Cocoa and Cozy | A Photo-Fam Christmas

It's been one crazy busy year, and I wasn't the only one who felt it. Nearly everyone I talked to was just worn out. 2013 was an amazing year, but whew, winter couldn't come soon enough! When photo-fam started telling me the little inklings of "oh my gosh long year," I knew this year's Christmas party should just be something cozy, very low-key, and just overall relaxing.

... thus Cocoa & Cozy was born! Donning the jammies (a big personal theme this season), everyone came decked out in their coziest to partake of the hot cocoa bar and tasty treats. Because it was just a continuing sign of this year with busyness, we were missing some of our beloved photo-fam, but we had a great time just hanging out, making snowflakes, and playing ridiculous cotton ball games.

Veronica and Heather dominated in the expert snowflake making game while we had some intense snowball scoopin' from everyone.

I honestly didn't take many photos this year, and I'm glad I didn't. It allowed me to really enjoy the moments with everyone and not have to worry about typical photographer worries of camera settings and lighting. 2014 is my year to enjoy more moments, in the moment.

But I did get some hilarious captures on my iPhone because the Snowball Scoop game was HILARIOUS.

Gingy Style : A Bit of Ivory Photo-Fam Christmas

For a few months, I had set in motion a gingerbread-inspired Christmas party, and whoa stuff changed. First, Pickles Barrington came into the picture. Second, Pickles broke her leg (thus turning 3-D Gingy House into a 2-D one on the wall). Third, Pickles was set on thwarting my Life-Size Gingerbread House construction (e.g., she had torn (literally) through my efforts THREE TIMES!).

Thankfully, I have some very understanding photo-fam who just laughed it off with me. Because let's be real. The "Gingerbread House" on my wall was a huge hot mess. Like paper was crumpled, tissue paper was ripped and incomplete... whew yikes. haha

But to take it to the sentimental level for a moment... Every time I host one of these events, it just makes me so, so, so very happy to know that I've made some amazing friends from my clients. They're not just brides or portrait clients... they're really my photo-fam. I run a low volume business for this very reason... if I'm pouring my heart, time, and energy into something, I want it to be meaningful and lasting. And heck yeah, if we want to laugh over boy shenanigans or chat about book genres, then heck yeah!

Congrats to Elaine (for "most special"), Heather (for funniest), and Jenn (for #1 Gingy), for winning the Gingy decorating contest! AND MEGA props to Stefani and Sarah for truly representing Gingy Style! These ladies even rocked out legit Christmas tree garland strands! ;)

Seriously... best people ever. Most creative and fun bunch. And I love them.






(I can't take credit for the Cheesemas Tree. Inspired by a Pinterest win, Elaine created this beauty!)












(Becky and Jenn are channeling summertime with their Gingy swimwear! ... did I mention that I do not like our winter this year?!)

Happy, happy December!

It's one of my favorite months of the year. There's a magic in the air. There's the craving to be crafty. There's the spirit of giving. And heck, my anniversary is right after Christmas. I'm pretty Christmas obsessed. :)

This isn't a lengthy post or a 2012 recap (that's for the end of the month!), but the tangible cards have been mailed and that means celebration is now official! 2012 was something amazing, and I know I'm anxious to see what 2013 brings. Though it can slow down if it wants... I want to enjoy the winter. ;)

So for the internet, we wanted to wish you a very merry holiday season and a beautiful new year. May you have a wonderfully relaxed time with loved ones, enjoy some yummy food, and live up the season.


[I was SUPER excited for our Christmas card this year.
One, I designed it. Two, it was finished in early November. And three, it has Pickles Barrington on it!]

