Its no secret that I refer to cupcakes as my proverbial “crack” and our local cupcake bakery my “dealer.” If you follow my tweets, then you know this firsthand.  You know that junk about blah, blah, blah, the average American consumes blah blah blah lbs of sugar per year? Well I put their blah to shame. Really. Its shameful. My mother literally let me eat icing right out of the “can” (yes, that plastic, heart sickeningly sweet can of icing) for …breakfast…with nothing else. She wasn’t a bad mom. I was just an especially sugary sweet devil child.  For over two decades of my life I ate Reese Cups, chicken fingers, french fries, bacon, McDonald’s, and well, anything with sucrose-loaded.  Sound healthy, no?

Its funny how when people stop hounding after you to change something that you automatically have the desire to do it on your own. You see, if you would have asked me just 4 or 5 years ago if I would like the following items below (and I’m NOT kidding about this) I would flat out tell you no. Here’s a list of some foods I tried for the first time EVER in the past couple years:

Pizza | Hamburger…still don’t like…okay haven’t tried  | Salad…disgusting | Cheesecake | Rice | Pasta | Steak | Apples, Strawberries, and Cherries | Pancakes and Waffles | Scrambled Eggs  Milkshakes | Ice Cream Sandwiches | Sandwiches in general. Ha…you think I’m kidding. |  Mashed Potatoes | Quesadillas & Burritos | Sweet Potatoes | Blueberry Muffins

I know you have all met some finicky eaters, but really? Even looking at that list, I can barely believe it. How did I go well over twenty years never even TRYING mashed potatoes, cheesecake, steak, or…sandwiches?!?! (Don’t ask, I thought bread and cheese and meat together was really strange.)

I was in food prison.

And I guess I’m not totally out. I still don’t like anything with tomatoes, any vegetables minus the potato variety, soups (hot liquid still freaks me out) which also rules out hot chocolate and hot coffee and teas, and I’m still slightly iffy about pie. My grandmother would look at me with such disdain as she tried to figure out why this “child” (that was my legit name by the way and still is)  would not try these DAMNED NOOOODLES!! That to this day, is the only fight we’ve ever had.

And while I might be on lifetime probation, I don’t really mind.  There are such sweeter things in life I’ll never tire. This time around though, I can make them for myself.

For the kids working at Chick-fil-A who ask me 6 times, “Sweet Tea???” when I ask them for extra packets of sugar to go with it – my job is better than yours. ; )

Thanks for blogstalking,

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

SIX wedding attire changes in total.  Heirloom pieces. Custom made. Intricacy.

Besides the stunning array of garments, the people they adorned outshone them by insurmountably. Vani is what I would image a modern day queen to be. Stunning, gracious, intelligent, genial.  Shekhar has a je ne sais quoi about him.  Dapper, humorous, and driven are words that come to mind. He is a genuine person that visibly melts at the sight of Vani.  Upon commencement of the ceremony before Vani arrived Shekhar was very even keeled. (That is until Vani arrived and then a sly smile appeared…) I LOVE their smile and laughter and no one can do that as well for them as each other. I present… Dr. and ….Dr. …? Is that terrible that I don’t know how to properly address that? Anyway, enjoy.

Shekhar, Vani, your family, and your friends-thank you.

And of course, blogstalkers are the best!

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

Well, let me first tell you that blogging every day has been SUCH a challenge, by far much more difficult that I had initially perceived. How hard could it be? Well alllmost as hard as Carrie Bradshaw refraining from Manolo’s hard. Although, this isn’t the last you’ve heard of me!! It won’t be everyday, but it will be much more often.

I however, did enjoy recapping the memories, laughter, and to the disdain of a few-blackmail. Get over it.

I’ve had drool worthy brides, painfully charming grooms, Ralph Lauren Magazine children, friendships made, laughter had, windy cities, Dog Maid of Honors, FireBling, homemade alien deflectors, “progressive” Bride and Grooms, the most utterly amazing weather, church coordinators that Hitler would fear, inspiration from the most amazing photographer friends one could have, heart palpitating “Reveals”, those RED dad pants, and as always Downright Dirtiness with a touch Sophistication. ; )

I tell 2010 to BRING IT!!!

