…what better time to catch up on the last few months! 

[Click on the names to see photos.]

Saturday June 21, 2008 | Betsy & Gino were married at the picturesque Newcastle Resort and Golf Club. They shared a touching “first” moment which brought the groom to tears as he saw his vivacious bride for the first time.

Saturday July 5, 2008 | Gloria, the soon-to-be bride, celebrated with girlfriends at the Cosmopolitan condominium in downtown Seattle, complete with hand-decorated cupcakes, wedding bingo, a flower-making challenge, and of course who could forget the presents.

Saturday July 19, 2008 | Joanne & Jaime are an extremely well-organized duo. On top of their busy jobs they still had time to prepare detailed Wedding Day packets for each of the people in their wedding crew, plan an Italian honeymoon, (not to mention also selecting some extremely tasty wedding cake), all while remaining so collected and chill on their big day. [Fun Fact: Jaime is co-creator of a little game you may have heard of called HALO.]

Saturday August 2, 2008 | Chelsey & Jonathan surprised and blessed each other, as well as family and friends, with their wonderful talents. During the ceremony Jonathan sang and played on the piano a song he had composed for his new wife, and Chelsea surprised her husband during the reception by serenading everyone with “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, one of her grandparents favorite songs, moving everyone to tears.

Saturday August 9, 2008 | Joy & Robert’s special day was made even more memorable by the appearance of a beautiful rainbow as the reception commenced in downtown Seattle.

Friday August 15, 2008 | Lisa & Chris’s amazing attention detail made their big day a fun one too. From the eye-catching black|white|fuschia combo for which the bride founding matching clutches for each of her bridesmaids, to the Parisian themed notecards (in honor of their engagement location) for friends and family to leave words of wisdom and encouragement, to the ever-popular photo booth complete with props like Elvis Presley glasses w/ sideburns and a microphone, it was a never-ending party for the couple as well as their guests.  [Part II]

Saturday September 6, 2008 | Jamie and Zeke spent their sunny day at a gorgeous home in Lake Tapps.  Right on the water their guests got to enjoy the warm weather outdoors and a picture-perfect view of Mount Rainier.  A pleasant day for such a pleasant couple.  (And the brides selection of lime green heels for her ladies was a great choice for this summer day.)

—–

Mele Kalikimaka!

Yesterday marked the one-month “returniversary” from my 3-weeks-isn’t-long-enough travels through parts of Europe. And at the risk of sound trite, it was one of the greatest trips of my life. Travel is in my blood (as it is with many people!) and when I cross those international borders I feel like I can breathe.

Not that there’s anything suffocating or unpleasant about where I live…there’s just something so refreshing about setting foot in an entirely different place, with new sights, smells, sounds, faces…it reminds me how small I am in this world (but in a good way!) Traveling never fails to remind me that I/we are a unique part of something so much bigger.

—–
Reflections…

Places Visited: 8 || Amsterdam [Netherlands]; Bruges + Brussels [Belgium]; Prague [Czech Republic]; Athens + Mykonos + Santorini [Greece]; London [England].

Airports Seen: 7 || Did you know that even on short 50-minute flights they’ll still give you a drink and a sandwich? And you gotta love the perks of international flights, personal movie screens, wine, and all

New Friends: Many! || Rented an ATV from a guy who could “first name” people like Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan (well, he called him James Bond), and America Ferrera since he’s worked on the sets of their movies while they film in Santorini… Talked story at the Acropolis with a married retired couple from Arizona… Shared a room with a young woman who’s been traveling the world for almost 2 1/2 years straight… Just to name a few!

Foods I Wish I Could Eat Everyday: At least 3 || The chocolates in Bruges were blissful, the mussels in Brussels [no joke!] were divine, and the TOMATOES (fresh, sundred, cooked) in Santorini were to die for!

Hostels Experienced: 7 || Czech Inn in Prague was by far one of our fav’s! [Thx Beth & Bryan!]

Misadventures: A few || Hint: Make sure you always have your ticket with you (and validated) when riding “the tube”/Metro/subway.

Boat Rides: 4 || Ferries between the Greek islands, riding the relaxingly beautiful canals of Amsterdam, and sailing into the sunset of Ia, it’s such a great thing to be out on the water.

Money spent: Enough || We were in the ballpark of our budget though!

