football schmootball

Last night was the start of MTSU's football season. Since this is Brad's last semester as a college student (woohoo) he wants to live it up as much as possible and go to all sporting events and do all kinds of college things so he can go out with a bang. He asked me to go to the game, one game, and I happily obliged (now I can check it off my list of honey-do). I am not a football fan.....by any stretch of the imagination....so it was not an easy task for me. However, I stopped by the school bookstore on my way to meet him and bought my own MTSU t-shirt and showed up at the game ready to cheer! We sat in the student section and it was here that I had a few revelations...

1. I am old. I am so far past college days that this was almost an un-enjoyable time for me, completely outside the fact that it was a football game. I am almost 10 years older than most of the people I was sitting in the midst of....that made me sad.

2. College kids have dirty mouths and wear trashy clothes. I was very tempted on several occasions to tap this young man in front of me and say "son, is it really necessary to use those words?". But Brad's sideways look of embarassment helped me stay put. I felt like a mom! I wanted to ask them if they speak that way in front of their parents, and what would their parents think if they heard them. I felt the same way with some of the girls I saw that wore dresses...short, very short cocktail dresses and heels and walked up the bleachers rather than the stairs so everyone could see all their ....well....you know. shame on them! Jeans and t-shirts ladies, that is much more football game appropriate.

3. I lived a sheltered college life. I loved my college experience and miss it often. However- I went to a good school with rules and dress codes and curfews. I noticed again last night that MTSU is not Liberty U. Not that bad things didnt happen at LU, just not as obviously I guess.

4. My husband loves college. I am so ready to count down the days until he graduates, but I saw last night why he is sad and not as ready to count down til graduation day. He will miss being a student. He worked so hard to get here and he will miss it, and I need to be ok with that. He will miss sitting in the student section, cheering with other Raiders fans when their team makes a touchdown. He will miss going to class and learning-something he genuinly loves to do. He will miss all of the friends he has made there and miss the laid back feeling of walking around campus, working at the radio station, etc. I see his point now...


I only stayed through halftime, I really wanted to see the marching bands. Yes, I am officially a nerd and I am proud of it! MTSU played Troy (who won by the way), my parent's Alma Mater. They almost drove up for the game so they could see the halftime show, but I am glad they didnt make the trip as they would have been disappointed. From what my Dad had told me about the band from his day as drum major- I was expecting greatness, but greatness it was not. Troy may have won the game but the Raiders Band won the halftime show. Not that it is a competition or anything, but you understand.

I love my husband and I love that he loves his school. This semester surely holds lots of fun times to come...

Thursday 13

13 things that make me happy.


1. date night with my hubby

2. my nephews- everything about them makes me happy

3. arts and crafts, i wish i could be a professional arts and crafter.

4. baking and decorating cakes (and eating them of course)

5. photographing weddings, being a part of such a special day for a couple is priceless to me

6. vintage cameras

7. naps.

8. surprising people

9. writing an old fashioned letter and using old fashioned mail

10. pedicures with my mom

11. decorating and home magazines

12. a good cup of cofee (even better with a good friend)

13. road trips.

"you're gonna miss this"

Yesterday, as I got off work, I piled myself and all my gear into the car and started the drive to St. Louis to see my good friend Michele. It was time for another good girlfriend weekend, and she is always so welcoming. She had a baby a few months ago (Scout!) and I am a horrible friend for having not come to see him earlier. No weddings this weekend so it was the perfect time to come love on my sweet friend and her boys. My car is in the shop in Atlanta so I have my parents rental car, which I think they keep on hand only for me and the times when my car is broken. I love my parents. I don't love the car. It has a faint smell of cat urine, it is the most beautiful (or not) sea foam green color, and worst of all- the CD player is broken and there is obviously not a way to plug in my ipod. Thus- I was back to channel surfing on the random radio stations that Kentucky and Illinois have to offer. I am not a country music fan as I once was in high school. However, it makes wonderful travel music. Each song has a story and they are more entertaining than other stations. (unless I can find Delilah, then I am good to go!). I heard a song by Trace Adkins that really struck a cord with me. The title of the song is "You're Gonna Miss This". I think I had heard it before (my coworker loves to listen to country at work, so I am subjected to it on an almost daily basis by default until she goes to lunch and I can shuffle my songs) but had never paid attention to the lyrics. I will post them at the bottom in case you want to read it but here is the gist. A girl goes to college, and cant wait to get out of the car and start that chapter of her life, her parents say "you're gonna miss this", then she gets out of college and gets married and is living in an apartment (like someone I know) and dreams of houses and babies (hmm...) and her Dad comes to visit and says "you're gonna miss this", then years later as she is in the house and has the babies, she apologizes to the plumber for all of the noise the kids are making and he says "you're gonna miss this". I am totally that girl. I am never settled where I am, I am always wanting the next thing, the house, the babies, etc. I do not live in this moment, right now, today, and the country crooner is right, I am gonna miss this. I do often miss the carefree college days of sleeping in, making coffee for a living, sunday afternoon lazy days with the girls, and all the dollar movies a girl can handle. I know I will miss the quiet time Brad and I have in our little apartment as soon as we get a house that needs repairs or we have kids that demand all of our attention. So today's lesson is- soak up today. live in today, love on today, because soon- you're gonna miss this. It was shortly after this revelation that the song "tequila makes her clothes fall off" came on and quickly reminded me why I do not listen to country music anymore.






