Heart and Mind Stuff

I absolutely love, love, LOVE to laugh. And even more than laughter, I love thought provoking insight and wisdom from individuals who also make people laugh for a living through their talents.

I am a huge fan of Tyler Perry because of his ability to combine laughter, life, and love into the things he writes, produces, and shares with the world. (Big ups to Madea. She is my superhero.)

As a fan of Tyler Perry's, I came across a very interesting post of his recently and tried to share this post on my Facebook page, but technical errors kept coming up. (Darn you, error windows!) This post written by Tyler Perry is too good not to share, so here it is! I hope it makes you go "hmmm", the way it did for me.

But most of all, I hope it encourages you the way it encouraged me.

Happy Friday!

GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND
by Tyler Perry

If you can get this, this will change your life… I was out taking my morning run. I love how still it is when I’m running. I can hear clearly and really commune with God. I wanted to share this with you. It’s a lesson I had to learn.

One of the keys to success is to be able to guard your heart. Now, usually when someone says guard your heart they are talking about keeping yourself from heartbreak. Although that is important (as long as you don’t go overboard... but that’s another conversation) that isn’t what I’m talking about. When we are born into this world we enter with such a pure heart but as we grow older situations, circumstances and people tend to make us change. Now I know it is nearly impossible to keep a childlike innocence in our hearts all of our lives, especially after people have betrayed, lied, mistreated and downright been the devil. Trust me when I tell you, I have seen it all. I have been there big ...time. If you’re like me you’ve been there too. But if this is your situation I want you to know two very important things about those moments of heartbreak.

Number one, learn the lesson in it. See how it will work together for your good, because it will. Once you do, it’s easier to forgive and move on. Secondly, and this is just as important as the first one, you must not let that person or people change your heart. What do I mean by that? Well, if you are a giver and someone you have given to misuses your gift, don’t stop giving… just give to someone else. If you are a person that loves people and someone you love hates you, don’t stop loving… love someone else. Eventually, you will find people who appreciate your kindness and your love. Remember this, lots of people have been conditioned to not be able to accept purity of heart. They can’t take it in. Most times it’s not even their fault. It’s just what has happened to them on their journey in life. But don’t let them turn you into one of them. There will be a lot of people in your life who will not appreciate your pureness of heart. If they hurt you don’t stop being you… just be you with someone else.

Why is this so important? Because God blesses you according to what is in your heart. If you are being kind, giving, loving and sharing because it is in your heart and you are not looking for anything in return, then that is a heart that God wants to bless. If you change who you are because you’ve been hurt, then you’ve changed the thing that God wants to bless you according to, and that is your heart. The people who hurt you are not worth that. You can lose everything that you have, but don’t let anybody change your heart.

Labor Day With The Sisterhood

As I'd mentioned in an earlier post, my sister Vanessa and I decided to take a little trip to Arizona during the Labor Day weekend.

What's in Arizona, you ask? The youngest sibling and some rare sistertime together. And of course, you know I had to bring my camera along for the adventure...

While most people read to pass the waiting time before take off, my sister insist she must detangle her hair. 

Stepping outside an air-conditioned plane onto the tarmac of an Arizona airport can be a a bit of a shock to your system.

Like someone blasted a hair dryer in your face unexpectedly. Right? Vanessa definitely thought so.

Kristina is a hair stylist with Salon Ethos and Redken certified haircolorist. Your hair or your Barbie Doll's hair, she can do it all.  

Vanessa and I had never seen the beauty that is Sedona, Arizona, so the three of us along with Kristina's boyfriend Mike, took a little drive over there to check it out. (Well, ok really, Mike drove while the three of us did our best not to drive him nuts during the car ride. Have you ever experienced what it's like to have 3 birds squawking in your ear for a whole 2 hours...with traffic? Mike does.)

Gorgeous, right?

Arizona heat is a great excuse to have ice cream...for breakfast, lunch, dinner and any time in between.  =)

From left to right: the youngest child, the middle child, and our patient chauffeur.

Vanessa shows off her natural modeling skills - I think I've found my next photoshoot subject. However, it will be a miracle if I can get her to pose with a little less Jim Carey action going on.

The middle child. She reminds us all the time to see the humor in life.

Growing up, there was never a dull moment in my life when it involved the 3 of us. This is us trying to organize ourselves for a normal photo. 

I now know why my poor dad has grey hair. 

I heart my sisters.

