5.28.11 - A peak at H&Ts Engagement Session

This photo rocks my flip flops off. Stay tuned.

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5.20.11 - Engagement Preview

I have an upcoming shoot this weekend, one that I have been waiting on for a long time :-)

One that involves my two best friends commemorating their engagement!  I was very excited to put it on my schedule.  Lots of great ideas...

While I was on location for the previous posts' maternity session, I scoped out the Parthenon, the sight of the actual proposal, and one place we are tackling this weekend.  I fell in love instantly.  I have been to Centennial Park a bazillion times, but have never actually walked up or around the Parthenon.  I was awestruck... the lines (oh, the lines!) and the depth are completely wonderful.  I had a blast snapping away, even without breathing subjects!  I just cannot wait to pop my BF's long legs up against these pillars...  Gonna rock, just sayin.

Stay tuned for what's to come of this!

Til then... love the lines.

5.20.11 - Apryl's Maternity Session in Nashville

We were cicada free (almost) at the park this past weekend.  I loved the bright colors of her outfit with the perfect grass this time of year.

Even though we turned this session into a mini last minute, we were still able to get some great shots that I am sure she will treasure for years to come.

Here are some of my favorites.  Check out the shoes!  (I really have a thing for shoes...)

5.20.11

So at the request of the beautiful mother, we cut my maternity session down to a mini session. That meant I had some extra time to spend in Nashville. And we are having the most beautiful day we've had in weeks.

I knew there was a particular place in the Village I wanted to stop at for a surprise for Mr. Sargent ... but I've always wanted to explore. I walked into Tweed, an upscale baby shop, and found a gorgeous line of bags... need make a note for later ;-)

I poked around in the interior design stores and started looking for a place for a nibble. I stumbled upon Bella Napoli Pizzaria, thinking I would pop in from a break from the heat and a nice overpriced slice of pizza. Not the case... They have a very nice menu, but nothing to quick or small. I settled for some Bruscetta and a Coke.

What appealed to me the most was the backgrounds, textures, and architecture. I would love to photograph a session down here. It's gorgeous! Very modern, with a city feel to it.

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4.9.11 - Spring means Sounds Baseball is here!

One of the things I am learning to love about Spring is the return of minor league baseball right in my backyard.  (Well, if my backyard was 40 miles away).  I'm a fan of the game, but I am also a fan of what it brings to our city, and to the families in it, my own included.

It started on one warm night in April.  My family and my best friends piled down to see the opening weekend game at Greer.  Though the pollen was thick and the stuffy noses' ran high, the evening was perfect.  I was surrounded my most closest and favoritest people.  Lemonade, funnel cake, cold drafts.  It was a great way to kick off Sping in Nashville.

Another thing that comes to mind was around this time last year was the premiere of my zoom lens.  It's not a break-the-bank lens, but it serves me well.  I first broke it out at a Sound game last May, and I was not disappointed.  It has made plenty a run since, but I appreciate it much at these games, it really helps me capture all the things that surround baseball and what makes it great.

Nashville Sounds | April 9, 2011

4.5.11 - Baby Landen Preview

I have been trying to upload the pictures from this session to my Facebook page for days, but for some reason, they will not upload from my new laptop.  Trying to figure that out...

Anyways, I wanted to share with everyone a few previews from my first session with Baby Landen.  I gifted a New Life Session to his mother at her shower, and after several schedule conflicts, we were able to squeak in a session within his first month of life.  He's the cutest thing I've ever laid my eyes on...

 I made these baby blocks for his mother's maternity session :-)

Beautiful Baby Landen...

3.13.11 - Spring is Here!

Ahh, spring.  Longer days, warmer weather (usually), flowers, green grass, house work, Vitamin D.

Sunday was my mother's birthday.  And it was chilly, in the 50s.  We didn't get out to do any yardwork, though the promise of that is till looming, given warmer weather (Yay!) but we did take a walk.  There were so many signs of spring coming!  The Bradford Pears were in full boom, as were the over-populated daffodils and other wild flowers. There was also a beautiful tree that I am not sure the name off.  I've googgled it, of course, but have come up with Tulip Tree, and Magnolia.  But Magnolias are usually white, right?  I really don't know!  It is gorgeous.

I am particularly proud of a lot of these images, they show some growth in the macro area.  These images are sure to make you happy, even if you are still experiencing some winter blues!

 

 

 

My Savings! 3.14.11

So I have been clipping coupons since January and following countless savings blogs and facebook pages.  I see those women who post pictures of how many free things they could get at this place and how much they saved at that place.

I have found some things... I got Up Brand Ibuprofen for $0.72, and free dental floss (not even the kind my husband uses, gave to my mom) last week at Target, and I have gotten a small Gain Fabric Softener for $0.50 and free Gain dryer sheets at Dollar General this month.  Here and there, I end up finding good deals, especially at Walgreens, and Publix.  But I'm still waiting for my "free groceries."

Nevertheless, I went out this morning with a mission; lists and coupons ready to go, and I ended up getting some high end name brand things for at least under $2, if not under $1.  I wanted to post a picture of my items, to feel like I triumphed!  :-)  But also for my husband, sister and friends to see the cool (read: expensive name brand) items I got!

