mommy | monday. teacher appreciation gift ideas.

The school year is wrapping up, and it would be ever so thoughtful to give a little "thank you" to your child's teacher(s). These are some fun, inexpensive, and creative ways to say "thank you". Your children would even have fun making them! CLICK HERE to see more fun ideas!

wedding | wednesday. all white inspiration.

All white and sparkly and beautiful... and I love it! :) They used burlap for the chair backs. I love the candles on different levels, and the mirrors add dimension and sparkle. Hope this inspires you! :)

tiffany + alyssa

It was such a pleasure to meet these two lovely ladies! Their laughter is contagious! It's so true that these ladies look close enough in age that they could be sisters... much to Tiffany's delight! :) I'm so glad we were really able to capture their personalities and mother/daughter relationship. BEAUTIFUL.

teresa + heidi

Mother and daughter duo, Teresa and Heidi, showed up for photos on what we would have expected to be a warm, spring day. Quite the contrary! :) It was windy and so cold. But, these ladies showed up with smiles on their faces and completely rocked this session! It was extra special to do the shoot on this day, because it was Teresa's birthday... with Heidi's birthday just three days later.

Heidi- you are such a lovely young lady! :)

Oh I love the laughter! :)

Teresa- what beautiful lady you are... so graceful.

Always stay close- you have a treasure in each other!

wedding | wednesday. honey wedding favor.

Just a little wedding inspiration for you. Great favor idea for a wedding, brunch, or shower... honey dipper and honey sticks topped with a vintage brooch. Very creative! :)

mommy | monday. peep pops.

Now this is how a marshmallow peep should be eaten! Well, in my opinion. ;) These would be fun to make with the kids or as a GIFT for the kids. CLICK HERE to see how you can make them! Super cute!

wedding | wednesday. door monograms.

These wooden letters can add a lovely, personal touch to your wedding day. You can buy these letters inexpensively at a local craft store. You can even paint them your color of choice and pair them with lovely ribbon or fabric.

mommy | monday. discovery bottles.

This is such a great recycled craft/toy for your little one. All you need is a plastic bottle, hot glue, and lots of odds and ends that you may have around the house. FUN! :) CLICK HERE for more details and photos!

mommy | monday. little boy bowties.

Whether you make one or buy one, the little man in your life would look just adorable in a bowtie! And it's just in time for Easter! :) Check out this TUTORIAL if you are up for making one on your own!

wedding | wednesday. DIY coffee bean favors.

If you love coffee as much as I do... then you will think this is a perfect wedding favor too! :) I'm pretty sure your guests would enjoy a cute little burlap sack with fresh coffee beans. CLICK HERE to see how you can make these for your own wedding!

mommy | monday. no sew pillow covers.

You mean that I can make beautiful pillow covers... and I don't have to sew?! :) That's what I'm talking about. Take your pick of colorful cloth napkins, and you can make these inexpensive pillow covers to add a splash of color to your living room or bedroom. CLICK HERE for the tutorial.

wedding | wednesday. (not so typical) bachelorette party ideas.

I have been to a handful of bachelorette parties in my lifetime... and I'm honestly not a fan! :) But, I would completely be up for one of these creative outings with girlfriends! (minus the wine tasting one) You might want to choose one of these fun alternatives! CLICK HERE for fun ideas and to keep it classy. :)

wedding | wednesday. getting in bridal shape.

I'm posting something a little different today... (and I think this photo is adorable!) Check out this BLOG POST for some tips to help you get started on your way to health and fitness!

(image cosmopolitan.com/au)

mommy | monday. fabric playhouse.

This is the cutest! It's like a permanent fort for a little girl. I would have loved to have one of these when I was little. And they are a super cute addition to a room. I can imagine countless tea parties, storytimes, and play times in this adorable little house. Check out the ETSY store to see more of the beautiful little houses and to buy one of your own. If you are crafty, you might even be able to make one yourself! LOVE! :) Let me know so that I can take photos of your little girl with her playhouse!

wedding | wednesday. all things doily.

I love doilies! I think it's because they look like lace and have this awesome way of making most anything look feminine. :) CLICK HERE for lots of ways (that you probably haven't thought of) to include doilies into your wedding shower or wedding day!

mommy | monday. raspberry cakes for two.

The coming of Spring makes me think of fresh and fruity treats. This raspberry cake would be perfect for a date night or to share with the family. Best part? No baking required! :) And it still looks fancy. CLICK HERE for the recipe as well as some more lovely spring desserts.

mommy | monday. hennie rose accessories.

My friend, Krystal, makes these adorable hair accessories for your little girl or for you! :) I especially love the crocheted flowers... I saw them for the first time when I took photos of her little girl Keeley... photo above. The shop is named after Krystal's grandma, an avid crafter. I was so excited to see that Hennie Rose now has a FACEBOOK page and ETSY page for you to purchase these fun pieces.

mommy | monday. girls' spring fashions.

Spring is coming. And your little girl will most likely need a new outfit or two or three. :) There will be Easter, birthday parties, graduations, Mother's Day, weddings, etc. Beauty and the Beast Fashions has some great new arrivals for spring! Check out the new arrivals on FACEBOOK and pricing on their WEBSITE. I think you will see something that you can't seem to live without! :) While you are at it- check out the awesome outdoor tree houses and nursery furniture!

wedding | wednesday. BHLDN {anthropologie}

So, I know that this has been topping the charts in wedding news this week... but, in case you haven't heard... Anthropologie now has a bridal shop {launched February 14}! It's full of dresses, hair accessaries, jewelry, and shoes... with the same Anthropologie style that we know and love. :) Check it out for yourself! It's all kinds of beautiful.

Valentine Hug {WINNER ANNOUNCED}

I'm so excited to announce the recipient of this year's Valentine Hug. Oh the tears I have cried and prayers I have prayed over these incredible moms. Thank you for giving me a glimpse into your world. This was a very difficult decision. For those of you who submitted your story but did not win the session/package... you will be receiving an e-mail with a special opportunity! :) And here she is....

Meet the lovely Amanda Scott.

Billy (5), David (2), and Molly (10 months) call her mom. :)

Whether they are dinosaur hunting, going on a walk, coloring, reading (one of their favorite activities, or the boys are wrestling... they just love spending time together. Billy especially loves reading his Boy's Devotional Book. :) In the midst of healing from her divorce, they found out in November that Billy (5) was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia. FA is a rare progressive neuromuscular disorder. FA takes the ability to walk and causes heart disease among many other health complications. The only part of the body it does not affect is the brain. This genetic disorder has no treatment. They took Billy to a Pediatric Cardiologist to find he already has the heart condition (Cardiomyopathy) that is associated with FA. This was devastating and also has no treatment. They don't know how long it took for his heart to progress to where it is or how long it will take to get worse. For now, they have him on an experimental drug that has been shown to protect the heart. With him having FA, the end result is the always same. They just don't know how long it will take. With the expenses of medication and visits to specialists, family portraits have not been at the top of the list. Amanda's wish was to have photos of her precious little family just the way things are now. Amanda- you are incredibly strong... we will be praying that God does a miracle in Billy's body. We will take some awesome photos to document this time in your lives. Much Love and Happy Valentine's Day. :) Here is a BIG HUG for you. :)