LAUREN WINSTEAD PHOTOGRAPHY IS BORN

I kind of can't believe it.

I'm nervous and excited and hesitant and thrilled, all at the same time!  But I think the fun part starts now.  I'm pretty sure it does.

Come visit me over there!  http://www.laurenwinstead.com

I HAVE BIG NEWS.

On Tuesday, May 29, this is happening.

That's right, I've been working on a new website for about three weeks now, and it's going public in five days!  Starting a part-time photography business has been a dream of mine for about three years now, and I finally feel like I have the portfolio, equipment, and graphic design ability to be able to support it.  I'll post photos from the engagement and family sessions I've done over the past year, but I'll also be debuting Chelsea & Ryan's wedding pictures!  And, some exciting news... I just booked a wedding in Charlotte for 2013!  Rachel and Joe, I can't wait to get started.

And, since I'm going to make a concerted effort to document my real life with my real life camera, you'll probably see most of my life-related posts over there from now on.  But feel free to linger here until then.

Until Tuesday, here's a sneak peek at Chelsea and Ryan's pictures, and if you feel so inclined, go visit my Facebook page!

I'll see you over there on Tuesday!

PICKING UP WHERE I LEFT OFF...

I'm officially headed back to NC State in the fall to finish my Master of Public Administration degree!

I took some classes and was admitted to the program in Spring of 2010, but I (of course) left to go to Washington, DC.  That was one of the best decisions I ever made, but now that I'm back, it's time to get my head in the books again!  I got my acceptance this morning, and my dad has decided he can officially buy an "NC State Dad" sticker now.  The one he's been waiting for for 25 years.  (Except I think he needs a special one that says "NC State Alum/Dad".  They make those, right?

P.S. This is my jam today.

NORTHCAROLINANORTHCAROLINANORTHCAROLINA

Does anyone else feel like North Carolina has gotten an inordinate amount of attention recently?  Don't get me wrong, I love this state, but we're really good at that "quiet strength" thing most of the time.  

This year, it seems like the world revolves around us.  First, Obama picked Carolina to win the tournament (womp womp...), then the country went crazy over the fact that The Hunger Games was filmed here, then a marine from Fort Bragg went missing and still hasn't been found, then John Edwards's hair finally went on trial for releasing too many chlorofluorocarbons into the O-zone, then Obama continued to pimp us out by speaking at Carolina (just like he did in 2008), then Jimmy Fallon filmed in Chapel Hill, then Amendment One passed and everyone forgot that 29 other states have the same law, and now... now this.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I was getting ready for work this morning when I heard Savannah Guthrie from the Today Show talking about a herpetologist who had gotten into a cage match with an alligator in Swansboro this past week.  The video's already gone viral, but I don't even think the amazing part is the fact that he wrestled an alligator.  Steve Irwin was the original Alligator Infuriator, and to be honest, four years in Florida rid me of all my fascination with them.  What's awesome is this guy's complete indifference over the fact that Savannah has questions.  Or is even on the other end of his earpiece.  He makes it very clear that he doesn't want to be famous, and then he tells his story, running straight through her questions and saying whatever the heck hits his brainwaves next.  Someone needs to get this man a press secretary position, because he doesn't even stick it to the man, he ignores him altogether.

Gold stars for your service to this state, sir.  And may you disenchant the media forever.

COUNTRY PEOPLE

Apparently, that's what my sister and I are now.  We live at the intersection of two fairly big roads, but a couple weekends ago, we had these in our backyard...

...and these in our front yard.

I have to admit, it's a nice reminder that I don't live in a super-populated city anymore.  But then I think about the guns per square mile ratio around here, and I will call PETA if I hear bullets near my house.  Ain't no redneck gonna eat off my land.

I promise I'm a Republican.

MAMA'S DAY

We took our boat out on the lake on Sunday!  It was my first time on it this year, and it felt good to be back.  It was a little chilly, though, and Dottie does NOT like the wind in her face, so we both got cozy in fleeces and towels!  Obviously, there was zero swimming.  But we did eat a fabulous lunch that Mom prepared!  Lots of pasta salad, watermelon, guacamole, pimento cheese, and cookies!

We didn't bring Reba since she's a few months away from 17 years old, but Dottie does love the boat when it's a little warmer out!  She's a good car-rider, though.  Mostly because if she moves too much, she tosses her lunch.

It's so fun to be able to celebrate all these holidays without having to drive all the way from Washington.  We just love our mama!

HERE'S WHAT I THINK ABOUT THAT

I'm still proud to be a North Carolinian.  This is my home, this is the place I love most in the world.  It took moving away for a year and a half to figure that out, but it's undeniably true.

We made a very unpopular decision yesterday, and I'll happily admit that I voted against Amendment One.  As a Christian, I believe the Bible is very clear about homosexuality, and I make no apologies for that.  And I completely understand that, per the Declaration of Independence, all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.  That blurs the lines of church and state more than just a little bit.  But as a free people governed by citizens who swear to protect individual liberties (including the freedom to believe in absolutely nothing), it's just to make legal decisions that are not influenced by any church of any persuasion.

We're not a progressive state, on the whole.  It's just a fact.  But if I could justify defriending and unfollowing all the people on Facebook and Twitter who angrily exclaimed that they were "embarrassed and ashamed of North Carolina" last night, I would.  You won't fight on behalf of something that embarrasses you.  This is an opportunity to take pride in your state and implore it to be better.  And I can say with absolute certainty that you'll never change a single person's mind with anger and disownment.