It's official...

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!

we are thrilled, giddy, excited, grateful and CRAZY about each other...so if some of the pictures shown below look a little "smoochy smoochy", get over it! we're in love and don't care who knows it!!

It happened last night, under a full moon, at the griffith observatory. we came equipped with mexican hot cocoa, expecting a chill, but the strangely the weather was super warm. I love the observatory and the setting was more than perfect. we looked at the stars and the city lights and like always, took some pictures of us gazing at the stars and being generally awesome and then before I knew it he was down on one knee, a ring was on my finger and I was shouting YES!

then we made the obvious choice...back to my place to rock it out on the tramp.

there are a lot of "deep throat" pictures, due to our out of control state and a lot of "deep throat" kissing due to our out of control state (sorry mom).

looks like the stars are aligning. maybe there are happy endings...

santa monica stake-girls camp 2008

I know I am posting these MONTHS late. I think I needed time...

I've never had a baby so this is just a guess, but I'm thinking the reason I waited to revisit camp was a little like why you wait between having babies. so you have a baby and as awesome as it must be, it's probably a little hard right? (except for my sister in law who says going to the dentist is worse). but then by some force of divine design you kind of forget how hard it really was, and you start thinking...maybe I want another one.

ya, being in charge of girls camp is a lot like that. I needed time to forget and now all the memories are great!..well.......maybe I need a few more months.

I miss all the girls and the amazing leaders! there is nothing like bonding with a little dirt and grime. being outside most of the day, hearing the bugs at night and seeing the stars before you sleep. hmmmmmm. the food tastes better, you sleep sounder and being dirty just feels good.

here's to being "steadfast and immovable". walk tall ladies.

back home

ke'e beach (end of the road, north shore kauai)

the b-maids. freezing but still fierce.

after a fun week and a half away from home, I am back with some great photos and a fantastic case of jet lag...(yesterday I just could not sleep enough).

more later this week from one of my favorite places on earth, kauai and lisa & dave's wedding in utah.

I went from swimsuits, bare feet and $1 papayas to a snow storm sunday morning on my way to the airport in utah. that would mess anybody up.

haircut today

I am thinking of doing something like this...


..but my hair may be too thick. I will need major thinning. shep work your magic!!

(photos courtesy of urbanoutfitters.com)

rock a hula baby!

as far as my little girl mind can remember my grandma thurston has crushed hard on elvis. I grew up having sleepovers in her bedroom with my mattress on the floor watching blue hawaii. I, along with my cousins, proceeded to buy her elvis lunch boxes, elvis mugs, elvis calendars, elvis clocks, elvis anything!! man it was and is cool to have a grandma who was not afraid of a little hip shaking and rock n roll.

kate and I have spent the last week with her and grandpa steve in kauai. she grew up on oahu and has always been my island grandma. believe it or not this was my FIRST time with her in hawaii. I always imagined her as a teenager in hawaii surfing and lounging around eating papayas......this vacation did not disappoint.

so here is a little video dedicated to gram.

elvis and hawaii will always remind me of my wild, skip bo playing, island grandma!

wanna watch a moodie?

I get to see these little tikes in just a few days. I wished we lived closer to each other. It's hard to only see them once a month, once every two months. with so much time not together, how will I keep my "favorite aunt" status?... I'm thinking gum. lots of gum.

by the way, thanks.

I don't really say enough how much I appreciate all of my loyal blog supporters.

I appreciate you.

with gadgets and wizets and whatchamacallits, internet marketing is hands down the most valuable tool artists have to share and I am grateful for everyone who has believed in my work and ideas enough to trust me with their time.

I love photography and sometimes I have to pinch myself that I get to call it my career.

so keep looking! keep coming! keep supporting! and tell others about me so I can keep doing what I love to do most, create.

xxoo,
rachel

johnny flynn show- hotel cafe

another great show shot for indie rock reviews. watching johnny flynn sing makes me feel like I'm watching the younger brother of a best friend perform and am shocked he has sex appeal and I had never noticed before. why does holding a guitar and producing intoxicating vocals do that? I have been and always will be a roadie at heart. I just want to wipe the sweat off of the stage floor.

show was at the hotel cafe in hollywood.

listen to his irish/english/folkie sound here. (fyi: I think my favorite song of his is "sally")

lisa- extras!!