IT'S UP AND RUNNING!!!

GO LOOK! GO LOOK!!!

I AM SOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

I snapped a quick picture with my p&s of the flash page. This leads you to the website, the strictly photography blog and this blog.



The new website is up and running!! All of you can see it now! Please let me know what you think! Please leave comments. Please email me and let me know if there are things I should keep or change. I am still doing a lot of updating but I want some feed back!!

WOOHOOO!

Thanks again for your support!

Website down!

Hi everyone!

As I mentioned before, I have been working on updating my website. Right now there are busy lil' bees with my new hosting company working on getting my new website up. I am SOOO beyond REALLY excited for the new updates. It will have a completely new look and though I'm still working on some more updates, you will see the improvements right away! The best improvement is that the pictures will be bigger!! Woohoo!! I think you will also see some pictures you haven't seen before.

I hope you are all just as excited as I am. It really is way cool!

Thanks for your support, I really do appreciate it!
I'll let you all know when it is back up and running!
-Lori

I found a new website!

So this website is super cute and super girlie(sorry guys)! It is office supplies and such for girls! See Jane Work. I accidentally wasted about 30 minutes looking at things I don't plan on buying anytime soon! :)

www.seejanework.com

See some of their cute stuff (all pictures are from their website):

I want these! Aren't they fun?!


I love containers...even if I don't have a purpose for them yet. I will find one!!


Fun, right?!?! Post-its!




Okay. Now seriously...I want this! An Accordion Organizer!




aaannd one more thing I really want to because, seriously...when you need some organization the most:a collision kit when you get into a car accident!

Photo Editing

I just wanted to show you a couple of examples of what photos look like after I do some editing.


BEFORE:


As you can tell, he was having a rough moment. But it wasn't because he was being grumpy or mad. I thought the harsh brightness of the high noon day photoshoot wasn't really conveying that. So I thought with a little fixing you can see a softer more affectionate feeling towards the fella instead of a grump not smiling for a picture feel of the first.

AFTER:




BEFORE:


Here is Kylee when we took bridal pictures a month or so before her wedding. She looks great but she just needs a little help on her skin as she was still trying to make it picture perfect for her wedding day. I also made the lighting softer to bring out the glow she was feeling as she was one step closer to her wedding day.

AFTER:



BEFORE:


I'm partial to this picture, since it's my niece. I love natural light inside right next to a window. There isn't much I really needed to do to the picture but I played around with it anyway and the effect I got afterwards made me love the picture much more.

AFTER:

Woot!! Bigger Pictures!!!

So I did a little research (and with some help from the bro, thanks Kyle) and we now got bigger pictures! Isn't it AWESOME?!?!


I took these pictures at the FIBA Americas Basketball game. I realized I never did post any pictures from that game. So I thought I'd try out my attempt at a bigger picture with a few from the game.



Aaaaand one of my favorite shots of the night...



I'm so excited for bigger pictures! I hope you will enjoy the blog a little more now! I know I will! :)

All I want for Christmas...

This is going to be a completely selfish, coveting post of the things I want for Christmas that are completely ridiculous and I will not get nor probably should! haha! :)


The Canon 5D. It's a pretty camera.







The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens.
In short, a lense I really really REALLY want!



The Canon EF 85mm f1.2 II USM Lens.
This is the cat's meow. And I'm purring! :) (ok, really bad joke)



The Shootsac.


There are many other things I could for for too. But I thought I'd stop while I'm...behind?! :)

Women's Volleyball

There are only 4 teams left in the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament.

I'm excited for the games. Whenever I watch, I always wish that I would have played harder. I love the sport and it always makes me want to do better.

So Thursday are the games to decide who is going head to head. We got:

USC vs. Stanford
and
Cal vs. Penn

I haven't seen a Penn game at all this season, but they are number one. I like both USC and Stanford so I'm excited for that game, but who to win...umm...Stanford. I am going to predict Stanford and Penn play for the championship.

I've a ton of pictures to go through and Christmas shopping still, but I think I can find a way to sneak in some of both games, hopefully! ;o) Fingers crossed!!

