Is the Universe trying to send me a message?....

First, I get a fortune cookie that says " You may soon change your line of work"

then I see this quote on Compendium's Facebook fan page:

The first step is to find out what you love--and don't be practical about it. The second step is to start doing what you love immediately, in any small way possible. --Barbara Sher

hmmm. is the Universe trying to tell me something?

A Picture is Really Worth...

Shutter Sisters had a post up today called "A Picture Really is Worth a Thousand Words." Everytime I see these two pictures of my son it makes me giggle and it makes me very, very thankful.  I know they are blurry and the exposure is a bit off, but still~ they are my favorite.

You see, as some of my friends already know, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in November of 2007.  It truly is a miracle that she is doing so well.  She still walks and is very active even though she is in the middle of chemo....She is a very strong and a remarkable woman and still tenacious as ever.

These two pictures were taken almost a year and a half ago, a number of months into her treatment.  At the time of this picture, she had recovered from her lung surgery, had completed brain radiation and was almost finished with chemotherapy.  My young son (nickname: Mr. Mischievious) had grabbed Grandma's wig from inside, put it on and started to do the "You can't get me wiggle/dance"... Luckily, I had my camera with me...

A Photography Contest

It's the new year and I am trying to get back into photography... and on my resolution list is to enter more contests.
This week's I Heart Faces theme is your Best Face Photo (taken in December or January).

This is an idea for a Christmas card that I didn't use...I dressed my little guy up in a ton of winter clothes (even though it was 75 degrees outside.. You know Southern California weather) and had him run around the yard while I shot photos.. It was pretty funny to watch & he had a ball--
Wish me luck!  I am # 694 (YES, almost 700 entries WOW!!)

Have a great Tuesday!

Christmas Photos

Christmas tree
Originally uploaded by buneluvr

I was looking through some photos over the weekend and thought I would post a couple of pics that I took at Disneyland~

The first is a picture of the Christmas tree on Main Street... and the second is a picture of Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas

The Secret to Happiness

I found the secret to happiness.  Where do you say?  I found it HERE and I'm carrying it with me everywhere I go (it's in my purse).  Would you like me to share it with you?

Five Simple Rules For Happiness:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less

How wonderfully simple & perfect, huh? I LOVE it!
Enjoy today...

*If you are in Burbank, please drop by Mindful Nest.  It is a WONDERFUL store.  Very inspirational and filled with one of a kind items that are made by local artists.  I spent over an hour in there!  You will not be disappointed ;)

What Are You Afraid Of?

I've been finding myself seriously thinking about freelance work as a photographer, maybe doing something on the side, but there is one thing holding me back.. Fear. You see, I'm a big chicken.  Recently, I've had a few people ask me to take their photos and I've had a friend ask me to do a little freelance work, but I've declined.  When I seriously think about it, I get scared and nervous. 
  As I drove into work this morning, I found myself asking... What are you afraid of?... So I thought I would write what my fears are, no matter how stupid or silly they sound. 
I'm afraid of the WHAT IF's

....I screw up and the client doesn't like the photos?
.....The only good photos I can take are of my kids?
......I can't tackle manual exposure?
.......I don't have the right equipment?
........I don't have the $$$ to buy the right equipment?
.........I fail?

What are you afraid of?

Holiday outtakes

outtakes
Originally uploaded by buneluvr

I just wanted to take a moment and post a few outtakes...Boys will be boys ;)

Feeling Inspired....

   It's the end of the year, and I have a number of thoughts floating in my head.  So many things that I need to get out of my head & on to paper otherwise I'll lose them...Some of my thoughts are things I need to do now, some are things to do later.  I have a number of ideas for photos and ideas for "creating art" as my boys say....and I even have 6 different blog posts that have been swimming in my head.
  I have a number of things that I want to do involving my camera.. I love taking pictures of my kids, but now I find myself wishing I could do something... MORE... although, I don't know what more is...playing, experimenting... Maybe a little freelance? hmmmmm...I'm not sure, but it's all because of this book--{5} and here is a short little video about it...
   I've been so caught up in my mom's health for the last two years that I really could not think beyond the immediate future.  A few months ago, I decided that I owe it to my mom to "do something" and not take my life for granted. One day after my mom's doctor appointment, I dropped by Vroman's bookstore (I love that place!). As I browsed the aisles a bright red book with the number 5 caught my eye.  On the cover was written, "Where will you be five years from today?"  I flipped through the book and knew I had to buy it.
   So now as my mind has been full of things I need to do, it is now full of  things I wish I could do, and thoughts of things I might like to do.  I'm feeling inspired for the first time in a long time.  If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend you pick-up a copy.  As a side note, I just heard that Compendium is coming out with  a blog shortly.. I'll keep you posted :)

Where does time go?

I just noticed it has been two months since I posted... Wow, where does time go?  I blinked and it's GONE.
I blinked and Christmas is here.  I blinked and my little babies have turned into boys.  While thumbing through photos, I compiled a collage of my favorites~ and it breaks my heart to know they are getting so big....

Fall Cornfields

Fall Cornfields
Originally uploaded by buneluvr

Haven't posted or updated in a while...so I decided to repost..
Just remembering our family trip to see my grandma last year in October. So happy we were able to introduce her to the boys as she passed before Thanksgiving.

