New Blog!!

Please visit Florabella at our New Blog!!! Be sure to check out the new Spring Action Sets for PS and PSE! :)

S A K U R A {Florabella Spring Actions}

I was so happy to finally find Cherry Blossom trees in my area... and they were so beautiful! Here, I used "Vintage Spring" action from the new Florabella Actions set (to be released in about 6 weeks or so)...

A N G E L {Florabella Actions & Textures}

My beautiful daughter Sophie Lu (she's my angel).... Here I used Florabella "Cosmopolitan" action & "Honeychild" overlay. ♥

What happened at The Mothers' Brunch at Sophie's School (so funny)!

Sophie's Kindergarten class recently hosted a Mothers' Brunch for all the moms, and it was such a special day for me! It was so well done- just beautiful in every way. I even left Sasha at home (I rarely leave her) so that Sophie and I could share this special event together. Dads were invited to help serve, so Michael volunteered (he's so good that way)- and it was really nice to have him there too. We enjoyed a lovely brunch and watched the class perform several beautiful songs about Mommies. They also recited The Lord's Prayer & performed it in sign language! It was very impressive (and yes, I cried!)... see the video below. :) But perhaps the most memorable part of the day (for me, at least) was hearing Sophie Lu read a book that she wrote about me. There were three sets of moms/daughters at our table, and each child read their books aloud to the everyone there. You can see the first page (above) was just so sweet.... the whole table went "Awwwww"...

and the second page was so true- we do love to cook together....

But then we got to this page... "My mom likes to dance." Here is the conversation that followed:

Sophie: (reading proudly) "My mom likes to dance."
Me: "Awww, what a sweet picture, Sophie Lu! And who is this I'm dancing with? Daddy and Ollie? And what are they holding... guitars?"
Sophie: "Noooo, Mommy! That's not Daddy & Ollie! Those are the Mariachis! (insert Mexican accent.) You know how you always dance with the Mariachis at the Mexican restaurant!
Me: (blushing and noticing that the other moms were not amused) Ohhhhh.... (then I sort of whispered to her under my breath while giving her a look... "Sophie, I'm surprised you didn't draw me dancing with my margarita..."
Sophie: (loudly) Silly Mommy, you can't dance with a margarita! Margaritas don't have legs!!!

And at that point, I could have cared less what the other moms thought... I was just so happy to be Sophie's mommy and to be lucky enough to get to hear the funny, cute things she always comes up with... she makes me laugh, and she makes my heart sing.... ♥

My precious girl and me... (taken with the same 3.5mp camera I brought to China... I didn't want bother with the big camera or worrying about lighting, etc. It felt really good, too. I'm going to be taking lots more snapshots- I miss those. :)

And here we are with our waiter... ♥

The Lord's Prayer (recited & performed in sign language)... Sophie is mid 2nd row w/fur lined collar & pink bow... notice how she mouthed "I love you" and then waved to me. ♥

One of my all time faves...

Processed with my Florabella Actions & Textures... :)

More from the beach (summer 09)

Family Shots at the beach (8-09)

Okay- so I need to do some major catching up (what's new, right?)... but I'm really going to do it this time... :)

S A S H A {Florabella Actions & Florabella Textures}

Processed with Florabella Vintage Wine Action & Vintage Mink Overlay

Clickin' Moms Discount Code! {Join now}

If you aren't already a member, I highly recommend joining Clickin' Moms! It's a great online community... Lots of resources, tutorials, group buys, discounts, etc. (Not only do I have Florabella group buy discounts on Clickin' Moms, but many amazing vendors do too... there is always a great top secret deal going on in the Vendor Forums there)! I'll soon be launching new Florabella products including digital papers, templates, and pre-made logos... and I'll be having a Florabella Group buy there then too. Anyway, if you click on the link or banner above and enter the code FRIEND, you will get a 10% discount... :)

"Little Red Coat" {Florabella Actions & Textures}

Here I used two textures from Florabella Set II: "Vintage Velvet" 25% and "Scarlet" 60% (both on Overlay)... I also used Florabella Action "Cosmopolitan" from the "Color & Haze" set of Photoshop Actions. ♥

H O N E Y C H I L D {Florabella Milk n' Honey II Action}

Processed with Florabella Milk & Honey II Action (from the Color & Haze set)...

R U F F L E S {Florabella Actions & Textures}

Processed with Florabella Vintage Summer Action & Vintage Screen Texture (20% Multiply)...

Drop It Modern & Florabella! (Discounts on both!!)

