the paper dialogues

wedding e-party!

2012-02-09T01:56:00.000-08:00

a little peak at something i made for our wedding website! soon to be done... then i'll sleep.

partridges in a pear tree

2012-02-02T15:08:00.000-08:00

this painting/illustration by united thread caught my eye today. how lovely are the colors?

find more of her illustrations here!

ode to love

2012-02-01T23:39:00.000-08:00

super excited to show you guys this...a sneak peak (one of my favorites) of our engagement session last weekend, a polaroid from our wonderful photographer.

check out some more instants from our session here.

work, rest, repeat

2012-01-29T14:55:00.000-08:00

happy sunday y'all!

sorry i haven't been posting anything inspiring or requiring any kind of effort (haha).. i'm just ready to relax!

i've been so busy lately with meetings with clients, preparing our non-traditional save-the-date, collecting and planning for our engagement shoot (which was yesterday!), finalizing catering for d-day and.... i have not a photo to show for it (since my workhorse lens is in the shop for repairs). hopefully i will have some sneak peaks for you soon from our shoot!

how was your weekend?

(photo: anthropologie)

jordan grace owens

2012-01-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

check out these amazing paper dolls by jordan grace owens! she also does custom couple dolls, which are absolutely delightful!

gold speckle

2012-01-18T19:43:00.000-08:00

i need numerous bolts of those two fabrics, now.

(source)

sweet drinks

2012-01-17T23:47:00.000-08:00

i know i've been the most negligent blogger lately, but i like to use the excuse now that i'm planning a wedding and running a business!

in any case, i'm looking for some sweet drink recipes for the wedding! please share in the comments (or email me!) if you have any... lemonades, teas, punches...whatever is sweet and refreshing for a summer wedding!

(image: cider rum punch & ginger ale!)

good things come in threes

2012-01-06T10:23:00.000-08:00

1. (visual word)

2. (spoken word)

"when we are very young children we don't need fairy tales: we only need tales. mere life is interesting enough. a child of seven is excited by being told that tommy opened a door and saw a dragon. But a child of three is exicted by being told that tommy opened a door. boys like romantic tales; but babies like realistic tales — because they find them romantic. . . . this proves that even nursery tales only echo an almost pre-natal leap of interest and amazement. these tales say that apples are golden only to refresh the forgotten moment when we found that they were green. they make rivers run with wine only to make us remember, for one wild moment, that they run with water." (gk chesterton)

3. (sung word)

shorter days longer nights playlist by wit+delight.

(img credit: brian ferry)

2012-01-05T18:08:00.000-08:00

super liking this kitchen space in the home of illustrator raymond biesinger and his clothing/accessories-designer wife, elizabeth hudson (as seen on design*sponge). see more images from their apartment here.

portrait session giveaway!

2012-01-04T11:59:00.000-08:00

i'm hosting a giveaway on my photography blog for a free portrait session! go to the post to get more details!

so this is the new year

2012-01-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

this new year feels different than all the other new years. everything has been a blur so it's been hard to sit down and really think about how the past year went and decide what goals i want to make for myself this year. with wedding plans and already an upcoming shoot this saturday, i feel both excited and overwhelmed.

this past year has definitely been very eventful. i ended my time with the amazing ladies at utterly engaged to work full-time... and 4 months later i quit my full-time in-house graphic design job to focus on my photography business full-time. i've met wonderful people, learned so many things, made many mistakes and am ever growing. i got engaged (!!!) have been in the throes of preparing to be a wife and planning a wedding at the same time. (as you can imagine, i have many "when did i get so crazy" moments).

hopefully after this weekend i plan to take a short break from blogging/twitter/etc. and really rediscover my voice, what motivates and drives me. i hope that means more personal work for this year... :).

(photo by en pointe)

will you be my bridesmaid

2012-01-01T15:19:00.001-08:00

a little recent project. fold out kraft booklet!

communal

2011-12-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

ever since i saw this thanksgiving shoot on design*sponge, i could not get it out of my head. it was shot at a unique, intimate venue: the carondelet house.

secondly: i love the family-style dinner, the vintage details, the casual and organic yet classic feel to it all. it's actually what i want for my own wedding (minus the mismatched chairs). our idea of tacos for dinner was veto-ed by T's parents, so maybe we can do a family style dinner like this.....maybe.

love those serving utensils!

(photo credit: braedon flynn)

renegade LA

2011-12-23T11:28:00.000-08:00

two weeks ago i went with some friends to renegade craft fair in LA! to be honest, i was kind of disappointed. i expected to want to empty out my wallet at every turn, but i only saw 1 or 2 things i really wanted. it was still a good experience nonetheless, and i have some fun pictures from the day to share!

loved these morse code bracelets from coatt!

someone please buy me one of these wall clocks from black forest works.

we also hit up a cute vintage shop in little tokyo after getting full on ramen.

the end!

it's a small world

2011-12-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

i've had terrariums on the mind these past few days. i know they've been done as bunting has been done, but i'm definitely planning to make just one and add my own touch to it for our guestbook table. hope it works out. *crosses fingers* and when i say that, i mean i'm awkwardly crossing my black thumbs. thank God terrariums are low maintenance.

by the way... how sweet are these terrarium postcards from quill and fox on etsy?

danielle kroll

2011-12-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

i'm utterly obsessed with the charming illustrations of danielle kroll.

autumn in film

2011-12-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

T took the one on the left and the one below!

ice cream on state street :)

our surprise ice-skating date.

