ran around the house feeling the weight of everything that had to be done before my deadline. Oh, have I mentioned how much I love deadlines? I make deadlines for deadlines, so don't mess with me and my calendar. As I hurriedly stuffed items into a bag, I conversed with JD while he sat in an adjacent room. I went on and on...and then said, I think I talk too much...
And here's where the story diverges.
Here's my version:
...and then said, I think I talk too much, and JD replied, You do.
Here's his version:
...and then said, I think I talk too much, and JD replied, You do?
Oh yes, Internet, my husband just played the Question Mark Game. The one where a guy insists he ended the sentence with a question mark--not a period--to get out of a sticky situation. By ending it with a question mark, he acted like he was shocked to hear such a thing. YOU? TALK TOO MUCH? NEVER!!
It hurt my feelings (to be honest, I think I was having an overly sensitive day...I cried at a Folgers commercial earlier that day), and he apologized. And then he said he didn't mind me talking so much because he was a great LISTENER. Riiiiiight.
This week's DISSES go to...
* Question marks. Obvi.
* Project Runway. Is it just me or is this season uber boring? It feels like a burlap dress.
* Folger's commercials. Now that the holiday season is upon us, those promos make me all teary-eyed and emo.
This week's KISSES go to...
* Sunset. I watched a full sunset yesterday and I was reminded to do it more often.
* Sparkling water. It's my most favorite drink and I'm annoyingly addicted to a glass of Perrier. Every.single.night.
* Modern Family. This show just makes me laugh...and I can't help but think JD is my own Phil Dumphy. Go ahead, be jealous.
Happy Wednesday!
35 Years
11.15.11
-
H
e asked me to take my camera to church and meet in his office. My father isn't one to ask for pictures, so I knew this was a special request. My parents recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary and I've never seen my father so proud. It's been a long road for my parents and each day they work hard at loving each other, so my father asked if I could take a photo of them. On their special day.
Dad: Did you bring your camera?
Me: Yes...did you bring your checkbook?
Dad: Checkbook? For WHAT?! And who uses checks anymore...this is the 21st century, baby!
Me: Well, how are you going to pay me for my services?
Dad: How much do I owe you?
Me: Well...I'll give you a discount, but it'll still be a few thousand dollars.
Dad: Hmm...once I deduct the cost of your braces, the three pairs of glasses you broke, the library fines, the parking tickets from high school, the hospital bill from your mother's c-section for birthing you, and the $20 dollars you borrowed last week, I'd say you have outstanding balance.
Me: Fine, I'll settle for you telling your other children I'm your favorite. Obviously.
Dad: You got yourself a deal.
Here's to another 35 years together...
Shooting Star : Marketing
11.14.11
-
I
'm currently out of the country until Thursday for a conference, but I'm sitting in a hotel room early in the morning, so it still feels a little like home. Except I miss Polo. He's usually up with me in the morning, curled in between my legs as I sit in bed. I don't think it's proper dog behavior, but he pretty much runs the house and I'd be embarrassed to have a conversation with The Dog Whisperer. Polo's such a diva I convinced JD to sign him up for a dog behavior class. We're starting in December and JD isn't sure we should attend the classes together...he's afraid Polo won't be considered the valedictorian of sit/stay/roll and I'll storm out of the class saying, WE SO DON'T NEED THIS, POLO!!!
Before leaving town yesterday, I decided to film a Shooting Star that focuses on Marketing. In this installment, I'll discuss why I stay away from print and online advertising and focus, instead, on how to build your business with a network of peers.
Like always, these videos are merely meant to help at least one person...if I'm missing the mark, holla back in the comment box and let me know what questions I should answer next time!
Happy Monday!
Quitting...then following your dreams.
11.11.11
-
-
S
ometime around late April I quit. Just threw in the proverbial towel...waved a white flag...tapped out. I was pulled in too many directions and I lost focus, so the easiest thing was the walk away. At that point, I'd been working on EXPOSED Magazine for a few months, but I just lost my mojo and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake myself from the funk, so I simply stopped.
I was hurt about this decision, but I was running fast without a direction and the only person I was kidding was myself. I was depressed about the project (what originally started out as a PDF/e-reader) and I couldn't shake the guilt of walking away. Around that time I had a conversation with David Jay and I expressed my disappointment...in myself. Then he suggested I make the e-reader into an actual magazine. That's impossible, I said and ended the conversation there. I'm kinda dramatic like that.
A bit later, my friend Anda emailed me after reading the first draft of my project, and--as a former librarian--offered valuable insight and raw honesty in how I could make the e-reader better. Then my friend Gail coached me along in every chapter. She provided inspiration, content, and transformed my writing style...when I wanted to give up again, she fought me. My childhood friend Brianna stayed up late into the night proof-reading and making low-fat muffins...she said the sugar would help me. Maybe she was right. The more we worked on the project, the more complex things became...here's a look into our shared Google doc of edits...
