• the galleries – they are now WAY updated with WAY more photos and they include an FAQ about the particular type of session featured in that gallery.
• the sidebar to the right – well, first of all, I have a sidebar (which kind of adds to visual clutter, but ultimately, I think it’s a good way of “pinning” information that I want to stay current.  Right now, it has an easy signup for the newsletter (pre-spring edition going out soon – make sure to be on the list for first dibs!) and some links to Pinterest boards I’ve created for you.
• Speaking of Pinterest boards, have you checked out the style boards I’ve created?  Are they helpful?  Would you like to see other kinds of Pinterest Boards from me?
• The front page (deenariley.com) has a new “splash” collage – it should be image mapped soon so if you click on an image, it will take you to that particular gallery

Let me know if you can think of anything else you’d like to see on the website and blog.  I want it to be helpful and not just a place where I yammer at you aimlessly!  Leave me a comment with ideas!

Trying a little something new with how I present images on the blog… leave me a comment and let me know if you like it!  Also, feel free to leave a comment letting Mr. Will know just how precious he is!

Here’s the numbers that Random.org chose for winners. If your name is on the list below, please e-mail deena@deenariley.com with your address so I can send you your goodies!

• 212 – Christine (voted for #8)
• 13 – Chris Slaughter (voted for #16)
• 37 – Denise (voted for #13)
•  48 – Martha Hanna (voted for #16)
• 10 – Rachael (voted for #16)
• 130 – Holly Edwards (voted for herself   – #11)
• 51 – Amy Dinger (voted for #2)
• 84 – Tasha (voted for & mommy of #8)
• 185 – Toni Miller (voted for #4)
• 121 – Nancy (voted for #8)
• 22 – Barbara Reed (voted for #16)

Congrats to all of you!  If you’re a friend of the winner, please help me let them know that they have won!  Not everyone left a valid e-mail address *ahem* so it’s hard for me to get ahold of everyone!

Next, a big THANK YOU to our 2 prize donors,  BeeSilk Naturals and Cutie Pie Couture!  Jen & Abbie are amazing moms & business women who happen to be clients of mine (they both had kiddos in the running for Best of 2011 this year!).  Let me tell you a little about their companies… (and excuse my product shots… they’re not my specialty!)

Jen of BeeSilk Naturals is a chemist who is brilliantly using those talents to create awesome bath, beauty, and body products!  I purchased some of her products recently and had the most decadent bath ever!  I tried the Nite Cap Bath Tabs (the Bath Cubes of the same flavor are seen front and center above) – they made the water silky without being oily and the scents were so relaxing.  I also tried her Rosemary Mint Scrub… amazing as well!  I used it to smooth rough elbows and knees… I think this was the first time in my marriage I told my hubby to rub my elbow because it was so smooth afterwards!  Ha!  I also tried her Whipped Body Frosting in Buttery Cocoa… ultra moisturizing and I went to bed smelling like a brownie.  Score!  Needless to say, I’m hooked and can’t wait to try more of her products (she sent a ton for me to share, and it’s taken a lot of self control not to keep it all for myself!)

Next up:

Abbie made Bella’s super cute 1st birthday photos dress… remember it (it’s the yellow/purple one)?  Abbie was just starting to go into business then, and now she has all kinds of cute stuff for sale for both BOYS and girls.  I bold the boys because I know it can be hard to find cute stuff for boys, or so my boy mamas tell me!  She’s donated some super cute stuff you’ll see throughout the post… like this dress & bow combo:

“So…” you say… “who’s THE Best of 2011?”  Well…

Don’t you want to know what they’re winning? 

They’re getting the session + disc from me, a super cute dress / bow combo from Cutie Pie Couture and some amazing goodies from BeeSilk Naturals:

So… who is it?  Well the dress tells you it’s probably a girl… and you’re right… Congrats to our Best of 2011!

Miss B!  Our bear!  Congrats Mama Chelsea… I’ll have prizes to you ASAP!

Now, this year was closely contested… so much so, I want to give our second place finisher an amazing prize as well!  Second place will receive a disc from me for their next session, the pink dress and bow you saw above with the Cutie Pie Couture info, and some BeeSilk Naturals goodies…  congrats to…

Miss E and her precious piggies!  Mama Meredith, we’ll get your goods to you soon!

Now for some randomly chosen prizes for our nominees…

Winner of this cute shirt by Cutie Pie and some BeeSilk goodies:

#5 – Miss L (sorry Miss L, it may fit your little sister better…) 

And winner of this adorbs shirt and some BeeSilk goodies:

Mr. D and his cake face!  Congrats!

Now, the prize-love is not done!  I have 11 prize packs from BeeSilk Naturals to give out to voters… tomorrow.    Come back and visit again and I’ll have bunches more to hand out!  Congrats to the winners!

Voting is now CLOSED!  Stay tuned for the winners – announcements to come this week!

Here we go, folks!  Time to call in a favor to your neighbor and grab your partners and… well, you get the idea!  The Best of 2011 voting is now open!  I tried to narrow the field to 10, but just couldn’t quite get there.  I will say this:  it was incredibly tough to narrow it down.  If you don’t have an image here from your 2011 session it’s not because I don’t love you!  Promise!  These are just *some* of my favorites – some for expression or the moment captured or the technical side of things… there’s no rhyme or reason.  I just like them!

Here are the rules:

• To vote, leave a comment with your favorite image’s number (the number is ABOVE the image!)
• Only one comment per e-mail, please. Duplicate votes will not count.
• Please be patient as I have moderation enabled on comments.  I will get your comments approved ASAP!
• Voting will be open until Sunday, 1/15/2012 at 7:00 PM.  At that time I will close down the comments and start to weed out the doubles, etc.
• Winners to be announced here next week!

Winners mean prizes… and the prizes are:

Grand Prize:  Free 2012 Session + Disc from yours truly + some other goodies to be named later…

2 Random Best Of’s: Free Disc with your next session + maybe some other goodies as well

For the voters (yes, if you vote you’re eligible):  all kinds of goodies to be given at random… sessions, discs, gift cards for the out of towners… fun stuff ahead!

So, here they are… the Best of 2011!

#1 – Miss L + Miss K:

#2 – Miss T:

#3 – Mr. C:

#4 – Miss E’s piggie toes:

#5 – Miss L:

#6 – The G Family:

#7 – Miss C:

#8 – Miss M:

#9 -  J + K:

#10 – Mr. Z:

#11 – K+H:

#12 – Mr. G:

#13 – Miss B:

#14 – Miss A:

#15 -  Mr. K:

#16 – Mr. D:

That’s it!  Those are the nominees!  Oh, and while you’re in a voting mood… after you comment for you favorite here, would you mind clicking below and voting for me?    Thanks!

Shoot an e-mail to Deena@deenariley.com to book a party or mini!  Hope to see you soon!

Also, I’ve been nominated for this year’s DFW A-List… I would love your vote if you’re willing to give it!  Click the little badge-y badge to be taken to my page!