I've was never really one for inspiration boards. I always loved the idea but when it came down to actually taking the time to cut things out of magazines and paste them all together I just never made it happen. I've made a few over the years by pulling images from websites and playing in photoshop to pull all the photos together but I'd always forget where I found one an image and would spend so much time looking back at my internet history that it just wasn't worth it. This is when my inspiration boards became a word document of website links. As a super visually oriented person this was just not cutting it and I pretty much gave up on the world of inspiration boards.
I was frustrated that it wasn't easier because honestly they can be a great way to keep track of ideas. Be it designs for a house remodel, ideas for re-branding your business or just a group of beautiful images that inspire you. When I first heard about Pinteret.com I honestly had no idea what it was. When someone described it as a "visual inspiration board creator" I got excited and once I realized you could pin things from websites and the pin would link back to that website I was REALLY excited! This was the combination of visual and practical that I was looking for. Now if only I'd come up with this idea on my own- but anyway I'm just thrilled to have access to it and to be able to use it to keep track of all my inspiration and ideas.
I know that Pinterest isn't a new thing, it's been a round for a while now. But I'm still enjoying it and am finding new ways to use it all the time. I know that one of the most popular things to do with Pinterest is recipes sharing. Now I can defiantly get on board with this. Who doesn't need some new ideas for dinner? Be it picky kids, a picky husband, specific dietary needs or just a need for something other then pasta and burgers. I often search for new recipes on sites like foodnetwork.com or epicurious.com but after I've made them it's hard to remember where I found the recipe when I want to make it again- with Pinterest I can always find that pin on my "yumm" board and get right back to that recipe anytime.
One of my new favorite past times is looking at houses. Ok who am I kidding this is not a new thing for me but using Pinterest is a new way I've found to keep track of all the awesome ideas out there for your home. Things as practical as cleaning tips and ideas for organization to ideas for built in book cases and the kitchen I've always dreamed of! I could, and often do, spend hours looking at houses online and now I've added a way to keep track of all the best parts of all the houses that I see and refer to them someday when I can build the house of my dreams.
I think the way I've personally used Pinterest the most was for my own wedding planning. Weddings are full of so many details and keeping track of ideas you find on blogs and other wedding websites can be totally overwhelming, as if wedding planning isn't overwhelming enough on it's own. When I started planing my wedding all the fun details I wanted to include were easily stored on my "Wedding" board and I could pull them up on my phone or lap top to show my friends, bridesmaids, parents and vendors anytime. I can't tell you how many times I sat at my florists going over ideas with her flipping through pinterest.
There are a million ways to use Pinterest and if you are not already a pinner then you defiantly should be. And either way we should be following each other so that we can see all the awesome stuff that we both post. So if you are a member please leave your link below and I'll be sure to follow you and if you have any interest in some dream home goodies, wedding ideas, photography posing ideas and of course some yummy food ideas please follow me as well!
XOXO Spring
I'm a total sucker for animals. Always have been. Who doesn't love the smushy face of a sweet puppy dog!? When someone from the Conway Area Humane Society contacted me a few years back to see if my business would be willing to donate something to their silent auction I was happy to help. When I was contacted this year to not only donate but to come by the shelter once or twice a month for an hour or so to take photos of the new dogs and cats for Petfinder I was really happy! I could sit on the floor and play with puppies all day!!! And even though some of the cats prefer to keep to them selves I get plenty of purrs from the friendly ones to make it worth my while.
I've been over to the shelter a few times now over the last few months and every time I find at least five animals that I want to bring home. I know that Coby and Silas would not be thrilled with that idea so I have yet to come home with anything but a little extra fur on my clothes and some great shots of some of the sweetest dogs and cats out there. There are small dogs, big dogs, puppies and even a few FAT cats (my personal favorite). I thought these guys are just so stinking cute I had to share a few of my favorite from the past few weeks. Some of these guys are still up for adoption so if you are looking for a little animal love in your life... 
When I went to school for photography I was often asked "well what are you really going to do, you know to pay the bills?" I always hated that question. To me it assumed that I wasn't capable of making a living as a photographer. Often that first question was followed up with "Are you going to shoot weddings?" to which my answer was always a resounding NO!
In my mind weddings were boring. They were stuff photos of uptight people with no creativity aloud. I never thought twice about shooting weddings until I had graduated college, moved to GA, then moved to TX and was desperately looking for a job. I didn't want to work in yet another restaurant, or another retail job. I wanted to do something I actually liked and was bound and determined to do so. To the internet I went and I started searching for photographers in the area. I found a local studio that was a mom and daughter and half sister of the step daughter team that worked locally shooting portraits and weddings. Although this wasn't exactly my dream I thought, well they use a camera so thats a step in the right direction.
I like to cook. I've never been in love with cooking and it's not like I get super excited about cooking dinner most nights but from time to time I'd stretch to say that I do enjoy finding new recipes and making something delicious. You see, I LOVE food. I mean.... I LOVE FOOD. I'm not cultured enough to really be a foodie but I'd fit the wanna be foodie category quite well. Recently I've had no real desire to cook and to be honest I think it has more to do with the time of year then anything else. This time of year really lends itself to crockpot recipes and other one pot meals as when you don't get home till after dark I find it hard to get motivated to pull together any large elaborate dish. I find that when all else fails I make chicken for dinner. Why is that? Why is chicken the go-to meal? Is it only me? I guess there are just so many things you can do with chicken and it's a pretty inexpensive main protean ingredient... well none the less I've really been trying to branch out and make something different with the boneless, skinless, chicken breasts sitting in my fridge. Well I'm asking all of you for some ideas? suggestions? what's your favorite chicken dish? And of course I'm happy to share a few of mine!
I think Silas would say this is one of his favorites- 
