Monthly Archives: January 2009

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i got tagged . . .

January 29, 2009 – 5:24 pm

I’ve been tagged with this little activity on Facebook multiple times this week, so I gave in and came up with my list.  These are 25 completely random, totally useless things about me that I’m pretty sure you can’t possibly live without knowing . . .ha! ha!  Seriously, I’m not sure why anyone would really care to know these facts, but if you’re a sucker for these things (like me), read on . . .

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1)  I try to save money on groceries & household items by shopping at Aldi, but I splurge on cleaning supplies & toilet paper.  I really appreciate some good toilet paper (Kleenex Cottonelle is my fav).  New, good cleaning supplies make me enjoy cleaning my house more.

2)  I love wearing hats & scarves in the winter . . . because I like the way they look, but mostly because I don’t have to fix my hair, and they keep me WARM!

3)  My favorite vegetables are asparagus & sweet potatoes (I *LOVE* the sweet potato fries at Fido!!!).

4)  I enjoy making my own stationary and get together with a group of ladies once a month to do so.  We have a lot of fun together, and it’s something I look forward to every month.

5)  My first (and only) Cabbage Patch Kid was named Carissa.  I saved up my money to buy her and was SO proud.

6)  My favorite Starbucks drink is a grande, non-fat, 1 pump raspberry, with-whip mocha . . . sooooo good!  And yes, the “with-whip” totally cancels out the “non-fat” – but a girl can only be so good.

7)  I HAVE to have sunglasses with me at all times because my eyes are super-sensitive to the sunlight.  That’s why I don’t wear my glasses more often.  BUT, I have been known to wear my sunglasses on TOP of my regular glasses because the light was unbearable . . . it’s really pretty.

8)  My first job was wrapping gifts at a department store when I was 15, and I’m still pretty meticulous when wrapping gifts now  . . . gotta crease those edges!

9)  I bought my first car when I was 16 – a white 1990 Honda Accord.  I had to take out a small loan, and my mom was brave enough to co-sign with me.  I never missed a payment, and it was such a good car :) .

10)  I graduated from college in three years because I couldn’t afford to stay at Samford any longer . . . too expensive!  I’m glad I did it, but sometimes I feel like my college experience was rushed and not nearly as much fun as it could have been.

11)  I won the “Little Miss Outlook” pageant when I was in the 5th grade.  My pastor’s daughter talked my mom into letting me do it.  She made my hair REALLY big, put a lot of make-up on me, and I wore a bubble dress (remember those?).  Somehow I won and have a trophy and tiara to prove it.

12)  I had a pet squirrel growing up.  His name was Squeakers, and we rescued him after he fell out of his nest.  He was great!

13)  I do NOT like the texture of tomatoes, coconut or bananas, but I like their flavors.

14)  I love a good pen and new notebook or journal.

15)  I got married when I was 20 and had my first son when I was 22 . . . much earlier than I had always imagined.  It’s worked out, though, and I like being a “young” mom.

16)  I wasn’t sad on my 30th birthday (last year).  I actually spent the day feeling extremely thankful for all the blessings those 30 years have brought me.  I feel much more comfortable with and accepting of myself now than I ever have.

17)  I think my personality has changed sometime over the past five (or so) years.  I used to be super-structured and had to have things all planned out.  Now I’m much more laid back and “go-with-the-flow.”  One of my strengths in the StrengthFinders test is adaptability.  I would NEVER have guessed that five or six years ago.

18)  I love, love, love the feel of my boys’ cheeks against mine when they give me hugs.  They’re still SO soft . . . makes me want to kiss them, which they just love . . . ha!

19)  My dad (and everyone else) used to call me “Katie Bug” and always gave me ladybug stuff.  I had ladybug earrings, ladybug stationary, ladybug socks . . . I could go on and on.

20)  My major in college was Sociology, and my minor was Human Development and Family Studies.  My favorite class was Race & Ethnic Relations, and my least favorite was Sociological Theory . . . yuck!!!

21)  When I was in the 4th grade I stepped on a needle, and about 3/4 of it broke off in my foot.  When I was running in PE in the 8th grade my foot started hurting.  The next week a rusty needle started coming out the top of my foot . . . GROSS!  Yes, it was in there for FOUR years!

22)  My very best friend in high school was Karen, but we pronounced her name “KAY-RUN.”  (What can I say . . . I grew up in Alabama).  She and I are still good friends, and she’s a photographer, too!

23)  Growing up, my immediate family members’ names all started with the letter “K” – even the dog.

