He is my “honey” and I am his “sweetie” and sometimes, “sweetie pie.”  It’s adorable.  I know, you can throw up now.

Found this little treat by my desk one day after shopping around town – the less fun kind, the grocery kind.  I love that the color pink reminds him of me.  He once told me he was surprised how healthy I am consider how much sugar I eat.

Speaking of pink, the sweet color is adorning all the stores now for Valentine’s Day.  Have you seen the previews for The Vow? I begged Mr. Wonderful to take me when it comes out February 10.  He has no choice after all the football watching I’ve endured.  This will be our first Valentine’s Day together in history.  I have already paid a visit to Brooks Brothers, of course.

Diana Elizabeth has always loved Valentine’s Day, even when she was single.  Pink makes everything beautiful.

Personal

Creating the Image begins today, my online workshop presented by Creative Groove which is geared towards beginner DSLR owners and up and coming professional photographers who need to brush up on the camera logistics and understanding how to find light, work manual mode correctly, and post processing and organization.  Newbies will learn more than they signed up for, but it might fuel a passion you never knew existed.  And who knows, you might find yourself shooting your first wedding sooner than you thought.  Or babies, we can start small. *wink*

Hope to see you in class.  I look forward to seeing the 20 of you on our Facebook group page – I can’t wait to meet you all.

It’s not too late to sign up – $160 for 4 weeks every Wednesday starting at 5 pm PST, which is 6 pm for those in Arizona.   Classes are 1 hour and include a LIVE video feed and chat room and slide show presentation.  You’ll also have worksheets to help you understand settings better.  This is my third time teaching, fourth class online (I teach a marketing workshop for those who want to take the next step).  Also a recorded playback for your busy bees who need to watch on your own time.

There will be more announcements regarding workshops soon.  This year, I plan to really dive into teaching.  I hope you’ll be along for the ride. xx

“I have to thank you for this class! I have been doing photography forever and took a couple classes in college 10 years ago. I learned manual mode back then but just didn’t understand it enough to use it. You have made it so easy for me to pick it back up and NOW I can honestly say, I won’t go back to auto! I have seen the changes to my pictures already! I just wanted to let you know how much your class helped!” – Tammy

“Your class has taken my photography skills and confidence to a higher level, which is priceless! I could confidently shoot in manual mode after the fist class and am even more passionate about photography than I was before. Thank you for a fun, informative, and beautifully organized class. Thank your for generously sharing your knowledge and experience. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who wants to capture better images!” – Yolanda

Diana Elizabeth will have to tell the Mr. to not watch TV while she’s trying to teach, or to take his Blackberry conversations to his own office. Or maybe, she’ll have to coax him to wave hello to every one.

Workshops

I’m totally domestic.  Like a cat, only I’m allergic to cats.  I’m not the nature type. In fact, in the middle of my crazy cleaning, organizing and purging of the outside storage room, I called Mr. Wonderful and said, “I have two sleeping bags here for some reason I’ve kept and I’m going to donate them. We won’t ever need them, will we?” He replied, “No way, donate them.”  Oh thank the lord for my equally domestic partner who doesn’t care to camp or do any of that stuff.  He would never force me to sleep on the ground.  Reason #4,928,183 why I love him and he’s my soul mate.

I’m not only learning how to cook, I’m also learning how to garden.  Since the weather is getting warmer here in Phoenix, I’m starting to wander outdoors more.  The grapefruit tree is ripening just in time for our backyard reception, one of two.  The theme of our reception, also designed by la Ricki is citrus. We have so many great ideas!

I’ve also started planting herbs, and suddenly I want chickens after seeing Instagram posts from my friend Joy Prouty, and seeing my friend Caroline of Boho Farm and Home’s blog.  Of course this also means that I need to first see if I can with permits and my city limits, then how to care.  Guess I’ll be hanging out at Caroline’s a lot soon!  There is so much I want to learn, and with no kids on the horizon (You know you’ve been all pestering me, no kids for 3-5 years!), I can still do all the fun Holly homemaker stuff!

Row 1: My gardening tools are suddenly growing, I want to plant more! / Picking some grapefruit to gift to Ricki for her new house a few blocks down the street / One of two new tables built by our handyman Dennis with IKEA table legs.  Only $10 per leg, and he stained the wood, amazing!  Each table will seat 8, we can’t wait to entertain outdoors (inspiration and how-to steps found here) / Row 2: Cookies for the Mr. given to us by Miss Ashley Z. I love her so much and her friendship is such a gift to me / Organizing Ricki’s storage room on her move in day.  She has the cutest things, I sorta wanted to take a shopping bag out and leave her some cash.  Good news is we have this philosophy of, whatever I have is yours and you can borrow it anytime.  We share everything / Lazy Sunday of football watching and blogging.  To the left through the double doors is my office.  I know I still owe house pictures. Coming soon. Yes, that is the custom Pottery Barn sectional that finally arrived. / Row 3: Town & Country is mine and the Mr.’s favorite magazine.  Have you ever flipped through? It’s so sophisticated and I love the photography. / Spacing out herbs for the raised herb bed.  Realized I had to go to the store and get more. / Rocking the preppy look before a lunch date with Amy of Page & Mason Invitations.

