The Dreams We Whisper to Ourselves
NAPERVILLE - WHEATON - GLEN ELLYN - ELMHURST - GENEVA - ST. CHARLES - BARRINGTON - BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHER
Happy Sunday my friend!
Well, this week certainly kept us on our toes!
Last weekend, our dear friends, the D'Agostinos, spent Saturday evening with us, and we turned the kitchen into our own little Italian cooking class. We made homemade gnocchi, Laura's incredible brown butter thyme sauce (you'll find that recipe later in this newsletter), and her great-great-grandfather's famous pasta sauce. Sadly, that recipe remains a closely guarded family secret! There was plenty of flour on the counters, wine in our glasses, and lots of laughter around the table. It was one of those evenings that reminds you how special it is to slow down and simply enjoy good friends.
Monday's plans looked a little different than expected. We had to postpone one of our Senior Model shoots while my sweet Delaney continued to recover from not feeling well. Thankfully, she's finally on the mend, and I'm so grateful to see her feeling more like herself again.
The rest of the week quickly filled itself in with two newborn sessions, a senior portrait session, our long-awaited Senior Model shoot at a beautiful horse farm (you'll find all the behind-the-scenes fun below!), and on Friday evening, our family gathered to celebrate my nephew's wedding. Last night, we ended the week the best way I know how—with dessert, wine, and catching up with dear friends, including welcoming our friend Renee back home.
It was one of those weeks that felt wonderfully full. Busy, yes, but filled with the kinds of moments I never want to rush through.
As I was reflecting on everything this week held, I found myself thinking about the dreams we carry with us throughout our lives...which brings me to this week's essay.
Soft Focus: The Dreams We Whisper to Ourselves
When I was eleven or twelve years old, I used to lie awake wondering what my life would become.
Not tomorrow.
Years from now.
Who would I become?
What would I do?
What kind of life would I build?
Every summer, my parents would drop my sister and me off at my grandparents' little house in southern Illinois. To most children today, it would probably sound unbearably boring.
There were no electronics. No endless entertainment. During the hottest part of the day, the oppressive summer heat kept us indoors. The house itself was quiet.
Wonderfully quiet.
Looking back now, I realize what a gift that was.
There was time to think.
Time to imagine.
Time to become acquainted with the person you were long before the world told you who you ought to be.
I remember one afternoon in particular. I was lying on top of the bedspread in the middle of the day, staring at the ceiling, wondering what my future might hold.
And I had a thought that felt too big to say out loud.
Maybe someday I'll write a book.
For just a moment, I let myself imagine it.
Then, almost as quickly as the dream appeared, another voice interrupted.
Don't be ridiculous.
You're not even good at English.
And it was true.
English—and quite frankly, school—were never my forte. I wasn't the student teachers pointed to as an example. Writing a book felt like something other people did. People smarter than me. More talented than me.
So I quietly tucked that dream away.
Then I'd imagine something else.
Maybe I'd become an artist.
Or an architect.
Or a designer.
I was always drawn to beauty.
To creating something that hadn't existed before.
Then, like so many young girls, my thoughts would drift somewhere entirely different. My mind has always been drawn to possibility.
The man I would someday marry.
Strangely enough, I never imagined what he looked like.
That part didn't seem important.
Instead, I imagined how he would make me feel.
Kind.
Steady.
Someone who loved his family.
Someone who made home feel safe.
I didn't know his name.
I didn't know where he lived.
I simply hoped someone like that existed.
Though I have to admit, if that little girl could see him now, she'd probably be delighted to know she ended up with a remarkably handsome man, too.
As for that husband...
I smile every time I think about him.
Because without realizing it, I somehow described Dan long before I ever met him.
Kind.
Strong.
Steady.
The sort of man who makes everyone around him feel safe.
The sort of man who quietly builds a life instead of talking about one.
Looking back, I realize so many of the dreams I've been fortunate enough to live weren't accomplished alone. They were built beside someone who believed in me, often before I fully believed in myself.
He has celebrated every victory, steadied me through every disappointment, and gently encouraged dreams that I might have otherwise talked myself out of.
