Hey friends, I realize 2013 has been slow in sharing work so far and it's more my "slices of life" so bear with me as we get the year under way! I have a Valentines week wedding next month that I am SO looking forward to kicking off my 2013 weddings. If you are interested in a spring family session, this is a great time to contact me!
Here's some laughs for you today!
Here we are a few weeks into the new year, how you doing?! Are you keeping those promises or "resolutions" to yourself? Here's how I am doing...
1. The organization quest is going slowly but surely...one day at a time. It kind of feels like a conspiracy right now because if you've been to the season aisle of Target, it's ALL ORGANIZATION! I honestly though felt a little overwhelmed by it all. I thought that I should start with one project at a time and also challenge myself to use organization items I already owned first. We all buy bins, baskets and boxes in hopes of being organized but don’t always use them!
2. SO…project one is jewelry. I have thankfully collected many beautiful jewelry items over the recent years, many as gifts and especially after Christmas it was apparent I needed to get it all organized. Check out these great drawer inserts from Target, currently on sale for $7.99. It makes choosing accessories so much better! I think the biggest issue with being unorganized is not knowing what you actually have!
Before...a HOT MESS
After...so much better with the removable trays from Target!
3. Overnight this week Macy literally woke up and started saying her “L” sound perfectly. I am going to miss her sweet little voice saying things like “yegs” and “yoyee pops.” Why is it we always want them to gain independence but aren’t a fan of them growing up?
4. Along the same cute lines today, the twins set up story time in their room for all their stuff animals. Macy said “gurls up front and boys in da back.” I found her reading them a Dr. Seuss book.
5. We had a good activity this morning at our local Chick-Fil-A. They do a Monday Mommy and me with a craft and play time. It was a perfect way to spend some time starting our week off on the right foot and I even got in coffee! Check my instagram for a photo :)
6. Downton Abbey Season 3, how are you liking it friends? I am a total cheater and have already watched it all so I am watching them again each Sunday evening to relive the fun.
7. Stumbled across a couple great blogs last week that I find myself poking around when I get time. One is Life in Grace by Edie, a great designer and stay at home mom (previously a physician.) I dig her style and her perspective. She is classically home schooling her children…I sweat just even considering that but I know it to be a wonderful way to educate your children.
8. The other blog I found poking around was the “Better Mom” by Ruth. In all honesty, I found her in a google search for “surviving the strong willed child.” Don’t laugh..some days are just tough! I love what she wrote though “I’m endeavoring to enjoy and delight my strong-willed child. Although honestly, I still have days in which I’m just nearly surviving. Parenting is a fulfilling and self-sacrificing job as it is, and throw a strong-willed child into it, you’ll find yourself clinging to the cross. Which is where I need to be anyway.” Full Post Here.
9. We did a mini-makeover in our living room last night by swapping out pillows, curtains and trying to move around a few things. It made me so happy to wake up to that this morning! I will try to post pics soon :) Just some updates to make it feel fresh for the new year and the hope of spring.
10. Speaking of spring, I am tired of the freakish weather and would love one BIG SNOW STORM to make use of all those snow pants I purchased for my kids. Macy keeps telling me, "Mommy, I jus wanna make a snow angel." I am praying she gets her wish soon and then spring can come anytime!!
In the spirit of Monday....
Have a great week friends!
A new year and a fresh start for many things! Today has been a usual Monday around here with laundry and lots of playing. It's hard to believe a new year has begun!
What are some things I am looking forward to in 2013?
1. Trying to get a bit more organized. I found an organizing guru mom blog here. Now listen, this girl is SO ORGANIZED she was featured on HGTV's series on "Clean Freaks." I think she has the kind of house that most of us moms aspire to in terms of cleanliness and organization. I will do my best though not to covet her labeling skills and just take her info in doses to help my mess piles.
2. First thing on the organizing list, all the toys!! I have been purging some when kids aren't looking but for the most part I think we just need a good system. We have plenty of places to store things, I just don't think I am utilizing them well yet. And my closet...lets not even go there :) I will learn, hopefully!
3. The first wedding of the year for me will be about a month from now and I am definitely looking forward to that. It gets me back into the wedding fun!
4. I confess that I have not yet accomplished all that I wanted to before the new semester begins so I have one week to knock some things off the list! One these items I truly need to do is a few website gallery updates. I apolozgize if you have had a session this year and wonder why you aren't in the galleries! I will get after it, I promise.
5. Looking forward to being a part of LifeHouse church here in DE. There have been many neat things going on and can't wait to see what the year brings.
