Wait.  What?  February is over?  I forgot to take a photo three days this month but added a few extras to make up for the ones i missed.  If you’re wondering what this is all about, visit January‘s post.  Happy weekend!  

1. Ike.

2. My dear friend Molly made this.  She is awesome.

3. Decided to try out the spare today.  🙁

4. S’mores in a jar.  Yes please.

5. Yes it’s true, I prefer crafts over the Superbowl.

6. Quick visit with Erica in Sioux Falls.

7. Hanging out with Kai.

8. I admit it, I’m a crazy dog lady.

9. Fun socks are better than boring socks.

10. Had a shoot in St. Cloud today and met Julia for dinner at Toast.  I think I found my new favorite restaurant.

11. Three dogs.

12. Grandpa’s cookies.  54 dozen for the year already.

12-2. Moxy is our only dog for a few days.  Ike stayed in Watertown since we’ll be gone for awhile.  Glad she is here while Ike is away!

13. Who needs flowers when there’s Apple products?

14. Backstage shooting Americana Showcase.  Bob Wooten, the Dovetailers, and the Sudden Lovelys.

15. OMG.  I never say OMG but OMG.  It’s beautiful here.

15.-2.  Loveland Pass.  p.s. I’m glad I have 4 wheel drive.

16.  A first: shoot on skis!

17.  Oops no photo, shooting a wedding today.

18. Boulder Comfort Coffee.  Y.U.M.

18-2.  Cute art in Boulder.

19.  Exploring Pearl Street.

20. At Dushanbe Tea House with a bloom tea.

20-2. At Chautauqua!

21.  Snowshoeing at Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Forest.  Estes Park.

22.  Skiing with Candace and Zack at Eldora.

23. Flew into the cities today, met Dad for dinner at Snuffy’s and skyped with Erica.

24. Missing Ike.  Renting Sebastian.

25. Chair Affair.

26.  Oops, no picture.

27.  Oops, no picture.

28. Didn’t actually go to Crossfit.  Went next door to kickboxing.

29.  COFFEE.

I’ve been in Colorado since last week and I’ve been shooting, shooting, shooting!  I’m loving my time here and have come to the conclusion that Colorado is BEAUTIFUL and clearly, so is my skiing form.  I’ve got lots of mountainous family and wedding photos to come so stay tuned.  

Us.  On the iPhone.  During some down time in the Dominican Republic for Brittany + Kasey’s wedding.  Can we go back now?

“Pictures help me remember when I forget and I want to remember everything…”  This is part of my philosophy about why I am a photographer.  I want to remember the good and sometimes the bad too.  I always say I want to shoot more for myself, now is the time to actually do it!  iPhone style!  I’ve posted several iPhone photo shoots here before (remember Brianne + Aaron’s wedding?) but I decided I could step it up and commit to taking one iPhone photo a day in 2012.  It’s quick, easy and always with me.  There’s a couple oops-I-forgot-quick-take-a-pic-of-Ike-before-bed photos but for the most part, I’ve been doing pretty well!  The Photo365 app is helping me stay organized!  Here they are in chronological order, starting 12:01am New Year’s Day!

1.  New Year’s Eve marble game!

2.  Had mom’s vegetable beef soup today .  With dumplings.  Yum.

3.  Enjoying the Christmas tree.  Just a little late.

4.  Feeling bummed out today.  Junk food therapy.  Bad idea.

5.  It’s January 5 and it’s 50 degrees out.   Weird.  But I’m not complaining.

6.  Ike and two of his girlfriends, Lola and Milly on Lola’s birthday.

7.  Nibbles.

8.  At Welch Village.

9.  Barefoot training started in the studio.

10.  Seriously.  It was 56 degrees out today. And yes, I am wearing that outfit.

11.  My boys.

12.  Breakfast in bed.  The best.

13.  More nibbles.  Either I get a lot of nibbles or I forgot to take a pic today.  Or both.

14.  Six Mile Grove and Bob Wooten at the Pine Island Theatre.

15.  Oh “BADWORD”.  Flight mixup today.  Cannot miss our flight tomorrow morning.

16.  Happy to finally be in the DR!

17.  I still feel small when I stand beside the ocean.

18.  I miss my dog when I travel.  I end up taking 3892 pics of animals to compensate.  This guy was especially friendly.

19.  My view for most of the day.

20.  ‘Cause why not?

21.  Missed this face while we were gone.

22.  He’s leaving for a week tomorrow.  Now I’m gonna miss this face.

23.  Sorting, organizing and archiving old shoots on DVD.  Transferring them to hard drives makes me realize I’ve taken A LOT of photos.

24.  Good Dog Camp!

25.  Wine and cheese at Sontes.

26.  Artwalk

27.  Supervisin’  And no, he normally does not lay on the desk…

28.  Was a lazy Saturday at home.

29.  Card from Julia.

30.  A find from my antique trip!

Just a little inspiration to pair with your Monday morning coffee.  Thanks to my friend Julia for sending me this card last week.  Real mail + fun cards make my day!  I took an Instagram photo of this card for my “One Photo A Day” challenge.  I’m TRYING to take one photo a day (I’m taking the easy way and using only my phone) for a whole year.  I’m doing it primarily for 2 reasons:  1. To shoot more for myself (even if it is on my iPhone!) and 2. I think it will be fun to look back at a whole year in pictures, remembering that even a “regular” day can be special, can be artistic, can be exciting, can be memorable.  So far, so good!      

“I love you” he said.  “I love you more” she said.

This is the kind of love that my family is rooted in.  It’s the kind of love that fills us up and spills over during happy times and gets us through hard times.  It’s the kind of love that makes me overwhelmingly thankful for my family.  And it’s the kind of love that even death cannot separate.

We had to say goodbye to my sweet Grandma 2 weeks ago.  And it was hard.  And I am sad.  Sad Grandpa is alone and sad for Christmas without her.  Sad she never knew great grandkids.  Sad to live life without her.  But sometimes, it is through sadness and saying goodbye that we remember anew the happy times.  I am drawn to remnants of days gone by and find comfort listening to stories about the good ol’ days. Clinging to that sweet nostalgia that arises, it’s like we can hear her again.  Smell her cooking.  See her walking down the trailer house hallway in her faded nightgown after a long day of fishing.  Hear her talking on the phone.  Drinking a Diet Coke.  Through those memories, we are reminded of her love.  And we are also reminded that this is not the end.  That does not dull the sting of death but it does remind us of the hope that we have.  We are sad but we are also overflowing with thankfulness.  And we are happy.  Because of her.

To those of you who waited extra long for your photos/products during this time, I thank you and appreciate your extra patience.  🙂

The Help Portrait movement had its official beginning on December 12, 2009 when more than 3,400 photographers in 543 locations across 42 countries gave over 42,000 beautiful portraits to beautiful people.

And we’re a part of it here in Rochester, MN.

This Saturday, December 10 from 10-2pm at the Boys & Girls Club we will be making portraits for anyone who may not typically be able to have their portrait taken.  And to remind them that they are beautiful.

Click here to find out more.  Know someone who could benefit from this?  Help spread the word!  Want to help?  Contact Shawn!

Life with you is so so so good.  Happy 30th birthday, love!

Among all the things I am thankful for (and there’s a lot), dog noses are high on the list.  Happy Thanksgiving all!

This is what I was doing five years ago today.  Best day of my life.  My heart overflows when I look back on that day.  And here is the best MOH speech ever.  EVER.  Happy weekend, everyone.  Spend it with people you love.