I know all I’ve blogged about lately is being married.  December and January are off seasons for me, and everything picks back up in February, and then the ball is rolling!

Don’t forget to sign up for my online workshop, Creating the Image that begins this Wednesday.  $160, 4 weeks, 1 hour each week, LIVE video and chat.  5 pm PST which is 6 pm for you Arizonians here.  I love teaching so I can’t wait to meet you all in class!

Diana Elizabeth loves that she hasn’t burned anything lately.  Mr. Wonderful did say that he likes some things burnt.  Perfect.

Personal

Yes, it’s only been a month and a half as a Mrs. but let me tell you things I wish I knew before and immediately after I became a Mrs.  I had to figure this stuff out on my own, where was the advice my married friends?  Good thing I took notes for y’all who are getting hitched soon!

So here I am to help you have a smooth transition, and avoid a bad drivers license photo.

• When you apply for your marriage license, request to get TWO copies of your certified marriage license.  You’ll need it to send in for passport, etc.  If you only have one, you’ll freak out like I am over sending it to get your new passport just in case you need it.
• When you change your name on your drivers license, guess what, you have to take a new photo.  So don’t go in unshowered and with a baseball cap on to hide your dirty hair just because you think hey, it’s the DMV so you don’t have to get dressed up. Cause, you will have to get a new photo honey, with your new signature.
• Speaking of a new signature, practice your new last name like you did in jr. high with your crush’s last name – only it’s real life now and it’s your future last name before you have to sign it on your new drivers license.  I didn’t do that and so with my new last name there were so many different ways to do an S, then what about the double F’s? Now I can’t stand looking at my license as I’ve decided to change it…again.  I’m so indecisive. You cannot pressure creativity!
• If you want to add the Mr. to the title of your car (if you own it outright), then he needs to be present at the DMV with you.  Good luck convincing him to go.
• Go to HitchSwitch.com and for $39 buy their packet that fills everything out for you to change your name.  You’ll be so glad you did! They are my friends over there and wonderful! I did it and it was such a time saver!

Things no one ever told you about once you get married:

• You sorta assume the role for the grocery shopping and meals.  You’ll probably have to make sure your husband eats lunch, and doesn’t eat like he used to when he was single.  So, grab an iPad ladies and learn how to cook! And ask his mom for his favorite dishes and try to master them!
• You’ll also be the one who will be in charge of the sheets being washed because you’ll probably want them washed way more often than he’s used to.  Guys are simple, girls are OCD with cleanliness.  It’s OK, they’ll let you be.
• You are in charge of getting all appropriate addresses for his side of the family and adding them to your typical yearly Christmas card list – thank goodness as an organized woman you can easily add this, right?
• Birthdays too.
• You’ll learn how he likes everything folded, including his socks.  Or if he likes them laid on top of each other so no stretchy sock tops.
• You’ll be your Mr.’s personal shopper.  This includes buying his undies and clothes.  He is your Ken doll. Yesssss!
• You’ll want everything monogrammed with your new initials or new last name.  Or even better, couple monogram.

Diana Elizabeth is absolutely obsessed with her Mr. Wonderful.  More often than not she’ll look at him and think, THANK GOD.  He is so faithful.

Weddings

Do you have Google Analytics installed on your website or blog? If not, you should.  As a former marketing expert, knowing those stats are so important so you can cater to your readers, or know how to market yourself.  Get on it, friend!

Knowing that a lot of people were looking at “weddings” and “personal” categories I knew I had to get into weddings and blog more about my random life as a woman.  My favorite part is seeing what people Google to land on my website.  You can also see what device they use to read your blog – iPad, iPhone, and all those other devices.

Well, whatever you are searching, if you somehow landed on this page due to a Google search, hello nice to meet you, glad you are here!

“Diane Elizabeth”

As Destiny’s Child would say, “Say my name, say my name!”  Dian-UH.  AAAAAAA.  Not Diane.  And not Elizabeth.  We are not good friends if you call me Diane. My feelings are hurt.  It was Princess Diana not Princess Diane, right?  Very good.

