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Winter Winery Wedding {Aviston, Il Wedding Photography}
Posted on February 9, 2010
The 2010 wedding season has begun for the girls and I. And I cannot have asked for a more perfect wedding to start the year off with. Melissa and Matt were married at the lovely Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston, Illinois. It’s about 35 miles from downtown St Louis, but believe me, it is well worth the drive! I won’t lie, I was a bit nervous doing a winter wedding at a winery. But God was shining down on this couple and gave them a nice dusting of snow the day before. Once the snow started I knew it was going to be magical. I know I am a big cheese ball! But seriously, her colors were so elegant and romantic, the dusting of snow really set the mood.
See for yourself…..
This is just the beginning, as the images from this wedding have to be shared! I have not seen a couple that had so much love and support! It was such a touching wedding, and there were numerous times this girl had to catch her breath and wipe her eyes!! Yowzers!!
Thank you Melissa and Matt for allowing Stephanie and I to be a part of your day. It was amazing and absolutely beautiful! Best wishes to you all and may you have a safe trip back to South Carolina!
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100mph & Picking Up Speed {St Louis Child Photography}
Posted on February 3, 2010
I have lived in the St Louis area for a total of 13 years, 1 month and 2 days. Not that I have kept count or anything, lol. I don’t know if the winters are truly getting longer here in the Midwest or if it seems that way since I have kiddies that need to get out every once in a while. What ever the case may be I am waving the white flag and asking for Spring to surprise us all with her presence. I have 300 things to do and most days my head is going 100mph with ideas. All 300 things involve warmer weather. I am about to explode!!!
Today is one of those days. I have 50 things I want to accomplish today. Ideas are soaring out of control and I am in here, where it’s warm. Wishing the sun outside wasn’t teasing me with it’s warmth. I know it’s cold out there, when I got the mail this morning it took me all of 2 seconds to realize I wasn’t opening that door again until I had to.
When my head is going 100 mph and gaining speed this is how my morning goes….
6:30 am finally dragged myself out of bed after 30 minutes of hitting snooze
I got 2 of the 3 kids dressed today. Luckily we have no where to be. Andy isn’t feeling the greatest so he gets to be in PJ’s for the day.
Make Jax a lunch, get a snack for him, check his backpack, fix his hair. Make sure everyone’s teeth are sparkly clean and then care for myself.
Check my email and make a list of people to email and call.
Sent Jax out for the bus.
Wait for the bus.
Bus is on it’s way with my child and Log and And are playing pet doctors.
Spend 20 minutes networking and uploading pictures to be edited today.
Address orders and put them in the mailbox.
Get a cup of green tea and straighten up the kitchen.
Back to emails.
Edit for 20 minutes
While editing I was thinking of Jax’s room.
Get the camera and head up stairs and take the before pictures.
I can’t have the camera and NOT take pictures of my sometimes willing subjects.
Set up train time
Take more pictures
Oh while I am at it take a few pics of fun finds from last week.
Fold towels and toss another load in the dryer and washer.
Sit back down look for inspiration for Jax’s room.
Break up a fight over who is the engineer
Go back up to Jax’s room and take a picture of my 1st camera
Come down and set up snack time
Eat a snack and then we play train, I was the fireman
Fix the train and then they decide to leave me to play by myself. Hmpf
Log is packing bags to take on a trip and Andy is playing with a school bus, I guess they needed some alone time
And here I am sifting through the pics I took this morning, making a grocery list, preparing next weeks menu, editing pictures, and cleaning my desk all at once. And thinking of all the great things I want to do to Jax’s special space.
And now it is 10:36 ahhhhh
Alright so first here are the before pictures. He moved into the nursery, and its been this shade of blue for almost 9 years. He picked out a tan color called Brown Tee Pee. Lol He still likes this blue so I decided I will paint the large wall by his bed the tan and leave the rest this blue. Or I might do two walls brown and leave two blue. I’m a little torn.
You can see this is painted paneling. 
There is a plaster nightmare behind it that none of us wishes to tackle any time soon!
Oh the joys of old houses. Uneven everything! lol
I will be moving the toy bins out and into the other bedroom soon. And I am thinking of getting rid of the dresser and put drawers under his bed for his clothes. The corner closet can hold a few things for him, but now much as it’s a very small closet.
