Our last morning down south was actually spent in Malibu. We woke up, packed up, braved some Monday morning traffic on our way to the coast, and were rewarded with the most delicious breakfast at Malibu Farm Cafe. Food and coffee, with friends, on a pier, over the ocean, on a Monday morning? Yes, please.
Read MoreLA, part 2.
Sunday in LA was so nice. We took it slower, played things by ear. We had a long brunch at The Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills before heading to church. I loved being able to visit Reality LA!
Read MoreLA, part 1.
Last month I got invited to tag along on a trip to LA with two of my friends. They'd already booked a hotel room and pretty much mapped out the places they wanted to go- all I had to do was say yes, send some money for my portion of the hotel, and ask for one day off from work. I did all three, woke up much too early on a Saturday morning, and off we went.
Read Morefun with a disposable camera
Here's an idea for 2017: go to Target. Buy a disposable camera (for $11.99). Take pictures on it all year. When December rolls around, get it developed!
I bought a camera in October 2015 and took photos with it through December 2016. The best part about stretching it out for so long is the added fun of not remembering which pictures you took, in addition to the suspense of not knowing how the pictures will turn out. That anticipation is lost with digital.
Of course, this is not about making high-quality photos. They're grainy. The lighting is funky. But heck, it's a whole lot of fun to do something so opposite iPhones and Instagram (which I still love, btw).
Here are some of my favorites from the last camera.
Read Morebecki + steven
To state the obvious, Becki and Steven are so cool. A few weekends ago, we met up in downtown Turlock to take some photos... their first photo session since they got married 4 years ago. They're naturals, right?
Read Morerecent work | la mo cafe
Of the few things I created this year, La Mo Cafe's website has to be my favorite. It was such a fun project, and the best part was creating something tangible that I've envisioned for so long.
Read Moresunset magazine's bay area idea house
Ugh. Guys, I am literally so behind on blogging!!!!! Honestly I've been spending a lot less time behind a computer screen lately (outside of work, of course), which is a good thing (it really is). I've been journaling more! I've been reading more! I've had more time to listen to podcasts and take notes! Like I said, a good thing.
I'll do my best to catch up in this space (and try to be better in 2017 :)), and first up is this house tour- Sunset Magazine's 2016 Idea House, which just so happens to have been built in my favorite town. On a hill. Overlooking my favorite region. Major heart eyes.
Read Morejohn + annette | engaged
When I first started at my job, I met my next-office-door neighbor, John. I spent a month or so trying to figure him out... I kind of thought he hated me or something. Fast forward to present day I'm so glad he's my office neighbor. He's hilarious, knows a wealth of random trivia, and is a major movie buff.
The most common occurrence is for John to walk into my office and ask, "Have you ever seen [insert movie title]?" If I have, we converse about it. If I haven't (much more likely), he either turns and walks away in silence or tells me I "am wrong" (direct quote).
He also happens to enjoy cooking as much as I do, so we have great conversations about that topic and often send recipe links back and forth on IM.
A couple of months ago on their annual vacation to Florida, John proposed to his lovely girlfriend, Annette, and I had the honor of being asked to take their engagement photos. We drove up to a winery in Lodi for a lovely afternoon of wine slushies and pictures.
Read Moreliz's blush shower
Liz had the cutest blush shower this summer, right before her incredible wedding*. We talked and laughed and had an after-dark dance party on the grass (no photographic evidence of that part though...).
*Exhibit B (tell me she doesn't have the most adorable nephews and niece...)
Read Morethree from general store
Three snaps from General Store last weekend.
Read Moresunday in the city
Sunday was chill.
Pastries and coffee at Thorough Bread.
Church.
Lunch at Beachside.
A relaxing chat with friends in their living room.
A walk to Andytown (for an afternoon pick-me-up, you know?).
A trip up to the top of the observation tower at de Young.
And a very lively drive home thanks to the "Songs to Sing in the Car" playlist on Spotify.
Such fun.
Read More7:02pm
We're housesitting this week, and it feels like vacation.
The evening light through these windows has provided a bright ending to some rather dull days, and tonight I was happy to pick up my camera and capture it in a celebration of sunshine and Friday night.
Next week will be better. And even if it isn't, we'll still have the sun.
Read Morebeau + liz...
…are engaged!!!
Beau proposed in Yosemite the very day these photos were taken, and everything was perfect. Also, fun fact: this day, February 13, was their one year anniversary of dating!
It's been my pleasure to know both of these folks for a very very very long time, and it's been my pleasure to have had the opportunity to spend an exceptional amount of time with them over the last 8 months or so (they make the best SF buddies)… (see here, here, and here).
On top of getting to take their engagement photos, do I even have to say how incredibly excited I am to have the privilege of being in their wedding in August?!
Read Moreberkeley art museum and pacific film archive
A few Saturdays ago I headed to Berkeley to hang out with my friend Micah and also, well, Berkeley. It had been awhile.
We headed downtown to check out the new Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive before grabbing lunch at Sliver across the street.
The museum is very cool. The building itself is so snazzy (I wish I would've taken more photos of the exterior), and there are some neat exhibits at the moment. Walls are alternately filled with paintings and objects, film projections and installations.
Read Morethe poortingas
What fun it was to hang out with these lovely folks a few Saturday mornings ago in downtown Modesto! Judah is quite possibly the cutest little human on the planet, and Jeff and Cheyenne could be models if they wanted to be. Besides that, they're just the sweetest and it was a pleasure to photograph them :)
Read Morejanuary, so far
drinking
Too many cappuccinos to count. (But really, is that even a thing?)
listening
Before work, Sara Bareilles (kind of on a Kaleidoscope Heart kick again) and Morning Edition.
After work, Sara Bareilles and All Things Considered.
Read Moreadventures in time
In June I bought a Dave Brubeck album in Santa Cruz. I didn't have a record player, but I bought it anyway. $5 for 2 records? How could I not?
Over Christmas weekend, I finally took the time to dust off a big Sony console that has been sitting in a corner since I moved in here. It had ten years of dust inside (no exaggeration), but after a good cleaning it worked splendidly. I enjoyed the jazz while editing photos, and I kind of love how these particular photos turned out.
Read Moreanother trip around the sun
Folks, we've successfully made another trip around the sun. Some of us have had easier trips than others. Some of our trips have been absolutely nuts. For the past couple of years I've not been sorry to see the current year go. I know that January 1 is technically just another day. There's nothing inherently special about it. But it still feels like a fresh start, and I like those.
Read Morelogan + nicole
These are not engagement photos. They were taken a handful of weeks ago.
But guess what?
These guys got engaged last night!!!!!!!!!
Read Morethe orange tree
There is an orange tree right outside my window. I grew up with an orange tree in my front yard (a perfect climbing tree- it was great), so I like having this tree in sight. A couple of months ago it was relatively monochrome as the fruit started to appear and its green color blended right in with the leaves.
Read More