Chihuahuas.

Whoah. It's been an interesting weekend with my chipoodles. The poodles have behaved exceptionally well this past week but the chihuahuas have been a little mischievous. AGHHH!!! And in the span of less than 24 hours, two of them have managed to traumatize me, literally.

Roberto practically mauled me by biting my lip yesterday evening. I've been bitten before, many times - especially during their "puppy-teething stage." But this time... OUCH!!! It felt like he had torn my lips and I almost thought I'd have to admit to an ER doctor the terror I experienced from my 4 pound chihuahua. Yes, you read right: four pounds. 

Don't let his size fool you... Roberto is a feisty little critter and lovable in his very unique way. But yesterday, yesterday he misbehaved and after I scolded him, I tried to cuddle him and he was not happy. So he bit me, accidentally. Thanks to him, I looked like I had taken a trip to the plastic surgeon for collagen injections. 

My lips are on their way to healing and I no longer give Ms. Jolie a run for her money (hahahahhaa!!). But today, today my other chihuahua traumatized me more than Roberto did yesterday. I almost thought I lost my little Luna but thankfully, she is now okay. 

Thanks to God and Dr. Zamorano at the vet... whew!! My chihuahuas are so tiny yet they fail to realize they can only do so much. They think they are bigger than they really are and often this gets them in trouble... They're more easily prone to scary and dangerous situations. But I think this is why I love my chipoodles so much... they are fearless.

Just like me ;) 

Okay, okay... So I am still very much afraid of many things. But, I am a work in progress. Wink ;)

I realize this post has nothing to do with photography. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I'm sorry... But if you come back tomorrow chances are you'll see this weekend's wedding on the blog :)

Happy Tuesday!

P.S. I thought about posting a photo of my busted lip... but I'll spare you the details... he he :)

Marisol.

There were a few things I wanted to write about for today's blog post but after having a lengthy and insightful conversation this evening with one of my brides {Hi Jennifer!} from earlier this year my gears shifted and I felt like writing about myself. 

Gasp. Don't fret - I'm all about eating a slice of humble pie... so I mostly write this for myself. A reflection; to look back on and remember how far I have come in my life. My life has dramatically changed, both professional and personally, over the past year. I have climbed higher than I ever imagined but I have also fallen deeper than I thought I could. Simultaneously, I have prayed for strength to keep my head up high and keep myself from crying. 

Okay, so I may have failed miserably on the crying part because I have cried, a lot, over the past year. But surprisingly enough, many of those tears have actually been tears of happiness. When I booked my first three thousand dollar wedding, I cried. Well, I jumped up for joy, yelled "Wohooo!" thanked God and cried. In that exact order. 

I am embarking on a new chapter in my life and I AM SO EXCITED for all the good things I am ready to accept in my life!! I have so many dreams and goals... goals and dreams I am ready to accomplish. For so long I felt like my life was on pause. I felt as if someone was holding the remote to my life - aghhh! But I have just realized that no one had me on pause. I have accomplished a goal and have just now realized that. I built a business from something I love.  <--- That deserves a big WOHOOOOOOOO!!!

Dream big! I am :)

I know my future, holds many, many more climbs and falls.  I am ready to embrace them :)

I'm looking forward to Jenny and John's wedding this weekend ;) Yay!!! Have a good night :)

President.

As the first college graduate in my family, I served as a guinea pig for my three younger brothers. I succeeded and failed and lived to tell about it. College was so new to me and my parents. As a family, we learned the perils of paying tuition, staying up late and paying more tuition :) Being as supportive as they could be, when I asked my parents their thoughts on my joining a sorority they were hesitant. 

I don't blame them. Hey, do you know how sometimes on tv and movies you see a group of boys who live in a house and have parties during college... Can I join one of those groups but for girls?... except they don't live in a house, they don't drink beer and membership will open up doors when I apply to law school. .. 

They said, umm... NO.

I had no idea how to explain the concept of a sorority to my mother nor my dad. How could I justify adding to my collegiate expense? It'll help for when I apply to post-graduate school, tru-uuust me. 

Becoming a Delta Zeta has truly evolved into an amazing decision. My business, this business, jump started with the support of my sorority sisters. I was sure becoming a Delta Zeta would help my career. And it did. Delta Zeta paved the way for my career in a way I never expected it. It steered me in the right direction and because of the support of my sisters, I built a business. And because of my Delta Zeta sisters, my business grew. 

