1) A Very She & Him Xmas: Every year, I always feel compelled to stock up on at least one new Xmas album. And friends, when it comes to Xmas music, well, I say ANYTHING GOES. But I was thrilled that one of my favorite duos in recent memory was putting out an album of holiday tunes. I’ve given it a few listens and expect to do so at least a few more times in these weeks leading up to Christmas. Zooey and M.Ward could sing me the phone book and I’d be happy, but I’m especially loving “The Christmas Waltz,” “Little Saint Nick,” and “Christmas Wish.” Perfect for the holidays (and head over here for a peek at some past favorite holiday music)

2) Like Crazy: Oooh, I have SUCH a love-hate relationship with this film. I love it because these characters are SO believably in love. Which means, I hate it for the way it paints an all-too-real picture of the toll a long distance relationship can take on a couple. Not to mention an ending that felt like an abrupt slap in the face — and yet, still one of the better films I’ve seen this year. I also saw Breaking Dawn this month and well, you know, it was cheesy in the way ALL those films are and yet the ending scenes had a ring of believability to them that I was impressed by. Also, I would have shared a poster for that with you above but all I could find in a Google search was a plethora of creepy fan fiction versions …along with a lot of other weird Twilight stuff… I mean, just look at this — SOMEBODY ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO MAKE THAT IN PHOTOSHOP! :)

3) The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach I wrote an extensive review of this over on my GoodReads profile, but to paraphrase…. This is one of those novels where the characters don’t just live on the page. They live WITH you. Here I was, book nowhere in sight, and yet I still found myself at points of my day, wondering what Henry and Schwartz and Pella were doing at that very moment. The hype for this one? TOTALLY WORTH IT.

4) UO Beanie: I picked this hat up before we left for our trip earlier this month and here’s why it quickly worked its way up to the favorite hat in a pile of ‘em I have at home—it’s got a cotton lining. Translation: NO MORE ITCHY HEAD. Worth the money for that alone but I also love the way it fits and how it’s got the perfect amount of slouch.

5) Sea salt chocolate: Oh Lord, I should not have “discovered” this in a month where the holidays are impending because I don’t think I can’t stop the addiction! I’d had (and loved) sea salt caramels before, but combining sea salt with one of my favorite loves (dark chocolate) ..well, that’s just a match made in heaven! I’ve gone through two bars of these in November alone…so I think I need to get my addiction under control before my waistline tells me otherwise!

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

1. What is your favorite month?

I’d have to say the month we just left. October is when fall explodes and I just love the colors of the season, the light of the day (that golden shade no other time of the year can match), and how I can pull my sweater collection out again. Oh yeah, not to mention I get to celebrate another year married to that special man of mine :)

2. What is the best candy to get while trick or treating?

SNICKERS. Confession: Nick and I got one of those big ‘ol, like, SIX POUND bags of candy for our trick or treaters this year (and still had to get more…our ‘hood? It’s popular with the kiddos!) and I somehow managed to pluck about 80 percent of those little bite-sized Snickers from the bag. I think the only person who doesn’t like Snickers in their candy bag is that trick-or-treater I had one year with a peanut allergy and a deathly fear of me coming anywhere close to him.

3. What kind of pen do you use?

Truth be told, I’m a bit of a pen snob. If it ain’t a Pilot G2, well, don’t bother.

4. You go to a new Italian restaurant, what is your go-to order?

Oh, that’s easy! Eggplant Parmesan. Mmmmmm…..

5. If you could choose to have any celebrity’s hair, who’s would you choose?

OK, keep in mind this does not extend to her acting abilities here, but I’d have to say Blake Lively. I mean, does that girl EVERY have a bad hair day?

6. What’s your favorite board game?

That’s a good one. Too bad both my picks take FOREVER to play (meaning, no one ever wants to play ‘em with me) but my go-to faves are Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit. I also play a mean game of Cranium ;)

7. Do you know how to play poker?

Gosh, not well. I can hold my own, but don’t expect me to win. (My lone exception is a tournament one year at a New Year’s Party Nick threw but I think that’s only because people were imbibing alcohol and I wasn’t so I could hold my own.)

8. What do you think about Old Navy commercials?

I think there’s a loop of them streaming somewhere in hell.

9. What hurts worse- a stubbed toe or a paper cut?

Paper cut, 1,000 percent. A stubbed toe is over in two seconds (unless, like that I time I did in high school, you actually BROKE the toe)…meanwhile, a paper cut can linger for days, painfully reminding you of its presence every time you try to suck the hurt out of it. Especially if you happen to reach your hand into a bag of salty potato chips.

