The end of a year

Today I’m officially observing New Year’s Day!  Every year, I normally spend New Year’s Day sleeping in (check), having a nice long quiet time of journaling and praying (check), work out a budget for the new year (um, pass, I don’t feel like it), going through my calendar for the last year (check), and reminiscing about all that’s happened (check).  It’s been a challenging year for sure, especially the last few months of the year when life got doubly stressful, but as I look back I have a much better perspective and am able to truly thank God for this year!

Here’s a little peek at my 2011 in no particular order…

Shot 14 fabulous weddings from January through December in Boston, on the Cape, and in Connecticut

Summer Wedding at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge

Took voice lessons for the first time

Renovated my home office

Fell in love with my new neph-dog, Buckeye

Brought on CoCo as a paid office assistant

FINALLY bough an iPhone!!!!

Lead a LIFEgroup of fabulous women for a few months

Got published in The Knot Boston, twice!

Said goodbye to too many dear friends as they moved away

Joyfully welcomed back a few friends as they returned home

Spoke at the Boston PUG on Facebook Marketing, and with Enna Grazier at Inspire 2011 on Branding

Inspire Boston 2011

Shot 12 Engagement Sessions in Boston, on the Cape, and in New York

Boston Engagement Session

Donated over $4800 to various non-profits as part of our GIVE program!!  So cool!

Sang lots of karaoke (sometimes while shooting weddings ;)

Helped organize and pull off the 2nd Inspire Photo Conference, and began planning the 3rd (it’s going to be sweet, you photogs should come!)

photo by RAW Photo Design

Shot 10 Family Portrait Sessions in Boston, Indianapolis & Chicago

Lincoln Park Family Portraits

Holiday Portrait Party!

sang on the Worship Team at GENESIS on a lot of Sunday mornings

Shot 5 Corporate photo sessions

All Things Lovely - de sous les decombres

Bought a new iMac to add to my collection

Discovered the Colin Firth version of Pride & Prejudice and held a British mini-series marathon that caused some random British accents to pop into conversations for a month or so

Travelled to Dallas for my cousin’s wedding, a photo conference, and a visit with a friend – whirlwind weekend for sure!

Watched Butler lose the NCAA Finals for the 2nd year in a row.  wah wah :(

Scratched the surface of understanding the word GRACE and what God’s love is really like

Spent a long weekend at Loon Mountain with some of my favorite photog ladies

Lots of visits from Mom & Dad (aka Mimi & Papa)

Discovered & fell in love with The Civil Wars, Pinterest, and truffle oil tater tots

The Great Giveaway!

8 friends got married, 3 more got engaged, and 6 had babies, adopt or get pregnant!

Spent as much time at the beach as I possibly could

2 weeks in Indianapolis, and the annual Guenin Family Vacation

Cried over the end of the Harry Potter series

Said goodbye as too many friends moved away, rejoiced as a couple of friends returned home

Watched my sister’s kids get far too big


Hunkered down for Hurricane Irene

Threw some fun parties

Cookie Face Race!

Dexter.  Psych.  Pushing Daisies.  Mad Men.  My So Called Life.  The joy of Hulu & Netflix…

Turned 34.  yep.

Finished reading through the entire Bible for the second time (it only took me 5 1/2 years…)

Did NOT have anyone move into or out of my house!!  A first for the last many years – so thankful for my awesome roommate!

Laughed a lot, cried a lot, went to the chiropractor a lot, ate too much pizza, drank too much Coke, sat at my computer a lot a lot a lot…

 

All in all, that’s a pretty great year!  I have more to be thankful for than I remembered yesterday – so that’s pretty awesome :)

Here’s to a great 2012!!

xoxo

Krista

Lieschen & Stephen’s Winter Wedding – Beacon Hill

I’ve known Lieschen for a few years now.  She is both friend and chiropractor – invaluable on so many levels!  I was excited for her last year when she met Stephen and fell in love – and was doubly excited when she called recently to ask me to shoot their wedding just a few weeks later!

The day started at the Liberty Hotel down in Boston.  This painting made such a cool backdrop for her dress!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Lieschen & her Mom

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

yeah, she’s pretty gorgeous

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Lieschen’s little nieces were there while she was getting ready – total entertainment for everyone!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

FAVORITE!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

After she was ready, Stephen came to the suite for the First Look

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Everyone had a toast to celebrate

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

the handsome groom

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Then it was down to the courtyard for some portraits.  We lucked out and had a really lovely day to go outside!  Though, snuggling did make it even warmer :)

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Lieschen & Stephen

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

The wedding was shortly after the holidays, and The Liberty Hotel still had Christmas trees hanging from the ceiling.  It was the coolest way I’d ever seen a hotel decorate for the holidays!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Then we headed down Charles Street to The Hungry I for their intimate ceremony & reception

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Surrounded by their immediate families, the got married in front of the fire place in a candle-lit ceremony

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

It was perhaps both the darkest and the smallest ceremony I’ve ever photographed!  It was lovely though!!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

After the ceremony, everyone headed upstairs for a nice dinner, some toasts, and lots of laughter!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

One of the nieces was a little bored at that point, and kept wanting me to play with her… so, you know, I HAD to ;)

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

The other niece seemed to be having a good time ;)

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

mmmm, meringue cake!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

rings in roses

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Love this shot of Lieschen & Stephen chatting with his uncle!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

And just for fun, I had to get one with the bride!

Winter Wedding in Beacon Hill

Lieschen & Stephen – thanks again for allowing me to be part of your wedding!  I’m excited for you, and for all the lies ahead!  ;)

To view more of my favorites, please check out the album on Facebook!