Florida. Florence. Maui

Hi Hi HI!!

Where on earth have I been?!?! I know I know....its been a few days and way too long since I have had time to post. This last week has been nothing but F U N.

SYNC was fantastic and I learned SO much, met great photographers, and made new  friends. 

I also got to spend the night with my Bestest, Francelina Mae Mae for a night. Catch up on life and telly with her. Gah I miss her!

 I also Got to have lunch with Harry in downtown Montgomery at Central. It was an awesome restaraunt. The decor was completely 100% my style and taste. If you're ever in DT Mont. Definitely stop by!!

I got to see Julie, along with the sweet pups Ollie Wolly & Bootsie

I also got to spend an entire day in Florence <3 See Mary Mac, Trueman, Katie Bug & Harpie!

Thursday morning, I left ALABAMA for M A U I 

Harry is a sweetie and drove 3 hours just to see me before I left. I am going to be gone for a whole month so I of course was okay with it.

All of our flights were good and I honestly couldnt get to Maui fast enough. I just was SO excited to see my bud and paradise all at the same time. 

Gyp Gyp was SO excited when she saw us. 

It was awesome!!!

So here are a few photos from DAY ONE on the stunning Island of MAUI

Day one couldnt have been better!!! I saw whales, I met tons of people on the beach, had awesome fantastic delicious food, played with Gypsy, visited art galleries, FINALLY got to go to Island Cream Co. {Stop by their site!}

I will share more about Island Cream Co. in a post all on its own.

So here's to day TWO and absorbing every single moment of today!

P.S. I NEVER WANT TO LEAVE THIS PLACE....EVER.

bB***

Travel Reads

Morning Sunshines!!!

I had some seriously awesome input on my packing list. Thanks to everyone who helped out with that. I have started packing...well, sort of. I've started getting stuff out I guess I should say. 

I asked my friends on Facebook what books they would recommend and I had so many people help me with that as well. Last night I went to 2nd & Charles with my friends Chris & Melissa. Unfortunately they didnt have any of the books I really wanted. I did get a book though that is part of Book Crossing. So that's fun! Book Crossing is where you put a tag on your book, log onto their website, log where you are from and your thoughts about the book, then you release the book and ship it somewhere else. So it just tracks all of the locations that the book has been read at. I am excited to hopefully release this book in Hawaii. The book I bought is called "Friends Like These." By Danny Wallace. I will let you know how the book is for sure!!! The books I R E A L L Y wanted was a trilogy that my friend Leah told me about.  The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.

 I was SO so bummed out when 2nd&c didnt have the books. They had the 3rd book of the trilogy but that did me no good. So, I am still hoping to get a few more books! It's times like these when I really just wish I had a kindle.

F I V E days my friends! FIVE DAYS. I can't wait to see Faith & Dan! 

I can't wait wait wait wait wait to see 

G Y P S Y  M A R I E 

I can't wait to see Island Cream Co. in real life! I can't wait to see that beautiful logo in real life. I can't wait to eat that delicious ice cream!

I can't wait to see Ericka....Leah....Jerry! Oh my goodness. How in the world did I end up with so many great people living in PARADISE! Wooohoooo.

HAPPY WEEKEND FRIENDS!

Bye now

B's

Discouragement turned to Courage!

Hey Hey!!!

Today, I feel the need to share a few thoughts that I have been having. I am sharing partly because maybe this will encourage someone else, also because for me writing how I am feeling helps me think things through and understand things a little better. It's the best way for me to gather my thoughts and get back to the clear vision of the path that I am on! I'm just going to be a little transparent in this post, so I hope that from this someone else will be encouraged. 

This week for me has been a roller coster of emotions. Monday was full of crying. Tuesday and Wednesday was full of hard work and happiness. Thursday was also full of hard work, and then huge frustration and ended in huge disappointment. Friday, I am determined to be a day of simply being thankful for this life I have, the creativity I have, and the opportunities that have been given to me. I know that everyone has weeks like this. Heck, some people have years upon years like this. But, these past few weeks I have been so discouraged with building my business. I knew this would be a hard endeavor but I never knew how hard. It's definitely not for the Faint of Heart. 

If you don't know exactly what I do, please let me explain that really quickly. In a nut shell, I am a graphic designer. But, to be specific, I work with photographers retouching their images as well as do design work here and there! I love what I do and really take pride in my work. I have learned very quickly these past few months that like most artists, all photographers are drastically different in their style and how they like things done. I knew this from the beginning and decided it was something that I can handle. I'm learning! And this is where the discouragement comes. If you know me, you know I am a little bit of a perfectionist. So when someone isn't just over-the-moon crazy about my work, that hurts my pride a little bit and I immediately want to fix it and get them exactly what they want. To a perfectionist, really this is a shot in the gut and is a hard pill to swallow...not sometimes, but every single time. 

