This year I brought my camera along and had some fun capturing the light show. This is the first year I have tried to Photograph fireworks and I had so much fun playing with the settings and seeing what effects I could come up with. Here are a few of my favorites from the evening!

Hope everyone had a safe, fun filled day celebrating the amazing Freedom we have here in the U.S.! A huge thank you to all our troops who help keep it that way

So this was me and my husband  in November of 2009.

I honestly had to stop and take a deep breath right after I posted this. Wow, did I really just post those picture of me for the world to see? Well, yes. I guess I did. For a reason.

Moving on. And this is us as of last Thursday…

Hmmm. We seem to have lost a pound or two. More like almost 100 pounds between the two of us! So what did we do to get where we are today? I am so glad you asked. There are actually many parts to that story but for the sake of this blog post I will keep it simple and just tell you about one very important part of  the equation.

Meet my secret weapon.  This is my trainer, James “J.R.” Rosania and his instruments of torture Gym equipment. Ha!

He was probably thinking “Hey, go put down that camera and get on the treadmill!” Okay, maybe not exactly that. But close enough. There are a lot of things I can tell you about my trainer. And if you go on over to his Healthplex website, you can read about the numerous awards and achievements he has under his belt, such as being named one of AMERICA’S TOP TRAINERS by Men’s Journal and Vogue magazines. He offers a variety of programs for strength training and weight loss (including nutrition), Triathlon/Marathon training and Dryland Swimming. His clients range from beginners to lifelong athletes, including a sprinkling of both professional and Olympic athletes. My favorite part is that every program he offers is customized for each individual. No “one size fits all” mentality here! Which makes it perfectly do-able for me, the previous non-athlete,  to work out right along side someone who has years of training and experience. I just  go at my own pace and level.

Last year for Christmas I bought my husband, Mark, a Gift Certificate for three months of Personal Training with J.R. I have to come clean and admit I bought the package for him with the full intent of doing the same thing for me when spring rolled around. But big baby that I am, I first wanted to see what Mark thought of the whole experience before I jumped in. Well fast forward to now. I, Sandi Shipley, have become a total and complete convert. (I was going to say “addict” but that doesn’t sound quite as healthy, now does it?!) I have been training with J.R. since May. Definitely ranks high up there on my list of  Best Decisions I have ever made, both for myself and my husband. I workout with him 2 -3 times a week and love it!  I love that I now have time I set aside for myself where nothing else takes priority over me and I am doing something good for myself. All you Moms out there, I know you know what I am talking about. I can chat up with the girls if I want or just put on my headphones and lose myself in my play list and the rhythm of my workout. Is it hard? Yes, some days more than others. Is it worth it? Definitely! J.R. will push you. You will be sore. But you will be all the better for it and glad you showed up.

This was a gift that was life changing for our family. And I don’t use that term lightly. So if you have a loved one that could benefit from working with a Personal Trainer (or you want to drop a major hint for yourself!), get in touch with J.R. at jrhealthplex@aol.com or 602-295-0652. Look him up on his webpage or reach him on his Facebook page!

Okay, so now that we have a gift for Healthy bodies, lets move on to my favorite gift for a healthy state of mind. Hey, it’s all about balance!

There are days when I feel like Humpty Dumpty have fallen off my wall. That’s when I turn to the lovely and talented staff at Atmosphere Salon, who so kindly help me put it all back together!

Atmosphere, A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon,  is co-owned by sisters Danielle and Jamie. I have been a guest of this salon for three years now. And when I say “Guest” I mean “Guest”. There are salons on practically every corner here in Phoenix. Why choose this one?  Because every Stylist at Atmosphere, beyond being extremely talented in their own field,  is a student in the fine Art of Customer Service. From the moment you walk in to the time you sit your newly pampered self back in your car to leave, you will be treated with the utmost of care. Sip a Latte, Hot Cider or Ice Tea while your color is processing or your cut is taking shape. Browse the locally made jewelry before you check out. Enjoy the great music playing in the background and join in on what is most likely lively conversation going on between the stylists and other guests.

The salon itself is a beautiful wide open space with gorgeous natural lighting through out. (Which, as a photographer, I just love!!) And did I mention the Paul Mitchell part?  That translates into a consistent level of education on the newest techniques and excellent products for your hair and body. Care to try a styling tool before you buy? Step on over to the Tool Bar. I have had both Afton and Jaime walk me through different ways to use a Smoothing Iron. Hey, don’t laugh…it’s not as easy as it looks! Well, I could go on and on about this place. What can I say? I am a major fan!

