Jen, James and I, we go way back. :) Back to jr high actually :) It was quite funny when James emailed me – I hadn’t heard from him in YEARS and all of a sudden he was emailing me about a possible engagement shoot – he was planning on proposing to Jen, which pardon my silliness, I totally didn’t realize they were together! I knew them both separately growing up. Anyway, I kept emailing James back, asking him when he was going to propose – did Jen know that he was planning on doing this? Can I say anything? Did he already propose?? And finally James emails me back saying no, he didn’t propose yet, and he had no idea when he would. lol. He just wanted to book an engagement session with me already! ;)

We did the shoot when they were going to be in So Cal for a wedding, and we had a blast because 1) it was great seeing them again 2) they told me they didn’t want anything traditional – and they wanted something totally unique for the shoot… and 3) which prompted me to bring up the idea of an abandoned hotel. :) I went scouting the day before the shoot by myself and I was freaked out beyond belief! But it was awesome, and I just had to do it. Sometimes the most unusual places make the best shoot locations ;)

But first, we stopped at some trails ;)

The onto the abandoned hotel, where we stopped at the tennis courts first

This was the only open room – I wish the other ones were open! Next time… ;)

We were kind of rushed during the second location because of security issues (plus it was creepy as heck and we were scared of getting caught!), and I kind of want to do another shoot there sometime… I have more exploring I’d like to do there :)

Preparing you for tomorrow’s post :)

Yay! Finally time to post Cathy & Erik’s beautiful day. What can I say about these two? They are Awesome. With a capital A ;) You may remember their amazing engagement session at SeaWorld, which apparently was all a buzz! I knew after doing their shoot that the wedding would be out of this world, and I was right! Right down the last detail (Melanie Chiong did a fabulous job coordinating it all, of course!), it was perfection. :) I really had to try and restraint myself from posting TOO many photos, and while there is already a lot, I couldn’t bear take any more out of the post than I already had!

The wedding was held at the Bahia Hotel Resort, with the reception on the William D Evans Sternwheelers Boat. They had a popcorn bar (fun!), got to see the fireworks from SeaWorld, and can I just say how much I love her bridal socks? Yes I do :)

Cathy & Erik, thank YOU for allowing me to capture these beautiful moments for you, you are both beautiful, inside and out ;)

Their expressions from him pulling out a rubber snake instead of a garter is classic ;)

And the night wouldn’t have been complete without a little fun in the photobooth :)

wedding coordination . melanie chiong . something blue weddings.
flowers . tessilk.
dj . daniel peterson . disco friend.
makeup . maggie hansen.
hair . teresa piazza.
officiant . jerry bryant.
photobooth . red cheese.

Serious love. Can’t wait to show more :) And can’t wait for our trash the dress next week! :D :D

re: planning a bridal shower.
Is not easy when you’re not even in the same town as the bridal shower location! My wonderful friend Cynthia is getting married next month and I am maid of honor! So it’s interesting being on the other side of things, if at least I’m just the maid of honor and not the bride. :) This next month should be fun (and busy!) though :D

re: old navy.
Why are the guys clothes/colors/patterns better than the girls stuff?! The sandals above are from the guys section!! If I didn’t have freakishly tiny feet, I would’ve gotten the red/white pair.

re: so you think you can dance.
Wow, Will is gone already! I’m surprised but I’m not. He doesn’t have as large as a fan base as the other dancers. It’s obvious that the judges are biased towards Katee and want her to win. Which she will. I think she’s a great dancer, but she isn’t my fave. My fave is already gone (Gev!)

I think over all the seasons though, Travis Wall my fave. Overall the best dancer, performer, flawless (in my eyes) and most lovable. I miss watching him on TV, but thank goodness for YouTube. :) I love his solos. Gah!

re: myers briggs personality types.
You may have had to take this in high school, and it basically told you 4 letters describing your “personality type” but it’s really more of a “how I approach the world around me.” I’m an ENFP, and reading the descriptions about me make total sense. If anything, it helps my put in perspective why I do and think the way I do. And know that I am not alone :) Plus, it really helps embrace ourselves in the way we are, rather than comparing, knowing that we’re all just different. :) Reading this particular first person description is pretty darn eerie cause it describes me so well! I am always striving to help people find the potential in themselves, and it is really easy for me to make discoveries and start projects, but hard to follow up on them! You should take the test and see what it says about you. :) What is your personality type?

re: inspiration.
Stop animation is amazing. I love it. :)

Happy 3rd (21st in doggie years) birthday, my little guy :)

The birthday photos below are from his 1st birthday two years ago. Yes, I baked him a cake. :) You can find the recipe below.

