Home

Technically speaking, home is wherever J is, but I always get excited to "come home" back down in San Diego. My sister recently moved back into my parents place so her and my bro-in-law could save up for their own home, which makes it even better to come down because that means I get to see my little niece more! Ever since I got home the other night its been nonstop playing bubbles and pretending to cook in her very own toy kitchen.

I say this all the time but she's seriously growing up so fast. It's bittersweet because I want to see her grow but definitely not so fast!

Here are some pics I took of her today. Please ignore the rotten and sharp teeth. I swear it's a lot cuter in person! 

- E

San Diego, Super Chargers!

Went to the Chargers training camp today with some of my friends to check out my favorite sports team! I was super stoked and excited to see all of the players do their thing, but when I got there I was disappointed to find out I couldn't enter with my camera. I looked on their website beforehand and it said "no long lenses." I knew there would be a good chance they wouldn't let me in with it but I tried anyways. I gave the guards a hard time about it but I guess rules are rules, right? I blame Bill Belichick and the stupid Cheatriots for all the strict rules on cameras.

Anywho, here's the one pic I took with my iPhone. Guess it's better than nothing! Go Chargers, Go!

- E

More goodbyes

The hardest part about being a dance teacher/director is the goodbyes, I mean I guess with any sort of teaching position it's this way. But I hate it. I get so attached to all my students, and I truly think of them as my own. I mean I may not take them home at the end of night and have to bathe them and feed them - but I feel like I do a whole lot in the dance studio.

Even those cute little nuggets who are only with me a few years. Those precious few years are so incredible. To see them grow in their personality, dancing and confidence - is seriously so rewarding. So saying goodbye to this sweet little girl, who used to cry every week the first year - to the very talented performer she is now - was so hard.

Love you little M! I love Portland will welcome you with loving arms - and I know you'll be a shining star! Twinkle on!
Xx - J

DYW pt. 5: The Goodbye

The hardest part of DYW is the goodbyes. Seriously sometimes those 10 days feels like it will never end and I'll never get to sleep, but at the end it's like it flew by. And I'm always left in tears and feeling like a huge part of my heart is left in that crazy city of Bakersfield. These 29 amazing young women are the future, and I know they will go out and do some crazy amazing things. They're not only beautiful and kind, but talented and oh so intelligent. Watch out world, these babes are coming for you!

Barbie girl <3

Just some of the asians and my other half :)

 The funions with this crazy talented girl

Our new Distinguished Young Woman of California c/o 2015, Marsa! 

She's going to kill it and Mobile won't know what hit them! <3

Alright I'm all out of tears and emotions, I think I'm a robot now. See you in another 365ish days DYW... or at least until we meet again. I love you crazy little dydubs... seriously, go out and take over the world! I'll be right here waiting for all the big things you'll do! 

Xx - J

Wedding Time!

Had the wonderful honor of assisting Sylvia G. on a wedding gig yesterday. It was my very first time assisting a wedding and it went by EXTREMELY fast but it was very fun! I'm definitely not at the level where I want to be but I know that will come with time. I learned a lot from yesterday and hope I only get better from here!

- E

DYW pt.4: the Crew

One of the main reasons I come back every year is for the amazing people who volunteer for this amazing program. None of us get paid to be there, and yet every single one of them have so much passion and heart for this program. They get up every day and work their tails off all for this show. It's truly inspiring. 

The crazy dancer babes.

Our crazy Crew :) 

Xx - J

Minions!

I get to dance about in a minion or as we call it, a funion costume for the show! It's not too heavy bit gets hot real fast and I can't see everything. Lol but we have a great time! 

I'm on the right, the short and fat one! Lol 

Xx-J

DYW pt.3

I'm seriously obsessed with these girls, I mean where else to you find such talented, intelligent and motivated young women? These 10 days always bring me to such a happy place, and I don't ever want to leave!

All 29 girls and the dancer babes :) 

Just a little stroll... in the 1000 degree heat!

Our wonderful choreography team :) 

I cannot say enough about this amazing man, Jim Bates... truly a phenomenal person inside and out. So blessed to be able to work with him every year :) 

Xx - J

New Camera!!

