From Screen to Paper

Since the birth of the camera phone, I feel like it's rare that a photograph is actually printed. How sad is that? There is nothing you can hold up close and actually hold in your hands, something that you possibly shot or that an artist that you admire captured.
During the month of June, I decided to stop this trend of leaving photos on the computer or phone and my photographs printed and share them with the world. I take my camera everywhere where I can; let me tell you, it's been wonderful. I had forgotten what it's like to take photographs in the form of "art" because I take thousands of photos each day for work. I take all portraits at work, so I took on  photographing nature around the LA/Orange County area.

Here are some of the shots I took that I will be getting printed and selling in a new shop on Etsy!

These are the prints that I selected to print out and sell!! I hope you like them and may possibly add some of them to a gallery wall or a small statement piece. They will measure 5x5 so they are small/big enough for any wall of the house! 

Give it to Him

There have been quite a few moments in the past few months where I have been praying before I go to sleep each night. It has cleared my mind and has helped me think clearer the next day. If I was looking at this a year ago, I wouldn't believe I would be typing this. I like where I stand with God now and I can't wait to continue this path that I am now taking. I have to thank a friend for guiding back to God after some time away from Him. Thank you, friend. You know who you are:)

Isn't that S'well!?

Last year my friend got this water bottle and at first I was like, it's just like any other water bottle right? I was 110% wrong. I purchased my first S'well Bottle a few weeks ago and I haven't had this much water to drink in a day in my entire life. The "Wonder Glitter" 17oz. is the first bottle I purchased(yes, I ordered another one yesterday) and I'm in love. It kind of reminds me of Cinderella's dress and pixie dust. Perfection for my job at the Most Magical Place on Earth. Right? Well, when I got it in the mail I was a tad bit disappointed in the color because I thought it was going to be more blue. Don't get me wrong, I love it none the less but it definitely gives more of a silvery vibe to it.

The bottle is so well insulated that it's contents stay cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. I haven't tried any hot liquids in the bottle yet BUT I can tell you that cold liquids most definitely stay ice cold for 24...or at least I guess it does. I've been finishing about 7, 17oz bottles of water each day on average. 

The s'well bottle was created so less plastic bottles were to be used that clog up our landfills each year. One of the best ideas ever. Another reason to love such a wonderful company you may ask? Some of the proceeds of each bottle go into help different charities. Makes you want to go on the website now and purchase one.

Among the colorful selection of bottles to choose from you can also shop in their accessories section for a more customized bottle buy adding a different color lid. 

For the month of February, I know...almost ending...you can purchase the Amethyst Stone s'well bottle at 15% off!! On all sizes!! Are you a wine-o? the 24oz can hold a whole bottle of wine! I purchased another 17oz because I just couldn't pass this opportunity up! 

Get yours today!! 

BeautyKind

Ever since I was five years old I always was for giving to a cause that I felt strongly about. First it was the Chesapeake Bay Foundation , a cause that helps keep the water ways of the Chesapeake Bay clean for years to come, to teach kids and adults how important it is to take care of it, and restoring to what has already been damaged. It's a cause I feel very strongly about because I grew up on those waters and I would like to enjoy them when ever I come home.
Another cause I'm very much passionate about is, the Michael J Fox Foundation. Knowing some friends in my life that are very close to me with Parkinson's disease makes me even more passionate about finding a way to help stop it by lots of research. Anyway that I can help, I do.

Thinking about more ways to donate to such amazing causes brings me to this. I actually found out about this online company through Gal Meets Galm. It really spoke to me by, purchasing products that I already use on a daily basis can help a cause that I'm deeply in to, even further by purchasing them through this website. BeautyKind donates 5% of every purchase you make to the foundation of your choice! How great is that?!

I made a few purchases already that the proceeds will be going towards the Michael J Fox Foundation. That 5% can go such a long way to help fund the research to help cure such an awful disease.


Want to help with a cause you're passionate about?! Click here to start!!

20yrs in the making

Do you have one of those friends that you've had since the age of 4? One of those friends that you're basically related? She is your best friend? a sister? You don't see each other for the longest time but you pick up right where you left off?

I Do.

Sami Jean have been the best of friends since the age of 4, in Sister A's Pre-K class, since the first day. We've gone through a lot together; from laughing our butts off, photoshoots down Long Point, late night doughnut runs, there is even a time we stopped talking and it was probably the worst few years of my life. We came to our senses and forgave each other for the what ever stupid reason we stopped talking in the first place. 

We worked together one Summer at a Private Club.

"The Face"

Senior Year of High School Football games

To this ridiculousness

I miss meeting you half way. Those memories I'll treasure forever.

Visiting her through her first week at college. 

I can't believe we've been friends for 20years. 20 YEARS!! Damn does the time fly & I can't wait to be your friend for the rest of our lives and then some. 

Don't be a chair.

