Rocky

Have you seen the movie Big Fish? If you haven't I suggest you do. If you have, you will understand what I am talking about. You know the town that he goes to, where everyone feels compelled to take of their shoes and they never want to leave? This happened to me this weekend. I found that town, but instead of having the softest grass in the world they have the clearest water and all you want to do is take off your shoes and walk on the beach till you die. I contemplated going on couch-surfer, find a place and stay for the weekend. I had a bag and my bikini already, all I would've needed was a ride back home. But alas I had glorious plans with wonderful friends the next day which beckoned me back home, so I don't regret leaving. Where is this place you may ask? And how did I find myself there? I went to Laguna Beach because I was asked to shoot a wedding there this weekend. It was my first experience with wedding photography and the layed-back nature of the wedding gave m...

I know e'ryone and their brother thinks their matriarchs are the best, and I don't know if that bandwagon is too full but I want to join in too! My momma, step-momma and gmas are totes amaze and I'm not afraid to say it. Each one of them has exemplified what it means to be a loving, caring, independent, creative and godly woman, and for that I will be forever grateful. These pictures aren't even including all my aunts, gmas and great-gmas, and for that I truly apologize. To all the women who helped shape who I am today and who have made my life what it is, thank you. Happy Mother's Day. PS Stay tuned for another mystery guest-blogger, coming soon!

Sure you have to search for parking, you have to deal with smog and pricey housing, but you have to admit, nothing beats the beach and such wonderful weather! Sheesh. I am one lucky girl. A day at the beach is just what the doctor ordered after a stressful car ordeal on Thursday. Pretty much a great lazy day at the beach full of snacks, music, friends, sports, and daring ourselves to touch the frigid waters of the ocean. Its okay to be jealous, I understand. ;) PS A reader of my blog sent me a wonderful gift through the mail the other day (granted, it is my cousin but I sound cooler when I say it like that). She saw that I had mentioned back/shoulder pains and sent me magnetic therapy jewelry...so fingers crossed, I'll see some improvements! I'll keep you posted on that front. Thanks Cindy!

Quite a bit has happened since I last wrote, so let's rewind a little. 1. Thai Culture night with Pat and Kai 2. Muay Thai at the Thai Culture night 3. International Performances at the Fowler put on by the Dashew Center 4. A traditional Mexican dance 5. Our Malaysian friends performing traditional songs and dances 6. The Taiwanese-Chinese pop A Cappella group watching from above 7. I was able to walk around the Fowler Art Museum for the last 30 minutes they were open after the show.  8. I taught a workshop on InDesign to several interested students and staff  9. Following the workshop a group of us went to an art opening reception at Giant Robot 10. A few of my friends and I were invited by Wei and LuLin to make amazing homemade dumplings with his parents before they returned home to China 11. My wonderful car is no longer operable due to a driving "mishap," pretty sad about this one. :/

Sometimes you just have to be happy for the little things. Sometimes you must count your blessings... and when I say sometimes I mean all the time, but especially on days like today. There is a woman who wrote a book called One Thousand Gifts , I haven't read it but I hear its a book where a woman counts her everyday blessings, and its fantastic. There once was a little girl who lost a finger in World War II, and every day following that she started thanking the Lord for her nine fingers. She never thanked the Lord for her fingers till she lost one. Often times I am that little girl. I want to be a person of gratitude, encouragement, truth, life, love and freedom. These things don't come naturally and they aren't attainable from a place of passivity. You must practice them and allow G-d to work them out in you. He doesn't just want you to do acts of kindness, He wants you to be kind, so that everything you do is done through you being kind. He doesn't just want ...

I saw this video this morning and I love it. I love it from the point of view of an artist, as a woman, and as a human being. Years ago I did a series of photographic portraits of people. I didn't shy away from their wrinkles or hide their imperfections nor did I focus in on them to make some sort of a statement. Rather I allowed them to be there in their own subtle ways. As I developed the pictures I really had fallen in love with them, the expressions, depth and emotion of them were so evident and beautiful.  But over and over again as I revealed the images to the subjects most of the women would cringe and stick their nose out in disgust at the sight of themselves. I was a little taken a back. It was during this series of photographs that I realized that every human being has an intrinsic beauty to them, and I think it has to do with the fact that we are made in the image of G-d. If you truly look at people they are fearsome thing to behold. Every feature unique and lik...

Though I thoroughly washed my hair this morning, it still smells like smoke and my boogers are all ashy  (sorry about that, tmi) because we had our Chi Alpha beach bonfire. We had several new international students join us and we had the privilege to introduce them to roasting hot dogs and the art of making s'mores. (I am not a s'mores artisan as some of my friends are, I am more of a "catch-the-marshmallows-on-fire" kind of gal, I don't have the patience for perfectly toasted marshmallows. Plus I kind of like the charred flavor...don't judge me.) We played volleyball, soccer and tossed the football around (and when I say "we played" I mean I watched them play and I merely messed around with the soccer ball trying to be cool). And of course we gathered around the fire telling stories. That's not all folks! This past quarter I connected with Joao, a Brazilian student (sadly, none of us can actually pronounce his name correctly) and Joyce, a Chi...