Goodbye 2008 and Hello 2009!!

That’s it! I’ve finally finished proofing all 2008 images! We are not done collecting orders and finishing deliveries..but we have finished proofing…YEAH!!! (CORRECTION: I have not concluded the proofing for my most wonderful and amazing nephew Isaac who was married on the coldest day of the year. Rather than re-write the entire post, I have returned to add my amendment, and to assure you that your images are beautiful and will be ready next week!!)

Since I haven’t shared any work..and YES, we have been working, in a long time..I thought I’d give you a little bit today! Randy and Aronica were married on a gorgeous Fall day. And I love her colors..love the freshness of the look of fall, and especially loved working with their fun party!!

What a beautiful bride and wedding party!

I just love the sunflare on the guys in this one below. I’m always looking for a fun way to use it and this is probably one of my all time favorites!

Randy had asked if we could take a pic by the outhouse..and I pretty much drew a blank at first! Let’s see..how many creative ways can you use an outhouse!!? So this worked for me, and I’m glad we did it because I love it!

Look how beautiful the ladies on the bridge looked! The colors are wonderful!

Merry Christmas!!

Thank you to all my clients and friends, and some I’ve not even met yet who played the games this year! It was a little quieter on both of our ends and I’m guessing that means we have all been a  bit busy! This last challenge was particularly fun and thank you to all who took the time to type out all  your words and email to me!!! I’d like to give an honorable mention to my youngest daughter Maddy who spent all afternoon trying to play this game with no help from mom. After all…it wouldn’t be very fair if I helped her would it?! So, on her own she set out to win a gift card that she didnt have much chance of winning! She managed 72  correctly spelled words on her own and I’m VERY proud of you Maddy!!

But alas, the rules are rules..and the top two that entered the most words are the winners! Top pick goes to Emily Middleton (and friends!), who not only participated in many of the games this year, but sent in 149 (without counting words ending in “s”!!)words!!! WOW! Emily will have first choice of a Barnes and Noble or BabiesRUs gift card! Second winner goes to the Baxter family for their joined efforts of 140 words! Excellent work!!

Thank you so much for a fantastic year. We have a bit to finish up next week, a couple end of the year sessions, some wedding work to wrap up..lots of design work to do, a couple of wedding consultations and some senior pics to deliver! What a great year its been! I never imagined what this year would bring when we finished up the games last year. I did not know business would almost triple. I did not know that I would be owning a brand new studio at the coolest building around! I did not know that I would meet so many new friends and see so many miraculous moments through my camera. I am so grateful for the invitation into your lives!

Official Christmas begins today in our home. We are baking and wrapping. We’ll go to our Candlelight service tonight like we always do, and come home to a wonderful meal. All the kids will be home tonight including our new son-in-law and grandpuppy! We’ll open gifts with my sister who lives in W. Virginia via a webcam. Thank the Lord for technology! Then the kids will be off to bed. Every year the girls pile up into one bed and await Christmas morning. It will be interesting to see how or if things change now that Hannah is married! Then, because I apparently have NO orginazational skills, Todd and I will begin the long night of piling and wrapping. Every year we say we’re going to do it different. Every year we end up wrapping on Christmas Eve! It’s a tradition! Every year we thank the Lord for the blessings we have as we look over the needs and wants we are able to place under the tree. It is a wonderful feeling, and overwhelming at times in the understanding that we have so very much to be thankful for. And we are. With my husband’s job being affected so much by things out of his control, we have years of plenty and years where there is not as much left over. You all now how that is I’m sure. Either way..we have all that really matters. We have warm shelter, more food than we need, love, laughter..all that good stuff! We have a good God. And whether we have feast or famine..we have received the best Gift of all in the person of his son Jesus Christ. In what could be difficult or less years of ease, it is good to know there is One who cares and understand our needs better than we do ourselves.

Regardless of your faith, thank you for letting me share mine! I LOVE our country! I love our freedoms, even though it seems that it is less and less popular to voice our opinions..we still can. How great is the United States!?!?

