The Photographer That Convinced Me To Join The Club

Senior year, high school.

Back then I was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina and had already been accepted to Brigham Young University.

Back then I was considering choosing either Humanities, English Literature, or Broadcast Journalism as my major.

That until I joined the Photo Club and we all went as a group to this guy's exhibit.

Source

Steve McCurry. The photojournalist that spinned my world.

If you haven't had a chance, check his work out: it is truly inspiring and evocative. If nothing else, you might have seen this famous portrait, entitled Afghan Girl.

I liked it so much I convinced my entire family to come see it. And in those museum halls is where I felt the power of photographs for the first time.

Here are some of my favorites that I still remember from that exhibit years back:

His use of color and composition, paired with genuine expressions and the fleeting moment is what captivates me in every single one of his portraits.

McCurry's work is unparalleled and I my hope is that more people get exposed to it.



*All images in this post were shared from www.stevemccurry.com and are NOT of my authorship.

Monday Marry Me: Deciding where to go on your Honeymoon

Who has never dreamt of travelling far far away for their honeymoon? I know my little sister's dream used to be to go to Antartica for hers, and I never understood what was so romantic about ice and penguins...As for me I had far too many places in my bucket list to ever decide where to go--as long as I could swim with dolphins and go to some sunny paradise I was good.

When choosing a place to go make sure to talk about your expectations and priorities:

1-Do you value a seclusive spot for relaxation or would you rather spend your days exploring different places and doing fun things together?

2-How many days will you have? How much catching up with school/work will you have to do? Will travel/airport time take away valuable quality time?

3-How much are you willing to spend?

4-Should you go to a place neither has ever been, or would you rather know the place beforehand so there is less stress about how things work?

When I got married it was mid-semester during our midterm exams in college. We basically had one weekend for our honeymoon. Our first idea was to go on a 3-day cruise. The Bahamas or Baja, Mexico? But what if we miss the flight, and then the port?? ...

After a lot of contemplation and research, we decided we valued more quality time together and less travel time. We wanted to enjoy every minute of our honeymoon not having to worry about passports and itinerary. Against all odds (for me) we decided to cozy up somewhere close to where we got married instead of, for instance, going on a cruise.

We drove to a cabin in Park City, Utah, less than an hour away from home. No dolphin-swimming this time.

This was nothing like I had ever planned for myself, 'cause I used to think it was the lamest thing ever NOT to catch a plane for your honeymoon.

Do I regret it? NOT AT ALL!

We decided to choose proximity and simplicity over exotic adventures and lots of travelling. Of course, this isn't ideal for every couple. We were okay with it because as we love to travel anyway, we knew we would get to do fun things together in exotic and paradisiacal places later. The best part? Hardly any travel expenses, and we get to go back there any time now, especially for our anniversaries.

The next summer we got to go to some of the most exclusive beaches in Brazil...not as a honeymoon necessarily, but pretty much. It was all about timing for us. ;)

So when choosing your honeymoon open your possibilities and don't stick to one idea only. Sometimes simple and closer is better, but you might decide that after the stresses of wedding planning and the wedding day all you might want to do is go far far away with your lover to get away from the rest of the world.

Take into consideration that you will be tired after the wedding so you both will need some rest. Wherever you choose to go,  remember that being together and enjoying each other is the most important part of it all. Not the dolphins.

Monday "Marry Me's" - Emerald Green Wedding Inspiration

As I said, I had a surprise awaiting for this Monday. And for next Monday. And the one after that.

In fact, starting TODAY I will be doing an installment of Monday Marry Me's.

Why on Mondays? Is there a better way to start off the week than with the right foot? Any bride or wedding coordinator needs some renewal fuel on Mondays. It freshens life up. ;)

Why "Marry Me's"? Why not?! I may be biased, but cheers for me for coming up with this name that COMPLETELY invites itself for a smile-- I'm lovin' it! xD Besides, as mere inspiration you have complete control over your answer: YES! or NO! (I'll mostly post "Yesses", but occasionally will post a "No-no", just for giggles on a cranky, not-so-merry Monday--pun intended) ;)

Without further ado, this week's Monday Marry Me: 

EMERALD GREEN WEDDING INSPIRATION

Every year Pantone, the world's leader when it comes to color, selects the color of the year. Last year's it was Tangerine Tango (the color on my website, if you haven't noticed). In 2013 it is EMERALD. So don't be surprised if you spot all its shades in your favorite stores: green is in!

Lush, lively, sophisticated, and classically elegant, you can't go wrong with it-- especially when you balance it out in the many details of your special day: from table settings to your own engagement ring!

Sources (from top left to right):

Bridesmaid Look: Martha Stewart Weddings

Table setting: The Knot

Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co. 

Tiered cake: Nine Cakes

Silhouette Table Numbers: The Knot

Headpiece: Rebeca's Creations

Groomsmen in green: Martha Stewart Weddings

What to do with your Valentine's flower bouquet

I was behind my posting, but as I started catching up I also got inspired and decided to post a few extras...if you don't mind, hehe ;)

For those of you that want to enjoy your Valentine's flowers for a little longer, why not try making your own flower arrangements?

This arrangement lasted me 3-4 weeks. The secret? flower food!

As for me, one of my greatest passions is to make flower arrangements for my own home. I actually took a Floral Design class once that taught me all that I know. I'm not saying I'm an expert, but I feel that I could certainly give you some tips as to how to better take care of your flowers and add value--not to mention longevity--to this Valentine's present which appeals to most women.

Here we go:

What you will need:
-flowers (duh)
-vase of your choice (I personally like cube vases, mason jars, or tall bottle ones)
-warm water
-1 flower food package
-flower cutter/plier (scissors or knives could also work, but could damage the stems)
-ribbon (optional)

1. Cut 1-1.5in off the stems, (to get rid of any bacteria that might have been blocking the flower's water suction) Also, avoid doing it with scissors, knife or fingers, they might break the stem. You might consider getting yourself a flower cutter/plier.
2. Strip off (with the cutter, preferably) all the leaves on the part of the stem that might potentially get in contact with the water in the vase (leaves are "great" to attract bacteria to your flowers--no one wants that).
3. Gently strip off any wilted petals that might be damaged (the flowers don't really mind, but dang love feeling pretty again!)
4. Fill your chosen vase with warm/lukewarm water (this helps them hydrate faster than with cold water).
5. Pour the package of flower food in the water and mix it up a bit (this is the secret to making your flowers last for up to two weeks or more!) 
6. Start placing your flowers the way you want them: first "frame" the arrangement with your filler flowers (smaller flowers or greenery), then choose a focal point with your largest/most colorful/prettiest single flower or grouping and place each flower at a time, rearranging them until you feel they "fit" wherever they are.
7. (OPTIONAL) Tie a matching ribbon around your vase--it will give a nice final touch ;)

 Below are some examples of what I've done, and what you could do as well:

These are the flowers my hubby gave me this Valentine's Day (arrangement by me)

Simple way to show off your roses (this took me 5 minutes!)

TIP: As the days go by, some flowers will inevitably wilt faster than others. Don't feel pity and take them off the arrangement so the wilting doesn't "spread" across the other flowers.