Releasing Your Burdens

[Photo via Pinterest]

I just LOVE this picture, don’t you?

I’m not a huge balloon person (Em can vouch for that) but there’s  something so wonderfully symbolic about releasing a balloon into the air. We each live day-to-day with so many burdens and weights that keep us down, whether they be financial, love or career, everyday we carry around more weight on our shoulders than we can possibly muster, keeping us well secured to the earth below us. Although we chip away at these burdens, emotions and woes, we can’t fully get rid of them until we allow ourselves, until we take a giant leap of faith and let go of EVERYTHING. Until we do that, we’ll remain stuck to the ground, never able to release into our full potential.

Very sadly, this blog that I love, that I’ve harvested from 2 readers to thousands, is becoming a burden. It’s becoming something I throw together on a last minute’s whim, something I dread and stress about every day. And you know what? Realizing that is the hardest part. This blog was becoming something that kept me firmly stuck to the ground.

[Photo via Pinterest]

I had a conversation with my dear friend Alicia who told me “it’s better to do two things really well than a handful of things just average.” And I couldn’t agree more. Back when I had more time, this blog was everything to me. I got joy out of updating it, interacting with commenters and finding new content. Now, because I’m in a new job, a full-time freelance writer and author to another very quickly growing blog, I’ve lost the passion I once had for this. I’m losing the excitement that once filled every single post, that exploded out of every word. Keeping it up everyday isn’t fair to me anymore and more importantly, isn’t fair to you all, my tried and true readers. You all are incredible and I can never express how much I love and appreciate each one of you. And you deserve me at my best, you deserve my best writing, my best photography and my best EVERYTHING. So, until I have that back, I’m going to be spending less time over here and more time cultivating my food blog, my freelance career and my photography skills. My dream is to be a writer and a full-time dietitian and I’m ready to see where chasing those goals, head on, takes me!

[Photo via Pinterest]

So, I’m letting go. I’m releasing this “balloon” back into the air. I’ll be back next week to share a few more amazing weddings I have saved then it’s time for me to let go. You never know, I may miss this wedding world too much that i’ll be back in a jiffy. Until then, I’ll see you in the clouds 🙂

You can find me ALWAYS blabbing about food on my food blog, talking recipes, entertainment and fun facts on She Knows and tweeting, updating and sharing jokes on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. PLEASE feel free to contact me, share any exciting news you have and just talk with me in an email! Y’all know I love you 🙂 claire dot gallam 10 {at} gmail.com.

Sneak Peek: Tommy & Robin

Happy hump day friends and fans! I have some big news to share with y’all, but I’m holding off on sharing it until later this week. It’s not good, it’s not bad, it’s just, big. So, while you are all anxious on the edges of your seat, I’ll share with you a few gorgeous photos from Tommy & Robin’s big day in Texas, submitted by Kim Maguire Photography via Two Bright Lights.

Tommy and Robin were wedded at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas on July 2nd. She wore a GORGEOUS mermaid gown with an ornate floral & crystal belt. Her colors were white, light pink with a hint of green and she carried a stunning all white bouquet of tea roses and peonies with a bright blue brooch. I’m dying over the details but one of my favorite shots is of the rings. Don’t worry, I’ll show y’all that one 🙂

and my favorite ring shot, EVER!

How cute is that?!

Marvelous Monday: Rustic Indiana Engagement Session

Happy Monday, y’all! I’m currently slaving away at my office job because we, unfortunately, don’t get Columbus day off. However, we do get the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday, which is pretty rad. As bummed as I am not to be writing this in my pj’s from the comfort of my bed, I’m trucking on (stylishly wardrobed) with the rest of the Indiana engagement session I teased you with last week. 

