58
Sometimes, you just have one of those weeks that isn't very blog-worthy. This week was one of those weeks. Not that anything especially terrible happened, but rather, it was simply run-of-the-mill. I struggled with this installment of Fab & Drab for that very reason. Therefore, smoothies and uneven tan lines made the list as high and low points of my week. Wow.
And here we go:
FAB!
1. Kicking old habits. This is going to force me to get pretty vulnerable for a moment (so don't judge me). I've been a nail-biter for as long as I can remember. Not a make-my-fingers-bleed biter, but a chew-when-I'm-nervous-or-bored biter. I know it's unappealing. I know it's gross. I know it's unhealthy. But it's a habit, people. Aren't they all generally defined as such? Anyway, about a week and a half ago, I was hanging out with my sister and one of our closest friends, Blair. We were doing the girl thing - chatting, drinking a glass of wine, and painting our nails. I decided to manicure along with my pedicure for the heck of it. I floundered through painting my left hand, and asked Blair to paint my right. As it turns out, painting .004 inches of space is difficult for anyone. My nails, fingers, and parts of my knuckles were covered in a lovely shade of "Wine Not?" (ironically appropriate) After I cleaned them up a little, I discovered that I love having my nails painted. I felt feminine and chic - and though they were still little nail stubs, they looked greatly improved. So I gave it up. Tossed in the towel. No more nail-biting for me. I'm keeping them coated in paint so I won't give in to temptation, and it's easier than I thought. In high school, my dad once told me that he'd give me $10/nail for each one I'd grow out. I think I'll see if I can still collect.
2. Harry Potter. I feel like I will probably come to regret this inclusion. But it's true. I've jumped on the Hogwart's Express and I'm fully committed to the world of muggles, wizards, and quidditch (could I have formed a more nerdy sentence? Really?) Truth be told, I didn't want to like Harry Potter. My sister is (to put it extremely mildly) a huge fan, and she's been harassing me to give it a shot for months. After my Twilight fascination, I wasn't sure if I could handle another series and come out sane (or with a husband, for that matter). Well, as it turns out, my draw to over-the-top fiction is just too strong. I haven't actually started on the books yet, but I'm on the third movie and I'm hooked. If I ever end up at one of those conventions dressed up like Hermione Granger, someone just take me out.
3. Clinique High Impact Mascara. I am going to step into make-up snob world for 2.5 seconds so bear with me. I'm a firm believer in good quality make-up - I've been this way since the very first time I slapped foundation on my skin (thanks mom! :)). It also should be noted that I'm a firm believer in not wearing an overwhelming amount of make-up. My rule of thumb is this - one should never look like a completely different, unrecognizable person without any make-up on. That's just weird. Which brings me to my point: good quality make-up allows you to use less. It's true! I'd swear by it. Cheap foundation may be easier on your wallet, but it's lackluster condition compels you to lay it on thick. Which in turn, screws with your skin. I'm also a firm believer in taking care of your skin (who knew I was so ridiculously passionate about this topic?) My skin is sensitive, so I refuse to put something on it that is going to make it angry. Much to Ben's dismay (though he's beginning to understand :)), I'll pay the extra bucks to ensure facial happiness. To be more specific (and to get back on track...wow I'm long-winded), I adore a good mascara. Clinique High Impact Mascara is not the only great brand out there, but it consistently impresses me with it's longevity and result on my lashes. Mascara (well, and lip balm) is that one product I could use without applying any other form of make-up. So I want it to be fabulous. :)
4. Top Chef. I love to cook. I don't do it enough, but I love it. Top Chef is one of the few shows I just get really excited about. Season 6 just started this past Wednesday, and I'm already engrossed in the competition. It's fast-paced, intense, fun, and they use words like "ceviche," "mise en place," and "carpaccio." Come on.
5. Smoothies. I've been trying to get creative with breakfast lately, because I feel like I neglect it. Breakfast is like the redheaded stepchild of my meal family. I do like a really fantastic smoothie, so I decided to try a few recipes. I found one I really enjoy from Food Network's Emeril Lagasse. It's super simple, but delicious. I actually tweaked the ingredients a little, and my altered version is listed below (here's the original):
-1 banana (broken into pieces)
-1 cup of hulled strawberries
-1/4 cup raspberries (or blueberries)
-3/4 cup of vanilla fat free yogurt (I use Publix brand - it's the best :))
-a couple splashes of orange juice
-1-2 T of honey
-3-4 ice cubes
*Throw all ingredients into a blender and process until smooth.
I also tried this with several other combinations - it's easy, healthy, and filling. :)
DRAB...
