Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Year of 2009

Oh my gosh WOW!

Is 2009 really really over!? it FLEW by! SERIOUSLY!

I was so excited for this year to start... SOO excited! And now it's already over!?

This year is very special to me. This is the year that I married my wonderful husband. We were married May 23, 2009!! I have loved everything about marriage. I love being a wife to my husband! What a JOY! What an amazing day that was! One I will cherish always!

We also bought our very first house and have begun making it a home. We love it!

I also had many many sessions and many many new events happen with my photography as well.

Take a look at 2009:

- Assisted in my first wedding
- Photographed 7 2009 Seniors
- Photographed 2 2010 Seniors
- Photographed my FIRST Wedding
- Booked a 2nd Wedding
- Photographed my first Engagement Session
- Photographed 3 Families
- Created many designs and logos... too many to count!
- WON a customized website which will be up and running hopefully before mid-spring! I'll let you know when it's up and running! :)

Thank you guys so much for supporting me! Thanks for reading my blog! It's been amazing to connect with some of you ladies!

It's been an amazing ride and I am so looking forward to what the next year brings :)

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Whew...

I am EXHAUSTED!!! seriously!

Derik and I counted them up... we had a total of 7 Christmases!!! is that even possible!?

Count 'em:

Christmas Eve Eve (or some say *Christmas Adam* :) haha) we went to Derik's family's and stayed the evening for Christmas. (1)

Christmas Eve we went to his Meme's from about 3pm-10pm and then made our way to my Aunt's at around 10:30pm and did not get to my parents house until 12am or after. (2)

Christmas Day we woke up around 7am and had Christmas with my parents and then made a bunch of lunch goodies and made our way to my Grandparents (Mom's side) around noon and then my other Grandparent's (Dad's side) around 5pm and got home around 10pm. (3)

Christmas Day After I started feeling bad... but we went to Derik's Mom's side of the family for that Christmas. 4pm-10pm and I was wiped!!! (1)

(7)

And because of all the craziness of the "said" 7 Christmases, I got sick! like terribly sick! I started feeling bad Saturday afternoon... Sunday was terrible, and Monday was even worse... I started to feel better later Monday evening. And, here it is Tuesday, back at work :/ ugh!

I do feel a lot better, if I didn't I wouldn't have come to work at all. But, I did, because I feel up to it. It's hard for my boss to find someone to cover my shift, so sometimes it's just easier coming in. But all in all - MUCH better from yesterday.

Lets just say it went from sore throat, to terrible headache + sore throat, to terrible headache + sore throat + congestion, to all of the above and throw on a little stomach virus! ugh! terrible!

Anyways... I'm glad to be back to my old self... I can't believe 2010 is just 3 days away! 2009 FLEW by - such a fun year but it went by too fast for my taste :)

What will 2010 hold for the Melton's?? :)

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Finally... Christmas

So I finally was able to take pictures of all of our Christmas decorations and our VERY first Christmas. AND Santa came a little early this year and gave us some cool things called Iphones :)

Which is what I used to take all these photos AND to write this post with too!!!! ENJOY!


O Christmas tree o Christmas tree, how lovely are your brrraaannnches :)

I was so excited for our tree. It is decorated in "my" green and coppers and golds and browns. Never thought I'd choose that but I love it!!! Can we keep it up all year long??



Newlywed stockings :) and do you see my snow friends down there? They were a present from my mother-in-law last Christmas


Another friend I got from Kohls with some wedding money. He was on sale so I had to get him!


We also made Derik a special tree specifically decorated TECH. What else of course :)


It even has various photos of us from the games while he was in school - FUN!


And we can't forget our outside lights :) we actually put these up the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving because we were oh so excited about CHRISTMAS!!!

And ladies, I'm proud to say we are FINISHED with our Christmas shopping!! Well you know except for those various odds and ends :)

Are you as excited as I am?? I LOVE Christmas!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

hp touchsmart 600 giveaway

AWESOME GIVEAWAY HERE!!!

and HERE

oh and HERE

and how about HERE

and wait for it.... ok...
HERE

check it out!!! :)

Monday, December 7, 2009

OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS

I promise to post some photos of all our Christmas decorations - it's just been getting really hectic!

BUT I did manage to order some Christmas Cards!!! What do you think!?
I'll post a photo of the actually card in hand when it comes in - it should be this week!


I can't believe it's already Christmas! AND our FIRST Christmas at that!


Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Blessed and Busy

So as you can see, my blog was "overtaken" by the contest I was in last week :) haha! but you'll be glad to know that I WON! I actually got second by 9 VOTES! yeah, that's not very many, so they awarded us both... how grateful and blessed am I!?

I am now working with a designer to customize my website - which was my prize. And I'm in for a treat. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm very excited... but I know it's going to be a lot of work on my part and I hope I'm up for the challenge.

