OMG...... I AM SO SORRY!

OMG..... I HAVE BEEN IGNORING THIS LITTLE OLE BLOG!

So many things have been going on I cannot believe it!
It first starts off with a new purchase.....

that's right the new CANON 5D MARK II





Yeah Baby!!!!!!

I have not purchased a new camera in quite sometime and felt it
was time to upgrade! I am so excited about this little ole camera
for it not only takes photos but also video! I cannot wait to
try it out soon!

i also had the chance to purchase a new lens!!!!

The 85mm 1.8!!!!!!

I have been wanting a prime lens for a bit now and decided that this
one is perfect for me to start off with!

What does this mean.... sharper images!!!!!!

okay also coming up are some posts on Kendra turning 1!!!!!
and oh our valentines day wedding! (wait till you see this one!)

stay put for some big announcements and things coming up!

A QUICK SURVEY IF YOU WOULD PLEASE!!!

Or any other wedding industry vendor, for that matter?

A few wedding bloggers have banded together with this short survey to find out what YOU are really looking for when you visit wedding vendor websites. We won't record anything about you other than what state or country you are from - we don't even ask for your email address so no spam or anything like that. And the best part is: it only takes a few minutes of your time.

Click on the link below and answer nine (9) quick, easy questions about different design aspects of wedding vendors' websites--please and thank you. Feel free to take a quick peek at our website before you complete the survey.

http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=1152739


Again--you'll likely see this link on other blogs and sites but please take the survey only once. If you have additional comments on the subject, please feel free to email me with those and I will share them with the other wedding vendors who are participating. We can't wait to hear what you have to say!

Wedding Vendors: If you would like to participate, just copy this post to your blog and email Emilie Duncan the link at emilie {@} emilieduncan {.} com - She will send you the results once we have closed the survey in March).

SOMETHIN' GOOD FOR YOU

One thing I noticed that I have NOT been doing is blogging about personal stuff!

So one of the blog resolutions for this year is to
blog more about what is going on with me!

So to start the new year off right I want to talk about my
quest for getting fit!

Now some of you may know I was a rhythmic gymnast for
about 12 years of my life starting in elementary school
all the way through freshman year of college... my ankles
and feet just got tired... to put it best.
Here is a couple of pics of what rhythmic gymnastic is...

NOT MY PHOTOS OR ME!





All those years I trained hard and never thought about eating
right or working out to stay fit. It was just like a job you
just did it.

Well 25 came and so did beer ha! And then 29 and 30 came and
so did a thyroid problem. And well the weight did too! And now
the quest to get it off has been well about a 1.5 year quest!

But the light is at the end of the tunnel! Today i reach 142!
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now the entire reason for this post is about how I got there not
just by eating right... well not all the time my wine calls me at
times and so do my hot wings at Eli's.

But I do owe it all to my trainer Merle and his gym Crossfit USA!.

You need to google crossfit to really understand it but in the few
short months I have been crossfitting I have noticed a HUGE difference
in my body shape and feel tighter so you def should try it out!

But I am so excited even more for Crossfit USA because they are now offering a BRIDAL BOOTCAMP!



It's an 6 week amazing bootcamp 3 days a week! So by the time you get
down the aisle you look tight, lean and even more amazing than you do!

I HIGHLY recommend looking into it! But for a short time only
Crossfit USA is offering a $100.00 off the bootcamp!

Just print out the coupon below or mention my site and get $100.00 OFF!!

Now how could you go wrong!

So check it out and tell Merle you know me!

THE WANDERING UTERUS: AN ART SHOW!!!!!

WOW! 2009 IS HERE!

I have been totally slacking on the blog posts an have so much
to catch up on!!!!

Over Christmas I had weddings, portraits and a little bit of ME time!

But I am back and ready to attack the new year FULL FORCE!

To start off the New Year i wanted to invite everyone to come out to see

THE WANDERING UTERUS




It is my next gallery showing I am so honored to be a part of. This show is
with 10 other amazing women artists. The theme is women in their travels. There
are all different types of medias in this show and I can tell ya the opening is
going to be amazing!

