I <3 Splash Mountain

I found this photo and I just had to blog it. This was from our trip to Disneyland, our one mini-vacation this year. I love this picture because it shows the whole family having fun. We were too cheap to buy the $12.95 (seriously, what 5x7 Kodak photo-printer print is worth that?) but I did manage to catch it on the TV screens. My mom's expression is too funny.



Good times!

It's done. Well, almost.

It's official, I've made appointments at two bridal salons for this Thursday. I'm excited and yet a little...what's the word? Weirded out? I don't know exactly how to pinpoint it, but I think going bridal gown shopping just makes it that much more real. I mean, the wedding dress is pretty much the icon of a wedding. You think, "Oh she's getting hitched." Without it, (plus rings, husband, and license) it's just a big party.

I've kind of been putting it off. Every time I talk to a friend who hears of the engagement news immediately jumps on the "Have you gone dress shopping yet?" train. Which is fine, it's a normal question, but my response has been "no". It's not because I don't want to, it's because I haven't had the time. And from what I hear, and if it's at all similar to trying on regular clothes, it takes some motivation, time, and effort. I'm making time now.

Well, Thursday is the day. We'll see what it brings.

Free to Succeed Tour!

So I'm exhausted, but bursting at the seams with excitement and newly absorbed knowledge. I just got back from the Free to Succeed Tour in San Francisco hosted by the awesome David Jay and fantastic Jasmine Star. I totally feel like I got to rub elbows with celebrities. So starstruck!

Here's the bus:

What can I say?! Tonight was so awesome and enlightening and inspiring. Jasmine Star's story totally resonated down to my bones. She reminds me so much of friends from college and I loved her message of "Keepin' it Real". I'm all about that. She's just as real and genuine in person, as she is on her website and blog. I loved the insight into a manageable workflow, word of mouth marketing, and the super cool ShowItWeb and ShowItSites. It's also humbling to learn how DJ started - at $1,000 a wedding and is now at $15k. As an aspiring photographer and a bride-to-be I got to experience both perspectives, and I have so much more appreciation and realize the value of my photographer's work.
I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and approached them both after the seminar. Normally, I don't think I would have done that. I consider myself to be a shy person, but I was like, "When then heck will I be in the same room as DJ and Jasmine Star?!" So I did it. I stood in line, as if to get an autograph, and said my thank you's (THANKS to YOU BOTH!), and got a photo op.

Check it:

It's 1am, but I wanted to get this out while it was fresh!

Back in California

I'm back from my 12 days of travel, and I think I know what time zone I'm in. The statistics conference was about as exciting as it could be, although it was great to meet my East Coast editors. They were great! I couldn't ask for better, considering I had no choice in the matter. They are true professionals with a sense of humor.

Spending time with Cent was even better. With three months of not seeing each other, it was getting kind of old. But as always, when we reunite, it's as if we hadn't been apart at all. It's great. We watched movies, ate some authentic Texan BBQ, and just hung out. That's what we do. We did go to the mall and decided that we want to get a Lovesac when we get a house. :)

My pulled pork sandwich

Why does my head look so much bigger?

Free to Succeed Tour

I'm so excited to attend the Free to Succeed Tour! It's a photography seminar hosted by David Jay and Jasmine Star. David Jay was named one of the top 15 wedding photographers in the world and Jasmine Star is one of the rising stars in the industry, having only started shooting weddings in October 2006. From what I've heard from the other stops on the tour, it's going to be awesome! I'm so excited! Did I mention that? I even had a dream about it.

Mind you, I've only spoken to a handful of photographers, and all of that was only on a client-vendor basis. I'm looking forward to meet local photographers.

I'm determined.

Denver...

I'm in Denver working my real job schmoozing with Statistics profs, I know you're jealous. However, I did have some downtime and wandered around the downtown area and got some decent shots of the city. Denver is definitely a pedestrian-friendly city and there is even a free hybrid bus that runs up and down 16th Street the main promenade of downtown. Before I head back to Dallas tomorrow morning, I'm going to venture over to the capitol building and stand a mile high above sea level.

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

I also discovered that there at 17 Starbucks locations in Downtown Denver. I'm not even exaggerating. I counted them down in the visitor's guide. I wonder if they will be shutting down some of the locations around here. Seriously, you can walk about 100ft and run into another Starbucks location. There's one right at the entrance to my hotel. 2 blocks down there is another. Crazy.

Travel Shots

I really enjoy traveling. I was going through my photos as I sit in a hotel in Denver, and I thought, why not a post about some of my travels last year. I got to meet up with my good friends in San Diego, our old stomping grounds. I went to Savannah to meet my soon-to-be in-laws. I took my then-boyfriend, now-fiance to San Francisco and caught some junk on camera. I went to New York for the fourth of July with my cousins. And I watched as the sun melted 1 year ago from today on August 4, 2007.

 

San Diego

  

Savannah

  

San Francisco

  

 New York

  

Dallas 

I've decided I'm going to use my blog to showcase more of my photos. I went out this evening, it's been a lovely, balmy 80 degrees, and I shot the Millennium Bridge, LoDo (lower downtown), and Larimer Square. I should have those up tomorrow. Have to find something entertaining to do when you're in a city for a statistics conference. I'm going to go to the State Capitol, and stand 1-mile above sea level on the 13th step. Work travel has its perks.

Impromptu Photo Shoot

I wanted to make the most of the day at Halfmoon Bay so I took my camera with me. On the upside, there were two adorable kiddie there.

I like kids, especially when they are intrigued by the camera and allow the paparazzi to shoot continuously!