Engagement FUN with Jacob & Alyssa!

Happy FALL everyone!!! As you know it is my FAVORITE time of year because of the debut of PUMPKIN which is my absolute ADDICTION from now thru, oh I don't know February! ;)  I swear summer flew by like nobody's business! I have been super duper busy with shoots and my heart is full from all of the new referrals and repeat customers that I have been hearing from! Anywho, I really want to get better about getting on here and posting my shoots but I can't make any promises. I am trying hard to be in the moment with my family as MUCH as I can when I am not working or shooting. I kinda feel like social media makes everything a competition and if people are competing are they REALLY enjoying their own life? Hmmmm?! If I learned anything this past year it's to be happy with who you are and where you are in YOUR own life whether that's career wise, relationship wise or whatever.  So, with that being said if/when I can sneak away at night for a minute and throw a session up here I will but if I'm MIA you know why. :)

So here is an engagement shoot that I had an ABSOLUTE blast with! Seriously, this couple! The personality, the emotion, the love.....I HEART this shoot! They came in from Indiana for this shoot and I LOVE that I got to capture these special memories for them! Congrats Jacob & Alyssa! I can't wait to see your wedding! XO

A Seriously Special Maternity Shoot & BABY!

Hellllloooo!!! So as I promised I said I would start getting some of my sessions on here. (ok, it was over a month ago, cut a girl some slack and don't judge.....this working thing is really making me struggle with being a good time manager!!) Anywho so as you all know my lifelong BFF surprised us with a Welcome Back to PA gift....we're PREGNANT!!! LOL! Ok, well it wasn't really for us, but it was just as SHOCKING as us moving back to PA for this lovely couple to be pregnant!!! Not that they wouldn't make awesome parents but in all honesty, they weren't planning on kids so they were the last people we EVER expected to hear that news from. BEST NEWS EVER!!! It took some coaxing to convince my little luv that she would be sorry if she didn't do maternity photos and she really fought the idea so I had just succumbed to the fact that she didn't want any and it wasn't worth getting in an argument over. One day she SHOCKED me yet again (this will become a pattern you'll notice...the whole shocking thing!) and said she wanted to set up a Maternity Session! WOOO HOOO!!! A dream come true! Everything about the shoot was perfection, ok except the temps outside because it was BRRRRRRRR frrrreeezzzing!!!! They were complete troopers thru the whole frost bite experience!  Here is her GORGEOUS Maternity Session........

 

Um, seriously...this DOG! Don't even get me started!!!

And now it's time for you to meet the beautiful bundle of love who shares her Bday with ME!!!!!!!!! Olivia Ryann!!!!!!!!!!

 

I heart these 2 girls more than anything!!!! 

If you know someone who is expecting and would be interested in a maternity session please feel free to message me or send them my way!!!   I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and I hope to get some more sessions on here next week!!!! XO

 

Hellllooo SUMMER!!!! Hellloooo CHANGES!!!!

Whew...seriously it's been almost 4 MONTHS since I have blogged my personal life, let alone a session!!! OMG! I went on a serious hiatus. I am happy to report the snow is LONG gone, thank the wine gods above because as you all know from my last post I was about to LOSE. IT.  Now that the icky white crap is gone, spring has basically come and gone and we are on our way into SUMMER, lots of positive changes have evolved.

• Better weather = Better Mood!! ;)
• I had the most wonderful, special Birthday I could have EVER asked for. (As you all may remember Hayley was born on my best friend Amie's bday 13 years ago, and this April 28th, Amie had her little beauty...Olivia Ryan on MY Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will forever hold this special bond and it melts my heart every time I think about it. xo

 Here's a picture of my beautiful, birthday buddy!!! oh, how I LOVE her!! Muahh!

• We actually succeeded in remodeling ALL 3 bathrooms that were mentioned in my 2014 Goals (thanks to some help from amazing parents!)
• Hayley started doing Physical Therapy and by some crazy universe happening......DRUM ROLL PLEASE......I ended up getting a part time job at their office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So at the end of March I officially became a working mom again and it has been AHHH-MAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!  I think it saved me when I most definitely needed to be saved! I have met the most wonderful people/friends and it's so nice to feel "whole" again.
• We've had quality time with this little princess and you all know how I feel about her (and her mom)!!!!!! xoxo

• I have been lucky enough to get some new photo shoots going now that the weather is all pretty again and I am loving all the newborn squishiness I am experiencing! 
• We have had little get togethers with new friends which has been such a breath of fresh air from wallowing in my own self pity all winter long. (hey, I'm being honest)
• I am proud to say I also accomplished not only working out at least 4 days a week, but I have been getting up at 4:30 AM for at least 3 months now, 5 TIMES a week! Working out has been a HUGE in helping me de-stress and just feel better inside and out. I am shocked and impressed that I have kept up with it so that is BIG STUFF for me!

