lauren.

i love her dimples and her laugh. she is creative. driven. motivated. she has an uncanny ability to bring people together and to care for those around her in a way that is authentic, honest and loving. she gives. she shares. she connects. and she loves a good old fashion chili cook-off. what's not to love about that? AND she's from texas.

she is lauren.

we ventured out to gaviota for an anthropologie inspired shoot. sara truppo even came along and we made quite the trio. let's just say we laughed a lot. we frolicked through the hills, wandered the streets of solvang in search of "kringles" and finally dined on mexican food in santa ynez. we sipped fresh agave margaritas and dreamed up ways to change the world. THEN, we got kicked out of the restaurant because they wanted our table even though there was no one waiting and we were only there for 1.5 hours or so. not cool. so we laughed about it the whole way home. and now we love to say to each other "remember that time we got kicked out of dos carlitos?! rude!". and then, we laugh. good times with such good friends. this is my life.

and this is her photo shoot.

full.

as my family and i sat around the kitchen table at my grandparent's home feasting on thanksgiving leftovers, we laughed, we cried, and we chuckled. you know the kind of laughter...the kind when you can barely breathe, and your eyes well up with tears and you find yourself rolling around in your chair or sometimes even on the floor. all of which makes you laugh even harder. and when you finally catch your breath, your stomach hurts. i am thankful for that moment in my grandma's kitchen when all was right with the world. we were full of turkey and full of laughter and joy. and in that moment, i found myself thankful.

for my incredible family.
for the fact that both sets of my grandparents are still very much alive.
that my auntie and i have grown so close in the last 5 or so years.
for my sweet puppy dog, lydia.
for sara truppo and the incredible blessing she has been to me and my biz.
for michele mollkoy and the ways in which she supports and challenges me.
for my Westmont education and the people i met along the way and the sacrifice my parents made so i could go there.
for my friends who love and support me no matter what and allow me to be fully me.
that i get to do what i love.
for my clients who are simply wonderful and energizing.

for my life. and for all that it is and those who are part of it.
i am blessed. and so very grateful.

and of course, here are a few photos of my family's thanksgiving feast...


i quite liked my auntie's corn casserole. so good.

twenty five days of bloggin' (and christmas too).

tis the season. of holiday cheer. of family-bonding. of hot cider and fireplaces. and tis the season of daily bloggin' here on "bearings and headings." i shall blog a lil' something each and every day until Christmas as a sort of countdown.

now, here's the thing...this is quite the endeavor for me. as you faithful readers well know, the bloggin' has been sparse these days. epic fail. but my friend and fellow photographer david manning inspired me after he blogged for a whole month and rocked it. so alas, i am endeavoring to be disciplined this holiday season and perhaps spread some Christmas cheer along the way. the blogosphere can often be a lonely place though. it's true. so if you feel like partaking in the 25 days of goodness, leave me some blog or facebook love by way of commenting. i do hope along the way that we find ourselves in a dynamic cyber-conversation.

p.s. look up. it is snowing on the blog. how cool is that?

shelby: senior photo shoot.

she loves fashion. and all that it is. she shops at urban outfitters and buckle, forever 21 and wetseal. she loves the satisfaction of perusing a vintage shop for a unique piece that says something different. she has brown boots and black ones. heeled ones. and suede and leather ones. she is inspired but the likes of betsey johnson, stella mccartney, vera wang, chloe, and juicy couture. "i love everything about [fashion]...i love the way it completely transforms a person..the clothes on one's back sometimes gives that person a whole new identity." she is passionate about clothes, about fashion, about life. she laughs. she dances. she owns it all.

she is SHELBY. and this is a her senior photo shoot...

the moxy project.

she has moxy. lots of it. it's that intangible quality that you find yourself drawn to. you crave it. seek after it. and beg the question: what is that? and you proclaim to yourself (and often out loud): i want what she has.

michele has moxy. perhaps this is the reason why i found myself in her office rummaging through her candy bowl like a crazed, costumed trick-or-treat-er all too often when i was in college. or why i took every opportunity to sit across that table at starbucks and sip chai lattes (mine extra hot, no water, non-fat and her's extra hot, no-water, soy. haha) and talk about life. she advised me. listened to my ramblings. entertained my ideas. challenged my perspectives. asked tough questions. spoke truth. and ultimately, she helped me find moxy.

you see moxy is not something that is prescribed or formulaic. it's something unique and custom buried (often deep) inside of each of us. it's a boldness, a confidence. it's a willingness to pursue a better life and to become more of who you were called and created to be. it's a desire to dig deep, challenge yourself and ask tough questions. it's the pursuit of lasting, meaningful and intentional relationships. i wanted that. i wanted moxy.

i would not be the same person if it weren't for michele's presence in my life. she has been a never-ending source of wisdom, encouragement and inspiration. when i think back to the most profound conversations and "a-ha" moments i have had, michele was the person sitting across the table. and i am so thankful for the role she has played in my personal, spiritual and professional growth. but even more, i am deeply grateful for her friendship. i am incredibly blessed to have her in my life and to call her a friend. i truly, truly am. geesh.

all this to say, michele has endeavored do something pretty damn cool. it's something i am SO excited about and have had to keep it under-wraps until the big launch of the site for far too long. it has been an honor to be a part of the beginning stages of what i know will change the lives of many. michele has created a way to share her passion, vision, heart and expertise with all of you through her cleverly named coaching & consultation company: the MOXY project. she offers workshops, seminars, and personal and professional coaching to anyone who is willing to take a risk and who is anxious to get some moxy.

check out her brand-spanking new website here (designed by yours truly mind you) and GET SOME MOXY! seriously, do it.