“Diana Jung Engagement”

Jung is my maiden name.  Now don’t start trying to break into my future children’s bank accounts because now you’ll know their passwords of their mother’s maiden name.  But anyone who searches under my full name and not my photography name most likely means – You’re an ex.  Creepers, cut it out.

“Diana Elizabeth husband Benjamin”

Was this the second search my exes did to find out more about Mr. Wonderful?

“Her sweaty socks”

WHAT! I must go back into my blog now and see how on Earth you landed on my blog…

“Smell of Anthropologie”

It’s marvelous isn’t it? I think it’s all the goodness of beautiful things that creates that smell.  Or this candle.

“‘Amy Gallagher’s hair”

Amy, apparently some one has hair envy.

“Diana Elizabeth Wedding Planner”

Well the fabulous la Ricki of course!  Photos to come soon!

“Diana Elizabeth Classes”

Welcome!  Please sign up – 9 more days.  And if you’re an ex boyfriend who keeps stalking me, sign up so I can take your money and you can watch me on LIVE video feed.  Next class starts January 25 on Wednesdays for four weeks.  $160.

Marketing Momentum is yet to be determined.

A LIVE in person photography workshop is in the works.  For now, I am planning on fall.

Diana Elizabeth apologizes for the seemingly self-absorbed post.  However, the bright side is all name searches land on the correct blog, right?

Personal

So Mr. Wonderful bought me an 8 GB iPad for Christmas, setting the bar super high for Christmas now.  Good job, honey!  He said he figured he’d buy me something that could in return make me money – as in, showcase my work via iPad.  However, with all that techy space, I downloaded a few aps including the Cooking Light ap for $3.

Oh. My. Gosh.  First, I want to import every recipe I know in my iPad as it is propped up and illuminated for me to read.  I have cooked meals.  Make that, successfully cooked meals.   Just earlier this week Benjamin prayed and said, “Thank you Lord for my beautiful wife cooking our first real meal.”  Um, excuse me,  I cooked a real meal before.  I mean, I totally caramelized the sauce by accident and nearly smoked myself out of the kitchen and had to serve our pork with no sauce, but come on.  ”You know what I mean, I love all of your meals, but this is like a hard meal you cooked,” the Mr. said.

It’s true.  I’ve made him breakfast and lunch.  They have been more about independent ingredients compiled together.  Like a sandwich.  I’m getting really good with this cooking thing.  I even google, “How to vertically slice an onion” and “What is sausage casing?”to make sure I’m doing it right.

Like I said, he didn’t marry me for my cooking skills.  When we were engaged I realized I would one day have to cook a Thanksgiving meal, turkey and all.  He told me no way, AJ’s Fine Foods.  He tells me he’ll be mad if I’m slaving away in the kitchen for more than 30 minutes, surely there has got to be something microwavable from Trader Joe’s.  Gosh, I love him.  Which makes me want to make “real meals” more often.

Diana Elizabeth has Apple fever.  iMac, iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.  Yessss!

Personal

This was a long shoot in the making with some amazingly talented vendors.  Ricki and I were flatted to be asked by The Arcadia Room last fall to shoot a bridal shower inspiration at their venue.  We finally picked a date in the new year and with the collaboration of all, including models, was absolute perfection.  Please enjoy this blingy, fun bridal shoot held at Arcadia Room which is open for wedding receptions, showers of all sorts, and intimate weddings in their back space.

All food was prepped by Arcadia Room which is part of the La Grange Orange and Chelsea’s Kitchen family.  Yes, that’s what I said, which means all of this food was absolutely divine.

Sweet treat bags, menu and invitation designed by Amy Wallace of Page & Mason.  Cupcake cake made by Butter & Me.

How about instead of a game, glamming it up a bit and icing yourself with some vintage goodies by Twice Loved Vintage.  Each vintage piece has been selected by mom and daughter owners to be recreated to something new! Shop their etsy store here.

The spring makeup palette is soft pinks, and we went for a California beachy casual chic, and that’s exactly what Mariana Marie created.  Wardrobe provided by Heidi Boutique.

Thank you to The Sweetest Occasion for featuring this session on their blog today! See more of the shoot HERE.

Venue & food: Arcadia Room / Design & florals: La Ricki / Makeup and Hair: Mariana Marie / Wardrobe: Heidi Boutique / Jewelry: Twice Loved Vintage / Invitations & menu: Page and Mason / Cake & cupcakes: Butter & Me

Additional thanks to our lovely models who you have probably recognized from seeing them on my blog – former bride and models and PHOENIX magazine models Jami, Nicole, Ashley and Jennifer.  Also much gratitude to Kayla and Leigha for their amazing help during the shoot!

Diana Elizabeth loves the wedding bands with no main solitaire – can you tell?  She made sure Ashley was wearing one that looked similar to her very own.

