Uncategorized

•

I'm now one (very huge) step closer to working side by side with wildlife, but this time rabies vectors included.  In another month, this girl will be able to take on racoons, skunks, bats, fox, and more!  Maybe that sounds more scary than exciting to you, but for me, it's one giant step towards experiencing a lifetime of excitement and adventures with the amazing variety of wild animals the east coast has to offer.

The preventative Rabies vaccination comes in a series of three intramuscular injections. The first and second are one week apart and the last shot is about one month after the second. (I've got two more to go, Lord help me.) I HATE needles. And that's an understatement. I walked into the Public Health Department for my injection last week, nervous smile,  heart beating like a little mouse, and boyfriend in tow.  No way was I doing this solo...no intense hand holding? No one to make sure I don't hit my head on something when I faint? No one to roll their eyes at me when I start tearing up?  That's not how this Ande gets her shots....There's either a hand to hold or it's not happening.

The injection was actually the best (if there is such a thing) needle related experience I've had. Just a little poke and it was over! I was very pleasently surprised, because I've read about how painful the injection can be. About 12 hours later I realized why it was said to be such a painful injection. For a solid 24 hours, it felt like someone had used that one area of my arm as a punching bag. Can't wait for round two this week! lol

One last note...Because I care about you guys...If you see a wild animal that appears as though it may be injured or suffering from a disease or virus like Rabies, first, take a step back and contact your local Wildlife Center (closest to Jefferson County is the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center-they're awesome). Let them guide you in what you should do. Their guidence can be crucial for your safety and the animal's wellbeing. ALWAYS make this your first step, because if you get bitten by a rabid animal, you have to get a series of five shots AFTER the series of three shots. That's a total of eight shots that all make you feel like a muscley, 300 lb. man used your upper arm as a punching bag. Not to mention, the post-exposure injections that will save your life will also cost you almost $20,000. So be smart!!

First preventative injection down! Two to go. Watch out all you little cute rabies vectors, I'm coming to help rehabilitate you!<3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•

Our favorite time of the year is right around the corner...fall! Pumpkin spice everything, jeans, boots, sweaters, scarves...and at Tiptoe it means we are sliding right into our super-busy season. Not only is this a hugely popular season for weddings and school portraits, but we get crazy busy booking family sessions because with the cooler weather coming on, we are all reminded that Christmas is around the corner. And what do we all need around Christmas time? Christmas cards (we got ya covered!) and Christmas presents (check!) !

Once more this year we are rolling out our Session CD Super Sale. Hold a session between October 1st and 11th and you can purchase your session CD with full-resolution images for $500 instead of our regular $1300! That is a savings of $800 guys! Our regular session CD option will never be cheaper so do not miss out on this opportunity!

Again, this is our busiest time of the year so if you would like to take advantage of this awesome deal, call or email now to book your session for the dates of October 1st-11th! Check out the details below:

october special 2015

 

• 2 Comments

•

Years before Tiptoe was founded, Lisa, Jennifer and I had 1 very specific thing in common...we were shopaholics. And I mean, like 3 shopping trips a week, shopaholic! Of course, this was before we had kids and had a LOT more free time on our hands but that is pretty much how we cemented our friendship...by spending copious amounts of money on shoes, purses, clothes, accessories, jewellery...together!

Years passed and we now have 6 kids between the 3 of us so the shopping trips have pretty much narrowed down to NEVER. I can't even motivate myself to get out of my workout clothes most days so I have turned to shopping on the Internet. I shop the Internet a little too much, my husband would say. I say the happiest days are the days when UPS stops at my door!

When I heard about Stitch Fix, I was absolutely fascinated. I honestly wished I had come up with the idea myself and I knew I had to give it a try! Here is how my experience went:

I created my Stitch Fix account and filled out the style profile. It was super fun and super easy! You give them your sizes as well as clothing preferences and can even request specific types of items for your Fix. (For example, I wrote in that I was looking for a fitted, grey utility jacket for this fall. You'll see...) You can even attach one of your fashion Pinterest boards for them to refer to! So, that Pinterest closet that you have been building and lusting over for the past few years? They can make it happen! You can also choose how often you would like to receive a Fix. Since I was just trying it out, I decided to sign up for a single box. You can even set it up like a subscription and receive a new Fix monthly or on dates that you have pre-selected. They charge you a $20 fee when they ship your fix but that $20 is credited toward whatever you decide to keep from your Fix. They send out 5 items that are chosen by a personal stylist picked for you. They even include style cards that suggest ways to dress up the items chosen which is super-convenient.

