April Mini Session

{April Mini Session}
When: Sunday, April 10th (make up day Saturday 16th)

Where: UK Arboretum
Times: 6:00-6:30, 6:30-7:00, 7:00-7:30, 7:30-8:00

Cost: $30 for 30 minutes.  $30 for disc with hi-res images and printing rights.  Purchase of disc includes $15 print credit.  Total Package Cost: $60
This month's mini session will capture every essence of spring!  Blue skies (fingers crossed!), green grass, trees in bloom, and tulips popping up everywhere!  Want some Easter pictures to share with family?  Need your child's birthday picture?  A little engagement session?  Or just a session with you and that special someone?  Pull out the sundresses, shorts, and sandals from the back of the closet and let's welcome spring!  Contact amanda.mitchell08@yahoo.com to sign up.

$15 deposit required.  $15 balance due by April 10th. $30 payment for disc is required before disc is mailed to customer.

Wee Bit Wednesday

{one} scruffy or clean shaven?Both.   {two} what’s your favorite sundae topping?hot fudge and strawberry...i don't mean fresh strawberries, i'm talking the sweet stuff loaded with sugar!
{three} do you own slippers?yup {four} did you ever have a tree house?no, but dad built a pretty awesome playhouse {five} how you do relieve stress?cry...i'm a woman.  :)  or make a list of everything i need to do before going to bed.  then spend about 30 minutes getting as much done on that list as i can.  at least i made progress so i can rest easy...and that's why i'm up tonight.   {six} what’s your favorite dr. seuss book?green eggs and ham.
{seven} have you ever taken dance classes?nope, but did gymnastics for two years.  apparently i didn't like the hard-core parents of the other gymnasts, so i quit...so my mother tells me.   {eight} which do you use more: the thesaurus or the dictionary?how about spell check?! haha...well, i'd say thesaurus.
{nine} what’s your favorite form of exercise?yoga!  became a huge fan when i was preggo. {ten} what’s the longest you’ve ever waited in line?probably at the post office...or some 'customer service' phone number for credit card, phone, etc. 

Props for babies and kiddos!

So amongst the wedding, regular sessions, and mini sessions I'm editing, I'm finding some time to 'wind' down at night by crocheting.  Ahhh...it is like my 'nothing box.'  If you're not sure what a 'nothing box' is, check it out here...we first learned about it during our premarital classes. 

Ok, so back to crocheting...my fav project has been owl hats.  Here are three I've made.  What I love about these hats is the endless possibilities of color combinations and experimenting with different eye sizes, etc.  So I've made a few trips to my 'nothing box' in the past weeks.  :)  The pattern is from Little Abbee and I found her shop on Etsy.  I stocked up on 6 different crochet patterns (very reasonably priced and simple, precise instructions).  I can't wait to show you more!

I'll keep updating as I crank out new styles!  And I can make them to sell...I'm actually selling the pink and brown owl hat tomorrow.  :) 

Owl hats $20

Owl hats $20

Bear hat $10, Diaper Cover $10, Cap $15

Homespun hat & diaper cover set $25, Frog hat & diaper cover set $20

Boy or girl caps $15

Newborn Cocoons $15

Elfin hats $15

*prices may be affected by type of yarn requested and/or embellishments added.  Feel free to ask!

Wee Bit Wednesday

{one} what color is your kitchen?all the walls in our home are original paint...divine white...they have been for 4 years.  wow...i've lived here this long?!




 {two} do you have a good luck charm?nope. 




{three} do you prefer to write with a pen or pencil?pens...but that has come to bite me in the tush with the address book and calendar...people moving and appointments changing...i've learned to embrace the pencil again.   




{four} can you use chopsticks?yup...except i have my own way of using them.  apparently i don't hold a pencil the 'correct' way, thus affecting the way i use chopsticks. 




{five} do you prefer baths or showers?depends on the occasion.  a quick get-clean-but-i-don't-want-to-wash-my-hair bath...anyone else have curly hair and you hate to flat iron it everyday can relate???   otherwise a shower to get squeaky clean. 




{six} what is your favorite salad dressing?bleu cheese! 




{seven} can you sing the alphabet backwards?don't think i've ever tried... 




{eight} do you have any allergies?outdoor allergies.  food...no...but i used to have  peanut intolerance that 'disappeared' when i was pregnant.  i can now eat whole peanuts without worrying about how many i ate and where the closest restroom is.  :)  ok, maybe that was tooooo much information. 




{nine} crunchy or creamy peanut butter?both...when your dad makes peanut butter to keep food on the table you take what's available.  :)  yes my father (and brother and uncle) work at the #1 selling peanut butter in the WORLD...and it is proudly manufactured only in Lexington, KY.  We only eat JIF in our household.  PS - Watch the shelves for the return of chocolate JIF...I've been told it is made with Dove chocolate.  And boy is smoooooth as silk.   