24)  I never had a wreck the whole time I had my old Honda, but I crashed into our carport ONE WEEK to the day after I got my new Envoy.  It was so sad.  I felt so stupid.  Brad reminds me of it every once-in-a-while.

25)  I love having fresh flowers in my house.  I buy cheap ones at Kroger or Aldi and separate the big bouquet into two or three smaller ones.  I put them in little vases or Mason jars and spread them throughout the house.  It makes me happy!

WOW, congrats if you made it this far . . . that was long!  Feel free to share your randomness in the comments section.  I’d love to hear from you!

By Katie | Posted in {the dunlap family} | Comments (0)

miscellaneous monday (vol. 8)

January 26, 2009 – 10:21 pm

So . . . today is Monday . . . and I’m trying to figure out what to post.  I’m cold, and I think I need a SNUGGIE or a SLANKET.  I tend to be cold-natured, and you can usually find me at night on the couch with a blanket draped over my lap . . . like a little old lady :) .

I’ve been busy trying to nurse my sweet kitty back to health this week.  He seemed to be getting better, but now he’s running a fever and has a swollen belly.  He’s having surgery tomorrow morning to see if they can figure out exactly what’s going on with him.  I’m ready for him to be happy and healthy and back to his crazy, hyper self.  I would also like to find the owners of the dogs that attacked him so I can give them the vet bill . . . seriously.

I know I’m a little partial, but isn’t he the cutest?!  These were taken several months ago when he was a baby, but he’s still this sweet.  He’s my buddy, and many of YOUR pictures have been edited with him in my lap or lying on the desk beside my computer :) .

Since I’m talking about the cat, I thought some of you animal-lovers might enjoy these fun finds:
Catnip Eyeballs . . . how weird and creepy and funny . . . all at the same time!
Need a little Valentine’s Day treat for your pooch?
If your kitty likes to play video games, check out this . . . crazy!
You can even get a plushie replica of your furry friend made :) .
If you love hoodies & scarves as much as me, you’re gonna like these and these!
If your dog has bad breath, maybe you could try some of this.
This person will even paint a custom picture of your pet.

That’s all I have for now.  Have a great week!  Until next time . . .

By Katie | Posted in {misc. mondays}, {the dunlap family} | Comments (0)

hello handsome

January 24, 2009 – 11:06 pm

I had a session with this little guy today, and I could just gobble him up!  I absolutely *love* these two! . . .

He’s got some pretty cool parents, too . . . with smokin’ glasses, might I add . . .

Can you believe these eyes???  They’re really this blue and sparkly :) .

Thanks, Ryan & Kelly, for giving me the opportunity to photograph your little man!  Let me know when you need a babysitter :) .

By Katie | Posted in {babies} | Comments (0)

my baby is SIX!

January 22, 2009 – 10:34 am

Whew . . . what a week it’s been!  I completely missed my “Miscellaneous Monday” post . . . but I have a very good reason that I’ll get to later.  We had a big weekend because Cole’s sixth birthday was Saturday.  I can’t believe that my youngest child is SIX!  We invited the boys from his class over for a Spiderman party.  Six of them came, and they had so much fun together!  It was really neat watching them play outside the structure of the classroom.  They played air hockey and other games in the garage and then spread all the legos out in the living room and built ships and trucks.  We had pizza, cupcakes & ice cream, and it was a really fun party!  I’m thankful for the great friends that Cole’s made in school.  They have a neat class, and they’re all so sweet.  Brad’s brother and his girlfriend came to visit us over the long weekend, so they got to experience the fun of having a bunch of six-year-old excited, sugared-up boys in the house, too!

The reason I missed posting on Monday is because we had a scary experience with our little kitty, Piper.  He was attacked by two big dogs right in front of our house.  He managed to get away and crawled down into a storm drain.  I won’t go into all the crazy details, but it took us three hours (in the freezing cold & snow flurries) to get him out of a 100 foot pipe that runs under and diagonally across our street.  I’ll just say that a fire truck, a news van, me climbing down into a nasty seven foot drain, and some conduit with a football duct taped to the end were involved . . . I told you it was CRAZY!  We didn’t know the extent of his internal injuries, but after spending a couple of days under the vet’s care and watchful eye, he was able to come home yesterday.  He’s still very sore, but he can hobble around now, and he’s going to be okay.  It was so sad and scary, and I’m so glad to have him back home.  He curled up in my lap last night and started purring and fell asleep :) .  I went to bed with a lighter heart and a big smile on my face!

