Images of Our Life

Happy Memorial Day!

2010-06-01T21:51:00.000-04:00

We're all a little Irish sometimes

2010-03-25T22:53:00.000-04:00

I ♥ Faces - Week 11 - "Bundled Up"

2010-03-15T10:22:00.001-04:00

This week's I ♥ Faces challenge is for "Bundled Up" photos, which is perfect after the ridiculous winter we've had.

This photo was taken during the first blizzard of February. Geoff and I took Chasey for a walk at 12:30 in the morning, before the plows had even touched the streets. It was really serene and Chasey had a great time bouncing through the snow piles. We took a self portrait for photographic evidence of the trek.

Head over to I ♥ Faces to check out the rest of this week's entries!

San Diego in January

2010-01-12T22:41:00.006-05:00

San Diego is a beautiful city. And when you're coming from 20 degree weather with snow on the ground, it's even more beautiful.

Geoff and I were out in California for a long weekend to visit his sister, who lives there. 70 degrees and sunny is MUCH more enjoyable than what we've got going on here in Philly.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T09:41:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, blogosphere! Wishing you and your families a wonderful holiday filled with family, friends and laughter.

xoxo
Jessica

(This is from an ugly sweater party. I promise I don't dress like that normally.)

Lull in blogging

2009-12-08T10:53:00.001-05:00

Part of it is due to the fact that the shutter broke on our camera and had to be sent back to Canon to be fixed.

Part of it is due to the craziness of the holidays.

Part of it is due to spending too much time on my other blog.

Part of it is due to laziness.

Back soon, I promise.

Phillies versus Yankees

2009-11-02T20:32:00.000-05:00

I do NOT want to talk about how the game went. Or how the series is going. Or about Cole Hamels.

All of that aside, here are a few pictures taken at Game Four of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park over the weekend. Geoff and I took pity on my sister and father, who are both Yankee fans, and brought them to the game with us. We should have known better ;)

Go Phillies!

We are the champions, my friends

2009-10-22T10:52:00.002-04:00

The National League Champions, that is.

(Image via Philly.com)

Okay, I'm going to tell you right now that the likelihood of me posting with any regularity in the next two weeks is slim to none. Why, you ask? Well, because the Philadelphia Phillies are going to the World Series for the second year in a row!

And my husband and I happen to be season ticket holders, which means lots of time spent at Citizens Bank Park, lots of screaming, and very little sleep. I'm already a zombie this week, after being at games on Sunday and last night, and it's only going to get worse from here.

However, a small price to pay for victory. Bring on the Yankees!

Honor and dedication

2009-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Geoff and I visited my sister in Washington D.C. More pictures to come of our rainy weekend, but here's my favorite shot. It was taken at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. If you've never seen the changing of the guard, please add it to your bucket list. It's a must see.

Fall fun

2009-10-16T09:56:00.011-04:00

This post is long overdue, but better late than never, right? Geoff and I went out to Bethlehem a few weeks ago to visit his grandmother, Grace. We had a great day, checking out the Celtic Festival in town, going apple picking, walking her dog, and enjoying some nice meals. Here are some pictures from the day.

Side note re: I ♥ Faces

2009-09-28T17:15:00.004-04:00

Okay, I know the point of I ♥ Faces is for photographers to have fun, learn something, and get eyeball on their photos. So, I should probably be nice. But this has been brewing for a few weeks, so I have to say something.

The instructions for I ♥ Faces' weekly challenges are pretty simple. Create a new blog post with ONE picture that goes along with the challenge for the week. Include the I ♥ Faces button, or a link to the site. Oh, and make sure your photo shows at least one face.

Not too tough, right? Well, every week I make sure to click on as many entries as I have time for (keeping the blogger karma going) and comment on the ones I really like. I can't tell you how many posts:

Don't have any faces shown. Hello people, it's called I ♥ Faces, not I ♥ Pretty Scenery.
Don't link back to the original post. Come on, these people are providing us with a great site, you can't oblige them with a linkback?
Ignore the challenge rules. Like this week, the description clearly states: "If you'd like to incorporate a "blue" expression on the face, that would awesome as well, but please make sure that the color blue is a strong feature of your photo as well." Well, apparently to some people, those rules don't apply. Because I saw at least one black and white photo with a picture of a person who looks sad. Not the kind of blue this challenge was going for.

I know, I need to get over it. But it's been one of those days, and I just needed to vent. Vent over now :)

I ♥ Faces - Week 38 - Blue

2009-09-28T16:59:00.003-04:00

Well, it's a good thing for I ♥ Faces, because it's the only posting I'm doing these days. I was hoping to take a new picture for this week's challenge, but I ran out of time.

