Ready to Pop

Much like the overabundant jasmine in our backyard, I, too, am ready to pop! Photographically speaking, that is. :)

My baby, my website that I’ve been working on for weeks, is just about ready to launch! I can’t WAIT to share it with you guys! I’ll succumb to clichés and call it (and the accompanying blog) a labor of love, because although they have required serious brain power and manhours, I’ve been nothing but excited and happy while working on them.

Also, I'm soooo happy it's still light out when I get home. Is it daylight savings yet? Because at this point I'm seriously missing the long golden afternoons. Lately I've just wanted to sleep when I get home.

What about you guys? What’s been your labor of love lately?

xo

Mission San Juan Capistrano

So previously I hinted at where I took Mr. Same Same the weekend before last - it was the Mission San Juan Capistrano! (The photo above is from the train station.)

That weekend, Saturday turned out to be a bust since I was in bed all day with a horrific migraine. But I rallied on Sunday and was able to take him out on our adventure as planned!

I managed to keep it all a surprise until we arrived, thanks to a very sweet ticket seller at the Fullerton train station. :)

I decided we should take the train (not the typical choice here in SoCal) for a couple reasons:

1. The station in San Juan Capistrano is less than half a mile from the Mission.
2. The station is in the historic district and a really lovely part of town.
3. It took less time than driving.
4. We got to snuggle and chat the whole way.
5. No dealing with parking.
6. It's romantic. :)

Luckily it turned out to be the perfect choice! Even though we talk/text/email regularly during the week, it was lovely to sit and just talk, without interruptions, y'know? And I have to say the Pacific Surfliner was easy to navigate, super clean and every employee was so nice!

To make matters even better, it hovered around 80 degrees with a light breeze all afternoon...we couldn't have asked for better weather! (Winter? What winter?)

So, on to the photos...I really tried to edit these down, but it was just so lovely and I can't help it when I'm presented with beautifully aged and weathered structures. I just can't! If you want, you can see the full set by going here.

Lucky for me he's a willing model...

They had a special exhibit geared towards kids about Lewis and Clark, and we knew we had to check it out after seeing this ad:

Really? Wheel of Misery?

Anyone need a pretend bench?

The original church was destroyed in an earthquake, which makes it all EVEN COOLER.

The famous bells.

Hey Mr. Same Same - I win! :)

We spent some time in the chapel, which has been renovated in the last few years to show the walls and ceilings in their original technicolor glory - so many beautiful paintings! I'm so glad they can still find patrons to help fund these kinds of projects.

Just in case you can't figure out how to get there, a sign to help(?) you find it.

The giant koi pond in the middle of the main courtyard is lovely, and we were just starting to get into the golden hour...

Oh, hello, and who are you going home with?

That's right, me. Yesssss....

So it turns out there really WAS a Wheel of Misery at the end of the exhibit! We and some parents were cracking up about it and couldn't help but give it a spin.

I think I got the dislocated shoulder - I'ma blame that one on Mr. Same Same. ;)

No one can resist awesomely bad cutouts!

Some of the original bells...

Do you like Mr. Same Same's bag? I have to admit I'm on of those girlfriends who got him a messenger bag for Christmas - but luckily it's turned out to be perfect for him. Especially so because the front says "Suddenly all wars stopped / Bullets turned to film / The people were recorded rather than ruined". Very apropos for a filmmaker, right? :)

By then it was time to head back to the train station to catch our ride home - after a quick stop for some caffeine.

We got home around 5:30 and had dinner before starting the Golden Globes - perfect timing, because that way we were able to fast forward through speeches we didn't want to hear and all the commercials! ;)

So despite my awful Saturday, the amazing Sunday more than made up for it. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! If you live in SoCal and haven't been to the Mission yet, get yer butt down there. It truly has something for everyone.

xo

Dear Teddy

Thank you for lying in just the right spot.

I'd say I'm sorry that you've lost half your teeth and therefore can't keep your tongue in your mouth anymore, but I'm kinda not, old man. But it doesn't mean I don't love you.

{Inspired by the awesome blog ThxThxThx, which I recently discovered thanks to my girl Tara Whitney.}

xo

Meet (more of) the Family

Previously I mentioned that I made the family do a mini session on our front porch before Thanksgiving dinner and I'm so thrilled with the results! It was definitely worth making everybody starve for just a little while longer. ;)

First off were headshots. The lovely Sarah...(Who literally needs no retouching whatsoever. I try not to hate her.)

Mom and her big blue eyes:

Dad and his cheeky smile:

My handsome youngest brother, Lars (Sarah is his GF):

And my handsome other younger brother, Eirik:

I'm not jealous that he got my dad's curls, not at all...

I don't condone smoking in any way, but it's something he does and I just love his expression too much not to share!

What a stud, right?

Then it was the other stud's turn...Mr. Same Same. :)

And his best friend Dave, whom you might remember from our summer road trip:

Mr. Same Same turned the camera on me to make things even...

...and proceeded to make me laugh hysterically. As per usual.

Couples were up next - love this one of my parents. Almost 30 years of marriage and they still hold hands.

Dad was kind enough to take some of me and the boy toy...

Of course we brought the dogs out. Dante looks pissed because it's not Mr. Same Same that's kissing him (he totally loves him more than me).

Ridiculously cute, right?

I have a whole series of outtakes because it turns out that while we were outside, Dante had gotten up on the island and was helping himself to the artichoke dip. So when I brought him out for photos, he was licking his chops the entire time! I swear that dog has the constitution of a possum.

You already saw the family photo, so here's the entire gang!

Hooray for tripods and self timers! :)

xo

Sprocket

Sweet Sprocket was so tired he sought refuge in my lap. I don't care if this is totally not focused, I love it anyway. (Also known as: a lesson on holding your camera up over your shoulder and shooting at f/1.8.) :)

Still culling through the 250+ photos I took over the holiday weekend, hope to be back tomorrow to share! Lots of good stuff, it was the best Thanksgiving yet!

xo