Encinitas Beach

Last weekend, I ventured out to Encinitas Beach to celebrate my cousin's 12th birthday. The day consisted of: 17 girls, one all day concert featuring Switchfoot and other local bands, hundreds of people, good weather, and lots of fun.

While I was wandering around I managed to take a few pictures, most of which I didn't even look through the lens before snapping the shutter... Therefore, what you see below is all random, uncut, and raw footage of the day. Enjoy.

Happy Birthday Katie!

The Case of the Bellybutton...

So I was eating breakfast this morning and my little cousins joined me at the table with their hot chocolate. As we were sitting there enjoying the morning, my littlest cousin, Julia, lifted up her dress and said, "Look Julianne, I taped a quarter over my bellybutton to make it an inny." Sure enough, when I looked at her bellybutton, there was a plastic quarter over it secured with a big piece of clear packaging tape. It was the cutest and most funny thing I've seen a five year old do in a while... You can take a peek below for yourself.

A new season calls for a new look.

After contemplating what to do with my long hair and it's half grown out highlights, I decided to switch it up a bit. I went to Ulta and got the best stylist there, Roxanne. She did work wonders. I got rid of my split ends, brown roots, and got some bangs. 

When I text my brother to tell him, he wrote back, "Cool. I bet you look like Lady Gaga." No comment. So far the rest of the responses have all been good, other than the one from Rachel telling me that I look older. No worries though, I'm assuming I finally look my age for once, rather than 4 years younger...Or so I hope.

The other 2 girls in the picture are my cousins. Faith, the one on the left, thought I was wearing a wig when I got home. I guess it is kind of a big difference...

Change is good every once in a while.  Now I'm just anxious for this Friday :)

Catching Up...

I haven't really been updating this as much as I should so here is my attempt to update everyone on my entertaining life.

I've been working at Visual Photography now for the last 3 weeks. I think it's one of my most favorite jobs I've worked so far. Perhaps it's because of the people. Brent, Shea, Riley, Katie, and Patrick are all my fellow coworkers. When we're not busy doing work, we spend our time solving riddles, playing games, watching movies like The Hangover, taking trips to malls, and going on lunch errands. Yesterday, Brent and I went to In N Out for everyone and came back with the little paper hats to deliver everyone's food to them. 

We're cool like that.

On Thursday, June 25th, Michael Jackson died. I almost cried. Ever since I was onto dancing, he's been one of my idols. In high school we did several MJ dances and they were epic. My dad is currently looking for the DVDs so that I can upload them. Here is one of my favorite dances done by him, and we made our own version of it for our recital. You can check it out HERE.

Now it's the weekend and I'm sick. I think I have a cold and it took me down awfully fast. I've had a sore throat, sneezing, watery eyes, fever, and body aches. I just hope it's gone before next Friday. (We have another work trip/adventure that day, but I'll let you know how it goes afterwards.)

As for today, I'm trying to decide if I feel well enough to go to my cousin's birthday party. She's going to a Switchfoot concert on the beach and then back to her house for the rest of the party. I think I'll go.

Everyone from work is busy so it looks like this will be the only event going on this weekend. It's probably a good thing since I need the rest.

More to come later. 

XoXo jB

Melons

are supposed to be green inside. Somehow, mine turned out orange like a canteloupe.

Weird.

One Love.

One Town.

One Graduate.

One Family.

One AMAZING time.

 

Santa Barbara, my second love, never let's me down. My eventful weekend went something like this...

Friday, June 19th, 2009.

I woke up, got ready for work, packed my bags and off I went. It was my first day editing everything on my own in the studio and everything went well. It was a semi slow day and as the hours passed and started approaching 4 P.M., it seemed as if they went slower and slower. To pass the time, me, Brent, and Shea all spent our time solving ridiculous riddles and laughing at each other. Just as I thought that the hands on the clock we're never going to read 4:00, it was time to check out and off I went. 

