Giving Malisa Hope ( Diabetic Alert Dog Fundraiser )

DO NOT BID UNTIL FEBRUARY 1st!!

My name is Malisa Phillips, and I am a 26 year old wife and mother to three amazing kids (ages 2,4 & 6) and a Professional Newborn | Maternity | Birth | Young Child Photographer :)

 I have had Type 1 Diabetes for over 16 years. 

I have always been brittle but have managed well. I had quite a few complications growing up that left me sicker than ever.

Had stomach issues from uncontrolled BS, resulting in surgeries. Neuropathy that kept me in a wheelchair for a few months in High School. Diagnosed with an Autoimmune disorder when I was pregnant with my daughter that left me with brittle bones and joints. First was my pelvic bone, then knees, then shoulder and spine. This called for more surgeries. All related to my Diabetes and complications.

Until a few years ago I was always able to recognize my symptoms of dropping too low. I no longer have symptoms (Hypoglycemic Unawareness) before bottoming out, leaving me to test myself every hour or two to take away fear. It was a scary ordeal a few years back driving my car and not remembering how I got home. This scared me, and my husband. We tried continuous meters, with no luck on accuracy.

My 4 year old son Braidyn is also having issues with his blood sugars. He gets random highs but numbers aren't concerning enough yet for insulin. He is expected to have it within 5 years though.

Getting help paying for a service dog would give me an immense sigh of relief. I would put my trust in knowing I had a companion to help me take control before things got bad. They can pick up the scent of a low up to 45 minutes before a glucose meter would, giving me better control.

This would give me more time with my children, with my photography business, with school, and my husband. He is always concerned while on deployments (US ARMY), and he will be leaving again next year. I want him to focus on his mission and not on my health.

Diabetes Alert Dogs (DADs) are a relatively new addition to the Service Dog industry and are truly amazing companions particularly those who experience “hypoglycemic unawareness.”

Normally, a person with diabetes can feel their blood sugar dropping or spiking. They may become light headed, drowsy or experience headaches. Diabetics that suffer from hypoglycemic unawareness do not readily feel the effects of a change to their blood sugar and are therefore at a high risk for life threatening seizures and complications, especially while they sleep.

Diabetes Alert Dogs can smell a diabetic’s blood sugar dropping or spiking out of range, and alert their diabetic owner/handler in advance of a crisis. These dogs are trained to “alert” their owner to the onset of a change in their body’s chemistry and to keep alerting them until the condition is corrected or until they receive the help they need.

I'm hoping my story can reach others, and hoping to find a way to bring a service dog home.

There are over 40+ children diagnosed every day with Type 1 Diabetes. It's the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. Extreme highs and lows in blood sugars can cause ORGAN FAILURE, HEART DISEASE, SEIZURES, KIDNEY FAILURE, NEUROPATHY, AMPUTATIONS, INFECTIONS, BLINDNESS, and DEATH. And there's NO CURE!!!!

I have some amazing vendors participating in this auction and all items and services listed will be up for auction starting February 1, 2013 so mark your calendars!!!

If you would like to participate please email me at malisaphillipsphotography@yahoo.com

If you can't participate but would like to donate click HERE

                                                                         RULES:

Step 1: Follow my BLOG!!

Step 2: Please take a minute to LIKE each page and let them know you are here for the GIVING MALISA HOPE FUNDRAISER!!!

Each item will have a starting bid!! When you are bidding please make sure you leave me your PayPal address and the full dollar amount. Some shipping fees may apply.

                                                                       VENDORS:

                                   Malisa Phillips Photography |Maternity Session|

Bullying and negative affects on children & teens

It never ceases to amaze me on how cruel children can be these days. The torments they put each other through, and lack of respect towards one another. I myself am trying to raise my children up strong and wise to avoid these harsh moments.

Meet Madison, she's a 12 yr old girl starting her tween years already enduring heartache and bullying. "Kids are mean, and sometimes it just isn't fair" she says. And I agree. But we as parents CAN tell our young ones the harsh outcomes that can unfoil because of this.
Her mother and I decided to do a session writing everything negative that has been poured on her. Here we go.

