Juxtapose This! by Kate Mefford

BOOKMARK MY NEW BLOG ADDRESS

This will be the last post on this TypePad Blog.  I have had some wonderful times here, and will keep it up and running for archiving reasons, but from now on,
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE NEW CRIB!!!

Love,
Kate

We're Back!

Miss Millie was released from the hospital today after lunch.  Hallelujah!

Last night was touch and go...so much that I ended up getting to sleep for only 1 hour.  But the lack of sleep was worth it...I made sure Mills was propped up and watched that O2 sats machine LIKE A HAWK.  My inner OCD characteristics came out for a good cause last night!  I was dead set on keeping her airways open and hiked her trunk up again and again in that bed...no slumping allowed!

Since we never had to use oxygen, we were cleared to go home, and boy, it feels so nice.  We are still getting back in touch with our home routines, but just being in familiar surroundings is good medicine for us all.

As we completely catch our breath, we're snackin' on a big batch of homemade guacamole (Millie's favorite!) and watching the Wheel of Fortune and are marinating in the fabulousness of just being together in our home sweet home.

Thanks to everyone for all of your sweet words, thoughts, prayers, & patience as we recover.  I plan on knocking a bunch of work stuff out tomorrow, so hopefully I will get to you if you need me to! 

Much love,
Kate

Doctor's Orders

I'm home to take a quick shower (a "bird bath", as my BFF Sarah refers to them) and let Noopsy out, and saw that I had over 30 emails regarding Miss Mills...I guess I have some "splainin'" to do.

We do have to stay another night at the hospital because Millie's oxygen saturation levels dipped too low last night, and they had to put the O2 nose tubes in.  Even though she woke up with the darned thing on the side of her face and her levels at an acceptable number, the doctor insists that Mills must go ONE WHOLE NIGHT without the O2.  So, we will try again tonight.

Ever the precious superstar, Millie has been high as a kite and entertaining us all with bits and pieces from High School Musical (I know, she isn't even 2, and already is a stage diva) due to increased breathing treatments and steroids.  Imagine Millie.  Now imagine her after an entire box of Girl Scout cookies.  That is what I am talking about, people...CRACKED OUT!  At least the treatments and medication are helping break up the junk in her lungs, though...better to be CRACKED OUT FOR A REASON than to be JUST CRACKED OUT.

Just keep praying...I love you all...I am so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful friends and family, and so is our Millie!

Mills Has Pneumonia =(

We took her to the ER yesterday around 6pm, and she was admitted around 10pm to the pediatric unit for bacterial pneumonia.  Last night was hell...only slept 2 hours (both Mills and me) as we schnuggled in the hospital bed, and she had to have oxygen tubes in her nose all night.

27,000 breathing treatments later, we are spending our 2nd night at Medical Center of McKinney and are keeping our heads up.

Those who know me well know that I am not a very outwardly spiritual person, as I have a very private relationship with God (whoever he or she may be!).  However, if you feel so inclined, I would very much appreciate any prayers or good vibes you could send Millie's way this evening...if she doesn't have to have the oxygen thingie in her nose, she will get to leave tomorrow, and this mommy wants her precious girl to come home so she can get some rest (Mills, not me!)!

Catching My Breath After Catching Hers

...that is the job of a mommy!

After 2 breathing treatments and a shot of something I can't begin to pronounce, we are home and Millie is in bed sleeping like the little angel she is.  She has a horrible ear infection (who knew???  she never once cried or complained till last night!) and the infection is contributing to her breathing issues.  She is to start antibiotics tomorrow, and can take Albuterol several times a day to ease her wheezing and coughing.

I will attempt to get a few things done today, but if you are awaiting something (package, email, phone call, blog post, quick laugh, hug), know that I will definitely be back in commission tomorrow! 

Thanks for your patience and love!

Lots of Updates!

Just wanted to let you all know that I will very soon be updating you with a SENIOR SESSION, a BABY SESSION, a FAVORITE VENDOR SESSION, and even some from MY OWN FAMILY'S WEEKEND FUN, but for now, Millie & I are headed to the doctor's office.  Not a great start to our week...sick Millie, our precious nanny, Sara left for Texas Tech, and I need a lot of caffeine because this workin' mama is T-I-RED. 

Mills was coughing all through the night and woke up crying around 5am and was gasping for air and hot and sweaty from fever.  After a ton of rocking and Mommy schnuggles, I put her back to bed at 6:15 or so, and she is just now waking up...we've got to get our girl bettah first, and then TONS OF POSTS ARE COMING YOUR WAY!!!

I Got Served...I Mean Tagged!

I got DOUBLE-TAGGED by my photographer friends, Dustin Steller and Kelley Walker Chance!

Here are the rules:
I tell you 8 things about me that you may not have already known, then I tag 8 other bloggers!

