{we whip our hair back and forth}

{fix you} cold play lyrics....

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down on your face
And on your face I...

Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down on your face
And on your face I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

{feet on the island}

The minute i step foot on the island something inside comes unwound. Perhaps its the wildness of the ocean water... or the soothing salty air....or maybe its something spiritual!? I feel a strong connection with this sea.

{vacation}

We out for our annual vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Something about the Atlantic reaches deep down inside and touches deep places within.

{life at the speed of light}

Time is flying by at a rate that has me spinning!

I can't believe my last post was in Feb. and now it's JULY! YIKES! I really had (have) good intentions for this little blog and I'm gonna try really REALLY hard to do better! =)


My ramblings......

The kids are growing up fast right before my eyes and it's all very fun and bittersweet! I moved my studio office home for the summer so I can be around all day and so that the kids don't have to spend their lazy summer days at the studio bored to deal (or using up countless dollars worth of office supplies to remain sain). Now....I am only going in for appointments and I do all the office work/editing from home. It's a challenge some days as I try to find balance between sitting down and working or making jello fishbowls with the kids. (recipe and pics coming soon!) It seems even the laundry beckons me while I am trying to get my work done. Oh well. I am guessing about the time I find the balance to it all fall will be here, school will start, and I'll move the office back into the studio! For now we are really enjoying the summer together!

We have resumed our summer tradition of "FUN DAY MONDAYS" and have done all sorts of sweet things like visited the natural Springs in Sulphur...gone bowling...hit the movies...built a fort...etc....and we have cooked out like crazy!

Our outdoor container garden is growing mighty fine and has yielded mass amounts of cucumbers and arugula to which we have devoured!! Also some squash..rosemary, basil, & YUMMY cilantro! We discovered our sweet Essie (dog) was consuming our strawberries-huff! little pig! As for the tomatoes... & carrots ..nothing yet.

I have a ton of projects going on right now at work as well! ...I just shot and editorial for a major magazine (SHAPE) as well as a cover for a national horticulture mag. Aaron and I are trying desperately to get the -{Adopt a Prop} shop opened up soon and it will feature lots of unique vintage finds...as well as backdrops and accessories for photographers. I am also thrilled to be a part of the panel for Reverie blog a delightful blog founded by my good friend Skye Hardwick geared towards photographers... offering insights and inspiration! All this and yep...the daily In's and outs of running the studio......is keeping me young (or something like that!)

What else....

We are headed to the Outer Banks of North Carolina again next week. We went last summer and OMGOODNESS! I could live there! In fact I'm pretty sure I've snot, sweat and tears, down on my knees begged Mr. Quinn to no avail. I can't wait!!! We will be camping with our little "home on the hitch (camper trailer)....right on the beach!! SO EXCITED!!!

Okay...so I'm probably not completely caught up but good for now. I'll leave you with a few photos of my two kiddos SIX SUMMERS AGO!

life....at the speed of light!

xoxo

Dejah

{Happy Valentines}

Hope your having a sweet day spent with your Valentine (s)!
I sure am!!

xoxo
Dejah

{paper...scissor....HEART!!}

I told you I'd share the paper heart garland the kids and I made. I got the idea from THIS post....and used the same materials I did in my paper bunting post .




We taped the hearts to string and VIOLA!




My friend Brandee over at BLISS STUDIO would have sewed her hearts together like it was no biggie....well.....cause she's a rockstar like that. But after many years of trying to sew....I am still fiddling with the darn bobbin on my machine!!




I did tie on a bead to the end of my string to give it some weight.



Your hearts don't have to be perfect....Some of my favorites were the wonky shaped ones the kids cut out!



perfectly - imperfect!!!!


XOXO

Dejah

{true story}

Sparkly is getting her bag backed to sleep over at a friends house....she comes in the living room and says to her dad & I:
"Now you can have a drama free night"
(cause her other nickname is drama queen)
only....
i heard something different....
so...
I glance at Mr. Quinn,
shrug....
smile....
then say...
"I like p'jama free night!"
she gives me a grossed out face and says..
'ewwwwwee!!! A DRAMA FREE NIGHT!!! NOT P'JAMA FREE NIGHT! GROSS!!!!!"

