{ Sharing Some Favorites }

That I took last time I went to Mexico...

And it seems Mexico is in the plans for next year!

Yay!!

{ Aug Blue Crew }

{ Mine ALL Mine }

Finally broke down and got a Shootsac! The designer camera bag designed by my favorite photographer, Jessica Claire. So while other my ripe age of 22 get Coach purses, I spend my money on desinger camera bags, lol! I cannot WAIT til it comes!

Ok, gotta go run to shoot a wedding now! I'll post some photos...the minute I catch up to my crazy busy {but good} life!

{ Makes My Job Easy ... }

When my subjects are so gorgeous!

A senior I shot last week.

Isn't she just beautiful?

{more soon}

Quick Update

Here are some favorites from the first two weddings I shot on July 12 and July 19.

I hope everyone is doing well!

Feel free to comment, I feel like I'm taking to myself!

{ More Pink Flowers }

Fresh From The Backyard.

{ What Summer Looks Like }

{ Blue Crew }

July 2008 Blue Crew Layouts ... used Scenic Route papers, rub ons, letter stickers, and chipboard embellishments on the first one .... and Making Memories paper and Scenic Route Embellishment on the second.

{ How 'Bout An UpDate? }

I have to leave for work in about 2.5 seconds, but I figured I'd give a little update first!

I'm busy all this week and weekend at the Country USA Festival in Oshkosh, WI ... lots of great music this year ... last night was Lonestar and Sugarland, tonight is Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bently, Friday is .... drumroll please .... my man Kenny Chesney. So super excited about Friday.

Also, Friday is going to be one of the best days ever because .... another drumroll please, this one even more exciting, if I can say so myself.... after about 9 months of saving....this BAD BOY will be delivered tomorrow:

Honestly.... if I can say so myself ... my life is pretty great right now!!

Just wish I could stay and party at the Country USA campgrounds and festival grounds with my friends and party all day today and tomorrow! I'm the crazy fool that went to bed last night at 1 am, was up by 5:30 this morning,. drove the hour home, going to work now til 4:30, and then heading back up there tonight and doing the same thing over again tomorrow and all weekend!!

Only young once! :-)

{ Jaelynn's 1st Birthday }

My friend's daughter's 1st birthday party was held the other night - on Father's Day. It was a nice, relaxing little party with some great brats on the grill and yummy desserts! I am LOVING this warm-but-not-too-hot-or-humid weather right now! LOVING it!

Onto the photos!

The cute photo gift bag I made...inside were about 10 books I bought and collected for her over the past year. I knew since she was born I would be giving her books for her 1st birthday.

The sleepy birthday girl. She is getting over pneumonia. Poor little thing!

The perfect photo for Father's Day. :-)

Sitting with her big "1" candle as we all sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

The aftermath of the cake smashing!

{ My Brother's Wedding }

Yeah -- so for some reason the order is all mixed up in the next 3 posts, but oh well, you get the idea!

Anyway, the wedding was FABULOUS and SO MUCH FUN! So sad it's over, the day went by so fast. Lots of great memories!

P.S. The bridesmaids dresses were lavendar, not white-ish as they appear! :-)

{ My Big Brother's Wedding: Part 2 - Ceremony }

We started the day by getting our hair done at the salon and drinking some champagne! Here is one of the bridesmaids popping the top! Love this pic!

Now at the church...here's Shannon's dress awaiting her!

Love this photo too ... took a lot of time to set up! My favorite part is the quote in the window, 'We have risen with Christ to a new life in God.'

My mom and me...

Fourth-fifths of the bridesmaids. The one missing is one of the maids of honor, her sister Sam. From left to right: Katelyn & Julie (friends of Bride), Sarah (other maid of honor, sister of Bride), and me (sister of Groom).

Shannon was getting REALLY nervous before the wedding, so to take her mind away a bit, we played a fun game of MASH, like everyone used to play in elementary school. ;-) Funny!

My grandma pinning on my brother's boutonneire (sp!? lol)

THE MAIN EVENT!!

{ My Big Brother's Wedding: Part 3 - Reception }

The day started out beautifully...really sunny and hot, but nice. Perfect for a wedding; not a cloud in the sky. By the time the ceremony was over, the tornado sirens were blaring as there were tornado touchdowns in the area and the sky looked like the following photo. Needles to say, there were no outdoor photos, which didn't make the bride very happy. We headed over to the reception at the golf course two hours early, with nothing to do, so that put a damper on the spirit. Thankfully, we were all safe after the storms passed through.

The bride's sister. This photo shows how everyone felt as we got to the reception: sad and a bit scared because of the storm.

The golf course as the storm started.

I happened to snag this photo right away when we got to the reception start, just before the rain started to massively pour down. (It was raining during this photo)

Onto some happier shots.

The gorgeous cake!

Another shot I took of the cake!

Bridal boquet.

The main room. There were 3 joined "rooms" altogether.

The bridesmaid's boquets that were turned into head table centerpieces for the dinner.

The center pieces at all the other many tables! Sooo pretty! They were lit for dinner/dance.

A quiet moment for the new husband and wife: Mr & Mrs. Richards

YUM! Some foodie shots. Seriously the best meal ever...yuuuuuummmm! This first one is Jack Daniels sirlion.Then we have some chicken marsala.
And my slice of the cake. The flavors were: lemon poppyseed, double fudge, chocolate raspberry, and something else that I cannot remember at the moment. ;-)

There are of course a ton of people, group, dancing, party, speech (gasp! I had to do a speech on the spot!), etc shots the "real" photographer took, and I will post some of those when we get them! I was having way too much fun to worry about taking photos! The White Zin can confirm that one! ;-)

Here are some others my grandma just gave me from her camera:

The bridal party during the grand march, and then some of the dances.

{ My Big Brother's Wedding: Part 1 - Rehearsal }

My older brother, Patrick, who is my only sibiling, got married to Shannon this past Saturday in Watertown, WI. Their wedding date is: 06-07-08! Congrats you two!

This photo is of my mom hanging all the pew bows the night before the big day. She made like 40 or 50 little bouquets.

Some delicious lighting through the stained glass windows.

Here too. The point of this photo is the June 7th entry in the prayer/hymn book.

Pew bow detail in some prettier & soft lighting.

Onto the rehearsal dinner! The couple of interest:

My brother and me.

The Sheisters: aka Groom & Groomsmen -- all college buddies. One can only imagine how much alcohol these guys consumed in those four years.
The prettier half: Bride & Bridesmaids