Leah Haydock Photography featured on new blog :: Daily Love Juice

...so as much as I don't want to send you away from my blog, I have to give a shout out to the recently launched www.dailylovejuice.com.

This fabulous new blog showcases "the world's finest wedding images" in categories such as awesome moments and delicious details with virtually no text or distractions (although you can click on any picture you like to be taken immediately to the story behind the image), it's a great daily read.

And if you need further incentive, two of my pictures have already been featured - hip hip hoorah hooray! And for photographers, click **HERE** to find out how to submit your own images for consideration.

Engagement Photographs :: Boston Common + Fenway Park :: Renee + Kevin

Once upon a time there was a guy named Kevin and a girl named Renee. They worked together in a big office for almost three years and slowly became friends.

Renee and Kevin would hang out and one night they shared a kiss. And then they had a big long talk about how they should just be together.

So after the kiss and the talk Renee and Kevin went on a date to Douzo. In my opinion this is the way to do it - get the kiss and the "where are we going talk?" out of the way and then have a kick-ass date.

Well actually, Renee almost died when she choked on her edamame plus the tables were set together very cozily and the guy next to her kept threatening to share her food.

Regardless, the date went well
- to quote Renee "we were just joined at the hip after that"
- to quote Kevin "yup, she came to stay and never left"

I had such a great time on Saturday morning taking engagement pictures of Kevin and Renee on the Boston Common and around Fenway Park:

Kevin was a little....shall we say skeptical about thoe whole lifestyle shoot so we snapped a few on the Boston Common and then stopped for a couple of beers at Joe's American Grill on Newbury Street.

Feeling nicely refreshed and with perhaps the tiniest buzz, we headed over to Fenway Park to get some photographs there. See - now Kevin is nice and relaxed:

Isn't this how every couple spends Saturday morning? Find an interesting architectural backdrop and then casually sit and look cool...

Renee and Kevin are SO much fun and I love their approach to wedding planning. Anytime they have a contract to review or a big decision to make, they head to their local bar for wedding discussions. Brides - take note, your grooms will thank you for this!

When I first received an inquiry email from Renee it was so happy and chatty telling me all about their upcoming wedding at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel in May 2011. She signed off "thanks for letting me babble" and I had a feeling that we'd get along. When I check my email and see a note from Renee in my inbox I smile as I know it's going to brighten up my day. And so to finish I think Renee brightens up Kevin's day and they are just perfect for one another:

Hope you like the little preview - lots more fun pictures to follow! Click on the "view comments for this post" and choose name/url to leave a comment - comments brighten up my day too!

Vendor Spotlight :: Videography :: Mayer Video

If you've missed the previous Vendor Spotlight posts, you can check them out **HERE**. And just a reminder, I chose the other vendors based on them being the best in their field and/or having personally worked with them - I don't take/give any referral fees.

So I'm going to come clean and say that for the longest time I was somewhat on the fence about wedding videography.

I'd seen so many average-poor wedding videos with cheesy effects and terrible sound and what not, and I've had the (dis)pleasure of working with so many frankly awful videographers:
- the big sweaty guy bumping into your guests on the dance floor
- the new guy who insists on planting his tripod half way down the aisle for the WHOLE ceremony stopping me from getting that beautiful wide-angle shot of your ceremony
- the guy who talks about "working with your photographer" on his website and then refuses to work with me so we can both getting the shots we need
- the guy with the GIANT video lights that he turns on and off at seemingly random times causing me major exposure headaches.

I've almost been tempted to advise the couple considering spending $500 on the Craigslist video guy to simply spend their $500 on a good home camera and tripod and just get the important parts of the ceremony.

We do have video of our wedding ceremony and it makes me smile when I listen to Paul saying his vows and see the way he looks at me when he says them - but then we got married in Las Vegas and they had some kind of HD video ninjas hidden in the walls behind Venetian glass windows so we didn't have to actually have anyone there...

Anyway, all of that changed when I worked with Justin of Mayer Video, I take it all back - if you choose the right videography company then I think it's one of the best decisions you'll make. I've had the pleasure of working with Justin a couple of times now and I think we have at least 2 weddings in common for 2010 and I am so happy about that!

