The 365 Project

186 - The Gum Wall

2011-02-28T13:25:00.001-05:00

A little bit gross and a lot a bit intriguing. It's kind of a must-see if you're visiting Seattle. Just saying.

187 - Jamba

2011-02-28T10:49:00.004-05:00

In a couple weeks, I will have one of these:

Though, it probably won't be as warm or sunny as the last time I had one. But hey, I'll take Jamba Juice just about anytime. Plus, I think we have a gift card waiting. Mmm.

185 - BFFs

2011-02-26T22:30:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow I'll be leaving on a short getaway with this guy. We're BFFs. It's a guaranteed great time.

184 - B&B's Pinks & Reds

2011-02-11T16:35:00.002-05:00

And, for the last installment of my parents' lovely summer garden, here are the pinks and reds...

183 - B&B's Yellow

2011-02-10T13:25:00.011-05:00

A little glimpse of yellow from my parents' garden...

This last photo is just an example of the crazy things you can do with editing today. While the two previous photos are straight out of the camera (no editing at all), the one below is actually the photo above, just with sepia-tones and some vignetting:

I love the look of sepia/black-and-white/aged photos... though I'm such a sucker for color that I always keep the originals as well. =)

182 - B&B's Orange

2011-02-10T10:07:00.002-05:00

My parents have had beautiful gardens and yards for... well, probably for as long as I've been alive (and then some). I don't think I really realized the time, effort, and love that goes into maintaining such beauty until just a few years ago when I tried planting one for the first time. Even now, Josh and I have had vegetable gardens, but not beautiful gardens (and they really only survive because of Josh, at that).

Over the next couple posts I want to share just a few of the incredible plants and flowers my parents tend to... starting with my favorite color -- orange!

Also, all of these shots are straight out of the camera -- no color adjustment whatsoever. They really are just that amazing.

181 - Fremont Bridge

2011-02-09T15:44:00.000-05:00

180 - On the Bridge

2011-02-09T11:43:00.000-05:00

These just make me happy. Sigh. I miss Seattle. And summer. =)

179 - Drawbridge

2011-02-09T08:54:00.000-05:00

I'm a little kid when it comes to "cool moments". Around water, that can be in regards to ships, and boats, and fish, and birds, and drawbridges. I stand there, open-mouthed, smiling, and insisting we wait until it's all finished, and everything of any interest whatsoever has passed... so naturally, we had to watch the entire proceeding of the bridge opening and closing. It was grand. =)

178 - Down by the Water

2011-02-08T12:10:00.001-05:00

There's something about water that simply calms my soul. Even though it fills me with great nostalgia and longing, it also brings me great peace and hope. Someday I'll find my way back to it, I'm pretty sure.

177 - Don't Follow

2011-02-08T11:57:00.000-05:00

Just in case you were wondering... don't follow in my footsteps...

Compliments of a sign in downtown Seattle. It seems somehow fitting... though, I trip more often than walk into walls (though both have been known to happen).

However, it could also be taken in regards to updating blogs..... I think I walked into a few walls over the past few months. And I might've fallen into a couple of pits along the way, too. But, I WILL post 365 photos on here, even though I'm already technically past my year deadline. =)

176 - Theo Chocolate

2010-11-08T08:53:00.001-05:00

If you're ever in Seattle, you must visit the Fremont neighborhood. It's a great place to wander around, filled with the unique stores, yummy restaurants, great coffee shops, and everything in between. For starters, there's a Belgian tavern and Theo Chocolate. Then, there's a drawbridge and a troll under the bridge. Need I say more?

Well, I won't say more about Fremont, but I will say more about Theo Chocolate. My sister clued me in a number of years ago about Theo, and my oh my, is their chocolate delicious! Besides having pretty much the best chocolate around, Theo was the first organic chocolate factory in the US -- prior to their opening, all chocolate was imported from Europe. Now, Theo is the only organic, fair trade, bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the country. Pretty sweet, huh?

When you go into the store, they have EVERY kind of chocolate available for sample on the floor. It's ridiculous. And amazing. And irresistible. You can pretty much make a meal of it! And don't forget to take the factory tour before you go! :)

175 - Zeus

2010-11-05T10:27:00.000-04:00

I'd like to introduce you to someone very special. Someone very important to my little sister. Someone who will become a permanent part of her family come March. Meet Zeus:

Hmm, not quite what you were expecting? :) Well, my little sister, Gretchen, is engaged, and her fiance, Brett, is the owner of this cute, but not so little, guy named Zeus. And he's not really a cake. He's a living, breathing English bulldog who can easily knock you over as he's about 80 lbs of pure muscle. However, this was the cake for their engagement party -- pretty awesome, huh? It was very lifelike, for sure, and I especially love the details of the cupcake...

For some photos of the REAL Zeus -- when he actually WAS a cute, little, puppy -- check out the awesome shoot The Popes did when he was just a few weeks old!

174 - Vintage Fuchsia

2010-11-04T09:41:00.003-04:00

Even though my middle name is Rose, I have yet to show signs of having a green thumb (remember, Josh is our main gardener). However, many members of my family, including my parents, have beautiful gardens and flowers, and I definitely make up for my own lack of growing with appreciation for their beauty.

When I was in Seattle in August, I found this fuchsia plant happily growing in a hanging basket on my parents' back porch. Now, I had to actually ask my parents what its name was... because I don't know anyone else who's ever had them! As it turns out, the fuchsia is a "vintage" flower breed, and my Gramma's favorite flower. When she was younger, she and her grandfather (my great-great-grandfather) would go to the nursery around Memorial Day to pick one out. I'm thinking it might be a good tradition to continue.

It was all I could do to not take photos of them everyday. I just couldn't take my eyes off of them. There is NO color enhancement whatsoever in these photos -- they are just that brilliant, that beautiful, and that intricately amazing all on their own. Pretty incredible, huh?

173 - Drivers Beware!

2010-11-03T20:27:00.000-04:00

I have many Seattle adventures in store for you. In addition to the Maltby Cafe and a playground date with Amelie, I also got to take my little brother Jacob on a looooong drive down to Renton, WA so he could take his driver's license test. And yes, he passed -- he's calling my mom to inform her of the "great" news. ;)

172 - Swinging Shoes

2010-11-03T12:21:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite little people in the whole wide world is Miss Amelie. You might remember her from some photos I did back in March when her mommy was still pregnant with little sister, Lucy.

Well, Amelie's back... and look how she's grown! She's 2 1/2, and trust me, she's just about ready to rule the world. We had a play date when we were in Seattle, and I just had so much fun running around with her and remembering the childhood joy of the playground -- the swings, in particular. =)

171 - Cinnamon Roll

2010-11-02T13:25:00.000-04:00

Let me introduce you to the Maltby Cafe cinnamon roll -- a plateful of delicious, gooey goodness:

This is the first official "Seattle" photo that you'll be seeing. Due to some airline/flight complications, Josh and I had finally gotten in to my parents' house around, hmm, 4am, I think? Which given the time change, felt like about 7am for us. Translation? An all nighter!

However, my dear friend Fritz (also known as Carolyn) was going to be flying out that same day, so we had one chance to connect, and connect we did! At the infamous Maltby Cafe, of course; over an infamous cinnamon roll, of course. And just so you can get a grasp on the size of this "roll", here's Fritz modeling it:

Yup, the thing is huge. The perfect treat for friends who live on opposite coasts to share and catch up over. =)

170 - Chris & Jack

2010-11-02T09:46:00.001-04:00

You've already met our friend, Chris, and you've definitely met our kitten, Jack.... so here are a few of the two of them thrown together. It's probably pretty safe to say that Chris is one of Jack's favorite people. Following Josh and myself, of course. ;) Besides being at least a once-a-week visitor (and often more frequently), Chris watched our little cats a few times when we were away, thus endearing himself as one of the "feeders".

But seriously, our cats are awesome, and while they love everyone, Jack especially loved Chris. So we took some photos before Chris left for Milwaukee. And abandoned us forever. And broke poor Jack's heart.I'm not sure how he'll ever recover...

...

....

