I don’t know about you, but this week has been interesting, to say the least. You know those weeks that are dragging yet flying at the same time? I’m pretty sure that’s some sort of oxymoron. Regardless, today’s a new day and when I came across these images, I breathed in a huge sigh of relief. Because really, what can be more perfect than a morning that starts with a cup of coffee, some good reading material, a fluffed up flaky croissant, and a gorgeous purse ready for the day’s adventure. Did I mention the most beautiful carrera marble? Yes, the perfect start. Happy Tuesday!

*images via {this is glamorous}

I  wish I could start off this post with something really interesting and inspiring. I’ve been racking my brain trying to find some sort of energy to be upbeat and positive but the truth is, I’m in a place where I feel drained. I’m approaching mid-terms of thesis with more to do than I know how to even begin, seeing off my best friend to Kenya for a year tomorrow, there’s the never-ending editing that takes up literally every free moment I have, and oh yea, I’ve been feeling a bit uninspired and all to unsure lately. Not to mention, my sister-in-law’s bridal shower is this weekend which has been difficult for the simple fact that all I’ve wanted to do is dedicate 100% of my full attention to it and I haven’t been able to. This all sounds very much like a bunch of complaints which I hope to make clear…is not…really…sort of. I like to think of it as “healthy release” being that I often find my blog to be my own personal journal that I just happen to put out there on the most public forms of display. =) I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking to achieve through this post but this is where I am today. I’m hoping that in some time from now (crossing my fingers for next week), I can look back and see how things have changed. For now, I will leave you with an image that makes me happy to have in my home. For some reason, getting a breeze of these beautiful gardenias makes things just a tad bit better. That and the delicious raspberry cupcake I just ingested…

We’ve just recently found out that some very good friends of ours will be having the b-word. You know, the word that you’re too afraid to say out loud because all of a sudden it becomes something that’s a possibility. Yea, the b-word is happening around us a lot lately and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Especially since it’s happening to our friends first. =) Truth be told, Adi and I are extremely excited at the someday-possibility but after speaking about the possibility for more than 6 minutes, we go into freak-out mode. I’m talking full-on panic attacks at the idea that a little person will one day walk into our world and suddenly, we won’t be able to go to the movies at 12am or eat breakfast at 1pm on a Saturday. I begin to make excuses revolving around the fact that having a baby means waking up around the clock and that surely, I’ll forget. My baby will starve because I was so deep in my sleep that I couldn’t hear the screams. Yea, I make excuses. But last night, seeing our friends and realizing there’s a little baby inside, growing and making itself already known, I began to anticipate and the excitement overtook the panic. And you know what? I think I’d wake up. And dare I say, I think we’d be pretty good parents some day. Mean time though, we’ll practice on our friends and I’ll get to know the baby Gap section better.

Speaking of little ones, this lil’ hand belongs to another friend’s adorable baby boy, who has a lot more strength than it may appear. Especially when he’s hungry. Happy Monday!

It was at church that she first laid eyes on him. And suddenly she was all wow, he’s really cute. Well God must have listened because Tiffany got to shake the cute boy’s hand during the morning service. And her handshake was enough to make a lasting impression. After a few talks and more bump-ins at church, Tiffany & Brad made it official and began dating. And have been deeply in love ever since.

While in Detroit for a wedding I second shot for the beautiful & talented Lauren, I was fortunate enough to meet Tiffany and Brad. We roamed the beautiful campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and I was in love. In love with the campus, with the light, with the energy, with the couple, and with love. Tiffany and Brad, I am so excited for you both and for your upcoming wedding! Thank you again for sharing your story with us and being so much fun! Enjoy your pictures….and Happy Friday everyone!

Tiffany gave us a sneak peak into her wedding color combinations. I was more than smitten with her choices.Amazing light + Adorable Couple = Happy Photographer

We ventured into the Law School library on campus. I was so inspired, I texted Adi immediately and declared that effective tomorrow, we were enrolling in Michigan University. The library alone made me want to get my Ph. D. As soon as I saw their expressions in this shot, I couldn’t help but smile BIG. It reminded me of two students in love, stealing kisses in the library.
A little distraction from their studies never hurt anyone.;) I’m just gonna say it. These two have chemistry. And this picture proves it. Tiffany, no wonder your handshake left such a lasting impression. You’re b-e-a-u-i-t-f-u-l.Not only is Tiffany beautiful, but she knows how to pick ‘em too.

He fixes things. It’s in his nature to take care of things that go wrong and make them right. Adi will come home to a distraught look on my face when the dishwater is overflooding and take action immediately. He’ll change my brakes before they even go bad. When my shoes hurt my feet, he’ll run to the car and get my flipflops before I can complain twice. He takes apart my card reader when the pictures aren’t being downloaded fast enough. He formats my camera without me even knowing I need it formated. And he pulls on my pinkie toes to “straighten” them because he insists they’ve taken a turn in the wrong direction. Maybe that last one is a little strange, even for us. But my point is that that’s Adi…he fixes things.

This past weekend, he was doing what he does best and getting me everything I needed while shooting a wedding in the hottest weather ever (a high of 96 to be exact). As we ventured outside to do some shots before the ceremony, we realized it was too long of a walk and just too hot. As we all stood there wondering what to do next, Adi took action and fixed the problem in the form of a golf cart. A golf cart. He rode up in one like the knight and shining armor he is, and suddenly all was fixed. Because that’s what he does.

