Happy New Year!

My hairstylist's son helped me out with these New Year photos.

Happy New Year everyone!

Let's all hope for a brighter year in 2014!

Memories, Dreams, & Reflections 2013 [A Year in Photos]

This has always been one of my favorite things to participate in. I love looking back at the past year (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and reflecting on memories made and how different things are with a new year started and another one behind us. Memories, Dreams, and Reflections gives us a chance to share the stories of 2013 through photos taken throughout the year. I hope you'll look back with me and perhaps share your stories as well.

Me!

Taken in December. Pretty much how I look all the time.

I Love You

Dad. 

Still Laughing

Every single memory from our October Zion trip is awesome and hilarious. So many good times. So many granny panties. I can't wait to see what happens on our cabin trip next year!

Birthday

My birthday was a bittersweet one but I'm glad I spent it in a beautiful place with a man I loved.

I miss San Juan Island. 

No regrets.

Friends

 It's hard to pick just one photo since I have a variety of friends but these three pretty much sum it up.

I Was Inspired…

At the beginning of 2013, I set out on the crazy dream of building my own photography business. I still can't financial support myself slowly on my business. I still have a long way to go. But I've come so far in a year. I have a client base, I've had some amazing opportunities. I'm so excited to see what else is to come and just how far I'll go. I've never been so inspired. I took this pic of my best friend in my very first boudoir shoot and I look back on that photo shoot as when I knew I was inspired enough to take a risk and see just where I could take this thing.

Spring Fever

A spring self portrait taken during the Spring Nurture Photo Challenge.

Travel/Vacation

I traveled quite a bit this year but I feel I could have used some more vacations. I went to Portland, OR for the first time and fell completely in love with the city. I drove from LA to Oregon taking the PCH only, something everyone should do at least once. I went kayaking around San Juan Island, I explored the forests of Oregon. I partied with my friends in a cabin in Zion. I made several trips to Tulsa to see my family. There are never too many travel adventures. Never.

Summer Days

Self explanatory.

A Day In My Life

If I'm not photographing (or being lazy in my sweatpants at home) I was riding. Unfortunately not so much the past few months due to everything that's been happening but I'll be starting back up again in the new year, that's for sure.

All Smiles

This counts right?

Autumn Harvest

Color changing leaves on the tree outside my window during Autumn. 

Family/Home

It's still weird that Papa has officially retired from UNLV now. That was a huge thing that happened in our family (one of the good big things) in 2013. 

Celebrate!

You can't celebrate the 4th of July without sparklers!

Let's Do It Again..

This is an easy one, Zion Trip hands down. have to do it again.

Fireball included.

I Miss You..

Dad, I still can't believe you're gone.

Beautiful

I love this photo I took at the Fall Invitational Horse Show that I was photographing. In black and white it creates such a visual stunning image.

Dress Up

I was Axl Rose for Halloween this year. 

Most comfortable and awesome costume I've ever come up with.

Macro

I love love love this hummingbird photo I took over the summer. It's the photo that motivated me to start submitting to National Geographic!

My Favorite

One of my favorite photos I took in 2013

Just Because

Hopes & Dreams

This is one of my favorite photos from a shoot I did with my best friend.
I hope for a better year, one free of sadness and grief and death.
I dream of 2014 being full of success… Hopefully a college graduation and huge photography accomplishments are included.
I mostly hope and dream of finding true love in 2014.
Fingers are crossed.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.

I hope you're all spending this holiday with the people you love and appreciating the time you have with them.

I'll make this short and sweet.

I got the gift of fake hair/extensions for Christmas which was all I wanted…

And I love them so much.

I gifted myself with redoing my room so it's a more creative space to work in.

Which I also love.

And I'm rocking these sweet Christmas pj's today. I also got free Starbucks thanks to the guy in the car in front of me. It must be the hair.

Since my family is obviously not really in the Christmas spirit, I'm being adopted by one friend's Thai family for dinner and then spending the rest of the evening with people I love.

It will do.

