Samantha: the blog

2008-12-19T05:34:00.000-08:00

Mission accomplished. Thanks TaiPan and Target.

Not the pillow. I forgot to move that.
Also, there was another green one, but Chloe stole it already.

2008-12-10T07:25:00.000-08:00

So, my family has had the same Christmas stockings for as long as I can remember. They're cute. And crafty. And patchwork-y. They've served the Johnsons well.
(I did make one in my junior high sewing class and it made its way into the lineup, but other than that, they've all been the same.)

Unfortunately, the last few years have been some rough ones. I think the poor things are on their last leg. Hanging on by a thread if you will.
(Pun totally intended.)

Observe:

Christmas stockings with gaping holes don't tend to hold their stuffers too well. I know from experience.

So, although miserably painful to ditch them after so many Christmases, I've taken it upon myself to be the Johnson Family Christmas Stocking Liaison. Or maybe Ambassador? Explorer? Go-and-Find-er?
Whatever.
It is my job to find us some new Christmas stockings this year. They have to be cute and they can't be cheap and fall apart on us. I need something that's going to last us for at least 22 years. (I know, I know. It's a tall order.)
Problem is...I've never bought a Christmas stocking before, so I haven't the faintest idea where to shop for them. And my old standby for everything else (Walmart) isn't going to cut it for this task.

So. I need ideas, people. Help a girl out. It is up to me to make Christmas dreams come true for the whole Johnson crew. (Well, except for Taylor since he won't get to see his stocking this year.)
Stores, boutiques, online...whatever. They just have to be here by Christmas. And I have to like them. And be able to afford them.

2008-12-09T23:27:00.001-08:00

CANS FOR COMMENTS!!!

There is a little movement going around the photography world called Cans For Comments, and we are more than happy to jump on the bandwagon!!

It’s simple. You comment. We donate a can or non-perishable item to a local food bank for every comment received. You make us feel warm, fuzzy and loved, and someone less fortunate gets to eat. Win-win, no? So comment long, comment short, comment often or only once…just do it! More and more we are hearing of food shelters coming up short this season. This is such a simple way to do a little for someone else! (Oh, and it’s going on for the next 7 days.)

SOOOOO, alls you have to do is pop on over to my photography blog (www.everylittlemomentphotography.com) and leave us a comment. Or two. Or ten. Remember, EVERY SINGLE COMMENT=1 can o' food for the food bank.

So go nuts. It doesn't cost you a thing!

2008-12-08T00:09:00.000-08:00

So...I hope you've seen this movie.

If not, I highly recommend watching it sometime this month. Holy childhood memories. Seriously.
However, I must warn you. This movie is a little misleading. You might walk away with the impression that a mouse is a cute, cuddly creature all full of Christmas Spirit.
You'd be wrong.

Let's take a trip to reality. My bathroom has been invaded by this guy:

Little mouse scared the bejeebles out of me a few nights ago. He thought it would be cool to squeeze under the bathroom door and scamper across the floor. RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. He didn't even TRY to hide or be sneaky. That is not cool.

I'm actually quite impressed with myself. I didn't scream and wake people up. I didn't leap onto the counter and hunker down til morning. I didn't rip the wall apart in a murderous frenzy. I DID have to muffle a squeal and try to convince myself I wasn't hallucinating, and I had to pee in the other bathroom for a few days, but I'm proud of myself for not panicking. (Read: FA-REEK out)

Good ol' roomie pimped out the whole house with mouse-busting glue traps and PB. (Thanks Lace!)

Mice aren't that smart, I guess. It sure didn't take him long to get all good and stuck. Unfortunately for him, being stuck to a glue trap in my bathroom earns you a one way ticket to the inside of a Walmart bag.
So, he either managed to free himself from his sticky prison, chew through the plastic bag, escape from the giant dumpster, and make his way to freedom...or he froze to death.
Either way, he's out of my bathroom. That's all I really care about.

[DISCLAIMER: I KNOW these are horrible, awful, disgusting, I-can't-believe-you-call-yourself-a-photographer photos. I know that. It was 5 am. I was freaking out at the prospect of picking up a live mouse that could potentially kill me. I was freezing cold and dead tired. I blame the cell phone camera.
I'm compensating by posting three, very boringly similar photos. Just use your imagination and I'm sure you can get the picture.]

In other news, here is my shameless Christmas present to you all:

2008-11-30T23:26:00.000-08:00

Dear all of you Hess descendants,

If you didn't see my guest post on Jayson and Celeste's blog, you should pop on over there and read it.
You won't regret it.
It's full of brand new baby cuteness like this:

I promise.
~s

2008-11-29T22:54:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. To prove to you that I'm not dead, may I present:

THE BLOG O' RANDOM PHOTOS I FOUND ON MY CAMERA PHONE

Starting off the randomness is this beautiful photo of me kicking it at work. Despite what this shameless, cell phone self-portrait would imply, my job is not boring.
Ever.
Also, I love my turquoise headset.
And holding out my pinky.

Recently, and I don't know when exactly, and it doesn't really matter, and this is turning into the worst run-on sentence in history, but sometime recently, my odometer read 100100. I thought that was a cool number.
I made a right turn after taking this photo. Don't worry. I was stopped when I took it.

I don't know if I should be proud or embarrassed, but I tend to spend more time with my 15 year old brother and 13 year old sister these days than I do with people my own age.
Part of this is due to my nocturnal lifestyle. It's hard to meet people at 4:00 am.
Besides. Your siblings should be your best friends, right? Check.
On the downside, things can get expensive for me. They don't have jobs. They don't have any money. So, whenever we do ANYTHING, I always foot the bill. Guys, is this what dating is like for you?

Spotted at my local gas station. I thought it was pretty ironic considering gas station workers often tend to hate their jobs and therefore, don't really give a crap about providing good service.
Dear nameless gas station worker,
I'll hang up my phone as soon as you commit to make my gas station experience the best it can be.

And lastly, reason #286 why I love America: The Jesus Barbie.
By pressing the Holy Button I estimate to be replacing the Son of God's L2 verterbrae, I was quoted a verse from Mark something. It was lovely.
And spiritual.
Right in the middle of Walmart.

And that, boys and girls, concludes the first installment of "THE BLOG O' RANDOM PHOTOS I FOUND ON MY CAMERA PHONE." Stay tuned for version two. Sometime in the near-ish future. I hope...

2008-11-04T07:43:00.001-08:00

2008-10-29T02:49:00.000-07:00

Dear poor neglected blog,

It's not you, it's me. I really mean that. You've been wonderful and supportive. I've just needed some space. A little "me time", if you will.

I promise I'm still alive and kicking. See? Here's a photo of me. (After all, what are you besides a place for me to post photos of myself?)

