No Regrets || January Goals

If someone had given me a list of everything that was going to happen in 2013 I would have started cracking up - there's no way that ALL of that could take place in just one year.  At all.  Last year I decided to live 2013 without regrets.  I took chances.  I tried new things.  I met new people.  I went on adventures.  I had a blast!

Even though last year was *amazing*, 2014 is going to be even better!  I have so many new things lined up, and there might even be a couple new adventures along the way.  I'm going to continue living without regrets, letting go, and watching where God takes me.  Bring it on 2014!!

 

January Goals:

Personal:

• Play More Tennis!  I've joined a league that starts this month and I can't wait!  It's been 5 years since I competed last, and I really need to hurry up and get back into shape.


• Create a schedule for my personal life (and stick to it)


• Sugar. Has. To. Go.  Every time I take myself off of sugar I feel amazing, and every time I start eating it again I feel lousy.  When am I ever going to learn?!?


• Flexibility - no matter if it's tennis or photography, flexibility really helps.  It's been over 10 years since I was able to do them last, but let's see if I can do the splits by the end of this month ;-)

 

Business:

• Finish December Bookkeeping


• Update portions of my website


• Start posting to social media sites


• Watch the creativeLIVE courses that I bought last month

 

 And because I'm extra daring today, I've decided to post some photos that my sister took of me on Christmas.  This is the first time that I've posted any part of a session of *me* on the blog.  :)

(Thanks Lizzy!!)

Happy 2014!!

~~le

 

 

CMA Fest 3 || The Day I Decided To Text

Just a warning to all you "non country music fans"  - this is going to be a loooong post full of country music photos, contests, and 100% goodness.  You have been warned. :)

I don't text.  I don't have a texting plan, and I don't plan on getting one any time soon.  Anyone I need to keep in constant contact with has an iPhone with "iMessage" (apples' free texting service).  So anytime I *do* send a text to someone it costs me.... not much, but it can add up.  Needless to say I only text when it's uber important.

Satruday night at CMA Fest was UBER important to me!  I received a text from CMA asking if I wanted a chance to win a Photo Fast Pass to that nights show.  Did I want a chance at being able to cut in front of everyone who had waited over an hour for each artist?  Did I want to get AHHHMAZING photos 5 feet away from these singers???  YES.  YES.  YES.  So I replied back and decided to go ahead and text just this once.  I received the following....

I couldn't believe it!!  I had to re-read the text over and over and then ask my cousin to read it himself.  The night was soooooo amazing!

Now I'm going to sound like one of those infomercials - "But wait!  There's more!".  Wait, because there IS MORE  -  I won the photo passes Sunday night also!!!!  2 Nights in a row.  Cutting in front of the lines.  Running around and around LP Field.  Getting blisters.  Back aches from hauling camera gear.  Sweating like crazy.  Missing most of the concert due to said running back and forth.  But getting photos of a lifetime.  Truly.  Here are some highlights from both Saturday and Sunday...

 

 

 

I feel horrible about this... This guy is the first person I was able to get photos of, but I have NO CLUE who he is.  I listen to Country and Contemporary Christian music.  This dude didn't fit either genre.  Let me know if you know who it is... I got a photo anyway :)





 

Brad Paisley and Keith Urban are the best guitarists I've ever seen/heard.  I was able to be up front during one of Brad's solo sections.  As Mariah Carey says "#POW"



 

 

A thunderstorm shut down CMA Fest early on Sunday night and the artists were only able to sing a couple songs each.  The Band Perry opened their 2-song set with "DONE." and brought a ton of energy to the bummed out crowd!



