Adorable Crafts & Treats for St. Patrick's Day

Celebrate the luck of the Irish with these adorable crafts and treats!

Rainbow Cupcakes
Add some rainbow or shamrock sprinkles for a fun finishing touch.

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/tast...pcakes-842128/

Shamrock Paper Chain
This is a cute decoration for almost any decor.

http://fourflightsoffancy.blogspot.c...-grown-up.html

Rainbow Jello
This looks too good to eat!

http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/2...bow-jello.html

Shamrock Tee Shirts
Your little ones won’t get pinched with these adorable shamrock tee shirts!

http://icandyhandmade.blogspot.com/2...rock-chic.html

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Alleyway Photography! :-)

And now a cute face that makes me smile every time I see it:

A glimpse into MY family portrait session

This weekend, my family and I made our yearly trek out to get our portraits taken.  This year, my friend Jen Harris from WithStyle Photography was the photographer and we had a lot of fun collaborating!...or should I say, SHE had a lot of fun.  Do you know how PAINFUL it is for a photographer to be in front of the lens when her youngest is almost 3?  I preach the mantra (and fully believe it, too!) that even if your preschool age child does not cooperate AT ALL, you will still have a clear representation of your family at this moment in your life and will treasure and laugh at them often.  It really is the truth.  However, when you're the mama with the uncooperative child, it is just plain stressful!  We did end up with some wonderful images, but it took a lot of patience from Jen and me just finally letting go.  lol  See, now I'm fully ready for this years family portrait sessions!  I have experienced your pain and I will be the one smiling and laughing at the silliness while trying to convince you that it's really ok.  :-)  Jen and I feel that this image is the one that fully represents what we were working with.  In this one, Austin (the little guy) was SUPPOSED to be in the frame with his siblings, but...  Hope you enjoy a laugh at my expense.  It makes me laugh, too!  I'll post some of the good ones soon.

Informational tidbits

Here are some charming ideas to incorporate into your wedding day to make it extra special for those who are nearest to your heart.

Mother
A double frame makes a wonderful gift for your mother. On one side, use a picture of you and your mother when you were a little girl and on the other, a picture of you together on your wedding day—hugging, getting ready together or something like that. For an extra-special touch, have the frame engraved to read, “I’ll always be your little girl.”  (Check out A Framer's Touch in Forest Grove for unique gifts and beautiful framing.  Also find them on Facebook.  They are wonderful!)

Father
If you wear a blusher veil, it is traditional to give it to your father after your wedding day, as a memento of that moment in your lives. A shadow box is a cute way to display this gift, along with a portrait of you walking down the aisle or having your father-daughter dance during the reception.

Fiancé
Secretly do a boudoir portrait session in your bridal lingerie and frame your favorite portrait. Hide it for him to find on your wedding morning with a little love note. This will be a wonderful surprise for him to enjoy that day and for many years to come.

Maid of Honor
A framed portrait of you together on your wedding day with a necklace or a gift card to a spa is the perfect thank you to your maid of honor. Have each bride’s maid sign the sole of your shoe before the ceremony for good luck. Whoever’s name is darkest by the end of the day will be married next.

Best Man
An engraved flask, a box of cigars or a nice set of cufflinks are all thoughtful gestures to give to the best man in your wedding. Be sure to get a portrait of all the groomsmen and the groom doing a toast. This makes a wonderful framed gift to give to each, along with a handwritten thank you card.

Flower Girl
An engraved locket is a wonderful gift for your flower girl. Alternately, a charming music box would also be cherished for years to come. Take a picture with your flower girl, and wait until her wedding day to give it to her, along with a heartfelt message about how proud you are to see her grow into a beautiful woman.

Future Children
Save a few bottles of wine or sparkling cider from your wedding (depending on how many children you plan to have) and box each one up with a picture of you and your husband on your wedding day, as well as a heartfelt, handwritten message. This makes a wonderful gift many years down the road on your children’s wedding day.

Anniversary
Save the top tier of your wedding cake and freeze it until your one year anniversary. This makes for a wonderfully romantic memento from your wedding day.

For that big 25, use one of those bottles of wine or sparkling cider that you set aside for your kids, if you have extras!