Now, I'm not saying this to be mean, but I think you ought to know. During our time apart, I haven't thought about you very much. I know it's painful for you to hear that I've forgotten about you, but I mean it when I say that I could never forget you in my heart.

I've just been so freaking busy!! Work and photos and work and photos...
(And yet, ironically, my busy-ness hasn't really been that interesting. Nothing to blog about...)

I hope to get our relationship back on track. You'll have to be patient, because it might be slow going. But I promise I'm working on it. We might consider couples therapy...

In the meantime, know that I still love you and you will always be my one and only blog.
(Except for this one. But it's just business. There's NOTHING going on between us. I swear.)

So please, hang in there with me. We're great together and I know we can have a beautiful relationship again.

xoxo
~s

2008-09-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Sophie!

You're HOW old?

Oh yes, that's right.

Eight is GREAT!!

Happy Birthday, Sophie. We love you!

2008-08-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

Aubrey and I are helping here.

2008-08-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

You're probably wondering why I haven't blogged in forever, right? Well, at least this time I have a good excuse. May I present what has been consuming a lot of my time lately...our brand new website!!
The new and improved www.everylittlemomentphotography.com

This also means that our old blog is no more. So, if you are one of those people who read it, you must now update your links. I know, I know. I'm sorry to create you work. But seriously, though. It will be so worth it, because our website is totally awesome.

2008-08-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

I'd like you all to notice that my blog counter hit 10,000 today!!
It is a momentous day.

(Ok, actually I had this blog for like 6 months before I had the sense to add a hit counter, so it's probably way more. It's still exciting.)

2008-08-08T20:48:00.000-07:00

Lake Powell in Polaroid: 1 vacation. 5 days. 10 photos.

Ever wonder what the drive is like? Stare at this photo for four hours and you'll understand.

If you've made it to Ticaboo, you're almost there.
(Note the gas prices. Chloe's exuberance is misleading.)

Bullfrog Bay = we made it!

Now it's playtime. Uncle Russ spent a lot of time fishing with the boys.
Not so much with the girls as they tend to gross us out. Boys and fish.
(Yes, there is a fishing pole there. You have to look closely.)

Lake Powell and cliff jumping are like PB & J.

It was a rather stormy week. Mckenna "worked it" with the wind.
Chloe was apparently terrified.

Cousins! Some of them anyway...

The sum total of our vacation. Dad takes the kids tubing while self-proclaimed "flag girl" Sophie looks on.

The week is not complete until Mom finishes a puzzle. This one took all day.

The whole gang! (Minus me, of course, as I was taking the photo.)

See you next year Lake Powell! It was a blast!

2008-08-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

Backyard BBQ

2008-07-28T06:12:00.000-07:00

I have a love affair with this song.

Lost - Michael Bublé

And don't even get me started on him. (Mmmm...)

2008-07-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

And so it begins...

I only hope I can keep up this new hobby. (The film is expensive!)

2008-07-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

So, this blog post is totally a week late. Bear with me...

You may remember last summer when Aubrey and I helped out with the photography for the Miss American Fork Pageant?
What?! You don't remember?
Don't feel bad. I only mentioned it once. Okay, twice.

Well to make a long story short, Aubrey's sister-in-law, Staci, is the director of the pageant and has hired us as the official photographers this year!
Thats right! We're on the committee for a beauty pageant. (Okay, scholarship program.)
So, as a committee, we went to the Miss Utah Pageant to support our very own Miss American Fork, Liesl Wright!

Juli, Renata, Britney, Liesl, Staci, Aubrey, and me!

After three nights of preliminaries and the finale, we were pretty pageant-ed out. (We were so over the irritating people in front of us, the same sloooow songs all week, and the singing MC. Okay, the MC wasn't that bad, but four nights in a row...?)

Unfortunately, Liesl didn't win, but she still did AMAZING! Her talent was incredible and she looked stunning in swimsuit and evening wear. (She totally should have won her preliminary in evening wear. She was robbed!)

So now we're focusing on getting ready to crown the next Miss AF. The pageant is in less than a month! You all should come!!

Miss American Fork Pageant
August 16th, 2008
American Fork High School

2008-07-19T05:20:00.000-07:00

I bought a Polaroid.

And I found this adorable Polaroid charm, which I must have immediately.

I know, I know. They will soon be no more.
All the more reason for me to take the plunge. Soon, there will be no option of any plunge-taking. I've never owned one and I should be able to say that I have. They are a legend.

Whilst doing my regular blog surfing this week, I found myself completely INSPIRED by Nicole Hill's Polaroids. Seriously incredible.

And so, I shall try my hand at instant film. Obviously, with the up and coming film discontinuations, it won't be a very long phase. But I am determined to give it my best shot.

Wish me luck and inspiration!

2008-07-18T03:39:00.000-07:00

So, omg.

I want this.

It's a USB-powered mini fridge. I totally would use it.

2008-07-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

Now, I may not live in a trailer park in the backwoods of Alabama, but I certainly don't live in Malibu or The Hamptons either.
My neighborhood seems pretty safe for the most part. I only see the cops from time to time. But every once in awhile, I get some serious entertainment from my neighbors.
My favorite story is the neighbor who got evicted after almost setting the building on fire with her 3 year old inside. (She left the stove on after having a few too many beers.)
Or maybe the neighbors who started a brawl over a game of poker? That was exciting. (There were a few black eyes and bloody noses from that encounter.)
And of course, we can't forget the thieving, foul-mouthed, 12-year-old hoodlums and their noisy skateboards who camp outside my bedroom window ALL summer long.

With those situations, I just roll my eyes. I hear about that kind of stuff all day long at work. The drunken negligence and physical altercations are more commonplace than most people realize. And stupid 12-year-olds are up to no good no matter where you are.

But I drove by something this morning that made me just scratch my head:

(Excuse the blurry photo. It was taken whilst driving, in the wee hours of the morning. It didn't want to get out of the car and risk getting jumped by someone I could potentially need a cup of sugar from.)

Now, I don't claim to be the most polished and refined person on earth, but wow. I'm proud to say that I've never set up an inflatable swimming pool in a parking lot for my kids to play in.
(Also, thanks Mom & Dad for never doing that to me either.)

Now, I have nothing against inflatable swimming pools. Nor do I have anything against parking lots. I just don't think the two should mix.
It just doesn't seem like very responsible parenting to me. Do we not hear about children getting run over by cars often enough? Clearly the words playground and parking lot are not interchangeable.
And geez people. There's grass on the back side of the building. What's wrong with setting up your pool there? I don't get it.

At least my roommates and I have the bragging rights of being the three classiest people on our street. We should get a certificate.

2008-07-05T00:51:00.000-07:00

So, dang.

I've known about Etsy for a while now. And I know that it is the place for cute, crafty, handmade, and otherwise adorable stuff.

I know that.