Merry Christmas to my sister. I love you. Someday we’re going to do this somewhere warm. My girls…not enough adjectives to say how cool I think the four of you are. You are each, on your own, wonderful. Together..you are fabulous! Todd…I adore you!!

Have a WONDERFUL Christmas and enjoy all the holidays still to come. Take a minute to stop and look around the room this year. Get the camera out and back up…take the pic of everyone playing and laughing. Remember these moments. They are all so fleeting. When those sleepy children with their tossled hair step into the room…put that picture away in your mind to pull back out later and remember. Hug, love and laugh together! Best wishes for all of you and many, many blessings for 2009!!!

whoops!!

I’m off work this week..which means I SHOULD have more time to play..but as you probably guessed, time is flying by!! So sorry I didnt post a winner OR the new game! We did  have a winner for our movie trivia..Ashley Ziola was the first one to send in the correct answers and wins the Macy’s gift card!Also, for those of you who need their gift cards mailed..please email me with your address. Even if you are a client, since I am not in the office I dont have all those addresses in front of me! I’ll TRY to get those mailed tomorrow..if not, then Friday it will be!!

Ok..today will be our final game, and we’ll have TWO winners! So many of you have children who have enjoyed playing the games, and I think a a couple of these games have been more for adults..so we’re going to finish of these games with one you can do together!

The final challenge is to see how many words you can make up from the phrase “Merry Christmas”!  Send your lists to me and we’ll take the two winners with the most words! Rules…if it requires punctuation..such as can’t, don’t, etc. then you can’t use it. No words that require a capital letter can be used. That’s it! Pretty simple!

The  two prizes are to two of my favorite places! I LOVE books..and I LOVE coffee..I can get both fixes at the Barnes and Noble bookstore! You can too with a $25 gift card! I also love beautiful, soft babies! I love to shop for them, and I have been doing quite a bit of that as we get ready for our winter babies this year! If you have a baby or know a baby..you’ll find a way to spend $25 at BabiesRUs!

It’s our last game, so have fun and even if you’ve already won..play again! You  can’t help it if you’re just that good! I will post the winner tomorrow morning! Stay warm and safe today and enjoy the anticipation of the best day of the year!!!

Winners!

Allrighty! Due to the apparently unreasonable nature of my Christmas Carol game…it took a little longer to get a winner! But we finally did! Brian Baxter was the first one to turn in all the correct answers and takes the Overstock.com gift card! Day Five  yielded some wonderful images, varying on beautiful nature to images that just made me laugh out loud! Kudos and honorable  mention needs to go to Layna Edington who braved a bikini in this incredible cold and snow covered state!! But the winner goes to the image that made the one with the camera get outside..enjoy the quiet and got an image that I just love. It is simple…and that is what I love about it. Bridget Sparks submitted the little red cardinal enjoying some time at the bird feeder. It is a lovely image and THANKS for submitting it! Thank you to everyone who has been playing and we still have some time left so dont give up if you haven’t won yet!!!

Bridget gets the $25 ToysRUs gift card! With two adorable boys, I’m sure she’ll find good use for it!

Now for Day Five Challenge:

Just answer the trivia questions to some popular Christmas movies! Send your answers to maureen@maureenhartsonphotography.com  Winner will receive a $25 gift card to none other than Macy’s!! It has to be Macy’s since Macy’s is the one store that is traditionally in many Christmas movies! We’re getting pretty close to Christmas..so I dont know if I’d count on the card getting to you in time to shop..it MAY..but no guarantees! Regardless..a Macy’s giftcard in your wallet is always a good thing to have!! Enjoy!

