2017 Ambassador Preview: Sydney + Claire // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

I knew long before meeting 10-year old Sydney and 3-year old Claire that we were in for a lot of fun together. These girls exude so much life and joy from every image taken of them, and I couldn't WAIT to get them in front of my own camera.

With a seven-year age gap between the sisters, I wanted to ensure that their Editorial session was not only enjoyable for all involved, but also that the concept suited both of them equally. After learning that the girls bond over their love of pretending to be kitty-cats together and that it's a favorite game in their household, I knew that would be a purrrrfect motif!

Shortly before the girls' session, I received a call from a reporter, Anya Sostek, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She was interested in the unique way in which I photograph children and celebrate what makes them special, and she wanted to come observe a session at the studio. I said "yes," of course, and I chose this session because I just knew that she would have a good time with these two effervescent littles.

The article was featured in print in yesterday's Sunday Magazine.
You can read it online HERE.

Here's a sneak peek of Sydney + Claire's kitty-themed ambassador session!

Three words to describe the session: Fun, Innovative, Sophisticated

2017 Ambassador Preview: Kassidy // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

I finally had the opportunity to meet and photograph the first of my 2017 POSE PGH Ambassadors, 3-year old Kassidy, last week. I had such a wonderful time with this tiny, adorable bundle of energy! I am SO EXCITED for all the rest to come, especially after how much fun we had playing with and photographing Kassidy!

Kassidy loves the color red and taking photos with her mama's camera.
(That's how I first started to fall in love with photography. Who knows - maybe she'll grow up to be a photographer herself, someday?)

Here's a sneak peek of Kassidy's seventies-themed ambassador session!

Three words to describe the session: Vintage, Pretty, Unconventional

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Paint it Blue with Rodolfo + Mariana // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

When I first met 9-year old Rodolfo and 7-year old Mariana, I was struck with just how spirited and independent they both were. Like most brothers and sisters, while they are similar in many ways, their differences abound. Rodolfo loves sports, particularly football and soccer, and has a penchant for superheroes and Star Wars. Mariana is the exact opposite: if it involves dance, American Girls, or princesses - count her in! I really wanted to ensure the Editorial session was customized to suit both of their individual personalities and was fun for everyone. I focused a great deal on posing with this session to do so: Rodolfo was my handsome Ralph Lauren model, photographed mostly from a lower angle to make him appear more elevated and dignified. Mariana was an adorable princess for the day, fan in her hair, twirling, posed to emphasize her joyful energy. I knew that going with a mostly blue color palette would be mutually pleasing and I was inspired by the fact that Dad works with paint to create a fun, Jackson Pollock-esque custom paint splatter backdrop. I had such a wonderful time working with these great kids, and I even got to brush up a bit on my (minimal) Spanish: 
Mariana es preciosa y Rodolfo es gracioso! 
Muchos gracias por venir a verme!
(How'd I do? Was that way off? Haha.)

Three words to describe the session: Modern, Artistic, Simple

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Why "Couture?" // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

"POSE PGH is modern, couture portraiture with a fashionable twist."

When looking at my images, it's easy to discern that they're modern and fashionable, but you might be thinking to yourself, "Lexi, what on Earth do you mean by 'couture???' "

Typically, the use of the word "couture" is reserved for clothing. But, couture clothing isn't just any clothing:
It's handmade, tailored to fit an individual. It's a labor of love, as a couture gown can often take hundreds of hours to complete. Couture is admired for its craftsmanship, its attention to detail, and its luxe, beautiful quality.

My favorite quote about couture is from Cristobal Balenciaga:

"A couturier must be an architect for design, a sculptor for shape, a painter for color, a musician for harmony, and a philosopher for temperance." 

When you bring your little ones into POSE PGH for a session, I become your photographic couturier, as I'm using my aesthetic, style, and knowledge to plan a fully-tailored session for each individual family.

