Personal - Home Update!

Welcome to my home! I closed on my condo almost exactly one year ago and I’m just now finally getting around to taking photos of it. It’s kept me a little busy and I had a bunch of projects I wanted to complete before my new baby made its internet debut! I’ve included the before pics from when my little condo was empty, and now that I’m in and have photographed, I feel like I have SOOOO much stuff in this tiny little space! However, I am running a business from here so have many extra things from that, and my place has NO storage. Because of that, one of the projects I wanted to tackle was building a cabinet to go in the kitchen where there was wasted space before. Luckily I have the most handy parents in the world who helped me paint every square inch of this place, spruce up the floors, install ceiling fans, put in a live-edge wood dining nook AND build a cabinet I designed. I was so tired of having my garbage & recycling bins exposed and all I wanted was a pull-out drawer that they could be hidden in, with a counter on top with a shelf above. It freed up counter space in my kitchen and I’m in LOVE! They also built the butcher block island you’ll see below & mom painted my kitchen cabinets and we put in a temporary backsplash. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without my mom and dad & I am eternally grateful. Especially because I learned that I did not inherit my mom’s love of painting. I despised every second of it but I love my little home! There are still some things I’ll change after seeing these photos but I deep-cleaned today and it was photo-ready so I went with it! I’m only showing the kitchen and living area because the bedrooms are still a work in progress and the bathroom overwhelms me; I want to change everything about it & the cabinet still has several paint swatch strokes from a year ago! (If you’ve visited, you’ve seen it!) When I purchased, I had planned on using my second bedroom as an office & small studio space but after a few trial runs with newborns in the “studio” this winter I decided it just isn’t going to work logistically for new moms. I mourned that loss hard but have now decided to turn it into a guest bedroom/office so I’ll show more photos when it’s done. Likely another year from now ;)

Happiest, Coziest Christmas Wishes To You & Your Loves!

All 2021 sessions have wrapped, Christmas is here, it's officially winter & I’m ready to hibernate ;) Well, except for newborn sessions and some head shots, I’ll be hibernating. I’m extra grateful for you all, in another year of a global pandemic. Every like or comment on my IG, every email response you send, cheering me on when I send out a newsletter, every referral you send my way, every session you have with me, every ounce of support. You all keep me going and I am so so very thankful for you.

While for many of us the holidays may not be (once again) what we planned, I hope you’re still able to find peace, joy and love in whatever you’re doing, and whomever you’re spending time with. And for those of you struggling to find the joy (🙋raises hand) this season - I see you and am sending hugs and love your way. I can't wait for the day when I can actually hug you and your littles again.

As I mentioned above, I’ll be mostly hibernating in January but will be doing so with my favorite girl. My dog Emmie Lou is finally moving to Chicago with me! When I first moved here 6 years ago, I moved into an apartment that didn’t allow dogs so she stayed back in WI with my parents. But this year I became a homeowner (still feels surreal to write that!) and I can call the shots on who’s allowed inside. So here comes Emmie! She can no longer hear, she’s 15, has a bit of a tough time with stairs and I’m removing her from the company of her best fur-friend/roommate Jersey so I’m a bit nervous that I’m wrecking her world. Wish us luck as we adjust together!

As always, thank you for opening, reading and sharing. I so appreciate you!

xoxo, 
Courtney

Here’s a photo of her from when she got to come stay with me for a month in lockdown of 2020. We checked out the tulips on an empty Michigan Avenue, which was one of the strangest Chicago experiences I’ve had.

It's My Dog's 14th Birthday Today!

My Emmie Lou is 14 today and I’m kind of astounded! 14?! I feel like she was JUST a puppy, running around the house in circles, getting her zoomies out and chasing my roommates’ cats! Here are a few of my favorite photos from the past year. I first got Emmie when she was a puppy and it was just before I started my photography journey, and before I knew what I was doing with storing/organizing digital files! I have printed copies of the photos from when she was a pup, but digging through years of digital files that aren’t accurately organized is too daunting to me so I won’t be showing any puppy photos today. Even though she was the cutest-yet-saddest-looking pup and she used to hide under tables when I first brought her home. She’s always been a timid creature, but also the most snuggly little BFF I could’ve asked for. I love this girl, my fur baby, with my whole heart.