We rounded up the cousins to do a little Christmas photo shoot using lights.  Rebecca and Dan were so great at getting the babies to cooperate and ignoring the overbearing parents (meaning me).  Here are a few things we learned: 1. Sit the kids in front of an outlet so there isn’t a string of lights going out of the picture. 2. There needs to be lots of light in the room, aside from your strings of little lights. 3. The lights get hot and feel poke-y.  Uncomfortable baby means unhappy baby. Unhappy baby means bad (or hilarious) family photos afterward …

{photos by dan + rebecca}

One of my favorite Nebraska wedding photographers just announced she is taking her expertise to the streets.  She will be biking from California to Florida, teaching classes and giving tips to anyone with a camera along the way.  Check out the details on her site: Kabloom Studios

A great reception detail that is often overlooked is the place for guests to leave cards.  Think about it … the card drop is one of the first things your guests look for when they arrive at your reception.  Do you go with a little basket or a ferocious yet adorable card-eating pinata?

Photo by Soda Fountain Photography

A chalkboard cake takes the…cake!

How awesome would this be for a kiddo? Or an adult.

Find the tutorial on Craft.

{photo from Craft, found on Sweet Tooth}

Love love love these Morse Code necklaces.  Through the dots and dashes, you can send a message to your loved one through a chic little necklace.  All the necklaces by Coatt are custom made and are created according to what you want. (And if you were to buy the SOS coded necklace 60% will be donated to the MSF USA’s relief efforts in Japan.)

Via Bloesom

Remember back when I posted the 27 things to do before I’m 27?  I believe I said, “No excuses, it all must get done.” Weeeellllllllllll, suddenly I’ve run out of time and I’m 27 already. Here is how far I made it:

1. Plant an herb garden DONE
I’m addicted to caprese salad with basil from my backyard.

2. Buy art DONE
I added two prints to my collection. See here and here.

3. Finish the bathroom remodel (anything is better than when we had razors in the wall!)  DONE
And it’s about freakin’ time!

4. Make a rainbow cake for my daughter Leona’s first birthday  DONE
Well, my husband made the cake … but it was drop dead gorgeous. In fact, it ran in the first issue of maché magazine.

5. Visit the National Stationery Show in New York City DONE
We had a blast!

6. Run in an organized race  INCOMPLETE

7. Send out Christmas cards BEFORE Christmas  DONE
It’s hard to do, but we did it!  See the design here.

8. Volunteer at a local organization  INCOMPLETE

9. Cook my way through a cookbook … I’m thinking “How To Cook Without A Book” by Pam Anderson  INCOMPLETE
Does cooking one section of a cookbook count?

10. Take 12 significant photos “Twelve significant photos in one year is a good crop.”  DONE
I think this is done? I’ve made an effort to take more photos and keep track of them all.

11. Make a habit of making my bed INCOMPLETE
This one sounded good, but I’m not convinced it’s worth it.

12. Add a few “investment pieces” to my wardrobe  DONE
And you know I look good in them too.

13. Find a good shade of lipstick and wear it!  INCOMPLETE
Bought the lipstick. And the liner. And the gloss. I just don’t like the feeling of lipstick on my lips. Is that so wrong?

14. Hang all the photos I have in frames (including our wedding photo which has been leaning against the wall for 1 ½  years now)  INCOMPLETE

15. Switch to cloth diapering  INCOMPLETE
Sorry environment, it’s not going to happen for you this time. I decided not to switch.

16. Move the television to the basement  INCOMPLETE
This WILL happen.

17. Give yoga a fair shake  DONE
I did yoga rocks the park a couple times and loved it. I think I might keep it up.

18. Wear jeans to work less  DONE
Well, kinda. It’s warm out now so I’ve been wearing skirts.

19. Take the bus  INCOMPLETE
But my husband takes the bus quite often, so I consider this a half completed task.

20. Get that tattoo I told my husband I would get two years ago. DONE
Photo to come.

21. Have a girl’s weekend in Kansas City  INCOMPLETE
Next year ladies?

22. Mail something other than bills (Christmas cards don’t count)  DONE

23. Attend church at least 5 times  INCOMPLETE

24. Keep current on writing in Leona’s baby book calendar DONE

25. Take down all wallpaper borders in my house  INCOMPLETE

26. Buy fancy new underwear and bras when I finish with nursing  INCOMPLETE

27. Finish making my wedding photo book  INCOMPLETE

Too many incomplete items on the list. It’s time to make a new to-do list … I wonder what this year will bring.

How cool! Designy Temporary Tattoos by Swiss Miss. Buy them on her new site, Tattly.

{image from Tattly}

I have to share my latest labor of love, an illustrated map of where to have fun during the College World Series created for the Omaha World-Herald. I worked with the entertainment reporter, Josie Loza (@lozafina) to pick out the hottest places to hang out before/after/during a CWS game. I had to take a mental walk through the downtown area…around the lake, down the slides, through the park…it was a so fun.

Happy first day of summer! I could definitely see myself lounging under this Hollie & Harrie sombrilla. It’s saweeet.

{from Hollie & Harrie}

Whimsical confetti necklace from ayofemi jewelry…j’adore.