Processed with Florabella "Cosmopolitan" Action for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements...
(rollover with your mouse to see the BEFORE image)


Florabella B&W Vintage Chocolate Action and Mint Julep Texture(desaturated). (rollover with your mouse to see the BEFORE image)


Here, Florabella "Cosmopolitan" Action for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements...
(rollover with your mouse to see the BEFORE image)


Here, Florabella B&W Champagne Haze Action, Cappuccino Tint & Scarlet Texture (desaturated).
(rollover with your mouse to see the BEFORE image)


Florabella "Cosmopolitan" Action for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements...
(rollover with your mouse to see the BEFORE image)

Isn't this backdrop gorgeous? It's the Vintage II backdrop from Drop It Modern! They featured the before/after photos from this shoot and a special discount on ALL Florabella Products here on their Drop it Modern Blog. Drop it Modern has some amazing new backdrops coming out this week, and if you enter the code FLORABELLA10 you will get 10% off of any of their products! :)

PARASOL {Florabella Vintage Actions}

Florabella Vintage Actions "Vintage Summer"...

Florabella Textures & Actions Giveaway at Lola B Boutique!

Florabella Textures & Actions Giveaway at Lola B Boutique! Check it out!

Florabella Actions Giveaway at Gines Photography

Tasha of Gines Photography is hosting a Florabella Actions giveaway on her blog today! Be sure to visit & leave a comment on her blog to win... The giveaway ends Tuesday night, so head on over! :)

P E A C E {Florabella Actions & Textures}

I love her face so much... Here I used Florabella Rich Vintage B&W Action & Florabella Texture "Merlot" on multiply at 25% opacity...

Red Beret {Florabella Vintage Actions}

"Vintage Wine" from Florabella Vintage Actions... :)

Art Auction for Haiti

I've added these floral prints in the Art Auction for Haiti... Check it out- it's a great way to help. ♥

Lemon Tree {Florabella Actions}

Processed with Florabella Action "Milk & Honey II" for Photoshop & Photoshop Elements~

L U S H (Florabella Actions & Textures)

Florabella "Vintage Haze" action...(btw, this is my favorite of the actions for florals... just the perfect amount of desaturation in the right places.) ♥

"Textures" themed contest!!

This week's photography contest at I Heart Faces is all about textures!! Everyone can enter, and they stop taking entries Tuesday night- so pop on over and see what it's all about. It's going to be so much fun- especially for me since I'm the lucky Guest Photographer Judge this week! Be sure to check out my interview, too!

You can use any photo (with texture) as long as it includes a face. You all have so many gorgeous photos just waiting to be entered, so I'm hoping to see lots of Florabella entries!! :)

Last day to win actions & textures!

Florabella Giveaway at I Heart Faces... today is the last day to enter! Three people will win all 3 sets of actions & both sets of textures! Also, be sure to also check out I Heart Faces tomorrow where I will be interviewed as the Guest Photographer Judge for next week's contest (and be sure to enter)! I'm soooo excited! :)

Giveaway at I Heart Faces!!!

New giveaway at I Heart Faces today!!! Three people win all three sets of actions and both sets of textures (win them for a friend if you already have them)!! If you don't already follow I Heart Faces, you should!! So many amazing photograhpy resources, giveaways, tutorials, challenges, and their very popular weekly contests, etc. You are sure to love it... They will announce the three winners on Saturday- check it out!

Pink Beret {Florabella Actions & Textures}

Here I used Florabella Action "Retro Lollipop" from the Vintage Set...

B I R T H D A Y {Florabella Actions}

Florabella Vintage Summer Action (my beautiful baby girl's 1st birthday) ♥

E P I C

Here, I used Florabella "Vintage Summer" action (over BW photo) and "Vintage Screen" texture from Set II (multiply blending mode 35%)...

Florabella Actions Giveaway at The Maternal Lens!!!

There is a Florabella Actions Giveaway at The Maternal Lens right now! If you aren't already following The Maternal Lens, you really should... it's a fantastic photography blog full of inspiration, interviews, giveaways, great finds, and of course gorgeous photos!! The giveaway is for all three sets of actions: Vintage, Color & Haze, and B/W (ps or pse versions). The winner will be announced tomorrow night (Monday), so go check it out & enter now. And if you already own the actions, you can win them for a friend, do a giveaway on your own blog, or choose textures instead! ♥

C O S M O P O L I T A N (Florabella Textures & Actions)

Processed with Florabella Cosmopolitan action (from the Color & Haze set), and Florabella texture "Faux" from Textures Set II on overlay blending mode at 40%...

C O N T E M P L A T I O N

Here I used Vintage Summer Action & "Vintage Screen" texture (multiply 40%) from Textures Set II available now... :)

Florabella Giveaway Today at The Savvy Photographer!

There is a Florabella giveaway at The Savvy Photographer today (one day only)!!! Just leave a comment at Savvy today, and you could win all three Florabella Actions Sets: Vintage, Color & Haze, and B&W plus Florabella Fine Art Textures Set I. (and if you already have Textures Set I, you can choose a gift certificate for Textures Set II which will be available next week)! The Savvy Photographer is a fabulous blog... if you don't follow already, you really must- you will love it!!