New Blog Design + Giveaway 2013

"toto,

i have a feeling we're not in kansas anymore."

dorothy - wizard of oz

I once read about a study done to test human "follow" patterns and herd mentality.  There was a test subject put in a room with 19 people.  The test subject was under the impression that these 19 folks were other testers, but in reality they were "in" on the experiment.  They all did a brief written test, then they had some group projects to do.  A simple math problem was put up on a board (something like 63 + 24).  As the group discussed, they all instantly agreed the answer to the problem was 97.  The one tester was quiet and hesitant.  He counted on his fingers.  But in the end, he just said what everyone else did.  "Yeah, 97."  You've probably seen those youtube pranks where a large group of people will turn a corner and come running and screaming down the alley.  Often the clueless passerby will join in and run with them!  Why run? I DON'T KNOW! BUT EVERYONE ELSE IS! NINETY SEEEEVEN!!!

Launching a new blog design at the beginning of the year feels a little flock like to me (I'm obviously rounding up the group in the back).  Winter, after holidays, is obviously the most practical time for a primarily spring to fall photographer to get other business tasks done.  Last winter I was set ablaze thanks to Alt Summit and I decided to re-do my blog and start writing out my love story.  I also instituted the Enjoy Project.  I wanted to start taking the gradual turn into expanding my vision for this blog, as well as my vision for my career and daily life.  I was single, renting a room with my friends and on the verge of so many bigs.

One year later,  I'm a wife who shares a happy apartment with a stud-muffin.  I'm a mother, who shares her body with a little son.  I'm writing more, cooking more (well, I was cooking more... now I'm eating more. haha.), I'm taking steps to figure out how to actually turn a blog series into a real book.  We're taking our hard-earned cash to Oklahoma to finish building our house.  We're talking often about that soup & sandwich shop we want to open someday.  I'm taking fewer weddings, and more "other shoots."  I realize that I love wedding photography, but I don't love a lot of wedding photography.  I hope to shoot weddings until my hips break, but I find myself far more interested, inspired and emotional when my shoots vary - from promotional shoots, maternity shoots, documentary style shooting, portraits, babies, weddings, home life.  This goes against what I had been taught.  "Don't try to be average at a lot of things!  Focus on ONE thing! Specialize in one area!"  For some people, that is probably great advice.  But for me, I need the variety.  I do better in all areas when every week has brand new events.  Maybe that is why I loved sports?  You practice and practice, but have no idea what to expect come game time.  A music recital isn't like that.  You practice and practice and practice your piece... and then... you play... that same piece!  Just like you practiced! (hopefully.)



All of that to say, I needed a site that could keep up with my varied interests and pursuits.  A place that looked like, you know, a grown woman's site.  It was time.  97! ;)  The dear, talented Hannah Nicole took over my giant dream.  She is the one to thank for the new branding and design.  Please sing her praises and love her a lot.   Hannah, you're absolutely one-of-a-kind and dazzling.

But WHAT is a new design, without a giveaway?  Come on!  That's the way to share the love!  One lucky man, woman or child is going to be the proud and delighted owner of these four gifts:

$100 Southwest GiftCard
$100 Etsy GiftCard
Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
Soft Leather Journal 

You pretty people have ONE week to enter!  Next Monday the winner will be announced!  Cheers throughout the land!  Let the dancing in the streets begin!  (And you all better hope I don't keep these for myself.  I all of these prizes for myself.  Especially the cookbook.  How well do you trust my character... muhahah? ;)

Six Stupendous Social (like an ice cream club!) Ways To Win The Prizes!

Tweet about it: follow me on twitter + then retweet my giveaway tweet to your pack of wolves! (make sure my handle is included so I see that you did it!)
Instagram about it: Screen-cap the new blog design or giveaway list, and let the photographers of the land know about the giveaway (make sure you mention me... and if you're instagram is private, follow me and leave me comment on my photo so I see your entry!)
Pin it: Re-pin the giveaway list and tag me in a comment!
Blog it: Feel free to steal my giveaway list jpeg and post it on your own blog, linking back to my blog.
Facebook like and share it: Like my page on Facebook! And then share

*Comment [required]: And tell me what you'd do with your winnings! (Where would you like to fly off to with your Southwest giftcard, or what you have your eye on over at Etsy?  Who do you want to wine and dine?  Any fun reasons to have a new journal?) (you can also comment separately and let me know how else you entered, if you want to be sure I see it!  I'll be keeping a tally system with each name, but I know how it is.  If you're going to do all the hard work, you want to be positive it is getting you a shot at the paaah-riiizze!)

Alright!  I'm... happy.  This is fun.  I hope you enjoy it all!

Story Time 2013 | An I'm Kristen Workshop

“stories never really end...even if the books like to pretend they do.  stories always go on.  they don't end on the last page,  any more than they begin on the first page.”
cornelia funke - inskpell | STORYTELLING |  the conveying of events in words, images and sounds,  often by improvisation, imagination or embellishment.  stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of  entertainment, education, cultural preservation and to instill values. 
crucial elements of stories and storytelling include  who is in them, where it happened, and the details of the plot. | STORIES MUST BE TOLD | This spring, and also this fall, we will collect and with our hearts, stories and cameras, come to enliven and influence each other.  I suppose this is a photography workshop, but please don't be deceived or disappointed.   This is more about listening for, caring about and wanting the story.  We will watch moving pictures, read out loud, hear music, be together, be alone and take photographs.   Like the children who gather around grandpa's big chair, waiting for a tale, we will listen for the story.  We'll have a photoshoot every single day - with different people to work with and learn about.  This will be no "Follow me around, see how I posed her arm, I'm on f-stop 2.5" shoot.  This will be a "Study your subject, and figure out a way to tell everyone else what you learned about her with your camera."  
The stories are everywhere.  Every portrait shoot.  Every wedding.  Every household.  Every shop.  Every person.  They're there.  Are you looking?  We'll be looking this spring in a three-day workshop.  More details to come soon.  Very soon. -- Here's to the story about the pull-up-ed-jell-sandal-ed-flower-girl waiting to see her aunt in bridal glory. Here's to the wrinkles. Here's to the first morning of life and Edith and Meepers.    

Here's to the story about marriage, penny-pinching, good coffee and opening a shop.

Here's to the last winter in Florida and sun that never stops.

Here's to my own life.

And here's to her life!

Here's to the story of an 100-degree-wedding-day and a baby-girl becoming a bride.

Here's to a baby girl becoming a three-year-old girl.  And here's to donuts! And ties!

Here's to the food that helps Autumn grow!

And here's the nights that live forever, or so.

