Did you send out Christmas cards this year??
I did. I always have and always will.
Even as postage stamps get more and more expensive. Ouch!
I grew up sending Christmas cards. My mom would make my siblings and I pose for Christmas pictures and we were total punks about it. I'm getting payback now trying to get pictures of my own kids. She'd send off her roll of film and pray she got one good picture for the cards. She'd pick her favorite picture, glue it in the cards and then we'd all hand write our names in the cards. We did that every year. She still sends photo cards today.
So when people say they don't have the time or don't want to mess with Christmas cards I can't relate. Haha! It's one of the highlights of December for me. I just love going to the mailbox and seeing who I got cards from that day. We had the cards printed at Sams because they're so affordable. We send out a lot and I can't justify the cost of really pricey cards.
We got our pictures taken at a local Christmas tree farm this year. It's a sweet place. It was FREEZING that morning so we did our pictures in about 10 minutes. The kids were super cooperative and it was our easiest family session yet. We got lots of real smiles, good head shots of everyone and it worked out great. We were happy with the pictures and happy with our card. There was a little debate over which family picture was the favorite. I'll show you all of our favorite pictures. I can't wait to get them printed and hang them in our house in the coming year.
Wish I could send all of you Christmas cards, but since I can't, Merry Christmas from The Jordans!!
Cutest BFFs.
It's time to link up with my favorite Welcome Wednesday ladies.
Be sure to join us with some posts from this week.
Showing posts with label Welcome Wednesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Welcome Wednesday. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Winter Outfit Inspiration
It's gotten COLD in the Midwest.
We wake up to frosty temps almost every day. We haven't gotten much snow just yet, but I hear it's coming. I still need to officially switch my closet over to winter. Pull out my sweaters, cardigans and duck boots. It's been on my to do list for a couple of weeks now. I just keep putting it off and pulling out a sweater or two at a time to wear. Can you relate??
I'm excited to show you some of my favorite cold weather outfit combos today. They're easy, comfy and cute. They are perfect for a busy mom on the go who wants to look put together.
I have a few secrets:
1. Old Navy Rockstar Skinny Jeans. I like the mid rise jeggings and cute booties.
2. Ankle booties. I love the Lucky brand booties because the quality is amazing. They come out with a slightly new style every year. They're such great quality and hold up for years. I also found a really affordable pair at TJ Maxx this year that I've added into the rotation.
3. Only buy items that you LOVE.
I've been working to eliminate clutter in my closet over the last year. Only keeping the things that I really love wearing and feel good in. It makes getting dressed lots easier and I'm always looking for ways to edit my closet down to my favorites.
Matilda Jane. I love their tops. Every time I wear this top from last year I get so many compliments on it. It's a closet staple and it feels special.
Statement sweater. I picked this up at Style Encore. It was new with tags and I love it. It's super soft and an easy way to make a plain outfit interesting.
Wal-Mart puffer jackets.
These Time and Tru jackets are just $20 and are so cute. I love my black and pink ones.
Mad for Plaid!
I try to pick up a new flannel every year. This bright one is from Gap Factory this year and it's the best. It feels festive and fun and is really soft.
Plaid Peplum with bell sleeves. This came from Loft earlier this summer. I just love it!
Plaid layers. I'm on the hunt for a new dark wash denim jacket. I want it to be soft and lightweight. That seems to be a tall order. I haven't found any that I love so I keep wearing this light wash jacket. It's not my favorite, but I'm making due until I can replace it was a favorite item.
Ruffles. Have you seen all the pretty ruffles on shirts this season?? I love this mid arm ruffle and the distressed denim from Old Navy.
Comfy Clothes:
Chances are pretty good if you stopped by my house... you'd see me in my North Face fleece, yoga pants and comfy clothes. School drop off uniform usually involves yoga pants. And that Old Navy floral sweatshirt is a favorite. Throw on some make up and some cute studs and you're set!
What are your go to outfits for Winter??
We wake up to frosty temps almost every day. We haven't gotten much snow just yet, but I hear it's coming. I still need to officially switch my closet over to winter. Pull out my sweaters, cardigans and duck boots. It's been on my to do list for a couple of weeks now. I just keep putting it off and pulling out a sweater or two at a time to wear. Can you relate??