I am in the middle of a lot of projects, which includes the website, but I'm also working on a logo for a local daycare... just did an engagement session this past weekend, and a few family sessions to go all before Christmas! I think I can, I think I can... ha! no, I'm really excited about it all!

ESPECIALLY about the holidays...

I'm proud to announce... that we have already DECORATED our house for Christmas - early?? some may say no... my dad says I'm just anxious to decorate since we have a house :) ha! regardless, I'm ready for the holidays. I'm ready to take it slow... I haven't had Thanksgiving and the Day after Thanksgiving off in 3 years! IT IS TIME! I'm so excited to have Thursday and Friday off, so thankful and blessed by that!

I also have everyday off Christmas week (except I'll be working that Monday) - I also have New Year's Eve off - which also hasn't happened in 3 years! (do you see a trend here? haha) I am READY for a break and I am READY for some family time. Thankful for it all!

So, Our decorations - we put lights up on the outside of our house on Saturday morning :) YAY! Derik wasn't thrilled about it... but it only took like 30 mins. I put on the clips, he climbed on the roof and TA-DA teamwork! I love the lights :)

We (I) put the lights on our tree Sunday and found out we needed one more strand... I was so bummed out and I insisted that we go buy another box so I could finish the lighting... ran to wal-mart, problem fixed... then we went back home and finished the tree - complete with ornaments, beads, and picture frame ornaments of us :) YAY! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Derik has been wanting to order Texas Tech (where he graduated from) ornaments and make a special little tree for just those ornaments... so I decorated a smaller tree today and put it on our large kitchen window sills - complete with red and black ornaments - red/black/silver beads... and we will be getting our first 2009 Texas Tech ornament in a few short weeks :)

I will post photos (still in camera) soon! :)

I LOVE CHRISTMAS! - have I said that already?

We have completed about 1/2 of our Christmas shopping list and have decided to get each other IPHONES for our Christmas present - WAHOO! I have been wanting one since they first came out with the $599 price tag (I would NEVER have purchased one at that price, those people are crazy... oh man) We are still on our parents phone plans and this will be an easy way to transfer us onto our own... so excited :)

Do any of you have iphones? If so, what are your favorite apps, I'd love to download some fun/useful ones - any opinions on iphones themselves?

Sunday, November 22, 2009

I WON!

Hey blog friends,

The website contest I was in was so close that he decided to award the TOP 2 a website!

YOU ARE AWESOME!!! thanks so much for all the votes! Couldn't have done it without you!

So be on the lookout for a new site - I'll be posting here when it's all up and ready :)

Thanks,
Brittney


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Keep Voting!

http://mcpactions.com/blog/2009/11/15/vote-for-the-most-deserving-of-a-custom-website-25-off-smugmug-pro/

Keep voting if you can!!! Share with friends and family too! I need to be in first on Saturday to win :) THANKS!!!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

HELP!!!

Alright guys I have an idea... Help me get TONS of votes!!!

I know some of you have probably seen about the contest I am in - if you haven't voted yet - VOTE!!! follow this link below...

if you have voted and want to help me - post this link on your fb page... or forward it in an email to friends... if you have a blog... put it on your blog... whatever you can think of would SO help!!! I need any help I can get as I'm now down 100+ votes!!! AHH! so if you can... SEND SEND SEND, SHARE SHARE SHARE!!! I REALLY want to win this!!

http://mcpactions.com/blog/2009/11/15/vote-for-the-most-deserving-of-a-custom-website-25-off-smugmug-pro/


THANKS! ends Nov 21st

Sunday, November 15, 2009

VOTE for me PLEASE!

Hey everyone! I'm so excited about this opportunity!

If you would PLEASE vote for me... I would be able to win an awesome custom designed website for my photography business... how cool is that!?

Just follow this link and vote for me! :) Contest ends Nov 21st!

http://mcpactions.com/blog/2009/11/15/vote-for-the-most-deserving-of-a-custom-website-25-off-smugmug-pro/

THANKS SO MUCH!!! Post this on your blog or tell all of your friends!!! I appreciate all the help!!!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Today has been a GREAT day!

If you don't read this post... scroll down for a weekend shopping goody :) I promise it's worth it!

Ok... so today has been GREAT because...

1. I WENT TO THE GYM!!!! I haven't done that since May - BEFORE the wedding! oh my goodness... I felt very out of place, it's been forever... but it felt good. I just need to work out and I've been so lazy and have no motivation... it's ridiculous. I'm hoping this jump start of going to the gym will KEEP me going back.

2. I had a lunch date with hubs - and it was much needed :) I love seeing him in the middle of the day since I don't get to see him until I get off work at 10:30p!!!

