Gift Exchange

Twelve dancing princesses twinkled, giggled and clickety-clicked in fancy shoes throughout my home yesterday. Twas my girl's sixth birthday party. I'm not sure why, but I'm rarely thrilled with my birthday party shots. Perhaps because they often seem overly posed. Rushed. Yes, it's great to be happy and smiling and posing in all silliness, but I prefer catching subtle glances at a slower pace. A spontaneous moment when my presence is long forgotten and they forget to say cheese.

Speaking of forgotten... I often forget December birthdays in the chaos of the holiday season. Do you? Well, Zazzle is the only super speedy, on-demand custom solution that produces products with your fabulous images and designs within 24 hours of ordering for great gifts like hip, fitted t-shirts, canvas prints, note cards, magnets and even skateboards. A perfect solution for last-minute gift givers. And in the sisterly spirit of gift giving, leave a comment on this post and FIVE winners will be chosen to receive 1 set of 20 cards and 1 sheet of 20 US postage stamps customized with your image and design. Use them for holiday cards, greeting cards or birthday thank you notes. Hey! Now there's an idea.

AND...Congratulations to busymomma66 for winning the Tracy Joy bag. Fill it well.

Comments

[Kimberly]

ha ha! I am first to say that I would LOVE to win something that is so in the holiday spirit!!!
happy holidays ladies~
xo

[fafa]

how much they are beautiful!

[Deanna]

Pick me! Pick me! ;)

[Kelly]

ooooooooo another give away!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[jodyangel]

I'd just like to add that it's great to only be the 5th poster instead of the 150th LOL.

I would LOVE to have an image immortilzed =) (disregard the spelling plz)

[glittersmama]

I love the personalized stamps.

[Kim McMechan]

Loving these giveaways....

[LindseYaya]

Me! ME! Pick me! xo

[Bria]

Happy winter! (I love that photo!)

[Chris]

That picture is priceless. I just love it!

[Elaina]

The picture is priceless. Very fun!

[Bridge]

http://flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/2304112184/
our only birthday this month is this darling, shown above, who gives us so much joy for the new year!

[Marcie]

Such a beautiful..absolutely timeless image. Love this!

[Vanessa]

i feel much the same way about my kid's bday party pics!

[Bethany]

I love that photo as well. I have a feeling I'll be taking similar shots at my daughter's 4th birthday in a few months!

[Emilyt]

It's hard for those born in December! Great shots of the girly fray.

[betrank]

Love the candid photo. Lately I've been feeling rushed when taking photographs and I just assumed it was the season. Everyone seems to get so wrapped up in all the things they have to do that they forget to slow down and enjoy it all. Before you know it we'll be clearing the wrapping and ribbons and wondering where the time went. C'est la vie I guess. My husband's birthday is the 11th of December and this year the poor man has to have a CSCAN done of his sinuses. Not the most pleasant of birthdays that's for sure.

I'll have to check out Zazzle because I always manage to forget my M-I-L's birthday until I'm crunched for time and I love her to death it's just that her birthday falls during Memorial Day weekend which is a huge deal for this family here on the east coast.

[Busymomma66]

I'm in. Happy Birthday to all those who's birthday it is today!!

[Aundria B.]

Simply beautiful... & the black & white gives it such a classic look.

[Missy]

What a sweet pic -- I love it when the light makes kids look like they have little halos.

[Aundria B.]

I oops-ed... Aundria B's email addy is aundriab@yahoo.com. Sorry about that!

[Bunny]

This sounds so fun!

[HSY]

I'd love to use photo gift cards-- I'm thinking this is a wonderful way to have a "homemade" gift-- even though my "craft" is photography!

[Puna]

This would be a great help to my Christmas shopping! Thank you!

[Kath]

My husband's birthday is New Years Eve. I always feel badly because his celebration gets lost. We've started a tradition where he gets treated special in the morning. Presents at breakfast!

[brittany]

i am in love with this picture! how sweet.

[Lesley]

I am loving these giveaways!

[nadia]

What a beautiful picture!

[Glad Doggett]

I always enjoy unposed photos. For me, they are frozen moments of real life, which is much more messy and interesting.

Thanks for sharing. I aspire to create amazing photos like the ones that I find here. This site makes me happy.

[Jami]

yes, candid photos at birthday parties are best, and I love yours with the excited little girls. You, ladies are so awesome for having a give-a-way everyday.

[Karen]

Wow, I would love to win those. Love the shot of those princesses as well.

[Shawna]

I am not even kidding when I say I clicked over here from the Zazzle custom card section where I was contemplating what designs I'd do. Freaky.

[ange]

so fun - great way to start the week!

[Grey Street Girl]

It looks like they had so much fun though. You can see it in their faces. That sparkling dress is awesome! Where can I get one?

[marcy]

lovely picture, the perfect give away for those of us with a million projects(including kids)to get done at this busy time of year. I will have to go over and take a look...

[elaine]

this would be GREAT for me since both sets of my girls grandparents live on the opposite coast...

[Samantha D]

I have never heard of the website, I am so excited to check it out!

[Angie]

This giveaway stuff is FUN! And I am off to check out Zazzle right now!

[shirley of shirime!]

oh, i just adore that photo. i never got to enjoy birthdays myself. except for cake and all. my parents grew up poor in rural china without fancy things like birthdays so they raised me in that same manner. (though i'm pretty sure i was a spoiled child nonetheless). so candid or posed pictures of birthdays? it didn't matter. i had neither. except maybe one or two for the cake-eating part. :)

[abbey]

oh I love this!!!
the pictures is fabulous as well..... put a smile on my face this am!

[Stephanie Fox]

What a timely gift.

[Stephanie]

Oh I would love to win this. I still haven't gotten the kids christmas cards done yet

[Gayle]

Stephanie, I agree. December birthdays are tough. My daughter is turning 13 this week!

[kosenrufu mama]

THAT PICTURE IS PERFECT AD WONDERFUL!!!!
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/

[Kelly]

I should stop coming here, really. All these pictures I wish I'd been there to take myself! I can't very well photograph the photograph, now can I?

[Jenny Rebecca]

More poor husband's birthday is Dec. 20th. He's already hard to shop for and then to have it so close to Christmas. Yikes!

[Das]

Hi there, I click ed on your link while reading my subscription to Zen moments on line.
i had never heard of you but I'm glad I was curious this morning. This is great!

[Judy]

I also much prefer candid shots to posed. Enjoy taking photos of her now when she is willing to participate. Mine are now at the eye-rolling and "well, if it will make you happy, but I'm not really here" stage.

I have an uncle whose birthday is December 24. They celebrate by putting up the tree, and ordering Chinese.

Thanks for sharing!

[Marcene]

I agree with you on the party pictures! My boy turns 2 today, so hopefully something turns out :)

[Liz Dager]

give give give aways! yay!