daily mantra: there’s a lot of things you should make back up plans for, but love isn’t one of them…{stan.smith…the.american.dad}

love always. me.

…

it’s not what you wear that is important to your session….it’s not your shoes….your make up. it’s you. fabulous, wonderful, perfect in non-perfect form…you.

that is expecting a lot though, isn’t it? being you?

i find children facinating because they are comfortable in their own self. that is what led me most to photographing children. their honesty. if they are sad, you know. if they are happy, you know. if they want a piece of cake, you know.

i know i ask a lot of adults when they come to me and i tell them to show their love in front of the camera. it IS difficult to forget those inhibitions that are painted on like layers as we move through our lives. i have them too. actually, i have them all. haha.

but maybe, just maybe, if you know what inspires me most in the whole wide world is YOU, that will make it a bit easier.

{and yes, if being you is wearing your old pair of roller skates and barreling through the Old Port, that is completely okay}

***

and this is good stuff…you should watch it.

“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference.

They bless the one who receives them,

and they bless you, the giver.”

{barbara.de.angelis}

As you can tell…I really need to get out more.

I seriously bought this doughnut to take pictures of it. Does that make me crazy?

Don’t answer that.

P.S: I didn’t even eat it.

“Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly

the ongoing process of growth, renewal, and transfermation in our lives.”

{un.known}

I hope as we burst through the holiday season, we are filled with a sense of not only growth and renewal, but  most of all love and togetherness. Just a notice to all blog readers that I am taking an extended break from blogging to enjoy my family during this time {but I can assure you, not from taking pictures). There have been many changes this year…99% great, and I want to relish in our excitement for the new year.

With that…I have some VERY (and I do mean, VERY special announcements).  Upon my return, on December 31st, I will be posting a HUGE blog FILLED with all the hubbub of expected new products and offerings at la Bella Vita, as well as a delectable blog contest to start out the new year (with PRIZES…oh how I love to GIVE them). I will post tons of photos, pages and pages worth probably since by then I will probably be having massive blog withdrawal. ( I wonder if they have a pill for that). I would like to sincerely thank everyone for making 2008 such a wonderful and blessed year for me and my new business, and I can only promise  you that 2009 will be more personal, more heartfelt, and more divine than the last.

xoxox….{Mandy}

Daily Mantra:

“When birds burb, it must taste like bugs”

{bill.watterson}

A little Monday silly for everyone.

After a weekend spent wrist deep in semi-gloss white paint, I was too tired to get upset at Katie’s loud whistle in the house.

The renovations on our new (new to us) little home are coming to and end, but only because their isn’t any more time…not because of lack of things to do. The painting is done, the blue contoured rug from the 70’s has been removed, and the fake fire place is now a distant memory, but not too distant, because its still in the dumpster in the driveway which is now a heaping replica of items one should never use to decorate their home. (Seriously, was it really necessary to use the fake brick vinal siding INSIDE the house). We are getting to the point where I might actually LIVE there…although cable isn’t installed yet, and I can’t live without my daily dose of CNN and Nancy Grace. (Because, if there is one thing you must know about me, it is that I have an odd obsession with watching that woman’s show.)

Michael instant messaged me this morning from work:

Michael: Cable is set to be installed on the 22nd.

Me: Good.

Me: What…wait…that is like the Monday AFTER we move in.

Michael: Yup…we will be without it for 2 days.

Me: Um…no.

(I frantically dial Time Warner….sweat coming from my brow…thinking I might have to be in the house for 2 whole days without Noggin or Robin Meade or Matt Lauer or the ladies from the View.)

Operator: Thank you for calling Time Warner, how can I help you?

Me: Hi…its me, Amanda Burse. I can’t live without Nancy Grace, so you need to come a lot sooner than the 22nd of December….think about all the danger I could be in without even KNOWING it. Oh, you can only give me an 8 hour window of availability? Really? Okay…totally worth it. See you then.