Here's to the story of the surprise triplets (and their fingers, and toes, and lips.)

Here's to grandma's pearl necklace, and why she wore it everyday.  Until this day... when she gave the necklace away.

Here's to wrinkles, again.

Here's to the faces that know waiting, but also know joy.

Here's to dads with their baby girls (dads who used to be little boys.)

Here's to big best friends,

and here's to little best friends, too.

And here's to the story about finally finding your way home, after all you've gone through.

Here's to the crazy ones, the elegant ones, the dancers and the thinkers...

Here's to roaring laughter, colored ink, spins and silver bands on happy fingers.

Here's to today and now,

and taking lots of pictures.

Enjoy Weddings | Hotel Monaco + River Farm Alexandria | Amy + Nate

"i'll be bold,
as well as strong.
paint my spirit gold,
keep my heart slow."
babel - mumford & sons

It's like my my nearly 10 years of wedding photography experience vanished.   Circling, and diligently trying to find a place to park near, Circe Hair Salon, I might as well have been 14 years old, riding in the back of a 15-passenger hunk of a van to Strong Mansion.  I might as well have been shooting my very first wedding.  My stomach and heart and blinky eyes sure didn't know the difference.  The reality is that I've shot, now, well over 100 weddings.  And I've been in four: three as a bridesmaid, and another as a bride.  Somehow going from a "Snyder" to a "Morris" left me quivery, fidgety, nervous, antsy, OCD-y, happy and wide-eyed about shooting a wedding.  I can't recall being so jittery and "anxious" before a wedding.  It was odd.  All I can say is that I "got it" now.

With a stomach full of moths and hot air balloons, Amy's wedding day began.  Amy is one of those people that you usually wish you could be like yourself, but are *slightly* jealous of because, well, you aren't.  She's easy-pretty.  She doesn't try hard and she doesn't care.  She's a stupid-smart - and from what I hear she's not only naturally brilliant, but she has an incredible work-and-study ethic, too.  She's athletic and runs with a running club in DC.  She has a stunning group of friends who are a snazzy combination of hilarious, very honest, cheerful, supportive and lovely.

The salon was bustling and roaring, but also calm and sweet.  The girls all milled about and watched Amy get her hair done.  "You have super-model hair.  Like, it should be in commercials." "So pretty, Ame.  You're curling the ends, right?"  After her silky, commercial hair had been blown-dried out, the girls were ready to see what was next.  "No, this is it.  I'm just wearing it down."  Some thought she might trying doing something a little bit more special... perhaps one side pinned back?  Or a few waves to the ends? "What?! You don't like it?! I don't care.  I like it.  This is how I always wear my hair, but... better.  I just leave it down.  And I like it that way.  I feel clean.  I love it.  I feel healthy and clean."  Some girls wondered if it was maybe too modern for her "country" inspired wedding.  "I'm leaving it!  I like it this way!"  All the girls concluded that they did love her hair and thought it was sososo beautiful, they just wanted to make sure she loved it too.  I was so proud of Amy and couldn't help but think that that small interaction probably reflected her on a bigger-scale.  Confident.  Sure.  Determined.   Gracious.  Firm.  How else do you make it through Perdue, Lafayette and George Washington University?!



Oh, and a scoop of sense of humor, to boot.  Amy is quick, and laughs easily and genuinely.  She's not a super-touchy, ditsy, girlie-girl who giggles incessantly.  Rather, she's bright and happy, and not so serious that she can't enjoy the fun-ness of life around her.



After her hair was finished, Amy strolled down the street with her sister and I.  We were headed around the corner to Hotel Monaco (Kimpton hotels, I can't seem to escape them! ;)  And you won't find me complaining.)  While we waited for the late to change, we heard someone calling from the other side of the crispy street.  "Amy!  AMY!"




Weeelll, look who we have here!  It's Nate!  The running-behind, proffessional-runner, really just cool and genuine groom!  "This is okay because I'm not in my dress yes!  Right?" "Yeah, she's not in her dress yet!"  The trio had a quick banter on the street-corner and then Nate kiss-kissed each lady on the cheek and nearly dove into the limo that was waiting for him (he really was late.  Rhymes with Nate. Please don't hate... me.  I'm done now.)


















I loved this part of the day.  Slowly the girls made their way back to the hotel.  Each one entered the room with more excitement and joy than the last.  They spent the next couple hours telling stories about remarkable pick-up lines from last night, about things dad's say, comparing shoes and jewelry, figuring out how to get music to play in the room, giving Amy a special book filled with letters and pictures from each of her bridesmaids.  They had a real good time together.  Being with people who love and enjoy each other is never a bad time.  And this room was filled with love.




















































Amy told me a number of times that she didn't think she was photogenic.  I love proving "those" people wrong ;)










While the traveling party of handsome, smiling women made their way to River Farm, Ellie Be worked her magic with Late Nate and the rest of the men.  Kim of Kim Newton Weddings worked her tail off to make sure everything was ready and stunning, and the boys chilled like polar bears in an igloo.  But it wasn't that cold.  Just very relaxing.  

We're hhhheeeeere!  Time to stealthily and promptly sneak into the house.












Literally within minutes of arriving at River Farm, the ceremony was underway.  It was a fun collection of "hurry!" and "Ah! It's happening!" and "Do I look okay? Fix my hair!" and "I love you, Amy.  AMY! I love you."








(Doesn't this venue look not... very Virginia?  I kept forgetting that I wasn't in California or Italy.  Well done, east coast.  Well done.)





(Her dad announced that he was going to go to the restroom really quick. Bahaha!)

The water down there is the Potomac River, and this venue is very close to Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.  You could hear water rushing every now and then, but not much else.  So deeply chilling and gorgeous.








This was the best part:  see the minister with her hand raised?  She was saying a blessing of prayer over the new couple.  See the bridesmaids looking at each other?  See the bride and groom... LEAVING?  They did not begin the recessional at the proper time.  They left.  The lady kept praying.  The bridal party waited for her to finish.  Then when announced, they left.


At about this point Amy realized what had just happened.  Nate whispered "Just keep walking. Smile.  Just keep walking."  Amy was losing it.


"We LEFT while she was PRAYING!!!"



"I canNOT believe we just walked out of our wedding!  Before it was done!"







Sisteries.

"Oh hey, remember when we tried to do that shot in our engagement pictures..." "Yeah, any my nose was too big?"








After being together for 6 years, these two are happily connected and just get each other.  They are kind, laugh often and don't try too hard.  They're in a comfortable, eager, faithful place.
















"Nate."

"What?"

"We LEFT our wedding.  BEFORE it was done!"



