In With the NEW..

Soo... its official:) The tenth move is really happening..in only 2 more days!! We are all ecstatic!! Moving is the perfect opportunity to get rid of the things that cramp our closets and fill our drawers. I think the rule of thumb is that if you haven't worn it int the last 6 months...its time to recycle it.. If you are me, you try to find the prettiest clothes amidst the junk..and try to sell them! If you live here in the bay area, you probably know a little hidden gem that we like to call CROSSROADS....the words buy, sell and trade, always bring a smile to my face. I have been shopping at Crossroads since high school, and I am always so impressed by the things that I find. They will only buy clothes from you that are either a trendy brand name, have the original tags..are fashion forward and in season, or..are super vintage. I always try to sell my stuff there to justify buying myself something new. That last few times I have completely struck out, and didn't leave buying anything..but this time, I totally scored. My mom knows that I have been in a total fashion rut since I had Hayden..with just being between sizes, and just feeling I have nothing to wear. With all this packing, I pretty much separated half my existing clothes for goodwill...I was feeling the need to do a bit of "pruning" if you will, to my wardrobe. My mom and I celebrated a very belated mothers day by going to Crossroads and well, just going crazy. I found so many incredible finds..I was desperate for a few NEW splashes of color to my closets..here's what I brought home..compliments of "Mama D"..Thank you!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE all of these...I think I have worn flip flops every day for the last year..this will be a little party for me feet:)

So..I know last week I said I was going to make new hair clips with feathers...but I just didn't have time to make it to the crafts store, so instead, I decided to cut up, one of my old Holister jean skirts, an old striped maternity shirt..and the inside polka dot lining from the jean skirt, to make some new hair accessories. I used old clip on earrings from my Grandma Teresa for the jewels. I was given all her old jewelry when she passed away, and I try to use pieces here and there to remember her. She always had impeccable style:)

With all the NEW and pretty things to wear, I was feeling a bit antsy to change my hair. Since I know Jason would have a heart attack if I cut my hair short, I decided to compromise and cut some bangs...myself....with scrap booking scissors... they are so choppy..I keep telling myself that's the fad:) I always hate growing out bangs, that's why I never have them.. but they are fun..even if they are a bit crooked.
Its amazing how a few little changes for yourself can put a little spring in your step. Oh how I love being a girl..

Boy Crazy..

This weekend was different than most..Kyla was in Lodi at Jason's moms, so it was just me and the boys. There were no sounds of Dora echoing throughout the house..no strawberry Eggo waffles popping up in the toaster... no click-clacking of princess heels on the bamboo hardwood floor....The house was a bit quieter for a brief moment of time. Although we missed her terribly and talked about her incessantly,it was so nice to just be "all about my boys" for 2 days. We took Hayden to his first action movie.."Iron Man"..he did great..he seriously watched the whole thing...he was so fascinated by the bright lights..ok, or maybe it could have been Gweneth Paltrow..:) After that, we went out for lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery, drove by the new house we are going to move into, then went home, cuddled together on the couch, and watched Nacho Libre. With Hayden curled up on the boppy pillow, and Jason eating a bowl of soup by my side..everything in life was just perfect. As Jack Black wrestled in stretchy pants, I listened to the sounds of my husbands laugh, and my baby's snore..... and realized that I am not just in love with these two boys...I am simply CRAZY about them. I used to hate it when I was younger and people would say I was boy crazy... but I don't mind it so much now :) I just LOOVE my two boys..theres just no getting around it:)

The Price of a Feather..

