Our 2nd Anniversary!

This is us November 27th, 2007!

Out of the Office...and Sneak Peaks :)

I will be out of the office from September 13th-17th. Carlos and I are going to Michigan to visit his family. So fun! I've never been there, they have always come to us. I will have my phone and email with me so I will be return call and emails as quickly as I can.

In the meantime, I did this shoot of my nieces and nephew while I was in Utah to shoot Tanner and Brighton's wedding. There is much more to come, but I was dying over these pictures. Don't I have the cutest nieces? (I have a darling nephew too and he will be in the full post.)

What is a Hippo Cookie?!

I talk about them a lot and I get a lot of questions as to what they are. Are they shaped like a hippo, do they just make you feel like a hippo, do they taste like a hippo? Well, today, that question is finally answered.

Hippo cookies are a family tradition. My family, especially during the summers, would spend a lot of time in Newport Beach. And with almost every trip we would take the ferry from Balboa over to Balboa Island, whether we take the car, our bikes, or just walk. And we would ALWAYS hit up Dad's for a hippo cookie. In my opinion, they are the best cookies in the world! They make my heart and my tummy so happy.

So, that is what a hippo cookie is. Everyone should at least try them :) And you may not share my opinion that they are the BEST cookies in the world, but...hello...isn't eating a pink or purple or yellow or green hippo fun in and of itself?!

New Logo

I went to a workshop and the instructor said that you needed LOVE your logo. I have always LIKED my logo, but have never felt in love with it. I've had and used my first one for a couple of years now and then I had Carlos make the 2nd one and I started switching things over, but I never finished it, probably because I was never really in love with it. BUT... tonight Carlos and I (mostly Carlos) finished a logo that I LOVE, I feel like it is totally ME, probably because it is based on my real life signature. I am just really so excited about it and I can't wait to incorporate it into everything.

And...tomorrow I will have a real blog post up. July was an absolutely CRAZY month! Lots of fun, lots of cool weddings, but now I have to get caught up on everything that got set aside while I was traveling all over the western United States.

Yay! Check out my new logo! Thank you, Carlos! I love it! If anyone needs a logo or a website or anything check out his website (www.visual5.com) or give him a call (909.809.1119)

The Important Things

Today I read a blog post from a photographer in Michigan. Her husband, who is younger than I am, was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor in his brain that will significantly shorten his life. As I was reading the post I was struck so strongly with what is really important in this life.

I LOVE my job. It makes me so happy that I get to get up everyday and do something that is so fulfilling to me. I feel so blessed. But that is not what is important in this life. My husband and my family are what is important and not wasting one second that we get to spend with them. Life is so fragile. Carlos is my entire heart and soul, and maybe this is a little too personal, but it's true. I really don't think any two people could love each other more than Carlos and I (I really hope everyone feels that way about their significant other). I don't want to take a second of it for granted. It's too wonderful, it's too special.

This week we planned a trip to San Francisco. I have never been there and Carlos lived in the Oakland area for 2 years and has wanted to go visit for a long time. I booked a wedding there and we decided to make a trip out of it. But after that, I booked 2 more "destination" (out of town) weddings for the weekends preceding it. Plus...my family had planned the beach house trip for the 1st week in July. So as we were driving home from Santa Cruz last week and then again from St. George this weekend I wanted to cancel the trip part and just fly up for the wedding, but we didn't. And today I am so glad. Even though all of this came at one time and both of us feel so behind with work the time together is more important. We can catch up with work, but we will never get back this time together.

Read the blog entry that I read, and read down the couple of posts before where she is talking about his diagnosis, she is a much better writer than I. It really made me take a step back and be more grateful for what I have.


I snapped this picture of Carlos on our way home from our Santa Cruz wedding in Cambria along Moonstone Beach on our early morning walk. So beautiful and peaceful.

Soo00...I will be in San Francisco/Oakland until Sunday. I will have my cell phone with me and possibly the lap top (it died in Santa Cruz, but we got it working, but it is still wounded). Most likely phone calls and emails will be returned upon my return. And then it will be business as usual. :)

On a lighter note, my brother emailed me this video and I loved it! What a cute couple!



And I have to add this one! Holy wedding party! I don't think I've ever had clapping at the end of a procession. Check it out (there are annoying advertisements at the beginning, just to warn you).

Out of Town!

Oh my goodness, this is a BUSY month! Not only do I have a ton of weddings, but we moved, my ENTIRE family came from all over and we spent a week at the beach, this weekend I am going to Santa Cruz for a wedding, next week we are in Utah for a wedding, then the next weekend we are back up in the Bay Area for another wedding. I am so excited, but I get tired just thinking about it!

We are leaving tomorrow afternoon and we will be gone until Tuesday (July 21st), we are going to take the scenic route home from Santa Cruz. I am so happy because we are going to stay in one of my most favorite places in the world, Cambria, I love it!!!!! We are staying right on Moonstone Beach and it should be just delicious. I will have my phone and email and will be checking it regularly, so I can still be in touch.

I thought I would leave you with some pictures of our beach house vacation with my family. We had so much fun, we have been staying in the SAME house off of 15th Street in Newport Beach since the early 70's, before I was born (just clearing that up). So many fun memories and it is fun to share it now with the husbands and nieces and nephews, gotta love tradition, even if it is a 10 mile walk to Balboa Island to get a hippo cookie :) .

Just so everyone knows, I don't take my professional camera on vacations, it stresses me out too much, so THESE ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL PICTURES. Scroll on down for 2 new weddings I posted yesterday.

