The Great Outdoors (part 2)...

After our workout on the stairmaster from hell, we DROVE to the bottom of the falls. There, we saw this contraption. Mason had never seen one before...and of course, he didn't know you had to put money in it to get it to work. "Mom, I can't see anything through this thing." So, after fetching a quarter from the truck, Brian helped him find what he was supposed to be looking for...

Look closely...do you see it?


I LOVE this smooshed up face!

When I was editing these photos, this one made me laugh out loud! I love the shocked look on Mason's face as his marshmallow is engulfed in flames and that Brian is cramming a marshmallow into his mouth. HA!

We forgot to pack the fire extinguisher...not that you need them for marshmallows anyway. Am I the only person who thinks that slightly charred marshmallows actually taste BETTER?

Mmmm...molten hot sugary goodness.

Brian had the forethought to cut sticks with more than one place to put a marshmallow. It's really brilliant, if you think about it – when was the last time you ate just ONE roasted marshmallow?

Roasted marshmallows are good plain, but not nearly as good as they are on s'mores! YUM!

Callie was so worn out by the stair master from hell that she needed to take a rest. Please note that she is on MY sleeping bag. She has to be as near to Brian as possible.

Time for everyone to take a rest. Ah, the comforts of home...sorta – without the comfy bed and air conditioning and a refrigerator...oh, and running water.

Ah, the warmth of a campfire. Mason didn't want to humor me by singing campfire songs, though.

During the night, I had heard a little bit of a ruckus outside the tent. We really didn't think anything of it until the following morning...we had been robbed! Okay, so it was some hungry raccoons that got into our stash of chocolate bars and eggs. The little sneaks. I was fine with them taking the eggs...okay...no problem – but the chocolate? How was I supposed to have a s'more for breakfast? Dangit!

Amicalola is a state park, which is probably why this little guy walked right in front of us and stopped. I didn't mind, of course, because I got some photos. What a great ending to a camping trip.

Brian and Mason are going camping again this weekend while I'm in Philadelphia. I hope that Brian takes photos.

The Great Outdoors (part 1)...

My husband, you know, they guy that works outside all day, got excited about taking the family camping a couple of weeks ago. He started acquiring camping gear little by little and last weekend was decidedly the weekend for us to go find ourselves in the great outdoors.

As luck would have it, Georgia topography offers a wide array of beautiful landscapes to choose from. We live in Atlanta, which is in north-central Georgia, so the logical choice, for our limited time, was the foothills of the Appalachian mountains – just a short hour and a half drive.

I had done my research and had narrowed our options down to just two – Tallulah Gorge and Amicalola Falls. Both were equally as far from Norcross and also equally as stunning. Eeenie meenie miney moe...Amicalola it is! Isn't the view from the top amazing?

This is the warning sign...it's not too late to turn back! Unfortunately, we had already parked at the bottom of those stairs and walked up to the top. We were on our way down...

"Come on, mom..." What he didn't realize was that my heart rate was so high that my heart had decided to jump out of my chest and meet me back at the bottom of the falls. I would give anything for his energy and enthusiasm for stairs, of all things.

*Gulp* There should be defibrillator paddles at every landing instead of benches.

Okay, so going down wasn't quite as bad as going up...but my legs were Jell-O by the end of it. Now I had no reason to feel badly about the 10 s'mores I was going to consume when we got back to camp.

Strolling down the trail that led us to the middle of the falls...

We were fortunate to have gone camping on a weekend that the temperature was almost cool. The high was in the low 70s and the breeze was quite nice. With a view like that, how could I have been upset – even if it were 100 degrees?

Pause for a tourist snapshot...say cheeeeeeesy! To be continued...

Sneak Peek...

The fam went camping at Amicalola Falls this weekend. The foothills of the Appalachian mountains are stunning! Stay tuned for the full post...

My Buddy and Me...

Oh wait, that's not me next to my buddy – that's her fiancée, Amar.

