Photography with Hart Session Post

Just posted the whole story about my session with this cute little guy here.  Thought I would share/post the link on this blog too...

FIX YO FACE

I L.O.V.E. reading beauty/product reviews by "real" unbiased people {which are hard to come by} So, when I find a product I am happy with, I feel it my duty to give a shout out!!

For my birthday last month, I decided to splurge a bit on some really great skin care.  It seems my face wash never matches my drugstore moisturizer and after a sun-filled summer, my freckled face was dying for a little TLC.

ENTER ORGINS.  Used the product a bit in college, but hadn't ever bought a full line.  SERIOUSLY ladies, after my first wash with "Modern Friction" {an exfoliate} I could literally see the dead/dull skin coming off my face.  The frothy face wash alone, is enough to make you a believer.  You need only a pea size amount to get some major foam... that bottle is going to last me a year!!   It took a few days to get things in motion, but I must reiterate: I AM IN LOVE WITH THE PRODUCT.  I know we all have different opinions/product lines/beauty rituals we swear by... just thought I share my new {an improved} facial regimen!!  In fact, here's the detailed list I whipped up in photoshop (on an editing break... a girl's got to have some fun).  

I would love to hear what works for you... don't be shy, leave a comment!!

Charlotte Wedding Connection Bridal Fair - 2010

{FYI: Semi-Double Posting from H2H Website}

Last Sunday afternoon, Charlotte Wedding Magazine hosted the Charlotte Wedding Connection Bridal Fair at the Levine Museum of the New South.  It was a gorgeous venue and there was a great crowd!!

I had the pleasure of meeting many fabulous future brides.  I also hosted a GIVEAWAY for a complimentary Engagement or Bridal.  All in all I was glad I participated... it was a little stressful setting up/tearing down by myself.  It was also Gavin's B-day, so I was a bit sad to be away from him almost the entire day (which was the case last year as I was shooting a wedding in Tahoe... poor little guy!!).  Another unforeseen setback: THE PANTHER'S GAME!!  It was MAYHEM uptown.  Both upon arrival and as I was trying to leave.  I was hoping to make it back to church to teach my Young Women's lesson... didn't happen.  A huge thank you to my hubby for stepping in and teaching an off-the-cuff lesson on patriotism to the girls!

Anyway, here's a little snippet of my booth and some of my newer marketing materials.  I also loved the chance to network w/ other area professionals and vendors, and that to me is always worth the investment in the end.

So You Think You Can Dance 2010

My SYTYCD tour show posts are starting to sound like a broken record... (see years 2007, 2008 & 2009!!) this makes 4 years in a row!!  Let's call it a tradition instead... one of my absolute favorites.  From when it was a small tour show w/ Benji and his crew, to the year I went a mere 8 days after giving birth, to this year where the stage mom's were worse than the kids!!  And of course, it wouldn't be a show w/out my fearless sidekick/sis' Ashlee.  We loved it - all in all, it was a FABULOUS SHOW... I think my favorite year so far.

For anyone who cares, read on!!

I was worried about what dances would be done since many that were in a lot of my favorite numbers (twitch, neil, anya etc...) were not actually going to be on tour.  All my worries were set aside when they started the show off w/ a BANG... literally!  My chick bang (eeek, the song title I know... and I hate to admit it, but this was one of my FAVORITE dances of the year!!) with Lauren and Russell the Krumper.  It was AWESOME and set the tone for an amazing show.

There were some really cool new dances... LOVED the group Bollywood number and the hip hop boys trio.  Lot's of good contemporaries and of course all the NappyTab Faves (Fallin' had Lauren w/ Adecheke and it was great).

Skip to the end: the "prom dance" w/ Lauren and Kent.  Such a cute dance, but the best part was the segway into "my first kiss".  What a SMOKIN' way to end the show.  They killed it.  Both were amazing live... must give a shout out to Robert who was one of my favorites and was amazing live as well. (borrowed pic from Katie's site - thanks K! fun to have a different view)

Call us crazy, but it is TRADITION, so we stayed a whopping three hours after the show to say hi and take pics w/ our favorite dancers.  Of course we met up w/ our buddies Katie and Audra so we could swap cameras, but this year it was P A N D E M O N I U M.  And I have to say there were some pretty crazy stage Mom's.  We're talking Mom's coaching their daughters on how to kiss the dancers in pictures and Mom's yelling at their kids to cut through to get pics.  TOO crazy.  

The dancers were gracious and nice... Robert was my favorite.  Kent was extremely ambushed and overwhelmed.  Ash and I decided we might be over it... It was fun though

Can't wait for next year!  Until then, keep dancin'!!

MY LITTLE MAN TURNED THREEEE!!

Gavy’s b-day came and went… it was such a busy day!  With a bridal fair for me and SEVERAL church responsibilities for Blake, I felt a little bad and worried my little guy wouldn’t have a great day, being shuffled around somewhat.  But that’s the beauty of a three-year: they’re cool with that!!  Or at least Gavin was.  He was all smiles and the happiest boy w/ his new buzz light year toy and pack of “spicy carrots” (hot tamales). 

So, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAVIN. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! Here are a few things I hope I never forget about you and this fun stage of life you are in:

Gavin is such a good little brother.  He got some money from Grandma for his birthday and when I asked him what he wanted to buy with it, he said, “a matching buzz light year toy for bro, so he has one to play with too.”  Awwwww, I wanted to cry, he is so sweet and caring and truly loves his older brother.

His sweetness extends to Mommy and Daddy as well and at any given moment during the day he will randomly find me and say, “I love you Mommy.”  An even higher compliment from Gavin is being called a good guy.  I love when we’re driving in the car and it’s quiet, then all of the sudden I hear “you a good guy Mommy”… that means G is happy!

Gavy loves all things Toy Story, reading books, the color lellow AND CANDY!!  I know, I have to be careful, b/c this little guy can smell sugar from a mile away.  Seriously, he can sniff out the candy in any room.  He loves spicy things like hot tamales and salsa (he must be a Clark!!).  His favorite movie is “Robots” (don’t ask me why or how we even got that movie!!) he loves knock knock jokes, motorcycles (papa dirt bike) and he’s a really good dancer… though you would NEVER know, b/c he FREEZES in the limelight.  We love him anyway :)

I can’t believe my little guys is 3.  I hope it is another wonderful year!!

*photo taken yesterday (on his b-day... wanted to be sure I got a little photo session in on the actual day) right after church.  He's usually SO tired after church from 2:30-5:30 but he was hammin' it up... must've known it was a special day :)

Words Can't Describe...

How beautiful it was to photograph a live birth.  So, I'll let the pictures do the talking for now.  I'll explain the whole miraculous story next time...