Written by Candace on March 17, 2016 | 3 Comments

2016 Spring Bucket List

tree-hr

This Sunday is the first day of Spring! Since having Rose, life seems to be passing by even faster than before.

When we first started our business, our work/life balance was definitely tipped more towards the work side. But we eventually reached a point of burnout and now we are much more intentional about taking time to play. I don’t know about you, but when I have a free day I’m often sitting around trying to think of something to do. And this usually ends up wasting valuable free time. I started writing seasonal bucket lists as a way to prepare ahead of time so we can hit the ground running on our days off. We can check the weather and our energy levels and just pick one of the items on our list. I think it also helps to fully embrace then season we’re in and make the most of our days together. With all that being said, here’s my Spring Bucket List.

2016 Spring Bucket List

1. Plant our garden seedlings to prepare for a summer harvest.

2. Watch Rose attempt her first Easter egg hunt.

3. Travel to Portland to see grandma….and eat donuts!

4. Clean up the backyard and put up stringed lights to prepare for BBQ season.

5. Picnic in San Francisco at a park we’ve never been to before.

6. Research local farms and find out where you can purchase raw dairy products.

7. Host a Giants Home Opener party.

8. Celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with intention…and rest!

9. Family Field Trip to hike the Twin Peaks Summit.

10. Go antiquing with mom in a small California town.

11. Schedule a Saturday morning girls’ brunch with friends.

12. Spend a day in the city with Vitaliy doing the walking tour Amy told us about.

13. Host a playdate.

14. Shop the local farmer’s market and cook with seasonal fruits and veggies.

15. Grab lunch at Hog Island Oyster Farm in Marshall, on Tomales Bay.

Am I missing anything? Any tips for my bucket list items? What are your plans for this Spring season? Leave me a note – I’d love to hear from you!

For inspiration, you can also check out our last year’s summer bucket list.

Chime in or Share

Written by Candace on March 15, 2016 | 3 Comments

Our Little Marriage Tip

If you have been reading along for awhile now, you know that our marriage started during very difficult circumstances.

We were navigating through some of life’s hardest challenges (i.e. death, a big move, parenting, etc) all at once. Long, difficult conversations were necessary and they occurred regularly. It was the only way we were able to stay connected and continue fighting together against the odds. But a pattern began to emerge and thankfully Vitaliy caught it early on.

We started noticing that whenever we had serious conversations late in the evening, they usually didn’t end well and progress wasn’t made. It’s hard to think clearly or argue well when you’re tired. So, Vitaliy suggested we implement a new rule for our marriage:

No serious conversations after 9pm.

At first, I hated this rule. Vitaliy would throw it out in the middle of a conversation, when he could sense where things were headed, and it infuriated me. How could he stay so calm? How could he go to bed without resolving this? But we kept the rule and I slowly began to see the pattern I wasn’t able to see earlier.

And now, almost 10 years into our marriage, I have a feeling this rule has saved us many times from unnecessary fights or hurting each other with our words. It’s not about avoiding the difficult conversations or just “letting it go”, it’s about holding off until we’re both able to invest our very best into the conversation.

So, that’s it, our little marriage tip, no serious discussions after 9pm. It will prevent a world of miscommunication and unnecessary arguments.

What about you…any little marriage tips or rules you and your spouse follow that you swear by? Leave me a note!

Photo from 2010

Chime in or Share

Written by Candace on March 9, 2016 | Chime in

Ruby Hill Golf Club Wedding
Jared & Janice

I know there are Wayback Wednesdays and Throwback Thursdays, but isn’t there something for Tuesdays…TakeMeBack Tuesdays?

Because I’d love to go back to Janice and Jared’s wedding. Everything about these two was marked by ease and that’s exactly what their wedding day felt like. Easy breezy. They were married at the beautiful Ruby Hill Golf Club. And remember how I mentioned having your ceremony and reception at the same location relieves stress? That’s exactly how it worked for Janice and Jared at Ruby Hill. They had a beautiful outdoor wedding just as the sun was setting, followed by the biggest dance party celebration afterwards. No matter the age of the wedding guest, every single person was on the dance floor that night! It was unforgettable.

Jared and Janice, let’s go back! Can we just do it all over again? Because you two were a joy to work with and we need more Janice and Jared in our lives. Thanks again for choosing us to be your wedding photographers. It was a joy! I hope you enjoy reminiscing your big day as much as we have preparing this post.

Many thanks to a great team for bringing this wedding to life…

Ceremony & Reception: Ruby Hill Golf Club

Suit: Black Lapel

Dress Shop: Bridal Image

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Hair & Makeup: Tammy Do

Cake: Gala Bakery

Flowers: Gingerleaf Floral

Paper Goods: Minted

DJ: Big Fun

Photographers: Pictilio

Chime in or Share