we go together...

like frank & beans.
except, well… I'm nelou.  wink wink.

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…

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!!

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!

winter woodland shoot...

well… all we needed was a little snow, and these could have been 

the man from snowy river, hah!  but I'm loving these all the same.

one thing's for sure… I'm really gonna miss these 

gorgeous woodlands when I have to leave Germany!!

on a crisp sunny morning...

I had the pleasure of meeting up with this lovely family
to shoot their photos, just in time for christmas.

here's a few of the memories made on that beautiful day…

change is in the air...

 So I've been waiting and waiting, and then waiting some more… 

for those pretty fall colors to come out and play!!

 There's just something so perfect about that crisp clean fall air…

I recently had the pleasure of taking advantage of this gorgeous scenery
with a lovely family of four, soon to be expecting a new little one into their lives.
here's a teensy sneak peek from our time together… 

a sweet quiet moment sharing rocks and leaves and just a little dirt

love it that the joy is just beaming from their faces

she is seriously the sweetest… & her giggles will melt you

and this guy… he could tell stories with his eyes, and his lashes go on for days! 

like I said… m.e.l.t.

Have I mentioned that fall is my favorite??