1. In the 1988 film “Scrooged,” the character played by Bill Murray is:

a) a cold-hearted banker

b) a cold-hearted TV executive

c) a cold-hearted police officer

d) a cold-hearted politician

2. What’s the name of George Bailey’s guardian angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life?”

a) Ariel

b) Henry

c) Clarence

d) Frank

3. In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey as a boy suffers an injury to:

a) his foot

b) his arm

c) his eyes

d) his ear

4. Buddy the  Elf is portrayed by which person:

a) Jim Carey

b) Martin Scorsese

c) Will Ferrel

d) Danny DeVito

5. The Grinch lives on a mountain near what city?:

a) Smallville

b) North Pole

c) Whoville

d) New  York

6. Who plays Bing Crosby’s Army buddy in “White Christmas?”

a) Jimmy Stewart

b) Dean Martin

c) Danny Kaye

d) Bob Hope

7. The little girl who’s skeptical about Santa Clause in “Miracle on 34th Street” is played by:

a) Natalie Wood

b) Audrey Hepburn

c) Anne Bancroft

d) Sharon Stone

8. Miracle on 34th Street revolves around which department store?

a) Bloomingdales

b) Macys

c) Parisian

d) Neiman Marcus

9. In “Home Alone,” a young boy is abandoned when his parents rush to a holiday vacation in:

a) Vermont

b) London

c) Paris

d) New York

10. What item is not listed in the elves 4 main food groups according to Buddy the Elf?:

a) syrup

b) candy

c) candy corn

d) gum drops

11. Grinch had a secret crush on which name below?:

a) Betty Sue

b)Shelou the Who

c) Cindy Lou

d) Martha Mae

12.What happens to the character played by Tim Allen in “The Santa Clause?”

a) he gains weight

b) grows a beard

c) he gets fired

d) all of the above

Day Five!

Wow..things are moving fast, aren’t they? I was supposed to be shopping by 10 this morning..and I swear we are in some sort of accelerated time warp!

Don’t forget you can still get in on Day’s Four challenge. I’ve included new clues (answers) to yesterday’s game in the post below!

For Day Five: We got hit with about a foot of snow here in Mid-Michigan yesterday. So much snow in fact, that I got stuck in my driveway. My husband had to tow my car out with the tractor. Of COURSE I didn’t say anything like “Why wasn’t the driveway PLOWED???”. Nope..no need for that. Just a simple..”I’m obviously stuck..let me know if you need anything” worked just fine!

In all the busyness of the the Season, work, family, gift shopping, and the list goes on and on..sometimes we forget to just stop and look around. I’ts beautiful outside.  Granted a palm tree is something to look at too..but pine trees are what we have here! Wherever you are..stop and take a look and send me a picture of the Scene of the Season. Please don’t send me crazed shoppers..but something of natural beauty! Let’s look around..maybe it’s a pine tree heavy with snow..or even a child who’s been sledding and has pink rosy cheeks! If you’re fortunate to be further south..I’d love to see a sandman..(you know..your version of a snowman?!)! Just stop..take a look around..snap a pic and send to me at maureen@maureenhartsonphotography.com  Then  you can get back to work…just remember to enjoy the weekend!!

Winner will receive a $25 gift card to ToysRUs! Use it for something for a child..or stick it in their stocking..or gift it to another child. If you’re a kid..SPEND IT!!!!!
Have a great Saturday!!

A “Whoops” and a few clues…!

Whoops because I walked out and forgot to add a pic of Travi’s star! I thought you’d like to see it and enjoy what a beautiful latte looks like!!

Now for yesterday’s challenge, it appears it may have been a bit too much of a mind bender for this busy time of year! Although I’ve received a few emails, it seems a few songs are particularly challenging. SO..I’m having pity and going to give the answers..now all you have to do is match them to the right clue! Then you’ll go…aahhhh!!! It will all make sense then!

Here are the songs in no particular order..you can just match the correct answer and send me an email to maureen@maureenhartsonphotography.com

1.The First Noel

2. Winter Wonderland

3. I’ll Be Home for Christmas

4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

5. Silent Night

6. Frosty the Snowman

7. Feliz Navidad

8.Santa Baby

9. Little Drummer Boy

10. Here Comes Santa Claus

Ok..let’s see if this helps!!!

