So, I missed a day already!!

I will make it up to you, though.  Tomorrow, I won't only post a fav, but I'll hold a mini contest!!  

I'll still have the big contest coming up when my site launches, but I had an idea today for a Valentine's Day contest.  

Be on the lookout for that tomorrow!

Today's fave is the online shopping site, Red Envelope.  Whenever I need a gift and I'm having a hard time figuring out what to get, I'll stop in here.  Not only are the gifts beautiful and unique, but they are even divided up into categories like men, women, kids, babies, home, gadgets, anniversaries, etc.  One of my upcoming favorite things is actually a gift I purchased from this site.  I'll reveal that in a few days.  The last gift I bought from Red Envelope was for my mother for Christmas.  I got her these gorgeous candle holders.  Love them, love the 

site.  Check it out!

  

the present for the day is.....

I'm currently working toward redesigning my business structure, so I totally have branding and philosophies on the brain. However, I have been a long time fan of philosophy skin care. Not only are the products amazing, their philosophy is quite wonderful, too.

"philosophy is a lifestyle brand that celebrates feeling well and living joyously. we want to inspire you to live a better life by being better to yourself." Nice, huh? :)

learn more about philosophy

I love everything I've tried from their product line, but there is one product that I cannot live without!!! If you try nothing else, trust me on this one! Unless you have flawless, perfect skin, you will love this stuff, too.

the present.

the best moisturizer I have ever used.

this stuff is phenomenal.

And, I'm so excited that the new JC Penney's has a Sephora, and they carry Philosophy products! This moisturizer is $25, and worth every penny. Here is the info from the website

"the present

clear makeup skin perfector for day and night

look like you have perfect skin, even if you don't with the present.
the present allows you to play beautifully during the day as a colorless skin perfector that camouflages fine lines and wrinkles as well as pores and gives the skin a flawless airbrushed appearance.
the present also allows you to sleep beautifully in the evening as its unique formula helps seal in your treatment products and moisturizers, provides natural antibacterial benefits all while providing a beautiful, natural airbrushed finish.
the present clear makeup is a must-have item in the philosophy lineup.

you need this product if...

you want to pave the surface of your skin for your foundation or powder

you want a protective layer to keep the good stuff in and the bad stuff out

you want to look 100% better, wearing 50% less makeup

you enjoy an oil free moisturizer

your skin is oily or prone to break-out

you do a lot of air travel and need to seal in your moisturizer"

Go try it, and thank me later. Smooches!

Countdown to the New Site!!

So, I've been promising a contest for awhile now, and it is coming!  Cross my heart.  I'm just waiting to kick off the contest with the launch of my brand new website.  You may have noticed some changes to the blog lately, and that is because I've been working hard behind the scenes to create a new look for my business.  The last website was thrown together as best as I possibly knew how. With this one, I'm taking my time and making it killer!!  I'm very excited, but things are taking a bit longer than expected.

The new logo above is an indication of the direction I am moving.  So far,  I'm really loving the new logo and colors.  They are so much more *me*.  I can't wait to share the new site with you, and I'll reveal it ASAP.

Until then.....I've decided to share something new each day. What better to share than the things you love?  A'la Oprah's Favorite Things minus the extravagant budget.  Oh, and I'm not giving them to you. Sorry.  You'll have to go get them yourself if you are so inclined.   I know I always am much more willing to use something that someone has actually tried before.  So, I'm sharing my leg work with you.  Each day until I launch the site and the contest I'll post about something that rocks my socks (the ambiguity of the amount of days is because 1. I have no idea quite how long this is going to take and 2. I think I'll work faster/better under pressure if I know I have to come up with something new to share everyday. :P  ). 

Today's thing that I LOVE are these books called Flatten Me.  I just ordered one for my niece's birthday.  It's not here yet, but I will post a review as soon as it comes in.  Basically, you submit one photo of your child, and they create a story with his/her name and photo.  They are sooooooo cute, and I can't wait for Kylee to get this.  She is such an avid, amazing reader.  And she just turned 7 today!  I'm a bad aunt, in that I didn't plan for it to get here in time.  Thank goodness 7 year olds have better things to worry about.  In fact, when her mother looked at her last night and told her she needed to stop growing up (which she hears from me almost everytime I see her), her response was,  "Mom....Life happens."  Seriously?  I love that kid.  She never fails to crack me up.  I should have just posted her photo here today, 'cuz I love that kid sooooo much.  But, none of you can go get here - we're keeping her.  So, go get yourself a flatten me book, because they are super cute. 

Tabby's Senior Photos - Winter Edition

Love you bamf. Not much else to say. :)

Oh my DOG.

I just won a contest. Not just any contest. THE contest. THE contest I never thought possible to win. THE workshop I've been drooling over for well over a year was the prize.

This image

Won me a spot in this workshop.

Soulographer Workshops

If you don't know who Skye Hardwick is, please don't go look at her site or you may never want to hire me. lol Just kidding of course! Go, run, off you go......look at her site!!! Her site had been listed on my "Inspirations" link off to the right side here, ever since day one of this blog. She is phenomenal, and I'm insanely stoked to meet her and learn from her.