"Hahahahaha!"


"What kind of people are we?!"

"Hahaha Amy, I love you."





Cocktail hour was something out of... Neverland.

The grounds have a Secret Garden feel, with lots of passages and aisles and hideaways.

















Mrs. Unphotogenic, herself.

And the faces - all the faces - during the first dance made my little heart weep.  Beautiful people.
















Happy wedding day, best friends.  Thank you for your warmness, your love and your good jokes.

It was a very happily ever after day.

(Ps. Thank you, again, Ellie Be, for your hard work and above-average shots.  You are amaze.)

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Lauren Loo Bear | Child Portraits

“she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, after time,
 be herself a grown woman...
and how she would gather about her other little children,  and make their eyes bright and eager 
and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows,  and find a pleasure in all their simple joys." lewis carroll - alice in wonderland She is full of life, personality, expression and beauty.   My baby sister is kind of a young woman.  Enjoy getting to know one of the best people I know.

Donovan House | Wedding Mixer

"i've just always liked hotels. 

i like the bed and the sheets and everything that comes along with it."

d.b.

After I posted some shots of our impressive Kimpton honeymoon hotel, The Donovan House, Nick Sowle from Donovan House got in touch with me about using some pictures.  We started a nice little dialogue over email and I ended up getting invited to a small brunch for wedding vendors + Kimpton Hotel staff.   We sipped mimosa's, took advantage of FREE manicures and even had a massage on the pool deck.  NOT a bad monday morning.   They even gave away three nights for free.  I didn't win the raffle though.  So not cool.  ;)

Donovan House, as always, you were a gentleman and a scholar, and as charming as ever.

Nick, Holland (from Hotel Rouge), Chris (Kimpton DC catering director), Marc (the masseuse) and Bernie (the darling manicurist) - thank you for showing us a good time and giving us the epitome of "Kimpton experience."  Kimpton or bust!

(ps.  Kimptons are all over the country!  You should try to visit one on the double.  And brides, need a ballroom/getting-ready-room/location-to-take-photos?  You know where I'm sending you.  To a Kimpton.)

Enjoy People | Married for A Long Time

"here’s no secret to our marriage, 
we just did what was needed for each other and our family."
mr. + mrs. fisher

Zelmyra, oh-so-lovely in pink, is 101 years old and Herbert, quite stylin' himself, is 104 and they have been married for almost 86 years. For atey sicks years.

I'm very aware of "marriage advice" these days.  Don't we all want to be Zelmyra and Herbert? I read this sweet article about them and just had to share.  This has to make you smile.

---
Is there anything you would do differently after more than 80 years of marriage?

We wouldn’t change a thing. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other and our family.

You got married very young – how did u both manage to grow as individuals yet not grow apart as a couple?

“Everyone who plants a seed and harvests the crop celebrates together.” We are individuals, but accomplish more together.

Does communicating get easier with time? 

The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs – together.

At the end of bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?

Remember marriage is not a contest – never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win.
---

I love their theme of "together."  Enjoy together. Celebrate together. Take care of your family together.  Rock on your porch together.

Noted, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, noted.

Enjoy Writing | Oh My My My | Part 2

somewhere in the dark

were the sirens and the thunder

and around me as i swam

the drifters who'd gone under

josh ritter - change of time

for the very very very important part 1 of this story, click here.

… From sixteen to 21 I managed to accumulate some fascinating, heart-breaking, and hilarious dating stories.  This little part of the story is the one that is hard to know how to share.  I've always wondered how musicians and authors and poets go about sharing past events that had to do with other people.  I get the "writing about other people thing" (maybe in your journal or in lyrics to a song you sing in your bedroom) but it's the sharing those writings and stories that I always wondered about.  Let's be honest: if Adele had been singing songs about rivers and pretty trees she wouldn't be a 6-time grammy award winner.  She's talented as a musician, which includes her gut wrenching lyrics and raw honesty.  That's why we all love music! We connect because we somehow match the words to our real lives.  But what does the guy who hurt her think?  Is that awkward?  What is their story?  Did she hurt him too?  Was there some monumental miscommunication?  Was the break up strung out over months?  Or very abrupt? Did he lead her on the whole time?  Did he fall for someone else?  Did he go away to school and the distance ruined them?  Did he hear her song on the radio one day, with his wife in the car, and think "Hey, this is probably about me."? 

Regardless, I don't know exactly how I should or should not write about the people in those five years.  I certainly won't say much because I respect all of them far too much to blab about their personal lives on my personal blog.  What I do say will hardly scratch the surface (purposefully) and will not give you an accurate view of that window in my life.  But those years and people are part of the story.  They changed me, each of them.  And I'm not even just talking about guys I was interested in or dated when I say that.  I'm literally talking about the people.  People I care about, people who made decisions that forever altered my life, people who truly loved me, people who misunderstood me, people who were hurt by me, people who have given me the best stories of my life, people who forgave me and people I forgave.  People!  We know how it goes.  

Strictly "romantically," however, I came across it all:  the fascinating adventurer, the highschool sweetheart, the brother's of my girl friends, the Bible college student, the complete player and liar, the uncommitted drifter, the terrified runner, the car-accident-date militant, the well-intentioned but came off way too strong, and the very misunderstood.  This makes it sound like I was going on dates twice a week for a lustrum.  Not at all. Really ;) 

But over six years a lot happened, and all of it was building up to something more.  From my Jason Reeves "There's too many questions and too many reasons not to try" stage, to my Taylor Swift "It's too late for you and your white horse to come around" stage, to my Coldplay "It's such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard" stage to my Carrie Underwood Cowboy Casanova "Don't even look in his eyes, he'll tell you nothing but lies" stage.There was a Keith Urban "I guess to build yourself up so high, you had to take her and break her down" time, a Matt Costa "I don't expect you to admit that you were wrong" time, a Dave Barnes "what began with such a promise, ended with such a twist" time and a Taylor Swift "He can't see the smile I'm faking cause I'm not feeling anything at all" time.  Then we had the Rudyard Kipling "You lose, and start again at your beginnings, and never breath a word about your loss" season, the Bette Midler "It's the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance, the dream afraid of waking that never takes a chance" period and  the Beyonce "Remember those walls I built? Well baby they're tumbling down" era.

