Well, I dont have time to share all about my experience right now...there will be more on that later. BUT I can leave you with a little teaser of what I was up to...
I could have died when I saw this tree. Then he kissed her, and that hand thing...we had a little bit of an ESP thing going on. : )
SO things got a little busy and I admit that I forgot about the "random" posts. Today is Tuesday and I have lots to share but for now Ill just leave you with the Tuesday Randomness:
to understand the title, you must watch the video posted in #3.
1. Sometimes I randomly bust out with dance moves in the living room while Nick is watching a movie or playing a video game just to see how long it will take for him to notice. Although, I have a feeling he secretly watches me with his peripherals to see how long I will keep at it. When he finally gives in, we laugh so hard together.
2. I have a mad addiction to CSI and Law and Order. But for some reason I only like one version of the three they both have. To me, "Law and Order: SVU" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Las Vegas)" are way better than the other versions they have. 
3. Since I watch Spike TV a lot due to #2 I see this commercial a lot. I love it SO much. I seriously get so excited and sit-dance to it! The way the song contrasts the visuals is just so freaking cool! Nick loves it too! This commercial is so cool that it actually makes me want to play the game. : )
4. I am in LOVE with animals. I have a sweet sweet spot for Dogs and wild animals. Nick puts Animal Planet and other random animal shows on pretty frequently and I will become glued to the Television. I really dont like to watch much T.V. but I cant keep myself away from those adorable animals. I just feel like they know it all, they are so fascinating.
5. I have just recently discovered Twitter and Facebook. I mean, I knew about them but Im not big on doing "the newest coolest thing." I was forced to join Myspace by friends and I loathe myspace. So I wasnt really up for trying out facebook since everything is replaced with the newest thing anyways. Well, I love them both! Twitter is just a mini Facebook status program and its always fun to see and share the little mundane things.You can see my twitter status in the sidebar to the right and my facebook link is in the sidebar a little ways down.
6. I love this blog called "indexed." Its like smart people humor. Every entry is wisdom interpreted by an equation, graph or table onto an index card. Sometimes they are so on point its both scary and funny at the same time. She even wrote a book filled with them. The blog is good for a daily dose of random. 
7. I am a woman of detail. Obviously, with how long my blog posts always are. Like this one for example. : )
8. Im going to Orlando this week for David Jay's Free to Succeed Tour which I am totally siked about by the way, but I am so sad I wont be able to visit IKEA. IKEA is equally my favorite place to shop next to Target. I dont know what it is but I get this happy feeling when I walk into that place, Ive only been twice but Ive been IKEA crazed through their catalogs for years! I bought this frame when we went there in July, I fell in LOVE with it. This thing pretty much screams my name. 
9. I have so many unfinished projects going on right now (like things to do around the house, scrapbooking, etc). I do that a lot. I have a great idea, get started on it, put it aside for the day to work on something more important and never come back to it. There are so many things I want to do right now, if only there were more hours in the day...
10. Ive been wanting this canvas for a really long time. For some reason I just never get around to ordering it. Not a fan of online shopping, except for new camera gear, Im such an instant gratification type of girl.
Ill be back soon with some photos from recent sessions to share!
How nice is it to step outside to run out to your car real quick and almost kiss the concrete by tripping over a HUGE white box? I managed to ignore the fact that I almost died since the mail-dude couldnt knock on the door (you know, like Fed Ex does) so that we'd know there was a wonderful package waiting for us outside, because I was TOO darn excited! I knew exactly what this huge box was! I just get so giddy when I get print orders in, I dont know what it is about seeing my work on paper and in such a beautiful way...and this was a HA-YOOGE order!
I was like swimming in gorgeous, lustrous (hehe, thats a pun! the lab I use coats the prints with a lustre finish for long lasting proctection) fuji printed amazingness. And they were all of beautiful people. : )
SO, that means of course, if you were waiting on a print order from me....THEY'RE HERE! Ill be shipping them out to everyone on Monday, so keep an eye out for your mail-dude. (hopefully he is not as ignorant of ones excitement to get big packages as mine is)
The last month has been so full of happy mail! (can you tell I like getting things in the mail that do not consist of "give us all your money" requests?) I finally got my real business cards (as opposed to my pretend ones?) & I ordered some super fun note cards. Aren't they just happiness?! Well, I love them! Now I have just got to get rid of them! : )
Hope you all had a nice Friday!
I thought I would wait a little to blog today! Hope I didnt throw anyone off...lol : )
Nicholas and I are MAJOR movie lovers. I think its mostly Nick since he has urges to watch a movie every night before he goes to bed. (well until recently, he's been playing his Wii that I got him for his birthday every night since then.) But when he sees a movie that looks really good or has a good actor/actress, we MUST go and see it. We probably go to the movies about three times a month. I think it might also have to do with the fact that that is the only thing to do around here besides go to the beach.
