Taking Pictures.
I use a Nikon D40. It was my mother’s day gift last year and I love it! I do most of my editing in iphoto (for Mac) and do a lot of playing on picnik.com (amazing and addictive site!). I always use a vintage tone for my photos and lighten them a bit. Cropping can take a ‘so-so’ photo and make it amazing.
Hair Products.
I use the cheap stuff! ‘Totally twisted’ mousse by Herbal Essence and ‘ice shine’ hairspray by Pantene. I’m not afraid to use a lot of product LOL! And I use a diffuser to dry my hair.
How I Met My Sweetie.
Steve and I were both finished with our undergraduate degrees and living in Southern California. Our roommates were dating and we met thru them. They were taking a swing dance class and asked each of us to join–just for fun, not to set us up. Steve likes to say that he danced his way into my heart. Initially, I wasn’t attracted to him, but as I got to know him my feelings completely changed. My adivce is, if he’s a good man, give him a chance. I am so, so blessed to be married to Steve.
Shopping.
Most of my clothing comes from Target and Old Navy. I mean, they have GREAT stuff and it’s so reasonably priced. I buy more expensive pieces once in a while. I love Anthropology (I shop their sales) and we have a boutique near us called Poppy that is darling. Oh, and H&M rocks!!
Favorite Movies.
I like lighthearted movies. All the Jane Austen’s–new and old. Legally Blonde. Keeping the Faith (I love Ben Stiller, Andrew Norton & Jenna Elfman). Reality Bites. Can’t wait to see Twilight.
Where we Live.
I grew up in Southern California. We moved to San Luis Obispo for Steve’s job. We love it here and have no plans to leave soon. That said, I don’t know where life will take us!
Sharing the Journey.
i love it when you share your stories with me. I get emails and notes on orders all the time. It makes creating your jewelry so much more personal and fun. I made three necklaces for a young mom who was dying and wanted to leave a gift to each of her girls. That was very, very emotional for me.
My Faith.
The easy answer is I am a Christian. To elaborate a bit, I believe that I am broken and in need of fixing. It’s not something i can do myself. I need God. I need Jesus. When David was born I was completely devasted. I remember thinking there was no way I could pull myself up by my boot straps or have it all together. I couldn’t pretend to trust God. I had nothing. In that time I experience God’s grace and peace in a way I can’t explain. I believe my life is not about me–it’s about something much bigger.
Our Family.
We would love to have more kids and we’re trying! We’ve been trying for a while and so far, no luck. We are still hopeful and we’ll wait to see if we are blessed with more little ones.
I love checking in on your blog now and then. I was first intrigued because my maiden name was Lisa Leonard 🙂 You are an inspiring mother and artist and this post was great to learn a little more about you! I keep hinting to my hubby that I need a necklace with each of our kids names (we have 4)…we’ll see 🙂
Hello Lisa, well this the first time I have looked at your website. I teach outside womens bootcamp in Yorba Linda and a couple of girls had your necklace on and I loved it. I asked them if you have any crosses… I am addicted to crosses. So I got your website from them. I wrote because, how awesome it is to read your faith. I am also christian and it was so awesome that you wrote that you are christian.I just wanted to write and let you know that. God Bless you and your family.. and God’s will;and your future little ones! I love your pieces
God Bless, Yvonne Bird Anaheim Hills,Ca.
Lisa, thank you so much for your openness and honesty! I am continually inspired and in awe of your work! I love it! I told my husband that I would one of your necklaces for mother’s day next year with the names of our sons on it. I just love the delicate touch of pearl you add to your necklaces. I have yet to see something you make that I don’t like!
I was especially excited to read of your faith. I, too, am a Christian and, naturally, to find out that we share the same faith was exciting to me. We live on the east coast – my husband is our youth director at our church. We have two young boys, like you.
I found you on SouleMama a while back. I love her stuff as well! You creative people are out of my league, but I love it!
I love your blog. You share great antidotal stores as well as great personal stories that make me laugh and cry. I admire the sincerity and caring I read in your posts.
I wish I was as close to my sisters as you. I also have an identical sister and at times we are better apart then together, for we can argue quite easily and have never really been close to our younger sister. Was that also with you being a twin?
Anyways love your blog. keep the great posts coming.
That was fun. I too live on the central coast. A little slice of heaven on earth, IMHO.
Enjoyed this post. I felt like I got to you know you…really relate to some even.
p.s. I use the same mousse…it’s the best one I’ve found.
I saw your Teeny Tiny Necklaces in Wondertime magazine yesterday and got super excited for you! Did you know it was featured for Christmas gifts “for her”? Woohoo! 🙂
you truly are so amazing to me! you already know that though!
