As 2008 comes to a close many of us are wondering what the new year will bring.  I have a feeling that many will be wishing for a much better economy and continued lower gas prices!  This has been a crazy but great year as our family settled back in the Greenville area after our short stent in Denver, CO.  My business has been growing since my return and I have so enjoyed meeting new clients and friends.  A group of local photographers decided to get together once a month to talk and share ideas which has been wonderful and I hope it continues on through 2009.  My hopes are to get back into triathlons again since I had to back off in order to run my growing business and be an involved mom.

I enjoy sharing a few favorite things of the year and would love to hear some of yours. Some 2008 favorites are:

Anything peppermint!  Especially when blended with vanilla.  Yankee candles are amazing and during the holidays they bring out my all time favorite scent…Jack Frost!!

Peppermint lotion from Bath & Body Works, peppermint & vanilla hand soap…the list goes on.  OH, and peppermint bark candy

Yummy food choices:  Sabra Hummus with pine nuts – eat with Flat Out Breads or carrots.

Clarisonic face brush.  This is not just for women, guys you will love this too.  I have used this to wash my face for over a year now and I love it.  A great way to wake up and energize your skin.  It was on Oprah’s favorite list last year and yes, I went out and got one

I must admit that I am challenged in the home decor department.  It is just not where my creative talents lie.  Thus my interest in Domino Magazine and even better their website.  So many great ideas, where to shop and not all items are crazy expensive.

Old photographs are another favorite and have been for years.  Vanity Fair’s website has a collection of them and I find that they inspire me for my photo shoots.

But most importantly, my favorite things are not tangible.  Time with family and friends are so important.  I love taking the bikes downtown and going for rides with my boys at Falls Park.  After we ride bikes and play on the rocks, we head to the new and improved Spill The Beans for ice cream..yum!  Also, my time in the classroom every week doing Weekly Reader with the students.  The kids are so much fun and I find that I enjoy hearing all the comments they make about the topics we are discussing.

A BIG thank you to all the vendors I work with that make my job possible and provide my clients with a beautiful finished product.   A BIG BIG thank you to my clients that make Lisa Carpenter Photography possible.  I love what I do and meeting so many amazing people is part of it.

Happy New Year!

~lisa