Road trips with friends...

...are the best. When Jessica told us that John Mayer was playing in Albuquerque we knew we had to go.  Even if it was right after we got back from a ridiculously long vacation to Europe! Albuquerque is Aric's home town, so it's always fun for him to be a tour guide.  We've traveled many places with Matt & Jessica and it's always a blast.  We always eat at the best places, have the best wine, make the best memories...so we were excited to experience Albuquerque in a whole new way since most of the time when we visit we are visiting Aric's family and going to Aric's old favorites like "Fuddrucker's" Haha!!

So we booked the tickets and took a short road trip out to Albuquerque with these friends and it was amazing.  We took them to a couple of our favorite "sites" The Los Poblanos Lavender & Organic Farm, and Casa Rodena winery...  I can't even believe that the people at the concert wouldn't let us in with our "professional" camera so I didn't get a single good picture at the concert, but it was amazing to say the least!

Thankfully I snapped a few pictures for the rest of the time that we were there! So enjoy our cute friends & some of the beautiful sites of Albuquerque...

This first group of pics is from the Lavender Farm...

After the farm we headed down the street to the winery.  We had a tasting and then spent a couple hours outside on their patio just chatting about life and enjoying a glass of wine. 

So cute, I know.

Oh hey! There I am! ;)

And this last picture is the view from our room at the resort!! We stayed at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort and WOW was it beautiful.  We got up every morning and went for a walk, rode bikes...and if I hadn't have almost fainted we would have gone horseback riding...Next time!

Previews

Okay, let's just be honest. I have hardly even had a chance to look through all the pictures from our trip.  We've been pretty much going non-stop since we've been back so even having a chance to download the cards was a victory for me! I quickly pulled out a few photos off the card from the point and shoot camera that we took with us so I thought I'd at least share these! :)

Enjoy the little preview...you know there's a lot more where these came from! 

These first two Aric was takin a break and taking in the beauty of 

Château de Chenonceau.  We were here eating lunch with the wedding after visiting a winery just before.  We got to walk through all the rooms of the chateau and all over the beautiful grounds.  It was definitely the kind of place you would imagine in a fairytale or children's story book.  Pretty incredible!

And...Here we are at the wedding!!! I'm sure I'll regret that we didn't take more pictures - but sometimes it seems like just such a hassel! Aric was the best groomsman...he worked so hard to make sure the groom had everything he needed.  He's always so selfless and giving in that way.  But I was so glad to get to enjoy the reception with him!  It was another fairytale kind of day.

There's the whole reception!! And we got to stay 3 nights in that chateau! Can you believe that?!

AAAHHH... Paris.  The most romantic city in the world! ;)

This time I was determined to have our photo taken in front of the eiffel tower no matter what.  So thankfully we had someone snap a few here one night as we were walking around the city. Love it.

GUYS! I got drawn by this incredible artist in Montmarte! Aric & I both just loved the way he sketched in a not so literal way and as difficult as it was to sit in that chair and stare at the same spot on the ground for about an hour straight - I think it was totally worth it! ;)

Leaving Montemarte with my drawing!

Montemarte is officially one of my new favorite spots in Paris! Just magical!

The view of the city from Galleries Lafayette

Our next stop was Lake Lucerne, Switzerland.  I've never seen water so pretty or greens so green.  We were only here 1 short day so as soon as we arrived after checking into our hotel we hopped onto a boat tour of the lake... It was the perfect way to see the lake and surrounding mountains...

<3

Unfortunately the next day (when we were planning to take a tram up to the top of the mountain to see the view of the lake from there) it was super foggy and drizzly so we ended up just walking around the old town square for the day...

Oh, you know...just walking through Venice after catching the sunrise...

Although you can't tell...that's Florence behind us. We got there just in time to watch the sunset here with a view of the entire city and then walked through the streets, had dinner, gelato and visited a museum that was open late...

I guess I stopped pulling photos there... We still have some from our first stop in Spain, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and Greece!  But this is a start at least! :)

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