Middle-age causes depression, study shows

I just saw this headline on Yahoo! news and I thought it was hilarious: "Middle Age Is Truly Depressing, Worldwide Study Finds." Click here for the entire article.
Seeing that I am turning the big 3-0 in March...this article caught my eye. Although, you can imagine my relief when I read that "middle age" is really considered to be more when you are in your 40's; so that is good news for me. After all, 40 is the new 30, right?
This especially hits home due to the fact that my husband and I have done the unthinkable...the unimaginable...something we said we would NEVER do -- we got a MINIVAN! ugh!


Ok, it's practical and spacious and even our dog, Berkeley, likes to be able to sit up by us instead of being stuck in the back of my Jeep. I have to say, I think I like it :)

New Year's Resolutions...Status check

Like most people, I have resolutions that I make and try to keep each year. For the past six years, mine have always been the same. There are three things that I struggle with in my daily life; they are not necessarily New Year's resolutions, but just things that I think I should do to remain content and happy with the person that I am. Here are my 'year-round' resolutions:

1. Floss my teeth: Who has time for this? My parents paid good money for my straight teeth, so I owe them to take good care of them, but I HATE flossing! I have no problem brushing at least two, sometimes three times a day, but flossing is the worst!

2. Go to the gym: Considering our gym membership expired last fall, this one is a real challenge ;)

3. Go to church more: Since Brynn was born, we have been quite the slackers. But I started the year off right and we made it to 11am service. Unfortunately, my little buzzer from her "Ladybug" nursery went off just as Pastor Brian was starting his message so I missed the best part. Apparently Brynn is not such a fan of the nursery right now. Maybe we will try again next week.

How are you doing on your resolutions?

Warm Winter Wishes

It is -5 degrees here in Chicago right now with a high of 9 degrees today. I don't think we will be leaving the house today. I enjoy snow and winter sports, but this kind of cold is just ridiculous.

Ok, so technically it is 2 degrees on my back deck.

Along the same lines of it being cold, one of my favorite places to spend time is "Up North" in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at my in-laws' cabin. This year we decided to ring in the new year by relaxing and taking it easy...just another sign that we are entering middle-agedness. It is always nice to go up there and get away from reality -- we get very little cell phone reception and there is no internet, so we are forced to hang out with each other and come up with ways to entertain ourselves.

Brynn's first time on a snowmobile...of course, she wanted to do it herself.

Brynn also had her first experience with ice fishing with her dad and Grandpa Van. She caught some walleye that we ate for dinner that night.

Stay warm!

No shoes, no shirt, no problems...

Kenny is coming to Soldier Field! My summers are not complete without at least one Kenny concert. Last year we were able to go see him in Dallas and I snuck up into the 4th row (one of the few advantages to being 5'2" tall).

Here are a few shots I got with my point and shoot camera while I was dodging security:


"I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not, but I'm sure happy with what I've got. I live to love and laugh a lot and that's all I need."

"There's something sexy about the rain..."

My mom took this shot of Chad and I trying to stay dry before the show. It poured like a monsoon, but we had a special hookup (thank you Laurel:) and got to hang out with the VIP's.

There is something so appealing to me about Kenny's laid back approach to life. My goal for this year is to make it to front row...I would love to do it legitimately, so if anyone out there can connect me with some sweet seats I am all ears. In return, I will offer a free photo session and as many prints as you want -- Value, at least $500. Front row Kenny seats -- PRICELESS.

Meg & Chris

I had the honor of shooting a wedding for an awesome couple a few weeks ago downtown Chicago. I have known the bride and her family for a long time and I have enjoyed getting to know her new husband -- he is a real character :) You should see his moves on the dance floor.


They got ready at the Allerton Hotel on Michigan Avenue which is where I met up with them. The ceremony took place at St. Clement Church in Lincoln Park and the reception was at Salvatore's about a block away.

The gorgeous bride

The adorable flower girl with the garter on her head :) This was the bride's grandma's garter...something old.

Sharing a mother-daughter moment

A sweet father-daughter moment right before they walked down the aisle

It was a long Catholic mass...the groom taking a minute to rest up before the reception.

First dance to the best song ever by the Beach Boys

A father and his only daughter

Hilarious...

I had such a good time and they made me feel like part of the family. This is a special family who really knows how to have a good time. Thank you to Michael Barton for being my second shooter. Congrats to Meg & Chris and best of luck to you both.

Imaging USA 2008

I just got back from Tampa, FL for PPA's annual convention, Imaging USA. Although I knew some people who would be there, I went by myself and was hoping to meet as many people as I could...I was not disappointed. I got to pick a lot of brains and hear some inspiring speakers. I am feeling charged up for this year and ready to implement all my new ideas.

Getting to know me

For a long time I have been reading other photographers' blogs and loving getting to know them, even though they don't know me. "Blog stalking" I believe is the PC term. I always wondered, if I started my own blog, how I would come up with witty things to say and talk about so I would seem interesting. But anyone who knows me will tell you that I tend to call it as I see it, usually. So with that being said, my intention for this blog is for potential clients to get to know me for me, so that when they get in front of my camera they feel like an old friend is capturing their images. I will post whatever strikes my fancy -- it may be images from sessions as well as what I have been up to in my personal life. So here goes nothing...

Happy New Year

Welcome to my brand new blog.