8 THINGS ABOUT KATE MEFFORD:

1)  Before I became a photographer, I was a psychology professor and a counselor at St. Edward's University in Austin.

2)  I have a major thing for metallic shoes...for my high school graduation, I wore silver Mary Janes, and I currently rock a pair of gold wedges.  I have my sights set on these bad boys!

3)  My grandmother passed away almost 3 years ago, and every time I see a butterfly, I know it is her coming to check up on me!  =)

4)  In high school, I showed cattle, and was the Texas Polled Hereford Queen...yes, I won a LOT of belt buckles, people!

5)  Sweet Niblets, I love Hannah Montana, even though I am 30 years old!

6)  I absolutely 100% abhor rice.  I attribute it to a certain scene from Lost Boys with Coreys Haim & Feldman.

7)  While I was in labor with Millie, The Price is Right was on the TV in the delivery room...come on down, Millie Mefford!

8)   The reason I have a FLEUR-DE-LIS in my logo is because I am a total francophile...studied abroad in Paris and Lyon, but most importantly, got engaged to my Bobby in Paris!  As I work on weddings, the fleur-de-lis reminds me that I am a romantic at heart!

I AM TAGGING THESE 8 KICK-ARSE BLOGGERS SO THEY CAN TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES:

1)  Stacy Cross

2)  Gabe from PerspectivEye

3)  Rudy Arpia

4)  Julie C Butler

5)  Denise of Matilda Jane Clothing

6)  Ed Atrero

7)  Erin Kate

8)  Lindy Weiss

If you comment on this blog, please tell me something interesting about YOU!!!

Scheduling, Pricing, & The Like

We've got some changes goin' on over here at JP.  I am almost 100% booked for 2007 for weddings and portraits, thanks to my fabulous clients for getting the word out!!! 

My portrait prices will be changing as of August 20, 2007, so if you have contacted me about scheduling and have not yet paid your deposit, you will be subject to the price hike...get those contracts and deposits in asap, because I am booking first come first serve!

Also, I know a lot of you are hoping to get in to have your family portraits done for Christmas cards...I have VERY LIMITED space this year.  Check out my availability, look at your calendar, and if we have a match, book it now.  I will not be taking ANY appointments in December other than wedding related sessions, and I do have ONE WEDDING SPOT AVAILABLE FOR DECEMBER.

Here is what I have open for portraits:
September 15th, 9am or 5pm
September 16th, 9am
October 13th, 9am or 5pm
October 27th, 9am or 5pm
November 10-11 (possible B-Sessions...Brenham & Bryan-College Station)
November 24th, 9am or 5pm
November 25th, 9am

That's all folks!  Have a great rest of your Monday, and I'll be back tomorrow with some kick-arse corporate images to show you guys...very fun and different!

The Perfect Way to Wake Up Is...

hearing Millie sing "Happy Birthday to You" at 7am via her baby monitor.  If someone could find me an alarm clock that could record that for me to wake up to every morning, SIGN ME UP!  And by the way, it is not the birthday of anyone we know...she just digs the tune.  =)

My Wedding :: Part Two

OK...you realize this is TOTALLY FAKE & JUST FOR FUN, right?  I already have a HUSBAND, & he didn't get it when I tried to explain.  It is a girl thing.  We never stop planning our weddings...even after we have them.  It involves way too much estrogen for him, I suppose. 

OK...with unlimited resources, here is what this girly-girl would do:

Bobby & I would fly about 30 people to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico during early summer.  We would pay for our guests to stay at Casa Schuck and Casa Cordelli and upon their arrival, they would be greeted by an abundance of Corona beer and a rainbow of Reef flip flops in every size and color.

There would be no rehearsal...only a fun little social gathering the night before of the big day.  Everyone would sleep till noon, and then we would SLOWLY begin easing our way into the getting ready portion of the day.

With a profesh MAC Cosmetics team in place for my homegirls and me, we would be oh so glam.  My girls would don their chocolate J Crew numbers, and coral and turquoise jewels from Turq Jewelry, while I would be happy as a clam in my short Melissa Sweet "Nell" dress and snakeskin Manolos and triple strand pearls.  Bobby and his boys would wear tan suits from Brooks Brothers with white shirts and chocolate ties (with little lounge chairs on them!).

Our ceremony would be very sweet and simple with vows written by us, and photographed by JMC.  Then we would move on to our par-tay....interior Mexican food, margaritas, GUACAMOLE, mariachis, GREAT LIGHTING, and kick-arse musicians like Ben Folds (my fave), DMB (Bobby's all time fave), Mark Ronson, Snoop, and Willie Nelson.  We would stay out till the sun came up and hit up the nearest restaurant for a bloody mary fix and some good grub!  What a wedding!

Check it out!

Images are from Melissa Sweet, The Knot, San Miguel Guide, Turq, Brooks Bros., J Crew, & Fancy Cakes by Lauren.  Muchas gracias!