So last week we saw this movie
and it was funny. Sometimes they tried too hard but overall, it was pretty good. We just LOVE Mike Myers. I think I was the only person in the whole theater to get the Mariska Hargitay joke. (I love Law & Order: SVU) I really loved it and totally see us getting it when it comes out on DVD.
Then this week we both had a night off together so Nick asked me out on a date, (which I love that we can still do after almost 8 years!) and we just got home from seeing this one:
and man do I love me some Will Smith. I grew up watching the Fresh Prince and I still do almost every night on Nick at Nite. (well it still counts if its on in the background while Im working, right?)
Well I really didn't think I was going to like it. The whole "I have superpowers but I like to be an asshole," wasn't pulling me in. I wanted to just wait till it came out on DVD but Nick insisted, and who could pass up a date with him? Seriously. But oh my gosh, go see this movie as soon as you can. It was awesome! Of course I laughed at everything but for once other people in the movie theater were laughing with me! (believe me, that is totally different from the norm. I dont know, do people just never laugh?!?!) And I love that they didn't show you any of the funny parts in the previews. This was SUCH a good story, it hit all of my sides. (comedy, action, supernatural, save the world) The main character, other than Hancock, is a PR person that dedicates his life trying to make a difference in the world. *swoon. That is my main goal in life, I'm hoping to achieve it through photography. Seriously, go see this movie. We are SO buying it, but I would definitely pay to see it again at the theaters.
We just got Mario Galaxy so I think Ill go finish off the rest of my date with the man. yay! I have been wanting this game for a while!
If I have learned one thing about our society, its that we all like to know more about the people we know/admire/see/watch. It is evident in all things, really, all of humanity is nosy! Well that is a forward way of putting it but we are a curious people. We have magazines and shows dedicated to getting more mundane information about people's personal lives. Man, its even on the News now! (another reason why I am not a fan)
I also believe that the more you know your photographer the more comfortable you will be in front of the camera and the more fun you'll have during your time together! I love to have fun and I want to make the photos I take show off all of your "sides." Well except for your nervous side.
SO, in an effort to satisfy your curiosity and become the friend you never knew you had, every Tuesday I am going to give you a random dose of the person behind the camera. Since I am a huge fan of randomness,I will make a list every week of ten totally random things that will reveal a little more about who I am. They'll be links, stores I love, new finds, quirks, videos, movies, goals whatever! Ill also try my best to blog more about random life; a place I went, a day I loved, and personal photos. (which I need to take more of...my personal archives have sort of depleted this year.)
Now heres the first Tuesday Randomness:
1. I love crushed ice. Its my favorite snack!
2. I am SO digging this song right now. I heard it a while back and loved it and now it has just resurfaced. It makes me feel all mushy and right now its both mine and Nick's favorite song. yes I said digging, I wont deny it.
3. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the rain. The best part is that Nicholas does too. On many occasions it was raining outside and we looked at each other at the same time and suggested at the same time that we go for a walk in the rain. I am in the best moods when it is rainy outside. Today was the best day...I woke up during a heavy thunderstorm which I think is the best way to wake up.
4. If you know me or have been reading my blog you will already know this, but I am a severe perfectionist. It is a sickness Ive been haunted by since I can remember anything about grade school. I overachieve and hold very high standards for anything I am involved with or responsible for.
5. My favorite colors are Blue and Green. if its not already obvious. But not just any blue and green, that would be too easy. These blues and greens:
6. I secretly wish I could cook. I mean I can cook some good food but I want to prepare crazy fun meals like the people from Top Chef. which is the only reality tv show I actually enoy watching. Its something I would love to study, but would never want to pursue any type of career in anything food related. I really enjoy cooking and so wish that I could do it more often and more elaborately.
photo from Top Chef website
I just found an awesome video collection of some of their recipes and tips. Seriously, Bravo is ROCKING Top Chef. I am so happy right now! Check it out!
7. I couldn't live my life without photoshop. : ) I taught myself all about PS back in high school for the yearbook and Ive been addicted ever since. I use it to do all of my photo processing in addition to the fantastic Adobe Lightroom, and even most of my documents.
8. My hair and Nails grow extremely fast. I dont keep my nails long, I have to cut them like every other week, I just cant do anything with long nails. except to serve nicholas with back scratches for hours on end. I always grow my hair as long as I can stand it then cut it all off and donate it to Locks of Love. I just did this for the third time about three months ago.
9. I am a night owl. I got it from my Nana who Ive always known to stay up late nights. Unlike my Nana, however, I am a SLEEPER! I can sleep all day. I am on a very odd schedule right now, I go to bed around 4am and wake up around 12 or 1 pm. I know I know.