Lastly, here are a few (9) photos that didn’t really fit into any of the previous categories, but nonetheless I wanted to share.

Thanks for blogstalking,

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

P.S. – I just added a fun little Q&A public forum if anyone would like to take advantage of it. Its found under the socialize tab or you can simply click here.

Reception, dinner, dancing, toasts, cocktails, mayhem. Those are some wonderful words. (But this post isn’t about words. Trust me. You won’t need them.)

And now a little game I like to call, “What can we add to our Blackmail Gallery?”

Lets get the party started with a random drunk dude, shall we? You know which one I mean.

Sometimes my Blackmail galleries don’t have to be embarrassing, but definitely questionable or at the very least humorous. I think this is how I viewed the evening after 6 cocktails. So maybe jokes on me?

Dr. Kirby is THE BEST. I’m petitioning him to adopt me. (He’s the one with my homemade alien deflector.)

Blogstalkers, unite!

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

I have nothing to write other than I adore these people. Oh, yeah-and the “9″ thing. Screw that.

You rock my socks high heels off.

XOXO, blogstalkers.

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

What a killer bunch of hot tamales I’ve had in 2009! I think I get SO lucky with my incredible brides that I cannot justify taking credit for the beauty below. Classy demeanor, humor, elegance, and style radiate throughout these women. Here are my 9 favorites from this year. I had no picking process other than what first caught my glance when shuffling, otherwise I would have gone batty.

Ladies, thank you ALL for having such grace and letting me document your incredible lives with you. XOXOXOXO to you all!!

P.S. – I know lots of photographers think their brides are beautiful, but I’ve had one FINE lookin’ group of ladies this year. I WIN.

P.S.S – There are 10. Let’s pretend there are 9. K, thanks.

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

Wedding. Travel. Wedding. Wedding. Travel. Wedding…. Somehow we didn’t actually get to photograph that many portrait or engagement sessions this year-only a mere handful. I do think though that for lack in quantity, we made up for it in quality. We’ve had the most dashing individuals to capture; I love their smiling faces.

Honorable mention ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At this point, I don’t even know what to pick for my favorites. Do you all even realize the shear number of images we capture in a full year? Its daunting really. 9 is MUCH harder than I initially realized as I find so many photos that merit my smile and catch my eye just as much the photo beside it. I only want to let everyone know that I’m meagerly attempting to remember some of my favorite moments from the past 365 days, and I’m sure to forget one or eighteen along the way. We can all forgive me though, right? Good.

Thanks for blogstalking,

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

First a few lovely details before we make it to my list of favorites….

…

…RINGS!

Honorable mentions first. (Okay, there are 4 this time. I’m seeing a trend in my cheating ways…)

(goes with #4)

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#9

#8 (Yep, they were like that in camera)

#7 Who knew carpet is so sassy?

#6

#5 (You should have seen the champagne mess we made to get this. Everything was sticky and smelled like a sweaty drunk.)

#4 8-tracks AND Marvin Gaye? Score!

#3

#2

#1. Three words. Lysol. Lighter. Bling.

….And here’s behind the scenes for this one. FireBling

What were your favorites dear blogstalkers?

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

ETA: How could I forget about this gem? : )

To me the easiest part of the entire wedding day is the actual wedding (ceremony) itself. I get to do what I believe I do best. Document. I can’t interfere. I don’t want to interfere. I get to quietly observe and no one distracts me.

This series of photos I picked because of peaked emotion, not because of venue, flowers, dress, etc., etc., etc. While I’m still considering everyone’s suggestions for the next series, I have to include the ceremony portion, right? Somehow none of you have mentioned that so far…

First, I have 2 honorable mentions. (Okay, I’m kind of cheating. Get over it. …there will probably be a lot more cheating around here! Just 9 is tough, alright!)

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Blogstalking is nice. : ) -A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE