It only seems logical that in a household where cameras and computers reign, our little ones would naturally gravitate towards both. We’ve given Ali a camera since her second birthday (and yes, she does have her own laptop), and she’s a natural with both. I’ve been tempted to start a category with her pictures, but I haven’t yet decided if it would be something she’d appreciate or well, later regret!

During a recent lunch outing with a preschool friend, Helena received a tiny plastic camera, just the right size for her toddler hands. It doesn’t take pictures of course, but she is none the wiser and she LOVES the thing! It’s one of those cameras that has a reel inside of it and if you hold it up to the light and click the button, the reel turns and a new picture is revealed in the viewfinder.

Well, she just loves holding it up to her face and saying ‘jeeez’ a la ‘cheese’ style. This tiny insignificant Made in China piece of plastic has completely changed her life. Check her out as she ventures forth into the world of photography. She makes me proud!

~Astrid~

Tags: daily photo rambling..., moms by Astrid
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Part I further down below of this mega-post ended with a visit to 3rd Street South. Picking up where I left off…

~Spots around Naples~
What’s another one of our favorite spots to around Naples? Well, Tin City, of course! Tin City has been here forever (since 1976) and it’s truly a unique spot. Not only does Tin City have some great spots for lunch and dinner, but there are some totally neat stores where you can get cool and of course, useless souvenirs to bring back to your friends and family. It’s a great place to walk around and cool off from the heat, too!

Another must-see spot in Naples is the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. The Phil (as us Neapolitans call it) is Naples’ central hub for visual and performing arts. Not only does the Phil showcase GREAT live performances, but it also houses the Naples Museum of Art. The museum displays paintings, sculpture, drawings and other art forms, and provides educational programs and lectures.

But of course, if you come to the Phil, we recommend spending an evening listening to the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Jorge Mester. The orchestra is phenomenal and plays a wide variety of music, including regular classical, pops and chamber concerts.

Back in the day, I used to play violin (I studied it for 15 years)! It was my second love, but alas! Photography won out! In high school, I applied, and was accepted, into the Philharmonic’s Youth Orchestra program. It was an awesome experience and well, the Phil will always hold a special place in my heart! Check it out if you have the time. Even just a short stop to admire the architecture and the sculpture garden is a nice treat!

For you mom’s here in town, the Phil is home to the awesome Kindermusik program, directed by Bonnie Thayer. Bonnie, Susie and all the Kindermusik teachers are FANTASTIC! I’ve been participating in the program ever since Ali was about a year old. We now go to their family classes and I can’t recommend the program enough!

~Shopping~
Shopping, I know, I know! I saved the best for last! But really, there is some fantastic shopping here in Naples. There are two spots in town that I recommend for high-end designer buys: The Village at Venetian Bay and The Waterside Shops at Pelican Bay. Both of these spots are home to some of Naples most exclusive boutiques, offering only the very best in haute couture fashion, jewelry and home apparel.

The Waterside Shops’ most notable boutiques include Louis Vuitton, BCBG Max Azria, Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, Coach, Gucci, and Hermes, just to name a few! Looking for a spectacular jewelry gift? With a selection the likes of Cartier to Van Cleef and Arpels to Yamron, you are sure to find something memorable for that special someone!

Not too far from the Waterside shops, resides Venetian Bay. Not only does this little jewel sit nestled across the Gulf, but it is home to some truly unique stores that offer only the very best in gifts and apparel. Make sure to read my very first blog entry in my palm series, for the love of palms…, for some personal recommendations from Venetian Village!

~Dining in Naples~
Along with shopping and sightseeing, Naples also offers some truly magnificent restaurants to fit any budget and any taste!

~5th Avenue~
Looking for the best hamburger on Fifth? Definitely try Cheeburger Cheeburger. Rene swears by the burgers here, but I totally love to have one of their floats and sit outside and people-watch!

If you are in the mood for more upscale fare, Chops City Grill provides casual chic fare with a great vibe. Rene swears by the T-bone, here, but my fav is the martini!

If Italian is more to your liking, our very, very favorite restaurant for Italian in all of Naples is right off Fifth, Ristorante Ciao! Back in high school, one of our first dates was at Ciao…yes, they have been around a long time, proving just how spectacular this true Naples gem is! I recommend the Fettuccine Ciao. It’s SOOO good, it’s the only thing I ever order there. I just can’t bring myself to not order it! Rene swears by the Risotto al Tartufo, a heavenly blend of Arborio rice in creamy Parmigiano Reggiano Truffle sauce! Simply spectacular…but definitely rich!

