Category Archives: photography
happy. the end. one more thing….. do you have $10 that you could put towards something REAL today? was all i needed to recoup from the awesomeness that was this weekend. how can i describe the GoPro? when i got to talk out loud to craig about it last night i almost cried….because my heart is full. for me….it was the absolute perfect environment to learn. having freedom to walk around, talk, interact and say "wait go back…i missed that." amaaaaaazing. this is a photo that i like to call "PAY BACK". wow. everything was high end…very fancy….ooh la la.
then we practiced on each other. and tyler is hillarious. we had a time learning how to shoot in studio light. gorgeous. kansas doesn't have views like this in too many places….or anywhere.
every minute was good. i have so many things to remember and review. but that is not possible. they are out my league in that department. do you realize they are leaving for the next 9 months to travel & photograph and teach all over the world?! they rock. thanks for THE BEST weekend wendy and tyler. ********************************************************************** It’s in your interests to create a customer journey from landing to conversion that’s as streamlined. Hi – I looooove your blog. I live here in San Diego so hearing about the Gopro workshop (and that it was right here!) was so neat. I need to go out an find ‘the bridge’ – it looks like a fun spot. Many thanks for your awesome blog. Grrr. I hit post too soon, sorry! Again, thank you so much Meg for introducing me to Blue Lily. They were amazing and much better than I could have ever dreamed. So happy for you. Looks like it was beyond amazing. Love Wendy and Tyler..so fun to meet them at ALT. And yes, what a dream to travel with you’re fam and take amazing photos! My favorite part was… “My heart was full”. Lucky girl. Lucky girl. That might be the best description ever. lots of things i want to tell you, so much happiness for you, so proud of you, so excited for you, but the right words just aren’t coming to me…i guess mostly i want you to know that i feel so happy that you are rediscovering YOU. So glad you enjoyed your time! LOVE your haircut It sounds (and looks!) like you had such an amazing time. Yeah! And I super, duper love your hair. It looks so good on you! I’m so happy for you, Meg!!! So amazing. What a great time you had!! The pictures are lovely. It must of been a very inspirational location : ) Alright… now I want to go! 🙂 What a wonderful, happy experience! I can relate to your overwhelming feelings, that always happens to me too. 🙂 YOUR HAIR! oh my goodness it is fabulous. first time here I “think”…..and this ‘go pro’ sounds like it was a very enhancing experience! I would love to go to something like that – how cure is ur haircut! thanks for sharing ur experience, it’s fun to read your words and to share in the excitement. i’m not a weirdo. promise. OK, so I may have cried a little seeing one of the pics you took of Ken and I. I love it. LOVE it. Thanks so much, if you could email it to me I would really appreciate it. SMIIIIIILE CHICK! Wahoo….I’ve been waiting for this post. I am a bit distracted by your awesome haircut! I can’t wait to see where all this leads for you…good times. Thanks for the Emperor’s New Groove reference. One of my all time fav movies. Thanks for sharing these! How fun! What part of CA were you in?? You hair looks AWESOME, very good cut for you! keep up the great blog! emperor’s new groove is THE best most quotable movie in our house. and it’s not because of our 11 month old … i have loved that movie for YEARS! Great pictures, as always. Glad to see that you’re back safely and that you had a blast. 🙂 What a fun adventure! And as a side note, love your new haircut!!! Meg, Okay – this has absolutely not one little thing to do with photography (sorry!) but i am dying to know just where you got that shirt you’re wearing in the last pictures?!? the cream colored one you’re wearing over the green?!? I am in LOVE!!! It looks so beautiful on you!!! please do share… Meg, you look So Happy!! I’m glad you had a wonderful time. And your hair Rocks!!! 🙂 Thanks to your first blog post about this I found their site and asked if they could come to Paris and they said YES!!! We are getting our family photos with them and I’m beyond excited! Firstly, I love your hair do. It’s my favorite do on you of those you’ve had since I started reading your blog! It’s always nice, but this one is especially so and the color suits you so well. GAH! That sounds like an AMAZING experience!!! I’ve already noticed an improvement in your work and I mean that in the absolute nicest way! I hope that’s read as a compliment 🙂 I love that you had that opportunity. What a beautiful setting! I already think that your photos are absolutely top notch. But being better is always so fun! I can’t wait. I’ve been reading your blog for awhile… maybe commented once. Then a few days ago I read your story about getting married young, five babies in ten years, etc. Now to read about your new experiences in figuring out your style (love the MJ clothes, too), a passion in photography, having the opportunity to learn/travel…. I am so happy for you! You’ve found your “sweet spot” as Max Lucado would say. 🙂 Congrats and blessings. So great Meg!! FYI..your shots are great! Yay! I am so happy for you that you got to go, enjoyed it, learned some things and had fun! Wow….what a wonderful opportunity! I hopped over from my friend Holly’s blog, and found myself going back, and back and back to read as much of your blog as I could. On the photography, I love it too, and so does my daughter. In fact, she got way into it, and has taken a few online classes, and is now doing some photo sessions for friends. She would have loved to do this workshop. We are near San Diego too!!! So fun!! And Wendy’s bag!! You could do a giveaway of that bag with this entry as the only entry and I would not be angry!! 😉 Such great pictures! And the sky .. wow, it is really blue! Glad you had a great time, but I am posting because I can’t get over how good this haircut is on you! 🙂 you under estimate your talent my dear friend i think that’s incredible. i’d love to be able to do something like that. Sooo thrilled for you, Meg! I know it was absolutely fabulous. We just loved Wendy when she did our family photos – I bet she is an amazing teacher. I am laughing my head off at “pay back” I look INSANE!! Sadly, I think I look like that most of the time. 