We're back and feeling rested

Well, Chad and I are back to our regular office hours! 

As you may know, we took the month of January to refresh, unplug, and dream a bit—a battery recharge, so to speak. (You can read about the decision to reverse our time for a month in this previous post.) We kept a few design projects going, but mostly we spent the month refreshing our creative ideas, relaxing, praying, reading, exercising, traveling (more on that here), asking lots of important questions, dreaming big and spending time with friends and family. 

Here are the highlights and lessons we learned...

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Go. Set. Ready.

Chad and I are generally "plan it well in advance" type of people. However, after a Tuesday night phone call with our dear friends in Alabama, we found ourselves in the car Thursday morning en route to Tuscaloosa from Wisconsin.

I believe in making wise, prayerful decisions and this one was no exception, even though the turnaround was quick. I'll be honest though, Chad and I fought hard against the idea of such spontaneity as we laid all the options out on the table, thought about pros & cons, looked at our budget, weighed the responsibilities we already had lined up and even consulted another friend for advice. After asking God what he thought about our quick, unplanned trip to AL, we just couldn't kick the thought of spending priceless time with Jacob and Ashlee for the weekend. God's answer to both of us was a simple, yet profound, "Go." 

This post is all about true friendship and learning to be spontaneous.

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Kenosha Bridal Showcase | Custom invitations + wedding photography

We had such a great time at The Club at Strawberry Creek on Sunday. There was a Bridal Showcase there of some of the local wedding vendors and about 150-200 brides came through. What a joy it was to chat with so many happy couples, their friends and parents. (It's conversations like those that confirm why we L-O-V-E what we do!) A HUGE thanks to this beautiful venue for the opportunity, for putting on such a great Showcase, and also for their amazing service to Brides and Grooms. We're big fans of working with Strawberry Creek (check them out on Facebook, too)!

Here's a glimpse into what we had to showcase and what we love about weddings...

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WeddingsAmberBridal Show, custom invitation, Wedding Photography, wedding invitation, Strawberry CreekComment
Garrett + Katie | Colorful Fall Wedding in Racine

In October, Garrett and Katie were united as one when they married at Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church. Affectionately called "the spaceship church" in our area (because of its shape & appearance), this round church was perfect for an intimate, personal wedding ceremony. I loved how you could see their friends and family surrounding them during the service. There were endless smiles all day, gorgeous fall colors, hand-made details (including Garrett's tiered cupcake tree—wow!), and plenty of dancing. 

I hope you enjoy these beautiful highlights...

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WeddingsAmberWedding Photography, fall wedding, wisconsin wedding, Racine, Downtown Racine, Festival Hall, Petrifying Springs Park, Wedding StoryComment
"Reverse January" and turning up the heat on dreams

As creative people, we've always got fresh, new ideas simmering. You know, the 'hit me in the shower,' 'woke me up at 3am,' 'wrote it on a paper napkin' kind of ideas. They were super exciting at the time and they're logged in a pile of sketch books somewhere, but unfortunately, somewhere in the "regular routine" of life, they get lost in the mix.

Here's how we've reversed our time and turned up the heat...
 

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Chad & AmberAmberminimalist bible, minimalist poster, bibleComment
Adam + Michelle | Sophisticated Kenosha Wedding

Certainly a highlight of 2013, this November wedding warms my heart just thinking about it. Our friends Adam and Michelle had one of the happiest, classiest, cleverly-themed wedding days we can remember being part of. It was a joy for us to meet—and celebrate with—their sweet families and friends in attendance. Chad and I were truly honored not only to capture the first chapter of their married love story, but also to design all of their printed material (graphical theme, save the dates, invitations, programs, table numbers, escort cards and other various pieces). 

I hope you enjoy these gorgeous highlights from their big day...

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WeddingsAmberWedding Photography, fall wedding, wisconsin wedding, Kenosha, Kenosha Public Museum, Circa on Seventh, Wedding StoryComment
Reasons I rarely complain about winter

There is beauty in everything if we look for it.

With temperatures and wind chills in the negative digits, the complaints about winter (in person and online) are rampant these days. 

The way I see it, when you live in the northern midwest, it's inevitable that it will get cold, there will be snow, and there will be ice. That fact doesn't make it any easier to endure when it happens, BUT, it's all about perspective...

You have to see these images I captured of frost inside today!

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