Life Right Now...

What happens when you don't have to post a photo on your blog every single day? Apparently, for me, I stop posting all together. In my defense, life has been quite full lately (I'm avoiding using the "busy" word since I'm not really that busy).

Right now I'm trying to transition more into wedding planning. And really, for how much time I have before the big day, I already have a lot of things figured out. Like...

   •  Location for the wedding and the reception
   •  Bridal party/ushers/attendants
   •  My dress (Yup, I already got it, thanks to a very productive Chicago weekend!)
   •  Colors/theme (The theme is sort of in-progress, but it's quickly forming.)
   •  Part of my centerpieces (see below)
   •  Photographer (I am suuuuper excited about him!)
   •  Flowers (My amazing cousin at Floral Sense is doing the flowers!)
   •  Guest list

Okay... I don't know how it is for other brides, but the guest list is probably what is going to give me the most grief in the long-haul. I have a limited budget and therefore, can't invite everyone I know. And since I'm the "pastor's daughter," just about everyone knows I'm getting married. What I'm not looking forward to is explaining to people why everyone isn't invited. I've really had to go through and, sadly, pick the people Nick and I feel closest to. The good news is, I'm planning a post-wedding cake reception for everyone to attend. So, here's hoping I can keep the peace and help people feel included, even if they can't come to the big day.

I also feel bad that my guests are dominating the list, limited though it is. Poor Nick doesn't even get half the slots. But hopefully by the time the big day comes, he will feel closer to a lot of the people on the list.

This past weekend I did some "antiquing" at a couple of local places. Thanks to Google search and the wonderful world of Pinterest, I've had the idea of using antique, blue glass mason jars in my reception decorating. This weekend I found the best deal yet on the exact kind of jars I wanted so... I bought enough to furnish all the tables. My centerpieces are going to most likely start with them, and possibly baby's breath. This project is in progress, but I like where it's at now. :)

So besides wedding stuff, I am doing some home decorating and getting in the mood for fall. Last weekend, Nick and I made a trip to the Quad Cities so we could visit Michaels (and a few other places/stores we don't have in Clinton). They are in full fall mode, and even though I went to find sale items for the wedding, I had to look at everything for Halloween/fall. I ended up getting a few things (sweet Nick got me the best smelling fall potpourri mix and basket) and then went home to put out my fall decor. :)

What are your thoughts on my mason jar centerpieces? Are you getting into the fall spirit yet?

31 Days Captured: Day 31 / Bonus Photos

This is were I spent the evening, posting sports scores and getting things ready for tomorrow's paper. (Hence why this post is late. Priorities.)

I can't believe it's the last night of my photo challenge. I did most of my reminiscing in last night's post, so I'll spare you the repetition. However, I will expand on my statement that some days I got lots more photographs than I end up posting, by sharing some extra "bonus" pictures with you. Consider it a finale of photos.

Driving through Ohio, watching the last of the sunset.

More from Hot Dog Johnny's...

...including birch beer, which is NOT root beer. ;)

This is what happens when you accidentally call your cat "puppy" one too many times.

A different photo and edit of my brother playing guitar.

Vietnam memorial on the Clinton riverfront.

My mom feeding watermelon to Jade. :)

Some of my dad's paint brushes.

I have many such "cloud obsession" photos.

Waiting in O'Hare for Brandi's arrival.

Driving through Illinois on my way back from Effingham.

Crazy-eye cat.

Are you surprised?

A perfect reminder.

First photograph captured with Samsung Galaxy S, edits via PicMonkey. Bonus photographs captured with Samsung Galaxy S, edits via Instagram.
New Style Editor post.

31 Days Captured: Day 30

Tonight we got to meet the adorable Peanut, Karen's sweet little Teddy Bear puppy. She entertained us during our Dinners for Eight get-together. She and Nick got to be best buddies while we were there, and we decided that a play date with Jade is in order.

In other news, tomorrow is the LAST DAY of my photo-a-day challenge! How crazy is that?! I feel like I just started. It's funny to look at the challenge from both ends. In the beginning, it feels daunting. How in the world am I going to find something new to photograph every single day? And then when it's over you look back at every image you grabbed and think, I could just keep doing this!

Some days were definitely easier than others. On the difficult days, it gets to be 9 p.m. and I'm wondering what to shoot in the hour and a half I have left before I want to go to bed. When it gets dark and I still haven't taken a picture, I panic. On the easy days, I have a half-dozen photos I could use and each one is "challenge-worthy." I never like to admit which days are easy and which are hard, though sometimes I think it's blatantly obvious.

But that's not really the point of this whole thing. Easy or hard, the point is to capture a moment in the day, whether it seems significant or simple. Each day is photographic, it's just a matter of finding those moments that can be captured and not letting them get away.

As fun as this second challenge has been, and as much as I've enjoyed it, I have some new ideas for posts and topics in the coming months. (I'll give you three guesses on that.) :) Of course I plan to post plenty of photos, even though the challenge will be over, so please keep coming back. I hope to share more stories and moments with all of you!

Photograph captured with Samsung Galaxy S, edits via PicMonkey.

31 Days Captured: Day 29

Wednesdays are about youth group. They revolve around a few short hours when some of the best kids I know get together on mismatched couches to reconnect, laugh, sing and read the Bible. It's a time to be goofy and love life, as well as a time to ask hard questions and realize there is still so much we don't know.

I've been helping out with this youth group for the past eight years. I've seen lots of kids come through the doors from freshman through senior year. I always think the next year will be hard when the seniors leave, but then I get to know a new bunch of amazing people.

The truth is, this youth group is such a blessing, just like the people in it. And at the end of the night, when my stomach hurts from laughing and I'm running on a sugar high, I know I'll keep coming back. When life is about something bigger than yourself, you suddenly find so much more meaning and purpose. When you can pour into someone else, you realize having life not be all about you is quite alright.

Photograph captured with Samsung Galaxy S, edits via PicMonkey.