🙂 The beach. Sigh…. So glad you had a wonderful time! So fun!!!! What an amazing opportunity! Do you know how happy I am for you?! I love it that you got to go there. I love it that you learned the way you need to learn. I love it that the people you lived with for the weekend weren’t Sleeping with the Enemy Weird AND I love it that I will get to see you put it into practice here. Shine on. Love, love your hair, Meg. Such a fun weekend. So glad you got to go. Kelly Oh my goodness! This looks stinkin’ amazing! Looks like a really fun time. I am SOOOO homesick for California. LOVED your photos of the BLUE sky and ocean and I’m stuck here in Kansas! Kansas has its moments, but there’s NO place like Southern California! Hey Meg, looks like a fantastic time was had by all! I wanted to share a site of a photog friend of mine whom I think is amazing and does beautiful and amazing work. She works out of Fremont, Nebraska so we have a lot of the same types of settings (though nothing like the bridge) that you probably have in Kansas! I thought you might get some inspiration from her!! Either every person you photographed is GORGEOUS or, YOU REALLY ARE TAKING AMAZING PICTURES!! I wish I could look as great as the folks in the pics you took. I LOVE IT. What an amaaaazing experience! hey, you were 4 miles from my house! You passed my house off the 76 to get to the old bridge! Glad the rain wasn’t too crazy. I am so proud of you for going, and by the way, LOVE the haircut. Its SOOOO cute. Sassy even. Heh heh. Looks like such a Fun weekend! I love your new do! So cute! Your trip sounds amazing! I’m glad that you were able to have that experience. Love your new hair cut! I’m rejoicing with you – at God’s goodness and love for each of us, exactly as He made us. This is another proof of that, to me. Thanks for sharing the joy with us! What an amazing opportunity for you. I’m so happy for you that you were able to go, learn and enjoy yourself so much. Keep sharing with us and don’t forget about us little people when you’re all famous and everything. haha, I laughed out loud when I read “in da club in my cardi”. Only because that’s me…and I’m only 21. I’ve got a question…SOMEONE ANSWER because it’s driving me nuts…. First of all you are totally rockin’ that new haircut. So glad that your expectations were over and above what you had hoped. Go Meg! um. Lucky, lucky, LUCKY girl!!! That sounds amazing on every possible level! I was in San Diego last week! It is a fantastic place! So beautiful. The fact that people get to live like that everyday makes me so envious! I was actually kinda depressed when I got back. Glad you got a chance to enjoy the beauty. To bad it was cold….brrr! Sounds like a supeR cOol weekend! lovely 🙂 i’m going to pull out my photos tonight and see what i have too. my brain hurts. 🙂 wow, i was kind of jealous when you first posted about your go pro weekend. but now i am so happy for you. congratulations and keep up the good work. and thanks for the 411 on the tummy trimming leggings. totally trying them. so so awesome. very cool! Looks like you had an awesome time! i have decided to sell this lens. it's a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens. i took these two picture this morning with the 85mm lens. beautiful lens.
there is no problem with this lens. for me…i realized i want the zoom. i am most comfortable with a zoom. and i want to keep this lens. so i am selling this one to save money for the big daddy lens i am really wanting. someday….when i can fill my photo bag with dreamy choices of lens….carry two cameras on shoots….have an assistant….travel across the world taking pictures….then i will have this lens again. here is the description for b&h photo where i bought it in march 2010. The Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM Autofocus Lens is a highly practical medium telephoto lens with superb delineation and portability. Images are sharp and clear at all apertures. Through computer simulations, the lens has been designed to give beautiful background blur. Since the front lens group does not rotate during focusing, special filter effects are not affected. Note! Lens is compatible with full frame format cameras.
you can read all the customer reviews HERE.
great lens. but want the 24 -70 big daddy lens more. bought it for $379.95…. selling it for $300. used 3 times. leave a comment if you would like to buy it. i will answer questions in the comments too if you have any. SOLD. thanks. He is Father Christmas. I really like my 18-55 lens that came with my camera. I got the 50mm f/1.8 for Christmas and am slowly learning to like it. I plan on getting either a macro (though my P&S takes great macro’s) or 20mm f/2.8 next. I actually thought for a second “Gee, how did she get a picture of her lens?” I’m BRILLANT! i will buy too if available! Nothing to do with the lens, but I want your mom’s ritas recipe that Sonia is talking about… Lemme check with my honey; I know he has a 18-55mm, a 50mm and a 100-300mm, but I think he wants something in between… What a beautiful child -how do the girls at school get anything done? I love how you even made your lens look pretty with the pink background. Yah… you’ll love the 24-70. It’s on my camera 90% of the time. Just wondering…what is your favorite lens right now? this totally has nothing to do with your lense for sale, but we just drank a pitcher of your mom’s ‘ritas, and omg… they were delish!!! def gonna be a must have around here!! I would certainly buy it if it is still available! Ha- wish I had known. I just bought this lens too. Then realized I really wanted the 50 1.4 instead. i’ve got $700 saved up for the 24-70 lens – can’t wait to get it, too. Well this post makes me a wee bit sad….this is one of my favorite lenses. The 24-70 I am learning to love though….if you like zoom you will love it! oh bummer i was too! too bad 🙁 enjoy Darby! oooh, I’ve been thinking about this lens. Too bad Darby beat me! 🙂 Enjoy!! I wonder how much customs would cost to send it to Canada. I would love to buy this lens from you. wish i shot canon. i just bought the 24-70 as well (nikon) LOVE it!!!! Just got the 24-70 and am in love! But, I still love my 85 as well. Hope someone can get some use out of this lens — it really is amazing for portraits! Meg, I am interested! Darby agreed about the 24-70!!! I LOVE mine… it was the first lens I bought. Very versatile! You will LOVE the 24-70 … it’s my go-to for ALL of my sessions. 🙂 I know one of your many many fans will want this beautiful lens … someday I’ll add this one to my collection too. Wish I was in the market now! i have to tell you my big news. it's BIG.
i am going to GoPro with Blue Lily in San Diego on February 25 -26th. i am so excited about it….like….craaaaaaaazy excited. wendy & tyler are my favorite. i first found them when i saw their work at NieNie's blog….in 2008. they took our family pictures this summer while we vacationed in chicago.
and now….they are going to teach ME. at GoPro i will learn things about lighting…non-ideal lighting….confidence…..staying fresh and creative… i have heard we get to eat really good food…bonus! it's at big house ON THE BEACH! i get to meet a bunch of people who are passionate about the same things i am AND we get to stay together. have i mentioned that i am excited about this?!
