A rebrand

Hello! It's been a while and a lot has changed since the last time I posted consistently here. As I get back into the blog world, I thought it was time for a rebrand and have officially said goodbye to the Camo & Couture era. I cannot wait to get the creative juices flowing again and share my heart & our "Team Zeman" adventures on this little piece of the web. Stay tuned for all that's to come! 

A Second College Grad!

So...I graduated from NDSU exactly a year ago this week & am just getting around to blogging these photos now. Woops. This day felt so so good. It marked the end to long stressful nights and weeks of homework, paper writing, and studying, the end of long distance forever for lee and I, & one month until our wedding. It meant that I would finally again be living in the same state as my fiance & family. 

I loved my time spent in Fargo and will cherish the friendships and memories made forever. It was bittersweet to leave the town that shaped so much of who I am today. Thank you family for suffering through four hours of names being read just to see my 10 seconds of fame. Thank you for putting up with the many emotions of Ali over the past five years. So long, Fargo! 

Our First Christmas Tree!

Long time no see. I've really missed documenting life on this ole' blog of mine & a lot has changed since the last time we spoke. I have officially been married to this sweet husband of mine for almost 6 months now! Say what?! Time is sure flying. Marriage is everything I hoped it would be and more. We most definitely don't have it all together and annoy the crap out of each other some days, but boy is it fun to do everyday life with this guy by my side. 

Thanksgiving weekend we picked out our very first Christmas tree {isn't she beautiful?} with the sweetest of friends. I have dreamed of the day that I would have my very own tree with my very own husband for a very long time now & folks it's finally here. I love creating new traditions for our little family. My heart is so full. 

Thoughts on graduation...

You guys, I graduate a week from today!!! It still hasn't sunk in and definitely does not feel real. The town that has shaped so much of who I am today, will no longer be my home. Fargo may not be my home ever again. Change is hard. I have wished for this moment for so long & now that it's finally here I have a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions filling my entire being. Everything from "wow, you did it you're so awesome" to teary eyed "this is my last time carrying a backpack as a student" moments. It's been real, North Dakota. I will miss you a whole bunch, but am forever grateful for the friends and memories you've given me. Next on my to-do list for 2014, marry the one whom my soul loves on June 21st. 

Cheers to 25!

Excuse the blurry iPhone pic, but this guy right here is a quarter of a century old folks! We celebrated by feasting on a porterhouse & cheeseburger (can you guess who ate which?!) at Pittsburgh Blue, the same place we celebrated using the term "fiance" for the first time exactly a year ago. 

Lee, I cherish you more today than ever before. You bring so much joy to my life. It's been so fun to learn and grow along side you these past five birthdays & I look forward to many more April 17th's spent by your side. 

Wedding Wednesday: Bridal Showers!

Bridal shower's were thrown for me the last two weekends and I was surrounded by so many beautiful people. Lee & I will forever be thankful for your gracious gifts as well as your never ending love and support for the both of us! We cannot wait to begin our adventures as the Zeman's together. We love you all so much!  I still have happy tears in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face! (Excerpt from a Facebook post of mine after the first shower). 

So many final items are being checked off of our "to-do" list and this thing feels real people.  If you would like to take a peek at our wedding website click here! P.S. Thursday is Lee's birthday, which marks one year since he asked me to be his forever. 

Winter Engagements

These delightfully, frigid winter engagements were shot by my lovely best friend, Taylor.  She is my soul sister from another mister and a beautiful light to my life. Thank you again Tay for braving the cold with us to capture this moment in our lives. You know the one where Lee is not very good at hiding that he is cold & where I am a brunette? Yeah that one! I love you oodles & oodles my dear friend. Thank you for sharing your talents with this world. 

Taylor is the creative behind the blog Love, Genevieve. 

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Photos by Matt Lien

I can't believe that I have not posted these beautiful things yet! To say I am obsessed with these photos would be putting it very lightly. To have this beautiful moment of our lives captured so perfectly brings me to tears (and if you know me you know I don't cry easily ;)).  To have photos like this that will last forever & that we can share with our children one day just takes my breath away. What a wonderful gift a photographer blesses people with. We are beyond thankful to Matt for capturing so perfectly our love for exploring the outdoors and each other. The light he captures is out of this world amazing. Tomorrow is the 7 month mark folks! I really really can't wait to be your wife Leland.

Christmas Wish List 2013

Writing out christmas lists has always been a favorite of mine! I am the biggest child when it comes to Christmas (and any holiday for that matter) & can't wait to create new traditions with my husband for our little family unit next year. One thing I mentioned to Lee recently was that I want us to buy pajama sets for each other and open them on Christmas Eve to which he replied"Ali, what would we do with that many pairs of pajamas?" Well Lee, I see your point, but you really can't wear the same pajamas in your Christmas photos every year - you just can't.  Plus who doesn't love the feeling of fresh pajamas on their skin?

 This year my list is short and sweet.  The wedding is definitely the biggest cost & "present" for the year ahead, but if I were to receive a gift for being so good ;) I would not mind receiving any of these items. What's on your wish list?! I would love to hear. 

1. Gap Boyfriend Jeans, similar here
2. Anthro Shower Curtain - for the future home
3. neuLASH, lash enhancing serum - to grow my tiny little eyelashes
4. Target Beach Cruiser, mint green - because it's really necessary during MN winter's...
5. Fotostrap, graphite 

Am I Ready?

Am I ready? Three words that I have been asking myself during the quiet moments of my day.  Am I ready to move when called?  To step outside of my comfort zone in order to show the love of Jesus to this hurting world? Because if not I want to be.  I want to spend my free moments preparing my heart for the adventures ahead.  I don't want to waste one more minute.  I don't want to spend today thinking about tomorrow, CPA exams, & being a good enough wife. I'm preparing today for those moments tomorrow. My heart yearns to be ready.  

Yeeehawww for Country Weddings

Lee's oldest brother Justin got married this past weekend in the most quaint & country of locations on the most perfect fall day you could ever ask for - minus the hurricane like winds (hence my hair in these pictures which is now brown in color eek!)  Sarah my new "almost" sister in law's dad married the two of them and Jesus was lifted high throughout the ceremony. We are excited for the two of them to begin this new journey together & can't wait until we can go on a vacation of some sort with them. We love you Justin & Sarah and pray for God's favor to be upon your marriage for many many beautiful years to come.

Lake Kabetogama 2013

We spent our labor day weekend on Lake Kabetogama (near the Canadian border) with the most wonderfully inspiring group of friends.  Lee and I are the only ones not yet married in the group and so we always enjoy hanging with "the married crew" - talking wedding and marriage and just soaking in all of their advice. We feel so blessed to have been given friends with genuinely, real hearts - a rarity these days.   It was the most relaxing end-of-summer (tear) 4 day long party & we are so thankful to Jared & Beth for the invite!  

P.S. The first picture is a polaroid from Beth's new Instax 210 - a gift I would not mind receiving in the near future ;)