Hello, 2017! It’s hard to believe the holiday season is over- and to be honest, it makes me sad! I truly love the holidays because of the time you get to spend with your friends and family- some that you only get to see once or twice a year. But, as we know, all good things must come to an end. And I’m super excited to see what this year has in store for me and AEP!

Surprisingly, I didn’t take a ton of photos during all the parties and holidays– and I did so intentionally. As much as I love having my camera with me virtually all the time, it’s also a freeing feeling when you’re not constantly worrying about “getting the shot” and can focus more on authentic, genuine interaction with the people you’re in the room with. So, yes, I did take some photos with my phone, but for the most part, I gave me and my camera a break and truly enjoyed every moment of how connected I felt to the people around me.

This past weekend was definitely a much needed break at home after all the running around we did over Christmas. From napping, to reading and watching football- it was the perfect way to relax and recharge! I also picked my word of the year, which is breathe. You’ll be seeing this word weaved throughout my entire year and I have a little something up my sleeve that I’ll hopefully be able to talk more about soon!

We also went to Youngstown for Carlyn’s SURPRISE 30th birthday party– and I got to capture the entrance, which was super fun! (Plus her super sweet niece helped me take photos- us red heads have to stick together you know!)

Here’s to a super productive first week of the new year! I hope 2017 is everything you want it to be & more! Cheers, friends!