Quite honestly, I don't know much of what 2013 has in store for me. I do know however that I am walking into it with an open mind and heart to see what God has for us!.
Here's how slow I am, I just finally looked at some pictures I took on Thanksgiving! Here's a few cute ones!
Well since we are all in retrospective mode, where do I begin?! So many people I look up to talk about making tangible goals for each year, both in business and in life. I struggle with this, because if the last few years of my life have taught me anything - plans sometimes just don't mean a thing! We can plan, plan, plan but "it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Does this mean we just totally live on whims? Certainly we cannot just live without purpose, but I sometimes fear that making goals that I don't meet will cause dissapoinment.
So where does this all leave me heading into 2013? I would be lying if I said it hasn't been a challenging patch of life for me, but I say with certainty I have MUCH to be thankful for. I think 2012 has taught me A LOT about balancing life and being realistic about what I can do. In 2012, I had over 25 families that I worked with for sessions and 5 weddings. I know in some photography business plans that might not be much, but for me it was a huge and wonderful year. I am so VERY GRATEFUL for all of you who trust me with your precious life memories. I love me some Nicholas Sparks and in one of his books, The Wedding, he writes "Experience had taught me that even the most precious memories fade with the passage of time.” This is why capturing our momentus times in life is so important! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of each of your stories.
So what are some of my lessons from 2012 that I have learned?
1. Loving often costs you something and this is not a bad thing! To love other well, you will need to sacrifice but that sacrifice is never lost on those you bestow it.
2. Having 3 kids at the age of three & under leaves me often drained but I cannot give up. I sometimes have to be OK with wiping the 3rd bottom in a row in a 15 minute span or spilled drinks or messes all over...I have to let go of the quest for a perfect house or a perfect anything! Being in the moment and living is so much important than stressing over the little stuff.
3. Life is definitely precious, so don't always treat it so casually. Tell those you love that you love them! Be compasionate with others and don't be afraid to be a shoulder for someone else when they need it.
4. God is good. It doesn't always FEEL this way but he is SO GOOD. A verse that has been marinating in my heart over the last week or so is "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you" Isaiah 43:4 It's God talking to his people and it's such a breath of fresh air. Life isn't always easy but HE is good!
5. I am really not my best when I get to busy and run down and because of this, I learned to say no more this year. I never want to be less than my best for my family, clients, or students. I need to take care of me in order to take care of everyone else! Learning to say no to certain things empowers me to say yes to other things. I am sure 2013 will continue to teach me about balance.
6. Read good books! A good friend reminded me that "life is too short to read bad books" so don't feel like you need to finish a book if it's not your cup of tea. I read all sorts of things from theology and parenting to novels and business advice. It keeps me thinking, dreaming, and growing.
7. I need to challenge myself creatively. I confess, I really need to photograph personal projects more. I struggle to even really take pictures of my own kids. I know that I was supposed to be better at that in 2012, I think I did take more pictures but pressured myself less on their quality. The images don't always need to be professional portraits, snapshots will do when simply trying to document life. I will let you know if I come up with a personal project that intrigues me!
8. I really enjoyed my 10 day hiatus from facebook leading up to Christmas. I have heard it said "comparison is the theif of joy." I think we sometimes allow ourselves through social networking to constantly compare. Heck, it can even happen on pinterest! If you don't cook well, dress well or decorate well...you might as well get off Pinterest now before you feel defeated :) I don't want to compare. I don't want to feel defeated. I want to wake up each day, draw breath and ask God what he has for ME today. We cannot live the plans for others, we can only live the life God has laid before us. I am still praying to enjoy and not just endure!
I think I will just leave you with a picture of our family from the very end of Christmas day. We were spent with all the food, family and fun but you can tell by the looks on our faces that we enjoyed ourselves!
Wishing you all the best my friends in 2013!!
So I know I have done a lot of talking about taking "off" in Dec but mostly what I was trying to do was to get new obligations off my plate so I could get caught up on a few things. Just for the record, I am ALWAYS happy to connect with clients, answer questions or inquiries so please never hestitate to contact me! Anywho...I realized that I had a few sessions from the fall madness that I never shared.
Here's just a small handful from a session this past October. Nicole described their style as little bit country and we had fun making their style come to life. Nicole had some cute ideas via Pinterest that she wanted to try. I am all for creating our own versions of images that clients love on Pinterest. Best of luck planning to Luke & Nicole! I cannot wait for their July 2013 wedding!
Hello friends! What's that pep in my step you ask? Well it's a week to Christmas Eve and I am all done teaching classes for the semester. I will do my best to mix together the heavy and light that are all in my heart this week.
