CHI-TOWN {PERSONAL}

There are some cities that you go once and that's enough. Yeah it was nice but you aren't too keen on going there again and again.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH CHICAGO.
I.LOVE.CHICAGO.
I can spend the whole weekend there and leave and can't wait to return and shop again. Or eat at the Cheesecake Factory. Or eat Gumbo Soup. Or walk around and see such a lively city. Or just enjoy Chicago. The buildings. The sights. The people. Or hear how my sister attempted to go backwards an elevator and fell in front of a guy. We are related.

A Forever 21 that has 3 floors?!?! BEST.STORE.EVER.

I had Cheesecake Factory with my family for Easter dinner Sunday. My first time eating there. WOW.WOW.WOW. I was missing out biiiig time. Their Red Velvet Cheesecake is superb. Their Tiramisu was nothing short of amazing. The food is SO.GOOD. A new discovery in my life! Thank you Pops.

Hello little brother in Under Armour sweatshirt. Are you cold yet? Because I sure was. Hello Father and Mother next to little brother!
Hello random girl in turqoise jacket walking with your mother. You are in a hurry. Must be to eat at the Cheesecake Factory.


I don't think saying I love Chicago sums up how much I love that city.

MITCH & ANNA, FULL BLOG POST {ENGAGEMENT & PORTRAIT SESSION}

Mitch & Anna's photos edited. Check. Boom boom pow!
You are probably wondering why I have their photos under an engagement session & a portrait session? Well, let me esplain (you must say that in a Mexican accent).
Mitch & Anna have been married for 2 years (but don't quote me on that). The only professional photos they have had taken of themselves together as a couple were their wedding pictures. So when they knew Mitch was leaving for boot camp shortly they decided to do get some pictures taken of them together. So they contacted Caitlyn {hiiii} and she then contacted me and a couple of her other friends and wanted to know if we wanted to shoot them all together.
Um, yes. Yes I do. So that's why these are like 2yearengagementphotos/aportrait session. Saaavy? Savy! {In case you can't tell I am highly looking forward to Pirates of the Carribean 4 coming out NEXT MONTH}.



There really is nothing like spring colors. The bright green grass. The bright blue shirt. The pretty white dress. They all make me think {springgg}.



The picture above this text I am writing and the picture below are my two favorites in this post. I loooooooove happy-in-love-smiley couples!



I had a wonderful time with you two, thanks for the fun afternoon! Many many blessings especially as you start a new adventure in your life together.
p.s. I get off work early today, {woooooo} and Good Friday Service tonight. Tomorrow and Sunday? CHICAGO. Cubs Game. Yes, this shall be a good Easter weekend!
Happy Easter!

It's Wednesday! {RANDOM}

I know. I know. I haven't blogged my brother's second part of his Senior pictures {it's because I still need to edit them...shhhh} and I need to blog about the couple I second shot Sunday {yeah, those need to be edited too}. But lets call this post a random post {as in the heading, I'm so smart}.
And it's Wednesday. There is no better day to do a random post! {Not really, I just made that up}.
p.s. Olivia, I had fun doing our super duper mini photo shoot with the sun blinding us! :)

Mitch & Anna, Sneak Peek {ENGAGEMENT & PORTRAIT SESSION}

All at once everything looks different...now that I see you....
-i see the light, tangled {yes, i just used disney lyrics}.
Wow. This had to be one of my favorite sessions. My friend asked me if I wanted to be one of four photographers that were going to be shooting this couple. Mitch was heading off to boot camp and they wanted some pictures before he took off. Um, yes I want to come shoot this couple {Caitlyn, hi!}. And they were so fun. So crazy. So energetic. I'll post the rest once I finish editing them but I wanted to get these up!

Thank you Mitch & Anna for the opportunity to capture your lives together for a little bit, many blessings!

STEVEN STEPANIAN {SENIOR SESSION, PART 1}

Um since when did my little brother become a Senior? And did I really graduate 2 years ago myself? TIME FLIES. Anyway, this is my little brother Steven. Let me introduce you to this stud muffin.
Steven is 18. Guitar, skateboarding, snowboarding and baseball is what he likes to occupy himself with. Switchfoot is his favorite band. He tans better than any girl I've ever seen. He barely steps outside for an hour or two and comes back with a beautiful tan. I must spend hours and hours outside to come in with a tan. Actually I just prefer to go to an amusement or water park for the whole day and get tanned that way. Haha!



We went out to Kent Park and it was a perfeeeect day. There wasn't too much sun so the boy wasn't overexposed with sunlight, which has happened to me before in previous shoots and it's hard editing those pictures. #1 rule of photography for me in the summer: "do not shoot at mid-afternoon". Wow boy, is the sun bright!
You are making that shirt look good brother.

