Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Feb 8

Memories From Hawaii || Kailua Beach, Honolulu, & Haleiwa, Hawaii

Happy Friday!  To get you in weekend mode, I wanted to share a few personal photos from our trip to Hawaii for Michael & Malia’s wedding.  My brother Karl, who happens to live there, took us driving around Oahu.  We stopped at Pipeline to watch the Vans Triple Crown surf competition, stayed until it got rainy, and then drove to the Grass Skirt Grill in Haleiwa for some mahi sandwiches.

The view from the top of the Lanikai Pillbox Hike was incredible, and a definite must-do if you’re in Oahu.  Next time, I’ll bring a small picnic to eat on top of one of the pillboxes.  It’s too pretty not to stay a while.

I think we counted twelve different fruit trees in Karl’s garden, including this beautiful starfruit.  Zac plucked it from the tree branches, and we ate it just like that.  Pure sunshine in that starfruit; best I’ve ever had.   Karl told us that the prickly green fruit was a soursop.  I had never heard of it before.  He said it tasted like custard; I immediately wanted a bite.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t ripe.  That’s ok.  I’ll just have to make another trip over when you’re ready, soursop!  One of the best parts of our trip was spending time with Karl.  That evening we bought groceries for dinner and saw the last blazing peach clouds after sunset wisp over Diamond Head from the top of the Safeway parking garage.  Back at Karl’s place we sat outside on the patio and barbecued shrimp, monchong marinated in tamari and ginger, and foil-wrapped bok choy.  While we were waiting for everything to cook, Zac made guacamole and we freestyled some nairagi poke (sesame oil, rice vinegar, salt, grated fresh ginger, & green onion).  It was a feast, and gosh, I love my brother.

Ashley was spot on: Island Snow in Kailua Beach has the best shave ice.  Shave ice became an integral part of our daily routine.  You can do this when you’re on vacation.  My favorite: small cup, ice cream on the bottom, half lilikoi, half li hing mui.  Enjoy slowly with: sandy toes, a whiff of sunblock, and plans to go adventuring.



Posted in Out & About, Personal, Travel
12 Comments  •  Add a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feb 6

What I Learned at Alt Summit 2013 | Salt Lake City, Utah

Last month I spent four wonderful crazy days in Salt Lake City, Utah for the Alt Design Summit.  If you haven’t heard of Alt before, imagine this: a conference which brings together 600+ (mostly women) bloggers + business & life savvy learning panels with industry toppers + design classes (Illustrator 101, anyone?) + croissant bread pudding + sequins + polka dots all wrapped up inside The Grand America Hotel. That’s the simplified equation, but let me elaborate…

Before:

Last year when I was still living in Houston, I entered into a solid pact with Alicia & Bri (the Whimsey Box girls!): we were going to meet up for Alt Summit in 2013.  Thankfully with a bit of planning, we were able to make it happen!  I had been following Alt Summit summaries and hashtags in previous years and was pinching myself that I’d actually be there this year.  I wanted to attend Alt Summit to learn and connect with other like minded women who are using their blogs as platforms to help others and grow their businesses.  There’s something about being surrounded by people with momentum, hustle, and drive that I love so much because it lets me believe that I can do this, too.  I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why I wanted to attend… I wasn’t looking to monetize my blog, or pitch a book idea to an editor… but I knew that I did and do want to build community, photograph beautiful weddings in Portland and beyond, connect with my readers, share stories and do all of this with intention and excitement, hustle and momentum.

During:

After landing in Salt Lake, my rolly suitcase and I caught a cab to the hotel with Meg and Maddie from A Practical Wedding.  I checked into the hotel room and was reunited with Bri and Alicia, and met Rachel.  The four of us were roomies in suite 582.  I changed out of my plane clothes (traveling never really makes you feel clean, right?), bundled up and walked to Minted’s sponsored dinner at Cucina Toscana (you can see some official photos here).  Minted did a beautiful job decorating the venue and the food was spectacular.  What sold me was the hot chocolate they served after the tiramisu.  Dessert after dessert?  You’re speaking to my heart!  This was my first chance to make new friends!  People had travelled from as far away as Hong Kong to be at that dinner.  Walking the almost-mile back to the hotel with Sarah, Robin, and Rachel, we had a bunch to talk about and neither of us slipped on any ice.  Win.