1. I confess, I feel an aching sadness over the Newtown, CT situation...as most Americans do/should. We should be sad for the innocent loss of life and the display of such evil. I have found a few articles that shed some light on diferent things for me. If you like to process greif through thinking, check out Al Mohler's thoughts on the tragedy and how Christians should respond. If you have wondered what it is like to be on the other side, the mother of the shooter...dealing with a child with mental illness, read this thoughtful article. Both have given me comfort and/or thoughts to ponder.
2. I think it is only right to read the names of the children/victims and pray for their families. Don't allow the shooter to rise to fame....just help to celebrate the little lives and the lives of those protecting them. I honestly am having a hard time reading the stories and processing the pain that this evil man caused. I will do my best though to help be a celebrator of all they offered this world, even in the short time they were in it.
3. Let this tragedy not go by in vain. Celebrate your own lives and hug close the people you love!
4. The Presdient's prayer vigil service last night in Newtown was very touching. I thought him both comforting the people and exhorting us all to do better when it comes to America's kids. It truly does take a village! I believe Obama's quotation of Jesus, "Let the children come to me, (Jesus said) and do not hinder them. The kingdom of God belongs to these." It was very powerful and reassuring to me. I find that although I might not agree with Obama on much, he is leading well through such an awful tragedy. I certainly find myself respecting him very much as he seeks not political favor, but to mend a broken nation.
5. The twins had their first dentist apointment this morning. How did it go you ask? Well Dean was a true rock star. He loved it all because he is both outgoing and curious. Macy wouldn't even consider getting in the chair so instead she has a dental cleaning with a regular brush while screaming on my lap :) You win some and lose some right?
6. Why did I deactivatefacebook? There's a lot of reasons. The great thing about social networking is the fact that we can connect so easliy, share information and hear each other out. A lot of those things are also it's weakenesses. We can read information but process it differently than the author intended it. It's the difference between a phone vall versus a face-to-face conversation. We can misinterpret things when we aren't seeing the body language or hearing the intonations in the voice. We can totally miss people's hearts if we aren't looking for them and, lets face it, we also don't live in a pretty world. Many of us have opinions about things that we openly air in social media, but it's not the same as that face-to-face conversation. In the spirit of the Christmas season, I just felt my head and heart distracted by all the time spent "communicating" on facebook.
Even after 24 hours, I feel a bit lighter. I am not weighed down by others opinions or looking for approval for my own. I am not worried about checking my phone and not distracted when I sit down to work at my computer. I admit, I do a lot of business communication and otherwise via my facebook account that I didn't realize until it was gone. I am going to commit though to leave it off through Christmas day. You can still find me on Twitter and instagram for quick things here and there. You can always find me via phone or email too friends :) I will be back soon enough!
Well it will be a fun week of baking, the kids first school holiday show, catching up on wrapping, family time, a few more crafts and things before this time next week when it's Christmas Eve! Praying that you are all finding peace amidst the chaos, that you are enjoying and not just enduring!
Yet another foggy rainy day here, which leaves me to want to stay in yoga pants and snuggle on the couch! Thankfully though I had plans to meet up with a friend I haven't seen in a while so that was the motivator to leave the house and head to the mall....yes, the mall in December. Luckily at 10 am though you can still get a decent parking spot and it's not too crowded. Time to confess...
1. I left the triple stroller at home, in delirious hopes that my 3 year olds would obey and walk closely with the single stroller. I honestly didn't want to wrestle with the triple in the rain or push around 100 lbs of kids, alright?! Well, big mistake. Lets just say our mall trip included two kids lost at different times in the Disney store, one trip to the Talbots restroom, playtime at the play place, kids begging for popcorn and not getting it, me asking mercy from a friend from church to help watch Dean while I was in the food line...and the fun continues :) It was a wacky morning but we survived!
2. Yes, we at Chick Fila for the 2 time in 4 days.
3. Speaking of Chick Fila, have you tried the peppermint milkshake?! I haven't looked up the calories but it's to die for. It's like the pepermint bark version of ice cream. Delish!
4. Speaking of all that eating...the work outs are not back in full force like they should be! I need more energy and motivation! I know the exercise helps the energy but it seems like a twisted cycle for a tired mom.
5. I have only 2 classes left in the semester, today and Wednesday! Yes college students, teachers get just as excited for winter break as students do! I am teaching Monday nights in the spring if any of you out there are interested :)
6. Came to the realization we are exactly two weeks from Christmas Eve....most things are bought but absolutely NOTHING is wrapped! Yikes! Moms, how do you get wrapping done with kiddos not knowing?! I am thinking this might have to become an evening activity.
