Last Day for Cans for Comments

All right blog readers, today is your last day for Cans for Comments. Leave a comment, ask a question, feed the hungry. Tonight at 11:59 p.m. EST is the deadline - so, add some comments and help me help those in need!

:)

5 . . . more . . . days

I have a love/hate relationship with the last week of school before break. First, I am extremely excited every year, as I love Christmas . . . and knowing I am going to see my family soon just makes me so happy! But on the other hand, the kids are crazy and excited, too . . . and this week is one of the hardest weeks to be a teacher. Don't get me wrong, I love the holiday spirit . . . but when you have only two weeks of class left after Christmas break, and you have x, y and z to get through before then in order for the students to be adequately prepared for the next year of French . . . phew, it's tough. All I want to do this week is eat sweets, watch Christmas movies and drink cocoa . . . unfortunately, that is not what the state of VA thinks of as a Standard of Learning for French class . . . bummer.

So here I go . . . 5 more days of craziness. Then it is off to MI. Our last Christmas as a couple . . . kind of bittersweet.

What all are you doing for the holidays?

Cans for Comments

A new craze is hitting the world of photography, and I am totally up for joining it! Photographers Chris+Lynn, from the awesome town of Vancouver, started a can drive that is totally awesome.

So, here's how it works, for the next 7 days, for each comment left on any post (as far back as you want to go) I will donate a can of food to my local food bank!

Here's what they have to say about it - "It's that time of year when sharing is extra-special and extra-needed. So go ahead, it's easy to help out - just click on comments function at the bottom of the post & write to us!"

So I would also like to get involved. So, please, leave some comments and make me take a huge car load of cans to the food bank! :)

You guys are amazing! Here's the post with all the other photographers who are also participating - go leave some comment love for them, too!

P.S. I totally failed on the blog posting last week . . . too bad no one caught me on Monday! :)

Thanksgiving Break

Phew, so we are finally back from our travels. We left Wednesday around 12 to head to MI to spend the holiday with my family. It is about a ten hour drive for us, which was made a bit longer by the frequent stops that pregnancy requires - hehehe.

While we were there, our schedule was crazy, but it was great to see so many members of our family. We had Thanksgiving dinner with Michael's extended family for the first time (and his parents came down from Ironwood, so we were happy to see them, too). From there, we headed to my grandparents' house, which is the scene of the traditional Creagh family Thanksgiving meal. My family gave me a baby shower, which was wonderful (will post pics as soon as I get a chance to upload them), and we got to see everyone that was still around after dinner.

Friday morning, we had breakfast with Mom, Thanksgiving dinner with Dad and a baby shower that my step-sisters put on for me (again, pics to come).

Saturday, we met Michael's parents for breakfast, had Thanksgiving dinner with Mom (Chinese Thanksgiving - a new tradition, I think) and then went to Dad's to say bye.

We got up at 5:30 this morning to hit the road, hoping to beat the traffic. Well, we did, until the Pennsylvania border, and just as always, the turnpike was just horrendously backed up, so we took a detour. Well, what should have taken us about 4 hours to get through, in the end took us almost 7 . . . needless to say, 12 hours of driving was not our idea of a fun Sunday afternoon. But, we are home, the cat is thrilled to see us, and we are filled with food and lots of good memories of yet another holiday!

Can't wait to see what's in store next!

Happy Holidays!

Baltimore

A few weeks ago, I spent the weekend with my dear friend, Emily in Baltimore. It was chilly and rainy, but we managed to keep ourselves busy with shopping and pedicures - some of my favorite girly things to do!

One of the best parts of the trip, was getting to meet her soon to be adopted kittens! A litter of 5 kitties are in a foster home until they are old enough to be taken home, but Jumanji and Katie were visiting with their soon to be mommy for the weekend - and they are just precious!

This one is Katie:


And this one is Jumanji:


I came home with a bunch of little scratches, but it was totally worth it. They are just adorable! :) Too bad kittens have to grow up and become cats! :)

Times are a changing

Many of you have grown familiar with the TMV Photo logo. I had a wonderful designer put together the logo and my business marketing materials as I started this company, but as the years have passed, I have found my business to evolve into something more. So, in the spring, after our little girl is born, I will be relaunching Toute Ma Vie Photography, complete with new logo, website and some great new offerings. I am excited about this move, and have found a great designer to put together this new look for me - http://www.threeheartblog.com/- TracyLynn has been great so far, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with! Any of you that are starting out, or looking for a new look, she has been so easy to work with - you will just love her!