Are you on your way back yet, Chris? ;)

169 - Succession Shots

2010-11-01T21:26:00.002-04:00

On August 1st, Josh and I flew to Seattle. However, our flight didn't leave until late afternoon, and so before church we invited two dear friends, Joanna and Chris, over for breakfast. As Joanna was heading back to law school (Duke), and Chris was moving to Milwaukee to work for InterVarsity, it was our last chance to see the two for an undetermined amount of time. (We're still waiting for Chris to decide it's time to move back to Philly).

As we were trying to grab a quick group shot with my camera perched precariously on our porch steps, I discovered I could have my camera do timed, multiple shots (in very quick succession). Meaning, we all acted very grown up. Enjoy the following results!

168 - Mexican Tomatoes

2010-11-01T19:09:00.001-04:00

Well, they aren't actually from Mexico... but the bowl is (from our honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta). And the tomatoes are just super happy, super cute, super delicious ones from our backyard. Did I mention we ate tons of tomatoes this year? Almost every meal? And that we still have some? And that I already made multiple batches of spaghetti sauce? Mmm, it was a bountiful tomato crop for us this year! All grown in our teeny tiny urban backyard garden. Hooray!

P.S. This photo is from when Josh was "harvesting" one afternoon. We were picking tomatoes about every other day -- this bowl was only about half of what he brought in that day. For more of our harvest, check out these posts.

167 - Rainbow Cake, II

2010-11-01T16:04:00.000-04:00

Oh. Maybe I should have warned you that there's quite a bit of bright, non-natural, non-organic, non-politically correct coloring in this post. Oops! :)

I don't know how much you know about me, color, swirls, or cake batter, but here's the deal: when they're all combined I am one happy camper. Or, um, eater. Let's just say it's really quite alright to have all those "non" things listed above, because the result is deliciously colorful and wonderfully fantastic. And really good to eat, too!

Welcome, once again, to the world of rainbow cake!

For more information on what this rainbow cake thing is all about, visit my other blog. It has the full details, recipes, and more photos. These photos are just from a rainbow cake whipped together very quickly for a friend's going-away party. While I don't have as many photos as on the (older) rainbow cake post, I just couldn't resist taking, and sharing, a few. After all: colors! swirls! cake batter! :)

166 - Sunset Silhouettes

2010-10-27T19:41:00.001-04:00

Collegeville, PA

165 - Night Lights

2010-10-27T14:29:00.001-04:00

I think all I can say with this one is that we live in a pretty amazing time when this is what we can do with electricity, water, lights, and gels. And of course, it's also pretty great when you have friends who invite you over to enjoy all the above mentioned inventions. =)

164 - "I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy!"

2010-10-27T09:16:00.005-04:00

Now, if you don't know what that quote is from, you need to go rent (or buy) Finding Nemo. Right now. Because it's wonderful and a necessary part of life and happiness. =) Plus, this next post is all about Dory, so you need a little background.

Everyone knows how friendly Dory is, right? Well, when we were having our pool party with Silvija, everyone got to meet Dory. Except, as friendly as Dory is, there was an awful lot of falling off. However, the last photo shows you who Dory loves the most (though Josh did come in 2nd, as witnessed here)...

163 - Pool Party!

2010-10-26T21:42:00.000-04:00

I have some fantastic friends. Seriously. And I love when life's paths bring some friends back around. Like, moving them from Seattle, WA to Philadelphia, PA.

Silvija & Greg are two such people. I met them about 12 years ago when I was in some theatre shows with their daughter and came to know and love their whole family well. I haven't lived in WA in about 8 years now... but last year, Silvija came to me!

While Greg stays in WA while their youngest son finishes high school, Silvija is managing their new bed and breakfast. Ok, so it's not officially a B&B (yet), but their hospitality makes it about as much!

One Sunday this summer, Silvija called and invited Josh and I up for "a swim in the pool". Well, four friends later we were in the midst of an awesome pool party, delicious BBQ, and the perfect night for the hot tub.

Now, most of these were just the "for fun" photos, because, let's be honest, I spent most of my time IN the pool, NOT with my camera. However, I figured you had to see some of the fun stuff.

There were a number of cannonballs done, but as an objective judge, Chris' entry, hurdle, form, and splash won the event (though Carolyn's came a close 2nd).

And Josh became friends with Dory, but quickly discovered she wasn't very good in regards to water fight defense... the back splash is a bit strong, don't ya think?

And while I can't take photo credit for this, let this be a warning: don't mess with me in the water. I will win. :)

162 - Construction Site

2010-10-26T14:43:00.001-04:00

Here are a few more photos of the construction site for Esperanza's new health and wellness center. And, oh my goodness, I know it's just a building site being razed... but oh, how I love all the angles!

161 - Chains of Hope

2010-10-26T00:41:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, Esperanza Health Center was awarded a $6.5 million grant to build a new health and wellness facility. Esperanza is a health clinic located in North Philly (about 10 minutes from our house) that provides health care to the Latino and under-served populations of Philadelphia. Many of the doctors, nurses, counselors, and other employees are members of our parent church (and our church plant, too), and we are all pretty darn excited because the new center is being built across from our (old) church! It's also only 4.5 blocks from our house, and is being built on the site of a long-abandoned warehouse -- great neighborhood beautification!

In Esperanza's words:

When this new facility is completed, it will provide primary health and support services, including new services such as nutrition and fitness classes, a fitness facility, and health education and outreach activities to nearly 7,000 additional patients.

They do such great work and serve a huge need in our neighborhood and community at large. I'm so excited for the facility to open. =) In the meantime, some photos through the chains...

P.S. 'Esperanza' is the Spanish word for 'hope'.

160 - Upwards

2010-10-25T14:07:00.000-04:00

As I get back into things, I'll be posting photos from the past few months, largely in the order they were taken.

However, this one is out of order because it seems to be what my life is right now: many paths, many options, many opportunities to pursue. There might be detours, but they still all move higher and higher as you press on, moving closer and closer to the goal.

A New Beginning

2010-10-25T13:10:00.000-04:00

Well, folks, I'm back... once again. =)

A lot of things have happened in my absence... the biggest one being that I quit my job! Yes, you read that correctly: we're in a recession and I quit my job. It's kind of a terrifying thought in many ways, yet I know it was absolutely the right thing to do.

While I don't have as much life experience as many others who have more, um, "wisdom" as we call it in our family (yes, years), or people who have kids, or those who have gone through layoffs, or other things like that, I do believe I've gone through enough life to realize that there are a few times in your life when you're faced with major decisions that will literally change the trajectory of your life and story.

A few of my recent story-changing decisions include accepting a teaching position in inner-city Philadelphia with Teach For America in 2006, and saying yes to my ridiculously tall (and skinny) Asian man on August 10, 2008. Now, I'm adding to that mix quitting my job in 2010.

So why is this such a big deal? I mean, it's "just" about money, isn't it? Not exactly. In a few words, it's simply that I'm saying yes to myself. I'm saying yes to following my dreams; I'm saying yes to letting myself be happy; I'm saying yes to allowing myself to nurture myself as an artist. I'm simply saying yes to things that up until now I've said no to for the sake of being responsible.

I realize that's a pretty privileged thing to be able to say. Believe me, I absolutely recognize that it is! But after many long months of conversation with Josh, along with lots of prayer, fretting, tears, soul-searching, reflection, and advice from family and friends.... I came to the conclusion that if I wasn't in an "emergency" situation (i.e. one where using some of our savings was an acceptable thing to do), I didn't know when a situation would ever come along. It wasn't a time where Josh and I had physical needs to take care of (mortgage, bills, etc).... but it was a time of desperate emotional and spiritual need. I don't want to live my life with regrets, and trust me, having my spiritual life, my marriage, and my happiness suffer would be things I don't know if I could forgive myself for.

So... I quit. And this past month has been a time of figuring out what exactly that means... but also just a time of stepping back, stepping out, and giving myself room to breathe and recover. And slowly, I'm starting to step back in.

I know I've been gone for a very long time, but don't be fooled -- I haven't stopped taking photos. I'm still committed to a photo a day; I've just been horrible at posting them. =) However, it's time to step back into this place, and I'm excited to do so.

I'll also have some exciting news to update you on over the next few weeks/months... such as a very important piece of mail I should be receiving this week or next from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. =)

One last thing: I'm really glad you're all along with me on the journey.