Afton, Vera and Jaime are my Dream Team, although I would wholeheartedly recommend any of the stylists! Afton is my Color and Cut specialist, Vera works magic on my fingers and toes and Jaime tames those unruly eyebrows of mine.  And yes, before you ask, it does apparently take a village   I also bring all three of my kids in for their haircuts.   So drop on by and pick up a Gift Certificate for that special someone on your list.  Atmosphere Salon is located at 49 West Thomas Road here in Phoenix. You can call them at (602) 248-8300 to book your appointment or follow them on Facebook for daily specials!

Well that is all for today. We are almost home…only 7 more shopping days left.  Have a great weekend and see you here next Friday!

The first I would consider my favorite “Candy” Store. Although they don’t really sell candy. They sell Teas. Hundreds of loose leaf, delicious smelling, wonderful tasting Teas. Take a look inside Fleur de Teas…

Cozy welcoming tables and chairs, holiday decorations, Tea and treat samples…I just love this place! Rows and rows of exotic, soothing, yummy Teas. Under every bag is a little jar with a small amount of tea so you can see, touch and smell before you buy. How clever is that?!

Not to mention all the fun Tea related accessories you can buy from mugs to diffusers, hand poured Candles and even a line of luxury Bath products that smell heavenly!

And to top it all of, the owner Holly, is one of the nicest most knowledgeable people you could meet. She will gladly answer any questions and tell you all you want to know about a particular tea, or suggest one to your liking. My favorites are White Cloud, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Creme Brulle. So stop on by and buy some Tea or a Gift basket! Fleur de Teas is located at 5812 N 16th St. in Phoenix AZ. They are on the Southwest corner of 16th Street & Bethany Home Rd between the Phoenix City Grille & Salon Kismet. Find them online and like them on Facebook, too!

Continuing on our tour of Yumminess…do you know about Smeeks?? If you don’t, you should! Smeeks is a darling little one stop shop for all things sweet. I jokingly refer to Fleur de Teas as my favorite “candy store”, but Smeeks is my kids favorite, hands down!! I know they are dreaming of one or two of these treats in their stockings this year…

Smeeks also sells a nice assortment of sugar free and vegan candy as well as fun retro candy and candy from Asia and Canada. Besides the treats, you can pick up a fun gifts for all ages. They have some pretty unique items you won’t find any where else, guaranteed to put a huge smile on the face of the recipient. Plus, gotta love the little gnome!

So come, be a kid in a candy store, for real Indulge your sweet tooth and discover one of Phoenix’s best kept secrets. Smeeks is located at 14 W. Camelback Road in Phoenix, AZ. You will love them in person but you can also Like them on Facebook!!

Alas, our treat fest is over for the day. Just in time to head out and do some shopping for stocking stuffers! Hmmm, three guesses where you will be able to find me this weekend…

Next week…find out all about my three favorite places for a healthy body and mind. Until then, Happy Friday!

What every female photographer needs….

a lovely gold camera charm to complete her shooting outfit. This lovely trinket can be found on the Tiffany website. Hmmm, I think I’d like mine in my stocking please. Ha! Or how about this one…

Isn’t this so cute? I love this little necklace! Welcome to the wonderful world of Etsy. I found this little necklace here. I love these little vintage pieces. Go ahead, do a search for Camera jewelry. Bet you will find something you will love!

Looking for something other than Camera Jewelry? How about one of these lovely charm necklaces from Stella and Dot?

Sigh. I just love Stella and Dot. So much so that I actually became a Stylist so I could afford my addiction. Seriously. I love layering a charm necklace or two with some of their vintage pieces. Like this ring and earrings…

So many fun things to look at, so little time. Well at least there are 21 more shopping days to go. Happy Holidays!

I would love to pay the blessings forward by gifting a complete Portrait Session including all High Resolution Images on a disk. There are no limitations this year on who can win….Nominate a family, a new or soon to be mom, or a High School Senior. Husbands, think your wife is amazing and know she has always wanted portraits done? Do you have the most amazing Mom/Dad/Best friend whom you want to give the gift of memories? Tell me all about it! What I loved last year was reading about the teens whom you love and are proud of. I am so looking forward to reading your stories this year!

