I’m thrilled to be featured today for portraits of Nosara, Costa Rica on Brides without Borders — a lovely blog for planning the ultimate destination wedding. Check out the feature here! Huge thanks to Kirsten and her editorial team for including me and allowing me to share more about this beautiful country!

If you’re planning a destination wedding, let’s talk about photographing your day!

It’s been waaaay too long since I’ve posted a Friday Favorites. Here’s a few things I’m loving on this week:

Favorite quote: This totally made me smile yesterday from Reign Magazine.

Favorite snack: I’ve been on a green smoothie kick lately, and this tasty treat with spinach, mango and banana is seriously good. Recipe, here!

Favorite Easter treat: if I were to stuff my face with donuts (I said if…)  these would be my first, er, victim from Varsity Donuts. Who doesn’t love peeps?!

Favorite Pinterest find: I cannot wait to DIY this to my hideously ugly folding table and chairs. Here’s the how-to.

Favorite fashion: I adore absolutely everything about this look from Madewell. Hurry up, spring!

Enjoy the weekend, and happy Easter!

I’m guest blogging over at A Good Run and talking about Dando Amor (and my birthday week!). Join us there this week and I hope you’re inspired to pay it forward.

Wishing you and yours the very best of the season! We set up this sweet little shot in our own backyard this year (although we didn’t have snow at the time, so it was fun to pretend.)

I’ll be back next week with lots of goodies to share… Cheers!

Sometimes, it’s refreshing to go out and just create. No shot list, no agenda, no must-have images, just the ability to free the soul and just make pictures without hesitation. Our only tools were the sunshine, a Diana F+ lens, and plenty of curiosity.

I remember those mornings like they were yesterday. Nervous with anticipation the night before  (much like the night before the weddings I photograph now ) as the butterflies rolled around in my stomach and thoughts of what the next day, the new school year, would bring. New friends, new learning experiences, new sports teams, new fun. I remember my sophomore year of high school in particular—my first day at a new school in a suburb of Chicago. My apprehension was thick, sitting in the passenger seat of my dad’s car as he drove me to school in the Dodge. The burgandy velour left its felted fuzz on my new pair of JC Penney jeans and NPR quietly murmured its news on the radio, only to be broken in by the click, click, click of the turn signal. Inside those school doors was the lively voices of friends, teachers and classmates who changed my perspective on many things and helped to craft the person and artist I am today, and for those experiences I’m grateful.

I had those same butterflies on Tuesday evening. Nervous, unsettled, wondering what his experience would be like. We’ve been looking forward to, and talking about this day, for what has seemed like months. The backpack had arrived from our favorite online retailer. Lunchbox, check. Sharpened pencils, crayons, tissues, glue sticks. All ready to go.

Our car had the same nervous excitement yesterday morning as we drove little man to school that I had felt so many years ago. Our questions changed, but the answers didn’t, to the tune of: do you remember your teacher’s name? Yes, mom. Don’t forget to raise your hand when you have a question. Yes, mom. Be polite to new people you don’t know and introduce yourself. Yes, mom. Do you remember where the bathroom is? Yes, mom. Will you give me one more big hug? It will have to last me the WHOLE morning. Yes, mom.

I am so proud of him and the little man he’s become. As we got to school, I choked back the tears seeing him plunk down his backpack and eagerly look around the classroom, new adventures and experiences to be had. A note from the teacher was on his table, comforting those of us who were struggling with the reality that our little ones are becoming big kids. As if the portraits don’t show enough of how much he’s grown.

As we picked him up at the end of their half-day, we begged for all the details. It was awesome, he said. The best, ever. The playground a bumpy slide, and I love my new friends. Oh, Little Man, it’s just beginning.

While I’m not a huge fan of the dog days of summer, this is one of the times of year I look to the most—being at the lake. Just our little family, open water, and carefree days to enjoy as we wish. This week has certainly not disappointed any of us. The smell of sunscreen and bug spray permeates every fiber of our clothes and our cheeks are sore from laughing so much. The sweet smell of honeysuckle graces my morning runs as I can see the flocks of geese quietly paddling by. They are silent, other than an occasional dip in the water for a drink. The waves on the lake are still, gently lapping against the supports of the dock, as the sun sprinkles its early morning rays of light.

We end each day in nearly the same way with an evening boat ride. Little Man sometimes brings his fishing pole or some cars to play with, and we do nothing but drive. We enjoy the company of one another, feel the glow of sunlight as another day closes, with the promise of more adventures to be had tomorrow.

Your captain for the evening ::

You can feel cool air kiss our cheeks and the sound of the water behind us, while the motor rumbles beneath our feet. Little Man begs to take a turn at the wheel.

The boat dances between the bridges of the adjoining lakes; the water is much higher this year and hubs can put his palm on the bottom of the bridge decks.

The fading sunlight glimmers off the edge of the boat.

Little Man has finally succumbed to the gentle motion of the waves, falling asleep in my arms, as we watch the sun fall below the horizon.

Another day is done, more adventures to be had tomorrow.