The first wedding we worked at together was like a smoothly choreographed dance routine
...we talked and figured out the best place for us both to stand to get what we needed
...I gave him a heads up that the flowers had arrived and were outside in some beautiful light
...he helped me hang the wedding dress up high for the getting ready pictures
... and during the reception I'd lift my camera
...he'd seamlessly step back so his video lights were still beautifully illuminating the couple
...I'd get my shot and move out of his way so he could get the footage he needed
...I'd informally pose the family groups and hold them there for an extra beat so he could capture the laughter
It was a photography and videography pas de deux! I shared some of my photo files for the cover of his DVD and he gave me a couple of clips of video that I incorporated into their photo slideshow. And when I watched his video of the wedding I was blown away, I literally had a tear in my eye, and that was when I realized the value of videography. With the disclaimer that when it's good, it's very very good, and when it's bad it's horrid.

Here's Justin in action - he's not a crazy big monster with a giant light stick who'll bash into all of your guests during the dancing - and he wears a tie:

I asked Justin some Q&A to help those looking for a wedding videographer, here we go:

LH: Why should a couple have a videographer at their wedding?
JM: Couples spend months and sometimes years planning their wedding yet the day flashes by in an instant. Having it on video enables you to re-live the best day of your life, not only to remember the day as a whole, but to hear, see and feel the emotion as vows were exchanged, toasts that were given, and movement of first dances.

LH: What is different or unique about Mayer Video (other than the fact I thought you were incredibly professional and great to work with)?
JM: I love what I do. I really listen to my clients and I want to create something different that is exactly what they're looking for. I understand that it's my client's day and so I don't put time limits on footage or restrictions on anything we can do- and love the challenge of anything being possible. Most importantly I want my clients to truly feel that getting a wedding video was one of the best decisions they made when planning their wedding! [Me here - Justin works in a somewhat similar way to me, he doesn't make you decide if your wedding story will last 4 or 6 hours, he's there to capture getting ready through to the dancing - love it!]

LH: How would you describe your videography style?
JM: My videography style is really tailored to each couple. Not every wedding is the same, therefore every wedding video will be different. I am always willing to work with couples on special requests and I actively encourage input. The only style I am always true to is capturing footage as the day occurs, almost from a fly on the wall perspective without any posing or requests for acting (unless requested) and am always aware of my surroundings to be sure not to get in any guests or photographers way.

LH: What are some of the things to look for when you're hiring a videographer?
JM: Time limits: a lot is happening on your wedding day- you don't need to worry about your videographer leaving the venue before the cake being cut. Equipment: professional quality is what you are looking for. With digital formats there are a lot of great quality consumer products which will give a good picture, but will it be stable, in focus when it needs to be and clear in low light atmospheres? Lastly, and probably most important- editing ability: post production is really where your final product will come to life- this will be clear in your potential candidates sample work, is it interesting, does it capture your attention to keep watching or does every wedding video seem exactly the same?

-----

So there you go, hopefully some helpful information as you decide whether or not to have video at your wedding and some of the things you should be considering. And you'll have a very happy photographer if you have Justin as your video guy, here's his contact info:
Web: www.jmayervideo.com
Phone: 617 835 0007
And don't forget to leave me a comment if you have any suggestions for future vendor spotlight categories....

NH Engagement Photographs :: Lauren + Aladin

I first met Lauren in Newburyport with her Mom Julie, her sister Kate and her future sister-in-law Maja to talk about photographing her June wedding to Aladin. It was a cold cold day in January and the ladies had been busy looking for and trying on bridesmaid dresses.

It was warm inside the restaurant and the wedding albums were being passed back and forth, Kate was pointing out a shot she liked to Julie and we were looking at coverage of a complete wedding on my laptop. Lauren sat very calmly, sipping her hot chocolate and I remember how her face lit up when she talked about Aladin.