For your 50th, go to the place you were married and renew your vows in front of your closest and most dear family and friends. Be sure to save your shoes, veil and dress, wrapping them in linen and storing them in an airtight, watertight place. If you don’t end up renewing your vows in them, a daughter or granddaughter might love to wear it again.

Do you have any other ideas for brides?  What are your favorite tips from your own wedding or a wedding that you have attended?  Let's hear it!  :-)

Favorite Date Ideas? - Please share yours and WIN!

Ice Skating
Find an outdoor skating rink and rent some skates. Bundle up and grab a thermos of hot cocoa, some mugs and a camera to document your winter wonderland memories.

Stargazing
Find a tranquil outdoor setting and bring an air mattress, hammock or some reclining chairs. For an unforgettable time, mark your calendar for the next big meteor shower and get ready to make some wishes! Bring a nice bottle of wine and ask 20 questions while you gaze. Make your own constellation.

Take a ski day
Hit the slopes with your love, and be sure to spend some time by a nice roaring fire at the end of the day. Make s’mores and then hit the hot tub together.

Scavenger Hunt
Whether it’s throughout your house or throughout the whole city, make a scavenger hunt for your love and help them follow the clues to a picnic or dinner at a nice restaurant.

Row, Row, Row your Boat
Rent a row boat and take a few leisurely spins around a lake. Timeless romance. Sigh…

Go to a Game
Get tickets to a home game and tailgate together. Wear team jerseys and be super fans together.

Get Fresh
Go to an orchard or berry farm and pick some fresh fruit to enjoy. Find a nice spot to plant a tree together. Go back and carve your names in it on an anniversary or special occasion down the road.

Be Adventurous
Go bungee jumping, skydiving, rock climbing, anything out of your comfort zone. You’ll get a great adrenaline rush and wonderful memories with your loved one.

Dance the Night Away
Take a dance class and then go to a nice dinner afterwards.

Volunteer Together
Find a common interest and donate some time together. Visit a nursing home for a monthly bingo night, help out at a food bank, visit children in the hospital or clean up a trail or park.

Hope this list helps your imagination run wild. I'd love to hear YOUR other ideas for simple or extravagant dates.  Please comment on the blog or on my Facebook post and then get out there and spend some quality time with the one you love!  My FAVORITE date idea that you post will receive a gift from me.  :-)

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

I have known about NILMDTS (www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org) since 2006 when I went to my first seminar with photographer and co-founder Sandy Puc.  I have heard her speak about it many times and each time have been moved to tears.  Again this weekend, I watched a webinar where it was presented and again was deeply moved by the stories that the parents told.  This organization needs financial support and additional photographers to provide this important service.  A quote shared by Sandy yesterday "You cannot change what is happening, but you can change the way someone heals."  Here are a few quotes from their website to explain a little more about who they are:

"The Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation is there for parents and families to help aid them in their Healing, bring Hope to their future, and Honor to their child.  It is through Remembrance that a family can truly begin to heal."

"Mission Statement: To introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with the free gift of professional portraiture.  We believe these images serve as an important step in the family's healing process by honoring their child's legacy."

More than anything, I am incredibly grateful for the children that I have been blessed with.  Hug your kids today.  Here's one of my favorites of my son Austin (who is now almost 3). 

My sweet girl

My little girl just made my day.  I'm dealing with back pain today and when she came in to my office and saw that, she offered to go heat up my hot pad and bring it to me so I wouldn't have to go do it myself.  Seriously just make me want to kiss her her sweet face.  :-)

What is ISO?

The ISO in your camera determines the camera's sensors sensitivity to light.  This means that you will determine how much light you have to work with in a situation and adjust your camera's ISO to work in that scenario.  The best way to remember how to choose your ISO is "The brighter the light, the smaller the number."  Or, more simply "Brighter equals smaller."  So, if you're outside on a bright sunny day, you might choose ISO 100.  But, if you're in a shady area under trees or if it's starting to get dark, you might choose ISO 400 or even higher to compensate. Here are a few examples:

 In this example, we were in the middle of a large open area with sun almost directly overhead.  ISO 100 is a good choice in this situation.

In this example, we were under some large dense trees.  ISO 400 is a good choice in this situation.  I also like to use a large reflector to add some natural light to fill the shadows on their faces.

Was this post helpful to you?  I would love to hear your comments!  :-)