Lilah Grace's Cake Smash

I was SO excited to finally collaborate with my friend from Norman, Greer ((of Mama Hussy)), for some first-birthday-themed photos of our little LG. Sadly, the dates didn't work out as we had both hoped, and I needed to get invitations printed, so the anticipation will continue to build until we can finally have our shoot with the very talented, very badass Greer Inez...

But meanwhile, I knew I had to hunker down and do this thing myself. I had a vision and needed to make it happen. 

The theme of LG's party was surprisingly organic ((not at all like the cake))... 

It just came to me after listening to some Disney classics months ago during her bath time...

"A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes."

Getting to create a set in our own kitchen for Lilah Grace was so fun. My creative juices were flowing, my house smelled like birthday cake, and best of all, when Lilah woke up from her afternoon nap, she got to indulge in a lot of fun with her mama and Aunt Roo.

During her first nap, I baked a cake and finished up her dreamcatcher ((while catching up on the DVR)). It was a perfect morning of baking and crafting.

I used a white cake mix, added violet food dye, and poured the batter in two mini pans. 

After the purple cakes baked, I stacked them and frosted them with white frosting, also mixed with violet food dye. Then I covered the frosting with edible sprinkles. The dye and sprinkles were from Hobby Lobby, both purchased before I was aware of the latest Supreme Court news. Dadgummit. Oh well, turned out cute.

I will make a DIY Dreamcatcher post later. This was fun, easy, and inexpensive.

I placed the cake in a wreath of succulents that was about to see it's last day. Topped with a star, and surrounded by feathers and glitter.
I hung the dreamcatcher, and hot glued two additional stars to the backdrop.
The set was created on butcher paper, compliments of my mom and her friend from the elementary school. It made clean up a breeze.
((Great idea, Mommy! Thanks!))
Behind the butcher paper were twinkle lights, and around the butcher paper was white tulle. That was thanks to Mama Vajda, who we ran into at Hobby Lobby, and was kind enough to let us borrow for the day!!!

Our little angel...scopin' the scene! Hahaha.

Watching LG dig in was absolutely adorable. She required encouragement! I think she thought it was too pretty to eat at first! Once she started eating...Aunt Roo and I started helping her. That was fun, too. 

...gettin' after it...

We sent off the party invitations today!! It will be a family-only affair, since our family is HUGE. We are so looking forward to celebrating one year of absolute bliss with our little angel. She has made our lives SO different, and SO much better! 

xoxo,

L

February 29th

I woke up in an amazing mood.
Maybe it's because last night, I kept telling myself, "You don't have to work tomorrow! It's like Friday night!" (I still feel like a kid playing hookie when I have a day off mid-week). It's also likely that my good mood can be attributed to sleeping with the 9 foot loft door open, allowing fresh spring air to mix up dust in my apartment. My nose was a little bit stuffy, but it felt like Spring, so it made me happy. The neti pot will take care of that...

This lamp helps the mood anytime it's turned on as well. The colors! The colors!!

Succulents. Ahhhh. Yes please.

Light entering my place.

Slippers still on. Comfy.

Snugglin' Ted.

Let the sunshine...let the sunshine in, the suuuun shine in.............(Hair, anybody???)

MAYBE it's because I've been asked to model for a styled shoot today?! At 5'4" and the high school title of "Most Spirited," rather than "Most Beautiful," I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised, and flattered simultaneously to be invited to participate! I usually TAKE the photos, I'm not usually the subject.

The theme is Ragtime Americana, and I'll have my hair and make-up done in about an hour and a half. There's a team of professionals; videographer, photographer, wedding coordinator, vintage rentals, florist, stationary team, the list goes on....my creative juices will be exploding just being surrounded by passionate, creative people.

I had mixed feelings on how to get ready...since they're doing my hair, I figure it ought to not be freshly cleaned, because then it's soft and limp and won't do anything! So bath only this morning, just to be fresh for the pros!!!! :)

The shoot will last until about 1pm, and then I get a day-date with my man. He was hired about a week and a half ago by a small-business in the entertainment industry, and I couldn't be more thrilled for him! Financial stability AND in an area he is passionate. We are so lucky! For right now, he is part-time, and can make his schedule fit around our busy wedding planning schedule!!! After the shoot we are going to the Fort Worth Court House and getting our MARRIAGE LICENSE (OMG OMG OMG)! Hopefully we will have some time to work on my taxes and/or our honeymoon projection, and then we have a dance lesson at 5:30! Full day!

I haven't seen George in a few days; can't wait to have some time with him!

The mornings continue to be my favorite part of the day. Knowing I have an entire day of exciting things ahead, and feeling the crisp morning air (but not too crisp; my sliding door is still wide open) while sipping my coffee...smelling my Volcano candle burning, and talking to my dogs like they're people...I'm just overflowing with gratitude and had to come to this space to share!

