From the untouched beauty of the northwest landscape emerges an amazing bridal editorial created in the style of a vintage fairytale (imagine “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream”). As if glimmering out of the pages of Vogue magazine, this photo spread features luxurious and current bridal stylings, draped among the trees of a wooded grove ablaze at sunset. The colors and textures of the photography are truly breath-taking. Impish models, glowing lanterns and ornate decorations lend the perfect finishing touches to this photo story. For everyone who has ever deemed spring ‘the season for lovers’, this beautiful fashion editorial may have you reconsidering autumn as the most magical time…to fall.

-By Kate Van Raden

Photographer: Cully Wright http://www.cullywrightphoto.com/

Photo Editing: Liam Gillies http://www.modelmayhem.com/706272

Wardrobe Stylist: Sarah Van Raden http://sarahvanraden.com/home.html

Hair Styling: Ngan Savage

Make-Up: Lindsay Haldeman 

Layout Design: Studio Olivine http://studio-olivine.com/

Floral Design: Quince Flowers http://quinceevents.com/

Models: MODE MODELS:

Courtney Cornett: http://www.modelmayhem.com/1079869

Caley Gallison

Ian Crowe

This couple has an April wedding planned, so we got together for some engagement shots on what I thought was one of the last nice days in November (who knew winter would continue to elude us??)…

Congratulations!  Can’t wait to photograph your wedding!

-Kendra

A yacht belonging to a British couple kidnapped by pirates is returned to the UK on the Navy ship that witnessed their ordeal…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: boat jobs. For a different topic see fun soup recipe. The blog is also related to: boat history.

My last few edits of Bergen and Jake.  Happy Thanksgiving.

For a memorable honeymoon, no other destinations in the earth could surpass Tahiti and her islands. No matter your honeymoon theme is of any type such as romantic, luxury, dream, tropical, beach, or adventure, Tahiti has superb options for all. Tahiti, or French Polynesia, is a group of islands and atolls in the South Pacific.

A part of the French Republic, Tahiti, with its pristine beauty coupled with the services of amicable Tahitian people, provides an intoxicating environment for newly weds, honeymooners, and couples to celebrate a milestone of their relationship. In short, Tahiti is a great place for an unforgettable honeymoon, with its tranquil blue waters, beautiful multicolored coral reefs, lush green vegetation, landscapes with mysterious shapes, and secluded islands and beaches.

Some of the most popular destinations in Tahiti or French Polynesia are Tahiti, alternatively known as the island of love; the mystic island of Bora Bora; Moorea, also called the magical island; and Tahaa, which is sometime referred to as the Vanilla Islands because of its substantial number of aromatic vanilla plantations. Apart from these, Tahiti renders unique opportunity for those couples who want to celebrate their wedding or renew their wedding vows, in the form of Tiki Village, where marriages are conducted in traditional Polynesian style. Above all, each of these destinations in Tahiti provides opportunities for honeymooners and couples to indulge in a variety of activities such as paragliding, mountaineering, cycling, biking, fishing, swimming, and much more.

Among the features that set apart Tahiti from other romantic destinations in the world are seclusion, with an array of warm cherished resorts, tiny tranquil villages, and miles of beautiful unspoilt beaches; Polynesian spa, which is a great way for couples to relax, refresh, and rejuvenate after a day or two’s island hopping and sightseeing; and honeymoon cruises, which are one of the world’s most romantic voyages that cover almost all of the most popular as well as beautiful isles in Tahiti and that too with options for honeymooners to choose from a number of choices such as luxury cruises, freighter passenger, and super yachts.

Equally worth mentioning feature is overwater bungalows with thatched roof and that too spread across the incredible sparkling waters of Tahiti. Designed in the form of traditional island houses, over-water bungalows, as the name indicates, are built majestically over the waters of lagoons, and hence render a unique retreat for the honeymooners and couples. When you choose to live in an over water bungalow during your honeymoon, you could take full advantage of the accessibility of lagoon, and can also indulge in an array of activities such as swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. When comes to facilities and amenities, these residences offer all that are available in a deluxe hotel accommodation.

Many of these bungalows are complete with separate bedroom as well as sitting area, private sun deck area, expansive dining areas providing superb views of the lagoon, well stocked mini bar, and elegant bath areas. Likewise, most sophisticate over water bungalows are attached with air conditioning, king or queen size beds, day bed with coffee tables, tea/coffee making facilities, direct dial telephone, internet connections, and iron and ironing board. For couples seeking greater privacy, then options are available in the form of premium overwater bungalows, situated more towards the piers. In addition to typical hotel rooms and accommodation, many of the upscale resorts and hotels in the area provide overwater bungalows. However, overwater bungalows are most suitable for well-heeled and for those who can spend extravagantly for their Tahiti honeymoon.

