The Lady Gaga Pandora station seemed like a good idea.  I turned to Lady Gaga to spice up my editing soundtrack after exhausting my iTunes library and growing tired of the same old Pandora stations I usually listen to.  It was such a drastic change at first that I loved it.  But I could only take it for so long before I started wanting to tear my hair out – a stage I reached last week whilst editing.  No more.  Turns out I could not be romanced, Lady Gaga, thankyouverymuch.

I know I’m not alone on this – I often meet photographers who practically beg for suggestions of what to watch or listen to whilst editing.  So here’s a playlist I’ve been running with some success.  A little old, a little new, a little Bob Marley.  Because Bob Marley makes editing through the family photos just that much easier :)  Maybe one of the songs will inspire you to create a new Pandora station of your own.  I’m hoping someone will share their favorite playlist in return – I still need some new music myself, and I’d like to keep all of my hair intact :)

Our garden has expanded.  Our yard is now home to the following: 5 tomato plants, 6 bell pepper plants, basil, chives, strawberries, 2 pumpkin plants, 3 acorn squash plants, 1 (sad looking) cucumber plant, and several rows of carrots and beets.  And we’re reserving a spot for the fall crop of lettuce.  Serious expansion.  We just both really enjoy puttering around in the garden, weeding, watering, and sometimes giving the plants a pep talk.  We’re a  little odd, but we’re fun :)

This little tomato is our first harvest.  It’s an heirloom olivade.  It’s odd how proud you can be of such a tiny little tomato :)  We put it to good use last night on our pizza.  Yum yum.  Hooray for gardening!

I’ve just turned a year older.

In the last 365 days, I visited 7 countries, got engaged to my love, and moved from St. Louis to Denver.  Even if I hadn’t done anything else this year, I’d consider it a good one.

To celebrate my birthday tonight I want to do two things – eat too much cheesecake and drink a little wine with some great people.  So in my last effort of 26, I spent yesterday afternoon making the fantastic cheesecake you see here.  It’s a Cappucino Fudge Cheesecake that I’ve been drooling over for months ever since I saw the recipe here.  It’s probably the most indulgent dessert I’ve ever made, and I’m pretty excited to eat a little too much of it tonight.  It’s my birthday – I’m allowed.

Farewell, 26.  You’ve been good to me.  Hello, 27 – it appears you’ve brought cheesecake with you.  I can already tell we’ll be great friends.

We’re off this morning for a week-long visit to St. Louis!  I’ll be doing 8 portrait sessions while I’m there, and we’re having our engagement portraits done as well.  Finally there will be more than just one good photo of John and I :)  I’ll be checking email and voicemail while I’m gone, I just might be a little slower than usual.  Back in Denver on June 16th!

I’ve held a few odd jobs in my 26 years.  Hostess, telemarketer, food writer, dating service headshot photographer, word processor, lingerie sales associate, receptionist, envelope stuffer, real estate photographer, classified ads sales associate, cookie baker …

I even spent an entire summer unstapling paperwork and paperclipping it back together.  Seriously.

But the only job that’s held my interest for longer than about a year is this one.  This month marks my fifth year of being in business, and I still completely love it.  This is the only job that has ever made me feel truly lucky to do what I do.

After five years in business, I am filled with total and complete gratitude.  I am grateful to all the couples and families that have allowed me to be a part of their lives.  I’m thankful that when I was confused about what I wanted to do in life my brilliant sister suggested I help a friend-of-a-friend with a wedding, just to feel it out.  I’m thankful that I fell backwards into this career when I was only 21 – I don’t know if I ever would have found it forwards.  I am thankful that I get to do something I love every day.  I don’t take that lightly.

This gallery is a flashback of the first wedding I ever photographed alone – Gayla and Richard at the Evergreen Lakehouse back in 2005.  This couple was brave to hire me, and they essentially started my career.  I owe them.

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support me through this adventure called owning a business.  And if you’d like a little thank you gift, how about 50% off prints or digital files for the next two weeks?  Visit your gallery HERE to automatically get the discount :)