For A Moment Photography

Holiday Gift #9

 

  

Not my photos.  Photos of stuff for sale on etsy.

I am a big fan of homemade gifts.  I love, love making them and love, love when I get one...  However not everyone has time to do this, or really wants to learn to do some of this stuff- I get it.  So my holiday gift idea #9 is www.etsy.com.  Etsy is a website where you can find just about anything you are looking for.  

I was buying Presley the cutest lil' hair clips at Norstrom's for $12 each.  After she lost about 5 of them I decided I would check Etsy.  I found the same ones made by stay at home Moms for less.  Don't feel bad for Norstrom's I still buy my shoes and makeup there. :)  I do feel better about helping another stay at home Mom provide for her family and supporting another artist. 

www.foramomementphotography.com

It's a Wonderful Life

My favorite movie of the season is Frank Capra's, "It's a Wonderful Life".  Tonight I started watching clips on Youtube.  Watching George Bailey be tempted by things that he couldn't afford for his wife, a life he didn't live the way he planned in a town he wanted nothing to do with really struck me.  I've always loved this film because of the obvious great message, but tonight was different.  Before when I watched it I always thought, things may be bad but they could be worse, but not tonight...  

Tonight I felt life is all about your outlook.  Clarence didn't doing anything other then show George all that was good in his life that he lost sight of.  George was so lucky to have a chance to see what life would have been like without him...  Instead most people are out there feeling like George and looking at Potter with envy rather then pity.  

It's a great film and a great message any way you look at it.

www.foramomentphotography.com

George Bailey by Carolyn Sills

Gingerbread Village

 

 

Do I decorate my cookie with this or eat it?

 

Sweets at 9AM are always a good idea.

This morning Presley was able to met with Santa at Arizona Grand Resort.  A friend of mine organized the event (news segment) and invited us out.  The resort has a Gingerbread Village and kids are invited to decorate cookies, enjoy caroling and take picture with Santa ($10 and portion is donated to Phoenix museum)...  

Presley was posed on Santa's lap for a portion of the segment.  She was so excited and went to him with no hesitation.  I was happy to get some great photos of her and Santa plus she had a front row seat of the ballerina's...  After that I reluctantly allowed her to decorate a cookie.  It was 9AM and she also had a Preschool Thanksgiving day party today (which means too many sweets).  The segment was over and we were off to school... 

The resort is a nice alternative to the Mall Santa visit, and great location for snapshots (since you're there).  I would recommend a visit here, plus they have a great Santa. 

www.foramomentphotography.com

Holiday Gift Idea #10

 

Lovetta- designer

 

The Holiday season is such a great time for me, like most people.  This time of year usually forces my hand at some creative projects. I love looking for that special gift or making that special gift for friends and family.  Homemade gifts are my preference but there are certain purchased gifts I just can't recreate...  After seeing this necklace I wanted to share it with others!  So now I have a new blog project, I'm going to share #10 holiday gift ideas for this season (crossing my fingers).  Some will be homemade gift ideas and other will not.  Oh, what fun!  

Tonights gift has a great story behind it and all the proceeds go to a great cause.  The designer Lovetta is a now 17 year old refugee from Liberia.  At 8months of age Lovetta lost her mother when rebels attacked and was taken to a refugee camp by her father.  He walked for a week (with Lovetta)and pleaded to breastfeeding mothers to give milk to his young daughter...  She has endured so much and has a will and determination that can't help but give you hope.  The necklace is made of spent bullets (as seen in photo above)...

I hope you like it and if you do let me know!  

www.foramomentphotography.com

No training wheels Mama!

 

 

 

This weekend is the Ironman race in Tempe.  After seeing all the competitors converge on Tempe made me want to get Presley to the park and to see all that was going on.  Plus she has just recently grown in to her bike (she got it last year for her birthday).  

So we headed there with her Buelo (grandfather).  She was a little surprised to see all the bikes lined up for this weekends race.  I was hopeful that it would make her want to ride her bike...  So after a little time walking around checking it all out (it's really like a small town moving in with the race).  We went to the end of the lake with few people.

I was pleased to see that she was very excited to give her bike a try.  Until today she's only sat on it in the house for the most part...  She got on it and started walking with it...  Oh, her bike is different then the normal bike.  It's a Skuut.  The two most noticeable differences are, it's made of wood and it does not have pedals.  It's designed for 2-5 year olds.  After they master this bike they can transition to a two wheeler.  I will let you know how ours works for us.

