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I'll be away for a couple days, celebrating Halloween with my niece and cousins, so I just wanted to wish you all a Spook-tacular Halloween!
I've got lots to write about when I get back (including posting pictures from 2 photo shoots, Halloween pics, fabulous fall finds in Michigan...yippee!), so check back next week!!!
If not, you totally should!!
With Christmas just around the corner (collective screams heard from the audience), I highly encourage you to check out Etsy - it's like Ebay for homemade items. A large percentage of Etsy sellers are Moms, so by purchasing something from them, you're supporting a mom and her business. And you get something super cute that's homemade (or vintage), likely cheaper than anything similar in a retail store, and infinitely more thoughtful.
Here's a few of my favorite Etsy sellers, along with my favorite holiday gift idea from their store. Happy shopping!!
Sweet Papery has the most beautiful stamps, labels, monograms, etc. Wonderful gift for just about anyone!
I love the handmade bowls and wall plaques done by Elm Studios
Wanna do good for Christmas? Then purchase something from Water4Christmas...all proceeds from the sale of their items go towards building fresh water wells in West Africa.
Love to give clothes to your nieces/granddaughters/cousins, etc? How about a one of a kind, super cute skirt from Pixilane this year?!
Gock's Frocks has some, too!
Got a photography buff on your list? These prints from Jacquelyn Lee are gorgeous!
She also does really funky letter canvases that you could use to spell out anything you want.
Basically, what I'm sayin' is, head on over to Etsy - you'll be amazed at the many creative gift ideas you'll stumble upon. There's bound to be something for everyone on your list!
(I'll continue to post great finds as I come across them, too, so check back here for even more ideas!)
Last weekend after decided NOT to go up to our cabin for the weekend, I got the opportunity to book my 2nd official photo shoot!
It's so great to have such great friends with such cooperative, photogenic children!!
Here's a sneak peek from the shoot:
Aren't my friends kids beautiful?!! I know!! And SO well behaved and happy. They could not have been better.
Lots more to come in the album on the left soon. Thanks, Adina, for letting me spend some time with these gorgeous kids!
A few weeks ago, Natalie's preschool held it's third (?) annual Fall Family Fun Day.
It was COOOOOOLD.
All in all, I'd say the Preschool Council (that's the mommies that run the joint) threw a pretty swanky party. They had a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, cake walk, balloon animals (made by Dee Jay, THE clown to have at your over-the-top birthday party. He creeps me out, frankly. But most clowns do. I digress...), popcorn & cookies.
I got to man the cookie table!
That's right - someone thought it would be wise to put me (who's married to perhaps the biggest cookie feign in the WORLD) at the cookie table.
We had a good time and it was nice to see so many families come out to support the preschool.
Although taking Natalie to experience the fun and excitement of Chicago was a priority, the real reason we headed to Chicago was for the marathon. Brian was running in his 15th marathon, his 4th Chicago. So here's some pics from the race.
If you want to get inspired and catch the running bug, go to the start line of a big marathon. The number of runners is absolutely remarkable and you can't help but feed off their excitement...
We didn't get to see him start or finish, but we made it to the 13-mile mark literally 3 minutes before Brian came running by and were able to cheer him on there (we had to hightail it out of Au Bon Pain, though!)...
Brian's goal was to finish the marathon in under 3 hours. He just missed that mark, finishing at 3 hrs 4 min, so he was a little disappointed. "Just didn't have it today," he said. But he still qualified for Boston again (have to run under a 3:10) and has MUCH to be proud of.
Natalie thought a hug after the race would make her daddy feel better...
...I'm pretty sure she was right.
Even though Brian's running takes an enormous amount of time and training, I see how much joy he gets when he runs. He's your typical Type A personality and has to constantly be striving for something, so I'm happy to see him pursuing goals that will keep him healthy and here with me for a long time! And though I give him a hard time sometimes about how much time away from our family he spends running, it was because of his running that we got to spend such an awesome weekend in Chicago with Natalie. I'm so proud of my husband for being a devoted runner, but I'm more proud of him for being a wonderful father.