(another lovely shot by T)

garden of cosmic speculation

2011-12-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

how amazing is this garden? and guess what, it's in one of the countries that T and i are going to hit up for our honeymoon......SCOTLAND!

this past week

2011-12-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

i ate a lot of pasta this week. a lot. why? because it doesn't require an oven or anything electric of the sort (just gas) and yesterday was my first day of returned power after the 4 day blackout from the santa ana winds!

(on a side note: i know this photo looks horrible, but trust me, this pasta is absolutely delicious. i'm ghetto so i used turkey bacon instead of bacon and balsamic vinegar instead of red wine. i also substituted paprika for the red pepper flakes. i know, i know, did i even follow the recipe at all?)

i live near the pasadena area, so for the past few days the streets have been filled with debris, hundreds of trees were uprooted, and most residents in pasadena and neighboring cities lost their power. i think some folks still don't have their power (!!).

apart from the days living like an amish person, we are completely safe. our house didn't even lose a single tile (many did), and for that i am so thankful. i have to admit i had no idea what to do with myself half the time. i enjoyed some reading and cleaning, but the rest of the time i sat thinking, "WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?" (yes, i am a sad person).

saturday was fun because T came to visit and we had a date in the midst of the madness.

grand slam: over-easy egg, hash browns, thick bacon, all on a hot dog and delicious bun.

my new favorite hot dog place: dog haus in pasadena.

spent the afternoon walking around pasadena (streets still full of trees).

ended with christmas lights in naples, long beach.

i know, i know. i almost wish the lights would go out more often (almost).

holiday gift guide: sister, sister

2011-12-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

(pearl bracelet, wish bracelet, triangle stud earrings, fox cup, leather oxford shoes, driving gloves, candle, print)

a gift guide for sisters and best lady friends! i actually want all these things for myself ..i just bought the fox mug today from anthro (it's on sale!).

(note: i wanted to add this gold leather mousepad but couldn't find any great photos)

goldenink collaborative

2011-11-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

unique porcelain jewelry from the australian duo of goldenink collaborative (via lushlee)

golden days

2011-11-28T20:42:00.000-08:00

i had the most relaxing thanksgiving weekend in santa barbara visiting T and the (future) in-laws and extended family. we hit up solvang for some bomb-azing pancakes as well as los olivos for some tasty cupcakes. most of these are on my photo blog but i thought i'd post a couple more here.

hear hear: paula's pancakes. best dutch pancakes ever.

my love & i.

even the leaves are cute here.

enjoy cupcakes!

*cymbal clang* the end.

hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!

thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:44:00.000-08:00

(1, 2)

happy thanksgiving everybody!

this morning i am thankful for another year of the quiet moments, the mundane, and the daily portions of common grace given to me...that i awoke each day in good health, living in stability, with a home to call my own, having infinitely more possessions that i need and much more love from those around me than i deserve.

how blessed i am to be a child of God, living in the reality of his mercy and love every hour of my every day.

the Lord is my portion," says my soul, therefore i will hope in him (lamentations 3:24)

viceroy

2011-11-23T17:27:00.001-08:00

i had an engagement session yesterday at the wonderful and quite popular: viceroy in santa monica! if you're ever in the area, i suggest just going there to enjoy a drink with a friend and to check out all the cool decor (and then go eat at father's office afterwards). i wish we could've stayed a bit longer but traffic was particularly bad that day and we had other locations to hit up.

darn you, los angeles.

ryo kobo

2011-11-19T13:16:00.000-08:00

(via audkawa)

ritornell for musicbox

2011-11-17T23:48:00.000-08:00

ritornell for musicbox from ritornell on vimeo.

jaw- dropping music box business card designed by katharina hölzl (via erin jang).
simply amazing, i can't get over it!

more details here.

neëst

2011-11-15T23:38:00.000-08:00

i love everything from paris shop Neëst. everything is minimalistic, unique and sweet.

a food truck wedding

2011-11-14T14:07:00.000-08:00

ever since i saw this food truck wedding shoot on GWS i've been obsessed with finding an equally cute and tasty food truck. down-home meets classy and unique!

i tried inquiring about MIHO, but alas, san diego is quite a ways from santa barbara. i also considered kogi truck and some other food trucks, but i'm worried about how fast the food-output is. anyone have any experience with wedding food trucks? T and i need some affordable catering for our wedding...and when i say affordable i mean REALLY affordable.

we have an option we're gonna check out soon, but if you guys know any great catering options in santa barbara, throw me a line!

i love these little personalized touches!

making a home

2011-11-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

(source)

T and i signed up for our first registry yesterday! surprisingly, he was pretty much trigger-happy all over crate and barrel but i was the more selective, careful (and timid) one. if i was considering between two different tea kettles, he'd come by and scan them both before i knew what was happening. good thing we can always change our minds later. haha!

in any case, it made me very excited imagining the home we will be building together! for a young married couple like us, i'm sure it will be very bare bones but i can't wait to use my creative juices to make it as home-y and inviting as possible. :)

for you married folk, what things do you love that you put on your registry, and/or something you wished you had registered for but didn't?

