Black Belt Living

Digital Deluge....

I'm not joking, I've been buried under piles of pixels this past week.  Between the volleyball tournament, some photo assignments, and helping Anna Aspnes get her store polished up over at Oscraps, I've been really heating up Mr. Mac. 

I know that I've promised a bunch of people some peeks from last weekend's volleyball tournament, and I'll get there, but those pics have been pushed to the bottom of the pile for a few days. I promise I'll get there! In the meantime, here's another teaser....

As for Anna's team, I've been doing some work for her behind the scenes as well as creating some new layouts. Today, Oscraps is going to be giving her an official welcome and she'll be giving away a freebie, so be sure to get over there and grab it while you can. Anna's products are so unique and nothing like anything else that's out there for digital scrapbooking (at least in my opinion).  Here are some layouts that I've done with her artsy goodness:

Be sure to pop over to The O today to get your freebie, and say hello!  

Hot Stuff

It's all about hot stuff this weekend - hot temps are back and there is a lot of hot volleyball practically in my own back yard. Yes, it's time once again for the US Open Pro Beach Volleyball championships, right down the street from me.  Time to watch some hot volleyball, see some really hot bodies (Olympians, no less!), sweat in the hot sun, and take some hot pictures!

Here are a few pics of the ladies from last year's tournament. For some odd reason, I can't find my pics of the men.  That's just a travesty, I tell you.  So wrong.  Oh well, I'll just have to take more this weekend. I can do that. 

FYI, that's Olympic gold medalists Misty May Treanor in the print shorts (top photo) and Kerry Walsh in the teal tank top (bottom photo).  Nice ladies. It was so cool getting to chat with them last year. I wonder who I'll get to meet this year?  Who knows, but it'll be fun for sure! 

Have a great weeekend!

Happy Anniversary Lena and James

A year ago today (okay, a year ago tomorrow, but it was the last Saturday in August), I drove to lovely southern Kentucky to photography Lena and James's wedding.  Happy Anniversary you two!  

It was fun looking back at your photos last night.  Have a lovely day and here's to many more happy years!

First Day of High School

First day of high school. Where does the time go?

Team Anna 2011

So excited to have been selected for my super creative and talented friend Anna Aspnes's Creative Team for 2011. It's a huge honor!  Anna is moving to Oscraps as of September 1st, so you'll see some of my work over there as well as here. I haven't been sharing much of my work lately, but I say it's time to get back into the groove. I know, I know, I seem to always say that.  

Here are some of my creations using some of Anna's products:

 

And for those waiting for my tennis photos, I'm finally going to have some time to work on them today, I promise.  Good stuff.  Here's a sneak peek....

I love Rafa Nadal, he's so animated when he plays!

Seniors 2012 - Molly H

It's been a while since I've posted any photo peeks. I know, it's been a while since I've posted anything, really. Well today I have some lovely sneek peeks that I have been looking forward to sharing.

This is my niece Molly. She's a 2012 senior and although she doesn't live in the area, we had an opportunity to do her senior portraits while she was in town recently. She was such a trooper too, when you look at these photos, you'd never know that the heat index was over 100 degrees. It was SO hot that normally I would have rescheduled, but we only had a small window of time to get these done, so we perservered. While I was sweaty and gross, Molly always looked calm and cool throughout the entire process. 

Many people think that Molly looks like Kristin Stewart or Emma Watson. I see both! Molly is a big Harry Potter fan, so I'm sure she'd rather look like Emma....

Molly can really rock the high heels, so we had to make the best of that, of course!

Thanks for letting me take your pictures, Molly!  You made it easy and so much fun.  

Speaking of fun, my next senior scheduled is Molly as well.  2012....the year of the Molly! 

Have a great weekend!

Seven Charms

It's been a long time since I've given you an update of any kind, never mind an update on how my weight loss efforts are going.  I don't expect you to remember, but on the first Monday of January, I re-committed myself to finally getting this extra lard off of my ass for the last time.  Failing was not going to be an option this time...so that means that complacency wasn't an option either. 

I was pretty good at giving monthly updates for quite a while, but then I slacked off. I didn't slack off my weight loss efforts, but I was so focused on my new job of losing weight and getting back into shape, that blogging kind of fell off the radar. I have also been putting a serious effort into learning how to play golf this summer as well, and you know what a time hog that can be. 

Anyhow, things are going well.  As of last Wednesday, I am down 38 pounds. My Pandora weight loss bracelet now has seven charms on it.  The bracelet and charm #1 were for my first ten pounds. Every five pounds after that have earned another charm. The sparkly charm is for being half way to goal. My last charm was the golf bag. 

I'm not going to lie, it's been a roller coaster. The first 20 pounds came off quickly. The last 18, not so much. It took me nearly three months to earn my 35 pound charm. I haven'tt really done anything differently than I was doing earlier, but the longer you go, the slower it comes off. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason to it with me.  I never know what I'm going to get...unless I overdo the drinks and snacks during the week and then I definitely know what I'm going to get. 

So here it is. 

My bracelet is getting heavier. I'm getting lighter. That's the way it's supposed to be. Hopefully by the time school starts again in a few weeks, I can add #8. 

Long Overdue

Yeah... Long time no blog. I guess I've been pretty wrapped up in working out, losing weight, learning to play golf and end of the school year festivities that it just hasn't been a big priority. But I want to get back at it, so if anybody is still reading, I hope you stick around. Lots to say, will be updating a lot this week. In the meantime, I'm trying to figurem out how to blog from my iPad and add photos.... Let's see how this goes. Back later, I promise!

It NEVER Ends

Seems like the only times I update these days are when the bizarre weather hits.  Well today is no exception. I'm so tired of rain.  Check out my swamp out back:

So sad that we used to have a really beautiful back yard. Now it's just a swamp full of tree roots and onion grass.  Sigh.  

Attention Rain!  Please STOP! 

Hoping....

....that Old Man Winter has finally gone.  He's been a real jerk this year.