here~this will help...

if you really want to get into the holiday spirit

and 

i know you do

please watch this beautiful gift

ps....thanks mom for sending it to me

another magical day...

it's so hard to put into words 

what happens when 52 volunteers get together 

to put smiles on the faces of 381 people

but i'll try

this is madison's third year to be part of the world wide help-portrait event

and every year, it just keeps getting better and better.

due to the nature of the event, we don't share any of the photos that are taken on help-portrait day,

except for those that we take of each other. 

{respecting the privacy of the families that visit us is our number one concern}

as always, when a bunch of photographers get together, it's one big photography geek fest. 

and guess who hates having their photos taken the most. that's right. photographers.

this is the father of one of our volunteers 

and he sang and played his guitar during the entire event in our waiting/reception area.

we also had a "magic balloon maker man" 

{as described to me by one of the little boys getting his photo taken}

who brought smiles to many little faces

this year, for the first time, we were thrilled to have volunteers from mary kay 

prior to the first photos

we have to make sure the lights are all set up correctly and triggering properly and since we're all big goof balls. well. you get the idea. 

it's obvious who the photographers are, as their cameras rarely leave their sides. 

{just look for all the camera straps in the photos}

~

this is kelly and he is the farthest thing from serious, but i think i caught him discussing something intently with someone else. and after a tiny editing, i really liked the photo. so even though it was probably the most serious face seen the entire day, i had to add it in.

if only i had been able to shoot all of our volunteers, so you could see more happy faces like this

this is frank and our third year to work together with help-portait.

we're the only pentax shooters of the bunch

so we have a special language all our own.

this. well this is "come on, really. another photo of me. but i'm a photographer"

and

honestly, he'a a big goof ball teddy bear that makes us all laugh

many thanks to barry 

{i referred to him as bank robber barry} 

and his wife carol 

{in the black jacket above this photo}

as they were HUGE in this years event 

during lunch, we took turns sneaking into the kitchen and eating the wonderful donated pizza.

and who to my wandering eyes did appear, but my daughter and her boyfriend.

{my sweet hubby also volunteered again this year}

all of my photos kind of looked the same to me as i was looking at them, 

so i ran them all through different presets in LR3 just for fun. 

{because it was a FUN day with FUN people}

with her back to the camera is jenny, who along with her husband andy, 

run the river food pantry. this is the second year that they have invited us to

turn their pantry into one huge photography studio for the event.

the channel 27 news crew

these two were also HUGE at putting this years event together and honestly

i'm not sure we could have done it without them

{keeping faces hidden}

i caught this little one waiting patiently for her photo 

and

these little girls dressed as princesses 

who absolutely took our breaths away

i have a few more photos i'll share this week, as i had the opportunity to shoot my daughter and her boyfriend in all their true goofiness and a few photos of the children of one of our volunteers. 

but for now, i hope these photos let you all know how amazing this event truly is and was.

~

so with another year behind us, we're already talking about next year's event. 

help-portrait was started 3 years ago and madison has been part of it every year.

the very first year i was one of 8 volunteers. 

this year we had 52. and next year, well i can only imagine how large we'll be.

~

if any of you want to learn more about having your own help-portrait group where you live

let me know

i'd be more then happy to share with you how to get it all started

*

it was magical, again.....

i'm still playing with photos and trying to find the words in my tired head 

to tell all of you how wonderful our help-portrait day was yesterday.

so until that happens

here's a clip of us that aired on our local news last night.

{it will play on the left side, after a stupid commercial}

~

can you find me in the video

?

that's it, i've had it....

the darkness that rolls in around 4:15 in the afternoon is depressing me. 

don't get me wrong. by the end of the day i love to be in my fuzzy pants and slippers watching a bit of television while i wrap gifts and drink hot tea. BUT that shouldn't start at 4:15.

~

tomorrow is a big day. a huge day. 

we have over 40 volunteers coming together to make another help-portrait event in madison a success.

we have signed up over 200 families that will get treated like kings and queens 

while they get free photographs taken of themselves and their families.

squeal. i can't wait. 

this is my third year to be part of HP and it has grown like a weed. a really good weed.

i hope you have a help-portrait event in your town tomorrow, too.

~

do you watch the today show? is ann curry getting on your nerves, too or is it just me?

our son has been summoned for jury duty and being a full time student does not excuse him.

for this, i am hugely irritated. for the first time ever, he is loving and doing well in school and to think that he may have to miss class because of some bozo doing something illegal, burns me.

~

are you an iPhone lover. are you on instagram. 

if you are, do you want to be friends?

you can find me at buffymac

*

a few of my favorite things.....

you get a car....and you get a car.... and you get a....well you know.

~

okay, i'm feeling a little bit like oprah today and decided to give you all a gift. 

you're welcome.

well okay. they're not really gift gifts, but they are links to some of the things i love.

{blogger is being a baby and not highlighting my links. just hover over them}

~ 

1. this is my new favorite eyeshadow and hello, look at it's name

2. i love this facial cleanser and pretty much all of their products

3. i wear these socks around the house all winter long. in every color combination

4. these t-shirts are the best ever. honestly the best t-shirts and they're even on sale

5. and i only have one of these, but would love a closet full. hello santa

~

so as soon as you're done shopping for all your loved ones, do some shopping for YOU. 

yes YOU. because you're worth it.

*

drama queen....

i walked by my very neglected camera this afternoon and it started to sputter. 

then it rolled over, grabbed it's chest and flung itself to the floor and played dead.

all in an attempt to get my attention. well it worked.

~

~how to take the photo above~ 

sit in front of your tree. stick your finger out in front of you and focus on it. move your finger out of the way and click. wha-la. a one hundred percent bokeh photo.

if you look closely you can see me in this photo. baseball cap and all.

here's how i keep sane during the holidays. 

i buy two or 3 gifts for others and then one for myself. 

{you were probably thinking it was massive amounts of wine weren't you}

anyhow, while shopping at tj maxx the other day, the bird pillow above jumped off the shelf and into my cart and begged me to take it home. 

and you know, with the holidays and everything, well i'm a sucker for begging. 

so now my most favorite pillow in the house sits in our throw all chair. you know, the chair where purses and cameras and coats and keys get tossed everyday. 

what. 

you don't have a throw all chair.

good thing i have a bit of christmas spirit in me, otherwise i'd have to hate you.

*

these photos are all sooc, even though the ornament one i cropped to square in my mac's simple edit program.

 funny, how i haven't used that in like forever. 

i know this is a totally random post, but it mirrors how i feel lately, but in a good way.

*

just some food for thought.....

this video is running around facebook like it's in a marathon 

and

i couldn't resist sharing it with anyone who maybe hasn't seen it

*

it's only 3 minutes long....i really hope you have time to watch it