Slice of Life Sunday: a pick-me-up purchase

I have never had trouble justifying a purchase. I find a rationale for everything I want and suddenly my want becomes a need. Well, during these past few months my car and health have wreaked havoc on my bank account and I have had a much more difficult time spinning my wants into needs.

And then last week I walked into Grace Hart & Co., where we have a booth filled with items from my dad's breweriana collection for sale. And I spotted two little jewels hidden in a glass case. I have a nice little collection of vintage cameras, but I hadn't seen these before. Well, not the Polaroid at least. I took them from the case, asked the dealer to make me a deal and before I knew it, they were being wrapped up for me to take home.

Of course I don't need them. But I haven't treated myself to a pick-me-up purchase in weeks. And that's really the only justification I needed that day!

August desktop calendar wallpaper

To say I've mentally checked out these past few months might be an understatement. I've been really busy and under emotional stress for a wide range of different things, and the blog took a backseat to, well, everything. It's a big pet peeve of mine to read other blogs that say "I'm so sorry I've been MIA..." and I'm just not going to do that. One, because I'm not sorry. And two, it really doesn't make a difference. I haven't been blogging on a regular basis, period.

I do enjoy sifting through all of my photos to find each month's desktop calendar image, though. And while I completely skipped July, I do have an August one to post halfway through the month. This is one of my favorite images from my November 2009 Australia vacation. Kim and I woke up super early for a hike around Uluru, but I have this image to show for it. I love the colors, I love the texture, I love the scenery.

And while I love summer for the long days, and the permission to relax and take things slower, I'm a little excited for it to be over. I will not like the additional traffic that comes with school being in session, but hopefully a new season will bring a new spirit. And I can remember summer for what I love about it, not what I went through this June and July.

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Josh and Kortnee's Fourth of July weekend beach proposal

Josh called me a few weeks before the Fourth of July holiday weekend to tell me he planned on proposing to Kortnee on the beach during their trip to Galveston. He wanted me to photograph it, and I was thrilled to be a part of it! We spent the days before the holiday weekend exchanging e-mails and phone calls to plan precisely the location and time, and both hoped that Hurricane Alex wouldn't ruin the plan. Luckily, Alex headed farther south than originally expected and we had plenty of light on the day of the proposal.

Kortnee's sister set up the beach towel and props, and then I positioned myself behind a trash can (I'm pretty stealth) hoping Kortnee wouldn't recognize me under my UT baseball cap. The next time I shoot a secret beach proposal I will bring: a swimsuit, book, and friend. I mean, who seriously lays on a beach towel fully clothed with a tote bag and alone? I would have been suspicious of me.

Anyways, on to the photos!

My view from behind the trash bin. Josh played a slideshow of photos taken during their relationship together before proposing.


Popping the question!


And she said YES!


Of course we had to take some portraits in the water




They were so smitten. I love when my subjects forget I'm even there.


Best wishes to you, Josh and Kortnee!