I love when wishes come true. Like mother nature dumping 2 feet of snow, the largest snowfall on record for December in the Washington DC area, 2 days before our winter vacation. It snowed so much and so hard that we were granted 2 snow days on Monday and Tuesday and do not have to return to work until after the holidays. 2 week vacation, here I come!
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Snow!
Today I was finally able to get out of the house for a little bit and start winding down my holiday shopping. The roads were still quite slushy and it’s days like today that I am so thankful for 4 wheel drive. Tonight I have a peek for you all at what the blizzard of 09 did to our front yard after The Calmer got done shoveling our driveway. Now this is A LOT of snow.
Patience
Patience is definitely what I needed today as I braved 11 hours of sitting in traffic and an abundance of retail shopping. I can now happily state my shopping is complete and we finally have gifts under the tree.
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself.
Friendship
A special friend is in town for the holidays and tonight was spent at my place with her and her close knit group of supporters. There was food and drink, games, smiles, and lots of laughs. This girl means the world to me and even though we’re miles apart now I know her heart is still close and I’m so glad to be able to have a bit of time with her around this time of year.
A friend is one who walks in when others walk out.
~Walter Winchell~
Twas the night before Christmas…
…and all through our house a calm and quiet evening, just me and my spouse.
Many thoughts flood my mind on this night before Christmas. Of what I thought this year would be and what it has become. Dreams fulfilled, broken, and now re-emerging. I’ll be speaking more of those dreams in the next few days as I count down the days left in 2009. Tonight and tomorrow I will be enjoying time with my rock, my Calmer. Being thankful for what we have. Our loving families. Our home and fur kids. And most of all, each other.
I wish you all a holiday that is merry and bright.
And may we all look ahead to a wonderful new year just around the corner.
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
From my little family to yours, Merry Christmas! Me, my Calmer, Vincent, and Ebony (who is a little camera shy today), had a wonderfully quiet holiday spent at home and with family. I received some wonderfully useful photography tools today that will come in handy over the course of the next year, including some books I am excited to begin diving in to. They look to be not only full of useful information but bursting with beautiful photos as well.
How did you spend your Christmas? I want to hear all about it!
Thank You Santa
Santa (aka – My Calmer) has been very good to me this year, especially in helping me make a few of my photography dreams come true. A big part of his generosity has been a partial redesign of my itty bitty workspace in our family room. One major thing getting an upgrade? My desk chair! I need a better space for editing. Sitting on the sofa every night with the laptop in my lap is no longer working. Why do I edit on the sofa?
THIS is the reason I currently edit on the sofa
The chair may look nice in the space, but it’s just awful to sit in. AWFUL! It’s short, the curve in the seat is awkward, and the chair is hard. Not the best working conditions, AT ALL.
So Santa decided to do something about it this year (thanks Santa!). And today we went to the store and bought what is soon to become my new best friend.
This is the Lauren dining room chair from World Market. She is absolutely perfect in every way. The right size. The right height. The right cushion. And she was even on SALE! It was meant to be if it was on sale.
The redesign isn’t over, but it has sure gotten off to a great start! I can’t wait to make some more changes in the coming weeks and share them with you. Exciting things are underway, but you’ll just have to wait a bit longer to hear what they are.
Where do you typically use your computer when photo editing, chatting, or doing your daily business online? Is there anything in your working space that you can’t live without? Something I must have in my redesign? Tell me here!
Gratitude Day 7 – Nature Walk
Today The Calmer and I played aunt, uncle, and babysitter to Alexander. It was a gorgeous seasonably warm November day which made it the perfect opportunity to get outside. And of course my camera came along for the excursion.
Today I have a lot to be grateful for.
The beauty of nature.
The childhood imagination.
And laughter.
We laughed a lot today. ♥
I hope you have as much to be grateful for today as we do. Don’t forget to share your gratitude and you could win your own memolio mini album of photos next week.
Only 47 shopping days left until Christmas…
How are you doing checking all those gifts off the holiday list? Have you started yet? I am proud to report I’ve started for this year but am no where near being done! Hopefully I can make your gift giving a bit easier this season with my weekly suggestions from now until the holidays.
Last week you might remember I featured mini albums from Memolio. And if you’re quick you still have some time to enter to win a free one!
This week I want to introduce you to one my favorite places on the web! Have you ever stopped by to see The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond? If you have not you really need to get over there right away!! (but not until you’re done reading this post of course…) I originally stumbled upon her website because of her simple to understand photography tutorials. And her photography editing actions for Photoshop. And her photography, period.
She is definitely a photography inspiration!
But, that is not all she has on her website.
She also cooks!
And Ree recently published the most amazing cookbook I have ever purchased.
Just like her photography tutorials, her cooking tutorials are easy to understand. Easy to prepare. Step by step. With vibrant pictures!
For someone like me who hates to cook (and hates to bake even more), this definitely gives me inspiration and hope.
Today I am thinking about whipping up some homemade salsa.
And maybe some guacamole too.
And definitely some Migas! Yum!
Is your mouth watering yet? This would be the perfect gift for any at home chef. The experienced cook will love Ree’s easy recipes and beautiful photographs. The novice cook will enjoy having the step by step illustrated directions.
Another perk of this book? The insights and musings into Ree’s life moving from single city girl to wife of a rancher in the country. All with beautiful full color photos.
If you have not checked out the Pioneer Woman website I HIGHLY reccommend you head on over there. And you if think this book would be the perfect gift for someone in your life you can easily pick one up at Amazon.com (today it’s only $14.55!)
Happy shopping!
A Cup of Sweetness and Gratitude
Sometimes something sweet is the only thing to cure a severe case of the Monday blues.
I had to have not one, but 2 of these sweet treats to get my through this day.
So today I am grateful for the coffee mecca Starbucks and their little red cup of joy.
What are you grateful for today?