Happy 2nd Anniversary to My Love

Photos: Ball-n-Chain Photography
Flowers: The English Garden
Venue: Duke Gardens & The Doris Duke Center

Dearest Corey, 

I love you so very much. You have filled my life with such joy over the past six years. Every day I wake up feeling blessed and truly grateful to have you by my side.

Can you believe we have been married for two years? I remember everything about that day. The beautiful atmosphere, the nature surrounding us, your face as I walked toward you down the aisle... It felt so special. It felt like us. I wasn't nervous at all. Just excited to call you my husband. I remember all the beautiful faces of those we love surrounding us. Their support touched me. We had so much fun dancing. I could not believe that the dance floor was packed the entire time. I told myself to live in the moment and to cherish every second of that night. I did. I remember the drive home. We kept exclaiming how everything went perfectly and we would not change a thing. 

I would not change a thing about you. I love you, sweet husband. Happy anniversary!

A Boy & His Dog

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 Meet Jaden the boy and Dom the dog!

Jaden is one cool kid. He is known to wield a lightsaber at times, pretend to be a dog (as seen above), and be quite the little ham. This handsome dude is going to be such a lady killer with those gorgeous eyes!

Dom is a big teddy bear that is very loyal to his family. He is a sweet boy. I have never seen a dog of his stature jump so high!

I cannot wait to watch this beautiful family grow as they are expecting a baby in a few months. Congratulations and I look forward to meeting the little one!

 

Welcome to the World, Miss Anabelle!

A brand new soul, new to this earth!

Our good friends Katya and Tim welcomed Anabelle into this world and I had the honor of photographing the little beauty at just one week old. I was not sure what to expect since I have never photographed a baby, let alone a newborn before. I was in awe at how tiny everything was... little fingers, little ears, little nose! It is incredible to hold a precious miracle in your arms. It seemed like she carried such wisdom behind those curious eyes.

If you are wondering who is sporting those gorgeous curls, that is Anabelle's big sister, Liza. She has spunk and is full of life! That last photo makes me laugh! :)

What a beautiful family....congratulations on your newest member!

Ike's Mom

Yui has a crush...
Photo on the left from Decor and the Dog.

Michelle from Decor and the Dog was so kind to feature me on her blog the other day! You can check out the post here.

Decor and the Dog is one of my favorite blogs to read because of Michelle's witty and humorous writing. I find myself chuckling on a regular basis at her perfectly executed sarcasm. She features interior design, her beautiful ongoing house renovations, DIY projects, tutorials, recipes, and much more! She also blogs almost daily, so I always have fun posts to catch up on when I visit.

One of my favorite things that she showcases on the blog is her adorable Wire Fox Terrier, Ike (pictured above). As you can see, Ike has incredible charm. Just look at those button eyes, the triangle ears, and that smiling face! He is terrierlicious. When I saw his puppy photos, I immediately realized that Yui must have some Wire Fox Terrier in her (or maybe I am telling myself that because I am in love with the breed). :)

So... Yui definitely has an online crush (Ike may or may not know this). I giggled when I put their photos next to each other because they look so cute together (again, Ike may not consent to this relationship).

Make sure you check out Decor and the Dog's blog!

MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!

Strawberries growing on a tree?
How sweet and unexpected...
like the opportunity I just received!

Making Things Happen is a movement, a life changing philosophy, and a reason to get fired up about your passions!

I first heard of Making Things Happen when I was planning my wedding. I have since followed their tumblr account and also learned about the lovely people behind the scenes. Countless times their posts have helped give me encouragement and tips to living a better life. When I was feeling the most scared and discouraged about following my dreams, I went to their site and instantly felt a renewed hope and energy to conquer my fears! This special group of mentors is filled with such decent, kind, and focused people that are out to better the world and share their hard earned knowledge.

Each year, the Making Things Happen team travels across the country holding sold-out seminars to help people who are ready to take the leap to further their creative endeavors. I entered a competition to win a scholarship to the Making Things Happen seminar a month ago. I dreamed of going, but I truly did not think it would become a reality.

I don't know how.........but I won!!!
After many happy tears, I must say that I am PUMPED for this seminar and I am ready for just that...
to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to both the thoughtful alumni for funding this scholarship and to the MTH team for giving me this beautiful opportunity of a lifetime! I fully intend to pay it forward.




I hope that you all had a wonderful Easter, especially celebrating what it is truly about. I took this time to appreciate the blessings I have in my life and my family most of all. Life is so very good!

Yui's First Year With Us

Read more about how we got Yui here.

These puppy videos of her make me smile!

A year ago yesterday we brought home our little Yui. I recall the excitement, the anticipation, and the curiosity I felt as we drove the many miles to get her. I now cannot remember what life was like without this precious dog. My husband and I are completely smitten with our "child" and she has changed our lives in so many ways.

This dog makes us laugh out loud! She is a furry clown (as I am writing this, she is rolling around on her back biting her own leg and growling at it!). My husband and I have grown even closer because of Yui. Our evenings are spent walking the dog and talking about our days. Our weekend dates are exploring new parks and dog friendly places. Yui gets us out of the house and into the fresh air. Prior to having a dog, we knew absolutely none of our neighbors by name and had little interaction with them. We now know most of our neighbors that have dogs and many have become valued friends.

One of my favorite aspects of having a dog is...THE GREETINGS...
Yui greets us at home with such love and fervor! She literally vibrates with excitement at our presence. Who wouldn't want that? A ho-hum day can be instantly transformed by that wagging tail and those kisses. The love of a dog is unconditional.


Yui, this has been such a blessing of a year because of you! Thank you for being you, little dog!

Japan Week: Food

As pictured above:

* Udon noodle stir fry with shrimp, enoki mushrooms, chili peppers, beansprouts, and ginger.
* Daifuku mochi is a Japanese sweet rice cake that is made from glutinous rice and pounded into a paste. The filling is often made of sweet red bean paste, but some versions have an entire piece of fruit inside. Mochi comes in a variety of colors and flavors.
* Cold tofu with hot sesame oil, chili, and scallions. Tofu is an excellent source of protein and a common ingredient in Japanese dishes.
* Hand roll with sweet chili shrimp, salmon, and scallions. This is a type of sushi that is to be picked up with the hands instead of chopsticks, hence the name. It should be eaten soon after preparation to ensure the crispness of the seaweed.
* Miso soup with spinach, tofu, and scallions. There are many variations of miso soup served, with miso paste being the consistent ingredient.

Japanese cuisine is rich in tradition and is among the healthiest found in the world. The dishes of Japan are known for the freshness of ingredients and selection according to season. Beautiful presentation is expected and appreciated. Rice is an important aspect to the Japanese diet and is a staple ingredient in many of their recipes. It is eaten every day and accompanies most meals. Even the word for cooked rice (gohan) also means "meal" in Japanese.

I am personally in love with Japanese food and I try to cook it as often as possible. I never feel bloated or unhealthy after eating a traditional Japanese dish. I also find myself taking the time to make the presentation beautiful.

What kind of Japanese food do you like?