In the few days before my box arrived, I had a little bit of anxiety about it! What if I hated everything and wasted $20? What if I loved everything? Was I really prepared to drop a few hundred dollars on clothes for myself right after spending a small fortune on school clothes and supplies for 2 kids? Because when it comes to something shiny and new, my willpower SUCKS...but so does mommy-guilt!

When that box finally arrived I am not at all ashamed to say that I was as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning! I have always said that packaging is a huge component to selling a product and have been known to purchase an item based solely on how attractive that packaging is. When I saw the Stitch Fix box, I got a warm and fuzzy feeling; the box itself was so damn appealing, lol!

IMG_2729

It took me all of 5 seconds to tear into that lovely box to get at the goodies inside! So, what did my personal stylist (Allison) choose for me? Check out the first look below...

Look1

Ok, the only things in this picture that already belonged to me are the shoes, bracelets and (of course!) the Fitbit. As soon as I pulled the necklace out of the box I knew it wasn't my style. I prefer more delicate jewelry and this was a little costume-y for me. I loved the jeans and they were a perfect fit but since I have several pairs that are similar, I passed on them and their $88 price tag! I neither loved nor hated the shirt. It was a bit on the conservative (boring) side in my opinion and I am not a huge fan of the Dolman fit. However, the more I looked at it, the more it kind of grew on me.

On to look number 2...

Look-2-3

The first shot is the dress they sent me without any embellishment...not a winner in my book. However, when I paired it with boots and a jacket that I already owned, I didn't hate it at all! Again, this dress fit pretty perfectly (Allison was on her game in that department!) and I loved the detail and color. You can't see it here, but the back had a zipper in the neckline. The one thing holding me back from loving this simple and versatile dress was the neckline. It was a bit too high for my short-necked self!

On to look 3...

Look3

Earlier I mentioned that I had requested a fitted, grey utility jacket for my Fix. This was what they sent me. It was very comfortable and again, fit perfectly, but it was just not fitted enough for my taste! For the right price I would have kept it for a more casual look but at $108 it wasn't worth it if I wasn't totally in love!

Sooooo, what do you think I kept? What do you think I should have kept? I am pretty curious to hear what you think so leave it in the comments for me and I will fill you in after I see what you have to say!

All in all, I loved my Stitch Fix experience and I will absolutely do it again very soon! They say that your boxes get better and better as your stylist starts to become familiar with your style through seeing what you keep and what you send back. The check out process was also very convenient; you go online and tell them which items you are returning and why they didn't work for you. You are simply billed for whatever items you do decide to keep (with your $20 credited toward it!)

So for all of you ladies out there who do not always have the time to head out to the mall, give it a try and let me know what you think!

-T

 

 

 

•

This is one of my favorite newborn stories to date!!  So months ago one of our favorite clients/people Mary texted me and said she wanted to get her best girlfriend, Tara, a GENEROUS gift certificate for her baby shower. She explained that Tara and her husband Michael had been trying for quite some time to have a baby and how special this pregnancy has been for them: from planning the shower, to decorating the room, to just the overwhelming feeling of having their first baby.  Soon after the shower, Tara wrote in to say how excited she was to be working with us.  I sent her our questionnaire to see what ideas she had for the newborn pictures! She had SO many ideas!!  And... I LOVED it!! We spoke several more times during the 2 months before baby Aubrey got here, working on those ideas and getting a plan together for the shoot!

And then, a little ahead of schedule, I got THE text from Tara (still in the hospital), they had baby Aubrey! We got them right in for the shoot a couple days after they got home. Tara came into the studio looking fabulous, I mean hair done, fingernails painted, jewelry on, first time mommy AMAZING!  Daddy, Michael, had bags of props that he carried in, with a smile, I might add!  I could tell they were uber prepared and ready for this shoot. We sat down and went through the props and planned out how we were going proceed. Tara fed Aubrey and then we were ready to start! We put her in the first "scene" and I could hear sniffles from behind my camera.  Looking at her beautiful baby girl, Tara had started to tear up, which in turn made me tear up! I know how special all of this was to this family. How this was a memory they would keep forever, and how lucky I felt, in that moment, to be a part of it! It makes me remember all of those feelings I had my first time around which only added to my tears.   We spent the next several hours moving and folding baby Aubrey, taking our time to feed, and make sure she was happy!

Here are just a couple of my favorite shots from the day. I hope you all enjoy! This experience, from the gift certificate to the shoot has definitely reminded me of how much I miss all those "first time" experiences. I wish Tara and Michael the best. I am so excited for all their "firsts" with Aubrey.

logo3 logo2 logo1

•

The excitement began here. We were finally aboard the plane and heading towards the runway. Then, in what seemed like a matter of seconds, we went up, up and away! Adventure awaits!!

