Happy Spring, Happy Linky-love, Happy Winnings!

I can't believe it's almost Easter Sunday! They say we will never again see Easter this early in our lifetimes. I can't remember why . . . something with the moon . . . but how interesting that is! It's really really early this year but maybe it's a sign that we are going to have bulbs poking their beautiful heads up earlier than usual? I hope so. When I peeked outside this morning, I saw some new green grass poking out above the dead wintry grass. What a nice feeling to see beautiful colors of nature.

It is our first spring here at the new house and it's really bittersweet for me. While I'm excited to have the first spring here in the new house because it means my children have a new year of being a kid with brand new adventures, it's hard for me because I really really really miss where we use to live. Like tons. I don't know. It's just hard. There are many a days where I want to be back there. I hold back tears thinking about it. You know me, attachment to everything.

But on the positive side of this, with spring brings lots of new things. New flowers, of course, which I absolutely can't wait for. Neil and I can't wait to get our hands dirty and begin getting a new garden started and design a new perennial garden for our new and very empty back yard. With spring also brings new adventures for the kids. I'm hoping Maia will be able to actually pedal on her bike this year. Last year we had to push her everywhere and that got awfully tiring! I also am excited to find a walking trail for us to go on. Back in D-town we had a "route" we walked every single night. It equaled out to 1-2 miles. It should be interesting here in this new very small town because it's not all that big and 1 mile would take us to the other side of town!

In the blogging world, spring for me means finding new blogging friends. And with the Ultimate Blog Party, I managed to find a handful of friends through their fantastic blogs. Here's s a sampling of my faves in no particular order:

Minimalist Mommy
Adventures of Wondermommy
Robin Bielman
Valley Girl - I like her name, don't you? :c)
Candi @ All Day Night
Write From Karen
Sheena @ Mommy Daddy Blog
Jimaie.marie
Jessica in Rome
my melange
Conversations with my HairdryerA Sample of Jennifer's Thoughts (we have tons in common!)
Thoughts From Dimple Queen
Noel from Pretty By Nature
Becoming Me
Little Bird Creations
Daily Randomness
Figments
The Impoverished Preppy

Now I have to figure out how I'm going to keep up reading these when I constantly already have troubles doing so with the ones I already have in my bloglines . . . { sigh . . . }

So one of the people I mentioned above won my contest!!! Only FIVE people answered correctly! I give huge kudos to these five { Aimee, Candi, Erin, Jennifer, and Katie } because there were a lot of questions to answer and a lot of reading to answer those questions! I truly thank everyone who entered because it means a) you wanted to learn more about me and/or b) you really really wanted a canvas print! Either way, thank you. I had a lot of fun doing the contest and I hope this means you learned enough about me to want to come back.

Now for the winner . . . drum roll . . . Noah drew the name for me this morning . . . and he drew . . . Candi!! Yay, Candi!! I will be emailing you to find out how you want to go about the canvas. Be looking for your favorite digital photos on your computer! Congratulations, Candi! I'm so excited to have met you and I look forward to our future blogging frenzies. :c) Sorry dear Aimee, Erin, Jennifer and Katie . . . I hope to have more contests again with the same awesome prize! Thanks so so much for playing and being so loyal!

Anyone interested in the answers? Let me know and I'll post them. I feel like this post has probably already gotten a tad bit long, eh?

We're off to see the Easter bunny tonight. We've never done it before (Santa, either) so I think we may give it a try finally. Happy spring, happy Linky-love (amanda, I hope you don't mind I stole that slogan from you -- please forgive your bbbf) and happy winnings to Candi!

Game Over!

So . . . it's time for answers to the Val Quiz!

I think I have answered them all. The only one I didn't answer was what my dad does for a living. So . . . I will just tell you. He's a seed corn manager for a seed company. If you aren't from a farm community you'll probably wonder what in the world that is, but I don't have time to get into it now. Just know he is in the agriculture business :)

Please send me your answers by tomorrow, Wednesday March 19th at noon CST. Answers not received by then will not be counted. Even if you don't have all 25, I suggest sending them anyway because if someone with all 25 is wrong with one answer, well, they would then only have 24 answered correctly too, right?. Remember, the winner will receive a canvas gallery wrap! Woo-hooo!

Check out the first post with the questions, rules, requirements and my email addy.

Thank you for visiting and playing --- it's been such fun! Hope you'll be back!

I'll post the winner tomorrow evening!!!!!

