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April 30, 2010

A secret that I never could keep...

Old cheesy 'NSync songs have been popping into my head since Leslie & Darren's wedding last weekend.
And even though I have a million files to go through, another wedding to shoot this weekend and even some bouquets to make, I just couldn't keep from editing just a few shots from their day.



And once I got started, I just couldn't keep my adorable friends to myself. I had to share a preview with you! :)

April 29, 2010

OH my mother.

Hear ye, hear ye:
MOTHER's DAY IS COMING SOON. MAY 9th.

{Consider this your official announcement}.


So here's the truth about me...I am both a GREAT and horrible gift giver. I am great because I always want to give a gift that I think the receiver will like and be touched by - but horrible because when I don't have that PERFECT gift in mind, it either ends up being really late or never showing up at all. :/

But considering how patient my mom  has been with me this year, I really don't want to be late in showing her how much I do appreciate her. To mix it up on the blog with all the wedding posts (there are SEVERAL more to come, if you can believe it), I thought I would put together some inspiration for creative and lovely Mother's Day gifts. Just imagine me, as your personal shopper! Hope it's helpful :).


{Apothecary Jar No. 53 } by blithegardens
I am intrigued by these little terrariums on etsy...Being a foresty kind of gal, I liked them simple and imagine it lookin' lovely on a bookshelf or a coffeetable.


Year after year I always find myself passing by the jewelry counters but nothing ever seems to strike me as being right for her - plus I hear her in my head saying "Save your money - I don't need to wear anything like that."  But I don't think you can lose with simple and classy jewelry....that is definitely afforable!


celadon necklace by elephantine

Vine Wire Hoops earrings ($54), Viceroy necklace ($50) & three disc necklace ($62) by Gorjana

Lotus stud earrings ($22) and Cubic zirconia vintage earrings ($24) from Banana Republic
Carming and versatile...and easy to pick up directly at the mall in case you still haven't picked anything out the day before you go see your mom!


Along the lines of jewelry, purses/clutches/bags and scarves can be a thoughtful gift... sometimes I see a bag and I think its cute but would not actually buy something impractical for myself. However, sometimes those make the great gifts.





Foldover canvas tote ($39) and Reversible Market tote ($15) both from Gap


Modular Messenger in Mustard ($35) by bayanhippo




When I think about the things Mom tried to instill me, writing thank you notes is at the top of that list. Oh how inspired and eager I would be if I had some pretty stationary... and what a lovely gift that would be.

Letterpress greetings (3 pack variety - $12) by pearlmarmalade


Letterpressed circle notecards ($25) by chatham & caron


Rust Vintage Lace Letterpress cards set and  Calla Lilies (both $15) by Pistachio Press


Some fun for the cookin' mamas (which my mom most definitely is):


(how much exactly IS a pinch? These spoons can tell you!)
Odd Size Measuring Spoons {$12.50} at Spoon sisters




Flowerist measuring cups {$36}, Provencal cookie jar {$28} and Sewing Basket Apron {$38} all from Anthropologie



Over the years, its been fun building my mom's library in Christian living. These books in particular are some of my favorite volumes, several of which have really transformed my mind to see what being a wife and mother are from God's perspective.

1. Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
2. Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes
3. Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney
5. Because he Loves Me by Elise Fitzpatrick
6. Twelve Extraordinary Women by John Macarthur
So, to all the mom's out there....thanks for doing a great job - and hope that you have a blessed day!

April 28, 2010

sunny days chasing the clouds away

We had a bit of a rainy morning in San Diego today.
I pulled on my typical rain-day work gear (leggings, boots, trenchcoat) but couldn't help thinking...

"What would I like to be doing today?"



{salem, virginia - april 2010}

There is only one answer....definitely lying out in the sun.

April 27, 2010

a little older, a little wiser...

Tim&Steph Wedding, originally uploaded by Courtney Lynn.
but still as crazy, spontaneous, friendly, athletic & loveable as ever!
{cue the song....}

With Nay, the adventures NEVER seem to end...
our fondest memories come from our crazy ideas and living life on the edge...
{Being with you is so dysfunctional}

no matter what country/state/city we're in...
{I really shouldn't miss you}

yes, our friendship has been through some highs & lows over the past 8 (e-i-g-h-t) years (especially when I get mad at her for causing all the adventures that are the CRAZIEST.)
{But I can't let you go}
Yet we know that it is our heavenly father that has seen us through ALL kinds of things. and I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
{Oh yeah}
so I just have tribute to one of the sisters dearest to my heart.
Happy birthday Naomi!
{and yes, I think my life would suck without you. :)}

April 26, 2010

The street meets the symphony {Mike & Jen's wedding}

There have been an abnormally high number of those days in the four short months of
2010 when my heart has just felt FULL. I don't want to just say full of happiness - that doesn't
seem to be the right word. Maybe I'm thinking full....of life. Mike & Jen's wedding was one of those days.

If you've been following my blog at all in the past year, you might have deduced that I love them both a ton and it's been a honor to see their relationship develop. You might remember their Neverland inspired engagement party... but to think that I would get to help them out for their wedding be apart of the behind the scenes action, oh man, what a blessing. Mike is a long time friend that I truly consider to be my "big" brother and in true "little sister" fashion, I almost could't believe it when I heard that Jen (one of my first friends in SD) had agreed to not only date him, but ACTUALLY liked him.

I admit it was partially because I thought that someone might have a crush on my scrappy big bro bewildered me :) but it was also because classy Jen seemed like an unlikely match for simple b-boy that Mike was. Pastor John put it well in their ceremony when he said something along the lines of when he thinks of them together its like hip hop meets classical music. I'll spare you the line about them now making beautiful music together :P but from how I've seen both of them grow in their love and trust in God and into both a man and woman that together reflect God's beautiful design for marriage....well, their testimony is music to my ears.



can't you see the family resemblances in the moms and their beloved children?
(this was mike's auntie was visiting the states from Japan for the first time!)

Jen's dad was "throwing away his tears" as they walked down the aisle.
A really lovable bridal party, really.


Tender moments during the rehearsal dinner.


So they fed us some good Chinese food....
and then we headed back to work. There were centerpieces to be made and tables
to decorate! We had our army of 8+ worker bees folding origami, assembling manzanita
trees, gluing program covers... you know what though?
Being with good friends throughout the night made it FUN.
I was truly happy being a wedding elf.

For the second time in their engagement period (the first being the night before Mike proposed)
it felt like we were in finals week, staying up together studying. How could I miss that feeling? While I didn't get to go to school with the bridal party or the bride & groom, they have come to be buddies of mine, and we're all around the same age....but what I appreciate is that they are brothers & sisters who also truly love Christ, our savior and God, our heavenly father. Our common goal for the weekend was to see the Lord glorified through Mike and Jen's new life as a married couple.



Martin's (above) and Ryan's (below) faces kind of sum up how we felt as the night went on.
SUPER tiring and delirious around 2 a.m. when we finally went home but I was still really
excited to head back to the church in the morning (after a mere 3 hours of "beauty sleep),
see the bridal party in their glam-ness...as well as to finish putting together what was
a BEAUTIFUL reception and tons of warm fuzzy memories.
{cheering sometime around 1:30 a.m. after we finished all the programs}



Tia is one lady that certainly doesn't need to be glammed up.
But I like her both ways. :) I was so busy running around that I barely took ANY photos till the end of the night. But what a great time to snag the beautiful bride.. :)


I love you guys so so so  much!