NEW BLOG!

If you'd asked me a year ago whether or not I thought my blog would be this important to me and my business, I don't think I would've been able to imagine just how much. That said, it was time to take it to the next level. With a brand new website coming soon, I needed my blog to be more streamlined, user friendly, and to, obviously, match the feel of the website. (Shh, don't tell Blogger).

So, here ya go world! My brand spankin' new blog! Please start following here from now on! Happy Royal Wedding Day!

www.katiesprinkle.wordpress.com

New Logo!

Oh my poor neglected blog, I haven't forgotten about you! So far, this spring has been a happy blend of getting settled and re-vamping systems. And things are beginning to run quite smoothly! Aaaand, we have a logo, folks! My ridiculously awesome and talented cousins, Chris and Michelle Rank (Creative Mind Design) designed not only this, but our entire website, which we will be unveiling super soon. If you ever have any design needs, they have you covered! Thank you, thank you Cousins!!

Spaghetti Legs

I love when a photograph catches my breath, evoking such deep emotion my insides twirl and loop and spin. I snapped this photo of Matt while shooting Saturday's wedding and I instantly felt my legs turn to spaghetti noodles. I married a stud.

Home Sweet Home Series

Taking a break from photography projects tonight for a little something different! In the midst of life and work and photography, I really wanted to enhance usable space in our home. Recently, my girlfriends and I took a roadtrip to Ikea, and I spotted super awesome floor cabinets I could use as a window seat in our keeping room. I copied down the wrong information while we were in the showroom, and once we hit the stock area, I realized that if I wanted those cabinets, I'd have to trek back upstairs and go through the impossible task of finding someone to help, and try to reach Matt for measurements. And Matt was golfing and drinking with the guys. So odds weren't very good I'd get the right measurements, meaning I'd have to drive back to West Chester if I needed to return them. Meh. I x-ed the whole idea and started dreaming of a big diet coke instead.

The next morning, a little seedling of an idea started sprouting. And I realized my very handy husband could just build the window seat! So my little sprout of an idea started growing like a weed, until no corner or wall was left untouched in my mind.

We all have the must finish the house bug here or there, but this house fever is different. I want to be able to take each space, make it usable and beautiful. And original. Without our bank account taking a hit. A little tough, but I'm taking it in stride. Letting one idea infiltrate my mind. If I like it, I'll roll with it. My whole goal is to personalize every inch of our home, and not in the typical Oh-you-bought-that-at-Pottery-Barn kind of way. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not for me). I want originality and fun, and maybe a bit of rule breaking too.

Here's my first finished project. I made this suburst mirror Sunday afternoon, painted it, and managed to drop it, braking it into ten pieces by dinnertime. Luckily, there's nothing a hot glue gun can't fix! It's currently hanging in a corner of our family room I was having trouble decorating. Now that dark corner is bursting with color and sunshine!

Newness

And, here we are. A new year. Full of promise, hope, newness. And extraordinary things. I spent the first day of 2011 doing this to our office- new paint and all. Back walls are still under wraps, until I get my cute hubby to hang some art and my new corkboard (thanks Sis!) for me.

I figured I needed a peaceful place to work, edit, and corral ideas for future projects and shoots. Paired with a few favorite songs and soft slippers, this place is perfect. Matt was out of state on a business trip earlier this week, and I never sleep well without him. So on the third night of 2011, I stayed up way too late, in my new little place, just reveling in all that's happened this past year. We started a business. I feel like a real grown-up. And I have the caffeine addiction and dark circles under my eyes to prove it. My cousins' beautiful baby girl had been born that morning. The third morning of 2011 welcomed new life. A new year. I won't post my goals for the year on the blog just yet; I think I'll wait until I've accomplished at least one, then virtually high five myself. But believe you me, I've got a list. A long one. Full of happy things, things we dream of, and things that make us laugh.

I could sit here and type a thousand thank yous for your faith in me and this new adventure, and it still wouldn't be enough. Know that your support means the world. Thank you, thank you, for believing in me! We're gearing up for a very big, exciting year.. Cheers and Happy New Year!

