That's where I feel I am. In the middle. The quiet. The relaxed.
My loving and amazing and remarkable husband coordinated with Maya to give me a night out. A night to relax. To sit. To talk and be and chill. I sit here after a glass of wine in a cozy bar, an hour in a hot tub under the rain filled sky and laying down in a dry sauna that filled my lungs with heat.
Thank you is not enough to say. There is a motion, a look, a sigh and sound that all wrapped into one could express what I'm feeling. Gratitude and peace and love.
A deep breath and a sigh and I can't wait to sink my head into my pillow.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Back Home
Ahhhh, back home. Home to my boys and my work and my life. This past week was intense. I was doing so well at keeping my head afloat and then I just felt like I went under. I spent the last week at my moms, arriving the night before she was discharged from the hospital and I stayed until Monday afternoon of this week.
The first few days at her house were challenging to say the least. I don't think I stopped crying for three days straight. It was trips to the grocery store, to the pharmacy and getting used to strapping on my mothers new brace that I told her was her new best friend. A million calls to my sister and to Matt asking for help or to just listen. The cancer is up and down her spine as well as in her lymph system. There is a section of spine that is now no longer there and her stability is compromised. This is why she now has a brace that she wears whenever up and around to help support her body.
There is good news in all of this. It seems funny to say "good news" in relationship to cancer, but there is. The type she has is HER2 negative which means that it isn't as aggressive as they thought and that between the radiation she had as well as the hormone pills she's taking to starve the cancer of the estrogen it feeds off of, she should have more time than we originally thought.
So, I'm back up, breathing and smiling. Things are looking good and I'm feeling like I have a handle on my life again. I packed a car load of her most needed things, clothes, photographs, the things you take with you wherever you go. I left her on Monday early afternoon and my sister arrived that night and packed her in the car the next morning and drove her to LA. She'll be staying at my sisters through mid January and then she's going to come live with Matt and I for 6 months. Time, we have some time. Time for her to get to know Miles, to play with Mason and to enjoy our family. After those 6 months she'll move to my sisters for her 6 months. It's the plan that we have for now and it feels good.
Now, I have to quickly settle in to life the way it was only to get ready for our trip to Michigan for Christmas to see Matt's family. Whew!
I must say that despite how difficult this past week was, I will treasure it forever. I was able to be with my mom, alone and talk and sort through her life. The drawers full of nick knacks and the photographs on the walls. The jewelry, the pewter collection, the stuff that makes up a life, her life. It was a gift to have that time.
It was hard to be away from Matt and the boys but they survived and had some good bonding time and now that I'm home, I'm appreciating everything all that much more. Life. Strange, wonderful, difficult and all we've got.
The first few days at her house were challenging to say the least. I don't think I stopped crying for three days straight. It was trips to the grocery store, to the pharmacy and getting used to strapping on my mothers new brace that I told her was her new best friend. A million calls to my sister and to Matt asking for help or to just listen. The cancer is up and down her spine as well as in her lymph system. There is a section of spine that is now no longer there and her stability is compromised. This is why she now has a brace that she wears whenever up and around to help support her body.
There is good news in all of this. It seems funny to say "good news" in relationship to cancer, but there is. The type she has is HER2 negative which means that it isn't as aggressive as they thought and that between the radiation she had as well as the hormone pills she's taking to starve the cancer of the estrogen it feeds off of, she should have more time than we originally thought.
So, I'm back up, breathing and smiling. Things are looking good and I'm feeling like I have a handle on my life again. I packed a car load of her most needed things, clothes, photographs, the things you take with you wherever you go. I left her on Monday early afternoon and my sister arrived that night and packed her in the car the next morning and drove her to LA. She'll be staying at my sisters through mid January and then she's going to come live with Matt and I for 6 months. Time, we have some time. Time for her to get to know Miles, to play with Mason and to enjoy our family. After those 6 months she'll move to my sisters for her 6 months. It's the plan that we have for now and it feels good.
Now, I have to quickly settle in to life the way it was only to get ready for our trip to Michigan for Christmas to see Matt's family. Whew!
I must say that despite how difficult this past week was, I will treasure it forever. I was able to be with my mom, alone and talk and sort through her life. The drawers full of nick knacks and the photographs on the walls. The jewelry, the pewter collection, the stuff that makes up a life, her life. It was a gift to have that time.
It was hard to be away from Matt and the boys but they survived and had some good bonding time and now that I'm home, I'm appreciating everything all that much more. Life. Strange, wonderful, difficult and all we've got.
Back Home
Ahhhh, back home. Home to my boys and my work and my life. This past week was intense. I was doing so well at keeping my head afloat and then I just felt like I went under. I spent the last week at my moms, arriving the night before she was discharged from the hospital and I stayed until Monday afternoon of this week.
The first few days at her house were challenging to say the least. I don't think I stopped crying for three days straight. It was trips to the grocery store, to the pharmacy and getting used to strapping on my mothers new brace that looks like a turtle shell. I told her it was her new best friend. A million calls to my sister and to Matt asking for help or to just listen. The cancer is up and down her spine as well as in her lymph system. There is a section of spine that is now no longer there and her stability is compromised. This is why she now has a brace that she wears whenever up and around to help support her body.
There is good news in all of this. It seems funny to say "good news" in relationship to cancer, but there is. The type she has is HER2 negative which means that it isn't as aggressive as they thought and that between the radiation she had as well as the hormone pills she's taking to starve the cancer of the estrogen it feeds off of, she should have more time than we originally thought.
So, I'm back up, breathing and smiling. Things are looking good and I'm feeling like I have a handle on my life again. I packed a car load of her most needed things, clothes, photographs, the things you take with you wherever you go. I left her on Monday early afternoon and my sister arrived that night and packed her in the car the next morning and drove her to LA. She'll be staying at my sisters through mid January and then she's going to come live with Matt and I for 6 months. Time, we have some time. Time for her to get to know Miles, to play with Mason and to enjoy our family. After those 6 months she'll move to my sisters for 6 months. It's the plan that we have for now and it feels good.
Now I have to quickly settle in to life the way it was only to get ready for our trip to Michigan for Christmas to see Matt's family. Whew!
I must say that despite how difficult this past week was, I will treasure it forever. I was able to be with my mom, alone and talk and sort through her life. The drawers full of nick knacks and the photographs on the walls. The jewelry, the pewter collection, the stuff that makes up a life, her life. It was a gift to have that time.
It was hard to be away from Matt and the boys but they survived and had some good bonding time and now that I'm home, I'm appreciating everything all that much more. Life is strange and wonderful and difficult and really, it's all we've got.
The first few days at her house were challenging to say the least. I don't think I stopped crying for three days straight. It was trips to the grocery store, to the pharmacy and getting used to strapping on my mothers new brace that looks like a turtle shell. I told her it was her new best friend. A million calls to my sister and to Matt asking for help or to just listen. The cancer is up and down her spine as well as in her lymph system. There is a section of spine that is now no longer there and her stability is compromised. This is why she now has a brace that she wears whenever up and around to help support her body.
There is good news in all of this. It seems funny to say "good news" in relationship to cancer, but there is. The type she has is HER2 negative which means that it isn't as aggressive as they thought and that between the radiation she had as well as the hormone pills she's taking to starve the cancer of the estrogen it feeds off of, she should have more time than we originally thought.