So, I'm going to submit this shot of my favorite little model, Jack. This was taken a few months ago, before he was walking, when his favorite thing to do was to climb up the stairs. He'd go up, someone would carry him down, and he'd go up again.

I figured this works for the blue challenge since he was rocking his ADORABLE blue plaid shirt. What a stud.

Check out the rest of this week's entries at I ♥ Faces!

I ♥ Faces - Week 37 - Completely Candid

2009-09-21T10:24:00.005-04:00

This week's I ♥ Faces challenge calls for "Completely Candid" shots. After doing a bit of browsing through my Flickr account, I came across a picture from a friend's wedding that I posted about earlier this summer.

I know it's not the best picture out there (or even the best one I've taken), but I love that she's so into the music and dancing. I've never seen a bride get this down and dirty on the dance floor -- it was so fun to watch!

Check out all of the other entries from this week on I ♥ Faces!

I ♥ Faces - Week 36 - Contemplative Faces

2009-09-14T16:43:00.008-04:00

This week's I ♥ Faces challenge is for "contemplative" faces. As soon as I saw that, I knew which picture I wanted to post.

I took about 30 different pictures of my cousin's son Jack devouring his little cake at his first birthday party last month. Looking back through the pictures was so fun. Some of the pictures showed pure joy, some showed nothing but his face stuck in the cake, and a few, like this one, look contemplative.

Why's everybody staring at me - can't a man just eat his cake in peace?

Why are the making me wear this stupid hat? Is this a punishment? Hmm, what have I done wrong lately?

I wonder if this cake is going to give me a tummyache...

How am I going to get that icing out of my ears and nose?

Oh, to be able to listen to the thoughts of small children!

Big birthday weekend

2009-09-14T13:54:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday everyone! This past weekend was pretty crazy, because my mother's birthday was on Friday (yes, September 11th) and my mother-in-law's birthday was on Thursday. So, we had to try to figure out how to see everyone to celebrate. And the fact that my husband had Phillies tickets for Friday night didn't help.

So Friday night consisted of me and him sitting in raincoats and under ponchos at the Phillies game, a game that they luckily won. On a side note, the guy who has the season tickets next to ours wrote a book about the 2008 Phillies and included a picture of us after they won the World Series last year. Can't wait to see the book, but I hope this doesn't count as my 15 minutes of fame.

(Here's us at a much sunnier game, since I didn't take pictures on Friday.)

On Saturday morning, we drove out to Jersey to spend the day with my family for my mom's birthday. There was good food, lots of laughter, a serious game of Taboo, and of course presents. Then my poor husband had to sit (read: fall asleep on the couch) through yet another round of "Who's the latest high school classmate that's pregnant/in jail/married/still living at home." It's a game that my mom and I seem to play quite a bit. There is no question where my love of gossip comes from!

We headed back on Sunday morning so that Geoff could get back for his first softball game of the season. Being a delinquent wife, I stayed at home and took up residence on the couch since I was tired from being up so late chatting with my parents the night before, while Geoff snoozed on the couch. I caught bits and pieces of the Eagles' game, and then topped off the weekend with a fabulous dinner at Legal Sea Foods to celebrate Geoff's mom's birthday. Wine, seafood casserole and chocolate mousse all in one meal = a happy Jessica whose pants are a bit too tight.

Good times, but once again it's Monday, and I'm exhausted. On the bright side, fall TV is back in full force, and tonight I get to indulge my inner 14 year-old girl with Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill! It's the small things that get me through the day...

Wrapping up the summer

2009-09-08T09:49:00.001-04:00

Summer may not officially be over for another two weeks, but it certainly feels over today. Although, as my husband wisely pointed out last night, summer doesn't have quite the same appeal after college graduation, unless you're a teacher. And let me tell you, if I saw one more Facebook status update from a teacher friend who was traveling to Europe during their vacation, I was going to lose it.

Anyway, hopefully I'll be posting more regularly now that the crazy summer is over.

While Geoff and I seemed to be the only people in the Philadelphia region who didn't trek down to Avalon or Sea Isle City this weekend, we still enjoyed the gorgeous weather. And we hosted our first dinner for more than four people last night! Both of our sets of parents, as well as my aunt and Geoff's younger brother came over for dinner last night. It's amazing how a relatively simple meal becomes quite a bit more complicated when you're making it for eight people. However, dinner was a success (largely thanks to my helpers -- both moms and my aunt) and Geoff only had to be sent on errands twice (one missing ingredient and an empty propane tank). Overall, I consider it a success.

Sadly, no pictures to share -- I was too busy directing everyone around the kitchen and making lime margarita cupcakes. Mmmm. Email me if you want the recipe!