Starbucks Encounters: 3 || It seriously pops up out of nowhere! We saw it in Prague, Athens, and Mykonos. Our rule when we travel is usually “do as the locals do” and venues like this (or McD’s for example) are usually self-forbidden…but I have to admit we did stop at 2 of the 3 aforementioned locations. It’s crazy how walking through the doors it’s like you’re transported back to Seattle.

Items I Have A New Appreciation For: 2 || Toilet seat covers and water in any form (ice cubes, shower, drinking, etc.)

Item I Wish I Could Have Brought Back: 1 || ATV’s are good fun!!

Moments of Pure Joy, Gratitude, Awe: Countless.
—–

There’s a big world out there. Go out and find it .

[PS: Stay tuned for some photos and other highlights!]

Amsterdam…Belgium…Prague…Greece…

Aloha ‘Oe…See you in a few weeks! 

What a pleasure to get to shoot such a pleasantly kind couple at the famed Golf Club at Newcastle…

{Check out G + H‘s images too!}

“Start a new fashion
Wear your heart on your sleeve…
Unafraid, unashamed
There is joy to be claimed in this world
You even might wind up being glad to be you…”

[Ever After / Carrie Underwood]

…until I met a man who had no feet.”  [Unknown]

—–

Check out this awesome, innovative photographer:  The Rolling Exhibition .

Kevin Connolly [not to be confused with the guy from HBO's Entourage]

reminds me that it’s a great thing to see the world

[people ... life ... situations ... circumstances ...]

from a different perspective.

Literally and figuratively.

Some other articles:  ::  Yahoo  ::  NPR  ::  ABC News

Photographer: Alison Fujii

[Below {3}: Abstract fun...]

[Below {4}: The next generation.  The precious keiki {children} at New Hope Seattle.]

[Below {8}: Sister's Appreciation Night {aka "SAN"} put on by some fabulously creative and thoughtful bro's.]

[Below {1}: Shoutout to New Hope Seattle!]

[Below {4}: Fun with the sistahs / Alki + Archie McPhee's.]

[Below {2}: Women + wine   Enjoying some time in Woodinville's wine country.]

[Below {1}: Capturing a speedracer while practicing "panning"...]

Copyright 2008 GH Kim Photography

i am very thankful today.

[and not cuz i got to meet jason mraz last week, although that's a definite highlight   see below...]

why?  i can’t put my finger on it.  i just know that life is good [even when it's hard] and i’m thankful for each person in my life and each person i’ve met along the way.

life is about relationships…connecting with people on a deeper basis than “acquaintances”…and i know i take that for granted a lot or it gets lost in translation….but not today

—–

MAJOR MAHALO’S [thanks] to the fabulous becky for hooking me up with free tickets to see, hear, AND meet the famously talented mr.a-z.

last monday a friend and i got to witness the lyrical and musical skills that are jason mraz

[thank you star1015.com for the photographic evidence   that's my buddy mike in the back row - 2nd from right - who looks like he's part of the band.  we got mr. mraz to hold that sign for us in honor of becky and jeanna (mike's wife who opened my ears and heart to "i'm yours").]

i know it’s after valentine’s day, but this was too cute to not post

when i was home for thanksgiving last year i showed my dad how to text message. [or maybe he was just being a good dad and "making like" he didn't know but really he texts all the time. he's pretty tech-savvy.] so a few days after i flew back to seattle i texted him just for fun. he texted back and [jokingly] said “you just cost me 20 cents!”

yesterday [vday] i decided i would text him but say i didn’t need response, i just wanted to say hi happy valentine’s day. i got the following response:

“Happy V-day to you too! This is worth 10 cents!! =)”

——-

my mom sent me the funniest vday card that said something like:

“you are more than a daughter.
you’re a friend.
you’re a friend daughter.”

and on the inside it said:

“a fraughter”.

—–

on this post-vday, i am happy to be a texting fraughter

Photographer: Alison Fujii

[below]: master hun showing me how it’s done   likened to “blue steel”, i call this the “sensei stare”.

[below]: beautiful baby jaslyn daily.

[below]: one of my fav’s, jaslyn’s big brother jake…in my shoes

Copyright 2008 GH Kim Photography

——-

praise god for this indescribable opportunity.  hun + grace what an honor to spend time with you personally and professionally.  i am so thankful and i hope to make you proud