This blanket and hat for super teeny EAKS are hitting the post office for their journey down to Maryland today. That’s 10 months of knitting right there folks.  Seriously.  Dr. Kiang made a whole person in less time.  And I made a blanket.  And now I’m on hiatus from knitting for you. So please [...]]]>

This blanket and hat for super teeny EAKS are hitting the post office for their journey down to Maryland today. That’s 10 months of knitting right there folks.  Seriously.  Dr. Kiang made a whole person in less time.  And I made a blanket.  And now I’m on hiatus from knitting for you. So please stop having babies. For a hot minute. Thanks.

This is the Endora blanket from Berrocco. I love the contrast of the structured cables against the Muppet fur, fleecy border.

And this is a TrickyKnits designed hat from Welcoming Home Baby: The Handcrafted Way. This was super quick and satisfying to knit up but it’s definitely more of a photo prop than a cozy, baby winter hat.  Still, I’m a fan I think.

I say, “HO! HO! HO!” I have no problem putting dogs in stupid outfits and compromising positions for my own entertainment and the entertainment of others. And project all you want onto these dogs, those are your issues, if they hated it, they’d let me know. They sure as hell let me know everything else. [...]]]>

I say, “HO! HO! HO!” I have no problem putting dogs in stupid outfits and compromising positions for my own entertainment and the entertainment of others. And project all you want onto these dogs, those are your issues, if they hated it, they’d let me know. They sure as hell let me know everything else. Like when I’m not sharing enough chicken, steak, or lamb. Yeah, I said it. I feed my dog lamb. And DUG would feed them filet.

Let’s be honest. I paid good money for a Yorkshire Terrier (and I remind him of that every day) because every time I see them, they make me laugh and feel good. Why else would you get a dog? And now that I have Chewie, he makes me feel good every day. He’s worth the weight of 10 Chewies in gold, and then some. And when I put him through the absolute torture of dressing him like a Bee, hypothetically of course, and playing the Black Eyed Peas song “Imma Be” at full volume while he marches around the house, I don’t feel an ounce of guilt. And his belly’s full of chicken. Or mozzarella. So it’s a win/win.

And for the record, when we were packing and someone came across the Mickey Mouse lavender Fairy Hat (I kid you not), and someone put it on Rufus’ head, and it was obvious that he did not like having something on his head, because he stood completely still and refused to move, I was the one to remove it, immediately. Well, immediately after running to the bathroom because I was laughing so hard I almost peed myself. Or was it that Hot Dog costume?…

Really, though, I prefer to think of myself as Chewie’s Person, and I try to be as good to him (and people) as he is to me and everyone he meets. He and his brother are amazing and constant reminders of do unto others. And we could always stand to learn a bit, or sometimes a lot, from them about how to treat each other. See, it’s not all ice in there where my heart goes. Some of it just melted. A little.

Anywhoo, here’s my nephew, Rufus Elton Lacicata, dutifully waiting until after the Thanksgiving holiday to bring you some rainbow Christmas cheer. Dad would have a fit if we’d posted this one day too early, and even though we did this shoot probably last May, Rufus told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was not to post it until after Thanksgiving. So here we are.

Yes, the Dogs talk to me… Remember what your Mother (or Daddies) taught you, If you don’t have anything nice to say, shut the @#$% up. Or something like that.

Seasons Greetings! Et cetera, et cetera.

Little Miss A has a new brother and he’s a cutie! He showed up as a present for us right when we got home from our honeymoon! I heard he gave up his first smile to Mom this weekend, but I didn’t get one when we had our little photo shoot the other day. He [...]]]>

Little Miss A has a new brother and he’s a cutie! He showed up as a present for us right when we got home from our honeymoon! I heard he gave up his first smile to Mom this weekend, but I didn’t get one when we had our little photo shoot the other day. He was a natural in front of the camera though.

In lieu of the traditional black and whites we were planning, we decided to go with a more modern monochromatic look.

Little Miss A doesn’t know it yet, but she provided the stand-in for our set up. Ariel. With feet. After she’s given up her voice to be with Eric.

Sweetie, today you are 5 years old. I remember the day you were born and I went to the hospital to meet you, just like we went to meet your little brother this past Saturday. Chewie wasn’t even born yet, and I hadn’t met Dug. Can you believe that? I bet you don’t remember life [...]]]>

Sweetie, today you are 5 years old. I remember the day you were born and I went to the hospital to meet you, just like we went to meet your little brother this past Saturday. Chewie wasn’t even born yet, and I hadn’t met Dug. Can you believe that? I bet you don’t remember life without them both.

That day was one of the most exciting of my life, when we all stood around in wonder looking at you as a teeny, tiny, little swaddled bundle. We wondered with excitement what you would be like as you grew, and how all our lives would change with you.  And a thousand other things we weren’t sure about.  You seemed so very small and the world so big.

Well A, you’ve made everyone’s life a million times more fun and so full of love with your sweet smile and your generous nature. You remember everything way better than I do.  And you make sure Dug doesn’t mess up too badly when he tries his hardest to make you laugh.  You never let him put stamps on his head or eat stuff that’s not food.  And for that I thank you.  You are a great friend to Chewie who you always say is “cute and funny” and he does always miss you when you both are not together because you’ve grown up into great friends.  We still call him Chewgie sometimes because that’s what you called him back when you were learning to talk and could only say a few words.  And we all love the fun we have when we do photo shoots together.  Sometimes just the girls, and sometimes Dug too.