 

Since the night was ending really fast, security moved everyone through the lines UBER fast.  Their main order was "get 1 photo then move on".  I was too close to the stage to get a full shot before I had to move, so I had to shoot back behind me to grab one of all 3 siblings together.  I'll take it. :)



 

 

I feel really bad for Jake Owen.  He only got 1 song.  Just 1.  He was barefoot and everything for his song "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" and didn't even get to sing it.  Poor guy :/



 

Carrie Underwood closed out the music festival on Sunday night.  Once again I was rushed through the line, but I was still able to hear her "See You Again" up close by the stage.  It was THE way to end CMA Fest for me.  <3

 



 

Kelly Clarkson was on Saturday night right before my all time favorite.  I was so worried about not being ready in the front of the line for my favorite, and I was only able to grab a few photos of Kelly.  But man, she sounded AWESOME that night!  I missed her duet with Jason Aldean, but it was worth it in the end....



 

 

 

...... because Keith Urban was THE ONE person that I REALLY wanted to see.  He came up to my row in 2011 and sang "Somebody like you" (I have his sweat on my left hand to prove it...oh... and photos and video if that counts ;-) ), and this year it was my turn to do all the walking and see him.  I think I took about 150 photos during his set.



 

 

**DIES**..... his guitar playing!!! .... NUFF SAID.

 

Keith was the last artist on Saturday night and ended his set by running through the crowd, straight into the parking garage, jumping into a truck, and driving off while fireworks were going - and the whole time being followed by the camera crew.  Ultimate Exit!



 

3 Hours worth of highlights from CMA Fest will be airing tonight on ABC - will you be watching?  If you look close enough you might even see me and my cousin in the front row.  ;-)

 

Happy Monday!

~~le

Finally || CMA Fest 2013

These photos are about 2 months old, but I personally didn't even get to see them until this week.  Everyone kept asking me if I would show them my CMA photos and my answer was always the same - "Sure!  Once *I* get to see them."  A couple months ago my computer decided that it was out of space and wouldn't let me unload my 90GB of photos.  Yay.  Just what I needed after 3 of the best concerts evah!

Thanks to a fantastic 2am post in a facebook group my problem was solved and I now have PLENTY of free space!  I'll share the awesome tip later on.  (Hint, it only applies to LR users.) :)

I'm so excited to FINALLY share these photos!  I'm dividing my CMA experience into 3 posts, and trust me, you will NOT want to miss part 3!

 

My cousin Brett and I drove into Nashville *early* on Thursday morning to get in the huge line for Fan Fair and it was totally worth it!  We were able to hear Lady Antebellum's "Close Up" performance and interview.  It was sooooo good!

 



We got in line for a "no namer" autograph signing, and realized when we got home later that night that Mark Wills wasn't a "no namer" after all and that we had heard his songs before... oops ;-)



 

Ronnie Dunn also had a "Close Up" interview and spoke about his photography!

 



 

I'm only including this because it was soooo funny to watch!  I have no clue what flying dogs have to do with country music... at all.  just sayin'.  :)

 



 

Trace Adkin's tour bus was on display in the Fan Fair and we were able to take a mini tour through it.  It. Was. Huge. And. Uber. Fancy.

 



 



Even though we were melting from the heat, Brett and I wondered through downtown Nashville and stopped off at different outdoor concerts.  Love and Theft was my favorite :)

 



 

Come back tomorrow for part 2 - the LP Field concerts - in my mind the BEST part of CMA Fest!

Happy Friday

~~le

 

We're All For The Hall 2013!

I remember the conversation going something like this...  "Oh wow!  This looks like a great concert - anyone want to go with me?", but the rest of the family heard "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE????  I HAVVVE TO GO!".  I'm not sure if either of those are completely accurate, but you get the picture.  Only two of us ended up at the concert, but it was such a fun night!!

All For The Hall 2013 had an amazing line-up, the proceeds went to the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum, and to top it off, we were able to get some awesome floor seats :)

 My absolute favorites from the night were Keith Urban....

and Jason Aldean....

And the most amusing part of the night was seeing Trace Adkins and Keith Urban on the same stage... just a little height difference ;-)

Happy Monday!

~~laura elizabeth