Friday Five; Leap Day!

Only happens once in four years... make it a special day!! :)

What Kind of World Do You Want?
The band Five for Fighting is associated with this site, which allows regular people to create web videos supporting a particular cause or charity and upload them to the site. Donations are made based on the number of views.. so it's not only really interesting and touching, it's a good thing!

80s Tees
Because you KNOW you need a Saved by the Bell t-shirt. I'm just saying. :)

Lots of other cool designs.. and you all know how i love my logo tees!

Art of the American Snapshot
Fascinating exhibit at the Amon Carter museum, looks at the everyday snapshots we've taken in the last 100 years and what they say about us.. then and now.

Follow that Rabbit at CATS
Creative Arts Theatre School's latest production is sure to be a hit with the little ones! Bonus points for the fact that the cast is almost entirely children, all students at the school. For some reason kids always love to watch other kids.. so grab the whole family and make a day of it!

Sentimental Silver
I saw this necklace on a client recently and had to have it.. once I finally found the source I can't pick a favorite! Really hip, simple designs that you can customize to your child, pet, hubby, whatever! A great gift, boys... hint, hint!! :)

What's HER Story?

Another fun new feature on the blog.. a monthly profile of moms in our community that are turning heads for one reason or another. They are successful entrepreneurs, active volunteers, astonishing athletes, and more! But above all they are moms like you & me and they all have a story to tell! I hope you enjoy the little peeks into their lives.. and if you have a mom you'd like to see featured let me know and we'll add them to the list!

First up is Eryn Hall, 29, from Bedford, who is the brains behind the nonprofit organization Gorbella's, which was just featured in the Friday Five. They are working to build a community center specifically geared towards parents of young kids, with a family friendly coffee shop feel and access to parent/child education, activities, and resources. Here's a little more about Eryn and the project, in her own words:



Family Status (spouse, kids & ages): Married to Jeff for 5 years, we have a 3yo daughter Haile and baby boy due July 1.

Current Occupation: Supermom.

Tell me about the Gorbella’s project in a nutshell, a few sentences more or less: Simply put: Gorbella's creates and promotes family friendliness. Gorbella's is and will be a place parents can go with their children to meet with other parents and children for good, clean fun, education, resources, free play and socialization. Think of it like a Starbucks but for the mommy-and-me crowd.

Where/when did you get the idea for this project? When Haile was 6 months old I started feeling very isolated as a stay at home mom. Where could I go where she could play (safely), I could talk with other SAHMs about mom stuff, we could get a healthy snack, where her cries wouldn't 'disturb' anyone, and if I needed to nurse her, I could...? I saw it as a serious need for me - and for other moms - and I couldn't just sit back and wait for someone else to make it happen.

What kind of reaction have you been getting from people when you explain the mission? Excitement. Impatience. "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO OPEN!?" We have a lot of support from moms in the community who are anxiously awaiting Gorbella's grand opening. Because we're going the nonprofit route, the process for us to open is taking just a little bit longer than if we were, say, a Starbucks. :) What can people do to help? Volunteer. We need volunteers at our playdates (how fun, right!?) and we also need help with grant writing. Of course, we always accept financial donations, as well :)

Describe a typical day in your life.. wakeup to bedtime: Roll out of bed around 6am to make Jeff's lunch, pour myself a cup of 1/2caf and sit at the computer to read the news and e-mails. Haile usually wakes up about 7:30 and crawls into my lap for a morning snuggle. She'll play with the dog while I do some housework or continue working on the computer. We're typically out the door by 10 to run an errand or go to a class (she takes dance) or playdate. I try to get us home by 2 and we have about an hour of 'down time', which used to be naptime but I guess 3yr olds don't take naps, so we read books, rest, and play the quiet game. At 330 the neighbor kids all get home from school and we go outside to play with them. I love this time of day because it's so old-fashioned: moms gossiping in the culdesac while the kids ride bikes, jump rope, and make chalk art at our feet, until the sun starts to set. I start dinner at 5 and Jeff is home by 6. We eat dinner together at the table and talk about our day. Then it's more housework and prepping for the next day while Jeff and Haile spend some time together before bedtime. All 3 of us are tucked in and say goodnight at 830pm.

