a few of my favorite things.....1,000 fan giveaway!!

it is SO HERE!! all of your wonderful support and kind words and just.plain.awesomeness has brought the mL photography fanpage to over 1,000 super rad people gathered together to celebrate good times, come ON! I kind of super love sharing such inspiring moments and such beautiful love a family has for one another and I am oh so happy you all are there to view it and soak it up and smile with it. and I so hope you do.

sooooo.....a few little somethings from a few of my favorite shops are definitely in order. these lovely ladies not only are super crafty and rather incredible at what they do but they are so.very.supportive of me, too. I love them all. and here is your chance to fall in love with them, too.

the 1,000 fan giveaway which shall begin wednesday, february 1 and ends wednesday, february 8 at midnight.
to enter to win one of the fabulous credits towards any of the shops below, you simply need to "like" ALL of their fanpages on facebook. then leave a comment under this post saying that you did and tell me one of your favorite things from ANY of the pages you visited.


here are the wonderful goodies you can win...



prize #1:

the cool crazysocks crochet shop


****winner- angela (agill66@gmail.com)****
please contact danyel through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

crazysocks crochet shop fanpage



and check out some more goodies on the website here:

crazysocks crochet shop






prize #2:


the amazing ameliacalvin shop


****winner-Rachelle S.****
please contact danyel through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

ameliacalvin fanpage




and check out some more goodies on the website here:

ameliacalvin shop






prize #3:


a $20 credit towards a custom order for the stellar sara b. jewelry & metalsmithing shop.


****winner- Erin K.****
please contact sara through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

sara b. jewelry & metalsmithing fanpage


and check out more goodies in the etsy shop here:

sara b. jewelry etsy shop





prize #4:

a $20 credit towards the lovely lakeshore creations shop.




****winner- McMasters Family****
please contact melissa through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

lakeshore creations fanpage


and check out more goodies in the etsy shop here:

lakeshore creations etsy shop




prize #5:


a credit towards ANY pair of earrings in stock at the ravishing randl design shop.

****winner- Sara K.****
please contact rebekah through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

r and l design fanpage


and check out more goodies in the etsy shop here:

r and l design etsy shop




prize #6:

a credit towards a flower ring from the (particularly pretty) pretty little things shop.


****winner- tropAcool/Laura****
please contact dory through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13****

you can "like" her fanpage here:

pretty little things fanpage




prize #7 and prize #8:


one of TWO $10 credits towards a custom order for the heavenly hairbow-tique shop.




****winners- Katie Sluiter and Samantha W.****
please contact connie through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

hairbow-tique fanpage


and check out more goodies in the etsy shop here:

hairbow-tique etsy shop





prize # 9:


a $10 credit towards the marvelous myjoy designs shop.



****winner- Ruth Borgman****
please contact megan through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

myjoy designs fanpage




prize #10:

a gift certificate for a mini cheesecake from the sensational say cheesecake by sara shop.



****winner- Meyers Family****
please contact sara through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

say cheesecake by sara fanpage



prize #11:


a valentine's day gift basket from the brilliant bluejeancountry shop.


****winner- Missy****
please contact melissa through her fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13

you can "like" her fanpage here:

bluejeancountry fanpage


and check out more goodies in the etsy shop here:

bluejeancountry etsy shop




prize #12:


a gift certificate for a spring mini session with mL photography.



****winner- Connie P.****
please contact me! (missy) through my fanpage to claim your prize by monday, february 13


and I would love for you to "like" my fanpage here:

mL photography fanpage


and check out my website here:

mL photography website


and there you have it! remember, all you have to do is "like" all of these fabulous fanpages and share ONE item from ANY of the shops that you just super loved the moment you saw it and you just have to share! 12 random winners will be drawn. and remember you have until wednesday, february 8 to enter. so get to it! you will be oh so happy you did.



and again, this giveaway is all because of YOU. and the unbelievable support of the shops that are participating. so go check out a few of my favorite things and smile. because your heart would love you to.

never let me go.

life.
even if only in the wee hours of the night when only jack johnson could truly comprehend my desire to change the world, to make a difference, to be *heard*, with one captured image, one spoken word. an inspiration that spreads like wildfire across my soul.
I.miss.you.

