Getting back on track...

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Have not been blogging 

for two weeks ...

seems like even longer!

But I am back 
on track now.

In case you 
missed my post in October, 

 my house was just photographed
this past week for

 Midwest Living Magazine,

 read about it here.

So for the last two weeks 

my friend Jenn and I were
as busy as elves on December 24th

preparing for Christmas

for next year's holiday issue. 

On Monday,

we went to the airport
to pick up the 

famous Bonnie Broten 
-- stylist extraordinaire 
and Field Editor for Meredith Publishing. 
This darling (and beautiful) woman
has more energy and talent 
than most anyone I know! Her personality is magnetic.

We ran around and purchased
 fresh greens and flowers
and headed off to the house.

On Tuesday,
the magazine's Creative Director,
Geri Boesen, flew in and the four of us
got everything staged and prepared
for the photo shoot.  
(Lots of tweaking, rearranging,
and editing of things for the cameras.
Geri has such an artistic eye and a gift
for telling a story through photos.)

On Wednesday,
 Werner Straube
(Chicago-based interior/locations photographer)
and his assistant, Dustin, 
arrived with their equipment
and began shooting the house 
and the holiday decorations
for three days.
These two are so incredibly
talented -- the things they can
do with a camera! Oh my.

Trying to get the perfect lighting.

Moving things from one area to another.

Even the dogs took part in the process.
They were pictured in several areas
and they seemed to enjoy their
short stint in modeling. 
(Hallie is such a ham. Loves a flash .)

Until you experience something like this,
there's just no way to fathom
how much time and effort
 goes into each and every photograph 
of a room that is printed.

I learned SO MUCH!

Bonnie checking accessory placement.

Bonnie took her magic wand and applied
some "red holiday lipstick" 
to this old barn house
and Geri was right behind her 
with a couple design and styling
 "injections"
to pump up the looks of the place 
to get her camera-ready 
if you will! 

I couldn't even believe it was
the same place when the photos 
were finished.
(The final shots are all captured on
a laptop monitor so you are able to
watch the process of each shot from start to finish.) 
That's technology.

Werner and Dustin waiting for final "tweaking"
 being done by the ladies in the other room.

Now that it is all over,

it kind of feels like the day after 

your wedding --- 
a big let down.  
:(
So sad it is all over.

When one spot is being photographed, the other rooms
become storage and holding spaces.

Was very teary-eyed 
when Bonnie and Geri left.

So blessed to have met them 
and to have gone through this experience 

with these professionals

who are SO crazy ridiculously talented.

Can't wait to show you
the photos but will have to wait 
until after the publication 
comes out next October 
or November 2013. 

It's going to be 
a looooong 
9 months!


To see the home featured
in this year's holiday issue.
click HERE!

Enjoy! -
Alison