Sisters

How was everyone's Christmas? Ours was eventful with all of the family together and then Kate's wedding on the 26th. Busy, busy.

As part Christmas gift and part wedding gift to my sisters I had these bracelets made for us. Since Anna had to miss the wedding since she is in the MTC we wanted to have something we could all wear on the wedding day to connect us. Mine read "1 of 3", Kate's, "2 of 3" and Ann's, "3 of 3". I love them SO much (my sisters and the bracelets).

I found the amazing Wire Lady on Etsy. Go here to order your own custom wire twisted jewelry!

Fresh Balsam

This season we bought a Noble pine tree but it never hurts to have a little extra piny help. Bath and Body Works has the BEST smelling "Fresh Balsam" scent. We have this candle and the antibacterial soap in our bathroom. I feel like I live in a Christmas forest.

Have a great weekend loves. What are your weekend before Christmas plans? I have a fun 60's photo shoot this morning and maybe going to Disneyland tonight. Early family Christmas party on Saturday and then teaching a lesson on Sunday on the TRUE reason we celebrate Christmas....then maybe a Sunday afternoon nap? xo.

Kauai- Part 3- Where to Stay

The north shore of Kauai is my location of choice, preferably in the Princeville community. I have stayed in many different condos/apartments/villas within the community but my favorite development by far as been the Villas of Kamalii. The one I found for Grant and I was my favorite unit within the villas. It Is unit #51 which the owners lovingly call "The Rainbow Connection" and once you check out the views from the lanai, you'll know why.

Coming from our humble 520 square feet abode, it really felt gigantic. The kitchen was beautiful and clean and equipped with a vita mix blender! There were two huge flat screen TV's, 30 second walk to the pool, hot tub and grill and the most amazing viewing from the lanai. Seriously we just sat out there and stared.

I am totally plugging this place, because if you ever need a place to stay on the north shore Adria and Louanne were great to work with and their villa beautiful.

You can find more information on renting this unit here.

Bird And Banner

My sister in law, who lives in Philadelphia, shared with me the amazing design work of
Bird And Banner...

Letterpressed wood invitations?! Yes please.

Amara Bliss Yoga Retreat

(Photos borrowed off of Amara Bliss's site)

How amazing would it be to stay in that adorable yellow hotel and wake up everyday to mediate and do yoga?!

Sounds amazing to me.

My friend (and one of my former brides!) Lisa, is one of the instructors for an amazing week long yoga retreat in San Pancho, in Nayarit, Mexico.

Go here and check out Amara Bliss Yoga Retreat website to get all the details.

I would love to go and will if I can figure out how to squeeze it into my schedule.

It sounds dreamy to lay in savasana ocean side and have an instructor rub my temples or straiten my spine. dreamy.

Are You Happy?

Bought this here a couple of weeks ago.

Seems like a good question. It never hurts to be reminded that if you aren't happy you have the choice to change something. I firmly believe true happiness is a choice, and now I can look at a pretty piece of art to remind myself.

Fan Club

I made this wee little book for my sister to take with her on her mission.

It is 5x5in (the perfect size to fit.. anywhere really. I wanted her to be able to keep it close). It has photos of all of the fan club members and words of encouragement.

Really I think the best part is the corner stripes on the front and back covers (Italian flag colors), which were Grant's idea. It pays to have a creative brainstormer in the next room.

Anna Wolf

I am inspired by her work.

I will shoot more editorial and commercial fashion work this next year...mark my words.

Love the light and tranquility in this video. I love the movement. I want to make short films from my photoshoots....hmmmm...

Anna Wolf for Untitled Magazine from anna wolf on Vimeo.

nice

saw this the other day on design sponge and kind of loved everything about it. all the cool tones w/ the brass owls...LOVE myself some flat filers. there are always great ones at the pasadena rose bowl. I need to pick one up once I have an extra inch of space.

yellow ranunculus

(don't know where I found this photo, just know I can't take credit)

I think my sister should have a bouquet of yellow ranunculus for her wedding. don't you? and I would like to wear one in my hair to match, thank you very much.

