I want to share this story about my father, and my kittens. And how so much pain, would unknowingly bring . . . → Read More: In Honor Of My Beautiful Father]]>

2 years ago today, I kissed my father goodbye for the last time.
I had tears in my eyes earlier, when Madison walked up to me out of nowhere, hugged me and kissed me.

I want to share this story about my father, and my kittens.
And how so much pain, would unknowingly bring so much love!

Feb 20th, 2009 my father called me to tell me he had stage 4 bone cancer and the doctors gave him a few months to live.
I remember that call like it was 5 minutes ago.

When we hung up, I cried for hours.

Then for some unknown reason, I went on the internet, and really wanted to look at kittens pictures.
I wasn’t thinking about getting a cat, I never had cats, but my dad loved them, and somehow that’s what I was doing at 2am on the saddest night of my life.
I went to Petfinder, adoptions, and starting browsing.
I couldn’t think of any other place to see kittens. Their beautiful little faces somehow eased the pain of what was happening.

First I saw “chocolate”.. I fell in love with his beautiful little face…

Lexington Winters

but I wasn’t there to adopt kittens.. so I kept going through the photos…

5 photos down I saw “orphan”, she had the same look in her beautiful little face, as I was feeling!

Madison Winters

little “orphan” was found when she was 2 weeks old.. her mom was hit by a car, made it back to her babies and died. Her siblings also died. My heart screamed out to adopt her!
I was going to be an “orphan” soon… I had to take care of her.
I then went back up to “chocolate” and they were being fostered in the same place!
These 2 little kittens told me, we were all meant to be together.

I didn’t know anything about cats, or fostering, or how to adopt them, or even what to ask, so I wrote and asked if they knew each other… Jane wrote back and told me, they not only knew each other, they were madly in love!
I told her I wanted to adopt them both, and she sent me more photos.

When he first saw her, it was love at first sight.

Lex sees Madison for the first time

And she felt the same way about him!

His mom fed her, and after seeing this photo, and I wanted to adopt all 3 of them, but the mom had already been adopted.

The next day I called my father to tell him I was adopting 2 kittens. He wasn’t the least bit surprised. We never spoke about me adopting kittens, but yet, it was as if he planned it.

I could see and feel his smile over the phone. He seemed somehow relieved.

My dad was a Marine… the best man I’d ever known with a heart of gold.
He knew how to do everything, and taught me how to do some pretty amazing things .
I renovated my apt with my own hands. I could fix almost anything broken.
If anyone needed help, he was the first person there.
If he saw a stranger stuck on the road, he pulled over to help.
That’s what you’re supposed to do, is all he would say.

Here he is helping a local merchant prepare for a hurricane.

Now, he would teach me one last thing about life, love and parenting, since I didn’t have children.
We didn’t need to talk about the “cancer”, and he didn’t want to.. we spoke about the kittens, the funny things they were doing every day, how much I was learning from them… and exchanged photos by email.
He was signing cards to me “meow meow” now.. hahahaha so not what I was ever expecting from my “Marine” dad!

I was still learning things about him, and learning from him.

On July 21st, he called and said, well Honey, if you want to see me again, you better get here fast, they are getting ready to take me out!! WHAT???? where are they taking you, I asked, and he replied, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you better go back to school!

Yes… that was my father…. he didn’t sugarcoat anything, Everything was fine, then it wasn’t. He didn’t think it was important to talk about what could happen… until it was happening.

I called a great friend and asked if he could come over and stay with my kittens.. I had to get
to Bonifay, Florida as fast as humanly possible.

My sister, her son and daughter drove down the day before I flew in.
We all had the best time those last days… we laughed so much, hugged so much, and there was no doubt about how much we loved each other.

David, the hospice nurse told me my dad was ready to go, but was holding on till after I left.
His beautiful wife Mary, who he shared so much life and love with. and his identical twin brother Midge were with him, and he was in his own house.
I kissed him goodbye, told him how much I loved him, and would always be grateful he was my father, and left.

I was just thinking about how he set it all up, like he always did.

