So…back to the blog. The blog is located here, and if you have some time, go read some. Enjoy this post:

The one where two roads diverged in a Suburban Parking Lot

Noah’s private school is around the corner from my old office. On Mondays I drop him off and then hang out at the shopping center across the street, poaching WiFi from the sandwich place where I used to get lunch. The parking lot is still a pain in the ass, the chicken salad is still too dry, but that’s where the nostalgia ends.

I’ve been coming here since last summer, when I brought a very, very different little boy to the school’s summer camp, and yet I have never once bumped into anyone I know. I drove by the office every day for months without noticing that the company name was no longer on the building — they’d moved a couple blocks away, to another building that I drove by every day, but the name on that building is different too. The company was sold awhile back, then renamed and rebranded. I had no idea until I joined LinkedIn and tried searching for coworkers. Most of them are still there, though there were quite a few layoffs in the wake of the stock market crash.

I still can’t listen to stock market reports without thinking about my job — if the Dow or NASDAQ closed up or down a certain number of points, I had to stay late and send out one last update. When I started, the updates were recorded over the phone. Subscribers would call and listen to a pre-recorded message from their investment adviser about the day’s action. When we started sending the updates out via email, I had to call the phone number over and over again to transcribe the messages, because some of the advisers didn’t like typing it out first, but preferred to just call and ramble on for awhile about whatever they felt like. One guy was downright epic — he’d talk for 15 minutes about everything from the Presidential election cycle to the auto industry to the Olympics to the yuan to the bulls and the bears and lagging indicators and buy some blue chips and short the dollar and by the way I’m recording this message from my yacht, have a nice weekend, folks. He always got a few ticker symbols wrong, and to this day I still know a good 200 of them by heart.

It’s not my job anymore — and that particular bit of drudgework hadn’t been my job for awhile, as I lobbed it off on assistants and interns as soon as I could — but I still call it my job. When a former boss sent out an employment posting on LinkedIn for a managing editor with an eerily familiar set of duties, I forwarded it to Jason and said something like, oh how funny, I could get my job back. I don’t want it back, but still.

I was so terrified when I quit my job. That job. Whatever job.

The title and responsibilities sound the same, but not much else would be. The new building has cubicles instead of window offices and I hear the formal dress code has been relaxed. It’s all very Internet-y now and I have no idea if they still do any actual publishing. Like on paper. Which was a thing, back then. Way back in, you know, 2006.

I imagine, if I hadn’t quit outright, I probably would have dropped down to part-time by now, what with the realities of two babies in daycare, twice the cost and quadruple the sick days. Being away from Ezra for 40 hours a week sounds about as attractive as dropping off a couple of my limbs. And who would drive Noah to evaluations and therapy and private school in the afternoon? So maybe I’d be freelancing or contracting. Maybe copywriting, or handling the after-hours grudgework that nobody else wanted. Maybe I would have been laid off already.

I think all of this over just about every Monday, as I stare out the window at the building that the company I no longer work for no longer occupies. I wonder about that life for awhile, like it’s the alternate reality B-plot from Lost. Then I get back in the car to go pick up the first of the two greatest decisions I ever made.

Thanks Amy! I dont know that I could have written that if I sat down and thought about it for a week- but it really made me think-especially that last line.  We make decisions everyday- some easy {what am I having on my toast today} and some so hard, I dont know how we do it {how an I going to raise my kids to be as awesome as I know they can when I cant even get them to pick up their rooms}.  And sometimes when I make these decisions, I wonder how life would have been different if I had picked A over B.  And maybe the thing is, life is the same either way. Maybe we always kind of end up exactly where we are supposed to be. Who knows…but for me, I am glad for today, that life dropped me off exactly in this perfect spot- with my 4 kids, and my {sometimes} perfect husband and my dog, and in the most awesome career ever- its a pretty good road I am driving today. I hope for all of you, my fabulous clients, and friends, or for those of you who just found me, that your road is a good one too- and if its not, stay on this one, its bound to improve!

Happy Friday!

At UF in the ’90’s, when I want to school there, this weekend was always HUGE- UF vs FSU- a huge rivlary, the season maker {or breaker}, the game you anticipated the ENTIRE year. I know, its not the game it used to be, but there is something awesome about a state rivalry- the tailgating, the trash talking, the bets that always take place between friends {and even families}. I still remember my senior season at UF, the first national championship year {yes, I am dating myself}- it seems like just yesterday. Whenever we go back to campus to visit, I can smell the yumminess that is the Pita Pocket, I go hunting for a “The Alligator” to read about the beauty that is UF football {which Mark swears is just a tad bit biased} and I wonder around University Avenue, admiring the most awesome campus and the most awesome school EVER! Ok, so Mark may disagree with that just a tad {college football is the one place Mark and I dont see eye to eye} but there is something about being back, that reminds me how fast life goes by. I remember walking onto campus as a freshman like it was yesterday- and now I look at my 7 year old, and hope that someday she will walk those same paths, and have the same awesome experience I had there.
You know, if I close my eyes, I am still that wide eyed, 18 year old, leaving home and starting my own life- I haven’t aged a bit!

