website update

Just wanted to let you know that I did a little updating on the website. I wanted to include a bit more in some of the coverage fees (especially weddings), so you can check any updates here. I've also added a couple new products! Feel free to look around...there are a few new pictures, too!

*oh, and I promise, I'm working on the bio :)

added:

I've made a new desktop background today of pictures from my wedding pictures and liked it so much that I decided I will be making them for my wonderful clients, too! If we've had a session and you would like one, just send me an email and I will put one together, and for upcoming sessions you can just expect one!
Here is one I made for Matt & Chelsea:

a shower idea.

My sister and I are in the beginning stages of planning our other sister's wedding shower for the spring (yes, it's early, but apparently they did mine very last minute and she didn't want to do that again). *sidenote, no one would have ever known, it was such a great shower! we even had a sundae bar!

Anyway, for any of you out there planning to throw a shower soon, I thought I would tell you one of my favorite things about ours. We had a couple's shower, which was great because everyone was invited and Justin got things, too. Instead of playing a game (yuck), my sisters had everyone take an index card and write a message for us for a particular occasion. Then on an envelope they wrote the occasion and we aren't supposed to open them until it happens. Some may open them all right away, but not us, we are really doing it and it has been so fun.
People are pretty creative too, and I have a feeling we will still be opening them for a while (hopefully, Hayley!), some of the occasions we got were:

Christmas
First trip back home (to Ross County)
First trip to the beach
The next time you lock your keys in the car or truck (nice, dad...and no it hasn't happened...yet)
Fist time you build something together
First home
First meal that Cassidy burns (not yet!)
Cassidy's first experience with morning sickness
... and many, many more.

It has been so great to open them and we have loved every response, it really makes us remember that we truly have the best family and friends ever!

So, all that was to say, it is a good 'game' to play. *Sorry to spoil it Whitney :)

1st house guests!

Justin & I had our first overnight house guests this weekend! Matt & Chelsea wanted to get out of town for a bit, so they headed down our way. We had a great time, and our place already seems a little empty. We can't wait to be closer and have the chance to hang out more. I thought I would share a few pictures from the day.

We went to an antique store in Ripley, to see if we could find anything good (I got a great frame there not too long ago).
Chelsea and I loved these (we used to have really big ones and wore their costumes for Halloween one year!)
Matt, being Matt.
How awesome is this purse??? It really is (or was) a working phone!
We stopped by Justin's classroom on the way to pick up our Chinese food.
Typical, Chelsea paying attention...Matt asleep :)

The boys did their fair share of computer time.Very tired and trying to stay warm (our apartment is very, very cold).

Group picture before they left.
Thanks for coming, it was so nice to have visitors!

great idea!

I was so excited when I saw this on the news last night, I just had to share.
I find it *so* important to educate kids about the reality of finances. The truth is most just don't know. Knowing what it is like after leaving college with quite a bit of debt, I am trying to encourage teenagers to look at the whole picture when choosing colleges. I am not saying don't go to your dream school because you can't afford it, but I am saying do the research. Is there a school that offers the same education you need for your field for less? Maybe going there for a couple years then transferring, or staying the entire time, may not be as bad as you think. Or what about taking more classes to graduate early? And when you think you can't apply for any more scholarships, apply for 30 more, I'm not kidding. The big thing is that you must look at your job prospects for when you leave; are you going to be able to afford large loan payments for 20 to 30 years? (No matter how low you can get the payments, it's still more than you expect.) Most high school seniors don't look at it that way, but trust me, you need to.
I could talk about this all day, really, just ask my cousins. ;) The point of this post is that I am thrilled that there will be mandatory personal finance classes in high school by 2010 in Ohio. The bill was sponsored by Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray.
Read a full story here.
Good job Ohio; I fully believe this was more than necessary.

ben

I know what you've been thinking? All these girls are lovely, but do you not photograph guys? Enter Ben, one of the brave ones. We did this shoot just around the new year and let me tell you, it was cold! Ben was a trooper, and very good at the poses! I had a great time photographing him, and I love what we ended up with! How do I get so lucky in photographing so many good looking seniors?!

My favorite: Not your typical senior picture, but I still like it:

Most people think you need leaves on the trees for a good shoot, not true. I absolutely love how they look in this shot.

i'm back!