After living with my kittens for over 2 years, I believe he had “something” to do with me going online that night. I don’t know how, but I always said “they found me”, and have loved them more than I could ever have imagined.
I didn’t want to call her “orphan” so I changed their names.
I renamed her Madison (for the M on her forehead) and he is Lexington, and when I say their full name with “Winters” at the end of it, I hear my dad saying “Denise Winters” , and I laugh out loud.

Earlier today, I changed my facebook photo to the one below with my dad, and then saw the photo of Madison and Lexington when they first came to live with me…
and for the first time…
I noticed the similarity in these photos…
I am sure my dad knew exactly what he was doing!
I love you dad!

Those little steps will take you places you never thought possible. I’m a photographer. I love being BEHIND the camera. A year ago, I had to make a video for my website. Park Borchert, my amazing video director and producer was fantastic and so patient . . . → Read More: Just Do It! Those Little Steps Take You Places!]]>

Just Do It! Those Little Steps Take You Places!

Those little steps will take you places you never thought possible.

I’m a photographer. I love being BEHIND the camera.
A year ago, I had to make a video for my website.
Park Borchert, my amazing video director and producer was fantastic and so patient with me. It took about 20 hours before I was happy with it, and put it on my website. It was the hardest thing I had ever done.

Seeing yourself on video, hearing yourself, and seeing that the winter comfort food was showing up on my face. I had to make changes.

I began a diet program, and a few weeks later make a testimonial video for the program. That video was done in an hour!

Feeling great, made all the difference in the world!

I joined the company as a “direct sharer”. I like that term.. loving the program made me want to “share it” with everyone that asked.

As my business as a photographer changed with the economy, and everyone having digital cameras, I needed to add something creative to my career.
I chose Video, knowing Webshows were becoming more and more popular and necessary for everyone to have, if they were in business.

I could now shoot my own videos, using the webcam in my computer or my little Zi8 in just a few minutes… and began making videos daily!
What a change from a few months earlier.

A few weeks ago, a casting director called me to ask if I was interested in being the photographer on a Pilot Reality Show!!!
I said YES… without hesitation!
I couldn’t believe how easy it was to say YES! One short year ago, I would have made up all kinds of excuses why I couldn’t do it, but those little steps I made every day… led me to this new adventure!

In the world we live in today, the only thing we can be sure of, is that things are going to change! We don’t know how, or when, or why, and we can do little to stop it.

Everything that comes into your life, is coming in for a reason!
You may not know why, and you don’t need to, just be open to it.
Be open to the uncomfortable feelings and circumstances, and push through them.
Just Do It!!
You NEVER know what the universe has in store for you, but if you conquer all your fears and insecurities, when an amazing opportunity presents itself to you, you will be ready for it!

We shot the Pilot this past Sunday, May 22nd… and I was just thinking about the 2 cameras filming me, a fabulous crew of 19 people, and what a great experience it was!

It would have never happened if I didn’t make the first video 1 year ago!

Take whatever steps you need to take today, to be ready for what comes your way tomorrow!!!

Just Do It!!

Join me in the 90 day challenge… send me your goals…. accomplish them and get a free 1 hour . . . → Read More: Combining My 2 Businesses! Photography and Health!]]>

As a photographer, I often book shoots months in advance so people can “lose that 10 pounds”, and get healthy.

This week until May 25th, I am offering a little more incentive to do that!

Join me in the 90 day challenge… send me your goals…. accomplish them and get a free 1 hour photo shoot! (look at the video on the side of this page to see all the vitamins and nutrients in 1 shake!!!)

Cost of shoot $300.00
Cost of 90 day challenge $299.00 for all 3 months…
and if you get 3 of your friends to join you.. yours if FREE!
AND… you can win great prizes from ViSalus too!!

You can get healthy, lose weight and get beautiful photos for FREE!!

Start Today!

email me your goals @ 2011withdenise@gmail.com

Call me @ 212 752 3794
Visit my website to see my photography

Click here to join the 90 day challenge with me.

Let’s do this together… we have an amazing team with great support!

Do you have the same problem?

