Monica Lee

5 Rules to Follow to Make Sure You LOVE Your Fall Family Pictures


Photography by: LentillePhotography // Hair & Makeup by: bespokenbeauty //
Outfits borrowed from studio wardrobe

Family photos are something that have always meant EVERYTHING to me, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized how important it is to INVEST in your family photos, that way you will love them now, and for years and years to come.
When Kyle and I got engaged I was ALL about going the cheap route…even when it came to photos.
And I can’t even begin to tell you how much I regret that now.
I look back at our wedding photos and I’m so unhappy with how they turned out and that’s 100% MY FAULT for not doing my research and for just choosing the cheapest option and thinking “well, they have an expensive camera surely they’ll turn out good!” But its not just about the camera equipment y’all…it’s about the photographer and connecting with them and feeling comfortable. If there’s one thing I URGE you to do…it’s to really INVEST in your family photos, because they will be around forever & you want to be proud of them…
So today I’m going over 5 different rules that I think are total game changers, if you follow these simple rules I promise that you really will end up L O V I N G your Fall family pictures!

#1. Finding the right photographer – INVESTING in the right photographer
This is HUGE. I know you probably have a family member that is starting a photography business that will do your photos for free…and I know you found this awesome photographer that’s CRAZY expensive and you’re going to book a 10 minute mini session because that’s all you can afford and SURELY if the photographer is that great you’ll get a shot.. Y’all, DO NOT do either of these things! I’m telling you, the most important thing to ensure you LOVE your family photos is to INVEST in a great photographer. Not just any photographer, but a photographer that will take their time, make you feel comfortable in front of the camera, a photographer that will make it easy for your family to just be silly and be themselves so that you get natural, unposed, REAL, beautiful shots. Oh and trust me, I’ve done mini sessions and they are STRESSFUL and dang near impossible with more than 1 person involved. Don’t add more stress to the situation by giving yourself a strict time limit.

#2. Hire someone to do your hair & makeup…
I don’t care if you yourself are a professional hair & makeup artist…the last thing you want to be doing is trying to get yourself ready and then wrangling up all your kids, only to have your baby yank your hair and mess it up before you get to your location and get applesauce spattered all over your outfit…I can’t tell you how RELAXING it was to be able to show up to Allison and Bridgettes studio looking like a train wreck, and then getting to sit and have my hair and makeup done professionally right before the shoot. Bridgette (bespokenbeauty) is hands down the best hair & makeup artist in Houston. I would travel hours and hours for her work. The two times she’s done my hair and makeup I have felt SO beautiful and confident (which is SO important when you’re about to take photos) Kyle prefers me with minimal makeup and Bridgette just has this amazing way of doing a full face of makeup on you but making you look SO natural. It says A LOT when your husband prefers you with no makeup and even he compliments your hair and makeup after it’s been done professionally. I just have to show y’all this pony Bridgette created…that is ALL my real hair!!! Trust me, it is no where near as thick as it looks…Bridgette is a magician and will make you feel like a million bucks, I’m going to share the two looks she’s done for me below so y’all can see how talented she is!!

Bridgette and Allison share a studio together but Bridgette does hair and makeup for all kinds of events!
Wedding/Bridal/Special events/Photography…you name it.
Also, I was being dead serious when I said I would travel hours and hours for her, if you’re getting married soon or have any event where you want to look your best OR are currently planning your family photos – I HIGHLY recommend Bridgette!
You can head straight to here Instagram to see her work {HERE} Or send her an email at bespokenbeautyinfo@gmail.com

Alright, onto rule #3…


#3 Stick With Neutrals/Muted colors
Yes, you may be a fashionista who is up to date on all of the latest trends and everyone is always asking where your outfits are from, BUT a family photoshoot is not the place to make a fashion statement or try out a new trend (in my opinion). No matter what season it is, neutrals are ALWAYS best. One of my favorite things about booking with Allison (LentillePhotography) is that she provides wardrobe for all of her clients (like REALLY cute clothes y’all), all 3 of our outfits are from her studio wardrobe…I had so many gorgeous options to choose from but ended up going with this beautiful Free People maxi because I completely fell in love with the color. Not only did I not have to worry/think/stress/come up with outfits for all 3 of us but I also didn’t have to pay for new outfits for all three of us! Y’all know how quickly outfits & accessories for a family can add up!

#4 Find a photographer that understands the importance of PRINTS &
offers high end products and not just a USB
There’s something so special about receiving actual prints of your photos after your session and having beautiful high quality images to frame around your home! Allison has carefully curated a line of heirloom products, and all of her clients choose digitals plus an album, or framed fine art prints. Seriously y’all, HOW MANY TIMES have you wanted “just the digitals”, with full intention of printing them, but never did? Family pictures should live on your walls, and not on a USB.