If overwater bungalow is not an affordable choice, then you can go for choices like beach bungalows, which are a great option for those not only looking for an economic option but also for those seeking privacy. These bungalows directly face on to beach, and are just few blocks away from waters edge. Above all, a honeymoon or romantic vacation in Tahiti would be incomplete without going through its local history.

Nowadays, majority of the tour operators and major resorts now provide services for honeymooners and couples by providing superb value packages inclusive of accommodation in high-end hotel or resort rooms, sumptuous dining facilities, island hopping services, and facilities to enjoy a number of activities. There are also some hotels providing excellent wedding packages, covering aromatic flowers, services of event planners and photographers, a bottle of champagne, and services of priest.

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Couples ideas of Halloween costumes are just fun. It is always good with your partner, especially when you go to a costume party or fun in the dark! The first step in choosing costumes is deciding what theme you want to dress up – Spooky, sexy or simply fun-loving. There are many costumes for couples are available in all three.

Spooky Costumes

The Vampire and Vampira Gothic Gothic is a classic game. Custom Vampire Fangs in the coffin is a great accessoryfor men and women generally prefer the "Love Bites" Deluxe Custom fangs that comes in a box inside. Defenses slip a little more than your original teeth, is more comfortable than a plastic mouthpiece.

The dress is fully integrated with the modern vampire wig for man and Gothic Vamp Wig Vampira or a wig for women. Add a beautiful piece of jewelry, perhaps the stone of blood, after all, a lady of the night needs her jewels. Caps and liquid blood of the LordKiss kit off the top costumes. If you are in the skin, like me, you enjoy the black and red shoes Vampyre adult with an open point.

If you do not want to be leeches, you might be interested in the mother and the king or queen mother dresses matched with the dress Skeleton Zombie Mama. For married or engaged, the groom and the bride corpse Corpse is a favorite. Safe to unrealistic with the black rose bouquet for the bride corpse.

Sexy coupleCostumes

Elite Handsome Devil costume is great for a man and even better with his daughter in the costume of the Devil's Delight on his arm.

Of course, military costumes are attractive, and must admit Sailor uniform is rather surprising. Take a look at the costume and the corresponding maritime Sailor Sailor Sexy Adult Costume for Women, complemented by footwear Matey. Do not match the shoes? They are cute, sir! They are blue and white "Matey"Peep shoes with a white ribbon topped with a red anchor, "Anchors Away" in these hot heels!

If you're in sports, folds Penalization Referee costume, accompanied by those cute Taylor Boots, running shoes actually, goes great with tight end adult costume or dress Everlast Boxer. N. unnecessary roughness is happening here, ref.

Robin Hood and Robyn Hood also make a beautiful couple and Renaissance costumes are always a popular choice. Bring gold coins for Robin tofor poor people (your friends) is, after all, is not what he is famous?

Fun Loving Couples Costumes

Now, couples costume ideas alone would not be complete without a costume ball and chain. This costume is in fact the pair connects with a strap. It is removable, of course. Ideal for couples with a sense of humor these.

Plug and Socket costume is very popular with eggs and bacon. You know, just go together. They are sure to get a truelaugh at all. Maybe you will win, as the most fun costume party.

If you want to go back and look "groovy", you'll love the Child Adult Costume for couples. Simulate Sonny and Cher and reminds us of the good old "I Got You Babe" days. If there is a premium groovy, consider that he won with the custom of this duo.

My Links : bakersfieldblog bargainnews http://exercise.macpress.org/ http://shoppy-shoppy.blogspot.com/

I was so excited when Kaetrin contacted me to do her wedding photos.  We planned an engagement session right away in order to catch the good weather.  These two are so much in love and I can’t wait to shoot their wedding this weekend.  Here are a few from the E-session.  

“Serendipity is the faculty of finding things we did not know we were looking for.”

-Glauco Ortolano (2008)

The word has been voted as one of the ten English words that were hardest to translate in June 2004 by a British translation company. Serendipity is also defined as the ability of making fortunate discoveries by accident or as a chance observation falling on a receptive eye.

Here’s a short story of a serendipitous event.

CHAPTER 1: Accident… Luck

Being in a busy and crowded street like Manila, it is very difficult to find time to stop and “smell the roses”. Everyone seemed to always be in a hurry even if there are no reasons to. One girl happened to do that until after a few months, she realized that she has a choice to stop and take it slow; which she did.

