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Free to Succeed Tour : San Diego
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| Yesterday was one of those days when my heart could have exploded, leaving sparks of happiness and residue of contentment against the dark San Diego skyline. Around noon, I took time just for me. I selfishly grabbed my book, left the air-conditioned luxury of the tour bus, and plopped myself on a patch of grass adjacent to the harbor. I sprawled on the grass and read until the sun toasted my skin just past the color of a mocha latte. |
JD arrived early and surprised me by taking me one of my favorite restaurants, Extraordinary Desserts. Just the name alone should indicate what a perfect fit we are—ahem, the restaurant and me—and while JD might have protested questioned the midday splurge of crisp sangria, decadent brushetta, paninis, and—of course—dessert, we happily slipped into a food coma. Toward the end of the long meal, I licked my fork of the raspberry and blood orange ricotta cake and simply said, If I died this very second, I’d be happy. He scrunched his eyes in puzzlement, but I explained there, in that moment, I was happy. Oh, so very happy. The thought of my parents on their way to San Diego to hear me speak on the tour, my fingers interlaced with JD’s over the pewter tabletop, the fact that I’m pursuing my dream, and the dessert. Because, really, if it was to be my last day alive, I want to know I didn’t say no to dessert. All these things made my heart explode.
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If you were in San Diego last night, I’m quite sure if you looked hard enough, you’d see my sparks of happiness and the residue of contentment against the dark sky.
Last night’s Free to Succeed Tour was totally awesome!! Major props to my SoCal peers for representing and coming out in full force…I LOVED it! Every night, I’m blown away by the fabulous photographers I meet and I’m forever changed in light of their inspiration.
Here are a few images from last night, courtesy of Micah Gilmore…how do I love this guy? I can’t even begin to count the ways. He and his lovely wife Christie are great and leave me feeling all warm and fuzzy.
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| Hey, Micah, thank you. Thank you for capturing a piece of my heart...my parents. They think you rock, and I'd be hard pressed to disagree! :) |
    
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Free to Succeed Tour : San Diego (and speaking of)
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I woke this morning to the most beautiful thing. Ever. It’s this little thing called THE OCEAN. Goodness, I missed her. I missed her the same way I missed JD, Polo, and my family. With a familiar longing, wanting to rub my nose in the curve of her neck and inhale deeply. Yes. Yes, I missed her.
Speaking of missing, today I get to see JD. Holllllllla! It’s been a little over a week since we’ve last made out, so if I disappear from the seminar tonight, you’ll know why. Holllllla!
Speaking of the seminar, last night in Phoenix was fantastic and I appreciated everyone who braved the heat (yes, it’s HOT in Arizona, too) for a night of learning! I loved meeting everyone and it was lovely being welcomed by such a great group of photographers!
Speaking of great, take a look at this at this gem DJ took of me while in Texas. Okay, I have to admit that we were walking around what could have been America’s WORST mall, so we weren’t in our sanest state. We passed this antique photo setting—located in the middle of the mall, mind you—and I begged DJ to take a picture of me. Because, well, that’s what two people do when they’re bored. That or tip cows.
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Free to Succeed Tour : Phoenix (and Fat Knees)
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H e stood angrily on his porch and yelled at me. He raised his coffee colored fist in my direction and pointed at my legs. All the Meeker Street neighborhood kids stood on the East and West of Arturo and me; their heads followed our verbal altercations the same way guests at the US Open follow a tennis match: they looked left, then right as we each served up a neon green ball of meanness.
You walk like a duck, Arturo hollered from his porch. 15-0.
Yeah, well, at least my house doesn’t smell like dog piss, I retorted. 15-15.
At least I HAVE dogs! 15-30.
Your dad can’t speak English! 15-40.
Your Mom’s fat! 30-40.
You’re the poorest family in the neighborhood! Match point, Jasmine.
That last comment left everyone in a stunned silence. It was true. Arturo’s family was the poorest in our ghetto, but it was something nobody mentioned. Their brown grass, the gravel driveway filled with two broken cars, the sheets that covered their windows instead of curtains. The Barron family was at the very bottom of the Meeker Street totem pole—a totem pole carved with painful stories of struggle, pain, and blue-collared life.
Arturo stood slack-jawed and let the insult sink in. Then it happened. The comment that forever changed my life.
Hey, you, Fat Knees, Arturo yelled desperately from the porch. Ha! Fat Knees…just look at you…FAT KNEES! How can you walk, Fat Knees?! Look at the fat just spilling over, Fat Knees!
