POTD [Tuesday]

You can do it! {get through the last few busy days before Christmas that is!}

photo by: Rosina W. Photography

photo of the day {Monday}

Love this sweet scene captured by {.erika.}

Have a wonderful week!

inspire...

faith, hope and love.

1. we love macs, 2. Untitled, 3. nativity, 4. It's time to let go., 5. Will you..., 6. what giving truly means., 7. Quiet Places, 8. Worldwide Children's Memorial Candle Lighting, 9. story time., 10. Beach!, 11. one. day. at. a. time., 12. 337/365 all you need is love, 13. L.O.V.E, 14. christmas joy, 15. .love at first sight. {explored}, 16. Hope, 17. 13/365 {charmed}, 18. Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love., 19. her, 20. 25.30 ~ Thankful Heart, 21. hope and faith, 22. We loved with a love that was more than love., 23. "I've never been this far away from home", 24. a walk in daddy's shoes, 25. Untitled

~all photos are from the TML flickr group

[potd]. wednesday

how great is this idea. each day the corresponding bucket will be filled with whatever loki quinn(ashley skaggs) and family are grateful for. advent: a different kind of bucket list. and by the 25th, buckets filled with gratitude.  i adore clever!

a very special edition of wednesday {words}

One of the greatest things about {TML} being a part of my life is that it helps me to connect with people I would never come in contact with otherwise. Probably the greatest thing about it is that we can help to make those same kinds of connections for friends when they need connecting more than anything.

Meet Amy. She is a photographer in my area and we were blessed to find each other through {TML} on facebook. (Check out her site, www.amypricephotography.com. She's awesome!) We met over sushi a few months ago and she told me about her sweet baby, Liviana, and how she was concerned about her health. Liviana has fought for her life since the beginning, but the fight has only just begun.

Liviana, just shy of 3 years old, has just been diagnosed with Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. Do a little research and you'll find that it's a devastating condition and something that sweet Liviana will not be able to conquer. No one knows what the journey will be like for Livi, Amy and their beautiful family, but they need all the love and prayers that we...a great and strong community of women, mothers and photographers...can send them. Amy is one of our own and we need to rally around her to help through these tough times.

Amy is an amazing woman, mother and artist. Her children are beyond gorgeous and the love in their home has the structure busting at the seams.

As I left their home after taking these pictures, her wonderful husband asked me to make sure Amy kept shooting. Don't let her give up her passion, he said. So I intend to do just that, with your help. We all know that inspiration ebbs and flows, but we can't give up on that which we love.

So, for this special edition of {wednesday words} I'd like for each of you to leave your own words of encouragement and inspiration! Think of it as a call to arms! This is a difficult time, but let's fight a good fight!

Please take a moment to read about Liviana's Journey.


Donate if you can HERE.



Encourage, inspire, and support Amy, Liviana and the entire family with a quick comment.



Pray. Send good vibes. Keep them in your hearts. Hug your babies.

xoxo

POTD [Tuesday]

Absolutely adore this shot from Denne Alise Photography. We at TML hope that during this busy, sometimes overwhelming time of year, you take a moment to sit, to breath, to watch, to thank, to hope, to smile, to stop, to take that shot. :)

Happy Tuesday!

photo of the day {Monday}

What we wouldn't give to sleep like a baby... :)

Lovely capture from Kelly West Mars.

winner, winner!! Pamela Topping Actions and Jewelry

The lucky winner of a $100 gift card for Pamela Topping's goodies plus a camera love necklace is......

#23 Linda!

Linda, please email me at jlpinkerton@cox.net to claim your prize.

Be sure to stop by www.pamelatopping.com to see the magic she can help you create with your images!

A huge thank you to Pamela Topping and to all who entered. xo

[potd]. wednesday

'tis the season. i adore this shot by LuckyNumber 13 {Amy} - it just encompasses everything about this time of year - bringing it home and with it, all the dreams and wishes for a magical holiday.

31 Strangers in 31 Days Photography Project

i have been a long time fan of joy st. claire's photography. i first found her on flickr and have loved her stuff forever. she is also a frequent on the tml photo of the day photos too.

i was reading joy's blog a while ago and read about this really cool project she started. it was all about photographing 31 strangers in 31 days. i thought it was a great idea when i first read about it.....but as the days went by and the photos and stories were blogged, i fell in love with this project! it is quite an amazing thing. it's not just about photographing them...it's about taking the time to connect. learning something new. meet someone you would have never met before.

i am so inspired to do a project like this of my own. i'm thinking winter is the perfect time for this! if you read this and decide to do the same thing in your area, please let me know when it's all completed. i'd love to share it and i'm sure joy would love to read all about it too!

i asked joy to tell a little bit about her project and share some of the photos with us.
you can see her entire blog here http://www.joystclaire.blogspot.com

31 strangers in 31 days project
by joy st. claire

When I was little, I always talked to strangers. Wandering through the neighborhood in search of an adventure or good story, I knew no fear. The world was my oyster! During my expeditions, I became acquainted with many neighbors, & each one had something special to impart. I remember many of those strangers to this day. It was a different time – it was the time of youth! But bit by bit, adults told me not to talk to strangers - & so it began, blinders were put in place.

