daily mantra: i catnap now and then, but I think while I nap, so it’s not a waste of time…{martha.stewart}
{sometimes.you.just.need.one.now}
- My Ryan was like that. No naps in bed but he would collapse in the strangest of places. Love her shoes on the wrong feet. ;)
- So cute, Amanda! She's precious!
- tooooooo CUTE! wish mine would do that! they NEVER ever would fall asleep like that! what a GREAT photo that 2nd one! precious beyond words!! I would love to sit at your comoputer and view every single photo you have ever taken! tara
- OMG - that is too adorable!! :)
- Bless her little heart....
- This is great! Love it. Haili used to do that every once in awhile! Cari
{the.wednesday.whistle}
dear Mikki and Katie….
it has rained for 26 of the last 30 days. admittedly that is making as all, stuck in our little house, a bit testy. while there have been brief moments of that fireball in the sky we call the sun, it has mostly remained hidden. this leads me to contemplate my parenting skills and whether or not i am truly equipped for mothering on a full time basis. while i love spending 13 + waking hours with you both, i still fantasize about dropping you at day care sometimes and driving off to a nine-to-five job where i get paid on time and consistently even if it isn’t as satisfying as photography and most days of motherhood. we bought the house this year, in large part, for the yard…ignoring the blue carpet and the weird smell in the garage for the patch of green grass we would get to enjoy during our short, warm, maine summers. i have run out of creative project ideas….my stack of paper and new box of crayons are becoming, as you put it Mikki…boring. i have taught you both how to make your beds and my secret to amazing pie crust, turn on the coffee pot in the morning, and read book after book after book, dressed and undressed you multiple times for princess adventures, made tents in the living room, and even taught you some of my oh-so-awesome dance moves, which i hope you never exhibit anywhere but in our home…or never at all even. we have all taken to sitting at separate corners of the living room and staring at each other with a void look… sick of dora, boots, and the ladies on the view.
i know, once we see the sun again, we will forget about our tough start to summer, and our hearts will find a familiar warm fondness for one another again…and i can put away these applications to boarding school at least until the next rainy stretch.
all my love darlings,
p.s….i was joking about boarding school…..kind of. {because i called and i guess you have to be 12 years old or something.
p.p.s….daily mantra: purity of mind and idleness are incompatible…..{mahatma.gandhi}
- I can SO relate! It's not the rain so much but the heat & humidity. It's our time for hibernation and we are all getting on each other's nerves. Is this why bears hibernate so they don't eat each other?
- Beautifully written, and I love the photo that goes along with your lovely words. You are amazingly talented!
- I've so had indoor months just like that! Here's hoping y'all get some sunshine soon! Beautiful post Mandy!
- OK, the boarding school comment really make me laugh. Hugs!
- I always enjoy looking at your photos and reading your journaling. Hopefully the sun is out for you.
- Hang in there momma, you're doing a great job!
- Can I just say I love your ability to pinpoint the truth and descibe the emotions behind it.
- I'm so sorry you're having a rough time. As Lauren said, the things you're doing with them are the memories they will cherish. If you want some more ideas, you can e-mail me. =)
- Oh my gosh. I feel for you, I really do. You know, these days of making pie crust, learning how to make beds, and playing princess are the days the girls will carry through life with them and think of fondly, don't you? Hang in there....
- Mandy - Sorry you are suffering from cabin fever - I wish you some beautiful sunshine and long warm days and nights to enjoy your daughters!! xoxo
- Dear Mandy, I <3 you. That is all :)
- Those ;long rainy stretches really do test our limits. I know it was making me crazy and I have a 9-5 job and no kids!!
- Okay, I know you didn't ask for any ideas, but here are a few they might like to try! Barnes & NOble reading club--if you list the 8 books that you read, then turn it in, you can get a free book. Not sure, but I think you can do this more than one time during the summer! Break out the paints and take some photos of them painting!! Make a video of them and then watch it together. Make a fort. Make a scrapbook together of past photos! or put together a blank scrapbook for summer of all the things you will do once the sun starts shining again! make some popcorn, but add cinnamon and sugar to it and serve it in some waffle bowls. YUMMY! I read that somewhere and my kids LOVED IT! My girls love the new play doh Sunday ice cream maker machine I bought them from TArget. They have spent HOURS playing with it this summer! I got it for them for their good report cards. Have a tea party with their dolls and stuffed animals. goldfish crackers and milk. My girls had fun doing this a couple years ago. we made a homeade brownie cake, paper birthday crowns for all the dolls and they even decorated lunch bags for bday party favors and made homeade presents for the dolls. the preparation for the party took longer than the party itself. plus i had TONS of photo op's for it! okay, now try one thing off the list and take some photos for me!!! HOPING FOR SUN SOON! tara
- You are so funny!!
