SNOW DAY!!

When we saw the snow Thursday night piling up, the kids thought they'd try a new good luck ritual for bringing on the snow day-inside out pajamas. Well, it worked!
It was so beautiful-as long as I didn't have to leave the house.
So we planned a day of sticking close to home.
She is up to no good...
ok, so neither is he.
Rockin' out with the shovel.
A job well done (with a bit of help from mom)
What would a snow day be without some Fun! The kids went sledding with friends for a while then came back & played and baked cookies-YUM!
For me, knowing that I would be home ALL day, I thought it was a good time to make bread. I love the smell of the house when it is baking.It is also a way to keep the tradition going.
I have to tell you that this was the First time I made it all by myself. Usually mom does the work and I have to take careful notes.
Ahhhh........
It was nice to take pix just for fun. I feel like I haven't done that in a while and needed to just for me.
Now go and do something just for you & enjoy your day.

Go Red!

Heart Disease is the #1 killer of Women in America!
Today is National Wear Red Day

This is an initiative by the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women that "celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke".
I learned of this cause a few years ago from my friend Jody who had a heart attack before the age of 50. Since then she has made sure that all of us "bunko" girls know the facts.
So do yourselves a favor girls; educate yourselves and help spread the word.

For more information visit the Go Red for Women website: www.goredforwomen.org

fresh look

So that resolution you made about getting organized this year--here you go.
This fall I had the pleasure of working with Anna Glielmi, a professional organizer in the northern suburbs, and we had some fun!
Anna has recently launched her new website for her company Fresh Look Home. She was such a wonderful person to work with and we had a lot of laughs. So take a look at that closet and give her a call! Oh, be sure to ask her about the "Bakery Shots" that we took.

We were fortunate to have a beautiful day so we just went down the block and look at all the wonderful spots we found.


I mean really~look at this wall!!

As promised...

Big blog make up day today! We had a snow day today so lots of work time and play time too. More on that soon.
But here are some of the holiday cards from this past season (with some new names).
I had some great designs this year, but also did some custom work with a little help from my friend Lynda.

(see more of their session photos "play time" on December 20th)
OH you haven't seen the shots from either of these sessions. I have to get those posted!
Here is the card from "Oh baby" session. What a fun holiday card/birth announcement!
remember this adorable family? I love the classic design.
Ok, more to put up.

happy 2008!!

I wanted to share this before Christmas but it got terribly busy over here, but it was too fun not to share. It is one of those shots that we all have with the worse Santa ever and really mom, how old are we in this anyway?? But honestly, this is the one Christmas picture that comes to mind from my childhood and it really was a catalyst for me to take great shots around the holidays for others.

It does however actually say a lot about our break-we had LOTS of laughs and I got to see my sis (in the yellow) out west.We took the kids on a cruise and then off to AZ for some fun in the sun with Ed's sister. Oh yeah, it was a TOTAL SURPRISE!! We woke them up at 4am and said "Time to get up, we're going on vacation"! If you have the chance to do that for your kids, you have to do it. The expressions on their face for that moment was worth all the stress of secretly planning & packing. The trip really was nice because we got to spend time together with family that we don't get to see as often.

We were gone for almost 2 weeks and it was tough getting back into the swing of things.
But I am back in the office now getting ready for a fun winter. I'll share with you some more of the fall prints and projects that I have been working on and I have some more fun projects on the horizon. I'll keep you all posted.
enjoy your day!

A Christmas Dickens moment

Alright, for this one I HAVE to share some background. This was a session planned for one of the gals at Eliza Jane (that fun girly shop in St.Charles). We had set the date way in advance to get the kids when they were out of school and before they went on vacation. Wouldn't you know it, this day was just miserable around here. There was fog and a mist that hung on for the entire day as it turned out-even though it was supposed to be sunny by 9am.
We decided to press on and fought through the weather.
They were dressed to the nines as they do for their Christmas photo, but this year mom wanted to try something new. Between the fog and the traditional dress combined with the fun scenery we found the results all came together oh so nicely. WOW!



But stay posted (ha,ha) there are more to share from this session, and others as I continue to edit and keep working on in the new year.

play time

No not for me unfortunately. I am nursing myself back to health today. Yesterday wasn't any better either. I have lots to do to get ready for Christmas, but today I just need to get rid of this nasty cold & achy feeling.
SO, what better way then to Post!
These are from one of the fall sessions. This big sister and little brother has so much fun just playing together at the park. Doing what they do best.
Football. Their favorite game to play together. just look how he goes for the ball!
he was just so sweet, and had such a fun time playing


Look how she watches over him, what a good big sis'.


She was such a natural for the entire session

FUN FUN FUN!

ok this was a happy accident, I admit. It was just when I played with it later did I notice how adorable his expression was and I had to find a way to keep it in the set.

Oh Baby!

What a sweetie pie! This little guy was just adorable. His big brothers were along too to get in on the action, but this was all about him.

"you're going to put the baby in there??!"

Safe and sound back in daddy's arms.

less than 3 weeks old and look how smiley he is? ADORABLE!
Big brother shots and Christmas card to be posted in January.
Lots more to share, keep checking back.

family time

As promised, I want to share the shots from this fall/winter so what I thought I'd do it is at least every other post; that way I won't feel so behind. I will not let this get like my personal scrap booking which is always a bit behind.
So, these are from a family session on a beautiful fall day. Our goal was "at least one" for the Christmas card. We had so much fun and just letting the boys be themselves and sneaking in a few family shots too.





ok, I'm still figuring out this spacing thing with the pix & text. But, how cute is this family?!! The boys were so excited to show me how they could be "BIG BROTHERS" for this one.









These boys just loved being front and center,but I have a feeling that someone might be stealing the spotlight some time soon...
We did get the "one" (and two and three...), but I think I'll wait until after I know her holiday cards are out before we share those with everyone.

Happy 12th Birthday!!

Well we made it through the birthday adventure.
What started out as a plan to drive downtown and go ice skating at Millennium Park turned into a train ride and a trip through Macy's. That would be due to ice storms, sever weather warnings and the first snow of the season. It really was beautiful to see all the DT lights covered in ice, but the sideways sleet, I could have done without.

As promised, here are some pix for you Juju.

The girls had such a fun time on the train, and who knew it was only $5 ROUND TRIP for me and 5 girls on Metra!! So much better than parking.

Once we got there we took the Trolley to State Street and did the obligatory trip to Garret's and saw the windows at Fields, I mean Macy's.
Saw Santa and a menagerie of life sized stuffed animals in the FAO Swartz toy department.

Then we headed upstairs and saw Martha's Tree (eh. just so-so compared to trees of the past in my book).

Lastly we went over to the Christkindlmarket for some toasted nuts, German Snacks and shopping. (this is not to be confused with the Kindermarket that I originally called it and my German friend thought I was going to sell the children when the afternoon was over!).Way too much rain/snow/sleet to take any pix here, but it was lovely.
Then a run back to the train station for pizza and "Hairspray".