Lost and Found

Finding things, especially after you had forgotten about them or thought you lost them, is fantabulous.

Like that five dollar bill you thought you'd lost- until you find it crumpled in the pocket of your jeans. Covered in a weird blue lint and smelling Tide fresh, but found, no less.

Or how about the time at the mall you thought you truly, this-is-for-real-this-time, I'm-not-kidding-oh-emmm-geee-I-can't-believe-it-I'm-going-to-have-to-call-the-police, lost your car to an evil car thief. Or the mall parking lot that eats Toyotas for snacks. After frantically dashing back and forth between other cars with shopping bags slamming against your legs (dang shoe sale!), you sigh relief as you miraculously find your car hiding behind the shadow of a monster truck whose name looks like it could be Big Bo.

Yes. I'll say it again.

Finding things you thought you lost or forgot about is, to the moon and back, fantabulous.

In light of finding things, I just recently found some photography files I thought I lost. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to help assist in shooting a wedding with Bliss Fotography at the beautiful Murrietta's Well in Livermore, California. The learning experience was an awesome one of which I was grateful to be a part of. And after looking through my hard drive, I discovered that I still had the files of the photos I had shot. Yay!! Somewhere in the busyness of sending them to the main photographer, and making sure they were backed up, etc., I had forgotten that I still had a copy for myself that the photographer had given me permission to post. And now that they are found, I can now post and share them. Gotta love these little surprises!

There are more to come, but here's a sneak preview from that wedding.

Happy Wednesday!

Life Conversations and Serendipity...in Vegas

This weekend, as I'd mentioned in a previous post, we spent time with family in Las Vegas as we celebrated the high school graduation of my husband's niece. Amidst the celebration and well wishes, we were able to find some down time to hang out and get some ice cream. HOLLER!  Because really, as my sister once eloquently put it, the Las Vegas zillion degree heat just makes you want want to rob an ice cream truck of it's inventory, for real.

On the air-conditioned car ride to get some bowls of sugar goodness/I'll-regret-this-later at the popular Serendipity, my husband, his two nieces, and I found the conversation steering itself towards the topic of boys, being an independent woman, relationships, and growing up. Dun-dun-dun.

I have to hand it to Justin. Being a guy and all you'd think he'd have suddenly fallen silent or changed the subject as the girl-talk filled the car ride. But no. I was actually more quiet this time (*gasp*), and let him do more of the talking About how important it was for a woman to be a whole person in her identity before diving into a relationship. About the importance of being strong and trusting God first before trusting the relationship. About growing up, learning, and yes, even letting go.

I may be wrong, but I think the reason why I fell a bit more silent in this specific conversation is because somewhere deep inside, I knew it was more important for these girls to hear such important advice from a man instead of a woman. A man they trusted had their best interest at heart, in the midst of a world full of men who might try to tell them otherwise. And I think this was important, because to be frank, if I had been given such advice as a young woman, maybe I wouldn't have made the mistakes I would have in my younger years. Either way, it was a blessing to be able to have this conversation with these girls, especially since one of them was just completing a major milestone in her life before entering college. I truly believe that a woman who knows who she is in God and lets it show in all the relationships she builds, all the accomplishments she achieves, and in how she lives her life in general - well, now, that is a force to reckon with, so watch out world!

Oh, and on a side note, I think we've found Kona Bean's Halloween costume this year.

Because, surely, she's got big dreams, too.

Happy Tuesday!

Spontaneity, Charm, and Adventure

For the past few months, my fragrance of choice has been Eau de Vaseline Aloe Lotion and Dove Soaps and while that was all fine and dandy (and did it's job making me acceptable in a crowded elevator and rank low on the stink-o-meter), it was lacking in the fun department and I was in the mood to have some fun. 

This weekend in Las Vegas visiting family allowed for some mall time my husband and nieces to shop for a new perfume. I'm an overanalyzer by nature and it always boiled down to: Me + 1 million counters of perfume options = walking away with samples to take home, sniff, and analyze some more. And the award goes to.... Mrs. Type A of Northern California!


