Say Cheese: Five Tips for Family Photos

'Tis the season when lots of mamas are starting to think about the holidays. I mean, once Halloween is over, you might as well embrace it! You can't miss all things Christmas in the stores; your inbox is full of sale emails, and every other blog post is a gift guide.

Take away the commercial chaos, and the holidays for me are about connection. One of the things I most look forward to about the season is holiday cards. Some might consider it an outdated tradition (or hassle!), but when so much interaction is online these days, I get all giddy when I open the mailbox and have personal notes or cards. Social media may make us feel connected in the moment, but there's something special about a delivery from the postman.

The photos of friends and loved ones is by far the best part of the whole Christmas card experience. Yup, I have friends who post snaps of their kids nearly every day. We all do. But there is magic that goes into the making of the holiday card photos!

My first family holiday card experience was a total parent fail! But we've come a long way since that first photo shoot with Sweet P.  When she was about three months old, Grammie and I took the sweet doll baby to a photo studio for her picture. Little did I know, her very fancy red and green plaid dress had a very scratchy crinoline petticoat underneath. She cried the whole time, and the photographer couldn't get a single picture. What a miserable experience for everyone-- and the guilt I felt for dressing her up in that silly dress was awful!

After the failed attempt at getting pictures taken in the studio, we ended up getting a few okay snaps from a staged at home shoot. But by the time we finally had our pictures, it was too late to order any cards printed and send them in time for Christmas.

Fortunately, I learned from the first year, and last year was a lot easier! We planned in advance and set up time with our uber talented team of photographers that we worked with for Sweet P's newborn photos and several other sessions. Capital Region friends-- Ashley Brown and her assistant, Kristen, specialize in photographing children and their families. These ladies are true pros, and you will TREASURE your photos.

Working with Ashley and Kristen, I've learned a few tips to help make your Christmas photo session easier...

Start with neutrals - As someone that loves color and pattern, I'm conscious of choosing clothing that's  too bold or bright. Select grays, beige, white, black and save the pops of color for accessories. Also consider choosing clothing in the same tones so outfits compliment one another.

    

Kids are the stars of the show, so give them all of the attention by concentrating color and patterns in their outfits. But be careful of crazy patterns, mixing patterns or horizontal stripes or textures to avoid the photo looking busy or distracting.

   

                                                                    Leopard print is a neutral!

And if you want to go for seasonal colors, you can find inspiration for subtle complimentary colors on Pinterest.

Prepare, prepare, prepare-  Try outfits on ahead of time (learn from my mistake!) and bring a backup outfits especially if you're going off site or to the studio for photos with a little. Spit up and blow outs happen. 

Bring accessories and props- In addition to the required toddler snacks (we're not above bribing Sweet P with M & Ms), take along favorite blankets, loveys, hats and mittens, or a special toy for the photographer to incorporate into the pics. 

 Timing is everything. Time the shoot around naps and meals when kids are rested, content and cooperative. If you're taking photos outside, the photographer can advise you about the best time of day for maximizing natural light. 

Have fun! Remember life happens, but it doesn't have to be stressful and overwhelming. The day that we had our most recent family photo shoot, we woke up to a plumbing emergency (i.e. no water...) After the Sailor fortunately "fixed" the problem, we were running very late. Pip wouldn't nap beforehand, and she was going through a Dada-only phase (Heartbreaking... Thank goodness it only lasted for a short time!)

Despite feeling defeated and blinking back tears that day, I did my best to make P laugh and relax into her normal behavior- acting happy and being silly! I bounced her in the air, played peek-a-boo behind a tree, and chased after a butterfly with P all while forgetting that there was someone watching and snapping away. Trust that your photographer will freeze those moments of contentment and joy for you to remember.

  

Back to our regularly scheduled programming

Hi friends and happy (almost end of) August! Whoa, does time fly! I had no idea my little summer "sabbatical" would turn into two months off from blogging. During that time, I took a step back from the online world, cut out a lot of "optional" activities, and created more time to focus on family and self-care (more on that later!).