Canvas won by my contest winner, Amy!

A while back, when I was indecisive on a new tag line for my business and new website, I ran a contest at my personal blog in order to find the perfect tag line for me and my biz! I had an overwhelming amount of entries and out of those chose around 20 of my favorites (I'm tellin' ya, I am an incredibly indecisive person!). I then had a poll for best tag line based on those 20 favorites, and the tag line with the most votes would win. The tag line that won was "Capturing Moments, Inspiring Memories" which was very cleverly thought up by my friend, Amy, in Phoenix. As a thank you and as a prize for winning, I had a canvas print made up for her and she just received it on Friday. She sent me a picture and here it is!!

Doesn't it look so great?! I LOVE IT!

Again, I want to thank her so so so much for all her brainstorming for me. I know she put a lot of her shower thinking time (you know, that one time in the day where you are alone without kids or any bothers?!) in just for me and I appreciate it millions! Thanks dearest, Amy!! (Hope Randy had fun back home here in Illinois . . we missed seeing him . . hopefully again soon, though!)


*** note to file *** I did not take this photograph, so don't give me credit! (But thanks to those who have!) Amy took it herself. She also lives STATES away (I forget how many hours) in Arizona, so she just emailed me this picture and I just ordered it for her on canvas. Too cool, eh?!

Thursday's Thoughts

I'm feeling better about NILMDTS. I've been pretty overwhelmed by the thought that my first time could really be at any time. I'm not sure how I will react when I do my first one, nor do I probably really know what to expect. Sure, I've seen some really graphic pictures, ones you could never ever even fathom imagining, but I still know it's nothing like being there in person with the parents who are in such immense grief. The emotions for all will be unbearable. But I'm ready. And that is partly due because of you guys with your overwhelming support. I've received a lot of emails and it's been so heart-warming. (Thank you.)

I think I've been prepared in a lot of ways for this. One, I know a little bit of what the grief and sorrow is like knowing that you lost your child who you will never get to share moments with ever. I lost three babies in utero, and no, it's not anything like having lost a child who you once held in your arms, but I've been through many of the emotions and all (or most of) the same questions, and so I hope just because of that, I can use what I've experienced as a way of helping the parents cope and as a way to do a better job at doing what I came for.

I've also been prepared through Alexis. And she talked to me last night about this in an extensive amount. She has been there. And as I told her, I know this is one of the reasons why God is having me do this. Because I personally know someone, one of my best friends, who has lost a child and who wishes she had had those pictures taken of sweet Allison. Because I have seen what she has gone through in preparing for Allison's problems before she was even born, to what she experienced in her short few months of life. Also because I held Allison in my arms once and I was there at the funeral, to see her one last time and tell her goodbye. (I know that Allison knows she has changed many peoples lives, like my own.) I didn't want to do that and it was hard doing it, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and go above and beyond for others. Wouldn't you hope they'd do it for you?

So Alexis, she will be my guidepost during this time. She's definitely going to get a call when I'm on the way to the hospital. (Thank you, already.)

To turn this into a Life is Good, I'm So Happy post, I have two cool things to also share.

One is this. I have a good friend down in Florida who makes really awesome handmade jewelry. Check this out, it's so beautiful and made entirely with love. (These are some of my favorites.)


And guess what?! Chel is giving it away!!! Go to A Gracious Home and sign up and you could win a really beautiful piece which is featured on the site. (I signed up!)

She also has a store called "Created by Chel", which I hope you will check out. She really does has some amazing pieces. She is so talented. One day I hope we can exchange services! (hint, hint!)

My other bit of excitement, well it is for me, anyways, is that I accepted one more wedding for 2008. I couldn't help it. I made an oathe to myself that I would not accept anymore for 2008, but, but, but, well, I guess I'm weak. I gave in. Only because this wedding is a dream wedding for me, oh, and because the bride begged (how can you turn down that kind of ego-booster?!).

Most dream weddings for me take place either in a great big city or on the ocean. I've had the chance to do both of them. One of my favorite dream weddings out of my 5 years shooting was Kristin and Chris's wedding down at Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. Everything about it was perfect. A gorgeous October day, only close family and friends (I was honored to have been included in the "close friends" category!), beautiful subjects, not to mention down-to-earth fun subjects (!), and so my imagination just went wild!