But heck. Why have I never actually checked it out before? I've been browsing that website for hours tonight. Check out some of the CUTE stuff I found!

And. AND. This is just the jewelry. Think about all the other cool stuff:

• Accessories
• Art
• Bags And Purses
• Bath And Beauty
• Books And Zines
• Candles
• Ceramics And Pottery
• Children
• Clothing
• Crochet
• Everything Else
• Furniture
• Geekery
• Glass
• Holidays
• Housewares
• Jewelry
• Knitting
• Music
• Needlecraft
• Paper Goods
• Patterns
• Pets
• Plants And Edibles
• Quilts
• Supplies
• Toys
• Vintage
• Weddings
• Woodworking

(Ya, I totally copied and pasted their category list.)

So, I need another online shopping obsession like a hole in my head, but there are some things that I HAVE TO HAVE! NOW! I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT THEM!

I guess I'm just going to have to decide what I want more. Cute Etsy stuff, awesome camera stuff, or food and gasoline.

2008-06-25T01:07:00.000-07:00

I want to buy a gun.

I have no idea why.

For some unknown reason, I want a gun. I want to learn how they work, I want to learn how to shoot them, I just want to know.
Maybe it's because I'm around all these officers all the time and guns are all they talk about.
Maybe it's because someone is going to break into my house and attack me one of these days and this is God's way of warning me.
Maybe my life is just boring and I need a new hobby.

I should have prefaced this by informing you all that I know nothing about guns. I know you pull the trigger and they shoot bullets. I know there are rifles and pistols and shotguns and probably other kinds too. I know guns can kill people very badly.
I've shot guns before. My Dad has a .22 and a shotgun. I've tried those out once or twice. But see, in those situations, I'm handed a loaded gun and told, "Ok, aim for that soda can and don't kill anyone."

I don't hunt.
I'm not a cop.
I don't have some revengeful vendetta against someone.
I just want one.

Ok, now that we've established that, let's get down to business.
Aubrey and I are considering taking a concealed firearms class. There's one coming up in July and we might sign up for it. I don't ever plan on shooting someone, but well, it's probably a good idea to be able to defend myself.

So, on to equipment. I've spent the last few nights talking to officers trying to get an idea of what kind of gun to buy. (Because, if you'll remember, I know nothing. We're starting from scratch here.)
There are just so many decisions! Glock, Smith & Wesson, Colt, Beretta, Kahr, Walther...
(Are you impressed I know all these brands of guns? You should be.)

Well, after a few days discussion, I've settled on two that I might like.

Glock 23

or Kahr CW40

So, what do you think? Am I insane?
It's possible.

2008-06-21T23:10:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Shauna!

All about me, from A to Z

A-- Attached or Single? Mucho single and looking to change that. Gentlemen...(hint, hint.)

B-- Best Friend? Aubrey. (And Taylor, but he doesn't count for a while.)

C-- Cake or Pie? Yes, please

D-- Day of Choice? Any day I don't work

E-- Essential Item? Phone, camera, iPod, Macbook

F-- Favorite Color? Green

G-- Gummy Bears or Worms? I love both, but I'm having a love affair with sour worms lately.

H-- Hometown? Pleasant Grove, UT

I-- Indulgence(s) Ice cream

J-- January or July? Hmm...do I have air conditioning or a heater?

K-- Kids? Not yet

L-- Life is incomplete without? My computer, my camera, my family, and my friends. Not necessarily in that order.

M-- Marriage Date? September 30, 2009 Um, ya. I'm totally kidding.

N-- Number of siblings? 4: Taylor, Walker, Chloe, Sophie

O-- Oranges or Apples? Both in fruit form, oranges in juice form

P-- Phobias or fears? Fire drills

Q- Quotes? "Stop it."

R-- Reason to Smile? I totally rocked today's wedding. Ryanne will be pleased.

S-- Season? Fall. Nice and pleasant, beautiful colors.

T-- Tag 5 People?? Aubrey, Julia, Kayla, Emily, Jenny

U-- Unknown Fact? I only eat ice cream with a fork.

V-- Very Favorite Store? Forever 21, Target, MAC (makeup AND computers)

W-- Worst Habit? I can't fold my laundry the same day I wash it. It sits on my floor for a few days before I'll get around to it.

X-- X-ray or ultrasound? Umm...for what? Broken bones? Fetuses?

Y-- Your favorite food? A good steak, good pasta, or good mexican.

Z-- Zodiac? Virgo

2008-06-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

A little shameless promotion...

The younger sis started her own blog.

And yes, I made it all cute.

Leave her a comment.

It will make her happy.

2008-06-11T01:54:00.001-07:00

I have nothing to blog about, so here's a photo of me:

I made it through another work week.

Graveyards are tough.

I'm loving my car. It's just what I need.

I now need to sell my old car. Melissa, get with it :)

I got to drive a police car tonight!

Ok, it was only for half a block.

Still.

Driving is driving.

2008-06-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

I'm happy! Can you tell?

I've officially graduated from 1997, and moved on to 2002! In Toyota years, that is.

That's right! I have a new car. And I love it.

'02 Toyota Corolla. Yup, I'll be rolling in this baby for a while.

DAAAAng. 2002 looks good on me!

2008-06-01T04:15:00.000-07:00

So, check out the new blog.

Do you love it?
I love it.

I've been wanting a re-design forever now, but I've never really had the time to do it. I figured the two year anniversary of my blog was reason enough to find the time.
That's right! Exactly two years ago today, I started out this adventure. 06/01/06
I spent my whole shift working on it tonight. I'm especially pleased with my header. I'm not very design-y and I made it from scratch! No template, nothing! (Ok, I did buy the paper and find a free font, but the design is ALL MINE!)

I'm so proud.

2008-06-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

One other thing.
I've noticed that I've been an absolutely awful, crappy blogger lately. I miss the days when I posted things semi-regularly. I'm making a pact to do better.
Feel free to yell and scream if I fail.

2008-05-21T06:22:00.000-07:00

A little help, blog friends?

Aubrey and I are working on an attack plan for some new advertising and we need your help.

If you wouldn't mind, look at this.

Tell me three words that describe what you saw.

Thanks!

2008-05-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

I've found my true calling in life.
Besides being a photographer. And a dispatcher. And a total babe.

I should be a commercial model for stock photography.

See? Check me out in all my commercially model awesomeness.

Actually, it's not a big deal at all and more than likely a one time thing. No one else would do it, so my face was "volunteered" to be on our "Dispatch as a Career" brochure. If you want a copy of your very own, be sure to check out the dispatch booth at Summerfest this year!

