I Love

... Laid back Sundays.

Today I attended a less than thrilling wine tasting benefit, painted my nails shiny silver, edited baby pictures and oh yeah died my hair a color I've never gone before:

Best defined as "as close to black as brown gets" with violet undertones (that I can't see yet, so I think she was lying).

She also gave me an a-symmetrical cut. Did I ask for it? No. Did she do it on purpose? Probably not. 

Again, less than thrilled, so let's just pretend it was cut that way for style.

(This is my disapproving duck face.)

I'm going to waste my night in my warm bed (I've been frozen for 3 days. I know it's only 7pm. Don't judge me.) & peruse a whole mess of fantastic new tumblrs I stumbled upon.

Yesterday I

- edited senior yearbook photos, emailed them, and made a follow up call to the school

- Shot 2 new seniors

- made 3 different bank deposits

- went grocery shopping (followed by waiting in line for 15 minutes. ridiculous.)

- attempted to visit EDropp at work & had the worst iced coffee ever.

- did the dishes, 2 loads of laundry, and folded said laundry

- made a salad and home made chex mix (which is beyond delish.)

- downloaded, LightRoom edited, and made proof sheets of the 2 new seniors

- and still managed to have a nice dinner with my family and get to bed at a decent hour

because today is just as full, but a bit more on the casual side. 

Rescheduled shoot with baby Harper in an hour,

hair appointment and a wine tasting tomorrow should round my weekend out just delightfully.

Hope everyone elses' weekend is busy and happy and allows for weather enjoyment as well.

=)

Love Letters to my Life

Can I just say - I am exhausted.

Dear Immune System,
I recognize the weather has been touchy and inconsistent, and in general, much chillier as of late, and that the clothes I choose tend to be useless against keeping me warm. I recognize I don't sleep enough. I am also well aware that I am not drinking enough water, but can you please just settle for a vanilla chai or warm cider IV drip instead? I am not feeling 100%, but I don't feel sickly yet, so there's no time to slow down. Please keep up the relatively good work with my poor self-preservation skills and get me through the next few months of tough work.
Sincerely,
Shanna's Acute Sense of Approaching Deadlines.

Dear Headache I've Had On and Off For Three Days Now,
I have work to do that requires my eyes be open, so hurry up and stop making me sooo sensitive to the light. I already want to nap all day as it is, so knock it off.
Thank you kindly,
Shanna's Professional Side.

Dear CV Seniors I Photographed Saturday,
Thank you for being an insanely good looking couple, and a lot of fun to work with. Also, thank you for not trying to haggle my prices or my professionalism. It would be just the best ever if you'd get back to me sooner with your yearbook photo choices so that I don't run out of time to get them to your yearbook editor.
Thanks for being awesome so far,
Cheers,
Shanna McKay Photography.

Dear Vista Print,
Thank you for shipping my order "early!". I'm aware that there is an "I take full responsability for typos" disclaimer before I order, but it would be really cool if you'd just get SpellCheck. I miss being at school where one of my roommates would have caught the typo before I ordered. Thanks for printing my misspelled gift certificates so promptly.
Not so lovingly (even though it's my fault),
Shanna McKay Photography c/o No Second Reader Assistant.

Dear Toby,
You are already so sincerely missed. Such a good fluff, someone upstairs must have needed a good snugglebuddy and just couldn't wait anymore. I appreciate your passing before I was left alone in this country with you, as I wouldn't have known what to do with myself, let alone you. However, I'm completely disheartened that you've left such a wonderful family without an important member. Hope you're happy and pain-free, where ever you are.
Love and belly-rubs,
The House Sitter.

and finally,

Dear Rylee Faith,
Welcome. I'm so happy to finally meet you. You've got all your fingers and toes, and you couldn't have more excited parents if you tried. You've got every opportunity to have an amazing life, with all the love and support you've been born into. I'm sorry we've made this planet, with all of it's eco-destroying disasters and broken governments, into a bit of a 1984 caricature, but I promise that my generation is going to do its best to put it back together for people like you. I hope you grow up to be open minded, smile a lot, and take care of your mommy and daddy. I'll help, as often as I possibly can, to be sure you do.
All my loving Little One,
Cousin (but want to be called something cooler) Shanna.

It's been a crazy week already.
Life just keeps happening.
This is certainly going to be an Autumn for the history books. 

Accountant

Whew. The last 48 hours have been refreshing. I don't know if it's the neon pink on my freshly pedicured tonenails or all the rain we got yesterday that just makes me feel renewed. Hello October, I've missed you all year. This is hands down my December, my yearly start over, Halloween is my New Years. I always feel refreshed (isn't spring supposed to do that? oh well, I've never been average).

Anyway, yesterday I took the day off because Jer and the baby had doctor appointments and we are going to reschedule the newborn shoot. I enjoyed the rainy afternoon getting a mani/pedi with my mama (first pedi ever... don't really think I'll be needing another one too soon - I just don't like people touching me much... although she did a fabulous job), and finishing up all of my mailing for the recent shoots. 

Today I met with the accountant I've been in contact with, and we talked for almost a full 2 hours; we talked business, where I start, how much my tax % should be / what I should be putting away in savings for tax season, how she thinks I have a good niche product and an unfulfilled market, where to pursue more clientele & shooting locations, how being cute and polite isn't a strong marketing plan but to never take it for granted as a tool, and generally that she thinks I'm doing a-ok. She doesn't think I have any reason to think otherwise. 

This, obviously, makes me nervous.

I love when people believe in my plans, I just get... worried sometimes. Like I'm going to let them down or something.

Worries aside, it was a really good first meeting, and she just told me to keep things in order and get ahold of her closer to tax season, and call whenever I have a question. Sounds like a plan.

In non-biddness related news, my best best best friend got engaged this morning <3 I couldn't be happier and I'll be meeting her and the beau out for drinks this evening to celebrate!!

This weekend is going to be a whirlwind. I needed the few days to myself to sort of gather and steady, but hold on to your hats, there's no stopping me now.

Someone Be Proud of My Awesome.

someone tell me how to save this to my computer now, pretty please?

(amazing photo setup by Miss Manning)