I'm excited to show you some of my favorite cold weather outfit combos today. They're easy, comfy and cute. They are perfect for a busy mom on the go who wants to look put together.
I have a few secrets:
1. Old Navy Rockstar Skinny Jeans. I like the mid rise jeggings and cute booties.
2. Ankle booties. I love the Lucky brand booties because the quality is amazing. They come out with a slightly new style every year. They're such great quality and hold up for years. I also found a really affordable pair at TJ Maxx this year that I've added into the rotation.
3. Only buy items that you LOVE.
I've been working to eliminate clutter in my closet over the last year. Only keeping the things that I really love wearing and feel good in. It makes getting dressed lots easier and I'm always looking for ways to edit my closet down to my favorites.
Matilda Jane. I love their tops. Every time I wear this top from last year I get so many compliments on it. It's a closet staple and it feels special.
Statement sweater. I picked this up at Style Encore. It was new with tags and I love it. It's super soft and an easy way to make a plain outfit interesting.
Wal-Mart puffer jackets.
These Time and Tru jackets are just $20 and are so cute. I love my black and pink ones.
Mad for Plaid!
I try to pick up a new flannel every year. This bright one is from Gap Factory this year and it's the best. It feels festive and fun and is really soft.
Plaid Peplum with bell sleeves. This came from Loft earlier this summer. I just love it!
Plaid layers. I'm on the hunt for a new dark wash denim jacket. I want it to be soft and lightweight. That seems to be a tall order. I haven't found any that I love so I keep wearing this light wash jacket. It's not my favorite, but I'm making due until I can replace it was a favorite item.
Comfy Clothes:
Chances are pretty good if you stopped by my house... you'd see me in my North Face fleece, yoga pants and comfy clothes. School drop off uniform usually involves yoga pants. And that Old Navy floral sweatshirt is a favorite. Throw on some make up and some cute studs and you're set!
What are your go to outfits for Winter??
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Christmas Gift Guide for 2-6 Year Old Girls & Boys
I regularly get messages asking for gift ideas for young kids so today's the day my Christmas gift guide for young kids is ready!!
I'm excited to do a round up of my kid's favorite toys or toys that they are getting for Christmas this year. I tried to include a lot of variety in toys and price points. Thank heavens they aren't big enough to read my blog yet and ruin their Christmas surprises :) I consulted both of them to see which toys are their favorites and then added in the ones that they are always play with.
My kids are really into art supplies, coloring books, holiday candy and any type of bath toys. Bath bubbles, bath toys, bath crayons and bath color fizzies. They love good books and they love games. All that to say, it's the thought that counts at Christmas. Find out what the kids in your life are excited about and try to pick out things that match their interest/age. They'll be thrilled.
I'm curious to see if your kids love any of the same things or if you'd add anything to this list. Be sure and leave me a comment below to tell me!
PICASSO TILES
These are a much more affordable version of magnatiles. My kids play with them at their cousin's house and at our Children's museum. They're getting a couple sets of them for Christmas. They're such a great STEM toy with tons of options for imaginative play. They are also getting two set of these car sets so that they can build things on wheels.
BARBIE DREAM CAMPER
Olive is so excited about this camper! It's been all over the commercials lately. She's been asking for it for weeks. Her Barbies and Princesses are going to have the best time glamping :)
RAZOR SCOOTERS
Both kids are getting these. They've got great reviews and I found them on super sale during Black Friday. Fletcher is very sporty and really great at riding his bike with training wheels for his age. We went ahead and got them for both kids because of this.
MELISSA & DOUG WOODEN HORSE STABLE
We put this on Olive's wish list for her grandma. She's been collecting horses for a year or so and would really love for them to have somewhere to live. The quality of this stable is so nice.
MELISSA AND DOUG TAKE ALONG HORSE STABLE
Olive got this for Christmas last year and both kids LOVE it. The quality is so nice. The horses fit perfectly in their hands and it's been such a fun toy.
PAW PATROL ULTIMATE FIRETRUCK
I found this for Fletcher on sale at Target a couple of weeks ago. He really loves Paw Patrol. Most of his PP toys are inherited from Olive so he's going to be so excited to get something Paw Patrol of his very own. It's a great size and it makes noises.