The myriad of options I saw in the department store, all contained in it's fancy bottles and even fancier prices, had my nose swimming in clouds of flower scents, hints of vanilla, you name it. Some fragrances even reminded me that though I love cotton candy and bubble gum, there was no need to walk around smelling like a candy factory experiment gone terribly wrong.

As I'd suspected would happen, too much time went by and I walked away with only a few options sprayed onto a small strips of paper and husband with the beginnings of an itchy nose and allergies soon to follow from all the floral scents/vanilla scents/candy factory scents I sprayed into his face. We were approaching the bazillionth time I asked his opinion and hence, decided to call it a day and try another time.

But after a quick detour into a Banana Republic store on the way home, I'm happy to report that I unexpectedly found the perfect compliment to my Vaseline and Dove collection. 

According to this website, my new fragrance, Wildbloom, is "designed for spontaneous, charming, and adventurous women to who enjoy every moment of their day."


Eh....no pressure, right?! 


I love this new fragrance and yes, I'll admit it: the little leather flower on the bottle that Mr. Banana Republic decorated it with certainly helped sway my decision a little. Tiny. Bit. What can I say? I'm a sucker for details and accessories. Even on fancy schmancy perfume bottles.


In other news, I will have the opportunity this weekend to help photograph a wedding alongside Ananda Shorey of Bliss Fotography. I am very excited about this opportunity as it will be another chance to work alongside another professional and hone my skills even more as a photographer. It's always nerve-wracking, but at the same time the challenge is fun and I am looking forward to it! Whoo-hoo!

Here's to the spontaneity, charm, and adventure in you.


Happy Monday!

Missing the Beanie Baby

I say this a lot, but I really don't know how parents do it.  The whole leaving their kids behind for a few days/five minutes/five seconds.

As I sat on my 6:35 AM flight (Mr. Sun looked at me and said "you craaaaayzaaaay" and went back to sleep) to Las Vegas this morning, all I could think of was one thing.

ONE THING. Was it breakfast? No.

Was it the fact that I was already awake by 4 in the morning getting ready with my eyes half open as I sloowwwly brushed my teeth? Nope.

My thoughts were on a four-legged, in-need-of-a-grooming-she-looks-like-a-hot-MESS furball named Kona. I left my baby for the weekend at my parents house as I met up with my husband and family to celebrate our niece's graduation. (Go class of 2012 and congratulations to Meilani!)

As fun as this weekend is sure to be, I'm already missing the puppy-kid. Oh, I hope she's entertaining herself ok while we're away and not missing us too much.

Our Up Years

I love looking at wedding photographs.

Yes, for looking at the details of her beautiful wedding dress and accessories. Yes, for the details of his crinkled smile at her as she walked down the aisle with her dad or the way their crazy family and friends were frozen in a moment of sheer joy at the reception. And yes, even for laughing at the photo captured of Uncle Bob who wore white socks with black dress shoes and did the moonwalk on the dance floor like it was nobody's business.

But even more than wedding photographs, the other type of photos I enjoy look like this:

The movie Up was the first movie my husband, Justin, and I watched together as a married couple. Yes, I bawled like a baby. (But for the record, so did Justin!)

And after watching it, I realized that while I'll always love to look at my own wedding photos that froze  a moment of our youth, I'll love even more the photos captured of us later on in life, when we're old, grey, and sporting the uber-cool fragrance of Eau de Toilette Icy Hot or Bengay.

Yes...I do indeed look forward to our Up Years.

Dressing Room Battles

I saw this cartoon on the Internet and laughed. Not only because it was funny and hilariously accurate for a lot of us women, but because I happened to discover this cartoon on this site at the same time I was inhaling a Snicker bar in front of my computer. (There's no reason NOT to have dessert in the middle of the day. 'Nuff said.)

Here's to the joys and dressing-room battles of being a chic.

Happy Tuesday!