I have know Alpa most of my life, and I am so excited that she has found someone to share her life with...finally! Of course, no one is EVER going to be good enough for my Al, but Amar comes as close as anyone will ever get. She is genuinely happy around him, and I am thankful to him for that.

I will be traveling to Philadelphia next weekend to celebrate her engagement in style! To those of you lacking Indian friends, Indian families celebrations are over-the-top soirees. Lots of food, lots of bling and lots of fun!

Stay tuned...photos to come!

Skool Dayz...

As if Mason being in Elementary school wasn't strange enough...his teacher actually sends homework. I may be dating myself, but I do not recall having homework in Kindergarten. Am I crazy? Wait, don't answer that.

He's in his second week in Kindergarten and I can already see an improvement in his reading! He seems to be not so afraid to sound out a word and also seems to figure it out faster. Here is an example of his reading for the night:

Denise got a new kite.
It was blue and red with white spots.
She went outside.
The wind was blowing.
She went up a hill.
She ran fast down the hill.

To my surprise, the only word he couldn't get in that paragraph was "Denise". He still enjoys a good bedtime story – that he doesn't have to read, of course. I will enjoy that while it still lasts. I figure it won't be too long and he'll be too old for bedtime stories. *Sob*

I Can't Drive 55...

Ohio trip UPDATE:

Heidi and I finished shooting in Buckhead on Friday night around 11 pm – a half an hour earlier than expected. We were off to a good start!

Eleven hours to go...woohoo! We stopped for a change of clothes, gas and coffee...especially the coffee part. Ah, sweet nectar of life!

I took a short snooze and woke up to the skyline of Cincinnati right before sunrise. Absolutely breathtaking! I would have never thought that Cincinnati would be a place that I would like to visit, but the downtown area was really neat. Okay, so this isn't my photo...I was too groggy from my 1 hour of sleep to grab a camera. Thanks Google!



The sun started to rise about the time we hit Columbus, OH. It had been eons since I had witnessed a sunrise. You all know how much of a morning person I am. What a different perspective when you stay up all night and see all of the splendor!



I'm always in awe of what God puts in front of my eyes...especially when Heidi's iPhone is capturing it going 85 mph on a freeway.


We arrived in Painesville, OH with time enough to spare to stop by Heidi's parents' house for breakfast! Bacon, eggs and Flying Biscuits. Yes, we brought them all the way from Georgia. Yes, I am THAT obsessed.

The wedding went off without any problems and, despite us being awake for 36 hours, all of the photos were in focus. I don't think I have ever slept as well as I did on that Saturday night. Sunday was a long day of driving, but the scenery was spectacular. The mountains of Tennessee are breathtaking! Safe and sound back in Georgia just in time to take Mason to his first day of Kindergarten on Monday morning. What a whirlwind. Heidi, you keep me on my toes!

In Case You Ever Wondered...

...where your photographers went during your event.

Reeding, Riding and Rithmutik...

Mason's first day of Kindergarten. A milestone! Tomorrow I will wake up and he will be leaving for college.

Until this day, I always thought that school uniforms squashed creativity and individuality. Then, I woke up late this morning and had to do a mad dash to get everything ready to go! I have to admit that it was glorious to not have to think about what he was going to wear to school. Simple. Done. Please don't make fun of his folded down knee socks...I forgot to get some shorties for when he wears shorties! Poor kid will have no fashion sense because of my lack of forethought!

I had his attention for a few minutes for photos, but then his expression went awry. This is his "oh, mom" expression. Photo session complete. Aaaand...we're off to school!

There are 19 students in Mason's class. What a wonderfully small ratio! He did seem a bit more excited to be there once we actually arrived. Ms. Thurman is his teacher...I wasn't keen on taking her photo on the very first day. Sorry, Janet.

He found his desk and plopped down like he had been sitting at that desk for years. Mary-Olivia introduced herself and they were off to chatting like they had known each other for years.


