goal review

Sorry guys I haven't had a ton that is blog worthy of late, and I'm still working hard on my photography blog...so that explains the lack of my submitting to photography contests. Tomorrow I shall entice you with the next part of 'our story'. But until then I have been taking note of the progress of the goals I set for myself on my twenty first birthday. Especially since a couple days ago was the three month mark since I set the goals. 

Like everyone in life, I've experienced some set backs since I set my goals. 

A couple that I'm kinda mad at myself for not doing are:

1. go and continue going to a chiropractor
2. start going on walks with my hubby each week
3. go back to not drinking carbonated drinks as much

all of these I have found excuses to do -like drinking carbonated drinks because they are a 'comfort food' - and to not do like Jer and I not going on regular walks because we never have enough time together anyways.

But I need some positive reinforcement so three good things that I've succeeded at so far are:

1. keep my garden pots alive -I have actually gotten a couple more because my first two were so successful.
2. get a puppy -best decision so far of our entire marriage besides marrying Jared. Adi brings so much joy and de-stressing to both of our lives all the messes and poop we clean up completely inconsequential.
3. stop eating out as much -since working 8-5 mon-fri I have started being extremely responsible by taking lunch from home. I have opened up about twenty dollars more a week that can go to other things instead of to Cafe Rio's pocket book.

I am however now going to amend #1 of my goals which was to go to yoga each week. Not only is this one of the goals I started failing at because I wasn't willing to spend fifty dollars each month, but I also don't have the time for it. After just relying on my twelve hour shifts at work to help me obtain all my exercise, I have now realized that gaining ten pounds and not being able to comfortably sit down without pulling up my pants over my roll around my midrift. Tmi? I'm sure other girls have the same issue so I'm not to worried that I'm the only one with some unwanted weight.

So, I have broken out the all popular 'Jillian Michael's 30 day shred'. 

And it kicks my butt, which is totally enough for me.

So until tomorrow, what fun activities are you doing for your fourth of July weekend? Since our first fourth of July being married was spent by me working a sixteen hour shift we haven't really made any fun traditions. And I'll take any fun ideas I can get. 

~M

albert+melanie expectancy

After some prodding and poking I finally was able to convince and then schedule a time to photograph our friends Albert and Melanie who are expecting their first bundle of joy beginning of July. I am really glad how these turned out considering how awful the lightening was. We were really rushed but we still ended up being able to get quite a couple good ones. 

Here are a few that I really loved:

can't wait for that adorable baby to make his entrance!

~M

Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge {water}

There is nothing, absolutely nothing that Jared loves more about the summer than swimming. Nothing.

And of course I couldn't help but take advantage of the wonderful sunshine, and my frolicking husband to take some photos.

 

 My husband is a poop sometimes when I ask him to pose for pictures.

He normally consents finally though. 

 

This is the photo that I am submitting to the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge at Project Alicia. 

I just love it. It was an completely genuine look that Jared has when he's being a fish and launching out of the water. Everything came together in this photo and I just love it. I didn't do a lot of editing on it, just upped the clarity, contrast, and detail a little. 

Also, for those that don't know I am also working on getting a photography blog put together so that you all who follow our family blog for family updates aren't bugged by all the photography updates I give. I'll post my photography blog once I'm done formatting it. 

Happy summer!

~Mel

our first year anniversary date

Of course for our first anniversary Jer had some pretty big expectations to fulfill. And of course my sentimental sweetheart exceeded them. For our first year anniversary date we did exactly what we did on our very first date. Same restaurant, same food, same activity, but so far more progress and improvement in our relationship and lives. Here are some pics of the night. Sorry it took me so long to get them up!

 {See that score up there? Just for record M was player 1 and J was player 2. Heck yeah.}

I love my handsome man who lets me shamelessly show him up during our two games of bowling. Thank you so much honey for our wonderful anniversary night. 

~M

p.s. remember how we ate half of our wedding cake at our three month anniversary? I STRONGLY suggest doing this. Our cake was delicious then. With all the thawing and freezing of our cake unfortunately it just didn't taste as good at our one year. It didn't taste bad persay it just was as good as it was at three months. 

p.p.s. this is our 200th post! and we look forward to many many more.

priceless

$5 for the cake, $1,200 for their new mac, this 1 minute long video...

PRICELESS.

Come on, you cannot say you've never done this. I know I certainly have, but on my camera. 

