Category Archives: Our Everyday

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse

Greensboro Reenactment

Owen has been studying the Revolutionary War at school, and has been chatting about it nonstop. When Our State Magazine featured the reenactment, I knew we would have to go. Plus, I grew up in Greensboro so it was cool to learn about. Michael was out of town on a church Men’s retreat and my parents live in Greensboro so win win. I got to spend time with my Mom + the boys got to learn about history. We learned a lot about the actual battles that took place in Greensboro, where they were, and all of the different types of soldiers. Harrison may have even been more fascinated than Owen. We ended up sitting next to one of Owen’s friends from school in Raleigh, which was super fun to run into them. They had a whole tent camp set up for you to wonder through, which was really neat to see. Then, all of the soldiers marched to war and more soldiers joined in the marching. The place was packed out and I ended up standing next to another photographer so we chatted about photographing the whole thing #teamcanon The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was an important part of the war and you can read more about it here. After all the hiking through the park. we headed to Ozzie’s for ice cream. If you live in Greensboro, and haven’t been, it’s delicious! Almost as good as Beaches-n-Cream:)

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The boys with General Greene.Greensboro Reenactment 2343P I N this to pinterestGreensboro Reenactment 3412P I N this to pinterestraleigh photographer 45_3928P I N this to pinterestraleigh photographer 45_3929P I N this to pinterestraleigh photographer 45_3930P I N this to pinterestraleigh photographer 45_3931P I N this to pinterestraleigh photographer 45_3932P I N this to pinterestraleigh photographer 45_3933P I N this to pinterestraleigh photographer 45_3934raleigh photographer 45_3935P I N this to pinterest

As Seen in People Magazine and the Bump | Raleigh Newborn and Family Photographer

 

 

 

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So this room has been a project for months..I feel like I have been working on it and working on it and working on it…but, it has also been fun to have a project. I never really redecorate anything, and Harrison’s nursery looked exactly like it did when it was Owen’s. The boys sure have enjoyed it! I have a big brother so we grew up alternating watching Anne of Green Gables or Star Wars. So naturally, after seeing every movie a million times, I’m totally a Star Wars fan. (I was just really nosy and read The Princess Diarist, too) It took me a loooonnnnng time to finish this room, and I’m sure I’ll still change things around a little, but I’m glad it’s finally done!

 

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We decided to get two twin beds in Harrison’s room so that when we have cousins staying, etc, we have more room in the house. Owen’s room still looks the same, although I’m sure he’d love an update, and every once in a while he sleeps in there, but he mostly loves that he can be in the same room as his brother.Their beds can be found here from American Furniture Warehouse in Greensboro. I love that there are drawers. Any extra storage helps!

Their quilts, sheets, shams + droid pillows are from Pottery Barn Kids.  (Thank you Mimi!) Chewbacca is from Build a Bear. (Harrison loooooves that place) He smells like Chocolate and of course, has all kinds of Chewy sounds. Owen did not want a new bear but requested that we get his all time favorite Duffy bear a darth vader outfit from Build a Bear. I love that little lightsaber – it totally lights up.

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raleigh child photography NC 343_3862P I N this to pinterestI think Michael was the most excited about bringing this  home. I saw the stormtrooper at Target before Christmas and of course wanted to buy one every time I was in there, but I just couldn’t spend the 100.00. We ended up with scoring it on clearance after Christmas for 25.00. Woo-hoo. Harrison loves that he makes the noise, “pew, pew” and Owen is exactly the same height as the storm trooper.

The letters on the wall are from Hobby Lobby. And the cashier wanted to wrap each letter individually, and I got all kinds of stares like, what is she doing with all those letters + we got places to go. It was not easy to find every letter, and my sister-in-law may have been awesome and picked up a Y at the Hobby Lobby in Greensboro for me. We are both Hobby Lobby addicts, so of course, she spent like 60.00 while she was there. And here’s the thing about Hobby Lobby. Almost the entire store, is always on sale. If what you want isn’t on sale, it will be next week, OR, download the app so you always have a 40% off coupon. Dangerous, I know.

Curtains are from when Pottery Barn kids was leaving Triangle Town Center…about seven years ago. They just happened to fit the nursery perfectly!