Here are the highlights of Summer 2017:

Sweet P at Twenty-One Months

It feels like a long time since I last did an update on P. In a matter of months, Pippa has transformed from an infant into a spirited, strong-willed toddler. Pip's favorite word is "no," and she likes to be the boss. She directs Mom and Dad to "sit" and "play," but she nothing makes her happier than when she can get others to laugh. We can't get enough of her giggle and wide grin!

Rabbit Rabbit and Green Spaces

Rabbit, Rabbit! Happy June 1st! I'm superstitious, and I'll try anything for a little luck.

What's the origin of Rabbit, Rabbit?

It's been awhile since my last post so I've got a whole bunch of random goodness to share soon! But let's start with some outdoor eye candy for today.

Again this year, we're still working to improve our lawn game. Never. Ending. Struggle. Because we have so many pine trees and so much shade, it's nearly impossible to grow grass. We hired a lawn service this year, which I thought would transform the yard into carpets of dewy blades that dance in the sunlight. No such luck yet!

I recently stumbled upon landscape architect Michael Derrig's work and found myself dreaming of grade changes, stonewalls, tranquil seating areas and woodland gardens in our yard. Take a look through Michael's portfolio over at Landscape Details and be transported to green spaces that couple intrinsic beauty with deliberate design in the most magical ways.

Functional, Fashionable and Fancy

Happy Fri-yay, Friends! We're finally getting some summer weather around here, and I couldn't be happier about it. People complain about the cold for months and then when we finally get some nice weather, all you hear is, "It's soooo hot." I live for the sunshine and heat! Anyway, here are a few Friday Finds to kick off the weekend.

Graphic Image Summer Python Collection
These eye-catching high-end desk and travel accessories come in a variety of pastels. Boasting utility, they're perfect for staying organized on the go. Now I only wish that they made handbags in the pretty hued embossed leather-- Gigi New York handbags, is a sister company, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they too launch a Summer Collection.

Murphy's Law 

Dallas based fashion blogger, Lo Murphy, first caught my attention on Instagram with this  darling white eyelet dress (sadly, it's sold out!) Her style is fun, feminine AND budget friendly. She partners with Nordstrom, Chicwish and Banana Republic, making many of her outfits accessible to all. 

I also love this one shoulder top paired with JCrew's let-out hem denim skirt. A white denim skirt is always on rotation in my summer wardrobe, and this one has a raw edge that gives it a little style. 

Montes Doggett Ceramics

I am obsessed with these beautiful and functional ceramic pieces from Monica Porter, founder of Montes Doggett. These simple yet elegant handmade dishes and bowls are great for everyday-- dishwasher and microwave safe-- but there are some really stunning pieces that could dress up a table for a fancier occasion. These are going on my wishlist! 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Weekend Activities and Entertaining a Toddler

Good morning, friends! I've been missing in action the past couple of weeks for good reason! There have been a million and one blog post ideas running through my head but just not enough hours in the day to keep up! So...here's a photo dump to catch up on what's been happening!


We played tourists in Saratoga this weekend-- which was a total bust! We intended to see a performance of the Spa City Ballet and listen to Mother Goose nursery rhymes at the library, but we arrived a little late and missed the whole performance. Pip had fun playing in the kids' room anyway.

Our Easter

Just popping in to share a few snaps from our Easter weekend. Pippa had a blast and was much more "into" the bunny and hunting for eggs than I ever imagined that she would be at this age.

If anyone saw my late night Instagram post from last week, it's a miracle that I was able to put together little teacher gifts in time for P to deliver them Friday morning. I waited until the last minute to do my crafts, and it was a comedy of errors-- right down to the flower vases leaking everywhere!

We spent Saturday at a neighborhood egg hunt, coloring eggs, and running errands. And Easter Sunday was a perfect family day! Pip loved finding her eggs filled with stickers, M & Ms, goldfish and more! The bunny only hid a few since we didn't realize how excited she would be by searching for them-- If only I had known! Each time P found one, it truly was like finding a treasure for her! 