2nd annual happy-haulidays!

2011-11-09T18:24:00.000-08:00

okay so i have to admit i gasped aloud and did a little happy handclap to myself when i saw this in my inbox....the SECOND annual happy haulidays giveaway from chronicle books! what's even more amazing this year is that in addition to winning your list, you could win $500 worth of books to a charity of your choosing!

what you need to do:

1. make a list of Chronicle Books valued at up to $500

2. put it on your blog along with a charity of your choosing
3. you're entered (well, you have to go enter yourself on their giveaway page) to win your list of books and win books for a charity! (AND one lucky commenter!)

deadline is december 2nd!

now on to my list, which is not different from my list from last year...haha! i know, so boring, but i still love and covet all these books.

1. 100 years of fashion illustration by cally blackman
2. decorate by holly becker and joanna copestick
3. open studios with lotta jansdotter by lotta jansdotter
4. paper craft by minhee and truman cho
5. family by lauren dukoff
6. reprodepot pattern book: folk: 225 vintage-inspired textile designs by djerba goldfinger
7. little book of letterpress by charlotte rivers
8. how to be a graphic designer without losing your soul by adrian shaughnessy
9. photobooth by babbette hines
10. the printmaking bible by ann d'arcy hughes and hebe vernon-morris
11. lotta's printing studio by lotta jansdotter
12. craft inc. business planner by meg mateo ilasco
13. lettering & type by bruce willen and nolen strals
14. the exquisite book by julia rothman, jenny volvovski, and matt lamothe
15. the commonsense kitchen By tom hudgens
16. tartine by elizabeth prueitt and chad robertson

cart total: $496.50 :)

-----------

and my charity of choice is: First Book!

as a child, one of my favorite things was a weekly trip to the library. it was a goldmine of stories, information and adventures at my fingertips! all for free! i felt like matilda when she discovered the library for the first time. for a child from a single parent home, having that kind of access and freedom was such a blessing to me. and yet, i wasn't even from a low-income neighborhood like the ones that i've assisted in during my education studies courses in college.

First Book is a charity "determined to see that all children, regardless of their economic conditions, can achieve more in school and in life through access to an ongoing supply of new books." they have distributed more than 85 million books and educational resources to programs and schools, serving children from low-income families all throughout the US and canada. as the richest country in america, it is sad and embarrassing if our children (any child!) are illiterate and lack resources they need to succeed!

dewy drops

2011-11-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

dear future husband,

it's raining today. if we were married, we'd sleep in just a little longer.

love,
your future wife.

(source)

wedding photographer

2011-11-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

not having the greatest day... trying to amend with coffee and sweets. in addition, i also thought i'd share some ~~good~~ wonderful news. we booked our photographer! guess who?

all the better to love you with

2011-10-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure if i ever showed this before (pretty sure I have), but i found this in my room the other day and thought i would since i have a better camera now. it's a project i did in one of my college visual arts courses -- the theme was "remix" and we were supposed to do a remix of materials and themes. mine was a remix of the little red riding hood story; instead of a big bad wolf, there's a little bear following her...and it's really a boy who is in love with her wearing a bear suit. i know, i'm silly.

red riding hood's cloak design is from an arizona green tea bottle and her legs are made of tree bark. i made the little clouds with rolled up newspaper strips (painting some with acrylic paint).

the boy's suit was made of tree bark (yep, ripped off a tree), towel, and cardboard. the zipper was a gum wrapper.

DIY hair pin

2011-10-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

a cheap bride's gotta do what a what a cheap bride's gotta do.

so, i absolutely love bhldn's dewed vines hairpin, but there's no way i'm gonna pay $140, even if it might be for my wedding. so here is my ghetto version (still a work in progress). i had some beads lying around and bought some gold wire for a few bucks at joann's. this isn't a tutorial by any means, i barely knew what i was doing. just a lot of guessing and twisting until kind-of resembled the original.

where i want to be today

2011-10-28T16:22:00.000-07:00

i need a break from thinking of wedding things and work related things and life responsibility things (pretty much any kind of work). so, i'm taking a mental vacation here. meet me at my little garden table for some tea and crumpets with homemade jam, won't you?

