let them eat cake...

dutch and her bff's max and marley had a great time at her recent birthday party.

they even posed for a photo!

can't wait until next year!

happy 2nd birthday dutchie!

we will celebrate tomorrow with your doggie bff's max and marley and this cake.
you are a beautiful girl now- if only you were still this small...

p

happy one week birthday baby adalynn!

last monday night i became an auntie.

introducing the beautiful:
adalynn christine ziegenfuss
12.13.10 - 7:57pm - 7lb 4oz - 20 inches

i cant be more excited to be an aunt.
as you can guess ive taken hundreds of photos (over 700) of the girl already.
it was so cool to be there in the delivery room that day with meg when baby adalynn was borh as big sis/new aunt/photographer.

to see the photostory of baby adalynns birth check out my album here.

here are a few of my favorite photos that i took of her when she was around 48 hours old.








to see more of her 48 hour portraits click here.

congrats meg and cam!
im so excited for you guys and can't wait to spoil you addy!

yesterday and today...

this weekend i went to see yesterday and today at the omaha community playhouse with some of my favorite friends.

this weekend was extra special at the playhouse because glass harmony had a show there also and we were able to pick up some cool blown glass ornaments for our tree!

yesterday and today has probably been my favorite show this season so far. not that the other shows havent been awesome- but i love love love the beatles- so this live concert style show where you request songs and interact with the band was absolutely amazing.

the mcguigan brothers, from bellevue, with their band did a fab job playing some of the beatles best. they had a totally groovy stage, killer stage presence and unbelievable talent.

the guys really did an awesome job connecting with the crowd and feeding off of our energy. by the end of the night we were all dancing our butts off in the aisles.
it really is a must see for any beatles fan!


the only bad thing about the show: i wished it was longer. i could have watched them all day!

you better believe that i'll be back to see the show at least once before it closes at the end of the month. who wants to go with me?

dream come true: i met a penguin

tonight an old dream came true.
i got to pet a penguin. (yes a real- live penguin)
now for exciting the back story.

ever since i was a kid i have had a obsession with penguins.
king, rockhopper, black foot, gentoo penguins- i loved them all.
we still display petey the 2 foot plastic christmas penguin with a red bow tie that i got when in grade school at our house year round. (he was even joel's high school punk band's mascot.)

so tonight i went to the zoo for a metro magazine event honoring the cities best events of the year. our heroes in the heartland event was up for the best event in the category of attendance over 500. we didnt win- but man did i win tonight!

little did i expect to get to not only see a penguin, but pet a penguin when i got dressed up for this vip event. so when i saw lucius, the 14 year old black foot penguin, from across the room i ran with my camera and co-worker liz in tow.

i beamed like that little kid and said- LIZ YOU HAVE TO GET MY PICTURE WITH THAT PENGUIN!!

not only did i get a picture with him- i pet him (he was very soft) and i got a little memory to remember him by when he pooped on my arm and shoe.

i didnt really notice at first...then we couldnt stop laughing.

i said excuse me sir- to the caterer with fancy coctails- where is the restroom then five words i never thought i would be saying 'a penguin pooped on me.'

funny thing is i dont care if he pooped on my sparkly brand new- just cut the tags off- sweater.

that's my life.
who else can say a penguin pooped on them at a vip event where the mayor was present?
me. :)
and i love it.

life is not a snapshot...

life is not a snapshot...
but a life is full snapshots.
this is one of my favorites of janessa and my sister megan at our daycare aka mary's house. (yes that is janessa the adventurous one hanging off of megan's highchair)
we all grew up together: laughing, playing and getting into mischief together (ok lets be honest a lot of mischief together...sorry mary).
i will always remember janessa both through all of the snapshots in my photo albums in and snapshots in my heart.
23 years doesnt seem like enough janessa time to me...but i cant really see the bigger picture now.
we love you and will miss you girl.
xoxo

ps- do they have red velvet cupcakes in heaven? if so- save one for me. :)

hoorah for plum pudding and a christmas carol!

me with scrooge himself!

today i took my mom to see a christmas carol at the omaha community playhouse.
this is one of the few shows that i have actually seen before and would watch every winter if i could.
i love their festive costumes, wassailing songs and spooky special effects for the ghosts of christmas past, present and future.
tiny timmy always tugs at my heart strings.
ebenezer scrooge was soo funny!
hot cocoa and christmas cookies at intermission was divine.
the ending was extra special with a snowfall over the audience!
my only regret, not picking up the rad dancing scrooge scarf.

