Dan & Lindsey – {Houston Engagement Photographer} July 22, 2010

I recently had the privilege of photographing an awesome couple – Dan & Lindsey. This pair never had engagement photos made before their destination wedding last year. They wanted to try to create some and I am so glad they did!

Emily – Houston Photographer – Children July 17, 2010

Meet Emily!

He Finally Let Me Take His Picture! July 1, 2010

My son despises my camera.
Today, he let me take his picture.

Miracle.

Thank you, Alex!

Houston Area Etsy Artist + Jill Ward Photography = ADORABLE June 24, 2010

Sharon ROCKS.

She is the owner/designer/artist of Pinkie Twink on Etsy.

Sharon has been making dresses and skirts for Cameron over the past year and I just can’t get enough of her cute, cute, cute creations!   I recently asked her if she would make a pair of shorts out of lemon fabric – you see, we are planning a lemonade stand and you have to LOOK the part!   Sharon agreed to make the shorts…but then sent me a photo of a new dress she designed.

I fell in love.
“Forget the shorts!” I said….  I want a lemonade DRESS!

The Cake Fairy Strikes Again! June 23, 2010

You remember when I wrote about The Cake Fairy a few weeks ago?
She has so many delicious and decadent cakes to chose from!

I am so excited because I will be sampling another one of her cakes on Friday!
It’s my birthday gift to myself!
SoOoOoOoO excited!

The Cake Fairy is not only completely talented…she is also super sweet!
When she discovered our daughter was allergic to nuts and soy (which means she was not able to eat any of the cakes we purchased for our son’s bday party) she did the most amazing thing!
She made CamCam a cake of her own! 
And, boy, did she love it!
Thanks, Suzanne!!!!!

For those of you interested in ordering a smaller cake like this, The Cake Fairy is your gal! 
These are called Lover’s Cakes!  They are great for sharing with the one you love and they come packaged in cute little red boxes!!  You can find Suzanne’s contact info & cake flavors by clicking the two links above!

{Head on over to Zingo Tots to read Health Tip Wednesday!}

WINNER! June 15, 2010

I used Random to obtain my lucky winner for the Sam’s Giveaway!
Congrats to comment #57

Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug} said…

Blogged about the giveaway
June 14, 2010 1:36 AM

$25 Sam’s Club Gift Card & Nature Valley Trail Mix Bars GIVEAWAY!!!!! May 31, 2010

My family loves snack bars!
We usually stock up on them at Sam’s Wholesale Club – Fiber One Bars are our faves.


We recently received a box of Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars for sampling.
My husband, son, and I all love them!  They are full of nuts and fruit and contain 8g of whole grain and only 140 calories per bar. 


If you purchase these bars from Sam’s – they are not only nutritious, but convenient too.  The club sized snacks are individually wrapped and ideal for throwing in your purse or travel bag, just in case someone has a hunger attack!


Enter to win my giveaway and you will get a box full of Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars (48 count) AND a $25 gift card that you can use at Sam’s Club &/or Wal Mart!!


Rules for Entering – You get ONE entry for every item completed!  Up to SEVENTEEN possible entries per person! 
1.  Become a follower of this blog.  {Mandatory}
2.  Subscribe to RSS Feed on this blog.  {Mandatory}


Additional Entries for Doing the Following….
3.  Post this blog on your Facebook page & leave a link to your post.  {Optional}
4.  Tweet about this giveaway & leave a comment w/a link to your tweet.  {Optional}
5.  Post this giveaway on your own blog and leave a comment w/a link to your post. {Optional}
6.  Grab our blog button and post on your blog.  Leave a comment w/link.  {Optional}
7.  Visit our shop, Zingo Tots, and leave a comment here with your fave item listed.  {Optional}
8.  Book a photography session w/Jill Ward Photography and receive 10 additional entries.  {Optional} 


Be sure to leave a comment for everything you do!  In your comment, be sure to leave your contact email!


A random winner will be chosen w/random.org number generator on June 15th!
GOOD LUCK!


**I received a Sam’s Club Sunny Day Snacks Pack and information from General Mills through MyBlogSpark**

Pure Decadence May 25, 2010

I had several emails from you asking for more information on the Cake Fairy cakes!  I asked Suzanne for more details about her flavors just for you guys!
I am fighting the urge to order one of every flavor!!!!!
Check this out….

