Nap times and blessings...

Nap time...such a beautiful time of day. Each day is different in regards to what I do when my little ones are napping. Sometimes I nap, create grapics, make hair accessories, binge watch a tv series and every great once in awhile...I clean.  Lately, I have been cruising some different blogs...to see what other creatives are up too and to see what inspires them.

I came across Erin's blog, Candy Kirby Designs. She makes AMAZING leggings, hats and other accessories for little ones. She is also a beautiful painter and documents her life eloquently on her blog. She also has a great way of sharing the joys and her journey of motherhood to her three little ones.

So during nap time last week, I got lost in her blog, pretty interiors, cute kids, what else do you need? She has amazing posts that are just about what they might have done that week, a life in week of type post and her photography of her children is beautiful and so inspiring.

The best part about getting lost in her blog was the decision to creep into my own little girls room get a shot of our youngest, Gabby peacefully sleeping. Well that didn't exactly work, but I did get her just waking up and some insanely adorable smiles. She is growing up so quickly...already 13 months old...

Waking up

Happy Baby

           

 More Happy Baby

I feel so fortunate that I am able to stay at home with Gabby and her big brother and sister and watch them grow, literally, before my eyes. They are such a blessing and I am thankful for them every day!

Be sure to go over and check out Erin's blog too. Just make sure to give yourself ample time to enjoy all the cuteness! 

Hope you have a great week,
Amanda

Almond Orchard Photo shoot

Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to do something I have wanted to do for many years with the kids...take some snapshots of them in an almond orchard. 

When I was little, my back yard was twenty acres of almonds trees and every February they would bloom beautiful white flowers. It was like a magical forest full of hundreds of these trees in long rows with white flowers on the ground. It looked like it has just snowed. And there were pretty white flowers on every tree branch that you came across. As I grew older and the orchard of almonds were chopped down to make way for suburbanhood; I was still able to enjoy them on my drive near the local college, where they had rows of almond trees that bloomed every year in February. 

So this weekend we took the kids out to one of the only orchards near us that we were able to access and took some snap shots and these are a few that we were able to get them to sit still for and somewhat smile for...

                                                                         

                                                     

   

                                                                            

A few things that we learned while taking these...always shoot your subjects when you are facing the sun, you will see some shadows that we just could not get rid of. If you are facing the sun and your subjects backs are to the sun it is easier to manipulate the photos later and get rid of those shadows. I also brought extra snacks and toys to bribe them into smiling and standing still a little longer.

I find that we are getting better photos of them as the are older. And if you let them make some silly faces for the camera too....they were more inclined to smile when you asked them too.

One nice thing about living in the central valley is that the fruit trees are just getting ready to start blossoming, so I hope that we can take them out again and get some more shots in some other orchards and try and take some better photos with the sun behind them. 

Happy Thursday! 

Amanda

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's three day weekend!!!

The weather was amazing here...in the high 60/low 70's, so we were able to play outside in the back yard and do some much needed yard work. AND did you know that House of Cards second season started this weekend...oh my!!!

I had a little computer time as well to create some new pre made logos for the shop. The best part about these logos is that they come with an new added feature...a watermark!

Here is a sampling...

source

source

Head on over to the shop to see some of the other designs if you get a chance! 

Have a great week! 

Amanda

 

Valentine's Day Favors.....

Woohoo!!! Valentine's Day is on Friday! 

Love is in the air!!! 

I LOVE Pinterest for all of the inspiration for Valentine's decor, favors and food...don't you?

Speaking of favors..with two in school, one in kindergarten and one in preschool, I needed to come up with a cute and affordable idea for 43 valentines!!!! Wowzers!!! 

So this is what I did...glow stick bracelets in the dollar section at Target - 15 for $1.00. Created a little Valentine in Illustrator (5 Valentine's per page) and sent to print at Office Depot for a cost of $7.00 and some change...$10.00 for 43 Valentine's!!!

I am super happy with the way that they turned out, having a spot for each of the kids to write their names on their own valentines AND a cute little non sugary treat for the kids to enjoy on the special love day! 

If you want the FREE printable just click on the link and have printed on your home computer or local print shop. Cute them, punch holes in the top and bottom and put glow stick through holes. 

Easy Peasy.......

Have a wonderful LOVE day! Love and share the day with the ones that mean the most to you! 

Have a fabby day!

Amanda