Photo Shoot with Cori

Ms. Cori is a dear friend of mine. We go to church together and we sing in the choir together. Her unique style and vibrant smile made this grey, winter day seem like a sunny, summer afternoon. Walking along the rail trail in Morgantown, Wv was so much fun with Cori. We turned on a little music and just went with it! Even though it was a bit cold outside, we managed to get some great shots; grinning through the bitter winter cold. We also took some great indoor shots in her cute downtown apartment! Overall a great day with great photos! Enjoy.

                  

the grateful five

this week, this month rather.. has been very different.

just to put you into perspective a little bit...

i'm graduating college in may

currently looking for a new job

chasing after a small, highly energetic puppy

planning a wedding and creative diy, budget-friendly reception

trying to figure out life after college!

trying to find my own voice in with photography

trying to survive in this dog-eat-dog world

phew

ive been stressing out and worrying about life so much lately that i haven't had the time to just sit and be in my own head and in my own thoughts in quite a while. i just want to stop and be quiet. and this blog is where i can come and unwind. i put on my favorite pandora radio station and i can just sit and write, worry free. so i felt right now would be a perfect time for the grateful five post.


i suppose i should start by saying that this post is in dedication to the most recent newman night. so recent that i just left there and started writing here :) Newman (for those that don't know) has been my home away from home for four years now! specifically, it is the on campus catholic group at WVU. anyway, this newman night we watched a great documentary called The Human Experience. it centered on the value of human, individual dignity. you should watch it. it will change your whole perspective on your everyday life.. or just watch this convenient little trailer...

1. i am grateful for family. this film showed me that people are life. our families are our backbones, our strength. and if you knew my family, well, you would see it is true. we're not perfect, but we love each other through thick and thin. my dad always taught me that friends come and go, but family is forever. i believe this is true. my family is made up of the craziest mix of people, but they also have the biggest heart. i could say i wanted to go join the russian circus tomorrow and they would support me. they would fight me on the idea like hell, but in the end they would back me up.... i am grateful for family. my family.

2. i am grateful for education. i have had the typical american college experience. lived in a dorm, studied abroad, stayed up late "studying" and found the love of my life. it is so typical in fact that few would argue the uniqueness of it all. so many of us go to college and do everything i just described, it is so ordinary here in the u.s.. but it should be seen as more than that! not everyone can have higher education. but we are fortunate enough. and i know i have taken it for granted. skipping classes, not reading assigned work, etc. i have somehow managed to lose this insight. my freshman year, the first year of college, was the best. i was the best student..i think i got something like a 3.8, because i was focused. i knew the importance of my studies because i am the first person in my immediate family to go to college. but i've lost that drive to be the best and to do the best. shame i find my focus in my last semester but, what are ya gonna do ya know. everything happens for a reason. i am grateful for education. 

3. i am grateful for music. i am not by any means musically inclined. maybe sing a note or two but nothing amazing. just a shower singer here :). but music has always been an outlet for me. when i was in high school, if i was having a bad day i would go in my room, put my headphones on and sing. sing away my worries really. it worked for me. then i found art and soon painting took the place of music. more recently, when i find myself in not-so-happy moments; i think back to these high school nights and i realized that all i needed to do to cheer up is to sing. anything or something to let it out. and i feel better again. i don't know why or how it works but it does. i am grateful for music. 

4. i am grateful for heartbreak. this is something that truly changes a person. i respect those that have had their heart broken and continue to live a happy life. it has a way of showing you who you truly are away from that person. sometimes it is a good thing, other times maybe not so good. all the girlie, romantic movies out there are pretty good at displaying heart ache. eat, pray, love is my favorite heartbreak/find yourself film. you definitely become a stronger person after, capable of battling anything that comes your way. makes you bold inside and out. i am grateful for heartbreak. 

5. i am grateful for well, this blog. :) a place to come and sit and write and be quiet. i wish i could give my blog a big 'ole hug! just to tell it how much i love my little corner of the internet universe. 

so there ya are. the grateful five. for now, think about everything around you and the small things that truly make your day lovely. for tomorrow, smile and know that all is well or it's all gouda as i like to say. 

what are you grateful for this week?

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heres a weekly update on ms.barley. i didn't have a lot of time to take photos of her because of school, but what i did get turned out pretty nice.. the last photo is the best, taken with my iphone and then instagramed (spelling?)

the dog park..not our finest hour. but she had fun!

is this a dream?

a small, yet exciting update. 
i was watching E! the other night, and a related commercial came up for the new movie the vow. {which i am excited for!} E! network is hosting an online contest..a wedding contest! it's called the "Say Your Vows Wedding Contest". so i went on the site and looked it up. all you had to do was enter a photo of the happily engaged couple and the vows you were planning to recite to one another.

so i entered this photo and the traditional catholic vows we will recite

i'm always entering these giveaways with just a small hope of actually winning. but c'mon..who really ever wins. i've currently been entering for the "hgtv" dream home giveaway. :) anyway...

i got an email this afternoon...and

i've been accepted through the first round!!!!!!!!!

holy crap!
my one small hope of ever winning just got a little bit bigger.
granted, i have to make it through a judging panel and a public vote, but it's the first step!

so i've gathered together the prize details so you all can see them and tell me what you think.



the first part of this marvelous package is a choice between three Simone Carvalli wedding dresses:

I love love love number two!! if i had to pick. what do you think?

then, you choice of a bridesmaid dress (up to 5)

         i love number three, but maybe not the perfect choice for an outside reception in May.

then, its your choice of wedding bands: both his/hers from parade designs:

for her:

for him:

 i couldnt't find anything on the third ring.

i really like the number one for her and well, mathieu will just have to pick his :)

then, your choice of registry at bloomingdales of three different dinnerware sets:

1. Wedgwood Silver Aster

5-piece dinnerware set, 8 sets

2. Monique Lhuillier Stardust

5-piece dinnerware set, 8 sets

3. Vera Wang Vera Lace

5-piece dinnerware set, 8 sets

i love number three by vera wang. what d'ya think? number two is really nice too.

then, the piece de resistance... a five night stay in an all inclusive resort in los cabos, mexico.

i'm probably jynxing or cursing myself in some way for being so amped for this. but it's not everyday that you get one step closer to something that's a million miles away! and im super excited here!

oh. and i forgot to mention the $25,000 check to the grande prize winner. no big deal.

so for now, let me know what you think of my choices. what would you choose?

scarfs...

