"Beacham Series" Party Tomorrow Night + Catch Up!

I'm sorry ok.  I know I have been gone forever.  If it makes you feel any better, the latest issue of "The Beacham Series" is finished!  Thank God.  It is a massive amount of work for three people to do... but Laura and Rod and I managed to finish it up and are convinced it is "the best one ever" (quoting Glennis).  Tomorrow night is "The Beacham Series" party, but before we go into that, lets play a quick game of catch up.  Here's what's happened in the past month...

Glennis and I went to the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World conference in Orlando.  According to beacham.com, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (www.LeadingRE.com) is the largest network of top independent local and regional brand-name brokerage firms in the residential sector of real estate. The 550 firms affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® are represented by 4,600 offices and 140,000 associates in more than 30 countries worldwide. The organization's leadership is demonstrated by the fact that its affiliates comprise 15 of the top 25 real estate companies in the country. Collectively, LeadingRE affiliates produced nearly 800,000 home sales valued at $225 billion in the U.S. in 2010. In addition, LeadingRE locally-branded affiliates hold the Number One position in sales in 40% of the top 96 markets in the U.S., more than any national franchise organizations. For complete information on LeadingRE statistics, visit http://stats.leadingre.com/.  <--  BIG DEAL. :)

We won first place in the Property Brand Advertising category of the marketing contest!

We also got second place in the "New Media" category...  so many thanks to all of you for reading this blog...  Thank you! Thank you!

Glennis and I worked the whole time, but we took a few minutes to stick our feet in the pool...

and celebrate our wins with a Miami Vice.

Jimmy and Charlotte were very proud of us!

Once we got back I went straight into picking a cover for "The Beacham Series."

Rod and Laura and I went over to Janey Lowe's listing at 94 Peachtree Way and started scouting shots.

We loved this porch shot...

We also loved this picture going into the family room.  Isn't that archway pretty?

Here is Rod setting up for a shot through the front door.

There I am holding the reflector. :)

After we picked the cover we had to get the ad designed for the WINNER OF THE AD SPACE COMPETITION: Calligraphy by Kristen Flournoy Hay

We were thrilled that she won, and we love her ad, don't you?

After the ad was ready, we sent the magazine out to Tucker Castleberry to get printed.

That was a cause for celebration at Local Three!

I spent last week at Tucker Castleberry making sure all the colors were right.

The magazine looked amazing...  So I left it in Kent's capable hands and went to Palm Beach with my love to see his family.

We had such a nice time, and I came back refreshed and ready for "The Beacham Series" party tomorrow from 5:30 to 8 PM.

The party is at Janey Lowe's listing on 94 Peachtree Way.  The house is such a treat.  According to Janey's remarks: Stunning to the studs renovation & restoration of this 1900 era home designed by Frank Neely & Davey Construction. Photographed & published nationally. Sweeping front lawn leads to porch with redwood floors. Bright family kitchen with walnut island, highest end appliances, 2 dishwashers, 2 refrigerators, hand-painted custom cabinetry, walk-in pantry, bfast area, all opening to a fireside den. Handsome study w/exquisite hand stained built-ins& brass lighting. Mstr bdrm suite with its own sitting area, dual walk-in-closets, 3 large other bedrooms. Herringbone brick patio & fireplace. 2 car garage w/full guest house.

Here is the amazing news: this house is already under contract!  So, this really is your last chance to see it!

Here are a few photos just to get you in the mood to see an amazing house.

I hope to see you all tomorrow night!  Email me if you have any questions.  [email protected]

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Ski Trip Results (!!!)

Calm down.  I'm going to tell you about how my little "white lie" turned out on the trip.

That's me.  The one on the snow.  I was "resting my legs." ha.

It turns out I had not over-exaggerated Jimmy's skiing ability in my head.  He actually was that good.  Show off :)

Thank God I brought Ben along so I could let them do their own thing and ski at my own pace.

See?  Two peas on a Pod.

We all skied together a little bit as well.  It went much better than I expected.  Even though my legs were on fire and I kept making bargins such as "If I ever get down this mountain I'll never lie again," (hmmmm) I did excel at certain parts of the mountain...

