2014 is looking pretty solid

Yeah, it's been a few weeks. But if you know me, then you know I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. So - let's go over 2014 thus far.

Went to the great old PA Farm Show... and got the flipping viral plague. Thought I was going to die. Thank God for z-packs. Like seriously. BUT Farm Show was pretty fun. It was wonderful seeing all my old friends and spending time with my family.

Then came Denver. National Western, once again, did not disappoint. From start to finish, I enjoyed it so much. Being back on the backdrop (and in the ring) for ShowChampions makes my heart so happy.
But there is one part of Denver I really just have to brag about... or be giddy about... or whatever.

I am SO INCREDIBLY PROUD and HAPPY and EXCITED for team #BlinnWin!!! Not only did they win the carload contest, but they also were the champion team in the normal contest (that sounds so weird), AND our dear little Cody Doubet was high individual. So so so excited for every single one of these amazing bucs. BUT! Special shout-out to Tagg Taylor for A)being Blinn's low drop in the carload contest - and placing 8th - and B)not peeing himself during the awards banquet. I almost decked him. For those of you who were at our table - you know why. But, no seriously, so happy for this dude! Brice and Joe should be extremely jazzed for their team!! 

Anyway- I know this great group is going to continue kicking butt and taking names at the rest of the contests this spring! Love my #BlinnWin babes :) They deserve all the success in the world. 

So now that I am back from NWSS, I have about a week to "chill"... which includes picturing/videoing calves for the 2014 Texas Reload Sale (website coming soon), finishing editing, doing a bridal session, and two AMAZING senior sessions ;) Sneak peeks will DEFINITELY be coming soon!!!

Oh - and for all my wonderful show babies headed to Fort Worth - GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!! I will see y'all down the road in San Antonio!!!!

***

I'm going to try to post more on this... but, then again, I say that literally each time I blog.

We'll see ;)

But for now, I leave you with a cow yelling at you. Enjoy .....

The typical "End of the Year" post

Well, well, well... 2013 is hours from being history. How crazy is that? I know everyone keeps saying this, but this year really has flown by so quickly. I figured since I haven't posted in a number of weeks - and since it is the last day of the year - I would highlight some of the .... well highlights of 2013.

The Coach's Wife's official "Best of 2013" list....

-Starting "The Coach's Wife" Blog
-Successfully completing the first Texas Reload sale with the coach
-Establishing myself as an on farm photographer
-Italy

-Getting on Instagram 

-Taking the coach to his first Texas A&M football game
-Limiting myself to only ONE new tattoo for the ENTIRE year. That's just cray
-Spending time with my brother's family in Wyoming
-Reading the Divergent trilogy and thus changing my life forever
-Watching my husband judge numerous shows across the US
-Being able to call him my husband
-Videoing for some absolutely fantastic breeders/ranchers/clients for Ideal Video Production
-Picturing three wedding proposals for some wonderful friends
-Being nominated for the category of Best On Farm Photog for the Best of the Barns awards. My mind is still blown
-This is annoying.... but getting the D4.... like seriously
-Not getting into a public social media battle with anyone. all. year. long.
-Taking a stand to say I decide who my friends are no matter what ANYONE thinks of their sexual orientation, appearance, or popularity.
-With that, being proud to say I support the gay community
-Making it through our first year of marriage without getting preggers.... or making the coach divorce me (double score)
-The 50,000 I've put on my brand new car since she was "born" in November 2012
-Driving home for the Christmas Holiday with Jessie.... seriously so fun

And my top three "Best ofs" for the year are.....

3. Establishing so many wonderful new clients that I more importantly call friends
2. Picturing cattle backdrop for the most amazing company, ShowChampions Inc., thus truly fulfilling my life long dream.
1. Continuing to put a smile on almost every exhibitors face when they come to my backdrop or when they see the image we just captured. This job has never been about the money for me. It has always been about making every single exhibitor feel like I treated them better than anyone else in the barn.

And that's all there is to it.

I'm sure I missed quite a few awesome moments/memories.... Tomorrow I might actually post again... possibly.

But for now, I'm going to go work ewes with my parents and the coach... and just smile at how incredible this past year truly has been.

Thank you to all my readers, followers, and friends for making "The Coach's Wife" such a success.

