stars in my eyes and sun in my hair

Editing photos (will post later today) and listening to their new album that came out today. It all takes longer when Gemma and her perfectly scrawny neck keep tempting me with tickle breaks.

My parents are cooler than your parents

We went to a few record stores over the weekend. The bargain bin was good to me. 5 records for $6. Not bad. Time with parents who have good taste in music is pretty cool too.

Feeling Festive

Jeremy's in the kitchen making gingerbread dough so we can create a few of these:

While I address our Christmas cards so I can finally get them in the mail. Here's a sneak peek:

All would be complete if only this album was part of my small collection. I want to hear Bing's voice on my record player...

Gemma says "Merry Christmas!"

Friday's Post

Not that you care but since I was shamelessly open about my plan to see New Moon, I'll be equally open about my opinion of it. Not a fan. The fun of the books was the way Edward seemed like the unrealistically perfect teenage suitor. In the movies he seems more like the scrawny, hairy, unbelievably awkward teenage suitor. And don't get me started on Bella. Every scene between the two of them that was supposed to be romantic made me uncomfortable. There was something hot in the movie though- Brandon Flowers' voice. Take a listen. I apologize I could only find it in video form... maybe just close your eyes.

Great Song Lyrics- 2nd ed.

Lyrics from an Adele song... 

doodle style on a card I made for Jeremy

Great Song Lyrics- 1st ed.

And if I need a rhythm

it's gonna be 

to my heart I listen

-Roisin Murphy

A great lyric, a great song. A contributing factor in my love for it: one of my favorite choreographers, Wade Robson, used it for this dance. Enjoy.

A Real Cute Family

I rarely post pictures from my portrait sittings but decided now is a good time to start. Consider me officially getting the word out... The "word" being that I do portraits. Word. I had the privilege of working with this real cute family last week. Have a looksy, they don't mind.

All prepped and ready for his mission. Leaving in just a few days!

And meet the latest victim of my "repeat" button. I adore this song. While it plays, it takes all the discipline I have to stay at my desk and keep working on editing photos. Sometimes a girls just gotta do a little lyrical dancing in her living room. *I hope you didn't just picture that cuz it's really not pretty- me being 7 months pregnant and all. btw, I think I might get the courage to post a prego pic of me by next week. Just to satisfy the curious requests I've been receiving. 

Skinny Love - Bon Iver

ps- I really will be updating my shop very soon. Promise.

A Little Advice Please...

The day after tomorrow I'm leaving town. Jer and I are headed to "Fabulous Las Vegas" to spend Memorial weekend with his family. 

My agenda for the trip: 

spend lots of time 

(1) in the pool 

(2) reading 

(3) drawing 

(4) listening to this and this. 

Sounds pretty fabulous, right? Well, I need your help. I want a really good book to read and I'm not sure what to choose. I'd like something light enough to quickly get into and want to keep turning those pages (it's vacation after all), but also heavy/well-written enough to provoke some thinking and inspiration. The Secret Life of Bees fits this description perfectly for me if that helps you narrow it down. So there you have it... your mission should you choose to accept: recommend the perfect book for my travels. Please and thank you. <3

Smile Like You Mean It

I totally mean it. 

I miss my blog and I have so much to report on- my holidays, my new loft, and my awesome Saturday last week. That will all have to wait, I am currently in Denver with the Fam. Last night I had the best concert-going experience of my life.  My older Brother and I went to see The Killers. UH-MAZING. I have seen them before but this was my new favorite. They gave me a whole new appreciation for the song "This is Your Life", enveloped us in bubbles during "I Can't Stay", played an insanely cool version of "Sam's Town", followed by my fav- "Read My Mind" and topped it all off by making it snow paper confetti. Sounds like a cheesy gimmick but dancing in paper snow while your favorite song is being played live? I mean seriously. Brandon Flowers is an incredible performer. He is so passionate about the music, it makes you feel like you're part of the art making if not just witnessing it being made. I didn't want it to end. And Dana (my bro) is the most funnest concert buddy ever. Seriously. If you need somebody to go to a concert with- call him, he's rad. Below are the photo stylings of his iPhone. Not bad, huh?

The throes of packing

I'm warm and cozy inside while it's blizzarding (I know that's not a word but I think it should be) all around. Too bad I'm not doing something more fun than packing my house... who's idea was it to move at Christmas time? (Jeremy's... not to throw him under the bus or anything) I'm determined to be all packed before we head to Central OR this weekend. I think I just might make it. Don't expect a Christmas card this year though, I'm not that on top of things. Well, I better get back at it. If I turn my music up loud I almost mistake this for a party. Maybe not, but this lovely quirky song is helping me push through.

