Oh Birthdays are coming by so quickly, the year just flew by and just the other day I was like what 12 but although I am not as young and missed some opportunities in my life it all has led me to here, to now and now is very amazing. Thank you everyone for the birthday messages and cards, felt so blessed today. It was a beautiful day and I had and have everything I need because no cruise, or diamond or expensive purses although I like all those things can compare to contentment, happiness and family. I am so thankful and so excited about the new year to come, exciting news coming soon.

Pictures by Max….sort of…lol and here is a sneak peak of my website which I am committed to finishing and launching soon.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and my husband cooked the turkey and I made the rice and Brazilian mayo salad from scratch and I am so thankful for simple moments like these with family and friends and I am also thankful for all my clients and for you reading this right now. Sometimes I feel alone in the blog world, like no one is reading but google analytics tells me otherwise so if you never leave a comment, say hello sometime and if you want to sign up for my newsletter and get latest info, tips and random Feuza Stuff, sign up HERE . Under sign up for Fuse News. Either way I am very happy with your visit.

I was called Mr.Grinch today because I was so not in the mood to go out shopping for Christmas decorations. My husband came home with the grand ole idea to do so and I am thinking BLACK FRIDAY not tonight, I just want to wear sweats and stay home and try to finish some work, just in big denial that Thanksgiving is 2 days away, and it is already Black Friday this Friday and my birthday Sunday so I was in a grumpy mood, trying to get rid of this crazy back log I have acquired and do not want to ever again, and sleepy and lazy but I went anyway and I am so glad I did. We went to a few stores looking for some props for my Holiday Sessions coming up and also hair cuts for Lucas and Max. The boys sure need to go out more, they act like animals let out of a cage. I soon became excited about the Christmas decor though still not persuaded with our ghetto tree which is missing the top part ( my secret plan is to get another tree from Kolhs on Black Friday but don’t tell Max) Max said just put a star on top and a lot of decorations and no one will notice, um sure they won’t blink blink but the holidays are not about perfect decorations or even Christmas cards  or lights or even bookings, but about the special people you have around you and how you need to cherish each day, each hour and just wanted to say to my husband, my boys Lucas and Joshua, my ever supportive mom, to my dad, to my 5 siblings, Diego, Flavia, David, Janay, and Ana Paula is that I love you guys so much and I have not been saying that enough lately, bear with my grumpiness and love me back please, sister needs some TLC, And we so need some pictures, not of the tree though, too embarrassing, but of my new backdrop from Drop It Modern which arrived today all wrapped up in it’s black and white box with matching tags, tissue paper and tied with a satin black tie, what great branding! It came a day early and made me smile. I first learned of them at PDN when we saw the fabric from far away. Once I got home, I could not stop thinking about them and all the ones I wanted, dreamy.  Here are a few pictures I took of it when it arrived and then Max and I did a little test shoot. Thank you my love.

Joshua could be their spokes-guy

Prepping for the Holiday Spirit in these next ones.

Okay Santa, I have been good this year. 3 words for you. MAC BOOK PRO.

oh yeah, props to the husband for taking these photos of me.

Any one see  the movie 500 Days of Summer? Well I did and I cried lots, but it reminded me of life and business, sometimes we are so stuck on one thing or one point that we do not see opportunities around us and  do not realize that seasons change, people change, life changes and it flies by, more and more each day  I realize that I will not be here for long, neither will my children, or husband and although a bit sad in a way it reminds me of my faith in God and how I need to live each day to the fullest, goof around, play, laugh, live, love, inspire and take lots of pictures to remember those moments and emotions later- Fall is such a lovely season to shoot, all the colors and it is a reminder that seasons come and go and although harsh winter will be here soon, it will leave soon as well. Here is the Fall Session I did of little Hannah Joy who is a month to month watch me grow cutie. I loved her reaction to the leaves, she thought they were lunch. Watch the Slide-show HERE****.

