I'm feeling like this lately

More Vanek Time!

I know it's taking me about ten years to get this trip out in the open but it was so much fun with my sister and her family.

For the second day of fun we went and hung out on the strip around New York, NY and MGM. Jeff and Adam got to go on the Roller Coaster at NY, NY which we watched from the roof of the parking garage. I didn't get Adam in the picture but I think the expression on Jeff's face was amazing enough for both of them! Then made an interesting trip out to Red Rock that involved accidentally driving part way to Pahrump... Woopsie!

My nephews LOVED climbing all over the rocks. I couldn't believe how high they got. Sir Luke dubbed Ethan "little mountain goat."

Good News!

I've got a new job!

I'm still photographing on the weekends and weeknights so don't get sad! But in these times everyone needs a little extra where we can get it!

I am very excited and I'm starting today! A big thanks to everyone for their support and especially Joan Welch in my ward who helped me get the job. Everything works out!

In other news, thanks to this picture by Britta, I think Sir Luke is more baby hungry than me.

P.J. Blands

Sir Luke and saw this commercial. We thought, "Ha! Someone is mocking Chili's!"



Turns out Chili's is mocking itself... Sorry Chili's but you are my P.J. Blandsville.

Happy Friday!

Ok friends, I'm extending the Animal Game contest another week. I would love to get more entries in, so don't be shy!

Check it out and email me your entry. Remember the animals are:

Narwhal
Penguin
Sheep

Have a happy weekend!

The Vanek Visit Part I

My sister Kathy and her family came for a visit over Easter weekend. I'm going to give it to you straight. They were THE best guests we've ever had. Kathy started making dinner for us almost as soon as she arrived. Who does that?

My sister, that's who.

We started the trip with a visit to the strip the night they arrived. It was on this magical evening that a miracle happened. My cutie-pie-kins nephew Ethan found the friend of his dreams, Gizmo. Now, I was born in the 80s and I've never seem Gremlins but this kids LOVES Grmlins! He had been pining for a Gizmo friend for a couple months. My poor sister has been beside herself trying to figure out how she would find said toy without breaking the bank.

As I said, it was a miracle. We found him in the store with the Elvis fortune teller (I recommend a reading for everyone, uh huh) in Caesar's Palace. The joy on this face was much like this.



I couldn't believe the reception Gizmo received during our adventures around Las Vegas. "Look, mom! He has a Gizmo! Look!" The child nearly yanked the sleeve off his mother's shirt.

We started with the Hoover Dam and made out way to Ethel M's Chocolate Factory and Cactus Gardens. My other nephew Adam (master of Raving Rabbids) and I were working on passing off his photography merit badge. I loaned him my old Canon 10D and he ran amok photographing everything in sight. Essentially it became a documentary of Gizmo's Trip to Vegas.

Awesome. Oh, and don't forget you click on the images to see them larger.



















Kathy kept trying to doge my photos. It didn't really work out...thanks to my wide angle friend.

Easter Eggs!

I love dying Easter Eggs. We had a splendid time dying with the Goodriches and the Smiths for Family Home Evening. Despite the fact that Sir Luke flung several rubber bands around the apartment as he tried to wrap the eggs.

Turns out I really like to use rubber bands on Easter eggs. I loved Steven and Jenna's old Starbucks aprons!













Also, I love this face.



Don't forget to enter the Animal Game contest! If you want to enter but need more time and we can postpone the results until next week!

Picnic in the Park

A couple weeks ago (again, thanks to my defunct computer these posts this week will be awfully belated) I was invited to a BBQ at the park with the Goodriches and the Smiths. It was a faboo time!









And I am obviously not the only one who loves doggies! Nothing like a good burger and a bottle.

Also, Happy Birthday to my sister, Julie!

Jenna & Steven and Red Rock

Jenna and Steven have been married a little over a year. To commemorate the fabulous time they're spent together they wanted to do a shoot together. We went out to Red Rock and hiked around to find some stunning photos. They were total troopers even when we scaled a rock wall back to the car and popped up in a photo with Asian tourists and were then complimented again later by said Asian tourists.