7. I had a photoshoot over the weekend for boy/girl twins that were just a few weeks old. I had been waiting for their newborn session and was excited when it came! I was very nostalgic holding those two sweet babies. My twins first days/weeks/months are a blur of a memory now. I barely remember them ever being that small and delicate. It's amazing how quickly life passes us when we aren't watching!
These particular twins also were the ones who got my twins nursery bedding, which added to extra nostalgia. I rememeber sitting in my twins nursery heavily pregnant with them, just arranging things and putting little clothes away...wondering what type of kids they would be. Now I know their personalities, sassy, fun, full of life, energy and spunk!
8. My kids are still young enough to love riding around looking at Christmas lights! I confess that I love it too, especially if it includes hot chocolate for me and popcorn for the kids :) We will continue to make this an evening activity on the weeks to come leading up to Christmas. They (& I) love taking it all in and talking about all the different decorations. A lot of conversations lead to the meaning of Christmas, which can be hard for their little hearts to understand. We have certainly had our fill of Santa lately but we are trying to also teach them about the birth of Christ. Any of you seasoned parents out there have great ideas for that?!
9. I am elbow deep in laundry again today. I did lots of laundry last week with all our illnesses so I let it slide over the weekend. Well with a house of 5 people, that has left me with a mountain to deal with today!
Ok friends...I have blabbed a lot today. Don't forget your last free Dunkin Iced Coffee today!
Hoping you are enjoying and not just enduring!
Another week is beginning and who can believe it's DECEMBER my friends?! I sure can't. This year is almost in the books! I am sorry I never confessed last week, I will try to make it up to you with my wit and honesty today. Really all I want to do is crawl back under the covers and get 3 more hours of sleep but that hasn't happened since before motherhood for me...so here's today's confessions :)
10. Here's the twins encounter with Santa...Max was not having it! We have a cute crying picture of him but am having issues with the download (so please also excuse the quality image because it's a phone pic.) Santa thought if he got out of the chair, Max might go for sitting in the chair without him (WRONG)
(*Update, got download)
(Side note: DO NOT PURCHASE anything from the Christiana Mall Santa, the website that the pictures are running through is horrific so even if you pay for the download, it's not working. Santa himself is lovely, just don't purchase from the photographers unless you just want an instant print. End rant now :))
My new motto for this season of life is to aim to ENJOY IT and not just ENDURE it! I challenge you my friends to do the same this week. Find ways to embrace it all and enjoy life!
I have to say that other than a hurricane, this autumn has been beautiful with many warm, sunny days! When Jeanette and I scheduled her engagement shoot a couple months back, we had no idea what mid-November would be like but thankfully, it was a beautiful day with some trees still hanging on to those pretty leaves! I always love getting to meet and interact with new clients and these two were no excpetion.
Jeanette shared her and Joe's story with me of how they met,
"We met two years ago in a little resturant/bar. I was out with my friends for a girlfriends birthday and I spotted Joe from across the room. I pointed to Joe and told my friend "he's going to be my next boyfriend". Apparently that night Joe called "dibs" on me to his buddies, which according to guy slang is he basically says the girl is off limits to everyone but him. I eventually got the nerve to ask Joe what his name was when he passed me, we talked for a brief moment and then he actually left to buy me a chocolate covered strawberry. That night I gave him my phone number and we have talked/been together ever since."
Great right?! Love hearing these stories and being able to capture a couple's engagement time.
Have a great weekend friends!
It's already Monday again and you know what that means....time to confess!!
1. I have been playing Pandora online "Peaceful Holidays" station for days already. It is fabulous and truly peaceful!
2. Got to take the kids to the Christmas parade our town was having over the weekend. I know, I know, it's not even Decemeber yet! I thought that this shot was priceless...
3. We had a play date with some friends today! It reminded me of many things to be thankful for! Three of these little cuties spent time in the NICU after birth, which just reminds me of their delicacy and preciousness. Thankful for friends who are willing to bring their kids over to my crazy house :) True story, found a sippy cup of curdled milk under the couch while we had company. I know, we run a posh operation around here! haha!
4. Black Friday, what are you after? What deals are happening? I disagree with places like Target opening at 9pm on Thanksgiving. I am sure you have all seen this e-card floating around? The sentiment is so true! So Target, let your employees finish out their Thanksgiving with family, dessert and games like we will be doing!
5. I got fleece lined tights from zulily...amazing.
6. Quotable kids book - Dean needs this so I don't forget all the hilarious things he says each day. Even just today while he was looking at a baby's bald head he said, "It's like Poppop's, all the hair fell off!" He was talking about my bald father in law :)
7. We are in need of groceries and I am avoiding due to Thanksgiving madness. Might sneak over there tonight and just grab some essentials to survive until Thursday...then we can rely on left overs. I love it!