This late August engagement session was taken in two parts, due to rain! The first day of shooting took place in a haunting corn field in Fortville, Indiana. The next set of photos were taken around the historic brick buildings of downtown Noblesville, a growing suburban city just outside Indianapolis. [Fun fact: Noblesville is where myself, and the photographer, went to highschool!] Congrats again Ashley and Scott on your engagement and best of luck planning for your June of 2012 wedding! Thank you to the very talented Ashley Lauren Photography for submitting!

 

For more of Ashley Lauren’s work, check out her blog! Enjoy your day! And for those of you lucky enough to have the day off, I hate you. (Only kidding, sort of.)

Let the wind take you dancing

What a week it’s been friends. And, as shocking as this is, I’m all talked out. I’ve talked, cried, laughed, sobbed and yelled more times this week than I care to share. So today, this gorgeous Friday, I’m just going to share a beautiful picture with you and ASK YOU to do the talking.

Look at this gorgeous photo of a bride by the Mediterranean sea. What do you feel when you look at this photo?  What does this photo represent?

[Photo by Jonas Peterson]

Okay, I’m cheating but to get the convo started I’ll share what I think. For me, this dreamy photo represents letting go. It’s about living in the moment and absorbing every single element around you. It’s about recognizing that this moment, whatever moment it may be, could just as well be the most important moment of your life. This picture compels me to close my eyes, take a deep breath and live in THIS very instant. Because guess what folks, you are never going to have this moment again.

Sneak Peek: Ashley & Scott’s Corn Field E-Sesh

Happy Wednesday friends! I’m in much better spirits today, thankfully! Thank you all, again, for your love and support! Now, onto the fun stuff 🙂

I have this beautiful e-sesh to show you from a place near and dear to me, Indiana! Plus, the photographer is an old friend from high school who is INCREDIBLY talented. There is something so enchanting about her portraits. I’m completely smitten. Plus, these few sneak peeks I’m about to show you are from one of her first engagement sessions! Looking at the photos, I’d say she’d been doing this for years! Thanks again for sharing these with me, Ashley!

The couple, Ashley and Scott, are getting married next June and wanted a comfortable, low-key engagement session. Due to weather, they had a few different takes. I love the cornfield backdrop, it’s so unique and provides such a haunting element to the photos. Can’t wait to share the rest with you later this week!

Tuesday Shoesday: Floral Mary Janes

I’m sad to report I’m not feeling any better about life 😦 But I’m going to be writing a REALLY heavy post on what’s bugging me over on my nutrition/healthy living blog, so stay tuned for that. Until then, I’ll be moping around, holding back tears, trying to keep my  head up. Oh, and I’ll also be scouring Pinterest for happy, pretty things that I hope will improve my sadness. And, great news, I found a pair of gorgeous mary janes that have me, temporaily, forgetting my woes.

Sadly, as all good things are, they were found on Tumblr and I can’t locate their orgin. ANYONE, if you can hear me, please help me find these. I’m sure I can’t afford them but knowing that they exist on some online retail store makes my heart just a little happier. Because, God willing, I will find a way to own them.

What goes better with vintage, floral mary janes than a tea length lace gown with a silk floral sash? Absolutely nothing, I’ll argue.

[photo via Love My Dress]

When I close my eyes and image my perfect day, I’m in this outfit. Strolling around the streets of London, window shopping while twirling my perfectly vintage Burberry umbrella, laughing with a girlfriend as we stroll to a late, afternoon lunch.

Even if, just for an instant, my spirits are instantly lifted.

Real Wedding: Julie & Eric

Oh Monday. I can’t complain about the weather, but the rest of my life is sort of a jumbled mess lately. I’m not going to go into full details, I’m just having some issues sorting through some stuff. With that, if you see that I’m a little quiet over here or not as enthused or perky as I normally am, understand that I still love y’all and will hopefully shake what’s going on soon.