Living strong

2009-08-24T14:23:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned last week, this Sunday was my third year participating in the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Every year, I am amazed by the size and scope of the event, and every year I plan immediately to go back next year. But what I forget each time, is how profoundly I am touched by the survivors and other participants of the Challenge. Events like this can really put your life into perspective.

Husband driving you crazy?

At the finish line, there are two lanes, one for survivors, one for everyone else. This couple was walking in front of us as we neared the finish. As they got close to the end, the man (a survivor) grabbed her hand as they walked in their separate lanes across the finish line.

Kids making you nuts?

This five year old girl crossed the finish line in the survivor lane, with her mother on the opposite side. She was asked to come up to the podium and given a prize because, well, she's five years old and is a cancer survivor. She was so sweet and timid, and it's impossible to imagine the things she's already been through in her short life.

This year I'm going to try to remember that little girl and that strong couple, whenever my very blessed life seems too difficult. It's amazing how much we take for granted.

On a lighter note, here are a few pictures of my friends and me before and after the walk/run/ride.

On one last note, thank you to my friends and family who donated to my fundraising efforts this year -- it is greatly appreciated!!

Photoshopping babies

2009-08-23T22:01:00.004-04:00

My cousin's son turned one last week, so there was a big birthday party for him over the weekend. Full report and pictures to come, but for now, here are a couple of pictures that I've been playing around with on Photoshop. The first one is Jack, the birthday boy, and the other is Ben, a friend's 4 month old. Such cuties!

Don't call me baby

2009-08-21T09:50:00.004-04:00

"Hey hun!"

"What's up girlie?"

"What can I get for you sweetie?"

Are you my husband? Are you my mother or father? No? Then don't call me hun/girlie/sweetie/your choice of annoying name.

If you do, and we don't know each other, I will assume that you are being way too comfortable with me, which will result in dirty looks.

If you do, and I DO know you, I will assume that you have forgotten my name and get offended, which will result in dirty looks.

Bottom line, save the pet names for your dog or your significant other. Not for me. Okay? Glad we had this talk.

P.S. I know this is supposed to be a photo blog and I haven't actually posted pictures in a while, but I'm getting to it. Plus I've been grouchy all week, so please indulge me in my bitching and moaning.

Go ahead, pick a fight

2009-08-20T16:06:00.003-04:00

I will be participating in the Philadelphia LIVESTRONG Challenge for the third year this Sunday. LIVESTRONG, if you're not aware, is Lance Armstrong's charity that raises money to help cancer patients and their families.

I participate in this event in honor of some important people in my life who have battled cancer, some overcoming the disease, some losing their lives to it. And this year, I walk in support of my good friend, who lost her mother to breast cancer this year.

The LIVESTRONG Challenge is an amazing event that touches the lives of not only the 6,000+ participants in Philly alone, but many families who will be helped by the over $3 million dollars that has been raised this year. If you feel so inspired, you can donate to my fundraising efforts through this link.

And I would highly encourage you to consider participating in the Challenge in 2010 (it takes place in several cities across the country) if you've never done so before -- you won't regret it. I'll be taking lots of pictures on Sunday, and I'll be sure to share them next week.

Here's my team at the event last year. All a little bit tired, but it was a great time!

No, you're not the only one

2009-08-20T14:20:00.004-04:00

If you've already seen this, I apologize. But I just got a viral email that made me laugh out loud, so I thought I'd share. I pulled out the points that I liked the most, because there were about 100 of them. Basically, these are all wise thoughts from 20-somethings, a majority of which you have probably thought yourself.

I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?
That's enough, Nickelback.
I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
There is a great need for sarcasm font.
Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.
I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.
How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart," all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart."
How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?
I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!
While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.
MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
Bad decisions make good stories.
You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.
I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.
It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.
I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

My personal favorite is the one about keeping numbers in your phone -- this is an essential survival strategy, let me tell you.

Can I go back to college?

2009-08-17T16:06:00.004-04:00

If there happen to be any college students reading this, I have a piece of advice for you. DON'T GRADUATE. My suggestion would be to go the route of "Mendel Doug," the famed Villanova student who reportedly stuck around for about 8 years without graduating (reports on his actual tenure are varied). Because he was too dumb to finish? No. Because he was smart enough to know that these are the best days of our lives (yes, I know I'm stealing song lyrics).

Nasty cafeteria food, tiny dorm rooms (eek, the closet space!), finals, papers -- there's plenty about college that is not particularly appealing. But you will never have a social scene like that again. Random Wednesday night and you're bored? Guaranteed you can find friends to hit mug night at a local bar with. Weekend nights? You and your whole pack of friends probably have your choice of 5 different mixers/parties/open bars to pick from.