There are SO MANY factors I'm considering when planning the session: What colors do your children love that will also look wonderful with their skin tones? What wardrobe colors will complement the background and prop colors? What creative concept can I dream up? How can I create props and/or custom backdrops for that concept? What poses will flatter this child? How can I merge the child's interests with Mom and Dad's style/aesthetic? How can I make it all match their decor to become beautiful wall art? Whew... and the list goes on and on!

The "couture" nature of POSE PGH doesn't stop with planning the session itself, though: I'm making custom music playlists for your time spent at the studio. I'm preparing your child's favorite snacks. I'm hand-making most of the props and backdrops we use. I'm retouching all of your images by hand (no presets or shortcuts).

Backdrop is all painted and ready for some cuties on Sunday! 💙 (I guess this is my "blue period?")

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Dec 2, 2016 at 1:27pm PST

All of these little details add up to epitomize what I feel is befitting to refer to as  a "couture portrait session," much like a luxurious gown is composed of many, individual tiny hand-sewn sequins.  

I can't wait to meet you and your children and get to work on your custom, couture experience!

Favorites of 2016 // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

Okay, I'll admit it: 2016 definitely had its ups and downs. However, I've noticed that people are so quick to focus on the negatives of this year and overlook all of the wonderful positives. While 2016 had personal trials and tribulations, it was also one of my favorite years to date. This year, I began focusing on my work with children and transformed POSE PGH into what it is today. I had a year full of tiny smiles, giggles, and high-fives (my favorites) that made me eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve my clients and do what I love as my profession.
Thank you all SO MUCH, from the bottom of my heart!

Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year and fabulous 2017!

Here are some of my favorite images that I photographed in the past year.

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Listen to the Music // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

Music is such an essential part of my process, inspiration, and what makes your session at POSE PGH special that I decided to devote a little blog to it today.

I've always felt a deep connection to music. My roots as an artist/writer were in music photojournalism. I spent many of my formative photographic years shooting concerts and interviewing musicians for an online music magazine. Once I transitioned into the commercial side of the industry (and beyond to portraiture), music continued to be an essential fountain of influence and creativity. I will sometimes conceive and envision a full session just from listening to a specific song or album. When I'm retouching, I definitely need the right music to set the mood, and I'll end up artistically retouching differently based on what I'm listening to. Lastly, upon completion, an image will sometimes represent a song for me. I may not have noticed or felt it while I was photographing or retouching it, but afterwards it will shout the perfect lyric to epitomize it. This is why on social media SO many of my images are captioned with song titles or lyrics - to me, they are a fundamental component of the viewing experience.

My personal genre of choice/inspiration is typically mid-60s through early 70s rock and roll, so you'll notice a lot of those lyrics popping up...

He ain't heavy, he's my brother. 💪🏻👶🏻

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Dec 20, 2016 at 3:56pm PST

You and I travel to the beat of a different drum. 💕

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Jul 29, 2016 at 4:58pm PDT

And, Windy has wings to fly above the clouds...☁️

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Sep 10, 2016 at 8:44am PDT

✨ Blue jean baby queen ✨

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Aug 1, 2016 at 9:21am PDT

Light It Up Blue Christmas (Kristina + Carly) // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

While I'm incredibly grateful for every client, sometimes an inquiry comes in that just makes me feel especially honored that THIS family wants ME to be the photographer to capture their special memories for them. This was most definitely the case with Kristina and Carly's family. 

Carly is an uncommonly independent 9-year old girl. While she may be shy at first, once you get to know her, you see her fun, bubbly side (she has some excellent dance moves), and conversing with this girl is like talking with an old soul. Carly is patient, nurturing, and an amazing sister. Kristina, at 12-years old, is the big sister. A lover of music, she is gentle, warm, and full of life - enviable qualities for anyone. Kristina also has severe autism. While this, of course, changes the dynamic of the sisterly bond and family, this absolutely does not define them. In this family, I see such an abundance of love and positivity in the face of adversity. These girls both inspire me in their own way, and I feel truly blessed to have met them.
(Light It Up Blue is the annual campaign by Autism Speaks for autism awareness.)

