{Read on for all the ways that you can help Broxton + sign up for The Run for Broxton}

Meet Broxton.

A darling just-turned two year old, completely and utterly adored by his family. Soft, whispy dark blonde hair, long eyelashes and an innate sweetness about him.  You can’t help but want to hold him.

The amazing bond between Broxton and his big brother is so incredible to witness, full of sweet tenderness and protection.

Broxton is a special gem in this world.  His sweet soul is full of life, but his small little body is hurting.

Broxton has Batten Disease and has recently been put on Hospice care.

Batten Disease is a rare genetic disorder in which affected children suffer mental impairment, worsening seizures, and progressive loss of sight and motor skills.  Eventually, children with Batten Disease become blind, bedridden, and unable to communicate, and it is presently always fatal.  The Infantile form of Batten Disease begins between the ages of 6 months and 2 years and progresses rapidly.  Affected children fail to thrive, have abnormally small heads, and typically have short, sharp muscle contractions.  Initial signs of this disorder include delayed psycho-motor development with progressive deterioration, other motor disorders, or seizures,  The infantile form has the most rapid progression and children live into their mid-childhood years. 

{source | the Batten Disease Support and Research Foundation web site}

You can read about Broxton and the Taylor family’s journey on their Caringbridge site HERE.

Imagine for a moment (because unless you have gone through this, we will never really fully understand beyond imagining) as a parent, having a little one year old full of life–walking, talking and smiling. Then, one day things begin to change and suddenly that child loses the ability to walk, to talk, to smile, to eat…this is the world that the Taylor family lives in. Just this past June, Broxton was diagnosed with Batten Disease, and in the just over six months since, their whole universe has changed.

Wouldn’t you do everything in your power to help your child? Knowing the raw love that comes with being a parent, doesn’t your heart hurt? Don’t you want to do everything you can–big or small–to help this family? To help little Broxton? To help other little ones suffering from this horrible disease?

The Run for Broxton is an event that will take place in Gilbert at Freestone park in just a few short weeks on Sunday, February 12, 2012. We would LOVE you to help this family with medical bills, with the cost of care and also help other little ones that have Batten Disease.

Simply CLICK HERE to sign up for the run. It would be such a show of community support if you did. The price is so reasonable–$15 for a 1 mile walk/run or $25 for a 5K.

Can’t make the race but want to donate? Simply CLICK HERE to take you to the direct donation site.

Ways You can Help Broxton:

~ Sign up for the Run for Broxton

~Donate directly to Broxton

~Share this blog post via Facebook or Email

~Leave words of encouragement to the Taylor family on this blog post

~Pray and/or send positive thoughts to the Taylor family

I urge you to help in any way you can, even if it is just to share this blog post to spread the word or to learn more, or to leave sweet words of encouragement. Thank you, thank you!!

Special Child

You weren’t like other children,

And God was well aware,

You’d need a caring family,

With love enough to share.

And so He sent you to us,

And much to our surprise,

You haven’t been a challenge,

But a blessing in disguise.

Your winning smiles and laughter,

The pleasures you impact,

Far outweigh your special needs,

And melt the coldest heart.

We’re proud that we’ve been chosen,

To help you learn and grow,

The job that you have brought us,

Is more than you can know.

A precious gift from Heaven,

A treasure from above,

A child who’s taught us many things,

But most of all – “Real Love”.

~sharon harris

xoxo,

laura

“For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.”
~carl sagan

Love was all around this weekend during the {urban sweetie} Valentine Mini Sessions. Seriously SO FABULOUS!!

59 votes

Dress | Ivy and A

Hair Accessory | Miss M

Felt Puffy Hearts | Grace, Finley and Oliver

xoxo,

laura

“Sometimes life gives us lessons sent in ridiculous packaging. “

~dar williams

I, like many of you, kind of have an obsession for pretty little packaging.  I love making my clients feel special and am always on the lookout for fun ways to dress up my client orders {you can check out the way that I package my orders + the resources I use HERE and HERE–and shown below}.

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I thought I would share with you some drool-worthy ways that others package their products, photographers or not. Enjoy!

Vintage, simple, gorgeous.

31 votes

{image via}

How fun is this? It definitely gets his style across in a clean, modern way.

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{image via}

Luxurious, modern and gorgeous. I love the circle!

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{image via}

Okay, seriously?! Genius!! I would buy these over and over as gifts just so you can read the bottom when you finish them!

