Merry Christmas! Love, the Sutherland Bunch

So last night when I was blogging all my little brothers and sister's were like, "what are you doing?" They thought I was writing a letter to someone haha. When I tried to explain to them what blogging was, they had a hard time completely understanding - so I showed them some of the blogs that I follow and some of my older posts. As far as I know, I think they get it! And after presents this morning (which starts at 6am when you have little ones) they wanted to send a video message to all you bloggers - how cute are they!? So here is our virtual Christmas card from the little Sutherland kids. Have a Merry Christmas!

My Grown Up Christmas List

Happy Christmas Eve bloggers! As I getting ready to eat a fabulous home cooked meal with my family I thought I would let you in on my Christmas Wish List (Items that I have been hearting, that I may or may not have purchased for myself during this Holiday Season haha.... I decided that if I had to TV Show like Oprah or Ellen, I would totally have a giveaway show and give all these items away... that is, if I was rich and famous. Until then, I'll just share what I am loving now, and maybe you will discover them here and love them too! What was on your Christmas list this year?

My Christmas List

1) OPI "You Don't Know Jaque" Nail Polish: This is my new favorite nail color. I am not sure even how to describe it. It is a mix between gray and brown and basically matches everything and is fabulous! I'm pretty sure you can get most OPI colors at Sephora =)



2) Clear Fossil Watch: I've had my eye on this little beauty for awhile now and I just love love love it. I have been critiqued on my love for this because of the "plastic" band. They say it looks cheaper because it's plastic but I think the clearness of it makes it super mod looking. Ugh - I gush. It's about $100, so not sure if this will be in my stocking this year. If you'd like to buy me one, I'd totally let you =)



3) White Leather Jacket: This jacket should probably be #1 on my wishlist - I have been gushing this Urban Outfitters look-alike for awhile. It is super rocker slash 80's motocycle chick and I love the white! I don't know what my deal is with white/clear this year haha



4) Steve Madden Boots: let's just face it - a girl can never have too many shoes =) These are my favs!



5) 500 Days of Summer on DVD: Andy and I saw this in the theater and absolutely loved it! My favorite scene was when they were shopping in Ikea and acting like all the furniture "sets" where their home... this is one of my favorites lines: (obviously the real movie doesn't have cartoon faces on it)

Sneak Peak: Casey & Jimmy

Just a little sneak peak from the shoot I did this morning of the beautiful Casey & Jimmy - how cute are they... you'll see their faces soon, I promise =)

Photo Christmas Gift Ideas

At work, us girls were all chatting about what to get our parents for Christmas. Parents can be hard because typically, they have everything they need. They are the ones with the money haha. What could you possibly get them that they cannot get themselves? Maybe that isn't you, but that was the situation my friends and I were in. One girl got to thinking, and thought she would get pictures taken of her and her boyfriend and frame them for both their parents. I thought this was such a good idea. Being that my mom is a photographer, I value "the picture" and I believe it is one of the coolest ways to show someone you love them. People saves pictures forever - what a great gift idea! Somehow along the way, I was recruited to take these pictures haha, and below are a few from the shoot we did. It got cut way short because we got caught in a rainstorm! The poor couple was drenched by the end of it all.



Then, I got to thinking about other cool ways to use a photo and incorporate it into a gift. I found some pretty cool websites in my search and came up with my top 5 Photo Gift Ideas:

1. Mac iphoto book: this is so easy to do and surprisingly inexpensive! If you have a mac, open your iphoto and at the bottom there are 3 little icons for book, calendar, & cards click on any to make an awesome photo book or calendar for a loved one. Here is a pic of a cover of a book I made for Andy awhile back. This little guy was only about $15!!


2. Photo Transfer Tote Bag: this one would be great for a Mom or a Grandma. I found it on Martha Stewart's website - check there for a more detailed instruction

3. Light Affection Photo: Ok, I just discovered this site where you submit a photo and they do this carving-like process that looks almost just like a siloette and when you shine a light behind it you get this super cool old school photo look. I can't describe it, just go HERE and see for yourself!

4. Photo Collage/Mixed Media: For this all you need are one of those Shadow Box frames and add photos, concert tickets, pressed flowers, and anything else that symbolises your friendship/relationship, I love the 3D effect they give on a shelf or wall.

