A few months ago I got an itch to travel. Something in my soul needed time away. I really wanted a change. I needed to see new things, smell new smells, and ultimately get a fresh perspective. I ask Niko to entertain the idea of taking a short birthday trip and to my delight, he […]

I may be the face and name of this photography business but Kate Mannella Photography has always been a team. There is no way I could run this monster without my husband and because it’s Valentine’s Day, it seemed like the perfect time to share the impact Niko has on what we do.   Five […]

I often get asked for advice about how to keep a marriage healthy. I meet a lot of newly engaged couples, and I’m always delighted when that question is asked. It’s so encouraging when a couple is proactive about building a strong marriage before their wedding day. Niko and I have only been married for […]

I’m restless. Eyes open. Heart Fluttering. Brain moving a mile a minute. This is my normal. I’m a thinker, a dreamer, and a planner. While my husband surrenders to dreamland, I lay beside him dreaming awake. It’s just what I do. Last May I wrote a blog post called Waiting Well. In the post I […]

I love reading, but I’ve never had a reading goal until 2017. I thought I’d start out slowly, giving myself an attainable goal. I hoped to read 15 books last year. It was surprisingly easy. I didn’t make reading a priority. I just read when I wanted to. If you love reading and are looking […]

“Does the New Year mean anything to you?” Niko called to me from the kitchen while I watched the news in the living room. “What do you mean?” I asked in a less than pleasant tone. I knew what he meant. For the past couple days I was showing symptoms of growing frustration and he […]

I fell in love with my husband during our first date as an official dating couple. I know what you’re going to say… “That’s too early to fall in love with someone,” but since we are approaching the anniversary of that day, let me tell you how it went down.

As I write this, I’m sitting in bed with a sleepy husband dozing beside me. I know I should be sleeping too but, as a creative and an internal processor, you just can’t predict when the call to write is going to sneak up on you. I’ve learned by now when you feel the urge to write, you don’t ask questions. You stop whatever you’re doing and write.