We'd been planning a Spring shoot yesterday in Boston but with the crazy rain and snow this weekend we rescheduled for May. Lauren & Aladin had a long drive back to Philadelphia yesterday (school/work) but we decided to squeeze in a little mini shoot in case of more naughty weather in May (which won't happen!). And so I was delighted to finally meet Aladin:

Lauren & Aladin first met at Boston University back in 2002 when a mutual friend arranged a big group trip to the movies, the movie led to dinner, the dinner led to Aladin tutoring Lauren in Calculus, and in just 7 weeks time they'll be married.

When I shoot engagement pictures, I'll throw out a little direction and some suggestions but these two were just a pleasure to photograph. Aladin looks at Lauren so tenderly and Lauren just beams back at him:

Aladin asked Lauren to be his wife during a trip to the Poconos. He knelt down on one knee and asked her the question with an heirloom ring from Lauren's family. Lauren said yes:

Did I already mention that they're super cute together?

So although we didn't get into Boston for our shoot, I think we made out pretty well in Plaistow, NH! Much as I love shooting in the city, I also love getting lovely pictures in unexpected locations. We literally shot for maybe 10-15 minutes yesterday; these were just outside of Plaistow Library; Lauren and Aladin are humoring me when I declared we could be in Provence with all the yellow flowers:

This might be my favorite shot - still and quiet:

I'm SO looking forward to May and then the wedding in June. Aladin - it was lovely to finally meet you and thank you for not getting upset when I tried to steal your sunglasses and car keys. I'll leave you with this picture of Lauren who is going to be an absolutely stunning bride:

Happy Monday! If you'd like to leave a comment, simply click **HERE**, type away in the box at the bottom of the post and from the "Comment As" drop down menu, choose Name/URL and just ignore the URL field.

Sunday Reading :: Week 5

And we're back with Sunday reading, click **HERE** if you want to catch up on previous posts. Today's poem is by the elusive Roy Croft, there is a fair amount of controversy over whether he actually existed or was a pseudonym for a publishing company. Regardless, I heard this twice at weddings last year and think it's just beautiful.

-----

Love by Roy Croft

I love you, not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you.
I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.

I love you for the part of me that you bring out;
I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart
And passing over all the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out into the light all the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked quite far enough to find.

I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern but a temple;
Out of the works of my every day
Not a reproach but a song.

I love you because you have done
More than any creed could have done to make me good,

And more than any fate could have done to make me happy.

You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign.
You have done it by being yourself.

-----

The first time I heard "Love" was at Corey & Isaiah's wedding in Maudslay State Park. After surprising Corey with a daisy chain tiara, Isaiah pulled out his blackberry to read his bride this poem and everyone just melted:


Happy Sunday. What are you up to? I'm running out the door to do a mini engagement shoot - I laugh in the face of rain and snow.

Vendor Spotlight :: Uplighting & More :: Boston Uplights

Next up in the Vendor Spotlight (no pun intended) is Boston Uplights. Many of my wedding clients will ask for input on how something may photograph, I recently had a couple of brides ask for my opinion on Uplighting, and although I've photographed weddings with all sorts of different lighting designs I decided to chat with Paul Therrien of Boston Uplights to get the scoop from a lighting design expert.


The word "photography" originates from the Greek and pretty much translates as "to draw with light". Don't worry - that's it for the history lesson! - when I'm taking a picture I usually have 2 objectives in mind. The 1st is to capture the exact moment and emotion so that you feel something when you look back at the image. The 2nd is to try to elevate the image with light:
- Outdoors I'll shoot later in the day in open shade with natural reflections for beautiful soft flattering light
- Indoors during daylight, if it was good enough for Rembrandt, it's good enough for me and I'll use window light for flattering shadows and sparkly catch-lights in the eyes
- Indoors at night I'll shoot in manual and use a combination of a slow shutter speed (dragging the shutter), higher ISO and wider apertures (read expensive "fast" lenses) to have the ambient or background light add depth to the picture and I'll use strobes and other toys to get interesting backlighting.
So I LOVE it when brides have lighting on their to-do list as it gives me much more to play with.