Speaking of camera's I have not one, but TWO photoshoots tomorrow. One is a couple who I'm good friends with from college who are expecting their first little addition July 3rd, and the other is one of my best friends from high school who is letting me take some portfolio shots of her.

I'm excited. Stoked actually.
Can you feel the excitement exuding from this post? Me too!

Expect some photos on Sunday after I edit!

~M

our dreams

{via}

Find some truth to inspire you today.

p.s. write down your dreams today, and have them mailed to you in the future. Love love love this idea. You may get a real kick out of it to see how much your life has changed over the years.

http://www.futureme.org/

 

~J&M

one year ago

Today is our anniversary. Our first marital anniversary, and I'm so glad its come. It's been a crazy first year, don't let anyone tell you the first year isn't. But at the same time of getting used to each other's odd quirks and habits, we have fallen even more in love with who each other really is.

I couldn't help but throw in some pictures from our perfect wedding day. I love looking back through these and seeing how absolutely blissful we were that day. I wish we could relive it. But that's what anniversaries are for right? To reflect and cherish those savored memories.

 

 Just a few of our beautiful photos. Loved that day. 

And I'm sure we will love this day. 

Off to make more memories.

~J&M

6.16.10

P.S. if you haven't been following our story...go here to start from the beginning.

{HappyEverAfter} ch. 2

Today's post is a really special one to me, since tomorrow is our very first anniversary. Marital anniversary that is. Yes, yes it is our one year anniversary of marriage. So once we are done with work, we will go and enjoy in some splendor in whatever my hubby has planned, eat some absolutely divine cheesecake cake, and spin romantic lines at each other all. night. long. That's right. Be jealous.

 Anyhoo, for those that are behind, go here to catch up:

Ch. 2

And he didn't just smile, but he smiled at me. Or maybe that's what it felt like. I tried to act casual, very nonchalant watching the volleyball game, even asking Michelle who the other players were all to this young man's expense. I didn't really ask him or speak directly to him because I was being my normal in-the-shell kind of self and not really going out of my way. 

Michelle and this young man Jared starting talking about his yard and such immediately after we started watching the volleyball game. I tried really hard to act like I wasn't listening, and to keep my eyes focused on the game or my feet. Everytime I looked up though, I noticed him looking at me with his piercing blue eyes and contagious smile. I intermittently entered one word answers or smart remarks into the conversation that was going to the tune of, 'how gardening is so time consuming'. 

All the while I couldn't shake this feeling that I knew him from somewhere. His face, his eyes. Where had I seen them before? I tried to remember past soccer leagues, high school classes, parties I'd gone to. As the three of us were waiting for our turn to rotate into the volleyball game I casually asked him where he was going to school. "The community college", he replied. I asked if he'd ever played soccer before or been on a team, "no", he said. Had he come to our church ward before? "A long time ago, maybe last summer." Well that definitely ruled out any definite answer as to where I'd seen him. I didn't want to ask to many questions in case I seemed to creepy weird so I stopped there. But I couldn't help but notice that he also casually asked where I was from, how long I'd been in the ward, and where I went to school. I was grateful that I wasn't the only one curiously asking questions like a background check.

Then it was our turn to rotate in, and I was ready to confidently go after that ball. After two years on my young women's volleyball team I was sure it would all come back. Nope. I don't think I'd ever made more of a fool of myself. I, being my self conscious self, wanted to make sure no one was watching too closely to my mistakes. I looked to the side of me, in front and behind as well acting like I was checking the sand for nothing sharp I could step on while really making sure no one was annoyed or something. I didn't think anyone from the other team really was looking, they were all happily scoring points. But then I noticed him glancing my way in between serves. And then when he directed the ball towards me it always seemed softer than how he hit it towards my other team members. Favoritism huh? Well, I definitely took advantage of it.

Right after we finished our game it started to rain, rather quickly and large droplets too. The entire group, players and watchers ran for cover. Since it was late I made a be-line for my car to go home. As I was driving away I tried to put the boy Jared out of my mind. 'I would probably never see him again anyways', I thought.

let me explain

Sorry for the no air waves over here. We headed down to St. Gorgeous with my parentals to help them move out of their condo for their ever looming 18 month all paid excursion to Honolulu Hawaii! jk. They're actually going on a mission but we like to tease them. Anyways, hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and stay tuned for a couple photos from by the pool. I had some fun making my husband get some big splashes for the camera. 

