It's a New Year and that means resolutions to be a better person, get in shape, lose weight, etc. Because of that, I wanted this installment of What My Paws Are Diggin' to be a little more personal and focus on us 2-leggers. This time, I'm going to share with you some things that I personally use and love and they have helped me move down a path of health and happiness. Hopefully, you might discover something that will help you reach your 2013 goals!
1) Mumford & Sons: Ok, so maybe this one won't make you lose weight or get healthy but I promise it will make you happy! I just love Mumford & Sons! Their music is amazing and I'm obsessed with watching them perform (do a search on YouTube!). They are stellar songwriters and musicians and I finally get to see them in concert this Valentine's Day! Yay!!! Happy, happy, happy! :)
2) Bio Ionic StyleWinder: I have a ton of people ask me what I use to curl my hair with. I was introduced to this curling iron a couple years ago and now I use it ALL the time! It's unique in that you turn the barrel with your fingers - kind of. It's hard to explain but trust me, it works, it's super easy, it gives you "beachy" waves, and they last! I highly recommend this if you are trying to save time but still want a finished look to your do!
3) Hurom Juicer: I've always loved to juice fruits and veggies but this juicer has taken it to another level for me. It's a slow juicer which extracts more juice from your produce and results in a higher quality juice with less foam and oxidation. If you want to get more fruits and vegetables in your diet, this is the way to go! Lately, I've been starting my mornings with a pineapple/apple juice and I promise, it's like liquid sunshine! And you know what they say - you are what you eat (and in this case, drink). I know I'd really like to be a ray of sunshine!
If you don't know anything about juicing or it's benefits, check out a juicing class at your local Williams-Sonoma or watch Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead (it's available on Netflix).
4) P90X: So this is for the whole get-in-shape thing. Honestly, last year I was completely slack in this department so I'm stepping it up this year. I've done a cycle of P90X in the past so I know it works! It had me doing push-ups all over the place and probably in the best shape I've been in since high school. I started again at the beginning of the year and, while I currently can barely move because I'm so sore, I know I'll see changes very soon!
5) Vitamix Blender: This is the newest collection to the things I love. I've wanted a Vitamix for years and years but it was never in the budget. When my ghetto blender broke about a month ago, I finally bit the bullet and went for the Vitamix. OMG! I should not have waited so long!!! This thing is amazing and makes awesome smoothies, banana ice cream, homemade dressings and so much more! It is such a wonderful tool to have for a vegan, raw-foodist, or anyone that wants to make healthy meals at home!
6) Bean Vegan Cuisine: As many of you know, I have been a vegan for over 7 years now. While I never push my diet on others, I always try to help out if someone has questions and is thinking about going down the same path. One question that I always get is, "what DO you eat?" Well, trust me, there are plenty of things to eat but I'm also very excited that a new vegan restaurant has opened up in Charlotte. It might not be super-healthy and they even describe their food as comfort foods, but it is a great place to try out some delicious cruelty- and animal-free options. My personal favorite is the jalapeño/cheddar burger (my mouth is watering right now)! Even my meat-loving husband has turned away from chicken with the help of their buffalo fingers. Oh, and their Kitty-Kat Cake is unbelievable!!! Even if you aren't following a vegan diet, you should check it out!
To learn more about a vegan diet, check out Forks Over Knives. It's available on Netflix too!
Occasionally I like to pull out my notebook because it takes me back to the beginning - back to when all of that information was so new to me. I like to remember the passion that was stirred up inside and the excitement I had for totally "getting" something and being "good" at it. (PS - check out the pic below. Haha! My maiden name!)
When people ask me how to get started in photography or even how to improve their skills, I always recommend taking a photography course. Sure, there are a ton of amazing, self-taught photographers out there. However, not everyone has the discipline to learn the f-stops, shutter speed settings and ISO values and how they interconnect. We were required to memorize all of these numbers and know what to do when one or two of those numbers changed - it became second nature and we were regularly tested on that. Plus, we learned about composition, expression and many fun photographic techniques.
Of course, we also learned how to process film and develop our own prints. While those things might not seem relative to today's business of "developing" your images in Photoshop, it actually is! Many of the tools in Photoshop come directly from the darkroom including dodging, burning, masking, filters, sponging, etc. If you know the history, you understand why the Photoshop tools do what they do and look the way they look.
Anyway, thanks for tagging along on this trip down memory lane. If I only knew then what I know now... :)
This is the view from the couch. When the curtains are drawn, my clients can view their slideshow and images on the TV. This is great for visualizing how their images will look as large artwork. It has helped them tremendously so far and is SO much better than the 13" laptop I was using in the past.
Some of the things I love most about the space are the personal, little details. Because I started from scratch, many of the pieces of decor were either handmade or chosen just for this office.
For example, this shelf was handmade. My handy husband and I cut the wood to size, stained it, finished it and added the hardware. It holds the framed covers of the past two Lake Norman Currents Magazine pet issues as well as adorable cardboard animal cutouts I purchased from Macy's in NYC while I was there for the Westminster Dog Show.
The coat hanger was also handmade and finished in the same manner as the shelving. I even busted out the drill and added the hooks myself!
My favorite handmade item is by far the coffee table. I saw this idea on Pinterest (my best friend as I was getting inspiration) and knew I had to make it. I purchased the mid-century modern legs from 
Isn't the wood/stain combo gorgeous?!
It's so nice to be able to spread out the Coffee Table Albums on a table made just for them...
I found this little camera at HomeGoods and knew I had to have it right away. I mean, it's a camera and it has a gorgeous wood base. Who could say no?
Another one of my favorite items is the "coconut tree" I found at Ikea. It's actually growing out of the coconut and I just think that's the coolest thing. I hope I don't kill it.
More handmade shelves fill in the back corner of the room. These are great because I can easily display different types of artwork, switch them out on a regular basis, and not have to re-hang them if I pull them down to show clients. 
When I envisioned my office space, I KNEW I wanted a chalkboard wall. I KNEW I wanted my clients to be able to leave notes as they stopped by. This added way more work to the painting process but I absolutely love it! I can't wait for it to get filled up! (One of my messages had to be blurred because the session is a surprise and the secret isn't out yet!)
I had these bowls in storage and I happily came across them when I was looking for a container to hold the chalk. They fit the theme of the room perfectly and get the job done!
I love that I'll always look at that wall and remember my wonderful 2- and 4-legged clients...
Another thing that I knew I wanted were some floating, shiny, white cabinets. Ikea saved the day and had EXACTLY what I was looking for. These fit perfectly in the room and offer wonderful, chic storage with plenty of room for the TV and samples.
I can't emphasize how happy I am with my new office! I have a few more handmade details that I want to add - maybe a few more samples too - but overall, it has all come together perfectly. If you are ever up in the Cornelius or Lake Norman area and want to stop by, just give me a ring! I'd love to have you over! :)
If you have questions about my office, leave me a comment below! I'll be happy to let you know where I got anything you see here!
Correcting all of these things probably took me 10 minutes or so. And that is just for 1 image. And, no, not all cases are this extreme but it can certainly happen on several images within a gallery. This is why it takes time for me to perfect your final product. The edited version reflects my style and has a warm and happy feel to it. What could have easily made it into the "trash" group for being underexposed, is now one of my favorite images from the session. This is all a continuation of my art...
And a side-by-side...
From the outtakes: Attempting the impossible when a photographer works alone with props and dogs...
