Dancing my way through the run...

Lately my running partner and I have had a hard time getting our schedules to match up so I've been doing a lot more of my runs solo. And once you've gotten used to chit chatting your way through a run it gets hard to go it alone.   But I've found a new strategy - dancing through my run.

I read recently on my friend Kristi's blog that itunes records the beats per minute for a lot of songs.  I guess DJ's like to know that kinda stuff...anyhow...  she mentioned that you could use that in your run if you knew your steps per minute.  So I went outside and jogged down the street counting my steps per minute.  Since not all of my songs in itunes had their BPM recorded, I downloaded a free trial of some software that would count my beats.  It was free because it only did the first half of my music library - which was kinda stinky but hey - it's free!  So, knowing that my SPM was around 160 I found music between 155 and 170 BPM and put it in order of the beats on my ipod. So I can start out slower and increase to 170 by the end of my run.

And it's been great - when I'm feeling tired or bored or when I start to panic a little I remind myself that all I have to do it start dancing.  And it works every time.  There is something so satisfying as moving your feet to music - in having my feet hit the ground on every beat.  And as long as the music is good - I get moving.  I also tend to play air drums along the way too.  It also works great for speed work because you can have a regular or slower paced song followed by a faster song - and continue alternating so you just have to follow the music.  Which is good - because I seriously need to get faster. 



And from the movie that taught me to love dancing...I totally teared up while watching this.  I'm a sentimental boob.

Miraculous Promises

I can't tell you how often I find myself just sitting and staring at my seedlings.  They are full of the promise of summer and of good eating.  Last summer was the best summer of eating I have ever had.  I learned to appreciate eating in season and enjoying so many fruits and veggies at the height of perfection.  So I've expanded my own garden - I've started so many things - basil, tomatoes, cucumbers, black beans, green beans, snap peas, watermelons, acorn squash, onions, carrots, rainbow chard,  peppers, lettuce, and the list just goes on and on.   I bought the seeds with my friend Callie.  We went through a seed catalog and ordered ones that sounded good to both of us - all heirlooms.  We both like cooking and veggies so it worked out beautifully.  I'm so excited.

Last year I had 10 basil plants and it still wasn't enough to supply our demand for all things basil.  So this year I'm doubling that - including 8 purple basil plants.  Can you see my cute purple seedlings?

Did you know herb seedlings smell good?  I don't why but I figured they wouldn't start tasting/smelling good until they got older.  Nope, not so, they are deliciouso from birth.

I am also hoping to have upwards of 30 tomato plants which means that if they all produce as promised I'm going to be swimming in beautiful tomatoes.  We use TONS of canned tomatoes around here so I was hoping to be able to can them like crazy at the end of the season.  We'll have big red ones, medium sized yellow ones, huge purple ones, and tiny yellow and red ones.  Yum yum.

What about you?  Have you got a garden on the horizon?  If not, it's a lot easier than you think.  Seeds just wanna grow - it's really miraculous.  And once you plant some, you won't be able to keep your eyes of them either.

The Vuissa Family

This session was honestly one of my favorite sessions ever.    Christian is a brilliant filmmaker that I know from my film school days at BYU and he has a beautiful wife and the most adorable children.  The Vuissa's were moving out of their home three days after we shot this - to Europe!  So just about everything they own was out and we just had the beautiful palette of bright windows, wood floors & white walls.  It was a dream come true for me.  So hold onto your hats, I'm gonna share a lot of images!

When I first got to their home their oldest was rockin out on her ipod and I grabbed this shot.  I just love it.

And she has some of the cutest wallpaper on her wall, don't you think?

And I love these little guys.  Those were their chairs and they were very happy that we took pictures in them.  I was too!

I loved this shot too. It took a while to get a smile out of sister but it was worth it!

We still had music, and if you've got music, you've gotta dance!

Now, all children have beautiful skin but these guys just G-L-O-W-E-D.  Must be all that raw milk they drink!

I loved this little moment.  I love how happy Dad looks and the mischievous look on the little guys face.

The whole gang.

 

Then we headed to the bed.  And who doesn't love jumping on the bed?

And wise mom and dad gave out some lollipops to make happy children.

How about more of that milky skin?  I love these.  Isn't she beautiful?

Ok, just a few more...

I never tire of family shots on the bed.  It's such a real moment and always so pretty.

I love those soft colors.

And lastly, something to make you smile.