What’s in your purse RIGHT NOW? wallet, dayplanner, cellphone, sunglasses, a zippy bag with bandaids, lotion and chapstick, 2 of my favorite ballpoint pens, crushed Goldfish crackers, a tiny notepad, a fullsize spiral notebook, Haile's sunglasses, CleanWell hand sanitizer, a half-sucked Valentine's Day lollipop (sigh).

Finish this sentence: I could not get through my day without … my cellphone. I am a text maniac, and sometimes I just have to call my mom.

My favorite guilty pleasure is.. make-up. Even though I don't wear a lot, I love new make-up.

My friends will tell you I am … creative.

If I could teach my children one thing, I would hope it is… faith.

What inspires you? people. Even strangers. People-watching is a great way to get ideas, insight and inspiration.

Oh Sunny Day!

It's been a long, gray winter but the sunshine we found this weekend was well worth the wait! A literal breath of fresh air, I swear it did more for perking me up than all the diet coke I could ever drink! It had the same effect on these two little darlings I got to hang out with on Sunday afternoon... they were certainly perked up and ready to play!



Curious, adventuresome, cheerful... I could think of so many adjectives to describe these two but I'll stick with FUN! Thanks for a great afternoon.. can't wait to share the rest with you!



Happy Monday everyone!

Friday Five 2/22/08

Happy Friday everyone! More fun links & need to know news to get you off into the weekend on the right foot!

The Artful Hand
Furniture, home accessories, jewelry, artwork and more! This eclectic shop in the Fort Worth Cultural District offers just about anything your imagination could dream up.. all handcrafted by local artists and completely one of a kind! The perfect destination when you need a gift for someone who has everything... or a special treat for yourself! :)

Gorbella's
This nonprofit group is working to create a family friendly community center of sorts, a coffee shop with children's play area and meeting/classrooms for moms to conduct business or just hold PTA gatherings! I've often lamented the school volunteer meetings held at McDonald's just because it was the only place we could occupy the kids long enough to get any work done, so the idea of a safe & fun spot that also has good, healthy food is a dream come true! Right now the organization is hosting a variety of playgroup fundraisers to raise money for the project, check out the website for more details!

Breast Milk for Cancer Patients
As a mom, and a woman, I just thought this story was amazing. That's about all I need to say! :)

Ecomoms
Move over soccer moms, the new trend in parenting is the "eco mom," at least according to this NYTimes article. Today's moms are growing increasingly conscious (and active!) about their global footprint and how to raise children both safely and responsibly in the new, greener world. It's a very interesting read with some links with advice for moms from other moms on how we can all work together to make this Earth last a little longer for everyone!

Junie B Jones at Casa
We love a good play at our house and I can't think of a better one to start off the new year than Junie B. Jones! Casa Manana is now showing the production, based on the hugely popular children's book series about a precocious kindergartener and her wild escapades. Shows this weekend through March 9th... don't miss it!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Welcome to the World Baby A

Drumroll please... the baby that so many of my loyal readers have been faithfully waiting for has arrived and just completed his first (of many to come!) session with Ann Beck Photography! Mostly it was me & his mama chatting, nursing, laughing, eating, talking, and taking turns snuggling this warm ball of sweetness... but there were pictures taken in between, I swear!

Those of you who haven't been following along can watch little man A grow in posts previously logged here and here and here... it's one of the first things anyone has asked me about in the past few weeks.... when can we see the baby! And so, without further ado, here he is!











At long last... The.Most.Photographed.Baby.Ever. is actually in the shot!

...and well worth the wait! :)

Rainbow Bright

After a solid 24 hours of rain on Saturday, we got almost 10 glorious minutes of the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen... complete with a fully arched rainbow in bold, technicolor hues that stretched from one end of the horizon to the other. Even with the widest angle lens I own I couldn't fit the whole spectacle in one shot. It was absolutely breathtaking... and gone almost as quickly as it had appeared.



Happy Monday!

Friday Five!

Back again with another list of fun spots and links... hope you enjoy checking them all out! FYI I have added a tab on the right where we'll archive all the Friday Five links so you can easily look them up later. And of course, please let me know if you find a store, group, or other event that you think our readers would enjoy and we'll add it to the list!