Based on the three words that Mom selected and the color scheme/decor of their home, I wanted the images to have an almost Calvin Klein, classic feel to them. But, I also wanted to inject some fun, and I won't lie - I was a little nervous about this session. I hold myself to such a high standard, and I wanted to ensure that these girls, this family, received the same experience that everyone does, that everyone enjoyed themselves, and that they left with an abundance of beautiful images to cherish. In hindsight, my concerns were obviously for nothing. We had a wonderful time together, playing with snow for our wintery theme, singing songs, and making memories. (I may or may not still be finding pieces of snow around my studio.) We even managed to grab a quick image in front of my record wall backdrop for them to use for their annual charity walk to raise money for autism. I'm so glad that Kristi's Rockers will have this image for their event this year. Rock on, guys.

The icing on the cake of this experience for me was coming home one day to find this email:
 

Lexi,
I just want to thank you for an amazing experience for my girls! You were so kind and patient working with Kristi and I'm so happy I didn't let my fears stop me from booking the session. I know Kristi isn't the easiest client, but you made it so relaxed and comfortable for all of us.

And for Carly...she often takes the back seat to Kristi's special needs, but you managed to give her the day she needed.  She had a fabulous time and loved every minute of bringing out her inner super model! The details from the snacks, music, and the relaxed studio were perfect.

We will cherish the day and the photos forever!

Michele, Kristi and Carly
 

Before I start to tear up again, I'll get to the images...

Three words to describe the session: Simple, Pretty, Classic

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Landri Has a Heart of Gold // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

There is so much that I could say about Landri. This adorable 4-year old is one of the sweetest kiddos that I've had the pleasure of working with. She is friendly, yet feisty. Spirited, yet dear. Affectionate, yet independent. I see such a strength of character in this little, little girl, and I can't wait to see her grow up into a strong, beautiful woman.

Landri was this year's winner of the annual #POSE4PICKET contest that I run in conjunction with The Picket Fence. She won a complimentary Editorial Session, three 8x10 prints, and a gorgeous Tea Collection outfit to wear during her session. (If you missed this year's contest - be sure to enter next year! It's SO MUCH fun!) I am so grateful that this contest enabled me to meet both her and her mother, as it was such a joy getting to know the both of them.

When planning Landri's session, I knew that I wanted to photograph it on black to emphasize her gorgeous blonde hair and porcelain skin. When I inquired as to Landri's favorite colors, I was told that they were "pink, purple, and golden." What a perfect color palette! I decided to select primarily pink and purple wardrobe and utilize different golden accents during the session (including a crown for the images in her Tea Collection outfit - she needed to be "crowned" the winner, after all!) There were also two other very important objects in Landri's world that I knew we could incorporate perfectly: her lovey/BFF "Baby" the elephant, and her preferred method of getting around on such tiny legs: her hot pink scooter.

Honestly, I could have photographed this little girl all day...

Three words to describe the session: Editorial, Fun, Stylized

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Naina + Mina) // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

When I had the opportunity to photograph little ladies as fun and spunky as Naina and Mina, it reminded me precisely why I chose to be a children's photographer. By the time we were finished, my cheeks hurt a bit from smiling for so long, and I felt energized by the amount of tiny giggles that had bounced around in the air at the studio that day (seriously - it's like filling up my gas tank).

Naina is creative, artistic 9-year old with a huge imagination and sweet disposition. Mina, 7 years old, is an entertainer: outgoing, playful, and in Mom's words, "just a ham in general." I knew that I had to give these ladies an Editorial Session to match their vibrant, spirited personalities, and was overjoyed when Mom chose the word "colorful" as one of her three words to describe her ideal session. There was only one option, really. We NEEDED to throw a PAR-TAY - a big, colorful one. And, what party is complete without decorations?! To help decorate for Naina and Mina's party, I enlisted the help of Leigh-Anne from Airheads Balloon Art, who made the most ahhh-mazing balloon doggies to tie everything together and really bring my creative vision to life. (If you'd like to step up your decoration game for your kiddo's birthday party, or any other event in the future, definitely get in touch with them - they are spectacular to work with!) Last but not least, what party is complete without glitter? EVERYTHING is better with glitter.
 

