Photo Challenge.

If you haven't heard of The Paper Mama, then you are truly missing out. She is a blogger as well, but one of those unique and creative bloggers that you can't get enough of. Every week she has a new photo challenge that must have your child in the photo. Today's challenge is "Outside." So the picture has to be of your child outside. Easy peasy, right?!
Here are my examples.

A very young Meredith.

Always a beach girl.

Take a look at the Paper Mama's photo challenge and have a beautiful Saturday!

Mommy and Me Photograph Friday.

Meredith loves the camera and the camera loves her. I looove taking pictures of her because she is a natural. From the beginning of her little 8 pound 1 ounce life, I began documenting her in every way possible with me constantly behind the camera. Then I began to really enjoy being behind the camera, capturing every detail of life. Of late I've noticed that pictures with her in it are usually pictures of her alone or with other people. And it made me a little sad. I think one day she will grow up and ask why we didn't have enough pictures together, just Mommy and me. 

But the ugly truth is I hate seeing myself in pictures. The camera loves Mer, but not me so much. I perceive myself one way and the camera ruins it, so I became tired and too disappointed to get in front of the camera. I hated my shadowy, imperfect, unstraight smile (which is why I now have braces) and the way people with a camera managed to take the worst, most horrific, fattest side of you pictures. Furthermore, that these people with horrible picture taking skills would then upload the uuuugliest ones of you on Facebook, and even worse, tag you in them! So I choose my moments in front of a camera carefully. I ask myself, Will this be a full body shot? Is the lighting going to make me look tired? Is this going to be up on FB!? Yep...these are things I consider. That's how much I dread the camera. 

As this realization of the lack of Mommy and Me pictures settled in yesterday, I decided to solve that problem. These might not be the best shots of the two of us and it's not by a professional (my Mac Photo Booth will have to do) but I don't want to miss out on memory making with my sweet girl. I want her to be able to look back and say, That's my mom right there in that picture with me making a goofy face and look how much fun we're having. That's right. So here are Meredith and my Mommy and Me pictures.

Have a beautiful Friday and I hope you have an extra long weekend with Memorial Day coming up.
My birthday is on Tuesday...May 29th, and I have to think of something to do for my twin sister...hmmm...

Rainy Day Bubbles.

 It's been raining...A-L-O-T...here in Virginia.

I'm sick of it.

It's ridiculous the amount of rain we've had in a week.

There's only a certain amount of days I can be happy with rain, thunderstorms, and cloudy skies. After a while my head begins to ache from the pressure and it takes all I have within me to smile through the pain.  Mer really helped me out yesterday. She always brightens my day. First it began with, "Mommy, let's have a tea party with Bunny and Bear." Of course I said ok and of course Mer brought out bubbles to make our rainy day feel a little brighter. And of course...I have a video for you, sharing just how my little munchkin can make a dark day full of light. 

Teavana = Favorite Tea Ever

Tea For Two

Have a beautiful day, lovelies. 

...And My Favorite Shows Return for the Summer!

Some of my favorite shows are returning for the summer! I'm so excited!!

1. So You Think You Can Dance
2. The Closer (the final season...so sad!)

Here's a favorite clip from last seasons SYTYCD with winner Melanie. What a great duo these two made!

And another brilliant one...probably the best of season 8.

You can't disagree that these two are extremely talented and Melanie is from big Georgia (my home state!), so that made it even better. 

Can't...wait for May 24th, season premiere of SYTYCD!!

As for The Closer, it's just something I've gotten into and stayed with since the beginning. I love Brenda's (main character played by Kyra Sedgwick) southern twang and quirky southern charm that invades the L.A. police department. Looking forward to this summer's lineup!

Hat Auction.

Saturday was a very busy day. Waking up early, I began the day making a dip for the hat auction and purse exchange at the church. Mer and I got all dolled up and headed over to the church to socialize with some great ladies who never fail to make me smile. My beautiful little girl was a model for the hat auction, and apparently the highlight of the show. I admit...she was adorable with her cute little turn and pretty smile. Awesomeness. Here are some highlights.

 I kept aiming to buy a hat or two for Meredith to have tea parties with but she decided she didn't want one. I guess her vision of a tea party is not the same as mine, although she does use a very funny sounding British accent during her tea party....so cute.
I hope your weekend went well and that you had some good fun as I did.