May Giveaway! So Cute!

MAY GIVEAWAY!

Adorable handbag from So Cute! Boutique in Chandler

A 60.00 dollar retail value!

Shopping!  We decided to head out together and check out a great little fashion boutique in Chandler called So Cute!  Dana had shopped there last month and loved the prices but more importantly the one-on-one attention she received from Bobbie.  Bobbie was so helpful and put outfits together with ease, pairing them with accessories for a complete look.   She left with some great pieces, so back again she came, and this time with Stacie!

http://socuteboutique.com/

Everything screams color this season...from bright hues of denim to fluorescent tops.  Right off the bat we started pulling things from the racks...the dressing room became a sorted array of colors.  Dana starts the same old thing,  "Will I look like a clown if I put this color with that?"  or, "Is this age appropriate for me?" Stacie on the other hand doesn't reflect and question, she has a great sense of style and just knows.

So, we really started getting into this color palooza and before you know it we had coral going on with green, and turquoise paired with mustard yellow.  The store was buzzing with customers and it was fun just seeing what everyone was putting together.

Owner Alicia helped us out this particular day along with Bobbie and they were amazing!  Both ladies were so attentive and grabbed us new sizes, suggested colors, scarves, handbags and jewelry.   Now,  great prices can be found at many discount clothing stores...but this type of service is what you find in high end boutiques or Nordstrom!  And this will keep us coming back for sure.

And the best part about any of the clothing featured here...under 60.00! Add in a handbag and some earrings and you're still easily under $100.00.  Money left over for shoes!

Stop by and check it out...their inventory changes almost daily.

1900 W. Germann Rd., Chandler, AZ 85286
North-East Corner of Dobson and Germann, less than a mile off of the 202 South
480.809.6812

http://socuteboutique.com/

Alicia is waiting to handover the May Giveaway!

To qualify to win simply subscribe to our blog under the FOLLOWERS

tab on the right side of the screen.  In addition you need to leave us a comment at the bottom of this entry.

We will assign each comment a number and draw the winner on May 16th!  

GOOD LUCK!

Friday Night Fun with Chinese Lanterns

The Betties and their families were once again gathered with friends last night for dinner on the acre.
A great time enjoying one of the last cool nights in Arizona before the summer heat sets in.  Stacie's oldest daughter H. had just celebrated a birthday where they had lit chinese paper lanterns and launched them at her party a few weeks prior. She had a few left over and we just had to see it!

These lanterns gently floated thousands of feet into the air where they eventually burned out and slowly dropped to the ground a few miles from the house.

The kids loved it and the excitement even drew a few of the neighbors out to see what the buzz was all about.

We launched a total of three.  Thanks H. for sharing your lanterns with the group.  What great fun!

These lanterns were purchased online and are a great addition to any celebration you may be having.

Obviously, use common sense when trying this...fire season and windy days could pose a threat.  Not sure what your local laws are, so check it out. We live in an area where fireworks are legal on private property.

Safety first.

http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=224147275&sellerid=18700237

Have a great weekend!!!

Pantry Makeovers

 

The Betties decided to makeover their pantries after seeing a section of "pantry makeovers" on pintrest. Dana found the adorable wallpaper at Lowes and the hunt was on for baskets and glass containers for storage. The process of wallpapering a pantry is very time consuming, but we loved the look so much we pressed on! Each shelf took about 2 hours to paper and containers were easy to find at Wallmart, Ikea, or thrift stores! The baskets were from everywhere Cost Plus, Marshalls or TJ Maxx (Stacies favorite) We decided to use the pantry for the prettier bowls and glassware that was in our cabinets and trade it out for things you need everyday like; oils, seasonings and small appliances. Hide those things in the cabinets (where they are easy to reach) Storage was the main objective, but in a pretty way! Happy with the way they both came out, Dana has decided to do her laundry room, Stacie has not! Wallpaper is pretty, but a lot of work! We are sorry there is no "before picture" but take our word for it...it was bad :)

The Anatomy of a Friendship

As we stated in our introduction post, we have known each other for 16 years!

