My Favorite Things

Sometimes there are days that feel like soggy tennis shoes. After getting caught in a rain storm. After your car battery died. After you went to the grocery store at midnight to pick up milk for the cereal sitting empty in a white bowl on the kitchen counter. Kinda like that. Life is beautiful but sometimes it throws not only a wrench in the plans, but the whole darn toolbox. It's moments like this when I realize Julie Andrews and the VonTrapp kids knew what they were singing about…yes, yes raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens ARE a few of my favorite things when cereal remains untouched by milk at midnight, darn it!

I'm working at my desk most of the day, but here are a few of my favorite things that have made Life this week awesomer. Yes, awesomer.

Michigan. Yup, that's right. The Great Lakes, the Wolverine state, and Eminem. I've never visited Michigan before, but I'm dying with excitement because I'll be there in just two weeks! Holllla! I'm presenting at Michigan Triangle Professional Photographer Association in Lansing (an hour from Grand Rapids) on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. I'll be speaking about Branding and Marketing Your Online Presence, so feel free to join me and JD at the University Club MSU at 7pm. The cost of admission is free if you're a member, but also open to the public for $49. You can also purchase dinner for additional $21 (which starts at 6pm). For more information and registration, check out the PPA Lansing BLOG! (P.S. Be sure to a good luck charm because I'll be giving away door prizes!)

Last week, I was perusing the aisles of Rite Aid and came across a new shampoo and conditioner. Which pretty much means I MUST BUY THEM. I'm obsessed with shampoo and conditioner and should the world ever end, I know I'll have clean hair for all eternity based on my collection. I got David Babaii as a Buy One, Get One Free promotion and I'm so pleasantly surprised with the outcome, especially since the entire product line is cruelty free. Wild orchid and cupuacu butter all the live long day! Score one (or two!) for me.

Like I've mentioned before, I'm a blogger's blogger. As in, I read a ton of blogs, and most of them are not wedding photography related. My good friend from college (Hi Natalie Robuck!) emailed me a link to The Sartorialist and she said I'd love the site. Boy, was she right! Scott Schuman is freaking awesome. He's into fashion. He's into photography. So, he merely walks the streets of the world and snaps photos of normal people wearing stylish clothing. It sounds simple enough, but I adore his aesthetic and eye and his subjects are seemingly content and confident….and he does this is mere seconds. I'm baffled…and in love! Definitely check out his site.

Oh, how I love Trader Joe's. It's like I could eat everything from every stretch of the store and convince myself I was healthy because, duh, it's TRADER JOE'S. I found TJ's Flaxseed Tortilla Chips and they're divine. Pour me some salsa and I can go to town with those little buggers! The best part? Six grams of protein per serving! Eat your heart out, Dr. Atkins!

Happy Thursday!