Family looking to adopt- can you help?

We are passing this on for some friends of ours who are trying to adopt a baby. Please pass this info on to anyone you think may be able to help. They are an awesome family and we hope they find a little one who needs a family soon!

thanks!-
Brian & Jen

Hello Friends and Family,

Please pardon the mass email, but it is the best and easiest way for us to reach all of you. As most of you know, Don and I have been blessed with a family through the amazing gift of adoption. We have been in the process of searching for another child to add to our family for a year now. Although we are registered with 2 agencies, we know that many adoptive couples find a birth mother through networking and word of mouth. If there are two things we've learned over the years it is that there is no "type" for birth mothers and you never know how or where you'll find a birth mother. With that in mind, we are trying to think of ways to get the word out about our family's desire to adopt. We came up with an idea and were hoping we could ask your help with this. Blogging and Facebook are huge and so much information is passed via these medias. We would ask any of you willing to post the attached "adoption card" on your blogs and facebook accounts with a link to our adoption site. If you have friends, family members, teenagers that may be interested in posting it on their blogs/FB, that would really help us out. We would be so grateful.

Also we know that some of you work in religious organizations or in hospitals and may hear about situations where a woman is wanting to place her child for adoption. We would be very grateful if you would think of us should such a situation arise.

The link to our adoption blog is http://don-and-karlea.blogspot.com/.

Thank you so much for your time and efforts on our behalf. We are so grateful to you all.


Much love,

Don and Karlea Carruth

Spoiled Beginnings - Newport Beach Baby Boutique

Orange County Baby Boutique in Newport Beach

We were so excited when the owners of Spoiled Beginnings asked us to do a wall display in their brand new store! Of course we said YES and then started brainstorming ideas. We ordered my favorite frames from Wild Sorbet and then added gallery wraps between the frames. The photos are going to be swapped out frequently to keep things fresh and current! :) Here are a bunch of shots of the wall (not the greatest light - but it will do) and some quick shots of some of their stuff they sell. You can buy online at www.spoiledbeginnings.com if you don't live in OC!





I love the text we put on the edge of this wrap. I had to do one for my own home to (with of course photos of my own baby).


I really like these wraps too! I designed the background - then had it wrap around the edges -


The cute little frames on the far left are called Trimlings - they come in sets of three




I like the wavy border and the "unfinished" look the frames have with the paint. They can be any custom color to match your baby's room too!




Love this bunk bed






This crib can have the panels change out - how cool is that?


LOVE the teal high chair.




Here is the information on them that they had for their press release:
Costa Mesa, Calif. – When they both lost their jobs shortly after the holidays, Ben and Billie Jo Spearing decided to become their own bosses in a unique business niche. As a result, Spoiled Beginnings, their new Costa Mesa baby furniture store, opens to the public Monday, April 6.
The store, conveniently located a half-mile from Hoag Hospital, will offer high quality furniture, with many brands currently only found in the Los Angeles area. Spoiled Beginnings will also carry strollers, luxury crib bedding, gliders, toys and gifts.
Ben’s prior employer closed its doors in late December, and soon after, Billie Jo’s employer of 10 years eliminated her position while she was on maternity leave with their newborn daughter.
The couple decided to seize an opportunity created by the struggling economy, and picked a field they know well from personal parenting experience with their own two small children. They felt they could relate to their customers, and pass on to other parents their own experiences with products they’ve been pleased with. “We know just how exciting it is for a couple to have a baby,” said Ben. “We want to share in their excitement and add to their fun.”
Some friends and family questioned the Spearings’ wisdom in risking a business startup in today’s economy. But the couple found leasing companies and property managers—also feeling the crunch—willing to work with them to acquire floor space. They say vendors and manufacturers, too, are willing to “bend” to get retailers to carry their products.
“Some people think we’re nuts for starting a business right now,” said Billie Jo, “but honestly, without this economy, we wouldn’t be able to fulfill this dream. The economy is exactly what is giving us this opportunity.”
Spoiled Beginnings will specialized in hard-to-find furniture brand names including Ragazzi, Nurseryworks, Litto Kids, and Argington, to name a few. The Spearings believe such quality products, plus the couple’s one-on-one customer service, is what will set them apart from other similar stores.
“Our selection of furniture is unique in itself, but we promise a completely different shopping experience than what you’re used to in the larger retail stores.” said Ben.
For further information, visit Spoiled Beginnings at 1584 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA. 92627 or at www.SpoiledBeginnings.com.

Orange County Newborn Photography - Newport Beach Newborn Photography

Orange County Newborn Photography ~ Newport Beach Newborn Photography

This sweet little one was a friend of a friends....
She definitely did not want to sleep - even for being less than a week old! The mom and dad were such troupers throughout the whole thing. Here are some of my favorites that I shot.

Laguna Beach Wedding - Tivoli Terrace Wedding Photography

Orange County Wedding Photographer ~ Orange County Wedding Photography

Here is the second wedding we did at Tivoli Terrace. This bride and groom were awesome. They seemed to be best friends with EVERYONE at their wedding. Not only the guests, but all the vendors too. :) I love it when the couples email me the week after the wedding - with photos to share from their honeymoon. :) The groom has a great passion for photography - so it's fun to "talk shop"

Love the shoes














The next three photos are of their guest singer for the ceremony/reception. Anyone recognize her? If you are a country fan - you will! It's Deana Carter (Strawberry Wine was a big hit for her).