Oh my! She is just the cutest thing EVER. My little niece, Eliza, I really wish they didn't live so far away!
Yes, peeps, I am that white. But this is the first time I have even put a bathing suit on in 2 years, but check out my wedding farmer tan. Awesome.

My cute nephew. Both of my nephews are such studs, little blond haired, blue eyed stud muffins. Their parents are going to have to beat all the girls off with a stick.
It is a firm family tradition of walk (or ride bikes) to Balboa Island, across on the ferry, to get a hippo cookie or a Balboa Bar. Carlos and Nate (my sister's husband) aren't as stoked about the walk as the rest of us are. Hahaha. It's tradition boys.My obsession, hippo cookies, I love them!!! (My 3 year old niece took this picture, not bad at all)
Megan, one of my nieces, taught Carlos how to boogie board. I felt like such a mom, I had to yell at them to come in closer to shore so the yellow boat wouldn't pick them up. :)
My sis and me. I REALLY wish she lived closer!
My brother-in-law rented us kayaks, we paddled around in the bay and had a blast and a good workout.
Let's end with precious Eliza. She doesn't know how to take a bad picture and she's only 2.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Chloe's Haircut!

This is my 200th blog post! So exciting! I just had to post a picture of my cute dog's new haircut. This morning we took her to the vet to get her next set of shots and we decided to give her her summer haircut. I was a little sad to get rid of her puppy hair, but she looks so cute. She looks like such a little lady. My baby is growing up. I snapped the first picture yesterday, with all of her poofy puppy hair.

Before:

After:
Oh, I love this little dog!

Jasmine Star Workshop!

I think that everyone has at least one person that is an idol, professionally. Jasmine Star, for the last year, has been one of those for me. I follow her amazing blog and it gives me inspiration for weddings or shoot in general and for my business. I feel really lucky that I live so close to so many amazing photographers, so when Jasmine announced that she was going to be giving a workshop in Orange County I jumped on it, a good thing too, I think it sold out in like an hour.

I really was an amazing experience! It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I met amazing photographers and we became really close in the couple of days that we knew each other. It was great! Plus I learned so much that I will incorporate into my business and shooting. I think it is so important to keep learning. I believe in always moving forward, realizing that you don't know everything and you can always be better.

Here are some pictures from my AMAZING day.

When we got there there was yummy food to eat and cute center pieces, plus we had our own pad of paper and pen, plus a note from Jasmine. All the details were perfect (as I expected them to be).



Yes, that is me sitting front and center (on the far right). I was there to learn, and learn I did.

There was a shooting portion of the day, yes, again, that is me front and center. Under this cool exterior, I am really a big nerd :)

These are some of my favorite shots that I got during the day. The models were Mark and Tiffany and, if you can believe it, they are an actual couple. Jasmine shot their wedding a year or two ago. Can you imagine what their children are going to look like? So hot!











These are some shots of Jasmine in action. She really is a great teacher. I had so much fun getting to know her and learning from her. I even got some advice from her and her husband, JD, about shooting/working with your spouse.


This is the awesome group of people that I spent the day with (plus, some of us got together in Newport the night before to shoot and have dinner) we had an absolute blast!Me and Jasmine!
Good times!!!!

New Puppy and Children's Studio

If you follow Twitter at all you may have noticed that Carlos and I have added a new addition to our family. Since we got married I have wanted to get a Shih Tzu puppy. And almost a year and a half later it was finally the "right" time to do it. We got Chloe about 3 weeks ago and we just love her to pieces!!! She is so adorable and has such a sweet personality. She loves everyone! If we could just get her potty trained she would be the perfect dog. She's doing lots better though, she is actually starting to ask to go out, I think that is pretty good. Anyways, I took this picture of her the other day and thought that I would post it.



Also, it has been a dream to start a children's studio in our house. Slowly, but surely it will come together. The other day we got the first little part of it, a white back drop. I know, simple, but it's a start (I actually ordered another super cute back drop that should be here in a couple of weeks - can't wait to try that out). I had Carlos model for me -he's so hot! We are a long way from actually opening the studio for business, but we are one step closer and I am so excited.

My Sister's Wedding: Nate and Laura!

I think, if I didn't get these pictures and slideshow up today, Laura would have disowned me as a sister. She and Nate got married on March 6th in Provo, Utah. So, yes, I am a little late getting these up, but she knew, because she was my sister, she was low man on the editing totem pole :)

I am so happy for Laura and Nate! I know that every wedding is special and unique for their own reasons, but (I am a little biased) I think that this wedding was the most special. Laura and Nate have been through A LOT to get to where they are today. I feel so happy for Laura that she was able to find Nate and I feel so happy for Nate that he could find Laura. They really are meant to be together. And they knew that from very early in their relationship. You have to watch the slideshow (there is a link at the end of the post). When I watched it all the way through after I finished it, I shed a little tear (it could be that it was almost 3am when I finished it). But I think it captures the essence of the day.

Not only do I gain a brother-in-law, but I also gain a niece and nephew. They live with Nate and so it is also fun that Eliza will have a built in brother and sister. They are SO cute to watch together. They all just make an adorable blended family.

Enjoy some of my favorites of Nate and Laura's wedding. This really was a VERY special wedding for me. And, even though we were FREEZING during their couple pictures outside, I think they came out very well.

I love you guys!













To view their slideshow, go here. (It is my first one, still working out the kinks, but definitely check it out!)

***Some people are have trouble seeing the slideshow, it may be that the Flash in your computer is not updated (???), but try going here, you may be able to see it. See, I told you, still working out the kinks :)

***Okay, this is my third and final attempt at getting this online. It is way small, but you can get an idea of what has consumed almost two days of my life. Enjoy!