I know it’s not Friday, but whatever!  🙂  Last November my friend Kristina hooked me up with a really awesome client, Katherine. Not only was her son adorable and house beautiful, but she was a really fantastic person to just hang out and chat with. I immediately loved being around her and it was very easy to picture just sitting with a cup of coffee and chatting. Then I learned that topping it all off, she owned a VERY cute boutique up in the Beacon Hill section of Boston called Flat of the Hill. They carry a wide assortment of gifts for people from (seriously awesome) purses to beautiful jewelry, to little baby gifts to soaps and lotions. Basically if there is a female (or baby) in your life that you need a gift for for some occasion, I can guarantee you will find something at this store! Katherine has a fan page on Facebook for her business and I *highly* suggest becoming a fan of it! They advertise great sales on there and if you ever need a gift (or just need some retail therapy), you will find something that you just need there!

She can be found on the web at:
Flat of the Hill

and on Facebook at:
Flat of the Hill – Facebook Fan Page

Well it is upon us.  My absolute favorite time of year.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE March Madness.  I can sit happily on my couch for hours at a time not moving, watching all of the games.  (And plan to do exactly that this year!!)  As such, and because I am an SU grad and am even MORE excited for this year’s tourney, I decided to put together a little March Madness Promo for all of my clients.  Now, this promo is contingent on two things:

1) What number seed Syracuse gets.
2) How far they go in the tournament!!!

March Madness Promo Part 1:

If Syracuse receives a #1 seed in the tournament, the session fee for anyone booking a session by the end of the tournament (April 5, 2010) will be $100 instead of $200

If Syracuse receives a #2 seed in the tournament, the session fee for anyone booking a session by the end of the tournament (April 5, 2010) will be $150 instead of $200 They got a #1 seed!

March Madness Promo Part 2:

For every round that Syracuse advances in the tournament, I will give a 5% discount on whatever you purchase after your session.

Syracuse made it to the Round of 32 before losing so discounts for all session purchases are 10%

Fine Print:

• The session fee discount will be valid only for anyone who books a session before April 5, 2010.
• The discounted purchase prices will be valid for any sessions held in April, May or June of this year.  The session must be held in April, May or June and will expire after June 30, 2010.
• This promo is not valid for gift certificates
• Have fun, enter and GO CUSE!!!!!!!

I  debated on writing something or not but I finally decided to.  I held this contest in good fun with other photographers across the country.  We thought it would be a fun idea in a typically slow season to let people show off their nurseries, no matter the style, cost or anything else.  How many people don’t enjoy seeing nurseries??  It is usually the room in the house you put the most blood sweat and tears into.  I planned my nursery almost as much as my wedding I think when I was expecting Nolan!  It is a chance to plan a room for a baby that you have created – this little being that is literally a part of you.  It doesn’t matter how much money you spend or not.  It doesn’t matter if you spend hours handpainting something or peel off a decal and place it on the wall.  There is no difference in the amount of love and thought put into it.

I was very sad to see that it turned into a “handmade” vs “store bought” discussion.  That was NEVER the intention in this.  For one, unless you know the person who created the room then you have no idea how much that person spent or didn’t how much they painted or didn’t, who they hired or didn’t.  Whether the dresser came from Craigslist or the Land of Nod.  Whether the molding was installed or came with the house.  For another, ALL of these rooms were created with love and time and effort from the parents and I think that got lost somewhere in the comments.  It was disheartening to see any of the participants having to defend their nursery.  You should never have to feel as though you need to defend something you have created for someone else.  The money doesn’t matter.  We have all heard the phrase “It’s the thought that counts.”  And I think this needs to be kept in mind when looking at something like this.  The rooms were AMAZING.  And that was all I was looking for – cute awesome nurseries.  Thank you SO much to all of you who entered, I (and SO many others) greatly enjoyed seeing your rooms!!!

-Amy

Just a reminder that voting will continue through midnight Saturday the 13th.  So that means there are approximately 36 hours left to submit your vote!  We are over 1000 votes already!!!  It’s become a pretty tight race between two of the nurseries so get those votes in!

-Amy