I'll let you in on a little secret. This photo isn't an entirely accurate portrayal.
If you will, notice my uber-clean desk. We had to clear off the soda cans, post-its, and sunflower seeds. Usually, every inch of desk space is cluttered with something.
Also, look closely at the monitor. See the little green line with the little red box? It was 4:00 am. That was our only call in the whole city. Guess what it was. Some dude at the hospital was throwing a fit because the nurses wouldn't let him have a hospital gown. Yes, this is what I deal with.
Commercial modeling is sounding better all the time.

2008-05-11T19:05:00.001-07:00

I've been a horrible blogger as of late, but I can at least manage this.
I wish I had a better photo, but I'm at work and this is all I can do for now.

I LOVE YOU MOM!

2008-05-03T21:24:00.001-07:00

The good news: Aubrey and I had an awesome day shooting Eddie & Nichole's beautiful wedding.

The bad news: Sadly, my brand new phone did not survive the night. It met its demise underneath a wedding guest's tire.

The good news: I have phone insurance, so this mishap was corrected with only a small fee.

The bad news: Poor Mr. Razr was crushed to a pulp, so I lost everything. Including YOUR phone number.

Moral of the story: I don't know if there is one. Keep your phone in your pocket better?

Also, send me your phone number as I no longer have it. I won't be able to call you if you don't. Ever.

2008-05-01T21:18:00.001-07:00

Dude.

2008-04-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

Calling all Brian Regan fans:

YOU WILL ENJOY THIS!

I SO saw this on my way home from work today. I drove behind this trailer at 50 mph for like five miles just so I could take this photo. Never mind my crappy camera phone.
(And never mind the fact that I totally and complete forgot that I BOUGHT A NEW CAMERA FOR JUST SUCH AN OCCASION!!)

For those of you who are not true fans or who are not fans at all (we need to talk), just watch this:

You only have to watch the first 2 minutes to get the joke, but really. Feel free to finish. It's awesome.

2008-04-25T12:34:00.001-07:00

I thought this was pretty interesting. I'm not a huge environment junky, but maybe I should be.
It's a 20 minute experience, so watch it when you have a few to spare.

2008-04-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

FOR SALE

I'm selling my trusty D40 as I am upgrading and no longer need it.
Interested? Shoot me an email. ps5snj@orem.org
You can see all the info here.

I'm gonna miss this little guy. He taught me a lot.

2008-04-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

---------------------------------------------------->
Take a look at my sidebar. I've added a little "Who are you?" poll.
---------------------------------------------------->
I like to know where my readers are coming from.
---------------------------------------------------->
So, just click on one. It'll only take you like two seconds.
---------------------------------------------------->
I promise.
---------------------------------------------------->

2008-04-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Johnson family quote of the day:

"Why is there bird poop on the Christus?"

Tune in next time.

2008-04-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Goood Morning, Vietnam!!

I mean Orem.

Geez, this vlog thing is addicting. It takes so little effort to blog every day. Well, almost every day.
Don't worry though. I'll have a regular blog post sometime this week for those of you who don't like looking at my face and hearing my voice. Hang in there.

2008-04-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

My week is over.
I'm happy and sad. I'm happy cause I have a wedding tomorrow. I'm sad cause my CIT training is over and I have to go back to regular work now. :(

2008-04-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

I spent today hearing voices and ended up at the mental hospital.

It's not what you think.

2008-04-05T23:24:00.000-07:00

Round two:
Check me out, being consistent and all. The only thing holding me back is how FREAKING LONG it takes to upload these stupid things to YouTube. It bothers.

Sorry this video is such crappy quality and sorry I cut off the top of my face in most of it and sorry that it's longer than yesterday's. Kudos to whoever can make it through the whole thing.

2008-04-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

My blog has reached a new age. We are evolving. Improving. Expanding. Advancing.
Introducing...

...drumroll please...

SAMIVISION!!

To make short story even shorter, I bought a new camera. (A Nikon Coolpix S210 for anyone who cares.) And it takes videos. So I made a video.

Feel free to enjoy, but I certainly won't feel bad if you don't. (It's boring. And lame. I promise.)

2008-04-02T21:47:00.000-07:00

Oh.
I forgot to tell you the ironic part about my last story.
My tail light didn't need to be changed. It was just fine.

2008-03-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

I had a crappy encounter today.
Normally I would give the reader's digest version, but I think it will do me good to get it all out. I've still got bad vibes churning inside me.

So here we go. From the top:
My car registration expires this month, so my to-do list for this week includes getting my car inspected. Before taking it in, I knew it had a brake light out. Best be fixing it or I'll waste a trip to the car inspector guy. I bought the bulbs like two months ago, but I'm lazy and never got around to actually changing it. I dug out my one and only screwdriver and attempted to change the light. Lo and behold, I'm a girl and I can't figure out how to get the stupid light cover off so I can change the bulb.
So naturally, I call my dad.
If I come over, will you show me how to fix it?
Yes.
I'm here.
Ok, I'll be out in a few minutes.

Now we reach the climax.
I'm sitting in my car, engine running, listening to the radio, playing with my camera, minding my own FREAKING business.
I notice two men walk past my car. I look up and notice a BMW SUV parked directly behind me. Blocking me in.
Mr. I'm-so-tough-and-badass-in-my-BMW-and-pink-shirt glances at me for a moment and walks towards the building.
Um, HELLO??? Do you not see me? Do you not see my car? It's the purple Corolla parked in front of you!
So I get out at yell after him.
Um, hello? You're parked behind me.
You're in my spot.
*I look around at the seven or so empty spots on either side of me*
Oh, sorry. I was just waiting for someone.
Well, I guess I'll move my car then.
*He marches back to the BMW*

Soooo, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that specific parking spot had #$&@*!& written all over it. Sorry I was in your spot, but you didn't have to be a jerk about it.

Dear Mr. BMW,
I would just like you to know that I took the high road. I was to the point of exploding with anger and I walked away.
You have absolutely no idea how much self restraint it took for me not to slash your tires. You were an ass.

S

2008-03-19T22:39:00.001-07:00

Yes, I've been MIA. In VEGAS, BABY!

Read about my AWESOME week on my photo blog.

2008-03-19T20:27:00.001-07:00

Announcing the brand new and improved: www.everylittlemomentphotography.com

After much work, it is finally online. It's not completely finished, but we wanted to reveal the fruits of our labor! We'll be adding a few more info sections, our wedding gallery, and some other tweaking, but you get the idea.
(If you notice a typo or screw-up, feel free to let us know about it :)

This baby is bigger and badder than ever before. The new and improved galleries let you view our photos larger than life. The client proofing feature will let you see your photos sooner than ever! It's pretty much sweet all the way around.

Just a note for our clients:
We are no longer offering CD's with our portrait packages. All proofing will be done via our website. We are still offering CD's with our wedding packages.
Also, be sure to check out our new price list as our package rates and print prices have changed.

2008-03-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

I really don't MEAN to be neglectful. It just happens...

