Wow it's been a few weeks and I've been crazed on some project and family business but wanted to share some images from a GREAT show I attended and shot for the producers of The PLUSH SHOW in Los Angeles on June 5th. It was Amazing!

So this was the deal -- this amazacrazy entrepreneur Jina Park  came up with this idea to put together LA's grooviest luxury baby vendors for parents who want to find out about all the lurvley things available for babies in Los Angeles -- interior decorating, organic  toys, photography, party planners -- you name it. (See this beautiful Mama in purple below with celebs and her super-cute family!)

This was their first year and it was so beautiful and -- SHOCKER -- in LA, the weather was great too. I got a little sunburned snapping all the cute babies and their cuddly cute parents.  E! News came out to cover it along with some attendance of celeb moms. Check out our day and all the gorgeous things for little ones who don't even know how cool their life is yet...
 

So one of the things I've been working on while this poor blog has been collecting dust is becoming part of a group of entrepreneurial women here in Laurel Canyon we're callling the "Canyon Moms Collective." I'm really excited to be working with these awesome women to help spread the word about our work and grow our businesses by pooling our talents, word of mouth and resources. All of us offer programs and/or services for babies and families in Laurel Canyon and surrounding Los Angeles communities.

Stay tuned for a new Facebook Page about the Collective and its services! For now, let me introduce the first...

Sabrina LaBow (pictured below right in blue with her sleepy adorable daughter) is the creator of SLING AND DANCE, a new and fun exercise class for mom's with babies small enough to mount on front and go. It is taught by well-renowned dancer/choreographer/instructor Lacy Darryl Phillips (Mariah Carey's World Tour, The Academy Awards). How cool is that??

If you are in the area and are looking for a fun way to work out with your baby -- check it out!! She's holding classes at the following times/locations:

The next class will be at Wallaby in Silverlake Thursdays at 1:15 starting March 24th and then Tuesdays at 1:00 at The Treehouse Social Club on Robertson starting April 19th. Read on for more info on the classes!
 

Sling and Dance class--for Moms and Babies!

Classes are for moms/caregivers and their babies. Babies welcome with a sling or any type of carrier. The class is 45 minutes. No dance experience necessary. Classes are designed to be fun, both for caregivers and babies.

Combine a great workout for yourself while bonding with your baby and introducing him/her to music and movement.  Socialize with other parents and learn some great dance moves from dancer/choreographer/instructor Jennifer Tseng. Jennifer has danced and toured with Disney and been seen in national commercials for Honda, AT&T and others. She has ten years experience teaching dance as well as parent participation Mommy and Me classes.

When:  Thursdays 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14
Time:  1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Wallaby
1835 Hyperion Avenue
LA, CA 90027
323-662-0128
http://wallaby-la.com
Introductory cost: 4 classes for $100

SUPPLIES: You will need to bring a sling or any type of carrier. (There are slings that can be used for babies up to 40 pounds--what a great workout!) Also, please feed your baby half an hour before class.

Please contact Sabrina to reserve a space at slinganddance@gmail.com or at 323-363-2395.

And of course I got distracted by all the adorable siblings there, playing alongside! They were dancing away to the music and hanging out.

 

I completed this collage a couple weeks ago and loved working on it SOOOO much! This is a 24x36 Gallery Wrap Canvas comprised of images spanning 5 years with one of my favorite client families.

When I began the business of photographing children and families, I knew that I loved to do it. What I could never have predicted was how much I would fall in love with shooting them again and again. The clients who shoot every year (or more) and allow me the privilege of documenting their family history. What an unbelievable gift to me it has been.

Thank you Jan, Chris, Jet and Charlie. You are one of the coolest families ever and I am so lucky to know you. See you next year!

Happy New Year Everybody. I'm back at the editing helm next week and have lots to share. I hope your holidays were spectacular. It's gonna be a good year. I swear.

I am LOVING this Christmas with my kids! I did a lot less Holiday business this year as I am working on a couple larger projects (stay tuned!) and some grown-up/commercial work too. The combination of my kids being a little more independent and having a little less work stress than I usually do, has been pretty great.

I'm working hard at being fully present and savoring as much of this time in our lives as I can. A couple weeks ago I saw that there was a special Breakfast with Santa at the Grove (Mall in Los Angeles) and I heard it on good authority that this was the REAL Santa, not just one of his helpers in an ill-fitting suit with a fake beard and bad breath.

I wish I could blog my kids' excitement as we got ready that morning and headed in to the place. When he arrived, I have to tell you I felt a little nervous too. I don't think it was super well publicized (I found out about it on the web site) because there weren't many people there even though there was already a HUGE line in front of his Santa house, waiting for him to arrive. We had the best kept secret in Los Angeles!

So when it was our turn he spent lots of time with the kids and they got to give their lists and he even asked how our elves were doing. He was so sweet and gentle. Declan said his breath smelled like gumdrops. :)