Are you Kidding me???

I'm not trying to insinuate anything by sharing this, and sorry for my lack of post on this 'personal blog' of mine. Some how Ica Image's had turned into sometime more personal than I intended ... but such is life.

And as much as I want to blog this on my other blog, I'm sure there's a huge possibility posting it there can make me loose business ... because I'd fall head over heels for this photographer.

This is what I came across ... this real proposal something out of a magazine or staged photoshoot.

But it's real.

Real insanely beautiful. Sheeeesh!! Anyone getting married soon? Because if you are and can top this, please call me 'cause I just gotta be there to take pictures.. pretty please??

Here in your presence, I am not afraid of brokenness

Love Me

Make your own Hearts

... and send something sweet!

Make yours here.

NY Tomorrow

Sigh ... counting down the hours.

It's been almost a year since my last trip, I can't help but reminisce

I miss Brooklyn.

And I miss my brother.

And he's auditioning for Juilliard.

And no matter what the outcome is, I love him so much and I'm so unbelievably proud of him.

I can't wait for tomorrow.

Lady Gaga

Before the gaga.

You Know You Are

, originally uploaded by blood bank.

My Winter Song

As I sit here typing I can see the snow gently falling outside my window. Everything is blanked in white, but still it's beauty pales in compassion to seeing my sister dressed in white, a bride to be. Stunning. Perfect. And happier than she's ever been.

Check back in a day or so and I'll have whole story of how my big sister found 'the dress', that's if I can manage to write it all out without stopping to cry ever 2 or three sentences.

Seeing white everywhere makes me soo sooo soo happy. I love winter and i looove my family too.

Yesterday was VA's Happy First Snow Day!


Happy Wintering to you.

Giving Thanks

It's no secret Thanksgiving is pretty much my favorite holiday ever! Don't get me wrong, I loooove Christmas, who doesn't. I just love that Thanksgiving is simply about being grateful and giving thanks for all God's goodness and His blessings.

I feel like everyone complains way tooo much about what they don't have or what they want or what they hate, we so easily forget our manners and we forget to show any sign of gratitude. And it seems like we're never content. But if we take one step back, and take a look at all the love and blessings we have in our lives, it all makes up for what we lack.

 I've got a million things to be thankful for, and a million people to give thanks for, here are just a few.

I'm so thankful for mi madre, 'Beauty is her name'. And the more I grow and the more I learn, the more I appreciate who she's been to me; a best friend, a confidant and a teacher. I hope I make her proud daily, and as cheesy as it sounds, I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for her.

I'm thankful for my big sister who I'm sooooo grateful to see her happy and in love and blessed, because she deserves all of it. She's so self sacrificing, and hardworking, and so caring ... attributes I know she learned from my mama, and I'm sooooo proud of her.

This guy, I could not be more thankful for this guy ... who takes pictures like these:

Because he's just that awesome.

But seriously I'm soooo completely blessed and grateful to have Tim in my life.  Besides being my boyfriend, Tim's been the greatest, no the BEST friend I could ever ask for. He's been my biggest fan, and my encouragement, he's my heart.

And he takes me on some awesomely amazzzing date!

"You'da best" babe!!!

I'm sooo thankful for mi familia. Allllll of them. Not everyone understands the dynamic of my family, or how crazy silly we are or how different we all are, but when we're together it's perfect and we complete each other. As my familia is continuing to grow and I looove it!

I'm also thankful for love. If it weren't for love, I won't have the job that I have. The love of a husband and wife, the love of a family, platonic love, the love or parents, it's the reason why I'm even needed to take pictures. And I love love, there's nothing grater than love.

I'm also thankful for pictures. Yeah go figure right? But really, not just because they give me a career, but because moments like these are sooo fleeting they should be charished for ever.

I can go on an on, but the last on my list for now is salvation. I am forever grateful for God's amazing grace, because when I look at my life and how many times I've messed up and how sinful I am, I'm awestruck that He could love me so.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and "give thanks in all circumstances".

Jimmy Choo, I love you!

I'm a few days late in posting this ... but yup ... best combination ever!!!

Jimmy Choo for H&M

Let it in

Though I do love my rainy days, and my chilly autumn air ... nothing can replace sunshine.

Good Music rocks my world

Last night I went out with my big sister and her fiance {still a new word to all of us} and we watched one incredible show.