Off 5th as well is another one of our favorite places to grab a Martini and some awesome, awesome seafood: Truluck’s. I think it’s safe to say that Truluck’s offers Naples’ freshest seafood around. They have their own fisheries in Isle of Capri, which provide the chef with fresh catches for varied menus week to week. Our picks here include the Sesame Tuna, which is served with this killer spicy wasabi mashed potatoe and the Thai Chili Day-Boat Scallops. These are the jumbo scallops, which are marinated in this sweet Thai chili sauce. But the best part is the crab fried rice that accompanies the dish! Scrumptious! The piano-bar is a great place to people-watch, too! Oh, and if you go, make sure to get the ‘Chocolate Box’!

~Venetian Village~
Back to the Village, and our three recommendations are Cloyde’s Steak and Lobster House, Bayside and Maxwell’s on the Bay.

For steak, so far Cloyde’s has the best steak in town in our opinion. Be prepared to have your taste buds tantalized with some seriously gourmet steak at Cloyde’s And YES, the best martini does reside here as well as the best lobster! We’ve also heard GREAT things about Shula’s Steakhouse in the Hilton here in town and Preston’s, but we have not visited either of these two restaurants. They are on our list of places to taste…our anniversary is coming up and one of these two spots will do just fine! I’ll report back here after we celebrate…

Another one of our longtime favorites, Maxwell’s on the Bay has been a Naples gem for a very long time (another one of our high school favorites). Take our advice: sit outside by the water, order a glass of wine and an order of the stone crab claws. The food is to die for and the view is priceless! This is one of those places that is best enjoyed at a slow and leisurely pace…

Last but not least, Bayside Seafood Bar and Grill is another favorite of ours, serving one of the best Maine Lobster bisques around! Rene loves the Prince Edward Island Mussels, which are a real culinary treat, served with chorizo, Saffron, tomato, lobster broth, and lemon aioli. Bayside is a GREAT place to host your rehearsal dinner, too! They have ample space, a varied menu and the location is KILLER! Ask for John and tell him that Rene and Astrid sent you!

~Around Naples~
Our last two favorite restaurants offer true delicacies from around the world!

Up first is a totally unique restaurant that blends fantastic seafood and far off exotic foods from India and Asia. It’s a true East meets West type of cuisine, but done exceptionally well. The USS Nemo is absolutely FABULOUS! I know, I know. I’ve said that about a lot of restaurants already. But the Nemo’s claim to fame around here is definitely the fantabulous way chef/owner Nicolas Mercier blends cuisines so effortlessly, creating tantalizing sensations that well, are memorable. I’m sure a lot of people have eaten at these type of fusion restaurants, and they are typically hit or miss. The USS Nemo is certainly a hit…and what’s my recommendation here? ANYTHING! But seriously, try the Lemongrass Creme Brulee…experience what true Nirvana really is! If you love Sake, (and I don’t), they have a Sake bar which many of my friends seem to love.

Love French food? Cafe Normandie is a great little place that serves some of the best quiche and French pastriies you will ever try (this side of the Atlantic). Now I know what you may be thinking….French cuisine, Naples, rich town. This must be some stuffy over-the-top super expensive place. Not so! This is what is so fabulous about this place. Benoit Legris, a Normandy native, create basic French fare such as sandwiches, salads and omelets. I hate to use the word ‘basic’ because the way the food tastes is anything but basic! And while you are there, make sure to save room for dessert. Heck, even if you don’t HAVE room, MAKE room! It’s just sinfully delectable!

Ok, so there you have it. A wide range of tantalizing places to visit, spots to get married at and yummy treats to eat! While certainly not a definitive guide, it’s a start!

~Enjoy Naples,
Astrid~

Tags: brides, design, fashion by Astrid
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Looking for an engagement or wedding ring set that is not only eco-friendly, but made from conflict-free diamonds? I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about Brilliant Earth’s selection of engagement and wedding rings.

Brilliant Earth is based in Canada and uses conflict-free diamonds, practices fair-trade and eco-friendly practices and donates 5% of profits to help local African communities. Not only do they practice green business, but they will also custom-design your set as well! They also have stunning sapphires (which are also ethically-sourced). Where’s my Christmas list?

Check them out!

~ Astrid ~

Tags: brides, design by Astrid
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So we went to Koreshan State Park Sunday and it was definitely one of those outings you don’t soon forget (because your mind, body and soul is STILL crying out in pain!). Not only did we pick what seemed like the hottest day in the history of Florida to go hiking with two small children under 4, but we also didn’t think to remember the mosquitoes!

Ah yes! mosquitoes: Florida’s state bird! And don’t let anyone tell you any different! At least that’s what it seemed like to us….mosquitoes the size of small house flies, happily flying around our hot, sweaty, miserable bodies as we trekked through the Florida woods in the dead heat. With two toddlers. In a wagon. Going uphill. Mosquitoes. In 99 degree weather. Did I mention the mosquitoes? The heat? Of course I did.