                          found this amazing site... all about a great love of mine.. scarfs!

must be monday

my best subject. little ms. barley. i know i talk about her a lot, but she's just so darn cute and not unlike all those baby mama blogs out there. so until i have a baby to talk about and take pictures of all day, i will talk about my dog. because she is cute and small! must be monday is a series dedicated to the cuteness that is barley.
 

the a-z of me

I saw fun a-z form on miss indie's blog and thought it would be fun to fill out. Here goes...

A. Age: 22
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: anything bathroom related blagh!
D. Dogs: rule, cats drool.
E. Essential start to your day: flipping through insagram on the iphone
F. Favorite color: yellows, blues... the colors of this survey lol!


G. Gold or Silver: Silver. unless its a gold wrapped chocolate bar.
H. Height: 5’5"
I. Instruments you play: I played clarinet in the 5th grade. bought a violin on a whim, sill need to learn how to play.
J. Job title: student, blogger, amatuer-wanna-be awesome photographer
K. Kids: None yet. I will definitely be a mommy one day, but not for awhile.
L. Live: Morgantown, West Virginia... yes, WV is a state not the western part of virginia.


M. Mother’s name: Shari.
N. Nicknames: this is embarrassing... when i was little, i mean in diapers, my dad called/s me buckets. to this day, still do not know why.
O. Overnight hospital stays: Does when I was born count?
P. Pet peeves: leaving the cereal bag in the box unwrapped.. its gonna go stale! ppl that walk and text and don't watch where their going, one-uppers.
Q. Quote from a movie: "All I know is, if you don't figure out this something, you'll just stay ordinary,and it doesn't matter if its a work of art or a taco, or a pair of socks! Just create something... new" p.s. i love you
R. Right or left handed: Righty tighty

S. Siblings: 1 younger sister, 2 older brothers and 1 younger brother
U. Underwear: the smaller the better :)
V. Vegetable you hate: food is too good to hate.
W. What makes you run late: waking up late more than i should 
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Just my teeth and my ankle. foot got ran over one halloween, but i've never broken anything
Y. Yummy food that you make: bangin' spaghetti and garlic bread
Z. Zoo animal: tigers, lions...oh! flamingos :)




I had a lot of fun sharing some randoms details about myself with all of you! I would love to learn more about you too! If you fill out this quiz and post it, make sure to leave a link in the comments so I can read it. I look forward to finding out what everyone's favorite zoo animal is!!!

wedding no.1

So...i'm getting married!
and i'm planning a wedding
and i'm going to do it as stress free as possible because it shouldn't be stressful. right?
and i want to share it all with you! 
{just as long as you don't tell my fiance}


to start. some small collages of ideas i've found from pinterest. my "shindig" board has been filling up with new ideas everyday. if you want to see more, click the pinterest link on the right sidebar.


planning a wedding
is something everything little girl starts at the age of 5.
and i did a little bit too when i as younger. but then i asked myself... why am i planning important details without the most important detail?! the groom?? the missing link. the piece de resistance!


so then i stopped, i stopped searching and looking for the details until mr. right came along. so that all the parts and pieces would be our parts and pieces. and not just mine.


i put together a small collection of my recent pinterest finds. this will give you a small look into what i'm planning and the overall feel of the reception. 

1. i love the color matching. the bridesmaids accessories match their shoes. each having their own unique color choice. and notice.. the brides shoes match the dresses of the bmaids!

2. the lights. our reception {as currently planned} will be outdoors. so the strings of light add a warm and easy atmosphere.

3. the back of this dress is deadly! i really really don't like strapless dresses and the detail on this dress is exactly what i'm looking for.

4. the wheat. the first time i met mathieu was on the way to a weekend church retreat which uses wheat as a main theme for growing in Christ's love. so i want to put wheat everywhere!

1. this dress is amazing as well. the design. the lace. {sigh} to die for.
2. this is a cute and classic bridesmaid dress. i love the neckline.
3. love! i want m ladies to pick their own dress style but stay with my color choice. but if i could pick one single dress for everybody, this would be it. i love it.  maybe i can convince one of them to wear it.
4. now i said before that i don't really like strapless dresses but this one is so delightful. its whimsy and soft and i love the bottom hem.

this layout is all about the diy style i'd like to take part in

1. flags! everybody uses flags. i know. but they add a feel to any party and i'd like to spruce these typical ones up a bit.

2. what an easy diy. paint chips cut into strip and manipulated as flowers. free and loving it.

3. another great use for paint chips. instead of wrapping ribbon, maybe they would just hang from a window or doorway.

4. now i've been collecting bottles for about two months now and i have quite the collection. all different colors, sizes, embossments, everything! this is a simple table idea.

Findings

Here are three links that i am loving right now! this is my way of sharing great finds with all of my readers. click the image to explore and enjoy!

:)

{for some reason, i can't put the link on the photo so here it is}


http://manmadediy.com/martin/posts/1374-how-to-make-a-
gigantic-solvent-transfer

did you find something interesting an beautiful this week? let me know in the comments.
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