Thank you all so much for visiting my blog.  It is my new baby.  The wonderful news is that people love it!  There's nothing better than knowing your baby is loved, appreciated and sought after. The even more amazing news...I'VE ALMOST HAD 10,000 HITS IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS.

Keep on coming and passing on my blog to others and lets see if I can hit 10,000 before Wednesday.  YAY!  

What a difference a year makes.  I've been reflecting on that a lot since it's Thanksgiving...Happy Turkey Day everyone.  My friend Jill sent me an email and said, "You have so much to be thankful for this year.  Isn't it great not to be sofa surfing like you were this time last year."  

Let me fill you in...I was indeed sofa surfing this time last year.  I had a duplex but there were some problems (long story) and I couldn't stay there.  God was slowly stripping everything from me so I would finally listen and move from Dallas.  I loved Dallas, I loved my friends there and I DID NOT WANT TO MOVE.  So, He gave me no choice.  I had no home and I was a mess.

So, I moved to GA with my mom to figure out my life.  Little did I know that this was where I needed to be to start my photog biz.  My life has changed drastically and I am doing what I was created to do.

Just last night my friend Mandi (from Ashley and Mandi below) called and said that there a ton of couples in Nashville that want to pay me to come to Nashville and book me sold for a whole weekend.  People want ME.  I mean, I wanted to scream and do a happy dance and maybe attempt a cartwheel or two.  It blows my mind and it seems so surreal.  This is what I've wanted for so long and it's finally happening.

Then one of my sweet friends from Dallas started a fan group on facebook because she believes in me so much and wants to share my talent.  I'm so overwhelmed, thankful, and honestly crying right now  I do indeed have much to be thankful for.  Most of all, I am thankful for God's blessing and perfect timing and his heart for my success in photography.

May each of you have a year of such blessing this coming year.    

Mandi and I were roomies for 2 years at Mississippi State.  I think Ash and Mandi met her first night in Starkville and he became a permanent fixture in our houses for the next 2 years :).  Mandi was the first of our 5 roomies to get hitched AND they were my first wedding to shoot.  They were the first couple to place their trust in me and if it weren't for that, who knows when I would've shot my first wedding.  

I was so stressed out...advice to all you aspiring photogs...NEVER shoot a friends wedding for your first wedding.  I don't think I slept for weeks.  I was so afraid that the pics would be horrible and they would hate me forever.  Of course I shot film so the torment lasted another 3 weeks after the wedding.  

I went to visit them in Jackson, TN and we had a great photoshoot.  It was such a joy to shoot them now that I am so much better.  The best part is that they've been married 6 and a half years.  They're coming through a rought patch with a renewed commitment to each other and it was incredible to capture that.  I had hoped to post a few from their wedding, but they are filed away in storage in Dallas.  So, here are their pictures from out time in Jackson.

Mandi says she is going to send these to some agencies so Ashley can make her some money :).

I adore these shots!  It was pitch dark and we were in this great alley.  We had truck lights and Jason (of Jason and Court below) was in the truck with a spotlight plugged into his lighter for extra light.

Mandi and I decided to do some editiorial type shots of just her.  She brought some great ideas to the table.

I was in LOVE with this light.  I've never shot this early in the morning but I would do it all the time.  It was such lush lighting.  Seriously, they could be models.  The one on the right looks like an ad.

One of my faves:

And the slideshow...Ooh Lah Lah...

Well, it's that time of year again.  You know what time I mean...the curl up in a ball, with cup of yummy hot chocolate and watch Elf time of year.  Yes, I will admit that I've already watched it once.  There are some profound words to live by offered by our philosper of the season Buddy the Elf.  One of my favorites, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loudly for all to hear."  So I'm going to spread a little cheer.  My friend Courtney posted this on her blog and I thought it would be fun.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  If time permits, paper.  I love a beautifully wrapped gift that puts as much thought into the wrapping as the gift.  My friend Crystal is the best at this.

2. Real tree or Artificial?  This is sort of a sore subject with me.  I've always wanted a real tree but we couldn't because my mom is allergic.  I just drove by a tree lot and got sad...one day:).  

3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually around New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? I do indeed!  I really like it as God intended it...with a little Jack to warm you up

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My first point and shoot camera.  I think I was in the 7th or 8th grade.  The following years were full of me begging my friends to pretend they were models for me...how times change :)...or not.

7. Hardest person to buy for? toss up...dad or brother

8. Easiest person to buy for? My sis in law...Anabeth

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I do. My mom got me one when I was a child.  I'd like to invest in a really nice one.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? What???  People are emailing their Christmas cards?  What happened to snail mail.  I'm not doing either since it's just me.  But when the time comes...mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Honestly can not think of anything.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? That would be Elf, Christmas Vacation, and Family Stone

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Lets be honest...haven't we all?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Pecan pie...it's the only time of year it's made in our home.

16. Lights on the tree? Is there anyway else to have a tree?  I prefer white lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Joyfu, joyful we adore thee.  I think we should sing this song year round.  

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay at home. Wish I could travel to see all my family, but for now, work does not permit.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? no...i know Rudolph, Donner, Blitzen, Dancer, Prancer, Dasher, Commet...how many does her have?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Eve and the rest in the morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The craziness of it all.  I wish we could just stop and enjoy being with our family and friends and not run around rude and crazy.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? To limit me to a color is CRAZY!  I'm in to blues and purples right now.  

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? turkey, dressing, mac and cheese, spinach madeline, sweet potato casserole, and sister shuberts rolls.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A Nikon D3, Pocket Wizards, a Shootsac, and a Trendy Camera Strap

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? no telling

27. Does Santa wrap your gift or leave them unwrapped? Wrapped. Always wrapped. If I were in kindergarten, my response would be, "There's no Santa".  Yes, I was that child.  My parents told me there was no Santa because they didn't want to lie ot me.  

What fun we had.  I went to visit two of my college roomies...Mandi (below with her husband) and Courtney and her husband Jason.  We had 2 elaborate photo shoots and it was a blast.  Here is little peak from Jason and Court's shoot.  More to come so stay tuned.