The time has come…to unveil my new blog!!

I can hardly stand it, I’m so excited. It’s time to finally launch my brand new photography blog!!!

Here’s the new address: www.katiemathews.com

“Run” over there right this second! There are lots of new changes and I’ve also announced a new contest – you could win a prize worth $900!!

Be sure to bookmark the new address!!

Getting Very Close….

I am almost finished with the blog…almoooooost. With any luck, I can finish it this afternoon. But first, I get to go to the hospital and meet my newest client who was born yesterday, and then I get to go to the doctor…oh lucky me! haha. So keep watchin the blog for all the latest and greatest.

In the meantime….I dare you to look at this collage and not smile :)

Happy 3 month birthday, Lillian!

Monday Musings

I really do have good intentions of blogging every single day. Yet, somehow the days get away from me!! So I thought I’d do a quick re-cap post.

1. I am still going to do my Fit and Fabulous Friday post on a weekly basis….starting this friday..lol. Seriously. I promise! It wasn’t because I did bad, it was because I couldn’t come up with a halfway decent pic of myself for the day that I said I would post. Guess I’d better work on that. But so far I have lost almost 13 pounds and 13.5 inches in just 3 weeks. My doc wanted me to lose 7 (in 6 weeks), so I am definitely doing good! Can’t wait to share here more about that as my journey continues.

2. My new logo is finished and I love love love it! My new blog is almost finished. I will be unveiling both this week along with all my new pricing and product options. There is also something new (that I know you’re going to like) that will be added on to every session I do!

3. When I unveil the new blog, I will also be announcing a new contest. It’s going to be good and the prize will be worth participating! Keep coming back this week for the big announcement!

4. My sister had to go back to work last week after her Maternity Leave. It has been adjustment for me too, because I now have a new helper in the office. Isn’t she cute?!?

My niece Lillian will be with me 3-4 days a week while her Mommy and Daddy are at work. Her spot will open up at daycare in the beginning of May. So if you talk to me on the phone in the next 2 months and hear a baby…that’s why :)

5. I have lots more to share but will have to do it later….I’ve got a new blog to put the finishing touches on so I can show it to you all!! Have a great week!!

Baby Stella

As promised, I’m finally sharing some KMP photo sessions again! A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine sent me an email asking me to pray for this family. A very dear friend of hers had just had a beautiful baby girl on New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, sweet Stella was born with a bone fracture in her skull, and, according to the MRI, had internal bleeding. When I got the email, my friend was asking for prayers as this family was going in for a 2nd MRI to check to see if the bleeding had ceased. So I did as I was asked and the next day I received another email…the prayers had been answered…they saw no sign of continued bleeding so baby Stella got to come home!! This story just touched me and I knew I wanted to meet this little miracle baby. So I had my friend contact her friend about me doing a newborn session for them. Baby Stella was as cute as could be and was amazing during her photos. Mom and I hit it off right off the bat and couldn’t stop talking the whole time..(shocker I know, for me!) We got some beautiful images, that I’m so blessed to be able to give to them.

Hillary, Jack and Stella – thank you for letting me share in this special moment with you as you celebrate(d) your beautiful baby girl!

Fit and Fabulous Friday

Yes, this is still a photography blog. No, I haven’t blogged anything photography related all week. Yes, I’m trying to get into the new routine of my new healthy lifestyle. Yes, it’s overwhelming. Yes, it’s worth it. Yes, I’m still getting work done. No, this post isn’t going to be long. Yes, I’ll blog more client sessions next week. Yes, I know you can’t wait!

Ok, so I thought I’d start a new feature on the blog each week, called…you guessed it, “Fit and Fabulous Friday!” Totally original right?!? I’ve been planning it all week and had big big ideas and then I went to Pilates today (for the first time ever). Apparently you can get a really bad headache if you don’t breathe the right way?!? Um yea, leave it to me to not know how to breathe and end up with a monster headache. So this post will be short and sweet and much better next Friday cuz my head is throbbing. But I had to post today because, well, I couldn’t come up with a catchy title for Saturday!

I had a great first week. I have been tracking everything I eat and drinking lots of water. I’ve cut out almost all soda. (I had been drinking – gasp – 4 to 6 cans of regular soda daily! Gee, wonder where some of that weight came from?) I walked and/or did the Wii Fit activities and lost a whopping 7 pounds!!

Soooo… here are some of my “Fit” Tips for the week…things that I’ve been doing that I know work…

• Drink your water!! At least 8 1-cup glasses a day is the recommended amount. And bonus…you’ll have to walk back and forth to the potty all the time so I’m sure you burn a few extra calories :)
• Write down what you’re eating. It’s so easy to grab a handful of something here or there and not think anything of it. Wow…what an eye opener this week when I actually paid attention to this.
• Not sure what a serving size is supposed to look like? Get out the measuring cups. I’ve been doing this and um yea…let’s just say I thought 1 serving before was like 2 or 3 servings in actuality.

Finally, here’s what’s on my “Fabulous” radar for this week….

• Sparkpeople.com - This website is amaaazing and so helpful. It’s completely free. I can track what I eat, how much I exercise, how many glasses of water I drink etc and it’s super easy and fast. When I input my weight and my goals, it tells me an appropriate range of calories, fat, carbs, fiber, protein etc that I should have each day. So I know that if I eat w/in those ranges, and burn the recommended calories during cardio, I’m going to lose weight. They also have spark points. You earn points by doing things such as tracking your food etc and by posting on message boards, creating your own spark page (like a facebook page), and you earn different trophies. Yes, I’m a dork, because I love to earn my spark points..haha.
• Down comforters, blankies, etc etc – It’s been cold here in Wilmington (in case you don’t live here) and I have been loving my new down comforter and throw blankets I got for Christmas – one even has fleece on one side. Awww…heaven! Can’t wait to snuggle up on the couch tonight w/my boys and my cozy blankets!
• My I-pod. Since I work from home, if I want to listen to music I just listen to it right on my computer. I’ve had an Ipod for like 6 or 7 years, but it has been collecting dust for the last 3 years because I haven’t been working out. So it’s been really fun to listen to old playlists – especially the good ole 80’s tunes! Got a good workout tune? Share it in the comments!

One last thing I plan to include in this weekly feature is a picture of yours truly. I am always behind the camera rather than in front of it, yet that’s where you all are when you meet me (usually). Yesterday, I did a couple of headshots for Brian’s cousin and then handed over the camera and asked her to take a couple of me. I think she did a great job :) I need to learn to love this lady here in this picture so I need to look at her a little more often.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!!

Katie

A Quickie

Just wanted to post a quick update to say HI! I want to thank everyone for their positive feedback, comments and private emails I received on my last post. Go figure – I actually inspired a few people! :) Sweet! I did it for me, but if I can inspire anybody else, that’s bonus. But enough about that…

It’s my slow time of year, so I’ve had a little bit of much needed downtime. Still getting plenty of work done, but it’s not quite as stressful which is nice after the crazy Nov/Dec I always have. Anyway…not much to say..haha…just hi!  Oh and I love this boy! He’s cute. Just sayin!