How to Send your Christmas Cards on Time…and Avoid the Naughty List

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raleigh-boyce-farms-family-photographer_4059P I N this to pinterestArticle by Ericka of Little Apple Styles

The fact that I am writing this post makes me giggle.  If you know me in real life you know that I work best under pressure (the Oh No, this is due today kind of pressure).  Last year I had an epiphany.  How wonderful and refreshing it is to mail your Christmas Cards on time and at no extra cost. They are an investment after all!   I was so happy they finally would arrive BEFORE December 24th.  Unlike past years, I did not have to pay a rush fee to the card printing company or upgrade the shipping for them to arrive faster.

I am sharing with you some tips for you to become a Christmas-Card-Genius this year!

  1. It is never too early to start planning:  Clothing with holiday colors and fun accessories go on sale towards the end of the season.  For example I stocked up with Christmas pajamas in January.  I am so excited to use them for my Christmas Photo Session this year!
  1. Keep your address list updated: I keep my family & friends address list in an excel spreadsheet on my computer.  I update it as I receive information on them moving, getting married, having kids.  Since I have little ones – I also add/edit my list as I receive Birthday Cards and/or Classrooms Lists.  This way I know where to send my cards and I also have a good idea on how many cards I am going to need to order.
  1. Take your photos early (Please hear me out on this one!) Avoid scrambling around during photographer’s busiest season. Contact your photographer to make sure you are on the schedule.  Do not forget to double check their current turnaround time.  Starting in September, most photographers will also start communicating their holiday schedule and information for their mini-sessions!  They will fill up fast, so make sure you sign up as soon as you possibly can. I am so super excited to be styling Becky’s Holiday Minis – some dates are fully booked but there is still some availability. If you are interested in any of them contact us ASAP
  2. Order your Christmas Cards!  Off season prices are cheaper AND you will not have to upgrade shipping options if you have plenty of time.   Several companies, like Minted, also offer a free recipient address printing.  I used it last year and it was just the cherry on top.  It saved me time addressing them myself and they looked so much more presentable! You can click over to Minted to see their gorgeous Foil-Pressed Holiday Cards, too! (sooo pretty!)

  1. Order your Holiday-Themed stamps early: These stamps are normally available by the beginning of October.  They can be pre-ordered here. Last year I had my heart set on the ornament set stamps and it was sold out at my closest USPS offices.  I will be pre-ordering this year for sure!                       I personally think that having your cards addressed, sealed and stamped by November 30th is ideal. You can drop off them in the mail December 1st.  What a great way to start the month!  You can then sit back and wait on receiving your family and friends cards…and stress about parties and gifts…but that is a subject for a completely different post!

 

A few images from last year’s minis (and this year’s are going to be sooo cute, too!) and of course, my Christmas card!

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Ericka Jimmerson is a busy mom of two who runs Little Apple Styles, photography + event styling. Contact her at littleapplestyles@gmail.com if you need help making your event picture perfect!

Rebecca Keller is a Raleigh Newborn and Maternity Photographer featured in People Magazine and on several blogs including The Bump and Let the Kids Dress Themselves. Because we chat a lot about our personal lives on the blog, we may receive commissions on affiliate links in articles.

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I read so many good books this month – between our last beach trip and our trip to Atlanta, I had a lot of miles in the car to read. On our Atlanta trip, we ended up going to Alabama to see our cousins, too, so even more car time. I loved every single book I read this month – so excited to share all of them!

Cutting for Stone

Wow, this was a very deep book – it is probably not something I would have ever picked out just looking at the size of it. My neighbor gave it to me, and I’m so glad she did. So many topics covered in this book, and it’s also very medical. It’s the story of twin boys born in Ethiopia + the story follows them through their lives. Expect to be mesmerized by this book and spending a lot of time pouring through this story.

 

Present Over Perfect

This book was just for me. And I feel like most Mamas can relate. I highly recommend it. I highlighted so much in this book, and my type A self who is now becoming a lot less type A loved this book. A must read and a book I feel like I will need to read again and again.

 

Doing Good Is Simple

Another book I was thrilled with this month. The author lives in Raleigh, and what an awesome organization he started. I feel like this is one of those life changing books you should read. I couldn’t put it down – I think I read this in one day. Life changing.

 

To Kill a Mockingbird

I do not know how it took me this long to read this book. I somehow got through school without reading it? Who knows! It was a such a great read following Scout, Jem, Atticus and Boo Radley. The trial was mesmerizing and loved learning all about the character of Atticus Finch. Glad I finally read this book!

 

 A Fall of Marigolds

I can’t remember where I saw this book recommended but I happened to pick it up right before September 11th. I didn’t know that this story was about 09/11 and also the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in 1911. This book is a story of two women, both with the same scarf, one who went through the fire, and one 09/11. It was a super quick read and fascinating story.

Linking up with Modern Ms. Darcy . Check out her site – so many great book ideas!

