Holy Moly do I have some dedicated fans who are in.it to win.it!  I mean.  Over 650 votes accounted for in 33 hours.  Insane, people, insane.  But, I am not complaining ONE BIT.  I know my clients appreciate YOU.  I APPRECIATE YOU.   

So, the winner of the 11×14 print is Sweet Precious Sofia!!!  But, not without the tough competition of #4 TY, #11 Presley, and #21 Zoey!!!  

See y’all next time!

X’s and O’s, sararose

Some of you know what this is ALL about.  However, I am fully aware that there are lots of folks ‘new to the party’ so, let me get you up to date on what this whole Clients Favorite thing is all about.  Back in December when I was brainstorming what new things to offer, possible contests, etc I decided that I wanted to do something a little different.  How could I give back to my clients?  How I could benefit from the contest?  Not in a bad way, by the way…in a way that could help me grow.  Grow as a photographer.  What do my clients really like?  And, a pleasant surprise so far is their favorite is usually mine.  You know what that means…I am working with the kind of clients I want to be working with!!  I am so very blessed.  

So, Clients Favorite was born.  My clients receive the images on a disc why would they care about this?  Well, not all clients print their images BIG…and, I am totally going to say this…THEY ARE MISSING OUT.  A coffee table framed image is great, but a big ‘ole 11×14+ image beautifully framed on your wall..well, it’s ART.  SO, every month every single client I work with gets to choose one FAVORITE image from their session.  And, for two days folks vote {VIA HERE ON THE BLOG BELOW} for their favorite.  Whomever receives the most votes gets an 11×14 print from ME for FREE.  Yep, that simple.  

HOW TO VOTE —   scroll ALL the way to end of this blog where it directs you to comment.  Enter in your information and in the box where it says “comment” write your choice (i.e. #55 has my vote because it makes me smile).  EASY!!!  

ONE VOTE per person.  ALL votes filter through me FIRST before becoming active so I make sure there are no duplicates. 

Thank YOU for making this monthly contest fun, easy and awesome!!

January Clients Favorite got over 400 VOTES.  COME ON FEBRUARY let’s knock that number out of the park

X’s and O’s, sararose

p.s. if YOU would like to inquire about a session with me you can contact me here or find me on Facebook here!  Hope to hear from ya.  

What an amazing day yesterday was for my dear friend Amber of Amber Housley!! She hosted her first ever AH Inspired workshop for 20+ other AHmazing women right here in Nashville!! Some with established businesses, some just starting out, some just about ready to take that leap………

I was lucky enough to be one of the speakers for her workshop along with 3 other incredibly wonderful women — Jessica of Jessica Bishop: Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot, Courtney of Pizzazzerie and Kelle Boyd of Ann Kelle!

It was a day of hopes, dreaming BIG, lots ‘o wisdom, new friendships…even a few tears and lots of hugs. Incredible day.

So very proud of Amber. She’s making her dreams come true and doing just ONE of the many things she does best…INSPIRING others.

Will you be one of the lucky ones and attend her next workshop? Just ask any of these other women and I bet you they will tell you it will be a day you will never forget. A day you wish you could do over and over again.

“She decided to start living the life she always imagined. She turned her can’t into cans and her dreams into plans. She took the leap and grew her wings on the way down. COURAGE”.

X’s and O’s, sararose

Dearest Colton,

I can’t even believe it’s been four years.  Four years since the day you came into our life.  4 years since you made our family complete.  Four years since the day I experienced the most amazing love for the second time….Happy Birthday my beautiful Colton.  

I typically write a letter talking to everyone about YOU, but just like I did for your brother’s last birthday I have decided I want to start writing directly to you.  Let’s hope momma makes it through it while wiping away tears.  They aren’t tears of sadness, but of joy.  Your daddy and I have been so blessed.  More than we could have ever anticipated.  And, more than we deserve.  We knew how lucky we were with your brother, but to bring home another amazing BOY to our family just 14.5 months later was incredible.  A gift.  A gift that I thank Him for every single day.  

So, where do I even begin?  From the moment they laid you on my chest and I took a look at you I knew you were something special.  You had jet black hair like your daddy, full lips like your momma…and, you had the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.  We just couldn’t believe it.  From day one you were beautiful.  You were what they call an ‘easy’ baby.  You were happy and calm…unless you were hungry {which was often} and tired.  Can you believe I let you sleep with me for 6 solid months?  I think your daddy was happy when I decided it was time for you to move to your crib AND bedroom.  But, I enjoyed that special time with you.  That is probably why you are as close as you are to me….even four years later.  But, let’s be honest here…when you slept for a good solid 8 hours for the first time your momma was a happy momma!  Did you know it took you a good 6 months for that to happen?  Yes, son.  You didn’t like to sleep.  BUT, you do now!!  I wouldn’t take back those sleepless nights for anything though.  

For your first 8 months I thought you were going to take after your daddy.  Calm, quiet, happy when fed, easy tempered….I was wrong.  At 9 months you became what I like to call “wild man jones”.  Into everything, crawling everywhere….chose to do things in your own time.  Walking at 15 months….talking all the time.  Who does that sound like?  Yes’m…you.are.my.mini.me.  Holy Moly is He laughing every single day.  Your dad gets a few chuckles in there every once in a while when you do something that is clearly something your momma probably did when she was a young tot.  But, you know what…You teach me patience, you teach me strength, you teach me to see things in new eyes and with an open heart…you teach me to dream BIG.  You see life the way I would hope every child would.  

And, although I wrote almost these exact words to your brother on his 5th birthday the same applies to you.  Every year has brought some challenges.  Being a parent is the hardest job in the world.  You love your children SO much but we have a responsibility to “teach”.  Teach boundaries, teach faith, teach acceptance, teach respect, teach forgiveness, teach appreciation, teach love.  We teach these things by SHOWING you.  Are some of these hard?  No doubt about it.  Some days I fall flat on my face trying to “teach” you, but every single day I get up and try again.  The one thing that isn’t hard is showing you how much I Love You.  I absolutely LOVE loving YOU.  My favorite time of the day is when you see me and wrap your arms around me and tell me you love me over and over again.  Gosh, if I could bottle that up and keep it forever I would.  It’s the most amazing unconditional Love there is.  

This year is going to bring some changes.  Your big brother is starting Kindergarten come Fall.  So, for the first time in your life you won’t be with Tyler all the time.  I know you will be fine, but I know it’s going to be hard.  But, just think…NEXT Year you will join him at the Big School.  What will momma do?  Gosh, I need to stop wishing days away and just focus on today.  

So, for today and always my hopes and wishes for you are simple.  I PRAY for BIG LOVE for you, that you continue to have that *spark for life, that you stay kind to everyone you meet, that you find a sport or hobby you love and go for it 100%, that you continue to love school, your teachers and friends…., that you always enjoy making people laugh, that you stay honest, that you stay best friends with your brother and that your favorite place in the world stays where ever your daddy, brother and momma are.   That you dream BIG!  I wish SO much for you and your life especially that no matter what you know that you are LOVED BIG, that we believe in you and that you are amazing just the way you are.  No one else in this world like you buddy.  Sure hope you always believe that you can BE whatever you want to BE.  

Happy 4th Birthday my precious boy.  May this day be your favorite day ever.  And, one that you never forget!!  

Love you BIG much, your momma

p.s. Happy Birthday to YOU!  Happy Birthday to YOU!  Happy Birthday my Colton James!!  Happy Birthday to YOU!!!