Today, I hope that you take a moment and think about the awesomeness that is LIFE- even the mundane stuff like football, or putting up Christmas lights, or cleaning up from a huge holiday meal- and as silly as it sounds, enjoy your game day…

GO GATORS!

10. A day dedicated completely to eating…especially 7 desserts!!
9. Orange and blue morning skies (I knew He was a Gator fan!)
8. Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte and Vosage chocolates
7. Angela, for giving me an amazingly clean house and carpet cleaners for a clean couch (and all this 24 hours before Thanksgiving!)
6. My new 105mm macro lens….thanks B&H…and thanks to my hubby for going there while in New York
5. My health which allows me to keep doing what I love.
4. My friends which make everyday a little brighter (especially when I can chat about insignificant things like when Mark wants me off the computer again!)
3. My family, you are the reason I’m the person that I am
2. My four amazing {yet extremely busy} children

and the number one thing I am thankful for…

The most awesome husband in the whole world! Thank you Mark for all your love and support this year, and for the {almost} 5 we have been married. You make everyday brighter, and worth getting up for!

It’s been four years today since we said “I do” at that very early sunrise wedding in August. Sometimes I am amazed at how fast time goes by, and how much things can change- and how so much stays exactly the same. We have a daughter now, kids who seem to be growing up in the blink of an eye, and I have a career that never in a million years would I have believed was possible- and while all that has changed Mark and I have stayed the same. In my eyes, he is still the perfect man, my new beginning, my Soul Mate. He has been there through happy times, and sad times, he has taken care of me when I was sick {and I am sure in ways he never thought he would have to} and held my hand in scary times. He has repeatedly reminded me how proud he is of my accomplishments, and has let me cry on his shoulder in my defeats- he is my rock, my ledge, my sun, and my stars.

I have spent a lot of time this week with a very special client {who I will blog about later this week} whose life experiences have reminded me how important it is to tell those that you love how much they mean to you. So, today, on our Anniversary, Mark, I want you to know how much I love you and how thankful I am for everyday I have had with you. If someone had told me how much more I would love you today than four years ago, I would have thought they were crazy! You are the man of my dreams, and I thank the Lord everyday for you and the changes you made in my life.

I hope that you, internet world, tell someone today how much you love them, make them smile!

Happy Anniversary Mark!

** photo taken by Andi Diamond photography before there was an Andi Diamond photography! Thanks Pete and Andi for being amazing photogs even then.  To Jenn C for marrying us, and reminding us each year how lucky we are, to Kristin C and Jenn F for flowers, hair, your readings, and support.  And to Lisa P, thanks for taking those crazy girls so Mark and I could enjoy that anniversary dinner! I love you ALL!

Whew! Ok, so now, onto the post. Last week my baby, aka Ashleigh, finished up kindergarten. For all of you with little babies, who think “I cant imagine my child being that big/old”- I said the same thing! The fact that she is now in first grade, baffles me! Where did the last 6 years go?? I had such an amazing time with this class, both as a parent, and as homeroom mom. Each Wednesday {ok, Allsion, I missed a FEW} I came in to help out…and HANG OUT! And I have to tell you, kindergarten is FUN! I swear, I kept asking if I could go back! This was an extremely blessed group of kids b.c they had one AMAZING teacher! I saw such growth in Ashleigh, and each one of her 16 classmates- I know Mrs. White worked so hard to make sure each one of these kids was so ready for the first grade- and everything that comes with it! I mean these kids can READ! I know when I was a kindergartner, I specialized in macaroni necklaces, and eating glue! Its amazing how far they all have come!

Hunter did just as well, finishing out his final semester with us making AB honor roll! We are so unbelievable proud! Mark and I worked so hard this year…but not as hard as his teacher worked. Mrs. Williams, like Mrs. White, was beyond amazing! When Hunter started, he was so unsure of his move here, and being in a new school, all new friends and a whole new way of life, but Mrs. Williams made the entire move not only bearable, but incredible! I dont even know where to start with thanking her!

All in all, I am not sure where the last 10 months went! Watching Ash get on the bus the first day of school in August…and then having Hunter do it in February- it was truly an amazing year! To all the fabulous kids and parents in Mrs. White’s class, thank you for a wonderful year! I hope we are all here in 12 years as these little guys head off to college! And to my two teachers- you tow really are rock stars! I was so blessed that my children had such wonderful and positive teachers. I hope you know they will never forget you- and neither will Mark and I! Have a great summer!

Now, the slideshow. These images are from the kindergarten “cruising into 1st grade party” and the 1st annual Liberty Pines End of the Year parade”. Hope you enjoy…

Anyways, I met up with some of my wonderful photog friends while I was there- and lets just say, that alone was worth the trip! Now, two of them Andi Diamond Bennett and Edie Black were with me at the PPA conference last year that I went to in January so seeing them was WONDERFUL! Of course, I got to make new friends too, and Christine Ryan was IT! Andi is one of my best friends from college so seeing her is always entertaining.  Edie and I hit it off last year, but nothing like we did this year! Hey, when you share a queen bed with another person, you learn ALOT about them! Like, she likes a sound machine as much as me, but that Andi and Christine HATE them.  By the way guys, it was a “rainfoest” in the room- just my iphone! And you learn that the one who gripes the most about the sound machine {yes Andi, I mean you } can fall asleep when 3 other LOUD women are talking.  I also learned that when you put 4 social women in one room- you dont get much sleep! So between the ALL day classes, and the networking, and the late night chats with my girls- I am BEAT! Of course, I know Mark, who had all 3 kids this wekend and did oodles of yard work feels the same way! So, thanks mark for my weekend! I am not sure if I am better for it, but I sure am smarter- and you always tell me “knowing is half the battle”.

