Dear New Home

Dear New Home,

I've been gone for a full week. Gone to the chilly, fresh, snowy mountains of Oregon. Gone to get a break. Gone to focus. Gone to meet up with an amazing group of photographers. And gone to learn. And it appears that while I was gone, you did nothing. NOTHING.

All of my boxes remain sealed and piled high in corners. Clothes, shoes and accessories still find themselves beaten, squashed and pounded into bags and suitcases that look fit to explode. You haven't finished vacuuming or dusting and you promised to open all your windows and doors each and everyday to allow the fresh smells of Fall to circulate. Yet I come home this evening, tired and drain and there you sit, unapologetically with not a thing done. It makes me sad. It makes me emotional. Seriously New Home, what the hell were you doing while I gone??What??

I am pretty disappointed I have to say, but I'm too tired to deal with you tonight. I need to get ready for my return to work tomorrow and a busy week ahead doing all the things YOU were suppose to do in my absence. I hope you fell guilty.

Shinks

(Boot to the Head blog coming. I haven't forgotten.)

The Laying Down Game

EDIT: Hmmm, I notice the photos of my fellow photographers refused to reveal themselves, so I recollected and have re-posted. Check them out below.

Don't ask me why. Don't ask me how all this started but a group of photographer friends have been doing this crazy thing they are calling "The Laying Down Game". The premiss is basically to capture yourself lying face down randomly, in places you would never expect to see a person lying down. Its hilarious and some of the things people have done are everything from imaginative and freaky to downright gross and weird.

This morning after a workout at the gym I got Husband to capture me doing my bit for "The Laying Down Game". I dashed into the cardio-room and threw myself down on a treadmill. The lady next to me was in the middle of a serious workout and was not at all impressed with my childish display and let me know by giving those disapproving mother looks.

On the way back to our cabin I couldn't resist the opportunity to lay down on this sign. It was too obvious to pass up. Oh and just so you know, technique is hugely important. Your face must be touching the surface your lying on. Your hands must be straight and locked by your side and your toes pointed straight into the ground. Many's an amazing and creative capture has been disqualified because of failure to observe the technique.

Here are some of what our other photographer friends have been doing.

Life in the Overwhelmed Lane

I am fatigued. I am worn out. I am sleep deprived. I have spots. Last week was a crazy week. A burn the candle at both ends type of week and not because I was partying like a rock-star or anything of that nature, but due to working, moving, cleaning, unpacking, settling and stressing. There seriously were not enough hours in the day and most evenings I was left feeling like nothing had been accomplished. That I hadn't even made a dent in my workload. I was overwhelmed and emotional and on top of all that 3 lushes spots decided to show up, front and centre on my forehead. Yes people, life was hard last week.

However, this week I have flipped the script completely and decided to run away. Run far away from my real life responsibilities and hide out in the mountains of Oregon. Yes Husband and I have taken a little trip. Its a combination business and pleasure trip and we are spending most of the week in an adorable little cabin, complete with log fireplace in the mountains of Oregon. And its amazing. The views, the rivers, the trees, lots and lots of trees and the snow, not a lot of snow right now, but some and its perfectly picturesque. We are loving it.

I do want to mention something I'm excited to be blogging about much later in the week and that is the wedding of Gianne and Dominic. You probably don't remember, but waaaay back in March, Gianne and Dominic came to me and asked if I would shoot there engagement photos (click HERE for a reminder). At the time I was terrified. This was my very first photo shoot and I was afraid I would mess it up and the fabulous Gianne and Dominic would have no pretty pictures to document their engagement. Thankfully it went well and as result both Gianne and Dominic asked if I would shot their wedding.

I will admit that I was tempted to say "No". Fear had me convinced that I was not ready. That this task was too huge for a photographer with little/no experience. I did not want to be responsible for photos of possible disaster. But I said "Yes" anyway. I said "Yes" cos this is what I love to do. I said "Yes" cos how are you going to get better, how are you going to improve if you don't take a chance. This brave couple was taking a chance on me, so the best thing to do was to hold hands and take the leap together. And this past Saturday, we did.

I'll be going through the photos in between some work commitments during the week, but I am excited to get them posted.

Until then here are a couple of shots of the brides dress. It was soft, elegant and fierce and the room the bride was given to prepare was amazing. So much character and so much detail. It even had its own red bathtub. Something I had never seen before and we just couldn't pass up a chance to incorporate it into some photos.

The dress.

That amazing bathtub.

The Boonies is a Whole Other World

I've dashed back to our old house for a few minutes this evening, cos the one thing our little home in the country does not have yet.............. internet. How in the world did we ever survive before the internet?? I have no idea, but I can tell you, I miss it dearly.

I'm also going to confess a little bit here and say, while yes we are excited about our new property and all the potential it holds, I will admit the move to Boonie'ville has been tough for Shinks, especially at night. Being so isolated and surrounded by mostly trees is very VERY scary. Such a setting is ripe for sending a girls thoughts and fears into complete overdrive. I swear I have myself convinced that all that is evil and wrong with the world shows up a night-fall in the woods surrounding my home and stays there all night watching me. Watching and hoping I'm brave/silly enough to stick my head out the door. Characters and creatures both fictitious and real e.g. The Blair Witch, all of the killers from Saw 1 thru 60 (or whatever number they're on now) as well as Halloween 1 thru 72, are all hanging out, biding their time waiting for a chance to do me some harm. Its crazy I know, but its true. I am a complete girl when it comes to isolation, darkness and nothing but trees. This adjustment is tough and one that will require large amounts of time for me to become acclimatized. But I will get there, I know I will. I have no choice. Its where I live now.

