e.trumble photography: the Laney's

I was so honored when West Palm Beach family photographer,

Allison Laney, asked me to take her families portraits.

We got to chatting one day about how we are always behind the cameras,

and never in pictures with our husbands and kiddos.

Well we settled on a date and then took a field trip to downtown Lake Worth.

I was thrilled when she suggested the location.

We took turns behind the camera and posed up with our families. 

The trip was full of lots of laughs and lots of dancing…and boy noises!

We had so much fun.  The Laney's are a super fun and sweet family! 

Have a creepy Halloween! {free download}

It the spirit of all things creepy I made this little printable PDF for your 

Halloween decorating! 

Click here to download and enjoy!

DIY: Creepy Crawly Halloween Wreath

I just love Halloween!

Pretty much as soon as October hits,

 you can bet your bottom that I am scouring the house looking for 

something to spray pain gold or black.

Fall DIY's make me so happy because they give me good reason to 

celebrate the creepy and weird.

As I was cleaning out the boys room the other day,

we landed on a bin of forgotten plastic animals, insects, and dinos.

The boy and I decided that he's outgrown playing with these and we were about to 

dump them all in the donation bin when the DIY light bulb went off.

I pulled out all of the creepy crawly snakes and spiders and set them aside.

We also decided to keep two special dinos 

that were destined for a new paint job as well.

So here is what you will need:

Enough plastic toys to cover your wreath

black spray paint

hot glue gun and glue

Rubbing alcohol

Step One:

First I gave all the plastic toys a good rub down with 

a clean rag and alcohol. 

 I had to remove all those grubby finger prints from years of play.

Then I wrapped the snakes around the wreath and began to glue them down.

I glued the spiders down to fill in the gaps.

Step Two:

I then gave the wreath a

few light coats of flat black paint,
making sure to let the paint drybetween coats.

And that's it.  Easy, up cycled, and spooky!

Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday

When I was in my early twenties I challenged my self to not eat meat for an entire day.

Well obviously that's not much of a challenge, but one day turned into two.

Then two turned into a week.

Then a week turned into a month, which quickly became lots of months

that all put together was a year.

Before you know it a year had come and gone.

Today, I am challenging myself to exude the positivity that I keep inside my mind and my heart.

For one day, one full day everything that oozes out of me will be laced with positivity.

And, if I am lucky my days will blend together and become months and years and an eternity.

I challenge you to look inside,

find your positive spirit and share it in all actions in your life.

Live it, Breath it, Share it.

Be Grateful & Inspire

p.s. if you would like to find out why I am no longer a 

vegetarian hop over here for a funny little read!

Let's go Geocaching!

I just found this old post that I never posted. Man that was a great trip! 

Coffee Talks

"I was thinking about you at the Farmers Market today." - Erin

"In case you don't know, now you know.... Smoked Salmon Chobani! Whaaat?" - Jess

Before & After

I found this sweet little foot stool today on a thrifting date with my sweet friend Kelly.

It was right there staring at me when we walked in the door.

I was initially drawn to the beautiful blue fabric.

I knew it would look spectacular with my new rug, picking up some of the blue,

and the slight striations in the fabric were so pretty.

Well then I got a bit cheeky with the stool and flipped up her skirt.

Her legs were to die for! 

Who would cover those beauties up? 

I snipped the stitching on the skirt and carefully pulled it off.

Then I gave the legs a good rub down with Old English.

The stool was perfect.

(pardon all the dog hair! Stella is in dire need of a hair cut and my vacuum took a crap!)

I'd have to say that I think this stool passes the test! 

I'm in love!

e.trumble photography Model Session

Project 52

This week you and Stella have really formed a bond.

Why I didn't make you start feeding her sooner is a mystery to me.

She has even started to really truly snuggle with you.

You make each other so happy,

and me so proud.

Coffee Talks

"BFF stone breezing through NYC today." - Jess

"Grown ups eating cupcakes for breakfast." - Erin

Project 52

{in the studio: Lauren Noel}

It's really amazing when you meet a person that you feel such an immediate

bond with.  When you and another artist are thinking, feeling, and jiving on

so many levels, really magically things can happen.

That's how I felt from the second that South Florida based artist, blogger, and baker, Lauren Noel, 

welcomed me into her beautiful home.

Her two curly headed little boys ran to the door to greet the boy and I,

and then her older son dragged us through the house giving us the grand tour with 

such intelligence, excitement, and joy.

As we all got settled in and started to chat it was obvious that it was going to be a 

fun and inspiring day for us all.

As her boys and mine got to know each other in the way that little boys do,

Lauren and I got to know each other in the way that creative moms do.

ME: As a stay at home mom of two awesome and active little boys, how do you find the time to paint?

