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Hello!  Just popping in to say that all updates from here on out will be directly at my site: http://www.amisinLA.com!  There you can find a link to my RSS feed or if you use Google Reader (that’s what I use to stay up to date with all of the blogs I read), please update it to receive new posts.  See you there!

NEW WEBSITE! amisinLA.com

When I was growing up, we had time limits on the computer.  The internet was dial-up only and when you were online it meant no one else could use the phone.  So my mom imposed limits.  Three hours.  Maybe it was two, who knows.  What I do know is that I regularly went over the limit, and sometimes my little brother and I would get into arguments over who’s turn it was to use the computer.  When one of us had had enough of the waiting, we would saunter over to the phone.  And THREATEN TO PICK IT UP.  If you’ve ever had dial-up, you know what I mean.  It was the worst when I’d be IM-ing a boy I liked and I was sure he was going to say he liked me too, and I’d suddenly hear, “GOODBYE!”.  Most days I would yell and scream and run after my brother, threatening to throw his prized possessions out the window.  Then I’d log back in and the boy would be gone.  Of course.

But even though I did spend a lot of time chatting up boys, most of the time I was busy teaching myself how to code things in simple html.  I had so much fun just going through code for hours and hours and designing each space to be unique.  It was all pretty crude, mind you, but I sure felt like a genius.  Once everything went all CSS, though, I couldn’t keep up anymore.  Since then, I’ve mostly just kept it to simple blogs.

UNTIL NOW.

NOW,  I have my own website!  NOW!  With my own host!  And!  My!  Own!  Domain!

Five paragraphs into this post, let me be the first to welcome you to amisinLA.com!  It took me a liiiiiiiiiiiiiittle more than three hours, but I am SO excited about the outcome.  It’s very simple and streamlined and easy to navigate.  Cool new features include a:  Portfolio?  Check.  Blog?  Check?  Super sweet contact form?  Check!  I feel so professional.  I didn’t even have to use a lick of CSS.

To celebrate the launch, Bryan brought home all of my favorite foods.  He’s really and truly the best.  When we met on the internet (no lie) years ago, dial-up was way beyond a thing of the past.  So fortunately, we never had to worry about my little brother picking up the phone.  Lucky for me, too, because I don’t know what I’d do without him.

 

What the heck, why not?

Every year I set a theme.  2008 was the year of Infinite Possibilities.  2009 was the year of Challenge, and 2010 was the year of Betterment.  I don’t know how I come up with these things, I usually just mull over it for a bit at the end of the year until something feels right.

Yes, I know that if my name were in the dictionary, it would mostly likely be followed by See also: Crazy.

Anyway, this year, looking back on my life in 2010,  I thought the most fitting theme for 2011 would be “What the heck, why not?”.  It basically means when faced with a challenge,  confronting it face on with the attitude of “What the heck, why not?”  When you are scared of doing something, doing it anyway because, “What the heck, why  not?”.  I remember reading a book when I was in elementary school (I forget what it was called) and when the main character was petrified of doing something (I forget what that was too), her dad said to her, “What’s the worst that could happen?  You’ll die.  Do you really think you are going to die?  Probably not”.  It’s not verbatim, and I may not remember the details, but I’ll never forget the sentiment of what he said.   There are a lot of things that I fail to do because of fear, and this year I don’t want fear to stop me.  It’s stupid.  You only live once, right?  Why not do the things that push you and  make you better?  Because I sure don’t want to die tomorrow and think, “Why the heck DID I NOT?”.

So here’s to a year of  getting stuff done.  And also a picture of me on Bryan’s back courtesy of Jocson, because, well, what the heck, why not?

Also, because it is awesome.  And because he and Cindi did such awesome posts recently about US.  Because they are too kind and don’t realize that we are actually undeserving friends.  Thank you guys for being so cool.  Really, we don’t deserve it.  xo

Seattle Couple Photography / Cindi & Chris

You know those people who you completely feel at ease around?  You can just be yourself and act like the total nerd that you are?  That’s Cindi and Chris.  They are so laid back, love to joke around, laugh and are just… in sync.  I’ve known Chris since high school, but met Cindi more recently, and I can say with 100% confidence that they have found The One in each other.  They got married a few months ago and are settling into their new nest, and I was very excited to see their beautiful home and have the opportunity to shoot them in their surrounding neighborhood.  Even more exciting?  Cindi brought cupcakes!  She?  Is awesome.  Chris, you are a lucky guy.

