Two months married, today.  And, in 10 days, you finally get to see my wedding photos by Mr. Ryan Ray. (Photo above by him.)

Don’t hate me when I tell you that I have had them for a few weeks now.  The reason why the Internet hasn’t seen anything is due to Ryan Ray and myself being polite and not sharing the photos until a really big popular awesome blog debuts them February 13.  So, if you want to mark your calendars, be sure to check back here on that date.  Then, it’ll be post after post with my wedding details.

I filled about 15+ frames in the house of our wedding and engagement photos.  I feel like Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey when they were married and their home was filled with photos of themselves.  Guess that’s what newlyweds do.   The house looks like a Ryan Ray art gallery, seriously.  But, how can we help it when every shot he took could be in a magazine?  Team Ryan!  Keep your lovely peepers open in 10 days.

Diana Elizabeth is going to wear those bright yellow pumps tomorrow with her BHLDN dress.

Personal

Our Phoenix backyard reception is this weekend.  We had 23 guests at our wedding ceremony in Sedona with the anticipation of celebrating big style with our closest friends in February.  I tell ya, if you’re not married yet, y’all should get married like we did.  It was easy, we didn’t end up broke, we have beautiful photos by Ryan Ray and now we get to have two more parties!

My good friend Ricki Uster of la Ricki who did my wedding is also doing my reception.  The theme is citrus since we have two grapefruit trees and they are in ripe season.  Yes, you will see photos of that after the wedding debuts.  I can’t post that before the actual wedding, duh.  That’s like posting baby photos and then posting maternity photos after.  You can’t do that.

If you’re still reading this, God bless you.

See that chalkboard sign above?  Yeah, I totally made that easel, hinges and all, and that script font.  I should pimp out my services to places like Trader Joe’s, or chalkboard menu restaurants.  I would like to credit my high school days on the dance team when we made signs for the football games and rallys.  I wrote that freehanded only looking at a font on paper and just copied it.  I.know. I am not only a wedding photographer, I am also a chalkboard artist.

New chairs for the two new tables our handyman Dennis built us. If you want his info, leave a comment and I’ll email you.  He’s awesome.  Anyway, these white steel tabouret staking chairs are from Overstock.com and can be found here.  Ricki and I are splitting a set so I can have a set of six.  Time to entertain outdoors!

It’s 73 degrees here in Phoenix.  And sunny.  Just thought I’d rub that awesomeness in.  Only because I can for like three more months before I start sweating like a pig.  Then, I shall retreat to Nor Cal!

Diana Elizabeth was asked to write a letter to her 20-year-old self for the 20-Somethings Blog.  Can you imagine what you’d write to yourself?  Here’s her letter.

Personal

Be the person who…

• When asked to write a review for a friend’s business, you do it because you know it will help.
• Comments on people’s blog posts instead of being a silent reader.
• Visits other’s blog posts and comments back on theirs every once in a while.
• Sends thank you cards for every and any reason at all.
• If you can, stay after a party has ended to help clean up.
• Gives credit to every one involved in your success or project.
• Markets for other businesses because you believe in them and you want to see them succeed.
• Forgives and forgets, because you know you aren’t perfect either.
• Doesn’t keep secrets when it comes to technique, business ideas, or contacts.
• Keeps secrets when asked to.
• Stops counting.
• Overlooks what people don’t or didn’t do, and highlight what other’s did do.
• Continually gives because you want to, not because you expect anything in return.
• Returns every single email and inquiry given to you, even if you can’t really help them or give them a job.
• Realizes you can’t be everything to every one, but you can still be pretty amazing.
• Tells people how much you appreciate them.

These are the things I hope to be this year.

Diana Elizabeth is getting the house ready for this weekend’s backyard reception!  Guess who’s designing it?  La Ricki of course!

Personal, Photography

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

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

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

So, guess who’s engagement photos are up on Ryan Ray’s blog?

I know, Mr. Wonderful and I are already married so you want to see our wedding photos. They are up next!  This session was more like a portrait session, taken the day before our wedding and just having fun at our wedding venue before the big day.

Thank you to my lovely friend Lizzy Marsh for doing my hair and makeup.

We love them so.  We love Ryan Ray – and so do all my girlfriends who wouldn’t stop gushing about him during and after the wedding!

Oh, and Ryan admitted to forgetting Benjamin’s name at times because I always referred to him as “Mr. Wonderful” on my blog.  I know a lot of you do too.  Mr. Wonderful = Benjamin.

For those wondering, here’s the typical vendor credits, but I added wardrobe.  *wink*  If any of you want to know Benjamin’s wardrobe, uh, I don’t know.  See more!

Photographer: Ryan Ray / Location: L’Auberge de Sedona / Hair & Makeup: Lizzy Marsh

Outfit #1: Gold sequin top & crystal necklace & earrings & bracelet: J.Crew / White skinny jeans: AG from Anthropologie / Yellow pumps: Pour La Victoire
Outfit #2: Shirt & Sweater: Forever 21 / Necklaces & bracelet: J.Crew / Earrings: Anthropologie / Skinny jeans: 7 for All Mankind / Buckle Boots: Cole Haan Air Whitley Buckle Boot

See all of our photos HERE!

