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I really didn’t have an idea of what I wanted to write about today in this post so it’s going to be a bit random!  I threw it out on twitter for people to suggest a topic and a few take too long to write and dig up pictures!

The Engagement Project suggested that I write about something I complain about most to which I said my disaster zone of a house and dirty dishes.  Seriously, these are the things that drive me NUTS.  You know what’s the worst?  Is trying to break my husband of his bachelorness (hi honey, love you) and piling dirty dishes in the sink.  We have one of those giant deep double sinks in the kitchen, one side to wash in, the other to have the dishes drip dry, he likes to pile them in there.  All. the. time.  It’s my biggest pet peeve and I think he gets yelled at for doing that at least once a week!  On the other side, I leave tons of water glasses or coffee mugs out, so we’re kind of equal!  And I know I work from home so my house should be immaculate, guess what, it’s not!  Though I work from home, it’s not like I can not work and just clean all the time nor do I want to.  I do spurts throughout the day, but that’s what you get for waking up at 5:30am every morning.

She then suggested that I write about some of the cute, romantic stuff I see on shoots or the like.  I said that I usually make fun of myself, trip over my own feet (or fall), or throw my husband under the bus, usually it’s a combination of all three.  Don’t worry, I always sacrifice my body for the safety of my camera.  Someone once said how you’re not a great photographer if your camera body is in perfect condition and I wish I could say that people didn’t bump into it, or I hit it against a wall, etc.  I’m pretty sure that I threw my husband under the bus in the last segment so maybe we’ll talk about how clumsy I am.  See, the problem is that I don’t pick up my feet and wear crocs that are non-slip.  And before you crucify me for wearing crocs because I see it coming, I wear the semi-cute not ugly gardening shoes ones!  They’re the only shoes that I can wear 10+ hours carrying 40lbs+ of equipment, running, jumping, squating, and the like with still being able to walk the next day.   These are the ones I wear:

The next suggestion came from my friend Otto and was to blog about my passion for photography, I told him that post would take a year to make and it was in the works anyway, and I don’t feel like being deep today!  Ha!  We’ll do that next week sometime!

I am stressing out about getting my space ready for the big opening on March 7th from 12-5…I suggest you being there to try my dad’s wonderful chocolate chip cookies (no joke, I had these at my wedding!) and some great giveaways like enlargements, accordian albums, portfolios and who knows what else!

Then Anna suggested that I blog her and her parents dog that I took pictures way back in November of!  And there will be more but I pulled 2 for the occasion!

I love this one of Kuba, he was EXHAUSTED after our photo shoot and I love the drool spots on the concrete.

And can you blame Scooby here for scratching?  I love how he looks so into it and like he just got the right spot.  I love labs!

And since this post is random, I just saw a brown blur run across the frozen tundra that is my backyard.  Love you Belley.

Kara

kara@karaschultz.com

Oh how I love love love accessories!  I love pearls and long necklaces, I also love asymmetrical necklace designs too!  I also love shoes, I’m a shoe-aholic!

Let’s start with the reception.  I love when couples do things that are unique to them!  Like cookies in the shape of their favorite Chicago Blackhawks and table names to follow!  Photo guestbooks filled with their engagement pictures are also high on my list!  A groom’s cake surprise!  Cake stands are also very cool and dramatic!  And anything that shows the personalities of the couple and occasion, for example, Traycie and Jason’s NYE wedding had a themed cake!  What a great idea!  I also love when couples use family photographs of previous weddings, it’s always fun to see!

Special touches are always fun too.  Like having a music themed reception when the husband is a musician!  Putting your names and dates on the bottom of your shoes (I was there also gluing tiny rhinestones on the bottom of my shoes for my “something blue”!), gifts are also fun for each of the couples!  Crazy card boxes that really show your personality and using pinatas (apparently that’s what happens when you leave getting a card box to the groom!) or even an ice cream truck on a hot day!  Visiting your favorite stadium for pictures (or even stopping by your favorite bar!).  Other things that make your wedding day special and personal, like having a brick engraved where you’re getting married, a wine box ceremony, or including your furmonster into the ceremony (this I love and would’ve done!)

I also love funky shoes!  Look at these fabulous ones!  Some shoes even inspired the entire day!  I also love veils with lace, cute flower accessories when the veil comes off that is still there, and birdcage veils are so much fun!

I love when girls have great accessories with their dresses, between sashes and great locations to hang your dress (tip: always keep the room clean where you’re getting ready, it’ll be easier to leave the location since everything will have it’s place and we won’t have to spend time cleaning up!).  Also, I looooooove colored bouqets for the bride.  The color just pops against the white dress and even if it’s just a touch of color with white, that’s really pretty too!

I love when girls wait to get ready when I’m there!  I love that they wait to put on the jewelry until the last minute.  You always get great shots of earrings being put on or a friend, sister or mom helping!

Onto where to get some of these awesome accessories!  I love perusing around White Aisle.  Here’s a few of my personal favorites and the good news is…they’re affordable accessories!!!  (note, images are from white aisle, not me).  I love some crystal and pearl combination’s but that’s my personal style, unfortunately I can’t wear most silver since I’m allergic to nickel, so some of the earrings may not work personally for me but I’d love to wear them!  I love bracelets and dramatic earrings if there’s no necklace.

