It’s been a really busy week with wrapping up last minute details for Chris and Jen’s Wedding festivities. As most of you know, my brother is marrying his long time love, Jennifer tomorrow! We had the rehearsal last night at Mother’s and everything was wonderful. I just wanted to share a quick photo of my family. I’ve done a little editing this morning and about to head about the door to get a manicure with mom. I really want to bake Jen some cupcakes for tomorrow, too! She loves funfetti! Enjoying this time with my family and soaking it all in!

It feels weird to not be blogging every single weekday. I can usually plan out my blogs up to 2-3 weeks in advance and I know exactly what will be posted. Right now, I made sure to give myself some time off to enjoy my brother’s Wedding festivities. We had the Bridesmaids Luncheon this past Sunday at Metairie Country Club, the Rehearsal is this Thursday and the Wedding is this upcoming Saturday. I’ve been helping my mom plan the Rehearsal, which tonight we are making all the favors. Looking forward to sipping some wine and relaxing with the girls.

I woke up the other morning with a really bad backache that had been lingering since last week. Well after running some tests and 2 hours at the doctor’s yesterday, I got no news but ‘Oh, you must have pulled a muscle!” AWESOME! So, I put a medicated back strip on last night and that seemed to work a little bit. I can only sit at my desk and edit/do work for about 2-3 hours at a time without needing to go walk around and stretch my back. I am really hoping this passes by the weekend. I need to go take some more Advil!

I am excited about the new props that my mother in law bought me for my newborn shoots. It’s 3 adorable animal crocheted outfits to swaddle them in with matching beanies. My godson, Reed will be born in about 2 months- so I’ve been trying to think of some new ideas. I joined Pinterest a few days ago and my creative juices are flowing. I wish I would have joined earlier. That site is amazing!!! I am also on the lookout for some thin fabric in assorted colors to swaddle the babies in. Lot’s of new ideas in my head!

Well we finally have our guest room complete, it just needs something to hang over the bed. I found this idea on Pinterest that is an old picture frame with yarn draped across the center. You clothespin old black and white photos across it. I thought this would be an awesome idea for that bedroom. It’s amazing how finishing that bedroom has seemed to make our house a little cozier. I can look around our house now and see all of my and Randy’s hard work. He built our wooden headboard with his own hands. I am so proud of the way it came out. I did the distressing and I’m really pleased! I need to take some some photos of it soon. I wish I could have documented the whole process- but I got busy and blew it off. He said he wanted to make another one, so hopefully I snap away for the next one. There’s so many little areas in our house that make me smile – things that we’ve created together. That’s worth more than buying pre-made art or furniture any day.

I can’t wait to share my sister in laws Bridals with your guys, I had so much fun! She looks amazing in the photos! Another one of my brides, Sylvia had her session a couple of weeks ago, too! She’s another one… I was like OMGoodness while editing, breathetaking! I can’t wait to shareeeeee!

So I’ve taken over Randy’s little shed/workroom outside. My props were EVERYWHERE! So he went and bought ceiling hanger hooks from Home Depot. You walk in now and all of my props are hanging from the ceiling.. looks kind of crazy! But at least you can walk in there now and find things easily.

Okay enough typing for now, my back is starting to ache. Sometimes it feels good to just talk and get things out in my head. There are some many hours a day when I’m not shooting… that I’m sitting here alone in my home office. Often my blog is my platform and speaking space. Even though I have no clue who most of you are that read this, my blog is my voice and storefront. Thanks for stopping by! More posts to come soon :)

Here’s a peek at my cousins shoot from last week!

Just returning home from my future sister-in-laws Bachlorette trip in Florida. Enjoyed a nice little 4 day trip with all the girls. I am finally back in the office, so I’m sorry if you sent me an email and didn’t hear back yet. I’m working on sifting through them right now :) We had a great time in Destin just relaxing, soaking in some sun, riding on the boat we rented, eating dinner, having girl talk, etc! My upcoming October/November Wedding season is going to be pretty intense so I am really trying to relax and take it all in right now while I have some down time. I have shoots to edit from last week and I have several shoots coming up this week.

