...i'm so behind!

Ok, I am a terrible blogger! O:)

My wonderfully talented friend Jasmine Star reminded that it's been a long time since I've written. And she's right! there as been a lot going on in my life since I last updated a month ago! Hang with me, this is going to be a long one!

The end of October was fairly uneventful. Halloween came and went without much excitement. I really really really want to dress up and do something fun! Like go hang out in Downtown Fullerton, or something like that. However, no such luck. As I sat at home with mom and dad and Gav, only 3 or 4 groups of kids rang our doorbell! Soooo depressing. I think its because all the churches in the area have these big alternative carnival type things, and parents probably feel safer doing that, than letting their kids go trick or treating. On some levels, I understand...However, there is something so charming about kids running around ringing doorbells and saying "TRICK OR TREAT!" with HUGE smiles on their faces and bags held toward you. It's the perfect excuse to dress up, and innocently be someone you are totally not (or maybe to reveal your deep dark personality! ;) )

As most of you know, I went to Friends Christian School, from the time I was four, until I graduated eighth grade. Well, November 15th, was the first fundraising breakfast for FCS, and mom, and her best friend, Lynette, and another woman were in charge of pulling a breakfast off for 250 people. The catering, the gift bag stuffing, the table setting, and the rest of the details fell into their laps. Luckily, I love that sort of stuff too, and my mom and I work as a perfect team...so I got to help! A ton of work, but incredibly rewarding! We set up 27 tables; centerpieces, silverware, dishes, etc...in one hour! Thankfully, we had the help of about 15 teachers and faculty. Anyway, we pulled it off, and it was a HUGE success. The fundraising is for scholarships, which allow kids to attend the school, and pays for things like news computers. Anyway, enough rambling on that....here's an iPhone pic of the tables...


My mom's birthday was November 9th....my dad and I took her to The Summit House for dinner, then were too late to see the movie we had planned, so, instead we went home ad watched an awesome movie called, Black Book about the dutch resistance in WWII. If you're into classic history movies....I highly recommend it!
ok, so I said this was going to be a long post...i changed my mind...LOL. I dont have the stamina to finish it...I'l try again later tonight....or tomorrow! :)

in the glow of the fire...

...everything has an orange-ish tint to it today, almost like it's a really vibrant sunset all day long. The moment I stepped out of my house this afternoon I was choked by the thick layer of smoke and ash that has settled over the entire area of Southern California. There are said to be 15 fires burning in SoCal at the moment. 8 or 9 of which are in the LA/Orange county area. Last count I heard they had evacuated 250,000 people in San Diego, and 15, 000 homes were in danger in Lake Arrowhead a few dozen of which have already burned. These people are losing everything. Can you imagine being in the midst of this tragedy? I think about the people who are leaving their homes as fast as they can, and am so very thankful that God is surrounding them. I am in constant prayer for the thousands of firemen who are doing their best to save everything they can. The winds are not helping in the least. In Santa Clarita gusts are being clocked at 80 mph. Here's the CNN article that is being updated consistently.
Gav took this with his iPhone last night from the roof (or out the window) of his work in Irvine...In another one he showed me, you could see the flames.

Please please please join me in prayer for all the families awaiting news of their homes, and all those who have lost everything in these fire storms. Pray for hope, and peace and faith. Pray that they are comforted by the knowledge that God does not give us more than we can handle.

...the latest...

So this is going to be quick, but I just wanted to updated you all on my life at the moment!

Sept 24, I FINALLY turned 21. let me tell you I went wild on my b-day! hahha...not! Gav and my parents and I went to dinner at a place called Villa Nova. The food was wonderful, and my first legal drink was called (ironically) an Italian Job martini. It was vanilla vodka, creme de cocoa, and a shot of espresso. It was fantastic!

I shot a beautiful wedding a couple weekends ago at the Bali Hai on Shelter Island in San Diego. I will post some detail shots from the wedding soon.

I get to shoot with Mike Colón and Rosanna this weekend at a wedding in Coto de Caza. That will be a blast!

AND for Gav's belated graduation present, I'm taking him to the Eagles and Dixie Chicks concert at the new Nokia Theater in LA, next Wednesday! I'm really excited!

Ok, now for my dilemma. I need a cute pair of going out jeans...for all you men out there that have NO idea what that means...I need a pair of jeans that are cute, sexy, and dressy enough to go out to a nice dinner, or a swanky lounge. There are literally hundreds of pairs of denims out there...and I think I have tried them all on. Color? not a problem! waist size? not a problem...26ish. length? MAJOR ISSUE!!! no matter what I try, I cannot find jeans long enough to wear with heels!! I have a love affair with shoes, (although not as intense as J*)
and I have several pair of cute shoes with at least a 3in heel. So when flat footed I have a 36 inch inseam, it proves impossible to find long enough jeans! I need extra long...but NO ONE carries them!! ARGH! anyway, if anyone has an idea as to which brand, or what store...please please please let me know!! I need them soon!

Hmmm...other news...I'm getting a Canon Mark III :) I decided it was time to upgrade from my 3 year old 20D. I have about $1200 down on it at Samy's OC...they actually have one in the back on hold for me! Anyone want to contribute to the fund? :)

And yesterday I went on a baking binge...I made a chocolate cake with coffee chocolate frosting, AND chocolate cupcakes with a dark chocolate ganache. yummm!

ok, thats all for the moment...I gotta run, I'm off to make dinner for my man!

