A Very Overdue Post

Oh hai, readers. Before you throw at "Laziest Blogger Ever" award at my head, I do have a little bit of an excuse for my absence. You see, I've been a little preoccupied making a human.

Well, that accounts for the past four months, but not the few before that. In all honesty, I've been a little confused about this blog and its purpose. Its focus originally was to be my life as a new wife with a strong learning toward my dress obsession and everyday 'style.' Then the only thing I felt like blogging about was my attempts at photography, which I realized strayed from the original concept. So I was torn. And stopped posting. Until I can figure out what I want this blog to be, I may not be a frequent blogger here.

However, I started a pregnancy/baby blog at And Baby Makes Three, which everyone is welcome to follow, if that's your thing.

xoxo

I Miss Fall

Back in October, I made the hubs suffer through a quick mini-session. I knew this would be my last time pre-jaw expansion to get in a suitable pic for the old Christmas card, so during a session I did with my friend Kate and her husband and pup, I had Kate turn the camera on us. Little piece of trivia: last time we were at that location by the river we were having our post-ceremony wedding photos shot. 

Oh, how I miss fall already!! 

Goals for 2012

Last year around this time I compiled a wish list of things I wanted for 2011. Now it's time to take a hard look at what I can cross off that list and write down what I have in mind for 2012! 


For 2011 I wish for the following:

* a new job that I love (obvs)
* lose the 15 wife pounds I gained since June '09
* financial planning for long-term goals
* do a mini reno on our bathroom
* get a four-legged member of the family
* learn how to do some landscaping in the spring
* finally buy my DSLR that I've been lusting over for years
* perfect a meal planning regimen and incorporate freeze ahead meals
* do a few more out-of-town trips
* focus on my pre-baby checklist


Oh gee. That's not a very good success rate. Looks like I'll have some carryover goals, huh? 


Here goes. Wish list for 2012:

* lose 15 pounds before TTC
* focus on long-term finances
* mini-reno on bathroom
* landscaping (either by me or hired out!)
* return to meal planning and less eating out
* become more organized both personally and professionally
* TTC
* be a more supportive and caring friend and wife
* kick major a$$ in my career


Happy New Year, everyone!! 

2011 Year in Review

Oh my gosh, it's time for the third annual year in review!

2009

2010

January 2010 started off in Pittsburgh. With me being unemployed at the time and us not having many invites for NYE, we spontaneously hopped in the car and spent the weekend at my college bestie's apartment. 2011 felt more like 2001 as a group of us played power hour and made a beer can pyramid!

And a few days later my nephew Caden was born!

Also in January I exhibited a bridal expo with friend Shannon Confair.

February is when everything changed -- for the good. I interviewed for and was offered my current position!  Farewell, laycation! It seems I was still in my baking frenzy, making really ugly cakes.

March is when I started my job and bought my first DSLR.  It's also when I got to hold my sweet nephew for the first time.

Also in March the hubs and I took off a mini-getaway to the Finger Lakes to celebrate our engagi-versary.

April must have been pretty status quo; nothing is jumping out at me. I was settling into my job and practicing some photography on babies.

In May I spent some time getting ready for summer and enjoy nephew's visit during Wes's birthday picnic in our backyard

June marked the big occasion of my 30th birthday! (Thank goodness I still look 20, right?!)

And June introduced two new purchases - my beautiful iPhone 4 and our SUV.

In July we took a trip down memory line by visiting our favorite amusement park.

In August we went back up to the Finger Lakes, where I also got to meet Megs, one of the girls from my fabulous group of 'online' friends!

August was a huge travel month for me since I also drove up to Boston with my MIL to visit my SIL and nephew. It was overall a great time being with family (and catching up my friend Sara and her husband!), though I could have done without the car accident we had on the way back from the city.

August was also the shower/b-party I threw as MOH.

September I was back on the road again, this time to Pittsburgh to see one of my besties. While there I was asked to be a bridesmaid in her wedding next year! 

A few weeks later we traveled yet again to York for Amanda and Jason's wedding weekend. 

The fall was full of photo shoots of friends and family, including my favorite little guy who came in for a visit for a few weeks. 

In October we had a recriprocal visit from Kelly and Aaron which included a day of sightseeing in my neck of PA. Oh and I got bangs again!! 