Friday the 13th

I have a confession. When I was younger, my "lucky" number was 13. Is that weird? It's true though. With that said, I guess today should have been extra lucky for me. Or at least that's what inner-Jo is telling me. I suppose my inner-Jo wasn't too far off, because it wasn't an unlucky day... which for me is saying something. I mean, nothing that extraordinary happened per say... but it was a decent little day. I mean, I played with Jessie, packed for home (now leaving on Sunday morning - thanks to the nasty weather expected to hit the east coast), cooked for the coach,  and watched Courtney Loves Dallas.

On that note, can I just tell you how much I love that show? Holy crap. It is amazing. Courtney Kerr is my idol. For those of you who have not checked out her blog, do it now. I mean, she is seriously brilliant. And adorable. And a texan.

Anyway, on the note of packing... you know how hard it is to pack for a 40 plus day trip? Really froggin' hard. Hate it.




That's really all I've got for this blog. I realize this post isn't very long and contains little to no substance... but at least I froggin' posted... right?


Stay tuned for stories/ posts/ rants from my road trip.

Another #MCM

I can't even remember the last time I did a #MCM... and seeing as the coach once again proved to be the most amazing husband in the entire world over turkey break, he deserves a My Coach's Moment post.

This one - however - is not of his ... uh ... picking. It's one from my archives. Turkey break marks three years since the coach asked me to come to Bastrop to "picture his cattle" .... or, in all honesty, to meet his family (which scared the poop out of me, considering we had only been talking for about a month... and only publicly dating for about a week and a half.). I guess he really did want me to take pictures, too - but y'all get my point. Anyway, at the time I had owned a DSLR for only about three or four months. And I had only been taking livestock photos "professionally" (for ShowChamps) for about two months. So I was pretty terrible. Well, I thought I was awesome... but looking back, I was terrible.

Which brings me to this version of #MCM. The coach and I bonded - years before we started dating - over our mutual love of cattle. So when he asked if I would come to Bastrop and take pasture shots at his family's ranch, I jumped at the opportunity. He loved the shots and used them as Christmas presents for his parents that year. He still has some of those 'original' pictures hanging in his office. It drives me nuts, because I think they suck. So every time I stop by while he's working, my skin crawls.

Well, anyway, this past turkey break we had a bit of an emergency involving our dear Jessie. She's fine. Crisis over. She'll heal in no time. But back to the point of my story. I planned on taking pictures of the cattle this year like I did three years ago... Well, that wasn't exactly possible. So, after picking Jessie up from the vet on Friday, we went to the pasture about an hour before the sun went down.... Not exactly enough time to see all the babies AND shoot more than two or three groups. But I still got a few... check out one of the shots from three years ago compared to a very similar pose taken this year. No, the 2013 picture isn't my favorite from that night, but I think it's cool from a comparative standpoint. PS- the recent image has not been run through photoshop, lightroom or even bridge. I shoot on jpeg, not raw... because honestly, I'm too lazy to do any kind of editing. I don't remember editing the image from 2010, but I really can't remember.

Thanksgiving 2010 shot

Thanksgiving 2013 shot

Things certainly have changed over the past three years. I mean, we honestly knew back then that we would be married at this point... but I'm not sure we could have guessed that we would be almost exactly where we always hoped we would be, professionally speaking. Don't get me wrong, I still have an insane amount to learn. But, I look at the image taken in 2010 and just have to smile. So much has changed, and I really think I'm headed in the right direction. But, I don't think that would have been possible without the coach.

This holiday season I'm most thankful for having such a wonderful, handsome and supportive cattleman/husband that pushes me to be a better person on a daily basis and is behind me 100%, no matter what I do. He loves my career as much as I do... and I love his as much as he does. That's really something wonderful.

Thanksgiving 2013 shot

It's a beautiful life. Take the time to notice how breathtakingly unique your every day truly is.

Road Warrior

It's no secret that the coach and I travel a lot. And by a lot I mean 8 months out of the year. Well... maybe 9. Regardless - we travel. So it really should be no surprise that when I decided to go home (PA) for Christmas, I figured I would drive instead of fly. And take our pup. Am I cray? Yeah, probs. 

For those of you who failed geography, Texas and Pennsylvania are not neighboring states. Note picture below....

Like I said... not next to each other. I'm cool with that. I love road trips and I think J-cray will enjoy being in PA for a few weeks.

With that, I plan on arriving in Lancaster Co. on the 14th (tentative) and be home until January 6th.  This way, I will actually be able to go to Farm Show (PA's state fair) which I haven't done in God knows how many years. Oh, and the coach will be flying in (up?) after he gets back from winter workout. So, yes, we will actually be spending our anniversary together. He's such a wonderful husband. 

