Saved by Rhapsody in Blue.

I was in a musical rut. I've been searching for some music. I wasn't sure what I was looking for.

So I've been searching. Going through my catalog of music. I have been twirling my finger around that iPod circle, clockwise and counter and...nothing.

I pick something out. Listen to it for a little while. Nah. That didn't hit the musical spot. What's next? Search. Search. Hmm...this one? Listen. Nope. I really thought that one was going to do it for me. But no.

Sigh.

I even threw out a slight pouty lip one night. I was in that much of a musical "uh oh". It was bad.

A week had gone by, maybe even 10 days. I was ho-hummin' to music in my car with no gumption. No real want or desire to car dance or do some head nodding to music at the stop light and owning it...I was stuck, people! Stuck! Stuck with played out music and I didn't know what to do.

Even after many failed attempts. I went through the iPod again. Maybe I missed something. Maybe I wasn't giving something a chance. Then, out of no where. I passed by a name I love and appreciate but forget far too often.

Gershwin.

The musical gates opened and my ears are perked and listening.

The individual and brotherly team of George and Ira Gershwin...one of the most famous Gershwin instrumental songs is "Rhapsody in Blue". Some of the other songs you probably know that have lyrics to them are "I've Got Rhythm" or "Someone to Watch Over Me" or "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off". You know that song Michael Buble sings "A Foggy Day (in London Town)", yep that's a Gershwin song. There are a ton of songs that I don't think we even realize that we love that have been touched by these musical geniuses!

George and Ira Gershwin


Here is a little clip of "Rhapsody in Blue"....

Go to the link I made under the picture of them that will take you to their website and you can hear parts of the songs they have written together and individually.

Amazing.

WPPI '08 & more...FREE more!!

So I went to some speakers and the trade show at WPPI this year. There are some really great things I learned and I can't wait to apply them to my photography. I'm really excited to create better pictures.

So of the many things I learned there are a few things I want to apply right away. One of them is shooting photos for myself. I need to always keep up with personal work. I think to do that I think I will need to get myself to more concerts and some other fun things I like to photograph! :) I haven't been to a concert in ages.

Also another thing I learned is something from an amazingly successful photographer by the name of Mike Colon. He is known for being a very charitable person among all of his accomplishments. I was so grateful for this statement he made:

Don't turn away a blessing!
Be someone others want to bless!
Be blessed by blessing others!

When he said that and a few other things, I was instantly impressed that he is willing to share his beliefs in God and that his success is because of a "Divine Giver" as he put it.

Sooo, with that said...

I have decided that I will be giving away a few free sessions soon.

The only way to get them is to keep coming back to the blog and looking out for it. Granted, you will have to be in the city of Las Vegas (or pretty darn close to it). When I post what session it is, you will have to be the first to contact me via the contact section on my website. So keep checking back, tell your friends and family and dog (hehe) to come check out the blog and look for it.

And the biggest reason why to send your friends and family here...they have to be the one to contact me. If it is a family session, then a member of that (immediate) family (i.e. Mom or Dad or big sister) must be the one to send in their info via the contact page on my website. If it's a senior session then the senior or the parents of the senior must contact me. No cheating aunties or cousins etc will be accepted! :)


Also keep a look out on the website for some updates. I will be putting never before seen pictures!



Go to the contact section on the website with questions!!!

Kyle & Kristi Engagement Session Teaser

More to come.

MWC Champs!

That's right UNLV won a second year in a row. 76-61 against BYU.

Go Rebels!!

(AP Photo/Laura Rauch)

Mountain West Conference '08

First game tonight for UNLV was with TCU. I wish I was at the game. In the last 3.4 seconds, Wink Adams (gotta love Wink) hit a game saving three pointer.

They are saying that BYU has a higher percentage rate of winning the conference this year. I think that UNLV is hungry to prove that they can hold the tile without all of their seniors from last year.

Here is the Mountain West Conference official website.

Who is going to the UNLV vs Utah game Friday night? I'm a little nervous. These two teams met up last week Saturday and it was a close game. Even though UNLV won! :) Which means that Utah is going to want it bad.

In other basketball news...Coach Lon Kruger has been named the MWC coach of the year aaaand the USBWA (United States Basketball Writers Association) coach of the year.


And Wink Adams (pictured at the top) Also, after being named a first-team All-MWC selection, Runnin' Rebel guard Wink Adams was named to the USBWA All-District VIII team. Which why wouldn't he...look at some of his stats:

• Leads the Runnin' Rebels in scoring this season with 15.9 ppg, which ranks fourth in the MWC
• Leads the conference in free-throw shooting percentage (85.4 percent)
• Is in the top 10 in the conference in field-goal percentage, assists, steals, 3-pointers made and minutes played

(pictures from MWC & UNLV websites)

Fresh & Easy

I'm lovin' this new lil' grocery store. They are pop up all over the place around the valley. There is going to be one right by my house too, so that's even more exciting...

Oh wait, I'm forgetting to tell you about Fresh & Easy!! Hellooo! Think of them as a simplified, super fresh, super cheap, super healthy grocery store.

(picture from their website)

Here is a link to their website...find one by you. Just go and take a gander, and I bet you will walk out with something cheap, healthy and yummy! :)

Thank me later! haha!

A new love in my life :P

Okay, I love this phone. Yes there are a few quirks that I don't like, but not anything that I think you wouldn't complain about with any new phone that you are trying to get use to right?! Right.

I'm admitting here and now, that my brain is not as sharp as it use to be. I am going to say that part of that is because I have a lot more going on in my life. And I'm talking about stuff like remembering to buy shampoo or not forgetting a friend's baby shower coming up this weekend. So to help with that, here enters in my iPhone! :) I have become a lot more organized upstairs because of what is in my hot lil' hands!

I love that I will never have to worry about being lost with my handy Google Maps Locator.



I love that I have the internet at my fingertips. It keeps me occupied while sitting in doctor's offices since I've been sick so much lately.

I love that the screen is so big.



I love that if I forget to bring my iPod I have my iPod on my phone as a back up.

I really love how text messaging looks on the phone. That I can keep track of conversations with one person at a time.

I could go on about the love but, I won't.

I will say my biggest complaint that has nothing to do with the phone, but everything to do with AT & T, is the reception at my house! GRRRRR! I have none! Because if you have noticed...in the above pictures in the top left corner, this:



Not cool. That drives me crazy!!!

But I do really enjoy my new iPhone and all it's cool features and how I feel like my closet nerdiness (who am I kidding, it's not hidden we all know I'm a nerd) is satisfied by this small lil' device! :)