JULIE FAVIS photoblog

The new blog is live!!

2010-10-31T23:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-11T11:06:00.001-07:00

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!!

2010-03-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-01-19T20:51:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-17T20:21:00.000-08:00

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:

2009-12-06T13:38:00.001-08:00

I love this time of year. I love everything about it. The cooler weather, the excitement of little kids, the family time, the giving, the generosity, and the way people transform into better versions of themselves (including myself). I wish it could be Christmas time all year!

One thing I especially love about Christmas time are the lights that go up! It makes me sooo happy! I was in San Francisco for Black Friday this year and I was so thirlled to see the lights had gone up in the malls and all around the city.

Another reason I am especially excited this year is because Mike and I get to go on vacation! We don’t like to take tours when we visit other countries because we like the freedom of waking up whenever we want and taking in the sights at our convenience and eating the food that we choose. We love meeting the locals, getting lost and seeing things for the first time. Although we don’t take the tours, we do take our own personal guide…he’s amazing, and knows what he’s doing. He knows all the hot spots and gives great advice and tips. His name is Rick Steves. Mike and I never leave home without him when we go to Europe because he saves us money and gets it right everytime =) Without him, Mike and I would be lost…all the time. Can you guess where we’re going this year?

Now, for the most special part about this time of year...celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I have to tell you the truth, it bothers me that everything is being called the Holidays instead of Christmas. Hello...we wouldn't have holidays this time of year of it weren't for Christmas. That's just my opinion =)
Jesus, thank you for coming into this world and giving yourself as a sacrifice for my sins. Thank you for loving me that much!

The Layton Family

2009-12-02T22:20:00.000-08:00

I had such a good time hanging out with this family. I love Ava's missing teeth and Spencer's mohawk, it made for some great photos =)

Thank you Layton family for letting me take photos of your beautiful family =)

Can you tell how much Ava loves her parents? So sweet!

I'm not sure any of you know how hard it was to make a 2 year-old laugh after we took him away from the playground! I forget how we succeeded.

I know this picture is blurry, but I wanted to show you what a kid looks like right before he's about to attack me, haha.

Mardee's parents joined us all the way from Oregon.

I love them! They were soo cute and loving with each other! I hope Mike and I are as happy as they are in 30-some years too.

It looks like these two are headed in that direction.

Rabbit, two ways

2009-11-14T13:58:00.000-08:00

Just the other day, Mike decided he wanted to cook a rabbit. This would be his first attempt. Did you know that rabbits are pretty darn expensive? They are. I’m not sure if it takes a special kind of rabbit to eat, but you can get one at Bristol Farms for about $30. Anyway, Mike can’t make up his mind on how to cook this rabbit so he chooses to go at it Iron Chef style and cook it two ways. The first dish is braised rabbit over mushroom polenta, and the second dish is bacon-wrapped roasted rabbit served with carrot salad over polenta. I loved both dishes! The sauce was fantastic! Mike is going to kill me because I can’t remember the details of the sauce. I may have to update this post later.

The before shot taken with my handy dandy iPhone…poor, poor rabbit =(

My Birthday Present

2009-11-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

I've been dropping hints about having a photo session with our wedding attire for the past year. For our wedding, we didn't hire a wedding photographer (gasp!). We kept ourselves on a budget and thought it would be fine if a family member took the photos. Although he did a pretty good job, there was barely any formal photos of Mike and me together, the two people that mattered the most at this particular function ;)
For my birthday this year, Mike surprised me with a Day After photo session with Nick Abadilla. I was so excited that we were finally going to take wedding pics together after all this time! Not only did we have an awesome time at the photo shoot, we also made a new friend! Nick made us feel like were already family and we were put at ease instantly. Also, since he knew I was working on establishing myself as a photographer, he had some really great advice and a few pointers along the way. Thanks Nick...for everything!

You can catch our photo session on Nick's blog here.

Here's a peek...

The Next Level

2009-10-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

So I've decided it's time to go to the next level with my photography business and one of the first things on my to-do list is to get a website and brand new blog. I'm ready to get serious and take that leap. Since this new project meant getting some photos taken of myself, I immediately thought of the people that have had my back from the beginning. They have been my mentors, my support, and my inspiration. The Youngrens. Jeff and Erin. Thank you.
You can see my session on The Youngrens blog here. I feel a little narcissistic showing you pictures of me, but Jeff and Erin take really great photographs ;)

This one was one of my favorites...

