Leprechaun Lies

I've chosen to shoot only 1-2 times per week this year in an effort to allow some more "mommy time". I'm going to try to add a few fun projects now and then in hopes that you can pass them onto your family and well...I just really like doing this kinda stuff!

Just like any other holiday there are an endless number of lies you can tell your children about St. Patricks day! (No, it's not just about green beer!) One day they're going to find out and I know I'm going to feel a tad guilty! In the meantime it's a blast to get them all excited about the nighttime visit of the tiny green men.

Here are just a few ideas...sorry I didn't get them posted BEFORE the holiday. I'll try get better at that.

Rainbow pancakes, super easy. Mix a big batch of pancake mix, separate into 6 little dishes and tint the mix.

Eli brought rainbow jello to school for a treat. I think this would be super cute as a 4th of July treat as well using red, white and blue. Send me a message if you want the recipe for this one. Just a heads up that it took about 3 hours. Not hard by any means, it's just a lot of waiting time in between layers. The layers can be peeled apart which makes it all the more fun for the kids to eat.

So about those leprechauns...

The lie we tell in our house is that they come in and make a complete mess of everything. Travis and I tipped over furniture the night before, hung pictures upside down, dropped shamrocks all over the tables and hid gold coins around the house. I think Eli was about as excited to wake up as he is to see what's in his Christmas stocking!

Enjoy your week everyone!

~Nikki~

Welcome Baby A!

Alright, I'm not going to sugarcoat anything. This little beauty was not a fan of me, my camera or her cutesy little tutu that someone made for her. A little fussy but mom and dad will have lots to choose from. She is such a dollie! Thanks T & L for welcoming me into your beautiful home! Here is a sneak peek of a few from your session.

Isn't she just the cutest!!

Trash to treasure

Last week I shared with you my feelings toward frames. I used to LOVE them. I would rotate them out as my decor changed (if you know me that means monthly) and then realized how much money I was throwing away on them.

I started to think outside of the box and rummage through my junk pile on the side of the house. (also referred to in our house as the sanford and sons pile - hubby is not a fan of it!).

Staring me in the face was a well worn ladder that I had spotted on spring cleanup. I just knew I would find a use for it :) Yes, this ladder was on someones curb...I admit it. Bleached her up, painted white, now she's my treasure with a whole new purpose in life. So thank you kind soul that threw it out 2 years ago!

Each rung of the ladder holds a "cousin" proudly above our couch. I have 8X10 standouts between each rung of the ladder. One tiny nail is required for each one which makes me smile even more. I tend to move stuff around more than most so the less nails the better. Standouts are a great product that is much more inexpensive than a canvas but still gives you the no frame look.

Here she be.....

Back At It!

I'm back at it after a few weeks off. My resolution this year was to make a little more time for my kiddos as well as the million and one different projects I have started around the house. I guess you would call it a work/home balance and I know it's a constant battle for so many of you working moms out there.

Well, it took until Feb but I kicked things off with a couple weekends off from shoots to enjoy time with the kids. Monday nights are now sewing class nights. Who ever thought a sewing class could be so much fun?? Being able to tackle a few sewing projects that have been in my brain for quite some time feels SO good!

Anyways, I'm completely caught up with my work, taxes are done and I'm so ready for my first little newborn girly this weekend! Can't wait to get my itsy bitsy baby fix!

I'm going to leave you with an alternative to frames image. So many clients ask what kind of frames I recommend. My answer is usually "none". Personal preference of course but I love the look of pictures in something other than a frame.I'll try post an image a week of some of the alternatives I have around the house.

This particular one is a window with 6 panes....perfect for 6 8X10's. I used sticky tabs on the back of the prints to adhere them to the window. I'm patiently waiting for a "sister" to the window to put on the other side of the mirror but have to wait until my favorite flea market opens up this spring:)

Collages

Collages are becoming a such a common request that I thought I would blog just a couple examples. They're a really fun way to showcase a collection of your favorite photos if you feel like you already have an abundance of photos displayed in your house! They're completely customized to your taste and we'll work together to get it just the way you like! Here are just a couple examples...

Kleenex, Vicks, OJ and a few cough drops. Yep, you guessed it. Day 6 of the cold has blessed our house and today I have my adorable little hacking 6 year old by my side. He traded in a day of school and hockey for some snuggling, movies and a little rest time. Dreaming of some sweet summertime today! Thanks to anyone who has been waiting for proofs. I'm right around 2.5 weeks for galleries to be up and running. Stay warm and healthy everyone!!

Oh my, I'm in love with this age! This little princess was SUCH a good girl through the entire session. Mom wanted a pumpkin patch look for the first few so she brought along a collection of pumpkins from the family farm. We then moved inside for a few shots and she was a super trooper through it all. Thanks S & T for letting me snap a few of her. She is a honey!!

We even got to witness the first time she pulled herself up!

Not just cute kids, this entire family was adorable. Mom had just got done running the twin cities marathon the day before and jumped right into a family shoot! I had to include a few of mom and dad together, I think they are so cute together. Thanks H family!