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What a beautiful day for....

..just about anything you choose to do outside. Jackson (I love this name and it suits him) was out for a little pony riding. (I love ponies too!) He just made my morning. Such a cute little pony rider!

If I can.

If I can ease some of your pain and suffering for just a while, it also makes me feel better too. I am a nurse.
If I can capture a moment that makes your heart swell each time you see it before you, then my journey has a solid path. I am a photographer.

Meet Bob...

Bob is an amazing guy. I love him. I don't think I have ever seen him not smiling. He really knows how to enjoy life. And he is a guy with a big BIG heart. Recently, Bob decided to show support and raise money for children with cancer by shaving his head. I should have a before picture, but alas (wait-maybe I do)

I found one! But you can't see his thick lustrous hair beneath the hat....oh well, you can imagine.







And this is Bob today....(now a few talking points first) I'm sorry Bob that the lighting isn't just quite what it should be. I am not a 5 minute corporate headshot gal-YET- but I'll get there. Plus, I was going on one hour of sleep. Ugh! This has never really happened to me and I still feel pretty crummy and have a BUNCH of stuff to do today with, you guessed it, NO energy to muster up at all. Those Rock Star drinks really do work. The "Recovery" one is my recent favorite. I apparently "recovered" myself all the way to the next day. (getting a bit off course)
I am also not happy about the wrinkled backdrop/reflector that I thought I could smooth out in post. Can you iron a reflector?
All that aside- you look amazing!! My camera loves you- and I do too!










And you can see here that Bob is now a FORCE to be reckoned with. He has a new persona and he wears it well- it does not wear him. YE-OWWWW!!





Here is Bob's side of it... please check out his link. I have worked with cancer patients for many years, but I know that I don't have the courage to work with kids. I would cry everyday. There is nothing more important than helping children everywhere.


"I was looking in Vegas Weekly to see what concerts were coming to Vegas
during our stay for the homicide conference. I observed an ad for an
event at the Nine Fine Irishman's Pub at New York New York Hotel which
was being put on by www.stbaldricks.org. The event was asking people to
collect donations and have their head shaved for children's cancer
research. The head shave resembles the loss of hair that patients
suffer as a result of treatment. Since I needed a haircut anyway, it
seemed like a good idea. In less than a week, several family members
and friends donated $370.00 towards the cause.

I had never heard of this, but apparently this occurs every year and
Irish Pubs around the country. It was a really nice event with Irish
bands playing right on the strip along with cocktails and beers. I plan
to get several people together for this event next year. I figure if I
can raise $370.00 in a few days with nothing more than an email, than
how much can be raised with more time, a little competition and a
celebration involving liquor at the end.

Additionally, even those that don't want to shave their head can sign up
to be shavers instead and collect the donations that way. I do not have
any greater tie in to children's cancer than anyone else, but it seems
like a very worthy cause that effects us all."

Bob

You can help Bob raise some more for kids by clicking on his link right HERE!
and you can keep your hair....

The EVENT for all my friends at WPPI in VEGAS

Have a fabulous day....

Fifty years...

Fifty years. Fifty. Think of it. Most of us celebrate this milestone when we cross this number on our birthday. Fifty. Fifty years of love. Fifty years of laughter. Fifty years of holding your hand and feeling soooo much better when we do. After fifty years, I believe that other hand you hold must become an extension of your own. So familiar. So much love. So much life wrapped up in two lives together for fifty years. This is so uncommon in California, the land of no fault divorce and people who just don't have patience or will to stay together, for five years, no less fifty. So when I come across it, I just think, "Wow, well done." It must feel so wonderful to be married for fifty years. Norma and Rex will let you know.

But I'll tell you what. When I have been married fifty years, I am going to wear that accomplishment like a shining tiara on my head. I am going to shout it out to everyone who wants to know, or doesn't want to know. I think it's that good.
















We captured some group shots of this party before anyone was able to leave. Such a fun group of people to help them celebrate. Such an awesome night to be a part of.



Thank you for the memories and this goal to strive for. Thank you for showing everybody how true love is done.

Lettuce alone.

I have been back to the gym. It feels great to be working out more regularly once again. Finally met up with Miss R today and she punished me because I talked her into 30 more minutes of cardio than she was planning. I usually would have been satisfied with my workout at that point but, oh no, we were not done yet. Weights. Weights were waiting; waiting to push little muscle fibers that haven't been pushed in a while. And I'm sure all those little muscle fibers were happy to be doing just what they are supposed to do- tomorrow is another story altogether. We'll just see if they are still singing my praises. Eventually, this will all be good again. Does anyone else ever look around the gym and spy that person with that perfect figure and think, "I am SO going to look like that in a few weeks, months, whatever. I am SO going to look like THAT!" Thank you to all those gals in the gym inspiring me into pain and sweat. I really do thank you.
And I have taken to salads again. I love salad. I hate making them. I love salad bars. But, seriously, you can make a pretty fattening salad at a salad bar. So, I made my own. Don't need the temptation of cornbread, dessert, and all the rest of the non salads at the bar. The funnest thing about making a salad is watching my dumb dog sit under my feet waiting any morsel to fall. You would lose fingers if you tried to get those morsels before he did. He is lightening fast about it.
I have never seen any dog get more excited about a piece of lettuce than my dog. Even I don't want to eat lettuce without any dressing on it. My dog- my dog runs off with an entire piece of romaine lettuce as if you just handed him the juiciest bone in the world. And then eats it as fast as he can, for fear someone may want it back. Trust me Kona, that is all yours now. I need dressing. I just don't like my lettuce alone.





And an even more common view in my house, paper. Paper destroyed. Thoroughly. In seconds. Oh well. I can recycle it.

still thankful...

