Its that time of the year again. It’s hard to believe its the 6th year of our annual holiday tradition of “feet” Christmas cards. It has become quite the tradition.

What started as a 10 minute, simple portrait session, has now turned into a full blown different-destination-each-time-pick-your-clothes-six-months-early-highly-anticipated-published-in-a-photo-magazine-photo-session.

Can we say stress?! Well, to date we have survived each year and although it takes much planning, it has been so worth it.

Things worth noting:

1) It has been SO fun to see our kids grow through the series. We started when Gray was just 6 months old. She is now 5-and-a-half and Campbell turns 2 in January. Tears!

2) The photo destinations! We used to live in Orlando, then we moved to Chattanooga. I am from Charleston, SC, and Asheville, NC, was a random choice. Hmmm, where should we go next?

3) Our photographers! Long time friend, Paul who lives in FL. And wedding clients turned friends, Brandy and Sticky, who we also photograph their session. Both have been so patient with us and lots of fun!

4) Our change in style. Someone told us they noticed the change especially in Garrett’s shoes. Hehehe.

For years people have asked what and where do we buy Gray’s clothes for the session (part of the inspiration for the out & about series on this blog) as well as many of our portrait clients ask where to shop and what to wear for clothes for THEIR holiday family photos. So, in addition to reminiscing over our 6 year card tradition, I will also mention some of the clothes info.

out & about family!

2005 in Winter Park, FL (Photo by Paul Martin)

Graycen’s coat and pants: Gap Kids

Garrett’s jeans: Gap

Garrett’s shoes: Kohl’s

Joy’s pants and shoes: Banana Republic

2006 in Winter Park, FL (Photo by Paul Martin)

Gray’s coat, jeans, and shoes: Gap Kids

Garrett’s shirt: English Laundry

Garrett’s jeans: Diesel

Garrett’s shoes: we can’t remember!?!?!?

Joy’s top: Modern Grace Boutique (College Park in Orlando, FL)

Joy’s jeans: Diesel

Joy’s sandals: Marie-France Boutique (Thornton Park in Orlando, FL)

2007 in Winter Park, FL (Photo by Paul Martin)

(Note: Just came back from visiting Europe: Paris, Aberdeen, and Lake Como, Milan. We had to go shopping!)

Gray’s hat and dress: Bonpoint (Paris, France)

Gray’s shoes and leggings: H&M Kids (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Garrett’s shirt and jeans: Zara

Garrett’s shoes: Bagatt (Milan, Italy)

Joy’s dress: Zara

Joy’s shoes: Bagatt (Milan, Italy)

2008 in Chattanooga, TN (Photo by Brandy and Sticky Rammel)

Gray’s shirt, shorts, tights: Zara Kids

Gray’s shoes: Gap Kids

Garrett’s shirt: 7 Diamonds

Garrett’s jeans: Guess

Garrett’s shoes: Steve Madden

Joy’s maternity dress: due maternity (Buckhead in Atlanta)

Joy’s shoes: Michael Kors from Nordstrom’s

2009 in Charleston, SC (Photo by Brandy and Stick Rammel)

Gray’s dress: bebe children’s boutique (Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL)

Gray’s headband: crewcuts

Gray’s shoes: Gap Kids

Campbell’s dress and sweater: Gap Kids

Campbell’s tights: crewcuts

Campbell’s hair clip and shoes: Pediped shoes, WiggleWorm children’s boutique (Chattanooga, TN)

Garrett’s sweater and blazer: Banana Republic

Garrett’s jeans: Guess

Garrett’s shoes: Robert Wayne

Joy’s dress: Anthropologie

Joy’s sweater: Express

Joy’s shoes: Aldo

Stay tuned for our 2010 photos in Asheville, NC!

A friend recently posted on Facebook, wondering about the length of time and planning required for a holiday portrait session. Garrett responded after a few fun comments so I wanted to include it here below:

You should start in the summer sometime. This is assuming that you update your wardrobe on a somewhat regular basis. Don’t go out specifically looking for holiday picture outfits, or you will be angry and frustrated. Months in advance, keeping in mind the ages/sizes of your children, when the right outfit jumps out at you get it and don’t look back.