159 - Caption Contest

2010-09-19T23:01:00.004-04:00

Newborns amaze me. If you're around me when I'm around a newborn, chances are I'll be doing the following three things:

Holding the baby (for hours, if you let me)
Staring at the child with my mouth half open, smiling, my eyes happily lit up
Saying something along the lines of, "I just can't believe it! He's such a real little person!"

I've done more than my fair share of babysitting in life (I started at age 10), yet I just don't think I'll ever get over the awe of a newborn. It really is incredible to me to witness those new little people. From their tiny little fingers and toes, to the first time you see them open their eyes, to the way they identify Mom so easily, to how they find a way communicate when they need something... it's simply breathtaking to watch the smallest people you know live their lives.

One thing I especially love are the variety of faces these little people can make. Jack made my day with some of his expressions, and I thought I'd share a few outtakes with you. (And tell me if you can't already imagine him as the "grumpy" old grampa everyone loves!)

However, I'm gonna shake things up a bit: YOU get to write the captions! Over the next week, leave your caption(s) for the photos in the comments section (at the end of this post), then I'll update this post with the ones I find most entertaining. I know, not the most amazing prize, but hey, nobody can argue about the cuteness of the subject. =)

UPDATE: The caption winners are listed below!

"Did I look like I wanted to be woken up? No, I didn't." (from Jacob)

"Mmm, let me give that one some thought..." (from Barb)

"Ommmm, Ommmm... I'm practicing yoga... Ommmm, Omm...zzz zzz zzz..." (from Jacob)

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm a Michigan State fan, not a U of Michigan fan! Please don't insult me again!" (from... myself... because it's so true in this family!)

158 - Roscoe

2010-09-19T22:30:00.000-04:00

Even though Jack is Kristin and Dave's first son.... he already has a big brother. Meet Roscoe:

While Roscoe wasn't around for too many of the photos, we did catch him a little at the beginning. He's a pretty darn protective big brother, after all, and had to make sure everything was okay with Jack. Cute family, huh?

157 - Love's Hands

2010-09-18T13:01:00.001-04:00

Little Jack does a fantastic job of being just plain adorable all by himself. However, I think when you witness the total love and adoration that Kristin and Dave have for him, and the incredible tenderness with which they care for him, what you see crosses the line from adorable into absolutely precious. There's just nothing like being in the hands of Mom & Dad...

156 - Little Jack

2010-09-18T00:10:00.000-04:00

Oooooh! I'm so excited to share these photos with you!

I know I'm super behind on posting things -- I tried to take photos to Seattle with me to edit, and let's just say, I had some issues. So, no work got done in the month of August. However! I'm back now, and I'm so delighted (truly) to share these images of sweet baby Jack.

Jack is the son (and firstborn) of my dear friend, Kristin. In her previous (maiden) life, Kristin was known as Ms. Cain and taught down the hall from me during our Teach For America years. She taught 3rd, I taught 2nd, and we shared many laughs, tears, frustrations, and joys during those first years of teaching. I'm not sure I would have survived without her!

Needless to say, she and her husband, Dave, got married a couple years ago, and have now welcomed little Jack into the family. We'd talked about doing newborn photos in mid July, but Jack was pretty anxious to get started on life, and made his entrance about 3 weeks early. While we didn't get newborn newborn photos, he was still pretty tiny 3 weeks in (as you can see), and so adorable, incredible, and beyond wonderful. Am I gushing yet? =)

Kristin: I love you, I think! Thanks for letting me hang out with you and your boys. Congrats again, you two!

155 - The Secret Garden

2010-09-17T19:10:00.002-04:00

Ok, our garden may not itself be a secret, but we do actually have a secret in our garden...

Yup, we inherited a grape vine. A very old, very established grape vine. And we had so many grapes this year, that even giving them away to friends and neighbors, there were still far more than we could eat. This is the first time in my life I've really had fresh, homegrown grapes on a consistent basis, and they definitely taste different -- more sweet and more sour all at once (but a sweet kind of sour). They're much smaller than the ones in the grocery store, but, um, also much better.

154 - Tomatoes Galore

2010-09-17T19:03:00.001-04:00

Remember a long time ago, how I was telling you Josh and I have a garden in our teeny, tiny, Philly rowhouse backyard? Well. I figured it was time to give you the update.

But I have a disclaimer: these photos are from before we left for Seattle. Meaning, in July. You still get to take a peak because, let's be honest, they look delicious, right?! Even if it is just the tomatoes, and they're not all totally ripe yet. Don't worry, there will be more -- photos, produce, and ripeness. In the meantime, just enjoy. =)

153 - Change & Giggles

2010-09-17T17:20:00.000-04:00

Changes, changes, everywhere! It's a tough thing, change. But I'm trying out a new look here.

While I LOVE the design of my old blog template (the design at the top just made me happy looking at it), it wasn't one I was able to adjust to be wide enough for the photo width I'd like. So, I'm not crazy about any designs I've found yet... but I'm just going to be playing around with it and see if I can find something I like.

In the meantime, I decided to keep us grounded with a little more of Miss Molly and her awesome parents, Megan & Justin. We can't have too much change going on all at once, and plus, this little girl and her smiles are sure to brighten your day. Can you hear the giggles yet?

152 - Buddha Belly

2010-09-17T14:39:00.001-04:00

When I first arrived at Megan & Justin's to take photos, Josiah was still down for his nap. We spent some time hanging around with Megan, Justin, and Molly... but pretty soon we decided we needed some Josiah action, too.

Megan went and woke him up, and then a change of clothes was in order. I thought this sequence was particularly cute -- especially Josiah's buddha belly shot. Are you always this happy when you wake up? ;)

151 - Molly Grace

2010-09-11T10:48:00.001-04:00

Little miss Molly Grace turned one just a few days ago, so I thought I'd better feature one of this wonderfully adorable little girl!

150 - I'm Back! Really! I am!

2010-09-09T16:47:00.001-04:00

Wow... did I really just disappear for about a month and a half? Well, yes, yes I did!

I spent the month of August with my family in Seattle, and have been getting back into the swing of things in Philly over the last week. I have no excuses for being gone, other than that while my absence from here was unplanned, the time away itself was my "sabbatical" of sorts and a much, much needed time of rest. And yes, you'll be getting some Seattle photos, for sure. =)

I'm not even going to try backdating things anymore... I'm just going to post as I go and try to get back in the swing of things.

To start off, I've got a quick one of Megan, Justin, Josiah, and Molly!

This is actually one of my favorite shots of their family. Because Molly and Josiah are so close in age (about 6 months), and still both in the baby category, there's always a lot going on when. Megan and Justin do an incredible job of taking care of both of them and paying attention to both in a way I just don't think I could do! They balance and share the care of the Josiah and Molly perfectly, and I think this photo very much illustrates the crazy, wonderful, fun, fantastic love and joy they bring to their family each day.

149 - Mx2 + Jx2

2010-07-18T22:36:00.089-04:00

Remember how I was talking about all the great newborns and families I've gotten to visit? Well, now that you've gotten a bit of a super cute newborn fix (i.e. Roman), let's go slightly older, but while still staying in the super cute baby category.

Meet Megan and Justin... and Molly and Josiah! Or, Mx2 + Jx2. =)

Megan is a sister to my dear friend, Robin, and over the past few years, I've gotten to know Megan & Justin during visits to their family's awesome property in southern New Jersey for girls' weekends, mini-retreats, weddings, and just need-to-get-away-from-the-city goodness. Their whole family is beyond hospitable, and also super talented in all things crafty and artistic. (Their parents met while working at a living history museum... I mean, how cool is that?!)

Megan and Justin have an incredible story that you can read on Megan's blog, Psalms Illustrated. After a number of very hard years trying to get their family started, they began the process of becoming foster parents (although I believe they'd already planned on doing that at some point anyway). In the midst of that, Megan became (and stayed) pregnant, and pretty soon they were blessed with their foster son, Josiah, and (6 months later) their biological daughter, Molly.