As expected, I really rocked the chairlift part of skiing.  I would sit back and pretend like I didn't care at all if we put the bar down, but as soon as we did I would throw my skis up there... so thankful for just a few minutes of relief.  As the boys discussed the next runs we would take, I secretly hoped someone getting off at the top would fall just to make the ride a little bit longer.

On the bright side, my legs and butt did get a nice workout, which is why I felt fine about doing this...

Apparently beer tastes better if you feel like you earned it.

The only slight issue I had was when I got too tired/frustrated/unable to ski and jimmy had to carry my skis so I could take a break.  I'm not sure my brother will ever let me live it down, but hey, if that's the worst thing that happened I'll consider it a success.

Other successes?

Shots of rumple minze at the Village Cafe.

Taking mom to the Mangy Moose.

Tons of great meals in Jackson Hole... and of course tons of hot tub time at the Four Seasons.

I'm a pretty lucky girl.

Speaking of being lucky (see that segue there) , you too could be lucky IF you enter our contest to win a FREE AD in the Beacham Series.

Come on, don't make me beg.  Right now I only have 3 entries, so if you enter you have a GREAT chance of winning.  PLEASE PLEASE PELASE.

The deadline is Tomorrow... Thursday, at midnight.  Please please please.  Don't make me look like a loser (who has to get someone to carry her skis).

Fun things coming up on This Photographer's Life:

1. I'm giving away two FREE autographed copies of Historical Concept's new book "Coming Home."

2. We will have to chose a winner of the free ad!!! yea!!!

3. We have listed a beautiful new modern house (my favorite)

4. We need to ramp up to the next Beacham Series party, so that's always fun.

Tons of good stuff on the horizon, so stay tuned!!!

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Jackson Hole and my big fat lie.

Jimmy, my mom, my brother and I are going to Jackson Hole...  You would think I would be thrilled.  It's obviously beautiful there, and with our tropical winter in GA this year, I have been craving snow.

I've actually been to Jackson Hole.  When I was 18 my dad and I went on a Father/Daughter photo trip out West, and it was our first stop.  My dad is a really amazing photographer, and this trip together was my high school graduation present. It was such a nice time to spend with my dad doing what we love.

See, here I am petting a horse (I'm secretly terrified of horses) and holding a camera.

Blayne in front of a mountain.

I wonder what I was taking there?

I remember this was the first place we went when we got into Jackson Hole.  We were looking for some sort of souvenir or something.  I think maybe my dad got a hat?

One of the coolest things we did was to going paragliding.

I took this photo right after we were in the air.  I wish I had more photos of that.  It was amazing, and one of the most adventurous things I've ever done.

My dad and I had such a nice time.

I'm sure you are thinking, "Ok, so what's the problem?"  Well, here we go.

Jimmy is really great at skiing.  He went to college in Colorado and worked in Jackson Hole.  He's skied his whole life.

I have been skiing since I was about 9.... but, in my brother's words, "I'm just not very athletic."

Which is fine when you're with your family, but not fine when you've led your boyfriend to believe you're "a skier."

Eager to impress Jimmy, on our first date I totally talked up my abilities.  The conversation went something like this:

Jimmy: "Oh yea, I lived in Jackson Hole...  I really try to go out there 3-4 times a season."

Me: "I've been to Jackson Hole.  Great skiing there"  <---  more of a white lie... wait for it....

Jimmy: "Oh, you ski?"

Me: "I LOVE skiing!  My family and I go all the time.  We really love Aspen, but last time we went to Deer Valley because my brother was working there."  (I am CRINGING that those words actually came out of my mouth... but still only a half lie... the LOVE part.)

Jimmy: "Oh cool.  Are you good at skiing?"

Me: "For sure.  I've been skiing since I was little, and I just can't wait to get out there every Winter.  You can't keep me off the slopes." <-----  TOTAL and complete LIE.

Whoops.

Well, here we are on the cusp of our trip, and I've begun my backpedaling.

Phrases such as,"Remember how I said I was good at skiing?  Well, I MAY have slightly exaggerated my abilities," and "When we go to Aspen, I don't exactly ski AJAX... I'm more of a Snowmass/Buttermilk kind of girl," have been spilling out like beans.

Luckily I have been talking up my other abilities, such as:

Sandwich eating and cappuccino drinking  (Possibly the worst picture ever taken of Kate and me --->  also hysterical.)