And not to be a downer, but I found out that my Dad requested before he died that I was to choose a new lens of my choice for my camera for Christmas. He really wanted me to continue with my photography and knew it was important to me. I cried when my Mom told me, I really didn't feel right receiving gifts this year with everything that happened but that really meant the world to me.

Merry Christmas Dad. I know you're with us in spirit.

And beside A Christmas Story, this is what I'm currently watching...

Dad Memories.

I just got back into town yesterday from my dad's funeral. I know the worst is over but with Christmas right around the corner, this is so much harder then I anticipated. 

I left Tulsa with a bunch of pics of my dad and it's just a bittersweet reminder of why I love photography so much. In the end, all you have are the memories.

The last two are so meaningful to me because I've been trying to get my hands on a copy of the photo of me with my cousins for ages and now I finally have it. 

I've lost my cousin and my dad within a span of two years. 

I pray for a good Christmas, a decent one at least.

And a break from pain and loss. 

Goodbye Dad.

My Dad passed away in his sleep last night. Cancer finally did it's job.

I know that people say it's suppose to be easier when you know it's coming but it's not. It really isn't.

The pain is the same. The grief is still there. The numbness has completely just taken over. My heart is broken not just for myself but mostly for my Mom and my brother. My Mom just lost her soulmate, my brother just lost his best friend. 

There are really no words to describe how completely, for lack of a better word, fucked up this is.

My Dad should have had years left of life to enjoy. He should have been able to see my brother and I marry and start families and meet his future grandkids. It's so unfair. 

Thank you Dad for everything you did for me. You stepped up to be my Dad when you didn't have to and I always respected the hell out of you for doing that, even during the pre-teen to teenage years when we just didn't get along at all. I wish a lot of things could be redone or different. I don't know how we are going to manage without you.

Please look over Mom and Steven. Please tell Colin I miss him and love him. 

At least you guys are with each other now.

Weekly Wishes {Colorful}

Geez, haven't done this in awhile. No better way to do this then to just jump right in.

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Weekly Wishes

- Hitting the gym at least 4 times a week. I did pretty well last week and went three times but I want to step it up and get back in the swim go things, specially when I'm super slammed this week. I need to make time for this and be motivated!

- I have photoshoots coming out the wahzoo this week (everyone and their mom needs holiday photos) which is great for me and stressful at the same time. Please let me get through all these photos and have them sent out in time for my clients!

- I was going to say finish Christmas shopping and then I realized that I am actually pretty much done with that so let's just give a big thanks to the universe for helping me out in one area of my life.

- I've come to the conclusion I won't be in my own place for awhile and I need to update the small space I do have since I spend 90% of my time working and hanging out in my room. I've rearranged my furniture and I'm waiting on some new curtains and twinkle lights and have a few tweaks to add… I'm really excited about this. Having a great inspirational space will do wonders for my creativity. 

-I wish that my dad continues to hold on and that my family can have a decent Christmas, all things considering.

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My Colorful photo was taken at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino while I was waiting for clients to arrive. This little area with flamingos, pelicans, koi ponds, and waterfalls can be a nice place to hang out for a quick lunch or visit if you're ever in the area.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday [Dec 8 '13]

Where I Stood

Pretty Christmas reindeer can be seen in the brush if you stand in the right spot.

Silver

Silver bells on Jasper's Christmas collar with new silver painted nails! 

This pretty silver glitter polish is Revlon Colorstay in Sequin. 

Tiny

Tiny pinecones on our Christmas tree.

Shadow

Shadowed tree's in a fiery Vegas winter sunset.

It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Christmas… (Snapshots)

You know what I really love about Christmas besides putting up the tree while listening to my beloved Bing Crosby Christmas record? Ice skating on the frozen pool at The Cosmo and drinking delicious hot cocktails with my friends. For the record I ALMOST fell six times but caught myself like a champ (or was saved by friends) every time. Plus being pushed around on that seal thing was extremely terrifying. See, you can still have a winter wonderland in Las Vegas if you know where to go.

Oh and the word on the street is that it's suppose to snow here tomorrow! 

SNOW IN VEGAS! FINGERS CROSSED!!!