Funky Finds
This super-hip blog run by an Arlington shopper extraordinare gives regular updates on the latest artsy, funky products... everything from cards and jewelry to kids' products and original artwork. She even offers fun contests with great giveaways and has a million links to other like-minded shops and hot spots around the web. Be warned... it's the kind of site that will suck you in for hours... but you won't regret it!

Volunteer Match.org
So you've always wanted to do something, but don't know where to start? This fabulous site is a perfect all-in-one resource for finding a way to match your time & talents with the needs of local and national charities. Even one hour a week can make a huge difference to the groups in need.. check them out and get involved!

Safety Tat
Not a fan of the name but I LOVE this product! Order custom made temporary tattoos with your name and/or phone number printed on the design. The next time you go to the mall, fair, or other busy location with your kids you can ink them all and let them play with peace of mind, knowing that should they wander off you can be easily located! An added bonus usage.. special allergy warnings, so you don't have to wait for your kids to be old enough to tell someone they need a nut or dairy free diet... they'll be labeled for safety!

Prayers for Britney
I know, I know.. but I can't help it! I really feel for the girl. So I was thrilled to see at least one site on the world wide web that isn't rejoicing in her breakdown, but instead trying to focus the story on the fact that this is really one sick little girl who need some serious help! How much help virtual prayers from random strangers around the world will actually give is to be seen, but it feels better than watching the latest stalkarazzi video of her morning starbucks trip!

Color Quiz
Another completely mindless site.. but I've sent this around to friends and been amused to see how accurate the results have been! A silly waste of time for an otherwise gloomy Friday afternoon.. enjoy! (p.s. I was Aqua!)

Have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday to you-know-who!

Just a quick sneak peek for a sweet little birthday girl. I was lucky enough to spend the day with her earlier this week on her actual birthday, and will be coming back this weekend for the party! Such a sweet smile.. and yes, her eyes are really that blue! Lots more to come from this little one soon... but in the meantime.. happy birthday! You make the big 0-1 look adorable!





Happy Valentine's Day to everyone else... hug the one you're with! :)

Our Story: The Pearce Trio

Another favorite blog feature we're happy to bring back this year is the featured client q&a! Every Wednesday we'll be introducing some of our favorite little personalities behind the beautiful smiles you already love to meet!

We're kicking it off with the three beautiful Pearce children. This session was the third we've done together, starting with the birth of the littlest bug in the bunch, and I've just loved getting to know them all and watching them grow before my very eyes.. or lens! :)

First up.. Sean, age 10


Nickname (and why if applies…)? Duckie ( I made quacking sounds as a baby)

What I want to be when I grow up...Dad, Teacher


Early riser or Late Snoozer? Early Riser

What was your favorite thing about your session? Playing the leaves with my sisters


The middle child.. sister Jamie, age 8


Favorite book? Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake

My favorite place to go is... Marshall, Texas (my Chocka's (Grandma) house)

Cookies or ice cream? Both!


Favorite food? Chicken Nuggets

And finally, sweet Michelle, the one-time newborn who is already 2!


Nickname (and why if applies…)? Michie, Shelley, Shell-shock (I'm very loud)

Early riser or Late Snoozer? Early Riser

My parents laugh when...I make faces and sing


What was your favorite thing about your session? The Dancing!


Between the candid answers and their giggly faces, I'm guessing you've picked up on something I learned a long time ago.. these people love to have a good time! I often leave a session with sore cheecks.. from smiling too much! What a wonderful effect to have on people... it takes a really special group of people to matter so much! :)

Monday morning peek a boo!

Some sneak peeks from the weekend, a busy one! Two sweet sweet babies and two tumbling queens!

First, this little guy could NOT stop smiling. Or batting his long eyelashes... yeah, he's a 5 month old flirt! :)



Then this little one's mom was worried she was feeling a bit under the weather and wouldn't be herself... whoever she was, it was adorable!



