Let's just start by stating the obvious, I'm 23, married, and moved far away from home to our first base. I still get asked to this day why I married so young, like it's a bad thing. I've wrote a blog before about why I felt like it was right for me. I'm going to be going over that as well as talk about my experiences, everyone's is different, and until I married my husband I had no prior experience with being involved with the Military, honestly I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but life is that way with any choices. It's the enviable. We should embrace that, embrace change, instead of being scared of it. For me it feels like I have climbed Mount. Everest just moving so far away from all my family and friends, but I wanted to be on this journey with my husband, so I am.

I would like to state, I didn't get married just because he's in the military and I felt like I had to commit right away. I was never after a pay check nor was I after a uniform. A lot of "Military Wives" get lumped into a nasty category of being a gold digger and I'm not telling you that they don't exist, but women like me are not them. I'd like to think yes, I am a Military Wife, but I'm also creative, compassionate, forgiving, loving, and everything else in between. I'm a lot of things, so it wouldn't make sense to lump every military wife into a box and call it what you will. I got married because he was brave enough to ask me, and I was brave enough to accept.

Secondly, I chose this decision based on a lot of factors of where I was in life. Even though, I'm still pretty broke at least I'm happily broke with my best friend. I recall my mom telling me stories from when her and my dad were first married, and even though they had to share burger and fries, he got the burger, she got the fries, to sum up how poor they were, they were absolutely crazy about each other. I think it's a right of passage whether your broke, or rich, that you should have to struggle a little bit in the beginning, to even really appreciate how settled you will be later. It's impossible to appreciate something unless you know how fortunate you are. Love might not pay your bills, but I promise you it makes all the struggling worth it. At least for me on a really good day for us.

Thirdly, we both made sacrifices for this lifestyle, but the most important thing is that we've been in this thing together. We've seen the pretty and ugly parts about things in our lives while married. I know for me, he makes me the better woman, the better version of myself, and I feel like that is important for your relationship. There's always something to improve. We may have sacrificed a lot, but in the end we're learning to stand on our own two feet and that's something that I couldn't get home, nor could he. I know it was scary for our parents letting us come all the way out here, but you got to let us fly sometime, and I promise it won't be much longer till were soaring just fine. :)

And Lastly, Dreams change, life changes us and I decided to change my major and even though were both sacrificing things, were still chasing our dreams. We can still be married at a young age and go to school or go to work and make something of ourselves. It sounds sometimes impossible to have it all, but if you work hard for it, it will happen. Great things come to those who work for it and those who have the courage to ask for it. Nobody achieved any dreams by letting it come to them, you have to be a go-getter in today's society.

Speaking of change, we're at our first base, and honestly, it could've gone better. I personally think they stick young couples here because nobody wants to come live here in the desert, but it's great, because we've had the opportunity to do all the above and make some amazing memories despite being so far from home. Of course there have been bad days, long homesick, days, but I would go through hell and back for my husband. I've met some truly amazing people, and some not so amazing people here and back home, it's all the same, but in the midst of these last two years, I grew up. I outgrew people like shoes and clothing, and I embraced new friendships and family. I think I will always have bad days with my anxiety, with being far from home, and being my own worst critic, but I think I will also have just as many good days. I honestly feel so fulfilled about my future no matter where it takes us, and two years ago that probably would've scared the pee out of me, because my anxiety held me back so much.

So here's to making changes, growing, love, and happiness. For those of you who are struggling with yourself, just take a breath, look at the pros and cons. Nothing is worth stressing so much over that you forget what you have in front of your eyes.

XO

New Year, New Start!

Today's blog is going to be some-what of an inspirational posting. So if you hate the Holidays, and honestly are just not a fan of reading, then turn back now. I'm hoping you'll stay despite them both. :)

And if you're not wanting to read or even try to make resolutions because of all the memes here let me help get them out of your system.

 

Now we got that out the way, lets move on people! Generally yes, sometimes we shoot for the moon and everything is not guaranteed that our resolutions will happen. A lot can happen in a year, so who is anyone to judge you whether you achieved your goal or not, you're the only one accountable for yourself and sometimes things just don't happen in year.