Lisa,
What are you doing Nov. 21? Wanna see Twilight?? 🙂
so wonderful to learn more about you! hope you have a wonderful week!
Lisa,
Thanks for sharing with all of us. Your talent and transparency are amazing! You are absolutely beautiful inside and out. 🙂
Hey there! I read your blog about 5 or 6 months ago and could never find it again! Well today I finally found it again!! I was so happy! Your jewelry is just beautiful and you are very talented.
I can really relate to your nervousness about sending your little one to school. My son was born with a rare genetic disorder called Treacher Collins Syndrome. It affects the growth of the facial bones. He had a cleft lip and a cleft palate at birth that have since been repaired. He turned 5 on Nov. 4th and has had 10 surgeries in his short little life. And he has more to go.
I know that feeling of just wanting to stay home and protect them. But like you said, there will be such a missed opportunity for the other little ones to see their heart. God has blessed us with these little gifts and how could we hide them all for ourselves!
I just love your blog and jewelry!! Can’t wait to be able to follow along now! And i’ll be showing the hubby your site for a hopeful Christmas gift! 🙂
Thanks for sharing about yourself. I admire your positive and encouraging site and it’s nice to learn a little more about you.
thank you for sharing a bit of yourself with us!!!
Lisa,
Your jewelry is amazing and I am hinting really hard at my hubby for one of your necklaces for Christmas! I love reading your blog, you and your sister (I believe I read somewhere that flip flops and applesauce is your sister) are both very talented and inspiring women. I am a mother of 5 and I cannot begin to imagine your journey with David and your walk with God as a result. I lost my father last summer and questioned everything I believed for a very long time.
Oh, and I too have a Nikon D40…still learning how to use it. I also bought photoshop but haven’t had the time to figure it all out so I to use Picnik! You are so right, it is very addictive, you can do so many things and produce so many different results.
Your family is beautiful as are your photographs. Keep it all coming!!
Do you use the upgraded version of Picnik or the standard?
Wow, thank you for being so transparent and sharing your life with us! I check your blog daily and look forward to the inspiration and thoughtfulness. God is using you in ways you don’t even know to touch people you’ve never even met. May the Lord continue to bless you!
thank you so much for that website. i’m going to try it right now 🙂
What a darling post. Even though I’ve read these things before, it’s so fun. 🙂
YOU are darling as well. God is blessing others through you.
TOTALLY trying that mousse. Anything that works for curly hair. And…can. not. wait. for. twilight. Wow.
If she’d let you, I’d really appreciate hearing that story about the mother who had necklaces made for her daughters. Death reshapes us in unimaginable ways, and I can imagine hers is a story that’s amazing. Can we see pics of the necklaces (if you took any)? Thanks!
Oooh, I just got a Nikon D40 yesterday. My husband bought it for me for my birthday! I can’t wait to “figure it out”. Don’t be surprised if I e-mail you with questions 🙂
Lisa;
Your’s is the first blog I’ve ever read and I must say I’m addicted 🙂 I gave birth 4 years ago to a little boy with a port wine stain on the side of his face and can so totally relate to your feelings about David going to school and having to let go! I find it’s more about my issues with appearance than the children’s, who except him for who he is! I love your pictures and stories. I can’t wait to get my necklace in the mail 🙂
Perfect.
Oh, Lisa, how amazing you are! Thanks for being so transparent and sharing your soul. But, you didn’t share how you got to be so cool! 🙂
The story about your faith after David’s birth was beautiful and I really related to it. Almost two years ago my husband had brain surgery for an abscess. Through that process, with all its unknowns and all the practical difficulties of hospital stays (our daughter was just turning 1 at the time), God was more real to me than ever before. I knew I couldn’t afford to doubt. It was the most challenging time of my life, but I miss that intimacy with our Savior who was so amazingly close to my stressed-out self!
What an inspiration you are! I got tears in my eyes as I read the little tid bits about you. It’s so encouraging to know that there are so many other women out there who have put their complete trust in God. Your faith is an inspiration and I pray that it is an inspiration to the many people who read your blog daily.
My husband and I got to know each other via swing dancing too. It’s great to get to know you better!
Thank you Lisa, I love reading your blog. Its so very special, and inspirational, yet so real and down to earth at the same time.
Cheers for the photography tips, I am really getting in to it, and hoping to upgrade my camera and personal skills soon!
Thanks for sharing! I love your little collage at the top! 🙂
You have a great talent for both making jewelry and for taking pictures.
As you like to hear our stories. We love to see inside your life through your writing and your pictures.
Thanks for sharing! May God bless you soon with a baby!