Been a busy couple of weeks! My life is currently 50% editing, 50% meetings, 10% facebook, 8% being obsessed with almond-flavored things (namely cookies, and jello), and 0.25% not having the time to deal with percentages ;) In the midst of it all I always make sure to fit in some blog-reading time and came across this amazing little site the other day, featured on Joanna Goddard’s blog (which is one of my daily must-reads). I immediately fell in love with the concept and spent wayyyy too long scrolling through and reading all the colorful little hearts.

And then I got this uncontrollable urge (as you may be experiencing at this very moment) to think of some things I really love. As awesome as everything that’s been keeping me busy as been, it was nice taking a breather and just remembering some little simple things that make my heart happy… Here’s my little contribution:

I love you more than milk tea lattes.
I love you more than scavenger hunts.
I love you more than the perfect ketchup-to-fries ratio.
I love you more than crossing things off my to-do list.
I love you more than Starbucks giftcards.
I love you more than pillow talk.
I love you more than the first warm day after the COLDEST SO CAL WINTER EVER.
I love you more than Cheez-Its (regular and white cheddar both).
I love you more than Pandora.com.
I love you more than waking up and realizing you still have 2 more glorious hours left to sleep.

and lastly,

I love you more than browsing blogs (and that’s a whole lotta love)!

And what about you?

The first month of this year represents a lot of things. A bright fresh start. A chance to reflect. The entrance into the 26th year of my life (really? how did this happen? I swear it was just yesterday when I was hanging out at the mall thinking it was the cool place to be, or stressing over college apps, or hoarding grilled cheese sandwiches at the dorm dining hall).

And now, it represents one year from when I decided to take my first steps into the wide world of wedding photography. Where I was staring out at a far off dream, such a teeny tiny speck on the horizon, with nothing but a camera and without the faintest idea of how to move forward. And although I still have miles to go, I feel miles and miles from where I was, and so so incredibly blessed by what the past 12 months have brought. I stand here a year later and feel full – full of opportunities, full of people who helped me along away, full of knowledge, full of hope (and a little bit full of Sprinkles birthday cupcakes, YUM).

I could not be more thankful for this past year. And I could not be more excited for 2009 and all the clients, photographers, blog-friends (that’s you!), and other amazing people I have yet to meet. Let’s make it the most spectacular year ever!

My warmest love and thanks,

Adrienne

P.S. Please click below to view my Year-In-Review slideshow of some of my favorite moments from 2008, full of all the wonderful people I’ve been so fortunate to meet this past year! I included a handful of never-before-seen shots and a few from December sessions that have yet to be blogged. Enjoy and thank you again for a fabulous year!

I braved the vicious 405 on Friday to attend the KISSmas Party hosted by KISS Wedding Books (they provide my beautiful leather flush mount albums) and am so I glad I did! Lots of familiar faces and made some new friends as well. Highlights of the night were winning a disc of Camera Dojo’s Photoshop actions, watching Doug participate in a high-stakes game of poker (cluelessly of course – I’m an Uno sort of girl), and squishing into the photobooth to create the masterpiece you’ll find below.

I got home from the party around 1 am, plopped into bed, and woke up 4 hours later for a 5-hour drive to Stockton for the annual mochi pounding gathering Scott’s family puts on (note: I was not the one driving, I was the one who was passed out in the backseat for almost the entire duration, possibly drooling on my sweater). I went last year as well and although I think I’ve gotten the manly pounding part down, I still fail in the “forming the mochi into nice balls” arena. I have Scott and his sister and middle school girls (and boys) showing me how to do it, and my mochi still comes out looking like someone ran it through a paper shredder. Maybe I’ll practice with Play-Doh for next year’s gathering, and while I’m at it I might as well work on the pounding side too, so I can bust it out like these guys.

On to the shots from the weekend, starting with the KISSmas Party…

Clockwise from top: with Serena / with the fabulous girls of All Made Up / the Lamborghini – raffled off to drive for a day / poker faces

Too much fun in the photobooth (you can never get enough dudes with boas): Lawrence of the Furious Photographers & Tofurious, Kevin Le Vu, Serena Grace, Mark Nguon

The next morning – shots taken between wielding heavy mallets after 4 hours of sleep:

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Thank you so much to everyone who participated in Cans for Comments last week! Will be totaling up the comments and going out on a can shopping spree in the next few days!
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