Where the Magic Happens!!!!

          So here is the Bedroom, Our Moroccan Hideaway!!! This is by far Mine and Chris' favorite room in the house! We are a very intimate couple, who love our alone time! When its finally time to retire into our bedroom at night we wanted somewhere to feel totally relaxed and happy! This bedroom is totally that place! I always wanted to moroccan feel, but couldn't fully get there without the right paint! I chose Copper mountain and LOVE IT!!!!  Our old apartments master bedroom was so small we didn't have room for anything, now we have an extra dresser a chair with ottoman and lots of space to move around!!!! Here is a glimpse at our own personal retreat!!!

THE CLOSET!!!!

I finally got my Sex and the City Closet!!! Complete with Dream boards and bling!!!! Oh and a whole lot of Shoes!!!! YAY!!!!

Entrance to Closet 

This picture just does not do it justice!!!!

A Little More!!!!

So Lets start the house pics a little at a time! I will be posting some pics of the house periodically and filling you in on what had to happen to help make these rooms come alive! 1st up will be the Living Room, Dining Area, and Kitchen!!!!

So 1st up my living room! The carpet was pulled and the laminate laid, the ceiling fan taken down and painted,  Fresh coat of sherwin williams paint (ryegrass) on the walls,  then came the new window coverings! When it was finally time to bring in my furniture I really felt like this was home! Then up went the wall art! After we were all situated I painted the front door cream to match, since it looked like a bedroom door before!

I kept my same theme of safari and palm trees, but made sure to incorporate enough red to pull it into the kitchen since they all flow into eachother! The only piece of furniture I will in the near future be throwing out and upgrading is the entertainment center! I am a strong believer in having a BEAUTIFUL home without wasting money, nothing in my home has ever cost more than 200 and even that is only 1 or 2 items! I am a thrifty shopper with an eye for style, anything can be found and revamped to suit your style!

We went with no Blinds for the fact that we had been living in a dungeon for 3 years where I never wanted to open the blinds for fear of the scenery outside! haha. Now I embrace the light and the beautiful Greenery I get to admire everyday!!!

I swear my home is a shrine to Kris Lane Photography, her Prints are EVERYWHERE!!!!

The Fish tank was my husbands and this picture doesn't do it justice, it is not bright like it appears, he made it so natural and serene! I thought I would never like fish tanks in my home, but this one flows so beautifully with the decor! NO BLUE LIGHT (Incandescent is the way to go)

Next Up the Dining Area!

This area is right off the living room and connects into the kitchen! I loved it for the fact that my wine theme would work perfectly! The green and red paints I used would be the perfect tie in! Its a simple space that was spruced up with a little placement! We took down the light fixture, painted it and then remounted! 

The Wine Shelf

My husband and I are major wine lovers, so a place to hold our glasses and cookbooks and other staples for entertaining is a must! I have always felt you do not host an event without serving up a mixture of food and drinks, whether the night calls for mai tais and margaritas or wine and beer, in my house you will always be served from the appropriate glassware!

The Kitchen

At first glance I felt this kitchen was too small, but then after the paint went up, the lights were changed and my cookware was stocked, I started playing in here and now I am completely in love! I feel like a 50s housewife every time I cook (which luckily for me and my family is everynight). I like to encourage if your going to have a lot of appliances out on the counters please make sure they all match, it will make the flow of the kitchen much more pleasing to the eye! When keeping with a theme, overdoing can be easy! Try to have key pieces that incorporate that theme and everything else as an accessory!

The Lights were a big deal in this kitchen they were old fashioned and horribly dim, I needed something that not only would brighten up the place, but that would add a elegant feel! The 3 light above the sink was a Lowes find that was then bought for us as a housewarming gift! The next day I was browsing my favorite thrift store when I stumbled upon a light fixture that matched the ones for the office and my bedroom perfect, it also matched the metal on the kitchen 3 light! IT WAS 3 DOLLARS!!!! AMAZING!!!!

I kept all the appliances from the apartment but bought several new ones as well, all black and silver of course!

