{Naked as we came}

We turn not older with years, but newer every day.- Emily Dickinson

Birthdays for me are kind of like New Years.It’s a great time to reflect and clean slate to looking forward to the future. At 23 I am still quite young but I’ve always felt like an older soul. There are times when I look at my life and think I’m not much farther than I was when I was 18. I’m still working on my college degree. Still scraping by pay check to pay check, many people my age have graduation form college, are getting engaged and seem to be such… grown ups. I’m ready for that next chapter in my life and I think this year, my 23^rd year of life is the year to make things happen.

I have made plenty of mistakes along the way to 23, and I’m sure I will keep making many but it’s learning life’s little lessons from those mistakes that makes an individual stronger. This year it is my goal to continue staying focused on my dream of becoming a professional photographer, getting the most of my education from Metro State and loving every person around me a little more.

Some of the best lessons I have learned…

To breathe more…. Thank you Erin

To not sweat the small stuff… Thank you Matty

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take… Thank you Lara Casey (and Wayne Gretzky)

Inspiration is everywhere.

Take pleasure in the simple things.

Life is Beautiful.

Day One. 7.17.1987 in Altamonte Springs, FL

You can tell were sisters by the matching outfits. Me and My half sister Lacey.

One Year Old. One of my favorite baby pictures, too bad about the scratch.

Christmas. 1988.

For real this time.. this is my favorite baby picture of me. I love how you can still see your adult self in baby pictures.

Five. My mom chopped my hair off, forever traumatizing me from getting my hair cut.

My first interaction with snow. Southern Girl at heart. I still hate snow.

My little sister Serena. She changed my life forever. She made me stronger.

Eight. Those teeth would be the death of me until high school.