A Different Space to Grow

Lately, I've been thinking a lot (and obviously not writing a lot).  

I'm at a place in my career and my life where I feel a little lost, 

like I can't quite see the path through the fog.

I know,  I know, it's such a mid-20s "find yourself" cliche.

But I must say, it's a bitch.  

I wish I had been here earlier, younger,

when life's doors were wide open (and seemingly free).

But here I am.  

It's a private, contemplative place to be, which for me,

does not translate easily to this screen and this public place.

And so, as I wrestle with my own self, and try to figure out what I really want from
the next year, 

five years, 25 years, 50 years of my life, 

I'm taking a step back from this blog, creating a different space to grow.

I have so loved writing and posting here, and sharing my life with you, my friends and family.

I'll leave you with a quote that has been inspiring me lately, and I hope it brightens your day, too:

That which you love, you must spend your life doing, 

as passionately and as perfectly as your heart, mind, and instincts allow.

And the sooner you identify that bliss,

which surely resides in the soul of most human beings,

the greater your chance of a truly successful life.

- George Lois (from Damn Good Advice)

Friendsgiving

I know we're all over Thanksgiving now and Christmas is all the rage and all that.  

But you know, Thanksgiving just went by too fast this year.  

It's one of those things where it feels like it happened 

yesterday and also 2 years ago all at once...you know how that is.

Well this year, Brian and I started a new Thanksgiving tradition:  Friendsgiving!  

It turns out our apartment is exactly long enough 

to fit three 6-foot tables end-to-end, 

which is all you need to squeeze 20 people in for dinner :)

I got a little overly excited about decorating all harvest-y

and even went to the Flower market downtown the day before.

And I broke out the gold spray paint,

which you should know by now is my #1 secret weapon.

Also, thank goodness for the Dollar Store.

But the best part really was having everyone in one place, together.

It's been hard in LA to get a group together,

and I miss having that sense of cohesion,

so this was just absolutely perfect.

So many people I love, who finally got to meet each other!

The best.

And, I made a turkey for the first time!

Win.

Deborah the turkey.  She was delicious.

Well done, friends, well done.

Stefanie's Maternity Sesh

You guys.  I'm sorry I've been so absent!  That "sneak peek" cliffhanger turned into a bit longer of a cliffhanger than I intended...

Anyway, Stefanie is a good friend of mine, and the cutest pregnant lady.  We played dress up and took some maternity photos a little while ago at her home and on the beach in Venice, and it was so much fun!  I can't wait to meet her baby girl, but until then, here are a few of my faves from our photo sesh.  Enjoy :)

Sneak Peek - Stefanie's Maternity Session

I photographed my first maternity session last week

for my friend Stefanie!

She's the prettiest pregnant lady,

and I'm so grateful that she agreed to be my model for a day :)

I'm excited to share some of the finished photos with you,

but for now, here's just one

of the cutest little watermelon shoes there ever were.

Happy Tuesday!

Fridays at the LACMA

I have a new favorite thing to do on Fridays.

It involves wine, picnic blankets, live music, and art.

Does it get any better?

I'd heard about Fridays at the LACMA before,

but due to my AWOL ("always west of Lincoln") inertia,

I had never gone until last Friday.

And it was wonderful.

Brian and I headed out after work,

picked up some wine at Ray's & Stark,

pulled up a seat on the grass,

and hung out and listened to an awesome jazz concert.

I know nothing about jazz,

but I loved listening, and watching all the other people get really into it.

There was even a group of people behind the stage

doing what I can only describe as "interpretive dance."

It was awesome.

I wanted to join in (I'm embarrassing like that),

but Brian was having none of it.

We even got to see the sold-out James Turrell exhibit

(thanks to a friend who got us tickets),

which I can only describe as trippy and completely mind-blowing.

What a genius that guy is.

We followed it up with a dinner at Angelini,

which I have already proclaimed to be 

the best Italian restaurant I've been to stateside.

Brian agreed, so now it's super official.

All around, last Friday was one of those days 

that the effort of planning and going really paid off.

I was just so happy I went and saw and experienced.

There really is a lot out there,

east of Lincoln.

Terranea (in film)

{such an unfortunate hair situation}

Happy Weekend

After the week I've had,

I just can't wait for a little down time.

Hope you all get some R&R in this weekend!

3 Years

Here's to us!

Here's to all we've accomplished in Year 3,

apart and together,

and to all the promise that Year 4 brings.

I'm so happy I get to spend it with you,

my love, my partner, and my dearest friend.

2 years.

1 year.

Terranea

Last weekend, we went on our first staycation at Terranea in Palos Verdes for our 3rd anniversary.  I was totally blown away by the resort -- it feels like Hawaii, but it's only a 30 min drive from our apartment!

Terranea is a big hotel, but it feels intimate somehow, like you're staying in a really nice house.  A villa perhaps.  There are a bunch of restaurants to choose from, all with different vibes (we had a brunch at Nelson's, happy hour at Bashi, and a fancy dinner at mar'sel), the adult pool has a dj and fruity cocktails, and the views are unbelievable.  We even saw a pod of dolphins swim by from our pool lounge chairs!

I took some film photos of our trip, but while those are getting developed, here are some iPhone photos of our weekend.

{view from our balcony}

{our room!  and they give you champagne when you check in!}

{the adult pool}

{view from our lounge chairs, just before the fog lifted}

{nice shades bro}

{bloodies at Nelson's, again, just before the fog lifted!}

Happy Friday!

{refreshing farmer's market punch at Coqueta in SF}

What are you up to this weekend?

Brian and I have a mini-getaway planned

to celebrate our 3rd anniversary!

Can you believe it's been 3 years?

I'm excited to hang out together

and maybe go hiking

or just drink margs by the pool :)

Cheers!

On the Lake

Funny story.

Just after these were taken,

we realized that we couldn't see our houseboat anymore,

and were essentially lost on the lake,

with no phones,

no money,

hardly any gas,

and only one beer with which to barter.

And it was getting dark.

After a couple of laps around the lake,

a few rounds of spirited debate over just how fast a houseboat could possibly go,

and a half-hour stop-over at a random houseboat

wherein Brian consumed numerous fireball shots with our new-found friends

while the rest of us frantically dialed any phone number we could remember
on a borrowed cellphone

("taking one for the team," he claims),

we found our way home.

And promptly consumed approx. 20 lbs of ribs smothered in BBQ sauce

as consolation for the hour we spent thinking we might have to
sleep on a motor boat with no dinner,

and god forbid,

no beer.

Real Life:  Lake Shasta.