I need to find curtain rods for his new curtains, I am also thinking of adding fun sheers as well. If I can find what I have in mind. Which I doubt as it always works that way. You know what I mean? You have a great idea in your head and could have sworn you’ve seen it before… but then you go looking for it and it’s no where to be found. Only in your head! So I’m throwing out there, and maybe one of you have seen them as well. Sheers with a map on them… anyone??? Yeah I didn’t think so lol
The bed set stays as he got them for his birthday. Big boy bedding! And I’ll find some more pillows for him as well.
Now his desk I have decided to paint and decoupage! I believe we have old maps around here somewhere and that will be the top. Along with some old fake money, and other fun stuff I find.
Ok this was my grandfathers when he was in the Navy he got this. It’s in rough shape and could use a new frame. Have to find one that will fit this glass perfect as the document I am sure it stuck to it and I don’t want to ruin this. Is one of very few things I have from my grandparents and means a great deal to me. I remember it hung in my grandparents basement and as a kid I spent a lot of time down there. It was the first thing you saw coming down the green shag carpeted stairs. I remember as a kid being fascinated with it. It sparks a lot of memories.
This little guy has been with Jax since the beginning. Why do our babies have to grow up soooo fast? sniff sniff
Jax is into history, old military, and he’s very inquisitive. I want his room to showcase all of that. And I want his room to be really special. Being the oldest he tends to get the shaft somedays, and I would love for him to be able to go to his room and see what we have done for him and know he is loved and that he is very special!
And here is the train and the folks on the train! I love it when they play so well together. Today has been fantastic, and I probably shouldn’t have just admitted that, as I may have jinxed myself. Lol
He made tickets to ride. Tickets please!
ALL ABOARD!!
Yep, he’s all mine!! Such a character!
Ok here are some recent fun finds.
This is of course an old sifter. It’ll be great for decorating… I have a great idea for this. I would use it, but the hubby found it had been soldered and is worried that it my be lead based, or something like that. So it will make something pretty very soon.
And these two love birds are an inspiration piece for my kitchen. I still am trying to figure out we are doing
In there. That’ll be a summer project I think.
Ok the final fun find was from our trip to Springfield last year. We stopped at a antique mall and this screamed for me to get it! It’s going to be part of the Rockin’ Living room. The colors in there I want are red, yellow black and white. It’s going to be fantastic! I would love a big shag rug in there, but not sure how well that will look with 3 boys. So that probably won’ t happen.
Ok so there you have it. My logest post ever! I had more but I will save it for another day. One more find and then a special post on where my camera craze began! Time for lunch and 50 more things before the man gets home! Have a great Wednesday!!! And thank you for stopping by!!!
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The Brides Choice??? {St Louis Wedding Photography}
Posted on February 3, 2010
Much to my surprise the other day I found this on my wedding wire profile!
So thank you to my brides of 2009! You all ROCK!!!
Wedding season for us starts Saturday! Stephanie and I will be shooting Melissa and Matt’s winter winery wedding! I am really looking forward to it. I hear there is a good chance of snow Friday, and flurries on Saturday. I can’t wait to see what we can do in the snow!!!! It’s going to be fantastic. My head is already spinning with ideas. Hope M & M can handle hanging out in a little snow. lol
Be sure to check in Saturday night for a sneak peek!
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Jewels and Gems {St Louis Child Photographers}
Posted on February 1, 2010
Yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting up with the M family at a St Louis gem. The Jewel Box in Forest Park served as a wonderful backdrop to a early afternoon shoot. The Jewel Box wasn’t the only gem, these kids have the most amazing eyes, they are like little gems.
Mom enjoy your sneak peek and again we thank you so much. We had a great time and can’t wait to meet up again when little Z. turns 1!!
I will post more of these pretty babies tomorrow. My babies want their mama to come play!