all the info you need is found here. did you know that they are also teaching in London, England and Melbourne, Australia?! how awesome is that? i am so ready for an awesome (dare-i-say LIFE CHANGING???) weekend with two people i admire so much. let's go together! 🙂 and for the record wendy and tyler….i expect to do this when we are together. go to their blog and you will be inspired….you will be soaked in color…..you will smile…i promise. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! so darn excited. I am so jealous! They are my photo heroes! I took a basic class from Wendy at SPARK in Sept. Love her! Awesome!!! Can you come back and redo the entire workshop for us? 🙂 I want to go!!! I’m waiting on Wendy to send me the invoice so I can make the payment. Soooooo Excited!!! For realsies? Yay yay yay and then one hundred million more yays. That weekend is going to turn everything upside down for you in the best possible way. A life dream/ bucket list/ no way it would ever happen/ all in one. Wow, sounds really amazing!!!! Can’t wait to see your posts of it all…..and in SD too! Awesome! Sounds lovely and the weather will be perfect!!! If you are like me you are already so tired of our cold snowy Midwest winter!!! Wow. Just…WOW!!!! What a great opportunity! A house on the beach… learning about photography… with a bunch of fun people!? Sounds like a good time to me! By the way, I saw a bird with a french fry this morning and thought of you. 🙂 I just emailed my hubby the link, my oh so subtle way of saying, PUH LEASE baby?? We’ll see. Maybe a great way to spend our tax return, I’m thinkin’. If I had an extra $1000 I would be there with you! I’m looking for a workshop this year too but … I think I have to stay local – are you aware of any good ones in Chicago? I’m having a hard time finding one that I know will be reputable. 🙂 SWEEEET. So happy for you girl! I’m in the research and saving stage of buying the next up camera form my point and shoot. Might be out of my league ya think? HA!! Have a great time! How cna you not ON THE BEACH with your CAMERA!! How fun! That’s great Meg!! You are already a GREAT photographer, but isn’t it fun to learn new things about the thing we love to do. You go girl!! Happy for you! Sounds like fun! Can’t wait to see pics! I’m SOOOO excited for you! That will be the most amazing experience! I wish I could go, but I’m officially on “stay in town baby watch” starting next week. Lucky! I’m terribly jealous. I would love to be a better photographer. Or even just a competent one! Fantastic! Just had a look at their work and can see why you’re so excited. Looking forward to seeing some of your work afterward – it’s already fabulous 🙂 Good for you Meg!! Take lots of pics for us please! That’s so great!! My goal is to be good enough to go to one of their workshops next year I love your blog! It’s my favorite! Blue Lilly did both of our girls weddings last year and they both turned out beautiful! Would love to have more family photos with her soon. Could you tell me what color you paint your crystal chandelier. Is it white or cream, spray or brush? I am thinking of painting one of mine and don’t want to make a mistake. I LOVEEEE Blue lily !! I won a contest abut a year ago from Wendy and had some AMAZING pictures taken by her out where I am in AZ. You will learn sooo much !!!! I would love to go !!!!!!! She also donated a package to my MOPS group . How cool is that !!! I am so jealous. I love that they invited you. I read their blog stoy about Mexico (the food). So funny. So honest. If I had more minutes in my day I would join you all. I have wanted to learn how to take better photos. But for now I am committed to tshirts, art and of course the family… and the next 40 days (I am trying to lose 10 lbs…yikes). Please post your stories of your trip. I can’t wait to hear. EEK!!! I am so excited for you! While I would love to be there with you, I cannot think of a person who would enjoy this experience more! Now you can actually enjoy that fancy-schmancy Photoshop program instead of just thinking longingly about it while it sits in the box!!! 🙂 That is freakin’ awesome! I just discovered their photo blog a few weeks ago and fell in love. You will learn so much! Your business will grow! What an amazing opportunity. I am so excited for you!!! Woohoo!!!!! Kelly Yeah! So excited for you! Definitely beast! I am very excited for you, there is nothing as stimulating as learning more about something you already LOVE and are totally INTERESTED in. I’m so proud of you for going for it! Can’t wait to hear all about it!!!!!!! So excited for you 🙂 So exciting!! What an opportunity! Look forward to hearing about it here. weeee!! Love your BLOG! We are long lost sisters! I love anything RAINBOW and my goldendoodle!:) WOWZERS!!! I am so happy for you!!! And so wish I could go, too! Learn lots and have a blast!!! JUST READ THEIR INFO ON THE WORKSHOP. WOW… SO GLAD YOU ARE ABLE TO GO. LEARN LOTS, HAVE FUN !!! So jealous…wish I could. I will be on my way to Austin for my first half-marathon. Pray for me, and that I don’t die! 🙂 That’s awesome! I hope you learn a lot and have lots of fun!! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this yesterday! I am so glad you will get to have this experience! I am jealous because you are going to be by the beach! I am sure you will learn a lot that will make the pictures you take in August for me even better! more unique! That sounds like so much fun!!! So excited for you! :o) green. jealous. boo. oh oh oh What a fantastic opportunity! Happy that you are able to embark on this amazing journey. 🙂 Ok, so I will make you a deal. YOU go on this totally cool weekend and I will wait here in freezing cold, snowy and windy Chicago. BUT, next time you are here to visit, you will use your BEAST skills to photograph my babies okay?? This way I will be less jealous:) Beast for sure! 🙂 Excited for you. Can’t wait to see your mad skills on your blog in the spring. Sounds fun! The price tag is a bit big though. Hope you have a blast! I was all ready to complaining that all the cool things are in America until I saw they were coming to England. I’m nowhere near Pro but I definitely going to check out their beginners workshop, exciting! Well i just checked out their website and think you’re photo’s are just as good as theirs (to my untrained eye). I love how you can capture someone’s soul, and how every picture tells a story in itself! Keep up the good work! EEK! How exciting?!?! You’ll have great fun! Oh, PS, how fun for you! I need to be beast at photography. BEAST? Wha?? lol. Awesome!!! You sound wonderfully happy and I hope it is just totally brilliant for you!!! I am so excited for you. You better blog us about your adventure. HOW fun is that!? I’m dying inside because I wish I could go, haha! Our wedding is 3 months away so all extra money is going to that. Take lots and lots of notes and report back to us. 😉 Have fun! This looks AMAZING and I live here in San Diego! I don’t think I can afford the $900 right now. But I’d love to meet you. Interested in doing a photo session for me? You lucky girl!!! I would so love to be joining you. Wendy did our family pictures back in November – something I had dreamed about for a few years. It was fabulous! Enjoy! Oh my word… so jealous! I actually just contacted them and asked a few questions about the workshop. I’m gonna ask the hubby tomorrow… I would freak out if he agreed to let me go. It’s a long shot, but I have to try! Thanks for the heads up 🙂 meg. Ooooh … I want to go. That sounds like a blast. Too bad I have my teaching job. And another certification I’m working on this year. And zero money in my savings. You are going to have such a great time and learn so much and be so refreshed! YAY! Good for you!! I know two of those girls in the last picture, one I went to elementary thru high school with! That will be an AMAZING experience! AND I’ll just miss ya… we’ll be on our annual family SD beach house vacay in March. FUN! I wish I was a super awesome photographer like you. 🙂 that sounds great!!! Cant wait to see what you learn….