One tiring Friday night, while on her way home, she decided to drop by at the mall, grab a coffee and something to eat. She decided to take it out and have it eeaten on her way home. Inside the bus, she sat at the very last row at the back, which is a 6-seater capacity. As she was minding her own business, a guy stepped in and sat at the other side of the last row where she was also sitting. From the looks of how the guy threw himself on his seat, he was tired and a little disappointed. It was obviously that he saw the girl sitting on his favorite seat. Despite that, the girl ignored what she saw and instead started eating her food.

For only a few minutes after the bus left, the bus accidentally bumped into a passenger jeep. The bus’ side mirror was broken into pieces. It was not major, though still the bus and the jeepney had to stop and file an incident report. While most of the passengers, both the bus and the jeepney have started transferring, four of them stayed inside the bus. That includes the girl and the guy still sitting both each at the end side of the last row. None of them where moving from their seats for they are waiting for the bus driver to start moving the bus. Despite the bus conductor’s request for them to transfer to another bus, both of them along with the other 2 passengers insisted to wait. It was both the girl and the guy who kept insisting they will stay until the bus is ready to move.

To keep them from being bored, they started talking to each other. They found out they are headed on the same direction home. Out of nowhere the girl asked the guy how old he was, the guy didn’t say his age at first and instead said “I’m not young anymore…” The girl still insisted to know and when the guy said “30”, the girl responded “so if you think you are that old, what am I then?? An elder?!” the girl said “I’m 31…” she continued. Then they just smiled. The guy asked this time “what do you do?”, “I’m a teacher…” the girl replied. There was a little admiration on the guy’s face, but only for a few seconds. As they were talking they learned that they are a product of the same school. Both were surprised of what they’ve heard, and still wondering how come they never saw or at least remember each other’s face considering the school was not that huge back then and the girl was an active varsity, while the guy was taking a Citizen’s Army Training (CAT). Even the schedules of their trainings were the same back then. And yet, they never saw each other.

Finally after an hour of waiting, they were convinced to transfer for it will take longer than expected before the bus can move again. Since they were going on the same direction, they transferred on the same bus, sat together and continued their conversation for they were seemed curious of what they have discovered. As the bus where heading Southbound, their conversation was headed north. They were talking about the places they’ve been through and sharing their experiences back then. Another revelation was discovered when they found out that they have a common interest in terms of music. It all started when the guy asked the girl about how she spent her free time. The guy was surprised for he didn’t expect the girl is also into the same genre he is… rock music. Probably trying to be sure if the girl was really into it or she was just riding on, he mentioned some bands and rock music, surprisingly the girl responded. She even showed a text message of an upcoming concert event whom she got from one of her contacts. It even made him more surprised when he learned that the girl was actually putting up her own concert events. The journey home was a long one yet both of them were not tired and are still talking about not-so-important stuffs. As they were about to take off from their respective bus stops, the guy realized he haven’t got her name yet. “We’ve been talking for hours, and yet I haven’t gotten your name” the guy said smiling. “Oh yeah…”the girl replied and then she gave her name. “Hello…” the guy said, he also asked the girl’s number, and the girl with no hesitation gave it to him.

to be continued…

Here are Ways #s 4 and 5 from the last post which promised you 5 Ways to Be More Great-full (Boost Your Gratitude Attitude)…

#4: FAMILY (or couple’s) GRATITUDE BOOK
We just spent a very pleasant hour doing this great art & writing interactive project. So simple and yet so meaningful and fun! Quality family time!

We do not watch television, nor do our children. We are dedicated to parenting consciously and strive to support a vibration of love in our household. Yet, given that my husband and I are both entrepreneurs, with seven businesses between the two of us, and given that our children are still quite young, we know how important and sometimes challenging it can be to come up ideas (not to mention time, energy and materials) for positive family experiences.

I myself am about the least craftsy person you will ever meet and can draw a stick figure on a good day! So believe me when I tell you: Yes, you CAN do this project, and probably with what’s already available in your home. It really ranks high on simple, high on fun, high on memorable, and low on expense. (I can NEVER do those Origami things, puuleeeeeazzze, can we talk?)

Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to do this Family Gratitude Book…but of course so is any day that ends in “y.” Monday, Tuesday…. Enjoy!

Materials:

All you need is:

Some blank paper (we used printer or copy paper, white)

Construction paper

Ribbon or brass brads to secure the book

Markers, pencils, hole punch and/or scissors

Optional: Stickers, stamps, other art supplies, scrapbook, photos

Definitely: A little bit of time and lots of love!