And to my girls- we sure did grow this weekend! I know it was a tough one- and I am not sure i have enough caffeine or chocolate in my house to fix me! But we know what Bokeh is, and a PUFA, and we know how to add subract and multiply and “WE WILL KNOW THE NUMBERS” said in my best Ann voice! I miss you all! Andi- I have to tell, doing this with you has made the journey all the better! I know I would NOT be where I am without you! Edie- I plan to keep us ADD and OCD free! Now, FA and go get a BLOG! Christine- WAKE UP! I know you are still asleep! Go get yoruself a coke, and BLOG! I love you guys, and have a great time! HOLLA!!!

Whew! Ok…so its that time if year where we all get all mushy, thinking about love, and hearts and red roses- and EEK! What to get that “special” person in our lives.  I know, for all you men, diamonds are a girls best friend, and a blue box NEVER hurt! But, given the economy this year, I am trying to think a little more budget friendly.  So, these are the top 5 things I would give/receive for Valentine’s Day:

Number 1- oh, come on, you knew this one!

Boudoir Photography

This is by far the number one gift topper for any man this year! All it takes is a dose of courage, and some fantastic lingerie, and voila! It really is a lot of fun! The website goes live on Valentine’s day so you will see what I have been working on for over a year! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE boudoir sessions!

** IF you are not quite brave enough for this, I hear hubby’s also love portraits of just their wives during a regular portrait session.  EEEK! None of the kids- I know its hard to believe, but think of the last time you had a portrait taken of just you, for just him??!

2) CoupleTalk

This is the MOSTEST fun game EVER! I got this for Mark for Christmas at Red Envelope and we have really enjoyed playing.  We usually do it while cooking, open a bottle of wine and just chat.  I gave to my brother and my sis-in-law fopr Christmas as well.  I think its a great gift if you are newly married, or have been married for 20+ years!  Actually, Red Envelope has oodles of great gift ideas!!

#3) Chocolates

And not just any chocolates- these babies are straight from heaven! They are called Vosges, and they are out of NYC.  They put the most decadent {and oddest} things inside- but somehow it works! Mark got these last year for me, and so I am reposting from Feb 2008.  I sure hope he repeats for ‘09! Can I say YUMMY!

4) 5 Love Languages

Ok, so its a book- and I know that seems silly.  But, it is by far one of the best books Mark and I have ever read! There is actually a write up in it in this Months Southern Wedding magazine- which, for all you bride’s, is a fabulous wedding magazine!! The book, discusses the 5 love languages used to communicate how we “love” each other.  It really is eye opening if you have not read!

5) The Sappy Stuff

Ok, think outside the box here! Why not get a fabulous tree you have been wanting to plant, and make a big deal about planting it together, or with your children.  Or, buy a star in his/her name. There is  a great website that allows you to name a star after someone.  Or, for all you UF fans, you can get a brick with your anniversary date, or your children’s names, or something special for just the two of you.  They are putting the bricks outside the football stadium.  Just imagine your children starting their college career there and having a brick that commemorated their parents marriage  {{SIGH}}}!  Or flowers, and not just any flowers, but the flowers that you had in your wedding! Now, for all you men {and I know there are some of you out there} go peak at you wedding photos and take one to your favorite florist.  I guarentee that and a box of vosges chocolates will make any women swoon!

Well, thats it!!  I hope this helps somebody out there! Now get shopping and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

I hope everyone had a great holiday and is looking forward to a fabulous 2009!

But, before I bring in 2009, I want to say farewell to 2008, and do it properly.  This year I saw Ashleigh start Kindergarten and cheer, my oldest son become a READER and play tackle football, and my youngest be featured in the paper for his INCREDIBLE football skills! And Haylee, well she learned to walk, then run, then talk, now two, and keeping up with her is accomplishment enough!

In the studio, this year has been more than I ever could have hoped for.  My business doubled, and it is all thanks to each and every one of my amazing clients! Each of you has brought something special to my business, and have taught me more and more each day! You are all so special to me and I look forward to 2009 with each and everyone of you.  Thank you for entrusting me to capture your family heirlooms. I promise I will raise my bubbly tonight to the most fabulous clients a girl could ask for! In the meantime, here’s the 2008 slideshow, I hope you all enjoy. I picked my favorites, and added a few personal ones too.

Happy New Year and see you in 2009, now enjoy the show! {before it starts, you may want to mute the music below, since there is music in the slideshow}.

Please get out and VOTE today! If your democrat, republican or undecided, just get out there and do it! We are lucky enough to make a choice, so excercise it!