Minuet No 2 Can Eat It!

So I've been playing the violin for 6 months now. I love playing but about a month ago things were really frustrating. It all started with Minuet No 2 by Bach. I couldn't get past it. So...we did a rewind. I guess I got so excited about moving on that I missed some skills I should have had. Well...today we finally turned the page to the next song. Its not perfect, but it passes. YAY! Take that! I'm almost done with Suzuki Book One.

Also I have found that I improve faster if I play the soprano line in the Hymn book. I started this because I have a little 93 year old grandma who has dementia and doesn't have a whole lot to say...except for reciting poetry and singing along with hymns. Yep. I start playing the song and she sings one or two verses. Incredible. This little relationship with my grandma is awesome. :) 

I'm really liking this. It was frustrating for quite a while but its getting better and a lot more fun. 

Busy!!!

Being busy is good, right? So this is getting crazy...I know I mentioned I started up a photography business...let me share my workload for May-July:

2 bridal sessions
2 weddings
3 senior pic sessions
5 newborn sessions
3 family picture sessions
1 corporate job
=16 jobs

I'm not bragging...just taking into account that for every hour 1 spend shooting, I spend about 1.5 that much time editing. I have got to become more efficient.

But I love it...and I never thought I would get the chance to do this...ever. I still can't believe it. Pinch me!

Life is good. :)

AWOL

I promise I haven't...life is pretty busy right now. I had three shoots in the past month and I'm shooting a wedding this week...not to mention planning a much needed vacation. :) The thing is I'm planning the vacation for 7 other people too, so is it really a vacation or more like a youth camp(we're all the same age but it feels like it)? I don't know...I say vacation for my own sake. ;)

A few things I've learned in the past little bit:

1-You have to learn to have fun in life or you won't get through it feeling alive.

Yes I made that up. And if you're saying, "Yeah well we won't get through it alive anyway." Well, the thing is in The Princess Bride, the Dread Pirate Roberts was only mostly dead, so clearly there is some inbetween. Point being, a lot of us go through life so seriously that we feel pretty much dead all the time. The times I really felt alive is when I was laughing and having a good time. I think we all need a little more of that to live life to the fullest. So we FEEL alive. :)

2- Almost empty gym at 6:30 am is great. Sometimes not so great. When you're the only female in there and there are about 5 creepy guys, I'd prefer a crowded gym.

3- Life sucks and is confusing sometimes. No likey.

4- Being young enough to get away with crap still is AWESOME. No specific occasion, just in general.

That is all for now.

Ole, Ole Ole Ole! Real Salt Lake!

I got lucky...seriously. So I bought the Salt Lake County "Pass of All Passes" a couple months ago. $40 bought you tickets to quite a few events (Blaze, Real, Grizzlies). The only trick is that you have to get the tickets the day of the event. The Rio Tinto Box Office opens at 10 and I thought maybe, 20 minutes early, no problem I'll just get in line. I got there to see about 300 people in line. Man, I hope there's enough tickets. So I'm talking to a girl there my age, right in front of me. She seems nice, and we had an interesting conversation. So she said she hopes people don't get frustrated about the lines. I asked her what she meant, I mean, of course it's a line, but they probably didn't expect this turnout. She then said she hoped people wouldn't get all angry if people jump line. I told her as long as nobody jumps, there isn't anything to worry about. So we're in line and she's calling her friend saying things like, "Oh I'm on the south end of the line. Yeah right here." This chick with a stroller butts in front of me to be with her friend. Um...hypocrite? The visitor pulls out ALL FOUR OF HER PASSES she needs to get tickets with. I looked down at her passes and looked up at the girl who was in line first with kind of a "huh?" Look. Alright it may have been a WTF look...but not too mean. I tried to be nice. SOOOO (this all ties in...even with a moral to the story) I get up to the window and the cashier tells me he thinks I just got the last two seats together in the stadium, which I was grateful for and I thanked him. On the way out I passed the girls and I wasn't snotty at all, more a voice of relief, but said, "Today's my lucky day! He says I got the last two seats together in the stadium! Sweet, huh! Nice to meet you!" I promise I tried not to be snotty and the first girl just said, "Oh...wow." With a look like 'I just about messed over this girl's chance at getting tickets.' That's really all I was looking for. I'm kinda mean, huh...but she's the one who said stuff about line jumpers...nice girl, probably got forced into it. Anyway... I didn't make a huge deal about it. And I think I was really, really, REALLY blessed for it. Check this out: We found the perfect parking spot next to all the tailgaters (a bunch of hispanics who play drums during the WHOLE GAME). How can they do that? Well...most of them were drunk...highly entertaining though... When I got home I checked out our tickets and saw "ADA1." I thought that was interesting...so I looked it up online. From what I could see, it looked like they were in front. I was right.