Dwyane Wade

I was watching a little bit of "The Best D@*# Sports Show, Period" a few nights ago. They had Dwyane Wade on the show. He plays for the Miam Heat. I like him. He is a cool guy. I saw this commercial a few days before I saw him on the show. It's pretty good. Here is his website.

I'm sick & tired of...

...being sick and tired!!!

I've been sick for a couple of weeks now. I've been to a few doctors now and I think I'm finally on the road to getting better but I'm still pretty bad off. It sucks!!

There are a few things I've discovered since being sick...some insights if you will. Let me just throw it down for you:

1) Puffs came out with an AMAZING new version of their already great tissue. Puffs with Vicks lotion! Duuuude...it's awesome.


2) I don't have specific music that I like to listen to while I'm sick. I'm working on it...So far I've discovered I enjoy...

Alicia Keys-As I am


I've also taken it back to...Coldplay-Parachutes


and just because we all know I can never go wrong with some Johnny...Continuum


But I am on a quest to come up with a good playlist for when I'm sick. I've discovered it is important to the healing process.

3) Another thing I've learned, do not watch "Planet Earth" if you want to take a lil' nap...but do watch it, let me explain:



This show will not let you close your eyes!! It is amazing. I am awed at every episode. If you go to Discovery Channel's website, you can see a bunch of stuff about the series. Please tell me that you have all at least heard of this show!?! If you have not, get on it. Christmas is coming, as you can see, they have dvds of the series. It is absolutely...dude...just watch it. Really. Seriously, in the middle of watching it, I was just thinking about how Heavenly Father thought about every little aspect of every living thing. Just the way animals help maintain each other's ability to live and that we are all here to continue that circle. And really also, that there are so many plants and animals that I've never seen before! Whoa. As you can see, I'm mind blown.

4) If you want people to back away from you for any reason while in a public place, start coughing. It's works when you want alone time in the tissues/paper towel/toilet paper aisle while waiting for your prescription.

5) My co-workers have made me come up with a sign if I'm having a hard time breathing during one of my coughing episodes. The most obvious sign is for me to bang on my desk with the palms of my hands. Now I'm not sure how they will really help me when I do that, but apparently they must have a plan they just haven't told me. I'm not going to ask what it is either! :) hahaha.

So that's what I got for now. I might come with some more later, I'm going to be sick for probably another week. I'm sure of it. Stupid sickness! Let's just hope and pray that all this will be over by the end of this week. I have a ton of shopping to do! blah!

Best First Wedding Dance

Um...I now have a new standard for the man I marry. He is going to want to pull something like this for our first dance. :) hahaha! Pretty funny.

Thirsty much?

I drink a LOT. I am drinking, mostly water, all day long. I know this about myself, and others who are around me a lot know this too, but for some reason it was magnified again over the past couple of days.

I had dinner with my brother and sister the other night and they both had maybe 2 drinks at the most 3. I, on the other hand, had FIVE. Yeah. F-I-V-E!!

The floor and back seat of my car is full of empty water bottles. One time I finally cleaned out the trunk and back seat of my car after probably 4-6 months and I had, no joke 15-20 water bottles.

I also drink about 2-3 liters of water at work every day. Beside the sometimes o.j. that I bring from home, or the sometimes soda (usually refilled once or twice) from lunch.

Then this morning...I realized, I was drinking three different things at once. See look...


(and whole wheat toast for breakfast). I was drinking some mango drink in the Dasani water bottle. I was drinking that on my way to work. I just opened a fresh bottle of Fiji water when I came into the office aaaand I made myself a cup of hot chocolate because it sounded yummy and would be soothing on my scratchy throat.

So as you can see. I drink plenty. :)

Say

John Mayer has a new song.

Say.

He wrote it for a movie called The Bucket List.

Here is a link to iTunes.

Here is a link to his website the whole song on there.

Always one in the bunch...

Here is what you don't usually see and I L-O-V-E this photo for that very reason...



Most of the time photographers don't either take this shot or let you see it. I think it's hilarious because if you have ever had your family picture taken or are the one taking the picture than you know that this happens. There is always at least one trouble maker when taking a big family photo.

A picture speaks a thousand words right? :)

*EDIT:I came back and made this picture bigger because I think it's too funny to have it be so small!*

Red Rock...

Go to my photography blog to see some more pictures I took at Red Rock.