I think that is ALL the major business that's been going on since my pity party! It's time to get back to blogging my sessions! I have had some absolutely stunning shoots lately and I can't wait to share them with you!! Here's to a fabulous summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xo

Snow....Snow and More Snow, & 1 year down

Hellooo all my fellow little snow bunnies!!! UGH!!! Yeah, well I obviously have NOT posted on here since my uplifting 2014 Goals post because I honestly have been a sad, depressed little lady. Why try to sugar coat it and make up something that sounds good? Nope, I've already blown at LEAST 4 of my "goals", but who's counting?! The snow came and hit me like a TON of bricks time and time again, to the tune of 19 inches on the last big one. Oh, and let's not forget the ice storm, that was pure magic. ;)  In December it was a novelty and fun, now it's like a four letter word (and trust me I have many that I use for it) and I NEVER need to see snow again. LIKE NEVER EVER AGAIN!!!!!!

Here's the thing I warned everyone that it would all be fun thru December but after that I would probably not be the happiest person around. So it's been hard to say the least. What I learned is I am definitely not a cold weather girl.  I'm not sure what the future holds for us, all I do know is we will try to enjoy our time here with everyone we love and make the best of the cold and winter. I can't say that I haven't had some fabulous, fun snow shoots with my little Miss because I definitely have, but now I don't even want to bring out my camera, so that's serious biz. Today is EXACTLY one year that we have been here and it doesn't get any easier. I am a west coast girl in my heart and soul. I LOVE the landscape, the sky, the mountains, the sunsets and most of all the SUN! I know once the weather starts turning (if it ever does), I will feel better and be back to being cheery but for now I'm just being honest because nothing is worse than when people make their lives seem all perfect with butterflies and rainbows. Life happens, that's reality. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Spring PLEASE get here soon! I really need to get out and shoot some pretties!!! Totally excited for some upcoming maternity and newborn shoots!

Here's my last 2 fun snow/ice shoots as well as a little AZ tribute. (I even got the little guy in on some) XO

2014 Goals!!

Ok, let's face it....resolutions are HARD to keep! So I've decided that this year I am putting together a list of goals (realistic goals, not ones that I soooo wish I could do, but there isn't a chance 'in you know what' they could happen)

So here it is, my FIRST EVER list of GOALS!!!!!!!!!

• to work out at least 4 days a week

• to take Hayley to yoga at least once a week in hopes of lessening her pain

•  to get a full time office job (yes it stinks, but yes it is necessary and I almost feel like I am    ready for that portion of my life again) check back in 6 months if I have one to see if I am still feeling that way! ;) LOL

•  to try and enjoy every moment of every day no matter how much crap gets thrown at us and for those who know us it's been a rough year and a half

• to get out and just shoot, shoot whatever I see and really feel

• to work on building everlasting friendships in our new location

• to get to the beach at LEAST once this summer, hopefully more!

• to enjoy the imperfect in photography

• to be myself and NOT worry if I’m not like other photographers, not as good, not as experienced etc., just worry about MY work and what I'm doing as a photographer

• to work hard at paying off the debt we incurred from this last year of hell

• to pick up some more odds and ends for my office space

• to be happy with myself and comfortable in my own skin, not compare myself to so and so or so and so who is so much 'younger, thinner, prettier' etc.

• to do more reading for enjoyment

• to paint/remodel at least 2 of the 3 bathrooms that need to be finished

Phew this was a MUCH bigger list than I anticipated but I think it's all achievable so I'm pumped 

to get started on it. :)   

Here's to a HAPPY 2014!!!! (I would say healthy but as some of you know my daughter is 

having some health issues so I already shot that down for this year, but hey I guess we could 

hope that the rest of the family stays healthy!!) ;) 

 What goals/resolutions do you have?? XO

And because this girl ALWAYS inspires my photography......