Thursday, 24 April 2014

Spring Things To Do In Austin - Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center







I posted about the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center way back when in 2011 (incidentally, it's also very interesting to see how much my photography has changed since then! ha!), but it was worth another post this year. My dear friend Kristin was in town all week, and I knew she would love this gorgeous place. It's in full bloom right now, and I highly recommend making it over there sometime in the next month or so. The trails are really beautiful to walk too, so bring some comfy shoes, some water, and your camera, and maybe make a little morning or afternoon of it. We ate at the Wildflower Cafe there for the first time last week, too, and it was so sweet and adorable and delicious. Would love to go back during a slower day when people are at work and kids are at school, and just sit and read or write with a cup of tea or coffee. 

Happy Thursday, my friends!



Monday, 21 April 2014

Incredibly Important Composition Skills

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you had a great Easter weekend! Today I'm a bit busy with guests in town, but I wanted to drop in quickly and let you photography enthusiasts out there know about the new Photography Concentrate tutorial just released. It's on sale right now for a few more days, so if you're interested, get it while it's hot!




I'm sure many of you have heard my recommendations for Extremely Essential Camera Skills (best little investment I've ever made), and now a sequel has been released called Incredibly Important Composition Skills. You can know all there is to know about your camera, but if you can't compose a really stand-out photo, you'll always be a sub-par photographer, unfortunately. I felt like this tutorial was super helpful for bloggers, too, who may just want some pointers on taking beautiful photos for their blog. Definitely check out the page detailing what this awesome tutorial includes, and see if it might be the right thing for you! I was incredibly impressed with my copy, but would expect nothing less from Rob and Lauren over at Photography Concentrate. If you're looking to learn photography or amp up your current skills, please do yourself a favor and peek through all their tutorials HERE.

Have a great day! :)

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

By the Bay

Over the weekend we took a nice little two day trip to the Texas coast with Matt's parents... it was a perfect little getaway, and of course I snapped a few photos while we were there.  

I am busy getting work done before an out of town friend arrives this week, so I'll keep this short and sweet today. I have missed blogging lately. Oftentimes while driving in the car or soaking in the bath or working on other things, the urge to write and be creative will hit me, but what's lacking now is the time or perhaps just the desire to make the time. I'm happy to have this space still here for me, though, like an old friend available for a chat over coffee whenever life permits.

Hope you're all having an excellent week...





Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Gracie & Cooper review their first PetBox

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Gracie and Cooper were so thrilled when the kind folks at PetBox sent them over a box to sample. They each have a little something to say about their experience, so I thought I'd give them the floor this morning. Take it away, kids.

Gracie (the brown one): 
"First of all, we'd like to apologize for our Mommy. She never blogs anymore, and she also doesn't walk us nearly as much as she should. Just look at how fat Cooper is, if you need any proof.

Second of all, and most importantly, I knew this "PetBox" was something special before Mommy even opened it. It smelled quite good. I, however, was most interested in the Platypus toy. And least interested in the shampoo and conditioner. In fact, Mommy tried to wash us with it after these photos were taken, and I escaped. Cooper, however, just sat there and took it. He is a pansy."

Cooper (the black & white one): 
"I am sorry there are no good photos of me. If I am doing something cute and mommy tries to take a picture of it, I immediately stop doing the cute thing and run away. I learned this behavior from my daddy.

As for the PetBox, it was awesome! There was food and treats and medicine for if we get hurt. There was a toy, but Gracie never lets me have any toys. There was also shampoo and conditioner. I don't like being washed, but I do love all the hugs and kisses mommy gives me when we're done, and that she can't stop smelling my fur. I love mommy."

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So there you have it, folks. We really enjoyed our PetBox. If Gracie and Cooper didn't do a good enough job of convincing you to try it, here's some fun facts:

-          PetBox is currently the only customizable box of premium pet goodies, for both cats and dogs
-          All products are made in the US
-          For every PetBox purchased, a rescue animal is fed
-          It’s the only customizable subscription box where you pick what’s in it
-          Toys and treats are customized by dog or cat size
-          Every Friday, PetBox sends out a huge shipment of dog & cat food to a rescue shelter – picked by PetBox fans

Happy Tuesday! :)




Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Back at the Ranch (+A Wildflower Study)







This past weekend was my first time back at the ranch in over a year... I missed the place, I really did.  Spring is my favorite time there, and I really enjoyed scavenging for wildflowers and documenting each kind I found. Things were a little sparse due to lack of rain in the area lately, but in another couple weeks I bet the place will be overrun with life.

I've learned to put my camera down lately and just enjoy moments for the most part (or, rather, I've had to adopt this practice lately to save myself even more editing than what's on my plate regularly for my business!), but here's just a few more shots from our weekend...


^ sifting dirt for arrowheads (we didn't find any... bummer) ^

^ do you spy anything slithery in this picture...? ^

^ these antlers are exactly where the buck that shed them left 'em! ^

"Blackie" the friendly piggie and her babies