its OK....

hiii guys! so today i am linking up with Amber over at Brunch with Amber & Neely over at A Complete Waste of Makeup....both blogs i enjoy very much! I wanted to do this linkup because i have always loved the "Its Ok" page in Glamour....you all know what I'm talking about right? sooo now its my turn! so here we go!

Its Ok if the only thing you are looking forward to this weekend is to sleep in

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Its Ok if the barista at your coffee shop messes up your usual morning drink & you ask them to re-make it....don't be a wimp just do it!

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Its Ok to be the only person in a group of people NOT drinking & getting drunk....

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Its Ok to keep your sunglasses on inside when you stop at the store because you don't want to go through the hassle of getting your case out, putting them away etc...

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Its Ok if you really have to go to the bathroom but instead of going you just hold it because you're too lazy to leave your desk

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Its Ok if you talk about characters on your favorite tv shows like you know them & you're all friends

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Its Ok to text or call your mom everyday because hey! shes your mom & you love her

my mom & i

Its Ok if you don't wanna go to your high school reunion because honestly, you don't care what those people are doing

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Its Ok to tell your BF you're on your period when really you're not, you just don't wanna.....uh..ya know...do the dirty

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Its Ok to wake up in the middle of the night & have a glass of milk & a scoop of peanut butter because your hungry

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Its Ok if you have an iphone, ipad, ipod, & a Mac...& you use all 4 of them daily

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Its Ok to send your BF emails/texts/letters with pictures of flowers so he gets the hint - get me just because flowers!

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Its Ok to walk your dog & not pick up his poop............all the time

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and lastly

Its Ok if you haven't washed your hair in a few days & its all messy & dirty......duh! embrace it!

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what are you OK with today?

go pro!

okay lovers so 2 things today! ONE i am guest blogging over at one of my favorite blogs & blogger bff COUTURE ZOO on my favorite type of interior design....& TWO do i have some fun for you (haha that kinda rhymes)...today you'll get the inside scoop of what really goes on behind the camera after a photo shoot & why going pro is the only way to go...sooo with that said here's another day of.....

 looky loo photography tips!

So, I know it seems so tempting to A: take my own pictures and see what I can do with the editing software my sweet new Mac came with.  B: hire that kid down the street who’s parents just got him a camera, or that random person I saw online who walked into Wal Mart, perused the camera section, bought the cheapest camera, took 5 pictures, and now charges people.  C: not take pictures- I’m not at the weight I want to be at, I don’t have time, and it’s too expensive.

I’m sorry to say, but the correct answer is D: none of the above-

GO PRO! 

So, where do you find a pro and what do you look for?  First, the most popular places photographers advertise are: facebook, google, and craigslist- so go check those out.  Second, don’t be afraid to do your research.  First off, check out their work- you can tell right away if they are capable of taking the pictures you want.  Is there a picture you LOVE, that you would love to see your face on?  Great place to start.  Now, to make sure they didn’t just “get a lucky shot,” go ahead and call- ask them how long they’ve been in the business, how busy they are,  where they started and why.  You are going to have to spend a good couple of hours with this person, so be sure they have the type of personality that you could feel comfortable around.  (I’ve had people ask me these questions, and I’m always happy, not offended- I want people to know that I went to school for Business and Photography and that I know what I’m doing on both ends of the spectrum)  Lastly, you want an artist, someone who can take your idea and make it better than you had ever imagined- someone who is creative and fun!

I’ve always been on the creative end of things.  I had the hardest time deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up (jury is still out on when that will be).  I think the best part about photography is that I got to choose multiple things.  Besides the obvious: photographer, CEO, accounting, managing, consultant, set designer, clothing coordinator, marketing.....I also get to delve into all kinds of occupations.  Not sure what I mean?  Let me show you:

Some days, I get to be a dentist.......

(whitened and removed retainer)

Some days, I get to test out optometry.......

(I love to work with eyes!)

Some days, I get to try out meteorology......

(the sky doesn’t always have the beautiful clouds I want)

Other days, I’m busy with construction...

 (Someone has to lay those bricks) 

 Often, I work in botany.......

(planting grass is tedious)

Some days, I am a dermatologist......

(don’t we all need one of those!)

I really like doing liposuction.....

(my friends really like this one)

I often enjoy being a magician...see him here..

(now he’s there)

As you can see, a lot of work goes into the photos that you will cherish forever.  On top of the 1-2 hours spent at your shoot, a pro spends hour’s beforehand, designing the shoot, and hours afterward, editing the shoot.  A beautiful, well designed photo can capture so much more than a pretty face.  It can capture you and who you are right now.  I love to go back and scour through pictures of my parents and grandparents.  Their smiles, clothing, posing and atmosphere give me a feel of what they were like- far more than their stories alone can do. 

So, my tip for the week is: go pro.  Make a goal for yourself & your family to take nice, professional-quality photos ___ times per year and stick to it.  In years to come you, and your children and friends will love it.  The only thing that can tarnish the picture, is low quality- so do your research and hire someone that can work with you to get the right look!

And, as my three-year-old would say, “SAY CHEESE!!”

-Cindy

**Please be kind- the top pictures are all SOOC (straight out of camera), and this is one of the only times I’ve allowed these to be seen publically! 

NOW go read my guest blog over at COUTURE ZOO!

rainy day chic

ok so i have been meaning to blog about an outfit i wore when i went to northern california because since the weather is totally different from orange county, i had to change up my wardrobe a little...& of course it was pouring rain on the day we had a ton to do.....but its okay because actually my hair LOVES the rain & i was prepared with a warm yet chic outfit...btw it was raining while we did this little shoot...thanks babe!



Jeans: Willam Rast

so i hate being cold...i also hate being hot so making sure i have the right amount of clothes on is key....i decided to pair my William Rast skinny jeans, which i got at Nordstrom Rack....yes, the rack. I'm sure many of you are thinking nooo not the rack that place scares me...newsflash: its EXACTLY what they had in Nordstrom, its just product that wasn't sold or over ordered........i use to be freaked out by the rack too until i worked at Nordstrom & a blouse that was $200 in Nordstrom that i just watched on the shelf until one day it was gone, i thought i missed my chance & then i found it at the rack for WAY less & my love affair with the rack began....plus who cares where you buy it - just make sure its a reputable company....unless you're getting it on ebay...then who knows where its from....

Boots: Steve Madden Leg Warmers: Hollister & Co

as you can see i am still wearing the same Steve Madden boots that i usually wear rolled over, however for this look i decided to zip up the backs and tie em up! the reason for that is because i decided to bring out my leg warmers...oh yes one of my favorite things to wear during the winter...you should see my holiday ones!...now i know a lot of people have trouble with leg warmers & keeping them up...the key is thick socks & thick enough pants so they won't be able to slide down...skinny jeans & leggings work perfectly....but be careful with leg warmers..don't over do it..its a once & while type accessory....i loved that my leg warmers matched perfectly with the grey stripes in my shirt....

Top: Free People

the top i am wearing is one of my favorites...its Free People of course & the material is like a sweatshirt so its super warm, but not too heavy...i am obsessed with anything stripes & the ruffles on the bottom just completed the look for me...i love ruffles...i think its because its such a girly thing & i am DEF a girly girly!

Leather Jacket: 'Joiyou' from Nordrom BP

so i rounded out the outfit with my leather jacket...not real leather....i love my leather jacket & i think it is a STAPLE for every girl...you can literally wear it with everything...and as you know I love versatile items...i chose my leather jacket to wear with this outfit because it went perfectly with my biker boots....so even though the weather may be crappy  you can still be chic & trendy but stay warm at the same time!