{Ingrid B. Designs – Spring & Summer Styles}

Ahhh...Ingrid B. Designs.  Her detail amazes me more and more  every time I work with her.  I love her vision and creativity. She has some super cute Spring & Summer styles in her shop right now that are unique yet practical and fun.  She's a busy lady with her successful shop so some items may have a 3 week production time (that's what happens when you're clothing is in high demand).  Most items are available in sizes 18 month through size 6. SOME larger sizes (i.e., size 8 or 10) may be available, inquire if you have any questions.  She has loads of goodies in her shop right now and she's on facebook where she posts promotions, contests, and give-away's.   Thanks for looking :)

{Brielle – the ‘New Face’ of Rocker Baby Inc. – limited time Sale!}

I'm giddy with excitement about working with the talented Matilda, the amazing designer and creator of Rocker Baby Inc.  If you haven't seen her site, check it out.  Adorable clothing!  So when she contacted me - I was already aware of her line and was squealing with excitement when she mentioned that she wanted me to photograph her clothing.  Then when she said she wanted Brielle to be the New Face of Rocker Baby Inc - I was through the roof excited!  Brielle doesn't quite understand - I don't really tell her too much about the business side (ya know, seeing that she's 5 years old lol) and where her pictures are going to be.  She just loves wearing  pretty new cloths, and playing in front of the camera.  She'll see me working on the pictures here and there and get a kick out of some of them (ones with silly expressions).  And she's happy just with that.   For Rocker Baby Inc  I got the opportunity to use my studio equipment again - which has been so fun for both Brielle and I.  Here's a peak at some of the new pieces released by Rocker Baby for the spring!

Note:  Right now Rocker Baby Inc is having a 'limited' time sale it ONLY lasts till tomorrow April 4th!  20% off all items using code:  NEW2011 at checkout.  Check it out!!

{FaithWorks4U – vintage style with a modern twist}

Tonight as Jeff and I were painting our bed {yes, I'm finally doing it!!  wood color to black! yay!}  we were talking about life and our reason for being here.  I know pretty deep for a night of painting.  But it had me thinking...what is my reason for being here, on this earth?  And what is it that I'm destined to do?  I was at a loss.  There's part of me that thinks I'm here to do something related to adoption {since I was adopted}.  I don't know what though.  Then I thought, is it something that I'm doing...being a mom?  The pictures below make me wonder if that's why I'm here.  I love watching my kids grow, to see them learn, to see them soaking up life.  It's such an amazing and surreal gift.  Someone I've created is living a life, laughing, crying, and growing into someone whose destiny is still unknown.   I don't know, but it has me thinking, wondering and questioning why we're here.  Why I'm here.   I know I'm going to drive myself crazy thinking about it.  I just hope I accomplish what I was put on this earth to do before my time ends.  Have you ever thought about why you're here?  It's wild to think about it but we all have a reason for being here.

Okay, on to something lighter and more fun :)  I have to say....I'm in love with this little retro outfit made by the talented FaithWorks4U.  I think it speaks for itself.  This night of photographing is one I'll never forget, it was the start of Brielle's adoration of the Hula Hoop.  Hopefully the images show the fun we had during this shoot.  Thank you Faith for sharing your beautiful talents with me - I can't say enough about your retro fun designs. The dress Briella is wearing is appropriately named the '1970's Style Retro Hula Hoop' dress.

{Boston & Chicago - Winter Wonderland}

I've been away so much this month.  Where?  Well one of the trips was to one of the most beautiful cities in the states!  Boston!  I love it there!  I hadn't been in 10 years so this was truly a treat.  My husband had some business there so he asked me along.  I jumped at it!  But what about the kids right?  Well we're lucky to have such wonderful grandparents close-by, they stayed with the kids!  We owe them big for all they do for us and the kiddos.  Anyway, Jeff and I left on a Saturday morning for our snowy adventure!  It was cold and snowing when we landed - I was in heaven even though I couldn't feel my hands or feet and my face was numb.  This to me was 'winter', winter in a big-beautiful-historic city.  Our long underwear came in handy since we walked or took the 'T' everywhere.  What a cool city!  It seems I only travel to big cities in January.  In January of 2010 I visited Chicago for the first time.  It was A-MAZ-ING!  Everyone thought I was crazy for visiting in the midst of their freezing weather, but I was thrilled to be there.  I don't think I ever shared those pictures on my blog - so I share those here too.  :)  First up - Boston in the winter!

