GIVEAWAY time! Enter to win a farm photo session!

(iPhone snap, courtesy of my five-year old)

Happy Monday friends! I am in my complete happy place.  The sun was out all weekend long, our house was filled with friends, the birds have so much to say, and last night Brett and I did some star-gazing for a backyard date.  You all know this time of year is just simply my favorite.  

I'm extra excited this morning because we're going to have a giveaway! A very giving, gracious friend of mine (who wishes to remain anonymous) sent me the sweetest text last week, wanting to purchase a photo session from me so that I could then in turn, give it away to someone on the blog or IG.  You all, isn't that just golden? 

And lucky you!  One of you will win a photo/film session on the farm!  

The session could be used for your entire family, 

for just you,

for you and a group of your girlfriends,

just for your kids,

for you and your husband,

or whatever else your story may be! 

To enter: 

Leave a comment here telling me who you'd bring to the photo session! 

You may also enter on my IG post (if you don't follow me already I'm "therosylifeblog") 

and on my FB post as well!  One entry per social media site please. (So one entry for the blog, one for IG, and one for FB) I'll write each entry down on paper and have one of my girls choose a winner!  

Giveaway ends Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. and a winner will be announced later that night! 

It's time to book spring and summer photo shoots!

Friends, it is with much excitement that I get to tell you it's time to book your spring and summer photo shoots!  Photography is such a golden gift to me.  Picking up my camera silences the noise around me, calms my pounding heart, and helps my eyes focus in on the little bits of magic and light and love tucked into everyday moments.  

Photography and seeing the world not as it looks from first glance, but for what it is under the surface and in the cracks and hidden places, has been my heart beat and the super power I tackle the world with.

 A Rosy Life photo shoot won't feel styled, stiff, or stuffy.  Is there anything more nerve-wracking than trying to show up on time to a photo shoot, everyone's moods, outfits, and hair top-notch?!

Instead, I'll calmly get down close to your kids and look them in the eyes and visit with them, letting them see how my camera works.  I'll wander with your family, letting our conversation naturally flow, smiles and tears traded.  I'll laugh with you and your girlfriends, best friends sharing memories and moments and silliness.  I'll lean in close while you whisper truth to your loved ones.  I'll watch as your family prepares Saturday morning breakfast, hands wrapped tightly around coffee mugs, stacks of pancakes steaming.  I'll find and capture the beauty that fills your sweet, everyday life-beauty that you might have even walked past a dozen times. 

All of this is what I capture. The photos that make my heart truly ache with longing and remembrance aren't the styled shoots where my girls wore perfect outfits and we all smiled at the same time with everyone's eyes open.  Instead, they are the photos where I simply watched life unfold before me and let my girls (and clients!) actions, facial expressions, body language, and words tell a story naturally.  

 The heart of my photography sessions are candid, lifestyle shots. 

I offer two types of sessions, one taking place on my farm and one taking place in your home.  

For farm sessions think: a creek to play in, flowers to roam in, and space to play.

For in-home sessions think: your natural, weekend routine within the comfort of your own home, being captured by me. 

The farm sessions last a bit over an hour and in-home sessions last several hours. 

Another extra-special component of a Rosy Life shoot? 

Films! 

In addition to receiving all finished images on a flash drive, each client will also receive a short film of our time.  For film examples, please click "Films" at the top of the page.  You can also find additional photo shoot details, as well as pricing, by clicking "Photography Session Info." above.

Have questions or are ready to book a session?

Email sunshinebysara@hotmail.com or message me on FB or IG! 

I look forward to telling your story well.

I'm still standing!

Hi Rosy friends! I'm baaaaaack! With Elton John's "I'm still standing" going through my mind I might add.  I'm not feeling near as perky as I sound this morning.  Spring has decided with it being May and all it would go ahead and show up in Arkansas.  But not just show up, show up AND out if you know what I mean.  I could scrape the pollen off my back deck table with a knife and there would still be plenty left to go around.  My eyes are feeling #allthefeels but my mind is saying "Yay!!" because at least we have crossed over the threshold into farm days and nights, garden talks and walks, and adventuring our way into the weekends instead of being tucked inside. 

First things first, you may have noticed a slight change when you came to the blog.  I made a new home page that you'll be automatically directed to when you come to my regular blog address.   From there you can easily click on "blog" or some of the other categories, like photo sessions.  I must also add that my laptop died (completely) about two weeks ago.  It was right about the time when we were packing our little one up, and didn't even catch me by surprise.  Of course, my laptop (full of notes from the last season, photos, etc.) would decide to be done just as our last season was done. I had the thing 10 years and it was a very good run.  

I have truly enjoyed this mini break from social media, as one does.  Trust me, if you haven't tried it, go for it. I said just the other day that I wondered how I had ever posted on IG 2 to 3 times a day.  It makes my extroverted introvert heart start to panic just thinking of it.  Y'all, I ADORE an IG story.  I have my faves and watching is my treat after a productive day.  But I just don't think this gal (umm, that's me I'm referring to) has it in her to be one of these mega-branded IG and blogger rockstars.  Instead, you'll have to settle for real life me.  