Now I just need to find somewhere for my lil guy to spend the night....any takers??

{true story}

{mmmmmmm!}

funny story:

I bought a couple of bags of these Valentines colored M&M's to make THIS VALENTINES CONFETTI MIX....I told the kiddos they better not get into it.....GUESS WHO GOT INTO it after the kids went to bed that same day???
(yes...me)
And guess who got to run to the store at the last minute today so I could make the goodies for the class party?
(yes... me)
Guess who learned their lesson???
(yes...me)

xoxo
Dejah

{pretty paper bunting}

After seeing so many pretty bunting projects online lately I decided I needed some bunting in my life.

Oh!
....and a fun project to do with my sick-of-being-snowed-in-bored- silly-kiddos!




so I found this little jem of a project here!

How creative (and green) that she used only what she had already on hand! I have mountains of magazines & catalogs....so we were all set!!

Supplies needed:
-magazines, catalogs...or even newspaper
-string, ribbon or twine
-double sided tape
-sissors
-two really cute kids

FIRST YOU:



(some could not be parted with!)



THEN YOU:

-Find pretty pages with lots of colors and textures.
-Follow the tutorial below to cut out triangles. Mine (finished) were 6 inches in length so I stared with 6 and 1/2 inch triangles to allow for the fold but you can do any size you like.
-HAVE FUN!!! Remember...they don't have to be perfect! My kids help cut out triangles and even using the template they weren't perfect but I LOVED the sweet moments spent cuting out those triangles...and that's what matters!!












(for the record....that is not my middle finger!)



AND LOOK HOW PRETTY!!!!





....this pretty lady showcasing her rings was my favorite!!! (from an anthropologie catalog LOVE that store!!)



It makes me smile everytime I pass by and see it! The kids loved that they helped brighten up the house a little too!

We also made some paper heart strings....I'll post those delightful things tomorrow!

xoxo
Dejah

{who what wear wednesday}

It's WHO WHAT WEAR WEDNESDAY!!!

So DISCLAIMER:
They aren't all gonna be dressy & glam...and I got a little inspired to tell you why in my post today...

Today we are snowed in. The kids schools are closed so I scrubbed out all day in my sweats! It felt so good to not have to get all dressed up. I showered...threw my wet hair in a messy bun and put on the most comfy clothes I could find.

My sweet baby gal Sparkly remembered what day it was and was so excited ...and said
"Mommy...Isn't it wardrobe wednesday!?!"
"yup"... I said halfway...
she replied with a "go get your camera and let me take your picture!"
So. I. did. (mind you--- I am in granny, velour, sweats and I only have on enough make-up so that the mr. doesn't ask me if I'm not feeling well).

While I have a few cute "wardrobe wed's" on reserve for days JUST.LIKE.THIS....she was so excited and I didn't want to explain to her that I didn't think I looked so pretty today.

I've been thinking alot about this lately...(the impact I have on her ever growing and developing self esteem). Why is it that we women are so dang hard on ourselves? I know I would NEVER, EVER say some of the the ugly, hurtful things that I secretly tell myself in the mirror to someone I love. So if I love myself...why do I say them to me?

A huge part of our own concept of womens beauty springs from what the media tells us (or shows us rather) is beautiful. We see adds of flawless, rail-thin, supermodels. They sell us everything from cosmetics to cars. But the truth is...these women themselves are not flawless...and often not as thin as they are made to look in print ads etc. Excessive airbrushing and photoshopping is what we have to compete with. As a photographer myself I know my way around photoshop. I used to joke around with my friends...I made no secrets that I could make myself a couple pounds lighter.

A couple of years ago I was editing my family photo for our Christmas card....my son came up (5 years old then) and I was slimming one of my legs down a bit. He thought that was super cool and wanted to know if I could make his head WAYYYYY bigger!!! Little boys are so funny. Later that night I laid in my bed and the HORRID thought occured to me "what if that had been my girl?" "What would that have done to her own self image?" I vowed right then to never edit myself that way again. I do still touch up blemishes etc....but I leave my body alone.


