shawn's blog

I tried

2011-04-15T21:16:00.003-04:00

I did. I tried............I tried to write more and I didnt't. Is it that life is too busy??? Yea, an excuse. I know. I cannot tell you how amazing the trip to Monte Carlo and the South of France was. We met a friend of a friend and had some amazing chateneauf du pape wine. So lucky we were. and the location of our hotel..........amazing. What a trip. I hope to share some pictures with you. And now we are back to our humble home. And the wind up of a year.........I am excited. An amazing friend will be hanging locally with us for the summer. Cannot TELL you how fun this will be............. hoping to find an amazing rental for them and a fun way to celebrate being together. truly what friendship is all about. so lucky we are able to celebrate summer together. Truly blessed we are!

hi, i'm still here

2011-01-27T19:47:00.010-05:00

where does the time go? Three, maybe four blizzards have gone by......seriously the most snow I have seen since I've moved to the east. So many snow days, delays, early dismissals. I have lost count. I think we are taking away days from our February break now.......I tried to write more. I thought about writing more.................but yet I didn't. I have been taking pictures. Hubby knows that I want camera gear, not jewelry for significant holidays! So I got a new lens and an awesome printer. Found some incredible paper and have been playing with some abstract shots. It has been fun. And something to pass the time during this long, awfully snowy winter. My daughter wanted the snow to be so high we couldn't open our doors......well today we almost got that! See that patio??? Doesn't look like much does it? Well check this out................

halloween

2010-11-05T08:59:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it is already November. I promised to write more, yet I've written less! It seems life just keeps coming.....I wish it would slow just a little. It's not like the stores are helping us out in slowing the holidays down....seriously do we need Christmas decorations up the day after Halloween? Does Starbucks really need to get out the holiday cups so early????? I know....I do bug my clients in August to start thinking about those family photos for holiday cards..........

it's beginning to smell.......................

2010-11-05T08:48:00.006-04:00

A lot like fall. First it's the smell of fireplace fires in the crisp air. Then it's the fact that it is pitch black when I drive the kids to school and before we eat dinner. It's also the smell of grapes fermenting in the basement.

We purchased the cab grapes from Beckstoffer Vineyards in Rutherford this year and are doing primarily Cabernet, but are trying our hand at chardonnay, which I can't remember where we got those grapes from. We have 20 gallons of chard being fermented. We have almost 40 gallons of cab fermenting. Last night we pressed all of the amazing juice of the cab grapes and the color is just beautiful. The aromas wafting around our garage smelled heavenly. We plan to run the juice on both through a process called MLF (malo lactic fermentation). Without boring you, basically it is a secondary fermenting process that gives wine that buttery smell and smooth feeling on the mouth. We are very excited about this season and can't wait to see how the wine develops. It is such a learning process.

iPhone Pictures

2010-10-21T19:50:00.001-04:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

I know...............

2010-10-21T19:44:00.004-04:00

I know..............I'm not getting much better at connecting. I'm trying. Really. This weekend I walked almost 40 miles in the Avon Two Day walk for breast cancer. It is an amazing event and it was an awesome experience. The weekend before that I met up with my aunt and my cousin and surprised my mom in Utah for her birthday. The hug I got when she saw me made it all worthwhile.

Life is really speeding up. I am working on custom cards, holiday photo shoots and fueling my creativity. This weekend I am photographing families who otherwise would not have the money for a family portrait. I think it is a highlight of my year to be able to do this, though it comes at an extremely busy time.

beautiful rain drops

2010-09-29T20:55:00.001-04:00

It has been so dry around here....the grass is dying, my plants are dying....but yesterday the rains came....and it was glorious to wake this morning to the dew dripping off the fennel in the herb garden. The fog was just beginning to lift as I snapped this shot of our home in the reflection of the drop.

abstract thoughts

2010-09-28T09:32:00.004-04:00

Learning to see with your eyes wide open......beauty is all around, if you can just take the time to look. The other morning I found myself out in our garden and I have walked by these flowers for two years.......on this morning, I took some time to look with eyes open.

The "L" family!

2010-09-27T13:40:00.013-04:00

Love, love, LOVE this family. The girls are so helpful and really have blossomed since I photographed them at their home in the dead of the FREEZING winter for their holiday cards last year. Little "J" is too much fun-he loves tootsie pops I found out. And Miss "P"-she really warmed up this year. It just shows what time, a beautiful location, and a slow, relaxing morning can do for photos.

Wine Time!!!

2010-09-27T13:37:00.003-04:00

We ordered our wine grapes!!!! Chardonnay this year and my white wine friends will be so happy-at least I HOPE they will. We have been testing our Cabs from Napa and Paso and they are coming along nicely. We ordered enough to do 30 gallons of Napa Cab this year!!! October is shaping up to be busy indeed. Wine grapes, Avon Walk in NYC-again (my poor tootsies), holiday photo sessions and cards.......................LOVE IT! the energy is so, well, ENERGETIC! I LOVE this time of year.

Really?

2010-09-27T13:29:00.002-04:00

Is it really almost October? Did the first day of Autumn come and go??? Have I posted no pictures, shared no tidbits, laughed with you????? I know. I am a bad, bad BAD blogger. I don't know where the time has gone. I have taken pictures, I have done fun things, I have WANTED to share................but yet, I have not. I am sorry. I think I have struggled a little to find the voice again that wanted to playfully share the adventures of me while raising a family, chasing my dreams, and figuring life out. I don't want this blog to be something that you read and think how perfect my life is (it's not) or how much fun I have (some) or how wonderful my family is (they are). It is just me sharing. Sharing the trials and tribulations I experience as I go down the path of life I've chosen. And if I make you laugh a little.....or cry a little....or just FEEL a little.......then I have accomplished the goal I set for myself when I attempted to write this blog. So please, accept my sincerest apologies for avoiding you. I lost my way a little but I think I am back.

2010-08-07T22:55:00.001-04:00

Love, love, love this image. He's trying not to smile as big bro is standing nearby and he needs to look cool.....

mid point of summer

2010-07-14T11:44:00.002-04:00

Looking through my calendar, I realized it is really the midpoint to summer. We finally got some rain and it has given me a chance to get caught up around the studio. Baseball has been the number one priority around here with my oldest son taking the District championship and advancing to state sectionals. My younger son is busy with many games of summer baseball......all good! What else would I be doing with my summer anyway??? The heat had been unbearable, and now even though it is extremely muggy out there, I am relieved the plants in the garden have received a much-needed watering. Believe it or not, I am already thinking about the holidays and looking to what products can be offered in connection with my photography and design studios. Be on the lookout for samples of products as well as any offerings-they will be posted in the blog. The holidays book up, so if you are considering a shoot, please contact me to schedule a session!

more photos

2010-07-06T22:04:00.007-04:00

Another one from my "girls" session. I took three friends to some locations for shots in their dinner dance dresses from 8th grade. It was an experience to have three good friends "hang out" while I photographed them. Lots of energy and lots of fun. The giggles and laughter kept me going for the rest of the week!

This big guy was a lot of fun to photograph. Though it was nearly 100* in the sun, we managed to beat the heat and get some shots. We talked a lot about coffee ice cream, the Yankees, and the color blue......love just being in the moment!

end of year

2010-06-09T12:24:00.002-04:00

The end of the year is winding down. Can't believe that after today there are just five days left. It seems like yesterday we were at staples buying all the items on the school supply list. We are looking forward to lazy days of summer! I have been busy with photo sessions and promise to do a blitz of posts after school ends...so please be patient.