{a.brief.moment}
of light. where is all of our beautiful Maine summer weather….call me if you have found it hiding…
daily mantra: “the sun is natures prozac…{astrid.alauda}
- Love the colours in that first one. Great job! :)
- You can have my weather, it's hot and miserable. She is the cutest thing ever, I love the laughter you've captured here.
- We are having the same problem here... rain, rain, rain!! Makes for beautiful green scenery though! Love the colored version - totally love her dress and pearls!
- beautiful!
- She looks joyous in the second shot!
- Your black and white is fantastic! And that color one is awesome to! I like the pearls and bear - you always have the best ideas!
- How sweet, I love her out there with her teddy :)
- Great shots. I love the contrast between the color and the b&w. Sorry about the weather, but it worked for some great shots. Hope it finds you soon :)
- I hope you find more summer... These are great shots to show the fun of summer..
- Neat shots, I really like the B&W one, plus her expression is great!
- I prefer the sun in your shots. Gorgeous!
- Those are precious. I love the expression on her face in the b/w one.
{sun.shine}
daily mantra: the sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child…{ralph.waldo.emerson}
- glorious.
- Mandi! You Always Amaze Me! Your Work Is One Of A Kinda!
- Oh MY I love the flare! Beautiful!
- Gorgeous!!
- That flare is gorgeous. Another amazing shot from you.
- The flare on the second shot is amazing!!
- We have to grab it up while we can, lately, huh? These are beautiful.
- Holy moly. Your sunflare is awesome. I'm not sure which I like best, the rays in the second one are to die for, but the pose on the first one is incredible too.
- Wow! She looks just like an angel in the second one!!
- So lovely! They look like they are in a dream!
- Amazing sunflare!!!
- Gorgeous! Love the lighting here!
- What a great flare!
- These are both beautiful, but that second one is just beyond!!!
- Holy gorgeousness! These are breathtaking! My how I have missed you... I have so much to catch up on!
{5.days.of.penelope.p}
daily mantra: animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms…{george.elliot}
today….i don’t feel like bribing the kids. we are all out of chocolate anyway…i ate it all during ’so you think you can dance’ last night. don’t judge. i can’t dance, isn’t that bad enough? today was Penelope’s turn. it has been 5 days since we brought her home. the first day she spent under the book case in the living room while Katie laid down, her face flat on the carpet, so she could peek under and say…”here kitty, kitty, kitty…” while Penelope stared back at her blankly. the next day she became more brave. she went for a ride in the dolly stroller. not by choice of course. the day after that she was perched in the upstairs of the Dora the Explorer house as if she owned it. which, apparently, she does now according to a bill of sale created by Mikki this morning. as Penelope laid down playfully on the kitchen floor Mikki exclaimed out loud..”its all yours” and handed her a crayon receipt for one Dora House. it was hard to tell, but Penelope looked as though she might be happy about it. as much as she has melted into our family, i have to say, the cat has taken more of a liking to my husband. {figures…he is the fun one} i just feed and change her cat box after-all.
its been great having another animal in the house. Katie is exciting but lacks the fur.
- OH I LOVE THESE!!!! Beautiful fun kitty!!!!
- What a perfectly adorable face!
- Cats do have a special way about them don't they. She is adorable, and your shots of her really capture her personality. Love your journaling!
- What a cute kitty, I just love the one of her yawning! :)
- Great captures!
- What a sweet kitty!! She is now the owner of your house!! ;)
- Holy cow that is the cutest kitty! I love LOVE these!
- Torture I tell you, pure torture. I love her.
