While this blog has kept me mildly satisfied for the time being, I thought it was time to upgrade and go for something with a little more pizazz or zhush, if you will.

There's gonna be a whole new layout with lots of color (yay!) and a whole new address.  But in the meantime, here's a little snippet of what's in store.  Enjoy!

UPDATE: The new blog is up and ready to go so head over to www.mandalayimagesblog.com from now on to check out all that Mandalay Images has been up to!

Yet another installment of Fantabulous Faves.  While it may be a yawner for some, sitting and thinking about all the little things that bring a smile to my face only makes me that much happier.  Take a minute to think about a few things in and around your life that you love and I guarantee you feel just a smidge better :)

Moving on!

 1) Fresh outta the oven chocolate chip cookies!  Oh yum.  I'm pretty dang proud of these cookies...even been told they're the best ever.  Watch out Mrs. Fields!

 2) Dark grey sheets and yummy yellow pillows.  I'm loving the grey and yellow combination right now.  I love my cushy, double feather bed topped place to sleep.

 3) Fresh cut flowers in the house, especially bright and sunny sunflowers. 

 4) Mmmm, makeup.  I didn't used to be much of a makeup person, just a little mascara and lipgloss, but thanks to a super fashionable former coworker, I got into it.  Especially MAC.  Oh, I love me some MAC and could spend hours (and dollars) in there. 

 5) Shoes.  I always love shoes.  Especially when they come in the form of super high, grey suede platform 1st anniversary shoes from the hubby.  These puppies are definitely dangerous and fingers crossed, they don't kill me.

6) My girl and her toys.  I've never met a dog who is so into her toys than Miss Fin.  She loves them all equally and will bring one to you if you've been gone all day (or 5 minutes), as if to say, "look look look, see my toy? Isn't it cool?  I love it!"  Her longtime favorites are the neon green hot dog and the duck with the long gone squeaker.  And yes, there is a basket for all her toys...just like she's a kid or something!

Here are some of the images from Nicole's session with Jennifer up at Red Rocks recently.  Both of these girls were great to work with and so photogenic.  Enjoy!

Just a few scant days after I returned home from a few months on the east coast, I had a photo shoot with Jennifer and Nicole (her session to follow shortly!) up at Red Rocks Amphitheater.  Red Rocks is by far my favorite place to attend concerts and is just beautiful with its surroundings in general.

(No, we didn't climb the additional 192 stairs to the top of the amphitheater but thank you internet for this lovely image.)

Now, onto what this post is really about!  



 I love the way the beams of the seating curve back and upward in this picture.

Here's a little sneak peek from Nicole's modeling session last week at the ever awesome Red Rocks!

Here's a sneak peek of Part I of Jennifer's fitness/modeling session.  Stay tuned for more!

I never thought I'd see the day when I actually thought, "going to Cabela's is kinda fun."  While I am not a hunter or the best fisherman/woman (I am an avid camper & hiker though), they do have cool things to look at and this weekend, they were host to an athletic competition that would rival the Super Bowl.  Okay, maybe not quite that big but these were some serious athletes.  It was the Dock Dogs competition.  Yes, it's kind of a mouth full.  Umm, what exactly is this said Dock Dogs event?  The layman's description is: there is a 40 foot dock/runway set up and at the end is a large pool of water.  The dog's owner throws some sort of object (tennis ball, plastic ducks or bumpers) into the pool and the dog will launch itself into the pool, trying to get the longest distance possible.  And these dogs get some serious air!
 

This one wouldn't go in for anything!



This dog's got serious ups!

A two-fer!




Even the best athletes like to be fashionable.


Almost.....                                                                     .....got it........

Oooo, so close!

When I started thinking about this post and leading up to writing it, the only thing that came to mind each and every time was the Sound of Music's Favorite Things..it's only natural I'm sure.  And because I like juicy, hyperdescriptive words, I went with Fantabulous Faves.  Fantabulous is waaay better than favorite...dontcha think? So off we go with the inaugural Fantabulous Faves!


#1: Flowers from the hubby. 

Fresh flowers from my significant other are bound to put a smile on my face every time; especially when it's been a particularly rough day.

#2: Dog Shows!


I am by no means bashful about my love of animals.  I've pretty much had at least one animal in my house since I was born and any chance I can get to be around a multitude of animals is heaven for me.  I have big plans for a mini farm someday.  What happy little home isn't complete without a goat named Stanley?

There was a regional dog show in town recently and off I went to fall all over the Yorkies and the Great Danes.  While this was a smaller show, not all 157 breeds recognized by the AKC were there (thank you quick internet research!) but there were definitely enough to keep me occupied.

#3: IKEA


IKEA.  Need I say more?  I was first introduced to this mecca of home decorating back in college and have been an avid devotee ever since.  However, Colorado has been a little behind the times on having an IKEA in its presence...although come Fall 2011, I will be stimulating the economy a little bit more when Denver has its very own IKEA come to town!  The hubs and I visited the Pittsburgh IKEA this weekend and it did not disappoint, as usual.  If only I had an extra ten grand in the bank account...

#4: Colorado Colors


Fall is my favorite season by far.  And the fall in Colorado is even better.  I get a big smile just thinking about it.  The crisp, gotta wear a jacket and maybe some light gloves kinda mornings, the sun warming you just enough to ward off any chills.  And then there's the random fiercely golden patches of leaves dotted among the pine trees to let you know that hey, better get your snow brush out and ready!  Colorado doesn't have the rainbow of leaves when summer bids adieu with their only natural color-changing deciduous tree being the Aspen but they're awesome in their own right.  While they're normally a vibrant golden color, they can range in hue from a pale buttery yellow to a screeching orange.  Add to that the fluttering noise the leaves make in the breeze.  Ahh, fall you're not too far off and I've missed you!


#6: my absolutely favorite place on earth
It's no secret that Colorado has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.  The mountains where I grew up never cease to make me pause and soak it all in.   They're part of my upbringing and my persona and I just can't get enough of them.  There's many a photo of a teeny little Mandy trying her hand at fishing.  (Gotta get all those scanned to a disc now that I think about it...they're priceless!)  But out of all the beautiful gems this state has to offer, my favorite has to be Ptarmigan Lake.  It's a glacier lake sitting in a little bowl at the top of the world at an elevation of 12,147 feet above sea level...it's high.  There are 2 ways to get up to it: a 3 mile hiking trail leading up the north side of the trail......and a 4 wheel drive "road" leading up to the south side of the lake.  And road is very loosely defined.  It's sharp switchbacks, drop-offs that make your heart pound, and some definite scrambling around huge boulders and shaley ledges.  But after you get to the top and walk the short distance OVER the top of the mountain, this view is beyond worth it.


Here's the view looking back at the way I came...


Can't wait til next summer when I can get back up there!


 And lastly, #6: The Fin-meister


This dog gives me such joy in life.  I have never met a dog with such a personality...it's like there's a little 5 year old mischievious kid inside.  And like any child, sometimes I want to strangle her but when she plunks her head down on your lap and looks up at you with those woeful eyes, how can you resist!