I SPY THE 50 STATES
I am really excited to read this book with the kids. I'd love to tell them all about the states we've lived in and visited over the years.
BOOGIE BOARDS
My kids got these for Christmas last year and have really enjoyed them. They're digital drawing boards with four different types of pens that hook on each corner. It's ZERO mess and tons of fun. We've taken ours on planes, cars, church and at home. They're so much fun for kids and adults. They erase with the touch of a button. Can't recommend these enough.
MELISSA AND DOUG CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES
Fletcher got these for his 2nd birthday and loves them. He sleeps with them most nights because he can't bear to let them leave his side. They're sturdy, cute and really fun to play with.
MELISSA AND DOUG CONSTRUCTION SITE CARPET
Pair this with the construction vehicles for hours of fun. I got a couple bags of the decorative rocks at Dollar Tree and both of my kids really love playing construction together.
MELISSA AND DOUG METAL SHOPPING CART
Olive got this for Christmas several years ago and both kids LOVE it. They haul stuff all over the house. Load up groceries, babies and stuffed animals. It's super sturdy and really high quality. It looks brand new after playing with it daily for three years.
CANDYLAND
Both kids really enjoy playing this game.
TOUCH AND FEEL FLASH CARDS
Both kids have really enjoyed these sets of flashcards. We have several of them and have used them for years. Fletcher is getting this vehicle set in his stocking.
ALPHABET ALLIGATORS
Both kids enjoy matching these upper and lower case letters on alligators. Great learning toy!
CALICO CRITTERS
My five year old loves all the sweet Calico Critter families. The animals are all so cute and they've got so many fun accessories. They range in price from under $10-$30ish. Tons of cute, affordable options for gift giving.
FISHER PRICE SIT AND STAND SKYWAY
Fletch got this last year for Christmas. Both kids have played with it a ton this year. We bought extra cars to go with it since it only comes with a couple. We love that you can make two different race tracks with one toy.
CASH REGISTER
Olive is asking for a play cash register for Christmas. I think she's going to love it for playing store. My guess is both kids will have a ton of fun shopping for their own toys and paying pretend money for things.
MY FIRST REMOTE CONTROL CAR
Fletcher is getting this for Christmas from his aunt and going to love it! Kevin has a remote control car that he thinks is the coolest thing ever. Should be tons of fun inside and out.
HATCHIMALS
These are marketed for girls, but both of my kids really like them. They play with them a ton and they are really cute. They love the element of surprise when they crack open a new set of Hatchimal eggs. You can buy them in two packs, four packs or a dozen. You can also buy houses for them. Ours live in the egg cartons and in a doll house we already have.
What toys would you add to this list??
// Some affiliate links included. Thanks for reading & supporting Polka-Dotty Place! //
I'm excited to do a round up of my kid's favorite toys or toys that they are getting for Christmas this year. I tried to include a lot of variety in toys and price points. Thank heavens they aren't big enough to read my blog yet and ruin their Christmas surprises :) I consulted both of them to see which toys are their favorites and then added in the ones that they are always play with.
My kids are really into art supplies, coloring books, holiday candy and any type of bath toys. Bath bubbles, bath toys, bath crayons and bath color fizzies. They love good books and they love games. All that to say, it's the thought that counts at Christmas. Find out what the kids in your life are excited about and try to pick out things that match their interest/age. They'll be thrilled.
I'm curious to see if your kids love any of the same things or if you'd add anything to this list. Be sure and leave me a comment below to tell me!
PICASSO TILES
These are a much more affordable version of magnatiles. My kids play with them at their cousin's house and at our Children's museum. They're getting a couple sets of them for Christmas. They're such a great STEM toy with tons of options for imaginative play. They are also getting two set of these car sets so that they can build things on wheels.
BARBIE DREAM CAMPER
Olive is so excited about this camper! It's been all over the commercials lately. She's been asking for it for weeks. Her Barbies and Princesses are going to have the best time glamping :)
RAZOR SCOOTERS
Both kids are getting these. They've got great reviews and I found them on super sale during Black Friday. Fletcher is very sporty and really great at riding his bike with training wheels for his age. We went ahead and got them for both kids because of this.