Although Josiah is now over 16 months old, and they've had him since he left the hospital (I think 3 days old?), they may not be able to adopt him. They are the only family he's ever known, and they love him immensely, yet because of the system, may not be able to keep him. Megan's been documenting the journey with an open rawness, honesty, and humility that astounds me. Seriously, just go read her story! I'm pretty sure you won't have a dry eye at the end. I hope someday my ability to love matches her and Justin's, because any child who spends any amount of time in their home will be immensely blessed.

This has been a pretty long introduction, but I wanted to give a little backstory as to how this shoot came about. I hope and pray Josiah will find his "forever home" with Megan, Justin, and Molly, and that these photos will be ones they can cherish for a long time to come.

Megan and Justin, thanks for letting me come hang out with you and your little ones. I had a great time!

148 - Moments with Roman

2010-07-17T20:13:00.008-04:00

Ok, I just can't get enough of this kid. Here's the last post with little Roman, starting off with some of his infamous sleepy time... and then a wide awake shot! I love the look on his face!

Next, some loving by beautiful mom, Shin. And in case you're wondering, Shin & Matt (aka Mom & Dad) really are the fun, wonderful, happy people they look like in all these photos. Seriously, this is a great family to grow up in. Not to mention big sister, Reina, is pretty much the coolest little 3-year-old girl ever.

I absolutely love little baby fingers and hands... it's unbelievable how tiny they are!

And finally, to end, the angelic Roman! Heh, admission from the photographer: this shot was overexposed, but I loved the look/composition of it. It was one right at the end of our time, and I adjusted my settings right after it... but this was the one I liked. So, I played around a little with the editing on it... what are your thoughts? (Besides that he's adorable.)

147 - Best Pizza Ever

2010-07-16T11:55:00.016-04:00

Simply put, this is the best pizza I've ever eaten.

And, I think the thing that honestly shocks me more - I made it! Twice! Now, I'm not a bad cook, but man, I didn't anticipate I'd be the one making the best piece of pizza I've ever eaten. Though, I haven't been to Italy (yet)...

Check out the recipe (surprisingly easy, fast, and delicious) here. Happy eating!

146 - Sleepy Baby

2010-07-15T19:22:00.036-04:00

I'm back with more of baby Roman. I couldn't leave you with just that short teaser, could I? ;-)

Besides being ridiculously cute, Roman is a champion sleeper. He definitely got an A+ on keeping those eyes closed. Matt and Shin were trying so hard to get him to wake up -- but he wasn't having any of it. Their efforts finally paid off at the end, but I have to admit, I think he's pretty darn adorable even when he's sleeping, too!

Like I said, Roman knows how sleeping's done. But here's a peek at this little guy awake. This is probably my favorite photo of him... I just love that look! It reminds me of how -- incredibly -- this really is a whole new little person, even when he's just 10 days old. Such a blessing, huh?

145 - Baby Roman

2010-07-14T21:52:00.039-04:00

Right now I seem to be in a place in life where all of my friends are having babies. At one point, I tried to count the number of friends who have had/will have babies between March-September. Want to guess how many? I stopped counting at 18.

While Josh and I are not planning on having kids anytime soon (when we got married, I told him we were on the 5 year plan... 2 years later, we're still on the 5 year plan - 5 years from now, that is), I absolutely love loving on all my friends' babies. Because yes, I love kids... but, let's be honest, at this point, I love giving them back, too. =)

Anyway, I've got a few family and newborn sessions for you in these next few weeks, and I'm so excited to share them.

To start things off, we're going to visit little baby Roman. I know, right? Roman! You haven't even seen him yet and you know he's awesome. His parents, Matt & Shin, are absolutely wonderful, and SO MUCH FUN. Totally willing to go with anything. And they also make really adorable kids. So, without further ado, meet 10-day-old Roman!

144 - Wedding, Part III - Details!

2010-07-13T11:50:00.033-04:00

If you're married, or if you've had friends or siblings who are, you know how much time the bride spends on putting together the "details". You know, flowers, the cake, decor, etc. My little sister is engaged and planning her March, 2011 wedding, and trust me, those details, while not the most important thing, are still some of the main planning items on the agenda.

Joline & Dwayne had a red/roses theme to the day... which I'm a fan of, seeing as how my middle name is Rose and I'm very partial to them. =) Here are some glimpses of the red roses decor and cake.

And let's not forget one of the most important parts, the bride's bouquet... I think that last shot might be my favorite. =)

143 - Wedding, Part II - Ceremony & Reception!

2010-07-12T07:09:00.048-04:00

Now, what would a wedding be without a ceremony and reception, right? So, here's your sneak peek at Joline & Dwayne's special day. It was held at the Eichert Arts Center in Ephrata, PA, and although it was rainy and they couldn't do the ceremony on the lawn, there was a nice porch that was still quite pretty -- and very cozy. =)

Since Joline & Dwayne are becoming not only a new family together, but also with their five kids, instead of a unity candle, they did a family sand jar. Each of the kids (and Mom & Dad) poured their own jar of sand into the big family jar... pretty cool, if you ask me.

Once the ceremony was through, the party began. It's always great when the glass clinking begins... and when there's cake, too...

To round off the evening, you've gotta have the first dance.

These two (cousins, I believe), were also super cute:

And last but not least, check back for the last post -- the "details" shots!

142 - Wedding, Part I

2010-07-11T16:14:00.050-04:00

I have some exciting news. Thanks to my friend, Greg Hardin, of Gregory Lee Photography, I got a chance to second shoot for my first wedding! It was a bit of a rainy day (we grabbed about 2.3 minutes of non-rain), and though it was a bit different than I'd expected, it was a really great experience... I definitely learned a lot. =)

We spent most of the time doing "family" shots -- the couple really wanted to make sure their family and friends were documented, and with the family they were combining (5 kids between the two of them), it's understandable! But, I still managed to sneak in a few more "fun" shots in here and there.

And, I may or may not have stolen the bridesmaids for 27 seconds at one point to run outside (in the rain) for a couple shots...

As I mentioned, there are a few kids in the families coming together to form a new one -- the couple referred to themselves as the "new Brady bunch". With smiles like these, I think they're off to a good start.

I've got a couple more posts coming... check back next for the ceremony shots! =)

141 - Beach Day!

2010-07-10T11:55:00.029-04:00

Since my little brother Jacob's visiting from Seattle, we couldn't let the time pass us by without a trip to the Jersey shore. While Seattle has incredible coasts, they don't quite have beaches in the same way the East Coast does. So, bright sun, hot sand, and cool waves were a must.

Josh wasn't able to come along with us because he's busy running a summer camp for middle school kids in our neighborhood, but we managed to stay out of too much trouble. I didn't take my "real" camera along, but I did pack Josh's old point-and-shoot in, and even though it seems to be on its way out (I think it's about 8 years old), I did get some fun shots. (When I wasn't busy swimming in the ocean, that is.)

There was actually a sand sculpting contest the day we were there... there were some pretty incredible ones! I totally love the big monster fish. He's my favorite.

And last but not least, what beach day would be complete without a squinty-faced ocean photo? Ok, well, at least squinty-faced on my part, because apparently Jacob is much better at looking normal and didn't inherit that gene...

Happy beach day! Go get some fun in the sun while you can... or come to Philly and share some with us. =)

140 - Tales from the Art Museum

2010-07-09T11:55:00.032-04:00

I know I already shared my favorite shot of the day, but I figure since I didn't take my camera with me when Jacob and I went to Dorney Park, I can fill you in with a few more shots from our art museum visit.

These aren't the Rocky steps... and while I couldn't convince Jacob to run up the steps (he claimed he did so last year -- details, schmetails), I did force him to stand in front of the Rocky statue. And I took a picture. But I'm not a totally evil big sister, so I'm not posting it. I am posting me taking a photo of him taking a photo. Of a cool sword. So it's ok.

And speaking of cool, this chess set makes me drool a little bit. Unfortunately, its price tag makes me remember that I probably will want to eat for, oh, the next few months, too.

So instead of playing chess with those sweet game pieces, I guess I'll just have to look at this dude and his horse. Or, the armor for some dude and his horse. I bet his life was far more interesting than a game of chess anyway. Right?

Aaaaand... that's all! The end! Hooray for the Philadelphia Museum of Art!