Real life me means that I'm showing up in this space again extra motivated to show all the sides and stories of my life, not just the pedestal ones. (Pedestal: losing 20 pounds.  Real-life: gaining some back and learning loving myself isn't about the number on the scale. I'm almost 35 and STILL learning!)  You guys, someone recently said to me "I bet you're one of those moms who doesn't just feed their kids spaghetti and tacos." Ummm, what?! I immediately set the record straight and said "You're right.  We don't just do spaghetti and tacos.  We also do pb and j."  Insert laughing emoji here!   I just get so tickled (most days) about the tomfoolery that goes on in "screen world."  I don't know about you, but I don't need another perfect looking house, body, exercise routine, meal, or photo to mess with my mind.  I do need, however, some real girls and women who are doing their best and will throw in the imperfect with the perfect.  Y'all, these types of people are simply my FAVORITE.  My absolute favorite.  Can you laugh at yourself?  Let's be friends.  Do you adore comedy that pokes fun at regular life?  Let's be friends too.  I'm thinking stuff like Jim Gaffigan comedy, Melissa Radke or Candace Payne on IG, The Office.  

A lot of change has occurred for us in the past few weeks, mainly with getting our little one moved to their new home. What a saving grace humor has been! I have made multiple people cry just by telling them this news-the dentist, the cashier at Natural Grocers, the best friend I've had since birth.  I only bring that up because if you know me well, you know I befriend those in my regular community, whether they be the grocery clerk, the lovely lady working at Target (Hi Clarissa!), or the neighbor that walks by regularly.  It has been so wonderful to be able to answer honestly the past few weeks when those around me have asked how we're doing.  

We're doing pretty well by the way.  I can only let the memory of our little one sit in my brain for about five seconds though before the tears jump back into my throat.  My, how we pray for them.  I want to say this though, we knew this was part of the process.  And if we can do it, so can you.  I'm still hearing "I just don't think I could foster and then give a child up." But you could. 

You. Could. 

Because we have.  And I'm still one of the most sensitive people I know.  And I'm still standing! We are settling into a new routine, and over the next few months I look forward to sharing a variety of things on the blog again. Both the perfect AND the imperfect.  Have something you'd like to see on the blog? Let me know! I will gently remind you that while my heart aims to share all sides of life, my "medicine", super-hero power, and tool for life is to look hard for the rosy.  So you will always see a good dose of achingly beautiful photos here, but it doesn't mean my life is perfect.  It is with this view however, that I'd love to capture your own real life beauty.

Come back tomorrow for information on spring and summer photo shoots! 

Mostly photographs. Saving my words. Life lately!

Morning everyone! I have missed you! I haven't quite known how to set foot in my online spaces lately, but behind-the-scenes our life has been very full and I wanted to share a handful of my favorite moments lately.  No lengthy posts or life revelations here, just some rosy moments from our real life.  

All three of my kids had dress up days at school which was quite a lot to keep up with!  Betsy had the idea to paint her own dress, which I thought was brilliant and creative so of course I told her to go for it!

 Target fun! 

I've been trying to do a few more planned activities for the kids in the rare moments we have time at home.  I cut these paper plate flowers for the girls to paint and then layer afterwards.

 We have our garden planted! I am anxiously awaiting my first bowl of garden greens. 

 Spring break treats. :) 

This time of year is simply my favorite.  There are so many different things to gather and forage to add some beauty to my home for free.

 Quality time with Granna. 

 These are delicious on just about anything! 

 We pulled out our favorite kite from the attic.  I believe the girls have named it "Sky Rider."  

 We took a little trip on Spring Break and had such an amazing time!  This shot is from a restaurant we ate at.  Isn't the decor dreamy?! I was in heaven.  

 Things are starting to grow!! It feels like every time I walk outside there is something new to be noticed.  The outside sure is a breath of fresh air from all the daily tasks awaiting me. 

 I thought the clover looked so beautiful before we got our first mowing of the year in. 

Random fact about me: I like to mow and I'm pretty good at it. 

 I keep painting because it's good medicine for me. 

So many of you have asked about my recent paintings I may get around to selling some of them later this spring.  We'll see. 

Lots of other things brewing in my world but nothing to write about yet.  I know that must seem so opposite to our "share everything" social media society.  But as I get older I'm realizing how odd it feels to me that so many posts, blogs, and IG's feel like the very personal pages of someones journal.  To each their own I say.  But for now, I'm sticking to mostly photographs. 

I'm also partly saving up my words and photographs because I have a dream to self-publish my own book and I'm already storing words and photos away for "someday".

These things are continuing to give me life: 

Podcasts (what can you recommend?)

Painting (still on a floral kick...won't end anytime soon)

Cooking! What healthy blogs or cookbooks can you recommend?

Gardening, landscaping, and dreaming of doing a lot of living and eating outdoors

Daydreaming a lot, mostly about travel.

What are you up to in your part of the world?  Are your words plentiful or few in this season?