The Big Announcement

This may come as a big shock to some of you, while I know that some of you already know. But we are expecting a little baby girl in February 2009! I have waited until things kind of slowed down to make this a public announcement, but now is the time to share with you.

We found out we were pregnant on a trip to France, Spain and Italy with some of my wonderful students this past summer. I had been feeling sick and it just seemed strange to me, so Michael went out to a pharmacy in Barcelona and tried to explain to the pharmacist that we needed a pregnancy test. Lo and behold, it was positive. I remember that moment very well . . . we were surprised and excited. I cried.

So we spent the next week together in Italy, the kids flew home with another chaperone, and we started dreaming about our little bundle of joy. As we came home, we went to the docs and confirmed that we were, in fact, preggers, and have been waiting and watching since then.

We have had two ultrasounds, and both have shown her to be a little princess, so we are counting on modern technology to have gotten that right (though, we are not painting the room pink - hehe).

We are due on February 17, which means that I am currently 27 1/2 weeks pregnant - 2/3 of the way through. I have been really lucky thus far, no morning sickness, no throwing up, no horrible weight gain . . . this little one is very active, so I find myself really tired out all the time (since sleep is not as much of an option as it was before - thanks to her kicking).

I promise to keep updates on here as things progress, but felt like it was time to make the formal announcement. Cannot wait for you all to meet her!

Betty & Sam: Engagement

So a few weekends ago, Michael and I drove over to Frederickburg, VA to spend some quality time with Betty & Sam at Belvedere Plantation. I met Betty and Sam through past clients, Gail and Mike, who were married last fall (basically a year ago - well, 11/10). Anyway, this couple is just a sweet and fun couple. Betty has spent many fall days at the Belvedere Plantation, so this was a perfect place to get some engagement pictures. We had a blast (even though I was kind of under the weather). They were so willing to be goofy and fun, and we got some great shots. So, here are a few from the day! I just couldn't narrow it down, so there are definitely more than normal . . . can't wait til their wedding in April!

Enjoy!













Thanks for the great time, guys! We had fun!

New Blogging Resolution: With prizes for you!

Woah, I have been bad at blogging. It's insane how busy things have gotten around here. So, here's my goal, to blog at least 2 times per week until the end of the year (Dec 31). Starting each week on Monday at 12:01 a.m. (EST) through Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (EST), I will put at least two posts up. So, here's the catch, if you actually catch me not blogging twice in a week, you are going to win a prize. We will start with a Starbucks giftcard. So, the first person to leave a comment after the 12:01 deadline on the following Monday (if I do not post twice) will get the prize! You will have from 12:01 Monday morning until 11:59 p.m. that same day to catch me! :)

Sounds like fun, right? Hehehe. Really, it is just to encourage me to get on here and blog for you all. I have a few things to get up here and some big announcements to make. So, check in often and see what's going on. Don't forget to leave some comments and let me know you were here.

Niki & Matt: 6/7

Yesterday, I had the honor of photographing a wedding for two amazing people. Niki and Matt got married at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA. As is the case in most weddings, these two are so obviously in love that I just know that their marriage will be long and healthy and full of wonderful moments and memories. They are just perfect for each other : Niki is kind of zany and so much fun, while Matt is a wonderfully patient an laid-back kind of guy. They compliment each other so well! The day was the hottest day of the year, yet they just smiled and almost seemed to not feel the heat (trust me, I felt it - phew, it was hot). I also had the privilege of having the great Susan Solo shoot with me for the day! She was so much to hang out with!!!!

Here are a few quick previews from the day!






Have a wonderful honeymoon, guys! I cannot wait to see what the future holds for you as a couple. Thank you for letting me share in your special day! I had a blast!

Kerry & Dan : May 31

Well, it's been a while . . . I kind of disappear during soccer season. Yesterday, I had the privilege of photographing Kerry and Dan's weddding. It was a beautiful day (even with the rain) and a beautiful ceremony. Kerry looked stunning . . . and over all - it was a great experience. The reception was at The Belmont in Fredericksburg, which, if you are looking for a great location for a reception, I would absolutely recommend them! Here are a few photo highlights from the day! Enjoy!


Congrats, guys! :) I had a blast!

OSP West

I LOVE California! It is amazing here . . . the weather is great, the people are great, it's awesome . . . We are in the midst of a few speakers, and have had some great sessions. I just didn't know what I was missing. This is my first time in CA, and I love it! So, here are just a few images from yesterday . . . more to come!

OSP West : Napa, CA

I am off to California! I am so pumped about this weekend - and I cannot wait to meet so many new people. It's going to be amazing.