Here is a photo of what my cruel scale said to me…

beginning tomorrow… April 25th… I am starting a . . . → Read More: Would You Like To Join Me In A 90 Day Transformation?]]>

My spring and summer clothes shrunk in storage!!!
Preparing for spring, unpacking them was a very sad day, and the cruel scale is in on the conspiracy!

Do you have the same problem?

Here is a photo of what my cruel scale said to me…

beginning tomorrow… April 25th… I am starting a health and wellness program, you are invited to join me. Let’s do this together. Share successes… support each other… and we can do it all privately, online in an online “boardroom”.

Click here to learn more about the challenge!

It is $99.00 a month, includes 60 shakes that are delicious and nutritious!
AND refer 3, and get your next month free!!

Lose weight, save money ($1.87 a meal) get healthy AND win prizes!

If you are interested in joining me, please email at Denisewinters2011@gmail.com and I will send you a link to join.
We can do this daily, or weekly!
We can talk live, real time on camera through your webcam, or you can call in, or just use the chatbox! The most important thing is that we support each other and accomplish our goal!

My Goal is to have 35 lbs gone in the next 90 days!
What’s Your Goal?

Happy Easter… Happy Passover… Happy Spring…

You found your passion, you have your niche, you want to start an online business, but don’t know how to start. This is what I did, and how I did it! Getting Started is the first step, you must do something.. then your passion for your . . . → Read More: 10 Simple Steps To Starting Your Online Business]]>

10 Simple Steps To Starting Your Online Business

You found your passion, you have your niche, you want to start an online business, but don’t know how to start. This is what I did, and how I did it!
Getting Started is the first step, you must do something.. then your passion for your business will lead you towards the next steps!
Good Luck with it, You will meet wonderful people, learn so much more than you ever expected, and in a few months, you will be sharing how you started!

1- Set up your blog. Your blog is your central hub, and you will be posting everything you want to share there. Host your blog on Godaddy or HostGator. You don’t want a free blog. Pay the $5 a month to “own” it yourself. You want to own the content.
You will understand why in the next few weeks after you start training.

2- Sign up for your Twitter account. You MUST fill in your profile. You can always change it whenever you want, but I won’t follow someone without a profile.
Start searching for people that have the same interests as you do. Follow them and they will most likely follow you back. This is the best way to build your following. You want people with the same interests! Better to have 10 people you can communicate with, than 10,000 you don’t!

3-Set-up your Facebook personal page and Facebook fan page. Don’t use your personal page to talk about your business. It is like inviting people to dinner, and pitching them. You just wouldn’t do that!

4-Set up a YouTube account. I think of it as the YouTube University. I have learned soooo much from watching videos full of great training. Subscribe to people who interest you. and set up a channel for your videos.

5- Jessica Swanson’s Shoestring Marketing was the first course I bought, after listening to her free webinar, which was full of great information on starting a business without spending money. She is having a free webinar Thurs, Jan 27th.. sign up for it here!

Sign up for Jessica’s FREE Shoestring Marketing Webinar

6- Build Relationships with your Twitter friends, and Facebook fanpage friends. Relationships are the key to a successful business. People buy thing from people, they know, like and trust!

7- Post at least once a week to your blog. Make a video at least once a week, post it to YouTube and embed it in your blog. Talk about your business, success you are having from your products or others are having. Tell the benefits, tell stories. Don’t be a Used Car Salesman!

8- Set Up a Social Oomph account. You want to track your posts and see how many people are clicking on your posts. Social Oomph will also let you schedule tweets to send out, when you are not able to be online. It is a great tool! I was busy for a few weeks and didn’t post much, but I had Social Oomph send out a few tweets a day for me. See the results of it working for you, when you can’t!

click stats jan 26

9- Join Groups and Forums both online and offline with people of similar interests. Masterminding and sharing, makes you become the best you can be faster, than doing it alone.

10- Have Fun!! Enjoy it!! Nothing happens overnight, and the process is so much fun! The stats I have posted are after 8 months, and every day has been a wonderful adventure!

For more tools that I have found, go to my Highly Recommended page.. I just updated this last night, and it is the best of the best!
http://denisewinters.me/wordpress/highly-recommended