DCIM100GOPROG0025817.

At this point in time, nothing but the overwhelming beauty of the land filled my thoughts. I love being in the air! My very first flight, which I took out to AZ when I was about 10 years old, excited me to the point in which I vowed to one day earn my pilots licence.  That vow still stands.

DCIM100GOPROG0045838.

 

Okay. So enough sight seeing! Let's go!! At this point, my partner was strapped tight to the back of me. If he leaned right, so did I and if he leaned left, I did too.  In this case, all he had to do was lean forward and we would be falling out of the plane, because my legs were already dangling thousands of feet in the air. I couldn't bring myself to look down, so I looked at Chris until.....

DCIM100GOPROG0055853.

 

Goodbye cozy comfort box and hellooooo Adrenaline!

DCIM100GOPROG0055859.

 

I love this shot because the plane is right above us and the initial feeling of the jump is still fresh. Just wow. At this point, I was just observing how free falling felt.  It felt like pressure on the entirety on your body. Like the driest mouth you've ever had and the most quiet scream that's ever left your mouth. You see the whole world before you, yet you hear absolutely nothing. It was raw feeling and thought; the very first of a kind you've never experienced before. Breathtaking....literally....

DCIM100GOPROG0055870.

 

We were about done our fall in this photo so we were most likely plummeting towards the earth at about 120 mph.

P.S. If you plan on doing this, keep your mouth closed. lol It's a lot easier to breathe through your nose than your mouth while falling!!

DCIM100GOPROG0055893.

 

By now, my partner has released the parachute, but that didn't mean the excitement was over! We were the third group to exit the plane, but the first group to reach the ground because we spun our butts off!! Check out that angle!!

DCIM100GOPROG0065964.

 

Cruising...the ride's about over, but my Adrenaline is still flowing.

DCIM100GOPROG0066031.

 

Landing was the easiest part of the process. You simply lift your legs up and (oh, so gracefully) scoot your butt along the ground until you stop. Success! After what seemed like a lifetime in the air, you're finally back on the ground. As soon as I landed, I had to just sit there on the ground and let my brain digest what had happened over the past few minutes. I willingly got into a plane, attached myself to a complete stranger, and threw myself out of the aircraft thousands of feet above the ground.

And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

DCIM100GOPROG0086044.

•

Every year, the county fair is something I look forward to. If you put aside the flocks of screaming teenagers pushing past you, the deep, warm pile of cow dung you just stepped in, and the massively overpriced food that smells sooo good (but is sooo bad for your wallet and your health) then the fair is really fun!

I go at least three times during the week. My first trip is usually to watch my brother play in the school band.  This year, he's a freshman at Washington Highschool, so it was kinda cool to see how far they've come with the show music.  Every year I watch him perform at the fair, it brings back a whole flood of band memories from my own middle school/highschool years. *tear runs down my cheek*

The second time I go to the fair, it's usually for some event.  Sometimes I watch the Demolition Derby or the bull riding.  This year, I attended "Cow Chip Bingo"! I never even knew such a brilliant game existed until Tara mentioned it.  I bought my square for bingo Thursday evening and I was feeling really good about my F8 square, but Blanca the cow decided that E10 (only two spots away from mine) was the $1000 winner when she pooped on it (not even 10 seconds after entering the ring, btw). There's always next year F8...

20150820_210931

My third and last trip to the county fair is usually, you guessed it, food based. I have to have my last butterfly fry, funnel cake, and sweet tea meal for the year.  It's kind of my way of saying goodbye to summer.  Right after the fair, I usually begin school and the next 8 months of my life consists of nothing except biology and chemistry and research and sleeplessness and exams and you get the idea......

20150818_205400

Until next year Jefferson County Fair<3

IMG952604

 

•

Many of the residents of Jefferson County are familiar with the All Good Festival which took place this year at a privately owned farm along the dinky backroads of Summit Point.  I live on those very same backroads.  In fact, I could see the festivities from my backyard!

I've heard a lot of negativity regarding All Good, but I've also heard a lot of positive outlooks on it as well.  I can't say that it was one or the other, because there are pros and cons to every situation, but I can share my individual experience as an up close and personal resident of the Rippon/Summit Point area.

I began to see changes about a week before the festival started.  "EXPECT DELAYS" signs were aligning Rt. 340.  An absurd amount of "POSTED", "NO TRESPASSING", and "PRIVATE PROPERTY" signs were popping up in nearly all of my neighbor's yards. (By the way guys, All Good is over sooo you can take your signs down now...we are beginning to look like the least friendly neighborhood in all of West Virginia lol). And the seemingly endless, serene field that I admired nearly every day slowly became enclosed by fences, uprooted by trucks, and disbanded by people.

