For A Moment Photography

Party Store. Cops. And Cursing.

A mothers hands are make for holding her child not hitting.

I was in a party store to buy a few things for Presley's last day of school party.  While I was shopping I was surprised to hear a mother screaming and cursing at her toddler (she was still not able to speak).  The little girl was standing up in the shopping cart trying to reach for something.  I felt so bad for the little girl, it was completely normal behavior for a child her age...  I decided I would hang around the aisle a bit to make sure she (the little girl was ok).  After a few minutes past I walked to the next aisle.

As I shopped I tried to figure out what I would do if she continued to scream and curse at the toddler or hit her.  Not saying anything was not something I could do.  Approaching her aggressively wasn't an option either.  Finally I decided I would ask the woman to take a minute, take a deep breath and try to be patient.  And hopefully talk to her long enough to calm her down...

So a couple minutes later I hear the little one start to cry again.  As I'm walking pass the woman and her female friend they get frustrated again and the mother aggressively grabs the child out of the shopping cart.  She is in the process of cursing and screaming at the child.  And said, "Excuse me, I know children are frustrating but can you just take a minute"...  That's when she cuts me off and starts screaming and cursing at me.  The whole time I'm thinking I just hope she can tell I'm not attacking her, or I looked concerned.  Because I was, I just wanted to give her enough time to calm down before it escalated further.  

 She then says to me she is the mother and she can curse at her child if she wants.  What am I going to do about it.  The other woman is yelling at me too.  The baby stopped crying and just stared.  I said, I just don't think it's a good idea to curse at her.  Then she asked me if there was a law against cursing at your child!..  I said no but I think you need to calm down.  Again they asked me what I was going to do and I told them, I was calling the cops they dared me and I started dialing the cops right in front of them...

Surprising enough they didn't rush out of the store they stayed, the whole 15 minutes it took for a cop to get there.  I told the cop what happened, and the store manager step out and said she saw it and didn't like that she was cursing in front of the customers (which included children).  He walked over ans spoke with the mother and child.

I didn't hear what the cop told the mother of this little girl but she (the mother) was crying at this point.  It's my hope that she realized then it's not ok to curse at a child.  Judging her or get her in serious trouble wasn't something I wanted to do.  Who knows how she was raised or what her life is like.  I just wanted to calm her down and I hope the little one was safer leaving with a mom that is calm rather than screaming.

Seeing that this situation when south so fast I would definitely step in again but I'd do it differently.  Hopefully I could buy enough time for the parent to realize I wasn't a threat and then go from there.  The woman's friend was still defending the behavior as they were leaving but I think it hit home with the mother.  As a mother I to tell a cop (or anyone) that I was screaming and cursing ("sit the f down" & "I'm going to f hit you" etc) at my toddler would be enough to make me second guess it...

This episode had me upset.  I don't even want to think what some children have to endure in their life time...      

 

 

 

Passion. Commitment. Gotta have it!

 

This is a commercial featuring Kevin Pearce, watch it before reading...  He suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2009 preparing for the Olympics.  He's healing has been faster than expected, but he still has a lot of work to do...  I've followed his story in the media and on Facebook...  The recent death of freestyle skier Sarah Burke had me wondering about Kevin's progress.  Burke crashed on the same pipe as Kevin and was in the same hospital as Kevin...  Looks like he is riding again, great news.

As a Mother I think about his Mom and how she is managing the fear I'm sure she has...  She was quoted as saying, "I'm just very proud of him for waiting as long as he has," said his mother Pia. "I don't fully understand the feeling he gets when he snowboards, but it must be a feeling of freedom and happiness and well-being."  He is lucky he to have parents that understand how this dangerous sport is so essential to his well being.

I admire them for their passion and commitment...  I've seen the pipes and jumps they ride in.  My knees get weak looking at the jumps, but the freedom they must feel I believe is immeasurable.  These two stories also reminds me how much I want to give Presley the freedom and confidence to follow her life's passion...  The best way to give her that is by example, the saying "reasons or results" comes to mind.

(Read more about Kevin Pearce's recovery: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/more/12/30/Kevin-Pearce-recovery/index.html#ixzz1kJj3NX15)

Train like a Victoria's Secret Angel

Adriana Lima (on the right) 30 years old and a Mommy.

*not my photo*

 

It's the Victoria's Secret Fashion show season!  Well before you start to hate what you see in the mirror ask yourself if you want Angel Adriana Lima's training (if you want to call it that) schedule?  Well here it is knock yourself out!

3 months before:

workout once a day (not sure how long).

Cut out (pretty much) solid food.  She doesn't clairify what this means.  So I'm thinking it's very minimal what ever it is she's eating.

drink 2 gallons of water a day.

surviving on supplments, protein shakes and vitamins.

