Valentine's Day Mug Swap

Happy Valentine's Day Friends! One of my favorite days of the year. Everyone's expressing their love for one another. Everything seems to be pink and sparkly and everywhere you turn there's chocolate!    Have you heard about the Valentine's Day Swap or #VDAYMUGSWAP everyone has been hash tagging? Alissa from Rags to Stitches and Caroline from Sew Caroline but together this awesome idea! Everyone who entered was blindly pared up with someone else. No rules, just make someones Valentine's Day extra special.    I was partnered with Skye from Neathering Our Fest. She is such a doll. I was SUPER excited when the box arrived! She had it cutely wrapped in pink tissue paper and popping bubbles. It was filled with all my favorites... Sweetish fish, licorice, a cute little journal and this ADORABLE mug! I don't know how she knew I was a little country at heart, the rooster had me cracking up!

This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting to know you Skye! Can't wait to do it again next year.

A Day with Spanki Photography Workshop

Hello Friends!

I write this with my heart almost beating out my chest with excitement. If you've been following my blog over the past year, you've seen how my posts have slowed because I'm devoting much of my free time to my photography career. I can't say 'Thank You' enough to all of you who continue to support me though this process. It's not been easy.

I have a HUGE announcement!

Have you heard of Spanki Mills? She is an AMAZING photographer and a professional role model of mine.

The other morning I was deep in The Word and reading my devotion Jesus Calling, and it spoke about fear.  Refusing to waste energy worrying, and you will find strength to spare. I start thinking... What am I afraid of? I mean really afraid of. What am I holding inside that is sucking my power and momentum? The answer hit me so hard I nearly fell off my chair..... Success. It sounds odd. Success? Isn't that what everyone wants in some form?

Why do I still get that pit in my stomach on a way to a shoot? Why did I complete my business permit over a month ago, yet haven't had it filed? Fear. I'm afraid to succeed. Success leads to the unknown. 

I spent a long time in prayer that morning, handing my fear over to God. I needed to take that leap of faith to take my career to the next level, but how? Later that same day, Spanki started a Facebook photog group. Within a few seconds, I was connecting with other photographers and learning I wasn't the only one with fears. Even Spanki herself has ups's and downs. Isn't that funny how we can put people up on pedestals and think they are perfect and don't have issues like us "normal" people. Well it grounded me. Spanki even commented on one of my posts (which made me do a mental backflip of excitement). 

Next thing I knew, I was inviting Spanki to visit me in my home town for a mentoring session. Better yet... I thought why not share this opportunity with others and host A Day with Spanki Workshop! YES! This was my answer I had prayed on earlier that day. This is what I needed to take that next step.

So.... This is YOUR invitation too! If you have any interested in perusing a photography career, this is an event you don't want to miss. The Sunday after the workshop we will be doing a portfolio shootout open to anyone!

Workshop: Saturday, August 3, 2013

Shootout: Sunday, August 4, 2013

Monterey, California

Read all the details here.

READY TO SIGN UP? Email Spanki at info@spankimills.com with MONTEREY in the subject line.

Hope to see you there!

Valentine Ideas!

 I heart Valentine's Day. {Sorry I just couldn't resist.}

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This year I promised myself to make Valentine's Day creative.  Here are a few ideas I ran across this week...   1. Canvas button heart. You could have fun and personalize it.   2. Mason Jar. Red Hearts. Twine. Simple yet super cute. I thought of filling this with tiny strips of paper, each saying a reason you love that person.  
3. Scrabble Pillows. Obviously it doesn't have to save LOVE. Maybe its a special word the two of you share or a nick name and the numbers are a date?   4. Marshmallow Heart. Yes this is a super cute idea but the more meaningful idea would be to have an outdoor hot-coco picnic together. Maybe where you first met?   5. Cork Stamp. Could be a heart, a monogram or something that means something special to the two of you. It also could be the cork from wine bottle that holds a meaningful memory.   6. Milk Heart Cubes. I just thought these were super cute. They could go in  glass of milk or bowl of cereal and as they melt, the milk turns pink.   7. Love Album. Each page contains a letter from the alphabet and warm words pertaining to that letter.   8. Root Beer Float Kit. Adorable right? I can just image surprising your  special someone at work for a lunch date and bring this along.   9. Mobile. I'm loving how this is hanging from a ladder but obviously you could  use anything. Then add the XOXO cutouts and old photos of the two of you.   10. Love Map. Where you got engaged, where you married and where you live now.   Are you font crazy like I am?  Check out my previous post of my top 12 FREE Valentine fonts HERE.   Love Never Fails. If you ant to see more of my Valentine ideas, visit my Pinterest board HERE.

Styled Photo Shoot Results

I've always had the urge to do a styled photo shoot.

You know a total girly day. Hair, makeup... the works!

Finally the day came. 

If you didn't catch yesterdays warmup to today's post, check it out HERE.

I teamed up with my bestie Melisah who stylized our models. Her work is amazing!

At the end of the day, all I had to do is grab my camera and click away.

Here's a before and after of each of our models...

Photo's by Laura Hernandez Photography Hair & Makeup by Melisah Bustos Can't wait to do this again! My senior girls are going to get pampered this year!

Styled Photo Shoot in Progress

Three beautiful models,

one amazing hair and makeup artist,

and a weekend full of fun!

Here's a sneak peek at the styled session in progress....

Photos by Laura Hernandez Photography Hair & Makeup by Melisah Bustos Come back tomorrow to see the outcome of the photo shoot!

My Favorite FREE Fonts for Valentine's Day

I know it's only the first week of January but I have a lot planned for Valentine's Day this year. This includes making backdrops and props for upcoming photo shoots. While working on my new design templates, I came across some fonts that are actually FREE. I wanted to share since they might inspire you to create something too!

JellyKa Saint Andere {Here}     Smell the Roses {Here}

KG All Things New {Here}     Janda Happy Day {Here}

Love Letters {Here}     Simon Script {Here}

Loveness Three {Here}     Heartland {Here}

Sunshine In My Soul {Here}     LoverBoy {Here}

Now don't you have the urge to create? Happy early Valentine's Day friends.

DIY Bride & Groom Mugs

If there was a group for Pinterest Addicts, I would be an honorary member. 

I love all the fantastic ideas its given me for the home and business.

This week one of our good friends was getting married and I refused to shop from their registry.

I wanted to be different. I wanted to be unique. I wanted something they would keep and treasure.

Pinterest helped me come up with the idea of a custom coffee mug.

I struggled with "Good Morning Gorgeous, Good Morning Hansom," "Mr & Mrs," and "I Do, Me Too." 

It's simple and easy...

Buy and two mugs of your choice, preferably white or a very light color.

Before you begin make sure they are super clean and dry.

You can either use a stencil or free-hand the design you want on both sides of the mugs with a fine tip permanent marker. 

Be creative! This is the fun part.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes so the design will set.

Simple, cute and totally in budget!