My Vidal Sasoon Dad

It was a fun-filled weekend spent with the endless chatter and clang of utensils as we celebrated birthdays, time with family, good food, and then of course, Father's Day this weekend. And I don't know about your dad, but one memory I vividly recall as a kid was that my dad was responsible for crooked bangs and the uber dork-status hairstyles my sisters and I sported when we were little. Dad can get a little too creative sometimes and I think our haircuts were an experiment to see if he could be the Filipino Vidal Sasoon.

My dad is an interesting character. I'm proud to say that it's because of him that my sisters and I grew up knowing how to fix a broken toilet in the house like we were born plumbers, have the skills to get all MacGyver on minor household repairs with paperclips, tape, and the right can-do-attitude, and know how to have a nerdy sense of humor about life while making a fancy schmancy dinner out of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup and an egg. (You haven't LIVED until you've added an egg.)

Most of all, I always recall my dad encouraging us to be unique, creative, and unafraid to aim high, even if it meant not looking like everyone else, crooked bangs and all.

Hope you all enjoyed a fabulous Father Day weekend!

Happy Monday!

My First Best Friend

She was my first best friend - with a bad haircut.

Meaning, she was the first human I shared my toys with, first human smaller than me I learned how to fight with and boss around, first person I grumpily generously split the last piece of chocolate cake with after dinner. But mommy, it's MIIIINE!!

Growing up, people always thought we were twins which I hated because it basically meant that a slightly smaller and chubbier version of me would go around imitating everything I said and did and wanted to share everrrythiiiinggg. All candy included. To top it all off, my mother dressed us like we were the Olsen twins in the early years on Full House and even cut our hair in the same Bruce-Lee-ish style.

And at the same time I recount all of these "traumatic" moments of childhood, I also remember how she cried on my first day of kindergarten. Why? Because to her it meant our days as Siamese-twins were now going to be slightly altered with different schedules, math homework, and even new friends.

And today is her birthday. My sister Vanessa turns 30 years old (woot!) It's pretty crazy to see how time has flown from our days as the dynamic duo, to adolescence, through adulthood. This same person I happily bossed around for a good portion of her life is also the same person today who doesn't hesitate to protect her family, her daughter, her friends. I even remember a time when she was the only one who, without hesitation, stepped in when a friend of hers was involved in an abusive relationship.  And yes, even as grown ups, she was still the first person to cry when I went on to move into my own apartment later on - because once again, it meant we wouldn't be together in the same house.

I've re-posted this picture of us as kids because I think it's the one that best says without words how my sister and I are today even as adults. Laughing and still close even after all the years of life that's passed and grown us.

And maybe today I'll give her the whole slice of chocolate cake this time. We'll see. =)

Happy birthday, Nessa! I love you and am thankful you were my very first best friend, bad haircuts and all. 

Happy Friday!

Throwback Thursdays

I love studying photographs of famous people, both past and present. Their poses, their facial expressions, the lighting, what they were thinking in that exact moment a lucky photographer captured their essence in a photo. 

I think that when an artist has truly made an impact on the world through the sharing of their talents and unique ability in music, entertainment, or fashion, the end result is always the same - a generation forever changed and influenced because of their work.

If given the chance to rewind time, just for a moment, what celebrities would I have jumped at the chance to photograph? There's a lot, but the biggies for me? Well...

Lucy for her echanting smile and fiery red hair that made her the queen of comedy in an era when women were not known for that.

Ray Charles, for the way his lack of sight still powerfully enabled the rest of us to see joy in music with each strike of the piano keys his hands danced across.

Amy Winehouse for her vintage, eccentric sense of style and captivating voice that was all her own and no one else's.

And yes, Audrey, too.

For the way she influence the world of fashion with a grace and simplicity so long ago that still resonates through the trends of today.

To have been able to capture these people on camera? Oh, I would have died and gone to photographer heaven.

Here's to artists who've gone before us and influence the artists of today.

Happy Thursday!

There's Always Room: Nutella

Large jar, small jar, the scrapings on a spoon or even a fork (we all know desparation for chocolate will make you resort to using just about anything).