By Katie | Posted in {misc. mondays}, {the dunlap family} | Comments (1)

miscellaneous monday (vol. 7)

January 12, 2009 – 5:02 pm

I really enjoy purchasing handmade goodies when possible . . . if you haven’t noticed already!  Aren’t these too cute???

I found them at Black Lion at the Opry Mills Mall, but you can also find them here.  I really enjoy making my own cards, but I had to snag these and some little bird ones when I saw them.  The paper and material are sewn onto the card, so I told Brad that I need a sewing machine now so I can make my own.  You can imagine his response :) .

I’ve mentioned on here that I love music, and I’ve found myself really diggin’ Taylor Swift’s new Fearless CD lately.  It’s a random pick for me, but it takes me back to all the emotions that I felt as a teenager.  When I hear those songs, I can still feel those first love butterflies and the conflict that goes on in the heart of a girl who’s becoming a young woman.  I think my favorite song so far is Love Story.  I was in the car by myself belting it out just today on my way home from having coffee with some girlfriends :) .  My niece got the CD for Christmas, and I have this sweet picture in my mind of her sitting in my mom’s kitchen listening to each song and following along with the lyrics.  I did that ALL the time when I was younger, and I still do it now!  She was sitting in a chair with her knees bent and pulled up to her chest.  I just watched her and thought, “Oh my goodness!  She’s growing up!  She reminds me of ME!”  So, Miss Olivia . . . I’ll be jammin’ out to Taylor with you, and if I see her around town, I’ll get an autograph for you :) .  

By Katie | Posted in {misc. mondays} | Comments (3)

be. still. my. heart.

January 9, 2009 – 9:44 pm

This sweet baby girl stole my heart today!  She is 11 days old, and her name is Emmaline Virginia.  See how precious she is!

I’m always left in awe when I have the honor of photographing a newborn.  There’s something really, really special about documenting those first days of life.

She slept most of the time . . .

. . . and then she woke up and showed me her pretty, bright eyes!

Emmaline’s parents are friends of ours, and they are already such great parents.  They are so relaxed and at ease with her.  Thank you, Nate & Kristen, for sharing your baby girl with me today!  I hope you get some sleep tonight :) .

By Katie | Posted in {babies} | Comments (3)

rare photos & a fun contest :)

January 8, 2009 – 11:04 pm

I haven’t shared any photos in a WHILE!  My blog is getting way too wordy!  I have a newborn session in the morning, and I can’t wait to share some of those on here.  BUT, for now Brad and I will have to do . . . ha! ha!  We never seem to be in any of the same pictures.  If we are, the boys are with us, and it’s never just us by ourselves.  I prefer to be behind the camera, so I’m rarely in any of the pictures we have.  I don’t like that, but it’s just how it usually ends up working out.  This year I’m going to make more of an effort to actually be in pictures with them.  Brad needed a picture of the two of us for something for church, so I decided to put them on here, too :) .

We began dating when I was a junior in high school & he was a senior . . . and we’ve been together ever since.  We dated about 4.5 years, and we’ll celebrate our TENTH wedding anniversary this May [wow, that makes me feel kind of old!].  He’s my best friend, and he’s a fantastic dad.  Our boys are incredibly blessed to have him as a role model.  He’s also been so supportive of my photography business.  When I get excited about a session or an idea, he patiently listens to me ramble!  He hangs with the boys when I have a session that isn’t during school hours.  He even let me “practice” on him when I was first starting out and was trying to figure out all the logistical things about my camera and how to shoot!  I love him!

Valentine’s Day is next month, so let’s do a contest!!  Email me by clicking on “contact” at the top of the page.  Tell me the story of how you met your sweetie and what he or she means to you.  OR nominate a family member or friend and surprise them . . . how fun is that?!  I’ll gather a panel of people to help me choose the winner, and they will receive . . . . . . . A COMPLIMENTARY COUPLE SESSION AND A SET OF PROOF PRINTS!!!  So, don’t be shy and email me by Thursday, February 12th.  I’ll announce the winner on Valentine’s Day!

By Katie | Posted in {news}, {the dunlap family} | Comments (1)

want free prints?

January 8, 2009 – 9:16 am

**Disclaimer: I said I was going to post everyday this week, and I TRIED!  Last night as I was about to hit “Publish” to get this online, our internet access quit working for some crazy reason.  It’s back up this morning, so here’s the post a little late . . . since I know you’ve all been holding your breath in anticipation ::wink wink::!**

I love my clients!  I really do.  It’s a huge honor for me to be asked into a family’s world – even if for a couple of hours.  It’s so much fun documenting little one’s lives – even if for an afternoon.  I can’t describe how fun it is for me to walk into a house and see my images on the walls.  It makes my heart flutter a little!