SO MUCH FUN in the studio with Naina + Mina this morning. Everything is better with glitter! ✨

A video posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Oct 2, 2016 at 10:08am PDT

And, now, on to the images...

Party on, Naina! Party on, Mina!

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Colorful, Stylized

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Picket Perfect : The Picket Fence F/W 2016 Lookbook // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

The weather is cooling down and the leaves are changing and falling, which can mean only one thing: it's Picket Fence lookbook time!

We had another excellent team for this one, and we could never make these happen without all of our colleagues, beautiful children, and their mamas. We are so grateful for everyone's time and efforts, and hope that you all love this lookbook as much as we do!

If you want to shop any of these looks for your own littles, you can search "LOOKBOOK" on The Picket Fence's website. (Oh man, do I wish that Catimini made that balloon dress in my size!) 

And now, appropriate props given to:

Our beautiful models: Salma Nixon, Teagan McFarlane, and Patti Szabo
My wonderful assistant: Brandywyne Dugan
Our amazingly talented hair and makeup artist: Tiffani L. Parks Beauty

FriYAY! : Tori is Published // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

From the moment that I met Tori, I knew that she was a very special little girl. Not only was she a beautiful child, but she had the brains and vivacious personality to match. We made the most of our session together, using it as an opportunity to both capture Tori's unique spirit in the images for her and her family to cherish for years to come and to enhance her blossoming modeling portfolio by adding some fun, editorial imagery to it.

I was SO excited to hear that within a few months of our session, Tori's mama had submitted some of the images to Fashion Kids Magazine and Tori had been selected for their September 50 Most Beautiful Kids Issue! Now, Tori can add to her mini-resume that she's been published in an international magazine, and I am one incredibly proud photographer and fan.

** SNAPS FOR TORI! **

I am looking so forward to watching this kiddo continue to grow and shine, and to helping your kiddos do the same!
(Your littles don't have to be models by any means to come have a session with me, but they will certainly leave feeling like one!)

A video posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Oct 12, 2016 at 7:58am PDT

Queens for a Day with London + Noelle // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

I was so impressed upon meeting 8-year old London and 4 1/2-year old Noelle. There existed such an obvious mutual adoration and respect between these sweet, bold, sisters who are both wise beyond their years. I wanted to give them a session that highlighted both their beauty and their brains with a slight bohemian vibe to match their personal styles. We selected wardrobe together that encompassed the many facets of their personalities, including a sweet girly look, a flowy bohemian number, and a schoolgirl homage. I developed a book motif for their Editorial Session to celebrate their intelligence, and away we went!

As with all of my sessions, the day is 100% about the kiddos, even down to the music we listen to while we're photographing the session (and, let me tell you, these girls have some great taste and have introduced me to some really fabulous artists, such as George Ezra - go listen to "Budapest"). I always strive for the children I'm working with to have a memorable experience and the BEST. DAY. EVER. It's a day where they can embrace what makes them special, unique, and beautiful. 

Little Miss London loved the experience and has revealed herself to be somewhat of a natural model (please note the perfect half-smiles and eye-squinches below). And, Noelle has apparently since been practicing her "no-teeth smile" from Miss Lexi when Mom is taking snapshots of her.

I received this feedback from the girls' mother, Amanda, and my heart practically exploded:

"If you'd like your little to feel like queen for the day, Lexi is your girl.
What fun we've had!" 

To borrow a line from one of my favorites: "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
That's why I do what I do, and approach children's photography so differently from others, with such a focus on the individual child and treating them like royalty. Your kids deserve that treatment and that feeling, and I'm always so, so honored to give it to them.

