Oh my goodness, darlin’! This past weekend, we had our first ever legitimate family photo session. This customer could not be happier. I want to share some of my favorites that weren’t already posted on Facebook.

We went to a sweet lady I know in the Bowling Green area. I met Allison through one of my close friends, Autumn. She’d actually taken her girls to Allison a few times, herself. I’ve checked out her website several times just for the fun of it. So, when it came time for family photos, I knew exactly who I wanted to do them. Especially when that very week, she notified me of a photo contest she was putting on. That really sealed the deal right there.

We picked the location rather last minute. Another good friend of mine had actually posted a drive-by photo of this old condemned house just outside of town. As soon as I saw the photo, I knew that was it. I hurried to pull the location out of her so Billy and I could go check it out for ourselves. It was love at first sight, I guess you could say.

I feel like Allison really caught the love and togetherness of our little family. We’re an intimate little unit. We’re definitely not the ideal or perfect family, by any means. A little rough around the edges. Its a result of divorce, remarriage, three last names, ex-military, every other weekends away, self-improvement, sometimes chaos, crazy schedules and any number of other things at any given moment. But I like to think of it as ‘character.’ Like an old house. Lived in, worn, enjoyed to the last drop…. seasoned.

You know the saying “home is where the heart is?” Well, my heart is with them. Where they go, I go.  Where I go, they go. Our family may be little, but its strong and so full of character and love. I couldn’t be more blessed.

So, if you’re ever in the Bowling Green area and looking for a photographer, look Allison Wicker up. I can pretty much promise you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to get her work up on the walls.

After attempting to grow my hair out for the past 6.5 years, I think I can finally say I’m there. Not to my goal length, but definitely past that middle, in-between, stage that no one can stand. I’m not so jealous and tempted by every whimsically cropped cut I see.

One of the things on my bucket list, though, is to cut my hair off again, one day, without regretting the decision {as I always do}.  I figure if I haven’t by my thirtieth birthday, that will be the time to do. Don’t hold me to it, though. I’ve been burned a few times by bad haircuts. Well, not so much that the cut it self was bad, just bad for this face.

I’ve been seeing a lot of adorable do’s lately, though. I’ve felt the yearn, but not quite the urge. Does that make sense? So, I thought I’d try to relieve some of the hunger with a post featuring my latest favorite short cuts.

I’m not sure which one I could pull off best, but I’m guessing the middle one.

What about you? Are you a long or short hair kind of gal? Or guy?? If you are/were a short hair kind of person, which one of these would you choose?

Hey friends! Today, I have something awesome to share with my local readers. Have you taken your family/friends to Lost River Cave yet? Their short trails are perfect for nature walking without driving too far. With the leaves turning and the air just right, its the perfect time of year to take advantage of all they have to offer.

Right now, they have the Scarecrow Trail going on, too. Several organizations around the community have put together their own scarecrows to decorate the wooded trails. This coming Saturday {October 20} they have free pumpkin painting lessons.

Right now, on SnagMob, you can get an UH-mazing deal on cave boat tours. Go there now to get in on this offer before it runs out. And while you’re there, if you haven’t already, go ahead and sign up so you don’t miss out on any more of their deals.

Snagmob seems to always have the best deals for local businesses. And that’s not the only reason they’re awesome! They give a portion of their profits back to local non-profit organizations.

After taking Lilie Jo on a tour of Lost River Cave, she’s been dying for another under ground adventure. During Fall Break, we took a little road trip north to Mammoth Cave. Our original plan was to camp Friday night. However, with the high chances of rain AND low temps for that night, we decided not to chance it. We literally do not have time to be sick around here.

The two hour historic tour takes you through the original entrance and trail used by the cave’s first wanderers. It ended up being cooler down there than it was above ground, since the cave sits at a chilly 54 degrees, year round.  Other than a few bouts of “boring” talking, Lilie Jo enjoyed the hike.

Billy and I both came out talking about how much more we seemed to appreciate it as adults than childhood visits. I think a lot of that has to do with realizing there’s a world outside your own.  Knowing and understanding more about history, the world and people in general, really.

We spent the day investigating around the cave, visiting some old antique shops and went for a horse back ride. It was Lilie’s first, outside of riding in circles on a rope. The Fall foliage was beautiful.

It wasn’t quite as exotic and exciting as Charleston, but it was a fun little family getaway, none-the-less.

The other day I found a delightful surprise in my inbox. Ink361 is a web version of Instagram. I love using it to get a better look at some of the awesomeness on the mobile app. I also like to be able to save my camera photos, so quick and easily, to my computer for keeps.

Anyway, I’ve been a member for some time, now, and they sent me a gift. I received an amazing credit with Blurb to create a book of my Instagrammed photos. I paid shipping and handling and that’s it.

There are a few copy errors and some of the photos are a bit sketchy, but I was really cut on time and had no time to edit. The coupon code didn’t last for very long and I was rushed and up late trying to get it finished {amongst other responsibilities} at the last minute. Literally.

But I’d be lying if I told you I was disappointed. Its such a treasure, with the fading away of print in so many areas. I feel lucky to have so many things I love in my hand at once. Print is not dead, if you ask me. I do find it so very romantic, though.

I love it, really. Its something I look forward to enjoying for years to come.

I thought it would be really cool to do one of these, yearly, filled with my favorite moments/images from the year. Or do a yearly book filled with Lilie Jo’s art work?

What would you fill your photo book with?

p.s. Do you Instagram?? Follow me @littlewishball

A lot, yet very little, seems to be going on lately. We’re constantly running around with different schedules to keep up with.

Lilie Jo is on Fall Break this week and is spending part of it with Grandma and Aunt Ariel. Here, on the homefront, we’re planning and preparing for out little camping trip coming up this weekend. We’re taking Lil Jo to Mammoth Cave for the first time. Its the perfect time of year for camping and I’m stoked.  We’ll only being staying one night and day since we need to be up so early Sunday mornings, but I’m sure we’ll have lots of fun.

Work lately–deep breath–is not even going to be touched in this post. I’d rather keep only the good energy here.  Catch my drift?

Moving on.

One day last week, Lilie and I set off for a trip to the park. The air was a tad crisp, the wind was perfect and our moods were high.  Lilie Jo, her crazy curls and that blissful smile of hers had me reaching for my camera. I wanted to capture the pure essence of Fall in that little one. We didn’t try sprucing the hair of putting on the “perfect” outfit. We just grabbed the camera and climbed some trees.

I finally got my Five-years-old/Fall pictures.  Mama is pleased.

Lilie Jo is so full of life and every now and then I just need to borrow some of it to blow back into my sails. The energy is bad, at work, and its really hard sometimes most times to remember the reason I took the position. I like the job, its self, its just the mass amount of negative attitudes. There are so many of them and its so easy to get caught up in the mess.

But then I get to come home to this magical little creature–and pumpkin muffins. Some snuggles and silliness usually melts away the bad vibes–for a little while.