what summer should look like

This past weekend I did a lot of this....

and a lot of this...

which is exactly what summer should look like if you ask me...

anna & greg :: married!! {louisville wedding photographer}

A few weekends ago I traveled to Gainesville, GA to photograph a gorgeous wedding between an adorable couple. Meet Anna and Greg. You may remember them from their engagement photo session. Aren't they just beautiful? And their wedding day was no different...

A traditional ceremony that stole my heart. Bright beautiful colors, sweet family traditions, and a gorgeous reception. As I spoke with Anna the day before the wedding, I found out that her parents were actually married in the same church... and the new church was built on her grandfather's land. I loved the thought that went into each detail of their big day.

Here were some of my favorites...

...sparkling shoes for a sparkling bride...

...getting all glossed up...

...a church steeped in family tradition...

...a gorgeous dress...

...five stunning bridesmaids...

...a no-nonsense groom...

...the sweetest first glance...

...happy shades of yellow...

...the same steps the bride's parents walked down on their wedding day...

...stilettos + soft grass = hilarious photos...

...the water well built in memory of the bride's grandfather...

...a stunning bridal party...

...smiles exchanged between vows...

...the fact that grandma was the first to shake it on the dance floor...

...guests admiring the bride's beautiful rings...

...happy feet in yellow flip flops...

...riding off into happily ever after...

...it is love, indeed...

thankful thursday {link up}

This Thursday I am thankful for:

1) Craft night. Last night a couple of my girlfriends came over for craft night. It was perfect. Good company... yummy snacks... and I get to play with glue and scissors.

2) Beer bread. Love this stuff. So, so yummy. And there's no hangover.

3) Having my husband home. Lance gets home tomorrow from Nicaragua... finally. The past month has been trip after trip, many of them individual trips for us... and I am so happy to finally be home for a few weeks with my husband.

What are you thankful for this week? Link up below and share your own thankful thursday list...

wedded wednesday

This past weekend was full of wedding preparations, bridal showers, girl time, and cake... lots of cake. I flew into Houston late Thursday night and the craziness began. My beautiful sister is tying the knot this August and she typically does a Wedded Wednesday segment on her blog... so I thought I would follow suit this week...

Here's what a fabulously-busy-wedding-shower-weekend-extravaganza looks like... {beware... massive photo overload post}

{adorable travel totes for all of the bridesmaids}

{the first of many cakes and cupcakes}

{the bride-to-be (middle) and her bridesmaids}

{a gorgeous bridal shower theme... breakfast at tiffany's}

{my new favorite sister photo}

{the prettiest mother/daughter combo ever}

{the shower hostesses... don't you love how they all dressed the breakfast at tiffany's part?}

{getting showered with beautiful gifts}

{taking my job as matron of honor very seriously}

{the cutest bra & panties ever... one of Jenna's bridesmaids made these for the lingerie/bachelorette party}

{our pre-dinner mojitos}

{the bachelorette ready to take on the world}

{ooo-la-la}

{the strongest, yet most deceptive, drink ever}

{the bride making her improv comedy debut}

{a super fun night with super fun girls}

{the only photo you get to see from the bridal portraits... more of these in August}

Happy Wedded Wednesday!

simple summer salad

A few months ago I started Spring Salad Training and I told you guys about the yummy blue cheese salad kick I was on. Well, I'm still training... I'm still trying out some new salads. Has anyone had the Mexi Cobb Salad at Chuey's? Definitely one of my favorites right now.

Today I wanted to share my super simple summer salad recipe. My grandma used to make this salad all the time on her cooking show... yes, you heard right... my grandma had a cooking show... Fiesta with Esther... how cool is that? {mental note: I should do a post on that one day.}

This salad is beyond easy and you probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already...All you need is a tomato, onion (I usually use a yellow sweet onion), cucumber, some spring mix lettuce, season salt, and canola oil. You can definitely add in more veggies if you wish... but you must use the tomato and onion to make it work... they have a special chemistry, those two.

This salad is best when fresh, so I usually just make just enough for me and Lance. How much you add of everything is totally up to you. After I cut up all of my veggies, I sprinkle on some season salt and then toss in a bit of canola oil... start small, then season to taste.

You will love it... promise!

home sweet home

There's just something about that good ol' home sweet home... unpacking those suitcases... being greeted by a purring Little Cat... sorting through the massive pile of mail... and sinking into your own bed. Nothing quite beats it.

The past few weeks have been fabulous. I've spent time with family and friends in Habersham, got some work done in Atlanta, and celebrated with my little sister in Houston. But at the end of the day, I have to confess, I'm happy to be home.

And I have lots to share in the coming days... thoughts from Anna & Greg's wedding... photos from the weekend... and LOTS of projects that are in process.

But first... laundry.

be back soon...

Sorry I've been so MIA lately... We are in the middle of the wedding-shower-weekend-extravaganza. I'm celebrating this exciting time with my sister in the Lone Star State this weekend, and we've barely come up for air. I have tons to share and will be returning with lots of exciting posts soon!

Until then...

thankful thursday {link up}

This Thursday I am thankful for:

1) Wedding-shower-weekend-extravaganza. Tomorrow officially starts Phase 3 of my psycho-three-part-travels. I'm flying to Houston tonight for a full weekend of wedding shower craziness. My sister's wedding isn't until August, but because many of her bridesmaids (and the bride herself) don't live in Houston, we decided to do as much as humanly possible in one weekend for travel purposes. So... this weekend will consist of a bridesmaid luncheon, bridal portraits, a big bridal shower, a lingerie shower... and of course a bachelorette party:) Don't worry... more on all of this later.

2) Watermelon. This is the fruit of the summer. I always forget how much I love watermelon until this time of year. Lance bought a huge watermelon at a local Georgia fruit stand the other day... like real watermelon... you know, the kind with seeds in it. None of this seedless-watermelon crap. We go all out here. We don't settle for anything other than the real deal.

3) A travel break. Well, in a few days anyways... After wedding-shower-weekend-extravaganza I will finally get to spend a few weekends at home. I have been traveling the past 4 out of 5 weekends... and I am soooo excited about a weekend at home... probably by the pool.

What about you? What are you thankful for this Thursday?