MELISSA & DOUG WOODEN HORSE STABLE
We put this on Olive's wish list for her grandma. She's been collecting horses for a year or so and would really love for them to have somewhere to live. The quality of this stable is so nice.
MELISSA AND DOUG TAKE ALONG HORSE STABLE
Olive got this for Christmas last year and both kids LOVE it. The quality is so nice. The horses fit perfectly in their hands and it's been such a fun toy.
PAW PATROL ULTIMATE FIRETRUCK
I found this for Fletcher on sale at Target a couple of weeks ago. He really loves Paw Patrol. Most of his PP toys are inherited from Olive so he's going to be so excited to get something Paw Patrol of his very own. It's a great size and it makes noises.
I SPY THE 50 STATES
I am really excited to read this book with the kids. I'd love to tell them all about the states we've lived in and visited over the years.
BOOGIE BOARDS
My kids got these for Christmas last year and have really enjoyed them. They're digital drawing boards with four different types of pens that hook on each corner. It's ZERO mess and tons of fun. We've taken ours on planes, cars, church and at home. They're so much fun for kids and adults. They erase with the touch of a button. Can't recommend these enough.
MELISSA AND DOUG CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES
Fletcher got these for his 2nd birthday and loves them. He sleeps with them most nights because he can't bear to let them leave his side. They're sturdy, cute and really fun to play with.
MELISSA AND DOUG CONSTRUCTION SITE CARPET
Pair this with the construction vehicles for hours of fun. I got a couple bags of the decorative rocks at Dollar Tree and both of my kids really love playing construction together.
MELISSA AND DOUG METAL SHOPPING CART
Olive got this for Christmas several years ago and both kids LOVE it. They haul stuff all over the house. Load up groceries, babies and stuffed animals. It's super sturdy and really high quality. It looks brand new after playing with it daily for three years.
CANDYLAND
Both kids really enjoy playing this game.
TOUCH AND FEEL FLASH CARDS
Both kids have really enjoyed these sets of flashcards. We have several of them and have used them for years. Fletcher is getting this vehicle set in his stocking.
ALPHABET ALLIGATORS
Both kids enjoy matching these upper and lower case letters on alligators. Great learning toy!
CALICO CRITTERS
My five year old loves all the sweet Calico Critter families. The animals are all so cute and they've got so many fun accessories. They range in price from under $10-$30ish. Tons of cute, affordable options for gift giving.
FISHER PRICE SIT AND STAND SKYWAY
Fletch got this last year for Christmas. Both kids have played with it a ton this year. We bought extra cars to go with it since it only comes with a couple. We love that you can make two different race tracks with one toy.
CASH REGISTER
Olive is asking for a play cash register for Christmas. I think she's going to love it for playing store. My guess is both kids will have a ton of fun shopping for their own toys and paying pretend money for things.
MY FIRST REMOTE CONTROL CAR
Fletcher is getting this for Christmas from his aunt and going to love it! Kevin has a remote control car that he thinks is the coolest thing ever. Should be tons of fun inside and out.
HATCHIMALS
These are marketed for girls, but both of my kids really like them. They play with them a ton and they are really cute. They love the element of surprise when they crack open a new set of Hatchimal eggs. You can buy them in two packs, four packs or a dozen. You can also buy houses for them. Ours live in the egg cartons and in a doll house we already have.
What toys would you add to this list??
// Some affiliate links included. Thanks for reading & supporting Polka-Dotty Place! //
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Florida Birthday
Kevin surprised me with a trip to Florida for my birthday this year!
And by surprised me, I mean that he mentioned it a couple weeks before my birthday, researched the best deals and we planned it all out together. He figured it would be a fun treat to head to the ocean in November. That's my kind of surprise :) Both he and Olive had the week of Thanksgiving off so he figured it would be a fun time to get away to somewhere warm. He was right! I've never celebrated my birthday at the ocean before.
I'm always thankful when a stranger offers to snap a whole family picture of us.
We took a late night flight out of Indianapolis the night before my birthday. It was the first time flying late in the evening with the kids and they did great. We usually fly in the morning or afternoon to try to catch some flight during nap time. We didn't get to Kevin's parent's condo until midnight, but everyone was so excited about the trip that it worked out just fine.
