Portraits | Daniel & Sally

First of all, I just want to thank everyone who has checked out my NEW SITE and given such positive feedback in these past few days. It's SO exciting to know that others are loving it and excited about it, and mostly, that they feel it reflects ME perfectly. That's exactly what I was going for, so, thank you for the encouragement and affirmation and celebrating along with me! :)

Secondly, I've been meaning to show off this mini shoot that I did with my amazing brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Sally, at Christmastime in Florida. We were hanging out at my in-law's house (which is beautiful, and the backyard is a lake!) so I couldn't help but snap a few shots of them. Especially since they have NEVER had any kind of official or professional shoot done, except their wedding. No engagement photos, even. And that's just not acceptable! So, I hope you enjoy these few shots of two amazing people who I'm blessed to call family AND friends.

Isn't Sally SO gorgeous?!

Personal | A Warm & Married Christmas

So, I don't know about you other recently-wedded folks, but there's something equally as exciting to me about spending my second married Christmas with the man of my dreams as there was my first one, last year. Maybe (hopefully) this is how it's supposed to be - and will always be - richer and more exciting with EACH passing year. That's what I hope, and if this year is telling at all for the years to come, I think it will be...

In addition to being the second Christmas I get to experience as a Watson, it's also the second Christmas I'll be experiencing in Florida. Which, as you may guess, is a drastically different feel than that of an Indiana Christmas. Thankfully, though, the closeness of family and the quality time spent with them is very much the same feeling I've always known growing up. I love my in-laws to pieces, and if it takes parting with the proverbial white Christmas (that I will still always be dreaming of) to spend the holiday with them, then it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

So, if anyone is lucky enough to play in the snow this Saturday, send some chilly thoughts our way as we'll be sipping iced beverages by the pool and/or lake and looking at lot like this...

That expression pretty much sums up how Aaron feels about all of the Christmassy aspects of Christmas...like the music, movies, shopping, decorations, pictures being taken...he really ONLY likes the part about getting to be with family. But I guess if he's going to choose just one, that's a good one. (It goes without saying, of course, that he likes the part about Jesus, best of all. Just fyi.)

We leave bright and early tomorrow to brave the 14-hour drive to the golden land of palm trees and Watsons. So, wish us luck, send us texts, say prayers, and mostly....have the BEST Christmas ever and enjoy time with YOUR families!

Goals | August

I love how I manage to keep breaking my own records for terrible blogging. Take, for instance, how THIS month I'm not blogging the month's goals a week into the month....no...but TWO WEEKS+ into the month. Gah. That's the kind of month it's been so far....

But! On the bright side. I still have goals, I've just tempered them a bit for an-already busy month that's going to continue on with the busyness.

Let's see how July went:

PERSONAL GOALS

• Continue working out at least 4 times a week (didn't quite make it this time...boo)
• WATCH LINDSEY & MARK GET MARRIED! (This already happened, but it WAS in July... :)
• Brainstorm and accomplish another for-the-apartment decorative project
• Continue cooking for Aaron, but try as least 2 brand new recipes (only managed 1 brand new recipe...)
• Have girl time with at least 4 different friends in person
• Call or hand-write at least 2 far-away girlfriends
• Mail the last Thank-You's!
• Make more progress catching-up on personal photo editing & uploading
• Work on organizing iTunes & all Music folders on computers
• Sort through all clothes & shoes and get rid of some!
• Shoot just for fun at least 3 times
• Start reading at least one book (I'm reading - and almost done with - The Scarlet Pimpernel!)

BUSINESS GOALS

• Make detailed weekly to-do lists
• Total all receipts/costs from May - July (made SOME progress on this!)
• Add mileage for both cars from June - July (also made some progress!)
• Blog at least 2 times a week (still/always trying this!)
• Finish researching and choose a company for online backup & off-site storage!
• Purchase new laptop!
• Edit 1 - 2 weddings
• Shoot 2 weddings
• Submit 1 - 2 weddings for publication
• Set aside weekly time to think about and brainstorm ways to improve and grow business practices

And now for August:

PERSONAL GOALS

• Work out 3-4 times per week
• Brainstorm another for-the-apartment decorative project & plan for accomplishing it
• Have girl time with at least 4 different friends in person
• Call or hand-write at least 2 far-away girlfriends/family members
• Make more progress catching-up on personal photo editing & uploading
• Shoot just for fun at least 3 times
• Finish last month's book & start another
• Visit the in-laws in Florida!
• Buy a new swim suit, but on clearance
• Prepare and pack for a week-long vacation in Mexico with Aaron!

BUSINESS GOALS

• Make detailed weekly to-do lists
• Total the rest of the receipts/costs from May - July
• Finish adding mileage for both cars from June - July
• Blog at least 2 times a week (still/always trying this!)
• Buy Photoshop & Office for the new laptop
• Edit 2 weddings
• Shoot 3 portrait sessions
• Get the 2nd half of my portrait shoot done by Becka!
• Create "ideal client" profile
• Create website inspiration board
• Open business savings account

So there we go! The month is already almost over, so I guess I better get (and keep!) my butt in gear. Here's to lost of efficiency and progress to be made!

This week, in particular, has already felt like a whirlwind even though we're only a couple days in because I was on vacation with Aaron visiting the in-laws down in Florida from last Wednesday to this Sunday. Thus, it's hard to jump right into a busy week after time off in a beautiful place with dearly loved people. Nevertheless, we're surviving it. And it only seems right to leave you with a few photos of just where we were....

Happy middle-of-August, everyone!

Portraits | Last Florida Beach Installment

Ok, friends and readers! The final installment of the Florida Beach Shoot is here! I wanted to snap a few carefree photos of both Aimee and Emily together, before we left the beach, and I think these captured some of the fun we were all having together. :)

Ahh, the ocean wind strikes again! Gotta love the hair flying everywhere. :)

Again I ask, aren't they just beautiul?

After I finished photos of them, Aimee snapped a few of me. So, while it's not normal for me to post a photoshoot of myself on my own blog, I figured it wouldn't quite be rounding out this shoot properly if I didn't share these, too. Plus, I enjoy getting to change it up and be in front of the camera now and then. Thanks for playing photographer for a bit, Aimee!

She was saying ridiculous things and mocking me as she took these. :P

My hair was definitely crazy. Having bangs doesn't work out super well in high winds...

Probably my favorite shot. It's just happy and expresses "me" so well.

And the wind/hair combination strikes again! But I like it.

So, there you go! You have now experienced our beautiful sunset shoot at Sanibel Island. I wish I could be transported back there, right now, as Richmond has been struggling to figure out that it's Spring these last couple of weeks... But here's hoping it'll have nicer temperatures in store this week!

Next post to come (soon!) will be an update on my March goals and my list of goals for April. Stay tuned!