Then you graduate. And hopefully find a job. And your friends scatter around the country looking for jobs of their own. And it's never the same again.

One of my best friends from college moved to Connecticut this weekend, where she'll be getting her Masters degree at Yale (fancy schmancy Ivy girl). I'm so excited for her, but I also know that she doesn't have family in Philly anymore since her parents retired to the Southwest, so she doesn't have much of a reason to come back here. Which means, other than planned trips to CT, or her coming back to visit me, we're not going to see much of each other. Which sucks.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life. I have a wonderful husband and I have been lucky enough to fit in really well with his girlfriends who live locally, but somehow not being able to have a spur of the moment girls' night with the friends who saw me through the ups and downs of college is depressing.

So until I convince them all to move back to Philly (from Connecticut, Chicago, DC, Jersey, etc.), there will be lots of Facebooking, Gchatting, e-mailing and texting to get us through. And, of course, daydreaming about the days of college when all of your friends lived within a 5 mile radius. Sigh.

Chasey gets photoshopped

2009-08-16T22:11:00.005-04:00

I mentioned last month that Geoff got me Photoshop Elements as a birthday gift. I haven't really done much with it yet because I'm completely overwhelmed by it, but I figured I should start playing around with.

Don't expect too much - at the moment I'm still working on the basics, but you've got to start somewhere, right?

Anyway, here's Chasey, with some minor Photoshopping. More to come as I (hopefully) learn some new things.

Bringing some life into the house

2009-08-11T21:46:00.005-04:00

There's nothing like fresh flowers in the house. I bought these gladiolus at the grocery store and they keep getting more beautiful as they bloom.

My grandmother always had the most beautiful orchids at her house. When she passed away, I adopted one of her plants, which I'm trying hard not to kill (my mother doesn't have such good luck with them). So far, so good.

I ♥ Faces - Week 31 - Crazy, Silly Faces

2009-08-10T16:48:00.004-04:00

I discovered I ♥ Faces about a month ago, and am completely enamored with the site. Each week, they have a contest where visitors are encouraged to post pictures in a certain category, which are reviewed by a judge who picks his/her favorites.

I've never thrown my hat in the ring before, but there's no time like the present, so here it goes! This week's category is Crazy, Silly Faces. Most people have pictures of little kids being funny. I have my husband.

I keep telling him that his face is going to get stuck that way, but he never listens.

And the "Just for Fun" category is Pets, so of course, here is Chasey.

Head over to I ♥ Faces for tons of great shots, you'll be sucked in in no time!

Down by the boardwalk

2009-08-06T11:31:00.003-04:00

I have no regrets about taking a full two weeks for our honeymoon, but it does mean that I'm left with very little vacation time for the year. Which also means, no summer vacation. However, my aunt and uncle rented a house down in Ocean City for a couple of weeks, and they were generous enough to invite my family for a couple of nights.

Unfortunately, we managed to time our trip perfectly with monsoon season at the Jersey shore, so we spent most of our time in the house, but we squeezed in a trip to Atlantic City and to Brown's for homemade donuts.

Overcast skies didn't keep the crowds of people off of the boardwalk.

The sun was nowhere to be found, which is for the best for me and my pasty skin.

Hanging at the house.

Playing hairdresser. Clearly we were bored.

I hope that everyone out there is going on fabulous vacations that are not getting rained on!

Does that come in my size?

2009-08-03T12:37:00.001-04:00

My cousin's wife is pregnant with their first child, which will mark the first grandchild on my dad's side of the family. Over the weekend we had a baby shower, where the mommy-to-be received some ADORABLE gifts. And really -- I would like some of those clothes in my size.

I can't wait to meet this baby!

Inspiring photo of the week

2009-07-24T16:16:00.005-04:00

I just discovered The Modern Type photography recently, and I love their stuff. This shot is from an engagement shoot with a couple that looks like they were a lot of fun to work with. This particular image stood out for me, largely because of the background and composition, but also because she caught such an intimate moment.

Of course, it doesn't hurt when your models are good looking :)

Inspiring photo of the week

2009-07-17T06:55:00.001-04:00

Well, I used to think my flower shots were pretty good.

Then I saw this one. Sigh.

I found this one in an article from Smashing Magazine on stunning pictures. Seriously, go check it out -- some of the photos are absolutely ridiculous.

The final wedding of the season

2009-07-15T17:05:00.006-04:00

I know, I know, I've been completely delinquent on the blog this month. Life has been crazy, but after this weekend, wedding season is over for us. I love summer, but I'm looking forward to fall hopefully being a bit more calm.