But I do not heart snakes. Fortunately, this creature wasn't alive as we just happened to stroll past it on the path. Blech. 

The proud Arizona State student. 

While Vanessa happily explores the campus, the youngest one on the left stops to melt in the 100 something degree weather. 

You can't see it, but there's a thought bubble hovering over her that says: "Dear God, why, why, why am I outside right now in this weather? WHY?"

Our Arizona adventures come to an end...with plans to do it again soon. 

Because really, you can never have to much love and laughter when it comes to sibling time. 

Happy Thursday! 

Going Big

While my big dreams involve a successful photography business, my sister's big dreams involve hair. And not just the occasional trim kind of hair. More like designing hairstyles that look runway-ready kind of hair. The more hairspray, the better.

Because of the creative nature of both of our businesses, her being a hair stylist and me as a photographer, it's not unusual for us to exchange a phone call or two each week to bounce around and discuss new ideas on how to expand and become better at each of our respective crafts. A recent conversation over investing in marketing went something like this:

Sister: So option A is way cheaper and option B is more expensive, but I think I might have a bigger a return on my investment if I go with option B. I don't know...I should just go big or go home, right?"

Me: "Yes, I totally think you should go with the go big or go home option."

Sister: "Option B?"

Me: "Yeah, option B. Whatever choice is the go big or go home option. Go with that one."

While the above dialogue probably is not MBA worthy to an Ivy League school it touches upon an important point that I know both she and I strive for in the process of seeking success in our work, our goals and our dreams.

Go big or go home. As in, it's not just a photo, it's a new way to see the world or a new way you can show a person that they are beautiful. To her, it's not just a haircut, it's a way to give someone a confident stride in their walk. And to us, it's not just a pair of scissors or a camera - it's a love for all things creative, it's a chance to share a talent with the world, it's a possibility of being able to achieve a lifetime dream.

So yes,  whatever is the "go big or go home" option, I'll choose that one.

Happy Wednesday!

Slowing Down the Hamster Wheel

I like to think that I take the time to appreciate the beauty around me in nature.  But just like a lot of people, I too can get caught up/sucked in/turn into a hamster on a wheel overnight when presented with the busyness of working, pursuing dream endeavors, paying bills, running errands, laundry, and trying to remember to feed the dog. 

This weekend, however, I got the chance to see first hand the beauty of Sedona, Arizona. With the way the gold of the sunlight hit the red and auburn colors of these majestic rocks, I had no choice but to slow down and let myself be amazed at something that didn't involve a to-do list or personal busyness.

And, for this little hamster on a to-do-list wheel, it was awesome and worth it.  

Hope you, too, had a great Labor Day Weekend...happy Tuesday!

Cheese and Dreams

Rodents are an absolute no bueno in my book. Then again...is it possible to have cute, gross, and encouraging all rolled into one picture?

This photo sent to me by my husband is proof that yes...believe it or not,  it is possible.

I now have a sudden urge to keep pursuing my dreams in photography...as well nibble a bit of cheese while I'm at it.

Happy Thursday!

Road Forks and Asking for Help

It never fails.

Every so often, I'll hit a lull. A creative pothole, a little stumble on the path, a fork in the road with no map that directs which way to go. Things suddenly seem repetitive and in need of a fresh perspective and new ideas.

And that's when I know that the only remedy to this is to seek out the support from others and brainstorm with industry peers and photographers. Even though photography is seen by a lot of people as a solo type of career, I actually believe it's not. The growth I've experienced thus far in my technical skills and marketing skills in the photography business have come from the generosity of other photographers who were simply willing to help.

And after receiving some help, come feedback, critique, and suggestions, suddenly the lull is gone, the creative juices are flowing again, and that fork is moving further and further behind me as I make a decision on which way to go and proceed down that path. I am excited that the days of this upcoming September is full of workshops and networking opportunities with other peers and most of all the chance to grow even more. I've often observed that individuals who are the best at their craft or the expert at their occupation is due to their willingness to always be willing to learn.  And to never be ashamed to ask for help.

Happy Wednesday!



Black and Brown: Mission Accomplished

The game plan was this:

I'd pull the car up to driveway and into the garage. Smooth, calm, and cool. (as Mission Impossible theme song plays quietly in the background)

My sister and I would then gather the bags from the trunk and in one fell swoop, with Olympic-like speed and skill, haul the shopping bags through the side door of the garage and into the house, half-running/half-stumbling through so as not to run into our mother who would surely zero in on the shopping bags and ask us how much we just spent at the mall.