You may have to invest more money than you wish. But you will look back on these pictures for your entire life, and when children are young, they change and grow and develop every year. In a portrait, often the subject’s personality is revealed in their outfit as much as it is in their face. In our family (my current immediate family) the holiday picture is a standard by which we look back upon. Of course I realize my perspective is different.

Once you have identified that “it” outfit for whomever is the lucky person, you can begin looking for outfits for the rest of the family that compliment. As a photographer my suggestion is to compliment, not match. People often make this much harder than it really is. If you want the children to stand out, put them in something that will stand out against what the parents are wearing.

Last year I found a great knit dress for Gray when I was working in Orlando. We dressed the rest of us around it and everything came together quite easily. This year was a little bit harder. We had a great dress for Gray from France that we got several months back, but we weren’t  sure if it was the right one for the holiday picture. A few weeks ago in Orlando I found a really chic little dress for Campbell and it compliments Gray’s dress perfectly. It also provides good contrast, so they should photograph well together. Joy and I were a bit harder to outfit, but it’s more about the kids anyway. Of course it’s important to pay attention to shoes and accessories, as they can make a huge difference in making the scene look “finished.”

If you’re struggling try reading magazines. Sad to say, I read Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire on a regular basis. Hey, it’s part of my job…kind of. Vogue Bambini and Milk are also great kids fashion mags. When you look at their editorial shoots you’ll see how easy it really is to coordinate subjects. The obvious constraint is budget, which we all have to consider. It’s easy to go overboard….don’t!

Final suggestion, hire a good, patient photographer who “gets it.”   ;-)

And don’t forget the fabulous giveaway (which ends TONIGHT at midnight ET) from Envelopments here on the blog. All you have to do is comment and you get a chance to win 3 beautiful sets of notecards! Details HERE.

Greetings from Asheville!

I am so excited to be back since we used to visit all the time. I went to an awesome boarding academy here for my senior year in high school and loved it! We are here for our annual holiday family photo session. More on our 6-year family tradition later. We met up with fellow photographers and close friends, Brandy and Sticky from Ohio for our annual fun holiday photo sessions and Garrett photographed them on Monday. We ate at Suwana’s Thai Orchid that night. Really good Pad Thai!

Afterwards, we met up to go to the Candlelight Christmas Evenings at the Biltmore Estate. We had visited there  12 years ago in the daytime but this was the first time for the Christmas show and for the girls. I have heard so many great things about it and WOW, they really transform this gorgeous home. We could not take any photos inside so the above photo was the view of what we first saw driving in…(photo from Google Images). I was in awe walking into the estate and the decor was quite impressive. One really awesome memory which stood out was the 35 ft. Douglas Fir Christmas tree in the dining room with all the huge wrapped presents under it! There was a choir singing and Christmas trees in almost every room. The whole thing from the decor to the customer service was top notch. It is a MUST do for the holidays especially if you are nearby!

Today was our actual photo session. The girls LOVE Brandy and Sticky (so do we!) and its always a ton of fun hanging out with them. They just announced some awesome news and we couldn’t be happier for them!

I will refrain from telling you what outfits the girls wore…watch for a separate post on that :)

We went to lunch at Tupelo Honey Cafe. I had grilled cheese, tomato soup, and mac n cheese. YUM. No worries, I shared with one of our girls ;) They also serve breakfast all day, my kind of place. Too bad I had already eaten breakfast at our hotel.

When you purchase tickets to the Biltmore Estate, you also have a pass to the new Antler Hill Village, (photo credit, Romantic Asheville) among other places.

LOVED. THIS. PLACE. Especially our girls. It consists of shops, restaurants, entertainment, a farm, winery, and more. Very kid-friendly and even though it was raining, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

We fell in love with Antler Hill Farm. Above photo, Gray was petting the sheep: Mia, Ma, and Mini! She was especially intrigued by the blacksmith demonstration.

There were old-fashioned toys in the stables and all around the farm for kids to play. SO. FUN.

Here is the perfect description of it from Romantic Asheville:

“With the reorganization of the Antler Hill Village area, the entire farm is more convenient to explore. The farm offers a glimpse back at Biltmore’s agricultural past. Traditional farming demonstrations take place in the Barn, including authentic blacksmithing by local craftsman Doc Cudd. The Farmyard continues to house animals that children love, and the Kitchen Garden is now a demonstration area showcasing fragrant herbs and vegetables used in Biltmore’s restaurants. “

Above, Gray and Campbell exploring the Kitchen Garden even though you can’t see it.

