Sunday Citar



"AFLAC"
-The Aflac Duck

“If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck”
-Proverb

“Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.”
-Michael Caine

Isn't he just the cutest thing?

Head to Fresh Mommy Blog and link up your quote!

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The Secret to Throwing A Party

What is the secret?
Really.... I want to know.... What is the secret? Do you know?
Because I would like to know for the next time I throw a baby shower and then a bridal shower in the next month. Yes, I did that, but it was so fun. The first baby shower and first bridal shower I've ever had the privilege of putting together.
The baby shower was for my pregnant friend, Chelsea. Whom you have seen on my photography blog, Crystal Rae Photography. I loved throwing the party, it was very fun to put together too. I wanted to be a little more creative with the decorations and I have seen two different ideas online that I kind of meshed together. I saw pictures on clothes line with paper baby clothes on a clothes line in seperate websites. So I kind of meshed those together by posting pictures of pregnant mommy and clothes that she had gotten before for little Eliza. I didn't have to pay for paper, or find paper baby clothes or print them and use my ink. So I saved money there. It turned out so cute!





What I saved from paper and ink from the clothes line decorations I used to make the banner... which said, Celebrate Eliza. I designed each circle in Photoshop and printed it on my card stock paper. I bought different colored and styled ribbon to put each letter together and came out with this....



Chelsea had a great turn out and her and Eliza were BLESSED!

The Bridal shower I threw was for my BEST FRIEND, Brittney. She is getting married July 9th and I'm so excited for her to start a new chapter in her life. To help her celebrate her upcoming wedding I threw I black and white themed shower. The decorations I used were easy, simple, and fun.



I found the 2 sided frames at Ikea and they only cost me $0.99, that's right. If you have never been to ikea you need to find your way to one. It is one AWESOME store. In the frames I put a black and white picture of the bride and groom on one side and a love quote on the other. I used quotes from movies, the bible, and books. To help add to the frame center piece I made the flowers. I did see the idea on a blog, if I could find it I would link it up, but I can't find it again. :( What I did was made a flower template in Photoshop, which can be found in
custom shape tool, you go to the Shape: menu and there you pick the flower shape. I put 2 per page, once I printed the flowers out he one side I put the paper back in the printer to print a book on the opposite side. That way when I cut the flower out you didn't see the black likes on the top. I actually used the first chapter of New Moon, one of the books in the Twilight series, which happens to be a love story that Brittney enjoys reading. To keep the 2 flower pieces together I bought a jeweled brad from Michaels and poked it right through the center. Then I kept one prong out and stuck it into the stem (bought at Michaels) and hot glued it in there so it wouldn't fall out. Whala! You have a homemade flower! I then bought pearl garland I guess you would call it to wrap around the frames and to just add a little something more to the tables.



And these gorgeous cupcakes were made by my friend, Emily, who happens to be a baker. They were awesome!!! When I saw a cupcake like this online I knew I wanted these for the "cake" rather than buying a huge sheet cake no one would eat. She did such a great job on them, they went perfect with the theme.



We most definitely were not lacking in the food department. We had food galore. All of it tasted great and we still had some left over to bring home. :)

She then floated away on her balloons!!



Brittney was one blessed chicka!

2 great parties and I got to be a part of both. Thanks gals for letting me throw you a party!

Oh... and when you figure out that secret, be sure to let me know!!!

Toodles
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Sunday Citar:: Momma

Okay I know I'm a week behind on the whole mom quotes because last weekend was Mothers day, but better late then never right?



Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty

Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. ~T. DeWitt Talmage

For gifts to our mothers for Mother's day Jeremy and I took pictures of us spelling out MOM with our hands. They turned out really well, except for the fact that my hands are so white and they just kind of blend in with the rest of my skin so the hand letters are hard to see. No worries!

I hope all you mothers out there enjoyed your day of celebration!!!
Really you should all link up your quotes this week. Just head over to Fresh Mommy Blog and DO IT!

Toodles
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iHeartfaces:: Motherhood

I recently took photos of my niece and her little girl Sophia and when looking at one of the photos I took of them all I could think about was what a great mother she is to her little girl. She is a single mother working hard to take care of her little baby, and boy, does she do a fantastic job. i'm so proud of her and the steps she has taken to make her and her daughters life a great one. ;)
To me this picture screams "Motherhood" and that is why I chose it.



What about you? Would you like to share a photo of your mother or a photo that when you look at it it says Motherhood? Link up at www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com

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Toodles
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Sunday Citar





If I had to sum up Friendship in one word, it would be Comfort. ~Terri Guillemets

A good friend is cheaper than therapy. ~Author Unknown

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown

A few weeks back me and a couple of my girls got together to treat ourselves. It was so relaxing and just what I needed. We didn't end up getting to bed until very late, but it was worth it. FO SHO!

Link up your favorite quote over at Fresh Mommy Blog. You won't want to miss out!

Toodles
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SNEAK PEEK:: Ethan & Aiden

Woah, two sneak peeks so close to each other... that's right, I'm one busy girl!!!
It was so fun photographing these two little dudes. Mainly because they are my nephews and I was so honored when their Mommy and Daddy asked me to take their pictures.


We were trying to teach Ethan how to pretend laugh to get a natural smile... I think he did alright!!










Ethan has these amazing blue eyes that just POP. He's a very handsome little dude!


Aiden did so good, he went almost the whole time with out fussing, we did have to pause close to the end for a little snack.


This one is my favorite of Ethan. :)



Thanks guys... I love you! :)

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Sneak Preview:: Little Sophia

Easter was last weekend and part of my Easter weekend fun I had the privilege of taking photos of little Sophia. She was so good, we had to bribe her with marshmallows a couple times but she still did a great job.
Here are a few of that beautiful little girl. OH, and a few with her Mommy!






This one is my FAVORITE of the whole bunch!





The photo shoot ended with a happy mama and a tired of a camera pointed at her, little girl. :)
It was really fun and so glad I was able to photograph this cutie pie!
I hope everyone has an awesome weekend.

Toodles
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