Count your Blessings Tuesday #29

Today I am grateful for:

• C.  He's awesome.  'Nuff said.
• 28 days of working out *almost* every day!
• medicine... I am sure that without it, this would def. be worst.
• a little boy who reminds me every day to just let go and have fun and "go crazy, go crazy!"
• two more days until freedom  Spring Break
• the excitement a photo shoot brings (can't wait 'till Saturday!)

Ever have those moments when...

you have so many thoughts and random things to write about but you sit at the computer and just stare at the screen waiting for the words to come out and they never do?  Yeah, me too.

Date Night @ the Aquarium

For our four year anniversary we went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for their quarterly Date Night.

Playing around at Urban Outfitters... they really should clean that mirror.

This screams BALTIMORE.  See how hot my hubby looked?  That's a paisley tie!

The dress I'm wearing is really cute but I had to cover it up with a cardigan... COLD!  Like the headband?

Last anniversary we took a photo like this one at the harbor.... I like this one too ;)

In case you didn't know where we were at...

This is in front of the aquarium... I love these two photos... same exact spot but different focusing points... water...

branch with buds..... : )   It appears as if by magic... or just my camera.

The view from the aquarium :)

The music at the aquarium.... he was awesome!

Great company... T and A.  They were pretending they got engaged.... only T wishes it wasn't pretend.

This is A.... he's like this... all the time (with or without alcohol).

C checking out the exhibits... as you can tell, I was checking out the "exhibit"

Lovely view of the harbor with C :)

This is how empty the aquarium seemed to us... it seemed like we were the only ones there and it was AWESOME!

My favorite fish :)

Fitness Thursday #12

My streak of exercising every day had a minor lapse (two days) because my in-laws came in town and were housed in the basement along with the elliptical and all the workout DVDs.  I resumed on Sunday so as of yesterday I've exercised for 24 days.  Not so bad considering there were three days where I really didn't want to exercise.

So I think I want a tattoo...

I was playing around on photoshop tonight and came up with something I would want to tattoo on my back... right shoulder area.  What do you think?

It's just a concept drawing using two images I really liked.  the anchor represents my dad and the flowers and butterflies my mom... M for my name and maiden name.  The water is "Puerto Rico."  The idea behind the tattoo is that they're what keep me grounded.

Count your Blessings Tuesday #28

Today I am grateful for:

• 8 days until spring break
• being able to purchase a nice new car
• my friend Jay who dropped everything to come help us haggle for the car ;)
• snuggle time with T
• a healthy baby girl for my friend V (born last night!)
• 4 years married to my best friend (March 25th)

Fitness Thursday #11

After tonight, it will be 20 days that I have been working out every day!  Despite my injury Tuesday, I have brushed myself off and continued working out-- albeit a bit less rigorously.  I put The Shred back on the shelf and switched it for the Biggest Loser Jump Start DVD which has 10 minute workouts that won't kill me.  

This is the longest I've been able to work out every day without finding an excuse to not exercise : ) 

Count your Blessings Tuesday #27

Today I am grateful for:

• a day off even if I'm in pain.  I sprained a muscle working out to the Shred.  Between work, grad school and home I've been going non-stop so it's nice to have to sit and do nothing.
• little signs that my business is taking off.  My dream is really taking shape and I'm REALLY excited!
• my determination.  I'm really proud of myself for working out every day regardless of how tired and worn out I am.  There have been a few days where I would have given ANYTHING to not work out but I pushed through and did it anyway.  
• warmer weather, longer days and sunshine.  I LOVE spring.... bring it!
• a snuggle bug.  T is in this snuggly phase and I'm loving it : )

This is expensive!

So my side job is a bit expensive to start out.  I really really really want this one lens but I told myself that I wouldn't get it until I could pay for it with what I earn from photo shoots.  It looks like I may be able to afford it by the end of this summer!  I thought I would NEVER get it!

Friends, meet lens.  Lens, meet friends. ;)

I have THREE shoots scheduled already.  Can you believe it?!  One April 7th, one April 24 and the wedding July 4th.  

C rocks :)

We all know that my hubby rocks.  Today I got this camera strap to go with my new awesome camera bag!  I'm loving the colors and that it's reversible :)

Now I need to step up my game and figure out what I'm doing for him ;)  I ordered us tickets for Date Night at the aquarium... the aquarium is opened for a limited number of people (aged 21+) and no kids are allowed.  They have drinks, food and live music while you relax and look at the fish.  I'm excited!

Fitness Thursday #10

Once I exercise today it will be 13 days that I have been doing exercise every day!  I think once I get past the two week mark I can call this a habit.  Last night I had NO motivation to get on the elliptical but I'm determined to do this and I'm determined to look and feel fabulous by July so I did it.

I ordered two workout DVDs to do maybe on the weekends or twice a week to break up the monotony.  One is The Shred and I've heard I just may die from doing the exercise... wish me luck!

I'm already feeling the difference exercising every day can make.  I feel better about myself and feel more energized.  I don't plan to weigh myself or set a weight goal... just going to go with how I feel and how clothes fit.  Waiting for the scale to say a certain number is really not motivation for me and I decided that's not the goal... the goal is to be healthy and feel good.

