P Family | CT family photographer

There is one family that will forever hold a special place in my heart. Not only because they are amazing friends, but because they were my first official portrait session when I opened my business 5 years ago! Ok, wait....they're awesome for those 2 reasons AND because they always crack me up during their sessions. Honestly, I love when people don't take themselves too seriously because it always me to see the real them and to capture things that might look awkward otherwise. Granted, sometimes they intentionally look awkward to make me giggle, but that's exactly why I love them.

Farm Wedding | CT wedding photographer

I am a huge fan of outdoor weddings. I love them even more when they're in a location that's special to the bride and groom. The wedding was on a farm owned by the groom's family in Berlin. A farm with some old barns, cornfields, large open land, and chicken coops is like a dream for this photographer! They were also so sweet to work with and had so many beautiful, hand-made decorations.

The Eyeglass Lass | New London Small Business

It's time for another local business spotlight! Yes, I know...I've been severely neglecting my blog lately. Like all year. However, I'm still working on my goal of trying to bring local businesses the attention they deserve!

Today, I visited The Eyeglass Lass on State St. in New London. Let me tell you, this lovely lady has a passion for all things optical! I met Siobhan years ago while I was shopping for new glasses in the mall. She was so patient as I put on frame after frame....after frame....and gave me her honest opinions on what looked good on me. Now she has her own shop and it's AWESOME!

So let's start with her expertise. Siobhan is a licensed optician. That means you're in very good hands. Her future plans include having the equipment to cut lenses right there in the shop, which could mean same day service. For now, she is working with a lab to have complete glasses in your hands in as little as a couple of days!

I always ask business owners what made them want to take the plunge into self-employment. You can tell that Siobhan is in it because she simply loves helping people see. Not only that, she wants you to feel good about your glasses. What it all boils down to is that glasses are a necessary accessory for many people and she wants to boost your confidence and help you look in the mirror and love what you see. She said that by owning her own business, she can help people on her terms and that means more people getting the glasses they need with the care they deserve with no pushy sales tactics. As she says, "people need to see".

What sets The Eyeglass Lass apart from other shops is that Siobhan specializes in finding frames that you can't find anywhere else. She finds "new old stock" vintage frames, which are generally overstock (yes, that means never worn) from the 60s, 70s and 80s. In fact, even her new frames are generally nothing you'd find in any of the big name stores. She carries a couple of the popular brands that people are always looking for (Ray-Ban, for example), but she hand selects her frames that she loves and makes sure she has a selection for every budget. Just because this is a boutique doesn't mean her prices are outrageous! She has frames anywhere from $40-$400.

(Selection of vintage frames)

Siobhan is also looking forward to working with the New London Public Schools to be able to provide one new pair of glasses to one student in need from elementary, middle, and high school each quarter. Great, right?

The Eyeglass Lass has already helped dozens of customers find what they're looking for and she's only been open a month! So if you need new glasses or just want something fun and funky, go to 277 State St and let Siobhan find the perfect fit for you!
Open 11-8 Monday-Tuesday & Thursday-Saturday and Sunday from 12-4

A more personal note | Be photographed

Photographers are fairly notorious for not being in front of the camera. Sometimes I look through my thousands and thousands of family memories and realize I'm in very few. Of course! It's what I do. I'm behind the camera all the time. If you're a photographer, you probably feel the same way. I want my kids to grow up and see these moments, but will it be weird when I'm not in the majority of them? I want to be WITH my kids in these images!

So, what does a photographer do? Well, if you saw my post back in October, you may remember that I gave my camera to my mom and had her attempt a family portrait for me. It wasn't perfect, but I love it. A few years ago, I brought my camera to the beach and ended up handing my camera to my sister so I could pick my son up out of the water. She got such a great candid of me with him. I made it a 16x20 and hung it in my living room.

The other thing I just started doing was teaching my kids more about photography. I got myself some lights, put the camera on a tripod and just let them snap away. It was awesome! They actually insisted on photographing me. Then they took turns sitting with me while the other one played photographer. They didn't always nail the focus, but they don't have to. They were having fun and I got to help them create memories AND be in them! 

Now, I don't want this post to be directed only at photographers. It's for everyone. It's a reminder to be seen. Don't hide from the camera. Make memories! Be remembered! If you are constantly hiding from cameras, stop it. If you've never had a family portrait done, do it. If you think nobody wants a picture of you, you're wrong. I could go on and on about the importance of pictures, but there are tons of blog posts already floating around out there, so I'll leave it at that.

Now for what my kids were able to capture of me.....

We make silly faces, and lots of them.

I was teaching them the difference between using 1 light and 2. I love how this one came out

This one is actually a total candid. My son just wanted a little mommy time. I'm so thankful my daughter got this moment.

Again, silly faces are her default. She can't help it, she learned it from me.

Now go make memories!

Brookside Hairdesign LLC | Local business

My latest stop on my mission to show you all some awesome local businesses was at Brookside Hairdesign in Uncasville. We all know that sometimes a great haircut or a new color can really cheer you up, so let's learn more about this great business.

Brookside Hairdesign was first opened in June of 2004, in Quaker Hill. They now occupy a cozy spot right across the street from Montville Hardware on rt 32.

I asked Nola what made her decide to open her own salon over 9 years ago. She wanted a little more flexibility in her work schedule to spend time with her family while still doing what she loved.

Nola's goal has always been to provide her clients with great services and the best products available. Over the years, her clients have become amazing friends and both her and her other stylist, Amber, have a steady following of clients, some of whom have been with them for 10+ years. One of them is me. I have witnessed first hand the relationships they form with their clients. Nola and Amber have made house calls and visited nursing homes when their clients need them as well as being there for those who have passed away. 

