I don’t know about you, but winter is one of my favorite times of year…. there’s just something so romantic about it!  Winter’s a time when life slows down a little, cuddles by the fire are enjoyed, and the world looks a little different. Plus, all the cute jackets and accessories can be worn… like scarves, peacoats, and cute hats! Well, Brittany and Allie over at Rooted in Love Weddings are also big fans of winter…. so much so that we decided to put together a winter styled shoot up in Arrowhead area. The inspiration for the styling was the color combination of wood and wine, combining classic wedding details with woodsy elements and DIY charm. Those girls put a lot of time into creating some super cute DIY decor, and they did a great job on the design. Kathleen Bantad of The Paper Mint Press also joined our team to create some adorable letter press invitations and recipe cards. And to top it off, we had a ridiculously cute couple model for us! Scott and Claire are celebrating over 5 years of marriage this year and they are more in love than they were on their wedding day! Jaya Loo and Danyell Weinberg did Claire’s hair and makeup. Here are the highlights from the afternoon…

Event Design: Rooted in Love Weddings, Hair: Jaya Loo, Makeup: Danyell Weinberg, Invitations: The Paper Mint Press, Silverware: BHLDN, Lanterns: World Market Cost Plus, Venue: Private Estate

Hello! And Happy New Year! It’s 2012, which means lots and lots of NEW is happening. January is such a fun time…. it’s a time for reviewing the highs and lows of the previous year, taking notes on how to make the new year better than the last, and my favorite… dreaming. It’s an exciting thing to witness evolution of thought, being, and goals. Where I was, I am no longer.

I’ve been listening to Elevation Worship’s “All Things New” a lot lately…. and I’ve adopted it as my mantra for 2012. Last year was intense in both amazing… and not so amazing ways. But looking forward at the open road ahead, I can’t help but have hope and peace that whatever comes, He is near and deeply involved in the world around me. Hope is an exciting thing.

And with that, I’d like to share my ALL NEW website!! This has been a work in progress for quite some time… involving lots of soul searching and self-realization. It’s been almost 4 years now that Kate Noelle Photography has been in existence. Whoa…. (having a moment)

So, while my dream and vision have remained the same, my website’s look and feel has changed to reflect the changes I’ve undergone in the past couple of years. I’m excited at the unending spectrum of possibility this year holds, and I hope you’ll continue to journey with me on this crazy adventure of living life to the fullest.

Here’s a shot Christopher took of me at a shoot recently…

And here’s the all new look of Kate Noelle Photography’s Website! Head on over to www.katenoelle.com to check it out!

There are all new galleries featuring some oldies, but mostly new images…

There’s a new “Connect” page where you can find every possible way to connect with me via social media…. I hope you’ll find me so we can be friends!

And I’m also excited about an all new “Word on the Street” section where past clients have laid out their experiences with me as their photographer…. I love my clients!!

I was at Fedex today, sending a package. As I was filling out the form, I asked the lady if it was March 15th, because that’s what day I thought it was. She gave me a weird look and, half annoyed, she said, “yeeeaaah… it’s the 31st of March today.” Awesome. The whole month of March slipped past me without even leaving a note. I suppose that’s what I get for moving to a new place, planning a wedding, and working like a mad-woman. I do have SOMETHING to show for the big black hold of crazy in my schedule, and that is…. I finally got my wedding invitations out! Woohoo! (as I wipe blood, sweat, and tears off my forehead with the back of my wrist) I’m super excited about the way they turned out, and I’m uber relieved to know that I can move on and continue planning the smaller things now that the bigger ones are taken care of. Here’s the final product! What do you think?

Along with the invitations, Chris and my wedding website is FINALLY finished! After 3 months of being “under construction”…. everything is finally there. When you get a minute, check it out! (click the photo below to visit our site!)

And for those of you going through wedding photo withdrawals…. I’ve got two fresh new weddings and a bunch of portraits to be sharing with you soon!

I always feel guilty when I buy new things. I feel guilty because I don’t NEED that new cardigan. (But But But…. I DID leave my favorite sweater at a wedding last September and I’ve been cold ever since.) My adventures this past month with 6 Items or Less have been enlightening.  I wore only 6 items of clothing for the past 30 days. Two pairs of jeans, two t-shirts, a tank top, and a black sweater. It’s been quite the challenge, living in such a fashionable place, but I’ve learned something from it all…. that Fashion is mostly just a State of Mind. As hard as it was some days, it was also that much more freeing by the end, knowing that I CAN be content wearing the same thing for 30 days straight. I WILL be content with what I have. Here’s a few shots my friend Erin took of me to document this experiment…

I wrote an article on the 6 Items or Less Website….. you should check it out. Happy Friday!

You can read the full article here.