I am excited to announce a new shop opening in the Cannondale area that will be carrying shawns things! It is Bella & CO, at 26 Cannon Rd. Her grand opening is this weekend. It is a gorgeous shop with lots of goodies by local artists. Be sure to stop by and mention you saw it on my blog!!

With all this gorgeous weather, it gets my creative juices flowing. I am excitedly working on some new ideas to incorporate my passion for photography and love of graphic design.

More to come!

photos

2010-06-07T00:41:00.007-04:00

I was out shooting again this weekend and it was STICKY hot!! These girls were great though, as long as I provided them with diet coke and H2O! I will post more from this session later this week. I still have a ton of images to process.

another great model

2010-05-24T15:34:00.004-04:00

Meet Miss "L". You've seen her before, but now she's growing up. She just joined me in a "Modern Teen" shoot. She had a lot of fun. Kids this age are really fun to talk with and she is so interesting. Thank you "L" for a really great Saturday afternoon.

my man "N"

2010-05-21T19:01:00.002-04:00

It was a gorgeous day and we took full advantage of some after school shooting time. My friend "N" was very excited to get some "MODERN" shots......we had a lot of fun.

another beautiful day

2010-05-14T18:58:00.003-04:00

We prepared for the worst: thunderstorms, hail, wind....we got none of that. Just fun, fun, fun and a beautiful day. I so enjoyed spending time with Miss "K". What a treasure. A great way to cap off a pretty terriffic photography week!! A super special thank you to Lauren for the awesome make up!

modern teens

2010-05-11T14:24:00.005-04:00

It was a beautiful day and the weather cooperated with us. I feel so privileged to be lucky enough to work with these two girls. They are so lovely inside and out. I LOVE this age. They are not afraid to try anything and really had a great time scouting out some really edgy spots! I can't wait to do more of the Modern Teen shots using some of the locations we found. This is a great age and makes for some really fun, interesting shots.

a great read

2010-04-14T09:15:00.003-04:00

Possibly the best book..............................................ever! I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. It's a quick read, but very interesting in it's approach. I LOVED it!!! Run out and get it. Great read for spring break! xo

new location

2010-04-09T18:33:00.009-04:00

Recently I tried out some new locations for my modern teen shoot. Love the way the sunlight hits under the bridge. The railroad tracks were a little scary-need to make sure my schedule is correct before shooting again!

speechless

2010-04-09T09:51:00.006-04:00

I..........am...........speechless.

Here I am being a bit selfish lately, worrying about how my family forgot my birthday this year....wallowing really........only to find out that a friend of mine who thougtht she'd out smarted cancer...........hasn't.

Puts a few things in perspective.

And reminds me that no matter what "level" your friendship is with someone, a phone call can make all the difference in the world.

Remember to call those you love, hug those you care about, and tell someone you love them often. Life really is too short.

delicious waffles

2010-04-06T09:37:00.007-04:00

Spring is finally in the air here in the Northeast. It was an epic weekend as far as weather goes, and also for the waffles we made.

Recently, I purchased some lavender honey. I have thought about making something with it for awhile, but was not sure what to do with the sweetly scented nectar so it just sat on the shelf. I came across a recipe marrying lavender and lemon and thought I could also include some raspberries, blueberries and strawberries as well. A recipe was building. Here's what I came up with:

Lemon Waffles with Mixed Berry Compote and Lavender Whipped Cream.

The flavors were so subtle, yet delicious and spring-like. Here are the details:

Use any home made waffle recipe. I use the one in the red and white checked Betty Crocker cookbook. It has you separate the egg yolks, whip up the egg whites and fold in for extra fluffy waffles. The only variation is I add a tsp of good vanilla, and 1 1/2 tsp of lemon extract.

For the lavender whipped cream I heated the honey because it had crystallized a bit. I let it cool , then whipped heavy cream in a cold bowl in high adding about 2 tbsp sugar and 1 or 2 tbsp of the lavender honey. You definitely should taste as you go. Keep in fridge until ready to use.

For the berry compote I added 1/2 cup each: blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries with 2 tbsp sugar and 1/4 cup water and simmered until berries were soft.

To serve: make waffle and plate, spoon compote, add berries and use some fresh maple syrup, slightly heated. Then add whipped cream and eat. DELICIOUS!

Serve with champagne topped with splash of ST. Germain liqueur.

chilean wine

2010-03-22T13:43:00.004-04:00

Two weeks ago, we finally bottled our first wine. It is a blend of Chilean syrah and malbec. And it's pretty good......it's nice to see the work paying off. We really enjoy every aspect of wine-making. From the punching down of the grapes, to the pressing of the juice, to the testing of the wine (and of course tasting along the way!), it is an amazing journey that doesn't end when you bottle.....you are able to remember the journey each time we open a bottle and share it with those we care about.

new project

2010-03-11T16:08:00.012-05:00

I am working on a new project: The Modern Teen. Todays teens are not really kids anymore, but not quite adults either. They have personality and their own idea of what is artful. Unfortunately all too often they are "stuck" with a portrait based on locations that are more suitable for young children and families.

For the Modern Teen, I use locations and settings that create an urban, modern feel and include things that your teen feels is important. By including what your teen is passionate about I am able to tell a story in my photographs. Is it the guitar? Is it skate boarding? Swimming? Horsback riding? Using these things, I compose a photograph that really speaks about the subject: them!

To get my portfolio started, I have reserved a small number of photo sessions exclusively for teens age 14-17, within the Fairfield County, CT area. If you have a son or daughter and you are interested in a free photo session please email me. The session will last approximately 1 1/2 hours. For your time, you will receive a $25 gift card to be used for prints, gallery wrapped canvases or the latest for high school seniors: the senior announcement card-this new trend is sweeping high schools throughout the country. You can see a sample below:

To see see samples of my work please go to my website.

spring is in the air

2010-03-11T16:02:00.003-05:00

I know it's been awhile since I've posted. There's been a lot cooking here, but I can't say I have a ton to show for it. Last year, we promised the kids that we'd get their rooms organized, painted and freshened up....so I guess that's what I've been focusing on-and getting my photography business off the ground. I have the website up and running: www.shawnkahalphotography.com Stop by and take a look. I am booking already for spring and hope to be really busy snapping beautiful, smiling faces.

back up your data, BACK UP YOUR DATA!!!

