Candi Leonard Photography

A Biltmore Getaway & Asheville travel stops!

Travis and I celebrated 16 years of wedded bliss in December.  One of our favorite things to do is travel together.  We have had some pretty awesome trips in our years together, but those seem to get less and less the more kids we have.  Something has to give, right?  So when we chatted about getting away for our anniversary, I really didn't know if it would happen.  But then he came up with the idea of Biltmore at Christmas and I was sold! Luckily, I have a friend in the Asheville area so I reached out for ideas for places to eat and she delivered a list of AWESOMENESS.  In fact, we had hoped to visit a few more but ran out of time.  

 

This was my first Biltmore trip.  It was just stunning. I felt like I was in an episode of Downton Abbey as I walked up the grand staircase.  I think at Christmas time it was even more charming.  Trees and greenery filled every room.  We loved it.  We went the first night to the candlelight showing and just took in every single detail.  (They don't allow cameras inside...bummer!).  But we headed back during the day to see the outside portions before we left town.  I did pull out the camera a bit for that.  Here are a few peeks of it.  

People were EVERYWHERE.  But the view out the side was just breathtaking...

 

 

 

And while we were in Asheville, we visited the following spots that we recommend to anyone visiting:

The Corner Kitchen- located in the charming biltmore village, we strolled around the adorable shops before dining here.  The food was amazing.  

The French Broad Chocolate Lounge.  Chocolate heaven.  We visited after our Biltmore tour and refueled with milkshakes, cake and more.  Worth the stop for sure!

The Tobacco Barn Antique store.  I love antique store and this one was top notch.  Isles and isles of good stuff.  Vintage signs, old doors and windows, antler (after my own heart!), and lots more.  I could have spent a lot longer there! 

 

 

Decking our halls!

Truth, on November 1st as the halloween decor came down, we pulled out the Christmas boxes.  In theory, it makes sense that while you are in the storage rooming putting one up that you might as well pull out the others!  So the kids and I sifted through the boxes.  They pulled out their favorite things and we started to slowly incorporate it into the house.  I am a creature of habit and when I find a way I like something, I usually just repeat it adding a few fresh pieces.  We waited to put the tree and final touches up until thanksgiving week.  It was something I wasn't really looking forward to (pulling TWO toddlers off a christmas tree for more than a month!).  But our house is finally felt like Christmas and it brought us so much joy!  Here are a few peeks of our home.  

We have always been live tree people until last year Travis and Ashton had a nasty allergic reaction to ours and we had to throw it out.  I have been searching for the PERFECT affordable Christmas tree ever since and still haven't committed to one.  But hopefully next year.  My In-laws gave us this tree to borrow and it has worked just fine.  We filled it with natural elements (grapevines, pine cones, greenery, etc) and then we topped it with antlers.  The kids ornaments are scattered about it as well.   

 

here are some peeks at the built-ins and mantle in the living room. I LOVE our mantle so much this year.  I don't want to take it down.  We literally just finished the hearth last week (thank you hubby) and started working on the log insert this week, so it isn't 100% done.  I didn't have any decoration for that area so it is a little hodge podge this year.  :)

 

those are Travis and My stockings.  We hung the kids on the back of their chairs in the dining room.  :) And below is a peek in our kitchen.  

 

I hope everyone has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!  I will be back next week sharing lots of fun sessions and even my kiddos Christmas photos.  Until then, enjoy your friends and family and soak in all the holiday goodness!  

16 years of love, laughter and happily ever after!

Today is our wedding anniversary...16 YEARS!  Crazy.  And if you are adding in your head, yes I got married at 19.  We were young and in love and just couldn't wait another minute to be husband and wife.  And it was by far the best decision I have ever made.  Many would say crazy, but we made it work through the good and bad. Marriage is just that...WORK.  And every day we try harder to be better spouses.  We have been through so much in these 16 years.  Growing up, moving to 3 states, having 5 babies, buying a house, remodeling that house from the ground up, and building a business together.  Travis is so much more than a husband to me.  He is my best friend, my coworker, my partner in life and parenting, my source of encouragement, my soulmate.  Because of him, I am a better person!  Thank you Travis for 16 amazing years together as husband and wife!  And thank you for blessing me with a love so strong and meaningful that it makes me see the beauty in love everywhere.  Happy Anniversary!

 

our first Christmas...

 youth camp....

 

and 2011....
 

Wanted to share more older pics, but my scanner is broken!  Love you babe!  

A creative break | A room redo

We are admist one of the busiest times ever for my business.  It has been an amazing blessing to have a constant flow of work coming in.  The only downside is that in addition to this full time job, I have a full time motherhood job to five sweet boys.  Five boys that require homework help, meals, laundry (oh the laundry!!) and so much more!  It seems to never end with kiddos.  So that means there are a LOT of late night editing sessions going on in my household.  And after lots of naptimes and bedtimes spent working, it can lead to major burn out.  

     So, when the rain (in late september) offered me a few postponed session times and cancelled work for my hubby, we decided to tackle something different.  I had bought new paint for Austin's room back in May.  YES MAY.  I painted ONE WALL in July.  Then it sat there mocking me ever since.  In addition to the paint cans in there, I had two HUGE boxes of goodies waiting to put his room together again.  It is the most redesigned room in my house.  I had started the thought of making his space more grown up last summer.  His baseball themed room, really didn't fit him anymore.  He needed something he could grow through the years with.  Something that would last when those toys slowly start to fade.  So I began collecting.  And I have had it all piled up in those boxes waiting for me to do it already!  