I met Paul at his studio in North Reading - well worth a visit - not only can you see examples of his lighting technology but there's a large selection of candy to enjoy while you chat!

LH: So Paul, first of all can you define uplighting:
PT: Well, strictly speaking, uplighting is simply the technique of placing a light at ground level and lighting upwards to highlight the architecture and space of a location - walls, pillars, the outside of a building for example. At Boston Uplights, we're known for being experts in lighting design which will often include uplighting but also goes beyond that.

LH: And tell me about Boston Uplights:
PT: We started back in 2007 and although we do occasional corporate events and Bar Mitzvahs, 97% of what we do is lighting design for weddings. We were the first company in the country to take wireless and battery operated lighting products and use them in innovative ways to bring lighting design to a larger audience at an affordable price. Prior to this wedding lighting had involved complex wiring, a team of technicians, extended set up fees and this obviously had a hefty price tag.
More recently we've taken those tiny wireless and battery operated lights and evolved into centerpiece lighting, paper lantern designs, candlelight concepts, projected monograms and much much more
[Side note from me: I'm a photographer not a writer - it's hard for me to try to explain Paul's enthusiasm and passion for what he does. I went to our meeting intent on finding out the basics on uplighting but I left totally wowed at the creative and endless possibilities of lighting design and I was absolutely amazed at how affordable some of these concepts are.]

LH: I think many couples assume that lighting design has a scary price tag and is really only for the high-end weddings with the big budget:
PT: It definitely used to be that way but we've really flipped the whole business model around. With our wireless battery-operated lights there's no need for complex wiring and a full team of technicians. We can suspend lights very easily now without having to build rigging systems and our hanging lanterns and votives can be adjusted in real time for a perfectly arrangement. We work with each bride to put together a custom quote relating to the venue, the style and theme and their budget. Lighting design starts at just $995 for some simple lighting and includes your technician and for around $2000-3000 you can do something pretty spectacular. [At this point, I nearly fell off my chair. I was chatting with a bride earlier this week who was telling me about the issues she's had trying to do her own lighting - she's ordering 50 paper lanterns online, assembling them at home (hello hours of work you can do without), paying a day-of coordinator to come and hang them all and she's having issues with the coordinator not being equipped with the right height of ladder etc]
PT:By specializing in this specific type of lighting design and equipment we can really control our costs and we pass those along.



LH: At what stage during the planning process should a bride contact you to talk about lighting? As soon as they have a venue selected?
PT: Actually, we've had some brides contact us ever before that! If they have a specific look they're trying to achieve, we can advise on the possibilities and costs for the final venues they're considering. Having said that, it's really never too late to consider lighting. Your final headcount is usually due to the venue a few weeks before the wedding, maybe you've had a total of 7 couples decline, at say $100 a head you now have $1400 - if we have availability we love these kind of last minute challenges! Even if you've already booked lighting, that extra cash can be used to add extra uplights of another 50 candles.

LH: What are some of the trends you predict for 2010 and 2011?
PT: For me, up and coming trends fall into two categories.. The first category is something totally new that will soon be the next "in" thing to have, and the second category is something that is already known in the wedding industry as the "high-end" lighting feature, but will soon be re-invented by Boston Uplights making it even more amazing and suddenly affordable for many.

One newly developed concept we will soon be launching is our new "Light in Motion" Concept and Systems. This will be the year we merge "elegance" and "moving light effects" into one thought essentially creating a new category. Our new system will allow our hanging lights to not only change color wirelessly, they will also glide up and down into new positions creating dynamic changes of height, shape and color. This new innovation is hard to explain, but will be nothing short of mesmerizing and beautiful to see happen in person [I SO want to photograph this at a wedding!!!]
Secondly, the already known "must have high-end feature". All we can say about this one is that your dinner table and centerpiece will be the focus of this new light system. The way in which we will be able to highlight your table will change the way weddings throughout the country are designed, imagined, photographed and remembered.

In short, if we have our way, the new "lighting trend" will be what many remember as "amazing, beautiful, and finally affordable! Stay tuned for more details!



