Meg & I share an odd passion for the classic game show The Price Is Right. I grew up watching the show each weekday morning, and I can remember it being a morning television ritual while my mom did chores around the house. Of course, the beloved Bob Barker was hosting back then. Nowadays, Drew Carey is guiding the ship.
There is just a magic to the show... the crazed contestants stumbling down the aisle to take their place in history, the hostility that can only be evoked by the nefarious $1 bid, and of course classic games like Plinko.
Most weekday mornings, you'll find Drew gracing the screen of our office TV - a welcome distraction while we wait for images to batch, CF cards to download, or DVDs to finish burning. It's a show that requires very little "investment" to watch... we can tune in for the high points, and not worry too much if we miss a segment or four.
Many of you know that over the last couple of years, I've lost just over 100 lbs. Drew Carey is a celebrity that has recently followed a similar track, losing a total of 85 lbs. Drew used running as one of his primary weight loss tools, and Runner's World actually did a profile on him a few months ago: Drew Carey | I'm A Runner.
So I feel like we're kindred spirits now, Drew & I. But there are other reasons to enjoy The Price Is Right. Just a few weeks ago in June, I was actually watching when this happened:
If you're not a fan of video posts on blogs, I'll give you the spoiler alert... a guy lost his tooth on the way to the stage. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up.
But I digress.... Let me tell you what's happening. Just this morning, I opened a hilarious letter (well, I thought so, anyway) from Wells Fargo informing us that we are now "preferred customers" as we financed our new house with Wells Fargo AND we have a checking account with the bank. The letter explains that as a reward for our loyalty, we are now eligible for a "free gift" of our choosing. YES! My very own game show prize package moment! I could almost hear the announcer bellowing "Charlesssss Baaaaiiiisssden, come on down!!! You're then next contestant on The Price Is Right"!
As much as we love fake bidding on prize packages every morning - we're stumped when it comes to selecting one of the above options. So we figured, like any confused game show contestant, that we'd poll the audience - we want your vote! Take a look at the fabulous array of prizes, and let us know what you'd pick. I'm currently leaning toward Emeril's 16 pc knife set. Meg voted Le Creuset "but not in red!" When I told her that we don't have a choice of color, she scoffed - as in - scrunched her face, threw up a hand, and made a 'schkfff' sound. So please, be my guide...
What would you get?
Press "Love It" under the item (or items) that you'd choose & cast your vote. We'll announce the results in a week!
Bob Mackie 5-Piece Luggage Set
Delonghi Dolce Gusto Single Serve Coffeemaker
Emeril 16-Pc. Forged Steel Cutlery Set
Garmin nuvi Bundle
JBL OnBeat Docking Station
Le Creuset Kitchen Set
Links of London Effervescence Bubble Necklace
Little Giant Three-Step Ladder
Maui Jim "Banzai" Sport Sunglasses
Monster iSport Immersion In-Ear Headphones
Nike Sportband and Duffel Bag
Nikon 14MP Digital Camera Package
Omaha Steaks All American Collection
Oral-B Professional Care Electric Toothbrush
Swiss Army Field Chrono Watch
Rock the Vote!
PS - Did you know that Meg Baisden Photography has photographed a destination wedding in Santorini, Greece? Travel is our middle name!
Recently, I was asked by an editor to submit a handful of photos that best showcase 'overall style and body of work.'
200 miles from home, on a rapidly approaching deadline, I searched the old laptop for what was most certainly a miraculous-but-sadly-nonexistant folder of work that I could pull from.
I hadn't used this laptop, now reserved for Facebook and Pinterest, for a work-related project in AGES. I had all but thrown in the towel when I came across a folder titled MAYBE. Maybe what? Surely this folder was one of my very own creations. Charles would never title a folder something so... nondescript. I clicked inside and found 90+ images from our portfolio - all a little older now - some dating back to 2005. I have no idea why I pulled all of these images into a folder at one time and labeled it MAYBE. Maybe they should go on the website? Maybe they should be used in advertising? Maybe I could hang them in the studio? I'll never know for sure. The one thing I am certain of - I've never questioned my love of these particular images. They are our children = I love them all and imagine I always will. Pulling 10 images was easy - leaving out the other 80 hurt just a little.
