You know how everyone always asks that question, "What would you grab if you were having a house fire?" There are always several things that flash through my head but for years now there has been at least one solid answer to that question that never changes. The Betty Crocker Cookbook. It's been featured on my blog often so you may be familiar with which one I'm referencing. It was my Grammy Brown's and then my mom's. The pages are yellow and the ones that get used the most are covered in pencil scribbles. I like to try and guess if the handwriting is my mom's or my grandma's because they look so similar to each other, and even my own, the older I get. Many of the holes  have been reinforced with those circle stickers you find at office supply stores. The photography is hilariously wonderful. And the best part? The dated phrases and intros:

"Make somebody happy today - bake a cake! A chocolate cake for the man in your life. Or the white cake with peppermint frosting for 'the girls' coming for bridge. Bake a sponge cake for grandma, as lovely light as the kind she used to bake. Bake a cake - have a party. Bake a cake to take to a party. Bake a cake just because you feel good today."

It's priceless.

All of it is priceless really. Sure you can go buy the updated, modern versions of this book at any bookstore, but does it have the charm? I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't take hardly any daily photos this week. But, I did grab my camera for a couple quick shots of some strawberry pancakes. The Betty Crocker recipe for Favorite Pancakes is the one I grew up on and the one I still make today. This recipe along with some of my all time favorites come from this book. (southern biscuits, banana bread, homemade mac n' cheese, cocoa chocolate cake, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and Mexican wedding cakes.) Yum. What would you grab if there was a fire?

one year.

A year ago today I filled my tiny Honda Civic and a small U-haul trailer with everything I owned. I pulled away from my hometown in southern Oklahoma on that foggy morning listening to Alexi Murdoch and headed west. Over 13 hours later I arrived in Durango, Colorado and unloaded my belongings into a house a little bigger than the U-haul they came in. It was Daphnie's first big road trip!

We've come a long way in a year. 

We finally have a couch, coffee table, and more than two plates to eat on. The shoebox we live in slowly but surely turned into a cozy place to come home to at night. Daphnie and I both have learned to run on trails,  ice, and go backpacking. We enjoy cooler summers, walking everywhere, and all the great choices for local, healthy food. 

This photo was taken from the switchback trail behind  our house three days after our move.

Even though the last year has been somewhat of a roller coaster at times and moving to a brand new place where no one knows you is very tough, I've learned no matter what that change is still a good thing. I heard a quote yesterday thatreally stuck with me.

"If there was no change, there'd be no butterflies."    :)

I'm starting to forget that I'm in Colorado and not back in Oklahoma with all this crazy weather we're having. One morning it's snowing and by the next day I'm wearing a tank top and flip flops. It's easy to say I "survived" my first mountain winter (for which I was very nervous about) only because this was one of the driest winters Durango has seen in years. Hey, I'm not complaining. Chad says Spring isn't here yet though, despite the fact that we drove around with the sun roof open yesterday. It is only mid-March and if I remember correctly it snowed in late APRIL last year... that was a first. I still haven't figured out when to pull out the summer clothes and put away my winter coat around here. 

to be beautiful.

Even though I feel as though I chose photography, I can't help but think the actual subject matter chooses me. If you were to tell me six years ago that my favorite things to shoot would be weddings, food, and boudoir I don't think I would have believed you. However, as much as I have grown and changed as a person and as much as I have learned about photography, one thing still remains the same: I love making people feel something when they look at my pictures. And I love making people feel out right, jaw-dropping, beautiful.

Boudoir photography is an extension of that on SO many levels. It's obviously fun to get the pictures secretly made for someone special in your life, but the personal reward is even greater (I think.) As a woman, there's a level of confidence you feel on a good hair day or when you wear heels on a night out with the girls. But to strip all of that away and love your body and who you are (freckles and all) is priceless. I can't tell you enough how rewarding it is for me to share this with people. It makes me love my job more than I already do.

The previous photos were taken of a wonderful client that jumped on board for my Valentines Boudoir Special back in January. I fell in love with so many of her photos, but could only show a few out of privacy. Boudoir sessions can be done YEAR ROUND so if you're interested please email me or give me a call. I'd love to meet for coffee, show you a portfolio, and answer any of your questions.

And just for fun, here's a quote from this client after seeing her pictures for the first time:

"OH MY GOD!!!!!  THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING! Damn girl you are one gifted artist! My boyfriend said it was the best thing a girlfriend had ever given him. He was totally surprised! I keep catching him looking at the book. Thanks again for all your hard work."

:)

hot air.

There's just something magical about floating among the clouds in a balloon-carried basket. I'm not sure where my own personal fascination began but since I can remember I've dreamed of being whisked away in a hot air balloon. Until then perhaps I'll attempt to do what Danny Deckchair did. And if you haven't seen this movie I highly recommend you do.

Today was so quiet. Oddly quiet. The kind of stillness that makes you stop and notice the silence and appreciate it. The sky was pure white with a promise of snow and there were no cars, no dog walkers, and no wind. I've grown to like Sundays for this reason. I pretend that people are tucked away in their homes wearing their p-jams at 2PM, reading a book, sitting at their kitchen table having long conversations, baking cakes, and just slowing down. I see Sunday as kind of an excuse to revel in the importance of doing nothing, and doing it slowly. My boyfriend fell asleep this evening and didn't awake until I returned from my daily walk with the fur baby. He quickly apologized for sleeping, claiming that it was lazy. I wanted to say, "Yeah, but it's Sunday."  :)


Hope everyone had an amazing week! Here are a few moments from my own:

she says so much to me with those eyes.

meal planning on a budget.

death.

life (spring!)

cute butt.

fresh.

wiping her mouth after a walk (every time) and her new favorite way to sit ^

sunny laundry.