Thanks also for all of the birthday wishes! :) My 32nd birthday was relatively quiet, and I like it that way! I spent the day at work - my boss made the most DIVINE cheesecake brownies EVER (I might have eaten one with a Diet Coke when I got into the office this morning...breakfast of champions, I tell ya). The lovely ladies at the office gave me a gift certificate for a spa day (Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!). Unfortunately, Ryan was out of town in Chicago for my birthday but called and texted me throughout the day to wish me a wonderful day. My parents and my sweet sister, Rachel (who happened to be in from Boston), came to our house and we had take-out from Outback, followed by cupcakes. At one point in the evening after my parents had gone home, I thought the dog was being a little too quiet, which meant she was up to no good. Upon entering the kitchen, I found that she had scarfed down 3 CUPCAKES, wrapper and all - she tried to look innocent, but the yellow icing all over her mouth gave her away.
As you can tell, the little one REALLY enjoyed her cupcake - that's purple icing all over her lips, not some atrocious hot pink frosted lipstick from the 80s. I took the picture with my birthday present from my parents, a new camera lens - the Canon 85 mm f/1.8. My heart just skipped a beat thinking of all the fun I'm going to have with this lens (I know, I probably lost many of you all just now by talking about how excited I am over a camera lens!).
So......we had a wonderful time in Hilton Head Island (despite the fact that I got a wee bit of sun poisoning as the heavy-duty antibiotics made my skin so sensitive to the sun beating down on us). We ate lots of phenomenal seafood from here, here and here. We spent a lot of time out by the pool, where I finished lots of indulgent fashion magazines and started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Have any of you all read this? It's a little slow going right now, I'm still in the beginning chapters - but everywhere I turn I hear how phenomenal this series is.
I really did try to take some pictures walking along the beach in the morning, but the moment I would take the lens cap off, it would immediately fog up - any of you photographers out there have any advice for this? I was able to take a bunch of pictures at Harbour Town, where I spent an afternoon relaxing and shopping while Ryan was out playing golf.
On Saturday night, we attended the beautiful wedding of our friends Sarah and Clay, which took place on the beach. They invited 36 friends and family to their wedding, and all 36 came, which I believe is a true testament to how much they are loved. We had such a wonderful time and wouldn't have missed it for the world. It was a fun, laid-back affair full of love and laughter. It was such a pretty wedding, and Sarah was one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen.
I rarely seem to be in front of the camera anymore - not only am I usually busy taking pictures, but my DSLR seems to unnerve people a little bit and I usually have it in Manual setting which makes it a little bit more difficult to operate. Some sweet friends offered to take our picture - this is the best one of the two of us.
The focus on these photos tends to be a little interesting - this next one just cracks me up!
We had a wonderful time, but I was ready to get back on the plane Sunday morning. It is good for us to get away as a couple sometimes, but it was hard to be away from my sweet Alexandra for several days in a row. I practically ran into the house to see her when we got home. A huge smile crossed her face and she reached up her arms to be picked up - when I did, she wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my back as tight as she could and just squeezed. We stood like that for about five minutes, just hugging tightly. Alexandra kept giggling, she was so happy - it was one of my favorite moments EVER.
I'm STILL catching up on all of your blog posts that I missed since my hospitalization and vacation, and am working on responding to comments - thanks for your patience! :)
40 comments:
What awesome pictures! Is that Clay Level??? I remember him from college and my husband knows him from school too. What a small world!!!
Just curious???? Was a guy named Drew Sandefur and his girlfriend Angie Land some of the guests? They went to HH for a wedding this past weekend as well and both went to UK. He is my husbands BF.
Such gorgeous photos! All that color.
I thought those pictures were of Harbour Town. We ate there last Monday...seems we missed you in HH by a few days! Glad you had a good time and a good birthday!
Wow gorgeous photos!!! So glad you had a fun time!! Too sweet about Alexandra!!
Yay for the great new lens!!!! Your photography is gorgeous!
And I love Steamers and Marley's! In fact, I spent my 30th birthday last year at both those places (which I now know was also your birthday!). :)
I sure know that feeling of reuniting with little ones after a short time away...nothing better than those giggles and hugs!
what great pictures! i love all of the colors you got! they are awesome!
and i feel the same way about asking people to take our pictures...the camera freaks people out.
and i am thinking of getting that same new lens or the 35mm 1.8.
Great photos! Glad you are doing well :)
We're going to Hilton Head in August - can't wait! I had the same problem with my Nikon D60 fogging up this weekend in Myrtle Beach. I found that you just had to let your camera adjust to the humidity for about 10 minutes and then it would be ok. I kept going back and forth from the AC to the outdoors and the camera was not having it.
I also have the problem of not having anyone be able to take pictures with me in them! If someone tries to take a pic of my husband & I, we're either out of focus or the size of ants. So frustrating.
Sounds like your week ended better than it started last week!
Your new lens sounds very exciting but I really don't think you need it because your pictures are already so good! I'm so envious that you've been able to pick it up so quickly and so well!! You're going to have to start giving lessons to people like me who just can't get it!
wow, you take such great pictures. They are fabulous an dyou're right, the bride was beautiful!
I would love to go to Hilton Head and your pictures make me want to go even more!
Wow!! Those are some amazing photos!!! You are such a great photographer Sara!!! :) I absolutely love Hilton Head. My husband took me there for my birthday a couple years ago. :) I'm so glad you had a great time and you are doing well!!!
Great pictures! And your dress is fabulous! Where is it from?