For breakfast or lunch, a spoonful before I head to the gym, just-because-it's-2:30-in-the-afternoon-don't-judge-me or even during dinner (yes, during!)...there is always room for Nutella.

Happy Wednesday!

A Basket of French Fries

I once ran a 5k race with my husband, Justin.

Emphasis on ONCE.

You know that haze that you see over the road when it's a hot day outside? That wavy/hallucinating-like mess you see hanging over the road in the distance that reminds you you're in the desert and still faaarrr from water or civilization or a toilet? That's what I see all the times I attempt to run - even on the treadmill at the gym. I've only been on this machine FIVE minutes??

However, there's always something exciting about taking on a challenge just to say that you did it. Even running. I was looking through a journal that Justin and I keep together and saw our race bibs from that 5k race we both did in 2010.

Justin  kicked, screamed, cried lovingly supported the bright idea I had of signing us up for our first 5k race together. Did we become avid runners after completing this 5k race? Eh, heck-to-the-no. In fact, I vividly recall how we made a beeline for the local Mel's Diner after the race was done to inhale a couple of burgers and milshakes as a reward for enduring the entire race. I was never so happy to see a basket of French fries and almost hugged the waiter.

Even though I'm sure we both had that ugly, "I'm-so-tired-thirsty-hungry-I-can't-blink-or-feel-my-eyes-look going on as we crossed that finish line, we still did it.

And I love looking back at moments like that.

DJ Verz. 2012.

Once upon a time, in a land faraway called Childhood in the 80's, I may have fooled myself into thinking I could be a DJ. Oh, but not just any DJ that knew how to switch the cassette tapes out or press pause/play on your recorder (shoot, I know how to do that!), but a really, really cool DJ. 

The kind that everybody and they're momma knows about the minute you step inside the building, the DJ that crowds make way for as you lug all your gear for set up across the dance floor, the kind that knows how to rock an entire crowd with one simple  and skillfully administered skrrrrr-aaaatch on the turntables to blend the beats with smooth and seamless perfection.

Unfortunately, that childhood dream only lasted, ahmmm, about half an hour because as an 8 year old, the first time I put a needle to the record on our family turntable not only scratched the vinyl something awful, but cracked the needle and the needle head thingy majiggy that I guess is necessary on a turntable. And when I say it broke, I mean, snap, crackle, pop...CRRRRAAAAACK. Picture a chipmunk-cheeked Bruce Lee haircut lookin' Asian girl with eyes that said, "uh-ohhh" - that was me once I realized my parent's slipper would find a way to my backside before I could launch my doughnut-roll legs into running position.

Yeah. I'll stick to photography.

Meet my friend DJ Verz. For so many years, Verz has shared his art - his heart - through sharing the beat and the soul of a song with numerous crowds of all ages and walks of life, helping make a moment worth remembering for so many and reminding us that no matter what life throws your way, there's always a reason to dance.

Happy Monday!

Happy Ice Cream Day, Pops

My dad, I think like most dads, was never one for emotional, daughter-girly breakdown-moments or let's sit down and talk about life. It was all girls in my family, including my mother, so needless to say I think Dad noticed the sprouts of grey hair a little earlier than he anticipated. 

Dad loooooves ice cream. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he's tried to buy stock in Dreyer's at one point in his life, for reals. Instead of toy stores, he frequented the local Baskin Robbins with my sisters and me as his way showing us that though he ain't one for the emo-talks, he still loved us nonetheless. I am fortunate to have many memories of my sisters and me happily pressing our chubby faces against the glass surfaces that covered the huge, colorful bins of yummy goodness that is Baskin Robbins ice cream. 

Today's his birthday and though he had to work and couldn't hang out, we made sure to stop by the local Baskin Robbins and pick up a little something to help him remember that birthdays aren't quite complete without some ice cream and family.

Happy birthday, Dad. We love you.

