The new blog is live!!

I'm cutting it really close to my end of the month timeline, but I'm happy to report that my new blog is finally up! You can check it out here. Hope to see you there! =)

Off hiatus

umm....hello? Is anyone still there?
Well, for the 3 people that used to read my blog, I'm off hiatus! =) I can't believe my last post was back in May! Seriously, where does the time go? I'm not sure I can tell you where I've been, it's all a blur. Working? Traveling? That's all I can think of.
To tell you the truth, I'm being a wimp. For the past year, I've been talking and talking about starting my business and launching a new website, but I continue to find excuses so I can stall just a little bit longer. The reality is is that I'm discovering my fears and weaknesses. It's rare territory for me. I'm the type of person that tends to shy away from risk and I cringe at the thought of failing at something. I like to be good at everything I do...it's the reason I don't speak Spanish. I can understand it fluently and I even have the accent, but I know if I speak it, it won't be perfect.
Well, Internet, I am telling you right now, that I am going to go for it. I'm sailing away from the safe harbor and catching the trade winds in my sails, just as Mark Twain would have wanted it.

To show some faith I've even started my inspiration wall =)
I had the perfect space for it right next to my computer...

I went to Ikea and bought something that I think is supposed to be for curtains. I gotta be honest, I'm pretty darn impressed that I did it all by myself, I had to break out the toolbox and everything! I refused help from Mike just so I could say I did it by myself, haha. I guess after facing my fears, I'll have to start working on the pride thing.

It's not quite finished yet, but it's getting there.

I'm very happy to report that my new blog will be up by the end of the month!

Since I'm in the motivational mood, I'll end with the wise sayings of Kobi Yamada...

Life is here and it is now...either we meet it, we live it or we miss it. An unlived life is littered with "could haves," "should haves" and "if onlys." Each moment greets us full of possibility and leaves us hoping we are better for having met.

A day in LA

Mike and I finally had a weekend of nothing to do so we drove up to LA for a change in atmosphere.

Our first stop was our favorite LA restaurant Pizzeria Mozza. The pizza is indescribable good!
For our apps we ordered the Crispy Goat Cheese with Umbrian Lentils and we also got the Caprese.

Next stop, and the real reason we took the trip, was Sprinkles. The line never gets shorter and cupcakes never disappoint. This time we got the Cinnamon Sugar (our favorite), Red Velvet, Salted Carmel, and Peanut Butter Chocolate.

We also walked along Rodeo Drive. I can't remember what store this was, but I'm sure it was out of my price range.

Okay, so I'm a native to southern California, but there was something that I have never done before that many tourists set out to do. I can't believe it, Mike and I became the touristy stalker people that drive around looking for the homes of the hollywood stars! We saw the home that MJ was renting before he passed, and we saw the gate of the playboy mansion (there were a bunch of peakcocks roaming around in there), and we also stopped by Kanye's house. I know it's silly thing to do, but we had a blast driving around Bel Air wondering who lived in all those prestigious houses and how in the world could we get one? =)

The Wong Family

This family was so much fun to be with. I was sick as a dog during this session, at one point I thought I was going to cough up a lung! This day at the beach consisted of a dad and his 3 daughters and their families. One of the families was visiting from Hong Kong, so there was no way I would be canceling just because I had a fever ;) If I wasn't sick, I would wanted to spend the whole rest of the evening with them.

Here are a few of my faves...

What I ate this month

This month, Mike was on fire! He's been cooking up a storm and I've been reaping the benefits (except for the poundage right around my thigh area).
Note: Please don't mind the harsh lighting in some of these photos.

Mike will come home with something that looks like this...

...and then make something that looks like this.

Mike takes my dislikes and makes it a challenge for himself to create a version of that particular dislike to try and change my mind about it. In this case it was a lemon tart.

Umm, yes, we eat that much meat.

Finally, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Apple Maple Syrup. You can find the recipe on the Youngrens blog. They tried out the recipe and, by the looks of it, it turned out phenomenal!

Veronica boudoir session

A couple weeks ago, I had the honor and priviledge of shooting a boudoir session for Veronica. It wasn't until I got to the shoot that I realized she had suffered through breast cancer 5 years earlier. I wanted to sit down and ask her all about her journey, but I hesitated. I thought it was best to do the shoot and ask later. As I was looking through my lense the whole time, I felt so proud of her, although I barely knew her, I could feel her sense of accomplishment.

I emailed her a few days later because I wanted to share her story. Here are some excerpts from that email...

“…I am pretty strong in my FAITH, but this close experience to death has made me appreciate life to the fullness and rely on GOD more than just when I needed HIM. I like to educate others and bring awareness to young women. We always think that it is never going to happen to us…
I was in the process of planning our daughter's second birthday and there it was the cold truth of CANCER. I found a lump on my left breast and was told that it was just milk and fat tissue. The mass continued to grow and by that time it was on stage 3B, meaning that it was spreading rapidly. It sure was a roller-coaster of emotions. By the time I was to have the breast removed, the cancer had spread into the other breast and into my chest wall and lymph nodes…
I had six months of chemotherapy and radiation and then a hysterectomy. My cancer is caused by hormones and I could not get pregnant and doctors where afraid of it moving to my ovaries. It was a long and painful year. Many times we thought I was not going to make it. But with GOD’s grace, prayers, and many friends and family helping me, I made it through. It was devastating to lose my breasts. As a woman I just did not fit in, my husband did not care, but I just wanted them formed. I had a reconstruction two years ago, as you saw just the breast and nothing else. I went back to my normal size, not bigger. I am getting back to some normality. I still have a hard time looking at my scars…I have some effects from chemo, but pretty blessed to be here and continue raising our two children. I do not feel normal as I look in the mirror, but you sure made me feel beautiful that day. So with that, I wanted to do something special for my husband that stood by me these five years of doctor’s appointments, and really expressing his love for me by being my bedside nurse 24/7. Even when I had no breasts and I was bald, he kissed me good night…every night.”

