Fabulous Friday: Ice Cream

Just because, I couldn't get it off of my mind.  Here is my favorite ice cream in the world- Bryer's Mint chocolate chip.  (Yes, it's a bonus that it has the word Mint, ha ha!)

Mmmmm, deliciousness.

So, for my Friday find, I'm going to give a little shout out to Baby Steals:

They have some amazing deals for moms on a budget, and beginning Monday, they will be offering tips to mommies everywhere.  Guess who will be giving the first tip?  Yours truly!  I have already been brainstorming and writing a few ideas- I am so excited!!!

Stay tuned.  I can't wait to share it with you.

Have a great weekend!

xo,

Kristen

Minty Fresh: Point of View.

Mint. (adj.) meaning new, fresh, sweet, brilliant, awesome.

ok, I'm cheating a bit with this one, but I thought it would be fun...  Three and four year old kids see the world in a very different way than we do.  My daughter Lilly really finds it to be a very magical place. 

Yesterday, I was sitting in the kitchen with her when she suddenly jumped up and yelled, "Fairies!!!"  Wondering what in the world she was talking about, of course I asked, "where?"  She quickly ran over to a little stream of sunlight coming in through the window, pointing out the tiny dust bunnies floating around.  "Right here, mama!  Fairies!"  (Note to self: cleaning is overrated. Ha Ha!)

Anyway, a few months before she turned four, we got her a tiny little camera (I think it's by Fisher Price).  Here are some of her photos.

Now, aside from the fact that she is a genius (right?), I adore looking at these photos because I get to see the world through her eyes for a few photos.  My absolute favorite just has to be her self portrait in the middle.  Love it. 

Don't be afraid to look at things in a new way, and find a fresh point of view.
xo,
Kristen

A Manifesto.

It's the little moments that count. 
You know them: you see the mess your 3-year-old just made and know that you're living completely. You share a private joke with your sister and just know that she's your soul mate.
Your heart is full and you remember that love does conquer all.
I live to capture those natural, imperfect moments. 
I create art for fabulous families, images to last a lifetime.
I believe in capturing the unique, natural beauty of people and letting it shine.
I come to you, where you feel most comfortable.
We will make messes, hug, play, and laugh. A lot.

Thanks to the fabulous Kristen Kalp and the wonderful Matt Mintz for their help in writing this!
xo,
Kristen

mmmm. the smell of baking. #4

Welcome, friends!
Oh, you're back to see more of my favorites? Well, that's fabulous! Grab a coffee and come on in. Grab a cookie, too. 
While we're talking about sweet... just look at this!

Nothing could be sweeter than sibling love.  These two boys were so much fun- I got this photo while they were wrestling around, and I just adore it. 
enjoy the week!
xo,
Kristen

Minty Fresh: Come closer.

Mint. (adj.) meaning new, fresh, sweet, brilliant, awesome.

Welcome to Saturday, dear blog-stalkers. First of all, a quick little side note for those of you who read my Valentine's Day post, I'd like to thank you for all the prayers and good wishes.  I found out that the mass on my jaw is a benign tumor! I can't express how grateful I am.

Now, let's get back to business.  This week, for your photos, I want you to try to get close.  This is a tip that I use CONSTANTLY.  If you are lucky enough to have a macro lens, get it out.  If you aren't, you're going to have to do a little more work.  Take your time. Hang out and chat a little before shoving your camera in your subject's face. (Not that you would do that, of course.) I like to talk to my subject and distract him, taking photos here and there, all the while, inching a little closer. Try to fill up the frame with your subject. It's especially awesome to try with babies and children.
Here is one of my favorites:

I mean, really.  Can't you just smell that baby smell just by looking at this?
Enjoy your weekend, and don't forget to link up your photos!
xo,
Kristen

Minty Fresh + Snow.

Mint. (adj.) meaning new, fresh, sweet, brilliant, awesome.

I have to tell you this secretly.  Lean in. Don't let your family hear me say this.  I live in Southern California.  The weather here has been chilly and windy, but I haven't seen an inch of snow. Sssshhhhh!!!!
I'm telling you this because I know what it feels like.  I want you to know that the sun is shining somewhere, and that there is hope.  Spring is coming.  And Phil said it is coming soon!  This weekend, I'm going to announce a "dreaming of spring" giveaway, but in the meantime, I want you to embrace the snow.  Yes.  You read that correctly.  I said, "embrace it."
Do you have a delayed opening? Go outside and play! Don't forget your camera! Get down on their level. Capture the "couch", snowman, cave, snowballs...the  trail of snow pants, coats, hats, mittens, boots and scarves that litter the floor.  Maybe you'd rather stay inside?  Give me a photo of your child looking out the window, or sipping some hot cocoa. Here are some of my favorites: Check out this snow suit- remind you of A Christmas Story? Utterly ridiculous, right?

Here's one that shows how much my daughter loved "swimming" in the snow.

Ahhh, and one of the good old fashioned "couch".  Love.

Enjoy your time with the snow.  And if you want to come to my house for a little break, please feel free!  :)
xo,
Kristen

Ps- please leave a link in the comments to your photos- I'd love to see them!!!

Minty Fresh

Mint. (adj.) meaning new, fresh, sweet, brilliant, awesome.

This is going to become a monthly thing for me, I can just tell.

One of my goals for this year is to have a cleaner house.  So I got some tips from Martha Stewart (don't hate), and I'm going to try to do a little every day.  Each day, I'm going to give myself some tasks.  It might look something like this: Monday-laundry, Tuesday-windows, Wednesday-floors, Thursday-bathrooms, Friday-counters, Saturday-clutter... wait.  Clutter?  Shoot, I think I need to revise that.  You see, I have these two little people who live with me.  I have tubs for their toys, an entire play room, but toys somehow end up everywhere in the house.  Everywhere.  No place is off limits to them. Not even (dare I admit this?) the toilet.  *gross.*  I just gave myself the chills.  I will literally pick up a toy and put it in the toy bin just to have Jack take it out as soon as I turn my back.  Along with two more toys.  This is a photo I took when he was about 11 months old. It's titled "One Baby, Ten Minutes."  Completely true.

The other day, I sat down with my four year old, Lilly to help her clean her room.  "I like it messy," She told me.  "It makes me happy." So I came back with, "but my dear, it doesn't make ME happy.  It makes me sad.  And the Toy Fairy will come and take your toys if you don't clean up." (the Toy Fairy will be explained in my next blog post...)
"But mommy," she replies, "I want to share my toys with her."  Awesome.  No need to clean the clutter! 

That is mint.
-more minty freshness: here's a quick photography tip- keep your camera close to you all the time. Capture messes that your family makes!  These photos will always tell their own story, and will make you laugh one day!  Maybe one day far, far into the future... but still. :)
xo,
Kristen