Where I've Been...

It's been over a year since I last blogged here. Not that I don't love blogging, because I do, but our career as wedding photographers has flourished so, that hasn't allowed us the time. This time of year for us is the slow season, and allows us to catch up, and check some of the many to-do things from our very long list. And what do I do to relax... refurbish and re-purpose vintage antique furniture. We even oped an Etsy shop here. Here are a few of my latest creations. Many more to come, and I promise I won't stay away as long!

Contest To Win Free Wedding Photography!!

Sound to good to be true? Can you image having saved over $2,400 on your wedding? Here's your chance! I've teamed up with wedding blog Soundtrack To I Do  to giveaway a full-day of wedding photography coverage!!

Here are the details:

The winner of the contest will receive: a wedding photography package, worth $2400!!! This includes a full day of coverage by two photographers – so not a moment of your day will be missed!! You will also receive 200 high resolution digital files on DVD. *Travel and lodging are not included, so please keep in mind there will be a reasonable fee if the winner resides outside Monterey County, CA. Also note: Contest excludes clients who have already booked my services.

How it works:

The contest is open for entries August 1st, 2013 and will remain open until September 30th, 2013 at 11:59 pm, Pacific time. Five finalists will be selected based on various factors. The finalists will be announced on October 1st, 2013, and then the contest will head over to the Soundtrack To I Do Facebook Page, where anyone and everyone can vote on a winner! Voting will continue until October 11th, and the winner will be announced here on the Soundtrack To I Do blog on October 14th.

How to enter:

1. “Like” Soundtrack To I Do on Facebook

2. “Like” Laura Hernandez Photography on Facebook

3. Email Colleen at soundtracktoido@gmail.com with “Photography Contest” in the subject line, and give us the following information:

• Your name (and your fiance’s name)
• Your wedding date and location (Note: If your wedding date is inflexible and Laura is already booked on that date, we will have to exclude you from the contest – our apologies)
• Your love story (As much as you want to share – we love this part!)
• Your wedding style and plans  (Please include as much detail as possible!)
• A photo of you and your fiancé

Can’t wait to see the entries!!! Ready, set, go!!

Workout!

Talk about being inspired! OK, I'll admit I'm 30-something. I'm a full time working mom who for the past year has totally focused on my new photography career and let myself go. Mentally as well as physically. What ever was closest and quickest, is what I ate. I was embarrassed when my daughter found my secret "stash" of goodness I kept in my bed-stand drawer that no one knew of. It was time for a change.

First of all I needed a time-out. I took a four day weekend and totally refocused on what's important, and my health was top on the list. I had been following Alissia from Rags to Stitches fitness journey these past few months and felt very motivated. So when she posted the 30-day ab challenge here, the same day my cancer-survivor now fitness junkie cousin said she's be my backbone support, and my teenage daughter hit her 30lb weight loss goal, I started. Not a diet. A healthier lifestyle. This week alone I've already lost 4lbs but right now that matters the least. I've exercised everyday, ate all healthy nutritious meals and feel SO ENERGIZED! Did I also mentioned I stopped drinking coffee cold turkey? Crazy right?!?! It hasn't been easy, but is getting much better. 

Highlight of my week: Mastered the frog stand. Yay!

I would love to hear your fitness journey. Let's keep each other motivated! 

Let's do this! 

DIY Patriotic Garland

Easy as 1, 2, 3...

Supplies Needed

• 1 yard of patriotic material
• Twine
• Scissors 

 Cut material into 1" strips. I used a 4' long string of twine and knotted the strips of material 1-2" apart from each other.

White Chocolate Patriotic Strawberries

A three ingredient recipe that's super cute and easy? Yes please!

Perfect for any patriotic party!

Here are your ingredients:

Strawberries

White Chocolate Chips

Blue Sprinkles

Baking Pan

Wax Paper

Prepare a baking pan and cover it in wax paper. Melt white chocolate chips on low heat. Roll bottom half of strawberry in white chocolate then immediately add sprinkles before the chocolate hardens.

