back with family...

After four long years… we took a week long drive from the east coast, and were able to visit family along our way home from Germany.  It was so nice to see everyone after such a long time away… It was wonderful meeting my nephew for the first time & seeing my niece again!  Here's a few pics from our afternoon together.  

Until next time… eat some yummie Chicago style pizza for me!!

I can't wait!!

okay, seriously… this seems to be my favorite phrase lately.

here's just a few reasons I CAN'T WAIT to move back stateside…

• internet speed that is lightning fast
• my friends & family & the wonderful support they provide
• stores that are open 24/7
• Ted's Cafe Escondido (my Oklahoma peeps will appreciate this one)
• endless food & restaurant variety
• a little thing called shopping heaven
• having storage in my house & let's not forget to mention closets!!
• the sound of rolling thunder (and maybe a little storm chasing…)
• being a homeowner again
• Target (isn't this everyone's?)
• I'll be able to remember phone numbers again!!
• cable television (seriously I may never leave my house again)
• there's a store for literally everything
• having a dog door
• crushed ice
• tinted car windows 
• a REAL furniture store with items made of wood - not plastic or laminate
• pay at the pump (this one may come close to the top of the list)
• air conditioning
• money bills that are all the same size (I mean really…)
• mail & packages coming to my front door (super exciting stuff!!!)
• a venti skinny cinnamon dolce latte with lite whip, mmmm… 
• lean cuisine's sante fe rice & beans (I hope they never discontinue it!)
• those pretty twinkling Christmas lights decorating trees & houses
• good old Hobby Lobby

now that being said, I know I'll miss SO many things about Germany…

• the autobahn & the fact that the left lane is used only for passing
• Paris being two hours away
• beer being cheaper on the menu than water 
• my favorite flea market (a few tears are being shed over this one)
• the gorgeous green, & forests that reach up to the heavens
• the prettiest, most colorful window boxes I've ever seen!
• festivals & Christmas markets (ooh & yummie glühwein!)
• traveling Europe on a whim
• minivans flying past me when I'm doing 100mph (it's pretty funny)
• being able to take Grace with me pretty much everywhere
• seeing those sweet older couples stroll hand in hand
• fresh food markets & being able to walk to them
• public transportation (haha, never thought this would be one)
• seriously the best strawberries I've ever tasted from my corner vendor
• how crazy they are about their soccer here
• environmental respect & awareness
• did I mention the autobahn?
• sidewalk cafés
• floor heating & the fact that heating can be controlled room by room
• the wonderful fresh bread & bakeries located on every corner
• my kickass basement
• the way the doors & windows vent & open, not to mention rolladens
• seeing cars pull boats & horse trailers… it's crazy!
• German mustard, it's yummie delicious!!
• roundabouts

oh & seeing things like this…  Garmisch, I love you.

So what did I miss?  What would you add to these lists?

Oh & did I mention our stateside move will be taking place TOMORROW?? Where did the time go?  It has definitely snuck up on us… so goodbye Germany, for now.

Auf Wiedersehen!!

little miss claire bear...

The first time I got to photograph this cutie, she was in her mama's belly… Now she's eight months old, where has the time gone? So full of personality, when she wasn't sticking out her tongue or making all her sweet funny faces, I'd catch a glimpse of her cute one-toothed grin. Such a joy & full of wonder…

a little sunshine...

With summer officially underway, I figured maybe it was time to post my spring pictures… haha.  It's such a pretty time of year, and with the recent Germany grey… well I needed a bit of color to remind me it's not always so blah here.  

Wishing you all a day filled with sunshine… have a good one!

amongst the wildflowers...

Have loved every moment I've been able to spend with these two… from the time they were three weeks old and about five pounds each, to now at eighteen months.  It's been a pleasure to photograph these sweet babies, and who knows… maybe I'll see them again somewhere down the road, when we're all back stateside.

a day in the fields...

I've been so incredibly lucky to meet the most wonderful clients here in Germany, I will seriously miss you all!  I must say the part I've loved the most is seeing families & babies grow.  The first time I suppose you could say I actually met this sweet, sweet doll of a girl… was when she was in her mama's belly.  Then I had the pleasure of photographing her again a short time after she was born.  And now… well she's already a year old!  I can't believe how fast the time goes.  She was the perfect little model too, just letting me snap snap away, never even getting fussy… so what's your secret Mom & Dad?

and with so many more, I'm having a hard time picking my favorites!

first things first...

I still can't get over how in love I am with these images… hahaha, that's not weird to say, right??  You see I currently do not have a studio set up, but I've always wanted to try my hand at boudoir.  Lucky for me, I have a friend who does & I got to do just that!!  There's just something wonderful about a confident woman feeling beautiful in her own skin.  These stunning ladies were so much fun to work with, not to mention they made my first time shooting boudoir an experience I wouldn't mind trying again… so enough talk & on to the gorgeousness!!

feelings of nostalgia...

As the story goes, it seems the more years that go by, the more I enjoy looking back at treasured memories from the past.  I've also noticed that moving to Europe seems to have had an interesting impact on me… I've become even more attached to the idea that everything has a history and can tell us a unique story.  In fact I find myself giddy just thinking about upcoming flea markets & what treasures lay undiscovered for me to scoop up & love.  

For this week, I've incorporated one of my favorite photographs of my great-grandfather as a boy, saluting while dressed in uniform.  Although it appears to be a lighthearted photo, I can't help but be reminded of all those families who are separated from their loved ones while they protect our country's freedoms…   

week twenty-nine :: nostalgia

me :: Laura

simplicity

been a busy couple of weeks…

Along with playing catch up (just about there), I recently got the opportunity to shoot boudoir for my first time (and loved it!!).  Then I even got to sneak in a little getaway time with the hubby to one of my favorite destination spots, which is always a bonus!

week twenty-eight :: simplicity 

Laura :: me

the color green

and if it wasn't obvious already, my favorite color… 

week twenty-seven :: green

me :: Laura

fragile

man oh man… we are a tad behind schedule, as you may have noticed,

but we are pushing forward to get our posting caught back up 

just as quick as we can, pinky swear we'll get there.

week twenty-six :: fragile

me :: Laura

next up will be "green"

see you soon…

pattern

one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of pattern is one of my favs, Urban Outfitters… AND I was super excited to discover there's one in Frankfurt, which is where I picked up this little gem… 

week twenty-five :: pattern

Laura :: me 

color me pretty...

Are you like me, and look to color as a constant source of inspiration & motivation?  I find it so interesting that there is an actual theory behind color… that it can affect our moods, make us feel a certain emotion, or can even boost our memory… 

Considering I live in a place that is often grey, overcast, and rainy… it does my spirit a little good to remember that's not always the case.  Here's a couple wintery photographs I took during somewhat sunnier times here.  I then went on to create these soft color palettes from the photos themselves, so that I can always have them as a reference point if I'm ever in need of a little color pick-me-up.  

I hope color encourages your creativity, 

whether it be in your art, style, or even in your own home.

Wishing a happy Sunday funday to you all!

{hues}day :: turmeric + saffron

Now I realize I've already done a saffron color combo a while back, but truth be told, the idea for this edition of huesday came from this delicious blog… you see I'm half Iranian and am obsessed with Persian food (thankfully my hubby is an amazing cook, and manages to give my aunts a good run for their money).  And it was in trying to describe to my friends what type of food it was, that I stumbled upon some inspirational yummie goodness.

1. Omar Gallinero

2. All Full of Love

3. My Tiny World

4. Turmeric and Saffron

5. Megan Lara

6. Pixel Paperie