That's the concrete barrier between us and the field. Um...how the? What the? Couldn't believe it. I was madly posting to fb and taking pictures and then it just got better.

Two words: DAVID BECKHAM

He and his team were warming up right in front of us. There is no zoom in the next couple pictures. They really were that close. I had texts coming in to tell David Beckham that they love him. Oh, trust me, my camera did quite enough lovin' for all of them.

And there he is again. The best soccer player in history. WOW.

And again. I have to apologize to and thank the guy in front at the same time. I totally was focusing on Beckham. Oops.

Then I got Jimmered. I didn't catch it the first time, but that is Jimmer Fredette.

David Beckham. Again.

This time I was ready. I actually got to shout out a "thank you" to Jimmer.

The other David of the night. Eat your heart out, Beckham. :)

I'm just happy to be there. Sappy grin and all. Just pleased as punch...happy as a clam...tickled pink. You get the picture. Notice the matching hats?

Goooooooaaaaaaaaaalllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Corner kick! It's a little blurry...sorry.

There are the crazy, drunk and sometimes shirtless people who played the WHOLE GAME. It added to the ambiance, so I can't complain. :)

And yet another GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!

Nothing makes me happer than furry biceps. Nice.

Another corner kick, this time by...you guessed it.

My dream job. Minus the rain.

Seriously, I can't even think of a game more jam packed than this one. I haven't been that excited about something for a while. Seriously amazing. Lucky us. :)

Red Bloom Website!!

I finally got a more user-friendly web designer. It's www.weebly.com. It's all about the drag and drop, which I love. Anyway, the website is simple, but it is up:

www.redbloomphotography.net

YYYYYAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!

Now I just need to add more pics... :)

Roller Coaster Life

These last couple weeks have been quite the fun Rollercoaster.

I've been THRILLED about starting up my business.

Busy as busy gets with pretty much everything going on at once.

Working at the SL Temple from 5-9am (yes AM) last Saturday.

Stress over relatives.

Boredom at work, as in "I'm super busy at work but I'm bored of it all."

What I've learned: no matter where you are, there you are.

Life is never going to be perfect.

Rest is relative.

Fun is usually work.

The greatest sacrifices bring the greatest blessings.

And the week goes on...

Why am I up right now?

It's 1:00. Why am I not in bed? So I am trudging through the details of putting together a website. It's through www.justhost.com and it seems to be alright, except for the fact that I am website publishing stupid. I am learning so many new things right now that it feels like I'm back in school and I think my brain is about to explode! I love this work and its great to have success, but can't it come sooner, please? Things I am doing:

Building my logo (done but not postable because it won't size properly)

Putting together my website (challenging)

Taking more classes (ok this I LOVE)

Getting used to new toys (absolutely love)

OK so I love most of it...just the business/advertizing side that is stumping me...

I really shouldn't blog this late because my brain cells are FRIED...so...peace out and onward tomorrow. :) With more brain cells, I hope.

And the Picture Blog is up!

My photography blog is started and a few pics are up so I thought I would post it if you'd like to see what I've been up to. I hope to post more in the next few weeks!

http://redbloomphotography.blogspot.com

And It's Official!

I am now the owner of Red Bloom Photography. I just received confirmation from the State and after a few more steps (business license etc) I will be ready to go. The plan isn't to do this full time, just on the side. It really is an excuse to do my hobby and maybe make a little money. That's it. Wouldn't it be great to earn a little extra doing something I like?!

So there's the good news. I am putting together a logo for my business cards and a blog with some of the things I've done lately.

I'm pretty excited for the photography part and the business part of things. It's something new and I've always wanted to own a side business...ever since I was little. Things I have done:

Age 6: "Kids Cooking Restaurant" (I named it...at 5 yrs) I had the plastic food, prices, a register, the whole deal.

Age 8: Friendship bracelets for sale, 50 cents

...and that's about where it ended, but I was quite the young entrepreneuer. Good thing I didn't know about taxes back then.

Well, here goes nothing! If anyone has some good tips for just starting out, that would be super.

I will post my business (whoa...business) blog address in the next couple weeks. Still under construction!

Oh Baby

I am just finding out how time consuming photography is...and also how rewarding. My editing skills need a lot of sharpening and there's always room to improve my shooting.

I had the chance to do a little photo shoot for my co-worker who just became a proud first-time daddy. He and his wife wanted me to take a few pics so I gathered up my portable studio, lots of headbands and flowers and a couple homemade tutus and went over to their place for some fun.

