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Luke and I are in full-blown “we don’t have kids yet so let’s do and see as much as we can while we can” mode. Insert: Luke’s spring break approaching and deciding on a spontaneous trip to New Orleans. Our first time! We found a friend to watch the pup, packed some weekend bags, and hit the road with ONLY our Airbnb booked. So not me! But it ended up being the best…

We had just an incredible time road tripping to and then through Louisiana, with our first stop being at a plantation just outside Baton Rouge, Oak Alley Plantation. The history preserved at this site is just incredible. Slaves quarters and the mansion, all preserved with so much history intact. If you have the chance, I highly recommend this. And thank you to my husband for suggesting the detour.

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Upon our arrival to NOLA we were starving, so we stopped at Willa Jean, a new bakery/brunch spot located in the warehouse district, and highly recommended on my all-trusted Thrillist. And it didn’t disappoint. With Intelligentsia served we were able to experience a little of home, a little creole, and an AMAZING desert consisting of warm chocolate chip sea salt cookies, milk, and a dab of extra cookie dough. Yup.

Next up was walking Magazine Street, checking in to our Airbnb, walking the French Quarter, Po’ Boys for dinner, and dancing the night away to the Hot 8 Brass Band at the Howlin’ Wolf.

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Day two brought more brunch (duh!), The National WWII Museum (another spontaneous item we highly recommend!), milkshake at the Camilla Grill, walking Audubon Park, posting up and reading at Hivolt, pre-dinner drinks at Bar Tonique (Vieux Carre FTW!), dinner at Compere Lapin, and walking Frenchman Street for more live music.

My favorite day.

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And finally, our 1/2 day three. With beignets at Cafe Du Monde (100% worth it), sitting in half of the mass services at St. Louis Cathedral (oldest cathedral in the U.S.), and mufallettas for the road at Cochon Butcher.

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And here’s me, loving the colored walls and buildings. Taking in all the culture that NOLA offers. We loved every minute of this trip and cheers to many more ahead of us! xo

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It’s here! My first placement in print, and I can’t imagine being more grateful than I am right now, writing this post. Having a Chicago real wedding included in the newest The Knot Chicago edition has me all kinds of giddy. There is nothing cooler than holding you work, your hard work, holding almost 7 years of building a little business from the ground up. Hoping that a freshly engaged girl picks up a copy at her local Target and finds even the slightest of joy or inspiration from those three pages.

To Brittney and Gary, thank you for trusting me to capture your day. Thank you for becoming incredible friends. Thank you for the shared excitement when we found out your wedding was getting published.

To see more from Brittney and Gary’s beautiful wedding day, view their post here.

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Back from one of the best trips/birthday celebrations of my life and wanted to share a few snaps from our long weekend in Denver!

Friends traveled from Florida, Indiana, and Chicago to gather in Denver for good food, good cocktails, and even better skiing. On Thursday we visited Topo Designs, Huckleberry Coffee, Union Station, Williams & Graham (!!), and ended the evening at Pinche for all the tacos and happy hour palomas.

On Friday the dudes headed to Copper Mountain for a day of skiing/snowboarding while the girls did a CorePower yoga sculpt class, devoured brunch at Denver Biscuit Co., visited/hiked Red Rocks, and cooked some chili in anticipation of the boys’ return from the slopes.

Saturday was my day of snowboarding, learning how to do so at 11,000 ft above sea level, at an angle I’ve never experience, with the best quality of snow I’ve ever experienced. Those views, you guys. Unlike any other. And views I’ll never forget, and will definitely be returning to again soon.

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Coming at ya with another personal post. I’ve had this one on my “to-do” list for oh so long, but finally sat down and made it happen. While I must preface this entire post noting that I am still a tomboy at heart, and terrible at hair and make up, and love neutrals, these products have been ones I’ve found after years of searching and trying and are obviously of personal preference. But, I thought I’d share them incase they help anyone out who’s also been in a slump of finding new things!

Beauty Products

  1. Jo Malone perfume: my first post because it is my new favorite thing. I discovered Joe Malone living in London, and rediscovered it during a random peruse in Nordstrom. After that fun 20-min play with scents, I found my new signature, Early Gray and Cucumber. I can’t get enough and often mix it with Tocca Stella if I’m feeling crazy.
  2. Urban Decay mascara: I don’t invest in make-up (see above for my inability to do it very well) but the two things I do spend a little extra on is mascara and blush, because those are the two things I’m at least wearing.
  3. Pssst dry shampoo: having some form of bangs for the past 8 years has forced me to rely heavily on good dry shampoo and, though this stuff is from the 70s, it totally works for this brunette and doesn’t smell like baby powder.
  4. Verb sea spray: anyone else struggle with seeing no signs of volume in their fine hair? And struggle not knowing how to replicate that killer hair cut? Yep, same. Adding some of this to my roots before blow drying totally helped add messy texture and body to my otherwise lifeless hair.
  5. e.l.f. Precision liquid eye liner: totally affordable and I love the brush! I’ll add this for date night or if life gives me an extra 10 minutes in the morning.
  6. No. 7 Protect & Perfect Serum: I put it on before bed, immediately feel the smoothness and whole-heartedly believe in protecting your skin even at a “young” age. I think I’m on year 4 of using this stuff on the reg.