Those were the good ol' days and I still smile to remember that we were never a good influence on each other (or each other's wallets for that matter!) when it came to shopping. Why? Because our conversations in a mall usually sounded like this: "Which one should I get? Oh, what the heck I'll get 'em BOTH!" And with the happy grin that most youngsters have when they have no bills or obligations -  yes, we'd sure as heck get them both. Sometimes, with earrings.

Since my sister was in town for a visit these past few days, she went to check out a little gem hidden in San Jose called Black and Brown. This little vintage and modern clothing boutique for both men and women was recommended to me by Kalani Germono of Kalani Style and both my husband and I had visited this store as well not too long ago.

I just love this store.

Nothing but glee overcomes me as I sift through the unique finds housed on the clothing racks of this establishment. If you are in the mood to score some great finds in shopping and find yourself along The Alameda in San Jose, be sure to check out Black and Brown. As for hauling all your great finds back? Well...call me up and I'll see what I can do. I think I may still have a map or two on how to Mission Impossible those shopping bags into the hhouse and past the inquiring eyes of your family. You know...just in case.

Happy Tuesday!

Being Outside of The Zone

How do I describe it?

It's a weird, far away look when your eyes aren't exactly crossed from effort, but instead seem to be staring off at something in the distance with extreme focus. Almost as if they were using, for lack of a better term for you Star Wars fans out there, "the Force" to try and move an inanimate object. Sometimes, there's even a slight hint of their brow furrowing in concentration.

Have you ever seen a painter deftly take their paintbrush and million colors to a canvas? Have you ever seen a basketball player suddenly focus in with a burst of superhuman speed and almost break that basketball hoop as they slammed in the winning point? Or even a guitarist's intense facial expression when just the right strum of a string on their guitar produces the right pitch of a note they heard in their mind?

They are all in "The Zone" - that moment where all is right in their world and they are riding a wave of enjoyment where their talents & skills align in perfection and as a result, produces something magnificent to share to the world. Whether it's a perfect parenting day or a great performance you put on as a musician.

It's an awesome place, "The Zone."  I've been there a few times myself as a photographer and it truly is all sunshine and perfection and chocolate - kinda like Disneyland happy, sans the overpriced lemonade. But on the flip side, because The Zone is so awesome, the times I am outside of it feels beyond frustrating. Like I'm flailing for a shred of encouragement that will serve as the creative oxygen my "photographer" lungs need. It sounds kind of nuts, but these are the times I feel creatively stuck and upset that all the practice and envisioning I did prior to a shoot is lost because something in me just froze.

It is in these areas outside of the Zone, I am left with the choice to grow and learn...or not. One of my closest friends is a basketball coach and it was a good thing I called her right when I was about to bring out the appetizers and balloons for my pity party - being held, where else? Outside The Zone.

She helped shift my thinking from: "sob-hiccup-sob-sob-SOB-hiccup-OMG-I failed at a photo shoot that was supposed to be nothing short of perfection, what's wrong with me?!"  into "Take baby steps next time and don't expect perfection for everything so soon / you are growing / you are learning / all of us have been there and yes we all have our challenging days, even coaches who coach others/ you can do this/ no, there's nothing wrong with you."

And she's right. *hiccup*

I say all of this because it sheds light on how I want to grow as a photographer. That the photo shoots I fumbled through are just as important as the ones that went perfectly and were carried out in The Zone of my creative world. Both experiences keep me pushing to learn, keep a hat of humility on, and ultimately grow and improve my craft. I would even reckon to say that this applies to you out there who are aspiring to be a better musician, a more effective coach, a better friend or even a better mother. That while being in The Zone is wonderful and everything you're doing is right and going perfect, being outside of it and having those rough days are equally as important because it helps you truly be the better coach/mother/friend/musician/athlete you aspire to be.

Whew. Kinda serious for a Monday, I know. =) On a lighter note, since blog posts are so much more fun with a photo, here's a sneak peak into the this weekend's photo shoot. As always, there's more to come, so stay tuned!

Butterfly Class

As a kid and even later on as a adult, I always thought a I had a higher dosage than most of the "insecure/I think everyone is looking at me" factor.  Like, if the the color green in an x-ray of my body somehow indicated the levels of how insecure I felt at that moment, I could easily pass as a stem of broccoli - with hoop earrings.