In the meantime, here are some pictures from the wedding we attended this past weekend. The groom was Geoff's best man at our wedding, and Geoff was one of his groomsmen. Even though this is a friend of Geoff's from college, I love both the bride and groom too, so it was a great time.

And the goodbye at the bar the night before the wedding

HELP re: Photoshop

2009-07-01T09:33:00.001-04:00

Geoff got me Photoshop Elements for my birthday. Which is great, because somehow Picnik was just not cutting it anymore.

So last night I installed the software, opened a picture and realized.....I have no clue how to use Photoshop.

Any suggestions for web sites or books that can help me get started? Help a wannabe photographer out!

Inspiring photo of the week, Week Five

2009-06-26T17:14:00.003-04:00

This week's shot is from Ryan Estes, one of the photographers behind the Philadelphia Wedding Project. This is, without a doubt, the best wedding gown shot I have ever seen. It's one of those shots that is pretty standard for wedding photos, but Ryan outdid himself here.

Obviously it's a gorgeous gown in a very pretty spot, but the reflection (on what I assume is a table) really makes it for me. Awesome shot.

My thoughts on office birthday parties

2009-06-24T17:30:00.002-04:00

My birthday is on Sunday, which is extremely exciting because I love birthdays. So, today was the day for the celebration of June birthdays at my office. We used to have individual celebrations, but then it got to the point where we were gathering every other day, so now we consolidate. It was very nice - we got the good cupcakes, everyone signed a card...and they sang.

Have you ever heard people sing Happy Birthday to multiple people at the same time? "Happy Birthday, dear JessicaTheresaJoeNicole.....Happy Birthday to you!" just doesn't come out so smoothly. And then we birthday people are sitting there wondering whether we're supposed to sing for the other birthday people, or just sit there smiling stupidly while we're serenaded (consensus seems to be the latter). However, despite the awkward singing, it's not too terribly painful.

And then there is the office next to ours.

I share a wall with the conference room of this other company we share offices with. Which means that I hear their arguments, their laughter, their throat clearing and sneezing, and the SURPRISE!!!!!! that comes along with every birthday celebration.

Yes, every single birthday is a "surprise" party next door.

1. It's not a surprise when you do it for every birthday.

2. You are all over the age of 16, and thus surprise parties should be saved for significant birthdays that end in a "5" or "0" and even then, sparingly.

3. SHUT THE HELL UP I'M TRYING TO WORK OVER HERE.

Moral of the story: Cupcakes and cards are nice. Fake surprises when your walls are thin, not so much.

It's wedding season!

2009-06-23T10:12:00.009-04:00

Geoff and I spent the past weekend doing a TON of driving for a friend's wedding in the Hamptons. If you've never driven out there on a summer weekend, I would not recommend it. Of course, it didn't help that the US Open was out on Long Island this weekend as well.

Anyway, aside from the driving and traffic, it was a good weekend. The wedding was really nice and the bride was beautiful.

The newly married couple

Geoff and me at the reception

This is the mansion where lunch was hosted the day after the wedding. Pretty incredible.

The view from the back yard

Their private beach

I need to make some rich friends so I can spend more time in the Hamptons. But next time, I'm taking a helicopter to get there.

Inspiring photo of the week, Week Four

2009-06-19T10:41:00.002-04:00

Okay, I'm back on track with my weekly photo, on time this week.

This one comes from an engagement session shot by Sarah Schulte. If you're from the Philly area, this was shot at the Norristown Farm Park, which is a cool little park if you're looking for an alternative to Valley Forge.

The close up ring shot with a faded background is one of my favorites. Now if only I could figure out how to take them myself!

I wish I was this funny

2009-06-16T15:02:00.006-04:00

I think I've got a good sense of humor, and from time to time I blurt out something really funny. Or at least my husband tells me I'm funny. Which could have something to do with the fact that he figures it's best for his sex life to laugh at my jokes. Regardless of this fact, there are some people who make me feel extremely dry in comparison to their quick wit.

In addition to all of the photography blogs I read, I have a blog roll of about 100 blogs I read on a regular basis (some for work, some for fun). I may be biased because I know both of them in real life, but two of my favorites are Yellaphant and 20 Nothings.

Bridget, the face behind Yellaphant, talks about the most ridiculous things, like her inner Latina and getting VD from a dumpster. But she makes me laugh out loud on a regular basis.

And Jessie, who writes 20 Nothings (and went to high school with me), is so spot on about what it's like to be a 20 something, particularly if you're single. If you and your friends send around recent posts on TextsFromLastNight and wonder if you know the person who submitted the text, you will love this blog.

No ulterior motive here, just wanted to share some love for some very funny ladies whose blogs are definitely worth checking out. You'll thank me later; your productivity level may not.