{Below:  I couldn't resist the lines in the two photos below.  This door was on an unmarked building on Commonwealth.  I loved it.  And the escalator was in the tunnel on the way to the 'T'}

{below:  random alley that I liked in Government Center (I think) and the statute of the soldier below was in that alley in front of a bar.  I liked him :)}

{below:  in Little Italy - a cool street sign.  On that same street we noticed silverware in the cement  on the stoop of an Italian Restaurant.  Cool hu?}

{above:  'T' Sign - we got to know those well.  Their transportation system made life so easy there.  I wish every big city had such a slick system.}

{below:  The 'T' - notice that the guys on the right are in their underwear...they were musicians playing at the station.  I'm still not sure why they were in their underwear. Entertainment everywhere in Boston.}

{below:  the beautiful Capital, just off Boston Commons}

{above:  random narrow alley - cool lines.  below:  one of the many places I want to live in Boston.  Doesn't this look cool and quaint?  Sigh....}

{below:  we stopped for breakfast 2 mornings at this great little dinner on Beacon Hill - The Paramount.  So yummy.}

{below:  view from the Institute of Contemporary Art.  I sat in this area of the building for over an hour.  So therapeutic.}

{below:  the Holocaust Memorial.  So sad, yet so beautiful.  The lines on the tall pillars (there were 6 pillars) were the serial numbers of the victims who were killed.}

{below:  random splashes of color on the waterfront}

{below:  Jeff and I named this wondering boom-box carrying man - the 'boom-boom man'. We saw him several times in the Public Garden carrying his beach-scene-painted boom box, blasting his tunes.  We couldn't make out what he was listening to.  Entertainment a-plenty lol.}

{below:  Artsy building among the beautiful brownstone on Commonwealth}

{below:  used books liked the exterior walls of a second hand book store Jeff and I stopped at.  :)}

Next are pictures of Chicago - Winter 2010.  Another city I love and can 't wait to visit again!!  So amazingly beautiful!!

{below:  The Carousel on the Navy Pier had such an eerie look, slowly moving with empty seats.  It was begging to be photographed}

{Below:  Man fishing in the ice off the Navy Pier.  They were catching alots of fish on this cold winter day}

{Below:  the next several images are taken from the Sears Tower. What a fun experience!  I walked a few miles in the freezing cold to get to the Sears tower.  I was numb by the time I got there but it was 100% worth it!}

{Below:  'American Gothic'.  Such a pretty setting for this statue.  They moved it shortly after I left Chicago and brought it to....guess?  Mesa, Arizona!  Really.  I need to photograph it here since that's where I live. Crazy how that happened}

{below:  Cemetery that was calling me off the freeway on the way back to our hotel.  I thought it was beautiful.}

{The Measure}

It's busy season!!  And with that, I'm sooooo embarrassingly behind in blogging.   I really don't like neglecting one of my favorite place to share with you.  But I have a good excuse...I've been sick but still trying to edit sessions while coughing, sneezing, and overall feeling blah into the wee hours of the morning (which is only making my recover efforts worse).  But my clients and designers are worth it.  I love them both!  I recently went to Southern California for some photo sessions - which I'm now planning on doing at least once a year.  So let me know if any of you are interested and I'll keep you posted on my travel plans.

I've also been keeping busy with the amazing designers I work with.  The one shown below is new to me and I am in love!!!  I didn't know what she was going to send me (I never do so it's always very exciting!) and I squealed when I opened the package!   I love the vintage, peasant style of her designs -  she discretely adds the modern twist into her line. Making her clothes very functional for today's busy kids.   Just look at her on-line boutique - and don't blame me when your shopping cart is full when you check out. :)  It's hard to resist.  I'm a huge fan already - The Measure. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!!

{Holiday Magic is Blooming}

The weather is slowly starting to change here in AZ.  I was so excited to wear boots, jeans, a light cardigan and a hat the other day when I felt a touch of fall in the air.  Yay!  That only lasted a day :( and I'm anxious for more.   As the weather changes we're thinking more about the upcoming holidays.  And Trendie Treasures just released some of their holiday dresses!  I'm in love with the the red dress & hair wrap {Holiday Magic} below, but the pink & white dress  {Blooming} with the matching hat is awfully cute too.  Check out her whole line here.