Home

  1. P.F. Candle Co. candles: I have a recently discovered obsession for good candles. I swear any store or craft festival I attend I’m just picking them up and smelling them. I’ve been burning “Amber and Moss” this week and it’s been all the heart emojis.
  2. Mrs. Meyer’s all-purpose cleaner in lavender: yum, this stuff smells good at night when cleaning off our kitchen countertops. I legit can’t get enough and it’s sold at Target!
  3. NutriBullet: yes, we are light years behind everyone in getting one of these. Gone are the days of spinach chunks in our smoothies.
  4. Magazine subscriptions: my latest being Austin Monthly and Real Simple. They server as both pre-bed reads, go-to city guides, real-life tips, and coffee table books. But for the more hefty and gorgeous prints, see Darling Magazine and Collective Quarterly.
  5. Nate Berkus sheets: our latest and greatest add to our apartment. I kid you not I could now stay in bed all day and look forward to crawling back in each night. They’re so soft, the patterns are amazing (we got microdash) and 300 count for under $50. Can’t beat that.
  6. Bath & Body Works eucalyptus spearmint: I like clean scents, nothing floral or vanilla’y, and this is my absolute jam as a lotion and hand wash for the bathrooms.

There you have it! Hope this provided even one new discovery or a little intrigue. What are some of your favs? Share away and help a sister out.

The beauty of this job, is that you have the opportunity to really get to know a couple and their story. Michael and Holly were engaged just a few months prior to our shoot. And we went back to the scene where it all happened, where Michael asked his long-term girlfriend to be his, forever.

We started at the Fort Worth Water Gardens where Michael popped the question, then headed to the famous Stockyards for that beautiful Texas sunset I’ve come to adore every night. This April, we’ll be celebrating again with their wedding at the Lone Oak Barn in Austin.

I am forever grateful for this couple. For taking the leap in asking this Texas newbie to capture their love story…my first in this state. And hopeful will kick start many more to come! xo

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So much happened in 2015. Oh so much.

I figured I would break this year’s 2015 review in to personal and professional. Because, after all, I want you all to know me and my life! I want to know you and your life! I want to know all the little details of how you met, where you went to school, how he popped the big question, when you guys bought your first place (which, we still haven’t) and even when a little one excitingly comes into you life! One of the best parts of my job is staying friends with those I spent so much time with, in such an intimate way, on one of their greatest days ever.

Personal

Let’s seeeee, where to begin! Well I suppose I should begin with our biggest change since we got married. Luke got into a grad program at Texas State to pursue a degree in Fiction, which brought a move to Austin in August, we enjoyed a hilarious surprise while celebrating our 2-year anniversary, we welcome our rescue pup Franny into our new Texas home (and are fully in love with her), traveled to Thailand (part 1 and part 2), tried every single cocktail bar and restaurant we could find in Chicago, I started and sadly ended a job working full-time for Contigo, and visited our closest friends and family throughout the country.

Professional

I’m actually at a loss for words for this season. Truly. I know I say that every dang year but this one felt incredibly special. Especially knowing around February that we’d be moving in August, and I had about half of my season to complete after we’d moved. However, the encouragement, excitement and even sadness I felt from each couple could straight bring me to tears. That said, I’m struggling to find the words to type this season in a nutshell but here goes…15 real weddings, two styled shoots both ending up in very exciting press (All-american Tomboy theme and Marsala and Copper Winter theme), my first courthouse wedding, a wedding back at our reception location, captured so much love and little hidden moments, and received word about accomplishing one of my greatest professional goals to date — which is killing me to not share with y’all! Stay tuned.

2016

I have no doubt 2016 will look different. Moving a business is tough, but I have only faith and excitement in the new couples, new weddings, new vendors, new photographers, and new locations I’ll have the opportunity to work with. AND have 4 (or more!) excuses to get back to Chicago to capture a few more weddings in the city that got me to where markit photography is.

Bring it on 2016, and here’s to you 2015,

Kristi

Check out posts on years 2014 and 2013 for a deeper dive, and to see how far we’ve come! What an amazing ride.