So without further ado, please let me introduce you to Pictilio.

Wanting to have a less commercialized pumpkin experience this year, Vitaliy and I visited Bob’s Pumpkin Farm in Half Moon Bay. It was exactly what I had hoped for — no inflatable bounce houses and we were actually able to pick our pumpkins off the vine. We spent the entire day ushering in the fall season!

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Orange isn’t my favorite color until October hits then I can’t get enough of it.

Now I want to own a farm just so I can see this everyday. I took shots from behind as well, but he told me they were for my eyes only. He’s modest like that.

This picture, as well as the others featuring the two of us, were taken with a makeshift tripod (stack of pumpkins) and a self-timer.

I kind of like him. If for no other reason than for the way he makes me laugh.

A few of you have commented on my lack of blogging recently so I felt I owed you an explanation. There are a few reasons.

1. It began to affect my marriage. In a bad way.

I’m just keepin’ it real. Sometimes blogging stresses me out. And well, sometimes Vitaliy received the brunt of that frustration. As communication is key in every relationship, he spoke to me in love and honestly shared his point of view. I could see where he was coming from and made changes accordingly by reprioritizing.

2. A new blog and new website are in the works.

I started sharing about some changes we’re working on here and here.

Though it’s been a slower process than I would have hoped, I’ve come to learn that things don’t happen overnight. I am happy to say that we have a new logo and our new business cards are complete. In addition, our blog and website are in the works as we speak. So stay tuned — some exciting and fun changes are coming.

3. A new focus and creating new content.

When our new blog and website launch, you’ll see that our business has a new focus. I have emotionally and mentally made that shift so it’s hard to be motivated to write for this blog. Some things won’t change. We will continue blogging about our awesome couples which is why it’s easy for me to write about them now. But the non-client posts on this blog have been kind of random. I basically wrote about anything and everything. The new blog will be more cohesive and consistent. With the mental shift I’ve had, I’m currently working on content for the new site instead of putting as much energy into this one.

I do have some great stuff to share on this blog in the near future that I know you’re going to enjoy. But if you’d like to be added to our mailing list and be the first to know when our new site goes live, sign up by entering your email address below:

So what have I been doing? Well, with the extra time on my hands, I’ve been spending some much needed time in the kitchen. Surprisingly, I’ve been loving it!
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We’re off to celebrate! If you’ve never read the story of how we met, here’s a short version that I shared as our very first blog post ever. This picture is how it all started. It only seems right to share it today.

Happy Day!

When we started things off, I decided to be a princess. It’s still every girls dream. And Vitaliy would go with the gangsta gold chain and be a thug. You know, the whole, good girl likes the bad boy thing. Really it boiled down to me wanting to wear the tiara and Vitaliy wanting to wear the gold chain. Oh wait, that would be chains, as in, more than one.

There are a few things to note as you go through the series.

1.    Even though we were warned that the booth takes the photos fast, we still were not ready as you can see in the first picture.
2.    If you look at Vitaliy’s progression, it takes him a few shots to really get into character. He finally embraces the thug within by the last frame.
3.    Being a princess didn’t give me enough power so I’ve taken over the crown by the end. I should probably look into the meaning behind all that.
4.    Do not ask me why Vitaliy is wearing the propeller hat. That was not in our original plan and I have no explanation for it.

Happy Monday!

Arthur Golden — Memoirs of a Geisha
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And that’s when I realized a few things.

• Clearly, I love our clients more than Vitaliy.
• Clearly, I work harder for our clients than Vitaliy does.
• I need a massage and will be using this picture in order to get it.
• And if we’re talking about husband and wife, why am I carrying all the bags?

I’m so thankful for pictures that put things in perspective for me. I think I’ll go ask for that massage now. Have a great weekend everyone!

Today we celebrate freedom in America. But I couldn’t help but think of the millions of people who are held captive in modern day slavery. Still…today.

So I wanted to ask you to do something. As you look around and enjoy all the fruits of your freedom, can you please take a minute to pray for those who do not have their own freedom to enjoy? Pray for their freedom. Pray that God would give them a hope that is beyond understanding. Pray for organizations like IJM who are risking their own lives to save these people. And pray for yourself — that you might have a heart that breaks for them as well. I’m finding that the more my heart breaks, the more I want to do to help.

I’ll leave you with this quote from Terrify No More.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. — Edmund Burke

Happy Freedom Day! Freedom is truly a gift. I pray I don’t take it for granted. And I pray I use my freedom to help those who need it.

I’ll leave you this sneak peek that Vitaliy took at a recent wedding he photographed with Teresa Halton. Hope you all enjoy the rest of your week!
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A few months ago, I saw the first preview for Larry Crowne. I may have squealed in the movie theatre. I won’t lie. I looked directly at Vitaliy and told him that he would be taking me to see that. I then came home and promptly put the opening night on my calendar, July 1. There aren’t many movies that I have to see on opening night, but this was one of them.

A few weeks ago, we accepted an invitation for July 1. Movies are important, but not as important as people. I was a little bummed, but it wasn’t the end of the world.

Then I came home yesterday to Vitaliy telling me that he rearranged our calendar. I hold the key to the calendar for our family so I knew it must be something special. However, I didn’t expect this…

Tickets to a special screening of Larry Crowne in San Francisco. For tonight!

Needless to say, I’m a little excited. But I’m not sharing this to brag on my husband, though he does deserve it. I’m sharing it to hopefully encourage someone out there reading. When you first start dating someone, you pay close attention to all the small details they share. You store them up or possibly act on them right away so that the other person knows you listened and that you care. Then as the years go by, the details sometimes go unnoticed. As long as you can remember the big things you think that’s good enough. And it might be. But do you want a relationship that’s good enough? Or do you want one that’s great?

Great comes in the form of little unexpected packages. Go do something small and unexpected for the one you love.