September 22, 2011

we wait is almost over

I have been really horrible as of lately about posting to my blog.  Sorry. I do not foresee it getting better anytime soon.  Let me explain.  At work they cut 400 positions, work duties get reshuffled to remaining staff. Remaining staff has to buckle down to help teammates and peers get work done.  That is one reason.  The second reason is, I have been really focused on my photography business.  This is the 5th year of my business being open; I made it a goal of mine to make sure it is a good one.  With all the focus I have been pouring into my full time job and my photography business, being a wife and a good mommy, it does not leave much time to do blog updates that someone may or may not read.  Which considering how many comments I get, I assume the latter.

To date here are some updates.  I relaunched my photography business under a new name, Belle Photography, LLC with a partner, Kelly.  She is awesome, I have known Kelly for a very long time, small town, long story short we grew up together.  Quite a few years back, I can not remember exactly when, my brother asked me to teach Kelly about her SDLR that she had just purchased and some software that she got that she did not know how to use.  Sure!  I love doing that sort of thing.  This spurred us talking more and more as we ran into each other at various gatherings. 

Then I broke my leg, Kelly saved my butt!  Another friend Amanda with Ridgedog Photography did as well (also grew up with her, she is good peeps too). But, Kelly really enjoyed working with me and the clientele that I bring in and asked to work with me more often.  When I needed additional assistance after I recovered she assisted, and she was eager.  Then we rolled into wow, this is way to much work for Danielle, I NEED some help. So, I hired Kelly.  And that has blossomed into a full out partnership of which I am proud to be in business with Kelly!  We could not be more excited with were we are in our business together. We have some more movement on the horizon and I can not WAIT to share that with you.  But in the mean time, here is the new logo. Yep, she loves the peacock feather as much as I do!

Another update that I have not talked about in a LONG time is... my weight.  Yep, I stepped on the scale yesterday at Weight Watchers and I am down to 139.  I am so excited to see that number.  That is a total of 28 pound in the past year down, and 54 pounds since I had Emma.  Slow and steady as we round the corner to her third birthday in just a couple of months.  Maybe I can hit 135 by my birthday.  Now, that would be a swell present to myself.

August 22, 2011

photography update




{Biehle Photography}

I am blessed. I have a photography business that I started in 2007 and it has steadily been growing ever since. This year has proved to be one of my most successful years and hopefully a good prediction of the future of my business.

Biehle Photography & Design has been so busy I had to officially hire my first part-time employee. Kelly is per-fect! I can not say enough great things about her. She is what every boss longs for in an employee. She has a natural talent, she has the love, she always asks me what else can I work on. {AHH} Music to my ears! I love having Kelly on staff, she is a great addition. With this development, I have been thinking it is way past time that I tweak and become happy with my "store front".

I hired a graphic designer to create a logo for me. You might be saying, "WHAT?" But you are a graphic designer. I am... B.F.A and all, however, I LOATHE designing logos. No lie, I won't take money from people to design theirs and I every time I have tried to sit down and design my own, I tweak it to death! I have not been able to create a logo for myself that I have considered "finished".

I am working on my "store front". I will reveal the new logo here as soon as it is completed, and then the work on my website will begin. I have some big things in my head that I want done to the website, I hope that they can be done!


{Biehle Photography}

August 19, 2011

breaking news... Soap is just soap.

I went to my doctor a couple of weeks ago because I needed to update my referral to go and see my allergy specialist. While I was there she noticed that I kept clearing my throat.... a lot... She asked to examine my throat, I was like you can, it has been sore, but I would much rather you look at this acne situation. My throat I can deal with. Yes, I am vain, it really has been no secret... really, ever. She started taking a look, "Danielle, your skin.. When did this start?" My response about May. Here it is August.

My doctor is also vain, she gets it, that is one of the reasons why I love her. She comes in to her office everyday dressed very sharp, and well put together. She then asked me what I was using on my face. My response, well, I was using Clinique - in case you had any doubts... But, then I switched to L'occitane because I have heard people rave about it. She looks at me and said, "Danielle, soap is just soap, stop buying the expensive stuff, use a mild dove or Eucerine." I was so shocked! Imagine me, being told, soap is just soap, to stop buying my Clinique, wow. I like this information. (It helps with the Dave plan).