1. My cell phone skills. Let me be honest - I really despise talking on the phone. No. Actually, let me rephrase - I prefer to hang out in person because I'm really terrible at talking on the phone. I like interaction right in front of me because I am a person who thrives off of body language, non-verbal communication, and emotion. Talking on the phone stresses me out for a couple of reasons (aside from not being able to actually see the person I'm talking to); one, I cannot get anything else done. As a person who is usually juggling 53 things at once, this is difficult. I need both of my hands. And I absolutely refuse to get a bluetooth. So I'm stuck pacing the house, passing by at least 46 of my responsibilities. Two, my phone is almost never fully charged. So while I'm chatting, I'm constantly worried that my phone is going to die unexpectedly. This is especially nerve-racking while I'm talking at 11:00 at night on some dark back road. Three, I always forget about my voicemail. Since I have an iPhone, once I listen to a voicemail, it no longer shows the little red circle to indicate that the message is new. If I don't have time to call that person back after listening, I tend to forget about the message. It's an awful, vicious cycle that leaves me feeling dysfunctional. I'm not saying this to deter anyone from calling me, I'm simply saying that I need some mercy when it comes to this area of my life. I just can't seem to get it together.
2. Speidi. Does anyone really think Heidi and Spencer are great? Well, besides Heidi and Spencer? I didn't think so. I like to be entertained by celebrities to some degree, but Speidi crosses over the line of entertainment into "obnoxious." They are wearing ridiculous, attention-craving masks in the photo above. I mean, seriously.
3. Uneven tan lines. Over the summer, I sometimes help out at a local summer camp by lifeguarding. I also spend some of my days going to the beach, lounging by the pool, or kicking back on a boat. All of these activities are fairly typical for a Florida resident. And all of them require one common element - a bathing suit. However, the unfortunate part is that it's not the same bathing suit for each activity. So this results in some crazy, erratic tan lines. Oh man - SO HOT.
4. Sinus headaches. Is there a worse thing? Ok, maybe Speidi.
5. Scary movies. Something about paying $10 to get the crap scared out of me, be on panic mode every time I'm home alone, and contemplate buying a nightlight at the age of 24 doesn't really appeal to me. Give me a comedy any day. Or even an action flick. Slasher films are just not my cup of cinema tea.
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fab & drab : issue 4
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57
In the words of the great Bob Dylan, 'I feel a change comin' on...'
That is, I feel a change in our business. Our photography. Our goals. Our focus. Change is definitely coming; exciting, nerve-racking, forward-moving change.
***
Now that I've succeeded in being completely illusive, obscure, and dramatic (which probably left you thinking, "what the crap?"), let's get on with the actual purpose of this post.
Larissa and Justin met at a business conference; he was a rep from Florida, she from Colorado. Justin convinced Larissa to make the move to the sunny state, and a romance began. 3 years later, Justin and Larissa decided to make it official - they'll be getting married at beautiful Casa Feliz next month. :)
Their engagement session (which took place in downtown Winter Park) is one of my all-time favorites. So much so that I wasn't able to narrow down the number of photos to create an appropriate "sneak peek." Therefore, the session will be broken into two parts so I can adequately portray the awesomeness that is Larissa and Justin. :)
In the short time that we were able to spend with this couple, we learned that they are down-to-earth, funny, approachable , and completely compatible. They allowed Ben and I to give creative input (no matter how weird it seemed :)), and were comfortable with themselves, their relationship, and our cameras from the start. The moments captured were filled with real emotions and affection. And as photographers, we couldn't ask for anything more fabulous than that. :)
Larissa and Justin, we truly had a blast with you guys - thanks for making our job super easy. We can't wait to see you next month!
Here's a few gazillion from the day:
So sweet. :)
These next two make me smile.
Larissa is ridiculously gorgeous.
This is the product of that sometimes weird creative input I was talking about. L.O.V.E. it. :)
These next 3 are definitely some of my favorite shots ever. That brown door has a piece of my heart.
Could they be more photogenic? Really?
This last shot is quirkiness to the extreme and I could not love it anymore. It's my absolute favorite from the day.
(*Part 2 will be coming soon!)
Nana:
What an absolutely adorable couple!! Really look like fun people, too. Great pictures--love your brown door and the brick street in front of them. Eager to see the rest of them! Love, Nana
(08.19.09)
Shirley :
this shoot does appear to be truly amazing. and that last picture. is incredicble. its in my top 10 of your photos ever.