Ornelas Family, Temecula

2009-10-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

I guess I went on a brief hiatus after my LASIK surgery back in August. I will attribute my lack of blogging to the surgery...ya...let's go with that.
I'm happy to report that my eyes are 20/20 and I'm ready to take photos again =)
The first family I got to shoot, after the laser shaved my cornea, lived in Temecula. That's about 1 hour away from where I live. I love to shoot in new places, but Temecula? On the corner of a street stoplight? That's where the family wanted to take the pictures. Okay.
All doubt and hesitation flew out the window when I saw this street corner. It was a beautiful waterfall, with boulders, grass, a pond, and flowers. I loved it. It made the perfect backdrop for this beautiful family.

Bye Bye Twenties

2009-10-05T20:44:00.000-07:00

This year is a special year because this year I had to say goodbye to my twenties. The week preceding my birthday I had nightmares about going bald and a plane that I was sitting in was taking a nose dive straight into the desert! I'm not kidding, I think I was subconsiously dreading the big 3-0. I made sure to keep the day low-key and stress-free.
The day started with my husband surprising me with a mini hand-held 1080p HD video camera (like the Flip, but better), it's so awesome, it's the size of an iPhone and I can't wait to use it and start posting videos on my blog! Although, I'm still not sure I'd like to see myself on 1080p =/ Anyway, then we went to my folks house to celebrate with them and my sister, brother-in-law, and my adorable nephews. My mom whipped up some shrimp cocktails and ribs...yum. Finally, we topped off the night by chillaxing with my friends and cousins at Se San Diego Uber Lounge.
My birthday ended up being so special, not because I turned 30, but because I was surrounded by the people that I love with all my heart. I am so blessed to have such a loving family, fabulous friends, and a husband that I absolutely adore and can't live without. I'm embracing my thirties with open arms, an open mind...and a new haircut ;)

At the lounge, we took a few pics with my point and shoot....

Chino Farms addict

2009-08-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

Lately, Mike has been making his way to Chino Farms, a place where most of the exceptional restaurants in southern California get their seasonal fruits and vegetables (whaw-whaw-wee-whah). Whaw-whaw-wee-whah is a line from the movie Borat, in case no one understands what I was trying to say there =/ Nevermind.
Anyway, almost every weekend he’s been buying their luscious items and making brilliant tasting dishes with them. This is a good and bad thing. Good because I get to eat like a queen, but bad because it’s not cheap and I’ve gained a few lbs from his addiction. Mike, I love you and the food you make, but please, for double-chin sake...stop cooking!!!

A brief description for the images below:

1) New Zealand lamb over Chino Farms Stone fruit salad. Stone fruit, pickeled shallots, pine nuts, champagne vinaigrette, and bing cherry gastrique.
2) Chino Farms fried squash blossoms stuffed with goat cheese, served with tarragon aioli.
3) Ancho braised beef crispy, puffy tacos (homemade gorditas) served with Chino Farms bi-color corn.

Michelle's Maternity Session

2009-08-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

I couldn't believe it. Did Michelle really say that she was only 3 weeks away from her due date? Her belly is so tiny! I hope that when I get pregnant one day, I will look half as good as Michelle looks at 37 weeks. Michelle and her husband, Matt, are looking so fabulous and I can tell they are going to be just as fabulous parents =)
Oh ya, their first baby, Callie, is such a riot. She embraces strangers with hugs and saliva and demands attention. In the short time I was there, all by herself she had opened the sliding back door to get back in the house, opened the front door to visit her friend across the street (I don't think Matt and Michelle are very fond of this trick), and when it was time to leave she wouldn't even look at me (I was informed she gets angry when people leave, so she ignores everyone). I hope you understand I'm talking about a dog.

Welcome home, Mario!

2009-08-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

Mario finally came home from deployment and no one is happier than his wife, daughter, and of course their dog, Chico. I loved watching this family interact with each other, there was so much love and respect and I couldn't help but admire them. They exuded such an energy that would make you never want to take another moment for granted.