We are so happy that you love school and the new friends you’ve made this past year.  And it’s so much fun that you love pink and all sorts of girlie things.  I love reading with you and making art, and Dug’s crazy about drawing and coloring with you.  We love that you make us cards and are learning how to write so well.  And we’ve had such great times going on the train to NYC together.

I hope you always remember our wedding day.  It was so special that you walked down the aisle of the Church like a princess with your Mom.  And that you picked your own dress.  We had so much fun with you, and you partied harder than any of the grown-ups! We are so excited for our little family that keeps growing!  We just know you are going to be the most amazing Big Sister and we are all going to have a great time getting to know Baby C.  This is going to be such an exciting year for us all!

Happy 5th Birthday, A!

We love you so much,
Chewie, Dug and LaLa

A night at the beach with a few of my favorite people. And no bug spray. A good idea gone bad.

Can you believe Little Miss A is almost 5?! She’s the first kid I’ve been photographing since birth. And she’s our beautiful Flower Girl in just a few short weeks… Holy crap… [...]]]>

A night at the beach with a few of my favorite people. And no bug spray. A good idea gone bad.

Can you believe Little Miss A is almost 5?! She’s the first kid I’ve been photographing since birth. And she’s our beautiful Flower Girl in just a few short weeks… Holy crap… Is that right?! A few weeks? I’ve gotta go do, uh, some stuff… I think… Isn’t there some stuff I should be doing?

The Big Day is quickly approaching.  As we were preparing our save-the-dates, a friend who got hitched last month said to me, “Oh! The save-the-dates.  Exciting.  You’d better hold on from here on in!” And all of a sudden, that’s what it feels like.  An autobahn ride from here to late September.

I couldn’t [...]]]>

The Big Day is quickly approaching.  As we were preparing our save-the-dates, a friend who got hitched last month said to me, “Oh! The save-the-dates.  Exciting.  You’d better hold on from here on in!” And all of a sudden, that’s what it feels like.  An autobahn ride from here to late September.

I couldn’t be having more fun, taking pictures, designing stationary, picking clothing, and planning our honeymoon.  It’s strange, because I didn’t take well to all this in the beginning.  But I think the excitement is over-taking any of my party-planning misgivings.  Mostly… Or maybe it’s the tequila.

To all of you, from us here at Sequined Asphault Studio, we wish you all the blessings, fun, and good fortune we have received this past year and more!

And for you loyal visitors, I shall refer you back to the very first edition of ‘the stand in’ so [...]]]>

To all of you, from us here at Sequined Asphault Studio, we wish you all the blessings, fun, and good fortune we have received this past year and more!

And for you loyal visitors, I shall refer you back to the very first edition of ‘the stand in’ so you can come full circle and see the beginning and the end of the shoot.

Oh, hang on. Master Chew has asked me to include some of the out-takes with his commentary so you can see just what a Christmas sweatshop he has to deal with annually over here at Sequined Asphault Studio to get these greetings out to you. He’s asking for over-time pay…

Chewie says he vetoed these because 1} not Christmasy enough (although he doubts his people can handle how angelic and not curmudgeony he ‘appears’) and 2} waaay too Christmasy.

Now he’s just mouthing off:
1} shoddy assistant (someone better mind his Christmas stocking lest some coal arrive) and rogue tongue
2} antlers too heavy
3} begging undignified to a Yorkshire Terrier caught on film
4} well, this is just humiliating, now, isn’t it

Grumplestiltskin over here is going to be sorry when he checks his stocking tomorrow. The Talent can be so demanding. Best wishes to you and yours! xo

Chewie on vacation in Maine. Ass-essing the pillow situation.

I have no idea how he got there.  Seriously no idea.  Because he’s not allowed there in the first place.  But in the middle of the night Dug is like “Is Chewie in the bed?” and I’m all “NO leave me alone” and [...]]]>

Chewie on vacation in Maine. Ass-essing the pillow situation.

I have no idea how he got there.  Seriously no idea.  Because he’s not allowed there in the first place.  But in the middle of the night Dug is like “Is Chewie in the bed?” and I’m all “NO leave me alone” and then like 2 hours later Dug was like “Is Chewie in the bed?” And I’m like “NO stop ASKING me that” and then “Are you sure?” and I’m all “YES I’m sure  – LOOK – SCARF (throws scarf across the room) SHIRT (throws shirt across the room) See?! Just clothes.” “M – there’s something furry under your pillow.” And I’m all “Argh there’s nothing… (lifts both pillows)” And there he is. On his side. Crushed underneath my head and two pillows.  All 3 pounds of him so smooshed that he and his fur are  completely flat and matted.  So warm and peaceful that I slid him half way across the bed in my fear of him having been suffocated before seeing any sign of life.  I have no idea how he survived.  Or how he got into the bed in the first place.

Thanks, CawfeeGuy, for all the fun, love and laughter over the years. You are all that, and a bag of chips. Mmmmm. Chips.  Wishing you the Happiest of Birthdays!  (Instead of mini-golf, this probably should have been a Prom picture of us from all those years ago, but then we’d all have [...]]]>

Thanks, CawfeeGuy, for all the fun, love and laughter over the years. You are all that, and a bag of chips. Mmmmm. Chips.  Wishing you the Happiest of Birthdays!  (Instead of mini-golf, this probably should have been a Prom picture of us from all those years ago, but then we’d all have to revisit that 80′s/90′s hair and those drapes I borrowed from a neighbor to saunter around in all night.) xoxo

The Hottie Husband

The Cutie Kid

Life with these 2 characters around is a whole different universe.