Pumpkin Patch

Yes, I realize these are a little overdo, but cut a girl a break. It has been a difficult week and well, I haven't felt like raining my melancholy mood on everyone else.

So...look at these and be in a better mood!
Like me!
(that was totally believable, right?)

Jeez, they are so adorable. I really know how to make 'em.

...I suppose Beast should get some of the credit.

Amazing

It amazes me how in a blink of an eye your world can turn upside down. Though, when I look back on my life, this is not something that should amaze me anymore, yet somehow it always does.

And then in a series of events it's right side up again, like nothing ever happened.

Here's my series:

• allowing myself to accept that "someone I know" has become "someone I knew" and finally hitting "send"
• receiving an incredibly supportive email from a friend who is more special than you could ever imagine, giving me further hope that everything happens for a reason
• being sent a barrage of loving, supportive text messages from the people who matter
• then seeing this:

Thank you, Friends.

TTD: Fall

Our first official TTD: Fall photo shoot was on the 11th and it was FANTASTIC! We had SO much fun. This was a favorite for many of the girls, the creative director and me. The models were shamelessly creative and amazing. I even got to shoot two new models! It was very exciting to experiment with them as well as the experienced girls.

We shot on a beautifully clear fall day at Legion Memorial Park in Everett. Even though it was sunny it was very chilly but the girls kept themselves warm by huddling together under a blanket (that is what you were doing under there, right ladies?) when they weren't climbing trees and laying in crunchy autumn leaves. We even had a minor disagreement with a train...well almost.

Here are a few pictures, you can find more over on flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttercupyaya/

Okay, now head on over to flickr and check out the rest. (*insert shameless bid for attention here!)

p.s. I'm getting good at the bids for attention, I think.

Yummy for my Tummy

I love Sixlets.

I love their chocolatey-candy-coated-yumminess.

(I know, this is a very random post. But I had to share with you how much I love Sixlets.)

They are that candy for me that I only buy when I see it, because otherwise they are forgettable--and underestimated.

My mom used to get these at the gas station when I was a little kid, and I would always think to myself "self, I should have picked those yummy looking Sixlets instead of m&m's". Not that I don't love m&m's, we have a very satisfying relationship, but it's just not they are just not Sixlets. AndSixlets are so HARD TO FIND!! Which probably plays into my love for them.

Thank god for Halloween and it's random candy finding goodness.

At first glance you might think "huh, aren't they basically round m&m's?"

No, my friends, they are NOT basically round m&m's. They are SIXLETS.

Yummy-for-my-tummy Sixlets.

No-I-will-not-share-with-you Sixlets.

They-are-MINE-ALL-MINE Sixlets.

(I need to find another hobby cuz this is getting a little ridiculous, don't you think?)

I'm sure you do. What is your NO-I-WILL-NOT-SHARE-WITH-YOU-MINE-ALL-MINE candy? I know you have one. What is it?

Honesty

I ran across the following in a book I am reading called "The Language of Letting Go". I am not trying to have anyone read the book or anything like that, but this entry meant something deeply personal to me and I thought I would share since you all mean something deeply personal to me as well.

Being Honest with Ourselves
Our relationship with ourselves is the most important relationship we need to maintain. The quality of that relationship will determine the quality of our other relationships.

When we can tell ourselves how we feel, and accept our feelings, we can tell others.
When we can accept what we want and need, we will be ready to have our wants and needs met.
When we can accept what we think and believe, and accept what's important to us, we can relay this to others.
When we learn to take ourselves seriously, others will too.
When we learn to chuckle at ourselves, we will be ready to laugh with others.
When we have learned to trust ourselves, we will be trustworthy and ready to trust.
When we can be grateful for who we are, we will have achieved self-love.
When we have achieved self-love and accepting our wants and needs, we will be ready to give and receive love.
When we've learned to stand on our own two feet, we're ready to stand next to someone.

Today, I will focus on having a good relationship with myself.

So, my friends, take from that what you will, and thanks for letting me share.

Eavesdropping

Here is what I heard over the phone when the Girl's key wouldn't work in the front door lock and she was waiting for Beast to get there and help a girl out.

Me: so tell me something funny that happened at school today while we wait for dad to get there.

Girl: nothing really funny happened today. OH!Dad's here.

*two seconds later I hear the following over the receiver*

Beast: Little Girl, how many times have I told you you can't live here?

Girl: Whatever Dad. Bye mom. Love you.

Yes, I giggled uncontrollably and shook my head.
Yes, I am now sharing with you.
I like you.
Plus, I'm pretty sure you'll laugh.

Wow how the last week has slipped thru my selfish, time wasting fingers. I promised the story of TTD: McCollum and I have not followed thru! My apologies.

The beautiful ladies featured below showed up in the pouring rain and about 50 degree weather, half dressed mind you, to allow me to take their picture. These are a bit more urban, dark and melancholy and quite different from the inaugural shoot, but I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from it.

In no way did the McCollum shoot resemble the shoot we originally planned, but a good time was had by all, I think (hope?). The girls were beautiful -- even soaked to the bone and they were real troopers thru the soggy ground and giant raindrops.

With the Pacific Northwest weather turn, the daylight changes as well. We lost light REALLY quickly and shot until we got flooded out. Literally. The creek rose and we ran!

And I found creativity in a very close, trusted friend who we jokingly refer to as my 'Creative Director'...it is no joke. Without her, half of the shots from TTD: McCollum would not be nearly as interesting as they are.

My heartfelt THANKS to everyone involved.

Next up: TTD Fall, shot at Legion Park and Marine Drive train tracks on Saturday, October 11th. Soon...I promise (but we know how that goes...)

Trash the Dress: McCollum Park

Without further ado (and because I am so excited) here are a few pictures of the latest Trash the Dress session. It poured rain the whole time! The ladies were such troopers. We shot until we lost all light and got flooded out...more to come on that later...for now, here are some of the pictures I prematurely sent the girls. Enjoy.

*Alexis and Heather*
*Alexis * *Heather*

*Anna*

Rainbow

Our weather was just plain weird here yesterday, but this is what was produced.

Though, now that I think about it out loud, yesterday's weather was pretty typical for the Pacific Northwest, rain then sun, followed by showers, then sun, then sprinkles --and 60 degrees the whole time.

And the unpredictability just adds to how much I love finding the rainbow on a day like that.

*I realize this isn't the best photo ever, but it's what my phone could do...don't judge! Heh.

Say It with Me! **Updated for clarification because this blogger is an idiot...

**It was brought to my attention that I might have been a tad unclear on the whole 'owner' and 'permission' thing below...yeah, I haven't actually talked to them yet...I'm kinda hoping that a bunch of girls in formals and a photographer standing in front of them practically begging will be enough pressure for them to say yes without putting us in the sights of their shotgun and yelling "off my property or I'll shoot!"...that only happens in movies, right? Right? RIGHT?

Remember the old school yard rain song? You know the one..."rain, rain go away"?

Well, here's mine for today...

Rain, rain, go away.

Come again on Saturday.

Dana and the models want to play!

So stay away on Friday.

Say it with me and dance a little; maybe we'll get lucky for the photo shoot.

Love and rainy hugs...

p.s.

Wish for no snakes at this location tomorrow.

Oh, and that the owner is cool with us trespassing.

Though, is it really trespassing if you ask permission?