O.K., so there is definitely a whole new level of craziness that happens at the two week mark.  I don't know what it is, but suddenly all the balances are due, there is the final dress fitting, shoes, rings and all the little details that you sort of put off until well, now!  And they all need to be done - YESTERDAY.  I've been buried in itineraries, excel sheets, mp3's and contracts for the past week.  

Even though we're having a very intimate wedding, you still have to do everything you would do if you were having 200 people.  So, even though it's simple & small all the details have to be done - the timelines, set-up, pick-up, and the take down all have to be coordinated.  And all of the guests need to know where they're going and how to get there...My friend and wedding coordinator extraorinaire, Kerry Lee, is so kindly gifting her services to me - and it is so apparent that I need it!  

I am around weddings all the time.  But you really don't realize all the nitty, gritty details you have to do until YOU have to do it.  I think it's kind of like giving birth - you don't know what it's like until you've done it.  

That being said, I can't wait to give birth - oh, wait - I mean get married!  O.K., we are really getting off track here.  :)  

Is it 8-8-08 yet?

Also, because this is a photography blog I had to find some fun photos to go with this post.  I chose these from a fishing trip that Mark and I went on last summer.  It's funny to look back at this trip because this was probably the one time when Mark really had doubts if he could ever marry me.  I just couldn't get the worm on the hook!  It was horrible. It completely grossed me out to put a live worm, on a hook and see it's guts squirt out everywhere.  I was squeeling.  I love how I am not even touching the fish in the picture of us holding it - look, I'm just framing Mark's hand.  LOL.  We have come a long way - but I'm still not too fond of worms or live fish.  But, I guess he loves me anyway!

Oh, on a random totally off-topic-note...Angie and Joe's wedding was just featured on Bride's Cafe, which is a great online source for brides.  Janie with Medley Flora Design does an amazing job updating the blog and featuring some truly inspiring weddings!  Check it out! Thank Janie!

I come from a very long line of distinguished pie makers.  I can hardly call myself one, but someday I hope that I can.  My Nanny has always been known for her pies.  We always laugh that she can make a pie out of anything - and if she doesn't have a key ingredient, that usually doesn't stop her.  She is the master of abandoning a recipe.

She is always in charge of making the pumpkin pies for our Thanksgiving feast and I feel like every year, she makes one more than last year.  We all tell her, "Hmm, is 4 really going to be enough?  Maybe you should make 5, just to be safe."  And it's not like we have any more people - just more pies.

For some reason, pie is very big in our family.  It is very acceptable and we were actually encouraged to eat any left over pie for breakfast.  In fact, it was often about who could get up the earliest to snag that last lingering piece.  My little brother always wanted pumpkin pie for his birthday instead of cake.  I'll never forget when I found him, probably no more then 2 or 3 years old, sitting on the kitchen floor with one of mom's homemade pumpkin pies.  He was eating it by the handful right out of the middle.    

I made a peach pie this morning.  I knew I had to make one when Mark looked at me with longing eyes at the Farmer's Market, and then looked longingly at the crate of discounted, over-ripe, "GREAT FOR PIES" peaches!  They looked so sad and unwanted and just swelling with sweet juices.  

This morning, when I was covered in flour from head to toe, I realized that creating the perfect crust is a litte bit like conducting a science experiment.  You have to get everything just perfect (the amounts, the temperature, etc.) or it just doesn't work.  I felt a little out of practice and the crust seemed extra flacky and hard to roll out.  

It is always humbling making a pie.  It makes me appreciate my mom and Nanny's pie-making skills - and hope that I will inherit them someday!  Oh, well!  I guess a little piece of humble pie is good every once in awhile - I just hope it tastes good.  :)

What is your favorite type of pie?

I know, I know...this isn't the typical post I write after my oh-so-dreaded ocean swim that I do on Wednesday nights.  But, this Wednesday was different.  No, I didn't get out of ocean swimming if that's what you're thinking.  I did it.  I focused, I breathed, I swam - and I did it.  I came in like 20th to last place out of 200 swimmers. Not bad, eh?  Hey, don't answer that.  :)  If you must know, I always make up for my incompetence as a swimmer during the run.

I usually fling myself across the finish line in complete desperation.  I know having to stretch my legs out one more time might cause me to loose everything I have inside of me.  And, yes, just to clarify, I do PAY to do this and I do it for FUN.  On any normal night, we would begrudginly saunter over to a line where runners are holding their coveted golden tickets in their sweaty hands.  

I am always completely red-faced, out of breath, there is a thin layer of salt forming all over my body and I'm looking around for anything in sight that I can consume that might satisfy my thirst.  But, alas we all wait in this line - kind of like animals.  It's feeding time.  I'm always less than thrilled with the soggy, non-flavored wrap they throw in the card-board container.