I made a few stops at the bank, the gas station, and Subway, and finally hopped on Hwy 5 and then 405. Around 8, I arrived in Sherman Oaks and picked up one of my BESTEST friends, Rachel, from her brother's house. (Rachel flew in from Michigan for the week and I haven't seen her since she graduated March 1st.) We threw her bag in the car and off to SB we went. Upon arriving, Ryan (the graduate) decided to call us and tell us he was in Oxnard and that we would probably beat him home. We stopped at Yogurtland to check it out and pass the time. It was delicious and I got a whole cup full of yogurt and strawberries for only $3.63. It was a bargain. We then hopped back in the car and arrived at Ryan's place. 

Somehow, between Yogurtland and Ryan's, Rachel and I got the giggles and couldn't get rid of them for about an hour.  For example, we went to get our bags out from the car and I found a hanger that we took inside. I walked in laughing hysterically, hung it on the hook in the middle of the ceiling and said, "let's just hang lose." And everyone fell into laughter with me. Stupid, I know. But at the time it was hilarious. 

Then around 11 P.M. we got Britney to drive us downtown in her new Element. There were more people than there were seats, so Rachel and I spooned in the trunk.

Once we got downtown, we stopped at Madison's for a car bomb, then walked over to Old Kings Road for a beer, and then ended at Indochine for a Vodka Cranberry.

Lucky for us, Denise and Justin met up with us at Old Kings Road and the whole crew (minus Kyle) was reunited again. After the bars closed, we ventured over to the mexican food stand and had a dance party while waiting in line with a guy who drove by with extremely loud music and parked on the curb to entertain us anxious burrito waiters. 

Denise managed to meet some new friends who looked like bums and the next morning we all convinced her that she kissed one of them. It became the joke of the whole next day.

Saturday, June 20th, 2009. 

After spooning all night with Rachel at Ryan's house, we woke up and decided to meet everyone at Justin's and then go to our local spot, Beachbreak Cafe, for breakfast. We never ended up making it there and instead all ventured off on our own ways for the day. Justin and Denise stayed home, Ryan and Art went to Buelton, Rachel went to meet up with old friends, and I went downtown to watch the Summer Solstice Parade with my favorite Uncle Lew. There were thousands of people lining the sidewalks of State Street, lots of loud music, dance groups, and crazy people everywhere.

 

After the parade was done, Uncle Lew, Michael and Kara, and I went over to the park to enjoy the free concert and some good food. I ended up getting a nifty little sunburn on my right shoulder and left arm but it was all worth it. 

Rachel then met us and she and I said goodbye to the family and walked downtown for some shopping. Mission accomplished. We know all the good spots to go.

Later that night, we went to Arigatos for dinner. I had Chipotle earlier but everyone else enjoyed their sushi. 

Next we went home and got ready to go meet up with Laura, Mikey, and Annabel. We stopped at Wildcats and then ventured over to Tonic. I got to see one of my favorite SB friends, Will, and we all danced the night away while MTV filmed us for a show, called something like Nightlife in SB. 

Sunday, June 22nd, 2009.

We woke up at Justin's way too early (7:45 A.M.) and got ready for Ryan's graduation, where we were all surprised to see Kyle sitting in the crowd. We listened to the same speech for the fourth time in a row and shook our heads as the president repeated his same lame jokes to the audience of new faces.

Next, it was time for Chili's. Chili's became a tradition when Kyle, Adriane, and I graduated and we took all of our friends and family there for lunch. We've carried out this tradition for the other 3 grads as well. 

Later that day, we hit up Yogurtland one last time and then we all went back over to Justin's and enjoyed countless games of Guitar Hero and hanging out on the lawn.  After getting hungry and knowing it was nearing the end of our reunion, we stopped at the Habit for one last meal in SB. 

Rachel shot a series of images of us eating our burgers and Justin eating his fries and telling stories. Then we dumped our trays, took one last group photo on State Street, gave our hugs, and said our goodbyes. 

