Cruise to Alaska

Cruise to Alaska

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

As the weather continues to improve and Summer is just around the corner I start to scheme up all types of Summer plans. A couple years ago we went on an Alaskan cruise from Seattle, as a started to glance through the photos I was reminded how staggeringly beautiful Alaska is. We were not certain what to expect when we booked our cruise to Alaska, but between the convenience, price tag, scenery and company we had ourselves a marvelous time. Although I don't anticipate us becoming "cruisers" anytime soon, we certainly can appreciate what the draw is for so many people. 

A morning at Pike Place Market

A morning at Pike Place Market

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

On occasion I have the privilege of photographing families. Typically, as I go through the photos from the shoot the candid shots are usually the ones which pull on my heart strings. I love the sweet moments captured between siblings and it makes me super excited to document my own little one soon. 

Auberge Edge of Seattle Inn and Cooking School

Auberge Edge of Seattle Inn and Cooking School

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

I love a good story of ingenuity, reinvention and ultimate triumphant. Nancy, the proprietress of Auberge Edge of Seattle has created just that for her bed and breakfast turned cooking school with overnight accommodations. For many years Nancy ran award winning bed and breakfast in Woodinville, just a hop, skip and a jump from Seattle. After the economy collapsed, the phone started ringing less and guests from all over the world started to slow she shifted her focus to the local business. Instead of making the bed and breakfast her primary focus she gathered a team and promoted Auberge Edge of Seattle as a French Cooking school with the added luxury of the ability to provide overnight accommodations. 

Mother's Day weekend

Mother's Day weekend

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Mother's Day weekend consisted of one baby bump, one pair of rubber boots, one weekender bag, one beachside hotel, four delicious meals, numerous bike rides along the beach and invaluable time spent with my parents. As I have become older I have realized how inherently divisive motherhood can be and sadly even Mother's Day. Women tend to love it or hate it, there seems to be no middle ground. I recently read an article explaining why so many women dislike Mother's Day and at the root of all reasons was disappointment, guilt or sadness.  My hope for all women, especially on Mother's Day, is that we can be kind to ourselves and allow others to celebrate us despite our imperfections and where we are on the path to motherhood.

Paris in the Springtime

Paris in the Springtime

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

I really cannot say enough good things about visiting Paris in the spring time. We were fortunate to have spectacular weather throughout our entire stay. We relished every moment we were able to sit in the sunshine admiring all the lovely flowers and people watching. I especially enjoyed how this trip turned into a baby moon of sorts. Walking hand in hand exploring the city made me reminisce on the wonderful thirteen years we have had together. I wouldn't trade our time together for anything in the world. Sure, sometimes we disagree and get on each other's nerves, but we have learned a lot from each other and I like to think we are better together than apart. 

Seattle Bloggers Unite Field Trip: Trophy Cupcakes

Seattle Bloggers Unite Field Trip: Trophy Cupcakes

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

This past week I was fortunate to attend Seattle Bloggers Unite inaugural field trip. For our first field trip we spent an enjoyable, informative and delicious evening at Trophy Cupcakes with owner, Jennifer Shea. Jennifer took us through the process of how to make the perfect buttercream, how to hand frost, use piping bags and create that signature Trophy swirl. Like most creative endeavors, between practice and perseverance she was able to make things look easy to us onlookers. We were impressed with the ease in which Jennifer was able to frost, chat and look so stylish. Jennifer has that rare combination of beauty, brains, talent and style. Any woman who's motto is "Make Everyday a Party" is a woman after my own heart!

Life update: Baby mode

Life update: Baby mode

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Ever since I saw a positive on my pregnancy test we have been in baby mode over here. I know for many "nesting" does not occur until much later in the pregnancy, but for me it is quite instantaneous. Last time, I had clothing hung on hangers, the sheets washed, the crib set up and made, and the baby quilt finished. By week 27 I was pretty much just waiting on our baby to arrive. I was prepared or as prepared as I thought I could be. 

Keukenhof

Keukenhof

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Keukenhof is like Disneyland for flower lovers.  It is the annual place growers get to showcase their best and brightest for the coming year. After a couple hours perusing the different displays I kept thinking about how I did not need to be taking so many photographs of flowers, but in the end it was too beautiful not to capture. 

