Staging Baby Photos in Your Home

My last two babies were born 6 1/2 and 4 1/2 years ago. Before the time of pinterest and what I knew of picasa/picnik, photo styling and all that jazz. So, my other two lovely baby boys do not have many decent baby shots in the slighteset. It's so sad, I know, and I have lots of regrets of not taking them to get amazing baby photos taken. But I have no excuses this time around, so I went a-pinteresting and found some excellent tutorials on how to set up a staging area in your home to get some good quality photos using natural light.  I highly recommend these tutorials: how to pose and work with newborns, Simple Portrait Set-Up , Creating a Mini-Studio in Your Home , Tips on Photographing Children and What to Wear for Family Photos. We are also having pro photos this weekend and so I have been pinning tons of family photo ideas as well. Check out my Photography Tips and Ideas pinboard to see all the goodies.

I think these photos of 2 1/2 week old Miss Elisabeth Rose turned out quite well for a non-pro such as myself. And while she is as precious as pie in the lacy, pearly, jeweled dress-up shots, she is truly my little angel baby in her natural state of nekkid gorgeousness.

 

 

Homefront: Vivid Modern Florals

I bought a book called Rooms in Bloom a few years ago, about decorating with florals throughout design trends. A little outdated, but still some great ideas in there. I started picking through it again a few weeks ago and a few of my favorite images really grabbed me all over again. One of them I will be implementing in the nursery, I can't wait!
  

So, when I went thrifting and found these two vintage glass lamps, I couldn't decide what I wanted for shades. The book about florals must have inspired me. I brought home a few different shades and harp sizes, and nothing seemed to modernize the glass and bring personality in the room like I had wanted. When I found these bold purple floral shades at Garden Ridge, I was sold. I would have loved to get larger shades, but then they would not have sat as well on our little side tables. Now I am wanting to use more, bold florals in here.

While I have been loving these vivid purple florals for a few weeks now, I saw that Amy of Ten June guest posted on Censational Girl the other day about bringing back modern, bold, vivid florals to liven up spaces and was a little surprised I had picked up on a trend. There is some great advice (and examples) in the post on what to look for and how to do it so you don't feel like you are living in a 90's era garden room. Happy picking some florals, you will be glad you did!

Mother's Day

I stayed home with my one week old little angel baby Elisabeth while the Isaac and Caleb went to church. They brought me back some delightful flowers and a Mother's Day questionnaire filled out by Isaac. It made me laugh, blush and cry. I am so thankful for my sweet, little family!

*drawing of a dragon at the top*

She weighs 10 lbs
She's 99 feet tall
She's 30 years old. (Thanks, it's one year off!)
She looks pretty when she is short (Isaac clarified later that I'm always pretty,  but especially when I'm small... he means without a big pregnant belly as he's always asking if he can help me push it back down.)
Her favorite color is: blue.
Her favorite food is: all the food.
Her favorite movie: The Avengers (he just saw it w/Grandma)
Her favorite store: Wal-Mart (not Goodwill!?)
I know she's really mad when: she yells.
If I had a lot of money, I would buy her: popsicles.

*Her hospital newborn pics arrived in the mail just in time for Mother's Day*

Sweet Treats: Mother's Day Blackberry Surprise Cake

My mother, sil and I were all together today with our families to meet my new little Elisabeth Rose, so a Mother's Day cake seemed fitting. I wanted something special, but had little time (due to a plumber showing up at 9:30 am!), so I came up with this recipe using basic cake mix and store bought frosting. You can incorporate it into your favorite yellow cake and cream cheese frosting recipe for something truly special.  This is easily one of the most delicious cakes I have ever tasted!

Ingredients:

Yellow Cake Mix Box, mixed to directions (I used Duncan Hines)...
* replace oil with equal part applesauce for healthier recipe if desired
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 tsp almond extract
lemon juice  (once cake is baked)


2 Layer Filling:
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
1/4 c sugar
1 1/2 pint blackberries


Topping:
2 cans cream cheese frosting (I used white, use food coloring if desired)
pearly white Cupacke gem sprinkles
a few blackberries for garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven according to cake mix recipe. Prepare cake mix. Add vanilla and almond extracts.
Prepare 2 round cake pans with baking spray. Pour cake mix evenly into both pans. Bake according to directions.

While cakes are baking, prepare filling. Mix sugar and mash blackberries together in bowl. Allow to stand to firm up for 20 mins to 1 hour. (I let it stand only for about 10 mins because I was in a hurry, and that's why it seeped into the lower layer).

Once cake is baked and cool to touch, cut off rounded top of lower cake to create an even layer. Position lower cake layer on cake stand. Poke tops of both cakes multiple times and lightly sprinkle with lemon juice. Place foil or parchment paper strips around bottom of cake layer to prevent icing from getting all over cake stand.

Melt chocolate chips and liberally drizzle on top of the bottom layer.

Add blackberry filling on top of chocolate drizzle.
Place top cake over filling.

Frost cake in large dollops using a 'swirly' motion to create peaks in the icing.
Lightly sprinkle with pearl Cupcake Gem sprinkles and add blackberries to garnish.
Remove the foil/paper layer and clean up any icing on cake stand.

Nursing mommas get to eat bigger slices ;)   ALSO... if making Mother's Day cupcakes, A Fanciful Twist is giving away free downloads of her adorable cupcake toppers here!

 

Our Hearts are Full

Welcome Miss Elisabeth Rose. A true, flaxen haired sweetheart.

 May 7, 2012        7 lb 4 oz.        19 inches 

Personal Style: Obligatory Belly Shots

 October-November ish? Just beginning to show. Face still a little slim. Details here.

My personal style posts definitely ended around my pregnancy beginning, since I was a weirdo and didn't mention my 'condition' to anyone until I was about 5 months along! So I will just do a quick rundown here. I've never been a big fan of belly posting, or over sharing of pregnancy related stuff in general... but you know, this is for posterity and all that.

 1st week of March... Baby Shower Day!

 Beginning of April. Walking induced swelling up on the Riverwalk in San Antonio

 End of April. Got all 'inspired' and cut me some bangs, and doing something crazy with my eyeballs. Outfit details here.

May 3rd, outfit details here

 May 5th doing the hospital walk through... due May 7th! 

It will  be interesting to see what happens to ma belly from here, given this is my 3rd and all :)