Have fun!

iHeartFaces Spring Photo Challenge

{1 Photo – 31 Days} Spring Photo Challenge

{1 Photo – 31 Days} Spring Photo Challenge

I'll be the first to admit, I've tried these photo-a-day challenges before and failed miserably. I adore the photography community over at I Heart Face so I'm going to give it a go again. 

There really are no guidelines at all for this challenge (yay!)  But here are some tips to help you get started. See more HERE.

Make sure you use the hashtag #iHeartFaces if you share your image via Instragram, Twitter or Google+.

This is just a great way to get to know each other better. Can't wait to see your images starting this Friday!

 

There really are no guidelines at all for this challenge (yay!)  But here are some tips to help you get started: - See more at: http://www.iheartfaces.com/2013/02/instagram-photo-challenge-spring/#sthash.UnN9bkqN.dpuf

There really are no guidelines at all for this challenge (yay!)  But here are some tips to help you get started:
1| Submit one photo or many photos that follow the theme or inspiring word for that day.
2| Add your photo on Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Facebook or the I Heart Faces Photography Community.
3| Use the hashtag #iHeartFaces so that everyone on Instagram, Twitter, Google+, our Community and Pinterest can find your images.
4| On Facebook you can either tag I Heart Faces or upload your image directly to our page (we have found that the tagging option does not work for everyone on FB.)
5| Join in one day, 10 days, 23 days or all of the days!  There is no stress at all…just participate when you are able.
6| “Like” or comment on other images as you can.  It’s always fun to encourage another photographer in our community.  :)
7| Please feel free to share our {1 Photo – 31 Days} Photo Challenge graphic anywhere you’d like.  We’d love for all photographers to be able to join in the fun!
8| Photos can be taken with your nice camera, a point-and-shoot or your phone…it’s all good!  The quality of the image doesn’t matter a bit.  We just want to get to know YOU and have FUN!
9| This is a family friendly photo challenge. I Heart Faces is not responsible for crude or rude photos/tweets associated with our hashtag.
- See more at: http://www.iheartfaces.com/2013/02/instagram-photo-challenge-spring/#sthash.UnN9bkqN.dpuf

There really are no guidelines at all for this challenge (yay!)  But here are some tips to help you get started:
1| Submit one photo or many photos that follow the theme or inspiring word for that day.
2| Add your photo on Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Facebook or the I Heart Faces Photography Community.
3| Use the hashtag #iHeartFaces so that everyone on Instagram, Twitter, Google+, our Community and Pinterest can find your images.
4| On Facebook you can either tag I Heart Faces or upload your image directly to our page (we have found that the tagging option does not work for everyone on FB.)
5| Join in one day, 10 days, 23 days or all of the days!  There is no stress at all…just participate when you are able.
6| “Like” or comment on other images as you can.  It’s always fun to encourage another photographer in our community.  :)
7| Please feel free to share our {1 Photo – 31 Days} Photo Challenge graphic anywhere you’d like.  We’d love for all photographers to be able to join in the fun!
8| Photos can be taken with your nice camera, a point-and-shoot or your phone…it’s all good!  The quality of the image doesn’t matter a bit.  We just want to get to know YOU and have FUN!
9| This is a family friendly photo challenge. I Heart Faces is not responsible for crude or rude photos/tweets associated with our hashtag.
- See more at: http://www.iheartfaces.com/2013/02/instagram-photo-challenge-spring/#sthash.UnN9bkqN.dpufYOu

Customize Your iPhone App Icons

I was tired of "the same old thing." Don't get me wrong, I'm someone who loves routine, but my phone was so blah. I was under the impression that unless I jail-broke my phone, it couldn't be cute, and I wasn't about to do that.

 

I was more than happy to run across the app CocoPPa. I still have some tweaking to do, but now my phone is so much more me! Super cute right!?!?

***Just make sure you don't delete your original app's. I put all mine in a separate folder. These are just facelifts to your current apps, they're not taking their place.

I'd love to see what you come up with. Instagram or Tweet your screen shot and tag @_laurahernandez so I can check it out!