Sunday, April 27, 2014

Chestosky's Birthday Easter Extravaganza

I normally don't do event photography, it isn't really my fortay! I enjoy going to events to be there and be present, and talk to people!! I rarely even bring my camera at all to things we are invited to! Heck I didn't even do any pictures at Kyra's Birthday Party!

But Anna came to me and asked for me to photograph her son's birthday, and I can't say no to a new experience! So I did, I enjoyed it, mostly because the party was full of adorable kids, and what is more fun to photograph than super cute kids?

From the looks of it these kids had a super good time at the party, my daughter included!!

Tyler got a handmade card from his neighbors!

Awesome Gift baskets!!

Pinata time!!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Birthday Bucket List

Birthday Bucket List: 50 things to do before your next birthday!

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posted on April 24, 2014 by Nicolette | posted under Anti Boredom Busters, Beauty, Birthdays, Family, Family Time, Fitness and Healthy Living, Holiday, Uncategorized

As more and more birthdays pass, life seems to get more and more predictable. Where’s the excitement? Where’s the spontaneity? When I turned 30, I realized that I was eating at the same restaurants, driving the same routes, and doing the same routine everyday. I needed to spice things up! There were SO MANY things I wanted/needed to do…travel, learn, adventure!

With the help of our HowDoesShe Facebook fans, we’ve compiled the PERFECT birthday bucket list! If you’re ready to step a little out of your comfort zone and have some fun, print this activity list and try completing as many of them as you can before your next birthday!

Reconnect with a family member (estranged or separated by distance)
Participate in a race (run, bike, walk, swim, etc.)
Travel somewhere you’ve never been. (Tips here)
Go to a concert.
Call an old friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Treat yourself to a massage.
Go on a weekend trip with just your spouse…and do it for cheap!
Take a class to further your education or learn a fun new skill (cooking, photography, pottery, etc.)
Visit the dermatologist for a skin cancer screening.
Try an activity you’ve never tried before (like skiing, hot yoga, or human foosball!)
Get a facial.
Go on a girls trip.
Read at least ONE book from THIS LIST that you haven’t read before.
Revisit something you used to love to do, but don’t anymore (like playing an instrument, a sport, or a hobby).
Choose one space in your house to completely reorganize or redecorate.
Do something extreme (skydiving, zip lining, scuba diving, hot air balloon, etc.)
Make a fitness goal and achieve it. (Try clean eating, and these other healthy living ideas.)
Get out of debt.
Give up one thing that may not be so good for you.
Make a new friend.
Try a new restaurant that is out of your comfort zone.
Visit a state park.
Visit a national park.
Learn a new skill (a new language, how to use a chainsaw, fix a bike, bake a soufflé, etc.)
Host a dinner party.
Get at least 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Have a picnic in the mountains.
Have a picnic on the beach.
Try riding some type of board (surf board, snow board, wake board, long board, boogie board, etc.)
Wear fur (and totally rock it!)
Go to a professional sporting game.
Eat something you’ve never eaten before.
Wear RED lipstick.
Volunteer for a good cause that is out of your comfort zone (at a soup kitchen, the food bank, your local animal shelter, etc.)
Grow something you can eat.
Find your perfect pair of jeans. (Psst…here’s a little secret!)
Sing karaoke.
Learn how to take better pictures (HERE, and HERE).
Take a picture every day for a year.
Give your hair a deep moisture treatment. (Try our #1 DIY coconut oil moisture treatment!)
Go skinny dipping.
Write in your journal at least once a week (or month).
Get prepared for an emergency. (Survival kits, 72 hour kits, and food storage)
Go to a drive-in movie.
See a Broadway show.
Create a family time capsule.
Go camping.
Soak in a natural hot springs.
Finish a project you started and discarded (or have been meaning to start).
See an eclipse.

Found this list on another blog and LOVED it!! I am starting this today!! And will post pictures of us checking things off :D

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Keukenhof Gardens in Holland

Listed as one of the top 20 most beautiful places in the world, on some list (mind you I read traveling lists all the time....I am a bit obsessed) Keukenhof Gardens in Holland was a trip we were not going to miss out on.

We got up super early as we wanted to do it as a day trip and save a little money on getting a hotel while we were there!! And it worked out really well. It actually would have been an even easier trip if we hadn't gotten stuck in a stau for 40 mins due to construction.

If you have heard of these Gardens you are likely (at least I did) to imagine just fields and fields of flowers. Now there is a viewing point where you can look out over these said fields, but we couldn't get as close as I had hoped to them and from our vantage point through the camera it appeared simply as lines of color and not much else.

But the rest of the Garden is phenomenal!! I mean they have every kind of flower, and combination of flower you can imagine!! It was just a magnificent place to visit!! And I am so glad we were able to check it off our bucket list this year before we move.