“That’s what makes it so right. Your eyes– your soul is there, but the rest of you is still so undefined. That’s the beauty of childhood. The eyes show everything you’ve seen so far, but the rest of you is still so open to possibility, to whatever you might become.”

~bree despain

I just love this sweet little number from the talented Heather of laken & lila. So lovely in its vintage cuteness.  Addie felt so comfortable in it and had a blast running around pushing this old toy. I loved the little smile on her face as she pushed it–I would have thought it was too young a toy for an almost-three-year-old, but it brought such joy! Oh, and don’t you simply ahhh-dore that cute little pink wooden camera? Yep, I kind of have a problem with little camera props. The kids are in love with it, though, and have been posing and photographing their stuffed animals in all the best-lit places in the house.

12 votes

12 votes

17 votes

15 votes

The Ana Vintage Vibe Dress | laken & lila

Knit Hat | Three Yellow Starfish

Pink Wooden Camera | Twig Creative

xoxo,

laura

“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” 

~Elmer Davis

24 votes

I am FINALLY getting around to blogging some of the birthday parties that my kiddos have had–yay! Jackson wanted an “ARMY” party for his 5th birthday, so this modern mama tried her best to give that camo a little umpf! As an army brat myself, this party was a blast to plan, and we had the resident Colonel {my dad!} to ask questions of to ensure authenticity!

28 votes

The kiddos were each given buckets filled with dog tags, camo scarves and canteens so that we could begin boot camp in style! Jack was one happy soldier!

24 votes

I made this camo corn and coordinating signage using a recipe found on the fabulous Pinterest, of course! Popcorn, jelly beans and m&ms…mmm!

25 votes

I found these amazing chocolate covered marshmallow and graham cracker cookies and knew I had to use them!  We found the authentic ammunition crates at an Army Surplus store, and they were the perfect perch for Jack’s little army vehicles!

23 votes

The talented and creative Melissa of Decadent Delights made my “modern camo” vision come to life with this stunning cake–complete with dog tags and Army Jack on top! The inside is just as fabulous as the outside! Jack chose chocolate chip cake with chocolate mousse frosting. Divine!!

21 votes

Each child was given a kraft gable box labeled “CHOW for Jack’s Army”, filled with PB+J Sandwiches, chips, apples and other yummy sustenance for the troops!

22 votes

Adults dined on yummies from the Taco Bar. Don’t you love this vintage poster we found at the Army Surplus shop? It is now hanging in Jack’s room and he loves it!

30 votes

Candy-dipped pretzels served as Army Swords and these fabulous Army men gummies found at Sweeties were perfect for mini cupcake toppers!

27 votes

24 votes

Cake | Decadent Delights

31 votes

23 votes

26 votes

xoxo,

laura

“Every man should be born again on the first day of January.  Start with a fresh page.  Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.”

  ~Henry Ward Beecher

64 votes

May your New Year’s Eve be filled with confetti, laughter, friends, fun and promises of a beautiful new year…

Check out some of the fun client images from 2011 in our recap HERE.

here’s to a fab 2012,

laura

{image from the Finley and Oliver commercial shoot}

“Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.”
~Seymour Miller & Jill Jackson, “Let There Be Peace on Earth,”

You all know how much I adore the fabulous gals behind Oh Fiddlesticks!  They are so creative, fun and each new design is oh-so-fab.  Their newest creations are these adorable {PEACE} tees, perfect for a holiday photo shoot, playdate, gathering or for everyday! LOVE! Don’t you simply love the rockin’ fonts, too?!

17 votes

16 votes

14 votes

14 votes

17 votes

16 votes

17 votes

11 votes

13 votes

14 votes

14 votes

Oh Fiddlesticks | Shop

Oh Fiddlesticks | Facebook

Girl’s PEACE tee

Boy’s PEACE tee

xoxo,

laura

“Colors are the smiles of nature.” 

~Leigh Hunt

I simply fell in love with this dress from The Fresh Stitch–the colors, the design.  SO fabulous! Addie had a blast exploring, singing songs and just being the silly two year old that she is!

20 votes

22 votes

303 votes

13 votes

14 votes

19 votes

14 votes

The Fresh Stitch | Shop

The Fresh Stitch | Facebook

xoxo,

laura

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

~Mary Anne Radmacher

My dear Addie, you are growing up too fast for this mama. You have a sweet twinkle in your eye and have become oh-so-talkative.  You love your brother, making crafts, coloring with great concentration, and messing up your room.  You are not a fan of naps right now and obviously think they are highly overrated, much preferring the company of your books, your myriad of stuffed animals, climbing on your furniture and getting into anything that will make a mess.  I wish for you a life that always includes laughter, fun and the balance of calmness to wildness that you currently have. I love when you stroke my face and tell me that I am the best mama in the whole world, and I love when you have your independent streak and yell that you don’t want me to help you.

