OMG! I have braces!

So i had shiny, metal braces put on my lower teeth today. WOW! So far it is not that bad- i even got lavender rubber bands! I’m getting Invisalign on top. The trays take about 6 weeks to come in, so i don’t have them yet (phew!) It is a little nerve wracking to be 30 with braces, which is why i went with the “Tom Cruise braces” (thanks Jessica!) on top.

i would attach a picture, but i’m still kinda scary looking… hahahaha

BTW- bates photographic is now on Facebook and MySpace… Check it!

So, Nichole and i are in California.

Today was my first day off in 42 days.  And this is what i did (Santa Monica):

Not bad for an iPhone photo! ;)  And yes, i am already tan!  I also managed to fit in a manicure and a large beach hat….

Tomorrow we are doing an informal pre-wedding shoot, and then hanging out with one of my sisters, who lives in San Diego.  BTW, my sister is also engaged!  Which means i get to come back to CA next year to photograph her wedding in San Francisco!  Sweet….

Also- not to make this post too long, but you have got to check out the hotel i am staying in:  Custom Hotel It is my new, favorite L.A. stay.  The most visually pleasing and interesting hotel i have been to in a very long time (notice i said hotel, not hacienda ).  AND the service rocks!  Love, love, love it!  Photos of that to come!

Yes, i must admit, i am rather elusive when it comes to having my photograph taken… recently my assistants have been snapping sneaks of me working… or kinda working… or waiting to work.  And since i have had at least 3 people comment that the photo of me on my website is lame…..

Thanks to Mandi for photographing me photographing my cousin’s wedding on 06.07.08

And to Nichole for catching me waiting for some groups to come together for a photo at Laura and Jon’s wedding on 06.22.08…

I’ll let it slide, ladies…. this time….

xoxo

Nichole and i will be in Malibu, California photographing Nick and Amy’s Wedding on 07.05.08.  Whoo-hoo!  We are sooooo excited!

Just a heads up that the studio will be closed 07.02- 07.08!

A recent email from my very good friend, Aimee….

“..ART 180 is celebrating 10 years this year — 10 years of giving at-risk youth a voice through the arts. To celebrate (and to raise awareness/funds) I came up with this wacky campaign that I am trying to get started. Take a look at the attached. You can also visit www.art180.org/ten <http://www.art180.org/ten>
The idea is to encourage individuals to both give $10 and also to literally “make” $10 for ART 180. We want everyone to participate – artists and non-artists alike, but we are hoping that the dollars created by our artist friends like you will be really inspiring and help encourage others to get their creative juices flowing. Moreover, my personal vision is to have them from all over to make it even more special…”

“…Use this template or whatever you’d like (wood/canvas/photo paper/whatever! just make it the size of a dollar bill) to make your own $10 about what you would change in your community. Then send along with a real $10 contribution to ART180 — we will collect the “dollars” through September, but I am hoping you will help me to really get this campaign kicked off by sending your contribution/creation by July 1. We want to start mini-exhibitions and online galleries and more to build the excitement. The more I think about how neat this project could be, the more I want you to participate. I know your “bill” will be special.
Thank you!
-Aimee”

template-online.pdf

Oh, the pictures just needed to be bigger… (and not on top of the menu…. geesh!)

So here is the new blog theme. It looks wonderful, though some people don’t have my main font, Trajan Pro (download, info), loaded on their computer, so it may not perfectly match my website. I took the structure from an existing theme, and customized the css and all the images to my liking. Little changes may occur in the future. Be patient with me as i get the [CLIENT ACCOUNTS] to match…. everything must match…. lol

The new blog theme is the first of many fun surprises!

i have to totally thank Nic and Emily for turning me on to the idea of a doggie day camp!

Nate and i traveled out of town for a wedding this weekend, and we needed to leave the pooch somewhere. Nic and Emily have been telling me about the doggie day camps for months now. Reasonable rates and good reputation, so we checked it out.

Camp Bow Wow has several franchises in metro-Detroit. We went over to the one in St. Claire Shores. Not only do they have day camps (4+ hours) for daily dog sitting, but they also have over night boarding. But this isn’t your average kennel- Camp Bow Wow is set up so that dogs have all day scheduled play time, with other dogs of their size/ temperament. They are only kenneled for naps and food breaks. Other than that, they hang out in the indoor and outdoor play areas. They have tons of great staff that are dog oriented and totally nice. GET THIS- they have doggie cam! You can go online and switch between cameras to see your dog playing with other dogs! Isn’t that awesome? (We did log on and check on our woodle, and he was running around with all the other dogs!)

We plan to use Camp Bow Wow whenever we go out of town. Or, whenever Boogie needs a little vacation… or if we need a little break from our holy terror!

[as always, please check around and be an informed consumer. i can't guarantee that my experience at my location speaks for all others out there....]

so so much fun was had! 

Since i am way behind on the blog, i get to throw in a couple of older wedding images…  here are some of my favorites from the ever so cute Crystal and Dan…  hehehe

… because i got an iPhone, and i have been playing with that instead!

Seriously rocks. Helps me stay even more connected than the BlackBerry did. Sweet!

In my defense, it hasn’t been that long since i blogged. I just chose to delete a few that didn’t apply anymore. And i did update my Snoop-dog story.