Hi It's Late and I'm Blogging Again

Hi.

It's a couple minutes after midnight right now, and it's Sunday, which means I have work tomorrow, which means I should be fucking sleeping.

But I'm not.

I'm editing pictures {which could wait} and scheduling blog posts {not urgent} and eating Oreos {priorities}.

Also I napped today for like 30 minutes, which apparently means I won't need a night's sleep until roughly the time I am supposed to get up this morning.

This is the adult version of your kid falling asleep for literally 30 seconds on the way home from Target, and then deciding to 'power through' nap time and stay up until having a horrible, ugly, exhaustion crash around dinner time.

Anyway, I really don't have much to say other than Hi it's late and I'm blogging again.

Feel proud of me, won't you?

Also, we are literally one day away from it being October.

This is crazy cakes, if you ask me.

Once we hit September/October, the year is basically fucking over.

It just flies by in a confusing, candy and gift giving filled blur, punctuated by moments of getting shitfaced on Egg Nogg and wearing ugly sweaters.

But is it too soon to start talking about Christmas?

Probably.

I'll hold off.

Back to the point, if you're up late, like me, and looking for something to do while you eat all of the cookies, I would suggest this video, with Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake {who is always hilarious} on the fantastic stupidity that is hashtags:

Or, if you're not up on your Pop Culture and don't have any fucking idea what's happening in this video {Hi Nana} then how about a little music?
Honestly, when I first heard the song in the video below, I hated it.
I thought she was trying to be like M.I.A., who I also hate, or some weird kind of Nikki Minaj/Lana Del Rey blend, and it upset me. I refused to listen to the song all the way through.
Alas, I eventually caved because I'm a goddamn push over, and the song if amazing. If you haven't listened to her ENTIRE album yet, go do that now. Bravado and Tennis Courts are the bestests.


Now go to bed, goddamn it, it's fucking late. 

The Friday Diary: Better late than never, and it's still technically Friday, so just pipe the fuck down.

Hi, it's 11:14 at night, which makes this post very late, but technically still on Friday, SO IT COUNTS.

How are you all?

This week was a mix of very exciting, and very stressful all at the same time, so I am happy, and also tired, and please bring me chips.

So many big things are happening right now!

I got a new camera!

I got a new lens for my new camera!

It's under 90 degrees in Phoenix right now, which means it's Fall and I put Pumpkin spice in my coffee today!

Season 10 of Grey's Anatomy premiered! 

Also, I am shooting a wedding for the very. first. time. tomorrow.

And a newborn shoot on Sunday.

Like a super new newborn.

Born on Friday, newborn.

Oh my God, you guys. So many things.

The stressful side of things?

I got a new camera because my camera {which was a gift, and I loved it more than anything else I've ever owned ever} broke on Monday. 

That was stressful.

Lainie was completely ape-shit this week. I think we're in full on pre-teen girl phase, and it sucks hard. She growls, she throws things, she called me an asshole.

Yep. You heard {read?} that right.

Asshole.

That was stressful. I cried. There is not a carbohydrate left in this house that I didn't eat.

Also, I ran out of sugar for my coffee like two days ago and keep forgetting to buy more, and I get the whole "first world problem" thing, but that doesn't make it less of a problem, ok you guys?

I'm trying to just focus on the positive things {Fall! Pumpkins! Photography!} and not let the lack of sugar and being called an asshole by my daughter get to me.

This weekend will be busy, and exciting, and busy.

I'm unbelievably nervous about this wedding tomorrow - hence why I'm writing a blog post at 11 pm instead of sleeping - but I'm super stoked, and I feel, deep down, past all the anxiety sweat and nerves, really ready.

I was made to do this, and I am so ready to take the next step.

Still, pray for me that I dont vomit on the bride, trip over anything important, or say fuck loud enough for anyone to hear me.

If you need me tomorrow before the wedding, I'll be driving around industrial neighborhoods in Phoenix looking for Junkyards to do an engagement photo shoot in next weekend.