Tell me about the truly wonderful person who should win a free portrait session! Tell me (in a few paragraphs please!) why this person is so wonderful and most importantly, why do you think they should win a free portrait session. These do not have to be hardship stories. Tell me about the person who makes you laugh the hardest or bakes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world. Me and my trusty nominations committee (READ: Me, my husband, my mom and my three kids!) will pick one lucky winner based on the entries. And yes, you can nominate yourself!

The What:
The winner must live here in the Phoenix metro area. Portrait session will take place between Feb 1 – March 30, 2011
The winning entry will receive a 2 hour Portrait Session at a location here in the Phoenix metro area and the entire disc of all the final, edited images (usually 30-35 per session). There is no obligation to purchase anything! Wahoo!

The Who:
Nominate someone in your life and email me as to why he/she is so wonderful and deserving of a free session. (and remember, you can nominate yourself!)
I must receive all emailed entries by Midnight PST Friday, December 10, 2010. The Winner will be announced by Noon PST here on this blog and on my Facebook page on Monday, December 13th….just in time to make this a great Holiday Gift!

The How:
Send emails to sandi@sandishipleyphotography.com. Email me your entry by the deadline. Include your own full name and contact information. Also include the name of the person you are nominating, how you know them, and why they are so deserving. If you want to include a small picture of the person you are nominating you may but it is not required! The winning entry will be emailed to make arrangements for contacting the winner. Tell a friend!

The Fine Print:
Emails MUST be received before the deadline. Entries received after Midnight on Friday 12/10/10 will not be considered. Winning person(s) must either live here in the Phoenix metro area or be able to get here and session must be completed in February or March of 2011. Dates will be scheduled according to photographers availability during those months.

That’s it! Let the nominations begin!! Again…send entries to sandi@sandishipleyphotography.com

Introducing the lovely, (who am I kidding? Okay, drool worthy…) Kelly Moore Bags for photographers. I absolutely love these! They are the perfect mix of size, storage and functionality that I was looking for in a Lens bag.  Easy access to lenses, nice storage pockets for memory cards and all the little things I carry around, substantial enough they won’t just flop over but soft enough to fit the contours of your body as you move. Oh, happiness! If you listen to my husband he would tell you I am addicted to bags. But really, do you blame me??  I can’t decide which one to get, but I will be ordering one!  And I can’t wait to get it. Yes, there will be pictures!  Until then, go check out her site…

Oh, and get this…the wonderful Kelly Moore has given me a discount code to share with all of you in case you want (MUST HAVE!!) one of these yummy bags, too! So Your $50 discount code is: bloglove  It will expire on January 24th, so make sure to grab yours while the getting is good!

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I have been married to Jeff for almost 27 years.  We have two daughters, Rachel is 20 and Rebecca is nearly 18.  I have a degree in Advertising from ASU.

I grew up here in the Valley — I love the sunshine and beauty of the desert.  I enjoy reading (especially forensics and true crime), classic movies, working out, spending time with loved ones, travel and quilting.

Tell us about your Button Bags.

When creating the bags, I wanted to design something functional and fun.  To ensure excellence in craftsmanship, I use only high-quality materials.  Each bag features 3 inside pockets to keep things organized.  Also, I try to use an interesting lining fabric since the bags are fully reversible.

 When I completed my first bag, my daughter thought that a button would be the perfect finishing touch.  Each bag features a button that complements the fabrics.

Rayetta has more fabrics to choose from including some fun animal prints and diaper bags. I couldn’t fit pictures of all of them here!  In addition to her wonderful bags, Rayetta also designs quilts. Isn’t this one lovely?!

What motivated you to start your business?

Last fall I began to consider the looming cost of having 2 kids in college.  I decided to attend H&R Block School, with the hopes of landing a part-time job to earn some extra income.

Meanwhile, I was receiving very positive feedback on some fabric bags I had made for family and friends.  I proposed the idea of making and selling my bags to my brother Charles, who lovingly stated, “Rayetta, you’re an artist, not a number cruncher.  The bags are more an expression of who you are.”  Rayetta’s Homemade Treasures was born.

You are doing something special with the proceeds.  Tell us why you picked this organization.