I miss sharing the amazing and beautiful people I am blessed to meet. their stories. their hearts. their laughter.them. unedited. pure. perfect.
I miss my thoughts on a whirlwind flow underneath constellations in the darkness of the night when only you were there to contain them. understand them. help me make some sort of sense of them. with images that would surround them.
I miss the encouraging and kind comments others bestowed upon us, even if they were few and far in between...they were enough. they were inspiring. they were ours.

but what I miss the most is this.




the little forgotten moments in between the great big universe that sometimes makes us forget how beautiful and perfect life is. and the kindness of others that makes our souls sing.





the moments when your heart is peaceful and all you can hear is your breath against the backdrop of the earth and you remember, life is a miracle. and you are so thankful for it.




so all of this and more, I want to find my way back to once again. a place for all things left unsaid. and a place to smile and be kind to one another. cause it exists. and it is in the hearts of *all* of us. we just have to be willing and ready to find it.



and what better way to seek out such an incredible journey of passion and hope than sharing the kindness of others. therefore with much adieu (because it only took me ages to announce the winners because I just needed to let their words soak into me like a sunny day warming me to the bone).....


so there is a top three of day 25 mega pay it forward giveaway nominations of *thee* kindest person you know.

the person who does so much in this world with the expectation of nothing in return. generosity at it's finest. there were so.very.many fabulous nominations. so but of course just one winner would not be enough and, therefore, the top three....here they be. (with permission from all entrants to share their beautiful words)

the runners up:


"I would also like to nominate my mom, Robin for the day 25 giveaway. She is truly the greatest. She raised 4 kids on her own and we have grown to see how much she does for everyone else, and expects nothing. One of her children died right before her eyes, yet she still works in a hospital with children who are on the verge of death. I can see somedays it gets to her, and she remembers her own son. She also battled breast cancer and had to get a mastectomy, but she had a smile through it all. It was never about her, it was about us kids and giving us everything she could. She gives meals to everyone who is sick when she barely has the money to make them. She deserves everything, but she is always in the shadows. I want her to see that everyone really does appreciate and love the wonderful person she is. :)"

- nominated by sam



runner up deux:


"I would like to nominate my amazing mom for this. In your "qualifications" for the nominee you wanted someone who had amazing acts of kindness every day, made a huge difference in the lives of people, rarely recognized for it, and expects nothing in return for it. I knew immediately my mom was the one for me to nominate.

Amazing acts of kindness every day: For as long as I can remember my mom has been the definition of a mom. She was a stay at home mom that has devoted her whole life to my brother and I. Any mom can do that right? Well when my brother was 2 years old he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. It was life changing for my mom, but she woke up the next day and continued her unselfish ways of caring for my brother and I. I became pregnant at 16. Of course that was another life changing event in our lives which could have easily made my mom give up. But instead my mom volunteered to help me every step of the way of my teenage pregnancy and further. She quit her job, social life, and regular sleep schedule to help me raise a baby at 16. And it didn't stop there. She still is helping me 5 years later.

Huge difference in peoples lives: My mom hasn't helped hundreds of people directly, not even close. But she has effected my family in ways that many people combined couldn't. But because my mom has helped me beat the odds of being a teenage mom and helping me graduate from college as a nurse I feel she is helping every single of my patients. Because my mom has helped my brother have a normal life well facing the every day struggles of CP she has given hope to other families out there dealing with the same thing.

Recognition: I simply thank my mom all the time, but sometimes I feel like that just isn't enough. No way would I even be able to describe half of the reasons why my mom deserves this. Does she deserve to win a million dollars? Yup. Does she deserve a spankin' new sports car? You bet ya! A one hour massage? Of course. But what my mom deserves is to see that I appreciate her and wouldn't be able to let her know. And because of what she has done for me I'm able to "pay it forward" to others. "

- nominated by amanda


these amazing human beings will be gifted with a $25 mL photography gift certificate. I am so overjoyed to know that people like this *do* exist. and there are so many of you out there doing good deeds especially when you think no one is looking. but someone is always looking (And not in a creepy horror film kind of way, though it tis my favorite genre)... but rather people that you have inspired, now paying it forward because they just witnessed an act of kindness that touched their hearts. and that's what it's all about people. so pass it ON.






now, THEE grand prize winner of the mega pay it forward nominations....