After lots of crying (baby, of course) and waiting and then, finally a little calm, we took about 150 shots.

Lesson #1: You probably shouldn't shoot until your heart is content, because...

Lesson #2: You have to edit what you shoot.

Lesson #3: Editing takes far longer than I anticipated...especially for a perfectionist. Time to get this thing down to a workflow.

Lesson #4: Happy parents make it all worth it.

Seriously, I had so much fun and I think this sweet little newborn's parents had a good time to. I couldn't have done this for nicer people and even though I have lessons to learn, I enjoyed every minute.

Let the fun begin.

I also submitted my business name to the State. They are making sure there isn't another _________ __________ Photography out there somewhere. I'm not giving it away until it's for sure! Then it's time to work on a logo...another BLOG (yes, another one with pics) and much, much more work and studying before I shoot bridals and a wedding in April/May.

Oh and sorry...can't post the baby pics yet. The parents need to see all of them before I post. :)

Double Trouble Baby Shower

Two..two...two due dates in one! Actually they are one day apart. My coworkers Matt and Sam's wives are due with little girls any day now, so we (I) decided to throw them a man-shower. I didn't post pics because of work rules, but I will tell you all about it.

The decorations: Blue, yellow and a pink mobile.

The plates etc: Spiderman plates, Batman napkins and bright green forks.

The game: Yes, we did have a game. I put 5 flavors of baby food in plastic cups, labeled with a number. Each person had to sample with Tostitos Scoops and record what they thought it was. The highest number of correct answers got a Lego playset: A smartcar with a little figurine. The reactions were hilarious! Some of the mechanics all out refused. Wusses! Sam won that one and I had an extra one for Matt. It was fun to watch them for the next 15 minutes playing with their Legos. Oh, and the flavors were: Green beans, Pears, Sweet potatoes, Peaches (actually yummy) and the nastiest of nasty, Mac n Cheese.

The treat: Chocolate cake from Costco. I called it "man cake."

The gift: Lots of binkies for some peace and quiet.

It was priceless.

2010 Amazingness

As promised, this is some of the best of 2010. Maybe not the most noteworthy, but it's just a little slice of everyday life. Holidays are amazing as always, but the everyday occurances and little things are what make life worth living. Especially if it gives me a laugh. So here they are in chronological order.


Thirty and Flirty and Thriving. Well, maybe not so much, but I did celebrate in style. I had cheesecake as the office treat and made them eat off New Moon amazingness. Ha ha. I'm the birthday girl. That's right. :)

This is a sad day, but front row prompted me to come out of my Ute dislike for a couple hours and for a friend's birthday.

I. Want. This. Jeep. Someday. :) This is the Utah Auto Expo, which is rapidly approaching again. Who says girls can't like cars?

Gross...and painful. I sprained my ankle on my way to my cousin's wedding. Crutches and a boot for a few weeks. Delightful. It makes me appreciate non-gimpiness...well, as non-gimpy as I get.

The classic St Patty's Day parade, now my personal favorite parade. This is my third year of attendance. Always something new.

The beautiful Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. I've always wanted to go. This is not the best picture, I'm noticing more and more where my editing skills improved. This is pre-editing ephiphany.

I know this is random, but can you spot the problem with this Claw machine? It's surprisingly obscene, but had to be documented.

Sporting the Redneck Tank Top. My own personal creation. So proud to be a slob.

Bees game after Bees game. I can't get enough of it! Oh, and the hot dogs. I hate hot dogs, but not here. Mmmm.

Ah Moab. One of my favorite places.

Arches National Park, take two. This is just after sunrise. Delicate Arch hike at 4:00 am. Highly recommended.

Double Rainbow! All the way across the sky! It's so intense! We decided to break in the new firebowl and got rained out, but we had this little treat.

Paul McCartney. And a limo. A-MAZ-ING.





I got a new camera and took tons of photography classes. It's something I've always wanted to do. I also tried my hand at some engagements and portraits. I LOVE it. More to come, for sure. This one is Memory Grove in the Fall with a bit too much yellow, but I dig it.

Snapping a pic of my cousin's cake while the "real" photographer is out taking other shots.

This would be the Blizzard of 2010. Yes, it was a blizzard that left about 2 inches of snow, but I got to leave work early. That's good enough for me. :) Oh and this is my first try at dragging the shutter. Pretty sweet.

That's about it. 2010 was a great year for learning new things and accomplishing things I thought I never would and getting to know and enjoy time with people I never thought would happen. 2010 was a great year.

Twenty Eleven

I cant believe another YEAR has passed. Where did it go?

