running shoes.

Today.

I found one of my running shoes lying alone in the driveway.
it's partner was nowhere to be found.

Lincoln tells me that he threw them outside
(for reasons currently unknown).

Me:

Lincoln, mommy really needs to find my other shoe
or I'm not going to be able to practice and I'm going to lose my race.

Lincoln:
(really concerned face then, BAM! light bulb!)

Mommy!
You can just hop really really fast!

Nice.

Thank you Lincoln.

I'll do that.

______________________

thank you all so much for your encouragement and running tips.

I'm happy to report that I actually did it.

Monday, I ran 3 consecutive miles!
well, I did walk 2 small hills for less than 1 min each.

I was bewildered by my ability to do this.

truly stunned.

not to say it was at all pleasant.

no.

I'm quite certain there were 3 or 4 times when I actually
HOPED a car would take me out and save me from my misery.

Tuesday was a resting day.

Today, I miraculously did it again!

Tomorrow:

FOUR.MILES.

Seriously.

To be totally transparent:
I'm freaking out of my mind.

Allllllll that said,
honestly thank you.

Your tips and encouragement truly gave me courage.

So many of you expressed the reality that it's all a mental game.
I can now attest to that as well,
because when I said earlier that there was no way I could EVER,
EVER run 3 miles,
I wasn't being modest.

It was quite literally, physically impossible. . .
and yet. . .

wow.

I'm amazed and can't help but mention the parallel to life in general.

I'm consistently CONVINCED that I just CAN'T do this or that,
and yet. . .

hmmmmmm.

lots of love and happy Wednesday!

N

If you get a sec, there was an article written about baby gavin
in the honolulu advertiser. check it out here.
we'd love your comments.
:)

a long time ago.

look closely.

a long time ago.

at church.

me: speaking to the congregation.

Richie: managing the crazies.

Congregation: silent.

Cardon: has to pee.
as per every second of his life.

Richie:
"just wait until mommy's done and we'll go potty."

Cardon.

screaming.
as per every second of his life.

"MY WIENER'S GONNA BLOW! MY WIENER'S GONNA BLOW!"

and Cardon,
that is why I love to be made crazy by you.

every.single.minute.
of every.single.day.
of forever.and.ever.and.EVER.

so glad you're mine.

every single crazy little bit of you.

xx,

mom

workshopping it here in Calgary tomorrow!
can't wait to meet all my new friends!

Yeeeeeeehawwwwwwww!

today smelled like good good friends.

today smelled like a teleprompter.

a teleprompter and white slacks.

white slacks get dirty verrrrry easily.
why did I think they would be a good idea?
sometimes I wonder about my thought process.

today smelled like talented colleagues.

talented colleagues and good good food.

even if it was cold by the time we got to sit down and eat.
at least it was well photographed before it was devoured.

today smelled like happy children.

happy children and a husband who loves me millions.

he'll also swim in the ocean with me in all our clothes.
that was fun.
we should do it again really soon.

today smelled like hard hard work.

hard hard work and good good friends.

how did I get so many beautiful people in my life.
no one knows.
I don't deserve them.

xx.

me

Handmade in Utah.

Not to be missed is the second annual Bijou Market coming to Utah County June 27th!! Obviously I won't be attending, as I'm stranded on "the island." But I predict that if you go, you will be sure to come home with at the very least a lovely handmade hair accessory that you just adore and you'll have me to thank.

On the Wall.

I'm trying to get prints ordered for my walls this week. I firmly maintain that bigger is ALWAYS better, so these will all be printed 16 x 24 and hung side by side in my living room (which essentially means I'll be hanging a 48" x 24" piece of awesome) . I'm planning to print on standout so they don't need to be framed. . . standout has a thick plastic edge and is very durable and rigid (I feel like it's classier than canvas in most situations, though occasionally canvas is still my pick, it just depends on where the image will be displayed). I'm still going back and forth on whether to finish them with the metalic spray to make them say "RAWR!" :) Ha!



If you're a client and would like to talk over the best printing options for display in your home, please don't hesitate to email me. I'd be happy to chat it over and help you display your prints in the best way possible for the look and feel of your home and family!

Be There.

Be there or be square.

Off To CA!!

We're off to CA tomorrow for an entire MONTH!!
Let me know if you want to schedule a shoot. . .

In the mean time enjoy this little critter.
More coming soon. . .

On the Agenda.

I'm going HERE to learn from HIM and I'm taking THIS GUY.
Woot woot!

xo,

N

On the Agenda.

I'm alive. Sorry, I know some of you were wondering! I'm off to spend some time with my good friend Jon and his entourage at the Film is Not Dead Workshop. Should be bloggin' still. So I'll see you soon! xo, N

I've Been Thinking.

So, I've been thinking and I think I'd like to photograph a birth story. Um, no. I know what you're thinking, no nakedness or ickiness. I'd just like to document the amazing hours before and the sacred moments after a precious little soul makes it's Earthly debut. I wish wish WISH I had anything even remotely similar from my boys births.

