Some may say I'm a dreamer.

I think sometimes we all need something that brings us back to “us”, “you” “me” on our very greatest days. Maybe it’s my mind, maybe it’s the rainy weather lately, maybe it’s random, but it’s been a while since I have really been able to bring myself to a time when I felt I was the better “me”. For some it’s easy, maybe it’s a childhood memory, or a book they can’t put down, for some, an inspiring day at church. Recently, I have been thinking to better days. Worry free days. When my heart and soul could soar… and land peacefully rather than crash into the depths of despair. Sounds dramatic I’m sure… not unusual for me.


A long time ago, a dear friend of mine introduced me to the power of positive thinking, to meditation and to the realization of manifesting my greater good. As I trace back the steps in my life I can see that I have been doing this all along. Everything I have ever wanted (good and unfortunately bad) I have received.

However, lately I have not been passionate about bringing good into my nervous world, and I know it’s time for a change. My poor mind has been going crazy over the past year because I search and search and have yet to find the one thing that would be my own contribution to beautifying the world.

So.. Here’s to a day of comforting my sweet soul..and the heart that I can access on my greatest days.



Since every post is better with a photo... here ya go!

Thursday.

Most of my life I have known I was destined to do something artsy. Something I loved. Something creative. I remember being 10 and flipping through the pages of my Aunt’s fashion magazines or her make-up portfolio and imaging what it would be like on the other end of those photos…taking the pictures or preparing the models for their poses…or styling their outfits.


I remember 13 and obsessing over Martha Stewart the way other 13 year old girls obsessed over boys, or lip gloss. I loved crafts and I remember decorating my father’s poor house with black and white checkered wallpaper… re-upholstering our furniture, painting our walls blinding colors and ooh those Gypsy beads! He was so supportive! I couldn’t IMAGINE letting Kaeley create such a Jackson Pollack on my living room walls!

As a kid, HOPE seems so simple, our DREAMS seemed so reachable. Somehow and surprisingly I think they may be true to who we really are today. Except for then, our adult fears didn’t hold us back. I wanted to be Julia Roberts in the movie 'Stepmom'. A young cheeky photographer, who rolls up on the set, cool, collected and produces the next Gucci ad campaign! Ha!

When I think back, I loooooved making things… from mud pies in the backyard… to real pies in the kitchen. From messes to masterpieces I perfected the things I loved to make. Until one day, I was old enough, un-scathed by adult fears, I opened my catering business. It was hard, but it was something I enjoyed. No matter the back aches, burns or bruises the end result was soul satisfying. People were happy and they kept coming back. For me. For my food. For my creations. Thank you.

... and since every post is better with a picuture...

Thoughts to Live By.

"Do not waste your life, because life is there-all you have to do is reach out and embrace it. Anything is possible. Whatever your dream is, make it happen. Have courage. Start today. You will be amazed what life will give you in return for a little bit of courage."  Mathew Kelly.

Bestiest.

There are some people who are completely impressive. People who you make you think and love and feel... people you are so completely grateful for. I met her in the 7th grade, she was the first friend I ever called on the phone. She was the first person I ever spilled my guts too. She is absolutely amazing to me, not only because she is a loyal to die for friend, but she is also the hardest working mom around.


She is my bestiest (yes bestiest) friend and I LOVE ,LOVE, LOVE her!

Jamie… I have been thinking about you all day because I know you are in Florida right now. You may never read this post in your busy days… but I would like to say my friend, you are a gorgeous and strong woman! You have had your fair share over the past several years but girl you are here…not there…. anymore…. and I am so proud of you!

The picture is so I won’t forget how much fun we had our birthday weekend in Vegas. How we turned 30. How happy you were. How tan you got. How you met my brother and Dave for the first time. How much I adore you!

Rain and Opinions.

To start… the sun is poking its head through my raining day which is making me sad. I love the rain. I love the dark days. I want the sun to go back to sleep. Just like I would like the opinions of others to lay to rest as well.

Ohh 16 held such better days…like most rebellious teens I could have cared less about the opinions of others… good I was grateful and bad I blew off. I knew what I wanted, how I felt about myself and where I was going. I carried my vibe through until my early 20’s. Sometime after my arrival in California, I lost that. I was in the perfect state, with perfect weather, perfect looking people, a place where “you’ll never find the dance floor empty”… all this perfection, and yet I had none of it surrounding me. Every negative opinion tore away another piece of me. The years went on and then enough was enough.

Several months back, I promised myself once I turned 30, that those opinions would no longer be a factor in my life and how I will chose to run it.

Be my friend if you want to be my friend and don’t if you don’t.

You don’t like the color I chose to paint my daughters toe nails? Then don’t look.

