James & Erica’s {Rainy} Engagement Session in Yellow Springs, Ohio

    Erica contacted me shortly after getting engaged & told me she wanted to be photographed in Yellow Springs, Ohio because she used to live there. It is a place I’ve been wanting to photograph again for a long time. It has so many unique nooks & offers endless creative inspiration, especially in the fall. I just wish there were more time for wandering the streets aimlessly & hiking on those beautiful trails.

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    They brought along their two “babies,” Moxy & Winston. I’m so glad they did. ♥

    {I brought along a poncho, definitely did not look as fashionable as Erica}.

     One more bonus, because Winston was just so handsome!

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    I’ve finally given up on the notion that I need more hours in day.
    My history is brimming with accounts of the rise and fall of working late into night.
    Always hoping to maximize my time by somehow extinguishing every bit of energy.
    Always ending in a heap of frustration & fatigue.

    Managing time is obscure when you work from home & dreams begin as indistinguishable blocks of mud.
    And {military} life & children create additional components to the conundrum of getting one chance to create a life.
    They don’t make ambitions futile, just the going about them & timing different.
    Realizing that they are part of my dream,
    is part of unraveling the riddle of how this will all take shape.

    They say it’s in the silence that you shape the clay.

    For me, stepping away from the hum of social media has been liberating.
    Had to admit a need to focus on my weaknesses & redefine my attitude.
    I’m shy to even voice my attempts to acknowledge this work in progress,
    careful not to speak too soon.
    Lest my current enlightenment give way to another dose of “teaching.”
    On my blog I’m opening the veil to uncover this living memoir,
    the process of etching a dream.

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    You might notice a fresh look here.
    For a year I’ve been going round and round about my “brand” and what to add.
    Instead, stripping down & using my handwriting feels like home. ♥

    Images iPhone 4 & edited in Afterglow App

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    I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever be a good blogger.
    Not for lack of content or words, but in practice & discipline.

    Fingers crossed I’ll try.
    That is, try to collect myself & make it easier to combine letters with pixels.

    I’ve been shooting a lot more with my phone.
    It’s interesting how it challenges me to take the very simple elements of photography to a more inspired format.
    The limitations become stepping stones to achieving in-camera satisfaction.

    Light & composition are vital, as they ought to be.
    I feel less pressure & travel lighter.
    As you’ve seen through the last sporadic posts, I’ll probably use it a lot more to keep up with non-commissioned work.
    I can’t tell you how many DIYs, recipes, or moments with my kids will be trapped on hard drives that will never be shared publicly.
    Not because I can’t access them, but because after I shoot & edit tens of thousands of pictures,
    I am completely unmotivated to touch my own.

    Here is a little treat I’ve been enjoying this week.

    It’s so nice when you stumble across a recipe & realize you can make it with what you have on hand.
    Even if you must sub a few things here & there.

    Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Coconut Milk brought to you by my iPhone 4 & Afterglow App.

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    I love love love Instagram & saw this recipe from @KaraGarber’s feed, {you can also find her blogging at B. H. Storm & Co. }.
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    I just caught up on Season Two of Downton Abbey & since I watched it in one week, I feel lost without more episodes.
    I also have a tendency to hear myself think in a pathetic mimic of a British Accent.
    Someone please tell me this is a normal side effect.

    I hope it’s not too early to start seeing hearts for Valentine’s Day. I’m not opposed. ♥

    Find me on Instagram by @AndreaDozier, or online at http://instagram.com/andreadozier

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    • alli - January 18, 2013 - 11:26 am

      Love the new look!

      After watching Downton, I always find myself transported to their world at random moments of the day. : )

    • Jaclyn - January 19, 2013 - 8:56 pm

      I’ve always thought you were a very talented blog writer. I really admired your blogs back in the myspace/facebook days…it challenged me as an english major – especially since I always felt you were a much better writer than me and all I had was a piece of paper to show for it…LOL

      I miss those days…but I would never trade living a [real] life outside of social media and finding all that life has to offer. But that’s just me…;-)

    • Andrea - February 9, 2013 - 1:42 pm

      Thank you Alli! I am getting sad that this season is almost over!

      Jaclyn, wow, thank you. I feel really honored for you to say that! Writing has always been a very big part of me but I definitely wish I made more time for it! I think making everything quieter has been so healthy. I’m glad that we at least had a childhood without all the distractions!

    It’s funny how common a new year is beginning to feel to me, yet I always want to clean up, wear my prettiest dress, & greet it with my best foot forward.

    I don’t have any fancy resolutions or new fangled journals to kick off this year, just the same old desire to work hard & try to better myself.
    A few little goals to keep me inspired & busy this winter are tucked in my pocket.
    Even though I often laugh at the absurdity of making die-hard declarations each sparkling new year,
    I must admit it’s a nice tradition to reflect & dream the way we do.
    To ponder the narrative of the past & greet the mystery of tomorrow with a touch of innocence & a great deal of hope.

    With a view of sunshine melting a thin pearly blanket of snow, warm coffee in hand, I’m ready for you 2013.

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    Images via iPhone 4 & edited in Afterglow App

    I’m falling for this little house, even if I must cleanse & paint every little corner. ♥

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    Another October has swept through and gone, but we are still relishing in all the sweet magic of a belated pumpkin carving party & trick or treat coming up tomorrow.
    Damian has me swooning over those big green ears, we’ve gotten good use out of that little Yoda costume already! ♥

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