Monday...Maybe Monday ;)

I literally just came up with the following concept, literally. I want to create a more consistent reading flow with this blog so as I typed out the title to this post it just came to me. Well, my fingers actually... Maybe Mondays. Maybe Mondays will keep you, my faithful and trusty blog reader, up to date with all of my musings... whatever they may be. <-- Ha ha, maybe. On a more concrete note, I will use my Monday postings to reflect on what I should have done instead in hopes of making my Mondays much more productive. For some reason we all feel sluggish on Monday morning and know that there are many tasks to accomplish for the week yet I, personally, often feel I waste my Mondays thinking I'll do that tomorrow. I will make my Mondays much more productive, maybe.

Regardless, I hope that my Maybe Monday's relieve the stress of having Too Much To Do Tuesdays.... The ultimate goal, for now, is to realize that all of the maybe's for Mondays will become actions and make me much more productive. During college I learned great time management skills. Apparently I seem to have lost them after graduation. I need my Maybe Mondays to push me back in the right direction... time is of the essence :)

So, for today's Maybe Monday... Maybe I should have gone to the gym right after work today so that I could have been home early and begin editing a wedding. Hmmm... Maybe ;)

On a side note, I'm never too busy to photograph my chipoodles... ;)

Happy Monday!

April Showers bring May Flowers.

I am currently 24 years old. I've been driving since I was 20. Yes, you've read right. I became a liscenced driver at the tender age of 20. What?!!! Don't be alarmed... I've gained some experience in the past few years ;) In the short time I have been a driver I've experienced some interesting road rage moments, some other weird drivers and, thankfully, minimal traffic. All that has changed this weekend - thanks to the beautiful thunderstorms the Rio Grande Valley has been having. The first time I drove in the rain I was nervous, but I overcame it. This past December I felt comfortable and confident driving around the valley while it rained {aka drizzled}. Fast forward to Friday and yesterday and it's a whole different story.

Friday and especially yesterday I have been caught in the bad thunderstorm driving to my specific destinations. It was scary and oh-so-heart stopping. I love thunderstorms - when I'm safe at home! Not so much when I'm driving in my little Honda with no tinted windows - imagine the brightess of the lightning! Yes, I was scared. But I remembered God loves me and if a lighting bolt was meant for me then I just had to accept it ;) Really, though, I feel like I've added another notch on my adult life belt - driving in thunderstorms. And I survived - could this be a metaphor for my life? Why thank you God ;)

Ooohhh! I'm "on-call" for a newborn session... Baby will be born anytime within the next two weeks. I feel like a doctor, kinda' :)

Happy Sunday :)

Come along for the ride with me.

This morning I gave a presentation to the collegiate chapter of Delta Zeta at the Univeristy of Texas Pan American about DZ Fashion - Dress to Impress. I felt honored to have been chosen but panicked for a split second about whether I was the appropriate alumna for the topic. Then I realized, Hey! I definitely am! Frumpy is typically my style but because I choose to be comfortable. But I love a great fitting pencil skirt, beautiful jewelry and ah-mazing shoes... I do have somewhat of a sense of fashion. More importantly, however, dressing to impress is something I have taken much more interest since college graduation. Pursuing a career definitely requires presentation, on all levels including personal appearance. As I dressed this morning and looked through my closet, I asked myself What kind of impression do I want to make to my audience? I want my peers to respect me - to value my knowledge and expertise. So as I sat there quietly trying to organize my thoughts before I had the floor I thought this opportunity came at a  perfect timing in my career - my photography career.

Back in February I had a meeting with a prospective client. She sounded so enthusiastic about hiring my photography services and was eager to meet with me and talk more details. My life is constantly busy and I sometimes find myself having a multitude of appointments to meet on a single day. Fashion, thus, is not always on my side - not even make up sometimes! I remember meeting my prospective client one evening and realized through the conversation she had lost the excitement of my photography based on single aspect - she questioned my age. Now she did not flat out say, Wow, you are young! or ask How old are you? But the look in her face said it all. I looked, well, frumpy. Thankfully, I look much younger than I am - way younger. I'm sure as I near my fifties that will be a big plus. At the moment, however, it is sometimes a struggle. I feel people often forget I am educated, smart, and have potential to learn simply because I look so young. Dressing frumpy certainly does not help.

