We chatted about business, brainstormed fresh ideas, spoke sweetly about the amazing people we had met, belted out Dashboard Confessional lyrics that lingered in the air as our minds were wide open and our hearts soared.  We left Vegas with a new determination that was bigger than either of us had imagined.  With a smile on our faces and a twinkle in our eyes, we planned, we set goals and we made promises.  Those 279 miles lifted us to new heights.

As I closed my eyes the lyrics floated out of the radio and the stars twinkled above us.  That moment I will never forget.  We drove with a renewed sense of direction, a dream that was touchable and conviction that was indestructible.  With my hand in his, we rounded the corner to a new vision, a new destination and on our way there, we drove passed mile marker 108.

Mike Colon has been a photographer that I have followed since I started.  His work is inspiring, his branding is untouchable and he is humble despite his amazing success.  His workshop has been on my "must do" list for the past year and a half.  When I heard he was holding one in Vegas the same time I would be there for WPPI - there was no question I was going.

As I sat in my chair in his hotel suite along with eleven other photographers, I realized the amount of pressure I had put on this day.  Part of me reminded myself that it was silly...that there was no way I would walk away a better photographer, making more money and booking up the next three years in the next week all in one day.  I smiled to myself, took a deep breath and gave Mike my full attention....

When I said goodbye last night after dinner with the entire group, I turned to my husband with a smile draped across my face.  I looked at him and said, "today just changed my life".  Jarett kissed me on the forehead and we walked hand in hand down the strip back to our hotel.  As Jarett was soaking up the lights, the cool evening breeze and the ridiculous amount of "interesting" people, I was thinking over the entire day in my head.  The hands-on camera tips, the marketing strategies, the gorgeous stylized desert shoot...I was a sponge that had soaked up fifteen hours of "Mike Colon magic".  I was an artist who had been rejuvinated with insight, confidence and encouragement. 

Maybe I'm not a better photographer after one day and maybe the next three years of my life won't be booked up in the next week, but last night I was happy.  I was happy that I am blessed to do what I love.  And as I walked hand in hand with Jarett down the busy streets of Las Vegas, I walked with a smile draped across my face.

Thank you, Mike.  Thank you for everything.

No need to fear, all is well.  I am fine and this blog will continue it's regular scheduled programming after this message.  Anywho, you can see how it might have been difficult to get on here and I have felt so guilty.  But I am here now and that's what counts, right?  Right.

I have several shoots to post coming up that I am so excited for all of you to see.  I also went ahead and updated the website...err...re-designed...same difference.  We all know I have a problem in this area.  I need a 12 step program.  There is always bigger and better and I am hunting it down.  Anyway, I hope you all like it.

And the biggest happening...Jarett and I are making our way to Las Vegas tonight to begin our WPPI experience.  I have been looking forward to this week for months and I have put a lot of pressure on it to be amazing.  Amazing classes, meeting some fabulous peeps and the best part...Mike Colon's workshop.  Bliss!  Cannot wait to tell you guys all about it!

Be sure to follow the blog closely this week.  I may be gone, but I will be posting about the WPPI experience as it happens.  Stay tuned for some eye candy and some hilarious vids of me and the hubs.  Good laughs will be had for sure.

Stay classy, San Diego.

Miss Blake sat in the back with her double ear infection and Tanner leaned his head against his seat staring out the car window with a sore throat and weak voice.  The two have coughed a million coughs, sneezed a million sneezes and have cuddled with extreme vigor the past 48 hours.  Always a bittersweet moment for a mother - sick and miserable children who come with arms open and unusual amounts of patience for their mother's squeezes.  Bliss.

As we drove, we enjoyed each other's company.  Jarett and I talked about our days, the kids giggled with eachother from the back seat and we all joined into a rousing rendition of "Old McDonald Had a Farm".  The time spent together was already perfection in it's own humble way.  As we sat in line at In N' Out awaiting our favorite strawberry milkshakes, the subject quickly turned to what Tanner wanted to be when he grows up.  Dad in his typical "dad fashion" joked about some obviously funny options and we all giggled.  From the back seat Tanner explained that none of Dad's suggestions were correct and ended up saying that he wanted to be a doctor who helps animals.  We all smiled and agreed that indeed would be a perfect fit.  Tanner loves animals.