"I would like nominate my mom, Vickie, for this last giveaway! My mom has been my rock throughout my life, and has always been a strong, beautiful, faithful woman!
Unfortunately, about 6 months ago, she started having weird things
happen in her body. She was experiencing dizziness, tremors, extreme
fatigue, and some numbness as well. To make a long story short, after
many doctor's visits she went to the U of M (GO BLUE!) and was diagnosed
with transverse myletitis which is a neurological disease that causes
inflammation around her C-spine. Since April, she has been dealing with
this and has not seen any improvement yet. She ended up loosing her
full-time job in HR at Trendway as a result. As a daughter, it is so
hard to see your mom, your rock, the woman you always have seen as the
strongest person in the world all of your life, fall apart. She tries
hard to stay strong and faithful through all of this, but there are many
times she has broken down into tears. My mom is the most giving woman in
the world and would never ask a soul for anything. Her and my dad give
to me and my family all the time without wanting a thing in return. They
have blessed so many people's lives and it's hard to understand why my
mom has to go through something like this. But, like she says, it could
be worse. I would love to bless her and my dad with this generous gift!
I would love to see a picture of her showing strength that I know she
still has somewhere deep down inside of her."

- nominated by heidi

winner of a complimentary family session with mL photography, including a cd of all images from our shoot together AND a certificate for 50% off your print order, too.

this last nomination just really got under my skin. the really good kind. that infects you and you cannot stop thinking about how you, too, could possibly change the world with your own two hands. because you can. and you already are. and it is people like all of YOU that inspire me to be a better person.

thank you so much for the inspiration you all have given me throughout the mega pay it forward giveaway and from the beginning. and also? for the start me up (rolling stones style) that I needed to get this blog revival going. your words made it happen. and in your images? I hope to return the favor.








bring it 2012. I have never been more ready to take on this world. one laugh. one smile. one embrace. one breath. one moment at a time.

on the twelfth day of the giveaway my true love gave to me...

a plethora of mem-or-ies. that is right. because sadly, our twelve days of giveaway has come to an end. it has come to THEE giveaway to end all giveaways. and I think you may just love it. that is, if you would like to win a super awesome shoot date with me....oh just think, the fun we will have...






for on the twelfth day of christmas your true love may just give to you...

a family session with mL photography in 2011. oh yes. a whole session. just.for.you.
did I mention that it will not only include up to two hours of on location shooting (here in grand haven) but also a complimentary 11x14 print (revealing one of the new looks to mL photography's offerings in 2011...)

you might just want to win this one if you like having super fabulous moments of you and your family just being, well, you and your family, plastered all over your wall.

so you probably want to know how to enter now, yes? well then, you shall find out...


first, did you check out westedge group's fanpage on facebook?? and perhaps like them which in return adds another dollar to their fabulous donation to one of three fantastic charities (your choice where your money goes...) ?? simple.as.that. and giving to charities makes my heart smile..three times too big. the good kind too big.
(and if you do not have facebook no worries, you can *still* enter this mother of a giveaway, too...)

okay now here comes the fun...







to enter to win a session with mL photography in 2011 (including that 11x14 print), why don't we play a little christmas mad libs of sorts...


you need to simply fill in the blanks on this little "twas the night before christmas" poem and make it your own. you might just want to copy it and fill it in and then repaste it in the comments (which is where you will enter..)


here goes:

********

twas the night before christmas when... _______________________________ the house,

not a _____________________________ , not even a mouse.

the _____________________________ with care,

in hopes that ___________________ there.

the children ____________________________ their beds,

while ______________________________ heads.

when _____________________________ clatter,

I __________________________________ matter.

(and now comes the part where you add your own 1-2 verses in here...whatEVER your little heart desires... right.here.)

but I heard _____________________________,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

********

and there you have it! this is a kind of free for all mad libs. when you fill in the blanks, you can add as many or as little words of your choosing and when you get to the end where you need to make up your own two verses, again, *you* decide.




phew! I know, sounds like a lot of work. which is why the contest of giveaway day 12 will end *december 31* at midnight. plenty o time to get your creative juices flowing and have oh.so.much fun with it. and I so hope you do....

just remember, just like with life, don't take it too seriously..



laugh. ahlot.



and think of what just may be waiting for you if you do....




oh yeah. and there is a pretty cool runner-up prize, too. and maybe a lil somethin, somethin else as well?? but I am not at liberty to say. santa just might be listening...





merry christmas my amazing clients, family, friends, and everyone in between. this past year? has been inCREDible for mL photography and it is all thanks to you.

