Story@Home Conference | Giveaway

I adore a good story, whether I am sitting over a yummy lunch chatting about the craziness of life, or if I happen to be reading blogs or facebook status updates, or my favorite, cuddling on the couch at night reading the scriptures or our newest favorite, Harry Potter I love stories.

Even better for me, I love writing stories. I love to write the story of my life through this blog, and I love to capture that life through my photography. At the end of every year we create a family year book of photos and short stories to keep for generations to come.

I cannot wait for our 2012 yearbook already, aren't these photos begging for a story to be told?

I am SO excited to attend the Story@Home conference sponsored by CherishBound and FamilySearch. The conference has three tracks: Blogging, Storytelling and FamilySearch (family history). I am excited to learn more about story telling, to bring back to my blog and help me document my life in a better way through my words. I know a lot of friends who would benefit from the blogging track, to get started telling their own life's story. This conference is going to be amazing!

No matter how you tell your stories – through your family history, at your child’s bedside, on your blog, or from a stage – your stories matter. Join us for a conference that will change the way you see your stories and the world, and help you connect in new ways with those you cherish most.

Workshops and performances by award-winning storytellers, performers and speakers, will help you explore ways to use the power of story in your home. You’ll be able to record your own story, start on some research to learn more about your family’s history, get started on a blog and learn how to tell your story through social media.

After reading over the agenda, I am stoked to see all of the phenomenal speakers and workshop presenters. People like C Jane Kendrick, Rustin Banks of BlogFrog, and Rachael Herrscher of Today's Mama.

Guess who else will be hosting a special box lunch keynote during the blogging track? Well that would be ME. Yes, can you believe I have been asked to speak at this amazing conference? I am still pinching myself. Come and see me will you? Mrs. R will also be speaking at the same box lunch keynote. Thrilling.

So, how can you get your ticket you ask? At $79 (meals not included but coupons/discount cards will be in attendee goody bags) for the two-day conference, this deal is amazing. The entire conference is located in downtown Salt Lake City. The conference has secured a special room rate at The Plaza Hotel downtown; rooms are only $79 a night. What an amazing rate!

Hurry and register. Seating is limited and the conference may sell out before a winner of the giveaway is announced. If you purchase a ticket and then win, you will be issued a refund for your ticket price.

Kim Orlandini Photography is giving away one (1) full-conference pass to Story@Home!

To enter, leave a comment telling me which track you'd most like to attend.

For extra entries, do any of the following. Each of the following counts as an additional entry. Please leave a separate comment for each one you do.

"Like" Story@Home on Facebook.
"Like" Kim Orlandini Photography on Facebook.
Follow @KimOrlandini on Twitter.
Tweet about this giveaway with @KimOrlandini in your tweet.
Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway.

Giveaway ends Friday, February 3 at midnight.

Winner will be notified by email.

P.S. Story@Home is offering a Sweetheart Special. Everyone who registers by February 14th will be entered into a drawing. The winner will receive 2 tickets (one refund for her and a ticket for someone she loves).

**Get geeky: All photos shot on a Nikon N80 with a 50mm 1.4 lens at f1.4 Kodak Portra 400 Film. **

Zion's Mercantile Provo, Utah | SassyScoops

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to attend a review of Zion's Mercantile in Provo, Utah with SassyScoops.

I always enjoy going on reviews with SassyScoops and photographing yummy food and fun stores. This time was no exception.

**Get geeky: Shot on a Nikon N80, 50mm 1.4 lens at 1.4 with Kodak 800 Consumer Film processed at Walgreen's**

Perfect Doesn't Exist

**Get geeky: Shot on a Contax 645, 80mm 2.0 lens at 2.0 with Kodak Portra 400 Film **

As I lay in bed this morning, contemplating what I would blog about today, my mind drifted to a lot of different topics that have been brewing lately. There is so much I want to share. I got up, I checked my email, and my answer was there in a comment from Becky. Becky sent me a link to this beautiful article on perfection. I loved reading the article. I agree with so very much contained in it.

My mind thought back to almost five years ago to another article I came across when cleaning out my basement. The article is titled, What Does it Mean to Be Perfect? Reading this article five years ago was life changing for me. I recently shared this same article with a friend struggling with perfectionism. I could see myself so clearly in this person...well, I could see the 'before reading the article Kim' in this person. It made me so sad. When I say this article changed me, that is almost an understatement.

Growing up, I always tried my best to be perfect. I struggled deeply with Perfectionism problems. If I wasn't perfect in my home, in my grades, in my driving record, in my friendships, I would sink into a deep, deep depression. Perfectionism ate up my entire teenage experience with feelings of self doubt and unworthiness. Perfectionism destroyed many years of happiness between my husband and myself. Almost seven years of our marriage were wasted because I couldn't be perfect. I pushed my husband away because I was afraid if I wasn't a perfect wife to him I would fail. The irony is, I failed in my marriage because I believed I wasn't worthy of being loved by him because I couldn't be pretty enough, or skinny enough, or keep the house clean enough. None of these things were piled on me by Flavio. Not. One. I put it all upon myself. All of it. I was to blame.