A new Disposal and dishwasher went in...... Here the angels sing... A DISHWASHER!!!! haha

And now to the Bane of my mothers existence.... The stove, when we moved in, the stove that was here was thee most disgusting thing I have ever seen! The grease, the cut wires, and the black build up of charcoal! My poor mother was horrified, needless to say after a little discussion with safety to the landlords, a new stove and counter top was delivered! Now the talks about replacing the rest or the counter tops has begun and guess what I think I win!

More to come soon!!!

My Ode to SHERWIN WILLIAMS!!!!

Long before we found the house, I had my colors picked out! You see My Cousin Rachels husband Timo runs a sherwin williams and had given me the collection of colors sherwin williams offers, so the search started! I went through the book and picked out what I thought I liked, then went to sherwinwilliams.com and used their color visualizer (which is totally amazing) to see the colors on walls, lets just say after doing this I changed my mind on like 3 colors! haha. So when we found the house we perfected some of the colors to go with the new house. I will be honest there was colors Chris fought me on till the end, which I won.... but guess what one of the ones he fought hard against, is now his favorite color and room in the house OUR BEDROOM!!!! The room he was really dreading though was Bellas. He knew I wanted 3 light pink walls and 1 hot pink wall, but again once it was completed and fully decorated he thought it was adorable and totally Bells personality! See Honey I have the VISION!!!! haha.

So here is a quick run down of the colors and where they were used!

Ryegrass

For the Living Room and Dining Room

Rookwood Red

For the Kitchen

Refuge

For the Hall Bathroom

Copper Mountain (the Color my Husband didn't want)

For Our Bedroom!

Rookwood Dark Brown for the Walk In Closet and Master Bath (Bathroom never got painted though, maybe sometime in the near future)

And Bellas 2 Pinks!!!!

In the Pink

Gala Pink

Where the Colors Come Together!!!

The Master Bathwill be painted the Dark Brown, After Christophers other room projects are complete painting will begin in his room with murals by Chris, and of course as soon as another baby is on the horizon we will paint the 4th bedroom. 

A HUGE THANK YOU TO TIMO, RACHEL, and SHERWIN WILLIAMS!!!!!

Love Always, T

The New House...... Before!!!!

I have the most amazing clients! The client I am about to refer to is actually a friend as well, Tiffany Wilson came in to have a full highlight and cut done which means we were about to spend  a good 3 hours together! So Bring the gab session! We talked about so many things that afternoon and one of the topics was a house she had gone to look at that wasn't gonna be right for her right now, but she informed me that when she saw it she could totally envision me and my style there! So Needless to say I drove by, got the number, and called the next day!!!! Chris and I had looked at several houses and everyone we walked into we just knew these were not the houses for us! We are renting, but we had a list of things it had to have, things we would like it have, and things we were ok with it not having at all! So when we pulled up, first thing that came to mind, was ok I know the types of people that have lived here over the years and lets just say they are not the type to respect a home!!!!! We kept an open mind, the outside was trashed, we walked in and the carpets were all pulled up and the place was a mess! Needless to say though, I WAS IN LOVE... This was it! Like Tiffany had told me I would, I immediately saw the potential! The landlord informed me they were laying laminate wood floors down that week! EVEN BETTER!!!

We did the look around and what did we find?! 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, a Walk In Closet, Laundry Hook Ups (those of who really know me, know how much this means to me!) a Dishwasher (again Huge happiness), a wrap around porch, a firepit, and lots of property to design how we please!!!!

So first I will post Our Before pics of the house, then start uploading pics of paint and decor, last will come the yard due to the fact that we focused on the house first and painting the porch and landscaping 2nd. But the process has begun so within a couple months the outside will look amazing as well!!!!

Enjoy, although this is before so just try not to Cringe!

A Look at the dining room and Kitchen

Yes the color on the walls was like a Dark Grey kinda Plum!!!!! 

The Kitchen, The Bain of my Mothers existence, especially the STOVE! haha

The Living Room and to the right the entry to the office!

Christophers Room with access to the Hall Bath!

The Hall Bath

Bells Room

Our Room

I am sad at the time I took these pics, we weren't sure we had got the house yet I just wanted the basic layout to show family. I did not take any pics of the master closet or bathroom. So those wil be following as only after Pics!

And I am Back!!!!

