Precious memories are priceless. Take it from a mama who recently launched her oldest into the world. I swear she was 10 yesterday… Take the pictures. You’ll never regret it.
We’ve asked some of our photographers for tips to capturing impromptu moments that are both heartwarming & frame-worthy.
Pro tips from Langley:
“I always turn a fun dance song on Alexa and let them be do their thing!! Party freeze dance is a good one.
Ask them to show a funny face and then see if you can make an even funnier face- that usually gets a natural laugh!
Play a simple game of ‘Simon Says’—touch your nose, spin around, run to me… capturing them in their natural state is so much better than posed.”Pro Tips from Gia:
“In my opinion, to get the best photos of very young kids, I like to pick a time when they’re well-rested, fed, and generally happy. I don’t ask them to look at the camera, but rather to interact with each other. Sometimes they will look at me, but I never request it.
We sing songs, pray for friends and family that need prayer, and play silly games— tag, secret telling etc.
For location/lighting, I try to shoot close to sunset (when possible) or in an area with some shade available— and also with as few extra people as possible. Placing the subject’s back to the setting sun will create that hazy glow. For beginners, an overcast day is ideal!”Pro Tips from Carlie:
“Make sure your child eats before you start, because hungry children are never happy children!
Be playful. Tell jokes and make faces. Your child will usually mimic you back. The laugh that comes right after making a funny face is your shot 😉
Light is life. Try to shoot morning or late evening if possible. If you do have to shoot when the sun is harsh, find shade.”
So there you have it! Get into nature this season and snap those photos. If you’ve got an awesome camera, great! If not, phone cameras have come a long way so don’t let equipment stop you. For the best memories, just make an effort and make it fun. Magical moments await… oh and don’t forget to tag #welldressedwolf, #loveomijo, and #gowildling for a chance to be featured on our social media or website!
My favorite hot chocolate isn’t for the faint of heart. If you don’t absolutely adore chocolate, you may want a different recipe… but if drinking a melted candy bar sounds like your cup of non-tea, then I’ve got the mug for you.
Decadent Drinking Chocolate
Serves 6
Ingredients:
• 6 ounces semi sweet or dark chocolate (you can use chopped fine chocolate or chocolate chips)
• 3 cups whole milk (or half & half / heavy cream if you reallllly want a treat)
• 4 tsp brown sugar (more or less to taste)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Whipped cream & toppings
Directions:
- Heat milk in a sauce pan or small pot over low to medium heat, careful not to boil.
- Add chocolate and sugar to warmed milk and stir continuously as it melts.
- Allow mixture to thicken over heat, continuing to stir for several minutes. Be careful not to boil or allow chocolate to stick to the bottom of the pan & burn.
- Serve immediately, top with whipped cream & enjoy!
Tip:
Create a festive atmosphere using special mugs and small bowls of fun toppings. We’ve used crushed peppermint, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, and even cinnamon candies in the past. Light a pumpkin spice candle, listen to your favorite tunes, and dress in your comfy best to celebrate the start of this beautiful season.
RMI school children in Haiti
2019 was quite a year! One of our very favorite things about our job has always been you, the community, and your desire to make the world a better place. It truly is about so much more than pretty dresses. Your support has radically improved the lives of women and children all over the world, and our dream is to keep growing in order to keep giving. Take a look at the impact your purchases have made in the last year:
Mighty Acorn Foundation:
In 2019 we were honored to donate dresses and finalist prize packages for the Snapped for a Cause fundraiser that was able to generate over $50,000 for The Mighty Acorn Foundation this year. Established in 2013, this organization is currently working in Kenya to "restore hearts, ignite dreams, and empower the futures of children across the world". We are so thankful for each person who contributed to this life changing event.
Snapped for a Cause photo shoot fun!
Giving Hope NOLA:
For the second consecutive year, we were blessed to partner with Giving Hope, where the simple mission to "give glory to God and promote human dignity" is one that fuels our passion. The organization is involved in numerous outreach programs that aim to feed, clothe, house, and provide fellowship to those in need. More specifically, our donation will aid in the completion of an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, currently under construction. What an honor to change lives in such a tangible way! THANK YOU for caring!
Reciprocal Ministries International (RMI):
In 2019, both Shannon and I felt deeply compelled to give to an organization that would improve the lives of children in Haiti. However, as we neared the end of the year, we still had not found the right one. The very morning before our weekly meeting to finalize, we received an email from a friend and fellow business owner, apprehensively asking several companies to consider donating to RMI-- an email she felt called to send, regardless of how awkward it felt. What a blessing that was! Upon reading more, we both knew this was the opportunity we were looking for! Through several initiatives, and by employing and empowering a Haitian team on the ground level, RMI is able to feed over 10,000 school children per day, in addition to providing over 700,000 meals to needy families each year. Our contribution was instrumental in keeping their humanitarian programs running during a very tumultuous time in their history.
