It is so hard to believe that it is time to write new dreams and set new goals. I fell a bit short on a few goals from last year, mainly those of photographing 40 family sessions (I made it to 33!) and running a 10K (that didn't happen at all!), but I actually accomplished my other two goals of reading 36 books, and photographing 5 weddings. It was awesome to realize that I'd achieved those! It was also awesome to look back and realize that I'd accomplished so much more. I was featured on another blog, I was recognized as one of the best photographers in Albuquerque, and I met so many incredible individuals while doing something I love. How do I top all of that? I don't know, but I'm gonna try!

The final set of reviews for 2017! I made it, with a few days to spare. Well, let’s get to it:

One of Justin’s favorite Christmas movies is ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’, and he insists on watching it every time it’s on Freeform during their 35 Days of Christmas, and for those of you who don’t know, they show it A LOT. I usually sigh, roll my eyes and settle in to some task or another while listening to the movie with him (I listen to t.v. shows and movies more than I actually watch them). While I pretend not to like the movie, I actually really relate to Clark’s desire to have a ‘traditional family Christmas’.

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post about my goal to read 36 books this year, and while I'm really close to accomplishing this goal (I'm reading books 34 and 35 right now), I wanted to update you on my progress. These are books 13-24, and my thoughts on them.

We've all seen the movie A Christmas Story- it's the one where Ralphie wants a Red Rider BB gun, and everyone keeps telling him that he'll shoot his eye out. It's one of those movies that has a cult following, meaning you probably either love it, or you hate it. I'm okay if you hate it; in fact most of my family can only stand one or two viewings a Christmas season before they're ready to move on to other Christmas movies (Home Alone 1 and 2, The Santa Clause, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town are all some other favorites). 

As I sit here with my family, I can’t help but think of all that I have been blessed with. I am beyond grateful that I have a wonderful family and amazing friends, but I also have a wonderful group of friendors (other wedding vendors turned friends), and incredible clients-turned-friends. Seriously, y’all, I have the most marvelous people in all areas of my life. 

I’ve done a couple of blog posts about my reading goals, and books that I’ve read (those can be found here, and here, and here) , but I realized that I’ve never done a post about my favorite books. The problem with this is that asking me to pick a favorite book is like asking me to pick a favorite child; they’re all my favorites, but for very different reasons. So, here are my top five favorite books/series

I know it's late, but I had to share today's adventure with y'all. Today I took the time to volunteer at New Mexico's largest food bank with the Rising Tide Society's Tuesdays Together New Mexico group.

With Mother's Day coming on Sunday, I thought this week's post would be an opportune moment to share with you all a little about the beautiful moms and grandma that I'm blessed to have. I honestly don't know where- or who- I'd be without them.

One of my many goals this year is to read 36 books. To some that may sound like a great many books, and to others, not nearly enough. But, as a busy mom of three active boys, a business owner, and someone who is dyslexic (Yep. I've worked hard to be able to read and spell well, because it's something that I enjoy!), 36 books- or three books a month- seems a reasonable goal. I've managed to accomplish one-third of my goal, and I wanted to take a moment to share with y'all what I've been reading.

As I type this, I'm sitting here watching my boys decorate gingerbread houses with my mom as part of their Christmas fun. My dad is relaxing in the living room, and my grandmother is doing heaven knows what while puttering in her kitchen.  We're currently at my grandmother's house sitting at her dining room table while all of this is going on. One of the things I love most about this room (besides eating dinner in it, and the people I'm surrounded by) is that it's covered in photos of our relatives. My grandmother's parents, their parents, and their parents are all represented on the walls of this room, as are my grandfather's.  

It's hard to believe that I am once again writing this annual post. It seems like I just wrote the one at the beginning of 2016! But, here we are at the beginning of 2017.