Travels and heart changes

Well September has come and gone!  How did that happen?  I mean, I know how that happened...we spent most of it out of the country.  But still.  You always think there will be more time.  More time to catch up.  More time to rest.  More time to share with others.  More time to work.  And some days the time just seems to disappear into thin air.  You wake up to a new morning and just like that - the sun is setting again and you wonder "where in the world did the time go?"  It's one of those phenomenon's that I'll never truly understand.  As a child you feel like time moves at a turtle's speed.  And one day you wake up and those words about your life on earth being but a mist seem all too real.  The good and the bad to that is it makes you actually think.  What am I doing with my life?  What am I doing with my time?  Is it all worth something?  What needs to change?
I'll always be thankful for these questions in my life.  They are what truly awaken me to what really matters.

As I said. We spent most of September in Europe.  It was a once in a lifetime trip that I will surely never forget.  That I hope I will never take for granted.  And that I'm so thankful for the thoughts and actions in provoked in my life, my marriage and my work.
One of these days I'll get around to blogging more about the trip.  It was what I like to call "ridiculous" which in this case is a good thing.  We visited 5 countries: Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy & Greece. And of course nothing tops Paris.  It will forever be the more beautiful, most romantic, most enchanting city in the world to me.  :)  We took thousands of pictures, saw incredible views, shared wonderful experiences and learned, learned, learned.  After being back for just 2 and half short weeks - I'm enamored by the changes I've seen and felt in everyday life. It's been an incredible ride, and I look forward to each new day.

For now I'll just leave you with the pictures I had on my instagram account from our trip! And again, like I said - one of these days I'll get around to blogging some of the rest of the pictures! :)

Dillon's Surprise Birthday Party

Around here we do things last minute.  Sorry. It just happens that way.  Drives some people crazy, but for the most part our little group of friends make it work! So when we woke up last Wednesday morning to Facebook reminding us it was Dillon's birthday (Dillon aka Aric's "brother", "best friend", etc.) we made a last minute surprise party happen! :)

I'm so thankful we have all these wonderful people in our lives! Life just wouldn't be as sweet without them!  Happy Birthday Dillon! Glad we were able to keep it a surprise! (Pretty sure that's the only surprise party I've ever been a part of!)

Here's everybody hangin' out.  I love that we have the island in the kitchen! Everyone said when we were building it that this is where everyone would hang out- and it's so true!

Everyone hiding for the surprise (Paden found the best hiding spot) & Dillon's surprise face! ;)

Boys attack

Hugs all around...

Pics with the babies!

My sweet husband.  He did most of the planning for this- and while he was out running some errands for work, he picked up some cakes for Dill.  Not sayin', but I'm just sayin' Nothin' Bundt Cakes is where it's at, ya'll! YUMMMMMM

And sadly, I put the camera away and didn't get any shots of the guys outside playing spike ball to all hours of the night...  It was a good night. Good times. Good friends. Love ya'll!

xoxo

Casey

Hello! + Some packing tips!

Hello! :)  I don't know how this happened, but after the initial super excitement of starting a new personal blog I forgot how much time it takes to actually keep up with it! HAHA!  Oh me.  It's a busy season for us.  But then again, when is it not?  From now on we can skip the pleasantries and without asking you will know - it's busy. :)  Lots of catching up to do for weddings and editing, and apparently August is the month of anniversaries because it's been like boudoir craziness right now.  All the while we've spent almost every spare evening that we've had sitting in front of the TV on our laptops researching flights and train rides and itineraries for our big trip to Europe at the end of the month! 

On that note, I've been stressing about what I'm gonna pack!  We are gonna be over there for a good 2.5-3 weeks and I DO NOT want to be lugging around a giant suitcase on all those planes and trains and ferries! So I've started to plan ahead.  If you know me, you know I like my toiletries.  I just like to have options! What if I wanna do my hair a different way? Or wear my makeup more dramatic for a special occasion!? You just never know! So I've been doing some packing bootcamp with my makeup and toiletries bag to see how much I can squeeze into a very small bag! ;)

I found these magnetic palettes (z-palette) online for a decent price and then found a video tutorial on how to depot my mac eyeshadows so I could take all the ones I want without those little pots taking up all the room in my bag!  I'll probably depot a blush or two and voila! A custom makeup palette with all my favorite products in one neat compact little palette! Obsessed! 

