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Kisses+Disses : Yoga + The Herbivore
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A s we made our way there, he turned to me and said, You better not show off and act like a pretzel. Yes, that's JD. He imagines I'll act like an inanimate object just to show how cool I am in yoga class. We've been together for 13 years and I've never--not once--convinced him to attend a class with me. Ever. In fact, he makes fun of my gym-going endeavors. But for some reason, I invited him to find his inner chi with me...because, really, I'm usually the one stealing his chi on a daily basis.
I'll go with you if we can go to In-n-Out after.
I smiled. Here's where the story diverges. He said the smile indicated yes, I said the smile indicated you're crazy and I wouldn't dream of eating a burger and fries after a midday workout.
After successfully completing an hour workout, JD asked if I was ready for In-n-Out. Then I pointed out a very healthy vegetarian option located nearby and I just knew he'd looooove it. I added all those o's for emphasis. After some convincing (thanks to my days in law school), JD agreed to eat a grilled {soy} chicken sandwich.
I'm no longer gonna refer to myself as a vegetarian. After successfully convincing a carnivore to practice yoga and eat healthy in a single day, I'm referring to myself as an HERBIVORE. Because I'm all hard core and stuff.
Which leads me to another installment of Kisses and Disses... |
This week's DISSES go to...
*The smell of BenGay...my bedroom smells like a high school locker room right now.
*The Santa Ana winds. There's so much dust in the air my car looks like a professional off-roader.
*Folding a fitted sheet...is it possible for it to end up as anything other than a rolled up ball?! |
This week's KISSES go to...
*Yoga. For enabling me to show off...LIKE A PRETZEL.
*Fondue. I wish it were the base of the food pyramid...I could eat melted cheese for days.
*Bravo's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. And, yes, this proves my horrible taste in television, but I adore Andy and secretly wish we were friends in real life so he'd send me a bedazzled Mazel t-shirt. |
    
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Melanie : Five Years From Now
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I sat with Melanie in the corner of a dark restaurant. So much has changed in the course of our 15-year friendship, yet nothing has. She's still animated and slightly dramatic, and I still make fun of her and ask inappropriate questions. We met freshman year of high school and have been together through every high and low, break up to make up, and bad makeup. She's moving to New York for a bit next week and I don't know what I'll do without her.
We spoke about her therapist (all my friends have therapists...it's very Californian and I may just get one too so I can fit in and feel all cool) and the best way to approach the oncoming changes in her life.
So, my therapist asked where I see myself in five years...I really hated that question...how do I even know?!
What did you say?
I told her I've never been a person who thinks like that...it's just not me. Not now, anyway.
So it ended like that?
No, she rephrased the question and asked how I'd like to "feel" in five years.
To which you replied?
Secure. In five years I want to feel secure
That's a great word. Do you want the last bit of salad or can I finish it?
Then she said that if I wanted to feel secure, I needed to outline ways I could make it become a reality five years...and then start making them happen.
Whoa. I felt like I was having a therapy session (for free!) right then because it was just that simple. Sure, I might not know where, exactly, I want to be in five years (five years ago I couldn't even imagine my life would look like it does now), but I can attribute the emotional connections I want to experience. Once I do, I can ensure the same happens for me.
Mel, I said in between sips of my drink, I want to feel secure too. And challenged. And excited. And then we toasted to us. In five years. |
A few weeks ago, Melanie asked if I could photograph a new headshot for her before hitting the streets of New York City. I'm only shooting weddings these days, but she reminded me of that one time she saved me in English Honors of sophomore year of high school...and I had to give in.
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| I don't wanna get all dinosaur, but RAWR. |
| Melanie, I hope you know how thankful I am to be your friend. |
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February 1st : Shoes + Early Birds + Exposed
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| I think of random ideas all the time. I'm a professional random idea thinker. If I got paid for all the random thoughts I thought, I'd be a millionaire. Or at least a thousandaire. Yesterday I bought a new pair of running shoes and then I decided to send all my other slightly used running shoes to Africa. Before check-out I already created the non-profit shoe organization IN MY MIND. I'm currently reading The Poisonwood Bible (oh my goodness, this book? Unreal...I can't put it down!) and the story details how most shoes were comprised of old tires or rags wrapped around feet for those living in poverty in the Congo. I know my shoes can do a lot of great things for those who don't have any, so instead of creating my own organization, I'm reaching out to ask if you know of a great place I can send my shoes. |
Who knows...maybe this random idea will lead to something great! I also thought about wearing a prom dress to the grocery store, buying power tools because I love Home Depot, knitting a scarf I started two years ago, wondered what type of guy I'd date if I was really into comic books, soaking in a barrel of BenGay, and making a killer bean dip for the Super Bowl, but I suspect these random ideas will go nowhere.
