Happy Birthday To My Sweet B {My Story}

I just love this baby, my Brynny B turns one today!!!!  It’s so bitter sweet as she may be our last child….. might be….  ;)  I’m so excited to celebrate her birthday with all of our friends and family.  After looking back on the year there have been so many memories, finding her voice…( more like screaming), learning to crawl, how she did NOT like eating rice cereal and moved stright to finger foods, and so much more.

To my sweet B, you have brought us so much joy in this first year with you.  I can’t wait to watch you grow and change into a toddler and a little girl.  Your sisters love you and you are one tough baby being carried around by Hadley… even though mommy says she’s not allowed.  Thank you for being my baby, I wish you’d never grow up.

All the mommas out there, if you have children… hug, squeeze and kiss them because they only stay tiny for so long.

An Experience To Remember {My Story}

This last weekend was such an amazing experience.  I was chosen by Jasmine Star to attend her course on how to shoot an editorial wedding at CreativeLIVE.  My hubby and I put together a submission video, where we rapped, and we actually got picked!!!!!  I was shocked and amazed!!!  I had all sorts of emotions running through me, excitment, nerves, and a hunger to learn.  My hubs and I drove down to Seattle, just the two of us. Our moms graciously took our girls for the weekend so we were able to have some time without kids for a couple days.  I have been watching CreativeLIVE for a while now so winning was exhilarating for me, it was exciting getting to meet all the crew and just being part of the action.  The first day I was so nervous I could have thrown up, getting to know the other photographers, the crew, cameras, and just a whole new experience.  We got together with Jasmine for breakfast and meeting her was great, her and JD were so nice and genuine.  After some eats we headed to cL and got it started, I learned so much that first day… I can’t even re cap everything because my brain will explode and if you really want to know you can buy the full three days for $149….  steal of a deal by the way…. I just can’t even explain how incredible each and every day was, and the food they served at lunch was sooooo yummy!  The crew eats well, Thai, and Greek food… YUM!  Two of my fav  dishes.  Hosts Kenna and LaRae are two of the sweetest people, and I love the way they run the show… my favorite Kenna line…. “Hello internet!” Awesome!  I know this is choppy, but I just can’t stop thinking of all these great moments.  Overall an amazing experience.  Now I have a few words to say to J*, J* Primes and cL……

CreativeLIVE, THANK YOU!!!  I am so honoured and blessed to have met each and every one of you!  I have made new friends and you all are so friendly and kind.  I have never been in any sort of production like this and you all rocked it and made us all feel so comfortable.

J* Primes….. I love you guys!  You are all so wonderful.  I had fun shooting, dancing, laughing, and yes shedding some tears too.  I know we will all keep in touch and will keep each other accountable.  I can’t wait to watch our businesses grow!!

This group is amazing so go and check them and “Like” their Facebook pages!!!  Actually LOVE them!!!!!!  Ashley Barnett, Mark Nabong, Brittany Morgan, Michelle Lange, and last but not least John Cain Sargent.

Jasmine, thank you.  Thank you for choosing me.  This was such a cool experience, and I am so blessed to have shared this with you!  Every day you exceeded my expectations and made me want to become a better photographer.  You are such a lovely person and you give all that you have to teach others.  Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Well, it’s time to rock it out!!!  I have some exciting news…. a new Ashley Martens Photography is coming!!!  A complete overhaul… branding, website, packaging, blog make over, and more!!!!  Keep checking back, I can’t wait to show you where my business is going!

My New Lens {101 In 1001}

YAY!!!!!  I bought my new lens, I’m now the proud new owner of a 50mm 1.4 lens!!!!!

Watching Jasmine Star’s talk on Creative Live, really made me want to get that creamy, gorgeous skin with eyes that pop.  Well now I’ve got it!!  This was one of my 101 in 1001, yup…. check… it’s done!  Here’s some family pics I took at a family barbeque of everyone hanging out.

My cousins little guy.

My beautiful girl swimming!

My cousins older boys having fun in the pool.

mmmmmmmmm yum!

My sweet Bryneee bear!

My Pressy Nessy!

He’s so proud!

My beautiful mama.

Tried, Tested, LOVE IT!!!

Baking {My Story}

Ok, I love baking…. well….kind of, I love to eat it!   I have this new tradition, have a cup of Vanilla Earl Grey with a cookie.  So I have found this perfect recipe the doesn’t require soft butter (I never have it on hand), Ginger Crinkles.  YUM!  It is the easiest cookie recipe I have found, it only makes two dozen so it’s really easy to whip up with out taking hours to bake them.  If you know me, I not the best baker… usually I forget an ingredient or burn them.  This one I think I have perfected….  lol!  Check them out, and try them yourself!

• 2/3 cup cooking oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 4 tbsp molasses
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ginger
• extra sugar to coat

Mix together wet ingredients and in a separate bowl mix in the dry ingredients.  Add the dry to the wet, mix well.  Shape into 1 inch balls.  Roll in sugar and place onto baking sheet.  Bake in oven at 350 degrees F for 8-10 Mins.  Enjoy!!!

The Love Of My Life {My Story}

Becoming a mother for the first time was an amazing, incredible feeling!!  Having my third baby was no different.  My beautiful baby girl came into this world on May 10th, right on my due date.  She is so perfect, little lips, wispy brown hair, and I know she’s getting daddy’s blue eyes.  My water broke on Monday May 9th, and Tuesday the 10th I went in to the hospital to be induced.  With each girl I was induced, so third time was a charm.  I had a very fast labour and delivery, she was born at 7lbs and 3oz.  My smallest girl, LOVE her!!

That night we had a bit of a scare, the nurse came into our room and I woke up and looked over at my tiny girl…. I asked the nurse “is she a funny colour?”  Just then the nurse picked her up, looked at her and ran out of the room.  My heart sank, I told Shawn and he followed.  It felt like an eternity that they were gone, so I unplugged my IV and found them.  My doctor was assessing her and it was decided that the NICU was the best place for my sweet baby.  She had apnea or dusty spells, where she would stop breathing.  So there she was all hooked up to monitors and being watched 24/7.  They ran all sorts of tests trying to rule out infection.  After a couple days everything was looking good with no dusty spells, nor infection.  Being in the NICU really puts things into perspective to be thankful for our healthy children.  Saturday morning, we were able to come home!!! YAY!!  I was so excited and ready to start our life with 3 little girls.  I thank God everyday for the blessings of these little ones in our life.

My sweet baby girl was so cozy in there!

Her first photo shoot!