LAUREN: I think for me time is something that we all at times take for granted. For me I think I just kind of work around their schedule because they are of course my number one priority. I do try to keep them as busy as I can when I need to work or feeling that creative urge and including them in the process is something my eldest really enjoys as well. Ultimately I am where I am today because of them. I have the motivation and inspiration because of them.   Here I go running on a tangent I can't help myself. Haha

The tangents did go on and on, but it was so inspiring.

I found myself dizzy wrapping my head around her words.

I sat behind her crouched in a corner, as to not interrupt or get in her way.

She softly and gently spoke to me about how important it was for her as a mother to show

her boys that anything was possible.

We spoke about the struggles and joys of motherhood, being a wife, being a woman.

All the while I watcher her hands dance and swirl around her canvas as if they were actually performing to the classical music that was playing in the background.

ME: What inspires you? Not only in your painting but in the rest of your creative world?

LAUREN: So many of my studies has been the fable form. Coming from someone who has struggled with the securities of her own body it just seems so natural that I would do concentrations on the curves and differences which is that of the female form. As a woman today I find more inspiration by my fellow mothers then I ever did before. The acceptance of our wrinkles and stretch marks and wide hips. To me that is where the beauty lies and that's what I want to capture. Not just the beautiful long legged thin women but also the curvaceous and beautiful thick woman. Art for me is definitely an outlet. I am a mother so time alone is very rare. But it's in my studio, in my space that I feel that I can run away even for a brief moment. I'm a hopeless romantic I am in love with the fantasy worlds and I think diving head first into my pieces, what ever I'm working on, its kind of a little break from this reality into something incredibly magical.

ME: What are your studio must haves?

LAUREN: Ah studio must haves well of course you need great natural light in any work space as well as the perfect set of brushes. You can do nothing right with out the perfect set of tools to create with.

ME: What is a silly fact about you that not many people know? Any hidden talents?

LAUREN: Haha a silly fact. Well some people do know this and it's completely off topic but its been proven that I have a very specific and humorous talent communicating with a certain monkey at the zoo. No lie when I do my monkey noises they all come out and jump around. You can ask anyone who has been to the zoo with me. Haha

ME: Give us a little backstory on this piece you are working on.

LAUREN: This piece will be hanging in the restaurant La Sirena. A name to be honest I haven't really thought of one since it is purely a commission piece, but really has become something I'm very emotionally tied to. My amazing landlord who is also the owner of the restaurant confronted me about doing a piece for his incredible restaurant. If you've been there you know it's a quaint and intimate Italian restaurant covered in mermaids where of course the name of his restaurant comes from.

It was also so amazing to learn that Lauren was using all of their old menus, 

bringing them back to life with her amazing composition.

"I'm grateful for the ability to do many things well and to be able to do them to make a living out of and stay home with my kids. I'm grateful that I have experienced and seen so many things good and bad because ultimately it has shaped the person I am today." - Lauren Noel

How To: the perfect beach wave

So here's the secret! 

To achieve the perfect beach wave,

go to the beach. play. swim. cruise top down in the jeep.

Simple.

Well, actually there was more to it than that.

Step 1:

We actually did spend the morning at the beach playing 

in the waves.  So honestly that was my "base".

And let's face it there is nothing more authentic then actual BEACH waves.

Step 2:

I only wash my hair about every 4-5 days,

and I just washed it yesterday.

But to protect it from damage and dryness and to get the sand out

I gave it a really good scrub with a super moisturizing conditioner.

I am talking scalp, roots, ends. The works.

Using this:

Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner - $6

My favorite, not only does it smell just like summer, 

it absolutely does the trick for this crazy mane.

Now to forewarn you. 

Not everyone can get away with this method.

My hair is very thick, wavy, and well frizz is an understatement...it's more like Fro.

So in this South Florida humidity I need all the moisture and weight I can get.

While in the shower,

I used a pick to comb the conditioner through and actually part 

my hair and place it exactly where I wanted it to dry.

I waited a few minutes and then rinsed.

Step 3:

This is the important part, especially for you other fro-ed out counterparts.

What ever you do DO NOT wrap your hair up in a towel.

With your towel in hand (not on head) 

gently squeeze as much water as you can out of your hair.

(I have also been told to keep frizz down use paper towels instead,

but we barely use paper towels....such a waste.)

Step 4:

I then covered all my hair with 

Bumble and Bumble Tonic Lotion - $20

This is a go to, everyday, must have for my hair.

The uses for this product are endless, and all of the essential oils 

not only smell amazing, but are so soothing on my normally 

sensitive scalp.

Then I emulsified about a nickel sized amount of this

Bumble and Bumble Color Minded UV Styling Balm - $28

in my hands.

Starting from the back of my hair,

I scrunched this into my waves very gently.

It's very important not to jostle them too much.

Step 5:

After not touching at all and letting my hair air dry

 for about 20 minutes,

the boy and I took a top down cruise in the Jeep.

Once it was dry it was pretty much fluff and go!

