Halle 1st Haircut (trim)

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Yesterday was a big day for Halle! She got her first ever haircut (sorry mom ♥)! I've been putting it off for quite some time (she's 3) for fear of cutting off her baby curls but I have to say that it looks adorable. A sweet friend of mine did the trim and only took off what was necessary to even up the back a bit. Halle loves her new "do" and is proud to show everyone her "big girl haircut"!


I LOVE how you can see my silhouette against the window in each of Halle's eyes in this photograph! (see mom, she still has curls!)




Livie & Luca Giveaway Winner

Thursday, May 28, 2009

I am very excited to announce the winner of the Livie & Luca Giveaway. Thanks to RANDOM.ORG for choosing the lucky recipient of these shoes!

The winner is........#1, Janet of The Schilling Family"!! Yay Janet! You will LOVE these shoes!! How exciting! Just goes to show that the first entry can win it all!!

Thanks to all who entered! If you didn't win, don't worry, there's still time to enter my See Kai Run Giveaway!

i ♥ faces: Silhouettes

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

This week at i ♥ faces the theme is Silhouettes. This picture is one that I took several years back with my very first point & shoot 4megapixel Minolta digital camera. I love the sparkling water and my son's perfect silhouette. I loved this photo then and I still love it even though I've moved on to a much fancier dSLR! When I heard what this week's theme was going to be I just knew I had to enter it. To see more great silhouettes or to enter one of your own visit i ♥ faces.




**CLOSED**See Kai Run Baby/Toddler Shoe Giveaway

Monday, May 25, 2009

Happy Memorial Day everyone! In honor of this special day I am having another awesome giveaway!
See Kai Run was born in 2004 when one mother was inspired by the need for comfortable shoes with flexible soles for her own little Kai to wear outdoors. She wanted to create a line of shoes that were bold, hip, fun, with an urban sensibility...something entirely different than what was offered! The first shoes hit children's boutiques in November 2004 and the response has been overwhelming ever since!

They offer two lines for little feet, Smaller for ages 0-18mos, and See Kai Run for ages 6mos-3yrs. Both have a variety for girls and boys. There is something for every little tot! These shoes have been spotted on numerous celebrity babies and children!





See Kai Run was gracious enough to send me the Flora from their Smaller line for me to try on Ella! Let me just say that I LOVE these shoes! They arrived packaged in a snazzy silver box and the shoes themselves are made from the softest leather around!


I love the soft and flexible suede soles that are perfect for those little ones learning to walk. The added rubber pads give them a non-slip grip so that you won't have to worry about your little one falling on those hardwood floors.


Not to mention that these shoes are absolutely adorable and can be dressed up for church or down for playtime at the park! The velcro closure makes them simple to put on and take off and allows for an adjustable, comfy fit.


Ella loves her new shoes and walked around in them all afternoon with no problem. See Kai Run and Smaller promote healthy development of babies' and children's feet with their ultra-flexible soles, soft leather and wide toe box. Their footwear meets the American Podiatric Medical Association's rigorous standards for foot health and functionality and has been awarded the APMA's prestigious Seal of Acceptance. You can be rest assured that these shoes are healthy for your little ones growing feet!


The GIVEAWAY:
See Kai Run has generously offered up a pair of shoes from their Smaller or See Kai Run line of shoes to one of my readers! How cool!

The RULES:
Visit See Kai Run and then return here and leave a comment on this post with your favorite pair from their Smaller or See Kai Run lines.

Extra Entries: leave a separate comment for each of these things that you do
~Visit See Kai Run and join their email list to recieve the latest on new styles and special offers!
~Follow my blog or tell me if you already do
~Follow me on Twitter and "tweet" this giveaway!
~Blog about this giveaway and provide a link to this post and receive 3 extra entries(leave 3 separate comments)

That's it! Be sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win. Winner will have 72 hours to confirm before another winner is selected. Giveaway runs until midnight on monday, June 8th. Winner will be announced on tuesday the 9th. Open to US residents only! GOOD LUCK!!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Ready, Set, here comes SUMMER!! Hope you all are enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend...the unnofficial beginning of summer! We are having a wonderful saturday spending time as a family! We started the day with tickets to Sesame Street Live, which the kids really enjoyed, and then we attended my niece and nephews joint birthday party! It's been a busy day and now we are relaxing at home! Here are a few of my favorite images from the day! Enjoy!


I LOVE this one of Ella in the sprinklers today. This photo screams of "Summertime Fun" and is very fitting for Memorial Day Weekend!


