How was your weekend?

Ours was great but cold. Very cold. We managed to take a little excursion to The Old Post Office to take a tour of the clock tower. For as long as we’ve been living here, this was our first visit.    The main event for kids wasn’t really the tower but the ride over via the Metro.  Luckily, the metro station stops right outside the Old Post Office so there wasn’t too much walking.  Did I mention it was cold?  I love DC and all the architecture here.  I thought I’d share a few gorgeous details I snapped from our day out. Have a great week!

The Metro

Right outside the Federal Triangle Metro Station

The Old Post Office Clock Tower

Interior of The Old Post Office

Even the radiator in the building was gorgeous

These bars were messing with my photos! LOL

View of the Capitol from the Tower

View of the Washington Monument from the Tower

There are no excuses!

For those of you on the fence on partaking in a boudoir session, here are 10 debunked excuses.
1. I’m fat

I hear women say this all the time even if they look fabulous!  Fat is relative. Women are beautiful no matter what size you are.  I want you to shout from the rooftops loud and proud of how fabulous you look. Thats why we are here. Taking photos. Celebrating your beauty. Please take 78 seconds out of your day to watch THIS VIDEO, “Totally Awesome,” no matter who you are.

2. It’s Too Expensive

Actually, participating in the Distinct Concept’s Valentines Unwrapped Boudoir Marathon is one of the best deals out there!  You will have a half hour with a make up artist, champaign and h’ors deouvres and a half hour shoot.  You’ll also receive a pin up calendar or a 10 page album depending on what package your purchase.   Plus, Small Burst will give you a discount if you sign up by January 17th.   Mention this blog and get 5% off!

3. I am Too Old

Psst-have you heard 40 is the new 30, 50 the new 40! Age is just a number and a mindset.  Besides being wiser, I find that the older my clients are, the more comfortable in their skin they are. With that said, women are totally beautiful creatures at all and any age.

4. I am Shy

I can understand this. I am more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. Your shoot will be in a private room with just me-the photographer, and a female assistant.  I’m easy going, I’m funny, and will make the shoot fun.  I promise I’m not scary!

5. I Don’t Want These Photos on the internet

Why do you think I don’t have any in my porfolio—yet   I do not slap my clients naked butts on my website unless they let me. Okay, well, maybe no naked butts ever on my blog.  Most clients want this to be an intimate session with the photographs as gifts for their sweetheart’s eyes only.  After I edit I store securely for a short time and delete all of the outtakes. Seriously – your privacy is my number 2 concern – after making you look HAWT.

6. I am Pregnant

What a fabulous time to celebrate your body! That glow is something only experienced in pregnant women, and guess what?  Having a belly–totally a good thing!

7. I don’t know what to wear

I can refer you to a stylist. She is amazing and wonderful and will work with you on YOUR style. You can wear as much or as little as you wish, but working with a stylist is something that will help you achieve the look and feel you want. And you thought stylists were only for Hollywood Starlets…I want you to feel like a star.  Stylist not your thing? No worries, I’ll have an info packet for you with all the details, including what to wear!

8. It’s Trashy

Not one little bit! I like to think my boudoir sessions are along the lines of discreet beauty- art, if you will.  The female form has been captured in art since the beginning of time and in today’s society, have you every heard anyone (in their right mind-lol) call a Botticelli painting trashy?  They’re downright beautiful is what they are and the are celebrated today in museums and fine art galleries.

9. Why would I do something like this?

Because you will finally know how hot you are. Because you want a really original gift for your partner. Because you deserve it. Because a gym membership and new clothes can’t give you the gift that these photos will give you.

10. I am Embarrassed.

Don’t be. Please.  I will do my best to help you feel comfortable through the shoot. Have I mentioned how fun this is going to be? Seriously, it’s going to be a party with wine and cheese, some music. You’ll be glad you did this.

See, there are absolutely no excuses! Join us on January 22nd for the Valentines Unwrapped Photoshoot.  Sign up here.

*****UPDATE********You have until January 18th to sign up!!

New Year, New Adventures

It’s true you know, that the older you are the faster the years zoom by. This is why I cannot, for the life of me, believe another year is over. My most important goal (not a resolution) for 2011 is to create memories for me, my children, my family.   This year will be full of adventures. They’ll eventually unfold here on Small Burst  but  First and foremost, I want to share some exciting news. Within the past few months I’ve been fortunate enough to work with women business owners who have contacted me for my photography services and am currently collaborating on a few projects.  My first project for the year is with Distinct Concepts for a Boudoir Marathon. That’s right, photographs for your sweetheart just in time for Valentine’s Day.  Definitely an adventure, wouldn’t you say?  I wish you all a year full of joy, beautiful memories, love, and last but certainly not least, I hope you capture your red rubber ball.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Here’s a repost of my favorite pancake recipe which I’ll be cooking up this morning.

