It is the first Tuesday of this presidency and I am fighting mad.I called all of my senators and representatives today and finally just said, "Hi there! Can I talk to you about more than one issue? I've been calling daily with my priority issue, but today I have 4 or 5 things that Trump has done that make me crazy!"Thankfully, the aide on the other end just chuckled and told me I could talk to him about all of the things in one conversation. Today I chose:+ The Pipeline bullshit (To remind you, the pipeline was moved from being upstream from Bismarck to protect the city's water supply, and re-routed just upstream of a large Native American reservation instead. Ahem.)+ Betty De Vos, who wants to be in charge of education and should not be+ Trump saying that national agencies studying science (like the USDA) are no longer allowed to release information to the media (what kind of bullshit is THAT? So science can no longer be released to the media / the public?)+ Trump freezing all grants and contracts through the EPA+ I want those taxes released like yesterdayThen I ended the call saying I'm sure I would be calling back tomorrow with more complaints, and the aide thanked me and called me by my first name because I guess we're going to be chatting every day for the next four years now.One of the brighter spots in my day included lunch with my amazing birth doula so we could catch up on life. What a woman she is. I encourage everyone who is following along with this administration to take short, bright breaks throughout the day to keep sane. It's all we can do.Sorry to be such a downer today guys. I just continue to be so disappointed in this president. What's next? Killing off puppies? Sorry. I should be careful of giving him any ideas.If you would like links to information on numbers to call or other ways you can take action, please let me know. This blog space is already getting way more political than I ever intended, and I don't want that to be the focus full time, but I would love to spread information if you need it or would like more.And thank you for listening to my rants. 

This was a weekend of protest.On Saturday, James, Ezra and I got up early, went out for a pancake breakfast, and then headed down to the capitol to march in the Women's March in Minnesota. We had had a difficult week, and to surround ourselves with people just as outraged as we are at this man and his disrespect for religious and civil rights was amazingly cathartic.Ezra and Jamie stayed for an hour or two before heading back home for more potty training and nap time (bless that man for making it possible for me to stay and hear some speeches and take photos which you can see here). I stayed behind and caught the train back, where I met more fantastic women and returned home with a smile on my face.So while Saturday morning was exactly what I needed, I should be clear that it wasn't the only protesting happening in our world.Because we have a 2 year old. And this kid? He is protesting just about everything these days. Like, you know, wearing pants. Or brushing his teeth. Or putting on a coat.We are getting really good at distractions to get what we want. SEE? MAYBE WE ARE LEARNING FROM TRUMP AFTER ALL. Ahem.But now for your internet shares of the day:+ If you are a democrat and want to make a difference in the next house elections regardless of where you live, check this out. If you are a republican just move along please.+ If you are enraged when people tell you "it's time to move on" regarding Trump, but maybe you, like me, are not the most eloquent when you are enraged, this essay is helpful.+ And on a much lighter note, if you are thinking of remodeling a patio space, I sure thought this was lovely!+ Also on a lighter note? Robots are now delivering coffee?!? WE ARE LIVING IN THE FUTURE!

This was shot at noon.If you live further south, usually shadows at noon are very small. But in Minnesota in the winter? Those shadows from the north are still long, which creates interesting contrasts, I think. Just one more fascinating piece of physical evidence of living in this amazing frozen tundra.For those who are curious, this is a fence around the edge of Lake Calhoun, which was full of people taking walks in the middle of the lake in the middle of the day. Oh Minnesota, I love you.The bleakness and contrast in this image is also pretty representative of my week. At work, I've had some nice successes, but at home things have been a bit of a mess. First, Ezra has been home sick all week, which has resulted in our home turning into a complete disaster of kleenex, medicine, thermometers, toys and half eaten meals / dishes / cups etc. Not to mention the laundry. The little guy headed back to school today (thank goodness!) and I spent the first 2 hours of his absence getting things back in order.Second, my mother has been hospitalized with health issues again. It looks like things will settle down and she'll be released soon (we hope). It's still incredibly sad and stressful for our family though.And third, we have a new president. A new leader of the free world. Excuse me while I run off to vomit.What a week indeed.No internet shares today. I'm just too depressed.   