Tonight I feel like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City....and NO....it's not because at the end of the day I am sitting in front of my computer trying to figure out men, or ranting of the hardships of being single in New York City..but because I had the sudden impulse to write about Fashion. Like I LITERALLY woke myself up out of bed because all I could think about was feathers. YES..FEATHERS. And why?? Because..even though I didn't want to..and everything in me told me not to...I went into Urban Outfitters today. I -LOVE-URBAN OUTFITTERS. I love it so much that I never go in..because I want everything. And I will never buy anything because most of the time it is something I could totally make myself...and it is way overpriced..It might not be overpriced for a normal person buying something..it may even seem cheap. But having a bit of back round in fashion..and an affinity for thrift stores..I KNOW that an old mans blue polyester vest, sewn together with a worn in yellow daisy blouse..with a bit of tailoring and ruffles...is not worth paying $68.00 for. I could go to savers and buy the same 2 pieces they used for less than $6.80. So no matter how much I love it hanging there on the rack..I will never buy it. Because I know I'm capable of making the same shirt.. the problem is I never get around to doing the project...so I never get my shirt!!
As I began to leave the store my eye caught a bundle of feathers on the accessory table. I knew it was trouble. I decided to torture myself and look at the jewelry anyways..well because, that's what girls do. I saw the cutest hair pieces I have ever seen. Most of them were tiny little hats with netting hanging down..kind of a throwback to the 40's style:)but they were made to be used as a hair clip, like on the side of your head.... But my favorite were these hair clips that were tiny bundles of Feathers with mini jewels on them. Some were very big bundles that were so over the top..which were just brilliant for nights you want big hair:)and don't lie...all girls want big hair..sometimes:) I thought I would just buy a tiny clip.. so I would leave with something to make me happy. But as I grabbed the tiniest bundle of feathery wonderfulness....I realized this hair clip with literally 3 feathers and 2 jewels on it..was $24.00. That's not even THAT expensive..but come on! I could buy like 10 feather boas and a bag of jewels for that price... And that is exactly what I am going to do. I used to make myself hair accessories almost every day when I was in high school. There is nothing I wouldn't hot glue to a headband or bobby pin. Silk flowers, fruit loops..you name it. It was in my hair. So I decided I am going to give myself one week to make a few hair accessories that will put Urbans accessories to shame. So hold me to it! By next Wed. I will post a few pics of my creations. I could use a jolt in my creativity and wardrobe. Being a mom definitely takes a toll on my fashion..I get so used to sweats and a wet pony tail on top of my head.(My husband is so sweet for putting up with seeing me like this for days on end). So I'm hoping to change all that soon, and letting days like today inspire me to do what I love..and that is to LOVE FASHION..and to simply create...anything!
Bag of feathers: $ 5.00
Case of Jewels: $ 4.25
6 pack of plain metal hair clips $3.75
Small bag of randomhousehold trinkets: $2.50
Having hair accessories that none else does: PRICELESS :)

Photo Shoot With Kristin and Michael..

Today I had the pleasure of photographing one of the cutest couples ever..I met Kristen through one of my best friends Amanda. She is so bubbly and fun... her energy is just contagious! Once I saw her and Michael together at Amanda's wedding I KNEW I just had to photograph them. They are so sweet together, and just so dang hard on the eyes ya know! :) Thanks to the both of you for reminding why I love my job...it hardly felt like work:) If anyone wants to see a few more pictures of them, you can go to my website www.ashleymaxwellphoto.com, click on the "clients" tab, and enter "ranch" for the password. The gallery takes a while to load and it uploaded backward, but it's still fun..

The Evolution of Moving..

Moving. Maybe you have done it once or twice in the last few years. Oh..3 times? really? Wow.. thats rough, you must be so glad to Finally be situated. Let me introduce you to my family. The Maxwells.. but we might as well change that name to the "Movers". We are PRO'S. Don't hire movers..hire us. We will get the job done:) Yes, my friends, and that's simply because.. we are about to do our 10th move in the 5 years we have been married. I've always loved those cute cards you send out to people when you have moved, and have a new address..the ones with a pretty little house on them...or even the really creative ones that are actually made out of cardboard from a moving box. Yes. They are cute. But only appropriate once...maybe twice. We lost our chance to send those out loooong ago:) If we tried to do that now, our friends probably wouldn't take them seriously, because they'd know that before they even had time to file that address in their laptop, or blackberry..our address would have probably changed again. Its not that we like moving..it really has been a matter of Neccessity 9 out of the 10 times. For those of you who might have missed a chapter or two of our lives..heres the rundown on how it happens..I will start from the beginning..

