I can't believe it. I turn 30 in just a few, short days. I'm told that being in your thirties is great, but I gotta be honest: I'm scared. I kinda feel like a real adult now... ahh!

Part of being an adult is making decisions for yourself. One thing I said I wanted to do more of in 2015 is take weekend getaways, and that's exactly what Cliff and I did to celebrate! We stayed at the Elk Forge Bed and Breakfast in Elkton, Maryland, and had a weekend completely devoted to... us. It was wonderful! Maybe being an adult isn't so bad after all ;)

Late last year, a friend and fellow photographer, Brad, came to visit. We've been friends for years and decided to take the opportunity to explore some of our nation's history. We were lucky enough to visit Mt. Vernon, home to our first President, George Washington, a crisp winter day. 

A year ago this month, Cliff and I took the vacation of a lifetime to Iceland. We loved it. Words can't describe the rugged beauty this country offers. I only hope the photos speak for themselves. (p.s. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the post for a slideshow of the eruption of Geysir!)

Washingtonians search for the first signs of springs not in sunny weather, but in beautiful buds that grace the tops of trees. For more than a century, cherry blossoms in this area have marked the end of winter and the beginning of bright, new things to come.

But they are more than just nature's way of marking the transition from one season to the next. Cherry blossoms have become iconic here. Each year, thousands travel to D.C. hoping to catch a glimpse of their beauty -- and Cliff and I are no different.

It has become tradition for us to stroll among the trees, take in their radiance and awe at their elegance. Year after year, I find myself more in love with these trees and everything they stand for. Originally given as gifts of friendship from the Japanese government, the trees now represent peace, love, harmony, hope, and life.

No matter how many times I see them, I am continually amazed at the ways they take my breath away. Their magnificence never grows old.

It is sometimes difficult to find the words to describe just how much this place means to me. Nebraska is home, but it is so much more than that. It's rugged beauty brings comfort and joy. It's sunsets are some of the most beautiful in the world. And it's people? They are my family and friends. Nebraska will always hold a special place in my heart because it is part of who I am, and part of who I hope to be.

Don't know me? Don't worry. Here are two important facts: I love cats and I'm from Nebraska.

That's right: I'm proud of my midwest, corn-husking roots. To most, Nebraska is one of those boring fly-over states on the way to somewhere more exciting. But for me and the 3 million people who live there, it's a hidden gem, a treasure trove of amazing people and incredible places.

One of those places is our beloved State Capitol Building--the first state capitol building purposely designed to be drastically different from the greco-roman style of the U.S. Capitol Building. 

It isn't just the exterior that captures one's imagination. Inside, the building offers an array of art and artifacts found nowhere else on earth. That's because the imbedded wall paintings and mosaic tiling depict our state's history--all of it. We're talking tens of millions of years worth of history.

(Don't stop reading now--this stuff is fascinating!)

During the late Cretaceous period, the majority of the state was covered by water. Eventually that prehistoric ocean receded, leaving behind its sandy bottom.  Overtime, the Sandhills--made famous by our state authors Willa Cather and Mari Sandoz--were born. 

To show off this marvelous feat of time and evolution, the creators of the Capitol commissioned artists to include Nebraska's prehistoric creatures into the makeup of the building--literally. Not only do the mosaic tile floors have pictures of Plesiosauria, but the marble used to create the floors contain the fossils of mollusks, ammonites and plankton.

Other artwork within the building depicts the life of Native Americans who once lived and hunted on the plains, as well as the American pioneers who migrated west searching for a better life. With so much history and so much art, it's no wonder I love this place. 

Read more tantalizing facts about Nebraska and our State Capitol below:

• Although Nebraska's Capitol Building is a statehouse, Nebraskans don't refer to it as such. In fact, it wasn't until I moved to Washington, D.C. that I learned other states do not refer to their state houses as capitols. 
• Nebraska is the only state in the union with a unicameral--that is, a single body of government.
• Construction of the Capitol Building started in 1922 and took 10 years to complete. The cost: nearly $10 million.
• The statue on top of the Capitol is called The Sewer. He stands 19 feet tall and faces Northwest, sewing his seeds over the rest of the state.
• The Capitol is 400 feet tall and boasts 4 outdoor courtyards that are only accessible from inside of the building.
• Today, the building is extremely secure--so secure that one can get locked inside while taking photographs. (um, yeah, that was me. If the good Samaratin who let me out is reading this, thank you! As much as I adore this building, I really didn't want to spend the night there).

Want to see the building for yourself? You can book a tour and learn even more here.

For me, 2013 will always be regarded as monumental. It is, after all, the year my nephew, Miles, was born; the year Cliff and I took the trip of a lifetime to Iceland; and the year I launched jh Photography and this website. I have so much to be thankful for. Below are some of my personal best and personal favorite photos from 2013. [don't forget to scroll down to see the geyser slideshow!]

FEBRUARY | PHILLY

APRIL | WASHINGTON, DC + CHERRY BLOSSOMS

JULY | CONNECTICUT + MEETING MY NEPHEW

AUGUST | ICELAND

OCTOBER | LAUNCH OF JHPHOTOGRAPHY

DECEMBER | MT VERNON

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the cool, crisp air, the comfort of knowing the holidays are just around the corner and, of course, the colors. Living near Washington, D.C., I'm blessed with access to some of the country's most preserved and beautiful forests, and a few weekends ago, I went hiking in  search of the colorful bounty nature has to offer.

The trees found at Turkey Run, along the Capitol Crescent Trail and bordering the Potomac River did not disappoint.