I can remember distinctly reading this article. I was sitting cross legged on the basement floor, facing the gray wall and the scarlet colored bin of magazines was right in front of me. I can clearly see the magazine open on my lap. I can remember reading the words, and seeing the table describing "Doing Your Best" and "Perfectionism". It was then that I realized, at the tender age of 25 that I had messed up my entire life thus far. I had quite literally f***** up my life to that point. I put that word, because quite literally that is what I had done. I had wasted so much of myself by being afraid of messing up, or trying and not ever being satisfied with what I had accomplished because it wasn't perfect. The weight I had put upon myself and my shoulders was unbearable. I remember that day with so much clarity. I can feel it. I can hear the sound of my heart beating. It was that day I decided that I would never struggle with Perfectionism ever again. I would never fall into that trap again.

That day I set about trying to make things right in my marriage. I tried to fix all that I had done wrong. I apologized deeply and sincerely to my husband. I tried from that day forward to be a better mother, not a perfect mother, but just try to be the best me I could without all of the other stuff getting in the way. I changed that day. Not perfectly...but I changed in small ways, trying always to love myself. It wasn't easy, it still isn't easy, but I am much happier for it. I no longer try to be perfect. It is a much better way to live, a much easier way of life.

The sad thing? My marriage had deteriorated so much by that time, that my apologies were not enough to fix it. That part wasn't my fault. That is what is so beautiful about life...we each bestow within us the ability to fix ourselves, to be our own best, no one can make us do it, we have to decide on our own who we will be, who we will forgive, how we will move forward.

Sadly, it would take another five years to even reach a rock bottom in my marriage. It took an affair, a separation, a very near divorce only weeks ago to hit that bottom and find something to push off from and even attempt to swim back upward. Right now, we are 1/100th of the way back up from that terrible and painful bottom. It will be a long, tiring, excruciating journey, but we are finally back on this journey together.

Sometimes the journey is really hard. It is really ugly. Sometimes I feel so alone. I am thankful I no longer carry the weight of trying to be perfect. If I did, it would make this journey so much harder and I guarantee I would fail miserably, or I would have failed long, long ago.

If any of you out there are struggling with Perfectionism, I encourage you to look inside yourself and really see what you can let go, what you need to keep striving for, and make your lives better. I promise it will be one of the most freeing experiences of your life. I promise you will come to know yourself in a way you never knew was possible, and in the process you will actually become better than you ever imagined.

Happy Birthday!

These photos from last year are proof of how much I did not feel up to doing anything, like blogging. It is almost painful to look back at 2011, especially early 2011. There are things hidden behind eyes. Even looking at the photos causes my breath to catch in my throat. However, I am determined to get them all up and make for lost time, I should have done it anyway, feelings aside.

That, however is not what this post is about. This post is about last year on this same day when Flavio turned 33 and Miss Emm turned the big 5. Today, they turn 34, and 6 respectively. I can't believe it.

I love to see how excited she was about her present. Exactly what she wanted. This year I am so afraid that she might be a little bit sad that I got her Legos (which she wanted a month ago) instead of her newest want, an American Girl Doll. I just couldn't afford the American Girl Doll with all of her accessories that Emm wanted. Maybe we can save up to get her for Christmas this year. Knowing her, she may change her mind before then.

She is so sweet though. I wrapped her presents with the help of Milla, we colored on brown paper with markers and set them out for her to open up this morning. Emm refused to open them though. She wants Jothan to be home to see her open them. This is proof of what a wonderful girl she is and what a lovely young lady she is becoming. I am so thankful for her and for her love and consideration of others.

She woke her dad up this morning with a huge grin, and wished him a very happy birthday. She then came in to wake me up with the same beautiful smile so I could wish her a happy birthday. Who does that? She does. I love her for it. So does her dad.

Last year's festivities:

Last year all she wanted was a Tangled Doll. I wish I remembered what we did that day. Perhaps we went to see the movie? This is why you don't stop recording your life. You forget!

Don't forget the gorgeous Flynn Rider. Is it possible to crush on a cartoon character? Because I do.

She is so tiny. Love her trying on this baby crown.

My beautiful mom and my beautiful girl.

The birthday boy with the birthday girl. She adores him.

The most amazing cake ever, made by the amazingly talented Ashlee from I'm Topsy Turvy. She and I did a trade last year, photography for cakes. I will be posting her birth story later this week. Come back and see the awesomeness. It was so fun getting to know Ashlee throughout the year. This year everyone will be sad because they get boxed cake. (Thanks to Holly for letting me borrow her Bundt pan so that it looks a little fancier.) It was fun while it lasted.

Here is hoping this year is just as magical for both of them. I love them both so very much and I am so thankful for both Flavio and Emm. They make me smile, they make me laugh, they make me feel loved.

**Get geeky: Shot on a Contax 645, 80mm 2.0 lens at 2.0 with Kodak Portra 400 Film pushed to 800**

Anderson Family Sealing, Bountiful Utah

I was so happy when I got an email from the Anderson family. Last year about this same time I had the opportunity to photograph their sealing to their middle little boy in the LDS Bountiful Temple They are so amazing and so full of love for their three little boys who make me smile and melt my heart. Thank you for choosing me to capture your special day.

If you would love for me to capture your special day in a similar way, drop me a line. I would love to talk with you! kimorlandini@gmail.com

View entire session and order prints here .

**Get geeky: Shot on a Contax 645, 80mm 2.0 lens at 2.8 with Kodak Portra 400 Film**