Why Coconut Dolly?

I get it. I didn't fully get it until I became a mama. I am here to tell you - take the photos. Be IN the photos. I do this professionally and the best photo I have of myself, to show me and my family, is a selfie from last fall at a pumpkin patch.

I've seen it all - from tantrums (parents included), to temporary tattoos on cheeks and nuclear blue lollipop lips (a brief PSA: stick to red lollis and hand tattoos), forgetting shoes, forgetting dad, forgetting snacks, to parents getting caught in trees - anything for a smile, em I right?!

Perfection is boring. If your son wants to wear a cape and the same holy sweatshirt that he asks to wear every day with shorts and it's winter - let him. If your daughter wants to wear a Paw Patrol costume with a tutu - let her. I promise you no one will care if your shirt is off-white vs white in 20 years. If anything they will laugh at our hairstyles. Do I have any 80/90's kids here? You get it.

I know it’s easier said than done. I spent a good two years attempting to get the “perfect” sibling shot/family shot of my own to hang on our wall and you know what…it wasn’t fun and our walls are still blank. There were tears and tantrums (this mama included). Embrace the chaos, imperfections and occastional selfies.

But where does this leave the moms and dads who would like, “one nice family photo?” If you're still with me and haven't already hit up a new Google search for family photographers, we will get those images too. We have about 15 minutes of sitting still before we lose kids (and dads). I will make most of that time. Trust me.