This "relationships" life of mine has really been quite odd, shockingly silly, very good and definitely sad.  If I'm being perfectly honest, by fall 2010 I was burnt out.  I was really, really done. The part of the girl that so desires safety, protection and closeness was feeling very safe locked up, behind stonewalls, protected in a little enclosed space.  Of course the part of a girl that longs for companionship, strength and…well…being loved… was feeling depleted and quite unsure if all the latter was worth leaving my recreation of the former.  How do people do this?  I haven't even gone through much compared to so many others.  How come no one warns you that you are capable of hurting so badly?  How will I ever find a man who isn't lying to me, who I'm attracted to, who has similar convictions as me, is single and actually is interested in me BACK?! I think this is just going to be too hard… I'd almost rather not do it at all.  Being reminded I was still "so young" never really helped.  Even 20 year olds can be very scared, intimidated and bruised.  On a side note, please don't mistake my story-telling right here to somehow give you the impression that I'm complaining or that I didn't have a wonderful, fruitful and delightful late teenage and early adult season.  It was wonderful. Not only was work, church, travel, exploring, learning and discovering a true joy, so were my friendships and relationships, even the ones that turned sour or don't exist anymore.  I cherish each and every one of them and consider all these things, even - no, especially! - the hard things, to be very very good. A difficult sort of good.  The good like a painstaking, quit-tempting, tedious making of a puff pastry instead of my childhood, which was handed a dessert and ate it without thinking once about where it came from.  I learned how to live in those five years. Because truthfully other songs and lyrics ran through my head too.  Not just my main girl T-Swizzle ;)

"I searched for love but when the night came and it closed in I was alone. You give and take away, You give and take away. I surrender all.  Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, and all is darkened in the vale of tears. You cry yourself to sleep because the hurt is real and the pain cuts deep. My heart will choose to say, 'Blessed be Your name.'  With heartache your closest friend you've had to face the music on your own, but there is a sweeter song that calls you home. I shall better know His love, His heart, who comes to soothe my sorrow and fears.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.  I will bring praise. Blessed be Your name. I will bring praise. I will rejoice, I will declare 'God is my Victory and He is here.'  You found me where I was hiding, it was the sweetest Voice that called my name saying 'You're not alone for I am here.'  I’ll never, no never, no never forsake. Be still, my soul: your Jesus can repay from His own fullness all He took away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

This brings us to October 2010, where you would have met a new apartment-renter living alone for the first time, full of work, travel and ministry ambition, ready to take a break from even "talking" to guys until 2014… (to be continued)

Enjoy Project | Engaged

"Every atom of his flesh is as dear to me as my own: 
in pain and sickness it would still be dear. 
His mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, 
it would be my treasure still."
bronte

ps. lydia jane

"I love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head,

and everything he touches and every word he says.

I love all his looks and all his actions 

and him entirely and all together."

bronte

I'm going to be his wife!

Enjoy Writing | Oh My My My | Part 1

i had a dream last night,

i dreamt that i was swimming

and the stars up above,

directionless and drifting

change of time - josh ritter

On October 31, 2005, after a fun, flirty and busy night at a church harvest festival (we all know that church's don't celebrate Halloween!) I came home and rolled up into the corner of our couch. "I'll get up in a minute… Just a minute…" and I promptly fell sound asleep for the night. I fell asleep and dreamed the most memorable and emotional dream I've dreamt thus far. The dream was a delicate and heart-throbbing story about myself and a tall boy named Brian. In my real life I did not know this "Brian" I was dreaming of, he was a fictional character in my head, a combination of my imagination and David Beckham. Brian was tall, tan, slow-moving and kind, simple and precious, quiet and a little shy, fiercely loyal and undeniably smitten with me. The dream had this blurry, water color, sun-in-your-eyes, water splashing, nighttime shadows quality. I'd see flashes of Brian, I'd hear conversations we were having, I'd watch the two of us walking side-by-side and then we'd vanish, I'd see "through my eyes" until purple light blurred my sight and I'd also observe myself from afar - and this all occurred in no concrete setting, just rolling, abstract dream gloss. Sounds echoed as my relationship with Brian spun through my dream. "I do like you, Brian. I really do. I just… don't want to hurt you. Or I don't want you to think I ever led you on." "I know you aren't leading me on," he'd offer, as casually as one might order a milkshake. "I mean, if… If it…if this didn't… if maybe we weren't right for each other in the end?" "Well, that's the risk I took, the risk with a prize far sweeter than penalty bitter." "I'm so confused, though. I don't know where I'm at, or how I'm feeling. And I know you like me a whole lot. And I'm scared." "Take your time," Brian, at this point, was looking right at me and smiling, "Don't worry. You really can take your time. I know you'll come around. I just know it. I'll race you to the car!" The dream continued "through my eyes" and I remember just looking at him, wondering how he could be so calm. I was unnaturally fearful (at least I assumed this was not a natural part of dating) and I was a quivery, unsure wreck. How could he just sit there, gentle and unworried, steady and handsome? I had no concept of time as my doubts and his reassurances continued. Was this a big long conversation? Did this happen over several days? Several months? I did not know.

Much like the closing of one movie scene to the entrance of another, the chatter quieted and the "screen" went black. The next scene transitioned to a bright and sunny land! There were cheery tall green trees all around, and water thumping in the background. A small red and white boat was tied to a wooden dock and it bumbled up and down in the easy movement of the lake. Or shore. Or riverside. Or whatever it was we were near. Brian was walking ahead of me, in a white shirt, and we were walking through the woods, following a path that led us down to the water. I could draw you the picture right now. Brian and I to the right, tall trees to the left and front, small window of water and sunshine greeting us in dead center, about 100 feet ahead of us. This was the first scene in my dream that was concrete, a real place that could be in our everyday world. Though I'd never personally visited this place before, it was finally a real place! No more hypnotic sludge!

And then it happened. That marvelous, mysterious, enchanting, famous it. I just knew. I knew. I knew. I didn't not know. I was clear. I was sure. I knew. I loved him. I loved him! I knew "where I was at." I knew "how I felt."  I knew. The mind that had tangled together the bow on his gift finally opened the box! "Ah-ha! This is what he's been talking about! He's known along!" The heart that was analytical and concerned had stormed out of her cubicle, un-knotted her bun, and was now running barefooted out the glass swirly-doors to a world of opportunity. "This is why he waited! This freedom and confidence and desire is what everyone has been talking about!" The person that was too afraid to feast for fear of never eating again, was too afraid to play because I might have to go inside at the end of the night, was too afraid to knit together what might have to be torn apart was now passionately fearless. I loved him.