(08.21.09)
anne:
since i know both of them (and will be in the wedding) i say kodo's on the great pic's. Justin is very camera-phobic and you have captured him beautifully (her too!) great shots and can't wait to see the wedding photo's
(09.02.09)
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56
It makes me sad that Summer is coming to an end. Not that I really have a "Summer" - I'm not in school anymore. But Summer is so casual, carefree, mellow. And that just jives well with my personality. I suppose my productivity level will resume, but I'll miss the laziness of reading in my pj's until late in the afternoon and eating Pringle's at midnight (did I just admit that?!)
On to the fab and drab choices of the week (*note: I missed last week. Give me a break - my whole routine was thrown off because Ben was out of state.)
FAB!:
1. Fresh salsa. My great friend Letty introduced me to this yumminess awhile ago. She sent over her recipe after I begged and pleaded with her to share the secret of this delicious chip dip (ok, maybe it wasn't that difficult - she's pretty nice ;)). This recipe is great for two reasons: one, it tastes amazing. Duh. Two, I can eat an entire bowl full and not feel that guilty because the vegetables are fresh (tomatoes? onions? That junk is healthy!). Because I'm feeling especially generous today (and because, again, Letty is super nice), I'm going to share the recipe. Grab some Tostitos and have your self a little fiesta:
Ingredients:
-4-5 large tomatoes (not roma) - diced
-1 large white onion - diced
-1 full bundle of cilantro - chopped
-the juice of one lemon
-diced jalapenos (to taste) -*sidenote...you can buy pre-diced jalapenos in a jar, if you prefer
-kosher salt (to taste)
-pinch of sugar
-1-2 T olive oil
Mix all ingredients with a large spoon - do NOT put in a blender. The flavor is even better once it sits in the refrig over night. Enjoy! :)
2. Shark Week. I hesitated adding this to my list because I received a lot of flack last week from some members of my loving family (not to name any names...*ahem*BenandCallie*ahem*). But I decided, bump them! (That's right...I'm bringing back the elementary school trash-talking) I love Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, and I actually think it should be a monthly installment. These past few days, I unleashed my inner geek to learn all about some of the deadliest animals in the ocean. In my defense, this stuff is fascinating and super educational. I'll stop before I really do sound like a complete nerd (too late?). Well, if you want to know how to react if a Tiger shark is stalking you in the water, just hit me up.
3. Aveda. Their products, their institute, their vibe - I love it. Aveda leaked it's way into my life once my fabulous friend Shirley started working for an Aveda-based salon in Tallahassee. In fact, I'm so hooked, I decided to enroll in the Orlando Institute. More details to come on that...a whole separate blog post, probably. :)
4. Beach days. The beauty of living in Florida? Throw a rock in any direction and hit a beach. I love the beach. I'm a total sand and ocean girl, and I think I always will be. I certainly appreciate the mountains, but something about the beach just draws me in. Maybe it's that I-can-just-lay-here-and-soak-up-sun-with-no-responsibilities energy. I had a chance to hit the beach last week and I did plenty of sun soaking and responsibility avoiding. I have the tan lines and a full inbox to prove it.
5. Plaid. It really does seem to be everywhere right now. And I'm totally loving it. Plaid is just so fun and diverse; it can be professional, or eclectic, dramatic or subtle, depending on the colors and ensemble. The pattern is sporadically gracing my closet. The latest item added? This cute top, in "Vintage Bleach." :)
DRAB...
1. Your husband leaving the state for 9 days. Ok. I know that's not really a normal "drab," but it does kind of suck. I already griped about it in a previous post, so I'll spare the whining, but I'm glad that he's back. He had a blast in California (so much that I wasn't sure he'd actually get on his plane), and I'm happy for him. But being out of touch for extended periods of time is not my favorite thing in the world.
2. Tough decisions. As mentioned, I enrolled in the Aveda Institute of Orlando. This is a huge step for me, and very exciting, but also comes with some major changes. Shifting life isn't always easy (or ever easy, really), and the unknown is usually a little nerve-racking. Again - another post, another day. :)
3. Woody's BBQ. Being from a small town, I appreciate hole-in-the-wall establishments, and smaller chain restaurants. That being said, I usually have no qualms with Woody's BBQ (one of those smaller chain restaurants). The menu is simple, and the barbeque is good. However, during a recent visit, my opinion was altered. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich; not an overly complex food item, right? Well, my chicken was burned. That's putting it nicely, I think. It was like pieces of ash in my mouth. I hate complaining about food, because I feel like one of those people who...well...complains about food. But the burned chicken along with the less-than-hospitable service was a little disheartening. Oh well. I'm willing to give Woody's another run. Just not that chicken sandwich.
