Jul
18
2014Today I’d like to you to meet Sara Riddle. She’s the lady behind the Spartanburg modern maternity clothing boutique: Haute Mama.
If you walk into Haute Mama, you’ll meet this adorable spunky woman who likely has eaten veggie straws, chocolate, and champagne for a recent meal. Sara’s thoughtful and listens carefully to each person she serves. And Sara has big dreams for her little store.
Haute Mama exists for two reasons.
- To bring fashionable clothing options to mamas in the upstate which are wearable before, during, and after pregnancy.
- To provide a space for expecting and new mothers to receive education, support, and hope for those weary long days.
Fashionable Clothing for All Seasons of a Mother’s Life
When Sara was expecting her little guy Cash, she couldn’t find any maternity clothing she liked. She had to settle for an endlessly boring routine of a black maxi that she wore until it became sheer, leggings and any top she could find that would cover her belly, and she used the rubber band trick for way too long on her jeans. She refused to have a frumpy bump and knew there had to be a better solution to a wearable and long lasting maternity wardrobe.
So when she heard about Spartanburg’s Main Street Challenge, she jumped at the opportunity to fix these problems and create a store specializing in fashionable clothing for all seasons of motherhood.
Everything Haute Mama carries can be worn during any season of your life.
Stop envisioning tent like dresses and shirts and start imagining casual clothing that looks like it stepped off a rack at Anthropologie. Or imagine that perfect stretchy little black dress that accommodates a baby belly. Or that pair of jeans you can wear pregnant, 10lbs overweight, and 5lbs underweight (yes, they do exist!). She also carries cute lingerie, jewelry for mom, stylish diaper bags, amber necklaces, baby shower gifts, and really cute maternity swim options!
All of the real women in this post are modeling clothing from her boutique!
A Space for Education and Support
Sara launched Haute Mama just a few months after Cash was born. She was struggling with sleep, with nursing her boy, with loosing the baby weigh, and, worse still, from the comparison/competition of those first years of motherhood.
“Is cloth diapering the way to go? Is it okay to use a pacifier and nurse? What options do I have for birth besides the hospital? What do I really need to put on the baby registry for the first year? Which stroller or baby wearing device do I need? How do I sleep train? Where can I take an Infant CPR Class? How do I introduce solids to my little one? Where can I get breastfeeding support without having to take my newborn into a germy hospital?” These were all questions she was faced with.
So as Sara created her downtown space, she designed a space for education and support. In a little over a year, she’s hosted classes on numerous topics ranging from breastfeeding, to cloth diapering, to essential oil bug spray options, to birth classes. She’s working with a few other business owners to bring in infant CPR, options in sleep training, and possibly occasional mini sessions from Quiet Graces. 😉
My favorite thing that Sara offers is a Mama support group. So many support groups seem polarized around a common thread: cloth diapering or baby wearing or a specific method of child rearing. I found this really hard because I didn’t fit into any one box as a mother. Sara’s group is diverse and I think it’s healthy for new moms to have a number of different perspectives until they find what works for them and their child.
Interested in seeing what Haute Mama has to offer?
Hop on Haute Mama’s Website to see current class offering on the Calendar.
Keep up with Haute Mama on Facebook to see all of her new clothing items.
Or best yet: drive on over to the store at 154 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC and visit today. You’re sure to find something you love!
Jul
16
2014
From the moment I met Chrissy for coffee at the Stomping Grounds in Greer, I knew we would be a great fit. Her infectious laughter and pretty red dress brought out her personality. She was so excited to find a new option for date night complete with board games and both coffee and wine. Chrissy is adventurous, too, we met at 38 weeks and she was headed to the beach that weekend, content to deliver wherever the Lord had for her.
We talked for a bit about which product would fit her needs the best and although she really loved the albums, she also had a bare wall and an obsession with quirky giant clocks that needed the balance of a good portrait as wall art. She settled on canvas.
Chrissy and Chad chose to do a pure simple outdoor newborn mini session. The wanted to give their older children Emily and Evan some space to roam and capture them without the formal feel of the studio. I think they made the very best choice for their family. During a feeding, I brought the two of them down to the pier for some individual shots. Emily and Evan were also able to roam and throw rocks into Lake Robinson with daddy as we posed Eli alone. I may have also treated them both to some pretty awesome suckers for their fantastic ability to follow directions!
This is the Image chosen as wall art from this outdoor newborn photography session
These little smiles are always my favorite!
Although we photographed this family during witching hour for a newborn and golden light hour for a photographer (sunset), Eli was super kind to settle for a few outdoor images. I am in love with the results. I’m now pretty sure that photographing newborns outside might be right up there with photographing newborns in their parents arms as my favorite things to do.
About two weeks after our photography session, I came to Chrissy’s home for her design session. We spent a little more time talking over what she really wanted and then sorted and resorted through her favorite images from the session. Chrissy chose to create her own collection and purchased all the digitals as well as a 20×30 canvas of the sibling image above.
We also spent the tail end of our design session watching the 5 Languages of Babies that helped me learn to soothe babies for my sessions. Eli was having a pretty difficult day and after I had worked a few good burps out of him, they may have been a little sad to see me go 😉
Chrissy, Chad, Emily, Evan, and Eli, thank you for being such a pleasure to photograph. I hope to see you guys again soon!
