One year...already!!

This Sunday Caleb and I will be celebrating our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

I mean really...how fast can time go??! This time last year I was running around like crazy, finalizing last minute details for the wedding, getting my nails done, picking up my dress, practicing my vows and stuffing my face whenever I got the chance. I wrote posts like this one and this one in preparation for our big day. Friends showered me with love, family prepared me to leave the home I've always known, and Caleb made me more excited than ever to be a wife...his wife.

I still feel as giddy about this guy as I did nearly 365 days ago...

Dear Caleb, I've never loved you more. They really are right when they say marriage just keeps getting better. You've taught me so much about life in the past year. You've shown me how to let go of my silly worries, and how to push myself in ways I never thought possible. In this first little year, we've experienced more love than I thought imaginable, more loss than I thought my heart could handle, and more joy than my brain could comprehend. You've made me feel beautiful at 2AM with no make up on, and you've made me feel loved even when I felt angry at you over something so silly. Our apartment never really got decorated, and the dishes weren't always done, but we never went to bed upset...and that was one of our goals. We never stayed angry for long, and we always encouraged each other through each dream.

In our first year my dream of becoming a photographer came true, and you joined right in! We took two amazing vacations, and ventured on numerous road trips. We saw parts of the world we've always dreamed of seeing, and we did it together. We bought silly mugs from Goodwill for our cabinets, and sometimes had pancakes for dinner...and I've never had more fun in my whole entire life. If this first year is any indication of how the rest of our lives will be, well then, I can't wait. I love you more than I can even express and I can't wait to see what this next year has in store. You're amazing!

Love, your wife.

Runners Tell All: Race picture!

Today's runners tell all link up was to share a race photo. When I read that about two months ago I laughed because I'd had like ONE race photo from my 5K a few years back (and up until then it was the only race I'd ever run), and lets be honest, it wasn't pretty. As I can't justify the nearly $30 price tag for race photos, I screen shot a few.... whoops!

This was a really good spot in the race for all of us, in the midst of running over 6 miles straight, we spotted a camera man! Woohoo! Still having a lot of fun at this point.

Then we hit a wall...a very hard, hilly, wall. I'd rather not show you the pathetic pictures of me holding my butt, hips, and knees. They were so achy!

But the finish line was finally near. I will forever curse the marathon photographers for cutting my adorable husband out of this shot...but still, its awesome. Pure joy!

I cannot explain how happy I was! I FINISHED!

But can I be honest? I have never been more proud of myself than I was in that moment. I freaking traveled 13.1 miles ON FOOT. That blows my MIND to think about!!!

I felt so many emotions and so felt so many things during that race.
Motivation...
Exhaustion...
Fear...
Excitement...
Disappointment...
Hope...
Pain...
but more than anything, happiness. I was happy. I did it. Something I had wanted to accomplish for years...and I made it happen, all by my bad self! ;)

Hopefully next time I do a race photo-post, it'll be a little more flattering, but still...I'm proud!
I love running!

GET HAPPY!

Do you know what makes me really mad? Rude people! Why do people who don't even know me have to get mad at me in the business world, and in the real world?! Just because YOU are having a bad day doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone around you. Then I just get sad, because now I know they must have a very negative outlook on life...and well, that must suck for them.

SO I've come up with a list of ways to get happy...and stay happy!

-The obvious, eat healthier food. Of course, you have to treat yo'self to a donut every now and again...but for the most part, when you cut out most of the crap, you stop feeling like crap :)

-Exercise. When I force myself to peel out of bed before work and get in a long, tough workout...I have so much energy throughout the day...and knowing I'm taking care of myself is a great feeling.

-Buy something yellow. Duh! I shouldn't need to explain this one.

-Treat yourself. I know when I OCCASIONALLY splurge on getting my hair done, or eating that snickers at work, or buying a new pair of pants that fit me just right...I feel better about myself, which in turn makes me more confident.

-Make time for what you love. Whether that's reading, playing video games, or clipping coupons...do what you love, because "me time" is important. I really believe its good for the soul.

Drink lots of water. You'll stay hydrated....hydrated people just have more reasons to smile... and you can shed pounds. Sometimes when you THINK you're just hungry in between meals, you just need a tall glass of H20.

-Focus on the good. We've all got crap in our life that we don't want to deal with...but when you make a conscious effort to love your life, and focus on the little things, you'll find yourself happier. Choose to focus on your co-workers victories instead of your own for a day, pay attention to the cute magnets on the fridge at home, and compliment others throughout your day. You'll feel more smiles on your face than you can imagine.

-Do something nice for someone, just because ya feel like it. Random acts of kindness are one of my favorite things to witness.

Have lots of Friday's. If only there were a way we could control this!

What do you to stay happy?

"You're hotter than the sun."

That title? Bahah, one of the weirder things a random 10 year old has ever said to me at a wedding. The one we shot this weekend was an absolute blast. We met a couple of the guests at a previous wedding and they recognized us, and made the reception a ton of fun (even by borrowing my camera and snapping a few shots of us voluntarily, ha)!! It was non stop fun, dancing, and eating. We had originally planned on leaving around 10, then we realized we have the best jobs ever...so we stayed!

