I don’t know what it is, I don’t even like Pina Coladas …. but whenever I think of going on vacation it involves having warm weather , a nice pool and a big, fat Pina Colada (maybe it is because the smell reminds me of suntan lotion). Well tomorrow – I get that Pina Colada. Living in Texas has mandated that we must visit family with every vacation we take.  We typically head to California for summers and NY for winters… and maybe Florida for spring time. I know, I know… thankfully those places are considered vacation destinations to a majority of people.  But I really need a little R&R filled with room service, maid service … and that infamous Pina Colada. So off we are going on this desperately needed beach vacation.  Be back in a week with a nice tan and tales of submarine adventures and catamaran excursions.

***on a side note, if you hear  about a two year old who has been kicked off an American Airlines flight for being disruptive … don’t be surprised if you find out that the child’s name is Emerson LaBianca.

My sweet lovestruck son! He has been in love with this little girl ever since he laid eyes on her the first day of kindergarten. He came home that first day with love  in his eyes as he asked me if I knew Reece… “You know the girl with the pink shirt and big pink bow”.  At one point there was concern that Reece might of had a mini- stalker on her hands . On the playgrounds he would chase her… at lunch time he would grab her lunch box to give to her  - which she wasn’t too fond of – at which point she would grab it and exclaim with a huff ” I can do it myself” . Poor Hayden didn’t understand why she didn’t like him. I hurriedly made play-dates with other boys in the class so that I could protect his sweet heart from pain.And in true mom form, I  began  mentally fast forwarding through scenes of a teenage boy being devastated by heartbreak. How do I teach him not to take this heartbreak personally…  It was time to have our first heart to heart about the ways of the world. ” Here’s the deal, Hayden.. I am going to fill you in on a little secret”…as his face got serious,  I got down on his level and quietly started explaing how girls are roller coasters. Some days we are up… and some days we are down… AND some days we throw a quick curve in the ride and like you for a long time . He was listening intently , so  I continued with my analogy ..  ”And boys ..well you guys are kinda like Merry- Go- Rounds…you guys just go round and round”. He nodded his head as if he sadly was starting to understand that sometimes girls and boys don’t play together.  Eventually, he started to move on and made friends with everyone in the class but still had a special place in his heart for this little girl. Now that we are 6 months into the year and Hayden has long since given up his stalkerish ways – they have become friends. So when her birthday rolled around and we couldn’t make it to the party – I told him I would ask Reeces mommy if she could go and get ice cream the day before her birthday. His eyes lit up like christmas morning and he quickly hid his head under the pillow in excitement. So yesterday after school we had our first play date with this cute little girl. Hand in hand they hopped in my mini-van and off we went to Double Dip! I dare say.. even I was a little nervous. I had bought her a gift.. would she like it?…My newly cleaned car had goldfish spilled all over it ( Thanks Emerson)…Would she think I was “the mom with the dirty car”?.  …ahhhh the pressure!!! Well, needless to say the kids had an amazing time and I am so happy that I remembered to bring my camera with me. These are those moments ….

There is so much to learn and I am having so much fun turning my attention to photoshop. When I started L.L.P I barely had enough time in the day to learn how to operate my camera and exposures….lighting … starting a blog… there was just so much to learn.  I am so blessed with the people who hired me in the beginning and believed in me b.c it forced me out into the field to shoot. I did so many photo shoots during the holidays and EVERY one I did I learned something new about how to  use my camera on manual. Some ideas worked and some did not…. some settings on my camera were right….and some were not. At that time photoshop seemed so overwhelming – so I started using a more user friendly editing program called Lightroom.  The reality is if I want to have a business that produces top of the line photos… then I HAD to learn photoshop… and that is what I did. Hours upon hours  turned into days upon days. I lived and breathed the world of photoshop. Any questions I had, I asked Professor Google and Professor YouTube.  I finally feel confident with knowledge of Photoshop and I know there is still so much to learn. My next step on this journey will be developing my own style of card templates for my clients. I thought I would use this page to show some of the editing that goes on in photoshop.

The photo below was edited using a Texture from Florabellas New Texture Line.

I still remember pulling out of my driveway  from my college apartment and waving goodbye to my friends…  It’s official – I am a college dropout.  Driving away in my Honda Accord with dreams of doing something big with my life. I think my original plan was that I was going to be a movie star on Days of our Lives. Pretty comical now that I think about it, primarily because I am paralyzed with fear when it come to speaking in front of groups. Anyway, for whatever reason – I thought that by being an actress on a tv show would mean that I was “someone” important.  I was convinced that there was more for me to do..something that would make an impact on the world. Fastforward to 2011… 16 years later and here I am – mama of two beautiful kids (still hoping for one more) and married to the most amazing man – and it occurs to me that this was all I ever needed  I had no idea that creating a family filled with unconditional love and laughter was the one thing that I was looking for. On a scale on 1-10 – my life falls in at a solid 6 in regards to the obstacles I have been challenged with… but  I now get it…. sometimes people have to go through different struggles to get to the other side… and only when you get to that other side will you discover the secret behind true “in your soul” happiness. One of my dear friends had a cancer scare recently and as we were waiting to hear about the biopsy result – I said to her..”If it comes out clear – this scare is  your gift. You were given a brief glimse into a frightening and scary prognosis. Your perspective on what is truly important has been changed”. She ended up receiving good news.. but we both know that she will never be the same.