The next morning was my birthday. We had donuts, enjoyed a relaxing morning and then headed to the zoo. The day was supposed to be one of the coolest days while we were there so the zoo was the perfect outing. The weather was perfect!! It really is one of the prettiest tropical zoos. We would HIGHLY recommend going to the Naples Zoo if you ever get the chance.
We got to feed the giraffes. Olive has done this a couple of times. It was Fletcher's first time. The giraffes were really hungry so it was fun.
The kids took turns riding around in the stroller. The animals were all out and about since the weather was so nice. The zoo not crowded at all.
Everything was still in bloom so it was fun to stop and smell the roses.
There was a fascinating exhibit at the zoo. It was all of these animal sculptures that were made from trash washed ashore at the ocean. It was wild to see all of the things that had been found at the ocean. The kids had tons of questions about the items. There was an octopus, fish, shark and so many more creatures made of out of sea trash.
We strolled through the zoo, checked out the playgrounds and snacked. It was so nice.
We grabbed burgers on the way home and then all took a nap! We headed to my favorite restaurant for dinner - Tommy Bahama. It was so fun to eat out on the patio with twinkle lights. We love this place. They serve their appetizer bread in the shape of a starfish, have delicious crab cakes, have live music/patio seating and we love their key lime pie.
The kids did great! They seemed so big on this trip. They ate lots of good food, enjoyed their surroundings and it was a lot of fun.
Downtown Naples was all decked out for Christmas! It was so charming to be in a big city that was all decked out for the holidays. We spotted Santa hanging out in the tree, all the palm trees were covered in lights and there were Christmas trees everywhere.
We did some birthday shopping the following day. I had the best luck at TJ Maxx. Don't you love it when you find a fully stocked section of shoes in your size!?!? 9.5 always seem to get picked over fast so it felt like a jackpot to find so many good shoe options. I always walked away with fun Christmas stuff.
We hit up the outlet mall another day. We made wishes in the fountains, found some great deals and headed to our favorite Kate Spade store. Olive loved all the sparkles. I found some new earrings. I just LOVE the studs from Kate Spade. They're so classic.
It's time to link up with my favorite Welcome Wednesday ladies.
Be sure to join us with some fun links of your own and meet some new blog friends.
And by surprised me, I mean that he mentioned it a couple weeks before my birthday, researched the best deals and we planned it all out together. He figured it would be a fun treat to head to the ocean in November. That's my kind of surprise :) Both he and Olive had the week of Thanksgiving off so he figured it would be a fun time to get away to somewhere warm. He was right! I've never celebrated my birthday at the ocean before.
I'm always thankful when a stranger offers to snap a whole family picture of us.
We took a late night flight out of Indianapolis the night before my birthday. It was the first time flying late in the evening with the kids and they did great. We usually fly in the morning or afternoon to try to catch some flight during nap time. We didn't get to Kevin's parent's condo until midnight, but everyone was so excited about the trip that it worked out just fine.
The next morning was my birthday. We had donuts, enjoyed a relaxing morning and then headed to the zoo. The day was supposed to be one of the coolest days while we were there so the zoo was the perfect outing. The weather was perfect!! It really is one of the prettiest tropical zoos. We would HIGHLY recommend going to the Naples Zoo if you ever get the chance.
We got to feed the giraffes. Olive has done this a couple of times. It was Fletcher's first time. The giraffes were really hungry so it was fun.
The kids took turns riding around in the stroller. The animals were all out and about since the weather was so nice. The zoo not crowded at all.
Everything was still in bloom so it was fun to stop and smell the roses.
There was a fascinating exhibit at the zoo. It was all of these animal sculptures that were made from trash washed ashore at the ocean. It was wild to see all of the things that had been found at the ocean. The kids had tons of questions about the items. There was an octopus, fish, shark and so many more creatures made of out of sea trash.
We strolled through the zoo, checked out the playgrounds and snacked. It was so nice.
We grabbed burgers on the way home and then all took a nap! We headed to my favorite restaurant for dinner - Tommy Bahama. It was so fun to eat out on the patio with twinkle lights. We love this place. They serve their appetizer bread in the shape of a starfish, have delicious crab cakes, have live music/patio seating and we love their key lime pie.