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Some Jedi books the boys are reading…

Star Wars

Darth Vader and Son

Star Wars a New Hope

Star Wars: Jedi Academy

Return of the Jedi

And on our wish list..
Star Wars ABC-3PO: Alphabet Book (I know Harrison would love this one)

 

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Ok, then there’s the millenium falcon alarm clock. I think I was a little bit more excited about this than the boys. I was so so excited that I think they think the clock is magical or something. It is so fun for them to wake up to the theme song and all kinds of other space noises.

Pajamas from Hanna Andersson.

The hyper drive  and Star Wars marquee light are also from Pottery barn kids. This was like a must for the star wars room. I was pleasantly surprised to figure out I had a credit card with rewards I hadn’t cashed in for over a year, so I was able to get pottery barn gifts cards for these – year made.

Below that are the Cameron two shelf bookcase +metal bins, and mercer rug. I was super excited to get these over President’s Day Weekend, because all of this was crazy on sale. Like, if you are going to shop at Pottery Barn Kids, that weekend is the stuff. I knew we needed a low bookshelf for the signs overhead and that one was perfect. The bins include labels, too, which Owen loves organizing and came up with categories right away.

The Parker Chair is from West Elm. I went in there trying to figure out how to spend a gift card and that chair matched the Star Wars theme perfectly!

Let’s talk about the remote control R2D2. I was just as crazy about this toy as the boys. I mean, it projects Leia. Whaaaaaaa? They did not have toys this cool when I was a kid. We were able to score it for 20% off, too.raleigh child photography NC 343_3858P I N this to pinterest

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Owen has been into legos since he was 2 years old. Duplo was his BFF and at 3 1/2 he moved up to the big legos. He has loooooved putting them together, and they have been a great challenge for him. I think he got the Millennium Falcon for Christmas one year, so that was sitting around the house already waiting for their new room, and Darth Vader was in his Easter basket one year.

I love having plants in their room..especially snake plants to help clean the air. (Totally still waiting on a darth vader pot to come in the mail for my snake plant:)So, when I found this death star air plant...LOVE.

There is a big, let’s make a fairy garden terrarium craze for girls, right, and then one day on Pinterest, because what else do you do with all your free time but look up star wars ideas on pinterest, I found the Star Wars Terrariums. Amazzzzing! We went to Homewood Nursery and the boys got to sit at a table and we got one on one help with ours, which was just awesome. I feel like I would have been so in the dark trying to follow the instructions. Homewood is one of my favorite places, and a great spot to make a fairy garden or a Star Wars terrarium. They also have classes on Saturdays.

Our light up Death Star canvas is from Hobby Lobby. If you haven’t been there, make sure you block off an entire day. Ok, maybe a couple of hours. Bring snacks because you will just get lost in there, and you’ll need substanance. It is similar to one from Pottery Barn Kids. It’s not super bright so fun for them to have on at night when they go to sleep.

 

We ended up leaving the wall bookshelf by Harrison’s bed. He loves being able to reach the books and I try to rotate and put the seasonal books there, but he always ends up adding his favories.raleigh child photography NC 343_3860P I N this to pinterest

As Seen in People Magazine + On The Bump. Raleigh Commercial and Styled Family Photographer.Rebecca Keller is a family photographer featured in People Magazine who spends her time sipping iced coffee, chasing after her two little ones, reading, running, and editing. Because we chat a lot about our personal lives on the blog, we may receive commissions on affiliate links in articles. Contact Rebecca Keller Photography for more information about Spring Mommy and Me Mini Sessions Raleigh and Raleigh family photography.

 

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A Mason Jar Salad Party

mason jar salad party 45_3306P I N this to pinterestSo a few weeks ago, I got invited to a Mason Jar Party. And now I am hooked. Lunch for a week in around 20 – 30 minutes? YES. When one of my BFFS invited me, I was seriously excited. Ok, so what is a Mason Jar Party? The host picks a recipe. (This was a recipe from last week – so yum! A salad with zoodles– yes!!!!) Then, she sends out an email with all the ingredients and everyone emails back with what they are going to bring. Sign up Genius would also be great for this, especially since it’s free.