10. What’s your favorite kind of pie?

My mom’s apple pie. There is, literally, NO competition here.

Questions and topics provided by Roots and Rings

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

When I travel,  I truly believe I am the best version of me. There are those who loathe the idea of leaving home … of crowded airports and late flights and the confusion of intimidating new places. Not me. I thrive on it. And yet, for all the thrills that come with a trip, what I love most about traveling is how it fills my heart with a level of gratitude no other experience affords me. My proverbial cup runneth over when I have the opportunity to see parts of the country (nay, the world), I never thought I would. And all I can say to this is I never ever want to take these opportunities—past, present and future—for granted. Nor do I want to forget the way I feel when I’m out there, away from home. I feel light, separated from the chains of daily to-dos and bills and jobs and a mortgage. I feel curious, wondering about all the people who carry on lives in these places I’m seeing for the first time. I feel sentimental, wanting to memorize every moment, every morsel I eat, every sight I take in, because I want my conscious to be jam-packed with memories like this.

On this particular trip, I felt all of those things. But most of all, I felt small. The Pacific Northwest will do that to a person. To stand under a giant redwood or to take in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean and its craggy shoreline is to know our God has created a most majestic place for us. Sometimes, it just takes a bit of traveling and a new (breathtaking) view out your back door to remind you of that which you already know.

Self-portrait taken at the Tu Tu Tun Lodge, alongside the Rogue River in Gold Beach, Oregon

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My last engagement session of the year and I’m ending 2011 with the sweet (and crazy attractive) Bailey and Kyle. I’ve got plenty more to share with you all from their time in front of my camera, but for now, here’s a few frames that caught my eye while editing. This whole idea—from the wardrobe to the location—was Bailey’s and I have to tell you, I LOVE IT. Bailey, thanks for thinking outside the box and to you and Kyle both for bringing the awesome. Hope you love these too!

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Two things I L-O-V-E about Cara and Brent: 1) They are cuuuuuuute and affectionate in front of my camera. 2) They went out of their way to make their engagement session with me very personal to them. When Cara shared that what they wanted most was to capture photos of their new life together living downtown in Indianapolis, venturing around the neighborhoods they frequent near their adorable apartment, I was elated. Couples, take note—when you make a session like this with me about YOU, you get photos that I hope you not only love, but that some day, you’ll be able to share with your future children and say, “See this kids? This was life in our 20s. And guess what? It was awesome.”

WATCH THEIR SLIDESHOW

More photos with Cara’s grandfather’s tandem bike. This ivy-covered wall was in the courtyard of their apartment complex and you better believe I squealed when we walked out and they shared that this is where they wanted to start the session. And folks, this bike was NOT just a prop. As they shared, they ride their bike around all over the city. I mean, seriously, how CUTE is that? If I had the coordination for one, I’d insist to Nick that we go buy one right this minute! :) From their apartment, we walked down a few blocks to MacNiven’s, a pub where Cara still occasionally picks up a few shifts and where Brent loves to pop in and say hello while having a pint. As we were walking down to our next location, I turned and saw THIS light and said, “Hey guys, stop RIGHT here.” Folks, any photographer worth his or her grain of salt knows it’s ALL about the light. And this light? Well, it was WAY too delicious to pass up. (Cara, don’t take this the wrong way but that fiance of yours is one sexy kisser ;) )

A quick few photos in front of Yats, a YUMMY Indianapolis restaurant in their ‘hood where they happened to have their first date. What I love about this photo below is Cara’s mega-watt smile and how Brent brings out the best in her. Also loving that vibrant shade of fall behind them because around here, that’s now gone. COME BACK FALL! Brent, if you need a new photo of Cara to frame for your desk at work, may I suggest this one? BEAUTIFUL girl! As if I hadn’t already decided Cara had landed a pretty all right guy when he shared that he found his awesome boots at Broadripple Vintage (man knows how to dress!), Brent stopped as we were walking and asked, “Can we take a picture in front of this sculpture? It’s one of Cara’s favorites and I want to remember it.” AHHHH…Cara, hon, your single friends have GOT to be jealous. And one last shot back at their sweet first place together. What a great way to end the night…Cara and Brent, thank you SO much for asking me to document this time in your life right now, and what an incredible time it is. So so looking forward to the wedding in March — it’ll be here before you know it!

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.