I Love My Life

To sum up my more personal blog post week, I'll end with myself. Lately, I've been feeling a certain sentiment:

Life is AWESOME (in every definition of the word).

{Urban Dictionary}: amazing, heart-stirring, wonderful

{Webster}: causing feelings of great admiration, awe

Overall, I feel happy, healthy and fortunate.

I don't tend to share too many personal details of my life, but I feel it's maybe a bit overdue.  Afterall, I'm allowed to capture some of the most intimate moments in other people's life... Basically, I moved into a new place this winter after finding myself newly single.

I really didn't have any furniture, other than a bed, so it was a fun process to create my own space. After a bit, I grew to absolutely adore my new place. It's a quaint one-bedroom in Venice (with parking).  It's sunny and happy and makes me feel good. It's still not finished (haven't done much with my bedroom yet), but I wanted to share a few images of my new digs...

 

That's my pink surf board peeking into the photo-- it's laying against the wall in my bedroom.


 
I've come to realize that this is an amazing time in my life that will be like no other.  There are all sorts of big changes happening around me-- my friends are getting married, having babies, getting new jobs, new outlooks, new growth-- that I am very appreciative of where I am in my life.

At the same time that I was moving into my new apartment, I also moved into a new office / studio space with the inimitable Bash, Please. 

Here are a few photos captured by the lovely Laure Joilet of what we affectionately call the Workstead, which was featured a few months back in Rue Magazine.

And a few more I snapped the other day...

And, lastly, a photo of the photowall that is in the consult area.  This was a bit of a labor of love for me, going through all sorts of photos I've taken over the years...

Again, it has been such a nice journey and it's a welcome feeling to be inspired by colleagues-- which is so important in being a solopreneur. I learn so much from them on a daily basis.

To sum it all up, my thoughts the past 6 months or so have evolved to:

1. I love my life

2. I'm incredibly fortunate

3. I'm so thankful for my friends and family; afterall life is about relationships. That's all we have at the end of the day.

3. You have to go through a lot wrong in order to know what's right

4. Everything is temporary so enjoy whatever stage I'm in.

I hope that wasn't too cheesy for y'all, but I'm a bit of sap. I shoot weddings and babies for a living in case you forgot.  I have more passion than I know what to do with and although sometimes my sensitivity gets in the way, I wouln't trade it in for anything.

There's the update, thanks for listening.

 

Comments

[Emily]

I love your life too - and you! Great post.

[Lauren K]

You've created such a gorgeous home! Happy to hear you are happy!

[candice h]

fabulous post Annie! i related so much to your beautiful words- thanks for sharing.

[Rachel Wachter]

Thanks for sharing Annie! you are such a beautiful person both inside and out. We love and miss you!

[Dorien]

Stunning. Annie, we think that you are the Awesomest. We really do.

[Sandra Simmons]

Love you, Annie! Going to send this post to a good friend of mine who is starting over in her life in a different way. Keep embracing the good and be happy. xoxoxo.

[Hillary Lipstein Caston]

beautiful....

[Hillary Lipstein Caston]

Hey that's me with my bouquet! So cool. I would love to see the Workstead.

[Cara]

Annie...You really are something special. That was really honest and really awesome! Just like you.

[Annie McElwain]

Wow everyone, thank you so much for all those kind words. Anyone is welcome to drop by our Workstead, just let me know when you'd like to say hello!

Hugs to all,

annie

[sarah]

awesome annie! your new place looks so cute!! xo

[Spotts]

Hi Annie

I'm wondering where you found that HUGE collage frame? Last picture in the post.

[Annie McElwain]

Thanks, the frame is actually a custom piece I arranged myself and then took to a local professional framer.

[Mackenzie]

You are so beautiful in your pictures, and from what you say here, are beautiful inside as well. Love your blog. Your are talented.

[lia]

where on earth did you get that amazing frame on your photowall?!

[CrowNology ~ Andrea]

Brilliant!

Bravo...
I forced myself to be newly single about 7 months ago...So nice to paint the ceiling pink and not have share the bookshelf! But this lightness/serenity seems to have penetrated into your heart too...The best part.
:)
xo

[Brooke]

"You have to go through a lot wrong in order to know what's right".... that is the most eloquent and simple reflection of what it means to "grow up"... pertains to so much. Thank you for sharing!

[Bianca]

Beautiful images! It's wonderful to hear someone say they love their life. An inspiration. And that giant frame with all the pictures! Where did you get such a wonderful piece?

[Bianca]

Just read it! Haha! That's what I get for not reading through all the comments ;)

[julia]

Where is that multi-photo picture frame from?!?!?

[יד שניה]

wowww Thanks for the nice post great mind

[Penny Smith]

Did you have that frame with all the 4x6 (or are they 3 1/2 x 5's) made, or find it premade somewhere?? Feel free to email! Thanks!

[Ditte]

Could you please tell me where the tray table is from? :-)

[Annie McElwain]

Hi there. Are you referring to the side table next to the couch? I actually got it at Urban Oufitters.

[Ditte]

I mean the one in the picture with the big frame! :-)