this show plays until dec. 23 so get your family tickets and start the holidays off right!
i might even try to make plum pudding this year for our christmas dinner...

i heart fall

i also heart all of the foods that come with it.
today cranberry pear compote and sweet potato souffle for andersongiving (chrystal and michael anderson's third annual thanksgiving with friends!
cant wait!

sweet janessa

meet my dear friend janessa.
i have know her pretty much she was born.
her older sister kylee and i grew up best friends and partners in crime at mary's daycare. my little sister and janessa grew up the same way chasing us around.
we were pretty much all inseparable.

this is one of my slumber party favorites...
notice the keen details i had as a make-up artist even back then.

janessa is now a beautiful 23 year old girl who now lives out in nc. she was taken to the dr on oct 27 with what she thought then was the flu and strep throat. it then escalated to pneumonia and strep a. she was transported to another hospital and put on ventilator and put into a drug induced coma. later that week things were looking up a bit and she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. she finished her first round of chemo last wednesday. her tough little body has fought like a champ thus far.

janessa is a fighter. she has always been.
but she is still very critical.

we need your prayers for healing more than ever.

prayers that her earthly body be fully restored and that an overwhelming peace comforts her and her family. prayers that her doctors and nurses know the best treatment options. prayers that her family will have no worries about money or travel experiences. prayers that the girl we love will not be in pain. prayers that all those at camp janessa will be comforted when words arent enough. prayers that their afflictions are eclipsed by mercy and they realize just how great his love is for them...

its killing me not being able to be in nc with them. to offer my homemade cupcakes and hugs.

if you want to help the batchelors you can make a donation to the janessa batchelor fund at any wachovia bank. you can also get more info on how you can help by emailing campjanessa@gmail.com.

i love you janny and i know you can beat this nasty cancer.
i have had the pleasure of meeting many leukemia survivors at the red cross...and i know you too will be a great testament to the power of prayer and the gift of life.
xoxo

welcome back conan...

i finally feel whole again now that you are back on air.
glad to see you kicking it off with team coco right.
ps-the cover of rolling stone is no joke dude! its amazing!
pps-i still love your old cover more i think :)

ppps- in case you missed it i was called a conan superfan in the omaha world-hearld this week in this conan article!

Meet paddy cake the iPad...

Thanks to PRSA Nebraska I am the proud new owner of an iPad. You all know I'm an Apple addict and have wanted one from day one...but I couldnt afford one so I sat back and dreamed of one instead.

When I saw PRSA was having a raffle for one at their annual meeting I knew I couldn't miss it. I joked with my boss and Joel that I would win it...

Last night I even said tomorrow I'm winning that iPad...wish me luck! And what do you know...I won it today!

Amazing! Needless to say I'm over the moon excited. It will be perfect for taking to disasters!

Someone said today that I'm the luckiest person they know.

I think I'm just beyond blessed...

You got mail...dutch.

Dutch has pen pals...
I'm jealous.

Dear delta...

Where to begin... we got to the dfw at 10am for our then on-time 11:30 flight.
It got delayed to 12:09 but didn't leave until about 12:20. Landed in Memphis (at A2) and got off at 1:50...the exact time our connecting was scheduled to leave (at the farthest possible gate B18) ticket agent at A2 said she would call for me and have them hold it.
I ran (in flipflops) across the airport and tons of people to get there to an inhuman devil woman of an agent who after I caught my breath and spit out 'did Omaha leave?' She robotically replied 'yes...ticket please'
at this point (1:58pm) I wanted to 1. Die and 2. Slap her for being a jerk. I told her that the other lady said she would call down and tell them to wait.
Ticket agent number 2 says...we don't hold planes. I said great I just ran 10 miles from A2 for nothing. She hands me my new ticket...7:20.
Frick I was suppose to be home at 3:30. I said seriously that's the earliest? Yep. 'that's disappointing' I say.
Oh and Joel still waiting for his stupid carry on they wouldn't let him carry on to the stupid baby plane in Dallas. When he finally gets to our gate I just say its gone....give her your ticket.
She then applogizes to him...never to me that whole time. I storm off and tell Joel I hate delta as loud as i can and that they could have atleast gave us meal vouchers since we missed lunch and would be here for dinner...to which he replies...she gave me one.
I guess she gave me one too behind my ticket but in her lack of compassion didn't care to mention it while she wasn't saying sorry.so now we won't be home until after 9pm if this flights even on time...and I have a conference tomorrow. I HATE delta they ALWAYS mess up my return flights (three times in a row).I should mention that they only reason I booked this flight on delta was because it was free with delta vouchers I got last time I was trying to get home from Dallas and they gave my seat away. 
Let me just say it wasn't worth it and I will never pay delta by choice EVER. I PROMISE. I hope their social media monitors enjoy reading this on my Facebook, blog and Twitter.

