JR Organics

Grant and I picked up our first box of food after joining a CSA farming program finally. We have been waiting to join for years now and are kicking ourselves for waiting so long. These items taste amazingly good. This photo doesn't even show everything we got in one box.

I'm sure I will be talking more about this in the future because I have formed fairly strong opinions about factory farms vs. family farms over the past few years.

We decided it was time for us to make a consicious change in how we eat and what we support...and I am here to tell you, it feels SO good.

(photo shoot of my fruit and veggies inspired by this design sponge post. Thanks design sponge, LOVE YOU.)

M. Sasek

Grant and I have been eyeing these books for sometime and he bought me a few as part of an anniversary gift. The color, texture and overall visual interest of Sasek's work give me no choice but obsession.

I am excited someday to read books with our children and teach them about our favorite places in the world.

My friend Bonny posted a link to this article on her blog. Pretty incredible. I'm not sure if I could ever be this devote to reading with my own kids someday....but wouldn't it be great?

Harvey Faircloth

I am shooting a wedding for one of the brilliant masterminds behind the Harvey Faircloth line. Cool, right?

I thought it was high time to place an order and outfit myself in honor of the upcoming nuptials....and lets just say they are making me look real good.

If I ever look photo worthy I will document my fun new items and share, but for now go to their store and drool.

(check out their inspiration board. GREAT!)

Brittany + Paul, Baldwin Hills Engagements

There are times when you thank a city for pollution...like when it gives your photo shoot a nice orange haze.

Brittany and Paul, thanks for putting up with the torture and for spending some time with us in the tub...errr..I mean....YOU know what I mean.

I had such a great time shooting these. You are a styling couple and my envy has been boiling up over your upcoming move to Denmark. I want to go to there!

Thanks for choosing me to be a part of this amazing occasion.

(Check out Brittany's blog, www.thehousethatlarsbulit.blogspot.com. She has major skills.)

Shoot, Europe.

I swear with how excited I am about this upcoming trip you would think I'd never been out of the country before. I couldn't even concentrate in church today because I was busy trying to decide what shoes to pack.

Although it is a trip planned for leisure, I'm never opposed to a photoshoot here or there. So if any of my friends in the countries I will be visiting are interested in booking me,

I will be there from April 7-20...

starting in Paris and venturing on to Salzburg, Frankfurt, Brussels (and surrounding areas of each) and ending in Amsterdam.

I am available for model tests, commercial work for stores...cafes/restaurants, lifestyle shoots with families, couples or any other ideas you think might be great.

Email me at rachel@rachelthurston.com if you are interested in more details.

Late Night Alumni - Finally Found

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZSJFHi36ho&w=853&h=505] My friend Damian is one of the most inspired people I know. He is smart, funny, CREATIVE and genuinely one of the kindest men I know.....Oh, and he makes rad videos.

He is co-owner, documentary filmmaker, TV producer and writer for Kineto Pictures. He concepted, directed and edited the above video and I kind of love it. He did an amazing job.

Feel free to share the video and read more about Damian here:

http://blog.kinetopictures.com/finally-found-the-music-video/ http://twitter.com/damiandayton http://gladhanded.blogspot.com/ http://toothyshoehorn.blogspot.com/

Oh, and how great is Late Night Alumni? I wish I was old so I could have been in that video.

Luck

The title of this post really has nothing to do with the couple shown. Other than the fact that it's St. Patty's day...and maybe my luck at having those birds fly by... I really don't think "luck" has anything to do with it.

I know a lot of people (myself included) will refer to marriage with terms like "lucky", "won the lottery", "derserve or don't deserve"...maybe sometimes with the notion of "luck turning".

Lets be honest, marriage is a lot of hard work. It doesn't just happen or keep or strengthen out of LUCK or anything else beyond your control. It happens by millions of micro decisions. It happens by CHOICE.

So lets start taking credit where credit is due...for the good AND the bad in our lives and relationships. I for one am going to try to leave luck out of it (no offense St. Patty).

The lovely couple pictured are the Gibb's. I photographed their sealing in the San Diego Temple Friday. How bad do I wish I could have photographed their elopement in Vegas three years ago?!! Now, that's what I call bad luck!

More from this wedding next week. xo.

Hoods

I love hoods. I just do.

I've been trying to find the impossible coat for our trip to Europe in a few weeks.....warm, stylish, lightweight, casual but could be dressed up...I tell you impossible.

During my search I came across this line by Chris & Mike. So many great finds for a hood addict. I only wish they weren't all last season and sold out. I would pay almost any price for the burke biker fleece coat.

Hope Springs Resort

The two days we spent here in January, were some of the most relaxing days of my life. No phones. No TVs. No people. Just me, my man and some mineral pools.

All of these images are strait out of the camera (I cropped the last one slightly). Shot on my Hasselblad 501cm, 80 mm lens with Ilford 3200 Pro film. LOVE this film.

Thinking of starting a darkroom group once a month. When that happens these might be some of the first images I print.

One Year

(photo credit Jon)

We've been married for 365 days and I still get excited when I see your shoes laying around the house. I love the little domestic reminders that you're mine.

I still am trying to wrap my head around how much you love me..."Why? Why me?".

I am still trying to wrap my heart around the idea that I never have to lose you, or say goodbye, or try and get "over you".

I'm still trying to figure out a way to be exactly what you need me to be....but I have a few years to perfect that, right?

The one thing that makes perfect sense to me is being with you.

One down, lots more to go. Buckle your seat belt baby. Practice year is over...time to play full out.

xxoo.