So, I'm back up, breathing and smiling. Things are looking good and I'm feeling like I have a handle on my life again. I packed a car load of her most needed things, clothes, photographs, the things you take with you wherever you go. I left her on Monday early afternoon and my sister arrived that night and packed her in the car the next morning and drove her to LA. She'll be staying at my sisters through mid January and then she's going to come live with Matt and I for 6 months. Time, we have some time. Time for her to get to know Miles, to play with Mason and to enjoy our family. After those 6 months she'll move to my sisters for 6 months. It's the plan that we have for now and it feels good.
Now I have to quickly settle in to life the way it was only to get ready for our trip to Michigan for Christmas to see Matt's family. Whew!
I must say that despite how difficult this past week was, I will treasure it forever. I was able to be with my mom, alone and talk and sort through her life. The drawers full of nick knacks and the photographs on the walls. The jewelry, the pewter collection, the stuff that makes up a life, her life. It was a gift to have that time.
It was hard to be away from Matt and the boys but they survived and had some good bonding time and now that I'm home, I'm appreciating everything all that much more. Life is strange and wonderful and difficult and really, it's all we've got.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Picture Taking Made Easy
With everything going on, and there has been quite a lot, I keep neglecting to blog about some exciting and happy news!
I'm part of an organization called Ladies Who Launch (LWL). It's a national group that is geared toward women who have either started a business, want to start a business or are thinking about it. There are local chapters of women who meet on a monthly basis although I'm not sure how much this varies between cities and locations.
My group was run out of Marin county and was wonderful. Karen Anderson was my "Incubator" leader. An incubator is a series of meetings where you get together with other women and your leader to formulate and direct your "project". When I did my incubator a little over a year ago I was just in the launching phase of Forget Me Not Design. I was able to hear other women's opinions and thoughts about my business. I wrote a press release and heard vision statements from the group of how far they could see my business develop. It was instrumental and incredibly valuable.
Other organizations and companies companies contact LWL for various reasons. Mommy Mastermind is one of those companies. They put a call out for women who were interested to be a part of their online magazine. I submitted an email with a description of myself and my business and they said they would be more than happy to have me be a contributer. Yay!
Here's a link to the article. I started to write about book making, but they wanted the article to be more a DIY. As I started writing and researching online companies such as blurb and ibook I was completely stopped. I didn't know anything about designing a book like that and was finding it difficult to put words to a page. My sister, brilliant as she can be, asked me what I could write about that I did know in a DIY format. What would I want to share with people to help them in some way in relationship to photography and images.
Here is the birth of that conversation between my sister and myself. I've received wonderful feedback from the friends, family and business partners that I've shared this with so I hope you enjoy it as well.
Picture Taking Made Easy!
I'm part of an organization called Ladies Who Launch (LWL). It's a national group that is geared toward women who have either started a business, want to start a business or are thinking about it. There are local chapters of women who meet on a monthly basis although I'm not sure how much this varies between cities and locations.
My group was run out of Marin county and was wonderful. Karen Anderson was my "Incubator" leader. An incubator is a series of meetings where you get together with other women and your leader to formulate and direct your "project". When I did my incubator a little over a year ago I was just in the launching phase of Forget Me Not Design. I was able to hear other women's opinions and thoughts about my business. I wrote a press release and heard vision statements from the group of how far they could see my business develop. It was instrumental and incredibly valuable.
Other organizations and companies companies contact LWL for various reasons. Mommy Mastermind is one of those companies. They put a call out for women who were interested to be a part of their online magazine. I submitted an email with a description of myself and my business and they said they would be more than happy to have me be a contributer. Yay!
Here's a link to the article. I started to write about book making, but they wanted the article to be more a DIY. As I started writing and researching online companies such as blurb and ibook I was completely stopped. I didn't know anything about designing a book like that and was finding it difficult to put words to a page. My sister, brilliant as she can be, asked me what I could write about that I did know in a DIY format. What would I want to share with people to help them in some way in relationship to photography and images.
Here is the birth of that conversation between my sister and myself. I've received wonderful feedback from the friends, family and business partners that I've shared this with so I hope you enjoy it as well.
Picture Taking Made Easy!
Human Kindness
Sometimes I'm amazed by the kindness of others. The sheer thoughtfulness and love that is coursing through their body. I was brought to tears over the last few days from just this.
Thursday was a tough day. Both of my boys were home and looking forward to a "mommy day". The head ache from the night before had turned into a full blown cold and I was feeling like staying in bed. I decided to bring joy to the boys and announced that it was going to be a TV day! I thought Mason was going to fall over from excitement. Miles seeing the biggest smile on his brothers face understood this meant something good and began to bounce up and down.
This started off as an o.k. thing to be doing but there were things I needed to do. One of which was get my mothers insurance straightened out. I can't even begin to go into the details of this but I've discovered how incredibly horrific big business can be. Phone call after phone call, transfer after transfer, no one could help me. The hours started blurring by and I knew I was in trouble when I came out to the living room to check on the boys and Miles was passed out. O.K. maybe it's time for a break!
I carried Miles up to bed and made lunch for Mason. Once he was done eating he quickly reminded me that it was a TV day so come on, lets go back to watch another show! Me, back on the phone. I'll just say 5 1/2 hours. Yes, 5 1/2 hours of talking with people that I want to call morons but my conscience tells me that's not so nice. I think I would probably put Mason on a time out for that. Hmmm. Can someone put me on a time out? I think that's exactly what I'm needing these days.
But, back to the point of this. After Miles woke up and I carried him past the tv to the office to sit with me for a bit while he woke fully up and he proceeded to scream "more tv, more tv, more tv" I gave in to the depression. I sat him back down with his brother and plopped myself right beside them. I think that lasted 5 minutes when the doorbell rang. Now, this was just about my worst nightmare at that exact instant. Could I run away? Just not answer the door? Impossible with two little boys who think anyone from Santa to the Easter Bunny could be on the other side.
I picked myself up from the couch and opened the door. Me, not showered, hair in a pony tail and a messy one at that, no make-up and still in my pajamas. The boys, in front of our too large television that makes me think we're at a small theatre each time I look at it, still in their pajamas and jumping on the couch. Sigh. That's a nice sight for any house guest to witness.
Lisa was standing there, on the other side of that door. An angel that came to make my day turn into something more than pathetic. She had a basket filled with activities for the boys to do in her arms. She just wanted to come by to drop it off and say hi and make sure I was o.k. I wish I hadn't been sick and that I could have hugged her for what she had done. I probably would have soaked her coat though from the water works that would have poured from my eyes. As she was turning to go she asked if I needed groceries. I burst into tears as she left. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss for words for how grateful I was at that moment.
The boys were thrilled and couldn't wait to break into the basket. It was filled with all sorts of goodies and finally, the tv went off!
She was back 20 minutes later with a bag of groceries. She not only picked up the few items I had mentioned, eggs, bread, milk and Nyquill, but she brought juice for the boys, chicken soup and a couple of other things. She turned and walked away as I tried to hand her some money. She called out from the driveway "pay it forward, just pay it forward." I of course burst into tears again and stood there crying on my front porch.
Lisa, your kindness is overflowing and I am humbled by you. Thank you for who you are and for being such a bright light in the world. When I start to go too deep inside of myself, you're there to pull me out and remember to think about others and to open my heart as wide as I can.
Thursday was a tough day. Both of my boys were home and looking forward to a "mommy day". The head ache from the night before had turned into a full blown cold and I was feeling like staying in bed. I decided to bring joy to the boys and announced that it was going to be a TV day! I thought Mason was going to fall over from excitement. Miles seeing the biggest smile on his brothers face understood this meant something good and began to bounce up and down.
