Heirloom Peonies

Peony season is quite possibly my favorite. It reminds me of slow summer days in Kentucky and the smell of freshly cut grass. It reminds me of our green house on Damron Branch with the big yard and the peach and apple trees. It reminds me of my sisters, playing between our mom's four peony bushes in the backyard. Slender stems holding heavy, snowball-shaped blooms that dipped toward the ground due to their weight. Dad would mow them down every Fall and I'd be so shocked that he was mowing down Mom's flowers. I remember running to tell her what I saw happening, sure that she would be angry. I didn't know that was what made them come back next year. 

Peonies remind me of all of my grandmas. Momaw Bertie could grow them beautifully, and so could Momaw Jiggs. Momaw Jiggs had these gorgeous blooms (below) in the corner of her property. This particular plant belonged to my Momaw Grace before that, and the roots came from her mom, my Granny Houck. Who knows how many generations before them started this beautiful thing. 

What is even sweeter is that my two sisters now have this dark pink peony plant that you see above. They divided it last Fall, and it's blooming in their gardens this year. Five generations later, or more. Nature is amazing! And so is my Popaw Deb for taking this Polaroid for us in the 1980s, so that we could reference all these years later.

Unfortunately for me, peonies won't grow in Zone 10. But I watch my local Whole Foods (Countryside Mall for my local friends who want to fight me over their supply, haha) and grab up as many bunches as I can. And then I photograph them so that I can enjoy them on my walls the rest of the year.

If you'd like a peony print for your own walls, you can purchase them HERE. If you'd rather have one from this blog post, just let me know and I'll substitute for you. xoxo! 

The Window

Every morning I stand at this kitchen window to make my coffee.

While the water boils, I admire the African violets that remind me of Momaw Jiggs, that also grow in her very own planters. When the coffee is ready, I drink it from my Momaw Bertie's cups. I think about things that they used to say and do. And I pray for my Popaw Deb and Popaw Lucian who are missing them fiercely, but pushing forward.

It's sacred time for me.

I used to marvel at how this corner window was the only place in my house where things would grow well.

Now, I don't wonder anymore. It's growing me, too.

Take It In

Last week I had a session in Tampa and found myself taking the Courtney Campbell home. As I don't often have a quiet car, I relished the silence and enjoyed the view of the Bay around me as I drove, smiling and just soaking up the sunshine. 

It was a gorgeous day. The water was almost perfectly still and so very blue, like a mirror of the sky. There is a narrow road that runs alongside the causeway, right at the water's edge.  I'd never paid much attention to it before, but today I desperately looked for an opening in the guard rails so I could get closer to the water and stop to take it in.

What a blessing it is to be this close to such a beautiful, natural source of water. I feel so peaceful near it. The ocean, whether at the beach or in the bay, calms my busy mind and anxious heart the way nothing else can.

Weekend Loves | 2016 Volume No. 2

Hello friends!

It's already Friday? Of course I say that today, but on Tuesday I was absolutely longing for Friday and I felt like it would never come. It was a long, cold, trying week for me in many ways. Migraines, website issues, technology frustrations, gas leaks during school pickup making the afternoon route take so much longer than normal, and one mess after another here at home. But there were such high points along the way, too. I must not, and will not, forget about those. 

They carry me.

For example, I got to deliver beautiful artwork to really wonderful people this week. I hugged them and met their new puppies and got to see my artwork that is already hanging in their homes. I got more kisses and snuggles from my amazing kids than I can count. I smiled with gratitude as I slipped into their room and watched them sleep under their twinkly lights, wearing the sweet eye masks that they got for Christmas. Charlotte walked through the house in her bedhead and fluffy Minions robe this morning, and I almost fainted at her cuteness. Lila brought home straight As on her report card again. Parker completely rocked his National History Day presentation, and I got texts all week with kind words about him that made me so proud. I have the privilege of photographing a kids' campout tomorrow evening at a client's beautiful home. And we have the Friday Night Dance Party at our house tonight. (It's just the five of us cooking dinner and listening to Pandora, but I think it's Chris's favorite part of the week. And there will be wine, so it's my favorite night too.) ;)

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What I loved this week...

I'm a bookworm who is short on time, so audiobooks (whether via CDs or phone app) are my favorite thing ever. Whether you listen to CDs or use a phone app, audiobooks can be a wonderful resource for your commute, the carline (I spend a minimum of 2.5 hours every day in the car, just dropping off and picking up my kids), or while you're editing or working at home. I use this one.

