wedding inspiration: engagement shoot ideas

i know some of you are probably dreading the return of fall and eventually winter, but i just can't wait! and the more i think about the return of cold here in minnesota the more i want to take winter/christmas engagement photos. after perusing pinterest, i have found so much inspiration. i absolutely love this first shoot here by emily steffen photography. it is seriously SO minnesotan, and so perfect for luke and i. 

all photos via Emily Steffen Photography

cozy blankets ♥

via pinterest

this perfect winter outfit!

via pinterest

this cozy entry way is super inspiring as well! i love the toboggen, boots, and coats. it all looks so cozy.

via pinterest

are any of you looking forward to fall/winter? dreading it?

xox, eden

the great minnesota get together!

yesterday, i went with megan and her family to the minnesota state fair.
i haven't been there in a few years, but it was great to go again!
i ate far too much food, most of which was deep fried.
i may or may not had 2 pronto pups, 2 beers, cheese curds, roasted corn-on-the-cob, an apple cider freeze, a giant cup of keg root beer, french fries, onion rings, and some hawaiian noodles.

hey...no judging.
my stomach hates me today.
TMI? sorry.

needlesstosay, it was a much needed distraction from recent events.

do any of you have state/county fairs?
are they as ridiculous as the MN fair? (ie. corn judging, seed art, a million things on a stick?)

xox, eden

his hair may have been silver...

...but his heart was surely made of gold.

i can't believe that i'll never be able to hold his hand again,

or hear him call me his "old timer." 

we'll never be able to talk about classic cars,

or reminisce about the old times while watching old home videos.

i miss your flannel shirts and the lawn chairs you store in the back of your truck for just in case.

i miss playing in greg's childhood tree house outback and watching you grill burgers.

i miss your winter beard and helping you shovel the driveway after huge snowstorms.

i miss picking peas straight out of the garden, and eating them with you right then and there.

you always made everything okay.

grandpa, i will always love you, and i miss you everyday.

i should have called more often when i had the chance because now all i want to do is hear your voice.

you are the greatest grandfather in the world.

i am so proud to know that you're such a huge part of me,

and that you'll always be a part of me.

i will think of you everyday, for the rest of my life, until i see you again.

teacher style.

next week i start attending teacher workshops and and the following week i meet all of my students for student teaching. i'm beyond excited, not only to meet the kiddos and get back into the classroom, but also to start working on my professional style. i live in sweatpants, yoga pants, and tshirts, and i have a nasty uniform for my retail job. i am super excited! i've already started building my wardrobe. anywho, i think i'm going to start doing a weekly teacher style outfit post. i'll have to figure out photography later, but for now. here's a sneak preview into my teacher style!

{top: ELLE for Kohls; skirt: Leifsdottir for Anthropologie}

a few last colorado hiking pictures.

while luke and i were in colorado, we took a little hiking trip in boulder up the flatiron mountains. i absolutely love everything about these trails...minus the treacherous first stretch...seriously. uphill non-freakin'-stop.

 ...yeah, i hiked a boulder field...no biggie.

 ...ok, so i had to take a 10 5 minute break afterwards.

 the views on the way up were seriously so beautiful. here's the view of the university of colorado (where my sister is going to school!)

 then we got lost, and some how ended up here...instead of at the top of the mountain. wtf.

i guess it was kind of a happy accident because it was beautiful where we ended up.

 my sister is a very talented sneaky photog. she always captures great candids of luke and i. :)

xox, eden

wedding inspiration: pinterest edition

i've been lacking in the wedding department lately and feel like a little inspiration might get me back on a roll. not that you all don't already know this, but pinterest has been the most helpful way to save images i find on the numerous wedding blogs i follow. seriously.

so, here are a few images i've been finding inspiration in as of lately.

via Be True

via The Glitter Guide

via The Knot

via Style Me Pretty

via Style Me Pretty

via Style Me Pretty

via Wedding Bee Pro

xox, eden

ps. what are some of your favorite wedding blogs?

garden of the gods

the other day, after spending a few hours at the hospital with my grandpa, we were able to spend some time at the garden of the gods in colorado springs. there some beautiful views, and we were there during the cooler part of the day. mind you, cool meaning upper 80s. i took about a million pictures, but here are a few of my favorites.

 the kissing camels. ♥

 whenever i go to colorado, i attempt to fit in. see picture below. despite my denver broncos tee, my lovely fiance was decked out from head to to in minnesota gear. nerd. ;)

 seriously, the most beautiful views.

 the balanced rock.

checking out.

posts probably won't be very frequent for the next week or so. it has been a rather depressing week. it started out with luke and i having to say goodbye to two of our best friends who are moving to georgia. we're going to miss them a ton, but we're super excited for them to start their newlywed life. i also received a call from my dad telling me that my grandpa is not doing so well. this has hit me really hard. i'm so close to my grandpa.

so this is why i will be checking out for a few days.

luke and i are leaving to drive out to colorado tomorrow to see my family and my grandpa.

hope all of you are having a good weekend. send happy thoughts!

xox, eden