Walk Now For Autism 08 - Seattle

Last Saturday my friend Cathy, her daughter Calmerin, Chase and I all took part in the Walk Now For Autism walk. Despite the rain and strong winds ton's of people turned out to walk the gorgeous University of Washington campus. Sponsor's and walker's worked hard all year to raise funding and awareness for Autism Speaks, together we raised $250,000 of the $350,000 Seattle goal.

Raising funds and awareness for Autism is super important!!!!


Did you know Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in 1 in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls?


" The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown." .... did you read that right ... "no known cause or cure"


This is incredibly alarming and should be a hot topic on everyone's mind whether you know someone inflicted with autism or not. This disorder inflicts more US children than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. Although autism is certainly not a new disorder it is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability. Why is this? Doesn't it make you mad that we don't know? Something has to be to blame for the rise and I want to know what it is!

"67 children are diagnosed per day - A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes"

"Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade. Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases"

Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000 / Funding: $394 million
Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 20,000 / Funding: $175 million

Autism: Affects 1 in 150 / Funding: $42 million

Do you see those numbers!!!! How does that possibly make any sense? Why is that acceptable to America? I do not have a child with autism or even have a child close to me with it, yet I am outraged by this! We as parents, we as a nation owe it to the children to speak up for autism!

This is why funding and awareness are so undeniably crucial.

Walkers

Sticker on my jeans ;)

Me

Cathy

Look at these cute lil' walkers!

After the walk I got a ton of great pictures of these two. Stay tuned for those!

Speak up for Autism!

Join a walk in your city

Make a donation

Or at least keep the buzz going, talk about it, blog about it, bring awareness to it because without it our children will continue to be at risk!

Helpful link's: Jenny McCarthy's - Generation Rescue :: Autism Society of America

Business Cards :: Round Edition

I can't believe it took me so long to show you all my sweet little round business cards! I took some pictures of them last week and just uploaded them tonight. But since they are raw, my lightroom is not working today and I'm too lazy to use adobe raw, I was planning on procrastinating a couple days longer. That is until I lucked out and came across the designers facebook today. So I used the image from her portfolio instead, Thanks Andrea!

Round Business Card Designer: Andrea La Valleur - Divine Fusion Design

Aren't they cool?

I also designed some standard rectangle ones to use as referral/appointment cards I will post those soon... Or... if you just can't wait you can preview it here! :)

Meet the Parents

I had the enormous pleasure of photographing the Hilstad's with the newest addition to their family, Mr. Miles

Daddy the strong protector...

but also loving and fun!

Beautiful mommy

Nothing sweeter than grandma kisses!

Four Generations!!!

I almost died when she kissed his precious little feet! =)

I absolutly loved shooting this family, I took way longer than usual becuase I just couldnt get enough ;) They are so nice, very sincere and so in love with thier baby boy!

Thank you Hilstad's for letting me in your home and allowing me to capture your cute little family!

Danger is my Middle Name!

:: Meet Miles Danger ::

Isn't he the cutest thing !!!

Look at him smiling!

Miles is so alert and super smart.

I was amazed at all the expressions he was giving me, such a natural little model

Check back tomorrow for more of Mr. Miles with his mommy, daddy, grandma and GREAT grandma!!!

Business Launch Party!

Here are a few pictures from the Likas Organic & Amanda Mays Photography Business Launch Party.

Cathy Kalepo of Likas Organic Designs

Mother - Daughter Organic Apron's

Reversible Organic Apron with matching accessories

Prize Table

Amanda Mays Photography Table

The Betrayal of September

It has been one year since I lost Sydney and a week since the world lost Preston. September used to be my favorite month but each year it seems something bad happens within those 30 days. Don't know why that is but I think October just might be pretty happy about being my new favorite month!

In memoriam...

To my angel baby Sydney, I often think of who you would be now, what would you be doing? Would you be like your brother or have a vibrancy all your own? Would you be crawling? What would my life be like with you in it? I miss you, I miss the you I never got to know, I miss the idea of my sweet baby girl. I'm sorry I haven't had your headstone put back, I'm sure "Orville" enjoyed the flowers chase left him because we couldn't find where to leave them for baby sister. I so wish things would have been different, but I thank god for the time I did have with you and the person I have become because of it!

To Preston, you have changed my life more than you will ever know. You were a great man and leave behind an undeniable legacy! I am sad that the world has lost you but I am glad that in the time you were here you touched and helped so many! I thank god for you and think about you almost every minute. Even though I sometimes wish I didn't have to experience what I did I thank god for putting me where he thought I should be. It was his plan for you as well as me and I am blessed to be linked to you in that way. I look forward to meeting you one day!

------

Sometimes it's hard to find answers to the way cards are dealt to you in life. But I have faith that all things happen for a reason and that these tough things have made me and will continue to mold me into the person I am suppose to be. Thank you to all of you who have kept me in your prayers it helps more than you know!

Postcards from the edge

Greetings earthling's and loyal blog followers I am indeed still alive! I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post, time goes fast! I have been very busy! I realize that is not a good excuse as I know people that are a million more times busier than me and still find quality blog time. However it was time for me to take a little vaca from the Internet! I took a couple weeks off to spend more time with friends, family and myself.

Instead of my normal schedule of computer time I took chase out to ride his trike, went on walks, worked out, enjoyed the end days of summer, spent quiet time and just tried to re-prioritize myself. For awhile I was so focused and plugged into all things photography and computer related, I just needed time to be unplugged and ground myself. I think I am now better equipped to maintain a healthy balance between the two!

Here are the cliff notes of what I've been up to the last month...

I've had 3 shoots since my last post!
Got new business cards, I haven't even posted my old ones and I got new ones already!
I've had a chance to beta test Me Ra's Refuse to say Cheese forum! (can't wait till it goes live)
My Business launch Party was this past Saturday!
I've been developing all my marketing and printed materials as well as designing a new blog/website!
Lost 15 lbs!!!
Attended the I shoot People tour and the super fun PUG martini party!
I'm teaching my brother to drive!!!
Witnessed a life changing event.
Developed a knarly cold.
And just a ton more things I hope to share with you guys soon!

Thank you for hanging in there with me in my absence and keep coming back because I've got big things in the works my friends! =)