My Wedding :: Part One

Some of you know that Bobby and I are coming up on our 5th wedding anniversary.  We were married in Las Vegas at the Bellagio on September 7, 2002.  Fifty of our closest friends and family members flew out to Sin City to help us tie the knot.  It was luxurious and easy to plan and perfect for us, at that time. 

Fast forward five years later, and you will find us renewing our vows...but not at the Bellagio.  We are going fake-Elvis tacky this time and we are so excited!  We have even arranged for the one and only freakishly creative photographer,  John Michael Cooper, to take our portraits while we are in town.

As we are looking forward to our anniversary, and since I am so entrenched (read:  addicted) in my work in wedding photography, I thought it would be fun to redesign my wedding as if I were planning it alongside my clients.  Bobby and I have changed a bit here and there, and if we were to host a wedding again, we might do things a bit differently.  Of course, since this is PRETEND, we will have no budget (what's that?), and no limitations.  FUN!

For the first part of this series, I need to take you back to square one...our wedding at the Bellagio.  I'm about 12 lbs. lighter and a whole lot blonder, but surprisingly (lucky ME!!!), Bobby looks the same...minus the fauxhawk.

Here's a picture of pictures since we don't have any digital negs of our photos...DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME, people...dirty noisy, and blurry images are all you will get in the end!

So, there ya are.  Pink roses and peonies for flowers, $1500 dress, vanilla cake with raspberry filling and fondant for the cake...hmmm.  Can't wait to show you my "new" wedding plans...stay tuned.  I'll have them up tomorrow!

So...anyone like me better blond?  Let me know...I am debating whether or not to ditch the brunette and go back to my roots.  Wait...what color ARE my roots???  =)

Weekend at the Ranch

Mills and I just got back today from our weekend in Brenham at my family's ranch...where I grew up...where I choreographed musicals with my Barbies and tortured my younger brother by making him play Laverne and Shirley (he was Laverne...the ugly one...sorry Penny Marshall!) and putting sponge rollers in his hair...where I lived on my mom's comfort food and ran around in the pastures and screamed at the top of my lungs BECAUSE I COULD.  It was home.

Now that I have my own home with my own little adorable family (love you, Bobby & Mills & Noops), the ranch is merely a getaway to see my mom.  Some of you know my folks are going through a JR Ewing/Sue Ellen type of divorce (my mom hates that word, but we can't find anything prettier), and the ranch will probably go by the wayside.  This getaway was a last hurrah of sorts on that whole front, but it was really more than that...

It was the first semi-annual Camp Hermanas!  My mom, my very best friend Sarah, and I decided that we needed a girls' retreat (with Millie, our mascot) at least once a year...we are going to try to do it 2x if it can work out...of course, seeing that Sarah (BFF) and I are COMPLETE workaholics, we talked about that, but we also devoured gourmet salads, chocolate, and great red wine!  We did a portrait session (stay tuned) and played in the garden and just gossiped like good girlfriends or SISTERS do.  Here are some highlights of the ranch and Camp Hermanas!

Home is DEFINITELY where the heart is.

Here are Sarah, Mills, & Mom checking out Mom's rad herb garden.

Basil is MY FAVORITE!  (and mint and rosemary and cilantro)

There were mushrooms in the grass due to all of the Central Texas rain...

Feeling like you are in the jungle?  Well, step into my mom's antique rose garden!

And here is my little gardener herself swingin' with her Uncle Joe (who came by for a brief visit) & her Nanny...loungin' in her pajamas...oh, that's the life!

I'm On Break, Y'all!

Hola, everybody!  Just wanted to let you know that I am taking a small break down in Brenham for the weekend.  If you need to get a hold of me, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT  kate@juxtaposephotography.com because I will not be answering my phone...the reception is gawd-awful, plus, this workaholic needs to chill.  I WILL be answering emails, though, as I am just so addicted that it is hopeless.

I will be back and raring to go on Tuesday with fun photos to share from my weekend!  Hugs to you all, and have a safe and fabulous weekend!

Little Baby Plant Killah

Yep.  If Mills was a rapper, that would be her name.  Let the evidence speak for itself...

And YES.  That is HER little hand pulling her "baby plant" out of it's container.  Every afternoon that we are home, we go outside and check on her "baby plants" that we planted a month ago.  We started out with sunflowers, oregano, basil, and something else that is long gone, but the sunflowers (above) are the only remaining babies.  We look at them, and talk to them, and kiss them and say, "Grow, baby, grow!"  We give them a drink of water, and then put them back in their little plant corner with all of their friends so they can commiserate about the Texas heat, the mosquitoes, and our dog Noopsy.

After about five minutes of playing post-plant-routine, I usually find Mills in the above position...standing over her baby plants, yanking one out from its family home.  So sad.  She has no idea that she is basically slaughtering it.  I try to pull out my best parenting tricks to ensure we don't have a Michael Vick protege on our hands, but then give up.