2015 will be my year. It's a gut feeling and a little of me restoring the faith that was a little broken. Usually for New Years I like to reflect on the year and put a little inspiration out there. This year made a year since I picked up everything and moved to Las Vegas with my husband. I've had a real hard time adjusting since South Carolina is all I really know. That's just the fact of it all, but I did it all for love. I got to see my marriage and my friendships and all my other relationships grow so much stronger. So I'd like to take this time to thank all those people.

I honestly am so blessed that this year I was able to make mistakes to pave my own path. This life always has it's days, sometimes weeks, but I always was able to bounce back no matter what. I think it's funny when I sit back and look at every person who laughed about "stealing my joy" whether it was a guy or a friend turning against me or just someone who didn't take the time to get to know me so they judged me. I cannot believe I encountered so many toxic people and still came out with such a pure heart and such a drive to be able to start living my dream and do what I love to do. I'm not perfect Lord knows, but he has blessed me beyond belief with the people that I am going into 2015 with. The fact that I had pretty much every door close on me in 2014 must mean I'm going to have something amazing happen to me in 2015 and I'm betting it's life changing. So go on roll your eyes about resolutions people are making, but those are the kind of people I want in my life. The kind that is not afraid of reaching for the stars because they know they'll land amongst the moon. Those are the kind of people I'm going to keep. Thank you so much to everyone who has let me become just this young woman I am, who continue to love me as myself, and treated me always like a family member or friend. You are the people who keep me going. Thank you a million and one M&M's.

And thank y'all to my readers. My supporters. I've been off/on social media and so far I'm building a blog I can finally be so proud of. I am so humbled by how much support I am getting. :)

Have a Happy New Year!

XO

Happy Thanksgiving!

Each year Black Friday gets earlier and earlier and most people tend to be excited about the shopping before they even get to the Turkey and Pumpkin pie. Lately, I've been very vocal on the fact that opening at 4 or 6 PM on thanksgiving is too early. As someone who has worked in retail, I completely understand why Black Friday is important for sales purposes, but as a hardworking and family oriented human being I think it is equally as important for the retail workers to be able to eat with their families. I'm not bitter over Black Friday as much as I am sad that the real meaning of Thanksgiving has become all about the sales and not about being with family and enjoying that time together. Maybe it's because I've been without family over the holidays last year and won't be with my immediate family this year, but I also know we are not always promised tomorrow. I love a good sale as much as the next person, but I love family and making memories even more.

Now that I've given my Dr. Phil-Good vibes type of talk, I thought I would keep it light and try a Thanksgiving writing prompt. My favorite class in high school was Creative Writing. It gave me an outlet and I am absolutely for anything that keeps my creative juices flowing!

The one that stood out the most to me was: Describe Thanksgiving with your five senses.

Thanksgiving smells like a full house of turkey and pumpkin pie.
Thanksgiving tastes like a belly full of food you've been waiting all year for.
Thanksgiving looks like fall colors of outside meets inside and smiling faces.
Thanksgiving hears like chatter and laughter of family in the kitchen.
Thanksgiving feels like a blessing of love and friendships made over the years.

Have a great thanksgiving everyone!

There's A Story in Every Photograph.

I realize the blog posting is a little late this week, now before I go on I must say this posting has a good reason why it was late. Passion and paying it forward. It's no secret that I've been in love with design and photography since I could practically snap a camera and learn the color wheel. I carried it throughout high school going to an academy school where I not only learned what the district required me to learn but to learn the basics and the fundamentals of this craft. I gained college credit which allowed me to skip a couple classes and ultimately finish in less time. I, of course went to the local college sadly, because of money troubles. My dream was to go to the University of South Carolina. Go Gamecocks! This is the part where my husband disagrees because he's team Clemson, good thing this wasn't a must when he picked his wife. ;) Just kidding but, over the course of the 2 years I went to this college I learned what I was made of and the side of design that I absolutely will never touch. I won't argue being out of school for two-years and not keeping up with this craft I'm very rusty. I grew less and less enthused to go out and take photos of anything other than myself and loved ones, including my furry ones. The reason why I was getting less than enthused was only because I had a bad experience with internship and one of the design teachers that expected four-year work out of two-year students. I also suffered from major anxiety and didn't believe in my work. When you don't believe in your work, it doesn't do well. This was a hard lesson I had to learn early on unfortunately.

