First Friday Favorites | September

My sweet friend Alison has this rad theme on her blog on Fridays, and since I've been lagging in the area of blogging of late (especially fun & funky blog posts!), it has been decided that a new monthly theme is having its literal birth-day today! So grab some imaginary balloons and party hats, and let's get started!

How it works: The first friday of each month, I will be posting a few of my "favorites" of that month. Or just of my life in general! Because I adore comments & hearing from YOU, leave me a comment or two and let me know a few of your favorites about September:)

1. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are BACK! They're one of my favorite drinks that Starbucks carries, and I'm just waiting until I can wear a sweater to justify snagging one! 2. It's still hot like August here, but wearing a fall-ish scarf (my favorite is mustard yellow) helps me pretend it's cooled down. 3. Mumford & Sons new album is released this month. WIN! 4. Crunchy fall apples. yummmm. 5. Anthropologie's September catalog arrived in my mailbox today & it's gorgeous. Check it out! 6. Fall flowers are so bright & lovely. Our backyard is home to some gorgeous black eyed susans, and they always make me smile.
and I found this on pinterest & thought it was super cute! Wouldn't you love to hang this on your wall? I would!

(source)

What are your favorite September favs? I'd love to know!

Amelia Renee:)

the nav life | personal

if you know me, you proooooobably have heard of the Navigators. if you haven't...no. they are not a sail-boating group! (we do live in iowa, after all! landlocked iowa.) what they are is a campus ministry group that works towards a common goal of "Know[ing] Christ and mak[ing] Him known"—all over the world!

it's kinda a big deal. ;)

because, to me (and to so so so many others) Christ is our ALL. He knows my past, my dirty laundry and all, knows who i am because He created me, and holds the answers to my future. in Him i am secure. i do not need to worry or stress, He's holding me up and sustaining me. i can't depend on myself for my next breath, even! it's all God. all good things that i do, are only because of the strength he's given me.

so, basically...Navs wants everybody to know Jesus! because, He's the reason for every season. and so, we have this thing called Nav Night (haha! get it? ;) it's great!) every week on campus across the country.

a few weeks ago, when school started up, UNI had their first Nav Night...and asked me to photograph! uhh, yes, please! it was such a success, and we were all blown away by how many students attended! (needless to say, it's a good thing we are in a different room this year, because last year's room would not have held everyone!)

meeeeps. welp. enough talking. pictures now! :D

we kicked the night off with some great worship!



Kyle, the UNI campus director for Navs, gave a great message.



SO MANY PEOPLE! :):):)


and we ended with more wonderful worship! then everyone went outside to the commons area for free Scratch Cupcakes! The raddest way to start the school year if you ask me.


if you made it this far, i might be just a bit impressed! that's a lot of heavy thought-provoking kind of stuff i shared, and you may or may not agree with it. but it's my heart and i wanted to share...so thanks for reading, either way!
be on the lookout for more photo sessions coming your way ASAP!

Clarissa | "Because-she's-my-sister" Portraits

just think of them as "senior portrait practice." not like she needs it! ;)



















love always,amelia renee:)

Ann | Senior Portraits 2013 | Cedar Falls, IA

once, on this lovely green earth, there was born, raised & lived a girl named Ann. she was so cool that she played not only piano, and did percussion, but harp as well! and, it's definitely safe to say, she rocked her senior session. nbd.

























seriously. i don't think it's allowed to be this gorgeous. buuut i'll make an exception because then i get to take pictures of it. you're welcome.











if you liked Ann's session, like my facebook page! and think about booking me for your senior session;) or family session! Christmas cards will be in the mail before long!

Amari | Senior Portraits 2013 | Waterloo, IA

Amari is my only senior rep gal from Waterloo, and I'm SO excited to have her on board! I know her through a bunch of mutual friends, so it was easy as pie to hang out with her & shoot her session. Not to mention she could quit school to be a model...(her parents would hate me if they knew I said that! ;) Amari, please finish high school! It's best that way—for both of us.) Enjoy seeing some of the fun spots we discovered during Amari's senior session!










just to liven it up a bit...

ICE CREAM! Makes everyone happy, right? :)







If you're a Waterloo High School senior (or even junior! never too early to start thinking about your senior photos.) be sure to get in touch with Amari!
Love Always,Amelia Renee:)