Samantha K Schmidt

Last week I spent time at a youth camp in Cleveland, Tennessee where a band blasted praise music to more than 1,000 students morning and night. It's always an amazing experience. Music is a great inspiration to me and the many thousands of young people who will get to experience this camp over the next few weeks. One musical discovery was a band called Johnnyswim. The praise band covered a song by them called Hallelujah and the original is definitely worth a listen. This folk duo will sing to your heart and the video will inspire you to do Kingdom Work. The next discovery was a song I've heard before, but it connected in a different way after this week. Needtobreathe's Multiplied has been a favorite among the Christian community for a while, and I must say nothing does this song justice like my good friend Livy's video of her time in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan 2016 from Olivia Taylor on Vimeo . If you liked Livy's work be on the lookout for our collabora

Venue:  October Oaks - Webster, FL Photography:  Jenny Tod - Indianapolis, IN Catering : Cuisine by Michael J - Webster, FL Florist:  Clermont Florist - Clermont, FL Dress: Aurora Unique Bridal Boutique - Melbourne, FL Groom and Groomsmen Attire: JCPenney Bridesmaid Attire: White House Black Market More Photos:  Schmidt 2016 Gallery

Honolulu, Hawaii - Honolulu is a great destination for any couple. The beaches are perfect for the newlyweds who want a calming scene or for those that want a little more adventure. Hotels in the area boast amazing spas as well as thrill-seeking activities. Enjoy a massage or a hike up an active volcano. It also offers all the amenities of a big city without the price tag of going overseas. Trinidad, California  - For the couple looking to spend some time in the quiet outdoors, this small town is the perfect setting. It's nestled in the heart of the Redwood National Forest with hundreds of hiking trails for the amateur and the advanced. The cozy inns are perfect for getting some alone time and the views will blow you away. Santorini  - It may be one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and that's because this Greek island has a little bit of everything. The beautiful beaches and elegant wineries make it the perfect location for relaxation. On the o

I consider myself lucky enough to live in on of the most beautiful states in this country. I boast in sunshine all year long clad in flip flops and tank tops through December, but I've also had to mourn for this state. One month ago 49 people were killed during an innocent night of dancing with friends and family. Our community is still reeling from this tragedy along with many others dealing with the effects of hatred in our nation. This week I went downtown to visit my mom at work and decided to visit the memorial across the street at the Dr. Phillips Center. It was the first time I had gone to any of the memorials and with the flowers wilting away like the lives of those in the nightclub that night, I couldn't help but be touched by the love of those left behind. As some of our lives return to normal or become focused on other events let us not forget this tragedy and remember that hate conquers nothing, but love will always win.

There is a never ending list of things that must be purchased for a wedding or DIYed if you're feeling ambitious. In the same respect, there is a plethora of things you are likely to forget to buy until the last minute. Here is a short list of those forgotten items. A Board for Table Assignments : You've probably remembered the importance of those cute little table numbers and place cards, but you may have forgotten about a place to put a list of table assignments. Unless you want your guests roaming around aimlessly for the first 30 minutes of your reception, its best to create a list to be viewed during cocktail hour. It allows everyone to easily find their seat and keeps your big entrance from being delayed. There are a lot of creative options for displaying your seating chart and it's a quick and easy DIY. Reserved Signs : Believe it or not many of your guests will not be aware of proper etiquette when seating themselves at your wedding ceremony. Unless you have

Last week my husband, my mom, and I visited Chicago for my sister-in-law's wedding. My husband and his family are all from Illinois, so they are used to the visiting this bustling big city, but it was a new experience for my mom and I. We stayed a few days after the wedding to get the most of the big city. Seeing Lake Michigan up close was mind-blowing. This huge lake seems to be never ending and easily mistaken for the ocean by foreigners and children alike. I couldn't resist posting this picture of my husband and his mom behind him, looking super chic waiting to take wedding photos. My mom and I enjoyed the beautiful view from The Signature Room on top of the Hitchcock Building. The hubby snapped some silly pics on our last day together at Navy Pier.

On November 14, 2015 my amazing boyfriend asked me to be his wife and almost immediately gave me the deadline of 5 months to plan and prepare a wedding and merge our two homes. I had known since the beginning of our relationship that he wasn't fond of long engagements and admittedly the sooner I could marry him the happier I would have been; however, I believe he underestimated just how much there is to do in preparation for a wedding. As the wedding day got closer and closer I found my capacity for other processing almost entirely disabled. A normally organized and alert individual, I began to lose track of dates, tasks, and even people's names. The other day I found myself pondering over the name of a coworker for nearly 3 minutes before it finally made its way out of long term memory. I began using the term wedding brain when I realized that like a pregnant woman I was so focused on this monumental change in my life that I seemed to be forgetting little details. The i