Ok – So let’s get to it, I want to share the photos with you.  Enjoy a peek into my life.

First, below is an apron I sewed for Jolene.  I didn’t have a pattern and was a bit skeptical that I could actually pull it off but I had some expensive fabric (that I didn’t want to ruin) a new (to me) sewing machine, and an adult size apron to possibly mimic.  It’s a child’s size apron and it totally hangs down to her ankles but that’s the way I planned it to be.  I wanted to give her something that she would have and use for years and years.  Here it is:

The reason I wanted to sew an apron is because Jordan’s dad builds furniture and he planned to make Jolene a wooden kitchen set.  He repurposed an old desk, the sink faucet, the sink, and a knob or two.  Jolene loves it!  It’s also a bit big for her but it’s perfect for what she loves doing right now, which is opening and closing cupboards, standing, and banging toys together.

FYI: the felt carrots above were handmade by me also.  Super easy to make if anyone wants to know how.

View of the cranes from above (photo below)

Now for the party hats!  I really wanted to create party hats that I could keep and use year after year.  I also made these with felt and they were a party hit.

Now for a few of my favorites of the Birthday girl!  Thanks for looking. Happy Birthday baby girl.  You’re the love of our lives.

I’m sending out a quick message here on my iPhone. My computer is in for repairs for the next couple days.

The last couple posts here on the blog was a new idea I had to post screenshots of my favorite Pinterest finds and I was setting out to post each Monday. After realizing that one of my favorite images an Pinterest was being posted on several tumbler accounts and I was very much unable to find who truly photographed the image. The short end of it is that I’m rethinking Pinterest and I won’t be posting my favorites here anymore.

Will Post soon when my computer returns.

So today, as I sit in the quiet of my own home after a long (oh so long and tiring and long) morning of trying to figure out what my daughter needs in order to get back on a regular napping schedule.  She’s strong willed, and believe me it’s in the best of ways and I’m happy for it, but she (sometimes) will. not. just. go. to. SLEEP.  Ahem, ok.  (can you tell it’s been a long day) Where was I?  Oh ya, so I’m sitting here pondering the fact that I WANT to share bits of myself, here and in this space and not to mention in a way that I can feel proud and genuinely represented.  I keep thinking and thinking and thinking of the best way to go about getting started – which then results in me doing absolutely nothing.  No good.  So my advice to myself came somewhere within me today.  Just. Start. Writing.

As a side note, this reminds me a lot of when Jordan and I were starting somewhat from scratch with the style of our home.  We had just gotten married, spent 6 days honeymooning in Philadelphia (Jordan surprised me for the honeymoon and picked THE BEST location, in my book) and then another 5 or so days in Milwaukee at a wonderful little bed and breakfast.  After the honeymoon we flew back to Colorado Springs (where I grew up and where we lived before the wedding) and three days later we drove our car, packed-to-the-brim full and moved to Madison, WI to a cute little flat on Winnebago St on Madison’s east side.  Because we had just moved AND didn’t want to spend a ton of money moving AND because we mostly got money for our wedding (per our implied request) we came with very very little (mostly our clothes, some linens and blankets, and the kitchen stuff I had been saving up).  So, what I’m trying to get at is that we didn’t have much and I was excited, nervous, and anxious to start creating our home space into a place I enjoyed coming home to every day.  Now, Jordan and I are very much thrifty people.  I am a complete sucker for road side and thrift store finds.  We are not (NOT) Pottery Barn people.  It could be nice to have a home furnished with the nicest things from Pottery Barn but my soul would probably die a little because I need quirk and charm around my home.  So, why was I nervous and anxious?  Because, I’d find things I like and would piece things together and at first I majorly questioned myself and my taste level.  I worried our home would end up not representing us well.  I worried our home would look like a thrift store before long and wouldn’t have a coherent style but again my advice to myself was just to start, only choose items Jordan or I loved, and never look back.  Turns out, it totally and completely worked!  Our house is beautiful, and quirky, and unique.

If the point wasn’t understood, I’m trying to just tell myself to start blogging and do it my way with no regard to how other photographers are doing their thing.  And for goodness sake, I need to remind myself to simply just not worry about this place being a place I love since I hope to only share things here that are fully and genuinely me.

Now that I have that off my chest.  Here’s to fresh starts and being unashamedly me.  And a few photos of our Christmas decorations in our home and friends/family gatherings this past christmas.  (see – no regard to what others think, or I clearly wouldn’t post christmas decoration photos on my blog in February).