Photo courtesy of Kristian Iskandar, KI Photography

Because There's Always Room: Thank You

Some days the words come easily and Yammer-Doodle-Doo could very well be my middle name. And on other days, my brain is staring at a blank screen and at an impatient, blinking cursor waiting for me to formulate some sort of intelligence strung together with pretty words in a blog post.

Today was one of those, uh....other days.

I don't know about you, but some, if not most, of my "ah-ha" moments come at the weirdest times - doing laundry (dang, there goes that red sock in the whites...again!), dodging a bicyclist on the street, or in the produce aisle trying to decide if I should live on the edge and reach for the apple at the top of the heap rather than settle for the ones meant for us "fun-sized" people at the bottom.

And my "aha" moment this time simply came from taking a random walk one sunny afternoon. I was trying not to trip down some steps I was walking on when it dawned on me that it might be fun to write a series entitled "Because There's Always Room". As my steps quickened down the pavement, I realized that there's always room for something good everyday, right?

And today? Well, there's always room for shout outs and thank you's.

When I was unsure of whether or not to start my photography business, it was Molly Denson of Simply M Photography who said "why not?" Though I've never met Molly in person (her photography business is actually based out in Tenessee), and only through email exchanges and Facebook posts, I owe her a huge thank you. With every question I had from business licensing, to connecting me with other photographers and resources, to answering the tiniest questions on shooting techniques, Molly has simply been kind, patient, and most of all encouraging. And in an industry where it's fiercly competitive, to find support from a peer is worth it's weight in gold.

So here's a shout out to Molly Denson of Simply M Photography. Because, really, there's always room for thank you's, any day of the week.

Happy Thursday!

Random Laughing

Random laughing is good. For you, for me, for everyone, I think.

A hearty chuckle, a little giggle, even a little smirk that says something has managed to crack through your tough exterior and see the humor in life amidst the busyness and to do lists.

The next time this happens to you, I hope you'll remember to randomly smile and not take life too seriously.

Happy Wednesday!

Prune Face

Some days, waiting can be a minor annoyance, other days, waiting is hardly noticed because the joy of the outcome covers it so it's barely noticed. And still other days, waiting just. Plain. Bites. Like being sick. Like that not-so-pleasant cough syrup you have to down. Like finding out you washed a red sock in white laundry. (again?!)

Yesterday was one of those days where the words "patiently waiting" were no where on my little vocabulary list for the day. The idea of "good things come to those who wait" could not ease the crinkled frown I wore so openly on my face. My face probably resembled a prune without me even noticing it.

I found myself venting these thoughts to one of my closest friends that live in Los Angeles. She's known me for years (and survived!) and though I try and tough things out as much as I can, venting my frustrations was probably one of the best thing I had done all day to help remedy my "woe is me" attitude. To be able to voice the jumble of thoughts in my head and how I struggle with dreaming & waiting for my photography business to become a full-time career, helped smooth out the frown on my face. 

Though still a ways to go, I am thankful for friends who remind me that valleys and peaks, and yes, even waiting, are truly what make the journey worth taking and dreams worth pursuing.

Happy Wednesday!

Button-Sewing Contest

I joke around sometimes about my lack of ability to stitch/sew/mend/be anywhere close to useful when presented with a needle and thread. And yes, I will be the first to admit that even now, as a grown adult, I will still pile together any clothes that need a hole mended or button secured into a nice little bag and haul it over to my momma's house to beg her to take care of these issues for me. I do my best as far as domestic duties are concerned, but given the choice I think I'd rather be presented with a pile of dishes clean and neatly put away than a heap of clothes begging me to match them up with their rightful button friends. 

In my little world, it's just a reminder that as much as I'd like be a good at everything and pretend I'm as cool as She-Ra, Wonderwoman, and Katniss Everdeen combined, it just ain't gonna happen. Everyone is good at very different things, including artists.

