I photographed my friend Chelsea a couple weeks ago for her bridal session, and I have my first engagement session of the year tomorrow. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I think its good though because I get my feet a little wet, and then take a long break of relaxation and sleep aka the cruise, and then bam! Wedding season is in full swing. Until about November. So, its nice to get reacquainted with my camera and shooting, then take a real break, and then jump right into weddings non stop! I will be sharing a peek of the e-session on Monday, but for now here are this week’s Highs and Lows!
Highs:
Family Dinner with Jared’s Dad, Step-Mom and Sisters. We love them so much, and we also happen to love the food they make. So. Yummy. It’s always a good time!
Valentine’s Day was really fun this past week! Even though our dinner wasn’t spectacular, we danced around the living to Foster the People afterwards which was perfect.
Cruise is SO SOON.
Lows:
Still sick-ish. What the heck? As long as its gone by the cruise I wont be too mad about it.
My laptop bag is falling apart. This could be a happy thing because it means I get to pick a new one, but I dont like spending money really so its not that fun.
I think its been a really good week! If those are my only lows, it must have been!
Doesn’t that look like the most perfect cruise outfit? EEK! Found here.
As you have seen in the past several weeks of highs and lows, we have been having issues with Jared’s car. Its been on the high side when we thought it was all fixed and on the low side when it continued to break down. Jared and I had to decide when we were going to stop investing time and money into it, and that moment came last week. But, it would help to back track and explain why we bought a 1987 Honda Accord in the first place.
Have you ever heard of Dave Ramsey? We did some time last year and we really liked his debt snowball plan. One of the things we thought would help get the snowball going was getting rid of a car payment. Jared had a little truck, and it was great. But, we weren’t really using it for it’s purpose. We dont haul things very often and most things we can get into the Scion including, but not limited to, a 6 ft ladder, a king size bed frame, and 8 ft Christmas trees. So, we sold it. We bought a little clunker car to get him to and from work when it was raining or too cold for him to ride the bike. We spent a lot of money getting it into good running condition and unfortunately we continued having to put money into it. We decided that having another car payment again, and decreasing our snowball, was worth the peace of mind of a more reliable car. On Super Bowl Sunday we went out to a Toyota dealership and bought Jared a little Mazda CX-7. Its working great. Which brings me to this week’s Highs and Lows!
Highs:
A working, reliable car! I love not having to wonder if Jared is going to break down and call me to come get him.
Dessert dates with friends! We went to Can-Can last night and it was goooewd. Raspberry Balsamic Ice Cream is amazing!
Its time to purchase some new gear! Cant wait to show y’all what is joining the LGP family!
Lows:
Jared caught the bug that has been going around and that had me out for the count two weeks ago. I hate being sick, but it’s even worse when your spouse is sick. You cant do anything to help!
Unbeknownst to me, I ate Bull Testicle the other night. Labeled as Steak Swingers. Ugh. The worst part is that I liked them until I knew what they were.
After last week’s flurry of Downton Abbey status’ I knew I needed to watch this show and see if I liked it. Well, I should have known because it is AMAZING. If you like historical fiction at all you will fall in love with this show. If you like drama and suspense, you too will love this show. If you like comedy and romanticism, you will love this show. Basically, you will love it.
I have watched 5 episodes so far and I am constantly thinking of when I will have the time to watch the next one. Oh dear. As usual, here are this week’s highs and lows!!
Highs:
Downton Abbey. No further explanation needed.
The temperature. So mild out!
I have a bridal session tomorrow!! I am hoping to snag a picture that I can actually show you… a teeny tiny peek!!
Lows:
Jared’s car. Long story. Ill tell you the whole ordeal soon.
Rain…tomorrow’s shoot! Pray it holds off until the evening!
Hello lovely and patient blog readers. Lately I have been living in the coziness of my bed with two cats, and a lot of cold medicine. My only connection to the outside world was Facebook and Twitter on my phone. I have blown my little, red, raw nose so much that I have strained my neck muscles. I have watched several old seasons of Friends. So, there is good and bad. But, I really hope to be back up and running like normal next week! But for now, here are this weeks highs and lows!
Highs:
A patient husband and loving cats. The cats have kept me company, and my hubbie has taken care of me. I am a lucky girl.
Friends. What a great show.
The warm weather! I have sessions coming up, and I am hoping the warmth sticks around!! Im done with wishing for snow!
Lows:
Being sick. Boo.
Tissues with no lotion. Why would you make any other kind?
Something I really want to blog more about this year is cooking. If you follow me on Instagram, you will notice that about 50% of my pictures are of what I am currently eating. I love to cook, and I certainly love to eat. Its even one of my goals for 25 before 25. I also happen to drool over gorgeous food photography. I certainly do not consider myself a food photographer, but by blogging about it, I can get better!
Im excited to start sharing this part of my life with you guys! And, feel free to leave links to fun recipes you have on your blogs! For now, here are this week’s highs and lows:
Highs:
Jared’s car is not dead! This is literally a huge answer to prayer! We need that little clunky car and we definitely didn’t want to have to go back to a car payment!
We cruise in 35 days! We are going snorkeling and taking a long guided bike tour as our shore excursions. Im so excited!
I am loving my new facial products. I got a moisturizer from Kiehls, and a coffee bean eye cream from 100% Pure. Love them!!
Lows:
I read the end of Little Bee, and this book is guaranteed to break my heart. (Don’t worry, I always read the ends of books before Im supposed to. Its okay.)
