Well, anyone who knows me, knows that I really do LOVE my birthday! In fact, I claim the entire MONTH of JULY as “my birthday month”. I share it with some of my best friends too, including Laura!

I woke up yesterday to Gabriela bringing me the infamous “You Are Special TODAY” plate with a bagel with cream cheese and some cheese-its and orange juice. Gotta love “gourmet” breakfast in bed! Andrew gave me a really great BEAR hug, and EVEN…a kiss on the cheek (which somehow became “not cool” between 2 years old and 12, so it was a GREAT present!). Kevin had to go home today so we spent the day in Ybor city and at the aquarium and finished the day with “the gang” at a neighborhood pool party.

So I’m the big 35 now… not in my “early 30’s” or “late 30’s”…I’m “MID 30’s”…feels sorta strange to be honest, but good at the same time. With every year that passes, I learn a little more, love a little more and experience lots! I am grateful for all the amazing friends I have in my life and look forward to the new friends I will meet in the next year.

Here’s a couple of the most recent pictures of me taken by KJ (thanks!)… the “end of 34″…. on to 35!

okay, so I don’t have any pictures of my cheeseburger..but it was YUMMY! haha! Tobago is a gorgeous island! After a 30 minute flight to Miami, it’s only about 3 1/2 hours to Trinidad (then a 15 minute flight to Tobago). This little island has a population of about 50,000 and is just BREATHTAKING!

The Villas at Stonehaven are amazing! There are 14 villas designed by a Swedish architect, so they have a “Euro” feel to them. Each villa has 3 bedrooms and their OWN infinity pool! There’s a clubhouse with a restaurant (the chef is WONDERFUL! I had some of the best food EVER on this trip!).

Here’s a few images from the Villas…more on the wedding I assisted with later (Nigerian ceremony! SOOO FUN!! get ready!–Kevin posted some of his amazing images on his blog last week for a *sneak peek* www.thekjblog.com) and Coco Reef….

now…this next image my frighten some…possibly many.

it’s sad. but must be said. I have HORRIBLE island hair. I live in fear looking for the BIRDS that I know are circling above just WAITING for their MOMENT to make a HOME in my hair that resembles their NEST! My friends “fondly” (or not so “fondly”? ha!) call this my “Mexico” hair…however, I can safely call it… “TOBAGO” hair now too… sigh… do they make INDUSTRIAL strength CHI irons? ha! ENJOY!

One last post before I shut down the computer (well, until I land in Tabago! ha!)

I’m excited to announce my new site for High School Seniors. Be looking for more additions to the site (as well as some *specials*) in the next month! Looking forward to working with the “Class of ‘09″!

It’s always fun to have the opportunity to be in gorgeous locations! Although I don’t do many weddings, any chance I get asked to assist and “to work” at a gorgeous “destination” wedding…I’m all IN! I’m heading out first thing in the morning for the gorgeous island of Tobago (after a brief stop in Trinidad) to assist Kevin (www.kjimages.com) on an upcoming wedding. I’m a HUGE fan of the Caribbean islands and this will be a new one for me to “check in the box”! I’ll be sure to post some shots! Laura will be in the studio for anyone who has questions or concerns. Have a great week!

I’ll be staying at both The Villas at Stonehaven & CocoReef.

I’ve been photographing these little beauties since the oldest was a newborn. They are just the cutest and have personalities to match! How cute are they in their *matching* bathing suits? Baby “L” does a “PUSH UP” that just cracked me up! She can hold that pose for several minutes! STRONG baby! ha!

hi all! working on some new blogs, however, my server has decided to wack out (again)…and I have been missing emails and I know several are delayed. If anyone has been waiting on a reply from me, my apologies. I downloaded TONS of email this morning that has been missing for the last week or so and I’m sorting through it. If you had an urgent request, please shoot me another email. Sorry for the inconvenience…I’ll post several blogs to make up for it! ha ha!

This is really one of my favorite holidays! I have fond memories from when I was younger going to my grandma and grandpa’s farm in Missouri and having a huge celebration with the family! We always bought HUNDREDS of dollars worth of fireworks and hand a GRAND ol’ time! (oh and lots and lots and lots of BBQ!).

Today, I celebrate this beautiful country of ours. I come from a LONG line of military members who have served and protected this great nation. Thank you to all the men and women in the service and to all my fellow Americans who make me PROUD to be an AMERICAN! I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!

On a side note, (but relative), here’s a clip from my most favorite show ever! Gabs and I went to see them live last fall and I hope they come to Tampa again because I will be there front and center! If I could pick another gift to be blessed with, it would have been the ability to dance as amazing as these dancers…maybe in my “next life” ha! Even still…you can always find me dancing! (can’t blame a girl for trying?!?) Enjoy!

so you think you can dance…

awwww. okay. sniff. sniff. sniffle. yea. I know…so when you are “FIVE”…. I guess you aren’t really a *baby* anymore? sheesh. okay. I get it! ha!

I have officially lived in Florida for FIVE years now…and I know this because “Miss A” (I have been TOLD…I repeat, TOLD that she’s no longer “A” baby….now it’s “A” kindergartener….it has also been “A” princess, and “A” preK4). any hooo…. I know it because, little miss sassy is now FIVE! She was only about 5 weeks old when I photographed her for the first time and she was my very first client here in Florida (though, I had a studio in Arkansas for a couple years before moving here). She and her adorable family come back every year, and I always look forward to it with anticipation! As I mentioned before, I was out for the count most of last week, so this was a really great session to snap me back into action! (oh and I got a super cool “bubble in a bubble machine” that is outta this world…thanks to daddy Rob for getting it working for me!…. technical difficulites…he hem…user error? LOL!)

I love to capture this age….I don’t even mind the occasional (or NOT so occasional) “fake smile” and “goofy face”…it’s all about the age. That’s who they are! And I love every last freckle on her cutie little face! (tho she told me she doesn’t! )Also, for those interested…here’s her first year album…TIME FLIES when you’re havin’ fun!!! FIRST YEAR ALBUM

special thanks to LAURIE K. for my cool new PINK *baby* camera! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

I got an email last night announcing the arrival of a new little guy! Last month, I traveled to the gorgeous island of Anguilla (that will have to be a POST all it’s OWN! One of the most amazing islands EVER!). Helen, originally from England, is the only wedding coordinator on the island. I was second shooting a wedding with Kevin, but lo and behold… I found a “pregnant mommy”! LOL! Helen is just beaming and how cute is her hubby? She’s in trouble because now she just HAS to get me over to Anguilla more often to photograph her new little family! Here’s a few of my favorites…. Congratulations you guys! I can’t wait to meet your new little guy!

Helen’s sister was also in town, so we got some adorable images of the two of them too…

look how cute these guys are watching Helen….