 

    So, about two months ago, we tackled it.   My hubby finished my half done paint job on Monday.  We hung his new wall gallery on Tuesday.  And then let Austin begin weeding down his toys and putting them all away and cleaning.  Then I put the final touches on the room with his new curtains, bedding, and styling the shelves using things he already had by the end of the week.  The room looks TOTALLY different now.  I am in love with it.  It only took me TWO MONTHS to photograph it!  haha!  

 

my favorite part is his wall gallery...even though I loved the old one, this is much more HIM!  He picked the prints for the frames too.  :)

 

the grey paint really varies based on the angle of the room.  But it's really light grey in person.  When the sunlight hits it, it casts some green hues.  

 

I let him help style the shelves and he had a lot of fun picking things he already had to go on them like his feathers and crystals.  One day soon I have grand plans for that chalkboard globe...but for now it just waits.  :)

 

And although I could have spent those hours editing and knocking out some work, I am glad I took the creative break, because it totally refreshed me and left me ready to tackle the list again!  And every time I walk in his room, I get this giddy smile.  And so does he!  :)

 

Back sharing on Monday! Happy Weekend!

 

ROOM SOURCES:

quilt and shams-potterybarn kids 

sheets- restoration hardware kids

curtains- west elm

deer pillow: etsy

throw-urban outfitters

taxidermy- various, etsy 

moosehead- white faux taxidermy (etsy)

chalk art- the print annex (etsy)

thread art- gulush threads (etsy)

frames and mats- potterybarn and potterybarn kids

mini banner- urbanbird and co (etsy)

shelves- potterybarn kids

globes- target, potterybarn kids

white stand frame-IKEA

furniture-rooms to go kids

plaid print-SSprintshop

 

 

Finns First Birthday | Goldfish party

My Sweet Finn turned ONE last weekend!  I just can't believe how time has flown with him.  I have been planning this party since before he was born.  Gotta love pinterest!  But with a name like Finn, a fish party was really just the obvious choice.  Everything was pretty much pinterest inspired and just thrown together literally the day of the party.  I have been so swamped with work that I didn't even do half of what I wanted and it was ok, because it was still super cute!  Here are a few peeks at his party...

 

we made fish out of laterns...super easy!

 

We gave out fish soap favors!  LOVED them.  From etsy.

 

 

 

Kids got some pet goldfish which were our table centerpieces! 

 

my mom made the cake and cupcakes. I re-purposed the cake sticks from Ashton's circus party and just switched the red ribbons for orange ones.  :)

 

 

we handed him the cake to which he teethed on the cake stand...

 

so we decided to cut him a piece instead...

 

 

So there you have it!  :)  He is officially a big boy!  I am already started to think about his next birthday party!  :)  

Cinco No Mo | A Birthday Fiesta!

There are two things you need to know about Ashton.  

 

1.  The kids LOVES LOVES LOVES mexican food.  Ask him what he wants to eat, the answer is almost always tacos.  

2.  He loves parties!  He loves scouring pinterest with me.  He loves making decorations.  He loves a good party! 

 

So when we started his birthday planning, we originally were going to do a peter pan party.  We had some cute ideas and then he asked me... "Can we have tacos at my party?"  And I said, well, what if we did a taco bar and changed your theme to a mexican party?  He was all for it!  So we started the pinterest hunt for all things fiesta!  One night while pinning away, I typed in cinco de mayo and the idea was born!  "CINCO NO MO!"  Since Ashton was turning six, he would be five no more....so his theme became Cinco NO MO!  

 

We really did go simple on this party.  I have so many sessions and weddings that I knew I wouldn't have a lot of time to commit to things.  So we did centerpeices, a taco bar and called it done.  And he loved it.  Take a peek....

 

 

We have another party next month!  Finn will be ONE!  Time flies!  

A Peter Rabbit Party!

My little man Ashton turned six on Tuesday.  I still can't believe it!  But I also can't believe that I never shared his party from LAST YEAR!  Actually I can because I was 9 months preggo at the time and barely got that party pulled together at all!  Since we are throwing another fun party this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to share his party from last year!  :) I had hoped to put this post up on his birthday, but we had a busy week!  So here it is today! 

 

Let me start by saying that Ashton LOVES planning parties.  He gets into it.  We had LOTS of ideas for decorations, but didn't quite get it all done.  Here are a few peeks of what we did do!  

The invitation...

 

Table decorations...

 

 

Food...

 

 

Party fun...

 

This year's party theme is really fun too!  And I went a little simpler but still fun!  :)  Can't wait to share it....hopefully before another year goes by!  ha!

 

 

Finn | 9months

My little guy is 9 months (for a few more days atleast)!  We dodged the rain a bit and captured a few shots of him at this stage.  Of course the day we picked he was teething and running a fever so he wasn't as smiley as he usually is.  People who know him well can tell you that this kid smiles all the time.  But this day, not nearly as much. Teething is rough!  But he still managed to pull out a few for me!  

 

 

this year is flying by so quickly with him. Before you know it we will have a one year old.  *sigh*

 

My Ashton all grown up!

we had a big milestone this past weekend!  My Ashton graduated preschool!  It was a bittersweet day!  He is beyond ready to start school in the fall!  I can't wait to watch him grow and learn through the years!  Congrats my little guy! We are proud of you!

I will be sharing some of his preschool friends soon!  Stay tuned!

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Easter!  We spent the day with family and enjoying our boys and their baskets!  I took a break from my camera (my holiday treat) but have a few pics of Ames' first egg hunt to share.  Happy Easter!

 

 

Be back with a baby girl in the morning!