I could blame it on a lot of things - my own hangs ups, my upbringing, or maybe just the fact that I had a crooked haircut in elementary school. Or even that I had Dad's bushy eyebrows as a kid (they looked like caterpillars that never moved on to butterfly class)  instead of neat little pigtails and the more girly features of my mother.  As a result of all of this, the tendency to want to blend into the crowd and hide instead of pulling away from the crowd to stand out was a force present in most of my growing up.

It took a lot to grow out of that place of feeling like I wasn't enough. Though I still have those slightly scary moments when I wonder about how straight my bangs are and if new people I meet actually like me for who I am, I am so grateful that it's not what it used to be. Now in my life there's more (much more) laughing off the weirdness of crooked haircuts instead of hiding from it. There's now more time celebrating unique factors of who I became and what makes me different from the rest of the crowd. And above all, I'm so grateful I get to express that in my photography. To help make a person feel over- the-top-fantabulous in their photos, helping them to see that the things they worried about as a kid in how they looked are exactly what make them unique and absolutely worth showing off to the rest of the world. 

Happy Friday!

To Be Cool

I can only hope I look this cool when taking a photo next to a random and thought provoking signs like this.

Happy Thursday!

Perfect Paintings

Before I even wanted to do photography professionally, before I was thinking about logos and marketing, ISO, aperture, Canon or Nikon, I was just a chic with little point and shoot camera taking pictures of anything and everything. I used to tuck my 3.0 megapixel Olympus into my purse and it went practically everywhere with me, becoming an almost permanent fixture in my hands during both international and domestic adventures.

The photo below was captured on a trip I took to the Mayan ruins in Mexico with my family. There was no editing done to this photograph at all - the water really was really that blue, the greens really that green. I remember standing there, inhaling the ocean air with a smile. The view atop the ruins was like a perfect painting in itself - a painting that an editing program would rob of scene's natural beauty.

I love photography for a million, bazillion reasons - but mostly for the simple reason that it helps me remember moments in life when I was surrounded by paintings of nature. Nature that is fully-colored with sheer perfection, beckoning even the most rushed "passerby" to slow down and enjoy it's grandeur.

Happy Wednesday!

A New Bike

I can go on and on about how much I think chocolate is the cure for everything from a sad mood to a case of Monday-nitis to even the I-need-a-desert-after-breakfast-heck-no-I-don't-care-that-it's-only-7:00 AM predicament.

Toblerone has a Facebook fan page and yes, you can bet I clicked "like" on that page faster than my dog snatches a piece of bacon crumb on our kitchen floor. Seeing this photo come through their news feed made me even more proud to be a one of the thousands of fans of Toblerone.

Oh, the wonderful, wonderful joys of chocolate.  Here's to high-fivin' the makers of Toblerone!

Happy Tuesday!

Marizette Paperie

The best memories I had as a kid in kindergarten were definitely the ones associated with arts and crafts time. My love for color as well as my Type A personality revealed itself early on as revealed by the way I would carefully glue, stick & cut out every piece of detail required for the Christmas card I was making for my parents.  No really - macaroni shells, glitter, buttons, multi-colored pieces of construction paper, you name it, I was bent on adding every detail I could to make it the best card ever, worthy of the even Hallmark's attention. (Don't mind the glue drippings!)

Though my card-making career lasted only up until about 2nd grade (I moved on to science projects, The Baby-Sitters Club and Ramona Quimby), I still find myself drawn to the beautiful details of invitations, greeting cards, hand-crafted stationary and the like. Everytime I receive a wedding or baby shower invitation my fingers still graze the surface of the thick cardstock paper, marveling at the details that speak of the event's uniqueness and personality that make the event special in the first place.  

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to meet Marivic and Zuesette, the owners of Marizette Paperie, an invitation boutique based in San Jose, California. Their display of carefully crafted card and invitation work in their office was beyond beautiful and a teensy part of me wanted to ask if I can take the display home. You know. Just so I could stare at it in awe.

These ladies have garnered much attention for their work with customized wedding invitations, stationary creations, baby shower invites, etc. And if truth be told, had they been sitting next to me in  my kindergarten arts & crafts class, they both would have easily schooled me on the proper use of that macaroni and glitter to make the card a true work of art.

I love details and companies like Marizette Paperie who love the details, too.

Happy Monday!