{the.wednesday.whistle}
dear Katie and Mikki…
right now, in your little lives, you are blessed with many friends. yes, the moms all must get together and organize play date after play date, birthday party after birthday party, and several trips to the bowling alley and play grounds, but all of you seem to get along, and we continue to conspire and hope that you will always do so. but the truth is, as you get older, you will have fewer and fewer truly remarkable friends who stick with you. Your group will get smaller, until you get my age, and then you will be lucky to have 1or 2 friends that still put up with you. (but you are perfect just the same, and don’t let anyone tell you different).
the truth is…you’re not though. but you are a perfect you. and your friends, although not perfect either, will be perfect for you.
and this brings me around to my point (long windedness is one of the MANY flaws my friends have to put up with about me)….as difficult as it is, embrace the imperfections of those you love just as much as you embrace the reasons you love them in the first place. no person is going to be without their little faults (or big ones). but in the end….as long as they are loyal to you, bring you joy, and stick with you through thick, thin, and moments where you don’t even like yourself, they are worth it.
my hope is that you always see through the shortcomings of others, and hold the sincerely magnificent spirits in this world close to your heart.
all my love darlings,
p.s. daily.mantra….the best mirror is an old friend…unknown
- Wow you have some photo-shop talent girlie!
- Yikes! This is a tad on the creepy side! It looks so convincing.
- LOL very very cool!!!
- Very cool image. I love your Wednesday Whistle.
- What a strange but cool image!
- Oh wow! This is so cool, and a bit freaky too. Love it!
A Blurb on the Biz….
Dear Friends and Customers…
Going forward I will be changing the online viewing time of all galleries (except for wedding galleries) from 14 days to 7 days. This means from the time your gallery is released to you, you will have 7 days to view it, make your orders, and then pay for them. If this change is an issue for you personally please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss it.
Thank you,
Amanda
{rachel.and.mike}
I felt so blessed to be part of Rachel and Mike’s special day….another rainy day here in Maine. It did not dampen their spirits as they prepared for their special event, and this fun family embraced the day with humor and love for one another.
Rachel’s dress was truly breathtaking. . .
The tile work in Saint Josephs Parish in Portland, Maine was so exquisite…as were the flowers.
See what I mean about fun! I am so blessed to have such amazing brides and families…these girls were a blast.
Arriving at the church…
the {ceremony}
{married}
{my.favorite}
{just} perfect
The weather let up just in time to snap some outside bridal shots. Mother nature was forgiving after all.
daily mantra: love one another and you will be happy. it’s as simple and as difficult as that….{michael.leunig}
- These are fabulous! You've really captured the excitement they had about their day AND the love they have for each other.
- while its hard to say your fav is my fav too! gosh you amaze me hun
- My goodness, these are JUST GORGEOUS!!! Mandy, you are absolutely an amazing photographer!!!
- Beautiful shots! You've been busy! They should be very happy with these photos!
- FABULOUS!!! Wow! These are all absolutely beautiful!
- These are STUNNING! Your angles and creative shots are fantastic! What beautiful shots!!
- Beautiful! They look like such a happy couple. You did a fantastic job!
- These are amazing!!
- Wow Mandy, these are just so beautiful. The pictures, the couple, the details...everything. They look so happy together, I love it!
- Wow! These are absolutely GORGEOUS!! Love all the details you caught!!
- you are crazy!!!! stop killing me! you're photos have this ludicrous quality about them, and the only way i can think to describe is to say they have layers, of emotion, of beauty....
- These are breathtaking. Your work is amazingly beautiful.
- Oh my goodness. These are awesome. First I'm thinking your detail shots are amazing. Then I see your people shots and they are even more amazing. It's hard to pick a favorite, but the one that made me smile is the one of the bride walking down the aisle with the guy on the right and the woman on the left, both chimping surreptitiously!
- AMAZING! your work is truly amazing. The bride will Love everyone of them.
- Mandy, the shot of her shoes would've made my daughter's heart sing--she is a confirmed shoeaholic. Wonderful shot. All of these are SO Mandy--I just love your vision and the way you catch details and "see" things. The first shot of the two of them together just grabbed me; I love the lighting in it and the way they look right into your heart. These ROCK!!!
- Beautiful!!! They will be beyond thrilled with these images :)
- These are amazing! I love all the details you captured. They are all gorgeous!
- wow these are absolutely stunning, love all the details, they are going to love these
- Loving the flip flops:)
- Beautiful!
- Absolutely stunning! Beautiful photos, gorgeous detail.
- Oh so stunning!!
- What a lovely event.. you truly captured the joy of the day.
- Gorgeous gorgeous work! I am loving all of these....the details shots at the church, the beautiful bride and bridesmaids and their flip flops! How fun! Beautiful couple, you captured their special day perfectly!