It was a sad little drive from SB to LA but we did pass a brookie on the 101 and had a quick convo out the window with her; as well as, met Kyle at Chevron in Oxnard just for one last goodbye photo.

Thank goodness I had Rachel to enjoy the ride with. She's alway a favorite companion to reminisce about all of our college memories with.

We arrived at her brother's place around 9:30 P.M. and went straight to bed.

Monday, June 22nd, 2009.

We woke up to little miss Lily around 8 A.M. and spent the morning playing with her and laughing at her as she rummaged through a box of tampons. Then we got ready for the day and Kyle and Derek and Adriane met up with us. We took some photos, walked down to Fuddruckers for lunch, then to Buffalo Exchange and Borders, and then home again. 

Everyone left around 5 P.M. and I stayed until 7:30 when it was time for Rachel to head off to the airport. It was a quick goodbye. We both figured it would be best to approach it like ripping off a band aid. Short and sweet. But we both fed a few tears afterwards. 

I made a quick stop in Culver City to visit another SB friend and watch part of Pulp Fiction and then got back on the road to head back to San Diego. I got home at 12:30 and fell right asleep.

Time Flies.

It's already been 8 months since I've graduated from college,

I was talking to my little cousin this morning about a game on the internet, (Club Penguin) and the conversation went something like this...

Lil Cuz: My friend's dad used to play that game like 20 years ago.

Me: I don't know. I didn't even have the internet to play on when I was a kid.

Lil Cuz: You're joking. Seriously?

Me: Yeah, We didn't have cell phones either. Not til I was in junior high school.

Lil Cuz: No way. You're lying!

Me: Laughing at how old I sounded, I responded, No seriously. Ask your mom. (He then left the room in disbelief.)

It was weird telling someone who has been around these 2 pieces of technology his whole life, that they were just recently created and have become mainstream in the last 15-ish years. 

I started college at the very end of the film era. Technology has changed so much just in the last 4 years that it's crazy to wonder how much it will continue to change in the next few years.

Just since my first year of school, polaroids, film, and darkrooms have started disappearing faster than I can comprehend. 

This weekend will be my last Brooks graduation to attend. (Unless Amanda ever decides to stay in SB long enough to graduate and I get an invite to that one... Jk! I'll be there for it next year.) It will be our one last big reunion until a wedding or something big enough like that takes place to bring us all together again. I'll be leaving this Friday evening and heading up to LA to pick up Rachel, make a quick stop to say hi to her daughter Lily, and then up to SB we go where we will meet up with Justin, Ryan (the final graduate of our group), Denise, and Kyle. Many more memories will be made, laughter will be shared, and we will live out all of our traditions and SB adventures one more time. Til that blog is posted, I leave you with these quotes...

“College is a refuge from hasty judgment.”

“You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise, because the work never ends, but college does...”

It's true. After all of the hours I spent sitting in class for 3 straight years, I look back and remember the memories I made with my friends a whole lot more than what I learned and remember from class. (Don't worry tho Dad, I know I've mentioned some of them to you before, but believe it or not, I do remember a lot from school. And if I forget, we have all of those binders and books sitting in storage to remind me.)

jB

My Day at the Beach.

Yesterday I went to the beach with my cousins and their friends for five hours.  I came home with a crazy sunburn, some cool shots, and my most recent time lapse. No tripod, and my camera died, so it's not very long but it was mostly for my lil cuz Ally who wanted me to take one of the waves...

Looks like we were on Treasure Island

Childhood memories at their finest.

It wasn't me!

Looks like they're on Survivor...

So cute.

Surfers everywhere.

Building the sandcastles.

Looks like she's making her own.

Lunch on a surfboard. It doesn't get much better than that.

Told you so.

Little ones hard at play.

Surfs Up!

They organized this all on their own...

Beach in Carlsbad.

Digging for sandcrabs.

Break Time!

She's a cutie.

