Posted in Weddings2 comments

I’m not really an outwardly emotional person.  I don’t cry a lot…I’m not really a hugger…but on Saturday all that was out the window.  Ashely and Lee were pronounced husband and wife as they took off down the aisle.  I felt my chest get heavy and a huge smile plastered across my face.  I followed them out of the church and immediately gave them the biggest hugs ever.  Little tears formed in the corner of my eyes and I realized what was happening.  I was getting emotional.  I was just so happy.  Everything about this day was right.   I was watching them take in the moment and soak up fact that they were husband and wife…and I just felt overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed at their happiness and overwhelmed that I got to be there to share it with them.  There are certain moments in life where everything just seems to come together in the most perfect way…and this was definitely one of those moments…

 

Here’s a little peek at their day…in all it’s perfection.

 

Chicago wedding photographer Chicago wedding photographer

 

Ashley and Lee…there are no words to describe how happy I am for you.  You guys are the definition of meant to be and I hope your lives together are nothing short of amazing.  I love you guys so much!!!!!!!

 

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by laurenwakefield

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  • LeolaK - September 6, 2011 - 8:33 pm

    Oooohhhh Nice! I’ve been waiting for this wedding! Stunning sneak peek!ReplyCancel

  • Janet Wakefield - September 6, 2011 - 8:58 pm

    Wow that bride picture is absolutely beautiful!
    What a keepsake from their day!ReplyCancel

Posted in Fashion Friday1 comment

Soooo…I’ve yet to blog about my newest obsession only because I figured it was just implied.   I’m just going to be blunt…if you are not on Pinterest…stop what you’re doing…and go get on it.  Truthfully, it can’t be explained in words.  You just have to go see the magnificence for yourself.  It’s like Disney World for adults.  It’s visual stimulation overload and I can’t get enough.  It’s great for home decorating ideas, inspiration, crafty projects, things you never knew you needed and now can’t live without…and my personal favorite…fashion.  It’s pin after pin of beautiful, lust-worthy fashion.  So today on Fashion Friday…it’s all about Pinterest.  These are my personal favs I have “pinned’ away for safe keeping…

 

Pinterest

 

These olive pants make me wanna die a little.

Pinterest

 

Mmmm…blazers.

Pinterest

 

Two words…green shoes.

Pinterest

 

 

While the fashion side of pinterest is amazing…there is SO much more.  These are a few pins from my “Things that make me smile” board.

Pinterest

 

Happy Fashion Friday!!!

 

 

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by laurenwakefield

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  • shannon-may - September 2, 2011 - 4:50 pm

    aahhh! this is so great!! i have been wanting to make “i love pinterest” a regular segment on my blog but keep putting it off!! this motivates me even more.ReplyCancel

Posted in Recipes : Healthy Swaps3 comments

A few weeks ago I talked about Gary and I’s mission to live a healthy lifestyle.  I’m happy to report it’s still going swimmingly.  I also said I would share some of our healthy “swaps” we eat on a weekly basis.  Without these I would be a goner.  One thing I refuse to do it give up the foods I love…so if you can’t beat em’…join em’ right?!?

One of my favorite all time meals is chicken fingers with Ranch dressing.  I mean is there really anything better?  I stumbled upon this recipe in one of my favorite cook books, Cook Yourself Thin and I was hooked.  It tastes just as good, if not better, than your run-of-the-mill chicken fingers and ranch but with less than than half the fat and calories.   I promise if you try this recipe you won’t look back.

 

Oven Baked Chicken Fingers with Ranch Dressing

For the chicken
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup nonfat buttermilk
1 pound chicken tenders (about 12)
1 1/2 cups cornflakes, crushed to medium crumbs
Nonstick cooking spray

 

For the Ranch

1 dry ranch packet (Hidden Valley is the best)

16 oz. 0% Plain Non Fat Greek Yogurt

Skim milk (if desired)

(This will make a lot of ranch, but it will keep for a few weeks)

Low Calorie, light ranch dressing, greek yogurt

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the garlic, spices and buttermilk. Add the chicken and turn in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

3. Place the cornflake crumbs on a plate. Drain the chicken tenders. Pick up a chicken tender with one hand, and turn it in the cornflake coating, using the other hand to gently press additional coating onto the sides. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Continue on in this way to coat all of the chicken pieces, arranging them on the baking sheet in a single layer.

4. Bake at 400 degrees until firm, about 15 minutes.

5. While the chicken is cooking, mix Greek yogurt and ranch packet together in a separate bowl.   If you like your ranch slightly thinner, you can add skim milk to desired consistency.

 

Oven Baked Chicken Tenders

If you like spicy food, add a little buffalo sauce to the marinade for a nice kick.  You can also drizzle it on top once they come out of the oven.  Or you can mix it in the ranch!  The possibilities are endless!

I hope this helps make your day a little healthier!