1. Classic German Chocolate Cake – chocolate cake, chocolate icing, with pecan/caramel/coconut topping and filling.
2. Classic Black Forrest Cake – chocolate cake with chocolate icing, crumb coated sides and raspberry filling and topping.
3. Almond/Blackberry -Yellow Cake layers with fresh blackberries in between the layers covered with white almond butter cream frosting and dusted with toasted almonds.
4. Lemon/Coconut -Yellow Cake with tart/sweet lemon zest butter cream topped with coconut or without.
5. Yellow Cake with chocolate frosting and dusted with toasted almonds.
6.  Chocolate Cake with chocolate frosting and dusted toasted almonds.
7.  Peach/Butter Cream -Yellow Cake with fresh peach slices sweetened with raspberry jam between the layers, covered with fresh peach butter cream and toasted almonds.  (This cake is seasonal and will start up again when peaches come back!!)
8.  Strawberry/Butter Cream Yellow Cake with fresh strawberries between the layers covered with fresh strawberry butter cream and toasted almonds.
9.  Blackberry/Butter Cream – Yellow Cake with fresh blackberries between the layers covered with fresh blackberry butter cream and toasted almonds.
10.  Red Velvet Cake – rich red velvet cake with old fashioned cream cheese icing trimmed with crushed pecans and red raspberries.
11.  Carrot Cake – a decadent cake full of pineapple, raisins, craisins, walnuts and of course – carrots!!!  It is covered with cream cheese icing and dusted on the sides with crushed walnuts and topped with nuts and red raspberries.
12.  Chocolate Overload – This cake has chocolate everywhere its possible to put it.  It had mini chips in the dark chocolate batter, it is filled with deep chocolate fudge and iced with dark chocolate fudge.  The sides are coated with crushed chocolate and it is trimmed on the top with chocolate drops, pecans and red raspberries.

13.  Vanilla Coconut - Yellow cake filled with coconut custard cream and covered with vanilla butter cream and covered in coconut.  Garnished with berries.

14.  Heath Chocolate – for all those toffee/Heath bar lovers.  Rich chocolate cake coated with dark chocolate butter cream and coated with heath bar bits and garnished with crushed Heath bars.

If you are ready to place your order with the amazing Cake Fairy, send her an email at cakefairy2009@gmail.com and tell her Jill sent you!

The Cake Fairy May 24, 2010

My husband loves chocolate.
If desserts are served, and they are not chocolate, he will pass.
My palate is a little less particular…as I love sugar regardless the flavor.

Lately, he has been talking about The Cake Fairy.
A woman working in his office kindly makes cakes and leaves them in break rooms with notes saying, “Enjoy this cake – From The Cake Fairy!”
He has been enjoying all kinds of Cake Fairy cakes – even NON-chocolate cakes.

Our son celebrated his 14th birthday on Saturday.
As soon as party planning began, my husband INSISTED the cakes be made by The Cake Fairy.

All I can say is…. “Oh My Goodness!”
Words can not express the awesomeness of these cakes!

My son requested a vanilla coconut cake.
My husband added a German Chocolate to the order…just because.

Let me first say, these cakes are BEAUTIFUL.
I have never seen anything quite like them.
That coconut beauty {oh yeah…my fave flavor ever} is SO heavy that I decided to weigh it!
14.8 lbs
Yes…FOURTEEN pounds and eight ounces!
It is loaded with fresh berries and smells like Heaven.
It was absolutely fantastic!

The German Chocolate weighed in at 5 lbs.
We just cut into it.
I am speechless.
Deeee-licious.


I love The Cake Fairy.
I can not wait until my birthday next month!
My husband says he sampled a fabulous strawberry cake last week.
Strawberry…not chocolate!
I’m requesting that one for my special day!

If you live in Houston and need a cake … I highly recommend The Cake Fairy!
She even ships if you don’t live in Houston!
You can contact Suzanne via email – cakefairy2009@gmail.com - for a current list of flavors and prices.

Yum!

Etsy Artist Features – YourFriendAmy, TotzHatz, and SimplyBasicDesigns May 22, 2010

I love Etsy.
I look to Etsy anytime I need something.
Gifts.
Clothes.
Jewelry.
Candles.
Soap.
Hats.
Stickers.
Business cards.

Now that I’ve started my photography business, I am happy to report that I am still going to Etsy for my business needs!
First, I needed a watermark / logo for my photos I post online.
I posted an alchemy request and found my girl within a few hours.
YourFriendAmy sent a proof after reading my request.  It was obvious she put time and true effort into the proof.  It was exactly what I wanted – and she even used my blog colors.  I saw it and instantly loved it.  No revisions needed.  Talk about an artist with the ability to read minds!  YourFriendAmy offers Etsy shop sets, banners, collage sheets, invitations & announcements.  If you are looking for a way to spruce up your shop, I highly recommend visiting her shop!  Thanks Amy!!!

Next up….Jackie with TotzHatz.
I have featured her time and again because I love her work!
She creates ADORABLE hats for babies and children, as well as funky little flower clips.
My current favorite photo of my daughter is the one above.
She is sporting a TotzHatz visor hat AND a flower clip.
I purchased those items separately but at the last minute, clipped the flower on the hat.
I loved the look.
Jackie offers hats with flowers, hats with detachable flower clips, and the clips alone which work great in hair or on hats!
Here are a few of my current favorite items from her shop!

Last, but certainly not least, is SimplyBasicDesigns.
I found this awesome cradled egg prop and had to grab it.
I received it 2 days after I paid!  Talk about speedy delivery.

The shop owner also gave me all kinds of advice and tips for props to use with newborns.
So sweet.
She has so many cute items in her shop!  Egg props, cocoons, wraps, and more.
The babies I’ve photographed were too big for the egg … but I was still able to incorporate it into one photo and love LOVE love the texture it added to the picture.  You can see it lining the bowl under Baby Sawyer’s head.

So…there you have it!
Three of my new fave Etsy sellers!
Show them some love.
Visit their shops.
Tell them Jill sent you!