Karlee & Matt - Engaged!!

I've known Karlee since she was two, so it is a little bit of a shock to me to be taking her engagement photos!  I used to babysit the girl!  She has grown into such a beautiful woman (how did that happen already?!) and I can hardly believe she is the same girl I used to play "kitchen" with in her bedroom and draw horses for.  What, you didn't know I could draw horses? Psht.  I'm a horse drawing fool.  Actually...probably the last horse I drew looked more like a camel and I drew it for Karlee in like 1990, but hey whatever. 

Karlee and Matt are super sweet together and you can definitely tell how much they enjoy each other.  I'm so excited an honored to be photographing their wedding in September!  Little Karlee is all grown up and she's picked a pretty awesome guy to call her own. :) 

We met on a sunny day in the Pearl in Portland and enjoyed just wandering around and finding fun little nooks to shoot in.  I had a lot of fun making them do silly things and watching them laugh.  Thanks to both of you for being up for anything!  See you in September!!!

Andrea & Joe

Andrea and Joe came out to Golden Gardens for a couples session on the first gorgeous day of spring.  Joe has been gone with the Navy and hasn't been home for all that long so it was extra special to capture their relationship.  Thanks Andrea and Joe for your willingness to be silly and laugh with me!

Mr. L (FINALLY!)

We met at Luther Burbank Park in Mercer Island for Mr. L's 16 month session after months of fighting the weather.  It was a beautiful day and I loved just being outside with this cutie pie and his sweet parents.  We climbed trees, played with sticks, blew bubbles and pushed around a wagon...can't beat a morning like that!

And just for fun...Here's one from each of his Milestones sessions (5mos, 10mos, 16mos)

My Monday Morning

Good morning!  (A "good morning" full of the perk and peppiness I used to despise.) I used to wake up miserable on a Monday morning, dreading going back to work and dragging my feet.  Some times the misery even started on Sunday evening when I realized that Monday was looming like a huge grey rain cloud just around the corner.  Not anymore.  I don't mean to rub it in, but my job kind of rocks, and being a list maker, I adore my Monday mornings!  I wake up around 7:30, pour myself a giant mug of coffee (or 2 or 3), turn on some music (Joshua Radin this morning) and get to listing.  I make my to do list for the whole week broken down by either category (photography, around the house, social, etc.) or day of the week.  Sometimes it is color coded, sometimes not.  Sometimes it comes with sticky note reminders, or check boxes or different handwritten fonts.  I may spend an hour on my list...which to some people might seem over-indulgent, but if I can feel organized and in control for my week in an hour I'm a happy camper! 

This last week was especially busy and my fancy little to do lists make me more than excited to dive into this week head first!  Now after this little babble, I'm off to check some stuff off.  Happy Monday morning!  I hope you're excited for your week too.

Brilliant Women Salon

(Clockwise: the article by Tara Sophia Mohr, Nicole's awesome shirt, Stratejoy cards, more article/my favorite rule, Tara Sophia Mohr)

Thursday night I had the pleasure of attending the Brilliant Women Salon: an interactive conversation on stepping up, owning your brilliance and playing big.  It is so refreshing just to be around so many women who want more for themselves!  The evening was centered around an article by Tara Sophia Mohr called "10 Rules for Brilliant Women".  Read it.  I promise, it's worth it.  If you are a woman, I guarantee you many of the rules will hit home.  And if you're a guy...well this is a little insight into your lady.  The panel was made up of Tara herself, Molly Mahar from Stratejoy, Amy Kessel: transformative life coach, and our lovely moderator, Lynn of Power Chicks International.  If you're lucky enough to know any one of these fabulous women you can imagine the fantastic-ness of the combination!  Add to that about 40 like-minded women of all ages and you've got yourself a party. We started with wine and/or champagne and snacks (including the most awesome chocolate ever! Ghirardelli 60% cocoa dark chocolate WITH CARAMEL!) and quickly delved into the article.  This was followed by small group sharing and brainstorming more rules for brilliant women.  I LOVED the energy and power of getting that many women with big dreams into one place and only wish I had all of our additional rules written down.  Our panel was amazing and the whole evening, in my opinion, was a great success.  I can't wait to spend more time with these women who are absolutely "owning their brilliance"!

(Top to bottom, left to right (you know, like a book): Our panel - Lynn, Molly, Tara, and Amy, Molly telling us how it is, mingling (and the cutest soon-to-be Mommy this side of the border), Lynn telling us, "YES! It is okay to want to make money!!", Amy's smiling face!, brilliant women listening to the brilliance x2)

John + Rebekah Married!

On Saturday John and Rebekah tied the knot in the intimate and ornate setting that is the Shafer Baillie Mansion.  Surrounded by 26 of their very closest friends and family, they exchanged vows and rings and were declared "husband and wife".  It was such an honor to be among those 26. 

I'm editing now, but couldn't resist posting just one.  How adorable are these two? 

an apology

Dear Bloggity Blog,

I'm sorry I haven't paid attention to you over the last...well, ever.  I'm sorry I have put Facebook and Twitter before you just because you take a little more effort.  I apologize for not giving you the time you deserve and taking the easy route instead.  I hope that in the coming months I can prove to you how I really feel about you!  I promise to visit you more often and give you the attention you deserve.

Love,
Me