Day Three Winner!

So many cute stars!! I loved them all..but there is one that was particularly creative..and that is Travis Yaklin, the owner of Guido’s Coffee Lounge. Guido’s is located in the North Entrance of the Woodard Station and he created this perfect star!! If you are a coffee drinker..you recognize a good foam when you see it..and this is perfect..and look at the star!! A Work of Art!! Thanks for playing Travis! Yeah for TJMaxx!

Be share to share it with Kristina!!

Day Four!!

Not too many star entries today! Contest for the best star goes until 5pm…so hurry and send your version!!

Now for the Day Four Challenge!

I love music..music of almost all kinds! My children began playing Christmas tunes long before Thanksgiving, and I’m still not tired of hearing them. Of course we have another week to go so that may change!

I was going to do this as a word scramble and then took pity..it’s Friday..we’ll keep it simple.  Below are clues for 10 of my favorite Christmas Carols and Songs. Just figure them out and email your list to me at maureen@maureenhartsonphotography.com  Contest is open until 5 tomorrow! The winner will receive a $25 gift card to one of my very VERY favorite online stores…Overstock.com!!! I’ve purchased chairs, sheets, accessories and on and on..and I love everything I’ve received! Have you seen the chairs in the studio?? Overstock.com  Yup…ladies..you’re gonna want to play this game. Kids..they have toys and games. Men…you have a lady, right? She’ll want this!

Ok..you MUST name the TITLE of the song. Not a couple lyrics from the middle! These are clues to help you along! Of course, you should start with my version of humor and try to think like ME! After all..it IS my game!

1.  How many times must I say it..I’m dependable! Quit worrying about ME and think of all the things you have to get ready!

2. Awww..red white and black all wrapped up teensy tiny.

3.  What other kind could there possibly be? I mean..if it were balmy this song would make no sense.

4. There’s a first time for everything!

5. This starts out a bit redundant don’t you think? We really should only sing this song on Christmas Eve. It doesnt make sense any other day.

6.  All children everywhere intuitively know this song. From the lullabyish Christmas Carol group.

7. Some of us think Spring Festival would be a great substition.

8. What a gifted child! Not only a rocker, but to be able to perform under such pressure!!

9. Ummm…not sure but I think I need to brush up on my Spanish..

10. My wish for you in a BIG(not little no matter what the song may say) way!!

Enjoy!!

How could you not guess this cookie!?!?!?

Ok..I canNOT be the only one who loves this cookie!! The PEANUT BUTTER KISS!!!??!?! I love it..I only make it at Christmas time..and I see other people make it at Christmas too, so I’m not the only one!!!

Well..since we had no obvious winner…we chose the scientific method of laying all the names out…switching them all around with my eyes closed and drawing one…Julie VanAcker!!!

Subway for dinner next week!!!

Day Three!

Ok, we are STILL accepting cookie guesses! And for the record..I have not received a correct guess yet! So if you emailed me a guess….you may want to try again!

Day Three Challenge:

Get the camera back out and photograph a……star. Not any old star..but a coooool star. Maybe a homemade star. Maybe a tinfoil star being held by the star of the family! Maybe a star made up of all your kids..maybe a snow angel holding a star..I dont care!!! Let’s see what we get!!! Email your photo’s to:  maureen@maureenhartsonphotography.com

The WINNER will receive…drumroll…a giftcard to my very favorite store in the whole wide world!!! TJMaxx! I love that place! I have to say though..my husband and I skipped town a couple weekends ago and went to Rochester Hills for the weekend. We decided to do some shopping and I took him into TJMaxx. As I’m shopping, a young womans sees the handbag of my children and says…” I LOVE Maureen Hartson!!!” haha!! I said…WELL..guess what? “I” am Maureen Hartson!!! She recognized my children from the picture on the blog! So Kelly if you’re watching..you made my day!!!!

So…go shoot a star. ha.  Crack me up.