Engagement Photo Session - Austin, Texas

I need to play catch up on my neglected blog....I have a slew of going-ons in our life to tell you all about!!! 

But, right now, I want to show off some of the engagement pictures I captured in Austin, Texas at the beginning of March.  This couple is adorable and these pictures came so easy for them....not alot of work on my part.  That spells L.O.V.E. to me!!!! 

Enjoy!!!  And please.....I'd love any and all feedback....the negative and the positive.  I am still learning and I'd love to hear your opinions. 

I'll always remember... I'll never forget, how you took my breath away, the first time we met. No matter what happens... no matter what we do, I'll always remember the first time I saw you.

cowboys and margaritas!?! count me in.

Yee-haw ya'll.  Today is not only Go Texan Day in Houston.  It is also National Margarita Day!!!  Meaning, my day could not get any better.  Let's celebrate!

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a Sunshine-y Matilda-y post!

Happy one day past Halloween!

So much is going on and I really haven't been blogging as much as I would like to.  But I wanted to pop in here and share somethings that make me really happy and bring sunshine into my world!

So I am gonna link up with my girl Summer and spread some SUNSHINE!  Join in, won't you?

Do you wanna know what brings me sunshine?  {that is the point of this project}

****My Matilda Jane online Trunk Show I am having RIGHT NOW!  {It's not too late to order.}  I ordered this outfit this morning and it makes me giddy.  If you wanna join my Trunk Show, follow these short steps...

...and I promise it will bring you sunshine.  {shameless plug}

1.     Go to http://www.matildajaneclothing.com/

2.     Click on "Shop the Collection." 

3.     To view exactly what is available in your or your child’s size, click on the “Search by size” tab on the left hand side of the page.
4.     Add your favorite pieces into your wishlist (just like adding into your shopping cart) and email my trunk keeper, Stacey at staceyg@matildajaneclothing.com, and also to me, melifaif@yahoo.com

(It is best to send a copy to yourself and then forward to me and Stacey to ensure we receive the wishlist.  Stacey will have an auto-reply set for November 1.) 
5.     Before submitting your wishlist, please add your billing and shipping address and Stacey will call you to get your payment information. Matilda Jane accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. If it's on file already make sure to note the last 4 digits of your card on your wishlist.

6.     Also before submitting your wishlist, make sure to include that you are ordering through Melissa Faifer's Trunk Show.

7.     Stacey will call you if she needs payment information or if you ask her to call you.  Expect a phone call by 10 am est on the 2nd.  If there are no questions or concerns, your order will be placed and you should expect to get an email invoice by the end of day November 2nd.

****This girl brings me sunshine.  She has helped to take my 1st online Trunk Show off to a great start!  Love you lady. 

{That's Summer Sunshine!!!  Read her story...she is amazing.}

****Family Reunions make me happy!  My dad's, Aunt Florine - who helped raise my dad and uncle (left and right) when their parents were both killed by a drunk driver when my dad was a young guy.

{Ripple Family Reunion 2012 - Victoria, Texas}

{We are family!} 

****And you all know this girl brings me sunshine.  All the time.  So let me share a few pics that have helped me over these past few months that have been a tad trying, to say the least. 

{it was a pumpkin massacre!} 

{she's so hard! lol.}

{My spider witch...scary, huh?} 

{and this morning - rockin' the Matilda Jane Clothing!} 

Manic Monday - 08.06.12

I am mentally preparing myself for the five-year-old mind.

I want to come down to their physical limitations

and up to their sense of wonder and awe.

~ Shinichi Suzuki

have I mentioned the crazy!?!

My world is absolute insanity right now!  And I am longing for these "boring" and quiet Oklahoma days again...

Did you know many {mainly Hispanic} 15 year old girls celebrate what is know as a Quinceanera?  They are celebrating becoming a young woman.  This stuff is like a mini wedding, as far as expense goes.  And dresses, and standing parties....

{typical quinceanera dress}

I've stood in many a quinceanera in my days.  I am from San Antonio, Texas, afterall. 