See how disturbing this can be? We were definitely teary eyed. So we cleaned her up for a few more to show how beautiful she truly is. This girl is AMAZING!! ENJOY :)

~Jodi~

This girl is just stunning, and happens to be a very close friend of mine. I was so excited to have her in studio. 
For years I watched her and her daughter grow. And we stayed close through the good and bad times, illnesses and tragedies. She's a very strong woman and it felt nice to give her something to remind her how truly beautiful and special she is. Enjoy !  

Trendy Tuesday

Okay so you're all wondering "What should I wear to my photo session"?

It's pretty simple. Wear what makes YOU comfortable! Now I'm not talking about T-shirts and pajama bottoms, but wear what will make you feel beautiful. There is no correct way for style, but I do have my opinions on what may suit you best. And for my Maternity clients, dresses always work best but so do simple wraps, jeans, etc. 

 Here are a few links that may help you along. If you have pinterest check them out: 

 Model Wardrobe , Models , Maternity

How should I do my hair and make-up?

Well I think it depends on the look and session we're going for. Whether it be a simple clean classic shoot or if we are doing high fashion couture and head shots: 

Hair and Makeup  

How should I dress my children:

Same rules apply, but I do tend to like my wee-ones to look a little more stylish. Here are just a few great ideas on wardrobe ideas. 

(Baby Gap, Zulily, Etsy, Dillards, Khols)

Children

Meet Miss Alaina :) This gorgeous girl has been in my studio quite a few times. I have photographed her Birth, her Newborn photos, 1 month session and this her at 7 months. Isn't she just stunning? 

WHAT TO WEAR WEDNESDAYS| PHOTOGRAPHER EDITION

                       WHAT TO WEAR WEDNESDAYS| PHOTOGRAPHER EDITION

So many email me asking about wardrobe ideas. I'm a solid color kind of gal, but I am really starting to venture out into the print world. Bold patterns, florals, and pastels. Tie any of these with a nice shoe and you're set. I will give some prime examples of what I really want my clients to wear: 

                        Sassy shorts , Lady in red, Summer Teal, Pretty in Pink, Styling Children

You're welcome to bring lots of clothes for mixing and matching outfits. Get creative! Bring hats, cool shoes, boots, jackets, jewelry, scarves-you name it! Got an awesome dress? Feel free to bring that, too. If you're unsure about something, bring it anyway.

Although we want your photo shoot to be "about you," your selection of attire can make a big difference between snap shots and beautiful portraits! Below you will find a brief outline of how to prepare yourself for your session:

Color:

Black and burgundy are colors that work well with dark backgrounds. On the other hand, denim, pastels, and whites work better with light backgrounds and with most outdoor settings.

Attire:

Long sleeves are usually best; bare arms usually distract from the beauty of the face! You might consider bringing different items for different poses. However, the key here is to wear something that's comfortable. If you are not at ease with how you look, this will show in your photographs!

Jewelry:

Keep your jewelry to a minimum. Metals tend to create unwanted reflections. If you wear earrings, keep them small.

Makeup:

If you do your own makeup, carefully apply foundation with a clean makeup sponge. Then apply a loose skintone powder. Apply blusher with a clean and dry makeup sponge. Then use a soft brush to apply a final layer of loose powder to eliminate harsh blusher outlines. Apply mascara lightly. Use an eyebrow pencil to improve your natural eyebrow line. Apply lip liner and fill in with a good lipstick. Lastly, be careful not to get makeup on your clothes! Dress first and then protect your attire with a towel or plastic cover.

Hair:

If you want to tie back your hair, do not wear a big bow. Use a barrette or other similar accessory. You may consider fixing your hair differently for different poses. If you do this it is a good idea to bring a hair brush and water spray bottle. I am very into curls. Women with big lush curls show a lot of Sass. If you dye your hair, make sure that your roots are not beginning to show! Many pictures are spoiled by the natural color roots appearing under the new color. Also, dying the hair often leaves it dry and brittle. If this happens, it is a good idea to add mousse or another moisterizer to the hair prior to your photo-shoot. If your hair looks good, your photographer can focus on composition!

And Finally...

This is your day! We want you to relax and have fun and let your beauty from within shine!

For more ideas on how to style the whole family look here: Family

Meet Ashley

This stunning beauty is a close friend of mine, and she is quite the looker. I was so happy to have her and her daughter in my studio. And she is amazing in front of the camera. I love it when clients don't need my help. She rocked it !!!