*Brooke and I had a little girl fun after the show
Metallics are such a huge trend right now but can be a little tricky to pull off! Here are some of my favorite tips on how to do this trend
Mastering Metallics
Go For Gold
Gold looks glamorous and will make you feel like it too! Gold richens your skin tone, and hair, and you can't go wrong with this metallic color. Gold Sequin Shirt, H&M, $34.95
Keep It Loose
To keep away from an edgy look stick with a loose sweatshirt. This will help soften your look. Grey Metallic Sweater, H&M, $24.95
Make It Preppy
Metallics paired with collared shirts are happy and fun! It's the best way to make this look sophisticated. Gold Flecked Sweater, H&M, $34.95
Bold Is Beautiful
If this trend doesn't scare you then GO BOLD. If you own it everyone will love it! Leopard Print Dress, Macys, $65.40
Modern Metallic Accessories
Sperry Shoes, Nordstrom, $89
Gold Clutch, H&M, $24.95
Chic Print Nail Stickers, Sephora, $7
Sephora Gold Polish, Sephora, $9
Nails Inc. Silver Polish, Sephora, $10
Sephora Prisma Chrome Shadow, Sephora, $15
Gold Belt, J. Crew, $39.50
Shimmer Scarf, J. Crew, $18
City Lights Purse, Jillie Willie, *on sale for $36 if you use promo code: studio 5
I brought my youngest two to work with me and they were thrilled!
Brooke even caught them in her dressing getting their caillou on ;)
You know when you haven't talked to a friend a awhile and the longer you go with out talking the harder it is to call? Well . . . thats how I feel about this blog. The more behind I got the more pressure I had about blogging. Make sense?
For now Im back :)
Life got crazy
I have been speaking, taking photos, making a pilot for a reality show, planning and having birthdays, going to Florida, selling my house! AND the most important being a wife and a mom to my 3 darling kids.
So with my crazy life I MUST spend extra time with my sweet children and not blogging.
You agree, right?
Things are back to "normal" crazy and I Love blogging so I now have time to do it at night when my kids are sleeping.
Bottom line. They get me time first. So sorry for the absence.
*********
Now on to Friday night stripes!
Here is a sneak peak into my home FULL of stripes.
Saturday morning my sweet friend Wendy planned a Birthday breakfast for me, we went to Mimi's (Love their honey bran muffin!) My mom stopped by on her way out to Las Vegas to bring me my Birthday gifts because she would be gone on my actual day. So we had a blast opening gifts and chatting.
Then my mom gave me the envelope. I screamed and cried inside the restaurant. We were going to Ellen in days!!! Plus the ticket was for 4 people so I invited my friends at breakfast and we were set!
Me and my mom have tried to get Ellen tickets for years so it was a crazy chance that the day that opened up was my birthday week!
Fast forward to the actual Ellen day . . . . .
(happy girl morning helping each other get ready)
The sign in time was at 3 and the taping was starting at 6. We had to get there early so we would get a good spot in line and make sure we got in, so we showed up at 12:00 checked things out, ran across the street for lunch where we saw Gene Simmons! Then had a little photo shoot to pass time while we waited. This fun red building is the place where we had our lunch
We were so Happy and Excited!
So then we sat around waiting until they started to check us in and give us our numbers. During the waiting they had past Ellen shows playing on flat screens, we filled our surveys, and a producer came around and asked a few groups some questions. He came over to us which was a big deal because he only talked to 4 groups. We were a little wild having a dance party the whole time so I'm sure we stood out as crazies ;) There was such a fun energy about this day.
He asked us all the same questions. Where we were from, our age, if we have been to Ellen before, our favorite segment she does. . . THIS is where I lost it. lol. I didn't even say a fav segment I just started to cry saying how much I LOVED Ellen and how kind she is to all. . . and blah blah blah. So pretty much I bore my testimony of Ellen. I seriously Love her. Then he took a photo of us holding our numbers and that was that. So before we even got into the show I was a excited emotional mess!