And of course, I will have my camera and lighting equipment (yes I now have lighting equipment... and it's awesome!) with me. I've got a number of sessions scheduled while I'm in PA, but if you are interested in getting pictures done, just let me know. I will be posting my schedule in a week or so. 

I'm excited to head home, and to see some wonderful folks along the way. 

Only three more weeks. I kind of hope it snows. 

Eww, what the heck is wrong with me?!?

Holy weather change

Yes, I'm blogging one post after another. I just couldn't see tying my last post into this one... Johnny deserves his own post. 

Anyway, it's cold outside. Really stinkin' cold. I appreciate the rain, but it is currently messing up some plans. I should be currently at an engagement session with my dearest future Mr. and Mrs. Verette. But no, that shoot has been postponed. Oh well.. I know where she lives. I can capture her (both the amber alert kind and the picture taking kind) whenever I want. Maybe I shouldn't have used the aa analogy. It was a joke. I promise. Please no one send the authorities. 

This weather better clear up before tomorrow... Or else I'll have to reschedule another shoot. And then I might have a panic attack. I only have three open days until I leave for PA... soooo I'm gonna need this chill to chill the crap out like pronto. 

Speaking of shooting.... Whoever nominated me for "Best On Farm Photographer" for the Best of the Barns... is your head okay? No, seriously though - I am extremely honored to even be on that list with some of my favorite photogs. Makes me feel pretty awesome. I encourage all me readers to go to www.bestofthebarns.com and vote for your faves. You don't even have to vote for me, just vote! Oh, Blinn is up for best juco.... sooo ahhh.... *cough, VOTE FOR BLINN, cough* Annnd I guess you can vote for me too... if you want ;)

In other news, another Louisville has came and went. HUGE congrats to Texas A&M for bringing the bull back to aggieland!!! Super excited for them. We didn't quite have the same luck. And Louisville ended in one of the worst ways possible. Like the original coach's wife, Lauren Poe, said... "we will have a lot of "children" in our lives'. That's what the team becomes. They become our children, and our friends. And when one of our team members is hurt, we hurt. The amount of tears that came from me were just a small portion of what was shed from team #blinnwin. We are a family, and watching the team be there for their 'sister' was/is nothing short of amazing. We are all continuing to prayer for our beautiful girl and hope for a speeding recovery. We love you, gorgeous!

Okay, on a lighter note... It's officially the season of giving... so I figured I'd 'give' y'all something... a movie review -

Catching Fire hit theaters yesterday/early release Thursday. And yes, I went. And made the coach go with me. Of course. (Sayde, he kept checking his phone, looking at the time... he was so anxious to get to bryan. It was funny... or it will be in a month or so ;) ) 

Here is my official review - GOOD GOD IT WAS AWESOME!!!! I get weird about book-turned-movie movies. But this one (just like the Hunger Games) was almost perfect. I saw only a handful of differences. But none were huge and didn't change the movie in any major way. It was awesome. Jennifer Lawrence is seriously the most perfect Katniss. Oh, and Johanna... YES! So glad she was portrayed EXACTLY like I was hoping. And the ending... oh my lanta... so perfect. Made me want to reread the series for the tenth time. OH! and the preview for Divergent.... AHHHHH!!!!! March 21st better hurry up!!!

I give Catching Fire 5 gigs out of 5. I plan on seeing it again before the weekend is over. No, coach, you don't have to come.... unless you want to! (Which I secretly know you do)

Okay, I'm about to get ready to stuff my face. #verettepartyof2 and the JoeRathmanns are headed to Fogo annnnnnnd I'm excited!

Oh, and BTHOlswho?

Often Controversial, Always Talented

Questionably the most anticipated game of the year - TAMU/LSU. Well, at least it is for most Aggies. Today, we play in the icy chill of Death Valley. It's a big game, no doubt about that. Whether you like TAMU football or not... whether you like Johnny Manziel or not... you have to admit - 'often controversial, always talented' sums up JFF pretty well. 

The coach and I watch our ags from the comfort of our living room. With the heat turned way up. And snuggled up in long-johns and blankets. Heck, I think I might even make some hot chocolate. 

I'm gonna go back to watching the game now... Sorry. I just liked those four little words that created - to me - a pretty awesome quote. 

Gig 'em aggies. BTHOlswho?