I guess at 22 months (almost), there is a fine line between getting it and NOT getting it.  Just thought I would document the things we find adorably insane about Millie's grasp on this world...here goes!

A recent favorite is the "Yeah, okay"/"No, okay" conundrum.  Apparently, sometimes they mean the same thing.  I can handle the "yeah, okay", 'cause she just sounds cute when she says it, but to ask a child a question and have her respond with , "No, okay," can drive you a little batty.  We have finally gotten to the point where NO really does mean NO, and the OKAY is just for decoration, but means nothing.  Oh, the confusion!

Another cute saying is, "No, uh-uh, I'm fine."  I mean, WHAT 2 YEAR OLD says, "I'm FINE"????  Hilarious.

She is positively obsessed with our dog Noopsy.  The leash.  The harness.  The treats.  The food.  Toys.  Blanket.  Ob.  Sessed.  She wants to walk him day in and day out and if we let her he would be the next Lance Armstrong.  Fit as a fiddle.  At LEAST 27 times a day, we hear, "Leash walk Noopsy hold tight side" or "Noo-hee (her nickname for him when she's in a hurry) kiss hands/feet/fingers/shoes/head/toe" or "C'mon, Noops" or even "Bye-bye, Noopsy...love you!"

Any song sung in unison is "Happy Birthday" and she is celebratin'.

Bathing suit is pronounced BAY SOUP and if there is water nearby, beware because she will all but poke your eyes out to get in it.  WATER.  BUG.  FOR SURE.

It SLAYS me when she says, "Sorry!" when she bumps into inanimate objects.

Her favorite indoor activity is reading.  Books are everywhere in our house, and she is constantly asking to read a "new one" or "different one".  Currently, we (meaning she, because Bobby & I are about to throw it out of the window) are loving Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm and she seriously knows half the words.  Yikes.  She's almost as smart as me.

When she burps or the other, she says, "Mickey," instead of "Excuse Me".  Not sure why, but she does.

She calls potatoes "mee-hoes", though I think she picked this up from Noopsy who is an Irish pimp, apparently.

And HOW oh HOW can I forget her favorite food???  MOCKWIE!  (Otherwise known as guacamole!)

Homegirl loves her some Hannah Montana and she knows just the right moments in the theme song to say "C'MON!" and "Rock out the show!"  She dances and laughs like a little maniac whenever that show comes on (which is often because summer TV sucks).

When Mills wants to be held, she looks up and says, "Mommy, hold you?"  Love it.  I will hold her till she is my same body weight as long as she asks like that!

She is still WAY into accessories, and can often be found in our gameroom, dancing in front of her dress-up vanity looking like a little bag lady with 48 different bows in her short Mia Farrow hair.

Though we are struggling with the on and off of potty training (totally led by her hiney---I mean her highness, Princess Millie) and my personal favorite (grrrrr)---throwing things, she does have one little gem in her bag that can make ANYONE melt at the drop of a hat...

She curls her top lip up to her nose and says, "Sssssss.  Ssssssnnnn.  Sssschnuggle?  Mommy schnuggle?" 

Though I may be one of the busier humans on this planet, I will gladly stop ANYTHING when I hear those words.  Mills, I will SCHNUGGLE YOU till the cows come home, my sweet baby girl!

Trying to Decide...

Karen at Spoons Cafe just got a killer frame (it is actually the frame for a mirror for an antique vanity) that we are going to use in the new restaurant space.  Karen was thinking that it would be great for the wall behind the bakery part of the cafe, but we need your help in figuring out which image to use!

Want to help?  Take a look at these and gimme your vote, por favor!

#1

#2

#3

#4

Country Music's NBT

So, what is an NBT, you ask?  NEXT BIG THING, my dears, and Miss Amy Elizabeth is IT!  Hailing from Fort Worth with the voice of an angel, Amy is a hands-down favorite for Most Likely to Win You Over in a Heartbeat.  Not only is she incredibly photogenic, but her bubbly personality and passion for all things music create a warmth that just makes ya want to kick your boots off and dance barefoot in the grass!

How in the world could I have only picked a few from this session to show you guys?  Narrowing down my favorites from Saturday's shoot with Amy Elizabeth was nearly impossible.  I decided to post all of my faves with no limits.  If this post is as long as a wedding post, even though the session was of one person, so be it...she deserves it, through and through!  Thanks to Wendy of Each & Every Detail and my mom & kick-arse 2nd shooter, Susie, for helping with the shoot and to Storybook Ranch for letting us take over for the afternoon.

Here she is...Amy Elizabeth!

I'll keep you updated with Amy's career...stay tuned!

Big hugs,
Kate

A Spoonful of Sugar

I am so honored to be able to show you these next images.  This is my good friend, Karen Klassen, of Spoons Cafe legacy.  She is the cafe's owner and creative genius behind everything that the cafe touches. 