And to be quite honest, I don't really have exciting things to blog about. I guess all I can do is fill you in on the not-very-exciting details of my life.

My brake pads had to be replaced. They were pretty much worn down to paper thickness.

I ran into a high school friend I haven't seen in awhile. She had two children with her and they first thing she said when she saw me was, "Hi! These aren't mine."
I'm pretty sure I laughed at that.

I had a slumber party with Sophie. We rented The Jungle Book (the live people version), shared a chocolate cream pie shake from Sonic (Mmmmm), and squished in my bed all night. (I was shoved against the wall and she complained that she was falling off. She's like two inches wide. I really didn't think it would be that hard to fit us both.)

I went to the mall four times this week. I've got a very specific shopping list for Vegas next week and only small chunks of time in which to purchase these items. I must say though, I'm very proud of my progress.
I have a mission. My fashion life has taken a nosedive over the last two years. Ever since I started dispatching, I pretty much wear one of two things. My gawdawful uniform or pajamas. All I want to do on my days off is be comfortable. Comfortable does NOT equal cute.
I want to change things. I've purchased a variety of cute, quirky, and trendy items to jazz up my wardrobe. There is absolutely NO excuse for me looking dumpy whilst on vacation. If you catch me doing so, I expect a flogging from someone. (That means YOU!)

TIIIMEOUT!!!

How did I forget this?!?! The biggest news EVER!!

I got a new lens!
(Ok, I know what you're saying. You're saying that you've heard this before, but this time is a little different. This is the MACK DADDY of all lenses.)

NOW I remember why I haven't told you. I was going to take some pretty photos with it to show off what it can do. I DID actually take some photos of Chloe, but I haven't gotten around to editing them. Hopefully one of these days...
Just know that I can die happy now. I've found the meaning of life. It is owning this lens.

One minor note for anyone who cares, the official countdown is as follows: 4 days till Cali, 6 days till Vegas!

2008-02-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

Hey fellow photogs! These are a few samples of some RAW presets I've been working on and I'm looking for a little feedback. Download these for free, try them out, and let me know what you think!

Download b_w.xmp
Download blueberry.xmp
Download vanilla.xmp
Download gloomyb_w.xmp

(Free downloads will be available for 30 days.)

2008-02-20T19:22:00.000-08:00

So, no song of the week.
I don't know when my SOTW will return. The website I get the music from is taking a vacation.
:(

Here's a photo instead:

My fave from Alisa & Jake's E-session

2008-02-13T04:02:00.000-08:00

I paid off my car loan today. I'm so proud.
My bank account used to have four sections: Checking Account, Savings Account, Credit Card, and Car Loan. But now, you guessed it! It only has three!
I wonder how on top of this my bank is gonna be. I want the Title in my hands in 48 hours!
I should send them a video with an ultimatum. Poor quality, black and white, filmed in a dark basement somewhere. I'll talk in a whisper like I'm filming it in secret and my life is in danger. And I'll end the video by saying, "You have one day."
Wow, I'm tired. And bored.
Don't judge me. It's four in the morning.

2008-02-11T22:58:00.000-08:00

Finally! Something to report!!

Read about it here!

2008-02-06T23:15:00.001-08:00

I'm alive. I promise.

Until I have something to report, here's a video to keep you entertained. A little something I like to call Overreaction

2008-01-31T19:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of all things blog lately. I've been living in a fog of blah this month. Nothing exciting, nothing terrible, nothing to report at all. I'm entering the final leg of a four month stretch of graveyard shifts and it's definitely wearing on me. I move back to day shift in March and I hate to say this, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm not a huge fan of anything to do with early mornings, but it'll be nice to have a break.
Aubrey and I haven't had a whole lot of work since before the holidays, so we're ready to get back in the swing of things. We've had one family and two engagement shoots this month and they've been great, but we like being busy.
Anyone need any family/child/senior/wedding photos? We're looking for work so give us a call!

2008-01-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

Tonight we said farewell to our Beloved Prophet.
It's strange, because I almost can't remember a life without him guiding our Church. But I'm not sad, I'm jealous.
If anyone deserves to be in Heaven, it's him.

2008-01-21T04:51:00.000-08:00

I finally have an exciting story to tell!! I delivered a baby!
Ok, only on the phone, but still...my first one! It's a boy and his name is Tanner. He was born in a minivan on the side of the road and I was there (in spirit and voice) the whole time!
I always have wondered what my first one would be like. All I can say is that Mom and Dad were very calm (it was their 5th!), Baby came very quick, and it was all over very fast.
Now Walker and I can swap stories. Although I'd be very afraid if he remembered his.

2008-01-18T02:15:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to say that we survived. Barely.
Driving up to Park City, the temperature display on Aubrey's car said 6 degrees. I don't doubt that for a second.
We were very lucky that Main Street is full of shops that didn't mind us standing inside for a few minutes to thaw out. Annalee and Buck were troopers! They changed outfits a few times and only got to wear their jackets in between shooting. I felt so bad for them watching their ears and fingers get more and more red.
But I can definitely say it was totally worth it. Their photos turned out amazing!! Here's a little preview.

I haven't finished all the editing yet, so check my photo blog in the next few days to see them all.

2008-01-15T21:14:00.000-08:00

Hooray! We have officially booked our first wedding of the year. We met with the client today, things went great, and we got the contract signed. We should have two more official bookings this week, and there are a couple of maybes in the works.
Tomorrow we have two, count em, two engagement sessions and the temperature is supposed to be a grand total of 18 degrees. We're gonna be outside alllll day long. Park City in the morning and a farm in the afternoon. I really hope it works out okay, because I don't know of any couples who want red cheeks and runny noses in their wedding announcements.
I am really gonna feel bad for the couples. Aubrey and I can bundle up to high heaven and not give a crap about what we look like. We're not having our photo taken. I can't imagine trying to look cute in sub zero temperatures.
I'll definitely keep you updated on how it goes.

2008-01-12T00:12:00.000-08:00

Sophie has the blinkies.

I'm trying to get better at off-camera flash and who better to practice on? She begs me to take her photo and goes all super-model on me when I pull the camera out.

If it were only that easy...

The child cannot, CANNOT, keep her eyes open when the flash goes off. It is absolutely impossible for those little eyelids of hers.

I tried threatening her. "If you blink one more time..."
I tried tricking her. "Close your eyes. One, two, three, open!"
I tried begging her. "Please, PLEASE keep your eyes open."

As you can see, none of my tactics worked.

These are just a select few from this evening's adventure...there were many more.

We finally resorted to this.

And this.