ONA Camera Bags

ONA Camera Bags

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

I have been looking for the perfect camera bag for quite sometime. I wanted something stylish, versatile and yet something which did not scream camera bag when you saw it. When I ran across ONA camera bags I knew these were the type of bags I had been looking for. We were in the process of planning our trip to Europe and I knew it would be the perfect time to break in our new Brixton Camera bag. The Brixton camera bag is quite large and is able to hold: my camera, extra lens, iPad or small laptop, wallet/clutch and all my other camera paraphernalia (ie. charger, extra batteries, etc.) The Brixton is the perfect size to take on a photo shoot or for carrying a full day of equipment. 

Vayable Tour with Anne Ditmeyer in Paris

Vayable Tour with Anne Ditmeyer in Paris

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Upon recommendation from a friend we booked a tour through Vayable with Anne Ditmeyer for our first full day in Paris. I liked the idea of a tour because it had been long time since I had been to Paris and this was going to be Cameron's first visit. Upon meeting Anne at our hotel I instantly knew we were going to have a good day. She was easy to talk to, full of energy and a wealth of information. She easily customized our tour to include the areas and sights which would be of most interest to us. One of my favorite take aways from our tour was the handful of photographs she snapped of us during our time together.

Paris in black + white

Paris in black + white

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

There is a certain mystic or love affair people have with Paris. While we were visiting a couple weeks ago I asked Cameron if he thought Paris was romantic. His reply, "It is just as romantic as Seattle" Ha! So for all you lovebirds dreaming of a rendezvous in Paris, come visit Seattle. As a wise man recently told me it is more about who you are with than where you are.  

Shopping in Reykjavik, Iceland

Shopping in Reykjavik, Iceland

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Reykjavik is one of those charming little cities I wish I could fold up and put in my pocket. I would love to be able to pull it out and transport myself there whenever I am feeling blue. Although two thirds of the Icelandic population live in Reykjavik it has never felt busy or frantic like other cities we have visited. Reykjavik is a very walkable city full of interesting things to stop and take a look at. I am drawn to the rows of brightly colored buildings and I have found so many amazing places to shop while I am there. 

Windmills and tulips

Windmills and tulips

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Amsterdam is such a delightful city, but we knew we wanted to spend some time out in the country while we were in the Netherlands. We had timed our trip just perfectly so we were able to see all the tulips in bloom, but I also had been dreaming about visiting a Dutch windmill. Windmills are the most famous Dutch icon and I was eager to see them in person.

On our day trip to the countryside we were able to explore a working windmill. This particular windmill was crushing pigments to make paint while another one nearby was grinding spices. Standing on the deck of a windmill is something everyone should experience once in their life. 

Iceland

Iceland

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Even though our stop over to Iceland was brief, we were still able to enjoy beautiful scenery, open roads and all four seasons in two days. Oh how I love Iceland, the combination of a subtle color palette, wide open spaces and the dynamic, unpredictable weather. Iceland will always be the place of my dreams. 

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

We just returned from a two week adventure in Iceland, Amsterdam and Paris. Although I found each place to be uniquely exciting and different, hands down Amsterdam won for the most charming city. Everywhere I turned it was so delightful I found myself constantly taking photographs. I desperately wanted to document all the adorable homes, bridges and canals we were witnessing. Between the whizzing bicycles, cobblestones streets and endless canals I found Amsterdam to be different than any other place I have visited before.  

A family of four!!!

A family of four!!!

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Parenting

There is exciting news and then there is scream-it-from-the-rooftops-call-everyone-you-know type of news. We are happy to announce we will be adding our second child to our family in October. My heart is so full right now I could burst!

Traveling around Europe

Traveling around Europe

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Almost fourteen years ago I backpacked through Europe. I went with my friend for a month and during that time we managed to visit France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. In my whirlwind adventure I fell in love with the world, traveling and all it had to offer. In my opinion, travel begets travel which means that trip forever left me altered. Once you take the initial leap to pack your bag, criss cross time zones and learn to navigate in a foreign country you learn how little you need and how much you have to offer the world. 

Load More