Random Fridays

Random Friday Thoughts:

1. My husband flies back from his business trip to Atlanta. After chatting with him about Georgia, I now want some fried chicken with a side of baked mac and cheese. Ya'll know what I'm talkin' 'bout?

2. I'm excited that Tyler Perry's play "Madea Gets A Job" is coming to California in October. Mr. Perry's studios are based in Atlanta and just for that alone, he gets a high-five and a million cool points.

3. Don't ever tell me what Spam is made of. Ever. Or I will take back my friendship bracelet.

Random Friday Funnies:

Oh, to be young again...

Who was sppying on me?!!?!?



Just yesterday, my sister went shopping for my niece's back to school backpack. Eh... I probably should check and see what backpack she ended up getting.

Dogs are simply the best.

Random But Meaningful Thought for the Weekend:

Happy Friday!

Doing The Crazy

Living in the Bay Area, with all the fun of traffic and cars whizzing by on their way to work, to school, or to Target before they close, I think it's fair to say that you must find some way to make the commute on the road bearable. Or make like an A.D.D. squirrel and go nuts.

Like most folks, I think traffic is about as fantastic as cavity fillings and computer viruses on a Monday morning. It's never fun to to be stuck on the road for one hour when Google Maps AND your GPS insisted itwould only take 15 minutes to get from Point A to Point B.

Interestingly enough, as much as I hate traffic, I find that lately it's been the most calm period of my day. Because I'm stuck in a car with a gazillion other folks, I'm forced sit with no other distractions or demands pulling at me. And it's in this time that I've started to let my inner American Idol shine and sing along with gusto to the radio. And yes, it's also in this time that I've started to realize the importance of having a conversation with God, even before I start my work day.

While I'm sure it looks a tad crazy to talk in the car when there are obviously no passengers in my little Toyota, I realize I need this time and conversation with God throughout my day in order to face the craziness of a work week. I like to think of it as doing what seems crazy in order not to go crazy.

Everyone finds their calm zone in different ways. Hope you're finding your "calm" in the midst of this week!

Happy Thursday!

Bacon-Seeking Coyotes & Sibling Time

I have officially started counting down the days until I fly to Phoenix to spend time with my two younger sisters. The three of us are very close (even sharing the same uber-cool crooked haircut as kids...thanks, Dad!) and somewhere in the midst of careers, relationships, and life, busyiness just kind of took over.

So needless to say, you can imagine my excitement to head out to the desert land despite the sun-just-kicked-me-in-the-face-type-heat. I'm ok with eating ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner while we're out there if it means to be in the company of my sisters.

Not sure what is on the agenda, but I'm pretty sure we won't be venturing outdoors much. Not only because of the fact that you can fry an egg on your face from the intense heat out there, but more so because of this:

Meet Mr. Neighborhood Watch. My sister caught a photo of this coyote taking a stroll around her neighborhood. Taking a stroll in the  neighborhood?!?! And yes, while I'm totally aware that coyote attacks on humans are very rare, knowing my luck, I'll run into that one coyote that thinks I smell like bacon.

Here's to quality time with siblings and the bacon-seeking coyotes we dodge to have them.

Happy Wednesday!

Patience and Marshmallows

Whenever someone says to me "ooh, you're so patient", a part of me wants to revel in the compliment, smiling serenely and humbly as I should...and other part of me wants to laugh a big ol' ba-ha-ha-ha and ask them if they meant to say that to the person standing behind me. Because if they ever saw me on one of my less than perfect days - the days where I feel like asking that person in the grocery store line why it takes them a whole 20 minutes to purchase 1 bag of marshmallows  - that compliment would be reeled back faster than a salmon on a fisherman's line.

Mmmm...salmon. Ehhhh, is it dinner time yet?

Though I appreciate the kind words of someone who thinks I am patient (because, let's face it, it does give you a weird ego boost complete with a gold star) I still find that it is better for me to use that comment to do a much needed reality to see check if my actions of late do indeed exemplify a patient and calm character.

Taking big steps and small steps towards growing a photography business has played a huge role in testing my patience lately and more so, my faith and trust in God. I can't speak for anyone else, but whenever I have a dream or something that I'm really determined to achieve, my overachieving/gotta-get-that-gold-star and sometimes impatient self emerges in the stride to make it to the proverbial finish line. I have my tough days (Did that person just call customer service over for help on how to purchase a bag of marshmallows?!? Uh.... no she DI - IIINT!!!), but little by little I am slowly learning to be more patient, more appreciative of the things I am learning on the way, more thankful that though I sometimes can't see two steps ahead of me on where this journey will lead, my Dad in heaven does.