If this life is more beautiful than that little girl could have imagined, so much of that beauty has been built together.
Looking back now, I find myself smiling at that little girl.
Not because every dream unfolded exactly the way she imagined.
It didn't.
Life has never followed a straight line.
There have been disappointments.
Failures.
Heartbreaks.
Dreams that quietly slipped away.
And seasons I never would have chosen.
Even today, our family—beautiful as it is from the outside—isn't untouched by hardship. Every family carries private burdens. Every person has chapters that belong only to them. Some stories are ours to tell, and others are meant to remain sacred.
That doesn't make our lives less beautiful.
It simply makes them real.
But somehow...
The heart of what that little girl hoped for found its way into my life.
I became an artist.
Not in the way I imagined, perhaps, but through photography.
For more than thirty years, I've had the privilege of creating photographs for other families while slowly discovering my own artistic voice along the way.
And the book?
Well...
I'm writing one.
I don't know where it will lead.
Maybe nowhere.
Maybe farther than I ever imagined.
But for the first time since I was twelve years old, I'm no longer telling myself I'm not good enough before I've even begun.
Sometimes I wonder about that little conversation I had with myself all those years ago.
Maybe it was simply the imagination of a young girl lying on her grandparents' bed on a hot summer afternoon.
Or maybe there really is something powerful about holding a dream in your heart for so many years that your life slowly begins to grow in its direction.
I honestly don't know.
But I do know our thoughts matter.
The stories we tell ourselves matter.
The possibilities we allow ourselves to believe matter.
Maybe that's what growing older has taught me.
Not that every childhood dream comes true.
But that the dreams that quietly stay with us—the ones that return year after year despite our doubts—are often trying to tell us something about who we already are.
Not predictions.
Directions.
Little breadcrumbs leading us toward the life we were always meant to build.
So if there's a dream you've carried since you were a child...
One you've talked yourself out of because you didn't feel talented enough, smart enough, brave enough, or young enough...
Maybe it's worth listening to again.
Not because wishing alone changes a life.
It doesn't.
Life still asks us to work, to persevere, to fail, to begin again.
But dreams have a curious way of pulling us forward if we're willing to take even the smallest step toward them.
When I was twelve years old, I believed I wasn't good enough to become a writer.
And yet, every Sunday morning, people pour a cup of coffee and spend part of their weekend reading words that once lived only inside my heart.
The book isn't what will make me a writer.
The writing already did.
I think twelve-year-old Alicia would be surprised by that.
I hope she'd also be proud.
And maybe, just maybe, she'd smile, close her eyes, and keep dreaming.
*This essay and more can be read on my Our Cozy Compound substack
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
Inspiring Follow: @CastleImpossible
This week's recommendation is one I can't stop talking about!
Our good friends, the D'Agostinos, introduced us to Castle Impossible while they were visiting last week. In fact, Laura made us sit down and watch the very first episode together. I was hooked.
I've since binge-watched both available seasons while editing photos and can't wait for the next one.
The series follows Daphne and Ian, a sweet, hardworking couple who unexpectedly inherit Daphne's grandfather's château in France—along with more than $1 million in French inheritance taxes. Instead of walking away, they roll up their sleeves and get to work, slowly transforming the castle into a wedding venue, filming location, tea room, and more.
I love that they're willing to do the hard work themselves, and it's impossible not to root for them.
If you enjoy beautiful old homes, France, restoration projects, or simply watching genuinely kind people chase an impossible dream, I highly recommend adding Castle Impossible to your watch list on HBO Max—and be sure to follow them on Instagram and YouTube, too!
What I’m Loving: Ralph Lauren Floral Diamond Shaped Silk Scarf
I have officially fallen back in love with silk scarves.
This Ralph Lauren Floral Diamond Silk Scarf has been on repeat lately, and I keep finding new ways to wear it. Around my neck with a simple white tee, tied onto my handbag, or even in my hair on those days when it's doing its own thing.
What really sold me, though, are the wavy, ruffled edges. They give it just enough softness and movement without feeling fussy, and the floral pattern is classic Ralph Lauren—timeless without feeling stuffy.
It's one of those little accessories that somehow makes even jeans and a button-down feel effortlessly pulled together.
