Ladies ... why not try something different this Valentine's Day, whether it's a gift for your sweet Valentine or for yourself, feel beautiful!!!  Embrace the gorgeous woman you are while sipping champagne, enjoying chocolates and feeling like a model during a one hour photo-shoot with ME!!! 

Email me at sabrina@sabrinanicole.net to book your session TODAY!!!

So, I'm basically giddy like a little school girl that my new running shoes finally came in!!!  Anyone that knows me, knows that working out is not only something I like to do ... it's truly a passion of mine.  One of my Christmas gifts from my adorable mama this year was a new pair of running shoes.  Since I have literally ran my pair past their breaking point, I was BEYOND excited about this gift!!!  I went and checked out several options.  After trying on shoe after shoe after shoe, running laps around the store (I had to test them out), I decided to be brave and try a new brand.  I went with Sketchers' new creation called Go Run.  They're extremely light weight and supposed to focus on mid-foot strike.  I'm crazy exited to test out my new shoes with all of their fancy sensors.  I know this is not a photography post, but I couldn't help but share my excitement that my new shoes finally arrived.  I'm thrilled that I decided to try a completely new style and take a risk which totally falls in line with my goals for this year.  Have you tried something new lately or taken a risk?  I hope so, it's the best way to live every day!  If you need me, I'll be out running!  

Scratching the paper with my pen, trying to brainstorm ideas for my Thursday Thrills blog post, I realized two things: First, my doodling skills have not changed since seventh grade and second, I’m thrilled about too many things.  Should I blog about my thrill of practicing yoga again … some recent clients that cracked me up … my new recipe for a spinach and fruit smoothie (don’t worry I’ll totally share that one later) …

I finally decided that I wanted to swoon over some of my recent clients.  Lately I have had the ABSOLUTE pleasure of photographing some exceptional children.  I cannot express how happy it makes me to capture a child in a moment or get on their level and see the world through their eyes.  Now, I’m not going to lie, I never thought I would like photographing children.  In fact, I told people close to me when I was starting my business full-time that they would never see a kid on my blog and if they did … shake me.  I can’t help but laugh at that mindset now.  NOW “like” doesn’t even come close to expressing how I feel about photographing these awesome human beings … LOVE is the only way I can explain it.  Their laughs, comments and looks make my heart glow … truly.  I’m so grateful that I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with all the AMAZING kids you see here and hope I get a chance to photograph each of them again because they're beyond wonderful!!!

Give me a sweet couple, a beautiful setting, an adorable dog and I am one happy photographer.  I had such a GREAT time meeting and shooting Lindsey, Brandon and Scout.  This couple is new to Austin and is already fitting in perfectly!!!

When I forget I'm even working and truly enjoy shooting a session, I know I LOVE my clients!!!  That feeling fully encompasses my shoot with Lizzy and the awesome men in her life.

I had such a blast photographing Gabby's senior portraits.  She is such a beautiful girl on the inside as well as the outside.  I wish her nothing but success and happiness after high school!!!

I sat there ... tapping my pen ... writing my goals down, blushing and quickly scratching them out.  Too bold, too much, too big ... these were the thoughts/excuses running through my head.  Then I took a deep breath, thought about it and decided to be Too bold, Too much, Too big ... why not?!!  Sure, the thought of making a "safe" and 'reasonable" list of goals, that I knew I could accomplish, would feel nice at the end of the year as I sipped my green tea and patted myself on the back.  BUT, the thought of accomplishing a scary and bold list would feel AWESOME as I sipped my champagne and smiled in amazement!!!  So I wrote my new list of goals in bright pink ink (cause the color makes me happy) and did not allow myself to over think it or scratch anything out.  I even decorated my list with glitter so I will look at it every day and feel excited.  Yes ... glitter makes me happy almost as much as cake ...  So, for 2012 I refuse to play it safe, therefor, I'm going to jump from dream to dream with my glitter and smile through the scary and hope I see you jumping with me! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Oh yes, that picture above is of my sister and I, circa 1987 with Santa, our coloring books and sweats galore.  I am a FOOL for the Holiday season and always have been.  The lights ... the smell of Christmas trees ...  all of the good food ...a little extra time in the gym ... I LOVE it all!!!  This year all of my seasonal joy was intensified when my family decided to sponsor another family for Christmas.  I can't tell you how happy we all are for this experience.  When we took the gifts over to the family, there was a feeling in the air and in our hearts which was, in my opinion, what the season is all about ... pure love and selflessness.  Seeing a young mom smile in relief of being able to give Christmas to her children and not having to stress about groceries for a little while longer, is a beautiful smile to witness.

No matter what you celebrate this season, I hope you do it with love and kindness and carry that with you throughout the new year!!!

"Lunch at Which Which, putt putt, milkshakes from P. Terry's and giving Christmas to another family, it's pretty much the best day ever" he said as we were driving home. I spent yesterday with the most important male in my life, my nephew Riley. He is basically the coolest little boy EVER and holds a massive piece of my heart.  Riley had never been to Peter Pan Mini-Golf, an iconic place in Austin, so I took him there. We had so much fun playing putt putt while being extremely competitive with each other (even though neither of us are any good).  What's better to do after putt putt on a brisk cold day? ... get a milkshake of course!  "Should we get the regular or large?" asked Riley to which I quickly responded "you mom would kill me if I got you a large milkshake." 

I kept getting stumped all day hearing my nephew say things were "beast".  "Brina, do you see that tie-died Long Horn blanket ... it's pretty beast."  Um ... two things Riley, 1. not sure we should love tie-died blankets and 2. beast?  Is that a new word?  Am I that old now that I laugh at the silly words kids are saying? How can this word catch on but when I tried to incorporate "sour" into the slang dictionary back in middle school no one picked up what I was throwing down.  Later that day we took Christmas to a family that my family chose to sponsor (I'll talk about this more in tomorrows blog).  The day could not have been better and I am THRILLED to have such an amazing nephew who constantly makes my laugh and smile!!!

It was a lovely day and they were a lovely family.  I was so excited to meet Makayla in person after speaking to her on the phone a few times.  She was as nice as I imagined.  Sometimes I fall instantly for clients and feel like I've been friends with them for a while, Makayla and her family were like this for me.