Now, I can call you Chef.

“Here’s to you free souls, you firefly chasers
Tree climbers, porch swingers, air guitar players
Here’s to you fearless dancers, shaking walls in your bedrooms

There’s a lot of wonder left inside of me and you
Thank God even crazy dreams come true“
-Carrie Underwood,”Crazy Dreams”

This blog post is a little behind schedule, but I’m sure some of you will recognize the star in this post as soon as you get to the pictures (and maybe even as you begin to read).

A little over two years ago, over wine at one of our local haunts, you mentioned that you were interested in going back to school to become a pastry chef. I never doubted your ability, drive, determination, or talent for a second. I knew you could do it if that was what you wanted. A week passed and we met up again. Same time, same place. Only this time, you’d already made the call and you were starting school the very next quarter… which happened to be just a couple of weeks away.

Those two years passed so fast… and yet so slow. There were times where it felt like you’d been in the same classes for years instead of weeks and there were so many times where I’d double take that it wasn’t just last week you had to fabricate a chicken in five minutes. I watched as you honed your skills and grew in your craft. I saw the long hours of studying and costing recipe cards. Even when it was difficult, I still saw that passion in your eyes and that smile when something turned out just as you imagined it.

And now, you’ve graduated. I’m so proud of you. I’m proud of you every day for reaching toward and fighting for that dream to do what you love to do. I love playing sous chef… but you’ve taught me so much more than how to dye fondant and how the eggs need to be at room temperature. You’ve shown me how to dream. Congratulations again best friend. To the moon.

“This one’s for you and me, living out our dreams
We’re all right where we should be
With my arms out wide I open my eyes
And now all I wanna see
Is a sky full of lighters
A sky full of lighters”
-Bad Meets Evil, “Lighters” 

Katie Bug, Katie Did… Graduate That Is.

Oh so very belated, I present a few of my sister’s graduation pictures.

Kaitlin graduated from San Diego State University in August and immediately resumed her schooling to become a credentialed teacher. I am so proud of my baby sister, but oh how I miss her since she’s moved! She’s amazing… and stunningly beautiful too. Unfortunately, the color is coming up a bit flat in the internet-upload-process. The sun was magnificent that afternoon.

Oh how I love the cool light in the Zoro Garden at Balboa Park!

Congratulations again Kate! I love you! :)

Master of Science in Nursing

I’m completely behind in posting… look forward to a handful of posts this week as I wrap up edits from my sister’s college graduation last weekend and complete the full posts with images from my anytime shoot with Lindsay and engagement shoot with Abby & James.

Tonight though, let’s focus on my beautiful, talented, and super smart friend Holly who just completed her Master of Science in Degree at the University of San Diego. I met Holly at the very beginning of her USD career six years ago. She came in a lovely, spirited freshman and I feel so blessed to witness and capture her achievements now. Her future patients are very lucky.

When I asked Holly where she wanted to go for her graduation pictures, she instantly said “USD… I mean after spending the last six years there…” and I couldn’t have agreed more. It was the perfect place to mark the occasion (and it’s beautiful to boot!). I had a tough time narrowing down the selections for this post as she had multiple outfits (have you ever seen someone so cute in scrubs?!) and we had a fabulous time frolicking all over campus, so I decided to choose a few from each location/outfit. I just can’t help myself when cute clothes and shoes are involved!