michaela

it doesn’t take much to start a friendship.

michaela sent me a facebook message a few months ago telling me that she had been following my blog and loved it.

immediately i loved her. not just because she loved the blog, but because she took the time to write me a sweet note about it.

it’s so easy to write a note like that, so why don’t we do it more often? i guess it’s hard to put yourself out there like that. it’s a bit vulnerable.

…but the payoff is always worth it.

joanna: transformation

i love to dress up. to put on a new outfit can make me feel like a whole new woman. this is one contributing factor to my ridiculous shopping habits. but really, no one can deny the power of an amazing outfit.

it’s because it’s a transformation. it makes you feel new. powerful. fabulous.

so when joanna told me about the desire she’s always had to chop all her hair off, i knew i had to document it. because i wanted to find a way to capture that look in her eyes afterwards, that feeling new. feeling beautiful.

i hope this inspires you today to transform yourself into the person you want to be. maybe all it takes is a new haircut or a new outfit. either way, don’t let yourself get stuck in a rut when you could be free.

BEFORE

AFTER

bargain gems

after an amazingly uplifting friday night, i awoke to a saturday morning with nothing to do. which is such a rarity for a photographer, but instead of letting any judgment creep in, Aaron and I set out for some estate sales. which are my favorite thing, ever.

not only do i love to find bargains, i love anything old (much to Aaron’s chagrin). i never tire of the thrill of finding some hidden gem in a thrift store, some forgotten relic in an estate sale, basically, anything someone else might say is just junk.

in fact, earlier this week i won this amazing vintage coach satchel on ebay for just $20. it might smell like an ashtray still, but i think that will eventually lift as i continue to use this classic style well into my adult years.

natali

warning: you will be jealous of this amazing girl.

why? not just because she is 15 and gorgeous. but because she also has a beautiful heart full of amazing dreams. and i know that she is going to achieve them and change the world. one day she hopes to become a doctor or work in the medical field overseas.

natali grew up in turkey with her parents and 3 brothers; together, her family has seen their share of heartbreak and happiness. many of her family members have battled cancer. she is not just 15- she is 15 going on 25. she has this amazing depth that only comes from experiencing hardships.

suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character.

this is one reason i volunteer with teens. i believe in them. and they inspire me.