2010-02-10T16:52:00.003-05:00

The new year came and went, and I spent the majority of January organizing all my data. Feeling very smug with my new back up hard drive and portable drives-I thought I had it all figured out. Figured out that is, until the portable drive crashed. It was less than six months old!!!!! Fortunately, I was able to recover it because I had not deleted the files from my hard drive. Duplicity is also the key. Anyway, if you are at all like me, beginning the foray into digital photography around 2006, your computer might be getting a tad old. If you are also like me, you have tons of photos on the hard drive of that old computer........hard drives crash. And if yours does, you wanna have a back up. Now Costco carries a seagate back up drive that is 1.5TB (terabytes). MOZY is another online solution. Do not count your photos backed up at such sites as Kodak or Snapfish as they reduce your images in order to store them. In addition to backing up your hard drive, you should always keep a copy of your "digital negatives" in a separate file. This file is like your negatives from the old days. That way you always have a pristine copy of your images (and if you are backing up, two pristine copies).

cookies and snow

2010-02-10T16:47:00.005-05:00

HOORAY!!!! We finally got our snow day today. So far about 8 inches of fluffy white stuff has fallen with more on the way. I love that feeling when you open your eyes in the morning knowing, that while it is Wednesday, for all purposes it is a Saturday! We started our day off with fresh roasted coffee-yum! Then moved on to cap'n crunch french toast. From there we played rounds of wii resort and then the kids went outside to play in the snow. While outside, I decided to mix up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. They sounded soooo delicious. A little dough for me, a little cookies for the kiddos. Well, searching frantically in my pantry, I could not locate ANY brown sugar. After deciding not to make some OTHER cookie, I decided to google "substitutes for brown sugar". You gotta love google. Sure enough, the recipe to "make" brown sugar was revealed. It is approximately for dark brown sugar one cup of granulated white sugar mixed with just under a 1/4 cup molasses. It was delicious....and fresh....and made the most delicious choc chip cookies EVER!!!!!

fairfield county natural light photographer

2010-01-24T18:21:00.003-05:00

I love the way the light brightens this sunny face. I had such a fun time photographing this family. The natural light at this "secret" spot in our town is spectacular! I hope I get more requests for this spot.

cucumber margaritas/tortilla press/photographer in Fairfield County CT

2010-01-24T15:58:00.008-05:00

It all started with this tortilla press. Living in CT, it has been difficut to find good mexican food so when we received a Williams-Sonoma gift certificate, we decided to get a press. It arrived Friday so last night hubby and I decided to stay in and make a handcrafted mexican meal with fresh, white corn tortillas hand pressed, fresh salsas and guacomole, carne asada beef and cucumber margaritas. OMG-was this ever tasty!!!!! The carne asada recipe was perfect and the salsas were fantastic......some of the best mexican food we've had in a LOOOONG time. I will try to post the recipes, but meanwhile here is the important one:

Spicy Cucumber Margarita
serves 1

1/4 cucumber chopped coarsely
slice of jalapeno, seeds included
2 oz Don Julio reposado tequilla
1.5 oz Grand Mariner
juice of one lime +lime wedge for garnish
splash of simple syrup (recipe below)
cilantro sprig for garnish

In a shaker muddle the cuke and the jalapeno with splash of simple syrup using a muddler or the back of a spoon. Add tequilla, grand mariner, lime. Fill with ice and shake. Pour into a salted tumbler. Garnish with lime and cilantro. Enjoy!

Simple Syrup

1 Cup sugar
1 Cup water

In a sauce pan mix sugar and water together, heat until sugar disolves. Let cool before adding to beverage. Simple Syrup will keep in the fridge up to two weeks in an air tight container. Skinny Variation: Use splenda brand sweetner instead of sugar. Only the splenda with maltodextrin. NOT the splenda for baking. The blue and pink stuff does not taste nearly as good as the splenda brand sweetner.

fairfield county children's photographer/out in the snow

2010-01-22T21:46:00.008-05:00

I'm back. I know it's been awhile. I've missed you too. And photography. While the business of the season is behind me.....I'm looking forward to having more time to be creative....and to just be. This was one of those rare times where I just took my camera and waited patiently for the image to come.

It looks cold, doesn't it? It was cold. And blustery. And I was so glad to have heated seats and a heated steering wheel. I wore gloves but my finger tips were numb as were my toes. All for my art. We haven't had as many snow days as I'd hoped. I think the superintendent is getting wise to the ways of winter. He has not been quick to make any snap decisions, only delaying once.......I don't know which I prefer, enjoying the snow days or the cold that usually accompanies it. Something to ponder I guess.

happy new year/fairfield county, CT photographer

2010-01-22T17:20:00.003-05:00

Hello and happy new year! Where has the time gone? The holidays flew in and out and every person I spoke with felt it went all too quickly. I am happy with the slower pace that January always brings. This year I am committed to organzing my computer files, backing everything up (twice) and creating a photographic and design workflow that will make shawn's things work smoothly and easily. I am launching a new photography website linking my design studio (shawn's things) and am working on some designs created exclusively in house! This will give you the customer the ultimate control in what we design. Be sure to check back for the link to the new site!

the gift

2009-12-16T11:38:00.002-05:00

sometimes when you do something for someone, you aren't sure how it will be received. I took some pics of the "O" family awhile back and mom had a hard time getting back to me with prints she wanted-where DOES the time go???? Her bday was over thanksgiving and I just now got to give her gift to her. I reworked the photos of her girls and the family and framed them for her. Her response when I gave them to her was priceless. Thank you "L" for making my day. It truly is better to give than receive!! Merry Christmas. xox

busy busy busy

2009-12-14T19:27:00.008-05:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a long time. I am finally crawling out from under the pile of work I have for which I am extremely thankful. I got three calls this week from moms in distress over what to do about "the picture" for the holiday card. While my own cards are undone-the cobbler's children wear no shoes-I did my best to shoot their families and provide for them what anyone deserves-a moment in time preserved. Thank you "L" family for welcoming me into your beautiful home and sharing your gorgeous children with me. Enjoy!

Miss "J"-her eyes are the windows to the world.

Miss "L" is so calm and serene.....being the oldest gives her a certain air of sophistication.

Mr "J" is ALL boy and mischief. See that little glimmer??? Don't blink-you'll miss him! He moves quickly.

And the family together-time goes so quickly and it is important to savor the moment especially during this holiday season.

xo, shawn

it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...........

2009-12-02T16:08:00.010-05:00

and it's looking like it around here too. Piles of paper, computers and cables everywhere, when things slow down, I plan to......yeah, I know, I've said that before........................

I was out shooting these past weekends and the "D" family is adorable. They showed me their secret meadow here in Wilton and it is gorgeous. Though fall did not yield the usual bright colors, we found some great light!

At first "C" wasn't into getting his photo taken...........................

but then he began to ham it up!!!

Miss "C" was a delight, all smiles during the entire session. She just beams!!!

This shot reminds me that it is important for mom & dad to be photographed too!

ahhh, if only they stayed like this all the time!

Holiday Show

2009-11-14T13:34:00.002-05:00

Speaking of Holidays, I will be involved in a 7 vendor holiday show on Thursday, December 3. The event will be from 9:30-2:30 and 6:30-9:30. If you are in Wilton and would like an invitation, email me at shawn@shawnsthings.com.

'tis the season

2009-11-14T13:29:00.003-05:00

to be jolly....though the retailers keep making it sooner and sooner that we should "think" about the holidays. The day after Halloween is the new "official" start to the holidays. Scary!!! Again this year I am trying to enjoy each day of the season and trying to remember the reason for the season. I am excited about a grass-roots program I am working on called Help Portraits. With the help of the local FCA, we will find families that are in crisis who would not otherwise be able to have a family portrait taken. I am donating my time and working with a local printer to donate the prints. If anyone is interested in donating an 8x10 frame, please email me at shawn@shawnsthings.com I can't think of a better way for me to give back than this!!

making wine

2009-11-04T15:16:00.004-05:00

Tonight's the night. We are finally ready to press!!! After 6 days of fermenting and punching down the wine grapes, we are ready to see the juice and should have our first taste of the fruits of our labor!

chasing the sun

2009-11-04T08:44:00.013-05:00

Got to see this family again last night-though we were chasing the sun a little! Miss "L" got her braces off and couldn't wait to smile for me! We went to Weir Farm and we caught some gorgeous end of day lighting but then the sun slipped behind a giant cloud and some trees. Luckily they were all good sports and we made a dash to Ambler Farm where we were able to catch an amazing sunset! Anything in the interest of photography!!! Check out that sunset in the window in this last shot!

curry soup

2009-10-26T07:47:00.008-04:00

It's that time of year again when homemade soup sounds sooo good. I had a sick one home so there was time to make soup. I did cheat a little with the CurrySimple sauce, but oh, this soup was goooood-and SPICY!!! Serves four.

