Calleigh

A few weeks ago, I had a great photo shoot with this little doll, Calleigh! Isn't she gorgeous? Her mom was my big sis in our college sorority. It was great to see her again and so great to meet Calleigh! We started out at a local park and ended up at Cupcakes on Kavanaugh. Calleigh got her very own cupcake for her one year birthday!

Lishabrook!

I took one of my best friends out for quick birthday dinner at Pei Wei last night! Alicia (aka. Lish, Lisha, Lishabrook, or Lush-hehe) turned 26 and I just wanted to take the time on my blog to let her know how much she is loved and appreciated! Alicia and I met in college (surprisingly enough) AFTER Alicia had already moved back to her hometown. We were both at college at the same time but never really hung out until my Senior year and Alicia would drive down from Northwest Arkansas to hang out with us on the weekends. Those were good times!

I just wanted to take time to dedicate this blog post to Alicia, who always manages to put a smile on my face no matter what! :) Lish and I were roommates for two years before I got married and had some of the best times of my life! From water fights to cooking experiments and especially shopping trips - Lish always lifts my spirits with her carefree attitude toward life.
Love you, Lisha! I'm proud of you! Have fun in Italy next month!

All-Natural

If you know me at all then you know that I am all for ALL-NATURAL anything! Over the past few years I have been trying hard to make my life more and more natural. Things such as eliminating preservatives and additives from my diet, recycling, using a reusable water bottle instead of plastic ones, and using organic cosmetics are just a few natural/green solutions I have added into my normal life.

However, I am always looking for additional ways to make my life even more natural. There are so many "green living" tips everywhere on the internet today! I spend many nights just searching and dreaming of all the ways to be green. (A few of my favorite websites include: Green Home , Green Living, Tree Hugger) My husband works at a large bookstore and often brings home to latest issues of green home living magazines and I just drool at the latest rainbarrel or composter!

Recently, I came across this article, "How to clean your hair without shampoo," and it intriged me so that I am seriously considering not shampooing my hair! Now, before you close out of this immediately, please read the article.

This article explains how to clean your hair using naturally occuring substances such as baking soda and vinegar and still get great looking results! If you're interested in this at all, you should try it with me! Let me know if you do it and we can compare results! :)

Because of this article, along with many others, I have been inspired to feature many more GREEN ideas on my blog. It is my goal to have a completely all-natural home one day! It will be a long journey to get there but I can't wait to get started!
One of my goals this year is to make my very own composter. Find out how here!

Want to go Green at your own home? Here are a few Green Articles to help you get started:
40 Ways to Go Greener at Home
Small Steps to Green Living
10 Ways to Go Green TODAY
A Frugal Family is a Greener Family
50 Ways to Help
100 Ideas for your Green Family
And lots more great articles!

Happy Fall!

Happy Fall Decorating! I started pulling out my fall decor last night and it is currently spread across my whole living room. I'll finish up this weekend and post some pictures next week! Are you decorating for FALL? It's my favorite time of the year!

Lovely Package Exchange

When I returned from my recent beach trip, I found a lovely package on my doorstep. This one I have been looking forward to for several weeks now and it was worth the wait.

Let me explain...

Over here at "oh, hello friend" I participated in a Lovely Package Exchange where each participant is partnered up with someone else, a total stranger from anywhere in the world, to exchange presents! Read the details here. What a neat idea, huh?! But the concept is not based on what the present is but how it is wrapped! :) I was amazed at some of the creative concepts I found on the website!

See more package pics on Flickr

My package partner did not disappoint either. Here are a few pics (taken from my iPhone) of my lovely package. Enjoy!

I received a travel pack of what looks to be French bath soaps and lotion! They smell heavenly! I also received this cute little "Love" box with a red rose hair clip inside. :) Super cute! I can't wait to wear it!

I'm pretty sure that my package partner MADE my hair clip because I checked out her etsy site and she had several similar hair clip on her site. Head on over to her etsy site to purchase your very own!