You may know Cindi from her popular blog Simply Cindi.  She didn’t realize just how popular until we sat around the laptop and Chris pulled up her site meter.  She was blown away!

 

So. Freaking. Fierce.

Cheesin.

It was about a bajillion degrees below Celsius, but they make it look easy even while running through the snow.

Chris blogs too, at Jocson.  He is an awesome artist (hopefully I will coerce him to send me some of his graffiti pieces soon- hint hint, Chris) and is also into photography.  He promised to second-shoot for me at my next wedding, so I am going to hold him to that.

Finally,  a potential OOTD (I feel like an insider for knowing that means Outfit of the Day!).

Thanks to Cindi and Chris for braving the cold allowing me to defrost my frozen boots by the fire.  Can’t wait to see you guys again soon!

Tank of Wanderlust

This year Bryan and I have been lucky enough to travel to a number of places: Japan, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Fort Lauderdale, and Seattle.  As much as I love travelling, I’m not going to lie, flying scares the [insert word of choice here] out of me.  It also happens to be the most convenient vehicle to locations that fill my emotional tank of wanderlust.  So the compromise for our latest trek to Seattle was a road-trip.  It would take us longer to get there, but also keep us out of an airplane and away from fellow snoring passengers and the fear of plummeting to our death upon takeoff (oh, wait, that one was just me).

The drive from Los Angeles to Seattle took about twenty  hours.  I’m pretty sure by hour nineteen the hallucinogenic effects were kicking in, because we were getting pretty loopy, but by the time we finally reached our destination it felt like we had really earned it.  The trip also gave us quality time together that we don’t normally get,  and it was great to have the experience together on the open road.

I’m not sure where next year will take us, and it’s never a guarantee that we will travel, but I’m crossing my fingers.  Because keeping that emotional tank from reaching empty is important, I say, and we always love ourselves a good adventure.

Below:  One of my great friends walking around New York looking as chic as always, from earlier this month while we were in NYC.  My absolute favorite image from that trip.

Seattle Family Photography / Maria, Rosa, Abby, and Emely

Maria is the type of person who won’t take no for an answer.  Not when she has her mind set on something.  I should know, we’ve been friends for over half of our lives.    There are too many adventures to count that started with a twinkle in her eye, and because she just wouldn’t take no for an answer.  ”Please, please PLEASE” she would say.  Of course I gave in.  Because the passion that she exuded for whatever crazy argument she was making for her case was infectious.  And hey, I’m still alive, right?

Although times have changed and we live in different states, she’s still my best friend.  Our conversations still last three hours at a time.  I still can translate the secret language that only she speaks in.  She still knows exactly what I’m going through when I think that no one can possibly understand.  Her family is my family and I’ve seen them grow so much over the years.  Her sisters have become mature, sweet, beautiful girls who I couldn’t be more proud of.  Her mom is still hilarious and fortunately thinks I’m hilarious.

When we all met for the shoot, I was a little worried about rain.  Because first, it started to trickle.  Then, a light shower.  Next thing you know it’s like a full-on hurricane.  But Maria was determined.  We took some photos under a gazebo before she suggested making a run for our cars and heading over to the ferry building.  Which, by the way, still wasn’t completely covered.  Through the frigid cold, the girls were all troopers and between chattering of teeth and frozen fingers, somehow managed to look completely amazing.  Maybe it’s because I know and love them all so much, but I have to say these are some of my favorites to date.  Thanks to Rosa, Abby, and Emely for laughing at my dumb jokes and not throwing me into the water when I suggested we keep shooting.  And shooting.  And shooting.  And to Maria, for who even in the face of mother nature, wouldn’t take no for an answer.

 

Believe it or not, it was beyond raining.

Emely is the youngest.

and thinks I’m funny!

Emely with Abby, the middle child.

So pretty!

Abby with Maria, the oldest and very determined.

All together.

More proof that I’m hilarious (because clearly, this is all about me)

Rosa, the matriarch.  Having a good time.

So fierce.

Continuing with the fierceness.

Kaboom.  Fierce overload.

 

Holiday Portrait

My parents saved all of the good-looking genes for when my brother was born.  THANKS A LOT, PARENTS.

In all seriousness, Happy Holidays, everyone!  I hope you’re having a great time where ever you are!

