Another beautiful shoot in Julian. Mmm… Julian apple pie.

I just love their beautiful lookbooks. I am obsessed with Anthropologie’s catalogs, but I love that the prices at Ruche are much more reasonable and affordable. Here is their latest summer lookbook!

San Diego radio stations stink. It’s a strong statement to make, but when you grow up in LA where there’s a plethora of great music on a huge variety of stations, San Diego stations pale in comparison. My sister will often visit San Diego and we’ll be riding the car together with the radio on. A song will come on that’s considered “fairly new” in my eyes, only to have my sister respond that it’s been playing in LA for months. And I don’t know about you, but I often feel like our stations play the same stuff over and over and over and over again.

So when Sophie 103.7 came around a little over a year ago, it was such so refreshing to finally have some a great radio station in town. They often plays songs MONTHS before the other stations even start playing them. For example, Jason Mraz’s song “I’m Your’s” is now considered to be a little “old” on other stations, but it had been playing on Sophie since June of last year.

The songs they play are what would come on my iPod on shuffle. I lost my iPod on a plane and there’s been a void in the music I play in the car. One can only carry so many CDs. Plus, I spent a lot of time making playlists to fit my every mood. So when I lost my iPod, I didn’t grieve over the fact that I lost the physical mp3 player. I grieved and mourned for months for the loss of my playlists. I’ve been hoping that a special somebody who will remain unnamed Adam would have gotten the hint that I’m in need of a new iPod but I don’t think he’s caught on to my numerous hints.

Plus they have all these music lounges! They had some free ones last year and I got to go one with Anna Nalick.

Since the loss of my iPod, Sophie has helped to fill a void in my music life. Being a SoCal girl all my life, I was always intrigued whenever NorCal people would rave about their great music in the Bay. I heard numerous times about this radio station, Alice, and how wonderful it was. I remember thinking it was strange to name a radio station after a girl, but when I saw the Sophie 103.7 billboard over a year ago… I couldn’t help but wonder if it was the same wonderful radio station like Alice that every Bay Area person talked about.

Turns out, Sophie is a sister station to Alice! I’m so glad that they’re here in San Diego. They’ve filled a huge void the San Diego radio stations that’s been missing for as long as I’ve been down here.

When I created my iPod playlists, instead of naming them, punk rock or alternative what not, I actually named them with real names. Names that I have had bookmarked for years because like every other girl out there, I have my secret list in my head that I’ve started since I was a young girl playing house with my dolls and stuffed animals of what I want to name my kids someday. Since I do not plan on having 20+ kids, I figured I might as well use the names somewhere. So I had lists named: Dakota, Lorelai, Ryan, Kairi, Aslan, Roxy, etc., with music according to what I felt defined those names to me.

So it’s probably not a coincidence that I love a radio station with the name, Sophie.

I don’t really consider myself a girly-girl. At the same time, I don’t think I’m a total tomboy either. Large groups of girls actual intimidate me because they are full of knowledge about clothes, make-up, hair, etc., that I am completely unaware and oblivious to. I actually consider myself to be quite low-maintenance. I don’t spend a ton of time getting ready. In fact, on any given day, if I had the choice of what to wear, I’d pick jeans and a shirt or hoodie if it’s cold. Y’know, when it’s below 50 degrees or something.

Don’t get me wrong, I love getting dressed up and wearing cute dresses and all, but I choose not to do it every single day because it’s quite a bit of work and being an anti-morning person, if I had the choice between sleeping or getting up hours earlier to get my hair and make-up done… I’d choose sleep - without any hesitation.

To be honest, since I don’t know a lot about make-up, I wear very, very little makeup. I wear very little because I have such sensitive skin and because I don’t want a make-up routine that can take up my precious morning minutes. So several years ago, when I was introduced to Bare Escentuals make-up, I was quite the happy girl.

It’s so easy to use and so light that you can’t really tell that you’re even wearing make-up. It doesn’t clog your pores and if you happen to fall asleep, you won’t wake up with a face full of pimples because it’s all natural. I’ve been using it for awhile now and I love all their products.