She was staring out the window of their SUV
Complaning, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"
She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"
Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school
Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by
He tells her "It's a nice place"
She says "It'll do for now"
Starts talking about babies and buying a house
Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizin'
He says "They don't bother me.
I've got 2 babies of my own.
One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

Thursday 13

Today's 13 will be 13 things I hope to do before I walk through the pearly gates...


1. Give birth

2. Write a book.

3. Take my husband on a trip to London.

4. Get a tattoo.

5. Plant a garden.

6. live in the same state as one of my best friends.

7. Give birth a second time.

8. Take our children on the same fabulous vacations my parents always took us on (every recognizable American landmark and then some!)

9. Photograph a celebrity wedding.

10. Participate in community theatre, get back to my roots and prove to Brad that there are benefits to my being dramatic.

11. Drive across America from coast to coast.

12. White water raft through the Grand Canyon.

13. Run a marathon. (this is the most far fetched of them all!)

people watcher

I am guilty of being a people watcher. I seriously love to watch people. I come in contact with all kinds of interesting people on a daily basis at work, and today I watched one of my favorite couples interact. A sweet husband and wife both come in for therapy and are the perfect little "older" couple, probably have been together for 50 years. He is the typical guy that says the secret to marriage is keeping her happy. She is the typical synical older lady that thinks her husband is slow. I love watching them bicker and laugh back and forth, just to walk outside the door and hold hands. I see in them, this sweet view of real love. They are able to laugh at themselves, and each other, but still hold hands lovingly on the way out the door. I just sat here, looking over my desk at them, and curiosity took hold and I wondered what Brad and I will look like 40 years from now. Will we be that couple that goes everywhere together? Will we be that couple that lives two separate lives? I saw both ends of that spectrum with each set of my grandparents. My mothers parents were inseperable. Grandma would cater to Papa, and go everywhere with him, sit in the same chair with him and he loved every second of it. On the other hand, MaDean and GrandDaddy (Dad's folks) were in every way- the opposite. Separate bedrooms, separate chairs, bickering all the time. I hope that Brad and I will forever be the former of course. It is so hard to be that couple now when currently- we do live such separate lives. I work, and work and work. He is in school, working on the go, on the go, and on the go. I pray that our paths will converge soon enough and we will be able to be the couple that holds hands on the way out the door every day, meet up after work for a nice dinner together, to go home at the same time, read a good book before bed, and enjoy every second of it. This "waiting room" period is quickly becomming old and unfavored. I do so love our nights when we get to be home at the same time, spend time together and actually go to bed at the same time. That is such a treasure to me! I know we will inevitably have crazy schedules for the rest of our lives- with my shoots and his music business things- but I will always treasure the times when our schedules converge for a moment and life feels normal.

New Photos

I have put some new photos up on my photography blog, check them out when you get a chance!

Click here to see!

Thursday 13

Today's thirteen will be about 13 things I have been thinking and dreaming about more than usual lately....

1. I love getting to see all of my friends being pregnant, having babies, starting families. Just a few years ago everyone was getting married, now everyone is having babies at the same time. I love watching it, seeing their beautiful bellies followed by the birth of gorgeous children. Seriously, my friends make beautiful babies!

2. I am so excited for my turn to be pregnant! I always say I wish I could be pregnant for two years, then have the baby when we are "ready". I just know this will be such a beautiful, wonderful time! I know all of you that have experienced this are rolling your eyes saying "no you wouldnt want to be pregnant for two years!". Either way....I love where we are right now in life, and love getting to sit back and watch all of my friends have babies....but I am anxious for our turn in a couple of years!