Speaking to the ladies of Delta Zeta helped me not only help them but help myself. I remembered the importance of looking your best - always with a great attitude. I interpret dressing appropriately as respecting myself. I felt this was key to explaining to the girls. In the process of my presentation, I realized my own message was for me as well. My photography business is growing; it's growing quickly. I will let my work speak for itself but help with my personal appearance. I want to be respected in my profession, don't you? My life is one crazy ride, but I am glad I have opportunities to take a step back, analyze and work on making things even better. I have God to thank for that ;)

I'd like to thank the ladies of Delta Zeta for inviting me to their chapter retreat. It reminded me of the fun collegiate days as an active member of my beloved sorority. I wish you ladies lots of luck and hope you come on board to the alumnae chapter after graduation ;)

Happy Saturday ;)

Smile! It's F-R-I-D-A-Y!

Frumpy. <-- This word describes most of my collegiate style. As a member of a sorority I had to always be on my best behavior and do my best to dress appropriately. Don't get me wrong; I come as modest as a girl can get. Really... I found myself googling modest wedding gowns a few days ago and guess what - I liked what I saw :) Modest is not a problem I have. Dressing appropriately, that's a problem. It's not that I am incapable of putting a stylish outfit together. Really, it's not. It's the fact that I have to put this outfit on me and wear it that bothers me. I love all things girly... dresses, pencil skirts, jewerly and oh-so-fabulous shoes. I love it all. But I happen to think it looks so much prettier in my ginormous closet than on me. In reality, I am just a quiet and frumpy girl. Frumpyness is indeed my struggle. So much to my amazement, I have been chosen, as an alumnae, to give the collegiate chapter of my sorority {DELTA ZETA} a presentation on Fashion: Dress to Impress. WHAT?! I almost couldn't believe it myself ; ) Actually, it makes me giggle to think I will speaking to my chapter about how to dress appropriately. Me, a true believer of mismatched outfits, unbrushed hair, and a clean face :) Interesting, huh?

I am really flattered, however, and oh-so-very excited to speak to an eager set of ears! The collegiate chapter is in for a treat ;) I have also been asked by the chapter's director to donate a prize as part of some awards for the girls. I have decided I will be donating an exclusive portrait session for one girl with me. It will include all the works and I'm excited to give back to my sorority who helped me become a better person and a good leader. I'll let you know how it went ;) and what I wore...

I hope you have a really ah-mazing weekend and enjoy your days to the fullest. SMILE! It's F-R-I-D-A-Y!

This is Chuy, remember him?

Weddings are full of love... ;)

Sometimes I think I have become infatuated with all things wedding and love probably because I have  recently become engaged. But then - a split second later - I think about how I've been obsessed with weddings since before Chris ever though about proposing... more than six years ago! So I think I am just a normal girl with a little bit bigger obsession for all things sparkly, weddings and everything about love. Last weekend I photographed my very first wedding... and guess what? I survived :) Nathan and Mary hired me as their wedding photographer and were scheduled to be wed in their home state Kansas... but a few weeks ago they emailed me and asked if I was available for a sooner date, a much sooner date. We quickly planned something and worked out the details. Thus, what would have been my second wedding turned into my first. I was nervous but definitely much more excited. I love weddings and the nerves quickly faded away. More on their wedding soon...

Yesterday I had the opportunity to hang out with lots of really talented and cool photographers from around my area, the Rio Grande Valley. It was an organized hang out with models and lots of tips... I'd like to thank David Pezzat for inviting me :) I'm really glad I went and although I am quite the shy-introvert at first, I hope I get to mingle with these faboulous group of people some more throughout my career. I'd also like to thank Eddie Gonzalez for teaching us the "white towel method"... it is a new trick I will certainly add to my bag ;) More on what I learned at the hangout later ;)

I'll be blogging the pictures sometime next week but I'll leave you with a look at the groom.

Happy Thursday ;)

Life is S.W.E.E.T. :)

Whoah! Bloggernet... I've neglected you. I'm sorry :(

Being busy is no excuse, really - BUT - I really have been extremely busy! Good news, though, is that I've been busy because of photography :) Yay! It brings a smile to my face. I've spent the past few weeks photographing some fun sessions and my first wedding... yes, my first wedding!!!! Nathan and Mary, congratulations!!!! I am honored to have been a part of your special day. I wish you the best in your marriage full of God's blessings. I'll be blogging wedding photos very soon :) I also have a very important and special announcement that I've been meaning to blog about but I don't want to randomly blurt it out to you internet. I want it to be a special blog post... because it is a very special announcement :) For now, I just want you my dear reader to know that I have not forgotten you - I've been feverishly working away :) Regardless, I enjoy being busy... it means my life is sweet :) And because pictures make words lots more fun, here is a picture from another party I organized and made decorations for... yummy cupcakes ;)