I took the plunge and bought a new camera. I've been debating on whether or not I should get a new one or not. People always say, it's not the camera who makes a great photographer, it's the person, etc. etc. BUT I think it definitely helps if you have better equipment.

So after doing a ton of research, and with some help from my parents, I decided to purchase a Canon 6D. I was very close to buying a Canon 5DIII but I couldn't justify spending an extra $1,300 or so. With the "extra" cash that I saved from not buying a 5DIII, I bought a Sigma 35mm lens.

After waiting a week and finally getting my new toys in my hand, I couldn't be any happier with my purchase. I'm really excited to bring it around with me on all of my adventures!

- E

The Hundreds

Waiting at home all day for a package can be such a drag sometimes and that's what I did all day waiting for my three packages to arrive. I received two of them yesterday and one of them was my package from The Hundreds! I've ordered so much stuff from them but there's nothing like receiving a package of clothes you ordered online, putting them on, and having everything fit nicely. They had a sale recently and I couldn't pass it up. 

Now time to wait for the package I've been eagerly but patiently waiting to receive, my new camera!

- E

Happy Monday!

Got the day off today and I've just been researching photog/video stuff and getting ready for an interview tomorrow!

I went through some old pictures on my computer and I found this one from about a year ago. During that time, I was still working for Autonomy Ent. and I was invited to a closed/private party at the Gaslamp in Downtown SD. You can see the carnival setup in the background.

It's crazy to think how much things have changed since then. I've moved up to the OC, back working at Apple, and starting up my own small business. Hopefully things just keep getting better!

- E

DYW pt.2

Seriously so impressed with these girls! It's only day 2 of rehearsals and they are seriously rocking it! 

On a side note, I'm usually allergic to cats but apparently not hairless cats! Meet Lina! 

She's adopted Steph and I! 

Ok night! 

Xx-J

DYW

So I'm in Bakersfield for the next week or so working for this amazing scholarship program, Distinguished Young Women. We have 29 girls from all over California for our state program, who are competing for these scholarships. Besides the money, it is truly an amazing experience and they make lifelong friends! 

The girls arrived yesterday for orientation

The crew is back together and ready to put in endless hours of work! 

And today we kicked their butts in the fitness routine! I'm sure they'll be sore tomorrow! ;) 

Off to dinner now! 

Xx-J

Balboa Park Nights

Every year I'm asked to help out with an event down in SD at Balboa Park. This is a MASSIVE event where the company, ESRI, basically closes down the park to the public and buys out each of the museums for their clients to enjoy. It's a pretty awesome event and crazy to see the behind the scenes action and what it takes to put on such an event. Having worked in Balboa Park for over 3 years, and since I know the park pretty well, I was basically put in charge of being a walking information booth for the event goers. An easily job and extra cash if you ask me.

As the night wore down, I snapped a few pics. Sometimes I miss working down there and all the beauty the park has to offer.

- E

New finds...

I always find the weirdest things in my phone. 

Mall being gross 

Typical for Nat 

She has way too much fun 

Love those crazies! 

Xx-J

Marine Street

The last day I was in SD, me and my boy, Hoang, headed over to Marine Street to take some pictures of him bodyboarding. This is one of the only white sand beaches in SD and definitely a breath of fresh air compared to all the more touristy beaches in the area.

When we got there, the waves were really flat and we were only able to snap a few pictures. Hopefully the next time we head out we can take more!

- E

Death by Finger

So I have this horrible habit of biting my nails... And I bit off a hangnail recently... And then I got a horribly disgusting infection in my finger. I drained it and cleaned it out and it just got worse. I ended up going to urgent care while in Palm Springs... Don't ever do that. The heat + old people = longest wait EVER! 

Before urgent care

At urgent care

After urgent care...

My finger finally looks normal! Thank The Lord! And I am really doing my best not to bite my nails or rip off hangnails now! But it's seriously sooooo hard! 

Ugh. Off to take more antibiotics... 

Xx-J