Happy New Year everyone! I cant believe that its 2011. Really…can not believe it. Where in the world did the last year go?!
I would love to make a post about all of the amazing new goals I have to revamp my business this year…to be BIGGER…and MORE POPULAR…and MORE WELL KNOWN in my field. I would love to tell you that my goals for this year include something crazy and extravagant so that you are all filled with “ooooh’s and ahhh’s” and so I can get 500 million posts on my facebook wall wanting to know what secrets I have up my sleeve for 2011. I would love to tell you all of those things…because its not who I am or what Im about…so I wont. BUT, what I will tell you is this. 2010 left me really really humbled…thankful…and blessed. And here is why…
*In January of 2010
-I prayed for God to show me a way to make a difference in 2010 and He put upon my heart our 2010 Charity Giveaway. It was SO much fun seeing people from all over the country send us their favorite charities so that we could make a monthly donation to each one in hopes of saying a big ole THANK YOU for all of the amazing things that we were blessed with in 2009. The giveaway was amazing and more of a blessing to us than we ever expected.
-I did my first bridal show…and booked weddings. Rumor has it that when you do a bridal show you can expect to get a few weddings from it, maybe 2 or 3. We booked 7 wonderful couples from that show…and I cant wait for it to come again at the end of this month. Check out the details at:www.athensweddingprofessionals.com
-I hired an intern that was amazing….AHmazing. Hannah was the perfect fit and God send for our business. She loved on my child and let him crawl all over her lap while she spent countless hours burning CD’s, backing up images, and becoming bff’s with the folks at the UPS store.
*In February of 2010
-I hosted my first “Ladies Day Inn” at Foundry Park Inn and Spa. It was a day of boudoir sessions with fabulous girls and an awesome suite…cant wait to do it again!
*In March of 2010
-I shot my first wedding in Portland, OR and it was awesome. Portland is a city VERY close to my heart and I was literally jumping for joy (and anticipation…AND excitement) when I got called by a fabulous wedding pro that I work with in town a lot about doing her wedding…in Portland. It was Rileys first plane ride and Anthonys first time seeing the city that I love so much. We visited some of our closest friends AND I got to see the woods that Edward and Bella pranced through in Twilight.. (Matt, that last comment was JUST for you! hehehehe 🙂 )
*In April of 2010
-More wonderful weddings and something super duper awesome…Riley’s FIRST birthday. He took his first steps a week before he was one and ate cake with a spoon.
-This was also the month that Anthony and I got our hearts wrecked and thrown for a giant loop when we started feeling the call to adopt a child. All of that fear and anxiety turned into something really exciting and we cant wait for the day that we can be mom and dad to another child.
*In May & June of 2010
-Anthony surprised me with a spur of the moment, over night trip to New York City. Though the trip didnt quite go as we hoped…it was the best mothers day gift I could have ever received. That man knows me…and loves me. 🙂
-More amazing weddings…including flying to Toledo, OH to shoot the wedding of some of our friends with the fabulous Laurie Crutchfield. I think we laughed about 98% of that trip.
-I got another intern, Brittany, and we had a lot of fun and a fabulous shoot at the end of the summer. I like fun…a lot!
*In July of 2010
-Anthony and I celebrated  our 5 year wedding anniversary! I cant get over how time has flown with our marriage. There are days when it seems like just yesterday I met him…and other days where it feels like he has just always been here. We celebrated by me weening my son, going on a cruise alone..with no baby…and apparently by getting pregnant. 🙂 heheheh
*In August, September, & October of 2010
-Life was a blur. We shot more weddings and portraits in those three months than I had planned on, but those months were a lot of fun. Stressful, crazy, and really really fun.
-I also got to fly to California to shoot a session for my brother in law and his family…I loved spending that time with them.
-I was also elected to be the Vice President of Athens Wedding Professionals for 2011. Im really excited about working closer with this organization and continuing to love on and be crazy with the vendors in the group.
*In November of 2010
-I turned…(sigh)…28. Yuck yuck and yuck…the thought of getting older makes me get wrinkles…so I wont think about it.
*In December of 2010
-I shot weddings…said goodbye to Hannah….had a wonderful Christmas…and great New Years Eve…and realized that next year, I want to do it all over again.
For this year I want the same thing. I want my family to grow and to be able to put them first. I want my motto to be “I refuse to do nothing” when it comes to helping others. I want to be a person and a business that people trust. I want to wear my heart on my sleeve…life is more meaningful that way. Sooo….all that to say, 2011…BRING IT!
I have a TON of posts coming soon that include a billion weddings and portrait session from the last several months, so be on the lookout! In the meantime, here is a preview from one of our 2010 Party Booth posts.