The Philadelphia Wedding Project

2009-06-15T14:10:00.005-04:00

This. Is. Awesome.

Six of the Philadelphia area's top wedding photographers have teamed up to create Philadelphia Wedding Project. They're going to be selecting one lucky couple to have all six photographers shoot their wedding FOR FREE.

According to the PWP web site, the winners will get:

* Engagement Session
* Boudoir Session
* All Day Wedding Day Coverage
* Custom Designed Album
* Two Parent Albums
* Online Proofing Gallery

The photographers involved are Jenn Childress, Pete Malone, Joy Moody, Ryan Estes, Geoff Horowitz and Sofia Negron.

I am very jealous. I loved my pictures so much, but I can only imagine having six different viewpoints and artistic styles to choose from. Sigh.

Inspiring photo of the week, Week Three

2009-06-15T10:21:00.007-04:00

Well, it's only week three and I'm already delinquent on my Friday photo of the week. Way to be a good blogger, Jessica. Anyway, instead of skipping last week, I'm just posting late.

Without further adieu...

© oliver weber | 2004-2009

I absolutely love shots like this of elderly people. It's almost like you can see the years of experience in every wrinkle on their skin. I imagine that this man tells great jokes and stories about growing up in the 30s. This shot is courtesy of Oliver Weber, who I recently discovered. His blog is definitely worth checking out - he takes consistently incredible pictures of really interesting subjects.

NO H8

2009-06-11T17:01:00.005-04:00

Excuse me for a minute while I get on my soapbox.

I am passionately in favor of legalizing gay marriage. My reasons are numerous, but what it comes down to for me is this:

Prior to the Supreme Court's ruling in 1967, it was illegal in many states for a black man and a white woman to marry. Today, a vast majority of Americans acknowledge that this was grossly unfair, and a blemish on the history of our country.

Yet today, we are yet again persecuting a group of people by telling them who they can and cannot marry. We were very wrong prior to 1967, so what makes people so sure that they can't be wrong again? Arrogance, that's what.

And if you tell me that race is not chosen but homosexuality is, I will point you to the copious research, including that done on identical twins separated at birth, which suggests otherwise.

And if you tell me that gay marriage will destroy the state of marriage, I will point you to the current divorce rate. I think that we straight people are doing a pretty damn good job of ruining marriages ourselves. Show me how two men or two women being wed will make things worse.

Okay, that's enough preaching for today, but the real reason for this post is that I wanted to point out this awesome campaign called NO H8, which is using the powerful pull of celebrities to protest the passing of Proposition 8 in California. Hopefully, the more voices that are out there talking about this issue, the sooner Americans will come to realize that we are making a mistake that has to be rectified.

Stepping off of my soapbox now, thanks for bearing with me. Back to my regular fluffy posts tomorrow.

Saying goodbye

2009-06-09T08:39:00.001-04:00

Last week, I lost my grandmother. She was an amazing, one of a kind woman, and she will be missed by many people. Geoff and I spent the weekend at my parents' house in New Jersey helping to to prepare for services on Sunday. If there is a silver lining in the cloud, few things get more people together than weddings and funerals. It was amazing to see how many people came out to say goodbye to her, and it is always wonderful to have family together, even on occasions like this.

Here are a few pictures taken over the weekend.

And one of Nana at our wedding. I'm so grateful that she was able to be there.

Inspiring photo of the week, Week Two

2009-06-05T09:58:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned last week, I follow a lot of photographers. But one in particular is especially near and dear to my heart, as she shot my wedding. Sarah 's work is always beautiful, but this shot in particular stands out to me.

It looks like a picture you'd find flipping through old photo albums; I love whatever effects she used. And the reflection in the water is amazing.

And....I'll throw in a shot from our wedding that Sarah took, while I'm at it :)

Not bad, huh?

I'm all fancy now

2009-06-02T10:00:00.005-04:00

I decided if I'm going to have this blog, I might as well do it right. So, through Etsy, I discovered Emily of Polka Dot Pixels, who agreed to do some design work for my little blog.

Considering that I'm completely clueless when it comes to design and HTML and all of that other good stuff, Emily was great with giving me suggestions and explaining how to actually install the design. I'm really happy with how everything turned out!

Art Star Craft Bazaar

2009-06-01T20:47:00.008-04:00

As promised, here are a few pictures from the Art Star Craft Bazaar that I took over the weekend.

Penn's Landing.

The USS New Jersey (I think).

One of the many displays of handmade jewelry.

Fun t-shirts.

Part of the fountains at Penn's Landing.

Live entertainment.

Somebody's got a case of the Mondays....

