Studio in a Box: Wedding tidbits

I was playing around with the "Studio in a Box" James got me for Christmas last year. I finally got it out to take better shots of the centerpiece. I also took shots of this blue mug and "just married" luggage tags I got from the Engaged bridal event I went to last Sunday with James, Heather and Joe. Lastly I took some shots with my ring.

Here's what I plan to do for my centerpiece. I'm trying to figure out how to add some sort of flower to it. Maybe where the ribbon connects on the outside of the jar.

And a view from the top.

Just having fun with the stones.

Here's the mug and tags.

Being playful with my ring.

A little close up on the ring.

Welcome: Elle Victoria Reese

My friends Brett and Erika Reese welcomed their first baby into the world today at 10:05 a.m. These are some of my shots (now they are all taken with my iPhone so some are grainy and fuzzy, but I wanted to share them with friends and family) from the day.

Here's her "Brithprints," but I had to add in most of the info and I fixed the rest of the info so it would match.


I can't take claim to this photo -- Tara Phillips took the shot of her daughter, Adi and put it on facebook I just stole in to go along with the blog. Tara has been saying Adi and Elle will be BFF (best friends forever) since she found out Erika was pregnant with a little baby girl.

Here's Elle being taken to the nursery room where she was heated up. She was about 36 degrees.

Daddy Brett loving on his beautiful baby girl.

One of the nurses giving Elle her very first bath. Daddy went back to see Erika, but Heather got some footage on the video camera for the parents.

Erika getting to see Elle for the first time after giving birth. She said she got to hold her for about a minute or so, but Elle and daddy needed to head out while the doctors stitched her up from the c-section.

Mommy and baby Elle.

Daddy helping mommy get a better look a little Elle.

Daddy and baby Elle.

Little Elle bundled up like a Chipotle burrito (says Sara Brookes).

Close up and personal with little Elle.

Daddy and baby Elle again.

Elle and myself, taken by James.

These are Elle's little feet. The photo was a little bit fuzzy, so I made it black and white.

Jennifer Morrow's baby shower

Last Sunday was Jenny's baby shower and I took a few shots there I'd like to shear.

All the guests had to bring a baby picture of themselves (mine is No. 3) and one by one we went up ans stood next to the pictures so people could guess which baby photo went with which person. Jenny (pictured here) is No. 11, but her mother is No. 6. The two babies have nearly the same smile in the photographs.

As you walked in a photo of Jenny and Aaron with a photograph of baby Chase.

The party favors were decorating the rooms.

Annie made these beautiful cupcakes to go along with the cake for the shower.

The food -- Kim (the host) thought of doing the mash potatoes (which were hand-pealed and mashed) in glasses and the quests could add cheese, bacon bits, butter and sour cream as needed. Kim's hubby Nick made the chicken. And I would say my favorite part (as always) was the bread -- It was so delicious.

Another game -- Baby BINGO. We got to write our of stuff in. We had to think of what was in the gifts.

Erika Reese's baby shower

The other day was one of my really good friends baby shower (Erika) hosted by another good friend who is AWESOME at throwing parties.

Heather (the one hosting the party) did such a great job with party favors, to prizes, to decoration and the brunch menu. One would think this was a job of hers -- setting up, planning and directing such events.

The pair (Heather and Erika) hosted a baby shower late last year for another good friend (Tara) who had her baby girl in December and it was just as great.

Here are some of my photos from the day to remember the festivities.

Heather had this idea to make omelets for the brunch and knew own to do it fast. It's called "Ziploc Omelets." Basically you put whatever one desires for their omelet and put the items in a Ziploc bag, add in two eggs and place the baggies into boiling water. After a certain amount of time all the omelets are done and at the same time.

The shower was cupcake themed so most of the prizes and favors were baking related. Above are the party favors (little spatulas and cupcake holders.

Heather baked two large cupcake shaped cakes (one us the yellow cake and one chocolate). Between the bottom and top of the cupcake cake she used white frosting and the top was covered in confetti frosting. Then she added red, white and pink sprinkles on top.

Here is one of the tables with the brunch menu.

The apple cinnamon muffins right out of the oven. I was over at Heather's house the night before the shower, but not as long as Heather, Erika and Jenny were baking. I had to work so I came over after to help with what was left.

The muffins during the shower. Behind the apple cinnamon were chocolate chip muffins.

The final show here is the set-up for the meats and veggies for the omelets.

Valentine gift for James

For Valentines Day I got James and I some M&Ms with the "My M&M" (http://www.mymms.com/). It's a way to personalize the candies by putting your own words or even pictures on them.
I put "Karyn's <3 James" and "James <3 Karyn" on them.

Then....

I used the "studio in a box" he bought me for Christmas from Think Geek (http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/cameras-photography/a205/). I used it once before (also with candy -- kisses and M&Ms). Here's some of the shots I took the other day. I have the set-up shot on the bottom.

Best shot (I say)
I also did Valentine kisses.

Here's the box the M&Ms came in.

The packaging.

Here's the set-up.

New Years Eve 2009-2010

Even though Jake's flash went off the same time I took my shot of the two of them I still LOVE it. It's my fave. shot from the night.

If I get time tomorrow I'll post some more shots from the time. If not here's the best of the night.