PLaCeRViLLe

The urban dictionary definition of Placerville, CA reads: 

PLACERVILLE

A white trash, dramatic gold rush town found smack dab in the middle between Tahoe and Sacramento. Also known as hang town. Placerville-"Come on vacation leave on probation." This makes me laugh. Placerville means something different to every person that lives there, yet we all have the same reasons to love this little town and hate it at the same time. I arrived there after a 10 hour car ride squished in a truck with the whole family and all my furniture in the back. We found odd ways to make it entertaining like listening to my brother's ridiculous songs on his ipod, stopping to get milkshakes, iced coffees, and hamburgers. (It was also John, my brother's 16th birthday.) Once we got home, we ordered chinese food for dinner at Wonderful Chinese in Pleasant Valley, and then headed home to unload everything.  The next day I got invited to go to the river with my 2 favorite guys there, Chad and Aaron. I declined because of the overcast weather, but later when they asked me to go fishing, I couldn't pass it up. Chad attempted to teach me how to cast a fishing pole since it's been years since I've been, and I managed to do it right the first time and then catch the hook in a branch and lose the hook all on my second try. I decided to sit back and watch those two reel them in. Chad caught a little one and Aaron got the catch of the day. Afterwards, we headed back to Aaron's for some BBQ chicken and pork chops, beer, and a lightning storm. We then all fell asleep to an 80's showing of Gladiator Woman.  The next day I was reunited with my BESTEST friend ever, Kell. We did a lot of catching up the entire rest of the weekend. Friday was my brother's birthday party and I managed to survive hanging out with 7 teenage boys. We went to Sky High in Sacramento, a huge building with tons of trampolines. Then we went home to finish the skateboard ramp and hang out. I got captured after dinner by Ian, my not so secret admirer, who put on a hilarious little show for all of us.  Then I left and went downtown to Main Street with Chad and Aaron. We had a few drinks and walked home to Chad's. I don't really fit in with the local bar girls, but it was fun. Chad and I have gone to school together since fifth grade and we used to ride the bus and walk home together back in the day. Aaron is the one person that I became friends with in first grade, and we have stayed good friends ever since. He's also my secret little crush since 8th grade.   Saturday I hung out with my brothers, and saw Kell again. We attempted to hang out with Alex at the Lotus River but it was crowded with the bluegrass festival so we decided to cruise the main and stop for a photo shoot and iced coffee. We also took a little tour of the old Carrie House Hotel. Supposedly it's haunted... but we didn't experience anything. Perhaps it's because it was like 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we didn't visit any of the upstairs rooms. Later I left to go play taxi and drive my brothers to the movie theater. I enjoyed a quiet night in with my bro and some mac n cheese.  I woke up on Sunday morning and packed my bags. My dad took me to meet Nicole (Brijette) and her cousin Lisa to check out a lodge for Lisa's wedding, October 17th. Mission accomplished. We booked the lodge, and I get to do her wedding photos. Then we headed to Round Table and then to Nicole's house to hang out. Our friend, Brianne, from high school met us there and we all caught up on life and the current gossip. Then Nicole took me to the airport and I arrived late Sunday night to SD. I started work at Visual Photography this last Monday and really enjoy working there. Rumor has it, I may be lucky enough to be there when Tim Meyer (PPC President and former favorite teacher) brings his 445 class there for the Fantasy Tour.  Now I am currently preparing to shoot my very first wedding with Rachel in SB on the 20th. I hope it all goes well... I am also contemplating buying my old house in Placerville and starting a studio up there this October but I'll have to pull some strings and only time will tell if it's meant to be. For now, I'm enjoying this busy adventure called life and spending quality time with all the right people... XoXo JB

Family visits SD

I have kinda been M.I.A. this past week and have been super busy. My family came down last weekend and helped move me out of my apartment and into my cousins' house. While they were here we went to tour the Midway, a huge ship used in WW2. Here's some of the cool pics I took of my family...