Bridal Portraits: Megan McNeillie.

As promised, sister Megan's bridal portraits. I've been so excited to share my first bridal photography session!! Time flys by so fast and before you know it, your little sister is married. On June 25th Megan and Gary got hitched, two days later they left for Costa Rica on their honeymoon, upon return they've settled into their new home in Maryland. WOW! I'm so proud of Megan for so many reasons.

I am no professional photographer... but what we got this day I was really happy with. I shot in the raw, so we had that going for us. I also just found a great photo editor online: picnik! It's so easy. Of course, looking back, I thought of some things I would do differently and other ideas to try. But, the bride was happy. What else can you ask for? {to read more details of our day, see my earlier blog post from april titled: photo shoot..}

~ I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave me a comment ~
(click on pictures to see them enlarged)

She's beautiful,

Christina

It's 4th of July Weekend!

Time to break out everything red, white and blue. I have to say, the 4th of July, I love. There is something so nostalgic about this holiday, that takes me right back to my childhood. and it is sweet. Block parties, pool days, cookouts, neighbors and our own firework display (the parachute firework was my favorite... where the firework goes off and then this little army man falls down from the sky attacted to his very own coffee filter:) It was great... and I could run fast.

This year I plan on spending the weekend on Lake Murray, again, with family parties and cookouts. We've got a close knit group of Chapinites that know, this is what we do. Nothing has to be planned, we just gather accordingly, like clockwork. The great thing about the grown up celebration is: a) I am 21. and b) the grown up firework display. It's held every year and I've been watching it for some time now. Saturday evening we'll be tuning our radio to the station that plays everything American and watching the fireworks light up the lake. (catch: no parachute firework).

Need ideas for a festive fourth? I took the liberty ;) of gathering some inspiration, from where else, but etsy. I hope you, too, have a fun and safe weekend celebrating America the beautiful!

a red, whtie and blue

happy weekend,

Christina

and a $20 date.

Do you want the best $20 date of your life? Look no further than your local meat market or hey... how about Food Lion? CRAB LEGS!

These days Michael and I are a long distance pair. When traveling to visit one another, we usually eat out just to have some alone time, away from the parentals. One weekend, early May, Michael and I lucked out. My parents were out of town. fabulous! Michael and I both love to cook together so we seized the opportunity to stay home and use the kitchen utensils, tablecloths, candles, pots and pans... We turned on our favorite band: Widespread Panic, popped couple of beers and made 3lbs. of delicious crab legs. mmmm MMM!

We loved this night... and you can, too!

-Christina

the beach in retrospect.

Oh, my - it has been a long time since my last post. I'm so thankful to have some "me time" back in my life. These past two months, these feet have been hauling my 25 year-old body all over tarnation. (yes, 25... a new happening since we last spoke). During the months of May and June I feel like I have been treading water with a brick above my head. EVERY weekend was planned with something important to do or celebrate, lit-trill-lee, every. weekend. As much fun as that sounds, it's physically exhausting... and I'm in no rush to do it again. However, I do have a plethora of stories, events, ideas, and general goodness to share with you all. So, please stay posted, as I will be giving my Fresh Face world a much needed makeover.

I'm very much looking forward to spending my last summer at home, here on Lake Murray, taking it easy in the slow lane for awhile. And while we're on the subject of - the slow lane... the beach. Kicking off my two month extravaganza of events (after a bridal shower, and oh yea, bridal portrait photo shoot) ...I made it to THE BEACH! I was in heaven. I love a good black and white photo. And since I'm posting about the beach sooo far after the fact, I figured... black and white would be best. Please enjoy some of my favorite pictures from our beach trip.

I'll be back, oh, so soon, to share more of my adventures.

Take it Easy,
Christina

C is for Crazy Calendar

So, I just searched google images for "full may calendar." I was trying to find something that had

scribbles, notes, doc apointments, birthdays, anniverserys, weekend roadtrips :), etc. written all over it. I was just going to put a quick post up about the busy bee I've been theze da

yz and basically let my 8 followers know that I can't

wait until life slows down a bit so I can get back into the

blogging swing of things. The way things are looking I still have one more busy month ahead leading

up to Megan's wedding on 06/25! One thing is for sure, when I get back to my blogging business, I'll have plenty to share. But guess what happened!?!!

So, I was searching google images.... browsing over multiple calendars and the first cute one I click on is an etsy seller! It was meant to be. So instead of posting something really lame like hey look at this busy calendar and I'll be back.... I get to share Stephanie Fitz etsy world with you! She is a cute little illustrator. Here is what I've found:

{ May and June busy busy }

{ forest friends + teacups! i like it. }

{ sleepy bunnies - made me think of one of my good friends Christy who is putting her first nursery together! }

{ just a cute doo dad }

{ animal alphabet ~ need this for my future classroom }

{ out of season a tad, but one of my faves }

{ i love a cute note card ~ makes you want to send them more often :) }

Anywho ~ I'm wishin' I had more time to do this fun stuff all day, but I am up to my eyeballs in happenings these days. I hope your day is full of sunshine. I will return.

- Christina