2008-01-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

I am officially under the weather.
It's one of those "vicious cycle" kind of illnesses. I've been fighting a cold for the last week, so the congested, phlegm-ness doesn't help anything. I woke up with a killer headache this morning, so I took some magic pills. Well, now the magic pills are making me nauseous. I haven't eaten since yesterday, but I don't want to spend the whole night throwing up either. What to do...
(AND Mom made spaghetti for dinner tonight, complete with GARLICKY garlic bread. In one way it smells divine, in another way I'd rather go curl up with the dog. My nose and my stomach aren't agreeing on anything.)
To make matters worse, it's one of my very few days off. Why couldn't I get sick on a day that I work? Not fair.
I thought my flu shot would be enough to keep illness at bay. I was wrong.

In other news, Aubrey and I made it official last night. We're going to WPPI! That's Wedding and Portrait Photographers International for those of you not in the photo world. We'll be spending March 16-20 in Vegas Baby! We're rooming with an "internet friend" from Wisconsin. We're so psyched! It's going to be awesome and we're going to learn so much. You'll definitely be hearing about it in the months to come.

(P.S. Give it up for my 200th post! Woot!)

2008-01-04T01:55:00.000-08:00

The best thing about siblings: They have to model for you. All the time. For FREE!

Click here and here to see them large.

2008-01-04T00:55:00.000-08:00

SONG OF THE WEEK
Snow Patrol-Chasing Cars

2008-01-01T01:46:00.000-08:00

As a new year is beginning, I feel I should do some reflecting. I've been reading one of my favorite photo blogs tonight and there are words and feelings in it that strike me from half a world away. (Seriously, read the whole thing and tell me you don't want to stop everything to hug your family.)

I feel that I've grown as a person a lot this year. I've had trials and tears, happiness and joy, and everything in between. There are times I get lost in the day to day, but lately, I've become a person who can stop and look around. I notice beauty everywhere. I notice the grandness of the clouds, the way the moon peeks over the mountains, the way snowflakes sparkle in the sunlight.
I notice little things I never would have. I love that the best part of my day can be a phone call from my Dad or lunch with my Mom, watching a movie with Walker and Chloe or helping Sophie with her reading.

I'm so grateful for so many things.

I love that my parents still love each other. I love that they will always take care of me. I love that I'm on my own, but I know I can always come home.

I love that Taylor is my best friend. I miss him terribly, but I know he's where he's supposed to be. I love knowing that he misses me too.

I love that Walker is growing up. He's becoming smarter and more mature every day. I love that we hang out. We didn't used to.

I love that Chloe is girly. It makes me want to be more girly. I love that she gets excited when I buy a new purse. Boys are never excited about new purses.

I love that Sophie is at all. I love that I can spend a whole day with her and be happy. I love that every scrap of paper floating around my car has a Sophie drawing on it.

I could go on, but I think I've summed it up. I have a lot of blessings in my life. Great friends, a good job, an awesome hobby/business. All of my needs are met, but without my family, I have nothing.
It should be a great year.

2008-01-01T00:35:00.000-08:00

I guess it's time to take down my Christmas Wish List.

5 for 8. Not bad.
Overall, a pretty good holiday season. Ya, I had to work Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day AND New Years Eve. But hey, I got all Thanksgiving off. Counting my blessings I guess.

2007-12-30T04:18:00.000-08:00

Persistence.

It's good to know that eventually, if you hang in there, and keep yelling at them, this...

...and this...

...and this...

...and this...

...will eventually become this...

2007-12-26T01:52:00.000-08:00

So, this morning I found out what Sophie does when left alone.

2007-12-25T23:06:00.000-08:00

Aubrey and I decided to make Tracy's incredi-awesome cinnamon rolls. It was Christmas Eve and we both had to work, so we said, "Why not? If ever there was a reason to make them, it's now."
So, we hauled all the ingredients, KitchenAid mixer and all, into work and spent the night luring people into the room with smells of deliciousness.

We still actually had to do work from time to time so we couldn't spend all night in the kitchen. (It only has like two inches of counter space anyways, so we were probably better off.)
Luckily, it was a pretty slow night. We didn't kill anyone...I don't think.

We were afraid of getting flour all over everything in our less-than-ideal cooking environment, but we actually did pretty well. My blue pants were all white afterwards, but I think we managed to keep the mess out of the keyboards.

We had a hard time finding a plug for the mixer, seeing as there are ten billion computers and things that occupy our outlets. We found one shoved in a corner. It was awkward, but hey, we're flexible.

Don't worry. We 409ed the crap out of that desk when we were done.

Mmmmm...giant cinnamon rolls....

Even Jason helped. He didn't want to sit at home all night doing nothing, so we kept him company.
(Note: He's holding the reject pan.)

Gooey deliciousness. I couldn't finish mine. I think I got enough calories to last me until the New Year. But it was sooooo worth it.

2007-12-22T22:28:00.000-08:00

It's new lens day!
Again.

Cross another off my Christmas list.
Thanks, me.

2007-12-20T23:23:00.000-08:00

Every year my friends and I have a Christmas party/dinner/gift exchange and I noticed something interesting this year.
Either we are all very polite, over-exited gift receivers or we buy each other incredible, awe-inspiring gifts.

With reactions like that, you'd think we all just won the lottery. Or a new car.

Maybe we were all in a really good mood after our delicious, homemade dinner complete with bruschetta and creme brulee.

Naturally, I can't have my camera out with out attempting some artsy-fartsy photos.

And of course, I must share one of my jaw-dropping gifts. Cute, new camera strap! I love it.

(And no, I didn't think to take a photo of it before putting it on my camera. That would have been way too easy.)

2007-12-20T23:14:00.000-08:00

SONG OF THE WEEK
Rihanna-Unfaithful

2007-12-17T21:14:00.000-08:00

Ok, Walmart. Let's break it down.
You and I are tight and always will be.
I understand that it's the holidays and things are busy, but honestly. There's no room for laziness.

(please pardon the crappy camera phone)

2007-12-13T02:21:00.000-08:00

The Power of Post-Processing

The image on the left is SOOC (straight out of camera). The image on the right is my final product.
It's a little depressing when I think about it. I have all this expensive camera equipment and this is the best image it can give me??
Granted, conditions were not ideal when I took this shot. I was sitting on my bedroom floor at 3 AM, using only available light which included my overhead light and two Walmart lamps. Normally, I would have used my external flash, but Aubrey had borrowed it. I didn't think it was nice to bother her during the middle of the night, so I made due.
In looking at my SOOC shot, there are several things I notice right away. Probably the most obvious is the white balance. Way too yellow. I had my camera set on Auto which usually does an adequate job shooting outdoors, but I was indoors. It should have been set on Tungsten light. However, I shoot in RAW so that is something easily fixed.
Next, I notice that the photo is a little bit underexposed. I was working in a low light situation, but there were several things I did to help my exposure.
I was using my 50mm 1.8 lens. I shot wide open, meaning the largest aperture. I wanted to keep a narrow depth of field, while allowing the most amount of light I could. But, I kept my ISO low at 200. I could have bumped it up to 400 or even 600, but I wanted to keep the noise or grain very low. I knew I could correct it later, so I just compensated by using a tripod and holding very still. (How much that helped, I have no idea. It just felt like the right thing to do.)
The image also has virtually no contrast. It makes for a very boring photo. However, when I was going through all my shots, this one jumped out at me because I knew it had potential.
I did most of my editing in Adobe Camera Raw. I adjusted the white balance, exposure, and contrast very easily. I then added a vignette and opened the image in Photoshop. There I was able to clone out some stray hairs and the wrinkles on my forehead. A quick dodge over my eyes and the image was done.
It's nice to know the difference a little Photoshop action can make. It sure would be nice if my shots came out of the camera looking like this, but in my world, post-processing is the fun part. None of my photos see the light of day without passing through my digital darkroom.
No matter how good your photo, it can always use a little help. That, in my opinion, makes the difference between an average shot and an amazing shot.