{There Here! Holiday Card samples}

Eek!!  Are you ready for Halloween?  I'm not quite ready yet since we've had a house of sickies :( and we spent some time out of town so now I'm playing catch-up.  But I'm excited and LOVE this time of the year.  Our house is decorate...all things Halloween and the kids excitedly await Halloween night.

Well, I know it's only October, but this is a time for my clients to think about Holiday Cards.  A preview of some of the cards available are shown below.  Those who've already had their session, you will get a link to the e-store to purchase sets of 25 with your chosen photos.  Each card allows for an image on the front & the back and a greeting personalization.  This year I'm offering some funky fun cards that double as an ornament.  That's right!  A keepsake ornament for family & friends.  The first 4 below are samples that are also ornaments {more will be available in my e-store}.  Simply string a ribbon through the hole at the top and family and friends can easily hang them.  How cute is that?!

NOTE:  The Templates are not for sale to Photographers since the elements used in some of the cards were not created by me.  I may however be offering some templates for photographers of  Ornament Cards.  Stay tuned... :)

{a little bit warm....for Autumn}

It's a lazy weekend and we're all recovering from being sick.  At the kids school Strep was going around like wildfire and both Tyler & Brielle caught the nasty strain :(  then they passed a bug {not the strep part as far as I can tell} to me so I've been laying low this weekend trying to recover for the busy week ahead.  But if it the temp hits a 100 degrees today we are however going to take a dip in our pool since it may be the last of the season. It's been crazy hot here in the valley - we're breaking records and it's much warmer than it should be this time of the year.   So when the Tripp's came out to Scottsdale from Nevada they enjoyed a lot of pool time and tried to stay cool in the 107 degree Fall weather we were having last weekend.  We've known the Tripp's for 10+ years and it was so great to see them again and catch-up.  They also wanted to incorporate a photo session into their visit and of course I was thrilled about it!   I hadn't seen their twin girls since they were toddlers!  They were so shy when I first saw them... but soon they were giggling, climbing trees, telling jokes, and being silly seven year old girls (well, a week shy of being 7).   We had so much fun -- Jeff and I agreed that we need to plan a trip sometime soon to Reno to see them and take the kids skiing.  Here's a peek into our session.

{Little bit Sassy - Oh So Sassy!}

The temperatures are crazy insane around the country; sizzling in LA, blazing in the Arizona Valley, and average temps around most of the country 10 degrees higher than normal for this time of the year.  But I'm so ready for some 'Fall'  weather, I could honestly cry {but I'll hold back as long as possible}.  The kids are giddy that Fall is hear but they don't understand how it can still be in the 100's during Autumn.  I have to shrug and agree that I too want cooler, crisp weather.  So to get in the fall mood we went to the 'Trader Joe's Pumpkin Patch' yesterday.  It small but the kids were literally jumping up and down exploring the little patch TJ's had set up.  We stood there and soaked it in - and went a little overboard getting 6 pumpkins.  We couldn't resist.  Of course we're going to hit as many Pumpkin Patches as possible so we'll need to refrain from buying so many at each patch.  But it was so exciting for the kids and myself -- nothing says 'Fall' like pumpkins.   Okay, I digress....onto some sassy designs {{{I'm in love}}}

Once again I am thrilled to be working with Michelle, the designer of  'Oh So Sassy'  clothing line.  I literally squealed out loud with excitement when I opened the package she mailed to me.  She is truly talented and I'm always giddy when she asks me to work with her.  And she's from AZ too!  Another designer that I would love to meet in person someday I'm in love with her cute ruffled skirts.  And her prices - crazy reasonable!!  She's going to sell out quickly!!  I can't sing her praises enough, I'm in love with her work...sigh.... ;-)

{wagons, skateboards & a fun family}

First, I want to start by saying that I had so much fun during this session.  Seven year old Weston was so great with his little brother, helping get his attention, tending to him, getting him water.  It was really impressive and showed how much Weston loves his little brother.  Also, Weston was amazing in front of the camera - he was so full of energy and spirit.  I loved it and could've been there all night but we were loosing daylight quickly.  Weston's parents were fun too - just going with whatever came next.  I loved their interaction with one another as seen in a few of the shots below.  The sun was bright and hot for September here {5 degrees warmer than normal during this time of the year}.  The sun flare I captured with them was really cool.  I was amazed how in the picture above the light is just streaming over them.  It was beautiful!!  Anyway, here's a little peak into our session.