So, I get the all clear from the doctor she tells me I have another sinus infection, yea ok, and hands me a prescription for my face! YAY! Oh, yea and antibiotics for the sinus infection.

I drop my scripts off and run and errand return to pick everything up, and my antibiotics are two dollars and some change, and my face script... $35! lol, it is just soap! I might need to get clarification from my doctor on expensive... However, I have been using this soap for a couple of weeks now, I finished my antibiotics, my face has cleared, amazingly. AND bonus, I have already gotten a SECOND sinus infection this month! YAY! So, I started another round of antibiotics. But, at least the face is clear. {AHHHH, sweet sigh of relief}



August 08, 2011

Our new theme is...

I have been looking at our living room a lot lately and thinking wow, it really needs a much needed face lift, but that might be slightly out of line considering it was never decorated to begin with, I have never had any inspiration for the massive room.

I was going through my photographs that I have taken over the last couple of months and it hit me, I should use the colors of the peacock to inspire our living room and kitchen. I love the colors of the bird and the feathers. Who does not love the feathers!


Here is a picture I took a couple of weeks ago.


I just had the picture blown up to 24x30 inches and I am going to re-purpose a frame that I used for my bridal portrait when Brian and I got married; almost five years ago.

I could have just used the current frame and matte for the picture, however, I started looking around and decided to go with a different color matte for this picture. I think it will turn out gorgeous. At least I hope so, in my head it looks so beautiful framed. Fingers crossed!

I am going to keep my bridal portrait in the frame in case for some odd reason one day, Emma wants to have a GI-NORM-OUS picture of her mother... hmmm... not highly likely but you never know and prints of that size are costly so I don't just want to just toss it out.

I will post a picture here of the peacock inside its new home once my supplies come in to finish the frame.


June 01, 2011

Coolest Website!

I know, I know, it has been awhile since my last post... Who is counting the days... right?

I was introduced to this website, and I am blown away! Check out little Enzo, I promise you will be amazed! Enzo loves science and he creates these mini modules to teach science to other kids, and even adults! Who can't learn from watching this adorable little guy!

http://www.enzoology.com/index.htm

April 22, 2011

Photography Tip

I have not been able to post in awhile, so I thought in honor of being able to get my photography legs under me again I would post a tip.

Aperture - this basically tells the camera what you want it to focus on. (Just remember that)

If you open your aperture creating a shorter range you are telling your camera, I want you to focus on what is the closest to me, this is with a lower aperture setting.

When you decrease the aperture you are telling the camera to focus on the background and blur the foreground out, this is done by selecting a higher aperture setting.

Happy Friday and Happy Shooting!

April 13, 2011

annoyed...

I have finally returned to work only to find out that myself along with every other state of Texas employee's personal data was compromised... Terrific, terrific, terrrrrrific.

Action time. I immediately pull up my credit report and start my search. Nothing to be found, thank the lord! Next I remember many-a-commercials from listening to Dave Ramsey's radio show about a company that has ID protection, Zander Insurance. I need to call them. Done, and done. I tell the company about the breach of data and they immediately spring into action. I mean, I am not a dummy and I know some steps, but also realize now that my information has been out there, it is out there forever. There are no backies on this playground.

While I was on the phone with my representative she taught me exactly everything I need to know to protect myself. Thank you very much! I had to set up a fraud alert with one of the credit bureaus which is free. The fraud alert will last for 90 days, during that ninety days I can pull my credit report three times, and this does not count against my annual count. She recommend that I pull one a month and stagger them out so that if something does show up I catch it the same month it shows up. Awesome! After my ninety days are up, I go back to the same website and setup another fraud alert and keep doing this process. And if anything ever does come up the company will take over and start fixing the fraud. She also taught me how I can protect my daughters credit. wonderful!

