Four corners

We thought the trip from Temecula to Durango, CO would take 12.5 hours.

GoogleMaps told me so.  

BUT IT LIED.

Instead, we drove for 16 hours.  Normally, this would make me throw a tantrum (a totally reasonable and cute tantrum, btw) but Tyler and I actually had a lot of fun on our drive.  

Especially during hours 12-16, when Tyler got really, really hyper, and I kid you not, was seat-dancing, very well, even using spirit fingers at times.  

He makes me laugh. He makes me laugh so hard sometimes I drive off the road.

While on our voyage, we stopped at the Four Corners Monument. Haven't been there?  Well, here's the low down.  It's this place, in the middle of nowhere, where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado meet together. So, I guess it's technically not the middle of nowhere. 

It's really a very precise location.

But anyway, we paid our $3.00 each person entrance fee, and beelined it to the monument. We observed other weary travelers getting out their cameras and taking pictures of them in four states at once.  

I noticed some of them did not pay much attention to their actual body and foot placement. The one lady in the flag shirt wasn't even touching Colorado! The man with the handlebar moustache completely ignored New Mexico and Utah!? 

Psh.  Our methods of touching all four states at once did not go un-noticed by our elderly tourist-friends.  We even showed them how teamwork helps.

I want you to forgive me for having such wacked out double jointed elbows. And, for this picture being so small. It's better that you don't see me in this position any larger than necessary.

Check out his form. The guy is amazing.

The elderly started getting a little wild and hostile about our four corner methods. So we left. To visit:

We surveyed the stuff being sold (saled?)

And then entertained ourselves by being weird.

Nice socks, Ty.

I missed.

He's mine!

Whelp, that's it.  We drove for a few more hours and arrived in Durango just in time to have some amazing shoots with new clients. 

Durango... it's mighy pretty.

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!

So.  Here it is: the great Etsy giveaway.  

1 lucky winner will receive:

ONE HUNDRED BUCKS TO AN ETSY ITEM(S) OF YOUR CHOICE!  (small print: shipping charges apply toward the $100). 

Neat-o!

So here are the rules:

Make a comment here, show us and the other readers what you would buy.  That way we can all discover pretty things we didn't even know existed on etsy.

ALSO, you must put a link to our blog on your facebook status.  Not on your wall, in your status.  So this will probably have a small pool of participants because not everyone uses facebook! If you aren't friends with Blue Lily on Facebook, be one- so we can see the link!

This contest will end on October 7th.  Good luck!

Be sure to check out the video in the post below. It's fab.

Mary, Mary

Tyler has a buddy named Paul. They've been friends since their first year of college. I know, cute, huh!?

For the last 7 years, Tyler and Paul haven't lived near each other- he missed Paul's marriage to Sarah, their first child's birth, and only once have we reunited since then.  Paul is hilario to the max; Sarah an equally witty beauty.  Such fun, happy souls, and it seems only right that their 2 year old daughter Mary is the same way.

We went to Atlanta last week to visit Paul, Sarah and Mary.  Seeing Paul and Tyler together again, being ridiculous and funny and digging up old inside jokes... it was amazing. We loved every minute of it. 

Paul and Sarah are now expecting baby #2.  Tyler thought it would be nice to make a video of the three of them, to document the dynamics of their little family before it grows a bit more.  Nothing else needs to be said- the video shows it all. Enjoy.

Oh, p.s:  The giveaway?  Mmmhmm?  Guess what it is:  $100 to anything off etsy- anything of your choice. We'll have the details up tomorrow. Be prepared to tell me how you wanna spend it! I'm going to bed. At 7 pm.  Yup.

Maywiage is what bwings us togethah todayyyyy

Home from touring the southern states.

Back to the grind- and a bit disoriented since our trip seemed SO LONG.

Readying to get back on the road, headed for Colorado on Thursday for a wedding.

I'll tell you what.

I wanna have a real exciting giveaway.

Something supercool.

Tonight as I dream I will think of something quite excellent.

And tomorrow I will blog it.

And you will all enter my giveaway.

MWAHAHAHA.

For now, check out these two- gorgeous, loving souls.

I also want to point out that the brides mother HANDMADE the wedding dress. Nice.

My favorite ring shot, ever.

Winners of the Lisa Leonard Jewelry!

Heeeeeey!  I know you've been waiting to hear the winners from the last giveaway.  I like to keep suspense high, you know? Either that, or---- I'm always overwhelmed after a giveaway and find it impossible to choose the winners.

But, without further teasing, the winners are:

CANDACE SHEETS who thinks the birdie flying out of the cage necklace would be so appropriate for her life right now. Thanks for your comment, Candace, and good luck with your new life!

TRACI, who wants the "Be Still" necklace, just cuz she likes it the best.  Traci, enjoy- I loved that one too, so I give it up for the carpe diem bracelet, which was my very fave. 

If you gals who liked the Carpe Diem bracelet want to share with me, I'm cool with that! But first, you'll have to move to Temecula :)  Candace and Traci, I'll email you for your addresses and then, you'll get your goodie in the mail! YAY FOR LISA LEONARD!

So. This week has been nothing short of amazing. Right now, Tyler and I are doing a photo tour of North and South Carolina and Georgia, and it has been so lovely.  This part of the country is gorgeous.  Especially today- we drove through South Carolina to North Carolina, and everything is so green and yet just beginning to change seasons. YUM. 

The weather was gorgeous, too.  I mean, sure... we lost out on some sessions due to POURING RAIN, but every once in a while, it's good to see the heavens open and hear some roaring thunder. It's like a treat for Tyler and I.  So imagine us driving through rolling country roads, through beautiful green pastures and forests, and the low clouds just barely touching the trees in the distance...

Eh.  There's a reason I'm not a writer.  I'm lame at any description. But, just try to imagine it.  WORK WITH ME! Soon enough you'll see the most embarrassing video of all time of me frolicking through the landscapes of North Carolina.  Yay?

Tonight's last session was met with pouring, pouring rain.  Our clients were like, "Hmm? What rain?"  And we held the session anyway.  It was so fun.  Fun to shed all inhibitions. Fun to run and frolic and snuggle up under umbrellas.  I tried to not scare them away with too much unwanted snuggling, after all, we had just met.

After the sesh, soaking wet, Ty and I headed to Asheville to Fiddlin' Pigs, a local bbq/eatery.  Before I combust into happy giddy freakouts due to such a wonderful memory, let me quickly say:

THERE WERE OVER 30 CLOGGERS THERE AND SOME OF THEM WERE TINY KIDS AND SOME OF THEM WERE MEN, GROWN MEN, DANCING, IN CLOGGING SHOES... AND ALSO, A BANJO.

If you know me at all, and I mean AT ALL, you will know what this means to me. 

Bliss.  Pure Bliss.

I HEART APPALACHIA!

(just one from our wonderful rainy session today.  I love the baby's expression! Her parents are over the moon about her!)

D700 for sale!

We would like to sale one of our D700s. Wendy tells me that I am crazy. Not for wanting to sell the camera. For insisting that I have heard more than a few people use sale as a verb. As in, "we would like to sale our camera."

Back me up here people. Whenever someone tells me they want to sale me something, I reply, "Why the hail not?" This fuflfills two of my basic needs. 1- Stupid puns, 2- Fake cussing. OOH, and stupid rhymes.

So, anyway back to the point. We are saling a D700. We are also selling a Nikon grip for the d700/d300. They are hail-a good equipment. Email info@bluelilyphotography.com for pricing and details.

From today's session in Atlanta: 

...aaaaand, the winners of the jewelry are on my next blog post! YAY! (by the use of yay, you can tell that now Wendy is writing)