On guys, I like the look of being casually put-together with a funky edge. For some ideas, I first looked at a store my sister introduced to me called Brooklyn Industries. I love really interesting graphic tees, which exclude those ugly, yet somehow popular, Ed Hardy prints, and Brooklyn Industries has some unique ones to offer that include a bit of humor without being obnoxious.

The one on the left shows off the unofficial mascots of the City and the one of the left is your last farewell to your old technology as we embrace the Digital TV Transition! The pigeon and rat tee is organic cotton, so you can feel good about your purchase!

(left-$38, right-$22 on sale)

In this next look, I paired a tee and blazer with some of my favorite men’s jeans- Earnest Sewn (earnestsewn.com). The blazer is from Brooklyn Industries and could be layed over your graphic tee as we move in to the fall.

(blazer- $38 on sale, jeans- $195)

Finally, this outfit from Banana Republic has elements of the summer with a lightweight linen shirt and rolled chinos that can be worn with sandals to the beach, but let down the chinos and swap out a heavier weight shirt and now your wardrobe is doing double duty by carrying you into October and hayrides!

(shirt- $79, pants-$49.50)

What do you like to see your men wear? Are there any items in their wardrobe that you wish you could throw out?

not much else I can say!!  Isn’t she lovely??

Quote for the day:

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”
~Kahlil Gibran

Lastly – there’s nothing to warm the soul like a new smile… just one more amazing child to bring joy to this world.

Quote for the day:

“I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.”

~Woody Allen

The starting point of my interest can be found in this kurta by Roberta Freymann. Found in her Roberta Roller Rabbit collection, the kurta is a traditional Indian clothing piece and I love how she uses this silhouette and translates the details of the traditional fabrics to create this top that can be used as a beach cover up or paired with pants for a complete summer look! I’m told that these are practically the official beach cover-up in the Hampton’s and having stolen one from my sister to wear while up in Cape Cod, I can see why- they are so comfortable, but you still feel fashionable!

(robertarollerrabbit.com, $70)

Anthropologie is a perfect place to find some Indian inspiration because all of their clothes have such an attention to detail to begin with. Below are a few finds that I thought looked particularly eastern with their geometric patterns, beaded necklines, and flowing fabrics. Add some standout medallion earrings or a softly jingling bracelet to complete the look!

(anthropologie.com, geometric top-$218, earrings-$42, medallion top-$98, bracelet-$38)

If you want to try on some of the eastern style, but don’t want to commit to the large price tag, Forever 21 always has trendy items that you won’t feel bad about giving away if you don’t like it in six months. Everything below can be found at forever21.com.

(top-$24.80, pants-$17.80, bangles-$4.80)

This outfit combines the embroidery and geometric patterns in the top with the loose, marakesh-esque pants. The pants might be hard to pull off, but you could wear the top with a pair of jeans and have the idea still translate. Add in an armful of bangles and you will really be feeling the Indian vibe!

(dress-$22.80, earrings-$3.80)

I like how this dress reminds me of the draping and folding techniques used when wrapping the traditional sari. The colorful teardrop earrings play off the vibrant colors of the dress for a cohesive look.

(top-$22.80, pants-$22.80, pins-$5.80)

This last outfit has the most versatile pieces and just the slightest hint on Eastern spice. The colors in the top evoke the warmth of India, along with having dual layers of fabric that again are reminiscent of the sari, and the linen pants are airy and relaxed. I like the idea of dressing your hair up with decorative bobby pins, versus the plain ones you can buy at a drugstore- I think it gives your hair an unexpected special touch.

How will you incorporate the Eastern style into your everyday wardrobe? What elements do you like or dislike?

I’m working on finding my work groove again, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share one of my favorite pictures from our weekend – a sunset shot taken on a dolphin watch cruise.  We saw several hundred dolphin that night, and all of it under this gorgeous sunset. Does it get ANY better than this?

Quote for the day:

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

  ~Mother Teresa

The one I’m about to show you is no exception, of course – I loved shooting this session – but I wanted to share something extra special with you.  Because of this little “aha” passion of mine, I’ve decided to offer something to my future clients as a little tribute to my niche.  From this point forward (until I grow tired of looking at bellies all the time), I’m going to offer a complimentary newborn session with any booked maternity session.  So, book your belly, and get your baby for free.  Now that’s a heck of a deal, no?  Spread the word… with the amount of bellies I’m shooting now, this chica will grow tired quickly!

Okay, on to a favorite belly of mine… a military belly! A flight nurse for the airforce (hoping I got that right?) – I had so much fun with this session.  Cool clothes, cool attitude, great figure, and a flight suit!

My very favorite aspect of maternity photography, and any of my photography really, is that it’s simple. I like simple lighting, simple colors – simplicity is the key in my little corner of the world…

On to the photographs!

First, we worked a bit in studio… loving the lighting on this one…

then a flight suit that wouldn’t zip…

then just a super cool belly shot.. how casually AWESOME is this?

Lastly, we ventured outside and got a little artsy.

Quote for the day:

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”

~Hans Hofmann, Introduction to the Bootstrap, 1993

It’s no secret that I’m a lover of all things Anthropologie, so I took a peak around their site and was able to pull these fabulous Fourth outfits:

I love the ease of throwing on a dress and instantly looking great, so I picked these two that have the perfect color palette to build your patriotic look.

(Dress- $98, Necklace- $42, Headband- $28)

The delicate textures of this dress found in the lace and pintuck pleats, combined with the airyness of cotton, always remind me of summer. Just dress it up with some red and gold accessories to complete the ensemble. Here I paired it with a delicate gold and pearl necklace and a very bold floral headband. Don’t forget to have fun with the holiday and try out something a little over-the-top (like the headband) that you might otherwise pass up!

(Dress- $88, Necklace- $28, Bag- $88, Shoes- $198)

For something a little more vibrant, try this cobalt blue dress that becomes special with the details like smocking, ruffles, and pockets. What is there not to love about a dress with pockets? You can remain hands-free to wave your flag while still having a place to keep your BlackBerry! Love it! I paired the dress with this statement piece necklace, that has a handcrafted feel to it. However, instead of jewelry, you can always opt for a handbag or shoes to complete your patriotic flair.

(Cropped Jeans- $174, Top-$188, Earrings- $28)

Finally, if you want to go for a more casual look, why not try a pair of white hot jeans? There’s no better time to wear them and you can pair them with any top in your closet!

What do you think? What will you wear this Independence Day?

(all from anthropologie.com)