I have recently done my second Baptism, also known as Christening and they are like mini weddings. They both happen to be Portuguese families involved and they are a very important event in Portuguese tradition and the day is filled with some rituals. So it starts out with a getting ready session, the child getting ready with her parents or God parents then the child is given gifts usually gold by the God parents. Then it is off to the church for Morning Mass which lasts about an hour, and the Baptism right after with the families of whose children will be getting baptized and once that is done, it is off to the restaurant/reception in this case the Portuguese Fisherman in South River, NJ. and the Portuguese sure know how to party! There cocktail hour is like a full course meal. During the restaurant part there is usually a toast by the family and God parents as well as some traditional Portuguese music with some special dances. Overall it is a long day and almost mini wedding. Here are few of my fav’s from Daniel’s Baptism.

This week at my church CCOB, there was a women’s dessert night, I actually baked a cake that looked normal. My husband was a little envious, he told me I keep buying the boxes but never bake for him, kinda of true so I pulled out the other box, fudge walnut brownies and I quickly whipped that up and placed in the oven because after all I should take care of him and my family first. The boys were excited to have walnut brownies with ice cream and I left my men with their bowls and headed to church on a windy rainy thursday night. I knew there would be a speaker but would have never imagined her talk would be title, Love sweet Love. I arrived holding my dessert tight, a bit shy for there were many women and I am new at this church and do not know anyone., I felt a bit a lone as one does whenever one goes to a new place and  I looked where to put my dessert and I found my spot. We worshiped some songs and I asked God to speak to me. The Little short preached went up and began speaking what the world needs is Love Sweet Love and she went onto to preach God’s love and how He wants us to love people as they need to be loved and not how we want them to be loved. In my husband’s cake cooking for him is a sign of loving him and taking care of him and I would like to improve on that part and would like to understand and put into practice how people need to be loved. Love is patient, Love is kind, Love does not boast and she went on citing funny examples of how it is hard to love people sometimes especially those who bug us but Jesus on the sermon of the mount asked us to forgive our enemies, to pray for those who use us, to do good and that sounds impossible but when we ask for God’s love to reign in us, then we love God’s way. Love sweet love is what the world needs and love sweet love is what I felt during the ceremony and reception of Muhammed and Yolanda’s Wedding last month. It was a simple wedding, made possible by the help of a caring community.  It was not in a super sized church, nor a fancy hotel or wedding hall but the most important ingredients to any wedding were present. Love sweet love, sweet brown shy eyes tucked underneath a white cap, although tall Muhammed is very shy and hides but you can see his love sweet love for his and only his Yolanda. She hides behind her laughter, laughing, and smiling and whispers in his ears. The ceremony touched my heart for I felt that preacher was talking to me, how God uses people and I felt blessed being there sharing those moments. In the ceremony the sweet love was felt again by family members and friends who tidied up the place and who spoke of how they admired both Yolanda and Muhammed who have both lost their mothers and have gone through thick and thin with their two little boys but have stayed together strong in their love sweet love. After the wedding Yolanda emailed me the sweetest note saying the following:

Things have been a little crazy around the Reis-Tomaz household so this a bit of a crazy post with so much info, just take it slow. I have been busy with kids, soccer, work, albums, editing, shoots, video, lots and we are just trying to catch up to it all so forgive our bit of absence but I do want to share some family time with Fall outings, soccer games and a few to see our family life. I struggle loads with juggling everything and it is really hard being home with the kids 24 hours a day while trying to work on my business, I am thankful God is sending me strategies, actually people to help me committ to the necessary measures I need to take to care for Him, for family and then my business. I started a new rule as my first step which is to do all house workd FIRST before any computer work and it is working quite well, one day I did peak at my email but to sit down at the pc and do work work, no. My home is my work environment so if it is not tidy the whole day gets messy and I have been also trying to dress up more, especially cause me new temporary assistant Melanis is coming by often as I need her to really get rid of my backlog and also to feel more like I am working at a real desk job which gets inturrepted every 3.2 minutes with the following comments

Mom I want Juice

Mom I am hungary

Mom I want to go do #1 and #2 ok?

