Monday Updates

[note, I wrote this earlier today and just got finished uploading the video for posting!]

Good morning!  Everyone holding up ok from all that vacationing last week?  I know it was you posting photos of drinks on the beach, sunsets, waves, etc.  I'm not going to point anyone out, but I saw those FB updates :).  Back to work today!  Yesterday almost felt like a hint of fall and I'm super excited! 

So, what's up today?  I've been shooting a lot of engagements, which I love.  Here is a quick sneak peek of Alyssa & Rich's pics (mentioned them last week in Monday Updates).  I love this shot - it just feels like summer.  More to come later Alyssa!).

Today is also the 2nd wedding anniversary of one of my most favorite couples, Emily and Simon!!!  Congratulations guys!  Tim and I have become great friends with them since we shot their wedding two years ago, and last year (for their 1st anniversary), Tim made them this slideshow as a small anniversary gift.  I thought I would post it today...hope you guys are celebrating!  Wish you lived closer :(.

Emily+Simon from Jade O'Connell on Vimeo.

In other news...I started going to Zumba last week! Do any of you guys go? Don't laugh!  I have been meaning to get my butt to the gym more than once a month, but between everything and Sophster, its really difficult to find a time that I have enough energy to drag myself over there. But, at Jessica & Brian's wedding last month, Jess danced to a Zumba song and it looked so fun! So, I dragged myself and it is pretty fun and a great workout. Hopefully I can keep it going...in the meantime, here is a fun photo of Jess working it at her wedding, haha. (you didn't think I would be posting a pic of me zumba-ing, right? I think I look absolutely insane).

I announced on FB last week that I was thinking of holding a day of 'mini-sessions' for fall - I've had a lot of inquiries regarding family, couple, dogs, etc for fall photos (for holiday cards or just a few updated photos), so I thought maybe a day of mini-sessions would suit a lot of needs.  These sessions would only be 30 minutes long and you would have to sign up and get a timeslot at a certain location (I'm thinking a local park). The amount of time and photos delivered will be much different than my normal portrait sessions, so if you are interested, drop me a line and we can figure out what is right for you.  I'm going to formally announce this on the blog asap with all the necessary details - just wanted to give you guys a heads up!

If you want to laugh, here is a pic of what Tim got Sophie in the toy store yesterday.  She is a bit under the weather and usually screams her head off at the doctor - we took her the other day and she was excellent.  Tim was really proud of her for being so tough, so he took her to the toy store to get a little present.  So, she requested a pirate toy? Yeah, we didn't even know she knew what a pirate was, but she proceeded to tell us about buried treasure, rrrrr, and ships.  Definitely not too girly!  She has such a funny and great personality, she loves to be outside, loves sports and bugs and rocks.  Just love it.  But, leave it to dad to get a giant pirate toy SET.  He said the small Pirates of the Caribbean toy was lame.



And, alas, we have come to the end of today's post.  But, don't despair!  Further afternoon reading :)

• I guess they thought it was good if babies drank soda? Excuse me, I meant chug soda :)
• Anyone a mom like me?  Here are new blogs I'm adding to my google reader.
• Do you guys roll your clothes?  I just started doing that in our drawers and it.really.works!!!
• This article about Target has been making the rounds, but just in case you didn't see it....I know, at least for me, Target is like a money pit.  So, maybe this would help?
• Just disgusting.  I warned you.
• And, this is me.  Exactly.

Sophie's Room

Happy Monday! I have been meaning to post some photos of Soph's room for awhile. Since we moved into our house, we have been slowly renovating and decorating - going for a modern and eclectic style. It takes us forever to pick and choose things for the house and really, the only room we have done is Sophie's room (which was done before she was born). Now that she is going to be 1 (!!), I'm finally getting around to posting some pics. For us, we really didn't want an overly girlie/babyish room, because we wanted the look of the house to be cohesive (so many of the things available for girls are baby pink only - don't girls like purple/green/blue too??) and in general, we are into more of a modern baby look. Off-topic, but when Sophie was tiny, so many people thought she was a boy because I dressed her in non-pink clothes. People say a lot of weird and random things to you in stores when you have a newborn...

Anyway, I'm definitely more of a green person, and ended up going with a green/brown/raspberry color scheme. I'll put a few links throughout in case any of you guys are looking for some cool sites to purchase nursery items.

So, c'mon in...


Here is an overview of the room - the carpet was here when we moved in, and the steps in the corner lead to a loft(!). Cool, right? Sophie definitely has the best room in the house. The loft is a storage area for now, but my nieces think it should a secret hang-out area. The furniture pieces are pretty much the only large purchases for the room, one of which we received as a gift (thanks tim's mom :). We searched for.ever for a chair - most nursery chairs are 1.expensive and 2.ugly. We finally decided on this rocker from IKEA and it has worked out perfectly (and was relatively inexpensive!).


Opposite the window is the dresser. The taller standing metal & wicker piece is from our old apartment, originally purchased from Pier 1 Imports.


And some details.


This art wall was our big project - we searched for months looking for neat prints and unique pieces. It will always be a work in progress, I plan to change and add to it as I find more things or want a fresh look. Many of the items are from Etsy.


Several of the items in her room are flea market/antique store finds, from stores like TJMaxx or Marshalls or are from when Tim and I were children. My mom found this storage chest, repainted it and gifted it to me at my shower. She also saved many of my toys and has been cleaning them and slowly bringing them over to give to Soph (who LOVES them).


The book collection is getting a bit out of hand - we bought this great shelf to hold all of them, but there is currently an overflow in the closet. She loves books and knows how to open and flip each page, so hysterical (especially if you are her parents and think everything she does is cute and adorable).


So, that's it! Hope you liked the tour :). I'm hoping to post more of these type of posts.

Maybe you guys can give me your opinion...I'm thinking of hanging some of these paper lanterns above the crib for Soph to look at - I never found a mobile that I really liked to hang there - what do you think? Too pink? Too much? They are a good pink in person, not too bright or obnoxious. They are from Martha Stewart Crafts and are leftover from my baby shower.

Here are some of the many baby blogs and home decor websites that I look to for inspiration:
Young House Love
Decor8
Ohdeedoh
Hostess with the Mostess
etsy