4. Facebook. Yes, I spend way too much time on Facebook like any other average user. And yes, the hours I waste can certainly be considered "drab" on their own. But that's not my gripe this week. It's those flippin' application invites. The vampire wars and pirate shenanigans are fantastic if you're into that sort of thing, but I'm sort of....not. Yet, I always get a billion invites to partake. And I always ignore the invites. It's a vicious cycle.
5. Cheap razors. The other day, I used a razor that didn't have a conditioning strip. I might as well have rubbed my legs with sandpaper.
Tina mom:
You inherited your fascination for shark drama from me...with you 100% on that geeky deal....I am sooooo excited about your Aveda decision for obvious reasons - plus you will love doing that....I agree about the razors - no more shortcuts! :)
(08.12.09)
Chantel:
If the Aveda thing doesn't work out for you, you can always become a writer! You have a great writing style and I love that you started posting these "fab & drab" lists. I totally agree with drabs 4 and 5. Did you know that you can start ignoring all invitations from certain people on Facebook? Doing so has dramatically cut down on my invitation requests...but it hasn't eliminated them all unfortunately :(
(08.19.09)
Ben and Amy:
Thanks Chantel! I would love to write a book someday...we'll see! ;)
(08.21.09)
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55
Over the last couple of days, I've discovered just how weird my life is without Ben around.
He's left me in Florida on Friday as he flew out to beautiful, less humid California (I'm not bitter...) and will be staying there until next Saturday.
Now don't get me wrong - we are certainly not one of those couples who has to be attached at the hip; quite the opposite, actually. We cherish our identity as individuals, and marriage did not change that. While we absolutely love being around one another, we are not threatened by the independent streak that both of us possess.
So I'm not talking about not being able to function without Ben in close proximity - I'm merely referring to simple, every day things that are a little thrown off.
For example, my sleeping habits have been tossed out the window. I'm a night owl, but I've been taking that to major extremes since Ben left (wide awake at 3:00a.m. Ugh.) Additionally, I accidentally leave the light on, and last night I actually forgot to brush my teeth (sick). It's like my body is refusing the change in routine. Thank God for Shark Week to get me through my insomnia.
Ben - if you're reading this, just know that my teeth are scummy because you are across the country. Nothing says "I miss you" quite like that.
***
We posted a sneak peek of the Todd family's 'just because' session about a week ago. Creativity doesn't always come as easily in a family photo sesh, but the Todd family inspired us with their carefree personalities and down-for-anything attitudes. We had a blast, guys! :)
Here's more fabulousness from their shoot in uptown Altamonte:
Jamie:
Amy & Ben - thank you for documenting the wonderful life I live. My family is a pure blessing. Hope to see you guys soon :)
(08.03.09)
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54
For our honeymoon, Ben and I took a week-long trip to Arizona and Las Vegas. Neither of us had ever travelled out west, so it was an exciting newlywed adventure for us.
During our stay (thanks to a very generous aunt and uncle), we were able to experience a helicopter tour through the Grand Canyon. We landed in the Canyon, had a picnic lunch and champagne, and then explored for a little while.
When we came back to Florida, we tried to recount the feeling of standing inside a wonder of the world. You simply cannot do it justice with words. Perspective becomes skewed as you're looking up and around at the walls of red-rocked beauty. The only way to truly believe the enormousness of your surroundings is to glance up at an ant-sized version of a helicopter buzzing by the edge of a canyon wall.
It's breathtaking. It's fascinating. It's absolutely impossible to attach an appropriate adjective to it.
So when people would ask about the experience, Ben and I would stumble through a poor explanation. Unable to succeed, we'd say, "You just have to see it for yourself."
***
I've been having this feeling this a lot lately; this need to experience life. I sometimes allow someone else's description to take place of the real thing. These stories, no matter how detailed, will just never be quite as good.
I plan on making a change. I'm ready for freshness; to be blown away by life in a way that cannot be described with adjectives.
Ben:
Definitely an experience I will never forget! Whoever took this photo must know what they're doing...
(07.29.09)
Windy:
Amazing Picture! I can believe you wore flip flops to the Grand Canyon though!!! HAHA!
(08.21.09)
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Wahoo for Harry Potter! I am a huge fan and love when other people love it as much as I do! I'm really excited for the Harry Potter theme park at IOA next year! Also I'm glad you put Spencer an Heidi on this list because I feel they are 2 of the people that need to be pushed off the face of the earth ;)
(08.21.09)yay for harry potter, the books are much much better!! also...fyi hermione gets alot cuter as she gets older!!
(09.03.09)