Hello All! I know I haven't been on in a very long time, but that is about to change. During the last few months, I finished school, went to State Board, started working at Skintique Day Spa and then My family and I moved into a new home!!!!! YAY! Some Big Changes, ALL AMAZING CHANGES!!!! So my new goal is to keep my blogging updated starting with our new home and all the adventures it will hold! I have been inspired since moving, I think it is because I FINALLY got to express my inner decorator the way I have always wanted too! So Let the Decorating, Yard Designing, Fabulous Meal Making and Family Togetherness Begin!!!!!

Love Always, T!!!!

Here It Is!

Quick little note, i know everyone knows how to read a blog, but just in case there are people out there confused, your reading it backwards! haha, The Intro to this blog is the 5th post down, and then goes up with time! Read it either way though or just browse the whole site, Hope you like!!!! Remember i am just getting started... LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!!

KRIS LANE PHOTOGRAPHY!!!

Throughout my posts and overtime you are gonna hear me refer to this amazing photographer a lot! She is a Friend who I have known on and off since High School, her son was born about 5 months before my Daughter, and she was dabbling in and out of photography for quite some time. I saw some pics she had taken of her son with a smash cake for his birthday and decided I absolutely had to have her take Bellas 1st Birthday Photos! And That is where our newest relationship began, now I am so proud to see her Passion and business grow! We went on to have another mini session after the Bday Pics, then a 18 month Photo shoot, followed by our Fall Family Photo shoot! And Then came most Recently the 2 year Birthday shots, which you saw in the previous Post! With each set of photos I will post a little about the prep that went into them, again because a successful photo session depends on the efforts of both the Photographer and the model in this case the mommy! haha!

It was Kris who actually triggered this Blog to begin with, I had made several blogs in the past, but never published them, then after the latest photo session and Bellas Party, she and a teacher of Mine Mrs. Guzman had mentioned I should share my ideas so here I am! Thanks Kris for ALL the Amazing Work you do and the time you put in to make all my visions come to life!!!  We will always be your loyal client and Friend!!!

So First up the 1st Bday Shoot! So Here I knew I wanted a smash cake photo, but also wanted several Tutu shots, so we planned out the cake with Kris (yes this photographer even made the cake)!!! Bought 3 Tutus, and then started thinking of the other props I wanted to use, let the googling begin, I saw about 10 different ideas and pulled from each one a little something until I knew what props I needed, I was off to buy balloons, find boxes and pick out the right wrapping materials! Oh and of coarse MAKE THE PERFECT HEADBAND!!!! Salina Came along for this shoot for stylist wrangling! Before Tutus, Bella was always known for the headbands she wore! The tutus became her signature after this session! Not posting all the shots for that would take up too much space!

Now Mind You These first 2 sessions were before Kris even went professional, and look how amazing they are, NOW THAT IS REAL TALENT!!!

 

  

  

  

  

  

The beautiful Cake Kris Made!

 

Bell liked looking at it and sitting by it....

but when I stuck her hands in it, that was the end of that!!! haha

 

Which resulted in the Fabulous Story Board she made for the Birthday Party!!! That stated ITS MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO! haha

Next Up was the Mini Shoot I actually set up for a friends baby, we went along in the hopes to get a few cute shots of Bella for her daddy, and for Valentines and Just because! Important parts for these shots were the diaper covers, BIG NO NO never take professional shots of your kids in regular diapers, go for the classy cloth diapers which Salina does for boys, or bare butt, but then no front shots obviously, but there is nothing tackier than a diaper with all its printing all over it! If you absolutely have to have a diaper and don't have a cover or a cloth one at least find a solid diaper, and please make sure its clean, a soggy diaper is bad!!! Since most of the sots here though were diaper shots i made sure to bring lots of covers and then even loaned on to Bells buddy Kayleigh for their Valentine shot! So here they are!

 

  

See diaper showing Tacky!

Here are some I got from just bringing along a sheet from my bed, since I wanted this set for my Bedroom to tie it all together! BIG IMPORTANT KEY: Do Not EVER bring or use a sheet that is wrinkled!!! EVEN MORE TACKY THAN A DIAPER!!!!

