Category Archives: event

August 26, 2010 · 9:44 am

gracyn’s fairy tale 1st birthday!

tiny blonde fairies have more fun.

happy birthday gracyn!

baby gracyn is one! i can barely believe it — it seems like not long ago that i met this family for the first time and she was just a little newborn {see gracyn at 4 weeks!} and now she’s running around and eating cupcakes! i can’t imagine a more festive celebration and i absolutely *loved* her fabulous fairy tale 1st birthday party — wow! the party was a visual delight — tissue poms hung from the ceiling, and a carpet of flowers transformed the house into a fairy garden — i was in awe of the amazing etsy-inspired decor from * the polka dot pinwheel * POM LOVE * stay awake * and more. fairy wings + tutus (and dragon costumes for the boys!) were given to all the tiny guests who were enchanted by a fairy caravan puppet show! every detail was perfection — a custom sweets bar with blue + purple toadstool cupcakes, a fairy toadstool cake, and magic pretzel wands — all homemade! bravo to mom’s who truly do it all!

the entire event was orchestrated by the incredibly creative + talented shannon green, an amazing mama who has just gone pro with her planning for little ones — woo! since she got her start planning her own children’s parties {check out kimsey’s super fun cowgirl birthday!} shannon is wonderfully in tune with mom’s and their children. want to know more about sweet pea soirees? follow her on twitter, fan her on facebook or check out her blog!

enjoy!

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Filed under children, event, photography

Tagged as BIRTHDAY PARTY, BLONDE PHOTO, KIDS, SWEET PEA SOIREES, THE BLONDE PHOTOGRAPHER

August 13, 2010 · 11:53 am

it’s wise to be well.

children’s national + united medical center = improved pediatric care.

earlier this week children’s national medical center hosted a very fun event at united medical center to celebrate the new forthcoming pediatric emergency department — made possible in large part by an amazing $11 million grant from the DC government. the event was a wonderful opportunity to introduce the community to the nurses + staff, and everyone had a great time.

“it’s wise to be well” focused on educating parents through information on children’s health, from identifying flu symptoms and ear infections, to basic injury prevention, healthy eating + exercise practices, as well as free car seat checks! the tents were set up in the hospital parking lot, alongside the community farmers’ market, complete with balloons, awesome music, snacks, great give-a-aways, and face painting for the kids! as always, i had a great time documenting another fabulously fun event for children’s national medical center — enjoy!

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Filed under children, CNMC, dc, event, news, photography

Tagged as BLONDE PHOTO, CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, dc, DC EVENTS, THE BLONDE PHOTOGRAPHER, UNITED MEDICAL CENTER

June 10, 2010 · 1:46 pm

national marine sanctuary foundation: leadership awards dinner.

celebrating capitol hill ocean week.

for the 3rd year in a row, i was honored to photograph the national marine sanctuary foundation leadership awards dinner at the famed ronald reagan building + international trade center in DC. the event, held annually during capitol hill ocean week, honors top leaders in marine conservation and draws the most notable oceanographers, explorers and activists in the field.

master of ceremonies boyd matson of national geographic fame, once again entertained guests and introduced speakers dr. jane lubchenco, jason patlis, dan basta, jean-michel cousteau + bob talbot – all of whom reflected on issues related to the current state of our oceans, especially in light of the recent and devastating oil spill in the gulf.

this year’s award recipients were as impressive as ever – congresswoman lois capps + congresswoman ileana ros-lehtinen, co-chairs of the national marine sanctuary caucus, received the 2010 leadership award in recognition of their support of the national marine sanctuaries. julie packard, executive director of the monterey bay aquarium, was honored with this year’s lifetime achievement award for her commitment to ocean sustainability + leadership in marine conservation over the past three decades. and steve kroll, from the thunder bay national marine sanctuary, was named national volunteer of the year.

additionally, the evening celebrated the 10th anniversary of the national marine sanctuary foundation as well as the 100th anniversary of jacques-yves cousteau‘s birth – with special presentations by the cousteau family + a “red-cap” tribute to the amazing french captain, naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher of the underwater world!

for more about the leadership awards dinner, capitol hill ocean week, and the national marine sanctuary, visit their website, follow them on twitter or become a fan on facebook!

“her deepness” dr. sylvia earle.

director of NOAA’s national marine sanctuaries systems, dan basta.

national marine sanctuary foundation president, jason patlis.

jan + philippe cousteau, jr.

my first crocheted cumberbund!

leadership award recipients congresswoman lois capps + ileana ros-lehtinen.

julie packard accepting her lifetime achievement award from jason patlis.

boyd matson + dr. jane lubchenco.

jean-michel cousteau.

the amazing nominees for volunteer of the year.

signed copy of jacques-yves cousteau’s the silent world.

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Filed under celebrity, dc, event, nature, news, photography

Tagged as BLONDE PHOTO, NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION, RONALD REAGAN BUILDING, THE BLONDE PHOTOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON DC

May 11, 2010 · 10:36 am

the 2010 children’s ball.

arabian nights to benefit the children.

the 2010 children’s ball :: andrew w. mellon auditorium – washington, dc.

this weekend children’s national medical center hosted their annual signature gala at the andrew w. mellon auditorium in washington, dc. the 2010 arabian nights children’s ball delighted over 700 guests with an incredible evening of food, wine, dancing, and fundraising!

the evening’s personable host, bret baier, anchor of special report with bret baier on fox news channel, welcomed guests and introduced edwin zechman, jr – president + CEO of children’s national medical center who thanked the event’s sponsor, washington area lexus dealers. the evening’s presenters also included dr. kurt newman and joseph e. robert who again recognized the amazing $150M gift from the government of abu dhabi with a special presentation to omar al shamsi, deputy chief of mission for the sheikh zayed institute for pediatric surgical innovation.

norah o’donnell, chief washington correspondent, MSNBC, co-hosted a live (and lively!) auction with bret baier, followed by the music from the outstanding mood swings band, dancing + an after hours lounge with dj d-mac.

the children’s ball was absolutely fantastic and i’m so thrilled to continue working with the incredible team at children’s national medical center, as well as the amazing philanthropists that give to such a worthy cause.

my great friend + amazing photographer jessi ringer was also there covering the evening – you can check out her work here.

enjoy!

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Filed under celebrity, CNMC, dc, event, photography

Tagged as ANDREW MELLON AUDITORIUM, BLONDE PHOTO, CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, DC EVENTS, THE BLONDE PHOTOGRAPHER, THE CHILDREN'S BALL

May 8, 2010 · 8:37 am

cortez cigars.

smokin’.

the skilled hands of kristian estevez prepare a cortez cigar.

i had the pleasure of encountering cortez handmade cigars at the virtual golf girl event last week in dc! based in NJ, but traveling all over for events, i first met the guys from cortez at melissa + mike’s wedding in philly last summer! i love nothing more than observing a craft, and cigar rolling is entrancing, not to mention incredibly fun to photograph! i loved chatting with kristian and i *think* i may have convinced him to take me to the warehouse next time im in the dominican republic!

enjoy!