Three words to describe the session: Artistic, Innovative, Stylized

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Tori : The Little Drummer Girl // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

From the moment I met 5-year old Tori, I knew that we'd have a blast photographing her Editorial Session. This precocious, sweet spitfire is already an accomplished drummer, as well as a myriad of other talents. (I was even treated to an impromptu dance performance during her in-home consultation!) With a wardrobe full of miniature 90s-grunge-esque clothing and Doc Martens (atta girl!), we definitely needed to have a rocking and rolling time in the studio.

Three words to describe the session: Modern, Editorial, Bold

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The 4-1-1 on Comp Cards

Over the past year, I've had so many parents ask me questions about how to get their children involved with modeling, which can be especially overwhelming when you have literally NO idea where to even begin. I love all the children that I have the privilege of working with and I'd love nothing more than to help them blossom and succeed - so, I made the decision to put together a session option for just that purpose: The Comp Card Session. At this point, you're probably thinking, "Lexi, what in the world is a 'comp card,' and how will it help my child?"

A comp card can be referred to by many names, which could be a little confusing: comp card, composite card, zed card, z card, sed card (holy cow, industry, make up your minds!). It is essentially a large business card, typically sized to 5.5x8.5 inches, with a head shot on the front and a mini-portfolio of  2-4 images that display ability and variety on the back, along with important stats and contact information. Especially for children, the comp card should showcase a mix of action and still images, as well as varying crops (i.e. a full-length image, a half-length image, a close-up image). 

While some opportunities may allow for digital submission, you will want to have a printed comp card for most in-person castings and auditions. This is your leave-behind that they can use for reference when making decisions, so it's important that both the images and printing are high-quality and stand out from the rest. A lot of bigger modeling agencies won't meet with you until you have a comp card, because it is what they will use to promote and market you. 

Because children grow and change so quickly, it’s important that the comp card be updated as needed. You may only need to update the images once every few years, but remember that the stats on the card need to be accurate and current, especially after a big growth spurt.

I'm very excited to offer these and to help many of your children make the leap into the modeling industry. You can learn more about the POSE PGH Comp Card Session HERE and contact me HERE to book your own.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes! // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

As POSE PGH has grown and evolved over the past year, it has given me the opportunity to better understand the variety of wants and needs that my clients have. In the spirit of ensuring that you're booking a session that's right for YOU, I've decided to shake things up a bit. I am now happy to offer you three unique session options.

While the Basic and Editorial Sessions have always been around in theory, the Comp Card Session is hot off the presses. I have had so many mamas ask me if I photograph Comp Cards, and now, happily - the answer is YES!

For more information about sessions and to figure out which session is right for you, take a look at the shiny, new Investment page.

Flying High with Pilar + Leo // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

For those that haven't come to POSE PGH for a session before and are unfamiliar with how things work, I'd like to share a bit with you. Our focus is always on the individual child/family. We don't want things to be cookie-cutter and formulaic. The whole point of portraiture is photographing a person in a way that encapsulates them and their personality in the images. We firmly believe in giving you a custom session that fits you and your children. Each booking begins with a questionnaire that helps us get to know you better. We take your answers and develop a creative vision for the session: What colors are your decor? What personality traits or interests do you want to highlight? What sort of imagery are you drawn to?

My favorite question that I find most revealing in the questionnaire is "What three words would you like to describe your finished photographs?" (Don't worry - it's multiple choice!) Moving forward, I'll be including those three words in my posts about individual sessions, to help you better *feel* the session, rather than just "see" it.

Pilar is an outgoing, spunky 6-year old with a flair for the dramatic arts, who can absolutely dance circles around me. Leo is an adorable, silly 4-year old with a love of planes, who makes some of the greatest facial expressions I've ever seen. This brother-sister duo was such a joy to work with during their Editorial Session. (We'll be rolling out the "Editorial Session" and providing you with details soon!)

Three words to describe the session: Modern, Simple, Innovative

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The Picket Fence S/S 2016 Lookbook // Behind the Scenes

The Picket Fence Spring/Summer 2016 Lookbook is officially a wrap!