My second dream wedding was in Chicago, Johanna and Jason's. It was a dream wedding for me because, again, I had gorgeous subjects with great personalities with the desire to have fun and do un-traditional poses! It was also a dream wedding for me because the reception took place in a 1700-acre amazing arboretum. They had a trolley for the wedding party and we went all over the arboretum taking pictures. Then the reception itself was one out of Martha Stewart Weddings. No joke. It was fabulous. I want to shoot it again! ;)

So, that said, I think I may get my third dream wedding. After the pleaing (haha), she told me where it was, and I didn't hesitate. Forget the oathe!

The wedding is in St. Louis at the St. Nicholaus Greek Orthodox Church! It's a beautiful church! And I've shot a Greek Orthodox wedding before and the ceremonies are just amazing. Long, but absolutely worth it! Here's a picture. Can you say to-die-for?!

And then the reception is at the St. Louis Renaissance Grand Hotel Crystal Ballroom! Check this place out!

The bride agreed to have all the pictures taken before the wedding which also means, we have complete freedom to do some outdoor pictures . . . downtown! You know how old and beautiful downtown St. Louis is?! (Corie does!) I am just so so excited! Helps give me the fuel power to get the 4 wedding albums that I need to have done before Christmas.

So you made it to the bottom of my Thursday's Thoughts! Yay, you! Yay, me! Yay, everyone! Time to do more of what I'm doing in the Wordless Wednesday post below. Thank goodness for coffee . . . and you all . . . to keep me going! Thanks for reading ;c)

Yahooooo, Amy!!

So my very good friend, Amy, in Phoenix, (my hubby's dearest friend's wife) won the contest! Yay, Amy! What a cool catchy thinker she is, eh? She's always been good at things like that, even though she doesn't think so. I'm waiting for Amy to send me the picture she wants put on canvas. I'm so excited to do this for her! And, this is another thing I need to get workin' on. My site. Man, does it take time and lots and lots and lots of thought and well-written phrases to get a site up and runnin'! But I'm excited to say it should be soon. I know . . . I've been saying this for like 6 months now, but really, it will be soon now. I promise.

So now let's congratulate Amy!

And thank you, friends, for all your help. You all had such great ideas! I still may incorporate some of them in somehow because I still have a few other personal faves. Stay tuned.

Contest!!!

{I am going to "sticky" this till the end of the day Wednesday, so check below for new posts if you're so inclined! Oh! And Wordless Wednesday is just one post down -- please go, you won't regret what's looking back at you . . .}

This is my first contest! YAY!!!

So as I have mentioned, I'm in the process of getting my new VWC website "live". I have the site, I have the pictures, but I don't have the catchy phrases. Which is where you come in!

I need something that follows "VWC Photography . . . {insert something catchy, cute but not annoyingly catchy here}".

Here are some examples of catchphrases I like from other women photographers (who I really really admire!). . .

Work of Heart, Art of the Heart, Your Life, Your Art, Capture the Heart, Capturing The Miracle We Call Life, artography, live, love, laugh, Life as Art, fresh.fun.real., just be you. . . .

Notice how so many use the word "art"? I do like it, but I'm not going to copy it. I need something new and fresh.

To help, you should probably check out the work I have done and also know what my intentions are with my work and this site. (Here's my old site, too!)

With my work, even though I will still be doing weddings, I am going to be doing much less of them (for now -- this way I can really be choosy and then have more time with my family on the weekends) and concentrate more on my birth photography, maternity photography, newborn photography and children photography.

I think my style is fresh, different, and tells it how it is. I capture people how they are, usually in their natural environments. I tell a story. I am non-intrusive. When people see my work I think they get a "wow" feeling in their heart, and that's what I hope to accomplish. *I* don't want to stand out, but I want my work to.

And my site. It's going to be kind of what you call vintage-y, Anthropologie-y, classic, yet retro. At first I wanted really bold and bright, but now I have decided to go more vintage with browns and muted tones in the website with fonts that are vintage-inspired and swirly.

Want to help me out?! If so, leave me a comment here with your ideas for a tagline (DO NOT EMAIL ME PLEASE)!! If you win, I will print your favorite 8x10 picture (whether it be one I took or one you took --- they will have to be digital and of a certain size/quality) on canvas. Have you seen those museum-quality canvas gallery wraps that everyone raves about these days? Thats what I'm talking about! It's about a $200 value! Even if you live far away, I will ship it to you. You just have to come up with something fabulous for me! Something that will draw people to me. Something that will really make me stand out.

