I am beyond excited!
For months I've been working with Nick from Spilled Milk Designs to design & build my new website.
This has been a LOT of work. Nick put in hundreds and hundreds of hours,
putting up with every picky request I threw at him and making my website
EXACTLY what I wanted!


YOU CAN SEE IT HERE!
The main Barefoot-Memories.com will take you there as well.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: If you want Nick to make a custom site for you,
you can get $250 off if you tell him I sent you!!

Check out the "artist" page for a fun little trip into my head.
Thanks to Dana for doing that Chipotle interview for me and
helping get those new headshots!!!

I'm now off to take my 2nd dose of Nyquil -- the first wasn't enough!
Then, a fun New Year's Eve is planned for tomorrow!
Jason & I bought some halogen worklights so we can LIGHT UP the trampoline
and let the kids jump into the late hours of the night -- something they've never been
allowed to do! They are as excited about that as I am about my website!

Then, on Friday, Mat and I are OFF TO THE HOME DEPOT CENTER in Carson!
Remember the photo contest where you helped me rack up votes for Mat's picture?!

Mat's entire team gets to go to the David Beckham Academy THIS WEEKEND!
WOO HOOOOO!
His photo wasn't announced as the "official winner" on southlandsoccer.com
... long story... and I can't really post the story here, but if you're curious,
email me, and I'll fill you in!

And, if you're so inclined, post a comment on the blog
and let me know what you think of the new site!
The best part about hiring a designer is that if you find any typos or glitches,
I can just send them to him, and POOF! They're fixed! WoO HOO!

Happy New Year!!
~Carey

These past few days have been very odd.
I've had a LOT go wrong, yet I've felt strangely peaceful.
I hope that peace lasts, but I can do without all the headaches!!!

My new camera, the 5DMkII I'd been so eager to get, died on me.
It went off to Canon in Irvine, and I'm hoping to get it back soon.

For those of you who are curious to know exactly what happened, here's the story:
I went to the beach with my friend, Dana, for a marketing photoshoot for some Mpix ads.
I was going to get some stills and videos for the new website at the same time.
I took out the new camera to do some test shots, pressed the shutter down,
I could hear the mirror flip up, but it sounded like it was getting stuck or something (ACK!).
The camera LCD said "ERR 20... shooting not possible at this time..."
I tried everything to "reset" the camera. Nothing worked.
When I got home, I put the camera on the phone with Canon. Nothing worked.
They had me send it in right away.
I hope I get it back soon!!!

As if the camera troubles weren't enough, my websites have been hacked
multiple times over the past few weeks, and I'm trying to get the new site ready to go.
I'm transferring my websites to a new hosting company because my current (soon "ex")
hosting company has been hacked so very much lately. This isn't easy stuff!
(exactly why I got into photography -- to do website management and web hosting! ughghg!)
I also need help from my blog folks to get the blog over to the new host as well.
I'm sure the dudes at Flosites will take good care of me!
I'll keep you posted and let you know how it goes.
This will be my last blog post on the current web hosting company.
I hope the transfer goes well. (fingers and toes crossed!)

You may also see the Christmas website slideshow go down as I transfer my website
to the new hosting company. When you see that show go away,
you'll know I'm getting close to launching the shiny new website!! yay!

The website will include a lot of pictures that were part of the Christmas show,
as well as some of my old Barefoot Memories favorites.
I'm excited for you to see it!


I'll start posting again once the blog is all setup on the new web hosting company,
until then, I hope you're having a wonderful, peaceful holiday season,
and have a great New Year!

~Carey

"...In the old days you could hold a box and shake it
And hear the pieces rattling around
My eyes tear up with these grommets, tape and twisty ties
Remembering their beautiful sound..."

I'm typing this blog post on Christmas Eve with at least two bleeding fingers
and heightened blood pressure,
all because of my recent losing battle with TOY PACKAGING.

Sara Groves knew exactly how all of us feel when she wrote her song,
"TOY PACKAGING"

Listen to it here:

email readers, go to THE BLOG to hear.

Is that just about the best Christmas song you've ever heard!??!!!

If you love it, too, you can download it for free HERE.
Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

~Carey

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas and holiday season
surrounded by friends, family, love, and peace.

While you are enjoying your Christmas, please keep our brave warriors
in your thoughts and prayers. It's because of them that we can enjoy
our peaceful safe Christmas.

I hear this rendition of Mannheim Steamroller's "Silent Night" every year,
and every year it makes me stop & listen.
I found this slideshow on YouTube that enhances the message even more.

"May 'A Soldier's Silent Night' transcend any opinion about this war or any war,
and go deeper to foster an appreciation for the selfless sacrifice and courage
of The United States soldier and their families."



Merry Christmas!

~Carey

He didn't know who that winner would be when he chose it, but ZAK awarded the iPod to family #27.

There were so many beautiful cards, there was no way I could do a
"most beautiful card" or "cutest card" or anything like that!
It had to be random.

Card #27 belongs to the Lee family who has been coming to me for YEARS and YEARS for family photos!

I remember the very first photo session with their extended family & cousins from LATVIA.
Just looking at where Latvia is on the globe makes me shiver!

This year, they met me for a Mini Platinum session in Balboa Park,
without the extended family, just mom, dad & the kids.

We had so much fun!
Here's one of my favorite shots:

It's one of my favorites because mom & dad actually said, "OK Carey!"
when I asked if they could all go on their tummies on top of that park picnic table!
I love free-wheeling-fun-loving families like that!

Here's their card (with my own crazy gaggle of spaz in the background):


Congratulations, Vita!
Your iPod will be in tomorrow's mail!!!

Merry Christmas!

~Carey