Galeotti's..."Where everyone is family"

Many of you might not know a disturbing fantasy of mine....I always wanted to marry the Mafia...don't judge;) Well, I think this is hopefully the closest I will ever get. This beautiful family just happens to be the sweetest Italian family on this side of the Mississippi:) This is my beloved friend, Aaron's family. They just took over a restaurant in Battle Ground and they are going to be rebranding it soon with their new fabulous spirit that they carry with them. When Papa Mike and Joy asked me to do a Soprano-type shot of them to blow up for the restaurant I was a little nervous. I don't like trying to recreate someone else's art. So what's a girl to do? She calls her dear friend Brian, that is always up for the challenge. As always, he opened up his heart and mind to me and once again I have been inspired, I have learned and I have a heart full of thanks. Here is what it takes to set up a shot such as this...




This is the stance of a creative genius! If you have ever worked with Brian, you can't help but LOVE and feed of his intense energy. The Galeotti's adored him of course and you have to go check out his shots (unreal!) My take on the day will be in the next post...don't chew your nails off;)

Sister Love

You all have to remember these two beautiful ladies! This is A dynamic, sister duo that I did senior sessions with and I adore them! They wanted to put together a shoot of the both of them for Mother's Day to surprise their mom with. How sweet s that? They put together the money to do a shoot with me and I couldn't feel more honored. There is something about their connection that I am in complete awe of. The simplest touch is so natural to them and they make each other laugh all the time. I loved the emotions that I connect with on this shoot and I am so glad that they will have them to treasure through a lifetime of sister-love!

Boom, Boom Pow!

Not too long ago I got to go up to Seattle to give a speech with Heidi at Washington Cease Fire. I wasn't too nervous going into the whole thing until my sister, Tracie said that she was going to be able to go. I didn't want to over-process my emotions of wanting to do great in front of her, and I certainly don't want to process why I couldn't look at her when I was giving the speech. I think it had to do with the fact that she looked like she was struggling to breathe because she was so nervous for me;) Can I tell what I have enjoyed processing...an amazing, grown-up day with my sister. We got to go to lunch together, no kids and we got to try out a restaurant that she has had on her list to try out. Let's just start there....
First there was the delish tea. This one is for our sister...can't wait to have a sister tea this summer!
Next was the rediculously good appetizer. Look at that presentation!My dish...Her soupA sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty
Now let's talk about how amazing my sister is. I think I have blogged on the other sister-power in my life, Lynn. I felt like she was with us on this lunch because it was clean, healthy, Asian and I could just feel her presence. Miss you Lynn Marie! Meet the middle sister, Tracie.
Most the time Tracie and I get stressed out calls from one another about parenting woes or emotional rollercoasters we have embarked on lately. Well, this day was nothing but soulfood. We didn't get very deep, it was just being together that was so satisfying. Tracie is so modest when it comes to qualities being said about her and she is much more private then I am, but just let me take a moment to boast about this amazing woman in my life:) She has a smile that will light up any room...Her sense of humor and comedic timing is impeccable. I think all my brothers and sisters are the funniest human beings on this planet...She is so mysterious and yet she wears her heart on her sleeve. She cultivates her friendships over many years and is one of the most loyal friends you can find.I remember thinking that she was one of the smartest people I knew when she was in college. I still admire that medulla oblongata of hers. When she carries herself into a room, I think that people must think, I just have to know her. Well, I know her, I love her and she is someone that I will always admire. It's so amazing to get one of your siblings in front of the camera. They are so vulnerable and a tad uncomfortable, but it's an incredible process to capture the hero that is painted in my memory. I wish I could spend a full day with each of my siblings getting to know them and painting that picture of admiration with my lens. Thank you for supporting your little sis...the day meant the world to me! I wish the color would just be normal..I guess I can't drag my feet on making the new blog anymore so there will be no more complaining about dying color in my pics;)

Pricless

Not long ago Aaron was over at the house after we did a shoot together. It was a normal day in the Carlisle household...taking a moment out of our day to have a big ol' snuggle-fest. He picked up the camera to capture what he thought was going to be a tender moment.
Until I went in right for the "tenders". It turned into WWF in no time, which is a likely event in our household.I didn't factor in the dog into the equation before I started in on smack down;) She added a whole new dimension into the game.
I can't thank you enough Aaron for capturing the dirtiest move on this side of the Mississippi. Jake locks both my hands together so he has free reign of the whisker attack on my face and neck:(As you can imagine, that cheap shot gets me a little heated. My next move usually doesn't end well...dropping the hammer from way up..."The Flying Ninja Kick"The ninja kick usually drops him to the ground where it gets down right dirty! I can't say that I have officially won any of these wrestle-fests, but that's not going to stop me from trying.
Aaron, I can't put into words what these pictures mean to me. These are the simple, beautiful, memorable moments that I would have let slip away in my fading memory and these pictures bring back the smallest little details of that day. The most simple moments that go on under this roof are the details of our hearts. They are the memories that my kid will hold onto for their lifetime and they will have pictures to go with the stories that they tell their children. Thank you for being in our life! Here is another simple moment that I don't want to forget. I don't know when they will ever be able to trim their own toenails, but its a mundane choir that I adore because they get to be close me and I get to pick at them like a mama monkey:)