I live kind of a weird life, I'm aware.

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, y'all. 

Don't puke on any brides or new babies.

Our Weekend in Pictures

Normally my pre-scheduled posts go up around midnight.

I don't know why I pick this hour.

I guess I feel like night owls and morning birds alike will get to read the blog at whatever chosen point they like to.

Late at night while you're having some wine and listening to a little Ray? It's up.

First thing in the morning while you're sipping coffee? Go for it, I hooked you up even though your morning person nature confuses and frightens me. 

But this is not a scheduled post.

I am actually up, right now at 12:26 a.m. writing this. 

Jackson had to come home early from school with strep, and he slept all afternoon. So now, he sleeps for about 30 minutes at a time when the sickness wears him out, and then he's up again for another 30 minutes, and demands I hang out with him.

So, here I am.

Saturday, I did a wedding photography consultation with the adorable couple in the picture above. They met at a dance lesson at Denim and Diamonds, and are getting married 1 day after the 1 year anniversary of their engagement.

So cute.

After that, I got to take this little girl out for burgers and fries and strawberry shakes.

We worked on her Junior Achievement project, and she schooled me on Harry Potter trivia.

Love her.

Sunday morning I hung out with this dude. My nephew Theron.

He has the cutest smile, and the most adorable little feet, and I could just eat him up I love him so much.

And Sunday evening, I did a photo shoot with Aria, and her parents Ashley and Sam.

It was an absolutely beautiful day, in the low 80's which is HUGE for Phoenix, so everyone and their mama was at the park, but we still managed to get some nice, relaxed and intimate pictures.

And omg those cheeks.

And last but not least, I got this awesome bottle of wine as a gift from Sam and Ashley.

I have a pretty kick ass job.

What did you do this weekend?

The Friday Diary: Inappropriate work attire, meeting my idol, and how Miley Cyrus ruined my blog

Today isn't jeans day at work, so I decided to still be a little casual. Reppin' the Hi My Name Is Mark and some wrinkly ass pants at work today.

{don't worry, I wore a cardigan over the shirt. I'm not that badass.}

 

So, it's Friday everybody!

We all made it!

We're gonna be alright.

 

This week was crazy busy.

Work, kids, small business. Holy wow.

I'm ready for some wine and girl time, which makes it a good thing that Lucia and Ryder are coming over tonight.

Lucia, if you're reading this, bring wine.

 

Yesterday, I had the honor of taking my favorite wedding photographer in the valley to lunch at The Herb Box. You can read more about that here, but basically, long story short: SQUEE!

It was awesome.

 

Something I learned this week: posting a video of Miley Cyrus swinging nakies on a wrecking ball is very polarizing.

I got some texts and emails saying "I love that song! Go Miley!" and then I got some that were all "How DARE YOU MAKE ME WATCH THIS SMUT?! You have a daughter, you should know better!"

Lesson learned. I will always probably offend everyone.

Pretty ok with that.

 

Anyhow, that's our week, that's our world.

This weekend will be busy with a wedding photography consultation, a family photo shoot, and lots of work on my website.

Hopefully somewhere in there somebody will save me with a bottle of Crown and good company.

Accepting applicants for that now.

 

Happy Friday, lovers.

Keep it in your pants.

 

Listen to this: wrecking ball

Have you guys heard this new song by Miley Cyrus called "wrecking ball"?

I know, I know, the video is all over everywhere, because shes naked and riding around on a wrecking ball, and she also makes out with a sledge hammer, and the entire video makes me feel weird and uncomfortable, but STILL. Have you actually listened to the song?

If you haven't, you need to.

Say what you want about the twerking and the tongue sticking out and the hammer licking naked wrecking ball riding, the bitch has talent.

I know we all feel weird looking at her as a highly sexual adult, because we met her when she was like 10 and her name was Hannah Montana, BUT to put it in perspective for you, nobody acted this way when Madonna pulled the shit she pulled in videos and on stage, because she burst onto the scene at the ripe old age of 17.

Perspective.

Now you have it.