P.S. Look how old and gray he looks now compared to two years ago! Ahh, he’s getting to be an old man ;)

He’s such a good boy :)

Peanut Butter Carrot Cake

1 cup flour*
1tsp baking soda
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup honey
1 egg

Mix flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into greased 8″ round cake pan and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Let cool. Puree cottage cheese* in blender for icing. Decorate with more peanut butter and carrots.

* I used wheat & gluten free flour and cream cheese instead of cottage

It is NOT easy to pipe with peanut butter!

These were taken out our window back in 2005. It was a crazy storm here in San Diego, and it was 3am, and at first I was scared, but then I got REALLY excited when I realized I could be photographing this instead of freaking out! :) So I did :)

Gromit turns 3 this weekend, and I thought it would be appropriate to post a photo of the early days. This was the first night he spent with us – he was pretty darn passed out about 2 hours after he came to his new home. :)

I swear, I will have more up soooon!!!

(On Highway 1 near Big Sur, back in November 2006)

I admit, growing up, I didn’t do a lot of traveling. My family members were strictly homebodies, namely my parents. I know they both worked really hard to make our lives easier, better than theirs were growing up. And for that I am grateful.

However, I do wish we traveled more growing up. The places I only really got to see were San Francisco… and San Francisco. Chinatown, namely. We went to Chinatown so directly (because of relatives) that until I was about 10 or so, I thought that San Francisco was completely an Asian/Chinese city. lol Imagine my surprise when we ventured outside the confines of the oldest Chinatown in the US. You mean, non-Asians live in San Francisco too?!

I’ve recently discovered a few blogs that featured talented (non-professional) photographers and their travels. The blog isn’t only about their travels, but I happened to stumble upon the time when they were traveling. Their wide-eyed openess of the world draws me in, as well as their photography and I am so incredibly curious about their discoveries.

That’s what it is all about, right? Discoveries?

There’s something about new places, faces, light, culture, landscape. It’s that feeling when you were a child and you would watch the light dance on the wall from the window by the tree. That feeling when you would dig in the dirt and find a gorgeous rock. Discoveries, something to treasure. We need to make more of them, and see them everyday in our lives. In a way, it makes us feel more alive. :)

Needless to say, Melanie makes a stunning bride. :) Can’t wait to show more soon. :)

Finally! Hazel & Kurtis’ amazing wedding. :) You may remember them from their engagement session at UC Davis, and it was time for their big day :) The ceremony was held at St. Therese of Carmel and the reception at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, which is so rustic and gorgeous! Rachel Semanisin did an amazing job coordinating all the little details and keeping it all together :)

Hazel & Kurtis, you two are beautiful souls, and thank you for opening your world to me. :) Many blessings to you both and Gromit says hi ;)

ceremony . st. therese of carmel.
reception . rancho bernardo inn.
coordinator . rachel semaninsin.
florist . martha torres.
dj . kayella entertainment . nick zabel.
video . ronnie cardel.

re: blog & client galleries server.
I made the annoucement yesterday, but the next few days might be rocky with the blog and client galleries because I’m changing servers and domain stuff, but I will keep you all updated! I will try and hold off on important blog posts until it’s all done, but I know there are a few people really anxious to see some more teasers from their weddings/engagements :)
re:  iphone 3g.
Hello my new friend! You make my life easier yet harder at the same time. ;) The photo above was actually taken with the new iphone, I’m really quite pleased with the camera quality (considering that it’s a phone!) especially since my point and shoot camera is somewhere on the east coast still. :( :(

P.S. Don’t try and drive and take pictures with the phone, it’s actually quite hard to take a photo one handed on that thing ;P

re: sytycd.
Aww, my fave guy Gev is gone. :( Makes me sad. I think final two might be Will & Katee actually, if it’s not two guys. Makes me mad though, my DVR didn’t record the performance episode! :(

re:  impulse shopper.
That is so me. And I’m knocking myself over the head for not making sure that my most recent purchase was Mac compatible before toting it home. :( I hate returning items!

 re: inspiration.
A la Jesh de Rox:

it is not what we do that makes something work or play, exciting or boring, it is the degree to which we are *experiencing* what we are doing.

i challenge you to look around the room you’re in right now. or go to your living room, look at what is there, choose something and interact with it in a way you never have before. jump off your couch, see how far you can make it. throw a pillow at your partner as they enter the room (gently ; ). next time you’re going to the fridge to get something to eat, close your eyes and rely completely on your hands to do the choosing.

the world, my friends,,, is a playground, and there’s so much there that we haven’t yet explored. 

*

Ah, jumping off things in the living room. I remember jumping off my friend’s staircase onto her couch repeatedly when we were in jr high. It was so fun!

Mmmm I remember that feeling. The rush of air through my face as I flew through the air. That was the experience I loved about it.

Have you jumped off anything today? ;)

For the next two days (max – I’m hoping) my blog and client galleries will be down due to server and domain changes. My email will still be working fine, it’s just going to be the blog and client galleries :) Thanks for your patience!