Tag Archives: personal

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Hi there... Lisa here! Number 2 in line for the meet and greet of Team Tiptoe. Which is appropriate because I am the middle "child" among the 3 owners of Tiptoe. I'm a born and bred J Co. resident and have no plans on ever leaving again.  I always say that I moved away once (to Virginia Beach) and learned my lesson... There is something about home that I know I can't get anywhere else. Being surrounded by family and friends is one thing I never take for granted, especially after I started my own family!

I have been married to the love of my life, Tom, since 2008! He is my rock, the ying to my yang, and makes me happier every year we spend together. We have 3 kiddos, a beautiful forever home we built a couple years ago, and a chocolate lab, Chelsie.

Here is a little about my kiddos! My stepdaughter, Taylor. She is the most beautiful, talented 16 year old I know.  She has taught me so much over the years. Now she's like one of my best friends... I know they say that you shouldn't be your kids friend, but there has to be an exception here, as sometimes I think Taylor is more mature than I am, LOL.

Olivia is my 7 year old, who is so smart, far beyond her years, who never met a stranger and who is exactly like her mother in more ways than I'd like to admit out loud. She just gets life, and that is so amazing to see in such a little girl!

Then my baby Tre, who will probably always have the nickname of "baby Tre" no matter how old he gets.  (He's about to be 3 this summer.)  I just love the way he loves me. I always heard the saying mommas boy and didn't really get it until I had him.  He is my little man, my baby noonie baby, my baby fat balls, and the wittle wuv of my life!

I don't know what I did to deserve these 4 people as my family but God has given me a beautiful life.

A little about me and my photography! Like a LOT of things in my life, whether it be my closet, decorating my house, or even the 1000 lists I make everyday, I am constantly learning, trying and changing! I spend a lot of time perfecting this craft that we call Tiptoe! I would say that my style is light and airy, happy and fun!  OHHH, and I love, love, love our Tiptoe Teaches classes!  It gives me an outlet to educate new photographers about my passion!  #Winning

So outside of my family and the obvious of getting to own a flourishing photography business with some of my BEST friends, here are a couple things that make me, me!

I love my God! I love my church, New Destiny! And I love everything that comes with His word. I am fairly new to this journey, but I love everything it has taught me, so far!

I coupon! I love a coupon and a sale! I am on a constant look out for a discount! I love the Sunday paper, Ebates, I botta, SavingsStar, Find&Save, and Checkout 51! I check them out before I buy ANYTHING, like even a tea at the convenience store. It's bad, ya'll!

I over punctuate EVERYTHING!!! I am not screaming at you... I promise! I also feel like I can never just end a sentence, which is the reason for my ... after everything! Sorry guys!

I cry, unlike my partner Tara, I will cry at almost every wedding , sappy movie, kids program, and showing of a DVD slideshow! I'm a tad emotional! I can't help it!

Things I can't stand... showers that are already wet, dirty floors, waiting, and being butt in front of while standing in line! (Like, seriously if you do this I will cut you! )

My babies!

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Me and babe!

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Now ya'll know a little of what makes up my life. I will leave you with my all time favorite quote - "You're perfect... now just smile" by Ryan Star (one of my favorite musicians of all time, I don't even have time to get into all my love for true musicians, or all the time I spent before Tom going to shows... Yep that'll have to be a story for another time...LOL)

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So if you are a close friend of mine... you know what a sucker I am for IKEA. All those IDEAS, all those PROJECTS.... I love it. Although often times I go there stock up on everything I need for 30 different projects and come home and do 2 of them! So this year I tried to pull that back and concentrate on 3 projects TOPS for my trip.

So this post is for any of our followers who have never been to IKEA before, I wanted to give you a couple of our favorite Tiptoe tricks, tips and to do's while you are there! IMG_8491

1st- Know what you need- I would suggest concentrating on a certain room in your house or 1-2 projects because you will go there and want to try everything! Start with the catalog and make a list!  Also a good tip is to have all your "stuff" measured out before you get there, so you don't have to call your husband 50 times to have him measure for you (mine always gets pretty annoyed with me, LOL). Here's my catalog and notebook!! IMG_8469 IMG_8470

2nd- If you have to bring your young kids, it's OK!! They have child care!  But keep in mind it is only for 1 hour at a time, and it depends on how busy they are that day! So Olivia and Tre have both accompanied me there, so I always take them through the showroom and to lunch with me and drop them off at childcare during my time in the marketplace (when I need to be able to concentrate, lol )

