Today’s tidbit: “Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated.” — Paul Rand

Happy October! After an 18 hour flight, I got back from my adventure to South Africa this morning and am trying to play catch up. LOTS of blog posts coming soon on that eye opening and life changing experience! For now, more news on my sisters wedding which is weeks away! As I mentioned in my August recap post, I designed the stationary for both Allie’s bridal shower as well as their wedding suite.

Sneak peek image: stationary

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Today’s tidbit: “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

First off… as this beautiful day begins, today is different. Take time today to reflect, remember and never forget 9.11.

There are some HUGE things planned for September and October.
September: Allie’s bridal shower + South African adventure!
October: Friends wedding in NY + Photo shoot with a new family + Allie & Brian’s wedding!

This past weekend we celebrated my sisters bridal shower in Roanoke, VA. It was a wonderful weekend and I can’t wait to share more on that when I return from my trip! I will be spending the rest of September in South Africa exploring with my mom. Our flight is THIS EVENING!!! When I return in October I won’t be staying put just yet. I will then be going to New York with John for a friends wedding. AND then one of the most exciting and important events is mid October, another wedding… my other half, my twin sister!! Allie and Brian will be getting married at a gorgeous venue in Southern Virginia! Phew, I have to try not to blink or before I know it November will be here!

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Today’s tidbit: “We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don’t have something better.”― C. JoyBell C.
I could not agree more! When you get so secure and familiar with something, you lose the desire to branch out and explore. On the other hand, when so many changes happen unexpectedly all at once it can be very overwhelming and emotional. With all change comes something new… and something better!

In my July recap post I said if I had to sum up July in a few words it would be transition, freeing and moving. As I sit here reflecting on August, those same words come to mind along with celebrating, exploring and excited. I started these recap posts in June because this summer was FULL of unexpected changes and as a result it really pushed me to change and grow as well. I wanted a place to reflect and put into writing everything that was going on—good, bad and everything in-between.

August: Allie’s bridal shower invitation suite was designed, printed and mailed + Allie’s bachelorette weekend | trip to NC + Allie & Brian’s wedding invitation suite was finalized and mailed + Planned Allie’s bridal shower + Turned 25 + Said goodbye to childhood home in VA | Moved into new home in MD + Finalized trip to South Africa for September + Photo shoot booked for October

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Today’s tidbit: “I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.” — Oprah Winfrey

With so much going on, lately my blog posts have been a little longer focusing on the changes that have been happening as well as summer adventures. Today’s post will be shorter, focusing on a freelance design job I finished mid August.

A little background: My senior year at GMU I was a TA for a package design class. The semester before I took the same class and I have to say it was a love hate relationship. It challenged me more than any class I think, with countless all nighters and sometimes brutal critiques. All the research, sketches, mock ups and proofs paid off though and I am still proud of those projects. I was fortunate to get the opportunity to TA and enjoyed helping students and providing feedback during critiques. Since then I have kept in touch with both the professor as well as a handful of students, one of which reached out to me with this freelance job. She had a friend who needed a poster design and with no time with new twin babies to do it herself, she contacted me to see if I would be interested. This project not only had to do with horses but also had a bigger goal: ovarian cancer.

Sneak peek image:

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Today’s tidbit: “Today is the start of a new adventure. New challenges to face, new memories to make, and new obstacles to overcome.”― Nishan Panwar

As I’ve mentioned, 2 days after my birthday we loaded up everything (well, my strong brother and a couple of his friends) and said goodbye to our childhood home. It wasn’t an easy day but it was necessary and better things are to come! We moved in when my sister and I were almost 5 and moved out a few days after we turned 25. We had lived in that house for 20 years. It was only a few years old when my parents first bought it and although the last couple of years were full of tension and weren’t the happiest of times, it’s where we grew up. We walked to elementary school. We went to middle and high school close by. As I’ve said before, I went to college and have had my own places but it was somewhere I could always come back to. I think part of the reason saying goodbye was so hard wasn’t just the house, it was saying goodbye to that area and everything we’ve known. While I haven’t moved that far and still have friends in the area, I know it won’t be the same and I won’t be there very often.