I have to say though, shooting weddings is truly the most awesome job. Not only do we get awesome wedding food, cake and favors... but we also get to dance with the bridal party while they get ready, cry behind the camera as they say their vows, and dance the night away with them even while documenting their amazing evening. If that didn't convince you to make a major career change, I don't know what will ;)

We've been so blessed, and this photography business has just been flourishing. We've booked a ton of weddings, and already have a few on the calendar for next year! We truly don't know what our futures look like, but it calms me when I think about going through all of it with my mister. I love that man more than words can express. He is so much fun and I'm so lucky to have scored him in life. 

PS - take a look at the gorgeous bride.

Happy Monday! Make it a good one :-)

"You is kind, you is smart, you is important."

Happy Friday! I've had quite the week, and I'm excited to say I've kept up on my #4weeksfit goals! How is everyone else doing?? Although this week was long, I'd have to say the highlight of it was when I got to go to a women's career luncheon for work! We got there and I find out that Viola Davis is the keynote speaker. I literally couldn't contain my excitement! I love her! If you aren't one to know many names... you'll know she played Aibileen in THE HELP!

She pretty much told us all her life story. I learned so much about her, and have so much respect for her. After her speech, the luncheon was over. A few of my co workers told me to come up with them to get a picture OF her....to which I said "lets try to get one WITH her!", then they laughed at me like yeah, oookay Kayla, good luck with that ;)

Guess who made it happen!?! ME!

To say I was star struck was an understatement. I'm such a weirdo...and I didn't just ask her for a picture with her, I asked her for a selfie... and I insisted (instead of using the stairs to get on stage like a normal person), that I'd hoist myself onto the stage backwards, all while wearing a dress, and tell her how excited I was to meet her...without telling her my name. Not that she probably cared, but still...omg! All I could think the entire time was "you is KIND, you is SMART, you is IMPORTANT"...and as cheesy as that sounds, there have been moments in my life I've had to repeat that to myself when I felt lonely or hurt.

She went through so much, came through extreme poverty, and found our amazing God at the end of it. Her story brought me to tears, made me laugh, and I left happier than I did coming in. I love people who leave that kind of impact on you.

Now, if only I could get a selfie with Katy Perry or Jennifer Aniston next... ;)

Hope you all had a killer week. Happy Friday!!

Thursday brain dump.

Nothing huge to post here today...just thought I'd let everyone know to stay off the roads because my baby brother called me the minute he left his drivers test yesterday and told me he GOT HIS LICENSE! ;) I just knew it when I saw his call coming through, I stopped what I was working on in my cubicle and was so loud on the phone (I know, I'm so professional) with my congratulations to him. I remember how exciting that was, and I want him to know how proud I am!

That being said -- I think it would be fun to make him a "car emergency kit". I'd include a TON of stuff, but here are a few things I'd surely include.

-Car charger (for when he gets lost and his phone is dead so he doesn't have to ask scary gas station employees like I did!)...

-Amor All wipes to keep his whip clean when his whip gets dusty!

-A flashlight, you never know!

-Lots of air fresheners...because boys are stinky.

-A gas gift card, because I love him.

-A fleece blanket for that time his car breaks down in the winter and he has no heat (I know this all too well).

Have any of you ever made a car emergency kit? I've actually been doing a lot of searching and these things are no joke! I truly need to be better about having these things stowed away in my trunk. An emergency may not seem so bad if I'm somewhat prepared!

Happy Thursday!

"Finding a balance", or whatever its called.

It's assumed that every blogger only buys cute things for their home so they can show it off on Instagram...that every blogger is too busy writing their next post than just 'living their lives'...and that all of us are just hiding behind a computer screen making our days look way better than they really are.

For me, blogging is only a hobby; it is NOT my life. It's a fun outlet for me. I started my blog about a year and a half ago for me, and I'm happy to say I'm still doing it for me. 

I wanted to be able to look back when I'm 80 years old, and read these stories to my grandchildren. To show them the letters I wrote to my future husband at the age of 21, to show them how proud I was of myself when I got my first big girl job, and mostly to show them my love for life. 

I firmly believe there are NO RULES to blogging. You do not have to rock all the latest trends, you don't have to write 5 days a week, and you most certainly don't need to compare yourself to that huge blogger who "has it all together", because believe me...she doesn't. 

I find so much comfort in the long emails with blog friends, who talk with me about their accomplishments, thoughts, and even their struggles. I'm so joyful when I can find a friend in this blog world that I can relate too so much that its almost scary. I especially love when I have had the opportunity to MEET a few of them face to face.

Sure, there are nights where I just don't feel like writing a post, so guess what? I just don't. Spending time with my husband after work is important to me, and I have learned how I can fit blogging into my life without taking away from my life. I like to write a bunch of posts ahead of time when I can, so I have more time with the people I love. Just like any hobby, blogging takes time...and its no different than any other hobby...like exercising, reading, etc. We all have our priorities :)

So, I admit it...I'm a blogger, and I freaking love it. 

Why do YOU blog?

linking up with Shanna!