Go me : )

Thank you cartoons...

for giving me words to live by and life lessons.  Things I've learned from watching TV with T:


1.  Imagination Movers:  Reach high!  Think big!  Work hard!  Have fun!
2.  Handy Manny:  Each of us have a special job.  We work together, todos juntos. We can fix it right!
3.  Wonder Pets:  What's going to work?  Team work!
4.  Diego:  Helping out each other is good for everyone.
5. Yo Gabba Gabba:  Don't bite your friends.  Keep trying, never give up.  
6. Ni Hao Kailan:  You gotta gotta try to find the reason why...
7. Barney:  Silly hat... I wear it on my head 'cause that's where it's at.

Today Marks a Historic Event

My in-laws are 35 minutes away from my parents in Florida and they called my parents to invite them to dinner.  My parents invited them over to the house and then out to dinner today.  They have been together ONCE before and that was at our wedding.

I'm freaking out because I want them to get along.  I'm worried that my MIL will say something to set my dad off and that will be the end of it.  My dad has never gotten along with any of the in-laws so I'm rightfully worried.  I never thought they would meet without us around!

In any case, I told my mom that L likes wine and F likes beer and not to scare them.  Mom was cute and told me to find out what they had to say about them after they meet up.

Count your Blessings Tuesday #26

Today I am grateful for:

• 11 days of daily exercise!  This might seem like nothing to others but it's a pretty big deal for me :)  

• my completed photography website... I must say it's pretty cool!

• a clean and organized house without having to call Tia :)

• my smart little boy... it cracks me up the stuff he comes up with.

• my family... I wish we weren't all over the place.  I miss our family gatherings.

It's done!!!!!

My new photo website is up!

photographybymandm.com


Check it out!  Thanks to all who gave me feedback.  Betty, I added the Testimonial page, aka "Raves" and pics of the monster :)

In other photography news, I got an email yesterday from someone that wants me to do a shoot this spring. Yay!

Speaking of shoots, S... lets set a date!

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Oh and awesome hubby got me this for our anniversary... I'm in love :)  With my hubby, of course!

My childhood down the drain...

Why must toy makers mess with the classics?  Why can't we leave things that worked alone?

I loved Raibow Brite and had the doll and the little sprites.  What is wrong with these dolls that kids today can't appreciate them?

Why must we make them into whores for them to be attractive to children today?  Is this what we want our daughters to play with?!  Really?  

Another example is Strawberry Shortcake.  I had every single one of those cute little dolls.  I remember how they smelled like fruit and were SO cute.  

How could that sweet strawberry girl with the cute little freckles be turned into THIS??

Then we wonder what's wrong with youth today.  Why kids are growing up too fast.    I'm getting old.

Date Night #8 and randomness...

For our date night tonight C and I watched Where The Wild Things Are.  If you haven't seen it, save yourself the hour or so and do something productive ;)  We didn't care for the movie but enjoyed our time together regardless.

Tonight I tried this new photo technique I've been dying to try.  It was somewhat successful but I need to work on it some more.  Basically, you make a black cover for your lens with a small shape cutout.  When you take photos with it on, it makes it so that the lights in the background turn into whatever the shape is.  For some reason I can't get the whole shape to show in the photos.    I'm thinking it's because either the shape is too big or my cutting skills were crappy.


You have to have the subject close to the camera in order for the lights to take shape...



Not sure what I'll use this for but it's pretty fun to try it out ;)  Yay for Christmas lights.  If only I could have them out year round.

Fitness Thursday # 8 and #9

I didn't post last week because I was discouraged.  I am tired of being down on myself because I can't get into the habit of exercising... I need to do it regardless of how tired I am and there are no excuses from now on.  I need to make the time and make it part of my routine.  So, I will exercise EVERY day for AT LEAST 10 minutes.  Here's how it's going:

Feb 27:  20 minutes on elliptical
Feb 28:  20 minutes on elliptical
Mar 1:  10 minutes on elliptical (grad class day)
Mar 2:  10 minutes on elliptical (grad class day) :(
Mar 3:  15 minutes on elliptical (only stopped because T was being crazy)

Once it  becomes routine, I'll change up what I do but for now the elliptical and I will have a date ;)

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Edited to add.... Mar 4:  20 minutes on elliptical

Grad Class...

This grad class is going to be the end of me.  We have meetings every Monday at 8 and this Monday two of our group members didn't make it to the meeting so we had to reschedule.  This is after waiting for them for half an hour on Monday.  Last night we met from 8-10:30 and I wanted to kill myself.  One of the group members showed up half an hour late and then couldn't get audio until 10 minutes after that (although I would have rather not heard her at all).  We did get a lot of work done but now that's TWO nights I had to dedicate to this crap.    It'll be worth it, right? 

Count your Blessings Tuesday #25

Today I am grateful for:

• spring being just a tad bit closer... I can't wait for days like this

• my newfound determination.  I WILL lose weight by July.  I WILL put these to use.

• the mayhem that goes on in my house

• remembering the happiness that jumping in a huge puddle brings and getting to live it all over again

• blowing bubbles in the kitchen

Photography Website

I've been playing around with a different layout for my website.  Please check them out and let me know which you like better before I go in and change anything!


New:

http://www.wix.com/guryshka/Photography

Old:

photographybymandm.com