Fort Lauderdale Wedding / Colleen and Gio

She was positive that he was going to faint.  Recounting how nervous he was at their rehearsal dinner, Colleen was sure that Gio was going to lose it the day of their wedding.  As she got ready, she asserted that various parties had been alerted to be ready for when it happened.  With cameras.  Mark her words, he was going to go down.

It comes as no surprise, though, to anyone that knows her, that as she and Gio turned to face each other during their first look, Colleen burst into tears and Gio stood, face high above the pavement, with a Cheshire grin.

That’s them, though.  They tease and poke fun at each other, but also quietly and lovingly support one another.  As Colleen cried, Gio held her, endeared by her tears.

Colleen and Gio, your love is inspiring.  Thank you for inviting me to document your day and trusting me to do so.  I couldn’t have asked for a better couple to have the opportunity to shoot as my first wedding.  I hope you enjoy your first Christmas together, and know that your ornament will be proudly hanging on our tree for years to come.

The tears!

Look at how they look at each other!  So cute.

Colleen’s Matron of Honor made the out-of-this-world delicious cupcakes (I may have had two of the peanut butter chocolate).  Word is that she is starting her own business soon!

The flowers were also done by a friend of Colleen’s.

Mother of the Bride, Janie.

Father of the Bride, Peter.

Well, look who it is.

I love how Peter is looking and Colleen in the above photo.

Proud Dad.

Christmas Dinner

If you read my last post you’ll know that Bryan was working on a super secret project shrouded in mystery (mystery… mystery…) but now it’s all finished and ready to see!  He participated  in an art show put together by Cecil Kim (who, by the way, is an amazing and super talented concept artist).  The theme was “Forgotten Creatures of Winter Wonderland” and I think that Bry did a fantastic job.  In his piece, an underground creature lures in its prey by contorting its tongue into the shape of a woman.  You can imagine what happens next.

Bry working diligently on the finishing touches.  See if you can find where he cleverly left his signature.

It was his first time doing a piece in water color, believe it or not (he is a 3D Environment Artist so he primarily works digitally).

The monster having already consumed a few victims is about to get another helping.

The “woman” doing her thing.  I love the little photographer (of course).

The piece is currently showing at LiliYa in Downtown LA and if you are interested, available for purchase.  Speaking of which, I really need to finish (ahem, start) my Christmas shopping.  I should probably get on that.

Friendless Losers (obviously)

So, I debating writing this post for fear that it would make me look like all I ever do is hang out with Bryan.  You know, because he’s made an appearance in three out of three of the last three posts.  I was like, “GAH!  I totally have other friends, I PROMISE!”  But then I realized that you know what?  The past few weeks all we have been doing is work and work and, oh hey can you stop moving a second so I can take your picture?  Thanks.  Oh wait, can you please…  Why are you looking at me like that?!  I’m PRACTICING!  Two inches in front of your face is totally not invading your space!  Okay, fine, resume your painting.

Yeah, that’s what i’s been like around here.  Actually, that’s probably what it’s always like around here.

But whatever, we hang out a lot together, who cares.  I LIKE HIM, OKAY?!

Not gonna lie, though, more than anything I just really wanted to post the image below.  Graininess and all.

Isn’t he handsome?  He also happens to be very nice, too.

And while I’ve been working on photography related things, Bry’s been hard at work on a super secret project!  Super secret.  So secret it’s a secret that it’s a secret.

Okay fine, twist my arm, it’s for an art show.  Sigh.  I’m too easy.

Watercolor swatches for the piece:

Hopefully when he’s finished he’ll let me post it.  But until then, it will remain shrouded in mystery (mystery… mystery…).

Maybe next post Bry will even get a break from being pimped out on the internet.  But hey, I’m not making any promises.

iPhoning It In: Star*bucks

Holy crap it is cold.  COLD.  We’re in LA and I’m wearing socks 24-7.  My scarves are in full rotation,  my hands are like blocks of ice, and I think I’ve officially developed an addiction to Starbucks’ Calm tea.

I should probably mention that this is all at home.  The socks, the scarves, the icy hands, the tea.  All at home.  Why?  Because we have failed for weeks to get our repairman to fix our heating system.  Therefore, hanging out at home is much like… hanging out in a refrigerator.  Side note: we are dumb.