She had a great time walking with it and loved to pretend fall about every three steps... ?  Not sure about that?  I enjoyed it except for the fact that her pink shoes got very dirty in the fake fall process.   

www.foramomentphotography.com

Introduction to Christmas Traditions

 

This evening I was playing Christmas music (like I have been for a week or so- yes before Thanksgiving).  It's still mid 70's weather wise so I needed something to help make it feel like the Holidays are coming...

 Presley didn't really seem to like any of the songs, even the kid ones.  So I decided I would look for some of the songs on Youtube to show her the Cartoon Characters singing.  She didn't care too much for the Chipmunks but really liked The Grinch. 

This will be a different Christmas for us.  She is already talking about Christmas trees, decorations and Santa (preschool influences maybe?).  I think it's going to be a good time more so then last year.  She is more excited about it,  I can talk to her about it and she isn't driven by gifts yet.  We will enjoy being together, celebrating all we have and feel lucky for the gifts.

www.foramomentphotography.com

Lunch at the Farm

 

 

 

 

Today Presley and I had lunch at The Farm with friends, it's a place I drag most people I know!  It's a beautiful place and a great spot for kids to run and play.  The Farm is located in Phoenix near South Mountain.  The grounds include the Farm Kitchen (picnic and patio lunch), Morning Glory Cafe (breakfast and brunch patio) and Quiessence Restaurant (dinner and wine bar).  There is also a farmers market and an artist studio. 

I really can't say enough good things about this place.  The food is amazing the price is a little on the high end, but the experience (and yummy food) is worth it...  The grounds are beautiful and there is grass and mature trees!  We usually go to the Farm about 10:30 let Presley run and play then order lunch (salads are my favorite but really everything is to die for).   After lunch and after the toys we brought have started to get boring we walk over to the chickens and feed them grass.  The chickens are the only animals at the Farm,  but they are enough to make Presley happy.  We can easily stay for three hours without a meltdown, it's a place both adults and kids can enjoy.  I can't think of many restaurants that I can stay that (3 hour stay and we all are happy) about.

The surrounding offer a great backdrop for photos too (another reason I love it)!  It's really a place like no other in the Valley...  This year we had Easter Brunch at The Farm (reservations required) and I can't see why I would ever do anything different.  

www.foramomentphotography.com

Handmade Baby Throw

 

 

 

This is where all my free time has gone for the past two weeks.  I did take a few days off when company came to town but I'm right back at it this week.  This is a Christmas gift for Presley, I was so proud I actually started it and felt so on top of things.  I just noticed the date and it's almost the middle of November.  Now I'm not feeling so "on top" of things, but hey it's a start.  I have several other sewing projects in mind.  I'm not sure how those will pan out...  

This quilt came together quicker then I thought.  Which is good news because now I get to spend plenty of time on the embellishments.  I've attached buttons, did some hand stitching and some embroidery.  This is the first quilt that I have spend so much time on, it's fun.  I want it to have a rustic homemade feel to it...

I really hope it turns out to be a special gift for Presley and feel that the more time I spend the more she will enjoy it...  She knows it is for her and keeps asking me, "is it ready fo me?"  I hope I can keep it from her until Christmas. (she already has her Christmas pj's).

www.foramomentphotography.com        

Baby Blanket

 

These are some of the stacks I have been sewing together for the past day.  I have cut out 216, 3 inch x 3 inch squares for this quilt.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, I've even took the time to pin each square together and ironed the seam (something I rarely do).  It's looking different then I imagined but still really cute.

We have guests coming to visit this weekend so tonight will be the last night I work on it until next week... Which is fine because it's going to be a Christmas gift for Presley and I'm ahead of schedule.

www.foramomentphotography.com

Onesies Blanket

 

I'm almost too sentimental, I want to hold on to all memories.  I try to go thru my stuff and if I haven't used it in a year then I don't need it, even if it's "still good" (pictures are different).  I give a lot to charity...  However with my daughter's things it's become even more of a challenge (well not the toys) but her clothes...

So when Presley started growing out of her onesies in the first three months of life I was so sad.  She would never be this small again and how would I ever remember her this small?  That's when I came up with the idea to make a blanket out of her onesies.  She is now 2.5 years and I'm finally finding the time to make the blanket...  

It's going to take some time, cutting all the little squares but I'm pretty excited.  I haven't done much sewing and this is a project I've wanted to do for awhile...  So far tonight I have 10 squares...  I'm not sure how many I will need (yet) but that's not even close.  I will keep you posted on the outcome.

www.formomentphotography.com