We started by making a brainstormed list of everything we are grateful for. You can do this any way you like; follow your own creative impulses & inspiration. We have four family members, so I decided to color code what we wrote on this collective page or you could just all write and draw without attributing who said/drew what, or make a chart, have sections of the page, etc. The things my 6-year-old called out first were written in yellow, my 10-year-old chose blue, I picked purple and my husband green. We made a color key on the page and wrote and drew various things we are thankful for: Our dog came first, followed by a lovely torrent such as family and friends, food, a good home, music, the Earth, music, health, God, life and so on.

Then I gave each family member a separate page on which to do whatever they like, the only requirement being that whatever is on the page relates to or represents what they are thankful for. We stuck in some more blank pages, so we can add more later as we are inspired.

The kids each got to pick a color for the front and back covers. The older did the words, the younger did the drawings. We punched holes, added brads, all signed the masterpiece and voila! A Family Gratitude Book.

Not only a wonderful way to spend part of our Thanksgiving Day, but a precious keepsake, and, I trust, a new family tradition as well. We will be sharing this book with family all weekend long and inviting them to add to it as well. And of course, it can be done any day! Every day bears its own gifts if we just open the package.

Today we focused mainly on what we are thankful for in our current lives (now), but we could also include wonderful memories (past) and gratitude for all the blessings on the way! (future)

Alternative for Couples: You can also do this as a Couple’s Gratitude Book or Journal, a beautiful way to show appreciation and deepen connection. So few marriages last or are happy, as we all know, and I am blessed to have a deliriously, deLIGHTfully ecstatic marriage, 12 years strong and better every day. One of the reasons is of course, the selection of the right mate; but in order to do so, we had to do the necessary self-healing and inner preparation to bring whole, healthy individuals to the relationship. Much of this work is presented in my book: The Radical Self-Love Workbook. But it is also essential to nurture even the best of relationships, and my husband and I do so daily in many creative ways such as this.

More tips on love and relationships are at

www.LoveandSpirit.org

and at my love blog: loveandspiritblog.wordpress.com.

Whether you do the Gratitude Book as a homemade book like we did today, like a scrapbook or journal, and whether you do it as a family activity or a couple’s relationship-enhancer, it will help you see your life through the eyes of love and gratitude, and bring you even closer with those you love. Enjoy! And I welcome you to send me a comment or email to share your experience.

#5: Honor the 4 Directions and 4 Sacred Elements:

Earth, Air, Fire, Water

You do not have to be Native American to appreciate one of their traditions, which is to honor the Medicine Wheel, facing each of the four directions, thanking each one for their gifts. This is also a tradition in all indigenous cultures including pre-Christian Europe (a.k.a. Wicca, Druidry, paganism, et al.), Africa, Australia, Hawaii and South America.

In fact, if you scratch the surface beneath contemporary religions on any part of the Earth, you will find an ancient shamanic tradition that honors all the directions and all of nature as sacred.

All things follow this cycle of birth, growth, fruition and quietude, whether we are looking at seasons, a lifespan, a day, or a garden. The beauty of Medicine Wheel ceremony and the paradigm itself is that it can be applied to our lives in so many ways.

So how do you honor the directions and elements, to give thanks for what they give to us so generously? Here are a few ideas:

* Altar: Create an altar to each direction or a Medicine Wheel altar encompassing all the directions/elements. This can be in your home or outside. My husband specializes in creating Medicine Wheels as a sacred practice on the land, and has helped others to do this as well.

* Cherokee Dance of Life – You would need to learn this in person from someone who has learned it, oral tradition. This is an incredible moving meditation to all 4 directions, peoples, and elements which also honors Mother Earth and Father Sky, balances their energies as sacred partners in our hearts, and helps us give away the gifts of Spirit that are our special medicine to share with the world through our right work and service. Occasionally my husband and I share this Dance with our community. If you live near Sacramento, and would like to experience this dance, let us know so we can invite you. Or perhaps Spirit will guide you to another teacher of this beautiful tradition.

* Drum, chant, play flute to each direction

* Give offerings such as cornmeal, tobacco or sage smoke to each direction

* Speak aloud from your heart to each direction and give thanks

* Sweat lodge

* Vision quest

If you do either sweat lodge or vision quest, please do so with the guidance of a Native elder to be sure you do it properly and safely.

* Journal or journey (shamanic meditation) to discover what power animals comprise your personal Medicine Wheel of your own energy field. I love to lead these meditations when I am called to do so. Honoring your own inner Medicine Wheel supports a strong aura and keeps you connected to your spirit guides, if this resonates for you.