..Ryan & Michele

They met in a billiard hall. He was with some rowdy friends to have some fun, and she was their with her best friend to actually play some pool. The first time she passed him, his eyes followed her all the way through the crowd, and he knew he had to at least get her name. They soon realized they shared the same faith and lifestyles, and were very much attracted to each other. ...and so it began.

On Sunday, September 30, Ryan and Michele became Mr. and Mrs. Crump. The setting was a quaint old victorian style home in Orange, Ca; The American Family Living Center. As twilight faded into dark, the magical atmosphere of twinkle lights shone through the darkness, creating a fairytale-like dance floor. Ryan and Michele...I am so priveledged to have shared this amazing day with you guys! Thank you for your easy-going friendliness, it was truly a joy to capture your wedding! Enjoy Maui!


click on any of the pictures to view a slideshow.








**When they get back, I'm hoping to get Michele back into her dress, and Ryan into a shirt and tie and take them to the pool hall where it all began! Wish me luck! :)


I owe a huge thank you to Katie Grace Clay and Gavin Wade for assisting me! You both are a joy to work with!

...Seattle!

Last Wednesday I got a call from a friend of mine in Seattle asking me to come up. Her hubby is a wedding photographer, and needed a second shooter on Sat, AND we've been wanting to hang out for a long time! So I booked a ticket to Seattle Thurs morning around 2, and left Thurs afternoon about 4.

It was a fantastic weekend, and it only solidified my desire to move to the pacific northwest!

I spent the weekend with Jeff LaPlante, his wife, Sara, and their two little ones, Cameron-5 and Paige-3. We had soooo much fun! I loved hanging out with the kids, and Sara is a total blast. Jeff and I shot (I seconded) a wedding in Chelan on Saturday the 22nd. I'll post a few from that after Jeff does. Anyway, here are a few shots from the flight up there...


This was a first...this dude was reading a John Grisham novel "King of Torts," and over the course of the two and a half hour flight went through two cigars! No, he didn't smoke them on the plane...just chewed on them...lol. GROSS!




This was out the window as we descended into Seattle.


I sat in the middle seat, generally a detested on any plane, and had an college student from Seattle next to me on the window side and a sweet older gentleman from Seattle area named Ted. He was very intriguing, and full of wisdom. I gave him an education in the photography world, and he in turn shared with me his life experiences. Thank you Ted, for making the flight such a great trip!


Practicing my "widow light" assignment...lol..for all you non-brookies, that was an assignment in our first 6 months of school.


I'll write again soon!

...10 rows back?

At the end of August, Gav and I had the chance to get to an Angels game...but this wasn't just ANY Angel's game. For one thing, it was the opening night of the series against the New York Yankees (and they definitely kicked some Yankee butt!)...for another, we were only about 10 rows back from the third-baseline! It was officially the BEST game I have ever been to! We scored these awesome tickets from a friend of Gav's who works with him at The Sports Club/LA. Here are a few shots from my PS from the night...

Awww...he's adorable!


The fun couple we went with! (our connection for the tickets)


Awesomely close!!


GA hangin between innings




Right after Ryan Budde hit his first ever RBI in the majors...a walk-off homer at that! (I think it went 16 innings or something like that!)

...Still Feels Good...

There’s a place in your heart, nobody's been,
Take me there.
Things nobody knows,
Not even your friends,
Take me there.
Tell me bout your momma, your daddy, your hometown,
Show me around,
I want see it all, don't leave anything out

I want to know, everything about you.
And I want to go, down every road you've been.
Where your hopes and dreams, and wishes live,
Where you keep the rest of your life hid,
I want to know the girl behind that pretty stare,
Take me there.

Your first real kiss, your first true love, DR
You were scared.
Show me where,
You learned about life, spent your summer nights, without a care.
I want to roll down main street, the back roads,
Like you did when you were a kid
What made you who you are,
Tell me what your story is.

I want to know, everything about you.
And I want to go, down every road you've been.
Where your hopes and dreams, and wishes live,
Where you keep the rest of your life hid,
I want to know the girl behind that pretty stare
Take me there.

I want to know, everything about you.
Yeah, everything about you baby.
I want to go, down every road you've been.
Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live,
Where you keep the rest of Your life hid,
I want to know the girl behind that pretty stare.
Take me, take me, take me there.
Take me there.

How awesome is that song? Those are the lyrics to the new Rascal Flatts single "Take Me There." Contrary to popular belief, country music isn't all twang, broken down tractors, run-away dogs, and home-wrecking women (although there definitely is that part of it). One of the reasons I love country is because I can close my eyes while listening to a song, and picture myself in that scene, as if the melody was composed with my life in mind. Another reason I LOVE country is that unlike all the pop "artists," and teenie-boppers, country artist can really sing. They made their way to the top by performing live, acoustically, and genuinely putting their heart and soul into their craft. Even the drummer from RF can break into an a capella version of any song, totally randomly, and blow everyone away. You won't find any lip-syncing here!

Anyway, off my soap box...Saturday Sept 15 my good friend Christy Samson and I were fortunate enough to get tickets to the latest Rascal Flatts tour! "Still Feels Good" Tour (the new album title too) at Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore was a sell-out crowd, and your typical Cali country concert. It was oh so much fun. Here are a few shots I managed to grab with my PS...

cowgirls @ <3!!



at the end of their first songs a lil fire for the pyros in the crowd...


Performing "Life is a Highway" at the end of their encore


we didn't want them to leave...ok, maybe we're just dorks...


don't go!


sweet stage huh?


Thank you Christy!! A great way to celebrate our birthday month, don't ya think?