You and I sing the “Hello/Goodbye” song in Spanish…

Buenos Dias, Buenos Dias

?Como estas? ?Como estas?

Muy bien gracias, Muy bien gracias

Adios, adios…

Only, your ears hear “ADDIE-OS” at the end, so then you sing

“Addie-os, Mama-os, Jacky-os, Dada-os!”

I love your new Spanish words, my love. Stay sweet always…

Dress by the lovely Tickled Pink Girls

10 votes

8 votes

9 votes

9 votes

8 votes

8 votes

10 votes

xoxo,

laura

“Hey, I’m a girl, and we like to play dress-up. “

~charlize theron

I thought that I had shared these images taken for designer Laken and Lila on the bloggie, but didn’t until now…I always love Heather’s gorgeous fabrics and fun designs. SO much fun to photograph and the perfect outfits for any little sweetie! Lots of fun fall + holiday outfits in stock now! Yay!

11 votes

7 votes

93 votes

8 votes

5 votes

19 votes

Skirts + dress | Laken and Lila

Blue hair accessory | Whippy Cake

xoxo,

laura

8 votes

Psst….want fab printables + more in your inbox? Clicky here, loves!

Strive for the kind of life that makes you want to pinch yourself because you feel like you are in a dream.  Enjoy this week’s free printable, lovelies!

10 votes

Check out all the fun {Memorable Words Monday} freebies right here!

Our Truest Life Laura Winslow Photography 8×10 Printable

Oh, and I thought I would share one of my little Addie exploring in her new Ivy and A dress.  She totally thinks she lost a tooth, too. Hard to explain to a two year old that you can’t do EVERYTHING big brother can do!

7 votes

“Other than a dimple in a cute little chin,
What’s more adorable than a toothless grin?”
~Azu “Betty” Espezia

I still remember the day that Jackson got his first tooth.  It seems like just yesterday.  He was a few days shy of six months old, we were on a trip to Chicago, it was snowing and very cold. The poor little guy was not sleeping and had buckets of drool running down his face. His round little head was covered with the cutest hat that read, “I’ve Been a Good Boy”. We were outside playing in the snow and I see the tiniest little white emerge through his gums. Sweet little tooth, now gone. How can that time have passed so quickly? In the blink of an eye, my sweet boy is growing up. I imagine I will forever also remember the day a week or two ago when he awoke early in the morning to tell me that he thought he might be losing a tooth. It took me by surprise–only four years old (yes, almost five, but I always love to keep my children as young as possible for as long as possible )? It seems far too early, but the dentist did tell us to expect this. Still, my mommy heart was not quite ready.

The Tooth Fairy made a visit to us last night, and this morning it was glorious to see the look on our sweet boy’s face when he showed us the shiny coins she left in place of his tooth. His toothless grin makes me smile each time I look at it, and it is instantly like a movie in my minds eye that begins to play, that little hat on a cold, snowy winters day and a white little tooth bringing it all back…

Slow down, baby boy.

we love you more than the moon, the sun and all the stars in the sky,

mommy, daddy + addie grace

4 votes

9 votes

“The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible, and achieve it, generation after generation.”

~Pearl S. Buck

Five little adventurers set out exploring and dancing in an enchanted little world where starfish and sand dollars suspend magically from trees, confetti mixes with the golden hue of dusk and cardboard boats become mighty ships.  When you are young, any journey is possible once you pack your imagination.

Grace of Finley and Oliver is young at heart, then, for she is captain of this magnificent yellow ship through her creative and whimsical newest collection of children’s tees. The sweet Sherri of Noah and Lilah designed a new line of skirts and boy’s shorts to coordinate with the collection, and modern bow ties from The Belle and the Beau finish the looks off perfectly.

Brothers become heroes in a child’s make-believe world of imaginative play.

This is a world where you can happily lead your army through the fields to the fun that lies on the other side…

and where in the blink of an eye you are braving the mighty seas and crashing waves with your sweet yellow vessel of fun…

and where it is possible to dance among the stars…

…jump bravely off mountains…

…and swim in a sea of wildflowers…

Ahh…isn’t life grand?

Tees + Tanks | Finley and Oliver

Website | Facebook

Skirts + Shorts | Noah and Lilah

Website | Facebook

Bow ties | The Belle and the Beau

Website | Facebook

xoxo,

laura