2017 came with a lot of challenges this year. Luckily my better half was able to be the partner I needed through it all. He helped me with the stresses of being a leader teacher and all that comes with that position. I enjoyed teaching Middle school so much, but there were times I spent all my caring energy at school that I forgot to leave some for him. He’s the best because he was able to help me find my balance and be patient.
We also had to figure out moving to a new state! Again, my better half helped me through this stressful event. Now that we live in Virginia, I’m so happy. It’s our new home and fits us very well. I look forward to 2018 and all the new challenges it brings. I’m not sure what the future will be but with my husband by my side I know I’ll be able to handle it.
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I always grew up with toast being with peanut butter, jelly or Nutella (if my mother allowed). Very simple breakfast options.
However, I wanted to get more veggies into my diet, and as much as I love avocado toast, avocados can be an expensive part of the grocery budget! Also if you get TOO many then they end up in the garbage. That’s when I remembered my mother’s cucumber sandwiches! You know the ones you see at tea parties and such. Well I wanted to try and make those yummy delights for every day. That’s when I created this cucumber cream cheese toast. Easily turned vegan with the proper vegan cream cheese as well. Just remember to season with salt and pepper or if your Trader Joe’s lover, their onion salt or everything but the bagel seasoning! Sunday 12/3 was the only super moon of 2017 so I had to make some moon water and cleanse my crystals!! The night of the super moon was incredibly relaxing. I had my Winter Calm playlist on, I had my candles lit, my tea ready and my tarot cards out. My reading was very interesting and I’m excited to see how the next few months play out. We got some snow this December! Luckily since we are from New Jersey we weren’t as worried about the snow. Virginians are lucky because you can drive around when the snow has first fallen.
Due to October being fill with many events making us travel back and forth to New Jersey, we wanted to stay here in Virginia for our first Thanksgiving. Luckily we were able to spend Thanksgiving with my husband's parents. We were able to show them around our new home, and they loved it! The inn that they stayed at was so quaint and lovely. (My father in-law says quaint is a nice way to say outdated haha) We explored Pocahontas State Park as well as Maymont Park. I was very excited to see how different Maymont would look from the summertime. The Japanese Garden was the best part. The greens that were there turned to gorgeous crimson red and mustard golden yellow. The trees reminded me of how we as humans need to take notes from Mother Nature, we must let go of the things that do not serve us in order to grow again.
Some brand photography for the company Bee & Mae. This is my new favorite tee-shirt for hiking. Explored Humpback Rocks with one of my girlfriends and had an amazing lunch and a few drinks at Devil's Backbone Brewery! Brand photography for Fabirk. Favorite Pinafore dress, perfect for all seasons. (check out their instagram: @fabrikstore
Images from the first few weeks of living in Virginia. My husband and I were able to explore Ashland, and Cary Town Richmond. I also had time to develop one successful abstract painting and one unsuccessful abstract painting. Captures of the apartment complex. Where we live has a path around the housing complex. My husband was out so I felt it was a perfect time to go and explore. I was very pleased with the photographs I was able to get.
Our wedding anniversary is 10/22, nestled between my mother and father 's birthdays, as well as my husband's father's birthday. We were able to travel up the New Jersey this year to celebrate not only our anniversary with our families but be there for their birthdays. This year my father turned 60 and my mother surprised him with an extended family hike. My father's two siblings met us at the start of my father's new favorite trail. The Manahan clan made it's way up the mountain and set up shop to have a few brews, venison sausage and crackers. It was the perfect gift for my father! My parents have been exploring the South to see what towns are right for them, my husband and I were lucky enough to be able to spend some time with them on their way down and back up to NJ. We explored the Humpback Rocks trails with them and my goodness, it was amazing.
During the summer we were preparing for our move to Virginia. We both decided to take the offer from my husband's company before the school year ended. When we visited Ashland, Virginia we felt like we belonged there, and could see our future family living there. Of course right before the move I found the perfect spot in the kitchen with great light. I received my new favorite dress from one of my favorite Australian clothing companies, Fabrik. Therefore an importune brand photography shoot ensued. My job didn't start until the middle of September. We moved into the new apartment 8/26 so I had some extra time to settle in and unpack the apartment. I got to play around with the light, and set up our outdoor little garden sanctuary. We love our balcony! It really is the perfect spot for coffee. 10/1/17 My husband and I explored Maymont Park in Richmond for the first time. It reminded us of the Botantical Garden in NYC. Maymont truly is the perfect place to walk around and spend a day outside. (Free of charge to explore!! Can't get much better than that) I got a second (or third?) job as a waitress/barista at a local restaurant in Ashland. The Caboose is such a fun place to work! Also the food is farm to table and everything is locally sourced a mission I stand behind.
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Ava Elise
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