Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Esther's fall pictures 2012 || chicago il, baby photographer



Esther is back on the blog!

I have watched this sweet little girl grow so much over the past year. I have so many more pictures of wee Esther that never made it on here. I'll probably post some of her younger pictures randomly along the way, just because they are too cute not to share. ;) 

She is super adorable! My Mom watches her every Tuesday, and it's so fun to have her sweet little self hobbling around the house. :)

She always has a smile for me. She loves to dance. She is singing more. (lots of la-la's and dah-dah's) She eats a ton! And she likes to help me edit my photos. ;)

My cute little friend. <3




This is her, "I don't know about these leaves.....they are ON me!!!" face. ;)





















She loves Mommy!!



Happy Wednesday! 
<3



~Stephanie

Monday, October 22, 2012

walk around downtown || personal, chicago il photographer



Beautiful walk downtown with my sweet Momma. <3

There weren't too many yellow or red trees, but it was beautiful all the same. :) 













Slight chill in the air, drinking hot apple cider, misty days, falling leaves, fresh baked goodies, burning candles, long walks, pumpkins, mums...
I really love fall. <3


Have a wonderful day! <3



~Stephanie

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Perfect Pear || personal, chiago, il photographer



Hello Lovelies! 

I must tell you about my new addiction. There is this fabulous place called The Perfect Pear. You MUST go visit! I have fallen in love with pretty much everything in the store. The minute you walk in the door it feels like home. It makes you feel like you've popped in to visit a dear friend who is baking something amazing for your visit! They burn these amazing candles that smell sooooo yummy! We have three of their candles, I love all of them. Lately hazelnut has been so wonderful to me, I love it in my coffee, and I love to smell it! So, of course for Christmas last year I bought my Mom a hazelnut candle, we both have enjoyed it a ton. The candle jars are really neat. We have one that looks like a small clay pot with handles. Super cute!
The store is in a quaint little house in downtown Crystal Lake. All of the rooms are filled with wonderful treasures, all things lovely from paper flowers to old vintage dress forms. (someday I will buy one!) Some things are handmade, some are antiques, some things are new (but nothing blue ;)). The colors are neutral, creams, whites, grays, silvers, and rich blacks. I could live there. I really could!

The fabrics they use are very natural looking, lots of burlap and linen. I love linen. My Mom just bought one of their lovely linen hand towels. They even have wall art that has a flower sketch print with a linen background. They always have new treasures coming in. Every time I go there are lots of different things. The gals who run the shop are awesome. They are a great mother-daughter team! Both super sweet, I felt like we were already friends when I first met them.
Here is their blog http://theperfectpear2.blogspot.com/. The address is 89 Grant Street, Crystal Lake, IL if you want to go visit and soak in some loveliness.






Paper flowers! Simply beautiful.

Michael (my cute bf :) thought these candle holders were really awesome. (yes, he is awesome and let me take him to visit the shop, he loved it almost as much as I did)



I think every girl needs a vintage hat.

I painted a pumpkin white! After seeing their white pumpkins I just had to paint one white! I love being inspired. 

I have a serious weakness for chandeliers. LOVE them.


*sigh* Letters to Paris. So romantic. <3  reminds me of the song "Postcard from Paris" by the Band Perry....




I really want one of those baskets! Don't they make you want to go to a farmers market to buy some fresh produce and yummy baked goods? They are a pretty good size and would fit a ton of stuff. Maybe a Christmas present to myself...hmmm....we'll see. ;)




If you visit the shop I have Sweet Pea & Lace flyers with 15% off a portrait session. Exclusive special for The Perfect Pear customers! Tonight downtown Crystal Lake is having a Ladies Night Out themed event. All of the shops will be open until 9 and I think that there might be sales and some other fun things happening. You could have a ladies night out, stop in the shop, enjoy the exquisite sights and smells, and pick up one of my flyers!
I hope you had a lovely fall day!!

<3

~Stephanie