In case you didn’t already know, I work part-time at a coffee shop.

Since I started working there I have become somewhat addicted to not only drinking lattes, but also making them look good:

I was SO excited about this heart I poured that I called everyone I was working with to come look at it – even my boss! She ran to get her camera and I was still smiling from ear to ear when I brought the drink out to the gentleman who ordered it. When I set it down in front of him on the table he shrugged and muttered a quick ‘thanks.’  He didn’t even care how good it looked!!! He totally bursted my ‘beautiful latte art’ bubble. But then later I made two other hearts and I felt better. :-)

I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve perfected the heart and moved on to the ‘rosetta latte.’

I LOVE getting mail. And more than anything I love getting PRETTY things in the mail!! I was so impressed by White Owl’s jewelry on her Etsy shop that I just had to have a pair of her earrings. And a necklace. I don’t know where I will ever wear either, but they were just too adorable to pass up!!

A large padded envelope greeted me in my mailbox when I got home from work tonight. I had already forgotten I had ordered something. What a nice surprise! :-) I simply adore cute packaging and hand-written thank-you notes:

Cute packaging makes what’s inside that much more exciting and beautiful:

My favorite kinds of jewelry are pieces that are unique and original, things that no one else has. My favorite rings are the vintage ones passed down from my mom and grandma. But now I have a new favorite necklace and pair of earrings!!

I will travel anywhere to take photos. Anywhere. Saturday I traveled to Vermillion (during USD’s homecoming) to take Lee + Nikki’s engagement photos!! It. Was. Cold. But FUN! We had great light to work with, and lots of fun areas for backdrops!

Lee + Nikki – thanks for being such troopers about the weather!! Lance and I stopped at Bomgaar’s in Yankton after your session and I was checking out the industrial-sized space heaters, wondering if that would be an option for me to bring along for fall/winter outdoor sessions. :-)

I had two weddings to attend this past weekend, but I didn’t have a purse to match my outfits!!! I found this clutch online for $155 and I thought to myself ‘I could make that.’ So I did!

Here’s what I saw online:

And here’s my finished product:

My total cost of materials was $10.03!!!

I am still a 4-H member at heart!! :-)

Brian + Barb came all the way from Brookings to do their engagement session out here with me! Brian is going to grad school for athletic training, and Barb is an athletic trainer for South Dakota State University. They are very busy people, so it was great that they could take a weekend and vacation in the Black Hills! Brian went to high school with Lance, and they lived together for a couple years in college, so Lance talked us into doing photos a little earlier so that we could drive around Custer State Park, visit the Purple Pie Place in Custer and hit up Deadwood before it was time to call it a day.

Brian + Barb – thanks so much for coming out to Rapid for photos! Lance and I had a great time hanging out with you and we can’t wait for your wedding in June!!