I’m always so grateful when clients refer their friends and family to me because I rely on “word of mouth” for much of my advertising.  Soooo . . . [insert drum roll] . . . to show my sincere appreciation, I’m beginning a referral program.  When you refer someone to me and the session has been completed, you will receive a $25 print credit to use however you’d like!!!  You can save it for a future session or use it on a previous one.  Want one more 8X10 or a couple of 5X7s??  Want to apply it to a gorgeous canvas print or storyboard showcasing your favorite images??  Be creative . . . it can be used on any item in the Product Guide (which can be found on the pricing page of my website).  So, refer as many people as you’d like, and let those $25 print credits add up!  If you have any questions, please give me a call or shoot me an email.  Thank you so much for helping to spread the word about Capture Photography!

By Katie | Posted in {news} | Comments (0)

fave five, fab 5 . . . it’s your pick!

January 6, 2009 – 10:52 pm

Attention all you Facebook and MySpace people out there . . .

Upon the request of several clients, I have a little something new for you.  I know you love to show off your beautiful babies, so you may now choose five favorite photos from your session and add them to your page*!  If you’ve had a recent session and want to take me up on this offer, click here, click on the “connect” tab at the top of the page and let me know which images you want.  I’ll email them to you ASAP!  Check back tomorrow for an exciting announcement regarding referrals!

*All images will contain a subtle watermark for copyright purposes.

By Katie | Posted in {news} | Comments (0)

miscellaneous monday (vol. 6)

January 5, 2009 – 9:57 pm

Wow!  It’s been TWO WEEKS since I posted on here!  I know you’ve been holding your breath to read my latest and greatest (ha!), but I really enjoyed taking a little break.  It was much needed after a busy, busy fall season.  We had a great Christmas in Alabama with our families, and I *thoroughly* enjoyed hanging out with my boys while they were out on Christmas break.  They go back to school tomorrow, and while I’ll be kind of glad to get back into a routine, I’m a little sad, too.  It was nice to spend some quality time with them without the rush of our typical schedule.  Last night we all piled up in the living room and watched The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.  Brad and I had seen it already, but this was the first time the boys watched it.  I knew they’d LOVE it, and they did!  Even better than the movie, though, was the time spent snuggling on the couch and just being together.  At one point, both boys were on the love seat with me, and Brad was on the couch all by himself!  What can I say
. . . they love their mama :) .  I took a few minutes to step outside of the movie and breathe in the moment in an attempt to etch it in my mind forever.  Those are the times that I cherish so much and know I will long for again years down the road when they’re all grown up and gone.  If you haven’t seen the movie, you should!  We’re also reading the book to the boys at night, which is a lot of fun.

I’ve also enjoyed having a little time off to get my house organized . . . whoo hoo!  You have to understand that at the core of who I am is a girl who just loves for things to be organized and neat and tidy.  Now, having two THREE boys sometimes gets in the way of all that, and I’ve learned to be okay with it . . . most days.  BUT, I really like for everything to have a place and for the flow of our house to make life easier and make sense.  AND, I got a LABEL MAKER for Christmas!  I didn’t even ask for one, and Brad came up with the idea on his own (brownie points for that one – it doesn’t take much to make me happy!).  All you people out there got Wii’s and stuff, but I’m perfectly content with my label maker :) .  I’ve found all sorts of things around the house that *need* labeling!  (And of course, I had to go out and buy some more fun boxes, baskets & containers to sort things into!)  Speaking of getting organized . . .

. . . I have so many things swirling through my mind to share because I’ve been brainstorming ideas for my photography business for 2009.  I’ve been waiting for the boys to get back in school, though, to really sit down and sift through my thoughts and come up with some definite plans.  I’m also updating the galleries on the website this week, and I’ll be making some minor changes to it and this blog in the next couple of weeks.  I have a newborn session later this week, and I’m sooooo excited about it!  It’s been a little while since I’ve photographed a newborn, so it should be super fun . . . and it’s a little girl!  Stay tuned for some sweet images :) , and check back for more news as I continue to make plans for 2009!  I’ll be posting every day this week . . . no really . . . I will . . . you’ll see . . .

By Katie | Posted in {misc. mondays} | Comments (0)