hocus outta focus

Eye Candy Overload

I love my winter break! It's the time of year when I unwind, reorganize, recharge and fill my heart and soul with inspiration. You all know I love vintage shopping and I've done my share of that this winter.

My latest obsession - Pinterest. Unlike other social media, it's mostly visual rather than 'who's doing what'. Pinterest lets you create virtual bulletin/inspiration boards, follow the boards of others and "re-pin" what they've pinned to their boards. Not only can you create and follow these inspiration boards you'll find the links to where it all comes from. I've discovered so many new blogs and sites I've never ever heard of. My head is spinning. In a good way. I've got boards for photography, food, fashion, interior design, quotes, do-it-yourself projects and more.

Here are just a few of the visual treasures I've found on Pinterest.

via so adorable

via casasugar

(source unknown-bummer)

via etsy

via the life of polarn per

And I've just barely dug in. The eye candy is un-ending. Follow me on Pinterest to see what catches my eye next! But don't say I didn't warn you.

Happy pinning!

H

Dance It Out, Player

For years my gangster shirt has been a favorite - a real conversation starter.  Especially when I forget I have it on and show up to help out at my daughter's school.  Nice, huh?  Where's my mom of the year award?  I also have a DAMN, IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A GANGSTER sticker on my laptop.  It gets quite a few giggles and smiles and an occasional thumbs up from across the coffee shop when I'm out and people stop to read it.  

A while back The Smash Site changed their name to Raygun and they have a couple of news shirts that might just be my new faves.

Dance It Out, Bitch. 

I'm Not A Player, I Just Blog A Lot.

I think I'll be ordering these soon!

Salt & Prep | A Fashion Blog for Teens

These days I'm head over heels for the teen fashion blog Salt & Prep.  It's the genius creation of Seattle's Michelle Moore, who happens to be one of my absolute favorite photographers.  Salt & Prep highlights current trends, provides inspiration for your own senior portraits and shows off real senior sessions from photographers all around the world.

I'm honored to have a couple of my images featured in a recent style post on Salt & Prep.  When Katie pulled out her oxfords before our session I literally squealed with excitement. No lie!  Right, Katie?

According to Salt & Prep oxfords are "like the grown up version of the Converse/Vans trend" and that just makes me smile. 

I'll be sharing more images from Katie's session soon, but in the meantime check a few of my favorite posts at Salt & Prep.

Suspender Chic

Ballerina, Soft and Edgy

Rebel in Florals

The Only Etsy Stores You'll Ever Need  

Happy Sunday!

H

Brain Purge

So much on my mind tonight, but it's all just kind of running together so here goes...

Last week Chris and I celebrated our eighth anniversary.  We had lunch at Classic Cup where I really would have fought him for the last bite of Goat and Garlic (but being the great husband he is, he let me have it).  It's a roasting of goat cheese and garlic, served with a spicy tomato sauce and olive oil bruschetta.  It's one of our favorite appetizers in all of Kansas City.

After lunch we stopped by the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

We both loved David Bates : The Katrina Paintings.  Admission is free and it's a great, little afternoon getaway to help you beat the heat.  

And speaking of beating the heat...we also visited Glacé Artisan Ice Cream, the newest venture of famed Kansas City chocolatier Christopher Elbow.  I could have sampled every flavor and I think they actually would have let me, but I settled on Fleur de Sel Caramel and Salted Pretzel.  Chris had the Venezuelan Dark Chocolate and the surprisingly sophisticated Peanut Butter and Jelly.  I wasn't expecting to like that one, but it was incredible! 

To celebrate Father's Day we spent a few days camping at Crawford State Park.  Stop trying to wipe the smudges from your screens, people.  This is not a typo.  I camp.  In a tent.  Outside.  For real.  And I'll swear on the last bite of Goat and Garlic.  It was crazy hot, but we had a good time.  It's always nice to get away and just spend time together.

My birthday is coming up and I like to start celebrating early.  What better way to celebrate than to buy myself an early birthday gift, right?  I ordered this gorgeous necklace from CuteAbility.  You can't tell in this image, but it's on a 24 inch chain and she's going to add two more chains to bulk it up a bit.  I've already started planning an outfit around the necklace.  Everyone knows the foundation of every great outfit is either shoes or jewelry!  Can't wait for it to arrive.  Will post a pic of the final piece when it comes. 

And tonight, I had my first Mexican Coke, which may explain why I'm so wound up.  How have I, Heather Morrow who speaks to NO ONE until she's had a Coke in the morning, never had a MEXICAN Coke?  Have you tried it?  It's like Heaven in a bottle.

Oh, and P.S. - I hate raccoons.  Before my fast, little fingers could click the publish button I heard a noise coming from my back yard.  I swear I heard my patio furniture moving around and then I heard glass break.  HELLO, FULL ON FREAK OUT!!!  The husband is on duty and the kids are at grandma's so I called 911.  The three officers that responded found two raccoons had moved a wrought iron table on the back porch to get to the glass jar where we keep our cat food.  They knocked the jar down the stairs and were enjoying a lovely, late night meal while I was inside having a heart attack.  EFFING RACCOONS! 

I'll be sharing a couple of recent sessions this week so stay tuned.

I Heart Sparkly Stuff

Most of what I've been blogging lately is stuff I shot last fall, but never got around to posting during the madness of the holidays.  These were shot for Her Life Magazine. 

