One to Follow | @VeronicaLolaPhoto
It's been a minute since we put together a "One to Follow" feature so we thought we would go ahead and start this series back up with our very talented style contributor, Veronica of @VeronicaLolaPhoto. Veronica has one of the cutest babies with squishiest cheeks in the world. We just adore this sweet little family and truly enjoy following along with her on her beautiful and inspiring Instagram account. Read on to find out why:
My name is Veronica and I'm a spicy Argentinean who loves a good hug. I'm married to a green eyed handsome fella with whom I fell in love with almost 13 (!!!) years ago. We have a chubby cheeked smiley daughter named Castella Lumen, named after a tiny fishing village (Castellamare Del Golfo) in Sicily, where my father's family is from (and where a piece of my heart lies). She is the brightest of lights and we smooch her endlessly on a daily basis.
We roll deep at our house in the animal category, with two gassy + snuggle obsessed frenchies (Harold + Maude) and my golden girl German shepherd, Joon. They may snore/fart/bark during naps but we adore them as family.
On days I'm not changing diapers, I'm a fine art wedding photographer, who fancies film, gorgeous light, incredible florals and all raw emotions of people in love. Basically, I'm a big ol sap. My husband is my second shooter and we are lucky enough spend our weekends (sometimes traveling) capturing people's biggest of days.
We call NJ home, but you can find us hopping on a plane or taking a road trip with each chance we get ( the PNW being a favorite, along with Italy + France because, well, food and wine). So much, that I tattooed 'wanderlust' on my forearm. It's a good problem to have I think, am I right?
We try to keep it simple around these parts, with Sunday brunches (at local restaurants or pancakes in our kitchen), picnics, tending to our little garden (veggies and flowers!), trips to the beach, cooking loads of meals, seeing family + friends and photographing it all the while. It's a good life, and we try to embrace it (and each other) often. Like I said, I love a good hug.
1. WHAT DOES A WEEK NIGHT MEAL LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR FAMILY?
Since the two of us love to cook, Blue Apron has been our jam over the past few years. It always brings some new and tasty recipes to the table for indecisive people like ourselves, and it's seasonal. Bonus! We care about what we put in our bodies a lot, so we try to eat local and organic. But- I also could live off of a fantastic cheese plate and a goblet of red wine for the rest of my life, but who's counting.
2. WHATS SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC RIGHT NOW?
Majical Cloudz's new album is phenomenal. Josh Rouse is always playing in our kitchen, along with some doo-wop (Castella loves dancing to it) or if we're feeling emo- City & Colour, Bright Eyes, Ben Howard or Bon Iver. Oh and- the Beatles. For Life.
3. IF YOU HAD AN EXTRA $1000 DOLLARS, WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND IT ON?
Travel! One of my favorite quotes "travel while you're young and able. Don't worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be." Cuba is in the works for us.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT?
Egads, so many. As a photographer, I admire so many other photographers whose work is just jaw dropping. Always loving my talented + dear friend @christinalilly's feed, also the amazing @erichmcvey, @sawyerbaird, and @maria.lamb
For food, I love Marina from @lightpeom's feed and my long time foodie inspiration, Aran from @cannellevanille
For motherhood, I'm constantly inspired by @magnesium_blue, I want to be best friends with her. @bonjourmoon for her tear jerking captions and @bevcooks for laugh till you cry captions.
5. IF YOU HAD A FREE EVENING, WITHOUT CHILDREN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
That cheese plate and goblet of wine I was talking about? Yep, most likely setting up shop on a bar stool at our favorite restaurant and ordering one million courses to reeeeeally SIT and enjoy. We love food, I'm not sure y'all have caught on to that yet.
6. FAVORITE CHILDRENS CLOTHING LINE?
Rachel over at briarhandmade is the bees knees and a favorite. I really love how well made her bonnets are and can't wait to cheris them forever and ever. I also just love Kelli Murray's talent. I've been swooning over Rylee + Cru's styles before Castella was born. Hello Kait's bows are our fav, and Misha and Puff make the best knits.
7. FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP FOR YOUR CHILDREN?
Zara has been a heavy favorite, along with baby gap (cause duh, 40 percent off of EVERYTHING always) but if it's something special, I love Murray and Finn and also Fawn Shoppe.
8. FAVORITE CHILDRENS BOOK?
We are big Mo Willem's fans (Waiting isn't Easy!) but reading ' The Wonderful Things You Will Be' by Emily Winfield Martin has me blubbering like a baby by page 2.