Family Photos

Since Brian's entire family flew in for the holidays, we thought it would be a great opportunity to do a mini photoshoot with all of them. They were a blast and rounded up some beautiful updated shots with everyone. Take a look.

Spirit of Love

So I found this great and heart warming story on another photographers blog and thought it was perfect for the holiday season. It definitely lifted my spirits and reminded me of the purpose of Christmas. Hope you enjoy. Watch the Davis Family video then check out their blog to see their children growing up.

VIDEO:
http://homepage.mac.com/alliphoto/davismovies/iMovieTheater9.html

BLOG:
http://www.xanga.com/lastoriafoto

Congrats

Dear friends of mine..Hollye Schumacher & Eric Shunk got engaged last night. I was so excited when Eric contacted me this week to help out with all the prep work while Hollye was in complete surprise at the spa! A great group came together to help him propose perfectly!! Eric is all about the finer details, definitely perfect with Hollye and put together a fabulous meal and setting for her. I was so happy to help in any way especially on camera duty!! Congrats you two!

Fun times

One of my new album clients is Sloan Photographers (sloanphotographers.wordpress.com)...Matt & Angie are such dolls and they invited me to do a photoshoot with them around Old Town. It was perfect weather and an absolute blast. We shared lots of laughs and found a new favorite purple run down car repair shop!! They are amazing photographers and here are just a few of the shots we got :)
-Enjoy-

Christmas Ideas

If you are looking for a unique Christmas gift for someone, check out the Invisible Children's bracelet collection. There are three bracelets now and they each come with an inspiring short-film introducing each child All the proceeds go to help the Invisible Children in Uganada through school programs, jobs, etc. It's a great cause that I hold near to my heart--go get them!!

Check out the Holiday Catalog:
http://echo.bandfarm.com/ct/ct.php?t=29001&c=6467327&m=m&type=3&h=99C74C8F59AB9E13249A774E540165C8

Watch the Holiday Video:
http://echo.bandfarm.com/ct/ct.php?t=29002&c=6467327&m=m&type=3&h=99C74C8F59AB9E13249A774E540165C8

Watch the Invisible Children Trailer:
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/theMovie/media/index.php?mediaID=1646005926

Birthday Love

I had a great 25th Birthday...celebrating with family & friends on Sat night then dinner with Brian on Monday night. We had some great times...thank you all for your birthday wishes and kind words! Have a great week...it's Gonzaga Basketball Madness come Saturday morning. They are playing in Phoenix against Texas!!!


Annie flew in from Texas for Turkey Day and was able to celebrate--SO MUCH FUN!


Lo & I!


Court & Tory


Cousins


David serenading me "Opera" style Happy Birthday---I was so thrilled!


Tables!


My beautiful hydragenas!


Eventhough the Rice Clan house is completely under construction my parents still wanted to throw the party--the luminarie lit walkway.


so exhausted--opening presents with Bri

Spoke Photos

{Sarah, Baisch & I}


{Sarah & I}


{Heidi, Laurie & I}


{Annie & I}


{Mantello, Dave & I}


{Stephen, Billy & I at the wedding}


{My first boss in the publication field--Joanne (oh how i miss her guidance)}


{My GU Clan}


{Heidi, Laurie, Annie & I}


{The beautiful Robyn Itule}


{Caitlin & I post wedding heading to the triangle}


{Caitlin & I during wedding}


{Roomie Pat and Caitlin & I}

So I'm recovered from my wild weekend in Spokane, WA! Billy Itule & Robyn Smith tied the knot on Saturday and it was absolutely beautiful! I think I now appreciate the intimate details of smaller weddings...On top of a fabulous wedding, I had the opportunity to reconnect to some very important Gonzaga friends of mine. Here are just a few pics from the weekend. More to come :)

Now on to organizing my life so I don't have another crazy month like I just did!!

Spokealoo

I am still in Spokane visiting my roomie Laurie and all the clan, Baisch, Mantello, Dave, Annie & Kell. It has been an AMAZING trip thus far; the Itule wedding was beautiful and absolute perfect!! And our reunion of college friends last night was seriously one of the biggest highlights of '06 yet!!! I have lots of photos to upload but forgot my camera cord...will post them once I get in tomorrow!

