Today’s Mash Up Monday is currently being typed in the comfort of my own bed. It’s a rare occasion that this actually gets to happen, but today I decided I was going to sleep in, relax, and give myself some time to just wake up. This weekend was a slammed packed weekend filled with two back to back weddings, so sleep was exactly what this chick needed to start off the first Monday of 2017!!!

Can we talk about how crazy that is? It’s 2017.

New years bring in the annual goal setting posts, the what didn’t work for me posts, the I’m actually going to lose weight this year posts, and those are all fine and dandy, but my favorite New Years posts are the ones that reflect on some of the best moments of the past year.

2016 brought me so many different incredible moments and memories and friends. In 2016 I was given the opportunity to photograph 30 weddings and over 40 portrait sessions!! SAY WHAT!? That’s crazy to me. This past year was my second year in my photography business. Wanna know how many weddings I photographed in my first year? Six. I photographed six weddings in 2015. 6 to 30 is such a huge jump, and I couldn’t have done it without my amazing couples and mentor, Audrey Rose, who trusted me to photograph those weddings. So incredible!

In 2016, I also had some pretty incredible moments and memories:

• MJ and I flew to Texas to watch my Opa’s boat crising ceremony!
• I paid off one of my college loans!!! SO AMAZING! One down and one to go!!
• I booked my very first international wedding!! You’ll see that in 2018!!
• We spent two weeks in my favorite place: Stone Harbor!
• We spent a week in the Outer Banks with MJ’s best friends from high school!
• Wedding planning!! How can I possibly forget about that!? Everything from dress shopping to my engagement session!!
• My bestest friend got married to the love of her life!!
• Thanksgiving at the beach!
• SO MANY MORE!

I loved 2016! It was incredible in every way just like every year is. 2017 has just begun, but I know it’s going to be a hard year to beat because I’M GETTING MARRIED!! AH! I just can’t believe it!! I cannot wait!!

I hope you take some time to reflect on what positive moments and memories 2016 brought you, and start getting excited about what 2017 is going to bring! Today I am going to hit the grind on my two huge projects, clean because that’s something I needed to do in 2016 too haha, and just enjoy this relaxing day being so truly thankful for all that life has given me.

Thank YOU. If you are reading this, thank you for supporting me and my dreams and my goals. 2016 was incredible because of you, and I just know 2017 is going to be better than ever! Have an incredible first Monday of 2017!

xoxo