Kristie Serra Photography Blog »

I thought it might be fun to share some of our products from time to time. A definite client favorite is the session image box. The image box features a custom design and includes all the session gallery images as 5×7 prints. When they come in, I’m not sure whether to drool first or hug them (no worries though, I never drool on the actual products).

On a side note, we are heading out of town tomorrow for a little family adventure. This weekend is The Goonies 25th Anniversary Celebration in Astoria, OR. We are packed, the car is loaded and we will be driving down in the morning to do a little Truffle Shuffle. We can’t wait! I hear the Oregon coast is breathtaking–I hope to have lots of images to share!

Before I go, I’ll leave you with quotes from one of my favorite scenes from the Goonies:

Chunk: Listen, okay? You guys’ll never believe me. There was two cop cars, okay? And they were chasing this four-wheel deal, this real neat ORV, and there were bullets flying all over the place. It was the most amazing thing I ever saw!

Mikey: More amazing than the time Michael Jackson come over to your house to use the bathroom.

Brandon Walsh: More amazing than the time you saved those old people from that nursing home fire, right?

Mouth: Yeah, and I bet it was even more amazing than the time you ate your weight in Godfather’s pizza, right?

Chunk: Okay, Brand. Michael Jackson didn’t come over to my house to use the bathroom. He was about to. But his sister did.

Enjoy your weekend!

xo,
Kristie

You know those days when ice cream just doesn’t cut it, don’t get me wrong, ice cream usually does the trick for me, but there are days when I need more. That’s when I turn to ice cream pie!  A graham cracker crust + your favorite ice cream + your favorite toppings = heaven, which is sure to put a smile on your face!!

Graham Cracker Pie Crust (from http://www.about.com/) + Ice Cream Pie

Ingredients:
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup melted butter  (I use Smart Balance Spread)
• 1/3 cup sugar  (I use 1/4 cup instead)
• your favorite ice cream
• your favorite toppings

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients; press over bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.  Let pie crust cool and then fill with you favorite ice cream, then add your favorite toppings.  Cover pie and freeze for 2 hours before serving.  I like to add a thin layer of ice cream, toppings, another layer of ice cream and then one last layer of toppings.

This week I made a Cookies ‘n Cream ice cream pie and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup ice cream pie.  I thought I’d include some images to go along with the recipe…  Oh, and I do go with the BIGGEST spoon!!

I recently spent the morning with Sarapage, creator and owner of Baby Girl Products LLC and her super sweet and adorable girls!  What a fun morning we had–filled with laughter, tickles, flowers, a pretend party with a blanket dance floor and then little B. sporting a bucket on her head.  It doesn’t get any better than that!!

I have been a huge Baby Girl Products fan since I met Sarapage last year.  I’m totally crazy about her organic cleaning products and I truly believe in what she has set out to do.  All of her products were created after careful consultation with chemists and the Environmental Protection Agency to guarantee that they were both effective and environmentally responsible.

Educating people on the dangers of common household cleaning products has become her goal.  To learn more about Baby Girl Products, please stop by the website: http://www.babygirlproducts.com/.  Baby Girl Products can be purchased directly from the site and if you happen to be local to the Tampa Bay area, their is a “stores” link with a list of local stores that carry her amazing products.  Check it out!

Thought I’d share just a few favorites, I have so many from their session, so you might be seeing more on the blog in the near future!

Sarapage (and B + B), thank you for such a fun morning and thank you for all that you do to make our planet healthier and safer!  xo, Kristie

Happy Friday! I thought I’d feature some of my favorite children’s music artists this week.  If you’re looking for music for the kiddos that you’ll love too, then check out these three!  I happen to feature some of their songs on my website and if you’re a client, you might have heard some of their music playing while viewing your online gallery too!

Johnny Bregar

Renee & Jeremy

Elizabeth Mitchell

Yes, that is my hubby and I couldn’t resist sharing what he has been up to recently!  When we met we were 15 years old and he was determined to be a Disney artist.  I think every gift I ever got him in high school came from the Disney Store.  Ha!