Leave your comment by Wednesday Sept 12. (I know, it doesn't give you much time, but I'm on a time-crunch with my site going live!). If I choose your tagline, you win an awesome prize!

And spread the word!!!!

P.S. Here are some of my favorite describing words to get you started (they are just suggestions; doesn't mean I require you to use any of these). . . seize, defining, endless, tender, priceless, forever, celebrating . .

Top Momma? Me!?

I registered at Top Momma like 2 months ago so I was thrown for a loop when I got this email:

Hey Momma!
You are now on the front page of TopMomma.com!!!! Time is of the essence, so make sure that you tell all your friends and readers ASAP to get the most clicks possible.

So I went to this page here and holy moly, I really was!!!



So, girls (boys?!) go here, click on my picture, and let's see how many days I can stay on the front page. Support me by a simple click. Hey, it's fun, right? Actually, I am not sure what I get but a button to go on my blog, so I don't actually win anything, but any competition is always fun, especially when you are a WAHM who thrives off crazy little things like a top momma contest :c)

Thrill me, click on me, make Val happy.

P.S. I just found out something. You can click more than once. So you can click all day of you want to. Not that you'd be that willing to, or that bored to, but I thought I'd letcha know anyway ;c)

two too tutus

There's a fabulous new contest over at 5 Minutes for Mom yet again! This time it's for a tutu which is (yes, I'm going to say it) TOO TOO cute! Check it out yourself and then sign up. Even if I don't win, I think I'm going to have to buy one or two (or three??) for myself for my little girl clients! I already have two of them, but you can never have too many tutus! (I know, I'm not even close to being hilarious, am I?)

5M4M has yet more great contests!

Just click on the button in my sidebar, the picture up above or just click here. There are some snazzy contests going on including a Nano ipod! Woo-hoooo! Count me in! As I have said before, I so totally heart 5 Minutes for Mom! Go check 'em out! :c)

Bloggers Without Makeup!

I cannot believe I am doing this!

So, ok, Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing invited me over to participate in her new contest: Bloggers Without Makeup. At first I thought, "heck, no!" but then I thought about how liberating it was just to make a self-portrait collage of me and put it up to share with the world, so I thought maybe this would feel even better. Lord knows I need better self-confidence and this is just the start of proving that I have it in me, right?! So . . . here ya go . . . its me, Val . . . sans makeup!

For those of you who know me well, you know that I will not step foot out my front or back door without wearing makeup. Ever. Ok, I take that back. Unless I'm in Hawaii and am getting a nice pretty tan on my face, then I might go without. (right, Chel?!) So know this was a huuuuuuge thing for me, but now that I've done it, I feel pretty dang good about myself suddenly. And I need that before my 26-people wedding party and 400-guest wedding that I will be shooting tomorrow. (Positive vibes and prayers for Val, please!)

Those above were taken this morning and this one below was taken while in Chicago over the weekend.

5M4M contest!

5 Minutes for Mom has another nifty contest. It's for some adorable hair clips! These are similar to the ones I buy at etsy. My little Miss Maia has quite a few cutsie things for her hair already since she's got sooooooo much of it! But these are the cutest ever, especially the turquoise (mommy's favorite color!) ones with flip-flops on them . . . she'd match her mommy with her flip-flop rings and necklaces ;c) I hope Maia wins!!!

I won something! I never win things!

Wow, Erin sure is earing some brownie points! I won a book in her contest at her blog! She said the kissing up didn't work since the drawing was random, but you've gotta wonder something, but then again, I always say that I never believe in coincidences . . . Anyway, yippeeee!!!

Erin is the greatest, by the way. *wink*

A Dyson Contest!!

I looooove 5 Minutes For Mom. Not only are they the kindest girls in the world (they are twin sisters who run the site) but they give us readers the best contest opportunities ever! It's GREAT! Thank you, Janice and Susan!

Till the 4th of April they are giving away . . . oh my goodness I can't believe this . . . a DYSON vaccuum! If you know me you know that I loooove to vaccuum. And I posted a while back about this new vaccuum that we bought when K's was going out of business. Well, I am really embarrassed to say this now, but after I used my new vac for a week, I began to hate it. It really did not do a good job. There, I said it. So I'm back to using the old one from 1999.

I am all over this contest. And anyone is welcome to join in. You just have to sign up at 5M4M and follow their directions there. It's easy! Would could possibly pass up the opportunity to have one of the best vaccuums in the world?! Definitely not I!