What I’m Loving: June

I’m so excited for this new blog series! At the end of each month, I’ll share things that I’m loving right now, in the hopes that maybe there’s something new you can try. If you’re up for it, I’d love to hear what you’re loving. Shoot me a message of something new for me to try, or leave a reply at the bottom of the post!

1. Magnolia Table Recipes

When this cookbook first came out, my response was, oh that’s nice, but I don’t need another cookbook. I was very wrong. Joanna Gaines’s buttermilk ranch dressing recipe is unreal. Seriously. If you make it, you should definitely cut the recipe in half. I made the full recipe, and Matt and I ate it for a full week on EVERYTHING. Veggies, salads, chips… I even made him ranch chicken and put the dressing on a turkey wrap! It’s amazing. We also tried the fluffy pancake recipe with Matt’s mom and they were hands down the best pancakes I’ve ever had. Why is everything that comes out of the Gaines family actual magic?!

 

2. Botolino’s

I’ve done my best this month to cut back on sugar. For the most part, I’ve done an okay job (well… maybe not with the Magnolia pancakes)… but Matt and I had date night at HG Sply Co., and afterwards, we couldn’t help but walk over to our favorite gelato place, Botolino’s.

Every time we go in, they have new flavors that are amazing. The Cheesecake flavor is amazing, and Dallas Honey is definitely my new favorite. If you live in Dallas and you haven’t been here, you’re missing out. Plus, the man who makes the gelato (chef? gelatician? who knows!?) and owns the shop has the sweetest story. Read about it here.

3. Styling Boards

A few months ago, I made some new textured styling boards to photograph wedding day details on. I’m obsessed with them!! You can find the DIY from Magnolia Rouge here. (I’ve also made fabric styling boards… there’s a DIY from Audrey Rose here. She used staples, and I used hot glue, but the principal is basically the same, and so easy!)

I’ve been making good use of these styling boards this month with lots of collaborations with invitation designers. This photo is one of my favorites from my shoot with Scribbles & Swirls, featuring her gorgeous invitation design & calligraphy, as well as lovely hand-dyed silk ribbon from Oh Be Joyful Creative. Add in peonies and I can’t imaging a prettier combination!

 

4. Moroccan Oil

I’ve started using a tiny bit of this oil in my hair after I straighten it, and it makes it so soft, and smells so yummy! You can find it at Nordstrom here.

 

5. #MattMondays

This is my first month of being a full-time work-from-home photographer, which means I’m completely in control of my schedule. Since I often meet with clients in the evenings and have weddings and shoots on weekends or weeknights, Matt and I are trying to find ways to make sure that we have plenty of quality time together throughout the week. Matt works crazy hours Tuesday through Friday, and has Mondays off. So, #MattMondays have become a thing – YAY! Whether it means that we go to a movie in the middle of the day, take a walk, or go read together at a coffee shop, we’re trying to be intentional and carve out a few hours every Monday to be together.

 

6. Rifle Paper Co. Corkcicle

I was so excited when Rifle Paper Co. & Corkcicle announced that they were partnering with each other. Two of my favorite things!! Matt surprised me with the cutest tumbler from their new collection, and now I don’t go anywhere without it! Isn’t it adorable?!

Find the full collection here.

 

7. Pure Barre

When I was in grad school in North Carolina, my sweet friend Catherine and I went to Pure Barre every. single. day. When I moved to Dallas last year and started working full time, I just couldn’t find a way to fit Pure Barre into my daily life. But now, my new flexible schedule means I’m able to go almost every day – yay!! I love that post-workout feeling of accomplishment and purpose, and I’m a huge fan of consistency in my daily schedule. The only thing that could make it better? If Catherine moved to Dallas and went with me!

 

8. Wedding Fun with Hannah

My best friend asked me to be her Matron of Honor and I’m SO excited! I got to take her & her sweet fiancé’s engagement photos this month, and it was one of my favorite days in June.

One of my other favorites? Driving to Houston to visit BHLDN for some wedding dress shopping with Hannah & her mom! & of course, a trip to Tiny Boxwoods (because no trip to Houston is complete without Tiny’s Milk & Cookies!). So excited for her and Jermaine to get married in December – aren’t they adorable!?

 

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Want to see more of what I’m loving? Click here for other months!