Mario, Monica, Rebecca, and Chico...thank you for such a wonderful time!!

Here are a few of the shots I took at the Oceanside harbor...

My own personal chef

2009-07-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know how to cook, I'm sure I've admitted this pitiful fact several times in my blog. Fortunately, I married a really great cook, my own personal chef. And I know I constantly talk about Mike's culinary skills, but now I want to show you some of his most recent work. Taking pictures of food is not one of my finer abilities but I hope it will still illustrate how awesome my husband is for creating such amazing dishes. All his recipes are in his head and he doesn't even use a cookbook! Keep in mind, he makes almost everything from scratch, including the potato chips!!
I'll be posting more of his creations every month or so, so you can see what I get to eat on a regular basis =)

Renee and Philipp

2009-07-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Renee's sister had asked Renee to go with her to some club in LA on several occasions. Renee always refused. One fateful night she finally accepted her sister's offer and decided to go last minute. As soon as they arrived at the club, she knew it wasn’t her scene and headed straight to the back of the room. As she was sitting there by herself, she was approached by a handsome European guy who asked her, “Would you like a cigarette?” They talked for a few minutes, exchanged numbers, and that was that.
One year later, to the day, they were married in a civil ceremony in Switzerland, Philipp’s home country.
Four years after that they are still in love, they've quit smoking, and are looking as hot as ever!

Wine and Food Wonderland

2009-07-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

Not only does Mike cook like it's nobody's business, but he was also born and raised in wine and food wonderland!!! Which most people know as Napa Valley. Since his family still lives there, we get to go up there at least 3 times a year! We're very spoiled =)

Anyway, this time I decided to take my SLR and take advantage of the trip. We did the touristy thing and went to wineries, bakeries, and a fancy dinner...the works. I like a good wine, but I still have trouble deciphering the darn grape liquid. I sometimes try to pretend I know what's going on by using wine terminology, words like tannic, velvety, earthy, woody, etc... haha, I'm definitely not on my way to becoming a true wine aficionado. Regardless, the atmosphere and backdrop of Napa Valley is truly amazing! If you haven't been there yet, I promise you will not be disappointed!

Lucca

2009-06-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

This fabulous 2-year old is soooo adorable. I had so much fun photographing him. I serioiusly wanted to put down my camera and just play, but I'm pretty sure his parents invited me over for different reasons.

Poor Lucca was busted for playing too rough. He had 30-second time out and his face says it all.

The Rascon Family

2009-06-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to photograph this family forever!! We finally set a date and I had the pleasure of photographing the Rascons this past Saturday. I suggested that they wear bright colors that day, and did they ever! They almost blinded me when they came out of the car! I'm kidding...I'm only giving them a hard time because they're family =) My cousin Lisa, with Rigo, and their two little rascals. I love them and I hope they'll let me do this again some time!!

Lovin' the missing tooth =)

I just love the old school look

Abigail and Matt

2009-05-31T10:05:00.001-07:00

I promised some more photos from my workshop with the Youngrens. Without further ado, here are Abigail and Matt...

This is where Matt was taking the ring out of his pocket =)

I am so disappointed I didn't get great images of the proposal, I think I got a little too excited...what an amateur!! The Youngrens got some awesome shots! You can see them here.

Abigail takes the opportunity to show off her ring from her new fiance. I don't blame her, the ring was soooo beautiful!

I saved the kissy kissy ones for last =)

Private Workshop with the Youngrens + Abigail and Matt

2009-05-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

I can't begin to tell you how excited and overwhelmed I am about the private workshop I had with the Youngrens. Jeff and Erin are so fantastic!! I met Jeff through our day job, we work at a biotech company. I had confessed my love for photography to him and little did I know that he and his wife were professional wedding photographers! He made a huge mistake telling me about his business! Now he would have to deal with me bugging him all the time...and he had no where to hide!