Delta Zeta, Theta Omicron in particular, thank you. 

As an alumnae, I am honored to give back to an organization - a sisterhood, which has helped mold the young woman I am. This is why I am privileged to have been elected as the 2011-2012 Delta Zeta South Texas Alumnae Chapter President. 

Ladies, I am looking forward to another great year!!! Sofia, our previous and first president did an amazing job creating a foundation to build upon. I have some mighty big shoes to fill :)

So tonight, I'd like to share with you some snapshots from our second annual Derby Party in honor of the graduating seniors.

Towards the end, we went a little wedding dress crazy and tried on cute vintage wedding gowns and veils. Hey, a girl can dream can't she?! 

We had a lovely time :) 

Family.

I finally gave my mother her mother's day gift.... Yikes! Thank God I snuck it in before the end of May :) This weekend was the first free weekend I had within the past two months. I planned on spending the days catching up on my sleep, spending time with my family and, did I mention, catching up on my sleep?! 

In actuality, this weekend turned into busy days just as the previous Saturdays and Sundays have been for me. The flip side, I spent all weekend with my mom :) I promised to help her finish her garden for Mother's Day and although we were almost done, there was something missing...

A trellis. She wanted a trellis. I am not a carpenter and no matter how much my dad tries, he would never have had enough time to build it on his own in the coming weeks. So, naturally, I searched and searched and mom found one. We just had to pay for it, oh - and put it together!!!

I love puzzles. I find them exhilarating, challenging and fun. Putting furniture together is like working on a puzzle for me. So of course I was up for the challenge of putting together the trellis.

Have I mentioned I am 5'1.87 and can barely carry my own weight?! There was NO WAY I was going to finish building that thing by myself. Granted I tried, but the boys came to the rescue, whew! Mom's garden truly became a whole family effort this weekend. All of our sweat, figuratively and quite possibly literally - although I promise the boys sweat way more than I do ;) - went into giving mom's beautiful garden the finishing touch she so desired. 

We spoiled my mother this weekend. A trellis, new patio furniture and a yummy dinner thanks to my dad's mad bbq'ing skills... We laughed and joked and over-said way too many Nacho Libre movie quotes the ENTIRE weekend. But we did all that together, like a family.

Together. I am very blessed to have such an unique and loving family. Always here for me no matter what. Always loving me regardless of my failures or success. I love them :)

In the words of Nacho Libre himself, It's Fantastic :)

Mom, I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the boys too ;)

Make this week an amazing one my dear friends!

Itzel+Nathan... Married!!!

WOW!!!

Itzel and Nathan's May 14th wedding was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L and as close as possible to whatever perfection on a wedding day may be.  Truly, if I ever could imagine and describe a perfect wedding it would be the Dunn's. Weather was amazing, location was beautiful, details were adorable and the ambience was absolutely breathtaking. 

I have been anxiously awaiting this wedding for a few months now and I felt so honored to have been asked back after photographing Nathan's sister's wedding back in June last year. I felt like I was part of their family :)

Seriously, I practically wanted to give "Grams," Nathan's lovely grandmother, a hug when I saw her! Thankfully, I held back. But I did not hold back any squeals of joy as I saw Itzel's dream wedding unfold before my very eyes.

If ever a couple could remind me what fairy tale love is like, it is Nathan and Itzel. At some point after the ceremony and right before they cut the cake I remember thinking to myself that I was witnessing true love. Itzel and Nathan are madly in love with one another. Their presence amongst each other is inspiring and gives one hope that love can be tangible when shared with the perfect soulmate. 

Soulmates. That's what Itzel and Nathan are. 

To the newly wed couple, thank you. Thank you for believing in me and trusting me enough to ask me back as your wedding photographer. I am very blessed to have met the two of you and feel honored to have shared with you on your wedding day. Itzel, your attention to detail is impeccable. You planned and executed an amazingly beautiful wedding. Truly a DIY bride, Itzel left me with a smile on my face throughout the day until the very end. 

See for yourself!

Congratulations Itzel and Nathan... I hope you are enjoying your honeymoon!!! Again, Thank you :) Thank you for letting me share with you. I wish you both a blessed and healthy marriage full of happiness and success!!!!

Wohooooo!!! It's almost Friday :)