Bloggy Friends

I started blogging as I was preparing to move to Europe back in late 2006 and 2007. I wanted a way to document my travels and adventures so my family and friends could keep up with me and see pictures. At the time, I had no idea I would connect with a wide variety of people across the country and abroad through the internet. Some bloggers have become really good friends and I feel as though I know them better than friends who live within a few miles of me.

A few weeks ago, my friend Danielle visited the South for the very first time. Danielle is The Design Girl who designed my blog and photography blog (coming soon!!). She is from LA and wanted to experience a true fall...and meet some cool bloggy friends. I decided to make the trip to Nashville to meet her as well as a few more friends whose blogs I read on a consistent basis. When I told my parents what I was doing, they both sort of freaked out and thought I was nuts. I showed my parents each of their blogs and said, "see, they don't look like killers!!!". Ha!!! My mom glared at me.....

See, they don't!!!

Danielle, Amy, and Jill

Jill and I

I still cannot believe I did not get pics with Danielle and Amy?!?! What was wrong with us, girls?!

It was so fun connecting with them. I felt like we were all old friends getting together and hanging out. We walked around downtown Nashville and stayed at Amy's beautiful home.We laughed as we talked about our parents and friends sort of freaking out about meeting people on the internet. Each of us had to make calls to our families and let them know we were ok!! It was hilarious!

I so much enjoyed meeting each of you girls! I cannot wait until our next adventure and you are all welcome in my home anytime!

I also got a chance to catch up with Angie and Jessica. I found Angie's blog over a year and a half ago and have been blessed by it more than words can say. I also started reading sweet Jess's blog as well! What a crafty lady she is! They were both just like you would think they would be...so warm, down-to-earth and lovely. Again, that experience was just like sitting down catching up with old friends! They took us on a little adventure down the Natchez Trace to see the beautiful fall leaves......and it was an adventure! So so much fun! Thanks ladies!!!!

Bloggy friends are the best! There are many of you out there that I hope to get to meet one day! Until then, I will continue to connect via this crazy world wide web!

Christmas Decorating (Work in Progress)

I had so much fun over the weekend pulling out all of my Christmas decorations that I had not looked at in over 2 years since moving to Europe. I did not do much decorating in Brussels because I came home for Christmas so I didn't even bring most of my decorations with me so they were in storage in Memphis. I have always loved decorating for Christmas and when I bought my first house I went crazy buying decorations, lights, a huge tree (that spins!!)! It was truly beautiful!

Throughout all of my European and world travels, I made it a priority to buy an ornament from every place that I visited, almost to the point of irritating my travel buddies! Ha! I managed to pick up an ornament from most places and I am so glad I did! I knew I loved them when I bought them, but now, they are true treasures. As I was unpacking them on Friday, I began to tear up as the memories flooded back of that particular trip. It's moments like this that I realize the past two years were real and not just a dream!

I wanted to share a little sampling of my treasures (yes, there are more!).

Belgium at its finest....chocolate, beer, and fries (yes, fries came from Belgium, not France)
Brussels, Belgium
Vienna, Austria
Paris, France
London, England

The Netherlands
Mediterranean CruiseDubrovnik, Croatia
Ephesus, Turkey (also known as Kusadasi)
Santorini, Greece
Prague, Czech Republic

Christmas Markets in Frankfurt, Germany - I picked up a few other items besides an ornament at the market, like this little house. I want to add it to my Christmas village...you know, as soon as I start one!

These little ornaments are hand painted with such incredible detail. The back is the exact same as the front. Gorgeous!


Capri, Italy
Positano, Italy
Waterford, Ireland
Disneyland Paris, France
Budapest, Hungary
Brugge, Belgium
Copenhagen, Denmark
Sweden - Sometimes I just had to improvise when I could not find an ornament!
Edinburgh, Scotland
Berlin, Germany - This was a piece of the Berlin Wall. It was originally suppose to be a necklace, but I made it an ornament.
Original German nutcrackers! I love them!

Normandy Region of France

Christmas Markets in Cologne, Germany

Christmas Markets in Aachen, Germany - I love this nativity scene!

With all of these travel ornaments, I needed another tree! I decided I would like a travel tree in my kitchen, so, well, I put one up and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Christmas Markets in the Netherlands (in a cave) - Pam and I went to a Christmas market in a cave last year and had so much fun. We bought so many goodies! I need to take more pics once I get everything placed! I plan to frame this little Santa and hang it during the holidays. Maybe next year!

