Dutch Bros Coffee Winner!

Lauren's friends texted her they saw my name on the Dutch Bros Coffee window as a winner. We stopped by the drive-through window and laughed when we confirmed it.
I rarely win anything so winning 4 free coffees was fun. White Mochas for me!

That IS me on the window!



Megan made my sign hanging on the front upper right window.



Ha! I rarely win anything so this is a great way to start the year!

Toro Nagashi

We went to Woodward Park to watch the celebration of Toro Nagashi. It's a traditional Japanese ceremony that honors the spirits of their departed loved ones (and ancestors) by floating paper lanterns down a lake/river to usher their spirits, typically after the summer Obon Odori Festival. When we were kids in Yokohama, Japan, I remembered the lanterns set afloat in a swimming pool!

The paper lanterns arranged by names of the departed

A candle is placed inside each colorful paper lantern

We arrived after 7:30pm and people were still coming

The setting summer sun casts a beautiful warm golden glow

Lauren with Sachi bear (just de-stuffed at the mall)

Here come the lanterns

Aren't they beautiful? The candles inside are lit but it's not dark enough to see their inner glow

I walked around the side of the water. Once the name of each person on the lantern is read, their loved one places the lantern in the water. It's a slow process.

A beautiful summer night and the warm breeze gently sways hanging lanterns

Rather than staring that the lady's tattoos, I looked through my viewfinder and shot. She had large tattoos all over, (chest, arms, etc), appeared to be in her 50s, and had colored strings weaved in her hair. (Lauren shot me a "Don't EVEN think about it" look. I wasn't).

These hanging paper lanterns lit the seated family and friends below them

At 8:30pm, it's dark and the lanterns are lit. Time to go. Goodnight!

Shootsac

What did I want for an anniversary gift? A lens bag!

I've been eyeing these soft, flexible neoprene bags for about a year, unsure if I'd find it usable. After dragging around a backpack, it seems there IS a better way to carry just another lens (and some small items).

I seem to wait until something's discontinued before I decide I want it. The cover

I wanted reminds me of Japanese yen (funny, Shootsac calls this print "Money").

When we were kids living in Japan, I was fascinated by the hole in this coin.

The rep found ONE of these discontinued covers in a warehouse.

Matt -- thanks for tracking this down and the great customer service!

UPS delivered this

Yay! It has my name on it!

Such a pretty box

The baroque black-and-white pattern here

is their best selling bag cover

Although I prefer plain things ... especially, black

But, here's the coveted yen pattern. Nice.

Lauren modeled it for me

For info on the Shootsac, click here.

Sprinkles Cupcakes

We drove to Sprinkles Cupcakes in Newport Beach during a break in one of Lauren's basketball tournaments. I quickly shot these (it was crowded and cramped in a small area. Also, people give you a funny look when you photograph your food).

I heard the buzz about these uber-decadent cupcakes that originated in Beverly Hills. The Sprinkles trademark is their modern dot (or Belgian chocolate sprinkles, or sugar decorations), indicating the flavor of the cupcake.

This is the sign outside the entrance

Tangy Key Lime

Chai Latte

The sign on the glass window showcasing the cupcakes

Dark Belgian chocolate sprinkles

Strawberry

Marshmallow

Rows and rows of cupcake mixes

This wall is behind the counter -- printed with their cupcake flavors.

This one (or that one?)

I wanted ONE cupcake, but couldn't decide.

Kirk had to decide for me.

What a pretty label

My treat was wrapped inside this glassine bakery bag

Ta da! The selection is ... Key Lime.

Goodbye, Sprinkles Cupcakes.

Ahem. My soon-to-be-married niece promised Auntie Nems and me that we'd get cupcakes from the reportedly-better original Beverly Hills location. Mel?

Pinkberry-lishous

Stopped at Pinkberry at The District in Irvine couple weeks ago. For me, it's the ultimate in fro-yo goodness!

When I see this sign, my heart kinda skips

I like the clean lines and modern feel in this shop

Cool pattern of green circles on the order counter

Oh. Kirk's already got his order! See the GPS in front of him?
He's trying to figure out where we go from here.

Love the clean wavy lines of this beautiful fixture

The furniture is clean and artsy. The chairs remind me of lime lollipops.

The green dots on the glass cast a pretty colored shadow inside

So many fresh and delicious toppings. How to choose?
My very favorite is pomegranate and original flavors swirled together. Then, toppings of blueberries, mango, and mochi.

Yumm! Worth the wait!

Grunge Photo Mask (Clipping Masks)

Day Four Assignment from Jessica's class was about clipping masks. We used a grunge photo mask to create a distressed edge to photos.

Last weekend, we were in the backyard when Lauren was pulling her hair into a ponytail. As she lifted her hair, the sun flared behind her head and I shot it. Kinda cool. Not sure why the pink splotch appeared on the cheek, but I think it has grunge-appeal.

Vintage, Hand-Tinted Look

This is the Day Three Assignment (homework caught up!)
I'm not sure if I like it. Maybe the wrong picture?
Maybe operator-error? The goal is for a soft antique feel.

The original unedited photo

The vintage photo (reduced the color saturation and added a pale pink tint to cheeks and lips).

I remember pictures of my mother with VERY pink cheeks and lips.
Long eyelashes hand-drawn, too. She looked beautiful.

You know, Lauren's vintage picture is starting to grow on me.