Tivoli Terrace Wedding Photography - Laguna Beach Wedding

Orange County Wedding Photographer

We were lucky enough to do a wedding at Tivoli Terrace two weeks in a row! Here is the first weekend. They are teachers and soooo sweet! Lots of emotion at this wedding - I loved it! It was obvious how much they loved their parents too! I even asked the mom how to guarantee that her son loves her so much he lives close (for future reference!). :)

She got ready at The Tides in Laguna Beach








The first glance - love the shot Brian got!










If you can't tell from past posts - I love this door to the old Fire station.


Don Johnson (who in my opinion is the best officiant out there) and the groom giving fun looks before walking out for the ceremony.




My favorite shot of the day - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the look the brides dad is giving to his wife as their daughter walks away - now married.

Orange County Newborn Photography Session

Newport Beach Newborn Photographer
This little guy was SO adorable! I am late on posting - so he is probably a lot bigger now, but he was so squishy and cute! :) I am REALLY loving doing the newborn sessions lately - the first two weeks are awesome for photos!









The macro is fun too.

Newport Beach Childrens Photography - Balboa Beach

Can you get a cuter 6 month old? I don't know. She is pretty stinkin cute! Now if only she was sitting up by herself....that would have rocked the beach! At any rate - I still think we got some great stuff!



Want some candy at the candy shop - or a baby? :)


Her dad and mom are very good at this game if I remember correctly.


My Favorite:




And a quick snap of the three...

Orange County Engagement Photography Session - Newport Beach

Newport Beach Engagement Photography ~ Newport Beach Wedding Photography

This couple is SOOOO sweet and easy to photograph. We can't wait for their big day at the end of this year at Tivoli. We had lots of time to walk around - and got some fun shots. We started at the park - then headed down to the beach. Here are some of our favorites. :)

PS - For those that don't know - Brian has decided to help a lot more on the "business" side of the photography. He has always done the shooting - then I do the rest. This last week has been great, because he is dipping his toes into the editing process (which will save me a TON of time if he can master it well). :) Yeah for me! :) I'm super excited he has jumped on board.































I love how she is on her tippy toes!



And to top it off - the groom is actually 7' tall! How cool is that? :)

What do you do with your wedding images?

Newport Beach Wedding Photographer
Orange County Wedding Photographer

A few couples have been asking me lately what to do with their images after they have their album. Something Brian and I did that I like a lot was a Gallery Wrap Cluster. We picked three photos that we liked from our wedding (don't judge - it was almost 6 years ago!) and put them above our bed in the master bedroom.

I love when Tyler looks at the photos because he says - "mommy is a princess and daddy is a suit!" :) I think Brian must have said that he was wearing a suit - but that has turned into - daddy IS a suit. Gotta love two year olds! :)





We are offering Gallery Wrap Clusters to all our wedding couples at great prices. Email me if you have questions or want to get a quote! info@jennifergilmore.com

Last - this is a shot of Brian one morning. He thought he was being funny in daddy's wig from our 70's party - and my husband said it is an ode to one of our favorite DJ's...

Father's Day Update

While we were opening presents for Father's Day - my sister Julieanne brought out her gift for our dad. We have had a sugar cookie recipe in our family for years (since I can remember) that is delicious! She has taken it to a whole new level. She made a cookie bouquet for my mom on mother's day - and now this:





I keep telling her that she should sell them on etsy because I think people would buy them. What do you guys think? Would you buy them? If so - what do you think they would be worth?

I tried making some cake pops from Bakerella - learned a few things along the way. It's a trial run for a baby shower in a couple weeks. I will post how the real ones turn out - but they tasted super sweet!



Last - Tyler found this Dumbo costume and walked around all day in it. He was in heaven and VERY upset when I took him out of it and would not let him take it home.

Happy Father's Day

One day late -but none the less - Happy Father's Day to my loving husband and my own father! My dad is seriously the most awesome example of an amazing, charitable, giving, unselfish, creative, knowledgeable man. I hope my boys get some of his traits. :) As for my husband Brian - he is an awesome father to my three boys. He takes the older two fishing and to the park constantly. He gives them baths at night while I feed Cody and tells them creative make up stories (which they love). When they have bad dreams he is always there to say prayers with them to help them feel safe. He is not only a fun and loving father - but the spiritual leader of our home, which I am so grateful for. I love this man to pieces!

I can't believe I actually got one of all of them looking at the camera. They are HORRIBLE with taking photos - so I try not to take too many because it frustrates me to no end (being the mother and the photographer is tricky). This picture makes me melt and sums up everything to me. We brought them downstairs while playing with their cousins for a "quick photo." Tyler has one sock on and one sock off - because "it has yuckies on it." Brian loves his dad like no other - and I love how he is leaning in to him giving him a hug. Cody rocks! Although he is not smiling - he seriously is the best baby! (Thank goodness). Love that little guy!