Work of Heart Photography

She is one of the top child photographers in the country, and I just won a spot in her photography workshop. She recently added an Indianapolis workshop, and I hope to be able to attend that one! For any other local photographers, check out the Indy dates. It was just added, so spots are available!!

I'm shaking...I'm smiling...I'm acting like a giddy 11 year old who just found out she was going to a NKOTB concert. Well, maybe not a modern day 11 year old, but this is probably what I would have acted like had my 11 year old self ever gotten that news.

Do stay tuned for the very first contest brought to you from Samantha Uphold Photography!!


**Michelle, I love your phrase so much, I just had to use it here. I couldn't help myself. I've been lol everytime I think to say it but stop myself.**

Hey Everyone.....

are you ready for a CONTEST?!?!?!


Stay Tuned!!!

Hey, I got music! :D

While I was editing the following photos, I crawled out from under my rock, and found a music widget for the blog. Enjoy!

The following photos were taken for a contest I just entered. The theme was shadows. It is due in today by 6 pm. Unfortunately, I am an awful procrastinator, and I waited until today to try to take the photo. Yes, hello -14 degrees. We were outside for approx. 37 seconds at a time, before rushing back to the warm vehicle. Sometimes working under pressure, time constraints, and unconceivable freezing weather pays off, as I came out with two images that I really like.

“The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.” ~ William Shakespeare

Disclaimer (*there were no 6 year olds frozen in the taking of these photos*)

More of the Miller Family

Here are a few more to tide you over, Jackie!

I had THE BEST visit with my best friend and her family over the holidays. They were here from Idaho for two weeks (we won't talk about why their trip was extended for a few days), and I was overjoyed to see them and get to know my little nieces better. Last time I saw the girls was when I flew to Texas for Kennan's christening. She was only 6 weeks old and had an awful case of acid reflux. She was not a happy camper. Boy have things changed!!! I felt like I really got to know her and bond with her, and I miss her incredibly.

Where's Aunt Sammy???

I'm right here saving all of my bubbles and chuga-chuga choo-choo's for you. I love you so much little lady! I can't wait to see you again!!

And here is my sweet little princess, Jesamyn. I had so much fun hanging out with you, watching you make pizza, reading to you, smelling your feet, looking at old photos, dodging your death stares, giggling, warding off spells, and giving you tons of hugs and kisses. You are so smart and beautiful and funny and dramatic and I love you dearly. I miss you to the moon and back! Rock on and peace out. ;)

Thank the Lord for dangling feet.

Sorry, I couldn't help it. ROTFLMBO

Jackie, I love you and miss you. Your family is so beautiful and perfect. I am so grateful for the time we got to spend together. I wish you didn't live so far away. I know 30 years could pass, and it would still be just like we saw each other yesterday....me in my yellow tube socks and you with your lipstick that actually looked better on me. (lol, remember when Carol actually said that? Oh well, she got me back with the eyebrow comment. hehehehe) I know it won't be that long before I finally come to see you in Idaho, and I can't wait to see your life there. Give the girls tons of hugs and smooches for me. You can give Kevin a hug, too. ;)

Tons of love to you.

To My BFF

Ok, so you should have known better....I couldn't post just one! lol

More to come come later!

The creators of this beautiful family.....Kevin and Jackie

Their beautiful daughter, Jesamyn

My goddaughter and their second daughter, Kennan

Introducing Logan

This little man is soooooo beautiful!!! I met him a few days after the new year, when he was just ten days new. Mom told me he slept pretty much all day, every day since they had been home - until of course I show up with my camera!! :)

I think I was at their home close to 5 hours, and Mom and Dad couldn't have been cooler. Thank you guys for understanding!!! As it is with newborns, you don't know if the session will be done in 40 minutes, or if it's a game of waiting out the cries, feedings, and changings (or, more often with the naked shots - clean ups). Logan settled down just long enough to get some of my favorite newborn shots to date!! It was so worth the wait, and I hope you both love these as much as I do!! Thank you for welcoming me into your home. Congratulations on your gorgeous baby boy!


I'm also introducing a new line of collages and wall art. Below are two examples.



10x20 wall art


20x20 collage

2008. What will it bring?

Happy New Year!! It's been a crazy, busy, wonderful holiday season around here. I haven't updated the blog lately, but that was just a short reprive from a very jam-packed holiday schedule. I hope all of you had a fantastic holiday!

I have so much to be thankful for, and I feel very blessed and excited heading into the new year. It's fun for me to think how many things will be different at the beginning of next year. I often look back at the past year, and I just marvel at the way things have changed. Life never ceases to amaze me. :) While I of course can't predict what exactly this year will bring, I do know that there will be a lot of changes coming up for my business. I'm so excited to soon unveil a new face to Samantha Uphold Photography. Nothing is completely worked out yet, and I'm still contemplating some of the details. Stay tuned for all of the new changes!! Also, I'll be holding a few contests in the near future, so be on the look out for those!

This past year has been so wonderful. Thank you to all of you that have made my first season in business a success!! I couldn't have done it without all of your support and encouragement. Much love to you all!