Well, hi there cutie!I was so lucky to photograph this little charmer yesterday morning in his amazingly adorable sweater. He was so well behaved, and I had so much fun taking his family's photos.It's been about a month since I had a newborn session, and sometimes just a little break like that leaves you so inspired for the next time. I was so excited to meet this guy and get to work! The great thing about my job is that each day is so different (head shots! commercial studio shoots! editorial shoots! weddings! dogs! families!), and when I get to come back to a type of photography I haven't tackled in a bit, it's absolutely exhilarating.I was even more pleased that I wasn't the one who had to button a wiggly infant into this adorable infant sweater. Poor dad got the task! All in all, a really fun session.For your internet shares of the day:+ This is an AMAZING graphic from the NY Times. I was so wrong (and so right) on how I thought Obama did in his presidency! Give it a go!+ One of the many artist movements I'm contemplating supporting in the next administration.+ I almost bought this today. But I have a habit of losing pins, earrings and sunglasses. So I didn't. ... But I'm still pondering it.

I've been doing some work lately to beef up my product shot portfolio, and last week I spent one full day shopping for props and one full day shooting. I'll be sharing some of these images in the next few weeks, but this first shot is one of my favorites (probably because it's food related!).Also, this was a super fun project to work on as the lovely Lucy styled everything and worked with me on choosing the props etc. Having a partner in crime when working on these kinds of shoots is always amazingly valuable. Plus? We had a lot of fun!For your internet shares of the day:+ Three ingredient macaroni and cheese? In under 10 minutes? Hell yes!+ Last week's featured photos from The Atlantic were just fabulous. I love the frozen eyelashes!+ This speech from Nina Turner is so fabulous. An excerpt: "We can't have testimony without a test, and we are being tested right now for whether or not we've got courage enough, hope enough, fight enough and love enough to do what is necessary."

Actually, this title is misleading. If you know me at all, this is the ONLY thing I really know how to bake. I mean, sure I can throw together cake mixes and such. And I'm pretty good at doctoring them a little here and there to make them taste better than just out of the box. But when it comes to baking in general, I haven't been a fan.Until I was forced to spend winter weekends indoors all day with a toddler. Then I had to get creative, and fast.Besides Ezra's love of me baking, my parents got me the absolute best holiday gift ever, a Kitchen Aid mixer! I KNOW! I was so stunned and happy and surprised! So now I feel like I *have* to learn to bake all kinds of things in order to justify that gorgeous piece of machinery on my kitchen counter!I think this recipe is a good place to start because 1) it's easy 2) it's fast and 3) I usually have the ingredients in my cupboard. I blogged a few weeks ago that I was going to give this one a shot, and now that I've made it four or five times, I feel like I can confidently pass it on, as well as tell you a few adjustments that made this recipe work much better for me. So here it goes.  [kindred-recipe id="16157" title="Shortbread and jam cookies"]

Since it's a national holiday today (Happy Birthday MLK!), Ezra and Jamie were both home with me, so we decided to spend our morning wandering through the woods looking for birds and foxes and deer.We found none.However, as I have said before, a quiet walk through the woods is never a failed attempt as you return feeling so much better than when you entered (at least I do). And frankly, spying animals when a chatty 2-year-old is constantly asking "What's that?!?" would be short of a miracle anyhow.But I snapped these images of some ice on the creek that I thought were beautiful along the way.  That photo would have been a masterpiece had a deer shown up for a drink. But no luck.And now for some internet shares of the day:+ Man, would a retreat in this barn be amazing or what?+ Just a reminder that we are born the way we are.+ Something doggy to make you smile.