Associations with Each Direction

Depending on which culture or even which tribe you consult, there are somewhat different associations with the directions, colors, elements and meanings, the medicine or power that direction helps us receive and embody. The one I am most familiar with follows but this is not dogma, merely a summary of what I have found to be the more universal associations. Follow your own heart and work with any spiritual practice in the way that resonates for your own heart and inner truth.

While I have a small amount of native blood, I was adopted and was not raised in that tradition. I discovered shamanism after my initiation and spiritual awakening 15 years ago. I do not claim to be a tribal elder or teacher of any one tradition. I am an interfaith minister, meditation teacher, hypnotherapist, energy healer and intuitive life coach. I have been on the path of Spirit, studying, practicing and sharing healing and wisdom teachings from many cultures for several decades, so I offer here a simplified summary as a starting point for your discovery journey. You would do well to study more in depth with a local teacher steeped in the particular tradition that calls to your spirit, and of course feel free to research further on the Web, in books, classes, and listen to your own inner guidance. I always say the best way to pray, do ceremony or ritual is the way that feels best to you, with harm to none, of course. But we do need to honor the specific traditions so they are not all diluted through multiculturalism.

From the East we have the yellow people (Asia) and the gift of Air, Brother Wind, clarity of vision, inspiration, the new day, new beginnings, establishment of purpose and intention, and springtime.

From South, we receive the wisdom of the black people (Africa), Fire. The tools, strength, perseverance and energy to follow through and manifest, midday/ noon, summer, also humor and passion, innocence and trust.

The West gives us the culture of the Red people (such as Native Americans), the setting sun, Water, emotions, the fall season, self-evaluation toward completion, looks-within time, peace, rest and healing.

And the North represents the White (European) people and all their cultural gift. The sacred mountain, winter, midnight, time to slow down, go within and be still to receive guidance for what comes next. Completion, what you keep from the past cycle and all that you have accomplished and learned. It is also associated with the Spirit and wisdom.

Note: You can also honor the other 3 directions: Earth (below), Sky (above) and Center (within).

I hope you enjoyed these five creative ways to give thanks and I wish you abundant blessings on your journey!

Finally, in the spirit of Sufi mystic poet Rumi, I invite you to kiss the ground. Blow kisses to the sky. Bow to everything. Everything is sacred.

With Love,

Sage

More resources for your path, including free special reports on abundance, love, transformational classes, soul and energy healing sessions, intuitive readings, matchmaking and more are at:

www.LoveandSpirit.org

Taylor@LoveandSpirit.org

“Let the beauty we love be what we do.

There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”

- Rumi

Snowshoe tracks in Algonquin Park near Algonquin Log Cabin Lodge

As promised in last week’s post, we’ve got some great ideas for New Year’s Eve this week: a family New Year’s Eve in Niagara Falls, elegant dining north of Toronto and in our nation’s capital and an Algonquin Park wilderness adventure complete with a log cabin lodge stay.

The Americana Conference Resort & Spa in Niagara Falls has “Family Spectacular” – non-stop New Year’s Eve fun for the whole family. It’s a big hit every year with an all-you-can-eat buffet and lots of entertainment like The Smudge Fundaes and the Zero Gravity Circus. More info here.

Water bucket and wave pool at the Americana in Niagara Falls

The Americana also has one- and two-night packages with the new Rink at the Brink. You can now skate a stone’s throw from Niagara Falls. The one-night package includes tickets to the Rink at the Brink, passes to Americana’s Waves Indoor Waterpark as well as your accommodation. Two night packages are the same except they’ve added a $50 meal voucher for the in-house restaurant and Waves snack bar.

Check out Tourism Niagara for more news on Rink at the Brink and other things to do in the Niagara region.

Holiday decorations at the Millcroft Inn and Spa

In the Caledon Hills, 45 minutes northwest of Toronto, the Millcroft Inn and Spa will ring in the new year with its “New Year’s Eve Gala Getaway”. You get two nights at the inn, a welcome reception on December 30th and then a three-course dinner from their a la carte menu. On December 31st there’s a Country Continental Breakfast Buffet, an Al fresco Lunch (on the Pinnacle or wedding garden, weather permitting).  The New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner has live entertainment with the Brenda Lewis Jazz Band, festive party favours and a champagne toast at midnight. January 1st starts with a light breakfast buffet. But if you sleep in, you can catch the New Year’s Day Brunch a little later.

Gratuities on food and beverages are included. This package starts at $299 CAD per person, per night (plus taxes, based on double occupancy and a two night stay, subject to availability). Valid December 30-31, 2009.

To get in touch with the Millcroft, call them at 1-800-383-3976 or check them out on the web. Also see the post we did on them last August and some comments about their food from last week.