(source)

neutrals + golds

2011-10-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

(lipstick, dress, heels, watch, nail polish, satchel)

black and white: home life

2011-10-25T22:58:00.000-07:00

i'm trying to get into film. since i had no light meter for my first roll (internal light meter wasn't working), the whole thing was pretty bad....but i still love it. because film is lovable even in its flawed areas. i promise the next roll will be better!

(T took this one of coco. how cute is she in that bow tie?)

traveling creatives club

2011-10-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

something i designed before leaving my last job! enjoy!

wanderlust

2011-10-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

i love liivia's beautiful travel photos. take me there, stat!

our wedding venue!

2011-10-17T19:10:00.000-07:00

still a secret for now, but here's a sneak peak of our wedding venue (or part of it).... the fun of wedding planning is coming back!

see those vintage suitcases and furniture? there's much more where those came from (couches, props, etc.) and all available for our use! score! when i'm excited i only type with exclamation marks!

brian park

2011-10-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

thoroughly enjoying these interior + exterior shots by brian park. a lot more great work where these came from!

snapshots: odds and ends

2011-10-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

haven't been out too much other than for work and venue-visiting these past few months. here are some odds and ends snapshots from my very quiet (and sometimes very dull) life! enjoy!

extra bling on my bling finger :)

yummy pies from simplethings pie shop!

this past weekend shooting at a small house wedding in malibu!

starry nights and gold embers

2011-10-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

(i'm mesmerized by this painting i saw on oncewed posted by sarah of saipua.)

i'm so so so so glad october is here. even more glad fall is here as well. it is definitely one of my favorite seasons, even though we don't get that seasonal here in southern california. the chilly air, the crispy leaves, the sunny-yet-windy afternoons. pour me a cup of pumpkin spice latte and watch me nap.

the MANY things that have been happening to me:

- shingles scare (turned out to be a bad bacterial infection)
- weddings
- my own wedding planning... and wanting to tear out my hair because of The Impossible Venue Search
- FINALLY FINDING A WEDDING VENUE! (will post some sneak peaks later)
- it goes on and on.

gifts (old & new)

2011-09-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

just thought i'd share a couple gifts i received recently and not-so-recently that i think are sweet and caught my eye today. sweet as in suh-weeeeet.

i love this book by lena corwin that i got for my birthday (yes... 4 months ago). thought i'd whip it out today and enjoy it with some ice cream. i can't wait to try something! i'm kind of limited in space until we get married but maybe i'll do something with print goods.

left: recently my cousin bought me a whole box of muji pens from hong kong. that washi tape is from my beloved when we went to japantown in sf!

right: you can't see it clearly, but that mint zippered bag thing is anthro's packaging for their gift cards! (at least...almost a year ago). i now use it to store other gift cards i don't have room for in my wallet at the time being. it's a cute creature of sorts. (ps, that happy birthday card is a botched print i designed for someone else)

i'm a happy girl.

emily rothschild usb locket

2011-09-17T02:45:00.000-07:00

yep, you heard that right: usb locket. feminine and functional jewelry, someone pinch me now!

if you're rich enough (or feel generous...*ahem*), you can buy it here for $270. if i was both awesome and wealthy, i would buy these as bridesmaids gifts for my bridesmaids!

there is also an equally lovely mini version here for $170!

all that glitters is gold

2011-09-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

check out these fabulous DIY louboutin glitter heels!
(yes, she really did use louboutin heels...found for $5 at a hk market!)

maybe i'll try this for my wedding... with a different shade of gold.

yay area, part two!

2011-09-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

my new favorite florist, studio choo:

i'm not sure if i'll be an sf bride or if it will fit in our budget to have florals done professionally, but boy does my heart flutter when i see some studio choo work. if you're interested in checking out a few more shots of studio choo's shop in sf, check out my photography blog.

sunflowers in sweet little japantown.

hope you enjoyed my trip vicariously through these shots!

yay area, part one!

2011-09-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

following my last day at my graphic design position, i went out with a bang: the fiance and i took a trip up to the bay for a engagement shoot i had :). we spent some time venue visiting and enjoying as much as we could in sf in the brief amount of time we had there before we had to head up to davis for the shoot.

east bay has a beautiful park district!

i got mild :( so sad, i never have any luck with these sexy-meters.

creepy little dolls everywhere.

i like this shot that charles took!

up next: japantown and studio choo!

five from the ground

2011-09-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

zakka (from the japanese 'zak-ka' or 'many things'): "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane".

five from the ground is a beautiful shop of collected antiques in kanagawa, japan. the items are sourced from all over the world and collectively embody the zakka aesthetic.

this is the beginning of something new

2011-08-31T12:10:00.000-07:00

last week was my last week at my graphic design position at my job. this week is the first week doing photography full-time! being self-employed is both scary and exciting. i find myself so much more productive now that i know that every hour i waste matters.

it's such a relief being able to focus on my photography and only my photography. working two full-time jobs was way too much for me. i even find myself more inspired and motivated to do other things i enjoy, like painting! i painted that little chipboard girl last night :).

here's to new beginnings. contact me if you need a portrait session or even photography for your wedding day!

something's hiding in here

2011-08-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

vintage wallpaper music boxes by Something's Hiding In Here (creator of Forage Bowties) for BHLDN!

