The JOURNAL

“Top Gun falls in love with Wonder Woman” might be how I would describe Tim & Laurie. They’re both extremely accomplished in their fields, and all around wonderful people. She’s adventurous and brave and takes on challenge with the grace and poise every woman wishes they had (read: Kate wishes she had.) He’s a strong and […]

It was spring break and my aunt invited Christopher and I to accompany her on a trip to her favorite place on earth, Yosemite. I had seen photos and heard tales of the wonders of the valley, of the glacier-cut giants spilling magical falls into the pristine valley. Seeing first hand, however, was what ignited […]

The Schneider family began with just the two of them, then Ezra Monkey joined the party, and now with Kolja bear they are four. Though life looks a little different with their two little munchkins than it did when it was just the two of them, there’s still a “sameness” to it. Music still holds the baseline to their […]

They met in teacher training. There was a group of them that went line dancing afterwards and she came and danced and laughed. By then end of the night, he was smitten by her in all the ways a girl dreams about. She was beauty and joy, intelligence and wit, and he couldn’t believe that […]

If you’ve ever had the chance to visit Yosemite National Park, you’ll probably agree that it’s one of the most majestic places on earth. Towering trees and cascading landscapes framed by spectacular monoliths– It’s one of my favorite places to visit, and probably one of the more magical places to have a wedding. For Joel […]

The quintessence of a California wedding draws inspiration from iconic palm tree backdrops, golden sunshine, and laid back beaches. However, any true Californian knows that in between those seemingly flawless days, there are also quite a few cloudy days. So what happens when cloudy weather (gasp!) appears in the forecast for the sunny California wedding […]

“You know, I didn’t realize creating something and sharing with others could make you feel so vulnerable,” he said. The anecdote was acknowledged by my half-paying-attention nod of agreement. He had been sharing about his experience being entrusted with a project that would be shared with a few hundred colleagues. Conversation changed to other topics and the evening […]

Ahh the perfect cup of coffee first thing in the morning. The sound of beans being measured and the water heating to a boil, the smell of the coffee’s first bloom, and the steam rising as the cup is being poured. Heaven. On. Earth. It’s the perfect start to my day. When I’m traveling, it’s […]

30 took a while to digest. It got caught in my throat on the way down and I tasted it every time I hit a bump in the road. And even though it took a while to settle, it feels good to recognize where I’ve been and who I’ve become along the journey. Yes, “the […]

There’s something wonderfully intoxicating about getting engaged in the winter. The world looks different covered in snow. Earlier sunsets each day offer a sense of urgency, and every plan must be carefully thought out due to the cold. It’s as if the world conspires in winter to bring people together. The cuddles and huddles, the coats and sweaters, the […]