When you move into your first place that's all your own, sometimes it's all you can do to scrape together enough money to pay the rent. Well, that was my case. I moved out on my own at 18, went to school part time, worked retail part time and was a freelance photojournalist for Flex Magazine. I took all that was "mine" which of course just consisted of what was in my bedroom... books, albums, art supplies and my camera equipment. I think that was about it. (Remind me to tell you the story of buying a futon and bumping into Bruce Springsteen!) So I was grateful to family and friends for giving me towels, a bookcase, a coffee table and some kitchen items. Of course nothing matched in my little studio apartment, but it was all mine. And I said to myself, "Self... one day you will own matching dishes and glasses and some nice pots and pans!".
Well, it's been an interesting, rollercoaster-ish journey on this thing called life but I have finally, at age 43, begun to have matching items in my kitchen. And I feel so grownup! I posted awhile back about the new glasses I got at Pottery Barn and how they match my cool Target dishes so well. (Those ceramic beauties are starting to chip though... badly. Maybe because they are ceramic or maybe because they are from Target?) And now I am excited to say, after standing in the aisle of Bed, Bath and Beyond for an hour and a half staring at everything and justifying what I was about to do, I am the proud owner of some gorgeous stainless steel Calphalon pots and pans! I have been trying to save for the All Clad as I love them and currently own two pieces but after realizing I'll never be able to justify the price of those bad boys, I now have the prettiest pans on my block. Of course I don't want to use them. They are so shiny and, and, so new! Does anyone else ever feel that way? (Of course, I have burned three pots in the last year making hummingbird food so it was now or never. The Firefighter hinted that maybe I have done this on purpose so I can buy the new ones!)
Although I never make enough time to cook, I love cooking and baking and I really wanted to get teflon out of my house. So, internet, what do you think?
http://karenard.com/blog/2010/02/i-feel-so-grownup.html
Dear Clients... please note that from now until February I will be donating 100% of my profits from any print orders to Haiti. Most people can't even imagine what the magnitude of this devastation means to a third world country. Having lived in one, my heart goes out to the struggles these people face. Especially Haiti, a country that already suffers from poverty and violence.
I have chosen Wyclef Jean's foundation 'Yele Haiti', as it has been in place for years to help the people of Haiti. If you choose, you can contribute directly by clicking here. You can also text YELE to 501501 to donate $5 or text HAITI to 90999 for a $10 donation. There are also many other organizations that are helping so you can do a search to find others if you so choose.
So, if you have orders/reorders to place, please consider doing so in the next few weeks. If you need your event re-released please drop me a line and I will do so.
For image updates of Haiti, please visit The Boston Globe's Big Picture Blog.
Thank you.
http://karenard.com/blog/2010/01/interrupting-scheduled-programming.html
...the Firefighter came home from work this morning and handed me this:
Replace the book with my computer and he's definitely trying to tell me something, don't you think? Today is my last shoot of the year. Whew! It's been an amazing year for my studio and especially the last three months have been nonstop! Still have editing and books to make but I'm definitely looking froward to some down time in the next few weeks. I already have a ton of weddings on the book for 2010 and I feel so grateful to all of you amazing clients, friends and everyone else that stops by.
I will be posting some of my last portrait sessions soon but I wanted to take a moment to wish you all the happiest of holidays.
http://karenard.com/blog/2009/12/hmmmm.html
In so many ways: For my family, our health, our love, our friends, our jobs, my clients, the LAFD, Coke, laughter, the feel of the sun on my skin, wind in my hair, the touch of my children's hands as they reach for mine, reggae, So You Think You Can Dance, hearing my son play guitar, a husband that works hard for his family, listening to my daughter sing, my cameras, Frappucino's, a good movie, DVR's, iPhone, music, sunflowers, scrapbooking, dancing with abandon, friends I've known forever, friends I've just met, life.... life. I am grateful for my life, and so thankful for everyone in it.
Enjoy your day of Thanks Giving.
(Here is my sweet Chumash Indian girl five Thanksgivings ago. Where does the time go?)
Music. It moves me. Sometimes figuratively. Many times literally. I have happy feet, what can I say? If I hear music, it is hard for me to stay still. (Of course that makes shooting receptions torture for me, but I promise people, I do manage to behave myself! LOL)
Some great shows on TV have been quenching my inner choreographer these past few years. I really could care less about the voting though. Okay, confession time... I often fast forward the judges talking. Sorry, but it's the passion of the dance that moves me and good choreography can bring me to tears.
Weeellllllll.... one of my uber fabulous clients, no friend, invited me to see Dancing with the Stars last night! Whew, was that f.u.n! So great seeing the dancing up close and personal, and okay, the actors as well. I think they are all terrific but my school girl crush lives on for Donnie Osmond who looked great in person!
We were not aloud phones inside so I have no secret snaps of the moves. But since this is a photo blog, I thought I'd post a photo of the Osmond album that wore out the needle on my turntable when I was a wee lass. Something I realize looking back at this cover is that these are the kind of images I love to take. Hmmmmm... maybe it was more then the music that inspired me. Thanks Donnie!
Angela Says:
I literally used to kiss the TV screen watching the Donny and Marie show.
(11.17.09 - 05:31 PM)
http://karenard.com/blog/2009/11/just-dance.html