I admire her for so many reasons, but above all, I admire Karen for living her dreams.  So many of us dream big, but allow others to squash our vision.  Karen has been a great influence for me in plowing ahead with Juxtapose...leading by example that if you can envision your dream, for heaven's sake, GO GET IT!

And her trademark Converse low-tops...my new fave image of the moment...

Wanna Chat?

Look to the right of this post at the bright and sunshine-y new CBOX.  If you want to say HI or ask a question, all you hafta do is fill in the blanks, and bada-bing---we gotta conversation.  Don't be afraid to HOLLA BACK!

Tired of the Rain?

Yeah.  We are too.  The on-off-on again-off again attitude the weather is throwin' at me is starting to get to me (rescheduling shoots is becoming the death of me!), and Mills isn't thrilled either. 

However, in the midst of what I can only imagine is the sky's premenstrual syndrome (take some Midol, already!), I have found my latest addiction...Entourage.  Yes, I know the show started several years ago, but we didn't have HBO then, (we still don't but we are rockin' the Netflix) and the weather must not have been as sucky as it is now.

Bobby has joined me in this journey of infatuation with the show, and our living room has quite easily morphed into den of slack.  It is like the ultimate sick day over here.  We have watched 18 episodes in the past couple of days, and we aren't finished.  It is BEYOND sick, I know, but we feel it is something we are compelled to finish until Bobby's plane leaves on Wednesday for Hotlanta.  So, holla back if you are a fan of the show.  Please somebody tell me we are not alone in our love for Vince, E, Turtle, & Drama, god bless his goofy-arse.

Fireworks...

are about to go off in Juxtapose Photography's office!  My new kick-arse WEDDING SITE is going live in what might be mere hours (let's hope not days).

It is truly reflective of my vision for JP Weddings, and I am so excited to be able to show it to you guys!  Not only will the site feature TONS of wedding images, but they are super organized.  Another kick-arse feature is that each slideshow can be set to it's own song, so be on the lookout for some soundtrackin' action.  We've got some amazing music that will melt your heart, make you smile, and get your booty shakin', no doubt!

Stay tuned for that...but in the meantime, if you are bored and need some eye candy, go check out my Kansas City friend, Dustin Steller's new blog. Not only is he an amazing graphic designer, but his photography skills are killer, too!  The fact that he is the nicest guy in all of Missouri doesn't hurt, either.

Hungry?

Head on over to Spoons Cafe's blog,  The Daily Spoonful to get a heapin' helpin' of the most gorgeous comfort food you've ever seen.  YUM! 

Here is one of my absolute favorites...their Chicken Salad plate with fresh fruit!

My other favorite food is ketchup, but we've already been over that.  What's your favorite food?  Leave me a comment and lemme know!

A Coincidence?

I recently (and accidentally) discovered my 20 month old daughter Millie's intense love for Tejano music. 

Any chance that this has anything to do with her parents' intense love for margaritas, queso, and guacamole?  You be the judge.  =)

Happy weekend...I'll have lots mo' to show on Monday!

Are U Sick of the Green Shirt Yet?

Yeah, me too, but here are some more pics of it alongside my new photographer homies in the great town of Seattle.

Here it is hanging out with its new buddies, Jamie "James" Huffman and Seattle's very own kick-arse dog photographer, Erin Vey.

Now it's chillin' with Jan Garcia (possibly the nicest guy in Orange County) and James,

hugging James,

jumping with James,

and posing like a rock star with Jesh de Rox (hey, Dustin, whatch lookin' at???) and

my two time team-member (peas n' carrots, that's us!), Jason Leon Clark,

a couple of models,

as well as my very own fishmonger friend, Anders.

The green shirt had a chance to take a few snaps of Kelley, Dustin, Erin, and of course, my photog BFF, James!

(and he is...a trip, I mean.)

And WHY is she single???

OK, guys...simmer down.  =)

Stay tuned for a kick-arse maternity session, coming your way very soon!

Now That You Know What I Look Like...

...I guess we can be real friends, huh?  I had SUCH a blast in Seattle, and have to thank my workshop roommate/buddy Jamie Huffman, aka "James" (even though she's a girl) for snapping my new banner pics of me...some of you may know that I would MUCH RATHER be behind the camera than in front, but James helped me learn to trust the process and just vamp it up!  The new blog look is definitely inspired by what I learned at the Anti-Workshop...to be true to myself and rock it out hardcore.  So, here I am.  My soul is naked as a jaybird, and I plan on stepping everything up a notch so I can BRING IT!

Here is a peek at my adventures in Seattle, starting with the Market.

Stay tuned...next post you'll get a visit from my new friends...we were all sad to leave...Thursday was like the last day of summer camp.  It was a blast to bond with these folks and I am so excited about what is to come from all of these wonderful friendships.  I can't wait to introduce you to my new homies!