I'm back from Florida and very cold, it is amazing how quickly you can get used to it! The weekend was great, I had such a great time and already miss it (and looking for tickets to head back down with my hubby in the summer). It was so funny being in short sleeves and a skirt and everyone saying it was cold ;) it was in the 70's. While it may be cold here, I am not complaining. Any little bit of snow in Maysville means good days for me. They don't quite have the 'prepping the road' thing down yet, and we have had a ton of snow days, so I am enjoying yet another day with my wonderful husband at home. So while the 70 degrees was great, there is nothing better for me than today :) Enjoy your day and try to stay warm!

*I already miss my Naples family, thank you so much for such a great time, can't wait to see you all again...hopefully soon!

Oh and congrats to Jackie and Rob, the beautiful couple that I was fortunate enough to help photograph their great wedding. It was a bit ironic, the bride's family is from Ohio, so there were quite a few buckeyes at the wedding, small world!

**just a quick note, this picture above isn't mine, I only took 3 photos...and only one was in Florida, and that was in the airport :)

out of the office

Just wanted to let everyone know that I will be out of town for the rest of the week, I am heading to sunny Florida to second shoot a wedding with some good friends. Ashley & Sam Brockinton are amazing photographers and I am thrilled that they have asked me to come. So, probably no more blog posts the rest of the week, I will be busy, busy, busy...I even get to see one of my very, very best friends, my roommate from college! Allison and I obviously don't get to see each other that often and I can't wait to spend time with her!

Oh, and just wanted to share one of my all-time favorite blogs with all you wonderful brides. Style Me Pretty has very beautiful ideas, many do-it-yourself projects (that *never* look diy), and inspiration boards, check it out, it's great!
Here is one of their inspiration boards, I love this one! (and they are cdp colors, how fun!) *Photo from Style Me Pretty

Have a great rest of the week! I'll be back Monday!

bridal show recap

We had a great time at the bridal show in Chillicothe this past weekend. The turnout was great, and it was soo good to meet some more of the local vendors. You all are wonderful!
So for all you new brides checking my little blog, here are a few vendors that really stood out to us:

The Cake Kitchen, Erin Allsop - Her cake samples were absolutely amazing, soo tasty! And an added bonus, she is such a sweetheart and would be a pleasure to work with.

Weddings by Nathan, Nathan Cutright - I've bragged about him before. Nathan is amazingly talented and really cares about what each bride wants. We worked with him for the flowers for our wedding and were more than thrilled with the results - everything he made was stunning!

Outdoor weddings :
Tents for Events and
TRB Portable Restrooms
- great tents and restrooms and the sweetest owners

I've got many more recommendations, just wanted to say a few words about these folks.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth. It was so great talking with everyone, and we are so excited to work with some of you!!!

simple.

i miss the office. that is all.

Bridal & Prom Show

This Sunday I will be in my first Bridal Show! I am running around getting the finishing touches ready, and hopefully it will all be done by then. :)
If you are going to be in Chillicothe on Sunday and planning on coming, please stop by my booth, I'd love to see you!!!!

What: Fourth annual Chillicothe Gazette Bridal and Prom Extravaganza.

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Open Door Ministries, 3130 S. Bridge St.

Tickets: $5. Tickets are available at the Chillicothe Gazette office, 50 W. Main St., Uniquely Yours in Circleville and The Party Place on Water Street in Chillicothe.

Read: here for more details.

Hope to see you there.

happy birthday to....

US! Yep, Whitney (my twin) and I are the big 23 today!
Happy birthday Whit, sorry we can't spend it together!

We went to a Japanese Steakhouse for the annual birthday dinner this year, it was so fun, and surprisingly pretty yummy (I am a very picky eater).
I made everyone do a group shot outside the restaurant, no one thought it would work...little faith. (and yes, I fully realize how very scary I look in this picture, well at least Matt is always there to do me one better ;)


Have a wonderful day, I plan to!

what?!

organized for 2008?

If you know me even a little bit, you probably know that I have a thing for being organized. Just something about me. So I thought I would share one of my new favorite things that helps me be just that.
I love the Rubbermaid Premier 20-pc. Set (sold almost everywhere). We got these after the wedding and they are great. Not only are they decent looking (rubbermaid has had some years), but they are so great in storage, and they last (I love the throw away ones too, but these will last...really last, it is very hard plastic). The containers stack on top when in use (fits right into the lid), but my favorite part is when they are in the cabinet. All the containers sit right inside each other, one stack! and the lids 'click' into each other. They literally take up no room, it is crazy.
So for those of you with crazy cabinets, these little guys will help, and hey, they are just $20.00. Not bad.

wishing you a very....

click to enlarge