A little reminder . . .

My cousin decided to get married last weekend . . . in the middle of winter . . . in Michigan. I looked out the window of the airplane as we made our decent into Grand Rapids and saw a landscape completely covered in a thick layer of white. It was almost shocking to realise that I had not even seen snow in two and a half years. I tried to have an open mind about it, maybe it wasn't as bad as I remembered but when the doors slid open and we stepped out of the heated safety of the airport into that bone chilling cold it was clear that I remembered it all to well.

I miss my family and love them more than anything in this world but thanks to this little reminder I can say with more confidence than ever that I am a west coast kinda girl.



At my request my family walked to the end of the pier with me to get some cool snow and ice photos. More to come.

Be the Change . . .

MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge


Today left me feeling very excited and hopeful! Happy Inauguration Day!!

101 Notes To Self . . .

I love making lists. Give me some post it notes and a sharpie and I am happy. There is something so satisfying about crossing off each task as it is accomplished. This year instead of making a New Year's resolution I have created a list of 101 preset tasks that I will complete in the next 1001 days (about 2.75 years).

101 Notes to Self
January 16,2009 to October 14,2011

1. Write about every item completed in this blog

For my home . . .
2.Clean out totes and boxes sitting in closets still waiting to be unpacked
3.Organize my desk
4.Create a cleaning routine and follow it each week
5.Finish the travel loft
6.Decorate the living room
7.Create the perfect patio for reading and relaxing
8.Buy bright new dishes for the kitchen
9.Print and hang personal photos in my home
10.Clean out my truck everyday when I get home

For my health . . .
11.Make my own sushi
12.Compile a list of 25 yummy recipes I love and make my own cookbook
13.Eat vegetarian once a week
14.Take my lunch to work 3 days a week
15.Give up soda
16.Limit energy drinks to one per week
17.Cook a really special meal for someone I love
18.Limit TV to one hour a night
19.Work out 3 times a week
20.Get new glasses
21.Take a pilates or yoga class

For my wallet . . .
22.Start a savings account and save 10% of what I earn
23.Contribute to my 401K
24.Limit Starbucks to once a week

For myself . . .
25.Buy new converse
26.Buy a sweet pair of orange shoes
27.Get a cool bike (preferably an orange cruiser)
28.Buy a lottery ticket
29.Buy myself a right hand ring
30.Create a timeless “basics” wardrobe
31.Buy 5 trendy pieces just because I love them
32.Buy a new car
33.Create a new pajama wardrobe
34.Get a professional message
35.Adopt a dog
36.Read 2 book a month . . . 1 for my business and 1 for myself
37.Create a list of 100 things that make me happy
38.Ride a vespa . . . maybe own it . . .
39.Scout photo locations once a week
40.Go on a picnic
41.Go to a drive in movie
42.Start a tradition
43.Go star gazing
44.Go sledding
45.Update my ipod
46.Go to a ballet
47.Discover 1 new musician I like a month
48.Go to at least 2 concerts
49.Get a manicure
50.Get a pedicure

For my mind . . .
51.Learn a foreign language
52.Finish my degree
53.Take photography classes
54.Become certified in CPR
55.Be able to name 25 foreign leaders and their countries
56.Get a library card

For my creative side . . .
57.Write a children’s book, illustrate it and publish on blurb or lulu
58.Learn to knit
59.Reupholster a piece of furniture
60.Make my own Christmas cards
61.Learn to use my sewing machine

For others . . .
62.Send everyone in my family birthday cards
63.Volunteer for a worthy cause
64.Throw a dinner party
65.Plan a surprise party
66.Call my family once a week
67.Send 10 cards in the mail just because
68.Go hiking with my brother 3 times
69.Take photos of my sister and her boyfriend
70.Take photos of my parents
71.Do something nice for someone anonymously

For the planet . . .
72.Go 100% natural with my cleaning supplies
73.Buy and use reusable bags for shopping
74.No more bottled water
75.Get rid of anything I don’t love, need or use regularly
76.Walk/ride a bike for errands that are close by
77.Make my photography business “green”
78.Limit showers to 5 minutes
79.Shop for locally grown produce at a farmers market once a month

For my passport . . .
80.Take a road trip just for fun
81.Visit 2 new countries
82.Go to Nashville
83.Visit Seattle
84.Spend a weekend in New Mexico

For my heart . . .
85.Do six free sessions to build my portfolio (maternity/baby, kids, family, senior, engagement, wedding)
86.Photograph a wedding
87.Photograph a wedding out of state
88.Photograph a wedding out of the country
89.Create a studio space
90.Buy a shoot sac
91.Buy a shoot sac cover
92.Buy 2 new lenses
93.Buy a new camera
94.Get a tax ID number
95.Attend 2 photography workshops
96.Attend a WPPI convention
97.Start a blog about my photography and post once a week
98.Finish my website
99.Create a logo for Orange Tree Photography that I love!!!
100.Get photos taken for my blog by a photographer I admire
101. Donate $5 to a charity of my choice for every item on this list that is not accomplished

New Year, New Blog

My name is Ashley Blanding and this is my blog. This is the place I will document my first steps down the long, bumpy and rewarding road that will eventually lead to the realization of Orange Tree Photography . . . fresh + fun photography for every branch of your family tree!! Check back often and you will find my latest wedding and portrait work as well as updates on my business . . . with a little slice of my personal life now and then.

Kicking off the blog is a picture of my one of my favorite people to photograph . . . my little sister. She might roll her eyes at me every time I ask if I can take her picture but she can't fool me. We always have a great time running around abandoned factories and back alleys looking for the perfect photo spots. We top the evening off with a Chai at Coffee Grounds and appetizers at Applebees. It really doesn't get much better . . .