Onto two not-so-random things:
1. TODAY is the last day for $99 Early Bird ticket prices for The Fix.
I'm hosting a 12-city speaking event and I sincerely hope our paths cross soon. Tomorrow the ticket prices go to $119.00, so hurry and snag a seat!
2. TODAY is the relaunch of EXPOSED Magazine.
Eeeek! Yes, the reorder has arrived and the store is back in action! For those who've supported, encouraged, and chest-bumped along the way, thank you. EXPOSED Magazine is a labor of love and if it helps people along the way, I couldn't be more thankful. |
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WPPI...preboarding...and THE CLAW!
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I nternet, it's the time. Can you smell it? Feel it? When 15,000 photographers descend on Las Vegas for a week of learning, networking, and debauchery, you know it's nothing else than the WPPI Conference. This year marks my fifth year in attendance and my third as a speaker and it always amazing to walk away from Sin City with a pocketful of new friends...I love connecting with photographers, so if our paths cross, please say hi!
I'm incredibly honored to announce I'll be hosting a platform presentation entitled The Anatomy of Lips + Clicks on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 3:30pm sponsored by the amazing folks at PASS. Lips + Clicks will dissect HOW people talk about you as a better way to enable them to market your services and grow your business. It'd probably be best to preboard for this WPPI class because seating will be limited and registering secures your seat! |
Last year I had the privilege of speaking in MGM's Arena (but I won't be speaking there this year) and while it was an awesome opportunity, I felt something was missing from the experience. And that 'thing' was awesome music. A few months later, I was at a party when I heard The Flashdance mix and all of a sudden I was THAT guest. You know, the girl who needs to be peeled from the dancefloor after making holes from all the moves she busted? Yeah, that was me.
A few weeks ago, I took a random chance and emailed The Flashdance to inquire if he'd like to see my dance moves again (I'm telling you, they're epic). He'll be in Las Vegas to DJ a premiere major rager for photographers--otherwise known as Airplanes and Blazers--on Monday night, so it seemed like the universe was really putting us together. And then I promised not to act all creepy and stuff. Many thanks to Blogstomp for sponsoring his appearance (for those who don't know, Blogstomp is what I use to place borders on my online images) and if there's an impromptu dance party on Monday afternoon, we'll know who to blame.
I'd love to see you there...and who knows...maybe THE CLAW will make a repeat appearance! |
| On Tuesday morning, I'll be speaking at Showit United (if you haven't already registered, this event is closed), then heading back home. It's a super short trip for me this year, but I promise to make it up on the road while visiting a city near you at The Fix! |
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Out + About : Vivian Maier Exhibition
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I heard about Vivian Maier and--at the risk of being totally dramatic--I fell in love. You can find out more of her story here, but the Cliff Notes version is this: a guy stumbles into a pile of photograph negatives and discovers a treasure of work by an unknown artist...thousands of hours, scans, and prints later, Vivian Maier was being heralded as a remarkable--yet hidden--street photographer.
I was so moved by this story and I wanted to be a part of it, wanted to give a voice to Vivian. I donated money to her Kickstarter project and I've been following her story via the web.
On Christmas morning, JD handed me a gift wrapped in gold bow. I unwrapped The Vivian Maier book. And then I cried.
Every so often I open the book and stare at black and white images that move me, that make me feel something, so you could just imagine my excitement when JD and I made our way to the Merry Karnowsky Gallery for the Vivan Maier - A Life Discovered exhibit. As we made our way through Los Angeles, I looked out the window and felt lucky. Lucky to do what I love and, much like Vivian herself, see the world from behind the shadow of a camera. |
| En route to the gallery, JD stopped me from photographing him...he prefers to be behind the lens. I definitely prefer to be behind the lens as well, but when we stumbled on this mid century modern sofa, I begged JD for it. I even resorted to the pleasepleasepleaseI'lldoanything mantra that worked well with my parents as a kid, but not so well with him... |
| I felt weird taking pictures of pictures, but I didn't want to forget a single thing. Not.one.thing. To see more of Vivian Maier's work, you can check out her website, but I'd definitely suggest checking out the book...it's breathtaking. Really. |
| Even though I didn't get the sofa, we did enjoy shopping on Melrose Avenue and I even made a picture to remember the memory of it all. |
2012
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