So- am most of you know Bella Bambino’s Cotton Candy Cosmo NEW website launch party is tomorrow night!! [ 7pm at my studio- BE THERE!!] We decided that I needed some new sassy images to update my profile on the new site. Here are a few from the shoot. PS- Cheri, my fabulous business manager and photog in training shot them! THANKS CHERI!! =)
Ok- so, for those of you who know me skip down a few lines, because you are well aware of my deficiencies in the kitchen/home. For those of you who just know me as Sheri the photographer, let me present you with my background as a “domestic”. I am not. PERIOD. I mean, I absolutely, positively am missing the stereotypical “womanly” gene of being a natural house-keeper, home-maker, baker, cook, etc. When I was built in that department, I was certainly built more like a stereotypical man [ie: I would like to come home from the studio and say "I'm STARVING, what's for dinner and my how nice and clean the house looks!"] Unfortunately that is just a fantasy and I need to accept that I am supposed to fill that roll because… I am the mom and the only parent at home. SO….what have I always done in the past?? YUP…..HIRED IT OUT! Oh, yes, previously, I paid someone to clean and do laundry etc. The only thing missing was an actual chef, but I skirted around that by eating out, grilling cheese, making tomato sandwiches and serving cereal [only the most organic, health conscious versions of all of that, of course]. Regardless, my children have never….EVER….known me to cook. I once baked a cake from scratch….ONCE….and NO ONE in my family could believe it. It was like a miracle actually occured in front of their eyes. SO…have I set the stage…are you getting it? I am not proud of my lack of domestic skills or desires to be domestic, but it just is what it is! I have been blessed with certain skills and certain weaknesses…..and cooking/caring for a household in general- WEAKNESS! So over the past week, I have decided that I have had ENOUGH! I am a 27 year old mother and it is about time I start cooking! It is about time I start doing my own laundry and cleaning! Why can’t I do it all?! I should be able to have a full-time career, run 4 studios, and…..COOK! So….I sent my mother to the grocery store for me….[is that cheating? YES, I also HATE the grocery store] and this morning was my first day of being a cooking woman. Of course, I am health aware- so all of the recipes that I chose include…flax seed/whole oats/etc etc! PS- I eat half a large pizza last night before I started my new healthy cooking this morning! OK….back to the story. I awoke and shouted proudly to my children “WHO WANTS PANCAKES!?” Aslyn and Coleson yelled in unison “WE DO!” Then Coleson said “YAH! BOB EVANS!!” I said, ” OH, NO Coleson, mommy is making pancakes!” A worried look overcame his beautiful little face. So, I took the recipe, and pulled out all of the ingredients which included [whole wheat flour, fat free cottage cheese, fat free sour cream, sugar free jam, and 3 eggs] Well, like I have seen on the cooking channels, I just threw it all together in the bowl….mixed it up and put it on the grill. I BEAMED WITH PRIDE! Then after they were golden brown, I cut one in half to check the middle and it stretched with goo…..did not look like a pancake should. So, I decided to actually read the directions. =) Supposedly, I should have done all of these special things….in a certain order….folding the whites in…and beating the yolks with something else….and all kinds of nonsense!! WHO would have thought!? Then….the kicker….the jam and sour cream were supposed to go on-top instead of inside! HAHAHAHAHA!!! Needless to say…..my poor children, bless their little hearts….tried them…spit them out, AS DID I, and we all ended up with a chocolate donut in our hands! SO MUCH FOR MY FIRST ATTEMPT at being a domestic goddess!! =)
So, here is what has been going on in my life beyond the work that I do. My kids have been busy….crazy busy! As all of you parents know and understand, the end of the school year brings much excitement and anticipation for the fun in the sun that begins the first day of summer vacation. Coleson, who just completed his first year of school (oh, yes- my first born is a kindergarden graduate), acted as though he has endured a year of captivitiy and had just been released! He says he loves school, but still, he was like a wild animal leaving the zoo for a long break today! Aslyn couldn’t care less. She is just happy that now that she doesn’t have to go to “real” school every day (she just finished what she refers to as K3) I will permit her to wear her faded princess light up shirt and mismatched blue gingam shorts every day! So, as my kids’ last day of their school year draws to a close, I will share a few images from their final few days of the year. Aslyn is up first. Her images are from her PLAYDAY at school. This is a day filled with relay races, icepops, a giant jumping thingy and one fabulously talented face-painter affectionately knows as Miss Cathy. Coleson’s images are from his Kindergarden Graduation. For the record, I was very proud of my little man that night, but I am not one of those tear shedding, “my baby is growing up” weaping moms (although I certainly admire that type of mom! =) I am more of a….YES! 1 year closer to my kids being able to help me do laundry- mom! =) ENJOY!
Aslyn and her best friend Erykah
Intently awaiting her face-painting turn….
and….she’s been butterflied!
Azzy’s hat race with her teacher Mrs. Jackson
Coleson celebrating with his best friend Trystin!
And….of course the girls had to get in on the fun!!
I was asked to teach a class at the local college- It is just a two day class about how to take better pictures of your kids. I was so excited that my class was OVER full. My limit was supposed to be 12 and we let 16 in! The first day was held at SEMO University campus and today- the finale was held at my studio today. I taught about the basics- and how to produce fabulous images of your kiddos- so your photo albums and scrapbooks look WAYYYYY better! We covered things like, natural lighting and best times to shoot, composition, we touched on exposure and the importance of shutter speed, ISO and aperture control- how to get your kiddos to look at the camera- or just how to capture them doing what they do! Today was more hands-on in the studio. We practiced applying what we learned and actually had some cute models to practice on. It was a really fun experience!! Here is a shot from the classroom night! I just like saying that I taught college…..even if it was for just 2 days!!! =)
We were at football practice for Coleson and a storm was coming! Aslyn insisted on pushing her baby carriage on the practice field. I happened to have my camera bag in my car….. this is what I captured! Thought I would share. =) I have been SOOOOOOOOOOOOO crazy busy- sorry for the slow posting the last few days! I will show some recent favorites after my ordering sessions tomorrow night!
Ok- so tonight’s beach dilema was not the light [we were ocean-front promptly at 7pm] instead, the issue was a terrible wind/sand storm!!!!!!! It was awful! I did what I could, but my poor camera couldn’t handle it! Anyway, I was able to get a couple that I like! Only two more days on the beach, so I may try again! But, for now, a few more…..of us on the beach!
AND yes…..even i had my moment in front of the camera!! =)
My son, Coleson turned 5 in June…..and this is his 5 yr old shoot! It took me this long to muster up the strength….not only to talk him into doing his photoshoot, but to get him dressed into these clothes! He does not love the camera…..AT ALL! Anyway, with $5.00 and a double decker icecream cone [and yup.....I ate some again today =) ] this is what we came up with!
My baby girl attended an event with me this weekend. She decided to wear a ballerina outfit…..I decided to let her! Anyway- this was on the dance floor. She took a break from her dancing to get a little of that thumb! I can’t believe my baby girl will be three in 6 days! =(