Do you remember when you were a kid and you watched your mom put on make-up? She would use all these different products, but it would always be the brushes that stood out to me. Whenever you see a little girl play with make-up, what do they always do? They use the big brushes and sweep them across their face. What I love about Bare Escentuals is that it brings out the little girl in me each time I use my big brushes. They have tons of brushes too. You can spend quite a bit on just those.

A year ago, San Diego finally got a Bare Escentuals store in Fashion Valley. I LOVE going to this store. The make-up artists that work there are actually quite friendly and not intimidating at all. I often find the people that work behind the make-up counters quite intimidating - esp. when they are trying to sell you every single thing they can. I don’t do well with salespeople. I buckle easy. Lucky for me, the ones that work at Bare Escentuals are friendly and straightforward. They helped me to find a better color foundation that matches my skin more the last time I was there.

Plus, who wouldn’t love all the different colors and shades on a circular table?

They are always coming out with new products too so check them out!

(Photos from my crappy cell phone. *Ahem* Adam, my birthday is coming up. *Ahem*)

What do The Fray, Coldplay, Keane, and Snow Patrol all have in common? If you were to ask me to define it, I would have no clue. But if you were to check out my The Fray radio station on my Pandora, you would be able to listen to all that great music, for free, and then find many more artists that you’d like too. That, my friend, is the power of Pandora.

I absolutely love Pandora. I’ve been using it for a couple of years now and it just keeps getting better and better. I love my jazz holiday station because over the past two holiday seasons, I have perfected it and I like every single song they play on it. It has kept me quite happy throughout the past two Christmases because it only plays songs I like and I don’t have to sit through the ones I don’t like on the radio.

Every once in awhile, I’ll click the “Why is this playing?” button and it has all these musical terms that make no sense to me, but hey… it works and how it gets into my head and knows exactly what I like is beyond me. But I am so glad that Pandora is around to help make sense of the my music madness and help me find new artists that I might enjoy!

If one were to dig through my closet, you’d find many random bags and purses there. It’s quite an obsession. A big one. Ever since I was six years old and I had my first toy purse, I’ve always been compelled to carry miscellaneous necessities (in my eyes, at least) along with me wherever I go. Back when I was younger, I used to carry random toys and stuffed animals with me. Maybe even a book or two. As an adult, I have yet to kick this tendency and since my go-to purse right now is a huge Coach one, I carry lots more misc. things with me everywhere I go now. Plus, as I’ve gotten older, my purses seem to continue to grow in size.

Adam probably doesn’t enjoy the fact that I lug around a huge purse, but that’s only because when I need an extra hand, he often has to carry it. But hey, when people need kleenex, hand sanitizer, two kinds of chapstick or lip gloss, pens, gum, tampons, tylenol, eye drops, etc… who has it?! Me! I’m not a light traveler either, but don’t start getting judgmental because when you start asking for Tums or Q-tips, you know who to ask. Miss Carry-it-all.

Isn’t the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared”? Well, as the wife of an Eagle Scout, I am proud to say I am.

My affinity for bags and purses is quite easy to manipulate. Put a pattern fabric on a bag and it will be hard for me to walk away from it without purchasing it or thinking of ways of explaining to Adam why I need it. Especially if it’s a really cute and colorful fabric. So when I came across these cute hobo bags on Etsy, I had to bookmark them to save for my future purchases.

These are from Moop’s etsy shop.

These bags are made Retrofied’s etsy shop. They are so many different patterns, it makes me want lots of different ones to match each outfit.

I really love the larger ones because I could carry my laptop around it in. But then, again… do I really need a BIGGER bag?

Digital awesomeness does not do justice to just how digitally-awesome the guys behind Tofurious are. Lawrence and Doug are two of the Furious Photographers. The funny thing about our friendship is that they actually graduated from my same alma mater, Rosemead High. Go Panthers!

Above is a from photo from the photobooth software that they introduced at WPPI this year. [b]ecker even managed to appear in one of the shots if you look carefully! Their booth was right next to the Shootsac booth and while I was volunteering for Shootsac, I had the chance to chat with them and play with their new photobooth software.