I am grateful to be able to give back. and I hope you have loved every minute of the twelve days of giveaway. and my sponsors? you RULE. your generosity and support overwhelm me.

twas a good year. and I am oh so excited to see what will happen next...how about you??

twelve days of giveaway!!

ellen degeneres style. though probably not *quite* as elaborate (though I would if I could...) still rather *quite* fabulous. so you should get in on it. and try to get a little somethin somethin for yourself...or for someone else you love...or just because it is fun to win. period. or even play to win. because people? tis the season....for some serious giving away of some super awesomeness to begin.





november 29-december 10. and of *course* ending with a bang. a super amazing giveaway bang.
all happening over at mL photography fanpage on facebook. you so do not want to miss it.
so don't.

christmas cards 2010

what better way to say merry christmas than with some fabulously luscious images and some lovely little sayings to compliment them??


well here it is my friends, the big christmas card reveal of 2010...


baby blue..





vintage inspired...





magical moments...









christmas colors....






going green....




be merry: one image...






christmas card details:

**all cards come in a 5x7 size**

set of 24 cards w/envelopes: $46
set of 48 cards w/envelopes: $68
set of 72 cards w/envelopes: $90
...set of 98 cards w/ envelopes: $110

add on set of 6 cards w/envelopes to any above set: $16
individual cards w/envelopes can be purchased for $3 each




christmas trees....






polka dots...



***wallet specials!!**
wouldn't it be lovely to add a little wallet of your family to your card??
well if you order any set of 24 cards or more you can purchase a set of 24 wallets for only $16!!
you can choose ANY images from your galleries for your cards (wallets can be different from your cards, too)

not local and therefore could not have mL photography take your images for you? well you can STILL purchase cards AND have your chosen images artistically edited for a small charge! contact mL photography through my website (or facebook) to inquire further.






ornaments...




be merry: three images...




snowflakes...


and a whole lotta love. headed your way this holiday season.


*please allow 1 week to receive your cards* (which will give all october and november shoots plenty of time to receive them before christmas!

have a holly jolly christmas. it's the BEST time of the year. fahsure.



and maybe even some fantastic giveaways and specials but of course. because the holidays?
are all about giving.
tis the season. be thankful for *all* that you have.

sweet little pixies photo shoot

and I don't think I can stress the word "sweet" enough. there were no diva meltdowns (which secretly, I kind of thought might make our shoot *really* have that supermodel-ish vibe. just don't tell any of the moms I said that...)

there were no unkind words spoken, no complaints (hey, I can have a deaf ear if I want to...), and definitely no drama. (which, once again, the inner queen in me of such insanity felt a bit let down about....just a bit.)


what there WAS, was a whole lotta love. I mean a lot. hugging. making new friends. shared secrets. sweet little hands holding sweet little hands. dancing. catching bubbles. dimpled, shy glances. soft spoken smiles. sometimes even laughter could be heard. (but don't tell the little pixies we thought they may have just been having fun...)

and on top of it all? some jack johnson and ben harper to boot. (curious george soundtrack- you may have convinced me to carry a boombox with me everywhere I go from now on.

now THAT may be just the touch of diva I was seeking.


on with the show! super cute little pixies combined with super stylish, fun and hip (did I mention affordable??) clothing from the lovely pixie designers duo equaled an absolutely fabulous afternoon in the park that hopefully garnered up some lovely images to prove it. cause we were just people watching, watching people, watching we....

it's always more fun, to share with everyone...

the talks of the town (aka, a little pixie breakdown......)

I just know that we are going to be friends....

thank you. THANK you to the ahMAZing laura and alice tietema (the masterminds behind pixie dust designs). your vision, your creativity, your fabric, LOVE. it. all. I was *honored* to be a small part of your collection.

and dearest, SWEETest little pixies. you shine from the inside out. never have I met such a group of beautiful little people so willing to befriend each other. laugh with each other. smile at one another. accept one another. and share some love together. you are all truly the most sweetest little pixies EVER.

we can change the world. with our own two hands. make it a better place. a brighter place. a kinder place.

with *your* own two hands.