A different view...{Murrieta Lifestyle Photography}

Today I had some fun shooting just for me. I had a little spark of creativity and needed to make something of it. So, I glanced down at the table and saw my vintage film camera (that I usually use as a prop) and remembered something from a past shoot. I recently was in front of the camera with my hubby and I brought along this old camera as a prop to use. As we were shooting, our photographer noticed how beautiful it was to look down into the view finder and see how that lens was "seeing" our surroundings. I instantly loved what I saw. The image was all of a sudden vintage, gritty, and "old-world-like." I asked her to see if she could take a photo of my husband and I but instead of pointing her camera at us, to shoot what that old viewfinder was seeing. I knew I'd need to re-visit this technique later on and today was just the day to try it.

As I glanced around to find something to photograph, I spotted my beautiful arrangement of ranunculus that a good friend (and talented florist) had sent me. So off I went creating! These photos take me to another time...when things were slower, the days were longer, and everyone had a porch swing and drank iced tea. I had so much fun with this that I am inspired to do a weekly blog post using my vintage camera. Each week I will take a photo similar to these and see what I can capture. I am hoping that by doing this, I will stop and notice the little things and make some fun photographs in the process. I also challenge you all to find something each week or ( for you over-achievers) each day that will remind you to slow down, breathe, and take in your beautiful surroundings. Maybe one day, we can remember that at one point in time, life was simpler, the ice tea was flowing, and fresh air was in abundant supply.

I had a bad day....

Today I had "one of those days." You know, the kind of day that makes you want to scream into a pillow, poor a glass of wine, and take a nap in the middle of the day. The kind of day that makes you question what you are doing and why you do it. I'm not sure if anyone will be reading this, to tell you the truth, I'm not sure if anyone really follows these posts but I'm putting it out there anyway. I think when you have a day like mine, where everything seems to be going wrong, you find yourself digging deep into insecurities that have been berried for years and you (just for a second) want to wallow in your pity party. Then I remembered something that brings me back- out of that perpetual "E-ore" mentality and picks me up. I'm not alone. Everyone has bad days and probably worse days than mine. But they move on, they get over it and life still passes by. My girls may have been in the worst moods today and yea, a lady in the World Market parking lot punched my car (yes! with her fist!) but as I was pulling into the garage to get the kids out, this is what I saw....3 little heads smirking because they had put their sunglasses on by themselves. I grabbed my camera and snap! A 1/100th of a second is all it took to put a smile on my face. We all go through times where we think life will never give us our big break. We all fall short and stumble, but in the end, we have each other to lean on. I thank God everyday for my girls. He has given me a reminder through them that all that really matters in life is love. Love each other, be kind to each other and remember that today will pass and tomorrow is a new opportunity. Even in my worst of moods, the Lord shows me that I choose my reaction. Will you choose to roll down your window and scream at that lady who punched your car? Or will you choose to carry on and not let her bad day become yours. Something to think about.

A Birthday for 2....

photo by Michael Franklin www.mpfranklin.com

2 years ago today I was in the hospital recovering from a C-Section.... in my hospital bed with family all around me while my newborn twins were in the NICU. That was a bitter-sweet moment. My emotions ran all over the place wondering if they were doing allright. It seemed that everyone else had seen them except for me. I remember Adam coming into the room to show me photos of my girls and I just lost it. I was trying not to but I started weeping in front of my entire family. Claire was on a ventilator and Elaina was so tiny. Neither could eat on their own. They had tubes going into their noses and IV's in their tiny hands. That seems like it was forever ago though and now Elaina and Claire are bouncing baby girls turning into toddlers. I can't believe how time has gone by. Each of them is so unique and beautiful in their own special way and I couldn't be happier to have them in my life. I love to watch them grow into their own and at the same time, see how their twin connection is growing. They fight like sisters then give eachother hugs and kisses, they laugh at eachother in the car as if one of them just told a great joke...they are such a joy. I love you E & C! Happy 2nd birthday!!!

No excuses!

If you know me at all, you know I don't get in a workout as much as I need to. After running after the kids all day and work, I just never think about it. This is all going to change though because yesterday my hubby bought me an elliptical machine! We drug it upstairs, moved the office around and took 2 hours to set it up. When it was done, we were both so tired that we stood and admired it for a second and plopped into bed. So today starts my "no excuses" journey. I have made so many attempts like a lot of us to loose weight. I've tried Weight Watchers, no carb, South Beach, no fat, no sugar, no taste diets. I've had countless gym memberships that have been useful for about a week and then get forgotten. I've begged my husband to get me an Ab Circle that I don't use and even bought one of those vibrating ab belts that make you look like you are having a seizure (ok, that is the most ridiculous one-can't believe i admitted that!). So here is the goal- I don't want to be super skinny or model like. I want to be healthy, for my kids, for my husband, for my fashion sense (i really want to be able to wear skinny jeans!) and most of all I want this for me. So here it is, im putting myself out there and I hope for the best. I know it will be exciting at first, hard in the middle and rewarding in the end. I hope all of you will join me in my journey, I will need support along the way I'm sure. :) Thanks for listening- time to get moving!! :)