Fashion Friday

March 16, 2012

I am a designer lovin’, label seeking, penny pincher.

I’ve always been a sucker for deals and low prices. It’s genetic and runs deep in my blood. I got the deal-hunting gene from my mom, who got it from her mom, who I’m sure got it from her mom and so on. In fact, my best friend made me so proud a couple weeks ago. She found a dress she really liked, but complained that it was “Sixteen dollars!?!”

Don’t get me wrong, I get my JCrew catalog and greatly appreciate everything in Anthropologie, but I would never buy anything from them. I don’t think it’s physically possible for me to spend that much money on an item. My deal hunting ways are so bad that when I go to already low priced stores like Target or Old Navy, I go straight to the clearance sections and that’s it. I believe if you really want something, just stalk it until it goes on sale. I’ve gotten spoiled from getting such great deals that it’s not worth it to me to pay full price.

A couple years back, I was at Plato’s Closet (best store ever for cheap fashion nuts) and found some adorable red leather Marc Jacob flats for 10!!!!!! I ran them up to the check-out counter and exclaimed to the salesgirl, “Marc Jacobs for only $10?!!” She looked at me as if I was speaking Chinese. I walked out feeling like I had won the shoe lottery. They were half a size too small, but I made them work. I was just super grateful that no one, especially that designer-naive sales girl, had scooped them up before me.

I’ve decided to start “Fashion Friday” because I LOVE putting outfits together. I believe in quantity in my closet over quality. More outfit choices suits my ADD need for constant change. Since I am a working mom, I try my best to look not only presentable, but cute as well. Sometimes it’s trial and error, hit or miss, but I thought it’d be fun to post pictures of my outfits throughout the week. In coming posts, I’m going to post tips about:

-shopping for clothes at thrift stores

-accessorizing

-finding your own style

-dressing cute even when you don’t feel like it

and

-random thoughts from Rena :)

Feel free to comment/ask questions and I’ll do my best to get back to you. Happy first “Fashion Friday”!

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Eliza

March 7, 2012

It’s hard to believe that Eliza is two! Especially since it seems like yesterday that I took her parents maternity pictures. When I first showed up, Kelsi gave me a look and said, “She didn’t nap.” We were afraid that would completely ruin the day, but (thankfully) we were so wrong. What a precious and thoughtful little beauty Eliza is! And we even scored some awesome pictures with her baby sister, Nöel!

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Anna

February 29, 2012

My sweet cousin Bethany drove down from Orange County and gave me the pleasure of photographing her GORGEOUS daughter. Anna is only ten days younger than my son, so it’s fun to see them run around the back yard together. I am so in love with Anna’s pigtails, her precious dress and her serious little personality. Please come down again soon, Bethany, so we can have the kids all play together again!

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Quick Italian Cream Cake

February 29, 2012

I made this cake for a dinner party a couple weeks ago and it was super yummy. Many people have requested the recipe, so I figured it’d be easiest to post on here. It is incredibly easy to make, but be warned it is pretty sweet, so you might want to have some coffee or milk nearby to drink with it. Enjoy!

Quick Italian Cream Cake

(from Cake Mix Miracles book)

Ingredients:

-1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix with pudding (I used Pillsbury Moist Supreme.)

-3 large eggs

-1 1/4 cups buttermilk*

-1/4 cup vegetable oil

-1 (3.5-ounce) can flaked coconut (I had a big bag, so I just measured 3.5 oz on my electronic scale.)

-2/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted

-3 Tablespoons rum (optional…I skipped this.)

-Cream Cheese-Pecan Frosting (see recipe below)

*I poured a little bit less than 1 1/4 cup milk in a bowl with about 1 Tb of vinegar in it and let it sit for about five minutes until it curdles.

1. Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes. Stir in coconut and pecans. Pour into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

3. Sprinkle each cake layer evenly with rum, if desired; let stand 10 minutes.

4. Spread Cream Cheese-Pecan Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Chill 2 hours before slicing. Yield: 1 (3-layer) cake.

