Love It!
1. Blue Ball Jars! Yes I’m slightly obsessed with my flea market score from last weekend. Last night I though how cute would one of the jars look with buttons in it and then I remembered that I have 10+ years of buttons still in their plastic holders in a drawer because you never know when you might need a button! Honestly I think I’ve used maybe 2 buttons from that drawer in 10 years but just in case, I’m prepared! Going through my buttons I can tell you 95% of them are from Ann Taylor Loft with a few J.Crew and Banana Republic thrown in. So now my jar looks adorable with the buttons thrown in and it is functional because they are buttons to my clothes and I’ve freed up a drawer!
2. February! This year I love February for being a short month! My hubby is coming home next month and since there are only 28 days in February I get to see him 3 days sooner in my head 😉 Add in the fact that the good old groundhog did not see his shadow which means Spring is around the corner!!! Also I can’t forget Valentines Day, this year I’m helping out Amanda at Anthomanic a Stafford Virginia Florist off of Onville Road. I’ll be in the shop on Valentines Day so send your hubby or significant other over to pick up a beautiful bouquet and say hi! I’ve been totally curious about being in a flower shop on this crazy day ever since I saw a photo essay from a fellow student in one of my photography classes at NVCC!
3. Get Real! I recently joined a small group bible study hosted by local photographer Rachel May. Not surprising a lot of the group are photographers 🙂 What I already love about this group is that these women are like me and have been through similar things. They aren’t experts on religion or the bible but they want to learn more and live a better life. I was a little nervous going to my first study group but I came away with a wonderful new perspective on things that happen in our lives and really making lemonade out of lemons. I’m really looking forward to growing with these women in my faith!
Hate It!
1. Retainer! Weird fact about me, I didn’t get braces till I was an adult. So now I have a retainer that I’m really bad about wearing. Here is a tip, listen to your orthodontist and wear your retainer regularly! Don’t be like me. I put my retainer back on last night and I may starve myself today because my teeth hurt so bad I don’t want to eat anything. This may be helpful for losing weight though 😉
Melissa Arlena is an award winning lifestyle newborn photographer in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia who has earned her Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in maternity, newborn and family photography. Her natural and simple work has been featured in magazines and online blogs worldwide. She has been named Best Maternity and Newborn Photographer in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA in 2024.
