Arden's 1st Birthday Featured on On To Baby!

It is such a pleasure to announce that Arden's 1st Birthday Party is featured, today, on one of my very favorite blogs, On To Baby! A big thank you to Reichel Broussard, Arden's mom and blogger at Copy Cat Chic (a great place to pick up tips on how to find great deals for decorating) for not only booking me to photograph her daughter's first birthday but also for making everything so darn cute! Another special thanks to Sabrina Gabel, owner of Seesaw Cafe in San Francisco, who does an amazing job of running a unique venue as well as making it a creative place for kids to learn. The perks of my job: hanging with other talented women and adorable bambini and being featured on one of my favorite blogs ta boot! La bella vita!

Scoring Big

I was surprised to see his car in the driveway when I came home from the gym. It was only 7 o'clock and he typically doesn't arrive home until 7:30 or 8pm. That's the routine, roughly 12 hour days, six days a week. It was a nice surprise and I was happy.

After greeting the kitties I found him in the guest room or shall we call it the laundry room, because that's where the ironing board stays in its position by the window right next to the drying stand hung with laundry I did a week ago. There he was ironing his shirts. After a hug and a kiss hello, I let him know I was headed downstairs to start dinner.

Alessandro: "Do you need any help?"
Me: "No, thank you."
Alessandro: "Would you like me to keep you company?"
Me: "I always like when you keep me company while I cook."

And so he came, sat at the breakfast bar while I prepared dinner.

Now. I'm not sure if you were able to really envision this scenario, so I'll just reiterate this here —— my husband was home early from a standard routine of working long hours. He was ironing his clothes (the ones that he washed, by the way), he asked if he could help me with dinner, AND THEN he kept me company while I cooked dinner. Is anyone here thinking what I'm thinking???? I scored - I scored BIG!!!

Now, my intention here is not to gloat or over glorify. But it needs to be said, this simple aspect of our life together really makes me feel fortunate. Blessed, even. The main reason being I did not witness this type of peaceful, harmonious display of couple-hood growing up. It was quite the contrary. I love my parents very much, but they'll be the first to admit our family life was more like "Casino" and "Goodfellas" than my current life of "Leave it to Beaver." How this came to be is anyone's guess.

I think my point here is - no matter where you come from, no matter what you've seen or done, no matter how poor your self worth once was, no matter how many people thought you were doomed from the start - it's simply not true. Every day there are a million and one choices that we make. I've spent the better part of the last twelve years making choices that have made me feel uncomfortable - like watching my husband do his own laundry and iron his own clothes, even! Because in my mind, I should be waiting on him hand and foot.

I hope to always be uncomfortable, because it's a proven fact, when I get uncomfortable, I score big.

The Best

The table was set with our new bumble bee glasses. Prosciutto, salami, cheeses, olives & roasted tomatoes were laid out with crostini hot from the oven. The Don Perignon was popped and poured into our glasses. And while the big fat lasagna baked in the oven, the girls spread out on the deck with mega chalk, drew flowers and taught Sofia how to spell her name.

The ragu wasn't my best but the company was, and for that I am grateful.

Happy Easter!

When I'm making images, I feel a strong sense of purpose, a deep devotion to connecting with others and creating reflections of their stories…. Photography grounds me and yet, it sends me soaring above the clouds…. it is my saving grace.

Wishing you many blessings this Easter. XOXO

Shoes.

Having fun with, stylist, Rosy Strazzeri Fridman never gets old, especially when we play with shoes. Happy Friday!

Jessica & Jason. San Francisco City Hall Wedding. Sneak Peek.

What is it that makes two people click and just know that they are meant to spend a lifetime together? I always think of it like an eighth wonder of the world. It would come in somewhere between the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I think.

In Jessica and Jason's case, maybe it's the little things like how he calls her chicken - as in Looney Tune's Henery Hawk, Foghorn Leghorn's pint size predator, or how she quickly adapted to riding around town in his Lincoln Continental with the license plate "McLovin", or it could even be the monkey suit that Jessica wore on their second date?? Are you painting the mental picture of why these two hit it off so well??? Whatever sparks flew between these self made, warm hearted, fun loving people, it's plain to see they're crazy about each other. And to a gal like me, it's nothing short of pure joy to be in their company and to document their unmistakeable love.

For now, here's a quick sneak peek. Stay tuned, more to come next week!

Oh, and a big thanks goes out to Sue and Naima of Professional Make Up Artistry (PMA) - you ladies are FABULOUS!