Pink Lotus Yoga Center... LOVE IT!!!!

My job is one of new people and places... constantly changing environments and personalities. There are the ones who try your nerves, the ones that challenge your patience, and then there are the ones that move you beyond words. I'm lucky because I seem to have this great ability to attract the last.

Today was one such day. I've been really sick, along with some unnecessary drama in my life. So my creative juice tank has been running below the "happy" level. I needed a good kick in the pants to get things rolling again and today was that day!

Nicole Zimmer. Artist and Owner at Pink Lotus Yoga Studio in Lexington, SC. Her studio is located in the Old Mill off Main, and if there wasn't already another established photographer in the building I would be signing my life away to get in there. Its just "THAT" amazing!!! Real, dark, old hardwood floors, exposed red brick tainted with turquoise splashes of old paint. Open ceilings showing the duct work and pipes along with an amazing view of the waterway just behind the building. Truly an artists dream location. Her studio is warm and inviting and smells ultra yummy! The perfect place to find your center and get back to being your very best. You just MUST go check this place out asap.

We started out in her studio as she warmed up before we took off out by the creek where an old tree and loads of running water made for some pretty amazing natural beauty. She posed, I shot... and what we captured was so peaceful and serene. It was exactly what I needed to get my head back in the game. Isn't it amazing how the Universe will bring around exactly what you need in exactly the perfect time.

Here's to new friendships and bright futures. Here's to successful women who are survivors in every way imaginable. Here's to nature and all her glory. And here's to receiving exactly what was intended all along.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011...

Its been quite the year... With so much to be thankful for as well. We are both healthy and trying to get better at staying that way. Eric is enjoying his new position at Shaw & I'm enjoying the discoveries of a new arena of the photography world at WINK. Tiffany has had no issues since her eyes were taken and is the healthiest 13 year old dog ever! Our new home is beautiful and I thank God daily for allowing me to live here. Our marriage is strong, and we have finally found our "comfort zones" with each other. Now it's getting fun! :)

With all our blessings it wasn't difficult to say that dinner prayer, thanking the man upstairs for blessing us with our lives together. For the adventures and the tears, the highs and the lows. For the opportunities and the learning experiences... we are truly grateful.

It was only Eric and I and the two dogs for dinner this year. It's tough when you're the new folks in town with no relatives that live close by. Next year will be a different story for sure!
I cooked everything from scratch and think I did pretty damn good! I had all the traditional Thanksgiving meal items, right down to the pumpkin pie. I was even able to serve it all on my new china. Thank you bb!!!

I miss my Nana & Grandpa at this time of the year. There are amazing recipes that I was supposed to get from her before she passed, I didn't. Now, all I can do is start my own family traditions in my food preparations. I hope she can see me from where she is now. I hope she can see that I was watching very intently all along. And I learned from the best. I hope I make her proud. Love you Nana!

Here's to a fabulous Thanksgiving!!!

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PREPARATIONS:
Top photo is stuffing prep
Left photo is me grinding my own fresh spices
Right photo is the cranberry-mandarin glaze prep




SIDES:
Top left is fresh green beans with sauteed Shallots and toasted almonds
Bottom left is rolled nut bread, sauteed mushroom & shallot stuffing
Right photo is coconut-marshmallow spiced sweet potatoes



SNACKS:
Top photo is Orange & creamed sherry blended with brown sugar and orange zest over walnuts. Let cool & caramelize.
Bottom photo is the old thanksgiving favorite, rice krispie treats!



Shrimp cocktail with creamy-spicy green onion dip...



THE BIRDS:
Cornish Game Hens with Cranberry-Orange Glaze with a side of spiced cranberry sauce with Chardonnay and orange zest...

WINK Magazine CURVY GIRL ISSUE... & I got the cover!

It's just been one of those days. The weather was amazing, my clothing looked and felt great, my Sida was able to stretch her legs on the 77 and still no tickets, I went to look at a possible studio space in an amazing building at an incredible rent, and the WINK Magazine CURVY GIRL Issue came out today! Oh, and did I mention that my images are splashed through out the entire publication-including the cover???!!!

Yes folks, it's just been one of those days... one of those AMAZING days! And I thank you "big man" upstairs for making it all come together so perfectly, and in exactly the perfect time.

Here's to many more!