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Cookies & _____ {St Louis Child Photographer} 26/365
Posted on January 29, 2010
KIDS! I know the common saying is cookies and milk. But in my house first is the kids then it’s the milk. My youngest and oldest are cursed with their mother’s sweet tooth. It’s gotten so bad that we have caught my oldest eating the Nutella out of the jar. So his mother’s son. lol
{Want to hear something hilarious? Well if you save your proofs of purchase and go to their site, click on Nutella above and you will be linked there, you can order t-shirts, mugs and spreaders. I am saving the labels to get him his own spreader, for the next time he feels the urge to eat from the jar. }
But back to the cookies and kids. Ok well if you are following the blog you know I am doing a complete lifestyle change, and so far so good. Everyone is embracing it and I don’t’ get too many arguments. The kids are getting a bit tired of the green veggies I am having them consume, but they will appreciate it when they are older and healthy!
I have been on a mission to find good for you bad foods for the kids. I can’t deprive them, or as I learned I will have children sneaking and eating Nutella. So while perusing the healthy isle at Dierbergs , which I might add is wonderful, I found these bad boys!
I won’t lie, I was a little hesitant on trying them. The the ingredients include, apples, rosemary, prunes and iI asked, “How is this going to taste like a chocolate chip cookie?” No peanuts, gluten, dairy, eggs… you name a common allergy and you won’t find it in these little gems.
On to the taste test. I hired two special testers for the day. And look at these fellas, even with a face full of peanut butter, they are adorable!
And as you can see in this picture, some took their job pretty serious.
So here is the final review from the boys:
Taste: Yummy
Feel (texture): Good
Look (appearance): Fine
Would you want them again? YES!!!
And mommy’s review:
Taste: Surprisingly tasty
Texture: Not your typical cookie, A bit gritty, a tad dry, but not overly dry. There really is nothing gross about it, it’s just different.
Appearance: The are adorable
Would you want them again? Yep, sure would!
It’s fun trying new things. So look for more reviews as we get healthier and fit in 2010!!
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My 365 Project {St Louis Boudoir Photographer}
Posted on January 29, 2010
With the launching of Molto Bella Boudoir {St Louis’ newest Boudoir Photographers} I have fallen off the 365 wagon. Awww that stinks. So I have a few days missing, and even the days I do have I don’t know if I will post in order. I might just use them for something else lol. I’m a hot mess I tell ya!
I am on DAY 28!!! I have been free of the lung crusher for a whole 28 days. It doesn’t sound like that many… but my insides speak differently! I am a live again. from the inside out. My skin is better, my nails lost the yellow, my teeth are thanking me and my lungs….. oh my lungs! The deep breath I can take now is exhilarating! When I first realized I could take such a deep breath it kind of scared me. lol I know it sounds funny, but when you have been short of breath for so long you learn to not even try and take that big deep breath. But now, I take it! And I feel it! And I am thankful for it. There is no feeling like it! I am so glad I was able to rid myself of that evil friend!
So on to my 365 for today. To celebrate taking care of myself, for myself and the ones I love the most. I went out and bought myself something pretty… just because!
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Mini Session for February {Belleville Child Photographer}
Posted on January 28, 2010
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Free Stuff!! {St Louis Boudoir Photography}
Posted on January 26, 2010
Who doesn’t love free stuff? I know I do! If you check out the boudoir blog you will find we are having a first of many giveaways!!
Also later today I am going to be posting the February Mini Sessions special. It’s going to be a good bye to winter and preparing for spring session! Think bright, fun and kidtastic!
Click HERE to enter the contest!
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St Louis Boudoir Photography {Boudoir Photographers}
Posted on January 25, 2010
Boudoir Photography, our way! We are so hyped to be diving in to the St Louis Photography pool! It’s been talked about, thought about, daydreamed about… and now we are putting it into action! Please be sure to check the BOUDOIR blog today to watch for announcements, giveaways and specials! Every women deserves to feel good in her own skin and we are so happy that we can make that happen for so many.
Here is the debut of Molto Bella Boudoir logo
Stay tuned for more!
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Is It Monday Yet? {St Louis Boudoir Photography}
Posted on January 24, 2010
I can’t believe I am so excited for Monday to get here. I even texted Traci this afternoon asking her if she was excited for our leap into the St Louis Boudoir Photography pool tomorrow. She was a little confused to say the least!
I even went through my email this evening, that is a weekend no no, but I couldn’t help myself! And we already have ladies emailing us!
I’m adding more to the boudoir blog tonight, so be sure to check it out! Don’t forget about us Monday! We will be having a give away and specials!!!
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Wow very true happiness in the pictures.. can tell. Thank for sharing.