Today is a special day.  My mother-who also is my backbone for everything I am and do in life -is celebrating another glorious year of getting older. Really old…just kidding Mom!

I wanted to take the time today to say all the words that sometimes you don’t hear enough.

• Thank you for giving me life.  I know being a single mother for some time was never easy and the choice as a 19 year old baby yourself to have me.  But it was a decision you’ve never regreted and please know that it’s not one I take lightly and I will be forever grateful to you.
• Thank you for never giving up on me.
• Thank you for teaching me right from wrong.
• Thank you for showing me the path to God.
• Thank you for all the sacrifices you made for me.
• Thank you for making me laugh.
• Thank you for washing my mouth out with soap, because now I know with my sailor mouth how ineffective of a method that really is.
• Thank you for making my lunch and putting notes in there to remind me how much you loved me.
• Thank you for giving me a family, not matter how much I want to beat my brothers up, and how much sometimes I roll my eyes at Dad’s advice.
• Thank you for teaching me how to give to others and expect nothing in return.
• Thank you for opening your arms and giving me a safe landing place in times of need.
• Thank you for teaching me how to get lost in a book.
• Thank you for teaching me work ethic.
• Thank you for being my best friend.
• For always making me mickey mouse shaped pancakes!
• For always being honest with me even when I didn’t want to hear it.
• Thank you for teaching me to swim.
• Thank you for scaring me when you vow that one day my children will put me through what I have for you.
• Thank you for being my fan, my rock, my strength, and my support.
• But mostly -Thank you for being you.  You, the beautiful, selfless, one of kind mother you are.

 And because post’s aren’t as great without pictures; here is my favorite picture of our little family…

This post is a little…OK! ALOT past due, but I’m slowly catching up with the world.

I feel so blessed an honored to have been able to attend this workshop. The week before Kristen Weaver with Images for a Cure did a Twitter and Facebook giveaway for some seats to the workshop.  I got on my knees, prayed, then hit send about a million times overloading her twitter.  Thankfully it paid off & the next week I was sitting in a chair surrounding by an amazing group of photographers and getting the opportunity to listen to some amazing speakers who I adore and thoroughly envy for their talent!

The next day we got the once in a lifetime opportunity to break up into groups with one of our favorite photographers and do a mini workshop with them.  I was so lucky to get my first choice Kristen Weaver.  Kristen is a international Wedding & Fashion photographer and let me tell you her work is to die for!

A special thanks you to Kristen Weaver for putting this whole thing together and giving this amazing opportunity!

Special Thanks to the Speakers:

And Special Thanks to the Vendors, Model & People that made this Workshop & Shoot Possible:

Models:  Hope Roberts, Kristen Johnson, Rachel Willems and Melissa Diep

Gowns were all provided by the sweet Amanda Caraker:  Something Blue Bridal Salon

Hair & Makeup done by the Fabulous Luisa V: Luisa V Bridal

All Florals were provided by the amazingly talented Lee Forrest:  Lee Forest Design

Here are my photos from the day:

I was given the opportunity to 2nd shoot with the awesome Jennifer Goodlet of A New Creation Photography for Natasha & Philip’s Gorgeous Wedding. Thank you so much to everyone letting me be apart of your day! 

I woke up this morning so excited for a new week, and looking forward to everything the day has to offer.  I’m on a coca-cola withdrawal, and I’m trying to eat healthier.  I don’t know how some people do it as it’s definitely not easy and I totally wanted to use the giveaway card and get me a Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte…or maybe 2 or 3.

So I’ll stop rambling now and announce the winner.  Thank you so much for all that visited the blog and entered.  I’m so happy that everyone loved the new blog and design and so glad so many of you noticed and said that it matched my personality.

By Random Number Generator picked comment #6 – KATHLEEN FRANK!

Congrats girl! Please email me with your address so I can get that right out to you.

For now please enjoy a sneak peek of the upcoming blog post.  It’s long over due!

I’m so excited to launch my new blog & branding today!  I’ve wanted for so long something that will truely represent me and I feel like I’ve finally found it.  If you’ve met me or I’ve had the honor to become your friend you’ve probably seen my obsession with my body art, and by that I mean Tattoos.  I love every single tattoo on my body and when people ask my why do I get them, my answer is always the same:  “This is my art.  It’s an outer expression of who I am.  It’s me wearing my heart on my sleeve and my inner most thoughts for all the world to see.”

So when I decided to re-do my logo it was so important to me that it truely represented who I am.  I have this exact bird tattooed on my wrist surrounded by a peonies flower.  To me it represents to much in my life from the fact that I’m taking a risk going into photography and pursuing my passion – I’m jumping from the nest and spreading my wings, I’m not looking down and praying I hit the ground with a large and unpleasant splat.  It also represent the blooming of my business and the person I’m becoming.  But on the most important meanings of this bird is that it’s a Swallow and if you’ve ever done any research on them you should know that it’s said they mate for life.  So this is my symbol of my ever lasting love and devotion to my mate for life; my husband.

I hope you love it as much as I do. 

To Celebrate the launch of my new logo & blog I’m giving away a $10 gift card to Starbucks.  

To Enter:  Leave a Comment on this post until Friday May 6th @ 5pm. EST telling me your thoughts on the new blog.

I’ll be randomly drawing a winner on Monday May 9th.

Good luck to everyone & watch for some new posts coming soon!