I am a naturally curious person. I enjoy hearing people’s “stories” & tales. And so, when I saw a friend (Caroline Manrique) doing a project called 31 Strangers in 31 Days, I decided this was something I needed to do, for so many reasons. I had been feeling increasing frustrated with people whizzing by me in the big city of Columbus – heads down texting, listening to iPods, on the phone – all oblivious of the world around. My parents and relatives were “small town”. Small town was instilled in me, even in the city. I knew this 31 Strangers project would not only stretch my photographic/creative boundaries, but also my personal boundaries. And I looked forward to the challenge!

Initially, it was quite intimidating for me to approach a complete stranger and ask to photograph them. I found that women, especially older women were more hesitant. If they agreed, they wanted to be photographed with their heads down or from the side or from the back. I found that men were more than happy to pose! Younger people were more willing than older persons. Through the process of photographing strangers, I gained confidence and really enjoyed connecting with people. I enjoyed taking the time to make eye contact and give my attention to the person in front of me. I found myself smiling as I walked away from each stranger. Most of the stranger portraits were taken in Central Ohio. In the middle of the project, I traveled to Northern Michigan and continued the project on my trip! Through the 31 Strangers in 31 Days project, I have become more open, make eye contact more and seek connections. The project took me to a place in time that was simple and genuine – a time when I always talked to strangers!

Some of my favorite strangers:

Strangers 13 & 14, Darren & Ashley

A father and daughter in town from California for the funeral of Ashley’s husband, a Marine killed in Southern Afghanistan. I later saw her on the news that night as they were covering the funeral.

Stranger 15, Joel

A quick meeting, Joel was jogging through the park as I was walking my dog. He was an instant hit online because of his good looks & shirt that read: COLD, SMOOTH, WILD.

Stranger 16, Matt

I saw Matt at the North Market – there was just something about his looks that I still find intriguing. He looked like someone famous!

Strangers 20 & 21 & 22, PJ, Roger & Joseph

A husband & wife I met in Empire, Michigan (my favorite town & beach in Michigan!). They had the most wonderful little teardrop camper & traveled around the US in it. I decided I wanted a little camper to tour the country with my dog Maggie!

Stranger 25, Michael

I met Michael one evening in Elberta, Michigan while photographing on the pier with a friend. He was probably the stranger I talked with the longest. We were out on the end of the pier jutting out into Lake Michigan and he was fishing for salmon. I wanted to adopt him as a second dad!

And lastly Strangers 30 & 31, Donna & Steve

Donna and Steve were my last strangers. I finished my project where I love to walk each evening, & so it was a perfect place to end the project! I talked with them a while on a beautiful October evening, and recapped the project. They offered suggestions for future stranger projects.

All in all, the Strangers Project was a wonderful journey, one that I might make an annual tradition!

thank you joy for sharing your story with us. it's true...
everyone has a story. we should all take the time to learn it.

don't forget to sign up for the giveaway going on below!

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Good Luck!

photo of the day {Monday}

Happy Monday!

This super sweet capture is by Stephanie Fisher. Fabulous all around!

[potd]. thursday

so here we are in december. chilly in some parts. sunny in others. snow there. rain here. love this image from jamie {74} - handmade fingerless gloves and a warm drink served in a darling cup. perfect. don't forget to take a moment during this crazy time of year and just breathe. sip. exhale...... there - don't you feel better?!!

HAPPY DECEMBER!

it's my favorite month of the year!!!
happy december to you all!

a time to give, hope, love, share, pray, help and hug.


1. .dreaming..., 2. 30 Days Of December, 3. 327/365 Winter Snack, 4. 323/365 Snowy Day, 5. Christmas Cookies, 6. Winters Joy, 7. i'm all out of catchy titles today., 8. 8.365 // winter, 9. GLISTEN, 10. "Winter Spring", 11. {blustery day}, 12. yes, it arrived., 13. Christmas light bokeh, 14. Season's Sparkle, 15. "If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.", 16. .my monkey., 17. 25.52 // blanket love, 18. nov 29, 19. festivities, 20. 1, 21. I miss you., 22. Tis the season..., 23. the essential bulb SP, 24. Golden

~all photos are from the TML flickr pool

"Before going to bed
After a fall of snow
I look out on the field
Shining there in the moonlight
So calm, untouched and white
Snow silence fills my head
After I leave the window.

Hours later near dawn
When I look down again
The whole landscape has changed
The perfect surface gone
Criss-crossed and written on
where the wild creatures ranged
while the moon rose and shone.

why did my dog not bark?
Why did I hear no sound
There on the snow-locked ground
In the tumultuous dark?

How much can come, how much can go
When the December moon is bright,
What worlds of play we'll never know
Sleeping away the cold white night
After a fall of snow."
- May Sarton, December Moon