Well, I have got my bog up and that was a real big step for me. I am really looking to have an exciting year and I really was trying to think of the right contest to start the year of with - and I think I have finally got it. I am officially kicking of the new year and the new blog with “Win a Free Photography Package” - yeah I know thats a real biggie.

So Here’s The Rules!

1. Entries must be in no later than February 4th
2. The Couple must be getting married in California in 2008
3. The Wedding must not fall on a Saturday
4. The couple must enter a short essay that tells their story of romance, details about their engagement, wedding and why they should win (please include a photograph)
5. The Winner will be announced on February 14th (valentines day!)
6. Email Entries to labellavita@mac.com with the Subject Titled “I Want to Win a Free Wedding”

So Here’s What You’ll Win!

1 8×11 Proof Book including all edited images
1 Custom Designed 10×10 Leather Album (20 pages)
1 DVD Slideshow
1 16×20 Enlargement
1 Disc of Print Ready Digital Files
Unlimited Time
Unlimited Photos Taken
3 Months Online Proofing
Online Slideshow
1 Engagement Sitting

So here it is - I have finally finished the list. This is a list of all the things I would like to have completed in the 1001 days. There is a little bit of everything on the list - big aspirations, sentimental things and just a few items that I am forever putting off. I am giving myself until Sunday, October 17, 2010 to complete my list - wish me luck.

1. Get My Office Organized

2. Hold an Open House

3. Print and Frame My Own Photos

4. Order Five Studio Sample Books For Each Type of Photography

5. Start Bella Petite

6. Hang the Curtains in My House

7. Spend More Time With My Kids

8. Be a Better Wife

9. Organize All my Closets

10. Organize the Garage / or Convince My Husband to Let Me Turn it into A Studio

11. Landscape the Front Yard

12. Landscape the Back Yard

13. Get a Pool

14. Get My Kids the Dog They Want

15. Consistently Run an Ad in Local Publishing (6 months straight)

20. Travel to Europe With My Family

21. Pay Off All Debt - Excluding House

22. Keep in Contact With Friends

23. Publish a Book

24. Get Published in a Magazine

25. Start Foundation Photographing Women with Cancer (or survivors)

26. Keep Current With Blog

27. Enter Photography Contest

28. Submit Work for Publishing

29. Attend At Least 5 Workshops

30. Find a Photographer I Admire and Mentor With Them

31. Mentor an Upcoming Photographer

32. Hold a Workshop

33. Add Video To My Website

34. Develop Marketing Pieces

35. Develop Card Templates for Sale Online

36. Finish Painting House

37. Finish Furnishing My Home

38. 20 Weddings a Year

39. Get Fit

40. Send Anniversary Cards to Clients

41. Send Birthday Cards Out to Clients Kids

42. Keep Up my RN License

43. Go Snowboarding With My Kids

44. Remain Cancer Free

45. Cross Country Trip With Family

46. Develop Clients In Other State(s)

47. Read A Book (that does not have pictures or anything to do with photography)

50. Take Pictures of My Kids and Paternal Grandparents

51. Collect Contact Info and Birth Dates of all Family and Friends

52. Go to Water Park with Family

53. Write a Book About the Day My Children Were Born (one for each of them)

54. Redo My Wedding Album

55. Find My Passport (or get a new one)

56. Do a Destination Wedding

57. Implement Client Feedback Surveys

58. Have an Old Friend Over for Dinner

59. Offer a Photo Shoot to My Neighbor

60. Take My Kids to Choir Practice

61. Send Jerome a Care Package While He is in Iraq

62. Have a Generational Family Photo Done

63. Workout 3 Times a Week for at Least 3 Months Straight

64. New MAC Laptop

65. Get a New Camera Bag on Wheels

66. Fully Equipped Camera Bag

67. Start Photo Books for Each of My Boys

68. Take Dancing Class With Sam

69. Check Our Mail BOx Every Day

70. Sign Kids Up for Tennis Lessons

71. Go Fishing With the Boys

72. Be in My Sister’s Wedding (hint, hint)

73. Have My Parent Over for a Lavish Dinner

74. Slideshow For Jet’s Class

75. Try to Recover the Hard Drive of Images Lost in Sam’s Computer

76. Organize External Hard Drive for Personal Use ONLY

80. Attend a Concert

89. Spend All Day in Bed Watching Movies

90. Buy a New Point and Shoot

91. Update Wardrobe

92. Camp Out at Rose Parade

93. Complete a Marathon

94. Laser Eye Surgery

95. Throw Big Party with a Fun Theme

96. San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park With Family

97. Enter Stock Photos

98. Weekend Getaway to Wine Country With Sam

99. Make More Money Doing Photography Than I Did as a Nurse in One Calendar Year

100. Invent Something

101. Stop Being Ridiculously Afraid of Mice (We’ll see about that one - this one may take divine intervention)

I am SUPER excited about offering Valentine Boudoir Shoots to give the love of your life this year! The hotel room is booked, the champagne has been ordered….

These shoots are limited….they are elegant…..they are modest yet sexy. Imagine beautiful black and white artistic images……under the sheets…..in a bubble bath. The style is artistic, romantic and sensual….even playful, but it will never cross the line.

You don’t have to be skinny and you don’t have to look like a model….take it from me, I haven’t hit the gym in months! The beauty of photography is that we can focus on the most beautiful parts of who you are and disguise everything that makes you feel self-conscious. You also need to remember that your husband, boyfriend, fiance or partner already loves you the way you are and that any tangible gift you can give them to remind them of the beauty they see in you will be treasured forever!

If you are interested….please let me know as soon as possible. Space is extremely limited and my gosh….Valentine’s is just around the corner….I must get to work! The dates I have available are the January 20th the 21st and 27th (or we can schedule one for you at you home at any time). And YES, credit cards are accepted!

Here is a sneak peek at how your gift will arrive to you - ready to give.

We had some old friends come by with their beautiful girls for a photo shoot. We had big plans to do a good old urban shoot with downtown Redlands as our back drop - unfortunately the wind got the better of us. I felt really bad about not shooting them at all - they had been waiting for their time in the spotlight and even had their outfits ready to go. So as not to totally let them down, we just did a really quick shoot in my front yard - yeah I know not quite as cool as a urban shoot.

This is the beautiful Anisa

Bria - what beautiful eyes

Sisters forever - up close and personal

She still rocked the garage door!

One word says it all - DIVA!

I have been really busy lately - but I am determined to keep up with my blog. Here are a few pictures from a portrait sitting I did a few weeks ago. Sherry called me and stated that she had family coming form out of town and really would love to fit in a portrait sitting before they left. We really had a great time shooting these photos on the campus of Redlands University (I’m really happy no one got hurt). What a perfect combination for a shoot - beautiful surroundings and attractive people. I am already looking forwards to working with them again.