i’m soooo very sick right now – a little bug that came on suddenly.   not feeling at all my typical self – quarantined from the world in my warm bed while i proof a wedding on the laptop.  I don’t get sick often but it seems like it always chases a really busy week.  had fun plans for tonight/tomorrow that look like they might get derailed…ugh. 

but, have something fun i want to share – tammy, a dear friend, was in chicago for an oprah taping last week (watch today – i think it’s airing) and $1000 was given to each audience member as part of a kindness challenge to go and do great kindness in their area.  and man alive, tammy can spring to action…there are so many events happening and she’ll be videotaping them and sending them to the Oprah show.  doesn’t the whole idea of a ‘Kindness Chalenge’ sound like fun?  so, go visit embracehumankind.com – there’s a spot to gather ideas, learn more and see what you can be a part of. 

tammy’s amazing father passed away this time last year so the loving catalyst on her part to do this is to have an action-filled memorial to him.  so terrific!  here’s to kindness!

i adore this family – they’re so smitten with their little baby you couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear just watching them.  and leslie just smiled and smiled the whole time…so fun to photograph! -m-

p.s. i’ll be out of the office tomorrow for a fab friday wedding so i’ll return voicemails/emails monday! 

 a photo of our audrey in her winter hat…have a great week!!  -m-

p.s. if you ever write mmp and don’t hear back (in most cases emails are returned in a day unless we’re traveling or on holiday) please please let me know.  we’ve had a few odd things happen like emails taking a *really* long time to arrive and in other cases just not arriving.  we’re ‘on it’ and trying to figure it all out but there’s not much rhyme or reason (most everything arrives a-okay) so while we troubleshoot, if there’s something you’ve written me and haven’t heard back about, please give me a call (858.552.3686)!  and all my sincerest  apologies…it makes my stomach turn to know anyone sent a note, waited for a reply and didn’t hear back from me!  -m-

spencer is such a gentleman at *four*!  he’s the sort of child you could really hang out with & he  kept saying the most thoughtful things.  he really knows the ins and outs of star wars…i left thinking i really should have had my husband, jason, help me brush up.  this session was in their great backyard – tons of room to roam & play.  i used the side of the house as a backdrop for some portraits and when spencer needed a little break to refuel with a raspberry muffin, it was easy peasy since we were at his home. 

getting ready for sessions takes some work…thinking about clothing, etc.  it’s even more work if it’s at your house but i’ve really been enjoying these lately because of the unique things we can do.  i definitely recommend adding an extra half hour to the typical coverage so we aren’t short of time.  file this idea away for next spring! -m-

saw this and just had to share!  -m-