Our life

I have come around again to realizing my life is running me instead of the other way around. So last weekend I pretty much cleaned out Barnes and Noble of their self help/motivational books. "Getting rid of your bananas" is a good one. An easy read. I have also listend to one of the cd's I won the bid on lately - Key's to Success. It all is the same stuff that every other motivational speaker/writer says but it at least gets me thinking again and realizing how out of control things are. So I feel my motivation as well as my self esteem rise. I realized too that change is indeed uncomfortable - scarey even -but if I'm going to change for the better, I need to be uncomfortable for a while - then that becomes the new "normal".

Speaking of Barnes and Noble - my hubby went on his anual "guy" trip chasing the Norfolk Southern RR. Used to be a camping trip but they are all too old for that and traded in their mummy sleeping bags for the comfort of a b&b set up for railfans down near Altoona, Pa. That left the kid and I for our anual girls' weekend. The scarey part for Bill was that he left us with the truck and took the car - knowing we were headed out shopping! Good thing we had it too - wouldn't have been able to get the new set of wooden tray tables AND the kitty tower into the car along with all our bags! We had a great weekend, shopping, watching movies and shopping again.

That leaves me to talk about the Carbondale Chamber Celebrating Commerce dinner on Tuesday. It was a great time. Almost 200 people attended. Community volunteers and new business owners were acknowledged. There was also a silent auction. Well, I haven't done too much of that - I've always been working these things so I tend to not really bid on anything. WELL - I can say with complete confidence that if there was a prize for the most bids won and the most money spent - I'd get it. But I won lots of great things, tickets, etc. and it was for a good cause so it was money well spent (I just keep telling myself that anyway).

So this weekend is our car club party in NJ so that is where we are heading tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

It's been a while

Wow, I can't believe how time has flown since my last post. Mostly because of the Christmas rush I guess. We have been busy little elves at the studio trying to get everyone's orders and cards done in time for Christmas. As a result, shopping got done late, many decorations didn't even make it out of the box, let alone the attic. This is the first time in my life that the village did'nt get set up. It has been a strange year. The first without my father. That may be part of it. I don't know if you've noticed, but seems everyone I've talked to has said that they aren't really into the holiday this year either.

However, among all the busy-ness we had at the studio, we did find time to celebrate. I love a party and we all deserved it. Celebrating the end of a year filled with change seemed appropriate. We had a company Christmas party. All of us had a good time, enjoying dancing and good food as well as good conversation. We were at Genetti's in Dickson City. Funny about those big parties (and the nature of this area)- we all seemed to know quite a few people who were there with other groups! That made it even more fun, and other people actually learned that I don't always have a camera in my and and working!! I've posted some photos from the evening.

Photos are:
1. Diane (Justus sales and admin assistant) & hubby, Scott
2. Bob (photographer)
3. group of Mom (a KFP supporter!), Diane, Donna (sales in Carbondale), Caitlyn (production) and Myself
4. Diane
5. Mom, Donna & Caitlyn
6. Myself and hubby, Bill

somemore

Holiday Rush

Wow, can't believe where the time has gone! I see it's been a month since my last post. With the rush of the holidays upon us, everyone at both studios are very busy. We are finishing up with senior orders and staying on top of the holiday orders. I thought it would be fun to post some images done lately. What 'dya think?

TGIF!

Exciting today as Adams Cable used my Carbondale studio for filming their new commercials. I was only able to stay for a couple hours before heading back to Justus for appointments - in the flurry leaving some important things on my desk there but that's ok, I'll be back there tomorrow. Big things going on at that location though. My dear friend Donna Zaremba of Art Strands who has made her "home" at the studio since I opened, is working at getting a jewelery and gift store opened up - right in my studio! It is exciting as now we are co-mingling our accessories and talents. She is planning a big grand opening for next Friday, Nov 10th. Stop by at about 5:00 for the festivities - and bring your wallet. She has awsome jewelery -all hand made. I think it is going to be dangerous for me because I love her work and craftsmanship!

Anyway - I thought I'd share with you some of the things that I've done in the last couple days. This is Mikayla's bonus panel from her senior portrait session. Wait until she sees this!

I hope to see you soon! Start thinking Christmas and what portraits you'd like to have done - we have specials running now through December 8th

New news

There will be more changes going on in our Carbondale studio. Well, for anyone who has been there knows the vast retail space in the front. Well Donna (my jeweler friend who runs Carbondale for me) will be transforming our front area there to a gift shop and jewelery store! So now you will be able to have your portraits done as usual but if you are also looking for a gift - we are the place for you. She is planning for a November 10th grand opening. Watch for announcements!

Friday and Saturday is our pumpkin patch portrait special. There is no session fee and we have special packages. Friday sessions will be in Justus and Saturday's in Carbondale.

So everyone getting geared up for Halloween? My daughter decided she wants to be an Encyclopeida Salesman. Not sure which direction we are going with that yet - probably to salvation army store for a suit. We don't get too many, if any, trick or treaters. We kind of gave up on that a couple years ago. If anyone, we see the younger members of the famly of 10 up the street at around dinnertime. That's it. So now we don't worry about missing anyone and take our daughter to a friend's party (the parent party is in the kitchen!). Then the kids go out in that neighborhood. Makes me think of the costumes I had as a kid. But that was a really long time ago! lol

As you know, today was really cold. Well still had one senoir who wanted her portraits taken outside. Well it was 36 degress and sleeting. But we still got some nice poses! It was a speed session though because the last thing we want is that "error" message from a cold camera! Hope this isn't going to be a long winter.

Stuff

Well, we enjoyed having Ryan around the studio last week. Was fun discussing photography as well as music.

Thought I'd post a coupel recent collages done for two of my seniors. Jeremy received this 4 image panel as part of his bonus with his package, and the other is one of the collages that Lauren ordered.

October 17 2006

Hi everyone. This is my first time blogging. Pretty cool stuff.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to the student coming to the studio for career day. He is an 8th grader and interested in photography. Sounds like an excuse to order pizza for lunch! My assistant will also be in and will show him around her workstation too so he can get the big picture (no pun intended). My assistant laughed and busted my chops about how the poor kid will leave tomorrow knowing he DOESN'T want to be a photographer once he spends time with us! Very Funny, everyone's a commedian...