Had 2 Tues | Jessica Arden Photography

Today I want to talk a little bit about following your dreams. This weekend I will be heading to North Carolina. While I am there I will be in Durham attending Lisa's going away party. It feels like just yesterday that she got back from 2 years in Mauritania with the Peace Corps, even though it was last summer. She is now moving to India for her the job of her dreams! Let me tell you a little something about Lisa...she is as passionate about micro economics as I am about photography:) She has been in contact with her dream job since she has been back from the peace corps, and she was just recently offered a position! The lesson to be learned from Lisa's story is that things will happen when they are supposed to. Dream big, pursue those dreams and keep pursuing them! I will miss her like crazy, but I am so proud of her doing what she sets her mind and her heart on. Love you Lisy ♥

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I am lucky to have a wonderful mother! Thank you all for everything you do and everything you have done! I love you!

Had To Tuesday | Jessica Arden Photography

This Tuesday I am blogging from the big and beautiful state of Texas. I have been here enjoying some quality time with my Aunt Gwen and Uncle Mike. We have really been living it up:) Pedicures, good food, great music (check out Guy Forsyth!), and most importantly, great company! Yesterday we went to Austin for the day, stopping at the Blue Bell Creamery for ice cream on the way. When I was just a little tiny thing, when my dad attended The University of Texas, we lived there for a little while. We went by Zilker Park and Amy's Ice Cream (yes, we went out for ice cream twice!), a few of the places I loved and remembered. Tomorrow I will be heading back to MD, feeling refreshed and inspired by time with people that I love!

Had To Tuesday | Jessica Arden Photography

I missed a week, but, as promised, I am back! So, this week I had to tell you about the super, awesome surprise visit Amy and I had to Oklahoma for my Daddy's birthday! It was Lesley's fantastic idea and we managed to keep it secret throughout all of our planning, even though it was really hard not to spill the beans. After a failed attempt at hiding in the trunk of the van, Amy and I ended up jumping out from behind the couch! My Daddy was so surprised! Our trip included a birthday party cook-out, an 80's prom, a trip to Braum's, disc golf, books and runs, and most importantly, lots of time with my family:) Some of my favorites are below, but more can be seen on my personal facebook page. Enjoy!

April's youngest, Thomas:)
Check out the awesome shirt Quinn is rockin'.

The Birthday Boy!

Delila looking like April's mini me.

Amy, being glamorous as usual.

Mmmmm...meat:)

Sweet!

I love this one...Papa and Thomas checking each other out.

Hey Les!

Foxy Knoxy

I love my Daddy!

Grandma with Baby Cash.

Kristen and Caylee being cute...can you say that 10 times fast?

Oh Caylee, you are so pretty:)

Hey pretty ladies:)

Had To Tuesday | Jessica Arden Photography

Today is the second Had To Tuesday, and so far I am keeping up:) Today is easy because I definitely have a few things that I had to do today!
The first is wish Lesley a Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Les! I love you!

The second thing that I just had to do today is celebrate! My Duke Blue Devil's (yes, they are mine) are 2010 NCAA National Champs!!!!! That game last night had me on the edge of my seat, and even sometimes on the edge of the coffee table and also standing, jumping a screaming! What an awesome game with an even more awesome result. Let me take a moment to say that Butler played freaking fantastic as well and it is incredible what they did this year in the tournament. I am going to miss our seniors, Lance Thomas, Brian Zoubek and especially Jon Scheyer:( I cried a little when Coach K talked about how much he loved his team and how it was they're last night together. But what a way to end the season! I love my Blue Devils! Gotta represent!

Happy Easter!

It was an absolutely gorgeous Easter day! I sat out in the sun maybe a little longer than I realized, because my should are HOT! I have been slathering them with plenty of aloe...but I should have been slathering the sunscreen instead:(
This morning when I woke up, I was drinking my coffee and checking my e-mail, I saw that my mom had sent me some scans of photos of our family celebrating Easter! I love when she sends me scans of old photos! I am sure that it is no surprise that I love looking through photos; my baby photos, your baby photos, my parents and grand parents photos, even old photos of people I don't even know that I see at antique shops, you name it. I really like to examine what you can see in the background. What was the present that Christmas, what appliances did or didn't exist. That VW Van in these photos couldn't have been ours...we had a VW Bug in the same color though. My favorite thing about these images is I can read my mom's writing on the side of the album. It says 'Easter/April 2 1988

Amy-words Balloon' I love those details.

Had To Tuesday | Jessica Arden Photography

So, this is the beginning on a new era...I have a blog, yeah, and I keep up with my shoots on here for sure, but I would like to make the effort to blog about more than that. Today is the first of many Tuesday posts...Tuesday's will now be known as 'Had To Tuesday.' I would like for you to hold me to this...I might need some help:) This week, the thing that I had to have, couldn't live without, were these gorgeous Design Aglow CD case templates. I have been giving my client these awesome CD cases from WHCC, and the templates just stepped it up a notch and I love it! Take a look at my first batch of cases:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Andrew and I joke about what Murphy's voice would sound like...Andrew says he would talk like Mayor Quimby because he's from New England, and I think he talks like a baby. But deep down Murphy is really an Irishman:)

carolina on my mind...

I am looking forward to a long weekend at a place that I will forever call home...Durham, NC:) I will be taking part in 4 photo shoots, a family reunion, a girls reunion, and the last Duke game of the season! Well, the last one is a bit of an exaggeration, because I will just watching the senior night game and not actually participating in it. So, because of all that, I probably will be gone for a while, and then back with a lot of fun photos!

Every post needs a photo... as a photographer I believe strongly in that. So, I took some self portraits, because I felt like it had been a while. I have never really done a lot of self portraits that much, but I do love taking photos of all sorts, so sometimes, every once in a while, I take photos of myself...or make other people take photos of me.
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
These photos are by Andrew Kurz:These are by me: 'I am silly, but what I really wanna be is sexy' -that is the title of this one

LiLa

So, I had to share this video because I love it so much:) When you put Eli and JLa together you get LiLa and also awesomeness! They are both Durhamites like myself and this video is full of my old hangouts:) If you have ever enjoyed the music on my website and wondered who it was, the answer is JLa. Enjoy the video!

The Bokeh Pot Feature

I am currently being featured on the super cool blog, The Bokeh Pot! This blog rocks for many reasons...it is a great place for photographers to see what their peers are doing, gain a little insight into how and why they do what they do. Also, it was started by a fellow ASU grad, Crystal Genes! If you have a sec, take a look at my feature and let me know what you think.

Duke vs. UNC

Well, I am snowed in again, but at least I have my favorite match up of the season...Duke vs. UNC! Tonight at 9pm! Go Devils!

Happy Birthday Amy

I spent this past week in my hometown of Durham, NC and was able to celebrate my little sister's 23rd birthday! She likes to be the baby of the family, but she is becoming a responsible and beautiful young woman:) She is also a great model...I have been making her model for me for quite some time now. Happy Birthday Ames!

Mama and Ames...2 of my most favorite ladies!

Penny, Amy's sweet puppy

Thanks for a great week in NC!

Aunt Jan

While I was in Oklahoma visiting my family, my Aunt Jan and I had a fun little photo shoot! It was crazy cold the whole time I was there, but Jan worked it like a pro! You would never know by the looks of her that it was 19 degrees outside:) Jan was full of fun ideas...she even brought along a yo-yo...she was a yo-yo champion and the age of 9 and she has still has the skills to show off to this day! Enjoy the photos! I love you Jan!