Have a Safe and Happy New Years!

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe, sandy, and Happy New Years!

Maria and Stephen Wedding Photographs

Maria and Stephen were married at Costanoa in Pescadero that has breathtaking views! The fall colors of the wedding with the amazing setting and super fun wedding guests made this wedding a blast!

The bridal bouquet was stunning!


The flower girl couldn't quite walk yet, but those eyes will melt anyone's heart.


The bride's dress was a mermaid style that was absolutely stunning!

Since the flower girl couldn't walk...she was a wagon baby!


This was such a clever idea of pouring different colored sand into a vase to keep!


The couple had a cupcake tower that all the guests enjoyed!

Congratulations to Maria and Stephen! We wish you all the best in your new life together!!

Maria and Stephen Engagement Photographs

Maria and Stephen are one of the sweetest couples I have met. During the engagement session I learned that Stephen was a super Apple guy who worked at their headquarters...such a great job! Hopefully my obsession with my iPhone didn't scare him too much.

And Maria told us about her work with local theater that sounds so cool! When we did the engagement session I found out that she was doing Alice in Wonderland but it was different than anything I had heard of...the production was in a wooded area and the audience walked from set to set with the actors. So cool!

Here are some of their photos from their engagement session.


Check back tomorrow to see photos from their wedding!

Thoughts of Warmer Places

The weather in the Bay Area is pretty sweet most of the year and being from the mid-west, you would think I would never get cold. But I adapted very quickly to the Bay Area and if it dips below 70 degrees, I bust out the sweaters.

So with the winter storms back East and my thin skin, my thoughts go to one of my favorite places on Earth...Hawaii. Here are a few pics from our latest Hawaii trip.


Enjoy and stay warm!

Family Photos and Holiday Cheer

When Donna brought her hubby and kids over for their holiday family portrait session, I knew we were going to have fun as soon as the kids jumped on my wooden rocking horse prop. Not only does the rocking horse make for a good photography prop but it turns out it makes a good ice breaker for kids too! And I don't blame them because if I was a little shorter, I'd jump on it too.

After a ride on the rocking horse, the kids were ready for anything and were chatting away telling me all kinds of stories. I have to say, sometimes I think kids totally have it made! The life of cartoons, coloring, and finger painting is really underrated.

And of course we didn't want to leave Mom and Dad out of the all the fun.

Donna and her family are so sweet and I can't wait to take photos of them in the spring and hear more about the fabulous life of her little ones. :-)

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Decorations

Ask anyone...especially my husband...and you'll know that Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love decorating, baking, and enjoying all the festivities. However, the day after Christmas is great too because you can buy decorations for the next year at a fraction of the price.

Some of my favorite places to shop for discounted items are:

Target - they have this little deer that lights up and is so adorable!


Crate and Barrel - get speciality plates and decorations. Last year I got a really cute front door pad with a snowman on it! Logan likes it so much that he sniffs it every time he goes outside. :-)

And of course, DSW.com because I...I mean you...can never have too many boots!


Enjoy your extended holiday shopping season! I know I will!

31 Reasons Why Having a December Birthday DOESN'T Suck

I try to think of the world as the glass is half full kind of view point. So when I saw the list from TheFrisky.com on 31 reasons having a December birthday sucks I decided to try and flip it around on why it would rock. Now granted, I don’t have a December birthday, but I have plenty of friends and family members with them so here it goes.

TheFrisky.com List

1. Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending means no budget for your birthday present.

2. Everyone is still recovering from all the Thanksgiving family drama.

3. End of year reviews are stressful enough without having to worry about the birthday party you have to go to afterward.

4. Holiday parties, holiday parties, and more holiday parties. When the &#@$ am I supposed to schedule my karaoke birthday bash?

5. Your best friend was too busy making figgy pudding to remember that you wanted a yellow birthday cake with buttercream frosting and purple roses. Is it really that much to ask?

6. No, you don’t want a combo Hanukkah/b-day party. That’s lame.

7. Your birthday present is dependent upon everyone else’s Christmas bonus ... and we’re in a recession.

8. Serving leftover latkes, turkey, or gingerbread at your birthday dinner is an insult.

9. Two words: combo gift. Do not want it. I want two separate presents like the rest of the human race.

10. The known world is out of town.

11. Winter break means no birthday cupcakes in class.

12. Your office is closed that week, so it means your boss can’t take you out for a free lunch on the company.

13. You can’t take the day off on your birthday because you already have the day off.

14. It’s snowing and the roads are too dangerous for guests to make it to your party. Or if they do arrive, they track mud into into your house.

