Tuesday, December 30, 2008

wanderlust


I have always been romanced by the idea of living on the road. being in a different place every night, covering miles of road, playing cards in bed to the sound of crickets. My obsession has been with buying an airstream for quite some time, but then I came across this little beauty on apartment therapy. LOVE! not sure where the bathroom is...minor detail! I WANT!

I am not really into "buy us gifts for our wedding", BUT if anyone wants to buy us this I will humbly accept.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

countdown


when we were 90 days until the wedding, I had an idea....paper chain!!

neither of us could remember the last time we had made one, but kindergarten was ringing bells. so after the cutting and counting we each took 45 rings and wrote down the reasons why we are excited to marry the other person. I know you are thinking that is the number 1 most cheesy gaga thing to do, because it is....BUT taking turns tearing rings off every night and being reminded why we love each other and why we are choosing to be together has been an amazing exercise in being present and focusing on the most important part of wedding planning...each other.


huzzah!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

merry christmas to you

I almost gave up on christmas this year, when my sponge cake didn't rise, my sweet potatoes just tasted "ok", I couldn't be with ALL my family and the traffic was bad.....but once grant started lip syncing mariah carey's "all I want for christmas is you", I took christmas back. I didn't even last an hour with christmas on the outs.

christmas story:

I was walking to my local trader joes a week or so before christmas and I saw a friendly middle aged women walking towards me with a long red poncho on. As we passed our eyes meet and just when I thought the usual "smile through the eyes" would suffice she greeted me with a bright "good morning and merry christmas!" I was slightly taken back and tried to return the greeting before it was too late. It really brightened my day. small, simple, barely any effort at all, still it made me feel part of something. I realized I often take the easy way out when it comes to showing extra effort and I continued the day trying to do more than just nod.

connect more. take chances. be friendly even if you feel you are the only one. forgive. try to stop "checking off the list" and take moments to see something, hear something, smell something. make eye contact. tell the people you love that you do... even if it's hard or awkward. don't wait. be the "man on wire". beauty doesn't always have to make sense or have a reason. start living everyday.

these are the things I wish for myself and everyone I love.

merry christmas! joy to the world!

xo.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

balboa island wedding











































I know this post isn't very christmasy, but I have been working on this wedding and was excited to final get some of my favorites online.

the ceremony was in an amazing church right on balboa island and the reception at the beautiful balboa bay club in newport beach.

happy christmas eve day!

(due to the request of the bride, I have posted only detail shots)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

heather underwater









mark loaned me his underwater casing and boy do I wish I had a photo of the casing! it looked like something suited for spaceships in the 1950's. it was amazing. we headed out into waimea bay and I learned that underwater photography would be much easier if the water wasn't moving. being hit by waves and pointing the space age camera contraption in any direction gave some interesting results. heather was a great sport and as I proceeded to slowly drown her. I love her red hair against the green of the water. wowzas!

I should really buy a underwater casing since I live in beach land. would anybody be up for a underwater shoot? if so email me at rachel@rachelthurston.com