Sandler's Thanksgiving Turkey Song

Well suddenly, next week is Thanksgiving! Ummmm...what!?!

I can't believe it! So in honor of the thankful holiday, here is a song we all know and love.

Enjoy.
Gobble Gobble Geee and a Gobble Gobble Gickle!!

The next LeBron? Whaaaat?

So as I was getting my elliptical on at the gym I was watching some ESPN and ESPN 2. And a lil' something on the Michael Jordan of volleyball, Karch Karai, I'm getting off subject, sorry...anyway...

All they kept talking about was OJ Mayo. He is a freshman guard for USC Trojans.

They compare some of his skill to the liking of LeBron James...and that he could very possibly follow his career path. Now I'm not going to get into it. I'm just letting you all be warned. Know the name....it's going to be come household.

Guilty Pleasure...

PROJECT RUNWAY

I love Project Runway. I hate to admit it....but still this show is my guilty pleasure. The new season starts Wednesday on Bravo. What is funny about this being a guilty pleasure for me is that I don't think any of my friends would have ever guessed that I really enjoy this show. I'm in no way super fashionable. I don't think I really have much of a personal style but for some odd reason, I just love this show.

I think it has to do with the fact that they create things and in such a short amount of time. I think that's what I love about it.

Aaaand I love Tim Gunn. I want him to be my friend. He just comes off so warm, friendly and kind. Even when he is trying to tell designers that their design sucks he is still so nice about it. And the best part they understand what he is saying without any of them wanting to run off crying. Well, and it goes without saying, he is a great dresser.


So now that I've admitted to one of my guilty pleasures...I'm okay with you all commenting and admitting to one of your own...and we can also talk Project Runway if you would like! :)

New Music...oohhh yeah!

So while being a busy lil' bee on the computer I discovered a band that I'm just lovin'! I've only heard four songs and I'm hooked. The CD is being downloaded per iTunes as we speak.

Just off Turner. (this link to band via iTunes.) And here is there website www.justoffturner.com

I believe, and this could be false, they are still not signed. Umm...WHAT! When you hear this you will wonder why! I've been DYING for some new music and I am now being fulfilled! I'm so excited for my ears!! They have been aching. Seriously aching! This is what I was lookin' for.

Please check them out. Join in on the awesomeness.

It will blow your "mind grapes" (name that quote)!!

8 Things...(and a lil' suttin' extra)

I normally don't fall prey to these, but okay, fine, I'll do it.

I need to tell about 8 things that most people don't know about me.
So here we go. In no particular order...

1.) I can draw cartoons. Don't get me in a restaurant that uses paper as their table clothe because I'll end up drawing cartoon faces all over it. That's usually the only time I bust out that talent.

2.) I'm a pack rat. I've gotten better over the years. But I have a hard time throwing things away. If you really know me then you know this, and have probably seen the damages! But I think that it will get better before it gets worse! hahaha. (I will mention though that other than my room, I'm an organized person. Strange, I know.)

3.) I collect children's books. I have dreams of writing and illustrating a children's book one day. I think the idea will just hit me on the side of the head out of the blue. But for the time being I "research" by purchasing children's books on occasion.

4.) I have little feeling (or no feeling sometimes) in my bottom lip and kinda my chin. I had jaw surgery my senior year of high school to correct a really horrible bite and got a little nerve damage. So if you see a piece of food lingering in that general area it probably means I don't know it's there, please mention it! HA! :)

5.) I watch movies over and over again. I love movies and there are some movies I watch constantly. It changes which ones. I go into different phases, but I can watch movies over and over and still laugh like it's the first time I've seen it. Ooooor be really annoying and recite all the lines during the movie (like Empire Records or Sandlot). Therefore consequently I movie or tv quote all the time.

6.) I almost always have to have some sort of noise in the background or I go stir crazy. Even if it's a washing machine going, but I can't have complete silence. My usual background noise is music or a movie, it really helps me concentrate on whatever it is I'm suppose to be focusing on. Weird. I know. Very rarely do I have complete silence.