After receiving the "oh, mom...it's time for you to go now" look, I made a quick getaway. I'm excited to hear about all the new children he meets and all the new things he will be learning!

Fun with Facebook...

Strangely, I have found a new addiction – the superhero application on Facebook. You can use your powers for good or evil, fight your friends and win their powers and go to superhero training to build your strength!

Not unlike many things on Facebook, you can edit your profile to be uniquely yours. By adding a photo, superhero name and mission statement, you can go forth and kick some superhero butt! My problem is that I don't have a superhero name! Suggestions?

Life is a Beach...

...or at least it should be.

I am a people watcher – an observer, if you will. The best places to watch people is where the people don't know they are being watched – airports, shopping malls and, of course, the beach.

Sometimes it's not the people that amuse, but that animals that accompany the people. I'm quite sure this little cutie was aware that I was recording her and she was showing off!

Oh, Heidi – How I Luv Thee...

Photography has been my passion for almost 10 years now, and I have had the pleasure of working with, and learning from Heidi for the past 2 years.

I never pictured myself as a wedding photographer, but the more I shoot, the more I love it. Although most of the weddings I shoot are assisting Heidi, she has given me the opportunity to learn as much as I can while I am still getting my own business off the ground.

One of the great things about wedding photography is the opportunity for travel. So far, we have been all over Georgia, Florida and, this coming weekend, we will be traveling to Ohio to shoot.

Although this seems incredibly glamorous, we are shooting an event the Friday night before we are to be in Ohio. We will be finished with our shoot on Friday around 11 pm and leaving for Ohio directly afterward. It's an 11.5 hour drive to Painesville, OH, so we will be driving through the night. We will arrive just in time to start shooting on Saturday morning. What?!

Please pray for Heidi and I in our weekend of chaos! Pray for no traffic, pray for no accidents, pray for our camera gear, pray for our feet and necks...but most of all pray for our sanity!

In Exile (pt. 2)...

Here I sit...in exile. I feel like our department is located on a deserted island far from the mainland. What if we need something to eat other than coconuts? What if we need paper clips...or paper, for that matter?! What will we do?! I feel a sudden rush of panic wash over me. Then, I remember that we are rock stars and don't need paper because of our green initiative production. HA! Who needs the mainland?

OH and...

Mason comes home today! Yay!

In Exile...

I know I have written about moving to NewHomeGuide quite often on this blog, but it was really a decision that changed my outlook on corporate America. Being a part of the Homes team has given me the opportunity to expand my print knowledge, as well as share and implement new ideas and processes. Wow, that sounded like something to put on a resumé didn't it?

After joining the Homes/Graphic Support team in August of last year, we were suddenly moved away from the rest of EGG (Electronic Graphics Group), which is located on the first floor, and relocated to the third floor of our corporate office. After some initial hesitation, my fellow homies and I had managed to make the third floor our home. Movin' on up like George and Weezie, you could say.

There have been a lot of changes happening here since the beginning of the year. Primedia and Consumer Source are now one in the same, we got a new CEO (who is only 35, I might add) and the dress code is actually being enforced. I know, whine whine whine. So, I like wearing shorts on casual Friday – sue me.

It is because of some of these changes that Homes is being relocated – AGAIN! We will be moving out of the main corporate office and into a building in the same complex. I am starting to feel like the red-headed step child of EGG. I may need to seek therapy.

Tomorrow is moving day. At least I get a free half-day off with pay out of the deal! Being exiled has its advantages.

Pictures from Kansas (part 2)...

It is a welcome rarity that children have the privilege to get to know their great-grandparents. Mason is incredibly fortunate and has two great-grandmothers and a great-grandfather that enjoy spoiling him. He is at an age where his memories of them will always be with him. What a blessing!

Pictures from Kansas...

Great Bend, Kansas appears to have quite the water park! My little fish loves water in any form...bath, ocean or swimming pool.


