new blog, new logo, new name!

The time has finally come! Almost a year in the making- of deciding on a new logo (which took the longest time) and making a new blog! I am so excited to announce that it is finally done!
I am proud to announce my new name,logo and blog! Diana Marie Photography 
Please continue following me on my new blog at www.dianamarieblog.com 
Leave me some love on my new blog and tell me what you think! ;)
Thank you so much!
xoxo
d

Thankful for my mom!

I skipped writing this Friday, so I could specifically write today...

I MISS my mom SO much! There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her. I wish she would just move here with me ;) hehe
This post is going to be all about my mom, (well more of a letter to her) and why I am so thankful for her!

Momma,
I know I've probably told this to you, over and over again...but I mean it from the bottom of my heart; words DO NOT even describe how amazing you are and how very blessed I am that you are in my life...that I get the privilege...no....the honor to call you my mother. Not only do I get to call you my mother, but my very best friend, and for that I am even more thankful!
Mom...I am so thankful for your heart. Your ability to show so much love is mind boggling! Your love that you have for God first...well it overflows into your love that you have for us...for me! You always went the extra mile for me, and not because you had to...but you did it willingly. Your faith has always been so strong, and your constant prayers for me and everyone that comes your way...has taught me to be a better person.  I thank you for your passion. I sit and wonder sometimes, and I feel that one thing you were passionate about (and still are), was to love everyone around you, even if you only met them once. Your passion in serving, in helping, in being the "mom" to every single one of my friends or to everyone that came to know you. You continually pour your love. You are so caring, loving, thoughtful....and I am just constantly amazed and in awe of what an amazing person you are. People say that when God created the woman...that she was made in His image so we can see a glimpse of His heart. Mom, you are such a beautiful creation, and your reflection of Him is so evident in your life. I see it more and more every single day. No one cannot even compare. You are beautiful in every single way!
Thank you so much mom, for always encouraging me to follow my heart, and to do what I love and desire to do! You have always been there for me! You have pushed me to always be the better person. You believed in me, when I didn't believe in myself. You trusted me and had faith in me, when I didn't. You always and still do, have had high hopes for me, when I sometimes was hopeless. You protected me...always, even when I thought I didn't need it and I thought I could handle things on my own.
Thank you for ALWAYS being so honest with me, even when I might of not wanted to hear certain things. I always feel so blessed, because I know that I can come to you any second of the day and talk about anything! Some people don't have such a close relationship...but we do, and I wouldn't trade it for the world! You have helped me through thick and thin. Laughed with me, cried with me....ohhh, even when I got my first heartbreak...you were there. To help pick me up, and you cried with me, listened to me...you were there! You are always there! Mom....thank you for always being there! Thank you for never giving up on me! I am the person I am today....because of YOU! Because of the faith you had in me, the love you've given me, the guidance you've taught me and much much more! Thank you will never be enough to express what I feel, and how much I love you! I love you so much! I hope you know that I am always here for you! Always praying for you. For all that you've done for me in my life, and Lidia's and Nicky's...and everyone else's...you deserve only the best of the best. I love you, and I hope you know that you truly are a blessing to me and to every single person that knows you! Thank you for being YOU....the most selfless, giving, loving caring person out there that I know....thank you for being the most amazing mom! I LOVE YOU!
Your daughter always,
Diana

I wish I had all my pictures with me from back home, that way I could have scanned a ton to post...but here's just a few that you can see!*and yes i said scanned! haha I only started using digital about 5 years ago! haha*

To all of the mom's out there...you are all so very loved. And I know that everyone in your life has been touched by you in a great way or another. Thank you for all that you do! Happy Mother's day to all!
xoxo,
d

My sister's wedding!

Since I kept you in the loop all about my sister Lidia up until her BIG day, its only fair that I tell you all about the day now!
We were so very blessed to have had amazing weather. (Well...SUN!) I guess the week or two before the wedding, it was constantly raining! She got married at the Lake Arrowhead Resort on March 14th,2010! Despite being a bit cold, we had sun, and my sister looked AMAZING....so all in all it was a really great day!
I think that I was more stressed out than my sister! haha She was so calm the entire morning. First off she didn't sleep one minute, but she was as happy as could be!
Lidia's dress was GORGEOUS...and she looked absolutely radiant!
I couldn't stop crying as she was walking down the aisle! But the moment she said "I DO" I was just so happy for her! Words cannot even describe!

Two of my amazing friends were the photographers! Our friend Jennifer, we grew up with her our whole lives...and I've known Jen since she was in 4th grade! :) My friend Lauren was her assistant. She has been an amazing close friend, and distantly related to me know for the past few years ;) We were so very blessed to have them be a part of my sisters day, and I couldn't thank you girls enough! I love you girls SO SO SO much!

I promised myself over and over and over again that I was going to shoot all day long at my sisters wedding! Did that happen?! Absolutely NOT! :( I was so mad at myself! I took one digital shot, and one polaroid and THAT'S IT! Seriously?! Here's the one shot I took of my beautiful sister!

