Photo-A-Day May Challenge

My sweet blogging friend Colleen from Freaked Out ‘N Small has talked me into doing something that has always looked fun but I’ve been far too non-committal to ever join before.  She has started a May Photo-A-Day challenge, and I’m finally setting aside my commitment issues to play along.  Well, I’m going to try my best to play along, that is.

It goes like this:  You take the theme for the day and snap a picture as you interpret that theme.  And then, if you feel so inclined, you share and tag your pictures with #freakedoutnsmall on your favorite social media.  Colleen explains it in more detail on her blog and she would love to have you participate as well.

So that’s what I’ll be attempting to do every day this month on Instagram.  Follow along with me there.

Have you ever done one of these photo-a-day challenges?  Were you able to make it through the entire month without skipping a day or quitting?   If you join us, let me know!

~julee~

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Wear It: Purple Pants with Mia Bella Photography

 

This is our final week with Mia Bella Photography.  It’s been so much fun having my outfits professionally photographed that I think we should all send notes of love and admiration to the very talented lady behind the camera and beg of her to continue photographing our outfits each week.  You with me?

 

In the past few weeks you’ve seen me play with color, get dressy, and go vintage, but for my final outfit I chose to dress down in a casual every day look.  I love to pull on a fun, flirty dress or skirt, but the truth is that 80% of the time I’m donning a pair of comfortable jeans.  Usually they’re of the blue variety, but like everyone else, I am digging colored jeans lately.  For me, I’m particularly digging these purple jeans.

 

What do you think?  Are you a colored jean fan?

 

Top:  TJMaxx

Purple Jeans & Tank:  Target

Shoes:  Franco Sarto, thrifted

Purse:  Vintage, thrifted

Yellow Wooden Ring:  Uncommon Handmade

Earrings:  Handmade by me
Necklace:  c/o Buttons by Becky  

 

I highly encourage you to take a peek at Mia Bella Photography and the Mia Bella Facebook page, and hit the LIKE button while you’re there. She updates her page daily with amazing photos from her photoshoots, and if you’re a Louisville local, she also updates session openings and special pricing opportunities. For a limited time, she is giving a free 10x13 image when you book a session and mention DIY. Mia Bella specializes in senior, family, and newborn portraits. I’m thinking she should also go into the fashion blogger market.

~julee~

 

Kim and I post our outfits here to show off our thrifty and handmade wears. Plus, we like cute clothes. We link up each week with The Pleated Poppy, Whatever Whenever Wednesday, Not Dead Yet Style, Real Girl Style and Casual Friday with a bunch of other bloggers in blogland doing the same crazy stuff we are. If you're dropping in today, please say HI! in the comments - we'd love to come check out your blog!



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Wearing Vintage with Mia Bella Photography

 

This is the third outfit in our series with Mia Bella Photography.  For my first outfit, I chose an everyday true-to-me style.  For my second outfit, I picked out a classy look without an expensive price tag.  For my third outfit, I chose a classic vintage look.

 

I love vintage pieces, but wearing many of the vintage styles isn’t very practical for my lifestyle.  So, when I come across vintage clothing on my treasure hunts, I feel it’s good karma to leave those pieces on the rack for the next vintage lover to come along and sell on etsy claim.

 

However, this 1950’s style vintage dress that fit me like a glove for $5 could not be put back on the rack.  Nope, no way.  I’m thinking I scored the deal of the century.

 

 

Dress:  Vintage, thrifted

Belt:  Thrifted

Purse:  Vintage, thrifted

Shoes:  Target

Necklace:  Vintage, gift from my mom

Earrings:  Handmade by Kim

 

I highly encourage you to take a peek at Mia Bella Photography and the Mia Bella Facebook page, and hit the LIKE button while you’re there.  She updates her page daily with amazing photos from her photoshoots, and if you’re a Louisville local, she also updates session openings and special pricing opportunities.  For a limited time, she is giving a free 10x13 image when you book a session and mention DIY.  Mia Bella specializes in senior, family, and newborn portraits.  I’m thinking she should also go into the fashion blogger market.