Talking, listening, and workshopping (is that a word?) with Erin and Jeff has already made such a huge impact on my images. They shared so much information with me, stuff that probably would have taken me months and months to figure out on my own. I'm seriously just starting out, and their guidance is a tremendous priviledge and honor. Not only did they agree to do a private workshop with me, but they landed a a couple to model for us in no time flat! Abigail and Matt (the models) were naturals and made it soooo easy to get a great shot. AND not only did they model for us, but Matt proposed to Abigail during the shoot!!! How could the workshop be any more perfect?

Here's a sneak peek...

I'll be sure to post more images soon =)

Street kids

2009-05-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

I'd like to indtroduce the Street kids. No, they are not "street" kids.

Aren't they adorable?!!! They are brother and sisters, it's crazy how different they look. Yes, same mom and dad =) Kudos to Michele (mom) for having these beautiful children with each of them only being about a year apart!! If you're wondering... she still looks fantastic! I know the kids share my enthusiasm when I say I wish we could have stayed at the park all day.

This one was actually taken on a different day at my nephew's birthday party. I just love the innocent look on her face...and her hair!!!

Wiener puppy

2009-05-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

My aunt's Dachshund just had puppies and I couldn't resist posting pics of one of them =) Only two weeks old!

Pecoff painting

2009-04-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Mike and I went to Little Italy to grab a bite to eat. We followed our dinner at Vincenzo's with two scoops of gelato from Cafe Zucchero's. So obviously, we had to walk it off! We decided to look inside a gallery right up the street. Mike and I have been searching and searching for a piece that could hang over our over-sized couch in the living room. It's been 2 years since we moved in and still nothing. Anyway, this gallery was so fantastic! The artist is a native San Diegan and has traveled all over to paint. As we were looking through one of the books, we found it! A painting of our favorite spot in Italy (Vernazza, Cinque Terre). Not only was I emotionally attached to the piece, but I loved that it was sooo vibrant, colorful, playful, and happy! Our place is kind of contemporary, and I knew that it would brighten up the place.

Grant Pecoff, the artist, and his wife (Layne) were so friendly and warm, we could have sat a talked to them for days. If you're ever in the area, you must check out their gallery. I'm posting a sneak peek of the painting. I'll update once we hang it =)

Marley and Lil' Rigs

2009-03-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Cooking is not something I am good at. I can follow a recipe but I cannot just whip things together the way my husband and mom do. If it weren't for them I'd be surviving on cheese and pickles (not together!).

While chomping on eggs benedict this morning(having brunch with girlfriends), I call my voicemail to check my messages...my mom is telling me to come over for lunch because she is making tostadas!!! Yumm! As you've probably guessed, my healthy diet doesn't include the weekends ;)

When I get to my parents' house, to my surprise, my relatives are there and I'm so happy to see them. Even though most of them live within 20 miles of me, it's so rare that we get together. Busy schedules are to blame. Here are a few candids of my niece and nephew, Marley and Little Rigo...

Easter Session - Cheryl, Mario, Perla, Jasmine

2009-03-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

I’ve known Cheryl for almost 14 years now. She was my maid of honor at my wedding and I was hers at her wedding. We weren’t always in touch over the years, but whenever we reunited it was as if nothing changed. Our lives had evolved, but our friendship remained the same. Cheryl is one of those kind-hearted, positive, non-judgmental, fun, spirited, faithful, thoughtful people. I am so blessed to have her in my life =)
I had the privilege of taking Easter photos for Cheryl, Mario (husband), and two daughters (Perla and Jasmine). I wanted to post a sneak peek into their session (more to come later). It was raining for most of the session but the sun finally showed up and we were able to take a few shots outside.
I just purchased Totally Rad Actions and you’ll notice that I’m experimenting with the awesome software!! Honestly, photoshop scares me, but when I heard so many people raving about TRA I had to try it for myself and I love it!!!

Cheryl and Mario busted out the bubbles to entertain the little ones.
Check out the lashes on this one =)

I miss NYC

2009-03-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while, but I have a really good reason...
There has been NOTHING going on in my life lately!!
I've gone back to a regular day job and for some reason it makes me even lazier than normal.