2010 was pretty amazing, can't lie about that. I will post some "best of" pics in the next post.

I bought a planner. I got my first planner when I was the Laurels president when I was 16 and always had a sick obsession with getting my new Trapper Keeper (holy crap, did I just mention that) and folders just so. I really am a slob, so you know. Anyway, last year was the first year in a while I haven't had a planner and even though it was great being freeeeeeee!!...I suuure didn't accomplish what I wanted to. So I went to Franklin Covey and bought quite the planner. I fully intend on using it.

My goals. Simple. Not my usual goals I flunk out on EVERY YEAR. I still have those 10 pounds. I made daily, weekly and monthly goals that will, bit by bit make me a better person. Scripture study is one, reading a Conference talk a day, blogging and journaling each week, and working on one Christlike attribute a month. Pretty simple, but the effects will be long lasting. There are many more goals on that list, but those are just a few of the most important ones. Oh yeah...and finding the very best, most delicious Funeral Potatoes recipe. I can have a couple frivolous goals, right?

There you have it. New Year, new me. :) Shooting for heaven in twenty eleven. Very cheesy...and it's late.

Say goodnight, Mo. Off to bed you go! Most of you won't get it, but the right one will. :)

TY is BACK!!!

Yes, "Ty is back" is the text I got at FHE last Monday from my dad. I couldn't believe it. I had to call him to see what was going on.

He left on June 14, 2010 and we hadn't seen him since. The neighbors said he made an appearance a couple of times, but we never saw him. We were SO worried because he has arthritis, so we thought, and a pretty significant limp.

We called all of the Salt Lake County shelters multiple signs with no luck. He is chipped so we had that going for us, and the cute white stripe across his nose, which made him unmistakable.

We gave up a few months later, thinking he had been hit and trying to make the best of the sad situation. Because of the arthritis, we thought he wouldn't have a very good quality of life in our care anyway, even after many vet visits and meds.

Sneakers, our Siamese, was not especially fond of Ty and we thought things might be better for her without him.

Hence we made excuses for why things were ok.

But they weren't.

You're right. It's just a cat...but we missed Ty. My mom hesitated in putting up the Christmas tree because there was an orange tabby Beanie Baby ornament in the box. What does the tag on the ornament say? Ty. That's the brand. Kind of ironic.

So, back to my happy text from my dad. I called him and Ty seemed fine. He hadn't missed a meal it seemed and the limp was almost gone. Amazing. A girl from our neighborhood found him about a block away and carried him home. I was so happy to have my little boy back. He was safe and home and in good shape and...

I wonder why he didn't come home and where was he and will whomever was taking care of him miss him and...

He's home. That's all that matters. I wonder...when the cold set in and he was miserable, our tenative plan was to put him out of his misery. Maybe that wasn't supposed to happen.

Sneaks is very, very bugged that he's back, but a little prayer brought back my orange tabby, maybe a little more will help them get along.

I'm grateful for answered prayers...in the affirmative. :)

Crafty Christmas

So I decided I was feeling a little domestic this Christmas Season...first off, I made a countdown calendar (thanks to Jennie Ferguson for this cute project)...


A very Grinchy colored apron that I just love...thanks to Charisse Medico...




And a cupcake hotpad, which pattern I'm sure will transform into many amazing designs through the year.

And I found out yet again that being crafty is pricey!! Its a blast though and I think I'll do it more often!

Busy, busy!

Wow these last few weeks have been CRAZY! I decided a couple months ago that I wanted to take some continuing ed classes at the U.

I saw a class that taught something I always wanted to learn about: Furniture Refinishing. I know, crazy. I just thought it would be cool to be able to buy a piece at the DI and make it brand new and very usable...plus it would save so much money rather than buying new. Excellent class. It was a month long and I finished it on Saturday. I even found a fabulous coffee table at DI to refinish when it warms up. So there's busy #1. Every Saturday for a month.

Busy #2 is the fact that I am shooting bridals and a wedding next year and I'm pretty decent (so I've been told) but I wanted to get on a professional level so I could make things turn out just perfect. I saw another continuing ed class for Intermediate Photography. I had to score that one too. Every Wednesday and Saturday for about 3 weeks. The same weeks as the prior class. Busy #2.

Pictureline. Awesome photo classes...on Wednesdays from 4-5. I see two that I just HAVE to take. Same nights as the U class. Busy #3.

SO...that equals about 8 hours of classes each week. That's a lot...for me, anyway. I got sick twice. That made things interesting, but somehow the weeks were bearable. Now its time to slow down and enjoy what I've learned...and lots and lots of practice!