Exhibit A:

Well…at least they look cute.

Unrelated Daily Mantra:

“There is no half singing in shower, you’re either a rock star or an opera diva.”

{Josh.groban}

{mikaya.quinn.burse}

Yeah…I name the turkey. It has the same name every year…Tom. I picked “Tom” up from Hannaford yesturday at approximately 11:26am after painting in the new house since 5:34am. Needless to say I was not in the mood for a crowd as I still had my painting clothes on, and I realized as I was entering the store that I was about to brake my solemn vow to NEVER, ever wear my sweat pants to the grocery store. With drips of Glidden {paint} dried in my hair, I grabbed a cart, and started my shopping. Since I looked gross, I of course, ran into every person known to live in Rumford/Mexico, Maine.

“Amanda, honey, how are you doing? How are the kids? You are looking like you are up to something.”

I know that “up to something” means I look awful, and I say a brisk “good cheer”.

Next stop…meat department- the store manager is there helping to hand out the birds.

“Nice to see you Mrs. Burse…Tom is back here for ya. How are the girls? Wow…are you doing some home renovations…some painting perhaps?”

Yes, the store manager knows I name my turkey. It’s a small town.

Deciding I must look wretched, I keep my head down the rest of the way through the store. This whole excursion lasts approximately 45 minutes because I couldn’t bribe anyone to let me cut {I didn’t have make up on..that is why} in line at the check out, and costs me $141.26.

Despite the high cost of Thanksgiving, Mike, the girls, and I have so much to be beside ourselves blissful about. The home renovations are moving along, Mikki is loving Kindergarten, school is going great for Michael, I get to live my dream of being a photographer each and every day,  and Katie is, well Katie, and we are thankful for her just the crazy way she is.

Less blab, more pics, right? Here they are.

{Above: Katie watches the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; then I try to get a photo of the 2 girls. This is, as usual, the way it goes.}

{Above: Katie helps with a side dish…eats most of them before I can realize that they are half gone}

{Above: Fresh, organic sage; Michael tying the Tom, and the 4 hour bake begins…”Is it done yet, Mom?”}

{Above: Rest in peace Tom}

{Above: Mikki helping with the mashed potatoes}

{Above: Katie enjoying desert…because she didn’t eat any dinner, of course}

{good to the last bite…I wish the girls were old enough to do dishes}

Daily Mantra: “Whooo…hooo….”

{me}

I am kind of {okay..like super DUPER} excited that Design Aglow liked my flip book enough to put in on their blog!

This is such an amazing company put together by a beautiful photographer, Lena Hyde.

I don’t mind admitting that I am completely addicted

to their innovative and creative products.

Click Here to Check it Out…

http://www.designaglow.com/blog/index.php?link=141&cat=1

{don.byas}

I try to remember that love, even with all its seriousness, is still spontaneously silly.

{NOTICE}

{ralph.waldo.emerson}

Do you remember when you first started dating in middle or high school, and you were getting ready for your first date, and you were kind of nervous, so your mother (or father in my case) came into your bedroom (obviously invading your space) and told you to ‘just be yourself’?

Your thought and/or comment was probably the same as mine. . . “Um….no way, Mom…thanks for the advice though.” (door slamming in her face)

As Mikki was running to catch the bus this morning, all bundled in her winter coat because it was 17 degrees outside, wearing a hat that was slightly leaning to one side, one sock pulled up higher than the other, her nose running a bit with her perpetual cold, and one shoe lace untied, waving at me over her shoulder, yet not looking back…off to conquer another day of Kindergarten….I said a prayer to myself that she would always stay true to her eccentric, yet unconditionally loving self. I could actually hear myself saying the words my dad did to me on my first date when I was 16. Maybe he was hoping if I WAS my crazy self, the guy would totally ditch me, and he wouldn’t have to worry about the whole ordeal.

I bet that was it.

I dated that guy for 3 years, and then listened to my dad.