5. Black & White: This one is simple but classic. Enlarge your photo, edit to black and white, and put in a black frame. Any parent would swoom over this =)

Featured Post on Something Blue

That fabulous couple I shot their engagement photos?? Yes, you do remember them! (if not, that is ok – check them out here) Anyways, they are 2 very good friends of mine and I had the awesome opportunity to be a bridesmaid in their wedding. And their wedding just got featured on the infamous wedding Blog Green Wedding Shoes – yippeee!!! Shannon did such a good job at making her wedding her own and adding her and Scott’s personal flair to it all – so happy to be apart of it all. She also has some great advice for brides that she shares on the post, and you can read it here:

How we met: We met when my brother’s best friend, Andy, brought Scott down to see me from school. Andy insisted that we would be totally into each other and that he could see us together. We both took that with a grain of salt, seeing that others had said that to us before. We hung out a few times after that and saw what Andy meant! Just a couple of months after our initial meeting and a few days after being officially a couple, I moved up to Seattle. Talk about timing! We grew closer over the phone and Scott eventually moved up to Seattle for the summer where we spent every day together. The rest is history! We got engaged around Christmas time on vacation in Hawaii with my family. How incredible.

Planning: Working with Amanda and In The Now gave me a spring board to make my wedding exactly what i wanted it to be like. I was able to get loads of feedback and tons of positive ideas and resources to get inspired from. It also gave me the confidence to make decisions and be equally creative through the past work I’ve done with In The Now.

Favorite memory: I’d have to say my favorite memory of the day was actually the WHOLE day, obviously. But two moments always stick out: the ceremony and our grand entrance at the reception. The ceremony was absolute perfection – it was so personal, so powerful, and so beautiful. Our grand entrance was just as special. We were introduced as husband and wife, with one of our favorite Tom Petty songs blasting in the background and the cheers of all our loved ones. It was incredible to have our two sides together for the first time celebrating with us, and boy did they know how to celebrate. The wedding was incredible and special. I want to relive it every day!

Advice: My advice for planning a wedding is to enjoy it. Enjoy your fiance, enjoy looking at venues, enjoy planning the details, enjoy making your favors, enjoy everything. It will pass by SO quickly, so grasp as much as you can! Also, have fun with making it a reflection of you – express yourself and give your guests the best experience that represents you two as a couple.

Meet the Franchinos!

Eeek it has been 9 days since I've posted! Although, I did post a funny little video on my wedding blog: you should check it out! ~ Something Blue

Ok, I'm going to start off my saying I am not a photographer and I do not make my living as a photographer - I just have a decent camera, my mom was a photographer, and I like to play around. Aaand every once in awhile I get a few good shots haha. I was a Journalism Major in college and I had to take some photo classes so I know all the basics plus some ;-)

Anyways, a friend of mine who I work with wanted a family photo of her beautiful family, but she didn't want anyting too "posey" or boring - she said she wanted "artsy fartsy" haha so I guess that means me! So I got the incredible opportunity to photograph Michelle and her lovely family - they were so much fun and I loved all their creative input. Her little daughter Simone is only 6, but she looks like she could be 8 - she is so much fun and a ton of energy. Some people say photographing kids is hard (which it totally can be!) but I think they bring an added energy to a shoot that makes people smile bigger and brings out their inner-child. Here are a few shots from the beautiful fall day

Fashion Finds at "We Move Vintage"

This blog post is for all the fashion lovers out there. In particular the vintage shoppers, deal hunters, and unique wearers of all things fashion! If that made sense at all haha. I have no idea where I found this, but it was probably late at night and I was a blog reading and went from link to link finding all sorts of fabulousness when I stumbled upon what I like to call, "the jackpot." For me, this happens about on a weekly basis: where I'm what I like to call "linking" just reading from blog to blog clicking on all the links just to see where it leads me. Sometimes it leads to a dead end, sometimes I find myself back at my blog (ironically enough) and sometimes I find the jackpot. "Jackpot" def: something completely new and unique, usually in the form of another blog or website of something totally inspiring and awesome. This weeks jackpot is an online vintage store called We Move Vintage. And it is fab-u-lous! It is like all the best things you would ever find at Savers all in one spot haha. I spent over an hour perusing all their awesome stuff. So, if you love vintage you must must must check out this site!! Plluuuss they are having a SALE right now! I know what you're thinking, and you're welcome =) Have a happy Tuesday blogger beauties!

Here are some of my fav items.... christmas wish list anyone??