The basket from the bunny had very little candy but lots of other good stuff-- unicorn bandaids ("stickers"- the kid is obsessed!), nesting animals, tot cups, books, pretty pastel outfits and a beach towel and sunglasses and finger puppets. The real hits were an Elmo snack set and Mega Blocks. Score one for the Easter bunny!  

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and is enjoying the week! 

Catching Up with Eats, Books and Happenings

Happy Spring! It's Wednesday morning, but I'm just getting around to popping in with a photo dump from last weekend. It was so nice to see the sun and hear the birds tweeting, and this week has brought very welcome warm weather. It changes everything around here!

The Sailor surprised me on St. Patrick's Day with a traditional Irish meal of grilled salmon and colcannon potatoes (mashed potatoes with kale, butter and milk-- Alton Brown puts whiskey in his recipe -- thankfully the Sailor didn't put any in ours. They were just a creamy delicious treat.) And I received a very thoughtful St. Patrick's Day gift from the man. I've been listening to bits and pieces of Tim Ferris' podcast, and one of his books is on my Library List. So the Sailor picked up a copy of Tim Ferris Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Habits and Routines of Billionaire, Icons and World Class Performers for me. Collective wisdom to inspire and motive-- yes, please.

Pip played in the snow AGAIN both days. The girl is OBSESSED with wearing her snowsuit-- although I suppose if it came in adult sizes I would be too!

So snuggly. On Sunday, we hit the Adirondack Sports Summer Expo and had lunch at Druthers in Saratoga. With kayaks, bikes, hiking, travel destinations and healthy living vendors, I was in my zone. The best part though is that it inspired me to get back to running, and I've signed up for a 5k to motivate me. In all honesty, my mileage has dropped a LOT but I've maintained a fair level of conditioning. If nothing else, knowing I have a race coming up will force me to kick my runs up a notch in intensity even if I don't have time for the miles.

Don't forget -- 3 more days to enter the giveaway for all natural beauty products! Enter to win by leaving a blog post comment with your favorite product or tweet about the giveaway! 

THINKING ABOUT... Healthy body, mind and soul

I've been battling a cold and generally have been feeling fatigued for a week yet I've still tried to keep up with my "routine." But this weekend, I threw up the white flag, listened to my body and surrendered. After enjoying three long days of deep rest, reading, eating nourishing and delish food (broke the 80-20 rule!), snuggling with Sweet P and the Sailor, taking a restorative yoga class and fitting in a couple of other invigorating outdoor sweat sessions, I'm feeling refreshed.

As moms, wives, daughter, sisters, we as women in general are concerned with taking care of others and other things. Whether it's rushing kids off to activities, prepping food for the family's meals, keeping the house tidy (forget about CLEAN!), fulfilling community obligations, so much of what we do is selfless.

But what do we do to care for ourselves? How do we show up for others when we aren't taking care of ourselves? Frazzled, worn out, distracted-- certainly not present and capable of listening to their real needs. We do what we're expected to do, usually on autopilot or out of habit. There's nothing mindful or intentional about our behavior.

What do you do to hit your 'reset' button so you can be your best self? Many things just take a moment to bring awareness, adjust your perspective and remind you to live with intention.

Here's a list of things that I've found work for me...
Please add your suggestions in the comments.  

Valentine's & Galentine's Day Celebrations

I was a little behind this year on Valentine's Day since we were out of town last week. The important part is that I (sort of) pulled it together enough to help Sweet P make a homemade Valentine for her daddy, and I cooked her heart shaped pancakes with blueberries and pink M&Ms for breakfast. Not the prettiest picture but she's easy to please-- as long as she has chocolate!

The Sailor and I enjoyed special dinner of sushi for two and champagne (on a Tuesday!), which was just perfect. Then we spent the rest of the evening going through the photo books that he's made of us each year that we've been together. Pretty special day indeed!

After the fact, of course, I saw photos of some pretty awesome Galentine's Day celebrations on instagram too. Wonder where the new-ish holiday originated? Here's the story. I love the idea of entertaining gal pals with champagne, waffles, crafts and cute decorations! It probably goes without saying but connecting with friends is such an essential part of well-being. We all need a tribe, and in a perfect world, I'd be able to get together with more of my besties SO much more often! Scroll for some pretty stuff...