RMI School Lunch Program
Coreluv International:
In what seemed like the perfect end to a year of giving, we were presented with an opportunity to contribute to Coreluv, whose primary goal is to defend the orphan. Our donation will directly aid in the construction of a special needs orphanage, the first of its kind in Haiti. Built and designed with these beautiful children in mind, it will provide not only a home, but hope, joy, and a future. On a personal level, we feel incredibly blessed to have been given this divine opportunity, with both adoption and special needs playing a major role in our lives in 2019. We cannot thank YOU enough for supporting our brands and making this all possible.
A legacy, to quote Coreluv founder, Mike Reiszner, "is a future without you, still influenced by you." There's a chance none of us will see the full manifestation of our giving during this lifetime... but those touched by your generosity will feel its impact for generations to come. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
A Christmas in our family just wouldn't be the same without some of Aunt Heart's favorite sweet treats. This year the color of our Emily dress reminded us so much of pecan pralines, one of her specialties, that we've decided to share the recipe for this famous Louisiana confection with you! Just a head's up... it's basically like eating a handful of sugar, so in all honesty it's not my favorite treat to eat... but making them brings back memories and that makes it worth the calories ;)
Happy Eating,
Sarah
P.S. Adding another recipe that we (and our kids) like even more!
Pecan Pralines
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 1 1/4 cups white sugar
- 3/4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk or half & half
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups toasted pecans (raw pecans can be used, but toasting makes them more flavorful)
Directions
- Prepare your countertop or table surface with parchment paper or wax paper.
- Cut butter into 1 inch pieces (roughly) and freeze butter for at least 10 minutes.
- In a sauce pan, combine evaporated milk with white and brown sugars and cook over medium heat until the mixture reaches "soft ball"* stage- or about 232 to 236 F with a candy thermometer.
- Remove from burner and stir in the frozen butter. Add pecans and mix until no longer shiny. Careful here- it stiffens quickly.
- Spoon mounds onto paper. It should spread slightly.
- Let candy stand until firm. Eat immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
* Candy thermometer will work best, but Aunt Heart taught us to test for "soft ball" stage by dropping a small amount of the mixture into cold water. Once in water, it should form a small, soft ball. If its not ready, the sugar mixture will disperse into the water.
* Making candy can be a little tricky. If your recipe turns out less than perfect, it can still be saved! Crumble and serve over vanilla ice cream!
Christmas "Crack"
Named for the use of graham crackers, traditionally "cracked" into pieces... but also for its extremely addictive nature.
Ingredients
- 24 graham crackers
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions
- Heat oven to 350 F
- Arrange graham crackers in a single layer large pan
- In a sauce pan, heat brown sugar and butter to boiling. Boil for 1 minute, stirring continuously.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and pecan pieces.
- Pour mixture over graham crackers and spread evenly.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Sugar mix should be slightly bubbly.
- Allow crackers to cool and then cut into squares.
As we approach the Christmas season, I’m overcome with so many conflicting emotions... Thanks, frustration, love, longing- but most of all I’m overcome with hope. This year was a hard one, one that came so unexpectedly. As many of you know, and some may not, last year we welcomed baby Ezra into the world just weeks before Christmas... our seventh child. As we prepared for his birth, I just knew that God had a big purpose for his life. His wasn’t a “planned” pregnancy on our part, but he was always meant to be part of God’s larger design. While nothing could have prepared me for what came on December 11, 2018, God’s plan was set in motion long before that day. I suffered a complete uterine rupture that left our little guy without oxygen and blood flow for a period of time and resulted in damage to his brain. We both could have lost our lives that day but it would not be the end for us.
The hard hospital days in the weeks after Ezra's birth
Instead it was the beginning of a new journey, one we are still learning to navigate day by day. This new experience has brought me (quite literally) to my knees on so many occasions. The road we are on with Ezra is a long one, yet I feel such hope as we get closer to 2020. While the end of last year felt so dark, I’m able to see flickers of light now.
Cousins meeting for the first time
2018 / 2019 were hard years for our Well Dressed Wolf team as well. In addition to the unexpected and traumatic birth of Ezra, the world tragically lost an amazing young man to a terrible disease.
Mason, Beverly’s son, who’ll always be loved and remembered
All of it made working harder for everyone, with our heads, hearts, and bodies all over the place. We struggled through loss and pain, and in doing so watched our team and the amazing WDW community pull together and push through. It was truly an inspiration to behold. When I was unable to see beyond the minute that I was in, Sarah so lovingly and graciously continued on in my absence, all while having a newly adopted baby of her own, supporting and encouraging me along the way. The dresses you see this Christmas season are in large part thanks to her- and I’m so proud of every single piece! Our team has grown in number and rallied together like never before and WE MADE IT THROUGH and I am so grateful for each and every one of them.
As we journey into the new year, I’m reminded of the words from a favorite Christmas song:
“a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn...”
I really can see that new and glorious morn on the horizon... and boy, is it beautiful. We are so excited to show you our Christmas collections this year... they remind me that God CAN bring beauty from ashes! We hope you love everything as much as we do ♥️
Having spent the last Christmas in the hospital, I've never been happier to be home for the holidays. We pray that our "Home for the Holidays" Christmas collection fills your heart with joy and hope this season.
* written and contributed by Shannon *
Home for the holidays