Drinking beer after a "hard day on the mountain"

Getting on and off the lift (I have this down to a science)

Photographing my friends and family during lunch breaks

Hot tubbing

Going out to eat

and snowmobiling.

I am pretty much an expert at all the parts of skiing that don't actually involve skiing.

Hopefully Jimmy still loves me when we get back...

Wish me luck.

To read the exciting conclusion to this story please click here.

...

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Thinking of starting a blog? Why you should.

Having a blog is awesome. why?

1. You meet really cool people...  it's kind of like internet dating... for friends.  That's how I met Holly from Things That Inspire.  (far left)

2. People care about you and what you're doing, which is always nice and makes you feel special.  ---> who else would sit still as I talked all about my fun Valentines?

3. People present you with unique opportunities.... i.e. a free photo shoot with the love of my life via acclaimed photographer Katie Oblinger.

4. By putting your dreams out there, people help you achieve them... i.e. getting published in "Coming Home" from Historical Concepts.

5.  Sometimes people see houses, love them, and buy them... i.e. this post.

I recently had 3 amazing things happen to me that reminded me of why having a blog is "The Bomb" (too soon to be retro?  Who knows?).

1. A few weeks ago I got an email from a blog reader asking for help listing his home... he wanted to be in The Beacham Series (!??!)  I could help with that!

His home is in Druid Hills, so I suggested he work with Erin Yabroudy.  Erin has a great new blog about things going on in Atlanta.  Read it.

Erin got the listing, and last week I went to photograph 621 Ridgecrest Road.

I was so excited when I drove up!  What a great house!

I was thinking I might buy it myself if I had not JUST finished my own house.

Isn't it great?  I am so excited the owner decided to list with us.  I really hope someone buys this house, so I can do a post about another success story!  PLEASE!

2. Last week one of my favorite listings, which I wrote about here, was featured on Cote de Texas!  I love Joni and was thrilled she wrote about the home...  She's one of the best bloggers in the country!

3. Today my friend Holly, of Things That Inspire, featured Glennis Beacham's amazing French Home on Habersham.  Architect Duane Stone.  Interiors Peggy Stone.  I am so flattered that Holly featured the home... she is also one of the best bloggers in the country and probably THE best in Atlanta.

And that, my friends, is why blogging is awesome!  Any questions?

Oh wait, I have one... well, two.

A few months ago I asked you guys something.  Do you come here to read about my life, or do you come here to see pictures of houses?  Well, I heard you.  Less Blayne, more Houses.  Since then I have worked really hard to write a lot more about houses and a lot less about me.  I wanted to know, how am I doing?  New Poll Time!!

[polldaddy poll=6012843]

And while I have your attention, I am very curious about where you readers come from, so please answer :) [polldaddy poll=6012908]

Thanks for everything lovies!

Happy Tuesday!

p.s. Jimmy and I start personal training tonight...  all this love/eating has not been great for either of us.  :)

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My Photographs Published in Historical Concept's New Book, Coming Home

This is a dream of mine that's been in the making for years.  In this 2010 post I wrote about how I wanted to photograph an architect's work for their book.  A few months later Historical Concepts contacted me about shooting one of their homes in Pine Mountain, GA.  I love Historical Concepts.  They do an amazing job on each of their homes, and I was thrilled to work with them. Early one Saturday morning in 2010 I took off for the shoot.  Here are the photos that I took:

I delivered the photos to Historical Concepts and really did not think too much more about it.

In September of 2011 I got some mail from them.

I jumped up and down and ran around and waved the paper in Jimmy's face.  Finally!  A dream realized.

Then I waited... and last week I got something in the mail.

It said it was from Historical Concepts.  What ever could it be?

Isn't that packaging beautiful?

No no no... Thank you for LETTING me be part of Coming Home!

There it was!

Signed and everything!

Finally I found my house.

Thank you so much for making one of my dreams come true!  Coming Home is a beautiful book and could be on every coffee table around Atlanta/THE WORLD!!   Maybe I can convince them to let me give one away here!  You can order yours on their website ...but the book hits shelves TOMORROW!!!!

THANK YOU AGAIN!!!  Thank you!

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