The sun beat down on my ten-year-old head while I stood on his gravel driveway and felt my soul melt into the soles of my shoes. My fat soul. I was extraordinarily overweight (fluffy, puffy, round, rotund, fat) growing up, but why—of all the other chubby pieces of my anatomy—would Arturo choose my knees to poke fun?
With that comment, Arturo won the Meeker Street Open. And I ran home—vowing to never, ever wear shorts again—and sobbed.
Over 15 years later, Arturo Barron has never left my fat knees alone.
A few days ago while in Texas, I called JD to complain about the heat. The most brutal heat ever. As in, I think I just saw Satan cross the street with a Pepsi in hand. That hot. JD said I should leave my childhood insecurities and finally buy myself a pair of shorts. Unthinkable! Unfathomable! Uncomprehendable! I mean, WHAT WOULD ARTURO SAY?!
I built up the courage to buy a pair of shorts while in Dallas (they’re more like a half a pair of pants, but whatever) and stowed them in my bag until I could bear the sight of them. Today, walking in the heat of Phoenix, Arizona, I decided to wear my shorts. And kinda be okay with the girl I am—knees and all.
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I just want to take this opportunity to thank the lovely and ultra fab group of seminar attendees in Dallas!!! I can’t believe how AMAZING everyone was! The seminar was standing room only after spike in registration, but it made for such a great night! Thank you to everyone who came bearing cookies and gifts—the keychain, the pens, the Texas To Do List, the books—it means so much more to me than you’ll ever know! Thank you!
Here are a few pictures of the Dallas seminar, courtesy of Kenny Kim… |
If you're interested in attending the Los Angeles or the Santa Barbara seminar, be sure to register today because these will be closing soon due to attendance maximums. I'd love to meet new friends in L.A. and represent in my hometown, so holla back and I'll see you soon! :)
Click Here to Register |
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Jenny and Andrew : Wedding
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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T he day glowed with a light reserved for celestial appointments and the Pearly Gates, and just so happen to shine in the same manner for Jenny and Andrew’s wedding. Jenny and her bridesmaids prepared in her childhood home and while everyone buzzed around like bees in Spring, Jenny floated from room to room with one large smile. She was, afterall, marring the man with whom she fell in love on the antiquated streets of Rome. Just a few short years later, they were ready to swear their lives to each other.
It was as if the streets of Pasadena were carved for Jenny and Andrew to leave their mark. Friends and family gathered from around the United States to celebrate the union of two beautifully amazing lives. They were surrounded by love, trust, and faith that took the shape of aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, parents, and friends. Jenny and Andrew were blessed to find each other, but even more blessed by having a solid foundation of confidence at their fingertips from those they love the most.
Jenny and Andrew…thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I’ve been looking forward to your wedding ever since meeting you in San Francisco and I’m so incredibly honored to have documented such a special moment in your lives. I couldn’t think more highly of you and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for your amazing lives. Enjoy living in San Miguel de Allende for the next six months…you’ll love it, but realize you’ll fall more in love with each other in the process. Much Love and Appreciation…J*
A special thanks to Michelle Brue of Flora by Fauna for her amazing handiwork...I loved the incorporation of ultra fragrant gardenia!
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Jenny was especially fond her her necklace because her father made it for her. He smoothed the stone in the center and created a natural gradation to blue, thus creating her 'something blue'...
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Jenny's feroche dress was L'Ezu Atlier - Beverly Hills and incorporated pieces of her mother's lace wedding dress...love this idea!
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I was SO incredibly stoked to hear Jenny and Andrew wanted to do a First Look and meet before the ceremony! We had plenty of time for the type of photos Jenny wanted and they had the chance to experience a part of their wedding day alone...which is truly the way to experience the wedding day!
Special thanks to JD for capturing this moment...
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My favorite picture of the day...
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I love when a bride is confident, beautiful, and fun on her wedding day and I think Jenny was just that! :)
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The guys chilling before the wedding at St. Andrew's church in Pasadena
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I want to point out that Jenny's gorgeous wedding veil was her mother's mantilla from her wedding day 20+ years ago...
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| I love this shot of the church that JD captured... |
I need to take the opportunity to send a special THANK YOU to Angel Swanson of Events of Love and Splendor for orchestrating this wedding so amazingly well. She was the first one putting the day together, and the last one to depart. Angel and Annie pretty much rocked my world and ensured I was freed to capture precious wedding moments and awesome details! Thanks, Angel!
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The reception was held at the Westin Pasadena and the food spread was just amazing!
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| Reaction during Jenny's mother's speech... |
| To see more of their wedding, be sure to CLICK HERE for a slideshow! |
2013
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2012
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2011
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2010
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