Changing things up

So, I changed the format of my blog, maybe you haven't noticed :)  But that's not the only thing that has changed.  I moved to the always amazing NEW YORK CITY!!!  I admit that I follow a few NYC bloggers and they have inspired me to  change my blog to tell my story through my lens.  I will continue interviewing and photographing others I meet and feature them here (that will never change!)

 I've been a California girl since day one.  Born and raised, college and post college, the beach has never been far, its home.  But now a change is needed, I'm ready for the big city! Eeeek! I can't believe I finally made the move, I am so excited!  It's going to be extremely tough but I am ready for the challenge.  This year alone has already been a whirlwind and my life has taken a turn for the best :)    I met an awesome guy (NM), completed my academic portion of grad school, lived to the fullest in Hermosa Beach and have had great adventures with my friends near and far.

This year my relationship went long distance spanning thousands of miles,  many oceans and countries.  NM followed his dreams of joining the Peace Corps, where he is now living and working in Prilep, Macedonia (go ahead and google it, I had no idea where this was either!) I am really proud of his bravery to do this, he is a special person and any country will only benefit from his help :) Long distance is not easy but Skype has definitely been my date on many Friday nights.

Since NM is in Eastern Europe for the next two years I only found it appropriate to start my own adventure myself, hence the move to NYC!  Many of my friends have come and gone in this city but now it is my turn.  Moving to this city at 27 will be an interesting one. Meeting new people, getting my career started and bearing the cold will all be new things to me this upcoming year and I can't wait!


Cheers to 2013!! Bring. IT. ON!!!!

Fancy Friends

Yes after 3 wonderful posts, I am back! =)  I am a passionate person (when I first think of something) but as some will tell you I get bored very quickly.  However, I will not get bored of this project, it still holds very dear to me!  No matter how overwhelming life gets we should all make sure that we do one thing or many things a day that makes us happy.  In the last year, I was extremely blessed with all the things I was able to do and see.  I saw three amazing friends get married, I met my soul mates, I hiked, I traveled, met  new people, connected with old friends, made plans for the future, jumped off a bridge, and brought the happiness whenever I could......

It was fun to go through some of my favorite memories of last year today, its a great reminder to appreciate the life you have and to enjoy every minute of it!  There are so much more, I'm going to just keep adding as I update this blog more regularly!

Recently, I've been thinking about friendships and growing up.  I'm always curious of what types of friends are in people's lives: the ones that come and go, the ones that stay for a while, and the ones that stay forever.  I love my friends and each one is so special to me.  Some of the newest but just as awesome people in my life are from my grad program.  I've mentioned before that I feel so lucky to have come across a great group of people who are passionate about the same things that I am.  I felt very honored when one of them asked if I can photograph her and her fiancee for a fun shoot on some heavy duty machines.  Yes, that would be Fancy =).  Fancy has been a great friend! I love our talks, she's so insightful and I was so excited that we could finally set a date to do this shoot!  I had a great time driving around LA with her and B.  While in the car I asked her fiancee about how he felt when he first met her, and he told me he just knew that would be his wife! It was the sweetest thing and their connection and love is so strong that I could just feel it all around me.

HappyLens Photography presents the Love of BS <3

What makes you happy?

From her:  Where should I begin? Blueberries, figs, cherries, persimmons..every fruit really. The sky, both stormy and blue and when its filled with stars too. Flowers and plants. The story of meeting my love. Calling my parents. Seeing old friends. Natural hot springs and the cold plunge that fills your internal organs with life revived! The smell of the forest. Informing myself. Scuba diving. Supporting small businesses. Birds that sing at night. Remembering the funny things I did in my youth. Fresh herbs. Writing letters and putting them in the mail that same day. Having insomnia (obviously I don't suffer with it often). Travelling. Knowing that I'm not the only thing on the planet that matters. Starting my day with poetry and finishing it up with it too. Swings and Hammocks. Making to do lists and crossing things off. Old people. Cleaning, and the product thereof. Flossing my teeth. Visiting home, and coming back to my own. Knowing that the children I have will be raised in a conscientious manner. Being  a rebel. Going to the symphony. Seeing the love of my life's hands, and square face. Planning my wedding. Greasy spoons. Porches and dusk. The hope that there are still farmers.

What makes you happy?

From Him: Waking up before the sun rises knowing that I'll see another day in the finest country in the world next to a beautiful woman that I love, making it to year 2012 feeling that the humans at last are going to be set free and wishing to be part of that, that the medicine man [Ron Paul] of all times is leading us towards that freedom, thinking that the wars are going to end, human chians are going to be broken and that poetry will be read. Plant the flowers drink the wine. Looking forward to marrying a beautiful woman. The roof that I live under, the friends that I have. the countries that I love, feel blessed to be part of two most wonderful countries in the world. And writing this on the first day of Spring.

Don't you just LOVE what these two had to say about happiness? I DO! I learned so much from this couple- to be grateful, to live simply and beautifully and that love,  well it really exists <3 

Have a HAPPY day!  I'll be back, soon!