You need:

2 boneless chicken thighs cut into one inch chunks

2 boneless chicken breasts cut into one inch chunks

1 tbsp olive oil

2tsp curry powder

2tsp cardamom

2tsp ground coriander

3 cups chicken broth

carrots cut into 1/4 inch rounds

medium red onion, coarsely chopped

red bell pepper, chopped

pineapple, chopped (optional)

curry simple base (see picture)

cilantro

2 limes

Peel carrots and par boil until firm, but slightly soft. Slice into 1/4 inch rounds set aside. Chop onions and bell pepper coarsely. Set aside. Cut up chicken, and salt and pepper. Heat oil in simmer pan or large pot over medium heat. Add chicken and cook about 5 mins until chicken is brown turning to get all sides. Then add the spices and saute another minute until fragrant. Add chicken broth, carrots, onion, bell pepper, pineapple and the CurrySimple. Simmer about 20 mins. Finish with fresh lime juice and serve with limes and cilantro for garnish. Be careful, it's spic-Y!!!!

cabernet

2009-10-25T14:01:00.002-04:00

yes, the cab grapes are FINALLY in!!! We can't wait to get working on our first batch of Napa cabernet. The Chilean cab/syrah/malbec grapes are all aging nicely. This week will be a busy one of fermenting, punching down the grape skins and waiting. Lovely smells will be floating around our house. I can't wait!

what a day

2009-10-24T15:38:00.012-04:00

The other day I was out to shoot the "H" kids. Mom went off to do some errands while the kiddos and I had some fun with my camera. Earlier that day I was concerned about the weather-a grey day, but then the sun popped out just in time for a spectacular golden hour.

bee-u-t-ful!

2009-10-23T23:17:00.002-04:00

I'm still processing images from snap shot sessions. Loving the fall colors, beatiful "tweens" and the time of year! Cannot believe we are almost to Halloween. Where does the time go? It is exactly why you should document your loved ones!!

beautiful thing

2009-10-21T08:03:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I kept noticing a little activity near the window as I was tidying up the house. I glanced quickly several times trying to figure out what the activity might be this time of year. "Must be bumblebees" I thought. Then the activity seemed to intensify and as I looked closer could see hundreds of little "beetles" flying around. I quickly opened my door to investigate. What did I see?? Thousands of beautiful ladybugs flying around landing on our house. It truly was a sight to behold. I guess they are supposed to bring good luck. If so, we will be one lucky family!!!

home remedies

2009-10-20T13:33:00.005-04:00

I like simple, functional home remedies. Like putting powdered dishwasher detergent in your dirty pots and skillets to remove stuck on food....and like toothpaste to get rid of a pimple. I used the old toothpaste remedy last night, seeing an opportunity while hubby is traveling to really load up the toothpaste to get rid of a stubborn bump....most likely the result of a chocolate binge I had this weekend. This morning was filled with the usual activities, lunch-making, child -waking and organizing. One of the children missed the bus so I threw on my "gym attire" to take her to school. Rushing through the rest of the morning I quickly gathered up my "to do" list and headed out the door for some much needed groceries. I stopped in at our local Starbucks for a little caffeine lift and the server had a nice smile. He just kept looking at me. "I must have a glow" I thought. So, as I buckled my seat belt in the car, I checked myself out in the rear view mirror-to my horror.......that toothpaste remedy still firmly in place. UGH!!!! And it's only Tuesday. Note to self. DO look in the mirror no matter what before you head out for the day!

we did it!

2009-10-16T16:55:00.004-04:00

yep. it took two days and 15 hours, but our team walked over 39miles to help put an end to breast cancer. I have never experienced the kind of overwhelming emotion I felt when I crossed the finish line with our 9-member team. It was simply awesome. Now I am going to rest up a little before he holiday flurry of activity begins. Some new holiday cards in the works. xo

getting ready

2009-10-07T21:25:00.003-04:00

for the AVON two day walk! I can't believe it's almost here-and I can't wait. All those hours training and walking.....they will hopefully come to fruition in my ability to finish the 39.3 miles! Thank you to all my friends who have donated to the Avon walk in support of this great effort. Our team has now raised over $30,000! I am so proud of the women in our group, they too have trained and fundraised and together we have helped to fund mamograms for underpriveleged women, raise money for research to help wipe out this terrible disease. HOORAY for Wilton's Save the TaTa's!!!! Go Girls!

can't wake up on a "9"

2009-10-01T10:10:00.003-04:00

This morning I did NOT want to get out of my warm, soft, fluffy bed. It was 39* outside for crying out loud! AND I am still suffering from staying up so late at a Yankee game at the new stadium for my son's tenth birthday. That Yankee stadium is AMAZING! Anyway, back to the "9". My husband has been torturing me all week, slamming the lights on full brightness to try and wake me up. Sure, he was helping-but did those lights need to be so BRIGHT????? Anyway, when I looked at the clock, I told him I still had one more minute because I don't like to get up on the "9". He laughed at my logic........but I got one more minute in that warm bed!!

one more

2009-09-28T20:59:00.005-04:00

You forget how quickly they move when little ones are this age! Miss "K" kept me on my toes. We made the most out of some stormy, windy weather. You'd never know it from these smiles!

out shooting today!!

2009-09-28T20:49:00.007-04:00

Love this family. They were so fun and we actually got a work out walking the golf course in search of the "perfect" spot. Thank you "A" family.

Another beautiful Day

2009-09-25T15:29:00.004-04:00

In New England that is.....it is drop dead gorgeous out right now....comfortable 70*. So much to be thankful for....I feel like I'm getting into the thankful season with fall in the air and with thanksgiving around the corner. I am particularly thankful to those of you who have donated to help raise almost $2,000.00 for breast cancer research and testing. Oct 10th and 11th are right around the corner and walking 40 miles will give me ample time to reflect on the things for which I am grateful. But today, right now, sitting in my back yard, with the leaves softly coming down, I am thankful for today.

purging old stuff

2009-09-23T11:36:00.002-04:00

I have been feeling a little blocked lately, and I know it has something to do with old stuff piling up around me. I am finally making some headway into the piles of old junk, donating to our local Minks to Sinks, clothing and toys to charity. It feels so good to free up all that space both physically in the house, and mentally on my to do list!!! I hope this will pave the way for creativity. I sure feel like I have more room to breathe. xo

tgif

2009-09-18T15:39:00.002-04:00

it's friday-and I'm so glad I can sleep in just a little tomorrow. Big walks scheduled for this weekend and thank goodness for GF's willing to get up early to keep me company. The walk is almost here. The fall weather is absolutely gorgeous. I live here through the winter and blistering heat/humidity just for the one week of fall and one week of spring that takes your breath away.

sore feet

2009-09-14T13:30:00.003-04:00

finally put in some hours on the pavement today and yesterday. I am so THANKFUL to my GFs who met me at 6:15am (ok, I was late......6:34am) to walk. They helped to keep me company for 8 of my 12miles Sunday. Then today I met up with some more GFs and walked almost another 10 miles!!! That is the most I've done in a week, let alone two days. 26 more days to go.

jingle bells......

