Valentine's Contest!

It's a Valentine's Day Contest!

In honor of the loviest holiday of the year, I am holding a contest! I want to know how you and your sweetie met! Email me (lifeprintsbyshandon@yahoo.com) between now and noon on February 13th with your own personal love story. The top 5 stories (picked by my special panel) will be posted that night. Voting will take place all day on Valentine's Day -- so be sure to log on and vote for your favorite. The winning couple will be announced the morning of February 15th and will receive a free session on location in Gainesville and a $50 credit toward any portrait purchase.

Contest!

Keep your eyes open... =)

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage

I probably laughed more in the last couple days than I have in the past month. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE to laugh and love engaging in fun, comedic conversations--I laugh at the smallest things. But the reason I laughed so much this weekend is because my husband and I joined my sister-in-law and her husband for a seminar hosted by our church.

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage is "unlike many traditional marriage seminars that tend to be overly serious, technical and emotionally taxing... the Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage seminar is different because it helps couples deal with tough issues in a way that is fun and non-threatening. Through the two-day seminar, couples will laugh, learn and be able to make real positive changes to their marriage." NOTE: My husband and I are not "in trouble" or unhappy by any means. I just love self-help things so much that he always gets dragged along (drug along???). lol Plus, who can't use information that will help them better understand the opposite sex???

So we went and really enjoyed ourselves. Mark offers a DVD set and books--all of which are so informative (and, of course, very funny). Plus this awesome thing called the "Flag Page." He talked about many things I was alreay familiar with, but put them in a completely different perspective. Go to http://www.youtube.com/ and search "Mark Gungor." You'll crack up!

My Brady Bug

I thought I'd make a new slide of Brayden. These are just some fun snapshots that show his many personalities. He is 2, you know...

Check out my Slide Show!

Love is in the air...

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! I'm working on some special packages for your little cupid and maybe even some cards! Keep checking... =)

Getting to know you... getting to know all about you...

My sister-in-law just sent this to me... I LOVE these questionnaires!!! Comment on this post with your responses! =)

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes, my parents had a friend named "Shandon" and they really liked the name. I used to hate it but now I love it because it's so different.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
1-13-08 -- I assisted with a baptism at church on Sunday of two little babies I know. I didn't CRY cry, just teared up because it was so sweet and meaningful. I know... I'm a sap!

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
Yes

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Roast Beast

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
An adorable little boy who is turning 3 in March =( sniff sniff... he's not a baby anymore!

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Heck yeah!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A Lot?
That's a ridiculous question! ;)

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
VERY doubtful

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I don't have just one. You see, it's one of my specialties. I make a mean bowl of cereal! =)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No, but when I go to put them back on, I wish I had untied them.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Generally

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Rocky Road

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their smile and humor

15. RED OR PINK?
Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Right now it's the fact that I haven't been to the gym on a regular basis and fallen out of my routine. Those fattening holiday foods!

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST
Definitely Krista and her fam

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Of course!

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Light pink velour pj pants and ivory cableknit slippers

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A bowl of cereal! (refer back to #10)

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Brayden playing with his garbage truck and the sound of Backyardigans ("We've got the whole wide world in our yard to explooooore!")

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
A sparkly one

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
My hubby right out of the shower, Johnson & Johnson Bedtime Lavendar lotion on Brayden, clean laundry, spring and fall, coco chanel mademoiselle perfume, I honestly could go on and on...
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Elise

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Definitely! I love my sister-in-law!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Football, UFC, speed skating (with Apolo Anton Ohno), Dancing with the Stars... and that counts! Have you seen those dancers' bodies????

27. HAIR COLOR?
Blonde

28. EYE COLOR?
Green

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes -- though I'd REALLY love to get Lasik!

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Sushi from Dragonfly!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
The Polar Express (unless you count the Backyardigans DVD that's been playing)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
White shirt with a gray sweatshirt over it.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer (I wonder if I would say winter if we were in the middle of summer???)

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs -- I LOOOOVE hugs!

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Apple Crisp with extra topping!

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Not sure... maybe Amy Haines?

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND
I'm going to be optimistic! I think everyone should respond!

39. WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU READING NOW?
I've started several... Memory Keeper's Daughter, 7 Steps to Highly Effective Families, and I'm always referring to What to Expect the Toddler Years! lol

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Nothing... it's just gray. Gosh, that's sad! I need something more fun!

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
The Girls Next Door -- LOVE that show!

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Brayden's laugh

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
San Diego, CA -- BIG traveler, huh? (There's that sarcasm...)

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Photography, I hope. lol

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Gainesville, FL... and I'm still here and loving it!

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Everyone's!

THANK YOU!!!

I have received soooo many wonderful emails and comments on my site and my new "baby." Thank you all so much for your support--it confirms that I made the right decision to begin this new journey with my love of photography. I will never tire of your sweet words of encouragement--feel free to share them as often as you like! =)

As I continue working on my website, I'll be adding more info and photos. So please check back from time to time to see what's new! And if you know someone who would like it, please pass it along to them. The biggest compliment you can give me is to share my work with someone else who you think will enjoy it. By doing that, you will help my business grow just through word of mouth. (Plus, it might earn you a little something special too!)

~ Shandon

Delivery for Mrs. Smith

FedEx just dropped off a big package and I knew instantly what it was -- my new canvas wrap! While at the PPA expo in Tampa, I took advantage of a great offer and ordered a 16 x 20 canvas wrap of one of my favorite pictures of Brayden. We were in Ponte Vedra for Father's Day weekend last year and I took this picture of my little man on the beach. So excited! Can't wait to hang it!

Canvas Wraps are a great way to display your portraits -- very artsy. And if you're not crazy about the canvas hanging on it's own, there are several "floating frames" available. I'll have more about these on my website in the near future. Until then, if you have any questions, just let me know!

=) Shandon

My website has been published!!!

I am so excited about my new website -- http://www.lifeprintsbyshandon.com/ -- which I published today. It probably won't be viewable until tomorrow since it's the first time it's been published. But it's on it's way! Be sure to check it out!

Ready or not... here I come!

Well, I've finally stepped out of my comfort zone and started my own photography business! With the support and encouragement of my family and friends, Lifeprints is a reality! Lifeprints will specialize in maternity, newborn, baby, children, and family portraits. I've been working on my website, which will hopefully be up in the next few days. Keep checking--it's http://www.lifeprintsbyshandon.com/. And if you're on MySpace, you can visit www.myspace.com/lifeprints.

I'll keep you posted as things progress...

=) Shandon