Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!!!!

2011 has been an amazing year and I hate to see it go, but I know that 2012 will have so many wonderful things in store for us and I'm really looking forward to finding out what is to come!
As for resolutions, well, I'm being a realist this year.  There are so many things I want to focus on; continuing to make my house a home, focusing on my health, and most of all focusing on my family.
I'll be posting more about how I'm going to be doing all of these things throughout the next week.  I'm excited to share all of the things that I have found that work for me.
But as for tonight, I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!!!!!!!
Source: google.com via Kathe on Pinterest

Saturday, December 24, 2011

O Tannenbaum

"How often has not at Christmastime
A tree like you given me such joy!"

We had so much fun decorating all of our Christmas trees this year.  Drew and Emma both have their own tree in their bedrooms.  The loved decorating them and it was a very special moment for each of them to be able to put the topper on each of their trees.
Every night my heart is so warm when I see them looking at their Christmas trees.  They really get so much joy from them.

Emma's Tree in her window makes a nice addition to the front of the house. When her blinds are open you see in addition to all of the bushes lit, a Christmas tree in the front bay window, and her Christmas tree in the top middle window.
Emma's christmas Tree photography

Drew's Christmas tree sits perfectly on his train table and can be seen from the back yard.
Drew's Christmas Tree Photography 1

Front of the house

Friday, December 23, 2011

Emma's Upcoming Room Make-Over

I am completely in love with Mary Blair's artwork. My favorite things at Disney are pretty much all designed by her. I love "It's A Small World" and what girl doesn't giggle at the thought of riding The Tea Cups? I know I do.
It's time to make Emma a "big-girl room" and Mary Blair is the main inspiration. I cherish the memory of riding The Tea Cups with Emma for the first time and I want to represent that.  I also love Emma's personality which is both colorful and very girlie.  So that will definitely be a part of her room too.  I'm excited about figuring out how it'll all come together.

Little girl Bedroom Inspiration Board Photography



I love this lamp (here is the tutorial for it) and the little boots next to it that I'm sure come from Joyfolie




I really can't wait to get started after the holidays!

Holy Chevron!

So you know how this time of year all you see are the "top 20 lists" and how people are looking back at the year? Well one thing that I have to take note of from 2011 is the all mighty Chevron. It was EVERYWHERE! Seriously, Pinterest it or Google it and look at images. If you have been following any kind of styling, you'll see Chevrons somewhere in there.
For example:








You see what I mean. If you branded ANYTHING this year, you probably have a Chevron in there. If you had your hand in any DIY projects like making rugs for your home, you probably had a Chevron in there. If you let a professional interior designer anywhere near your home, there are Chevrons in there somewhere! It was out of control!
But, with all of that said, I actually do love them, so it's a trend I'm thankful for.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

A Merry Christmas Snuggle

Remember my post about snuggling up with Drew at Christmas (I was pregnant with Emma at the time) and watching The Polar Express?

Well, tonight is the night for us to do it again as we have every year.  So here comes the hot chocolate, Christmas PJ's, Polar Express, and precious time with my babies.
Merry Christmas!

Polar Express Christmas Snuggle

Rudolph Pancakes

We have been enjoying our slow mornings together now that Drew is on Christmas break and we don't have to rush out of the door in the mornings.
I saw the idea to make these adorable Rudolph Pancakes on Pinterest.  So we enjoyed some this morning.  I love Christmas!

Rudolph Pancakes Family Photography Pinterest

Reindeer Pancakes Family Photography

Emma's Riendeer Pancake Family Photography

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A Business With A Good Sense Of Humor

I love doing business with a company that has a good sense of humor. Without giving away too much, I'll tell you that I got a package that I ordered for Colin for Christmas, and when I opened it up, this is what I saw:

Perpetual kids funny packaging

Obviously this little guy is not what I ordered, but how funny to find this little guy amongst the packing peanuts!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Centerfold Girl

"My blood runs cold, my memory has just been sold"  Remember that song?
Well, Colin's angels are the centerfold!
Both of us!  His Ducati and his wife!  Well, ok, not his wife herself, but her photography!!!!
I was pretty excited when I received our US DESMO 2012 calendars and flipping through it I saw that my picture made it as THE CENTERFOLD!!!!!  I couldn't believe it!  What an exciting moment, when you know that one of your pictures has been chosen to publish in a calendar.  And Colin was double proud because not only was his wife's photography chosen, his motorcycle is the subject of the picture!!!! in his garage (which, by the way, is another one of his babies.  haha)
Then, as if that wasn't enough, we kept flipping to see all of the pictures and discovered that we also made the entire November layout!!!  We were speechless and honored to say the least.
Thank you to Jim Calandro and Steve Carrell for putting together such an amazing calendar and including my work in the process.  I truly feel honored.