More posts to come with pics from my photography adventures...oh and I need guinea pigs...people, rather...who don't mind a free photo shoot with edited pics given to you on a CD...at a location of your choice...any takers? Please... :)

Operation Fin Frenzy

It has now begun. My sweet little 92 year old grandma lives by herself and has decided that she is tired of watching TV. Instead, she has elected to watch a small, fiber optic tree change colors that was left over from last Christmas.

Time for a change.

It's time for a fish tank.

Oh yes and it will be one of the most exciting fish tanks you will ever see. She is going blind, so it needs to be bright, spectacular and exciting.

I went to PetSmart and almost died. The decorations for tanks are pretty amazingly cute. This is my project. It's gonna rock. :)

First Shot Pics...

So...this is my first SHOT (ha ha no pun intended) on taking portraits. Landscape photography is kind of my "thing" but if you're gonna be good, you gotta branch out a bit. One thing I learned is that taking pics of people is STRESSFUL. Remembering all the rules, poses, etc., etc., and making sure the light is good. I can't wait until all that is automatic. Well, we had fun last Sunday, taking some pics at Murray Park. Thanks, Dave for being patient with me and for being my Guinea pig.

Abercrombie, here he comes. ;)

GQ Pose?


Man, I wish I was this photogenic!

Thanks again, Davey. I know you're the one who is used to taking the pics, but I think this time the tables needed to be turned. :)

My New Addiction

So...remember the beginning of the year when we all made goals to lose weight and they basically crashed and burned after about a month (literally)? I say "literally" because I really did crash and burn...I sprained my ankle right before my cousin's wedding on Jan 16th and it took my quite the little while (crutches, a leg boot and lots of pain) to recover. My goal of losing weight was not looking so hot.

Well...it's been a goal of mine at some point to join a gym and get into the best shape of my life. It's just been so expensive and seemingly time consuming that I kept putting it off.

I've noticed I'm getting old...I get more and more tired and I decided it was time to stop! No more trying to stay awake at work. No more following behind the Pack when hiking because I can't keep up. No more getting stressed out over that piece of cheesecake I ate and being self-conscious.

Done.

I found a fabulous deal at Costco for a membership at 24 Hour Fitness. I get 2 years for $300. That's only $12.50 a month. That's AMAZING!!

I finally joined. I thought I would get burned out...I know, it's only been a week, but I L-O-V-E LOVE it. I have a goal I reached even just today. I got to the top of the big staircase at the Institute and wasn't winded. Goal one accomplished. So here are the rest, and in order of importance...why I'm sharing this, I really don't know:

1-Get into better cardiovascular health
2-Have more energy
3-Build lean muscle, especially around my gimpy knees so they will have the pressure taken off'
4-Lose weight

Notice how losing weight is at the bottom of the list...well, the way I see it is that if I am behaving myself and giving the boot to a few cravings...much like the furry, orange, Muppet-like thing on the Weight Watchers commercial, then I'm doing all I can and muscle weighs more than fat anyway. As long as I look good, then I'll consider goal #4 as mission accomplished.

I know I keep going on about this, but seriously...I am so excited about this! Oh...and I'm excited about my new, hot pink ipod Shuffle, which tells all the creepy looking people there that I'm busy. :)

Hopefully I'll have more seemingly-lame-but-important-to-me milestones to report soon. :)

The Perfect Storm

I know, I know. The title is somewhat deceiving. This started out as the perfect, sunny day in the backyard. My little project during the past couple weeks was to put down a small pad of pavers in the backyard and put together a firebowl so we can roast hotdogs, marshmallows, maybe a couple of Starbursts. Yummy! We got things out and finally got a fire started and the hot dogs roasting (see all the manly men around the fire, roasting their latest kill)...


Then it started to rain. See the lonely fire, all by itself. All the chairs and table were taken away and now our somewhat decent fire is getting dowsed.



And here's the silver lining. The storm rolled in fast and displayed some of the most dramatic clouds I have ever seen. I'm just glad I had my camera. We gathered under a tree in our front yard (it's not very tall...I promise we're smarter than to stand under a tall tree) and watched the spectacular storm. Lightning, thunder and all sorts of craziness.

Yes, that is a cloud. Isn't it amazing?

Here's the icing on the cake. We saw a rainbow in these crazy, dark clouds. At first it was one, and then it blossomed into two. It was all-out trippy to see it turn into a triple rainbow. I couldn't believe how amazing it was!

Even though our party got rained out, We were dazzled by Mother Nature's creation. It was pretty exciting. I think it's just a little reminder from up above that Heavenly Father can turn seemingly crummy circumstances into something so delightful! We just need the right attitude. :)