The last year of high school was a rough one, well, the second semester was probably the scariest of my life.  January of that year I had gotten into a terrible accident where I fell off the back of my friends car. I went to an girls high school and my friends boy friend went to the all guys school; she wanted to surprise him by going over there because we both had half days. Who knew what was supposed to be such a fun day would turn into a day where I was rushed off to shock trauma totally unconscious not knowing what was happening to me. I ended up having to receive emergency brain surgery because too much blood had gone to my brain and they couldn't drain it fast enough, causing them to shave off half my hair and be gifted with a horseshoe shaped scar on the right side of my head.  No one was responsible because it was, in fact, an accident; there was no one to blame for us just trying to have some fun innocent fun. 

I was out of my last semester of high school for about 2 weeks? It wasn't fun. I was actually losing my mind because I just wanted to get back to school with my friends and continue learning and getting as much in as possible in our last days of that chapter of our lives. I finally got back to school and let me tell you, it was rough. It was rougher than any other semester of college. The teachers knew about my accident so they gave me a little more time to complete work and finish tests; even though there were a few teachers that just didn't care. 

Since they did have to shave half my hair(I was pissed about this)I was rocking, the now, half head shaved look. I didn't want anyone seeing my scar because it was still pretty rough looking and I was pretty embarrassed about it but one of the teachers didn't get the memo that I would be wearing a hat; I went to an private catholic school and wearing a hat indoors was most definitely frowned upon, except for me. This said teacher told me to take it off one day while I was walking through the halls with a friend of mine. I ignored her, stupidly, and she continued to walk after me and tell me over and over again to take it off. You know thank God to my friend, she stood up for me. My friend basically yelled at her by saying that I was allowed to wear it and the teacher backed off right away. It was rather ridiculous. I also received my first ever detention this semester because I thought I had a free period instead of an actual class and of course, got in trouble. 

Graduation came and one of our amazing teachers and Sisters gave a speech that will forever be with me and I will never ever forget. The inspiration from that speech still lives inside of me and it's what gets me through the tough weeks at work and in my personal life. The speech ended with the words...

have passion. have desire. have fire. DON'T be a chair.

It's about not giving up on that rough day, week, or month at work. Somedays are going to be the worst but after the rain comes a rainbow(thank you Katy Perry). But seriously, you do have to go through the bad days and never give up; keep on keeping on. Forever have that passion by doing what you love, have that desire to chase after you didn't think was possible, and have the hottest fire that came from your body to accomplish the hardest task you ever took on. It will be worth it in the end. 

Fact. I do have those days where I want to throw in the bag and just give up on life and not even try anymore because I thought it just wasn't worth it. 

I'm going to tell you right now, everything in your life is building you up to be a stronger & passionate person. At least for me it is. 

No, I won't give up and I will never be a chair because I hate staying still for too long. 

Week in Review

So this past week was my birthday(9/15)and since it was on a monday I didn't really do much but relax relax relax and then had sushi when a couple wonderful friends!! Since I didn't really do much on monday, I traveled to LA/Burbank to visit friends and have pretty much the greatest weekend I've had in the longest time.

Before I could even think about the weekend, I worked a special event!! It was for cast members that have worked with the company for 10years+. It was a wonderful event and I can't wait to someday hit that 10 year+ mark in my Disney career! I'm not sure if I'll be in the same department in 10years but my goal is to definitely stay with the Walt Disney Company for the rest of my life. But seriously, isn't Mickey the cutest thing ever in his tux and gold bow tie?!

On Friday I traveled up to LA and we just kind of hung out and watched a movie and went to possibly the best Mexican restaurant I've been to yet...Poquito Mas, so yum!

Saturday morning we got up early and traveled to Malibu to go on a hiking adventure. It was wonderful. It has been on my bucket list for some time now so I was happy to cross it off and have the time of my life! 

Clearly I was ready for this adventure with my hip bag. & don't even begin to judge me for it because it definitely came in handy. It fit all the essentials and I didn't have to worry about carrying a purse or wonder where I was going to put my belongings. Thank you Sports Authority

Climbing trees & hiking mountains is definitely something we're going to continue doing because damn was it so much fun! & it's a good way to exercise without having to step foot in a gym.

Saturday evening we went to the Hollywood Bowl to see The Sound of Music sing a long! Sound of Music is definitely one of my all time favorite movies so being able to watch it in such a beautiful and ionic place made it that much more special. During Edelweiss everyone took out their phones, put on their flash lights and it was really very beautiful! 

Sunday(which I sadly have absolutely no photos from) we went to Griffith Park and had a cook out! The day was amazing; from the weather, to the location, to the friends that we shared it with. It was the end of the summer party...without the burning of the blazer....and I can't wait to hopefully host a "Welcome to Fall" party very soon. We played wiffle ball & some kind of new frisbee game where you have to hit a can with it. I'm not really sure what it is but apparently it's an East Coast thing that it new. 

Where we were having the picnic, there was an old abandoned zoo. Totally creepy. Very smelly. & well, haunted. I usually really really hate all things scary and creepy but this didn't seem to bother me all that much. Very surprising. 

The weekend was seriously perfect and I didn't want to go back to Orange County to work tomorrow but I guess as the saying goes "work hard. play harder" I have to follow it and there is always next weekend, which we'll be going to see BeetleJuice! 

What's your favorite hiking place? Have you ever seen a movie/show at the Hollywood Bowl?