Last May I attended a conference and was struck with the realization that dreams will always be dreams until I make them a reality. It was there that I decided to move forward with the magazine (yes, even though I still thought it was impossible) and gave myself a time limit...I had to make this happen before 11.11.11. I immediately contacted my graphic designer, Promise Tangeman, and told her about my crazy/impossible idea. Jasmine, you know I've never designed a magazine before, right? We somehow decided we were up for the challenge then created a five-month plan of action.
Promise suggested a photo shoot to act as a cohesive framework for EXPOSED and we decided Trever Hoehne was the perfect commercial photographer to join our team. Trever took our ideas and put his own spin on them and--with styling by Summer Watkins-- created an editorial shoot I'll never forget. (We were lucky to work with gorgeous Jessica Seeley as a model and have Melina Ruiz for makeup and Molly Shriver for hair.) I asked uber fab cinematographer Anton Lorimer to join us and he captured behind-the-scene footage...what he produced blew my mind...
And every step along the way, there was JD. My sweet, long-suffering, and endearing partner. Who picked up dinner on his way home, who picked up my shoes at the end of stairs at night, who picked me up when I fell asleep writing at my computer. On the days when I said the journey was too long, JD reminded me to merely focus on each step along the way.
Today--on 11.11.11--I'm writing this post for anyone who, like me, wanted to quit. If you feel like you're ready to throw in the towel, I FEEL YOU. I know what it feels like to give something your all and still feel directionless. Don't quit just yet...take a deep breath...recalibrate...surround yourself with people who believe in you...then create a plan of action. Give it one more try because life is too short not make your dreams a reality.
er laugh echoed down the hallway and she used her hands to talk, almost like she was shooing away oncoming clouds as well as pointing where her sister could find her garter. Music played, champagne popped, but no one stated the obvious: it was raining. Victoria and Eric planned their destination wedding to be in San Diego, away from their hometown Arizona heat, but the climate change was a little, well, unexpected. Victoria carried on in way that put everyone at ease because she knew nothing would stand in the way of marrying her soul mate.
Not even a flyaway tent.
Undeterred by the rain, the ceremony site was being tented, when the wind and rain reared with vicious ferocity. The coordinators, groomsmen, groom, and a few others tried holding the 1,500-pound tent, but the wind lifted it from the rooftop. Chairs were soaked, the archway toppled, and flowers overturned as Victoria watched from her Tower 23 window. The ceremony was moved inside and through it all, Victoria smiled. As she walked down the aisle into the arms of her future husband, he cried. No amount of wind, nor rain, nor flyaway tents could keep them from celebrating the union of their souls.
Victoria and Eric, I hope you're enjoying Napa and sipping on delicious wine...far away from stormy weather! Thank you for inviting me into your lives and allowing me to document your love. I've never met a couple who's love, dedication, and optimism jumps so clearly from your hearts and onto others. If I didn't like you so much, I might be jealous. ;) Much Love and Appreciation... j*
The wedding was held at Tower 23 Hotel in San Diego, and I loved modern vibe to decor...it made photographing details a lot of fun because every corner received great window light...
Victoria donned a Priscilla of Boston wedding dress and matched perfectly for her beachside wedding...
The rain came and went all morning, but when these clouds appeared on the horizon, we knew we were in for a legit storm...I've lived in California my entire life and I've never seen it storm the way it did last Friday. The entire hotel staff and the amazing coordinators (Nick and Aleah of Valley and Co) worked tirelessly to make the day flow seamlessly...and their hard work paid off...I was so impressed...
Victoria...you're so fierce...go on with your gorgeous self...
Many thanks to Kristy of Momental Designs for providing hand-painted invitations...
The rain turned to a drizzle and Eric was kind enough to step outside for a photo...he makes the overcast light look even better...
As the rain fell, Victoria waited in the Tower 23 Hotel lobby to walk down to her future husband...
Most of the ceremony details were lost due to the rain, but these adorable petal holders were salvaged and I couldn't be happier...Eric is a cartographer (a map maker) and this personalization to their ceremony made me smile...
All of the family formal photos and the bridal party photos had to take place in the hotel due to the rainy weather and just when I almost lost hope for the bride+groom wedding photos, the rain stopped. Just like that. Raging storm to light drizzle...and I was so happy I almost cried. Okay, I kinda did...I got teary-eyed because this was SUCH an amazing couple and I just wanted them to have wedding photos they loved...being outside really helped capture everything they are...
We had about 15 minutes for wedding photos because of the weather delay, but Victoria and Eric made the best of their time and showcased just how amazingly they view life...
Thank the sweet Lord for sunset...
Many, many (and many more) thanks to Aleah and Nick of Valley and Co for their patience, dilligence, and professionalism planning this wedding...and dealing with all the changes. We went from Plan A to Plan B...to Plan E in a matter of 30 minutes and they were total gems!