We loved it so much, we got season passes to the Biltmore Estate and all it comes with! (Its only $25 more per person to upgrade…kids 16 and under are free!) It is a good thing we have family moving to Asheville within the next few months :)

If you have never been to the Biltmore Estate, you need to go! Here is an excellent website for more tips and information!

This evening we stumbled upon this gem of a place to eat: Posana Cafe in the heart of downtown Asheville. Not only was the meal fantastic, (we ordered vegan/vegeterian meals) the presentation, customer service, and atmosphere was wonderful as well. Just check out the desserts we ordered!

Our time here is almost over and then we head to my hometown, Charleston, tomorrow to spend more family time for Thanksgiving! I know there are tons of things to do in Asheville, but if you are ever here for just a couple of days and nights with the family, you now have an idea for a fun two-day itinerary.

I couldn’t have done this without my trusty iPhone and Instagram App!

**Note: I will be doing a series in December of your top 10 Christmas traditions. If you would like to participate, send me an email: info@cobblestonerueblog.com with subject: Christmas Traditions. It will be fun!!

I just love Urban Outfitters.

I love how their style stands out and their branding. It also helps they belong in the same family as Anthropologie :) While in New Orleans, I got some great finds and REALLY needed certain new things and thought I’d share:

Kimchi Blue Front Pocket Lady Satchel

(I haven’t bought a trusty handbag in 4 years and needed to graduate from a diaper bag)

Fun new Oxford shoes Garrett found for me….I haven’t had one of these since I attended Catholic school in Scotland! Can’t find the exact ones online, but they’ve got some great ones you have to check out. Also some fun tights for the season so I can still wear dresses and keep warm.

Best thing is both items are under $100 :)

Have a great weekend!

Greetings from New Orleans! Its my first time here and loving it! We are here for Pictage PartnerCon, a photographers’ conference at which my husband is one of the speakers. Just got done listening to CEO Jim Collins speak and I was in tears…at 10 in the morning, great way to start the day :)

We arrived here last night from our roadtrip and instantly went to famous Cafe Du Monde with about ten awesome photographers from Nashville, (thanks to friend Sean for introducing us!) They have delicious beignets!! Also checked out the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. So fun. I use Instagram, an App for the cool instant pics! You can follow me live on Twitter for instant updates if you’d like: www.twitter.com/joynudd

A couple of weekends ago, my friend Amanda and I went on a girls’ weekend in Atlanta. It started off with her status on Facebook stating that her husband gave her a weekend to herself. She asked if she should fly off to a city by herself and explore, go on a roadtrip and invite a friend, or go to her hometown and visit family and friends, etc.

I wrote on her status and said I would be glad to join her especially if she went to NYC! Yes, I just invite myself on people’s trips all the time, you know. Long story short and voila, a trip was planned and Atlanta was the destination. I was lucky enough to join her, predicated by my husband messaging her and saying that it would be awesome if we could have girls’ weekend together.  Best. Husbands. Ever.

So we talked, ate, talked, talked, shopped a bit, talked, ate, got pampered at the spa, and talked. It is amazing what uninterrupted deep conversations can do for you! Moms can especially understand this.

What did I learn from my first ever girls’ weekend (since becoming a mom more than five years ago)?

I learned:

1) Never feel guilty about leaving my kids (and husband). I came back with a fresh perspective and clear mind. Being away made me realize how much I love my family and I know it will make me a better wife and mom just for having time to myself.

2) I have the best husband. He is looking out for me especially as a mom. He knew I needed a break. Thanks love.

3) I found myself again. My conversations with Amanda were topics that were long ago buried and then resurrected again. Discussions such as personal style, childhood past-times, friendship, and more. Her love for her family is awe-inspiring. I have a lot to thank my friend for.

4) It doesn’t matter where the trip was or what was around us (great shopping, eateries, etc). Great conversation trumped all these things.

5) Real life interactions are the best! I love social media but its still so fun to actually BE with a friend and chat in person, (even though Facebook is what brought our friendship closer after almost a decade of not keeping in touch!)