To start this year off right…I wanted to give something away that would be fabulous! Something that would make a difference. So, Im going to give away a super duper beautiful new pair of TOMS Shoes to one of your guys this week! TOMS is a company with a giant heart for children all over the world and I just love their products. For every pair of shoes you purchase, they donate a pair to a child in need. How mind blowing and awesome is that?!! All you have to do is leave a comment in the comments section about something you are excited about for 2011 and you’ll be entered to win! All entires will be placed in a hat and I will draw a winner out on Friday morning. Make sure you leave a valid email address where I can reach you and good luck!
Thank you all for making my 2010 so sweet…I look forward to 2011 with open eyes and a heavy heart…and a big ole smile for whats in store!
I am super excited to be finishing my MBA! I am also super excited about meeting that little lady…you know which one 🙂
You make me tired!! I have a feeling God has a lot to teach me this year as He’s moved us away from our amazing family and unbelievable friends. I’m looking forward to learning how to depend on God and only Him to sustain me. I love you! Happy New Year!
so i don’t have to be entered in the Tom’s shoes but i had to say HAPPY 2011!!!!! i would shoot, travel, and laugh with you any day!! You are one of my bestest friends and I couldn’t be happier God placed us together!! xxoo
ps if i hold your christmas presents, can i just use them as birthday present?? HAHA!! just kidding!!
ok 1. Love how you just wrote out the whole year -so we can keep up with you- you little busy bee!
2. love what an amazing woman you are- and how you always seem to keep everything in check-
3. so lucky to have you as a friend
4. my 2011- hmmmmm… lots of things in store for this year… but learning who I am, and finding that passion for life again!!!
love you girl
There are so many things I’m excited about for 2011…mostly just a feeling I have that god is going to do great things in my life by continuing to teach me his ways and change me for the better. I look forward to growing into a more socially responsible person through green living, buying fair trade products, and supporting causes close to God’s heart. Lil turning two is another milestone for 2011, and hopefully we will be working on getting her a sister or brother, through adoption, that is. Any who…2011 is going to be great!
I’m looking forward to being an Aunt! And another year filled with wonderful weddings!
I’m excited about a couple of things in 2011 . . . my baby girl turn ONE the end of this month (I’m still in denial about that one) and Sean and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary in March! Other than that, I’m just excited to watch Little Miss Hayden grow up and turn into an amazing little person! 🙂
In 2011 I am most excited about the chance to take a trip to Lake Tahoe with just me and my dad. With four kids, we don’t always get one on one time, so this will be very special, especially because I live in Texas and he’s in Georgia!
My second thing is to finally make a wedding album out of my beautiful wedding photos taken by Melissa and her team. I have the prints…now I just gotta dive in :)!
I am excited about everything! Watching my kids learn and grow (Madeline will be in Kindergarden in the fall!!!), celebrating my 7th anniversary in April, continuing to grow my career at Mint…I sometimes get overwhelmed and wonder where the time has gone! It will be such a fun and excited year! 🙂
i am so excited to have mailed off payments to all of my credit card companies to pay off & close them for good! It’s been a strange few years for me & my husband – we built our live-here-forever! house in 2007 (YAY!) and then the real estate market crashed (double BOO – he’s a real estate attorney and his income went down to 1/3 of what it had been, and we couldn’t sell our old house until TWO years later). So we’re glad that we had credit cards to live on till we did, since we had two house payments for 2+ years and blew through every penny of our savings to keep from declaring bankruptcy or letting the house foreclose. We’re not back to where we were — it’s a big debt consolidation loan that allowed me to pay off these bills – but it’s such a huge step forward, and it’ll be paid off in 5 years instead of however long the credit cards would have taken. I cannot tell you the relief! Whether you believe that it’s God, the Universe, or just you making better decisions, I feel blessed for having asked for help & received answers & opportunities.
I am excited to be more radical. I want to love and give more, eat less meat, be more artistic, and most importantly to be more radical in how I pursue and obey Jesus. Thanks Melissa!
I’m looking forward to a new year with my husband, new year of business, and new changes that the Lord has in store for us….we’ll see what happens in 2011! Loves you Melissa!
ohmygosh, Melissa, you just inspired me to check out the Tom’s website for the first time…and they have SPARKLY TOMS!! Must. Have. Them. Now.
Well, I don’t need to be entered into the contest (because, who am I kidding, I’ll probably place my order in the next 30 mins 🙂 but in 2011, I am excited about interviewing for Pharmacy School! It’s a journey I started about 3 years ago with no real idea of what the plan looked like, just passion and faith. And I’m getting closer every day!
And I’m looking forward to more cuuuute pics of Riley (& Reese) at work!