sweet little Casey

It's funny how fast babies grow into real people. I mean, think about it. In a year they develop not only muscles that allow them to be mobile, but also the brain capacity that says, 'hey, I want that toy. I bet if I move my hand like this...yep, that's mine!'. Let alone rolling, crawling, identifying colors and sounds...Not to mention the mad skills it takes to use a bottle. Try it sometime. How do they do it!? Blows my mind!

Casey is no different and she had some funny little noises to go along with her wide range of facial expressions...too bad photos don't capture sound...yet, anyway. :-) Lovely!!!

One of my most favorites

...and my other most favorite

Feels like January

I'm back!

BOOM, baby!!!!

Yeah, I just quoted the Emperor's New Groove. Don't hate.

I have my computer once again!!! Due to a back ordered part, I was without my little guy for nearly four weeks. Insane. Word of the wise to anyone who values their computer work: back up, back up, back up! I was able to retrieve all my information (I'm 94% certain I only lost by Internet bookmarks), but that's not always the case. I'm so happy I have an external hard drive and bunches and bunches of discs laying around!! Anywho, that's all in the past, no need to dwell...still...heavy sigh of relief...

I've been working like crazy to get caught up--possibly even ahead!--and get back on track. I have so many posts to catch up on and I hope to be posting much more often in the coming days, weeks, months, millennium, what have you. Let's get this ball a-rollin!

I met Shauna about a year and a half ago for a make-shift maternity shoot. Even though we had several mishaps during the shoot (we rented a studio that didn't quite hit the head on the nail when it came to accurate descriptions of the equipment and space...) she was a super rockstar and took everything in a stride. Bringing fun new ideas to the table, we had a great *hot, muggy* day. She has since had her little bouncing bundle--with, possibly, the best hair ever--and started her own business. Check it.

Shauna Younge Dessert Tables is...well...super sweet. On all accounts. Shauna has a great eye for detail, crazy people skills, and some super nummy treats which will surely make her new business a blooming success. This table was designed off this inspiration board (borrowed from Shauna's blog)

From gathering visual info from all these aspects, she creates a dessert table that not only incorporates the feel of the wedding/event but also the personalities of the people involved. Genius.

Some of these are hand painted (yes, that's right, hand painted truffles) and custom designed especially for Shauna. She searches high and low to find something unique and fitting for each catered event and she seriously knows her sweets.

Oh, and those purple flower little suckies--located in the stage left--in the square bowl? I had one. And I think it changed my outlook on purple candies forever. Mr. Nick and I both decided that is what the color purple tastes like. Like a rainbow of purple fairies dancing in your mouth. This coming from the girls who dislikes grape Jolly Ranchers, Popsicles, Skittles and all other likenesses. Except juice. I likes the grape juice.
Anywho....continuing on...






Why, hello macaroon tower. Where have you been all my life?





Ok, see the little bitty cookies in the front? They are like Cheetos, Bugles, M&Ms and shoes all rolled into a delicious bite-sized little cookie--there is no way you can have just one.

Jack of all trades

I can do alot of things. At one time. I've perfected the art of the multitask to a T. Being at a loss this month with no computer has left me up to my own devices to occupy my time. Watching television isn't just one task for me--ask Mr. Nick if you don't believe me. I must have my main channel with at least two backups to switch to while on commercial. At the same time, I'm reading a book, balancing my checkbook, surfing through cookbooks, chatting with the buns, washing dishes and cleaning. Restful, no. They way I roll, yes.

Not having a computer for nearly three weeks has about put me over the edge businessly speaking, yet allowed me to relax and find myself after a crazy busy (and über fantastic!) holiday season. I've caught up on all my filing and household chores which was no major feat considering the 5ft stack of cardboard taking over my kitchen and the complete absense of solid-ground-not-covered-in-paperwork in the rest of the living area. I've completed so many tasks from my honey-do list (to myself) that there is no list any more. No joke. I even managed to fix my own sink (after I broke it, but that's besides the point). Last night I read an entire book. Cover. To. Cover. Again, it's how I roll. (James Patterson totally rocks my socks off.)

All this being said, I can comfortably say I am a Jack of Most Trades, Master of none. With a clean house, organized 'office area', and a new, reliable vehicle on the way, I can pretty much say Life is Good.

Now all I need is my computer.

Excited...

So, still no computer. Of my own, to speak of anyway. It's in getting revamped with even more space than before and I sincerely hope to have it back by this Friday--the work is really starting to pile up!! :-) No computer equals a somewhat lame post (meaning lack of photo) but here I am anyway. Go figure.

This weekend was super exciting for our family as my sister and her boyfriend announced their engagement!!! Could I be any more pumped for them? I think not! She called me about 10:43 p.m. Saturday screaming 'I'M ENNNGGGUUUDFBBBLAAAHP' (that's what it sounded like. No joke.) I had to ask her to tell me again before I really understood what she was talking about! :-) In true Tawna style, by mid-Sunday a date had already been set and plans were underway. I'm so excited to help her plan and to watch her, Charlie and Gavinn really start their own family together.

Dear sister--much love and happiness to you. I couldn't possibly hold more good feelings for you right now! I wish the three of you the best of love and all things imperfectly supuerb. Enjoy these months of planning, knowing the rest of your life awaits you. Love you, T.


Side note...I totally get my very own first brother-in-law!!! Sweet...2010 is turning around faster than I thought it would! :-)

Misdirection in 2010

So...2010 has proved, thus far, to not be my favorite. Since the beginning of this year my car has broken down-again-, my computer crashed and I've had the 72 hour flu. And it's only January 6th. I'm thinking this might be one of those years that start at the bottom with things progressively getting better? I hope so! :-)

For the grace of good family, good friends, good humor and a somewhat healthy immune system, these issues are only minor.

Either way, my computer is out of commission for the next week or so. This means my blog posts and print orders will be non-existent until I get my baby back, restored and feeling good. (Email responses will be sketchy at best as I won't have constant computer access.) I'm SO SORRY for the wait, but, on the brighter side, I don't think I lost any information (i.e. photos!) so high-five to me for backing things up!

I'll be posting again once I get things back to normal, thanks for all your patience and here's to a healthier climb in 2010!!!

all things energy and super

Jennifer contacted me for a family session and I was told by her sister, Sandy, that her boys would be a good time. (Okay, complete side note entered here: I was going to link to Sandy's family session and was backlogging to try to find it...when I realized that I haven't even blogged about it yet. Wow. I am sad--much to do in the new year! Alright, back to this post!!) Seriously, they crack me up. Not like it takes to much anyway, but still. They were awesome. Little Kaeden has the sweetest little cheeks and hilarious expressions and his brothers were not too far behind!! It's so easy to see that Jennifer and Tim enjoy being parents--extra props to her for being slightly outnumbered!!! :-)

Seriously...I laugh *with* Treyton's expression...every...time...priceless...

little slices of heaven

There is something to be said for the candid shots during a 'routine' family session. That being said, ha, nearly none of my sessions go routine! :-) After the shoot, when I go through all the images to select the best, I always include a few not-so-perfect smiles, a couple where not everyone is looking, a select few that may not be award winning to experts, but sure are to the families who will cherish these images for years to come. These are, more often than not, my favorites.

I knew Kaden and Karson were going to be fun as soon as I came in the driveway and Karson announced 'the lady is here' then promptly fell down the outside stairs. Pulling at my heartstrings and reminding me of some of my own imperfectly perfect family, we set out wandering the yard in search for that perfectly imperfect shot.