Communtiy

Girls...ask yourselves...when do you laugh the hardest in life? I dare to say that the hardest I have ever laughed in my life has always been with girlfriends. Oh, and there was that one Mojito night at the lake a couple summers ago with my family, but that doesn't count because there was alcohol. If laughter is the best medicine, then God has blessed me with the best laughing months that a girl can handle to make sure that I am fit as a fiddle. I really want to know what is so dang contagious about laughing with your girlfriends that makes it so unique? I can be completely silly with Jake and we laugh everyday with each other, but it is just different. I am really beginning to believe that this laughter is in my life for a bigger reason and I am starting to really see how important my community of women really is. It all started with the amazing weekend filled with love and laughter in Lincoln city. The weekend was filled with passion and laughter...what could be more powerful than that?
Then you all remember when Lindsay came into my life and lit my soul on fie with all the laughter that we shared.
Then I was BEYOND blessed when my childhood friends came to visit for less then 12 hours. There is something so healing and comfortable about girlfriends that know your past and everything that encompasses who you were. Then we got to meet all over again and share our grown up lives. I love them dearly and I will be feeding off of our short time together for years to come. Cass and Irley you were the best thing since sliced cheese! Can you tell who always acts a fool...but only because they think I am funny:)That's the laugh I'm talking about...look at the gut-wrenching laugh. I think I did the equivalent of about 1 million sit-ups while they were here. Then there was the most recent. Cindy...oh Cindy...you make me feel all warm in my chest when I think about our time together. You have a joy in your heart like none other. I have never met anyone so genuine and beautiful as you. When I get around you I feel like we can conquer the world, or at least save the Tamils;)
And because of Cindy, I was able to go for a LONG overdue visit to the friend that rocked my world in every sense of the word, from the first day that I met her almost 10 years ago! She is my soul sister and my kindred spirit. When I describe her to anyone, I glow. She is statuesque, bold, powerful, confident and so full of life. This trip was much needed on both parts and I cried when I had to say good-bye to both. I have pictures of Terri's beautiful family that I will share and more from DC. I just felt it in my heart to talk about these amazing women in my life and there are so many more that I am blessed with. Thank you to all my incredible community of women. Here's to more healing laughs and being there for one another. I love you all and hope that I bring as much joy into your lives as you do mine! Terri, is it wierd that I want to blow this up HUGE on my wall:) Can't you all just feel the joy in this shot? I miss you my friend!

Courage

"You have to have faith that there is a reason you go through certain things. I can't say I am glad to go through pain, but in a way one must, in order to gain courage and really feel joy." (Carol Burnett)
I have found so much joy in my life in the past few months, that it feels like I am glowing from the inside. So open up your eyes so you can look in mine and see your reflection! If you are finding it hard to find joy right now in your life, maybe the light in my life can shine on you. I have been blessed with so much light in my life from so many amazing friends and family. I hope that my joy helps someone out there to find the courage that they have needed to get through life. I am here in this moment, I feel my body, I hear so many new sounds, and I see so much beauty. Today is a great day because I am....

Emotional Injuries

How long have we been telling ourselves that we have pains, injuries or illnesses? When we "feel" something going on in our bodies we try to define it as fast as possible. Because if we can define it (put it in a box), then we can name it and then fix it. It may call for a drug, physical therapy, chiropractic care or all of the above:) I do it daily with my kids. I am already teaching them the language that is so mainstream. "What hurts? Is it your tummy? Do you have to poop, throw up, hungry? No, and it still hurts...well, here is some medicine. Your joints hurt...probably growing pains." Well, what if my friend Herman is right about where most injuries really stem from....our emotions? I have had the worst neck pain for about 2 months. I have had it before, in college and after the kids were born. I have always chalked it up to a pinched nerve, or bad posture, or stress. Why was I so quick to label it with relation to stress and then do nothing about it other then quick fixes here and there? Today I did some EFT work with the Herman8er:) As I lay on the couch and watched the AMAZING clouds go by, I was in shock at how much I don't slow down enough to just BE. I claim that I'm slowing down. I say out loud that I am not stressed. I feel like I don't hold tension inside...and yet, when I take a moment to feel the energy in my body and ask it what it needs...it is screaming at me to slow down, release the tension and fears of everyday! I saw clouds develop into hearts right before my eyes and wished I had my camera in my hands. Then a took a moment longer to just stare...I felt love inside. I am loving myself enough to stop and take care of myself. My health isn't in someone else's hands. Herman has helped me develop a new language to speak to myself and I am beginning to heal. That just feels great to say. This isn't about the MS either. This is healing from all the damage that I have caused over the years by not listening to myself. Getting too busy to connect with myself. Connection. When is the last time that you had a DEEP connection with another human being (not in the cyber world), and I don't mean sex either:) I mean staring into someone's eyes and just being with them for a moment. I can't wait to tell you all about our shoot with another amazing man in our life...Jesh! It was earth shaking, soul healing, and one of the most beautiful days for Jake and I in our marriage. Thank you to all my spiritual healers! The tools that you share with me are so crucial and so appreciated!

I was completely drawn into Herman because of his smile. It is bigger then life and his energy is so amazing. I know you can feel it in this pic:) He is for sure one of the people that have come into my life that I believe in more ways then one, is "Living Life Beyond" He and Jake will be the first to kick off one of my new quests in life. To document amazing souls that I feel in some way or another are living beyond the ordinary life that we get sucked into. More to come later;)

Anyone that knows Herman knows that this is him most of the day. He is always there for his friends and he is always checking in. This was him getting a call at the end of our shoot. You can just see the bliss that he feels as he speaks with whomever is on the other line. I can ALWAYS hear him smile when he talks with me.