I LOVE Kate Winslett who dares to be herself...even speaking out ....being outraged even at being excessivly retouched.

She spoke about this GQ cover stating "I don't look like that and more importantly I don't desire to look like that! I actually have a polaroid that the photographer gave me on the day of the shoot... I can tell you that they've reduced my legs by about a third."

I also really love THIS little snippett from her Oprah interview where she says

"Nobody is perfect. I just don't believe in perfection. But I do believe in saying "This is who I am, look at me not being perfect. I'm proud of that!"

Okay....so here I am...look at ME not being perfect on Wardrobe Wednesday!
-velour pants??? i've had them for ages
-white oversized hoodie- target sale rack $4.00!!
-v-neck- old navy...I stock up on them every spring in every color! (when they are on sale of course!)
-SPLURGE- uggs! (a gift from mr. Quinn...I'm starting to see a pattern here!)













"I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and my soul knows very well."
Psalm 139:14


Also, If you have some extra time Starving Artist Ink has a very moving blog post about loving your imperfections.

{a sweeter season}

While I'm sorta looking foward to more snowfall this evening so I can cuddle and cozy my little babes (and big one).....with no interuptions like school (eeww!), I am also longing for spring!!
This morning a sweet temptation arrived in my inbox:

IT'S RUCHE'S SPRING 2011 LOOKBOOK!!!

I am so in love with this little e-tailer!!

The clothing...well I want it all....the styling is just amazing and the images are so ethereal!

check out the look book NOW

(all images from ruche website here)

xoxo

Dejah

{waiting to exhale}

No photos....tonight.

I can't sleep. There are too many things rolling through my head. The mind is a curious thing. I have trouble shutting mine down when it comes to "down" time. I've tried green tea...wine...excessive exercise...Tylenol PM...(not all in the same night, mind you)....I've tried reading, praying, journal-ing..... yet my mind sputters on too no avail. It mimics me...mocks me...reminds me...urges me...cheers me on...and sometimes it even tricks me.

This particular night I'm feeling:
antsy.
inspired.
hyper.
restless.
guilty.
foggy.
needy.

how one earth can I feel all these things in a single deep breathe in.....

but then as I exhale....

I feel:
relaxed.
focused.
energized.
refreshed.
justified.
clarified.
empowered.

But as I inhale again the process repeats itself with a whole new slew of verbs and adjectives.

I envy my husband, how he falls into slumber the exact second his handsome head hits the feather pillow without a worry to be found there. I long to join my little ones in the land of nod...blissfully unaware of my battlefield-- nighttime ritual.

There is no drama needed to bring about my unrest...it just is what it is. My list of to-do's (have to's...want-to's...even don't want-to's).

My evening's examination of what the day brought...or what I brought to the day. Knowing that there is no promise of tomorrow. Hoping that I lived the present one to the fullest. Reminding myself there is still so much more I want to do.

And so I keep on....waiting to exhale.

xoxo
Dejah

{cabin fever}

So we had a little snow......

which turned into....... ALOT OF SNOW!

AND school was let out for days...AND DAYS!

Me and my little Quinn crew cozied up and hung out for several long winter days. We spent lots of time playing, cuddling, loving on one another...and I tackled tons of stuff on my mile long"to-do" list....it feels really nice to have some things off that list!!

By day four we were all getting a little stir crazy (and low on supplies) so we ventured out to find a little....

I was soooo worried we might get stuck. It was bad out!!! But Mr. Quinn was a great driver!



...and so we didn't get stuck. And to our surprise there was a fast food joint open!! Hardly no one was there so I sent the kids over a few tables so I could pretend I was on a mini-vacation! Some friends texted us they were out re-stocking supplies too so we had them join us for burgers. It felt really nice to re-join civilization for an hour or two.