6) Everyone should do this and its worth it! It doesn’t have to be fancy, a big group, or a long trip. We were gone for just a couple nights. I was only an hour-and-a-half away from home. And of course this is not limited to just women. I believe guys should have their trips too.

Some of the planning and highlights:

We used Priceline to search for a hotel, (stayed at Grand Hyatt in Buckhead). We talked so much there wasn’t much time for shopping.

Meals: we ate at some pizza place, a fabulous French restaurant, Bistro Niko, and Cafe Intermizzo: we ordered a TON of food since we skipped some meals because (again) we talked so much and lost track of time.

We experienced 29 Spa at Mansion on Peachtree which is highly recommended!

So I am now *planning* for my next girls’ trip.

Have you been? Where did you go? What did you do? I would love to make a list on my blog for inspiration.

All photos from Tumblr.

Charleston, SC has been named  “Most Romantic, Friendliest City” and consistently ranks high for top travel destinations in the nation and worldwide. I have always loved the sophistication and southern vibe of this city. Here is our review of our stay in Charleston last July. Yes, I used to live there, but there’s something different about staying downtown and absorbing the culture.

We have never actually stayed downtown since my mother and step-father live just 20 minutes away. Of course we visit often–several times a year–but since we were celebrating our 10 year anniversary and that’s where we got married, we figured it would be fun to be a part the city for a few days.

Planters Inn (Joy’s Review)

(http://www.plantersinn.com)

I remember when I was in middle school and we would visit downtown especially the historic open market on weekends. We would walk right past this hotel and I would look up in awe and wonder what it looked like inside. After staying here, I could go on and on with this little hotel. Now I understand why it has graced so many magazines and why its on top lists of hotels worldwide year after year. To be quite honest, I didn’t think I would be so attached to this hotel since I seem to gravitate towards more modern designed boutique hotels for special occasions. But the top notch service, the history, the special 10 year anniversary occasion, the elegant decor, mixed in with the charm of Charleston made this hotel perfect and makes it on my top list as well.

From the tasty treats in the lobby, the private courtyard which takes me back to France, the private piazza, our view overlooking the historic open market, the four-poster bed, to the excellent customer service. I was wishing our three-night stay was longer.

Aw, our trusty valet and perfect travel advisor, Alan. He was so accommodating and gave us so much information about Charleston and all it has to offer. I loved his uniform with the gloves, he was such a good sport even with the heat and humidity. (photo by Alice Park).

Peninsula Grill (reviewed by Garrett)

Every time we visit Charleston we walk by the market and notice Peninsula Grill. The entrance leads you up a dark grass-lined sidewalk under gas lamps to a private patio with candle-lit tables. It’s intriguing to say the least. We decided that we would have our “anniversary dinner” at Peninsula Grill. The reviews are outstanding and Chef Robert Carter is a Charleston legend. Speaking of legends, their Coconut Cake is legendary as well. It was sure to be a great fit.

Dinner was superb. The servers were outstanding and everything was just right. I ordered roasted chicken breast, vidalia mashed potatoes and asparagus, while Joy ordered grilled Atlantic salmon with jasmine rice and garlic spinach.

The only issue was that after finishing our meals we couldn’t bring ourselves to order the 1lb piece of coconut cake. Our plan was to come back and get it the next day, but unfortunately that didn’t happen either. Next time for sure!

Hyman’s Seafood Co. (reviewed by Garrett)

(http://www.hymanseafood.com)
For years we’ve been wanting to try Hyman’s Seafood Co. Located on Meeting Street, Hyman’s is a Charleston institution. And each evening, rain or shine, summer or winter, the sidewalk is lined with people waiting to get in.

We decided that we would kick off our time downtown with none other than Hyman’s. Our wait was about 45 minutes, which wasn’t too bad. The food was fantastic! After we were seated our server brought a bowl of boiled peanuts to the table.

We made quick work of the peanuts and shortly thereafter our food arrived. I ate flounder and a baked potato.

Joy ate fried tilapia. She’s a big tilapia fan, but we’ve never had it fried before.

My flounder was fantastic, and they were extremely generous with the portions. Joy’s tilapia was fair. She ended up picking off of my plate and in the end she was more than satisfied.