US DESMO Ducati Calendar Centerfold Spread photography

US DESMO Ducati Calendar Centerfold Spread photography

November Layout US DESMO Ducati Calendar Centerfold Spread photography

Annual Christmas Picture

Every year I take a picture of the kids in front of the Christmas tree. This year the picture was taken in the Christmas PJ's that Bobby (our elf on a shelf) brought us. You see, Bobby promised us that every year Santa will give him the kids' Christmas PJ's on Bobby's second night with us. This year they got some adorable snowmen PJ's. Of course Emma's are pink and Drew's are blue.
The picture shows just how much they have grown from one year to the next (and also how static our tree continues to be every year... I know, I know, it shows how lazy traditional I am).

The kids look so cute in the comfy little PJ's. Can you find Bobby? He left their PJ's under the tree that morning and he wanted to land in a spot that allowed him to watch them find them.

Bobby's PJ's elf on a shelf


Here are some pictures from years past


Little boy in front of the Christmas Tree

Keeping Up With The Joneses

While we were in Orlando over Thanksgiving (more to come on that) we went out with the camera and took some gorgeous pictures. Karen's kids are so adorable and they really have the personalities to match! We had a great time and the kids were great little models (mom and dad were too). I just love how all of the pictures turned out and even more, I love the cute little video we made from the photo shoot.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Peppermint Dreams

Going to have some sweet peppermint dreams after enjoying these treats.  Don't you wish you could just go sliding down the red stripes of a peppermint stick, plunging into the pool at the bottom?
I love "soaking up" the holidays with the family.  When I saw Martha Stewart's peppermint egg nog, I knew we had to have some.  

Peppermint Egg Nog Best product photographer

Batteries Not Included

Peace on Earth.  Goodwill to Men.  We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
All sayings and titles that we hear over the holiday season.
But the one that seems to be everywhere for me is...

Batteries not Included!

Yes it is that time.  As much as I love to focus on the Christmas spirit, it is inevitable that we must shop until we drop to get it all done.  And this year for me, with two little ones, EVERYTHING requires batteries!  That, by the way, are NEVER included!  Luckily I freshen my flash batteries after every shoot whether they need to be changed or not, so I have a huge surplus of half used batteries.  Weird, I know, but it works for our household since we do have all of the toys.
So the way I see it, why not look great while you're out there shopping in the mix of things.
I love this ensemble created by jne on Polyvore.  I am finished with my shopping (Hallelujah!) but for one of my outings, this is the look I'm going for.

Christmas shopping style fashion outfit


By the way, when I "Pinned" this to my "style" Pinterest Board, I realized that I may have a problem.  Apparently I am very drawn to wearing jeans and scarfs.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I'll go on a hunt for some more girlie looks.  I'll get back to you all on that one.
While I'm hunting for my new "feminine look" I'll leave you with this great video from Wendy's LookBook (one of my favorite fashion sites.... she's just so cute and funny).  So here is:
25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Getting Back To My Blogging Roots

Wow!

So it's been a while.  Hopefully my blog (and my readers) can be just like good friends.  Let's just pick up again like we spoke just yesterday.  It should be easy to slide right back in to things.
I've been busy.... happily busy..... starting my own business busy!
So that's why I've been gone, but I've been itching to get back and now here I am and it's going to be better than ever!  I can't wait to catch you all up on everything.  And there couldn't be a better time of year to pick up again.  THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!!!!!!!  WAHOOOO!!!!!!!

Drew's in school, Emma is a hoot and Colin and I, well our souls are spilling-over full!
Life is good and here's a little peek at the kiddos from our Christmas card.

