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Silverlake Portraits : Jenny + Brad : Anytime
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W e sat around their table with the soft sunset light streaming though their windows and snacked on the appetizers. We're all loud, but, collectively, it's as if we're tone deaf, each outdoing the other in a higher decibel. Jenny provided an amazing spread of food and with each bite I fell into a delectable bliss. But I stopped mid-bite when she mentioned pasta and beans... And I was all, whaaaaaat?
You see, pasta and beans is a private thing with my family. A weird plate of food we keep to ourselves to avoid what others may think. Their distaste. Heck, their confusion. I grew up kinda poor (there's no such thing as 'kinda' poor, but it makes my dad feel better to know I don't reference my childhood as just plain, old poor) and dinners were always an improvisation with what was in the relatively empty fridge and pantry. With government-issued pinto beans readily available and a $0.99 box of pasta, my father would often create masterpieces. Delicious plates of Italian and Mexican spices, melted cheese, and a whole lot of love. But at the end of the day, the dish was really just pasta mixed with beans.
When I tried explaining this dish to my friends in high school they'd squeal in disgust, so I quickly learned to keep this dish on the down low. You know, a family thing. Even when I first told JD about pasta and beans, he scrunched his nose and shook his head. No, thanks.
Once Jenny mentioned my father's pasta and beans, I was taken back. He made that for you, I hesitantly asked. Jenny and Brad both nodded in unison and said they loved it. In that instant, I felt safe. I finally felt like sharing my insane love for pasta and beans was okay with the world. Not because they gave me permission, but, rather, I might be fine with accepting my unordinary childhood and inviting others to share in it.
I snapped a few photos of Jenny and Brad in their Silverlake home last week. Nothing formal, just a few snapshots to document their lives. And the fact they're people who--clearly--have great taste in food. |
| Brad Hooks is the music director at our church, so when we first met a couple years ago, we formed an almost instant friendship... |
| Jenny and Brad bought a home and have worked tirelessly on refurbishing it from the inside out...and it's such a reflection of their love and hard work... |
| Jenny is an insanely talented editor for C Magazine and her sense of humor makes my belly ache...she MIGHT be funnier than me. Maybe. ;) |
    
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Kisses and Disses : LOST + Wheat Thins
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S o I have this thing. An issue of sorts. You see, if I see something on sale or clearance--something I might need in the next 87 years or so--I must buy it. No, really, I can't walk away from the sale item without putting it in my basket or suffering from an anxiety attack. After endless begging one night while in Target for a fireplace broom on triple clearance (I love me some red stickers!), JD turned to me and said, We don't even have a fireplace, why would we need a fireplace broom?!
Ummm, because one day we'll own a fireplace and HOW WILL I CLEAN IT?!
Speaking of cleaning, I was scrubbing our bathroom last week and looked under the sink to find the following: |
With my yellow cleaning gloves on, I marched up to JD and asked why he hid the...thing...the green swan...the planter...the thing I bought from Anthropologie. I paid good money for it and it was on sale and we should display it. Jas, I hid it there four months ago...and really? What is it? Oh, just something I BOUGHT ON SALE. From Anthropologie. Should I repeat that last part again because that store? It's where cool people shop.
We went back and forth debating whether he could find the same thing at a swap meet in Mexico, and I dramatically flung my yellow hands in the air with angst. We later decided it was on sale for a reason. And, yes, I bought it because it was on sale. JD breathed a sigh of relief and asked if he could throw it away. No, silly, I said, I'm going to put it in the pile with the fireplace broom for that garage sale I want to have one day!
This leads me to another installment of Kisses+Disses... |
This week's DISSES go to:
*Red sale stickers. Those little buggers are going to be the end of me!
*The rain. Internet, I live in California for a reason. It's called The Sun.
*LOST. Dear producers at ABC, please make the show work again...because it's not. Working, that is. Locke has too much face time and you can't just go and add a lighthouse and mirrors when you want to. Really, let's get it together. |
This week's KISSES go to:
*The B School Party in Las Vegas. The first year I went to WPPI, I heard of this infamous party, but it was invite only and exclusive to the cool kids (clearly I wasn't invited). Well, the party has gotten so big throughout the years, it's now open to everyone, so go get a ticket as it'll be one heck of a shindig!