We're Movin Y'all

Today is moving day. Husband and I are moving. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time to blog about it. I'm stealing a quick break between truck loads of furniture in order to update.

I know it appears kind of out of the blue. Up to this point I haven't mentioned the fact that we've house hunting. And even though Husband and I have a very fine house in a very fine neighborhood right now, we've always had ambitions of owning something a bit more stand-alone and with a bit more space. Finally we have.

Its been quite the journey for us, 5 months to be exact, but this week we finally closed and now we are the proud owners of 12.5 acres, on a lake, with a small bungalow.

Its so exciting, we can hardly believe it. Our goal is to eventually build the dream home on this property, but for now we will be living happily in our wee bungalow on the lake.

I've posted a bunch of photos of the place we will now be calling "Home".

This is the driveway into our property.

This is our cutesy little home, for now.

This is what we see when we open our front door.

Another area of the property.

Let there be no doubt we are now country folk. Look at those logs I'll be chopping for winter fuel.

When I open my curtains in the morning, this is what I'll see. Yes, our back garden has a lake. Not a bad way to start the day

Husband takes a power-walk around the lake.

And there you have it. Now I have to get back to my moving duties. I can't wait till its all done, moving is such a pain.

Retro Birthday

This past Saturday was the night we chose to celebrate my birthday. True, is was a full week after the "official" day of my birth, but I'm a firm believer in dragging the hell out of anything that puts me at the centre of attention. What can I say? I'm an only girl, my parents spoiled me (thanks mam and dad xx).

Anyway, this year we opted to inject a little bit of retro into the birthday celebrations by hitting up a Roller Disco. Yes people, I said Roller Disco. We are talking lights, music, skates (of the 4 wheel and a stopper kind, the good stuff) and everyone moving in a an anti-clockwise manner. How is that for fun??

Everyone was suppose to show up sporting attire to match the throw-back vibe of the evening, however, not everyone adhered to the plan and yours truly with her Charlie's Angels halter-neck top, jeans tastelessly hiked up to her belly-button and a glitzy gold belt, ended up looking like a lost fashion soul. Thanks friends for that, RUDE!

To help give you more of a visual I included a bunch of photos from the evening.

We kicked off the evening with dinner and drinks at one of America's more high-end dining facilities, Hooters. Yep, that's the kinda girl I am, classy, all the way. Here we have Mike, Jennifer, Me and Fanz showing off our Hooters (or lack there of).

Ah yes, the infamous Roller-Skates. Now these babies take me back. As a kid I loved, loved, loved my roller-skates.

Mac and Mike can't wait to hit the floor.

The Birthday Girl and her high-waisted jeans.

Me, channeling Bambi.

A few minutes later and there we go. Just like riding a bike.

My view, as I tore it up.

I'm not gonna lie, the lads did struggle slightly. But the women were on hand to offer support and encouragement.

A little couple action from Peter and Fanz, cute.

Of course Kyle and Husband had to take it to a competitive place. Here they are about to race.

And they're off.

Kyle bit it in a very tight finish. Husband secured the victory, by a stopper.

Boo, time to hand back the old, OLD skates.

Marian & Rob Are Married

Last weekend I had the absolute honor and pleasure of shooting the wedding of 2 fellow Irish athletes, Rob and Marian. Before I talk about these two wonderful people as a couple, I want to first mention how I know then individually. Rob and I have been on the Irish track team for longer than I care to admit. He is a competitor in the 20 km walk and has had great success at European, World and Olympic level. As for Marian, well we met last year for the first time. If you've followed my blog for a while, you'll remember last summer I stepped out of athletic retirement in an effort to help Ireland qualify a women's 4 x 400m relay team for the Olympics. Well, we didn't end up making the Olympics but I did make a great and amazing new friend, Marian. Marian was part of the team and although we had never met before our first race together in Italy, we just seemed to hit it off. She is an amazing athlete. She has power and she has speed, but best of all she has determination and balls. This girl will run you over for a short cut when she's on the track. She means business and I loved it.

The morning of the wedding I sat with Marian, snapping photos as she was getting her hair and make-up done. I asked her to fill me in on how she and Rob met. 14 years, yes 14 years they've known each other. For the first 10 they were friends and for the final 4, they were a couple. How awesome is that? These two click on every level, they are disciplined, driven, focused and committed not just to their careers but to each other and they're also the funniest couple you'll ever met, natural and authentic, what you see is what you get and that's what makes them so great and a blast to be around.

The other thing that makes them awesome, is the fact that they asked me to be the photographer for they're wedding. This was an amazing, not to mention brave request by both of them. Knowing that I'm a newbie and still finding my feet, they didn't hesitate in asking me to capture their day and I was so grateful for their trust and confidence.

Marian and Rob, thank you so much for allowing me to document your special day. I loved every minute of it. I'm only sorry you didn't need me to document your honeymoon too, Jamaica sounds like just the ticket right about now. Hope you both had a blast.

I've posted a few photos here, but to see a ton more, click the link at the very bottom.

Marian's son Cathal was the ring-barer.

Cool car.

Marian you look fierce, fierce and fierce here. You too Rob.

In the tree, Marian's son Cathal and the adoreable little princess to his left is Rob's daughter Megan.

Click "HERE" to see tons more photos (HINT: when viewing the slideshow you can choose the speed in the upper left-hand corner. I recommend clicking "Fast", cos its, well, faster)