Speaking of audiobooks, I'm listening to this book right now and it's fantastic. So many great lines already. Elizabeth Gilbert's voice is warm and spectacular, so it's like chatting with a wise friend over coffee. 

And speaking of chauffeuring and refereeing, a friend texted me this article today and I was a blubbering mess by the end. What a beautiful book we are writing in these loud, messy, wonderful days.

Super cute Valentine ideas for your kiddo to share.

I love when kids want to help in the kitchen. William's Chocolate Chip Cookies. My favorite kind of recipe. My friend Bree creates the most wonderful videos. And recipes. And photographs. And children. :) 

Rest easy, Snape. So many great and talented human beings left this world just this week alone. My kids and I are particularly sad about Alan Rickman's passing. He brought that complex character to life so beautifully in the Harry Potter movies, and we all loved to despise him until his agonizing secret was revealed in the end. "After all this time?" "Always." You never know where you'll find a hero.

Great shirts. Even greater message.

What do you do first thing in the morning? 

These women have changed my life. I grew up reading the Bible, of course, but I was always stumped on how to apply the right lesson to my present day life. Sometimes it's hard to not see a particular passas as just as story about a guy who made a mistake or did something great. But the writers at SRT beautifully explain God's word in a way that I can grasp, and in a way that makes His Word still relevant in my life as a wife, mother, artist and human. And I love that.

365 days of coffee. I love everything about this. And I've followed Cindy's work for years.

If you're in the Tampa Bay area, one of my portrait families owns this beautiful art gallery that you need to visit. They're also having a lovely sale for the month of January, so go quickly or browse online, and get some gorgeous art for your home. Your home should be a beautiful and inspiring place to be.

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your weekend is fun, relaxing, and fires you up for whatever comes your way next.

xo,
Stacey

Weekend Loves | 2016 Volume No. 1

Happy New Year, my sweet friends! Can you believe the first week of 2016 is officially over? 

I almost didn't want to take the Christmas tree down this year. It was the last piece to go. 

We waited until mid-December before choosing a tree this year, because we are tired of sad, crispy trees on Christmas Day. But this lovely girl was still green and lush and beautiful on New Year's Day. It was a shame to take her to the curb to await her demise.

I do love the open, airy, clean feeling of an uncluttered living room, though. Although we are in need of a tiny bit of sparkle and glow around here to take the place of the tree. 

Just maybe not something 7 feet tall. ;)

Have a gorgeous weekend, my friends!

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My lovely friend Bree sends the most wonderful emails out on Fridays. She calls them Friday Happy Mail. I look forward to reading them every week. I have wanted to do a weekly list here on my blog for years now, and one of my goals for 2016 is to blog seriously and regularly. So maybe with this fresh start that is the new year, I'll be able to keep this feature up! I'm a researcher and a sharer by nature (INFP all the way), so this is super fun for me. 

Here goes Volume No. 1 of Weekend Loves!

• The only Christmas tree I like better than my own is this one. Because it's dreamy.

• I received this gorgeous bag for Christmas and I am smitten with it. It is so well made, and I've gotten several compliments on it already. I really love that it was handmade by a woman who has been given grace and a second chance. Read this company's story. It's pretty amazing and definitely a company I'd like to support. I have my eye on this wallet next.

• It's been 6 years since I wrote this article. And the calling out still happens, times three now. Can you relate?

• An organized workspace. And my goal for this weekend.

• I'm a paper planner gal. I just can't get into an online calendar no matter how hard I try. I bought both of these planners this year and I cannot decide which one to use. Parker's teacher says "over-analysis leads to paralysis," and it's so true... I haven't written in either one of them yet! I've used the Day Designer for 3 years straight, and have absolutely loved it, but was super tempted by the Simplified Planner. What do you use to plan out your days?

• This beautiful invention is my sanity saver every single day. I'm even starting to dislike coffee from anywhere but my own kitchen these days. And the slowness of the routine is just what I need to reset during the morning rush. How do you take your coffee? Are you a slow-pour coffee drinker or do you like your coffee fast and NOW?

• My beautiful friend Angie is fixing up a very special dollhouse for her daughter, Quinn. She has a sewing/art room and everything! Make sure you read her story; it will tug your heartstrings. (And watch for a collaboration and very special project with Quinn and Co. here on the blog very soon!)

• My friend Haley (and my first hairstylist when I moved to Florida) has released a book / series of workouts for moms and their children, to help regulate emotions and lift your mood. Here is her news feature from yesterday -- so excited for her! Definitely a great thing for a busy mama.