15. Your birthday dress must be worn with a down jacket and snow boots. Not sexy.

16. Your crush is on vacation all month. So forget that.

17. Happy birthday! You’re going to get a TSA screening.

18. Your birthday gift does not belong under the tree or in a stocking.

19. Happy birthday! You’re stranded at the airport due to poor weather conditions.

20. Christmas carolers at your door are not the same as having friends sing you “Happy Birthday.”

21. Christ is more important than you.

22. No one wants to hear about your birthday plans when they are worrying about alcoholic Aunt Ida coming to Christmas dinner.

23. Birthday dinner? Forget it. Everyone already gained their allotted 10 pounds.

24. Last-minute shopping really means no budget for your birthday gift.

25. The gift table at your birthday party is full of re-gifts.

26. Family time takes precedence over party time.

27. ‘Tis the season, just not the right one for birthday cheer.

28. You still can’t schedule your birthday because everyone has New Year’s plans.

29. The end of the year is more important than your birthday.

30. People everywhere are toasting, drinking champagne, partying—only it has nothing to do with you.

31. As everyone is watching the ball drop, your heart drops. The month is over. The year is over. And your birthday sucked again.

My List

1. Black Friday and Cyber Monday means more gifts because of the discounts.

2. Since Thanksgiving drama is expected, add in your own about your December birthday and start planting the seeds for more gifts.

3. Play up the birthday card during reviews and how December birthday are horrible to get a better review and maybe even a bonus.

4. Every holiday party you go to, make them sign happy birthday to you and open an expensive bottle of wine to toast you. It’s like 5 bday parties instead of one.

5. No one makes figgy pudding and if your best friend does…make it on her birthday and I guarantee she won’t forget the next year.

6. Throw a birthday party at the coolest, newest club so that everyone will be sure to make it for the much needed break from the holiday stress.

7. We are in a recession, but that’s what point #1 is all about.

8. See point #6 and the leftovers won’t be an issue.

9. Be specific on the combo gifts you want, such as a matching purse and shoes from Jimmy Choo.

10. Get out of town to a warmer climate and celebrate your birthday on a beach with little umbrella drinks.

11. Who needs to gain weight from the dry birthday cupcakes in class…go to Sprinkles and indulge yourself!

12. Have your boss throw you a birthday lunch the day before your company week off and ask for the rest of the day off for you and your co-workers as your birthday gift.

13. Since you already have your birthday off due to the holiday break, take a mid-birthday day off 6 months from now.

14. Snowball fights at your birthday party keeps the unwanted guests away and makes you feel young again.

15. Buy a tropical slinky dress to wear during your birthday trip to Australia. After all, you have the extend holiday break.

16. There are plenty of crushes around for the holidays visiting family and wanting an excuse to break away from them for a while…there you go.

17. Make sure you get in the line with the cute TSA agent.

18. You may be stranded at the airport, but so are some cuties so start looking around.

19. Designate a place in the living room for your birthday gifts to go and decorate it as a Tiffany’s display counter. It will be pretty and drop a big hint at the same time.

20. Make the Christmas carolers sign Happy Birthday to you the way they do at that Mexican restaurant you always go to.

21. Well, yes he is but you can wear a tiara on your birthday.

22. Send Aunt Ida on a cruise. Your family will be happy and you can angle for more presents.

23. Birthday ice cream instead of dinner. Eat it all day long and no one will have room for Christmas dinner.

24. Last minute shopping means more deals for more presents for you.

25. Put up a sign on your birthday table stating that the only re-gifts allowed must be in a little blue box and come from the little blue box store.

26. Throwing a wild birthday party sends the family ties out the door quicker.

27. ‘Tis the season with two birthday balloons for each mistletoe.

28. Turn your New Year’s Eve birthday party the place to be each year so no one thinks to go somewhere else.

29. The end of the year starts the planning for next year’s birthday bash.

30. People everywhere are toasting, drinking champagne, partying – so make custom glasses to drink out of with your birthday face on them.

31. Once that ball drops, start planning a bigger and better bash for the next year.