]]> http://www.rejoyblog.com/2012/02/finding-my-voice/feed/ 0 http://www.rejoyblog.com/2012/01/brian-and-charleens-chicago-wedding/ http://www.rejoyblog.com/2012/01/brian-and-charleens-chicago-wedding/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:18:29 +0000 rejoyblog http://www.rejoyblog.com/?p=1499 Brian and Charleen’s wedding was a first Chicago wedding for me.  Being originally from Colorado and now living here in Madison, WI for the past 3 1/2 years I was excited to finally get to shoot in Chicago, and (might I add) not at the typical Chicago spots.  I met Brian and Charleen for the first time on their wedding day and I was not disappointed in the least.  I enjoyed seeing all the final details come together (I had gotten little glimpses here and there of what Charleen had been envisioning and working on).  Her and her family really put in some hours to make the day beautiful and personal.  I was amazed to find out that the brides mother personally made 200 dog candle favors by herself! The highlight of the evening was getting to hear the song Charleen and her father, Dennis, sang together (composed by Charleen) and the song Charleen sang to Brian.  So good.

By the way…  Charleen is an amazing singer.  Go check out her fan page on Facebook and “like” her!  Check out this recent you tube video of her:

Brian and Charleen, blogging your wedding day takes me back to what a beautiful and joy filled day you and your family created. The way the two of you look at one another is really endearing.  I am thankful to have been able to capture your special day in images.  Best wishes to both of you.

Photographer: Rejoy Photography

Videographer:  Chennergy

Venue: Fountain Blue

Flowers: FlowersFlowers

Band: I55 Showband

Bridal Gown: Lazaro gown from Bella Bianca

Second Photographer: Mike

What am I going to want to remember about my daughter and my small family 20 years from now?  What are the photos I will pull off the shelf and search for in an album when I want to remember how small she was, the face she makes when she’s blowing raspberries, that toothless grin, or the way I love how she points at everything.

Here’s a little glimpse of my personal project I’ve been working on in order sharpen my photography skills during this time that I am focusing most of my time and energy into one little being.  I’ve taken one (or 2 or 30) photo(s) almost every day since her birth.

and, in case you didn’t see it (because I forgot to mention it on here…  oops), my Daily Life with Jolie photos were featured on a wonderful blog Let The Kids Dress Themselves a while back.  Here’s a screen shot!  Check it out if you haven’t already!

]]> http://www.rejoyblog.com/2011/12/personal-photographing-my-everyday/feed/ 0 http://www.rejoyblog.com/2011/12/bob-courtney-colorado-springs-co-wedding-photography-part-2/ http://www.rejoyblog.com/2011/12/bob-courtney-colorado-springs-co-wedding-photography-part-2/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:26:46 +0000 rejoyblog http://www.rejoyblog.com/?p=1398 Remember Bob + Courney‘s wedding in Colorado?  Ya, it’s been a while since I posted Part 1 but here is Part 2.  Bob and Courtney had their wedding on the grounds of Fountain Valley School.  Let me tell you – this is now my favorite wedding location in Colorado Springs if you are a bride and groom looking for a gorgeous location.  Enjoy the photos.

Bob and Courtney – My love for the two of you runs deep.  You are my family and I’m so proud to call you that.  Thank you for trusting me with your day.

My husband is literally the best man I’ve ever met in my life.  Actually, despite working over 60 hours a week in very hard (socially) jobs (teenager and men with aspergers and autism) he still comes home and offers to change Jols diapers.  And even though he is actually drained by tons of interaction with people – needing a fair amount of alone time to recharge and have energy to be around people- he will make space to listen to me talk and verbalize all the thoughts from the day.  He’s the most generous and giving man I’ve ever met.  He’s the guy that carries on a relationship with an older man who’s been in and out of homelessness for a large chunk of his life.  The one that asks me to drive an hour and a half north to go buy said man Thanksgiving groceries because I am against sending money.  He’s the guy that notices the people on the outside and draws them in, not wanting anyone to feel left out or alone.  He works hard and gives so much to others and still digs down very deep to be my rock and my daughters love of her life.  I’m so thankful for him, he makes me a better person, and I’m not sure what I would do without him.

Jordan, I love you and I’m so glad you were born 28 years ago and have been such a good part of my life for the past 11+ years.  Happy Birthday love!