Miss you all
Cheers

New phone...

Hey all,

I just switched cell carriers so everything is transfering over today and there might be some gliches. If for some reason you hear music when you call in, you don't get a voicemail or I don't call you back. I have to reinput all my numbers...so hang in there!!

I love my new phone though...thanx to DJ and JT for turning me onto the new Blackberry Pearl...I can check my email all day long. JUST WHAT I NEED!

Ciao

Try it out...

Not that I don't have enough to do but David Jay posted this today on his blog and it's absolutely amazing technology!! Try it out! Give the number a call and leave me a voicemessage! ENJOY! Deej thanx for the addiction! tisk tisk. now back to work!!

Get Your Own Voice PlayerManage

Amazing•Inspiring•Strong•Beautiful

One of my closest friends here in AZ is Mrs. Tory (now) Feiler. God not only placed her in my life during the most ups & downs I've seen since senior year in college, but he blessed me by giving me the opportunity to know her mother, Jessica Pottinger.

You need to understand this woman is one of the strongest most courageous individual I've met, second my aunt and grandfather. I've never seen such a beautiful soul be so at peace with herself and her situation. She has ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease and you would never know it if you spoke to her. She is full of life, life lessons and peace...We started her on this blogging kick and she writes the most beautiful and simple things. (jdpottinger.blogspot.com) I just read her blog for the first time in a few days and stumbled upon this post she wrote. She talks about a beautiful poem that we would read to our campers during SuperCamp Colorado & Stanford. It has a poignant message so read below with an open heart:

“I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning………to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all,
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth….
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matter not, how much we own;
The cars…the house….the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard….
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile….
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash.?”

-anonymous


Tory & Jessica

Relax...

I went to Sedona this past weekend to relax...definitely needed! I love Sedona. Here are some pics.


West Fork Trail autumn leaves


Telaqupaque


West Fork Trail


Bri & I on the West Fork Trail..so gorgeous!

ART AUCTION: NOV 10th

*****Calling all Artists and Art Enthusiasts*****

The AIGA 15th Annual Art Auction is being held on Nov. 10th at MonOrchid Studio in downtown Phoenix.

IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST: this is a perfect opportunity for you to showcase your work to the Arizona Creative Community. Sign up now at www.aigaartauction.org/

IF YOU ARE AN ART ENTHUSIAST: You should be here!! Email: specialevents@arizona.aiga.org to get on the list; it's $30 at the door.

It should be a great time! Hope to see you there.
-Shannon-

Life is a whirlwind....

I have had the craziest week and half. I feel like I've been going nonstop every single day. I am sooo backed up with design work it's insane! I have a BEAUTIFUL soo belated album to present to Hollye (I swear I am giving you samples ASAP!!) as well as a slew of design work for Phoenix Bride & Groom. While having enough work to keep me busy isn't enough, my dear friend David Jay came into town for a week. Which you need to understand, a week in one location for David Jay is a HUGE deal! I had to soak up as much positive and creative energy as I could! Natalie one of the 5 of us from my GPP girl clan came to visit so we had a night of laughs and crazyness! I will not forget that night!! As well as Brian's dad came into town kinda last minute and it's been Italy talk every night (which I love so much). I think we were able to eat at all my new favorite restaurants this week! Grazie (3 times in ONE week), Frank & Lupe's, El Chorro!! So much fun!

SO...if I have neglected to contact you, get back to you or even see you in the past week and half now you understand where I have been and what I've been doing!

Everything will slow down come this Wednesday and then up to Sedona to relax for the weekend!!

Shoot me an email and I will definitely get back to you this week. I am trying to limit my use of cell phone as it seems to take over my life!!!

Love you all
-shan-

PS: I have the greatest shots of 10 senior Desert Mountain boys that I shot this weekend...I'll post them asap!


**My GPP Girls--they keep me grounded--with a few drinks and laugh here and there**


**The best mentors a girl could ask for--DJ & Hollye**


**DJ & I**


**Brian & I at El Chorro--our new favorite hang out**


**The Gausden Boys**