See The Heart?

I saw this idea on another wedding photographer's blog and decided to take my own! But instead, I used my engagement ring. Usually, the Bible passage used during the ceremony is in the background with the wedding bands.

But, I just wanted to play around today, and here's mine!
Pretty neat effect once you get the lighting/angle down :-)

copyright 2009 Kayla Richards

(I dont remember who the other photographer was now, or else I'd link to their blog and credit the photo idea)

I Obama'd Us

Projects

A V-Day Card ......

Um...

Are you freaking kidding me?

{ I Took My Own Shot of History }

Ok ok -- I know it was thru the TV screen, but I do like to take my own pictures of moments like this ... (and yes, I did take photos of Bush's farewell speech)

I love politics!
Even though I did not vote for Barack Obama, I am remaining optimistic that he will be able to achieve all he has spoken about ... I was going to type something political here, but I will let this post remain positive!

I think this is such a cute photo:

Found this sweet website

Website: http://iloveyoumorethanblank.blogspot.com/

Readers fill in the phrase:
I love you more than _________.

I've loved reading these over the past couple days!
I even submitted my own, for Chris to see!

We have an inside joke with Hannah Montana!
Guess which heart I submitted?
Yep, that was ALL ME!
Just had to save it so I can look back on this later on and have some giggles :-)

Fun, happy stuff!

In other news...

We met with our officiant today for the wedding.

He is absolutely great and we loved him!

Chris (who is the ever so shy, never wants to talk kind-of-person) told me at dinner tonight how he is actually excited about meeting with him to talk about stuff more. Yay :-)

David, our officiant, is actually a retired priest who left the Catholic Church to be able to marry. I think that its so cool he was able to marry and end up VERY happy in life -- and now look what he is doing --- making OTHERS so happy by marrying them. Marrying US!

So, its pretty cool how everything with the church end of the wedding ended up. I grew up in a very STRONG Catholic family -- on both my mom and dad's sides -- so my family was kind of freaked out that a "priest in a Catholic Church" will not be marrying us. However, neither Chris nor I are very religious - we are spiritual and we do believe in something "greater," but the Catholic Ceremony wouldn't really work for us and our beliefs.

Anyway -- onto the cool part --- the church we are getting married at used to be a Catholic Church (now turned into a wedding venue), and our officiant is a retired priest. So, all in all, we won't exactly be having the traditional Catholic ceremony, but it's still going to have lots of strong Catholic influences.

♥ { Valentine-ish } ♥

Some new pages of my friend's girls...
I ♥LOVE♥ the new love tickets from Making Memories!


♥ ♥ ♥

More Imaginisce Goodness!

There are two new collections from Imaginisce!
The Twitterpated Collection is now availabe at Scrapbook.com!

The Summer Cool line has not been released yet, but you can get some peeks here!
Woo hoo!


Twitterpated Layouts:








Summer Cool Layouts:

And this is a mixture of the two!

Have You Ever?

( ) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St.Louis Arch
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x ) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States alone
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
(x) Gone snowmobiling (been on one)
( ) Lived in more than one country
( ) Laid outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Ole Faithful Geyser
( ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle
( ) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco Trolley
(x) Been to Disneyland or Disney World
( ) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( ) Been to the top of an active volcano and seen hot lava
(x) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
(x) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins

Not sure how this got in here, but I'll play anyway:
1.Any nickname? Kaylers
2.Mother's name? Leslie
3.Favorite drink? Today, its hot cocoa if we're going warm, if we're going cold, Pomegranate Italian Soda
4. How much do you love your job? I'm loving this stay at home thing this past month, lol. Teaching - I have found I like it more than I thought. Photography - aside from taxes, its the best job on Earth!
6.Birthplace? Wisconsin
7.Favorite vacation spot? Mexico, of course!
8.Ever been to Africa ? No
9.Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? No, not dinner. Breakfast though!
10.Ever been on TV? Yes - Elementary School Olympics, I rock. LOL.
11.Ever steal any traffic signs? No
12.Ever been in a car accident? No.
13.Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door
14.Can you drive a standard shift car? No
15.Favorite pie? Cherry
16.Favorite number: 16
17. Favorite movie(s)? Don't have one. I know, how boring. :-)
18.Favorite holiday? Christmas!
19.Favorite dessert? Brownies
20.Favorite food? Mexican
21.Favorite day of the week? Saturday, probably
24.Favorite smell? Hmm...I like the smell of pools ... and lemons .... and coffee!
25.How do you relax? I don't really know how to ...ask my fiance.
26.How do you see yourself in 10 years? Lets see here....a mommy, a wife, a teacher, and still a photographer.