I stopped by Lowes and got some paint to freshin' up the walls in the house! Then we headed back to the "Quinn cabin". I really enjoyed our days snowed in and I'm so gonna miss my little crew when schedules resume in the morning! I hear we are due for some more snow....(and secretly wish that we get snowed in again!).

(Feel free to right-click-save the pic & quote for your background desktop...or for re-posting...just remember to link back to rambling lane!)

{who what wear wednesday}

Hey there! Is it Wednesday already!? IS IT FEBRUARY ALREADY??

IT IS!!!!

Life is zooming by very briskly already, just like last year! And so far, it's been a cold CHILLY couple of days! (speaking of chilly...did you download my sexy chili recipe here?--it's so yummy!)

We have been experiencing a BLIZZARD here in central Oklahoma (as is the rest of the country). School has been cancelled for a few days and it's been loads of fun!!

However, If you know me...I don't do well with blizzards. I don't do cold very well for that matter. I grew up in deep East Texas. We barely broke out our "wind-breakers" during winter. I remember once it snowed (like and inch) and school was canceled and my mom made snow ice cream....and I thought she was the COOLEST person in the world! I tend to get a little blue this time of year. Anyone else have that problem? I tend to want to sleep in ....take LOOOONG hot showers....and it seems to take me double the time to get my daily schedule done. Does anyone else have this problem? I'd love to hear your comments on how you deal with the long winter months.

Now on to {Wardrobe Wednesday}






Shirt: Walmart -LEI brand $10 (if you know me ...then you know that I don't usually shop at Walmart. (I get shopping ADD and lose hours-- UPON COUNTLESs--hours in that store...so I just stay away). BUT.....I had promised Sparkly (my daughter) that I'd take her there to buy this scarve thingie that some of her friends got there for $5...she had her allowance all ready so on our way we went. While she browsed the scarves, I rummaged the sale rack close by. I found the shirt above which kind of reminded me of THIS ONE I'd recently seen at RUCHE. I PUFFY HEART RUCHE!!! My bestie Michelle gave me gift card to RUCHE for Christmas and I purchased the Desert Storm Jacket
(just a quick tip--things run kinda small there so be sure and check out the size guide).



Jeans: Salt Works Premium Jeans
umm.. yeah...while they are premium jeans and they fit this curvy girl just right. I find mine at Marshall's, Ross, & TJ Max. Can't tell you which store exactly...but it was one of those. I LOVE SALT WORKS JEANS and scour the jeans racks for them everytime I visit one of the stores listed above!!


My SPLURGE....SHOES!!!!

Steve Madden troopa boots (got mine at Dillard's-they were a Christmas gift from Mr. Quinn!--I LOVE my Steve Madden's!!)


jacket--faux leather BOMBER --Target--last season



but it's warm and COZY....lined with faux shearling..... keeps this gal warm.

{Celebrate YOU!}

A few random things about me:

-I have a very unique first name "Dejah"...and then my middle name is a plain ole-southern Ann!
-I have crooked pinkie fingers....was born that way. When I was a kid, forced to raise my hand to answer the teachers questions...I was tormented so much that I wore band-aids around my right pinkie finger (the more crooked one) and would pretend to have injured it if anyone asked. -I would be lost without my savior-Jesus!
-I was raised (for the most part) in trailer parks and apartment complexes....I had a single working mother and there's no shame in my game...it's part of what shaped and molded me into who I am today and I am so thankful for my journey.
-I love the color pink to a fault.
-I was born in Tacoma Washington but shortly thereafter shipped to the great state of Texas where I was raised.
-BACK IN THE DAYS.....After watching "A Time To Kill" with then upcoming star Mathew McConaughey." I looked up his phone number in Austin TX and called it (a few times) but never worked up the nerve to leave that a message to that smooth talking southern voice on the other end. (Cause what REALLY would I have said!?)
-I have always had a pair of cowgirl boots in my closet since I can remember.
- I CELEBRATE when I find the perfect-est shade of pink paint for ONE! dollar in the mistint section...at Lowes and can transform a stuffy old gold gilded garage sale frame into a pink princess (see photo above).
-I married my own, real life, Mr. Darcy (Jane Austen)...he is everything to me.
-My children teach me new things every day.
-I have a MASSIVE week spot for Green and Blacks dark chocolate.
-I always have at least 3 loads of laundry waiting on the sofa in my bedroom to be folded & put away.