So I realized that I haven't been posting my "thankful" thoughts recently. I still do it, still think about at least five things I am thankful for every day, just haven't been putting it up here.
This morning I am thankful I woke up before my alarm. Everyday I wake up to "The Girl from Ipanema". It makes me smile (don't ask me why- I don't know) , but it can really stick with you.
I am thankful to be in workout mode- even though I am typing this while I should be "working out". Hmmmm.
I am thankful that I didn't throw up after a sucked some kind of long legged skinny bug straight down my throat while I was running the other day. It didn't stand a chance. I guess they call it sucking wind for a reason. Although, I was sucking bugs.
I am thankful to have found love- the big "please come home soon-I really am not the same when you aren't here-I miss you deeply- kind of love, TWICE. Same guy, but found it twice.

Ok....so please come home soon- I am not the same when you aren't here.

Happy Tuesday!

(what-no picture-rip off)

Dream BIG!

This little chica has big dreams of being the next Hannah Montana-but BETTER! Much better. I think she can do it~
She's teaching me to dream BIG!

Mama's boy

This little guy is the ultimate mama's boy. His whole face lights up when she talks to him.......see for yourself.

True confession #2

As much as I hate to admit it, there are days where I think, "hooray for stretchy clothes!"

have a great stretchy clothes Monday!!


(and as much as you would like a picture of that-I will refrain)

Rain, rain....

go ahead and stay for awhile.....



Hope you are able to make the best of it!

Sock monkeys of the world unite!

I really try not to post images late at night because sometimes I wake up the next day and cringe. (my own worst critic)
But I've this gusto for failure lately- not that I want to fail, but I have heard, read, thought that, if I am not failing, I am not
trying or learning, so I am kind of at peace with it. Kind of. And I am just a complete sucker for all things monkey!

True confession #1

I like the word hodge~podge. A lot. Saying it makes me smile. And it really isn't easy to use in every day conversation so there is no imminent danger of over use. I once bought a bag of frozen vegetables at Trader Joe's because it was called "Hodgepodge". I walked down the frozen food aisle with a BIG smile on my face.

As promised...

....and certainly her little brother is no slouch either....wearing just the tiniest of a kool~aid mustache, he is still one of the coolest little kids I know. Actually, he is probably the only one who can pull it off.





Thanks for stopping by.

And today, I am grateful for the person who invented gummy vitamins. It's like candy that is good for you and I never forget to eat them. Starting off the day with candy....now who can beat that?!

practice practice practice

...is what I was doing the other day. Many thanks Miss A. More of her super fun shoot later today.


Big Happy Birthday to the sweetest gal, Winter today!! Not sure if you'll read this here, but if you do, I love you and you inspire me to always be a better person. Hope you are having a spectacular day! And can't wait to catch up with you when you get back.

xxoo
Sissel

Stop to eat the flowers...

Kona is helping me get some practice in today...later I may hit the streets and start borrowing kids. He's getting a little bored with all the attention. He does get lots of treats though. Except now, he expects one after each click of the shutter. Repositioning a dog after every shot is tiring, especially when I am on my belly trying to get a low angle. I ran out of treats pretty quickly. But being the vegan he is, he was just as happy eating the flower. Which leads me to a new saying....when life gives you a beautiful gerber daisy, just eat it all up.

Water, water everywhere and I ran out of steam.

"Here is the test to find out whether or not your mission on earth is finished: If you are alive, it isn't.

~Richard Bach




Forgive me internet, for I have sinned. It has been almost 30 days since my last blog post.

I admit it. December, with all the joy it brings, laid me out flat. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not complaining. It was fun. January has kept me
very busy as well. Lots of stuff to catch up with and my camera has been lonely and neglected. Well, just about everything has been neglected. Thank god for the rain cause the plants outside were beginning to cry for water. Too bad I didn't put the indoor plants outside. There isn't a better reminder than looking across a room at a once beautiful, full green lush plant that is now hanging limply, yellowing, dropping leaves, and near death, to remind you that you have stopped paying attention to life in your own home. Ugh. In the midst of burning the candle at both ends, running to work and running out of state, I ran out of steam. And there are still five days to go....then hopefully, hopefully, I'll have a grip on things. (probably not but I can hope)

Sooooo....2010! Yahooooo! Already off to a great start with the election in Massachusetts. Talk about hope. Now we can hope.

I am not inclined to New Years Resolutions anymore. I have realized that with every New Years Resolution I have made, I have not kept it. I resolve not to resolute. Better, I will just make goals. Seems more practical. One goal for this year is to be worthy. Uh....worthy? Of what?
I would like to be worthy of your time spent here. If it means I made you laugh, cry, grow in some small way, added meaning to your life in some large or small way, brought something to you that you didn't know about, or just made you smirk, burp, and move on...at least you cleared some air, right? My lofty goal for the year.....now don't be leaving me a message saying "you're not worthy"- I am working on it. I know.

With all the sadness the situation in Haiti has brought, it also brings us together to give and help, something Americans do better than any other country in the world, (it's who we are. Be proud) Still, you can't forget about Africa and the need for charity, education, and the basics of life that they so desperately need and don't have. One organization I learned more about over Christmas is Acirfa. They provide bikes and much needed transportation to the people in Africa. They are changing lives one bike at a time and have been doing so for a while now. Just another fine example of how a few people with a big idea are changing the world for better. There are lots of ways to be involved. You can buy a bike or make a simple donation. But I hope you check out their site, and be sure to pass it on. Along with this, come Jingas. Jingas are made by a local artist in Africa and are being sold to raise money for bikes. We received a Jinga for Christmas. He sits proudly displayed in my room, a lovely reminder of the people half a world away.


Today, I am sharing my Jinga with you....aren't you feeling better already? You can pick up your own Jinga right here




Now, I have to go dust and water some plants.