I am SUPER excited about my pieces and cannot wait to share them with everyone!

So mark the date down

FRIDAY JANUARY 16th ..... 7-10pm
Where: MAC650 .. 650 Main Street Middletown!

Hope to see you then!

HAPPY 21ST MEGAN!!!!!!!!

I cannot believe it my Megs 21 today!!

It feels like just yesterday she came to work with me and was 19!

Over the past 2 years Meg has gone from being my office girl
to my now 2nd shooter! Boy I have been really lucky!!!!

Here is when Meg first came to work for me.....


Through the course of her first summer Megan quickly adapted
to all situations...

her she is shooting


There have been silly times......




There has been dressing brides times....


And there has been wet times....


And there has been Sexy times.....

this is from a recent shoot of Meg!



Meg I am so glad you came into my world!
Thank you for EVERYTHING and I sooooo look forward
to the up coming year and years with ya!

HAPPY 21 GIRL!!!!!!

Enjoy your birthday tribute here!

YUM: BIRTHDAY TREATS

I HAVE HAVE HAVE TO BLOG THIS ONE!!!!

My 31st birthday just passed during all the craziness of the holidays!

During that time I got the 2 most yummy treats!

First from Rob!

Yummy chocolate cover fruit!!!!
SO GOOD! Love ya babe even more for it!



Then Justin & Mary got me this
one of a kind purple and leopard spot cake from the best cake
place ever..... Sugarbelle Bakery!!




Thanks guys for all the treats they were yummy!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

Well it is that time of the year again when stockings are hung by the
fireplace and children stay up all night hoping to see santa and his
8 tiny reindeer.

When family traditions come together and presents are exchanged. Wine
is flowing and you can see food for tables and tables.

That's right it is CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Below is the card I sent out this year for Rob and I to family and friends.

I hope everyone has a great holiday and stay warm and safe!

See you next year!!!!!

CHRISTMAS WITH KENDRA

It is that time of the year everyone is trying to get their holiday portraits done
and holiday shopping done!

And what better way to kick off the holiday season other than shooting
portraits of my niece KENDRA!!!!!

Kendra is now 10 months old and crawling!

Her personality is really starting to develop and her teeth too!




The Many Faces of KENDRA!!!!!!!




I also thought that this was the perfect time to capture so baby bum time!

Now Come on Seriously!



This just makes my day!

LOVE: INTERPRETED

HERE IT IS............ DRUM ROLL.................

I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE:

LOVE: INTERPRETED



I am soooooo excited to announce my very first art/photography show as an artist!

I have put together 9 amazing women photographers for a photography show interpreting our views on LOVE!!!!
All of us are in the industry of wedding and portrait photography and see love every day. But now we get to
show how we view love?

Our gallery opening is next Friday December 5th from 7-10pm.
The gallery is MAC 650, 650 main street, middletown
Come join us for some amazing art, refreshing beverages and alluring food!


If you want anymore information feel free to contact me Nikki!


Look forward to seeing you there!

JOLLY OLE ENGLAND

WE MADE IT!

Where you ask: Jolly ole ENGLAND!!!!!!!

Every year Rob and I make our way over to Bolton, England to visit Rob's old flat mates for THANKSGIVING!!!!

We always come over and stay with Aveen and Gaz. This summer Rob and I had the pleasure of having Aveen, Gaz and Carl come
over for a visit.



Well we are having a blast already and had this awesome adventure I cannot WAIT to tell you about.

Keeo tuned all week to see what we are up to and on Thanksgiving I have a big announcement for you!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

I hope everyone has a safe and HAPPY halloween!!!!!

Here is a photo of Kendra, my niece that i took a couple of weeks ago!






I cannot wait to see her tonight in her little butterfly costume!!!!!

I will be Felicity Shagwell tonight (as of right now) giving out cnady to all the kiddies in my
neighbor hood before going out!

So what are you going to be????
Leave me a comment and let me know!

TWINKIES & ROBOTS: A FINE ART SHOW

I wanted to give a huge post about my good friend Joey!