How do you feel about wearing vintage clothes?  Do you ever find any amazing vintage buys?

~julee~

 

Kim and I post our outfits here to show off our thrifty and handmade wears. Plus, we like cute clothes. We link up each week with The Pleated Poppy, Whatever Whenever Wednesday, Not Dead Yet Style, Real Girl Style and Casual Friday with a bunch of other bloggers in blogland doing the same crazy stuff we are. If you're dropping in today, please say HI! in the comments - we'd love to come check out your blog!

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What We Wore with Mia Bella Photography

I am so excited to share the second What We Wore outfit in our series with Mia Bella Photography.   You can check out the fun photo shoot from last week HERE. 

I highly encourage you to check out more beautiful images on Mia Bella Photography’s website and Facebook page.  See the bottom of this post for a special offer for D.I.Y. Louisville readers.
 

Last week I wore an outfit that was right on par with the way I dress most days of the week for school, work, or coffee with friends.  For this week, however, I took advantage of my photography day with Jilli to wear something a little less casual.  I’ve been in love with similar pleated, feminine skirts for so long, so when I found this one on the Target clearance rack recently, I snagged it for $11.
I paired it with a vintage silver clutch that once belonged to my mom (thanks mom!), and a handmade silver chain necklace and rose quartz bracelet by Robin Chard.

Shirt:  Old Navy

Skirt & Wedges:  Target

Denim Jacket:  DKNY (old)

Earrings:  Handmade by Kim

Silver Necklace & Rose Quartz Bracelet:  Handmade by Robin Chard

Silver Clutch:  Vintage, gift

 

Kim and I post our outfits here to show off our thrifty and handmade wears. Plus, we like cute clothes. We link up each week with The Pleated Poppy and Whatever Whenever Wednesday and Not Dead Yet Style and Casual Friday with a bunch of other bloggers in blogland doing the same crazy stuff we are. If you're dropping in today, please say HI! in the comments - we'd love to come check out your blog! 

I’m trying to figure out how else I can wear this skirt into the fall and winter.  Black tights?  A blazer?  (Ok, so I don't even own a blazer.)  Any suggestions?

 

~julee~  

 

Would you like to book your own session with Mia Bella Photography?  Mia Bella Photography specializes in senior, family, and newborn portraits.  If you’re a Louisville local, Mia Bella Photography is including a free 10x13 image when you book a photo session and mention DIY.  Visit Mia Bella Photography for all the information you need to book a photo session today.  This is a limited time offer, so hurry!

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What We Wore with Mia Bella Photography

We are so excited to be partnering with Mia Bella Photography to bring our What We Wore outfit photos for the next few weeks.  Mia Bella Photography has long been a sponsor of D.I.Y. Louisville, creating our amazing blog banner and promotional photographs.  Kim and I are big fans of the beautiful images captured by Jilli Worth and we have cheered along throughout this year as her dream job and photography business have taken flight.  I highly encourage you to check out more beautiful images on Mia Bella Photography’s website and Facebook page.

 

Sweaters worn over my summer dresses are my favorite way extend their wear into fall.  We all know I love a good cardigan, but lately I’m loving the look of a chunkier sweater over dresses.  I’m also loving that the yummy selection of colored tights are plentiful this year.

 

 

Dress:  Target Brand, thrifted

Sweater:  Target

Tights:  Target

Belt: Thrifted

Boots:  Old Navy, thrifted

Vintage Locket:  My Grandmother’s

Bracelets:  Claires

Handmade Wooden Ring:  Uncommon Handmade

 

Kim and I post our outfits here to show off our thrifty and handmade wears. Plus, we like cute clothes. We link up each week with The Pleated Poppy and Whatever Whenever Wednesday and Not Dead Yet Style with a bunch of other bloggers in blogland doing the same crazy stuff we are. If you're dropping in today, please say HI! in the comments - we'd love to come check out your blog!

Do you try to extend the wear of your summer dresses into fall?  Are you loving the colored tights/leggings trend this fall?

