I met my now dear friend Rachel Tenny through the magical land of Instagram over a year ago and since they, we’ve had the chance to become in-person friends and I am so grateful. This lady is incredible– her heart for people, gifts that are being lived out at the intersection of counseling and art, and of course, her love of wine, all lend to the authentic life she lives. So when she shared her vision behind the My Body is Enough Project, I held back tears thinking about the lives that would be impacted. 

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has struggled with body image off and on for most of my non-childhood life. I remember being at a baseball game in 5th grade, sitting in the bleachers wondering why I had dimples on the sides of my thighs when other girls didn’t, having braces earlier than everyone else, and being a competitive musical theater performer who could “always be just a little skinnier”. College of course was a beast (hello pizza + stress) and then Disney, where I was cast into entertainment and scrutinized- literally measured from top to bottom and watched like a hawk from my skin to my stature. Ugh. Ick. Bleh.

Tomorrow I celebrate 5 years of marriage with J, a guy who has been at my side since I was 14. And we have an 18 year old girl living with us. A lot of nights involve partly homemade meals that I can pull together quickly and I’m coming off of years sitting at a desk in corporate land. All that to say, in August I turned a corner. I grabbed a YMCA pass (the 2nd “gym” pass I’ve owned in my life), cleaned out our cabinets, and started working on embracing this season of life and how my body is in it. 

One of the most refreshing things has been going to my Tuesday/Thursday water aerobics class. I’m the youngest one in the pool by 20-30 years and it is the absolute highlight of my week! Just yesterday I met Elaine– a 78 year old who commutes during the week to Tampa to care for her granddaughter. Elaine checked to be sure I was wearing sunscreen and other than that, we carried on conversation about life! She could care less about what size clothes I wear, who styles my hair, what color nailpolish I have on. Because Elaine has lived it, she gets it, and is in a stage where getting up everyday, ignoring the aches and pains, and spending time with people she loves is what matters most. 

Amen to that. 

Rachel,
I am so thankful you’re doing this project alongside all of the other amazing things you’re doing. I’m so excited for people to jump on board– I know this project and these beautiful cards are going to be huge blessings!!!!

On of the best parts of this last year has been having the opportunity to attend and speak at conferences like Pursuit, The Cultivate Retreat, and Around the Table KC! When I decided to leave my higher ed role this year, I knew that teaching, speaking, and mentoring were all things I wanted to actively pursue. But even with years of teaching experience, it takes time to break into a new industry in this capacity! The thing I love about the creative community? A lot of amazing people are creating super valuable content and next week, a group of us are coming together for a two day online workshop that you can watch in your PJs from home (check out the amazing schedule, ya’ll!!) 

My sweet friend Carrie of The Carrie Grace Shop created this workshop opportunity and friends, it’s going to be absolutely full of great teaching from people like Kat of Dear Sweetheart Events and Creative @ Heart, Catherine Giudici (Yes, from the bachelor!), Callie Lindsey (and hopefully her famous pet hedge hogs!), the KC girls of Think Creative Collective and so many more (check out full bios here!) 

If you’re a creative, small business owner, dreamer, side-gigger, writer, ETSY shop owner, we really hope you’ll join us next week for high quality teaching & engaging! Just because we won’t be in person DOES NOT mean you’ll be an invisible person behind the screen! We can’t wait to talk with you & learn about your big heart! 

You can GRAB A SEAT for only $49– WHATTTTT. This INCLUDES replays of all the speakers!!! I know my talk is one that I’ve delivered at investment conferences, so, this is a GREAT way to take away super valuable content at a literal STEAL of a price! 

Feeling lucky today? Leave a comment on this blog about one big dream/business goal you have right now and you’ll be entered to WIN A SEAT at this conference! Winner will be selected at random tonight, Thursday, October 13th, at 10PM EST. !!

Graham and Shay are dear friends and I’m so grateful Tampa brought us together. Shay runs The SC Stockshop and Graham runs The Recording Revolution, but I know they would tell you that their businesses are small priorities in the light of their marriage, ministry, and family. 

When Shay reached out to me about documenting a 10th anniversary session, I was so excited. So often young married couples are willing to commemorate their milestones but as life gets busier & fuller, I’m sure it gets hard! So this session was just for Shay and Graham and I love how above all else, their friendship just shines through. 

Thanks so much, Graham and Shay, for trusting me with these portraits! Your marriage inspires many and we are so grateful to call you friends. 

Oh friends. It is a sweet, amazing, tear-filled, happy dance, OMG kind of day for my dear friend Emily Ley. You might know her because of The Simplified Planner but today, she is officially a published AUTHOR and her book, Grace Not Perfection, is available nationwide! WHAT! 

It was so amazing to work with Em and her Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson publisher teams on this shoot. Never before had they tried a lifestyle photography attempt at commercial book imagery and we had so much fun bringing the heart behind this book to life! I remember Emily saying “It’s for all women; not just young women, or married women, or women who are balancing a million things. What about the women who wish they were married or who long to have many things to manage? This is for them too”.

I know that many will be blessed by this book and Em’s desire to spur women closer to live’s that are full with things that matter. So much freedom, I know I need it! Good thing my copy arrives this week! 

To learn more about the book and see these images in action (I love seeing commercial work come to life in the hands of big, beautiful companies!!), please visit: 

Amazon, Emily Ley, Jesus Calling,  and Harper Collins Publishing

I shared Ashley & Alex’s Historic Savannah Engagement Session yesterday but ya’ll, I am SO excited to share their wedding with you! 

These two are clients that I prayed for. They brought hope, joy and grace to my business and their day was not one I will soon forget. From the sprawling estate of Quinney Oaks Plantation, the gorgeous florals from Moss & Magnolia, Ashley’s gorgeous J’adore Bridal gown , KM cake, placed under a gorgeous crystal chandelier, and coordinating by the fabulous Laurel Avenue, not a detail of this 300 person soiree was left untouched! More importantly, the reverence these two have for their friends, family, and Lord, made for a day of heart-filled laughter, tears, hugs, and hand squeezes. 

Alex & Ashley, 

I am so very grateful for you two. Thank you for reminding me of why I do this week, for encouraging me in my craft, and for being a picture of the gospel in marriage! 

Ashley and Alex stole my heart last spring when I was introduced to them by my girls at Laurel Avenue. Their young, but mature beyond their years love, fervor for the Lord, and sweet, southern souls had me like “let’s be best friends… yesterday!”. I am so thankful that they trusted me for both a destination engagement session in Savannah, Georgia, and their wedding in Millen, Georgia! 

We met for their engagement session this summer, and without Alex knowing, snuck in a gorgeous boudoir bridal session for Ashley! I rented the perfect AirBnB, which we used for her session and it’s also where we got the tandem bike from for their engagement session! When rain came the first night they got up at sunrise with me and we had the historic brick streets of Savannah to ourselves (swoon). Ashley wasn’t sure about wearing her southern sun hat and I said “um girl, YES!”. I’m so glad, it was the perfect touch to their crazy adorable love. 

A+A, 

I’ll relive your engagement session over and over again if it means hanging with ya’ll in this sweet, historic, southern city! Cannot WAIT to share your wedding images tomorrow!!

xo,