Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Nixon's 1st Beach Day


My close friend and former college roommate BreAnna is an amazing photographer and recently decided to pursue her passion for film by starting a photography business.  BreAnna photographed Nixon a month or so after she came home from the NICU, and the shots she took are, to this day, some of my favorites. I’m still not sure how she is so masterfully able to capture my daughter’s personality, but one look at her work and it’s obvious that she commands the camera.

BreAnna took these at the beach near her house in the Belmont Shores area of Long Beach. It was Nixon’s first trip to the beach, and she was beautiful in her fearlessness. She ran right up to the water, let the waves lick her legs, and when they knocked her over she laughed, splashed, and played in the salty water. Even after shoveling a handful of sand into her mouth and realizing it didn’t taste very good, Nixon had a blast.  She was so fascinated and curious. It was such a special time, and Adam and I loved watching her excitedly explore the beach, and I’m so happy BreAnna was there to capture the moment.
My little Strawberry!
Nixon discovering wet sand


She LOVED the sand and how it felt when she rubbed it into her skin. She did not however like the way it tasted!!!



This is my absolute favorite!


Adam being a good sport about posing for a picture!
Nixon was naked after we rinsed her off and removed her sandy swim suit.


Silly Face
I cannot get enough of this face!!!

Nixon eating her favorite: Barrrrrbque Pirate's booty

Posing on the Strand after lunch at Tequila Jacks

I love Nixon's Cindy Loo Who hair!
Seriously! Could she be any cuter?

Nixon Loves BreAnna too! 
She kept reaching out to give her hugs!

Thank you again BreAnna for enabling me to obsess over how adorable my daughter is, and enshrine her in photographs while I can. I don’t know what I’m going to do when she turns into a moody teenager who is too cool to pose for a picture! Thank God those days are quite a few years away.

To see more of BreAnna's work, or to set up your own photo shoot, check out Her Facebook Page

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/BreAnna-Martinez-Photography/366674420063413  

There are a lot more pictures to come, so check back for updates! 

Monday, May 14, 2012

Baby Shower

 Over the weekend I threw my BF Azra a baby shower, and I thought I'd post the pics so everyone could see how adorable everything turned out! Azra and her hubby Brandon decided on a black, white, and red nursery with gray accents, so I ran with those theme colors when I decorated:
Beautiful Dessert Table

This table skirt was one of my favorite projects! I just looped tulle over a white ribbon like a giant tutu! I am totally going to reuse it this fall for my daughters 2nd birthday party- It's going to have an Elmo theme!

The beautiful "Sugar & Spice" banner was made with the help and expertise of my other BF Amanda. 
She has an adorable ETSY shop specializing in weddings, but she obviously needs to branch out into party decor!
Find her @: http://www.etsy.com/shop/couturecuts
 


And what baby shower would be complete without pink champagne!
Yummy Food!
Delicious Caprese!

Red Velvet Cakepops!

The Beautiful Mamma and the Host
It must be in the water....
Azra & Shabina

The photo album prize couldn't have gone to a better party guest!
The lovely Ms. Martin with Azra
(gift table in the background)
All of the guests brought a letter to decorate the nursery!


Oh, and this was the front of the invites, courtesy of
http://www.etsy.com/shop/couturecuts

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Fifty Shades of Turned On


The book Fifty Shades of Grey has been seducing the country, and for good reason- its salacious discourse is sparking our libidos and warming up the bedrooms for our husbands.  I mean, who can resist the charm of the alluring Christian Grey- a charismatically dominant man with piercing eyes and strong capable hands who makes us giddy at the thought of being naughty, and then spanks us for it. 


Personally I picture Christian as Bradley Cooper, and I revel in the imagery of him sauntering around the bedroom in his loose fitting pajama bottoms, toned and muscular, grinning deviantly as he concocts new and exciting ways to arouse me (and I say me because, in our minds, we are ALL Anastasia Steele, aren’t we?). He may or may not be holding a riding crop....



Personally I can’t get enough, and I am sad that there were only three books. Heaven knows that my marriage has benefited from all of the exposure to Christian’s “kinky fuckery,” which is why I’ve practically insisted that all of my friends read the series.  My Husband Adam and I have enjoyed a new level of intimacy after we started enjoying the book together- listening to it on audible.com.  

 I hadn’t intended for him to listen to it, it was kind of my own secret outlet, and then I accidentally left it on late one night, after Adam had gone to bed, and I fell asleep. Adam apparently woke up in the middle of a particularly spicy session between Christian and Ana, and, as he put it, what they were doing “sounded like a good idea,” so he rolled me over, woke me up, and …. well… followed Christian’s lead.   

We are now in the market for a larger (King Size) bed, new sheets, and possibly a new tie for Adam. I think I’ll look for a nice silky grey one… ;) 
 

Lilypie Premature Baby tickers

Lilypie Premature Baby tickers