I love Harry Zona.

Last week I got to do a little guest post for the one and only Busy Bee Lauren. I told all the many reasons why I love being a zonie, go check it out. 

Why do you love your state?

Cooler Ranch

Last weekend we were able to take a really last minute trip to the Barneys Ranch. Like, wake-up-Ivy-and-drive-till-2-am last minute. We're so glad we were able to go, the ranch is always a good time. If you don't believe me, check the picture below.

Besides snacking the day away, we were able to squeeze in some competitive bocce games, relax in the nice weather with family, and hunt for crawdads. Ivy loved spending time with her cousins, especially her newest girl cuzzy on the White side, Maddy. (My theory is that Ivy thinks Mad is one of her dolls. The baby doesn't cry, she just has a perma-smile on her face all day long. Best baby ever.) Thanks again Shell & Bry.

It is your birthday.

I'll be honest, these days I've been mistaking little kids birthday parties as wedding receptions, it's kind of icky. Maybe it's just me justifying laziness, or possibly my lack of creativity talking, but I decided to keep V's party "super low-key". We did all of Ivys favorite things- played in my parents backyard, swam, played pickle ball, and BBQ'd, it was just right. I told everyone to not bring Ivy a gift , but she was spoiled rotten anyways. Thanks to all our great family and friends who came out to say wassup. We love y'all.

 You know you've partied too hard when you have to be hosed down.

A year old.

Happy first birthday to my #1 girl! (I guess I should say woman now.)

 Now that she's one and all grown up, she decided she should start walking. She also thought it was time she start wearing jewelry and age-appropriate skirts. That Ivy, such a woman.

(Click picture to see her walk.)

The hardest part about rollerblading..

 ..Is not being able to rollerblade at all because your husband is wearing them. Geoff was feeling pretty left out the night he got them for me, but then realized he mistakingly got me a size too big. How convenient. 

I'm fine sharing them I suppose, he's given me the confidence to almost start rollerblading in broad daylight. I mean, if he can look that cool doing it... 

Please note that in the second picture above, Geoff is asking a 5 year old if he can blade off his BMX ramp. Also note that the 5 year old said no because Geoff was wearing pink girl blades. Rejected. 

My best birthday of 2011!

And now for the play-by-play of my award winning birthday:

I macked on my new lens and rollerbladed on my new birthday blades at the countdown to midnight. (More on the birthday blades later, I'm still kind of embarrassed that my neighbors caught me rollerblading/screaming, "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BRAAAAKE!" in my PJ's at midnight to go into further detail about them. Talk about social suicide, but man they're a good time.

The next morning Geoff surprised me by staying home from work. We started off the birthday trifecta right and ate at Joes Farm Grill for breakfast. After sleeping off the waffles and orange juice we went to Joes BBQ and came home to two rocking chairs I had been wanting for forever right there on my patio! (Thank you Mom & Dad!) We lounged in our new chairs and bladed down our driveway most the day, because the weather was perfect. (And I do not toss that word around lightly when referring to the weather.) Later that night we joined some beloved friends at Liberty Market for Dinner. They all showered me with flowers and candy and let me tell you, I didn't hate it one bit. At one point in the night I actually thought, "This must be what it feels like to be Prom Queen, but even better because I don't have to be wearing a tiara or a gown that is completely age-innapropriate!"

I give my birthday 22 thumbs up. Thanks for making it especially awesome everyone.

Happy 22nd Birthday to me!

Did I just wish myself a happy birthday? That's weird. Mostly because I never really liked celebrating my own birthday growing up. So much in fact, that the night before my 16th birthday, I caught wind that my Mom was throwing me a surprise birthday foam party (thanks for tipping me off, glow sticks in the laundry room), and I may have had a minor panic attack. I know, what an ingrate. But something about all that attention from friends and family gave me anxiety. I know, ingrate!

Luckily for me and all parties involved, I've grown to love birthdays. I have to admit though, I fear I've taken it too far and have become somewhat of an attention hog. All day yesterday I was all, "It's my birthday eve, woohoo! Let's go have a birthday eve dinner, let's go get birthday eve dilly bars, I'm almost 22, woohoo!" and so on and so forth. Guess I'm just making up for lost time. I got a little ahead of myself and opened up all my presents from Geoff the night before. Dangit! That big present I'm Say Anything-ing with below has rollerblades inside, yesterday was truly a 22nd birthday eve from heaven!

Anyways, I didn't mean to leave you guys hanging. I'm sure you're all curious about how my unwanted super-sweet-sixteen foam party turned out 6 years ago. Just imagine a lot of foam, now imagine strobe lights, and it's like you were practically there! Looking back, I should have given my genius Mom some sort of trophy for pulling that off. Are you seeing that fountain of foam spewing into the plastic-wrapped ramada? It's the american dream, really. (I guess this is where I should write that this was a G-rated foam party and nobody disrobed, I don't think anyway.)

PS: When Geoff and I started dating, my Mom would always be like, "I remember when I first met Geoff, he was wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots, you guys are perfect for each other!" I never knew what she was talking about and thought she had mistaken Geoff for one my friends who really was a cowboy, until I stumbled upon these old pictures of Geoff in all his foamy, cowboy glory. This is all making so much more sense.

PPS: We're doing a guest post everyday this week on this site (made for photographers by photographers) Click here to check it out!

M-O-T-H-E-R!

Growing up, my Mom would always buy my Sisters and I Mothers Day gifts. Though these gifts seemed extremely premature at the time and I even felt a little fraudulent accepting them, I loved being recognized (read:given gifts to) and couldn't wait to actually be deserving of said gifts. Every year she'd say to us, "You'll be a Mother some day, that's worth celebrating!" (Just one of the googolplex reasons why I love my Mom. She is always going above-and-beyond to make everyone feel special, even on a day that is supposed to be all about her.)

This year I was excited to celebrate my first Mothers Day as a real-live Mom. I was showered with love and hugs and gushers and twix and flowers and justified gifts, it was pretty top-notch. I even kept the tradition going and got the Veeves a few little somethings. (What's littler than a baby bikini and bracelet?)  Ivy totally earned her Mothers Day gifts though, I really like being her Mom.

To my sweet Mom and sweet Mother-in-Law, all you other-Mothers, future Mothers, or people with Mothers (that ought to cover everyone), HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Wedding Crashers.

Can I just say how much I love what we do, and I love that we get to do it together? Sometimes I'll catch myself complaining about this or that, but when it comes down to it; I get to take pictures, attend weddings, and meet amazing people and couples- all with my boy Geoff! That's some of my favorite things, shame on my for even calling it work! Last weekend we shot a wedding where they built their own photobooth with some fabric streamers, a polaroid, and a mini instax. I made sure to get an instax taken with my date. 

PS- It's also a good thing I shoot weddings with Geoff so when he catches me tearing up at the Maid of Honors toast or their first dance, he can give me the "Pull yourself together Stacie!" face from across the dance floor. See this weddings happy couple here.