The last hurrah of 2008...

Over the last couple of days in between designing and planning for the business, I took some time to think about the past year, look through blogged photos, remember where I've been and where I'm headed. It's been one crazy year. While I won't deny that I emit enough crazy on my own, this crazy was pretty darn good.

I can't begin to explain or list all that I've learned this year. The lessons will come in some future, unexplained, or "what the..." moments when I need them most. As in 2007, my word of the year (balance) was always in the back of my mind and actions, even if I didn't master it ONE BIT. That's what counts, right? I think I learned that balance is an illusive little bugger that everyone strives for, yet it can never exist. I'm currently thinking about my word for 2009 - something to strive for that CAN exist. I don't do resolutions, just one word. Are you picking one?

As for our Christmas, I'll be honest and say it was probably the most stressful ever. Our family plans were changed at the last minute, there's always some kind of issue getting people in my family together, and I had the big biz plans weighing on my shoulders. Hello drama. But the family time was good after it was worked out, and we received some great things. We even got to have family over to our house and have a dinner. It's times like those you realize what you didn't register for when you got married. Hopefully we gave some great things - couldn't go wrong with homemade bread & butter pickles for the majority of our gift giving.

Dan was the master wrapper, yo.




I do have to give props to a couple of Dan's gifts, because he is most awesome. Once he had my first gift in hand he wanted to give it to me, so we exchanged on the 23rd. Who am I to refuse an early gift? Right now it's in a temporary frame, but I opened the wrapping to find a limited edition print of Kal's birch trees painting. LOVE the trees and the colors. LOVE Kal, she just rocks.


This next gift was a biz gift, but it arrived on Christmas Eve so I got to open it. I had originally asked for a couple fan guides so I could match up Rye Designs' colors, but Dan's gift motto for me must be "go big or GO FLIPPIN' BIGGER." With all the stress I had last week, I opened all of this Pantone color-matching goodness and just started to cry. I told him to return it all and just get a couple of fan guides. It was all too much and I couldn't accept it.

I gave it some time, though, and totally changed my mind. I couldn't be more excited about this now, especially since I've already used it to tweak our logo to a standard. Now, the biggest tear-jerker of all is that Dan bought this big set for ME because he believes in my designing and my skills-to-pay-the-bills. He totally believes in my dream, and our dream. He has confidence in me when I have none. HE is all too much. It was a very Merry Christmas. It's going to be a very great 2009.

And let's not lie, Dan is a paper and office supply junkie, so this set is like a big playground for him.




Here's to a dreamy and joyful 2009. I'll be back soon with the latest updates and plans for the biz. In the meantime, enjoy a fresh start with the new year and go check out the Facebook page for Rye Designs - here.

I like to work it, work it...

Today I realized that I never downloaded last Sunday's photos from the cameras! Sunday consisted of a couple dog shoots, including one of the biggest dogs I've ever seen, and a little mini session with photographer Raquita from St. Louis (which I've posted on Facebook). I think I've covered a bit of everything now. Dan and I definitely learned a lot last weekend and had a ton of fun! Thanks to Megan for hosting, and to Holly for the invitation!

More workin' it...

Here are some more images from the weekend shin-dig. We did an engagement shoot with two of the best behaved dogs EVER. We also had a handful of college kids come to the studio for their own mini sessions. I posted more on my Facebook, so check out others there.

Work it...

Last weekend Dan and I were invited to a photog workshop up in Delaware, Ohio. A work-it shop, so it's been dubbed. Megan Morgan was an awesome host and let us invade her fabulous studio, AND I got to meet Holly McCaig among many others! Since Sheri lives in Delaware, we were able to stay with her and hang out during the crazy weekend. Here are some photos from the many shoots we did. More to come as I get through them...

A little turkey and some mistletoe...

...Or, if you're Vicki and Mandy it's mizzletoe, but I digress. I don't know if it's the holiday spirit, or the excessive amounts of chocolate, or all the photo and design work I've had lately, or the decorations around the house, or the fact that it's the first Christmas in our house, but the weekends have been spectacular lately. I have to give the weekdays some props too, I suppose. But these weekends, man.

Thanksgiving bits
Dan and I had a four day weekend from the 9-5 jobs and I took a little break from the photos, too. Since we were home on Thanksgiving, the kitties thought it was Saturday and begged for their routine weekend treat - wet food. We held out until the afternoon and gave them a turkey and gravy dinner before we left for our own turkey dinner with Dan's family. I think they enjoyed it, no mind that Urple looks like she's going to clobber someone and eat them as well.



For the holiday full 'o food, I chose some new recipes. Last year I tried a new recipe of orange glazed carrots (or some crap like that) and they were awful. I had to redeem myself among the in-laws. I made a corn casserole that could rival Don Pablo's corn cakes, some of the most delicious marshmallow brownies ever, and some oreo truffles. We visited my family on Friday for a second turkey dinner and took some of all three recipes there, too. I think the carrot fiasco is well behind me.


With the final two days of our extended weekend, I ACTUALLY CRAFTED. Mandy and Chris came to see our house for the first time, and after lunch together the girls went craft shopping while the boys played video games at home - big surprise. We almost talked the boys into shopping with us, but they were too smart for that.

Anyway, back to the crafting. Mandy and I decided to do Ali's Daily December album idea. I still haven't figured out whether this was a good idea since I made the book and have been taking pictures, but haven't had time to fill it. I had a lot of fun, though, and got to use some paper and things I had on hand with some printed digital papers.

In between crafting, Dan and I also put up the tree that Sunday and watched a couple movies. Time actually seemed to slow down. Best weekend in a long time.


Other bits
This 10-22mm beauty was delivered this past week, along with some other goodies we ordered. It's an EF-S lens, but that's okay for now because both of our cameras are compatible. Read: we don't want to stockpile EF-S lenses. If we ever buy a 5D or other full frame camera, they don't fly together. This is our first wide angle lens and I am in love. I can stand in my front yard (versus the other side of the cul-de-sac) and get my whole house in the shot, or stand right in front of the Christmas tree and get it in the shot with our fireplace on the opposite wall. It's fabulous. Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM.


Not taken with 10-22mm, but pretty all the same. The snow finally stuck this weekend!


More decorating this past week...we pulled out some old things and bought some new things. Garland makes its way down the stair banister, candle lamps shine out the windows, little details are all around, and the tree doesn't have ornaments on it yet but I could leave it and be happy.


This weekend bits
It was another good one around here. I had photos to finish editing, Christmas cards to design and order, and other projects to finish and order. I finished all but two things on my list. One of those is designing our own Christmas card, which is quickly turning into a New Year's card. As much as I love these little projects, I'm REALLY looking forward to getting them done so I can work on the 2009 rollout for Rye Designs. And I'm REALLY REALLY looking forward to having almost two weeks off work at the end of this month for my plans.

Welcome December.

I just needed a few more...

Since the cat's been out of the bag for a couple weeks on this session with the C- and S-families, I thought I'd post some more favorites. See the original four here, including those super fun teeter-totter shots.











In other news, this weekend is shaping up to be high-speed and totally packed with photos, holiday cards, print orders, and my December album. Hopefully another blog post is somewhere in the mix. I foresee a Starbucks run to keep me on my toes.

Don't have your holiday cards ordered yet? Let me know and we'll get 'em done!