When I was in preschool, my best friend had the coolest toys. Every time I played at her house, I made sure the butterfly finger puppets and her unicorn coloring book made an appearance. To me, they were so special and whimsical, and I didn't have anything like them (until I asked for the same finger puppets for my birthday).

So where did these toys come from? Imagination Station, located back then at Towers Shopping Center. When the store reopened in October 2015 in the Grandin Village, Erica Sipes took over and quickly became known as "The Toy Lady." 

Today that same feeling of whimsy still lives in the store, which is located in a house-turned-shop on Grandin Road. From the fairy lights strung along the ceiling to the unique selection of carefully chosen toys, it's a cozy, magical place for all ages.

Recently, I've had the pleasure of getting to know Erica, and she and I have partnered up for a fun event happening at the store on Saturday, Oct. 13. The author and one of the illustrators (both Roanokers!) of the children's book "Thanks, You're Awesome!" will be at store. This beautifully written book teaches everyone about the importance of being a kind, positive person.

​I will also be there helping parents get to know a little about my business and passing along my own random act of kindness :) 

I see a lot of similarities in how Erica and I run our businesses. We love meeting families, learning about them in order to make the best recommendations, and we're both passionate about providing the most well-rounded, start-to-finish customer/client experience. 

Laura: What was your favorite toy as a child?
Erica: My mom had the most amazing dollhouse that she completely decorated with wallpaper in all the different rooms, furniture, little accessories ... I spent many, many hours playing with it and had fun choosing items to add to it through the years. 

Laura:  What's one thing most people don't know about you? 
Erica: I think the cat's pretty much out of the bag now, but I consider myself first and foremost a professional pianist. I've been playing for 40 years and still love to perform and work with other musicians.

Laura: What's your favorite thing about the Grandin Village?
Erica: The wonderful combination of businesses right in the middle of residential neighborhoods. I couldn't have dreamed of a better situation! I love that middle-schoolers will stop by on their way home from school just to say hi and see what's new in the store. I love that families will come to story time in their ballet outfits right after ballet class down the street. I love being able to take a break from work to walk around the neighborhood. I also love being able to take care of most of my shopping in the Village. Clothes, books, food — it's all here. 

Laura: Who inspires you? 
Erica: I probably wouldn't have said this a year ago, but I just saw the documentary about Mr. Rogers (at the Grandin Theatre, of course!), so right now he is who inspires me. Especially now that I'm a toy lady, I love to see if I can find the spark in each of our customers — the spark that makes each person unique and special. Even if a kid is a bit of a tornado in the store, and I feel a little harried after he or she leaves, I'm inspired to see the amazing potential and energy that the child has. Mr. Rogers also reminded me of the value of silence. In a toy store, believe it or not, there is room for that silence. Yes, children can be loud and crazy, but a lot of the time, when they are fully immersed in the world of imagination, it's pretty amazing how silent they can be. It's a beautiful place, and I can't help but smile when I spot it. 

Laura: What does a typical day off look like for you? 
Erica: I'm a musician, mom, and a wife in addition to being a toy lady, so I don't typically have a day off. But when I do, I can often be found playing the piano for my own enjoyment, reading a book, putting together a puzzle, or chatting with my friends on Twitter. 

Laura Richards is a family, newborn and maternity photographer serving the Roanoke Valley. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photographer that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn all about what makes her different from other photographers here.

I'm blogging this a little out of order, since I posted their Fresh 48 newborn session a couple of weeks ago, but their maternity photos are just too pretty not to share! 

When Heather got out of the car for our evening session in Roanoke County, I couldn't believe how gorgeous she looked in her light-blue maxi. It was perfect for her, and it looked stunning against the green and golden-yellow backdrop. And of course, her boys looked handsome in their complimentary blue plaids :)

I had so much fun capturing this time in their lives, focusing on special moments between just Heather and Zach, and as a not-for-long family of three!

I love these highlights so much, and their session even inspired me to write a post all about how to treat yourself before your upcoming photos!

Laura Richards is a family, newborn and maternity photographer serving the Roanoke Valley. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photography that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn what makes her different from other photographers in the area here.

I feel very old saying this, but I have known Brittany for more than 20 years! 20 YEARS! We met somewhere around 1995, in our Kindergarten class at Clearbrook Elementary School.

Back in our day (OK, wow), there were fewer than 100 kids at our whole school, so we were always in the same class. Through school events, birthday parties and field trips, Brittany and I watched each other grow up.

Fast forward through middle and high schools (we also went to those same schools!), college and weddings, we both found out we were pregnant around the same time.

She and her husband Taylor were living out-of-state at the time, but returned home to Roanoke just before their daughter Emma's first birthday. 

I was so excited I got to be a small part of this big milestone, and to do some catching up with Brittany. Emma is one of the sweetest little girls I've ever met. She's so expressive, has the prettiest brown eyes, eats birthday cake like a champ and even shares with her doggie! I was so impressed at how well she was walking (basically running!) at our photo session. She was a girl on a mission for sure!

Brittany and Taylor, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your family during such a fun time of your lives!

Laura Richards is a family, newborn and maternity photographer serving the Roanoke Valley. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photography that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn what sets her apart from other photographers in the area here.

Here's a family that really means a lot to me. They were one of my first "official" clients when I launched LRP in 2016 and have stuck with me through lots of growth (mine and theirs!).

Our first session together was a 1-year-old session for their son Harrison, and recently, I was able to document Heather's maternity (see a couple from that session) and their new son Graham just hours after his birth. 

The joy of being a small part of my client's lives and capturing their unforgettable milestones has been such a beautifully unexpected aspect of my career. 

Zach and Heather, thank you so much for inviting me into your lives once again. It is always such an honor, and your appreciation of my photography does not go unnoticed.