I woke up this morning feeling like I had crossed a threshold. I’m always plunged into deep thought while I clean, and I’ve scoured just about every corner of my house in the last week in preparation for spring. The last few years have been interesting growth wise. I’ve really explored who I am, how I want to live my life, and who I want to be a part of it.

There have been some major downs, followed by glorious upswings.

Nothing brings life into perspective like a natural disaster, this last week we were all reminded yet again of how delicate and precious life is. The time we have here on this Earth is limited, and could be taken from us at any moment. Tomorrow I’ll be participating in the Bloggers Day of Silence, remembering all of those lives lost in Japan. I hope you’ll all go to this website and contribute anything you can to the cause.

Also please join me in this day of silence tomorrow.

xo,
Laura

Happy Holidays everyone! Hopefully this finds you with family and in celebration of all things merry. We’ve got the Raffi album blaring on the old record player, humming along while the pies cool on the counter and Dad watches a hunting program in the kitchen (nothing says holiday cheer like the sound of a gun firing… right Barbie?).

Merry Christmas from us to you, and happy birthday Jesus! We love you!

xoxo,

Billy and Laura… and Ladybug.

(If you haven’t gotten your card in the mail yet, I apologize for the delay, and the spoiler… it’s on it’s way!)

Can you believe it’s almost Christmas? Almost the new year? It’s really freaking me out in all honesty… I feel like it was just yesterday the leaves fell from the trees. Here we are! I thought I would share with you a few of the items on my Holiday Hot List for this year! Most of them are perfect for the photographer in your life, and all of them are just perfect for me!

Whatever the case for you, watch out Oprah! Here are few of my favorite things for 2010!

1. Everyone needs a cute hat with a furry ball on the top! Love this one from Gap, but homemade is the best made.

2. Fingerless gloves in decadent cashmere. These are the perfect gift for a photographer who wants to keep her paws warm and still have the trigger finger ready! I like these ones because they’re extra long, soft, and your thumbs are free too. You can find these ones at Nordstrom.com

3. Freelance pants! You won’t be embarrassed to answer the door for UPS in these adorable sweats! Or un-sweats as they should be called. Target…. love!

4. I know, it’s unbelieveable that I don’t have a pair of TOMS yet! They’re supposed to be the best thing to shoot in, and I’m ready for them! An all around feel good shoe, feel good about them and in them! If you don’t know the message behind TOMS and what the company stands for, visit their website and check it out. For every pair of shoes sold, TOMS gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need. Pretty rad.

5. I’m SO obsessed with this bag. It’s the Lola bag by epiphanie! It’s not JUST an adorable purse but…. gasp! It’s also a camera bag! Ce Chic! Perfect for traveling so your camera isn’t jostling around in your purse. A must have for the holiday season!

6. I would really love to get Seth Godin’s Purple Cow in my stocking this year. I have an aversion to buying books new, and I can’t ever seem to find this one in the used book store. That only means one thing people…. it’s too amazing to get rid of. Allegedly this book aims to change the way I do business in a very powerful and positive way. I’m all for it!

7. I’ve always wanted an awesome pair of bookends for my office. These Golden Gate pair are from Restoration Hardware, and I adore them. Do you think I’ll read more if I have these super fantastic bookends? I’m going with yes.

8. Billy is always getting on me about leaving my ring in the tooth pick holder. In my defense, it’s ALMOST the same thing as a ring holder. Fact is, I do need a ring holder. I like this one from Urban Outfitters. It’s kitschy, but kitschy is cool right? If not, I’m in trouble.

9. I really should have made a point to buy an awesome Russian Christmas ornament whilst IN Russia. But since I forgot, I’m feeling pretty lucky that Anthropologie is inspired by my recent trip! Russia is so in this year.

10. I have an infatuation with record players. My parents have an impressive collection of LP’s and it was always a special treat to pick one out and play it over the speakers in the living room when I was a kid. Last year my parents gave us their old turntable, but for some reason we can’t get it to work with our amp. sad face. I love love this turntable by Crosley, it comes with wireless speakers so I don’t need to worry about the amp situation.

11. Last but not least, this amazing bike. I’ve been begging Billy for bikes for a few years. I’m not sure where we would ride them, but maybe we would get a bike rack for our hypothetical bikes, and maybe we would take them down to Marymoor and maybe he could put a basket on the front of mine, and maybe Lady could ride in it. Just maybe. This Linus is a Dutch bike, and it’s probably a million dollars. It’s not really about the type of bike for me, it’s about the memories while riding it…. You can get rad-tastic bikes like this at Dutch Bike Seattle, I bet they even have the baskets too.

Hope you have some exciting treats on your hot list this season too, and I hope they all have the potential of making happy moments and memories for you. Happy Holidays!

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I pumped myself up going into the conversation. I knew in advance that this was going to be tough.

I looked him straight in the eye and said “Hear me out. I want to get a tree this year….”

Before I can get the remainder of my sentence out, I’m stopped short with a sigh and an eye roll.

“Let me FINISH! I have a really awesome idea…. we can decorate it with an Oregon Duck theme!!” His mouth, still half open from the original objection, goes slack. He’s speechless. He can’t argue. He’s in agreement.

I win. AND he wins. Win Win.

If you haven’t heard. The Oregon Ducks are #1 in the BCS and come January 10th we’ll be competing for the national championship! Go DUCKS!!! and Happy Holidays!

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Billy brought to my attention today that we might need a staff meeting here at LMP.

He texted me from the office this morning: “The CEO just literally ran to the door of the kitchen to open it for me because I had coffee in my hand. How awesome is that?”

He loves loves his job/company/CEO. I get stories about how cool everything is on a daily basis. I’m starting to feel a little left out of the cool kids club.

Me: “My CEO just made my coffee for me… and carried it to my office… but your story is rad too”

Billy: “I think Lady is the actual CEO and you are her office assistant. She just sleeps all day and you cater to her every need.”

Me: “Yeah I think you’re on to something” as I look over at her, she snores.”I guess it’s time for a staff meeting”

Billy: “Agreed, make sure you put in her employee file that she peed on the bedspread, and destroyed company property by chewing through 3 iPhone cords [actually 7 but who's counting?] Ask her what her performance goals are for 2011.”

Me: “Will do. As soon as she’s up from her nap”

I’m not great with confrontation, but Billy is right. There is a hierarchy problem in our office. He knows who the real boss is, and I think I’m in denial. I’ll try to refrain from stamping my feet and crying out “because I’m the boss! That’s why!!!”

Maybe I need some managerial training.

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