Mac/blog (reflection), coffee (necessity), and Volcano (pleasure)

OH, AND IT'S FEBRUARY 29TH. THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 4 YEARS SO I'M GOING TO REALLY ENJOY THIS DAY!

Wedding Update...

Well, I've made some progress! A HUGE thank you to my parents for looking at venues while I was back at work this week. That made all the difference in the world. Even though I have made the intention to have a more low-key wedding, there is so much involved, and there is an order to the madness. I couldn't really do much until I knew where and when the wedding would take place.

I initially wanted to get married on the Van Meter family farm, but that is no longer a possibility due to natural gas drilling. I was disappointed and took a few weeks away from the wedding planning to restructure my vision. I knew we wanted it to be an outdoor wedding, sentimental, and unique. White Rock Lake has all of those elements to offer, and more. Fortunately, in the event of rain, we will have an indoor accommodation! We booked the last available Saturday and pushed the date up from April 28 to March 24th. That is 4 days before our 7 year "dating" anniversary. I really like the way the date looks, and have had fun envisioning this as our new anniversary.

03-24-2012

We are taking our engagement photos with Stephanie Rose tomorrow (OMG) at the Van Meter family farm, to tie it in to our wedding. I am so excited to have Stephanie as our photographer. She is so talented!!!! I also am thrilled we can incorporate the farm into our wedding with this session! The drilling won't start until March, and when we saw that Saturday would be a beautiful, clear, sunny day in the 60's...we thought we better take it while we have it! This is definitely one of the more fun aspects of wedding planning! Less structure, more creativity. I'm very excited.

I applied for our marriage license this week. That was very exciting! I had to double check a few things with George...which despite some obvious sarcasm, hit on a real issue.

L: "And also: birth city, county, are u already married? And u are a man right"
G: "(address). born in dallas county (not sure which city) Not married. Am a man."
L: "...We are not related right"
G: "Correct."

This made me even more aware of the discrimination for monogamous homosexual couples. I just do not understand why this is a legal issue. It's not that I am gay (obviously) or even that I'm condoning marriage between homosexual couples in a church (though I can't say it makes a difference to me)...this is a legal document that has nothing to do with religion. This online document is through Tarrant County in the State of Texas. The sole purpose of this document is for registration and tax purposes.

I'm not ANGRY with people who disagree with my stance; I simply do not understand the opinion. If you don't want a gay marriage, don't have one. If you don't want guns, don't purchase them. If you don't want to drink alcohol, don't consume. What's the difference? I would understand if the argument was about bringing this into the churches...because we need a separation between church and state. I would understand (though I would not necessarily agree) if it was about respecting, honoring, and protecting the sanctity of marriage...

However, if people like Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries can marry and divorce within 72 days...

 And people like these beneath this text can marry and divorce within one year...

...I need a reminder on why we think marriage is currently being respected and upheld between heterosexual couples? Granted, these are those in the limelight. But the divorce rate is 50% regardless of fame.

It's not our job to police relationships. It's not our job to decide who's love is "worthy of recognition," either. My heart goes out to the committed, monogamous, loving, and faithful homosexual couples out there. I recognize your relationship as I type these words, and I hope on some level, you know that there are people out there just like me who know it's a matter of time until all Americans are treated equally. I believe this to be the "civil rights" issue of my generation. I truly do not think this will be discussed in the next 30 years, and I hope that my children are just as shocked by the treatment of this community as I was to hear about the treatment of African Americans during segregation. 

Click here, listen, and pray (or if that's not for you, then HOPE) for equality for ALL Americans.

"Come senators, congressmen

                                                                    Please heed the call

Don't stand in the doorway

Don't block up the hall

For he that gets hurt

Will be he who has stalled

There's a battle outside, And it is ragin'

It'll soon shake your windows

And rattle your walls

For the times they are a-changin'."

-Bob Dylan

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words...

Ever since I got my Mac (best grown up toy, EVER)...I've found it MUCH more effective to communicate through videos than words. If a photo is worth a thousand words, how many words are videos worth?

I'm very grateful to the women in the Denton Women's Collective. I've never felt more passionate about a cause in my entire life. This is just the beginning for us. All women are welcome to join us. And to the women who've been along for the ride, thanks, and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzUj0kZ9Q2I

Jessica's Birthday

I had a blast at Lake Lewisville with Jessica, friends, and family, celebrating her birthday tomorrow. Here are a few of my favorite pics. Video to come...

Goin' Native

one of my favorites from oklahoma

recently moved to texas

a beautiful native american woman,

she borrowed tribal gear from her momma

...and this photo shoot just might be my favorite...

.ever.

 

My Favorite Pic of the Day