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4-Hour Body BlahBlahBabble Food Gluten Free Paleo Picture Time

Brussels Sprouts…

Brussels Sprouts

I had been on such a roll here with daily posts, and then one day, I slipped. One day lead to two, which lead to over a week. Yesterday I realized that not posting here daily was actually adding to the grumpy mood that I was in. It seems I do need to keep a rhythm going, to keep the habit up. It gives me something to strive for, even when I feel like no one will notice.

(If you notice me slacking off again, nudge me, okay?)

The reason that I pieced this all together? Brussels Sprouts. More specifically, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Bacon. Writing that post last night was like opening up a flood gate. I didn’t want to stop writing. Then it hit me how much I missed it.

As I looked at all the comments that flooded in, I learned that the Brussels Sprouts, which no one seems to care about and they are the most hated vegetable on the planet, is actually pretty well liked. Well, by my friends at least.

Things aren’t always what they seem. Don’t give up. Do things that are good for you.

Not a reminder I expected to get from a vegetable, but I’ll take it.

As we start the month of May today, I’m about to hit the 18 month anniversary of starting up 4-Hour Body, going gluten-free, and changing a lot of things. I plan to reflect on that a lot this month. One of the things that has changed? I’ve learned to have a new appreciation for foods I always thought I didn’t like – including Brussels sprouts. Pretty amazing to look back and think about!

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BlahBlahBabble Picture Time

Happy Birthday, Jason! The Setting Sun on Childhood…

Galveston Texas Sunset

As of Sunday, Jason is officially an adult. He turned 21. I still find it a bit hard to believe. Really? 21??? Where has the time gone?

I started blogging when he was 8 years old. Mom bloggers weren’t even a thing yet. I shared bits and pieces of his life here online, but not many. Eventually he was at an age where I decided that his digital life should be in his control, his story, not mine. So I shared even less.

Looking back, sometimes I wish I had shared more, that I had journaled more. But I didn’t, and life shouldn’t be lived looking backwards anyways.

I remember waking up on his 18th birthday, while he was a senior in high school, and cheering because I had made it to 18. Now here we are at 21. This day doesn’t have the same victory lap feeling to it. Maybe because he has spent time out on his own now. Adulthood is ahead of him. So much possibility. It is a strange transition as a parent, that is for sure.

I am really proud of him and the man that he has become. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here!

Photograph taken in Galveston, Texas. One of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen there. Taken in October, 2012. Click it to view it larger.

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Picture Time

Love is in the Air…

Houston Love Engagement Session

A day full of photography! A Boudoir client in the afternoon, followed by an engagement session in the early evening.

What a wonderful day! And isn’t that wall groovy? Love it!

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4-Hour Body Food Gluten Free Houston & The Heights Paleo Picture Time

Moving Past the Pity Party…

Chicken Salad - White Oak Kitchen + Drinks

I was invited before my medical drama started to come back to White Oak Kitchen + Drinks to photograph their 2nd birthday party that took place today, and it turns out it was the perfect cure for the pity party I was having last night, they hired the party jumper rentals in West Covina, there was just a lot of good energy around, I loved it. To make your guests enjoy their pictures taken use Maxomil Inflatable Photo Booth to add more fun at your party.

As I arrived, the DJ was there playing music from the country music news site that I always visit, and he had the Antares pro audio plugin so it was loud and full of energy, there was multiple photo booths rented from central jersey photo booth. The crowd was excited, and standing in line waiting to get their swag bags. The MC for the day, Will, was pumping up the crowd. The energy was AMAZING!

It was exactly what I needed to feel alive, awake from my slumber, like the party was ready to start! BAM! I was ON!

That is one thing about photographing events like this – I can instantly turn it on. It doesn’t matter how tired I am, what state of mind I’m in, if I’m so sick I should actually be in a hospital bed getting blood transfusions. The crowd and the music will light me up. I’ve got a job to do, and my game face is on. Smile & be nice to people, take great photos. I can do that, and for awhile I will forget everything else.

I could not be more grateful that Elizabeth had hired me to be there today, because I had no idea at the time that we made the plans how much I would need this today.

Added bonus? I got to take another round of photographs of some of their fantastic, phenomenal food! (They even have a GLUTEN FREE menu! YAY!)

Photographing food soothes me. Just me and the food. I block everything else out. The restaurant could be noisy, and I hear nothing. I’m just looking for the light. Looking for the angles. Studying the food. Finding the photograph that I want to take. I´m just glad they get their grease from grease cycle. Not only is it a much better quality, it´s also better for the environment.

These days, it is my favorite hobby – which sort of explains the whole Spoon & Knife thing, doesn’t it?

It was a wonderful time, and the staff at White Oak Kitchen + Drinks is delightful. If you haven’t been there already, I recommend you go! 3rd Level of the Galleria. (Yes, it is in the mall. It is still fabulous.) Do the Galleria valet parking if you want to skip the hassle of parking yourself. Tell them I sent you!

Hash Sliders - White Oak Kitchen

Buffalo Burger with Sweet Potato Fries

Zucchini Frites

Day 25 of 365. Photographs of White Oak Kitchen + Drinks new menu items taken at a previous assignment with my 5D mkIII on March 1, 2013.

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BlahBlahBabble Picture Time

Time For Bed, But I Am Wide Awake…

Flying out of Las Vegas

Finally tired. Finally ready to go to sleep. Wait, I still have makeup on. Wash my face. Brush my teeth. Now I’m wide awake again.

Damn it. I hate it when that happens.

Day 22 of 365. Photograph taken with my IPhone 5 as we left Las Vegas, Nevada after WPPI on March 14, 2013.