Here are some highlights from our vacation last week.  We ate a lot, saw my best friend from Boston and her fiancee, enjoyed great weather (and some rain) and watched people in Central Park.

There are a few new fun products that I am introducing this year. One of them is an image box that is custom made for you.  It is adorned with one of your favorite images and comes in different sizes to accommodate 4×6 or 5×7 photos. It is very popular with grandparents who never have enough photos of their grandchildren. After ordering large wall portraits, most families still want to have smaller size pictures and image boxes are perfect for storing and displaying their photos.  These are also great for maternity and engagement prints.

Spring is my favorite season. There is something magical about seeing trees budding and flowers bathing in the sun. It always reminds me of our trips to the mountains, with fields carpeted with red poppy flowers, tulips and cherry blossoms everywhere. The air is fresh and fragrant, mountains are still wearing their snow caps and nature is awakening in all its magnificence.

Recently we had a play date with Adam’s classmate. This lovely family is from France and within minutes of entering their beautiful home,  we were transformed.  Ever since my visit to Paris, I yearned to go back. It was love at first sight, the same way I fell in love with my wonderful husband. Fond memories rushed back: strolls through quiet cobble streets, intimate setting of sidewalk cafes, art galleries, and Parisians with their fashion sense and flair.  It is there that I spent countless hours watching people while enjoying espresso and mouth-watering pastries. Our friend, with her home made chocolate cake and delicious espresso, brought me back to her wonderful country, even if for a short while.

Inspired by and following her recipe, I made this chocolate cake. It is only a matter of years before we head back again to enjoy Paris at its best.

Last weekend our friends invited us to celebrate their son’s first birthday. Willem is such a delightful child - he always smiles with his beautiful blue eyes. Our celebration started with 11 AM mimosas followed by a scrumptious chocolate layered cake. Willem’s parents were gracious hosts and created a jubilant birthday party atmosphere. Lively conversations and champagne flowed. We were surrounded by wonderful parents and their children. Toddlers had tons of fun playing in the tent.  Their home had so many colorful details and beautiful touches.
 
Happy Birthday Willem. Your family gave you the best 1st birthday ever! 

Our friends invited us to the beautiful baby naming ceremony and I took a few photos of this handsome star of the show. His parents led the ceremony, a touching dedication from start to finish. His grandparents spoke lovingly of the importance of direct family support; and it was evident from the huge turnout that this adorable child will have the love and guidance of many adoring relatives.

This radiant mother-to-be looks absolutely fantastic and her eyes are beaming with joy and anticipation. I just love the way she is glowing, what a glamorous model.

Our friend had her second child recently and he is so precious. While his older sister, a precocious toddler awaiting acceptance letters from the top UES nursery and preschools, played with my son I had the pleasure of capturing the beauty of a two-week-old while he slept.

Here are a couple of photos of our friends’ adorable daughter.

During our Thanksgiving holiday vacation, we traveled to the Dominican Republic to assist a new charity. I was helping with outreach efforts to help children in a severely impoverished part of the country. Images from this mission can be viewed at www.lailophoto.com -
“Charitable Missions” gallery.

We stayed in Juan Dolio and were lucky to enjoy some beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

Halloween costumes were in full bloom over the weekend. Central Park featured children - both young and old - dressed to the nines, or slightly less if by design. My favorite images were snapped of children in the concrete jungle pumpkin patch, a truly unique New York experience.

See you Wednesday on West 69th Street for the main event!

I had a wonderful opportunity to travel to sweltering Charleston where I spent last week with my entire team. After a few fun team building exercises and savoring many local seafood dishes, I was glad to return home to Manhattan to be with my family.

I loved photographing my first adult model, a lovely and talented hedge fund executive.

This past weekend we went to Forest Hills to spend time with Eric and Julia and their adorable daughters Ella and Sophia. Although Eric and I work for the same company, it was the first time all of us met. It was also the first time Adam met twins and he couldn’t stop hugging them. Ella and Sophia generously shared all their toys and impressive library of books written in English and Polish. Both Julia and Eric speak several foreign languages and have had some amazing experiences - living and teaching in Japan, and commuting between Boston and New York City while Eric was completing two Master’s degrees at Harvard. Our children were well behaved and we were able to enjoy a delicious meal and engage in thought provoking discussion. We then went for a stroll to soak up some gentle fall sun and capture a few fun images of the twins at a local playground in Forest Hills Gardens.

Eric and Julia, we can’t wait to see you again to do some family portraits.

Ella

Sophia

Inspired by the beauty of Fairfield beaches, we decided to explore other beaches in close proximity to NYC. Having received rave reviews from one of our friends, we picked our next destination: Long Beach, Long Island. There were a few of us, including two children under age of 3. The water was a bit cold in contrast with the scorching hot sand. There is a two mile long boardwalk, filled with joggers, onlookers, strollers and bicycle riders. The beach itself stretches for approximately 3.5 miles. It is a great spot for a day trip, family/children friendly and approximately an hour away from Manhattan. It is accessible by the LIRR - making it even more attractive for people who live in the Big Apple and don’t own cars.

Following our Maryland vacation, we headed to Fairfield, CT for a weekend visit. While there, we got a chance to enjoy several beaches along what’s called the Gold Coast of Connecticut. It is remarkable how the scenery changes from one state to another. While cruising down quiet picturesque roads of Fairfield, we noticed that some trees were already bursting with color. Manhattan colors come later and it is one of my favorite times to take photographs, as foliage in Central Park is truly spectacular. Let’s hope for a few more days of brilliant color before the grey days of winter arrive.

Following a sun-baked two-day stay at Tyson’s Corner, Virgina, we headed to my aunt and uncle’s for a much needed break. This was our second annual trip to Maryland, a welcome respite from routines, and an opportunity to see our family again. Cousins Alex and Jordan look great, they were a lot of fun to be around.

We also spent a day with Erika and Jason at their beautiful new home in DC paying tribute to their amazing culinary skills. Erika and Jason, we hope to see you in NYC at our annual holiday gathering in December.