Anyway, it’s Thanksgiving break and I’m not very good at doing nothing for long periods of time, so I decided to continue taking advantage of learning online learning.  Under two blankets, in bed.  That’s right, the future is now.  Recently I’ve been taking Jasmine Star’s Creative Live course online and it is awesome.  SO awesome (Creative Live is an online global classroom where they offer creative workshops for free.  Since I was out of town during the live feed, I opted to download it after the fact).  I feel like in a matter of weeks  I’ve learned so much about photography and the business of wedding photography in particular that I never knew before.  I’ve had so many a-ha moments, creative and technical breakthroughs, and I’m pretty sure if I say Jasmine’s name one more time, Bryan is going to ask for my ring back.

Just kidding.  Maybe.  I won’t test him.

Truly, though, it’s been so great and I can’t wait to share the things I’ve been learning and applying.  Creatively, the past few weeks I feel like I’ve grown exponentially.  This past year in general has been amazing as far as how excited I’ve been to keep going with shooting.  I failed to mention this in my past blog because I’m lame and forget to post my thanks in my Thanksgiving post, but I really am so grateful.  Of course for my family, friends and fiance (I love you all), but also to have photography as something that I love, am excited about, and want to continuously grow and get better at.  For having the readers (however few!) who continue to come back to my little corner of the internet and encourage me.  Thank you.  I really, really do appreciate it.  I hope to have many more adventures to share.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand as warm and fuzzy as I feel right now, it’s still COLD AS A MOTHER.  So I think I’m going to get back to my classroom (ie under the covers), before my fingers turn into icicles.

P.S.  The beautiful, wonderful, and talented Turna WAS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!  So awesome!!!!!  Did I mention awesome?  Yeah, just awesome.

Our trip to Starbucks.  Because it’s warm (-er than our apartment).

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving?  Definitely one of my favorite holidays.  This year, like last, our friends were gracious enough to host and we all made dinner together.  Bry prepared the turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole; I made the gravy and guacamole (yes, guacamole), and our friends contributed everything from pies to stuffing to cranberry relish and so many different things in between.

Everything was delicious.  Bryan was very excited about his straight-from-the-can cranberry jelly.   I would laugh at him, but I can’t.  Primarily because we had fresh bread on hand and I chose Crescent rolls instead, also from the can.  What can I say?  Old habits die hard.

After dinner, we all sat around as the food coma settled in and groaned over how much we had eaten.  The guys played video games and the girls talked girl-talk.

And after our bellies deflated a bit?  …we went back for seconds.

…and also pie.

…and maybe ice cream.

I also considered chewing on this adorable face (the puppy’s, you weirdos) but decided it wouldn’t go well with gravy.  …on second thought, what am I talking about?  Everything goes well with gravy!

Granola and Bling

Often the best things in life really are the little things.  A favorite blog being updated, the scale reading a pound less than the day before, the feeling of snuggling into sheets that have been freshly tumbled with fabric softener. I think they’re what make me the happiest because they’re like little surprises.  And personally, I love me a good surprise.

So you can imagine my glee when I not only found myself gifted with a mason jar full of home-made granola this week (thank you Nikki!) but also, a ring!  A friend found out that I liked a piece of jewelry that her husband had crafted (because a mutual friend had told her so) and she must have told her husband this because the next thing I know I turn around one day and she is holding a small package in front of me.  I open it up, and there it is.  A simple, silver ring with a lion stamped into it.  I was so excited because I had been admiring it, but more than that, I was surprised that she would do that for me.  For me!!  Like what the heck did I do to deserve that?  I don’t know, it’s just so cool.  It’s what I secretly covet and maybe even wish for, but it is never something that I ever expect to actually happen.

So you know, the little things.  I encourage you to do them for others.  Because they sure are awesome when they happen to you, too!

Wedding day

Bryan and I are getting married.

Uh, someday.

You may have noticed my mentioning of Bryan as my fiancee here on the blog, and well, it’s true.  We are getting married.  We just don’t know when, why, how or where.  We’ve been engaged for some time now and planning just keeps getting pushed off.  We just can’t seem to make any decisions.  Actually, it’s probably more like I can’t make any decisions.  Because we brainstorm ideas of what we want together, and then by the next day the ideas have been thrown out the window.  Bry is pretty much up for anything and me?  Well, I want it all.  I’m not really sure what all is, but I want it.  I want a nice wedding, but on a budget.  I want to DIY everything, but also have all the time to do so.  I want everyone to be there, but have it be very small.  Do you get where I’m going here?  I am basically crazy and poor Bryan is along for the ride (which by now is news to no one).

