Graduation Party | Personal

A big thank you to everyone who came out for my graduation party! And a really big thank you to my parents for setting it all up :) Last Sunday, we packed our little home with 50+ friends and family to celebrate my graduation. The food was and is always the best part. My relatives feed your face like it's a buffet. Even if you're not hungry, they'll fix you a huge plate of food. It was also the first time some of my friends tried Cambodian food (which isn't too different from other Southeast Asian dishes). There was a roasted pig, fresh spring rolls and eggrolls, num pa'chok (a kind of Cambodian noodle soup), cabbage pickles, rice (and more food I can't remember)...I could have died eating.

I have a huge family so our family get togethers are really special to me. I can't even believe how much everyone has grown up. I still remember my younger cousins running around when they were 5 - and now they're 12! and as tall as me! A lot has changed over the years: graduations, engagements, babies...so these events are always the perfect time to catch up. I love my family :) and I only hope we stay as close as we are now.

Ryan's 23rd Birthday | Personal

Since coming back from Europe, Ryan and I have been really wanting to reconnect with nature. So for his 23rd birthday I planned a hiking trip to Sturtevant Falls in Arcadia. We drove over an hour to get there only to find it was closed for brush cleaning -__- Luckily, Ryan found another trail nearby. We took a 1.5 mile hike to Eaton Canyon Falls in 80+ degrees. It was "sweat dripping down my face" hot...the first half of the hike was mainly under the sun, but the second half was along the creek, nicely shaded by trees. It's a pretty easy hike - a lot of people bring their young kids and some bring their dogs. I think I found a new love for hiking. If you have any suggested hiking spots, please send them my way :)

Brian + Kaisa Part 2 | Engagement

This was actually our first location for the shoot. It took me a while to post these because I was having a hard time processing this set. I'm still not 100% happy with them but I'll be playing around with them until I am.

Chris is Moving...Again BBQ | Personal

In a couple of days, my best friend is taking his new wifey and moving to Portland, Maine! He's moved around a lot, but he has always found his way back home. But I think Maine is it. I think this is where he is going to settle down. As much as I hate saying good-bye to him every time he leaves, I really hope he likes it there (kinda). (I'm just kinda kidding, Chris - we're just really going to miss you)

Oh! the little Asian girl in the pictures is Matt's girlfriend's daughter, Rei. She's seriously the cutest girl with the wildest imagination. I'm thinking about stealing her.

Graduation Day | Personal

I GRADUATED! It went by so fast! It didn't even phase me until I was standing in line and my name was called out. I was on that stage for 5 seconds and off faster than I could realize what was happening. But even in those 5 seconds, it was my time, and it was amazing :)

Professor Lawrence Rowe from UC Berkeley gave a great speech at Ryan's graduation. Two things he mentioned really stuck to me:

"Failure is not a disaster" and "The journey is the reward"

I've always feared failure. It's prevented me from trying new things. But everything happens for a reason. My failure will lead me somewhere: to learning something new, improving at a skill, or leading me in another direction. I have to understand that it's all part of the journey. I'm a proud UCI graduate, but it was the 4 years there that really meant the most: the skills and lessons I learned, the new places I explored, and the people I met. There will be no other time like college.

Graduation Announcement | Personal

I'M GRADUATING! After 4 years, I'll be graduating from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelors degree in Sociology and Psychology.

...so where am I going from here? I have no idea. I've been saying that a lot and it's probably something I've been trying to avoid thinking about. So although it's an exciting time, it has also been overwhelming and stressful. I have no clear direction I want to take, but Ryan tells me to just go out there and try anything...and to not be scared to fail. I think that's the best advice anyone could give me. So wish me luck as I wander into life after college..

Photo credit: Chris Schultz

Brian + Kaisa | Engagement

Brian and Kaisa are a living fairytale love story...high school sweethearts...and 6 1/2 years later, a romantic proposal where they first fell in love. We wish this for ourselves because they are everything that love is: adventurous, surprising, magical, trusting, supportive, caring...I've known them since their beginning and am so fortunate to be included in their special day. They're my best friends and I know they couldn't be any more perfect for each other.

Thanks to Chris Schultz for helping me edit some of the photos