California.

This past summer my family and I flew out to California.  Robby's sister and her family live in Burbank.

A direct quote from my husband?  "Burbank is kinda like the armpit of California."

Burbank is in a valley.  Which means there is like no wind.  Or at least it feels that way.  It was in the upper nineties every day we were there.  We would go to the beach and it was feel insta 15 degrees cooler and a sweet action breeze.

I love it there.  I think it's so beautiful.  I want to go back... now.  Spring is not approaching fast enough for me!

The pier at Santa Monica...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous view.  I love that you can see the ocean + the mountains.

California- you have some of my heart.  I thought it was about time that you knew.

House quirks

Robby and I bought a house last November.  We moved in last December.  So we're still fairly new to the house and just figuring out all the little quirks.  Example: Flushing the toilet leads to scalding hot water in the shower.  Just for about 20 seconds.  But 20 very LONG seconds.

Now, let me say this... We love this house.  I love decorating it because it feels more like our house everyday.  But still, this is not a new house.  It has quirks.

Guys.  I found a quirk.

The other night, Robby, being the dear and loving husband that he is, decided to start a load of laundry while I was in the shower.  So, I was enjoying the first few minutes of my shower and then... it's getting warmer.  Ok, more warm now.  No, this is getting hot.  NO, this is BURNING.

"ROBBY!" I yelled out.  "WHAT are you POSSIBLY doing right now???"

I'm not one to discourage laundry doing(especially when I'm not the one doing it) but this was like the shower was on perma-flush.  Luckily, Robby heard me yelling and turned it off.

We're still learning things about this house.  We're still learning things about photography.  And life.  And parenting.  But I hope we don't stop anytime soon.  When you stop learning, you stop growing.

Not that it has anything remotely to do with this post... he's just adorable:

Have a fabulous Monday!

Worrying makes the world go round...

Or at least my world:

"Do you see it?" I asked.  "Right there!  And over here, too."

"Julie, it'll be alright." Robby said.   "Just calm down.  Babies get rashes sometimes... It could've been something he ate or the new laundry detergent."

"Well, it's almost his bedtime... maybe he should stay up so I can see if anything changes."

"Julie, you know you're both just going to be miserable if you let him stay up.  He needs to sleep."  Robby said practically.

"Ok." I whispered walking out his bedroom door. "Will, please don't die tonight."


As you can see, I'm always the totally calm and collected one in our relationship.  Never an irrational thought in this head.  For the record... It WAS just the new detergent.  Confession time: If you could tell from the above conversation, I am a worrier.  Over everything.  It's a trait that's been aggravated with having a child.  Even things that are honestly so minute that they do not need to be worried about.  Don't worry... I know one day I'm going to solve all the world's problems with all the worrying I do.  Or drive myself/Robby crazy.  Whichever comes first.

But for now, I will stop worrying and celebrate the fact that my family is healthy and happy.  God has taken care of us and provided for us consistently. I'm guessing He won't stop anytime soon, but until then I just won't worry about it... :)

Will and I took a walk the other day, and found a cute little fence along the way.  How could I not stop for a photo op?

Reality TV and Lip Gloss

Fun Fact Friday:) lame? Maybs.

1. I love reality tv shows.  I am not into Jersey shore, but I loved laguna beach, the hills, and the city.  Currently, I'm hooked on Kourtney and Kim take New York and I used to be Fat.  It's not a trait I'm particularly proud of:)

2. I love reading.  I'm trying to read more but ever since I've had Will it's hard to find the time.

3.  I love Apple products.  As my friend Whitney has said "If Apple made a car, I'd totally buy it."

4.  I love love love decorating my house.  Seriously.  I could spend all day doing it.

5.  I think my child is the cutest kid in the world.  I have lots of pictures up in my house and I'm always afraid when someone new comes in that they'll totally judge me that I have too many pictures of him!

6.  I love cinnaburst cheerios.  Anyone who hasn't tried them, do it.  I've always hated regs cheerio's, but these are so good.  And for those who care, you get 20% of your daily fiber!  :)

7.  I love lip gloss.  You know the quote that diamonds are a girls best friend?  Not true.  It's lip gloss.

8.  I love painting my nails black but try not to do it too often because I don't want to come off as teenage angst-y.

9.  I like Justin Beiber.  There.  I said it.  Don't judge.  His songs are catchy!

10.  I abbrev (abbreviate:) my words a lot.  Maybs.  Regs.  Diet Peps.

11.  I have a dog named Canon, but Robby and I shoot with Nikon cameras.  Calling for 'Nikon' doesn't exactly roll off your tongue.

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!!

Justin Beiber & Sardinia

We laugh every day in our home.  Every single day.  Even more now since our son was born, I think.  And I thank God for it.  We get goofy with each other, we dance for no reason at all(Boy band Robby comes out), we talk ghetto(yes, I realize I'm from Sardinia... population: 1,000.), and have tickle fights.

The best part is that we just get to be ourselves, to be comfortable with each other, and know that we can be as goofy as we want.  The end result is always worth it.  And it reminds me how lucky I am.

I am lucky to have a husband who loves me.  But I'm just as lucky to have Will in my life.  And be able to stay home with him.  I love watching him learn things.  

Example: Will was in the habit of calling everyone 'Mom'.  Everyone.  Robby.  Grandparents.  My brothers.  Waitresses.  (yes, I said waitresses.)  I felt like I was kidnapping him every time he didn't want to leave one of my family members because he would start throwing a fit and saying 'MMMMmooooommmmmmmmaaaaa!!!' 