3. Houses....I want one. I watched an episode of "House Hunters" on HGTV the other night that was done in Nashville! The girl bought a house in west nashville, close to Hillsboro Village, which is where we would love to look. I am obsessed with remax.com and looking at all kinds of locations and price ranges. I love anything to do with houses.

4. I miss my nephews. I called Jamie the other day and Ean got on the phone....and I wanted to squeal in my usual high pitched noise "eeeeeAAAAnnnn! hi sweet boy, I sure do miss you!!!" but i refrained. I simply said "Hey Ean". We chatted for a few minutes, and I didn't squeal at all. It dawned on me that he is too old for the squealing, and high pitched craxy aunt rants. Jamie got on the phone and told me that she and will were listening when Ean got the phone, and waited for me to squeal and were disapointed when I didn't do it! She told me that he will never be too old or too cool for me to get excited to talk to him or to see him. I tried to get him back on the phone to redeem my crazy high pitched aunt status, and he was already too cool for me. Sad.... I miss them.

5. I love my mom. I want to be like her when I grow up.

6. Brad and I saw Mama Mia, I loved it! Highly recommend you see it....keeping in mind that it is made after a musical...which means high amounts of cheesy energy! Awesome.

7. Believe it or not.....I am craving a dog! I have never been an animal person, at all! But, Brad really wants a dog. A St. Bernard to be exact. His name will be Aslan ? Wilson, and I think about him all the time. We are trying to find a middle name, any suggestions? I think I will start saving, so it can be Brad's house warming present, after he buys me the house of course!

8. I have another art class this Friday night....can't wait!

9. I love my husband and am so proud of him for working so hard while in school!

10. Cookie dough is my recent craving...I can't get enough.

11. Looking forward to Disney world over Thanksgiving with the fam! It will be Brad's first time, how exciting

12. I am trying to grow my hair out, I cut bangs, and I think I like it.

13. I have the entire weekend to myself as Brad went to GA to hang out with friends and family before school starts back....I bought four new novels and hope to have them all read before I go to work on Monday, may go to the pool for a few hours, may go buy the purse I've been eyeing at anthropologie....(brad thinks I have way too many bags but I beg to differ!), take several garbage bags of clothes to good will, and take lots of naps. sounds perfect

breathe in....breathe out....

I get stressed very easily. I don't know why, I don't know what my problem is or how I can fix it. But I get stressed out way too easily. I care about people, and I care about things. Sometimes so much that it makes my heart hurt. Sometimes so much that it makes my head want to explode. Does anyone reading this deal with obsessive stress on a regular basis? Do any of you overanalyze, or overthink things, or make big deals out of things that are not worth the effort? How do you survive? Got any good tips and tricks for me? I am an overstresser, overthinker, big deal maker, head exploder, and thought obsessor. I need help!

:(

i got new shoes

I do love shoes. So much in fact that I buy little cheap pairs all the time, and never spend good money on shoes that will last. (except for the pairs of quality shoes mom bought me so I wouldnt ruin my feet at shoots!) This was clear last weekend when I opted out of wearing the good shoes and went for the super cheap $5 flips that I bought earlier that weekend. During the senior portraits shoot, I kept taking the flips off because they were already halfway falling off and were not giving me any support at all. Barefoot would be the better option. The mom and daughter, Tammy and Kati, talked to me about their flip flops. "Have you ever tried Rainbow flip flops" they asked. "No, I don't think so" I answered. They proceeded to tell me that they were the most comfortable flip flops they had ever worn. I nodded and thought to myself "nice, I should try those" and that was the end of the conversation. Well, not even one week later I receive a package to my front door. I look at the box and try to remember if I ordered something, was it an order for a client, I had no idea? Either way, getting a surprise package in the mail is always a treat. I opened the box, slowly savoring the excitement of a gift and to my surprise....waiting inside was.....a shoe box! Inside the shoe box was my very own pair of Rainbow sandals. HOW SWEET! I mean seriously....do I have the best clients in the world or what?? Tammy and Kati sent me a pair of Rainbow flip flops and I am so blessed by them! They did not have to do that by any means, but it really made my day. I love it when clients turn into friends, and I feel like I have found a wonderful family to call my friends. Thanks Tammy and Kati, I have the flip flops on right now and I am sure they will be broken in in no time! Thank you so much for being so kind.

my first glimpse....

