February was exactly the month I needed it to be. The bitter winter weather really drained me this year, but there were so many bright moments that kept my spark alive. I’m excited for spring coming soon!

What I’ve Been Up To:

I unexpectedly had some wedding work this month, and I didn’t realize just how much I’ve missed it.

I’ve only been in off season for a few months, so I thought I was still needing to rest. But having the opportunity to get out, be creative, and capture love stories made me so excited for the summer.

One of my previous engagement couples asked me to photograph portraits for them before their Boston City Hall Wedding. We were actually invited to take pictures at the Boston Ritz-Carlton‘s presidential suite, which was so much fun!

I also took a last minute job being the second photographer for one of my dear friends. I loved it!

On a different note, I celebrated my birthday this past month! I decided to try float therapy for the first time, which is something I’ve wanted to do since high school! Float therapy is essentially the same as a sensory deprivation tank. You go and lay in shallow pool of water that, percentage wise, has more salt than the Dead Sea!

The water and air are the same temperature as your skin, so when you’re lying in the water it’s supposed to promote deep relaxation.

I did my first float at The Indoor Oasis. I can’t wait to try it again!

Throughout this past month I’ve also been hard at work doing my business and personal growth coaching. I’ve been meeting weekly with a small group where our coach, Shaun, puts us through the wringer. Just kidding… sort of! 😂

But we show up each week challenged to be the best version of ourselves, whether it’s in our businesses or in our personal lives. The extra accountability is good for me, and I’m excited to see the impact later this year.

What I’ve Been Reading

I’m in the middle of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Brandon P. Fleming’s Miseducated. Be proud of me for pushing myself to read some nonfiction. It’s never my first preference, but I do try to read a few selections each year.

For The Vanishing Half, we focus on the Vignes family, especially the twins Desiree and Stella. The twins decide to run away from their hometown, and the story focuses on how that single decision impacts their lives and the lives around them.

There are a lot of hot button issues that the book covers, especially as the story spans the time period before, during, and after the 1960s Civil Rights movement.

I think I like the story, but we’ll see. I’m not obsessed with it, and I don’t think I will be by the end. Stay tuned for my final thoughts on my Goodreads and Instagram!

Miseducated follows Fleming’s experiences growing up in an extremely abusive and turbulent environment. Like with The Vanishing Half, I think I like it. I’m still engaged in his story, but I don’t think it will be a top recommendation for me.

What I’ve Been Watching

XOXO, Gossip Girl!

I never watched this show when it aired, and it’s been the perfect motivation to pull out my walking pad and get my steps in each night.

Of course, the show is crazy and dramatic. But that’s the fun of it all! With the characters all having very clear dark sides, Dillon keeps asking me who I’m rooting for. My answer since about episode 4 has always been Chuck Bass. I’m only on season 2, so don’t come for me if you think that opinion is wild!

Of course Chuck has many, many flaws, but I can’t help but root for him, especially when he always helps his friends and fights for his dad’s attention. Sure, he’s self serving, but the guy has some good underneath it all. I think his character arc has the best potential.

What I’m Excited For:

Typing out this list always makes me smile. I can’t but help feel the anticipation rise for those upcoming dates on my calendar!

-My favorite ice cream stand, Rota Springs, re-opens for the year! We’re going opening day. They only close for 3 months out of the year, but those 3 months are enough to make opening day feel like it’s ages away. A purple cow ice cream is already calling my name!

-A baby shower for one of my college best friends. I’m so excited to celebrate her and her baby boy that’s coming later this spring!

-Daylight Savings Time. Don’t get me wrong…springing forward and losing an hour of sleep hurts. But I’m so desperate to see the sun that I’m counting down the days this year!

-Redlen’s 4th birthday! I’m excited to celebrate him! I can’t believe the time passes so quickly. We have a family party on the calendar, and I’m hoping to schedule a little photoshoot for him to capture him at this age. And we’ll do cake, his favorite foods, all of the things!

-A bridal shower for a dear family friend! After photographing so many weddings and wedding-adjacent celebrations, it’s always a treat to be a guest at the festivities.

-Training for our marriage conference. This year, Dillon and I are on the leadership team at Breakthrough, which our marriage coach, Julia Woods, hosts! This doesn’t mean that we’re perfect–it just means we’ve shown that we’re committed to consistently growing. Everything that Julia does is so transformative that I can’t wait to see what she’s planning!

-This will be the last full month of my business coaching program. I’m excited to keep working on things behind the scenes so that the 2025 season is better than ever!

XOXO. Gossip Girl.

Just kidding 😂

Until next time,

Christine