Sleepless in Seattle

Well, not so much sleepless, but I'm definitely photographing more & sleeping less.  As some of you may know, I am here in Seattle at the Anti-Workshop...a workshop for wedding and portrait photographers who like to do things a bit differently.  So far, it has been such a great opportunity to work alongside other creative minds and grow and fine tune my style and ideas about what Juxtapose Photography and Kate Mefford stand for.  OK, I am officially grossed out because I referred to myself in the 3rd person, but whatevs...I'm just gonna walk away from that one, and show you some fun stuff I have been able to catch while here in Seattle.

Here is an easy favorite...I have to give mad props to my boy Anders and  his homies at the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market for hookin' a sister up.  I had been dreaming about this shot for a good 24 hours, and they helped me reel it in like a champ!  Thanks guys!

This one goes out to the lovely ladies of Seattle's Red Hat Society who were so adorably sweet!  Love them!

Just makin' the model sit out in the middle of one of the busiest streets in Seattle...ya know, 'cause that's a really safe thing to do.

This one was taken at the back entrance of the brewing company where our classes met. 
Don't read anything into the sign near her legs unless you have a warped sense of humor.  If you do, then go right ahead!

Vroom, vroom, baby!

Love the garden hose in this one...so everyday yet so sleek all in the same frame...a bit of juxtaposition I suppose!

The Scoop on Spoons {1}

OK...

You heard it here first!  Spoons Cafe's new digs are gutted.  Go check it out on their blog:

Click Here for THE DAILY SPOONFUL!

Introducing...

Just wanted to let you guys know that I am helping out my friend, Karen, the owner of Spoons Cafe (here in McKinney, TX) with the administrative/design aspects of her new blog.  Spoons Cafe's Blog, "The Daily Spoonful", will chronicle the move and construction processes as the restaurant moves to its new location in Downtown McKinney.  So...if ya have a chance, go check it out and bookmark it.  Check it daily and leave us some blog love via comments!  Muah!

CLICK ---> SPOONS CAFE'S THE DAILY SPOONFUL

Why Is It...

...that my 31-year-old husband is helping me figure out the lyrics to a Hannah Montana song that has been stuck in my head all day?  Are we THAT FAR GONE?  And I'm not even talking about the theme song.  I mean the slow one that she sings about Jake...something about being in a movie. 

Wow.  I never thought I would admit to something like this, but that show is one of my top 5, for sure.  I am 30.  It is one of Millie's favorite shows, too.  She is almost 2.  My little family loves to "rock out the show", I guess.  We even Tivo it.  We think it is genius.  (Did you see that one with Dolly Parton?!)

We are almost at peace with our dorkiness.  OK...huge photo post tomorrow!  Be on the lookout!

The Long Way Around

Ever listened to a song and realized that it was your CERTIFICATE OF VALIDATION?  Did the lyrics and the melody and the bridges and everything pierce your soul and simultaneously open your eyes to what has been there all along and what is to come?  That would be your TITLE TRACK to the soundtrack that is your life...at least for that moment.

Well, as I was traveling to Brenham for this weekend's sessions, a pool of emotion was just waiting for the dam to break.  Ya see, Brenham is the place I was raised, but I can never call it my hometown with a straight face.  I have always felt like I was a circle in a very square town (and even a square family, my mom and brother notwithstanding) and couldn't wait to break out to find out who I really was. 

It took me a long, long time...in high school, I would have rather been hangin' out with "nerds" than the "popular" group who I had grown up with and was associated with but really didn't understand, so you can see that I had no niche in which I fit.  I went through 4 majors at TCU (premajor, Education, Psychology, & Fashion) and finally after 5 1/2 years, got my degree.  Still sooo lost.  Tried PR.  Hated it.  Quarter-life crisis.  Got my masters in counseling.  Loved it.  Then, a little over 2 years ago, Bobby got his dream job in Dallas, when I was already workin' mine in Austin...had to move.  Hated Dallas.  Missed my friends, missed the weirdos and hippies (my bruthas) and missed my spirit.  I had never been more lonely or confused, and then THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT.  Just as I was preparing to get my doctorate in counseling at UNT , there were 2 little pink lines staring up at us...preggers.  Wow.  Excited, but overwhelmed and completely unplanned.

We made the best of it.  Better than the best, since we got to be parents to Millie.  She inspires me like nothing else on this planet.  My trials in learning how to be a parent pushed me to write (checkout my old Mommy Blog:  Little Victories) and all of that stress shoved me into opening my creative doors to pursue photography professionally.  Life is good.  But it is still work sometimes.

Sometimes I feel a little lost in the world I have created for myself.  It is kind of difficult to have your cake and eat it too, ya know? Being a mother and a wife and giving everyone else the attention they need and deserve plus owning your own business to pursue your passion and having to deal with family crap (my folks are getting divorced as some may know)...it all gets a little exhausting.  Coming back to a place (Brenham) where I once felt so confused and hurt by family members who didn't get me and didn't understand why I couldn't be more like my cousin who finished college in 3 years and was Homecoming Queen and head cheerleader and all of the things a girl is SUPPOSED to be...well, you can see why I get a small dose of the hives coming back here. 

