I am... an elf

So, If you haven't read the post prior to this one... go ahead and read that first to get caught up on how I got to this point.

Anyways, The Elf costume was a big hit, and I'm proud of my home-made creation. Anyone who knows me, knows that when I commit to something, you always get a hundred percent, even if it's just an elf costume. I spray-painted my shoes to match, found some crazy elf socks, and spent a good amount of time on my Elf make-up. I have to say, I felt like an real Christmas Elf after it was all put together! Now, its just a matter of where I'm wearing my Elf costume to next... Maybe I will show up for Christmas family Dinner in it, maybe I could hand out gifts for toys for tots, or some other charity... I will think of something, but this will not be the last of the Elf Costume!

Project Runway.. here I come! (as an Elf)

Ok, so I'm sure you are familiar with the fashion design show Project Runway... Well, I felt a little Project Runway in me this week as I had to design and Elf costume. Yes, you read that correct... I'm going to be a Christmas elf. So, here's the background story:

A friend/co-worker/manager is retiring this year. Every year he has dressed up as Santa Claus and delivered candy to the entire department. Well, this being his last year at the company, he is putting a lot of effort into this years Santa event. In the most sincere of ways, he has asked that I help him out by coming along as the Elf. So, of course, I obliged and I was off to find an Elf costume. Well, costume shopping wasn't so successful, so I resorted to the next best thing...a homemade costume. I should probably mention that the only thing I have ever sewn was a pillow in 8th grade home economics class. So, attempt #1 at my costume utilized a pattern and instructions. After an evening of fussing with the pattern I decided that I was going to freehand it. The costume was very plain... so once again... I had to pull out the stash of rhinestones to add a little Issy sparkle to it....

So, here it is... my very first success at sewing.... I will post more pictures after I'm all dressed for tomorrow festivities...

I love the Holiday Season!!!

Ok, so I have to say that there isn't a thing I dislike about the Holidays... I love the food, the lights, the hustle and bustle, the movies, the music.... and most of all... I love buying presents! I know most people hate hitting the malls at this time of year, but I love it. I love thinking through and planning what I want to buy each person on my list, and what kind of wrapping paper I should get for them. (Each person gets their own special gift wrap) So, I guess I should mention how much I love wrapping gifts too.... As soon as I get home from a shopping trip I have to wrap them right away. If I could buy a present for everyone, I would. Everyone keeps asking what I would like this year, but I really don't want anything. I truely just enjoy picking out something special for everyone. So, Here is the massive pile for my family who is getting very spoiled by me this year... Oh, and Lola too....

Jamie and Jared...Married!

Ok, So I know it's been a while since I posted a new blog, but things have been crazy.

This blog post is well overdue, but I'm finally getting a chance to post some pictures from Jamie and Jared's wedding. This wedding actually has a little story too. I second shot this wedding for Michael Leslie, and both the ceremony and reception were held at the LOEWS Hotel in Philadelphia. The reception was in the Millenium ballroom, and it was just completely gorgeous in there. I first met Jamie at the beginning of the day when she was getting ready and she mentioned where her husband was from was actually local to where I am from in South Jersey. Michael sent me to get some pics of the guys a little later on, and as soon as I walked in the room I recognized the groom, and a few of the groomsmen. We had actual met a few years back, and now I was photographing Jared's wedding. It was strange to run into someone you haven't seen in a long time at their own wedding, but it was nice to photograph people you were familiar with. Well, one thing hadn't changed... This crew really knew how to party. The huge dancefloor was packed all night and everyone was having a great time.



The Girls helping each other get ready













The room was stunning, and I loved the centerpieces...







The party went all night long, and the dance floor was this packed the entire time..







I love the expressions on them in this one...

Midnight Shopping on Thanksgiving- Worst Idea Ever

Ok, So every now and then I come up with an idea that seems brillant at the time to later find out it was a terrible mistake. So, my latest brillant idea was to go shopping at the outlet mall in Limerick, PA at midnight on Thanksgiving. I thought... ohhh, this will be fun and it's something that I have never done before. The outlets in Limerick, PA are new and most people who I talk to don't know about them at all so I was wondering if anyone else was even going to show up for this late night shopping event. Austin of course, didn't want me going out that late by myself so he decided to tag along. Well, we headed out around 11:30pm, stopped at wawa for a coffee, and were on our way. The outlets are about 40 minutes away and things were going well for about the first 35 minutes. Well, as soon as we saw the sign for the stores (about 2 miles from the exit) is when things started to go bad. The traffic was dead stopped. At the beginning of the traffic people in their cars were wearing Santa Hats and singing Holiday songs. Well, things wouldn't have been too bad, but Austin apparently drank 4 glasses of iced tea before we left and a coffee on the road and here we are stuck in traffic with no potty in sight for the 2 miles of stopped traffic. Now, you all know that feeling. Apparently, other people had the same problem because I have never seen so many people get out of the car and pee in the street. After the first hour, no amount of Holiday music could make me want to go holiday shopping and there was no place to turn around. The Santa hats were gone at this point, and the Holiday music was replaced by beeping and yelling. So, by the time we got to the exit it was after 2am and it took us 10 more minutes to get to the ramp just to turn around. Austin never speeds on the highway, but on the way home he was speeding, because at this point 2hrs later he felt like his bladder might explode. Needless to say, this was not one of my best ideas, but it didn't stop me from getting up and going shopping on black Friday.....

Marty and Amanda - Engaged

Today we went out in the blustery cold weather to Philadelphia for an engagement session with Marty and Amanda. We started off the day in Love Park, but didn't spend too much time there because we were nearly getting run over by the skate boarders everywhere. So, we just took a stroll around the city.













They got engaged at this restaurant, so of course we had to get a pic here

Alisha and Jason -Married

This past Sunday I spent the day over in King of Prussia with Bob Brown shooting the wedding of Alisha and Jason. When I first met Alisha in the hotel room I was thinking, wow, what a gorgeous girl. Then, the more time I spent with her I couldn't help but realize how much she looks like Kelly Clarkson which of course is a compliment because they are both gorgeous gals. So, I had my first celebrity look-alike bride! Alisha and Jason have so much fun together. As soon as they saw each other they turned on the silly laughs and goofy smiles. These two are just so much fun to be around... And now... onto the pics....

Elliot's Bar Mitzvah

This past Saturday, I spent the evening in Princeton, NJ shooting for
Michael Leslie for Elliot's 13th birthday. Being at this event took me back to what its like to be 13 again. The party had 2 dj's, a piano player, a photobooth, and plenty of energetic 8th graders running around.

New Camera Strap!

Ok, So I have so much blogging to catch up on. So much has happened in the past week, and I was in Canada again on business. I wanted to take a quick moment to give a little shout out to Jodie's Camera Straps which can be bought at Etsy. I contacted Jodie directly and asked her if she could custom make me a camera strap to match my business colors. Within 2 weeks the camera strap was in my mailbox, and I was so excited. The strap is padded, so that alone made it better!

Marta and Chris - Married!!!

Yesterday, I got to spend the day with an absolutly adorable couple. Marta and Chris are so in love that you can feel it when you are around them. I knew there love was meant to be just by the way that Chris looks at her. I met Marta a few years ago through my friend Amy when they were attending college at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia. Marta is an amazing artist, full of energy, and is always making everyone around her laugh. I am so glad that I got to be part of their special day. When the clouds and rain arrived, they were forced to move the entire wedding inside the tent, but everything worked out perfect. The ceremony and reception were held at Chris's parent's house in Hainesport, NJ. Everything was beautiful! Marta only thanked me about 100 times before the night had ended.