First move: THE LOFT:"We're getting married!!" Lets get a fun loft at Santana Row that is modern and funky and will be great for entertaining!!! Oh wait..even though there's only 2 of us..we have way too much stuff..lets move into a townhouse here instead!
Move #2: THE TOWNHOUSE: "Love it!!" We have so much more space..we are living above great shops and restaurants..there's always music playing downstairs that serenades us as we go to bed...its perfect!! Oh wait...are we crazy?? This is SOO expensive for just renting..we just got married..I'm thinking we need something a bit more modest for the budget...lets move into an apartment instead!
Move #3: The APARTMENT: "They Take dogs!!" It's perfect for us! It has a loft, but also 2 bedrooms..pet friendly..feels kinda urban being next to downtown..so US...But hmmm..let's do something crazy..let's brake our lease, move to VEGAS..get a cheap house..and just have an adventure. YEAH. Let's do it..we have family out there. (This was the only move, not out out necessity:)
Move #4: THE APARTMENT IN THE MEAN TIME TIL WE CAN BUY A HOUSE..IN VEGAS: "We will only be here for a while". Its totally in the boon docks, but close to the housing development we want to buy in...Gosh..its so hot here..I'm feeling kinda claustrophobic in here..why are there always police cars here for our neighbors? Are those helicopters flying over our apartments because they are looking for someone? Is that a S.W.A.T team I see out the blinds? Honey, I don't really feel safe here...we aren't going to buy that house down the street anyways...LETS MOVE...maybe to a nice neighborhood.
Move #5: THE JERSEY SHORE HOUSE: " It's soo cute!" and it has 4 bedrooms, and its all ours!! Lets stay here forever, I love it. We have enough room for a family here:) Lets have a baby!!! 9 months later.........Its a girl:) Lets name her Kyla..lets paint her room pink, and the ceiling blue...This is our first real house as a family!!...but it still doesn't feel quite like home. Vegas doesn't feel like home. I miss our friends in the Bay area..Lets move back..and as Jason always says.."OK Honey"..we will move..I will pack up our lives in boxes..again:)
Move#6: KATHERINE CT. HOUSE: "I love the Rose Garden"..this house is a steal for what they are renting it for. Great neighbors..close to Santana Row for work..it's Charming. We've been here for over a year, and we will definitely stay for another!!! But..what?...you want to sell it? You want how much for that tiny little thing?? Are you serious?? We have to move right now? Where are we going to go so fast? There aren't any houses available in the area..and we are SO over apartments!!! What Honey??? Lodi??No way! I could NEVER live in Lodi....never!!
Move #7: THE CONVERTED GARAGE-HOUSE IN LODI: " This is so nice of your mom to let us stay here". Its nice being on the same property as your mom, and seeing the town that you grew up in...big backyard for Kyla..lots of home cookin by your mom...we are saving lots of money..we don't have a ton of space..but that's okay, I'm sure you will find a job that you like out here...then we will really be saving lots of money. Oh..and honey..P.S..Im pregnant again. We need more space. Target wants to hire you in san Jose to manage the store? You start on Monday? Awesome..Lets move back.
Move # 8: THE CONDO: "What a blessing". It was a quick process..easy move. It's brand new..so nice..who cares that it has 3 levels with a million stairs..it's close to EVERYTHING we need and love. Kyla is down the street from her best friend..walking distance to Starbucks and dog park..We finally found a place that feels "right"...and the baby's crib will even fit perfectly in our room. Wait...you got a call from who? The landlord? He can't afford the condo anymore and has to put it on the market tomorrow? WHAT!! We have only been here 6 months!! We just finally finished decorating.. it looks perfect! I'm having a baby in like 5 weeks!!! Where the heck are we going to move in such a short time? I can't even help you move.. I can barely bend over!!! We have been staring at Craigslist for last 2 weeks..there's no houses available..and we have too much stuff to move back into an apartment.
Move # 9 THE GARFIELD HOUSE: "Don't let the name fool you..it's an apartment all right". Lets just say I have never been so sure I have wanted to move again until I came here. There are pretty much 3 main reasons for wanting to move..and baby, they are good. One-it's crazy loud. We are talking about hearing every footstep, sigh, breathe, and stomach gurgle that comes out of our neighbors. We have to turn up the volume on our t.v at least 10 decibels when someone else uses their toilet, sinks or showers. It's THAT loud. And if you have been to our house, you will know I'm not exaggerating. Two- There's no cell phone reception in our unit..for reals. That is why I don't answer your calls my dear friends!!! And if I do, I'm usually huffing and puffing because I had to run down the street just so I can hear you clearly. I'ts so unprofessional for me to drop 8 calls in a row with a client:) Moving on:) Three- There's no space. All you have to do is walk in and you will see. No,... the mountain bike, radio flyer wagon, 2 car seats, 2 camera cases, 3 diaper bags, 4 coats and 10 pairs of shoes in the entry way are NOT a decoration. There is simply no rightful place for them. They have no space to call home. It's as simple as that. Its claustrophobic chaos. Need I say more? we are so OUTIE:)

Which brings me to what I believe will be... move #10: THE SCORE: "It was destiny".It came out of no where!! We ran into some great family friends downtown Willow Glen on one of out after dinner family walks (yesterday). We were joking around about how we don't like our current living situation..and they informed us that they had a good friend that was renting out a HOUSE in the area..for a great price. Jason and I's eyes lit up like we were little kids seeing Santa for the first time or something. I called the lady as soon as I got her number this morning..and we met her and her husband at the house just hours later. It was perfect. A 3 bedroom-2bath house with a huge backyard with a covered patio and LOTS of space for us to put in plants of our own, and room for Kyla to RUN and RUN and RUN. It has a 2 car garage with lots of space. Great lighting in the house, lots of new renovation, great landlords, great price. But ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls...the BEST thing about this house, well yes, that is available, but is that the couple is NEVER intending to sell this house..which means, that if they like us, and we are great tenants..is that we will NEVER have to move!!! Well..they said they will keep the house until they die..so lets just pray they stay healthy:) No really, but we could stay until we want to buy a house somewhere.. ( They had the last family in for 10 years). They are such a sweet, amazing couple, and they said they would love us to move in. We are going to sign papers tomorrow and drop them off..so lets just pray it goes well. This could be a house we can grow in, and truly plant some roots in. I would love to end this on going saga of moving that we have built up over the years..because truthfully..MAMA IS TIRED! I want to kick up my feet, make some lemonade..and actually entertain some friends at my house..have BBQ's..movie nights ...just celebrate like newlyweds do when they get their first "Place" of their own. So what if that was 5 years ago for us..I am going to pretend like then is now...because I really feel like this is going to be "HOME" for us for a long while... So if and WHEN we move into this new house, we are going to invite "ALL of Y'ALL" over..and we are going to celebrate...So be looking for your invite..it will be one of those cute little cards with a house on it...:)

-So until then..feel free to send over any boxes you got....cuz the Maxwells-are-a-movin:)-

The Hannah Mae Song..

In our house there is a little song my daughter Kyla likes to sing..and that is the Hannah Mae Song. It simply consists of saying " Hannah Hannah Hannah Mae..." about a million times in a soft gentle voice...she loves it cuz she is so proud of herself that she made it up:) Hannah Mae is Landons little sister. (who is pictured here.)Any of you who are in our lives, know that Landon is Kyla's best friend
in the whole world. There is NOTHING she would rather do, than to be with Landon. Whether it is finding snails, playing on the trampoline, sharing graham crackers, or talking about getting married someday (for reals)..they are truly inseparable. (it's no wonder she adores his baby sis).I had the pleasure of photographing Hannah at their house while babysitting all the kids one day..and I have to say..the trick to making this blue eyed doll smile? Why yes darling....the Hannah Mae song:)She is truly precious..these are a few I just loved..

About a Boy..