2009-06-01T10:08:00.004-04:00

Me. After a ridiculously beautiful weekend (high 70s, sunny, breezy), I am beyond depressed to be sitting at my desk with my only view of the outdoors across the room and through the door of another office.

My weekend of solitude was extremely relaxing. I slept late, lounged around, and did whatever I felt like doing, whenever I felt like doing it. I did make it into Philadelphia on Saturday to check out the Art Star Craft Bazaar, which was fun. I'll try to post some pictures tonight that I took there, although I definitely didn't do it justice. The concrete behemoth that is Penn's Landing isn't the most beautiful structure out there, but the view of the water on a nice day makes up for it.

Other than the craft show, I stayed local, did some shopping and spring cleaning, and hung out with Chasey. But I was very happy for Geoff to get home last night from Montreal in one piece. All in all, a good weekend.

And now, it's back to the real world. Is it Friday yet??

After the rain

2009-05-30T09:50:00.001-04:00

This hibiscus plant is going to keep me occupied all summer.

Inspirational photo of the week, Week One

2009-05-29T09:46:00.005-04:00

I read a LOT of photographer's blogs, so I see many amazing photos on a regular basis. But sometimes there is a shot that just takes my breath away.

Like this one.

The old-fashioned style gown, the coloring, the rocks, the water in the background - I don't know what it is, but I absolutely love this shot. Anna Kuperberg, wedding photographer extraordinaire, took photos of this couple at their wedding, and the following day, which is when this one was taken.

My weekend of solitude

2009-05-27T12:15:00.003-04:00

Wedding season is in full swing, which means lots of showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners and of course, the weddings themselves.

Geoff is headed to Montreal for the weekend for his best friend Scott's bachelor party, which means that I'm on my own for the weekend (except for Chasey of course).

On a side note, when the hell did bachelor parties turn into bachelor-destination-three-day-weekends? Because it's gotten quite excessive. I won't even tell you how much Geoff is spending on this weekend, but suffice to say that it's enough to buy me a very nice designer handbag.

In the meantime, I plan on shopping (if he's spending money, so am I!) and trying to take some good pictures. I'm thinking about taking a trip to Valley Forge Park or maybe somewhere interesting in Center City to play around. If you're in the Philly area, any suggestions?

I heart Flickr

2009-05-26T14:46:00.000-04:00

I have to tell you, the discovery of Flickr sometime last year has changed my life. I'm now pretty much obsessed with updating my photostream, checking my stats, stalking my friends' pictures, and finding new photographers to follow.

So if you're on there, check me out and if you add me as a contact, I'll do the same.

Good news/bad news

2009-05-26T10:40:00.002-04:00

The bad news is, the holiday weekend is over and I used up a vast majority of my vacation time for the honeymoon, so I probably won't have another day off until July 4th. I need to move to Europe or some place where they get like two months of vacation time. That would suit my lifestyle much better.

The good news is, it feels like Monday, but it's actually Tuesday. Here's hoping that this week flies by. Hey, I can be optimistic, right?

April showers bring May flowers

2009-05-25T22:23:00.004-04:00

I've been a little bit obsessed lately with taking macro pictures of flowers, hence my post last week. Geoff and I visited both of our parents' houses over the weekend, so I checked out all the interesting flowers I could find!

Here are some of my favorites.

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T22:12:00.005-04:00

Happy Memorial Day! As usual, the long weekend went way too fast, and I'm dreading going back to work tomorrow. But at least the weather was beautiful, and we took full advantage of it.

No Memorial Day weekend would be complete without some grilling, and ours was no exception.

My idea of perfect

2009-05-22T12:15:00.004-04:00

It's the Friday before Memorial Day weekend and I'm bored, so I figured I'd share some more about me. Did I mention I'm bored?

Everyone has their own idea of perfection. Here's mine:

The perfect outfit: In my fantasies, a Diane von Furstenburg dress. In reality, jeans, heels and a cute top probably from Banana Republic.
The perfect meal: Steak and my mom's German noodles.
The perfect hangover cure: Sleeping through it. And if you must get up, Wendy's.
The perfect road trip: Having a destination, but no schedule. Driving local roads with interest scenery.
The perfect facial feature: I love eyes. They're the window to the soul and all.
The perfect drink: Depends on the day of the week. Either Diet Coke or wine.
The perfect song: Bruce Springsteen, Thunder Road.
The perfect sign of affection: When my husband kisses me on the forehead.
The perfect afternoon: Not working.
The perfect vacation: Something that involves lying on the beach under an umbrella, with a fruity drink in my hand.
The perfect invention: Cell phones.
The perfect type of wedding: One big dance party.
The perfect album: Oh dear, don't know.
The perfect accent: Irish or Australian.
The perfect date: Trying a new restaurant or activity.
The perfect weather: Early fall. Still warm, but not unbearable. Cool enough in the evenings for a light jacket.
The perfect party: Good friends, good food, good music (preferably from the 80s and 90s).
The perfect sport: Baseball.
The perfect thing to say: I love you.
The perfect day of the week: Saturday.

