To give and receive love is one of life’s most rewarding things. Even when it comes in the form of four pawprints, long whiskers, and an attitude that won’t quit. The love of Mia is today’s Friday Favorite.
Mia came into our lives eleven years ago, just as the hubs and I were preparing to tie the knot. She’s moved with us to several new homes :: and in each one, raced the hubs down the stairs, slept in paper bags, and napped in her favorite hiding spots (some of them, a little TOO good). She wouldn’t sit on your lap if you had shorts on. She liked sitting in the windows and watching the birds fly by, and on windy days she’d chase leaves as they blew across the patio from inside the sliding glass door. We’re convinced she was a chef in her past life as she’d eat anything – Nacho Cheese Doritos were her favorite with grilled chicken as a close second. No leaving food open on the counters, as she’d inevitably find her way into it and help herself to a little snack.
She loved on her own terms and we did our best to accommodate. Wanted to sit with you on the couch and let you rub her head when she was ready. She’d sit by my desk in the office sometimes or hide under the pillows on the bed. Every night when Little Man went to bed, she sauntered out into the living room while we shared an evening cocktail together and recounted the day. Sometimes she’d sit in the corner of the same room you were in and just watch :: to be in the presence of another person. Her sass and spunk were a little intimidating at first, if you were new in her world, but never once did she bite. She was protective of Little Man from the first day we brought him home from the hospital – in a big sister sort of way.
With very heavy hearts, we had to say goodbye to her this week. Our love unfortunately wasn’t enough to heal the pain she’s endured the last many months. We know now that she’s at peace. She holds a special place in our hearts :: and we will miss her so much.
Remember sweet little Ella? She celebrated her first birthday this summer…seriously, how cute is she?! She is totally a girl’s girl :: loves purses, jewelry and her American Girl doll. We had so much fun on a lovely, warm 
summer afternoon.
Everything goes better with kisses from mommy and daddy….
Buh-bows!
Sitting in her favorite wagon. Ooo! I love me some sweet cheeks and baby smiles!!
Classic, timeless…and on her tricycle. LOVE it.
A beautiful necklace…she loves jewelry!
The background is a painting hung in her bedroom. Great backdrop, don’t you think?
And one more ‘cuz I can’t resist!
I try not to box myself in with these multi-part posts, but I’m having fun being a wardrobe stylist!
So last week we talked about clothing options from Boden. Super cute, a little whimsical. This week we’re hitting up everyone’s old standby, Gap. Notorious for old classics and affordable splurges, it’s is the predictable one of the group – fun, friendly, not over the top. I’m enthralled with their line this fall and totally feeling the vintage, Parisian vibe out of the new collection. Black, gray, red…it oozes cool in a Vive la France sort of way. (Ever seen Audrey Tautou in the move Amélie!? Like that. BTW, in case you’re wondering, I kinda love that movie. An oldie but definitely a goodie.)
I think these outfits would be c’est très magnifique — lovely for mom, with its classic lines (love those jeans!) and a little punch of red. Dad gets lots of classic gray and black, and the kiddos steal the show in an adorable red skirt and velvet jacket or quarter-zip red pullover with black sneakers. Love, love, love.
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For the record, I do my best not to kill plants. But I promise you I’m no Martha Stewart when it comes to gardening. I’m pretty sure it puts me in the category of low-maintenance gardener. I like the color, the butterflies they attract, and the blooms to bring into my house, but with several weeks of scorching heat (I swear I’ll stop lamenting over it someday) I did all I could to keep the little blossoms alive and kicking. Now that it’s cooled off a bit though everything seems to be redeeming itself. And makes me look like I’ve at least tried in the process.
So, no knocking the status of my basil and its white flowery tops. I know they aren’t supposed to be there. But that’s the kind of non-Martha gardener I am. Some days, this is the best you get.
I’m kind of fascinated by bees. I assume there’s a hive somewhere nearby because I keep seeing the workers around. Several were attacking helping themselves to the basil flowers yesterday afternoon and making me feel not quite so bad that I had been lazy waiting to pluck them off. I caught this little guy in the act ::
And the first monarchs of the season are starting to make their way to these parts. If the weather holds up this weekend we might go out to the prairie to see them (it’s a beautiful migration point on their way south). Should be a spectacular sight.
Happy Weekend!
So Little Man went back to school this week. One of those things that we’ve talked about happening, about his friends who will be in his class again, the things that they’ll do. Most of it seemed to exist in the ether…and then all of a sudden, it’s here. Gone are our carefree days of summer (and hopefully so is its heat), and we’re back into a more structured routine — something that is quite welcome in our house.
But as excited for him as I am to go back, I miss him too. See, the hubs often works at home. I work at home. Parker is home (often with a sitter while we’re working). Um, yeah. It’s like that at our house. Every day. And so for the last several months I had resigned myself to working amongst the chaos. Listening to hubs click on his keyboard while on the phone, hearing Little Man in the other room playing trucks while he talks nonstop.
And now it’s quiet.
Hubs works offsite in the mornings while Little Man is at school. I’ve gotten a run or yoga in, and then it’s just quiet. Me, coffee, and my to-do list. I’m still trying to adjust to the new normal. And breathe in these few, solitary, fleeting moments.
Because I know the chaos will return around lunchtime when everyone comes home from their morning’s activities.
Here’s a quick peek at the little man before he trotted off to preschool on Tuesday ::
(I’m going to out myself on this one :: this morning, while getting ready to prepare this post, I acutally typed the word “Chaos” instead of my username. Yup. Welcome to my world some days.)
It’s one of the first questions that gets asked, right after we select a session date. What should we wear?!? It is, hands down, one of most daunting question when booking your photography session… and we’ve all been there :: looking through the family’s closets and (if you’re anything like me) deciding that it’s not up to your expectations…so off to the mall you go.
It helps immensely to have a plan before you start shopping. What’s your family’s style? What kind of tone do you wish for your portraits to have? Formal? Casual? Playful? Do you want them to blend with your home decor (the answer is 100%, absolutely, do-not-pass-go YES if you’re thinking even in the slightest to create a wall gallery)? What kinds of colors do you decorate with the most? What colors make you feel good? Comfortable? Happy?
For the next couple of weeks, I’m going to pick a few of my favorite retailers, online and on foot, to find great outfits for the whole family–mostly casual, but I hope that you’ll use these as ideas for when you’re shopping. It’s fashion–just like art, it’s totally subjective, so you have to choose what feels right for you.
This week we’ll take a look at outfits from Boden. Super cute, a little whimsical, and totally appropriate for everyone. For this, I envisioned a casual look with lots of blues, gray, and earthy brown. With some little punches of fun thrown in.
Dad gets some clean, classic lines. Mom looks super-sharp in a sleeveless cardigan vest and skinny jeans. (And love me that leather jacket! Wowza!) Adorable in polo shirts, cozy sweaters, and snuggle-worthy corduroy dress up the kiddos just right.
I love these options because it looks cohesive…and allows everyone’s personality to come through. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
Happy Wednesday!
Justyn and Kari pledged their love among the closest of their friends and family last month, on a beautiful, warm, summer evening. It was the perfect day for two happy souls to intertwine, and surrounded by those that they treasure the most, it was sure to be a delightful celebration.
Everything they touched was surrounded in joy and love, with such thought and attention paid to the smallest of details ::
Love me a pretty cake with fresh flowers :: simple and lovely.
And don’t forget the cutest flower girl basket, ever ::
Fresh, fragrant, and fabulous ::
Some post-ceremony smooching ::
I love this image. So, so filled with happiness.
by Cathy
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