As I dreamt on, I marveled at what had come over me at the peak of that path in the woods. My arms had become more like my waving hair, and the hairs on my neck had turned into outstretched arms, and my eyes finally took the place of my heart as I could now see, and my heart substituted with my stomach, because my stomach had a sleepover with my toes (and the tip of my nose). It rained inside me. It rained and rained on down. When the drops hit the bottom of me, they splashed back up into giant, warm waves. I felt like a jungle and a painting and circus and a queen. Loving him sent me to Mercury, with a pit stop to a lazy Sunday afternoon nap in a Georgia porch swing. Simultaneously still and wild, here and there, dizzy and yet finally thinking straight. I knew I had fallen for him long before this moment. I knew he had become "the one" through his patience, his reassurance, his confidence, his persuit. He had done nothing in that moment in the trees, just before the waterside, to win my affection (he was simply walking ahead of me, stepping over a log) but somehow it all came crashing down on me in such an overwhelming, instant and surprising manner.

Then I woke up. I immediately knew I had been dreaming. I slammed my eyelids shut and repeated my thoughts to myself over and over again. "Go back to sleep! GO baaack to sleep. You were only awake for a second. I know I love him. I didn't even get to say goodbye!" It didn't work. I lay there on the red and green plaid couch, feelings still alive and well in my body, tears tracing my eyes. You may think I'm being a touch melodramatic in my description. You might have that "Gross! I'm eating! This is not toothache sweet: it's cavity sweet. You're just a cheesy romantic with no concept of the real world" feeling. I tell you the truth: This dream was every bit as overpowering, emotional and sensational as I've described, probably more, in fact. I cried that November 1 morning because I missed Brian. I felt like someone had died. My insides throbbed. It was one of the strangest and rarest experiences of my life, and I was just 16. It remains one of the oddest and most thrilling moments I can remember. It was eerie and truly too emotional for what it was.

I wrote the dream down and I noted that I was certain I would have a "moment" with that sort of clarity whenever I met the one for me. I had a gut feeling that I would have a specific time I would say "Yes, this is when I knew I loved him." Over the years I made mention of the dream to only a select few people. My ears always perked when I met a "Brian" - in a bridal party, at Starbucks, at a church meeting. But for the most part I didn't think of the dream in my daily life. But when it came to mind it was always as vivid and clear as the moment I dreamt it… (to be continued)

Enjoy Pinterest | Pearls

"a girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."

coco chanel

I have a little confession to make about pearls, the renown "classy" jewel.  I think it's a little matronly or a little cheap. Ah! I said it.  While I do love pearls, it seems like I often see a cheap ad with a girl in an awful dress with BRIGHT white "pearls" (probably bought from a local Claire's or something) or I see Grandma in the grocery story with a lovely string of pearls and it's precious... but... not... exactly... modern? That's the point I'm trying to make: pearls are classy, pearls are lovely, but I don't find them modern.

So for PinThursday and in effort to give this jewel a chance, I did some searching for pretty, modern uses for the pearl!  Every girl needs a good pair of pearl earrings (I have some!) but I love this glam-edition of the pearl earring.  Gorgeous.

from j. crew

Now HERE is a perfect example of a pearl being used in a modern setting.  Well done, J. Crew, well done as always.

from j. crew

I can't find where these shoes are originally from (help?) but I would also consider these highly fashion-forward, feminine and modern. Love them.

from capsitios

I'm not impressed with the chain and ribbon on this coin purse, but I love the different sized pearls!  I would not only use this, but I would brag about it if it were mine ;)

I'm curious how this would lay on a normal girl (aka: not a model or mannequin!) but I think it's wonderfully creative and fun.  I'd love to find some coral pumps and extra black eye-liner to wear with this!

from rachel gilbert

Black pearls, I'm convinced, are never ever matronly OR cheesy!  It's on my dream list to own one of these bad boys someday:

from zales

For the record: I DO find real pearl necklaces stunning.  I do.  I just think I've seen it done wrong too many times that it makes me leery ;) It's like saying "I don't like strapless dresses." Well, I like some strapless dresses! On the right body! With the right fit! But man, a bad strapless dress? It's baaaad. I hope that makes sense!  Show me some of YOUR pearl-loves on the EnjoyProject board! Do it to it!

PINTHURSDAY RULES:1] I created a group board called "Enjoy Project"... follow it!

2] Every Thursday I will blog about a particular topic (today, for example, is pencils.)

3] Leave a comment with your Pinterest name and I will add you as a contributor to the group board.  Also leave a link to your favorite/rad find for the theme.  (So leave a link to some awesome pencils - colored pencils, mechanical pencils, etsy pencils, skies the limit!)

4] Once you are added to the group, you can pin your find right to the page.  If you would like to contribute to the group, but do NOT want to be an official contributor, leave your Pinterest name and link and I'll post your find myself, with credit for the find to you.

5] We'll collect ideas together! Sitting all alone on your computer, scrolling through pages and pages, waiting for pins to fetch, is very isolated ;) This way we can interact together! And get to know one another.

6] Once a pin is in the group you can (obviously) re-pin to a different board if you'd like more organization for yourself.

7] Be kind, have fun and enjoy one another, please and thank yaaaa.8] When pinning on this board, use the #enjoyproject hashtag! It will make it ever easier to find when we have more and more posts.9] My goal is to have the board available to the current topic for one week.  So you have from Thursday-Wednesday to post pencils! Then Thursday-Wednesday to post _______. (I'm not giving away next weeks topic just yet ;) haha).10] Enjoy yourself. And the ideas. And the other people. 

Alright! You ready? Go pin!

Enjoy Project | Making Gift Boxes

success is fickle, but creativity is a gift.

tommy shaw

Haaallloooo friends near and far!  Though today's project was technically a Valentines gift, I cannot wait to use the idea again on client packages, birthday presents, baby shower gifts, and more!  Wouldn't it be fun to write out a new baby's name?  Or a couples' initials?  Or one word you think just "fits" the occasion? I'll answer that: Yes, it'd be fun. You can obviously use as many or as few boxes as you need, for any occasion under the sun!  Heck, you can make one and send it to me for no darn'tootin reason at all! BECAUSE FUN IS ALWAYS FUN, not just on special holidays.  A'right.  Let's get it on like Donkey Kong.  To start with you need to print out letters and cut them out very, very carefully.  

Next, you tape the letters onto your gift boxes (I bought 50 square boxes online... You can pretty much get these anywhere).  I used painters tape (the blue or green kind) so that it would be easy to pull the letters off and they wouldn't rip or shred the boxes. Press the corners down hard!

And then spraaaaay awaaaaay!  This literally took 11 seconds.  So easy.  If you wanted to tape along the sides of the boxes with painters tape, I'm sure that would look beautiful.  I didn't because I'm lazy and dumb.  

After the spray paint has dried for 15 minutes or so, peel the letters off!  And wa-la!  I used chalkboard spray paint... but I think you can use whatever kind you want.  I think?  I didn't try.  Because I'm lazy and it was really cold outside.  

