holiday cards!

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photos: Bella Life  |  cards:  Minted

Are the holiday cards starting to arrive and you’re wishing you’d done one?  It’s not too late!!  Holiday cards are typically sent as early as Thanksgiving and continue through the end of January.

Traveling for the holidays?  Snap some amazing pics and put together a “Cheers to the New Year” photo card to send out when you get back.

I absolutely love getting holiday cards!  I lay them out on the credenza as they come in and look through them all season long.

And if you need help with photos, check out Bella Baby/Bella Life.  I love love love how our pics turned out!

xoxo
– ash

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what to wear: family photos

We had Bella Life take our first family photos with baby Lawton a few weeks ago and I’m loving how they turned out!  Choosing coordinating outfits for pics is tough.  And it was especially challenging this time since I don’t yet fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes.  I thought I’d share some helpful “rules” that I follow when picking out group photo outfits.

1. Choose your outfit first.

Since you probably planned the photoshoot, you should feel happy about what you’re wearing!  In my case, I was feeling self-conscious about my post-baby body and nothing fit.  I found this charcoal midi dress at Zara used it as my starting point.

2. Limit patterns.

Stick to mostly solid color outfits.  Different textures are fine, but mixing multiple patterns can make the pics feel busy.  I fell in love with Denton’s sweater and so it became the one patterned piece.

3. Coordinating, not matchy-matchy.

The outfits should color-coordinate with each other, but not be matchy-matchy.  In this case, I used the colors from Denton’s sweater as the palate.  The rust color shows up in my shoes, Lawton’s blanket, and Pavel’s shoes and belt.  The cream is repeated in Lawton’s onesie, and the light-gray in Pavel’s sweater.

4. Weather and venue appropriate.

Consider your surroundings.  Don’t wear a sundress in the snow, or a ski outfit to the beach.  And similarly, don’t have one person in shorts and a t-shirt and another in a sweater and jeans.

5. Plan ahead.

A few days before the photoshoot, make sure the outfits are clean and set aside.  This will make sure they’re ready to go for picture day!  It sounds silly, but when trying to get everyone dressed and out the door on time, you’ll be glad you did.

And then enjoy your beautiful photos!

xoxo
-ash

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tree farm 2018!

 

reindeer sweater  | hat  |  boots  | sweater onesie

Another year, another trip to Rancho Siempre Verde tree farm!  This was our third visit to RSV, and it never disappoints.  See past posts here(2017) and here(2016).  The weather wasn’t great, and the toddler and newborn presented new challenges; but we found our perfect tree and made some new memories.

That said, I learned some things and now have some tips for tree ranching with kids:

1.  TAKE GROUP PICS WHEN YOU ARRIVE

It was raining off and on, and mud was everywhere.  By the end of the visit our toddler wasn’t the only one looking a mess.  Take group pics when you arrive while you’re still looking somewhat fresh!

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2. BRING A CHANGE OF CLOTHES

I really thought I was on the ball packing a change of shoes for Denton (19 mos) and myself.  What I failed to realize is that toddlers don’t stay on their feet.  By the time we left the farm, Denton was so soaked with mud that he rode home wearing nothing but a clean diaper and a blanket.

3. WEAR A HAT

The hat was a happy accident for me.  It’s hard keeping your balance sliding around in mud while holding a newborn and chasing a toddler!  Add in the intermittent sun and misty rain and it’s a real challenge.  Having a hat to keep the sun, rain, and hair out of my face was YASSS!

4. PACK A PICNIC

We had planned to stop for a late lunch at one of our fave restaurants on our way back to the city.  However, by the time we left the farm, we were tired from toddler chasing and Denton had no clothes.  Next year we’ll pack a picnic so that we can sit and eat while the kids roll around in the mud.

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5. BRING PLASTIC BAGS

I brought spare shoes, but no bags to put the muddy ones in– let alone Denton’s soaked clothes.  Oops.

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6. NEVER RUN OUT OF OXICLEAN

Ever since Denton started trying to feed himself, I have had an OxiClean Gel Stick on the washer at the ready.  As soon as we got home from the farm, I used the oxiclean on his little jeans and they’re good as new.  It also works wonders on tomato sauce and chocolate.

***

Next year we’ll be more prepared!  And please let me know if you’ve got any pro-tips I’ve missed!

xoxo
-ash

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