139 - Shades of Grey

2010-07-08T18:38:00.016-04:00

Since Josh has been busy running a camp for middle school kids in the neighborhood, Jacob and I have been keeping ourselves busy hanging in and around Philly.

Yesterday we went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (yes, the one with the "Rocky Steps"). We found this. And I liked it. A lot.

138 - Lone Tree

2010-07-07T16:06:00.009-04:00

Sometimes lonely can be a beautiful thing.

137 - 4th of July

2010-07-06T14:17:00.068-04:00

As you might have gathered from reading some of the camping posts, my little brother Jacob has been visiting us in Philly. Even though I should really just refer to him as my "younger" brother, since he's a good 5-6" taller than I am now, he's still 10 years my junior, and I changed his diapers, so he'll always be "little" for me (sorry, Jacob... it's just the truth).

Last year Jacob came out from Seattle to visit us for about a week, and this year he decided to stay a little longer. So, he was an honorary East Coaster for almost 2 weeks, and we made sure to keep him busy. (He also called the day after he got back to "yell" at me -- apparently he got used to our 90-100 degree weather while he was here and returned to Seattle during a week of highs in the mid-60s... oops...)

Since we did most of the "traditional" Philadelphia stuff during his visit last year, like visiting Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Elfreth's Alley, Reading Terminal Market, The Franklin Institute, and made sure we got cheesteaks from Pat's and Geno's,dim sum in Chinatown, and Rita's water ice, this year we focused more on fun "hanging out" kinds of things. Things like camping, and celebrating the 4th of July -- Philly style.

The 4th of July in Philly is a pretty big deal, complete with a week of events to celebrate. This year, after a BBQ at church, we went on down to Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the "Party on the Parkway", which includes a free concert (this year it was The Roots opening for the Goo Goo Dolls) and fireworks over the art museum. It's a pretty fun event, people get pretty excited, and you see some great things. I think this is probably the most awesome wig I've ever seen:

But before the fireworks can start, you have to wait (and wait, and wait, and wait) for it to get dark...

But once the fireworks start (around 11:15pm this year), the wait doesn't seem to matter so much. The first shot has Jacob standing on the right, then another with a fireworks display that makes me think of Jupiter. =)

It's pretty crazy, pretty crowded, and most definitely an adventure, but we all had fun (including the mad dash to the subway to beat the massive crowds afterwards). Hope you also found a great way to celebrate your 4th!

136 - And Other Camping Stories...

2010-07-05T09:30:00.037-04:00

When I go camping, I use a lot of this:

I inherited my mother's attracting-insects gene, meaning that my blood sends out radar to every bug within about, oh, 3.2 square miles. And they come. To me. To feast.

So, even when I use bug spray (and the one indicated above had 25% DEET), they still find me and I will end up with at least 5-10 bites, even when there are other people around me who the bugs don't even bat an eyelash at.

However, this little guy was interesting, didn't bite me, and so I decided it was ok if he rested on my shoe for a little while:

However, I did have to boot him off eventually so we could head out to the orienteering course at French Creek State Park. But, before we could get started, we found another awesome-looking friend. Seriously, I think this may be the most incredible moth I've ever seen... and in addition to his great colors, he was big -- about 5" across...

Finally, we hit the orienteering course. None of us had ever done an orienteering course before and we definitely had a good time. The point is to make your way to a bunch of different check-in points using a special map. It doesn't have too many clues -- largely you're looking for various geographical features.

At the end of the path we returned back to our starting point... we managed to do what's usually a 2-hour, almost 6-mile course, in about an hour and 10 minutes! Not bad, huh?

And, what better way to end the post, than by letting the sign do the talking? =) If you haven't gotten some camping action in lately, I highly suggest you do. You never quite know what you'll find. =)

135 - Campfire!

2010-07-04T19:12:00.026-04:00

The campfire is pretty much the most important part of camping. Why? Well, in a word: s'mores. (Ok, the other food is important, too... but let's be honest - it really is all about the s'mores.)

And while wood looks pretty darn cool in the daylight (especially with my little brother Jacob's sweet setup), it's hard to beat the warm glow of it at night:

And, let's not forget -- some of the best conversations happen during those late nights... especially when an unnoticed observer peeks out from the tent to capture the happenings.

What are some of your campfire memories?

134 - Setting up Camp

2010-07-03T11:53:00.039-04:00

It all started with this:

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That tent is, in fact, as old, and maybe even slightly older, than I am! The best part about it? This is the first time it had been used. Yup. Hadn't even been out of the box!

While my family went camping quite a bit when I was younger, Josh's family... well, they're New Yorkers. They bought the tent... they meant to use it... but... well... um, that's got to count for something, right? Even if 25 years after they bought it, they passed it on to us in its original, unopened condition? =)

Josh and Jacob (my little brother, visiting from Seattle for a couple weeks) worked hard to get things set up... and while I did help with the tent a bit (I couldn't let them have all the fun), I also took a few photos and got the food out. Mmm. Nothing like getting all the snacks you otherwise wouldn't buy...

Then we were done! And we had a tent! And folding chairs from home! Hooray!

And that's the end of Part I... check back for Part II later!

(Oh, and in case you're wondering, we were out at French Creek State Park near Birdsboro, PA, about 1 hour, 15 minutes from our house in Philly.)

133 - Journey to Rivendell

2010-07-02T11:53:00.056-04:00

While Josh and I didn't actually get to journey to Rivendell, I'm pretty sure we both felt that we were about as close as we'll ever get.

And now, some backtracking.

For those of you who may not (yet) be fans of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, Rivendell is one of the Elven cities in Middle Earth. Bilbo describes it as, "a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all."

We found our "Rivendell", surprisingly enough, in the middle of Valley Forge National Historical Park (Washington Memorial Chapel, to be specific). I was seriously just in love with all the arches and angles...

So... your turn. Does this match up to any of your thoughts of what Rivendell might look like? If not, what does it remind you/make you think of?

132 - How Many Can YOU Count?

2010-07-01T11:53:00.029-04:00

When we were out at Valley Forge we had a few visitors.

First Mom ventured out...

Then the babies!

But you've gotta watch out for strange people. Hiding in green grass is the best way not to be seen. Duh.

But really, as long as Mom's around, it's all ok...

And yes, I know deer aren't really "that exciting"... but I really just sort of go crazy for any animal. And seriously, I think Josh thought I might start hyperventilating when we saw this - I made him sit for about 10 minutes just watching.

Also, I don't have a wide angle lens, so this is only about half the view (and half the final count). But, that said, it was still pretty awesome. Go on, give it a try. Click on the image to make it larger, then see -- how many can YOU count?

131 - Valley Forge

2010-06-30T11:53:00.029-04:00

A little over a week ago, just as I was beginning to recover from my random, lengthy illnesses, Josh and I took a short jaunt up to Valley Forge National Historical Park. It's actually only about a 45-60 minute drive from our house, but we hadn't gone up there before. I know. We're bad Pennsylvanians... but we both still frequently speak of and mourn the losses of our respective NY and WA drivers' licenses, so it's only to be expected that we're not fully acclimated to being PA citizens, even 4 years in.

Anywho. We made it up and spent a great afternoon visiting the sites, hiking around, and enjoying the beauty. As much as we both love "the city"... sometimes it's just good to get out of it. Plus, we're both nerds and love things like history and historical places. It's a good match.

Right after we got there and ate our picnic lunch, we happened upon a reenactment at the Muhlenberg Brigade site. The following sequence is for your own version of the reenactment. Oh, and we definitely recommend visiting if you're ever in the area. =)

130 - Community Garden

2010-06-29T11:53:00.029-04:00

Our community garden is getting into full swing, and between our CSA share and our own backyard garden, we're getting some pretty darn good produce. Oh, and all from grown within about 5 blocks of our house. Not too bad, eh?

These are all shots from when we went to pick up our share at the community garden this week...

I bet from these photos you wouldn't guess Kim is less than 3 weeks away from her due date! She's still out working hard... I bet her little girl will be just like her!

So... I've never had Swiss chard before, but I've researched a couple recipes for it, since they let us know it'd be in the garden this year. However, I had no idea how bright it was! It might be my favorite, just for being such lovely colors (our wedding colors, actually).