Brookstreet’s four-diamond Perspectives Restaurant

The elegant Brookstreet Hotel might be the way to go in Ottawa. They have a seven course New Year’s Eve dinner planned. The food at Brookstreet is exceptional (CAA four-diamond rating for both hotel and restaurant) and the place has a real contemporary feel. You can get late night seating times for dinner priced at $149.95 per person and, if you decide t0 make a night of it, they’ll throw in a room for $99/double occupancy. Taxes and gratuities are extra. Personally, I have my eye on the 850 square foot Master Suite with Jacuzzi and balcony, but I haven’t called for a price on that yet. There are a lot of package options at this time of year, so check out the website for details and pricing.

The Algonquin Log Cabin

In my opinion, this next New Year’s Eve getaway is a quintessential Canadian winter experience. The place is Algonquin Log Cabin near Algonquin Park. Nothing beats a jump in the snow fresh out of its wood-fired sauna! But hey, that’s just my opinion. If you want black dresses and high-heels on New Year’s Eve, you may prefer the Brookstreet or the Millcroft.

“Snowshoeing, Torch Lit Skating and Backcountry Skiing” runs over New Year’s from December 31, 2009 to January 2, 2010 at Algonquin Log Cabin. This spectacular split log lodge with its huge fieldstone fireplace is set in the Canadian wilderness. In winter, this is a land of frozen lakes, waist-deep snow, the howl of the wolf and lots of crisp clear air.

Accommodation is double occupancy with shared indoor washrooms, as well as a sauna and shower cabin. Group size is limited to 12 guests and two guides who prepare all the meals. After an invigorating day on the trail, it’s the perfect place to hang out. This New Year’s Eve getaway is priced at $475 per person. Add-on activities include ice fishing and dogsledding. Return transportation from Toronto is available for $175 per person. See the website for further details.

Pete shows Tricia his first home movie.

Follow Pete’s tweets: @pbickerson

Olvidando las caras y volviendo a ver sólo las formas…

Just a little Thanksgiving Day Humor to share with you today. We’re in The Bay Area enjoying our family for The Thanksgiving Holiday. We hope you have a wonderful time with your families today as well. We’ll be back tomorrow (Friday) from 1-5, come on in for our awesome Black Friday Sale! CLICK HERE for more info.

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I had such a great time doing this engagement shoot in JHB! An amazing couple, great weather, cool locations and my boyfriend (who had the best ideas for  the photos) – all of this was the recipe for an awesome day! God bless you Allan and Taryn! 

Why 70 % of black women are single!

Do you really need those 2 degrees, a masters plus a doctorate in corporate law?

Think that an academic degree makes you more attractive! I’ve come across women so educated that by the time they finally look up from their textbooks, and professional accomplishments; -either all the men in their age range are already in committed relationships,  married -or have now started  looking  for younger women.

Some sad news that you probably do not want to hear is: As a woman you are valued and viewed through your youth and beauty. A man is usually judged more through their accomplishments and success (especially financially!!).

Now I am not by any means trying to imply that education is unimportant or unnecessary, -nor that we should all as women just get married and become stay at home mothers (I have nothing against staying at home to take care of children)-but every woman should be able to question, at what cost are you going to sacrifice the majority of life’s great joys and adventures in exchange for your accomplishments! It is all about finding the right balance between being a powerhouse and career driven goal oriented woman, as well as becoming a woman capable of maintaining and cultivating a relationship, and therefore not missing out on happiness in exchange for textbooks and doctoral  dissertations.

You are too picky!

I am by no means implying you choose any scrub or uneducated scrub of a man that comes your way.

Are you being realistic! Does he really need to be extremely handsome and extremely rich and dress a certain way? Does he need to be extremely wealthy, only a certain race, a specific height or dress a certain way and drive an approved car? Are these your most important attributes when looking for a man? Perhaps you have closed all doors to having a wonderful relationship with a man, all because race is an issue you are not willing to get past. I have a friend who refuses that there might be a possibility she could date outside her race and even end up with a man outside her race! Needless to say, she is still single, lonely and getting extremely desperate on a day to day basis.

You’re superficial and a gold digger in disguise:

Know that personality is more important than looks!
Are looks so much more important to you than a great moral character and good heart?
If  money is so important to you that you’re waiting a lifetime for a man who’s going to forever change your situation so you never  have to work a day in your life, be prepared to wait a very long time; -even if you do land a tycoon with money, prenuptial agreements are in existence and popular with a wealthy wise men that do not wish to see themselves demoted from billionaire to a millionaire, when you finally decide enough years have passed to execute your original “I won the lottery by marrying a rich man” plan.