3 weeks before:

work out twice a day (doesn't say how long)

9 days before:

cut out all solids. " bye bye Tic Tac a day."

2 days before:

abstain from drinking gallons of water, drink normally.

12 hours before:

No water and I have to assume no food, supplements or vitamins.

Try not to die (ok, I added that).

After reading that.  I'm pretty sure I'll never wonder why the Victoria Secrets Angles look the way they do...  Not to mention to *begin* with she (and the others) are in amazing shape!..  I got the information above from Telegraph.com.uk from and interview she did before the show.  

 

 

 

The Adorable/Harmless Smoking Duck

On our way out of town for the holiday we stopped by a gas station to get gas and snacks.  Presley pointed this out at the register.  She thought the duck was just adorable...  OK so the ad says that this is wrong but my beautiful 4 year old can't read that message but she clearly gets the real message they are sending...

It reminds me of the saying, "do as I do not as I say".  It looks like those evil marketing geniuses (not my first choice of words) have figured out yet again how to sell to kids without selling to kids...  In 1991 there was a study done showing that as many kids knew Joe the Camel represented cigarettes just as Mickey Mouse represents Disneyland...

It's such a weird topic for me...  I love marketing.  I studied it in college...  But I hate (yes, hate) that it's used on our kids...       

Footloose Remake Critic

Remake photo (from my iPhone).

L.O.V.E her boots.  I had a pair similar- and wish I still had them.  :)  

In case you didn't know I am a huge, big, ginormous (yes, gigantic and enormous) Footloose fan.  Me and my high school girlfriends use to watch this movie every weekend all weekend long.  I know it word for word (to this day) I know it all- down to the stickers on the truck Chuck Cranston drove and the clothes they wore.  I saw the remake and I have to say, I'm a fan!

I was going to see it a few weekends ago at my childhood home in Safford, AZ.  However, it had been so long since my girlfriends and I got together we skipped the movie in order to talk more.  Hanging out together, just felt like home.  I love that...

I really hope that this remake makes fans out of this generation.  A lot of the  music was original to the film, some was remade, I loved it!  I for the most part liked the changes made in the plot...  I do feel like Chuck Cranston and his gang were not only ugly but unlikable in this film (unlike the original)...  But I guess we shouldn't like the bad guys, right?!...

I missed a few key pieces from the film...  But again this is coming from a Footloose junkie!  I miss Ariel talking about how much she wanted to escape the small town, I missed the touching interactions between her and her Dad and her and her Mom...  However, I'm a fan of how the plot changed with him and his Uncle and Mother (I can't say why- I don't want to give it away)....

I compare this movie to giving birth to a second child.  You know what's coming but you just don't know exactly how it will play out...  I'm a fan and I can't wait to see it with my high school girlfriends- soon.   

My BFF

Man's best friend.  This lil' guy is only 9 months old.  We found him a few days ago...  He was covered in cactus needles, missing fur and what I thought was dirt I have come to find out are scabs.  We had him scanned for a microchip on Sunday.  Which he didn't have, not surprising considering his condition...

I can't help but wonder what his first nine months of life were like.  How did he get those cuts, did someone hurt him and has he ever been cared for?  I feel bad because I haven't allowed Presley to touch him much.  He needs another bath (a long soak) but because of the topical tick medication we have to wait 48 hrs.  He seems to be happy, really sleepy (from his shots) and two steps behind at all times.

He's really a good listener and secret keeper (hee hee humor).  I guess that's why he's man's best friend...  I'm not sure his home will be here with us.  It's only been recently that we've been without Bailey and Moses...  I had just told a friend (before he came along) that I was enjoying the freedom of not having pets.  Something I haven't had in 11 years and this dog is at least a 10 year commitment.  It's not a decision I want to make based on his cuteness, because he'd be in- no hesitation...  

  

 

 

 

David Ramirez Music = Super Fan!

 

 

 

Let me start this post by saying that I it's only been recently that I have had a real appreciation of music.  I use to find it cheesy when I heard on the radio listeners calling in saying how a particular song got them through a difficult or tragic time in their life.  Part of the disconnect I'm sure is that I've never had much of an introduction to music.  I don't even remember being in music class as a kid.  This lack of knowledge lead to me being unsophistication on the art of it.

This past weekend my girlfriend Iris invited me to a house show for David Ramirez.  A musician I had never heard of and being that I'm not a huge fan of live music I wasn't sure I was in (plus it was in Glendale).  So before going I decided to check him out online.  The only song I heard was, "Fires" and I was all in.  

Not only was the music amazing but I have to say the video kicked butt.  To me the video work was so good and either he had some money from a label backing his music or talented people around him that wanted to be apart of this, just because he's that good.  Either way, this guy is talented and I wanted to be apart of it...

