.family photos - jessica leigh photography.

a while back my mother mentioned that she would very much like to get some recent family photo's done. i think the last set we took was from a sears portrait studio, a gift from my 11 year-old sister and my 13 year-old self to our mother for mother's day [oh, and they were un-real!], so needless to say i was totally on board with the idea! i was also 5 months pregnant at the time, so we waited till the little man was born before scheduling in a session. my mother found a great deal online and booked a fairly new photographer, named jessica from jessica leigh photography, and i have to admit at first i was a little skeptical. being the photographer lover that i am, i pride myself on knowing not only good, but great photographers in the edmonton area. i have given out countless recommendations to friends, have annoyed the crap out of my husband with our own bookings, and have gotten to know a handful of amazing photographers [and dare i call them now friends?!]. 

i have booked with arguably the best in the city for our wedding and engagement pictures [andrea from pink sugar photography]. i have tried out a few up and coming new photographers [erin from project life photography & paula from paula scherr photography] and adored both our sessions. i've done the labor session with arisa from mad bee photography that i will undoubtably cherish for the rest of my life. and i have been left speechless at the amazing eye, quality and creativity from a photographer who just has 'it' in every way [meg from els photography].

my point being - i wondered if we were we wasting our time with this newbie?

well friends i have to admit, we were left with some pretty damn good shots! yay! and i was so happy with the results, we booked my dad in on the action too with a session just for him! jessica was a pleasure to work with [such a sweetie!] and i say if you're in the market for some family photo's at a pretty decent price point [only because she's relatively new! so hurry!], i would def look into booking! thanks again jessica! the people over at fancy napkin wish you all the best in your new business adventure and can't wait for our next session!

here's just a little sampling of a few fav's from both sessions...

on another photography note [well, sort of!] have you voted for my little family for the h&m fashion family contest? it's still running till the 10th and you can vote daily! we're currently floating between 2nd & 3rd and could use all the help we can muster! we would totally appreciate the support and thank you x a million in advance [for you american friends, you need to use a canadian postal code to enter - t5t 1n2 - works just fine:)]

xo

*all photo's by jessica leigh photography

.threads: who says you can't wear white after labour day? not this girl.

remember when i mentioned in this post here, that you need to get yourself a pair of white skinny denim jeans this summer. well, i still hold true to that statement, even moving into fall. however, the questions and concerns i got from you all with that single post was enormous. and the number one comment being, "i'm too scared to wear white pants". but i ask you this, ladies - why are you are all scared to wear white?

sure 'white' anything has a stigma that it'll add weight to your figure, or get dirty and stain, or that you can't eat in them. etc, etc. and ladies, i understand your concerns but take it from me....i have a child. i play on the floor [a lot!]. i am not stick thin. and i enjoy food immensely [perhaps, i do avoid spaghetti while wearing them...].
but ladies, white jeans rock! they basically pair well with everything thus providing endless mixing possibilities, as well as take the wear-everyday-basic-jean and turn your outfit into something fresh! i really believe that anyone can wear this trend, even after labour day, just make sure you get yourself a pair that fits well and ooze that confidence! i adore my white jeans and i hope this urges you to try them out too!

here are 4 ways i like to pair my skinny white jeans.

outfit 1 | soft and casual

jeans | old navy super skinny jeans

sweater | joe fresh [similar style here]

heels | madewell pumps

necklace | stella & dot [on major sale!]

watch | fossil, gifted [similar here]

outfit 2 | colourfully bold

jeans | old navy super skinny jeans

top | banana republic [similar]

necklace | club monaco [similar] 

earrings | stella & dot soiree studs

bracelets | stella & dot 1, 2

clutch | club monaco [similar style here]

outfit 3 | preppy and fun

jeans | old navy super skinny jeans

checkered shirt | gap [similar style here]

sneakers | converse chuck taylors [gifted - thanks fi!]

necklace | stella & dot juniper necklace

earrings | stella & dot valor studs

outfit 4 | black & white sophisticate

jeans | old navy super skinny jeans

top | gap [similar style]

heels | madewell pumps

scarf | alexander mcqueen skull scarf [more affordable style here]

bracelets | vintage set

clutch | stella & dot [on major sale!]

