And then there was the Domincan.

Okay, I'm back in my corner of the library this morning, but I figured I would take a break and say HI.

HI.

Jonathan is in Indiana for the day, getting his arms coloured in by the famous Cody Eich (tattoo artist.) (He really is amazing. Cambria-you need his stamp somewhere...I think your left arm will do.)

And, as aforementioned, I'm in the fluorescently-lit library. Such is life. (Starbucks I miss you.)

A quick report on the Domincan before I go back to organizing:

Let me preface this by saying that all our family vacations when I was little consisted of packed food, road trips, groceries bought along the way, etc. etc. (Read: budget, budget, budget.)

I am forever astounded that we traveled as much as we did considering our tight finances. My mother was creative, determined and resourceful-for that I will ever be grateful. I haven't made it to all 50 states yet, but I am well over halfway there.

My point-I have and always will be excessively happy with simple outings such as these. Picnics and road trips will forever give me a thrill.

When we went down to Mexico for a destination wedding last year, I liked but did not love it. I know, I know. Shocking. It was nice but I told myself and others that I was glad I had that life experience and I was just as happy to come back home.

All

this

to 

say

I FREAKING LOVED OUR TIME in the Domincan this year. Hello all-inclusive resort; I will never be the same.

You know me-I happily made myself a feeding routine that included buffet breakfasts, fruity morning snacks, cookies and coffee in the afternoon, 4 course dinners and a few cocktails thrown in hither and yon. (When we got to the airport and I saw I'd have to pay for my much-loved snacks, I found myself in a teensy bit of culture shock.)

Every evening was like a date with fancy dinners and starry nights. We slept long hours, we talked, we took long walks on the beach. Cliche or not-it was lovely.

You already know we didn't have internet and even having a break from texts, calls and emails was a welcomed reprieve. We read 2 books and 2 half books-don't ask.

Melissa and Trevor's wedding was perfect and they welcomed us like longtime friends into all of their family gatherings during the week.

And now we are back (at least this half of us)-tanned and ready for our fierce summer schedule. Come on world, bring it.

And We're Back!

Hulllllllo!

I have to confess I was SO proud of myself as I left town with only 3 messages in my inbox.

When we landed in Toronto late last night, we took bets to see who'd have the most messages in our respective inboxes.

Jonathan "won" with 157, but I came in a close second with 141. (I have to say that the 8 straight days with no internet and technology was nothing short of GLORIOUS.) But I'm paying my dues now-this particular corner of the library has my name on it for The Whole Afternoon. And maybe every afternoon this week.

Even after deleting the junk mail, I still have a few dozen emails to get through (not all of them from my mom, either.)

We'll post some photos of our trip once we make headway.

Until then-sending you love.

Before:

After:

RED: The Essay {part I}

Why Red?

Because it is bold, funky, daring. Because it is bright, fun, full of hope. And anyways-why not?

I plan on taking more RED photos too...but hey! I may just start on hue #2 any day now.

Why not?!

Of Wood Nymphs and Pixie Dust....

So I have this plan to continue working on my pixie project until my death and then I shall (presumably) be Very Famous for this collection posthumously. (I wouldn't mind if the fame came a little closer to my 40th either though.)

I had so much fun with my pixie yesterday-Andrea is gorgeous and I am sneak peaking too, too many photos from our shoot... (but I want to show you so many more!)

I just have so many favorites!

Fave.

Fave.

Fave.

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Yesterday I Shot Some Pirates...it seemed like the Thing to Do.

They were fierce,

they were free,

terribly kind.

During the middle of the week I put out a call for volunteer models for part of my RED project for Saturday and a few nice people actually responded.

So we shot them right there in the studio (though I'm definitely having post-shoot regrets that we didn't brave the cold and the rain to shoot outside.) "Come on pirates, suck it up," is what I should have told these gentle souls giving me their precious weekend time. "Piracy is no place for the weak!"

One of my favorite moments was when I handed Zach (intern) a photo of Johnny Depp from "Pirates" and a case of make-up and pointed to our guy volunteer. "Make him look just like Johnny. Just like him."

Zach didn't even blink, just nodded solemnly. "Ok."

I'm going to miss that kid when he leaves us in a few weeks.

I'm titling our photo sess "A Pirate Family Portrait."

{This is an instagram sneak-peak of what is to come.}

I'm hoping to post the first half of RED this week....fingers crossed.

Until then-xoxo.