Thursday, May 31, 2012

Oh Boy! What a crazy month May has been!

Pin It May has been such a crazy month, filled with a wide range of emotions and events!   The first week of May, Reggie and I found out that Baby Stewart is a BOY!  We are totally excited to meet our sweet little guy in September!  As you can see in the photo below, he already knows how to wave! ;)  He's been saying hello with some kicks here and there, which has been cool to experience.





The following week we had a house fire, which was one of the scariest, most horrific things I've ever experienced.  The fire started next door, and spread to our home in what seemed like a flash.  To make a long story short, everyone and all pets were safe, thank goodness!  We've since moved into a temporary temporary place while searching for a temporary residence to call home while our house is being repaired over the next 3 + months.  Our pup Lucy has been staying with my parents - we miss her dearly!  But she has been having a blast with them!  And Lola, our cat, has made her new home at the shop!  She and Lucy may have to draw straws over the comfy office chair!   Anyway, we can't wait to have our little furballs at home with us soon.  While some could look at this situation and think, "Poor me," Reggie and I have had a positive outlook and have become even closer through this whole ordeal.  Things could have been so much worse.  We are so thankful and fortunate that no one was hurt.  In moments of chaos it is hard to remember that we are not in control.  Reggie reminded me of this, and it has truly helped me cope.  We are truly blessed with supportive, compassionate, amazing family, friends, and neighbors.  It was amazing to see how our neighborhood pulled together to help each other.  We had been planning a Pink or Blue Reveal party for family and close friends the following evening to share our exciting news, and didn't want to let this stop our celebration, so we moved the location to Reggie's shop, and had such a fun, relaxing night with friends and family.  It was exactly what we needed after such a scary, stressful time the day before.  We have been overwhelmed, in a good way, by the love and support from our family, friends, and our church.  Thank you so much for all of your prayers!  We really appreciate it!


Then I celebrated my first Mother's Day!  Reggie took me on a picnic at one of our favorite parks, where we relaxed and dreamed about what it will be like to be parents, to take our little boy to this very same park to play on the swings and experience life.  Under the shade of a big leafy tree, we took time out to dream and just be together.  It was perfect.


The following weekend, we celebrated Reggie's 30-something birthday with family, friends, and cars!  We also went to see the movie "What to Expect When You're Expecting," which was thoroughly entertaining!  I admitted to Reggie that I was nervous as the previews ended and the opening scenes unfolded.  Why?  Well, although I've not read the book, I imagined there to be some reality in this film... reality that I haven't truly comprehended yet about becoming a parent.  This star-studded flick made me laugh and cry... what more could you ask for from a movie these days, right?!


Over the next few weeks, I'm looking forward to some exciting sessions as well as some fantastic weddings!  Plus tons of sessions coming soon to the blog that I'm so excited to share!  We just returned from taking a mini "babymoon"... more to come on this soon!  (Hey, that rhymed!)








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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Sneak Peek | Morris-Butler House Wedding | Anne + Nick

Pin It I just couldn't go into this long holiday weekend without sharing some beautiful images from a recent wedding that took place on a lovely, sunny Cinco de Mayo at the historic Morris-Butler House.  Anne and Nick had been counting down the days until they exchanged "I do's" in front of their closest friends and family members.  Frankly, I have to admit I was counting right along with them!  Ever since their engagement session, I knew their wedding day was going to be one amazing event!  With their style and love of art and color, they put so much into each and every detail and moment of the day, making it a fun, unique, and festive celebration!  Love it!  Much more to come soon, but for now, let's take a quick look at some bridal details and moments leading up to the ceremony!


These gorgeous bracelets were given to Anne by her dear friend and bridesmaid, Jenny. 


Something blue.





Anne got this fabulous vintage purse from Nick's Mom - love the intricate beading! 
And the gold accents paired perfectly with those bracelets!



I always love receiving the wedding invitations from my couples... and this one especially rocked my socks off since they used some engagement images!  

Such a beautiful wedding dress!  


The sparkling brooch was a Christmas gift from the bride's sister and Matron of Honor, Audrey.  


I'm absolutely smitten with the Morris-Butler House!  And on their wedding day, it was particularly beautiful with blue skies and puffy white clouds. 


Anne was an excited bride! She could not stop smiling!





Gorgeous florals!  



While Anne and her bridesmaids finished getting ready, it was time to get some portraits of the groom. 


At the rehearsal dinner the night before, Anne and Nick surprised each other with wedding gifts.  
He loved this stylish chapeau Anne picked out for him.





Anne!!!!!  You were such a beautiful bride!  



 It was time for Anne and Nick's First Look!  I always love this time of the wedding day!  When I meet with couples, I give them options, and encourage them to decide what is right for them.  I'm always so glad when couples do opt to see each other prior to the ceremony.  You'll see why in just a moment... 
The father of the bride escorts her to meet Nick. 


As I was saying above, a First Look gives the couple more time for portraits together, and allows for images that wouldn't be possible when greeting each other at the end of the aisle during the ceremony. Plus, all family photos can be taken before the ceremony as well, leaving more time for even more bride and groom and bridal party portraits.  Yay! 



A favorite!


Such a gentleman!  Nick helps his soon-to-be wife down the steps. 



I'll end this post with the sneak peek that I posted the day after their wedding on facebook


Stay tuned for more coming soon!
Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Event | Teachers' Treasures 2012 | Dream Big

Pin It Each time I work with this organization, I gain a deeper appreciation for teachers, as well as for those who support, help, and thank teachers.  For teachers are individuals committed to making this community so great by educating our youth.  This year, Teachers' Treasures vowed to Dream Big and create an absolutely spectacular event to raise funds and awareness for a great cause.  I read the following quote somewhere:  "Anything done for children is never a waste." (Unknown)  In fact, it seems that where children and their education are concerned, people take even more pride in what they do to help out in any way they can.  It was truly an honor to document this event on a rainy evening in April at the beautiful, electrifying, vibrant Children's Museum.  Every nook and cranny offers visual stimulation and excitement for all who enter their doors!  The evening started with a Silent Art Auction, with all art created by local students.  Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were stationed throughout the venue for guests to enjoy.  Then the Awards Presentation followed, with David Harris winning the 2012 Caring Spirit Award.  The Teacher of the Year was awarded to Debra Samples.  The awards were followed by charismatic entertainment to cap off the night's event!  Let's take a look, shall we?  Friends of Teachers' Treasures can view the entire online gallery here!


































For more information on Teachers' Treasures, check out their website.  Their mission may sound simple enough, however, it takes a dedicated team with a tremendous amount of effort to reach and surpass their goals.  And I just know that Dreaming Big will accomplish just that!  Barb, thank you for letting me a small part of something so special!  Congratulations to Mr. Harris and Mrs. Samples for their fine work in making futures brighter for so many!

To see more from their amazing event, feel free to watch the Slideshow here:


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