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Kisses and Disses : Glances and Booms
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I 'm pretty sure every couple does it. Or has it. Their own language. Silent and invisible to onlookers, but the spouse is very aware of its existence. Spending time with a few of our friends last week, the topic of spousal communication surfaced and I cringed. Well, because, I'm Queen of Non-Verbal Communication. No, no...EMPEROR. If you ask JD, I could pretty much give him a piece of my mind the duration of the Gettysburg Address with a single glance. I'm quite good at these glances.
JD, on the other hand, doesn't have to give a Look. He has this strange aura--almost sonic like--that he emits when he worries I'm on the verge of saying something at a dinner party that may embarrass him, or encourage me to chew on my foot. Which happens more than I'd like to admit. The moment I'm telling a story filled with embarrassment and hilarity (because, let's face it, me and Hilarity are second cousins, twice removed), JD will emit his sonic boom and I feel myself falling silent.
Between my looks and his sonic booms, we could be a lethal weapon. Which leads me to this week's installment of Kisses and Disses...because, really, weapons deserve a diss all their own. |
This week's DISSES go to:
*Sonic booms. They ruin funny stories and make me the UNlife of the party.
*Security guards who tell me to stop shooting in public places. Doesn't that contradict the idea of the word 'public'? I'm just sayin'...
*Quarterly tax filings...need I say more? |
This week's KISSES go to:
*Glances. They're so classy and mature. Obviously.
*Premiere Protein Shakes. These are the first palatable protein shakes I've encountered and the health benefits are ultra fab. I drink one before working out and I don't feel guilty for sipping on chocolate for breakfast...score!
*FREE Websites. Ever since blogging about Showit's FREE Websites, many blog readers have developed custom and unique websites...which is so awesome!
*Bonus kiss goes to Polo...because he's the best dog in the world.
Happy Friday! |
    
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Cindy and Jelani : Engagement
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F or some guys, it's the girl next door. For other guys--like Jelani--it was the girl on the other side of the world. Japan, to be precise. Cindy and Jelani met at church in Los Angeles and while there existed an undeniable spark, it wasn't until they they conversed over udon soup, sushi, and curry that their worlds collided. A group of people from their church traveled to Japan to help build and buttress a church in Okinawa...but Jelani and Cindy were building a friendship.
At different points in their lives, they remained friends for two years from a distance, but one fine Sunday, Cindy crossed Jelani's path, much like two chopsticks. Their friendship blossomed and the next thing Cindy knew, Jelani planned extravagant dates, opened doors, and held umbrellas in the rain. Four years later, they still eat sushi and curry, but they're now sharing plates.
I'm thrilled to document their wedding this November, especially after shooting their engagement session in Downtown Los Angeles. They have a fabulous day planned and if it's anything like yesterday, it'll be nothing short of laughter, love and joy. And dancing...tons of dancing!
We started the session against plastered and graffiti walls...my heart was filled with happiness from all the vibrant colors! |
| C+J...graffiti's never looked so good! ;) |
| Here's Jelani trying to show me his smooth moves...uhhh, we discovered he ain't so smooth... ;) |
| Later during the engagement session, we stopped by Union Station had a little fun... |
| There's something I completely adore about LA...and Cindy and Jelani make it that much sweeter... |
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OC SmugMug Meeting : Jessica Claire
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Y esterday I stood in a crowded room and felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. Surrounded by 235 photographers, life was good. I had the honor and pleasure of hosting the OC SmugMug Meeting with guest speaker Jessica Claire. The response was overwhelmingly positive and I look forward to future events with more great speakers.
Big props to the many people who traveled from the high desert, Los Angeles, Colorado, and Palm Springs...talk about dedication! :) I'm thrilled to see what the future holds, and here's a sneak peek of last night's event at the ever gorgeous Mesa Verde Country Club... |
| Many thanks to Jeff Jochum for coming out and making the night extra special... |
| Here's Jessica in action sporting her Shootsac with a new cover.... |
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Heather and Marc : Wedding
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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T he hotel suite pulsed with energy. Her mom finalizing details, her sister moving the wedding dress, her bridesmaids a flutter with last minute fashion tips. And, sitting alone on the couch, was Heather's father soaking everything in, fighting back the tears in his eyes. Just moments before getting into her wedding gown, Heather stopped the day to sit on the couch with her parents. They exchanged gifts, passed along tissue, and hugged incessantly. They were--together--ready for the wedding to begin.
