1. Boo-yeah! I am so excited about Halloween tomorrow! Bree is finally of the age where she can go door-to-door with us and attempt to say “trick or treat!” while holding her little pumpkin basket. Oh, and this year, she can walk too, which is nice đ She was 4mo last Halloween so we just hung out around the neighborhood, stopping by a few houses with our niece and nephew and then spending the rest of the night handing out candy. I always love seeing the cute neighborhood kiddos come by all dressed up and getting so excited to pick their own candy (yes, we usually let them pick!). Even though Bree will be trick or treating, you and I both know that the loot she scores will primarily go to yours truly (#perkofbeingpregnant), and if Troy behaves then I will give him the Skittles, Starbursts, and other sour/fruity candy — his faves đ I plan on sharing photos of our adventures (as well as Bree’s super-cute, and yes — mocc-friendly costume!) on FB and Instagram if you want to follow along!
2. 55 Days… and only 8 more Thursdays until Christmas, y’all! Well, technically that would be seven Thursdays since Christmas is on a Thursday this year đ I am determined to do all shopping in advance this year too, most of which is happening via online shopping and personal projects that I have to execute. I am also determined to not spend an entire mortgage (or two) on presents this year. No. Matter. What. I am happy to say that with the exception of one or two very small things, Bree is done and Troy already has a good collection, and we have crossed a few other people’s gifts off our ‘to-buy’ list. Hooray! I stock up early when our favorite stores have incredible sales (like Target, who is doing FREE SHIPPING on every order right now, and many things are BOGO 50% off!) and signing up for their promotional emails is the best way to know when sales are coming. It’s annoying for my inbox, but it makes my wallet happy. And although we are typically big Black Friday shoppers, I will be very pregnant this year and am opting to stay home with a plate of pumpkin pie while Troy braves the crowds for the new TV he so badly wants đ Another option I noticed a few friends taking advantage of was layaway — such a great idea when you think of it! Load up on everything you want, don’t worry about hot items selling out, and pay over the course of the next 7 weeks instead of robbing Peter to pay Target the week before Christmas. I think this option would be phenomenal for parents with kids who are really into specific toys, video games, electronics, etc. Bree, luckily, has no clue about what/how much she is getting, and is happy with anything under the tree, so we are keeping it small this year. But I will definitely keep this option in mind in the future (especially when we have TWO kids to shop for…oh my). What are your favorite tips for Christmas shopping early/on a budget?
3. CDP News. Fall sessions are well under way and we only have about one more month left before I officially go out on maternity leave — eek! We are officially all booked up for this year, but if you are looking to add a session to your calendar for the first part of next year, let me know so you can lock in 2014 pricing! I will be out on leave the last few weeks before baby makes four (early January) and into February, just so ya know! Another great way to lock in 2014 pricing AND make someone’s day merry and bright is with a CDP gift certificate. I always get the best feedback from people who are gifted with a photo session and I think they are the PERFECT present (yes, I am totally biased) so if it’s something you may be interested in to help clear your gift list, shoot me an email! I would love to help you give such a fun and memorable gift to your loved one(s) đ
4. Thread Tune. I have to. It’s just too catchy. This week’s Tune is one of Bree’s favorite songs to wave her little hands and bounce up and down to: Shake It Off by T Swift. The video is equally as entertaining, so follow the link to check it out đ I dare you not to do a little shake when you listen!
5. Sneak Peek. Here is a little look at round 2 of our fall minis, hitting the blog next week!
