Oahu based family and wedding photographer providing family photographer for all Hawaiian Islands.

Sneak Peek: Kacie Maternity Session

06.17.09

So, let’s see. Those who have taken it upon themselves to police my “Live with Less” challenge (see previous post)…I’m only trying to meet the three bolded goals.

I’m realistic…those three are a big enough challenge for me. But I appreciate the friendly scoldings I’ve gotten from like John-John when I try to buy lunch from McDonalds. But (said sweetly) back off, JJ, I want my fries and ice cream!!! =) I try to plan anything I can for the hours of 4 to 6 to fill in those two empty hours without a tv or computer. I sprained my ankle last week and I’m still hobbling around so it definitely puts a damper on any real activities. Scott seems to think we’ve switched the two hours of tv time for two hours of daily napping. But I really like the challenge so far. Try it with us, people!!! You can come over and we all sit together in my quiet living room. And I’ve been sticking to the <8 minute showers but I wonder if it counts because I've been averaging two showers a day. I did sprain my ankle a week ago. Stupid running. That’ll teach me to run ever. And this weekend was pretty busy with two family shoots. I usually try to space them out but timing wouldn’t allow it. So, what a blessing, that God brought me a second shooter in the form of my super awesome friend, Joy. After visiting family in Ohio for a vacation that extended to SIX MONTHS, she finally returned to us. And she came to help me carry props and get more shots as I hobbled around the beach getting sand stuck to the velcro of my ankle brace. Hey, people really luck out when I can bribe her into tagging along, they get two for the price of one. And she’s just a sweetheart who charms people while I’m off the to the side staring at my LCD display and grunting at the controls. It’s a a great partnership. This is just a quick sneak peek from a maternity/family shoot we did at Kalama Beach Park. I can’t wait to blog about it since it was made even more colorful by my husband and our good friends tagging along so they could play in the surf at the same time. Here’s a hint…me crouching in the vines and bushes…. squinting through my camera to get the shot of the couple kissing on a sandy path under the outstretched branches of two framing trees with the sky and ocean behind them…which is right when my husband choosed to rise out of the surf directly behind the couple with water glistening off his studly bare (and hairy) chest and bright yellow surf shorts. Suh-weet!!! This was at the end of the session after we had dragged them all over the beach and I asked “hey, I know you’re pregnant and all…but how would you like to lie down on the sand in a dress?” Thank goodness Kacie rocks…because she said yes and I got my favorite picture. The ocean and sky was so pretty that it almost looks like a painting.

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Just me-Taking the challenge

06.13.09

Now I’m not an Oprah watcher…but man, sometimes you jump halfway into one of her episodes while channel flipping and get sucked in. The other night, the theme was a “Live with Less” challenge, she had a challenge for families. Here’s the letter she sent to families willing to take on the challenge…

Dear Family,

Thanks for agreeing to live with less for a week. Your challenge starts now!

This week, you will be eating at home every meal. No more eating out, no more takeout. And you have to eat your leftovers. If you throw food in the trash, you’ve got to ‘fess up.

For one week, you’re going to give up the bottled water habit. Get a water filter—time to get to know your tap.

No more disposable plates, cups, napkins or paper towels. Try cloth—you might like it!For entertainment, you’ll have to rely on each other.

For one week, I’m asking you to give up your iPods and video games, and your computers only get turned on for homework. TV is limited to one hour per night—one TV only.

That thermostat is going way down…to 69 degrees. If you get cold, put on a sweater.

Give your washing machine a break—try to wash only clothes that are TRULY dirty.

When you leave a room, lights out. Ditto for fans. When you’re done using an appliance, unplug it. Don’t forget your computer and cell phone chargers too.

Showers are going to be shorter—eight minutes max. Use a kitchen timer to help you keep track.

Want to go shopping? Head to your closets. That’s your wardrobe for the week. The mall is off-limits.Your final challenge—no buying anything other than food for seven days.
Good luck,Oprah

It was a really cool episode…and basically proved what I probably knew already. That, despite our complaints that we’re overburdened and don’t have enough time, if you cut out tv and internet distractions then you free up tons of time. I excitedly turned to Scott and said “let’s totally do this challenge.” And then 23 seconds later I said “well….maybe we could modify it a little.” Scott laughed. I’m just being realistic…I’m a tv addict. I love just having the sound in the background while I do things.

So, for the next two weeks (and hopefully, I can keep it going longer).

1. No tv, internet, or phone for two hours (4 to 6 pm). Let’s not go crazy, people, that’s going to be a huge struggle for me.

2. 8 minute showers. Oh my goodness, I love showers. I don’t know how long I usually take…I know I’m finished when there’s not a drop of hot water left.

3. Turning lights and fans off when I leave the room.

I tend to run the washer a lot but in, my defense, I have bad allergies and you have to wash things often to kill dust mites. And we just drink tap water that we fill up water bottles so that’s one easy. Um, we do use paper napkins, I would hate to use a towel…then you have to worry about ants. I’ll start with these three.

So yesterday, I turned the tv off at 4 pm. I think the tv went into shock since that never happens. Scott was taking his customary afternoon nap so I read some chapters out of Crazy Love…then finished another book “Bleachers” by John Grisham. Felt like forever and a day had passed. Looked up…it was 5 pm. Oh, sheesh.

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