LH: Anything else that you think might be helpful for those couples planning their wedding now and wondering if lighting is something they should even consider?
PT: Don't think that lighting is only for the Platinum Wedding! Even a little bit of lighting - hanging votives, flickering candlelights around the top of a room - can make a huge difference. Guests are always completely surprised when they walk into a room and see a unique lighting concept. Lighting affects the feel, the ambience, the style, the music played, the photography, the videography - it can really give a beautiful cohesive feel to your event. Lighting can be integrated to any kind of wedding now - with the freedom of wireless technology we can light an old historic building or even the chairs in a field for an outdoor ceremony!

I love hearing a bride say "I never thought I could do this" and knowing that the systems I've developed made that possible.

And I'm working on some amazing technology that should hit later in the year and without giving too much away, guests would walk in to see beautiful hanging lights that are remotely operated so as the sun goes down, the lights change too!



If you're not a photographer you can skip over this next bit...all of the pictures on this post are Paul's, so not only is he a lighting design wizard, he's also a pretty incredible photographer. We had an interesting conversation about how sometimes photographers will try to adjust their WB so far that they lose the overall feel of the lighting (and of course that's what people remember and want to see in the pictures). Here are Paul's tips for "How to Photograph Uplighting"
- Wide angle lens to show the full effect of the lighting design
- Minimize or eliminate bounce flash, use a pop of straight-on flash for fill
- Set WB to flash so you'll have good skin tones [or of course you can shoot RAW in auto WB and adjust as needed afterwards]
- Drag your shutter for better ambient light [higher ISO is also your friend here]
- A good fast lens will minimise your need for flash and allow the uplighting effect to show



Huge thanks to Paul from Boston Uplights for taking the time to chat about the endless possibilities with lighting and for choosing to do it in such a way that beautiful lighting is now an options for many weddings!

Feel free to leave a comment (please do in fact, it makes me happy) and let me know what other vendors you'd like to find out more about. Coming up soon will be videography and flowers...
For more info on lighting:
Web: www.bostonuplights.com
Email info@bostonuplights.com
Phone: 877-566-2711

Sunday Reading :: Week 4

A quick post and reading this week as it's a crazy day/weekend - from a fabulous boudoir marathon yesterday with ladies who totally rocked it out to being in the middle of cooking an epic roast dinner for Paul - check back later in the week for an interview with Paul from Boston Uplights and hopefully a little preview of those boudoir shoots...

Valentine by Donald Hall

Chipmunks jump and

Greensnakes slither.

Rather burst than

Not be with her.

Bluebirds fight but

Bears are stronger.

We've got fifty

Years or longer.

Hoptoads hop, but

Hogs are fatter.

Nothing else but

Us can matter.

Happy Sunday! [That's me - not the poem]. And because every post is better with a picture and I have a lot of fun engagament sessions happening over the next month or so, I opened up a file and found this rather lovely collage of Georgette & Brett's engagement shoot - it's the perfect example of how mixing it up with some lovely bright jewel colors makes for fabulous pictures! If you'd like to see more of their actual wedding you can click *here*:

Vendor Spotlight :: Make Up Artist :: Natalie Lelless

One of the questions I get asked a lot at client meetings is if I can recommend any other vendors - from DJs to Videographers, Florists to Wedding Planners - I have a little list that I send out.

I take vendor referrals very seriously; I'll only recommend other vendors that I really feel confident in and that I've enjoyed working with on past weddings. I don't take or charge any kind of referral fee (and booo to those who do) it seems somehow underhand.

Anyhow, I thought it might be helpful if I introduced you to some of the people on my vendor list and explain why I recommend them. And so a new blog category is born....Vendor Spotlight! For my inaugural post, I've chosen Natalie Lelless who is a make-up artist extraordinaire!