This started off as an o.k. thing to be doing but there were things I needed to do. One of which was get my mothers insurance straightened out. I can't even begin to go into the details of this but I've discovered how incredibly horrific big business can be. Phone call after phone call, transfer after transfer, no one could help me. The hours started blurring by and I knew I was in trouble when I came out to the living room to check on the boys and Miles was passed out. O.K. maybe it's time for a break!
I carried Miles up to bed and made lunch for Mason. Once he was done eating he quickly reminded me that it was a TV day so come on, lets go back to watch another show! Me, back on the phone. I'll just say 5 1/2 hours. Yes, 5 1/2 hours of talking with people that I want to call morons but my conscience tells me that's not so nice. I think I would probably put Mason on a time out for that. Hmmm. Can someone put me on a time out? I think that's exactly what I'm needing these days.
But, back to the point of this. After Miles woke up and I carried him past the tv to the office to sit with me for a bit while he woke fully up and he proceeded to scream "more tv, more tv, more tv" I gave in to the depression. I sat him back down with his brother and plopped myself right beside them. I think that lasted 5 minutes when the doorbell rang. Now, this was just about my worst nightmare at that exact instant. Could I run away? Just not answer the door? Impossible with two little boys who think anyone from Santa to the Easter Bunny could be on the other side.
I picked myself up from the couch and opened the door. Me, not showered, hair in a pony tail and a messy one at that, no make-up and still in my pajamas. The boys, in front of our too large television that makes me think we're at a small theatre each time I look at it, still in their pajamas and jumping on the couch. Sigh. That's a nice sight for any house guest to witness.
Lisa was standing there, on the other side of that door. An angel that came to make my day turn into something more than pathetic. She had a basket filled with activities for the boys to do in her arms. She just wanted to come by to drop it off and say hi and make sure I was o.k. I wish I hadn't been sick and that I could have hugged her for what she had done. I probably would have soaked her coat though from the water works that would have poured from my eyes. As she was turning to go she asked if I needed groceries. I burst into tears as she left. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss for words for how grateful I was at that moment.
The boys were thrilled and couldn't wait to break into the basket. It was filled with all sorts of goodies and finally, the tv went off!
She was back 20 minutes later with a bag of groceries. She not only picked up the few items I had mentioned, eggs, bread, milk and Nyquill, but she brought juice for the boys, chicken soup and a couple of other things. She turned and walked away as I tried to hand her some money. She called out from the driveway "pay it forward, just pay it forward." I of course burst into tears again and stood there crying on my front porch.
Lisa, your kindness is overflowing and I am humbled by you. Thank you for who you are and for being such a bright light in the world. When I start to go too deep inside of myself, you're there to pull me out and remember to think about others and to open my heart as wide as I can.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Mom - Update no.1 - Life Interrupted
Thank you to everyone who's offered prayers and words of encouragement. I feel so blessed by how many people have reached out toward me and my family. I don't have a ton of answers but I do have some and will share where we are at this moment.
We received some very hopeful news regarding the cancer. It is in fact the breast cancer that is back after 21 years. Crazy but true. It is the type that has the estrogen receptors at the ends which means it is responsive to treatment. Now she is in line for more tests on her heart and brain and more of her body to determine where exactly the cancer is and if her heart is strong enough to undergo chemotherapy.
My sister and I are looking to move her to California to be near and with us for this next phase of treatment. There are a ton of questions swirling through my head and no one has any definitive answers for us. It is forcing me to live in this moment. The one I'm in right now. I can think about the next few days or even couple of weeks, but I can't go much farther than that.
She is still in the hospital, her best friend is with her. I'm planning on taking another trip back when she is discharged from the hospital. When this is, I don't know but most likely next week.
(It feels good to write some of this down. Maybe it will help me grasp what's happening a little more than I think I am. I'm tired and fighting a cold so the urge to just crawl into bed is strong but there is so much to be done! Doing is good for me though, it keeps me focused and moving forward and I need that.)
Now we're on to questions about where she's going to live, treatment options and insurance coverage. I feel lost with some of it and overwhelmed but know that between my sister and I we'll figure it out. Right?! We have to.
There is so much more I want to share, get out of my brain and on paper as they used to say about her. About who she is. There is this crazy combination of laughter and anger that makes up who she is. A New York accent even though she's lived here for the past 40 or so years and a sense of humor that can border on the line of inappropriate which makes it all that more funny.
She has that humor and strong spirit still and is, I'm sure, making her floor the most fun to be on for any of the nurses at the hospital.
I'll update more as I know more and again, thank you to everyone who has us in their prayers.
Here's a photo of my sister, myself and my mom from my shower when I was getting married to Matt. Thanks Christine for finding this! oxoxoxox
We received some very hopeful news regarding the cancer. It is in fact the breast cancer that is back after 21 years. Crazy but true. It is the type that has the estrogen receptors at the ends which means it is responsive to treatment. Now she is in line for more tests on her heart and brain and more of her body to determine where exactly the cancer is and if her heart is strong enough to undergo chemotherapy.
My sister and I are looking to move her to California to be near and with us for this next phase of treatment. There are a ton of questions swirling through my head and no one has any definitive answers for us. It is forcing me to live in this moment. The one I'm in right now. I can think about the next few days or even couple of weeks, but I can't go much farther than that.
She is still in the hospital, her best friend is with her. I'm planning on taking another trip back when she is discharged from the hospital. When this is, I don't know but most likely next week.
(It feels good to write some of this down. Maybe it will help me grasp what's happening a little more than I think I am. I'm tired and fighting a cold so the urge to just crawl into bed is strong but there is so much to be done! Doing is good for me though, it keeps me focused and moving forward and I need that.)
Now we're on to questions about where she's going to live, treatment options and insurance coverage. I feel lost with some of it and overwhelmed but know that between my sister and I we'll figure it out. Right?! We have to.
There is so much more I want to share, get out of my brain and on paper as they used to say about her. About who she is. There is this crazy combination of laughter and anger that makes up who she is. A New York accent even though she's lived here for the past 40 or so years and a sense of humor that can border on the line of inappropriate which makes it all that more funny.
She has that humor and strong spirit still and is, I'm sure, making her floor the most fun to be on for any of the nurses at the hospital.
I'll update more as I know more and again, thank you to everyone who has us in their prayers.
Here's a photo of my sister, myself and my mom from my shower when I was getting married to Matt. Thanks Christine for finding this! oxoxoxox
Mom - Update no.1 - Life Interrupted
Thank you to everyone who's offered prayers and words of encouragement. I feel so blessed by how many people have reached out toward me and my family. I don't have a ton of answers but I do have some and will share where we are at this moment.
We received some very hopeful news regarding the cancer. It is in fact the breast cancer that is back after 21 years. Crazy but true. It is the type that has the estrogen receptors at the ends which means it is responsive to treatment. Now she is in line for more tests on her heart and brain and more of her body to determine where exactly the cancer is and if her heart is strong enough to undergo chemotherapy.
My sister and I are looking to move her to California to be near and with us for this next phase of treatment. There are a ton of questions swirling through my head and no one has any definitive answers for us. It is forcing me to live in this moment. The one I'm in right now. I can think about the next few days or even couple of weeks, but I can't go much farther than that.
She is still in the hospital, her best friend is with her. I'm planning on taking another trip back when she is discharged from the hospital. When this is, I don't know but most likely next week.
(It feels good to write some of this down. Maybe it will help me grasp what's happening a little more than I think I am. I'm tired and fighting a cold so the urge to just crawl into bed is strong but there is so much to be done! Doing is good for me though, it keeps me focused and moving forward and I need that.)
Now we're on to questions about where she's going to live, treatment options and insurance coverage. I feel lost with some of it and overwhelmed but know that between my sister and I we'll figure it out. Right?! We have to.