Like all of the small businesses I have talked to so far, Nola makes sure she stays active in the local community. They have donated to the Montville schools and local charities and organizations. Last year they hosted their own event in October for Breast Cancer survivors and those still battling. If you've attended the Montville Holiday Parade in the past 3 years, you've also seen Brookside's involvement there. Their Santa's Sleigh float is one of the favorites of the town. 

 If you are looking for a new stylist yourself or want to treat a loved one to some pampering this holiday season, go visit Brookside and talk to one of these awesome ladies. You can pick up gift cards for haircuts, color, manicures, pedicures, and more, all at affordable prices. Combined, Nola and Amber have nearly 40 years of experience behind them and it shows. They know their stuff! They offer a friendly, knowledgeable environment complete with complimentary coffee and tea for their clients.

Brookside Hairdesign is located at 912 Route 32 in Uncasville. Make an appointment by calling 860.848.4247

Montville Florist | Local Business

It's time for the second installment of my local business features. This business has been right here in Montville for 30 years and has been owned by the second generation for 19 years. How cool is that! I'm talking about Montville Florist.

I'm sure many of you have heard of, if not purchased from, this lovely little flower shop on rt 32. This shop is such a good example of what a local small business can do for the community. I recently sat down with Leah and Lynn, owners of Montville Florist, to ask them about how they've been a staple to the town so long.

For one, they stay in the loop. Leah is on the board of directors for the Connecticut Florists Association and continually educates herself about what is trending now in colors and techniques. They also know that when it comes to competing with larger competitors (think grocery store floral departments), they know they are able to provide a better product with an awesome experience. Many of their flowers come from local growers so you can be sure their products are fresh and handled with the utmost care.

What I found to really amazing about Montville Florist is how they take care of their customers. If you have been shopping there for any length of time, they really get to know you. They will know what kind of flowers you should buy for your wife or if your brother has already ordered the same arrangement for your mother. They even have a few elderly customers who call ahead and have their order delivered right to their car so they don't have to get out. Coming in early, staying late and keeping pre-made, low cost arrangements in their case are all ways that they go above and beyond for their customers.

Over the summer, you may have even spotted some beautiful arrangements around town, just waiting for someone to pick them up. That is just one of the ways they gave back to the community this year. If you follow them on Facebook, you may have even seen the clues they would leave. But that's not all they do. On the first day of school, they deliver flowers to wish everyone a great school year. They also bring flowers to the police station and the fire stations on September 11 to thank them for keeping our town safe. Schools and organizations have often called on them to put on classes in floral arranging and they gladly do it. Montville Florist also supports the high school drama club by purchasing ad space in their play bills. The ways they give seem endless!

Did you know they also sell gifts? Handmade candles, chocolates, teddy bears, and cards from a local artist are just some of the items to choose from. So with Thanksgiving in just a few days, head on down to Montville Florist and order a centerpiece for your family gathering or just stop by and pick up one of their pre-made arrangements and a gift for someone special.

Montville Florist is located at 315, Route 32 in Uncasville. 860.848.1278

Monte Cristo Bookshop | Shopping local

For the past couple years, I see things being shared on Facebook like, "Shop local this holiday season" or "Buying from your local small business helps a little girl take dance lessons". While I totally agree with these, I don't think they do enough. Why? Because they don't show you who your local businesses are. You can't see the family that is relying on YOUR business. It's easy to share these posts on social media, but it's also important to know the local businesses and to know why it's so important to support them. 

Over the next 2 months, I'm going to show you some local businesses that would love to meet you. 

I started in New London, at the Monte Cristo Bookshop. I sat with the owners, Christopher and Gina Jones, for a couple of hours and talked with them about why they think shopping locally is so important.

"To help us and people like us" was the immediate response from Chris. This couple started out with an idea. They loved books and talking about books. They wanted to work in a bookstore, but eventually decided to open their own. Opening a retail store is not something that happens overnight. This took planning, funding, phone calls, and lots of hard work. Owning a business becomes your baby. You start to live and breathe your business and you soon realize everything you do is to work towards your goal of making this a success.

Chris and Gina now have an adorable little boy (who was also in the store) to support as well and they take their business very seriously. When I asked them why shopping at the Monte Cristo Bookshop is different than visiting a national retailer or buying books online, the answer is pretty simple: the experience. When you walk into a big, chain retailer, you can't talk to them like you can here. You can't pick their brains about different topics, ranging from the New London vibe to local bands. You're also not going to be able to talk to the manager of one of those big stores about how you think their store could improve. Chris and Gina welcome this. They want to know what you think. They want to know if there is a book you would like to see on their shelves. They want you to know that they are there for you. Sometimes their prices are even lower than that online retailer as well. Not to mention a large used book section and what they're calling the "retro book" section, full of great used classics.

What else will you get at Monte Cristo Bookshop? Events! A ton of FREE events. They now have 13 events listed just for November alone. You get to meet authors of both local and national best-selling books. This store is the real deal. They are truly passionate about what they do and what they have to offer.

Monte Cristo Bookshop even supports local charities, non profits, and schools in their community. And of course, they personally shop local. While I was there, they got take-out from Mangetout Organic Cafe and coffee from Washington Street Coffee House, both within walking distance of their shop.

So, while you're out looking for gifts this holiday season, head over to Monte Cristo Bookshop at 38 Green St. and pick up some a few great reads for everyone on your list. They have gift cards too for those that are hard to shop for. Chris and Gina will happily give you recommendations too!