Mom he hit me

Mom he is turning off the t.v

Mom change the channel ( working on getting them off the tube so any tips are much appreciated)

Mom, mom, mommmmmm are you listening?

and I usually say no honey I actually was not, sadly enough so I am praying for things to get even more structured as I now have my newsletter set using Mad Mimi and loving it and I absolutely LOVE ShootQ. I was so skeptical after all I still have not figured out how to customize my show it site which is suppose to be super easy and I am like the only in the world who has not been able to create a gallery yet but working on there with some help of my fellow FEO Kimberly Salem.  and I am not good with all that techie do it your self stuff but Shoot Q is a piece of cake and I got my first booking through it, if you are looking to organize your Studio even if it is a me myself and I studio then you gotta try Shoot Q, it makes you consistence and active with leads, clients, bookings and your calender. So TRY IT! Tell I sent ya. So there you have it folks a few baby steps at home and at work and of course we need some cute pictures of my boys up in here because after all none of this photography stuff would have any meaning if my family was not apart of it  but here is a slideshow since there are so many.

And with that said I would like to invite you all in NJ/NY area moms and dads to DISNEY ON ICE Next week, I will be going to the Prudential Hall in Newark, NJ. The show runs from November 18th-November 22,2009 and the awesome folks who are bringing this event near us is offering a discount code. The coupon code will again be MOM—code is valid for four tickets for $44 for Monday-Friday matinee shows (any additional tickets are still priced at  $11), and $4 off Friday night and all weekend shows so take some time to spend with the kiddos, I know I need to.

If you have know me, you know that I love the beach, summer, sand, after all I was born on an island but so close to the main land you can hardly tell but  I always say I am cold all the time because I was born below the equator line so I love the heat BUT I must say the American heat gets so humid here in NJ that when Fall comes I welcome it with open arms then I cry when it is gone because I can not stand winter but for now, let us enjoy fall, it’s colors, it’s hayrides, its golden sunlight in the afternoon. It is a season that prepares us for the holidays and prepares us for family times and fun so I was delighted when the Coppede Family who I photographed in the summer, she the other post here, called me for a family fall session at their beautiful home in Colts Neck, NJ. So taking a break from Cancun, here are some of my favorites from this session.

So your wish is my command, a few fellow friends have been asking fore more pictures and here we go, here are some more of the dress, getting ready and beginning of ceremony, this wedding meant and means so much to me! so many posts more to come. Thank you Jill and Rich again for making me and Dave feel like royalty at our stay at the All inclusive Barcelo Resort in Riviera Mayan Beaches in Mexico. Now here are David Toth’s fabulous photos, he got some shots of the bride and then headed to the boys room where they were working hard in their getting readiness .

And coming right up, some more pixs of the lovely Bride and Ceremony. Stay Tuned

Here are some of the pixs before heading out to the ceremony.

Funny thing was we waited for a bit before Jill was picked up my her wedding coordinator and we went over if we had everything then when we got to the ceremony spot, Jay ran over and asked, where are the readings? He then volunteered to run to the hotel room which was pretty far then would try to find them in the room and we had no idea where they were but he heroically came to the rescue! They were so good to their bride and groom, it was touching.

Here is Jill patiently waiting with her Godfather.

Okay so this is the longest port ever, so many pictures, hard to choose what to show, Ceremony is coming up next, stay tuned.

I had such a blast with this getting ready session, here we are in the midst of greens outside and a beautiful aqua ocean in a warm tranquil spa of this gorgeous destination wedding I shot at  Barcelo Resort in the Rivieran Mayan Beaches in Mexico . This was the best and most beautiful getting ready session I had ever done and Jill was so beautiful to photograph that I had to pick many favorites and do a full post just on her getting ready.= and while we were at the Spa, her flowers came so I snuck out with them for some shots. And her eyes totally match the ocean which made it oh so much better. I loved how it was her, her mother and mother in law! Just a little recap on how Rich the groom proposed to Jill. She was waiting for a ring during Christmas and she searched the house and found nothing. Then on a trip to Florida, he planned for them to swim with the dolphins at a park owned by Sea World but not the big Sea World one, and at the end of the swimming session, the attendant asked if she wanted to tug with the dolphin and she said sure but little did she know that the dolphin would be bringing a little float that read ” Jill will you marry me”. The dolphin did indeed bring it but Jill did not read it, lol and Rich had to tell her to read it. I thought it was so romantic and so thoughtful, he gets major brownie points and it compliments the Destination Wedding theme oh so well! Here is the part 1 of many posts to come.

All photos shot at

Barceló Maya Beach Resort