From the second I met Danielle (through social media) I knew we were destined to be friends. Why you ask? I can answer that with the simple explanation of she and Brian’s wedding colors. Red, Black and White. The official colors of the New Jersey Devils. As most of you know, I am a huge Devils fan as well…so we instantly connected.

This isn’t about me and my love of hockey though. This post is about Brian and Danielle and their love for each other. We started our session off surrounded by the beautiful architecture that is Princeton University. Then we headed to Danielle’s gorgeous back yard.

All Brian has to do is say one word to get Danielle into a fit of giggles…

The visible love they have for each other just warms your heart…

How gorgeous of a bride is Danielle going to make? My guess? Absolutely stunning!

How do you not fall in love with these two when you see the way they look at each other?

And lets be honest-this has to be a lot about their love for sports as well.

They don’t exactly agree on baseball teams….

But they definitely agree on football. Brian and Danielle met while both were enjoying the Giants game at Buffalo Wild Wings. The Giants had a victory over the Green Bay Packers in the playoff game that day, and later went on to win the Superbowl. Coincidence? I think not.

*Many thanks to Buffalo Wild Wings for allowing us to take some photos in your space!*

This last image was a new thing I wanted to test. I really like how it turned out.

Congrats on your engagement Brian and Danielle! Can’t wait to see how amazing you both look on your wedding day!!

I know Brian and Danielle are itching to see some of these photos, so I thought I would post a teaser for them! There are so many great ones I couldn’t chose which one to share so I went with the random click approach!

So I have decided to start blogging again. I have been super inspired recently and wanted to share what I am working on.

As many of you know, I am a total Daddy’s girl. Being the only daughter surrounded on either side by brothers, my Dad and I have a super special bond. As many of you also know, we are a huge hockey family. I pretty much grew up at the hockey rink watching my brothers play on several different teams. Anyway, when my Dad told me he was re-doing the basement with a “hockey rink theme” and asked if I would paint some murals, my first response was of course! He had 4 murals he wanted done. NJ Devils (our #1 hockey team), Rutgers University (where my older brother attended college), King’s College (where my younger brother attends college), and Savannah College of Art and Design (where I attended college.) It quickly turned from just re-doing the basement into a fun daddy/daughter project. It has given us some time to work together on something and spend some extra time together. So far I have finished the Devils logo and the Rutgers logo. Next comes Kings.

I started with Devil’s logo. Here is what we have as of now…

The top two are in progress-that tail was a complete pain! The bottom one is completed. Next I went onto the Rutgers logo. It was a bit easier because is it mostly straight lines and measuring instead of free-hand.

Once I finished those, we started to put the baseboards up…

Kings will go in the rectangle next to the R. We just happened to get lucky that all four logos use the same basic colors-red, black, gold, and white.

So that’s what we have so far. Im super excited about how it is turning out. I will continue to post as more gets completed! Enjoy!

Most of us have had at least 13 years of schooling. Some of us then went on to continue our schooling for four more, sometimes 5, and some even 6 or 7 more years. But that’s not the point of this post. Throughout our 13, 17, 18, or 20 something years of schooling, we have many teachers. They come and they go, some are forgotten, some remembered, but the very special ones are treasured. Everyone has a list (short or long) of teachers that have made an impact on their lives. Throughout my 17 years of school I can think of about 15 teachers that really stood out to me and affected my life in a positive way. Whether through what they taught, or just the attitude towards life and towards teaching, they will always be remembered. The sad thing is this. About 7 of the teachers on my list were from grade school, and there is no way to contact them and tell them the impact they made on me and on who I am today. However, back to the main focus of this post, if this man didn’t know the way he affected his students, then he was a huge brat.

It’s with a heavy heart that I write about Mr. Vecchio. The most amazing history teacher I ever had. Don’t ask me who was who in what war and who killed whom, for that I do not remember. His gifts went so much further than just historic knowledge. Mr. Vecchio was never just a teacher. He was a friend (as much as a teacher was allowed to be a friend) he was a confidant, a coach, and so much more. When you were having a bad day, you knew exactly where you could go to have a smile put on your face, even if the reason you were smiling was because your teacher just called you a brat, which he did…alot. I don’t think I ever had a teacher that had such a great love of teaching, he always had a positive attitude, and through that found a way to keep his 20 high school students attention for 45 minutes (most of the time.) It’s safe to say that anyone that attended the high school while Mr. Vec was a teacher there was affected by him. Whether you had him for class or not, you knew him, he knew you, and he had some sort of impact on your life.

