Life is Beautiful

Motherhood, Sewing, Family

Mother like daughter

~ Etc.

I came out of my room after getting dressed today, and my 6 year old daughter looked at me up and down, then quietly went to her room and came out after a few minutes in her new outfit.  She said to me, “Mom, do you have gold boots?”  She was dressed in a red sweater with lace hem, mint pants and gold boots.  I quickly went to my shoe rack and grabbed these gold shoes to put on.  
“Mom, put your feet like this so you can see our matching gold shoes!”
My outfit: sweater | jeans: DIY | gold flats
Her outfit: sweater: h&m | necklace | mint jeans: levi’s | gold boots
It’s really cute but really scary at the same time that my girls try to be just like me.  I see my girls observing me and trying to mimic my moves when we have dance parties together.  I see my girls observing me putting my make up on and ask if they can put on some make up too.  They want to wear dangly earrings like me. When they see a dress they really love in my closet, they ask me to save it for them so they could wear it when they’re my size.  They use the vocabulary words that I use, some that I’d rather have them not use.

But it’s just the right motivation and the pressure I need to want to be a better person for them.  They’re still at that sweet, innocent stage where they think their mommy knows everything, but I hope I can be the person that they’d be proud to follow, even after they get older and realize all the imperfections I have.

The Workshops with Jessica Peterson

~ Etc.

My dear friend Jessica who takes my beautiful DIY pictures is holding two workshops in February.  She is an amazing photographer and if you’re looking to learn her tips and tricks on being a better photographer, this is for you!  The information can be found below or at her website.

THE WORKSHOPS
I will be holding two workshops in February.  The first of the two will be held Saturday the 8th.  This day will be a crash course intro to photography, you will learn to use your camera manually and gain control to get the look you desire. Come to understand depth of field, motion, light, posing and the importance of composition.
The second workshop will be held on Saturday the 15.  This will be crash course in Studio/lighting and Creativity.  Learn to get the most of natural light, strobe lights, continuous light, on-camera flash as well as some fun alternative lighting methods.  We will also be playing with different lenses from tilt shift, zoom, fixed and even the lens baby. I will be sharing methods on ways to transform any room into your own studio.

Saturday Feb 8th

INTRO TO PHOTOGRAPHY AND BEING RAD AT IT
-Get to know your camera better, you will never want to shoot anything other than manual after class
-Learn the ins and outs of different lenses, hands on look at the effects of shooting with a long lens vs. short and get the depth of field you want for your images
-Understanding light better and make any situation work with you instead of against you
– Styled shoot with model and some quick tips for posing and getting your subjects to relax
-Talk of the creative process and getting beyond the norm
-Delicious Breakfast and lunch provided
-Fun give-aways and a booklet of the information you will learn

Saturday Feb 15th

LIGHTS, CAMERA AND STUDIO
-Strobe lights vs. continuous light sources
-Making your on-camera flash work for you instead of against you
-Alternative lighting methods, getting creative with light and finding something new to play with
-Learn simple and inexpensive tricks to making your home/garage into your own personal studio
-Making natural light your best friend
-Styled shoot to get to see the studio in action and get hands on experience with all of the equipment
-Backdrops and props
-We can chat all you want about any questions you have
-Delicious Breakfast and lunch provided
-Fun give-aways and a booklet of the information you will learn
To sign up for a workshop please email me at [email protected]
Classes are 350.00 each or 600.00 for both days.  This will an investment truly worth making as you will come away with a much deeper understanding of the art of photography which will come through in every image you take from then after.    Classes will be taught in my downtown SLC studio.  Classes will start 9am and end at 5pm.  
 *payment must paid in full to hold your seat in the class

Giveaway for mommas

~ Etc.

We have a fun giveaway this week for mommas where there will be 4 winners!  This giveaway is open to U.S residents only.  The giveaway will be for a one personalized book from Fabuloos Dreams, two awesome baby carriers from Boba and Moby, and a pair of adorable baby leggings + $20 giftcard from Our Little Lullaby.  I was able to try all the items out for myself and I know you’ll love it! 

