nathalie bearden photography

beach fun in florida...

last week was my spring break.  so we loaded the car and headed down to seaside, florida for a quick family vacation.  this was k's first time on the beach.  we had four lovely sunshine days, then things started to turn against us.  we came home two days earlier because florida was getting really bad weather.  but trust me the four days we had to spend on the beach was well worth the looooooong drive.  here are some images to prove my point.  i came home to two tests this week....sooo i will dissapear once again.  hope you enjoy the pretty blue waters.  we will go back to the area again.  it is a lovely place for families with young children.

view from the condo...

k loved the sand...but was not a fan of the water.  not because it was freezing cold...but because the waves really scared her. 

making some vitamin D...

this is my favorite photo...

time to eat...

time to shop in seaside...

time to pick a book to read...

time to go back to the beach...

this beautiful outfit was made by my friend ashley!  she gave it to kennedy for her birthday.

time to look sweet...

time to eat at george's...

very neat place to eat at aly's beach...

time for mama and papa to be sweet...

bye bye seaside.  until next time...

swapping cuteness...

mette and did a sweet spring swap!  she sent me so many goodies that is hard to say which i like best.  the fabrics are all so so pretty.  she also sent me some super yummy danish chocolate.  needless to say, it is all gone!  thanks mette for putting together such a great package!

i'm in the process of making something for kennedy for easter and for her doll abby too.  i'm using one of my japanese books for inspiration.  i'm gaga about these japanese fabrics and pattern books.  i have a class-mate from japan and he is tired of me making a list of things he must bring next time he visits home.  i can't help that they make such cute things.  i went crazy over this print.  too sweet for words. 

i had a great day yesterday.  i was supposed to go downtown with a friend.  but i had to sleep.  ohh my i'm already acting like i'm 50.  no problem because my friend said she had a lot of fun for me.  papa and i went to dinner last friday.  so yesterday was a nice day to chill.  i did get breakfast in bed which is always a really yummy treat!  kennedy said happy birthday mama.  in her own convoluted language.  it is pretty cute though.  i'm excited about getting to read my books and decorate the home with a few very special things.  thanks for all of the sweet emails wishing me a happy birthday!!

aww baby breath...

only sweeter than baby breath....is puppy breath!  for a very brief minute i miss baby breath.....ohhhhhh it is gone.  back to terrible twos again.  that's enough birth control for me.  lol!  this is millie.  remember her mama???  so millie is here, healthy, and keeping her mama awake all night.  i went to visit megan and her millie.  i took them some lunch and my photography stuff.  i was so excited to capture some images of her.  she is as sweet as they come!  i can't wait to photograph again!!  thanks megan for letting me have fun with millie.  soo my colors are great until i post them here.  i have tried saving them for web, but the colors are still not as vibrant as i see on PS.  ohh well.

for all of these images i used natural light only.  i used a reflector to reflect some of the light.  as you can see i'm very proficient yet.  love baby shots though.  babies don't move.......toddlers do....move a lot!  and say NO, no more cheeeeeese.  can you believe that????

i have been crazy busy with school.  i'm having to do some catching up after some procrastination, which in turn, lead to some poor grades.  december can't come fast enough.  i'm sooooo ready to graduate.  i think i have said it once or twice!  happy week!

working the land...

we are trying to be more self-sufficient.  i think the in word now is sustainability, like it is a new concept.  you know, going more green, making our own.  as if i don't make plenty of our owns already.  this time making our own will be food.  we have had a garden before and i really enjoyed having it.  we had it on little land.  now with three acres it will only be much better. i'm kind of like a romantic gardener.  i romanticize gardening more than i actually get to do it.......or want to do it.  i romanticize the simpler life, life on the homestead.  just as in the american movies i used to watch as a child.  but this is easier said than done.  i like the city....a lot!  but i also like to eat things i know where they come from.  when we had a garden about 5 or so years ago it was so nice to go out in the backyard and pick our own to eat.  the book the new self-sufficient gardener by john seymor is a great one to have and so is the backyard homestead.  both sort of elude to the notion that we have replaced producing gardens in the country for green lawns in the city.

these are a handful of things we intend to plant.  we will purchase the rest as plants from the farm supply store and buy more seed in bulk. 

look so yummy, doesn't it??

this tiller was inherited from my husband's grandfather.  he tilled his land many times with this thing and it still works so well.

here are some of our favorite eatings.  one healthy, one just for treats.  kennedy LOVES the dark chocolate cookies. 

see i told you she did.

so in trying to keep things simpler and healhier, i decided to stuff my dolls from now on with 100% sheep's wool stuffing, no more poly-fill.  this package was a special treat from jen.  she sent me some of her shetland sheep's wool so i could try them out.  well, jen, i love it.  check out her shop.  she will be my wool supplier from now on. 

well, i guess i will have to show you some of the fruits of our garden labor when the time comes.  next time i will post picture of a very special package i got in the mail.  have a great rest of the week!

making my wish list...

so march 17th is fast approaching.  yes, saint nathalie's day.  that saint patrick stole my day.  i usually have a small list of necessities for my birthday.  really, they are full of wants and no needs.  my husband is great about pointing out needs versus wants.  have i told you how much this guy complements me?  yes he does.  anyhow, i will turn 27.  this is a hard age for me.  i'm not in my early 20's and I'm so close to 30.  so much for embracing the whole aging gracefully motto.  i shall stop counting my years from now on.  just like my mom does!!

so here is my small list of birthday wishes...

*this dress.  i am loving yellow for this spring. 

*a gift certificate to superbuzzy, in any amount.  the more the better!

*these two dinner plates.  i already have two of these.  i love nathalie lete's work.  and her name too!

*three books i would like to have and read. 

Another Day in The Frontal Lobe by Katrina Firlik

 How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer

Advice For A Young Investigator by Santiago Ramon Y Cajal (BTW I semi Idolize him, ok I confess, I fully Idolize him).

ok, i think that is it.  but really most of all, all i want is to get to live another day or even another year.  these material things are just it, material.  except for the books.  i place a VERY HIGH value on books.  Someone once said that "A home without a book is like a body without a soul".  I agree!

well, i wish you a bright sunny day!  we are enjoying the most beautiful weather since last year!  i have a dress on and the air is just perfect!  hugs to all.

papa bears are better in threes...

i REALLY should be studying.  but i can't focus right now.  so i thought i would show you a hot batch of papa bears.  they all have homes....don't cry.  i will make another small batch for my shop.  one day between now and the end of times.  seriously between mama life, wife life, and student like, i have my plate more than full.  i have been applying for summer research internships from MIT to National Institutes of Health (NIH).  i missed a ton of deadlines, but was able to catch a few.  i'm praying i get the NIH internship.  it is a rolling application so i might not get it because i sent mine toward the end of the time period.  so all spots could be taken already, or not, or yes.  oh well, there are other research opportunities available for me here.  so, i'm not stressing, ok who am i kidding?  this is my inner voice speaking.  the one who says, don't stress, don't stress, stress has been related to premature aging, cancer, and any other inexplicable disease.  this is such a deal, essays, letters of recommendation, blah blah blah.  see, i can't focus.  i have no idea why i got into the super boring subject.  now you can say, "OH REALLY!?"  and i will go back to my studies.  looooong night.  i stocked up on the starbucks cold drink thingy.  you know, the one that comes in a glass bottle.

i will shut up and show you the three little bears.  they are as handsome as ever.  girls will come one day.  again, when i have time.  anyone have some for sale?  i would like to buy what you have.  but, only in 24 hour increments, please.