Joey is an illustrator at heart and does many gallery shows!

His upcoming one is :

TWINKIES & ROBOTS

The opening is next friday Nov 7th from 7-10pm.

Joey's shows are always interesting so be sure to stop by and check out his show!

I will be there for sure!

THE HAUNTED GALLERY

My friend Joey, from Dinunzio fine art & illustration is having an art opening this weekend! I have been friends with Joey since high school. He is an amazing artist and has a very unique eye for illustration. I actually have drawings from high school still around in a box somewhere!

Anyhow!

Joey heads MAC 650 an art gallery in Middletown on Main Street. This Friday October 10th is the Haunted Gallery, a halloween show. The opening is from 7-10pm this friday so get your best costume on and get out to the gallery!

For more information go to Joey's Blog
or the MAC 650 site.

The Info!

CROSSFIT USA : WHAT A WORKOUT!

I have not blogged anything in awhile I noticed about what i have been up to!

Almost 1 year ago I joined a new gym and got on this quest of losing weight and having hopes of becoming the next oxygen magazine cover girl! In these hopes and dreams (that's right more like dreams) I meet Merle!

This is a candid shot of Merle!


Merle was a personal trainer at my gym I currently go to and we hit it off from the start. He put up with all my complaining about one more rep in weight lifting to my cry about not losing weight. I do have to say he is an AMAZING trainer!

So in the past year I have been training with him and now Merle has opened his own variation of a gym called CROSSFIT USA. Crossfit is a national way of getting fit. It is not your conventional go on the treadmill and do a 100 reps of the same weight lift type of training. It is more of strength fitness with a cardio workout. Here is a sample warm up that you do when training with Merle.

Warm up:
500 meter row on the row machine
3 sets of 10 squats
3 sets of 10 push ups, sit ups and pull ups
another 500 meter row!

That's just the warm up!

Then your actual workout is intense!

I have had the pleasure of traing with Merle the past couple of weeks and I LOVE IT!
If you love to lift weights but getting bored at the gym this is surely the cure! And the best part is it is not a membership gym it is a pay as you go type of place!

Anyhow last week I had the pleasure of shooting some photos for Merle of the place check it out!





Here is Merle training on guy!


I am telling you this type of workout is like no other!

So what are you waiting for give Merle a call try out a workout! I will go with you if you would like!

Tell him Nikki sent you and you will get 1 FREE WORKOUT!

Oh and he is also offering row classes on Saturday mornings also now too! His row classes are a combo of rowing and strength exercises for 30 minutes and that class will have you falling over! I PROMISE!

5D MARK II : LOVE

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!

The new 5D!!!!!

I am soooooooo exicited I am doing my happy dance around the room!

I have been waiting and waiting for Canon to catch up with Nikon and FINALLY!!!!


My soon to be new baby:

5D MARK II



I cannot wait to meet you this fall at the photo expo in nyc!

WE ARE NOT #1 : BUT WE ARE #2

yes we are #2 and for what??????

KICKBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right kickball has officially come to a season's end and last night we played in the playoff's. It was such a close game with the team we were playing . Letting them only score 1 run!!!!!! That's pretty good seeming that they always cream all the other teams. This was our first year being a kickball team and coming in 2nd we are all very proud of our little team!

HERE WE ARE

MEET: THE KICK KATS!!!!!




I am even more excited because we started our season so late we automatically qualify for NATIONALS next year!!!!!!!

Yes that is right they have a NATIONAL KICKBALL tournament. This year it is in VEGAS!!!!!! BUMMER :( I guess i know what I will be doing on next years Labor Day weekend!

#23 : GET A NEW IMAC

#23 : GET A NEW IMAC




So last week I joined about 27 other photographers up in the Berkshire Mts. for some r&r and a retreat.

The only seminar we had was given by Justin & Mary about goal setting.
We had to make a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days! Then Mary wanted us to blog about one of the things we wrote
down and complete it!

Well I just did #23 : GET A NEW IMAC

That's right Meg and I have been sharing the same Mac Pro to edit and now that we are in full wedding season the 1 computer is not cutting it. Nor is the old G4 or the G4 Laptop. So after much hunting around I have a pretty new imac coming my way!

