new year. new us.

its been an amazing year of inspiration for me.  i feel so empowered to enter a new year and see what it has in store.  honestly 2011 has been indescribable.  i feel very lucky.

i have developed an idea or theme for my/our life improvement as this new years resolution.  mark and i had the funniest conversation the other night about words starting with the letter F.   the discussion was too ridiculous to repeat but silly none the less.   and it lead me to this theme :)

our top 5 f*ing areas of concentration for the new year:

finances - ok, i know this isn't a really fun area to work on, but it must be done!  we have grown a lot this year with job changes, leaving behind old debts and paying off new ones... its actually been a stellar year but there is always room to improve.  we got a taste for travel this year and are eager to plan some new adventures in 2012... and that is never cheap but always worth it.  so we're excited!  we've got plans man :)

fitness -  as i've mentioned before, we are past our "honeymoon phase" LOL.  we are very comfortable around each other and it has lead to us... uh...falling out of shape.  we really enjoy going out to eat and making meals together at home.  obviously this includes a lot of eating.  we have gym passes and fitness games at home.  but still... we like our netflix and munchies.  so this year its going to change.  we have our fitness goals in mind and have already started on this resolution ;)

fashion -  you may not know this, or it may go without saying... but i'm borderline obsessed with the fashion industry.  clothing, hair, makeup and omg accessories!!  i've wasted endless hours of my life watching project runway and top model as well as following countless blogs that center around photography and fashion.  its an addiction really... i blame it on being a photographer!  so this coming year i would like to dive a bit deeper into that passion.  i have a strong interest in learning to mend and sew as well as thrifting and collecting clothing and vintage house goods.  i want to build a killer wardrobe and help mark build one too!  this particular goal ties in nicely with the first two.  financially i'll have to account for this in my budget and develop a reward system.  fitness wise i'll be motivated to work out and reward myself with a new cute dress or something fancy :)

future - we still continue to move forward and leave the past behind us.  sometimes its still a struggle but its been worth all of the ups and downs so far.  the future is bright.  it is full of possibilities.  and it is ours to make.  thinking and planning of our future together is so motivating when you have goals and dreams.  and we have plenty!  

fotos - ok, i realize this F word is a bit of a stretch :)  i had a really successful year of my own photography and mark and i photographing events together.  we have three events scheduled so far next year and i look forward to many more.  i'd like to branch out and book a few more families, senior portraits, baby sessions and of course some live music in the upcoming year.  i also plan to print tons and tons of photographs in 2012.  i'm dying to update my portfolio albums as well as decorate our home with all kinds of memories.  

its been such an amazing & surreal year.  looking back on 2011,  i'm simply amazed.  where does the time really go? i mean seriously.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 - CHEERS!!

peace & love 2011~

pumpkin carving

last saturday night.  was the night.  for pumpkin carving!

spooky.  i created the ghosts and mark did the bat <3

holy crap we did it :)  $6 kit at the grocery + $10 pumpkins at the farmers market around the corner= pride & pumpkins!!

peace & love~

belated independence.

mark and i always find a way to have fun and make our time together special.  this year we had the pleasure of both being off work for the 4th of july but had nothing planned at all.  

we photographed our first official wedding together on the 2nd in dayton and both worked on the 3rd so we decided to take it easy for the 4th.  i spent most of the day editing photos and relaxing but towards the evening we both felt stir crazy, ready for a cookout and something to set on fire :)  

so we went krogering...

(sometimes he is just absolutely the cutest! and yes that is a grrr face.)

it was a really lovely day spent at home with our babies.  we tried to make it as festive as possible and made a great memory!  i hope everyone had a wonderful independence day!

peace & love~

a father's daughter.

"always faithful"

i have always been a daddy's girl.

he has made me strong and tough and prepared.

i'm so proud to call him my dad.

my father fought for his life and his country and if it weren't for that strength i wouldn't exist.

i try to remember that everyday :)

i got to go home for a short visit this past week and gave my dad his early father's day gift.  mark and i were out and about and came across a store we pass all the time and have never gone to.  The Andersons is amazing!! and we found this wonderful garden stone.  my mom had mentioned that dad was super proud of his tomato plants this year and i was thrilled to find something so personal that he could place in his garden :) tomatoes are my favorite!!

they had their usual banter about where the stone would be placed... for now its in the main flower bed. those two will move it a hundred times i'm sure... but i love that they will enjoy and interact with it.  

and dad says "no ones gonna step on it!"

happy father's day everyone.

peace & love~

where would we be without mothers?

md 2011 :)

it was a really special day for both of us.  

mothers day was spent wandering around the franklin park conservatory on a beautiful sunday afternoon with both of our mothers there :)  

we had planned to take our mommas to the conservatory for blooms & butterflies on mothers day, which would be the first time they've met.  mark and i have been together almost two years and thought it would be lovely for our families to meet.  considering my family is about an hour and a half west and his family is 2+ hours north... it was not easy. 

however, it did happen and was such a wonderful day.  it was a full house and i felt surrounded by love and beauty.  both of our moms and dads, plus my aunt and grandmother came out for the event :)  

my heart is still full. 

my beautiful momma.

don't step back!

so vibrant and alive.

so cute.

mark in that same spot last year.

ew spider plant.

happy mothers day ladies.

peace & love~

is it spring yet?

my favorite weather requires me to dress in thin layers, a hoodie, jeans and flats and feel more than comfortable outside....

i'm ready for open windows, sitting on patios, colorful flowers, green grass, budding trees and chirping birdies. 

the other night we got a taste of whats to come with the changing weather.  it was a gorgeous day and it happened to be a gorgeous night.... perfect for sitting outside, cuddling, laughing,  people watching, drinking on the city streets and enjoying irish music and food.

st. patty's day downtown. 

it was such a wonderful evening filled with love, laughter and quality time.  a great way to lift the spirits and welcome warmer weather with open arms.  Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!

peace & love~