8. My 31 Gifts party is on until Weds if you're interested in any products! Go here to check it out.
Thankfulness...gratituted truly can change your perspective and certainly your attitude! Trying myself to be grateful for things and not to complain. It's definitely easier said than done! Have a great Thanksgiving week!
Pleasant and productive usually don't go in the same sentence as Monday for me, but today is an exception! It might be the almost 70 degree weather the week before Thanksgiving, but we are having a good day. What have we done today, you ask?
Free Iced coffee at Dunkin, then to Walmart for haircuts for the boys and a few odds and ends. The kids were so good in Walmart, I decided to take them to the park to play after. We enjoyed time at the park and then came home for lunch...all that and it's not quite noon :) Whew...
I confess...
1. I do enjoy it when my kids cooperate and we can actually ENJOY a day together instead of enduring a day together!
2. Free Iced Coffee tastes even sweeter :)
3. I have already done a load of dishes and two loads of laundry..don't be too impressed, they're awaiting unloading and folding!
4. I am holding an online 31 party for any of you who might want to get some Christmas gifts! Go here if you want to browse. Adorable gifts and the special this month is a very cute snowman print medium utility tote for $5 with any $35 purchase :) I wanted to do a party in person but the schedule proved too difficult. The good news is, friends near and far can participate!
5. I am sporting a new pair of Lucky Jeans. I love the fit, wash and the stretch of the jeans. The best part, they were $12.99 at Rugged Wearhouse instead of $99 at the mall. You know I love a deal!
6. Speaking of deals, the hubby and I got a great jumpstart on our Christmas shopping over the weekend. This is very unlike us to be so ahead of the game but we went on a dinner and shopping date. We enjoyed it so much! if you missed the memo, the Disney Store is %25 off everything through midnight tonight, so maybe you can get some gifts too?!
7. What's on your Christmas list this year friends? I am having a hard time coming up with ideas, most likely because I have everything I need and lots of things I want!
8. Matt got this shot of me and the twins yesterday after church :)
9. A real confession...I actually picked up a crushed Coke can from the Walmart parking lot today. Why you ask? To try to demonstrate to kids not to be a litter bug and also aluminum will get you a high price for recycling (My hubby works at Newark Recylcing and has opened my eyes to the value of scrap metals!). If you totally discount everything I ever say anymore after this wacky fact...I can't blame you :)
10. Happy Veterans Day! The kids and I thanked some local veterans today that were set up at Walmart. I was really wishing I had time to sit down and hear their stories....the WWII Vets are a dying generation and their storeis are amazing! I also want to teach my kids to be thankful for the armed service men and women in our country. Despite our current political dividedness at times, we all must stand behind them! A sweet lady veteran gave them American flags to wave :)
Whether you're working or off today, may you enjoy your day!
I decided to give the mantel just a few tweaks for Novemeber. Mostly I changed the banner and put little pumpkins to use. You too can create this cute banner with a free printable download from TomKat Studios. They have a great Thanksgiving printable set here, complete with cute labels for leftovers! Who doesn't love that?!
And just in case anyone was wondering, the things holding the banner are iron claw feet that I rescued from salvage in college. Remember those cool cast iron tubs with claw feet? That's what they are, flipped upside down here. I repainted them and have used them for years as book ends or other decor. They're definitely a fun piece to own.
This is just an iphone shot, but you get the picture. Inspired?! Good :) Happy Friday!
Hey friends, how you all doing out there? SO sorry to those of you who were severely affected by Hurricane Sandy. We definitely saw lots of rain and high winds but were thankful for minimum storm issues here. I cannot believe we are starting the first full week of November. I think I will blink twice and it will be Thanksgiving!
Here goes this week's confessions....
1. It is a season of thankfulness and today I am thinking about my in-laws who celebrate 30 years of marriage tomorrow. We had a lovely family dinner for them last night and it was fun to celebrate. As any of you married folks know, it's hard work and to have 30 years together is something to be celebrated! Shame on me though, I got the camera out and did not take one picture during our whole dinner! My mom and Stepdad also just celebrated their tenth anniversary a couple weeks ago. I am thankful for the examples for us to follow to make a marriage long lasting.
2. I am thankful also for delcious cupcakes! We had cupcakes for last night's dessert from the local Baby Cakes, and oh my they were delish! I had a cookies and cream one with an oreo hidden at the bottom. Who doesn't love that?!