Gobble, Gobble, Ho Ho Ho & a Happy Birthday James! (Otherwise Known as The Longest Post of My Life!)

Finally! Christmas time! A break! Sleep! But first, a wee bit of crunch time. It's been crazier than expected lately, which delights me to no end, however, it leaves little time to breathe. So here's a recap... starting with... September. Life is so so beautiful. Little moments, seemingly small things. I'm learning to hug a little tighter, let laundry linger in the hall a little longer to enjoy an extra laugh. This fall has been full of life. Growing families, passing of loved ones, celebration, tradition, pushing ourselves, tears and joy alike, and falling into bed at night, asleep before my head hits the pillow. This life just gets better and better. Here's a peek into our recent days, er, months. (I know I have a slew of Halloween and tailgate photos, but goodness, a girl's gotta sleep sometime!)

Lisa ventured north from Texas to be greeted by a whole bunch of her very excited friends!

My dad turned another year wiser.

Chloe slept. A LOT.

The whole crew headed out for our annual trip to Freeman's Farm for some hayridin' and pumpkin pickin'.

 We're taking a big group photo every year in this spot.. we all thought it'd be fun to see how our families grow through the years!

 This little girl kills me with her cuteness. I can hardly stand it. I absolutely adore her!

 Real men hold babies, and cameras, and take their wives to the pumpkin patch. Four awesome guys, right here.

Ha!

 Camille celebrated her first birthday, dressed as Dorothy!

 Thanksgiving with our families. We're so SO blessed.

 My dude LOVES apple pie..

 And with the holidays, comes baking..

 And snow..

 And each other.. (I stole the idea for this shot from my soul buddy, and fellow photographer friend, Dru. I saw a similar photo she did, and had to have one for our bedroom, but of us!)

 'Tis the season..

And to a very sweet, smart, special little boy in my life, HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY tomorrow! Your godmommy loves you and is so SO proud of the incredible person you are. I miss you all the time Jamesy! Have your mama give you a huge hug and kiss from me tomorrow.. see you soon! Xo!

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lap kitty who needs a cuddle, a hubby who needs a wife to watch Elf with, and a cozy family room awaiting me. Ah, peace. I'm soaking it all in. To you and yours this season, Merry Christmas!

Bustin' at the Seams

There are so, so, SO many reasons I adore my husband. Every Christmas, I remember a specific quality that I really love. He loves Christmas as much as I do. And that, my friends, is a whole heck of a bunch! Really, it's kind of out of control. I can't really help it. It's what I grew up with. I've always appreciated my parents' approach. They do it up big- Christmas spirit takes over, my mom outdoes herself every year baking and decorating, my dad still clings to the "fact" that Santa is real, and his spirit overtakes his body every year, thus, he becomes Santa. Their home becomes Christmas central, in all the best ways. Laughter radiating through each room, Christmas music softly playing, cozying up with White Christmas and Christmas Vacation, sipping hot chocolate, smells of pine and cedar and baked goodness wafting throughout the house. It was always magical growing up. I remember wondering if the magic would subside once I "grew up." Well, either I haven't grown up yet, or I can answer that question with a big, jolly, No, no, no! Christmas magic is still bustin' at the seams. And I'm loving every bit of sparkle.

We've been ridiculously busy lately, and I wasn't sure I could live up to my parents' Christmas spirit standards, even though compared to the average person, I'm certifiably insane. Then I saw this photo. The one I'd staged and plan to send to all of our loved ones. I think I was worried for nothing; our Christmas spirit scale tipped over and fell into a pile of ornaments and garland, at our poor kitty's expense. It was hilarious. And yes, I realize I need a child.