I would say that's when they decided I would be the 300,000 lucky audience member because they knew I would be emotional :)
They brought us into the studio -insert tears again- and placed us into our seats. Then moved us around a couple times putting me into the Lucky seat. Now they told us before hand that when we got in there the producers may move us around and so I thought that was normal and thought nothing of it.
We danced for 40 minutes before the show started. The studio had such a amazing energy! All the employees were so kind and made the whole thing a party! (unlike American Idol, we will talk about that soon) The show started and it was seriously so fun! She came out, we freaked, then she talked about having 300,000 audience members. And the count down started.
I didn't know it was going to be me until 3 before and I was so excited only thinking it meant I was the 300,000 audience member. Not knowing I got to meet her. Let alone everything else.
It landed on me (at this point you could tell I was already hyperventilating) I jumped up and danced thinking that was it. They I saw everyone wave me down. WHAT?! I get to go meet her!!! I danced on down and about passed out. Now this is where my memory gets foggy. I was shocked after the 5,000 to best buy! It was more than a dream come true! Thrilled is an understatement.
The prizes just kept piling on, and honestly I remember thinking it was "just for TV" and I really wouldn't get all this stuff. How could it be real??!!
Well it was! IT WAS!!!!
I went back to my seat celebrated with my friends and all the people around me. Than sat down and cried :) Trying to grasp what really happened. . . . . I'm still trying to! During the show I saw the girl that was sitting next to me at the begging, now in ellen gear working. They totally placed her by me pretending she was there to see the show, but really making sure I stayed where I was suppose to. Plus the fun continued. Everyone in the audience won a trip back and my friend Chelsea totally won the dance contest (of course!) After it was over we of course went right into the Ellen shop after and picked up some Ellen gear! Then I had to sign all sorts of papers and they said a producer will call me and give me all the details.
I can't wait for that producer to call!!!
So there ya go . . . My dream come true
(my mom took this photo of me passed out asleep that night in my ellen gear)
Chatting about on studio 5 yesterday :)
(click on blog to view video)
This week has been ambush week on Studio 5 and Friday is my turn! I will be at Discovery Gateway Ambushing you. We will take some photos and then Ill print them off right there so you can take them home! PLUS Discovery Gateway will be offering a 2-for-1 admission if you mention Studio 5. So make sure you all come out at 11, come see me and Brooke and have a party!
Today on Studio 5 Im talking about ombre hair. What are your thoughts?? I have learned people love it or hate it. It has been all the rage in hollywood. Tune in today and lets talk :)
The time is here! Pantone released the color of 2011: Honeysuckle Pink. The Pantone Color Institute sets the color trends each year and we will now be seeing Honeysuckle Pink in a big way, specifically in fashion and home decor. The executive director of the Pantone Color Institute says that "Honeysuckle is about energizing us. In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going, perfect to ward off the blues."
Pink can easily overwhelm a look, so I would pair this color with neutrals or hints of green. A bright pink lip is really popular right now; just make sure the rest of your look is soft. The good news is this shade of pink looks great on most skin tones. A lot of designers have incorporated this as part of their spring line, so keep your eyes open for pops of honeysuckle appearing everywhere!
I was just assigned to talk about my top 5 songs on Studio 5. To be honest, I have tried to find really "cool" new songs that I love. Then I snapped into gear and just went with my true all-time favorite songs - the ones that have always stuck with me. I think this list really shows all sides of me.
THIS is the first time I fell in Love with this song. I was watching this at home and recorded it on my vhs. Then replayed it 100 times till I knew all the dance moves. . . .And years later I can still bust it out ;)
You may think I'm just a city kind of gal, but my dad is a farmer and I grew up in Bear River City. This song has just always been a favorite. It brings back great memories of my grandpa and that county girl inside of me.
I get to work with Darin on studio 5. Now if you watch the show you know what a fun, goofball he is :) Lets just say his family is a great reflection of those fun same qualities. I laughed the whole shoot! It did not feel like work at all!