I first worked with Natalie back at Caitlin & Matt's fabulouso wedding at Rockport Art Association last year. I arrived for the getting ready pictures and was greeted by Caitlin and her bridesmaids and family members calmly enjoying Mimosas and Natalie carefully doing all of the makeup in the dining room. If I'm counting correctly, I believe she did make up for 12 including the bride, bridesmaids, both Moms and even the flower girls got a touch of blush and lip gloss:


I've seen the work of some very good make-up artists and the brides look like they're wearing beautiful make up. However, for me, the sign of a phenomenal make up artist is when the bride simply looks stunning and you don't even notice the make up! Exhibit 1:



Natalie has a number of different (and in my opinion, very affordable) packages that offer options to have her stay through the ceremony or beyond. At Caitlin & Matt's wedding we did a little extended walk through Rockport with the wedding party to get some beautiful relaxed portraits and Natalie kept up with us, blotting away any shine and touching up the gloss for a flawless picture! Here's one of those pictures and underneath is the "behind-the-scenes":


I recently met up with Natalie to ask her some Q&A for this Vendor Spotlight and first I made her let me grab a quick snapshot of her as I think most brides have a fear of the scary make up artist at the department store who offers to do your make-up and you leave 20 minutes later looking like Ru Paul. Here is the non-scary Natalie:


LH: So Natalie, how did you get into wedding make-up?
NL: I was hooked on make-up once our neighbor who worked at the Lancome counter made me over for my high school dance! One of my earliest jobs was doing just "lips" at MAC in the holidays but I soon progressed to full training and make up for MAC ultimately freelancing at events, weddings and photoshoots for MAC for years. Then I moved to Chicago and one day I was in Sephora with a friend showing her some fun new makeup by Smashbox when the Smashbox National Rep saw me in action, approached me and before I knew it I had been interviewed and fully trained for Smashbox.
[Side note from me: during the time that Natalie freelanced for both MAC and Smashbox she worked on a number of celebrities from both TV and film and despite my begging, she won't let me tell you who due to the confidentiality agreements she's signed. But just note that if Natalie does your makeup you're in very good Hollywood company!]

LH: Why should you get your makeup done professionally for your wedding?
NL: Good makeup can take off 10lbs! No seriously, a professionally trained makeup artist will know how to enhance and define your features so you look exactly like you just better! Unlike a normal day, your makeup needs to last from that walk down the aisle, to everyone hugging and kissing you congratulations, to the cake smash and through the dancing at the reception. A professional will use top quality products and application techniques to keep you looking amazing. Having made up celebrities and public figures for magazine shoots I know what works well but still looks natural on camera too.
[Another side note from me, I had my make up done professionally for our ceremony in Las Vegas and I look flawless in the pictures. So modest right? I did it myself for our post-wedding reception and despite spending $100s in Sephora and carefully applying it, I mostly look like I'm wearing a bunch of make-up. Silly me]

LH: So what do you love about doing makeup for weddings?
NL: I love the creativity of weddings, each bride is different and needs a different look to make her look and feel great. But most of all, I love making people look the absolute best they can, it's thrilling to me to make a bride feel absolutely beautiful. Having been in a LOT of wedding myself [Me again: Natalie's 28 dresses experience rivals even mine!] I know that sometimes the make up artist can actually add stress to the day, I like to do everything I can to take it away. At a recent wedding, one of the bridesmaid's dress tore, I sewed her back in, fixed her make up and was back before the bride even noticed I was gone.

LH: How should a bride go about finding a make-up artist? What should they be looking for?
NL: There are a lot of makeup artists out there who claim to have been trained on "bridal makeup". I don't believe in having one "bridal" look, I prefer to use my skills and experience to apply the most flawless and natural looking makeup to make each and every client look amazing. And the fact that's she's getting married simply means I use products and techniques that will last all day long.

A consultation is essential! I really listen to what's important to the bride, find out about her style, her fears and concerns. And why not schedule your consultation/trial prior to your engagement pictures, engagement party, shower or batchelorette night - then you can see how you photograph and how your look holds up. It's good to provide specific feedback on your trial and your makeup artist should listen to you carefully and adapt your look without getting defensive or trying to persuade you otherwise.

