but I'll post the rejects. I love Sunday's. It's the only full day I get to spend with Miles and it's so relaxing and peaceful. We got a knock on our door this afternoon from some neighborhood kids asking if they could play with Nixon. We spent a few hours down on the lawn letting Nixon play with the kids and with Coco and Nilla while we played cards with Kevin and Rochele. It was our favorite Sunday in Nashville so far. 

5K a Day

Since getting to Nashville and thoroughly enjoying the fantastic warm weather and sunshine, Nixon and I have set a goal for ourselves: 5K A Day [except Sunday] and so far so good. I'm feeling great, Nixon's getting his exercise [and he's so exhausted when we get back that he relaxes for the next 4 hours while I get work done]. There are trails near our apartment complex that have little posts to track how far you've run, we run a mile and a half down, and a mile and a half back. The first mile and a half is cake, Nixon's pulling me the whole way, chasing birds and bugs and bees. The next mile and a half is basically all uphill and Nixon is tired, so I'm dragging him the rest of the way. So really, I'm running 3.1 miles with 22lbs of resistance and it's like circuit training because it's up and downhill! My dad would be proud, maybe I'll actually be able to keep up with him if we go run during Fripp Trip! That's my new motivation! I've been seriously lacking on taking pictures since arriving in Nashville... so I'll just post one or two from the wedding I shot last weekend in Sacramento. I'm almost done editing! Check my photoblog Friday to see some more!

And don't forget to look at the post below this one, click the link, and vote for us!

Sheryll Lynne Contest!

So I entered Miles and I in a contest a little while ago through a photographer named Sheryll Lynne. Her contest was to promote her lifestyle photography. She had the contestants explain what they love to do and why she should be there to photograph it. I love having pictures of Miles and I, and our little puppy, but we haven't been in front of a professional's camera since our wedding! I usually put it on self timer or have my sister come with us and I'll do all the posing, camera settings, and editing. So I thought it would be really fun to be photographed by a professional! And lucky us, we made it in to the final 3! Here's the link, we'd love it if you would go vote for us! Here are some pictures that go along with my story.. 

30 hours in the car with a puppy...

Well we packed up the house, loaded up the car, and drove 30 miles, but we've made it to Nashville. I hear Rexburg got a snow storm yesterday, all I can say is HAHA it's 80 degrees here and the sun is shining and Nixon and I are happy happy campers. I LOVE IT HERE. There's a wafflehouse off of every exit, everything is green and purple and blooming, the birds are chirping, there's a doggy park at our apartment complex, and there's a great shopping center just a minute down the street (with a Panera). There's a jogging trail that tells you how many miles you've been running just up the street and Nixon and I are motivated to work out 5 days a week. I already found a flea market, there's only a one hour time difference between here and Connecticut, and one of my best buds is here to share the summer with. The only thing that could make Mount Juliet better is the rest of our family, Jenny Riddle, and chicken green chile quesadilla's from Bajio. 

Getting here was an adventure, we drove the first 10 hours and arrived in Montrose, CO to stay with Sammy and Cassidy. Nixon had a blast playing with their dog Diesel. It was pretty entertaining to watch. He was upset with us when we had to leave and he had to leave behind his friend. Their house was so cute and I loved going there to see them! We can't wait to get go back in August! Thanks guys :) From there we drove 15 hours to Collinsville, IL and stayed at a really nice hotel that my parents so graciously booked for us. It may have been the best nights sleep I've ever had. Thanks mom and dad! I got really sick on the last 5 hours of our drive. I was throwing up and passing out. It wasn't so much fun for me. But we finally made it to downtown Nashville where we waited for Nikki and Robby to catch up. Nashville is awesome! It's a relatively small city with such a unique feel. I'm excited to explore it a little more. In fact, Nikki and I are going today while the boys are selling!
I love our apartment complex. It's so nice. Our furniture is so much better than last year! It's stuff I would actually put in my home. We're finally all unpacked, we just need to hang a few more pictures and we'll be all settled. Nikki bought Nixon and doggy t-shirt at Target for $1. See below for the torture. He looks embarrassed to be dressed up.
I'm leaving tomorrow to shoot a wedding in Sacramento. It's going to be a fun trip! Three days in Sactown. I'm excited to see the Van Koman's and eat at Mikuni and capture Raliegh and Sharyl's wedding! They are a beautiful couple, as you'll see in a week or two when I post their wedding pictures. I'm so happy they asked me to share their special day with them.

Now on the the pictures:

WE'RE MOVING TO NASHVILLE IN 3 DAYS!!!!




that's all. I'm excited. I can't wait to take a break from Rexburg. Friday come sooner?

April Fools

So Mother Nature was the only one that played an April Fools joke on Miles and I... She's been building up to her joke for almost a month. She let us think that spring had come for almost the entirety of March. It's been in the 40's and even sometimes 50's for weeks. But then April 1st rolls around and "APRIL FOOLS" it snows... all day and all night. Then April 2nd comes... it snows, almost all day and all night... now it's April 3rd. You think she would have gotten her fun out of this incredibly mean joke. But nope, it's still snowing, with no sign of stopping. Mother Nature is one cruel cruel lady.