Pass me the mom jeans, please.

Now that I'm back in the midst of fall again, I have found my new wardrobe staple. High-waisted jeans. These are not new by any means, but the high waist and above the ankle style is something I didn't think I would ever be able to pull off. I have a short torso and not too long of legs, but I am still obsessed with these jeans. They make my legs look longer and slimmer and I will not complain. A couple of years ago I bought a mustard colored sweater. My friends (and mom, included) made faces. Then I put it on and got so many compliments. I love mustard. That's right. I do. My mom is still not a fan, but I have converted some of my friends. It's staying in my closet, guys.

Top--Banana Republic Outlet// Jeans--Madewell// Glasses--Warby Parker// Shoes-- Fake birkenstocks from Maude Boutique// Watch-- Michael Kors// Bracelet-- Brickyard Buffalo// Purse-- Kate Spade//

Can't forget my birkenstocks and michael kors watch. Favorites.

xoxo

On Turning 24 & Back in Houston

I turned 24 nearly two months ago now, back when I was in Auckland in the midst of our short film shoot. Every year I dread the upcoming birthday. I'm the baby of the family and all of my friends, so maybe I have some sort of young complex. But this year, amongst break-ups and new friends and new places and perspective changes, I found myself looking forward to 24.

I'm in the midst of job searching and finding myself in Houston again. I'm updating my resume and my CV and finding it hard to be professional while talking about myself. I want to tell them that I am the girl who was terrified to drive on the left side of the road, but did it anyway, and was rewarded with the most incredible coastal views of New Zealand. I am the girl who broke up with a boy after 7 years and turned out just fine. I am the girl who bungy jumped, and rode horses, and hiked through New Zealand's south island with my best friend. I am the girl whose no longer afraid of traveling alone. I am the girl who was terrified of coming home and having to face reality, but whose been here a week and is surrounded by incredibly supportive people and is having a relatively easy time adjusting to a new life. I am the girl whose no longer afraid of being cheesy.

Because this is cheesy, and I'm doing it anyways.

I'm not sure how to incorporate this into my relevant experience, but I'm sure going to try. ;)

So here's to my 24th year. So far my goals are to find a job that inspires me, to learn guitar, to make new friends (but keep the old- you know how the girl scout saying goes), to join a new church, to get my own place, to travel again, and to stay healthy and feeling whole.

I think it's going to be a good year.

xoxo

To see my 23rd year post- click here. 

Location Scouting in Devonport

If you are not aware... I am taking a film course in New Zealand and will be here through September! EEP.

So, anyways, now that we're all on the same page. This course has really flown by. It's only been a week or so since it started and we've already done so much. I really enjoy this type of intensive learning. We are already in pre-production of our first short film. A part of that is finding the right location to film in- we're lucky and have a guy in our group who knows Auckland's area really well, and he drove us around to find the perfect spot. SO, of course, I took photos.

Isn't Devonport pretty? I love the views you can get of Auckland CBD (where I live!). :)

That is a volcano in the background of those middle photos- Raingitoto! I love it. Some of the parks here are ancient volcano craters. I don't know why that excites me as much as it does... go figure. :)

xoxo

Alex + Ari

My good friend, Alex, got engaged a while back to the lovely Ari & they flattered me by asking if I would take their engagement photos! Alex is an amazing photographer himself, so it was funny seeing him in front of the camera! They finally got hitched, so I figured I can finally show these to the world! :)

So cute!

xoxo

Some favorites from last weekend.

I had two more photoshoots in the past week/weekend! Life has been crazy lately. But now I am happy and comfy at the lake with friends and the boyfriend. We've been watching Firefly & the mummy series & last night we saw frozen so I would say it's been a good time. Tomorrow more friends are coming up to join so we can celebrate new years eve with fireworks & a camp fire. :)

Hope y'all's holidays have been swell!

Here are some favorites from one of the shoots last week.

A continuation of the weekend.

A little recap of the weekend in photographic form. I did a little christmas-y shoot for my sister's little family on Saturday. My 2 year old niece is growing up so fast! She is beautiful.

On Sunday I mentioned in my last post that I got to see my two best friends get engaged! I'd been talking to Andrew (the future GROOM) all morning to help figure out the plan. Last minute (right before the sun was going to set!) he decided on a bike ride. We waited behind a pretty bridge near downtown for them to arrive, and then quickly high-tailed it when we realized that whitney (hello future bride) could most definitely see us where we were standing. Luckily she didn't. But it was close. Real close. Then I snuck up on them, and with a little help from a fellow photographer keeping an eye out, I took the photos!

So that was my lovely and memorable weekend. Here comes another one! Last Friday before Christmas! And of course I had to go to the mall today. Besides the driving it wasn't so bad. I was in and out with a little bit of time to spare but I hate HOUSTON DRIVERS. I just can't. Okay. Have a wonderfully holiday-full weekend!!! xoxo

Happy Weekend.

This weekend was full of love and friends and family.

We started out at Cyclone Anaya's on Friday night. Our group of friends has been separated for a couple of weeks and we finally got to reunite over jumbo margaritas and amazing mexican food. I said I wasn't going to drink that night but... I lied. Jumbo margaritas will do that to you. Oh well. Win some, lose some. Also, there are a lot of interesting pictures of me wearing red glasses. Get out of that what you will...

Skipping Saturday (back to that in a minute), on Sunday the boyfriend and I headed over to Torchy's for lunch, where he tried out the new taco of the month. If you have not been to torchys (and you live in houston or austin)... GO. Fav place ever. I could die for their queso. Maybe. Probably. After lunch he headed out to study and I headed over to my friend's house where we sat on the front porch and enjoyed the wonderful cool air.

So back to SATURDAY. My lovely older brother got ENGAGED! The whole fam came into town and we threw a surprise engagement party for his new fiance! My little nieces were everywhere. I also got to take photos of the actual proposal, while hiding behind a giant bush. So here's a little peek of my Saturday:

Hopefully, I will get to show some more later, but I've got to show the newly engaged couple first! ;)

Happy Monday!
xoxo