..."I know it is a part of me and who I am and who I have become. It has definitely made me a stronger women, mother and wife."

Veronica, I am so blessed to have met you, you are a gorgeous woman, inside and out. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share your story.

Because I try not to post boudoir shots on the web...here is one of the props from the shoot (Veronica's husband is a fireman).

Save the Dolphins!!

I know, I know, I haven't blogged in forever!! I have no excuse for myself except that I've been busy, and when I say busy... I actually mean lazy.
I recently saw a documentary called " The Cove" and I found it was necessary to tell you to rent it, then watch it. It's about the dolphins that are being slaughtered for no good reason. I know, this is kind of a depressing subject but I think people should be aware of the situation because there are ways you can help without even leaving the chair you're sitting in right now =)
After watching this film, I made the decision that I would never go to Sea World again. I don't have kids now, but they're going to be really sad when I tell them we can 't go see Shamu.
Back in 2008, Mike and I took a trip to New Zealand and Fiji. One of the fondest memories I have is when we got to swim the the Dusky dolphins in Kaikoura. It happened to be springtime so the water was still extremely cold. We braved 51F waters with 10ml wetsuits! There are no words to describe the feeling of swimming with hundreds of dolphins in the wild, it was one of the happiest days of my life and I will remember it forever. I would have stayed with them all day if it wasn't for the hypothermia.
I made this video a while back as a momento so please don't hate on the amateur-ish video. I wanted to share it because it has a small clip of the dusky dolphins.

London and France only

I have the absolute worst luck when it comes to traveling. On my honeymoon to Greece, not only did I catch a cold, but I managed to get hit in the forehead with a beach chair! No, really, it was so windy that the metal part of my beach chair hit me with such force it gave me a heamatoma. The fabric of the chair was actually imprinted on my forehead. And then after a week, the blood drained to my eye and it basically looked like I had a black eye!
In Fiji, Mike and I went on a water rafting trip and it was so much fun, except the next day I paid the price for swimming in the water (which was a nice brownish color).
Now, I’m back from my most recent vacation. The original plan was to go to London, France, and Spain. We didn’t make it to Spain.
I was already sick with a cold and cough by the time we left from LAX. Since I had been sick for a week already, I knew it would be only a few days before I felt myself again. In the mean time, I decided to suck it up and deal with it. After 3 sleepless nights of excessive coughing , I started to feel a sharp pain around the upper right side of my torso. My cough was slowly going away, but the pain in my side was getting more intense. But again, I was going to suck it up and enjoy the trip we worked so hard for. By the time we flew into Barcelona, I couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to come home to my bed and my couch and my doctor. So yes, we paid a good amount of money to continental airlines to ship me back to California. It turns out I pulled/strained/tore my rib muscles with all that coughing I was doing and I only made it worse by sightseeing and walking for 10 hours a day. I’m happy to report that I no longer squeal with every movement =)
Despite the illness and pain, I had a wonderful time in London and France =) I wish I could explain the feeling I get when I travel to a different place. Mike and I do the sight seeing stuff, but we really focus on trying to go to where the locals are as well as try to find the cuisine of that particular place. I’m pleased to report that I gained 5 happy lbs from all those crepes, eclairs, and berthillon ice cream.
Enough rambling, here are some of the pics we took on out trip…

Vibrant London.

We actually had tea and little sanwiches in London. This was at the Orangery in Kensington garden.

Stunning Paris. The thing I loved about Paris was the art! I don't have images of all the art we had the honor of seeing, but I would just like to say that I so appreciate the creations of all those artists. Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, and my favorite, Rodin. I loved Rodin's sculpted work...truly amazing.

The Louvre

Notre Dame

Our favorite street in Paris, Rue Saint Louie en l-Ile. This is where Mike found the Berthillon ice cream. Not kidding, the best in the world!

A local market we stubbled upon. We people-watched.

Here's some proof we were really there =)

Monet, anyone? The Musee de l'Orangerie

I think Lyon was my favorite city in France. I loved the food, the architecture and the color. It helped that there were no tourists either.

We stayed in Nice, but took a day trip to Monaco. Too many people with too much money =) Casinos, yachts, lambourginis, and Grimaldi.

Our journey ended early, but hopefully we will make it to Spain in the near future.

Compilation of Family Sessions

I am sooo far behind in posting the family sessions that I've done for the Christmas season. I know these particular families will understand the delay, well, because they're either my family or seem like family because I've know them for so long. All I can say is that I love love love all these families and I'm very grateful to have them in my life.

The Martell Family:

The Rascon Family:

Perla and Jazmine: