Fresh Art

Seriously, I couldn't be more excited to announce that I get to be a part of Fresh Art Photography this year!!

For those of you who know, Jodie, you know how great she is :)

This year, I get to dream up and create her set designs!!

My first task, was for her "Valentine Mini Shoots" next week. 

I was on inspiration overload and this is what I came up with.

(Mind you, the iPhone photo of my backdrop is not the best)

I used a ton of my antique postcards and layered them to create this effect.  I love the postcards because they are such a perfect symbol of "romance" yeah?

So, the theme is "P.S. I love you."  We are going to have a vintage typewriter, tons of envelopes with names written in calligraphy on them (valentines) and valentines for the kiddos to fill out and write on!!  Plus, much more.  

Do you want to hear the coolest part about this mini-shoot???

If you purchase a shoot, you get to also give a shoot to anyone.  One for one!!

The fact that Jodie has such a heart for giving, makes her even more amazing.

Here are the details from her blog:

"If you purchase one of those mini sessions you get to GIVE one to a friend! The friend has to have the time either immediately before or after you, they get the full 15 minutes for the session and TWO images on disc with an option for other purchases (just like ALL the minis this year!). Or they can take their two free shots and walk away! It’s a great gift to give a friend or family member!"

I can not wait!!  Seriously, if you are local, you need to check her out.

I have been a long time client of Jodies and don't think I could ever have anyone else shoot our family memories.

Here are some examples of the shoots we have done with her.

here, here, here, here, here

Not to mention, she gifted Adam and I the most amazing gift ever, and was present the night of Amelia's birth and documented everything.  She is a blessing beyond blessings I tell you.

Like her Facebook page

Follow her blog

Sign up for a "PS I love you" shoot.

xo

janel

Christmas Jammies

So, it took me about three weeks to find the PERFECT Christmas jammies for Amelia.  I wanted something classic, character-less, and something that reminded me of my childhood.  I wanted them to be cozy and sweet and Christmas-y.  After many google searches, etsy searches, and phone calls to malls, I found the  perfect little set.  It's by Laura Dare, and Im pretty sure if I could go back in time and see my sister and I's matching sets, they would be by Laura Dare too because they are just like I remember.

My amazingly talented friend, Jodie, at Fresh Art Photography, also knows the importance of the Christmas Jammies and designed a mini-session catered exactly for it!  Adam and I save our allowance for a couple of months because we knew we wanted her to document Amelia in her first pair of Christmas jammies :)

We also hoped for a perfect photo for our Christmas card this year too.

Mission Accomplished.

Here are some of the photos from our little mini-session...

and the Christmas Card shot...

This girl gets cuter and cuter every single day.  There are seriously times where I am just looking at her and I can't even comprehend how blessed I am to be her mom.

She is a joy beyond joys.

A huge thank you to Jodie, for again, capturing the Amelia in the perfect way.

xo

janel

a blur

Boy oh boy has this been one crazy, yet amazing, month.  I have been very absent from the online world.  It has been a good break for sure because I have been living life.

Here is a little snap shot into the past month here.

*  We voted

*  we celebrate my AMAZING mom's birthday

* We saw PAUL MCCARTNEY!!  Omg, that probably deserves it's own belated post because it was just amazing.  I loved it.  It was an awesome surprise birthday present for Adam :)  

*  Adam celebrated his 32nd birthday :)

*  He was also in and out of the ER three times this month with crazy symptoms and even the ICU (which was scary) but praise God, he is home and feeling so much better.

*  Amelia had a Christmas Photoshoot with Fresh Art Photography (favorite)!

*  We went to my friend Marie's wedding where I got to see all of my besties :)

*  Adam's sister came for a visit!!!

*  We decorated the house for Christmas :)

*  and most importantly, Miss Amelia FINALLY became a MacLean (legally).  Amelia was officially adopted on National Adoption Day this month!!  November 17 was the BEST day ever  (Again, I will write a whole post on this soon)

(look how happy she is here with us and the judge)

*We also had a HUGE party for Amelia's "Gotcha Day!"  We had a photo booth, and a cupcake truck and it was a perfect way to celebrate Amelia.

What a blessed month.  We definitely had some ups and downs but the Ups outweigh the downs by thousands :)

Hopefully, I can get back into the swing of blogging in the next few days.  I was planning to just close this little blog indefinitely but I received a couple of really encouraging emails and I am excited to be back.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck around through my little hiatus :)

I love you all!

xo

janel

treasures.

Yesterday we picked up our professional photos from Jodie.

I was giddy all day.

I know I mentioned it before, but Jodie was kind enough to gift us her time and talent the night Amelia was born.

The night itself was more than words could describe and I find myself struggling already to recount all of it.

These photos, my friends, are an absolute treasure.

I poured over them for hours, HOURS I tell you.

Every moment of that night, that amazing, wonderful, life changing night was documented.

I have over 100 photos detailing every single small moment.

For example, to keep my nerves at bay, Jodie and I played Scramble (read: Jodie killed me at Scramble).

That is just one tiny detail of the night that I will always remember.

A few weeks ago, my mom and I were talking about that night and she said to me, "I will never forget that look you had on your face when they wheeled Amelia into the room."

All I kept thinking was I wish I knew what I looked like!!

Wish no more, it was captured...

and the sheer joy we felt when saw her for the first time... it's all here...

Looking through these photos was like living the night over again. 

 It was such an incredible blessing.

I can't wait until I can share more of them with you!!!

It is amazing how much emotion a photograph can evoke.  I

 feel so so so blessed to have this gift.

Thank you Jodie.

My heart is so full.

xo

janel

P.S. Don't forget to vote :) All it takes it two little clicks.