You can’t understand why I won’t eat meat or dairy but I’ll carry Fendi?  hmmm... you must not own a ‘Fendi’.

You don’t like tattoos? You don’t have too.

You say you’re a better parent than me? Maybe you are and congratulations.

Until next time...!

                         





Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The Rebels.

The Forest.

I cringe at the thought of not posting in while. I had promised myself that I wouldn’t let life little trials and tribulations stop me… but it seems they have. I may sound like a freak with an over whelming amount of anxiety… but whenever I feel something slipping away, all I really know how to do is run faster and harder to get to what I want and “fix” the situation rather than view things in a series of steps. I wish to see the forest through the trees, but at most moments that is not the case.

I would love to know the secret that others seem to possess… the secret to breathing. The secret to a balanced life. The secret ability to relax into a sheer pleasure. Of course, I would also love for some to just accept me. Universally I am not alone on that notion. Well Internet, I intend to get through my “ish” for the day… and hopefully you get through yours. If we are lucky… and hopeful, we can meet back here tomorrow in better spirits.

Halloween is my top holiday… and in true Spirit I decided to give some of my favorite people a little Zombie make over using Photoshop techniques such as Dodging and Burning, Merging images, Color Balance, Saturation and Liquefy…Enjoy!

My little Rouge lighting zapping daughter !

My DAD!!! haahaa!

Crystal D Anytime

I have said it a million times already I know… I’m certain I’ll say it a gazillion times more, but I LOVE LOVE Anytime/ Lifestyle photos more than I like… standing-in -my- kitchen- eating- apple- butter- on- saltine-crackers-with-one-leg-up. In my world that’s a big deal.


I don’t think anyone needs an event, a birthday or a wedding to be photographed. I think it’s a beautiful thing to capture moments in our lives we can reflect on later. Moments such as, how long our hair was at the time, how young we were, how we dressed or even just to mark a period in our lives we never want to forget.

So when Crystal asked me to photograph her just because I was super excited to do so.

She is young and gorgeous and I knew the moment I saw her long legs exit her shiny black BMW that she would produce awesome photos for me.
 Thank Crystal for letting me capture this moment in your life! YOU look A-mazing!

The day was long and hard, but girl you look like you just stepped off the pages of Blender Magazine!

Here is a sneak peak at the

 I crazy LOVE these boots...!

GORGEOUSSSS!!

LOOK AT THIS FIERCENESS!

And the Gifts Keep Coming.

As if my new logo and a trip to Vegas wasnt enough for this birthday girl....

I am busrting with excitement to announce and show off my sweeet new toys! Yes, its true. I FINALLY upgraded my Nikon camera... safe to say Kaeley and I WILL not be eating this month, and possibly next.... but who cares! We have new eqiptment! Besides... who really needs to eat anyway ??

Thanks a heap to the Barnets from Barnet Photogaphy for helping me with my new Nikon D300 camera and Nikkor 17-55 2.8 Lens purchase. Hopefully their amazing ability to produce fabfabfabulous photos comes with it!



Ahhhh... SO BEAUTIFUL!!

SWEEEEET!!!!

Today's Thought.

I have survived 30. 7 days past 30 to be precise. Which has now got me thinking. There are times when I am really scared about how quickly our time passes. Sometimes I catch myself in a sea of anxiety because I want to make the greatest out of every single moment the world has to offer me. I want every moment to be amazing, and better yet to be able to remember it. To feel it.


All of these amazing moments, all of these happy moments will pass... and you know you can’t hang on to any of it. All that is left is a memory. Sometimes that memory fades. So what do we have left? Photos… we have lots and lots of photos.

On a positive note, the bad and hard times pass as well. Just as quickly as the good. I know that’s easier said when out of the mire. My birthday was more than fabfabfabulous. 30 is going to be the greatest year. Life is what we make it…So let’s make it unforgettable!

 
I love this photo, I usually cant stand pictures of myself. But this one I love. Thank you DL. You should do this professionally. P.S. you are amazing to me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!

Good morning Manda…


Before you flip, it’s just me. I have hi jacked your blog again to write you a little note for your 30th Birthday.

I was thinking this morning about all the things we have done over the past 30 years together. I didn’t want us to forget…

We have been everywhere and done everything together, we have cried a lot and laughed just as much. We have made a million mistakes that I am certain we both wish we could take back, or at least do differently. We have loved together, with every ounce of our being. We have said “I am sorry” for things that matter and some that don’t. We have followed our dreams and reluctantly watched a few fizzle. We even had a beautiful baby girl together.

You are my best friend. My backbone. Today you are another year cooler. Older. Wiser.

Thank you for the past 30 years… and here is to the next 30!

Love:

Manda