My favorite part of any vacation is photographing people, animals, and capturing the heritage of a new place. Discovering new things and capturing them with my camera.  It’s the best souvineer I can bring home and costs me no money. Or pesos.

Our time on the island of Cozumel was relaxing and warm and with limited internet access…a true retreat for a few days.  Enjoy some of the pretty sights I was able to capture during my time away!

Total bonus…it was Carnival in the streets of downtown Cozumel!

Well despite my good intentions and a few weeks of doing regular updates of my personal musings…winter, cabin fever and a conscious effort to step away from my computer more have contributed to no new posts on my neglected blog. But yesterday, a little bit of my soul was revived after the discovery and my first monthly pick-up of my favorite farmer’s market goodies thanks to the efforts of the West Michigan Co-op and their volunteers.  A few months ago a friend let me in on this year-round market and earlier this month, I couldn’t wait to make my selections and dream of farm fresh eggs, freshly baked bread and my favorite jams and homemade soaps.  If you, too, are missing your local seasonal markets and want to help our many local farmers, I highly suggest signing up for a membership and joining me there for the pick up next month!

The lovely eggs in the picture above are heirloom eggs courtesy of one of my favorite local farms, Crane Dance Farms.

Fashion is a fickle thing, isn’t it? Every week I find another new ‘trend’ that is the ‘must have’ item for the season. And I ruefully search the internet, usually purchase said item, and wear it once realizing it really isn’t me (dresses are adorable but leggings are just so much comfortable!) and shoving it to the back reaches of my closet, never to see the light of day again.  I shop, looking at just one more pair of boots, thinking this will be the staple item that will magically pull my entire wardrobe together and I won’t have to purchase anything else all season.  Uh huh.

So in an attempt to purge my closet, drawers and bedroom floor of these many unneccesary purchases, I am going to be gathering together items for donation, handing-down and selling on Smashion…a free marketplace for those selling clothing. We’ll call this one of my 2011 resolutions.  I’m also going to attempt to be more thoughtful in my shopping. Realizing that I need to purchase based on my lifestyle, not Blake Lively’s.

Tell me, dear readers…what are your shopping/fashion habits? Do you hop on the latest trends?  Are your closets filled with things you never wear? Are you still rocking tight-rolled jeans? Should we have a giant clothing swap?

Happy 2011 everyone! 2011…it just sounds so futuristic!

As I spent the past few days going over the past year on my blog, I reminisced over so many great shoots, so many sweet clients, beautiful weddings and adorable kids.  But I found that it was lacking. Lacking in any personality or anything personal.  As I head into my 6th season this year, I looked back even further. I realized that I lost my voice.  When I began my journey into photography,  I photographed anything and everything and told anyone who was reading why I chose to photograph that particular subject.  As I got busier and busier and more successful with my photography business, I started to become more fearful of being anything less than perfect.  Success is a wonderful thing and am continually amazed at how much God has blessed me.  But it also makes me feel I have to be perfect…to show no flaws.  And I’m human. I have flaws. Not everything is as sunny and perfect as many of us put out there.  I recently read a blog post from fashion-blogger Kendi Everyday and she wrote about being fearless. I found myself nodding my head at much she had wrote. About her own fear of being less than perfect and I found myself not so alone.

So in an attempt at holding a new year’s resolution, I am vowing to be more personal. To blog more fearless.

The above photo is a little Christmas present I purchased for myself.  It’s a little Blackbird, Fly TLR Camera.  It’s plastic, takes real film and is my toy to play with. I’m hoping it teaches me to be more patient, more thoughtful when I click that shutter.  I will be excited to share my images throughout the year.

So tell me…you as dear and faithful blog readers…is personal better?  Do any of you have any resolutions that you want to share?

Spring is undoubtedly my favorite season in Michigan.  The early crocuses and tulips, leaves making their return, and pink cotton-candy trees flourishing everywhere!

The past few weeks I have kept my camera close, collecting pictures week to week watching the earth wake back up.  These are just a few of some lovelies I wanted to share.  Many from various walks with my pup Tanner and some from my parent’s woods.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my next trek through the forest results in finding morel mushrooms…a tradition I’ve loved since I was little with my family.

What is your favorite part about spring?