So here’s the scoop: my mom led the pack, Rene behind her pulling the wagon with the two hot and grumpy toddlers inside PACKED full of provisions, and me right behind them, fanning them with the largestt palmetto leaf I could find….keeping the birds mosquitoes at bay. The girls didn’t get bit that much, thank goodness. But don’t ask about us. And YES! We ARE Florida natives. YES we should know better and YES we DO HAVE repellent, only it’s at home. Safe. In our bathroom cabinet. 30 miles away.

We’ve done this hike several times before and it’s truly wonderful. I love this park because there is so much to explore and the history here is simply amazing. Part of the trail to the settlement cuts across this amazing Bamboo forest, which if you stand still (which we didn’t do this time for fear of being carried off by mosquitoes), literally sings to you. But it’s not for the weak of heart…(translation: don’t go in July without bug spray). The entire time we RAN through the hike, we kept wondering how the Koreshans ever managed living here SANS any form of repellent. I surely would have killed myself if the bugs didn’t get to me first! The Koreshans are truly amazing….and their culture and society is most interesting…..and it’s all right here in our backyard!

Anyway, it was a gritty day and we loved every minute of it. After spending the entire week behind a camera and computer and cooped up at home, we all LOVE getting out on Sundays. It’s our family/adventure/see-the-world/make memories/bond with each other day. And this is exactly the kind of adventure we hope for.

So for the daily photo rambling, I chose another lovely Florida palm image that I took as I ran walked through the settlement. This is the official Florida state tree, the Sabal palm (also known as the cabbage palm). It’s a lovely palm tree that grows to over 50 feet in height and stands out considerably.

I decided to have some fun with this image and used texture and a totally bold palette. It definitely has an intenseness about it but it’s quite lovely too, just like our special day at the park. I love this picture….I love how majestic the palms look here, as though they were soaring above the clouds.

~Astrid~

Tags: daily photo rambling..., palm trees by Astrid
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This post evolved into a MEGA-POST, so I have split it up into two parts. Presented below is Part 1. I will be presenting Part II in a few days! Make sure to check back.

~ Destination: Naples, Florida ~
Having lived in Naples since we were wee ones (with a hiatus in New Orleans just for fun and Sarasota for college), we thought it would be great to provide some suggestions for brides and grooms looking at Naples, Florida for their destination wedding.

Now this isn’t just a post about the best of the best in Naples (well, it is kind of :)), rather, it’s a list of places and things WE love about Naples. That means we’ve stayed there, been there, eaten there, photographed there, been photographed there or partied there and WE love the place and most importantly, we would recommend it to our friends and family. We hope this gives you a bit of information on the area. It truly is a beautiful town and a magical place for your wedding day!

~ Naples Beaches ~
Of course, we have to start off with the beaches here in Naples. Not only are the beaches absolutely beautiful, with the softest powder white sand you will ever feel between your toes, but the sunsets are KILLER! Can you imagine a better backdrop as you exchange your vows? And every sunset is always different. Rene and I have seen so many sunsets, both as a couple and now with our girls as a family, and each and every sunset is unique.

The Naples sunset is truly magical! I know, I know! It sounds cheesy but the sunsets are truly beautiful. And if you time your ceremony just right, that magic makes for an even more magical ceremony! I can’t tell you how many times Rene and I have photographed the most special of moments when a bride and groom exchange their vows as the sun sets, the waves lap the shore, pelicans and sea gulls fly over head and the soft warm breeze kisses your face.

So when you plan your ceremony, make sure you pay attention to sunset times so you can capture that natural sunset magic in your ceremony and your beach portraits as husband and wife. You will also want to time your wedding just right in the year (as in avoid the months between April and August) you can beat the worst of the heat and rain, while having that perfect beach/sunset wedding!

~ Beach Venues ~
So what’s the perfect venue for that beach wedding? Depending on your style, there’s a venue to fit the most luxe-seeking bride and groom to the most casual duo, too! Starting from the top, here’s our list of favorites, in no particular order! And yes, we’ve shot at every single one of these venues and we feel they provide the best beach ceremonies in Naples and the surrounding areas. If you have specific questions, just shoot us an email and we will happily answer as best we can.

• The Naples Beach Hotel
• Hideaway Beach
• La Playa
• The Naples Grande
• The Ritz Carlton
• Marco Beach Ocean Resort in Marco Island

And two fantastic beach venues just outside of Naples:

• South Seas in Sanibel Island
• Casa Ybel in Captiva Island

~ Need a GREAT place to spend the night? ~
There are tons of hotels in Naples. But we have two favorites that we LOVE! The Inn on Fifth, Olde Naples and Hotel Escalante. Rene and I were married right here in Naples and before we left on our honeymoon, we spent three nights and four days at the Inn on Fifth and it was truly wonderful! We would have had our wedding there but it wasn’t big enough. But we can’t rave enough about the service, the people and most important, the ambiance! It was all about us and we couldn’t get enough!