3. I just bought a Canon 85mm 1.8. For you non-photog-ys (fun word I just made) it's a wonderful most beautiful lens. I just joined a photog forum and bought it from one of the ladies... awesome! can't wait to get it and play around!!!

AND NOW onto the shopping goody :)

just for you blog peeps that read my blog...

go HERE for 30% off Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic purchases in stores from now until Nov 15th (Sun) - you can also use it MULTIPLE TIMES!!! ahh! This offer is also good at Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Store!!!

Just print and repeat :)
YOU. ARE. WELCOME!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Has it really been a week???

since my last post!?

oh. my.
But, seriously this last week FLEW by! didn't it!? or is it just me??

Well, today is Veterans Day. I am so thankful for every member of our armed forces... both past, present and future... They have to be some of the bravest people I know. So Thank you! every one of you!!!

On this Veterans Day, my husband has the day off, I however do not... bummer.

Since he got COD Modern Warfare 2 yesterday - he'll be playing that all day... oh boy.

Next couple of posts I hope to show some of my Christmas decorations :) Don't worry... we haven't put up the tree yet... but soon :)

I also have a wonderful engagement photo session coming in a couple of weeks that I'm very excited for :)

We have lots to be thankful for!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Halloween 2009 with Friends

I was SO looking forward to this weekend! We had some wonderful friends come stay with us in our new house :) and we got to hang out and go to a Jeremy Camp concert - woo hoo! It was so fun and MUCH needed... hope we can do these more often!

these first 2 pics are mine...


and these next few concert pics are Court's :) thanks Court!!!



awesome! :)
Britt & Kyle (Britt was my MOH!!!)
Daniel & Court - we missed them last year while they were overseas!!
me and my babe (and my new fav pic of us!)
the girls :) oh how I missed them :)
The boys...
don't know what they're doing - haha!
YAY friends!
Court took this one of Chuy's (YUM!) and the group pic below!

and this one... rock out with your guac out... see tshirt on lower right hand corner... :)

such a fun weekend...

Friday night was VERY memorable... I'll make that another post, but we had Halloween "visitors" and it was pretty intense!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Survey about me

I've seen these all over the blog-o-sphere and thought I'd give it a shot :) something fun! and to be honest a little blog post "filler" when you're lacking in that area :)

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while your blogging?

Well to be honest, I do most of my blogging and blog reading at work (shh don't tell), so I'm not really eating much... if anything something from the vending machine... speaking of, I'm hungry and I'm going to get something. Be right back....

ok, I'm back and I got a Snickers (also, shh don't tell)

2. What is one thing you don't want to live without?

Beside the obvious family, friends and of course my husband Derik (what would I do without them, seriously!!) I would have to say fruit, I love fruit, and when it comes down to it... if I had to choose a strawberry over a chocolate cake - oh boy I would be having that strawberry! Better yet, just make it chocolate covered strawberries - yum! I would take a fruit dessert over any other dessert out there! I LOVE fruit pies/cobblers/cheesecake! YUM!

3. Beach, Mountains, or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?

Definitely between beach and mountains. Well I love the beach... and it's where I spent my honeymoon and I loved it. I've also gone skiing. But, I don't know. The Beach might get tiring where as the mountains change with the seasons... so maybe the mountains. Plus, I get to snuggle with my hubby when it's cold :) And who really would want to wear a bathing suit almost all year, NOT me!
4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?

I absolutely hate folding clothes! I will wash/dry clothes. I'll even wash dishes, clean toilets, mop floors WAY over wanting to fold clothes! I actually talked about this on my facebook page just this day!

5. Who do people say you remind them of?

I have no idea. Derik once told me he thought I looked like Reese Witherspoon. I'll take that :) She's adorable!

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying home with the fam?

It all depends. I love hanging with friends, but sometimes I like my alone time. I love curling up on the couch and watching a movie with Derik.

7. What's your all time favorite movie?

Why so hard!? There are too many to pick!!! But I just recently saw "The Proposal" and I have never laughed so hard in a movie! loved it!!
8. Do you sleep in your make-up or remove it like a good little girl every night?

I used to be good, before we got married I took Accutane for about 1/2 a year and was very sure to wash my face! I washed my face all the time leading up to the wedding. But, since, I've really kind of let it go. I wash my face when I feel like it and in the shower... I need to get better at that seriously... not good for the face. And I don't want my face to be the way it was!

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn? What is it?

Well, I love anything creative. I love my photography. But, I think it would've been really fun to have studied medicine. Now, I would never have been able to do it... I'd be a bit squeamish with some things. But, I love taking care of people and how amazing would it be to learn about the complicated and intricate body of a human God created.

10. What's one strange thing you're really good at?

I have no idea. I guess I'm really good with creativity (as I said above) but, I really don't know a "strange" thing that I'm good at. Maybe cleaning? Since we've had our own house... I've been really good about cleaning. My dishwasher is never full. I always empty it and reload. So, therefore I don't have dishes laying in my sink all the time. We'll see how that goes in a few months/years :)

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?