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Rebecca Keller is a Raleigh Newborn and Maternity Photographer featured in People Magazine and on several blogs including The Bump and Let the Kids Dress Themselves. Because we chat a lot about our personal lives on the blog, we may receive commissions on affiliate links in articles.

Chapel Hill Baby Photographer

Running Through the Garden 

Let me tell you, this little one was just precious running around the UNC Arboretum. What a sweet session celebrating his first birthday. We got so many sweet images with his Mommy and Daddy! You can see his sweet little personality just shining through. It may have been a million degrees, thank you, August, but you wouldn’t know it by this little one’s smile.

According to Mom..

What kind of feel were you thinking for your session? For our session the main thing I wanted to focus was my family. I choose Chapel Hill as our backdrop and we took pictures in the arboretum on the Chapel Hill campus and the surrounding area. Grayson loves flowers so we were able to get some amazing shots with the flowers in the background and he even picked a few for pictures. The session was perfect.

Who are the members of your family and a quick fact about each one. My husband Matt and I are big Carolina fans, especially my husband which is why Chapel Hill was such a great backdrop for this session. My son Grayson is 13 months and he is full of energy and enthusiasm. Becky was able to capture so many of his unique and special expressions in this session. I was born and raised in Hillsborough and I grew up spending a great deal of time in Chapel Hill so it was fun to have our session there.

What was your favorite part of the session? My favorite part was seeing Grayson play with the flowers and Becky was able to catch some great shots of him at the perfect moment.

What’s your favorite family activity? Our current favorite activity is going to the pool. We all love the water, especially Grayson.

What was the weather like the day of your session? hot hot hot.

Tell me about the outfits you wore to the session – why you chose them, etc. We decided to go with a blue theme for our session. I purchased my blue dress from j.crew and Grayson wore a seersucker suit my Mom bought him for his birthday. My husband Matt wore a blue shirt.

What props did you bring and why? The only props we brought was Grayson’s lovey to keep him occupied if he got fussy and we did have to use it a few times.

What are some words of wisdom you have for other families preparing for a session? I think you should definitely use the style service. It helped out a great deal and our pictures turned out amazing. The stylist helped bring everything together.

Were you worried about any parts of the session beforehand? I was not worried because I felt like we were in good hands.

Styled by Little Apple Styles

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Rebecca Keller is a Newborn and Family Photographer featured in People Magazine and on The Bump. Contact Rebecca Keller Photography for more information about family and newborn photography and travel sessions.

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Holden Beach One Year Birthday Photos

Those Toes 

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Seriously? Could those toes be any cuter?! Super excited to be sharing another Coastal Mini this evening. (I know, I know, they were July 3rd. I am still humming away over here blogging and blogging) I have photographed this sweet little one since he was a newborn, and what a joy he is. Absolutely precious and full of smiles for his Mommy and Daddy. If you’ve read any of the other Coastal Mini posts, then you’d know that after our second mini, there was a house fire that closed down the road, (This sweet family was stuck and couldn’t get to us) and there was also a huge storm. They both happened at about the same time and by the time they cleared up, we were able to have this family’s mini. (yay!!!!!) And this little one, he was just filled with so much joy! He had no clue the rest of us were stressing out. Such a cutie..ok time for the images!

Styled by Little Apple Styles

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Rebecca Keller is a Newborn and Baby Photographer in Raleigh, North Carolina as seen in People Magazine and on The Bump. Contact Rebecca Keller Photography for more information about newborn and baby photos.

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September Goals costcoP I N this to pinterest

September – the month it becomes fall. (yay!) So many great things about fall…but then I forgot about fantasty football drafts and ESPN – ha! Our house has been a little quiet all summer with sports, but it’s about to rev back up!

Goals for September.

1.Rest. One of the things I tend to do in the fall is go, go, go. I think it’s important for me this year to not take on too much work, read, and spend time with my babies, too. Fall just gets so exciting. I’m not the only one right? I just want to do all the things.

2.Plan out our fall calendar + fall activities. (because if I don’t I will end up saying yes to way too much!) Trying to figure out some fun fall trips? We absolutely loved Sky Top Orchard last year! (see our trip here)

3.Stick to our weekly library trips. It is hard to get to the library to return/check out books. (Even though it’s so super close!) My boys are such bookworms + have loved having stacks and stacks of books to pick from.

4.There’s a project I want to roll out for just my clients + I really want to get it started this month.

5.Finalize all our fall minis – yay!

6.Find some good paleo pumpkin recipes.

7.Finish Halloween costumes so we are all ready for Halloween Minis. (my boys change their minds every week!)

8.Fall DECOR!!!!! Time to decorate. And you know, Raleigh does have a Hobby Lobby now.

What are your goals for September? holden beach wilmington nc 34_3320P I N this to pinterest

Linking up with My So Called Chaos this month.

Rebecca Keller is a Raleigh Newborn Photographer as seen in People Magazine and On The Bump. Contact Rebecca Keller Photography for more information about family + maternity photography.

 

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