oh yeah….that is the best picture in the bunch. hot bath. it was a good day. Mmmm. Your pumpkin muffins look divine! I havent had a hot bath in so long, quick showers usually. I think i will do just that today! Where did you get the pug shirt? I LOVE it! I have a dog blog and I would love to get my hands on one! It is everyday pictures of life that makes me happy! Your blog makes me HAPPY!! In my time of despair this is a fabulous reminder of what I am surrounded by, thanks for that!! the pumpkin muffins look and sound amazing!! I have recently found your blog and Love it! Agreed……A Christmas Story! My favorite Christmas Movie EVER!! Spoiled dog for sure, but smart too. I’ll send you guys some warm weather. It’s down right balmy out here right now. Love Love Love this kind of post. So bright and colorful yet simple and real. It’s what I love most about your blog. Thanks for brightening my day! so glad my kids aren’t the only ones who can down a dozen pumpkin muffins like there’s no tomorrow! That is a perfect day, Meg. I am intrigued by your sewing project with that fun fabric and look forward to seeing what you are making. Seriously LOVE this blog Meg! I love seeing your day to day with your family. I love how open and honest you are. And all the color, yep love that too 🙂 I love ending the day with a warm bath. Love this idea. I think I am going to try it tomorrow. Love it- I might try that tomorrow. LOVE your blog. I only read three daily and yours is always first 🙂 Can you PUHLEASE email me or post in your comments where you got that multi-colored cream fabric w/ polka dots? I NEED IT! Thank you so much! i’m glad you had a good day. I just love how real you are. I love that you don’t “stage” your life for photos. You show a coffee mug on a paper towel, not delicately placed in a totally white background on a nice little plate. It’s so real and comforting and I think that’s a big part of why people love you so much. : ) Please share the pumpkin muffin recipe!! Thanks for always brightening my day. I never knew pb and apples was weird?? now pb and pickles… not too sure about that! Oh you had me with the space heater AND the hot bath! Is it spring yet? That IS a good day! Fun, Fun, FUN! Whad’ya get from Piperlime? Also, where do you buy your fabric from? Do you order it online? Nice movie quote. 🙂 That is some great fabric you have there. I can’t wait to see how you are using it. Wow that’s some serious cold weather. loved the post! loved the header! loved the pics! i love your blog… 🙂 love the new header. cute new header. i can’t wait to see what “project” you are talking about. Had the rainbow cake at my daughter’s 13th bday… glazed apple bars at a friends house… and just made the Mexican chicken the other night… All were delicious!!! Can you please post the pumpkin muffin recipe? Pretty please??? If you want to feel warmer, just pop over to see what real cold is. And now, even though I’ve stopped drinking coffee at home, I am about to get up and go make myself a cup. Your happy cup of java did me in. A Christmas Story!! Yeah for hot baths and wine. x Love that movie! Stay warm, looks like it was a great day for a hot bath too! cute pix! Can’t wait to see what you are making with that beautiful fabric! Have fun!! apples and peanut butter = greatest snack EVER. You can put your arms down when you get to school!!! mmm…you just reminded me that I was going to try to convert my pumpkin bread recipe to a chocolate chip pumpkin bread recipe…this weekend might be perfect for it! Love your new header!!! Where do you find such beautiful fabric? What a fabulous day! I SO NEED TO MOVE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD -love your new header You wrote about this a few posts back but I wanted to comment on it. You wrote that you love movies with Vince Vaughn PLEASE tell me I am not the first person to tell you your husband looks very very much like him. I have thought it for as long as I have read your blog. Just wanted to share and would be curious to hear if you have been told that eeeek! are you making a quilt?? Perfect day indeed. love this post!!! -2 degrees is way to cold!! Waffle may be the samrtest dog ever to lay in front of the heater…I would do that too!!! lol I can’t wait to see what you do with all that adorable fabric! Pillows? Something else? I’m sure it will be great! 🙂 Love the last picture especially if it is that cold where you are at. A Christmas Story! I love that movie so much and I love coming here to lurk at your blog 🙂 Your pictures are the best, your family is adorable and I want your house! I love heart shaped things and a rock like that would be on display in my house if I found one! Our dog likes to lay in front of our space heater (in our computer room) too. Love the new header. And envious of your bathtub! oh ya hot baths are my new obsession. I have to run in icy snow packed Wichita so you know what i’m dealing with. I can’t seem to warm up so i find myself soaking up some warmth in the bath. & I need your pumpkin muffin recipe!! They look wonderful! so where do you get all your wonderful fabric? I LOVE all the colors. Well, I thought 7 degrees was cold this morning. I’ve got nothing on your -2! Ha! 😉 And there’s nothing like a handwritten note in the mail. It truly is a lost art! Stay warm today! 🙂 AWW I adore Mad Men. I have just started watching How I Met Your Mother….loving it. I might steal that Waffle!! And Talby and Annie- too cute!! And I thought my family was the only one with spoiled rotten dogs! LOL. My mom has a chihuahua that will scratch at her house coat until she open it and lets him in to snuggle. If she is sitting down, he is right there tucked under her arm. It doesn’t matter if it is winter or summer. That’s his spot. That last picture just made me relax… I realized I was sitting at my laptop all tensed up. a christmas story??? I think one may have had to live under a rock for 20 years to not ID the movie. I LOVE your day, all but the -2 degrees. I could live without that forever. Please stop by my blog some time. You have inspired me. My favorite is apples and fat free caramel. Yummy! Looks like you had a fantastic day. Line from A Christmas Story, ha! i LOVE apples & peanutbutter!! I think it’s hillarious when people say it sounds weird!! and your dog is soooo stinkin cute!! He’s getting fluffy again!!! Oh those muffins sounds so good, would you be able to share the recipe? Great pictures!! Love the one of the puppy by the heater. That is hilarious. =) Beautiful girl in the pictures too! starting season 3 of mad men myself today. Can’t wait to see what your going to create! Hi Meg….I have been following your blog for over a year and here is my first public appearance! What made me finally speak you ask???? Peanut butter and apples…I have been eating that since I was a little girl…..so glad to know I’m not the only one. Other friends thought it was strange but it tastes oh so good!!! I love your home, your family, your blog, your photos…the way you see life and share with all of us. You are a blessing to this world. keep sharing! xoxoxoxo This cracks me up because we had 6 inches of snow in Atlanta and are on day four of school being closed! We have cabin fever–wish we were as snow hardy as you all! What are you planning to make with all the gorgeous fabric? A Christmas Story! Sounds perfect 🙂 Love this post! Love the space heater picture! That’s exactly where I would be. 