So the show was literally in a house in Glendale.  I don't know the people and my friend didn't know them but heard about the show through a Facebook Event.  Wow, isn't that crazy?!  As a marketing girl, I love that!..    

Ok so we get there and the front row are the only seats available.  Lucky me, because I sincerely loved all the songs he played.  A lot of them are about love and the pain of love.  I have to say I'm a sucker for songs like that...  I was sitting three feet in front of him while he was singing with this big grin on my face.  I just loved the lyrics and was excited to be there...  I was actually a bit embarrassed when I realized this- because how awkward...     

Anyway, I think he's going to be huge and you should check him out (and buy a CD).  You, along with me will be able to say you heard him "before"...  The videos posted are a few of the songs that I love.  I bought two CD's and I have to say I love every song on them...

If you click on the photo below it will send you to his Facebook page, become a fan and find a show!    

 

 

Ombre Hair = Summer Love

my subtle color.

 

It's suppose to look very natural, a sun kissed color.  I love this photo!

 

So I've been seeing this "ombre" hair color on so many of the Hollywood stars these days.  If I remember correctly Jennifer Aniston was the pioneer of the style or better said, her stylist...  Just google images "ombre hair" and you'll see tons of stars with it done.  And I'm a pretty big fan of it, low maintenance color- who would be?  

Upon my return from my summer in New York one of my first stops was to see Erica and get my hair done!  Ahh, it was so worth it.  Not only did my hair need a cut after a summer in the sun and water but it went three months without any attention.  So to come back and have Erica try this new color/cut on me, it felt great.  

I haven't done any highlights to my hair for several years now.  I don't have the time to maintain it but I missed the depth highlights gives to my hair.  So this style is a real welcomed change!  Haha, and I'm already wanting to go lighter next time around- the curse of color.  Anyway I loved it so much I wanted to share the love and tell you about Erica and her stylings.  Give her a call at Le Bella Salon and Spa in Scottsdale 480.315.1999.  

 

 

       

 

Cleaning out My Closet

 

 

My wardrobe thinned out.

During the summer in New York I stopped into a boutique, just to "see" what they had.  I left there with a a bundle of clothes, a hand bag and a toy for Presley.  As I was driving home I was having a bit of buyers remorse.  I didn't need anything when I went in why did I leave with so much?  Then the thought, "I just went into look and see" popped into my mind.  That thought is as silly as an alcoholic going into a bar to see what they serve.

I have used and enjoyed the stuff I bought (my hand bag handle broke) but don't really know if I needed any of it...

When I got home from New York this summer I began the task of unpacking our bags.  While I was going back into my closet I took another look at the clothes I had left behind, wondering why I'm holding on to a lot of them.  So without much thought I started tossing them into a pile to donate.  The pile grew and grew.  Before I knew it I had eight trash bags of clothes, shoes and hand bags.

After putting them all in a pile, I felt lighter and excited.  I will replace some of the items (I need a proper winter coat) but I will stick with the philosophy of "in" product "out" product...  Not the most exciting post, but maybe now you'll know why I have a four shirt rotation!     

 

 

Time to get Arrested

What a stroke of luck tonight.  We are hanging out just me and Presley with plans of staying in going to bed early.  Then the next thing you know Presley runs outside and starts talking to our neighbors.  I go out chat with them a little bit and they tell me they are going to the lecture tonight.  I'm really out of the loop, anyway it turns out that Bill McKibben is speaking about global warming.  20 minutes later Presley is with the sitter and I'm sitting second row listening to Mr. McKibben speak about his plans of getting arrested in less then two weeks.

His lecture was an hour long and spoke about his books, the state of our planet and the need to act and act now.  I try very hard to be "green" but have really ~done~ nothing, taken no action.  So after his talk I gave him my card and said to him, "I'd like to go to Washington D.C and get arrest with you, if you'd like to have a photo journalist (I'm taking some liberties here) on staff".  Now I don't want it to sound like I don't want to get arrested if I can't take photos.  I still might, it's just that I know with my photos I could relay the story to others.  When he created 350.org it was a small grassroots effort (Bill plus 7 grads from Middlebury college).  I'm not sure of it's true size now, I guess I'll find out...  Ok, I should explain why he is hoping to get arrested and why I'm willing to as well.  

President Obama has to make a decision on the proposed pipeline written about in this article (linked here).  This is not so much a protest as much as it is a way of showing support to President Obama if he were to say no, the right thing to do...  

I have to tell you.  Last year I signed up to join a protest put together by 350.org that was taking place in my community.  Um, I didn't show.  It was early?  I don't know- some lame excuse.  But it's something that has bothered me.  I didn't follow through...  And now by some stroke of luck, here is another opportunity for me to show my support.

It's late, I have somethings to work out.  I'll keep you posted...