Out in the garden

2009-05-21T08:31:00.000-04:00

Neither of us are expert gardeners by any means, but we've got a little flower bed that's doing pretty well. I took these after work yesterday.

Photography crushes

2009-05-20T10:17:00.006-04:00

You may have noticed that I have a growing linkroll of photographers that I love. These people impress me constantly, and inspire me to learn.

I'm always looking for new blogs to follow and photographers to crush on, so who do YOU follow? All suggestions are welcome :)

I'll leave you with this gorgeous picture taken by the fabulous Jasmine Star.

A tortured soul

2009-05-20T08:57:00.001-04:00

If she could talk, I'm sure she'd be saying "Mom, why are you bothering me while I'm trying to relax?"

My reading list

2009-05-19T22:51:00.004-04:00

I have so many books that I've collected over the years, that I'm running out of room on my shelves. These are some of the books that are waiting to be read. I recently discovered a site that lets you trade books and other media for free, which is helping me clear out some old books and make room for new ones!

Through the years

2009-05-18T10:19:00.009-04:00

Geoff and I have known each other our whole lives, which means that there are quite a few amusing pictures of us over the years, ranging from high school prom to college parties to graduations and so on. Here are a few of my favorites.

Geoff's high school graduation party in 1999. He hates this picture, but I think it's adorable. And he's not the one sporting the braces with colored rubber bands.

My junior prom in 2000.

At Geoff's 25th birthday toga party in 2005.

In the middle of Central Park in New York City, circa 2005.

Sledding in the middle of a snow storm in 2006.

Last but not least, an engagement picture taken by a friend's mother last year.

I think that's enough nostalgia for one post. New pictures that I took last week and over the weekend to be posted soon!

Our new toy

2009-05-15T11:06:00.008-04:00

As I mentioned, I just got married recently. And instead of getting jewelry or another typical wedding present for each other, Geoff and I bought this:

It's the Canon Rebel XSi and I couldn't have asked for a better wedding gift! We both love taking pictures and have gotten some great shots over the years with our point-and-shoot cameras, but we've been dying for an SLR. Geoff got a fantastic deal at Costco that included a second lens, so we've got lots to play with.

The camera takes beautiful pictures, but we've still got a lot to learn. I'm hoping to find a photography class so I can really learn how to use it the right way.

Furry family members

2009-05-13T16:50:00.000-04:00

Meet Chasey. She's a black lab/American bulldog mix that Geoff adopted when he was in college. She's about 7 years old now and she's a sweetheart. She's definitely an intimidating looking dog, but she just wants to make friends with everyone. Except other dogs, but that's another story. As you can tell from this picture (one of the first that I took with our new camera), she loves her stuffed animals, which have taken over the first floor of our house. I can only imagine what it will be like when we have kids with their toys everywhere!

Meet Molly, my parents' dog. Molly is a 4 year old goldendoodle that my parents got during my senior year of college. Molly has a heart of gold, and not a mean bone in her body. She's very photogenic, so you can definitely expect to see more pictures of her popping up. I took this one a couple years ago and it ended up on Stuff On My Mutt, which is a fun site if you've never seen it.

Our honeymoon

2009-05-12T16:30:00.004-04:00

To start off, here are a few pictures from our honeymoon in Riviera Maya, Mexico. I can't take credit for all of the pictures, but most were taken either by Geoff or myself.

The view of our resort on a walk down the beach. The beaches were badly eroded a couple of years ago by some hurricanes and they still haven't really recovered.

That kind of shade can lead to some interesting zebra-esque tan lines.

The obligatory ring shot.

Geoff testing out the hammocks on the beach.

This guy was hanging out on the streets of Playa del Carmen scaring people as they walked by.

This one was taken by the professional photographer on staff. I love how it looks like we're jumping 10 feet in the air!

Hi, nice to meet you!

2009-05-11T13:19:00.000-04:00

My name is Jessica, I'm a 20-something newlywed living in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I'm working in 9 to 5 job, but I secretly would love to become a photographer. Since that's not a reality right now, I'm just taking as many pictures as I can of my life and the things around me. I decided to start this blog as a way to catalogue some of my favorite pictures. I also figure once we have kids (in a few years probably), this could be a great way to share photos with our family and friends.

Now all I have to do is keep this up for that long :) In the meantime, I'll be posting periodically and sharing some pictures that I take along the way.