CSA Pick-Up Number One

My big sister has always taken good care of me. I remember when I was in 4th grade, and she was a senior in high school, she would occasionally take her off campus lunch break and come have lunch with me in the cafeteria. I was always on top of the world when she came-- I got to eat subway with my cool big sister while everyone else had to eat their green beans off of styrofoam lunch trays.

And even though we are all grown up now, she is still taking care of me :) For my birthday she gave Ryan and me a half share at a CSA (community supported agriculture). So every two weeks we receive all sorts of goodies from a local place called Berry Creek Farms. The man and his wife who own the farm are the cutest ever-- when I went to the farmers market for my first pick up they knew who I was, knew who my sister was and she lived in Chicago, knew my other sister who also picks up from him, and probably knew my ACT scores and social security number.

So I thought it would be fun to take a picture of each of the pick ups that we get to keep record. Ryan and I (well, Ryan, he's really the cook in the family) is excited to have to figure out recipes to use all of the crazy veggies that we get. I'm really excited about the peaches. :)

This is actually the last pick up, I'll post the next one soon. And ask for recipes.

Thanks Sister! You're the best, and I still think you're the coolest. And would like to eat Subway, and this CSA food, with you any lunch hour. xoxo

3 Years!

Yesterday as Ryan and I were at a celebratory lunch in honor of Ryan being accepted into the Alternative Certification Program (yay!), he realized that we had another reason to celebrate -- it was our anniversary!

We are so bad, since we were married on Memorial Day weekend, i think that we automatically think that our anniversary is the Saturaday before Memorial Day monday. And we forget EVERY YEAR. We know that it is the month, but for some reason May is always just crazy and we forget. Plus, we've decided that we are going to save our anniversary experiences and have one big one at our five year mark and go to Italy! I can't wait! And now we are one year closer!

It's been a rather eventful year for us. We had just purchased our home in May, so we had our first year of mortgages and home improvements (which I have a good one to show you soon!), we got our pup, officially started the photog business, Ryan lost his job and decided to make a big career change--just a lot. But it was good. I feel like Ryan and I really grew together and became more settled in our marriage. I think the first two years still felt like we were having a really extended play session of house. Ryan is the boy, Elyse is the girl, and you're married, go! But I guess things like mortgages and tough times like loosing your job really stretched us a couple. And hopefully we have come out better for it.

It's really a joy to live with my hubby. I think he is the most kind, most loving guy a girl and ask for. To brag on him a little, he is so giving of his heart and time, and probably the most important quality in a person is he is teachable. Not in a 'I'm training my  husband' sort of way, but in a way that makes him so approachable when my heart is hurt, or when I have to confront him about something. He can set aside his pride and love me through that. I'm not as good at it is he is, but I'm trying to learn from him.

 So, to celebrate last night we went to our favorite icecream place.

Today is one of those days….

First things first—I changed my outfit like a billion times this morning. Which lead me to the mishap of wearing a black bra with a white wife beater type shirt….classy. Too bad I didn’t realize it until I looked down and saw that Pete had gotten dog smut all over me, which once again brings attention to my black bra under my now dirty white wife beater type shirt. Awesome.

And in addition to that, I am kind of in one of those moods that I’m just emotional. I’m still stressed out about the Grey’s Anatomy season finale (will come back to this), I’m stressed for other people at work who have a really big project that I’m not really a part of, I’m stressed out about the oil that is spewing into the ocean, I’m stressed for Ryan and his test he is taking tomorrow…and this clip of this little girl on 911 almost made me cry! http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/little-girl-makes-unforgettable-911-call/2016uv82

 get back to Greys. As my husband said last night, I feel like that season Finale needed an after game show. Wow, what a crazy, stressful, on your seat type of show! Here are my thoughts:

1. If you are a doctor at Seattle Grace, FIND A DIFFERENT HOSPITAL. I mean, come on, there has been a bomb that goes off, barges crash and you drown, and now a shooter picks off people in the hospital! That is not a place to be guys…
2. I think that all of the shooting stuff happened because the Mercy West thing didn’t take on as much as the writers thought it would. I love Avery and glad he’s on the show and REALLY hope that he and Yang get together. But as for the two Mercy West people that got killed, I think that they just didn’t know what to do with them. I can’t even remember their names.
3. If they were getting rid of the Mecy West people, WHY didn’t they get rid of Derek’s annoying intern. I know, I know, she’s probably going to cause conflict next season because I bet that she and Derek will have some sort of love affair because they are connected with the shooting thing. And they need a catalyst for conflict between Derek and Meredith, but she just gets on my nerves.
4.  The thing I’m probably the most upset with is that little Grey didn’t choose Sloan. L
5. I still miss George.

Welp, that’s my round up of my obsession with Grey’s. I am glad they didn’t leave me hanging wondering if Derek and Alex were going to die. I don’t think I could have handled it today J

The Uniform Project

I think this is a really cool and creative fundraiser. This is from the Uniform Project site:

"Starting May 2009, I have pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade's boudoir.

The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums."

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

I love the creativity and heart in this! Check out their site to learn how to give.