7.) I really don't like talking on the phone. I know it doesn't seem true because I'm on the phone all the time, but really. I'm not a fan of talking on the phone. I'd much rather talk in person. I am easily distracted when I'm on the phone with someone and don't listen as well as I want to. But that's also because I feel like I should be multi-tasking while on the phone. But in person, I am more focused on the person I'm talking to.

8.) I'm having a hard time with this last one...but I finally thought of something. It's kinda gross. I'm a really horrible spitter. :) haha. I'm the worst. I can't spit to save my life! I get toothpaste everywhere! I rarely ever spit other than that. Spitting out my gum, if I dare try is usually quite an accomplishment for me if I make it into the trash can I'm standing over or out the window of my car. (this is so ridiculously sad as I type this) I pretty much try to spit in private as much as possible. Might I add that I'm not dying to be a good spitter. I think it's one of the few things that I am girlie about. And almost a little proud that I don't spit that well. hahaha.

So that's it. That's my eight things that most people don't know about me.

aaaand since I hate posts that are picture-less:


This little girl, Kaitlin, is now one year old as of Wednesday. Yep, Halloween! So Saturday the family is going up to UT for the birthday party!! :)

Happy Birthday cute girl!

I'm gettin' there I promise...

I've got a bunch of stuff to post, but not a lot of time to post them.

I promise I'm workin' on it. I'm going through some archive stuff because I'm pulling it for my new website coming soon...SOOOO EXCITED about that. So I will post some old stuff that has never been seen.

and I have some new stuff too.

Thanks for waiting so nicely!

-Lor

The Ham

Yep. I just called this kid a ham...the proof is in the pictures! :)

My Three Nieces

Just a teaser of some of the many pictures we took last weekend...from youngest to oldest.

Jordan is 3 months. there are some cute ones of her awake,
but I just can't help that I love this one!

Kaitlin will be one on Halloween.
So crazy that she is almost a year old.
Look at those BIG eyes!

The official ham of the three. Kealani. She is aaallll about posing goofy for her Auntie Lori (or as she says Loowee).
I can't wait to show you more of her. So funny this one.

Tina Fey and 30 Rock

I LOVE this show! Because I love Tina Fey. This woman is a comic genius. She created, produces, writes and stars in 30 Rock. It has the best little moments of quips and "uh...did they just say that, because that was awesome." The writing is soooo smart and sooo funny.

So we know that they just won an Emmy for best comedy series and got robbed else where but the one I'm most bummed about which is a double edge sword is that Tina Fey didn't win for best writing in a comedy series. Greg Daniels did for The Office. Which we all know I love.

I bought the first season and I told my office, "Remember how I made you all watch 'How I Met Your Mother' and now you all love it? Well here is the next show you are going to thank me for making you watch. Welcome to '30 Rock'." Aaaand guess what, I was right. I have joined more people to the ranks for the love of 30 Rock and the gem that is Tina Fey.

Her character Liz Lemmon. Any single woman can relate to Liz. Well actually she can relate to all women, not just single women. Why? Because she is so well written! :) One of my favorite moments is when Liz goes to a bar with Jenna to try and meet other men after a break up. She is sitting at the bar sipping on a drink and a guy tries to sit down next to her but she rebuffs him because she doesn't realize he's trying to pick up on her and he walks away just baffled. Jenna then says, "why did you do that Liz?! He was trying to buy you a drink!" Liz, "I already have a drink. Do you think he'd buy me mozzarella sticks?" HAHA! Soooo funny!

Below is clips from one of the many guest stars and one of the best episodes. We quote this episode a lot at work. "Jenna...YOU ARE EXQUISITE!!"

30 Rock

"Jenna...YOU ARE EXQUISITE!!"

Oh. So. Funny.

Michael Buble in concert

Laura and I saw Michael Buble in concert July 14th at MGM. I realized the other day as I was organizing some pictures that I never posted anything from this AMAZING concert. I was SUPER EXCITED to FINALLY see him in concert. And he is as good as I thought he would be. Buble is just an amazing entertainer.

If you like his stuff and are just not sure if it's worth the money to see him in concert...oh boy...people...it's worth it! :) Just some random pictures from the show (the ones that were more in focus with my P&S, we were a bit of a ways back, haha).

Below this post you will see another post that is a very short video of some of his joking around. He is very funny. (the bottom picture was my desk top for quite a while after the show! haha)