An “intimate” look at my best friend…

“She seems really nice, but I just don’t think we’ll have anything in common.” Famous last words spoken by me about my now one in a million best friend. (When I say best friend, I have a couple…but I don’t say “one of my best friends” because each of them are my best friends in different ways!)

“You didn’t like me at first! How could you not love this face as soon as you saw me?!?” She constantly teases me about our first few times of not hitting it off.

Not long after my hubby introduced me to his friends long distance girlfriend, I found out we had just about EVERYTHING in common! Our love for Food4Less ice cream, new shoes, T.J. Maxx, photography, pizza, the beach. We wear the same size shoes, and can share closets. We’ve spent the majority of our adult life being baristas. Oh and we both love coffee! But despite all the things we have in common we have some pretty large differences!

Like the fact that I love driving. Anywhere, actually, at any time! I love going on drives! She on the other hand falls asleep if she’s driving more than 20 minutes…(she’s borderline narcoleptic..hahaha). That, and the fact that she’s significantly nicer than I am. And nice in a genuine, no one can dislike her, infect every square inch of space, nice.

She is so full of love, joy, happiness, spunk, laughter, and every accent imaginable that she really makes everything around her more beautiful. When she laughs you want to laugh with her. When she smiles you really can’t help but smile back. She’s the best example I could ever think of, of someone being so beautiful from the inside that it absolutely shows everywhere on the outside.

So when I said an “intimate” look at my best friend you thought I was just going to talk about her amazing heart! Well, not exactly. Although I could ramble about how great she is all day long, she’s actually given me permission to post her boudoir session from a few months ago on our trip to Portland.

This girl has worked her booty off…literally since the time I met her she’s lost over 30lbs. I am so proud of my friend! And she decided, after a lot of convincing on my part, to do this shoot. She is real, she is beautiful, she is funny, she is an inspiration. I am so thankful for her irreplaceable role in not just mine, but my family’s lives!

A new love…for boudoir!

I love tasteful boudoir shoots.

 

They’re beautiful. They’re sexy. They make a great gift to an unexpecting husband or boyfriend. They’re a good reminder in appreciating the beauty in every single woman. And I hope to give girls a final product that makes them feel more beautiful and confident in themselves.

 

I’m new to boudoir, but have had the chance to shoot a couple this past month. They really are so much fun! The hair and makeup, the pretty lingerie, and the excitement and feedback I’ve received from the women as well as their men! With the permission of my client (and her new husband!) I wanted to share a few images from one of the sessions.

A special thanks to Hair by Chrystal! She is such a talented hair and makeup artist, and not only that but a beautiful person inside and out! Please go check out her work!!! http://www.facebook.com/HairByChrystal

 

Adopt the pace of nature…

Patience.

1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.

3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.

My last week has literally been one giant ball of ridiculous emotional states, tears, crazy rants, and basically mommy tantrums. You know those days where you feel like you’re fighting everything just to make it to bedtime? I had about 10 of those in a row before I finally snapped out of it. How did I manage to snap out of it might you ask???

My loving and oh so understanding husband told me I either had to, or I wasn’t invited to Easter with MY side of the family. HAHAHA yes….that actually happened. So Sunday morning we got up and we hiked. We took our dogs and threw the baby in the stroller and hiked up to one of the most breathtaking sites in our valley.

(This was a picture I snapped right as we started the hike)

I’ve said it before, but there is something about having fresh air, beautiful weather, and my camera that leaves me absolutely complete. It is the best way for me to clear my head and get my patience back. It almost immediately eases any anxiety or worry. It is my xanax in a sense 😉

Every single one us would be lying if we said we didn’t have days that make up want to hide away from the world. I have them quite frequently and have been doing my best to get out those “funks” quicker and quicker. I’ve been finding more and more that when I stop stressing about my house and laundry and whats for dinner and take the time to go outside and enjoy the fresh air, spend time with the kids without my face in front of my phone or the computer, and really rest in the beauty of nature, I am refreshed! So try it out this week…..

When you’re up to your eyeballs in dirty dishes. When you start having double vision from staring at a computer screen. Go outside. Walk. Even if it’s just to the mailbox. Breathe in some fresh air and see how much it helps.