(via designworklife)

grady mcferrin

2011-08-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

i really admire grady mcferrin's lettering and illustrative work. there's a gritty folk feel to each of his works that i absolutely adore.

check out his work here.

glósóli

2011-08-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

(1, 2-4)

guess where i want to go for my honeymoon? not hawaii, not cancun, nope, not paris or even a cruise. i don't want to lay out on the beach or drink out of coconuts.

i want to go to iceland.

it is absolutely beautiful, hauntingly breathtaking. i've been burning a hole into my screen just staring at iceland photos like a mad woman. i even put on some sigur rós to admire these photos. i know, i'm weird.

have any of you ever been to iceland? is it expensive? any tips?

quiet wednesday

2011-08-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

(1, 2)

it's a quiet wednesday around here, nothing really to be done at work...but tons to be done back home. wish i could sit at a coffee shop, drink a hot cup of hot chocolate or coffee and edit away. since i can't do any of that right now, i'll share some links i like today:

- i'd love my wedding to feel like this birthday party.

- really cute lingerie from anthropologie.

- fun matchbook illustrations from tom frost.

- this amazing forest/nature/wood-themed wedding invitation.

- this quote:

“Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no whenever you don’t want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you’re doing here. " eve ensler

- ONA camera bags.

- braided hairstyles tutorials

bond glam

2011-08-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

(watch, heels, ring, lipstick, swimsuit, tub.)

today's inspiration board is a (james) bond girl, classic glam kind of board. isn't that swimsuit to die for?

emedemarta

2011-08-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

i've been sifting the interwebs lately for geometric necklaces and came across these....loving these necklaces and the use of triangles from emedemarta.

13 Wives

2011-08-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

loving this project seen on designworklife:

"13Wives is the story of 13 ladies and their man behind the bar. This tucked-away specialist little cocktail bar mixes up one of a kind potent concoctions inspired by each of the femme fatale protagonist. These cocktails can be selected from The Little Black Book presented by the mixologist – the man behind the bar. This is his secret rolodex tucked in his back pocket, complete with first dates stories, jot notes of the ladies and mentions of their favorite cocktails."

hello naomi

2011-08-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with these sweet, delicate cakes from Hello Naomi! Too bad she's located in Australia...or maybe that's a good thing. She makes cakes, cupcakes and cookies, all with an eye for detail and design!

bhldn.. on your feet!

2011-08-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

i've started looking at shoes for my wedding.... i feel like i'm voluntarily torturing myself when i look at attire for my wedding.

looking at the bhldn shoe collection is like eating a pint of ice cream after dinner. you think you're satisfied until you start eating that pint... which tastes so good while you're eating it. when it's over, all you're left with is the extra weight and feeling not so good! not sure if that made any sense...but in any case, the bhldn shoe collection makes me so so sad. especially those versailles booties on the top left. $535! so beautiful. too expensive :(.

seen anything similar for cheaper ladies?

07.23.11

2011-08-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

posted the proposal story over on my photography blog!

our wedding (palette)

2011-08-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

(left to right, top to bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ,6, 7)

Believe it or not, my fiance has taken a very active role in the life of our wedding colors. He has been bugging me all week to give him a selection of colors I'd like for our wedding. So, I had some free time today and decided to whip something up and give the man what he wants!

Here's a very basic idea of what I want our colors to be (I know, it looks like I want all the colors in the world). Lots of subtle hues (ivory, beige, muted blues and pinks, peach, sage green, etc.) with pepperings of coral, mint, gold and silver. The last block represents wooden textures I'd like to have in our wedding. :) This is all happening in my head though, who knows how it will turn out.

I realized today that a very exciting part of planning your wedding and working on a tight budget is being given motivation to learn new skills!

Some things I'm planning to learn or improve on for wedding projects:

- calligraphy
- woodworking (ha-ha)
- sewing
- painting

- floral arrangement

- dancing (this is for day-of. probably the toughest thing on here, seeing as i have no rhythm at all.)

Hopefully I'm not being too ambitious....

sweet firsts

2011-08-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

I know you all are still waiting to hear the details on the proposal and see how wedding planning is coming along, but it's just been too busy! I'm really just letting it all soak in.

This saturday T and I attended a lovely outdoor wedding at an equestrian center in walnut. I experienced two firsts: being a flower girl (yes, a flower girl in her 20's) and going to a wedding as a fiancee. Aside from the initial embarrassment of wearing a yellow dress obviously designed for a little girl, it was so much fun just relaxing with T & old friends and simply being a guest (and not behind the camera). (the above photo was of their cute cupcake table, put together by some of the bride and grooms' lady friends)

I'll try getting on with the proposal photos asap and boarding the wedding planning-blogging train (or, as much as I can without giving away everything!).

dessert first, please!