Viola! 

the perfect beach waves

Project 52

I give it two years before you are teaching me how to use technology.

Thankful Thursday

A few years back as I was catching up with an old college friend and his wife,

they kept telling me that they were now living simply.

It really seemed to be a main theme in our conversation,

but I have to honest; I wasn't really sure what they had meant.

Living Simply?

It really can mean so many things.

To me it's more than just de-cluttering our stuff and our minds.

It's more than using only what you need and reducing your waste.

It's really truly living gently.

It's living with intention, respect, and awareness.

It's showing gratitude to the Earth and those that also inhabit this beautiful place with us.

However the most important aspect of a simple life to me is

wrapping my head around what is right for me and my family and what is not.

Once we have chosen what is not right for us, for our home, for our lifestyle, for our belief system,

we simply put it aside without judgment or criticism.

For someone who decides that living a grateful and simple life,

the realization that not all people find happiness and satisfaction in the same things is 

the greatest enlightenment.

Let go of what is not for you.

Put it aside.

Do not judge.

Do not complain.

Just let it be.

My life and my theories are not perfect, but I am grateful for them all.

Be grateful & inspire.

Coffee Talks

"Touring potential office spaces. #likeaboss - Jess

"Gave myself a manicure today.

It's called the crafters special." - Erin

I saw this on Pinterest: Yummy Balls

A few days ago I saw these adorable little 

cookie dough-ish looking balls with a recipe right under them.

It seemed to good/easy to be true.

It read:

2 ripe bananas, 1 cup quick oats, 

1/2 c choc chips, 1 heaping spoonful of natural peanut butter.. 

mix well, plop spoonfuls onto baking sheet, bake at 350 for 15 mins. 

Delicious! #healthy

So... I did what I do and I scavenged my cabinets to find

that I sort of had all the ingredients.

I used dates instead of chocolate chips, and almond butter instead of peanut,

and then for half of the batch I added in a tsp of dark cocoa powder.

The funny thing though is that they looked nothing like the picture I had Pinned.

Nothing.

Now I know that this is a common anomaly of Pinterest, 

and you can't believe everything you see on the internet, but I was still baffled. 

The good new though,they are delicious.

I had to hide them from the boy to keep him from eatting them all!

Well upon my confusion I decided to do a little more research into that 

original Pin to find that the recipe that was given

 was not at all what was pictured.

Those are actually Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

that you can find over at Averie Cooks.

So I guess that I am going to have to try those now too! Ha.

The Apple Experiment

A few months ago,

my wonderful Mother-in-law bought me a dehydrator

at a yard sale.  She had purchased one for herself a little 

bit prior and knew that I would absolutely loved it!

I have always wanted a dehydrator.

I have always had the best memories of my childhood

best friends family.

One of those fantastic memories is how much their 

father loved his dehydrator. 

I can close my eyes and the smell of apples chips and jerky 

waft all around!

I decided that since I had never done this myself,

I should start with the basics....Apples.

But you know me....I can't JUST do apples.

AND even if I did... 

do you know how many different kinds of apples there are?

Hence, 

The Apple Experiment was born.

Round 1:

3 different types of apples, each done in 3 flavors.

So I did a little research on the art of dehydration.

I read and read many different blogs, recipes, and forums.

Did I mention that my machine was from a yard sale and it didn't come with 

a users manual?

I really had no clue were to start.

I found that there were many different recipes 

that included tossing and soaking.

So here's what I did:

Step 1:

So I started with 2 Gala, 2 Granny Smith, and 2 Pink Lady apples.

I peeled and sliced, but I purposefully 

left some skin and varied the width of the slices.

You know, just so that I could figure out how we liked them.

Step 2:

I kept each type of apple in their own separate piles,

and them spilt those piles into thirds.

For my flavors I chose just straight up original, a classic cinnamon, and 

a fun little punch of flavorful guava.

So the originals, we obviously I didn't do anything to those.

I tossed one handful in a bowl of cinnamon, and then

the rest I soaked in guava nectar for about 15 minutes.

Step 3:

I arranged each type of apple neatly on separate trays.

I made sure that they were all organized by flavor so that they would be easier to 

distinguish later.

All of the recipes that I read said to run the machine for 7 hours at a 

specific temperature, but my dehydrator does not have a temperature control, just an 

ON/OFF switch.

So at 6 hours I checked only to find that they were definitely not ready.

I kept an eye on them and ended up running them for a full 10 1/2 hours.

I let them sit in the dehydrator with it OFF for about and hour,

then put them into zip lock baggies.

Step 4:

It was time for the taste test.

The boy and I munched and compared, until we narrowed it down.

Really we loved them all.

The Results:

Like I said they were all amazing! 

But we had our preferences.

We found that the Gala's didn't get as crispy, and there was too much 

cinnamon on all of them.

But in the end.

He loved the Original Granny Smith and I loved the Guava Pink Ladies.