Cream Cheese-Pecan Frosting

Ingredients:

-1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

-1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

-1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar

-2 teaspoons vanilla extract

-1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar (I ended up using about half the box), beating until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla and pecans. Yield: 4 cups.

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Nelsons

November 8, 2011

My friend, Chris, is an AMAZING photographer and when she suggested an “exchange” for Christmas pictures, I jumped at the chance! Not only did we get to have our first official photo shoot since Simon was born, but I got to, once again, photograph this DROP-DEAD beautiful family. I mean…seriously, I think Chris could wear a bag over her head and still give Heidi Klum a run for her money. :)

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Summer!

July 2, 2011

I am on summer vacation for the next month and a half. All I plan on doing is hanging out with my boys and doing fun things. Everytime I think of something new I add it to my list. So far some of the things on the “to do” list are:

-ride the Sprinter to the beach

-go to the library

-camp in the backyard

-make homemade popsicles

-etc.

So far we have been hanging out and drawing in the giant cardboard box I snagged from the Whirlpool guys making a delivery to my neighbors. I love summer.

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Kaylie

June 11, 2011

I think this little girl has the SWEETEST face there is. We had a fun time running around the park. She is incredibly busy (although aren’t ALL 1-year-olds?!), adventurous and athletic. There is a very good chance in a couple years, she is going to be tearing up the soccer field.

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Gigi

May 28, 2011

I can’t believe that Gigi is 4 already!! Where does the time go?! I swear it was yesterday that she was the precious little flower girl (only  2 months old!) in my wedding. We had planned to do a total family shoot, but had way too much fun eating Nicole’s homemade pizza that it got late and little brother Brody got too tired. I’m stoked on how many shots we got of Gianna though. I think she was super excited to be the center of attention, but then again, what four-year-old wouldn’t be?!

And this one just for fun…

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gym memberships and my total lack of follow-through

May 23, 2011

I’d like to start off by saying that I’m not the gym-membership-kind-of-owning person. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve owned a couple gym memberships, but each of them has ended up with two or three visits, well intentioned nonetheless, but then not used for the following six months (that I continued to pay for until finally getting around to canceling). I’ve always been the kind of person that starts off with full steam, excited and ambitious and end up crashing or giving up about a week later (most likely distracted by something or other). So goes all of my work-out or eating-right endeavors.

After having two kids, one right after the other, I am fiercely trying to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight (or better) and decided that the thing I’d like to change the most about myself is to become a more consistent person in life…starting with working out regularly. Since I work full-time and have two kids, I never really feel like I have the time to devote to working out. I’ve tried waking up early, before work, to do it, but that was easily given up . The gravitational pull below my bed is strong and I DID NOT want to get up until the absolute last minute. After being inspired by my sister (shout out to the amazing Renata!), I set my mind to doing the Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred in 30 days. Even though I have never seen an episode of The Biggest Loser…I am a big fan of hers. It’s an intense workout that’s only thirty minutes, which I figured I could work into my day.

Again, like ALL things in my life, I started out with gusto and went 12 days straight, in a row, before I decided to take a few days off to give myself and my muscles a rest.  I have now gone 17 days (that’s 510 minutes of work-out time…in case you were interested) and am sincerely hoping this becomes a habit. I realize though how easy it is to give up, especially when I am going through my day on little sleep. I know that I need to put on my serious work-out clothes (see picture below) and start the video and then I don’t quit. It’s the starting part that’s difficult. It also helps me to put it on my calendar (thank you iPhone for beeping to remind me to get my butt in gear). I figure now that it’s out on my blog, that I will have more accountability and hopefully change my nasty habit of giving up.

This picture is a good representation of how 75% of my work-outs occur. What is it about mommy laying on the ground that attracts the children like bears to honey?!

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Heidi

April 13, 2011

While we were out taking pictures of her daughter, my sis-in-law, Heidi, asked if I could get “some” shots of her. Always up for a portrait session, I agreed. I had no idea how good Heidi would be in front of the camera. She was super comfortable and has the “no smile, model face” mastered. I am super impressed!

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