There is so much more I want to share, get out of my brain and on paper as they used to say about her. About who she is. There is this crazy combination of laughter and anger that makes up who she is. A New York accent even though she's lived here for the past 40 or so years and a sense of humor that can border on the line of inappropriate which makes it all that more funny.
She has that humor and strong spirit still and is, I'm sure, making her floor the most fun to be on for any of the nurses at the hospital.
I'll update more as I know more and again, thank you to everyone who has us in their prayers.
Here's a photo of my sister, myself and my mom from my shower when I was getting married to Matt. Thanks Christine for finding this! oxoxoxox
We received some very hopeful news regarding the cancer. It is in fact the breast cancer that is back after 21 years. Crazy but true. It is the type that has the estrogen receptors at the ends which means it is responsive to treatment. Now she is in line for more tests on her heart and brain and more of her body to determine where exactly the cancer is and if her heart is strong enough to undergo chemotherapy.
My sister and I are looking to move her to California to be near and with us for this next phase of treatment. There are a ton of questions swirling through my head and no one has any definitive answers for us. It is forcing me to live in this moment. The one I'm in right now. I can think about the next few days or even couple of weeks, but I can't go much farther than that.
She is still in the hospital, her best friend is with her. I'm planning on taking another trip back when she is discharged from the hospital. When this is, I don't know but most likely next week.
(It feels good to write some of this down. Maybe it will help me grasp what's happening a little more than I think I am. I'm tired and fighting a cold so the urge to just crawl into bed is strong but there is so much to be done! Doing is good for me though, it keeps me focused and moving forward and I need that.)
Now we're on to questions about where she's going to live, treatment options and insurance coverage. I feel lost with some of it and overwhelmed but know that between my sister and I we'll figure it out. Right?! We have to.
There is so much more I want to share, get out of my brain and on paper as they used to say about her. About who she is. There is this crazy combination of laughter and anger that makes up who she is. A New York accent even though she's lived here for the past 40 or so years and a sense of humor that can border on the line of inappropriate which makes it all that more funny.
She has that humor and strong spirit still and is, I'm sure, making her floor the most fun to be on for any of the nurses at the hospital.
I'll update more as I know more and again, thank you to everyone who has us in their prayers.
Here's a photo of my sister, myself and my mom from my shower when I was getting married to Matt. Thanks Christine for finding this! oxoxoxox
Monday, December 1, 2008
Sneak Peak - Mila
With everything going on over this past week I was feeling the urge to crawl into bed and just sleep. O.K. so, having two boys under 5 makes that pretty much impossible but the urge was there none the less!
I had a photo shoot scheduled for Saturday and Matt seemed to think that I should get out in the world and do something creative. Be around a baby and forget about sickness and cancer for a moment. He was right! It was so nice to drive to the city and see Sara, Matt and Mila who is 11 months old. I put Sara and Matt's wedding album together not too long ago and they are just kind, gentle people. They made the two hours I spent with them enjoyable and easy. Mila was amazing and didn't cry or fuss one bit. She's adorable! which makes picture taking so much easier too.
Here's a sneak peak of a couple of shots. I'll post more in the week or so to come.
I also want to thank everyone who has been sending love and support for myself, my family and my mom. It's crazy but we're still waiting for information that should hopefully come tomorrow so that we know more about how to move forward. Everyones thoughts and prayers have filled my heart and brought me to tears.
Thank you!
I had a photo shoot scheduled for Saturday and Matt seemed to think that I should get out in the world and do something creative. Be around a baby and forget about sickness and cancer for a moment. He was right! It was so nice to drive to the city and see Sara, Matt and Mila who is 11 months old. I put Sara and Matt's wedding album together not too long ago and they are just kind, gentle people. They made the two hours I spent with them enjoyable and easy. Mila was amazing and didn't cry or fuss one bit. She's adorable! which makes picture taking so much easier too.
Here's a sneak peak of a couple of shots. I'll post more in the week or so to come.
I also want to thank everyone who has been sending love and support for myself, my family and my mom. It's crazy but we're still waiting for information that should hopefully come tomorrow so that we know more about how to move forward. Everyones thoughts and prayers have filled my heart and brought me to tears.
Thank you!
Sneak Peak - Mila
With everything going on over this past week I was feeling the urge to crawl into bed and just sleep. O.K. so, having two boys under 5 makes that pretty much impossible but the urge was there none the less!
I had a photo shoot scheduled for Saturday and Matt seemed to think that I should get out in the world and do something creative. Be around a baby and forget about sickness and cancer for a moment. He was right! It was so nice to drive to the city and see Sara, Matt and Mila who is 11 months old. I put Sara and Matt's wedding album together not too long ago and they are just kind, gentle people. They made the two hours I spent with them enjoyable and easy. Mila was amazing and didn't cry or fuss one bit. She's adorable! which makes picture taking so much easier.
Here's a sneak peak of a couple of shots. I'll post more in the weeks to come.
I also want to thank everyone who has been sending love and support for myself, my family and my mom. It's crazy but we're still waiting for information that should hopefully come tomorrow so that we know more about how to move forward. Everyone's thoughts and prayers have filled my heart and brought me to tears.
Thank you!
I had a photo shoot scheduled for Saturday and Matt seemed to think that I should get out in the world and do something creative. Be around a baby and forget about sickness and cancer for a moment. He was right! It was so nice to drive to the city and see Sara, Matt and Mila who is 11 months old. I put Sara and Matt's wedding album together not too long ago and they are just kind, gentle people. They made the two hours I spent with them enjoyable and easy. Mila was amazing and didn't cry or fuss one bit. She's adorable! which makes picture taking so much easier.
Here's a sneak peak of a couple of shots. I'll post more in the weeks to come.
I also want to thank everyone who has been sending love and support for myself, my family and my mom. It's crazy but we're still waiting for information that should hopefully come tomorrow so that we know more about how to move forward. Everyone's thoughts and prayers have filled my heart and brought me to tears.
Thank you!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Mom
I'm on the phone. Maya is here. It's my sister. She says a simple phrase and with it everything changes. All at once. "We have to go to Arizona". I know what this means and before I've hung up the phone I have a ticket to board a plane. In two hours.
I'm in the airport. Maya dropped me off and I rushed through the airport. I arrive before boarding has begun.
I'm sitting on the plane. The man next to me buys me my drink because I'm rummaging for my wallet for too long. His name is Sy. He read over my shoulder the words that my mother was sick. Cancer. He doesn't burry his face in his book. He doesn't pretend to sleep. He talks to me. He makes my flight and what's coming bearable. I'm more grateful than he knows. He talks to me and makes me laugh and shares about himself as I share about what's going on with me.
I'm standing at the gate. Waiting for my sister to step off of her flight. She came an hour behind me. We see each other. She introduces me to the man who was sitting next to her. He talked to her and made her flight bearable. God has been orchestrating everything and making sure that we're taken care of as we move forward in this new direction.
We're at the hospital. She's in pain. She's terrified. Her eyes are crazed and filled with tears. She can't believe how quickly we came. Knowing we were on our way kept her from completely breaking down. We stay up most of the night. She can't sleep. Between the pain and the fear of what was happening none of us can. I tell stories of my children, Diana tells stories of hers. My mother tells us things she had been bottling up her whole life. Stories of her childhood. Stories that no child should have to live through. But that is a testament to her will and her strength. She is a force to be reckoned with.
We're sitting in the lobby of the hospital. We're waiting for the results of her MRI. She was on that table for over 4 hours before she had to take a break. This will give us some answers. Answers I'm not sure we want to hear.