But, this Wednesday would prove to be the best ending of all.  There was going to be no waiting in line tonight.  I was instructed by Mark to go home, shower and I would receive a call with where I was to go next.

When I received the call, I was told to head to Hendry's Beach, hit the sand, take a right, and start walking.  It was high tide, my freshly showered legs were getting covered in salt water (again), the sun was setting, and my heart was racing with curosity.

A ways down the beach, I saw Mark, with his boyish grin, I saw a box of our favorite pizza and there were candles stuck in the sand that wouldn't light.  The sun was slinkering down to her resting place.  We sat on a familiar fleece blanket, sipped sparkling cider and celebrated life - and pizza.  

It was a full moon.  It's so funny because most people look up to a full moon and make a wish (or is that shooting star?), but I sat under it and wanted nothing more. EXCEPT...for a piece of dark chocolate, that Mark excitedly whipped out of the bag at the perfect moment.  I think I feel in love with him all over again.  And that's what life is all about, right?  Falling in love, over and over again.  

I wish for many more full moons that are showered with a little dark chocolate and a whole lotta love.

It was a magical, sunny, warm and just plain incredible day.  I felt like we were on top of the world.  And in some respects, we were.  There was not a cloud in the sky and the cool ocean breeze swept peacefully over the rolling hills.  It reminded me of why I love the ocean so much...the ebb and flow, the constancy, the smell, the breeze, the magnitude...!  Orella Ranch is perched high above Refugio Beach just north of Santa Barbara.  From the top you feel like you can almost see across the Pacific.  

Angie and Joe were high school sweethearts.  It's a story that is so fun to tell.  More than anything, I love that I got to play some little part in their promise of forever.  Angie and Joe's love is so alive.  You can feel the depth and comfort that they find in each other's arms.  Angie is just as giddy around Joe as I'm sure she was many moons ago...  I find it so refreshing!  

Even though we were on a hillside that looked out to vastness of the wide open ocean and forever blue sky - Angie and Joe's love was seen and felt as far as the eye could see.  It was a celebration of their love and a wonderful remembrance of those that had been left behind.

It was a classy, beautiful event that was also good for the environment.  Whoever said, GREEN weddings aren't beautiful?  Their inviations were made of wildflowers that could be planted, all of the flowers used for the wedding were organic, local flowers and the succulents could all be replanted and enjoyed - even the brides bouquet could be planted again.  All of the guests received a, "plant a tree box".   The guests were required to take a shuttle to the wedding and reception site and all of the unused food was sent to be composted.  It was truly a GREEN wedding and one did really, really well!

The day couldn't have happened without all of the great people at Orella Ranch.  Terra Malia Designs of Loa Tree did the wonderful, unique array of flowers.  Pure Joy did the amazing food and coordination of the reception.  It was a truly fabulous event.

CLICK HERE FOR A SLIDESHOW OF THE DAY!!!

1.  I've been more interested in reading others blogs, than writing on my own.  I think that's been apparent.  

2.  Last Wednesday at Nite Moves, Amy, Mark and I began to lay our swimming/running gear down on the small grassy patch of land.  It was a chilly day, the clouds hung low and there was a cool breeze that made it seem like we were headed out into the waters of Antarctica.  I don't know what was in the air and no one wanted to admit it - but we just didn't feel like swimming that day.  There was an awkward silence as we unpacked our bags.  Then, as I hesitantly looked out to sea - I began to see these HUGE rolling waves - we're talking tsunami style.  Have you ever seen the movie White Squall?  I rubbed my eyes, it just couldn't be...  The sea became this uncontrollable monster that wanted to swallow me up.  But, what was so weird, was that Mark and Amy saw it too.  So either we had become the same person or we somehow saw the ocean through the same set of eyes that day.  Needless to say, we skipped the swim.  Whew, I'm glad I go that off my chest.

3.  I have a new obsession with DARK chocolate ZONE bars.  I'm eating one right now.

4.  I haven't written my vows yet.  And it's not because I don't love him, it's becasue I love him too much.  I don't know if words will ever suffice.

5.   I'm so excited to release my new website, I could just scream and then eat another dark chocolate zone bar.

6.  I cried at last Saturday's wedding.  The vows were beautiful.  How am I going to hold it together at my own wedding?

7.  Do you need more?  Geesh people, I'm giving you everything...

8. O.K., one more - I've really been loving the song, I'm Yours by Jason Mraz.  I think I've listened to it about 428 times in one week.  So, if I know me, I'll kill it by the end of this week and never want to listen to it again.  Great.

It's all about the test shot.  Here is us getting the light just right this past Saturday.  I am so envious of Mark's ability to make funny faces.  I not very good at it.

Mark going to all lengths to get the shot...!  I love it...