This part of the project is a take-it-or-leave-it part ;)  I wrote a word with a chalk pen (the kind they use at Starbucks or for menu boards at restaurants) that described my man starting with the letter on the box.  Inside the box was a little gift that went along with that word.  Somehow it really wasn't complicated... it seems trickier now that I'm typing it!

To contrast the dark and simple exterior, I wanted the insides of the boxes to be like exploding fireworks in a dark moonlit night! (Too much...? Yeah.)

Okay, so one of his "O" words outside the box was "Oh-so-kind!" (which is fully cheating, but YOU try to come up with a word starting with O that describes kindness!). Octopus on the oven (I'm trying to set a world record for "O" usage in a paragraph.  Oliver.)  Inside the "Oh-so-kind!" box was his favorite candy bars, so he'll "Stay Sweet!" Candy is sweet, sweet is kind, I'm kind and give him candy - it really all works so well. Oprah is at the opera in Oklahoma.

I filled these boxes up by paying next to nothing.  Many of the items were either free treats in my gift box at Alt Summit (like the black SquareSpace beanie, canned Izze, and other items) or were bought using gift cards from Alt Summit (I got a free $20 gift card to PinHole Press just for attending their mini-party!) He also got a wooden pocket knife with his name engraved on it that I bought in Park City during the Sundance Festival for $9.  Add some ever necessary mints and gum (come on, we ARE dating after all), cheap disposable cameras for a new date-night activity and a hand-written letter, and he really had it pretty good!  Even though his girlfriend is a cheapskate ;) (He instagrammed all of his goodies if you want to see)

(I was pretty proud of my other O word: over-the-top.  He is one of those people who has to go above and beyond in everything he does, he's not satisfied unless an idea is the very very best it can be.  Basically, he's a perfectionist to the core.  So his gift inside "over the top" was a blank PinHole Press notepad where I encouraged him "to stay dreaming!" I love all of his grand, nearly-impossible dreams.)

Turned out better then I expected!

To make sure the boxes didn't empty themselves during transportation (a friend hid them for me in his basement apartment), I tied these babies up with peach string!  Which was two tons of total fun in and of itself.

Fun, huh? :)

Enjoy Videos | Happy Videos for a Hospital Day!

make me laugh and i'm yours
unknown

Thank you everyone for your care and kindness after the sad family news I posted about yesterday.  You all are quite lovely and it sure makes a girl and her mama bear feel loved!  On a much more enjoyable note, I've spent the morning decorating mama bear's hospital room!  It's so cheerful now!  Our nurses yesterday called her room the "Oh Suzanne Spa" (I was giving her a pedicure and manicure most of the afternoon) and today the nurse and tech just call her space "The Happy Room."  That's what we like to hear!  In continuing with the theme of happiness, here are some fun videos that'll make you smile:

(Who doesn't love sneaky books playing together? Come on.  I think everyone in the entire world can agree that that is a happy little situation.)

My mom's FAVORITE place in the world is Disneyland.  I actually mean FAVORITE. Not her favorite place to vacation, or her favorite childhood memory... no, no... Disneyland is her favorite PLACE.  Her parents, who lived in Orange County at the time, visited Disneyland in it's first few months of being open, and they took my mom (who was born in 1958) as soon as possible.  Some people don't seem to enjoy the "magic of Disney" the way my whole extended family does.  To be honest, I probably wouldn't get it either if I hadn't been raised by a second Disney-loving generation ;)  Disneyland is NOT a theme park, it "a whole new world." I love this little video because it shows how Disney has truly remained the same the last 60ish years, while at the same time growing exponentially!  It takes great skill to keep the current Disney Parks as charming, sweet and imaginative as the original!

I never watch the weather (why would you when there is an app for that? Amen?!).  But.  If this quick-witted jokester was my weatherman, I just might have to tune in ;)

Feel free to recommend any happy and fun videos you particularly like!  If mom needs something new to do I'll be sure to show her :D

Enjoy Weekends | Intsagram > 2 and a Video

"i spent the best two weeks of my life, thus far,
with you.
but i had to go back home."
karen abad

Today I bring you not a collage with many photos, or a post with much to say.  I bring you one photograph from my past week.  It's one of my favorite pictures of he and I ever.  It sums "us" up so well.  My hair straightened (that's his favorite), he in a Patriots jersey (our new favorite team to cheer for thanks to the Shorey family of EGM), my new pink water bottle from Dre and Becca that I take with me EVERYwhere, little Jaxter trying to decide if he likes me (this little guy is the first baby among "my age" friends), snuggling on the couch, laptop in the background to sneak in a few minutes of work, that mistermister of mine falling asleep.  I love it.

You should follow Elizabeth on instagram (she took this photo and is the handsome baby's momma!)
- She has a way of making plain little things so memorable and lovely.
- She has been married for just over a year and also just became a mommy! It's fun to look into her fun, happy, new world.
- She is very loved by me. So, spread the love!

When you have a spare four minutes, enjoy this sweet, quirky, and loveable couple.  It's hard not to watch this and feel lighter and cheerful.  Happiness is contagious. 

Enjoy Writing |

"we are a world of lottery winners. 
for everyone of us here right now, in every begetting,
there were at least 7,999,999 losers.
they don't even know how almost they were."
notes from a tilt-a-whirl | nd wilson

 "You have been given your body. You have been given your ancestors, your natural strengths and your natural weaknesses.  The backstory is all in place.  You have been drawn, described and placed on a stage unlike any other - the Globe.  And you have been given your freedom to act.  Your story has already begun.  It began when that lucky, eager sperm stood on the winner's platform and listened to its national anthem.  One tail flick slower and you would be someone else.  You would be named Theresa now and you wouldn't be you." (quote from ND Wilson)

Not one part of our anatomy is a mistake.  Not one piece of our growing flesh puzzle came as a surprise to the Creator.  Not your brain and how it functions, not your waist and how long it is, not your toes and how fat they are, not your elbow and how it's "double-jointed."  We, down to the molecular, cellular level have been planned by God, and after making His plan for us, He specifically tailored us, knitting our body together in another persons body.  Synonyms for womb include abyss, emptiness, hollowness, nothingness.  From nothingness, He created life.  During an abyss, He planned something. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." (Jeremiah 1:5) "In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." (Psalm 139:16)