{ten} have you ever hitch hiked?seriously?!  no way! 

Lately at the homestead...

Gosh, it seems I get so consumed in taking other kids' pictures I seem to forget about my own!  Earlier last week I told myself, 'no working on anybody else's pictures until you get some of your own son.'  And that's what I did.  We had a good ol' time romping through the kitchen and living room...me pretty much his shadow as he played.

Yup, crab walker.

For real, does it hurt to look at this picture?!

Still crab walking...and yes, those are legwarmers!  :)

Waaay behind on pictures...Super Bowl Sunday.

My first owl earflap hat...the others are better...I PROMISE!

Gearing up for St. Patty's Day...more leg warmers!  Gotta love 'em!

And you're probably wondering why I don't show his face...hubby kindly requests that I don't.  We have differing views on social networking.  He loves to hate facebook and I love it.  :) 

Baby A ~ 3 months

Actually, Baby A and Baby B (no, not twins!) were done on the same day.  My Saturday morning started out rainy and dreary...and to top it off our car, which we just recently got back from body shop (remember hit-n-accident) had water standing on the floorboards!  Ohhhh yes...so you can see my morning didn't get off to an awesome start.  I had to leave extra early to drop my son off at his nana and papa's...mommy is off to work and daddy has had to work some on the weekends.  After I said my good-byes to my little boy and my parents, I hopped on the interstate and cruised south for about 30 minutes towards my first session - Baby A.  To see the sweet angelic face sweetly snoozing in his swing warmed my rained-soaked heart!  Such a happy baby full of smiles - despite the fact he was aroused just as he drifted off to sleep.  It seems as if the younger they are the more facial expressions they have!  I tried to capture them all!  Take a peek! After this session I took some back country roads all the way to Lincoln County for Baby B's session.  You could say I had some good solid me-time in the car on this rainy Saturday. 

Baby B ~ 3 weeks

There's a new man in this mama's life...and he made his timely arrival two days before Valentine's Day!  Sweet Baby B, as you can tell from the pictures is already loved beyond imagination...mom or dad must have a hand on him!  :)  This was the first time (ok, technically second...first time was my kiddo) I was able to try out one of my new props, the owl earflap hat and diaper cover.  The pattern is from Little Abbee and I found her shop on Etsy.  I stocked up on 6 different crochet patterns (very reasonably priced and simple, precise instructions).  I can't wait to show you more!

Nestled safe in Daddy's arms.

Over Mama's shoulder.

Don't mind Mama's jeans...she had to be close by!  Notice her hand tucked beneath his head.  :)

...her hand is still there...

Cradled in Mama's love.

Wee Bit Wednesday!

{one} do you wear holey jeans? if so, do you buy them that way?Sure do.  Some are bought that way and some are worn-down until they get holes. {two} do you get a full 8 hours of sleep per night?Just about.  Hubby and I start turning in when we put little boy to bed...which is usually by 8.  Lights out by 10.  Oh the grown up life.  :) {three} what’s your favorite way to eat an oreo?dunk! {four} do you wear shoes in your house?No, even though we had a cat and a toddler, I do my best to keep the white carpet 'white.'  Note to self...choose a darker color in next home... {five} who would you call first if you won the lottery?Husband, then mom and dad. {six} have you ever been in a food fight?No.  I've always wondered how often they really happen..or is it something fabricated by Hollywood? {seven} do you snore?When I'm sick.  And hubby likes to imitate to me.   {eight} do you know how fast you type?Hahahaha!!  The last time I took a typing test I think I was in middle school!  I'd like to say I'm over 60 words per minute.  So curiosity got the best of me and I found a typing test online...87!!  Woo hoo!http://www.careerstep.com/site/free-typing-testPS  I think type faster when I'm typing my thoughts, not copying. {nine} can you do a headstand (without using a wall)?Haven't tried that in awhile.  I did try to do an somersault to show Isaac...at the ripe age of 27...it was awkward! {ten} how do you like your popcorn?Buttery goodness...and that happens like once a year!  I also like Kettle corn...sweet and salty! 

Eco-Friendly Birthdays

So if you've been following me for awhile or know our family, you know we use cloth diapers.  Cloth has also worked its way into other parts of our lives...

psst...speaking of cloth diapers...check out Kelly's Closet giveaway this week!