A little customer service can go a long way...

Dane...

My newest little cousin.
He is the best thing to hit Dallas since sliced bread.
Today I took his pictures at the Dallas arboretum.
More to come...

The big d

I love Dallas because...

dear lady gaga

i always said i wouldnt pay that kind of money to see a concert.
well in the adrenaline rush of only getting horrible seats both online and on the phone when the general admission floor seats came up for $98.80 plus the boatloads of fees i clicked buy as fast as i could.
the first time i saw you open for new kids on the block a few years ago i got free tickets...so i guess i shouldn't complain.
see you on st. pattys day with my girls for one epic night.
xoxo-
danelle

ps- i hope you wear a steak suit in honor of being in omaha

dear don draper,

why are you such a hot mess disaster this season?
pull yourself together man and get back to work!
-xoxo-
danelle

i (am) missing you conan!

cant wait!!!!!!
i love that coach biest from glee is in this...but am afraid that i might just hug someone that looked like conan on the street too...

Everybody cut, everybody cut! Everybody cut...footloose!

Photo by Malone and Co. Photography

Last week for my birthday we attended preview night of footloose the musical at the omaha community playhouse.

Let me tell you that from the first time I saw this seasons lineup this is the show I was most excited about.

You all know of my love of all things 1980s...and this has been one of my favs for a longtime. I mean come on a movie about a town that has made dancing illegal...it is legendary.

Throw in one of the best soundtracks and it was just begging to be made into a musical!

The actors were great! I loved the wardrobe of 80s garb and the epic red cowboy boots...that her daddy hates.

The music was awesome....I only wish I could have danced and sang along with them instead of quietly seat dancing with jimbo as mr. Joel gave me the stop it look...the same look he gave me when he saw me put on my vintage cowboy boots.

It was such a great time and a must see for all the footloose lovers out there. 

It plays until Oct 17 so dust off your Sunday shoes and dance on in there!

I leave you with my favorite song:

The perfect birthday...

thanks for the fun friends!

56 more days...

coolest fact ever (according to the team coco blog):
the new 'coco fortress' is the same building and stage that warner brothers filmed goonies and ghostbusters in!
not like i had a reason not to die to see him already- but now i could be in the same building as two of my top 5 favorite movies.

dear team coco-
can you please make my wildest dreams come true?
-xoxo-
danelle

Dutch blitz

I grew up playing the card game dutch blitz with the petersens.
Recently it has came back into my life...and I love it.
Even Joel is addicted.
Last weekend we got a wild hair and added in a player with an extra deck.
It was insane!
Get ready for a tourney this weekend at the fishfry!

Shaken not stirred...

Tonight we attempted making our first James bond martinis...
Not too shabby...

i cant wait!!!!!

im counting down the days until my conedog is back on air!!

red cross family

this week was super busy at work but i got to do a ton of fun things!

i hosted my first press conference (for national preparedness month)

we also went to united ways giving campaign kick-off event at conagra complete with the rocking band slim jim!

i love my job and my red cross family!

Things I love about fall...

Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin muffins, chili and hard cider ale.

crazy factoid

crazy factoid i learned about ray lamontagne at tonight'a show:
he has stage fright.
yes this amazing artist has stage fright...
he played from the side of the stage and was mostly blocked by a stack of speakers.
i find this refreshing.
even stage fright cant keep this man from preforming for thousands.
thanks for playing a great show tonight ray.

fan-tis-tic

today was fantisic (as a friend once said in jamaica)
it involved:
good food (cindy's fried chicken)
good tunes (ray lamontagne and david gray)
and good friends (joel, jimmy and molly)