Mail Call!

I L.O.V.E. getting mail. I always have. When I was a kid, I knew the sound of the mail truck by heart and my little ears could pick it up from streets away. I also knew the route, so I could determine pretty much exactly when it was going to arrive at OUR mailbox from whatever point I heard it in the neighborhood. 

Even as a grown up, I still LOVE getting mail, and get SUPER excited whenever a delivery truck comes. My problem lately is that without fail, FedEX and UPS come on the days I work, during the hours I work! And when I buy expensive things, they usually require a signature in person, so it gets very frustrating! (not that I buy expensive things very often...but when I do, I usually want them in my hands as soon as possible!) I got on my game quick after the first delivery attempt notice, and asked them to hold my package for me to pick up. 

On my lunch break yesterday I drove to the sketchy UPS warehouse and picked up my latest greatest photography purchase: the Sigma 105mm 2.8 Macro lens! I had never shot with it before (couldn't find one to rent) so I went with B&H Photo since they have a 30 day return policy. After 24 hours, I think I'm in love. I mean, there are still quite a more scenarios I want to try this baby out on. But I'm really excited to have this for the wedding next weekend! 

The purpose in getting this particular length lens was to have a longer lens for ceremonies and events where I can't physically get close to the subjects, as well as having the macro feature for close detail shots. I'm loving what I'm finding with my detail shots already. Just waiting to give the portrait side of things a whirl this weekend at our reunion at Lake Gaston with Tim's side of the family! 

So I'll leave you with a shot of my FAVORITE ring - designed and given to me by my strong, brave, handsome, funny, hard-working, creative, gentle, kind, generous, and extreme husband :) 

DIY: Framed Calendar!

My latest greatest DIY adventure was an ACTIVITY calendar. Not like "beach trip", "work", "photo school" kind of activities. Being ACTIVE kind of activities. Running, volleyball, softball, walking to work, squats during a tv show, lunges down the hallway, resistance band workouts. Basically, I wanted a place to keep track of how ACTIVE I am ACTUALLY being. Not just how active I am THINKING about being :) Because I am REALLY good at thinking about being active. And not quite so hot at actually following through long term. So my aunt recently gave me a few old frames, and I knew I had to do something with them quick or my husband would begin to feel justified in his "observations" that my collection of things I'm "going to do something with one day" just grows and never shrinks :) 

Have a look!

This is the frame I started with. Cool, but a little out of style for our home. 

First coat of spray paint. 

Second coat of paint, plus blank calendar grid (I just put the days of the week across the top, and left all the numbers out so I could use it for any month!)

I really LOVE the ornate design!

Ta-daaah! It's on the wall! And a last minute addition was hot gluing a magnet to the side so I could stick my dry erase marker up there! 

My husband loves me and thinks my things are cool. And that I'm cool. And he sneaked it on the board before I took this picture :) 

No Photos....Yet....:)

No pictures right now. Just a happy little post saying that I'm shooting my first wedding of the year today!
So, that means there will be lots and lots of photos soon. But not yet!

Exploring Etsy

It's true! I've finally got a little etsy shop up and running. Decided I'd give it a try and see if I could drum up a little more business before the summer is gone (the summer is my "business trial period" :) You can now purchase my handmade creations or prints online! Most of the listings are "Custom Order" listing, with example photos and I will create each item specifically for you when you purchase! If you see a photo of something you love, let me know and I'll check if it's still available in my local space and can mail you the exact one! 

Go check it out! And send your friends there too!

Viva Photo Art's Etsy Shop!

This whole business thing, small though it may be, has been a walk of faith for me. I don't know how long it will last. Not much stuff is selling in the store downtown. But it has been fun nevertheless! Hope that this etsy shop will help some of my far away friends be able to enjoy my creations as well!

Now off to catch up on everything I can't do on the days I work! ILOVEMYDAYSOFF!! :)

*L

Going Adventuring

So life has started to calm down a tad after a few weeks of business flurry, working to get everything official, legal, and actually created to start selling downtown! It's off to a smashing start with one of my Downtown Doors prints selling, along with one pack of photographic note cards, and one handmade vase!

However, this weekend will not be full of work of any sort. This weekend is all play. I get off work at 6pm. Our friend Emma will arrive by train sometime before that. We will meet up with Tim at home, hop in the car, and we'll be off on a weekend adventure to visit Sam & Chelsea!!

The reasons for the trip are manifold:
1. We love Sam & Chelsea.
2. Tim & Sam are best friends (and have been since they were about 7 years old), and when they go too long without seeing each other, they start to go crazy.
3. We are celebrating the pending END OF SCHOOL for both Tim & Sam. (That's not to say that they won't ever do school again. But the end of their current studies)
4. Emma wanted to visit us, and Emma wanted to visit Sam & Chelsea. So we just smashed it all together :)
5. We like getting out of dodge every once in a while. And it's been too long :)
6. We're gettin the band back together.
7. Chelsea bought Sam a new zombie xbox game which they want to force me to play.
8. Chapel Hill is a really cool place to explore with friends.
9. It's the kick off to SUMMER! Let the good times rolllllll!


So yeah. I'm sure I could come up with more reasons. But I should probably go finish packing instead, so that we can actually leave as planned this evening :)

Here's hoping you all find your own adventures this weekend, and that Jesus makes His love known to you more clearly through them.

Cheers,
*L

It's REAL! It's HERE!