And finally.. another gymnastics meet for my favorite future Olympians! Is it wrong to envy a 7 year old's physique? Heck, I'd be happy to just have that kind of dedication and focus! They are truly awe-inspiring to watch... not to mention just a lot of fun!

Friday Five!

This is just the first of a few new features we've got in the works for the blog in 2008.. the Friday Five! Every Friday we'll give you our top 5 list.. top 5 what? Umm.. anything! Whatever's new and cool, or just on our frontburner at the moment. Find a fun, family friendly product or new local business you think deserves a shout out? Let us know, we'll add it to the list! For now, here are the top 5 things on my mind this Friday, February 8th 2008!

Hannah Montana Movie
Yes, I'm going to cave and take them.. what else is a mom of 3 girls supposed to do? If you've been living under a rock and haven't yet experienced Hannahmania, you've been missing out! The songs are actually decent.. borderline catchy.. and the clothes & content is cool enough to keep the kids' attention but clean & wholesome enough to feel good about them watching it over. and. over. The movie is actually a film of her sold-out concert tour, and is only playing for a very limited run (one more week from what I hear!) so click on the link above to find a theater near you and be the hero in your little pop diva's eyes!


Edible Arrangements
One word... YUM! This site also has a few in-person stores around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, all of which delivery these amazing and delicious arrangements of fresh fruit directly to the lucky person of your choice! I was thrilled to receive one last fall from a darling client and have since passed on the pleasure to a few of my own favorite people! I can attest the the quality.. the fruit all arrives so fresh and juicy it's unbelievable, and we were able to make it last almost a week with the same great taste. Makes a GREAT gift for new babies, get well soon, or even a special valentine!

Creative Organizing
The name pretty much says it all.. this woman is amazing! I have to be careful to not read this blog on a bad day, or I might develop a serious inferiority complex... for the most part it's a fun and creative look at everything from housework to memory keeping, with unique ideas and solutions to everyday problems. And it just all looks so cute! It may be February but I'm still in new-year-purge mode and this is a great tool to give me ideas and keep me on track!


Etsy
If you've never been to this site.. be warned.. your checkbook will feel the pain! Absolutely enthralling, it's similar to ebay in that regular people post items for sale directly to the consumer, except that everything on etsy is completely handmade! I've been spending WAY too much time picking out crocheted baby booties and hats and blankets and everything for the little boy blue we've all been waiting for.. but there is way more than baby stuff here! Funky jewelry, one of a kind artwork, clothing, home decor.. you name it! Grab a cup of coffee and happy shopping!


Magic Dog Jewelry
I promise the five won't be all shopping every week.. but I couldn't not include this one! This company takes your kids' original artwork and creates beautiful sterling silver charms of the creation! It can be a little heart or a self-portrait.. the details of their handiwork are preserved in the heirloom piece forever! Great gift for grandparents.. and yourself! :)


That wraps up this list.. but I've got lots more in store for next week! And be sure to submit your ideas if you have them.. there's so much fun stuff going on in the area, why not share?

Have a great weekend!

201!

Wow.. I just realized that my last post on here was post #200! That makes this #201.. and how cool is that? I can't believe that I have that much to say.. or rather that there are still people reading! :)

In honor of the big milestone.. a few fun announcements! First, the holiday contest nominating someone special for a complimentary session and proof collection... the winning entry came from Becky Heller, for a special family friend and their brave little boy awaiting a kidney transplant! I received a number of really sweet and touching notes from my readers with a variety of motivations.. but this was one I just couldn't turn down!

And the other fun.. since we are post #201... I'll be offering a $201 gift certificate towards your print order for any spring sessions booked within the next 48 hours.. until Wednesday at 5pm. So if you've been planning on getting your session scheduled but just can't get around to calling.. now is the time! The offer is only good until Wednesday night!!

Finally.. some quick pictures.. are you sick of her yet? Just two, to show the progression from 12/24/36 weeks... how amazing to see the growth in just a few months, don't you think?
(click on the images to see them larger and get the FULL effect) :)

And even more amazing... in blog post #202 we will finally get to meet the little guy who's been incubating in there all this time... the.most.photographed.baby.ever. will finally be in the picture! Cross your fingers and say your prayers... I know some of you out there are almost as excited as me! :)