Engagements, Weddings

If you haven’t already known by now, I have a super big mouth.  I am aware this makes me the ideal customer.  If I love you and your services, I will be your walking billboard. Hello, who doesn’t know who shot my wedding?  If you don’t know, you’re neglecting my blog, and I’m hurt.

Anyway, I’m going to allow my big mouth to ramble on about a few things you may or may not find important, including the sales of a few Nikon goodies since my second shooter Amy has decided to switch to Canon.

Nikon goodies for sale by Amy
Please e-mail her, not me at in1937{at}gmail.com.  All items are available unless “sold” is written next to it or it is crossed off.

• Nikon D90 (price new is $829) for sale for $675.  It is 1 year old. Email questions to Amy:  in1937@gmail.com Price includes shipping and handling.
• 50mm/1.4 – $325
• 16-88 mm – $490
• Speedlight SB 800 – $300
• 55-200mm – $50
• 60mm/2.8 macro – $340

Email my friend Amy at: in1937{at}gmail.com.

IMPORTANT Announcements:

• My online workshop to learn DSLR (beginners and intermediate) begins Jan. 25.  $160. Register now for the 4-week online course with recorded playback and LIVE video and chat room.  Master your DSLR! Sign up here.
• Also added a 1 week sample class to that, so you can just take the first class to learn basics for $99.  Register here.

Unimportant Announcements:

• Girl talk time.  FYI, Philosophy = UTI.  Sorry for the TMI, but I figure I should warn a girlfriend.  The back of the label even says so. Got my Happy Birthday one free from Sephora.  Yeah, thanks for the birthday gift.
• I am looking to teach specialized classes – one time courses that gear towards: Mom photography, shooting your first wedding, shooting babies, working with clients, in addition to my typical DSLR course and Marketing Momentum class for business owners.  If any of you have any requests, I would love to hear.
• I don’t use Botox.  I know, I’m telling the dude who commented on my Adorama TV video who asked how much I was using.  Rude.  My girlfriends pointed out that it was the best compliment ever, which is totally true but he didn’t say it to compliment me!  Anyway, nothing is wrong with using it but I’m just saying, I haven’t.  And I’m 40.  OK, I’m kidding.  I’m 30.  And I can’t help that my forehead doesn’t naturally move.  So you know what my friend, I’m going to turn your potential insult around and say it is far better for one to think I have used a lot of Botox when I haven’t, than for one to think I need a lot of it.
• I am going to take a limit of 8 weddings per year so I can be home with my hubby and have plenty of rest to give my wedding clients my all.
• I have also decided to not shoot in Phoenix from June to mid September. Unless it’s for PHOENIX or Sacramento magazine. It’s just too hot kiddos!

Diana Elizabeth is done shopping. For reals.  She doesn’t need anything else unless it is for the house.  Um, yeah.

Photography

Long overdue but the appreciation is still genuine. Many thanks to Emmaline Bride for featuring one of my favorite engagement sessions (where I actually got married!) and  On to Baby showcasing one of my most fantastic and fun maternity sessions on a dairy farm.

Diana Elizabeth knows that submitting to blogs takes work, but it is so worth the time to submit, especially when you really love a specific session, share it with the world!

Photography

By now you know one of my favorite people is Ricki of la Ricki events.  Not because of what she does, which is definitely most beautiful, but because of who she is.  Her heart, her calmness, her soul just radiates with all that is good.  I was so happy to have her by my side on my big wedding day. She will also be planning my backyard Phoenix reception!

She has the key to my home, she leaves me cute gifts, and her family bought a home close to mine so I’m even more excited to have her as a neighbor!

A glimpse into Ricki’s soul – Mr. Wonderful and I are registered at Pottery Barn and Macy’s and I’ve moved out “wedding date” to our reception date and have added items.  I often get stumped. I know I look like I have everything together don’t I? Riiiight.  Ricki logged into our registry and told me everything to add.  I did every single thing. You know why?  Because Ricki has everything together and knows I need a gravy boat.  Is that even what it’s called?  She looks past the pretty things and goes for the pretty and practical.

She started tearing up during our shoot out of no where in downtown Phoenix.

“Ah, I’m starting to cry, I’m all hormonal,” she said as she blinked her eyes really fast.
“Are you OK?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m just grateful.”

No more as grateful as I am for having you in my life.  I can’t wait to meet baby Michael.  You and me Ricki, we share the same heartbeat. I love you so.

Makeup and hair: Mariana Marie

Diana Elizabeth realizes there are only a few more good temperature months in the year.  She is not shooting after the month of May and not before the month of September.  It will soon be time to escape to Northern California!

Portraits