Tuesday's Top 5

Can I do it? Do I honestly think I can narrow it down? Only 5?

("What on earth is she talking about?," you ask.)

My top 5? Really? Well, okay, I'll try. But I reserve the right to change my mind.

THE TOP 5 PHOTOS OF 2010 (maybe):

5. I love this family shot that I captured just a few weeks ago. We had worn the little guy out by this point, but the yawn is just so yummy.

4. I know I probably shouldn't use one of my own little guy, but I truly adored his Halloween shots this year. He was the perfect baseball player and we were shooting at the perfect time with the perfect light. So this is love.

3. I loved everything about this session with Sofia and Gavin, but this is definitely my favorite (except for my 6 or 7 other favorites, but whatever). Letting kids do their thing = Awesome.

2. Confession: I found this sheet at a church rummage sale for .25 cents. I promise I washed it in HOT HOT water before I put little Michael down on it, though. I just love what the bright but not too busy pattern brings. A nice diversion from the traditional simple newborn shot.

1. I'm at #1 already? NO WAY! Honestly, this was never going to work. But if I must pick a #1, I suppose I would pick this shot from our family reunion this summer. "Jump off the dock all at the same time," I said. And they did. Perfectly. Ah summer....

Seriously, I cannot stop at 5. Here are a few more oldies but goodies that you may not have seen before:

p.s. Now that I've started, it's hard to stop. I'm sure I'll be back soon with more favorites.

Christmas. Now.

I am loving Christmas right now. And I don't mean to say that I don't always love Christmas. I do. I really, really do! But right now, while Max is in all his almost-three-year-old glory, Christmas is perfection.

We got our tree last night. By the time we got it home and in the stand, it was too late to let him stay up and decorate it. We let him put a few ornaments on and then sent him to bed. Consequently, he came down stairs to a transformed house this morning, and said (no kidding), "Wonderful! Oh! Santa! The tree! The tree!"

So yeah, ask me how Christmas is right now? Christmas-right now-is something really special.

Tuesday's Top 5

Something a bit different for today:

THE TOP 5 REASONS TO MAKE MISTAKES

5. Mistakes Are Funny. What? Mistakes are funny. And sure, maybe you're not laughing now. Maybe it's mostly just me and your other friends laughing right now (and laughing hard), but one day, you'll laugh about it, too; because, really mistakes are funny. Most of the time.

4. Mistakes Make You Humble. Mistakes keep you from getting that big balloon head that you (and me and you and you and you) get when we've been on top of the world for awhile. Hey, we all need our bubble burst every once in a while, otherwise we'd really be insufferable.

3. Mistakes Are Learning Experiences. When was the last time you made a mistake that you didn't say, "Oh yeah, I should have done that instead."? And if you didn't say that (or some incarnation of it, please see number 4 and then come back to number 3). Seriously, I think some of the best photographic lessons I've learned have come from times when I've royally screwed up first and had to think through fixing it. This logic applies whether you're a photographer, an accountant, or an underwater basket weaver. Mistakes = Knowledge!

2. Mistakes Begat Greatness. Sometimes mistakes turn into accidental greatness. Okay, maybe not for you or for me, but that happens sometimes, right? Yes! The chocolate chip cookie, the slinky, and Velcro are all results of mistakes. Hope springs eternal.

1. Mistakes Are Just Mistakes. And finally, mistakes are just mistakes. I mean, not so much if you're a doctor or an airplane pilot, but for most of us, a mistake is just a blip on the map; something we'll look back on and laugh, reflecting on how much it taught us and how humble we are as a result. So don't sweat those little mistakes, because (after all), tomorrow is another day! (Sorry, couldn't resist).

What mistake will you make today?

This is the face of blog neglect

This is also the face of a photographer who let her two-year-old take her picture while she was on vacation and had not washed her hair or put her contacts in.

(Yikes! I can't believe I shared that!)

This is the face of said two-year-old.

This is the face of the same two-year-old on a sled with his Dad.

Forgive me?

Be back soon!

