good flicks

If you're like me, you don't want to spend $9 on a bad movie. My husband and I butt heads when it comes to movie choices. If I'm going to see a $9 movie I want it to be the artsy/inspirational one with great reviews. He on the other hand will see almost anything that comes out-bad reviews and all. He says he doesn't care what people say about it, he wants to see it and judge for himself...needless to say we've seen our fair share of bad movies;) So, I thought I would start to blog about movies I see and try to let people know before they spend money whether or not it's worth it or more importantly let people know of a good flick that they may have overlooked...

Most of the movies will probably be from Redbox b/c it's such a better deal than seeing it in theaters, so this may be a little late...

Anyways, when the weatherman was predicting this (below) the other week, I stopped by a redbox and rented a couple of movies to watch during sledding breaks.





I rented The Hurt Locker and Cloudy w/a chance of Meatballs.

I've been wanting to see Cloudy w/a CofM ever since I saw a preview for it. It was really cute...Jack wasn't really up for it at first but I caught him laughing at a few parts.;)

I hadn't heard much about The Hurt Locker but knew it was nominated for some awards. We usually rent the movies that are nominees for awards once they come out.
It was such a good movie and it's hard to explain why. I was hesitant at first because it's a war type movie and I'm not usually drawn to those. This movie keeps you on edge the whole time...there's really nothing over the top when it comes to special effects and all that, maybe that's why it's so good because it's so real. I really recommend this movie...it's very well done and really makes you appreciate those who serve our country.

Let me know of any movies you've seen that are worth renting!

Kristin & Kris • Greenville, sc maternity photography

Thanks to my friend Mishelle for referring me to her friend Kristin for some maternity shots. A lot of soon-to-be-moms don't have these done because they feel fat or insecure about their belly, but they realize after the fact that it would have been nice to have some pictures from the pregnancy. I think pregnant women are so cute! Anyways, we met up Saturday to take a few pictures in the freezing cold...this is only a 2 pic preview...





more to come soon...

VOTE NOW and spread the word!!!

Please, please, please take time and VOTE for Benson! Tell your friends as well!
Click on the button above or go here.

We really need a new vacuum to deal with this...



You can vote until the 18th for him to try and win the weekly contest...He's in week 6 and listed under "Benson Ward".

Here's his pic for the contest..



He would be so excited if he won!!!:)

choices, goals, and no regrets...

I've been wasting a lot of time lately....doing what?... worrying, stressing, trying to predict life in a few years, etc....in the words of Jesus, sinning.

You see, I have this huge desire inside of me to help/serve lots of people daily and not to work at a desk 8 hours of day...this is broad I know, which makes it even tougher...

I have many things I enjoy doing... I'm not motivated by money at all, so if I love what I do and it pays min. wage, no problem.

What I would like to do (depending on what day you ask me)...

-photography
-personal trainer
-PTA (physical therapy assistant)
-stay at home mom and be crafty (if and when kids come)

What God would like for me to do...
-?

I'm praying through this right now... some days I think I hear him and feel a peace about my decision at that time. Other times I analyze situations that haven't even happened or may never happen and give in to fear. I'm a mess. I need Jesus to remind me of his presence minute by minute and thought by thought so I don't waste my time or opportunities he's placed in front of me at the present time. I'm bad about making rash decisions and then quitting what I start..I really don't like that about myself. I could use lots of prayer... for discernment... for patience to wait on God's will...for faith that he will always provide....for a clear path...for my faith to let God be the BIG God that he is.

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.-Jer. 29:11

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough troubles of it's own.- Mat. 6:34

to be patient
We live with constant change,
with daily demands for quick decisions
and automatic responses.
Slow down.
Give yourself time to consider,
to sort through complicated issues,
to wait for responses.
Patience calms our lives.
It offers options.

An excerpt from It's Never Too Late... 172 simple acts to change your life by Patrick Lindsay.

Taken on our trip to Caesar's Head...looks like a pondering type of picture;)

affordable gifts • Greenville, sc photographer

Around this house things are tight. We usually have a rough idea of how we spend our money, but lately we've had to know exactly how we spend our money. Don't you hate it when you have your budget planned out to knowing exactly where every dollar should go and then something unexpected comes up...like a friend's wedding. I'm all about getting/making meaningful gifts for people so when my husband's friend was getting married I starting thinking of an affordable but meaningful gift we could give them.

This is what I came up with...

I knew a common affordable gift would be to frame the actual wedding invitation...but I wanted to add something else to it...so I thought shadow box! But what could I put in it other than the invitation? the program from the ceremony....maybe some details from the reception (I wouldn't take anything that would be considered stealing). The reception was so nice...but there wasn't a lot of options for things that could go in the shadow box...the wedding favors were candy..there were not paper napkins with their names on it. I knew I wanted to get some flowers if I could. Luckily there were rose petals spread out on a table. My intentions were to grab a few of those, dry them out and put them in the shadow box. Well, I forgot to grab some before we left, but luckily my husband's friend was in the wedding so I snagged his boutonniere and it worked perfectly..

I dried the rose petals in a book...just laid them flat in different pages..they probably should have stayed in there longer.



Finding the right shadow box was tough...I went to Hobby Lobby and the size I needed was arond $30...not a very affordable gift, especially not knowing what the shipping cost would to be send this. I kept looking and of course found something at Target-they never let me down. I found a 10x10 shadow box for 16.99. Not bad. I had to rig the back of it up with some fabric I found around the house..



Finished gift...



The cool thing about this is they can add things to it if they want...a picture, wedding announcement, etc.

Shipping was only $6

love this girl • greenville, sc children's photographer

I've been able to watch this sweet little girl grow up. It's so crazy and sad how fast babies grow! It already makes me want to spend as much time as possible with my own when/if that time comes.

I'm naturally drawn to images with a warm vintage feel. I try to slightly overexpose most images I take because I love the bright feeling it creates.
I spent the afternoon with Reece and captured her playing...

getting ready.




playing house.



those eyes.