Winter Sessions...You can do it!

Yes it's cold outside (really cold outside) but if you have a cute warm coat and a significant other to cuddle up with, don't cancel out the idea of a photo session.  And even if you don't have a significant other, I'll cuddle with you in between shots.  I'll even run around the block with you and buy you hot tea to warm you up...good times :)   And 99% of the time most restaurants, cafes, hotel lobbies, antique shops and loft buildings are very cool about letting people shoot at their location, so your entire session will not be outside.  I'll find a roof and a heater so you can defrost. :)  The following sessions were held last winter.  Yes it was cold, but if you are a trooper and can stand the cold for just a bit, you will have a great time and get some adorable and amazing pictures/memories.  I promise. :)

It was cold AND rainy....trooper!

Are you convinced????

Also check out James and Katie's session as well as Amy's session and Sara's session. 

You can do it! :)

Have a fabulous day!

Snow....

I woke up this morning at 4am thanks to DH's alarm clock and noticed how it was a tad brighter in our bedroom.  Then I remembered it was supposed to snow...oh happy day.  I got up and looked out the window and the backyard was covered in snow, love it.  After a a few more hours of sleep I officially got out of bed.  Gracie is usually excited when I get up because well, I'm awake.  But this morning she was very excited...and I knew why.  Snow.  I just wanted to share a few pics. :)

"MOM!!!  IT SNOWED!!!!"....hehe...I love that face... :)

Wait for it......

Happy Dance = Chasing the tail....

Gracie has done this a million times and it cracks me up every time...

Dizzy?

Ten minutes later....someone wanted in...

And 5 minutes later someone wanted to go back out....I can't really blame her.... :)

Have a fabulous day!

Hot Chocolate...

Last night, DH and I went for a walk with Gracie around the neighborhood.  Walking late at night is one of our favorite things to do.  It's peaceful, there are no cars, and most of the time it smells like clean laundry outside (which I love).  Everyone's Christmas lights were in full force, I personally liked the dancing lit up penguins and the The Christmas Story leg lamp.  Oh yes, there is a house in our neighborhood that has the exact same leg lamp from The Christmas Story and yes it stands proudly in their front window.  It cracks me up every time and yes they keep it up year round.  Come on over sometime, I'll show you.  When we got home we decided to break out the hot chocolate (I couldn't feel my face) and watch a movie (Dolores Claiborne, real upbeat holiday kind of movie).  In my world, there is no such thing as too many marshmallows.  That's just nonsense.... :)

Have a fabulous day! :)

Secret Santa....

So yesterday I came home from work to find a little package waiting for me by my front door.  As soon as I saw it was from Lori in California I sqeeeeed!  Very excited!  Some of you ladies (especially if you are engaged or married) may be familiar with the website The Nest or The Knot.  The "ten o niners" are a FABULOUS group of ladies/brides who I now consider very good friends.  Through the process of planning my wedding, I turned to this group to share ideas and to get honest feedback, vent about frustrations and wanting to elope, and I knew I could always count on them for a good laugh.  You ladies are a VERY special group of women and I am very thankful to be a part of the ten o niners.  Basically you all kick ass.....and you know it. ;)  But we decided to do a secret santa ornament exchange this year which I was very excited about.  Here are a few pics of my ornamnet(s) from my awesome secret santa Lori. Enjoy!

Unlike myself, Lori neatly packed and decorated my gift....It was so puuuurty I didn't want to open it. :)

Whoever is getting my ornament, you know what is coming....ghetto bubble wrap envelope that is all wrinkled from me "wrapping" your ornament (I shoved it in there) and covered in tape....
you've been warned...

Cutest Christmas card ever!  Her dog Karma is such a cutie!

"From one naughty knottie to another"....that cracked me up.... ;)

TAH DAH!  My ornament!  Isn't it GORGEOUS????  It was hand painted from the inside!  They take a small brush through the hole in the top of the ornament and paint the image on the inside...How cool is that?!?!?!?  AND of course Lori had to represent.  And I am SO glad she did because I LOVE San Fran and have a little obsession with row houses....perfect! 

LOVE it...

And guess what?  Lori decided to spoil me and give me 2 ornaments... :)

"FRAAAA GEEEELAAAAAY!...It must be Italian!"...A Christmas Story....anyone?

I liked the wine glass.... :)

TAH DAH!  A camera!  CUUUUUUTE! :)

Quickly found homes for my lovely ornaments! :)

SO MUCH Detail!  Gorgeous.... :)

Thank you SOOOOO much Lori!  You are the bomb diggity! ;)  I will probably keep these out on display way past Christmas time....just in case you were wondering.... :)

Belleville Family Photographer - McLean Family

Hi there!  I'm back!  First off, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  If you tried any of the recipes I posted I would love to hear how they turned out!  Even if you absolutely hated them....let me know. :)  But my surgery went well and after 2 weeks of resting, I am so ready to get back into the mix.  Which means getting caught up on my blog which includes 2 family sessions, a lifestyle session, and a maternity session.  WOOT!  Thanks to everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and kind words.  I really appreciate it. :) 

Okay, so to start things back up, here are a few from the McLean Family session.  I adore this family.  Madison is such a cutie and looks at me like I'm absolutely crazy....which cracks me up.  She's adorable.  Here are a few from their family session, enjoy! :)

See....I told you she was adorable... :)



Oh and their session was on a farm...you know I was excited....

One of my all time favorites right here!



Madi is SO precious...

I secretly wanted to ride around in the wheelbarrow (by the way I did not know how to spell this until now).  The closest I get to this is asking Tim to push me around in the cart at Walmart...jealous...

Such a cute couple. :)

The handsome Luke :)

And the gorgeous punkin puss...  I said that right, right?

After a long session....love those ponytails...

And one gorgeous sunset to wrap up a wonderful family session!  Love it!

Thanks so much McLean Family! :)