Sneak peek image: Keys to the new house

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Today’s tidbit: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” — George Bernard Shaw

TWENTY-FIVE?! Between all of the changes that have been going on + knowing I was about to be 25, I felt like I was having a quarter life crisis! I started reflecting on everything, all of the ups and downs, that have made me who I am now. I started thinking about how far I have come and how much more I still want to learn, grow and change. All the things I want to experience. All the places I want to travel. A friend recently posted this blog article, which I found appropriate. Check it out: 25 Things I Want Myself to Know at 25

August 16th was a wonderful day though and I was be able to spend it with my twin, Allie making it extra special. The day was full of surprises + Great Falls adventures (seeing my horse, Bailey + picnic + hiking) + exploring Annapolis (dinner + waterfront) + dessert & present goodies. 

Sneak peek image: Surprise birthday brunch from my lovely boyfriend! Napa is calling

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Today’s tidbit: “Every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me: If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature’s simple treasures, life and living need not be so hard.” ― Psyche Roxas-Mendoza
I love this tidbit… I am all about the little details + simple treasures + natural beauty!

With no internet yet (blog post on the move + new house coming soon), the other day I ventured down the street to check out some of the shopping centers and stumbled upon a Starbucks (and Target, which is trouble!). I always see people in their nooks at Starbucks on their laptops but have never stopped to work myself… until today. I decided to take a break from packing and go find a new little nook, spending this rainy Friday morning working on my blog while enjoying a warm vanilla latte +  listening to jazz music + meeting many new friendly people. It’s been enjoyable!

Earlier this week I posted part 1 of Allie’s wonderful bachelorette weekend which focused on Details + Decorations + Drinks. Continuing with it, here is part 2 focusing on Beauty + Beaches. You’ll get a full taste of the beauty and the resort we stayed at in North Carolina, Blockade Runner.

Sneak peek image: View from our room! I could get used to waking up to this every day!

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Today’s tidbit: “A good friend is a connection to life, a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.” ― Lois Wyse 

Remember Allie & Brian? I posted their engagement sessions and Save the Date a while back. Well, their wedding is only a few months away now (October 19^th) and I can hardly believe it! After a few weeks of planning and coordinating with Allie’s bridesmaids, everything came together in what turned out to be a wonderful bachelorette weekend. We were able to stay for 2 nights at Blockade Runner, a beautiful beach resort in North Carolina!! I highly recommend it. What made it even more special was one of the bridesmaids, Kristina turned 25 on that Sunday and it was also the weekend before Allie and I turned 25 (birthday post coming soon)… lots to celebrate!

Sneak peek image: Details + Decorations + Drinks

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Today’s tidbit: “The beauty and mystery of this world only emerges through affection, attention, interest and compassion… open your eyes wide and actually see this world by attending to its colors, details and irony.” ― Orhan Pamuk

Here is part 3 of my impromptu afternoon photo shoot, which focuses on color: bold & bright {green + light blue + teal + yellow + pink}. There is no shortage of detail, color and charm. Although I know I will be back, it was a nice way to close the chapter on living and working in Old Town, Alexandria.

So where to? Although it isn’t a very far move, for now I will be heading to Maryland. As I’ve mentioned, this summer my childhood home was sold and I moved out of the house I was renting. While it has been quite the roller coaster things seem to be starting to work out. Yesterday my dad had the final walk through and closing on our new house. We will be moving this weekend (happy birthday to me!) with our final day in my childhood home of 20 years on August 20th. I will be doing a recap post in the next few weeks.

Sneak peek image:

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Today’s tidbit: “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” ― Confucius

I seem to always notice the little details no matter where I am. With this shoot, it got me thinking about photography and what it means to me. Photography is about the experience. It’s about how you feel when you are in that moment. It’s about having the eye to see the whole picture, from the composition and angle to the lighting and little details… and then being able to freeze that special moment in a beautiful way.

As I mentioned in my last blog post (part 1), I will be breaking up my Old Town session into 3 posts. Continuing with my impromptu afternoon photo shoot, here is part 2 which focuses on color: red + white + blue.

Sneak peek image:

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