This time around to Florida I can honestly say I only took a couple of photos on my phone. I think I was just ready to take a little break from the camera. Sometimes its hard when I take my good camera to the beach because I constantly have to keep my eye on it – making sure its safe from sand and water. However, here are some of the photos I took while there. I am obsessed with instagram now! If you have an account, come find me! My user name is: jenamatogreff

When we first arrived to our rental house, there was a Wedding happening right outside on the beach. It was so cute!

Me, my friend Chrissy (college roommate BFF) and Mindy (grew up with her in River Ridge!) We rode up there together and roomed together, lots of fun! This is when we were headed to dinner.

We had dinner at Harbor Docks! My favorite restaurant in Florida!!

We went to this danceclub which was pretty random but the music was awesome!!!

The following afternoon we rented a pontoon boat and enjoyed the water – headed to Crab Island!

Pretty sailboat!

The original Jen Amato and the soon-to-be Jen Amato! Yes, my brother is marrying his longtime girlfriend named Jennifer!

Every year all of our friends get together to go the beach. Most of us have been friends for over 10 years! We typically go to Destin or the Fort Walton area, but this year we went to Pensacola. Last year, you may remember our Bahamas trip? Instead of Florida, all of our friends saved up for the Bahamas to see our friends Tim and Dana get married!

Although my website it typically for adventures in my photograph business- I like to share a piece of me every now and then. At 26, I am happy where I am in life. A business that I am proud of, newly married, a house that we are slowly turning into a home, a wonderful family and a group of friends that remind me how important it is to just relax and be a kid again. Sometimes it takes going on vacation soak this all in. Time away from the weekly hustle and bustle to just reflect and pray.

I look at these photos and realize how much we’ve grown up over the past several years – all of us have big boy/big girl jobs that were waiting for us back home. But when we go to the beach, we cut up and have fun! This was an awesome vacation and I hope we continue to do this. Marriage, babies, you name it — I just pray that we all stay close and never forget about our yearly summer vacation!

Here’s a few from our trip :)

Morning #1 at around 6:30am, I woke up and just relaxed on the balcony  – – soaking in the sunrise.

Ready for the beach!Randy’s candid shots he always takes in between!Going to dinner!Cobalt was amazing! If you are visiting Pensacola, FL area- check it out! The sunset dinner was fabbbbulous!Me and the love of my life ;)Being 10 years old again and writing our names in the sand!Crazy looking storm that passed right over us!!

Yesterday my family went to Sunday mass at Immaculate Conception on Barrone and brunch at Jackson on Magazine to celebrate my Mom’s birthday. We missed Randy though, he had signed up for an RC Race a month or so ago and didn’t realize it would fall on the same day. So, my mom…. I can’t imagine my life without her, she has motivated me to be the person I am today. It’s funny how as I get older I find myself becoming more and more like her. She loves to entertain, enjoys the simple things in life and strives to be a better person day in and day out. She has given so much of herself to us four kids that I wonder where she found and still finds the strength to do it all. It doesn’t matter if its midnight and we need something – she’s right there. I can remember getting really really sick about 6 months ago. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like death. I got hit with a 24 hour flu bug and it really knocked me out. Ya know those times when all you need is your mom? I called her up and she was over in 5 minutes. She is so selfless, loving and kind. Anyone who meets her loves her. She’s sweet to everyone, just one of those plain out genuine souls. Just don’t mess with her kids! She jokes about that all the time and would put up a fight for us.

No matter how old we get, we still need her. Everyday. She’s someone I look up to and who I can trust. When the day comes, I only hope to be half the mom she is. I always dream about having a little girl – she looks like me and sounds like me when I was young. I hope that one day I can have a daughter, so I’ll know what it feels like to have one of my own. So I’ll finally understand the connection my mom has with me.

Mom, thank you for being you. For loving me and understanding me. You’ve always let us four kids be us. Never judging us, never pushing us to be someone we’re not. You let our gifts lead us to where God wanted us in our lives. Thank you for remembering that even though my job gets busy some weeks and I don’t get to see you that much- that I’m still right here loving you guys. I’m just trying to chase my dreams and make you, Dad and Randy proud. Thanks for the motivation and for being such a great role model. You’ve made me a better person, I love you!

Enjoyed our Sunday outing yesterday and another home cooked meal tonight at my parents to celebrate my Mom! I love getting the chance to spend quality time with my family :)