I decided to post a few pictures of our sweet little Hayden. Today was the first day I managed to catch a small smile from him on camera..just priceless. I forgot how much joy you get from hearing a new baby making a cooing sound or flashing a quick smile...because they get a few months old and it seems pretty normal for them to do that all day long. But for now, I am enjoying the small wonders of our baby boy..and the moments he decides to grace us with a coo and not a cry:) He is just beautiful..I just adore him.

Muse Worthy

I am a firm believer that everyone has a muse, whether they know it or not. Someone that inspires you, where all you have to do is be with them and the wheels in your head start turning. I would like to introduce you to my friend Emily. Or as we call her in our house "Heidi, Giselle, Marissa Miller.." or, just our supermodel. You will see Ems face all over my website. She is like the ultimate girl next door who has no idea how gorgeous she is. Even though she hears it all the time. She is one of the most grounded and genuine [people I know. I love it when she does something new with her hair or goes a few shades tanner. I'm like "YESSSSS...I can take pictures of you again, and maybe no one will recognize you and I can use your images over and over!" Em..for the last time..when are you going to become a BRUNETTE! :) Anyways..I always have such a fun time with Em when we go out, she is always willing to be goofy and dance around and get her clothes dirty. Speaking of dirty..this shoot that I did with her is something I am trying to promote with my brides..going out AFTER the wedding, when theres no time constraints, and they don't mind gettin the wedding dress a little dirty. A fun time to kick up their feet, let their hair get messy and get some great shots in that dress they spent half their wedding budget on. Not everyone gets to say they wore their wedding dress twice:) So here are a few fun shots that I didn't post on my website or myspace....but were just oh so MUSEWORTHY.

xoxo, Gossip Girl...

Have you seen the show? Read the book? Me neither..until recently when my friend Tina forwarded a few pictures to me of a dress she saw on the show that she just had to have. She is graduating from Brooks Institute for photography in August, and wanted to wear this dress for her graduation.
Only problem is, the designer, Lorick..only made the dress for the show. Soo, I am going to try to re-create it for her.. I told her I haven't done a sewing project in like a year..but if it had simple lines and sturdy fabric..I'd be on board. So we went shopping for fabric and decided on doing it in some super soft denim that we found..figured it would be pretty timeless, and she could wear it with a number of things. I'm so excited to do it..I will keep pictures posted of the progress!

And P.S the show has a little more drama than I care to enjoy, however, the clothes are fabulous..I can appreciate trying to accesorize with a school uniform..takes me back to Jr. High days when I would get in trouble for wearing socks that were considered to be "too distracting" or thigh highs that screamed "MTV". I guess it was worth the time in detention for the sake of fashion:)

Sugar Pie Honey Bunch...

Here are a few pics that my dear friend Tina took of my sweet Kyla last month at the ranch...Can't believe this silly girl is MINE ALL MINE:)

The plunge..

I have to say that I have been a bit apprehensive about doing a blog..I've convinced myself that you have to actually have interesting things to say, and be good with words to make be a successful blogger. I've been scared to start one because I am the person that will write a blog on myspace....then take it down 5 minutes later because I think I sounded dumb..and I prayed no one was bored enough to read it.. But somehow when I have a few minutes when the kids aren't needing me and I'm on the computer with nothing to look at, I check two peoples blogs. 2 girls I don't even know, but who are both photographers, like myself, who's blogs are always so interesting. I actually find myself disapointed when they dont have a new post.The first being Raya, who photographed one of my best friends weddings (Emily-who I like to call my supermodel..and muse:) Raya has such a great eye for design, and always has little sewing projects thats shes doing, and cute pictures of her new baby. The other is a photographer named Tanja Lippert. I have never met her, but she takes some of the most amazing pictures, very fashion forward ( I think she used to be a model, so she has lots of beautiful friends to pose for her:) Anyways...I always think that I'm so crazy that I LOVE reading these 2 blogs and how I enjoy following the random details of their lives, and I thought..what the heck..maybe someone out there will find my blog and it might be interesting to them...or it could be for my dear friends who want to see what it is that I'm up to since I don't get cell phone reception in my house...either way..Todays the day for me to get over my fears of online journaling and to take the plunge..yay for blogging:)