Two things I’m loving this week ::

- Skinny jeans. Ohhhh, yes. In my favorite brown boots and a slouchy sweater. Love. it.

- Skinnygirl Margaritas. Just one’ll do ya….and hardly any guilt. Best served over ice and with a friend.

Wishing you a big ginormous wonderful Halloween weekend!

We had a little time over the past weekend to visit a favorite place each fall, where we could enjoy the weather, the sounds and activity of the farm, and time to be together. Little Man ate up every moment, jumping from one haybale to another, petting all the animals, running through the corn maze, and swinging on the zip line.

Even as the sky darkened above them, she smiled. Let it rain all it wants. She wasn’t about to let a few raindrops be what defined her wedding day. As the gentlemen dressed, snapping their suspenders while classic lines of Caddyshack rolled in the background, they chattered among themselves about the impending storm, its enormity, its impact on the day’s football game.

And rain, it did. Thundered. Turned the sky so many shades of gray and black that it made Sports Illustrated for the images captured at the football stadium the following week. (Want a peek? Click here. But then come back…this gets good!) The wind blew, and rain pounded the walls of the church as everyone prepared for the ceremony and waited for guests to arrive.

And then, there was silence. And, soon after, sunshine. Joy is so much sweeter when you’ve endured the storm, isn’t it?

Ryan and Melia had waited so patiently for this day :: hours and hours of planning every detail, and nothing went unnoticed. It was a day that proved how love goes beyond any rain, any adversity; that love, beyond anything else, matters.

And it’s made more fabulous with a sparkly pair of shoes.

The beautiful hardware ::

Loved the fall colors in the flowers. Simply beautiful.

Melia and Ryan opted to see each other before the ceremony and so we had time to get some beautiful portraits before their guests arrived. As the sun started to peek through the clouds, we stepped outside for a few moments…the light was soft and absolutely lovely. Again, they rocked the details :: the applique flowers on Melia’s bouquet were from Ryan’s mom’s wedding dress.

The vow exchange among the grand pipes of the bellowing organ.

After the ceremony (and a quick check of the skies to be sure more rain wasn’t in our future), we ventured to Anderson Hall on the K-State campus for a few fun portraits::

Melia and Ryan love K-State. And football. So we re-created a little game of our own.

Sweet moments during the toasts and their first dance ::

Melia and Ryan :: from the moments we first met I knew this day was going to be so special for the two of you. It’s been an honor to celebrate your engagement and wedding as you begin a beautiful life together…wishing you all the very, very best. Cheers!

Thanks to the amazing vendors who helped make Ryan and Melia’s wedding so memorable ::

Dress :: David’s Bridal :: Galina Signature collection
Hair :: Trisha’s Studio 24
Makeup :: Abby Smith
Caterer/Reception :: Manhattan Country Club
Cake :: Blue Sky Cake Designs
Flowers :: HyVee Floral
DJ :: Complete Music

Click play to see the slideshow with more images from their day!

It’s love in its most basic childhood form. Simple, pure, best served with a glass of milk (or in my case, a Diet Dr Pepper!). She makes them every time we visit, pushing little containers of its goodness into our palms as we say our goodbyes until the next time we see each other again. They’re best fresh from the freezer, where the outsides begin to warm and yet the insides remain crispy-cool until that first snap and a chocolate chip goes flying. The ultimate comfort food for me. The ultimate bribery treat for Little Man.

My mom’s chocolate chip cookies aren’t, as recipes go, anything special. Yet, I can’t seem get them right. Mine turn out too thin. Too crunchy and they are gross. Too thick and they’re more like cake than a cookie…again, gross. It’s her magic touch. Something she does to the mixture of butter and sugar, I think. Whatever it is, there isn’t anything like it ::

Wishing you a weekend of simple comforts.

I’ve watched Alex grow up since I became part of the hubs’ family a few (ahem…okay, several) years ago.  An adorable little shaver back then with bundles of energy, he’s become a dashing young man who excels at everything he puts his mind to. A total guy’s guy who puts his all into sports, his friends, and family (yet isn’t afraid to don his sister’s pom uniform for the sake of homecoming…and wins “most feminine”!).

We visited two of his favorite and most memorable places to document his senior portraits…two places that have played a significant role in shaping the person he is and who he will become :: his high school football stadium, and one of their closest family friends’ farm.

And his beautiful sister joined in too for a few portraits! (her turn for senior portraits is only a short year away!)

I love this next series of images ::

Rocking it.

So while we were getting the image on the right, the horse from the nearby barn decided to pop out and say hello…he wanted his picture taken too! I don’t usually post outtakes…but these are too funny.

Congratulations on your senior year, Alex! I know big things are in store for you…wishing you all the very best!

A simple thought for today ::

There, I said it…. the holidays are coming, faster than we can all blink. How about making things a lot easier on yourself this year and get your cards ordered early?!? If you’re like me…it’s a novel concept.

I’m thrilled to present this year’s designs–each can be customized to your images, wording and come on your choice of pearl (my favorite) or smooth card stock. Just like previous years, the details are the same :: and just as a tip, when ordering, please indicate collection name and the corresponding letter that you’ve selected (Heritage Collection A, for instance)

• Cards are available only as a 5×7 vertical or horizontal—a flat card with full-color digital printing on both sides.
• Comes on pearl shimmer or smooth finish.
• White envelopes are included.
• Price includes shipping (but not sales tax for KS customers only).
• Photos must be submitted as 5×7 jpeg, 300 dpi, emailed to info {at} cathymoresphotography {dot} com.
• Custom orders are available :: please inquire for more information.
• 2009 designs are also available.

Drumroll, please…here they are!