3. About that "not gaining weight during the holidays" strategy, I might need to actually come up with a strategy! I am missing exercise but not really sure how to fit it in right now. Any other moms have good tips?!
4. Tomorrow is election day 2012! I know people are very passionate all over the board, I just encourage you that no matter your beliefs or even if you don't have hope in either candidate, still go vote! Voting is your voice! As I have been reminded before, if you don't vote, you can't complain. I also think of other countries that women still aren't even allowed the privilege of voting :(
5. I have a few things I would like to say about style. Now I know I am not one at all to really be asked for style advice but I would love to share a blog I came across that's perfect for a girl who needs some encouragement in the beauty department. The Small Things Blog has become a new stalking favorite for me! Kate is the author of it and I love her fresh beauty and style. She does everything from hair tutorials to cute outfits with the items currently in stores. I have been loving trying a thing or two she teaches, it's never to late to add some freshness into your clothing or hair style. I know there's lots of tired mamas out there that think it's the last thing she should care about and I get that. I do know though, that as I have made an effort to look more put together, sometimes it fools me into thinking I am more put together :)
6. I also LOVE my Pinterest style board! I literally use it as inspiration to get dressed sometimes. I know, I know, some of you are stylish and awesome...you daydream about outfits. The rest of us need to be reminded about what looks good together. I like to "pin" things that are cute and actually contain an article or two of clothing I already own so that I can try the looks!
7. I had a rough parenting day recently (most days lately, honestly) and on a whim bought three different parenting books at once. I will read them and let you know if they're worth the read. The first one I am reading is Super Nanny's book.... don't laugh, she has a lot of wisdom and it sounds smarter in the British colloquialisms. It remains to be seen if I will indeed be a better parent...
8. I am SO GLAD that ABC is bringing back friday night sitcoms. As a kid, I remember BEGGING to get home in time on Friday night to catch Full House and Family Matters. (It also wasn't a world of netflix or DVR so if you missed it, you missed it). I love the show Last Man Standing, it's some great classic comedy with Tim Allen and it's rare sitcom with some conesrvative values. It still has reality as well, like a teenage mother, etc. I am just glad there's something to look forward to when we snuggle on the couch at the end of a long week and we actual agree to watching it together! Here's to wishing for a new "Urkel" for my kids!
9. Since we are talking about TV, what is with the zombie obsession??!!! I just don't get it....I try, I try...but I don't!
10. We attempted some Christmas card pictures over the weekend...here's just a cute snapshot my husband caught of the kids while still in their cuteness.
Hope you all have a great week and stay warm! I hear another storm is heading our way East Coasters...
Happy November friends! Hard to believe that we are just two short months until a new year! I wanted to share a cute little pumpkin from a session a couple weeks ago. I usually am not huge on styling a newborn shoot...there are people that do it beautifully but I tend to be a bit more naturalistic when it comes to newborns. I just love them in their own element! We did a little of both in this session and little miss was a happy camper taking her picture in a pumpkin. I think she just knew how cute she was! And don't you worry, it was warm out and we snuggled her in there. Her mama and daddy just really wanted a picture of her in a pumpkin to remember both her size and the time of year! Enjoy!
As I write today, the wind and rain are beating against our home. We have all gotten up, showered, eaten and gotten as prepped as we can to welcome Sandy. It's funny at a time like this because fears, both rational and irrational surface. A lot of "what ifs" could become reality. It could all just be a big wet storm or something more serious could happen. If it does, we will face it when it comes. Otherwise, we are going to eat snacks, play "camping in the living room" and ride out the storm.
Here goes the confessions...
1. For some reason I have really been missing my dad this week. I think no matter the earthly relationship a girl has with her dad, her sense of safety and security is wrapped a bit in him. My dad loved storms of all kinds. I think those were the times the awesomeness of creation touched him (and it also helped that it was always good for his Hardware business :) He loved the weather channel, watching it a naseum sometimes but we always had good chats about storms coming. He always had good advice about what to do too. Don't get me wrong, my hubby is prepped and ready, we are in good hands....but I am missing my dad too.