I have to be honest. I got this recipe from Allrecipes.com.  It has received 1891 reviews with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars.   I tried to make changes to it by adding a little more sugar or some cinnamon and vanilla in the past.  Today I did the recipe as is and it was the fluffiest pancakes I have ever made! The best pancake recipe thus far.  So, you really can’t change an already perfect recipe.  Trust me, just try it the way it is and you’ll be pleased.

Good Old Fashioned Pancakes

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Giveaway Winner

Hope you’re all on your way to having a wonderful Monday.


Congratulations to Alison from And Flowers Pick Themselves blog. She won the Girl In Gear Studio Plantable Calendar. Check her blog out for her musings and wonderful photography.


If you want to pick up one of these beautiful calendars, Girl In Gear Studio is offering Small Burst readers a 20% discount until the end of the month. Enter key word SMALLBURST at checkout.


Oh, and see the image up there? They already have the Plantable Mini Valentine Kits available.  This is my fave!

A little peak

Since I started off the week with wreaths, I thought I’d end it by showing you one I made.  I know, it’s not the natural variety but because I painted my walls off-white I was in need of some color.

Visit one of my earlier posts for an ornament wreath tutorial here.

Wreaths

Are you done with your christmas decorating? For those of you who aren’t here’s a little wreath inspiration courtesy of Southern Living. They’re surprisingly easy to make too. Visit Sunset here for a step by step tutorial.  I always have a Christmas wreath at my door and in the house.  Do you have a wreath in your home for the holidays? Did you make it?

Girl In Gear Studio Giveaway

It’s giveaway time!  This giveaway is special to me because it involves Girl In Gear Studio. Earlier this year, the lovely and talented Stacie from Girl In Gear Studio offered Small Burst’s first giveaway so I’m happy to have her here again.


Today Girl In Gear Studio is offering one super fabulous 2011 sustainable desk calendar to one lucky reader. The desk calendar is not only beautiful but they’re plantable.  They’re printed on wild flower seed-embedded paper. You can plant each sheet in a pot or garden. Genius, right? Comes with a display easel and is packaged in a kraft envelope with gift tag. Just in time for Christmas gifts and for the New Year.
Not only is Girl In Gear Studio offering this giveaway but a 20% discount to SB readers too trhrough December 31st.  Enter the code SMALLBURST at check out. Did I mention shipping is free!  Didn’t I tell you Stacie was fabulous?


Here are some calendar features:

*Includes major holidays and a place to write your own important dates

*Includes a compostable recycled display easel that can be composted or repurposed to display 5×7 photos at the end of the year

*Easel dimensions: 7-3/4″ x 8-1/2″ (19.7 cm x 21.6 cm)

*Calendar dimensions: 5-1/2″ x 7-1/2″ (14 cm x 19 cm)

Here’s how you enter:

GOOD LUCK!

***Please note, entries must be submitted by Friday, December 17th, not Wednesday. I clearly didn’t have enough coffee this morning:)*****

Cold Hands Warm Heart

I love getting packages in the mail and this is why me + online shopping = . When I read about the Cold Hands Warm Heart event by Much Love, Illy and Sandy A La Mode it was a no brainer to sign up.  Such a fun idea- pair up with a fellow blogger and exchange packages containing a pair of gloves and other goodies.  I was paired up with Christina.  Check her blog out. She’s one active lady who lives in Florida where’s she’s getting ready to wed her true love. I think I’m in love with her cute pup, Lily. That dog is super cute!


So my package from Christina arrived and I was so excited to get the box open.  It came just in time for the chill we’re experiencing here.  I will be wearing these super adorable gloves Christina has picked out for me as I drink the delicious hot cocoa also included in the package. I love hot cocoa!! Speaking of chocolate, I also received some Christmas peeps.  I’m actually eating the tree shaped one right now. I couldn’t help myself. One last item-a gorgeous ornament to adorn our tree.  Thank you ever so Christina for making me feel as giddy as a 4 year old on Christmas morning.


To see more Cold Hands Warm Heart packages click here.

Missing Blog Header :(

Hello everyone.  Hope you’re all well this fine November day.  I apologize for the missing blog header.  This is currently being fixed and the burst we all know and love will reappear shortly.  So stay tuned-there’s some great news and a super giveaway just in time for Christmas.