How I handle the discouragement can really take a tole on me taking risks that could have really rewarding benefit. If I am being honest, my biggest fear is failure and having a few rejections can quickly make you feel like you're directly on the path to failure. Although this is tough for my perfectionism, I am learning that discouragement isn't just there to get me down. Its an opportunity to grow and to actually practice being courageous! Being courageous, hard working and using the skills the God has given me will have a much more rewarding impact on my life than fear of failure and rejection will have. 

It's so important for me as an artist to simply remember that I AM AN ARTIST. Everyone see's differently. Everyone works differently, but that doesn't make me any less of an artist. I have learned to take the opportunity of discouragement and use it to my advantage to count it as a learning experience and chance to build my courage and determination!! If you're reading this and feeling like you're reading your life story, please know you aren't alone! Love yourself enough to believe whole heartedly in what God has called you to do and trust in the gifts that he has given you!

Happy Friday Dear Friend!
bB***

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET FAITH!!!!

To one of my absolute 

F A V O R I T E 

Ladies on the planet.

FAITH!!

This lady has inspired me and impacted my life more than she will ever know. Her drive and love for what she does is so inspiring. A year ago almost to the date, I was working in Florence absolutely miserable. I hated my job and dreaded work every. single. day. and that's just me being completely transparent and honest about that.

God definitely MADE our paths cross and it was exactly when I needed it the most. He used a precious angel named Hope that recommended me to Faith without even knowing my current work situation. At the time Faith wanted only a part time worker, and I had to have a full time job, so begrudgingly I had no other choice but to tell her that I wasn't interested. Long story short, Faith and I ended up chatting again a month or so later about her needing someone even more so than before and I was seriously just ridiculously miserable where I was and was ready to bolt!!

Everything that happened, happened exactly when it was supposed to and I'm insanely thankful for that. 

I never knew that when I started working for Faith that my college-burned out passion for photography would 

F I N A L L Y 

be rekindled. I never knew that when I started working for her that I could obtain so much knowledge in a years time. I never knew that I would gain another family that I know loves me and appreciates me. I never knew that I would discover my dream job and I never knew that my work would be appreciated so much. 

My favorite thing that I have learned since working for Faith {and her husband} is that hard work pays off. Faith and Dan are two of the hardest working human beings I have ever met. I love that when you yourself are a hard worker and you work for hard workers that your work is truly appreciated and not taken for granted simply because they KNOW exactly what hard work is!!! 

THANK YOU so much Faith for having such a positive impact on my life. I am so so thankful for you. You were never a boss to me. You are a role model, an inspiration, my biggest mentor and one of my closest friends!

I love you sweet lady and hope your day is FANTASTIC!!!!

Bri

ibB Catchup!!!

Hey Hey Heyyyy!!!

Oh I have missed my little space here. I've been SO busy with Faith these past few days. 

Sadly Faith got on a plane yesterday to head back to her Paradise!!! I was SAD to see her leave. BUT I will be seeing her very soon. in 70something days or so. 

My last weekend in Florence was P E R F E C T ! ! !

I got to enjoy it with Harry. We had such a good time. I laugh constantly at him. He's hilarious and its awesome. So, we went to the movies on Sunday and saw Fury. I  LOVED the movie. SO MUCH!!! Some of it made me sad, but if you've been wondering if you should see it, I totally say YES to that!

Harry Finallllllllyyyyyy got to meet Faith and Gypsy. YAY!

Holy Heaven Ya'll!!!  I wish you could have seen Gypsy yesterday when we pulled back up to my parents house in Bham. She went ballistic and knew exactly where we were and who was inside. I couldnt get her out of the car fast enough....actually, she normally will sit in the seat until you help little princess out of the car. But, yesterday when I opened the car door, She leaped out and ran as fast as she could to the front door with that little booty of hers swaying back and forth doing that little Gypster Hipster dance that she does when she is super excited! I was cracking up!!!!!

I will leave you with this awesome picture from Saturday! This is at my FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE place in Florence! It's so peaceful and so beautiful. 

I miss this so much!

it's almost the weekend friends!! What are your plans??

Bye now

bB***

FBP Nashville.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY LOVES!!!

This week has been way too much fun so far and its only Wednesday.