Here is my sweet boy, Hayden, after watching the Sesame Street Live show! I can't believe how "grown up" he looks in this photo!


Halle just adores her big brother and it shows in this photo! She wants to be just like him! I LOVE it!

Whimsical Nursery Idea

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Need a fun and whimsical splash of color in your child's nursery or playroom?! I found the perfect decorative touch! Today I finally removed Ella's mobile from her crib. Yeah, I know, she's 13 months old and hasn't used it in months...I just never got around to taking it down. Well yesterday she disassembled it during naptime so I knew it was time! I still want her to have something fun to look at when she's lying in her bed so today I put up these beautiful pink tissue paper pom-poms!


These were incredibly easy to make and super cheap! I bought these at Walmart for $7 for a set of 5 but they are only available in the pink/fuschia/red color pack.... however, do not fret, here is a great tutorial to make your own in ANY color to match your child's room! Don't be scared, it's SUPER easy!! You can't mess it up!


Don't you just love how sweet these look?! They really soften up the space and pull everything together at the same time! I made the crib bumpers, baby quilt, and letter plaque last year when Ella was born. The pillow is a recent addition that I won a couple weeks ago through a blog giveaway from this sweet shop!



I hope these photos give you the motivation to make some for your sweet ones! If you do decide to make them please let me know. I'd love to see your finished pom-poms!

P.S. These would also be perfect for that next birthday party or hang white ones for beautiful inexpensive wedding decor!!

One Week Left to Enter the Livie & Luca Giveaway

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Just a reminder that there is still one week left to enter the Livie & Luca Giveaway! Click here for the rules and make sure you leave your entry comments on the giveaway post and NOT on this post!

P.S. I have another giveaway I hope to get posted very soon so stay tuned!

8 Years: Our Wedding Anniversary

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

He Loves Me
He Loves Me Not
He Loves Me
We Tied the Knot!
Todd & Hana
May 19th, 2001

I wish I had our wedding photos to share in this post but I don't have them in digital form. They are in our wedding album and I'll share them once I get them scanned! The church in the photo above is the one we were married in and since this photo was available at the church's website it's the only one I can post for now!

Thanks honey for 8 wonderful years and 3 beautiful children! I'm looking forward to many more years together! I Love You and am looking forward to our date tonight! Thank you for the GORGEOUS bouquet!! XOXOXOXO Hana

i ♥ faces: Blurb Book entry

Monday, May 18, 2009

This week i ♥ faces is doing something a bit different. This week they are asking you to submit your very best face photograph for a chance to be selected for the i ♥ faces Blurb book! I am entering the amateur category since I've only had my camera for 6 weeks and am still learning the ropes of photography. I am entering this photo because I love the warm glow and the beautiful catchlights in the eyes. Isn't that the focus of a face anyway? It's all about the eyes and I think this photo captures them beautifully! I'm also loving the golden highlights in her hair and her rosy pink lips. I know the competition will be stiff! To enter your face photo or to see more gorgeous entries visit i ♥ faces!



I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

we picture {this}: Hats

Friday, May 15, 2009

This months photo theme at we picture {this} is "hats". I am entering these two photos that I absolutely love! The first one was taken this afternoon and I'm so pleased with the creamy bokeh that resulted! I am lovin' my 50mm 1.8 lens. The second photo is one you may have seen before but I just love it. I played around with it to give it that soft vintage coloring! Head over to we picture {this} to enter your "hats" photo!


Nikon d90
Manual Mode
50mm 1.8 lens
ISO 100
1/160
f/3.5
no flash


Nikon d90
Manual Mode
50mm 1.8 lens
ISO 100
1/250
f/5.6
no flash
we picture {this}

Outdoor Fun

I've gotten really behind in posting photos of our daily activities around here. I've recently aquired a new external hard drive and am in the process of copying all my thousands of photos over from my laptop. My poor computer is on the verge of crashing b/c of the overload so it's become a very long and tedious process trying to free up the space.

Here are a few photos of the girls playing this week at various get togethers. Hayden was in school when these were taken. I promise to have more photos of him soon! You may notice that these photos have a vintage wash to them. I've been experimenting with various Photoshop actions that produce this neat effect.


Ella enjoying some sprinkler fun. She absolutely loves playing in the water!



Halle and her friend Olivia at the All-a-Flutter Butterfly Farm!




I just love this one of sweet little Lulu hanging from a tree at Bicentennial Gardens today. Tracey and I had a picnic lunch for the girls today! Such fun!




Halle and Olivia! BFF!