To get an idea of the sorts of panels that were happening during the day, check out the schedule.  At any given time, there were three panels going on at once, broken up with a lunchtime keynote speaker.  Sometimes it was tough making a choice because every panel seemed so good.  Here are the panels I attended and loved:

- Collaborating with Sponsors with Mitra Morgan, Merrilee Liddiard, Camille Styles, Annie Selke, & Jenny Komenda
- Personal Branding with Jasmine Star
- Getting Your Online Life Organized with Erin Loechner
- Building Offline Events with Laura Mayes, Stacey Ferguson, Megan Gilger, & Danielle Krysa
- Feeling the Fear roundtable with Michelle Edgemont
- It’s Not Too Late to Start a Blog with Mara Kofoed, Kirsten Krason, Steph Morgan, & Erin Kennedy
- Media Kits 101 with Meg Keene and Maddie Eisenhart
- Illustrator 101 with Melanie Burk

The Grand Hotel truly went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and well-fed at all times.  Hot chocolate bar, and aforementioned bread pudding… other hotels, take note.  At night when the panels were over, Alt Summit and the sponsors had fantastic parties arranged for us.  Thursday evening was a Clue party where everyone had to wear either mustard, peacock (what I wore), plum, white, scarlet, or green.  There was always something to do… downtime could wait until I was home!

After:

 

Packing my suitcase up for the short flight home, I rolled my clothes into neat little cylinders, and made sure I had one zippered compartment free to store all of the beautiful business cards I had received from the people I had met.  So much variety and creativity. Each one represents a connection and shared experience.  I treasure that I had the chance to meet the ladies behind these pieces of card stock, wood puppy pins, and pom poms.  Thumbing through my notebook and thinking back on Alt Summit, here are some snippets that have me thinking:

- Compelling and original content is key.
- When you work with others, whether sponsors or clients, make it a win win experience for everyone.
- When you work together with the right clients, magic happens.
- “Make it simple, make it personal, make it beautiful.” Merrilee Liddiard
- Always put your readers first.
- “Seek to work with people who work like you, who have goals that complement yours and vice versa.” Mitra Morgan
- Blogging is powerful… we essentially own the means of production. What are we going to create with this power?
- “When it comes to my story, it has to be mine, and I have to love it.” Jasmine Star
- “When organizing your online life, think customization, not organization.” Erin Loechner
- “Actually doing the things I set out to do increases the level of my satisfaction.” Stefan Sagmeister
- “Having guts always works out for me.” Stefan Sagmeister
- Don’t worry about finding your voice. Use the voice you already have. Let authenticity be your x-factor. Mara Kofoed
- “When planning offline events, ask yourself: how will this offline experience translate to my readers so it’s an event that they’ll fall in love with as well?” Megan Gilger

And this is how it translates to action; my goals following Alt Summit:

- Write an e-mail to every single person who I traded business with. I want to build relationships and sustain friendships.
- Blog five times a week. I need to make this happen.
- Plan a styled shoot with Kae. I’m really excited for this collaboration… we’ve been pinning for a while on our top secret pin board. Shhh!
- Reach out to local businesses to collaborate so that we can create fresh content.
- I ordered a lightmeter, film, and batteries. The only thing missing is a medium format film camera I’ve got my eye on. I’m going to start shooting film this year!
- Create an offline event for my local couples… something fun that brings people together. Of course, there will be food.
- Work on a personal food photography project. I want to create something that would be editorial worthy.
- I’ve created a framework/checklist of things I need to be doing for my business every single day. Check off all the boxes (but don’t confine yourself to them). Do the work. Every. Single. Day!

Would I go to Alt Summit again next year?  Absolutely.  Let me know if you have any questions I can answer!



Posted in Business, Out & About, Travel
18 Comments  •  Add a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 2

Brooklyn in September

In September, Zac & I flew to Brooklyn to see Kelly & Timm, and meet the tiniest & newest edition to the family: Evelyn.  Time in New York zips by approximately 53% faster than regular time, but we soaked up everything: walking for miles, revisiting the spot in Cobble Hill where we got engaged, and marveling at Evelyn.  Kelly & Timm were super parents, Evelyn was the sweetest little nugget, and Runtley & Cholula (the pigs) were jerks like always (I kid, I kid!!).

These happy photos from a few weeks ago contrast starkly with the the overwhelming damage from Sandy.  I feel a catch in my throat thinking of families who were already in rough situations now under even more strain.  In November, we are surrounded by reminders to give thanks and also very aware that there are people without.  Gratitude and awareness were made for each other, and together they serve as an impetus for us to help others.  Thoughts for me to remember and more importantly – take action on – not just this month, but all year round.