.we need your help: the h&m fashion family contest.

photo by jessica l photography

hi friends! today i am excited. very very excited!!

i kinda have some pretty darn awesome news! my little family has been selected as a top 10 finalist in the h&m fashion family contest!

YEP! you are reading that correct! MY LITTLE FAMILY IS A TOP 10 FINALIST!!! whoo hoo! somehow, those kind folks over at h&m canada [yay!] has selected us and now we desperately need your help! in order to win to grand ol' prize [a $5000 spending spree and a feature in the december's edition of today's parent magazine for h&m!!!! no joke and so awesome, right!!] we need your votes.

each day, starting now till sept. 10th, you can vote for my little family [the trebaczkiewicz family!] right here. the more votes we get, the better our chances of winning. and i sure would like to win :).  also! for every vote you put in, you are entered for a chance at 10 x $50 gift certificates!! so a vote could be a win win for both of us!

so please please please with a big ol' fat cherry on top head on over [click here!] and vote for us. a vote each day would be utterly fantastic [pretty please!] and i promise good karma will be coming your way.

thank you all so much in advance. you don't know what this would mean to us.

xo

erinn and the boys.

ps. to vote, just click on the 'vote' button in the top right side of the page [link provided here], fill in your information and click vote, then go to your personal email and click on the link provided in the email from h&m and you're done! it's really not that hard and takes a couple seconds :)
***update! for you all you US friends, you will need to use a canadian zip code to vote, so please use mine if that helps: t5t 1n2

pps. sending all our good karma juice to you!

.threads: those warm summer days.

can you feel it? the air at night is getting cooler. my light-weight sweaters are slowly finding a way back into my closet rotation and my tall riding boots are being dusted off. fall is just around the corner.

while i can't hide my excitement for my favourite season [at least in the clothes department!], i am determined to enjoy my last few moments amongst the sun. i simply need this last month or two of warm days to clear my head and to prepare for what's next. to prepare for what 'fall' means to me this year.

i should mention that this summer, although slow paced and really uneventful, has been one of my favourite summer's thus far. i'm sure you can guess why - it's simply because of that little darling, our jack bugg. we have spent so many enjoyable days outside doing absolutely nothing other than exploring and getting to know each other just that much better. playing, learning, laughing, a little crying, but just being in the warmth of summer and all the joys the sun can bring to a person's soul. 

so this year i have such bittersweet thoughts on fall. a time when i usually can't wait for cooler nights on the deck wrapped up in a blanket and a cup of tea watching the leaves change. 'fall' this year means so many different things...it's when i have to go back to work. it's when i have to leave my baby with someone else. it's when i have to enter the world of adults again. it's time for juggling my career and my family. it's time for yet another change. 

and while i truly think i'm okay and ready for that change, i also find myself holding onto a little more of those warm summer days. 

ps. and when you have a great dress like the lacy white beauty i'm wearing above, it makes holding onto summer just that much sweeter.
*make up: illuminate your beauty by ally stone

dress, free people || clutch, jcrew [old & gifted] || wedges, nine west || bracelets, stella & dot / club monaco 1, 2 || earrings, melanie auld

shop the look here

.jack's threads: the hooded sweatshirt vest.

jack has finally started to fit into his size 1 [as in 1 year old!] clothes and although it is bittersweet for this momma who wants to slow time [it really does go way too fast!], i'm also sort of excited to bust into that pile. see now that jack is on the go [just not quite walking yet!] his clothes are moving from leggings, leggings, leggings to a things with a little more style. i also get to play around with layers and accessories, which in my opinion make an outfit. more skinny jeans, hooded sweatshirts, vests, jackets, sneakers and shoes, hats, bow ties - the list goes on! so while i am nostalgic of time passed, i am also excited to see my little man grow.

and having a great pile of 1-2 year old clothes patiently waiting to be worn sure does help ;)

shop: hooded t-shirt & vest, next $33 || jeans, h&m $18 || socks, h&m $8 || amber teething necklace, princess and the pea [gifted]