We've Been Busy! =)

Ashley has been busy with her photography, and Christina with her tutu business. Saturday we're shooting a wedding on the beautiful Island Queen here in Kingston. Check back for pictures ;)

My Two New Wings

My Etsy shop will be opening soon. Keep checking back :)

The Finished Product

My Baby Bootie Hangy

My First Tutorial !!!

How to Make:  Baby Bootie Hangy

First select two different materials

 Pin the top part of the background fabric about an inch backwards

 Sew a double stitch along where you have placed the pins

Should look something like this ^

Next cut your pockets. I use a rotary cutter and a broken straight edge to help :)

Ta da! Pockets...

 Using an iron, flatten any creases in your material

Then flip over your pockets and iron creases along your edges to be sewn

When you are done you should have something that looks like this

Cut a thin braided elastic the same length as the top edge of your pockets

Sew your elastic into the material, and the edges of the pockets

... the pockets

Arrange your pockets as desired and sew along the bottom and sides of each

Slip a wooden dowel or two (depending on your length) into the top sew edge

Next, just add string or ribbon to both edges of the wooden dowel and hang!

I am open to suggestions about the elastic part. Help me out! :)
As it is almost 1am, I am going to get some sleep... but I will post the finish product tomorrow! Good night all!

Christina Lea

Falling Into Fall

Ah, fall my favorite season. I truly love everything about this season, from the smell of the leaves to the crispness in the air. Summer has now winded down and we are heading into the beautiful season of fall, followed by the wonderful season of winter. I do highly dislike the winter weather, but there is something about that first snowfall that is magical. Once again it will be a magical fall/winter/spring because these will all be the first my little boy has seen. We will be celebrating his first halloween, his first christmas , first easter and this makes me so excited and eager to have these special memories with him. Hannah is also at the age where she's starting to really understand what is going on which will also make the holidays extra special. As I sit here drinking my hot chocolate (another favorite fall necessity) I am getting excited talking about Christmas. Christmas is my favorite holiday, my family and friends know me as loving the holiday and decorating the day after halloween. Luckily my boyfriend understands and is okay with the fact that we put the christmas tree up November 1st last year. Hey if they are allowed to have the Santa Clause parade November 1st i'm allowed to decorate my tree. What holiday is your favorite and what do you do to make it extra special?

Brrrrr!!

Roman and his Soccer Team

Well... the warm weather is gone :( My 3 and 1/2 year old little man is done soccer and starting hockey soon for the first time ... any suggestions? hahaha - especially because he does not know how to skate yet.
The most disappointing thing about this time of year for me is having to shut the windows, especially at night. Our little ones are wearing their flannels to bed and us moms are preparing ourselves for cold season. 
As the weather gets colder, I always find it harder to find things to photograph. I am not a big fan of winter photography. To get the perfect shot, you've got to be up early and/or freezing you tootsies off trying to capture that desired image. This winter my goal is to try and make my images as dynamic and interesting as possible. Well... that and actually get out there and shoot! ;)

The reality of motherhood

I remember back in high school, college and my early twenties caring so much about every single last aspect of my apperance. I would sit infront of the mirror spending an hour on trying different hairstyles and as soon as my paycheck came in i'd be at the mall eager to spend all that money on the newest designs. Then something happened that turned that side of me upside down..... Motherhood.
Once I held that sweet little girl in my arms and two years later a precious little boy I changed. I however didn't see the change, sure that trendy purse was now replaced with a winnie the pooh diaper bag and those clothes I just couldn't wait to buy were now labelled "Carters" or "Oshkosh" but I was still the same old me. About a year after I had my daughter I was out to dinner with a good friend and she said you've changed so much, you used to be so put together and in love with your purses and cell phone. And at that point I figured it out , I had changed and I now have the answers to why.
Why is my hair no longer perfect but thrown up in a messy ponytail? Because i'm a mom, a mom who gets puked on, hair pulled and even sometimes peed on daily. My pjama pants are my best friend, my getting ready routine has now became a marathon and at the end of the day i'm okay with that, because I also get smiles, hugs, kisses and love from those two little ones every single day.
So my question today is , how has motherhood changed you?

Today's the Big Day!!

HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL DAY!!!

So for most parents out there it's back to school for your little munchkins out there. My oldest son has the option to start kindergarten this year but we've decided to continue pre-school for one more year because he was only born two weeks before the end of the year. I have hear both good and bad... the benefits and disadvantages of doing this, but I would love to hear your opinions. He is a very smart little fellow; I am not concerned about his 1,2,3's or A,B,C's... he's on track. But what about the social aspect of it all? Have any other parents out there been though the same scenario? As for Benjamin, my other son... I have at least another three years to worry about his first day of Public School ;)

Inspiration

Being a photographer is an amazing job. It allows people to see the world as you view it. It allows you to show your art to the world. How amazing is it to have a job where you are sharing moments with people and families. Sitting in the grass taking pictures of that sweet little babies wrinkles in her toes, or the glowing mother to be with a growing baby in her belly reminds me of why I love to do what I do. I am capturing a moment in their lives, something they can look back on in years to come. Although I am just starting out in this journey I know it's going to be a long rewarding one. I can't wait to watch my photography grow and see where it takes me. How I view the world today may be different then how I will view it in a year from now and as my perspective changes my photography will show that. This passion for taking pictures inspires me. So I ask everyone reading this today what inspires you?

My First Post!

Brotherly Love

My name is Christina. I am a mother of two beautiful boys. Roman is turning four in December and Benjamin is 3 and 1/2 months old. I spend my days with my boys and building both my photography and my children's clothing businesses. Christina Lea Photography and Ashley Lynn Photography have teamed up to do weddings as well as other events over the upcoming months in order to expand our business and enhance our photography skills.
My clothing business is called Aunt Dina's Top 2 Bottom for Baby Tots. I've started with tutus, wands, wings, etc which reflects the name. Me being a mother of two boys, I do have one niece who calls me "Aunt Dina" and loves to model my home-made products. I am starting to expand my sewing creations into different articles of clothing for both girls and boys. I am also making home-made play-toys, household items and 'things for mommy' in the future. One thing at a time! I do have high expectations for both business... and myself. I understand that success does not happen overnight. I plan to be in it for the long-haul. So if you would like to follow both Ashley and I on our "magical journey" ;) over the next few years - and learn a few crafty things along the way - join us.

In mommy's shoes

This is a picture I took of my little girl this morning. She loves to dressup in mommy's clothes and today was no exception as she came down the hall just out of bed with a messy bed head, an undershirt on and quite incredibly walking and not falling in mommys heels. I remember being around 3 or 4 and walking around with my mothers shoes that were 10 times to big for me, dressed up in her skirt and hat and feeling like I was the prettiest thing because at the moment I was being like mom. Our children look up to us, it's amazing how they see us .. to them we are 10 feet tall. To us there is no other child in the world as cute, as smart or as sweet as our own.

Feel free to post in our comment section a picture you just love of your little one.

Welcome to our blog!!

Thanks for coming.! This is the offical opening of our blog. Here you will find our thoughts of life, some funny stories of our children and just things that are happening with us. First I guess I should introduce myself my name is Ashley, I am a mom of 2, a sweet little girl whos 2 .. and my adorable baby boy who is now almost 4 months. I've always loved reading blogs and thought it might be neat to start one of my own and the very talented Christina and I decided to go at it together. She is also a mom of 2 but i'll let her write her introduction later. We are also are photographers who adore our jobs. I hope you enjoy our stories and continue to come back and check us out.

Ashley