2. We have so much junk food in this house that I am definitely likely to gain a few pounds in this endeavor. We not only made hurricane cupcakes but I made "hurricane mix" which is a slightly healthy trail mix minus the M & M's and candy corn added for color and fun! Not to mention the ice cream party we will have to save ice cream from melting if we need to unload a freezer :)
3. I am reading a really good easy, short read for moms right now. It's called Hope for the Weary Mom:Where God meets you in your mess, Amen?! No really, it's just an encouraging read threaded with truth and scripture. If you are a worn out mama and need some refreshment, download it for your kindle today! It also has discussion questions so it would be an easy thing to do with some girlfriends (if you could find a time and place without kiddos to chat :) Here's an excerpt, “Right now, I have nothing to give. Nothing. Nada. I’m tired and don’t feel good and honestly, I want a break from everything. It’s not that I want to leave my family, trade them in, or get new ones. I WANT to be with them. I just want a break from hard hearts, discipline, correction. I want their hearts changed and I can’t do it myself. Sometimes, the knowledge of this makes me feel hopeless and helpless.” I am only half through but it's easy to pick up and put down, usually there's a good little nugget for me to ponder so I put it down for a bit...that and lots of reading time isn't easy to come by!
4. Hoping Sandy is bad enough I can stay in a couple days and get caught up on work, but good enough to leave us with eletricity! I was blessed with some great mini sessions this last weekend and couple other shoots to get caught up on. Fingers crossed...
5. Here's a few quick Hurricane pics if you aren't following me on instagram....caught this yesterday, will be sad to see the pretty leaves gone! A weather junkie friend told me these are mammatocumulus clouds that are signs of incoming violent weather. Isn't it crazy how the earth even gives us warnings?! God's creation is amazing.
Here's the forecast from last night, we live right under the red line :) My buddy Rhonda gets the photo credit on this one!
See you all on the flip side friends! Stay safe out there!
I know, I know....all I have been doing is talking about how busy I am with photo, yet have not posted any photo since last week! I apologize, I am busy editing some beautiful shoots currently and hope to share them with you soon. On to this weeks confessions...
1. I am getting "hair boredom." Girls, you know what I mean. It usually requires a drastic change in color or length, I have been growing it for a while now so I like the longer length. This leads me to the color conversation and I am considering dabbling in red. Thoughts friends?
2. Do you ever see awesome websites on Pinterest, thinking you are going to get great deals on designer goods? Buyer beware, I came across two different sites last night that sold knock offs from China. I am not hating on China, but when you see the shipping alone is more than $20, it’s no bargain. After all, you don’t want to accidentally buys UGGZ or THOMs do you?!
3. I am considering making my own laundry detergent. I have heard of a lot of you ladies doing it and it doesn’t seem harder than a 6th grade science experiment. Basically I have to melt some stuff and follow directions, right?!
4. I made Paula Deen’s Smores Bars last night for our Sunday dinner with Matt’s family. Let me tell you, if you like smores, you need to make these!! Fairly easy and they go down great with a glass of milk! Yum! (I don’t think that these are on a diet though J An entire stick of butter is involved).
5. We are dealing with a sick kiddo in our house again. Poor Dean regularly gets respiratory issues and I think the crazy weather and season change isn’t helping. NO fun but thankful for modern meds!
6. I heart Reese’s cups. What types of candy will you most likely steal from your kids Halloween bags?!
7. I am loving Mumford and Sons lately. Their new album is super to work to, drive to, and I am sure a lot of other things! I don’t know about running…maybe too mellow for that! Check them out if you haven’t yet.
8. Speaking of running…we have broken up for months now and I look forward to the day we can get back together and go on a date.
9. Duck Dynasty is not disappointing this season! I admit, it does seem a little more “staged” or “set up” as to the activities but apparently all the commentary is just fresh off the cuff. I can’t stop laughing at most of the episodes either from the stupidity or commentary. One that made me laugh last week was Willie saying, “I just need to start dealing with people with real first names” after attempting to buy a car from a man named Squirrel. Who doesn’t think that’s funny?! And really, who doesn't love a show that ends with a bunch of Rednecks blowing up a truck?!
10. Many of you were asking about the Downton Abbey Season Three links. The link I had got taken down because it was being challenged on piracy. I totally get it, if we watch it now online, what will it do to PBS ratings in January?! Duh, we will all watch it again! Well anyhow, if you want to get British TV shows legally (Downton included), check out this site. Apparently if you like Downton, you will like the show Paradise too. Let me know if you check them out!
Hope you friends all have a wonderful week. I am off and running….
Monday has snuck up on us once again! I am attempting to post early today as to not have to confess to many failures or unflattering situations :)
1. Matt was in a wedding this past weekend of his lifelong friend. The wedding was set in beautiful State College, PA (the Groom is a Penn St grad). It was definitely a pretty weekend to drive through the PA mountains, or "foothills" as my dad called them. He said once you lived in the Rockies, the PA mountains really only were foothills :) I digress....I did grow up sharing my dad's love of the mountains and I appreciated the short time away to celebrate with friends! It was nice to be a guest for once!