He has learned to float! A valuable asset for learning to swim. Swimming lessons here we come!


It's not all play at the farm. Good to see they are putting him to work! Our windows at home need some Windex too...

Tap, Tap...

Is this thing on?

Viva La Vida

I recently acquired a copy of Coldplay's new album "Viva La Vida", and I must say that if you do not have this yet, pick it up! It's amazing!

An Interesting Take on Love...

A segment taken from an article about monogamy:

While our society has set one standard for love and relationships, other societies have recognized that multiple types of each exist. The Greeks had several words for different types of love, including:

Eros –- erotic love involving physical attraction and emotional intensity;

Agape –- sacrificial love involving placing a loved one’s welfare above your own;

Storge –- love as friendship and companionship;

Pragma –- love as a “shopping list” of desired attributes, such as being a good parent;

Ludus –- love as a game;

Mania –- jealous, obsessive, dependent love.

Thoughts?

I also *Heart* Ikea...

Nearly every year that Brian and I have been together, we have purchased a new couch. We have had 5 couches in 6 years.

We have had some doozies, that is for sure! The first couch – Brian had when we met and was held up by a piece of plywood. That couch was replaced by one purchased from a street corner by the sorority house in Manhattan. The cushions never stayed on that little blue beauty. Next came a tweed two-seater that was surprisingly comfortable, despite its hideousness. That one moved to Atlanta with us and was replaced last year with a plaid hide-a-bed. This couch was also very ugly and very very heavy! I will not miss it.

Our lovely plaid wonder was replaced on Friday with a couch...a real couch! New? No. Beautiful...YES! I know that a plain brown couch may not seem like a beautiful couch to most, but I have been staring at ugly couch after ugly couch for 6 years now. This little brown piece of heaven is a welcome addition to my living room.

I love it so much that I decided that it needed to be accessorized with new curtains and throw pillows. That is where the "I *heart* Ikea" comes into play. Ikea enables people like me to have a modern-looking living room at a very reasonable price. Thank you Ikea!

I *Heart* The Flying Biscuit...

If only woman could survive on Flying Biscuits alone...

Words cannot describe my overwhelming passion for the Flying Biscuit! Every time I go downtown, I must go pick up a half dozen white biscuits. Yes, it IS a necessity...I MUST have them!

Sometimes I arrive just as those little beauties are coming right out of the oven. Then I MUST buy 7 instead of 6, so I can eat one immediately with fresh, delicious cranberry apple butter.

Why am I writing about The Flying Biscuit, you ask? While running errands on my lunch break, I noticed a new sign in a shopping plaza. What did it say? THE FLYING BISCUIT! OMG...IN Norcross? Now I won't have to drive all the way Downtown to get my fix! So, fellow suburbanites, if you've not ventured to the Flying Biscuit because it's too far, now is your chance to taste something truly Atlanta! So...get out there and EAT!

Grandma's House...

Grandma and Grandpa's house is a place where every child wants to be. Not only are they allowed cookies for breakfast and late bedtimes, but there are new and fun things to do there, too!

Each year that we have been in Georgia, Bill and Janet have had Mason to the farm to visit for a couple of weeks. Mason is finally at an age that he can really think beyond what he's going to be doing in the next 24 hours, so he was really looking forward to his visit this summer. Janet has promised to send me photos....so stay tuned!

I Almost Peed Myself...

While the Child is Away...

I know you've all heard the phrase, "while the cat's away, the mice will play." I feel a little bit like the mouse today, on this first day of Mason's 2 week visit in Kansas. To some, this may seem a little harsh and perhaps I give the impression that I am thankful my son is off at his grandparents. Having no family in Georgia has proven to be much more difficult than I had originally anticipated and, although I relish evenings with Mason, I must admit that the lifting of guilt for wanting to go to the gym or to a movie after work has made me feel lighter today. I am truly blessed to have Brian's family in my life so that we are able to have this time together to reconnect. I look forward to spending this time with my husband and friends. Thank you Bill and Janet! Oh, and if Mason is sitting there ... give him a big, wet yucky for me!