The manager, an older gentleman, came by the table and asked us where we were from and why were we visiting. We told him it was our 10-year anniversary and we visited together for a few minutes. At the conclusion of our meal our server brought us a warm chocolate fudge brownie and ice cream, compliments of the manager. We’ll DEFINITELY be going back!

Tacone Flavor Grill (reviewed by Garrett)

(http://www.tacone.com/index.aspx)

Tacone is a chain. When we’re visiting a new city we usually try and look for local places, but there was something about this place that drew us in. Of course at this point we still had the girls with us and it looked fairly child-friendly. The menu actually had a bunch of options in the “sides” department, and for anyone with children, that’s an automatic score. I had some kind of fish wrap…I believe it was the special of the week. It was amazing! Other than that, I don’t remember what anyone else had, but my food was delicious and that’s what mattered. Check out their awesome menu!

Hank’s Seafood Restaurant (reviewed by Garrett)

(http://hanksseafoodrestaurant.com/)

After dinner the first night, we walked around the block taking the long route back to our room. We happened upon a lively restaurant called Hank’s Seafood. The atmosphere was nice and the staff and clientele looked friendly. That was not on our list of places to try, but it looked great so we took note. When we were looking for a place to eat with Alice and her husband Kyu after our photo session, we ended up choosing Hank’s. It was a good thing we called for a reservation because they were just about booked solid. We arrived right on time and were immediately escorted straight to our table. Our server was a young gentleman who looked a bit like a cross between Abraham Lincoln and a New England Fisherman. The food was good, but I wasn’t overly impressed. The seafood meal we had eaten a couple nights before at Hyman’s was (in my opinion) far superior at a significantly lesser cost, though the atmosphere wasn’t quite as nice and the service not quite as good. The photo above was taken after we ate at Hank’s…but somehow we were in front of Peninsula Grill :)

Caviar & Bananas (reviewed by Garrett)

(http://www.caviarandbananas.com)

Joy had read about Caviar & Bananas, a little gourmet market & cafe just off of King Street, and she wanted to stop in before we left town. Boy, am I glad we did. They had the most amazing variety of food, as well as create your own made to order panini sandwiches.

I got a tomato, artichoke, avocado panini with olive oil dressing and aioli. It was without a doubt the best sandwich I’ve ever had. Seriously.

Joy ordered a caprese panini and she said that hers was amazing, but I promise that there’s no way it was as good as mine. As we were leaving we stopped by their fresh pastry counter and grabbed a couple of desserts to go.

Funny thing is that we’re headed back to Charleston in a couple weeks and we’re thinking of going straight to Caviar & Bananas before we even drop things off at the in-laws.

Hominy Grill (reviewed by Joy)

(http://www.hominygrill.com)

The best breakfast and brunch in the city. This place off the beaten path and is more known by the locals. But word has spread and the secret is out. Made with fresh, local ingredients, they have a fantastic southern menu that is to die for. And I absolutely loved the homey atmosphere with its white bead board walls and chic country charm.

I ordered an omelet with tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and spinach. I don’t even like grits, but somehow decided to order it and wow, their grits were delicious! Garrett had an omelet with tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions. Hominy Grill, you will see us again very soon!

Macaroon Boutique (Reviewed by Joy)

(http://www.macaroonboutique.com)

To those loyal readers, you know our love affair with Macaroon Boutique. We already gave this special place its very own blog post and review, HERE.

Kaminsky’s (reviewed by Garrett)

(http://www.kaminskys.com)

Also a Charleston institution is Kaminsky’s. Just a few doors down from the Planters Inn, Kaminsky’s tempted me every time we walked by. So on Thursday evening after dinner as we walked up and down the market, we stopped by Kaminsky’s for some Tollhouse Pie to go. I savored every bite that evening as I was watching the British Open highlights on the Golf Channel. Absolutely amazing! Trust me, it’s definitely a dessert that you won’t soon forget.

Charleston’s Candy Kitchen (Reviewed by Joy)

(http://www.savannahcandy.com)

One of the most interactive candy stores I’ve ever been to with a station and server for each of these: pralines, gelato, fudge, candy apples, and more. As you walk in, there is a lemonade stand and you are offered fresh squeezed lemonade, which on a 100-degree afternoon is the perfect rememdy.