The first day, I left my house in the midst of action.  (This girl's got places to be and things to do!! I will not be deterred!)  With my neon yellow "LOCAL TRAFFIC" sign in hand, I braced myself for the worst.  My backroads were fine, but a friend informed me Route 340 was impossible to maneuver that day.  I, however, had no difficulty getting to where I needed to be all week long via backroads.  (And a huuuge thanks to the PoPo for keeping the local routes clear for locals only. You guys did awesome!)

The second day, I decided to grab my #rideordie girlfriend and dive into the action.  I mean, I had free week-long passes because I lived so close, so was I gonna hit that up?? Uhm, YEAHHH! And honestly, I'm glad we did.  The music was fabulous, the food (or at least the hushpuppies there) were great, and ohhh my gosh, don't even get me started on how magnificent the people watching was...  As day turned into night, more people came out in the yard area to grab a bite, listen to great tunes, and nurse a beer (or five).  My friend and I ended our night by watching a talented group of fire dancers perform before starting on our quiet walk back home.

For the remainder of the festival, I was stuck at work, but I do plan on attending next summer. And as for the field, well, it's working it's way back to looking like the rolling green hills I know so well.

Crappy phone pics for your viewing pleasure...

20150710_202035

20150710_201410

20150710_200800

•

So, I have been photographing Ms. Kennedy since she was about 2 years old.  We schedule her shoot every year right around her birthday.  She usually walks into the studio not so happy to be there.  Mom and Mimi can surely vouch....it is always a process, but after a few talks and bribing of course, lol she opens up and we get some great shots.  Well, Kennedy just got a new puppy, or as she calls it, her "baby" Lily.  So what do I do but send mom a message... "photo shoot with her new puppy?"  and of course that is exactly what we did.  OMG....Ms. Kennedy walked into the studio as polite as can be and was a freaking ROCK STAR!!!  I couldn't have asked for a better shoot.  Here are a few teasers from our session.  I can't wait for them to see the rest.

A little girl and her puppy..... or should I say a mommy and her baby! 🙂

teaser1 teaser2 teaser3

•

So, big news has been brewing in the Penick family lately! It really never went "Facebook official" so I decided that now was the perfect time to make an all in one announcement. My sister and brother-in-law are expecting their first baby this November! And it is a boy! I am super, over the moon, excited to be an aunt again and I can hardly wait until November to meet this little guy. Since this baby factory is permanently closed for business, I have been getting my baby fixes from all of our newborn sessions here at the studio. A new little nephew to love on is right up my alley!

We actually did a maternity session/gender reveal/pregnancy announcement photo session while on our family vacation last week in the Outer Banks, NC. Kristy and Will were married  right along this stretch of beach five and a half years ago so, it was pretty cool to capture this next milestone of their lives right here as well. Here are a few images from their session:

1 (Large) 3 (Large) 5 (Large) 7 (Large) 9 (Large) 10 (Large) 12 (Large) 14 (Large)

•

Howdy, everyone! I am fresh back from a week long vacation to the Outer banks of North Carolina and while it was truly nice to sit back and unwind, I am very glad to be home!

Our trip just happened to fall during a period of heightened shark activity that had me in an anxious frenzy prior to leaving WV. Those who really know me, know that I am terrified of big bodies of water. (Like, big puddles scare me. No joke....and I know it sounds crazy!) I watch shark week; I know that I supposedly have a better chance of being struck by lightening than by being bitten by a shark. However, this year I am not too terribly sure about those odds! But, I pulled on my big girl panties and ventured into the ocean...up to my knees. And I let the kids play in the ocean as much as they wanted...up to their knees. My absolutely fearless, half-fish husband had a blast body surfing and splashing with the kids...in knee-deep water.  But seriously, we had a blast anyway!

Normally we stay in the Nags Head area of OBX but this year we ended up staying a bit out of the way in Corolla. I was super surprised to find that I actually like this area a bit better! It was much less crowded, less commercial but still had all of the perks you look for when vacationing such as shops, restaurants, miniature golf, go-karts, etc. I mean just take a look at our "deserted" beach (it doesn't get much better than this!):

ocean

We even got our annual Showen Family portrait done...super fancy, guys...

feet

Haha, we totally take this shot every year and I get a kick out of seeing how those little piggies have grown! And since it is just feet, there is no arguing over location, wardrobe, etc. Easy-peasy and everyone is happy!

A few more from various activities:

Surf fishing...

fishing fishy

Ghost crabbing...

crabby

Anyway, it is great to be home and I look forward to getting back into the swing of things! Be on the look out for a teaser of a special session I did for one of my family members, coming up this week!

T