{ Snowflakes }

Livin' in a winter wonderland...
Some delicate little flakes on my car this morning!
Aren't they cool?
So perfect and intricate!

{ We Also Ordered Our Cake! }

It will look like this ... 4 tiers...
Except it will have orange dahlias on it, and an aqua Swarovski jeweled "F" cake topper.

Top Layer: Devil's Food cake w/chocolate French Creme filling
2nd Layer: Lemon Poppysee w/lemon French Creme filling (per my brother's request!)
3rd Layer: White Cake with Strawberry French Creme filling
4th Layer: Devil's Food cake w/chocolate French Creme filling

MMMMM!

{ Our Honeymoon! }

Riviera Maya, Mexico
RIU Playacar
July 21 - 28, 2009

Wooo hooo!
We both agreed on this resort right away!
Here's a link:
http://www.riu.com/en/hotel-riu-playacar-playa-del-carmen-mexico.html

{ Debuting At CHA '09 }

I had the pleasure of using the new Twitterpated line from Imaginisce!
The products are not available yet, but when they are I will let you know!
They will be available at Scrapbook.com!

Aren't the colors just amazing!? I love how they pop!

Imaginisce Products Used, Twitterpated Collection:
Bumble Brads
Tied Up with Spring ribbon
Wildflowers stamp
Lady Bug Ball Glossy Spot Double Sided Paper (Both the red dots and the green paper are the same sheet)
Hey Foxy double sided Glossy Spot paper
Kelly Green paper flowers
Red paper flowers

2008 Card Mini Book

A little card book I made to put my 2008 Christmas Cards in. I always hate throwing them away, but I found this idea on Kelly Purkey's blog.

Here is Kelly's blog post:
http://kellypurkey.typepad.com/its_me_kp/2008/11/card-book.html

I used lots of Imaginisce goodies!
You can find them all at Scrapbook.com!

Imaginisce - Snowy Jo Winter Christmas Collection - Paper - Jo to the World
Imaginisce - Snowy Jo Winter Christmas Collection - 3 Dimensional Stickers - Tinsel Tags
Imaginisce - Snowy Jo Winter Christmas Collection - Paper - Snow Soiree
Imaginisce - Snowy Jo Winter Christmas Collection - Epoxy Brads - Santa Set
Imaginisce - Snowy Jo Winter Christmas Collection - Paper - Tinsel to the Top

{ *knock on wood* }

We *think* we have *FINALLY* found our ceremony venue!
Sooo excited.
Going to tour it today!

Click ---> http://theweddinggardens.com/

{ Baby Fever }

Miss Joelee from today....
She turned one month old today!




That is the pond outside my apartment in her eyes...

Look how BIG big sister Jaelynn is now!

Piggies in her hair and bangs and everything!

STOP growing!

{ Two More }

This first layout is the picture I included in our Christmas cards this year. All the paper on this layout was used from the Old Navy coupon mailing they sent out for the holidays! Nothing like being thrifty! It looks like scrapbook paper!



This was a Blue Crew layout ... pp is Cosmo Cricket.

{ Jan 09 Blue Crew }

{ ...and we're onto '09! }

Some photos from the last night of 08:

Now onto the 2008 re-cap!
(I swear I did this last year, but I cannot find it!)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

A few of the most exciting things....

Become a 'professional' photographer!

Got engaged!