Doing Time...

Summer camp is in full swing at Kids R Kids, and that means lots of field trips! Kids love them because it gives them a break from the routine of the classroom, and parents love them because they are all educational. So far this summer, the children have been to the Georgia Aquarium, a Braves game, a wildlife preserve and even a recycling center.

Yesterday, the younger group of children were taken roller skating. After getting a long speech about safety, my beautiful son pushed another child! She fell flat on her behind. I don't imagine that felt very good, and I also imagine that she was pretty upset with him for doing this.

Now, he was punished by his teacher and had to miss skating for 20 minutes, but I was absolutely furious when she told me about this! It would be one thing if this were an isolated incident, but we have had trouble with him keeping his hands to himself all year.

Because of this incident, I did not allow Mason to go on the field trip to Zoo Atlanta with all of the other children today. I think in all of Mason's 5 years on this planet, he has never been this upset with me. He did understand (at least he said he did) why he was not being allowed to go with his friends, but was still in tears when I left this morning.

So, loyal readers...was I too hard on him? Parenting advice welcome here!

Finally...

As a southpaw, I have struggled my way through a right-handed world for 31 years now! I recently came across an article that suggests that left-handed people have an advantage over right-handed people in baseball! Finally! We lefties have the upper hand in something!!!

Online Fireworks Display!

I will admit it – I am spoiled! Brian works at Country Club of the South and therefor I get to reap the benefits of enjoying a killer fireworks display every year! This is for those of you who didn't get to see fireworks because of rain or just because you didn't want to get out and about. Enjoy!

What Independence Day Means to Me...

by Cortni Shelton


So, why not start a blog post off like a grade school book report? I'm free to do so because of this day.

Independence, to me, is the freedom to stay up late and read Harry Potter books until I fall asleep in the chair. It also means that I am free to sleep in late, if Mason so allows. I can also have marshmallows for breakfast if I want. I'm not sure that has so much to do with freedom rather than I'm an adult, and I'll eat what I want (sorry mom).

In short, today is a very special day...be sure to celebrate accordingly. Now, go out and eat some marshmallows! Photos to come...

Putting a Face to the Name...

When I moved from working for Apartment Guide to working for New Home Guide, one of my main concerns was speaking to the people who work in the markets. In Apartments, the production artists are sheltered from the chaos in the markets; but in Homes, we tackle the issues head-on.

I have been privileged to work with markets all across the United States – Denver, Austin, Richmond, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Columbus. Although I have never actually met the people that I have contact with, I feel very connected to them because I talk to them so often on the phone. So, when Adam, the publisher of Columbus New Home Guide, contacted me to let me know that he would be leaving the company to take another position, I was heartbroken!

The good news, however, is that because of his new position, he was in Atlanta for a couple of days! Amira, the creative artist for Columbus, and I met up with Adam while he was in town. It was very nice to finally put a face to the voice that I have been talking to for the last year! Good luck in your new endeavors, Adam!

St. Augustine, FL ...

Wedding photography can be very stressful because everything is "in the moment". However, being a wedding photographer has its perks...like traveling to St. Augustine for the weekend. I also have the privilege of working with a sought-after photographer like Heidi, who books events out of town on occasion. What more could a girl ask for?

Mack and I took Friday off so that we could leave Atlanta before traffic really bogged us down. Mason had a good time chillaxing in Heidi's hammock before the 7 hour drive to St. Augustine.


Mack has cat-like reflexes and was able to snag a gecko on the balcony of the hotel on Friday night. Oddly, he was a totally different color on Friday than he was in this photo on Saturday morning. Perhaps our room was too chilly for him?


Just for fun!