Posted in Brooklyn, Travel
No Comments  •  Add a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sep 17

A Weekend Getaway in Seattle

Zac and I drove up to Seattle on Friday so we could be there for Tom & Alex’s wedding on Saturday.  Temperatures were in the mid-70′s, and the sun was shining, and everyone seemed to be in a weekend kind of mood.  What  a gorgeous city!  I had consulted Design Sponge’s Seattle Design Guide on the car ride up, and it gave me some great ideas for places to visit.  Once we checked in to our hotel downtown, we started walking toward Pike’s Place Market.  There were so many dahlias and the biggest lobster tails we’d ever seen.

Just when we decided to start heading toward dinner, we walked past Cupcake Royale.  It was fate.  We went for dessert before dinner and shared a carrot ginger cupcake.

With 15 minutes left until our dinner reservation, we booked it up Pike Street toward Sitka & Spruce.  I saw quite a few people in Seattle with bionic calf muscles and decided it must be because of all their hills.  Sitka & Spruce is a beautiful, airy restaurant inside the Melrose Market.  I first discovered it when Amy & I stopped in Seattle for lunch last month on our way to Vancouver, B.C.  When I saw its open kitchen area, exposed brick walls, and tall windows, I knew I’d have to make a trip back (it reminded me a little bit of Oxheart).  Our meal was delicious.  On the walk back to the hotel, we stopped at an arcade and played motorcycle racing, car racing, horse racing, and Dance Dance revolution.

On Saturday morning, we went for a run to the Space Needle and through the Olympic Structure Garden (I’m up to 4/15 runs for my September goals… time to get crackin’).  After we showered and got dressed, we realized that uh-oh… we’d both packed matching outfits for the day.

Before heading to the wedding, we drove to Ballard to explore.  Ballard is a cute neighborhood with wild hills.  Those crazy calf people must all be from Ballard.  We had a light lunch at Bitterroot, peeked inside a charming children’s toy store called Clover, and found a darling fabric store called Drygoods Design that I could have spent a very long time inside.  Our last stop on the way toward Redmond was the Theo Chocolate factory (try the lemon truffle!).

The best part of our trip was seeing Alex & Tom get married.  Their wedding was absolutely beautiful and straight from a storybook.  The community, love, and support that radiates from the celebration of two people creating a new family together is incredible.  It was so special to be there and witness this, especially with Zac next to me.  Hearing other people say their vows reminds me of our own, and it’s always good to be brought back to the core of what matters.



Posted in Food, Out & About, Personal, Travel
12 Comments  •  Add a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug 13

Road Trip Snapshots from Avila Beach, California

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a fantastic weekend.  I spent Saturday second shooting a gorgeous & heartfelt Indian wedding for Yasmin Khajavi, and Sunday catching up on chores around the house and making pizza.  I wanted to share with you the last collection of photos I have from our road trip earlier in the summer.  Avila Beach near San Luis Obispo, California was on our must-stop list after we fell in love with the quiet beach town in 2010.  Day 8: Palm Springs – Avila Beach.  Day 9: Avila Beach.  Day 10: Avila Beach – Palo Alto.

I love Avila Beach for it’s quiet calmness and friendliness.  It is wonderful going to sleep with the windows open, hearing the ocean waves at night, flip flops and soft worn cotton t-shirts in the morning with Joe Mama’s Coffee and their Americanos tasting faintly of campfire marshmallows.  We were lucky to be in town on a Friday when Avila Beach hosts its weekly Fish & Farmer’s Market on the promenade.  All photos below are from the market!  There was live music, people of all ages dancing in the street, and a delicious spread of local food.  We had a savory crepe, fish tacos, and Mexican corn on the cob.  And little beignets!  Recalling these memories makes me want to go back… this place is magic.

The following morning we went for a run on the Bob Jones Trail and spent some time on the beach before packing up and heading north!

Day 11: Palo Alto – Napa.  Day 12: Napa.  Day 13: Napa – Redding.  Day 14: Redding – Ashland.  Day 15: Ashland – HOME!  Road trip honeymoon = complete.  Best road trip yet!

P.S. You can catch up on more road trip posts here: Marfa, San Diego, and Palm Springs!



Posted in Out & About, Personal, Travel
6 Comments  •  Add a Comment