He's finally, finally, FINALLY calling Robby 'Dad'. Actually, he's started calling him 'My dad', but close enough:) He's started calling my brother Jeremy, 'Meremy'.  Yes, he's still has a lot more people to learn their names... but it's a start.  And a start I'll definitely take.  Now hopefully I won't get death stares from older people thinking I'm stealing a baby.

I LOVE the personality he's getting.  He's so funny.

Example: This past week, he's started walking around the house singing Justin Beiber's song 'Baby.' P.S.  All you haters better leave this subject alone because that's my baby you're talking about.  No pun intended.

I'm lucky.  I've been blessed.  And I realize this more every single day.  


Also: Check out Will's new chucks!!

Will actually loves his hanging upside down game.  He was laughing the whole time.  Promise.  Don't call child protective services on us, ok? :)

Have a great Thursday, everyone:)

Bad jokes & dance parties

Right now, my work load seems unending.


Example: Somehow, I did six loads of laundry this weekend, and even still, Robby, Will, and my hampers are almost completely full. It seems like a bad joke.  Note to soon-to-be mom's out there:  I never realized how much laundry a tiny baby could make.  But now, with having a toddler who is constantly outside... pants get dirty.  Or muddy.  Or ripped.  During lunch, I think it's almost a requirement that Will spills something on himself.  It's a bit amazing the laundry an 18 month old can create.


Now, I get to do exactly what I want to do. Work load wise, I mean.  Write. Photograph. Be a wife. Be a mom.  How could I complain?  This is the life that I chose.  And I wouldn't trade it for anything.  However, right now, it is absolutely imperative for me to take the time to consider this season I find myself in. I am lucky.  Extremely lucky.  Currently, I have the opportunity to blossom creatively, a husband who is behind me 100% encouraging me, and a massive amount of laundry to serve… without grumbling. 

When I have a spare moment, I think of the things that I'm filling my time with.  Which begs the question, what am I doing with my life? I can come up with a swizillion (a swiss million) different things that I fill my day with... Watch Dora, have dance parties with Will, Eat PB&J's, change a tremillion (not swiss for anything, move along) diapers, cook, work out, clean up after a whirling tornado of destruction that is my son, do my photography lessons, go to church, vacuum, do laundry like it's going out of style, the list goes on and on and on...

The things I spend my time doing is a bold declaration about what is important to me. Therefore, I dared myself to slow down, even if I don't necessarily have the 'time' to, and feed my soul the things it craves. Regardless of what my agenda is calling for.  One of these cravings is friendship. No, I don’t have time to go out to lunch, and no-no-no I don’t have time to grab coffee with my friends, but in actuality… I really do. I do have time. Here we are, you and me both, we have it. But we’ve delegated it to things in such odd rations that we’ve literally become a slave to our schedules instead of free living lovers of what once was life.  

Let me explain, I'm not a shy hide-in-the-corner-eating-my-hair type girl.  I do have a lot of friends.  Just with all the responsibilities of being a wife(and a minister's wife, at that), a photographer, and a mother has most of my day, weeks, months jammed packed.  But I'll be the first to admit, that most things I put upon myself to do, are time limits that I create.  I tell clients for family/engagement/maternity/baby shoots that it'll be two weeks to get their pictures.  I try to do it in one.  I tell my weddings that it'll be four weeks.  I try to do it in two.  I'm a bit of an overachiever and it's catching up to me.  

I'm not trying to promote anyone to be irresponsible.  Or tell them not to follow through on their commitments.  Or to bail on their schedules.  Only to try to see that all the things that we tell ourselves we have to get done TODAY that are absolutely-imperative-or-the-world-will-end... are not actually the end of the world.  (Yes, that last sentence was a run on. My bad:)

In conclusion, stop putting time constraints on yourself.  Your clients aren't going to know if you spent an extra day than you were planning on their already-faster-than-promised pictures.  Grab the cup of coffee.  Read the book.  Catch the movie.  Spend a day doing all the things you wished you had time to do. (Yes, I do realize this last paragraph was mostly for my benefit.)

Three years, two moves, and one baby.

Three years ago today, I married my best friend.  He's been the glue that holds us together and the optimistic one telling me we can get through anything.  He takes care of me.  He's everything that I always wanted my husband to be.  And we have the most beautiful child together that I can't imagine my life without.

Robby- 

Thank you for being my friend.

Thank you for telling me the truth, even when it's hard...

For caring about me, even when I was broken.

For thinking I'm brilliant, even when I don't make sense...

Thank you for thinking it's funny when I'm mad at you, 

instead of raising your voice...

For explaining something simple 10 times,

because I need to make sure I understand.

For thinking I'm beautiful 

on days that I know I'm a hot mess.

Thank you for showing me God's love, and patience when I'm frustrated and impatient.

For allowing me to heal, to grow, to move forward...

And for moving forward with me.

Thank you for having fun with me...

For making me laugh harder than anyone else...

For loving my silly dance moves, and trying to keep up with me.

Thank you for shutting all the cabinet doors that I constantly leave open,

For doing dishes because I hate them,

And for being the best dad that Will could have.

Robs- You are constantly making me a better person.  A better photographer.  Thanks for never giving up on me and always thinking the best of everyone.  

Pictures courtesy of Rudy Harris Photography

Even though we are professional photographers, I'm ashamed to say we haven't had family pictures taken in over a year!  Will is the telltale sign.  He was only three months old when these were taken!  I promise... once it's warm we are totally getting them done.  

Have a fabulous week!