2007-12-13T00:21:00.000-08:00

I was driving to Walmart tonight and was reminded of another very important rule for Sam's Exclusive I-Have-Christmas-Lights-That-Aren't-Tacky Club.

~Lights on a net can be used ONLY after completing a competency course i.e. tossing them on a bush ain't gonna cut it.

2007-12-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

Posted below is The Master List!!
Namely, a list of photographers who I love, who inspire me, and who totally intimidate me. I plan to keep it updated, so check back.
It is is mostly for my own use, but feel free to explore!

2007-12-11T19:27:00.000-08:00

THE MASTER LIST

Ardent Photography
Ash Imagery
Bare Baby
Beth Cupitt Photography
Beth Jansen Photography
Brenda Acuncius Photography
Brianna Graham
Brittany Woodall Photography
Bryan Niven
By Faith Photography
Captured by Carrie
Captured For Life Photography
Celebrate Life Photography
Christine Tremoulet
Decent Urban Lifestyle
Digital Izatt Photography
Don't Box Us In
Elizabeth Leighton Photography
Erica Berger Photography
Gwyneth Colleen Photography
Heavenly Portraits
Inspired Images by Nadia
Inspired Reflections Photography
Jefra Linn Photography
Jesh de Rox Experiential Photography
Jessica Claire Photography
Jessica Oatman Photography
Jessica Strickland Photography
JWL Photography
Kate McElwee Photography
Lara Jade Photography
Lauren Clark Photography
Leah Profancik Photography
Leigh Taylor Photography
Lily Blue Photography
Mariah M Photography
Mark Eric Photography
Marta Potoczek Fotografia
Melissa Brown Photography
Michelle Black Concepts
Miss Aniela Photography
Mist Photography
NicholeVan Photography
Open Field Photography
Photography by McKenzie
Pink Sugar Photography
Pinkle Toes Photography
Red Heart Photography
Sarah K Chen Photography
Sarah Maren Photography
Sarah Turner Photography
Sheye Rosemeyer Photography
Skye Johansen Photography
Still-Motion
Sweet Baby Photo
The Image Is Found Photography
Trash the Dress
Whitebox Weddings
Work of Heart Photography
Wynona Robison Photography

and of course...

Every Little Moment Photography

2007-12-10T22:41:00.001-08:00

So, it feels like winter. It's not technically winter for a few more days, but I tend to base the seasons by my wardrobe decisions. When I can finally unpack my 40 billion scarves and ten pairs of fingerless gloves, it's winter time. (I have a thing for scarves and fingerless gloves.)
Winter, obviously, means snow. There are a lot of things I love about snow. Sometimes I am in awe seeing what a few inches of white can do. I love how during a snowstorm it can be 3:00 AM and it will still be a little bit light outside. I love how the earth will sometimes be completely silent if snow is falling. Stepping out on the porch and not hearing a thing can be the best sound in the world. Snow on tree branches and balanced on fence posts? I love it.

However.

There are a great many things I despise about winter. Scraping off my windshield, frozen fingers, wet pant legs, being cold in general...
And don't even get me started about driving in the snow. Not only do I drive an un-4 wheel drive car, but put some snow on the roads and everyone thinks they can drive like an idiot.
I think we all remember what happened last year. I'm bound and determined not to let THAT happen again.
Which brings me to my next point. Last Sunday, the City of Orem had 29 traffic accidents in 4 hours. I hate driving to work in a blizzard, knowing my next 10 hours are going to be hell and not being able to do a thing about it.

Now, I hate being judgemental, but it's things like this, this, and this that make me want to move to Aruba. It puts me in a bad mood to see a house that looks like it was barfed on by the Ghost of Christmas Lights Past. I am so picky about what makes good Christmas lights, I should start a club. Only a select few are allowed to join.

Sam's Exclusive I-Have-Christmas-Lights-That-Aren't-Tacky Club.
~No icicle lights
~No flashing lights
~No multi-colored lights
~No multi-colored, flashing, icicle lights
~No inflatable lawn ornaments
~No light-up deer that are pretending to eat your grass
~No giant manger scenes
~White lights on houses ONLY, preferably large bulbs
~Colored lights on trees allowed ONLY if the whole strand is the same color
~Wreaths are allowed on doors and windows, can be lit with white lights

These are the basic rules. Any other questions will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Request to join the club should include color photos of your home from at least five angles and a two page essay explaining why you think you deserve to be accepted.

2007-12-07T03:15:00.000-08:00

SONG OF THE WEEK
Michelle Featherstone-Coffee and Cigarettes

2007-12-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

It's official!
(The dot means he's the new guy.)

See how happy he is?
(Check out his hair. It's combed!)

They kept making us walk through different doors. Missionaries in one...

Families through the other...

Then back together again.

But not for long.

There's more to the story, but I couldn't take pictures past this point.
Summing it up, we have an Elder in the Johnson family. He'll be in the MTC for three weeks, departing for Florida on December 26th.
If you'd care to send him letters, here ya go:

Elder Taylor Johnson
MTC Mailbox #190
FL-TAL 1226
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793

2007-12-02T02:48:00.000-08:00

Check me out!

Or make your own.

2007-11-29T19:53:00.000-08:00

I was planning on a "Please send love and healing energy to my Uncle Cameron as he undergoes surgery today" post, but I forgot to do it this morning.
The surgery is now over and it appears that all that love and healing energy did its job.
Clayton has the good news update, so pop on over there for more details.

2007-11-23T23:15:00.001-08:00

Sundancing

This is a submission for a self portrait contest. Not half bad I think...

I don't typically do my self portraits outdoors, but I was going for a "something-greater-than-myself" feel that I don't think I could've gotten in my living room.
I rather like the result. I might have to venture outdoors more often.
Before I go, I must give credit where credit is due. Thank you to my baby brother Taylor for helping me out with this photo and not making fun of me as I was dancing and twirling in front of him.