2011-07-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

(1, 2)

How typical of me to have gotten obsessed with dessert ideas for my wedding already. One trend that has won me over: dessert in jars! How cute would it be to have tiny jars of desserts with adorably tiny spoons to match? Think about it! Pies...ice cream sundaes...cake... italian ice! Is it crazy for me to think I can do this on top of making my own bouquet and decorations?

Some pros:

1. no messy transport!
these would be easy to transport in a box without worrying about a mess of epic sized proportions to follow. i'm sure the moisture and humidity inside a closed jar would make the cake even more rich and tasty. don't quote me on that.

2. portion control: you could definitely make individual sized portions for people to enjoy, or even use larger jars to share family-style!

3. the container: who doesn't love mason jars to keep afterwards!

Con:

I'd have to buy hundreds of jars.... maybe I could just have them for my bridal shower. Heh-heh.

----

make your own:

15 dessert recipes in a jar!

dinner rolls in a jar!

pies in a jar! (green wedding shoes)

I do!

2011-07-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Guess what everybody? I'm getting married!

I feel like I'm already losing my mind thinking about how I'm going to make a budget wedding work in LA (or SB), but I have faith! I'm anticipating lots of late night crafting parties...

Stay tuned for details on how he proposed :)

Any tips from those of you past the wedding planning madness (or still in it)?

carmaggedon

2011-07-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

I live in LA. So you all know what that means for this weekend: Carmageddon (the exact opposite of this carefree photograph). Boo! If only I had a bike or motorcycle to get around in.

Anyways, thank goodness I can take the 210 to get to the wedding I'm shooting tomorrow. Happy weekend everyone! Stay at home and enjoy the day :)

(Aleksandra Boyarskaya by Vanessa Jackman)

stitch design co (before & after)

2011-07-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

i love before and afters. i also love clean, minimalistic, illuminated storefronts.

stitch design co storefront.

mélangerie Inc

2011-07-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

Okay guys. How fricken cool is this viewmaster wedding invite by Mélangerie Inc? "This invite features a nostalgic viewmaster with custom picture reel and insert card for additional information".

They are obviously the masters of charming, whimsical and unique invites. I am head-over-heels for this woodland save-the-date they created! And their hand-painted wedding signage. Ugh. Beautiful.

hand-stitch leather

2011-07-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am such a sucker for leather accessories. Right now I'm using a leather macbook carrying case, a leather + felt ipod cover, and leather purse. Yes, it's an addiction. Check out these leather goods by harlex on etsy!

I especially love that leather envelope phone case.

happy independence day!

2011-07-04T00:05:00.000-07:00

what better way to enjoy the 4th of July than ice blended papaya milk enjoyed outdoors? you can find the recipe here (i just added ice to it).

happy independence day everybody!

daily deal: vive le crepe

2011-07-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

doesn't this look delicious? i just purchased a coupon from guilt city for 41% off vive le crepe. yum! can't wait! snatch up a coupon if you're in the LA area!

one of my favorite and least favorite parts of a long-distance relationship is coming across things like this and waiting for a time when we can use it together. the waiting sucks. the using it together part is splendid. :)

happy summer

2011-06-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

just being honest, i feel like i'm the only person in southern california NOT down with summer. particularly the heat. you will not find me at the beach in the summer, as i tend to burn rather than tan... but i do love summer evenings...when things cool down and the light lingers. i also love the cool refreshing treats/drinks :).

(photograph from nikole at herriott grace, text by me)

colin dunn: it ain't easy being super

2011-06-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

colin dunn's work is fantastic, clean and charming. he's still in the design program at MICA, which makes me more excited to see what kind of stuff he'll produce once he gets out! the second image is from a super cool project he started where he illustrates a story from the news every week.

(as seen on grainedit)

living sculptures

2011-06-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

some here and theres i am loving this morning while i sip my coffee and eat my peach yogurt (and don't really want to spread out for a few months time):

-- (top) jillian tamaki embroidered covers

-- via kitka shop!

-- exploration of shapes and color

-- spring breakfast tart : i am LOVING asparagus right now.

-- pin: revlon orange flip

-- exploding appliances

-- these polaroids by grant hamilton

-- "smelling the books" project

-- the silk tulle samantha blouse and scarlet french tulle bow made by alexandra grecco

-- jcrew pleated unwire swim top

letter to a burglar

2011-06-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

Saw this note on facebook written by an acquaintance. No, it's not art/design/photography related, but I thought it was pretty hilarious.

Dear Mr. Burglar,

We have never met in person, but I am sure that you know me very well. In the process of rifling through my personal affects you have, no doubt, seen the ubiquitous pictures of my smiling face, deduced my living habits and learned many other things about me that only friends and family know. You are now one of the fortunate few whom I can count on as my proverbial "inner circle".

Is it not amazing that you have gotten to know me quite intimately in the short span of a few hours? I am, by most accounts, a fairly shy person. Therefore, it was a great relief to me that you have taken the initiative, cut the screen, and stepped into my life (read: house under fumigation).