When I heard this song by my fellow Texan gals (on the way to Love Field to fly to Austin so mi madre could pick me up), the Dixie Chicks  and REALLY listened to it, I felt like I got a Texas-sized stamp of approval.  I will never be the person who goes directly from point A to B and does what they are supposed to do...and I am all of a sudden REALLY proud of that.  I have to thank my clients who appreciate the fact that I see the world through different lenses, and know that because of that, I can capture their families in a unique way.  I am taking the long way around, and on my bus are Bobby, Mills, my mom, Joe, Sarah, Noopsy (my dog) and all of the other homies that get me and don't try to make me be anything but me...WANNA RIDE? 

OK.  Your turn...leave me a comment with the title track to your life.

Tropical Storm Andrea Is...

...one chick with which I will NOT become BFFs.  She is a bad mammajamma, and she is headed my way!

Oh yeah, friends.  I am here in St. Augustine, Florida, gearing up for a portrait session, and trying to not freak about this!

Oh, yeah...and did mention that there are FIRES in CENTRAL FLA!  Our plane flew through some smoke yesterday, and we were praying it wasn't from the wings burning...found out last night that, oh, half the state of Florida is on fi-yah.  Nice.

Eek.  Well, like Bobby always says, I am the Queen of Improvisation, so we shall see what I end up doing in the face of whirlwinds of rain and ash and what not.  Stay tuned...and pray.  =)

Attention K-Mart Shoppers!

This past weekend was soooo fun!  I have lots to show ya from April & Kaleb's wedding and from another JP Bride's engagement session...but wait!  Before we get into the good stuff, let's take care o' business.

I will be leaving tomorrow for sunny Palm Coast, Florida where I will be second shooting a wedding with my buddy Crystal from Studio Vitae .  We will be there starting tomorrow till Sunday night (Mother's Day) photographing our brains out/buns off/whatever phrase you would like to insert.

If you feel like ya might want to call me during this time, please email me ASAP at kate@juxtaposephotography.com  so I can give you the phone number of the phone I will be using down there.  Also, know that my email access will be limited, but I will do my best to keep up!

Now...be on the lookout tomorrow for wedding sneak peek!

Trying Something New...

I have been playing around with textures for the past couple of months, really for my own artistic enjoyment.  I didn't know how my clients would feel about them, since they probably expect me to do everything with vibrant colors. So...take a look at these, and vote (& please leave a comment as to why you chose the one ya chose) on if you think I should stick with the color extravaganza or if I should go ahead and mix in a little texture here and there...

Who R U?

Hmmm.  Just curious...I get several hundred hits on the blog a day and I want to get to know the people that read it.  If you have a sec, can ya vote in this poll, pretty please?  If you have more than a sec, leave me a comment and give me s'more info so that I can make sure I know who I'm talkin' to.  Hugs to you all!

What Matters Most

Have you ever had one of those days when you're standing in the shower in a total daze?  You've shampooed your hair, and moved on to the soap phase without realizing you forgot to rinse the shampoo out.  Mid-sudsing, you pause.  You touch your head and notice there is some form of hair product on your locks, but...hmmm...not 100% sure exactly what it is.   So, you wash it out.  Ugh.  You have to start from the beginning and make yourself recite each step aloud as you move down the list to be sure that you don't end up with crunchy hair or one shaved leg.

Well, yeah.  That was me yesterday.  After a morning of running errands for Juxtapose and Miss Millie, my head was spinning.  Put Millie in car along with "go-gos" and "chodos" (Goldfish & Cheerios for those of you who don't speak toddler) and a tall sippy cup of very diluted juice.  Drive to Albertson's to get stamps.  Walk to Kwik Kopy to put clients' cds & contracts in mail.  Get in car again and go to get some promotional prints processed for a silent auction that will be next Tuesday.  Go home to get Noopsy, our mangy mutt.  Take him to PetsMart to get groomed.  Calm Millie, who is hysterical crying, as we leave Noopsy...she probably thinks we are selling him to gypsies.  Drive to McAllister's Deli to meet Bobby for lunch.  Have fun, but then notice that Mills has hives on her arms.  Her lips are swelling.  Ack!  It's the strawberry-skin contact allergy striking!  (She ate fruit at lunch.)  Drive home and give Millie Benadryl.  Put her down for nap.  Check email.  Take shower.  Then, of course, you know how that goes.