Gratefully - I took today and tomorrow off work. Brad and I had a wonderful trip out of town planned, and it was going to be a weekend of relaxation and retreat for us both. More on that later, for now- I want to tell you about my morning.

I had no alarm set this morning, I was going to wake up whenever she sun shone bright enough. It ended up being around 8 am, which felt like really sleeping in! Brad was already gone, he had a final to take for his summer class, so I was home alone. I got up, went to the kitchen to make a cup of wonderful Costa Rican coffee, courtesy of my brother in law, Brian. I love the rare days when I can really enjoy a cup rather than gulp it down out of necessity. Today was the rare day. I sat in my comfy chair with my coffee and did some reading, something I feel like there is hardly any time for anymore, even though it is the most important part of a day. I refilled the cup of coffee with another steaming hot stream of the dark goodness. I worked on some photos for a little while, answered some emails, and then gathered up about 9 orders that needed to be mailed out to clients. I cleaned up the kitchen from dinner the night before, ran the dishwasher, and wiped the counters. Ah, nothing better than a clean kitchen. I brushed my teeth, got dressed, grabbed my keys and hit the road for the post office. I adore the post office that I frequent. It is located in the back of a locally owned drug store, and they also have an old fashioned soda shop inside. It feels like "small town america" in there, and I love it. I go in and mail out my packages, and proceed to run some other errands. All the while I am on no time table. I am freely driving here and there, enjoying the morning, enjoying not having to put make up on, enjoying the fact that I am wearing my comfy jeans at 10 am on a Thursday. I love it. I love the freedom of being able to run errands at my leisure rather than get as much done in an hour lunch break, or trying to get to stores after work before they close for the night. I loved this morning. These three hours this morning were a small glimpse of what I feel like life could be....what it will be. In a few months I pray that I will be able to go to the post office whenever I want, that I will be able to do lunch meetings, or build relationships with local businesses, and that I will be able to keep my kitchen clean on a daily basis! ah.....I loved this glimpse.

motivational drive home

My times driving back from Atlanta to Nashville are always filled with such thought and wonder and organization and motivation. I always make mental lists of things I want to do, plan, create, etc. I wish all of the time spent in my car would be as productive mentally. However, it seems as though all of the things on the list go out the window as soon as I hit exit 78A. It is rather sad because I truly do want to accomplish the things that occur to me as I drive through the beautiful landscape. If I had the ability to blog as I drove, I am sure you all would be amused at the things that come to mind. Maybe when I get my iphone in October I will do just that....all the while trying to stay within the lines on the road of course!

Here are a few of the thoughts I pondered on my way home last night...

- Making myself wake up a half hour early each morning and go for a walk....every time I drive up to Nashville, this is what I think mostly about. It is when I hit the Boro that all motivation escapes me. Any ideas on how I can let this idea stick?

- I want to write a book on "common sense as seen by Joy". I know no one would read this book, but it would be front and center on my bookshelf. Because I am easily irritated and let things bother me that most people don't, I have a huge list of "common sensical issues" that I feel need to be addressed. One chapter being on the fact that - Taking children to a wedding is never a good idea. Sorry to all parents who read this blog and have ever thought "of course I can take my precious darling to this wedding, they are so well-behaved, they wont make a peep". It is not true, it will never be true. Children and weddings do not mix at all. Can you really enjoy the wedding if you are standing in the back calming your upset child? Can you have a good time chasing them around a reception, trying to make sure they do not tip over a cake? I love children more than anything, and I would photograph that crying child any day. However- if you think your child won't disrupt a wedding you are sorely mistaken. I am sure you are thinking "just wait until it's your turn Joy, you will understand one day". I must note that is my least favorite expression in all of the world.

- I want to go back to school. Not to get another degree, but I really want to take some photography and graphic design classes. I feel there is so much more to know and I have not even come close to scratching the surface. I love photography and I love the passion I feel for it, but I want to be so much better. I want to be able to surprise my clients with new techniques and ideas and really be able to think outside the box. I hope to sign up for a class or two when Brad finishes school...

- I love my husband. He works so hard and I am so proud of him. I am looking forward to our weekend getaway this weekend!

That will be all rambling for now. Much much more to come and I will post photos from all of the shoots I had this weekend (children, a wedding, maternity, and a senior shoot!) whew....lots of great shoots! :)