Etsy is also a wonderful place for handmade items for your wedding day!  So search around!  But if you don’t want to search, the store heknowsmyname is fabulous and affordable too!   (these are their pictures…not mine   And their website is to launch in march at www.heknowsmyname.com)

I just love the flowers in their shop!  AND they do custom orders!

I LOVE these organza flowers!  They’d be lovely for spring, early summer weddings!

Feather fascinators are huge these days and I love those too!  Ah so many great accessories but they all may not work together!  So go ahead and embrace your style and the overall feeling of your wedding!  Don’t be scared to do something a bit different for your ceremony and reception!

Kara

It’s felt like forever since I’ve blogged about Isabelle!  Next week there will be a grand post as she’s turning ONE!  Where did the time go?!

I’m going to write what she’s thinking in quotes, because we talk for her, she stutters because she’s always excited!  It’s a habit that we can’t break.

“hi mom, can you let me sleep and get the camera out of my face?”

“here we go again…can’t I just sleep??”

“yeeeeees??”

she’s a toy destroyer.  This was a toaster.

“seriously mom, can you stop with the pictures now?”

It’s rare that I can actually capture this…when she gets off the couch she slinks off and is lazy.

And I never can get upside down sleeping Belley….unless it’s on my iphone and there’s no sound…and even then I have to be very quiet and careful!

she loves to tug on the sock!

“my sock!”  (p.s. don’t judge the carpet, we moved in and this is what was here…we were waiting until post-puppy to replace it…it will. be. gone.)

I just love how she holds things with her little paws!

I’d like to think she was winking at me but caught her during a blink!

“are we done mom?”

Oh how much I love my little Belley-cakes!

So this post is just for funsies.  Why not get to know me a little better?   So you need to know my painting playlist first of all!  I made it for the day that I spent 7 hours painting!

the best of what’s around – dave matthews band
satellite – dave matthews band
i don’t care – fall out boy
in love with a girl – gavin degraw
who says – john mayer
stronger – kayne west
many the miles – sara bareilles
hey, soul sister – train
half moon bay – train
pieces of me – ashlee simpson
trucker hat – bowling for soup
dialogue (part 1 & 2) – chicago
accidentally in love – counting crows – I somehow convinced David to use this as our recessional song, it was just too perfect not to, and it ended up working out really well!
a little less sixteen candles, a little more touch me – fall out boy
hum hallelujah – fall out boy
thanks for the memories – fall out boy
don’t you know who i think i am – fall out boy
dead on arrival – fall out boy
grand theft autumn/where is your boy tonight – fall out boy – my garter toss song but was so much fun!
saturday – fall out boy
chicago is so 2 years ago – fall out boy
100 years – five for fighting – this was our cake cutting song, not that anyone remembers that, but hey, it was!
over my head – the fray
meaning (acoustic) – gavin degraw – this was my first dance song
the way i am – ingrid michaelson
better together – jack johnson
do you remember – jack johnson
you and i both – jason mraz
the remedy – jason mraz
save room – john legend
each day gets better – john legend
the heart of life – john mayer
gravity – john mayer
waiting on the world to change – john mayer
clarity – john mayer
bigger than my body – john mayer
new deep – john mayer
only heart – john mayer
why georgia – john mayer
3×5 – john mayer
back to you – john mayer
breakaway – kelly clarkson
you found me – kelly clarkson
ordinary – lucky boys confusion
harder to breathe – maroon 5
makes me wonder – maroon 5
float on – modest mouse
unwritten – natasha bedingfield
these words – natasha bedingfield
catalyst – nick west
these days – rascal flatts
on the way down – ryan cabrera
punk rock princess – something corporate
drops of jupiter – train
for me, it’s you – train
flashdance – irene cara – this is my namesake. My parents liked the name Cara but liked it better with a K so it wouldn’t be pronounced like a car and more like care. I don’t get upset like my mom does when someone pronounces it wrong, so no worries! I’m horrid at pronouncing last names.
into the mystic – van morrison

These usually go on shuffle so I get a crazy mix and yes, I know, it’s a bit eclectic to say the least! I do love John Mayer but the husband hates him so I generally listen to either all of those while I’m editing or Train; just something about both of those that is very calming and helps me focus and work.

And since you deserve some eye-candy. Here’s a few inspiration boards I put together when I was re-working my website. Just lots of things I love and colors I love (ok, pink is my favorite but didn’t want to scare you away!). It took me 2 days to put these together, I scoured all over the place like etsy and amy butler fabrics (mmm) and my graphic designer who is my good friend wondered if she already had me pinned. She did: modern girly!

The top flower arrangement is from Kristen of Kio Kreations.   I have the skirt on top from Ann Taylor Loft and some of the doggie collar fabrics are fabulous and from Big Doggy Bling.  Others from random etsy sites and well I love me some good heels even though I can’t wear them while shooting!  And a love for skirts and cardigans!

So that’s a fun post for today!

Kara

p.s. don’t forget about March 7th!

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