Monday I drove back to Florence from my weekend in Birmingham. I love that drive. For some reason it never gets old. I got an awesome new hat one day last week and had been dying to wear it. I finally wore it on Monday. I'm in l o v e with the hat. It's by Levi's Jeans. It's red. It's Simple.

Monday's work day felt like it didn't even exist it went by so fast!

Such a productive day. 

Yesterday, Faith and I went to one of my favorite places, Nashville, Tennessee. 

We went to a Photography Conference by KelbyOne. Scott Kelby is hilarious and really really knows his photography stuff. 

The day went by way way way too fast. 

I didn't want it to end at all. 

Faith and I have so much fun together. She's the sweetest lady. She is such a blessing to me!!! I really don't know what I would be doing with my life now if God wouldn't had put her in my path. Now I honestly can't even, nor do I want to imagine my life without her & Dan being a part of it. They really are like family to me!

After the fun day of learning, learning, and learning, we went to one of my favorite restaurants in Nashville. 

T A V E R N ! 

{the photo above is not from the Tavern, I'm not really sure what it was called but it had the cutest seating outside. So chill. So I had to include the photo!} 

Faith had the Fish Tacos and I had the Kale Salad...then of course we had S'mores for desert! It was so fun:) and so so delicious. 

So that was my trip to Nashville yesterday. Like I said, I didn't want to leave at all. I love that place! I love the feeling it gives me, the people are insanely friendly, there are so many interesting places and interesting people to see. Faith and I are already planning our next trip!

How has your week been so far?? My Mom is coming to Flotown today!! So so solo excited!

Bye now...Hope you enjoyed my photos. 

B's

Savor.

It's so so true...and I do believe that is why Sunday is my absolute favorite day of the week. 

There is something about it that is so renewing.

This week is already flying by. So much to do and so so little time to do it, it seems. BUT I want to focus this week on savoring every second of this week. Things are drastically about to change in my life and its going to be WEIRD to say the least.

My Best Friend and other trouble making half is about to be a married women. My incredible boss is moving. My career is taking on a new and exciting adventure and things are looking super UP. 

I'm just trying to savor these moments with two people that really mean so much to me.

HAPPY TUESDAY LOVES.

I'm off to the gym!

Bye now

B's

Friday & Change.

Anyone else GLAD it's Friday?!?!

this girl sure is.

I've had an awesome week holding the fort down without Faith.

Although, I must say I am ready for her to be back.

I've gotten a lot done though!

I still dont think that it has clicked yet that she is moving. I guess it will all set in on the day they pull out of the driveway. Oh sadness. I love this place. I love working here. I love them as individuals. They are such great people. I will definitely be visiting them as much as possible and hopefully continue to do work for Faith!

I am super excited about this new time in my life. I'm praying for God's direction and for a passion and drive for what I do that can only come from him. It's going to be so fun friends. 

I'm going to conquer today knowing that I am whole and complete in God. I lack nothing and I am insanely blessed with this life that I live. 

bye now

bB***

Capture

The Best boss ever award definitely goes to FAITH BLESSING!

My new necklace just makes me smile and reminds me of so many things. 

"Capture Life Creatively"

It reminds me of L I F E and how beautiful it is. 

It reminds me that I am a creator. It's the gift that God so graciously gave me. My creativity is one of the things that I am so incredibly thankful to have been blessed with. I've said it in posts before, but it makes me so humbled to think about the God who 

C R E A T E D the entire universe chose to give me a small piece of that same type of creativity. It's the coolest thing to think about. 

It reminds me that I shouldn't take the small moments for granted, that I should cherish every second of every moment because they all lead to great great things, whether we see it instantly or in the future.

and last but certainly not least it reminds me of sweet Faith! Gah I love that lady. She is a real gem. It will remind me of her and all of the things I have learned and how much I have grown while I've been working for her. 

What about your boss? Are they as sweet and cool as mine? I doubt it.

Night loves

bB***

James.

Last Wednesday my good ole pal Will started a new life group called James. 

We are going through the book of James verse by verse and sinking deep into it. 

Last wednesday two verses in I was smacked right in the face with some amazing truths.

But, last Wednesday at the time, I didn't realize that the exact Faith that James talks about would be tested in my life less than a week later. 

Its the most amazing feeling when you come to a place in your life where you know God's promises won't fail you. It's the most freeing feeling. It's PEACE. It's COMFORT. It's JOY. 

I'm going to bed tonight with so much excitement in my heart I can hardly contain it.

I'm also really excited that tomorrow is Wednesday and that means Chapter 2 of James with the greatest friends I could have ever wished for. 

Bye for tonight, 

B's