Check out these links for more pretty tips on planning a celebration for friends!

HGTV How to Throw a Galentine's Day Party
Domestikated Galentine's Day Decoration Round Up

Sunday Fun-day & Superfood Hot Cocoa

Good Morning! It's about time that we got some snow! The accumulation this past week makes me remember the snowy winters of my childhood. In recent years, we would get a few inches here and there, but we got dumped on this past week in the northeast.

Health Goals and Recipes to Get You There

We're a month into 2017 so it's time for a check in on goals! If you made a health and wellness resolution and stuck to it, you're well on your way to setting up lasting lifestyle changes.

I'm big on goal setting. Although some people prefer to stick with a few big ones, I've made a long list of resolutions every year for the better part of a decade. SMART goals-  Specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, timely. I'm pretty rough on myself when it comes to evaluating whether or not I'm on the right track. I usually revisit the goals and "grade" myself a few times a year just to be sure I'm making progress. In an upcoming post, I'll share the new tools I've found to help me get there this year.

Design Crush: Studio McGee

It's been awhile since I wrote a design post, but boy is this one worth it!!! I've long been a fan of Gen and Ben Shor of Pencil and Paper, Julie Richards of Shelter and have been tearing through Emily Henderson's Style, which I received for Christmas. But Studio McGee (McGee & Company, the shop) is a new addition to my list of favorites. Some of their rooms make my heart go pitter-patter!

Seriously Special Eats

For ages, my mom hosted both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day at my parents house-- and served exactly the same meal, right down to the appetizers and sides, for both. While other people were having ham or roast beef or even lasagna on Christmas Day, our family has TURKEY.

One year, I saw a Christmas Carol and the scene where Bob Crachit receives a turkey (which I mistakenly thought was a goose!) from the newly magnanimous Scrooge really stuck with me. So for Christmas Eve this year, the Sailor prepared a Christmas goose with all the trimmings and some!

He always puts his heart and soul into cooking a special Christmas Eve dinner, and it was even more of an effort for him this year since he was sick with a terrible cold the weeks leading up to the day.

Note that he actually used the ugly sweater coozie that I put in the Advent calendar! 

He didn't deviate from his normal planning routine and pored over cookbooks for hours, visited all of the local grocers for the best ingredients, and spent ALL of Christmas Eve Day scurrying around the kitchen like an elf in Santa's workshop.

Many cultures recognize preparing and sharing food as an act of love, and cooking for others is the Sailor's way of showing love. I so admire his patience, dedication and skill. It's especially inspiring since, although I am a better cook than I used to be, I'm still a total disaster in the kitchen! I have a few simple recipes for dinners and a bunch of baking recipes that I make regularly, but I really have no talent for it!

Here's what was on the menu Christmas Eve:

Apps: 
Oysters with Mignonette Sauce
Warm Blue Cheese and Bacon Dip
Cheese and Charcuterie Tray

Salad:
Clementine, Burrata & Prosciutto Winter Salad

Entree:
Christmas Goose and Gravy
Prune and Apple Stuffing with Sausage and Chestnuts
Cranberry clementine sauce
Kale Gratin
Rosemary Popovers

Dessert:
Bread Pudding with Amaretto Butter Cream Sauce
Gingerbread Ice Cream

Our Christmas

Quick Christmas recap in photos! Sweet P was much more into the holidays than I expected. The girl loved opening presents and still is mesmerized by the "tttuh-tttuh." She was great about just touching branches and didn't pull down any ornaments. I'd say that's a Christmas miracle! The biggest hit this year was an LLBean sled that we'll likely use in the next day or so as we expect our first Nor'easter of the season to hit today. 

For decor around the house, I mostly stuck with natural elements-- a cozy, rustic charm. And the Sailor cooked a gourmet Christmas Eve dinner, which has become a tradition. Our parents joined us for the festivities and an out-of-this-world delish meal. The Sailor REALLY outdid himself this year with a Christmas goose as the main entree. We didn't get too many photos of the dinner, but the menu and flavors were superb!  

A full post on the holiday menu to follow!

