Looking for Inspiration

It's a Monday morning. A week lies ahead of me ... what to do, what to do?

Sure, there are things TO DO, like upload those photos, retouch that one image, launch that website ... but the rest is completely open for interpretation.

But the rest of the week is mine. And after a 10 day hiatus which included a cruise, a 3 day weekend with my beautiful family, and very little work (well... we did shoot a wedding) I'm browsing around the net looking for inspiration.

Perhaps that inspiration is right here within my own soul. Perhaps it's all right here in front of me. A computer, an internet connection, a blog and coffee.

My wife keeps saying it . . . something happened on our trip. It got our wheels turning and it's time to kick some ass.

Oh yeah ... and it's raining.

Cheers!

-marc

Meet Maggie

Meet Maggie. The newest addition to the Blackwell Family. And what a trip it's been to introduce this 11 month old Poodle/Terrier mix into our world.

Last Tuesday evening, after weeks of searching, we adopted a 3 year old Brittany Cocker spaniel mixed with some Golden retriever into our family. He was a great little dog, we named him Zeke. But the little guy didn't take to well to the kids. He snapped a few times at little Indie, and we decided he wasn't for us. Great dog if it was just Stacey and I, but the girls come first, obviously. The hard decision, but easy-ish, was made to take him back to the shelter. It happened fast, but it wasn't easy.

So we got back on the internets and started our search again. Stacey and I have wanted a puppy since we were dating. Heck, since we were dating we had decided I would be a stay at home dad. These decisions stick somehow, it's why we're good together.

So on Saturday, we went to the La Brea Tar Pits, where the Super Pet Adoption was going on. We spent 4 hours in the sun, torturing ourselves and our girls looking at dog after dog after dog. It was a true test in marriage, a decision process that wore us down but one we knew we wanted to make.

After hours of searching, walking many dogs and talking to many "dog people" we narrowed down our search to two. They were both great dogs. One, "Norma" (a full poodle), and the other "Goldie". After eating at a food truck and going back into the compound of dogs, our decision was made. "Goldie" was our dog. She was great with the kids, she was calm, a puppy, and beautiful ... and matched our every criteria for a dog. We went to the adoption mom and confessed our love. We wanted THIS dog.

But we had to have a signature from our landlord, saying it was OK to have a dog in our rented home. This seemed like an impossible task. We begged, pleaded, and fought to get her without the signature knowing we wanted to take her home that day. Defeated by the defiant adoption agency we started to head home. We were sad, tired, disappointed. But by the time we had made it from Hollywood to Laurel Canyon on the 101, we had the text from our landlord. "E-mail me the form, I will sign it and fax it back to you." The race was on. We had an hour and a half to get the signature, collect the cash and make it back to the Tar Pits to collect our newest family member.

We made it! Thank goodness for FedEx Kinkos! We filled out the paper work. They rang the bell signifying our puppy was the 100ish puppy adopted that day. We got a new leash, we picked up a few treats and dog food. "Goldie" was ours.

It was exciting. It still is! A new member to our household! We renamed her to "Maggie", as this was more fitting, we felt. And now, she sits at my feet, the most calm, chill, cool puppy I've ever owned. Oh, wait, I've never had a puppy! I didn't grow up with a pet! I'm REALLY excited!!

Plus, we had already purchased a doggie bed, dog food, another leash, dog toys and dog treats. We were ready! And so Maggie is awesome. She loves our girls. No matter how many times they pet her, poke her, step on her, she calmly moves away and licks their faces. She's perfect. Well... she doesn't eat much right now, but that's expected. After a few walks, she's never pooped inside, she's never peed inside and we're all slowly adjusting to this four legged member of our family! The girls love her, she loves the girls, and this little puppy LOOOOOVEEES Stacey. :)

We're excited to start on this adventure of having a dog! Do you have any pets? What was the story of getting your little furry family member? I'd love to hear it. And look forward to more exciting stories as our family grows! What's next? A hamster? A rabbit? Ha! Naw... 4 girls in our family is totally enough for now.

Labor Day Inspiration

My beautiful 12 week old baby (today!)

Z being a rockstar w/ Mom's sunnies

Let me just put it out there right now, that I am soooo blessed. I have a great life. One beautiful, caring, loving, motherly, amazing, talented, hard working wife and 2 just as beautiful, smart, funny, inspiring and loving girls. Life could not be better.

*knock on wood*

Stacey loves to read blogs. It's how I know what I'm doing. Soon I'll be putting these little "Mommy Blog" ads on the side and be knee deep in contests, give aways, and marketing ... blah blah blah. Naw, I dunno if that'll happen ... we'll see. But I love blogging for a couple reasons:

1.) It helps me keep track of my life. Putting photos online and writing about what happens on a day to day basis is a way I have found in the past almost 10 years of blogging. I can go back, look at photos and remember what I was feeling when.