Oh, and to my package partner: Yours will be mailed this weekend! I'm putting finishing touches on it! Sorry it's so late!

I'm looking forward to the next Lovely Package Exchange!

Eye Candy

I want these to go on the window sill above my bathtub!

This print would look great in my husband's office/study. He is obsessed with books!

I have always loved vintage keys! What a great display by any door or on any wall of the house.


Perfect for my display of vintage cameras in my studio!

{All found at Pottery Barn}

TOMS

Well, I got back from vacation and had a nice surprise waiting on me... my new pair of TOMS shoes! I absolutely love them! They fit perfectly and they will go with so many outfits! And best of all, TOMS shoes are a great charity! When you purchase one pair of shoes, you are actually purchasing TWO, one for yourself and one for a child in need who doesn't have any shoes! Here is their moto: ONE FOR ONE

TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.

This will be my NEXT TOMS purchase:

Donate to a great charity and get a pair of shoes all in the click of a button!

Beach Trip '09

Our little yellow house is about 30 yards from the beach! Perfect!

We have been looking forward to this trip since February when we booked this little vacation! There are eight of us here this week in Santa Rose Beach, Florida! We are having a blast laying on the beach, reading, sleeping late and above all... EATING! Our vacation rental house is about 10 minutes from my favorite city-SEASIDE, so we have spent most of our time there. Yesterday Buie and I walked around Seaside and I took a few pictures of my favorite spots in the town. I really want to own a home in Seaside one day- it's one of our many goals! :) Here are a few pictures of the wonderful people I am here with this week. I will post more scenery pics later on when I finish editing them.

Enjoy! me and Buie

Brad and Whitney - They got engaged last night and I was able to photograph the whole engagement! I will post some pics of that soon!

Lauren and Wayne - Lauren and Wayne and I have all known each other since preschool. Lauren and Wayne reconnected a few years back and it was immediate LOVE. They were married right here in Seaside, Florida and I was her maid of honor!

Alex and Alicia are the "odd couple" on this trip, as we call them. :) Alex is Wayne's best friend from high school and came along for the trip and Alicia is one of our college best friends and came along as well. They have a blast together and are becoming great friends!

Check back for more vacation pics!

Cooper

Here are some pictures from one of my last photo shoots. I have taken little Cooper's pictures for the last couple of years, the first time being before he was even one. This fall, I can't believe he will be three already! We had a blast in the park and he looked adorable in his little overalls! Enjoy!

I'm going on a trip and I'm bringing...

RealSimple.com provides wonderfully helpful checklists. They have several in their "travel" section that are particularly helpful to me this week as I prepare for our beach vacation. This one is specifically geared to a beach vacation.
Accessories:

• beach bag
• flip flops
• glasses and/or contact lenses, if necessary (bring an extra pair, too)
• sunglasses
• sun hat

Equipment:

• batteries for small electronics and cameras
• beach blanket
• beach chairs
• beach towels
• beach umbrella
• camera
• cell phone
• chargers for your cell phone, camera, laptop, etc
• cooler
• flotation devices

Health and Beauty Items

• aloe Vera Gel
• antibacterial wipes
• body lotion
• comb and brush
• contact lens solution, if needed
• deodorant
• face cleanswer
• first aid kit
• floss
• insect repellant
• lip balm
• personal-hygience items
• prescriptions
• razors
• shampoo and conditioner
• shaving gel
• soap
• sunscreen
• toothbrush
• toothpaste

Miscellaneous

• addresses of friends and family for postcards
• books
• healthy snacks
• maps and directions
• money
• printouts of reservations
• travel journal
• travel pillow and blanket
• travel-sized detergent

And, of course, plenty of cute clothes for the week!

Upgrade Please!

Our blog got a face lift! It was time for a change, don't you think? Thanks to Emily who recommended I go to http://www.scrapblog.com/, our blog now has a PERSONALIZED header with all four of my babies on it! Also, we now are a 3-column blog, making room for more blog followers like yourself! Leave us a comment and thanks for stopping by!

For instructions on how to make your blog a 3-column blog, go here.