A special birthday happened in October as Miss Raegan turned the big ONE! 

November. Oh, November. On the 10th I had my palatal expansion surgery. My four wisdom teeth were removed before the main act happened. My oral surgeon drilled through my upper jaw bone to separate my palate.  I'll spare you the pics of me post-surgery all swollen and bruised AND the pics of the giant gap between my two front teeth. Trust me, you're better off. 

Thankfully two weeks later I could nom on some turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie! 

December was surprisingly more busy than I expected. Parties and holiday gatherings and lots of family time. 

I'm sure I'm missing things. 2011 seemed so full. I'm so happy for so many wonderful things that happened during the course of the last year. So many friends, so many adventures, so much progress! I'm very much looking forward to what 2012 will bring. 

Lemonade

A year ago today I went through one of life's game changers when I was laid off from job I had for only four months. I remember that day so vividly, especially the many tears I shed that evening. I drove home through tears on that Friday, my mind racing with disbelief, fear, and anxiety. I remember parking in the garage and seeing my husband on his way to the gym and shrieking "I lost my job! What are we going to do??" An hour later, still with tears falling, I furiously scanned job listings online and quickly updated my resume and LinkedIn. I went through a very long three months of being unemployed.

I wrote a post last year called "When Life Gives You Lemons," where I divulged my layoff and opted to forge on and reassess my life and my future.

Oh how much has changed in a year! I've been at my job now for 9 months -- and I received my first promotion this week. I can't even call it a job -- it's my career. It's my perfect fit. So many people told me last year that something better was yet to come, and they were sooo on the money. When I compare the me today to the me a year ago I am absolutely shocked at the stark difference. Life gave me lemons last December 3, but  the lemonade couldn't be sweeter.

Thanks

Today I'm thankful for so much. This year has involved a lot of reflection -- I examine my life more carefully, comparing it against each phase of my past. Last year I remember feeling the appropriate amount of gratitude for things in my life ... but this year? It holds a lot more weight. It could be the first year where I genuinely FEEL thankful every day -- not just on Thanksgiving.

My subject also speaks to my thanks to you, my followers. I realize I've taken quite the blog hiatus. I hope to get back into the swing of things at some point. But thanks for not unsubscribing. While I'm not an active blogger/commenter, know I'm still reading YOUR blogs every day!

Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm off to find a stretchy pair of Thanksgiving pants .... er, leggings!

Source: etsy.com via Amanda on Pinterest

First Maternity/Family Session

Lesley and I used to hostess together way back in my younger years. She's expecting little Lyla in the next two weeks. We had to reschedule this shoot so many times I told her I was sure I'd be shooting a delivery instead! Enjoy a few of my favorites. 

Another One Bites the Dust

I cannot believe the weekend is coming to an end. Especially mine started Thursday at noon. I got to play matron of honor at my dear friend Amanda's wedding two hours away. Even though the rain hardly let up, we still had a great time, and omigosh -- the bride was so gorgeous I seriously wanted to just stand and stare at her all day! I'm so happy for the couple -- they are the sweetest pair. Plus it gave us the opportunity to see our high school gang of friends, who are very hard to gather in the same place.

Enjoy some collages of the wedding weekend!

And of course... some Instagrams:

Kelly and Aaron's Engagement Session

This past weekend we headed to Pittsburgh to scope out my dear friends' new house and new engagement ring! Kelly and Aaron got engaged in Key West during her sister's destination wedding. Kelly asked me to do a  mini e-session for them, and of course I said yes. Adults are much easier to work with than drooling, unpredictable babies! These were taken in the yard of their new home. I just loved that little red shed. 

Knoebels 2011 | Part 2

I don't know what it is about this place. It could be a giant dash of nostalgia (I spent a lot of my youth here). Or it could be the exhilaration you feel when you're on a ride or dangling 40 ft in the air. It could also be the people you are with. Whatever the equation works itself out to be -- every time we're at Knoebels Amusement Resort we leave saying "That was a truly fun day." 

This time around we met up with our friends -- Vee and her husband. The weather was a bit too humid and sticky for my taste, but somehow we avoided the thunderstorms that were predicted. I'm blaming the muggy weather for me agreeing to go down The Flume. I'm also blaming it for me making this face. 

Yes, we each bought a copy to take home. Who lets me out in public?