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My two cents…not that you’ll be getting any…..

Yesterday I came across this article

Of course I did what all people do…quickly share the link on my Facebook page and then came the tidal wave came. Comment after comment. Some were as pissed off as I was, some were giving the man a virtual high five because afterall we have the right to Freedom of speech. But to be quite honest -  I didn’t have time to elaborate my true feelings on my Facebook page -  so I thought I’d elaborate more here.

I’m not pissed off at this article because the guy refuses to make clothes that fit my body type. I’m 34 years old and have no ambition to wear anything in his store. Does he have the right to run his business the way he wants to, absolutely!! Does he have the right to only want to sell to a certain size of individuals – he sure does! I’m pissed off because being the mother of two girls I have tried to raise them to believe that everyone is beautiful in their own right. Tall, short, big or skinny. Beautiful comes in all shapes and sizes. I’m pissed off that this man in his position of influence has the ability to make millions of kids out there think that they are not beautiful, cool or they are down right UN POPULAR because they don’t fit in his clothes. Kids are so impressionable and it’s people like this jerk off who are making them feel less and less about themselves. Take it from me… I struggled with self image for a long time until finally as an adult I accepted myself for who I was and for the first time in my whole life felt beautiful no matter my size.

Plain and simple, I’m a size 16 – WAAAAY ABOVE his SKINNY STANDARDS so I guess that makes me “ugly” by his standards.

I’ll take Ugly and “un-cool” any day Mike…if that means you are the poster child of “beautiful and cool”

In short  – from a mother to the a CEO I’d like to say this….

Mike – Thank you for making it easy to choose where my “fat ugly un-cool ass” spends my hard earned money to dress my two daughters. You’ve also made it very clear that as a mother I have a bigger job to do in informing my children on the facts one being that you can be the thinnest girl in the room with tags on their clothes that scream your label but if their hearts are as shallow as yours – your true “friends” will be far and few between. Furthermore, I wouldn’t be caught dead in one of your stores…size 16 or not. The smell is about as disgusting as the words that come out of your mouth.

Whew…I’m spent. Time for lunch!:)

 

Carley Petersen - May 10, 2013 - 4:37 pm

You’re probably about the COOLEST AUNT IN THE WORLD just saying :) )

Brandi Spangler - May 10, 2013 - 4:38 pm

Amen sister!

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Kinsley & Piper

Kinsley and Piper came over to play with me the other day. Needless to say – we had a lot of fun!!!

Mandy Honeycutt - April 9, 2013 - 8:41 pm

Heather…. you are incredible! Seriously! Such a fun experience for my girls and look at the gifts you have given us! We will cherish these photos forever! Thank you so much! :-)
Mandy, Clint, Kinsley and Piper :-)

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Ashlee

When I was born my brothers and sisters were in their early twenties so I guess you could say for the most part – I was kind of an only child (at home)…that is…until my sister, Marianne, had her first born Ashlee.  We were so close in age that naturally – we grew up like sisters.

We spent endless summers playing Barbies, going to Worlds of Fun, coming up with secret clubs, swimming and dancing. As we grew older – we even found ways to meet up in High School (She went to Lee’s Summit – I went to Grandview)

We grew up and became wives, and moms…

At the age of 21, Ashlee was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Over the course of the years it has at times taken her vision, her ability to use her hands, and now her feeling in the lower part of her body which has made it difficult to walk.

Not once – have I heard Ashlee complain. If someone ever asked who I looked up to and who I aspired to be – my answer would be her. She has taught me what faith looks like and has raised FOUR of the most amazing children that walked this earth. I only hope and pray that my two daughters are half as kind, loving, and sweet as hers are. In addition to everything else she’s also in COLLEGE! I don’t exaggerate when I say – she is one of the most amazing people I know.  I know I can’t physically take this away from her – but I can do something – so I’ve decided to raise money and walk in her honor at the 2013 MS Walk in Greater Kansas City on Saturday, April 27th. YOU CAN HELP TOO!!!!!

I’m asking that if you’d like to walk along side with me and my family then you please sign up here: WALK WITH ME

I would love nothing more than an ARMY of people with TEAM ASHLEE shirts on!!!

If you can’t walk with me – but you would you’d like to donate to the cause then I ask that you donate here to help me reach my $500 goal. DONATE HERE

Thank you all very much!!

 

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Nichole and Randall + Wedding Day

Fact: Nichole met me when I shot her sister, Whitney’s wedding (who I love dearly. I’ll repost her wedding since all my old posts were lost – insert sad face).

Fact: I loved how much Nichole and Randall’s daughter, Teghan, was included in the ceremony as well as the Reception. She got a ring during the ceremony (just like mama) and they served milk and cookies at the reception (AYKM?!)

Fact: I was IN LOVE with all of their fall decorations and her bouquet…FUGGETTA ABOUT IT!

Fact: Randall is probably one of the most amazing dads I’ve ever seen. He might try to put on a show like he’s a rough and tough guy..but he can’t fool me. He’s SOFT when it comes to both of his girls (which makes me love him even more).

Nichole & Randall – I’m so glad you asked me to photograph your wedding. You have such an amazing love between the two of you and I’ve loved witnessing that and getting to know you so much more.