~julee~

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Fast Cars

Over the weekend with a husband out of town and endless hours to fill with two kids, I decided to venture out to a near by car rally that was taking place.  A little know fact about me, I love old muscle cars.  I have a list of dream cars that I hope to someday possess.  I mean can’t you totally see me riding around in a sweet 1967 Plymouth GTX convertible, black on black?  Well, I can if somebody gifts me with about 50 grand.  Until then I will have to content myself with gawking at other luckier folks rides. 




If you would like to see more click here

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Spring Break: The Great Outdoors

Spring Break was just last week but I already miss it so very much.  I am literally counting down the days till Summer Break.  We started our week off with a trip to the zoo and a visit to the movies to see “Mirror, Mirror”,  which while slightly cheesy was a winner with my kiddos.  We save the big stuff for the end of the week when we went on a camping adventure with two other families.  Seven kids under the age of 10 and six adults, headed to General Butler State Park in Carrolton, KY for two nights and three days of adventure., almost.  You see that was the plan and it probably would have happened that way if the weather hadn’t taken a cold turn.  The first night it was 37 degrees.  I wore two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, 3 shirts and a hat and slept in a sleeping bag with a quilt and was still freezing. So we stayed two days and one night because no one could bear the thought of another freezing night.  But the time we spent was super fun.  We made smores, hiked the beautiful woods and went home with exhausted, happy kids that smelled like bonfires and sunshine.  It was a great trip despite the cold, spent with great friends.








How was your Spring Break?
Kim

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Artist Feature: Mia Bella Photography

Last week I was happy to share with you some photos from the photo shoot that we did with Mia Bella Photography.  This week, I am happy to give Mia Bella a more formal introduction.  Mia Bella is the photographer that took our blog header photo, and Kim and I are both big fans of her work.  We had such an amazingly fun day during our photo shoot!

The sweet face with pigtails is our beautiful Mia, the inspiration behind Mia Bella Photography. The face behind the camera is her Mama.

I have loved photography since I can remember watching my photographer mother load that curly brown film into that silver and black case. I can see landscapes, people, expressions as art - it's the secret between a good photo and a great one. And sometimes, the... best photo is the one captured by accident. My educational background is in design and advertising, and with that, it all starts with a photo.

I guess you would describe my style of photography as "artful candid portraiture".

--Mia Bella Photography

Mia Bella Photography has only just begun to sprout, but by looking at these beautiful photos I know that 2012 is going to bring great things for the inspiring lady behind the camera.  Join Mia Bella’s Facebook page for contact info and to keep up-to-date on her current photo shoots.  You will not be disappointed by the stunning photography that she shares.

Thank you Mia Bella Photography for letting us share your work with our readers and for the much-too-fun day Kim and I had with you!  We absolutely love the images you have given us to use for our blog!

~julee~

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I'm a Published Photographer!!

Yep, that's right.  I found out a few months ago that some pictures I had taken of LVL1,  a Louisville hackerspace would be used in a book.  Well, yesterday I got the news that it was released.  The book is called Hack This: 24 Incredible Hackerspace Projects From The D.I.Y. Movement.  Several of my shots ended up being used for the book and I feel very honored and kind of giddy over the whole thing.  Also it's a really great book that showcases some of the cool hackerspaces around the country, which are doing some mind blowing D.I.Y. projects such as robotic grilled cheese makers.  Yes, you just read that, robotic grilled cheese makers.  The writer of the book is John Baichtal who has written articles for Make magazine, Make: Online and Wired.com.  So if you are interested in learning more or purchasing the book you can buy it at Amazon.com. If you are interested in my photography you can learn more here.

Kim

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Senior Picture Photo Shoot

I don't know how many people know this, but I'm a Photographer by trade.  I went to school for photography and made a living for several years as a wedding photographer.  I scaled way back after my second baby was born and these days I mostly do family and senior pictures.  This past weekend I had the pleasure of taking photos for a beautiful young lady who I've known since she was about 4.  We had amazing weather and got to shoot at some beautiful locations.  We got started at about 11 and shot all day until almost 5, whew!!  So here are a few images from the shoot.

Thanks for looking and if you would like more information on photography pricing you can find me here

-Kim

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