And, last but definitely not least, one of the big minds behind this community garden, and the go-to garden man around our neighborhood: Andy! Yup, he knows how to rock it.

For some summer recipes and such, check out my other blog... there's sometimes some okay stuff over there. ;-)

129 - Taste of India

2010-06-28T20:31:00.037-04:00

So apparently, it's really easy to break a habit. I mean, it may take 21 days to form a habit... but if you get sick for a month, man!, it's a great way to break a habit. I'm attempting to reform it. Gonna do a bit of backposting in the process... let's see what happens.

Don't forget to check older posts, because hopefully I'll be churning 'em out in a fast and furious manner this week! =)

So, this past weekend (which was, ahem, um, yesterday, June 27, right?), Josh and I went to the Taste of Philadelphia food festival. I must admit, I was a little disappointed in how small it was (I think there were 24 vendors.... I'm used to the Bite of Seattle with 70+), but we still had a good time and some good food.

One thing we really enjoyed was the stage performances, specifically one with girls and women performing traditional Indian dances. It's pretty amazing to watch - so precise, exact, and beautiful... not to mention really fun and entertaining! Oh, and yes, these are all SOOC - the colors really were that bright!

While these are just a hint at what the true beauty of India includes, you can check out a collection of incredible photos from my sister and brother-in-law's month-long trip in India. I'm pretty sure they need to be working for National Geographic. They're pretty amazing!

128 - Summer Orange

2010-06-27T23:53:00.000-04:00

I've got a little summer happiness for you today. My favorite color is orange, and I won't deny that orange flowers just seem to be my favorite. They just jump right out at you -- undeniably vibrant and beautiful.

So, here's a little orange flower goodness for you -- SOOC. Remember what that means? Quick refresher: straight out of the camera. This photo hasn't had any color enhancement whatsoever. Pretty spectactular, huh?

127 - Texture

2010-06-26T22:43:00.000-04:00

This may not be overly exciting... but I'm having issues with my computer and downloading new images right now, so I can't give you any of today's photos. Anywho. This is what you get for today -- some brick texture fun.

126 - Flower for Mom

2010-06-25T23:54:00.015-04:00

If you haven't picked some flowers for your mom or someone you love lately... maybe you should! And you know, even "weeds" look lovely when someone receives an unexpected gift. Even if you can't pull the "I'm 2 1/2 and super cute card" like above. It's all in the thought -- and the follow-through of the action -- that matter. Happy Friday!

125 - Family

2010-06-24T12:51:00.006-04:00

A few more shots of this beautiful family... seriously, don't you just want to get in on the fun?!

I know some people might think 4 kids is a lot... but me? Well, I just happen to think it's the perfect number. Always someone to play with, to bug, to be with... of course, I could be biased, but I do happen to have 3 pretty spectacular siblings. =) My prediction? These kids are totally going to be best friends for pretty much their whole lives... laughing, bothering, and loving as only sisters and brothers can.

124 - Siblings

2010-06-23T23:05:00.002-04:00

I've got a few siblings from you from my NY weekend... meet Annie, Oliver, Griffin, and Isabella. Pretty gorgeous kids, huh? So much energy, and so many laughs! And I love how you can tell they are all obviously related, yet each have their own look. Ah! Siblings! =)

123 - Nadia

2010-06-22T07:28:00.000-04:00

Even though it's been a couple weeks... I'm still posting photos from my workshop shoots. Remember beautiful Gia, and her sister, Nadia? Well, since I gave Gia her own post, I figure it's only appropriate to do the same for Nadia. Although, as with many 2 year olds, life is a balance of doing it herself... and being surrounded by the love of her supportive family.

122 - Dad's Day

2010-06-21T10:25:00.000-04:00

Whew. It's been a while!

Remember two weeks ago how I was all sick, and trying to catch up on posts, and all of that? Well, right after I started catching up... I got sick. Again. With something totally different and SO much worse. I actually ended up in the ER last Monday, and took almost the entire week off from work. It wasn't pretty. Nor pleasant. When you're little, being sick almost isn't so bad, because you get to stay home from school, get loving attention from Mom or Dad, and read and be coddled all day. At least, I did. But now that I'm an adult? Ugh. My problem is probably that I never stay home when I start getting sick so that I can fight it off... I just keep going until I'm so sick I can't do anything else. And by that point? Pure misery.

Anyway. Enough about that. I'm about 75% of the way back, I'm back at work, and I'm ready to start taking and sharing photos again. Because for the first time since I started this project, I actually didn't taken any photos -- for almost a week. However, my dad suggested yesterday that as part of my Father's Day present I post every day this week. So, I'm going to try, and in honor of my dad and all dads, here are a few of Nadia and her dad to get started.

121 - Sisters

2010-06-09T22:33:00.004-04:00

Now, a family shoot wouldn't be a family shoot without... well... family, right? =) And who do you give the hardest time to, share and grow exponentially with, and talk and fight and laugh the most with? Your siblings. Especially sisters. (Yup, personal experience. Mine are pretty fantastic, must admit.)

So, I couldn't let you have another peek at Gia without also showing you her other half -- adorable little sis, Nadia.

And here Gia's showing you the 'G', lest you forget or mix up their names:

120 - Gia

2010-06-08T22:30:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've missed a few days - I've been battling some sort of random illness since this weekend (leave it to me to get sick when it's nicest outside). Since it's just a few posts, I think I'll backdate at least one or two of them... because there's still plenty more happiness to share from the Confidence Workshop!

So, that said, meet Gia. These are from one of the family shoots down in a little wharf-side plaza. I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately... but seriously beautiful little girl, right? What's up with me getting to photograph all these super cute and gorgeous kids?! I don't know, but you won't find me complaining at all. =)

119 - SOOC

2010-06-05T23:08:00.000-04:00

Ok, so, if you're wondering what in the world "SOOC" means... don't worry. You're not alone! SOOC is one of those terms photographers throw around on forums, in articles, and on blogs a lot, and it looks sorta crazy and sorta intimidating. But really, it's quite simple. All it means is "Straight Out Of the Camera". Not too bad, right?

Straight out of the camera refers to a photo that hasn't been touched up at all. In the age of digital photography where if you took as many breaths in a minute as a camera can take in 3 seconds you'd be hyperventilating all over the place, and the way you can edit and manipulate a photo is more impressive than the before and after shots of Michael Jackson, you don't see photos coming "SOOC" at you much anymore.

Yet shots coming right at you without any editing also seem to be a big deal. Go figure, right? Anyway, I'm one of those late bloomers who hardly uses any photo editing software, and who up until a couple weeks ago had only used... dare I admit it... Picasa (ek! I did it!) to "edit" my photos. Which really just meant maybe going black & white, or upping the exposure, or small things like that.

So. I'm pretty familiar with SOOC shots, even if by default. However, I haven't done a whole lot of indoor shooting completely in manual before... and those are the hardest shots to let go unedited.

Well, that's one thing that changed after the conference last weekend. These are a few more pictures of beautiful Anika. Seriously, this little girl was so darn cute! But, as you catch glimpses of Mom & Dad, you can see there's no guesswork as to where she came by her great looks.

Now, this short set could be considered to be overexposed... but you know, I kinda like the dreamy quality. And for a set of "SOOC" shots for my first indoor, manual shoot... I think they're pretty alright.

118 - I'm Back!

2010-06-04T19:39:00.004-04:00

It's true! I've been gone a week... but I'm back!

I don't even know how to begin to describe the workshop last weekend... but perhaps some words from its ending might help. Right before we finished the workshop, we shared 1-2 words about how we were feeling following the intensely-filled days. Mine?

Hopeful.

Released.

I'm not sure that now is the time to go into all of the details around those two words... but they're also not ideas/feelings/things I throw around easily. "Simply" put, it was a wonderful, challenging, freeing, exciting, inspiring, creativity-building, moving, and awesome weekend, to be sure. And I've got a lot of great new friends, too. =)

Since I'm still playing catch-up, I'm just going to leave you with one image from the weekend... a real eye-catcher. =) I'm not usually about the "blown out" look, but this was one I took right after switching from a darker area of the room, and hadn't adjusted my settings. However, I just love her eyes and can't get away from this image!