Well, Ali ended up taking a different career path, but art hasn’t been far from his heart.  More recently he’s been spending time painting and sketching again.  It’s amazing to watch him work–I swear, he’s got creativity coming out of his ears!  Our twins seem to be inspired too–our walls have never been more covered in art projects!  I wouldn’t want it any other way either!!

Some of my favorites…

Gemmie creates the coolest, most adorable, one-of-a-kind wooden dolls and families.  I’ve been so excited to share her Etsy shop ( http://www.gemmielou.etsy.com ) and images of the three families she created for me!  You can contact Gemmie through her shop to be added to her waiting list.  These tiny wooden dolls are so worth the wait!!

Oh how I LOVE our little wooden family.  Gemmie’s attention to details is unreal!!

Even the bottom of each wooden doll is adorable!  Boy’s get smiley faces and girl’s get hearts–so cute!!

The G. family!

The O. family!

More Etsy favorites:

Erika Jessop – sweet and delightful:  http://www.erikajones.etsy.com

Good Girls Studio:  http://www.goodgirlsstudio.etsy.com

LuLus Woobies:  http://www.LuLusWoobies.etsy.com

Glamour Damaged:  http://www.GlamourDamaged.etsy.com

It’s All About the Print:  http://www.ItsAllAboutThePrint.etsy.com

Ginger Blossoms:  http://www.gingerblossoms.etsy.com

Waste Not Saks:  http://www.WasteNotSaks.etsy.com

Design Bohtieque:  http://www.bohtieque.etsy.com

SEEN:  http://www.seen1.etsy.com

If you are like me, you have a favorite store that when you walk into it, you wish that you lived there?  That’s how I feel every time I visit the Blue Moon Trading Company.  I could get lost there for HOURS, exploring every little nook and cranny.  Every visit is so different for me too because there are always new treasures to explore.

It was last year when I discovered Blue Moon and met, Katie, the energetic and entrepreneurial owner of the South Tampa store that specializes in eclectic furnishings and accessories.  Much of what she sells is either vintage or custom-made from architectural salvage and recycled material.  I love it all!!   And, the icing on the cake is there is a little playroom for children in the store.  Katie could tell you about the time where one of my twins asked for “15 more minutes please” when I told him it was time to go get ice cream.  Yep, they turned down ice cream to stay longer at Blue Moon!

For me, it started with a yellow metal folding chair (you might have seen it in some of my work) and then my next visit it was a beautiful wooden chair and this horse statue, that is sitting on my china cabinet.  And,  just this week it was a bird cage, which will be soon hanging from my new office wall, and a turquoise little caddy.  I can’t visit without bringing something home.

Since 2004, Katie has handpicked treasures that inspire design professionals and homeowners alike. She selects distinctive pieces, and researches their histories whenever possible, giving each piece a story.  Katie also provides design services such as workshops, custom furniture and design consultations through Studio Blue Moon.

I really could go on and on, but I think I’ll let the images of her studio, store and one of kind items do the talking…  If you are in the area, stop in, say hi and shop like you mean it.  You’ll love Blue Moon (located in South Tampa off of S. MacDill Avenue)!

[the studio]

[the business partner's, Sydney and Andie]

[the store]

[the one of kind items]

I am thrilled that it’s Friday because I been looking forward to featuring the AMAZING Michele Anderson of Pinkle Toes Photography on the blog this week!  She and her beautiful work have been such an inspiration to me, so much so that I still remember the first time I visited her blog–I was blown away and I know you will be too!!  I could go on and on, but I’m sure you’d love to read what she has to say, so without further ado, here is the Q&A with Michele:

[1] What led you to a career in photography? Tell us about your journey…
I left my job in marketing to stay home with my kiddos, but the clock was ticking and I was eventually going to have to go back to work. I was working part time at a department store and I hated it. One day,, I called my mom in the parking lot and just bawled, “I have a degree in Communications. What am I doing with my life?????” She asked me what I really wanted to do in my heart and I told her that I wanted to be a photographer. So, I put in my notice and within a month, I had bought my first SLR and started a business.