Ask your make up artist for specific information on their training and experience (2 weddings a year for 10 years does not equal 10 years of experience!), ask for the specific number of weddings done, look at pictures from those weddings and ask to speak to a previous bride.

LH: What advice do you have for brides who can't afford professional make up on their wedding day?
NL:
- Practice your make up look over and over again until you're comfortable.
- Check your make up in natural light and artificial light.
- Blend, blend, blend! And then blend some more! No orange stripes on your jawbone please!
- Drink lots of water for the week leading up to the day, you'll be hydrated and will avoid bloating
- Avoid pastels/neutrals on your eyes and lips, you'll look washed out and tires
- Finishing powder is essential! I love Smashbox High-Definition powder. Apply throughout the day to remove shine
- Waterproof mascara - grab the pink Maybelline one with the black top - great for swimming on your honeymoon too!
- Do NOT fake tan or tan for 3 days before your wedding [Me again: Amen! And tell your bridesmaids too - orange is not a good color for anyone]
- Don't be experimenting with false eyelashes and don't try to look like someone else!
[Final note from me: A make up artist is often more affordable than you think! I know it's hard to stick to a budget but you can probably skip the monogrammed cocktail napkins and no one will notice. Whereas everyone will notice and it will show in your pictures if you are simply glowing as you walk down the aisle! Spend your money wisely ladies!]

LH: How about 3 last secret little tips or tricks:
NL: OK, easy, first of all mix a little concealer and anti-aging eye cream on the back of your hand (mix it well!) and then gently smooth under your eyes and on blemishes - it won't settle in to your wrinkles or dry out.
Secondly, use Crest White Strips three days before your wedding, it'll take your teeth just one or two shades whiter
Thirdly, if you want to make your lips look plumper without collagen shots, use a dab of a sheer highlighter over the cupids bow of your top lip. Fill in your lips with a natural colored lip liner and finish with gloss. You'll have a natural looking lip without the trip to your dermatologist!

So to finish, I made Natalie open her own make up bag to show me a couple of her favorite products - observe the Smashbox Lip Blush pallette (allows you to find the perfect pop of color and makes your teeth look whiter), MAC Brule eyeshadow for the perfect base (sweep all over your eyelid and up to your browbone to prvide a neutral canvas for your color) and MAC Taupe eyeshadow (perfect for a smokey eye but not as heavy as black). The eyeshadows as eyes picture on the bottom right was my idea - sorry Natalie!

And the all important contact details (Natalie's website is being updated, I'll post the address once complete):
Natalie Lelless
Email: nlelless@msn.com
Phone: 813-404-2090
And note that Natalie does complimentary consultation/trial meetings, so for all of my 2010 and 2011 brides with an engagement shoot coming up, why not schedule a consultation/trial with Natalie if you don't yet have a make up artist and then you get to see how you look in the pictures!

Sunday Reading :: Week 3

I've been a fan of Jeffrey McDaniel since finding "The Quiet World", his writing is sometimes irreverent and amusing, sometimes deeply personal and moving and always so vivid. Go *here* to buy his four published books - I can't recommend them highly enough.

Here's one of my favorites:

The Archipelago of Kisses

We live in a modern society. Husbands and wives don't
grow on trees, like in the old days. So where
does one find love? When you're sixteen it's easy,
like being unleashed with a credit card
in a department store of kisses. There's the first kiss.
The sloppy kiss. The peck.
The sympathy kiss. The backseat smooch. The we
shouldn't be doing this kiss. The but your lips
taste so good kiss. The bury me in an avalanche of tingles kiss.
The I wish you'd quit smoking kiss.
The I accept your apology, but you make me really mad
sometimes kiss. The I know
your tongue like the back of my hand kiss.
As you get older, kisses become scarce. You'll be driving
home and see a damaged kiss on the side of the road,
with its purple thumb out. If you
were younger, you'd pull over, slide open the mouth's
red door just to see how it fits. Oh where
does one find love? If you rub two glances, you get a smile.
Rub two smiles, you get a warm feeling.
Rub two warm feelings and presto-you have a kiss.
Now what? Don't invite the kiss over
and answer the door in your underwear. It'll get suspicious
and stare at your toes. Don't water the kiss with whisky. It'll turn bright pink and explode into a thousand luscious splinters,
but in the morning it'll be ashamed and sneak out of
your body without saying good-bye,
and you'll remember that kiss forever by all the little cuts it left
on the inside of your mouth. You must
nurture the kiss. Turn out the lights. Notice how it
illuminates the room. Hold it to your chest
and wonder if the sand inside hourglasses comes from a
special beach. Place it on the tongue's pillow,
then look up the first recorded kiss in an encyclopedia: beneath
a Babylonian olive tree in 1200 B.C.
But one kiss levitates above all the others. The
intersection of function and desire. The I do kiss.
The I'll love you through a brick wall kiss.
Even when I'm dead, I'll swim through the Earth,
like a mermaid of the soil, just to be next to your bones.