We're back in her room. We're talking to the doctor. It's a bit better than he thought. The cancer hasn't yet reached the spinal cord but it has destroyed and eaten away a section of her spine. It is up and down her spine in small pockets. It is in her lymph nodes. It is inoperable. The will start radiation immediately in hopes of killing the cells surrounding the spinal cord to prevent paralysis. They will do a biopsy to see what type of cancer it is.
We're in the basement of the hospital. The room where they'll give her radiation treatments. She's had the points of the beams marking the location of the radiation tattooed to her body. The table is raised. The machine is turned on. I leave the room with the doctors while the treatment is happening. I come back in the room and shout to her that I'm there. She can't move so she can't see me but she can hear me.
I'm sitting at a table in the cafeteria garden with Diana. We look at each other. We are in disbelief yet at the same time not. There have been too many years of being sick. Too many years of discomfort. But it doesn't make the moment any easier. We talk about what we have to do. Who we need to call. We've been here before and it's oddly familiar and uncomfortable. The memories of my father's death come flooding back. The reality of what we're about to face is not pretty.
I'm kissing her goodbye. Telling her I'll be back soon. It's so hard to leave but I have to go home to my family. I'll be coming back to take care of her. To move her to California. She can't stay in Arizona alone. There are many decisions to be made. Baby steps I keep saying. There are still questions that we need answered.
It's Thanksgiving. I'm home. I'm with my boys. Tanya and Garrett are kind and have us to dinner. I want to be in two places at once. It's hard to not be there. Holding her hand. Spending time by her side so she isn't so afraid. I'm tired. I still haven't had time to be with Matt. To talk about what is coming. About the decisions we need to make. I haven't cried. Really cried. Yet.
The prayers from friends and family have been unbelievable. There is so much love around me, around us. I thank God for each and every person in our lives. For the care and the help and the prayers that they've offered. We came home yesterday to a grocery bag filled with Thanksgiving dinner from Maya and Shaun. They have no idea how much that meant.
I am filled with love and hope. I hope that even though the road ahead looks bumpy and ugly, what lies at the end is something beautiful. She knows that God is waiting for her. My father has taken this journey and paved the way. It can't all be for nothing. This life, everything we go through. I saw a glimmer of interest in her eyes when she was talking about death and what may come next. Past her fear she has interest to see what is on the other side of consciousness.
Tomorrow is another day. The day we know what type of cancer this is. I wish I could be there to hold her hand when they read the results of the biopsy. Is it the breast cancer she had 21 years ago that has returned? Is this a new beast that we can or can't fight. I will be with her on the phone. Diana will be there to hold her hand. That gives me comfort.
I'm in the airport. Maya dropped me off and I rushed through the airport. I arrive before boarding has begun.
I'm sitting on the plane. The man next to me buys me my drink because I'm rummaging for my wallet for too long. His name is Sy. He read over my shoulder the words that my mother was sick. Cancer. He doesn't burry his face in his book. He doesn't pretend to sleep. He talks to me. He makes my flight and what's coming bearable. I'm more grateful than he knows. He talks to me and makes me laugh and shares about himself as I share about what's going on with me.
I'm standing at the gate. Waiting for my sister to step off of her flight. She came an hour behind me. We see each other. She introduces me to the man who was sitting next to her. He talked to her and made her flight bearable. God has been orchestrating everything and making sure that we're taken care of as we move forward in this new direction.
We're at the hospital. She's in pain. She's terrified. Her eyes are crazed and filled with tears. She can't believe how quickly we came. Knowing we were on our way kept her from completely breaking down. We stay up most of the night. She can't sleep. Between the pain and the fear of what was happening none of us can. I tell stories of my children, Diana tells stories of hers. My mother tells us things she had been bottling up her whole life. Stories of her childhood. Stories that no child should have to live through. But that is a testament to her will and her strength. She is a force to be reckoned with.
We're sitting in the lobby of the hospital. We're waiting for the results of her MRI. She was on that table for over 4 hours before she had to take a break. This will give us some answers. Answers I'm not sure we want to hear.
We're back in her room. We're talking to the doctor. It's a bit better than he thought. The cancer hasn't yet reached the spinal cord but it has destroyed and eaten away a section of her spine. It is up and down her spine in small pockets. It is in her lymph nodes. It is inoperable. The will start radiation immediately in hopes of killing the cells surrounding the spinal cord to prevent paralysis. They will do a biopsy to see what type of cancer it is.
We're in the basement of the hospital. The room where they'll give her radiation treatments. She's had the points of the beams marking the location of the radiation tattooed to her body. The table is raised. The machine is turned on. I leave the room with the doctors while the treatment is happening. I come back in the room and shout to her that I'm there. She can't move so she can't see me but she can hear me.
I'm sitting at a table in the cafeteria garden with Diana. We look at each other. We are in disbelief yet at the same time not. There have been too many years of being sick. Too many years of discomfort. But it doesn't make the moment any easier. We talk about what we have to do. Who we need to call. We've been here before and it's oddly familiar and uncomfortable. The memories of my father's death come flooding back. The reality of what we're about to face is not pretty.
I'm kissing her goodbye. Telling her I'll be back soon. It's so hard to leave but I have to go home to my family. I'll be coming back to take care of her. To move her to California. She can't stay in Arizona alone. There are many decisions to be made. Baby steps I keep saying. There are still questions that we need answered.
It's Thanksgiving. I'm home. I'm with my boys. Tanya and Garrett are kind and have us to dinner. I want to be in two places at once. It's hard to not be there. Holding her hand. Spending time by her side so she isn't so afraid. I'm tired. I still haven't had time to be with Matt. To talk about what is coming. About the decisions we need to make. I haven't cried. Really cried. Yet.
The prayers from friends and family have been unbelievable. There is so much love around me, around us. I thank God for each and every person in our lives. For the care and the help and the prayers that they've offered. We came home yesterday to a grocery bag filled with Thanksgiving dinner from Maya and Shaun. They have no idea how much that meant.
I am filled with love and hope. I hope that even though the road ahead looks bumpy and ugly, what lies at the end is something beautiful. She knows that God is waiting for her. My father has taken this journey and paved the way. It can't all be for nothing. This life, everything we go through. I saw a glimmer of interest in her eyes when she was talking about death and what may come next. Past her fear she has interest to see what is on the other side of consciousness.
Tomorrow is another day. The day we know what type of cancer this is. I wish I could be there to hold her hand when they read the results of the biopsy. Is it the breast cancer she had 21 years ago that has returned? Is this a new beast that we can or can't fight. I will be with her on the phone. Diana will be there to hold her hand. That gives me comfort.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Simple Elegance
Linda contacted me a few months ago. She had created a wedding album through Blurb and loved her book but was thinking she wanted something more. More than just a coffee table book. Something that would have the presence of a "wedding album" and would stand the test of time.
When she told me she had a book already, I felt challenged by this project in a good way. The bride had designed herself a book, picked her favorite images and placed them on the pages. In creating an album with those same images, I wanted to impress her. I wanted to be sure to give her something that she would love forever.
I have to say that one of the things I love most about working directly with brides is that I have the opportunity to get to know the them and sometimes their groom. We exchange emails about the album, I learn who the guests are and we talk on the phone a few times throughout the process. Through our conversations I learned that Linda was pregnant as well as getting ready to launch her own company. A green line of handbags. I knew I would love them just from the name, Canopy Verde. Her logo is simple and chic and the bags are beautiful. I could immediately relate to Linda because when I was getting ready to launch Forget Me Not Design I was 9 months pregnant. I knew she had her hands full and I wanted to help check something off of her list by building a beautiful album for them to enjoy.One that was just right for her sense of style. I wanted to tell the story of her day with the same simple elegance the logo of her company conveyed.