🙂 perfect day. Can you give us your pumpkin muffin recipie? looks like a wonderful day, indeed. Adorable pics, as usual!!! The last one is my favorite too. Glad to see you shop Piperlime. I can barely find anyone that even knows the store exists. Love it!! Hi Meg! “A Christmas Story” which I think is the greatest movie of all time. Apples and peanut butter? Hm… interesting Apples and peanut butter are yummy together…. Such good photos – going to have to try apples and peanut butter now! i keep forgetting to tell you that Layla featured me on her before and after post last week! ************************************************************************************************ water for christmas. please read this post if you are interested in making items to donate to the etsy shop. the water etsy shop will close on jan. 15 but will continue to accept items to sale. we can keep giving clean water all year round! *************************************************************************************************
this came in my mailbox yesterday! i met the artist/shop owner mary at the kane county flea market in may. i texted my husband "i just got recognized from my blog at the flea market" and she just opened an etsy shop. ************************************************************************************************* i got my baby fix. i enjoyed photographing one of the most calm content babies last week. miss betsy baby was a DE-light. and so is her mom. :) off to check out the link loveliness you shared. 🙂 PLEASE put me in touch with the mother of that adorable baby… I MUST have the pattern for that adorable crocheted hat! You are a rock star in Kendall County too. . . . posted a link to your blog on Facebook once and was surprised how many people I know read you blog, . . . . . I’ve been going to the Kane County Flea Market with my mother since I could walk. . . . once a month we ditched church for a holy experience in St. Charles. . . have you tried the pastries from the french nuns? Yum. . . . . the Sandwich Antique Mart is great too, better quality stuff, big trees = nice shade in the summer, but smaller size flea market OMG is that your room?! I bookmarked that on ohdeedoh ages ago. Its in my inspiration file. Love just come to utah again and i’ll say the same thing to you–and i’ll bring my friend that also loves your blog so we can both go ga-ga. because we will. you’re awesome. Megan… I found your blog from Layla’s feature–lucky you to be featured! I want to do my playroom in a similar style, but I know it’s going to take lots of scavenging on my part. Wish me luck. Wanted to let you know I’m so in love with your blog. Will be coming back often to visit! A pleasure to meet you. Congrats on being featured on Layla’s! I LOVE the bathroom…I have been collecting silver not sure what to do with it…now I know! your husband’s comment made me laugh!!!! totally sounds like something mine would say since the flea market types would definitely not be HIS peeps. 😀 sounded like an awesome time! love your “M” necklace. and what an awesome photo of baby betsy. LOVE all the COLOR!!! and of course she’s PRECIOUS all in her slumber. meg…wow that little one is adorable !!! i miss my babies.. I think that is my all time FAVORITE professional photo you have shared on your blog. WELL DONE. =) Adorable baby. also i just ordered an “m” necklace, too. THE BABY!!!!! that’s one gorgeous little girl. i wish i knew how to knit so i could make beanies like that. I just love your posts. That baby is darling…makes me want just one more. I just clicked on Mary’s blog, and before it was even finished loading, I starting saying, “ooooh!” 🙂 Just went back and went through each of those blog posts and room redos. So enjoyable. Just wanted to say Thank You for your blog. I read and look forward to it everyday. Wish I ran into you at a flea market I would probably act like I ran into someone famous! or be to shy to say anything and then be mad I didn’t say Hi. Hopefully one day… Thanks again for a great blog. Can you please refresh me on what I do to donate to your Etsy/Water shop. I’d love to help. Thank you, Tracy Fisher (www.tfisherart.com or tfisherart@comcast.net) I love that playroom/guestroom so so much. Love the pictures of the baby, your style, your blog. Read it every day. I ordered 3 of those awesome letters for Christmas presents. Loved them. LOVED the picture of betsy kate! Thanks so much for taking them. I have looked at this picture many times today…it’s very calming when betsy is fussy and the other 2 are running crazy 🙂 Awwww….Meg…you are the BEST! Thanks for lovin’ my M, and lovin’ my crazy white booth! Ok, so what is so funny is that I was on my phone texting everyone I knew…that knew you…saying “OMG! Meg was just in my booth! And I couldn’t even stop to talk to her!” love that baby picture! so cute & love the polka dots!! 🙂 determined to learn to take pictures like you…. hi meg! that M is so super cute! Just came across your blog. You are so inspirational to me as I try to write my own! Thank you for being so caring about others. Love the M and love your hubby’s response:) I love your room that Layla featured! That is how I found your blog and I’m so glad I did. I am a mom with a big family too (4 kids ages 9,7,4, and 11 months). You are an inspiration. ok, ok, i admit it. That baby is PRECIOUS! Sweet little nose! Makes me miss the baby stages. Mine are growing so fast! Yay for Betsy Kate! Can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures! 🙂 Your house is so bright and cheerful I love it. I also love that you let the kids mess it up. Great mom! oh what a sweet baby! i love your redos as well! thanks for inspiring me. oh. my heart. it stopped for a moment. oh. my. I just spent the better part of the 7:00 a.m. hour perusing your redo’s. LOVE them all. Love your room re-do. And..loved that thing with the mouse and the changing pic. That’s a fun feature. You are so inspiring to me, Meg. Please stop by my blog and say hi. Hi Meg! what are your favorite blogs? here are a few of my faves in NO particular order: julie ashley PW shauna kimberlee nic michelle laura *e* tara jasmine kelle wendy how is that for a list?!