However, I will not let my sour mood take over today because I have to share the rest of the perfectly vintage, seaside Laguna wedding I teased you with last week! There’s no easier way to put a smile on my face and ignite a warm spark in my heart than with a vintage lace gown, a gorgeous cathedral veil and a view overlooking the sea. Julie and Eric were married on July 20th at the Laguna Cliff’s Marriot in Dana Point, California. Her veil and cap are vintage pieces given to her by her grandmother. Her bridesmaids worn champagne colored gowns and carried pink, purple and ivory bouquets. Eric and his groomsmen wore purple bow ties and tuxes. What I love about this wedding was how simple, yet completely elegant it was. They had a simple white, classical wedding cake and had minimal decorations. But with a gorgeous view over Laguna, you don’t need much do you? The photos were submitted by the amazing  Deborah Huber Photography via Two Bright Lights.

Isn’t her veil and floral cap absolutely gorgeous? It was passed down to her from her grandmother.

Sneak Peek: Julie & Eric

Happy Thursday! It’s finally a beautiful, sunny morning here in DC so my spirits are very high! Plus, it’s one day closer to the weekend! I have some super fun (yep, i said that) fall activities lined up for Saturday! My friend and I are going outlet shopping, winery tasting and then going to a haunted house! Wee! It’s really kind of awkward how much I love fall and Halloween.

I could blab your ears off about fall and Halloween, but I’d much rather show you a wedding that has me GIDDY with excitement. A vintage inspired bride, glittery belt and a venue overlooking the bay? Yes, please! Julie wore a gorgeous, vintage inspired all lace gown with cap sleeves and had soft, finger curls in her hair. The wedding was in Dana Point California at the picturesque Laguna Cliff Marriot, which overlooks the gorgeous Laguna bay area. Oh and the men had on purple bow ties. How CUTE! Photos submitted by Deborah Huber Photography via Two Bright Lights.

Stay tuned for the rest of this beautifully vintage, seaside wedding!

Tuesday Shoesday: Pretty in Green

I’m not a huge fan of the color pink. I’ve never been. I was one of the only girls growing up who didn’t want to wear pink dresses or ride a pink bike. I’ve always been more of a blue & green kind of girl. This could, partly, be due to the fact I grew up with 3 rambunctious brothers. For example, they used to tear the heads off my Barbies and shave their heads. Imagine what  they would do if I pranced around in a pink dress? Even now, at age 25, I just don’t gravitate towards pink. However, I’m still completely in love with blue and green. So when I saw these gorgeous, bright green suede pumps on Pinterest, my heart nearly stopped.

[Photo via]

I absolutely LOVE this color of green. These would add the perfect pop of color to any wedding dress, don’t you think? Plus, total re-wearability. You could rock these at the office with tailored skinny black pants or with dark jeans on girls night out! I’m smitten, completely smitten.

Real Wedding: Mark & Ashley

Oh, Monday. I’m having a rough day already. But, I suspect it will perk up, especially after I’m done looking at these adorable DIY wedding pictures.

Ashley and Mark wed at Mark’s family home in Raleigh, North Carolina. What I love most about this wedding is how personal, understated and comfortable it is. They wanted just a simple wedding surrounded by the people they love most. Ashley carried a classic bouquet in green, yellow and white and carried those colors throughout the rest of the reception. Her favorite food, peanut butter and jelly, was also featured in the adorable hor’s devours. Plus, their “how I met” story is absolutely heart melting. Thank you Sarah of Whitmeyer photography for sharing this adorable wedding! [All images submitted via Two Bright Lights].

 

Ashley and mark were introduced by Ashley’s cousin, Tracy, who lived across the street from Mark. Tracy kept telling Mark, “Ashley is your future wife” and continued to tell Ashley, “Mark is your future husband”. Both Ashley and Mark brushed Tracy’s remarks off without knowing that Tracy was speaking the truth! When the two finally met, Mark walked up to Ashley and said, ” I guess I should introduce myself to my future wife!!” And low and behold….the two were wedded at Mark’s Parent’s home in Raleigh on September 10th!