I'm so excited to show you these photos and give you a little tour of our new place...and even more excited to show you it as we begin to get our hands on some paint, brushes and I did just buy a new ceiling rosette for the living room (this apartment bought to you by Pinterest...seriously).

Welcome! Front door into the entry way.

Opens up into the living room - those double doors lead to my office/studio.

My office/studio - going to be perfect with my desk overlooking the street and enough room for a chair, some equipment, even my one light setup for home shoots.

The office/studio is right off the living room and has double doors that lead into the guestroom/den (or Andrew's mancave).

This room is enormous...and in the shape of the state of Utah, except backwards. It'll be perfect for entertaining, maxing and relaxing, or a place for you to come visit for the weekend!

When you come out of the top of the Utah shaped bedroom, you're back at the beginning by the front door.

And the door on the right is going to (hopefully!) be our bedroom (if our bed fits).

It gets lots and lots of sunshine and looks over the Harriet Beatrice Stowe & Mark Twain Historical Homes across the street!

View from the bedroom back into the hallway, second doorway on the right is this nice bathroom. Definitely needs some sprucing (thinking about Martha Stewart's Bakery Box White, little hints of blue and white, to liven the place up!), but I am loving the floor tile pattern...just needs a good scrubbing.

Further down the hall is our dining room, which is much much larger than our dining room now, and includes a beautiful built in. And we got a new dining room table from Craigslist that has a leaf that can seat 10 people...can't wait to see faces of people I love around it for dinner! Also, check out those ceilings!

Walk in pantry off the dining room - say no more. Sold. A little creepy looking, but it's a walk in pantry.Big kitchen (well bigger than the two galley kitchen's I've had in Chicago and our current place).Window opens up to the large sunroom off the backdoor...perfect for early morning reading, a cup of coffee, cozy blanket, and Andrew is putting up bike racks for our new wheels to scoot around town on!

I think this is going to be a good place.

I have been reading the Young House Love & Alaina Kaczmarski's "Live Creating Yourself" blogs to gain home improvement/beautifying tips  - I love that they each show a before and after, and that they also are kind enough to give specific paint colors, tools, and furniture links that I have been using as inspiration. Do you have a favorite home improvement blog?

Can you believe that next week is Thanksgiving?! (sorry to ensue any panic!)We originally were planning on driving to my parents house. To Upper Michigan. And yes, it's 20 hours one way. After about a minute of looking at the map online I was immediately panicking. So I quickly did some scurrying around online looking for flights (I know I know - THE WEEK BEFORE!). I thankfully - as it always seems to go - was able to figure out some kind of great deal for flights and are flying out next Saturday using all our points, flying out of Newark, AND a bonus - we have a layover in Minneapolis and get to see my in-laws (happy dance!).I say all that to say this - I know that travel is a huge reality for a lot of people around the holidays - and it's most likely the time that everyone is actually together and the last thing everyone is wanting to do is get all ready to take a holiday photo. I understand, we live 1000+ miles away from our families so this is my reality! We typically don't even send out holiday cards until later on because after we get everyone together, take the picture, choose the photo, order the cards - it's usually around new years when they arrive and I'm thinking "what's the point?" And by then I've also received everyone elses wonderfully done cards - Pressure! Does anyone else feel this way?!If so, read on! (I know you're already feeling your blood pressure going up and are frantically Googling "Walgreens Holiday Cards" in a separate tab from this window.)Being inspired by my own holiday card dilemmas, I decided to do something special - Home for the Holidays. This holiday package bundles a 30 minute photo session in your home or location of your choice (I'll even come on Christmas Eve!) and 100 premium holiday cards to choose from 6 exclusive designs below - delivered to your house with the envelopes all set to stuff and mail off to your closest 100 friends - for $200!Since I'll be in Escanaba next week (I'm sure you're thinking "What's that?" It's my hometown!) I will take bookings from November 19-23 - and locally in Connecticut through December 31st. Space is limited - so let's chat!I've always dreamed of designing a line of holiday cards - and here they are! Let me tell you about them (because I am just so excited!).Each 5"x7" card is printed on premium matte stock and features a unique matching design on the backside. They come with beautiful matching envelopes and the corners of each card can be cut rounded as well (if that's you're thing!). Once you choose the design, I will ensure that while taking your pictures that we can choose a photo that perfectly lines up with the design of your card so no-one is cut out, or blocked by any elements.Beyond the Home for the Holidays packages - you can purchase these designs from my Etsy shop beginning Saturday, November 17th or just book a Holiday Photoshoot for $99 (same timelines apply for Michigan & East Coast through Dec 31, 2012). So - take a peek below, choose a card and email me to set up a time at hello@aliciasturdy.com. I'm so excited to work with you and help bring joy to your holiday season!Email me at hello@aliciasturdy.com! 'Like' me on Facebook and check out my website!