  

  

Next up I saw a photo that I loved with just a hat and a diaper and my fave hat of Bells at the time was this white and pink one so I brought it along with a pink diaper cover that had frills! Love These!!!

 

  

This set was a collaboration of a few googled photos as well, I saw lots of babies in the tubs and loved it, usually it was pastel tubs, but Krystal..Kayleighs mom had this one and it worked perfect because I wanted it for my kitchen anyway (of coarse now its in the living room! haha!) and the color was perfect. So we brought it along, and I rubbed candy on the edge so she would put her mouth on it!!!

This set was Kris' sons chair that she let us snag for the shot and we dressed the girls similar and just let them go for it! Turned out adorable!

 

  

No Idea what is going on here!!!

  

 

This set was solely for My Husband, He loves his music and his Bella so I thought the 2 together in one shot would melt his heart and it did! Although dragging along a guitar and a drum to someone elses house is quite interesting!!! Can you see why my daughter was the headband queen though, at 1 she still had no hair! haha

 

  

So Along came her 18 month Photo session, this was the 1st set with Kris since she went Pro, and of course they were FABULOUS!!! Since the day I found out I was having a little girl I had planned on taking photos on a main street of some sort, I envisioned the cobblestone and shop fronts, so Kris and I came together and decided Volcano Main St. would be the perfect location for what I was wanting! I then told her that I had bought Bell the cutest little rain boots that she loved and really wanted to do some creek photos, which of  course in Amador county Creeks are not hard to find, except this day! We drove down a  road VERY slowly looking over the mountain till we saw a spot we could hike down, but it was well worth it, the shots were everything I had hoped! I brought My sister Bayleigh along for this set for Bella entertainment and just wrangling help in general! It was 7:30 in the morning when we met!

In shots like these, because so many people do them nowadays, its important to focus on the details, even when you are outside! Choose the outfits wisely, Classic timeless pieces, we did jeans, but paired it with the brown top as to not be too busy! And with Toddlers and Jeans, no shoes really is the classiest way to go on cobblestone!

Then with so much rich Color a simple calm colored dress is just what was needed, again barefoot led to that raw peaceful vibe I was hoping for!

 

  

  

  

Next came the Purple Dress, Now this is what I mean by keep it classic and timeless, I will never look back and think that dress symbolized an era, it just symbolized Elegance and Innocence! Too Many people dress their kids up in pieces that they feel are stylish at the time! On a solid backdrop its cute beaucse your showing your childs personality, but when out in beautiful scenery or on location let your surroundings do the talking not your childrens clothes, they should compliment the photo, not compete with it!

This Dress my mom bought unexpectedly at a consignment store for $4.00 and I will forever LOVE IT!!!

 

This Table and Chair was outside a little shop that wasn't open yet, but the workers were inside, Kris ran in to ask if it was ok to use, they of course said yes!

  

This Grass was soaking wet, but my little angel trooped through with some encouraging funny faces from Auntie Bayleigh!

 

Aw Now The Rain Boots!!! Bought at Marshalls for 5 bucks a pair, I decided to pair them with simple onesies (only regret is the diaper showing through underneath), but see live and learn! The Hat just added to that classic feel! What you don't see, Bayleigh and I strategically placed on both sides splashing her for the giggles and ready to dive to catch her at any moment in case of a fall! haha

 

  

  

  

  

Ok So Along Came The Family Fall Shoot, This was where we Finally all came together with Kris to get what was originally just supposed to be our Christmas family photo, but I ended up loving so many of the prints that I bought about 10 of them!!! Now It will be a tradition every year to have our Family shots with Kris! Thats the thing about this girl, ever since that 1st shoot for Bells Bday I could never go anywhere else, it would be a betrayal to both her and us!!!! haha

The only real planning on this part was the vibe we wanted and the colors to wear. I googled several family photos and sent Kris my Faves, she then wrote back and told me where we should go to get the feel I wanted! Which was the really warm fall colors and rustic fall feel! We then decided to all wear black tops with Jeans, except the kids had their white collars coming through the tops! 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

And The Newest being the 2 Year Shots of Bella which can be seen Below in the previous Blog!!!

THANK YOU KRIS LANE PHOTOGRAPHY!!!!

http://www.krislanephotography.com/