photography | goodbye summer

Today is the first day of Fall and like most I am so excited for this season. But before I get too Fall-crazy, I had to share some of my favorite summer photos! It has been a great summer! The flowers in my yard grew better than most summers, due to more rain than usual. I love the hostas, cosmos, and the sunflowers/weeds that grow wild in the fields around my house. Flowers are what I miss the most after summer. And my other favorite thing is the amazing summer skies, there is something so special about them... I have probably taken too many photos of sunrises and sunsets this summer, but the sky is always so mind-blowing to me, it is so grand and it never looks the same... I can't get enough! That last photo is of a sunrise I woke up to one morning at the beginning of September. The only editing I did to the photo was cropping... I am always so amazed at the beauty God gives on this earth.

I hope you had a lovely summer too! 

Now, I am ready for a beautiful new season...

an engagement session & a wedding...

This weekend, these two are getting MARRIED!! 

I am a bridesmaid in the wedding, and kind of a second photographer. I have been friends with Brittney since 2001 and I am so happy for her and Tanner. They are perfect for each other! I took these photos over a month ago... I can't believe the big day is here! So exciting!!

There has been a lot of planning and crafting over the past few months. I made the "love" banner (pictured above) and another banner for the "candy bar" at their reception that says "love is sweet". My sister and I decorated mason jars for the guests to drink from at the reception and take home with them. I designed the tags and printed them and gave them lacey corners to make them look "country" cute. I love the way they look tied on the jars, so I had to share a picture of them too! 

recipe | peach crisp

My favorite thing about the end of the summer is fresh peaches!! They are my most favorite fruit. Of course, I love peach crisp (hence this recipe) but I can honestly say that a plain peach is just as good. Either way I can not get enough of them 

right now. Another thing that has been interesting to me lately is coconut oil... I have been more curious about it since I made homemade chocolate shell with it. So, I was excited to try it in this recipe for peach crisp topping. I am not too sure 

of the health pros & cons of using coconut oil, but I do know it made this topping taste pretty great!

Peach Crisp

(Recipe adapted from Summer Harms)

Ingredients for the peach mixture...

5 peaches, chopped 

1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon flour

Ingredients for the crisp topping...
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oats
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
5 Tablespoons coconut oil

Directions...
Preheat oven to 350º
In a large bowl, gently mix the chopped peaches, sugar, cinnamon and flour. 
Pour the peach mixture in an 8x8 or 9x9 dish and set aside. 
Combine all of the topping ingredients in a small bowl and mix with a fork until crumbly. 
Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over all the peaches. 
Bake for 50 minutes. Double this recipe for a 9x13 baking dish.