Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts

Need a "new to you" photo lens?

I just got an email from Borrow Lenses that is it time for their annual used inventory blowout aka their biggest sale of the year! Get 20% off all used gear with this code - USEDGEAR20. If I wasn't saving money for Disney World, I would be ALL over this! I love renting lenses from them when I need something for a wedding or family portrait sesh.


Shop Now - 20% Off All Used Gear

Good luck purchasing the best lens for you! I'll be uploading pictures later from Harper's kindergarten graduation; can't wait to share these with you!


It's summer.

Finally! It was a long couple of semesters for graduate school for me. I was overwhelmed, stressed, lacking sleep, and lost on all things fun.

My blog completely fell to the wayside when it came time to read, re-read, research, research some more and start churning papers out. Not to mention, for half of the year, I was doing the job of three people in my office, so that was taking its toll as well.

Some days I would be on campus from 7:45 AM to 11:00 PM at night often later. I never saw my babies, and I never spent time with my husband.

It was a depressing time for me and my family.

That time has passed, for now at least.

Now that the torrential rains in North Texas and that F1 tornado that tore through the street behind ours have subsided, I am now in a happier state of mind. I'm spending time pondering what book I want to read next and what home improvement projects should I work on next? AND, I am catching up on movies, TV, scrapbooking and picking up my other favorite hobby, photography.

Currently, I am gearing up for my son's third birthday party this weekend; praying it doesn't rain. Next weekend is the Great American Scrapbook Convention in Arlington. I'm staying overnight with my mom, and Harper is tagging along for her first time at convention. I hope she enjoys it. I know it will be a long walk for her and she'll get tired, but I love scrapbook stuff, and I want her to love it too. Is that so bad? Then I'll be getting stuff ready for my annual summer scrapbook retreat at Memory Lane Inn in McKinney, Texas. I love, love, love Memory Lane Inn! It has been way too long since I slept in their comfy beds and scrapbooked to my heart's content in their beautiful scrap space. We are currently planning our trip to Walt Disney World in September, and that can't come soon enough either!! We are super thrilled about it.

All in all, I have high hopes for this summer.

To start the summer off in style, GG, the kids and I attended my niece's high school graduation ceremony in Austin. After the ceremony and a delicious meal at Russo's New York Pizzeria in Pflugerville, I took her senior portraits, which turned our stunning, IMO.
Senior 2015 - Jenna
 We spent the night at Embassy Suites Arboretum. For those of you who know me, this was the highlight of my year, lol. I absolutely love the happy/snack hour, made to order breakfast, the indoor swimming pool, the rooms with a suite, and the beautiful atriums. This is seriously my favorite hotel chain, and if I am lucky we get to stay in one about once every two years or so. The kids LOVE staying in this hotel, but what kid doesn't love that? We wrapped up the weekend with a trip to the Thinkery Children's Museum at Mueller Park in Austin. They had such a fabulous time.
Austin was a lot of fun, especially Thinkery children's museum.

Also, this week I finally finished editing pictures from my sister-in-law's spring wedding. It took place at Historic Village of Buffalo Gap near Abilene, Texas. There was nothing dreary about this charming, rustic wedding, despite the overcast and rain. I just love summer. I have so much time in the evenings to actually do FUN stuff, like edit photos!
Wedding 2015 - Miller
Wedding 2015 - Miller


Thanks for reading; look for more updates from our last year in my next post.



A fun Mother's Day weekend.

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the women of the world who are moms, grandmothers, caretakers, and others that fill in for mom now and again. 

My Mother's day weekend was quite wonderful!

Friday, my husband and kids took me shopping and out to eat. I picked up a fabulous new bag for VERY cheap. It is so classic, chic, and ME. It goes with everything. If you're looking for a bag like mine, see below for links to similar bags at Amazon and ModCloth. I've been searching for such a bag: one that can hold everything and still be trendy with long straps and a groovy nautical stripe for a while now.
Mother's Day gifts (Tommy Hilfiger $30 @ Ross)
 Saturday, we spent time outside repainting the frame of our storm door as well as digging up the old, dying hedges that didn't make it through our SEVERAL major freezes last year. We have big plans to spruce up the yard and really create some curb appeal. Saturday night, I stayed up late scrapbooking. Although I didn't start my stash bust challenge, I did use papers and products from my stash to create mini-albums for  the mother's in my life. I really love giving  meaningful gifts; a mini-album makes such a wonderful way to share pictures with the grandparents and other families in your life.
Top - Done for the weekend Bottom L-R - Storm door taped off, Dead Asian Jasmine is now an eagle's nest, Gavin working hard on those ugly old shrubs
Mother's Day gift album - Papers from Studio Calico and American Crafts @Twopeasinabucket.com

Sunday evening, we joined my family for dinner a local restaurant then went swimming. It was the first swim of the season. By the time we got to the pool the sun was setting, and there was a cool breeze. The water was frigid. My poor little guy was shivering during his swim. When he got out of the water, he was still cold, so we bundled him up like a bake potato, minus the foil.
A Sawyer potato - 5/11/14
These are the similar bags that I found on Amazon and ModCloth. Love these stores, and I buy from them often, especially when I find a great deal!


Vonfon Striped Bag, Blue  - $22 @ Amazon

Navy Retro Stripe Motorcycle Bag  - $25 @ Amazon



Tommy Hilfiger  Tommy Club Shopper - $89 @ Amazon
 
Tommy Hilfiger TH Signature Print - $72 @ Amazon

Test Prep Satchel from ModCloth  
Test Prep Satchel - $65 @ ModCloth


This week we have so much going on. I got a steal on some mini-blinds from my local Walmart this weekend. They were on sale for only $10 each. That's right, super cheap for my HUGE windows. I bought them all. Seriously. Now my husband and I have an indoor project for rainy, chilly days like the last couple have been.

Our shutters should arrive soon from Home Depot. We purchased them online while they were on sale. I think I paid $38/pair; I bought three pairs. Yeah, that's right. When I said we were working on our curb appeal, I meant it. We are going all out. New shutters, new flora, our newly painted GREEN front door. It's the bomb, really. AND hopefully some porch rockers in black. I would REALLY love that, but that's getting too expensive for me. We are also going to hang all the new blinds, can't wait and get brand new insulation all by the end of May. We're crazy; we know, but we have to get these projects done before the fall semester starts.
Brown front door no more @ Chateau Watson

Happy Hump Day folks, and enjoy the rest of your week. I'll be blogging later about the scrapbook grand dragon. I haven't forgotten about that and hopefully get started on my stash bust challenge, can't wait!!



 









**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Welcome to the new me.

Now that this semester is finally over, I can spend a little more time being creative! I am so, so looking forward to spending time blogging (at least on a weekly basis, pretty sure I can keep that much up), scrapbooking, playing with the kids, reading for pleasure, cooking and eating, and well taking some pictures and finishing up some edits.

This semester was a busy one. I'll go into more details later, but for now, just enjoy the BRAND, SPANKING new blog design from Minty Fox Designs. She has such a simple, colorful style, and well, I love it. I especially love that I have 'pages' now, like for my Smug Mug photo gallery, and I have social media icons! I feel so cool now, yippee.

 BIG thanks to Chrissy!

As always...

With Love,
Gabi