Student teaching!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't do this ... but for this next year, I just want to keep growing as teacher/photographer and try to be the best wife I can be (coming in July).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


My friend Jacque to Miss Joelee ... Jacque in the photo above

4. Did anyone close to you die?


Thankfully, no

5. What states/countries did you visit?


Utah

Illinois

Iowa

...this list will be MUCH longer next year!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Completed college degree

More money!

Thankfully these two things go hand-in-hand!

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 7 - My brother's wedding

July 12 - 1st Wedding - Photographer

August 8- Alanna & Joe's Wedding

August 16 - My Mom's wedding

August 31 - Chris + I got engaged

December 2 - Joelee was born

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Having great success in both student teaching and operating my photography business

9. What was your biggest failure?

I don't have one. Nothing significant. I'm sure those around me could think of something...but in terms of representing the entire 2008? I can't think of one. I had a very good year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?


Again, thankfully, no.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?


Chris, for showing me guys arent always complete jerks, lol. Although there were a couple bumps here and there so far....I wouldn't change what we have right now.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?


Hahhhh....the person who slashed my car tires ... ahem ... someone's ex gf! How immature is that? Who does that?

14. Where did most of your money go?


Business

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?


Wedding Planning + preparing for marriage

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?


The Kid Rock one ... All Summer Long

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:


a) happier or sadder? 
happier

b) thinner or fatter? 
 the same

c) richer or poorer?
 poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Travel

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?


Worrying about everything....

20. How did you spend Christmas?


We had a bunch of different Christmas occasions this year...The Sunday before we went to my mom's and had Christmas with her husband and his family. Then Christmas Eve my mom had a lunch dinner at her house and we did presents with my brother and his wife. On Christmas Day, we got up early and made the drive to Chris's parents house, then went to my dad's sister's house for Christmas on that side, and THEN we went to my grandma's on my mom's side for dinner + present fun.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?


Oooohhhhh my. Yes I did. Yeeesssss, my friends...I sure did. :-)

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Umm...I didnt watch any TV shows regularly this past year. This was the year of hardly any TV watching. Kept myself busy with other things. But if I had to pick one, I would say One Tree Hill, though, because I watched it when I could catch it.


23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No, but I dislike a couple people now.

24. What was the best book you read?


Twilight ... just started New Moon.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?


Hmmm, this is hard because my favorites are still the same as in 08...Taylor Swift, Kenny, Nickelback, Hinder , etc...But for new music...Matt Nathanson and the Fray are now added to my faves.

26. What did you want and get?


A Passat ... 16-35mm f/2.8L lens .... 50 mm f/1.4 lens ... A diamond ring ... An apartment

27. What did you want and not get?


Canon 5D camera

28. What was your favorite film of this year?


Nothing comes to mind. I can though tell you the worse film of the year. Mama Mia was beyond stupid.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?


I turned 22. Went to dinner with my friends and some family members. Then out for drinks. Low key but fun.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?


I can't complain much about this past year. It was mostly good. I guess more travel would having made it more satisfying...I really love travel but I only got to go on trip.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

LOL. Sometimes cute. Not hideous. But not always cute.

32. What kept you sane?


Finding someone new to love and be loved by.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Um... I'm one who doesn't care about things like this...

34. What political issue stirred you the most?


Don't get me started on this. I know if I really say it, I will offend people who read this blog, and I don't want this to happen. Let's just say ... I don't terribly support the Democratic Party all.

35. Who did you miss?

Someone I've moved on from.

36. Who was the best new person you met?


Probably Joelee. She made me very excited for what's ahead. I love watching her big sister grow up and change, and I'm excited to watch the same in Joelee.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

You can only change yourself.

You can only change yourself.

You can only change yourself.

I finally learned this lesson. I definately learned it this year.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"In this moment now, capture it, remember it."

39. How did you ring in the New Year?

Ha....dinner with Chris and then I went out and had a few drinks. Lots of drama in between. How did I actually ring in 09? Asleep on the couch.

40. Do you have a goal for 2009?

To just become a better person all around ... to others, as a teacher, as a photographer, in my relationship, in everything. Continue to grow and to learn and to keep on being inspired.