2009-09-12T11:04:00.002-04:00

These two were great to work with. I can't wait to see what comes out of the fall snap shot sessions!

yes, things are getting into full swing here. taking bookings for fall snap shots, holiday cards.....love this creative time of year. Here is one from last year's snap shot session.

never forget

2009-09-11T19:25:00.005-04:00

Today marks the anniversary of 9/11. Still, after 8 years, the memories of that day are crystal clear. Today I thank the service men and women who are serving our country either here or abroad. What a tremendous gift they give us-the gift of freedom through their bravery. America: the land of the free because of the brave.

new addition

2009-09-11T16:54:00.005-04:00

First, I was so excited to hear this couple was expecting and then I was so excited to be asked to do their birth announcement! Such a cutie. Mom and Dad supplied the photo. Thank you J & C.

Right now I'm gearing up for the holidays-so many beautiful papers. Get ready to see some new things!! Little peaks on their way.

xo

clouds

2009-09-09T19:26:00.003-04:00

A sense of serenity comes over me when I look at this shot. Love the way the clouds lined up for this one!

weekend

2009-09-08T08:00:00.003-04:00

ahhh, the labor day weekend just another memory-but a wonderful one at that. It was a picture perfect weekend here in the northeast-cool nights warm days and endless blue skies with puffy white clouds. The lake was spectacular and nice way to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. I finally got up on one water ski!!!! It has been over 15 years and while difficult, the sense of accomplishment was fantastic.

Now it's time to gear up for the holidays. I know this past year has been especially difficult on the finances and holiday cards may be a luxury. This year I have several options from which to choose-hoping to strike a balance between practical and elegant. I will have flat panel cards and some "special styles" where my vendors have offered some great pricing which I will pass on to you. A new way to print your photo and holiday message allows you to customize your card at a substantial savings! Anything I can do to help spread beauty into our every day lives!

xo

holidays???

2009-09-04T15:34:00.002-04:00

Last year I offered some cool flat panel holiday cards to my photography clients. They were such a hit that this year I plan to include them in my fall holiday snap shot packages. Enjoy!

walk, walking and more walking

2009-09-03T18:24:00.004-04:00

yes, it's true....I was somewhat of a slacker this summer. Too much time spent running from baseball to the lake.......too many fun times playing cards w/friends and kiddos......unfortunately I did not walk much. And the Avon Two-Day walk is coming soon........in five weeks to be exact..so I am walking and walking and walking to get my dawgs ready for 39 miles. Gulp. I know I can do it-but how will the feet handle it? Yikes!

Fundraising is going well, almost $1200 and need $1800 to qualify. It is such a worthwhile cause. Just today I was getting a "tune up" at the salon and was speaking to the aesthetician who found a lump in her breast, went to her doc who found two more and is now nervously in the waiting period to find out what will be next. She was so sweet.....we talked about the Avon Walk and, as I was checking out of the salon, she gave me a handful of money from the day's tips. It really moved me. I know what I am doing is small in comparison to what the brave women who have breast cancer do every day. At least I feel I am making a small contribution.

magazine coverage

2009-08-28T12:15:00.007-04:00

A while back I was interviewed for an article in our local magazine on "Designing Women". Laura Hussey did a lovely job conveying the attitude that I have toward business, and how shawns things came to be. I feel very lucky to be included in this bunch of extraordinary women!

whine, wine, wine.............

2009-08-25T14:53:00.002-04:00

With the summer quickly ending, we begin to re-focus our attention to the wine-making process. For the most part, after the active fermentation is over, it is wait, wait, wait....and hope, hope, hope. Hope that we have made a good choice in timing, aging, oaking. We have a nice blend on the oak barrel now and will be switching it out and loading that barrel back up with syrah. In our first round, we made cab and zin, then ordered the chilean grapes cabernet, syrah and malbec. We plan to do some blending, but first will age separately to allow the grapes to manifest their true flavors independent of one another. It is very exciting to taste at this point because one can begin to see what is to come. While we wait, we are figuring out what grapes from California to buy. Doing so many varietals last Feb gave us our share of challenges, so I think we might focus soley on cabernet. It will allow us more latitude. It is exciting and will be a busy fall once the grapes come in.....but that smell of fermenting grapes is truly amazing!!!!

is it really almost over?

2009-08-24T16:06:00.007-04:00

I can't believe we will be meeting the teachers this week for the new school year. Where did the summer go? It seems like yesterday the kids said goodbye to their teachers as they skipped to the bus one last time. Now, as I watch the kids gear up for fall sports, I long for the lazy days of summer that somehow did not seem to materialize this year!

Even though this summer seemed to fly by quicker than the rest, I am thankful for so many little gems that surfaced. One such gem was the retirement of the silver sparkler boat. Who knew you had to "winterize" the engine????? After finding out the engine was cracked, we decided the best route was to get a new boat. Chalk one up to experience. We certainly won't do that again. While a little painful in the pocket, the boat has sure been fun! The kids loved tubing with their buddies, jumping off the swim platform, and cruising at sunset. As ambivalent as I was about the boat, I enjoyed a not-so-elegant run at water skiing, feeling thankful that I did not break anything in the six times it took to actually rise out of the water. Note to self: Things sure don't lift out of the water like they used to!!!

I found another little gem in the conversations we had over cards and wine. Quiet evenings in the summer spent with friends and family discussing small, but not insignificant dreams, hopes and goals in life-this to me is the ultimate gem to uncover-deep conversations that do not mainifest in the day to day interactions, but when given time, can unfold like a beautiful rose when time seems so endless. I think this is what I will miss most about the summer ending.

For things at shawn, I am working to nurture my creative soul. I am touched by those of you asking for more-more new products, more creative ideas. I am very thankful to Laura Hussey for the beautiful piece she wrote about shawnsthings in this month's Wilton Magazine in "Designing Women". What a privilege it is to be included with such talented women. I look forward to the fall season with childish anticipation, as though I am waiting for Santa at Christmas time. I can't wait to see what presents I will open as my clients trust me to execute their visions. I look forward to the gift of the connections that will be made this year!

xo,
shawn

summer

2009-07-07T14:29:00.003-04:00

Is it here yet? I think so. The weekend was finally one of those beautiful, perfect weekends and we spent it at the lake. Was it relaxing? Not exactly. We thought the peeling ugly wall paper in the bathroom would be easy to take off. Overall, it was.......but then we went on to ugly bathroom wall paper number 2. Not so easy. Add to that priming, painting.......cleaning......phew! But now we can enjoy the lake a little more with two more things off our list! Hubby also built a dock. We did get time to relax and the kids practiced jumping off the swimming dock-they are getting so good at this and can do it for hours! Made a new cocktail-even though I missed our annual Wilton fourth of July contest, I still made the cocktail entry and-I think I will use it next year!!!! Tasty. Summer ball is in full swing and while it takes a little away from lake time, it is always enjoyable to spend a beautiful summer evening watching my son do something he has such a passion for!

I am working on some new things for the fall. Some workshops and Snap Shot sessions. New paper lines are arriving soon and I am excited with what the designers are doing this year! I am also actively looking for retailers to carry my stationery line. Look around in Wilton. Sea Beans has some shawns things and hopefully Wilton Stationers and Open House. If you are at a store and want to see my things there, ask them to contact me!!

