Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Monday, February 13, 2017

Travel Portraits - Our Family in Paris

Last Christmas, we went for the very first time to Europe.

It was a very memorable and tiring trip ( we had all 3 kids with us). We visited only London and Paris in our short 8 day vacation. Five days in London and only 2 days in Paris (the rest was on a plane).

And before I share any details of our trip, I would like to share with you probably one of the BEST part of our trip, our Family Pictorial in Paris...










I booked a photographer -  I heart Paris Photographer, 2 months in advance to make sure they would be available on the 2 short days we were there. I highly-recommend Fede and his wife Anastasia since we absolutely had to do our photos on on one of the foggiest and coldest day in Paris at that time! We were so lucky to have found Fede since he was so patient with us and the kids and we definitely felt so at ease with him.

I can definitely say, these photos (which are only some of many), is one of the BEST SOUVENIR I could ever get or hope for for such a memorable trip! Choosing which ones to display is now the only hard part! ;-)

Some tips I would recommend if you plan to do something similar on your next trip:

1) Find the right photographer - browsing thru IG and FB is super easy, you get to see their portfolios and the type of photos they do and there are a lot of really good ones out there.

2) Book way in advance if possible  - once you get your tickets, you have to book your photographer next. Most of them require a deposit so that takes your mind off of things in terms of making sure your session is a go.

3) Plan your family's outfit on the day of  - ours didn't work out so well since it was so cold, we ended up wearing our jackets thru most of it all.

4) Have some idea as to what type of photos you want - again social media pics are a great example for your photographer, although with Fede, he mainly dictated what was good or not.

5) Plan to do it in the morning if possible - especially if you want it done in a famous iconic tourist spot, to avoid less crowd of course and that way you also can still look your best and do more sight-seeing in the afternoon.  But I understand if sunset is your thing, timing is crucial so be there early.

6) Make sure you are full. Yes, so true for pictorial with kids, you want them to be happy and content when you do this. In our case, it was the cold that we didn't expect so there were some photos that had Aidan looking grouchy. ;-)

7) Most important of all, HAVE FUN! Your photographer will edit for you anyway so just relax and let the moment take you!

And since it's Valentine's day tomorrow...




Happy Valentine's Day to you too!




VEL

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Linking back to: Coastal Charm, Cooking and Crafting with JJ, Amaze Me Monday, Tuesdays at our Home, A Stroll Thru Life, Inspire Me Monday

Thursday, July 30, 2015

El Nido, Palawan Philippines

You know I spent almost a month back in the Philippines in June, and aside from my Sister' wedding we attended, we also toured a bit in our beautiful home country!

And today, I just wanted to share with you one the breath-taking place we visited with my family
 - El Nido
On our way to our first Island stop

Just breath-taking up close

The beach going to a secret Lagoon
We visited 7 islands total on this Island Hopping expedition, and each one, as breath-taking as the the next.

Under water was also wonderful...

Hi Nemo!

Snorkeling photos from Shimizu Island

I even got to see a sea turtle, but alas, was too fast for me in the water! LOL!

Where we had our lunch - Talulah Island


I just had to share these beautiful islands with you since I was just blown away by all the natural beauty that surrounded me here.
I will definitely be back someday to visit and see the other islands ( there are total of 42, we visited only 7 according to our guide).

Sunset from our room

Next time, I'll share with you an interesting home we visited up North - a home of a former dictator/President!

I'll be very busy this weekend, 2 high school friends and their family are spending the weekend with us. It'll be very fun for sure, but also a bit 'chaotic' in our household!

Have a Great Weekend Friends!



VEL 

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The Dedicated House

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Bonsai Love

After our trip from the Philippines, we stopped over for a couple of days in San Diego.
Of course, with kids in tow, we had to go to the world-famous San Diego Safari Zoo.

I thought it was just all animals there, I was so surprised to see beautiful garden exhibits as well. 
One in particular, made me just swoon and got stuck in my mind all the way home - 
The Bonsai Pavillion.

Here are some of my favorites...


Foemina Juniper

Hollywood Juniper

Cypress


Precumbean Juniper

Another beautiful Juniper

Ficus Forest


The whole garden is just magnificent and the San Diego Bonsai Club should be mighty proud.

And because of that I just have to have one in our home and you probably noticed them when I showed you our BLUE SUMMER LIVING ROOM .

My little juniper bonsai



 This juniper needs outdoor light too though. So I bring it out every 3 days for some sun.

I also have this other one...


I think it is what you call a FICUS Bonsai
 I got this one from IKEA years ago and it has held up pretty well!
I also got this for a song, so happy with this one too and definitely just great as an indoor plant.
No need for bringing it out into the sun, I just water it once a week and spritz some water on the leaves too whenever I remember. My kind of plant, LOW-MAINTENANCE!



And because of this new love, I've started looking at online Bonsai stores. 
The prices and shipping are pretty reasonable, but I wonder about the quality.

Any of you have had experience buying Bonsai online? Or any tips on taking care of these beautiful plants?

Have  A Great Weekend!

VEL 

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Loving the art at the Art Institute of Chicago

We spent my son's birthday weekend in Chicago.
He wanted to go the the Art Institute again.
I was not surprised at all because my son is a walking encyclopedia of sorts and he loves the stories and details of some of the most famous artists and art works.
So of we went and here are some of my faves from that visit.

Let's start with some European Art...


Gagliardi Sculptures
Bust of Amphitrite  by Adams 1725

Love the detail and colors - sorry don't know the name and artist

No details again but just reminds me of Renaissance paintings by Michaelangelo

Centerpiece: The Scarf Dance 1901


Head of Medusa  by Canova 1801

Hebe and the Eagle of Jupiter by Rude 1852

Bust of Said Abdullah of Darfour by Cordier 1848

Bust of an African Woman by Cordier 1851
Now, on to our favorite section of the Museum, the Impressionist art...

The Beach at Sainte  Adresse by Claude Monet

Perhaps one of my most favorite painting and would your believe I forgot who painted this masterpiece?!
The clouds just seem to move here, it's amazing up close.

Two Sisters (on the Terrace) by Renoir
The Petite Cruise River by Claude Monet 1889

Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh 1887 and some extras ;-)

House of Parliament by Claude Monet

Water Lily Pond by Claude Monet 1917-22

Water Lilies by Claude Monet1908

Cliff walk at Pourville by Claude Monet 1882

The colors up close - AMAZING!

Bordighera by Monet 1884

The Girl by the Window by Edward Munch 1893

Woman and Child at the well by Camille Pissarro 1882

And then some modern and American art...

Model of the Flamingo Sculpture by Alexander Calder 1974 & Boy by you-know-who ;-)


The next 3 are the AMERICA WINDOWS by Marc Chagall






Forgot to get the name and painter but this is so beautiful up close, like a photograph almost

American Gothic by Grant Wood

City Landscape by Joan Mitchell 1955
Reminds me of Kerry Steele's art

 by Franz Kline

Chair By Issey Miyake

Another chair By Issey Miyake


Greyed Rainbow by Jackson Pollock 1953

Ready to Wear by Stuart Davis

Grey Diamond by Ilya Bolotowsky 1955

It's a huge museum and we were not able to savor and see the entire collection. 
The kids had a lot of fun, me and my hubs were the one tired of going on further (sorry kids)!

And of course what better way to end our visit than to photo-bomb one of it's most famous painting...
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat 1884

Have a Great day!

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You May be Wandering