Heidi and I didn't have to start shooting until 4 on Saturday, so Mack, Mason and I took in some of the sights of St. Augustine. The Ripley's Believe it or Not! museum was really close to our hotel.


I think this house carved out of a Redwood is actually larger than my studio apartment in Chicago!

Who remembers hypercolor t-shirts? Come on now, I won't laugh! Mason got a real kick out of the heat sensitive material...especially when he figured out that he could use his face instead of just his hands.




Mason is now a permanent piece in the Miniatures Gallery.


Funhouse fun! There is a room full of various mirrors that make you taller, shorter, fatter and thinner. Mason certainly packed on the pounds in this one! I think Bear is becoming the "Where's Waldo" of my photos...do you see him?




After the museum, it was time to hit the pool! Mason has finally gotten up the courage to dunk his head under the water.


Sunday = beach day! I am a beach fanatic! We all try to make it to the ocean at least once a summer. I feel like because we live so close that we really have no excuse not to go!


"With Love from Me to You"!
It's always fun for me to see Mason enjoying himself in the water!

Oops! A little plumber's crack...little skinny thing! Yes, I know he is going to hate me later in life for this one. I promise not to pull this one out until his high school yearbook calls wanting graduation photos! *insert evil laugh here*


Mack and Mason dug this hole while I was out getting lunch. What craftsmanship! This photo was taken shortly before our little camp was almost washed away by the tide!


A little snooze on the way home. I think our action-packed weekend may have worn him out...just a little!

Hometown Flooding...

The flooding of the Midwest has been front-page news for weeks. Until yesterday, it hadn't really hit home with me. Then, a friend of mine, who still lives in my hometown, sent me this photo of the Chariton River running over Highway 36.

I have read in many articles that experts don't think that this year's flood is as bad as the flood of 1993, but I do not recall the Chariton being so far above flood stage that it closed down a major highway. I pray that God sends rain to Georgia instead of the Midwest.

Every now and then something comes along that touches me so much that I have to share it with you. Although I have never taken for granted that Mason is as perfect as humanly possible, I have to step back and thank God for all of the blessings in my life.

The Scariest Moment EVER!

There is a saying that "boys will be boys" and, although that phrase was coined long before Mason came into this world, he definitely fits the mold. As you are looking at these photos, I'm sure you're wondering what in the world could he have done to inflict such a gnarly head wound? Well, let me tell you...
Saturday started off to be an average day. I didn't have a shoot until later in the afternoon, so we all took off to the mall for some lunch and some shopping. Brian and I both had a few things to get before our trip to Kansas next month. While browsing through a women's clothing store, I heard Mason call for me. Now, I am used to hearing this while shopping. Usually that mommy is followed by "can we go now" or "I have to go to the bathroom", but this time was different. I turn around to see my son stuck between the wall and a wooden clothing rack that is attached to the wall...and I mean stuck!

By the time he had seen that I was coming, he was completely freaked out! He was pulling and pulling to get his head out while screaming and crying. Meanwhile, his little forehead is getting more and more swollen and bruised the more he struggled. I have never seen anything like this in my life! As I am trying to get Mason free from his bondage, I notice that not a soul has come to see why this child is screaming at the top of his lungs! Have we all gotten so numb to the cries of children that no one even notices them any more?

After finally getting him to calm down enough to let me twist his head enough to free him, he is so upset that he is shaking. His forehead is bleeding a little bit, but not enough that I thought we should go to the hospital. Luckily, the store manager was on hand and was able to get us some antiseptic ointment and a piece of candy.

Now, let's take a closer look at this wound. Notice the diagonal line that goes up and down his forehead? That is where his head was indented from the clothing rack digging into his skin. Ouch! I hope this situation scared him enough that he doesn't stick his head in strange places again. I know that this event rounds out as #1 in my "scariest moments ever" list.

I think I have a Vermin Problem –

A seemingly innocent cooler. Great for going to the beach or picnics, perhaps. EEEEK! Oh, whew! It's only Mason.