Have a Minty Holiday. | Hampton Roads Creative

In October (before Halloween, of course), the Hampton Roads Creative team got together for Christmas. Well, kinda. A staged Christmas. But nonetheless, we were shooting some wintry details. Somer had this vision of mint, white, and silver, and so she coordinated this event. Using individual strengths, everyone worked together to execute her vision. It was pretty cool! :)

Of course, there was a group shot with a hint of shenanigans... and as you'll see below, I totally rocked out a book as my mint-colored element. (And for you fellow bibliophiles, it's Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. ;) )

These gals are amazing, and I'm so grateful for this support system. We all need people to push us to do greater things. Hope you found yours, too! :)

























CREDITS:
Stationery Design - Chelsea (me!)
Tablescape Design - Christene and Melody
Food Design and Creation - Somer
Model Coordination - Jessica
Model - Whitney Brundage

Williamsburg Wreaths of 2011... well, some of them.

So, the sad story is that when I was in Williamsburg for my and Rusty's anniversary, it was majorly rainy. Like enough to drench my favorite part of the historic area!!

I promised my PA family, Dad and Mom Forry, that I would post the wreath photos that I did capture though. It's just kind of a bummer that I wasn't able to get all of the ones I wanted like I did last year. Insert MAJOR SIGHING here. :)

One day, I want to find out who the florists are who design these things... and I just want to watch them craft one. Just once. Someone out there in the interwebs must know someone, right!? :)

But anyhow, this black and white photo kind of makes up for the lack of quantity... normally, I'm ALL about the color for the wreaths, but this one just makes me smile a bunch. I think Ansel Adams would be proud... I hope?! :)



















So, there you go, Mom and Dad Forry! I wish there were more, but either way, the wreaths will always captivate!

- Chelsea :)

Happy Crafty December!

One of my 2011 goals after going full-time was to spend more time with family, be a better wife, and make time for some other crafty-ness (particularly during the holidays). Of course, still a work in progress, especially while Rusty continues his studies in nursing school... but aren't we all works in progress?!

In addition to this month's crafty-ness, I challenged myself to take more photos for "me" with my iPhone. I get so wrapped up in love with my photo-fam and their photos that the eternal woe of a photographer is taking photos for herself! Not this month! iPhone to the rescue!

So here's what I've been up to this month through the eyes of the iPhone 4s! (Hmm... I think I need to name the phone a more proper name... lol Calling it the iPhone 4s is rather sterile in personality. Any suggestions?!)

It all started with a Christmas card making party...






Then I needed a way to display the cards that were starting to come in the mail...


Most of you know I'm gluten intolerant. But before "the Great Discovery," I used to love baking. Like LOOOVE it a lot. When the allergy hit, I just stopped. It was a bit of a downer actually... I had so much baking and decorating equipment and tools... I decided to try again this month. To prove to myself that I CAN adapt my old recipes into a gluten-free alternative. These pumpkin muffins were my firsts... and they were AMAZING.

GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS:
* 1/2 cup of applesauce
* 1 bag of Namaste Foods Spice Cake Mix
* 1 can of pumpkin
(That's it!)

* Bake at 350. For mini-muffins (like in the photo), I baked for 15 minutes. For larger/regular muffins, you will have to bake for 30-45 minutes. It's just a dense batter!
* For the frosting, I used Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting (also gluten-free).






I got so proud and bold... so I tried a NEW recipe.

Chocolate Crinkles! You can find the recipe here.

Adaptations to the Recipe I used:
* I don't use oil in my baking, so I replaced the oil with applesauce.
* I didn't have the Betty Crocker GF cake mix, so I actually used Pamela's GF Chocolate Cake mix.
* I didn't have coarse sugar, so I rolled the cookie balls in powdered sugar instead.





Okay, I didn't make these cards, but as I mentioned on Facebook, sure, it's pretty awesome seeing photos I've taken on holiday cards (because heck, it's darn cool!), but the best thing is seeing my photo-fam's creativity and how they used those images! LOVE! So here is THEIR creative contributions to the holidays!



And lastly... from our home to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Sparkly New Year! May you have a special time with loved ones, eat lots of yummy food, and remember the unique magic of the holiday.



Love,
Chelsea :)