Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer

I feel so refreshed today! I’m sure sleeping in until 8:17AM has something to do with it. (My internal clock wakes me up at 8AM every day without fail.) And I bet my caprese salad breakfast of champions with a shot of water, Centrum and ungodly amounts of vitamin D has something to do with it as well. But mostly, I think it’s because yesterday was AWESOME. My birthday was spent cleaning – something that ordinarily sucks, but surprisingly DIDN’T yesterday BECAUSE it was my birthday – and baking!! Flowers and chocolate were delivered from my sweet man, followed by a fancy hors d’oeuvres party with my girls from church. OH. And cake. Puh-leeenty of cake!! Cake that I believe I’ll have to schedule a snack break for right. about. now… Ahh, that’s goood.

I have a confession. One of my current pastimes is stalking the Instagrams associated with various celebrities’ Twitter accounts. I have no idea why. I suppose I just find it fascinating that these people have actual, real lives. My most recent stalkings? Well.. They’re actually people I have no connection or loyalty to at all. *Cough cough* Say, Selena Gomez or Kourtney Kardashian? *Cough cough.* Which brings me to – I GET MY IPHONE ON SUNDAY!! And although I can’t promise my Instagrams will be as interesting as a celeb’s… You can bet anything that I’m ready to jump on that bandwagon! YAAHOOO!!!

You know how I can get slightly obsessive about things I love? Like eating quiche for two meals a day, every day, for two weeks? Or listening to a two-song playlist on repeat all day long? I have a similar obsession with my TV shows… Especially when they end after FIVE glorious seasons of entertaining me. This past Friday, Chuck – otherwise known as the best show on television – ended for good. And I cried. And I criied. And I criiied. And then I locked myself in the bathroom and forced myself to get a grip. I’m much, much better now. For those of you who were concerned… :)

Song of the Week: Our God by Chris Tomlin. The worship team at Kaleo played this song on Sunday morning and although I’d heard it before, it resonated with me in a whole new way. I’ve been hooked ever since, and am committed to going into my 24th year with these lyrics as my anthem. “Our God is greater. Our God is stronger. God, You are higher than ANY other. Our God is Healer. Awesome in power. Our God.” AMEN, Internet!! To listen to this keeper, go HERE!!

This Thursday I’ll be sharing a peek into a super sweet and casual shoot with Sully’s breeder’s family! More specifically – the Dowell siblings! But until then, enjoy this small taste of the fun. Meet: Sully’s REAL parents, chasing after us at top speed!! It’s not a groundbreaking picture. But it makes me smile! ;)

Happy Tuesday!!

I feel like there’s just so much to share from this mostly uneventful January! Maybe that’s because the typically uneventful tidbits in life have taken on a semi-humorous sitcom-like vibe as of late. For instance! Last week, when holding my personal steam mask for my (now GONE) bronchitis in my hands as opposed to placing it on a flat surface like ALL the warnings say… I flinched and sent scalding hot water all over my legs. My laryngytic vocal chords prevented me from screaming as loudly as I wanted to, and my foggy brain prevented me from checking to see if Sully’s eyeballs had melted out before shoving him in his crate. The doc’s verdict was first degree rather than the second degree all signs pointed to, which was a HUGE answer to my frantic prayers. AND, my voice is now strong enough to sing Mary had a Little Lamb about two octaves below my usual range. This is PROGRESS, Internet!! End of update. :)

Yesterday I took Sully to get his nails ground down. And like clockwork, as soon as he jumps out of the car, people stop what they’re doing and stare and laugh at him. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear they were making fun of how overweight he is. (We’re TRYING!) But I’ve decided to believe they’re in awe of his cuteness, his heifer-like spots (no pun intended), and the way he walks like he’s on a mission! Protruding chin up. Ears back. Smiling the whole time.