Where am I going with this, first, I am horribly annoyed there are people that prey on this type of information and take advantage of hard working people. Second, I am grateful that there are companies out there that will fight for you if something does happen.

Please protect yourself.

March 24, 2011

I just switched stores to one that is green and safe!

I got a phone call from one of my old college roommates last week, Stephanie. She said she had something to talk to my about. To give you a little background, she is an Oceanographer, has two kids, Ben and Eva her husband Chris who is also an Oceanographer and they live in Florida. Last year Steph lost her sister, at a very young age to Cancer. (HATE CANCER!) Ever sense Steph lost her sister she has been on a mission to find products that are better for you and safer for the environment.

I was first worried, and then she started talking. Phew, I can relax. She had been introduced to this green company and she thought I might be interested in the cleaning supplies. She started to tell me about the company and I got really interested. It is a very GREEN company and safe for my daughter... WHAT? Ok, spill it. She said no, really, the cleaners are so safe the company does not have to put child proof caps on the cleaners. And they work! See her blog were she was Leary and test them. Emma is in this stage where she loves to help. And, we spend so much time telling her no, and trying to make her leave it is frustrating, I am sure for her too. It would be nice for Emma to be able to help us and we don't have to worry about her safety. We talked a little bit more about the products, and I was like ok, so what is the catch. She said there really isn't one, you just have to switch the way you shop for these products. The company sells directly to the consumer. I would have to buy a membership (like Costco and Sam's) to be able to buy the products. Ok, damn, how much is the membership, damn-it there is always a catch... She was like, no, it is only a $1 in the month of March. WHA! Seriously? And if I don't like the products I can return them for a refund no questions asked. Ok, I will pay a buck to try the products, I would love to NOT have to tell Emma no all the time when she is wanting to be helpful!

Then she said, you can make money off of telling others about this company as well. Ok? I lost my rear on Arbonne about five years ago, and I have a photography business and I already work full time, plus, I like to sew! The last thing I need is some sort of other part time gig that is going to take time away from my family... She started laughing at me, she was like, WHEN did you sell Arbonne!? HAHA! She continued to laugh at me for a minute and then explained, no it isn't like Arbonne, Mary Kaye, Avon. You simply tell people where you shop. You sell the membership. Um, Steph, I love you but I m not interested in selling anything anymore. Ok, no worries. But I will want those cleaners! She was like, well, I am selling memberships! she is very excited about the company.

Then I started doing a little research... After all what else does a couch ridden gimp have on the daily routine. So, I sent an email to my trainer asking him about Melaleuca, he is a very big believer in eating green and living a green lifestyle. His response, "melaleuca oil is awesome, it has been used for years." That gives me a little bit, I need more information. Lance Armstrong endorses the products. Olympic athletes use the products to keep there body in top performance. Not that I need much to convince me to try something for a dollar... I signed up that night with Stephanie, and I started shopping. EEEK! I get a discount at Target too! WHAT?! Ok, I think this buck to paid for itself! hehe. Also, Best Buy, Apple, Barns and Noble. REALLY??!! Then I found out that this company is endorsed by none other than... the man, Dave.. Yep. Dave Ramsey.

Ok, this membership is to good not to share with my friends and at least share the information with them. So, if you are interested in changing stores, send me an email and lets get you a membership while they are only $1!!! I would love to make a commission just for telling people about a different store that has higher standards. Here is me sharing the information, if you are interested in hearing more let me know.

dbiehle@gmail.com

March 22, 2011

The quest for the cosmetic brush.



A couple of years ago I launched a beauty blog, back when I was in my twenties, feeling high on life, feeling beautiful, dressing trendy and all in all just feeling really great about myself! Then I got pregnant, had the most precious child brought into my life, Emma and my beauty meter went down went ka-put! I quasi relaunched the site after I had my daughter, and then lost the spark again. I do however, LOVE beauty products, fashion, hair, and overall looking and feeling your best.