Ours are planned for Monday mornings, which is perfect for having lunch ready for the week. (Sunday evening could also be a good time.) When everyone shows up, they put their ingredients on the kitchen table. Then, you just walk around and fill up your five mason jars (We are using this size+ I also ordered mine from amazon) one by one. Then, you’re done, you can leave + lunch is done for the week. The salads have been SO YUMMY too. Some of the recipes have cheese or grains, so I just leave that out of my jar. The first week someone made a salad dressing with the recipe. This past week there wasn’t one, so I just used my salad dressing at home. I have added some extra protein at lunch time, too. Also, I couldn’t make it last week, so my BFF Brooke took my jars + ingredients and I can sub for her, too. Win-win! These were so yummy, I had to stop myself from trying to eat them for dinner, too! Eeeek!

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Rebecca Keller is a Raleigh Children Family 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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August 16th and I just sent Owen back to school yesterday- can hardly believe summer is already over. Summer really is my favorite. (I reallly realllly realllly do not like carpool. ha. ) It is going to be a challenge to continue to get up early and make real food breakfasts but it’s important to me so I gotta make it happen. I also spent a lot of time at Starbucks last year, I’ll admit it. So making coffee in the Vitamix takes a little bit more time, too.

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Favorites for August

I just love all these pretty flower ideas

Paint color ideas

Our favorite back to school books. (see here)

Eggs in the pressure cooker? You know I love, love, love, my instapot. Never even thought about it for eggs.

I tried pacifica nail polish this month – loooooved.

A few things I want to read/tackle this month:

I need to learn how to use instagram stories. I tried when making this video behind the scenes from a recent shoot with Ericka, but I gave up and just took a plain video. I’ve heard good things about this tutorial so I need to dive right in and learn alllll about it. I know everyone loves snapchat, but can I handle one more social media account?

Saving to read. Last year I pulled my IT band and it was such a bummer. Now that I’m trying to start running again..(but I’m going back and forth between running and swimming…)

These are super fun. Please no one have a session on the side of a cliff.

Since organic all beef hotdogs are whole30, these have inspired me to try a hotdog wrapped in bacon. Oh my.

So, what your favorite candy says about your personality.

Just for fun…

A session around this time last year – I have lovvved photographing this sweet little one’s first year and just got to see him at our Coastal Minis. 

A session in August two years ago – eeek! what a perfect session at Holden Beach!

Pretty stuff

Loving how long this shirt is (and inexpensive, too!) When I’m out shooting, I love wearing long shirts.

Totally crushing on these boots. This heat has me ready for fall!

Love these hair clips!

Also, as Ericka mentioned here, this necklace…it has the coordinates of Holden Beach. (You can find it here at Sugar Britches in Holden Beach.

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Rebecca Keller is a Raleigh Children Family 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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Children’s Book Recommendations

What We’re Reading in August 

 

It’s back to school already, so our house has been loaded up with back to school books among other things. Sharing a few of the boys favorites on the blog today. This Jedi was super ready for first grade yesterday morning. (after days of telling us he was just going to stay home)

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The Day the Crayons Came Home

Owen is a huge fan of The Day the Crayons Quit, so he was super excited that there was another book this year. He has poured and poured over this book. My favorite is the green crayon off to see the world, and the fact that yellow and orange finally settled their fight over who was the color of the sun. Both Crayons books are so super cute!

Monsters Love School

Eeek! A must read about what happens at school. All the bright and fun monsters tell the story about what to expect during school. Great read for kindergartners, too!

 

Blue Boat

Red Truck is one of Harrison’s favorite books, so when we saw another book by Kersten Hamilton, we swooped it up. Cute story about an ocean rescue. Blue boat saves the day!

 

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don’t!

We love, love LOVED this book. It is absolutely hilarious. I love how Mom tells you if you want to bring it, you’d better not lose it. And of course, your piano might just float away. So much silly in this book, and we spent a lot of August at the beach, so it was perfect. Another book by Elise Parsley,If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! is so so cute, too, and perfect for back to school. After reading the piano book, the boys loved it so much, we had to order the alligator one, too. They love it!

Pete the Cat’s Got Class

This is a Pete the Cat story about math and it comes with some super cool math flash cards. One of Pete’s friends is struggling in Math and Pete figures out if they use cars to help it will all work out.

 

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Rebecca Keller is a Raleigh Newborn and Family 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.