Anyway, this song kicks ass. It's emotional, it's charged, it's real and raw and so very relevant in my life.

Check it.
But don't watch it at work, dumbo. She's legitimately naked in like....90% of it.

The Friday Diary: a day early, and still almost completely useless

Today the Friday Diary comes to you early, because honestly I am up to my lady balls in shit to do, between the kids, my full time job, and trying to get my photography business off the ground. 

So hi, it's not really Friday, but pretend with me ok?

Also I am off tomorrow, which makes it sort of Friday for me.

Sorry I'm not sorry.

This week has been crazy cakes, y'all.

I forgot, after shutting my doula business down almost two whole years ago, how much work it takes to get a small business going. 

I also happen to be testing the waters in a pretty saturated market.

Did you know there are over 1000 wedding photographers in Phoenix?

Of course they range in skill from absolutely shit, to unbelievably amazing, but still.

The absolutely terrible photographers are still booking weddings, and I am getting emails asking to haggle over $150 portrait sessions.

Seriously you guys, I  am offering you a fully personalized, BEAUTIFUL portrait session, and you want Walmart picture studio prices?

Face palm.

Anyway, I soldier on, in pursuit of a career that offers room for freedom and creativity, at the expense of non-stop hard work.

A girl can dream, anyway, right?

In other news. it rained a lot this week, starting with a full on down pour that woke me up Sunday morning.

It was raining hard and steady, and I languished in bed as long as possible listening to it on the window panes.

I love rain.

Lainie learned how to ride her bike with no training wheels, and she's a full on mobile kid these days, taking off on her bike as soon as we get home, and roving around the cul de sac until I force her to come in. 

Remember the first time you had wheels?

You can see her in action here

Anyway, that about wraps it up for the week.

Wish me luck on my new venture, and visit the other blog from time to time if you have an interest in photography.

If you could do anything for a living, what would it be?

Where Have I been?

Where, oh where, have I been these days?

Well, mostly I've been working, Monday through Friday, slavin away.

Then schlepping the kids from school to home, homework time to dinner time, to bed time, to repeat.

And on weekends, I've been running my ass off doing photo shoots and trying to grow my little fledgling business.

I wish I had a cool, awesome, fancy website to share with y'all right now, but that shit takes time and money and right now I'm just getting started, but someday that will be a reality.

Until then, click here.

Pretty, right?

Not bad photography.....right?

Anyway, I am a learn as I go kind of person. 

I was talking about this to one of my best friends the other night.

I can't just sit there, planning something out the my heart burns to do, for months and years, researching and dedicating time to planning and perfecting, and then finally take the first step.

Some people are this way.

I envy these people.

I am not.

I am a feet first, let's do this, we'll figure it out as we go along, kind of girl.

I have known since I was tiny, that in order to be happy with my life I need to do something creative, and I also need to not work for someone else, in a super corporate environment.

I could probably be reasonably happy in a small business, working for someone else, but there would always be that part of me that would stare out the window and want to do it for myself.

So I'm trying.

I have a good starter camera.

I take good pictures.

I learn fast.

I get better with every shoot I do.

And the rest I'm figuring out as I got along.

If that means that when I start out, I change my price points and my specialties a million times, so what.

If that means right now I have a blog and not a website and my URL might change a bunch until I figure out a good platform, so be it.

If that means that I started out trying to grow my portfolio by offering a few free photo sessions to be people I knew, and then quickly discovered I had agreed to do too many for free, and realized that when someone invests nothing in your service, they typically don't value it at all either, that's OK.

I learned that, I set prices, I be more firm, I move on.

So, wish me luck, and if you know anyone in the Phoenix Metro area that wants photos done for anything, help a sister out and pass them my contact info.

I promise I'm not abandoning this blog, and all you awesome peeps who have been emailing me asking where the fuck I am.

I'm just starting a new adventure, and sinking everything I have into it right now.

But this is still my safe place to rant and laugh and cry and celebrate, with people who know me best.

I'll still be here, if you will.