And lastly, Rule #5 Bribe your husband & children if necessary
I know y’all are probably laughing at this BUT men & children do not love photos as much as we do…if I give my husband a good pep talk & explain how important these photos mean to me before the photoshoots {& also promise him something he loves if he smiles and cooperates} he tends to be a much better sport! As far as kiddos, Hayes isn’t old enough to be bribed but we did bring a few of his fav toys and had my mom hold them up right behind our photographer! There was also a lot of peek a boo action going on behind the scenes lol

I’ve been dying to share the rest of these photos with y’all! I have never been SO happy with a photoshoot in my entire life.  I typically pick and pull myself apart in every photo – but thanks to Bridgette I felt SO confident and comfortable in front of the camera and Allison always makes the photoshoots so fun & easy!! If you’re in Houston or even the surrounding areas make sure you check out these two babes if you’re in the market for some family photos or just on the hunt for a good hair & makeup artist!





Allison is completely booked for 2018 but is taking on clients for 2019, She specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, and family photography in the Houston area and is the sweetest human alive!!
Let me know if you end up booking with Allison or Bridgette and be sure to tell them I sent you!

Feeling like a new woman thanks to Waxing The City!!

Thank you Waxing The City for sponsoring this post. Unwanted hair is part of life…and so is getting rid of it. From brows – to backscaping – to bare it all Brazilians –we’ve seen it all. With 100 locations open –you’ll be sure to find a Waxing The City studio near you. First time customers get 50% off their first service!

Guess who FINALLY got their brows waxed/shaped after basically 2 years?!
THIS girl!!


Y’all, I had THE best waxing experience ever at Waxing The City last Wednesday and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
As a new mama, taking care of myself has definitely not been easy or at the top of my priority list.
But Summer is officially here which means…get togethers and swimsuits and outdoor play dates.
And if i’m being totally honest, A LOT has changed since having Hayes.
Hormones are crazy…and well, hair seems to grow a heck of a lot faster these days.
Which is why it’s super important for me to make time to take care of myself so I can feel human again!


Like I said, it’s been years since I got an eyebrow wax, so this was totally a treat for me.
As all of you are aware, eyebrows are EVERYTHING these days. They can really “make or break” your face…
that sounds weird, but it’s totally true….
I mean, how many of you have looked back at old photos and died a little inside at your overly plucked or misshapen brows?! Lord knows I have!

Since I don’t have time to throw make up on or curl my hair everyday having freshly waxed brows definitely help make this mama feel more put together!

My appointment was at 6pm and I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in and saw how clean and cute everything was!

I loved that they had a large selection of really great products available.
The display was so cute and I loved how neat everything was displayed!


I actually left with that exfoliating lemon cream scrub on the top left corner!
It smells heavenly and seriously leaves my skin feeling SO soft and smooth!

Caitlynn, my waxing expert, was SO sweet and welcoming.
We were chatting away as if we’d been friends for years and once I mentioned that I was a new mom she seriously went above and beyond to make it a super relaxing experience for me.
We talked about my brows and the shape and what I like and don’t like,
I loved that she actually listened to me and wasn’t just trying to tell me what I should do or what she thought would look good on me. Caitlynn definitely values her clients and their wants and needs, and that’s SO important to me when finding a good waxing place.

I walked in Waxing The City with a full face of makeup and untrimmed brows and I walked out with absolutely 0 makeup except for on my brows and I honestly felt SO confident. A good brow shaping does more than just groom stray hairs—it can really brighten up your whole face.
Waxing The City Cerologists are eyebrow experts, so rest assured they’ll make your brow goals a reality. Plus, they offer a full line of brow products to enhance your existing beautiful brows.

Here’s a little before & after…The lighting is way better in the before because the sun was still out but focus on the brows not the lighting haha

If you’re anything like me, it can be a little scary trying out a new waxing place, Waxing The City knows that and they offer first time guests 50% off their service. Which is seriously AMAZING!!
Just visit waxingthecity.com to schedule your service.
You won’t regret it, I’ll be going back regularly this Summer!!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The perfect flats for a girl on the go!

Hi everyone!!
Soooo I’m not typically a “ballet flat” kind of girl, but these were just too cute to pass up!

I actually got these babies when I was pregnant and they came in handy SO much.
They are the perfect shoe to throw in any and every bag, like seriously they even fit in a clutch!

While I was pregnant I still liked to rock shoes with a heel but I would always have these flats in my bag on standby for whenever my feet would start to hurt and I needed something more comfortable but still cute.
They are also great for traveling, I took these on our babymoon and I can’t tell y’all how many times I whipped them out mid date night because my feet were hurting haha

Most of you are aware that I was in a wedding a couple weekends ago!
As a new mama and someone who likes to be on the dance floor, I knew I wasn’t going to be wearing my heels all night long! Of course, I could always go barefoot…but let’s be honest, your feet get filthy and people end up stepping on them constantly.
So I brought my champagne Talaria Flats and they were such a life saver!!