• Dark chocolate peanut butter smoothie bowl? Oh I think I'll be trying this tomorrow.

• Four habits for an uncluttered home. Yes please. Currently my "outbox" is the entire garage.

Did you find anything fun in my list? Let me know which was your favorite, and which idea or product or perspective you're going to try.

That's it for this week. Make some memories with the ones you love most this weekend!

xoxo,
Stacey

Fall Family Sessions: The Floyds

I love this family. Leanna always has the most wonderful adventures planned for our sessions. Last year, we held their session at a beautiful stable in Odessa. The year before that, I met them in Disney World. This year, they wanted their session to be on their private land, before their home is built there. 

I can imagine them looking out their kitchen window over the lake in years to come, watching the birds dive and fish jump. Sitting on this sofa and enjoying the views, having coffee with friends and chatting about their boys and how big they've grown.

Nammie Bird's Cup

October 6 marked one year since my Momaw Bertie (short for Roberta) made her trip to Heaven. The second of my grandmothers to leave us. It was a sad day down here for us, and I miss her so much. 

Charlotte calls her "Nammie Bird" whenever she remembers her. It makes me smile because I guess she thought we were calling her Momaw Birdie. Don't you just love the way kids interpret things?

After she passed away, my mom brought me a few things that belonged to Momaw. She brought my girls a china doll apiece, because Momaw collected them. I let the girls admire their pretty dresses and their shiny curls, and then I put them up carefully out of reach, for when they're a little bit older. Parker got a few things that belonged to her too. I didn't want anything in particular, just a little something that belonged to her that was also useful to me and had a special memory associated with it.

So my mom brought me a few of her coffee cups. They're the perfect gifts, and they are the perfect memories.

I never remember my Momaw having anyone over without a fresh pot of coffee brewing. I never drank any of her coffee, strangely enough, because I didn't drink it much back in those days. But I remember the way she tucked her cup between her hands. Her cups weren't fancy. She picked them up at yard sales and Kmarts and the Goodwill. But they were hers. They were small, teacup size. And I use these beautiful gems every week. I think of her every morning and hope she's having a wonderful time in Heaven. 

I remember spending the night at her house many times, and waking up on her overstuffed pillows in her tall cushy beds, covered in quilts so warm, yet cool to the touch. There were always unforgettable smells of bacon frying, her famous biscuits baking and coffee brewing. She and Mom would be in the kitchen talking, sipping hot coffee out of milky white mugs. Popaw Lucian would come in, covered in lawn clippings or sawdust, always working first thing before it got too hot outside.  

I served my mother-in-law coffee in one of these precious cups when she was visiting us last month. Charlotte smiled up at her Grandma Nancy and said, "Dat was my Nammie Bird's coffee cup. She wivs up in Heaven wif Jesus." 

Do you think that there is coffee in Heaven? God is a good God, you know. :)

Not because we'd need the caffeine, of course, nor because we'd ever be thirsty. But because it's enjoyable and warm and it brings folks to the kitchen table (or the counter, at Momaw and Popaw's house) for another serving of warmth and laughter and togetherness.

I can't wait to enjoy Heaven with my Nammie Bird someday. I hope she will have a fresh pot of coffee ready for me.

Birthdays and Time to Rest

My birthday was this week. (Y'all, this is my last year in my thirties... how did that happen?!) Anyhow, I enjoyed my day. I have to say this time of year is usually the most stressful for me, but I was determined to REST and ENJOY my birthday this time.

So I did.

Birthdays (and terrible migraines and sickness the other days of the week) give you a big yellow permission slip to rest and just be still for one solid day, don't they?

Chris got me a Chemex and all of the fun things that go with it, so I made a beautiful, slow cup of pour-over coffee in my Momaw Bertie's cup, puttered around the house, and read a new book. I made a leisurely breakfast of eggs and greens and I listened to music that no one in my family likes except me. I went to Fresh Market and shopped for coffee and pretty food. Including chocolate birthday cake with ganache. My sweet babies made me lovely cards of all shapes and sizes, and sang to me probably eight or nine times throughout the day. The kids couldn't find a #3 candle in the kitchen drawer, so my birthday cake said "59." (Um, they could have been kind and just used a 1 or a 2, right?!) EVEN SO, I FORGAVE THEM. And most mysterious of all, I shut down my email and stayed away from social media the best I could (I'll thank you all for the birthday greetings eventually, I promise!)

Extroverted as I am during sessions... playing with your children and carrying on conversations, getting to know you and what you love about your family... oh, I can do that for a few hours or even days at a time, but I'm actually quite the introvert at heart. For me to recover from most sickness or even an overly busy week takes a great block of quiet time and solitude. So I hunkered down for the duration. 