Work it, work it WORK IT James Bond.



A lot of the grass fields were recently burned at Kent Park so in the next couple months it will grow back better then it was before. Burned grass+stud muffin=N-I-C-E.

Wait wait waaaaaait! A full smile?! With your eyes open?! Our Mother will be so pleased! Maybe after I show Mother this picture, I'll ask: "umm so can you buy me those TOMS now pleease"? Haha...I kid I kid.

Yes you are cute and you know it.
Part 2 will be up tomorrow. These pictures haven taken FOREVER for me to edit, I need to snap to it. I know.

Coffee Lover's Coffee Cake {RANDOM}

I loooooove coffee cakes. Especially ones with streusel topping. Those have to be my favorite. In fact sometimes I'll pick the streusel off and just eat that and leave the bread behind. YUM.

I found this recipe off Taste of Home...Taste of Home taught me to cook! I kid. My Mother is who taught me how to cook but I will say Taste of Home magazine's with all those pictures of all that delicious looking food made me want to cook all the TIME. I still remember a couple years ago my sisters and I would each have turns opening the new Taste of Home that came once a month...it was the highlight of our day. Good memories.

My whole family really liked this except my little sister and I. Neither one of us like coffee at all. At all. It has definite coffee taste/flavor to it. So for us it was a bit much of coffee in the cake. But if you are a coffee person (like one of my brothers and my Dad!) this is for you.

"Coffee Lover's Coffee Cake"
Ingredients:1/3 cup sugar4-1/2 tsp. instant coffee granules1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon3 tbsp. butter, softened1/2 cup sugar1 egg1 tsp. vanilla extract1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 tsp. baking powder1/2 tsp. baking soda1/8 tsp. salt1 cup plain yogurtDirections:
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, coffee granules and cinnamon; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with yogurt, beating just until combined. Spread half of the batter evenly into a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with half of the reserved sugar mixture. Repeat layers. Cut through batter with knife to swirl. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack, serve warm.




My sisters and I went out for the evening, grabbed dinner and saw HOP. I have been watching the trailer for the past couple weeks just waiting to see it.....it is worth that $9 ticket. Very funny and who doesn't love a Easter movie with Easter right around the corner?! I sureee do.

William William Novak VI & Adalyn Novak {NEWBORN & KID SESSION}

....."children are a {blessing} from the Lord".

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I remember when the Novak's said they were expecting back in August of 2010. And I remember thinking, the baby will be here in April so that means winter will have come and gone and spring will be here. I also remember thinking, THAT IS SOOOO FAR AWAY.

Um, yeah. Baby William was born March 25th. 3 weeks ago. So much for it being so far away. And he is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E.

Seeing these pictures of Baby W is like looking at his older sister Addy when she was a baby. They look so much alike, except for the fact she had dark hair and he has reddish blondish hair. But seriously, look at those EYES. They are {beautiful}.

I remember back in November before they had found out whether they were going to have a baby boy or baby girl. I remember November 12th when they said so proudly they were having a baby BOY. And they were so excited because this was going to be William William Novak VI. His dad is the fifth, his grandpa is the fourth, etc. How cool?


I think this has to be my favorite picture of Baby W. Looking so intently at his Mama. Hello beautiful baby!


Yes, his older sister does adore him. The entire time I was taking pictures she was right there next to me....and when it came time to take some pictures with her little brother she was quite happy. Especially giving him all those kisses. And gently snuggling with the little guy.

Adalyn. She is one of my favorite people to take pictures of. I love it when she says my name....it sounds something like: "psswwhalla". And then she smiles like yay I said her name! Yes Addy, good job. Good job my little friend. The way you say my name is the cutest thing ever.



She LOVES LOVES her Dad's ATV. She loves going for rides with him on it. I love her mischievous look on her face. I love her hair blowing in the wind. I love that her white blouse she is wearing that my Mom bought her for her 2nd birthday. I love the background of where they live. But most of all I LOVE ADDY.

I love you Novaks. I am so glad you are part of our lives and family. Many many blessings!!

April Already?! {RANDOM}

I can't believe it is April already. Halfway thru April already might I add. Iowa has been having gorgeous weather, it hit the 80's here already and I think I forgot how hot it can really get. But I am not complaning, I love the warm weather. Love it. Loooove it.

Some family friends of ours had a brand new spankin' baby a couple weeks ago! William Leonard Novak III. I finally got to meet the little man last Saturday and do a mini-photo shoot. I will blog the rest later. Oh yeah, and blog my brother's Senior Pictures....this week it will happen!

The big sister Addy who loooooves her Dad's ATV. She is only 2 and knows how to start it. Smart kid.
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Find rest my soul, in God {alone}......