I'd have to say his sense of humor and his athleticism. He makes me laugh so much. We get each other. He ran track and did long jump/triple jump for Texas Tech. Go babe!

12. What is something you love to smell?

I love candles. I never could have them in college. Dorm wouldn't allow. I didn't have many in my room at home, because my mom would be afraid I'd forget to blow them out. So, I barely ever lit them. But, now, I practically light a candle everyday! I am in love with Yankee Candle's Macintosh Spice... smells like the holidays :) I need to buy a new one already!!!

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.

Gosh I don't know. Probably that I'm so detail oriented maybe... It sometimes bothers Derik when I want to get stuff done and he says we can wait some. But remember this post?

14. When you have extra money, what's the first thing you think to do with it?

Well, lately it has been saved. I'm saving up to buy a new camera. But, I really have wanted to go shopping lately! Good thing, because it's time to shop for Christmas soon!
15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?

Depends on how "tickled" I am. Mostly a loud, I don't know, I'll listen next time :)

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?

Target. Banana Republic (Outlet). Ross. DSW (love me some shoes!)

17. What is one thing you would do more often if you had more time?

Relax. Take more bubble baths. Focus more on photography. Take one day at a time.

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?

I'd say frugal. Derik would have to differ. I only spend big after much much thought! I almost ALWAYS buy things on sale too!

19. Who is your favorite character of all time? (from a movie or a book, can't be real)

Gosh another hard one just like my fav movie! I'd have to say Haddassah from the Mark of the Lion Book Series by Francine Rivers. Amazing - I could read that again - thanks Britt!

20. Would you want to be famous?

I think I wouldn't want to be "famous" but I would want to be well-known. Especially in my photography. My goal is to one day go full-time with photography so that when we have kids I can be flexible with what we want to do!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Awesome idea and a little fun

ok - check this out

what a creative "bride" idea - awesome!

and a little fun:

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!


Haha LOVE IT!

Jack-O-Lanterns and FALL

Fall is FAST - seriously...

These past few weekends have FLOWN by and I miss them! Not because I want them back, but I feel like I've been flying each week... some weeks go by slow but then the weekend comes and I feel like I don't get enough time to sit and do what I would like to do.

I have MUCH to do with my photography business and have no room to breathe to do it. I do errands and housework in the mornings and sometimes I don't have time for a shower some days (sorry, ewww, but seriously). The reason why this blog hasn't seen much "action" lately either...

I am actually changing my business name to encompass more of what I want it to be. I am excited about it all, but it's a lot of work. I need to get a business license for taxing purposes, because well... I am going to make enough money to be making it a business (exciting, yet VERY scary for me).

So, it's all about one thing at a time, right!? ... I am not good at that.

When I want to do something, I want to get it done right away... I want it to be perfect right away... I am very detail-oriented and sometimes can't see the big picture. Better yet, I can't be patient enough and wait to see the big picture because I want it done NOW! I have much to learn!

But, thankfully these past few weekends my husband and I slowed down just a little bit and were able to start somewhat of a little tradition (or at least I hope it becomes one)

We went to a pumpkin patch!!!

and got pumpkins!!!

and I felt like a little kid again!!!

I loved carving pumpkins with my dad when I was little. And I even loved to pull all the "gooey" stuff out with the seeds...
Derik however - does NOT like this part. He's VERY squeamish to gross things like this... weirdo! :):):) haha!so he carved for us :)
And I feel like my house is homey and falley now :) Yes, I just made up those words...
Derik is the one that has "pimples" (that's what I call them) and mine is on the right
HAPPY HALLOWEEN - MMmwwahahaha! [insert spooky laugh]


Friday, October 23, 2009

5 Months!

Seriously!??? we've already been married 5 months!?

I remember all my countdowns (here, here, here, here, and here) as if they were YESTERDAY!

it is truly flying by!

I'm going to be a little sad when hubby leaves me for 2 weeks in November - ugh! Praying I'll make it! But, I'm very excited to have friends come stay the weekend next weekend - we're all going to a Jeremy Camp Concert and I am oh so excited... pics for sure to come.

Also, we're carving our pumpkins this weekend - woohoo! :)

Happy 5 months to us! Half a year in a month - WHAT!??

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Ummm... funny :)

"I will seek and find you.

I shall take you to bed and have my way with you.

I will make you ache, shake & sweat until you moan & groan.

I will make you beg for mercy, beg for me to stop.

I will exhaust you to ...the point that you will be relieved when I’m finished with you.

And, when I am finished, you will be weak for days.

All my love,


The Flu

Now get your mind out of the gutter and go get your flu shot!

Monday, October 19, 2009

This is just TOO...

ADORABLE!


read here