However, it pains me to admit that I have not made the same efforts as you had in order to make this relationship work. So to make up for it, I took some time to admire and document your handiwork. You certainly did a fine job, but I would like to offer some critique so that you can refine your technique for the next time you visit.

======

Let's examine a few items you have converted to your own possession:

My collection of "Excellent Student" and "MathemaGenius" pins from elementary school:

You should have taken my piano and track/cross country trophies too. The ones with my name engraved on them could have fetched quite a bit more than the others.

Can containing Canadian coins (say this fast 5 times)

I'm not sure how you missed it, but right next to this can was a very conspicuous piggy bank brimming with U.S. quarters. This piggy bank is a polished white color and sits on a dull wooden shelf. You must have been reaching for the piggy bank, missed and grabbed the can containing Canadian coins on accident.

2 pairs of glasses:

Wow, I didn't know that you had a need for prescription glasses. I also didn't know that you have a head the size of an organic melon, which was the size of mine at 12 years old.

A Single Pillowcase

While I appreciate your resourcefulness, it may be wise to bring an extra bag.

Half-Stolen TV

You successfully moved the TV from the living room into the back yard. But by the time you got this far, you suddenly remembered that you don’t have a car and could not actually take the item you extricated. Embarrassed, you covered up the TV with my bed sheet and hoped that no one would notice you hadn’t actually stolen it.

Bicycle

Now I can understand the appeal of riding a purple cruiser towards the horizon. Speeding along the road. With the wind in your face. Pillowcase in your hand. Poison gas in your lungs.

But, practicality takes precedence over predisposition in your line of work. My longboard skateboard would have been a much better platform for your car-less getaway. You could have strapped my monitor, desktop, and speakers onto the board and still leave enough room for you to stand. This would also leave both your hands free to hang on to a pillowcase each as you roll off into the night.

Stack of Textbooks (Climatology and C++):

I regret to inform you that newer editions of these textbooks have been published.

======

Yours Truly,

Erik

81 poppies

2011-06-20T11:30:00.001-07:00

totally digging the pieces from 81 poppies (recently seen on the eclectic life)! i especially love the yellow dress and top right shirt.. would be really cute for a trip to palm springs.

too bad i can't afford any of their items... so poor. :( too bad my birthday is over... um... end-of-june-present? :)

geronimo!

2011-06-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

geronimo balloons knows how to have a good time, and a good time always involves giant, oversized balloons. :)

(found from cynthia martyn)

2011-06-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

digging this stop motion video concept by erin jang for the may 2011 ipad issue of martha stewart living. i really just like the bright colors and simplicity! all you need is squares of paper to make some eye-catching wall decor. (spotted on upon a fold)

little winter: house party

2011-06-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

okay, i'm a little late...but.... i'm pretty much OBSESSED with the window display at the little winter market from november, hosted by chealsea fuss from frolic and abby from abby try again. isn't it so whimsical and delightful? the fun folks over at my house party are responsible for this genius... if only i was rich enough to buy a whole neighborhood...or just one house. haha.

maybe I will try to make a sad cardboard version. i'll fill you guys in on the progress if it ever happens. also, i wish i was simply AT the little winter market! chelsea and abby (and all their wonderful vendors) simply pulled off a very lovely event.

check out these photos from the event:

(photos from here)

you are my favorite

2011-06-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

totally loving how simple and awesome this is. felt + negative space + rod. can't wait to use this for something!

from max wanger's tumblr.

getting hitched!

2011-06-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

Nope, not me :). Recently, I went to a wedding down in temecula at a winery for a sister from college. It was a really beautiful wedding and very surreal because...she's the first from our class to get married!

Times are a'changing...

yeah that light blob on my face bothers me too, but this was the only picture i happened to take with someone that day!

My bestie in the red!

weekend

2011-06-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

a couple of the birthday snaps from this weekend i posted on my photo blog. super low-key memorial day birthday for T, just how we like it.

more over here .

summer is coming!

2011-05-30T23:48:00.000-07:00

a snapshot i took at the grove today-- went for T's birthday!

delightful cups

2011-05-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

not sure why, but i'm totally sold on the idea of food in the shape of cups right now.

check out these tasty cups:

-bacon, egg, and toast cups from martha stewart
-lasagna cupcakes from heirloom LA (here's a recipe)

- shrimp salad in a savory cup from sunshine and smiles

- honey baked peaches with almond praline and mascarpone cream from what katie ate

gosh, now i'm absolutely starving. someone please make some of these and bring them over!

golden rays

2011-05-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

dear future husband,

i look forward to early saturday mornings eating breakfast together with the windows and blinds completely open. then, holding hands as we walk past half-opened shops dimly lit with sleepy lights.

see you there,

connie

(photos from here)

evgenia barinova

2011-05-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

I am a such sucker for illustrators who use great color and texture like it's nobody's business.