These may not be the best images we have ever shot and perhaps, with our full portfolio to choose from, some of these would never make the cut. And still my heart was full sorting through some of our early work and seeing the same intention, care, and mindfulness that I value today. They may not make your top ten - but who knows? Maybe.
If you've ever been to my home or an event that I have hosted, you will know that I am crazyforcocoapuffs about entertaining. There is no theme party challenge that is too great. If I can't buy it, I'll make it (just ask my in-laws who witnessed this construction paper fueled tornado of creativity flying through the preparations of their recent dinner party!) I will never ever ever say no to throwing a get-together. Poker night? Ante up! Book club dinner? I'm READ-y! Engagement cocktail party? Sure, why Knot? (O-M-Gee ... I'm such a nerd.) Olympics party, anyone?!
So while I might be a willing hostess, it's also no secret that I'm not the world's greatest cook. Everything I've ever made has been edible (save for that one unfortunate crockpot raspberry chicken) - and I mean people edible, not give-it-to-the-dog edible. So it's not that I'm a total mess, but I'm not what you would consider a 'natural' in the kitchen. For some, the lack of culinary prowess would be a real dealbreaker. Leave hosting to the Marthas, Colins, and Inas of the world, they may say. (If you didn't get those references, stop reading this blog immediately - as you don't understand me and we can no longer be friends.)
But for every anti-skill I have in my bag of tricks (among the many - procrastination, no sense of time/scale, average cook - to name a few), I have one real strength that somehow rises above and carries me through - I. Am. Fearless.
I only repeat recipes on request, never making the same dish twice. When hosting a dinner party, my guests are always guinea pigs. {I honestly don't know what that is about.} I've read the articles and even my fair share (for a modern woman, anyway) of etiquette books on the subject - I know very well the importance of using tried and true recipes when entertaining. But nevertheless, I always create a top to bottom untested menu for my friends. I suppose that's where MY real joy comes in. Like some sort of grand experiment where you can only anticipate the outcome, though it's not a safe bet. In the theatre world (I use theater/theatre interchangibly - don't get attached) we would play at improv games - and there was always a nervous rush that came from not knowing where this thing was headed. It could be a flop, yes, but the *possibility* of something amazing - unexpected, even - happening, and for that one-time-only *sigh* that feeling is my kind of nirvana. I live for that stuff.
SIDENOTE: Should you ever come to my home for dinner - don't bother asking what you can bring.* I don't know the menu (a status that will likely not change until an hour prior to your arrival) and I'm not in any hurry to figure it out. You may end up helping me create the meal before it hits the table - and while this is never my proudest hostess moment - it certainly adds to the 'live performance' aspect of it all...
* Alcohol or dessert is a pretty safe bet, btw. As are flowers. Come to think of it, I prefer flowers. No one brings flowers anymore and I usually don't have fresh flowers anywhere. Okay. That's settled, then. You can bring flowers.
My sweet friend (and former wedding client!) Emily Ley has created this artwork that I have shamelessly (but with credit and the best intentions!) swiped from her blog:
It's become quite the sensation on Pinterest (seriously folks, if you do not have an active Pinterest account, then why are we friends?) - with the likes of Lauren Conrad pinning it to her board of a billion followers (yes, I've seen every episode of Laguna Beach, The Hills, and even The City. Don't hate.) Despite it's crazytown viral popularity that would usually keep me from reposting, I thought that the sentiment was just too lovely (and applicable) that I had to share. Too often we hold ourselves back thinking that unless it can be perfect, it's pointless. It is not! Perfection is elusive and overrated. Do what you can, with what you have (credit: someone). I had a dinner party last night and another scheduled for tonight (not to mention the friend we hosted on Monday) in a house that STILL doesn't have one thing hung on the walls! We are keeping the bedroom doors closed to hide all of the boxes - but still we host. (Did I mention we recently moved to a new house? No? More on that some other time)... Be thoughtful. Be GRACIOUS. Do it now.