Here is where I will be. Thank you so much to the Stewarts, Tana and Melissa for organizing this! It's going to be bomb. East coast, we have to get something going like this.

Watch for posts . . . we are going to have a blast!

Happy Valentine's Day to you

Okay, so I apologize for being such a bad blogger. I just have been so insanely busy. It's crazy. I just returned from a French Club trip to New York, and tomorrow I will be heading out to an awesome photography conference in Napa, CA with my buddies from OSP. I cannot wait. Trust me, there will be pictures soon. I know, I need to post a lot of things . . . I am so behind.

But for today, I just wanted to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a wonderful Valentine's Day. I am so excited to hear from some of you in the next few weeks as you celebrate your engagements! :)

I am so excited. I got to school this morning and on my desk was a box . . . from ProFlowers! I got 18 long stem, red roses, and they are GORGEOUS!!!! I feel so loved! :)

As always, I like to put a little something extra into the blog posts on holidays. For every couple that books from 2/14-2/28, you will receive a complimentary guestbook, designed by yours truly, from your engagement session (you must have an engagement session in your package to get this deal). How often do most people look at their guestbook of the standard variety, with this - you will have all your engagement pictures and all the special notes from people that were sharing in your special day! How cool is that.

So, how are you spending your special day? What did you get from your honey? Let me know!

Meredith and Josh: Engagement

Back in January, we spent a very cold Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with Meredith and Josh down on the Potomac for their engagement session. They are getting married in March and I am so excited for the opportunity to work with them. Josh is a Marine, and their wedding will be filled with many of the traditions that come from his line of work. It's going to be amazing.
So here are a few pictures from the day. Can you tell that it was about 30 degrees (if we were lucky)?

Can't wait for March!

Albums

I am finishing up a few albums, so here are a few images from them! :)

Just a few more to go . . . look for yours soon if you have not seen it yet! :)

What a day

Okay, so in the rush of getting ready for Allen and Heather's wedding, I totally forgot to grab my camera . . . so no pictures (and me getting all dressed up and girly with no way to document it . . . ). The ceremony was beautiful. Heather looked amazing in her dress, and they were obviously so happy. It was wonderful. So, we are tired and off to bed. Look for some albums to be posted soon. I am busy, busy working on getting them done from the fall weddings!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I actually get to be a guest at a wedding. It doesn't happen much (well, in comparison to the weddings where I am working), so I will certainly be enjoying relaxing and having a good time. I love shooting weddings, but when you are shooting, you have to be so tuned into the flow of the day that you sometimes miss really feeling the joy of the celebration . . .

The wedding we are going to be attending is that of one of my closest friends from VA. Allen and I taught together, and then both being soccer coaches, became quick friends. Though we don't see him very often (he's moved jobs), I still consider him one of those to call in a bind type people. You know, your ICE list . . . Michael and I are so excited for him and Heather (his soon to be bride). He's just a great guy, and deserves to have the happiness that sharing your life with someone can bring! So yeah, bring on the sappy waterworks tomorrow . . . I am so silly.

All right, well, I plan to take a few pics, just for fun (maybe even with just the point and shoot). Gotta have some memories! :)

Happy weekend to you all!

2007: A Year in Review

Here's hoping this works . . .

Click here if the show doesn't load.

Happy New Year!!

Happy 2008 everyone! I have to say, I am personally glad that 2007 is over and am looking forward to the new adventures that 2008 will bring. I love that the new year offers so much promise - new opportunities - new moments! I just love this feeling. So, to share some of my love with you all - here's a special New Year's offer! From today until January 31, 2008 - please enjoy 10% off all photography sessions that Toute Ma Vie Photography offers (yes, this includes weddings). Just mention this post to receive the discount (may not be combined with other offers).

Also, just a glimpse into our lives. A few years ago, Michael and I decided to put a new twist on New Year's resolutions. Do you ever get sick of making New Year's resolutions and then breaking them within the first month? Yeah, I am one of those people. Anyway, so we started to change our resolutions a bit. Two years ago, we gave up smoking (granted, neither of us is, or ever has been, a smoker). Last year we gave up Budweiser beer (I don't drink beer and Michael doesn't like Bud). This year . . . are you ready for this? We are giving up . . . ARMED ROBBERY! If you know us, you know we get a huge kick out of this every year! So, never fear, we will not be robbing you, or anyone you know . . . ha. I know, how silly are we?

Okay, so Happy New Year to you all! I cannot wait to share in your moments in 2008!

Look for a new slide show to be posted later on today! (or maybe tomorrow - it's getting late)