Diana Elizabeth just got done shooting today and had to quickly call Ryan after he text her.  She greeted him with a nice scream and yelp of excitement.  She will save the loudest squeal when she sees the wedding photos!

Personal

I used to do this yearly on my old blog which I have since deleted its entire contents – sometimes I’m a crazy massive purger and deleter.  I’m going to modify this a bit.  I know I mentioned talking about hitting your 2012 running but I’m going to post that next week.

Let’s do one last random blog.

Goal List

I still need to make my 2012 goal list.  Have you made yours?  I totally hit every single one on my list for 2011, but I can’t seem to find that list, dang it.  This year I will have two different goals.  I’ll have one for my career and one with Mr. Wonderful, our goals together for the year, financially, plans, you know, life.  I can’t wait.  If you haven’t thought about it yet, sit down with 10 minutes and start making it now.  Then keep it safe somewhere and look at it every so often.  Don’t make yourself feel pressured every day to stare at it like a monkey on your back, but just refresh your mind.

What I learned in 2011:

• You can do absolutely anything you want to do.  You just need to believe in yourself and have the drive and no fail attitude.
• Never, ever settle.  This applies to a gazillion areas of life.
• Friendships change with life – marriage, babies, time, you have to be okay and willing to change and adapt to this.  Nothing ever stays the same and you have to be more than okay with that.
• A lot of success has to do with two things – 1) Talent and 2) Personality.
• Luck is something you make.  Other times, “luck” is really blessings from God.
• This was the best year of my life – Thanks to living my dream of working full time doing what I love, and meeting the love of my life and getting married six months later!
• Life can change in the blink of an eye, clearly.
• Dreams can come true.
• There absolutely, without a doubt someone out there who is perfect for every person.

What I hope to learn in 2012:

• To be strong in grace.  To give it all the time not because I’m so great, “Hey look at me I give grace!” But to be humble and reminded that I was given the greatest grace of all by God that I am not to think I am deserving of anything or perfect in any way.
• How to be the best wife I can be to my husband.
• How to cook.
• Stop comparing or checking on others success.  Concentrate more on what I’m doing, and to be a cheerleader for others, even if I don’t know them.
• How to concentrate more with building relationships and surround myself with those who are more like-minded and kind.
• Life is not a race to get there sooner, quicker, or better.  Every one is running their own race and has a different path that God has for them.  I hope to learn and understand mine in 2012.

Last iPhone random pics during the last week of 2011:

If y’all aren’t following me on Instagram you’re so missing out on my second life.  Well, more like a more intimate side of my life.  I love Instagram because you can basically “see” people’s status updates with photos instead of having to read them.

Row 1: 64GB iPad from Mr. Wonderful means he has set the bar high for our first Christmas.  / Yes, Team Edward cookies as a gift from my client Wurth Organizing / Two iced lattes coming up! I love my espresso machine and our cups from mom and dad / Row 2: So many wonderful Christmas cards at the house!  I had to snap my favorites that featured photos I’ve taken (PS if you are waiting for ours, they will be in the form of New Years cards, of course I want our wedding photos on them!) / I bought this cinnamon crumb cake mix at Trader Joe’s because it was pretty. I finally decided to make it. / 3D movie Tin Tin at AMC – we did the dine in movie, it was a blast! / Row 3: la Ricki left a cutie centerpiece in our kitchen as a surprise.  Our grapefruit tree is ripe with grapefruits! / Have you ever played Right, Left, Center?  We did at our sixth elite girls Christmas party and I won the pot of money! (There are 8 of us, so like NCAA basketball, Elite 8, it’s a sports thing which is kinda weird since we’re not really into that.) / Goofy shot of us at the house, the first one at the house!

Happy New Year to you all.  Remember whatever you goals are for the new year, you can do it despite circumstances.  I was nicely let go from corporate two days after Christmas last year and I couldn’t wait to see what the new year would have in store for me.  I was fearless, excited, and optimistic.  Wherever you are in life personally or career wise, keep this attitude.  I’ll have a motivational and goal oriented post for you in the new year.

Thank you for being a part of why I loved 2011.  Without your comments, blog visits, interaction with me and friendship, it would have been a quite lonely year.  You are so much appreciated.  Happy New Year, praying for your dreams and mine.

Diana Elizabeth and Mr. Wonderful is not sure what they are doing for New Years yet.  They sort of don’t have plans and feel like an old married couple even though they haven’t been married for a month yet!  They think just being together will be more than enough.  Let’s hope they don’t sleep through the New Year like an old married couple.

Personal

Support my hometown magazines because they are kind enough to support me by giving me assignments!  January issues are on newsstands now, Sacramento Magazine page 99, and my lovely PHOENIX magazine, dining guide, issue, pages 90, 96 and 103.

I have a few more assignments with PHOENIX magazine I’m working on so pick up February and March’s issue.

Diana Elizabeth finds that she shoots a whole lot of verticals ever since she started shooting for PHOENIX magazine.  Investing in a battery grip was a grand idea.

Personal, Photography