As requested......

a couple of sites that you can search to see if any of your photos were used without permission.

First of all, you can google your name....I have the same user name on all the boards I visit so it's pretty easy to find out that way. =)

And here are a couple more sites too.....

Technorati

Blogpulse

You just have to type in your web address to your blog or any board you belong to or try your user names too. =)

I quick couple of notes.....and a few photos too!

I just wanted to pop on here to remind everyone to watermark their photos.....there has been a rash of photo stealing from a site and to my dismay, I found a couple of mine on an international site....credit was given to me but still it makes me a bit sick. So make sure you slap your copyright notice on them. And thanks Nadia for the link too! =)

And I want to wish everyone a safe and happy new year! Any big plans made? None here....I can't stay up past 10:00 pm anyway! LOL!!

And last of all...just sharing a couple of quick snaps....the shirt says it all! =)

I revamped my site a bit....changed the colors to something fresh and clean....go check it out and let me know what you think. =)

Hugs,

Bren

The card......

So, here's our Christmas card you guys were asking about.....I choked! It's lame, I know but my creative juices were gone after I finished with my customer's cards so this had to do. On the outside it says
"You better not pout"
and inside it says
"Santa is coming to town!
Happy Holidays,
Love,
Grady, Brenda and Grace"




I'm going to MIA until the first of the year....we are taking a little vaction and I'm updating my site and all that fun stuff (like cleaning the computer...YUCK)! I still need to post my top 10 (that may be after the 1st though).

In closing 2006, I just want to say how grateful I am to be able to do what I love! Just a year ago, I got my DSLR and I never imaged that it would take me on this path. I'm so honored that I was able to capture my client's special moments...so thank you for choosing me. =)

And for all of you that have sent me emails, asked questions, bought my actions and/or just left me some wonderful comments.....THANK YOU! I'm not sure if I helped with all the questions but I tried! LOL!! I'm blessed that some of you call me an inspiration....that still blows me away when I see those comments and posts. WOW!! =) Sometimes when I feel I'm in a rut or overwhelmed...I read what you guys have said and it makes me want to do better....so thank you again. =)

And for those of you that feel they just want to throw their camera out the window.....just stick with it. I still at times find myself struggling. Just keep working at it and before you know it, you'll be someone's idiol (if you already aren't). =)

Anywho....I want to wish all you guys a very wonderful holiday season! Have fun, be safe and be a kid again....that's what it's all about! =)

Blessings,

Bren

And so after 17 months of hard labor......

she smiles for me! =)



I finally got it....she was actually gigglin' big time! She sneezed and a bunch of food flew out at me and apparently that's pretty funny! LOL!!

Here's a couple more....

here's she's showing me her ear and her belly at the same time. Pretty darn genius if you ask me....I can't even pat my head and rub my belly at the same time. =)








Today is Gracie's Christmas shin-dig! I'm going to go up there and help out....it should be fun! Hopefully, I'll survive! LOL!! =)

Look what I found.....

I'm so happy! =)





It's kinda funny with these....Tubbs hated the camera (just like Sam)! LOL!! Whenever I would try to take a photo of him...if I wasn't quick, he would get up and leave. But with these...he decided to join the "set!" So not like him, but I think he was just being nosy! =)

Thank you everyone for your hugs and well wishes! They mean more than you guys will ever know!

Hugs,

Bren

In memory of....

Tubbs! We will miss you so much!



I just want to remind everyone to take photos of their pets too....they are a part of the family also. I knew this time would come but I kept putting taking picture of him off thinking surely he'll be here a little longer, but now it's too late. He had lymphoma cancer and last night he took a dramatic turn for the worse....he was ready to go. We decided to put him to sleep and end his pain. So please today, spend some time with your pets, love on them a little more than normal and take some photos....I'm searching for some and I only have 2 of him and it's breaking my heart.

ETA: THANK YOU SO MUCH everyone for your love and support! Grady and I agree that I think it's going to get worse before it gets better...we are still numb to it all. I forgot to add this poem that Melissa gave to me. Gracie keeps asking what doggie heaven is like so as soon as I'm a little more together, I'm going to read it to her.....it's perfect! Thanks again for sharing this Melissa!

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

I am on a mission.......

to finish up Christmas shopping by this weekend! I'm about 3/4 of the way done but I still have a couple left and I need to get goodies and treats for Gracie's class party. =) I'm usually the one that looks mental and crazy at the mall on Dec. 24th....so I vow this year not to let myself wait that long! LOL!!

Oh and the Christmas card update......it's says "shipped!" I should get them today and for their sake, I hope it's the right cards! LOL!! =)

And of course.....the little Miss! She told me yesterday that her beau said to her that he's going to marry her, so I guess this is her first official marriage proposal! Haa-Haa! Guess what she said back to him....."I need to ask my parents first." Daddy has her trained well! =)

Do you wanna know what a dewdrop looks like?

Here ya go......