this house was a real project. the yard had no grass. the walls were all wallpapered. and it was not pretty.
my super fabulous friend PAM who took me all the way to africa. how did you find time to be creative when your kids were little? and sometimes…you don't even need to bring crafts.
we finally got to sleep through the night on a regular basis about 2 years ago.
i have a Canon 50D with a 24-105 lens. i am ready for a new lens….if i can save my money long enough! i had a 50 mm lens but i sold it to lauren when i sold her my Canon Rebel in April. i used a canon rebel since i started this blog until this past april….it's a great camera! i shoot in auto focus but will be switching to manual more this year….when i can….i hope.
just kidding. check out these lovely photos…. newborn lauren in the purple hat. <— 1998 pregnant with scott. my birth stories are more funny than anything else. i had epidurals with all my girls and not with my boys. 2000 – 10 days before sean was born. talby just born. my boys' labors were quick…both 5 hours total. i had no c-sections or horror stories of 30 hour labors or morning sickness. i learned how to breath….on my 5th baby. we barely made it to the hospital with sean….that was crazy.
talby and annie newborn annie. with scott and with talby i went into the hospital before i was in real labor and came back home. i wish i would've nursed longer but i had a crazy deep down reaction after a few weeks in with all of them are you going to stay home now that your kids are in school? i sure hope so.
he is a commercial banker.
pray. that is all i have learned so far…..
do you have a kindle….do you like to read….what is your favorite book? we got sean a kindle for christmas but i don't have one. and so sad….and traumatic. and of course….Crazy Love.
why do you workout in an assisted living facility? i like it because i am the youngest…it's REALLY quiet…and it's almost always nearly empty. if you want to feel strong and fast and young….workout at a retirement center!
I honestly can say i hate apple. i gueartne its a bunch of old dudes that just don’t understand.who ever buys this thing is mentally challenged. Its a bigge i touch. THATS IT.a few more features.im gonna say though, congratz on the iphone. but your next 10 products don’t need to be the exact same shit. its old. for fucks sake -.- have you read the blog Thanks for sharing some favorite blogs. I already read some of them but am happy to add a few more good ones to my reader. I just want to say i adore you. And you are fabulous. That is all. ahh thanks neighbor… That pic of Lauren was the same one you sent right after she was born. I can remember thinking she was so beautiful and I couldn’t wait to have my own. Aw Meg! I’m so flattered to be listed w/ your favorite blogs. Seriously! What a treat first thing in the morning! And congrats for having your playroom shown on Lettered Cottage, you deserve it! I’m trying really hard to use that pic as a jumping off point for the nursery. 🙂 Great post! Love the before pictures! I would love to see like an old blueprint of your house. I have always just been in love with old Victorian styled homes. Thanks for the home tour! Awesome! Thank you thank you thank you. I am flattered seriously. And I loved seeing your pregnancy pictures. You look so cute. I have a sweet little Annie, too! Loved reading your blog tonight. these are my favorite blog posts that you do!! because everyone’s life is so interesting and different… i hope you don’t ever feel like the posts are too long, boring or self-focused. because i love them!! I will never be able to fully appreciate the awesome awfulness that once was totally matching wallpaper and fabric in the guest/playroom. When the curtains were closed… it must have looked like a windowless make believe funhouse. To think that was chosen on purpose. For lots of money. That the owner was excited. Wow. Just wow. The good old days!!!!! Can’t believe how much you guys have done in six years. That is crazytown!!! Love your honesty in all your posts and I got teary eyed looking at all your “baby” pics. Beautiful. What a blessing it is to be a mom, and it goes too quickly. thank you for your blog… you inspire me… It is so weird to read about someones life for over two years….everyday….and not know them. But to be honest, meg, if I saw you on the street, I think you would be so concerned. Because I would walk up to you and talk to you about talby and annie and sean and lauren….we would talk about craig and how he reminds me of my hubby (minus the banker), how I hope to stay home with my kids and continue blogging, create an etsy and continue to pursue photography, etc,etc,etc. I loved this post and never comment but had to on this one because I enjoyed it so much:) I’m so impressed with the transformations you have made on the house – SO Lovely! You wrote you “chose to leave the “city” life (chicago-land area) and move back to small town kansas” and we are currently seeking to do this same thing! We live in the Philadelphia area and are anxious to relocate near southwestern PA to be close to my husbands family and where he grew up. We’re having a heck of a time getting considered for jobs though since we are out of the area. Any tips on how you made the move happen?!? Would LOVE to hear them! I hope by the time my son starts school (he’s 2 1/2 now) to be near family in a permanent home:) Love the q and a! Love the porch picture with Talby, sooooo sweet. Miss those snuggles! Great answers. the pictures of you pregnant and of the babies made me tear up. time moves so fast…. I love what little I saw of your scrapbooks! Do you think you could post a couple layouts? I am always looking for inspiration. Love your blog! I think I can see where you look like that Dixie Chick near Annie’s birthday. I love the pics of the house. I bet you know the best way to take down wallpaper, huh? 🙂 love these answer posts! Fun fun! Great pics! Can we still ask questions??? LOL If so, have you ever posted pics of your chicago house? And, any plans for the awesome upstairs room??? That room is “BEAST”. HA! meg, your birth stories and pictures are adorable. you look so young (and freckled and sun-kissed) and so in love with each of your babies. i couldn’t stop smiling and giggling, looking at you all preggo and the sweet newborn pics. i love these answering questions posts….you might think they are dumb, but they aren’t. they are fun. makes me feel like i really know you in real, non internet life. Loved this answers post too! cool answers 🙂 your babies are so adorable. Great post. You are so pretty and photogenic. Even in pregnancy! Thanks for sharing… I’ve already checked out some of your fav blogs even before reading the post. Thanks a bunch. I think I will also check out my Nana’s retirement home. Your last bit of advice made me smile. I need to start hanging around seniors more for sure. Oh,your pregnancy and newborn pictures made me cry! Thanks for sharing pieces of your life 🙂 wow! sometimes i read your blog and i feel like i’m reading a lot about myself…. i have the same haircut, felt the same way about nursing my kids, just recently we sold our FR furniture and put in a 3-in-1 table and a foos ball table. i just wish i could get my husband to work on our 70s house like your husband works on yours 🙂 he does fix cars though – he can do brakes and everything – just doesn’t like home projects so much. oh well! snow day here in nebraska – enjoy your day! I really love what you have done with your house. Seeing the before to now is pretty amazing. Cool post. Man, you worked magic with your house. I would never know by looking that those pictures it was the same house in your blog. You guys must have worked like dogs!!! Dogs!!!! Thanks for the shout out friend. I have to say “right back at you!” You are one of my favorites too. I always end up inspired when a stop here. 