 

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by laurenwakefield

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  • laurie - September 1, 2011 - 3:36 pm

    Thanks for sharing! I am adding it to the list of meals for next week. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Maureen - September 2, 2011 - 8:10 pm

    Thanks for sharing! I think the kids would really like this, too!ReplyCancel

    • laurenwakefield - September 2, 2011 - 8:11 pm

      Oh yes! Definitely kid friendly! 🙂ReplyCancel

Posted in For Photographers3 comments

Ever since I attended Justin & Mary’s Spread the Love workshop I have been consciously working on making myself…and my brand…a Lovemark.  What is a Lovemark you ask?  A Lovemark is the next level of a brand.  It’s making yourself, and your brand, stand out above the rest.  It’s a feeling and an association that people feel when they think of you.  What are brands you love not only because of the product they offer but because of how they make you feel?  Brands that you are loyal to…no matter what?  I love Micheal Kors…not because I think his clothes are gorgeous…but because of how I feel when I wear them.  I love the way I feel when I see one of his ads and envision myself in them.  It’s far more the feeling than it is the product.

Mary asked us at Spread the Love to name some of our own Lovemarks.  Of course Starbucks was a very common answer.   I raised my hand and said not only was Starbucks my Lovemark…but my specific Starbucks.  The one I go to every day where they know my name and ask about my day.  As I mentioned in Friday’s post…Chicago is getting Pumpkin Spice early.  The big arrival day is tomorrow.  All the girls at my Starbucks know how much I LOVE me some pumpkin spice.  I went to get my coffee this morning and they told me I’d have to wait until tomorrow.  🙁 As I was waiting for my drink one of my barista friends ran to the back…opened up a container of Pumpkin Spice and gave me the drink I’d been waiting for all year.  Only because they know how much I love that drink…and how excited I was to have my first sip.  Lovemark.  Had I walked into any other Starbucks in Chicago that would have never happened.  But that Starbucks…MY Starbucks…cared.  And I go there, religiously, not because I love the coffee…but because of how they make me feel.  Every single day.

This is a great lesson to learn as a photographer.  There are thousands of photographers.  And there are thousands of photographers with really great work.  Amazing…beautiful work.  So how can you stand apart?  How can you…in a sea of photographers and beautiful pictures…make someone choose you.  I am challenging myself to be a Lovemark.  I am challenging myself evoke a feeling.  To be the Starbucks that opens the Pumpkin Spice early because they care.  And to take my brand to the next level.  Who’s with me?

 

Pumpkin Spice

 

And if you’re in Chicago…go get some Pumpkin Spice tomorrow.  It’s quite delightful.

 

Enough ramblings from me for today!  Have a great Monday!

 

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by laurenwakefield

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  • shannon-may - August 29, 2011 - 4:20 pm

    lauren!! i am loving, LOVING your blog reflections these days!! i am so inspired… and so encouraged in my own journey as a working photographer!ReplyCancel

  • Laurie - August 29, 2011 - 4:45 pm

    Now I want some pumpkin spice Starbucks goodness mmmm!!! Thanks for all of the great posts. Keep up the good work.ReplyCancel

  • Janet Wakefield - August 29, 2011 - 8:49 pm

    I am with you through thick and thin; and all the pumpkin spice Starbucks I can drink. When will Indy get ours?ReplyCancel

Posted in Engagements3 comments

What a morning!  I had a minor blog crisis as my blog went down for an undetermined amount of time (sorry if this effected you)…which then caused me to have a major meltdown…because that’s what I do when I get stressed out.  So basically…after 4 hours of trying to get these photos uploaded…I finally succeeded!  This just goes to show you how awesome this couple is as it was worth that much time to share their hotness with you.

Colleen and J.R. are the kind of people you meet and instantly like.  They’re fun, personable, incredibly in love (I love the way the look at each other…you can’t fake that), and just all around nice people.  It was insanely windy…slightly rainy…and yet we managed to have an amazing session together!  I’d say that screams good people.  So…since technically I’ve kept you waiting for 4 hours…feast your eyes on Colleen and J.R…

 

Chicago Engagement Photographer, North Avenue Beach

 

Chicago Engagement Photographer, North Avenue Beach

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, North Avenue Beach

 

It was windy…but they still rocked it.  🙂

Chicago Engagement Photographer, North Avenue Beach

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, North Avenue Beach

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

So intense…love it!

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Colleen…you are absolutely stunning!!!

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

I love they way they look at each other.

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Ahhh…the linger…

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Rawr…

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Chicago Engagement Photography, Lincoln Park

 

Colleen and J.R…thank you so much for being so much fun to work with!  I had such a great time with you guys…wind and all!  🙂

Happy Monday!

 

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by laurenwakefield

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  • Shelly Lane - August 22, 2011 - 8:07 pm

    I am in love with this session! These two are gorgeous and their love is looks so natural! Just Beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • Colleen - August 22, 2011 - 9:03 pm

    Aww, thanks Lauren!! I have been looking forward to seeing these…there are some really great ones despite the wind and rain. You do such amazing work and are such a pleasure to work with, even at 6am!
    I still wish we would have gotten that pouring rain shot…of course it stopped just then!ReplyCancel

  • Janet Wakefield - August 23, 2011 - 1:08 am

    Wow what a handsome couple – and the photos – the wind actually helped make the pictures even better!
    Way to go Lauren!ReplyCancel

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