Funny Bones, Pickles & Sneak Peeks

There are times I wish I had a video camera on in our house. Not because I want a reality show, nor do I find us particularly interesting. But I would like to document the progression of our weirdness, so that when our grandchildren ask their parents why we're so bizzare, we'll be able to show them how Grandma and Grandpa got that way. Matt added extra cucumbers to the shopping list a few days ago, with the intention of attempting to make his own pickles. For real. For some reason, this hit me funny. Really funny. And made me love him even more. Not just because I'd relish (pun intended) coming home to see Matt in a chef hat and apron, pickling and jarring cucumbers in our kitchen, but because I reallyreallyreally love pickles. And he's just reallyreallyreally cute, above all else. So if this whole photography thing doesn't pan out, maybe you'll see Sprinkles Pickles gracing the shelves at your neighborhood Giant Eagle. You're welcome.

In other news, we're hard at work over here. Here are a few sneak peeks to hold all of you fabulously patient folks over! Thank you, thank you for sharing your moments with me. I've been having SUCH a ball getting to know you, your families, your children. Documenting love is such an honor and I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am for your trust and support. Entire collections coming soon to a mailbox near you! Enjoy!

In honor of Miss Camille's first birthday, we celebrated 4 generations of Bell girls! 

 Brittany and Gabe celebrated their engagement!

 Nick and Lauren are anxiously awaiting Baby Corbin's arrival!

 My cousins' little beauty Aubrey worked it after a little glam session!

 Kelly and David are happily planning a Summer 2011 wedding!

 Erin and Joe and their adorable twins, Ava and Emily are ready for Santa!

And Christian and Brittany are wishing their dad a very happy birthday!

Surrendering to Goodness

If you know me at all, you know I'm a wee bit OCD. A teeny, tiny obsessed with cleaning, organizing, improving, perfecting. Welp, I can be found waving the white flag. For now, anyway. See? I can't even think about truly letting it all go for very long. Sigh. At any rate, laundry is piled in the hall, the guest room floor littered with projects "I'll get to soon." Unused paint supplies sit next to unopened paint cans in the hall. Hey, at least we chose a color! Cookbooks lay open, recipes marked, but left for another day, underneath a calendar entirely too full for the two people that live in our home. I've been driving for a week wondering what the light on my dash means. I've forgotten to ask Matt about it FOR SIX DAYS STRAIGHT. October, you are one busy, wonderful, beautiful month!

My mom said something recently that reasonated through me today, as my to-do list grew longer. Sometimes you have to just let it go, and deal. So I'm doing just that. And relishing in the chaos. Because we've chosen it, and it's beautiful. And funny. Like seeing Matt drink V8 out of a coffee mug, because I forgot to run the dish washer. Again. Or my monster kitty carry a headband I'd left on the stairs in her mouth, most likely to hide it under the rug, like she does with all of her treasures. Most people learn to conform to chaos when babies are brought home; for us, right now, it's our baby business. And with it, comes nurturing, dedication and prioritizing. We'll be experts in chaos by the time a mini Sprinkle comes along! Until then, and probably still then, if you stop over and see dishes in the sink and heaps of laundry, well, everywhere, just laugh with us. Because without leaving it for another day, we couldn't have captured these moments... And this is what life's all about. The beautiful moments. And surrendering to goodness.

Here's a few sneak peeks to hold you over for just a wee bit longer! Those who are waiting on photos, thank you for your patience!

Baby Annie made her world debut:

 Katie and Brandon celebrated their engagement:

 And so did Stephanie and Johnny:

 And Deidre and Andrew:

 Nathan and Traci have a little man on the way:

 We captured the Eubank family's today:

 As well as the Arthur-Denunes:

Whew! Stay tuned.. lots of wonderful-ness ahead! Enjoy your weekend and Go Bucks!

A Husband Birthday

Today is Matt's 27th birthday. Twenty seven. I overheard him tell someone recently that he's "basically 30." Matt may have accepted the fact that we're on the backside of our twenties, but I, on the other hand, will continue to cling desperately until my grip slips, due to arthritis. Regardless, today is a good day. The day his story began, and without him, my story wouldn't be all is it today. My days are sweeter because of him, my past really, really funny; my future strong and happy. It goes without saying this wife loves her husband. But how much? Unmeasurable.