Sorry Dan it is time to pass the baton to a new dad. If only every dad can be as relaxed  and as hysterical as this one. Meeting Kurt I knew we would get along – In seconds we were bantering back and forth about bald spots and being old. You can feel the love this dad has for his family  and that he doesn’t take that role lightly.As we neared the end of our shoot – my son came up (he was at the park with his dad) – in tears about losing his Star Wars Light Saber… and I calmly said .. “How risky it was to bring a toy out of the house – and that was the risk he took”. . “and I am sorry he has lost his toy”. I wrapped up the rest of my shoot and we said our goodbyes. Later that evening I get a text from Kristi and Kurt.. saying they found his Light Saber … what they meant was that they went and bought him a new one. This job is continuing to introduce me to people that I would not have met otherwise… Thank Kurt and Kristi for hiring me ..I feel fortunate to now call you friends.

I am so excited to be working  with Sugarboo Designs. I sent them an image where I used their signs as a prop.at which point they offered to partner up with my business. Someone pinch me b.c I can’t believe that I have created my dream job. I get to take beautiful photos and also offer my clients the opportunity to showcase their photographs in Sugarboo Designs gorgeous frames… or choose a piece of art from their other collections. I offer 20% discounts for my clients that book with me in 2011.

Are you kidding me with this bundle of beauty. I had hoped to make it to the hospital to meet this sweet baby  - but Mother Nature  had different ideas and threw an Ice Storm our way….which in mom terms means “SCHOOL IS CANCELLED”. So when I ran into Zoe’s Dad at Target and  he showed me her picture on his iphone- I couldn’t get over what a beauty she was. I was so excited for this shoot!!  It  was my first newborn shoot in my home studio. I am so happy with the way the images turned out and I can’t wait to see this sweet girl as she grows.

This weekend brought so much fun to the LaBianca household. Dan and I were able to score tickets to the Big Game. Ok – so I admit it -I am not the biggest football fan. A realization that came to me after of years of faking my love of watching the sport. I still remember back in the day … screaming during touchdowns as if I had actually run the ball down the field. .. The reality is that I probably couldn’t even begin to tell you which team probably got the touchdown. So when we realized that we were able to go to the game – I was more excited about going to the event versus watching the game.  Here is where my crazy side enters into the picture. Those who know me – know that I live and breathe for my children. They are my everything.  With that said, I try and steer clear of anything that might be a little risky. Wait a second… Superbowl… high security alert…terrorist target. At 3 AM  on Wednesday morning my heart starts to race as I visualize being at the in-door stadium while a terrorist attacks. Who would take care of my kids…. ok – calm down..I just won’t go. .. I can’t go. So I tell Dan around 4:00 AM –  in the calmest voice – I say ”  I can’t go”.  ”Your Nuts” he says as he rolls over and goes back to sleep as I lay awake planning my escape route. For the next 3 days  I fluctuate between figuring out escape routes from going to the game .. Maybe I will get the flu… Maybe Marie will need  my help watching the kids. .. To escape routes at the game… Ok – If it Bio-chemical – I will be OK ..we are in a suite ( I thought the suites were enclosed) …if there is a bomb…they probably wouldn’t be at suite level. All the while – My husband saying “you are crazy…. it is more dangerous to be on the bus to the Superbowl”  Oh great – now I am freaked out about the bus.

Here is the thing… I am not afraid to die nor am I  afraid if Dan dies…. I am just not willing to have us both bite the dust. We are good parents and no offense to anyone – but I don’t think anyone can raise our kids as well as we will. I know, I know – everyone thinks the same thing.  So I have officially become that mom that I never thought I would become. But is that such a bad thing?

So Sunday rolls around like a ticking time bomb in my mind. I start interrupting lego building with long hugs and words of wisdom to my 6 year old son and 2 year old daughter. Do they know how much I love them and that I am so proud of  who they are becoming.  I tell my mother-in-law what to do if something happens. Taking pictures together .. and making sure to leave the SD card on the table. Yes I am  that crazy! Being a mom can do that to you.

We eventually get to the bus  and I soon forget all my fears ( I mean what am I going to do about it now)  and soon  start getting excited about what our day has in store for us. .. and what a day it was. I would have never thought going to the Superbowl would be on my bucket list – But it was and it is now crossed off!!! After getting settled into the the game and sitting at a table with my girlfriends (who aren’t watching the game either) and sipping a glass of wine – I own my crazy thoughts and fill them in on all the sordid details of my imagination… and my friend gasps…. “OH MY GOD- I have been doing the same thing for the last three days” – hmmmm…maybe I am not as crazy as I thought.

Below are some unedited pictures  from the game… I could only bring my powershot – but it was all I needed since the day will be forever etched in my memory.