photo: melaniemauer.com

happy holidays!  we’re out of the office but wanted to pop in with a treat!
our new addition, ashleigh, brought these oh-so-yummy cookies in and we had to share the recipe!

ginger cookies
3/4 cup of shortening
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ginger
2 cups flour
2 tsp of baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
additional sugar in a bowl

it’s hard to describe how lucky i feel when a couple that i witnessed marry has me to their home when a baby arrives…
and a lot of those babies are being born which makes it such a fun reunion!  i look at that face and see little bits of
mom, dad, and grandparents.

i think to myself, what a lucky baby to have arrived in a home with so much love.  such is the case with you baby ella.  -m-

you will always be your child’s favorite toy.
[vicki lansky, trouble-free travel with children]

the cutest personalized stamps…i think i’ll make audrey one of these for her birthday

i love dreaming up getaways (and this article has lots of great ideas)

a poster to give at valentine’s day for anyone with a fiance in med school

i was a little weak in the knees over emily’s great boots & silk top!  we were lucky enough to have an unseasonably warm day to shoot and i loved getting to know them, see how they interacted…how happy they are to be together!

i fell in love with emily (who couldn’t – she’s sweet as pie!) months ago and so I was excited to see who she had fallen in love with and picked to be beside forever.  enter chad…sincere, kind & incredibly funny :)

thank you, emily & chad for pausing life for a moment to be photographed!  -m-

my whole heart for my whole life.
[saying used inside rings in france]

* the perfect engagement treat for an ice-cream loving couple

* with a toddler in the house, we should stock up on these! so cute!

* i picked up some books to read during our holiday time off and think they would be so lovely with these on the pages.  (sweet patterned page corners)

* cute month-by-month signs for bebe

we couldn't be more delighted!  -m-

happy news, my work has been published in Professional Photographer Magazine (ppmag.com). i talk a little about creating work/life balance and photography gear i prefer.  yes, i’m totally blushing.  and when i blush, it’s not a lovely pink to the cheeks, it’s a full ‘red as a tomato’ sort of deal ;)  i’m pretty sure i’ll be this way until at *least* next tuesday. really thrilled with the wonderful company in the same article: davina fear, laura cottril & claudia kronenberg.

i’m so looking forward to the workshop (and think it’s sort of funny that this is the same beautiful inn that the wedding crashers movie was filmed at) – i’ll be speaking about…

* balance/simplicity – having a business that enriches your life
* love & kindness – their place in the business world (answer: right up front!)
* beautiful business collateral/systems that foster connection

(if you’re a photographer headed there, please feel free to write me beforehand
with any questions and i’ll make sure they’re addressed during the class)

have the best week! -m-

p.s. tonight i’ll be at bella bliss’s open house…come stop by!