Happy belated bday to you...sorry i missed it. I, too, have been catching up from being out of town with work. I am so jealous about the lens you got! That is the first one on my list! I'm actually excited for my 29th birthday (in September) to get here! Glad you guys had fun...I'm going to check back on the comments about the lense fogging up...we are going on vacation soon too!
So glad you're back, I've missed your blog! Your pictures are making me miss Hilton Head so much, we usually go once a year and this is our first year in awhile not to go! It looks like you had a fabulous time (minus the sun poisoning).
Stick with The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, it was hard to get through the first half for me, but then I really enjoyed it! It's definitely a little different, but everyone I've heard from ends up loving it!
such great pics! i would love to see one of the dog with the icing! haha
You took some great pics! I want that lens! Yay for you!!!!
Beautiful wedding!!
These pictures are great!! I have been slacking on the blog world, so I just read about your birthday and your visit to the hospital!
1.Happy Belated Bday!!!
2. Glad you are feeling better and doing well:)
What beautiful pictures, so summery & vibrant! It looked like such a fun vacation & wedding! I love those red chairs you posted! And, I am laughing so hard about the picture you posted of you & your husband. That is what happens when I give people my camera to take a picture that I am in. (that is why I rarely have pics of me on my blog, the DSLR just messes with some people, especially my family!)
Glad you had a great bday! Yay for a new lens :)
OMG, I didn't read that far back, so I didn't realize you had been in the hospital! It sounds like you may have been at the same place as my mom, therefore I could have visited you on my many trips there! Glad HH was fun - great pics. Wish I were back at the beach...
Hi sweetie! I am so glad you are starting to feel better, and you must have been in heaven with all those sweet hugs and kisses from Alexandra when you got home! Your photography is awesome, and I am super psyched to see what you do with your fancy new lens! Glad you had a great time at the wedding in HH, your one shoulder dress is adorable! Hugs and xxx :)
happy belated birthday!! i'm so jealous of your new lens! and loving those red rocking chairs.
I am in Charleston SC now and just finished reading The Help thanks to your rec. I LOVED it. We just came back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and I just finished it. It was delightful. Thank you so much.
Glad you birthday was good and just so you know I am having the same steamy trouble with my lens here too! UGH. Can't wait to see if you find a cure for it.
glad you had a great b-day! love all the colorful picts--yay for a new lens--always so fun! your assymentrical dress is stinkin fab!
What BEAUTIFUL pictures! Looks like a great vacation and wedding. happy belated birthday!
What a wonderful gift from your parents!!! Did you use it at the wedding, too? LOVE that pic of Alexandra :)
Happy (belated) Birthday!
I'm so glad you're feeling better. Your trip looked like a lot of fun! :)
I can't wait to see how you like the fixed lens. I have a 35mm which is really like 52mm. It is the only lense I use.
You photos are so pretty. You will NEVER get an in focus photo with someone using your camera. That is the bad part.
Oh, I am so happy to read your blog after craziness in my life. Cillian turned 2 on June 2nd and he is amazing.
I have been busy doing photo shoots for anyone that will pay me or let me do it for free. I am in love with your pictures they are incredible.
I was so shocked to see that you got the 85mm---I just got mine in the mail for my BIG birthday tonight. Wouldn't ya know if arrived at like 8pm--I have been checking the front porch every hour since 11am.
Enjoy your 85mm--I might need some advice, oh, I got the Canon 7d for my birthday too--lot to learn,sista!!
Wow! Your pictures are AMAZING! I have the camera - just not so great knowing how to use it. What program do you use to edit?
Your friend was an absolutely gorgeous bride at her lovely wedding on the beach.
Happy belated birthday and so glad to hear you're feeling better!
so glad you're feeling better!!
lovely photos!! so so vibrant!!
ps---DO get a pair of the TOMS wedges! they are to die-for!!!
The picture of Alexandra is gorgeous! Loved seeing all of your pictures from HHI. They are incredible! We're going there in August and your recap made me even more excited :)
Looks like a beautiful wedding and vacay! Ohhh, and I am very jealous of your new camera lense. SOME DAY I tell myself! You just capture the most fantastic shots! And I'm laughing about puppy + birthday cupcakes! Our greyhound is counter height and has a long nose...that girl tries to get into EVERYTHING! Sounds like a great summer start for you!
My bro in law always takes his camera outside with the lens off for about 5 minutes before he tries to take beach pics. He actually just set his camera on the deck before we headed down for pics.
What a fun trip! Glad you are feeling better and happy belated birthday! Living in SC I always have the humidity issue with my camera. I agree with the comment on letting your camera acclimate before taking the lens cap off. I make sure to take it out of my handbag too, as it will still stay somewhat cool in it and still fog up! Great photos! Love a beach wedding! So romantic!
That is such a stunning picture of your daughter, she is gorgeous, as you know! I'm glad to here that you are feeling better.
I've been listening to that song Going to Carolina in my Mind a lot recently, was introduced to it by a friend who worked there for a while and loves the place! Would love to go one day.
This sounds like a wonderful trip and the wedding sounds simply perfect. A couple of things: I'm in love with the dropped waist on that stunning wedding dress - what a beautiful bride! Your pictures are truly stunning ... great work; leave your camera on AUTO next time you're in front of it! And lastly, I'm totally envious of your new lens :)
You are an amazing photographer! Wow, the photos you took are so sharp and stunning. I think you could have another career besides law!
Goodness--I am seriously behind on my blog reading. I didn't know you had been sick or had a birthday! Well, I'm glad you're feeling better now and happy belated b-day. Looks like a beautiful wedding.
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