My first stop was Publix.  I only went in for these specific items.  The bakery bread was a treat for Scott (and in the eye of saving, it cost just as much as the Nature's Own we buy at Kroger).   The Hunts, Tostitos, FiberPlus and Mazertti Dressing were all part of B1G1Fs, so I bought one of each and used a coupon on each one.  The Barilla noodles were also B1G1F, but at $1.23, I wanted both.  The Cheerios were 2/$5, plus I had a Publix coupon and a Manf coupon.  Made them 2/$3!!!  Now, I know I am weird, but the Excedrin was my winner today.  After missing out on a not as impressive deal at Target last week (Free 20ct) I was excited to find this.  $5.69, - $3 Target coupon, - $1 Manf coupon = $1.69 for a 120 count!  YES!

 

 Geographically, Walgreens was next.  I also went there with specific match ups in mind.  Cereal was marked really low, $1.99, plus my $0.55 coupon.  Herbal Essences was $2.99 each, and I had a B1G1F coupon (plus I got $1 RR!)  Colgate $0.99 after coupon... The Kleenex, nail polish and shaving cream were Walgreens ad coupons.  Now, the Purex Crystals are a new item, and usually new items are on sale right away.  Sure enough, it was $4.99, plus there was a high value $2 off coupon in this week's paper, plus I got $2 RRs!  The Tide Stain Release was the only thing I did not go in there for, but, I had what I call "a coupon I'll never use but you never know" that was about to expire.  I read it thoroughly and looked for the cheapest Tide item that qualified.  This was $4.49 - $3 = $1.49.  It's something I would never buy without a coupon, but I know we will use it.

 

Next, Kroger.  I had to go to Kroger to pick up all things that were actually on my grocery list, LOL.  (As much as we save with coupons, how often are we just buying things we don't normally buy because they are at an amazing price?  Hello, Tide Stain Release, Purex Crystals??  More on that another day).  I did not show a picture of everything that I bought at Kroger as most of it was fresh vegetables, fruit, deli meat, etc.  These are the things that I matched up.  The Chex Mix and the Crackers I had coupons that will expire soon for, and this week Kroger had the best deals on each.  The Gain Dryer sheets were FREE at Dollar General!  $2.75, and I used my last $3 off Gain coupon on them.  Now, usually, the store will correct the coupon to the product amount to make it free, so I picked up the Chewy Sweetarts (yum!) so I was at least purchasing something and not just checking out not paying anything... BUT today, the cashier did not adjust my coupon, so that took $0.25 off my candy, making my total at DG $0.70.

So, TADA!  Here is my savings picture for today!  All of my items and what I saved!  Seriously, I look at all these name brand items and smile.  I am 90% of the time a generic brand shopper.  Most of these things have a generic counterpart.  When I added up the total cost of these things I shook my head!  $90 for all this???  Really??  It's not that much stuff, is it?  But when look at all that and see I only paid $39 for it all, it looks a bit more impressive!

I'm looking forward to more trips like this... and maybe some free groceries!

385 Attempt [extras] 3.4.11

Extra, extra!  Since I was off today, I was out and about around town, so of course I took more than one picture, and it was REALLY hard for me to choose which one to post on FB!  (The Flip Flop Fish won, because it made me think of the beach!)

Todays extras are exciting... they show that spring is, in fact, on it's way! 

Now this third one, it's just cool.  It's one that makes you think... We are having a flash flood warning tomorrow (love that my phone tells me 24 hrs in advance, ha!).  Middle TN has received a lot of precipitation lately, but our ground is so dry.  I read in an article a few weeks ago that we are still in drought conditions.

365 Attempt [extras] 3.2.11

I am only posting one photo a day on facebook, but sometimes that't not all I can snap!  It's hard for me to choose, so I'm going to post the others on here!

This are the extras from March 2.  Also known as beautiful-reflection-in-the-flood-pond-day.  I loved this image.

 

These are the extras - to see my "Photo of the Day", check out my facebook album "365 Attempt".

1.10.11 - The "Big" Snow

Snow.  I've seen my far share of it.  I was born in Massachusetts, and lived in New Hampshire until I was 11.  I've seen some snow.  I had snow fall on the night of our town's Halloween Party that was held on our property.  We were bobbing for apples in a metal basin, and there was ice inside.  I've seen snow.  My uncle would drive his tractor to our home across town and plow our property until there were snow piles 10 feet tall.  I would sled down the hill on my uncle's farm until I couldn't feel my toes, fingers or nose.

When I moved to Tennessee in 1996, Nashville had a record-breaking snowstorm that winter.  We were with our family in New Hampshire.  Kinda ironic.

One winter while I was in college, (2003, or 2004) I had to drive from Nashville to Clarksville to get back to school in white-out conditions.  It scared me to death, because I am from the North, but I had never had to drive in "bad" snow before.

For the first time since I have lived in and not traveled away from Tennessee, I saw snow on Christmas morning 2010.  The last time me and my sister saw snow on Christmas was 1999.

I absolutely love snow.  Because it is silent and beautiful.  Snow quiets the Earth.  It falls and everything seems to turn its volume down.  The traffic slows, people stay inside.  The animals rest, huddled somewhere.  The wind whispers instead of whistles.  God, how amazing!  He really does know how to create beauty.  Everything is so white and gentle.  I like taking deep, cold breaths.  The soothing taste of winter.  I feel like I need to enjoy it before it melts away.

Here are some shots from the "Big" snow that fell on Middle Tennessee, January 10, 2011