They are amazing photographers who want to help out other photographers and one of the many ways that they do that is through their site Tofurious. The blog template that I’m using is made by them.

Here’s a photo of my new blog layout for those of you, like myself, that only read blogs through Google Reader. I just revamped it with a new background and colors.

They have lots of SEO resources available too. If you watch their videos, they are very self-explanatory and easy to understand. I am excited to see what else they come up with and honored to call them friends of mine. Go check them out at their site http://www.tofurious.com!

Several years ago, I traveled for 2+ weeks with Seminar at Sea. The program is a shorter version of their Semester at Sea program using the same vessel. This was around the same time that Adam was halfway through his 2-year commitment with the Peace Corps and since he was out there being adventurous, I kind of wanted my own adventure too.

Ever since I learned about Semester at Sea from a Saved By the Bell: The College Years episode, I’ve always wanted to do it. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to while I was in college. But when I found out about a short version of SAS, I quickly signed up and off I went during winter break from San Diego down through Central America and the Caribbean back up to Florida. It was an adventure of a lifetime for me being able to see all these amazing countries first hand, but more so because I traveled alone.

For those who know me, I don’t do “alone” very well. For the short amount of time that I lived in our current home before Adam moved in after the wedding, it was quite a nervous time for me. During the daytime, it wasn’t too bad, but it was always the strange noises at night that would get me on edge. And when you have a fridge that farts, well… it’s no wonder you start to get a little paranoid. (Our fridge makes these strange noises that sound a lot like it’s passing gas.)

Well, being a single traveler in foreign countries is never easy. Luckily for me, I was a ship full of people and lots of friendly ones. There weren’t many single travelers like myself, but somehow by the end of the trip, we all gravitated towards each other and were the best of friends by the time the ship docked in For Lauderdale. What made my trip so memorable was how Amanda’s family had taken me in as one of their own. They had befriended me from the first port in Cabo San Lucas and by the end of the trip, Amanda’s dad would often ask me where his “other daughter” was whenever we would run into each other on the ship. (Amanda only has a brother.)

Amanda’s parents, Bev and Bill, became like my surrogate parents on the ship. It was so comforting when they would ask me to come to dinner with them so I wouldn’t have to eat alone or when they would look out for me. Amanda and I were often up to cahoots whenever it was ship day on-board. We had so much fun on that trip and became instant buddies. Even though we were on the ship for only a little over two weeks, the bond between Amanda, her parents and I is much deeper and stronger than I could ever have imagined for such a short trip.

Bev sent over a copy of a local wedding publication in Northern Indiana called, Veils and Vows, because one of the photos Amanda took at our wedding last July was published in it. Since she was one of my bridesmaids, she couldn’t take many photos but the ones that she did were so amazing. Since we are still saving up money for our album and digital negatives, we’ve been using them for things like our Christmas card. Amanda and her husband Andy are what makes up Amanda Fales Photography. Even before I started shooting weddings myself, I had always admired her work.

So here’s the article that used Amanda’s photo. I have to say it was a strange to see a photo of ourselves in a magazine.

If you are ever in need a wedding photographer from Indiana, check them out at http://www.amandafales.com!

With cinnamon scents filling the walkways, kids screams trailing off into the skies, costumed characters with their endless smiles, roller coasters swooshing by, and the magic goodness that just oozes out of every corner… Disneyland truly is the Happiest Place on Earth.

Even though I am slowly creeping closer and closer to 30 years in age (yikes!), I still wholeheartedly LOVE going to Disneyland. Where else can one go and feel like a kid all over again? Nowhere. Adam and I celebrated our 7 year dating anniversary during our Spring Break at Disneyland and California Adventure and we loved every minute of it.

Growing up as Southern California girl, I’ve spent many a day at Disneyland. I think I was there almost a dozen times the year they celebrated their 50th anniversary. Not only was I a frequent visitor, I am and always have been (and always will be) a huge fan of Disney. I grew up singing their songs and even on long road trips, the Disney playlist is always on repeat if I’m driving. Who doesn’t like singing songs that you know all the lyrics too? So now are you interested in driving to Seattle with me this summer?

