Thursday, June 2, 2011

Guest Blogger Spotlight ::: Ashley from Ramblings & Photos

Are you looking for a new blog to check out? Maybe get some advice, just connect with another Mommy or a really good story to make you laugh? Well, here at Don't Blink, I have decided to start a Blogger Spotlight! I will be featuring my favorite blogs that I visit frequently. They make me laugh, they offer advice and they deserve a spotlight feature so you can check them out, too!


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Please welcome, Ashley Sisk from Ramblings and Photos. I stumbled upon Ashley in the bloggy world while checking out some other awesome blogs that revolve somewhat around photography. Ashley takes the most WONDERFUL pictures (as you will see from her samples below!). She is super cute, super fun and super genuine, not to mention she has a very cute kitty that may steal the spotlight sometimes! I couldn't wait to learn more about her. I hope you enjoy.

Where do you call "home?" North Carolina - specifically, the Raleigh-Durham area (I work in Raleigh and live in Durham). I was born and raised about an hour east of where I live now. Sunlight Bokeh RS

When did you start blogging? I started blogging on December 29, 2009. 

Besides blogging, what do you like to do in your spare time? I'm a bit of a home body. I have a tendency to turn on the tv and edit photos in the evening after a long day at work. I also love to read.

Tell us about your family. Let's see - my parents, my brother (27) and my sister (25) all live in a town about an hour east of Raleigh-Durham, NC. My in-laws live in a really small town about four hours west of us. So, for right now it's just me, my husband and Kitty Paw but we hope to start our own family later this year.  Kitty Paw in the Sun RS

What is one thing that can always bring a smile to your face? Babies! I've definitely got baby fever right now so anytime I see babies, I light up. 

What do you do for fun? The days of playing in the pool all day are long gone, but I love meeting up with my girlfriends after work, shopping or getting out and about with my camera. Oh...and I love to play dress up and take self portraits...but you knew that already. 

What do you find is the most fun about blogging? I love the creative energy I find in the blogosphere. I initially entered the space to find my own creative MOJO, but I never imagined that I would meet so many creative and inspiring women (and those few men that manage to join us). I look forward to logging into my computer each day to check in with my friends. It definitely feels like a community.

IMG_3421 RS

Where is your favorite place to shop? I have a few places I love: Steinmart, TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, Etsy and ebay. Yes - I said ebay. Outside of photography gear, I'm a bit of a bargain shopper. I will often check ebay before buying certain things to see if I can get an even better deal. 

Tell me something you are completely obsessed with? The first thing that comes to mind is a one-piece bathing suit. Kelle Hampton frequently wears these adorable one-piece vintage swimsuits. She looks so cute in them, but I'm not sure I can pull them off.

What do you like to do to pamper/spoil yourself? Every 6-8 weeks I get my hair done...color and cut. This is the one area of my life that I don't bargain shop!


Ramblings and Photos

Thank you sooooooo much Ashley! Isn't she just adorable??? LOVE her!
Please make a stop over at her awesome blog and leave her some love...
I know she'd love to hear from you!


Are you interested in having your very own feature? I'd love to spotlight you!
Please email me at: tammy.schaper@gmail.com

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

This will be anything but wordless, haha.. sorry!
I feel like my poor little blog is getting neglected lately! That is what happens when Summer rolls around though.. busy, busy, busy! We have so much on our schedule! and it's ONLY THE BEGINING of Summer! YAY!

On Saturday we had a lovely Adoption Party to celebrate with all of our family & friends. It was so much fun. We had many things to keep the kids occupied - a bouncy castle, sand art, tattoos, face/arm/legs painting, a balloon animal artist and food. SO MUCH FOOD! lol! It was great! I loved being able to thank everyone almost individually, letting them know how special they were to us during this 2-year "battle" so-to-speak for our adorable daughters. There were tons of smiles, lots of laughs and it did my heart good. My daughters are very blessed to have such wonderful people love them so much (and we are, too!).  These are straight from my camera as my edit time is pretty much ZERO! So enjoy the SOOC! - I did not get many pictures of Abbie, she was just so busy BOUNCING, BOUNCING, BOUNCING that she didn't stop for anything else!

{The Super Fabulous YUMM-O Cake my Mom had done for us! - Jaelyn told my niece Jessica at one point who was standing by the cake, "That's MY Family!" -- awww, melt my heart!}

{My Best Friend Liz & Jaelyn - she was SO excited about the party, can you tell?}

{Liz's daugher, Amber (and my niece!) & Abbie}

{My niece, Jessica & Jaelyn - what a beautiful role model, I hope Jaelyn learns many things from her! They opened her special gift - a snow globe of a little girl praying with her name engraved on it!}

{My Sister, NancyJo & Abbie - opening her special gift}

{Jaelyn getting one of her many tattoos - yes, she was covered in head to toe!}


{Jaelyn doing a little sand art!}


Sunday we stopped by a friends BBQ to say Hello - the girls played for a little bit, fun fun! Then we went to visit my brother camping - the girls were covered in dirt in a matter of 45 minutes! I loved it! They enjoyed some delicious watermelon that I managed to snap from my cell phone. MMmmMM YUMMY!


Monday we FINALLY rested, relaxed, and just hung out at the house to recoop from the busy weekend. WHEW! It was much needed!

I sure hope you had a great weekend!

The Paper Mama Wordish Wednesday  
 Live and Love...Out Loud