Simply Bloom Workshop Teaser

Simply Bloom just posted a sneak peak from the styled shoot

we had the pleasure of participating  in

during the conference last weekend. 

It was soo lovely & I can't wait to share some of my photos!

This photo makes me want to fly back to Nevada

and camp out in the desert with Ross,

with a blanket made of sun and our love to keep us full.

away we go!

Blogger does not seem to want to cooperate with me lately,

as it will not let me upload any pictures!

I need to resolve this issue, as a post with no pictures is no fun.

Suggestions? Anyone?

In other news,

Stancy & I are off to Las Vegas today for the Simply Bloom Photography conference!

Hopefully we will learn a TON, be inspired, and have fun on our first trip to the infamous city.

Can't wait to report back about our weekend!

hopefully with pictues...

catching up: thanksgiving

Okay, blog, I'm sorry for peaceing out on you for so long. I sort of broke up with blogger for a while I guess.  We got into a fight, you see.  I had this incredibly eloquent and interesting post (just kidding, but seriously...) in which I poured out my heart & shared what the Lord was showing me through Jack Kerouac and apple pie and pursuing a new career adventure. The post took at least a week to write, and when it came time to publish and share it with the blogging world... blogger failed to save the post...and failed to post it... so we ended our relationship on pretty bad terms. 

BUT, I love the holiday season waaaay too much to not take some time and document our adventures.

I forgive you, Blogger.  Maybe another day when I have more time to rewrite the aforementioned incredibly eloquent and interesting post I can share that story, but for now we will just have a simple and slightly cheesy recap of Thanksgiving.

Here are a few pics from our time with my family in beautiful San Jose, California. 

I'm saving my favorites for another post, but this is a start.  

{p.s. please excuse my extreme editing on some on these photos.

i like to get a little carried away sometimes}

Ross & my dad enjoying some cigars and manhattans while frying turkey # 1.

best.turkey.ever.

Our beautiful table!

JB being cool.

Fancy cheeses at the girl & the fig in Sonoma. 

 Wine cave in Sonoma.

Decorating for Christmas!

Some years we have over 30 people to celebrate Thanksgiving with.  This year it was just the 6 of us and was so much fun.  My dad planned out the whole well balanced week of staying home and cooking, exploring new parts of California, going out to eat, having an extreme bocci ball tournament, visiting my brothers new school, playing games, watching movies, and going on family walks.  It was perfect.  Ross and I were so grateful to just spend time together and take a much needed break from work. 

Can't wait to fly back on Friday! How is Christmas sneaking up on us so fast?!

the man in the red hat

see that man with the little red hat?

his name is gusto, and sarah & sergio took us to see him last week.

a long time ago, he felt that God called him

to build a cathedral... by himself.

he knew nothing about building/architecture/art,

so he bought some books and got started.

so for the past 49, he has spent every hour of everyday building

this house of worship.

the building is funded completely from donations,

and he does everything from the stained glass to laying bricks.

now that he is in his 80s, he accepts help from just a few people.

we definitely felt like we were in the presence of

a modern day noah,

and were especially touched by his humbleness

and obviously, his conviction.

heartbeat of madrid

clicking boots on cobblestone

metro swooshing by

sipping sangria, puffing smoke

dancing through the night

spanish rolling off the tongue

paella, tortilla, y jambon

sunny mornings, bright street lights

life floating in the air

floating, floating, floating

like a dream we're floating

moving through

picasso's masterpiece

glowing

lovers kissing lovers

the beating heart of madrid.

we fell in loveeee with madrid and had the most incredible week.

we felt very blessed to get to spend time with my best friend in such a remarkable city,

and for the chance to get to know her true love!

thank you smiller for sharing your city with us- can't wait to stay with you again!!

california dreamin'

we found our way to san jose! so happy for my family; 

they are enjoying a beautiful and fresh adventure. 

the rolling hills straight out of a dr. seuss book, 

vineyards with orderly green rows spanning for miles, 

perfect weather and countless new experiences to unfold 

are all part of my family's new home.

we're back in our home now, newly determined to to be positive about the place we're living... and looking forward to the places we might get to call home in the future. 

...and ready to go back to san jose.