I knew I wanted the first spread of the book to be a double page spread but because a horizontal image doesn't stretch full frame across a square format, I had a little work cut out for me. I built about 5" on the right side of that first image with the blue, red and yellow background. I think it made a huge difference and I love seeing the pages filled with that color.
Linda, I'm so happy to have designed your album. I wish you so much luck with both your new little guy and your business. I can't wait to build an albumof your son's first year!
When she told me she had a book already, I felt challenged by this project in a good way. The bride had designed herself a book, picked her favorite images and placed them on the pages. In creating an album with those same images, I wanted to impress her. I wanted to be sure to give her something that she would love forever.
I have to say that one of the things I love most about working directly with brides is that I have the opportunity to get to know the them and sometimes their groom. We exchange emails about the album, I learn who the guests are and we talk on the phone a few times throughout the process. Through our conversations I learned that Linda was pregnant as well as getting ready to launch her own company. A green line of handbags. I knew I would love them just from the name, Canopy Verde. Her logo is simple and chic and the bags are beautiful. I could immediately relate to Linda because when I was getting ready to launch Forget Me Not Design I was 9 months pregnant. I knew she had her hands full and I wanted to help check something off of her list by building a beautiful album for them to enjoy.One that was just right for her sense of style. I wanted to tell the story of her day with the same simple elegance the logo of her company conveyed.
I knew I wanted the first spread of the book to be a double page spread but because a horizontal image doesn't stretch full frame across a square format, I had a little work cut out for me. I built about 5" on the right side of that first image with the blue, red and yellow background. I think it made a huge difference and I love seeing the pages filled with that color.
Their reception was held in an aquarium and the photographer took some wonderful shots of the reception details and the aquatic life. I love the tiers of mini cupcakes with the cute flower-like topping and the Hello Kitty cookies are such a great graphic touch. The last spread, which is by far one of my favorite spreads ever, is of the bride and groom sitting together touching noses with a close up shot of a starfish opposite. I just love it, it makes me smile because it's so dreamy.
Linda, I'm so happy to have designed your album. I wish you so much luck with both your new little guy and your business. I can't wait to build an albumof your son's first year!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Gina
Bare feet on the earth, hands outstretched to the sky. That is the image that stays with me.
We drove the windy road to Roys Redwoods early in the morning on Saturday. On the drive we had a pretty intimate conversation about life, children and family. The openness and comfort we had with one another was immediate and carried throughout our time together. After we parked and walked to the trail head it opened up on a beautiful meadow. I couldn't pass it by so we started shooting right away. Gina was amazing and her spirit just shined.
We hiked around, shooting at a few different locations. The meadow, a beautiful outcropping of rocks, along a single track trail in the trees and inside of a burned out hollow of an enormous tree.
Matt gave me a great idea that I loved which was to have Gina spend some time alone at some point. To throw on the long lens and see what happens. Some of my favorite shots are from this time. Thank you Matt for such a great idea!
Gina, thank you for being so open and free. For sharing your beautiful spirt and the new life growing inside your belly. For reminding me that the future is bright and full of hope.
(Gina has kindly allowed me to post some of the naked images. Skip the rest of this post if you don't wish to see.)
p.s. My lovely husband was kind enough to help me edit my html so that my images are now huge! I love it!! When I look at the old images now they seem so tiny. Thanks Matty!! xoxo
We drove the windy road to Roys Redwoods early in the morning on Saturday. On the drive we had a pretty intimate conversation about life, children and family. The openness and comfort we had with one another was immediate and carried throughout our time together. After we parked and walked to the trail head it opened up on a beautiful meadow. I couldn't pass it by so we started shooting right away. Gina was amazing and her spirit just shined.
We hiked around, shooting at a few different locations. The meadow, a beautiful outcropping of rocks, along a single track trail in the trees and inside of a burned out hollow of an enormous tree.
Matt gave me a great idea that I loved which was to have Gina spend some time alone at some point. To throw on the long lens and see what happens. Some of my favorite shots are from this time. Thank you Matt for such a great idea!
Gina, thank you for being so open and free. For sharing your beautiful spirt and the new life growing inside your belly. For reminding me that the future is bright and full of hope.
(Gina has kindly allowed me to post some of the naked images. Skip the rest of this post if you don't wish to see.)
p.s. My lovely husband was kind enough to help me edit my html so that my images are now huge! I love it!! When I look at the old images now they seem so tiny. Thanks Matty!! xoxo
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sneak Peak - Gina
When Gina contacted me to take photographs of her I was thrilled. She's pregnant and her due date is 3 weeks away! I won't go into the details and save that for the bigger blog but I thought I would give a sneak peak at a few of the photographs from the morning.
We had so much fun and she was the best model.
Thanks Gina for making my Saturday morning so nice!
We had so much fun and she was the best model.
Thanks Gina for making my Saturday morning so nice!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Transformation and Adventure
From almost the moment I walked through the doors the tears began to flow. This seems to be the trend lately for me when I go to church. I cry. I cry when the music is being played, while I'm singing and while the Word is being spoken for my ears to hear, my mind to process and my body to soak in.
Today, as I was holding Miles fast asleep in my arms and singing words of love and praise, the tears just wouldn't stop. I thought about why I was crying and what came to mind was what my mother-in-law said to me not too long ago. Rest in the Lord. Give it all up to Him. The stress, the worry, the fear. It's a scary time right now. Things are tight, money seems to be the forefront of most conversations. At home, with friends, with colleagues.
I don't think I knew how to take her words to heart until today. I think I was crying as my release to give it all up to Him. As parents we need to be strong and we need to operate daily as if everything is o.k. But, the stress of the financial climate and the reality of our situation can be overwhelming at times. I found, today, that I can release that to God and my goodness, it felt good. The truth is, everything is o.k. More than o.k. really. My children are healthy, my husband and I are in love, my friends are loving and there for me if I need them, my family is well and in spite of sickness, my father-in-law has a better attitude than most people I know. We are all blessed and alive and there is a deep core of comfort in that knowledge.
As I sat there with the tears streaming and using Mason's sweatshirt as my hanky, sorry Mason I promise to wash it, I thought how can I get up, not wake Miles and go and get a tissue. Right then, no kidding, the woman behind me with her baby in her Bjorn sleeping, had gotten up, went to the back of the church and brought me a hand full of tissues. If you can imagine, that only made me cry more. To see that even in that moment, I was being taken care of.
The message today was about the partnership of transformation and adventure. How once we've experienced a personal transformation in our hearts we shouldn't just sit comfortably in that place. That there is a direction to move, a place to move toward, an adventure to seek. The pastor said today, that with everything going on in the world, there is an adventure ahead of us. Who are we going to be and how are we going to be. It was an interesting perspective shift. To look at this road in front of me as a challenge, as an adventure. Who am I being and who am I going to be no matter what happens. Will our businesses fail or succeed, will we be able to stay in this community or have to move where the cost of living isn't so high. Can we problem solve our way out of this predicament as a family, a community, a country. It's an adventure and even though it's difficult and stressful, I'm glad to be living it.
So, I'll go to church next week, I'll probably cry and hopefully I'll remember to bring some tissues! I'll give up the stress, the worry, the fear again and again and continue on the ride. It's pretty crazy and definitely an adventure and I'm glad to be sharing it with the people I love and who love me.