Tuesday's Top 5

Bet you think you know what this week's Top 5 is going to be, don't you? Bet you think it's going to be the Top 5 things I'm thankful for. Well, if you think that you are wrong. Do you seriously expect me to narrow it down to only 5 things that I am thankful for? Psshaw! I am way more blessed than that. No siree, Bob. Not gonna do it. But what I am gonna do is something just as good (and much more yummy):

MY TOP 5 FAVORITE THANKSGIVING DISHES

(You so didn't see that coming, did you?)

5. Dad's Gross Salad. Here's the thing about Dad's Gross Salad. It is not made by my dad. It is not gross. And it is not really a salad. Dad's Gross Salad is more of a fruity, jelloey, cream cheesey concoction created by my husband's aunt's boyfriend (got that?). The only thing is, his kid's all hate it (hence the Dad and the Gross part). Good thing he hooked up with our family, though, because we all think Dad's Gross Salad is da tastiest!

4. The Cake. What? Cake for Thanksgiving? Aren't you supposed to eat Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie and Apple Pie? What are you unAmerican? Well, I'll admit those are the tradish Thanksgiving desserts and you are supposed to eat those things if you eat pie. Me? I'm not so big on the pie, so I personally take it upon myself to make sure that there is a non-pie (preferably chocolate based) dessert at every Thanksgiving. Purely selfish reasons, really. One of my favorite choices is "the Cake," a delightful boxed cake concoction suupped up with sour cream, pudding, and chocolate chips to make it extra dense, then topped with cream cheese icing for that extra layer of diabetes. Mmmmm.....

3. Casserole. Any casserole really. For me casserole (or hot dish if you're from Minnesota, where I'll be spending turkey day) = Family Gathering. And while I'm quite sure the pilgrims did not have broccoli casserole at the first Thanksgiving, I'm equally sure that if they had tasted the broccoli casserole recipe perfected by my relatives in Fort Meade they would have made several trays worth of it. Thankfully, I am not a pilgrim, and therefore will be working my way through a casserole or two on Thursday (and probably Friday).

2. Mashed Potatoes. Let's face it. Thanksgiving is all about the carbs. Turkey? Sure, turkey gets an honorable mention, but you know it's the carbs you're really wearing those stretchy pants for, and mashed potatoes are like the piece de resistance of carbs. Make sure you throw real cream and butter in with them and maybe some chives and sour cream. Don't forget the salt. Remember, elastic is your friend!

1. Daniel Family Cornbread Dressing. This last thing is very special. It is not just any Thanksgiving dressing (by the way, do not even mention the phrase "sage dressing" in my presence). This is the Daniel Family Secret Recipe Cornbread Dressing. Like, if I told you the recipe I'd either have to kill you or marry you, kind of recipe. Handed down from my great grandmother to my grandfather to my mother and now to my husband (now you know why we got married), this recipe is so so special, and I've never met anyone who doesn't love it. But don't ask me for the recipe. It won't end well for you.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Don't forget to take stock of what you're thankful for!

The Freshest Newborn on the Block ~ Schaumburg Baby Photographer

How long is a baby a newborn? In the real world, at least a month or two, right? In photography, though, the window is very short. Newborns make the best models within their first two weeks of life, and at six days old, this little guy was easily the "freshest" baby I've seen to date. And didn't he do a great job? Sleepy, squishy, and oh so sweet!

Aside from being so fresh and new, Baby Colin has a lot else going for him; not the least of which is the oodles and noodles of love he's got coming from his parents, and from his "Auntie Em," who gave Colin's parents this newborn shoot as a gift.

(I'm a gift! HOW TOTALLY FREAKING COOL IS THAT?!?!?)

Yep, Baby Colin is off to a pretty fantastic start in the world, which is good because he's going to have to do something to make up for being a Bears fan. (Oh yeah. I went there.) Thanks, Colin for letting me stick you in a helmet. And thanks Colin's family for the honor of capturing Day Six!

What to Wear Wednesday ~ Senior

Teenagers, and high school seniors in particular, are a lot of fun to shoot because they are so young and fresh and stylish. Part of the fun of a senior shoot is getting to create several different wardrobe options with them, complete with outrageous accessories like cowboy boots and high high heels. Oh to be 18 again.....