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{image via}

Love this wedding packaging!

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{image via}

Yep, I pretty much NEED these confetti bags, don’t you agree?

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{image via}

What are some of your favorite packaging sites?

xoxo,

laura

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Welcome to Wall Art Wednesday! Find lots more gorgeous inspiration right here!

I recently did some travel sessions in Florida this summer, and I had the opportunity to meet the sweet Jill and her adorable son. Isn’t he a doll?! Jill sent over some photographs of her newly-created wall display using images from our session together.  I love it and love how it came together! Can’t wait to photograph the whole family next time, Jill, and meet your hubs!

Details on the photo wall:

The photographs were all printed through MPIX (In Jill’s words, “Love them! Beautiful quality, awesome service. I had one incident where a package came crushed. They sent me replacements within 24 hours. Unbelieveable service.”).

50 votes

What a fun color and a fun way to have the faces you love looking back at you as you eat dinner! Wall displays aren’t just for the living room, peeps!

32 votes

{image via the handmade home}

Eclectic, fun, interesting.

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{image via mimi and meg}

I love this black and white display of special images, and I adore the white glass frame with frame and initial inside of it. So interesting and different!

27 votes

{image via ask anna moseley}

Maternity images with a hard backing and no frame are a modern way to add personal flair to a nursery.

32 votes

{image via cheap chic nursery}

Choose colorful art pieces with a statement background wall color, or do this same thing with your child’s artwork.

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{image via bright baazar}

Make your child’s room a cozy place filled with smiling faces, fun artwork and meaningful words.

48 votes

{image via carley kay photography}

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!

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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!

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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!

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Cake | Decadent Delights

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xoxo,

laura

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.”
~T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”

Thank you to all of my dear clients for such an amazing year. I relished meeting so many new people and getting to see so many familiar faces as well–such a blessing to be able to do this! This is a random selection of images from this year–it is just impossible to include all, so I had someone choose at random for me. Choosing among clients would have been like picking a favorite child–I just couldn’t and love you all too much! Each one of you is so dear to me, and thank you for the opportunity to capture your special moments in time.  Here’s to another fabulous year filled with fun, laughter and connection.

much love,

laura

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Here’s to more beautiful moments in 2012!

xoxo,

la

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Thoughts for the new year…

48 votes

New Year Printable Laura Winslow Photography 8×10

xoxo,

laura

12 votes

Welcome to Wall Art Wednesday! Lots more here!

“There is only one page left to write on. I will fill it with words of only one syllable. I love. I have loved. I will love.”

~audrey niffenegger, the time traveler’s wife

 Create instant art in your home with these Chevron Wall Art templates from the fabulous Holly of Two Pear Designs. Insert your images, print, frame and voila! Modern and fun artwork!

23 votes

{image via senior portraits by holly mccaig | two pear designs}

Fun wall of square images placed flush against one another. Perfect!

27 votes

{image via wood & wool stool}

A relatively small and often overlooked space becomes full of life with a uniformly-arranged set of frames.

16 votes

{via belle maison 23}

Simple, powerful image that isn’t overwhelming at all, but adds modernity and interest to the space.

16 votes

{image via design sponge}

Hang shelving against a subtle striped wall for interest, and add special trinkets with your photographs to give it meaning. Shells collected on your last beach vacation along with images of your children running in the sand perhaps?

18 votes

{image via the lettered cottage}

Beautiful in its simplicity, don’t you think?

23 votes

{image via google}

Color blocking for your walls!

16 votes

{image via martha stewart}

I can’t even begin to express how much I looo-hovvv! this art center wall! I love the metal, the blue paint, the grand size of it all and the many possibilities it has for displaying your child’s artwork, family photos or things to do. Fab!

42 votes

{image via hgtv}

Be sure to check out more wall inspiration right here!

xoxo,

laura

“This morning,
In the hush of dawn,
I knew the miracle of birth -
I looked on the small child
In my arms -
And felt full ownership
Of earth!”

- Katherine Edelman

There was something so magical about this session. The sun was just rising over the nearby mountains, creating a beautiful rush of sun over this home and peeking through the gate.  There was a calm quiet across the neighborhood–people in their homes still sleeping, not yet showing the hustle and bustle of daily life.  While life was passing normally by, inside this home life had just recently changed forever. This couple became parents to this little cutie pie, and their world will never be the same…

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xoxo,

laura