This is a beautiful tablecloth. I will take another pic once it is on a table!
I finally have my main tree up and decorated along with the outside of my house and the mantle. I will post pics soon!

How is your decorating going?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy 4th Birthday Maxie!!!

Today, my furry baby turns 4! Can you believe it? She is spoiled rotten and I would have have it any other way! My sister got her a Snuggie (for dogs) a few weeks ago and I thought this would be the perfect time to take her picture! She also got a new toy that I thought was just precious!

Happy Birthday, sweet Maxie! I love you!







Torture, pure torture!


By the way, can you tell she hated every minute of me taking these pictures!?! Well, until she got to play with her toy!

Mid Thirties

I am a little late in posting, but considering I have not posted since early September, I think my timing is ok!

I turned 35 on October 25th so I am officially in my mid thirties...ugh! How did that happen? I spent the day before hosting a few friends at my house. We laughed, ate, and stayed up way past our bedtime! Then spent Sunday with my family. It was a good weekend!

I have been wanting to make this cake for a while and thought this was a great opportunity. You may have seen it before on other blogs....it is as time consuming as your have read it to be, but oh so good! Try it!

I want to start decorating for Christmas already...is that bad???

Go TIGERS!

Home

I have always been a Michael Buble' fan! Really, his music is unbelievable, relaxing, romantic, funny, and sometimes hits 'home' when you least expect it! My favorite song of his is, Home, one of his biggest hits, and knew I loved it but I was not sure exactly why. Then, I recently sat down and listened to the lyrics of Home. Here they are:

HOME, by Michael Buble'
Another summer day
has come and gone away
In Paris or Rome...
but I wanna go home
...uhm Home

may be surrounded by
a million people I
still feel all alone
just wanna go home
I miss you, you know

And I've been keeping all the letters
that I wrote to you,
Each one a line or two
I'm fine baby, how are you?
I would send them but I know that it's just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane, another sunny place,
I'm lucky I know
but I wanna go home
I got to go home

Let me go home

I'm just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I'm living
someone else's life
It's like I just stepped outside
when everything was going right
And I know just why you could not come along with me
This was not your dream
but you always believed in me...

Another winter day
Has come and gone away
in either Paris or Rome
and I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I'm surrounded by
A million people I
still feel alone
Let me go home
I miss you , you know

Let me go home
I've had my run
baby I'm done
I gotta go home

Let me go home
it'll all be alright
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home

When I listened to those words the other day, I could not stop the tears from falling. A song was written that fits everything that I have been trying to say over the past year or so! I just wanted to go home!

Does a song touch you like this one did me?

Wedding Part 1

As I mentioned before, I was so excited to be able to help photograph a wedding back in June. I posted a collage from the wedding, but I wanted to post the full photos that I love.

I, obviously, was not the main photographer doing this wedding, but I was there to help in any way that I could. The main photographer is not a professional either, but had more experience doing this and knew the family. We decided to split up the tasks. I was assigned to do the bride getting ready, the groom getting ready, help out with pre-wedding shots, capture the up front ceremony shots, and then the reception. But, as all of the festivities started, the both of us were there to capture whatever we could, in the moment it happened. It made me realize that no matter how much you plan, you have to be flexible, go with the flow, and capture the moment. I found that I thrive in that environment. I am soooo much a planner, but when it comes to photography, as long as you have an idea of what you want, you just have to roll with it.

And, roll with it we did! Here is a sample of some of my favorites!

I really love this shot. I was sitting up front (hidden beside the piano) to capture the moments from the front of the church. The ceremony was around 45 minutes long, so I had plenty of time to practice some creative shots and see what I could come up with. And this was one of them...


The 'shoe shot' is also a favorite and everyone that sees it has a reaction. I love that! I think it turned out awesome.


This is another angle of the shoes!


I love the depth in this picture.


Then, there is the bride. I have told many people that I am only doing weddings going forward when the bride is gorgeous! It sure helped in getting some amazing shots! (just kidding, really)


The stained glass window that I spoke about earlier was a challenge, but as the sun started to set, we were able to get some amazing light. The light was casting a gorgeous shadow over the bride's face and some shots turned out fantastic! We also got some very traditional pictures as well, but these are my favorite artsy/creative shots!






So, that is a little glimpse into some of the photographs I was able to capture at the wedding. I will post about the very HOT reception soon! Remember, I am an amateur and have SO much to learn about this art, especially my editing software, but that is a whole other post!