2007-11-21T23:44:00.000-08:00

As you know, I don't cook. Or if you don't know, you do now.
Personally, I think it's a waste of time.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all about good food. I just prefer to pay someone to cook it for me.
With that being said, I was in a mood today. A cooking mood. Weird, I know.
So, I suggest that you savor this moment, because these are likely the only recipes I will ever be sharing.
They are two of my most holiday favorites, btw.

Frozen Fruit Salad

~1 bag mini marshmallows
~2 cans crushed pineapple
~5 bananas
~2 bags frozen strawberries
~1 pint whipping cream

Combine marshmallows and pineapple in bowl. Let sit overnight.
Mix in remaining ingredients.
Spoon into paper-lined muffin tins.
Freeze.
(Makes approx. 4 dozen)

Pumpkin Roll

Cake
~2/3 cup pumpkin
~1 cup sugar
~3/4 cup flour
~3 eggs
~1 tsp lemon juice
~2 tsp cinnamon
~1/2 tsp nutmeg
~1 tsp baking powder
~dash of salt

Icing
~1 cup powdered sugar
~8 oz cream cheese
~1/4 cup butter
~1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all cake ingredients together.
Grease and flour cookie sheet. (Well)
Pour mixture into pan and spread with spatula.
Bake for 12-15 min.
Remove from oven and immediately overturn onto dishtowel sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Roll up cake with towel and freeze approx 30 min.
Mix icing ingredients.
Unroll cake and frost with icing.
Re-roll without towel.
Freeze 1-2 hours.

2007-11-17T23:49:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it?!?! Neither can I.
I have a decent photo of my brother!

Wow. He's not sticking out his tongue, or wrinkling his forehead, or rolling his eyes...
I don't know what to think. I'm stunned.

It's hard to believe that he's leaving in 17 days. Don't tell him this, but I think I might miss him.
A little.

2007-11-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

My webcounter hit 3,000 this week.
Technically I have more hits than that. I didn't start webcountering for about six months.
But still, it feels like a milestone.

2007-11-11T20:08:00.001-08:00

Here is my effort in the fight for world peace.
I've donated 860 grains of rice so far.
I love making a difference.

2007-11-11T04:52:00.000-08:00

I took a leap today. I big, splurging leap.
It was worth every single penny.
Isn't it beautifully sexy?

I am so completely broke, but SO productive. It's 6:00 am and I have been busy all night long. I've gotten so many photos done tonight, it should be illegal. Graveyards will be so much more bearable now.
I've been quite frustrated lately, having so much work to do. No computer or internet at my apartment, combined with no Photoshop at work means I spend a great deal of free time using up my dad's internet. I never have time to do my laundry, grocery shopping, or dishes. I never even see my roommates.
Oh, you better believe all that's about to change.

2007-11-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

Um...

Does anyone else find Dave Navarro a strange spokesperson for Vaseline??
I don't get it.

2007-11-06T02:45:00.000-08:00

I was doing some reflecting today.
I'm back on graveyards again, so I have a lot of free time. I went back and looked at all the photos on my Flickr stream.
I cannot BELIEVE how much I've learned this year. I was looking at my earlier photos and just cringing at some of them. The awful white balance, the over-photoshopped skin, the boring black and whites...
There is so much I would change now.
I remember being so proud of my mad skillz. I obviously didn't know how little I knew. (Does that make sense?)
I often find myself thinking, "I'm not really that great. I want to be amazing, but I'm just average."
But to go back and look at everything I've created this year, it helps reminds me. There are some images that I am really proud of.
I hope I'm never fully satisfied. I want to always do better. I hope to be constantly learning, constantly improving. There is so much knowledge out there. I've only scraped the surface.

2007-11-05T23:01:00.000-08:00

Today was new camera day!!

And new lens day!!

I expect great things out of this pair. I don't think I'll be disappointed.

Cross two off my wish list.

2007-10-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

I finally had time to do a self portrait that I'm proud of today. My recent ones have been a little lackluster.

I love an empty house. With no one around, my creative doors get THROWN open.

2007-10-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

I'm posting my Christmas wish list.
I don't actually plan on receiving anything from this list, seeing as every item is in the hundreds of dollars range.
So don't laugh.
It's just for my own purposes.

However, feel FREE to prove me wrong.

2007-10-14T15:15:00.001-07:00

SONG OF THE WEEK
Melanie C-Carolyna

2007-10-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

Ooh man, this is brutal.

2007-10-06T11:29:00.001-07:00

Just a minor note, I have a new blog!

everylittlemomentphoto.blogspot.com

This is where Aubrey and I will document all things photographic. So stop by!

2007-10-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Johnson:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the...

Florida, Tallahassee Mission!

2007-10-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

I'm home. Another successful, much-needed vacation completed.
I don't have much energy to write. (11 hours in the car will do that to you...)
I will say that the weather was lovely, Wicked was awesome (again), Magic Mountain was insane, the beach was beautiful, and the drive was loooong.

However; progress! Much has been accomplished in my absence. Most importantly...drumroll please...
OUR WEBSITE IS LIVE!

Check it out!

www.everylittlemomentphotography.com

2007-09-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

I got a new lens!
Holla.

It's not near a delicious as Aubrey's lens, but hey. I'm making progress in the nice camera equipment department.
And I saved like $100 by getting it from ksl.com
I am such a bargain shopper, I can't even stand it.

2007-09-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

The time has come. Taylor has submitted his mission papers and now we are waiting.
Care to hazard a guess?
I'd offer a prize, but I can't guarantee anything.
So...please submit your answers and I shall announce the winner as soon as we know.
(I'll try to think of a good reward for the winner, but don't hold your breath.)

P.S. My guesses are Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, France, or Spain.
(I get a lot of guesses because, well, it's my blog.)

2007-09-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

The countdown begins!
Again.
In exactly 15 days I will be in Los Angeles, California. At exactly 8:00 pm, Pacific Standard Time, I will be at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, California. At exactly 8:00 pm, Pacific Standard Time in Los Angeles, California, I will be viewing Wicked, The Musical live.
Again.
Yes, it's true. You heard me correctly. I'm going AGAIN!
Mom, Dad, Taylor, and I are taking a happy-21st-birthday-to-Sam-let's-go-before-Taylor-leaves-on-his-mission excursion to So. Cal at the end of this month.
Six Flags, Wicked, the beach, cousin Jayson's homecoming, and much, much more are on the agenda.
I'm way excited.
AND, the countdown isn't near as long this time around.

2007-09-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, what the crap is this?

Only the worst Photoshop mess ever!
I have never seen someone shaped like that in my whole life. (Except for maybe Giada, but that's a different story.)
What, pray tell, is glamorous about sticking alien arms onto a football player's shoulders and sticking that on a pre-pubescent Lindsay Lohan?
I don't get it.