Grateful: XVII

We haven't had a Christmas tree in our home for five years. I know, I know--pretty pathetic. But little L was too little to know the difference and it just never seemed worth the $85 down in Maryland when we wouldn't be around for Christmas anyways. But this year, we decided to go all out. We drove to a Christmas tree farm thirty minutes away, chopped the winner down, and created a wonderful new family tradition--all for only $18.  As we journeyed home, with a large Canaan Fir on top of our car, I couldn't help but whisper my gratitude to God for this abundantly blessed season. 

Amanda, Jeremy & Matthew | Grove City, PA Family Photography

I was thrilled to meet and photograph this beautiful, growing family over the weekend.  We met in downtown Grove City, which is a surprisingly great location for pictures--especially this time of year when the foliage elsewhere is not so photogenic. It was pretty chilly during our shoot, but these four brought their own warmth with smiles and love. Our session ended up being more like a mini-session due to the cold November winds, but I think we got plenty of sweet images. They'll work beautifully as Christmas shots with a baby in red and a dog in green--nice coordinating, guys! Thank you, Amanda and Jeremy--it was such a pleasure! 

Grateful: XVI

I frequently complain about our local grocery store--the only fully-stocked one in town. I'm not proud of this, but I often bemoan our store's lack of organic options and small selection of meat cuts. And the high price tags on the outside-of-the-grocery-store items (you know, the fresh stuff) frustrate me on a weekly basis.  But, as some of my California friends have taken to saying, this is most definitely a "first-world problem."  After all, I've got an incredible variety of food at my fingertips, money to purchase that food, and a warm place to prepare it.  Never have I wondered if I'd have access to food for my family. Not even once.  When I think of food in these terms, my grumbling seems a lot more like selfishness and ingratitude.  Because really, I'm so very grateful for the abundance we have. 

Interiors: The Living Room

My husband is pretty incredible at home improvement work. I take no credit for the actual execution of any of our home design work. I like to think I'm the brains behind our makeovers, but even that's up for debate.  Anyhow, we've been working room-by-room since we moved here almost a year ago. The previous owners had done a fantastic job at maintaining a very clean and well-maintained home, but the style just wasn't ours. Wallpaper covered the walls of every room and thick carpet hid hard-wood floors in 90% of the house. We were anxious to rip up that carpet, steam the walls, and uncover a place that we absolutely LOVE! We know that we can't please everyone with our decisions (some may squirm at the fact that we painted our lovely oak trim white), but we're thrilled with our results. So here is a small peek into our living room. This is the first room we've completed. Well, it's almost completed--we still need to install some quarter round and re-patch some hardwood sections sometime this Winter. Again, my husband deserves all the credit for the actual work put into this room! 

Christmas Minis | 2011

I am holding Christmas mini-sessions for the first time this year! These small sessions (offered only in the Grove City area) provide an opportunity to take some lovely pictures for your Christmas cards and a chance to document this season in your family's life. Your disc will be ready within one week. I'm offering two locations--one urban and one rural. Please send me an email if you have any questions or if you'd like to schedule. Thanks, everyone. Have a happy Wednesday! 

Grateful: XV

I grew up in central California. I miss it dearly and often long for the wide skies, magnificent mountains, and glorious sun (that showed up almost every day!). But we have one thing here in the East that California lacks: the rhythm and beauty of four seasons. My hometown in California had Summer and not-Summer.  So as much as I wish our Winter didn't last five months, I'm grateful for the turning of seasons and the beauty each one brings. 

Grateful: XIV

I am in the throes of a pretty miserable cold, complete with the stuffed-up head, sore throat, and annoying cough. I'm sure it will pass through the rest of our household this week. But considering that we are healthy most of the time, I don't aim to complain. I'm very grateful for our overall health. I am also grateful for easy tried and true recipes that make for a warm, last-minute meal when I'm sick. I'm not always the best at planning our meals ahead or making diverse and delicious meals. So I'm grateful for the easy ones that never get old, like this quiche. Give me a break on the crust please--wasn't feeling the creativity last night.

Brittany & John | Oglebay, WV Wedding Photography

They've been dating since high school. About a decade, it's been.  They've built a life together in Ohio, were engaged in Paris, and pledged their lives to one another in West Virginia.  Brittany and John share a love that is well-seasoned, natural, and familiar. And their wedding was a perfect reflection of that--from the nature details to the cheers and support of dear family and friends. 

Thank you, John and Brittany, for entrusting us with the responsibility to capture your day.  We were honored to be a part of your beautiful wedding. Truly! We loved getting to know you both and wish you a long and loving marriage.  And we hope you're enjoying the beautiful beaches and warm sun in Jamaica.

I had a really difficult time narrowing down images, so this post is a bit long. Thanks for looking and have a wonderful Wednesday!