This weekend I had the awesome opportunity to showcase a couple of beautiful outfits created by stylist, Kalani Germono, of Kalani Style, hair by Shar Madriaga. She and Jenn Van Gundy, whom I had mentioned in a previous post, were part of a team of designers of a fashion show/fundraiser held to help raise awareness of human trafficking & exploitation of girls/women all over the world. Both Kalani and Jenn could easily school me in a button-sewing contest (for real!) and I am truly amazed by how these women used their talents as creators and artists to help with a larger global issue. 

More details are to come on the story behind the artists, their creations, and the cause so stay tuned!

Dream Loudly.

I love to crack jokes with my 9-year-old niece.

Ok, ok, fine. More like pick on. But it's totally not my fault -  I blame it on the fact that I was once the older and bigger sister of two siblings. Why be an older sibling if you can't have any fun with it? I think God's got a sense of humor though, because my once "little" siblings now tower waaaay over my 5 foot something/mini-human frame.

Sitting around talking about everything under the sun with a 9 year old really has it's benefits. You get an honest opinion, simple and clear perspective and get to discuss all this while scarfing and oinking down lots of ice cream and with no reminder given about how you're on a diet from sweets.

One evening hanging out with her, I was asking/heckling her with all sorts of animal-related questions that I knew made absolutely no sense, just to see if I could stump her. (Because, really, this kid has an answer for errrrr-thaaaang!) And over and over again, she'd still smile that same toothy grin and tell me that she still wanted to be a vet and that's why she knew all about animals. Despite my grilling, her confidence never wavered on what she wanted to be.

As a younger tot, my niece liked animals. No wait, that's not true.....she loooooved them. Even once declared to be a vegetarian once she realized that a good steak came from a cow. This kid loves animals so much that she continues to declare to anyone who will listen that she's going to be a vet some day. Yep. Whenever she's asked that all-too-famous-kid-question of "what do you want to be when you grow up", her response is always the same toothy grin, oozing with confidence (and ice cream on her face) "I'm gonna be a VETERINARIAN because I loooooove animals!"

Despite the fact that yes, there's still school and training, and stuff to learn and aunties who try to stump and grill you with nonsensical questions about animal care and animal facts, yes, she is still gonna be a veterinarian because she loooooooves animals. And I love that confidence she has, that toothy grin that still declares her dream, boldly and proudly to anyone who'll listen. It reminds me to dream, boldly and loudly, "I'm gonna be a professional photographer full-time because I loooooove photography and being able to share my art with the world." Boooo-yah.

Dream big. Dream loudly. Even if others try to turn down your volume.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead of you. Happy Friday!

Oh, yeah, and this cartoon? I LOL'd too much when I found it. Ladies, you know you can relate. I know I can. =)

All Over Again

Not too long ago, I had dinner with a few of my old co-workers, all female. Now, you can imagine that the dinner conversation covered everything from the usual squeals of excitement from not having seen each other in so long to the usual "where are you working/career/what are you doing now/oooh, girl, I love your hair!"

And of course, the topic of kids came up. Only one of my former colleagues has children (two of them) and so of course, the conversation veered off into the questions of motherhood, balancing work and life, and of course, oh-em-gee, did it hurt giving birth?!?! etc.

But the thing that stood out most to me from that whole conversation on kids that night? When my co-worker smiled and said "I dunno. When a kid is born, it's like you're staring into the eyes of a brand new person you're gonna get to know. It's hard to describe, but you kinda fall in love all over again. And I think that's why people continue to have babies."

Congratulations to Sarah and Daniel and to your new addition, Emma Grace.

And here's to falling in love all over again.

Happy Thursday!

New Life and Pacifiers

Not too long ago, I blogged about a couple of friends of ours who were having their first baby. 

As of last night her and her husband, Daniel called us up to let us know it was baaaay-beeee time! Sarah and I have chatted about her pregnancy from day one and all that came with it...and now I can't believe the moment is finally here!

One thing is for sure - I already know what kind of pacifier to get as a gift.

Sarah and Daniel, can't wait ot meet your little girl!

Here's to new life and kudos to manufacturers of pacifiers with a good sense of haha's!

Happy Wednesday!