Most of all, enjoy this summer. Time goes so quickly. For me the summer brings with it a huge span of time that feels overwhelming. While it allows me to think up plans, I think up too much and I do not execute. So this summer, if you can do just five things, what are they? Write 'em down, call up the peeps, make it happen!

xo

Barcelona

2009-06-16T11:24:00.008-04:00

What a beautiful, relaxed, metropolitan, artistic city! The wine was delicious and priced right, the meals inventive and tasty. There are endless possiblities in the terriffic city and beyond!! We had a fantastic time visiting the wineries in the Pendes region. Such beautiful people!

LIFE

2009-06-16T08:18:00.007-04:00

I'm back. No, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet-just deep in the end of year activities, sports, life, kids.........only two more days of school left and I will let out a big, huge, loud SIGH of relief! This spring seemed especially brutal with baseball/softball schedules for the kids. Throw in a trip to DC, Barcelona Spain, and Charleston, and a big birthday for hubby and we are TIRED!

The half-caf coffee thing is working out well. I finally got over the headache and sleepiness!!

We continue to make wine, receiving our first real grapes in April from Chile. We now have chilean malbec, cab, and syrah. We have our cab/zin blend chilling out in the american oak barrel. This has been quite an adventure! We are anxiously awaiting our first "blend" that we will release to friends at the holidays. Next up, California cab in the fall!!!

Some really great things are cooking up at shawn. I will have some workshops in the fall, special photo ops for holiday cards and seniors beginning in Augst and you will be able to look for more retail opportunities to find shawns things!

For now, I am counting the days until I can sit in my jammies and drink coffee (half caf) and play clue or monopoly with the kids.

xo

Help, cutting down on coffee!

2009-05-07T10:19:00.003-04:00

Here's the deal: too much coffee is not a good thing! That fresh roasted coffee is soooooo goood, but I found myself drinking way too much.....I am reading "The Core Balance Diet" by Michelle Pick. It is very interesting.....of course she is suggesting perhaps I drink too much coffee...so I'm giving it a whirl. Cutting down to half caf. If you see me sleeping in the pick up line at school.....you'll know why!!! Seriously, with all the training I've been doing for the Avon Walk, it is only logical to me I should consider what fuel I am putting into this body!

joe anyone?

2009-04-09T06:59:00.005-04:00

We are still making wine-in fact we are making a cab and a zin. For wine, you must be patient. The zin is already on it's way to becoming a pretty good glass of wine, but for the cab, it needs more time. Grapes will soon be in for our experimentation with the "real thing" as the first two batches were made with grapes that had already been part of the way processed. But what has this to do with coffee you might ask? Well the "patient" part of the wine making had my husband wanting to make something else. We LOVE coffee so it is only natural to want it freshly roasted......hmmm, where do you find coffee that has been fresh roasted around here??? After some research we bought a coffee roaster and some green coffee beans and we had our first cup yesterday truly fresh-roasted coffee. It was tasty! Joe anyone??

Avon Walk for a Cure

2009-03-30T11:07:00.005-04:00

I am excited to say that I joined a team to walk in the Avon Walk for a Cure for Breast Cancer. It is a two day walk in NYC where I will walk a marathon and a half: 26.2 miles the first day, and 13.1 miles the second. The training will be intense as I've been told it is often more difficult to walk a marathon than it is to run one (I don't know about that!) I am happy to be finally doing something to help put an end to this terrible disease. Please visit my personal page by clicking on the link below. You can even make a donation online. Just follow the link and it will take you to the secure page. Thanks! xo

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2009/NewYork?px=4368056&pg=personal&fr_id=1850

birthday

2009-03-23T07:57:00.008-04:00

The four day birthday weekend started with lunch, bookgroup girls and fresh hand-dipped chocolates from Wilton Treats. Then, I enjoyed dinner Saturday night at my favorite restaurant http://www.theschoolhouseatcannondale.com/ where they had a gorgeous flower arrangement and champagne waiting for me! It finished yesterday with my children waking me up with coffee and breakfast in bed and handmade cards! When I came downstairs there was a beautiful sign that read "Happy Birthday Mom" (handmade by the kids of course). All day I received many phone calls and visits with birthday wishes which, to me are some of the best gifts. I got a new camera lens from hubby....love it! We finished with a homemade chocolate cake that my daughter baked and frosted for me. I really had a special birthday thanks to everyone and their simple, thoughtful gestures. xoxoxoxo

four generations

2009-03-23T07:37:00.004-04:00

Thank you to the "D" family for letting me invade their birthday celebration. Four generations of the family were together and they gave me some time to shoot some pics. Enjoy!

brrrrrr-really, really cold!

2009-03-01T17:54:00.014-05:00

Thank you so much "O" family for coming out in the FREEZING cold. What was supposed to be 45* and sunny turned out to be 32*, cloudy and windy. The conditions were less than optimum, but they hung tough and we got some amazing shots!

As you can see, we did move inside and got some beautiful shots with the lighting inside. Thank you "O" girls for being so patient! Hope you like the shots! xoxo

tasty!

2009-02-27T20:43:00.002-05:00

We tried our first sample of the Cabernet we are making and it wasn't bad. I was nervous tasting it as the temp of the wine is about 70* or so and still slightly bubbling. It just didn't sound very tasty-turns out, however ,that it actually was. We'll see after the next round of tasting. This is really fascinating to learn about the entire process. Next, we'll be racking the wine into it's initial storage vessel to clarify, and we will re-rack several times over the next 45 days or so. Then will store it in our oak barrel for 6 months minimum. Very cool stuff. xo

bubbles, bubbles!

2009-02-24T20:19:00.003-05:00

Yeast is kicking in and we have the wonderful, yeast-y, grape-y smell floating through the floorboards and throughout the house. It is working! So many variables go into making the wine, we only hope the selections we make now will taste good next year-otherwise those of you that are on the fudge holiday list will receive our kahal family vinegar!!!! Seriously, just another creative venture to savor life with. xo

kahal family vineyards

2009-02-21T13:33:00.003-05:00

Yes, we are finally going to make our first batch of wine. The shipment of juice arrived last week along with our little oak barrel, our corker and all the tools to make the wine. It is exciting to think about our first bottling-but we won't really know how good it is for a year!!! Of course I'll keep you posted on how we progress, but the first step is to add some yeast to the juice to activate it. Stay tuned on how that goes......

eggs and ice luminaries

2009-02-09T18:25:00.005-05:00

I know I have been talking a lot about the weather, so this time I promise not to mention it. As you can see from the above picture, even though it was 50*we still have some snow left. I shot this as an assignment for my photo class. Love the beautiful colors of the fresh eggs from the local farm on Millstone Road in Wilton, CT. This weekend we had our annual wine party and it was a hoot! We challenge friends to come up with a certain varietal to submit to a blind tasting. I must say, our guests are beginning to get very wine savvy. This year was Spanish reds and I don't think there was one bad one! Tim from the Schoolhouse at Cannondale catered and the food was off the charts great! It was a lovely time and we enjoyed catching up with some good friends. I finally pulled off these ice luminaries that I had been dying to make. They were beautiful lighting the steps to the door. I will see if I can get a picture posted of them. Here's what you do: For each luminary you need a bucket like the kind you wash a car with, an empty 28oz tin can with paper label off, some rocks to weigh it down, and water. First, take a bucket, fill it part way (about a 1/3) with water. Place outside in freezing temps until solid (mine took two days). After first layer is frozen, add empty can on top, weight with rocks and pour water around weighted tin can. Place outside again in freezing temps. Should freeze solid in about two days. Once solid, pour hot water in the tin cans and let sit for 10 mins. Pull out the tin cans and pour hot water over outside of bucket to loosen luminaries. Place outside and add a small, 2 1/2 inch pillar candle and you are all set. Plan to do at least a week before. It's a way to enjoy that freezing weather!!!! xo

53 days and counting..............