Someday (soonish I hope) we will get it figured out.  But!  In the meantime, Bryan’s sister Colleen (hi Colleen!) and her fiancee Gio are also getting married!  Soon, too!  They are much more organized, decisive,  and proactive than we are, and have been planning diligently for some time.  Which is awesome, right?  Getting things done.

But what’s EXTRA awesome, is that they asked ME to be their photographer!  As in shoot their wedding!  As in following them around with a camera!  As in giving me the power to potentially ruin a lifetime of memories!   (Just kidding, guys!)

Seriously, though, how great is that?  I am definitely super nervous, and sometimes just want to vomit from fear, but more than anything I’m excited.  To have a couple trust you enough to capture moments that they will remember for the rest of their lives is such a huge honor.  And you know, Bryan and I may not have our own wedding figured out, but if there is one thing that I do know, it’s that I will do everything in my power to shoot Colleen’s and Gio’s like I would own.  Meaning, I will not rest until I have it all.  Or, well, at least shot it all.  Because like I said: I am crazy.

iPhoning it in: Cafe Inspiration

Today was that kind of day.  The kind of day that just feels necessary after a grueling week, after you’ve wanted to pull out all of your hair and leave yourself bald.  After you look around your apartment and realize that you now live in a dump from days of neglect.  After you’ve hit your threshold of tolerance about twelve thousand times over and have spent a long time crying.  It’s the type of day that recharges and re-ignites the creative passion in you.

For me, it means sipping hot white peach tea on the patio of a cafe.  That cafe may happen to be next door to a ridiculously cute vintage-inspired ice cream shop.   It may or may not be impossible to keep yourself from ordering two scoops from said ice cream shop.  But what makes it even better is that you were able to find a copy of Southern Weddings that you were sure wasn’t distributed where you live, but is.  And you read it cover to cover and it exceeds every single one of your expectations.  All of the photography, writing, layout and carefully selected details blow your mind, and it’s not long before you’re so excited that you look at your fiancee with a crazy look in your eye and ask him to pack up all of his things so you can drive home and start creating.  It’s that inspiring.

Today was that kind of day.

Clockwise from top left: Bry had a cappuccino (the coffee art is irresistible); My tea, shared passion fruit and chocolate macarons, and amazing Southern Weddings; Signage for the cafe; Raspberry cheesecake and pumpkin ice cream.

Do you use the Hipstamatic?  It’s arguably my favorite iPhone app, although I must say, Angry Birds is preeeeetty addicting.

Dude. Or Do-od.

Sometimes I just feel compelled to do something.  A lot of the time I don’t even really know what that means.  It’s kind of embarrassing, really.  I feel like I have so much energy to expel, but I’m not able to produce anything.  I was having one of those moments tonight.  I just walked around our place shooting random things.  Hoping that something would inspire… something.  I think that’s what photographing things does for me, it gives me a way to manifest whatever creativity that I feel like I have dancing around inside.

I’m not really a fan of reading about people and creativity and blah blah blah.  But, it’s what was on my mind tonight.

Okinawa Photography / Ken M

Hello, blog.  Long time no see, yet again.  This time I’m back with some images from Japan, but not of Japan.  Those photos are still on the back-burner,  but in the meantime I wanted to share a few portraits that I took of my brother on a hot, humid day, when we all lazily laid around my Grandma’s new house.  In other words, we were bored.  Regardless, I had been meaning to take some shots of my brother, [instead of the usual shots at my brother (harhar-- although in actuality it's probably the other way around)] and these stood out to me.

My relationship with Ken is a funny one.  We’ve spent most of our lives fighting, chasing each other around and screaming at the top of our lungs.   There are times when we’ve sat talking for hours about everything and nothing, and times still when we go without speaking for weeks or months on end.  Sometimes on purpose, sometimes not.  At the end of the day, though, above all else we’re family.  Because of that I know that I can count on him no matter what, and he’ll always be there for me.  Even if we do occasionally want to punch each other in the face.

Ken spends most of his time at the gym, and also working on  intimidation expressions (see “the look” in the above, and following photos).

 

We thought it would be funny one year to buy him an In and Out shirt and tell him that’s all we got him for Christmas.  Yeah, too bad he already saw the PS3 in the closet.  Whomp, whomp.

The intimidation continues…

…until you realize he’s actually a nerd like the rest of us.  Heh.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand one more from another day when the light was ridic.  Love this photo.

Thanks for being a good sport, homie, and hopefully we’ll see you soon!