10. I say, "seriously" extremely way too much. seriously. I have no idea where I got it or why I do it. Just something I do. Maybe because I am never serious?? ooh, Im sensing a breakthrough.
He likes Root Beer.
He has green eyes that tell a story about his soul.
He is that guy who will stop if you are having car trouble on the side of the road.
He is sensitive but tough.
He is 50% Italian.
Hes Mr. Fix it.
He's an awesome uncle.
He loves animals and is smitten with his little fur-girl, Aly.
He watches the discovery channel, the science channel and anything that explains our world and the universe.
He is extremely smart and hardworking.
His favorite show is Family guy & his favorite band Rise Against.
He will go out of his way to help.
He likes to do things for himself; oil changes, installations, assembling.
He's passionate and strong.
He LOVES to watch movies, especially Happy Madison Productions.
He is that guy that everybody loves.
He's too good to be.
And now he's 23.
This is Nicholas, the person responsible for the smile on my face everyday. I dont know anyone who could be closer to perfect. Today is his birthday, and I wanted to make sure that everyone knew it! He deserves anything he could ever want for and I just pray that I can give at least a fraction of it all. I never thought I would be so dependant on any person but he really is the oxygen that I breathe that keeps me alive.
Happy Birthday gorgeous, Thank you for EVERYTHING. For holding me up, for encouraging and supporting my visions and for helping me along this journey to living my dreams and making a difference. I am so grateful that we've found each other. 8 years of growing up with you has made me the luckiest girl. : ) I know I tell you these things 1000 times each day but now it is written down so you can never forget! I love you.
Here's a song from his favorite band. I LOVE them too. This is sort of our unofficial anthem. We can relate to it so well, the part of our story where we made a life for ourselves on our own and away from both of our families. Listen to it, you may just find new good music, I love finding new good music. : )
*Disclaimer: I take no credit for any of the photos/video shared in this post. all material is for reference only"
What a FUNderful day! This is how it played out:
So I VERY highly recommend this movie. Only if you are absolutely a fan of laughing....and can tolerate toilet humor. If you did not appreciate "Superbad" or "The 40 Year old Virgin" Then dont waste your time. and maybe look into getting in touch with your sense of humor. just kidding, I know everyone has different tastes. : )
I just love how real life the characters are. Here is a little clip of one of the funniest scenes. This may be giving a little bit away but its not a big deal since the trailer does it for us up to this part. There are some good tips in this movie on how to make an awkward moment funny, if you ever find yourself in awkwardness:
And if you feel unmotivated to get back in shape (I have actually been feeling very motivated as of late..yay) the ever beautiful Mila Kunis can help you with that. She was just so stunningly gorgeous throughout the entire movie...I couldnt stop thinking, "If I were ever into women..." teeheee
I fell in love with her character. Ever watch a movie or a show and say, "I wanna be friends with her/him!" I do it quite often. Probably because its hard for me to find good friends. She really rocked this movie, and so did everyone who influenced what her character should be like. Genuine, fun, spontaneous and sweet. Ate it all up. I wanted to hug her so many times.
So go see it, if you have to wait...buy it when it comes out. It is up in our Top ten fave movies of all time.
Stay tuned...Tomorrow Ill post some photos and details from today's Photographer Fun.
Meet Aly. Today is her Birthday! She is two and as tiny as can be. I think it is illegal for dachshunds to be this cute and tiny. The first one is when she was a baby, and the second is from today. I love comparison photos!
Isnt this one of the most adorable beings you have ever seen? I guess I am a bit bias but lots of random strangers could help my argument. : )
A fly on the wall of our home could tell you that this is our child. I feel like I gave birth to this puppy...I know all you moms are like, "yeah right, you don't even know." Yes, I can agree I do not know the pleasure (lol) of childbirth but its the connection we have. I adore this 7 pound tiny ball of silky softness and I have a feeling she feels the same of me. She is also very much a Daddy's little girl. They always cuddle together on the couch and watch tv. (she loves the T.V.) She knows when he's coming home and waits by the door till he comes in. We do not know what we would do without her, our life is so VERY happy with her in it and our home is complete.
She grunts, she snores, and steals kisses. She goes crazy is we say "sleepytime," because she cant wait to crawl in our bed and her rubber toy, "buzz" is her crack. Shes a picky eater, likes ice in her water, wont drink it dirty (she will scratch at the side of the bowl until we clean it and replace the water) and would kill for a car ride or a trip to the beach. We call her alyottsenfree, Alykins, Alypop and other obscene words I shouldn't say here. But dont worry, they are fully in a loving manner! lol
If you ever want to get a dog, especially if you have children, look for a mini dachshund. They are very affectionate, smart, small, low maintenance, and protective/alert. Everyone should have an Aly...we think the world would be a better place!