As my birthday approaches… And as unopened packages labeled “Open 1/30!” pile up on my desk.. Well? I get more and more excited. I’m not entirely sure why I get so pumped for my birthday each year. I think it’s the fact that my 24th year will be a new beginning. Not that 23 was bad at all! I loved it. :) But 24?! It’s like I’ll finally be an adult or something! ;) Dylan and I plan to celebrate on Saturday since he’ll be working on Monday. And if all goes according to plan, we’ll wake up to bagels, eggs and bacon magically prepared for us/me. We’ll spend the morning on a birthday shopping-spree. We’ll prep a fab lunch with my new kitchen gadgetry. We’ll watch the ‘Cuse game. We’ll rent a movie we’ll actually pay attention to! And then we’ll be off to dinner with fancy shoes on.

Song of the Week: Without You by David Guetta featuring Usher. Oh, like you didn’t know my “songs of the week” are basically always determined by whatever was sung on Glee the week before… ;) While I like Lea Michelle’s version more, I am in LOVE with this new hit. No longer do I only associate David Guetta with a banner ad that always interrupts my Spotify playlist! Without You is a strangely-emotional masterpiece. Listen/watch HERE aaand HERE. :)

Until Thursday, I’ll leave you with this sneak peek of Kylee and Casey’s super stylish and sweet engagement session shot yesterday at Memorial Park! To say these two are absolutely ADORABLE with each other is the understatement of the century. Can’t wait to share more!! Stay tuned!

Happy Tuesday!!

Last night, I had a dream. I know… Go figure. :) In this dream, Dylan and I had a baby boy named Stanley Cullum Morrissey. Yes, Stanley. As in Stanley Black & Decker (someone’s watching too much HGTV). And Cullum. As in one of my most-loved musical heroes, Jamie Cullum. Poor Stan-the-man wasn’t fed until he was over a day old (because I simply forgot) and was actually missing in action much of the time without anyone batting an eye. Needless to say, I woke up pretty darn scared about the future of our REAL children. Who will hopefully have better names… God bless them.

So, I’m drafting a new 101 in 1001 goal list and I couldn’t be more excited about it! I hope to explain more as to why I’m starting completely over when I share it on the blog on Thursday. But for now, I’m about 46 goals short! Apart from learning to knit and purchasing a sectional sofa more conducive to cuddling (because those are already on my list), what are some goals I should be considering?? (Note: This is not an invitation to tell me to lay off the Toaster Strudel.)

I think I’ve managed to inform most people who’d need to know, but for the sake of re-informing my sister for the seventh time… I am currently phoneless. Okay, that’s not exaaactly true. I am currently rocking a $15 Tracfone! The reason is three-fold. One – I’ve gone through three Blackberries in the past year and a half. They are all absolutely dreadful phones. Two – Verizon refused to give me my upgrade three weeks early even though I tried to charm them with my scratchy new laryngitic voice. And three – I sort of happen to like it! It’s a bare-bones, call-911-if-you’re-home-alone-and-start-choking kind of phone. And although I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to speak if I were choking, I happen to find some sort of comfort in that.

Dylan and I saw The Iron Lady on Saturday. And although so much of it felt irrelevant to me – I was 2-years-old when Margaret Thatcher left office – this film was incredibly beautiful and inspiring and heavy. The legacy left by both Thatcher AND my favorite actress of all time – Miss Meryl Streep, ladies and gentlemen – have had me thinking ever since. Also… If you plan on seeing this movie in theaters and insist on bringing in a box of Nerds, be sure to only take a swig during the parliament scenes when everyone is SCREAMING at each other. That way, no one will hear you. :)

Hey brides!! Have you been keeping tabs on BHLDN lately? And are you on their mailing list?? Because you 100% SHOULD be. I woke up to a sweet little email this morning, highlighting six different makeup looks for your big day by the fabulous Riku Campo. And you can even download the how-to’s! My personal fave is autumn twilight. SO perfect. Be sure to join BHLDN’s mailing list HERE!

Song of the Week: I Can’t Make You Love Me/Nick of Time by Bon Iver. I  have always loooved Bonnie Raitt’s original version of the former, but when I found out Bon Iver recorded THIS, I flipped out. Sure it’s heartbreakingly depressing. But it’s SO. GOOD. And you must listen!! :)

Until Thursday, here’s a sneak peek at what my January has looked like so far… Which is also a hint at some of my new goals. ;)

Happy Tuesday!!