- Mandy, you are just SO talented!! I love the creativity, and emotion you captured
- WOW WOW WOW! If I could get married all over again, you would be my girl. These rock!
- Wow, you so rocked this wedding! They must be thrilled with these images! Love them!
- What awesome photos! They are all amazing!
- So beautiful, I can't even choose a fav. I love them all!
- Gorgeous bride, gorgeous color, gorgeous details!
- these are all fantastic!!! i love how you captured all the details--the shoes , the dress, the flowers sigh--just priceless--i missed out on these types of shots at my wedding and it still makes me sad when i think about it today. love your work!
- These are gorgeous!
- Gorgeous wedding and gorgeous captures! You documented their special day perfectly!
- Beautiful job capturing their special day!
- You did a fantastic job. The detail shots are amazing, and the rest are fabulous too. They will be so happy with these!!
- Absolutely gorgeous...what beautiful captures! I just love the flip flop's (ingenious idea) shot!
{penelope}
We went from Littlest Pet Shop to littlest pet….{Penelope} has entered or family of young ladies. {age 8 weeks}
more silly hats and ridiculous cat pics to come.
dialy mantra: happy is the home with at least one cat….{italian.proverb}
- Ok the more I look at her the more I want one...can you have a talk with my hunny and tell him we need a kitty ;)! (or a shat as keaton calls them)
- Yes, I see the resemblance, lol! So cute! We just added a cat to our family, too, or should I say, she happened upon us and we're welcoming her with open arms!
- Too cute! Enjoy!
{peyton}
This Tuesday I met the darling Miss Peyton and her mommy over at a local park to snap a few photographs for her very first birthday that is just around the bend. Aren’t her eyes….astounding. I have had so many people ask if I photo shopped them. Nope…those are all hers. Lucky, lucky girl. She just melts your heart with these babies.
daily mantra: my eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected. . . {unknown}
- what a gorgeous capture of her eyes! great job!
- What a gorgeous little girl! Amazing eyes!
- She does have some gorgeous eyes!!! Beautiful job!
- Wow!! Amazing eyes! I love your work! The last one is a beauty!
- SWEETNESS! Love her eyes in the B&W shot - great angle for that. And of course the last one! *SWOON*
- She is beautiful!!!
- What a cutie! Her eyes look amazing in the first one!
- What a stunning image that first one is!
- What a beautiful little girl, her eyes are stunning! LOVE the last shot, so delicate and sweet! :)
- GASP! Those eyes are just incredible! Wow!
- Oh my she has gorgeous eyes!! Love that first one and the lashes one - she is a real cutie!!
- Her eyes are like pools of sparkles! Gorgeous! Those lashes are stunners too!
- That first image is sooo incredible, but I love the last one too... look at those eyes!!!
- What a beautiful little girl and those eyes are truly astounding.
- beautiful!!!!
- Those aren't eyes! They are jewels! Stunning!
- Oh my goodness, how darling!
- WOWZA...those eyes!!
- Gorgeous eyes in that first one! Love your lighting and work!
- Ahhh... she's such a little darling! Love these!
- Oh my, look at those eyes! Precious images!
- amazing eyes because you caught the light JUST PERFECT and it made the natural color just POP right out! LOVELY as always! tara
- Wow, what amazing blue eyes! You rocked this session--great lighting, color, clarity, all of it!
- beautiful images... love the last one!
- Oh WOW... what a precious little doll baby! Her eyes just drew me right in... amazing.
- What gorgeous eyes! Love these!
- Holy Blue Eye Batman! She is gorgeous Mandy, loving the detail you caught in those lashes.
- You Did Get A Smile! *wink* I Can't Believe How Amazing These Photos Are Of My Daughter Are! Thank You So Much Amanda! She Melts Our Hearts Everyday!!
- I just love those baby blues! Gorgeous photos of a gorgeous baby!
- WOW!!! Surreal eyes! Beautiful!
- What a beautiful baby! That last one just made me melt. Beautiful images and I know the parents are thrilled with them.
- That little girl is going to break some hearts when she gets older! I *adore* the last shot!!
- wow your daily mantra really fits these photos. those eyes are amazing, she is going to melt hearts. the lash shot is amazing too, i hope the parents get that big.
- Wow! Now those are some baby blues!!! Gorgeous photos... gorgeous little girl... gorgeous eyes! I also love her beautiful long eye lashes that you captured in the last shot! Great work!!!
by amanda.b.
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