I am somewhat shocked at how much his death has affected me. I mean, I haven’t seen him in almost 6 years. However, as I sit and read the stories and memories people have left on the facebook page in his memory, I find myself wiping away tears. Each person has their own specific memories, however when all written down, most of us had the exact same experiences. Most of us remember being called a brat nonstop, being asked why your parents haven’t disowned us yet, getting extra points on our tests for writing GO NAVY at the bottom, constant talk of hate for Jane Fonda, random conversations about completely random (yet somehow relevant) things, and tea time with Mr. Vecchio (aka detention.) To someone who doesn’t know him, they may think a teacher calling you a brat is odd, or maybe even wrong. To them I say this, you had to know him to understand, and if you knew him you would totally understand, as well as love him even more for it. I hope you are resting in peace Mr. Vec. You truly were one in a million person and you will forever be missed by the students that were lucky enough to know you.

Yea, I know I am making a stupid face, but I remember this night like it was yesterday. It was at the end of the Senior Boat Trip and my friends and I had borrowed (or stolen off his head, take your pick) Mr. Vecchios hat for fun and decided to take some pics with it. Go Navy Baby!!

Rest In Peace Mr. Vecchio. GO NAVY!

Ok, so I am moving again!! This time to here….

Also known as Wayne Pennsylvania.

So here is the part where I need your help. I went apartment hunting today…which is so not fun in case you are wondering. Anyway, I saw showers you could not pay me step into barefoot, and toilets you couldn’t pay me to sit on. I saw nice places that would leave me homeless or driving almost 2 hours for my first two weeks of work, but I also saw some nice places as well. Mainly, two nice places. I am stuck. Both are nice, but they are polar opposites of each other. So here I am going to post some photos of them, as well as the pro and con list I made up. As a side note-rent is only 20 dollars difference, sop it doesn’t really weigh in at all!

I WANT YOU TO HELP ME DECIDE!!!

OPTION 1

PROS-
Love the architectural aesthetic outside.
Extra storage in the basement
The woman was amazing that we dealt with, they seemed to really care about their tenants.
I could walk to work
Has an old, homey, quaint and quiet feeling
Backyard area shared with 4 other tenants
2 bedrooms
nicely sized rooms
A lot of closet storage
Bathroom fully redone

CONS-
No washer/dryer-units in the basement, but have to pay 1.50 for each machine….aka 3 bucks everytime I wash something.
No central air. Two wall units, and a lot of space to cover
No dishwasher (this is minor as I will prob barely use it anyway)
Small kitchen (have to get a butcher block or something. Without it, the microwave would take up my only counter space.)
No place for kicthen table

How adorably cute is the outside of this building???

OPTION 2-

Pros-
Fully renovated (all appliances, carpet, and paint brand new)
Den
Washer/dryer
Dishwasher (once again not a huge issue)
Spacious kitchen
Great layout with nice sized rooms
Fireplace
Seems like a more youthful crowd (though im not sure that is a huge issue either)
Gym attached to apartment complex (but not included with rent)
Pool (seasonal fee)
Small dining room

Cons-
Not as pretty outside
Further from work (only a few miles)
Woman we worked with was pretty unenthusiastic. She didn’t seem to care to much about showing us around or answering my long list of questions. Maybe she was having a bad or off day…but she didn’t seem to care.

The actual apartment I would be in we saw but couldnt take pics b/c it was a mess from renovations. in the corner of the bottom photo (dining room) would be another doorway leading to a small den (office or reading nook)

Only photo from the actual apartment I would rent (others don’t have fireplace)

Ok, BREAK! Throw your opinions at me!!

You know that person that can brighten the entire room with their smile? That can turn anyone’s frown upside down with their bubbly and outgoing personality? Well that is Carrie.

And then you have Allen. I’m sure you all know someone like him as well. Quite and reserved, but when he does speak up and tell a joke, you have to hold back your tears from laughing.

Two different people, yet they compliment one another perfectly. Carrie and Allen, I hope you had an amazing time on your honeymoon! I was honored to be a part of your day and wish I could share hundreds of photos in this blog post. You both looked wonderful and I can’t imagine a more perfect couple. I wish you both many years of happiness to come!

So, I am big enough to admit I totally got lucky with this shot. I just happened to click the shutter right before the matron of honor, Jesse shot this wink Allen’s way. When I told her I captured it and showed it to her on my camera, she told me she has been in 22 (I think it was 22) weddings and at the first one she winked at the groom and from then on she always winks at the groom right before she finishes walking down the aisle. I thought that was a great story!

