things I've enjoyed recently

1// Evening stroller walks with the babes. My husband and I were fortunate to have two separate strollers given to us for free from friends who no longer needed them, so we've been using those for our walks around the neighborhood. And just in time too, because my boy is already two inches(!) away from outgrowing his infant car seat.

2// Children are velociraptors.

3// Lisa Hanawalt's new book, Hot Dog Taste Test, is kooky and hilarious and strangely comforting.

4// I went to First Thursday at the Lafayette last night, and designed a mini planter to take home. Because you can never have enough succulent planters.

5// My friend Jennie and her husband have started an amazing podcast called Breaking Español, which you should follow and listen if you've ever wanted to not just learn a second language, but immerse yourself in it and try to live it every day. Even after living in Spain for three years, my Spanish is only so-so, so I really admire Jennie for doing this and sharing her journey.

6// I put a little mixtape together for Tiger + Ox's Monday Tuna a few weeks ago. I finally got to meet up with Leah (who runs the blog with her husband Cruz) in person here in San Diego, and it was so great, and I feel like I genuinely made a new friend. Not to mention we both have cats named Cleo and tattoos done by the same tattoo artist :)

7// This quote to remind me to put down my phone sometimes.

life lately...

1// Getting some brunch time with girlfriends at yummy places like Great Maple.

2// Taking advantage of some gorgeous weather and checking out the Botanical Gardens at Balboa Park with the babes. East coast, I miss you, but you just can't beat 70 degree weather in February.

3// Celebrating my friend Raina's first art show with her rad botanical watercolor paintings and handmade ceramic planters at Te Mana Cafe.

4// I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

5// Checking out the Downtown at Sundown event at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego with a good friend.

6// Getting out of the house at least once a week sans babies has been my sanity. It's funny how "normal" I feel just by putting on real pants and walking around Target for an hour. It's the little things :)

photo booth faces!

Just some silly face-making from last night's Queen Bee Market in Carlsbad....it was nice to catch up with these ladies! I've been having a rough couple of weeks, so this was exactly what I needed.

Haute As Ever at Del Mar

For the first time in what seems like eons (but in actuality was only a couple weeks), the outside temperature has dropped below 90 degrees, and I am starting to feel like a normal, non-rageful human being. Living in a house without air conditioning of any kind has evidently brought out the Not-Fun-Lisa side of me, where going to my local Target to buy an electric floor fan and finding out they're completely sold out induced a mini panic attack (luckily, Wal-Mart next door had plenty). Even my poor husband, who is currently thousands of miles away from me, had to endure my bouts of grumpiness and listen to me complain about my layers of sweat via Skype dates. Sorry, husband. I'm much better now.

So besides cooler temps, fun things are happening this week! I have two shoots this weekend, and the first one is sort of a shoot mixed in with a event at the Del Mar Race Track.

I was invited to this event by Kylie that I met at last month's Creative Connection, and I was all "heck yes!" I had planned to bring my camera of course to photograph all the swanky, dressed-up people that were sure to be there, so when she later emailed me to ask if I could shoot some fashion portraits at the event for Urban Style, I of course said yes again. It was like she was in my head. So I'm super psyched. Also, if any San Diego friends are reading this and you have some time to kill this Saturday, come to this event and say hi! All you have to do is RSVP and it's free! I've never been to a horse race before either, so I'll probably be asking silly questions like, "How do I know which horse to bet on?" and "What's up with all the fancy hats? Am I at a Spanish wedding?"

My second shoot this weekend is literally the day after the Del Mar thing, and all I can say for now about it is that it's a fashion shoot with a model I've worked with before, and I'm going to be up suuuper early. And hopefully the weather cooperates. And there's animals involved. I just hope we're not in over our heads :)

Creative Connection Meetup!

So last night I finally went to my first Creative Connection meetup at the Pearl Hotel, and I'm wondering why the hell did I wait so long to attend one of these? It was so much fun!

I wasn't really sure what to expect, and usually an event like this would make me super anxious and shy, but any anxiety I had pretty much dissolved as soon as I started talking with some of the women there. It was so inspiring to meet a bunch of creatives all in one place. I met a soap-maker, a food stylist, photographers, bloggers, painters....everyone was friendly and excited to talk about their creative pursuits. Which in turn made ME excited and freshly inspired to just keep on making good art and doing what I do.

I can't wait for the next one :)