I have been a stay-at-home mom for years, and sadly, caring for people with HIV/AIDS was never on my radar.  In 2003, someone close to me was diagnosed with AIDS.  Suddenly, AIDS was no longer a set of statistics, or just a red ribbon — AIDS had a face.

As my loved one recovered from a near-fatal illness, I realized how important a support system can be.  I began to pray that God would give me the opportunity to help care for someone living with HIV.  I met Steve Robenalt from Compassion in Action, and began volunteering for his organization in 2007.  I never thought I’d be doing HIV work, but there’s nothing I’d rather do.  Nothing compares to loving people and giving your life away. 

What is one thing you absolutely wouldn’t want to live without?

Hands down, the one thing I couldn’t live without is my Bible.  For me, it’s been a safe place to rest, a plumb line of truth, a flashlight in the dark, and a love letter.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’d love to go to Europe.  What could be more exciting than gazing at the Sistine Chapel, having breakfast in a Paris café, or visiting Martin Luther’s stomping grounds?

What is your favorite saying?

This is difficult because there are so many profound quotes, but this is definitely one of my favorites:  “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains.  It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world” (C.S. Lewis).

What is the best way for someone to contact you?

E-mail me at rayettanathe@cox.net.

Good luck to you, Rayetta! I love my bag and get so many compliments when I carry it!

Well, here is a GREAT idea! As of April 1st of this year and running through April 1st, 2010, you can get a group of 4 into several local venues for FREE. Yup…FREE! How does this work? Using what is called a Culture Pass anyone with a Library card in Scottsdale , Phoenix , Chandler , Mesa , Tempe and Glendale can go to their local library and ask to check out a pass for the particular place you would like to go. Each Library has been given 5 passes to each venue. You walk in, pick up the pass, take it to the check out desk and bada-BING! You are given a pass that is good for a one time admission for 4 which expires in 7 days. Nothing to bring back, even! How cool is that?!!

Here’s a tip. These babies are pretty popular and the place you may want to get passes for may be checked out. You cannot put passes on hold, however you can go online to the Library’s website and look at the availability and status of the Culture pass you would like to check out. The websites list the days the pass becomes available again. I wanted to take my kids to the Children’s Museum last week. I went onto the Phoenix City Library’s website, found out the date the pass was going back to “Available” status and was at the library when it opened. It’s worth a little advance planning to get what you want!

Here is a list of the available venues:
AZ Museum for Youth
AZ Museum of Natural History
AZ Science Center
The Bead Museum
Cave Creek Museum
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Desert Botanical Garden
Heard Museum
Mesa Contemporary Arts
Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix Zoo
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Taliesin West

I just think this is the best thing to happen in Phoenix in a long time! I am looking forward to taking my kids to several of these venues during the summer. Fun, interesting places that are free and air conditioned? I am so there!

Check out more info about the culture pass here: http://www.showup.com/culturepass
Happy Summer!

Besides the wonderful teaching and people, we were spoiled by the incredible food. My amazing (and I don’t use that word lightly!) friend Kim is truly gifted in event planning. She can whip up a menu that is delicious and filling for a group of 50, or elegant and indulgant for a small dinner party of 10.  She and her husband Nick were part of what made the weekend so special. Sunday morning we woke up to fresh baked scones that were so delicious. I love a good scone recipe and wanted to share this one with you all. If you try it out, let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Kim’s Cranberry Orange Scones

Ingredients

• 4 cups plus 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar, plus additional for sprinkling
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 3/4 pound cold unsalted butter, diced
• 4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup cold heavy cream
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons water or milk, for egg wash
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
• 4 teaspoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix 4 cups of flour, 1/4 cup sugar, the baking powder, salt and orange zest. Add the cold butter and mix at the lowest speed until the butter is the size of peas. Combine the eggs and heavy cream and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly pour into the flour and butter mixture. Mix until just blended. The dough will look lumpy! Combine the dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of flour, add to the dough, and mix on low speed until blended.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it into a ball. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4-inch thick. You should see small bits of butter in the dough. Keep moving the dough on the floured board so it doesn’t stick. Flour a 3-inch round plain or fluted cutter and cut circles of dough. Place the scones on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Collect the scraps neatly, roll them out, and cut more circles.

Brush the tops of the scones with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are browned and the insides are fully baked. The scones will be firm to the touch. Allow the scones to cool for 15 minutes and then whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and orange juice, and drizzle over the scones.