Anyone out there pregnant and interested??
Email me.
natalienorton{at}gmail{dot}com

PS. Phone Consult Report: UM WOW! So many scheduled calls and chats!
I'm only going to be accepting a handfull more for the month of October,
so if your interested, jump on it.

Want a Free Shoot?

ALL BOOKED!

Come model for me and I'll shoot you for free!!

As most faithful readers know I've been taking a break from shooting the last 2 months!!! AHHHHHHH! I'm ready to freak out of my mind. I'm going crazy. HOWEVER this break was necessary as I was desperate to get caught up (getting there thanks to Leilani. . . MUAH!), work on the business side of my. . . well business and spend some much needed quality time with my wonderful family. I'll be back in full swing next week with shoots coming out my ears. HOWEVER in the mean time, anyone want to play with my camera and I sometime in the next few days!??! Like today even? I'd so totally be game. I'm in the zone boys and girls and want to test out some new tricks on YOU if you're interested. I'm not going to be doing full family shoots with multiple children, however I'd be game for just about anything else. Email me at natalienorton{at}gmail{dot}com if you're interested.

xo,

Natalie

On the Agenda.

Image Credit: The Image is Found

On Tuesday October 7th I have a FULL DAY one on one with Nate Kaiser of The Image is Found. How excited to you think I am? Let me give you a clue: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! The full wedding slide show on The Image is Found Blog today about blew my mind and amped my already freakishly crazy excitement level up like 10 gears. I CANNOT WAIT!! Be sure to check it out by clicking the slide show link above.

CALLING ALL CUSTOM BLOG DESIGNERS.

Ok, so I must say that today when I took a quick mosey on over to Blogger's Official Blog (http://buzz.blogger.com/) to get the blogging buzz of the day, I was fairly disappointed to find that they have neglected to share the Blogger news of the century. Go figure. Google, stop slacking off (and por favor, fix this link situation stat). Seriously now.

So, here I am picking up Blogger's blatant disregard for all things wonderful and making the announcement myself.

I AM LOOKING FOR A DESIGNER
TO HELP ME CUSTOMIZE MY BLOG.

• must be proficient in customizing Google's blogger, because whether they've been slacking off or no (ahem ahem) Blogger's unequivocally won my heart.
  
• must be easy going, creative, and cool. for crying out loud-this process had better be fun!!
  
• must be proficient in English. . . stop laughing, I'm serious. . . . Or have a translator available at all times.
• musn't be cross or cruel. . .
• play games all sorts.

OK, that about sums it up.

Please spread the word. I'll be accepting portfolios and etc at natalienorton{at}gmail{dot}com and plates of cookies anytime anywhere.

Thanks!

xo,

Nat

Birthday Fun.

Remember this?

Well it came and it went and it rocked HARD and my good friend Jon Canlas was there to document it all.

In case you're wondering, that's me on the left.

See more of the fun here on Jon's blog or catch all the madness here.

JW for life.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Well, no not really, but I could be! If you live in the LA or San Diego area, I'm headed your way! I've got a wedding in San Diego and an engagement session in LA both in the beginning of October. So I'll be available the following dates for shoots in those areas:

October 6th: San Diego
October 7th: San Diego
October 8th: Las Angeles


Just in time to get the family portrait ready for your 2008 Christmas cards!

If you're interested, shoot me an email at natalienorton{at}gmail{dot}com.

View my current pricing here.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Come! I'd love it!!
Flights aren't THAT expensive right now,
right?
It'd totally be worth it, I promise.

xo,

Nat

It's July!

It's officially July, and you know what that means. . . it's time for cake of course! July is my birth month, and around here birth months are pretty special ones. I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!! So WATCH OUT!! It's time.for.FUN!

Be sure to check back soon, because July is going to be FILLED to the brim with EXCITEMENT here on Pics and Kicks: beautiful images, giveaways galore, session discounts and awesome photo tips to boot! We may even have a guest blogger or two drop in to give us the scoop on their mad photo ninja skillz . . . See you soon!

Happy July!!!!

**Quite a few of the giveaways will be time sensitive. . . as in the FIRST to comment will "take the cake" (frr), so now may be a good time to add me to the reader of your choice. My subscription method is Google Reader. Subscribe to Pics and Kicks through Google Reader here.

Aloha from Aspen.

We had so much fun visiting our old friends from Hawaii, the Naivalu's, at their new home in Aspen. They have 3 boys too, so we were a very energetic bunch!!

Here are the older boys. . . betcha can't guess which ones belong to me. . . hardie har har!

Rest Stop.

Greetings from a potty break in Price, UT.

xoxo,
Nat

PS. Aspen, well, it rocks.

Rockin' Things Right.

Leo Patrone, me and Jonathan Canlas
at Jon's wedding up in Park City last Sat.
If you haven't checked these two crazy photo ninjas out, go. NOW.
You'll thank me later.

xo,

Natalie