Evgenia barinova is an illustrator born in moscow and based out of london. Check out her wonderful whimsical and charming work here.

ranunculusly happy

2011-05-20T00:28:00.000-07:00

ranunculus bouquet i got for my birthday from a friend last week that bloomed this week...what more can a girl want?

spring snapshots

2011-05-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

some spring snapshots (even though it feels more like winter) from my droid... time is whizzing by!

(if you're wondering what the nasty looking pizza is, it's THE BEST FROZEN PIZZA EVER MADE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF MANKIND -- trader joe's wild mushroom and black truffle flatbread pizza! too much? maybe, but it really is quite fabulous. )

hello, mr. porter

2011-05-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I simply love everything on Mr. Porter, a men's luxury goods store. As part of the luxury designer e-commerce site, Net-A-Porter, men's style site Mr. Porter provides a complete style experience that goes much further than suits, oxfords, and cuff links.

I happened upon it this week as I was shopping for T's birthday, at a loss for what to get him. I especially love the Style Directory with everything a man needs to know about style!

Too bad it's all too pricey for me to splurge on for T right now. :( I especially love that Ipad case....but you kind of need an Ipad to use it, you know.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

may days

2011-05-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

(herriott grace)

sorry for the hundredth time for being a bad blogger, thank you patient readers! these weeks have been a transition period for me (you probably know now that i have transition periods all the time, so don't be worried). my mind is finally finally getting out of a feeling of muddiness...not helped by fickle california weather.

yesterday was my birthday, and no, i did not have such a fabulous cake as picture above.

this birthday felt so much like a non-birthday, minus the sudden abundance of cake-eating. not that i felt unloved by any means, i was actually thinking yesterday just how very loved and lucky i am. i've just never been big on birthdays (my own), so it really felt like any other day. plus, in this season of life, all my dear friends are far away from me!

but it has been a wonderful week/weekend, full of things that make life all the sweeter.

-- peruvian food at the farmer's market

-- my birthday gift(s) from my love: dinner, a new sewing machine, this fabulous printing by hand book, and flowers sent to my workplace. jealous yet? (i'm looking forward to making this... wish i had an ipad to make a cover for.)

-- engagement session in beautiful santa barbara

-- free ice cream at haggen dazs. yes, i am easily satisfied with free things

-- quiet family dinners

-- new ventures and old ventures made new.

what things make your life sweet?

paper mache teacup

2011-04-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

i made this following ann wood's pattern! not that pretty...but it was fun to make :)

romance

2011-04-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

(taken by the boyfriend)

It is the boyfriend's firm belief that buying flowers is stupid and impractical. So, for valentines I told him that I didn't care and that a girls gotta get flowers sometime! (Can I get an amen?) So, if you remember, he grew me flowers! One of my favorite flowers is the ranunculus... pretty much anything that looks similar to a rose on steroids. So what I didn't know was that he actually tried to go buy some potted ranunculus to give me. The salesman told him to walk over to the back where he would find some. To his dismay, he found it...as seed packets. He went to home depot afterwards to buy pots because he was determined to now grow me my favorite flower. When he got there he found pots and pots of ranunculi. Haha!

I still haven't received the flowers because they're going through some awkward adolescent phase and do not want to grow... but I don't really mind. I'm just reminded how lucky I am to have him. Sorry if I made some of you throw up, just wanted to share that today.

celebrations..

2011-04-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

(connie lyu photography)

fabric & handle

2011-03-24T20:38:00.000-07:00

Love these totebags from Fabric & Handle. I feel like I should purchase that last one and go on a Parisian adventure.

snap crackle pop.

2011-03-23T15:52:00.001-07:00

some long overdue UE new years partay shots at the photo blog.

simon walker is my hero

2011-03-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

simon walker is a typographic carpenter and type-treatment wizard. 'nuff said.

i love how clean and yet gritty and classic these all are! you can find more of his logo/handtype/illustration work here.

(found via grainedit)

watercolor & ink

2011-03-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

illustration by decade diary ... love love love any ink + watercolor combination.

diy hex bracelet

2011-03-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

I saw a DIY tutorial for this super awesome braided hex nut bracelet on honestlywtf and just HAD to make it for myself. Didn't quite get the right rope for it, but I made do!

How it turned out for me:

Click here for the full instructions!

natsumi's camera woman diary

2011-03-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

Natsumi takes two kinds of photos for her blog: levitation photos and photos of her cat. So weird and fun that I can't help but love her. Plus, I have a special place in my heart for lovers of cats, as I consider myself somewhat of a cat lady.

Check out her blog here.

E is even more than anyone that you adore

2011-02-27T21:49:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd post some images here of what's going on with me for once. I know I'm not the best at updating this blog, so thank you faithful readers who check back here and leave such nice comments :). There's been so much business around here with work and photo sessions, I'd thought I'd share some pictures from my Valentine's day with my Valentine.

He surprised me at my house with flowers... that he grew. Yes, he grew these. I am still shocked.

Then we headed off to the Getty museum!

best friends forever

2011-02-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

sometimes at work i have to come up with characters for teen makeup sets; these two are best friends with different styles.