Take for instance the shower curtain.  Oh yes...take a peek at yours.  I bet it is vinyl - and I bet it has the ickies...ya know...the mildew, soap scum...what you don't want to think about when you bump into it after you've so carefully lathered up.  We used to have them...ugh...I even hated changing them because I'd actually have to touch them...so one day shopping the shower curtain isle at Wal-Mart looking for my newest vinyl shower curtain replacement, I spied fabric shower curtains.  What a minute!!  Disposable diapers...cloth diapers.  Disposable vinyl shower curtain...cloth shower curtain.  GENIOUS!  So I bought one...I thought I'd start with my bathroom.  Ya know, give it a test run before buying a second for hubby's shower.  Well, I liked it so much I went back a week later and bought the second.  I toss them in the washer them once a month and let them air dry.  So far I haven't even noticed mildew on them...perhaps I don't give them a chance.  But you better believe I feel much better knowing I'm not tossing an icky vinyl shower curtain into the dump several times a year. 

And as a side note, we also use cloth napkins.

And now you're probably thinking, "What does a shower curtain have to do with birthdays?!"  Ah yes...the shower curtain was just precursor to the birthday portion.  So cloth has now consumed my birthday planning festitivies.  Once I received babycenter.com's friendly reminder that my son is now 11 months and 1 week old I PANICED!  What?!  ALMOST 1 YEAR?!  I know every mother with an older child who is reading this is giving a knowing nod and half smile with my reaction.  :)  So...the first birthday.  I began my quest for 'theme hunting' on Etsy (my new fav website).  I figured to help cut down costs I could make our own decorations.  I can even make my own invitations with our printer and photoshop capabilites.  I'm ready to tackle the task...I've given myself enough time to plan and execute.  As I came across adorable PDF printouts of blues, greens, stripes and frogs I also stumbled upon fabric banners.  Fabric banners?  Yes, fabric banners.  AWESOME!!

AWESOME AND ADORABLE!

This particular banner and the one I'm going to purchase are from LittleBirdsBoutique.  Just think about the endless possibilities!!  You have one banner to start a birthday tradition for kids (and big kids...aka: adults).  For each birthday all you have to do is highlight a few of the colors for your party or other decor theme.  For the son's birthday...blues and browns.  Mom's birthday...purple!  Cake and cupcake designs can even be inspired from one of the fabric patterns!  And yes, this is the exact sales pitch I gave to hubby...he has taken awhile to warm up to cloth.  :)  He did give me the green light to place my order...so guess where I'm headed next...that's right...LittleBirdsBoutique at Etsy!

Baby J's Dedication

Baby dedications and baptisms are so special. It is a commitment on the parents' behalf to raise and teach their children to love and pursue the Lord.  Babies are truly blessings.  Well..you may not think that as they protest against nap time (my experience from today), spill Cheerios on the floor and play in the toilet...but as they lay in your arms sweetly sleeping with innocence wrapped all around them...how can you not believe they were someone else's idea...and that someone being of divine power? 

I was honored to document Baby J's dedication at Immanuel Baptist Church.

Wee Bit Wednesday

{one} do you always wear your seatbelt in the car?ALWAYS...not an option!
{two} do you crack your knuckles?No way!  I can't!  If I accidentaly jam a finger it hurts like crazy!
{three} what is your favorite flavor of gum?Doesn't really matter, I chew anything.  Take that back..except for tropical flavors. 
{four} what is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?My wedding rings...for what they represent.  :)  My fav 'fun' piece of jewelry...my wrist cuff made by Megan at Itty Smitty.
{five} who is your best friend?My husband.  To be honest, when we were dating (before engagement talk began) he said he wanted to his wife to be his best friend.  Such an odd concept to me...my best friend had to be a girl...who better to understand a woman than another women?  Through the years it has proven to me that he really is my best friend.  I love you hubby! {six} what is your favorite smell?The air after a good thunderstorm and 'clean' smell.
{seven} what is your favorite lunch meat?Mmmmm...ham!
{eight} do you still have your tonsils?Yup.  As I'm older now I wish I didn't.
{nine} do you untie your shoes before you take them off?Of course!  I always believed it made your shoes last longer.  And I kept my laces pretty tight since I was a runner.  Notice the past tense...
{ten} what color is your car?My car? We have two cars...growing up mom had 'her' car and dad had 'his' car.  When we replaced my car (the one I had since high school) I referred to as the new car as 'my car.'  Hubby laughed and disagreed.  So I don't have 'my' car, but I usually drive the silver car.  Hubby usually drives the gold car because it is more economical for his commute.  So 'we' have silver and gold cars.

Miss A's Birthday!

Happy Birthday!  I'll let you figure out how old she is.  ;)  Miss A had her party at the Explorium. Take a peek to see what the kiddos got into to!  :) 

For birthdays I've decided to give the birthday girl/boy an 8x10 (or equivalent print credit).