Well, my friends....I am currently planning my soon-to-be FIVE year old daughter a mini CINCO year-agh party!!!!  Get it?  Yeah, it is over the top and completely breaking me.

But, you should all know at this point....I'd do just about anything for my baby girl!  I mean, just look at that face!!!! 

6 months then.  Almost FIVE years old now.  **sniff sniff*

Pray for me.  It is on Saturday.  I will post all details next week.  It should be a rootin' tootin' good ole time ya'll!!!! 

slacking and lacking....but now it's time for super DOOPER sunshine!!!

Yes, yes I know....if anyone is still reading here, I am honestly amazed.  To say that I have been slacking in the blogging arena, is a pretty gross understatement.  And lacking in visting my favorite blogs and leaving comments like I usually do.  No good excuse there.  I, myself, am just lacking. 

But, Super Sunshine Summer has kicked me in the arse and got me back to writing.  Even if it isn't anything that interests you much....I am back!

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Me!?!  I feel okay.  I still struggle daily with physical pain.  But, I push through and try to enjoy life as much as I can.  No one is promised tomorrow.  And Summer helps me remember, we are in charge of our own attitude in life.  We can sulk.  Or we can SHINE!  I CHOOSE TO SHINE!!!!

Summer shines in an unbelievable way.  The disease she is fighting would bring most to their knees.  Make most stop a lot of things they do.  Not her, she pushes through.  And through it all, she comes up with the SUNSHINE PROJECT, which I am taking part in for the first time.  Summer....this one is for you! 

Join in and link up!  Basically, you post a picture, a story, anything that brings SUNSHINE to your world.  I can do that. 

And I will start with a silly little word and phrase that my almost FIVE year old said to me the other night right before bed.  Ya'll will most definitely not thinking it is as funny as we did...but it is something I never want to forget and since my Lindsay said, "you need to blog that, for real!" I will!!! 

Layla:  "Mommy?"

Mommy:  "Yes, baby girl...."

Layla:  "WHEN I WAS TWO, I POOPED IN MY DOOPER!"

Us:  *Bust.Out.Laughing!!!!!*

{we giggle alot!}

{Naturally Beautiful shirt via Cotton Laundry which also brings the sunshine!}

Girlfriend, meant to say diaper, but got tongue tied and DOOPER came out!  One of our favorite sayings now.  SUNSHINE!!!

We recently returned from a week long trip to Oklahoma for Layla to visit her SEVEN cousins and for Richard to see his brother and sister.  SUNSHINE!!!

I will post in more detail about that later, because BOY! there is alot to say...and lots of kids, so I will space that one out.  But I did snag a few heart warming pictures that scream SUNSHINE!!

On our way back to Houston I needed to stop and visit with my Honey in San Antonio.  Life is precious, and this sweet soul is slowly withering away.  It breaks my heart. I wish life wasn't cruel like that, but I can always count on her to....bring the SUNSHINE!!!!!

Have a sunshine-y weekend.  Hope to see you 'round these here parts a lil more often.  Cheers!

sweltering

It always seems like I have to learn the hard way.  Why is that!?  {sorry, that was a question for my own self to answer}

My a/c stopped working on Monday....while the Texas heat soared to 109 degrees!!!!  Gawd help me...

We {I am assuming some of you do it, too} take a lot of things for granted.  Like, clean water.  Like, a roof over our heads.  Like, air conditioning!!!!! 

{I looked like this.  Ha!!!  Er, something like this.}

Or, probably more like this.  Truth be told.  It was 90 degrees IN.MY.HOUSE!!!

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And Layla like this...since we were dog ass hot!

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We actually went OUTSIDE for relief.  Because it was less sweltering and at least had a breeze. 

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A hot breeze, but a breeze, no less.

And while I was thankful to the ARSholes who fixed my a/c....truth is it was more like this!  #hotweatherrobbery

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And now some funnies to lighten the mood. {and the temps?!  Nah, not a chance.)

You know you're in TEXAS when:

You can make instant sun tea.

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You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

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You break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 am before work.

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