Contemplative --- I HEART FACES

This week's theme at I Heart Faces is "contemplative". I had a few to choose from and decided to go with this one.

I took my little guy to Disneyland for a mommy and me day before he started big boy school (kindergarten). As we were sitting eating lunch my son was watching a nearby (private) birthday party and was wondering why he couldn't go to where Mickey and Minnie were...So, I decided to grab my camera... (more to the story continues on post below)

I'm # 392 !!! WOW that's a LOT of entries

Contemplative (continued)

After the birthday party was done, Mickey and Minnie left and said goodbye. My little guy was really worried that they were leaving the park for good. I reassured him that they were not leaving... Kids are so precious, aren't they ;)

BUBBLES - I Heart Faces

It's been a little while since I participated in an I Heart Faces contest...and I was looking forward to this week's theme. I took a bunch of photos of my kids blowing bubbles in the backyard a couple of months ago... here is one of the many ;) ENJOY TODAY

This week's theme is Bubbles....

http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/

I am #54 whoo hoooo!

P.S. More bubble photos below

Saturday

It's absolutely beautiful outside.. Except for a little haze probably caused by the fire up north. This week is a new week and I decided that I will be participating in the I heart Faces contest again. This week's theme is "bubbles". Figures, I already used my favorite photo below (6/22)... Hmmm I guess I'll have to whip out the camera this weekend.

Yeah--I know

I know it's been a while since I updated the blog, but I've been busy... {translation, lazy}... I haven't even entered any I Heart Faces contests lately because I keep missing the deadline :( ....So, instead of a really long catch up post-- I decided to take the easy way out and post a few collages to show what we've been doing... and of course I had to include a few outtakes ;) ENJOY TODAY

Let's Hear It For The Boys...

This week's theme is "Let's Hear It For The Boys" and as you can tell from my blog, I have two.
I took this picture of my older son this past weekend.. We were enjoying the beautiful Father's Day weather... FINALLY a sunny day ! I know it's not the typical "posed" picture, but it makes me smile when I look at it ;) Have a good week!

P.S. I am #296 and you can check out all the entries at http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/

Father's Day

I know.. I know.. I've been neglecting my little blog..and I was doing so well.. but, at least I've been taking tons of pictures...Hopefully I will be able to catch up within the next couple of weeks.
Today was Father's Day and it was a beautiful day to spend time outside...What a wonderful day to end the gloomy weekend:) I was thinking of my Dad today, knowing that he was smiling down from above and laughing at the boys' antics this weekend. I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well.

AutoFocus

It's been a little while since I last posted.. I went through a pretty busy time with work followed by a really fun vacation in Las Vegas... I have so many projects, ideas and thoughts that have been in my mind lately, that I'm having to keep my trusty notebook on my nightstand to capture them all. I have so many things that I want to do, and of course, they are all in different areas (photography, cooking, etc..).. There just is not enough hours in the day (and I don't sleep that much as it is). Sometimes I wish I had an Autofocus button. I have so many things that are swimming in my head (I have to start rereading my GTD books!) and I have also been spending way too much time on Scribd. Have you heard of it? Great website ;) .I have a number of links that I would love to share too, but first-- I need to get back to work... More later

Heimlich/Shmeimlich

Catchy title, huh? I had a good weekend, I hope you did as well. Lots of kids in the backyard, slip n slides, drinks, friends etc... we had a revolving door the last few days. I even got to swim 5 days this past week, which was great, but it's sure hard to get back into it. Everything went pretty smoothly, with one minor incident involving me, my younger son and the Heimlich... Needless to say, he will not be eating any more tootsie rolls for a while ;) Luckily, I seem to be pretty calm in the "big & scary" situations (earthquake, childbirth, operations etc.). I must've inherited that from my mom... that and my high tolerance for pain...I still feel bad for my friend Royce, who doesn't have any kids and was a witness to the events. I didn't realize that it scared him a bit, until on his way out he mentioned that his heart was still racing... {SORRY ROYCE}..I'm sure he was fine a few hours later because he went w/ the husband and a bottle of Jack to a Laker party...
I didn't take any photos this past weekend, can you believe it? I brought it to my mom's house on Sunday, but didn't take any. The boys and I took her for some Japanese food @ Tokyo Lobby in San Gabriel, since she was feeling pretty good. They ate pretty much everything, and love using the chopsticks. I got a kick out of my son putting his head through a space in the wall telling two or three girls that they were beautiful.. He is such a flirt...Hope you had a beautiful weekend... :)

My Reprieve!

I was given a reprieve and it turns out that I don't have to work this weekend (THANK GOODNESS!).. After a very busy week and way too much work, I'm chillin' out this weekend..Maybe cook a little, visit my mom, go shopping... Maybe take a walk w/ my camera.. hmm who knows. I was happy to have a little me time this afternoon-- I snuck away to the gym to swim a few laps before company came over this afternoon. (Same as Friday night, friends, drinks, barbecue).. I must be getting old-- two nights of this and I'm wiped out, but a good wiped out.. The kids had a great time since they got to play w/ their best friends two nights in a row...Hope you had a good Saturday and are feeling wiped out too :)