Livie & Luca: Baby & Toddler Shoe Review & GIVEAWAY **CLOSED**

Wednesday, May 13, 2009


The Livie & Luca baby and toddler shoe line was born in May of 2004. This company was a collaborative effort from 3 new mothers who realized that there was a need for modern and funky shoes for babies and toddlers that were also lightweight, soft, super flexible and affordable.
Livie & Luca baby and toddler shoe creations incorporate brightly colored leathers, bold designs and whimsical modern touches that capture the playful essence of childhood. Their comfortable shoe construction allows beginning walkers, toddlers and preschoolers to navigate playgrounds, city streets and dirt pathways with style and ease.

Livie & Luca baby and toddler shoes are made by hand and the markings of the shoe maker can be found under the strap. To reduce their carbon footprint, Livie & Luca chooses to use remains of high quality leather that would otherwise be discarded. In addition, because they are handmade, every pair of shoes will be a little different. Each pair of shoes is as unique as the child who wears them.


Livie & Luca generously sent me a pair of the Tootles in Pink for me to review and let me tell you, these shoes are awesome! First of all they arrived nestled in a sweet little box with a velcro closure and ribbon handle. These shoes are incredibly made. The leather is butter soft and I love the flexible rubber soles! I also love the ease of the velcro strap especially since Halle wants to put her shoes on by herself. These things are durable and will definitely hold up to lots of play!


Halle absolutely loves these shoes as well! She wore these all afternoon, inside and outside, and refused to take them off!! Usually with a new pair of shoes Halle ends up with blistered heals while she's breaking them in. No such thing here. She never once complained of her heels being the slightest bit uncomfortable! I'm sure that's due to the soft padded heel of these shoes. An added bonus to these shoes is that they are just so stylish and versatile. These are great with dresses and skirts as well as shorts and jeans. You just can't go wrong with these shoes!

Would you like to have a pair of Livie & Luca shoes for your little tot? Well, Livie & Luca has graciously offered up a pair to one of my readers! How cool is that?! All you have to do is visit Livie & Luca and then comment back on this post on your favorite pair! That's it!

Wanna Earn Extra Entries?!
~leave a seprate comment for each of these extras you do

~Follow my blog
~Join the Livie & Luca mailing list
~follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway!
~Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (3 extra entries, leave 3 comments)

Giveaway will run until May 27th at midnight. Winner will be announced and contacted on the 28th and will have 72 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is drawn. Be sure to leave a way to contact you in your comments. Open to US residents only.

i ♥ faces: Laughter

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Here is my entry to this weeks i ♥ faces "laughter" photo contest. This is a shot I took of Ella laughing hysterically while watching her brother and sister act silly! She simply adores them and follows them everywhere! I just love her intoxicating laughter. You can't help but laugh yourself whenever you hear it! It's hilarious! Visit i ♥ faces to see more great laughter photos!



A Little More Photography Recognition

I'm honored to have my "Discovery" photo selected as Photo of the Day over at The Maternal Lens today. Thanks to that lovely group for selecting and showcasing my photo on their awesome blog today! If you'd like a shot at being feautured on The Maternal Lens blog then visit their Flickr page.


I'm also thrilled to share that I won 3rd in last weeks "hats" contest over at i ♥ faces! I'm so excited to have my photo selected out of so many wonderful entries!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Sunday, May 10, 2009



Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas out there! Hug your own mama and kiss on your babies! Hope you all get spoiled today!**HUGS**

What a Gift!!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Todd and I will soon be celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary (May 19th)and we've been trying to come up with something fun to do...a quick getaway. Well imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning and checked my email to find that I had won a weeks stay at the Wyndham Cypress Palms Resort in Orlando Florida!! Talk about shocked...I was floored! We will be staying in a two bedroom suite with a full kitchen and living room! How cool!


The trip is in July and we're still working out the planning details but we are ecstatic! Funny thing is that when I entered this giveaway I had a strange feeling that this trip was meant for us. I chalked it up to just "wishful thinking" but all I can say is God is sooo good!

PS. Special thanks to Piera and Pilar!

Sweet Innocence

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I took Halle outside yesterday to get some images of her playing and discovering. I love how these photos reflect the innocence of a child at play. We visited three different locations during our photoshoot...a field of flowers, a vacant English tudor style home, and a park downtown. We had a lot of fun together and I plan to do this with each of my children.





i ♥ faces: Hats (adult entry)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Here is my adult entry for the "Hats" category at i ♥ faces. I have to say that I think my hubby looks quite handsome decked out in his turn-out gear. Whoo hoo! Visit i ♥ faces to enter your hat photo or to see more great entries!



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