What are your thoughts on it? I'll be back with more, soon!

117 - Workshop!

2010-05-28T11:02:00.059-04:00

So, I'll be taking a mini-vacation from the blog these next few days... but don't worry, I'll be taking plenty of photos!

Why might I be taking an "official" break, though? Don't I normally just get behind and then try to make up for it? Well... yeah. =) But this time, I'm announcing the break because I'm going to be spending all weekend attending Me Ra Koh's Confidence Photography Workshop! Aaaaah!! I'm so excited!!!

Me Ra is a friend of my sister, Airika, and does a few workshops across the nation each year. I've known about the workshops for a few years now, and wished I could attend, but never had the chance or funds. This weekend the workshop will be held in the NYC area (technically Jersey City since it's so much cheaper than Manhattan), and I am going to be there!

It's still pretty unbelievable to me.

Oh, and did I mention that Airika and Gerald (my sister and brother-in-law) and my parents BOUGHT ME THE SEAT?!

Yeah, um, read that again! It basically says: I HAVE THE MOST AWESOME FAMILY EVER!!!

Like I said, it still seems unbelievable!

The past couple of years have had a lot of ups and downs as life does, but with a lot of emphasis on the downs. While I absolutely LOVE Josh and being married has been pretty much the most awesome and incredible and wonderful thing ever, I've really been struggling with just about, oh, well, everything else in life. I won't go into details, but the quick summary is that I've felt pretty trapped and really struggled with simply finding everyday joy in life (which, um, is sort of what I'm all about).

So, there have been a series of pretty important, tough, and significant events over the past few months, and one of the most exciting by far, was this incredible gift from my family. It only happened about 4 weeks ago, but I've definitely been counting down the days. (And considering this workshop was announced back in October, knowing for 4 weeks is a relatively short time to wait... I don't know what I would've done if I'd had to wait 4 months!)

I think the most humbling and wonderful part of it all for me is not even the workshop (if you can believe that). It's what my family said to me with their action of giving me this gift. It's not just giving me something I've wanted... it's loving me very tangibly. They're affirming my hopes, my dreams, and me. They're saying that they absolutely believe in everything I am, and everything I want to be. They're showing that they have confidence in me, and that even if I end up going a different direction, that they want me to continue to be creative, find inspiration in art, and simply be happy.

I told you they were a pretty awesome family. How many people nowadays tell their kids to go be artists, huh? Or even encourage that past the age of about 10? Anywho, I'm saying goodbye to Philly for a few days, and heading out to Jersey City, then NYC. I'll be back here next week (Tuesday or Wednesday), and hopefully have some pretty fun images for you!

In the meantime, say goodbye with me to Philadelphia's City Hall -- at least until Tuesday...

116 - Baseball with Isaac

2010-05-27T19:03:00.000-04:00

Get ready, guys, it's time for some baseball! And when Isaac's involved, this means there will be an abundance of tongue-hanging-out happiness, "baseballs" of all shapes and sizes (including beach balls and mini basketballs), great instruction from Mom & Dad, and no shortage of cuteness.

Check out this intense concentration... totally an MLB player in the making...

Look how willing to share he is! Or, as he would say, "Gook at me! Gook at me!" And what... you've never played baseball with a beach ball before? =)

And when it's all over? Heading home with Mom. It's all in a day's work, folks, all in a day's work.

115 - Bonus Look

2010-05-26T19:44:00.002-04:00

I love capturing moments of people that are so "them". You know -- the moments where you catch a laugh or a glance, and you just see that person's character in the photo. And often, the ones I personally love most are the ones that show sides you don't get to see all the time.

This is one of those photos for me. Don't know why exactly, but it intrigues me. Jen and Kevin, maybe you guys see this look all the time... but maybe you don't! Is this just a "Why's Hannah got a big black thing in my face?" moment, or do you see an "Isaac-ism" in it?

Either way, I love it. =)

Also... quick vote... do you guys prefer this in color or black and white? Give me your thoughts! =)

114 - Blowing Bubbles

2010-05-25T22:24:00.001-04:00

I promised you a little more info in the last post... so here it is! Some of it, anyway. ;-)

This weekend I had a little adventure in the park with Isaac and his parents, Jen and Kevin. You might recognize Isaac from one of my earlier shots -- is he not just one of the cutest little guys ever?! He's quickly approaching 3 years old (which is so hard to believe), and so stinking cute.

We know Jen, Kevin, and Isaac from church, and they're also part of the leadership team for our 2nd service (along with Josh and I and 3 other couples/families). They work at another urban, Christian school here in Philly -- Jen does development and Kevin is the principal. They're pretty cool people. =)

So, with that in mind.... on to today's photos!

I know what you're probably thinking -- I've posted these bubble photos backwards. It'd make sense to go from blowing bubbles, to chasing bubbles, to bubbles on the grass, right? Well, of course... but that's just not how I do things. Sometimes, it's more fun to start at the end. A storytelling twist. Like sneaking just a few sentences from the end of the book at the beginning. (Don't try to deny you've never done it.)

All that to say... here's to blowing bubbles. Especially with a super ridiculously cute and wonderful family like these guys. And there just might be some more bubble chasing involved, because hey, that's definitely a big part of the joy of bubbles, of which there was no lack whatsoever.

Which one reminds you most of you when you blow bubbles? =)

113 - Bubble Chasing

2010-05-24T22:54:00.000-04:00

Alrighty, I told you yesterday's bubble was a preview of things to come this week... well, here's your first glimpse:

There are definitely more details to come, but in the meantime, doesn't that just make you want to go chase some bubbles?!

112 - Grass Bubble

2010-05-23T19:15:00.001-04:00

This is really a preview photo for some of what's to come this week... but I thought it could stand on its own for today's photo. I wasn't intending to get a shot of a bubble landing on some grass on a windy, windy day... but hey! Stranger things have happened. =)

111 - West Philly Architecture

2010-05-22T19:25:00.003-04:00

One thing Philly has a lot of is impressive architecture. Some of the buildings are sadly in pretty bad states of disrepair... but they're still simply beautiful. I've never lived anywhere where I'm constantly surrounded by towers, turrets, arches, and intricate iron-wrought designs. I thought I'd give you a *little* taste of it today with some shots from West Philly (the area where I work).

There are a lot of rowhouses in Philly, but a unique design for some of the West Philly rowhouses is this arch between sets of houses. Here are a couple views -- the one above makes me think a little bit of The Secret Garden, and I just like the one below.

There are also iron gates, fences, and decorative pieces (like faces) all around...

And that's your bit of Philly for today! Which one is your favorite?

110 - Ayuda Art Show

2010-05-21T22:15:00.002-04:00

Tonight was the Ayuda Community Center Youth Art Exhibit & Gala. This is the event I was asked to donate prints to, and asked for your help with. Anywho, here is a very quick snapshot of the photos in frames before they were rushed off to Ayuda in the non-existent time before work this morning:

They did sell (woohoo! I was definitely pretty nervous about that...), and they're off to a good home. Hooray. =)

It was a pretty great evening, with tons of artwork by both students and "patrons" available, and a number of really fun performances by the kids. Josh and I managed to win the silent auction for a piece of student artwork (though, admittedly, I fought for that piece and was watching it like a hawk, hehe!), and we also grabbed a $100 gift card for a site that does canvas prints -- for $30. Not bad!

Here are a few shots from the night:

Ayuda does amazing things with and for our community, and if you're looking for a way to help out, definitely check out their website. But, quick plug -- if you're looking for a free, easy, and quick thing you can do, go to the Pepsi Refresh contest website and help vote for the Hunting Park murals entry! One of the murals they're hoping to get funding for is one that was designed by youth in the Ayuda mural class, and it's a pretty cool one. Alrighty, that's my plug, and with that, I'm done. =)

109 - Couch Potatoes

2010-05-20T22:13:00.001-04:00

Today was a pretty crazy, draining day (though it definitely had some good moments), and as I finally took a moment to rest on the couch, I realized I hadn't taken a single photo all day. I've been doing my best to take my camera out at least once and take a photo (or five) of something... even if it's not the photo I end up posting (like when I substitute and take a few days to post various events). I still take some photos each day, though, and it's been good practice even when I'm feeling out of it.