Love you, Brian!! Congrats on finishing number 15!!
Whew - sorry about the lengthy time between posts!! We've had a crazy couple weeks in the Smith household (pics of all to follow!) and I just NOW got time to sit down and blog about all of our adventures.
So here's a re-cap of our Chicago trip. We had a fantastic time - Natalie could NOT have been better. She really only started to get whiny right towards the end, but she was pretty sleep-deprived and starting to get a bit of a cold. I think she and I are both city girls at heart...I could so see our family living downtown and don't really think I'd miss the suburbs at all! And Natalie was just so smitten with the buildings, the public transit, the SHOPPING - that girl will fly the coop from our house as soon as she gets the chance!
We went to the Lego Store...
...and walked about the city...
...and, of course, we paid a visit to "The Bean," which Natalie thought was just about the coolest thing ever!
We also spent an evening at Navy Pier...
...and finished off our visit at Shedd Aquarium.
We had a really great time in Chi-town and I think Natalie thrived on all of the attention from Brian and I. It's really important to us that each child has his/her own special time with both of us together and as individuals - not all of that time can be big, grand trips to a big city, but having the opportunity to do this with Natalie and seeing how happy it made her solidified our commitment to making time for each of our kids, separately. Can't wait until Jacob's old enough to take him some place just as fun!
Well, Brian, Natalie and I are packing up and heading to Chicago this weekend. My mom is watching Jacob for us, giving Natalie an entire weekend of solo time with Mom & Dad. Just like old times!
The reason for the trip - Brian's fourth Chicago Marathon! This year, he's attempting his first sub-3 hour race. So wish him luck! Sometimes I can't drive 26 miles in 3 hours (I like to lollygag), so it's still a wonder to me that my husband can run so fast. He's put in so much work this go around and I'm just so proud of how focused he is and how he always strives to do better in every aspect of his life. I'm proud of you, Brian!! And Natalie and I will be waiting at the finish line, with hugs and a beer, to celebrate =)
One of the best things about ArtPrize is that it provided a wonderful opportunity to expose the kids to many different forms of artistic expression. Natalie certainly had her favorites and here's just a few:
Another year, come and gone.
SO FAST.
How can I be 31 already? I feel like I've only just begun to get the hang of some things!
In my 20's, I always used to hear people (okay, Oprah) say that once you get into your 30's you start to become more of yourself. You start to understand more. Feel more. Give more. Receive more.
And I used to think she was full of crap.
Now, maybe not so much. I do feel like I'm finally figuring some things out. The past year, especially, I've begun to discover some new passions, refine my sense of style and self. That doesn't mean I don't still have days when I wonder which end is up, but at least now they're interspersed with days filled with excitement and contentment about my path in life. I gotta say, that's pretty cool. I thought I would hate my 30's...but I'm actually kind of diggin' 'em.
So, I just wanted to put down a few things I have planned for my 31st year (or is it 32nd - I never know how to phrase that?). Just so they're down on paper (well, on screen at least) for my own accountability...
~~ Legally register Stacy Smith Photography with the County Clerk's office ~~
~~ Schedule at least TEN photo shoots. Who wants to sign up?! ~~
~~ Take the kids to Disney World ~~
~~ FINALLY finish the paint touchups in the house (my major roadblock to inner peace!) ~~
~~ Sew. Something. ~~
~~ Finally find the perfect rundown, industrial location here in GR for photography backdrops. One where I would feel safe taking clients and not like we were going to get shot by the meth addicts that live there... ~~
~~ Finally find the perfectly aged farm/barn location in GR for photography backdrops. One where I would feel safe taking clients and not like we were going to get shot by the crazy farmer people that live there... ~~
~~ Read 31 books (that doesn't count Goodnight Moon) ~~
~~ Run a 5K. Yea you heard me. I'm gonna hate every minute of it, but I'm gonna do it. ~~