Gracie had her dress rehearsal last night....she was so excited! It's hard to explain to a 5 year old that that wasn't the ACTUAL recital....that she gets to do it again! =)

They were sooo cute! Their part is really short...they have to sit for a couple minutes and then they do their thing which is about 1 minute long. Teaching ballet to a bunch of 5 year olds is hard....and you know their attention span is about the size of a pea! =)

Posting on the weekend.....

there's a first for everything! =)

First and foremost, I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful and kind words that you've left on my blog, or through an email....it means so much to me that you all take the time to do it....so THANK YOU! =) And get this, my stat counter says that I have reached over 105,000 hits...WOW!! So for all of you that just lurk...leave a comment or if you have a question, ask away. =)

Now, hopefully you'll get a kick out of this...I walked into her room and she was like this. Apparently, she's a "ghost hunter!" HMMMM...not sure where she got that quirky idea in her head but I can give her this....she's full of imagination! =)







The color conversion is from Amy Howe's new conversions....love them! And the b/w is my b/w 2 conversion. =)

I've been tagged by Jeanette to list 5 things you didn't know about me so I'll have to think about those and get back to ya. =)

And finally Frederique has challenged some of us to post our favorite 5-10 photos of 2006 with less than 5 words caption to describe them. This should be hard but I'm up for a fun challenge. Go and check out her post on Dec. 8....it's very inspiring. I think if you are a person that is forever in search of your style you should play along. You'll find that your favs will usually have something in common, meaning you are defining your own personal style. =)

It's trivia time again!

In the spirit of the Holidays...here's the question! =) In the song the "12 Days of Christmas", what are the gifts that my true love gave to me on the 12th, 8th, 6th, 4th and 2nd day? First one to answer correctly gets my action set. =)

And am I the only one that thinks the gifts are a little out wonky? Why not a IPod, a new lens, a Pottery Barn gift certificate? LOL!!

Now onto the yucky inside lighting photos of Gracie's first official school program:

This is her BFF in class....they are 2 peas in a pod and I just get the biggest kick listening to them talk to each other! LOL!! God bless the boys that they like...they are high maintance girls! =)







And here's Gracie's main squeeze! Look at her face....she's sooo giddy! =)






It was such a cute program! And get this, her last school program will be in 2019! SCARY!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bren

No one around to take photos of

I finally was able to play a little today but low and behold, no one is here! So, here's Scout...the holy terror of all dogs! =)



Yeah, he may look sweet here, but he's a wild one! =)

So no word on the cards yet....it still says "Printing." I'll be lucky to get them before Christmas!! Thanks for everyone's support....please do not use them, it's not worth the heartache. Even if you plan ahead of time, still don't use them.

Tonight is Gracie's school Christmas program. I went up there this week to help make their reindeer shirts...that was fun! Getting their hand prints and playing with glitter...I had it all over me when I got home.....you would have thought I went to Libby Lu and got hit with fairy dust!! Hopefully I'll be able to get some good photos....indoors with crappy lighting....YUCK!! =)

Maybe tomorrow I'll get around to taking some photos of the house decorated for the holidays. It's really nothing special, but I know a couple of you guys have asked to see some photos. =)

And I'm feeling like playing a game too so stay tuned! =)

I missed this one somehow

So, I'm going through some old photos...cleaning up the computer (again) and I came across this one. I'm not sure why I missed it but I'm glad I caught it the second time around. =)

See....just another reason not to delete your photos right away....It seems that some of my favorite photos are the ones that I pasted up at first. =)



I'm LOVE taking photos of kids backsides....is that just me or do you guys like to do it too? =)

ETA: OK....so I have a major complaint! I'm not that type of person that complains all the time....I'm usually the one that lets too much slide but this really chaps my hide! I ordered Christmas cards from Winkflash on Nov. 27th. I just got them in the mail today.....not the best as far as getting them fast but that's the sole reason I ordered them then....I know it's a busy time of year for everyone. Well....guess what....I got someone else's order!!! AAARRGGHHHH! So, what do I do...I call them. I'm calm....not really mad, I figure, they'll just reprint mine and have them overnighted. NOPE....not even close! I have to reorder them, pay for them again and I was told that they can't expidite orders so I should be receiving them (and crossing my fingers they are mine this time) in about 7-10 days! WHAT THE HECK? So, I'm having to bare the brunt of YOUR MISTAKE? Pretty much yes!! I guess a big company like you have never heard of FED EX? Oh but I will get a full refund when I ship the wrong ones back.....how very nice of you! How about you go to the post office at the busiest time of the year with a 5 year old and an 18 month old bucko!

OK....so, I'll stop ranting! I PRAY that my customer's cards are OK...they probably will be messed up to for writing this...oh gosh I hope not!! Anywho....this is my official boycott of Winkflash (as soon as I get all the correct orders)! NO MORE!! Yeah, they are cheap but their policies stink (for a better use of words)! I will never recommend them to anyone! ARRRGGHHHH....I'm so pissed!!!!

Long time no see....

as requested, here's Sam! =) And you can still see she hates the camera! NO SMILES!!

Just to get this one was hard....now that she's walking, she can just walk away from me whereas before she just wouldn't look at me. I had to bribe her with a cheese cube. =( As you can see from the look on her face, she's not very pleased with me. LOL!!



This one cracks me up.....love the look on her face! She was fixing to take off and I could swear I heard her say "NNNNNOOOOOO!"



Have a great weekend guys! =)
Bren