🙂 You look fourteen (in the picture at the hospital with Annie)! Wow. “i needed some breathing room! i just couldn’t nurse any longer. i felt smothered.” My baby is 16 months old and I have never been able to appropriately sum up what I felt – maybe for fear of being judged. Thank you. Knowing that someone else felt that is amazingly liberating! I knew Pam made that! It was screaming of her. Wow! I’ve missed these two days and really enjoyed catching up!! As I sit here in my quiet house, thinking about what I want to do today, it was delightful to get to know you better!! Thanks so much for everything!! Your explanation for working out at the assisted living facility is HILARIOUS! Great blog! WOW! I’ve never seen such beautiful “I just gave birth” photos EVER. So beautiful. I was bloated and had multiple chins after I gave birth to my babies (and I was never brave enough to post them!) Hi Meg! Thank you for answering our questions…it’s very cool of you. You seem like a fun chick and I feel like getting to ‘know’ you this way is better than not getting to know you at all. You are the sweetest!!! Thank you for including me. One of my friends just told me. I LOVED seeing the photos of you and your babies…YOU looked like a baby too!!!! Thank you for sharing! Your advice about raising teenagers was so wonderful and helpful for me to read. Thank you! You are a beautiful woman, Meg. You have lovely eyes. Thanks for answering all these questions. And wow, you looked fabulous right after having your babies! Meg, you are so fun! 🙂 I can’t wait to check out all your favorite blogs. And you look amazing in all your hospital pics! I love all the baby pictures, so sweet. this is great! You guys are totally made for each other to be on the same page and tackle that house together. And look what’s come of it! That’s a beautiful thing. I’m loving these posts! Thank you, thank you for your refreshing honesty! Your sense of humor and zest for life make for some fun reading. And what a good reminder – if I want to tackle some projects NOW, even while the kids are little – I just need to do it. Enough already! 🙂 wow- you are gorgeously big with your babies! I got belly on my knees big with #3- wondering what this one will be- although Im tiny so far! I soooo needed this post for several reasons. Especially about sleep, raising young ones and needing time for yourself. I absolutely loved that photo of you and Talby on the porch swing, it made me want to cry. Too sweet. Would you ever come to KC to do photos? How far is Newton from KC? so, i feel like when i start a comment here, i need to always either begin it, or end it with “whatever”… Megan, Love the old family pictures. “Little Talby” is so cute. That picture of the two of you on the porch swing is just perfect. 1. you look absolutely beautiful in the pics right after having those babes. I have a stack of photos from when we first bought our house that I need to scan. We have been here for almost 5 years and like yours we saw its potential. It also has good bones! Hi Megan, Thanks so much for sharing! It’s always such a treat to read about your life because of the spirit, energy and goodwill you bring to all you do. I stop by most everyday to experience a little of your world. Your photos tell such a story, you have a gift for capturing all the small moments that constitute the goodness that life can be; and is. I think it is very generous of you to spread the joy; thanks:) 1. I love sleep. that was a long post! it was GREAT! thanks for the fun read and encouragement 🙂 I just listed your blog as one of my favorite blogs on MY blog! Lol! that picture of you on the swing pregnant with annie, holding talby is beautiful. Perfect. Heart melting. I love sleep, too 🙂 It makes me happy. Bri gave me a one hour nap today AND did some work for me. It was the best thing he could have done ever. I love sleep. Amen. had no idea one could work out at a retirement facility. and i read a long way gone recently. loved it. (i’m a reader, so i read numerous books on africa recently when i moved from 8th grade to 7th to teach social studies.) your blog is fun! I really liked learning more about you. I like your everyday posts, but I enjoy the Q&A, too. I’ve been wondering about your camera and lenses and now I know. I think it’s too funny that you work out with the geriatrics. So great! Thanks for sharing! Well Meg ,you have done it again. A great blog to read and I think you answered my question on what camera and lens do you use. Thankyou. I’ve been stepping away from my computer a little lately to spend more time with the kids, so that means skimming blogs on Google Reader instead of opening them… BUT I had to come here and tell you that you look SO amazingly beautiful and radiant is every single one of those after-birth pictures! I love what you’ve done to your home and hadn’t realized it’s all been within the past 6 years. You’ve done an amazing job! Oh I just love seeing all your pictures of your house when you first bought it. It makes me feel like a less insane person for the last house we owned, you just had to have vision! Your house is so gorgeous, it just needed your magic touch to bring that out. |
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מרפאת שיניים בראשון לציון - Amazing post! It’s beautiful. I never see such awesome post. Thanks for sharing this colorful post.
Ivonne Loving - Hi! I included this post in this weeks from my reader round-up. Loved the post and thought it would be super useful to my friends and readers. Yay, your second post in the round-up!!!
linda lou - hope you get some proms photos of your daughter and maybe group or date? love the teapot if you don’t need it, it will fit right with my others.
blessings,
lindalou
kim g - please share how you printed those photo collages??? how did you do it???
love all the pics from around your house….it make me happy!
Four Flights - Awesome pictures. Thanks for posting again about Dream Big and Danielle’s story, I think with all the pictures of pretty houses in the last post I missed it. My sister just adopted her 4th child and all her children have been a special part of God’s plan for our entire family, not just hers. Going to donate right now 🙂
christine - Love those photo collages. Such a great idea. I often want to display different pics but don’t want to commit to a frame. Love this!