Here’s my golfer-photographer-save-the-day-adorable husband, taking refuge from the sun in the golf cart as we shot under beautiful shade. Happy Thursday!

A little something from this weekend I wanted to share with you all. Something lovely and beautiful.

I know some people search the world
To find something like what we have
I know people will try
Try to divide something so real
So ’til the end of time
I’m telling you there is

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I’m feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you”

Alicia Keys

It’s not often that you find a couple so sure about their future. So sure, that they are willing to put everything on the line. It’s not often that we give up complete control and place our fate in the hands of God. Many of us would like to think we do, but in reality, giving up control is difficult. It was difficult for Lavi & Paul too, but they felt this was the only way. The only way to know for sure is to leave their futures in a power much greater than theirs.

Lavi & Paul are both pursuing a career in the medical field and will one day make incredible doctors. As Lavi was attending school in her hometown of Florida, Paul was finishing his up in Indiana. When the time came for him to place his top three choices for residency programs, Paul listed Florida as one. Not the first choice, but the second. Why? Because he really wanted God to decide. Knowing very well that some students don’t get placed in any of their top choices, he said a prayer and left the rest to Him. And Lavi? Well Lavi crossed her fingers just in case. Sure enough, Paul was placed in Florida for residency and instantly knew what came next. A sweet proposal later and these two were on their way to spending the rest of their lives together. And the next few years of residency in Florida. Together.

Saying these two are ridiculously in love would be the understatement of the year. And who could blame them? I can’t help but wonder how two people so good looking were able to stand being so far a part for so long. I am excited to announce that they will be tying the knot this Sunday and I can hardly wait. And yes, blame residency and med school for an engagement shoot so close to their wedding date. Apparently, patients’ health comes first… pssshhh.

Click here for your slideshow and Happy Wednesday to everyone!

We started the shoot off in an alley. Yes, alley’s in Boca Raton look straight out of a painting. I know, we are very lucky.

I could shoot at Mizner Park all day long. Adi and I got there a bit earlier to scope out the location and there was really no need to scope. Because everywhere we looked, there was amazing light.
Oh, they brought it. And worked it like pros. That wind couldn’t have come in a better moment. Fierce & so very fabulous. And Paul, I just know you’d love being referred to as the latter.
Lavi is beautiful. And hot. And those two combinations are lethal, as Paul could probably attest to. One of my favorites.

It always happens around lunch time. I get a call from my mom asking if I’ve had anything to eat. Dare I say no, and before anyone knows it, she’ll be knocking down my door, hot meal in hand and lecture prepared on why it’s bad to skip meals. And when I’m stressed out and nutty, she insists she come over and clean for me…before my husband files a complaint for neglectful behavior. When I plan girl-nights with my friends, I get a call from my mom asking what about Adi. And it’s always the same reassurance… “Adi’s fine, mom. He’ll be fine at home…no really, he’d much rather be at home”. When my dad has a long day at work ahead of him, my mom will go along to keep him company and make sure he’s hydrated. You know, because she packs about 12 bottles of Zephyrhills. Every time. When my friends have exams or papers due, she adds them to her prayer list (which by the way, is more like a journal). And if a tropical storm has threatened to hit us, she insists she call family in Romania to tell them all is well. A tropical storm.

By nature, my mom’s a worrier… always has been. But the things that worry her heart aren’t so much worries, as they are cares. She cares about her family. Friends. Those in need. Kittens I bring home. She cares about it all. And she’ll take all the burdens off other’s shoulders and carry them on hers. Because that’s where they are safe.

Mom, there is no one like you in the world. I know I don’t tell you this enough but you are our world. Without you, nothing would work or make any sense at all. God has so uniquely created a heart in you for others, one that is warm and kind, and has taught me more than you’ll ever know. For every sacrifice you make, for every worry you take, and for every amount of love you give, thank you. There is no one like you, mom. No one in the world….and we are so blessed to have you. Happy Birthday… we love you.

Here’s a photo I dug up from when she was younger than I am now. When I was little, I’d stare at this photo and pretend it would one day be me.

Surrounded by fields of lavender and the smell of orchards nearby, I breathed in summer. As the sun was making it’s last few hours known, a soft glow fell upon us and grazed our skin. These are the moments of summer that make the long, hot days bearable and the frizzy hair worth it. And when you get to see summer like I had the opportunity to this past weekend, well, well, well….consider yourself lucky. Because beyond the beautiful fields and sweet smells, there was love. A beautiful, gentle kind of love that makes you feel the warm feelings of summer and wish for them forever. Happy Monday!

The sun is shining, the pool is ridiculously inviting, and I’m pretty sure I heard my name exchanged amongst the kids playing outside. Oh, that Diana…wasting a beautiful day in front of the computer working. Shame, shame. Yea, it’s pathetic. But here I am, working away on technicalities of square footage and occupancy while dreaming of sipping a piña colada, catching up on my In Style Magazine, and digging my toes deeper in the sand. I’ve always been of the opinion that it should be illegal for anyone of any age to be studious during the summer but… that’s just me. And since my opinion clearly doesn’t make a difference, I thought I’d share a few photos of what I do on my little breaks that brings a sly-n-silly-lookin’ smile to my face. This was taken from an engagement shoot of a sizzling-hot couple who I’m getting ready to blog soon so stay tuned for more! Hope you all are enjoying the sun today (do it for me) and taking advantage of the summer days. Happy Wednesday!