This got us thinking about friendships and what makes them last???  

Here is a list of attributes that have given our friendship a boost over the years!

1. The Fruits of the Spirit...in any combination:)

2.  Shared common Interests

3.  Having a sense of humor

4. Having a shared faith (and praying for one another)

5. Having kids that get along (same parenting styles help too)

6. Having spouses that get along

7.  Being loyal and sticking up for that person no matter what.

8.  Consistency in calling and getting together.

9.  Sharing a history together.

10.  Being supportive (watch kids, bring dinner, other acts of service)

And according to this article from

What Are Friends For? A Longer Life?

friendships can have an amazing impact on our overall health.

Talk about a history together!!! 

Check out the overalls in 1996.

                                                                                         

Be the kind of friend you would want to have...bottom line.

And the Winner Is...

Thank you for supporting Autism Research!

The Winner of the Stella and Dot "Shine" Bracelet...a $40 retail value is...

BRI!!!!

Congratulations!!!

Snakes on a Plane

Oh, did we say snakes on a plane?  What we meant to say was KIDS on a plane.  We were just thinking how some folks would probably rather travel with snakes given the choice. 

Summer is quickly approaching and that means summer travel.  Between the girlfriends, 7 children are hopefully being raised to set a good example to the traveling public.  But, it's not without some planning, setting expectations, and plain old BRIBERY!

Getting a jump start on the summer travel season, the homeschooling Betty is preparing her brood for a 5 hour flight.  After all, one of the perks of homeschooling is jumping on a plane when most are not.  You can rub it in her face when she is stuck at home this summer, educatin' the children in the dining room, while you are at the beach.

So here is what she has stewing in her bag of tricks and perhaps this can give you some ideas when you plan your next trip to see grandma.

First of all, it had been a while since the family had all flown together.  Mom knew the littlest folks in the family (twins that are 5) needed some briefing on what to expect.  So, while the packing was being completed, the kids sat down to watch All About Airplanes.  Free on Netflix!  This showed airport security, where your bags go when you check them, boarding the plane, the cockpit and many other fun things on a commercial airline.

http://www.amazon.com/All-About-Airplanes-Helicopters/dp/B00104AZ00

After the expectations were set with help from the movie, the activity bags (carry-ons) were zipped up and not allowed to be seen by the kids.  Surprises awaited and by letting them rummage through their items before the trip, powerful bargaining tools would be lost....like, "If you don't stop kicking the seat in front of you, I will not let you see the cool new toy I have for you!"  Or, "If you press that flight attendant call button one more time, you will not get the yummy snack I packed."  Leaving it a mystery is half the fun!  Now, most of you that know us, also know that we don't use bribery as a way of getting our kids to do much of anything.  BUT on an airplane just do what it takes to keep them content for the sake of everyone around you.  If you consistently use other forms of discipline (which is another blog entirely ...Biblical Parenting 101) at home...your kids will respect you and everyone around them.  Your home is training ground... not an airplane...spare everyone the drama associated with teachable moments and save it for after you land.

As you can see, the girlfriends have no problems with DVDs, Video Games, and basically all forms of electronics.

You are in survival mode on a plane...not up for mother of the year awards.

I think we will play a round of this too...

And the winner will get an unopened toy...it will have enough pieces to be shared with siblings.  We don't need a meltdown because they did not win the prize!

Don't forget those comfort objects for the little ones...a favorite blanket or stuffed animal can buy you a thousand peaceful miles.

ONE FINAL TIP!  WATCH THE MUSIC YOU PUT ON THE IPOD/TOUCH

This could happen to YOU!

Happy Trails!

Cast of Characters Part 1-The Dogs

We thought it would be fun to roll out the cast of characters between these two families, starting of course with the family pets!

