Orly's Baby Shower

Preparing for my sister's baby shower is something I have been looking forward to for a long time...like since I realized she wanted to have a baby a few years ago. My Mom and I started out with our usual planning conversations months ago and worked all week to make this as special for her as we could. Thanks to a lot of help from my aunt Joy and my grandmother Valentina, I think we pulled it off! We are so happy to have her home (permanently) on the West Coast with us and we really wanted to "shower" her with love and of course all the baby gear. Here is a peek at our beautiful afternoon. Oh...and how beautiful does she look? I mean, honestly! It's not even right! Who looks like that when they are 1 month away from giving birth?


 This is a gift for Orly & Mike that I have been working on for a long time. Doug and I were obsessive about saving everything from our boys and storing it. I was on a quest for a vintage trunk/chest for months and found this beautiful one at an estate sale. I had a plaque made with his name (Conor H. Murphy) and loaded the piece up with all of the Jack and Teddy's clothes and shoes that they have outgrown. It was a hit!




That is a cast of my belly in the background from when I was pregnant with Teddy. My very talented aunt Joy Blanchard made it.



Fab Solo Shoot


My good friend Dee called me up on Wednesday night and said
"Slim chance, but any way you might be available tomorrow night for quick shoot?"
She knew she had somewhere to go and would be looking her best so she wanted some pics of herself, we've all been there right?

I had no coverage for the boys and wasn't sure if I could pull it off.
However, I can never turn down an opportunity to photograph my favorite fashionista.
She is a ridiculously talented designer and blogger, and is in the know of all things "in."
Whether it be clothes, home design, places to go or foods to eat, You name it, Dee has her finger on the pulse.
Check her out at murphydeesign.com.

So I rolled over there (boys in tow) and we did the shoot as quickly as we could.
She said she was really uncomfortable "posing" and it made her feel awkward... "I am not model-y", she said.
But look at the results, you'd never know it!
We just walked around her neighborhood, no big sets or locations.
We got 118 great photos in a quick and painless 30 minutes.












Hallmark and the Noreen Fraser Fund

I was honored to be asked to share my personal story in beating breast cancer on Hallmark Channel's Show, Home & Family
I haven't been public about my journey, so this was a little out of my element... but I was honored to be there. 
The Noreen Fraser Foundation is such an amazing cause and the Home & Family crew couldn't have been more welcoming.
These photos were all taken with my sister's cell phone, but 
I will be posting more later so stay tuned!!




This was during the rehearsal. 
That is the makeup artist, Amy Rittiner, who gave me my "Spring Refresher."
She was such a sweetheart. 


This was just before the show went LIVE! 
They taped this episode with a Live Audience and we were on the Universal Lot, 
so every few minutes a tram of tourists on the Universal Studios Tour would drive by and stare :) 


Here is a bit from the interview segment. 
I had my very pregnant sister there with me for support!


Oh joy....A close up.


Amy working her magic.


And that's a wrap!! 
Thank you so much to the whole Home & Family crew, The Noreen Fraser Fund and Wet n' Wild Cosmetics for making this such a great day.