I inched my way towards the window and as I pressed on my brake, I heard Tanner say, "But I want to be something else too.  I want to be a firefighter.  I want to be a firefighter so I can help people."  And that was it.  This profound and mature statement coming from the mouth of a three year old that hit me to the core.  To think his young mind would think something so amazing was something that only a mother could appreciate.  My eyes began to burn and my lip began to quiver.  My heart was aching for so many reasons.  My "baby" was able to think such mature ideas.  My first born is growing, learning and understanding.  And more than I ever gave him credit for.  He gets it.  He gets what life is about.  It's a simple thing, but he gets it.

I thanked the young man who handed us our milkshakes and I pulled out of the parking lot and back onto the road.  I listened to the kids and Jarett sip happily on their frosty beverages and start talking about big trucks and what they did today at home.  I sat there, smile on my face, as I thanked God for giving me one of the most amazing people I have ever known.  As a mother, you can only question why you would be blessed with such an incredible gift.  And you wonder if you are even doing a good enough job, but somehow, these little ones remember our good moments and forget the mistakes.  They grasp the important things and laugh at the goofy.  And there we sit in these moments, astounded at the glimpse we have into their minds and thankful for the peek into their hearts.

We went to get milkshakes and Tanner changed my world.  He may be small, but he has big dreams.  Big dreams that will change the world. 

I believe our medal count is 25 with Germany close behind.  Catch all of the updates here.  Looking forward to one more week of action.  P.S. I will NEVER understand the ice dancing (figure skating is where it's at) as well as the skiers that shoot things.  Whhaaa?

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In other random news...

I enjoyed some hummus and whole wheat crackers today.  Made my day...possibly my whole week.  I'll report if that statement is true at the end of the next six days.

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WPPI is in less than two weeks and I am so excited.  Beyond excited.  Super-duper-stoked-to-all-heck-awesomely-chomping-at-the-bit-to-get-to-Vegas-and-enjoy-all-the-radtastic-times.  Yes, I said super duper.  It will be an awesome experience.  Highlight of it: Mike Colon's workshop.  Cannot. Wait.  If you are going leave me some comment love and hopefully we will meet face to face during the WPPI awesomeness.

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It was my mother-in-law's birthday on Sunday and she doesn't look a day over 39.  Congratulations to her.  Love you, Judy!

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Can we talk about the following commerical for a moment?  Does anyone find anything absolutely disturbing about it?!

I lost sleep over that one...

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And the Tiger Woods public apology?  Can we say rehearsed and scripted?  I sure hope the writer of it shed some tears because it. was. riveting.  [insert extreme sarcasm here]

Hope everyone had a fantastic Monday!

And in case you are needing a little bit of inspiration to make sure this accessory is absolutely dazzling, you must head over to Etsy and check out Davie and Chiyo.  Their unique clutches offer a beautiful option for all brides who are in the market for a killer clutch.  Davie and Chiyo screams vintage, classy and fashionable.  And the plus is that they offer custom designed clutches as well as interior personalizing on each clutch.  Fabulous!

Check them out here.

Happy Sunday!

The image speaks for itself.  Hopefully the pain, darkness, anxiety and sheer mental exhaustion is conveyed in full after you look at the image.  Yes, friends...the past few days I have spent in darkness.  An awful place that I refuse to go again.  And that place would be Wordpress.

The very mention of the word sends chills down my spine and makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.  I embarked on a journey that I thought would bring me sheer bliss and SEO riches and it took a turn for the worse.  It took a turn into the abyss that is DNS, servers, hosting, configuration, customization....

We musn't discuss it any further.  I have rid myself of the demons that bear that 'W' logo and I will not bring myself back to where they linger.

A very simple lesson was learned through all of this...if you are not tech savvy and refuse to hire someone to do it for you then turn away from Wordpress and all it's deceitfulness.  I have found the light again.  Oh, Squarespace...thank you for welcoming me back with open arms, warm chocolate chip cookies and a user-friendly system.  Thank you for pulling me from the dark depths of Wordpress despair.  I will not turn my back on you again...

And now, back to your regular scheduled programming...