*Citizen of Humanity for creating a virtually amazing skinny pant. Ladies, you'll thank me after you put on these pants...it's like black stretch pants/jeans/comfiness all rolled into one. You can wear them with heels or boots, dressed up or down. Perfection!
*A bonus kiss goes to Reduced Fat Wheat Thins. Where would I be without them? No lie, I have three boxes in my pantry. BECAUSE THEY WERE ON SALE. |
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It Was On Clearance for a Reason
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| Another storm is about to pound Southern California tonight and it's chilly. About to take Polo on a walk, but something tells me he's just not feeling my styling this afternoon. Sometimes he can be so temperamental. |
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New York Portraits : Jenny Sun : Anytime
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W e met in Sydney, Australia. At The Workshop to be precise. She immediately struck me with her kind disposition and her ability to connect with so many people at once. Jenny was quietly outgoing and embraced everyone who surrounded her, encouraging friends and peers alike. At the end of The Workshop, she told me she planned to visit the United States soon and she wanted to schedule an Anytime session.
Fast forward to two weeks ago: I received an email from Jenny Sun and she proposed flying me to New York for her photo session. Yes, it was short notice and I had to rearrange a few things, but this type of adventure is how I want to build my life. To have the ability to pick up and go. And live.
Jenny, you are amazing. Times seven. To the tenth power. Thank you SO much for sharing your life with me. You're incredibly talented and changing the photo world in Australia, but--more than that--you're an even better person. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to capture your essence in the Big Apple. |
| Okay, for the record, it was freeeeezing. As in I wore a sweater, two jackets, and gloves. But Jenny was fully committed to getting the type of photos she wanted....a girl after my own heart! |
| One thing I didn't expect shooting in New York City was the most insane and beautiful reflected light coming from nearby buildings. I seriously could shoot in that light, on that street, in that weather, every.single.day and never get tired of it. Ever. |
| To thaw Jenny for a bit, we walked into a nearby cafe and ordered warmth in a cup... |
| After a quick change, we headed out into the streets again... |
| I love urban settings and grit....couple this with good light, and I'm in photo heaven. |
| Here's Jenny making a parking garage look pretty... |
| Here's Jenny thinking I'm hilarious...I mean, com'on...I really am. |
| Many, many thanks to Amanda Nistor of Ruffled Blog (to the left of Jenny) for being a wonderful guide, stylist, and overall fab support, and Michelle of Makeup by Michelle for a wonderful job on hair and makeup. Lastly, thank you, Jenny, for being so fabulous. |
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Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of
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S ometimes Jay-Z just gets to me. Like in that uhhh, nah, nah, nahhh kind of way. Makes me want to raise an angry fist, wax poetically about my lover, or talk trash. Or drop lyrics about a city I love. When he raps about New York City, I envy his passion and skill. Well, because, of his passion and skill, but also because I just didn't understand it. I've been to the Big Apple five times and all five times I walked away thinking, So THAT'S what people make a big deal about? I know, I know, there's some neu yawker out there who's planning to set my feet in cement and drop me in the Hudson because I just said that, but wait. There's more.
JD and I spent a few days in New York and I have to say I finally got it. Whatever the it is. It hit me like a raging bull and I merely hung on for the ride. We booked a last-minute shoot and the next thing you know, we're staying in the city, walking through Central Park, haling cabs, and walking with our heads down focusing on the snow-covered floor. That last part? Soooo New Yorker.
Pictures from the shoot are coming soon, but in the mean time, here's a few iphone snapshots of our trip...
Breakfast at EAT Cafe, The Met, Times Square at Night, Me (laughing, per usual), The sun trying to shine despite the cold weather.
Coffee (which we usually don't drink but wanted to be cool), Soho, Filming a segment for The Knot TV, My humor (at it's worst), Me in front of fancy stairs.
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| I fell in love. With everything. With everyone. With the chance of imagining myself walking the streets and owning them. I felt alive and in that moment, I realized Jay-Z might be onto something... In New York,Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, There's nothing you can't do, Now you're in New York,These streets will make you feel brand new, The lights will inspire you, Let's here it for New York, New York, New York... |
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