It was at Jammin Java, possibly the best venue around and the best show I've ever been to. It was soo good I think I had goosebumps the entire time. Ernie Halter and Melissa Polinar are simply genius and their use of lyrics and notes is soo amazing it could make you cry. It made want to never take my ability to hear forgranted, nor take my guitar or voice for granted though I'm not that great with either, music is music and it's wonderful.

Both their sets were amazing they honestly couldn't have picked better songs. Like this song, Lighthouse. It's one of my favorite Ernie Halter songs, and it's the last track his Starting Over album so sometimes I intentionally listen through the whole album just to get to this song. It was the perfect closer for their show and though I did take pictures, the music is way more important.

Enjoy the music.

Big Mistake

My cousin is hilarious and amazing. Diongzons rocks!!!

Tis the season for frilly frocks

I know I shouldn't even be window shopping right now, but I can't help but take a gander at some frilly frocks for this awesome season coming up. There will be parties galor in the coming weeks, birthday parties, anniversary parties, engagement parties, even a wedding right before the holidays, and I can't help but get excited. Here are a few frocks that totally stole my heart.

They have this 'look' about them that just grabs me and i love it.

If anything, sister is taking some awesome rock star sewing classes so maybe in a few weeks I'll be living with my very own seamstress, and she could hook me up! Wahooo! Kidding!!! Yeah right, sister's getting her wedding planning on ... maybe that's the reason why I have dresses on my mind. Happy fall and frill frocks to you!

Let us fall more in love with You

Week after week it's been a rollercoaster ride. I've practically been living out of my suitcase, packing and unpacking and repacking again, always on the move ... always on the go. I've been in serious need of some 'down time' and I finally got some. Instead of resting in bed and at home, I got to rest in the Lord and in His words, and fall more in love with Him as I went off to Fall Retreat with my Tim and Cru. I've never felt more rested and though there's tons more to share, I still have California adventures to blog about. PTL for awesome adventures and for rest.

These are my confessions ...

I freaking love this show.

West Coast Bound!!!

It's finally here! I'm soo excited, so really and so finished packing. It's been 2 years to long since I've seen the sunny shores of California and seen my dear dear friends. I know it will be an amazing week.

YAY!

Work it girl!!

I love Gina yes I do!!!

OK so she might kill me for posting this ... since this is only her dance team's practice ... but I gotta admit, I love my cousin Gina and ... boy can that girl work it!! It's no secret that I live vicariously through her when it comes to anything and everything dance. She's gotten sooo good and goodness now she's teaching her own team, what?? If you can't tell already shes the hottie front and center breaking it down and doing the counts. Sheesh ... makes me miss dancing that much more! Gin you make me so proud!!

Besides the crunch on the ground .. how does your Autumn sound?

 Here's how mine sounds.

Sing out to God, Sing hallelujah ...

... with all we are. We will worship You

Holy is Your Name. Holy is Your Name

Oh God

I've been overwhelmed by the goodness and graciousness of God lately, that all I can do is sing out. Saying the words Thank You will not ever suffice, worship is the best way I know how to show my gratitude and forever I will sing out.

He's never fails to hear my heart's cry, my needs, my dreams and my desires ... even if they take time in being answered, still He listens. He listens, then goes an extra mile turning all that I hoped and dreamed of into a beautiful reality, always blessing me beyond my own imagination.

Some time early this year, in a short but powerful conversation me and one of my sisters {Ate Rachelle} proclaimed God's goodness and said "God's gonna do big things year. For you, for me, and for all of us."

And because God never lets me down, and heard our hearts cry that night ... He showed up, and has since been doing big things for all of us. There are not enough letters on this keyboard for me to use to explain just how good God has been, and it would be nearly impossible to share every "big" thing God has done for me, and for the people I love this year without writing an entry the length of an entire Harry Potter book, and still the year is not over.

If you want to see for yourself just how good God's been to me check here or here ... because all of it was not accomplished on my own, only with God am I able to any of these things. And to be frank, I honestly don't think I deserve such favor, but that's why they call it amazing grace right?

The wonder of Your love
Will break the chains that bind us
The power of Your touch
Releases us to worship

Sing out to God Sing hallelujah
With all we are. We will worship You
Holy is Your Name. Holy is Your Name
Oh God