Moving out here, honestly was the hardest thing I've had to do because I'm way out of my comfort zone. All my friends, family, (other) animals, and especially connections are all in South Carolina. Don't get me wrong, starting over kind of sounded good, but when you're not yet sure of your next move for your career or when you're gonna get your own vehicle, and start making more friendships it's scary. I remember leaving with tears streaming down my face so scared, then the guy I sat next to on my first plane ride was talking to me about what to kind of expect. I'll be honest I was still scared, but at this point I felt better. (Honestly, I should've told him thank you looking back, so thanks!) I told him how crazy it was that I have never even visited Vegas and here I was going to move in this new place full of gambling and population of over 2 million. Could you even imagine? My marriage and my love for my husband was important to me though. I have been through so many emotions and crazy things this year that I could go on forever, but I won't, moral of the story is never stop loving what you do and always do what you love. I have found when I stopped taking photos, when I stopped all together doing design, or even stopped reading I found myself getting ten times as anxious than I was before. It's an on going battle of everyday. I also kind of lost sight of who I was and resorted in being a lesser version of myself. I'm not proud of who I was and some of the choices I made or didn't make. I am very aware that I was in charge of myself and didn't have a grip on myself, but now I very much do.

I'll give you the cheat sheet version. I have decided to go back to school to become an elementary school teacher. Honestly, I love kids, I'm not ready to make that big commitment yet, although I'm constantly getting baby fever I know it will happen when it's ready to happen. It's nice to dream till then. I am very good at helping people and I have always had those few teachers that made a huge impact on me. Naturally, I'm better in english classes. I think Elementary is also the right grades for me, even though I probably could get yelled at, at some point or another for looking so young they could mistake me as a student. (I'm preparing myself for this, ten bucks says it'll happen on my first week) All joking aside, just because I've chosen a different path for my career doesn't mean I want to stop doing all the creative things that I do. Which is why once we met our friends, Rachel & Joe, we got asked to do couples photos for them. As Rachel and I were sitting on my living room floor she proceeds to tell me that got none of a proposal and none of their wedding. I honestly, fought for my photographer for my wedding (I was proudly her first wedding) and she worked me in last minute for our engagement photos. Kristy Roderick (link to her website is in her name) made us feel very comfortable and her style is favorite. The reason why I chose her, aside from her down-to-earth personality she is one of those people who just know the crucial moments to get. In some sort of way she inspired me to get off my butt and do these photos.

With that being said, I know this was important, and I talked with Rachel about what sort of styles she wanted. So far I've given her 2 teasers. So I'm posting here for a couple more about what they look like, I'm sure she's going to die (of cuteness) when she sees them because I honestly think they are the best work I have done yet. I edited with Adobe Photoshop of course, but I didn't have to do much. They were both so easily photogenic, even though the sun wasn't so much. I decided to do the photography session for free. I also decided since they are really amazing friends that I would print out all the great ones and put them in an album as well as putting them on a disc and giving them the rights to print out even more. I know it's not the most professional way to not give "notes" on how to pose and it is true that I will have to because some people really don't know what looks good and what doesn't, but I've seen some really adorable natural posing when you just let a couple be their own loving selves. I wouldn't do that with everyone, but I had hoped that they felt comfortable with me (and my husband helped) to be able to be themselves. It worked and I am more than happy with how they came out. The reason why I did it free was mainly to pay it forward, normally I would keep quiet because I'm not one to brag about charity but I feel like this would've been a good thing to reach out to those who are afraid to pay it forward. Even just doing a favor shows kindness. There is no such thing as too small of an act of kindness. :)

Hope y'all enjoyed this weeks posting! I want to constantly be inspiring on here to inspire other people. This is how people get creative, and now that you have the idea, get to it. ;)