Est. 2012 | Colorado Springs, Colorado and Charlottesville, Virginia wedding & family photographer

It’s another week of “Dopes and Nopes!” — A new Monday “weekend recap” series. 🙂 It’s a time to reflect on the great things, and the “maybe not so great” things that happened the past week/weekend! Of course, there are so many things to be grateful for, even in the midst of some crazy times. I’m currently in Florida, but only until Thursday when I start my road trip back to Virginia one last time this year. 🙁 You can count on that being on the Nope list for next Monday!!!! Haha! Ollie and I are going to miss Alex, but I’m loving the time down here!!! Check out what we have been up to below!! 🙂

Dopes

Dope #1

Alex’s Birthday is TODAY!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, handsome!!!!!! I’m grateful for this “dope” because he has been a huge blessing in my life this past year. His caring, respectful, beautiful, strong, faithful heart continues to shine into my life, whether we are together or a part. He doesn’t only share these qualities with me, but everyone who surrounds him. He is adored and loved by so many, even by strangers and patients, and I love seeing the impact he has made just in his short time here in Florida. Just imagine what kind of impact he will make in his Air Force and doctor career! Something I’ll never fully comprehend. It’s an incredible and humbling position to be in his shoes, and even for me looking from the outside-in. I look forward to what this new year of his life will bring! Last year was filled with countless blessings and adventures, and I know there will be many, many, MANY more blessings and adventures this coming year!!!! <3

This one “Dope” could branch off to many other dopes because we covered so much this past weekend to celebrate the special occasion! 🙂 We enjoyed a full day at the beach, went paddleboarding, had the most delicious meal at a fabulous seafood restaurant, I surprised Alex with a helicopter ride over Destin, and we still managed to squeeze in some chill, relaxation time at his house! It was the best weekend!!!! Tonight, we will celebrate with a scrumptious homemade meal! Yummm! I hope to impress. 😉

Not sure if you can see clearly enough in this photo below, but those are sharks!!! AH! The ride was thrilling, though!!!!

Dope #2

Relaxing and enjoying the Florida lifestyle! During my stay last week, one of my friends back from Virginia was visiting the area. So we got together and explored Aly’s Beach! I cannot wait to share our day trip on the blog!!! It’s going to blow your mind how GORGEOUS and picture-perfect the town is! It’s unreal. I loved girl time with Ali, and I’m grateful for photog friends who love exploring and taking photos! <3

Dope #3

Projects!!! You know I love a good DIY project! I have plenty on my plate, but this is what makes my heart so happy when I’m not photographing. <3 I love dreaming, learning, and doing! I’m hoping to squeeze in one last BIG project before I leave on Thursday!!! It even involves a little electrical work, so here goes nothing, YouTube! But here are a couple of things I worked on this past week, and I cannot WAIT to share before/during/after photos with you on the blog!!!

Dope #4

I love the Air Force community! Everyone is so supportive, encouraging, sweet, and outgoing! They come from different backgrounds, and I love hearing all about it! I look forward to building friendships with these beautiful gals throughout our time together!

Dope #5

I’m grateful for slow mornings to make yummy breakfasts as well as slow, chill evenings with Alex and Ollie! Ollie and I are going to miss these times so much when we go back to Virginia!!!

Nopes

Nope #1

Oh, this one is a doozy. I walked in from running errands one day to find Ollie standing partially outside of his travel crate… What you cannot see he chewed a hole through the mesh and got his head stuck inside the mesh hole. Then he tore off the entire zipper trying to get out of the crate. To say the least… The crate is destroyed. It’s okay, though, because I went out and bought him a secure metal crate. The only bummer is I already have two metal crates back in VA, and I was hoping a travel one would suffice in the meantime because it’s lightweight and comfortable to throw in my car. I said “nope” to this experience over the weekend and it looks like Ollie said NOPE too! Haha!

He also said nope to Alex’s staircase… So guess who is fixing that today? HA! Thank goodness for free carpet samples at Home Depot!!!! I have liquid nails, a staple gun, and the free samples to make this look new again! 🙂 Alex will eventually put in hardwood on these stairs, but I couldn’t leave his house this week with damage like this! AH! That’s strike #2 for Ollie in two weeks. Sometimes I think I have a dog, but I have to remind myself that he’s still a mischievous, rebellious pup! Case and point in the photos below!

Fortunately, just one big nope from this past week!!!! 😉  Hopefully, Ollie won’t make it on the “Nopes” again for the third time in three consecutive weeks next week!!! We will see. 😉

HAPPY MONDAY!!!!!