Magical

I arrived home yesterday morning and when I walked in the door Beth's face lit up and she told me a package had arrived that morning. I saw the big brown box and new immediately what had finally arrived. The most magical package I have ever received.

My absolutely perfect wedding dress.

We stood wide-eyed, looking as I pulled it out. Alina (who happens to be 5 years old) was outside playing in the dirt and promptly came in to see. Beth said, "do. not. touch. it." Alina stood back, and began to describe all the things she loves about my dress. Then while telling me she began to move forward and reached out to touch the material. Beth grabbed her, laughing.

She had already forgotten.

For now it hangs on the antique wardrobe in my room. I have a lot of work ahead of me before I can wear it but that doesn't mean my anticipation is any less strong.

I can hardly wait for James to see.

The Quiroz Family

I had the pleasure of taking photos for this family in November. They're kids are great and it was absolutely a ball to hang out with them that morning. Ryan was perfect at making the kids smile and it seemed the Alamo was there just for us.We went early in the morning so they could get on the road but it turns out we could not have chosen a better time. They are a beautiful family.

And will you look at this light?

Ryan, Magen, Sara, Wilson-- you guys are amazing!

Niahmaya Lily Powell

Welcome to the world little lady. We've eagerly waited for you. Dear you are more lovely than I imagined.

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happenings

Things I have been blessed with in the last few weeks:
                         Essays for a certain graduate school application                       sleep

         payed off all of my credit cards!        
                             talked to a friend's friend about flowers

talked to a great friend about boutonnieres and the like

PURCHASED a wedding dress
                                                   became a god-mother

went on an adventure with my fiance                             talked with sam

                                             found James' wedding band          coffee
made some future plans
played paper dolls with Alina and Sheri         completed a great week at work            

here's to more great things!

Detail in Winter- Sierra Nevada Mountains

Five years have past; five summers, with the length
Of five long winters! and again I hear
These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs
With a sweet inland murmur.—Once again
Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,
Which on a wild secluded scene impress
Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect
The landscape with the quiet of the sky.

Though absent long,
These forms of beauty have not been to me,
As is a landscape to a blind man's eye:
But oft, in lonely rooms, and mid the din
Of towns and cities, I have owed to them,
In hours of weariness, sensations sweet,
Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart,
And passing even into my purer mind	30
With tranquil restoration:

And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply interfused,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean, and the living air,
And the blue sky, and in the mind of man,	100
A motion and a spirit, that impels
All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
And rolls through all things.

Therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods,
And mountains; and of all that we behold
From this green earth; of all the mighty world
Of eye and ear, both what they half-create,
And what perceive; well pleased to recognize
In nature and the language of the sense,
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul
Of all my moral being.

Lines Written Above Tintern Abbey by William Wordsworth.

To Capture the Moment

 Photo taken by Laurel Powell

I love the moments in-between shots. The ones that happen naturally, unposed and vulnerable. Our true selves not prepared for the lens. I find myself releasing my shutter constantly while I shoot, just to capture those moments. I don't look for them, mostly I concentrate on getting a great shot, but by taking two or three pictures on either side of the intended I find these moments when I go back and look. These moments grab my heart, these moments tell the story.

California Knows Coffee

Am and I met Laurel in Santa Monica one afternoon. We ate a late lunch at the library, found some fun things at the thrift store (including a chevron striped dress that I love), and ducked into a little bakery for some hot chocolate when the spontaneous rain found us.

 Beth and I got up early one morning for breakfast here. Isn't that little cream elephant to die for? 

This is how I love Bethany the most--we both kinda rolled out of bed that morning. She is AMAZING and it was so refreshing to talk with her. Just like my favorite mornings on Wilson Street.

 French toast, granola, strawberries--does life get any better?? Oh yeah, coffee.

J.C. Beans in Dana Point with my soontobe brother and sisters. They spoiled me all weekend with their time and birthday presents. We laughed and talked for a few hours here before going to pick up some great dinner down the street.  

Thanks friends!!

Things I Love About

Texas.

1. My fiance lives in Texas.
2. It rains and gets foggy in Texas.
3. My bed.
4. The sky, the sky is absolutely bigger and more blue.
5. Our house is full of warmth, Christmas and family.
6. Gas is under 3.00 a gallon in Texas.
7. The air is clean.
8. I can dress however I want and not get funny looks.
9. There is space enough to garden there.
10.

Miss you guys.

11. Texas doesn't know a thing about traffic. 

Christmas Smells Sweet

This rainy afternoon I went and baked Christmas cookies with a friend. She lives in one of those amazing homes with crown molding, old hardwood floors, a cozy sage-green clad kitchen--home to two baby bunnies and a pup named Taquito-- and fantastic windows. We baked shortbread and coffee cookies, decorated sugar cookies and munched on cheese, crackers, prosciutto and raspberries.

It was lovely to talk with the girls and not have to make mocha backups or Caramel Macchiatos. To have an intelligent conversation without stopping for a costumer or a coffee timer. I made these cookies and they turned out great! I changed the recipe a little at the end, and dipped them in dark chocolate.

Coffee Bean Cookies

ingredients:

2 tsp instant coffee (please use Starbucks VIA)

2 tbsp milk

3/4 cups butter, softened

1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

process:

1. Combine the coffee crystals and milk. Stir until the coffee crystals are dissolved; set aside.

2. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, vanilla, and milk-coffee mixture. Beat until mixture is combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in four with the mixer.

3. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

4. Shape dough into 1 -inch balls. Shape each ball into an oval. Press the thin edge of a wooden spoon into the top of each so they resemble coffee beans. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

5. Bake at 350 for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned.

Their bunnies names are Asterisk and Ampersand, how lovely is that?

Happy December!

James is apart of a decorating project at work, and was sent home with this little bread man to decorate. With his limited amount of time and love for sleep, I was more keen to tackle the assignment.

Look!

I love him.