2009-02-02T19:02:00.008-05:00

The mercury finally moved today. I thought for sure it was stuck below freezing!! It was gorgeous today-almost 50*. Makes me even hungrier for spring! Kids are beginning to bounce off the walls. How great was that super bowl? As much as I wanted the cardinals to win, the steelers really deserved it with all that effort! The boys thought it was an awesome game-yes they stayed up to the bitter end. Regan said "who needs sleep?" Yea, that's what he thought until this morning came.....everyone was a bit tired. I don't think we'll do that for awhile. All right, the new things coming....a little hint.........it has something to do with a camera......and kids, outside.......at weir farm or ambler farm........stay tuned for more info!

the weekend

2009-01-31T09:48:00.003-05:00

The weekend is here. First basketball game done and won (phew!) Two more to go. Kids are already wishing for spring. 55 days and counting! Still lots of snow on the ground and wow, it is a sunny, balmy 21*. Thanks to the sun, I was able to get this shot of the shadow of our weather vane on the house. Looking forward to even more warmer weather and when I can get out and take some good pictures. Lots of new things in store for my shawnsthings friends for the spring. I am working on new ideas and ways to freshen up spring. Check back for hints!! xo

round four for snow

2009-01-27T16:54:00.005-05:00

Weather man is saying 4 more inches plus, yes, rainy, sleet-y, icy weather tomorrow. Yay! I did get more canvases and I have my pastels and my camera to keep me busy. sheesh. I am counting the days until the first official day of spring-March 20. Sigh. Only 58 days. Sigh. Only so much indoor tackle basketball I can take. Sigh.

pastels

2009-01-24T18:25:00.003-05:00

I have to say at first I didn't know what to expect from myself in the pastel class. It has certainly been MANY years since I last took an "art" class and after walking into the class at Silvermine late after a snow delay, I found the talent there INCREDIBLE! Now, after the second class and many, many trips to the art store, I am offically addicted to pastels. It is a wonderful medium that can be massaged into realism or impressionism or anything in between. Who knew three hours would fly by so quickly! Still taking lots of photos too.

more photos

2009-01-21T18:02:00.007-05:00

Yes, I've been out in the cold to take some photos. Brrrr! The first is of the barn in my backyard while it was snowing. Looks cold, doesn't it? The second of old fuel pumps in the village across the street. Love the patina. It sure isn't easy in this weather to meet my challenge, but I am working on it. Learning to LOVE my camera (though a few lenses wouldn't hurt) I am also making strides in my pastel class. I purchased some additional pastels and I LOVE them!!! The colors are so vibrant. Who said tools do not make the mechanic???? The kids think it's hilarious that I get to go to "school" and take art classes only. My littlest one wonders why I am taking math and english at my "school". There was an attempt to connect art and math, but the communication was lost somehow.

Are you kidding?

2009-01-16T08:21:00.008-05:00

TGIF!! Yes, it really was 1* when I woke up this am. What you may not realize when you talk about the high being 14*, is how cold will it be in the am. Yep, 1*. Thank goodness it's moved up a little since I snapped this......When is spring again???? The good news is that the icy, snowy conditions make for some interesting photos. It is also the time of year when the winter shows are releasing new paper lines. It is like fashion week for paper. I have already previewed some of the new designs and they are stunning! The art classes are going well-I am enjoying stretching my creative legs a little. I needed a kick in the pants! Long weekend ahead of us! Maybe some skiing-though I think there will be mostly lots of hot chocolate! xo

high temp to only reach 14*????

2009-01-12T14:07:00.007-05:00

OK, so this is where I begin to complain about the weather-specifically the temperature and what it "feels" like. Friday I think the high is going to be 14* but it will "feel like" ZERO with the wind. I almost wrote "wine" instead of "wind"......must be me thinking about wine to ward of the frigid temps!!! How many more days until spring???? Anyway, this weekend we got ANOTHER four inches of snow with a crispy coating of ice. Yeah, I said ICE! When we asked the kids "Why don't you go out and build a snowman or have a snowballfight?" SOMETHING!!!!!! Anything!!!! (we were going a little stir crazy this weekend) They just looked at us and said "That isn't the GOOD kind of snow!" UGH!!!! They were right, it was awful, so we decided to paint instead. Good thing I stocked up on acrylic paints and canvases. If you've never done this with kids before.....BEWARE! It is highly addicting. We went through a total of 14 canvases (not including the one I did) and many tubes of acrylic paint. The good news I have instant art for the bare walls in my hall!! It is sensational, however, to see three kids get caught up in the moment, not wanting to stop even to eat. This morning my littlest one didn't even want to go to school. He just wanted to paint. Guess it's time to go get more canvases!! It was a good weekend, indeed. xo

Let there be Light!

2009-01-09T15:54:00.004-05:00

Today I looked out the window to my back yard and saw the most beautiful light shinning on the bare trees. Even winter can have some beauty. The different colors of brown and grey with the sunshine beaming down is simply stunning. It made me pause and take out my camera. Isn't that what being in the moment is all about? I played a little with the photo and enhanced the values to what I visualized when I snapped the shot. Enjoy! xo

ice storm

2009-01-07T13:56:00.005-05:00

Nothing beats the feeling of getting an extra two hours sleep when you are trying to recover from the West Coast/East Coast vacation. This morning was one of those rare treats of waking to the 6am alarm, checking the news, only to find out the kids have a two hour delay!!! Ahhhhh, like having an extra day in the weekend! Not wanting to leave even a minute of my extra sleep to chance, I turned over and managed to sleep all the way up to 8:40!!! DECLICIOUS! Kids were well-rested and ready for school and I was able to get some of these shots of the beautiful ice stacking up on the plants and items outside. Hoping to keep my promise of shooting something that moves me everyday, here are my shots! xo

2009-01-05T21:25:00.004-05:00

Katie peering over the Grand Canyon.

The "vortex" in Sedona on our way from AZ to Utah. Dave and the boys ponder life.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T21:06:00.003-05:00

What a year. As I look back on 2008, I realize, happily, that I spent much of the year connecting with family and friends, enjoying the process of creating for clients and kicked things up a notch with my re-kindled passion-photography. The close of the year however, brought some sad news as my father in law passed away rather suddenly on December 27th. While he has lived a long and fruitful life-6 kids, 15 grand kids, 7 great-grand kids.........married to the same woman for 65 years-the gap that remains is one not easily filled. He is greatly missed. I feel blessed that we already planned a trip to Arizona to visit, but saddened as our chance to visit with him was cut short. Fortunately, we also planned to visit my parents in Utah, and had an opportunity to catch up with them. Time is so precious. As I look to 2009, I am more resolute than ever to maintain the connections with those I care about. I am excited about the chance to feed my soul, taking some much needed time-out with creative classes to keep the creativity flowing. I PROMISE to share some pics as soon as the dust settles around here. xo

ahhh big sigh

2008-12-10T20:50:00.003-05:00

The flurry of activity has slowed and now I can focus on what I love most, finding that perfect something that touches my friends and family in a meaningful way. I have already enjoyed connecting with clients, delivering to them holiday cards and photos all touched by hand in some way. It is this connection to creativity that keeps me at it all hours of the day and night. Yes, my upkeep has been lacking. I saw my friend and trainer, Bonnie today. Thank goodness she was available to kick my booty in gear!! Felt good to get active again. I am working toward balance. Need to book a hair appt.....feeling scary! And nails would be nice.....getting back into the balance and enjoying the journey at all points! I plan to get back to some photos and will share them as soon as I can. Next week I will begin uploading all my projects from this season so you can see what I was up to!