Local-ish: Guillotine Bakery
If you love France as much as I do, you need to add Guillotine Bakery in Chicago to your list.
They've only been open since June 17, and they've been so wildly popular that they've already had to adjust their hours to Thursday through Sunday and temporarily limit pastries because they're selling out faster than they can make them. Honestly, I love seeing a small business succeed like that.
What makes me love them even more? If you read last week's newsletter, you might remember I featured Mindy's Bakery. Well, Mindy's was so impressed with Guillotine that they not only recommended them—they even opened their kitchen so Guillotine could continue baking while their own space was being finished. I think that speaks volumes.
Everything we've tried has been incredible, but my favorite is the Jambon Fromage Baguette. Oh là là...it's absolutely worth the drive.
If you're craving a little taste of France without boarding a plane, this is your place.
1711 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Studio Happenings
This week's Class of 2027 Senior Model shoot was one we've all been looking forward to...mostly because Mother Nature made us wait for it! After rescheduling twice because of storms, extreme heat, and poor air quality, we were beyond grateful to be greeted with sunshine, temperatures in the 70s, and the kind of weather every Chicago Senior Photographer dreams about.
Our team started the morning in the studio with hair and makeup while Delaney, Renee and Katie worked their styling, sair and makeup magic. Then we headed to a beautiful horse farm in Winnebago, Illinois, for an unforgettable afternoon creating high school senior pictures with three of our amazing Senior Models.
The horses were absolutely incredible, but one in particular stole the show. Harvey was a natural in front of the camera! Every time I raised my camera, he lifted his head, perked up his ears, and posed like he'd been modeling his entire life. I may have photographed as much of Harvey as I did the girls!
The miniature horses were an unexpected highlight, too. They were sweet, curious, and impossible not to fall in love with. Between the beautiful horses, rustic barns, weathered fences, and wide-open countryside, it was the perfect setting for timeless senior pictures. Something outside of Naperville and very unique!
Days like this remind me why I love creating unique experiences for our Senior Models. Every session is designed to be so much more than a photo shoot—it's about making memories, building confidence, and celebrating this exciting season of life.
Now comes the fun (and very time-consuming!) part...editing. Between our Oregon Senior Model adventure and this week's farm session, I have lots of beautiful senior portraits waiting for me. I can't wait to start sharing them with you. I have a feeling these are going to be some of my favorite images of the year.
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
My sweet friend Laura made this for us while she and her husband Don were visiting last weekend, and I knew after one bite it had to find its way into this newsletter. It's simple, elegant, and one of those recipes that feels like something you'd order at a little trattoria tucked away in the Italian countryside.
The brown butter and fresh thyme are pure magic together. Thank you, Laura, for introducing us to another recipe we'll be making for years to come.
Recipe adapted from Giada De Laurentiis.
Gnocchi with Brown Butter & Thyme
Serves: 4
Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1½ pounds russet potatoes (about 2 medium)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1 large egg, lightly beaten
¼ cup shaved Pecorino Romano cheese
Instructions
In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat until it turns golden brown and smells nutty, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the thyme leaves. Set aside.
Pierce the potatoes all over with a fork and microwave until fork-tender, turning once, about 12 minutes. While still warm, cut in half and scoop the flesh into a potato ricer (or mash until very smooth). Spread the potatoes out in a bowl to let the steam escape.
Add the salt, pepper, and flour, gently tossing to combine. Make a well in the center, add the beaten egg, and mix just until a dough forms. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead 4–5 times, just until smooth.
Divide the dough into four pieces. Roll each into a rope about ½-inch thick, then cut into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece over a gnocchi board or the tines of a fork to create grooves. Dust lightly with flour.
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the gnocchi until they float to the surface, then continue cooking for another 2–3 minutes until tender.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the gnocchi directly into the warm brown butter sauce and gently toss to coat.
Divide among shallow bowls, top with shaved Pecorino Romano, and serve immediately.
Pair with a simple green salad and a loaf of crusty bread for a meal that feels effortlessly Italian.
with love and light,
Alicia Staley Johnson
of Alicia’s Photography
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