The Johnsons

My niece, Melanie, married her high school sweetheart, Greg, on August 15, 2009. The ceremony at The Immacula in San Diego, united them spiritually. The bridal party then made stops throughout San Diego for shots with the photographers and videographers. Later, the reception was celebrated at the Island Club at NAS North Island in Coronado.

The talented videographers at Starcross'd Creative prepared a same-day edit of the clips and photos taken during the wedding day to show family and friends later that day. The rings featured are their actual wedding rings and the initial male voice was Fr. Ramos during the wedding ceremony. It was amazing ... the videographers were busily cutting and piecing together the photos and footage during the reception to show after our meal.

A full version will be ready next month (with a link here). (I just noticed the thumbail of Melanie below. Can you believe J.Lo's makeup artists handled the makeup of the bridal party. Naku!) In the meantime, here's the first edit shown during the wedding reception:

Melanie & Gregory \\ Same-Day Edit from Starcross'd Creative on Vimeo.

A couple shots from this special day:

Sha (One of Mel's Maids of Honor) handcrafted these beautiful invitations and wedding programs

Lauren and her cousin Christopher

Grady, 2 year-old Coin Bearer

Beautiful flowergirl, Elany

Elany carefully holds her bouquet ball

Elany's flowered-headband

Flowergirls (and sisters) Elyza & Elany

Kuya Rudy (my cousin) walks his daughter down the aisle

Mr and Mrs Johnson

Me & Kirk (my cousin loaned me this traditional Filipino barong dress)

Bridesmaid Eileen flashes a smile

This Dad is wondering how his little girl grew up so fast

Cutting the wedding cake (you know what comes up next...)

Lauren with the Greg for the Honeymoon Dance

Tossing the bridal bouquet

For all the wedding day pictures, click here.

Twinkle Toes

I'm not a girly girl. So, God GAVE me a girly girl. Lauren wanted to decorate her new shoes so they'd be ready for school in a couple weeks.

These pink Converse look perfectly fine to me

Don't they look nice with jeans?

She worked on her shoes at the office

In fact, she worked very hard on them, carefully placing the rhinestones

She looks pretty happy crafting her new shoes

Every so often, I'd check on her while she worked

One shoe ... almost done

I thought they looked fine, just out-of-the-box

She felt differently

Lauren loves her new kicks. There she goes, my Twinkle Toes.

Sweet Summer Veggies

In the grocery store, Lauren appeared with sweet peppers (red, yellow and green),

a large onion and two crowns of broccoli. Said she had something in mind for dinner (with leftover chicken). I don't argue with anyone who offers to cook.

When she started sauteing, she asked, "Mama. Aren't you going to take a picture?"

Sure! By the way, the colors of these veggies are beautiful, Lauren.

She added in the tomatoes our neighbor gave us

The cook

The cook and the dishwasher at work. They're ignoring me now.

Guess that means I should help and set the table.

Sunday Breakfast

My least-likely-to-eat-out meal is breakfast. Maybe because it's the easiest to make. Unless the breakfast is something I DON'T make (like biscuits and gravy). So, we went to Yukon Jack's and ordered chicken fried steak with extra gravy, cottage potates, scrambled eggs and biscuits. Yum.

It's a great Sunday morning -- we just finished church, I smell coffee brewing, breakfast was ordered, Lauren's checking the newspaper sale ads next to me, and Kirk's got the sports pages. It's all good.

There it is. Bring it on (with a bowl of gravy, please)

Fat fluffy biscuits

As we were leaving, we saw friends - Ann & Gilbert with their grandson, Brock

Yes, Sunday morning is a good time to go for breakfast.

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.

Anniversary Granola

Last Tuesday, July 28 was our wedding anniversary. Lauren woke up early and made us a surprise breakfast of almond granola topped with fresh blueberries and sliced bananas. What a great way to start the day. Thanks, Lo!

Anniversary Granola

Greg & Melanie

These two have known each other for 13 years. Since high school. Since Melanie's mom picked him out of a crowd of teenagers in her home. Mom picked Greg first -- the nice boy who helped clean up the kitchen. Through the years, Greg dated Melanie while her little brother, Mark, played ever-present youthful chaperone.

Mark is STILL with them, now as friend more than chaperone.

My niece will marry her high school sweetheart next month, on August 15, in

San Diego. I wish them joy as they pursue their new life in marriage together.

Love endures all.

Greg & Melanie

Love IS an exuberant journey!

For all the wedding shower pictures, click here.

Almost Capacia

Weddings are a great thing, aren't they?

Next month, on August 19, 2009, Ronnel and Lauren will be married in Las Vegas. My nephew called last week and said they decided not to wait for a big wedding in two years. Too long. I'm overjoyed for them and look forward to watching them grow in their new life together.

Welcome, Lauren. You're almost Capacia now.

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?