Baby Ashton---Santa Rosa Beach Photographer--photography

Ashton was born almost two months early, and had a special condition in the womb. The little guy has undergone some procedures and surgery, has been poked and pricked and has thrived and is home now after 65 days in the NICU in Pensacola.
He will be three months old in a couple of days, and Momma and Daddy are proud to say that he is a bit over 9 pounds now, and is developing his own little personality. He is their little "peanut" and they know that God has awesome plans for his life.
God bless you Ashton!

Destin/Santa Rosa Beach--photography

Julie and Tim own a local pet store in Santa Rosa Beach--Furry Fanatics--where they sell top of the line pet foods and cookies and pet accessories. They are a couple who relocated here from Atlanta, and opened the store over a year ago.  When you meet them, you feel like you have found a long lost friend.
Last year they lost their beloved Gracie. While Gracie lives on in their hearts, I created a slideshow of her life for them to cherish.

Rest in peace, Gracie!

Help for aching muscles, etc....personal post

I am all about learning of new things/ideas...new recipes, new editing programs, new photog tips, new closet design ideas (thanks Pinterest)...
So when I had a leg injury, I was ELATED to find something that worked...something that didn't involve prescription drug or surgery.

About a year ago I pulled something in my right thigh. All I did was lift my leg to tie my tennis shoe (to go jogging) and SNAP! Felt like a rubber band pop. It didn't really hurt right then...the only way I can describe it the first day or two was that it felt like I needed to stretch my thigh. Then, about the third day--WHAMO! I couldn't get out of the bed! I could not put weight on it, nor could I use crutches to keep my weight off it because it was excruciating to even bend it to keep it off the ground.
After a bit of bed rest and hobbling, I mentioned it to friends and someone recommended acupuncture. Well, I was all about holistic medicine, because, as I said before, there ain't no way (hehe) this gal was going to go under the knife, if that may have been the case. So off to acupuncture I went last February to Dr. Wu at Healing Arts in Miramar Beach. 
After reading through his notebook of testimonials, boy was I impressed. Acupuncture really didn't hurt at all, and I believe it helped somewhat. But I only went for about a month, and then got so busy with photography that I didn't take the time to go anymore. Until this past October.
I have been going every week through present (with the exception of a couple of weeks over the holidays) and it continues to help...not as much pain. And by the way, my massage therapist and my husband's chiropractor both came up with what my problem must be....a strained IT band...google it, cause I had never heard of it!
But then.....TRUMPETS SOUNDING!!!! I mentioned my condition to my sweet neighbor Angie (a physical therapist assistant) just last weekend, and she said, "I can wrap it...I have some tape."
Well, I'm thinking, tape like an ace bandage. Wrong.

This tape is called Kinesio tape...according to the website kinesiotaping.com, ..."The Kinesio Taping® Method is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion as well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation..Kinesio® Tex Tape alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin.  This lifting affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial space and allowing for a decrease in inflammation of the affected areas."
Not sure what all that just meant, but I am a walking example that it works!  There is less pain in a week than in a year of acupuncture!
So I googled the tape, and see pictures of how all sorts of athletes are being taped, runners are taped for marathons, and on and on. If anyone out there has arthritis, I would google to see if it would help that. And my friend Angie, well she said she tried it on back pain and it alleviated it within a day.

Kinesio Tex Tape

You can order it online and there are videos of the application on youtube.  And there are colors choices...black, pink, blue and tan. I don't know...next time I think I'll be brave and go for the pink. Fashion statement!!

New Year, New Goals....personal

I had lunch with a friend today whom I haven't had the chance to catch up with since before Christmas.

It seems both our worlds have been hectic, planning things to come in 2012. Mary Kay is an incredible jewelry designer who uses antique and vintage objects in her pieces.

We caught up on one anothers lives...and in our shared passion of everything BRAVO tv...Real Housewive of Beverly Hills (yes, Kim is a hot mess!), It's a Brad, Brad World, Real Housewives of Atlanta...well, you get the idea.

Then she and I discussed how we approach a new year. We both agreed that we don't make resolutions, but rather goals. That seems more attainable; more positive; more exciting that dreadful!

And reaching those goals for me, anyway, begins a week with a "to do" list, broken down in to such a list for each day. That helps to keep me focused, with my eyes on my goals, so as not to get distracted when I get a phone call or an email.

And that is how I roll...! :-)

Favorite things...personal...photographer Destin, Santa Rosa Beach

These are a few of my favorite things...Every Christmas I pick up some unique items--either before or after Christmas at sales.

This year my favorites are---the battery powered tea lights. No worries about burning down the house!!! I bought these for $1 for a pack of three from Dollar Tree. I thought--dollar store--surely these won't work very well, if at all. But boy was I wrong!!! These state that they will burn for 60 hours, and I believe it!

There were a couple of nights that I forgot to turn off the switch, and they kept on going. After Christmas, I went back and bought some more, and put in storage for next year.



My other find was a pack of "Scent sticks" at Walmart. You hang these on your tree--whether real or artificial--and they have a scent of evergreen. They truly work.  I found them in the Walmart in Destin, when I checked out in the garden scenter.  They were hanging by the register


And my third favorite thing to use this Christmas was the ornament holders I found on sale last year at Target. Didn't see them this year, but keep on the look out in the future. These things are Amazing, and stay on the tree so well!!

Oh, and did I mention....I have bought so much wrapping paper on sale for 75% off in recent years (I didn't have to this year) that I don't have to buy wrapping paper for Christmas for the next three years, at least.  Same with Christmas cards....even though I didn't sent out any this year!!! Got too busy!

Christmas 2011---personal, Santa Rosa Beach photographer

As we welcomed in the new year, I knew it was time to put away Christmas 2011. Christmas is a favorite holiday for my husband and me, so we/I go all out with the decorations. It took me 2 weeks to get all my decorations in place, and about a week to put them away.
I have collected Santa Claus ornaments and statues for 25 years. Every year during that period, I have tried to find unique Santas, and mostly after Christmas at the sales!
Since Craig and I married 7 years ago, we began collecting nativity scenes and Christmas trees.

This year, I decided my collecting is pretty much over, seeing how we have run out of room to display things! Unless, of course, I find something at an after Christmas sale that I can't live without!!

Photographer--Destin, Santa Rosa Beach

This family from Alabama has become friends over the last several years, after I photographed one of their daughter's weddings in 2008. They are near and dear to me, and I actually captured their togetherness on Christmas day!