I am in glorious portland oregon this weekend to shoot what I'm sure will be an amazing loved filled wedding. I even brought along my favorite assistant, granty pants. so much to post next week, including mandy and brian's wedding that took place in san diego and three arch bay in laguna beach. tons of delicious images.

now I need to go explore portland. any good food recommendations? I'm so sure....I just ate breakfast and I am already planning lunch. I should have married food.

the one and only

this may be a really weird thing to post about, but I was at office max late last night buying some last minute office necessities, and looked for my all time favorite pen. NOT TO BE FOUND. I'm sure I will be able to find them somewhere else, but it really got be thinking....what would my life be like without these?

It has to be medium point bic and NOT the clear ones, WHITE body (is it called a body?...I don't really want to call it a shaft) and must be blue ink. black ink pens make me kind of sad, UNLESS it's a black sharpie, which makes me happy.

I just really love them, and have for years.

oh, and I am also obsessed with canned air. I have four cans of it sitting on my desk at this very moment.

what office supplies can you not live without? I need to know what else to had to my list.

lykke li

two great songs.
the sound of "dance dance dance" is matching my mood perfect today...and the light in "little bit" is putting me in a trance.

feelings

g and I saw this a couple of nights ago. I liked it, I did...but for some reason it also made me feel a little teary. this could be for many reasons one being I am a girl and like to get teary around the same time every month. I talked it out with g after the movie and this a short list of things that watching brought out in me:

• a deep desire for my nyc
• furthered my itch to live in europe
• made me really want to go to culinary school (the french culinary school in ny to be exact)
• am I living up to my full potential?
• I make a lot of mistakes
• nervous that if I wait too long I might never be able to bear children.
• I would love a WAY nicer kitchen (I think about this daily).
• do I feed other people enough?
• what's my storybook ending?
• am I ok accepting and recognizing my own success without the validation of others?
• I want to write/compile a book.
  
• I'm pretty sure one of my best skills is eating. I am growing in front of your very eyes!
• there is something about the act of "creating". nothing is more satisfying. whether it be the act of seeing , composing, capturing with my camera or growing, stirring and eating. magic!!!! complete magic. I think if I had a nice garden I could eat out of, meal time would make me cry with happiness. thank you earth. thank you sunshine. thank you for the ability to see and create.

after this post movie rant, g wrapped his arm around me and told me he loved me. then we walked arm in arm back to the little blue house. despite all my never ending questions and earnings for more, I have something I never have to question...and every time his arm wraps around me and he looks at me with those eyes that say, "you're crazy, and I love that crazy", I am reminded.

with g my questions feel safe. how awesome is that?!

the end.

addiction dance

best piece of the whole season. hands down.

I woke up today

my latest song obsession.
such a good listen cruising over clouds or first thing in the morning.

turn it up loud and let your hair loose.

picture perfect

(click image to enlarge)

one of my favorite little fashion blogs (and the rest of the worlds) is Scott Schuman's, the Sartorialist. I saw this little "how to" here and thought it was hilarious.

"put on a scarf"....too funny. too true.

pretty

(images by arthur elgort found here)

I'm generally not drawn towards studio or bw images but when I saw these in vogue a while back I was mesmerized.

I really liked how very common wedding poses are made more editorial with great styling. the exaggerated netting and simple makeup is spot on!

love arthur elgorts photography. check out his dance images. you won't regret.

fight

(via paper tissue)

last week when I was sick I watched eternal sunshine of the spotless mind...a haunting movie about memory, loss, and ultimately the fight to remember what we never want to forget.

I saw this image and it reminded me of that movie.

this fear is probably one of the reasons I became a photographer. I never want to forget anything...good or bad. I hold on till my hands are bleeding. one of my greatest strengths and weaknesses all wrapped up in one.

I want everything forever.......at least I can admit it.

no rain, no rainbows

I wish all event planning revolved around the best light. dream.
this commercial just makes me happy.

shoots raw

how beautiful is this camera?

when I go to the leica website I want every camera. this is a limited edition camera, so I have no idea whether it's even still available...but it got me thinking..

..aren't you suppose to give and receive gifts on the 1st day of summer?

husband, let's start summer right.

(sorry I know a few of my posts lately have been about "things" I need...OK! want. there is just so much goodness I want for my own! I've spent an hour on b&h photo today and amazon filling up my shopping carts. some of the items I really do NEED, I promise.)