The jewels from Tivol, Especially Jewelry and The Polished Edge were TO DIE FOR!  And I got to shoot The Fabulous Wannette, from Exposure, Inc.  I'd been wanting to shoot her forever and we had a blast.  Can't wait to shoot her again.  (Call me next time you're in town, lady!)




I told you they were gorgeous!  Now wipe the drool from your chin and get back to what you were doing. 

Until next time,
H

Ice Cream and Firefighters

Who doesn't love ice cream and firefighters? 


The Morrows do!  And come to think of it, I don't think I've ever met a firefighter who doesn't love ice cream.  I'll ask Chris, but I'm pretty sure that's a job requirement.  Must be able to endure deadly temperatures.  Must be able to carry a 200 pound man from a burning building.  Must love ice cream.      
Stop by Baskin-Robbins, for 31 CENT SCOOP NIGHT in honor of America's Firefighters.  On Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 5pm to 10pm participating stores will reduce prices of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents and Baskin-Robbins will make a $100,000 donation to the NVFC National Junior Firefighter Program.  And at some locations you may also have an opportunity to make a donation to local fire charities.

So, take your family out Wednesday night and support two things I truly love.  Ice cream and firefighters.

Not that anyone would need a reminder to go eat ice cream...but just in case you're not quite as die hard as me, you can text SCOOP to 31310 and they'll send a reminder to your cell phone.  How cool is that? 

Peace, love and mint chocolate chip!
H

Cleaning Up The Coffee

You'll have to excuse me while I wipe my grande non-fat caramel latte from my computer screen.  You'd think I'd know by now.  After reading her blog for so long I should see it coming. 

If you've ever had a conversation with me about blogs you've heard me talk about Heather Armstrong (aka Dooce).  She's got to be one of the funniest people EVER!  And not only is she funny...she's wife, she's a mom, and just like all of us (don't lie, everyone has them) she's got issues.  But she's not afraid to talk about them.  In a hilariously funny spit-your-coffee-on-the-screen kind of way.

I just found out Dooce is working on a new project that I find incredibly entertaining and also quite informative.  Here's one clip from the project called momversation.

For all the moms who read my blog you MUST and I mean MUST (said with at least 14 syllables like they taught me in Texas) leave this blog now and go visit momversation.com.

Then come back here and tell me how freaking funny it is and that you're just as addicted to it as me.  In other words come back here and make me feel better about my issues. 

Happy Saturday!
H

ROCK ON Update : Beth Foraker on Fox 4

For some reason I always miss the Her Life Magazine segments that air on Fox 4 News at noon on Mondays, but I'm so thankful for the genius that is the internet.

Fox 4 put today's segment on their website so check out the interview with Beth Foraker (also known as David Cook's mom).

It's so crazy to see my cover shots on TV!  Beth looked amazing and gave a great interview.  I admire her so much for her dedication to her children.  She's such a loving, supportive mom. 

ROCK ON!

I don't know many people in Kansas City that weren't completely hooked on the last season of American Idol.  And for very, very good reason.  Two words, people.  DAVID. COOK.

My family and I were parked in front of the TV twice a week rooting for Kansas City's own as he sang his heart out to become the next American Idol.  Both Rilee and Lucee were completely smitten with him.  It was not unusual to see them walking around the house jamming with their toy guitar and microphones pretending to be David Cook.

So, naturally when I got the call that I would be shooting David and Andrew Cook and their mom, Beth Foraker for Her Life Magazine the first thing I did was call my kids.  I spoke to Rilee and this was our conversation.

ME:  Hey, Roo!  Guess who I get to take pictures of? 

ROO: (silence)

ME:  I'll give you a hint. He was on a TV show.  On a show that we....

ROO:  Uh, I knooooooooow mom.  David Cook.  

She tried to act all un-impressed, but deep down I knew she was.  In fact, when I picked her up at Grandma's house after the shoot the first thing she said when I walked in the door was, "Mom, can I see the pictures you took of David Cook?"

So, here they are.   This first series was shot right after an enormous wall mural was dedicated to David in downtown Blue Springs.  It was such a cool thing to see - a very emotional day for David and his family.  David took time to talk to so many fans and friends and sign autographs that day.  We had just a few minutes to shoot, but both David and Andrew turned it on for the camera.  They were quite comical and so, so sweet to their mom who is clearly so proud of both of her boys.

 
And a few images from Beth's cover shoot.  Isn't she gorgeous?  And how perfect is this Rock and Roll Mom tee she found at Style and Grace? 


Check out the November issue of Her Life Magazine for the full story on Beth Foraker and her family's American Idol journey. 

And be sure to grab a copy of David Cook's new CD available at Amazon.com. 

ROCK ON!
H

Oh, Crop!

My latest visit to cafepress.com has refueled my obsession with funny t-shirts.  

You all remember the DAMN, IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A GANGSTER shirt, right?  It's totally my favorite and I wear it all the time.  Just ask Jennifer Mullinax.  I showed up to shoot her family having forgotten that I had it on.  Thank goodness we're friends and her kids aren't old enough to read yet!  A couple of my other faves are NO, REALLY. I JUST LOOK LIKE HER and I HAVE ISSUES.

But these are also up there on my list of favorites. 



and last but not least...this one is sooooooo inappropriate, but Good Lord I love it anyway!

The writing is really small, but it says, PHOTOSHOP WHORE.  [insert evil, inappropriate laugh here...]