Jeffrey McDaniel

The Easter bunny? Passé! The Easter Wiener is where it's at in 2010

Happy Easter!

I often wonder why our dogs continue to love us when we subject them to such indignities. Let me introduce you to the Easter Wieners:

Umm, so I actually think the out-takes were more humorous that the above picture; here they are.

"Coco! Tiger! Look this way! Now! Good dogs!"

Tiger says "You plan on what? You want me to look like an Easter bunny? What's wrong with you?"

Coco says "This is BS, why do I have a ridiculous set of white fluffy ears on my head. I'm a proud dog. What have you done to me?"


Paul attempts to wrangle them into position. Tiger decides submission is the best approach but as she lays down her bunny ears flip up:

Only a few more weeks to go before the deluge of lovely engagement and wedding pictures...hang in there!

Nesting....

There's no Photoshop tomfoolery going on in the picture below, the caramel eggs I bought really are this blue:

When I first moved to the US back in 2002, my first Easter was at our non-family's house (that's my definition of the Bradley's who kind of adopted Paul and I into their family - we're not related but we're way closer than friends) and I made Easter nests for the kids who were maybe 6, 8 and 9).

Fast forward 8 years; the eldest is now old enough to get his learner's permit and we're heading over there tomorrow. I called earlier in the week to check on what to bring and the request was for the Easter nests. Much as I love cooking, I'm not really one for baking but this is my kind of baking - a little bashing and microwaving and fifteen minutes later you're done. So here's the recipe for Easter nests:

I used 4 bags of Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips (it's a big family we're visiting with!). Now you can be boiling pans of water and melting your chocolate in a bain marie kind of contraption but I'm all for 2 minutes in the microwave (watch that it doesn't get tooooo hot):

I'm not great on quantities (don't actually own any measuring scales or cups or such nonsense) but for my 4 bags of chocolate chips, I ended up using 2 boxes of shredded wheat minus 3 pieces. In batches of 6 pieces, I put them in a big baggie, sealed it and then bashed away with a rolling pin (so the shredded wheat starts to look like little twigs):

Add the bashed up shredded wheat to the melted chocolate and stir it all around like CRAZY - your arm will ache and you will curse me - but it will eventually all incorporate and your shredded wheat will be all brown and chocolatey.

Then simply dump a heaped soup spoon of mixture into a little cupcake case and use two teaspoons to hollow out a little divot in the middle for your eggs, add two to three chocolate eggs (I usually like Cadbury's mini eggs but I couldn't find them so I used these crazy blue caramel eggs from Butcher Boy in North Andover) and allow at least two hours for them to set). Enjoy!

And check back in tomorrow for the Easter Wieners...

This may just make you laugh on Friday

Stick with me lovely readers; just a few more weeks until we're back with normal programming of engagement pictures and wedding pictures and other beautifulness. In the meantime I would like to share with you some lolcats.

For the uninitiated, a lolcat is (according to wikipedia) "an image combining a photograph of a cat with a humorous and idiosyncratic caption often in grammatically incorrect English"

A photographer friend sent me the link to http://icanhascheezburger.com and even just the url was intriguing enough to make me click. So enjoy some Friday lolcats:

Happy Friday!