Traffic Light - The Ting Tings

ps- Technical difficulties- I have no idea why it's not playing the whole song. click on the link to go to imeem and listen.

Congratulations!!!

I guess now you can't say you never win anything...

Nuestra Familia.

Congratulations to my sister's friend Ale!!!

Email me with your address and I'll send that calendar right over. (red rover, red rover)

carriestoddartphoto@gmail.com

Thanks to all who played! SO NICE to have your support!!!

In other news... Before my mom left town this past weekend she, my sis and I made our way over to House of Vintage. Here are some of my prizes:

would you believe $5?

ps- I know it's backwards, that's the nature of ttv photography. :)

These are vintage gym lockers. I am so excited to have found these babies because our new loft (we're moving in three weeks) has an entire wall of built in bookshelves. Super cool (there's a rolling ladder and everything) but super hard to fill. These will be a great because they can store my less-cute belongings and fill up some of that shelf space. Yay!

Same fan as above, I just kinda liked this picture.

Also, all morning I've been listening to this:

Sadly, he's not here but my daddy's Christmas album has definitely been on repeat. The sound of acoustic guitar takes me right home.

I'd like to take this opportunity to cry

That's a line from a song by Priscilla Ahn and whenever I think about the things I'm going to share with you, it always comes to mind.

I generally subscribe to the philosophy of the photographer Rodney Smith who said "I want people to see the beauty and whimsy of life, not its ugliness." Times like this however, I feel that life has ugliness that must be addressed to be overcome.

A few weeks ago, Jeremy and I saw this movie:

I first heard about the issue of human trafficking years ago and felt scared and overwhelmed. My sudden awareness to the depth and breadth of sadness in the world brought me to tears. That's all I knew to do. It seemed too big and too powerful for little me to stop it. My tears, my mourning other people's hardship was the first step in my desire to free them from it. It is too big for just me, but this movie gave me hope that in numbers we can change the world. It was changed dramatically during the abolitionist movement. It's been done before, why not now? This is a 21st Century abolitionist movement. Good is more powerful than evil, light dispels darkness, we have the power, we just have to respond. It is unacceptable to allow these crimes to continue. "Justice is what love looks like in public." These children and young women deserve justice, they deserve love. I intend to fight for them.

"It's come into my life for a reason, I have to respond."

The wheels in my brain haven't stopped turning since I saw the movie. I have a few ideas to pursue and I'll need your help. Until my plans start to materialize, visit the Call + Response website for ways to get involved. Still not feeling your power? Watch this video and listen to the Five For Fighting song beneath it.....everyday......until you believe it.

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can

change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

A little inspiration

This past weekend Jeremy and I chased the sun over to Scottsdale, AZ. We had a blissfully relaxing weekend amongst the cactus's (cacti?) :) and I intend to upload/post some pics later today. Until then, I thought I'd share some inspiration I found in my various vacation reading materials.

I love Zooey Deschanel. She just seems so dang cool. She was hysterical in Failure to Launch, she has super cool style, and on the list of things I covet most in this world... her voice is tops. Anyway, there was an interview with her in Nylon Magazine and she was talking about how fulfilled she is. That she is living her dreams. How great for her! I found it so inspiring, and am feeling more motivated than ever. I want to do what's necessary to put me in a place that if someone were to interview me, I could say the same. The interview ended with a line from my favorite childhood movie (and coincidentally, Zooey's) "Sometimes, the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true." - The Wizard of Oz

I'm listening to her album right now... Sentimental Heart is my fav track.

I also read The Secret Life of Bees, a book chalk-full of inspiration. One excerpt that I especially loved is a discussion between Lily and Zach when they're talking about what they want to be when they grow-up. She says, "I've just never heard of a Negro lawyer, that's all. You've got to hear of these things before you can imagine them." To which Zach replies, "Bull... You gotta imagine what's never been."

Makes me wonder what I should be imagining.

Reminiscing #3: Hood To Coast

Late in August I ran Hood to Coast with my friend Amber. It is the largest or longest (or something like that) relay race in the world. It covers 197 miles from Mount Hood to Seaside Beach. Here is a picture of me finishing my first leg... and speaking of legs, I'm pretty proud of the muscular tone seen here:
And this is the song that without which, I would never have finished my last and longest and hottest leg. They would still be searching that gravel logging road for some sign of me curled up in the fetal position. Thank the heavens above for my i-pod.

I Do Believe in Everlasting Love...

...But this is still my favorite song right now. I listen to it over and over and over. I think it is incredible despite the slightly creepy video.