2008-11-20T17:56:00.003-05:00

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!! Ok, I thought it was cold at 35* lows....now it is 24* lows with 38* highs! I am not ready! I have a fire roaring in the fireplace and paper is flying in the workshop. Things are surely heating up around here! Thank you to "K" helping me get it all done. She is an angel and doing a fantastic job! I also have two little "elves" posting my Holiday Show postcards......yes, some of the stamps may be sideways and some of the addresses a little crooked, but they were put on with love by my two sons! It is getting to be busy and I am looking forward to seeing you at the holiday show. Those of you who have procrastinated your holiday cards can pick them up ready made. I am loving the new paper lines just in for the holidays! I am already thinking about next season-look out for some holiday packages with photos and holiday cards as well as prints for gifts!! We will begin booking for this in the Spring. That's it for now....gotta get back at it!

2008-11-14T13:27:00.002-05:00

Taking a break from the flurry of activity to blog. TGIF! I am so excited for the weekend-it's shaping up to be THE PERFECT weekend. Last night played cards with the girls and I have not laughed that hard in a LOOOOONG time. It was hilarious trying to keep track of the last card played. My stomach ached this morning-must be have been that and all those brownies I ate. B, you must make me work hard on Wed!! Tonight get to catch up with our friends from Manhattan at a new restaurant in Greenwich. I also got a surprise call that my niece is visiting! Can't wait to see her and her boyfriend. What a treat. Saturday some time finally spent with our neighbors. Can't wait! As for work, my print shop is kicking out my goodies faster than fast-thank you, T, S & J at the shop!! They have been hustling-doing such a great job that my deadline next year might be extended to give you procrastinators more time to............procrastinate!! The next couple weeks will be crazy, but will try to take some time to post more photos. The O family asked to be shot-looking forward to it-BEAUTIFUL family, inside and out! xo

2008-11-12T18:28:00.003-05:00

With the fall coming to an end, I thought these shots were appropriate. Our pumpkins are fading and the tree I snapped at a cemetery has lost most of its leaves. I will try to keep up with blogging, but I might be a slacker in the blog department over the coming weeks. (Comments DO keepme motivated to come back, however!) I have many card orders and prints to do as well as product to create for the holiday show. Many of you are already "pre-ordering" before the show. VERY SMART!! Those teacher, bus driver gifts begin to stack up in December-before you know it, piano lessons are over and you forgot a little treat for your instructor! xo shawn

2008-11-10T09:10:00.003-05:00

Now that the sports are winding down, the work is heating up. I am so thankful to those clients that let me "play" at photographing their children. How I enjoyed connecting with the innocence of youth. If you are "procrastinating" your holiday cards because you don't have a photo-I am offering a special package for the pre-made holiday cards. Email me for details....I really enjoy the opportunity to snap some more pics and if the weather cooperates, have had some great shots at Weir farm. Let me know if you are interested. xo

2008-11-08T15:53:00.008-05:00

After this week, I will never underestimate the power of a cup of coffee, or a phone call, or a quick note or email. The week was a tough one, for reasons I won't bore you with. But, after reaching out and catching up with some friends, I feel re-charged. Thank you to all the friends that made me feel better-you know who you are.

As the fall leaves rain down on the ground, I feel winter coming on. The grey branches of the trees are looking stark in contrast to the golden leaves covering the grass. Our last little holdout-the pear tree is showing her magnificent fall colors in a burst of yellows, oranges, peaches and crimson. Football ended this weekend in a disappointing loss to our competitor, and soccer wrapped up the season as well. A little quieter on the weekends for a few weeks. Thanksgiving is right around the corner........where has the time gone??

2008-11-05T07:54:00.005-05:00

Some favorites from yesterday. L looked just like her mom when she got out of the car. Simply beautiful. G shows so much personality when he smiles. The two together are pure sweetness! As always, I so enjoy the time I spend trying to capture the personality of each client. These two looked so cute when photographed together....I couldn't resist sharing these!

cheese, cheese, cheese

2008-11-03T18:59:00.005-05:00

This may not look appetizing to you, but my son Regan only eats cheese. String cheese, cheddar cheese, quesadillas (with cheese), mac n cheese, cheese pizza (no sauce)......if it's cheesy, he will eat it. The only thing without cheese that he eats is chicken nuggets (in the shape of dinosaurs). So, as we were trying to broaden his little horizons, we came up with the ingenious idea to put cheese on top of a chicken patty (sold to Regan as a giant chicken nugget). Well, the idea took off and he LOVED it. We have tried this with pork tenderloin and he gobbles it up. The broccoli, however, dripping in cheese, was not a success. Still trying to come up with new ideas. Thanks to K for the secret "zucchini" chocolate chip muffins....always looking for ways to add veggies! I do think we are getting there! xo

weekend update!

2008-11-03T09:49:00.004-05:00

Another beautiful weekend here in CT and we were lucky to share much of it with our good friends P&K from CA and their children. They celebrated HALLOWEEN with us Friday night and had a sports-filled weekend. We kicked it off with a nail-biting soccer match for my 6 year old and they WON (though we are NOT keeping score). We then went to a YALE game where we watched the children of a friend play some great defense against Columbia. It was a very festive atmosphere hanging with the parents of these players and now all three of my kids want to go to YALE! We hurried home for a playoff football GAME for my 9 year old. It was another nail-bitter but with some great plays and excellent blocking they won! We capped off the day with dinner at our favorite local restaurant the Schoolhouse at Cannondale. Check out their blog: http://schoolhouserestaurant.wordpress.com/. Chef TIM is cooking up some yummy things-I thought the LOBSTER Risotto was out of this world! While this is a busy month, I am looking forward to all the creativity that will flow with the holidays. I also look forward to family, friends, cooking and relaxing over Thanksgiving! It's going to be a great month. xo shawn

holidays

2008-11-03T09:33:00.008-05:00

Has this happened to you? The kids will say something so sweet and precious and you promise you will write this down, but forget? It happens to me ALL THE TIME! This time I thought I would share it with you as we are approaching the holidays and as a way of preserving the innocence of children. I know it's possible that the economy will make many decisions for the holidays challenging, but I thought you might enjoy this conversation with my youngest as I was tucking him in last night. It reminds me that the holidays are best enjoyed through the eyes of a child.

Me: "Regan, what do you want for Christmas?"

Regan: "Hmmm, I don't know..."

Me: "You should think about it and write it down for Santa."

Regan: "I know, when I do, he always brings me what I want."

Me: "Well then, we should really think about what you want."

Regan: "But I like your gifts better because you always surprise me."

Hmmm.....I thought for an almost 7 year old that this was pretty profound. Our kids don't need everything on their "list" to feel the magic of the season...we simply need to surprise them....I am going to try to remember this and make this season magical. I am going to find something special to surprise them with!

2008-10-28T13:57:00.001-04:00

Another little something I thought you might enjoy! xo