....and on that note I'm out. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. This week I will be starting my "Wardrobe Wednesday" and while I'll be featuring an outfit from my wardrobe..I have "archived" the last two Wednesdays....so it's likely if you ran into me this Wednesday you may not have seen me in the outfit featured. My logic was to give myself a little head start...this way I am always a few Wednesdays ahead....so if something comes up and I cannot post one week I will still be able to feature "Wardrobe Wednesday".

xoxo
Dejah

{defining a movement}

Just a touching little video that I wanted to share with you mommas! :)

The lady who put it together is an author here is her site http://www.katherinecenter.com/category/blog/


xoxo
Dejah

{sexy chili!}

Who knew chili could be sexy!? Well, If you know me at all...then you've prob figured out that I am not very domestic! Here is just a simple chili recipe that I've come up with that takes about 15 minutes start to finish...now that's SEXY!



and good to the last drop!



....and it also makes the little ones smile!


Feel free to right click save the recipe photo for your personal use or to post on your own blog......just be kind and post a link back to rambling lane ;O



xoxo

Dejah

{free people}

Free People January from FreePeople on Vimeo.

The January catalog for free people is out! I absolutely LOVE this boutique, especially their Vintage Collections. They find some of the most fascinating things! Sadly, they sell them rather quick...but it's still fun to look at. Also, they are a bit more than I like to spend but I shop the sales and I sometimes try and make a game of it by studying the items and then looking for similar pieces when I'm at local thrift and antique shops. One of the things things my Granny taught me to do was to shop right and dress appropriate....so it's fitting that I want to play around here on Rambling Lane with a WARDROBE WEDNESDAY. I'll be posting my wardrobe for the day along with photos and details like where I got it and how much I spent...cool huh! I'm sure I'll pull some fashion no-no's. Perhaps it will inspire you to explore deeper into your closet and create some diversity to your wardrobe too!

xoxo

Dejah

{welcome to rambling lane}

welcome to RAMBLING LANE
This is my little avenue on the world wide web. Well, actually one of my little avenues. A little about me: I am a 30 something wife and mother of 2 (one girl and one boy). I own/operate a very busy photography studio full time. I would be nothing without my saviour Jesus Christ.....and most days I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I have another blog for my studio and update it often yet...I am always in limbo on how personal to be while still keeping it professional. While my other blog is fun and keeps my clients up to date on the many happenings at our studio..... I have so many other ideas, thoughts, and projects going on that aren't always related to my business and I REALLY need a place to do that so here we are!

{Rambling Lane}


the definition of rambling is: Often or habitually roaming; wandering, meandering, sprawling.
the definition of lane is: A narrow country road.

Wile I find the combination of these two words ironically describes me by default...I do not feel like they entirely "define" my meaning for choosing the name "rambling lane" for this blog. Let me explain. I do have a roaming, wandering spirit...I moved around so much growing up that I developed a "gypsy" complex. If I am in one place too long I tend to get antsy and anticipate the next "move". On the other hand, I deeply long to have that iconic "narrow country road" leading up to my own little patch of wheat grass filled acreage. Fitting right?!

Fitting as it may be...there exists in my life, a REAL : roaming, wandering, meandering, sprawling, narrow country road. My Granny & Pa Paw's place resides on Rambling Lane and I spent many days in that place, growing, learning, living, swimming, roaming, star gazing, falling in love, and so much more!! Life (as it happened) on Rambling Lane had a large part in shaping me into the person I am today and so as tribute to that endearing, tender patch of road...both physical, and on my heart....I dub thee blog "Rambling Lane". My intentions for this blog is just to share whatever I want. My ramblings will probably include a little bit of everything, I hope that you enjoy your time here. If you enjoy my blog pass it on! ;0

xoxo
Dejah