montana.

PART 1: A WEEK IN HEAVEN

Everyone has a happy place. Mine is Montana- think pine trees, lots of dogs and air that smells like fresh flowers. To be even more descriptive; my parents live in the woods and there is a trampoline in their front yard where we would just play with my nieces and nephews for hours. My mom would make lunch and my entire family would eat it on the grass. I felt like I was getting dozens of freckles by the minute out in that sun!!! Pretty sure if I stopped and listened close enough, I could hear angels singing because MONTANA IS HEAVEN. 

 My dog Rufus...sweet, sweet Rufus...would be running around the yard, or under the tramp. Sometimes I would jump on his head. I probably landed on his head like 5 times but he didn't care because he is a clingy, anxious dog who needs social interaction. Kind of like me ;) Except I'm not a dog. I WISH!

 My dad, Connor and I went on a hike one night to this overlook that shows the entirety of Frenchtown, Montana. PSA: it's a very, very small town. The hike was so pretty!! We brought Rufus and when he started taking off all the sudden, so did my dad and I because we KNEW he was chasing deer. Sure enough, we see their little white butts bouncing away as Rufus got all "tough guy" and scared them off. I think maybe he thinks he is invincible when in reality he is very sensitive. Also just like me. Can you say SPIRIT ANIMAL??

 I wasn't kidding when I said the world smells like fresh flowers in Montana. It's like breathing in unlimited opportunities!!!!! LIKE INSPIRATION!! LIKE U CAN DO ANYTHING!!! 

Everytime we go hiking, without fail, Connor picks me a flower and puts it in my hair. Lavender is in full bloom, so today that is what it was. Love him. 

 Rufus is so majestic. I realized I forgot to say bye to him like 2 hours into our drive home. The guilt is still eating me alive. Bless his fuzzy, clingy, doggie heart. 

PART 2: THE WEDDING 

 My brother Jace got married this weekend, which means that the Holyoak family is COMPLETE - not including grandchildren to come (in 5 years of course ;) ). We all tell Jace that Kelly is his better half hahaha. She is amazing. He is amazing. I was so weepy on their wedding day - I am just so sentimental and I LOVE LOVE. Love is so great. Jace and Kelly are so great. Also -  I took this picture of my parents and their three grandkids (angels, every one of them) and it makes my heart so happy. I won't post pictures from the wedding because I don't want to be that girl who posts before the bride gets to. ;) 

 Right before we left to drive back to Utah, we gathered as a family to say a prayer that we would travel safely. My 4 year old nephew, Kyler (the one on the left in that grandkid picture) prayed "please bless that we can be healthy so that Jesus doesn't die..." HAHAHA. Connor and I thought that it was the best prayer we have ever heard. 

And so, just like that, the week ended. Has the separation anxiety begun? yes! Have I earned trust issues with every other state that isn't Montana? YOU BET. Is socializing with anyone that is not my family THE WORST???? YOU SAID IT. I am just a homesick lil child, but I am so grateful for the week we had. Getting to spend all day with my husband, riding four-wheelers, hiking and acting like little kids is the best. You should see "uncle Connor" in action. He is all kinds of heart eyes. 

xoxo

Hallie Jo 

BORING MARRIED PERSON 101: A GUIDE

 I've been in a funk lately. I realized this when the most exciting thing I have done in the past 7 days was to go to ikea and buy $2 breakfast with my husband  (7/10 would recommend). And then after that I was exhausted...like I needed to go take a nap to recover. Work is life - think 20 shoots and 50 hours a week. Though I have sufficiently learned how to get "in" with all the Utah moms by complimenting their pristinely dressed children, I haven't been feeling super inspired lately. Pros and cons. ;) 

Usually I write blog posts every couple of months when I'm feeling particularly witty, uplifted and far away from struggling with the thing I was writing about, but I AM IN THE THICK OF IT NOW. Are you ready for the problem?

Life is dull. 

If they made a documentary about my life it would get 1 star on netflix. Maybe 2 if I had a cute dog.

It shouldn't be such a big thing, but it just....is. I can count on two hands the amount of friends I have traveling in Europe right now and I'm just doing my thang here in good ol' Provo, spending all my money on rent and my little blue car that decided to putter out and die. RIP blueberry. ps. was now really a good time, blueberry?   So I'm just kind of wondering - Is this MARRIAGE? Seeing my husband 2 hours a day before crashing in bed, exhausted? IS THIS MY LIFE NOW? 

Don't get me wrong, my job is AMAZING. I can't tell you how much being a full-time photographer has helped my people skills. It's a dream come true!! Someone read me this quote the other day that said "don't take advantage of the things you have that you used to want the most." I needed a good reason to drop out of college ;) AND I GOT IT. Only this is like photography college in a way with a two year contract that includes the exercising of creativity, socializing with a lot of strangers, getting lots of freckles working outside and oh yeah, I get paid!!! So that's great. It's my first career. It's good.  I'm tired, but it's good. I tell myself that this is my education and that I need to soak it up while I can. (Get back to me in 3 years when I have my own business shooting destination weddings all over the world and working my own hours!! 0% kidding.)

Photography is super rewarding! Look at some of my pics from this past week:

So yeah. My life is about as exciting as eating tacos and watching Parks and Rec with Connor. Today we climbed a tree! Tonight we'll go to bed early!! But you know what? Looking at it in perspective, this is the first time I have ever been 100% self-sufficient. I live in the cuuutest little brick house, I don't know how to treat strangers like strangers anymore, I have a husband who will give me back massages and I live in a state that has like 500 million temples!! I don't really have time for a social life, but when I do I will DEFINITELY be taking applications for some homegurls (or c

ounting down the days until Sister Monk comes home from her mission so I can brainwash her into living near me for the rest of her life and planning arranged marriages between our children.)

Okay!! Well yeah!! Thanks for reading my blog! Now go read your favorite travel blogger and get hyped again. ;) 

xoxo

Hallie Jo