The Armoire Closet & Ukay Ukay Moda

If I am ever cloned by some crazy scientists on a game show and you are the lucky contestant who has to guess which one is the real me, here's a little hint -  always, ALWAYS pick the one who is sporting the bigger pair of earrings. You do this and you have just won yourself a million bucks.

My love affair with unusual accessories and more importantly, jar-lid sized earrings began many years ago and has morphed into a bit of an obsession. You want to know how I knew my husband was "the one"? His first gift to me wasn't flowers or candy or a fancy schmancy dinner. Rather, it was a bracelet from Mexico made of flat pieces of material shaped like leaves.  Yes, you heard that right. Shaped. Like. Leaves. 

And boom. Just like that  - I found my soulmate.

The sunshine-filled weekend beckoned us outdoors and we found ourselves wandering around the historic Niles District of Fremont. It was there did we discover a hidden treasure called The Armoire Closet, a new and used clothing shop filled with nothing but AWESOMENESS. Really, if you ever find yourself in the beautiful Niles district of the Fremont on the East Bay and you appreciate fashion and ususual style, take a peek into The Armoire Closet.

I love unusual finds both in clothing and in jewelry and this place definitely did not disappoint. The owner, Kaleo, is super friendly and I love that he aims to bring in the fashion, vintage and art, (that are usually associated with the vibes of the bigger cities of San Francisco, Oakland, or Berkeley) into Fremont through his store.

As Justin and I wandered around the shop, my eyes immediately zeroed in on a rack of accessories beautifully adorned with...you guessed it....earrings of all shapes and HUGE sizes.

Holllla! Time to smile at the husband and ask him to pry open his wallet.

I had to hold back from snatching up the entire rack of earrings as it was so hard to decide which ones were coming home with me. But eventually I decided on these earrings that were designed by Ukay Ukay Moda. The fact that they were fashioned out of buttons made me want to high-five the designer for her creativity and fist bump Kaleo for having a great eye on what unique styles to carry in his shop.

As Spam loves eggs, as macaroni loves cheese....SO I LOVE MY BUTTON EARRINGS.

Be sure to visit The Armoire Closet in Fremont. My husband knows full well that we'll be coming back as I love me a great treasure hunt in shops like this. And of course, be sure to check out the beautiful accessories created by Ukay Ukay Moda. Just know that I got dibs on the earrings. =)

Happy Monday!

Bourne Meets Roadrunner

You know those times when you read something that speaks to you so personally you can't help but want to repeat, er, sorry, I mean re-post it? (Gotta love Facebook!) Jenn Van Gundy, one of the talented artists of the Pure Design photoshoot, had recently graced the News Feed of my screen with the following update:

"[God's] ability to outsmart the enemies of your life is so outrageous, he's like Jason Bourne meets the Roadrunner meets a Mob Boss. People. God is freakin genius and he's on your side. Have you prayed today? Cause he really loves you."

Being reminded that the God I've come to know and love can protect me way beyond super-hero-secret-agent-boss-status? Well, that just made my day pretty darn awesome.

Happy Friday!

Kleenex Sleeves

Pre-school was a day that I'll never forget. It was the first time I would be away from under the protective wings of my parents and venturing into the larger than life world of sharing Crayons, graham cracker snacks and toys galore. (All ya'll Cabbage Patch owners out there...woot-woot!)

The moment the teachers pried my gripping, chubby hands away from the security I've always known as mommy, I knew my world would never be the same. The bewilderment at being left behind by my parents for the first time was a shock to my system and yes, you can bet I made sure everyone and their momma knew of my sorrow with each loud wail and woe-is-me-I just hiccuped-and-snorted-at-the-same-time-cry. By the way, sleeves work fabulous as a Kleenex when you're 4.

The only solace I found was in the kindness of a little girl who approached the hiccuping/snorting mess I was, took my hand and offered to share her toys. The rest of the day is a blur, but I clearly remember that because of that nice kid, preschool didn't seem so bad after all. I even stopped hiccuping long enough to enjoy the graham cracker hor d'oeuvres.

Each morning Kona Bean was dropped off to her doggy day care, it was nice to know that her cousin, Coco Bean would be there for her, too in case she started to feel even the slightest bit abandoned for the day.

It always, always helps to have a pal.

Happy Thursday!