This past Monday was definitely one of the top five most adorable days of my life thus far. After an epic model call and seeing these little faces just on my computer screen for a few weeks, it was such a pleasure to meet all the models (and their mamas!) in person and get to have such a fun time together. There was dancing, and fist-bumping, and jumping, and singing, and hugging, and, oh yes, there were juice boxes! While the weather refused to cooperate and forced us into a studio (seriously - snow in mid-April, what is this?!), I couldn't be happier with how the images turned out, and I'm so excited to edit and share with you soon.

A HUUUUGE thank-you to Tori for styling everyone to perfection, to Chris for assisting for the day and keeping things running smoothly (seven mini-models in one day could get a little crazy otherwise), and to Maureen and everyone at The Picket Fence for continuing to be wonderful to work with.

Here are some behind-the-scenes shots that various people so graciously forwarded to me...

Really Good Juju

Four local #girlbosses? Designer vintage threads? PIZZA?! COUNT. ME. IN.

Recently had the pleasure of spending the afternoon photographing a guest post on Niki Whittle's Style Studs and Lace, written by Leslie of Juju, modeled by Tori of Wear Wag Repeat (and snacking on some delicious Spak Brothers).  

Head over to Niki's blog to see more photos and read Leslie's sage wisdom about shopping for clothing in the vintage marketplace.

Leslie McAllister, the owner of Juju, a vintage boutique in Point Breeze, Pittsburgh.

The lovely Tori Mistick of Wear Wag Repeat was a picture-perfect model.

This blog couldn't be timed more perfectly, as Juju is having its grand opening TODAY.
So, hurry up and get on over there (and save me a glass of champagne!):
6739 Reynolds Street, Point Breeze
11AM - 7PM
Champagne reception from 5PM - 7PM.

Here are some links so that you can see more from these lovely ladies:

Niki
Website
Facebook
Instagram
 

Juju
Website                              
Facebook
Instagram
 

Tori
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Niki, Leslie, and Tori sit for a quick portrait.

The First Post // Pittsburgh Portrait Photographer

Welcome to POSE PGH's very first blog post.
I'm Lexi, the owner + photographer + wearer of many other hats + now *official blogger*. 

And, I look a little somethin' like this. ^^^

Honesty is the best policy, so I'd like to start off by just coming right out and getting this off of my chest: 
I hate blogging.

Yep, I said it. Blogging and I have had a really rocky relationship over the years. I've started several different blogs, enthusiastically blogged my little heart out for a few months, and then watched as each one met its slow, painful demise. Why?

You'll notice a certain simplicity in my aesthetic. The portraits that I create are clean, focused on the beauty of the subject, "no frills." I've never really been one for frills, even in my personal life (and closet). I always like for things to be uncomplicated, direct, and authentic, and blogging just felt like the antithesis of all of these things. Perhaps it is because I read too many blogs that spoke with a voice that didn't mesh with my own, but I always found other photographers' blogs to come off as disingenuous (i.e. each subsequent post crowning a new OMG FAVORITE CLIENT EVER). If I feel like I'm "faking it," I shy away from whatever it may be, and in the past I think I went awry in trying to blog about what I felt I should be blogging about and lost my true self and voice in the process.

With time, however, I've come to realize the importance of blogging, especially for a small, local business like POSE PGH. There is so much about the studio and the experience that I just can't possibly communicate to you without doing so. I can post helpful content here that better prepares you for your session. I can share details and images of some of our beautiful products. I can spotlight some of the amazing other small businesses that we partner up with on various endeavors. This blog has the potential to serve as such a valuable resource for my clients that I'd be doing you all a disservice if I didn't give it the college try.

BUT, if I'm going to blog, I'm totally going to blog my way.
So, this is my promise to you, Pittsburgh and beyond:
I promise you a no frills, no fluff, no BS blog. I promise to speak to you as my authentic self and to stay humble and not get all brag-a-docious when I have successes along the way. I promise that if I don't have anything interesting to say, I won't say anything at all. I promise that this blog will be more about YOU than me. And, last but not least, I promise that I will *try my best* to keep up with posting in here.

Warm wishes as we enter another little cold spell,
xoxo
Lexi