So I finally have a legit outlet for selling my handmade creations and photo prints! And a website to prove it! haha. First, go visit www.vivaphotoart.com (you can't actually buy anything there -- it's just lots of pretty pictures and info on my new little business venture)

Then, come to Fredericksburg!

My little space is located inside of Caroline Square Crafts & Antiques (It is literally right across the street from Capitol Ale House -- and I know you all know where that is!) There are two doors, and you want to go in the one on the left (the craft side vs the antique side :) Inside, it's set up like a little town with little "streets" through the shops. Take your first left, and then your first right and STOP. Ha. The wall space on your RIGHT is what you're looking for! It's a tall white shelf full of fun goodies! I am sharing the space with Nancy Shattuck, who makes all sorts of fun wool felted things (purses, water bottle slings, and more!) so be sure to check out her stuff too!

It's not quite fully stocked yet, but over the next few weeks we'll be getting more and more things on those shelves! OH, and be sure to pick up one of my adorable MOO business cards when you're there. I'll be bringing them by today :)

Lindsey² (please appreciate my nerdy-ness)

This post is in honor of my other faithful blog reader :) The other Lindsey! I am incredibly thankful for you, friend. Your smile, your hugs, your blog posts, your excitement about life, your honesty, and your whole family (even uncle nacho :) have been a blessing to me and have changed me. Thanks for staying in King George :) I just wish I lived closer so we could hang out more often. Love you, *L

Happy Birthday Sarah :)

Since it is now confirmed that I have TWO readers, I shall dedicate this post to Sarah Danaher. My sister, friend, and fellow photographer. I missed your birthday, but I took the opportunity to try my hand at yet another pinterest inspired gift. It will be in the mail soon. And rather than show you its full blown glory (i gotta have SOME aspect of surprise, right?) I'm just gonna give you a sneak peak.

LOVE YOU! *L

Another day off :)

So today's pinterest accomplishments are less crafty and more FOODY!!

#1: Smoother Freezer packs! I went to Costco and filled up my cart with all sorts of yummy fresh fruit! (Specifically: nectarines, kiwis, strawberries, bananas--even though I don't like them--, aaaand spinach which is not a fruit :) I also grabbed a mango when I went to Walmart later. I have recently found on pinterest/blogs the idea of putting fresh spinach into smoothies to get those great spinach benefits with all the sweet fruity flavor. I thought it sounded like a pretty rad idea. And basically I think I need to grow up and start eating bananas even though I don't like them. They are cheap, easy to pack, and filling. I should probably develop a taste for things like that. Smoothies is a good place to start I think.

Basically I just chopped everything up and split it semi evenly into 8 freezer bags (quart size). I squeezed all the air out, zipped them, and threw them in the freezer! ta daaa! Breakfasts/lunches for quite a few days this month! (I think each bag will be more than plenty for both me and tim....if I can convince him to eat them :) Also -- just a side note -- the blog I was reading suggested using WATER instead of any kind of milk product when blending up the smoothie. Mostly because fruit and milk don't tend to mix well, and its easy for your stomach to digest with just water or juice. They suggested to move a bag from the freezer to fridge the night before to let it thaw some, and its ready to go in the morning!

#2: Freezing Leftover Coffee in Ice Cube Trays This is one of those genius little ideas I found on pinterest. We ALWAYS have left over coffee. The idea is to freeze it in ice cube trays and eventually have enough to throw in the blender with a little tasty coffee creamer and VOILA! A coffee smoothie! Brilliant!

Hope you're having a lovely week, Lindsey Schubert (I consider you the sole reader of my blog, until comments prove otherwise :) *L

my days off

So I'm wondering if I even remember how to write a blog post :) It has been wayyyy too long. I don't actually think anyone read this blog anyways, so I don't really feel bad about that. ha. BUT at special request, I will begin blogging my D(o) I(t) Y(ourself) adventures! (ya know, gotta keep the pinners happy :) Lately, my work schedule at the bank (did I ever mention I'm a bank teller?) has been allowing me two days off in a row every week (did I mention I only work part time - and never want to hold a full time job in my life? :) Two days off a week is one thing. Two days off in a ROW is another thing entirely. And it has afforded me the grand opportunity of starting AND finishing things :) The two latest projects were my lamp and my dresser. I've been wanting to tackle these since I got married and moved 9 months ago, but it just didn't happen...til now! enjoy! --------------------------------------------------

LAMP: I got this lamp from my mom (who was updating the style of her living room) and I figured I could find something to do with it. There are actually two of them. But. One thing at a time :)

The glue was amazing -- it bonded easily to the brass lamp, and was not toxic smelling :)

DRESSER: It was already white, so it just needed a fresh coat of paint. And then some flair to make it match our room (I copied the flowers from our bedspread....and penciled them onto the side, and then painted :)

I put a nice coat of mod podge over the whole thing to seal it. Mod podge is my favorite!!

Aaaand then came the drawers. They were lined with contact paper that hadn't been changed in about 20 years. Sooo, i ripped it out, sanded them down, and painted them inside and out. And then painted the sides colors so I can be happy when I leave my drawers hanging open :)

Ok, so then I had painted the knobs all those different colors. Which was rad. Until I put all my colorful stuff back on top. Then it looked like the dresser of a 10 year old. And (believe it or not) I wanted a grown up look. Soooo, painted them all brown :)

ta-DAAAAA!!! There you have it :)