Did we take some "normal photos" sure. . . those just aren't as fun to post ;)
Yesterday on the show I got to do a little cooking segment about my favorite holiday appetizer. The kitchen was a fun change and Brooke and Darrin always make it a blast!
Now go make this dip. It is so yum!
(click on blog to view segment)
Ingredients:
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese
16 oz. cheddar cheese, grated (sharp or mild)
4 oz. chopped green chilies
Green onion (suit your own taste)
1 c. chopped ham
1/2 pound chopped bacon
1 round bread loaf, hollowed out
Method:
Mix first seven ingredients together and put into the hollowed out bread loaf. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for one hour. Serve with leftover bread or chips
(click on blog to view video, if viewing in reader)
Stretch it Out
When posing on the ground, make sure to stretch out your legs. This will elongate your body, making it so you're not cut off at the knees.
Take it to the Edge
Always sit on the edge of the chair. Your posture will look much better and remember - the closest body part to the camera always looks the largest.
Your Best Side
Turn sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place all your weight on your back foot. This allows you to look thinner by centering your weight away from the camera. (This is a great trick the celebs use!)
Look Up
When taking a photo it's important that your photographer does not snap the picture from below. This adds another 20-50 pounds to the 10 pounds automatically and annoying added by the camera. So bend down so they can get a great angle from up top!
Be Aware
Be aware! Pull head slightly forward, and tip chip down to minimize any appearance of a double chin. Hold your arms slightly away from your body. This keeps upper arm flab from flattening
You guys were right on your guesses! Shelley's full shoot coming soon :) K now I hope you take my advice and go celebrate you!
(pause music at bottom of page)
I love the theme of celebrate! It's a very important concept to remember and embrace in our daily lives. I thought of a few things we don't take time to celebrate enough - the challenge is to do so!
Celebrate Yourself
This is one thing we never do. As women, we don't get a lot of time to feel pretty and take time out for ourselves. We need to do this more often and document it. You will feel so happy you did! Having a great picture of yourself is not only useful for our businesses and blogs - it is also an important thing for our children to have, in years to come.
Celebrate your Spouse
I can't tell you how many times I have been on a family photo shoot, and I tell the parents it's "their turn" - and the couple visibly feels awkward! We need to take photos with our spouse, and often. Celebrate your love, and most importantly hang of photo of just you two, in your home for your children to see.
Celebrate Your Space
We spend so much time making memories and decoration our house "just perfect," we also need to take time to celebrate the work we have put into it. Document your space. It will be so fun to look back on all the different looks your home had through the years!
Celebrate Your Spirit
I think this is the key to a great family photo - to any photo! Don't just bring great clothing and a smile to a shoot, but bring a vision that represents your family. Show who you are, your spirit! Get dreaming up your next photo shoot - make it something to celebrate. I can't wait to see!
Back-to-school is a great time to catch some yearly photos of your children. I like to focus on what they look like, and what they love, that year. Here are some ideas and tips to keep on hand as you prepare for those annual back-to-school snapshots:
Sign Me Up!
Each year have your child hand write, on a sign, the grade they will be in that year. This is a fun way to see how their handwriting has advanced year to year, as well as knowing exactly what year that photo was taken. Put them all next to each other in a book when they graduate for a happy gift!
Favorite Things
In my photography business, I always try to take a "favorite thing" photo of each client - a certain toy, a favorite doll, a new hobby. I think this would be a great thing to do every year - a photo to remember what that child's favorite thing, or interest, was that year.
Get Focused
Details are always important when taking photos. Get in close to capture those details that make that year/age special. It may be their missing teeth, long flowing locks, huge backpack or anything that makes them "them" that year. Also capture all of the fun clothing trends (so we can look back and laugh!).
Get in the Scene
Another fun tradition is to always take your child's photo in front of school the school they are attending that year. This is a little detail that will be so fun to have later on in life. While you're there, explore for other great photo backgrounds. Schools are often a backdrop hot spot! Great old brick, fun bright colored doors, and, believe it or not, a dumpster makes for a great background with its bright coloring and textured sides (just be sure to get up close!).
