Op Love Reunited!

I am so excited to say that I am officially a part of the Operation Love Reunited team! OP Love Reunited is a group of professional photographers that provide free portrait sessions for military families that are deploying, deployed and returning home. What a wonderful thing to be able to provide our military members with an album of memories to be able to look at while away from home. You can see some of the other photographers' images here.

If you are being deployed, are currently deployed, or will be returning from... we offer you at no cost*:

- a free patriotic photo session,
- a free album of your photos,
- a free 8x10 for the loved one at home,
- 50% discount on any prints or products ordered.

Being the sister of an active Coastie, I am honored to be able to offer this service to our military families who are away from their homes. So if you know anyone spread the word!

Blog Facelift

I decided it was time to give my blog a little overhaul.  The winter season in Michigan is a bit of a downtime for most photographers.  You can only photograph that grey winter sky so many times and wedding season is not yet underway.  This gives me some time to work on some of the other little things that will get put off as the weather breaks and business picks up.  First on my list was to freshen up my blog.  Check!   If you notice anything not working right, please let me know!

Now to the more fun stuff!  I got to have lunch with this little cutie the other day! Seriously could he be any cuter?  This is CJ, a very dear friend's son.  I have known his mom Jessica for nearly 18 years!  Oh the stories we have...  

It was an awesome afternoon just hanging out and chatting away.  We did take a few minutes to take CJ up to the fire department to see Scott (and sneak in a few photos!).  He had a ton of fun climbing on the engines and getting all dressed up in Scott's (heavy) gear!

Belle Isle

So excited about the weather we had last weekend!  This winter so far has been right on with Michigan's stereotypical winter weather of dreary, grey skies.  We've been hibernating so to speak for the last month trying to get over this nasty sinus infection and haven't really seen anyone or left the house!  So when this weekend brought the beautiful weather I couldn't bring myself to stay in the house anymore!  Sunday I headed down to Belle Isle with a sweet girl who shares my passion for taking pictures, so armed with our cameras we spent the afternoon wandering around the island capturing all of it's beauty.  

Flocks of geese can be seen everywhere along the coast.  

The tower of Belle Isle

It was a perfect clear blue sky and I had fun playing with the setting sun.  

I love the flare you can get when playing in the sun!

Taking Flight

And here's my clicking buddy!  We had such a great time cruising around.  She hasn't had the opportunity to see much of Detroit yet and I was so glad to be able to show her some of the beauty we have here.  

Winter Blast

The weather is finally starting to break a bit.  Well for this weekend anyways!  It's nice to be able to get outside and walk around.  Yesterday I headed downtown with some friends to check out Detroit's Winter Blast.  This was the first year I've made it down there and am questioning why I hadn't before!  They have quite the setup with the ice rink, ice slide, and sculptures.  In fact I'm heading back tonight with some other friends!  Yesterday was beautiful and I had just recently gotten my new Canon 5D and had a riot testing it out!

Jeff & Joanne were such good sports with me and my camera.  I tend to get a little caught up and end up wandering around looking for the perfect angle, shot etc and they kept right up with me!

The Berkley Ice Skating team was there for an afternoon show.  I know we had a bit of a weather break, but these girls looked cold.  I was shivering just looking at them!

This is my favorite image from the day!

They have an ice slide that was fun for everyone!  Jeff & Joanne even went down it!

I loved the ice rink!  It was so fun watching everyone get on the ice.  I would have loved to myself, but was afraid of falling on my new camera!  Maybe tonight I'll try...

This was the most determined little boy I had seen!  He couldn't skate at all and spent most of his time picking himself back up.  But he didn't give up and kept trying.  Sure looked like he was having fun in the process!

Superbowl Sunday

Our Superbowl Sunday was pretty low key. Scott's still not feeling 100% so we decided to chill at home. I made a pot of chili that simmered all day and headed outside with my camera. It seems like it's been forever since I've picked it up and I didn't realize how much I missed seeing everything through the lens. Since it was so nice out I decided to walk up to the store to pick up the Superbowl essentials. That little walk has left me feeling refreshed, I think it's just what the doctor ordered!

My kitty Bo snuggled all up in bed.

I can just picture him thinking, "Really?  Waking me up with that thing again?"

Resting up for the big game!  

This is probably my favorite image of the day!  Way over exposed, but I just love it!

Coby absolutely loves this weather.  He will stay outside for hours in it, sometimes I have to make him come in for fear of him freezing!  I know he's a husky and all, but it's been getting pretty cold and he's not exactly used to it being a "pampered pooch" as my vet calls him.

Only 48 more days until Spring!

Doesn't it look like they're ready for spring too?

My neighbor April's yard is so magical!  

There's this little old lady that lives in our neighborhood who has the most "decorative" yard.   (I'd call it gaudy).  But it's her thing and she does keep it up nicely with all of her little ornaments.  I think she has quite a sense of humor too.  Some kids threw a bowling ball into her yard a few years ago and she had nailed a sign up on a tree thanking them for the new gazing ball which she still proudly displays!

Our local party store.  The owner Louis and his brother Mike are some of the nicest guys! 

This house reminds me a little cottage hidden in the woods up north.

You can see how this economy is affecting everyone, everywhere.  I couldn't believe it when I saw this house up for auction in our neighborhood.  

Another peak into the little old lady's yard.

Another fav from the day!

Meet my neighbor Maryanne.  We've lived here for nearly 8 years and I haven't had the opportunity to meet her before.  She's lived here since 1979, I can only imagine the changes she's seen.  (She is not the owner of the lawn ornaments...)

So there you have it, a little peak into our neighborhood!

New Year's

Well, it's been a week now and all that seems to be left of this nasty head cold I had is a lingering cough.  Although Scott's been on the couch for the last 4 days.  He seems to be going in the exact pattern that I did.  One thing that I have been experiencing is sleeplessness.  This is something completely new to me.  Usually I am the type of person who falls asleep the instant my head hits the pillow, sleeping soundly (aka like a rock) until my internal alarm goes off.  It has not been the case lately.  Twice this week I've found myself staring at the clock wondering when and if sleep will come.  And eventually it did, in the wee hours of the morning.  At least last night I was able to get caught up on some personal pictures!

We wrung in the New Year with some awesome people at my dear friends Lesley & Dean's house.  They throw a killer New Year's party and we were stoked to be able to make it this year!  

I'm looking forward to a fresh start in 2009!  There's so many exciting things going on with my business, I can't help but feel that this year is going to be the best one in a long time!  I know it's a little late, but here's some pictures!  

Brian rockin in the New Year!

My good friend Tracy & I.

Girlie's L-O-V-E champagne!  Isn't she gorgeous?

This picture cracks me up!  There's just so much fun stuff happening it was hard to get the usual group shot with all of us looking in the same direction at once!

I just love the feeling to this image.  

A kiss from my delicious husband to start of the year right!  Yum!

Ahhh, the dancing table was resurected!

Isn't technology grand?  As I looked around the room when the clock struck 12:00, everyone had their phones out texting away. 

The awesome Dean & Lesley Durik!

Nate was so excited when he got home from Nana & Papa Bear's house to see all of us still there waiting to play and celebrate with him!  He noticed the old table sitting in living room and was a little confused, until Mom showed him the ways of dancing on the table!  He loved every second of it!

Of course the "big boys" loved playing with the race track!