Anyway, I was looking through some old photo files on my computer and I came across a folder named "NewYorkCity". In the last 8 years, I've been to NYC four times!! Looking at the photos, I realized how much I miss it. It's so busy, convenient, festive and beautiful! The city has the best food without having to pay an arm and a leg for it. I look forward to the day I'm able to afford to go back =)

The view from the Empire State Building

My friends and me somewhere in Central Park. And yes, we're a little nerdy =)

This photo is significant because I took it while waiting for my 'friend', little did I know he would end up being my husband

The mighty Grand Canyon

2009-02-24T22:07:00.001-08:00

Mike took me to the Grand Canyon this past weekend to get my mind off of "real life". We had such a great time except that we didn't get a chance to hike the trails of the mighty Grand Canyon because it was icy/snowy and we were wearing our regular tennis shoes :( It was the first time for both of us so we were totally amazed by the vastness and wonder of it all!

Please cut me some slack on the pics. They (meaning the people that write the brochures) tell you to try and avoid taking photos in the middle of the day, and what did I do? I took pics in the middle of the day. I'm giving you my excuse of why the pics look so drab and flat, definitely not giving justice to the mighty Grand Canyon. For that, I apologize.

My husband does not like to pose for photos, but he finally found a pose that he really liked and stuck with it. Do you see the trend? What a weirdo!!!

Legs

2009-02-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

A friend wanted to send a special gift album to her husband who is out on deployment. This military wife is so sweet and caring, and I was honored to be part of the whole thing. She is also quite shy, so I am only posting a couple images of her beautiful legs.
I also want to thank my sister, Chris, for helping out with the outfits and design for the session =)

A nice break

2009-02-13T20:15:00.000-08:00

As of today, I have officially become a victim of the failing economy. I worked for one of the biggest companies here in the US and was recently informed that due to “re-structuring”, my position had been eliminated. ELIMINATED. So harsh. I’m humbled by this experience but I also know that I am only one of many. For those of you who have a job, be grateful! Because I worked in the field, I had to turn in the company car, laptop, AMEX, blackberry, gas card, etc. It made me realize how good I had it.

I strongly believe that things happen for a reason and only God knows where I will end up next.
For now…I’m on a nice break =)

So much for the car I was about to buy!! ;)

I hope you know I was kidding about the car. I think those guys were giving me the death stare so that I would get out of the car already (I was in it for quite some time).

Who am I?

2009-02-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

This is my very first post ever! A little nervous, but I think I'll survive. The first think I wanted to do is give you a sense of who I am by writing a list of my likes and dislikes. I've seen this done on a few other blogs and I really liked the idea :)
Also, Mike and I have traveled quite a bit and I wanted to share a few images from my fave country (so far).

I'm a big fan of...
1) my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
2) traveling (first thing I'd do if I won the lottery)
3) sleeping
4) my husband's cooking (it might possibly be the reason I married him)
5) tax returns
6) finding money in my pockets or in the dryer
7) "friends" re-runs
8) reading blogs (I admit it, I'm a blog stalker)
9) cucumbers with lemon and salt
10) coffee bean's moroccan mint tea latte (with soy milk please!)
11) Sprinkles cupcakes (cinnamon sugar, to be exact)
12) my Thorlo socks
13) Where the hell is Matt video
14) spending time with family/friends
15) singing at the top of my lungs when I'm in the car by myself
16) customer service people that are friendly
17) Disneyland
18) towels right out of the dryer
19) a full tank of gas
20) The City on MTV (I know, it's one of my flaws)

I am not a big fan of...
1) when people don't use their turn signal on the road!
2) GEICO commercials (the caveman, the lizard...I don't get it)
3) mayonnaise, onions, bell peppers, cauliflower, zucchini (my husband and my mom hate this about me)
4) when people don't clean up after their pets
5) when people roll up their sweatshirt/hoody sleeves up to their elbows (don't wear a sweatshirt if you're not in need of long sleeves!)
6) negativity, don't like it when people rain on other peoples' parades
7) customer service people that are not friendly
8) paper cuts
9) chapped lips
10) sweetbread (thymus should not have a name like sweetbread, it's deceiving!!)
11) not having A/C in my condo
12) bees or sharks
13) scary movies
14) the way i can barely zip up my jeans after they've come out of the dryer
15) laziness
16) when people smoke around me
17) soap operas
18) having a cold
19) running errands
20) making the bed