After many sleepiness nights Dealometer is finally here and ready to save Erie (to start with) on local things to do.

We are so lucky to have Molly Brannigans for a grand opening deal!  Molly’s is one of my favorite Erie restaurants with great Irish Pub food.

So please buy a deal and share the site with your friends.

Our trip across the county was amazing.  We didn’t understand how vast and beautiful the landscape is in our country until this summer.  By far our favorite state was Colorado.  It is breath-taking beautiful every where you look.  I’ve determined we must go back and stay awhile!

When we first entered Colorado we pulled off for gas and I was determined I needed to take photos.  Justin asked the attendant where a good place might be… the gas pump attendant responded, “Of what?!? There is nothing around for a good 100 miles.”  Obviously the teenager didn’t realize how gorgeous the mountains were all around him.  We chuckled and drove away.

We pulled into Orange County the day before we needed to move into our apartment.  It was a surreal feeling.  We pulled up to the same hotel we stayed at months ago when we were playing with the idea of moving.  This time we had our belongings and dogs in tow.

The day we moved in it rained.  Yes it RAINED in sunny SoCal! We didn’t realize how rare that is but it’s the last day I have seen rain in nearly 2 months.  Justin loves it… I think it is a little boring.  I’m not trying to complain that I never have to check what the weather will do (but I guess I am a little).  I love that it is alway 70 degrees and blue skies but a couple of days ago I longed for a rainy Saturday.  I wanted to curl up with a book or watch a movie with my dog at my feet.  I think I’ll need to buy a rainforest cd and have my own rainy day here soon!

All-in-all California is treating us well.  We love the people we have met.  We love the little sight seeing we have done.  The dogs love their new dog parks and beaches.  Joey loves the mall (or I love taking him to the mall).   Justin and I have enjoyed meeting so many like-minded, smart, young business people like ourselves.

Here are some of my photos from our trip.  Most of these are from Colorado!

I have mixed feelings about moving.  It provides us with great opportunities to see our businesses thrive but it also takes me away from friendships I’ve grown over the past 5 years.  I’ve become very sentimental about finding little treasures that remind me of my favorite places.

Growing up as a pastor’s kid, our family’s theme song was ‘On the Road Again’ by Willie Nelson.  Every 4-6 years my brothers and I were in a new church and school, finding our place with new groups of friends.  So I’m no stranger to the moving process both emotionally and physically.  I have decided two more appropriate songs as a theme song for our summer is ‘California’ by Phantom Planet  and a song I remember from watching I Love Lucy (my all time favorite show) ‘California Here I come!‘.

I will be blogging about our adventures and journey across the country.  It should be an exciting summer!

Please be praying for my small family that our travels are safe.

Amanda

xoxo

As I rap up this mini last minute project with the two photographer friends who invited me (Heather Neckers Photography and Penny Photo)… I have been thinking about who does this?  And my answer is mothers, wifes, your next door neighbor, or the strong lady you work with… these women are strong, loving and motivated.  They have great team spirit and are down right tough!

Thanks LEWD Girls!  I had a blast… and want to come back and watch you do your thing again soon!

Amanda

xoxo

Friday morning Justin and I drove down to Dr. Armanini’s office bright and early.  They have a great policy of giving you anxiety medication to take before you arrive at the appointment.  I was surprised how I felt no nerves as I sat in the dentist chair!  I even watched as he put the iv in my arm.  That is the last thing I remember before everything was over.

I had hardly woken up when I was asked if I could walk to the recovery room… I remember being asked if I could walk… I ended up in the recovery room… so I guess I did… I just don’t remember actually walking!

Laying in the recovery room I thought, “if this is what getting your wisdom teeth out feels like, this is nothing!”  The staff sent Justin and I on our way with a bag full of stuff and several lists of instructions.

Little did I know how I’d feel once the medication wore off!  I can’t describe the pain other than its constant and annoying.  The pain medication makes me itch and feel dizzy.

Justin was a huge help!  He rented endless movies and kept the ice packs cold!  I’m still recovering and am in a codeine haze that I’m hoping to be free from tomorrow!  I’ll be glad when I can chew food again and walk my dogs.  Although today I will have to settle for cuddling with them on the couch and catching up on Food Network shows.

I’ve been lucky to have no photo evidence of this weekend.  I’m sure I looked great with my ice packs attached to my swollen face and trying to drink water with my face incredibly numb!

Thanks for letting me be apart of your wedding day!  I had a great time!  

~Amanda

My family rented a house in Deep Creek that over looked a gorgeous valley and (if you looked hard enough) Deep Creek Lake. 

We started off the week by visiting Husky Power Dog Sledding.  Justin was in heaven.  He loved learning about all the sledding equipment and dogs.  I wouldn’t be surprised if one of my future posts include details of how our huskies are learning to pull a sled.  Justin made it a point to go back and  chat with Mike (the owner) about all things sledding.  He was gone most of the  day and I was relieved when he came back…. without a dog!

We also made a trip to Muddy Creek Falls.  It was quite the adventure with 3 kids under the age of 5 but they throughly enjoyed it!  Unfortunately for that leg of the trip I didn’t bring my camera. 

My absolute favorite part of Deep Creek was getting on go-carts!  My brothers, Justin and I all zoomed around the course for several hours.  Who knew the Bunnell clan is so competitive?   It was fun zooming around the course and making memories to last me a very long time! 

We ended the week with a trip to Sunnyside Wools Farm.  It was a family owned farm of llamas, goats, alpacas, and a miniture horse.  It was fun to hear Julian say ‘Oh Wow’ at all the sites and sounds of the farm.  Samantha got to feed the animals.  Samantha, Caleb, and Julian were all able to ride the miniture pony at the end.  It was a great place for a bunch of city kids to see big animals up close.

The really neat part about Deep Creek is all the attractions seem to be owned by families.  Owning a few small businesses myself it feels nice to support other entrepreuners.

I didn’t get a chance to take many portraits of my niece and nephews as I normally do but there are a couple!  My niece Samantha has had me taking her portrait since she was born.  I love how she poses and shows off for the camera!

~Amanda

One of the reasons I love photography is that it captures a point in time, forever.  When my niece was born she had open heart surgery.  At that moment it was painful to take pictures.  But I had to document this event as hard as it was.  Now that she is four years old, in perfect health, we can look at those photographs and be greatful for Samantha’s health.  One day we’ll be able to show Samantha her story and let her know that God must have an amazing plan for her life.

It allows us to remember bits of history, the good and the bad.  Most of Justin and my relationship is captured in photographs.  The various places we lived, the hobbies we have had, and the dogs from puppy on up are all  remember in photographs I’ve taken.  It’s fun to go through these remembering what was going on in our life at the moment.  My favorite photo of the two of us is a simple one.  I took it myself of us eating at a restaurant in Santa Barbara.  It was just the two of us and a car leaving from LA… and we ended up in Santa Barbara.  It was an amazing day of beautiful vistas and great conversation.  I have it sitting on my desk to remind me on bad days that a day like the one in Santa Barbara is around the corner.

I feel lucky to be able to document various events for families.  It’s a job I take seriously but love every moment. 

~Amanda

Haley and Rob held their ceremony and reception at Nick’s Place in Edinboro, PA.  They were so calm even though storm clouds threatened to take away their outdoor ceremony.  I think I was more nervous about the possibility of rain than Haley!  About 20 minutes before the ceremony the rain came down in buckets for several minutes followed by a nice breeze and blue skies!  The staff at Nick’s Place worked quickly to dry chairs.  By the time Haley walked down the isle you couldn’t have asked for better weather.

Thanks Haley and Rob for letting me photograph your wedding!

~Amanda Kifer

(click on the images to see full composition)

Haylee and I braved the 4 and 5 year old group for the second half of the week.  Some of the highlights from the week:  watching preschoolers play musical chairs for the first time, fake mustaches, and going to the gold mine!  Samantha’s (my niece) favorite parts were going to ‘jail’, playing, and singing!  She even got 2nd place in musical chairs! 

Of course I was recruited to take the group photo at the end of the week.  All the kids loved the crazy glasses and fake mustaches!

The Bunnell clan ended the week with a trip to Red House.  We had a great camp fire and roasted some mean smores!