{{Shop my dress {HERE}}}


They have a white pair with gold tips that I’m IN LOVE with on the website, you can shop them HERE.
I think the best part about these shoes is that they’re SO easy to travel with and they’re affordable.
They would also make a great gift for bridesmaids!
Talaria Flats recently launched a “littles” line and oh my goodness I’ve never wanted a little girl to match with so badly in my life!!! Maybe, one day.

Make sure y’all head to her website and see the adorable different options that are available.
and be sure to let me know if you end up grabbing yourself a pair!

HAPPY FRIDAY BABES!!

Cute swimwear for new mamas // postpartum

Hey y’all!!

Today’s post is all about swimwear & beachwear for the new mama who should be PROUD of her body,
regardless of what it looks like.

I remember the first few weeks after giving birth I was on a complete high, my body definitely wasn’t pretty, but I was SO incredibly proud of what it had just done that the last thing on my mind was “bouncing back” or worrying about losing the baby weight.
I knew that I would eventually lose the weight, with time and hard work…but honestly, the first 6 weeks postpartum I didn’t even stress about the extra pounds, I mean I wasn’t even allowed to work out yet so WHY be hard on myself about the way I look, right?!

Well fast forward to 7/8 weeks postpartum…I was able to work out now, but I didn’t have the time or the energy.
My tummy was still sticking out and jiggly and I didn’t look at all how I had pictured I would.

I’m officially 8 weeks and 5 days postpartum and I have good days and bad days, I’m human.
Some days I seriously don’t even think about my body or the way that I look.
And other days I dwell on it and pick out every flaw or imperfection and I’m hard on myself and tell myself that I should look better and I shouldn’t be this jiggly etc…

Thankfully I have an amazing husband and good friends to snap me out of it when I start to let the negative thoughts take over…
So for those of you who have a beautiful new baby and also have good days and bad days like myself,
Please remember on those tough days what your body has accomplished,
know that you are amazing and you are beautiful!!
Even though your body may not be in the best shape right now, it’s so important to love it through
every stage of life! You WILL get back in shape one day, but for now, when you see that tummy pooch or feel that extra jiggle, let it be a reminder of what your body has created!

Now, with all that being said I’m sharing some adorable swim/beachwear items for y’all!
So check them out, do a little shopping and CELEBRATE your body!!!!!

Hope you babes have the BEST weekend!!

Behind the scenes with Lentille Photography

I am super excited to share a little behind the scenes action of our newbown/family shoot we did last week!
I have a feeling y’all are going to completely fall in love with Lentille Photography, just like I did!

(dress was borrowed from the studio wardrobe – brand is Fillyboo)

Kyle, myself and Hayes headed to Stafford for our photoshoot Thursday morning, and goodness it was chaotic. It was our first outing with Hayes and he was SUPER fussy that morning. By the time we arrived he had peed through his diaper and through his clothes and I think I had to nurse him about a million times while we were there! Thank God Allison (the photographer) and
Bridgette (owner of Bespoken Beauty) were SO sweet and patient with us!!

The girls were so incredibly welcoming and sweet when we arrived and made us feel super comfortable.
One thing I LOVE about Lentille Photography is that it’s a full service studio.
You basically show up looking like hot garbage and Bridgette turns you into a glowing goddess with her hair & makeup skills and then Allison helps you choose the perfect outfit from her gorgeous wardrobe selection before she starts snapping photos.

Here are a few studio pictures. I seriously couldn’t get over how CUTE everything was!
This is the hair and makeup area.

Below is the “lounging room” where Kyle and Hayes hung out while I got my hair and makeup done!
On the other side of the room is the wardrobe. The best part?! She doesn’t just dress the ladies, she also provides shirts for husbands and swaddles, hats etc for your babes!

As a new mama,
not having to think of what to wear or worry about trying to get myself put together was AMAZING.

After I chose my dress it was time for hair & makeup!
I am always SUPER picky about getting my hair and makeup done but I’m not kidding when I say that Bridgette may just be the BEST in Houston, I felt absolutely stunning,
and that’s saying A LOT for being 4 days post partum!


For any hair or make up needs Bridgette is your girl!!!

Once hair & makeup was done it was time to start shooting!!
I can’t even begin to tell y’all how amazing Allison was with Hayes,
She is for real, the definition of a baby whisperer!
She actually used to be a labor and delivery nurse so it totally makes sense.
Here are a few pictures I took while she was doin’ her thing!!




I really can’t say enough good things about Lentille Photography, and HIGHLY suggest you book with her!
It was such a great experience overall and she even sent me two sneak peek photos the SAME day we did the photoshoot!

I’ll be sharing some of our amazing photos from the shoot with y’all next week as well as some other little things Allison does to make your experience with her easy and extra special!!

Happy Monday Babes!!!