i love my crazy family

The holidays were awesome!!

My brother Casey came up from San Diego (he is a Marine staioned down there on his way to Japan in January), and my sister Ali came down from Vancouver (she is the crazy hairstylist).  

Our goal was to put together some images for my dad for his 
birthday coming up January 4th.

We couldn't have better luck when it came to the weather-I was so happy!  You can't tell but we were FREEZING!!!!  

They were such good sports, even my poor brother: 1-he only has sisters who want to watch America's Next Top Model and talk about hair and makeup and 2-we make him take pictures.  Well, we can't MAKE him do anything (a trait that runs in our stubborn family) but it's not like he was jumping up and down waving his hands saying "me next, me next!!"

disclaimer: you are going to have to scroll a lot and these imges have not been retouched-we are just that gorgeous ;)

family time

I love the holidays because I get to chill with the fam. They are so cool and crazy and I love them!!!! Here are a couple from yesterday...

Ali's friend gave her this shirt for her b-day (Christmas eve baby, but that is another story). I think you may already be able to tell without even knowing her that it fits her well.

And I'm not even talking about the size people!

And here is the cutest pic of my brother Casey!!

The light was so beautiful yesterday when we were leaving Vancouver, that whole sun shining it's warm light throught the clouds. I had to pull over and take a couple. I wonder if my fam ever gets sick of it/me? Oh yeah, don't care!!! :)

Yes, those are her real lashes! I know, they are unbelievable!

I just want to give Casey a big hug here!

And here is baby sister Sylvie with her fabulous new hair color.

Ali (crazy sister) is a hairstylist and gave Sylvie the new look.

We are going to tell dad that "it was just a deep conditioning treatment that brought out the natural color" ;)

Our family always had rules about that stuff. I didn't dye my hair for the first time until I was 17 and it was a risk I took to "go against the family". My mom was super granola and hair dye has peroxide and stuff. We also ate things like oatmeal for breakfast and really nutty brown bread. Yum.

Ok, so now that I'm an adult I can appreciate all those things my mom made me eat. At least I know how to even if I choose not too. Eat, that is.

Choice and eating when I was a kid didn't go together.

It was good, I promise!

The only things I didn't have to eat were liver (omg that stuff would stink when it was cooking but my dad just LOVED it) and raw tomatoes.

It made me open to trying new things (at least once) and I like being open minded, thanks mom!

Willow

dug these up...

I went with my friend Shawna to her family reunion this past summer and I didn't post these then.  I was going through them today and fell in love all over again :) so here ya go!





Check the dirt on the nose :)






Willow

new spot

I was driving along, thinking.
Crap! Missed my exit!
Good thing!  I found a new spot!

So on Sunday my photog friend Anna set up a shoot and I got to pick the spot, yay!

This girly was a trooper!  I usually get so hot photographing but this day was so cold that I was just right with my down jacket on.  And as you can tell, she was not wearing down!









Willow :)

today

Today I went to yoga.
For the 3rd time in a row :)
Only 27 more times until it becomes a habit again.
Baby steps :)







Today I went to Commencement Bay Coffee Company.
25th and Jefferson, in Tacoma. Great light, great coffee, and the scone was yum!
I met Claire (above) and her mom there to visit and pick up these:







Aren't they beautiful?
She is a local gal and she makes these by hand!
You can check out her work here.

Now I feel like a star! :) I love new earrings!

Willow

i love

There were a lot of images from this session that I was pleased with.  
Then there is this one.



There is something about this image that I just love.
As I'm sitting here thinking what exactly is it? I realize it's a couple of things.

First, I think of her personality.
She is strong willed and independent, you can see it on her face.  I like that.
Second, I like it how she is down in the corner with all that extra space on top.

Then I think of how it feels a little retro to me and realize that it reminds me of my own childhood.  Something about the colors in the leaves, the silkiness and tones in her hair.

And yes, the strong willed independence, definitely feels familiar.

Then I had fun with some new filters and now I am head over heals. :)

Willow