2.) It attracts clients. I've said it before, but anything I do online is either for work or pleasure. This is a little bit of both. When more people are coming to my personal blog, more people are going to our website. When more people are going to our website, we get more photoshoots! It's the law of physics. ;)

Being creative via painting w/ Water Colors

3.) My family loves it. OK, they haven't come out and told me this directly, but friends of family, friends of my late mom, they LOVE seeing photos of the girls and reading what I have to say. When my mom was alive she used to "force" me to write newsletters to our friends and family. Like most good things in my life, my mom inspired me to write and that creates the 4th reason to blog:

4.) It helps me be creative. I don't remember the last time I picked up a pen and wrote in my journal. I used to do it all the time. Spill the beans to no one in particular. While this is different, and I have no idea who is reading it, I'm not always 100% honest. Don't get me wrong, I don't straight out lie ... but I'm not going to tell you how much money we have in the bank. I won't tell you if Stacey and I get in a fight (cuz we're perfect ... we never fight!) ;) but I will be real with you. Just not a completely open book like other blogs.

I think the thing about writing a blog (sorry if this is all about writing a blog "geee, all Marc blogs about is blogging" is to just write. Create some kind of idea in your head and sit down and just let it flow.

Now that blog university is over with here are more cute pictures of my family!

I chillin' pool side!

Z eating a chip (which she loves) pool side on Saturday.

Just a side note and something for all your stalkers to look forward to, my familias are coming out for Christmas! Stacey's parents and my entire family are trekking out to Cali for a Cali Christmas! Fun stuff, huh?

OK... time to get ready to go to the pool and labor through this day. Hahaha, get it? Labor day? Ok, I'm done.

-marc

p.s. my family is cooler than yours ;)

Indie Rose Blackwell

Stacey, Zoe and I would like to introduce Indie Rose Blackwell! She's a beautiful little baby girl and we all love her very much. She came into the world on June 13th, at 8:56 pm weighing a whopping 9.3 pounds and 22 inches long! She's happily settling into her hard life style of eating and sleeping and getting her photo taken. Zoe loves her, gives her kisses and calls her "baby" and "sister" and we're adjusting great! Not to say it's easy, but a fun challenge and opportunity to grow as a family ... literally! :)

Love y'all. Be nice to each other.

-marc

I'm Like My Family

A lot has happened since I last blogged.  June rolled around, I turned a whompin' 26, and my oldest brother Todd and his beautiful wife Jill celebrated a wedding anniversary.  Which one?  I couldn't tell you.  I could text him and ask ... then pretend like I knew all along ... but I think it's something like 9 years?  I'll text him now, and see if he replies by the time I'm done writing the blog, and I'll let you know if I'm correct.

It's 9:29 am, on a Friday, and Zoe and I have already been out and about.  In our sweats, no less.  We got coffee and a very exciting official City of Los Angeles Information Update Form.  I'll fill you in more on this as the months progress ... but it's exciting stuff! 

Brb...the babe's cryin'. 

...

Ok, and we're back.  The little monster is asleep in her swing, full and as content as ever.

More and more, as I get older, (haha) I find I'm just like my mom.  The amount of love that I have created, since Zoe has been born, has been incredible.  That love has over flowed and spilled over into Stacey and my relationship, making it the best thing that has ever happened to me.  I see this as my life has changed.  I am more selfless, I am responsible and attentive for the needs of my family, and I only want the best for those I love.  To know you are loved, as much as you love, if not more, is simply amazing.  So when Stacey and Zoe smile at me, when we are all hugging and playing, my life couldn't be better and I know this.

Other than the love stuff, life is good!  Stacey's working hard at her 9-5, and I'm crankin' away scheduling weddings right and left, shooting headshots, and working on the business of makin' business! 

Hope you all are well.

Peace,
-marc

Family Man

As a family man, I had a revelation today.  I need to take care of my family.  Don't get me wrong, I haven't been lacking on this ideal in the past ... but I can always be better.  I need to really take care of my family.  Just like my mother took care of our family; emotionally, physically, and on every single level.

Raising a human is a crazy experience because they are so dependant.  They rely on you for EVERYTHING.  Just like Zoe needs enough food, sleep, love and attention - so does Stacey. 

And that is my responsibility as a husband, a father, and a man to make sure they are taken care of on every level.  It's something I can be better at, with Stacey especially.  She's the best mother I know, and right now she is working for our family.  I could make sure she has lunch prepared, and I can always tell her more how beautiful she is.  I gotta step up and provide in other areas like making sure she's getting enough sleep and has security. 

I'm always learning.  This is just one thing that hit me today in the car. 

Thought I would share.

What can you be better at?