Professional Christmas card photographer back

Professional Christmas card photographer back

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Drew's First Day of School

I'm so behind on blogging, but I'm not going to worry about catching up before I post about this most important day.
Drew's first day of school!!!!
IMG_6380 first day of school

This morning, we got up so excited about the schoolday ahead of us (ok, him, but this is big for me too)
We had a good healthy breakfast (oatmeal with raisins) and then packed his lunch box.  We kept going over, "snack in the bottom, lunch in the top," and he laughed when I made his lunch box talk to him.
Then it was off to school. Daddy walked Emma and Drew up to the school.
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Then of course Mama had to take pictures of my big schoolboy in front of his school.
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This is his "Blue Steel"

Then it was off to his classroom. First we stopped to find his backpack peg.
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Obviously he was having nothing to do with me taking pictures. He was ready to get in the room and meet his new friends. So this is the only backpack picture I have. (Of course I went in right behind him and turned his backpack around so his name showed. I wish I would have just taken a picture of the backpack with his name on it hanging on his peg with his name tag, but... oh well.
Then he was straight off to his friends. He took all of two seconds to make friends with the other boys in his class.
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And I was so proud of Emma. She really let Drew have the spotlight (which is something she usually likes to be in). She stayed with Daddy for most of the time except when she spotted the little kitchen. Of course she played there for a few minutes.
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And Drew was still off playing trains with his new friends.

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This is the group room. He will have his morning time and calendar circle in this room, but his classroom is actually the door on the left of the picture.  And his teacher, Mrs. Berk, is the lady with the white shirt and lanyard around her neck in the top picture.

Then it was time to say goodbye. Drew came over and gave us all big hugs and they were a little extra tight I must admit. He was a little unsure of us leaving. He really wanted Emma to stay, but he understood very quickly that we were all leaving and he was going to stay with his new friends. I was so incredibly proud of him. We got going while the going was good and as you can see, he didn't fret for too long that we were gone.
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I didn't wait around to take this picture. It was literally the time that it took us to walk to the door and turn around that it took him to go on about his day.

Today is a day that I have been so excited for and one that I have dreaded for so long.
I was so excited to get Drew into the perfect preschool.  Once he was enrolled at All Saints, I was such a happy camper knowing I got exactly what I wanted for my son.  But then came the separation anxiety.... and I'm not talking about his.  I mean, it hit me HARD that I was not going to be with him all day every day anymore.  I know it's healthy for all of us to to be away from each other for part of the day, but man do Emma and I ever miss him.
I was really worried about Emma.  He and Emma really are best friends and I knew she was really going to miss him... and I was right.  I've said before and I'll say it again, her separation anxiety from him is far worse than anything she'll ever experience for me.  They are thick as thieves, the two of them.  She immediately said in the car, "I miss Dwewby.  I want to go back and see him.  I don't want to go home without hims."
When we got home, she got her blanket and cuddled up on the couch and pouted.  Poor baby.  She really misses him.  She cuddled with her Daddy for a bit, but then he had to go to work, so now it's just her and me.  She's doing well, watching Super Why right here next to me while I write this.
I think we're going to make it y'all.
But back to Drew.  We can't wait to pick him up and hear all about his day.  We'll update you as soon as we hear!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Kilee's 6!!!!!

A Pop Star Birthday Party!
Miss Kilee had the best 6th birthday party ever and I was fortunate enough to be a part of it!
The kids had so much fun, Cammie thought of everything!  As the kids arrived there was music playing and plenty of punch to keep the kiddo's looking' cool with their cute little paper striped straws.  The kids took turns singing on the karaoke machine under the tent with the disco ball piñata and dressing up for their pictures at the photo booth.
Miss K's pop star best birthday photographer

After pizza the kids made their way over to the rocking' dessert table to sample all of the homemade treats and celebrate Kilee's birthday with a rock-n-roll guitar cake.

Miss K's pop star best birthday photographer

Next it was time for the disco ball piñata.  The kids collected their loot and ran around celebrating what they had.

Miss K's pop star best birthday photographer

Then it was over to the treat table where everything thing they could stuff in their treat bags with "Treats that Pop"
best birthday photographer concord nc treats that pop

The party was such a success and Cammie did a great job with it.

Kilee concord birthday best photographer

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Summer Trip to Canada

We had such a wonderful time on our trip to Canada this summer.  Our visit with Nana and Papa was very relaxed and it was great to be with family.
Drew on the tire swing
Drew on the tire swing


Drew by the Swing
...and playing on the old swing set that his daddy played on as a kid


Drew's Apple
Down by the apple tree (more on this later)


Daddy and Emma in the Backyard
Daddy's little girl getting her cuddles


kids blowing dandylion


She's getting so big