Christmas Countdown: Advent Calendars

We've added another element to Christmas decor-- or rather I should say festivities. It truly has added to the fun of the season. While everyone else is madly moving the Elf around, all I need to remember to do is stuff a tiny treasure into our new Advent Calendar. It didn't arrive until last week, so the novelty hasn't worn off yet. 

Holiday Highlights and Sweet P at 15 Months

Hi friends! We have some catching up to do--First some holiday highlights and then P's 15 month update which is really more like 15 1/2 months!

Forecasts predict that we're going to get 3-6 inches of snow today, so it will provide the perfect backdrop to decorate our tree. We picked it out at the local nursery last weekend but didn't get the chance to put on the ornaments yet. While theme trees are all the rage, we go for a more traditional tree- colored lights and sentimental ornaments collected throughout the years.

Next year, we'll probably go cut one down, but I'll miss the tradition of visiting the local nursery where we see the family that does our landscaping. After picking out the tree, it's always a treat to go inside the store, have cider and Christmas cookies and see the owner's cats sleeping near the potbelly stove. It's a classic cozy Christmas scene!

Terrain Woven Basket- I opted to switch out the tree skirt for a woven basket from one of my favorite home stores this year. No more straightening it constantly only so that Lola can run underneath and knock it askew. No more vacuuming up needles daily. No more adjusting it to water the tree. It's such a simple change and so much more convenient!

Real Life RD- has some great advice for kicking dieting to the curb during the holidays. Eat with intention and enjoy it because it satisfies! And remember just because it is on the table doesn't mean that you have to eat it.

"...if we begin to just focus on taking care of ourselves, resting, loving on our friends and family, and serving others, then we obsess less, or better yet stop obsessing — and the food becomes a way we celebrate and share this season with others instead of something we exhaust ourselves over." 

Gingerbread Larabars- YUM! These are such a delicious treat that you wouldn't even know that they're healthy! Little did I know that this flavor has been around for a few years- Boy, have I been missing out!

I've always been curious about making my own Larabars, and there are plenty of recipes to try. Anyone ever make them? I've found a few different copycat recipes but can't decide which one to use.

So I Married A Chef
Nutritious Eats
Chocolate Covered Katie

Jeanne Oliver Designs Holiday Home Tour- Even though I say that I'm not a huge fan of contemporary style homes, Jeanne Oliver's house makes me think twice about it. With layered textiles, rustic touches and greenery, her "modern" farmhouse is so inviting and cozy. And look at that light!!!

        

Making Memories: Here's a fun tradition to look forward to each year! 

Sweet P

Pippa had her 15 month check up at the end of last month. She weighed in at 21.2 lbs. and is in the 75th percentile for height-- hard to believe that the little one was only in the fifth percentile for height and weight when she was born!

She is quite the snuggler and loves giving hugs and kisses, and we LOVE getting them! She still has only a handful of words (Mommom, Dada, cat, car, cookie, socks, up, down, uh-oh) but understands so much more than she can communicate. And it seems that every day she is trying out new sounds and words.

Pip is a ball of energy, running around, pulling everything out of its proper place and leaving a trail of toys, clothes, magazines, you-name-it behind her. She still loves peek-a-boo and never tires of being chased-- and Pip has proven her stability and speed when chasing Lola.

Pip still loves KidzLodge and is thriving there! We're so thankful to have found a place where she is so well cared for and loves going every day. At eighteen months, she will move from the infant classroom where she is now to the toddler classroom, and Mom is already dreading it! P's positive experience is all due to her amazing teachers in the "Bunny Classroom," and we credit them with her joyful nature. They report that she's the class clown, which is easy to believe. Whether wearing silly hats, making faces, dancing or jumping/somersaulting on the couch, she's constantly giggling and trying to make others laugh too.

As active as she is, Sweet P's favorite activity is probably sitting quietly and flipping through her books. It depends on the day, but some times she will even sit still for us and let us read to her, especially if it's Pout-Pout Fish-- her favorite book.

Thanks for sticking around to read this very long post! I'm off to work on Christmas cards and decorating!