As they walked down the aisle, Heather and her father glided toward Marc, who waited patiently at the end of what must have felt like a long walkway. As Heather's hand was passed to Marc's, her father fought back tears. Tears of happiness and joy. At the reception, glasses were raised in their honor and the father of the bride said he couldn't have imagined a better man for his daughter to marry. A man who is kind, generous, and thoughtful...someone he knew would love Heather just as much as he. And then it was Marc's turn to fight the tears. Heather was blessed to be surrounded by many people who loved her, but two special men whose hearts beat along with hers.
Heather and Marc...your wedding day was perfect and everything a marriage should be about: Love, Joy, and Contentment. Thank you for the honor of commemorating your special day and I know it's merely the start to something even more fabulous than what you have now. Hope you're enjoying Jamaica and soaking in your amazing honeymoon! Much Love and Appreciation...J*
The wedding day started at the Hyatt Huntington Beach and I immediately was smitten with the bride's Kenneth Pool wedding gown... |
| The flower girl insisted on doing Heather's makeup...but the gorgeous final result was due to amazing team at Flawless Faces |
| Hellllllllo. Doesn't Heather make the most stunning bride? Ever?! |
| JD caught Heather doing what she does best: Laughing... |
| ...and JD had to go show me up with this picture... |
| Heather and Marc wanted wedding photos along Huntington Beach, and I was more than happy to oblige! |
| I love the following two photos JD captured... |
| The US Surf Open was going on last weekend, so the Huntington Beach was packed, but they rocked it out anyway.... |
| Heather and Marc surprised guests with a choreographed dance routine and it was hilarious! Anything that combines Vanilla Ice, Michael Jackson, and Kriss Kross is fine by me! Perhaps if I'm lucky enough, I can get a snippet from the awesome videographers that day, Elysium Productions, to post on the blog! ;) |
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Breathing Between the Waves
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W e strolled the aisles of Whole Foods in Laguna Beach in search of the perfect snacks. Just minutes from resting along the shore, we grabbed a salad, a sandwich, and a bag of cherries to share. As JD guided me down the steep dirt path, the smell of the ocean made me breathe a little deeper. Once the towels spewed themselves on the sand, we opened our lunch. Each cherry tasted a little like sunblock, one of the perils of applying lotion before you eat.
JD dove into the ocean and I read. The usual. Once the heat became unbearable, I followed JD into the ocean and we conquered the waves together. We laughed and joked and made fun of each other. After a while, I became tired and wanted to head back to the shore. I tried with all my might, but I couldn't beat the strong current. JD yelled from a distance to swim back past the waves' breaking point, but it was too late. I was caught in the white of the waves.
With each passing wave, I tried to catch my breath, but they came in such rapid succession I couldn't. I kept on getting tossed even when I tried to dive under them. So I panicked. JD told me to stay calm, but me and Calmness weren't friends when I was getting pummeled. JD noticed I was in bad shape, so he dove underwater and pushed me up so I could take a couple deep breaths before getting hit again. Even with his help, I just couldn't see straight.
Out of nowhere, a lifeguard appeared. And then I almost fainted in his arms like he was Fabio on a cover of a romance novel. He wrapped me in a red inner tube and pushed me to shore. I almost died. From EMBARRASSMENT. Once on the shore, JD and I sat on the sand and I layed in his lap. Okay, so I cried a little too.
A few hours later, on our way home, we recounted the day's events. And laughed. No, we rolled until our stomachs ached. JD made fun of me...I harassed him about the lifeguard stealing his I-Saved-My-Wife thunder...we laughed about the sand in our hair. After a few moments of silence, I realized our reactions to the waves were indicative of our outlooks on life. I was worried about making it to shore, and JD was merely focused on getting through each wave. Breathe in between the waves, he told me at my most panicked state.
Today, I firmly believe that's a principle for life in general: Don't worry about making it shore...just be sure to breathe between the waves.
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