We have that little World Market paint-it-yourself tea set. LOVE! My daughter and I worked on it together a few weeks ago and it was such a hit here. Even our 2 year old has been most delicate with it – even she knows it’s special 🙂
Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Hey Megan,
Any chance you can give a quick how to on the picture collages hanging on your blackboard? I could probably figure it out, but I’m kind of lazy. : )
Dana
crystal b. - Did you lay flat on the floor to get sparkle shoes??? I love it. If these were Claire’s I would frame this in her room. Do you have a big wall where you post all of these? I hope so. I bet it looks so cool. 🙂
jenni - oh how i wish for tiny feet, so that i could fit into those sparkly shoes!
Sarah Wolfe - Yes! I want to know about the collages, too. These may be my favorite of your posts. Love the photography and getting a visual of all the creativity around your house!
The BabbyMama - Can I just say my 2 year old daughter loved looking at all these pictures! She said:
I want to play with that dog! And that cup! Is that my shirt? Is it a real girl wearing it?
crystal beutler - Meg I just LOVE how you capture every day things and make them look so amazing. I would love a wall of your photos in my house. They make me smile. You need to add one to my photo linky party!!!!
I’m posting about little Surge (did i spell that right?) on Monday. 🙂 Such a great cause. I hope they raise enough money soon. I’m giving up a lunch a week until he comes home. 🙂
Have a great weekend.
kristen - i love your blog. definitely helping out with Dream Big. happy weekending to you.
Erin Leigh - as always, love your color! and, yes, i will draem big today.
Heather - Sorry to comment-jack, but I saw this craft and thought of you, Meg! And it’s super colorful, so I suppose it’s topical!
http://youhadmeatbonjourblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lantern-makeover.html
jami nato - ok i was reading the post before this…and i’m commenting about that on this one. rude? i don’t know… anyway, i love parenthood. and a do have a tiny crush on adam braverman as well.
Marcella - So colorful as always! Is the tea set handmade?
Lacy Brauner - Meg- Youre my favorite blogger, always have been always will be.. I sure would love to buy some pillows, are ya all sold out?? also,, since when did leggos get such good hair?? haha! love yor blog and inspiration, and real way of being a beautiful mother
Lacy Brauner
danielle - forget the picture collages…where did you get that wreath!??!
sarah - hey meg- a while ago you had a link on the right hand side of you blog to a cute valentine craft where the lady took bouncy balls and put them in plastic bags and sealed the bag with a piece of paper that said “have a ball this valentines”. i was just looking for it and i don’t see it there anymore. any chance that you still have the link for it?
thanks! sarah 🙂
amy jupin - love grandma’s flowers.
the purdy aqua yarn wreath
talby’s ginormous shoes.
these posts make me HAPPY!
karen - second time i read/looked this post today. you’ve got a good eye lady 🙂
linda@limein the coconut - Ahhhh. Color. Vitamins for the soul!!
Beautiful, happy and soulful images
Kristin - The multi-colored polka dot in the 2nd picture is my absolute favorite fabric. I bought 2 yards years ago and used it for a quilt. When I went back to the shop they no longer had it and found out online it is no longer available. I have a tiny scrap that is smaller than 12″ sq. that I am hoarding for something special someday. 🙂 I just thought I would let you know I am so glad you have it in your home and I hope it brings you as much happiness as it does me when I see it. 🙂
jamie - ummmm. the pictures hanging with a ton of pictures within the square. how did you do that? i want to do that! love it.
Linda - SO lots us want to know where/how did you do the picture collages? They are awesome. Actually your entire home is awesome. Did you make the wreath? Thanks for the breath of fresh color!!!!
Alice H - cute wreath
Anna Marie - I like your posts like this. They are refreshing!
Please share more about the photo collages. What program you used and who you used to print them. Thanks a bunch!
Tanya - I just love your photos
Get a dose of laughgter at A Taste of T
Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Love all your pics, as always. Those collages are fantastic! Love the old scouting mug too. I scored some vintage McDonalds coffee mugs at the thrift store a few weeks back for 69 cents a piece and I LOVE them! Theyre just like milk glass.
XO,
Sarah
jennifer - Well I guess you’ll just have to let us all in on your collage lovelieness!
Thanks for sharing all your color. I needed that today… As it’s snowing out my window!
Courtney Walsh - love this. can’t wait to fill our new home with loads of color. 🙂 I’m going to blog Dream Big. Probably hopefully tomorrow. Thanks for the email! I love a good (great) cause!
Jes - just needed*
Jes - dog looks great, just need a day or so to grow in to it 🙂
and love those happy silver sneaks.
jerusalem - this all makes me very happy
Sharla - I’ve made those collages through bighugelabs.com for Christmas cards but never thought to print them out and use around the house. Love it! I also love the beaded flower.
Erin - I love the color inspiration here! My favorite picture is the photo collages on the white garland. Such a great idea. I have 4 kids and love having pics of them around, but have a hard time choosing which ones to put in frames. I will do these collages. Thanks 🙂
Karen P. - Please, please, tell us how you did the picture collages!!! Love them 🙂
vanessa - Oh I LOVE the picture collages!
Melissa - Where, oh where, did you have those picture collages printed???
Courtney Henson - Love all your little pics from around your home! You know, out of all of blog land…your home is the one I could move right into and be so happy because it is me but one million times me..if ya know what I mean! Have a happy day! (And I’m so enjoying the “Whatever” print and gumball print I got from you! They are framed in white and hanging on my chalkboard wall in my kitchen…they look faaantastic!)
Alma Barters - I love the picture collage on the ball fringe ribbon. What program did you use to create it?
tam - I love your photos and your home.
thanks for sharing.
april - total awesomeness…i wanna eat that litle mini globe for breakfast…FYI
xoxo
april
melissa rice - please tell me how you print out those picture blocks!!!
No.17 CherryTreeLane - a colorful home is the only type to have. {in my humble opinion, of course}
have a happy and color-filled day, Meg!
Lia - I’ve got color on my brain too. With spring bursting all around us how can we not. Beautiful photos.
Necole - I love color! I love pictures of your home. I want that scout coffee mug.
Kelly - You have Harvey’s Hideout. My brother and I used to love that book! I have a copy too. Kelly
Cassie Allen - I love your little world. It makes ME happy. The end. 🙂
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