The kids did great! They seemed so big on this trip. They ate lots of good food, enjoyed their surroundings and it was a lot of fun.
Downtown Naples was all decked out for Christmas! It was so charming to be in a big city that was all decked out for the holidays. We spotted Santa hanging out in the tree, all the palm trees were covered in lights and there were Christmas trees everywhere.
We did some birthday shopping the following day. I had the best luck at TJ Maxx. Don't you love it when you find a fully stocked section of shoes in your size!?!? 9.5 always seem to get picked over fast so it felt like a jackpot to find so many good shoe options. I always walked away with fun Christmas stuff.
We hit up the outlet mall another day. We made wishes in the fountains, found some great deals and headed to our favorite Kate Spade store. Olive loved all the sparkles. I found some new earrings. I just LOVE the studs from Kate Spade. They're so classic.
It's time to link up with my favorite Welcome Wednesday ladies.
Be sure to join us with some fun links of your own and meet some new blog friends.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
6 Simple Secrets for Wonderful Family Pictures
It's that time of year again... Family picture time!!
Many of my friends and family are scheduling family pictures right now. I don't know about you, but I LOVE family pictures.
I love styling my family.
I love having updated family pictures.
I love having a family photo for Christmas cards.
I look forward to it every year.
We've done family pictures enough with our family of four and extended family that I have really figured out what works best over the years.
1. Try to schedule pictures at a time that works well for everyone.
Plan around work schedules, nap times and meal times. We opted for 11:00 am pictures this year. It was perfect. Everyone was wide awake, not hungry and not ready for a nap. Keep in mind weather/time of year. Our weather was very cold the morning we had pictures so our photographer moved our session indoors at the Christmas tree farm. It worked just fine and was warmer than outside.
2. Plan your outfits well in advance with a try on session.
Make sure to give yourself time to gather clothes from things you already have and only buy a few new things. Let everyone have a say in what they wear. Pick items that are true to their style so they'll feel comfortable. Everyone must try on their outfits to make sure it's comfy, cute and that they are happy with the fit of things. There's no time to mess with that on picture day.
3. Plan your color scheme around one item of clothing.
I usually pick out a fun dress Olive's and then base the pictures around those colors. Her Matilda Jane dress was one of my favorites this year. If you don't have a little girl, you could easily plan pictures around a pretty scarf, plaid shirt, dress for you, etc.
4. Do a mini session if possible.
We did a mini session of 15 minutes this year and it was so easy. We got family pictures, individual pictures, sibling pictures, mom and dad pictures and tons of cute options in less than 15 minutes. It was wonderful and we all walked away smiling. Even my husband, who is not a lover of family pictures, enjoy the mini session. I've seen mini session range from 15-30 minutes depending on the photographer.
5. Try to schedule family pictures by November
This way you can take advantage of big sales on Christmas cards. Sams always runs a deal for Black Friday weekend that is 100 photo cards for $25. That includes the envelopes.
6. Plan a fun treat for after pictures
Really talk up a fun treat for after pictures. Pick something that your family loves - ice cream, favorite restaurant, pizza, etc. My kids LOVE ring pops so I had them waiting in the car to give the kids after our pictures. Kevin got to swing through Starbucks drive through :)
Here's a sneak peek of our outfits. We started with Olive's MJ dress and all worked to find pieces in our wardrobes that worked.
Olive.
I wish her dress came in my size!
Fletcher.
I love little boys in sweaters and mustard is always a good idea. Thankful for friends who pass down cute boy clothes :)
Whitney.
I love this top and this color. I also love my new distressed Rockstar Skinnies from Old Navy.
Kevin.
He picked out his outfit all on his own :) He was happy to wear his favorite and I was happy his matching skills are improving.
We went really neutral with our shoes. Olive picked her sparkliest pair - sparkle high tops with a pom pom. Fletcher wore his standard crocs and I wore gray booties. I can't remember what Kevin wore - whoops!
My BONUS family picture secret is PICK YOUR BATTLES.