The first item is by Fabuloos Dreams, a company that publishes personalized books for your little ones.  The winner will receive one personalized custom book.  I ordered The Pirate Princess book for my daughter Adalie’s 6th birthday and each page has a picture of her in it, and even her brother and sister and dad got to be a part of the story in the pirate adventure.  You can write a personalized note on the front of the book, and there’s even a recipe for hidden treasure muffins in the end of the book. “How did they get my picture?”  was Adalie’s first reply when I gave her the book.  “Whoa, this is the coolest thing ever!!!” was her best friend’s reply when I was reading the book to them.  
The second item for the giveaway is the Boba wrap of the winner’s choice by Boba(pictured below is the Boba Carrier 4G, which is not what we’re giving away, we are giving away the Boba wrap, viewed here. ) The Boba Carrier 4G is the only carrier my husband will put on, because he says it’s the most comfortable and suits his build better.  I also use it a ton and find it very comfortable, so it’s built for smaller builds as well!  The hood is detachable and the waist band is thick and sturdy where most of the weight will be, and I find it comfortable enough to wear it and walk around for a few hours without it hurting my back or my shoulders.  
(my girls love Boba too, wearing the Boba mini)
The third item for the giveaway is by Our Little Lullaby, a store that sells adorable and fashionable leggings, headbands and t-shirts for babies and toddlers.  One winner will receive a pair of leggings of their choice plus a $20 giftcard to the store, open to worldwide.  I met the owner of the store a few years back and she is so nice and talented!  Every item on her store is handmade, made from 100% organic cotton, and check out this humming bird leggings, I’m in love!  The leggings I received were well made and Aiden gets compliments on them every time he wears them.

The last item of our giveaway is by Moby Wrap, where one winner will receive a gray Moby Go of their choice.  The one pictured below is the Moby Go in black.  This carrier is unique with the criss cross straps in the back.  The straps are wide so the weight gets distributed more evenly throughout your shoulders.  It comes with a detachable hoodie that can be stored in the pockets of the carrier.  It is comfortable and my baby can be content for hours.  
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below telling me one of your happiest or proud moments as a mother.  The giveaway is open to U.S only and will end on 01/30/2014.  
For extra entries:

– Visit Fabuloos Dreams and tell me which book you’d personalize if you win.
– Like Fabuloos Dream’s Facebook page, and leave a comment below this post.  
– Leave a comment on Fabuloos Drean’s Facebook page telling them the Life is Beautiful blog sent you, and leave a comment below this post.
– Visit Boba and tell me which item is your favorite.
– Follow Boba on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter.  Leave a separate comment for each follow.
– Visit Our Little Lullaby and tell me which item you’d love to win. 
– Follow Our Little Lullaby via the Blog, Instagram, or Facebook.  
– Post a picture of your little one with the hashtag #ourlittlelullaby on Instagram for extra entries.  Leave a comment below with the link to the picture.
– Visit Moby Wrap and tell me which item you’d love to try out.

– Follow Moby Wrap via Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest, and leave a separate comment for each follow.
 Best luck everyone!
*the winners are:
congratulations! please email me at [email protected] to claim your prize!

My 30th birthday party @ classic skating

~ Etc.

his leggings & beanie | her leggings
Last Saturday Aiden and I were matchy matchy.  I don’t know if he’d be embarrassed by it later on, but he sure can’t voice his opinion right now so I’m going to match the heck out of us while I can!  Thanks to Salt City Emporium for these awesome arrow print leggings and beanie, my leggings are so comfortable and smooth & excellent quality, I knew it’d be perfect for when I went classic skating for my birthday party later on that night!
we sang “My heart will go on” by Celine Dion.  I am Rose and my friend is Jack, obviously.
Jessica singing “All by myself”
After roller blading and getting sweaty, we partied in the karaoke room while munching on various desserts.  I got really into it(as you can tell), and it was a blast.  What made the party though was my friend Jessica who sang “All by myself” solemnly while leaning against the wall so dramatically.  It was hilarious.  I have the coolest friends!  Thanks to all those who came to celebrate with me!