Spoiler Alert: Grey's Anatomy

Have I ever told you I'm a Grey's Anatomy fan? I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, and I quit for a while after Meredith died and saw Denny. I decided it was too soap opera. But then I (and Ryan...but don't tell him I told you!) got sucked in again. And now I can't stop thinking about the season finale. Especially after I saw the first two minutes!!

If you don't want a spoiler, don't watch!


xoxoely

A Rising Oklahoma Star

This morning I was listening to the radio when I was getting ready for work, and this kid, from Edmond, Oklahoma, was featured. At first I thought that it was Lady Gaga in an unplugged version or something, but I come to find out it is a 6th grade boy named Grayson Chance who was competing in his school talent show.



He is supposed to be on the Ellen show sometime soon. What a cool kid! And he has the perfect name for a celebrity.

What to Wear: An Overview

I always get tons of questions about what to wear during a photo session. Sometimes I wish that I could spend a whole day with people, take them to the mall, pick out clothes, get their hair and make up done, and then do a photo session. I think that would be so much fun! But since most people don't realistically have the time to do that, I've decided that I am going to try to do some 'what to wear' posts that people can refer to.

There are a couple things that I do always suggest to people:

1. Wear what you are comfortable in. That doesn't mean that you show up in your sweat pants and flip flops with socks, but if you are not used to wearing something that is strapless or low cut, and it makes you feel like your biz is hanging out, don't wear it! Not that there is anything wrong with those types of clothes, I love a cute little sassy strapless dress, but if you don't feel comfortable, you won't look comfortable in your pics.
2. Don't Be too Matchy-Matchy.  I don't suggest doing the all white shirts or all black shirts. When taking outside photos, it is hard to pull detail in them and people end up looking like a big blob with heads. Choose coordinating colors, but not all the same color. For example, For an engagement shoot, a groom-to-be may wear a white shirt with a grey sweater vest, and a blue, green and pink plaid tie tucked into the sweater vest. The bride-to-be could wear a sassy little pink dress with a blue necklace and shoes. Something along those lines.
3. Layers. I'm a big fan of layers. They add texture and pop to most photos.
4. What would J.Crew Wear? If all else fails, look in some of your favorite stores magazines or website and see how they dress and try to imitate that. 90% of the time you can pull something out of your closet and imitate what they're doing.
5. Note to the Ladies: Wear a little more make up then you usually do. 
6. Pick a Theme: Theme shoots are some of my favorite. Pick a theme, such as "old movies" or "a picnic," and I will help you run with it. We of course will still do the typical pics, but choosing a theme will help you get some unique clothing ideas, and photos that are one of a kind.

 I saw these pajamas over on Tada!, and can't you just imagine two little girls with a slumber party photo shoot??

And the number one rule: You Don't Have to Listen to What I say. These are just suggestions. Sometimes people love to get out of their comfort zone and sport a driving cap, even though they've never worn one in their life. And they look like a million bucks. (which I really want someone to do by the way)

Now, with all that to say, here is a list of some of my favorite (but pricey) stores to find great clothes.

Women: Anothropologie, J.Crew, Ann Taylor, Mod Cloth (their stuff is super fun, but less pricey)

Men: JCrew, Banana Republic, Gap

Kids: Dagmar Daley (OMG, their stuff is soooo cute), JCrew Kids, 

For all of my lovely brides

One of my favorite blogs, 100 Layer Cake, is having a $250 giveaway to brides who have registered at William-Sonoma. So if that's you, go enter! http://100layercake.com/blog/archives/6236

Celebrating Moms

Moms. They're great, aren't they? Moms who love us even when we break all the dishes in their cuppords. Moms who drove us from here to there to everywhere so that we could be involved in all of our favorite sports. And Moms, like mine, who recognize the potential in us before we even do. I would not be taking pictures today if it weren't for my mom.

So, this week on I Heart Faces, their contest is Celebrating Moms. Here is my friend, client, and one of the sweetest Moms I know.

Inspiration

I love the type of photography I do. I love capturing the relationship between baby and mom, and the excitement of a Bride and Groom running down the isle after they say “I Do.” And there are very few things that inspire me to want to do any other type of photography.

Today I saw one of them.

(photo/article found here)

Rosie Hardy is a 19 year old photographer (yes, 19!), who I think is just incredible. Her photo manipulation skills are superb, and I am obsessed with her cloud project. How does she do that?

She’s 19 and inspiring this old lady to be more creative with my portraits. What inspires you?

A Can of Worms

My co-worker showed me the new Miley Cyrus music video today-- Can't be Tamed.

Apparently there has be controversy about it it. Mainly her outfits, but I would venture to say it's probably more about the subject matter and the dancing.

Disney Girl Gone Wild? I tend to think she's getting a little older, and is wanting to express herself as a young woman apart from the sweet as pie persona of Hannah Montana. I actually think that the video itself has an interesting concept and is well done, but I'm curious to see how parents of young girls who idolize Miley will will react. Any thoughts?

Whole Foods coming to the OKC!

Holler!! I am soooo excited! Buzz about Whole Food coming to OKC has been wafting through my workplace the past few months, but saw this News 9 story, so you heard it from them, not me!

http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=11012251

This is seriously going to hurt my grocery budget.