Today, as I was holding Miles fast asleep in my arms and singing words of love and praise, the tears just wouldn't stop. I thought about why I was crying and what came to mind was what my mother-in-law said to me not too long ago. Rest in the Lord. Give it all up to Him. The stress, the worry, the fear. It's a scary time right now. Things are tight, money seems to be the forefront of most conversations. At home, with friends, with colleagues.
I don't think I knew how to take her words to heart until today. I think I was crying as my release to give it all up to Him. As parents we need to be strong and we need to operate daily as if everything is o.k. But, the stress of the financial climate and the reality of our situation can be overwhelming at times. I found, today, that I can release that to God and my goodness, it felt good. The truth is, everything is o.k. More than o.k. really. My children are healthy, my husband and I are in love, my friends are loving and there for me if I need them, my family is well and in spite of sickness, my father-in-law has a better attitude than most people I know. We are all blessed and alive and there is a deep core of comfort in that knowledge.
As I sat there with the tears streaming and using Mason's sweatshirt as my hanky, sorry Mason I promise to wash it, I thought how can I get up, not wake Miles and go and get a tissue. Right then, no kidding, the woman behind me with her baby in her Bjorn sleeping, had gotten up, went to the back of the church and brought me a hand full of tissues. If you can imagine, that only made me cry more. To see that even in that moment, I was being taken care of.
The message today was about the partnership of transformation and adventure. How once we've experienced a personal transformation in our hearts we shouldn't just sit comfortably in that place. That there is a direction to move, a place to move toward, an adventure to seek. The pastor said today, that with everything going on in the world, there is an adventure ahead of us. Who are we going to be and how are we going to be. It was an interesting perspective shift. To look at this road in front of me as a challenge, as an adventure. Who am I being and who am I going to be no matter what happens. Will our businesses fail or succeed, will we be able to stay in this community or have to move where the cost of living isn't so high. Can we problem solve our way out of this predicament as a family, a community, a country. It's an adventure and even though it's difficult and stressful, I'm glad to be living it.
So, I'll go to church next week, I'll probably cry and hopefully I'll remember to bring some tissues! I'll give up the stress, the worry, the fear again and again and continue on the ride. It's pretty crazy and definitely an adventure and I'm glad to be sharing it with the people I love and who love me.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Casual Elegance
I was contacted a short while back by Sharon, a bride in need of a wedding album. I knew I was going to enjoy her project from the get go. She said that she had stumbled across my website and loved the Premier album and the "Catilin & Chris" design specifically. She liked how with just a few of the best images from the day, the story of the event was told.
These are the kinds of calls I love. Where I not only have the pleasure of designing an album for a couple, but I'm allowed to be part of the editing process as well. When I can pick and choose the photographs that I think are the strongest to tell the story. Sharon definitely had a point of view about her images and I could tell she had some design background under her belt, so once the initial layout was presented, we worked together to fine tune the design.
One thing that she requested and I think is absolutely brilliant is she gave me a wedding photo of her parents and her husbands parents and asked to have them included in her album. I placed them together on the last page of the book with a beautiful photograph of the just married couple. I think it's such a sweet gesture and wonderful way to remember and honor their parents.
The album design was completed a few weeks ago and we were both thrilled with the result. When the actual album arrived I was excited to flip through the pages and couldn't wait for Sharon and Matt to have it in their hands. The book was shipped last week and she sent me the sweetest email thanking me for my services. The truth is, Sharon, I can't thank YOU enough for being such a pleasure to work with.
I just have to take a minute to talk about the Premier album itself. There are so many things I love about it. It's by far my favorite album. The book is hand crafted and truly an elegant work of art. People sometimes ask and are concerned with how the book is when opened. I've included a photograph so you can see that it lays completely flat. This is such a nice feature especially when you have one image running across the middle of the book.
Other elements to this book that set it apart from the rest are the quality of binding, the leather choices and the slipcover. (I include a slipcover with all of my Premier albums. It does nothing but add to the presentation. It helps not only preserve the book for the future but allows you to place it on a bookshelf in a manner that elevates it's appearance. A must have!)
On a side note, I'm in the research/production phase of a new album that I'm hoping to launch in 2009. It's the Premier album taken to another level. I'm so excited about it and am keeping my fingers crossed that everything I'm envisioning can happen.
More to come on that later!
Happy Halloween
I hope everyone had a nice Halloween. It was a bit mellow around here. Mason was under the weather and wasn't able to go to school that day which was a total bummer. I think I was more disappointed than he was. He had been talking about being a shark for Halloween for weeks and here was the day to wear his costume to school and he had to stay home!
When Mason told us he wanted to be a shark I thought I was in real trouble. Having time to make a costume went out the window a few years ago. But, luckily, a friend just happened to have one that she had borrowed from someone else. Whew!! I did take the time to doctor it up a bit. I went for the most bang for your buck. It only had about 6 teeth when we received it so I took a trip to the craft store and bought some stiff felt. I think it was an improvement for the better!
With Miles, you couldn't say the word Halloween without his immediate response of "bunkey". I had bought matching monkey costumes for the boys last year but Miles didn't wear his so out it came this year. He wound up wearing the pants from Mason's suit because the feet of his came up to his knees.
We did take the boys out for just a little trick or treating that night but happily spent most of the time on our porch handing out candy to the few children that came by. We live really close to one of those crazy neighborhoods that have a "Halloween Street". We looked at a house on that street when moving to Marin and boy am I glad we didn't wind up there. I don't know if anyone would have told us before moving in what our obligation would have been! A large majority of the houses on that street do crazy displays on their front lawns and porches. It was a fun place to go for sure. (There's a neighborhood like that in Elmwood near Berkeley that we went to when living in Oakland. That neighborhood takes the cake by a long shot but they did a pretty decent job near us.)
Mason and Miles were a pretty cute pair and thankfully Matt took some great pictures. Thanks honey! One of the things we handed out instead of candy were eyeball masks. We thought we would model them for the boys and get in the Halloween spirit. ;-) Matt asked me not to post the scary ones of he and I but I'm tempted, really tempted. Maybe if they're small it won't be so bad......sorry Matt, I couldn't resist! Halloween is supposed to be scary. Right??!!
So, from the Reoch's.....we hope you had a Happy Halloween!
When Mason told us he wanted to be a shark I thought I was in real trouble. Having time to make a costume went out the window a few years ago. But, luckily, a friend just happened to have one that she had borrowed from someone else. Whew!! I did take the time to doctor it up a bit. I went for the most bang for your buck. It only had about 6 teeth when we received it so I took a trip to the craft store and bought some stiff felt. I think it was an improvement for the better!
With Miles, you couldn't say the word Halloween without his immediate response of "bunkey". I had bought matching monkey costumes for the boys last year but Miles didn't wear his so out it came this year. He wound up wearing the pants from Mason's suit because the feet of his came up to his knees.
We did take the boys out for just a little trick or treating that night but happily spent most of the time on our porch handing out candy to the few children that came by. We live really close to one of those crazy neighborhoods that have a "Halloween Street". We looked at a house on that street when moving to Marin and boy am I glad we didn't wind up there. I don't know if anyone would have told us before moving in what our obligation would have been! A large majority of the houses on that street do crazy displays on their front lawns and porches. It was a fun place to go for sure. (There's a neighborhood like that in Elmwood near Berkeley that we went to when living in Oakland. That neighborhood takes the cake by a long shot but they did a pretty decent job near us.)
Mason and Miles were a pretty cute pair and thankfully Matt took some great pictures. Thanks honey! One of the things we handed out instead of candy were eyeball masks. We thought we would model them for the boys and get in the Halloween spirit. ;-) Matt asked me not to post the scary ones of he and I but I'm tempted, really tempted. Maybe if they're small it won't be so bad......sorry Matt, I couldn't resist! Halloween is supposed to be scary. Right??!!