Adam and I have been to Disneyland together several times and each time, we make a big deal out of getting a Disneyland churro, because Disneyland churros taste better than normal everyday churros. Everyone knows that.

Under the wise tutelage of Chris a couple of years ago, who was often a frequent high-scoring space ranger on the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride himself, we spent quite a bit of time space ranger-ing ourselves. Still not quite in the millions like Chris, but getting closer and closer.

Loved how they revamped Small World and thought it was super cute to see Disney characters dispersed throughout the whole ride. And whoever hates on Small World needs to remember that it’s a long air-conditioned ride where one can escape the SoCal heat.

Adam had heard much hype about the humungous turkey legs that they sell at Disneyland. (Mostly from me, but who’s pointing fingers?) We kept walking past carts with them, but when we finally decided to split one… we couldn’t find any because they were sold out. Luckily, we lingered long enough at that sold-out cart so we were first in line when they replenished their turkey leg stash. Did I also mention that one does not need to hold back any carnivorous tendencies while at Disneyland either? Aw yeah… eating like a caveman. Fun indeed.

Oh and Space Mountain? Hands down, the BEST. RIDE. EVER.

We spent the next day at California Adventure. We love when it’s 2fer time each year. Before we went, my mom (who holds an annual passport each year) told us that we had to go on the Toy Story ride and that it was better than Buzz Lightyear. Better?! Heresy! Oh boy, we were hooked the first time we got on it. We must have gone back like 5 times that day. We would stretch our arms right before getting on the ride so that we would be ready for high-scoring fun. Of course the stretching would happen amidst intense strategizing. Man, I love my husband.

And just when I thought life couldn’t be any sweeter, we ventured off to the Animation area. I always wanted to be animator. In college, I worked towards being an animator for Disney or Pixar when I was a Computer Arts major. I ended up choosing teaching instead, but being at the drawing class reached down into my soul and touched a hidden part deeply buried beneath layers upon layers of dust.

I loved the layout of the darwing room. The cluttered artsy-ness was so similar to how I operate on my own desk. I think it’s called, “organized chaos.” We made sure we came back when they were teaching Winnie the Pooh and I couldn’t be any more happier than I was in that very moment - drawing Pooh Bear. I left that room with my smile from ear to ear and just gushing with excitement that I couldn’t contain. I’m having so much fun! Oh, I could spend all day here. Can we go back there again? Did you see how they had books and movies on the shelves? Can we go to the gift shop and look at the animation books? *SMILE* Being the great husband that he is, in that moment, Adam just smiled and let me be.

I also wanted to note that the materials that they used in that class is from the same person that trained me in animation and also the maker of the same materials I use when I teach my animation class. (Check out Lightfoot Ltd.)

At the end of that day, I stood with my eyes wide open (and mouth probably too) in the middle of the animation auditorium surrounded by numerous screens blinking with scenes from the Disney movies I grew up loving while playing the songs that I grew up singing along with. For two whole days, I was overflowing from the inside out with joy. Thanks, Disney.

Polaroids made with Poladroid.

Over Spring Break, I developed a nasty new addiction. And that addiction is called - Bejeweled Blitz.

I used to play Bejeweled years ago when Yahoo had some free online games. Nowadays, you need to pay for your addictions.

On facebook, Bejeweled Blitz is just like the original Bejeweled, except you play it for one minute and try to get the highest score possible by getting strings of matching jewels lined up. What makes it so addicting is that you don’t really have to give it your full attention - it can be just mindless clicking and lining up of jewels.

The fun thing about playing it on facebook is that it keeps track of your scores against the scores of your other facebook friends, so there’s the element of competition. Now, I’m not really competitive (except with Adam, but that’s another story) but for the longest time I couldn’t crack a score above 75k and was highly somewhat envious of those who had 100k points. So, when I finally cracked a 100k score with some mad skillz luck, I couldn’t help but want to remember it so I took a screenshot.

So, you wanna play?