2. Saw lots of Amish buggies on our ride to and from. Something dawned on me as we chatted about the Amish way of life, if there is some kind of apoclypse or power grid outtage - they are going to be just fine! Amish would totally survive any kind of governement meltdown, etc because they are totally removed from it. I like modern conveniences but for a moment, I did envy their simplicity and preparedness of living off the land.
3. I came across a way to watch Downton Abbey's season three on the internet last week. I held off until Friday to reward myself and watch episode one. I have already watched the first three episodes! Season three is only out in the UK and not supposed to arrive in the US until January. Am I a total cheater?! Episodes 4 & 5 are out as well but I will ration myself.
4. Speaking of apocalypses, what's with the zombie obsession?! My hubs was literally waiting for The Walking Dead to start up again for months! He loves it but I just can't handle it. I have bad dreams for days! He likened the zombies to the vampires and I just smiled....totally not Edward Cullen, hon!
5. Matt has been wanting to take Dean fishing for weeks. He got him a little yellow fishing pole and has been dreaming up the perfect father/son scenario to get Dean to experience the joy of catching a fish. Well it wasn't idyllic at all, Dean was grumpy and muddy. Dean wasn't understanding the fact that fishing requires lots of patience and Matt was frustrated that his little dream fishing excursion was not what was actually occuring. Their patience paid off though and Dean caught his very first fish yesterday in a pond near our house! (after three tries this picture keeps uploading sideways...no patience this morning to figure it out, will try to fix later!)
Most photographers would be lying if they didn't say they loved fall! It's the best sort of warm light and beautiful colors. I had a great fall family session over the weekend and wanted to share it with you! I am just sharing a handful because I am very aware that this time of year, pictures are used for holiday cards and gifts (I don't like to steal the family's thunder). Eventhough I am a photographer and love how the internet connects the world, there's nothing like holding a real photo in your hands and I like to leave some of that joy for families to share!
It helps that this family is seriously adorable and I loved photographing them! Their 3 year old son made me feel right at home talking about rocket ships and robots :) Happy viewing friends!
Pretty girls...
These two just celebrated 6 years of marriage and how would I know that? They got married the same exact day Matt and I did so it's easy to remember their anniversary :) You guys look great together!
So I guess yesterday was technically a holiday but just a crazy Monday for me.
1. We did have some fun and take my Grandma to Chick Fila for her first time. You know it's my kids favorite place to eat so they wanted to share the fun with her :) I confess, we all got warm choc chip cookies to finish off our lunch! YUM!
2. Columbus Day is apparently not celebrated by Del Tech because I was supposed to have class. Well it turns out a fatal accident occured on Route 1 south bound and it took me almost an hour to go as I usually can in 15 minutes...needless to say, I never made it to class on time. I am sure my students cried all the way home from their early dismissal! Not...
3. Some of you might have seen Twitter but I am fairly certain I broke my toe on friday with a freak run in with my 3 year-olds Croc. I was in a parking lot and wanted to cry and yell bad words when it happened, but I refrained. I walked into to museum where I told my waiting friends that I think I just broke my toe. I am sure they thought I was being dramatic (who could blame them). I will spare you the pics but I sent pics to a friend who is a REAL doctor who confirmed it looked broken from the severe bruising (drama queen I might be, but liar I am not :)
4. Election Day....I have mixed feelings. I want it to be over with so we don't have to hear it anymore but at the same time, I am afraid for the outcome. My husband and I were chatting last night. The current minimum wage for an American is $7.25 hour. I just bought a gallon of milk at Walmart (tax free) last night for $4.19 and 64 ozs of Apple juice for $2.68. Those two things alone are $6.87 and we go through them almost daily with 3 small kids. What are famillies supposed to do? And don't even get me started on the price of gas. We need leaders who care what happens to the "average Joe's."
5. Today's final confession, I wish I was as good at real life makeup as I am at photoshop makeup! I can make people look gorgeous in photoshop but feel intimidated in Sephora :)
Have a great week friends!
Nicole is part of the Lovely Girls event planning services in Wilmington. She has an eye for details and is a professional in the wedding industry, what more could a photographer ask for?! She and Eric gave me lots of laughs as we captured their engagement last weekend in Bellevue State Park. The weather sort of held out for us, with a rain shower here and there. I have to say, we had lots of fun! Best of luck you two!!
A personal favorite from the day!
Did I mention the dogs were along for the ride?! We had to tie them to various things to keep them at bay, but it actually helped at times because the dogs would do something to make Nicole and Eric look away, distracting them from my presence!
Hair and Makeup by Gloss Salon, Newark.