Let love find you, because when you are looking for the one in every grocery isle, every bookstore, every party, in restaurants,… under tables,  online e.t.c it’s is just another exercise in futility. You’ll be surprised when you’re least aware!

Till next time, love, joy and peace , it all starts from within.

There’s someone out there for you…Good luck single and extra picky woman, !

Yours truly,

Eastern Sunrise

I am convinced one of the greatest problems that couples face in marriage, whether you have been together two years, 20 years or 40 years, is the fact that we have to deal with issues over and over and over… People get so frustrated when they keep circling around and coming back to the same arguments continuously and they never get resolved. Husbands and wives become convinced that there is something wrong with their marriage (or at least the other person!) and it can lead to great discouragement.  Read More of Mark Gungor’s article.

It’s one thing that they do all the annoying couple things that we hate to see – finish each others sentences, eat off of each others plates without asking, have couple inside jokes, and show more unnecessary and disgusting pda than the Hot Tub Lovers from Saturday Night Live.

However, they have been together so long that it’s arguable that they’ve gotten a little too comfortable in their relationship.  The mystery is gone and the curtain has lifted:

- They’ve started to watch the same tv shows.  Here’s their TiVo show list: Glee, MANswers, American Idol, Secret Girlfriend, So You Think You Can Dance, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Project Runway.  Surprisingly, the last one is his choice because he thinks Tim Gunn has a “snappy sense of style” and is a “great mentor figure for the designers.”

- They’ve started to dress alike.  Guess which one is wearing Lane Bryant stretch pants and who’s wearing sweat pants, they’ll never tell.  And who can forget Kangol – thank goodness for their matching his and hers tracks suits that come with complementary newsie hats.

- Hygiene has been thrown out the door.  Let’s just leave it at that.

- They’ve adopted the same mannerism.  She watches tv with one hand down her pants and he tries on multiple outfits before heading out to get “just the right look.”

- They’ve imparted useless knowledge upon each other.  He finally knows where the Oyster Fork is located on a formal place setting and she can identify his favorite football team’s “Strong Right Motion 84 Pass-Pitch” play by how the players line up from the huddle.

- Last and not least, they’ve begun to use the bathroom with the door open.  There’s no secrets between them after this.  When visiting them, make sure to never show up unannounced or let your curiosity get the best of you and go into the bathroom with your eyes open.  There are no winners in that game.

This Location had the greatest photo-ops. Every time we turned around there was a new place to take photographs. This couple was up for anything too. They even got a local fisherman to lend them his fishing gear for a few pics. We also had a sturgeon fish come and visit us. This couple was playful and loved to make each other laugh. They loved their tickling wars. It was a pleasure capturing your day!

We have told you a little about Susan and David.  Here is a little about their wedding day.

When looking for locations, it took Susan one visit to The Lodge at Torrey Pines to select it as their venue.  The giant Torrey Pines that surround The Lodge carried through in the design concept.  Susan and David are both very respectful of the environment and wanted to have their decor reflect a natural beauty.  Given the time of year, we embraced the cooler weather and worked to create a warm atmosphere both inside The Lodge and out.

You may not be able to see Susan’s ring in the image below but it is a rare Alexandrite stone.  It was actually recently studied at the Gemological institute for its size and caliber.

Susan’s gown was designed by Lela Rose and purchased at M Bride in La Jolla.  The ladies were all invited to select a black cocktail length dress of their choice.

Susan’s father drove the chariot to escort his daughter down the aisle.

From the beginning, Susan and David wanted their guests to mix and mingle throughout the evening.  There were no assigned seats and we had six different food stations within the rooms.

Rather than take home favors, Susan and David each selected a charity to which they are donating in the name of each of their guests.  Being as Susan is a journalist, we utilized a vintage typewriter as the “frame”.

The ballroom was set with three different size round tables.  Each of them had an straw colored organic Russian linen from Wildflower Linens.  Flowers by Annette Gomez created the winter blend of flowers and blanketed them with a signature array of candles.

Hand stamped wood signs indicated the bride and groom’s chairs as well as the reserved tables.

The ceremony programs and invitations were created by Greenfield Paper Company.  Their papers can be planted and are printed with soy ink.   We took all of the RSVP cards and put them in the planter that they will be planted in.  This planter was custom made for Susan and David.  Rather than a guest book, all of their guests signed it.   It will be fired at the potter’s to set all of the signatures.