It was a gorgeous evening with a stunning couple.


















Oh and does this not remind you of the Lorax?



Need photos? Know of anyone who does? megruthphotography (at) gmail (dot) com. You can view the entire event here.

The Animal Game

I've been wanting to share this with you for a while. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any goodies from the glory days of The Animal Game so this new example will have to do.

For a little background on what the devil I'm talking about we revert back to Fall 2004. My college roommate, the incomparable, Amy Lee and I were rejoined after a semester apart in NYC and Paris. It was Amy's idea, The Animal Game. And it came at times when attention spans ran thin.

You play with as many people as you like but playing alone is sorta lame. Have someone list three animals; for my example Sir Luke obliged with:

Porcupine
Camel
Eagle

Then the other person (me) has to draw and name the creature by combining all three animals!



The more ridiculous the better, obviously.

You've got to be careful where you play it and make sure you don't giggle too loud. I think my favorite was when I had Amy combine and T-Rex a Poodle and a Bunny (the bunny I'm not too sure about but the T-Rex and the Poodle I'm for sure about.) I wish I had that one for you. It was glorious.

Anyway the point is, this is the contest. I'm going to give you three animals and I want you to draw the sucker and name it (the name must combine the three animals as well) and email it to me. Next Friday I'll post them and name the winner. Sir Luke will be judging.

You can email me at meganruthstay (at) gmail (dot) com

And what's the prize you ask? Two free prints from my collection on Out of the Ordinary (or any print you've seen on this blog that you particularly care for) the prints will be no larger than 5x5 or 4x6.

You really need no artistic talent. The evidence is above. I am super excited to see what you come up with!

And now for the animals to be drawn:

Penguin
Narwhal (in honor or Amy)
Sheep

New Pricing

Ok, so forget the sale. My new pricing is even better!

Tell your friends and family. I travel for free if I there are a few shoots set up in advance. So, spread the word and I'll come to you!

You can see the pricing on my website here. Or click to download the PDF. Much easier and more lovely than scrolling through pricing online.

Come on down to fabulous Las Vegas! We'll have a blast, I promise!

Eggy Weggy

It's no secret we've been hunting around for houses lately. It's not a done deal at this point but we're making baby steps to getting our own place. I still cannot believe that we can get a newer, larger house for less each month.

This is the only perk I am seeing in the economy at this point.

Anyway the point is we went looking at model homes and I was given an invite to a Pottery Barn Design event at the builder's design center. This was thrilling to me because on the invite it said that there would be a door prize for the first 50 people AND a chance to win a $500 gift card to Pottery Barn! Needless to say I brought three friends and we gorged on jerk chicken skewers and strawberries.

The Pottery Barn class was fun but mostly just a ploy to shop at their store. We all got door prizes which were $25 gift cards so we left fat and happy. But there was one thing at the event that I had my eye on. A tree of sparkly Easter eggs dangling from branches and set in a cute pitcher. Two of my fellow gift card holders and I went to Potter Barn to see what we could see. I saw said sparkly eggs (keep in mind this was a week before Easter, my computer has been gone a long time people).

Six eggs for twelve dollars!? Are you kidding. "I could make these," I said to my fellow shoppers. So we did. And mine were prettier and cost less, even with the marked down eggs now online.

What do you think? Have I still got it?



Also, would anyone be interested in a how-to video? I'm considering doing that, but only if you'd be interested in seeing it.

Update on Out of the Ordinary

I just updated my photos on Out of the Ordinary Photo. Since my computer's been out of commission for the past 10 or so days I finally caught up on that blog.

Click here to view all of my posts.



This one is next! So hang in there, those of you that are still there.

Also, get ready because on Friday we're having a contest! Are you excited?

:(

My computer is at the doctor, I guess the blog break was pretty good timing...