For anniversary’s or special get-aways for just the two of us, we also love the Hotel Escalante! It’s very private, very small and oh-so-very perfect for a totally romantic getaway from life or that very special honeymoon night! Both of these awesome hotels are right in the heart and charm of Old Naples…

~ Where to visit ~
You and your fiancee may have some time after your wedding to do some sightseeing around Naples. If you leave right after your wedding for your honeymoon, some of your friends and family may stick around to soak up the sights. What to do? Well, Naples has some great spots to take in the sights!

~ Fifth Avenue ~
If you have your wedding in Naples, you must take a day and walk down Fifth Avenue South. It’s the heart of Naples and is Naples’ original “Main Street”. It’s a fantastic bit of history that leads right down to the beach. Walk all the way down, hand-in-hand, sipping on a cup of coffee from Fifth Avenue Coffee Company (so much better than Starbucks) or grab a delicious cone from Regina’s Ice Cream. People-watch, window-shop, take pictures and enjoy the absolute beauty of the vegetation and architecture.

If you want get off your feet and see Naples the fun way, make sure to take a ride on the Naples Trolley. The Trolley system has different tours and their main tour covers over 100 spots all over Naples! Check out the tour map here!

Prefer something a little different? Try Naples Segway Tours! Rene and I have been wanting to do this one for a while now, but we haven’t been able to carve out the time. We see the tours all the time from our favorite park, Cambier Park (just off 5th), and they look like so much FUN! Check them out for a totally different way to take in Naples!

And of course, while in Naples, your festivities wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Naples Pier! The Pier was originally built in 1888 and has undergone many a rebuilt after damage by hurricanes and for modernization. There is talk that the pier will undergo some new changes, so as Neapolitans, we are excited to see what changes are in store! But it’s great to go to the beach for the day and walk the pier, watch the locals, and make sure to go late in the afternoon. The dolphins are always out by the end of the pier and they love the attention. It’s simply beautiful! The water right now is a perfect temperature for swimming. We were just out there last weekend and it was GREAT!

~ 3rd Street South ~
Another historical landmark of Naples, 3rd Street South began in the late 19th Century. Access to this tiny spot in Old Naples was via the Naples Pier only. Imagine the changes that this are has undergone as now, it’s the place to go for unique decorations, fantastic fashion, art for the discriminate collector and a haven for even the most luxe of palettes! You can even email your favorite pictures using the free WIFI in the historic district’s hotspot!

If you love art, make sure to visit Gallery Row on 3rd. This area boasts more galleries in one spot than any where else in Southwest Florida! Guys, still need to find that special something for your bride? Make sure to visit Cleopatra’s Barge Fine Jewelry, home of the infamous ‘Naples Medallion’. Cleopatra’s has some seriously unique pieces of bling and they’ve been a staple here since 1966!

That concludes Part 1 of this entry! Part 2 will be up in a few days. And please feel free to keep the questions coming via email. Our website, Astrid and Rene Photography, also has some great shots of Naples weddings, so check those out as well. I’ve included a small gallery below with some shots of some of the places I blogged about. What can I say, I love to take pictures :D!

~ Astrid ~

Tags: brides by Astrid
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I shot my neighbor’s Royal Palm last night, right about dusk. It was pretty dark (much darker than the image shows) and the moon just looked absolutely stunning.

However, the capture of the moon didn’t come out quite as I saw it. It looks more like the sun in this image. But I was also practicing my hand holding abilities at low shutter speeds. This was shot with a 50mm F1.8, 1250ISO, at 1/10th of a second. Not too shabby for such a slow shutter speed. But I’m bummed that the moon doesn’t look like what I really saw…I will go back out tomorrow night to shoot it again. I can’t tonight….I’m teaching my Nikon class!

Tags: daily photo rambling..., palm trees, togs by Astrid
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Ok, ok. So we haven’t been doing that great with our daily photo! We are just about caught up, well for this week anyway!

Check out this amazing palm picture I shot around sunset time at my favorite Naples beach hideaway (it’s our secret romantic spot)! I did absolutely NO Photoshop work on this image other than cropping and sharpening. It’s unbelievable! Next time you see one of those strange Southwest Florida paintings where the sky is a weird psychedelic pink and blue, YES! The skies down here really do look like that!

~ Astrid ~

Tags: daily photo rambling..., palm trees by Astrid
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