A dear friend of mine asked me months ago to describe to her what each of the cosmetic brushes were all about, because lets be honest, there are a lot of them. I do not feel inclined to resurrect the "beauty" blog.... But, what I can do, if you enjoy this post is maybe write about it more often.

Here is my disclaimer on the brushes, I don't know what their technical name is, nor do I really care, but, I can tell you what I use each one for.


Powder brush: this brush is a much fluffier brush; with lots of bristles. It is round and will usually take up the palm of your hand when you wrap it around the brush. I use this brush to put on powder makeup. You can use it with loose or pressed powder. It will work for using powder as foundation or using loose powder to set your makeup.







Lip Brush or eye liner brush: When applying eye liner and you want to smudge or give the eye a sultry look you can use this brush. Another use for this brush is the lips. You can apply lipstick or lip liner with this brush.






Eye brushes: Eye brushes can be the most overwhelming. Hopefully, you can see the brushes pretty clearly in this picture enough to compare them. the one to the far back (light brown wood and black), has a round brush and a pointed tip. I use this brush for the crease of my eye. The second one in (the silver one) is completely round. I use this for a base color from eye lashes to eye brow. Like a base for the eyes. The third one is pretty much the same shape as the second one. At least that is how I use it, it hangs out in my brush collection. The last one is much smaller than the others. It is flat with rounded bristles. I use this brush for the inside crease of my eye. I hope that helps clarify the eye brushes. I know there are some people that use each of these everyday; I do not, I just like to keep it simple, one light color on the base of the eye with the silver one and done!

Remember to wash your brushes at least once a week with mild soap and water and use your fingers to pull them back together into their original shape, air dry standing up with the bristles standing up in the air.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.



March 08, 2011

Curious to see if this works....

This is an online auction similar to Ebay only instead of using the value of money you use the value of bids. For every friend I refer I get 20 free bids. You can use your twitter or Facebook to create a membership; so please for the love of a broken leg, humor me and sign up. I would love to play on this auction thingy. I have my eye on a cute purse!

This is my "unique" link http://bigdeal.com/t/7vvs9p5

March 07, 2011

WARNING: sking can be hazardarus


Last week my husband and I headed up to Colorado for some of the best snow skiing in the US. We got there on Friday night and hit the slopes on Saturday. This was only my husbands second day skiing ever. We were taking it easy trying to help teach him how to turn, how to stop and most importantly how to control his speed. He was getting the hang of it. We hit the slopes Sunday, he was really sore from falling but he was being a good sport. He had a sore shoulder, sore legs and was tired. We were still taking it easy and just enjoying the fresh snow as it was coming down all day long. It was PERFECT! The weather was nice and sunny, the skies were clear and blue and it was warm. Most people don't believe me when I say it was warm. But, when you are skiing and the sun is shining you are going to be sweating.

Sunday evening around 5:55 we realized the lift was about to close at 6pm. So my friend Luis and I decided we wanted to take one more run down. I asked Brian if he minded and he said, go for it and enjoy! SWEET! Off we go! We were near the end of the green run we were on and the lift in sight! SCORE, we are totally gonna make it on one more time! YAY!

I am racing down the slope, I hit a large pile of fresh fluffy snow. There she goes! The front of my ski plants into the powder my body continues with the velocity at which I was skiing. My foot on the other hand was planted into the snow where my ski was, at some point I heard a snap. I landed face down (checked my nose first, it was fine) and looked up, there was this young little snow boarder who was squatted down beside me asking me if I was OK. I looked up and I was like, that was BADASS!!! Then I realized that my leg didn't feel so great. By this time Luis had caught up with me and he said that was a pretty bad spill, "are you ok?"

I realized I was probably not ok, and I told him to give me a minute. A few minutes later he asked if I was ready to get back on my ski's. I told him I did not think I could stand. He then offered to piggie back me down the rest of the way. I was like your nuts! You are sweet, but nuts! I told him he should probably go and get ski patrol. About twenty minutes later this is what I looked like. Picture courtesy of Luis, he said I will look back and laugh one day...