Amy Carmichael is an historic hero for her heart, courage, love for and service to the people of India. "Every night before she went to bed, little Amy Carmichael prayed ardently and enthusiastically for God to turn her brown eyes blue as she slept. Like many brown-eyed Irish girls in the 19th century, she adored the typical image of feminine Irish beauty that included blue eyes and white skin. So, she prayed fervently--prayed with a hope that it seems only children can muster--for God to change the part of her that seemed to be designed wrong. She desperately hoped for God's intervention--but it never came. Amy had brown eyes from the day she was born to the day she died."  As this famous story goes, it becomes beautifully clear that Amy's brown eyes were intentional.  As she grew older and was living out God's plan for her, He opened her spiritual eyes to His purpose of her dark human eyes.  "The missionaries she worked with did everything they could to fit into the culture of which they were becoming a part. Amy reflected once that she now understood why she had brown eyes--a blue-eyed missionary would have been an oddity that never could have truly fit in with the people--and she was thankful that God had persisted in God's intricate and elegant design instead of catering to the wishes of a girl who had not yet met her calling."  (quote by Joshua Hearne)

Not every brown-eyed girl is called by God to be a missionary in India, but every pair of brown eyes was made because they were precisely what God wanted, what He planned.  Surely many brown-eyed girls have wished for blue eyes, and surely most of them never saw a "reason" for their brown eyes like Amy did.  But that's okay.  Every part of our miraculous, beautiful human machines has a purpose.  Short legs, scrawny legs, stiff legs, moles, wrinkles, marks, dimples, plump cheeks, wizened skin, cleft palettes, full lips, hands with two fingers, nail beds, finger prints, cuticles, hand wrinkles, knuckles that crack, curly hair, fast-growing leg hair, hairy backs, crooked teeth, pearly teeth, broad shoulders, slumpy shoulders, hearts with holes, spines with bends, brains with fluid, muscles that are too hard, frames that are big, frames that are small, skin that is dark, voices that are raspy, eyes that never see, ears that hear perfectly, feet that never walk, the milky body of a 20-week old life, the decomposing body of an 102-year old life.  Your body is not an accident, your body has not gone by unnoticed.  Your body is your costume for this stage, The Globe, and God himself sewed it together.  He created it for you.  It was not a mistake.  You are not a mistake, though you may have been quite the surprise to your parents, God "made [you] in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."  He cares for you.  I'm full convinced that this changes everything.

Enjoy Project | Videos | I'm Kristen Bell

"He's coming for the PAR-ty?!?"

Tell me you've seen this? Please please please watch this. Even if you've already seen it. It'll make you smile, and smiling is just delightful.

I've always been a bit of a Kristen Bell fan (her name is perfectly spelled).  She is kind of my ideal blonde-haired, spunky, sweet, well-spoken, All-American girl.  I liiiiiiiike to think I'm kind of like her. (Don't worry... I know I'm not.  But it's just like how you know you don't look your doppleganger, but it still feels good that the computer thought you looked most like Angelina Jolie.)

Enjoy this awesome girl and her weird animal fetish and fantastic emotions.

Enjoy Project | Instagram > 1

This is your FAIR WARNING.  Don't say I didn't "told you so!"  I am telling you so.  If you decide to take that giant leap and follow me on Instagram, there are a few cautions I must alert you to, some common "annoyances," if you will.

FAIR WARNING NUMBER ONE) I post about my relationship... a lot.  I post about carrying-on a bouquet of dried roses on an airplane, about missing him, pictures of him where I think he looks hoit hoit!, our texts, and our dates.  Okay?  If that is barf-ilicious, "so done" or annoying to you: you've been waaaaarned.  Also, we like cheesy/movie lines. We think they're great. We sometimes instagram them. It is what it is. Love us or leave us ooooor tolerate us.  

FAIR WARNING NUMBER TWO) I post about food... a lot.  Eating is my second favorite part of life.  The jury is still out on what #1 is, but #2 is definitely food.  And sometimes since #1 is undecided, food takes it's place for a bit.  I eat a lot of food, I eat really good food, I make food, I buy food, I think about food, I thoroughly enjoy food, and I instagram food.  Get. Over. It.  

FAIR WARNING NUMBER THREE) I post about babies and children... a lot.  If you aren't really a "kid person" or if you have no small children in your life, I understand why these might seem like redundant posts.  "How many times can you post that kid sleeping? Gracious."  Here's the deal:  Every instagrammed picture of a child represents at least nine other non-instagrammed moments.  And the moments are awesome.  And their faces, smells, discoveries and reality is just more then I can handle sometimes.  I love children.  (Especially Baby Behr, McKenna, Noah and Emma, Audrey, Addie, Makenna, Hailey and Selah, Emily and The Jaxter.)  I love children, believe children can change your life, believe they are important in their existence, brilliant in their naivete and wonderful in their lack of "productive-ness", and I instagram children.

FAIR WARNING NUMBER FOUR) Alright, this one is slightly different.  Instagram photos of landscapes seem to be more acceptable then the previous three.  But I'm not going to water this down: I am the girl who sees a sunset and whips out her phone for a great Instagram snap.  I'm one of the throbs of "Ah! Pink sky tonight! AWESOME!" in your feed after a grand sunset.  My b, myyyyyyy b (so people still say that?).  I just think they're really cool.  And I love the places I get to go and see... even if it's just a little ol' ride home from basketball practice turned watercolor melting sky explosion!

THE GOOD NEWS SECTOR!

- I do not instagram screen-caps of a quote I have in my iPhone notepad! Never have, never will.

- I do not instragram photographs of myself with a toilet in the background!

- I do not insagram myself in a bathroom. Ever.
- I do not instagram EVERY meal I eat. 

The End. Still want to follow me?

Enjoy Making Things | Glossy Watercolor Tabletop

“in creating, the only hard thing is to begin; 
a grass-blade's no easier to make than an oak. ”
james russel lowell

Good moooorning, Blog Faaaamily! Thank you so very much for all the kind feedback and general excitement regarding the blog and my latest posts.  It helps me stay motivated to press on!  (What kind of terrible person am I that I could lose motivation after only two days? I don't know.)  But truly, your comments and such bless my heart (said in a Southern Mama Cass voice.)

MAKING THINGS! You ready? Today we are making things!  A new glossy, happy, colorful, shiny, fun tabletop to replace a dingy, busted, drab tabletop.

This cute little table is an oddity.  It's perfect for parties, maybe for a breakfast nook... but not much else.  At least that I can come up with.  It's too big to be a side table, to small to be a desk, too cute to be garbage, and too banged up to really, really fix.  If this little guy is going to be mostly used for parties and cute meals, I decided to kick up it's personality a notch. 

I started by sanding down the table top and legs.  Nothing beats that smooth, fresh surface for paint.