Back to Business

It’s been almost two months since my last post.  Crazy.  Things have been pretty busy around here lately with work, a trip to Japan, and other things that I can’t think of right now.  I’m not sure how it’s possible to not remember what I’ve been up to, but I guess that best summarizes how exhausted I have been as of late.  I was originally going to post some photos from the Motherland, but condensing that trip into a post is a feat that I’m not yet ready to take on.  Instead, I’ll leave you with the image below.

Bry and I have been working hard to make our place somewhere that we can truly relax and feel at home.  This weekend we finally got around to setting up a table-space in the kitchen where we can have our meals (as opposed to our office desks or on the couch in front of the TV).

When things feel chaotic and out of control, it really is the little things that help you feel better and breathe.

[The flowers are from a kit that I made a few years ago, the green milk glass is from my mom, the elephant makes me happy (and hopefully tea someday too), the coaster is from a hundred yen shop in Japan, and the blue table cloth is from Bryan's mom who brought it home from a trip to France]

iPhoning it in: Where everyone knows your name

There’s a cafe nearby that Bry and I frequent.  It’s both quiet and bustling at the same time, the food is phenomenal, and everything is consistent.  I remember hearing that the secret to McDonald’s is it’s consistency, and I believe it, because honestly?  When I am having a particularly stressful week, all I crave is consistency.  And this place delivers.

The biggest constant is our waiter.  Well, he’s usually our waiter and sometimes our heckler.  He always tells us about his week, makes us laugh, usually will make fun of us, and gives us a hard time for showing up for breakfast… at noon.

He may have a point.

Anyway, recently I celebrated my birthday, and of course in the midst of change in age, I really wanted things to feel the same.  So I ordered the same thing that I always order, Bryan ordered something different like he always orders.  I also thought I’d have a drink that was a special for the summer, but they were out that day.  Bryan thought it would be funny to give the waiter a faux guilt trip since he’s always giving us a hard time about this or that.  He feigned pain that they were out on my birthday when that was the one thing that I wanted (oh how could I possibly live without that drink).  We all laughed and the waiter asked if it really was my birthday (we joke so much that I don’t think any of us know when the others are serious) before wishing me a happy one.

Bryan and I kept eating and chatting as our waiter tended to the other customers, and the next thing you know?  The wait staff are all by our table with a slice of cobbler in hand, topped with a candle.  They sang happy birthday to me as I buried my face in my hands.  I wasn’t embarrassed so much as touched that they would do that.  Because I have never seen that done there before, in all the time we’ve been going.  It was in that moment that I felt special,  like a regular.  And like everyone knew my name.

iPhone photo: Breakfast (okay, brunch) of champions.

Venice Pet Photography / Eli and Luna M

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted a dog.  As a kid I would go to the school library and check out as many books as I could about them.  Every week I’d turn them in, only to turn around and check them back out.  It got to the point where the librarian knew me as the dog book girl.  I was embarrassed (for a minute), and then just kept checking them out.  I remember writing an essay and giving it to my dad, hi-lighting the reasons why I would be a great owner.  I even kept a pocket size, “There Are No Bad Dogs” book on me.  Needless to say, I was crazy about dogs!

I think my obsession was heightened because of the fact that because we lived in an apartment on a military base (in Japan), we weren’t allowed to have large(ish) pets.   So my young self held out for the day that we would move to the U.S. and we would have a house, a yard, and…  a dog.

Of course we did eventually move to the States, but due to this reason or that, I never got one.  I went to college, then started working, and now, NOW,  live in yet another no-pets complex.

Sigh.

But, lucky for me, I have friends with dogs.  One of said dogs is Luna.  She belongs to my friends Eli and Cindy, and is the sweetest dog imaginable.  She is playful and so cute–  her eyes bulge clear out of her head.  Her bark is less like a bark and more like a low, rumbling, continuous howl.  She is awesome.  Just the kind of dog I’ve always wanted.

She has this neat Puppia harness on that’s easy to clip her leash on and off from.  I’m a sucker for simple logos and design.

Eli was holding her and her eyes were slowly starting to open and close, open aaaaaaaaand…  okay, still open.

AND NOW EXTRA OPEN!  Look at her awesome bulgey-blue eye!

How very regal, miss.

Looks tasty.

I think my favorite of the day.  Her paw is so adorable.

Luna said something hilarious.  Eli clearly thinks so.

Thanks to Luna for being so loveable, and extra thanks  to Eli for being the wrangler/stage dad!  :)