YEAH!!!!!!!!

Now I too can edit quicker!!!!!!

COMING FUN!!!!!

WOW I CANT BELIEVE IT IS FRIDAY ALREADY!!!!!!

So much is going on this coming week I am SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!

The weekend gets kicked off tonight by going to the PEARL JAM concert with my bestest friend Christine!!!! The last time I saw PEARL JAM was like 99 at then the Meadows!!!! So i am SUPER EXCITED to go tonight and we have seats so even better!!!!

Then tomorrow Aveen and Gaz are coming here all the way from ENGLAND to visit for the week and a half!!!!! After all these years of going to visit them they are here visitng Rob and I!!!!! SO I have a fun packed week with them. Starting this weekend in BOSTON!!!!! Then next weekend in NYC!!!!!! I am sure we will do lots of other things but those are the biggies!!!!!

Lastly I have a posted about my secret summer fun event!

What is it you ask???????

Guess???????




TRY ANOTHER GUESS............





Still guessing?????



Okay okay okay it's ...........................


KICKBALL!

Thats right I am on a Kickball league! OUR TEAM IS THE KICK KATS!!!! We play every Wednesday night! Right now we have won 2 games and lost 1 not bad for our first year right now!!!!!

So in tradition of being a team ...like back in high school...... WE decided last week to do individual team pics!!!!!!

Below is some of the members of our fabulous KICKBALL TEAM!!!!!!

First is the collage of most the team members!






And now for some action shots!






hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!

*PLEASE NOTE I WILL NOT BE IN OFFICE JUNE28-JULY 8TH. MEG WIL LDO HER BEST TO ANSWER PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS*

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

-NIKKI

TRISHA . + . DAVE = ELEGANCE AND LOVE

Last Saturday 06.20.08 I had the pleasure of shooting Tricia and Dave's wedding at the Bond Ballroom.

The Bond is really one of my favorite places to shoot. The large windows, the ambiance and the whole feel to the place is amazing!

I knew going into the wedding one of my favorite florists Datura was going to be doing the flowers. So I was so excited...and just excited about the table pieces alone... you will see why later! When I arrived at Beautique Salon I got even more GIDDY for I saw Janice of Naomi Martinez Salon! I knew now I was in for killer photos....killer makeup + amazing hair and flowers what more could I ask for!

The day started off amazing... good friends and family at the salon and then we headed to get ready.

Here a couple of shots I got of the flower girls at the salon:

They wanted to photograph me ha!


How precious is she!


Thanks to Carla's post awhile back I knew what to do when you have no place for a dress shot!


These 2 photos really captured me when going through this day. I will just let the photos say what I feel:





I was so excited cause i got some time at the Bond before anyone was up there to photograph Tricia alone! What a blast and the light ahhhhhhh! AMAZING did I mention AMAZING!!!!!!!!







Right after the ceremony we went over to Elizabeth Park and guess who i run into?????? CARLA!!!!! She was out shooting and engagement shoot!!! How Fun!!!!

Okay so as we were doing photos of course the rain storm blew in......but Tricia and Dave said keep going!!!!!!! And we did See the amazing photos we got!!!!!!! Meg and I were soaked but how cares for the photos rocked!!!!!!




So then we left the park and headed to the Bond and the rain stopped! So we went outside to rock a couple more photos!







Here are a few details from Datura Florist!

I did not mention that the center pieces were feathers how cool!!!!! I have NEVER seen anything like this...... LOVED IT!!!!!


And of course their first dance! I love this shot that Meg caught from above!





Well the night went on with great food, drink and music by Tom Conte!

The photobooth we did was also a huge hit........ and what a surprise I got to see an old friend from high school!!!!! Photos from there to come soon!

Trish and Dave thanks so much for letting us be a part of your day!

Stay in tune for a slideshow and photobooth photos in a couple of days!

*UPDATE*

Here is the link to Trisha & Dave's Slideshow!

ENJOY and CLICK HERE TO VIEW!