After sanding, Sweet Table received two new coats of bright white matte paint.   This is where the fun begins.  All the other stuff is boring and mandatory.  Now we get to add some cuh-lllllah!

I googled around for a homemade watercolor paint recipe.  The one I used is as easy as they come: mix together three tablespoons of baking soda, three tablespoons of corn starch, three tablespoons white vinegar, and 1.5 teaspoons corn syrup.  When fizzing stops, separate into containers, add drops food coloring and wa-la! You have made your own inexpensive paint!

The paint is a little but gritty, which worked perfectly for this project because it seemed to settle into the wood and not slide around on top.  It probably wouldn't be the best watercolor to use on paper (I'm only guessing though). 

Before I began painting I had already planned what I wanted to do: a colorful thatched pattern!  I definitely wanted it to be "imperfect" and casual.  That look was also easier then making it perfect and very straight.  I love it when my design taste and laziness work together ;) (ps.  I painted with eye-shadow brushes! They cleaned up just fine when I was done.)

The next step to the project was adding an epoxy glaze on the tabletop (I used this brand... and it was $10 cheaper at my local Home Depot!  And I used about 1/3 of the product for this table).  I didn't want the white matte paint to scratch or the watercolor to peel off, so after so research I ended on the hard plastic glaze look.  It'll be easy to clean and I think gives the old table a bit of a modern edge - kind of like those snazzy clear lucite chairs? Hey? (Don't you like my lackluster photography job? I poured the glaze at night, my iphone was right there... I caved to temptation.)

After I let it dry overnight, I had a fun new table!  I decided to give Sweet Table some props... maybe for a small ladies breakfast? This is, after all, the perfect party and breakfast table! I've never seen such a cute mimosa bar ;)











Make sure you let everything dry really well!  I did this project over a couple of days, one little step at a time.  Fresh white paint: dried over night.  Watercolor paint: dried overnight.  Glaze: dried over night.  I would love to try this with other objects! Maybe wooden frames or shelves?  I simply adore the shine and the color! You think you'd ever give this idea a whirl? :D

I Enjoy Videos | Introduction

"...where everything was discovered, and everything was possible. 

A stick could be a sword, a pebble could be a diamond, a tree, a castle.

They made up a thousand games.

She was queen and he was king.

They collected the world in small handfuls, 

and when the sky grew dark, and they parted with leaves in their hair."

nicole krauss

This beautiful quote written by Nicole Krauss has captured my "special attention" (any Pride and Prej fans out there?).  The segment that starts this post is only a portion of her brief paragraph describing the love story between a little boy and a little girl.  Her one sentence is my new tagline for this blog.  A blog designed to collect the world in small handfuls.  Consider each day, each post, each new paragraph, image and thought, a little clump of dirt in your hands, an especially smooth stone, an antsy inch worm or a bottle cap.  Think of all the things you can do or try or imagine. Consider it fun, child-like, creative and happy.  May you part with leaves in your hair.

While at Alt Summit, during one of the sessions, I had a mad-wild-furious-scribbling-beads-of-sweat moment of clarity.  It all came together.  And my blog changed in an instant.  Within an hour I had taken new header photos, recorded the following video and made a blog calendar for the next month.  Within 12 hours I had nearly all the content ready and formatted for this next month of blog posts.

I joyfully present to you: The Enjoy Project

Don't worry, I can't even stay focused on this video to watch it all the way through. I won't be offended if you don't. It's almost seven minutes long. WAY TOO LONG. If you want to skip ahead to the end I tell a pretty funny story about meeting Anya from Project Runway.

Here's a re-cap of what I said in the video. New blog schedule. All based on the "things" in life I most enjoy. Blog posts every single day. (EVERY DAY!)

> > SCHEDULE < <
[I Enjoy...]
.Videos (On Sunday > These might be videos of myself + my life, they might be an awesome movie trailer I'm looking forward to seeing, perhaps a fun music video, inspiring vimeo find, slideshow or funny youtube clip. Videos.)

.People (On Monday > Here you will find new portraits or new friends. Either images of people or a guest blogger.)

.Making Things (On Tuesday > My love for all things "hands-on." Whether it be making food, paper crafts, home decor or Christmas ornaments ;) you will find how-to's from my world of making things.)


.Weddings (On Wednesday > I am committing to posting one full wedding a week! I have more then enough to show you lovely friends for ages.)

.Pinterest (On Thursday >  I'm so exciting about this one! I'll explain in more detail this coming Thursday, but we're going to have fun searching, pinning and sharing as a group.)

.Writing (On Friday > I love to write. I have seemingly endless little unrelated blurbs from minutes of "ah-ha!" where I wrote and then did nothing with it. I've never had a consistent place to share these thoughts. So now they have a home named Friday.)

.Instagram (On Saturday > A re-cap of my week + maybe some suggestions of people for you to follow!)

Hello. I'm Kristen. Welcome to The Enjoy Project, "where everything can be discovered, and anything is possible."

Six Weeks of Behr {Baby Photography + Personal}

This is the main man on campus, Behr.  He's large and in charge.  Known as BehrBehr, Behrly, Barely There, Son, Monk, Chipmunk and Little Dre.  He attracts fans in droves.  He is a big deal around here.  So popular.

Though we all fight for his heart, love and snuggles, no one can replace his favorite friend, his best friend: the bedroom ceiling fan.As Bedroom Fan dances, Behr waves hello! "Hey! Hey you! I like you a loooot.  A lot a lot!"  He coos, he  reaches, he kicks... ... he sneezes.
Thaaaat's embarrassing.  Don't worry Behr Man, you were just excited and got a little worked up.  It happens to the best of us.  Bedroom Fan will understand.  "But where did Bedroom Fan go?  I'm just a noisy, childish weight in this friendship.  And I party-fouled all over the place.  Humiliating."Look! Behrly...See?  Bedroom Fan is back!  Waving again! Bedroom Fan does think you are cool after all!  You have not been forsaken, you have not been left by Bedroom Fan.  Look up! Lift your eyes!A man and his Fan, it's a beautiful thing.  The end.
On a more gushy note, I love all of Behr's little self.  From his birthmark on his finger, to his Cabbage-Patch-doll arms, to his very strong legs, his fantastically shaped mouth, his stubby perfect nose, his neck rolls, his side rolls, his thigh rolls, and that big basin of a baby belly - I love it all.  I miss him in the morning before he is "up" and I'm addicted to seeing his new faces and skills throughout the day.

Hey you.
You are very cute.  And very loved.  And so silly.  And you probably will never love me as much as I love you (or as much as you love Bedroom Fan) but you make me smile a lot, so we'll keep you around.