Welcoming Leslie Bradley, independent consultant for Origami Owl jewelry to ETST.  If you haven’t heard of Origami Owl, they are known for their living lockets–beautiful custom designed “window” lockets that tell one’s story through charms and word plates.

Leslie created a beautiful locket for Nella’s birthday this year and has generously offered to donate 10% of proceeds from all orders placed through this link to Nella’s Triple Crown Fund.

Lockets open up and new charms can be added or changed out.

You can design your own locket by choosing from a vast collection of charms that include hobbies, causes, celebrations, faith, birthstones, travel and much more.  Everything is customizable from locket styles and chains to what you put behind your “window.”

Lainey’s receiving her own locket, a gift from the baby when she comes to visit him, complete with a tiny baby footprint.

Let Leslie help you design your locket–a nice treat for yourself or a gift for someone you love.

Leslie’s Origami Owl Facebook Page
And on Instagram: locketladies

And thank you Leslie, for your generous offer to donate 10% of proceeds to Nella’s Triple Crown Fund, in support of the National Down Syndrome Society.

Enjoying…

Her shadow obsession

Dual bedtime reading

Watching Lainey decorate cups for our traditional hospital baby toast

Twinsies

The little car that has entertained this girl, her older sister and both big brothers over the course of sixteen years

Nella nursing her baby by the front door

The end of the bump era–my beautiful friend took some baby belly pics last week.  For the record, it took me five minutes to sit down wearing those jeans and I almost got a pair of pliers to pull them off later that night.  This goose is cooked. 

What are you…listening to, reading, working on, looking forward to…?

Listening to: The Lumineers, Flowers in Your Hair
Reading: How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
Working on: Making very purposeful decisions about the input in my life.  I often do this little cup analogy in my head because Lord knows I love analogies.  If our “cup” is full with good things–our family, people that challenge us to love, creativity that inspires us, reading that moves us, etc.–there isn’t room for anything else.  If we choose to make time for those not-so-great things, something good must spill over to make room.  I’m stingy with the good in my cup–I’m not letting it spill over.
Looking forward to:  My mama coming to stay with us for a little while and a handful of amazing women who I’ll be introducing on the blog soon.

I broke my favorite lens two weeks ago and immediately felt that wish-I-could-go-back regret I’ve felt in similar situations, like getting pulled over for speeding.  It was my fault, and I knew it.  I had my camera out of its case and was switching lenses, walking around with my camera dangled over my shoulder and carelessly ignoring the risk of damage.  As soon as it happened, I told myself I wasn’t going to do this anymore.  I knew better, and it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. Even though I have a couple camera cases I love, I still take my camera out by itself, dangle it over my shoulder while we’re out and about or throw other kid junk into my camera case–all risking damage to our important investments.

I got my lens back from the camera “hospital” today, and there’s a new routine for how everything is protected.  I still love and use my bigger cases but now everything inside has further protection, thanks to Pampered Paparazzi–homemade neoprene camera and lens cases (think scuba suits for camera gear). 

Ever been toting your camera over your shoulder only to swing around and hear it ding the doorway or bang into the wall?  Nice.  We won’t be dinging anymore with the protective glove that slides nicely over everything.  And I’ll feel so much better heading to the beach with this baby.

Brett got a nice “I told you so” out of this, and he’s thrilled to see Mama being responsible. 

Mama of two, Nicole Roberts, is the creator of Pampered Paparazzi and shares a bit of her inspiration:

Why protective camera gear?  What inspired you to start this shop?

Nicole: As embarrasing as it is to admit, I used to throw my camera into my purse every day. I hated doing it, but with two small kids in tow, I didn’t have enough hands for my giant camera case as well. When a sippy cup of apple juice spilled into my purse and on my camera I knew something had to change. I still wanted to take my camera with me wherever I went so I set out on a search to find what I needed. I wanted something that would protect my camera but it had to fit into my purse. When my search was unsuccessful I simply decided to create what I needed and build it to fit my needs. Pampered Paparazzi was born and over the last few years many cameras have found the protection they needed.

I love hearing about creative work spaces and routines.  Describe your work space and a typical day of creating camera cases.

With two children on the go, my typical work hour is anything but typical. I find time between school drop off and pickups, dr. appts, ballet, dinner and baths. Among the chaos, I find comfort in the quiet moments that I can steal to be alone with my thoughts, a cup of tea and my sewing machine. My workspace is located at the base of my bay window which opens up to the hills behind my house. The natural light shines over the piles of fabric, laundry, toys, and magazine cut-outs of dream projects. Someday I hope to have a large sewing room in which I can expand my skills and my business.

Favorite thing about running your business?

As a stay at home mom, I love every moment with my children. However, when I created Pampered Paparazzi it gave me an outlet to be creative and to help provide for my family. It is also very satisifying to know that I have created a product that has been useful to others. With every camera case order that I receive I feel the same pride as when I completed my first case for myself. It is a simple pleasure and pride that I carry with me as I venture back into the carpool lane and into another day of kids, crafts, and craziness.

*****

Pampered Paparazzi offers a variety of styles and colors for camera and lens cases–check them out! 

My 50 mm is much happier now.