From the sled I was taken to the Keystone emergency room the ER doctor told me that it wasn't good.... oy, give it to me doc. He informed me that I had a broken leg. Not just a normal break either... No, that would not be "Danielle style"... I had to go big right.. I have a Depressed Tibial Plateau Fracture with meniscus damage and potentially a torn ACL I believe he called it a level 5 break. Here is a picture of one of my X-rays.




On the right side of the image, you see that my bone is lower than the left side. Good job Danielle! Laugh or cry right... Here I sit at home bored.. Maybe that means I will be able to blog more. I have been told to sit, stay on top of my pain meds., elevate and ice. Those are my rules. great, that sounds like so.. much... fun.... I will have surgery some time this week, they will make three incisions, one lower down on my tibia so that they can drill a diagonal hole up to the depression to tamp it back into place. They will seal that hole with "bone putty". They will then set it with two screws to keep it from moving. Sounds like a cake walk right? While they are in there working with that bone they are going to access the ACL. If my ACL is torn, I will have to recover 100% before I can have ACL surgery.

So, send good vibes our way. My husband has taken on more than anyone should have to, as if his job was not stressful enough, being a General Foreman on a construction site, now he has to come home take care of a wife and a two year old. My mom and sister have come over to help clean the house and my best friend cooked a week worth of meals that can be pulled out of the freezer and popped into the oven, this morning she came by and cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes on her way to work. I LOVE her!!! Jim came over with his tractor and leveled out of drive way so it is nice and smooth, no bumps, means it hurts a little less to get down the drive way. Butch and Kathy came over yesterday to pick up Emma and take her to their house, sense I can't take care of her right now.

I feel truly lucky to have all these people in my life that have stepped up to help out. Thank you, Mom, Andrea, Butch, Kathy, Katie, Jim, Glenda, and the love of my life, my husband!

I can not say thank you enough!!! You are all so amazing, and we are truly lucky to have you in our life!


She keeps me smiling; when I can't handle the pain.

February 22, 2011

Off the map; or should I say... all over the map!





Sorry I have been off the map a little bit lately. I have been.... BUSY!

With my photography promotion that ran in January I have been keeping extremely busy on the weekends, at my lunch hour and even after work. And when I am not busy doing photography which I love I have been busy sewing. Not sure when that turned into a part time job; but I can dig it. At least I get to be at home and get really cute breaks with Emma. Versus with photography, I can't take her with me.

Here are some previews of what I have been up to the last couple of weeks.









February 03, 2011

Fabric Soccer Balls

Back in November I found this pattern for a fabric soccer ball that I thought would be really cool for Emma. So I made her one. This is what it looked like.

After I made that one, I was like my nieces one year birthday is coming up; I should make her one too! Emma loves hers so, it just made perfect sense in my head. Inside the ball I put 4 big jingle bells so that when the ball is bouncing around it makes some sound to keep Emma's interest because lets me honest, she is two now and things do not amuse her the way they once did. In addition to placing the bells in the ball I wanted the ball to be full of texture. So, I got to thinking what can I do to make this ball more interesting. AH! Tags, Tags, Tags! great! I will add tags. Then, I found some really crinkly plastic that came with some of my fabric. It had a great crinkle to it, not obnoxious but enough to entertain my two year old! PERFECT! And the creative juices started going from there. I was having fun with these balls!

I made one for my niece, and then at work, we had a baby shower for a dear co-worker of mine who just adopted a child, a little boy to add to the family. He was 3 months old when they started fostering him and he was close to 6 months now... what can I get him? What should I get him.... think, think, think... I can make him a ball. That would be perfect! And he would really appreciate it. Perfect, my first boy ball! I was nervous about bringing a homemade gift to the work baby shower.