Compromise with the people you love most so that everyone gets a say in what they're wearing or where they're standing or whatever for family pics. Example: I really wanted Olive to wear these mustard mary janes. They looked so cute with her dress. She was not having it so I let her pick her shoes and she was THRILLED. She was super cooperative for pictures and we all had fun. It was not worth me pushing the issue. Compromise is good for everyone :)
Family Picture Archives:
2017: My cousin shoots our family pictures every other year. She's a saint and I love seeing our whole crew together. My mom pictures 3 main colors for pictures and we all work to coordinate our families.
2016:
2015:
2014: Polar Express
2013:
It's time to link up with my favorite Welcome Wednesday Ladies.
Be sure to join us with some of your best posts of the week.
Many of my friends and family are scheduling family pictures right now. I don't know about you, but I LOVE family pictures.
I love styling my family.
I love having updated family pictures.
I love having a family photo for Christmas cards.
I look forward to it every year.
We've done family pictures enough with our family of four and extended family that I have really figured out what works best over the years.
1. Try to schedule pictures at a time that works well for everyone.
Plan around work schedules, nap times and meal times. We opted for 11:00 am pictures this year. It was perfect. Everyone was wide awake, not hungry and not ready for a nap. Keep in mind weather/time of year. Our weather was very cold the morning we had pictures so our photographer moved our session indoors at the Christmas tree farm. It worked just fine and was warmer than outside.
2. Plan your outfits well in advance with a try on session.
Make sure to give yourself time to gather clothes from things you already have and only buy a few new things. Let everyone have a say in what they wear. Pick items that are true to their style so they'll feel comfortable. Everyone must try on their outfits to make sure it's comfy, cute and that they are happy with the fit of things. There's no time to mess with that on picture day.
3. Plan your color scheme around one item of clothing.
I usually pick out a fun dress Olive's and then base the pictures around those colors. Her Matilda Jane dress was one of my favorites this year. If you don't have a little girl, you could easily plan pictures around a pretty scarf, plaid shirt, dress for you, etc.
4. Do a mini session if possible.
We did a mini session of 15 minutes this year and it was so easy. We got family pictures, individual pictures, sibling pictures, mom and dad pictures and tons of cute options in less than 15 minutes. It was wonderful and we all walked away smiling. Even my husband, who is not a lover of family pictures, enjoy the mini session. I've seen mini session range from 15-30 minutes depending on the photographer.
5. Try to schedule family pictures by November
This way you can take advantage of big sales on Christmas cards. Sams always runs a deal for Black Friday weekend that is 100 photo cards for $25. That includes the envelopes.
6. Plan a fun treat for after pictures
Really talk up a fun treat for after pictures. Pick something that your family loves - ice cream, favorite restaurant, pizza, etc. My kids LOVE ring pops so I had them waiting in the car to give the kids after our pictures. Kevin got to swing through Starbucks drive through :)
Here's a sneak peek of our outfits. We started with Olive's MJ dress and all worked to find pieces in our wardrobes that worked.
Olive.
I wish her dress came in my size!
Fletcher.
I love little boys in sweaters and mustard is always a good idea. Thankful for friends who pass down cute boy clothes :)
Whitney.
I love this top and this color. I also love my new distressed Rockstar Skinnies from Old Navy.
Kevin.
He picked out his outfit all on his own :) He was happy to wear his favorite and I was happy his matching skills are improving.
We went really neutral with our shoes. Olive picked her sparkliest pair - sparkle high tops with a pom pom. Fletcher wore his standard crocs and I wore gray booties. I can't remember what Kevin wore - whoops!
My BONUS family picture secret is PICK YOUR BATTLES.
Compromise with the people you love most so that everyone gets a say in what they're wearing or where they're standing or whatever for family pics. Example: I really wanted Olive to wear these mustard mary janes. They looked so cute with her dress. She was not having it so I let her pick her shoes and she was THRILLED. She was super cooperative for pictures and we all had fun. It was not worth me pushing the issue. Compromise is good for everyone :)
Family Picture Archives:
2017: My cousin shoots our family pictures every other year. She's a saint and I love seeing our whole crew together. My mom pictures 3 main colors for pictures and we all work to coordinate our families.
2016:
2015:
2014: Polar Express
2013:
It's time to link up with my favorite Welcome Wednesday Ladies.
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