I did something very interesting this week. Something that I didnt do even when I was a vegan. Yes, you read that right. I was vegan for almost an entire year before I met Jared, Ill tell you about it sometime. What did I do? I bought vegan cheese. Yes….fake cheese. Normally I would turn my nose up at this, because as a food lover nothing compares to real, fatty, smelly cheese. But, when your health is starting to be affected (or effected?) by a certain food, you might consider cutting it out for a bit. So, for now I am milk and cheese free. Dairy free I guess. Do eggs count? Im not so sure. Today is day one, and here are some of this week’s highs and lows:
Highs:
Finding a dairy free cheese that I actually like.
I ordered a new facial moisturizer and eye cream. I can’t wait to try them!
I am almost done cleaning up all the files on my computer and in the filing cabinet. Things got messy at the end of the season last year and it feels good to clean them all up!
Lows:
Jared’s car is acting crazy. I think we bought a dud!
Some alley kittens have peed on our porch. The lovely scent wafts in your face every time you open the front door. I can’t be too mad though because they are so. dang. cute.
An image from the archives… I hope it snows at least once this year!!
Howdy! Im just kidding, I never say that in real life. Hi!
This has been an interesting week…very busy! I am glad its over. I rarely say things like that, so you know I mean it! I am happy to be home, have a warm cat in my lap, and a plate full of yummy food.
A really neat thing happened this week called Share Groups, which is organized through my website company, Showit. Groups of Showiteers got together around the nation on Wednesday night and we all were able to hang out, ask Jasmine Star some questions, and create a more personal community. Basically, I love Showit. I know Flash isn’t for everyone, but the community that is Showit, outweighs the cons of flash. Sooooo, if you are looking for a website company….get Showit!!
Here are the rest of this week’s highs and lows!
Highs:
The first Share Group Meetup! Picture below! Thanks Katelyn!
Veggie Burgers. I have been so into them lately! I love Morning Star’s Spicy Black Bean, and Boca’s Garden Burger.
VA Weather… its very strange. I love the quirkiness of it.
Lows:
We put all the Christmas stuff away. The house feels empty now.
Filing, Tax Prep, etc… I do not enjoy all the businessy stuff, but it must be done. I do like how organized I feel afterwards though!
It’s 9 days till Christmas, and I already gave Jared one of his gifts. Oops! Who’s shocked about that? NO ONE. Jared and I have a really big “problem” with giving gifts as soon as we get them instead of waiting till the proper date. My poor kid is going to get his High School Graduation gift the day he is born. Sheesh!! Oh well!!
Highs:
Christmas decorations really make it feel like Christmas! Loving our house all decorated!
My manicure lasted almost two weeks. That is awesome!
Jared and I started to plan a trip! We won’t be taking it for a while… but its fun to dream and think about what we want to do! And, I think we will probably be taking a train to get there! Knockin’ out my 25 before 25 slowly but surely!
Lows:
Boo on the warm weather. Makes me wish I lived in New England.
I STILL have a ginormous bruise from Go-Kart-ing. I knew it was a bad idea… (P.S. I was the slowest person on the track. Another shocker, Im sure.)
Instead of a picture, I have a pretty book quote for you…
“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen.”
I recently got Instagram and I recently switched mascaras. The two are wildly unrelated except for the fact that they both have made me happy lately. I am also happy to report that we will be getting our Christmas tree this weekend and decorating the house a bit. I think themed trees are especially gorgeous, but I admit that my favorite kind of tree is full of ornaments that have stories. Ornaments that were collected over time, and bring back real and vivid memories. It might even look a little “tacky,” but that is my favorite kind of tree. That is the kind of tree we will have. Probably for forever. I really wish we could have a pink tree one year. Even if it was just a small one. Maybe in my office? Jared will mostly likely roll his eyes at me, and tell me to do what I like… but, I know deep in his heart he wants a pink tree too. Really…how could you not??????
Here are this week’s highs and lows!
Highs:
The weather has finally chilled a bit. Thats my favorite.
Christmas decorating!!
Falsies mascara. I used to be a Great Lash gal… but, Falsies is ahhhhmazing.
Lows:
My hair isn’t growing fast enough. (aka: first world problems.)
We are going Go Kart-ing tonight. Yep… thats a low because I am scurrrrred.
Second shooting this past summer… I will show you the wedding as soon as Im able! Thanks Sarah Danaher!
Today is Black Friday and a different kind of Highs & Lows Friday. I only want to write about one particular High for me this time of year.
The last time I participated in the sleep depriving shopping experience was 6 years ago. A group of friends and I decided to tackle the Williamsburg outlets at 12 AM. Yeah. It was terrible. We waited in a line of traffic for 2 hours just to GET there. We did have a good time hanging out together though, which was the best part.
I wrote about this last year, but I want to invite you to join with us again this year. Its this thing called Advent Conspiracy. Its a new way to think about the Christmas Holiday. Our church has participated for the past 3 years and this is our 4th year! I am so excited. The video explains it better than me, so if you have 2 1/2 minutes, I say watch it!!
So, thats it. Instead of spending hundreds, or thousands, on Christmas gifts this year…spend less and consider giving some of that money away. To people who really need it. It only takes $15,000 to build one well for a community without clean drinking water. Last year, God allowed our church to raise $40,000. Not enough to build 3 wells, but enough for 2. The extra money had a purpose, but we didn’t know what for at the time. A few weeks later, an earthquake rocked Haiti. A family from our church runs an orphanage in Port Au Price and they were able to use the additional funds from Advent Conspiracy to get supplies in faster than the Red Cross, and other world aids. God has perfect timing.
If you would like to join with us, I would love to chat with you about it!! You can email me, or leave me a comment…its a really exciting thing to be a part of!!
Huzzah! You, gentle reader, have stumbled upon the (very) official blog and frequent rambling receptacle of Lauryn Galloway Photography. I am a wedding photographer based in Richmond, Virginia and I am so glad you're here!
