To Ida Street We Go

Today is a momentous day. Magical Simplicity is growing up :) We're heading to a new space, with a new name, to celebrate a new stage & talk about the same things. I'm actually heading there now!

Ida Street is a real place. I moved there just after my 24th birthday. Do you remember? In my tiny studio apartment I started learning a lot. Like what the tool box is for. & that I actually love photography. & that personal style is everything, but that sweatpants are a girl's best friend. It was on Ida Street that I started growing up. & on Ida Street I started growing out of this space.

It's okay! Magical Simplicity is coming with me. I'm stuffing it (& all my old posts) into this beautiful leather tote. So, from now on... visit me HERE. Let's continue our adventure. Let's talk about the things that happen on Ida Street. Xoxo, a million times.  I'll see you all there.

Photography: Mintwood Photo Co.

PHOTOS | A BLACK TIE AFFAIR

OoooOOoh la la. Isn't she lovely? A few weekends ago the gorgeous Taelor asked that I meet her to capture a few images before she attended "Men of Honor - A Salute to African American Men" Awards. We were racing light & it was bitterly cold... but our end product is just stunning. Taelor is a natural model. & though we only had a short half hour together, it was shot after shot of flawless pictures. I loved our location (Purple People Bridge & Newport River Walk) & the excellent backdrop of the city. & even more fun was that between it all, we were able to reminisce about how many, many years ago we lived together in this very city as random roommates over one summer internship. (It just so happened my twenty first birthday fell upon that summer. It was a legendary event.) Now, enough of my ramblings. Here is the lovely Taelor. 

ENGAGED(!!!) PHOTOS: MEGAN + SAM

I'm in love! With Megan & Sam! Many moons ago Megan & I went to Saint Ursula together. Then we both headed west to Miami University (you remember... the place of a million memories). Well, fast forward a few years & I had the lovely pleasure of spending a morning with Megan & fiance, Sam.

They are the most dreamy couple I know & these are just a few of the hundreds of pictures that show it. I loved traipsing through another fall day with true love to capture a few precious moments. 

So here's their story: Megan & Sam met their senior year of high school. She was watching a soccer game with friends & somehow against the odds ended up wearing his jersey. But Sam didn't ask for Megan's name that day. That's where fate jumped in. Several months later, Megan accompanied a friend to a graduation party in Harrison. Lo & behold, it was Sam's. Five years later: we're taking their engagement photos.

Oh they just take my breath away! This is the sweetest couple in the entire world, I swear. Sometimes, scouting ahead for the perfect lighting, I would turn 'round to say something & spot Sam stealing a kiss. I absolutely loved getting to know these two.

& don't you just adore Megan's Burberry shawl?! She said she got it at Steinmart (score!). If any of you see it there.. I probably wear a medium... & I like really love it. Like, so much.

I could've posted about a million more photos (at very least, 50) but I'll save those for the lovebirds. Megan & Sam, thank you for letting me be a part of this special time in your life. You are the sweetest.

& darling Magical Simplicity readers, I hope you enjoyed a peek of this dreamy photo shoot! Now, back to our super-fall week! xoxo. p.s. our mega gorgeous Pride & Prejudice-esque photo location is a secret gem in Indian Hill: Rheinstrom Park [map]. 

FALL IN LOVE: RACHEL + CASEY PHOTOS

This weekend I had the most magical request from two of my loveliest friends. Rachel & Casey recently got engaged & were looking for someone to photograph their save the date pictures. As you know, I love love & so happily obliged.  

Now, I've never taken photos for anyone before (except for my blogging partner in crime, Cincin-Natalie, from time to time) but guys it was so fun. I'm serious. So. Fun. The leaves were stunning & it definitely helps that I was third wheelin' with two of my great friends. I think you could hear our laughter through the entire forest. 

I'm just so flattered that these lovebirds asked me to play a small role in this special time of their life. Thanks you two. You're just plain awesome.

& to all of you lovely Magical Simplicity Readers, I've missed you! I've been traveling a lot, but I'm back now for a solid two weeks :) I hope you are all having the most magical fall! xoxo, & thanks for reading. 

PHOTOS FROM GORMAN HERITAGE FARM

I put the Sunflower Festival on our calendar 5 weeks early. I absolutely did NOT want to miss it. 

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate & by the time this year's sunflower festival rolled around at Gorman Heritage Farm, the field was pretty... dead. That's okay though, because I got a lot of sunflower pictures earlier this fall (see those here). But Gorman Heritage Farm was still pretty cool! Smack dab in the middle of Evendale [map] are a few acres of an educational farm. I can't talk too much shop about farms (without totally embarrassing myself), so I will let my photos tell you. 

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! It is definitely fall!! & speaking of fall, I have a fun fall recipe ready for you guys tomorrow. Check back :) XOXO & thanks for reading!