Allen Proposed to Carrie on River Street while a boat passed them by. When we stepped out to do the family shots, fate brought a boat on by and we knew we had to get a few shots with it. Thought this image was the perfect way to end this post.

Congrats again Carrie and Allen!!

Ps-Allen, thanks for not kicking my seat on the flight to Charlotte.

Pss-for the last part to make sense: Carrie and Allen ended up being on my flight the day after their wedding. Not only that, but they ended up seated right behind me! Small world!

I have known this family, and their extended family, for about three years now. They are the sweetest, kindest, and most giving family I know. I love them with all my heart and have loved getting to know them these past few years, and being able to capture their gorgeous kids as they grow. However, I am pretty sure I told this kiddos to stop growing up! They did not listen…however, they do get cuter by the day!

This little guy was my first newborn session over a year ago….it’s amazing how time flies!

“I think I am going to sign up for match.com,” Megan’s friend informed her. “Will you sign up for it with me?” Little did Megan know that the simple answer of yes would lead her to Chris: A fellow old soul with a huge love of movies, pets and travel. They met 3 short days after finding each other on the web, and instantly fell for each other, the first date lasting 8 hours! Two years later, Chris proposed. Megan and Chris are absolutely wonderful for each other, and anyone can see the love they share. It is so easy to see that what they have is true love, and when asked why he loves her, Chris’s response is “Because you’re you.”

As a side note, I know most photographers would have my head for this shot, but I personally love it. I love the tiny hint of their reflection as well as the subtle waves just barely coming in. I personally love that the sky and ocean are blown out, it draws the attention to them, with lovely hints of the fact that they are in the ocean.

Update your family portraits and support your school, this summer! Katie Fulton Photography has joined with the Branchburg Education Foundation to help raise money to help our schools. Having spent my elementary and middle school years in Branchburg, the schools always have and always will hold a special place in my heart. I have recently moved back from Savannah, Georgia, where I went to college, and can’t wait to get to know the younger generation of the ever wonderful Branchburg schools! 10% of all profits will go toward the Branchburg Education Foundation, and towards your children’s future education! So Branchburg, lets Focus on Summer!

And so here I sit. In a room devoid of my belongings, no more baskets filled with colorful yarns and knitting projects, no more clothes squished into drawers that barely close, and no more “office space” that consisted of my computer with a tiny area for me to sit and edit. It’s weird. The no faking side of me feels weird. Leaving the room I spent a year and a half in, and the city I spent almost 5 years in.

I have heard every opinion under the sun on my decision. “You’re doing the right thing,” “you’re moving back home?!?,” “Good luck, I know you will do great,” and a whole slew of others including the look of “you are absolutely crazy for moving back home.” Do the negative people make me re-think my decision? For a quick second, yes. However, when I sit down and think about it, I know I am doing the right thing. I know I am. The opportunities I have up north far outweigh the opportunities I have in Savannah, not to mention there aren’t a ton of people my age left in Savannah. I guess that’s not the point though. I will miss the people I have met and grown close to here.

I will miss my Grandparents with all my heart, but I know I will see them again soon. What kills me the most is that I know how much it is killing them. It saddens me to hurt them, but they agree I am making the right choice, they just wish it wasn’t the right choice so I wouldn’t have to leave. Other then my grandparents, the other hard part is leaving the kids I have babysat for. I have watched some of these kids grow for the past 3-4 years, and leaving them is difficult. They (as well as their families) have become a part of my own family, and I love them as if they were part of my family.

So where does that leave me? Sad to leave, excited for what comes, and a little unsure about what the future will bring. What I do know is this, my time in Savannah has come to a close. My car is packed and in 14 short hours I will be making my way back North. Is it the right choice? Maybe. Maybe not. All I can say is that Savannah has been ready for me to leave for a while, and I have been ready to leave it. Maybe not ready to leave the people it contains, but in need of moving on. I will be back two to three times between now and mid July, so hopefully I will get to see everyone again!

Freshman Year:

Now:

Looking back, it’s amazing how much has happened in the last five years. From the friends I have made, the friends who have hurt me, the friends who have supported me through everything, an the friends I am still in touch with. It amazes me how much changes in during college and directly after. I am a completely different person now than I was when I entered college, and I like to think I am a better person than when I entered college.  Leaving isn’t always easy, but it’s sometimes necessary.