Lovely Little Nest

Monday, September 19, 2011

Thursday, September 15, 2011

To Do...

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions regarding which lens to buy! I'll be back next week with more info on which one I chose.

Until then, this has/is/will apparently always be me:

Oi. Wish me luck!

Monday, September 5, 2011

I booked my first wedding for 2012!!

...now what?

I have a Canon Rebel XS 10.1mp Digital SLR Camera and the following lenses:

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens

Canon EF 50mm f 1.8 II Lens

I just had two more clients contact me regarding their interest in hiring me to shoot their upcoming weddings, so I clearly need to add some new lenses to my photography arsenal. Here are my questions:

Which Wide Angle Zoom Lens?

Dream:

Canon EF 16-35mm f 2.8L II USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Canon EF 24-70mm f 2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens

Reality:

Sigma 10-20mm f 4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens

Sigma 24-70mm f 2.8 IF EX DG HSM AF Standard Zoom Lens

Question: Are Sigmas comparable to Canons?

Which Macro Lens?

Dream:

Canon EF-S 60mm f 2.8 Macro USM Digital Lens

Reality:

Tokina AF 12-24mm f 4 AT-X Pro DX Lens

Question: Are Tokinas comparable to Canons?

Which Telephoto Zoom Lens?

Dream:

Canon EF 70-200mm f 4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

Reality:

{Same Lens, but sold for 1/3 the price on ebay}

Canon EF 70-200mm f 4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

Question: Is it safe to buy lenses on ebay if it says they are "new and in original packaging"?

I think those are all of my questions...for now ;).
Thank you in advance for your helpful comments and suggestions!

Be sure to check out my photography website: Natalie Wagner Photography.

{A photo I took at a Miami Beach wedding in January 2011}

And here is the Shabby Apple dress giveaway winner!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

etsy Love: Black + White Chevron

Aren't they all fabulous? I am currently on the hunt for a Black & White Chevron Tablecloth, so if you see one, let me know!

P.S. Be sure to enter my Shabby Apple dress giveaway!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

365 Challenge: 5.5-5.11

Pretty flowering trees just outside our apartment

Me? Plant seeds? We'll see how this goes...

I may not have a green thumb, but at least my gardening gloves are cute!

Childhood memories <3

On a lovely evening walk with my husband

Make a wish...

hehe

Be sure to enter my Shabby Apple giveaway!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Shabby Apple Giveaway!

*** This Giveaway is now closed ***

The wonderful designers at Shabby Apple have offered Lovely Little Nest readers a dress giveaway!! The gorgeous dress up for grabs is the Mariposa Grove:

I chose this lovely dress for its vibrant color and beautiful petal details along the neckline. I just wish I could have it for myself!

To enter this giveaway:

{1} Stop by Shabble Apple and leave a comment on this post with your favorite item

{2} For an extra entry, blog about this giveaway and post a link-back

The giveaway is only available to US residents. All entries must be submitted on or before Sunday, September 4th, 11:59pm EST.

Shabby Apple is also offering a 10% off coupon to all Lovely Little Nest readers that will be good for 30 days! Just enter littlenest10off at checkout. Be sure to peruse all of their lovely merchandise!

Good luck! :)

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Dying to Paint

We live in an apartment. A nicely sized apartment with vaulted ceilings, crown molding, granite countertops...and boring, WHITE walls.

OK, so they're technically off-white. But it KILLS ME that we haven't painted them! We painted almost every room in our old apartment and were so glad we did...until it came time to priming them for future tenants. Needless to say, my husband made me agree that I would not, under any circumstances, ask him to paint our new apartment.

Wahhh! I wish we had painted. I know it would have taken a TON of work, but there is nothing like charcoal walls to make a dining room feel romantic or pale aquamarine walls to make a bathroom feel like a spa. *sigh*

Now, we are slowly beginning the process of house-hunting, which means painting our current apartment is definitely not an option. So, I suppose I'll have to be content with lusting over my fellow bloggers' gorgeous, painted homes:

Yvonne's fun Living Space

Love the painted ceiling

That teal wall is killing me!

We know I am a sucker for anything gray {and I love that B&W striped rug!}

What about you? Do you have any beautifully painted rooms for me to covet?

P.S. So, I live in Eastern Pennsylvania, and in case you haven't heard, we are expecting a Hurricane. Unless I am swept out to sea, be expecting a giveaway from Shabby Apple on Monday!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Delaware

The husband and I live in Northern Pennsylvania, just 15 minutes from the Delaware border. Here, let me translate that for you into a little Math equation:

Delaware + Minimal/No Taxes = HOUSE HUNTING!!!

We're not seriously shopping yet {AKA we don't have a realtor}, but it's been fun browsing on zillow and trulia! Here's to dreaming of having a home where I can finally paint my front door...

What about you? Loving your apartment? Ready to get a house? Already own your own home?

P.S. Stay tuned for a {fabulous giveaway} Monday morning!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

365 Challenge: 4.26-5.4

pretties just outside our apartment

easy peasy date night in with the husband

homemade birthday cream puffs for ben! they took for-e-ver but were totally worth it!

my Kindergarteners' handiwork

brother-in-law at the Phillies game, representing my favorite beverage

Ben and his dad, just before the following day's 14 inning game...my mother-in-law decided to watch a chick flick and have dinner at Five Guys instead...I'm definitely glad about that now!