After I am finally squeaky clean, I breathe.  I look down at my nightstand.  Right in front of Millie's video monitor are my wedding rings.  I breathe again.  The two most important things in my life are right next to each other.  Well, ok.  NOT the rings and the monitor, but what they represent!  My love and commitment to my husband, and my adoration for and sense of responsibility of and devotion to Millie are what matter most.  Those two things are what TRULY inspire me and energize me and help me keep things in perspective so that I can take Juxtapose Photography to new heights.

So, thank you, Bobby, and thank you Millie.  I love you both so very much.  You are my inspiration.

Memorial Day Weekend B-Sessions?

Any takers?  If any of you are from the Brenham, Bryan-College Station, or Houston areas and want to book an appointment, this might be your lucky day.  Due to additional interest, I might be able to make B-Sessions II happen during May 26-28th.  However, I would like to be good & booked SOLID in order to travel down there.

If you are interested, email me at kate@juxtaposephotography.com or call me at 214.684.2136 to get a spot on the books...but be quick, as there are only 3 slots available!

And...because this wouldn't be a photoblog without the photos, here is a new fave taken in my mom's backyard during the B-Sessions over the Palm Sunday/Easter break.

Happy Easter!

No matter what you believe, as far as religion/spirituality goes, I sincerely hope you have a wonderful weekend!  It is raining cats & dogs here in Brenham, thus the rescheduling of the 5th B-Session and the location change of the 6th (now 5th) indoors.

Since I will be at the shoot this afternoon, and dining on rack of lamb tonight (my mom rocks the roasting pan, for those who didn't know!), and at church in the morning, I will leave you with a bit of Springtime Fun!

First, here is Millie at her very 1st Easter Egg Hunt!

Here is Millie's 18 month old picture, taken while playing in my mom's garden...

Now, I will sign off, but not before sharing the gorgeous "Easter Basket" that Bobby had sent to me while he was still in McKinney.  Could I find a more wonderful husband?  I don't think one exists.

 

A Little Bit More, a Little Bit More

OK.  Here's the deal...I cannot for the life of me get the latest stinkin' Target commercial theme song out of my head. 

I have been singing it since approximately 3pm today, so much to the point that Millie has learned most of the tune.  Mind you she is 18 months.  Shows ya how much I have been humming it!  So, as an ode to my dear one-stop-shop-for-more-than-I-could-possibly-ever-need, here is a bonus before the bonus of the 4th B-Session that I'm giving you in the mornin'. 

Pretty hot, no?  Well, I have JUST the thing to cool ya off, but you will hafta wait till the sun comes up!

B-Sessions, Baby!

That's what I am calling the sessions I am currently doing down in Brenham, TX.  Sounds pretty hip, no?

Since I happen to be from B-town, and my mom still lives there (much to my dismay---move closer, Oh Fabulous Nanny to my Millie who I can 100% trust with my firstborn and who makes the best, well, anything in the kitchen), I decided to schedule some Spring sessions with my Brenham & Houston-area clients before Easter.  Brenham is, after all, the Bluebonnet Capitol of the Universe.  OK...WORLD.  But it is much more fun to exaggerate.  Makes me feel kid-like...like the SuperKid from my first B-Session, which was today...

Check out this Super Hero fly!

More to come tomorrow.  I have THREE, yes, THREE B-Sessions tomorrow, but I promise I will give you more of the SuperKid & his adorable family...there are just too many that I am enamored with to post this second.  It's kinda like when I eat Peanut Butter M & Ms.  I have to PACE MYSELF, people!  Now, I am off to rest up for my big day.  Nigh-night.

Frogs!

Bobby's cousin Natalie (aka Baby Jackie-O) was in town for her spring break this week.  We have done lots of fun stuff like shopping, eating fine food at Mama Emilia's (gotta try their crab-stuffed mushrooms), junkin' out on cookie dough, and watching education programming such as General Hospital and Hannah Montana.  Gotta love Spring Break!!!

Yesterday, Nat & I took Millie and Noopsy down to the park at the end of our street for some afternoon exercise.  We ran into the neighborhood gang of junior scientists who had apparently scavenged the banks of the nearby creek and came up with some fabulous specimens of amphibians and what not.  Millie was mesmerized, first by the "big kids", and second, by the crazy animals she had never seen!  Here is a glimpse of our fun adventure at the park...

Thanks Nat for being one of our favorite people!  We love having you in our lives and can't wait to see you again!

Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?

It sure does cross mine.  I had such a blast on Saturday.  What a fabulous treat it was to just roam around and soak in the surroundings.  The history of the area, especially since I grew up on a cattle ranch (and am a former Texas Polled Hereford Queen!), really touches me and makes me quite proud to be a Texan.  If you haven't ever been, go check it out! 

Get a tour of Cowtown Coliseum and ask for Hub.  He is the manager and used to raise hell with my folks in high school back in Brenham.  After taking in a bit of history, hop on over to M.L. Leddy's to score yourself a fine new pair of boots.  My final instruction?  Take those new boots for a test drive across the street for the best chicken-fried steak EVER at The Star Cafe.