Eve Selis led “Happy, Sappy, Crappy Love Songs” as entertainment later in the evening.  She guided guests to sing along to the  love songs that we can’t get out of our heads.  As a finale, all of the guests serenaded Susan and David.

Throughout the entire planning process, David was SO excited about the cake.  Sweet Cheeks Baking Company created a Torrey Pine inspired cake wrapped in marzapan.  YUM!  A friend of the family made the fun cake topper.

Congratulations Susan and David!  You are a beautiful couple through and through.

Joe Park Wedding Cinematography produced their wedding video.  Click here to see it.

Bauman Photographers edited and sent these images to us as well as the other vendors within three days.  That is record time and we greatly appreciate it!

From TheWashingtonPost.com:

One year ago, I stood with city leaders on a hill in Northeast as we broke ground for affordable housing in the District. When the St. Martin’s Apartments are completed, nearly 200 low-income families and individuals will get a fresh start on life in a wonderful example of the type of effective public-private partnerships the residents of our nation’s capital need.

St. Martin’s is being developed by Catholic Charities, on land owned by the Catholic Church and with funding sources that include the District of Columbia.

Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese of Washington are committed to continuing to serve the people of the District as we have for many decades. That includes partnerships such as St. Martin’s. Unfortunately, the D.C. Council is considering legislation that could end these kinds of partnerships.

It doesn’t need to be that way. While we do not agree with the council on redefining marriage, we recognize that it is firmly committed to opening marriage to homosexual couples. We are asking that new language be developed that more fairly balances different interests — those of the city to redefine marriage and those of faith groups so that they can continue to provide services without compromising their deeply held religious teachings and beliefs. The archdiocese has not been alone in requesting broader language. Other groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and nationally recognized legal scholars all called for stronger protections for religious freedom in their testimony on the original bill.

For the archdiocese and Catholic Charities, two core tenets of our faith are at the heart of our concerns: our understanding of the nature of marriage and our commitment to expressing Christ’s love through service to others. Under the legislative language before the D.C. Council, the archdiocese would be forced to choose between these two principles. The archdiocese has long made clear that all people have equal dignity, regardless of sexual orientation. But marriage is reserved for husband and wife because of its essential connection with the creation of children.

The proposed legislation offers little protection for religious beliefs, including no protections for individuals, as is required under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Under the bill, religious organizations would be exempt from participating in ceremonies or from teaching about same-sex marriage in religion classes and retreats in accordance with their faith beliefs, but they would be required to recognize and promote same-sex marriage everywhere else, including in employment policies, and adoption and foster-care policies, against their beliefs.

The proposed legislation offers little protection for religious beliefs, including no protections for individuals, as is required under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Under the bill, religious organizations would be exempt from participating in ceremonies or from teaching about same-sex marriage in religion classes and retreats in accordance with their faith beliefs, but they would be required to recognize and promote same-sex marriage everywhere else, including in employment policies, and adoption and foster-care policies, against their beliefs.

So what does this mean?

The archdiocese and Catholic Charities are committed to continuing to provide services in the District. Despite the headlines, there has been no threat or ultimatum to end services, just a simple recognition that the new requirements by the city for religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages in their policies could restrict our ability to provide the same level of services as we do now. This is so because the District requires Catholic Charities to certify its compliance with city laws when applying for contracts and grants. This includes contracts for homeless services, mental health services, foster care and more. Since Catholic Charities cannot comply with city mandates to recognize and promote same-sex marriages, the city would withhold contracts and licenses.

Each year, 68,000 people in the District rely on Catholic Charities for shelter, nutrition, medical and legal care, job training, immigration assistance and more. This assistance is offered to whoever needs it, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality or sexual orientation. Many of the programs are offered in partnership with the city, which turns to Catholic Charities and other ministries when it cannot provide social services on its own. Catholic Charities has a proven track record of high-quality service, supported through caring, qualified staff, thousands of dedicated volunteers and millions of dollars in financial support from parishioners all over the region. This legislation won’t end Catholic Charities’ services, but it would reduce unnecessarily the resources available for outreach.

We recognize that the council is likely to legalize same-sex marriage. It is the hope of the archdiocese and Catholic Charities that council members will work with us to find a way to better balance interests so religious organizations that have served this city well for many decades may continue to provide services without compromising the tenets of their faith.

The writer is archbishop of Washington.

Yeah for anniversaries! The Browns are some of our dear friends, and they recently asked us to do a photo shoot in celebration of three years. We seriously had so much fun in downtown McKinney. What a great place to find textures! I’m not sure which image is my favorite, but the frame series comes pretty close! I love pictures that share a story. Let me know what you think of this urban/fall shoot with this adorable couple…