Both a blessing and an inconvenience, but as Emily puts it, when your heartbeat feels more like a drumbeat, it's time to slow down and pay attention. 

Today I've attempted to re-enter the world again. My email is open. I've been editing, fueled by eggs and bacon and coffee and leftover birthday cake. I have beautiful sessions to share, families to surprise, and galleries to launch over the coming days. I'm so excited that I get to do this.

And that feels like the best birthday gift ever.

Holiday Mini Sessions 2015

I opened up reservations for mini sessions just last week to my faithful newsletter subscribers and current/past clients. And my goodness, they had fast fingers! Those booked up so quickly that I decided to open up a third evening, and two of those spots have already been scooped up. Y'all are the BEST!

Here are the sessions that are now available:

Friday, October 23 at Honeymoon Island Pet Beach in Dunedin
4:45pm RESERVED

Saturday, November 14 at Fort DeSoto Pet Beach in Tierra Verde (after our clocks "fall back")
3:30pm RESERVED and 4:00pm RESERVED

All Holiday Mini Sessions include:
20 minutes of shooting time, a gallery of 15-20 images from which to choose, and one of the following options...
A: Fifty custom holiday greeting cards (folded or flat) plus three gift prints 8x10 or smaller
or
B: Print credit in the amount of $350 to spend however you like

UPDATE: all Holiday Mini Sessions have now been reserved! Signature Sessions are still available if you'd like photographs in time for the holidays.... click HERE to reserve your Signature Session. I can't wait to meet you!

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I'm so grateful for you who have already commissioned me to document your holiday photographs this year, whether through a Mini Session or a Signature Session. You are so amazing! I can't wait to see your gorgeous faces and photograph what your love looks like this year. 

One more thing.... hopefully you noticed that I'm shooting at dog-friendly beaches this year! So if you have a furry friend I hope you'll include him or her in your family session. Just think what a cool holiday card that will make. :) I'll have my trusty resident Pet Expert (Parker!) on hand to give your friend lots of treats and even a short walk while we get some different photos of your family.

If you're ready to book your session, click the button below and register now! These won't be around for long, I can promise you that.

XO! 

On Turning Four

"I'm faw-uh now! Dat means I can go to pweschool and stay aww by mysewf!" ~Charlotte

Four years old. Oh my word. Friends, it seems like I just brought our last baby home in my arms. Now she's a big girl, so fiercely independent in all of her "lemme do it mysewf" business. She is fearless and sweet and compassionate and kind. She's spunky and friendly and makes us laugh constantly. 

She loves to dress herself. Many times, actually, over the period of a day. Girlfriend creates more laundry than the other two kids combined. She is not afraid to scale the pantry shelves like rungs of a ladder and scare me half to death. She asks politely for "water ice" instead of ice water. She thinks poptarts are miraculous. She is so kind to animals, and Crookie and Ace (mostly) love her because she will fill their food bowls without prompting if she notices that they are empty. (Ace sticks close to her at lunchtime because he knows she will toss him her bread crusts.) She despises naps but loves storytime, and always asks for "two stories at nap, three stories at bedtime". She loves for me to paint her nails, and has ruined at least three pieces of furniture by opening bottles of my nail polish without permission. (Motherhood is sanctifying, amen?) She swears her baby teeth are getting loose because her sister's are.  She can play Minecraft like a boss, if it involves spawning hundreds of animals all over the place and dropping lava on her siblings' houses. She is our butterfly, flitting and skipping as she runs. She is our tiniest girl, at just 26 itty bitty pounds. 

But this "tiny girl" marched right into preschool this morning and hugged her teacher (we are so blessed to have Miss Cloutier again, for the third time!). She hung up her lunchbox inside her cubby, put away her naptime blanket, washed her tiny hands, and went to play with her new friends. She is a big girl, after all, and she is so ready.

As for me, well, I may or may not have cried all the way home. :) 

Maybe you're sad or "just sentimental" today, or maybe you're doing handsprings over having a quiet house for the first time in years! Or maybe you're just looking ahead at future school days while you still hold your little ones in your laps. 

No matter what stage of life we're in these days, we can be so thankful. Here's to being inspired by our kids. Let's all be brave, fearless, excited for what may come, ready to show the big world our gifts. Let us be compassionate and kind, open and willing, and ready with a smile for whatever life holds for us. Let's laugh and walk right in.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." -Proverbs 31:25