{To kick off the weekend – mosey on over here to enter my giveaway - one photoshoot in Connecticut, one shoot in the NY/MA/RI area}OK! The weekend is here! Here is what we're up to.EatLast weekend I made the most divine pot of glorious stew, Beef Bourguignon. Recipe here, courtesy of Ina of course.WearIt has been chilly here this week, and my fall clothes have been resurrected. This is a jacket that was literally in the back of my closet. I got it from a friend in a clothing exchange - and I've never worn it before! It's the perfect coat for walking through big piles of leaves on the perfect fall day. See what else I've been pinning for fall clothing inspiration.GoWe're in the city soaking up autumn in New York (why not?). Oh, and one other little thing, I'm running 20 miles today. 15 days until the New York City marathon!Don't forget - I'm giving away two photoshoots, click here for more details and enter today! Just think of those Christmas cards coming up...! Entries will be accepted until Sunday the 21st at noon EST.

Do you ever have those moments where you know you're doing your dream job? Want to know what that feels like?Picture this with me.You're driving one misty Sunday afternoon up to the Coast of Maine - it's one of the first orange, red and yellow leaved weekends of autumn. Upon arrival at a picturesque New England Inn, you're greeted by warm, familiar faces - the best of company. You are fed good-for-your-soul food - Lobster Pot Pie, the most mouthwatering breast of chicken, sweet potato souffle with homemade marshmallow, and to top it off - a perfect apple tart.Friends - this is no dream. This was my reality last weekend as I had the privilege to photograph the North Park University Alumni dinner in Kennebunk, Maine.Shanna Horner O'Hea, Chef & Co-Owner with her husband Brian of the Kennebunk Inn hosted an intimate gathering of 50 of North Park University alumni over lobster pot pie, and updates from our beloved university.The photos speak for themselves, I live in a dream land called New England!Yes, I said Homemade Marshmallow...check. it. out.And in case you're sitting at your computer drooling - brace yourself. Shanna & Brian are brilliant - they posted their Puff Pastry recipe on their website so you can make it at home. And you can buy one of their Lobster Pot Pies and get it shipped to your house.What?You're ordering one now?That's what I thought...

Autumn has hit these parts of New England (even though you wouldn't know it - it's 75 here today). The trees are turning, the crunch of leaves under my feet as I go on my run makes me want fall delicacies...pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, warm to your bone goodness.Before I moved over to this blog, I had a food blog for a few years. I love to cook, but lately I just haven't really felt the spark to come home after work and create a meal. If you've been to my house, you know I love to entertain. And you also might know I have a slight obsession with The Barefoot Contessa. Draw in by her cozy, no fuss recipes - I am inspired to cook things I like, that are hopefully not too intimidating to me or my guests.So after a morning of sleeping in a little, I woke up and the cooking spark hit....in the form of a waffle craving - pumpkin waffles. Some people love french toast or pancakes - but my sweet breakfast dish love is waffles - crisp on the outside, drizzled with syrup...HOT syrup. To me, hot syrup heated up in a pyrex measuring cup makes waffles taste the best. It reminds me of Sunday mornings after church when my Auntie Kelly would make breakfast and always heat up the syrup in a pyrex measuring cup...I have no idea why I think that is so fantastic but every time I heat up syrup that way it makes me think of those mornings.These waffles are made special from the pumpkin flavor, but don't include fussy toppings or compotes...just simple and delicious. I think Ina would just think these were "fabulous".recipe adapted from WeightWatchers.com

What does it mean to really be fearless?Taylor Swift sings about it, Alton Brown declared Marti Duncan (season 8 FNS...yes, we're obsessed) - FEARLESS. But what happens after the jump? After we ARE fearless...does the fear go away?I have this need deep down to be fearless.About what, you might ask?Fearless about being myself.If you're a regular reader (all 10 of you), you can see a vein running through my previous blog posts, Who am I? What do I want to be? Who am I made me to become right now?I have been doing freelance graphic design here and there for the past 5 years - that's what my goal in college was to do. Don't ask me why I chose Graphic Design as a major (sorry mom!)...after a lot of thinking I have rested in the fact that God totally took control of my life and decisions and some how I decided I was going to study Art, not music (which had been my goal my whole life). So fast forward 9 years after that decision and I'm here, working in full time ministry doing a little design here and there at work and some freelance work.And I'm just done trying to do art "for the money".I want to do it for the love of art.I want to be fearless about who I am.About my art.Fearless about what others might think.Fearless about failure.Fearless about success.So after many quiet hours of thinking, discerning, talking it out with the Mr. and a few trusted sources I have decided to embark on something new.www.aliciasturdy.comThese are the gifts I was made to bring to the table right now in my creative expression. Please hear me, I'm not quitting my job or dropping everything to grab onto this dream. My life with remain normal (I am liking my life! There is nothing wrong with it!) except for the fact that I will be doing life with a camera in my hand. A rainy Saturday morning in your kitchen with your family will tell a story - so will a wedding, a baptism, a love story, a new baby - it will tell your story.If you feel you're jiving with me - spread the word. My friend has decided to live fearlessly. She wants to capture your life - all the nooks and crannies of it. She wants to start a fearless movement - be who you are in front of my camera, fearlessly.