my first maternity session ever.

This last Saturday I had the great opportunity of taking pictures for the Boykin family. Phil was our drummer on our old worship team, and Hannah is a fellow photographer. Their son, Jackson, is such a cutie and quite the active little boy! I was a little intimidated due to my lack of experience, but it was fun! Good ol' Florida... we were sweaty and nasty but luckily you can't tell! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the shoot. Autrey should be making his appearance in a few months!













Thanks for letting me take your pictures!

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THE NEXT GIVEAWAY FOR THIS BLOG IS JULY 1ST!
Prize from Bath & Body Works
To be considered:
1. Comment this blog post
2. Subscribe/Follow this blog

Halfway through 2011 plus a GIVEAWAY!

It's totally weird saying that.

In less than two weeks, the year 2011 will be halfway over.

Where the heck did time go? I feel like for me, personally, I haven't taken every moment and used it for good things that will benefit me. I've been on the computer a lot, whether it's researching, watching YouTube, blogging, FACEBOOKING (also known as the death of me), emailing...whatever.

So three days ago I got up and said, "Enough" and, to David's surprise, got in my car and went to the gym. And I've been going back since. It's only been three days, but it's the step that makes the difference and the intention behind it. I don't want to just be thinner & look better, I want to feel better. I'm tired of being winded as I go up the stairs, and it seems these past few months I have just been exhausted. And to top it all off, I've definitely had depression.
It became too much to handle. I've heard exercising regularly improves depression, and exhaustion, and I use to regularly workout before I got married. Whenever I look back at photos I catch myself saying, "I would do anything to feel that happy again."

Well, this is that something. At least I hope it will improve my life and make me a more positive person with energy and passion for life.

Though it isn't here yet, I wanted to give an "update" midway through 2011 so I can keep myself accountable for my resolutions.

1. More blogging (once or twice a week) Realized that may quite possibly be too much.
2. More photoshoots & advance my skills in photography I have a few booked in the next week
3. Play piano daily Check.
4. Write more songs on piano Making progress.
5. Attend more auditions for musical theater (that is my life's dream after all) Check.
6. Start college FINALLY Don't know if I feel the same way about college. Atleast not at this point in my life. I'd be happy to explain it to anybody who asks, I just feel that college is something you should completely want for your life, and right now I have other goals. But I'm 21, my feelings are constantly changing so check back on that one!
7. Work out more often, eat healthier than I have been the last few months. I'd like to lose 30 pounds in 2011. Very possible! Finally getting there...
8. Pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus. He has all the answers I need to life I need way more of this.
9. Love people more I need way more of this, too.
10. Become more of a confident person and to feel more comfortable in my own skin and walk in that on a daily basis Sigh. Don't have this, but I believe the more I pursue Jesus with my life, the more I will get to this point.


It's easy to look at that list and realize that I haven't done some of those things in six months, and then give up. But that's what I do every year and I want this year to be different. I want to prove to myself I can do absolutely anything with hard work, determination, and prayer. I know I can do this.

Just so you know, I will be giving away a prize JULY 1ST! It will be something from Bath & Body Works of course. All you have to do to be considered is comment the blog, and subscribe to it! You don't have to have a Gmail account I don't think.
To subscribe/follow, look on the right and scroll down a little bit.
If you're confused about commenting, just make it anonymous but make sure to put your name in with your message!
You can comment once per post from now until July 1st!

Have a great week!

party like a princess (the details).

So, as you already know, I turned 21 in April but had discussed with my friend, Janelle, way earlier about having a girl's getaway party. We were so excited and put all of our details together, for once having an adequate excuse for sitting on her couch for hours with a notepad. Because of Janelle's help, my party was so much fun. Unfortunately, Bath & Body Works pretty much made her work that day because it was Mother's Day weekend (I pick great timing, right?) Actually, out of the original 6 girls I invited, 3 came. I was disappointed at first, but I knew that we would make it fun. My best friend Bethany was here so I was so glad she was there!

So, here are the pictures from the party. We had it at my in-laws' beach condo in New Smyrna. I loved the idea of having a Princess-themed birthday party because I've always loved Disney Princesses and have always wanted to be one (haven't we all at one point?) I also LOVE the color scheme of blue, purple and pink - my three favorite colors! We combined that with the beach and the party soon was titled "Party like a Princess." There was a ton of relaxation and fun, but elegant moments too. :)


The invitations. I had castle and number stamps that I used on blue paper, and then put on some stick-on pearls!



"Cotton Candy" Slatkin & Co. candle (which smells amazing), small cloth napkins put side by side, paper flowers, and Starbursts.



Party favors are the best part of parties! The blue tags behind the flower tags all had a princess name on them, along with a definition of the princess. The girls liked getting to choose the bag their favorite princess was printed on. Inside I placed a small tropical candle (3/$5, Bath & Body Works), small lipgloss (pack of 5, $15, Bath & Body Works), "Princess in Training" hand sanitizer (.75, Bath & Body Works), Into the Wild preview lotion ($1, Bath & Body Works) and a small Peach Schnapps bottle ($1, select wine stores).


Little castles were cute decor.



These ribbons hung in the doorway of the back porch overlooking the ocean. I just superglued bows I made onto the ribbon.



I love these flowers! You may have seen them in Bath & Body Works at one point... we just strung them together with ribbon. I totally want them for my girl's nursery one day!






This was our spa table! Pretty much anything you could ever imagine was on it! =P




This is the view of the bay from the front porch. Breathtaking!


Lemon cupcakes with Pineapple frosting, made by Janelle, Beth and Katherine!









Catering by Janelle!



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After hours




Don't worry, I mixed this drink terribly and it ended up being about 3/4 cranberry juice. It was like a Thanksgiving dinner.





Those face masks are hilarious!



Beach/bubble pictures the next day









It was a celebration to remember! I'm blessed.