3rd- Schedule- So if you are a first timer I would allot yourself a good 4 hours to get through it all!  Here is the way me and my girlfriends always do it! 1. Bathroom- go ahead, you don't want to get half way through the maze and have to go!! 2. Showroom- where you get to see lots of rooms already put together, and draw inspiration from them. If you see items you like there write down the item name and location in the marketplace, so you can find it! Tip: there is also an app now that helps you locate items in the Marketplace.  There are only a few items there that you can actually put in your cart in the showroom. 3. YUMMY lunch at the IKEA cafeteria.  I usually add the caprese salad, TRY IT, yummy! 4. Marketplace- where I fill my cart! You wind your way through all the different sections from kitchen, bathroom, office, closet, fabric, lighting and finally the warehouse where you get the larger items and furniture. 5. Checkout- pretty self explanatory, don't forget to get some swedish fish!! LOL! So comical!  And go ahead and buy that .99$ bag for your items, you will find so many home uses for it too!! 6. Frozen yogurt - yes there is a little counter where you can buy some before you leave for 1$!!! IMG_8453 IMG_8455 IMG_8456 IMG_8460 IMG_8463 IMG_8471 IMG_8480 IMG_8481 IMG_8482 IMG_8483 IMG_8485

4th- Wear comfy shoes- This is pretty obvious too! But you walk a lot. Also their carts are FUN and take a little getting used to! My biggest tip is to try to keep your body behind the cart when you are walking!

Check out this video on the carts!! LOL!!

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5th- Bring a BIG car- LOL... This is always something we do! Because we all say we are going in there for a couple things and come out with 20!! LOL!

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Some of our fun pics from our last trip there! I hope you all enjoyed! And let me know if you are planning a trip soon! I may NEED to go with you! LOL!

 

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Busy, busy, busy... what a whirlwind of the past week. I have had tons of shoots, tons of editing, a baby Tre actual birthday, a visit to the zoo, Tiptoe meetings, yard sale, all the while preparing for the fair pageant and the first day of school! SHEWWWW! I am beat, but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way! I love this LIFE and I love being able to be there for my babies everyday, all the while having a thriving business!! Here are some of my favorite images from my personal life, this week! LOL!

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Olivia and her BFF's at the pageant! Aren't they the cutest EVER??!

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_TTS5181I even love it when baby noonie baby gets to come to work with me while I am doing real estate pictures for Remax Realty- The Haymaker Team.  Not always the easiest thing to do, but its one of the BIGGEST perks of my job!

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I personally have been sooooo excited about this day for 10+ years!  My brother and sister in law reunited and got remarried this past Friday! Michelle has been in my life since I was little. The first time BA (my brother) brought her home, I remember my mom looking out the window when they were pulling in the driveway and Michelle was sitting in the middle of the Jeep and BA had his arm around her.  I felt the excitement that my mom was feeling, and as a kid, I just remember thinking  they were the perfect couple! That day quickly became engraved into my memory, and her riding in the front seat so close to him quickly became a country song in my head.  Michelle was like a big sister to me, during my early teenage years, she used to be allowed to take my moms car and drive me around. I remember feeling so COOL!  They married the first time when I was 12 years old, I was in the wedding, big braces and all (I still have the pictures to prove it, ahhh)!  They were married several years before they had my niece, the little love of my life, Mikayla! Boy oh boy, I did (and do) love that kid! At 18, I ended up living with the 3 of them.  Looking back at that time in my life, I realize more and more everyday what a special person it took to have a new baby AND take in your husband's kid sister.  They were just starting their family and I was there, probably driving them nuts. It was a tough time in my life, but never did I ever feel unwanted or like a nuisance! Knowing now what it is like having a new baby, I am confident that I would NOT be able to take in a 18 year old permanent house guest.  But Michelle did, no questions asked!  I love her more for that now, than ever! But this was also the time when their relationship had taken a downward turn and they ended up divorcing.  I remember when it was happening, and my mom and I saying that one day they will get back together.  We had confidence! They belonged together and seriously NO one was ever going to take the place of her as my sister! Michelle had mentioned at their wedding how mom had never taken down her high school portraits, they were hanging on the wall right next to my brothers and mine, TEN YEARS after the divorce. She belonged there!

So can anyone imagine my excitement when 2 + years ago BA started going to church with Michelle?  This was the path they needed to reconcile.  I am sure it hasn't been an easy path for them, but it has been a God driven one!  They have stayed true to themselves and God, equipped to work out any of those past demons! Their testimony is a great one! Our family is complete again, Michelle is back! So needless to say that being apart 10+ years then finding their way back to one another, has quickly become another country song in my head! LOL! Cheers to Ba and Michelle!!!

Here are some quick teasers from the wedding!

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