Pinto, Jack's Elf on the Shelf

I'd heard of Elf on the Shelf but thought they were too expensive for a little doll that just sat there. Then my friend Karen started posting all the cute little predicaments that her elf was getting in to. So of course I couldn't be left out! I ran right out to Target and grabbed one. Luckily they was a deal where you got a 5.00 gift card when you bought one (this somehow made it even more worth it for me!). Luckily when I checked out the cashier noticed a previous customer (sorry whoever you are!) left their gift card at the register and gave it to me.

Since Pinto (actually Pinto E. Snow) came home he, much like Karen's elf, Bell, has really had some fun in our home. I can't wait to see what other trouble he gets into between now and Christmas! I just hope Jack doesn't catch on and start blaming him for mischief created by "someone else".

Meet Pinto....he was playing Jack's piano while he was in the shower! He also went downstairs and fed the cat out of his front end loader....Once Jack saw this he accused him of many many other atrocities!

This morning Pinto TP'd Jack's bed!

What a MESS!!!! Pinto decided to make snowflakes out of paper!!!

Things are getting messier and messier...Snow Angels in my Instant Potatoes!!!!

First he plays with scissors then he used the oven! Face plant in his cake.

a little tipsy...let this be a lesson to everyone, don't try to build a rad house out of blocks while drinking.

Pinto was rocking out...a little private accoustic jam for the other toys this morning.

Twas several nights before Christmas and Pinto was being a good elf.

Don't play Scrabble with elves, I think they cheat.

CONVOY!!!!!

Just hanging out talking about the game...Go STEELERS!

Max showed up to check in on Ben when he spent the night with Jack...they went fishing!

Jack stayed over Ben's house so Pinto followed...dominoes!

Gettin' the low down...

Good thing I just did laundry....

I think someone is confused about which holiday is right around the corner...

Note to self: Remove bungee jumping using Christmas lights from bucket list.

Bad Pinto! Jack thought it was hilarious, then immediately said "Ohhhhhhhh Pinto is in trouble!!! We aren't allowed to write on anything but paper in this house!"

See Pinto is a good elf!

Pinto has been on his best behavior lately. Tonight he helped make the garland.

Pinto got all wrapped up last night....

Sneaky sneaky Pinto but Jack spotted you right away!

Here comes Pinto down the zip line!

Pinto is almost ready to head back up to the North Pole!

Our last day with Pinto and he tries to steal Jack's gingerbread house!

Kelly and the girls

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of spending a Saturday afternoon with not one but 10 lovely ladies...I know, you're jealous already- just wait until you see the pictures! I was so nervous going in to this shoot, I've never photographed more than 3 people at once. These ladies were perfect for my first time and treated me so well.


It did help that I knew most of them beforehand, namely my dear friend Kelly that I have recently reconnected with...Kelly is such a huge fan of mine that you will be seeing a lot of her shortly- and I do thank her for that! Anyway....here's how my Saturday went...more Kelly to come.

Baby Easton

My first newborn shoot….

Meet baby Easton, the handsome little son belonging to my long time friend’s niece, Amanda. Isn’t he just perfect? It just amazes me how beautiful newborns are. Could there be anything any more perfect ever created?

I took these photos about 45 minutes before I had to catch a flight back home from my Disney vacation. Needless to say things were rushed  but in the end I think you can see what an amazing mom Amanda will be and what a handful Easton will be….apparently the shot held a bit too much excitement for Easton and he decided to wet all over his mom.

Trash the Dress with Courtney

Last weekend I had the pleasure of working with one of my very favorite models, Courtney and her handsome husband Jay. I somehow (with very little effort on my part) coerced her into participating in a Trash the Dress shoot. I have always wanted to shoot one of these sessions and told anyone who would listen all about it. As I rambled on endlessly I noticed I was getting one of two responses; "What the He** is a Trash the Dress Session??" which was inevitably followed up with "Why would ANYONE want to ruin a perfectly good wedding dress??"

To those that do not know, Trash the Dress is when you [sometimes] squeeze back in to your beloved dress of white and roll around on the ground, swim or even sit in mud puddles in very liberating fun and or sexy poses. It's a fantastic experience for both parties.

 The hardest part of the entire shoot was trying to figure out what on earth to do with said trashed dress when the shoot was over. Our answer: men's bathroom trash can at First Landing State Park. Afterwards we joked about the fact the next hiker that came in to use the facilities might call the police. For all he knew there was a naked bride running around the park fearing for her life after finding a muddy beat up wedding gown in the trash can. I watched the news over the next few days and alas...nothing...maybe that's not an out of the ordinary find in a men's public restroom.