Earlier (up top) I mentioned my construction paper fueled frenzy at my in-laws recent shindig - here's a quick peek at one of my totally wallet friendly mini-masterpieces. (Proof that thoughtfulness teamed with resourcefulness can be it's own form of perfection. Please note that I tore up my fingers, just a little, when I couldn't locate string for my bunting so I swiped weed-whacker cord from the garage.) Make do with what you have. It'll be enough.
Hosting is an art, for sure. I still haven't mastered the skill - but I enjoy practicing on my friends and family. Often. My wish for you is to embrace the imperfect and harness your fearlessness. And if somewhere along the way I have inspired you to host a little shindig you've been putting off - then all I ask is a seat at your table. What would you like me to bring? ;)
Are y'all on Instagram? I want to follow you! I can be found @megbaisden
For those of you that write a blog, have a Twitter following, or even try to send out holiday cards before it becomes January - you may be able to relate to this post...
For the past three years, our blog has been caught in an endless cycle of "catch up" posts. Every year we relaunch an effort of regular blogging in hopes of sharing photos from every shoot, which is followed by an inevitable crash when our ambitious schedule fills to the brim. As you have come to expect, our lofty goals take a nose dive and we simply disappear. The frustration & "blogger's guilt" has occasionally been enough to spur a mid-season flurry of activity - but most recently, we just left our poor little blog languishing for months without a post to even try to guilt ourselves into regular blogging.
Fast forward to our last Monday meeting (an informal weekly chat where Meg & I discuss all things business) and my wife piping up with "I really think we need to start blogging again." Cue my sigh. "Okay, Meg - that's fine. But no big proclamations this time about regular blogging - it's too embarrassing when we just stop cold 3 weeks later." Now it's her turn to sigh. "I know - but I am SERIOUS about wanting to change the purpose and format to something more - I dunno - US. I want to worry less about things sounding clever or looking perfect and I want to feel free to just TYPE - about anything. I want to talk about the new house, and what I made for dinner last night, and what home decor thingamabob I'm coveting - because that's what I like to read about on Facebook and the homemaking type blogs I follow... I want to start writing again like I am talking to a friend. If some business stuff creeps in, awesome - but I don't want to be tied down by the notion that the blog is a marketing tool anymore. If it's just about self-promotion, I'd rather get rid of it. It's not doing us any favors sitting inactive - and I know myself well enough now to know that I'm never going to warm to the whole 'look at what I did this weekend' format. So that's where I'm at." WHOA. It was like a light switch had been flipped on. We had never fully voiced the sentiment that running a blog about work took the fun out of the format for us and made it more - well - WORK. Somewhere along the way, it stopped being personal. Our voice... and perhaps more importantly, Meg's voice... got lost.
So in a rather large shift... a first for our business... we are going to transition this blog from Pulitzers Prize worthy posts a record of our shoots to a completely personal romp detailing the experiences from our journey - be it real life, our work, or something more abstract. We are officially hitting the feared "Reset" button (Nintendo users?). We are starting over.
As we begin this new chapter in the life of our blog, we invite you to pull up a chair, and grab a cup of joe (gag me, that is so overdone)... to become a part of our journey. We want you to see "behind the scenes". We want to share our iPhone pics because that's how we capture our everyday life. We're letting go of the idea that our images=our image and we vow to get real. We want you to see the personal stuff. And I'll even try to explain why Sonic Happy Hour makes us so... happy.
Change is in order and I, for one, couldn't be more excited. Stay tuned, friends.
I could write a novel about the year that was 2011... and perhaps I will sit down this winter and write a proper post afterall. But for this moment, I wanted to hop online and say a heartfelt thank you to all of our fantastic couples who made this year so incredibly wonderful. We love you and send our best wishes for a bright and happy 2012 - from our house, to yours.