Jul
14
2014Dear Weary Mom,
You’re making the 2058th peanut butter (or almond or soynut or sunbutter) and jelly sandwich and wondering if anything you do matters at all.
Everyday everything you do seems undone or consumed like the sandwich there on the counter.
There’s still food on the floor under the table despite sweeping. There’s still a Lego or two threatening tender feet. There’s still the crock pot to clean and refill before heading into work the next morning. There’s still the pile of clothing overflowing the basket: whether it’s dirty or clean.
And, as you ask the little people whether they want their sandwiches cut into triangles or rectangles, you sigh deeply in defeat.
Can I whisper a secret? You really do have value outside of the check marks on your to-do list.
No one else could mother your children the way you do. No one else gives them that special goodnight kiss. No one else says “I’m sorry.” quite the way you do when you fail them again and need to apologize. No one else knows which child likes those sandwich triangles better than the rectangles.
The bulk of your work is invisible because you’re leaving indelible marks on tiny hearts.
So ignore the mess on the floor. Ignore the unchecked boxes on your to-do list. Neither of these things give you value.
Hold your head high when someone asks you “So what did you do today?” and tell them the truth.
“I shaped the next generation with my service, my actions, and my love.”
Because you did.
Jul
09
2014One of the advantages of my Greer SC Child Photography Studio being home-based is the opportunity to just take my own children down stairs to play.
Last fall I upgraded my lighting. While I have a pretty good handle on using it for my clients and their little ones, I’m still learning every day.
I believe it’s the photographers job to keep on growing to produce the best possible photographs. Since photographer is essentially painting with light, I do a little bit of light play in all of my sessions.
I took my little ballerina downstairs all dolled up in her recital dress and played around with lighting angles.
I’m beyond pleased with these results: especially on the black background.
I think I could shoot children in black and white all day long. I really just want to pull out my trusty Illford Delta 400 film and just offer child sessions here in the studio. I do miss film so much.
Interested in having an quiet photography session for your little one? Please contact me and let me know what you’re dreaming up.
Bronwyn Hope: my sweet ballerina girl,
Please keep that precious spark in your eyes. The one that whispers how you could conquer the world. The head held high on your shoulders with a confidence unshakable.
When you were just two, I held your face in my hands and told you not to go down the pool ladder. I looked up and there you were with that spark in your eye halfway down the ladder. I crashed into the pool half dressed and ridiculously thankful for my swim team days since you were already under water on the other side of the pool. You came up with fear in your eyes for the first time and whispered “Mama…I disobeyed.” It was the first time you grasped the concept of disobedience.
You’re still scared of the water though every part of being at the pool thrills you. Today I challenged you and left your Puddle Jumper at home. You faced your fear. I told your over and over again, that “Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. It means that you jump in and do something you know you should even when your’e scared.”
Before we got out of the pool for lunch, you were proudly lying on your back and supporting yourself with your hands on your back. “Look, Mama, I’m getting my ears wet.” Swim lessons are coming for you near the end of the summer and I have a feeling you’ll conquer the world.
I love you, baby.
Jul
07
2014So we went on a camping trip a couple of weeks ago. We stayed at Dreher Island State Park and took a day trip to the lovely Riverbanks Zoo. 
I mentioned this trip on Facebook and few folks wanted to know what we packed and what we ate. So the following is a group of tips followed by a couple links to download the simplest packing list ever and a sample menu plan for the weekend involving minimal cooking. I promise one thing: you’re about to laugh at our bravery and our stupidity in taking 7 kids under age eight on this sort of adventure 🙂
Tip # 1
Make sure you get to the campsite before the sun sets. 
Tip # 2
If you don’t heed the above advice make sure that you have set up your new tent in the daylight before you try to set it up in the dark. Not all tents work like your old double.
Tip # 3
If you ignore tip # 1 & 2 make sure you have adequate light and glow sticks to entertain the kids.
Tip # 4
You can forget any number of things with little to no consequence on a camping trip. Your lighter/matches and your cooking pot are not items with little to no consequence. Although a bowl makes a pot in a pinch. 
Tip # 5
Two year olds don’t nap well on camping trips… even in the car. Be prepared for this kind of crabby: 
Tip # 6
Two year old males who napped just a little become slap happy and will do anything to get the 3 girls in his tent to laugh. Including pulling his legs up over his head and tooting loudly while singing silly songs. 
This too late and too short car nap was our undoing…
Tip # 7
The thought that the kids will all fall asleep and you’ll be able to enjoy nice fireside conversation with the other adults is pretty much ludicrous when camping with 7 under eight years old. Dropping that expectation before you leave would be a very good thing. 
Tip # 8
Being as close to water as possible is highly advisable. Children love water. You will get quiet adult time if there is water involved.
Tip # 9
Camping with another family crazy enough to do this… makes it so much easier (and crazier in the best way).
Tip # 10
Somehow going camping in early June meant we avoided 99% of the bugs. The other 1% were ants and spiders and a giant 2″ bug: none of which bit us.
Tip # 11
Count on the kids to find something amazing. Deer, osprey, boats, minnows, heron, killdeer (a bird), and the aforementioned 2″ bug were all found by kids.
Tip # 13
If it’s going to rain all day long: head to the zoo. Stir crazy kiddos in tents with you all day… not likely a good thing.