WOWZA! Had I thought wrong about my homemade gift... I was approached by a woman at the shower and she asked if I sold them... well, I hadn't thought about it... But, I can make you one if you would like to buy the supplies. I figured it would be perfect practice for my sewing but I shouldn't profit off of something I am not that good at. It takes me about four hours to make them I told her so I could have it to her in a couple of days. Perfect. I got her ball to her, I was approached a couple of days later by another woman I work with. She wanted three! THREE? I was about a week before Christmas and she wanted two as gifts. Oh boy. I told her I would try to get them done for her. Then she asked, "Do you have an Etsy website?" I was like no, I am not that good at sewing yet, so I don't think I should do that. She was like, I disagree, I have seen your work, and I think you are great! You should totally sell them on Etsy. Sense her three balls, I have been approached by about a dozen other people asking for balls. So, I decided it was probably time to start selling them for real.

One of my favorite balls that I have been asked to make was this one:

This ball was facilitated by their friends. Each patch on this ball was chosen by their close friends and mailed in to create this ball. It turned out beautifully! Very sentimental and something that will last a long time. When their son is not longer interested in playing with it, they can put it up on a shelf. I love it!

I love making these balls!

You can order one on my new Etsy website at: http://www.etsy.com/listing/65377252/fabric-texture-soccer-ball

Add me to your favorite, and pass me along to friends!

February 01, 2011

Go Red for Women



The American Heart Association's National Go RED for Women day is this Friday, February 4th. Wear RED and show your support for the fight against heart disease, the number one killer of women in the United States. Go HERE to make donations, sign up for the Go RED movement, take the Heart Check Up, get heart healthy recipes, and much more!



January 31, 2011

Happy last day of January...

My trainer recommended this book - In Defense of Food

This is what I take from it after quickly scanning the book.

Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.

I got. Wrote it, going to try and incorporate it. I did say try.


January 28, 2011

My new pants

This past weekend I decided it was time... I needed to get some new pants.

I got them in the mail on Wednesday, amazingly FAST! I was eager to try them on; after all they were two sizes smaller than what I have been wearing for the past two years. As, I slid them on, I was nervous, I ordered them online after all..... Up they went over my thighs, slid up my flat backside and then we come to the part on my body that is always the challenge... the waist... I started to lift up on the zipper, this is not happening... They were zipping UP! No strain on the zipper at all, I didn't even have to suck it in! YAY! I am finally starting to get somewhere. Finally.

To make the deal a little bit sweeter, today at work, everyone has started commenting, have you lost weight? You look tiny! Keep 'em coming folks! I need to keep my motivation, I now have boot camp three days a week instead of two. This afternoon is my first friday class. I am excited, I heard it was a very small group so Jake works us even harder!

January 26, 2011

My favorite past time - SEWING!


Back in April, I went to spend some time with my Aunt Kay and my BFF Sarah so that they could teach me how to sew. I have had a sewing Machine since I was 21 and I have NEVER learned how to use it. I have used it a handful of times, but I have never actually figured it out. The few days I spent with my Aunt and the time I got to spend with Sarah was amazing! Between the both of them, I think I have got it figured out. I have been sewing almost non-stop sense I that week back in April. Almost a year ago! Any chance I get for some me time I spend it in front of the sewing machine. I have moved my sewing machine into the living room and it has become a fixture there, I don't really care that it might be an eye sore, I love having it so accessible! So, I have done so many projects that I can't even name them all.

I have mainly been focusing on the same project over and over again, it is what I have been calling a textured soccer ball. I have made it for the nieces in my family and a few coworkers have asked me if they could order them from me.... WHAT? You're kidding right? Nope, money in hand they wanted to order one from me. How exciting. I get to practice sewing and I am getting my supplies paid for. SWEET! I love it. So, here are come pictures of so of the projects that I have completed.

Here is a ball that was sewn for a friend of mine who is having a baby soon. Inside the ball is 4 jingle bells so that when the ball is bounced around it is a muted jingle sound. I love that it makes sound but does not kill your ears like some baby/toddler toys do.


This was Felice's birthday present. She LOVES it! It is a small makeup bag.



This is my current project: It is a big one, a purse from a pattern. The larger weekender tote I will sew after I complete the purse. Very exciting! My purse is almost complete, I am hoping I finish it this weekend! YAY!