Happy birthday babe. I love you so, SO much more than I could ever express. I have a feeling your 27th year is going to be incredible. Incredible in that we've-worked-so-hard-and-our-dreams-are-becoming-reality kind of way. Here's to a lifetime of delicious beginnings, beautiful years, and sweet moments. Side-by-side. Hand-in-hand. But just to be clear, I plan on staying 29 for many, many years.

A Whirlwind. Literally..

A windstorm hit our family's lakehouse this past week. And before any Oh no!s, let me clarify that the house is fine, and no one was hurt. Thankfully. However, the dock is another story. Kind of. For all we know, the dock might be happy as ever, resting at the bottom of Burt Lake. Or it might have been chucked all the way to Mullet Lake and feeling sad to have left our shore. Either way, it's gone. As in, gone gone. Our neighbor sent a photo to my dad of our rather forlorn looking boat sitting on a hoist, waist-deep in the water. One jet ski appeared proud, almost laughing at its counterpart, who was, sadly, tossed up on the bank while it's hoist was flipped over upside down in the water. What a mess! We heard the whole lake lay littered with bits and pieces of dock and remnants of a battle only the wind won. My parents' reaction? Laughter. My dad saw the photo and laughed. It wasn't the reaction one might expect. Except if you know my glass-half-full parents. They don't sweat the small stuff. I wished I could see the lake in person. A complete mess of beauty that's been shaken and left tired, ready to be rebuilt.

Rebuilt. Newness. Function. Beauty. All in a place that so many hold so close to heart. It left me thankful for the days that leave me in tears, overwhelmed and worn out. Because it's worth it. A journey isn't a journey unless it's tough. I need to capture life. It's what I was born to do. I feel it in my soul. And I owe it to my family to give it one hell of a shot. So I may not know all I want to know. I may stumble. I may spend too many late nights editing. Laundry may be piled in the hall, and my poor husband might be forced to fend for himself for occaaaaasional dinners. My to-do list may be longer than I'd like to admit, and my computer might be as tired as I am. But. It's the most beautiful mess I've ever seen. Just like the calm, clear waters torn up by ferocious wind, underneath my mess lies new life, the life I never knew I wanted so badly, and can no longer live without. We're building it. Rebuilding ourselves as we build our business. It's going to be strong. It's going to be good. It's going to be beautiful.

This was taken via blackberry..

Red Eyed Tree Frog!

We only get one life. Limited hours spent laughing. Only so many tangible moments to spend breathing in all that is good around us. To spend our time truly experiencing our world, we need others. The good others. Those who let us be who we are, say what we feel, and love us anyway. Those who lift us higher. Those who see the world in a magical light. It is these others who make life sweeter, days brighter, and friendship more destined to be. Friendship is connected at our souls. If we're lucky, and I mean really lucky, we meet our soul buddy. Those who cross our path and are instantly connected to our hearts. None of that "sometimes friends" or acquaintance nonsense. Just pure and simple friends. Joined at the heart, right from the start. And when life and people shake you to your core, it's good to have solid friendship resting in your corner, before you even know you need it.

My soul buddy, Dru, is a stunningly beautiful person- inside and out. You know it upon meeting her and her gorgeous family. A happily married mother of two incredible little people, I'm SO thankful to have this girl in my corner. Living in different states, we may not be able to spontaneously make plans in the (happy) muddle of everyday life, but we're still pretty good at planning adventures. And oh, there have been many! I'll take the shenanigans of our younger days to the grave, but the most recent adventure was blog-worthy. To the Toledo Zoo we went! Halfway between my home and hers, it was perfect.

Godkids. These smiles melt my heart.

He could barely contain his excitement.. red eyed tree frog!

His life is complete!

Vivi and a frog.

Love. Times a million trillion.

Oh! Did I forget to mention she's a phenomenal photographer? 'Cuz she is! Check out Dru's work at http://drusillafisher.blogspot.com/ or look up her facebook page- Two Fish Photography!