~M

{HappyEverAfter} ch. I

For those that have been waiting so patiently, thank you for the wonderful responses to the first part:

Ch. I

When I came back from college I had had a beginning life crisis because my high school dreams of becoming a lawyer had been dashed by my international relations class, and realizing that I REALLY wasn't cut out for that kind of stuff. 

I spent a quite a couple weeks being the lazy girl who sun tanned on her back porch, who went walking each morning with a couple of my best friends from high school telling them 'this summer was just about focusing on me', and daydreamed about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was really determined to not be in a relationship this summer, and to not let myself get sucked into a boy. I had just dumped a crappy boy and I wanted this summer to be about discovering what I wanted out of life. To grow up a bit. All the while with Erica's advice in the back of my mind.

During this time I took a religion class at the BYU salt lake center and fed my spiritual self by doing what I was supposed to be doing like praying, reading my scriptures, etc. One specific day, we were talking about prayer and the Professor said something to the affect of, "at times when you're feeling stagnant, not only do you need to start listening to the spirit to know what you should do, but you should also specifically be praying and acting to find the answer whatever it may be."

The more I tried to forget about finding the right guy the more I felt that I really wanted to find that significant other. I felt deep down that if I truly did want to chose to start seriously searching for that person and that was what I should be doing, that the Lord would help me do that whether that was in a couple months or a couple years. And so I prayed. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I do remember specifically asking to be directed to that one particular person who would help me become the best I could be, and who be a good fit to me if that was what I should be doing.

A week later in class I was aware of this singles activity that was going on immediately following class. I tried really hard to focus on the lesson, and I kind of succeeded. But I just could not get the thought out of my head that I should go. It was on the way home, it was the perfect timing, yada yada. It made sense to go. But it wasn't so much that I couldn't get it out of my mind, but that I just felt this impulse to go. Like there was something that I needed to go for. Maybe it was destiny, or maybe it was just because the lesson that day was on being in the right place at the right time. Who knows, but I still went.

Upon arriving at the park, I found the food table and then saw someone from the relief society that I recognized as Michelle who I started chatting with. Once we were done eating there were games and activities going on below the pavilion that were open to anyone who wanted to play. We didn't necessarily want to play, just merely see who was there. On our way down the stairs Michelle turned to me and said, "there are a couple of guys in particular that I want you to meet".

We hit the bottom of the stairs right near the edge of the volleyball court where a group of people had collected. There were a couple of guys watching the game with their backs turned to us. One with a black baseball cap and khaki pants on was watching the game intently but turned smoothly to Michelle's greeting and simply smiled.

perfect days of summer: bubbles

I couldn't help but pull out the bubbles bottle and see how Adi reacted. It was of course, adorable. 

Well entertaining to say the least. She kept biting them and then was

completely upset and confused when they just...disappeared. 

I love my little girl. But she's getting rather sick of me taking photoshoots of her.

The good thing is that these were very single before and after editing.

SOOC:

Edit:

Just upped the clarity, contrast, and added more depth.

Happy Tuesday

~M

From a Distance

I am submitting this photo to the iheartfaces competition this week based on the specifics of it being a photo of someone 'from a distance'. I actually really love this. All of the natural lines

in the landscape and stream bring your eyes back to my hubby and Adi, 

but they are still not in the main part of the picture.

allergies.

I love that spring has sprung, that the world has come to life, that the flowers have blossomed, 

and that mother nature really does care about us. But do we really need to have every possible 

grass and pollen count so high to make me MISERABLE?! Anyone else with this issue? 

I feel like I'm House, but on Zyrtec not Vicodin. Well silly me,  I still let the sunshine 

get to me and convinced Jer to go on a mini hike. It was well worth it.

And of course, the waterfall was gorgeous just as much as Adi was adorable. 

How am I so caught up in doing anything to make that little puppy happy?

Of course, Adi finds the up side of my allergies 

and keeps herself entertained at the same time.

Hope the hay fever isn't getting the best of you too,

~M

Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge #1

This week's challenge was flowers...of course I couldn't help but take more photos 

of our peonies, but I also found some great poppies, and a bit of sageweed, 

which isn't a flower but definitely a beautiful photo.

The peonies were fully popped, and the poppies were completely open but not wilted yet. 

The sage, was just pretty. I love plants. And I love these photos. 

I feel like my photography is improving. Hallelujah!

~M