Today, though? Well, it just seems like the most honest and authentic thing to post this photo of how our evening's wrapping up. Josh had a good amount of credit at GameStop after he returned a bunch of games in January, so he just picked up a new game yesterday that he's pretty excited about. So, he's playing, I'm posting, and it's not such a bad way to wrap up the day.

108 - Live Teal (for Maura)

2010-05-19T22:18:00.001-04:00

Today marks the one year anniversary of Maura Cassiana DeSouza going to be with Jesus. She is missed beyond what words can even come close to saying.

Maura and me during a super-cold Thanksgiving parade.

You really couldn't be around Maura without smiling. She had an infectious and ready laugh, kind and humorous words, and truly just made you feel at ease in the world and happy with who you were at any given moment. Life was just good with Maura around. That's a rare gift.

And you know what? Her love is still pretty evident today. She touched so many lives that her love really is just still continuing to give today.

Today's photo is to honor and remember Maura, and to continue spreading her love. Above is my Live Teal bracelet. For a little bit of background on Live Teal, and an incredible story of faith, courage, love, and struggle, visit her mom, Erin's, blog: Maura. Life After.

And don't worry, Maura (or Lydia, or Danielle, or Erin, or Joel) -- we'll keep living teal, and we won't ever forget.

107 - Pit Row Pre-Race

2010-05-18T22:11:00.003-04:00

Yup. I was there. It was pretty awesome. And the full size versions totally look cooler.

(Especially the last one, which I can't fit at a larger size than it currently is... but it just looks so sad and lonely that small. Click on it! Make it bigger!)

And the Winner is...

2010-05-18T10:39:00.002-04:00

Alright, the moment is here...

It's time to announce the winner of the Purple Orbs contest!

I know I'm a couple days late, but better late than never! It just builds the suspense, right? =) So, without further ado, the winner is...

... #5, Miah!

I used the random number generator, and she's the lucky winner!

But... well, here's the thing... I appreciate the feedback you all gave me, and I really like when everyone gets something, so this is what I'm going to do. For everyone who participated, you can choose one of your favorite images from this blog. Then, leave a comment on this post, email me, send a message on facebook or twitter, and let me know which you'd like. I'll then send you a high-resolution copy of the image.

And Miah, since you are the rightful winner (and it is fun to be the "big winner" -- c'mon, I know that!), instead of one image, you can pick out three images to get hihg-resolution copies of, should you wish. =)

Now, here's a quick explanation as to why I needed your help with those photos...

One of the ministries that's come out of our church is Ayuda Community Center. It's about 3 blocks from where we live, and they have all sorts of fantastic programs and services available to the community (check out their website - it's pretty awesome). One thing they do every year is an art auction as a fundraiser.

So, this year they asked me to submit something! I was honored but also a bit intimidated! It's really the first time anyone's asked me for anything... and I didn't know what to send! I tend to like photographing people best (even though it's been a challenge to "find" people lately - but more on that some other time), and plus, if it's not "fine art" or from another place (say, India), who wants to buy a photo of another person, right?

I started looking through some of my stuff, and found the "purple orb" photos to be some of the most interesting/creative, in my opinion. I know other people like different things... but I personally found them kinda cool. I just wasn't sure which one to choose, so I needed some help!

Above are the three photos, in order from #1-#3. (You can also see them larger here - this is just a quick reference).

I was leaning towards #1 from the beginning. I will probably end up submitting that one, as it seemed to be the most popular with those of you left comments, as well. Actually, I plan on submitting #1 and #2, and letting Ayuda decide if they want to use just #1 or do them as a series.

But here's the secret (and Miah, you pretty much caught on to this) -- #1 and #3 are actually the same photo. I just rotated #1 ninety degrees counter-clockwise to "create" image #3. Josh also noticed and asked me about it. I just wanted your feedback because I liked it at both angles and was having a hard time choosing. It's always great to get feedback, and it's so helpful hearing what other people think and why. It helps make me better!

So, thanks for all of you who participated and helped me out - I appreciate it! Perhaps I'll have to try another contest sometime... with more prizes, of course. =)

106 - NASCAR

2010-05-16T22:36:00.000-04:00

Would you believe me if I told you I was down on the Dover Downs speedway, on pit row, and in the garage for this Sunday's NASCAR race?

Well, you don't have to believe me... but here's a photo to prove it:

And yes, there will probably be more from this event, but at this point, I haven't gotten a chance to look through them all. =)

105 - Brunch(aliciousness)

2010-05-15T22:45:00.000-04:00

Today, we had brunch with some friends. It started out here:

Then we moved here:

Next we had some of this:

And did good amounts of this:

It was fun. The end!

104 - Book Fair

2010-05-14T23:56:00.001-04:00

Just in case you need some good books to check out.

I tried to find the table that most captivated me. What does it say that I've read pretty much all of those books... and that I still love reading them? Two of my all-time favorites are also included (I still read each of them at least once a year), as well as a "newer" fun series (the discovery credit goes to Josh -- who got himself, me, my brother, and probably my dad hooked on Rick Riordan).

103 - Airika (and her Camera)

2010-05-13T22:14:00.053-04:00

Today is my older sister Airika's birthday. She's pretty much awesome. And a great big sister. I wish we lived closer (3,000 miles does make it rather difficult to hang out on a regular basis), but I'll get to see her before too many more months go by. And then, I'll give her a big post-birthday hug. Though to be honest, it'll probably have nothing to do with her birthday at that point. It will still be a "post-birthday" hug, though! Ha! Ok, I'll stop now.

Airika, I love you so much, and I am so glad you're my sister. I love our 5:30/2:30 phone chats, and I'm so grateful for all the love and advice you give me. You're sort of one of my biggest cheerleaders, and you'll never know how much I appreciate that. You help me realize parts of my dreams, and I wouldn't trade you for anything. I love that you're not only my sister, but one of my best friends.

I also wish I had far more fabulous photos to share of you to match how wonderful and amazing you are... I guess now I'll just have to do that session with you and Gerald next time I see you. =)

Oh, and in these photos, Airika was giving me some tips on shooting using manual focus (I don't mind shooting in manual, but I do often just use my auto-focus feature). Also, she can't mind these photos too much because one of her favorite felines in is them (whose name happens to be 'Camera' - pronounced 'Kuh-meer-uh').

P.S. Don't forget tomorrow is the last day to help me out and vote for your favorite photo in the mini contest! Thanks!

102 - Holding Hands

2010-05-12T16:07:00.005-04:00

Oh yeah, I´ll tell you something
I think you'll understand
When I say that something
I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy, inside
It's such a feeling
That my love
I can't hide

Yeah you, got that something
I think you'll understand
When I say that something
I wanna hold your hand

I know this photo isn't "recent" - I took it back in March. And yet, I was thinking about Mother's Day and Father's Day, and this image came to mind.

Patye, Minh, and Amelie will very shortly be joined by little Lucy (I'm pretty sure Patye's thinking the sooner, the better), and I wanted to take a moment to celebrate this soon-to-be-not-so-little family and all their love. Amelie might not always think she needs to hold onto their hands, and maybe someday she'll believe she's "let go" of their hands... but I know without a doubt that Patye and Minh will never, ever, ever stop holding on to Amelie's hands.

101 - Pool Chairs

2010-05-11T22:09:00.002-04:00

So, this weekend Josh and I got to go visit some of our friends out in Collegeville, PA (about 45 minutes outside the city), and while we'd planned to have a lovely pool party and BBQ... the weather had other plans. Now, here's what our friends' backyard looks like...

....except, wait. What are those dark shapes at the bottom of the pool? Oh, why yes, those are indeed some of their lovely poolside lounge chairs:

Two, to be specific. Two quite sturdy pool lounge chairs (yeah, the long ones you can lie down on), that the wind had blown into the pool. The weather report said that it was 40mph with gusts of up to 50mph... but I'm pretty sure it was stronger than that.

Needless to say, we didn't have quite the pool party we'd planned on... but Josh and Greg did jump in for a "swim" to rescue the chairs from their watery depths... then we all hopped in the hot tub for a little R&R from the afternoon's events. =)

P.S. Don't forget to vote for your favorite purple orb and enter the mini contest! =)