So, from the Reoch's.....we hope you had a Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Stinky, Stinky, Stinky!
Sometimes I wonder how my children are going to be when they grow up. More often I wonder how Mason is going to be. I think it's because he's a bit older and I can start to see him relate to the world and to others around him.
For the most part, he's a sweet, loving and sensitive boy but he has his moments. Especially when he's marching around the room and around me saying, "stinky pants, stinky legs, stinky face, stinky EVERYTHING!" "Stinky mommy, stinky carpet, stinky couch, stinky table." If you can imagine, his volume is pretty loud, the smirk and giggle is ever present and his head is bobbing side to side as he says each word with his long hair swishing around. He can hardly control himself because he's saying "stinky" for every other word and me, mommy, isn't doing anything about it!
I think I just had a moment. I envisioned him 16 years from now at some college party and being "that" guy. The one that you thought was totally cute but such a....well, such a guy! I don't want that for my son! Is that so terrible? But I don't! I want him to be the guy standing in the corner with the cute girl watching "that" guy and chuckling at the sight.
I'm a horrible person aren't I!
So, in that moment, that he was parading around saying the word "STINKY" after every other word no matter what it was, I kind of lost it. I turned to him and completely regressed into my 4 year old self and said, "STINKY, STINKY, STINKY, STINKY, STINKY, STINKY!!!!!"
It took a minute. I think Mason had to let what just happened sink in, but he completely burst into a fit of laughter. I don't think he could believe what I just said.
I composed myself, took a deep breath and said, "I think that must be your favorite word! Stinky!"
What came next, not only surprised me, but gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, he will be that guy that's standing in the corner with the cute girl chuckling. He said with a sweet look and a little laugh, "No mama, my favorite word isn't stinky!"
"It's not???" I said. "Well then, what IS?"
His answer... "LOVE is my favorite word."
Right then he lays on a big smile, big enough for his cute little dimple on his left cheek to come shining through and comes up to me and gives me a hug.
Sigh.
If anyone asks why people have children, it's for moments just like that one.
I love you Mason and all of your stinkiness!!
For the most part, he's a sweet, loving and sensitive boy but he has his moments. Especially when he's marching around the room and around me saying, "stinky pants, stinky legs, stinky face, stinky EVERYTHING!" "Stinky mommy, stinky carpet, stinky couch, stinky table." If you can imagine, his volume is pretty loud, the smirk and giggle is ever present and his head is bobbing side to side as he says each word with his long hair swishing around. He can hardly control himself because he's saying "stinky" for every other word and me, mommy, isn't doing anything about it!
I think I just had a moment. I envisioned him 16 years from now at some college party and being "that" guy. The one that you thought was totally cute but such a....well, such a guy! I don't want that for my son! Is that so terrible? But I don't! I want him to be the guy standing in the corner with the cute girl watching "that" guy and chuckling at the sight.
I'm a horrible person aren't I!
So, in that moment, that he was parading around saying the word "STINKY" after every other word no matter what it was, I kind of lost it. I turned to him and completely regressed into my 4 year old self and said, "STINKY, STINKY, STINKY, STINKY, STINKY, STINKY!!!!!"
It took a minute. I think Mason had to let what just happened sink in, but he completely burst into a fit of laughter. I don't think he could believe what I just said.
I composed myself, took a deep breath and said, "I think that must be your favorite word! Stinky!"
What came next, not only surprised me, but gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, he will be that guy that's standing in the corner with the cute girl chuckling. He said with a sweet look and a little laugh, "No mama, my favorite word isn't stinky!"
"It's not???" I said. "Well then, what IS?"
His answer... "LOVE is my favorite word."
Right then he lays on a big smile, big enough for his cute little dimple on his left cheek to come shining through and comes up to me and gives me a hug.
Sigh.
If anyone asks why people have children, it's for moments just like that one.
I love you Mason and all of your stinkiness!!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Olive-Route
I've known Via for gosh, 8 years. I met her when I started working for Gap. I was a graphic designer and she was a fixture coordinator. She's sweet, funky, and has always had a great sense of style. I remember her interest in what my group was doing and her need to push herself into a creative field. She knew she wasn't a corporate girl for life and left Gap to go back to school.
Once she found herself in the graphic arts industry she knew she was where she needed to be. The only thing that designing didn't fulfill was her love of hand crafting things. When she apprenticed with a print shop a few years back, she discovered a wonderful relationship. The thrill of designing and then printing her own work. Although Via is modern and hip she has a distinct vintage quality about her and this manifested in her printing as well. She didn't take the typical route of a modern day press, she fell in love with letterpress. The old machines, the placing of each piece of stationary down to be printed upon, mixing your own colors by hand. Every detail she loves.
When someone loves what they do, the way Via does, beauty just spills out of every piece. She does both custom design, which is stunning, as well as printing pieces designed by others. She specializes in wedding invitations and stationary but prints fine art and other items as well.
She recently designed a box to house stationary products for a client and is now marketing these beautiful pieces separately. If you are a writer of letters or a lover of stationary, this box is a must have. The quality is impeccable and it's beautiful when closed or open.
I'm so excited to have stayed connected with Via all these years and that our paths are crossing in such a creative way. I loved spending time with her in her shop, photographing her work, her studio, Max her dog who's always with her, and of course, Via. We talked about our work and how we can expand our presence in the community. We laughed at how we're members of Facebook and how we're figuring it all out. It was fun because we both work alone so having an afternoon to work and talk to another person was not only inspiring but fun.
Here are some of the shots from the afternoon. I'm going to shoot more details soon so you can see the actual depression from the letterpress. But, for now, I'm in love with these images. I think I captured Via, which is what I had hoped to do.
If you're ever in need of letterpress and are looking for an incredible eye for detail and an amazing sense of style, Olive-Route is the place to go.
Once she found herself in the graphic arts industry she knew she was where she needed to be. The only thing that designing didn't fulfill was her love of hand crafting things. When she apprenticed with a print shop a few years back, she discovered a wonderful relationship. The thrill of designing and then printing her own work. Although Via is modern and hip she has a distinct vintage quality about her and this manifested in her printing as well. She didn't take the typical route of a modern day press, she fell in love with letterpress. The old machines, the placing of each piece of stationary down to be printed upon, mixing your own colors by hand. Every detail she loves.
When someone loves what they do, the way Via does, beauty just spills out of every piece. She does both custom design, which is stunning, as well as printing pieces designed by others. She specializes in wedding invitations and stationary but prints fine art and other items as well.
She recently designed a box to house stationary products for a client and is now marketing these beautiful pieces separately. If you are a writer of letters or a lover of stationary, this box is a must have. The quality is impeccable and it's beautiful when closed or open.
I'm so excited to have stayed connected with Via all these years and that our paths are crossing in such a creative way. I loved spending time with her in her shop, photographing her work, her studio, Max her dog who's always with her, and of course, Via. We talked about our work and how we can expand our presence in the community. We laughed at how we're members of Facebook and how we're figuring it all out. It was fun because we both work alone so having an afternoon to work and talk to another person was not only inspiring but fun.
Here are some of the shots from the afternoon. I'm going to shoot more details soon so you can see the actual depression from the letterpress. But, for now, I'm in love with these images. I think I captured Via, which is what I had hoped to do.
If you're ever in need of letterpress and are looking for an incredible eye for detail and an amazing sense of style, Olive-Route is the place to go.
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