:: My Favorite Quote ::

I want to share with you one of my favorite quotes. It's so inspirational and it reminds me to be brave and take risks in life. A life without risks is boring and dull and nobody wants that! God knows I have taken many risks in life and I'm so glad I did. I would not be where I am and be a happy camper like I am right now. Life is not perfect don't get me wrong, but when is it really going to be?

If you have a dream go for it. Live your life with passion! (Like Gwen Stefani said: whatcha waiting for?)

:: I'm BACK!!! ::

I'm officially back in business and will start soon to return e-mails and phone calls.... thanks for your patience to those that e-mailed me and are waiting for a response. Can't wait to see what's ahead of us in 2008! I have the feeling that this will be an awesome year.

Ahhh.... to be in high school again! My high school years were SO much fun. I would love to go back to those days even for just one day! I don't remember ever looking this good when I was in high school though.... must be the water around here because I always get GREAT looking Seniors! I played with textures a little more on this session and love how they came out. Do you like them?

:: 101 things in 1001 days ::

Tomorrow is my first official day back to work! I can't believe how fast time went by. I didn't even have a chance to complete many of the tasks I wanted to do during my time off. For this reason I've created a list that will help me keep track of all the things I would like to accomplish soon, well, a couple of years is soon enough. Have you heard of 101 things to do in 1001 days? There is a website just for it! It's worth checking out to get inspired! Click here for Day Zero Website. If you choose to do it let me know!! Maybe we can help each other out in getting them done.

I've always been a person to set new goals and actually work at accomplishing them.... just ask my friends! :o) I divided my tasks into different sections but they are not set in any particular order. I can accomplish goal # 90 even before I do goal #1... the idea is just to accomplish them.

I will blog here and there as I accomplish my goals to record my progress. 1001 days is about 2 years and 9 months, therefore, I must do all these things by Tuesday, October 5, 2010!!! Are you ready to join me?

Get ready, set, go!

Trips
1. Visit the Grand Canyon
2. Go to Yellowstone National Park
3. Travel to Italy with Paul
4. Take a trip with the boys to a big city
5. Take the boys to visit my brother that lives far away in Mexico
6. Take the boys camping
7. Go back to New York City
8. Make a weekend trip with my girlfriends
9. Stay at a local resort for a weekend
10. Go to Rocky Point again
11. Take a cruise

Personal well being
12. Take dance lessons
13. Do not do any work on Sundays for 6 months
14. Do not say anything negative about anybody or anything for a month
15. Get in good shape (see actual abs!)
16. Use my rollerblades again
17. Do nothing for 2 days except, read, sleep and relax.
18. Cook dinner three times a week for two months
19. Take a vacation and not bring my phone or laptop
20. Sign up for professional teeth whitening sessions
21. Take a belly dance class
22. Give up Soda for two months
23. Give up Soda for 6 months
24. Sleep at least 7 hours each night for two weeks
25. Get a facial
26. Get an eye exam to see if it’s time for glasses
27. Drink more water

Family & Friends
28. Organize and print my personal photos
29. Visit my family more often
30. Learn to make tortillas (just like my mom)
31. Throw a party
32. Call three friends I haven't talked to in awhile
33. Photograph my mom
34. Write a letter to my boys of why I love them so much
35. Work on listening more than I talk and not interrupting
36. Play paintball with my boys
37. Take the boy’s photos in 2008
38. Take the boy’s photos in 2009
39. Send Christmas cards in 2008
40. Send Christmas cards in 2009
41. Call a childhood friend I haven't talked to in a looong time

Photography/Business
42. Have someone design a new logo for my business
43. Start and actually finish a photography project
44. Get a new website
45. Buy a fisheye lens
46. Hire an assistant to help me with administrative work
47. Get some creative shots of still photography
48. Go to a great photography workshop
49. Create a website for high school seniors
50. Go to a WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) Trade Show in Vegas
51. Shoot a celebrity’s family
52. Get a studio/office to display my work
53. Blog every day for a month
54. Encourage or mentor an upcoming woman photographer - [In Process]
55. Be the best Senior High School photographer in my city
56. Print new sample photos of the standard sizes I offer
57. Print new business cards
58. Use my film camera again
59. Partner up with another business
60. Transition to an almost paperless office
61. Teach a class
62. Photograph a kid with big afro hair
63. Make daily lists to keep my schedule more organized & productive
64. Buy an armoire to place and organize all my photography knickknacks
65. Photograph a local band or singer
66. Do more active marketing for my business
67. Photograph someone in the rain

Challenges
68. Learn a third language: Italian
69. Go to the movies by myself
70. Learn to cook a really good roast
71. Get a live plant and keep it alive for more than a month
72. Save 20% of what I earn for one year
73. Resist the urge to buy some expensive item of clothing and do something important with the money instead
74. Get better at bowling
75. Read one book per month for three months
76. Go to a sit down restaurant by myself

Fun!
77. Take a train ride
78. Volunteer somewhere
79. Do something nice for someone anonymously [Done 1.21.08]
80. Ride a motorcycle with Paul for one day
81. Go on a picnic
82. Go to a baseball, football or basketball game and be on first row (or close to) [Done - Sun's game 1.20.08]
83. Hire an awesome photographer to take MY photos
84. Learn to play tennis
85. Learn about wine
86. Make a white water rafting trip
87. Join a group for a recreational sport
88. Do a sports day with Paul
89. Take scuba diving lessons
90. Ride a horse
91. Go to a hockey game
92. Ride my bike in 3 different bike routes around the valley

Misc.
93. Have my car detailed
94. Decorate my bedroom
95. Buy a beautiful painting
96. Decorate boys room
97. Organize my closet and get rid of old stuff
98. Leave open for new ideas
99. Leave open for new ideas
100. Leave open for new ideas
101. A wish only I know about