Now onto the next challenge...packing a carry on with enough clothes & re-wearable clothes for like 20 days of travel... whew!

(Oh and excuse the selfies... I had just got home from a shoot and wore a new lipstick that I love, so I had to document it! Duh!)

4 Years!!

What in the world.  Where has all the time gone? I can't believe today marks 4 years of marriage with my love.  I wouldn't have believed you if you told me we would be where we are today 4 years ago. Marriage is fun.  It's exciting.  It's hard.  Really hard. And it's the ultimate refinement of your character.
I've learned so much in 4 years.  We've been so many places.  Made so many friends. Done so many things.  And today I'm grateful for this man that loves me so well.  That loves me through my flaws. That loves me like Christ.  I'm so blessed to get to call him mine.  To walk through life with him and learn and laugh and love with him.  I love you, Aric! Happy Anniversary, love! Can't wait to see what this next year has in store for us!

xoxo
Casey

A Saturday Morning + Around the house

Aric & I are in pretty big trouble.  You see, we are photographers for a living.  We document other people's most special days all the time.  But when it comes to shooting for ourselves?! We're pretty bad at it.  And then when family or friends want to see pictures of the new things going on in our lives? We don't have any to show! (That's why we're in big trouble...)  And that's why I'm so excited for this little ol' blog.  I'm excited to have a place to keep and post our memories! I'm excited that it will challenge me to photograph the mundane day to day things that I so often take for granted and help me to see the beauty and the grace in all of it!
This past Saturday morning I went into the office and grabbed my camera before heading into the kitchen.  We didn't have a wedding this past Saturday which is a rare occasion so I was excited to soak up every bit of this Saturday that I could!
After my morning coffee and favorite breakfast bagel, I just started looking around the house at things that I love seeing every day.  I'll eventually get around to photographing the whole house for a home tour for all of our family that is out of town and hasn't been able to see it yet - but for now hope you enjoy a few snippets of my Saturday mornin'...

xoxo
Casey

This week's recap

I figure that Sunday's are for rest. For doing something you love. And for being thankful for the week we had and the week ahead!
Here's a little snippet of this week in instagram pics!

I made the photography business an instagram page last week and got a little giddy when Monique Lhuillier "liked" a picture of one of our brides in one of her gowns! *swoon*
Tried to stay healthy and cooked the hubs a healthy dinner one night with a new chicken recipe!
Hung out with so many wonderful friends
Got a surprise in the mail of some pretty pretty books
And laid low one evening with the hubs, a redbox and freshly baked cookies!

I'll be spending the rest of this lovely Sunday with the hubs, friends and enjoying some delicious homemade goodness by our friends who should be chefs! ;)

Happy Sunday everyone!
xoxo

-Casey

Currently wanting...

...to not spend ANY of my money!  But still enjoying looking at pretty little things that I might want to indulge in, in the future...

YSL Rogue Volupte in 06 Pink in Devotion
-Really, I'd be happy to own any color of these golden beauty's, but I've been loving a really fun bright pop of color on the lips and I know this one would be just that!

This Synthetic Precision Brush kit from Sigma

-Let it be known.  I could have 10 of every kind of makeup brush there ever was and I would still want to buy more! Somehow they just keep making new brushes for different application methods and I just know these brushes would change my life! ;)  Or at least that's what I try and tell my hubby when he asks why I'm looking at makeup brushes online again! 

And last but not least...

This incredible all in one makeup palette from The Balm

With our Europe trip just around the corner I'm already stressing about keeping my packing to a minimum! No one likes to lug around a suitcase that weighs a million pounds! And when I saw this little gem I thought I NEED it. Right?!  It literally has almost everything you need in one palette! 

If, or when lucky old me gets to pick one of these up - I'll be sure to let you guys know and give a full review! ;)

I'd love to know if anyone has any of these products and what they think about them?!  Are they worth the splurge? Let me know in the comments!