Let me say this…I know your dad is smiling down on you Nichole admiring what a great mom you are and happy you are so happy.

Love you guys!

Hugs,

 

 

Maria - March 14, 2013 - 8:10 pm

Gorgeous couple! Love her gown and all the pink. :)

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Sliding Doors

Have you ever seen that movie, Sliding Doors? It’s a movie about a girl, Gwyneth Paltrow, who got fired from her job and misses a train. The plot splits into two parrallel universes showing where she would have been had the boarded the train and where her life is having missed the train. When you really thing about this movie – it’s pretty powerful. How would life be different had one thing happened and not the other?

Many years ago I was contacted by a Bride named, Abra. She had contacted a good friend of mine, Kelley, to shoot her wedding but Kelley happened to be booked that day and she wanted to know if I was available. The good news was, I was, and the even better news – I met Abra and Paul and fell in love with them instantly. Fast forward to their wedding, Paul’s Best Man, Dean, was there with his girlfriend, Maria. I remember taking a few pictures of them on the dance floor and remembered how stinking cute the two of them were together. I meet a lot of people like this (at weddings) but the sad part is when my day is done, I go home and most of the time, never see them again.

 August 2007 I held my first “Free Wedding Giveaway”. I wanted to donate a day of my time for a couple that was much deserving. On the last day of the contest, I received an entry from a woman named Nora about a guy named Dean and a girl named Maria. Attached to the story about Dean and Maria was this picture. Instantly I remembered meeting them at Abra’s wedding and I was excited that Maria’s mom entered them into the contest.In the end they won the Free Wedding Contest via the popular vote from all my blog readers. So I scheduled a meeting where Jake and I met them and got to know them better. After all – I was merely a photographer at a wedding that snapped a quick picture of them….or was I??

After a wonderful dinner filled with amazing conversation we schedule their engagement session. Here are just two from that awesome day.:)

Soon after followed their amazing wedding day.

Abra, Maria and Me (Picture Left) Jake and Dean (Picture Right)

Shortly after their wedding we were blessed to hear that they were expecting their first baby. Of course we had to be there for the “Gender Reveal Party”!!!

To document this amazing time in their lives she hired me for some maternity pictures. Here are just a few from that day.:)

Of course this story wouldn’t be complete without a birth story.:)Here are a few from Anthony’s birth…

It was only natural that “Aunt Heather” take his first professional pictures for their birth announcement and then every few months after.

Then the most amazing thing happened….Maria and Dean became pregnant again!!! We met them at Capital Grille the day they found out what they were having and they let “Aunt Heather & Uncle Jake” open up a gap box wrapped with either girl clothes or boy clothes. We had the HONOR of finding out on the same day they did..that a beautiful girl would be entering their lives. What an absolute blessing. The only natural thing to do, was to get some more maternity pictures done.:)

and then there was Elizabeth……

and of course…the ever handsome Anthony…

So why this post? Why am I telling this story? How many times have you ever caught yourself moaning and complaining about your circumstances. It can be anything..you didn’t get the wedding date you originally wanted, so you had to change it to it. You got let go at your job so you have to find a new one. You are stuck in traffic and now late. You missed your flight. Your kid is sick and you were supposed to be at the school musical tonight but now you can’t. Your boyfriend broke up with you and you loved him so much that life without him doesn’t seem possible. Whatever your circumstances are..you are unhappy because life isn’t going according to your PLAN. Funny thing is, it’s not YOUR plan..never has been. When you stop fighting the universe so hard and realize that you are exactly where you are supposed to be I can promise you this, you will have a sense of peace. So many blessings in my life have happened all because one thing happened and another didn’t. Had Abra called my good friend Kelley and she was open that day..I would have NEVER met Maria and Dean and all of the pictures you saw above would have never happened. The friendship and love we have for each other would never exist.  My point is this…you are where you are supposed to be and there is a ripple effect happening. You are walking through the right doors and you are closing the right ones as well. It might not make sense now but it will one day.

Nicole D - March 8, 2013 - 5:54 pm

I love this story Heather!! How precious, and such a great reminder!

Alison - March 8, 2013 - 6:04 pm

I LOVE everything about this post. They are so blessed to have you to document these milestones in their life, to tell their story! Love the new blog design and so excited to see your work!

Michael Dean Tabor - March 8, 2013 - 8:05 pm

I love your face!!!!!!!!!!

Nora - March 8, 2013 - 8:14 pm

Heather,

I couldn’t have imagined Dean & Maria’s marriage story being presented in such a loving manner. You mean the world to Maria, and she is proud to call you her friend!! You are both so blessed. FAB photos!! A and E are beautiful gifts from God, given to me through the union of this sweet couple!! Thanks for sharing this on your blog. Maria’s Mom, Nora

Maria Tabor - March 8, 2013 - 9:29 pm

Words cannot express how much you mean to us, Heather. Thank you for being there to capture these special moments over the past 5+ years. Our family is very blessed to have you in our lives. You have such an amazing talent and a beautiful heart. What truly sets you apart is that you genuinely care about your clients.

Our love and appreciation for you is on another level… Thank you for sharing your talent and friendship.

We love you!!!
Dean, Maria, Anthony and Elizabeth

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