The Word on Wednesday

I follow the blogs of a really awesome photographer, Erin Cobb, pretty much everyday. She actually keeps up two different blogs which seems amazing to me because I have enough trouble posting on this one in a timely manner. She has one blog devoted to her photography business and one devoted to telling about her life as a momma of two adorable kiddos and being a military wife. On Tuesdays she posts a thing called "Ten On Tuesday" where she just gives random little tidbits of information on what she's been up to lately. Sometimes it's about her job, but more often than not it's about her family and hobbies. I thought that was a great idea because sometimes I honestly just don't have photos ready to post on here.

So now I'm going to have a new weekly post called the Word on Wednesday! It'll be a nice little way to update you on things going on with me! Here's the first one!

1. Last Saturday I was a bridesmaid! I've only ever been an actual bridesmaid one other time in my life, when I was 10, for my sister's wedding. The bride was Tiffany, my absolute best friend in the entire world. She was my maid-of-honor actually and I was so honored to stand up with her. It was such a fun day and I wore a really rockin' awesome dress and the cutest pair of peep toe sling-backs you've ever seen. I wish I could show you, but I dropped the ball and only took like 3 pictures the entire day. So we'll just have to wait until she gets her professional photos back. Boo.

2. Fall is in the air! I'm so excited! Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the colors, the decorations, the clothes. I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to comfortably wear jeans again. And last week Luke and I put out our fall decorations. Now I just have to wait a couple days to put out the Halloween stuff.

3. My nephew Marcus is going to be a big brother! And we found out last week that my sister is 80% probably having a little girl! I forgot I hadn't posted about her pregnancy on here, whoops. Poor girl is already getting the 2nd child treatment. We're so excited and I cannot wait until February when she graces us with her presence! You can count on about a million pictures of the new little bundle.

4. This is a pretty small update, but I'm excited nonetheless. I got a really cute new pair of earrings from my mother-in-law who sells Silpada jewelry and also a really cool organizing bag thingy! Yay! No more cluttered boxes and tangles necklaces!

5. I bought an abundance of apples and things to bake some really great fall desserts. I have apple crisp and pumpkin bread on the brain.

6. Last week for Luke's birthday we had homemade creamy chicken and wild rice soup followed by molten chocolate cakes. Oh my goodness! I've never made that soup before but the recipe I used was definitely a winner! If you want it, just ask.

7. A month or so ago, Luke and I saw "The Switch" (which was adorable) but there was a preview for a movie that I am now dying to see!! "Life As We Know It"! By now, you've all probably seen the previews on tv, but I'm posting the link anyway, because I keep watching it. I can't wait to see it! I told Luke he'd better go ahead and plan a date night because I HAVE to see this movie! I know I'll most likely cry like a baby, but it looks so cute! So watch the trailer -



It vaguely reminds me of how clueless Luke and I would be with a child. Ha!

8. I'll be heading home to Hiawatha this Friday to participate in the Missy Newell Memorial Fun Run/Walk on Saturday morning. Missy was my best friend Kody's aunt who passed away from breast cancer when we were in high school. Now every year his mom, Michelle, and a committee of amazing people put on this great fundraiser to raise money for cancer research in Missy's honor. I love participating in it and try to every year, but last year I couldn't because I had a wedding to shoot, so now it might become a standing weekend that I'm off every year. After the walk we have the Maple Leaf festival which I'm really excited about! It's a collection of local crafts people all gathered around the town square selling fun things and there's always the best kettle corn in the world! And I plan on buying some great mums to put on my front stoop. I'll definitely post pictures of all of it next week.

9. I got a flu shot last week because us asthmatics are supposed to, and now I feel awful today. I blame the shot. Yuck.

10. I'm very excited to post all of the photos that I have been working on lately. I recently purchased and Canon 7D and an awesome new lens and I'm very happy with the photos I've produced with it! So stay tuned for all of those!!

Well I've pretty much racked my brain thinking of things to post on this, and now I'm out of things to tell you. At least I made it to 10! Yay! Seeya next Wednesday!

Happy 24th!

Today is my husband, Luke's, 24th birthday.



I took these just the other day when I was so excited about my new camera that I couldn't wait to get it out and play with it.



He was waiting for his training officer to come get him for work.

He loves when I take his picture.



And I love his eyes and amazingly long eyelashes.

I really hope our kids have his eyes.

Anyway, Happy Birthday hubs! Thanks for being my best friend, my sounding board and my biggest supporter. And thanks for marrying me. Today is definitely a day to celebrate. Love you!

Photos to Come!

Here's a quick peek at a couple sessions I have coming up, in addition to the wedding of the amazingly gorgeous Jenn & Jake that I posted a peek of yesterday.

Pam & Aaron's engagement shoot in downtown Kansas City, MO...



And Nikki's senior shoot in Topeka...



Keep checking back to see new things!

Gorgeous! | Gardner Bridal Photographer

Here's a quick peek at the wedding I shot on Saturday. This is Jenn, my friend, and one of the most beautiful brides I've ever seen!

Faith | Gardner Children's Photographer

Last week, my good buddy and fellow highway patrol wife, Brooke, stopped by with her adorable little girl, Faith! It was my first time meeting her and I think she's one of the most beautiful baby's ever. They got here pretty early which was perfect because we were able to take advantage of the amazing morning sunlight. I was so happy to be able to practice taking baby pictures and now I'm really excited to take more! So I'm looking for more babies to take photos of! Call me now!

Fall Mini Sessions

Elizabeth | Gardner Senior Photographer

The morning that Luke and I headed to Omaha, I had a senior photo shoot! Meet Elizabeth! She is a senior at Seaman High in Topeka. She was a real trooper and got up really really early to have her makeup done for our 8 am photo shoot. But I think they turned out really great! Here are my favorites!

















This one's my favorite! I love the old truck!












Elizabeth and her best friend, Cheyenne.


Yup, she got in the fountain for this one. Shhh, don't tell.

Cutie Pie | Gardner Childrens Photographer

Katie {senior}

Meet Katie! She is a super cute senior at Silver Lake high. Her older sister Brianna was actually just a year ahead of me in school and we cheered together in high school, and her mom, Sue, was a para for one of my classes in elementary school. So it was really neat to get to see Katie all grown up and take her senior photos! Here are my favorites: