St. Louis Children’s Photo Contest - Lace Images
A few years ago, when I was elbow deep in wedding planning, there was a local photographer who did everything she could to make my experience as seamless as possible. She went out of her way to hold my hand when necessary and also keep me smiling.
Since that first meeting, this photographer, Gina Kelly, has become a friend - she is responsible for dozens of amazing photos of my family, Christmas cards going back years and, of course, she took the picture that was stolen and used in a store window in Prague.
She, along with the amazing Arina of St. Louis Entertains Magazine, is holding a children’s photo contest.
Now, this isn’t your average ’submit-the-picture-you-love-the-most’ contest and hope someone else thinks your child is cute. This contest is FANTASTIC.
Why? Because everyone who enters gets a FREE SESSION with Gina….in the St. Louis area location of your choice. You also will get a FREE 8×10 of the photo Gina takes that is entered in the contest.
Can you stand it?
The contest runs the entire month of March - until the 31st and is open to kids and babies in the St. Louis area- age 12 and under. You will HAVE to call to make an appointment.
The Grand Prize Winner will be featured on the inside front copy of St. Louis Entertains Magazine, Spring / Summer issue, a 16×20 Gallery Wrap Wall portrait and $200 worth of photos from Gina Kelly/ Lace Images
Winners will be posted online at Lace Images.
The Prize Package is worth $2500.
Second, third and 2 honorable mentions will also be given wall portrait awards.
Your session with Gina will last 30-60 minutes - and you have a choice: she can come to you (and bring backgrounds) or you can go to her. She is taking appointments for every day in March except the 6th and 13th (she has weddings scheduled)
Be creative - if your child rides horses, is a ballerina, won’t go anywhere without their favorite teddy bear - that’s how they should be photographed.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges (including me) on April 1st.
Good luck! (and call Gina soon!)
Life Lessons Learned over Ice Cream
You know it is during the simplest of life’s moments that the most profound lessons are often discovered (or re-discovered).
This was just the case today while I sat watching my son eat ice cream. This was his ‘reward’ for being brave - having just had staples removed from the back of his head. (The result of a glass table vs. Coop moment while I was in Vancouver. If you think the phone call sharing the news might have caused a small heart attack….you are correct.)
It was as I was mesmerized by Coop’s joy and fixation that the lessons popped into my head one at a time.
Savor. Savor life, savor food, savor relationships. Coop tackled his cone one. lick. at. a. time. In between he would stop to look…making sure he wasn’t missing a drop. If only I savored every meal, every moment like this.
Family should never be far from your mind. As the small dude savored the creamy moments, a ‘look’ developed in his eyes. He tilted his head and said, “we have to get something to take home for my sister.”
This also leads to lesson #3 - even when I feel as though I might drown from the guilt I feel - worrying if I am equipping my children with the necessary tools to be powerful adults, I get a big, “would you relax already?” in the form of a 3 year old who I have clearly taught compassion and a sharing heart.
Stop eating when you aren’t hungry anymore. Seriously? This shouldn’t be a surprise….and yet…. The kid ate about 3/4 of the ice cream cone and decided he was done. So he stopped. Me? I MUST.FINISH. Changing that immediately.
Smile, at everyone. I try to do this, but there is something so innocent when done by a child - and even better? The reactions he gets from strangers. He smiles, they smile. So, if I smile, do you smile?
The quality of our time together matters as much as the amount of time. It was more important to Cooper than I was THERE, right then. That I wasn’t multi-tasking, answering a call or email, or on twitter. That I was staring at him while he ate and laughing. He didn’t care that we were only there for 30 minutes. He just cared that it was ‘Mommy and Cooper’ time. I may not be able to sit and stare at my kids all day, every day, soaking up their zest for life, but I can make time to do it on a regular basis.
For me - having this time to just observe my son, well…..it was priceless. It was just what I needed to refocus on what is most important in my world…my family and the joy they inject into my days.
Olympics Games Moments
In the past 24 hours, I have met Olympic Bronze Medalist for Moguls Skiing, Shannon Bahrke and her younger brother Scotty (show is getting ready to compete on Monday!)
I have held a Bronze Medal (Shannon’s!)
I experienced Ice Dancing and cheered loudly for Team USA’s Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.
And I LEARNED curling (video to follow!!) (don’t get excited - the video isn’t me curling 
but you will understand the basics once you watch it!)
I have so much more to share - I promise - but I’m off to experience Vancouver for our last night!
Thank You Mom Campaign - Procter and Gamble
Are you ready to get all weepy? This campaign is the REASON I am going to be at the Olympics for the rest of this week….
ThankYouMom.com - check it out.
And watch for my updates from Vancouver - starting tomorrow!
Get your Bliss ON!
One year ago, I approached the Blissdom Conference with mixed feelings. I was excited, but markedly nervous. I’m a pretty social person and yet, I was so……afraid. The thoughts and emotions jumbled in my head and heart: I don’t know anyone. What if they hate me? What if they laugh at my blog name? What if I stumble while telling them my blog name? What if everyone knows waaaaaaaay more than I do? What if no one talks to me?
If there is an insecure thought in the world….I had it the day I walked into the Preston Hotel in Nashville last year. I was brand new. I didn’t know a soul.
Five minutes among these women and I was reborn. The confident ‘me’ surfaced. My smile became a permanent fixture. I introduced myself. I shook hands. I told people about my blog, that I was new and here to learn. No one laughed.
In fact, they opened their great big Blissdom arms and wrapped me in the comfort of new friendships, of shared dreams, of inspired camaraderie. People were kind - like the special kind of ‘kind’ that only comes when you are right where you are supposed to be. I felt as though I was a part of something huge.
And this year, I know I am.
I am a member of this community. I laugh when you laugh and cry when you cry. I rejoice in your successes and wipe tears when things go wrong. I arrived in Nashville today and have hugged and been hugged dozens of times. I am thrilled to be back at Blissdom, I am awed by the way my new friends have embraced my dreams and my weaknesses. I am spurred on by their desire to teach me and willingness to drag me along when I just can’t catch up.
I am looking forward to an amazing weekend. I hope you are too. (Looking forward to giving you a huge hug!)
I am Blissful. (and, I’m thinking…..so are you.)
Mommy Meditation
I was chatting with a new friend today and she asked me a question:
“Do you meditate?”
My first thought was, “No..not in the traditional sense.” As much as I would LOVE to secure a time every day that is reserved for crossing my legs, lighting a candle, clearing my mind and refocusing, I just don’t have that time.
But then I realized something.
In a way, I DO meditate.
The small dude is *almost* past wanting to nap. Unless I lay down with him. And by ‘lay down’, I mean, get him some milk, whip out my extra blanket and make myself comfy with him snuggled deep under my left arm.
As he slurps his milk, I allow my eyes to shut. As his eyes drift closed, I allow my mind to clear. I focus on his breathing as it syncs with mine. I can literally hear his thoughts leaving his head, I can hear his heart slow and his breathing even out. He nestles deeper into me, finding a way to crawl ever so slightly under my skin.
It is within these moments that a form of Mommy Meditation takes place. I focus on the here and now. I banish the notion that this small guy will one day shy away from me. I ignore the possibility that he will not kiss and hug me at all, let alone in public. I, instead, relish the weight of his head on my shoulder and his right leg thrown over mine as though to hold me in place.
I forget about work, pretend ‘what’s for dinner’ is someone else’e problem and sink into my one and only crucial role: Mommy.
So, yes, I guess the answer to the question is that I do, in fact, meditate.
My day started…..
