5 Things I'm Loving This Fall | Monday Musings

5 Things I'm Loving This Fall | Monday Musings

Fall is one of the absolute best times of the year. Between the cooler weather and lower humidity (I'm looking at you, Hampton Roads!), all things pumpkin (my favorite dessert in the world is pumpkin pie!), and the beauty of changing leaves, there's just so much to love. In fact, the only thing I don't love about the fall is that I know it's leading to winter!

Every once in awhile I like to share about things that I've been absolutely loving, in hopes that they point you in the right direction if you're looking for something new to try or add to your life. Between the best things about fall and the newness of motherhood, I've added a few recent favorites! Here are some must-haves for this fall - and all year long...

The Biggest Wedding Time Stealers | Business

The Biggest Wedding Time Stealers | Business

Wedding day timelines are such a double-edged sword. They can either be your best friend or the biggest source of stress as you count down the hours until you're standing at the altar, ready to say I do. I work closely with brides and their wedding planners ahead of time to ensure the day flows smoothly, but there will almost always be unplanned-for circumstances that pop up at the last minute. After photographing countless weddings and seeing behind-the-scenes action, I have started to recognize a few key time-stealers that can cause stress without a good plan in place! 

Fortunately, none of these situations are inherently bad, and extra time buffers between events can allow for the unexpected. As you plan your wedding day keep these in mind, give yourself space for last-minute emergencies, and trust the professionals who are coordinating your day to handle any changes with ease...

How a Baby Changed Our Marriage | Monday Musings

How a Baby Changed Our Marriage | Monday Musings

We heard it over and over again: a baby is one of the biggest stresses your marriage will have. It was something I worried about more when we were new into the adoption process, but as time passed I stopped thinking about how our marriage would change once we brought a baby home. When we finally adopted Willow, I did not have time to think about anything besides the immediate future in the whirlwind events that followed.

Once we were settled in, though, Nathan and I both realized how much our lives had changed already, and how much things would shift in the future. While I will never say that our lives revolve around our baby, she is certainly a huge part of our day-to-day and every decision we make, from our daily schedules to long-term plans. Only then did I begin to think about how a baby would change this 8-year relationship and what it would mean for us...