No acre would be complete without a dog to protect it....introducing Brodie.  A playful, loving, Yorkshire Terrior with a hint of attitude.  He loves to run and play and when he's all tuckered out you can find him curled up on Stacie's lap or high up on the back of the sofa (dreaming he is king of the world).

Next up is Ginger.  She is a spunky Golden Retriever-Poodle mix commonly referred to as a Golden Doodle.  She has an enormous amount of energy and rarely do you see her curled up at all.  But honestly, what better form of chaos to add to a family with 4 boys???  She is Dana's only female companion on the acre, besides the chickens.  Best news for this Betty...she doesn't shed!

These two were forced into a friendship right from the beginning. And while Brodie was sure to let Ginger  know who was boss in the beginning, that all changed within a few short months.  Ginger reached epic proportions and soon towered over Brodie.  With one swipe of her giant paw she sent Brodie running for cover, leaving the Betties scrambling.   We're afraid this relationship will continue to be a love/hate one between the two dogs.  We will overcome this challenge though...forcing our beloved family pets to put up with one another for the numerous backyard bbqs and family celebrations we share.

Leave us a comment...and answer this.  What breed of dog do you think is the best and why?

Girlfriends Getaway

                                                                         His Story.....or Mine?

www.kerripom.com

 The girlfriends both attend large churches in the valley. One of them is Central Christian Church.  Central has a wonderful women's ministry and offered a women's getaway a couple of weeks ago! The theme was "His story...or mine?" It was held in Lost Canyon Young Life Camp in Williams and was based on the passage found in 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2; the story of Eli and his 2 wives- Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah could have many children, while Hannah could not have any, and how Peninnah taunted her because of it. God blessed Hannah with a son after she prayed to Him.

We all get taunted like Hannah at times, but that is when God is writing the best part of our stories! They had an amazing speaker and comedian, Kerri Pomarolli. She had everyone laughing and crying while she told her powerful story! We really had an awesome weekend and look forward to next year. Check out Kerri at the link above. She is an author of three books and an award winning writer as well as a great stand up comedian.

What to Wear For Family Pictures.

Often times as professional photographers we have been asked, "What should our family wear for pictures?"  This by far is one of the more difficult steps in creating a beautiful family portrait.  Never overlook it and never underestimate it. After all, you don't want to be in the next issue of Awkward Family Photos...  " The Family that Caters together Stays Together."

Stacie and Dana have been known to put a ton of emphasis on wardrobe selection when photographing their own kids.  It makes a HUGE difference and is a key element in a great family shot.  Thankfully, we have some help with an on-line tool that we would like to share.

polyvore.com is a great site for clicking and dragging wardrobe selections onto a blank canvas, giving you a true picture of what you need to shop for or order on-line for your next family photo.  We highly recommend it as a starting point.  You must create an account first but it's free and painless.  The great news is, when you click on the items to drag into your selection, you are given the price and where to purchase it!  Here is an example of what you might end up with....

Pinks and Grays

Or Pinks, Browns and Turquoises

One of the main goals is to NOT appear "matchy-matchy." And by that I mean, everyone wearing the SAME thing. It does nothing for individual style to be wearing the exact same hair bow and dress as your sister, even if you are identical twins...change it up a little.  As photographers and moms we know each family member is unique and deserves to stand out.  What you wear can highlight the differences in your family without becoming a distraction IF it is done in the right way.

Stay away from too many patterns...some stripes, some floral, some bright splashes of color are okay!  

But make sure you have solids in there to break it up too.  Layering is a great way to add texture pattern and color without going overboard.

Here are the girlfriends and their families earlier this year.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of where to start when planning your next family 

portrait session.

Blessings!

-The Betties

Happy Easter!

We hope your Easter was spectacular!

Flowers are in full bloom on the acres...just loving the spring weather before it gets too hot!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

Happy Easter!