[2] In five words or less, how would you describe your photography style?
Changing, changing, constantly changing. (that was less than 5 words, right?)

[3] What inspires you?
Other photographers for sure. Movies (Pan’s Labyrinth…wow!) and music videos and then there’s just driving around, looking for beautiful light and color.

[4] What’s your workspace like?
I really, really try to keep this somewhat organized. I’ve attached a pic. I still need more room. We’ll be working on that, soon, but meanwhile, you don’t even want to know how I store all my props and equipment. Ugh!

[5] So, how do you make it all work… business… family life… happy marriage?
I’m constantly trying to find a good balance. Sometimes, I’m really bad at it. One thing I did recently was to set office hours. I don’t always get to abide by them, but it’s nice to have permission to not work once in a while and just be with my family.

[6] What do you love most about what you do?
Meeting so many different people. A photo session is such an intimate experience and I always walk away from a session feeling like a family friend.

[7] What are you doing today that wouldn’t have imagined doing five years ago?
You’re lookin’ at it, sister. I never would have imagined in a million years that 1. I would have my own business and 2. That I would get to take pretty pictures all day long.

[8] What are you grateful for today?
Summer rain. It makes everything feel cool and refreshed. I wish I was brave enough to take my camera out in the rain sometime.

And, for fun… the speed-round:

If you had three wishes what would they be?
1. At least one of my children would take an interest in photography.
2. That my mom would get a new job so she can move to Austin, too.
3. That I never get tired of my career.

Oh, and world peace.

What are some of your favorite websites that you visit?
www.babyrazzi.com
www.jinkyart.com (she’s the one that started it all for me)
www.aliciapricephotography.com – so, so, so very talented.

Read any good books lately?
*still* working on the Twilight series that I started months ago. Sigh.

If you had to pick one song to be your theme song, what would it be?
Theme song? Crud. Now I have to have a theme song, too?

Fries or onion rings?
Depends on what else is on my plate.

WARING:  The following images have been known to produce uncontrollable ooooh’s and aaaah’s and even drool!!  Okay, now that you’ve been warned, please enjoy Michele’s GORGEOUS images…

GOOP?  

Yep, it’s GOOP!  

Sounds funny, doesn’t it?  Well, it’s actually a wonderful website by Gwyenth Paltrow.  I just recently heard about it and had to do some investigating for myself and I’m so glad that I did!  It’s all about nourishing your inner aspect.  It’s such an inviting site, maybe a little too inviting because before I knew it, I was reading along and clicking here and there for over an hour!  Each category from “Make” to “Do” to “Be” to “See” is packed full of interesting articles, recipes and resources!  I think I might be trying the Great Sunday Dinner recipe!  There is also a link to sign up for her weekly newsletters, which I did while I was there.  So, if you have a minute or two or an hour, GOOP is definitely worth checking out for yourself…

Not too long ago a good friend introduced me to this amazing blog: mama manifesto (thanks Jess!!) and I instantly became addicted!  It’s such a wonderful community of mamas and an incredible resource for almost everything imaginable… from top picks on the best BPA free bottles and sippies to delicious (and easy) recipes to creative crafts.  Oh, and they have great giveaways and contests too!  You’ve got to head on over…

I just love this little excerpt from their About Us section, so I thought I’d share (makes me want to go do some push-ups or something):

“We are not doing this project because we have it [motherhood] figured out, or because we are doing it unbelievably well. We are launching the Mama Manifesto because we need tools ourselves and because we recognize that together we are much stronger than we are on our own. We are real moms and we are in the trenches just like you. We are committed to being authentic and sharing our struggles and motherhood journeys. We will be adding nap-sized morsels to this blog daily.

Are you ready to join us? Share your stories and let us laugh with you, cry with you, dream with you. Share your tips, your shortcuts and your recipes. We will be sharing ours.

We are each others’ greatest assets…

p.s. We do not believe that motherhood = hard. We believe that it is a gift to walk this road…and that it can feel like the most wonderful, amazing, eye-opening, joyful, terrifying, beautiful, and challenging thing all at the same time!”