Since I took absolutely no pictures, here are a few from my friend Lauren, she sent over a little sneak peak for us to see!

the sisters!

see that hair piece?!...(well a small part of it) my sisters and I, we decided to all wear it on our wedding day! 

Besides having these amazing girls take pictures....we had an amazing group of guys do the video! And when I mean amazing...I mean AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! Drew and to the rest of the crew, I want to thank you SO SO SO much for everything!!!!!!!!!!!! I have constantly watched the video over and over and am in LOVE! It honestly was the greatest pleasure getting to meet you and getting to talk to you! You have to know, and I'm not just saying this, but everyone was calling/texting me that they have never seen a better video before! May God continue to bless you and Ben and the crew...seriously, you guys have major talent!!! I hope we are able to still keep in touch and see each other again in the near future! Again, thank you for everything!
Here is the preview to my sisters wedding...I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Highlight: Andrei and Lidia from Ben Potter & Drew Barefoot on Vimeo.

Lidia and Andrei, I just love you guys to death! I am seriously so happy for you guys, and you two are so perfect for each other! I hope your love for each other will continually grow each day! May you two be blessed in all that you do!
Hurry up and move to Portland ;)
xoxo
di

Napa Valley Part I

A little over a month ago, I wrote to you that I went and visited family in Sacramento! During my stay, my cousins decided to take me to Napa...well, because I've never been there!
I honestly feel like I have been seeing more of California, ever since I moved to Portland a few months ago ;)
Which I totally don't mind...makes for a great excuse to go back and visit!
Well...I'm just going to post some pictures of my family and I at one specific winery! My next post will be some detail shots, etc. We got to Napa kind of late, and were only able to visit one winery..and then everything else closed. But I am super thankful that I had the chance to go, and with my family..who I love soo much! :)

me and my beautiful niece arella! i <3 this girl to pieces!

I absolutely LOVE my family!!! <3 <3 <3 They are all a huge part of who I am! So thankful that they are in my life!
xoxo
diana

My sister's bridal shower!

Just a little over a month ago, my sister Lidia had a bridal shower. When I flew home that weekend...well I didn't have to much sleep! I flew in Friday morning...and I went straight to setting up, buying flowers, etc! It was crazy busy...but in the end it turned out beautiful! I was so happy that when I got home later that afternoon, I got a new backdrop in the mail from Drop it Modern. The timing couldn't have been perfect! We initially were not going to use the backdrop, but we all thought it went well with the shower...so we used it!
It was quite hard having to help plan this shower from another state. My sister Nicky and I were always researching on things at home, and we would skype each other all the time to talk things over, etc! That was our daily routine. But when it came down to having to go to the store and help with things, it was a little difficult. So my sister asked our friends to help her out! Lidia knew everything that she wanted, she just needed help putting it together, and that's where our friends Jennifer and Maria came in from Encore Events. Thank you ladies for helping us out, and helping us set up everything, etc! We couldn't have done it without you! *especially making those flower balls...those took forever! haha!*

Early Saturday morning, my mom, sister and I went to downtown LA at the flower district! OMG do I love that place! My sister had wanted different flowers for her flower arrangements...but I finally convinced her to change her mind, and got white mums!  My mom had quite a good amount of mason jars, so that is what we used for our flower arrangements!

Here is how the rest of the room looked like, after we finished decorating, arranging, etc!

As all the ladies came in, I quickly ran around to take a extra couple of shots of things we had just put on the tables! I didn't get the chance to take any pictures of the food, or half of the dessert table..because well those ladies were hungry..and they beat me to it! haha! So I didn't really have much to take! But the food was delicious! :)

there were about 130 ladies at my sisters bridal shower! Sounds crazy, right?! Well...that's how us Romanian/American's do it! haha! I dont know any other way! During our bridal showers...we usually have a few people speak and give advice for the bride to be, sing some songs, eat and open presents! YES...presents! It's tradition for us to give presents at the bridal shower, in order to help the couple off with getting started in their new place together, etc. At a Romanian wedding...well basically there is no present table. We give money at weddings...in order to again, help start the couple on the right foot, etc. That's how we do it...and I absolutely love it! It's how I grew up...but I don't think I would have it any other way! It's such a blessing to know that you have an awesome group of family and friends to help support you like that! It shows they care, and how much they love you! :) Ok...back to the pictures! ha!

I dont know what we were laughing at...but I <3 this picture!

here's lidia, telling everyone how she met andrei!

 all her gifts + some more you can't really see ;)

After Lidia opened up all her gifts, we decided to take pictures with the backdrop! I won't post too many pictures, because this post is long enough! ha! But I hope you enjoyed this little story, that is a huge part of my life ;)

backdrop: drop it modern
yellow and white flower balls: martha stewart
lidia's dress: sarah seven