You will also find the most unique and vintage candy brands, the kind you grew up with and are harder to find these days.

King’s Street Shopping District (Reviewed by Joy)

The place to shop is definitely King Street. There you will find many boutique stores and well-known brands as well as great restaurants and more lodging with a prime location. One of my favorite boutique stores on King Street is V2V. Of course the crewcuts J Crew store, we just need to stay away from, and I am embarrassed to say, they actually know us each time we visit! I just adore their children’s clothes and I need an extra suitcase when they have their seasonal sale.

Here is a perfect description of King Street by Charleston’s Finest website:

“King Street is Charleston at her best! She has developed into The Upper King Street Design and Dining District; The King Street Fashion District and The Lower King Street Antiques District. In the historic district of King Street you will find a wide variety of shopping, accommodations and restaurants — each with its own sense of style and flavor, but all uniquely Charleston.”

Right on King Street, is the Charleston Place Hotel that has a wonderful spa. I have been there several times and they have great customer service and a relaxing atmosphere. During our visit, Garrett had a massage and I had mani/pedi that was super relaxing!

I could go on and on and review many more restaurants and boutiques, but we wanted to review this particular visit and experience to share with you. So if you ever want to have a mini, get-away vacation, Charleston is the perfect place! We are excited to be going back in a couple of weeks.

****Also, don’t forget this month’s giveaway which ends this Friday. Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Lauren Weisberger’s new novel, ” Last Night at Chateau Marmont”.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there is something so purely magical about Charleston. As painful as it’s been I’ve purposefully held off posting some of these because I wanted to wait for our anniversary session with Style Me Pretty. Since they’ve published, I’m excited to share a few favorite snapshots from around the city.

I lived in Charleston for about 8 years and it’s fairly safe to say that I took it for granted. Even when Garrett and I were dating and we visited on breaks from school, we didn’t appreciate it’s culture and charm. Today when we visit as a family we love to just park the car and get out and walk. Down every sidewalk and around every corner lies a treasure. I love cities like that. I love Charleston.

I promised a post about Charleston and some recommendations so stay tuned this week for some fun reviews!

Off the beaten path in downtown Charleston, SC, I fell in love with this lovely French bakery, Macaroon Boutique. Each year we visit Charleston 3-4 times and I’m not sure how we’ve missed this fabulous place until now.

This husband and wife team from Paris create the most delicious desserts: puffy pastries, baguettes, croissants…

and fabulous macaroons…

We will most certainly be making it a tradition to always stop by when we visit.

STOP IT ALREADY…

Macaroon Boutique is located at:

Don’t you wish you were walking on this street right now? I know I do! This is a favorite street of mine in Charleston and I’m so excited to visit this week for a couple of fun celebrations, my birthday and our 10 year anniversary. I will be posting when I can find awesome speed of internet, I’m crossing my fingers and toes! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Photo credit: Flickr gallery

One of the many things I love about summer is family vacations.

We’ve had a busy summer working away at the studio and photographing sessions, but its going to get busier with our upcoming trips to Charleston, Washington DC, and Chicago. The best part is that most of the trips are for fun and our whole family will be together. Last year, we vacationed in Watercolor, FL (more about this magical place later) for a week with extended family (four families altogether) and it was so much fun to watch all the cousins play together. The photo above was the beautiful home we stayed in we found on VRBO, (the porch was incredible).

We have traveled the world and worked in exotic locations and yet this was the first time we had taken a real vacation together as a family. For years, I kept making excuses, (busy, not affordable, no time, etc). After an amazing week of biking, swimming, playing, vacationing with our family, we have made it a priority to do it every year.

There are so many ways to have an affordable vacation with your family: plan a roadtrip, get a deal through sites like VRBO,  go off season, split the cost by renting a home with another family/friends, etc.

Kids grow up so fast and there will always be work. You can’t have this precious time back. It also helps clear your mind and even gain inspiration. I hope each one of us takes time out of our hectic schedules to have vacations at least once a year, whether you can afford them or not. That’s one of the best pieces of advice I ever heard, and it came from a parent. No matter what your budget, set aside quality time for your family and create memories with them.

Where will you be vacationing this summer?